S China's Hainan pioneers reforms to boost business environment

People's Daily Online) 16:17, August 08, 2025

In recent years, south China's Hainan Province has continuously pursued institutional integration and innovation, making the development of a favorable business environment a core engine for driving high-quality growth, and striving to build a vibrant land full of opportunities for businesses.

Feng Yi shows reporters the latest achievements in Hainan's business environment optimization. (People's Daily Online/Mao Lei)

"If all goes well, this will become the country's first provincial-level local regulation specifically governing administrative inspections involving enterprises," said Feng Yi, director of the policy and regulations division of the Hainan Provincial Department of Business Environment Development. Feng revealed that the interim regulations on administrative inspections involving enterprises in Hainan Province, which was jointly drafted with relevant departments, has already passed its first reading by the Hainan Provincial People's Congress.

On Dec. 13, 2022, with central government approval, Hainan officially established the country's first provincial-level department of business environment development as a constituent part of the provincial government. This marked a shift in Hainan's business environment work from an ad hoc "task force" to a full-fledged "army," and its approach evolved from "tactical" to "strategic"  with a stronger focus on top-level design.

"The establishment of the Hainan Provincial Department of Business Environment Development is itself a result of institutional integration and innovation," said Ren Duanping, director of the department. Over the past two years, Hainan has issued the simplified approval regulations for the Hainan Free Trade Port, reducing locally-set business operation permits to just three items. Furthermore, 127 administrative approval items have been streamlined into a notification-and-commitment system, leading the country in terms of quantity.

"Our current motto is 'Do not disturb unless necessary, and respond promptly when needed,'" said Ren. Compared to the earlier passive approach, the establishment of the department has enabled a more proactive stance. Through measures like "one comprehensive inspection" and "efficiently handle one matter," the province has cut average visits by over 98 percent, reduced steps by about 86 percent, shortened processing times by around 88 percent, and trimmed required materials by roughly 90 percent.

"This year's focus is to consolidate more of these beneficial practices into law, placing emphasis on building a rule-of-law-based environment  and striving for more national firsts," Ren added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
China urges Israel to immediately stop dangerous move on Gaza City

Xinhua) 11:38, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China is gravely concerned about Israel's decision on Gaza City, and urges Israel to stop the dangerous move at once, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Friday.

Guo made the remarks when asked to comment on the Israeli security cabinet's approval of a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City.

"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an integral part of the Palestinian territory," Guo said, pointing out that an immediate ceasefire is the right way to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and realize the release of people being held, and the key to fully settling the conflict in Gaza is also a ceasefire.

"This is the only means to pave the way for ending the conflict and uphold security in the region," he noted.

China stands ready to work with the rest of the international community to stop the fighting in Gaza as early as possible, ease the humanitarian disaster, implement the two-State solution and ultimately realize the full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Guo said.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Juana Santiago vividly remembers the day at the beach when her daughter stared at her and exclaimed, But Mom, how awful! What is that? Juanas wet hair had parted, revealing strange spots on her scalp. Her dermatologist knew what they meant as soon as he saw them: melanoma. Metastatic melanoma.

It was 2017. Juana, a finance professor at Camilo Jose Cela University in Madrid, turned to her doctors for cancer treatment. But the worst news came soon after: Nivolumab  a drug that has saved hundreds of thousands of lives  wasnt working for her. The tumor continued to spread across her scalp, despite 15 surgeries and a massive skin graft from her arm.

Eight years later, on a summer day in 2025, Juana walks through the halls of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) in Madrid. She stares, entranced, at the bland cover of a scientific journal hanging on the wall. It touches on the discovery that has led to her being cancer-free for almost two years.

Biologist Marisol Soengas, head of the CNIO Melanoma Group, speaks with frustration about the days when people went to the beach covered in carrot oil, without any sunscreen. Melanoma used to be a rare disease, but the now-fashionable tanning trend has caused cases to skyrocket, especially among people with fair skin. Over the past two decades, the incidence in Spain has risen from 12 to 15 new cases per 100,000 people per year. The World Health Organization expects around 100,000 deaths worldwide by 2040 almost 70% more than this year.

Melanoma is a cancer that begins in melanocytes  the cells that produce the pigment that gives skin its color. Brown is a response to damage, the biologist warns. She was born 57 years ago in A Aldea do Monte, a town of just 25 inhabitants in the northwestern province of Pontevedra.

Soengass group made a momentous discovery in 2008. Her team was testing a multitude of chemical compounds to see if any would get cancer cells to digest themselves, a phenomenon known as autophagy. One day, a tireless postdoctoral researcher, Damia Tormo, came to Soengass office and excitedly announced that one of the compounds had worked. It was BO-110, a synthetic RNA molecule that mimics the genetic material of many viruses. The compound tricked tumor cells into believing they had been infected by a virus. It induced their self-digestion, while also attracting the attention of the bodys defenses. On August 4, 2009, when half of Spain was at the beach or in the pool getting a tan, the discovery was published on the cover of the specialized peer-reviewed journal Cancer Cell.

Cover of the journal 'Cancer Cell,' showing the death of a tumor cell due to massive self-digestion, following the administration of the experimental CNIO drug. Cancer Cell

Juana Santiago and Marisol Soengas have teamed up to tell their story to EL PAIS for the first time, alongside Marisol Quintero. Shes the pharmacologist who leads Highlight Therapeutics, the company that was created in Paterna, Valencia, to develop the experimental drug. Its a venture with very few precedents in Spain. The company has already secured approximately 45 million in funding ($52.5 million) and has achieved promising results in seven clinical trials, with more than 150 participants afflicted with different types of cancer.

Soengass office is illuminated by large windows. It has spectacular views of the Cuatro Torres skyscrapers on Paseo de la Castellana, a major thoroughfare in Madrid. And its also filled with trophies, such as the Fritz Anders Medal, which is given to outstanding scientists conducting melanoma research. Im very proud of [my] awards, but the most exciting thing has been meeting Juana. When I was five years old, I already wanted to be a scientist but I never would have thought that my results would reach a patient, Soengas says. A year ago, she, too, announced that she had a tumor: it was breast cancer. The researcher, like her patient, has also been responding well to treatment.

The biologist dizzily recalls the day in 2010 when she and Damia Tormo went to a notarys office to create the company, which was initially called Bioncotech Therapeutics. It was split 60% for him and 40% for her. It was the first company to emerge from the CNIO. Soengas recalls with a laugh that they resorted to funding from the three Fs  friends, family, and fools (the latter a reference to intrepid investors who back fledgling projects).

One of those madmen was Madrid-based mathematician Javier Garcia Cogorro. At the time, he was vice-president of the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. In 2016, Garcia Cogorro and Damia Tormo founded Columbus Venture Partners, a fund that invested in 50 biotechnology companies and has since grown to exceed $550 million worth of advanced therapies and related infrastructure.

From left to right, pharmacologist Marisol Quintero, patient Juana Santiago and biologist Marisol Soengas, pictured at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) in Madrid. Samuel Sanchez

Juana Santiago, a 69-year-old Madrid native, listens to the story of the birth of Highlight Therapeutics with obvious personal  but also professional  interest. She teaches entrepreneurship, business and technology at Camilo Jose Cela University, a private institution in Madrid. In her faculty, years ago, she met an economics professor named Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon; now the prime minister of Spain.

In October of 2020, Juana  who was already concerned about the lack of alternatives for treating her metastatic melanoma  read a story in a newspaper that changed her life. The Gregorio Maranon Hospital in Madrid had led a clinical trial of a molecule with the potential to reverse cancer resistance to immunotherapy. It was BO-112, the refined derivative of BO-110.

Theres fear of clinical trials, when it should be the other way around, because you have the possibility of accessing an innovative treatment. Marisol Soengas, biologist

In 1992, one of the fathers of immunotherapy, Japanese scientist Tasuku Honjo, discovered a human protein that acts as a brake on the bodys defenses: PD-1. By removing this natural containment  through PD-1inhibitor drugs, such as Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab  the immune system itself attacks cancer cells more aggressively and eliminates them.

Honjo would go on to win the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine. However, these treatments arent a panacea. Approximately half of melanoma cases with metastasis are resistant, including Juana Santiagos tumor.

In the newspaper, the business professor read that the trial had been conducted on 28 patients  each suffering from either melanoma, lung cancer, or kidney cancer  in whom previous immunotherapies utilizing Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab had failed. The doctors then added BO-112, with doses injected directly into the tumor, an ideal delivery method for the skin. The combination of BO-112 and immunotherapy stabilized the disease in 10 participants and achieved remission in two patients with advanced melanoma. The trials co-director, oncologist Ivan Marquez, stated: This intratumoral treatment strategy with BO-112  if the results are confirmed in larger studies  could help reverse primary resistance to immunotherapy.

Juana Santiago saw an opportunity. She told her doctors. And, after insisting, she narrowly made it into the next clinical trial.

Soengas applauds the professors tenacity and courage. There are many patients who are worried when they hear about a clinical trial. Many people think: But how are you going to test something on me? Theyre afraid of the concept of a trial, when it should be the other way around, because youre getting the opportunity to access an innovative treatment, the biologist emphasizes. In the European Union, Spain is the leading nation when it comes to researching experimental cancer therapies, with 350 ongoing trials. Soengas herself is a volunteer in a breast cancer clinical trial.

A vial containing the experimental Spanish drug BO-112 Highlight Therapeutics

Oncologist Ilyas Sahin, from Massachusetts General Hospital, celebrated the results on social media: This combo may help restore immune response in hard-to-treat patients.

Soengas repeatedly laments how difficult it is to set up a company like this in [Spain]. Marisol Quintero, born in Valencia 46 years ago, went from being the director of innovation at the CNIO to the CEO of Highlight Therapeutics in 2013. Under her leadership, the company became more professional. Today, its main investors are the Spanish fund Columbus VP, the British fund Advent Life Sciences, as well as the Belgian fund Droia. Several prominent families across the Mediterranean are also contributing money. They have a three-pronged motivation. On the one hand, its clear that this is an investment, not a donation. But its an investment in an area that they consider very important: many people have a family member with a tumor and want to contribute to a treatment. And, on the other hand, theres the proximity, the desire to participate in the development of a drug, Quintero explains.

Spains Ministry of Science has provided 3 million to help fund the seventh clinical trial of BO-112, this time as a possible treatment for basal cell carcinoma. This is the most common cancer, which usually appears in sun-exposed areas of the skin, such as the face. There are more than four million new cases worldwide each year. Oftentimes, this tumor can easily be removed, but it cant always be removed surgically and it can be very disfiguring, Soengas warns.

Both BO-112s mother and Juana Santiago have to go to a dreaded medical checkup every three months: one for her breast cancer and the other to monitor her (seemingly) disappeared melanoma. I dont think you ever get used to that uncertainty [or] the fear but when the checkup goes well, its another boost of energy, Soengas says. Juana, by her side, has been disease-free since December of 2023, without any need for treatment. Shes optimistic: I feel completely cured.

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The spore is ten times thinner than a human hair, but that is enough to make it a lethal threat. It only needs an ant to walk over it. The insect has no way of knowing, but at that very moment the tiny cell has attached itself to its exoskeleton, penetrated it, and now a parasite is developing inside, growing until it reaches the nervous system. No one can explain how it does this, but in a very short time the fungus takes control of the ant and bends it to its will.

Days later, in a completely unusual move, the little worker ant leaves the path that connects its anthill with the rest of the jungle. It climbs up a tree trunk until it finds a leaf  not too high, not too low  and bites into it with its mandibles. The ant dies, and its executioner finally reveals itself: from the insects head sprouts the imposing stalk of an Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, which now releases spores that will patiently disperse until they find new victims.

This infectious fungus, specialized in attacking ants, altering their behavior, and using them to reproduce, exists in the real world but became famous through fiction. In the video game and TV series The Last of Us, there are fungi that parasitize and zombify humans. These are the Cordyceps, relatives of the ones that target ants. But its not the only parasite capable of controlling its host. In fact, there is a name for the victims: zombie insects.

American science journalist Mindy Weisberger has just published Rise of the Zombie Bugs, a book that explores the unsettling phenomenon of zombification in nature, far from the Hollywood spectacle.

Theres something about zombies that I find particularly intriguing, Weisberger says in a video interview with EL PAIS from New York, where he lives and collaborates with museums and science documentaries. The idea of losing free will, of something external controlling your body while youre still technically alive, is unsettling, he adds. Parasites reproduce by rewriting the neurochemistry of their victims, transforming them into the living dead. Viruses, worms, fungi, and wasps: the list of zombie-like species in the real world is long and varied.

Although these unsettling relationships between species have existed for millions of years, entomology still doesnt fully understand how they work. Scientists are just beginning to unravel the details. How they manipulate, what chemical pathways they use, what neural mechanisms are involved  its all very mysterious and fascinating, explains Weisberger. But to understand zombification, we must first understand parasitism.

A snail infected by the species 'Leucochloridium paradoxum.' Gilles San Martin (Wikimedia Commons)

The term parasite was first used in the 16th century, and its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek, where parasitos means person who eats at the table of another. Its different from a symbiotic relationship, Weisberger writes, because in those cases, both living beings enjoy the benefits. When it comes to a parasite, its the only one who benefits from the arrangement.

The most cinematic example  and the favorite of the science communicator  is that of the so-called zombie snail. The worm Leucochloridium paradoxum begins its life in bird droppings, where its eggs are accidentally ingested by a snail.

Once inside, the larvae hatch and travel to the mollusks tentacles, swelling and shaking them to resemble a caterpillar. The parasite takes control and forces the snail to leave the shadows and expose itself in broad daylight. Birds, attracted by the caterpillar-like appearance, peck at it, allowing the worms to enter the birds digestive system. And so, the cycle begins again. Its a complex cycle, but visually impressive and evolutionarily fascinating, notes Weisberger.

Millions of years of parasitic relationships

The first evidence of a parasitic relationship comes from the sea and dates back 500 million years. These are the remains of small invertebrates called brachiopods that inhabited an ocean that occupied present-day southern China. Preserved parts of their shells reveal mineralized tubes constructed by tiny worms that likely stole food from their hosts.

The parasitologists I interviewed for the book joke that the first life form was free, and the second was parasitic, says the author. Of the approximately 7.7 million known animal species, an estimated 40% are parasitic. And the strategy has evolved independently at least 223 times throughout history.

When asked how these various controlling strategies developed, Weisberger responds that for researchers, its difficult to know because parasitic behavior is complex, and many relationships cannot be replicated in a laboratory. But there are clues.

Large moth parasitized and killed by an Ophiocordyceps fungus in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Dr Morley Read (Getty Images)

It is known, for example, that many zombifying parasites do not introduce new substances into their victims but rather manipulate the chemistry already present in their hosts and use it to their advantage. In other cases, it is almost as if they drug them, as happens with jewel wasps. These insects turn cockroaches into functional zombies that serve as living shelters for their larvae.

The process is surgical: the wasp first stings the cockroach in the thorax, paralyzing its front legs. Then, it delivers a second sting directly into the brain, where it takes control of decision-making and the escape instinct, causing the cockroach to obey and ultimately become fresh food for the wasp larvae, which eat it alive. Although this is exceptional, and in most cases there is no chemical silver bullet explaining the behavioral change, the author notes.

The case of mammals

The hit TV adaptation of The Last of Us, in which a fictional species of fungi triggers an apocalypse, reopened a debate that occasionally resurfaces in some corners of the internet. Could a parasite zombify a person? No, I dont think we have to worry about a fungal zombie pandemic, Weisberger says.

Fungi dont thrive inside bodies with high temperatures like those of mammals. In fact, its thought that one of the reasons we evolved with such a high body temperature was precisely to protect ourselves against fungal infections, the author explains.

An 'Ophiocordyceps' fungus infects a caterpillar in a rainforest in Ecuador. Dr Morley Read (Getty Images)

For now, insects are the only ones who should worry about these fungi. Oscar Soriano, researcher at the Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, agrees. I find it more complicated for one of these parasites to manage to control more complex structures, like the brain of a mammal, he says. Although he adds a caveat: Still, look at the effect drugs have. Some manipulate the human brain by producing hallucinations and making it act accordingly. Maybe its just a matter of the right molecule appearing.

The relationships between parasites and zombie insects are highly specialized. They are very precise mechanisms that have taken millions of years of evolutionary trial and error. To think that such a unique parasite could suddenly jump in and take over a human brain doesnt make much sense from an evolutionary perspective. It would be like trying to use one key for a completely different lock, says Weisberger.

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CF Industries (NYSE:CF  Get Free Report) and Yara International ASA (OTCMKTS:YARIY  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability.

Get CF Industries alerts:

Institutional and Insider Ownership

93.1% of CF Industries shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Yara International ASA shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of CF Industries shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares CF Industries and Yara International ASAs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CF Industries 20.19% 17.10% 9.58% Yara International ASA 4.78% 19.27% 9.13%

Volatility & Risk

Analyst Recommendations

CF Industries has a beta of 0.94, meaning that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Yara International ASA has a beta of 0.88, meaning that its share price is 12% less volatile than the S&P 500.

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for CF Industries and Yara International ASA, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CF Industries 0 12 2 1 2.27 Yara International ASA 1 0 0 2 3.00

CF Industries presently has a consensus price target of $95.2308, indicating a potential upside of 18.04%. Given CF Industries higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe CF Industries is more favorable than Yara International ASA.

Dividends

CF Industries pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Yara International ASA pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. CF Industries pays out 26.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Yara International ASA pays out 12.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. CF Industries has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. CF Industries is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares CF Industries and Yara International ASAs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CF Industries $5.94 billion 2.30 $1.22 billion $7.66 10.53 Yara International ASA $13.93 billion 0.66 $15.00 million $1.38 13.10

CF Industries has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Yara International ASA. CF Industries is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Yara International ASA, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

CF Industries beats Yara International ASA on 12 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CF Industries

(Get Free Report)

CF Industries Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and other industrial activities in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through Ammonia, Granular Urea, UAN, AN, and Other segments. The company's principal products include anhydrous ammonia, granular urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and ammonium nitrate products. It also offers diesel exhaust fluid, urea liquor, nitric acid, and aqua ammonia products. The company primarily serves cooperatives, independent fertilizer distributors, traders, wholesalers, and industrial users. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

About Yara International ASA

(Get Free Report)

Yara International ASA provides crop nutrition and industrial solutions in Norway, European Union, Europe, Africa, Asia, North and Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. The company offers ammonium- and urea-based fertilizers; compound fertilizers that contain nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; coatings; biostimulants; organic-based fertilizers; green fertilizers are nitrate-based mineral fertilizers, as well as foliar and fertigation solutions; and nitrate, calcium nitrate, micronutrient, and fertigation and urea fertilizers. It also offers digital solutions, such as variable rate application solutions; N-Sensor, a tractor-mounted hardware; N-Tester, a handheld nitrogen measurement tool; YaraFX Insight, an agricultural API; and Atfarm, a digital toolbox for farmer. The company sells its products under YaraBela, YaraMila, YaraLiva, YaraVita, YaraRega, YaraTera, YaraSuna, and YaraVera and brands. Yara International ASA was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

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Juan Acevedo Fernandez discovered by chance that he was living just steps away from his familys past. Hes 34 years old and lives on Augusto Figueroa Street in the center of Madrid. One day, while searching for a document to renew his grandmothers passport, he read an address that sounded familiar: Gravina 7, main floor. It was the building he saw every day when turning the corner.

He looked it up in the citys property registry, verified the details, and stood frozen. I said, Wow, Im living a hundred meters away. Without knowing it, Id come back to the starting point, he recalls. There, in that very building, on October 7, 1928, his grandfather Jesus Fernandez Merino was born. Almost a century later, his grandson had returned to the place where it all began.

Consuelo Naranjo Orovio, former director of the Center for Human and Social Sciences at Spains CSIC research center, explains in her book The Migrations from Spain to Latin America since Independence that between 1880 and 1930 [a period known as the mass emigration], just under 4.5 million Spaniards emigrated. All regions of Spain took part in this process. Argentina and Cuba were the main destinations, followed by Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Mexico. The 1929 crisis marked the end of mass emigration. Starting in 1945, departures to Latin America resumed, although the destinations changed and the composition of emigrants was different.

The Fernandez familys story spans the Spanish Civil War, exile, and Spains rebuilding. In 1939, after the fall of Catalonia, a van from Spains National Telephone Company  the origin of what is now Telefonica  evacuated several Republican families through the Portbou border in Girona.

Jesuss father was interned in the Argeles-sur-Mer camp, while the rest of the family settled in Poitiers, where Jesus grew up under Nazi occupation. In 1950, they emigrated to Caracas on a humanitarian flight.

Three years later, the French construction company Campenon Bernard sent him to Colombia to work on the Bajo Anchicaya dam in Valle del Cauca, on the Colombian Pacific coast. He married, settled down, and founded a distributor of Spanish technical books that became a well-known name in the industry. He never wanted to change his passport. He said that if he became a citizen, hed have to stop being Spanish  and he never wanted that, Juan recalls.

At home, they ate dinner late, drank vermouth, and spoke with a Madrid accent. Long after-dinner conversations, books, and the way stories were told kept the family connection alive. My grandfather used to say his perfect place was somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, not knowing whether he was coming or going.

In 2016, Acevedo began working in Bogota for a Spanish communications agency. Years later, he was offered a transfer to Madrid. My grandfather always wanted to return, but couldnt. So when the chance came, it was an instant yes.

When he arrived, he lived in several places in Madrid, all near old family addresses: Campoamor, General Pardinas, Gravina. Im not starting from scratch. Im continuing a story. Acevedo has held Spanish nationality since birth, but he doesnt think thats what matters most. I feel very Latin American, and also deeply Spanish. Every time I walk past Gravina, I feel like something has come full circle. That my grandfather is there, that the exile wasnt in vain. I feel like weve all made a long journey back home. And this time, weve made it.

Like Acevedo, more and more grandchildren of Spanish emigrants are returning to Madrid, completing a family cycle of departure and return. Some come for work, others to study  many with European passports from birth, and others having recently regained citizenship thanks to the Democratic Memory Law, which since 2022 allows descendants of exiles to obtain Spanish nationality without residing in the country. Migration, as always, flows in both directions  though some would rather forget that.

Juan Acevedo, with a portrait of his grandfather. JUAN BARBOSA

Between the 1950s and 1970s, more than 80,000 Spaniards settled in Colombia alone, according to the Francisco Largo Caballero Foundation, which published a study in 2009 on Spanish emigration to Latin America. Fleeing the dictatorship and the poverty of the postwar years, these Spaniards integrated into industrial, agricultural, and commercial sectors. In cities like Bogota, Medellin, or Barranquilla, they built community networks that still endure.

In Colombias capital, for example, places like the Casa de Espana were cultural hubs of the Republican exile. Some children of exiles studied at the Colegio Reyes Catolicos, which follows the Spanish education system and is now part of Spains network of public schools abroad. In many homes, memories of Spain survived through accents, recipes, and photo albums. Today, more than half a century later, the grandchildren of those migrants walk the streets of Madrid.

Diana Cid, a 27-year-old Venezuelan journalist, has lived in Madrid for a decade. Three of her four grandparents were Spanish. Her paternal grandparents, from the Spanish region of Galicia, emigrated to Caracas in the 1950s  he in 1957, she in 1960. They were farmworkers fleeing hunger.

My grandfather was one of those thousands of Galicians who boarded a ship in search of work and opportunity, says Cid. In Venezuela, her grandfather worked in agriculture, construction, and as a building superintendent. Her grandmother was a cleaner. They never returned, but never disconnected either. They watched Spanish TV, talked about their hometown, and about how hard it had been to leave, she recalls.

Cid grew up eating cocido gallego [a traditional stew] in Venezuelas sweltering heat and humidity: One morning it was arepas, the next, Galician bread with whatever was available. Her memories are full of contrasts. My grandfather brushed his teeth for the first time at 18 in Caracas. My grandmother tasted butter for the first time on the ship to Venezuela. They were humble migrants, but they managed to get ahead. They bought a house, educated their children. They built a life there that they never could have had in Spain.

Today, Cid walks through the city her grandparents never returned to. She arrived with a Spanish passport and a clear sense of purpose: she wasnt just passing through. I always knew I wanted to stay. The first time she visited Galicia, things clicked into place. I understood why my grandfather always searched for greenery in Caracas. That landscape was his refuge. For her, migration was also a way to recover a borrowed memory.

Jose Luis Diaz Garcia, a 53-year-old industrial engineer, arrived in Madrid 14 years ago. Like many others, his story is one of opportunity and roots. His partner was Venezuelan, and he had Spanish nationality through his grandfather, who was born in the town of Olvega, back when the region was still called Old Castile rather than Castilla y Leon. Thats how his grandfather wrote it in his diary, which Diaz read many years later. It tells the story of a man who left Spain in 1923, first traveling to Cuba and later settling in Colombia, where he founded one of the first photography shops in Pereira, in the heart of Colombias coffee region. He became Kodaks second distributor in the country.

He migrated with practically nothing and ended up building a fortune. He was a pioneer, his grandson recalls. The business left behind a photo archive that is now part of the citys history. He had a strong character, was very charismatic, and turned everything he touched into an opportunity, says the Spanish-Colombian Diaz.

According to Spains National Statistics Institute (INE), around 9.3 million people living in Spain today were born abroad  of these, four million were born in Latin America. Of that total, roughly 30% have acquired Spanish nationality, meaning many retain the citizenship of their country of origin. Behind many of these dual nationalities lie migrations that are, in fact, returns.

Diaz grew up with chickpeas, sevillana music, and copies of Hola! magazine arriving by airmail. My grandfather was a monarchist. He listened to shortwave radio and kept up with everything happening in Spain, says Diaz.

That shared identity lived on in small details: the names of farms, family temperaments, certain traditions. When he landed in Madrid for the first time, Diaz didnt plan to stay  but he did. It felt like a revelation. I walked down Gran Via and started recognizing things I had only ever heard about. Everything made sense.

Decades later, he returned to Olvega and even met the grandchildren of his grandfathers siblings. I feel a sense of responsibility as a migrant. You represent your country, but also the family that once left with nothing. My grandfather was welcomed with open arms in Latin America. Now that Im here, I try to honor that story  with work, respect, and remembrance.

Migration is one of the far-rights favorite targets, but official data points to a quiet and legitimate transformation. More than one million Latin Americans live in the Madrid region, according to the latest INE figures. Often, those returning dont even realize theyre walking the same ground where it all began. Other times, they seek it out intentionally. But all of them carry a story with them  the story of human migration, as old as humanity itself.

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A poignant tribute has been paid to Derry teacher Catherine Parsons who has sadly died.

The long-serving Oakgrove Integrated College teacher died suddenly in Bulgaria last month.

In an emotional tribute posted on its Facebook page, Oakgrove Integrated College described Catherine as 'a cherished member of the Oakgrove community'.

The post stated: "The entire Okgrove family  past and present  comes together in sorrow as we mourn the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Catherine (Parsons) McKinney.

For 27 years, Catherine has been cherished member of our Oakgrove community.

As Head of History she taught and led with passion and dedication. As a teacher and form teacher she guided countless young people, nurturing their unique spirits, passions and personalities, helping to shape futures.

Catherine touched innumerable lives through her teaching and her gentle presence in Oakgrove's halls.

Ever the professional, she cared deeply for each individual, sharing kindness, warmth and humour with students and staff alike.

We are all enriched by the lasting imprint of her love and grace.

She lived out the values of integrated education, acting from a deep belief in the equal worth of every person.

Catherine celebrated the diversity of our community, our shared and varied histories and the truth that people who are not like us are people just like us.

Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to Catherine's beloved daughters, her husband, her parents and her siblings in this time of sorrow.

We are deeply grateful for the tributes and messages of sympathy and solidarity that have been shared with us. They are a testament to the goodness Catherine brought into the world.

We hold close in our best thoughts all who mourn Catherine in the days to come.

Catherine was the beloved wife of Alex, loving mother of Darla and Willow, cherished daughter of Desi and Martina, daughter-in-law of Mary and Alex, dear sister of Desi, Gareth, Conor and Claire and a much loved sister-in-law, aunt and friend.

Catherines remains will be reposing in her sisters home 97 Templegrove from 2 pm on Sunday. Funeral from there on Tuesday at 9.30am for 10am Requiem Mass in Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty. Interment afterwards in the City Cemetery.

Family time from 8pm  12 noon please.

Family flowers only. Donations in Catherines memory can be made to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, via: https://www.justgiving.com/page/inmemoryofcatherine?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwY2xjawMEQJVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBvMk1kc21QT2owemJ5QUZIAR7R0ynSCHMpqXlTqmF_LkWS5nrBwYnsJ81Fo4iIhbpcsODipFd5jcaKP0fUvg_aem_yQ7tN6uU7i2axCKFwl06eQ
GoBoult represents our transformation from today to tomorrow, declares Varun Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Indias home-grown audio and wearables powerhouse. On August 4, 2025, after eight years of making neckbands and TWS earphones and scaling from an online disruptor to a 750 crore brand in FY24, Gupta unveiled a strategic rebirth. Boult Audio is gone, GoBoult is here with a new name, logo, and identity destined for higher-end horizons.

Go is one of the shortest yet most powerful words in the English dictionary, Gupta explains, It showcases speed, energy, momentum, and for us it means transformation. The arrow signifies the companys leap forward, the screw head  a nod to the product-first DNA that underpinned every successful launch since 2017, according to Varun Gupta. In an exclusive interview with Digit, he goes beyond the rebrand, delving deep into the next strategic moves GoBoults making to maximise its success.

Guptas tale reads like a founders manifesto. He and his co-founder bootstrapped Boult in 2017, initially selling exclusively on Myntra before conquering Amazon and Flipkart. In 2022, they expanded into smartwatches, and 2024 marked the first foray into offline retail.

Also read: Indias Tech Manufacturing Landscape: Past, present and future of Indian tech manufacturing

Today, GoBoult is the only profitable  and fastest-growing  audio-wearables player in India, commanding the No. 2 market share in audio and No. 3 in smartwatches, emphasises Gupta, a fact validated by 2024s CMR study. We sell a product every three seconds, we sold products in the last eight years to 3 crore plus customers, last year we clocked 750 plus crores in revenue, this year were trending to 1000 crores, he adds.

Yet, resting on current or past laurels is the last thing on GoBoults mind, as Gupta is candid about the plateauing consumer perception of the brand as a value-for-money stalwart. When we entered smartwatches three years ago, consumers looked at us as an audio-only player because of the Boult Audio name, he admits. To premiumize  and to have a deeper emotional connect and not be seen as a value-only functional player  a brand overhaul was essential.

Leveraging Make in India and local R&D

At the heart of GoBoults new chapter is an unflinching commitment to India-first manufacturing. Since 2022, we have ventured into Make in India, Gupta notes, recounting early pains of shifting from China imports to domestic production. He details how more than 99% of the stock that we produce or sell is made in India  25% in our own Delhi facility, employing over 500 people, and the rest through three local contract manufacturers.

Also read: Mivi AI is not just an assistant  Vision behind Indias first human-like AI

This move, he says, granted control, speed, and ability to do research and development. In a market where Indian consumers have grown towards Make in India products, the shift became a point of pride and a marketing differentiator, highlights Gupta. They believe Made in India is better than Made in China, Gupta observes, citing glowing retailer feedback on the Make in India tags direct boost to conversions.

Indeed, local R&D will receive a 25 crore injection this year. Gupta lays out four pillars:

Design-first innovation across 15+ models,

AI-first products, acknowledging its not the future, its the present,

App development for seamless TWS and smartwatch experiences, and

Core audio features such as active noise cancellation, vital in Indias cacophonous commutes.

Building a large-scale factory isnt up our sleeve, Gupta clarifies. GoBoult remains a design-first, research-first, and marketing-first company, leveraging in-house production for quality control and knowledge transfer rather than mass manufacturing.

Despite robust functional prowess, GoBoult recognized a gap in emotional engagement. Gupta recounts experiments with Ford Mustangbranded TWS at 1,8002,500 that grossed over 100 crore, and a Dolby-partnered series that performed phenomenally well. Yet consumer psychology resisted paying steep premiums for the same Boult moniker.

Premiumization is the buzzword in the industry, he asserts, describing how GoBoults fresh identity and bold design language aim to kindle aspiration and nudge into the aspirations of consumers. By transforming Boult  a static noun  into GoBoult  a dynamic verb  they hope customers will see energy, power, momentum and justify premium price tags.

Thoughts on competition and market trends

The audio-wearables sector is fiercely contested. Yet domestic players  GoBoult included  now control over 70% of market share, sidelining Chinese brands to a 1520% slice and Western incumbents to under 8%. According to Gupta, all my competition is bleeding money, with many burning cash to chase volumes. In contrast, GoBoults profitable, bootstrapped model enables sustainable growth.

He observes signs of market stabilization and warns that price wars alone wont win hearts. When any company starts flattening brands, it is because of a lack of new acquisition of customers, Gupta explains. GoBoults answer: emotional resonance, premium lines, and collaborations that elevate brand stature.

Also read: Indias AI focus: IBMs Amith Singhee on building trust into future of AI

GoBoults vision extends well beyond Indias borders. With 10 million-plus customers first-party data fueling insights, Gupta plans global expansion & IPO readiness as future growth levers. The company is charting entry strategies in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where Make in India credentials and price-to-performance ratios may resonate strongly.

We dont want to be complacent, he stresses. Were planning to premiumize, go global, and plan for an IPO. This bold playbook under an emboldened brand hints at GoBoults aim to join the league of publicly traded consumer-tech champions.

Message to young Indian entrepreneurs

To Indias burgeoning class of young entrepreneurs, Gupta offers this rallying cry: Change is necessary for evolution. To grow and become better, you need to be uncomfortable. His own journey  from rooftop packing units to boardrooms  exemplifies the grit and adaptability required to defy entrenched global players.

Starting small is very important. And focusing on unit economics is also very important, asserts Gupta, emphasising how he doesnt believe in just raising funds and then trading it for customer acquisition. Because sooner or later this customer will not be loyal to you, and will not come back to you in the hardware ecosystem. He will move to another player which is offering them a better discount or a better product.

Focusing on your strength and ability to dig deep is also crucial, according to Gupta. Just importing or buying products and labeling them will not help. Build a product differentiator, even though thats not very massy. And start small and start at one place. Test the market and not wait for the perfect product, he sums up.

For young consumers, GoBoults aspirational intent signals, in Guptas own words, that Indian companies can make great products with global appeal. As Gupta reflects on the nationalistic surge favouring Make in India, his parting shot resonates as both challenge and invitation: Weve built credibility and legacy. Now, lets be youthful, cooler, sexier, aspirational. GoBoult is just the beginning.
As part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs and money laundering activities in the Dublin area, Gardai have arrested three men and seized over 1.28 million in cash in South Dublin.

The arrests were made on Thursday and Friday and included almost 200,000 found during the search of a car in Donnybrook.

The operation was carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) who stopped and searched a car in the Donnybrook, Dublin 4 area, on Thursday.

Gardai say: "During the course of the search, 197,760 cash was seized and a man aged in his 50s was arrested in connection with the investigation.

A Garda statement added: "In a follow-up operation in Dublin 2 on the same day, another two men (one aged in his 30s and one his 40s) were arrested. All three men were detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, at Garda Stations in the Dublin Region.

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"During searches of a number of South Dublin properties, Gardai seized an additional 1,086,175 in cash, bringing the total amount of cash seized in this investigation to 1,283,935."

The three arrested men are expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) on Saturday.

Commenting on the investigation, Assistant Commissioner Cliona Richardson said: "This significant seizure of cash will impact the ability of those involved to cause harm in our communities. It not only removes ill-gotten gains from the hands of criminals, but also deprives them of money they would have used to fund further criminal activities.

"The DCRT is committed to keeping our communities safe by continuing to target the proceeds of criminal conduct, with a view to seizing assets and initiating prosecutions in relation to persons engaged in money laundering and associated criminal activity.
Cllr Shane McGuinness has called on Louth County Council to no longer consider any high-density housing model of any kind in the Dundalk South Area of Haggardstown, Dromiskin, Knockbridge, Blackrock or Castlebellingham for the forseeable future, until the local authority is satisfied first that our two WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plants) can facilitate further large scale housing before and lands are zone High Denisty in any form.

Cllr McGuinness made the call in a motion at the Louth County Council July meeting, and following the meeting explained his reasoning to the Dundalk Democrat.

The Fianna Fail councillor said that Dundalk South has the biggest electorate of all the five local electoral areas in Louth.

Dundalk South has a population of 38,195 according to Census 2022, 12,103 more than Dundalk- Carlingford, for example.

Cllr McGuinness said that Dundalk South provides the most money from rates, with the likes of WuXi, industrial estates, hotels, etc all located in the area, as well as the highest amount of money coming in, in terms of building levies, and yet, when it comes to dishing out the funding, we have been left behind.

Read also: Additional 364K in funding for local roads and laneways in Louth announced

The reason for that , he continued, is that there hasn't been a local councillor in Blackrock and Haggardstown for over 15 years, referring to previous councillors, Jim D'Arcy and Donal Lynch.

Whenever you don't have somebody fighting for your locality, he continued, you don't get anything, and politics is local, andthat's the reason I actually got into politics, for that reason. We have an emergency situation in Blackrock and Haggardstown in particular, because we have no sewerage capacity.

Explaining his motion, he said that what I'm saying is, any areas we have a serious capacity issue with our infrastructure, we shouldn't even consider high density housing.

"I'm a very very common sense politician. I'm a health and safety consultant, but I've also a background in construction, so I understand the way things work. I'm saying we should keep it as a low density. The motion was for me to really drive it home that we have a serious problem.

What Irish Water is now saying to developers is, we want you to put in your own external wastewater treatment systems.

I'm saying this is Third World stuff. Why can they not upgrade the plant at Cocklehill, spend the three or four million, and let the builders pay that money. Rather than a tanker  it comes every week with the external ones and empties human sludge out every week.

Outlining what he believes is necessary, Cllr McGuinness said that until the National Development Plan, and the money comes through - I met Minister James Browne and Minister Jack Chambers and pleaded with them to allocate the money for a wastewater treatment plant [upgrade] - until we get that, I don't want Louth County Council to be issuing high density housing to any developer.
Carolina has been dating a guy for a few weeks  someone she met through friends at a party. After their last date, she feels hes not going to take the next step. She brings her internal debate into a conversation with ChatGPT. She gives it context, asks for advice, and instructs it to draft a message she can send him  one that expresses her concern in a tone thats not too romantic, not too cold. More and more people, especially from Gen Z, are turning to artificial intelligence as a kind of relationship advisor.

The Singles in America study, published in June, reveals that the number of single people using this technology to improve their love lives increased by 333% compared to 2024. In addition, 23% of the 5,000 respondents admitted to using AI to perform better in their relationships.

We all need to communicate what we feel. Telling an AI something is doing it from a safe place. It wont judge you and will give you a more neutral and open perspective of what you tell it, says Carolina, 27.

The research  conducted for 14 years in the U.S. by Match Group (a tech company that runs popular dating services like Meetic and Hinge) and the Kinsey Institute  analyzed the use of artificial intelligence to draft messages, rehearse conversations, build dating profiles on apps like Tinder, or edit photos. Carolina makes it clear, though, that even if she leans on the chatbots advice, she makes the final decision about what to do with her love interests.

Only 7% of those surveyed said they asked AI for help rejecting a second date or ending a relationship; the percentage rises to 16% when considering Gen Z specifically (ages 18 to 27).

We had gone some time without speaking, this guy and I. One day I felt like texting him and asked ChatGPT what I should say. It replied, Given that, from what youve told me, he didnt respond that time, you shouldnt talk to him. It lays things out bluntly, says Carolina, who describes herself as private when it comes to sharing her personal life with friends and close ones.

Chatbots as partners

Users are turning to this technology not only to find a partner but also to make online dating easier, more enjoyable, and more efficient, according to psychologist and co-author of the study, Amanda Gesselman. This has already been a widespread practice for a few years. More unsettling, however, is another data point from the study: 16% of respondents said they had interacted with a chatbot as a romantic or sexual partner.

Apps like Character AI, Replika, or Anima AI allow users to create virtual companions tailored to their preferences, designing their personality and appearance. Thirty-six percent of respondents said their AI companion gave them more sexual pleasure or arousal than a human partner, and 44% said the companion provided more emotional support than they had received from a human partner, Gesselman notes.

This phenomenon is explained as a way to combat modern loneliness, which has worsened since the pandemic. Experts refer to a loneliness epidemic, triggered by the COVID-19 lockdowns, which slowed down social connection and reinforced digital interaction.

Eugenia Kuyda, founder of Replika  one of the AI girlfriend programs  says she created the software because people were using her earlier customer service chatbot to vent, talk about their emotions, and seek companionship.

Its also said to help improve social skills in those who feel insecure in that area, says Kerry McInerney, a researcher at the Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge. What concerns me is that this digital shift doesnt seem to have improved our levels of loneliness.

For McInerney, emotionally leaning on AI may be a temporary solution, but in the long run, it doesnt help build real relationships and social communities. New technologies give people increasing control over communication.

According to American linguist Naomi Baron, thats not normal human interaction, even though its very tempting. And its becoming more so, not only because AI tools are getting better and more realistic, but because were socially uncomfortable around people. Baron, who specializes in computer-mediated communication, believes that social skills are like learning a language: if you dont practice them, theyre lost.

Chatbots as therapists

Carlos doesnt believe he has social insecurity, but he does struggle to develop his ideas. Thats why, when he knows hes facing a difficult argument with his girlfriend, he prepares minutes beforehand using ChatGPT. Or, when the argument is over, he turns to the system to vent. It helps me anticipate certain situations. I use it to keep things from getting out of hand, to calm myself down. Its given me the right words at the right time, to the point of being moved to tears, says the 27-year-old, who has lived with his partner for three years and has a one-year-old son.

Carlos admits that his girlfriend doesnt know about the support he gets from AI, out of a sense of personal privacy. However, there are already couples who, by mutual agreement, resolve disputes or improve their coexistence with help from a chatbot, according to reports in The Economic Times and The New York Post.

In fact, last May saw the launch of a prototype called ConflictLens, an interactive language model trained with psychological theories to help people understand each other during conflict, afterward, and in the context of long-term relationships. It can replace a family therapist. It helps me rethink things, to not act on impulse, to be more diplomatic, says Carlos.

Baron hopes that couples therapy wont be replaced by this technology, but believes that if used, it should serve as a mediator rather than a final judge. Rephrasing sentences or thinking about how to say something may or may not be helpful. Because sometimes it becomes artificial, and if the language doesnt feel natural, you wouldnt use it in an intense emotional situation. I can imagine the potential for the system to say, Read what you wrote. Did you mean to sound aggressive? Wait three minutes. Its not about the AI rewriting for you, but rather acting like a traffic cop, says the linguist.

In reality, this use of AI remains a paradox: users turn to artificial intelligence to navigate their relationships, but they reject others doing the same to approach them. The Singles in America study reveals that 49% of respondents consider it dishonest to use AI to impress, and 61% believe that if someone used it  to write a message or craft a Tinder profile  they should disclose it explicitly. Beyond these new dating practices, what worries specialists most is the possibility that AI could eventually replace a real partner.

In response to pressure from researchers, OpenAI  the company behind ChatGPT  conducted a study on the subject in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab. The results, released last March, indicate that after four weeks of interaction, users who used voice mode with a chatbot of the opposite gender experienced a notable increase in feelings of loneliness, as well as greater emotional dependence on the AI. The real potential of these technological tools, McInerney argues, lies in identifying users needs  understanding what they want in the digital world in order to address it in the real one.

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BETWEEN May 1 and June 30, 162 planning applications were decided by Cork City Council, of which 80 were issued in May and 82 in June.

In contrast, 577 planning applications were decided on by Cork County Council between May 1 and July 31.

Additionally, 133 planning applications were lodged with Cork City Council between May 1 and June 30, of which 72 were lodged in May and 61 in June.

930 planning applications were lodged with Cork County Council between May 1 and July 31.

These figures, according to both city and county council spokespersons, represent a minor increase in applications  lodged and decided on  by the local authorities for the summer when compared to 2024.

While construction is yet to begin for some of these approvals, a number of projects across the city and county have progressed.

RESIDENTIAL

Several residential developments have progressed to the next stage, including a large-scale one of more than 170 units at the former Ford distribution site on the Centre Park Rd.

An application for the development, located near SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, was lodged with Cork City Council in January, and was subsequently approved in February, subject to 42 conditions.

The 176-apartment development, which was submitted by Marina Quarter Ltd, consists of a mix of one-, two-, and three-bed units in two blocks, ranging in height from seven to 10 storeys, as well as a creche, gym, and retail/cafe unit.

According to documents submitted alongside the application, the proposed development would be adjacent to the Marina Quarter SHD scheme, which is also located on the grounds of the former Ford distribution site.

CGI configuration of the 176-apartment unit LRD at the former Ford Distribution site.

This scheme is holistically designed to create a new urban neighbourhood, complete with services and amenities.

The adjacent SHD scheme got planning permission to construct more than 1,000 apartments, development amenities, and associated site works in 2020, and works commenced earlier this year.

Speaking to The Echo, a spokesperson for Glenveagh Homes, the developer behind the project, said that, overall, Glenveagh will deliver the 1,178 apartments across a number of construction phases.

The entire scheme will include 14 blocks, ranging from four to 14 storeys over three phases, the spokesperson said.

As part of the scheme, Glenveagh is pleased to be partnering with the Land Development Agency (LDA) to deliver 337 new cost-rental and social homes: 260 of these will be cost-rental apartments and 77 will be social-housing units.

The cost-rental homes include 12 studios, 84 one-bed, 119 two-bed, and 45 three-bed apartments, while the social homes include 18 one-bed, 50 two-bed, and nine three-bed apartments.

This mix will provide new homes to families, couples, and individuals alike [which] will sit alongside childcare facilities, in addition to commercial units to create a vibrant community, they added.

Construction is progressing well on these cost-rental and social homes, with piling complete, ground-floor slabs poured, and structural work under way.

The homes are scheduled for completion during 2027.

Commencement is expected to start on the wider part of this site next year, and in line with our focus on building communities and placing our customers first, we will also be investing in local amenities and commercial units in order to build a vibrant place for people to call home.

In addition to the 162 applications that were decided on by Cork City Council in recent weeks, the local authority greenlit a housing development off the N40 Ring Rd on July 22.

An application for the development, lodged by OBrien and OFlynn Ltd in December of 2024, was approved by the planning authority, subject to 32 conditions.

The development, consisting of 20 residential units, at a site in the townland of Garranedarragh in Bishopstown, will consist of a mix of 10 apartments and 10 duplex apartments, forming the final phase of the Garrane Dara estate.

The site, which is 0.35 hectares, is located between the Sarsfield Rd roundabout and the Bandon Rd roundabout, south of the N40 dual carriageway, east of the Garrane Dara estate, and north of the Eagle Valley estate.

The site will be accessed via the existing vehicular entrance to the Garrane Dara estate from Eagle Valley.

The application received a number of objections, including a submission from the Eagle Valley Residents Association and the Garrane Dara Management Company CLG.

Issues in both submissions included concerns about recreational use, pedestrian access, sewage pumping, car parking, connections to public transport, and construction phase management.

As set out in the submission that was made by the Eagle Valley Residents Association, the site, earmarked for the development, has been used as a sports-and-recreation ground for a number of years, and has become an invaluable public amenity for local residents.

Among the 32 conditions set out by the planning authority, one stipulated that, in the interest of providing a sustainable transportation option to serve the development, the applicant shall construct, at their own expense, an active travel route connecting the footpath that runs alongside the N40 and the site.

Additionally, an application for the construction of nearly 100 homes in Cobh was submitted to Cork County Council by OMahony Developments Ltd in July.

The 98 residential units will be located in Carrignafoy, around 1.4km from Cobh town centre.

The development will include 32 two-, three-, and four-bed detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses, alongside 66 one-, two-, and three-bed duplexes/apartments, with 10 units having the option of a ground-floor annex to the rear of the proposed dwellings.

The plans also provide for all associated ancillary development works, including the undergrounding of electrical connections, access, footpaths, parking, drainage, and landscaping.

Vehicular and pedestrian access to the proposed development will be provided via the Orchard/College Manor, with pedestrian/cycle access also provided via College Lawn and the Crescent.

The proposed development is phase one of two phases at this location.

Cork County Council is due to make a decision on the application by September 16.

RETAIL

In the retail and commercial space, a 10-year planning application was lodged with Cork City Council for a mixed-use development at Mahon Point Shopping Centre in July.

The application, which was submitted to the local authority by DIE Ireland ICAV, is seeking a mixed-use development across seven blocks, consisting of residential and retail units, alongside a childcare facility and community amenities.

The proposed development, spanning 77,767 sq m, will have 251 residential units, incorporating 92 one-bedroom apartments, 99 two-bedroom apartments, 46 three-bedroom apartments, and 14 four-bedroom apartments.

The plans will also provide for public and private open spaces, with recreational amenities and play areas; a creche with 64 child spaces; one commercial unit; a management suite; and two restaurant/cafe units.

Provisions will also be made for enhanced pedestrian-and-cycle access to surrounding developments, to the north and west.

When the plans were announced for Mahon Point 2.0 in June, director at Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Justin Young, described it as a demand-led expansion that enhances Mahon for everyone, and looks forward to the next 20 years.

The plans state that it will be divided in to blocks A, B, C, D, E, G, and H, which will range in height from four to six storeys.

There are also proposals for a car-park extension to provide 125 additional spaces to compensate for a loss of spaces to accommodate the development.

The multi-storey car park, accessed from a ramp to the north of block G, includes cycle parking, storage, and cycle servicing station, located within a designated mobility hub, also within block G.

Cork City Council is due to make a decision on the application by September 2.

Also in July, Irish clothing retailer Penneys announced that the company is scaling back plans to expand their Patrick St store.

The approved application, which was submitted to Cork City Council in 2021, sought to increase the retail space to 54,000sq ft, with the project encompassing a site that stretches from Robert St to Cook St, and from Patrick St to Oliver Plunkett St.

The plans were appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala, formerly An Bord Pleanala, which eventually granted permission in November 2023, saying that the development would provide for an enhanced comparison shopping unit, would assist in maintaining and strengthening the role of the city centre as the primary retail centre in the Cork metropolitan area.

The company is still intending to redevelop the space, and is believed to be preparing a new planning application to submit to Cork City Council.

Plans for the former Roches Stores/Debenhams site on Patrick Street Cork

Additionally, planning permission is being sought for the redevelopment and refurbishment of Corks iconic Roches Stores buildings.

The application, lodged in July by Tricondale Ltd, is seeking to redevelop the building, located at nos 12-17 Patrick St and nos 38-40 Maylor St, in a number of phases.

The development, which will see the site split in to two blocks, A and B, encompasses the original department store unit, fronting Patrick St, and the additional unit, fronting Maylor St, which is under the ownership of Trimerchant Ltd.

The proposed plans are seeking to subdivide block A, previously home to Roches Stores and later Debenhams, in to four retail units  inclusive of associated storage and staff welfare facilities.

Upgrade works to the space include the infilling of the atrium at first-floor level; the formation of new staff welfare facilities and storerooms; the installation of solar panels at roof level; the installation of flood defence barriers; the repair and replacement of fenestration on Patrick St; the implementation of upgraded lift shafts; and the internal demolition and construction of new walls.

A masterplan document, compiled by Henry J Lyons Architecture + Interiors, submitted alongside the application, states that the plans for the redevelopment of the site aim to deliver a vibrant, flexible, and high-quality city-centre destination.

Cork City Council are due to make a decision on the application by September 1.

REFUSALS

While a significant number of residential and retail projects were lodged with and approved by both local authorities, a number of other applications were refused, including one to develop 280 apartments on the grounds of the former Bessborough mother-and-baby home in Blackrock.

The proposed 280-apartment scheme, entitled The Meadows, was to be built on the eastern side of the Bessborough site, and to include four buildings, ranging in height from one to 10 storeys.

Rejecting the proposal, submitted by developer Estuary View, An Coimisiun Pleanala cited concerns about the planned housing mix and the developments design.

The proposed buy-to-sell scheme was one of two large-scale residential developments proposed by Estuary View on separate sites of the former Bessborough estate, both of which were refused by the planning authority.
A Cork TD has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to extend Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG, on the campus of the North Monastery.

The 16m, 4,600sq m extension, which is being funded by the Department of Education, will provide 25 classrooms.

Fine Gael TD Colm Burke told The Echo that the school has received approval for a major extension and refurbishment, under the Large Scale Capital Programme.

Mr Burke said: This project will provide much-needed space for 750 pupils, with 25 new classrooms and two SEN classrooms, ensuring students have more facilities for their studies and more students can complete their studies as Gaeilge in the northside.

This is a major boost for education in the northside and a big vote of confidence for both the school and the area.

I wish to pay tribute to principal Donal O Buachalla, and all the staff and parents involved in progressing this project.

I wish to also thank [education] Minister [Helen] McEntee for her commitment to the project.

Mr Burke explained that a letter of intent has now been issued, meaning that a contractor has been selected.

Once all the contract preconditions in the letter of intent have been met and the department has given written authorisation to proceed to contract, a letter of acceptance can be issued, Mr Burke said.

Then it moves to construction stage. We must not delay, at this point, in proceeding to construction.

Fine Gael councillor for the Cork City North West ward and past pupil, Damian Boylan, told The Echo: As a Mon boy, I am delighted to see the school expand and the support the department is giving for the growth.

The principal of Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG, Donal O Buachalla, said that the work was badly needed, adding: Weve been significantly oversubscribed for a number of years, so its great that well be able to meet the needs of the students who want to attend and be educated through Irish on the northside of the city.

We will have to continue to keep the school in operation during the building period, so the builders will have to look at that, but were very excited by the significant investment, Mr O Buachalla said.

It will be something for our students to look forward to, state-of-the-art facilities being available on campus.

The school was built in 2002, but the current intake have long outgrown that building, Mr O Buachalla said, and the new building will mean they will be able to broaden their curriculum.

Theres provisions for new design rooms, multimedia rooms, which will allow us to develop science, coding, and digital-media subjects, Mr O Buachalla said.

Were looking forward to developing for our students and providing a holistic education.
Fines issued to drivers in Cork for parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay have dropped by about 40% since 2023, it has emerged, but a city councillor claims this reduction is not due to improved driver behaviour, but to a lack of resources.

There have been 1,211 fines for parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay in Cork since 2023  544 in 2023, 473 in 2024, and 194 in 2025 so far, according to data provided by justice minister Jim OCallaghan and gardai.

In 2023, 446 fixed charge notices (FCNs) were issued for parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay in Cork city and 98 in Cork county. In 2024, these reduced to 383 in the city and 90 in the county. Figures for 2025 show 164 and 30 FCNs have been issued in the city and county, respectively.

The figures were provided on July 29, meaning 23 FCNs were issued per month on average in the city and four in the county, compared to 37 and eight per month in 2023. The figures suggest there will be 281 FCNs issued in the city and 51 in the county in total in 2025.

The Labour Partys John Maher said:

The reduction is not because drivers are becoming more responsible.

Mr Maher continued: As a sales rep who covers Munster, I drive in every town, in every village, in every city in Munster, and I can see the behaviours continuing. Its resources.

He said both gardai and council have a role to play: As a council, we operate on a Monday to Friday, 9-5 basis, in terms of wardens. Thats something the Labour grouping will be looking at in the upcoming budget, but until then its important that gardai pick up the slack. There is an element of thinking traffic enforcement is a local authority job, but also they need to be resourced properly.

He added that camera enforcement would be a great way to free up resources, while not allowing drivers to get away with illegal parking.

He described MacCurtain St as the best-in-class example that a lack of ticketing means illegal parking continues:

The bus stop on the street is the best free parking in town on the weekend  anywhere people can park a car, theyll put it there. So I dont think the reduction in fines is due to drivers being more aware, and I dont think you need to be in City Hall to know that.

Illegal parking has a huge impact, he said: Parking in a disabled bay, or at a bus stop or on a double yellow line, thats antisocial behaviour. Its stopping someone with mobility issues from being able to get to work, or people stuck on a bus for getting to an exam. Its a quiet antisocial behaviour, it doesnt shout at you or throw a dig, but it hurts a lot of people across the city. Its hurting businesses and individuals who need these disabled spaces.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council told The Echo: Cork County Council is committed to parking enforcement of disabled bays and has a good track record of ensuring proper use in accordance with national legislation and guidelines.

The Echo also contacted Cork City Council and An Garda Siochana for comment.
A Government TD has said it is not good enough that, given the record numbers of homeless people, dozens of properties under State control lie idle  among them a number of Co Cork cottages which have been empty for more than 30 years.

According to information supplied to Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central Seamus McGrath, the Office of Public Works (OPW) currently owns or manages an extensive national portfolio of approximately 2,500 State properties.

That portfolio includes office accommodation for Government departments, An Garda Siochana, and multiple State agencies  as well as public offices, laboratories, cultural institutions, warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres, and sites.

Of those properties, a total of 74 are vacant, consisting of 54 buildings and 20 sites scattered across the country.

In Cork, 16 of the buildings for which the OPW has responsibility are currently vacant.

More than half of that number, nine, are former coastguard properties located in Crosshaven  five of which are cottages that have been under OPW care since before 1993.

A sixth cottage came under the remit of the OPW at an unspecified date, and a seventh in 2017, while a former coastguard site was taken on in 2020.

All eight of those properties are listed as intra-site transfer to Cork County Council for social housing scheme.

A ninth coastguard property in Crosshaven, listed as the Rocket House, was taken on by the OPW in 2020 and is listed as under consideration by Cork County Council.

Four of the vacant Cork properties are former garda stations, of which three  Ballyfeard and Ballygurteen in South-West Cork, and Knocknagree situated on the Kerry border  have been closed since March 30, 2012.

The fourth, Rathduff Garda Station, closed on January 31, 2013, and was handed over to the OPW on November 21, 2023.

All four are listed as being prepared for disposal.

A former garda residence in Kealkil, near Bantry, was handed over to the OPW on June 8, 2012, but there are title issues which need to be resolved prior to the buildings disposal.

Bannow House in Carrigrohane, listed as a residence, came under the remit of the OPW on April 10, 2022, and is currently described as to be leased to Cork County Council.

A former OPW office on the Old Blackrock Rd in Cork is listed as under OPW care since 2015, and a note on the response given to Mr McGrath says alternative State use being examined.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr McGrath said that in the middle of a housing crisis, it was critically important that vacant properties under State control be activated as soon as possible.

Properties that the OPW has that are lying vacant, we need to ensure that theres a plan put in place to get these properties back into use without delay, Mr McGrath said.

I know that in the case of the Crosshaven coastguard cottages, there is a planning permission in place, and that there will be movement on that in the near future, and that is welcome.

But any other properties within the States control, including those in the response I received to this [request], need to be activated and brought back into use.

It simply isnt good enough that we would have properties lying vacant at a time when we have such an acute accommodation crisis.
Parents are facing a huge increase in childcare costs due to early-years providers withdrawing from the Government core funding scheme, with one family facing a 70% fee increase, a Cork TD has said.

The core funding scheme is a grant to Early Learning and Care, and/or School Age Childcare, providers towards their operating costs.

Early-years providers have criticised the scheme, saying the funding provided is insufficient to cover their costs, but that being signed up to it prevents them from being able to make income elsewhere as the scheme is their sole source of funding and must cover staffing, rent, and other expenses.

Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide said he has been contacted by constituents facing very significant creche fee increases due to their childrens creche withdrawing from the Government core funding scheme.

In one creche, fees are rising from 149 a week for a non-Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme child to 257, he said, adding:

Fees for an ECCE child are increasing from 116 to 225. One family who contacted me are facing an increase of fees in excess of 70% for their child, with one months notice.

Mr Quaide said that his party colleague Aidan Farrelly, Kildare TD and the Social Democrats spokesman for children, has long been highlighting the fact that core funding rates paid to creches have failed to keep pace with rising operational costs, and many childcare facilities around the country are facing closure if they continue with core funding.

The Echo previously revealed that 28 Cork preschools closed in 2023 and 2024, and that 345 educators left or changed jobs in 2023/2024. Of these, as many as 140 held NFQ Level 7 or higher qualifications.

Mr Farrelly has called for a Government plan for the implementation of a public model of childcare, one that includes decent pay for childcare workers. He has also proposed establishing a special cross-party committee to develop a short-, medium-, and long-term policy for the future of childcare in Ireland.

Mr Quaide said the Government needed to intervene to support providers and parents, adding: Early-years education is of foundational importance to a functioning society. Childcare workers are undervalued by this Government.

Their work is highly skilled, has a far-reaching impact on childrens wellbeing and development, and should be remunerated as such.

We need the minister for children to reckon with the crisis in childcare fees and the unbearable strain this is adding to the cost of living for families in Cork and across the country.
This past week in Cork was filled with powerful moments of reflection, vibrant celebration, and a deep sense of community spirit. It was an honour to attend a series of events that showcased the very best of who we are, both as a city and county.

This week, we had the launch of Cork Heritage Week, a vital celebration of our shared history, culture, and identity.

A wide variety of events, many of which are free, will be held throughout Cork, offering opportunities to explore the citys rich history and heritage.

I also had the great pleasure of accompanying the lovely Cork Rose, Nancy Lehane, on a visit to the English Market. Its a place steeped in tradition, warmth, and wonderful food, and it was a delight to see Nancy so warmly welcomed by stallholders and shoppers alike.

Her pride in representing Cork was truly infectious. We wish Nancy the best of luck.

This week also saw the launch of Cork Craft Month, shining a spotlight on the extraordinary talent and creativity of our local makers. From textiles and ceramics to woodcraft and jewellery, the work on display is not only beautiful, but also a testament to Corks enduring artistic spirit.

Among the most poignant moments was the laying of a wreath to mark the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, alongside the Mayor of County Cork, fellow councillors, and dignitaries. At the memorial stone on South Mall, with its solemn inscription, It must never happen again, we remembered not just Hiroshima, but also Nagasaki, and recommitted ourselves to peace in a world that still knows too much conflict.

There was also joy and solidarity at Pride Cork 2025  an unforgettable celebration of love, identity, and inclusion. From the vibrant parade to the heartfelt community events, Cork stood united in support of our LGBTQ+ community.

Additional highlights included a visit to Anglesea St Garda Station, where I was deeply impressed by the professionalism of our gardai, and a briefing at Cork Airport on a transformative 200m investment in regional connectivity. It was also a pleasure to participate in Ceili Cois Locha, celebrating 25 years of music and dance under the open sky. A magical evening in a truly special place.

Great credit is due to the musicians and volunteers that keep this wonderful tradition alive for locals and visitors alike.
A biscuit walks to its local bar, realises that it has closed its doors for good, and falls apart. To which a passer-by comments: I guess thats how the cookie crumbles.

Suit yourself.

Do you remember pub jokes? I guess theyve gone out of fashion, given that the pub industry itself is facing an existential crisis.

Weve all seen the statistics, but they still have the power to stop us in our tracks: Cork has lost more than 360 pubs since 2005 - more than one in three licensed premises - and there is no sign of an end to the decline.

The county now has villages and small towns that are in danger if turning into pub deserts - dry and thirsty and largely devoid of a social life.

Our hugely popular weekly series in The Echo, The Village Pubs Of Cork, has tapped into the reality of communities, particularly in rural areas, which in many cases are now down to their last bar standing.

In this weeks article, writer Noel Sweeney visited The Ferry Boat Inn in Ringaskiddy, the only pub in a place where once there were three,

Theres no shop, no post office, no other pub. this is it, said owner Sarah OGrady.

She runs a thriving business, but its undoubtedly a difficult time for the hospitality industry in Ireland, battling changing habits and lower tourism numbers, along with rising costs of energy, insurance, and basic food and drink.

These pubs are the last bastions where local people can gather and talk. They have a value far above that of simply providing alcohol.

Its become crystal clear that we need to do something to retain as many of these pubs - these vital community hubs - as possible.

This week, Cork Independent TD Ken OFlynn threw down the gauntlet to the Government to do something to halt the stream of last orders.

In a Facebook post, he called the trend of pub closures a cultural crisis and a damning verdict on the Government, adding: These are not just shuttered businesses; they are the extinguished hearths of rural Ireland, where generations gathered for weddings, wakes, politics, sport, and song.

Mr OFlynn called for a string of financial incentives to help pubs offset the crises that face them.

However, I wonder if a new law about to be enacted in England holds the key to a solution here.

Communities there will be given extra powers to take over pubs and other assets threatened with closure, such as cafes.

Under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, residents will get first refusal on local businesses when they go up for sale, plus an extended 12-month period to raise funding to buy them. Scotland has similar powers already.

Experts believe this legislation could throw a lifeline to pubs, which are closing at a rate of six per week in the UK, as well as keeping them out of the hands of large international chains, which are often accused of being soulless and wrecking the vibe of a true local pub.

This community-ownership model of purchasing pubs has proved popular in Ireland in recent years, but legislation like this would make it even easier for local people to save their bars and have a say in running them.

In Kinsale, residents this year teamed up to try to raise 1.5m to buy the Harbour Bar there, and run it as a community pub

Lynn Harding, who is leading the fund-raising, feared international investors would swoop in and turn the pub into something else, so she posted on social media, asking for 1,500 locals to chip in 1,000 each.

The plan is to rename the bar Tims after the last owner, Tim Platt, who died in 2024.

I didnt expect people to respond the way they did, Lynn told The Irish Times. People nowadays almost feel theres no point in trying to stem the raging tide of change and challenge.

In Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, 13 customers took over the licence of Haughtons pub by setting up a committee with shareholders. Not too far away, Maudies bar in Rathgormack, a scenic village near the Comeragh Mountains, was also bought by local residents.

Meanwhile, in Kerry, a successful GoFundMe campaign led to the community purchasing the Inny Tavern in Dromid via 110,000 fund-raising and a bank loan.

Local Eimear Ni Mhurchu said: People have to do what they can while theres still a possibility of doing something. If we dont stand up for what matters to us, it will be our fault when its gone.

Not so much a case of build it and they will come, but save it and they will come.

The encouraging news is that the government may be listening and preparing to act.

When she was Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee set out plans to modernise Irelands archaic licensing laws and provide more supports to the pub industry. A welcome development after years of prissy nannying by ministers who treat anything more than a half-pint as an affront to the nations health.

One point often being made is that pubs can pivot away from just being a place for an alcoholic drink.

In an effort to attract young people, who tend not to be big drinkers, they now provide low- and non-alcohol options, as well as the kinds of fancy teas and coffees that are popular these days.

To this end, the VFI launched a Pubs as Community Hubs pilot programme in 2022, with funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, aimed at transformng pubs into multifunctional community hubs, helping to address issues of social isolation.

The programme also seeks to encourage rural pubs to diversify their services during quieter periods by hosting activities such as community cinemas, book clubs, arts and crafts workshops, and digital hubs.

There is a sense that Ireland is slowly heading in the right direction in stemming the tide of pub closures - and adopting that English law on community ownership would be another worthwhile step.

But speed is of the essence here. The existential threat to many pubs remains.

Earlier this year, we reported on the Ramble Inn in Halfway closing after 300 years of history and 44 years in the same family.

Once the shutters go up, it is very hard to pull them down again.
Eva Osborne

Ireland has always punched above its weight on the literary world stage. From Oscar Wilde to James Joyce, our island has produced some of the most distinctive and enduring voices in literature.

Joyce redefined the modern novel with Ulysses, while Wilde still looms large over literature and theatre alike.

In more recent years, voices like Sally Rooney, Donal Ryan, and Paul Murray have captured the hearts and minds of a new generation with emotional portrayals of modern life and love.

Irelands literary tradition is not just a legacy; its an ever-evolving conversation. So, how well do you know the greats, and the voices still shaping Irish literature today? Take our quiz and find out!
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A woman wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt has been arrested at an anti-racism protest in Belfast city centre.

It comes after the British government in July made expressing support for or being a member of Palestine Action a criminal offence under terrorism legislation.

In London, around 365 people were arrested for supporting the banned group after protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll (Claudia Savage/PA)

In Belfast, videos shared online show a woman wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt being told by police officers she was being arrested on suspicion of possessing an article, namely a sign or T-shirt, that indicates support for Palestine Action.

Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll condemned police action against pro-Palestine activists.

He called on Executive ministers to speak up for the right to protest and dismiss any charges people may face.

The whole world can see the mass starvation and daily executions carried out by Israel, yet the people being harassed in Belfast are those who stand up for Palestine, Mr Carroll said.

On the same day we saw far-right protesters with offensive and provocative signage, including pro-Israel items, the police took it upon themselves to arrest activists for having the temerity to wear items of clothing in solidarity action.

The British Government implemented a regressive clampdown with their vote to proscribe Palestine Action, without a single vote being cast in the local Assembly.

Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan said the British government and PSNIs actions were disgraceful.

While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out, he said.

Just yesterday, [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City.

Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage.

Like all previous censorship attempts by the British government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail.

Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israels policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain.

The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
People taste mangoes at a booth during an annual Mango Festival in Ismailia Province, Egypt, on Aug. 8, 2025. The one-day festival promises a vibrant celebration of the region's most valued fruit, with this year's edition featuring a wide array of activities, including mango tasting sessions, culinary competitions, cultural performances, and large numbers of stalls overflowing with various types of the delicious fruit. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

ISMAILIA, Egypt, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The sweet aroma of ripe mangoes filled the air in Egypt's Ismailia as the governorate launched its annual Mango Festival on Friday.

The one-day festival promises a vibrant celebration of the region's most valued fruit, with this year's edition featuring a wide array of activities, including mango tasting sessions, culinary competitions, cultural performances, and large numbers of stalls overflowing with various types of the delicious fruit.

Visitors flocked to the festival grounds early in the morning, eager to sample the diverse range of mangoes on offer, from the Baladi and Zebdya to the Awees, Sukkari and Tommy Atkins varieties.

At the festival, the vibrant atmosphere was catching, with families strolling through the stalls, children enjoying games, and the rhythmic sounds of traditional Egyptian music filling the air.

"I come every year," said enthusiastic visitor, Ahmed Abullah. "The mangoes here are simply the best. I love trying the different types and seeing all the creative ways people use them in food."

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ismailia Governor Akram Mohamed Galal said the festival underscores the growing awareness of the importance of the mango crop and its rising status in the national agricultural economy, as it has become one of Egypt's most prominent export crops in recent years.

Galal said that the area of land dedicated to mango cultivation in Ismailia represents more than 36 percent of the total mango-growing area in Egypt.

"This reinforces its position as a leading agricultural hub and a cornerstone for the production and export of this vital crop," he said, adding that Ismailia produces more than 720,000 tons of mangoes annually across an area of approximately 120,000 feddans (about 50,400 hectares).

He pointed out that the festival aims to create opportunities for export agreements among traders, commercial attaches, and foreign import-export companies.

The heart of the festival lies in the bustling marketplace where farmers and vendors display their harvests.

Mango seller, Ali Mahmoud, who has been cultivating mangoes in Ismailia for over four decades, said this festival is crucial for mango sellers and growers.

"It allows us to connect directly with customers, showcase the fruits of our labor, and earn a good income. This year's harvest has been particularly good, and we are looking forward to a successful festival," he told Xinhua.

He affirmed that the festival aims to promote the mango crop in Ismailia, and open new horizons for investment in the agricultural sector.

"It also supports farmers by providing direct marketing outlets for their crops and encouraging the export of Egyptian mangoes," he said.

According to official data from the General Organization for Export and Import Control, Egypt's exports of fresh mangoes amounted to 143 million U.S. dollars in 2024.

Egypt produces about 1.3 million tons of mangoes annually, making it one of the largest producers of this fruit globally, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture. 

A vendor shows mangoes during an annual Mango Festival in Ismailia Province, Egypt, on Aug. 8, 2025. The one-day festival promises a vibrant celebration of the region's most valued fruit, with this year's edition featuring a wide array of activities, including mango tasting sessions, culinary competitions, cultural performances, and large numbers of stalls overflowing with various types of the delicious fruit. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on Aug. 8, 2025 shows people buying mangoes at a booth during an annual Mango Festival in Ismailia Province, Egypt. The one-day festival promises a vibrant celebration of the region's most valued fruit, with this year's edition featuring a wide array of activities, including mango tasting sessions, culinary competitions, cultural performances, and large numbers of stalls overflowing with various types of the delicious fruit. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
The astronauts part of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission are on their way back home. Their Dragon capsule called Endurance is scheduled to splash down at approximately 11:33 AM Eastern time off the coast of California. Endurance undocked from the International Space Station at 6:15PM Eastern on August 8 with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov onboard. They stayed on the ISS for five months and left a week after Crew-11 arrived to take their place.

While they were on the space station, Crew-10 helped expand our knowledge on the physiological and psychological changes humans undergo on long-duration missions that range from weeks to a year. They also observed how blood flows from the brain to the heart in microgravity, among the other studies and experiments they conducted.

As NASA notes, this will be its first Commercial Crew mission to splash down into the Pacific Ocean, as previous capsules splashed down off the coast of Florida. NASA will broadcast the crew's return, with its coverage starting at 10:15AM today, August 9. You can watch Endurance splash down into the ocean on NASA+ or on the YouTube video embedded below. NASA will also hold a teleconference after retrieving the astronauts and will broadcast the event on its website.
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Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride.

We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society.

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LANZHOU, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mountain torrents in Yuzhong County, northwest China's Gansu Province, had left 13 dead and 30 missing as of noon on Saturday, provincial emergency authorities said.

Torrential rains, which led to the mountain torrents, began pounding Yuzhong, which is under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital of Lanzhou, as well as other areas of Lanzhou on Thursday evening, with precipitation reaching 220.2 millimeters by noon on Friday.

Search and rescue efforts and infrastructure repairs are underway. As of 6 p.m. Saturday, all roads leading to the affected villages in Yuzhong had been cleared, said the provincial transport department. Power supply has been restored in 80 percent of the affected areas.

So far, a total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas.

"After receiving the rainfall alert at 4 p.m. Thursday, our entire staff immediately conducted door-to-door notifications, warning residents to take precautionary measures and convincing camping tourists in vulnerable areas to evacuate," said Zhang Kefu, Party secretary of Yaogou Village, who has been working on the relocation of affected residents.

"In all my years, I've never witnessed such a heavy rain. Stones as big as beds rushed down from the riverway. I stayed awake all night in my room, too terrified to close my eyes," 84-year-old Hao Xiuying told Xinhua from a relocation hotel.

Fortunately, the mountain torrents did not damage Hao's house as it was on high ground and far from the riverway. However, the roads in front of the house were all washed away.

At the hotel, each room has a bathroom with a shower and clean bedding. On the table, there were boxed meals, instant noodles, purified water and other supplies.

"Now that we are safely settled here, we no longer fear the mountain torrents and can finally get a sound sleep," said Gao Cuixia, Hao's daughter-in-law.

Gansu issued alerts for mountain torrents and geological disasters on Saturday evening as rainstorms are still expected in many parts of the province.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, an orange alert -- the second-highest alert level in China's four-tier system -- for mountain torrents was issued by the provincial department of water resources and the provincial meteorological bureau, warning of potential mountain torrents in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Dingxi City and Longnan City from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Additionally, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the provincial department of natural resources and the provincial meteorological bureau issued an orange alert for geological disasters, forecasting potential disasters such as collapse, landslide and mudslide in Yuzhong County in Lanzhou, Zhouqu County in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Anding District and Lintao County in Dingxi City, and Longnan City from 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday. 
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Friday, August 8, 2025

ExpertClick Press Release - Enhanced Credibility

ExpertClick to Offer Enhanced Credibility for Expert Profiles

Introducing a Rubric-Based Membership and Scoring System to Elevate Expert Visibility and Trust

Washington, DC  August 8, 2025  ExpertClick, the trusted platform that connects journalists, producers, and event organizers with qualified experts, today announced a major expansion of its membership program, introducing five distinct levels designed to give professionals unmatched flexibility, visibility, and credibility.

At the heart of this evolution is ExpertClick's new Rubric-based scoring system, a clear and transparent method to assess and showcase the credibility of expert profiles. This rubric evaluates profiles on key professional criteria  including photo quality, bio clarity, expertise keywords, media presence, contact info, online branding, mission alignment, authenticity, media readiness, and membership fit.

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Hollywood, CAWithout Redemption, a ground breaking serial killer biography centered on Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, continues to generate interest throughout the U.S. and around the world. Throughout 2025 sales on Amazon have been climbing with the burning questionWhen will this detailed biography, one utilizing jailhouse diaries and handwritten murder confession stories about the 22 murders Bonin committed, be made into a TV mini-series. The material is personal as well as shedding new light on, at the time, the late 1970s serial killer case that was the biggest in Southern California history.

While Bonin was awaiting trial at LA Men's Central Jail, from January to September 1981, he was keeping a jailhouse diary about all of the various deals and strategies going on between the prosecutors, detectives, suspects, witnesses, inmates, defense lawyers, reporters, politicians and friends. Simultaneously, he was writing the murder confession stories and then handing everything over to an attorney for safekeeping. Hidden for 40 years and discovered in 40 boxes of documents gifted to co-author Vonda Pelto, a Clinical Psychologist had sessions with Bonin and two accomplices, were keys to solving two murder cases and peering into Bonin's soul.

Inside those diaries and murder stories was a Bonin know one really knewthe sharp keen mind with a memory for detail, the ability to cogently analyze situations from multiple angles, a doomed man able to see light in the darkness, a dreadfully conflicted soul that, deep down, knew full well he was an irredeemable monster. The sessions with Pelto reveal yet another Bonin, the master manipulator, the shape changer who could be many things to many people.

Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice, by Clinical Psychologist Vonda Pelto and Michael Butler, offers a multi-layered look into the mind of a notorious serial killer.

Without Redemption Official Book Trailer





A terrific credible review came from Paul Cheston, a respected UK crime reporter and author of The Babes in the Woods Murders: The Shocking True Story of How Child Murderer Russell Bishop was Finally Brought to Justice. A 'specialist' court reporter for the Evening Standard, beginning in 1993, Cheston signed on with the Standard in 1988 after sharpening his skills at the Diss Express and Press Association. A reporter for 23 years at one of the most famous courts in the world, London's Old Bailey, Paul hung up his notepad in 2016 and was given an open court sendoff attended by a host of senior judges, barristers and fellow journalists.

The first review below is from Paul Cheston, followed by some of the best reviews of Without Redemption which are on Amazon.

Unique & Amazing Serial Killer Biography

I would unreservedly recommend Without Redemption as the most profound analysis of a serial killer I have read.

It is based on unprecedented access to probation, medical, psychiatric reports, police statements and court documents, and, as an author and journalist, I know how difficult, nay impossible, it is to gain access to such a treasure trove of detail and insight.

But most importantly it has the unique perspective of Vonda Pelto's own interviews with Bonin and his accomplices and the mass killer's own handwritten diaries.

The authors spare no one in exposing how Bonin was allowed to game the system and names of those professionals and institutions which put their own vested interests ahead of their duty to have him locked up long before he even started his killing spree.

Michael Butler has a light writing style which keeps the pace moving briskly and never loses the balance between explaining why Bonin killed and the devastating impact of this need to kill on the victims and their families.

5 StarsWonderful book about a very disturbing serial killer case

This book was written by Dr. Vonda Pelto, who is a psychologist hired to give help and support to the high profile inmates of the Los Angeles County Jail after one of William Bonin's aka The Freeway Killer's codefendants committed suicide while awaiting trial for participating in six murders with William Bonin. After that happened they immediately hired Dr. Pelto to help give the high profile inmates by listening to them and she prevented any more high profile inmates from taking their own lives.

Cate in Columbia

5 StarsInside the mind of a serial killer!

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023, Verified Purchase

Wow this is an amazing book written by a someone who got into the soul of a killer. I loved this book, though I may have difficulty sleeping tonight!

5 StarsAll the Makings of Compelling Serial Killer Movie or Mini-Series

Without Redemption' sets itself apart from other serial killer bios with the sheer volume of factual detail, one which reads like historical biographies of famous leaders. Freeway Killer Bill Bonin's whole life is laid out and this allows the authors to carefully track his 30-year journey/descent into murderous depravity. I have worked on a number of productions about serial killers and murderers most recently "The Patient" staring Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleason for FX Productions, and this book has all the elements for a compelling movie, mini-series or docudrama.

First, you have Bonin's detailed diaries/written confessions which give an inside view of everything; Second, the co-author, Vonda Pelto, Ph.D., having ersatz counseling/confession sessions with three of the six Freeway Killers in jail; Third, reams of documentary evidence about Bonin's childhood, war service, years in mental hospitals and prisons followed by the months leading up to the murder spree. Next are Bonin's carefully written stories of the 22 killings all over Southern California, the journalists reporting on his activities and the detectives chasing him.

Then, after his arrest everyone jumps in the pool together to hash out the penultimate act. Cases are gett built, deals negotiated and more suspects pursued. Political backstabbing, deception, lying and coverups, which is followed by Bonin's huge trial and the final curtain in this tragic drama.

Generous use of newspaper stories fill in the gaps and the whole book moves rapidly forward without too much lollygagging. 'Without Redemption' is as close to a complete serial killer historical biography that one might find.

5 StarsHow a Serial Killer Gets to That Uncaring Place

Bill Bonin's 32-year journey to becoming a serial killer is laid out step by step in a way that highlights where and when his ultimate fate may have been derailed, but it was not to be. Terrific biography of the infamous Freeway Killer, one told from many perspectives as outside events impacted his life again and again.

Everything is placed in proper historical context as rapidly changing societal values swirled around the existence of this broken man, one who ripped a hole in so many families and communities. Authors deserve praise for getting so many small details correct, some that matter intensely.

You won't be disappointed in 'Without Redemption' at all. Can't wait for the movie!

Without Redemption is currently available on Amazon and Google Play and has found interested readers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe.

Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Escaped Justice, Paperback ISBN: 979-8841931249, Hard Cover ISBN: 979-8844477775. For more info go to www.WithoutRedemption.com and purchase copies at Amazon, Google Play or Kobo.

Media Contact: For interviews or to request review copies contact Flotsam PR at 562-384-6697 or flotsampr@pm.me.
Two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed in Devon, with further suspected cases under investigation in Wales and Suffolk.

Defra confirmed on Friday evening (8 August) that the virus was detected on two separate commercial poultry farms: one near Seaton, East Devon and another near Lifton, West Devon.

In response, 3km Protection Zones and 10km Surveillance Zones have been declared around each affected site, with all poultry on the premises set to be humanely culled in line with disease control protocols.

Elsewhere, a suspected case of avian influenza has been identified in partridges and pheasants at a premises near Dulas, Ynys Mon, Anglesey.

Welsh government authorities declared a 1km Temporary Control Zone on 8 August as a precaution while further testing is carried out.

In Suffolk, another suspected outbreak was reported the same day in commercial poultry near Woodbridge, East Suffolk. Laboratory confirmation is pending.

There is already under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across England, with mandatory biosecurity measures in force.

Poultry gatherings remain banned, and additional measures apply in all disease control zones surrounding confirmed sites.

Defra has urged all bird keepers  whether they own commercial flocks, smallholdings, or pet birds  to follow strict biosecurity protocols to protect against the spread of avian influenza.

The measures will remain in place until further notice and are subject to regular review, the department said.

It comes amid a notable surge in bird flu cases across the UK this summer, with several outbreaks reported in commercial and wild bird populations.

Earlier this week, the virus was confirmed in commercial poultry near Attleborough, Norfolk, following an outbreak in the county last week and another in Devon, where a total of 80,000 birds were culled.

Meanwhile, RSPCA Assured announced it is ramping up efforts to support poultry farmers with flexible assessments, biosecurity measures and welfare guidance following the uptick in cases.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu primarily affects avian species but can occasionally infect other wildlife such as foxes, seals, and otters.

Public health authorities maintain that the risk to humans remains low at this time.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 8, 2025. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement here at the White House on Friday, ending a decades-long border conflict. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the initialing of the agreement by their foreign ministers. The two countries will take further steps to eventually sign and ratify the agreement, the declaration said. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement here at the White House on Friday, ending a decades-long border conflict.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the initialing of the agreement by their foreign ministers. The two countries will take further steps to eventually sign and ratify the agreement, the declaration said.

"The conditions have been created for our nations to finally embark on building good neighborly relations on the basis of the inviolability of international borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force for the acquisition of territory after the conflict that brought immense human suffering," it said.

Aliyev told reporters the same day that the formal signing of the agreement should not take very long.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988. Peace talks have been going on since 1994 when a ceasefire was agreed on, despite sporadic clashes since then. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 8, 2025. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement here at the White House on Friday, ending a decades-long border conflict.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the initialing of the agreement by their foreign ministers. The two countries will take further steps to eventually sign and ratify the agreement, the declaration said. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on August 8, 2025. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement here at the White House on Friday, ending a decades-long border conflict.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the initialing of the agreement by their foreign ministers. The two countries will take further steps to eventually sign and ratify the agreement, the declaration said. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House, in Washington, D.C., the United States, on August 8, 2025. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement here at the White House on Friday, ending a decades-long border conflict.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the initialing of the agreement by their foreign ministers. The two countries will take further steps to eventually sign and ratify the agreement, the declaration said. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
Brazil is set to close the 2024-25 cotton season with record export volumes, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX). From August 2024 to the fourth week of July 2025, the country shipped 2.82 million tons5 per cent more than the previous record of 2.68 million tons, as per the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).

Between August 2024 and June 2025, key buyers of Brazilian cotton included Vietnam (19 per cent), Pakistan (18 per cent), China (16 per cent), Bangladesh (15 per cent), Turkiye (12 per cent), Indonesia (6 per cent) and India (5 per cent), reflecting a diversification of export destinations. From January to late July 2025, exports reached 1.61 million tons, up 2.92 per cent year-on-year.

In the first 19 days of July alone, Brazil exported 111,700 tons15.9 per cent less than in June 2025 but the second-highest volume for the month, trailing only July 2024s 167,200 tons, CEPEA said in its latest fortnightly report on the Brazilian cotton market.

Brazil is poised to close the 2024-25 cotton season with a record 2.82 million tons in exports, 5 per cent above the previous peak. Key buyers included Vietnam, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Indonesia and India. While shipments surged, domestic prices fell to their lowest since December 2024 amid harvest progress, surplus supply and weak demand, with global prices further pressuring export parity.

In the local market, cotton prices fell sharply in late July and early August amid harvest progress, ample domestic surplus, and weak demand. Lower global prices further pressured values by reducing export parity.

The CEPEA/ESALQ Index (8-day payment) dropped 1.69 per cent between July 28 and August 4, closing at BRL 4.0254 (~$0.74) per pound, the lowest since December 4, 2024. Julys monthly average of BRL 4.1061 (~$0.76) per pound was 4.03 per cent below June 2025 and 2 per cent lower year-on-year, marking the weakest monthly average since November 2024.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) projects the 2025-26 global cotton area at 31.3 million hectares, with average yields of 827 kilos per hectare, leading to an estimated production of 25.912 million tons1.55 per cent higher year-on-year. Global consumption is forecast at 25.564 million tons, up 0.26 per cent from 2024-25, but still 1.34 per cent below projected supply.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
Germany's manufacturing sector saw a 1 per cent decline in new orders in June 2025 compared to May 2025, after seasonal and calendar adjustment. However, orders rose marginally by 0.8 per cent year-on-year, according to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)

Excluding large-scale orders, however, June orders were 0.5 per cent higher than the previous month. Over the broader three-month period (Q2 vs Q1), new orders were up 3.1 per cent overall and 0.1 per cent excluding large-scale orders.

Category-wise, new orders for capital goods declined by 5.3 per cent in June 2025 compared to the previous month. In contrast, orders for consumer goods rose by 0.5 per cent, while intermediate goods saw a stronger increase of 6.1 per cent.

In terms of geography, foreign orders declined 3 per cent overall. While demand from the euro area rose 5.2 per cent, non-eurozone orders plunged by 7.8 per cent. Meanwhile, domestic orders rose 2.2 per cent. Destatis said in a release.

Despite the fall in orders, turnover in manufacturing rose 0.9 per cent in June 2025 compared to the previous month. However, it was still 1.2 per cent below the June 2024 level. May 2025 turnover was revised slightly upward to a 1.8 per cent decline (from -1.9 per cent).

Germany's manufacturing orders fell 1 per cent in June 2025 but rose 0.8 per cent year-on-year. Excluding large orders, they were up 0.5 per cent. Capital goods orders dropped 5.3 per cent, while consumer and intermediate goods rose 0.5 per cent and 6.1 per cent. Foreign orders fell 3 per cent, domestic rose 2.2 per cent. Despite weak orders, turnover rose 0.9 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2025) - Scope Technologies Corp. (CSE: SCPE) (OTCQB: SCPCF) (FSE: VN8) ("Scope Technologies" or the "Company") today announced that it has granted a total of 200,000 stock options exercisable at $0.35 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. The stock options are subject to the vesting requirements set by the board of directors. In addition, Scope Technologies granted 135,000 restricted share units (RSUs) to an officer. The RSUs are also subject to the vesting requirements set by the board of directors.

For more information on how QSE's quantum security solutions visit www.qse.group or contact sales@qse.group

About Scope Technologies Corp

Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Scope Technologies Corp is a pioneering technology company specializing in quantum security and machine learning. Through its flagship brands, QSE Group and GEM AI, Scope provides next-generation solutions in data security, quantum encryption, and neural networks, empowering businesses with secure, scalable technologies that drive growth and operational efficiency.

LinkedIn: scope-technologies-corp

Facebook: Scope Technologies Corp

Twitter: @ScopeTechCorp

Contact Information:

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical statements of fact are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, future, strategy, objectives, goals and targets, and more specifically, the use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "aim", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, but not limited to, those risks and assumptions described in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While Scope considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions, continued satisfaction of Canadian Securities Exchange requirements, product safety and recalls, regulatory compliance and risks associated with the Company's business. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261927

SOURCE: Scope Technologies Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2025) - Carolina Rush Corporation (TSXV: RUSH) (OTCQB: PUCCF) ("Carolina Rush," "Rush" or the "Company") announced that, as a result of a review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC"), the Company has amended and refiled its Technical Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Brewer Gold -Copper Project, South Carolina", originally filed on May 2, 2025.

The OSC review was conducted as part of its continuous disclosure review program specifically related to the requirements under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The Company has addressed the following items in the amended Technical Report:

Authorship and independence: Patrick Quigley, the Company's Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager, was removed as a co-author of the report to comply with NI 43-101 requirements for independent authors. Patrick Hollenbeck, an independent Qualified Person, assumes sole authorship and responsibility.

Patrick Quigley, the Company's Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager, was removed as a co-author of the report to comply with NI 43-101 requirements for independent authors. Patrick Hollenbeck, an independent Qualified Person, assumes sole authorship and responsibility. Updated CIM Guidelines: The amended report reflects the current CIM Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019) instead of the outdated 2003 version.

The amended report reflects the current CIM Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019) instead of the outdated 2003 version. Metallurgical Recovery: A responsible metallurgical recovery assumption, based on historical Hazen test work (1984), was applied to support the cut-off grade used in the mineral resource estimate.

A responsible metallurgical recovery assumption, based on historical Hazen test work (1984), was applied to support the cut-off grade used in the mineral resource estimate. Constraining surfaces for RPEEE: To demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE), the Company constrained the mineral resource within a conceptual open-pit shell.

To demonstrate reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE), the Company constrained the mineral resource within a conceptual open-pit shell. Clarification on High-Grade Assay Handling: Additional disclosure was provided on the use of "high-yield limits" to constrain the influence of statistical outliers.

Table 1: Amended Brewer in Situ Mineral Resource Statement (0.4 g/t Au cutoff)





Average Value Material Content I&I Mass Au Cu Au Cu

thousand tonnes g/t ppm thousand oz thousand lbs. Indicated 6,167 0.97 1,266 192 16,671 Inferred 8,828 0.74 425 210 8,279 Differences may occur in totals due to rounding.





(1) Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(4) The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.

(5) A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are encouraged to review the full report, which will provide further details on key assumptions, parameters, and risks associated with the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Table 2: Brewer Inferred Backfill Mineral Resource Statement as announced on March 20, 2025 (not impacted based on refiling of Technical Report):





Average Value Material Content Backfill Model Mass Au Cu Au Cu

thousand tonnes g/t ppm thousand oz thousand lbs. HLP 1-4 2,000 0.17 94 11 414 HLP 5 1,579 0.49 863 25 3,007 HLP 6 2,429 0.22 292 17 1,561 Waste Rock 5,892 0.46 313 86 4,068 Total 11,900 0.36 345 139 9,050 Differences may occur in totals due to rounding.

(1) Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability.

(2) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve.

(4) The Mineral Resources in this report were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.

(5) Details on the metallurgical properties and processing methods required to extract gold and copper from the backfill material have not been undertaken. As such, the Backfill resource is considered theoretical and additional studies are required to report the inferred resources at a higher level of confidence.

(6) A NI 43-101 Technical Report supporting the Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Investors are encouraged to review the full report, which will provide further details on key assumptions, parameters, and risks associated with the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Patrick Quigley, MSc, CPG-12116, the Company's Senior Geologist and Exploration Manager and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Carolina Rush

Carolina Rush Corporation (TSXV: RUSH) (OTCQB: PUCCF) is a U.S.-focused exploration company 100% committed to advancing the Brewer Gold-Copper Project in South Carolina-a large, underexplored system with the potential to host both near-surface epithermal and deep porphyry-style mineralization. Located just 13 km from OceanaGold's producing Haile Gold Mine, Brewer is a past-producing operation now under modern exploration.

For additional information please visit our new website at http://www.TheCarolinaRush.com/ and our X feed: https://twitter.com/TheCarolinaRush.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company's 2025 Maiden MRE; that the mineral resource remains open at depth, the potential for future MRE growth from deeper drilling, and/or future exploration. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261814

SOURCE: Carolina Rush Corporation
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 8, 2025) - Scryb Inc. (CSE: SCYB) (OTC Pink: SCYRF) (FSE: EIY) ("Scryb") is issuing this release to report information concerning its holdings in Cybeats Technologies Corp. (the "Issuer"). This press release is issued pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ("NI 62-104") and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues ("NI 62-103").

On August 5, 2025, Scryb acquired 9,788,450 common shares ("Common Shares") of the Issuer in settlement of $978,845 of debt, as part of a broader debt settlement transaction in which the Issuer issued a total of 15,000,000 Common Shares to settle $1,500,000 of outstanding debt (the "Debt Settlement").

Pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities, the Common Shares are subject to a four-month and one-day hold period commencing on the Closing Date.

As at the date of this press release, the Issuer reports having 192,880,745 Common Shares issued and outstanding.

Immediately prior to the completion of the Debt Settlement, Scryb owned or exercised control or direction over 64,643,500 Common Shares and 13,125,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") representing approximately 49.17% and 53.78% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Issuer on an undiluted and partially diluted basis, respectively (based on 131,460,740 Common Shares outstanding prior to the completion of the Debt Settlement).

After completion of the Debt Settlement and accounting for the debenture conversions and brokered offering of the Issuer that closed on August 5, 2025 and August 7, 2025, respectively, Scryb owns or exercises control or direction over 74,431,950 Common Shares and 13,125,000 Warrants, representing approximately 38.59% and 42.50% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Issuer on an undiluted and partially diluted basis, respectively (based on 192,880,745 Common Shares outstanding as of August 7, 2025).

The acquisition of the securities described above was completed for investment purposes. Depending on market and other conditions, Scryb may from time to time in the future increase or decrease the ownership, control or direction over securities of the Issuer, through market transactions, private agreements, or otherwise.

In satisfaction of the requirements of NI 62-103 and NI 62-104, an early warning report respecting the acquisition of securities by Scryb will be filed under the Issuer's SEDAR+ Profile at www.sedarplus.ca. To obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by Scryb, please contact Scryb at (647) 872-9982 or refer to SEDAR+ under the Issuer's issuer profile. The Issuer is located in 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 6L9, Canada, and Scryb is located in 65 International Blvd, Suite 103, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W 6L9, Canada.

About Scryb Inc.

Scryb invests in and actively supports a growing portfolio of innovative and high-upside ventures across AI, biotech, digital health, and cybersecurity.

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the proposed Consolidation, including the record date, effective date and ratio thereof. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, included in this press release, the assumption that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the proposed Consolidation and that the Consolidation will be completed as currently anticipated. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the proposed Consolidation and use its discretion to prohibit the proposed Consolidation; that the Consolidation may not be completed by the Company; and that the board of directors of the Company retains discretion over the terms and implementation of the Consolidation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261841

SOURCE: Scryb Inc.
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.



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THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR UNITED STATES PERSONS

CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questerre Energy Corporation ("Questerre" or the "Company") (TSX,OSE:QEC) reported today on its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Michael Binnion, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Questerre, commented, "Our production averaged over 3,000 boe per day in the quarter after the tie-in of the three (1.5 net) Kakwa North wells. We are assessing both owned and third-party processing capacity for these existing volumes and future growth. A follow-up drilling program is now scheduled for the second half of next year."

Commenting on developments in Quebec, he added, "Interest is growing in our natural gas discovery as a secure and reliable supply in Quebec, particularly among industrial gas users. It is also being considered as the supply for the 550 MW Becancour thermal power plant as it may be converted to produce power for peak demand periods. As we work towards a business solution, we are also following the legal process to protect our shareholders' rights. We recently filed an application for leave to appeal a decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal to reinstate certain provisions of Bill 21 prior to our hearing on the merits of the case."

Highlights

Kakwa North wells tied-in and on production

Questerre filed leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada following Quebec Court of Appeal ruling on Bill 21

Average daily production of 3,091 boe per day for the quarter, almost doubling production from the same period last year

Net cash from operating activities of $6.3 million and adjusted funds flow from operations of $5 million despite significantly lower realized prices

Following the tie-in of the Kakwa North wells, production volumes this year increased materially compared to last year. Production averaged 3,091 boe/d for the quarter (2024: 1,559 boe/d) and 2,414 boe/d for the first half of the year (2024: 1,612 boe/d).

Higher production volumes were partly offset by the lower realized liquids prices resulting in higher revenue for the quarter and six months ended June 30 compared to last year. For the quarter, petroleum and natural gas sales totaled $13.7 million (2024: $8.8 million) and $22.8 million year to date (2024: $17.8 million). The higher revenue contributed to adjusted funds flow from operations of $5 million (2024: $4.5 million) in the quarter and $8.5 million for the first six months of the year (2024: $7.4 million) and cash flow from operations of $6.3 million for the quarter (2024: $3.1 million).

The revenue was offset by higher expenses and contributed to a net loss of $0.7 million for the quarter and year to date (2024: $1.3 million income for the quarter and $1.1 million year to date). Capital expenditures in the quarter were $1 million (2024: $7 million) and $18.9 million year to date (2024: $9.7 million).

As at June 30, 2025, effectively no amounts were drawn on the facility and the Company held unrestricted cash and term deposits of $18.3 million. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had a net working capital surplus of $13.2 million (2024: $27.6 million surplus).

The term "adjusted funds flow from operations" and "working capital surplus" are non-IFRS measures. Please see the reconciliation elsewhere in this press release.

Questerre is an energy technology and innovation company. It is leveraging its expertise gained through early exposure to low permeability reservoirs to acquire significant high-quality resources. We believe we can successfully transition our energy portfolio. With new clean technologies and innovation to responsibly produce and use energy, we can sustain both human progress and our natural environment.

Questerre is a believer that the future success of the oil and gas industry depends on a balance of economics, environment, and society. We are committed to being transparent and are respectful that the public must be part of making the important choices for our energy future.

Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") including its assessment of processing capacity for existing volumes and future growth, the operator's plans for follow-up drilling, and the Company's views on interest in its natural gas discovery growing among industrial gas users. Forward-looking statements are based on several material factors, expectations, or assumptions of Questerre which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Questerre believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Questerre can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further, events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation: the implementation of Bill 21 by the Government of Quebec and certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in Questerre's public disclosure documents. Additional information regarding some of these risks, expectations or assumptions and other factors may be found under in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Questerre undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Certain information set out herein may be considered as "financial outlook" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The purpose of this financial outlook is to provide readers with disclosure regarding Questerre's reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities for the periods indicated. Readers are cautioned that the financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes.

(1) For the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, liquids production including light crude and natural gas liquids accounted for 1,690 bbls/d (2024: 931 bbls/d) and natural gas including conventional and shale gas accounted for 8,409 Mcf/d (2023: 3,767 Mcf/d). For the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, liquids production including light crude and natural gas liquids accounted for 1,346 bbls/d (2024: 955 bbls/d) and natural gas including conventional and shale gas accounted for 6,412 Mcf/d (2024: 3,942 Mcf/d).

Barrel of oil equivalent ("boe") amounts may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio has been calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil and the conversion ratio of one barrel to six thousand cubic feet is based on an energy equivalent conversion method application at the burner tip and does not necessarily represent an economic value equivalent at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalent of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

This press release contains the terms "adjusted funds flow from operations" and "working capital surplus" which are non-GAAP terms. Questerre uses these measures to help evaluate its performance.

As an indicator of Questerre's performance, adjusted funds flow from operations should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. Questerre's determination of adjusted funds flow from operations may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. Questerre considers adjusted funds flow from operations to be a key measure as it demonstrates the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to fund operations and support activities related to its major assets.

Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ thousands) 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net cash from operating activities $ 6,288 $ 3,141 $ 9,646 $ 5,769 Change in non-cash operating working capital (1,283 ) 1,314 (1,099 ) 1,659 Adjusted Funds Flow from Operations $ 5,005 $ 4,455 $ 8,547 $ 7,428

Working capital surplus is a non-GAAP measure calculated as current assets less current liabilities excluding risk management contracts and lease liabilities.




Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - August 9, 2025) - Pawmenities, Boston's award-winning luxury pet hotel and daycare, is proud to announce the completion of a major renovation to its flagship facility-marking a significant milestone in the company's mission to redefine pet hospitality.

The expansive renovation includes:

State-of-the-art indoor and outdoor play areas Upgraded advanced air purification systems designed for pets Upgraded dog wash High-end finishes and industry-leading safety upgrades Dedicated wellness and grooming lounges Tailored enrichment zones for social and solo play

"Our mission has always been to elevate what pet care looks and feels like," said Ethan Money, the founder of Pawmenities. "This renovation isn't just about upgrading our space-it's about honoring the deep emotional bond people share with their pets. Every decision we made, from the spa-grade suites to the enriched play environments, was driven by a single goal: to create a home-away-from-home where pets feel loved, secure, and cared for at the highest level. We know our clients trust us with their four-legged family members, and we take that responsibility very seriously."

With its newly revamped space and unwavering commitment to pet wellness, Pawmenities continues to serve as the go-to destination for dog owners seeking top-tier care in Boston and beyond.

With locations in Boston's Seaport and Lynnfield's Market Street, Pawmenities continues to lead the way in luxury, cage-free pet care-offering boarding, daycare, grooming, and wellness services in an elevated, spa-like environment. Serving as the go-to destination for dog owners seeking top-tier care in Boston and beyond.

About Pawmenities

Pawmenities is Boston's premier luxury pet hotel, offering award-winning boarding, daycare, grooming, and wellness services for dogs and cats. With a focus on personalized care, safety, and emotional well-being, Pawmenities redefines what it means to board pets. Learn more: www.pawmenities.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261793

SOURCE: FG Newswire
Alaska will host a landmark meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The states proximity to Russia, rich history, and strategic Arctic location make it an ideal venue for this high-stakes summit

People wearing head cut-outs depicting US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin jump during a protest at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, February 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters

On August 15, United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaskas largest city or another yet-to-be-revealed location for talks aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The summit will mark a significant moment not only for the three-and-a-half-year-old conflict but also for US-Russia relations and Alaskas own legacy as a bridge between nations.

The meeting will be the first in-person engagement between Trump and Putin since Trumps return to the White House earlier this year, and the first time the two leaders will meet on US soil.

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It comes at a time when both Washington and Moscow appear to be weighing a possible ceasefire deal that could reshape territorial boundaries in Eastern Europe.

The Friday announcement followed weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also involved.

According to Trump, the three countries were nearing an agreement that could halt hostilities, with discussions reportedly touching on potential land transfers as part of the settlement.

Therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, Trump told reporters at the White House. The remark pointed to a possible arrangement in which Ukraine might cede control of certain regions to Russia in exchange for peace.

The Kremlin confirmed the planned summit through an online statement.

Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin, said the agenda would focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis and acknowledged that this will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically.

In his own address to the Ukrainian people that evening, Zelenskyy struck a cautiously optimistic tone, noting that a ceasefire could be attainable if sufficient diplomatic and economic pressure were maintained on Moscow.

He said his administration had been in constant contact with Washington and had engaged with more than a dozen other world leaders in recent days to keep the momentum going.

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Why has Alaska been chosen for the Trump-Putin meeting?

The choice of Alaska as the meeting location avoids the legal complications that would arise if Putin travelled to a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Russian president is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant issued in connection with alleged war crimes in Ukraine, meaning that under international law, ICC member states would be obliged to detain him if he entered their territory.

The United States is not a party to the ICC and does not recognise its jurisdiction, removing any legal obligation to arrest Putin.

Alaskas geographical position also made it a practical choice. The states mainland lies only about 88 kilometres (55 miles) from Russia across the Bering Strait, with some of its smaller islands even closer.

Although the Kremlin had previously floated other potential venues, including the United Arab Emirates, Trump confirmed in his announcement that he would host Putin in Alaska.

What is Alaskas connection to Russia?

Alaskas connection to Russia dates back more than two centuries. The Russian Empire began exploring and settling parts of the territory in the 18th century, establishing fur trading posts and expanding its presence across the Bering Sea.

On March 30, 1867, the United States and Russia signed the Treaty of Cession, under which Russia transferred Alaska to the US for $7.2 million at the time  roughly two cents an acre.

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The agreement ended Russias 125-year presence in North America, which at its height extended as far south as Fort Ross in California.

For the US, the acquisition was motivated by both economic and strategic considerations. Officials saw Alaska as rich in natural resources  including gold, fur, fisheries, and later petroleum  and as a potential gateway for trade with East Asia.

There were also concerns that Britain might attempt to establish a foothold in the region, making Alaskas purchase a move to consolidate US influence in the Pacific.

The territory brought vast wealth over the years, with hundreds of billions of dollars worth of resources extracted, ranging from whale oil and fur in the 19th century to copper, gold, timber, fish, platinum, zinc, lead, and petroleum in later decades.

Even today, Alaska holds substantial untapped oil reserves. Its resource wealth has allowed the state to operate without a sales or income tax and to provide every resident with an annual payment from its oil revenue fund.

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Alaska became the 49th US state in 1959 when then-US President Dwight D Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act.

The legislation granted the state control over more than 104 million acres of land but also included a provision that the new states citizens were waiving claims to land under Native title.

This clause was controversial, as Alaskas Indigenous peoples  numbering about 75,000 at the time  had longstanding claims to much of the territory.

In 1971, then-US President Richard Nixon signed into law the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which resolved these disputes by transferring 44 million acres of land and providing $1 billion to Alaska Natives.

Today, the states population is about 740,000, including around 120,000 Indigenous residents.

What makes Alaska strategically important today?

Alaskas location continues to make it a vital asset in US defence strategy. The state is home to key US military installations, including Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage and Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks.

Its position as the only US state with territory in the Arctic ensures that it plays a central role in Americas Arctic policy, especially as climate change opens new shipping lanes and resource exploration opportunities in the region.

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This Arctic connection also makes Alaska a natural choice for hosting high-level discussions involving global security, commerce, and environmental concerns.

While the August 15 summit will be historic in its own right, it is not the first time Alaska has been at the centre of international diplomacy.

In March 2021, Anchorage hosted senior officials from the US and China in a meeting that quickly turned confrontational, with both sides publicly criticising each others policies in front of the media.

Earlier, in 1984, the state hosted Pope John Paul II during his meeting with then-US President Ronald Reagan, and in 1971, Nixon met the Emperor of Japan in Alaska.

Is Alaska ready for the summit?

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy expressed strong support for hosting the meeting, posting on social media, I welcome the upcoming meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russias President Putin being held here in the great state of Alaska. Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific to our south. What happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country.

I welcome the upcoming meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russias President Putin being held here in the great state of Alaska.



Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and  Governor Mike Dunleavy (@GovDunleavy) August 8, 2025

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Dunleavy added, Its fitting that discussions of global importance take place here. For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting.

Other political leaders also welcomed the development, albeit with caution. US Senator Dan Sullivan said the state was honoured to host another major international event, recalling previous high-profile visits.

On the same day @POTUS oversaw the signing of a historic peace framework between Armenia & Azerbaijan, the President has now announced a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin fittingly located in the most strategic place in the worldAlaska.



It will be an honor for our https://t.co/dH1aO4n4w9  Sen. Dan Sullivan (@SenDanSullivan) August 9, 2025

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US Senator Lisa Murkowski said the summit represented another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements, though she stressed her wariness of Putins intentions.

President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russias catastrophic war in Ukraine. This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) August 9, 2025

US Representative Nick Begich shared a message of cautious hope, stating, My prayer is that the conversations are productive and result in meaningful progress toward reconciliation. The pursuit of peace requires open dialogue. And its encouraging that the dialogue will be occurring at the highest levels here in Alaska, where Russia and America share a historic relationship and geographic proximity.

The pursuit of peace requires open dialogue. And its encouraging that the dialogue will be occurring at the highest levels here in Alaska, where Russia and America share a historic relationship and geographic proximity. My prayer is that the conversations are productive and pic.twitter.com/0HiaHngpnb  Congressman Nick Begich (@RepNickBegich) August 8, 2025

What is Trumps strategy vis-a-vis Putin & the Russia-Ukraine war?

Since retaking office again in January, Trump has sought to rebuild relations with Russia while simultaneously pushing for an end to the war in Ukraine.

His public statements about Putin have varied widely  sometimes expressing admiration for the Russian leaders strategic thinking, at other times criticising his refusal to halt military operations.

In recent weeks, Trumps frustration with the lack of progress toward a ceasefire has become more visible.

Ahead of the summit announcement, he had warned Moscow that the US would impose new sanctions and tariffs against Russia and against countries continuing to import Russian goods unless Putin agreed to halt the conflict.

The Friday announcement came just hours after a Trump-imposed deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire had expired without any formal agreement in place.

Trump and Putin have met in person six times before, mainly on the sidelines of international summits such as the G20 and APEC meetings.

Their last encounter was in July 2018 in Helsinki, Finland  a meeting that generated intense controversy when Trump appeared to side with Putin over US intelligence agencies regarding Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

The last time Putin met with a US president was in June 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland, where he held talks with then-US President Joe Biden.

Whats at stake for Ukraine?

Putin continues to claim sovereignty over four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson  in addition to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Russian forces do not have complete control over all the territory in these regions, but Moscow has maintained that they are integral parts of the Russian Federation.

For Ukraine, agreeing to relinquish these areas  amounting to roughly one-fifth of its internationally recognised territory  would be politically difficult and emotionally painful.

The war has devastated cities and infrastructure, displaced millions, and caused significant casualties among both soldiers and civilians.

While Ukrainian officials have indicated in the past that they might be willing to show flexibility in the pursuit of peace, the scale of territorial loss being considered poses major challenges domestically and internationally.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that US and Russian officials might be working on an agreement that would effectively solidify Russias control over land seized during its invasion.

However, American officials have publicly dismissed any such reports as speculative.

The Alaska summit will be watched closely around the globe, as it could represent a turning point in the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

With inputs from agencies
MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Following the upcoming Alaska summit, Russia expects the next meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump to be held in Russia, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said Saturday.

"If we look ahead, then, naturally, we should aim for the next meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to take place on Russian territory," Ushakov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. "A corresponding invitation has already been sent to the U.S. President."

Ushakov confirmed earlier that Putin and Trump will meet in Alaska on Aug. 15. The meeting will focus on achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
Bao Fan, founder of China Renaissance and one of Chinas most influential dealmakers, has been released after over two years in detention. His disappearance in 2023 shocked the business community and rattled markets. While his return has boosted investor sentiment, questions remain over the opaque investigation

Bao Fan, founder, Chairman and CEO of China Renaissance Group, an investment bank led by one of the countrys most famed rainmakers, holds a news conference on its IPO in Hong Kong, China, September 13, 2018. File Image/Reuters

More than two years after vanishing from the public eye during a mainland investigation, celebrated investment banker Bao Fan has been released, according to multiple news reports.

The 54-year-old founder of China Renaissance Holdings Ltd, widely considered one of the most influential financiers in Chinas technology sector, had been in custody since early 2023.

The reasons for his detention and details of his legal situation remain undisclosed.

The news of his release first surfaced in a report by Chinese financial outlet Caixin, citing multiple unnamed sources.

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While there has been no official confirmation from the authorities, China Renaissances stock surged on the Hong Kong exchange as the development spread through markets.

What we know about Bao Fan

Born in Shanghai in 1970, Bao studied abroad before embarking on a career at leading international investment banks.

He worked at both Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, gaining experience in capital markets, corporate finance, and advisory work.

In 2005, he co-founded China Renaissance alongside two other partners, building it into a boutique investment bank that would play a defining role in the countrys internet economy.

The firm became known for facilitating high-profile mergers in the fast-growing technology sector.

Bao personally oversaw complex deals, including the combination of ride-hailing services Didi and Kuaidi, the merger of food delivery rivals Meituan and Dianping, and the integration of online travel platforms Ctrip and Qunar.

His network of relationships extended to founders of major companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and other top-tier digital firms.

By 2015, Baos influence was recognised when he was named among the 50 most significant figures shaping markets, ideas, and policy.

Three years later, China Renaissance was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking a milestone in the firms expansion.

When Bao Fan disappeared

The turning point came in February 2023, when China Renaissance informed investors it could not reach its founder.

Soon afterwards, the company issued a statement saying Bao was co-operating in an investigation being carried out by certain mainland authorities. No further public explanation was provided.

Reports in Chinese media linked his situation to an inquiry involving former China Renaissance president Cong Lin. Cong, who had joined the bank in 2020 from ICBC International, was summoned by the China Securities Regulatory Commission in September 2022 for a supervisory discussion.

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Within days, he had stepped down from key roles in the companys securities unit and was later detained. His current status remains unknown, and no formal charges against him have been announced.

In May 2023, a Chinese financial publication reported that Bao was being held by disciplinary and supervisory officials.

Sources familiar with the matter later told Reuters that his detention was connected to the investigation into Cong. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has not commented publicly.

How China Renaissance was affected

The disappearance of its founder deeply unsettled China Renaissance. Trading of its shares was suspended in April 2023 because the bank was unable to finalise its audited annual results in Baos absence.

When trading eventually resumed in September 2024, the stock dropped by 72 per cent on its opening day. The company narrowly avoided being delisted.

The leadership structure changed significantly over this period. In February 2024, China Renaissance announced that Bao had resigned from all formal positions for health reasons and to spend more time on his family affairs.

This did not lead to his release, and he remained in custody for several more months. Co-founder Xie Yi Jing initially assumed the chairmanship but stepped down less than a year later.

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In October last year, Baos wife, Hui Yin Ching, was appointed as chairwoman, while Bao continued to be the controlling shareholder.

The operational challenges mounted. The firms revenues fell to RMB 777 million ($108 million) in 2024, about half of what it earned in 2022.

It has recorded three consecutive years of losses.

Headcount declined sharply  by 37 per cent between 2022 and the end of 2024, leaving a workforce of 475.

Several senior executives left, including Andy Maynard, the former head of global equities, who later joined Deutsche Bank as head of equity execution for Asia-Pacific.

China Renaissance also became the subject of acquisition interest. In 2024, a Hong Kong-based financial group with backing from West Asian investors explored a takeover, including acquiring the firms trading licence.

Two smaller Chinese brokerages also reportedly showed interest.

Why Beijing may have been involved

Baos detention occurred during a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In recent years, this campaign has targeted numerous high-ranking officials and corporate executives, particularly in finance.

Hundreds of people have been questioned, disciplined, or charged as part of the effort to curb misconduct and promote the leaderships common prosperity agenda.

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This is certainly a positive signal, as Bao was the most high-profile financier detained in recent years, Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics told Reuters.

Still, it wont change the fact that the anti-corruption campaign continues to churn through the financial sector, and the common prosperity campaign has led to sweeping pay caps and even clawbacks. Chinas financial sector remains a long way from its heyday only a few years ago.

The campaign has been accompanied by restrictions on executive pay, the scaling back of bonuses, and a push to discourage ostentatious lifestyles among financial professionals.

It has also heightened unease among business leaders and foreign investors, particularly given the limited public information about such investigations.

The climate for Chinas private sector has been challenging. Technology firms have faced tighter regulation, domestic consumption has remained subdued, and the real estate sector has struggled with debt.

Internationally, Beijing continues to navigate strained trade relations with the United States.

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How the market reacted after Bao Fans reported release

When news of Baos release began circulating on Friday, China Renaissance shares jumped 16.84 per cent to close at HK$6.87.

This rally came despite the company making clear that Bao will not return to an active management role.

Bao no longer participates in the companys daily management and operations, it said in a statement, declining to address his personal circumstances.

The stock remains far below its peak of HK$31.80 in February 2021.

However, this year has seen a recovery in the share price, with gains of over 140 per cent so far in 2025, partly driven by renewed investor interest in Chinas technology industry and cryptocurrency ventures.

Despite the turbulence, China Renaissance has made some strategic plays. In June, it disclosed an investment in stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group through its Huaxing New Economy Fund.

Circles stock more than doubled upon listing in New York earlier that month, reported South China Morning Post.

Baos situation became one of the most prominent examples of a business leader disappearing under official scrutiny in China.

The anti-corruption drive shows no sign of slowing, and recent incidents  such as a Wells Fargo senior banker being prevented from leaving the country as part of a criminal investigation  put a spotlight on the risks of operating at the top levels of Chinas corporate world.

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With inputs from agencies
The influence of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki runs deep in Japanese popular culture. One of the most famous examples of this is Godzilla, a prehistoric creature awakened by the testing of the US hydrogen bomb in the Pacific. Some of the others include Astro Boy, Akira, and Attack on Titan, among others

A man visiting the exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzilla's birth, titled GODZILLA THE ART at Tokyo's Mori Arts Center Gallery. AFP

From Godzillas 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 Japans cultural output which 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.

Its 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.

Tawadas 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 well find a way to survive, Tawada said.

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Godzillas skin

Narratives reflecting Japans 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.

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.

The logo for the exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzillas birth, titled GODZILLA THE ART at Tokyos Mori Arts Centre Gallery. AFP

Many people who watched Godzilla rampage through Tokyo in the original 1954 film left theatres in tears, he said.

And its said that the special effects people working on Godzilla modelled the monsters 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.

Even so, the series remains hugely popular, with 2016 megahit Shin Godzilla seen as a critique of Japans 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 Japans best-known novels about the Hiroshima bombing.

But the fact that 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.

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How we talk about or create literature out of real life is always going to be difficult, she said.

Are you allowed to write about it if you didnt directly experience it?

Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe collected survivor accounts in Hiroshima Notes, essays written on visits to the city in the 1960s.

Hes 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.

People visiting the exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzillas birth, titled GODZILLA THE ART at Tokyos Mori Arts Center Gallery. AFP

When it comes to the bombings, Japan was a victim  no doubt, but its important to look at the bigger picture, including Japans wartime atrocities, she said.

As a child, illustrations of the nuclear bombings in contemporary picture books reminded her of depictions of hell in historical Japanese art.

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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.
August 9, 1945 marks the day when the US dropped its second atomic bomb, the Fat Man, on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing up to 75,000 people and bringing an end to World War II. On this day, the construction of Italys iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa also began in 1173

At 11:02 am, the B-29 bomber Bockscar, piloted by Major Charles Sweeney, released the plutonium-based bomb over Nagasaki.

August 9 is one of the most sombre days in history.

It marks the moment in 1945 when the world witnessed the horror of a second atomic bomb, this time over Japans Nagasaki, just three days after the US bombed Hiroshima, leaving it reduced to ashes.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

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On the same date in 1173, construction began on a bell tower in Pisa, Italy, an ambitious project that would become world-famous for its unexpected tilt.

Here is all that happened on this day.

US drops Fat Man on Japans Nagasaki

On August 9, 1945, just three days after Hiroshima was bombed, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, on the city of Nagasaki.

At 11:02 am, the B-29 bomber Bockscar, piloted by Major Charles Sweeney, released the plutonium-based bomb over Nagasaki. However, the city, home to around 263,000 people, was not the original target. The mission was supposed to hit Kokura, but poor visibility and low fuel forced the crew to divert.

The United States dropped a second atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, on the city of Nagasaki. Image courtesy: National Mueseum of US Navy

Fat Man exploded with a force of 21 kilotons of TNT, destroying large parts of the city instantly. Its estimated that between 40,000 and 75,000 people were killed, either immediately or in the days and weeks that followed, due to burns, radiation exposure, and injuries.

Among the dead were Japanese civilians, Korean forced labourers, and even Allied prisoners of war. The blast also destroyed Nagasakis historic Urakami Cathedral, once the largest Catholic church in Asia, along with many homes, schools, and neighbourhoods.

Nagaskis Torii Gate in 1948. Three years after nuclear weapons were deployed, charred tree trunks, stripped of their branches, stood near a sacred Torii Gate that survived the blast. Image courtesy: US National Archives

Although the scale of destruction was slightly lower than Hiroshimas, mainly due to Nagasakis hilly terrain and more spread-out urban design, the damage was still immense. According to the Atomic Archive, about 14,000 buildings, or 27 per cent of the citys 52,000 residences, were completely reduced to ashes.

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The bombing came just hours after the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Within six days, Japan announced its unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, effectively ending World War II.

People offer silent prayers for the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing in Nagasaki, Japan, Aug. 9, 2023. File photo/ Reuters

Today, Nagasaki has a population of around 400,000, a city that has since been rebuilt while continuing to remember the events of that day.

Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa begins

On August 9, 1173, construction began on what was meant to be a freestanding bell tower for the cathedral of Pisa in Italy. No one at the time could have predicted that it would eventually become world-famous for its accidental tilt.

The tower was designed to be 56 metres tall with eight storeys, including the chamber for the bells. However, by the time the third floor was completed , builders noticed that the tower had started leaning to one side. The cause? The soft, unstable soil beneath Pisa, a mix of clay, sand, and shells, couldnt support the towers weight.

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Leaning Tower of Pisa. File image/AFP

Construction paused multiple times over the next century, partly due to its leaning and the surrounding conflicts. Work resumed in 1272, but further disruptions occurred due to war in 1284. Over time, engineers tried to correct the tilt by adjusting the structures upper floors. But the lean remained, gradually becoming part of its identity.

By the 20th century, the tilt had reached dangerous levels. The tower was closed to the public in 1990 for safety reasons. The towers lean had reached 5.5 degrees, posing a significant risk of collapse. After a decade of careful engineering work to stabilise it, mostly by removing small amounts of soil from underneath, it was reopened in 2001.

Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italys most iconic landmarks, attracting millions of tourists every year.

With inputs from agencies
Indias Ministry of Defence has denied reports that it halted major US arms purchases following Trumps decision to double tariffs on Indian exports. While media claims suggest deals for Stryker combat vehicles, Javelin missiles and P-8I aircraft are delayed, officials insist all procurements are moving forward under existing procedures despite the trade dispute

A view shows a Stryker armoured vehicle with the Washington Monument in the background on the day of a military parade to commemorate the US Army's 250th Birthday in Washington, DC, US, June 14, 2025. File Image/Reuters

The tensions had long been simmering but they hit boiled over this week when United States President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent increase in tariffs on Indian exports, on top of the existing duties, raising the total rate to 50 per cent.

The White House linked this decision to Indias continued imports of discounted Russian oil, which Trump argued contributed to Moscows war in Ukraine.

The announcement placed India among the most heavily taxed US trading partners. New Delhi quickly condemned the measure, calling it unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

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The Ministry of External Affairs also pledged to take all actions necessary to protect the countrys economic and strategic interests.

Almost immediately, international media began reporting that India had quietly shelved plans to acquire several high-value US defence systems in response to the tariff escalation.

These claims suggested that ongoing discussions for Stryker combat vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles co-developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and six Boeing P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian Navy had been paused.

The aircraft package, valued at approximately $3.6 billion, was reportedly in the final stages of negotiation.

Unnamed officials cited by Reuters claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had been preparing to visit Washington to finalise some of these deals, but the trip was cancelled.

Sources said the purchases might proceed once India had a clearer view of the evolving trade situation and the broader state of the bilateral relationship, but not in the immediate term.

How New Delhi has responded

Following the report, Indias Ministry of Defence moved quickly to dispute them. In a statement attributed to an official source, the ministry described the stories as false and fabricated and insisted that the various cases (deals) of procurement are being processed as per the extant procedures.

The ministry stated that there had been no formal order to pause any of the planned acquisitions, and that negotiations and approvals were continuing according to established protocols.

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Another official familiar with the matter told Reuters that while there had been no forward movement at least for now, there was also no written directive to suspend the projects.

This meant the government retained the option to accelerate progress on the contracts if circumstances shifted.

Why this US-India defence deal matters

The systems at the centre of the controversy hold substantial strategic value for Indias military modernisation. The Stryker infantry combat vehicle is a highly mobile, armoured platform designed for rapid deployment in various operational environments.

The Javelin missile system, meanwhile, is a precision-guided, man-portable anti-tank weapon that has been battle-tested in multiple theatres.

Both platforms were earmarked for potential joint production in India, aligning with New Delhis drive to expand domestic defence manufacturing under the Make in India initiative.

The P-8I Poseidon aircraft, already in service with the Indian Navy, is a multi-role maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare platform.

The proposed purchase of six additional units, along with associated support systems, would significantly expand Indias maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

In February, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis meeting with Trump at the White House, the two leaders announced their intent to move forward on these acquisitions and co-production agreements.

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They also signalled plans to finalise a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, designed to strengthen cooperation in the 21st century security environment.

How India & US have grown closer vis-a-vis defence

Over the past two decades, Washington has become one of New Delhis key defence suppliers, second only to Moscow in total value. This transformation accelerated after the signing of the 2008 civil nuclear agreement, which opened the door to broader strategic engagement.

The growth has been substantial: bilateral defence trade has risen from under $1 billion to more than $20 billion.

According to US Congress documents accessed by Firstpost, India has acquired a wide range of US-origin platforms across air, sea, and land domains, including:

Air systems: 28 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters (25 delivered), 1,774 AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles (1,454 delivered), 600 WGU-59 air-to-surface rockets, 245 Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles, 15 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, 13 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, 11 C-17 Globemaster III heavy transport aircraft, 12 APG-78 Longbow fire-control radars, two MQ-9A Reaper UAVs (leased in 2020), and various precision-guided munitions.

Naval platforms: 1 Austin-class amphibious transport dock, 24 MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters (12 delivered), 12 P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, 78 MK 54 lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes (62 delivered), 6 Sea King ASW helicopters, 63 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and 18 naval gas turbines.

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Land systems: 12 Firefinder counter-battery radars, 145 M-777 155 mm howitzers, 1,400 M982 Excalibur precision artillery shells, and 145,400 SIG Sauer SIG716 assault rifles.

An Apache helicopter flies as Nato holds training exercise Immediate Response drills with host nations at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, June 2, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Beyond procurement, the India-US defence relationship is anchored by multiple dialogue mechanisms and joint initiatives.

The Defence Policy Group (DPG), co-chaired by the Indian Defence Secretary and the US Under Secretary of Defense (Policy), provides a structured forum for reviewing all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation. The most recent DPG meeting took place in Washington DC in May 2023.

Other regular engagements include the Defence Production and Procurement Group (DPPG), the Joint Technology Group (JTG), the bilateral Maritime Security Dialogue, the Industrial Security Summit, and the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).

Operationally, the two militaries conduct regular joint exercises across all domains, share intelligence, and increasingly cooperate on maritime security.

Since 2022, US Maritime Sealift Command vessels have made multiple port calls to Indian shipyards for repair and allied services under commercial arrangements.

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How India has diversified its defence portfolio

India remains the worlds second-largest arms importer, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

For decades, Russia dominated as New Delhis primary arms supplier, but its share of the market has been eroding.

Several factors have contributed to this change: Moscows defence industry has been under pressure to meet its own operational needs during the war in Ukraine; Western sanctions have complicated delivery schedules; and the performance of certain Russian systems in combat has raised questions.

These dynamics have prompted India to diversify its sources, turning increasingly to the United States, France, and Israel for advanced capabilities.

Nonetheless, the structural dependence on Russian-origin platforms  particularly in areas like air defence, armoured vehicles, and legacy aircraft  ensures continued cooperation.

In recent months, Russian officials have sought to market new systems to India, including the S-500 long-range surface-to-air missile system.

However, Indian officials have indicated there is no current requirement for such acquisitions.

How Trump has shifted his tone towards India

Energy trade remains a key variable in the India-Russia-US triangle. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict, India has expanded its imports of discounted Russian crude, arguing that it is acting in the national interest to secure affordable energy.

While New Delhi has signalled a willingness to reduce these imports if equivalent terms can be secured elsewhere, including from US suppliers, this has been complicated by global market dynamics.

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According to Indian sources, the price advantage of Russian oil has diminished, with discounts now at their lowest level since 2022.

Nonetheless, the perception that India is maintaining a lifeline for Russian exports has been a persistent irritant in Washington, particularly under Trump.

The tariff dispute is the latest in a series of irritants affecting India-US ties.

Earlier in the year, Trump claimed that his administration had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May  a claim repeatedly rejected by New Delhi.

The US President also hosted Pakistans army chief at the White House shortly after the incident, adding to Indian concerns.

Despite these political frictions, the underlying defence and security cooperation remains strong, driven largely by shared strategic interests in countering Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Also Watch:

Based on official statements from Indias Ministry of Defence, there is no confirmed suspension of US arms deals.

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While some procurement timelines may have slowed amid the tariff dispute, the absence of a formal pause order suggests the projects remain in play.

With inputs from agencies
Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has revealed unprecedented details of Operation Sindoor  Indias large-scale May military retaliation against Pakistan. Backed by full political freedom and advanced weaponry like the S-400, the operation destroyed key Pakistani military assets, terror hubs and aircraft

Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh sits in the HJT-36, a jet trainer of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), during the "Aero India 2025" air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 10, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has delivered the most comprehensive account yet of Operation Sindoor, Indias large-scale military response against Pakistan in May.

Speaking at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture at the HAL Management Academy Auditorium in Bengaluru, Singh highlighted that the success of the operation was rooted in decisive political backing and the complete operational freedom given to the armed forces.

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Launched on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians.

The IAF chiefs remarks come amid continued discussion over the planning, execution, and strategic outcomes of the operation.

Political clarity and full operational freedom

Addressing the audience, Singh stated that the operation benefited from unprecedented political commitment and the absence of operational restrictions from the government.

There was political will, clear directions given to us, and there were no restrictions, he said, underlining that any limits on escalation were decided internally by the armed forces themselves.

If there were any constraints, they were self-made We decided how much to escalate We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it There was a synchronisation between the three forces.

His statement came after earlier remarks by Indias defence attache to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, who, at a seminar earlier, suggested that some aircraft losses during the operation had been due to political constraints.

May not agree (with an earlier Indonesian speakers claim) that we lost so many aircraft, but I do agree we did lose some aircraft and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership, Kumar had said.

Singhs firm rejection of this narrative highlights the IAF leaderships position that decision-making was driven by strategic judgement rather than externally imposed limits.

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Learning from Balakot

In recounting the experience, Singh also compared the information-sharing approach during Operation Sindoor to that of the 2019 Balakot airstrike.

He noted that after Balakot, the lack of accessible evidence for the public had complicated efforts to convey the scale of the strikes success.

In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to achieve. We had intelligence of what had gone on inside, had a human kind of intelligence where we had a very clear picture of the inside in terms of there had been huge damage. There have been so many terrorists who have been neutralised, but we could not convince our own people that, look, we have achieved that, Singh recalled.

This time, he said, the forces ensured that both the domestic audience and the international community could see and understand the operations impact.

So I am very happy that this time we were able to take care of that ghost of Balakot that we were able to tell the world what we have achieved, he added.

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Unprecedented aerial victories

One of the most striking details revealed by the IAF chief was the destruction of multiple Pakistani aircraft, including what he described as the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill.

We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about, Singh said.

These kills were achieved using Indias advanced air defence systems, including the recently acquired S-400 missile system. Singh described the S-400 as a game-changer that effectively denied Pakistani aircraft the ability to launch long-range munitions.

Indian officials have named the S-400 air defence system the Sudarshan Chakra. File Image/Reuters

Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like, those long-range glide bombs that they have, they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system, he said.

According to Singh, Pakistani aircraft were unable to approach even the outer limits of Indias Akash and Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems, with all engagement opportunities falling to the Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) network.

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Strategic strikes deep inside Pakistan

The IAF chief described the scope of the strikes in detail, revealing that the operation targeted critical Pakistani military infrastructure. The list included:

Two major command-and-control centres at Murid and Chaklala.

Six radars, ranging from large installations to smaller systems.

Two surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW) systems in Lahore and Okara.

Three hangars: Sukkur UAV hangar, Bholari hangar, and the Shahbaz Jacobabad F-16 hangar.

About Jacobabad, Singh said, We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there. One half of the hangar is gone. And Im sure there were some aircraft inside which have got damaged there.

Bholari, which housed AEW&C facilities, was also attacked, with intelligence indicating an aircraft was inside during the strike. Singh noted that the intent was not to destroy one airfield completely but to send a broader strategic message.

India struck the hangar at Jacobabad airfield, Pakistan.

The idea was once again not to attack one particular airfield and decimate that airfield. The idea was to give him that feeling or give him that indication that look, we can attack you deep inside, at will, wherever we want to, he said.

He also recounted that the operation included a long-desired strike at Sargodha, a key Pakistani airbase.

Sargodha, weve grown up in our Air Force, dreaming about days like this, someday well get a chance to go there. So it just so happens that I got my chance just before I retired So we took on the airfield there, he remarked.

Minimal collateral damage

Operation Sindoor was aimed at eliminating terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces struck nine major hubs linked to terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Singh displayed before-and-after images of Bahawalpur, Jaish-e-Mohammeds headquarters, noting that strikes were carried out with precision to avoid civilian harm.

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A view of the post-strike visual at Bahawalpur that reveals gaping holes in the mosques dome, widespread debris, and collapsed buildings. Maxar Technologies/Reuters

Theres hardly any collateral here The adjacent buildings are fairly intact Not only did we have satellite pictures, but also from local media, through which we could get inside pictures, he said.

The offensive reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 100 terrorists.

Singh explained that Indias long-range precision weapons were used extensively and that every effort was made to limit collateral damage while ensuring operational effectiveness.

Pakistans retaliation and the turning point

Following Indias strikes, Pakistan responded with artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as attempted drone incursions across the border.

This retaliation led to the deaths of 16 Indian civilians and injuries to 59 others, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Indias coordinated counter-offensive targeted Pakistans radar systems, communication facilities, and airfields across 11 locations, including Nur Khan Air Base.

Pakistanis Nur Khan airbase at Chaklala, Rawalpindi, was among those struck by India under Operation Sindoor.

Within 80 to 90 hours of sustained action, Singh said, Pakistans air defence network had been significantly degraded. It was clear to them that if they continue, they are going to pay for it more and more, he noted.

At this stage, Pakistan conveyed through the Director General of Military Operations that it wished to initiate dialogue  a proposal that India accepted.

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Avoiding prolonged conflict

Singh defended the governments decision to halt the operation once its objectives had been achieved, pushing back against calls to continue military action.

People got down to their egos in the war Once we achieved our objective, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop Some people very close to me said, Aur maarna tha. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision, he said.

He stressed that the operation was designed as a deterrent measure rather than an open-ended conflict, and that extending hostilities could have carried significant costs for the country.

In his remarks, Singh also praised the role of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) in ensuring seamless coordination among the armed forces and intelligence agencies.

The post of CDS made a real difference. He was there to get us together NSA also played a big role in getting all the agencies, he said.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump has slapped a 25 per cent tariff on India as punishment for buying Russian oil. This take Indias total tariffs to a whopping 50 per cent, among the highest in the world. What would be the fallout of such a move? We examine this and more in our roundup of the big news

A man reads a newspaper with reports on tariffs after US President Donald Trump announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, alongside a market in New Delhi. Reuters

The United States calls India a strategic partner. However, it didnt seem that India and the US were on the same page in the week gone by.

US President Donald Trump continued his trade tirade against India this week, slapping a 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi for its purchase of Russian crude oil. This came in addition to the 25 per cent he already levied on India, which came into effect on August 8. Many experts note that Trump risks tanking 25 years of US-India relations.

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The trade war between India and the US has also resulted in a realignment in geopolitics. India and China, who have been rivals for years, found themselves on the same page with both of them striking a defiant note against America. Moreover, news emerged that PM Modi would be attending the SCO Summit in Chinas Tianjin, a first for the PM since 2020.

This week also saw death and destruction as a result of the Uttarakhand cloudburst. More than 100 people still remain missing after the cloudburst led to flash floods in the Dharali village of the hill state. The disaster has caused unprecedented destruction  roads have been damaged and houses have been destroyed. The Army has also been called in to help with rescue operations, which continue at a slow pace owing to the location of the village.

Speaking of the army, big headlines were made when an Indian Army officer roughed up SpiceJet staff at Srinagar airport over a dispute of extra baggage. The airline staff allege that the officer became violent, and beat them up causing them serious injuries.

If you want to unpack all of this and the other big headlines from this week, our weekly roundup is here for you.

1) Pushing forward with his earlier threats, US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on India as punishment for buying Russian oil. The penalty is in addition to the 25 per cent tariff India already faces, making it subject to one of the USs highest import tax brackets under Trump, at a total of 50 per cent.

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In his executive order, Trump explained that Russias continued military actions in Ukraine constituted a national emergency and it was therefore necessary and appropriate to place heightened tariffs on India, a major consumer of its petroleum products. I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, Trump wrote.

The move imperils Indias trade with the US as well as its economy. While some experts stated that the tariffs could lower the GDP growth by one per cent, others noted that Indian goods especially in the textile, gem and chemical sectors would lose its competitiveness in the US market.

If you are wondering just how badly India would be hit by the tariffs, read our detailed analysis here.

2) Trumps reason for levying a whopping 50 per cent tariff on India is its continuous purchase of Russian oil, which the US president deems to be financing Russias war against Ukraine.

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But India has defended its move, saying its purchase of Russian crude is based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement also noted that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia.

But did you know that the purchase of Russian oil doesnt just serve Indias interests but the world at large? Heres how.

3) Amid this tariff drama, India remains committed to its ties with Russia. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was in Moscow this week as part of a pre-planned visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.

This visit gained even more prominence as it came amidst threats and the eventual tariff levied by Trump on India for its oil trade with Russia. This has got many asking  why is India keen on its ties with Moscow? Our detailed essay explains the multiple reasons why Delhi-Moscow ties continue despite it all.

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Trumps 50 per cent tariffs on India seems to be changing the political scenario. New Delhi found an unlikely partner in its defence of purchasing Russian oil  China. File image/Reuters

4) On the issue of tariffs, India has found an unlikely partner  China. As Trump announced that he would levy a tariff on nations trading with Russia on oil, both countries  who import crude  hit back at the US over the move.

India said was unjust and unreasonable for America to levy tariffs on it while the US and Europe continued trade ties as well. China was more defiant in its stance. Its deputy permanent representative to the UN said, The US itself continues to engage in trade with Russia to this day. Why should it be acceptable for the US to do so, but not for others? Isnt this only allowing oneself to set fires while forbidding others from lighting lamps?

Also, amid this drama, a further thaw in India-China ties came with the news that PM Modi would be visiting the Asian country later this month for the SCO summit. What does this mean for world politics? Should the US be worried?

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A portion of a road collapsed, near Bhatwari in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. The collapsed road had stalled the ongoing rescue operations at flood-hit Dharali in Uttarkashi. PTI

5) Earlier this week, a cloudburst resulting in flash floods caused unprecedented damage in Uttarakhands Dharali village, with five people and over 100 yet missing. The devastation has put a spotlight on the hill state and its brush with natural disasters.

But why is it that Uttarakhand is vulnerable to natural tragedies?

6) Travelling by air can often be challenging. You have to be mindful of what you are carrying and how much. And this week, an Indian Army officer got into trouble over this very issue  extra baggage.

An Army officer, Ritesh Kumar Singh, faces charges and a police investigation after he assaulted staff of SpiceJet at Srinagar airport. The scuffle occurred after he was asked to pay for excess baggage.

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.

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But what went wrong? Why did the soldier resort to violence in the first place?

7) Talking of the Indian Army, Bollywood is releasing a new movie on the heroics of Major Shaitan Singh, who valiantly led 120 Indians against Chinese troops in the Battle of Rezang La. The movie, titled 120 Bahadur, stars Farhan Akhtar. As you await the release of this movie, heres the true story of the hero.

And this marks the end of our weekly wrap. Bookmark this page if you would continue to read more of our reports.
Speaking at a media summit, Indias Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in the countrys economy and said that it finds opportunities in crisis. The remarks come at a time when US President Donald Trump has launched a tariff offensive against India, slapping a 50 per cent levy

As Donald Trump imposes a 50 per cent tariff on India, the countrys Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has a message for America  India would not bow down to anybody.

The comment came when a journalist at the Business Today India @100 event asked Goyal about the global tariff war and whether there was an attempt to make the country bow down.

No one has ever come who could make India bow. It is impossible. Even if someone tries a hundred thousand times, they cannot make India bow, the minister of commerce and industry said.

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When further asked about the impact of Trump tariffs, he retorted by saying that India finds opportunities in crisis. The nations morale is high There is a lot of strength in the Indian economy India will emerge as the winner, he said.

On Wednesday (August 7), Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil. The penalty was on top of another 25 per cent tariff that took effect on Thursday (August 8).

Trump has criticised India and Russia over the past few days regarding its trade and energy ties, and has urged New Delhi to reduce its Russian oil imports.

At the summit, the minister also stated that India was looking ahead to develop new trade partners and was actively pursuing or finalising trade deals with the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Australia, the EFTA bloc, the UK, the EU, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, the US, and more countries in the coming years.

India today is stronger, more respected, led by a tall leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, underscoring his optimism for Indias place in the evolving global trade order.

Goyal also expressed confidence in the Indian economy, questioning Trumps previous remark of calling it a dead economy. Samajhne wale samajh gaye, jo na samjhe woh anari hain (those who are wise have understood, but the naive havent).

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Its so sad, the whole world is looking up to India, whole world recognises us as the fastest growing large economy Today, the world recognises the strength of India, recognises our demographic advantage, recognises what 1.4 billion aspirational Indians bring to the table as demand. India is a huge market: Why do you think India is queuing up to trade or have better market access? he said.

With inputs from agencies
Two soldiers have been killed, while four others were injured in the encounter, which began on August 1 after security forces launched a search operation in a forest area at Akhal

Two Indian Army soldiers have died in action as Operation Akhal in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district entered the ninth day on Saturday, marking it one of the longest anti-terror operations in the Valley.

Officials said two others were also injured in the overnight firing, taking the total number of injured to 10. Moreover, one terrorist has also been neutralised in the firing, said the Army.

The deceased soldiers have been identified as Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh. Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in the line of duty for the nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. The Indian Army expresses its deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues, the Army posted on X.

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The operation to flush out terrorists from the Valley, which has seen deployment of more than 100 troops, began on August 1 and continues even now  August 9. So far, as per an India Today report, a total of five terrorists have been killed in the operation.

Earlier, Operation Akhal was launched after specific inputs were received about the presence of terrorists in the area. According to police sources, there was information about the presence of five terrorists when the operation was launched. There are reports that at least three of them are foreign terrorists who appear to be well trained in jungle warfare.

Since then, drones and helicopters are tracking the terrorists in the forested area, while soldiers locate and eliminate those in hiding.

Authorities note that the operation has taken so long as a result of the dense and difficult terrain, which includes thick foliage and caves. Nalin Prabhath, Director General of Police J&K who is personally supervising the operation, was also quoted as saying earlier, Yes, its taking time because of the difficult terrain and forest area. But we will track them down.

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Owing the ongoing operation, residents of the adjoining villages evacuating their houses for safer locations. Authorities have appointed nodal officers to assist locals and coordinate in case of emergencies.

Anti-terror operations have intensified in Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack on April 22 in which Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. Sources within the defence establishment note that around 20 high-profile terrorists have been eliminated after the April 22 attack.

With inputs from agencies
Indias Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has disclosed unprecedented details of Operation Sindoor, hailing it as one of the most decisive missions in IAF history. The revelations come amid rising US-India tensions, Modis upcoming China visit, and Dovals weapons talks in Moscow.

Indias Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has shared new details about Operation Sindoor, calling it one of the most decisive and strategically important missions in recent IAF history.

According to the IAF chief, the operation led to the downing of five Pakistani fighter jets and one airborne surveillance aircraft. An F-16 was destroyed while still inside a hangar, which is a remarkable achievement for Indias air defense network.

These comments come during a tense international climate, with US President Donald Trump increasing his criticism of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for a high-stakes visit to China, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is in Moscow to discuss buying advanced weapons.

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In a post-operation debrief, Air Chief Marshal Singh said the IAFs S-400 Triumf air defense system has been a game changer in neutralizing enemy aircraft. This system allowed India to strike deep into Pakistani territory with minimal risk to its forces. One of the most notable targets was a Pakistani F-16, which was destroyed while still in its hangar, an unusual success in modern aerial warfare.

In Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of sending the armed forces into Operation Sindoor with hands tied behind their back.

He criticised what he called politically constrained warfare and claimed that the governments focus was on appearances rather than achieving complete operational goals. Gandhi also challenged PM Modi to confront Trump publicly and call him a liar regarding Trumps claims of brokering a ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan.

The news about Operation Sindoor arises as Indo-US relations are facing new challenges. President Trump has sharply criticized Indias trade and defense policies, imposing tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods and pausing bilateral trade talks.

PM Modi is set to visit China from August 31 to September 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. This will be his first trip to Beijing in over seven years.

Meanwhile, NSA Ajit Doval is in Moscow to hold talks about acquiring additional S-400 systems and negotiate a deal for the Su-57 stealth fighter.

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Operation Sindoor showcased Indias self-reliance and tech strength, said DRDO chief Samir Kamat. It used indigenous systems like Akash missiles and BrahMos. Defence exports may double in next 2-3 years, he said.

Operation Sindoor was a declaration of Indias ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir Kamat said on Saturday.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) here, Kamat said the highly coordinated, multi-dimensional operation along the western borders highlighted not just the courage of the soldiers, but also the technological backbone that supported them.

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After Operation Sindoors success, he expects Indias defence exports to double in the next two to three years, he said.

Operation Sindoor was more than a mission. It was a declaration of Indias ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength. It was a statement to the world that India has the capability to protect its borders through homegrown technology, the DRDO chief said.

From sensors, unmanned platforms and secure communications to AI-based decision support systems and precision weapons, indigenous platforms played a key role in the operation, he said.

The systems deployed for the operation included Akash surface-to-air missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the D4 anti-drone system, the AWNC airborne early warning and control system and the Akashteer system, all developed by Indias defence R&D ecosystem.

Institutions such as the DIAT played a crucial role in these developments, Kamat noted.

The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor against terrorist targets in Pakistan on May 7, following the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025, in which 26 people were killed.

He further said it is the next generations job to keep this momentum going and make India a technology leader in defence technologies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call that by 2047, India should become both a developed nation and a technology leader, he said.

We are now entering an era where the definition of warfare is rapidly expanding. Battles are no longer confined to borders or front lines. They are fought across domains  land, air, sea, space, cyberspace, and even the electromagnetic spectrum. What does this mean for the graduating students of DIAT? It means you are no longer students of a conventional academic discipline. You are now part of Indias defence capability architecture, Kamat said.

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Their knowledge in quantum technologies, cybersecurity, robotics, materials engineering, missile systems, missile propulsion, and artificial intelligence has direct implications for national defence, he told the graduating DIAT students.

You are not generalists. You are specialists trained at the intersection of science and defence technologies. Few institutions globally possess such clarity of purpose, and fewer still match the urgency and national significance of your work. As the world becomes more geopolitically unstable and as technology rapidly transforms the nature of both threats and opportunities, the burden and privilege of responsibility will fall on you, he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Kamat said among offensive weapons, BrahMos, used from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, was the primary weapon during Operation Sindoor.

When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akash system, the D4 anti-drone system, and the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) were used. All the sensors we deployed were networked with Akashteer, an AI-based system, which helped identify threats and then deploy the right kind of weapon to neutralise them, he said.

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Radars used by the Indian armed forces performed exceedingly well, Kamat noted.

Given the current geopolitical situation, it is absolutely essential to have our own capabilities, and only then the country can take sovereign decisions, said the DRDO chief.

It is essential that in all critical weapon systems and technologies, we should have indigenous capabilities, he said.

Asked about the increase in defence exports post Operation Sindoor, Kamat said last year India achieved about Rs 23,000 crore in defence exports.

Post the success of Operation Sindoor, I expect these exports to double in the next two to three years. We should achieve Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, which is the target set for us by the Defence Minister. There is a lot of interest in Pinaka, ATAGS, BrahMos, and Akash. I am sure that in the coming years, defence exports will increase manifold, he said.

Countries from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa are importing arms from India, Kamat said.

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On the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), he said it is a smaller version of BrahMos that can be fitted on multiple platforms.

Currently, BrahMos can be fitted only on the Sukhoi platform, but if we make it smaller, it can fit on other platforms as well. We are planning to start the development of BrahMos-NG soon, he said.

During the convocation ceremony, degrees were awarded to 298 students including 206 MTech students, 68 MSc and 24 PhD students from various disciplines. A total of 18 gold medals were awarded to students.
MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it will revoke its consent for the operation of Poland's Consulate General in Kaliningrad starting Aug. 29, a senior Russian diplomat said Saturday.

In an interview with TASS news agency, Alexey Klimov, director of the ministry's consular department, said the decision was formally conveyed to the Polish side on July 11. It was made in response to what Russia views as another unfounded reduction of its diplomatic presence in Poland and Warsaw's withdrawal of consent for Russia's Consulate General in Krakow.

"This is a retaliatory move. We have repeatedly stressed that any unfriendly actions against our country will be met with an appropriate response and consequences," Klimov said.

Klimov added that the closure of the Russian Consulate in Krakow has increased the workload of consular staff at the Russian Embassy in Warsaw and the Consulate General in Gdansk. He noted that Russian consular officers in Poland are effectively fulfilling their duties. 
The Gaza-West Bank geographical divide, the Hamas-Fatah political differences, the Israeli military operation in the two territories and Benjamin Netanyahus new Gaza takeover plan are insurmountable obstacles

Shalom, chaver (Goodbye, friend), Bill Clinton said in his eulogy as hundreds of world leaders, including 80 heads of state, gathered at Jerusalems Mount Herzl cemetery on November 6, 1995. Two days ago, two shots from a Beretta 84F at a peace rally in support of the Oslo Accords, the first major attempt at achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians, at Tel Avivs Kings of Israel Square shattered hopes and revealed hates ugly face.

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Israeli PM Yitzhak was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an Israeli law student and ultranationalist vehemently opposed to the Oslo Accords, which intended to pave the way for a two-state solution.

Clinton said, Your Prime Minister was a martyr for peace, but he was a victim of hate.

Rabin, one of the architects of the Oslo Accords, had riled the right-wing Opposition, especially the Benjamin Netanyahu-led Likud and pro-settler rabbis.

The core issue of the peace process, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) phased withdrawal from Palestinian territories, like Gaza and Jericho (West Bank), triggered massive protests. Rabin, dubbed anti-Jewish, was compared to Adolf Hitler and his Labour party to the Nazis.

The Oslo Accords never mentioned a two-state solution and only provided a framework for creating self-governing Palestinian institutions in the West Bank and Gaza. However, it was enough to trigger massive protests against Rabin as Palestinian self-governance in Gaza and the West Bank would have meant the IDFs withdrawal from those occupied territories.

The last major attempt for peace and to establish a Palestinian state, the 2000 Camp David Summit, between Clinton, Arafat and Israeli PM Ehud Barak, also failed due to differences over the status of Jerusalem.

Support for a two-state solution grows

The concept of a two-state solution dates back to the 1937 British Peel Commission report. Since then, the idea has made news several times only to be confined to international fora, discussions and dialogues.

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Palestine is recognised as a state by 174 of the 193 UN member states75 per cent of the international community. More than 80 countries recognised Palestine as an independent state following PLO chairman Yasser Arafats proclamation on November 15, 1988.

Ten more countries formally recognised Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war: Mexico, Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados.

However, the UN recognition is a farce. Palestine has only a Permanent Observer State status, meaning it is part of proceedings but cant vote on resolutions.

Palestine can only vote on UN resolutions if it is accorded the status of an independent state, like other nations. However, Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving Israeli PM and who heads the most hard-line right-wing coalition, is a staunch opponent of the concept, which he thinks will be a launchpad to annihilate Israel.

Support for a two-state solution is gathering momentum again due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, caused by the Israeli military operation since October 2023.After Israels military operation, which has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, Gaza is on the brink of famine as the IDF controls the entry of food convoys into the coastal enclave.

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According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform, two out of three famine thresholds have been reached in Gaza: plummeting food consumption and acute malnutrition.

Data provided by Cogat, the Israeli agency that still controls aid shipments, and IPC show that Gaza needs 62,000 tonnes of staple food monthly to meet basic needs.

No food trucks were allowed into Gaza in March and April. Only 19,153 tonnes were allowed in May, 37,103 in June and 37,906 in July.

Consequently, Gazas whole population, around 2.1 million, is food insecure. Per the Gaza health ministry, 900,000 children are going hungry and 70,000 already show signs of malnutrition.

According to the UN, all children under the age of fivearound 320,000are at risk of life-threatening malnourishment.

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

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The deteriorating situation has triggered global opprobrium against Israel and Netanyahu with several nations calling for a ceasefire, announcing to recognise a Palestinian state and demanding a two-state solution to end the problem forever.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that his country will officially recognise a Palestinian state at the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York in September. British PM Keir Starmer has also said that the UK will recognise Palestines statehood if Israel doesnt end the war and has set a September deadline. Canadian PM Mark Carney also joined France and the UK to announce that it would recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA in September.

If France and the UK go ahead, the US will be the only permanent UNSC member not to have recognised a Palestinian state. Pressure for a two-state solution is growing as Israel, backed by the US, is unrelenting in its Gaza operation.

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In July-end, during a high-level UN conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in New York, around 160 members, with 125 speaking in favour of a two-state solution, participated.

Though calls for a two-state solution are not new, a conference chaired by a Western and Arab nation in the UN, attended by a majority of members and international and regional organisations was unprecedented.

Eight working groups were set up to propose measures on issues like security for Israel and an independent Palestine, political reforms, legal problems, humanitarian assistance, economic development and Gaza reconstruction.

At the end of the conference, a seven-page New York Declaration urging Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and endorsed by the European Union and Arab League was passed. France and Saudi Arabia sent the declaration and the proposals of the working groups to all UN members and asked them to endorse it by early September.

Even the 22-member Arab League, for the first time, agreed that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority and also condemned the attacks committed by Hamas against civilians [October 7 terrorist attacks].

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In September 2024, the European Union and Arab nations established the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution at the UNGA to create a framework for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians and achieve a two-state solution. The Alliance also aimed for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the release of hostages and an end to Gazas humanitarian crisis.

However, despite several meetings held in Riyadh, Brussels, Oslo and Cairo and G7 support, the Alliance has failed to achieve a single objective.

Such initiatives are not only praiseworthy but encouraging considering the decades-old bloodshed, the sufferings of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and the permanent security threat to Israel.

However, a two-state solution sounds and looks good only on paperthere are political, strategic and psychological barriers. The concept faces insurmountable odds, which have grown increasingly daunting over the years.

Political divide between Hamas and Fatah

The issue of Netanyahus opposition to a two-state solution or the prospect of a future Israeli governments support for the idea arises much later.

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A Palestinian state is inconceivable with Hamas and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) jostling for power. In the Battle of Gaza, 2007, Hamas seized control of the enclave and drove out Fatah officials, resulting in the fall of their National Unity Government.

Though Hamass command and control system has completely collapsed, more than 90 per cent of its leadership has been killed by the IDF and it has lost control of around 80 per cent of Gaza, the group has resorted to guerrilla tactics.

Despite Netanyahus pledge and Donald Trumps threats to destroy the group, Hamas continues to fight. Even the IDFs chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has said, much to Netanyahus annoyance, that it would take years to conquer Gaza.

Hamas, despite the West and the Arab Leagues demand for disarming and relinquishing power, would never give up its remaining control.

PA, like the US and Israel, wants Hamas out of Gaza. Even if Hamas gives up power, it would never disarm.

Even a majority of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank dont want Hamas to disarm. The latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in Gaza and the West Bank in May found that 64 per cent in Gaza and 85 per cent in the West Bank opposed Hamass disarmament to stop the war.

However, the US, Israel or other West Asian nations, excluding Iran, would never want another state within a state, like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

PA President Mahmoud Abbass eagerness to be part of a post-war Gaza administration is logical. The PA has partial civilian control over the West Bank. It would be illogical and impractical to have one party rule the West Bank and another rule Gaza if they are to be part of a formally recognised Palestinian state that exists alongside Israel as part of a two-state solution.

However, Abbas is highly unpopular in Gaza and even the West Bank, per the poll. Only one in five Palestinians is satisfied with his performance and 81 per cent want him to resign.

Only 19 per cent are satisfied with Abbass performance (29 per cent in Gaza and 13 per cent in the West Bank) and 79 per cent are dissatisfied.

Hamas still enjoys more support (32 per cent) than Fatah (21 per cent) in both Gaza and the West Bank. If legislative elections were held today, 43 per cent of Palestinians (49 per cent in Gaza and 38 per cent in the West Bank) would vote for Hamas and only 28 per cent (30 per cent in Gaza and 27 per cent in the West Bank) for Fatah.

According to 40 per cent of Palestinians, Hamas is the most deserving of representing and leading them. Only 19 per cent believe that Abbas-led Fatah is the most deserving.

A majority of 60 per cent believe that the PA has become a burden on Palestinians. If an agreement is reached to end the Gaza War, 56 per cent dont support the PAs return to managing daily affairs and taking responsibility for reconstruction.

US-Israeli stance on post-war Gaza rule

A government by Palestinians and for Palestinians is the centrepiece of an independent Palestine.

However, the US and Israel, the most important players in any future two-state negotiations, are opposed to both Hamas and the PA leading a Palestinian government.

Instead, Trump proposed in February to displace Gazans and turn the enclave into a Riviera of the Middle East under US control.

Trumps fantasy was opposed by most Arab countries that categorically rejected any form of displacement of the Palestinian people and described it as a gross violation of international law, a crime against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

In March, Arab nations proposed a $53 billion, three-phased and five-year Gaza rebuilding plan under which around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians would be moved into 200,000 prefabricated housing units and 60,000 repaired homes, houses and utilities rebuilt, and an airport, two ports and an industrial zone constructed.

The plans most important aspect was forming an administrative committee comprising independent Palestinian technocrats to run Gaza for a transitional period while working towards empowering the PA return.

The US and Israel rejected the Arab plan. In May, the two nations instead discussed the possibility of the US leading a transitional governmentlike the failed Coalition Provisional Authority established in Iraq in 2003until Gaza is demilitarised and stabilised and a viable Palestinian administration emerges. Not to forget that a majority of Iraqis viewed the system as an occupying force.

The US and Israel dont want either Hamas or the PA to be part of such a transitional government.

Now, Netanyahu has decided to annex Gaza despite Zamirs fierce resistance. You are walking into a trap, Zamir warned him about the plan.

Under the plan, Israel would focus on Gaza City and the strips central part, displace 1 million Gazans, finish off Hamas and pressure the group to release the remaining hostageswhose chances of survival will become bleakerset up a security perimeter and hand over the enclaves control to Arab forces.

The Trump administration hasnt mentioned a two-state solution even once. It even bristled at Frances announcement that it would recognise Palestine in September.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio termed Frances reckless decision a slap in the face to the victims of the October 7 attack that serves Hamas propaganda.

Netanyahu said that a Palestinian state would create another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became, which would be a launchpad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it.

Gaza-West Bank geographical divide

Gaza and the West Bank lie on opposite sides of Israelpractically, this geographical barrier is the biggest hurdle to a two-state solution.

An independent state cant be formed with its two major parts separated geographically.Supporters of a two-state solution envisaged linking Gaza and the West Bank by a corridor through Israel. The idea looks good only on paper; its impractical and poses a massive security risk to both Israelis and Palestinians. Its impossible to bridge the physical separation of Palestinians.

Though the distance between Gaza and the West Bank at its narrowest point is 40 km, Palestinians cannot use it without Israeli permission.

Israel has severely restricted movement between the two territories since the Second Intifada in 2000. A Palestinian who resides in Gaza cant easily travel to the West Bank and vice versa.

Even if a corridor is established, the danger of a Palestinian attacking Israeli civilians or soldiers while passing through it will always remain. Similarly, the risk of an ultra-nationalist Israeli angered by the formal establishment of a Palestinian state and attacking Palestinians will always be there.

The establishment of a corridor connecting Gaza and the West Bank is impractical and dangerous.

Israeli occupation of Gaza and West Bank

A two-state solution is impossible given the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.

Israel occupied Gaza and the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War. In 2005, under PM Ariel Sharon, Israel dismantled all 21 settlements and removed 8,000 settlers from the enclave. In 2007, Hamas took over Gaza.

However, the situation has drastically changed after the Israeli military operation, especially after Netanyahu relaunched the war against Hamas.

The IDF claims to be in control of almost 75 per cent of Gaza with around 90 per cent of its 2.1 million population displacedmany of them multiple times, per UN data.'

Israel has two militarised corridors and a third under construction that cut across Gaza and divide it into sections.

The Netzarim Corridor is a swath of land that divides Gazas north from the rest of the strip. The Netzarim Corridor and a buffer zone alone comprise 50 per cent of the enclave.

The Philadelphi Corridor is Israels codename for a narrow strip of land around 100 metres wide and 14 km long along the whole Gaza-Egypt border.

The Morag Corridor, announced by Netanyahu in April, would join the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 70 per cent of Gaza is out of bounds for Palestinians.

Netanyahus aggression is also tied to his political survival. This is probably his last term, and his Likud party needs the support of far-right coalition partners, especially finance minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism party) and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehuditand party).

At a conference held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Israeli pullout from Gaza, Smotrich said, We did not sacrifice these prices to transfer Gaza from one Arab to another. Gaza is an inseparable part of the land of Israel.

Ben-Gvir told Israels Army Radio, We must not stop for even a moment. We need to achieve a full victory, occupy all of Gaza, stop humanitarian aid and encourage migrationnot partial deals.

Last month, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir called for razing Gazza City to take complete control of the enclave.

The Israeli settlements in the West Bank, home to an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians, pose another huge hurdle to a two-state solution.

Israel controls about 60 per cent of the West Bank with the PA in control of only around 18 per cent. Israel and Abbass government jointly control 22 per cent of the territory.

Around 700,000 Jews (450,000 in the West Bank and around 250,000 in Jerusalem) reside in about 160 settlements constructed after Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 War and East Jerusalem in 1980.

In May-end, Israel approved the expansion of 22 new settlements, the largest since the Oslo Accords, including in areas from which it had earlier withdrawn.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz and Smotrich clearly said that the move was aimed at preventing the creation of a Palestinian state.

All the new communities are being established with a long-term strategic vision, aimed at reinforcing Israeli control of the territory, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state and securing development reserves for settlement in the coming decades, they said in a joint statement.

What the Israeli PM has on his mind is unclear. However, one thing is clearneither a two-state solution nor a Hamas or PA role in post-war Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas War presented Netanyahu with the opportunity to not only allow more settlements in the West Bank but also launch two military operations.

Israel launched Operation Summer Camps in August 2024the largest since 2002and Operation Iron Wall in January this year to target militant groups.

Since October 7, 2023, the IDF and settlers have killed around 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and 18,500 have been arrested. On the other hand, Palestinians have killed 35 Israelis in the West Bank and 18 in Israel.

Since Operation Iron Wall, 1,400 Palestinian homes have been demolished and 2,907 Palestinians displaced due to IDF action and another 2,400 Palestinians displaced because of settler violence.

Palestinians want a state based on the borders before the 1967 War, meaning Israel would have to give up the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Uprooting the 700,000 settlers and dismantling their homes would trigger massive protests by Jews and Israeli far-right parties even if they are not in power. In 2005, protests erupted against Sharons decision to remove the 8,000 settlers, around 100 times less than the number of Jews residing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem**.**

Palestinians, Israelis sceptical about two-state solution

The idea of a two-state solution has been discussed and debated so many times that a majority of Palestinians and Israelis dont even care, have given up hope and are sceptical.

The PSR poll found that only 23 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank had heard of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Only 40 per cent support the concept of a two-state solution and 57 per cent oppose it. Less than half of Palestinians, 47 per cent prefer a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.

More than 60 per cent believe that a two-state solution is either impractical or that there are no chances of a Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. Today, 64 per cent think that the solution is not practical and 68 per cent feel that the chances for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel in the next five years are slim or non-existent.

In fact, 26 per cent support abandoning the two-state solution compared to 22 per cent last year.

Israelis also have become increasingly doubtful about a two-state solution and peace with Palestinians, according to a Pew Research Center survey published in June.

Only 21 per cent (one in five Israelis) think that an independent Palestinian state and Israela two-state solutioncan coexist peacefully50 per cent think its impossible.

The percentage of Israelis who think a two-state solution is possible has dropped 29 points since Pew asked this question first in 2013from 50 to 21 per cent.

Israelis see several obstacles to peace with Palestinians. The lack of trust between Israelis and Palestinians is the biggest obstacle (75 per cent).

The status of Jerusalem is the second biggest obstacle (70 per cent), according to Israelis. The third obstacle is the West Bank settlements (52 per cent).

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. He tweets as @FightTheBigots. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not reflect Firstposts views.
By doubling down on its strengthsits people, its problems, its potentialIndia can turn exclusion into empowerment

US President Donald Trump has urged American tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple to stop hiring foreign workers, including those from India, and focus instead on creating jobs in the United States. His words sent ripples across the global tech landscape.

At an AI Summit held in Washington on Wednesday, Trump said that American companies should now put national interests first in the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence. Although there has been no official policy announcement, this adds to the growing uncertainty for Indian professionals, as India plays a key role in the global operations of U.S. tech firms. Recent reports indicate that major U.S. tech firms are lobbying against strict hiring bans. For many, it felt like a betrayala nation that has long powered global innovation now faces exclusion. But what if this moment is Indias chance to rewrite its story? Rather than a setback, Trumps directive could ignite Indias ascent as a self-reliant tech superpower, proving it can innovate not just for the West but for the world.

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Trumps remarks tap into a broader narrative of economic nationalism, one that paints foreign talentparticularly Indias vast pool of engineersas a drain on American jobs. This is no small matter. U.S. tech companies have been establishing engineering hubs in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad for decades, and India is a vital part of their global operations. Yet Trumps statement, aimed at boosting U.S. AI dominance, signals a pivot toward insularity. One of the directives outlines a nationwide strategy to accelerate the development of AI by relaxing regulations and enticing businesses to construct data centres and other essential infrastructure within the United States.

Companies that receive federal funding to develop AI tools are subject to new regulations under the second order. Helping U.S.-made AI products compete internationally is the main goal of the third executive order. Together, they underscore a vision where global talent takes a back seat.

Indias tech sector risks disruption. American firms have leaned on Indian engineers for cost-efficient, high-skill labour, building software and cloud systems that power the world. A hiring freeze could shrink opportunities for Indian professionals, particularly those eyeing U.S. careers via H-1B visas. It might also chill investments in Indias tech hubs, where companies like Google and Microsoft have sprawling campuses. The Brookings Institution notes that over half of top U.S. AI researchers are foreign-born, many from India.

Curtailing this pipeline could slow innovation in the U.S., but it also threatens Indias role as a global tech engine. The fear is real: a brain drain reversed, with talent staying home but lacking the platforms to thrive.

Yet this challenge masks a profound opportunity. India can seize this moment to pivot from being the worlds back office to its innovation hub. India should harness its engineers graduating annuallya massive talent pool. Instead of coding for Western giants, these minds can build indigenous platforms tailored to Indias needs. Take agriculture, where AI could optimise crop yields for small farmers battling climate shifts. (Update: The Indian government recently announced a new AI mission focusing on agriculture, healthcare, and language models.) In healthcare, homegrown AI tools could diagnose diseases in rural clinics, bridging gaps where doctors are scarce. By focusing inward, India can solve local problems while creating globally competitive tech.

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Indias digital infrastructurethink Aadhaar and UPIalready sets a global standard for scale and efficiency. Government backing could fuel AI hardware innovation. By investing in research hubs and easing startup regulations, India can nurture ecosystems where talent stays and thrives. Imagine an AI model trained on Indias diverse languages, powering education or governance solutions exportable to Africa or Southeast Asia. Trumps push could catalyse this shift, forcing India to prioritise self-reliance over outsourcing.

The other side has weight: global collaboration has driven techs golden age. U.S. firms warn that restricting foreign talent could hamstring innovation, given Americas own tech talent shortage. Indian professionals in the U.S. fear uncertainty, and companies reliant on government contracts may hesitate to defy Trumps rhetoric. But Indias talent doesnt need Western validation to shineit can build its own Silicon Valleys.

Trumps call is a wake-up call for India. The country stands at a crossroads, with a chance to redefine global innovation. By doubling down on its strengthsits people, its problems, its potentialIndia can turn exclusion into empowerment. The world is watching. Its time for India to code its own future.

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The writer is a columnist. His articles have appeared in various publications like The Independent, The Globe and Mail, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, etc. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
In a bid to win a Nobel Peace Prize, US President Donald Trump has clinched a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, the truce came with perks for the US as Trump gets access to a transit corridor, which will be named after him

US President Donald Trump joins hands with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, left, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, during a ceremony signing and agreement to end the decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijani, in the State Dining Room of the White House on Friday. AFP

With a Nobel Peace Prize in his mind, US President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House on Friday, where the two nations finalised a peace agreement. However, that deal would also grant the United States exclusive development access to a critical transit corridor in the South Caucasus.

Interestingly, the corridor is even expected to be named after Trump. The deal signed on Friday is aimed at quelling long-simmering tensions between the two nations, while opening up both nations for greater economic development.

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But what garnered attention was the fact that the deal granted the US long-term, exclusive rights to carve a new transportation route through Armenian territory. Many tried to find a resolution, Trump said on Friday alongside Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. But with this accord, weve finally succeeded in making peace," he boasted.

TRIPP: The global peacemaker with vested interests

The deal is sure to delight Trump because, in return, he is getting the right to form a corridor which will be called the TRIPP  the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. It is pertinent to note that in his first six months in the office, Trump has branded himself as a so-called global peacemaker. However, many warned that the deal comes with a cost.

According to CNN, the project will operate under Armenian legal jurisdiction, and the United States will, in turn, lease the land to a consortium responsible for construction and management. This declaration establishes what they are calling a great honour for me  I didnt ask for this, Trump said of the decision to name the corridor after him.

The deal came days after the White House administered a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia. The deal between the two Asian nations was reached last month after Trump threatened to cut off trade talks with both countries if they continued to fight each other.

I was talking to one of the two nations on trade, and I said, Im not going to sign a trade deal if you guys are going to fight, Trump said. We got it stopped. Meanwhile, the White House officials have prioritised the diplomatic efforts in a bid to follow through on Trumps campaign pledge to end wars around the world.

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Trumps hopes for a Nobel

The administration kept on boasting about their work even on smaller-scale conflicts, while Trump struggles to resolve two of the biggest wars in recent history - Israels war in Gaza and Russias incursion into Ukraine. However, Trump has a vested interest in these peace deals.

A White House official said that Trump believes that each peace deal should bring him closer to winning the Nobel Peace Prize that hes coveted for years. In the past, Trump has often cribbed about the decision to award former US President Barack Obama the prize in 2009, at the start of his first term.

Keeping Trumps hopes and aspirations in mind, multiple foreign leaders have nominated the president for the Peace Prize to curry favour with him  the Armenian prime minister and Azerbaijani president on Friday became the latest to endorse his candidacy for the award. Who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize? Aliyev said, as Trump looked on. President Trump, in six months, did a miracle.

Another crucial part of the deal was that the heads of both Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to endorse a formal request to disband the Minsk Group. It is pertinent to note that the group was established in 1992 and co-chaired by France, Russia and the US and has long been tasked with mediating the dispute between the two nations.

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Thirty-five years of death and hatred  and now its going to be love and respect and success together, Trump said of the pact between Armenia and Azerbaijan, beaming as the foreign leaders shook hands in front of him.
Bangladeshs poll body chief on Saturday said general elections would be held in the first week of February 2026 but ensuring it in a free, fair and impartial manner remained a major challenge.

On August 6, 2024, a day after Sheikh Hasinas ouster, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was named head of Bangladeshs interim government. He assumed office on August 8. (File image/AFP)

Bangladeshs Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced on Saturday that the general elections are scheduled to take place in the first week of February 2026, though he acknowledged that ensuring a free, fair and impartial vote remains a major challenge.

Speaking at an event in Rangpur district, Uddin said the exact date of the polls would be revealed two months prior to the election schedule announcement. He highlighted a growing loss of public confidence in the election system, the Election Commission and the administrative bodies involved in managing elections.

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People have lost confidence in the election system, the Election Commission and the administrative machinery involved in the electoral process, he told state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

However, Uddin expressed his commitment to restoring trust, stating that his office is working tirelessly towards that goal. The announcement follows interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus declaration four days earlier that the polls would be held in February next year, coinciding with the first anniversary of the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government on August 5. The upcoming election will be Bangladeshs 13th parliamentary vote.

Uddin attended a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of the eight districts of Rangpur division at the Divisional Commissioners Office in Rangpur on the issue of law and order.

The CEC feared that there was a growing apathy among voters as over the years, people have become disengaged from the voting process but added as long as the Election Commission remains conscious of its responsibilities, all actions will strictly follow the rules, regulations and laws. Contrary to civic and rights groups concerns over the law and order situation in the country, Uddin said, the law and order is currently stable and we aim to make it even better so that citizens can vote peacefully and without fear. The CEC, however, said the exact date of election would be disclosed two months before the schedule was announced while his office was preparing to conduct the polls within a short time frame despite various challenges.

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Meanwhile, former prime minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as the single largest party in Awami Leagues absence after Yunus government disbanded its activities under an executive order.

BNPs self-exiled acting chairman and Zias son Tarique Rahman on Friday said the party and its like-minded partners would take part in the February polls as an alliance.

The BNP earlier formed a 12-party alliance, mostly centre right groups and a left leaning one, but the party has visibly distanced itself from its once crucial ally, the far right Jamaat-e-Islami.

Jamaat was a key-partner in the BNP-led four-party alliance government that ran the country from 2001-2006.

Earlier in the 2018 national election, BNP included Jamaat-e-Islami as part of its electoral alliance but since the ouster of the Awami League regime last year, there has been a visible rift between them.

Analysts said BNPs decision to distance itself from Jamaat was both political and strategic as it would give BNP a more liberal and contemporary image to civil society, the youth, and centrist political forces.

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A violent street protest by Students Against Discrimination (SAD) ousted the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Three days after Hasina fled the country, Yunus had taken over as the chief adviser on August 8. A large offshoot of the SAD formed the National Citizen Party (NCP) in February this year.

With inputs from agencies
Brazils Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US charge daffaires after the embassy posted comments about the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

US President Donald Trump hosts a photo-op with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro before attending a working dinner at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, US, March 7, 2020. File Image/Reuters

Amid brewing tensions between Brazil and the United States, the Brazilian foreign ministry has summoned the US charge daffaires after the embassy posted comments about the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. On Thursday, the embassy published a social media post in Portuguese criticising the Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the cases against Bolsonaro.

The former Brazilian president is in the middle of a trial over an alleged coup attempt against the countrys current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Minister Moraes is the chief architect of the censorship and persecution of Bolsonaro and his supporters. His flagrant human rights violations have led to sanctions under the Magnitsky Act, imposed by President Trump," the embassy wrote in the Thursday post.

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Moraess allies in the judiciary and elsewhere are hereby warned not to support or facilitate his actions. We are monitoring the situation closely," it furthered. The message shared by the consulate was a translated repost of a statment by Darren Beattie, the USs senior official for public diplomacy.

Brazil condemns the message

Meanwhile, the Brazilian government saw the message as a direct threat to the other supreme court justices presiding over Bolsonaros trials. Given that Trump is yet to appoint an ambassador to Brazil, the foreign ministry summoned the acting head of mission, charge daffaires Gabriel Escobar.

It is pertinent to note that this was the third time Escobar had been summoned since Donald Trump began defending Bolsonaro. The Trump administration drew Brazilian ire after it used a former Brazilian president over the 2022 coup attempt as one of the justifications for the steep tariffs imposed on the goods of the Latin American nation.

A source close to the matter told Reuters that the interim secretary for Europe and North America, Flavio Goldman, expressed to Escobar the Brazilian governments deep indignation over the tone and content of recent posts from the embassy and the US state department, which Brasilia viewed as interference in domestic affairs and unacceptable threats against Brazilian authorities. The US embassy is yet to comment on the matter.

Interestingly, before Fridays summons, Escobar had attended a meeting on Thursday with Brazils vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin, who has been leading the Lula administrations efforts to reverse the tariffs. Brazil argues that it has been seeking open negotiations with the United States since April. However, it has received no response.

The day my intuition says Trump is ready to talk, I wont hesitate to call him. But today my intuition says he doesnt want to talk. And I wont humiliate myself," the Brazilian president told Reuters this week.

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Rwanda backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar led peace process aiming to end the conflict.

At least 80 civilians have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks by rebels backed by Rwanda, Congolese officials said, despite ongoing Qatar-mediated peace efforts aimed at halting the violence.

Eastern Congo has faced decades of conflict, and tensions escalated earlier this year when the M23 insurgent group supported by Rwandan forces captured two major cities. The region remains home to over 100 armed groups competing for control of its vast mineral resources.

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The continued bloodshed threatens hopes of finalizing a permanent peace agreement by August 18. One of the deals key provisions is ensuring civilian safety and enabling the return of millions displaced by the fighting.

In a statement late Friday, the Congolese army condemned what it called a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu. It said 80 people were killed on August 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, while six others, including two minors, were murdered on July 24 in Lumbishi.

It blamed the the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC backed by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).

In addition to this excessive criminality, the M23/AFC is engaged in the forced recruitment of young people, including minors, to join their illegal organization, the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from M23. When asked for a comment, the Rwandan foreign minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press that he could not comment on any stupidity coming from DRC, using the acronym of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief said that M23 killed 319 people over the past month in a different part of the region, describing the toll as one of the largest documented of such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022.

Citing firsthand accounts, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement that the rebels, backed by members of the Rwandan Defense Force, targeted four villages in North Kivu provinces Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21.

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M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement unverified and politically motivated.

These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions, said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization which includes M23. We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.

The two sides on July 19 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents.

With inputs from agencies
While US President Donald Trump complains about trade with India, raising tariffs on Indian goods to nearly 50 per cent, Washington, DC, continues to be New Delhis largest trading partner. Heres a look at the other 4 nations

US President Donald Trump's decision to impose 50% tariffs on goods imported from India could hit the country's growth prospects. File image/Reuters

While US President Donald Trump complains about trade with India, raising tariffs on Indian goods to nearly 50 per cent, Washington, DC, continues to be New Delhis largest trading partner. Trump raised tariffs on Indian exports, condemning Indias purchase of oil and military equipment from Russia.

However, while the US is Indias largest trading partner, Russia is number 4 on the list, just behind China and the United Arab Emirates. India depends heavily on other nations for goods like coal, rubber, crude oil, and more. Its strong manufacturing base attracts international actors, making India among the top 20 trading nations in the world. Indias recent total trade (merchant exports plus imports) surpassed $1.6 trillion, according to recent trade statistics (FY 2023-24).

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While India imports electronics, industrial machinery, and crude oil, the nation exports a wide range of goods, such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, petroleum products, and electronics. Here are some of Indias top trading partners.

United States of America: Indias largest trading partner

The US is Indias biggest trading partner, with a combined trade volume of over $71.39 billion in 2023. It is a major importer of crude oil, machinery, and chemicals for India. Meanwhile, Indias top exports to the country include jewellery, textiles, gems, and pharmaceuticals.

China

Back in 2023, Indias trade volume with China was over $13.6 billion, making it New Delhis second-largest trading partner. While India receives a significant amount of its chemicals, machinery, and electronics from China, cotton, marine products, and iron ore are among Indias top exports to China.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Indias combined trade volume with the United Arab Emirates is more than $28.76 billion in 2023, and with this, the UAE ranks as Indias third-largest trading partner. The West Asian nation is Indias primary supplier of natural gas and crude oil. Meanwhile, India exports Rice, textiles, and petroleum products to the Emirati nation.

Russia

With $44.37 billion in total trade, Russia is the fourth-largest trading partner of India. While New Delhi imports diamonds, fertilisers, and military hardware from Russia and not just crude oil, India exports tea, spices and medication to Moscow.

Saudi Arabia

Total trade between Saudi Arabia and India stands at $43.37 billion, making the West Asian nation Indias fifth-largest trading partner. Saudi Arabia is the primary supplier of natural gas and crude oil to India, which results in a $28.93 billion trade deficit. India, on the other hand, supplies the kingdom with rice, textiles and pharmaceuticals.

Overall, while Trump continues to crib about India, his tariffs just butchered the decades-long trade practices between the two nations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called the Armenia Azerbaijan peace treaty reached in Washington an important achievement for dialogue and diplomacy that India advocates.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday described the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty signed in Washington as an important achievement for dialogue and diplomacy, principles India strongly supports.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said he spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to congratulate him on the agreement reached at the White House peace summit on Friday, where leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a deal aimed at ending decades of conflict.

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Good to speak to Armenian FM @AraratMirzoyan. Congratulated him on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty reached in Washington DC. This is an important achievement for dialogue and diplomacy that India advocates, Jaishankar said in the post.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the US state of Alaska on August 15, to try to resolve the three-year conflict, despite warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kyiv must be part of negotiations.

Announcing the summit on Friday, Trump said that therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia, without providing further details.

However, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier, Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing, he said, adding that the war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.

Zelensky also urged Ukraines allies to take clear steps towards achieving a sustainable peace, during a call with Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

National security advisors from Kyivs allies  including the United States, EU nations and the UK were gathering in Britain on Saturday to align their views ahead of the Putin-Trump summit.

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It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again, Zelensky said after a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, without elaborating further.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit could bring peace any closer as the warring sides positions are still far apart.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes.

With inputs from agencies
John Bolton, who has been Donald Trumps National Security Advisor (NSA) in his first term, called out the American presidents leniency on China, and tariffs on India, saying it could jeopardise decades of US efforts to bring India away from Russia and China

US President Donald Trump has jeopardised decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China, his former aide John Bolton. File image/AFP

An enormous mistake.

Thats how Americas former National Security Advisor, John Bolton, views US President Donald Trumps 50 per cent tariffs on India. Trumps former aide minced no words on the levies that the American president was imposing, warning that the measures intended to hurt Russia, could end up having the opposite effect by pushing New Delhi closer to Moscow and Beijing.

Trumps tariffs against India are intended to hurt Russia but they could push India closer to Russia and to China to oppose these tariffs, John Bolton told CNN in an interview.

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He further pointed out that Trumps apparent leniency towards China would jeopardise decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China. While the US president has levied a 25 per cent penalty on India for buying Russian oil on top of another 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, he has held back on China after engaging in a brief trade war in April. As of now, Beijing has been slapped with a 30 per cent tariff, pending a deal. Notably, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has suggested Chinas August 12 deadline could be extended if negotiations appeared promising.

Earlier too, Bolton flagged the tariffs on India in an opinion piece for US news outlet, The Hill. He wrote that Trumps leniency towards Beijing could be seen as sacrificing the US strategic interests in this zeal for a deal with President Xi Jinping. The White House seems headed toward more lenient treatment for Beijing on tariff rates and other metrics than it imposed on New Delhi. If so, it will be a potentially enormous mistake, his opinion piece read.

In the same piece, he also pointed out that by the levying tariffs on friend and foe alike has likely caused US a considerable loss of trust and confidence, built up over decades of effort, in exchange for minimal economic gains  if any  and the risk of formidable losses.

Bolton has repeatedly called out Trumps actions in the past few months. Earlier in a July interview to CNBC-TV18, he pointed out that trade and security issues are being treated in silos in Washington, which runs counter to how countries like India perceive their bilateral relationship with the United States. While New Delhi expects alignment on both fronts, Trumps focus on tariffs and punitive trade actions could strain ties, especially at a time when closer cooperation is needed to counter Chinas growing influence.

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Meanwhile, India, has so far, refused to bend to Trumps demands on Russian oil. In fact, it has defended its oil imports and called the tariffs unfair and unreasonable.

Russia has extended support to New Delhi and accused the US of exerting illegal trade pressure on India - a week before Trump would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With inputs from agencies
Indias S-400 air defence system shot down at least five jets of the Pakistani air force during Operation Sindoor, said Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday.

New Delhi: 'Operation Sindoor' displayed on the screen during a press briefing by the Indian armed forces, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (PTI Photo/ Shahbaz Khan)

Indias S-400 air defence system shot down at least five jets of the Pakistani air force during Operation Sindoor, said Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. While speaking at the Air Marshal Katre Annual Lecture in Bengaluru on Saturday, the Indian Air Force chief lauded Indias effort during the four-day military escalation against Pakistan.

Air Chief Marshal Singh emphasised that the Pakistani fighter aircraft were shot down at a range of 300 km. He also mentioned that some parked F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistani air force stationed in Jacobabad were also destroyed by the IAF.

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Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like those long-range glide bombs that they have; they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system, Singh said at the Saturday event.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, "...We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at pic.twitter.com/ieL6Gka0rG  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

Largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill

Apart from the jets, the IAF chief noted that the S-400 defence system also shot down one AEW&C/ELINT aircraft at long range during the Indian mission which took place two weeks after the devastating Pahalgam terror attacks.

We have at least five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres, ACM Singh said. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," he added.

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During the lecture, the IAF chief also confirmed strikes on key Pakistani air bases. Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield, one of the major airfields that was attacked. Here, theres an F-16 hangar. One half of the hangar is gone. And Im sure there were some aircraft inside which have been damaged there, he stated.

Singh noted that the Indian Air Force was able to destroy at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there.

Defence analysts previously said that Pakistani losses in fighter jets, including fighters, radars, command centres, and critical surveillance assets, could significantly weaken the Pakistan Air Forces operational readiness.

What makes the IAF chiefs proclamation significant is the fact that this is the first official confirmation from the highest rank of the Indian Air Force on the scale of Pakistani losses during Operation Sindoor.

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KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday strongly condemned Israel's decision to take full control of Gaza City, calling it a dangerous escalation that will worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In a statement, the ministry described the move as an alarming step that would expand the scope of the conflict and further endanger the lives of Palestinians.

The ministry urged influential international actors, particularly countries in the region with significant political leverage, to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities to prevent the humanitarian situation in Gaza from deteriorating further.

The statement emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of safe channels for the delivery of humanitarian aid. 
India has welcomed the upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska aimed at ending the Ukraine war, aligning with PM Modis stance that this is not an era of war, even as Kyiv warns against negotiations without Ukraines involvement.

US President Donald Trump said on August 8, 2025 he would meet with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, as the Republican billionaire hopes to help mediate an end to the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

India on Saturday welcomed next weeks summit talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska to find ways to end the Ukraine conflict.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), endorsing the move, said India stands ready to support the efforts as it recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modis consistent position that this is not an era of war.

Indias reaction came hours after the US and Russia announced that Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska next Friday on the Ukraine conflict .

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Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the US state of Alaska on August 15, to try to resolve the three-year conflict, despite warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kyiv must be part of negotiations.

Announcing the summit on Friday, Trump said that therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia, without providing further details.

India welcomes the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on August 15, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, This is not an era of war, he said.

India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts, Jaiswal said in a statement.

However, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier, Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing, he said, adding that the war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.

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Zelensky also urged Ukraines allies to take clear steps towards achieving a sustainable peace, during a call with Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

National security advisors from Kyivs allies  including the United States, EU nations and the UK  were gathering in Britain on Saturday to align their views ahead of the Putin-Trump summit.

It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again, Zelensky said after a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, without elaborating further.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit could bring peace any closer as the warring sides positions are still far apart.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes.

With inputs from agencies
Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israels Mossad spy agency in recent months, the judiciary said on Saturday, warning that they will face no leniency and will be made an example of.

Irans judiciary said on Saturday that 20 people suspected of working for Israels Mossad intelligence agency have been detained in recent months, vowing they will face strict punishment and serve as a warning to others.

The statement came days after the execution of nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, who was found guilty of spying for Israel and providing information on another scientist killed during Israeli air strikes in June, according to state media.

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Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangiri said some of the detainees had their charges dropped and were released, though he did not specify how many. He stressed that there would be no leniency for confirmed spies and that final details would be disclosed once investigations conclude.

Executions of Iranians convicted of espionage for Israel have risen sharply this year, with at least eight carried out in recent months. In June, Israel launched 12 days of air raids on Iran, striking military leaders, nuclear experts, facilities, and civilian areas. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks.

Rights group HRANA reported 1,190 Iranian deaths during the 12-day Israeli attacks, including 436 civilians and 435 security personnel.

Israel said 28 were killed in Irans retaliatory attack.

With inputs from agencies
Indias Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Saturday spoke to US Senator Lindsey Graham and shared New Delhis perspective on its energy security, including increasing energy trade with the United States.

Indias Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, held talks with US Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday, discussing New Delhis energy security priorities and the growing energy trade between the two countries.

Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security including increasing energy trade with the United States, Kwatra said in a post on social media.

The conversation came a day after Graham called on India to use its influence to help US President Donald Trump bring an end to the war in Ukraine, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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The American senator, in a post on social media said that it will be consequential in improving relations between Washington and Delhi.

As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India-US relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine, Graham posted on Friday.

Graham said that India is the second-largest purchaser of cheap oil from Russia, which fuels Putins war machine. I hope Prime Minister Modi emphasised to Putin in their recent phone call the need to end this war in Ukraine justly, honourably and forever. I have always believed India has influence in this matter, and I am hoping they will use it wisely, Graham added.

Graham was responding to PM Modis post on X following his phone call with President Putin.

Modi said he had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. During their phone conversation on Friday, Putin briefed Modi on the latest developments concerning Ukraine.

In light of the special privileged partnership between Russia and India, Vladimir Putin shared the key outcomes of his meeting with US Presidents Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Prime Minister Modi thanked President Putin for the information and confirmed Indias unwavering stance in favour of settling the situation surrounding Ukraine via political and diplomatic means, it added.

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Modi has invited Putin to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Graham has supported Trumps decision to impose additional tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil, saying, Making those like India pay a price for their war profiteering is a good place to start. Trump has imposed a staggering 50 per cent tariff on India, 25 per cent levy, topped with a 25 per cent penalty for continued purchase of Russian oil.

With inputs from agencies
London police have arrested more than 150 protesters for defying a new law banning support for Palestine Action. The arrests come amid a surge in protests across the UK over Gaza, immigration, and government policy.

Police officers patrol during demonstrator during a protest in support of the Palestinian People in Gaza, in Parliament Square, in London. AP

Police in London detained over 150 individuals after protestors purposefully broke a new rule prohibiting support for a pro-Palestinian group, claiming that the legislation unlawfully restricts freedom of expression.

Londons Metropolitan Police said in a statement on X, that officers are methodically working their way through the crowd, making further arrests.

Palestine Action supporters have held a series of rallies around the United Kingdom since early July, when Parliament proscribed the group and forbade anybody from openly supporting it. After demonstrators stormed into a Royal Air Force facility and vandalised two tanker planes, lawmakers outlawed the group as a terrorist organisation.

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Police in London started making arrests after hundreds of people intentionally violated a new law banning support for a pro-Palestinian group because they say the legislation improperly restricts freedom of expression.

Backers of Palestine Action have staged a series of protests across the U.K. since early July, when Parliament outlawed the group and prohibited anyone from publicly showing support for it. Lawmakers banned the group as a terrorist organization after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two tanker aircraft.

Protesters gathered Saturday afternoon in the square outside Parliament, with dozens displaying signs reading I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. That was enough for police to step in.

Within this crowd a significant number of people are displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed group, the Metropolitan Police Service said on X. Officers have moved in and are making arrests.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper moved to ban Palestine Action after activists broke into a British air force base in southern England on June 20 to protest British military support for Israels war with Hamas. The activists sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker planes at the RAF Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and caused further damage with crowbars.

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Palestine Action had previously targeted Israeli defense contractors and other sites in Britain that they believe have links with the Israeli military.

Supporters of the group are challenging the ban in court, saying the government has gone too far in declaring Palestine Action a terrorist organization.

Once the meaning of terrorism is separated from campaigns of violence against a civilian population, and extended to include those causing economic damage or embarrassment to the rich, the powerful and the criminal, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning and democracy is dead, the group Defend Our Juries said on its website.

The arrests outside Parliament came amid what is expected to be a busy weekend of demonstrations in London as the war in Gaza and concerns about immigration spur protests and counter-protests across the United Kingdom.

While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has angered Israel with plans to recognize a Palestinian state later this year, many Palestinian supporters in Britain criticize the government for not doing enough to end the war in Gaza.

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Pro-Palestinian protesters were gathering Saturday afternoon in central London for a march that is scheduled to end outside the gates of No. 10 Downing Street, the prime ministers official residence and offices.

On Sunday, a number of groups are scheduled to march through central London to demand the safe release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Palestinian militants have held the captives since they attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Police are also preparing for protests outside hotels across the country that are being used to house asylum seekers. Protesters and counter-protesters have squared off outside the hotels in recent weeks, with some saying the migrants pose a risk to their communities and others decrying anti-immigrant racism.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the scale of the events would put pressure on the police department.

This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence, Adelekan said before the protests began.

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The conversation with Lula is the latest of a flurry of calls between Putin and foreign leaders in recent days ahead of the Russian presidents expected meeting with US President Donald Trump next week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. REUTERS

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for about 40 minutes, the presidential palace in Brasilia said, adding that Putin briefed him on talks with the United States and recent peace efforts related to the war in Ukraine.

According to the statement, the two leaders also discussed cooperation within the BRICS bloc of emerging economies and reviewed the current international political and economic situation.

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The conversation with Lula is the latest of a flurry of calls between Putin and foreign leaders in recent days ahead of the Russian presidents expected meeting with US President Donald Trump next week.

Putin spoke to the leaders of China and India, both also part of the BRICS group of developing nations, and other presidents from Central Asia and Europe on Friday to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine.

Lula has been in a public spat with Trump since the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on the imports of Brazilian goods, which Trump linked to an alleged witch hunt against his ally and Brazils former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. U.S. imports of some Brazilian products, such as orange juice and aircraft, received a lower rate.

Lula told Reuters on Wednesday he planned to call the leaders of the BRICS countries, which also include South Africa, to discuss a joint response to Trumps tariffs on U.S. imports. The Brazilian leader spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Trump has threatened BRICS nations with additional 10% tariffs last month, as the group gathered in a summit in Rio de Janeiro in July.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahus plan to take control of Gaza City, which has been approved by the Cabinet, has sparked criticism and condemnation around the world

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Gaza's demilitarisation and the establishment of "a peaceful civilian administration would help free our hostages" and prevent future threats. File image/Reuters

Israels plan to take control of Gaza City, a move expanding military operations in the shattered Palestinian territory has drawn criticism at home and abroad, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to defend it.

On Thursday, as the Israeli Cabinet approved of Netanyahus plan, Germany, a key European ally, announced it would halt exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Britain and other European allies also urged Israel to reconsider its decision to escalate the Gaza military campaign.

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Amid such pressure, Netanyahu once again defended his plan for Gaza City saying on X, we are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.

Netanyahus plan for Gaza

Earlier, Israel said it would intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City. An official familiar with the plans to take over Gaza City said the operation would be gradual and that there is no start date.

Later, Netanyahus office said the Cabinet had adopted five principles, including Gazas demilitarisation and the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

The premiers office also added that the Israeli army will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones.

The Israeli PM then wrote on X, We are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.

He said that the territorys demilitarisation and the establishment of a peaceful civilian administration will help free our hostages and prevent future threats.

Netanyahus Gaza City plan deemed reckless

The Israeli PMs remarks come after his plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with China, Turkey, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a dangerous escalation that risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who ordered for the suspension of military shipments to Israel, said it was increasingly difficult to understand how the new plan would help achieve legitimate aims.

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Demonstrators hold torches, during a protest outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office to demand the immediate release of the hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, and the end of the war, in Jerusalem. Reuters

Even within Israel, Netanyahus plan received mixed reactions. The group rallying for the hostages said the plan amounted to abandoning the captives. The Cabinet chose last night to embark on another march of recklessness, on the backs of the hostages, the soldiers, and Israeli society as a whole, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said.

Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead.

An expanded Israeli offensive could see ground troops operate in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held, local media have reported.

However, other Israelis, offered their support. As they take control of Gaza, they will eliminate Hamas completely  maybe not completely, but at least a good percentage of them, Chaim Klein, a 26-year-old yeshiva student, was quoted telling AFP.

Israel has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to neighbourhoods again and again as militants regrouped. Today, it is one of the few areas in Gaza that hasnt been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders.

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Umm Youssef told AP said she had left the city for over 16 months before returning to her home. The area is all rubble. Rubble is an overstatement, it is a sandpile. There is nothing here to occupy. There is no life here, she said.

Meanwhile, Hamas on said the plans to occupy Gaza City and evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime. It warned Israel that the operation would cost it dearly, and that expanding the aggression means sacrificing the hostages held by militants.

With inputs from agencies
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who is also in charge of defence industry and trade, and discussed bilateral militarytechnical ties and implementation of joint projects in strategic sectors.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who is also in charge of defence industry and trade, and discussed bilateral military-technical ties and implementation of joint projects in strategic sectors.

Doval was in Russia to hold crucial talks on bilateral energy and defence ties and to prepare the ground for President Vladimir Putins visit to India later this year.

Manturov is co-chair of the India-Russia Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural Cooperation along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He met Doval on Friday.

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The two sides discussed the topical issues of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India and implementation of joint projects in other strategic areas, including civil aircraft, metallurgy and chemical industry, the Russian government press service said in a release.

The talks covered topical issues of #RussiaIndia military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy, and the chemical industry, according to the Russian Embassy in India.

On Thursday, Doval called on President Putin at the Kremlin to discuss bilateral cooperation and reiterated New Delhis commitment to continue cooperation on all fronts with Moscow in spite of outside pressure.

The NSAs visit to Russia comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for buying Russian oil, doubling it to 50 per cent.

According to sources, Doval extended an invitation to President Putin on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India later this year, which Putin has accepted.

PM Modi on Friday spoke with President Putin over the phone during which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.

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Prior to meeting with Putin, Doval also held detailed discussions with the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergey Shoigu, and discussed key bilateral and international issues in the wake of Trumps tariffs.
Pakistans Ministry of Defence informed the National Assembly on Friday that Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) lost PKR 4.1 billion in just over two months because it closed its airspace to Indian aircraft

The India-Pakistan tensions have strained the Pakistani aviation sector significantly after the countrys Ministry of Defence informed the National Assembly on Friday that Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has lost PKR 4.1 billion in just over two months. The loss is attributed to the closure of the airspace to India-registered aircraft due to the diplomatic row that ensued after the Pahalgam terror attack in India.

The Defence Ministry noted that the shortfall from April 24 to June 30 was in overflying revenue and was lower than the reported PKR 8.5 billion, Dawn reported. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan called for the closure of the countrys airspace after India put the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance.

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While Pakistan boasted about the measure, the move affected 100 to 150 Indian aircraft flying over Pakistan daily, cutting transit traffic by almost 20 per cent. In 2019, a similar closure led to an estimated Rs7.6 billion ($54 million) revenue loss, compared to $100 million previously reported.

Pakistan still defends its move

While addressing the Pakistani National Assembly, the Ministry of Defence emphasised that such decisions, under the jurisdiction of the federal government, were issued through Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and carried strategic and diplomatic weight. They noted that the move was taken to safeguard civilians, protect infrastructure, and allow military planning.

However, throughout Operation Sindoor, the Indian military took precautions and ensured that civilians on the other side of the border were not dragged into the four-day military escalation between two nuclear superpowers.

While financial losses occur, sovereignty and national defence take precedence over economic considerations, the Pakistani defence ministrys statement read. However, the loss is significant. Before tensions between the two nations, the PAAs average daily overflight revenue in 2019 was $508,000, compared to $760,000 in 2025. The animosities between the two neighbouring countries reached a boiling point after terrorists from Pakistan infiltrated a tourist spot in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26 people.
Prior to his announcing the meeting with Putin, Trumps efforts to pressure Russia into stopping the fighting have so far delivered no progress

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. Reuters

Some nations will attempt titanic efforts to thwart the August 15 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, according to Russias investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Saturday.

Trump has previously stated that a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine was imminent, which might end the three-and-a-half-year conflict. Although the terms of the agreement are yet unknown, several European countries are against Ukraine giving up a sizable portion of its land. Dmitriev charged that unidentified nations were trying to prolong the conflict.

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Undoubtedly, a number of countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump, he said in a post in his Telegram account, specifying that by efforts he meant provocations and disinformation.

Dmitriev did not specify which countries he was referring to or what kind of provocations they might undertake.

The Kremlin earlier confirmed the summit. The two leaders will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding: This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically.

Trump on Friday said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska.

Speaking to reporters at the White House after announcing a framework aimed at ending decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump had refused to say exactly when or where he would meet with Putin, but that he planned to announce a location soon.

He also suggested that his meeting with the Russian leader could come before any sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Prior to his announcing the meeting with Putin, Trumps efforts to pressure Russia into stopping the fighting have so far delivered no progress. The Kremlins bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armour while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities. Russia and Ukraine are far apart on their terms for peace.

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Ukrainian troops say they are ready to keep fighting. Ukrainian forces are locked in intense battles along the 1,000-kilometre front line that snakes from northeast to southeast Ukraine. The Pokrovsk area of the eastern Donetsk region is taking the brunt of punishment as Russia seeks to break out into the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukraine has significant manpower shortages.

Intense fighting is also taking place in Ukraines northern Sumy border region, where Ukrainian forces are engaging Russian soldiers to prevent reinforcements being sent from there to Donetsk.
For decades, leaders across party lines in both India and the US have worked to shed the baggage of the Cold War to cultivate bilateral ties. With a full-scale economic war and an alliance with Indias adversaries, US President Donald Trump is undoing that progress and setting the relationship back to the distrust of the Cold War.

US President Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP)

For more than three decades, Indian and American leaders pursued a mutually beneficial relationship that built upon common grounds and sought middle grounds in case of divergences. But the principle of mutuality that underpinned the India-US relationship has now ended.

With 50 per cent tariffs, unending verbal attacks, unleashing his minions to insinuations lacking factual bases, and a burgeoning alliance with Indias adversaries, Trump has made it clear that he is not seeking a negotiated trade agreement but wants India to accept his diktats without question  and that he is up for getting his hands dirty in this pressure campaign.

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It is this approach, and not any unmanageable differences on trade or foreign policy, that has driven the India-US relationship to the lowest point in decades.

Firstpost has learnt that India-US trade talks were going well until Trump abruptly dumped the progress and ramped up his demands to unrealistic levels.

Even as Trump has claimed himself to be a master dealmaker, Firstpost has learnt that he has been a fickle in trade talks and has not been consistent in his terms.

India-US trade talks were going well  then came Trump

In July, Indian and American negotiators were close to finalising a draft for a trade agreement well ahead of the August 1 deadline, but Trump ramped up his demands out of nowhere and blew up the progress, Firstpost has learnt.

It is not clear if it was a draft for the final trade deal or a mini deal that negotiators were said to be looking forward to at the time.

Firstpost learnt that India offered certain relaxations in trade talks, which would have helped American businesses, but that was not enough for Trump.

It is understood that these relaxations concerned regulatory and compliance matters that would have created an enabling environment for American businesses looking to enter India. It is not understood to be acceptance of American demands on contentious issues like agriculture, dairy, and genetically modified (GM) crops.

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Firstpost has also learnt that Trump was fickle in trade talks, offering India tariff rates of 10 per cent, 15 per cent, and 19 per cent at various points.

ALSO READ: With tariffs & threats, Trump dashes hope of being India's top partner

Such an unpredictable manner in serious bilateral trade pact talks suggests that President Trump is not negotiating in good faith and wants all gains from a deal for himself instead of a win-win deal, according to Ram Singh, a professor of international trade and business at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT).

India has always valued its autonomy. India will not agree to an unequal trade deal like Japan or South Korea, which are dependent on the United States for security. The current trade tensions and the way US officials have conducted themselves in unprecedented. Previously, they understood Indian positions. Now, they have a my way or the highway approach and want everything for themselves, Singh tells Firstpost.

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Trump risks decades of progress in India-US ties

In India, Trump is already being compared to late Richard Nixon, the disgraced Cold War-era President of the United States who sided with Pakistan and deployed the 7th Fleet of the US Navy to intervene in the India-Pakistan War of 1971 on the side of Pakistan.

That episode is seared into the Indian public memory and continues to serve as a reminder that the India-US relationship, which has become central to Indias foreign policy, is not as old as it might appear. Instead, it is quite young  just over three decades old.

With his tariff war and systematic undermining of India, Trump has put at risk the progress made post-1990s by all the presidents and prime ministers.

President Trump has broken the trust in the India-US relationship, and it will take time and efforts on part of the Americans to rebuild trust, and the responsibility would likely fall on the next administration, says Yusuf Unjhawala, a scholar of geopolitics at the Takshashila Institute.

For now, the India-US relationship appears to be frozen and that is expected to deal a blow to collaborations such as the Quad. However, this situation also brings opportunities for middle powers, including in the Indo-Pacific, to come together. I have long believed that India, Japan, and Australia should have a much closer partnership, says Unjhawala.

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As tariffs are just one way of needling India, Trump has strengthened the anti-India sentiment in the country and the government.

Beyond tariffs, Trump has interfered in Jammu and Kashmir, undermined India on Operation Sindoor, equated Pakistan to India, aligned with Pakistan, and partnered with Islamist regimes of Syria and Turkey. This has reignited Cold War-era fears that the United States essentially wants to check Indias rise.

At least in the immediate future, there is merit in such fears.

Some of the most vulnerable sectors from Trumps tariffs in the immediate futures are some of the most labour-intensive and politically sensitive, such as the marine sector (shrimp, prawn, etc), textile sector, and edibles (fruits, pickle), according to Singh, the international trade and business professor at IIFT.

Any disruption in these sectors could have serious sociopolitical consequences.
China slams Philippines for courting external forces, destabilizing South China Sea

Xinhua) 11:39, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday criticized the Philippines for courting external forces in an attempt to destabilize the South China Sea for its own gain.

Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the statement at a press conference in response to remarks from the Philippine armed forces on a recent joint Philippine-Indian naval exercise near Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea.

"We oppose using the South China Sea issue as a pretext to provoke confrontation, and believe that military cooperation between relevant countries should not target any third party or undermine regional peace and stability," Jiang said.

He urged the Philippines to stop ganging up with others to stir trouble in the South China Sea, and called for a return to the right track: resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
TAIPEI, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's population has declined for a 19th straight month, down 8,805 from June, figures released by the island's interior affairs authority show.

According to the latest statistics, the population totaled 23,337,936 at the end of July. It also showed that residents aged 65 and older numbered 4.58 million, accounting for 19.64 percent of the total population.

The statistics also showed that 64,314 babies were born in the first seven months of this year, a drop of 9,984 compared with the same period last year. In July alone, there were 8,939 births, 1,485 fewer births than there were in the same period last year, with an annual crude birth rate of 4.51 per 1,000 people.

Taiwan reported 16,846 deaths in July -- equivalent to an annual crude death rate of 8.5 per 1,000, per the data.

According to the island's population projections database, Taiwan's population peaked at 23.6 million in 2019 before declining annually, with a slight rebound in 2023. It also projects that the total population could fall below 23 million as early as 2030. 
Both US and Russia have confirmed that American President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will be holding talks in Alaska amid reports that a Ukraine peace deal might involve swapping of territories

US President Donald Trump said that he will meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine that has been going on for three-and-a-half years. Trump noted that the talks would also involve some swapping of territories, raising concerns about Ukrainian territories that are under Russian control.

In a brief post on TruthSocial on Friday, Trump confirmed the location of the meeting between the two world leaders and said that it will take place next Friday. Kremlin went on to confirm that they have received an invitation for the Alaska meeting. Trumps confirmation post came just hours after he told reporters in the White House that the meeting would have been sooner, but I guess theres security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make.

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The US President also noted that therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia, and that the matter would be discussed soon with both sides. Trumps remarks on the matter came after Bloomberg reported on Friday that the deal could cement some of Putins territorial gains in Ukraine.

The proposal might call for the freezing of the battle lines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It is pertinent to note that Putin has claimed that Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions in their entirety, although much of their territory remains under Ukrainian control.

The war freeze on the cards

According to the Bloomberg report, US and Russian officials are working on a deal under which Russia would halt its offensive in exchange for territorial concessions. However, the proposal would not sit well with Ukraine. Trumps comments on the matter came after Polands prime minister said a freeze in the conflict could be close, after speaking with the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has communicated with Trump and European leaders in recent days.

There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict  I dont want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict  is closer than it is further away, Donald Tusk said during a news conference. There are hopes for this. Tusk maintained that Zelenskyy was very cautious but optimistic about the ceasefire, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Trump has expressed his readiness to meet Putin one-on-one without the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This eventually stoked fears that Ukraine may be left out of negotiations for the framework of a potential ceasefire. It is important to note that if a meeting between the two leaders takes place, it would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former president Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

Russia confirms

Meanwhile, the Kremlin on Saturday confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump would meet in Alaska for talks next Friday, calling the choice of location quite logical.

Russia and the United States are close neighbours, bordering each other, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said. It seems quite logical that our delegation should simply fly across the Bering Strait and that such an important and eagerly awaited summit between the leaders of the two countries should be held in Alaska.

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The Kremlin also noted that it has invited Trump to embark on a separate visit to Russia after the meeting. Looking ahead, it is natural to hope that the next meeting between the presidents will be held on Russian territory. A corresponding invitation has already been sent to the US president, Ushakov averred.

With inputs from agencies.
It is US President Donald Trumps hubris that has driven the India-US relationship to its lowest point in decades and not any unmanageable differences on trade or foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order on creating a White House 2028 Olympics task force in the South Court Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2025. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

With Trumps anti-India rhetoric and tariff war, he leaves little room for speculation that his campaign against India is more personal, driven by ego, and not about policy differences.

It is clear that President Trumps ego has been hurt by Indias rejection of his claims about negotiating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May, according to Yusuf Unjhawala, a scholar of geopolitics at the Takshashila Institute.

The final nail appears to have been Prime Minister Narendra Modis rejection of Trumps invitation for a visit to White House after the G-7 Summit.

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In June, Trump returned earlier than scheduled from the G-7 Summit in Canada and could not meet PM Modi in person on the sidelines of the summit. Instead, he invited PM Modi to visit the White House on his return to India. But PM Modi turned down the request and instead talked on the phone days later.

It is now clear that President Trump wanted to bring Prime Minister Modi and the Pakistani army chief in the same room and make an announcement about bringing the two sides to a peaceful settlement. But that could not happen as Prime Minister Modi declined the invitation. It appears that President Trump has taken that, along with a constant rejection of his claim of ending the India-Pakistan conflict, as a hit on his ego, says Unjhawala.

ALSO READ  Tariff tirade to Cold War: Trump risks undoing 3 decades of India-US partnership

There is another aspect to this whole Trump theatrics. It is well-documented that Trump has rivalled former US President Barack Obama, whose public mocking of the billionaire tower-builder nudged him to join the Republican race for presidency in 2016. Since his first presidency, Trump has expressed his aspiration to be awarded with a Nobel prize. Obama got one for peace.

Trumps second presidency has been working to get as many nominations as possible for a Nobel Peace Prize. Israels Benjamin Netanyahu has promised nominating Trump. Pakistan has endorsed Trumps bid. His press secretary has said it so.

This week, his Secretary of State Marcos Rubio called him a  President of Peace while repeating Trumps claims of meditating India-Pakistan military clash after the Pahalgam gun massacre of tourists chosen after ascertaining their religious identities by Pakistani terrorists and bringing the arch-rivals to a ceasefire understanding.

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Trump counts the India-Pakistan truce among his claim of ending five wars. Indias repeated rebuttals of Trumps relentless claim have put a question mark on his credibility as a deal-maker, given that his biggest peace promises of ending wars in Ukraine and Gaza remain unfulfilled. An endorsement of his ceasefire claims could mean a big recommendation for his Nobel ambition to be in the same league as Obama. This is where analysts appear to be right on the money about Trumps anti-India tirade being a personal motivation.

Its not mere coincidence that Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met Trump at the White House around the time Trump invited Modi.

Whats the way ahead?

As for the way ahead, Unjhawala dismissed the talk of pivoting to RIC or China.

In RIC, India will be in a very weak position as it will be outnumbered by the China-Russia combine. Moreover, China and Russia will promote it as another anti-Western organisation, which will further complicate Indias ties with the West, says Unjhawala, and suggests calm-headed negotiations should continue.

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Ram Singh, a professor of international trade and business expert at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), says that the immediate concern has to be to address the impact of tariffs on vulnerable sectors like marine, such as shrimp and prawn, and edibles, such as seasonal fruits and pickles. Firstpost has previously reported that India is considering a financial package to support exporters most affected by tariffs.

Instead of any retaliation, India should continue to hold negotiations and explore additional opportunities for exporters in non-US markets like the European Union (EU), the Gulf region, or Brics nations, says Singh.

But RIC or Brics cannot replace the United States. In the case of RIC, the India-China rivalry will be too much for the group to be relevant. For India, the ideal approach should be to negotiate calmly without resorting to the kind of rhetoric that President Trump uses. India should also flag the hypocrisy of tariffs by all channels, whether by government statements or media or track two channels, says Singh.

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Russia cautiously welcomed a US-brokered draft deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Saturday, but Moscows regional ally Iran rejected the idea of a new border corridor backed by President Donald Trump.

Russia offered a guarded response on Saturday to a US-brokered draft peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, while its regional ally Iran rejected a proposed border corridor championed by US President Donald Trump.

The two ex-Soviet neighbours signed the agreement in Washington on Friday, aiming to end decades of conflict, though the specifics and legal force of the deal remain uncertain.

A key element of the plan is a transit corridor through Armenia linking Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a long-standing demand of Baku. Under the agreement, the United States would gain development rights for the route, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, in the strategically important, resource-rich region.

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Tehran, however, dismissed the proposal outright, vowing not to allow a corridor along the Iranian border. With the implementation of this plot, the security of the South Caucasus will be endangered, said Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as quoted by Tasnim news agency. He called the plan an impossible notion and warned it would become a graveyard for Trumps mercenaries.

With the implementation of this plot, the security of the South Caucasus will be endangered, Akbar Velayati, an advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the Tasnim news agency.

The planned corridor was an impossible notion and will not happen, while the area would become a graveyard for Trumps mercenaries, he added.

In a similar tone, Moscow said it would further analyze the corridor clause, noting there were trilateral agreements in place between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, from which no one had yet withdrawn.

It should not be ignored that Armenias border with Iran is guarded by Russian border guards, said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Moscow, previously a key backer of Armenia, still has a military base there. Embroiled in its Ukraine operation, launched in 2022, it did not intervene in the latest conflict.

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This has strained the historically warm ties between Yerevan and Moscow, home to a large and influential Armenian diaspora, triggering Armenias drift towards the West.

Waning influence

Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan went to war twice over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each others territories.

Moscow, once the main power broker in the Caucasus, is now bogged down in its more than three-year offensive in Ukraine, diverting political and military resources into the grinding conflict of attrition.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan praised the US efforts in settling the conflict. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev even said he would back President Donald Trumps nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The US-led NATO alliance welcomed the deal as a significant step forward.

But in Moscow, Zakharova refrained from even calling it a deal, referring to it merely as the meeting of the leaders of the South Caucasus republics in Washington  adding, however, that it still deserved a positive assessment.

Repackaging for Trump?

Analysts also sounded a note of caution, with the International Crisis Group pointing out that the deal left a lot of questions unanswered.

The two countries went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

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Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on the text of a comprehensive peace deal in March.

Much of the White House agreement was a repackaging of that, which helped both countries get on Trumps good side by giving him a role, the Crisis Groups senior South Caucasus analyst Joshua Kucera said.

Azerbaijan later added a host of demands to that March deal, including amendments to Armenias constitution to drop territorial claims for Karabakh, before signing the document.

Pashinyan has announced plans for a constitutional referendum in 2027, but the issue remains deeply divisive among Armenians, with Kucera warning that this could yet derail the process.

Kucera called the corridor one potentially significant development from the White House meeting, but added that missing key details could prove serious stumbling blocks.

The US-brokered deal was definitely a testament to the fact that Russia has been losing its influence as its Ukraine operation had diverted its attention and resources from some other areas of its traditional interest, Olesya Vardanyan, an independent analyst on the South Caucasus, told AFP.

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Nevertheless, she added, even if many details were still missing and nothing was guaranteed, the deal still gave Armenians a promise of a better life and then maybe even more peace in the region.

With inputs from agencies
Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called on Muslim nations to unite against Israels plan to seize Gaza City, urging the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to take urgent action. Egypt and Turkey jointly condemned the move, warning it would entrench illegal occupation and eliminate prospects for peace.

Muslim nations must band together and organise worldwide opposition against Israels plan to seize control of Gaza City, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday following discussions in Egypt.

On Friday, regional powers, Egypt and Turkey denounced the idea. Ankara claimed it represented a new era in what it dubbed Israels murderous and expansionist tactics, while also asking for worldwide action to prevent the plans execution.

Israel rejected this depiction of its operations in Gaza.

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Fidan told a joint news conference in El Alamein with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, who had also met with Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had been invited to an emergency meeting.

Fidan said Israels policy aimed to force Palestinians out of their lands through hunger and that it aimed to permanently invade Gaza, adding there was no justifiable excuse for nations to continue supporting Israel.

Israel denies having a policy of starvation in Gaza, and says Palestinian militant group Hamas, which killed 1,200 people in its October 2023 attack, could end the war by surrendering.

What is happening today is a very dangerous development not only for the Palestinian people or neighbouring countries, Abdelatty said, adding that Israels plans were inadmissible.

Abdelatty said there was full coordination with Turkey on Gaza, and referred to a statement issued on Saturday by the OIC Ministerial Committee condemning Israels plan.

The OIC committee said Israels plan marked a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation, warning that it would obliterate any opportunity for peace.

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Mediating teams from Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been working for months to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The OIC urged world powers and the United Nations Security Council to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities and to take urgent action to stop Israels Gaza City plan, while ensuring immediate accountability for what it called Israeli violations of international law.
Police in London arrested at least 365 people Saturday for supporting Palestine Action at the latest and largest protest backing the group since the government banned it last month under anti-terror laws.

A protester is carried away by police officers at a "Lift The Ban" demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action, calling for the recently imposed ban to be lifted, in Parliament Square, central London, on August 9, 2025.

London police has arrested over 365 people on Saturday during what authorities described as the largest protest in support of Palestine Action since the group was banned under the UKs anti-terror laws last month.

The Metropolitan Police said more arrests were expected from the Parliament Square demonstration, rejecting organisers claims that only a fraction of the attendees had been taken into custody.

That claim simply isnt true, the force stated, adding that some present were bystanders or not visibly showing support for Palestine Action. We are confident that anyone here today holding a placard backing Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested, it said.

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Footage captured by Reuters showed protesters wearing black-and-white Palestinian scarves, chanting shame on you and hands off Gaza, and holding placards reading, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

The UK government outlawed Palestine Action in July after members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged aircraft in protest against Britains backing of Israel. The proscription makes group membership a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori recently won permission to mount a legal challenge to the ban. Ahead of Saturdays rally, the Home Office reiterated that members were suspected of other serious attacks involving violence, significant injuries, and extensive damage.

The decision to ban the group has drawn strong criticism from the United Nations and organisations such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, which have called it an overreach that threatens free speech.

Unprecedented

A group called Defend our Juries, which organised Saturdays protests and previous demonstrations against the ban, said unprecedented numbers had risked arrest and possible imprisonment to defend this countrys ancient liberties.

We will keep going. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September, it added.

Attendees began massing near parliament at lunchtime bearing signs saying oppose genocide, support Palestine Action and other slogans, and waving Palestinian flags.

Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, was among those holding a placard.

He branded the ban absolutely ridiculous.

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When you compare Palestine Action with an actual terrorist group who are killing civilians and taking lives, its just a joke that theyre being prescribed a terrorist group, he told AFP.

As police moved in on the demonstrators, they applauded those being arrested and shouted shame on you at officers.

Let them arrest us all, said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair-user in attendance.

This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.

NGOs opposed

Londons Met Police and other UK forces have made scores of similar arrests on previous weekends since the government outlawed Palestine Action on July 5.

Anyone expressing support for a proscribed group risks arrest under UK anti-terror laws.

Police announced this week that the first three people had been charged in the English and Welsh criminal justice system with supporting Palestine Action following their arrests at a July 5 demo.

Being a member or supporting the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Seven people have so far been charged in Scotland, which has a separate legal system.

Amnesty International UK Chief Executive Sacha Deshmukh wrote to Met Police chief Mark Rowley this week urging restraint be exercised when policing people holding placards expressing support for Palestine Action.

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The NGO has argued arrests of such people are in breach of international human rights law.

A UK court challenge against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action will be heard later this year.

With inputs from agencies
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraines voice must be heard at the table for a durable peace and stated that Ukraines constitutionally guaranteed territorial integrity must not be negotiable in a message uploaded on Telegram

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cancelled the scheduled meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, stating that any peace agreement that did not include Kyiv would result in dead solutions.

After weeks of complaining that more was not being done to stop the violence, the summit, which is set for this Friday in Alaska, is viewed as a possible turning point.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraines voice must be heard at the table for a durable peace and stated that Ukraines constitutionally guaranteed territorial integrity must not be negotiable in a message uploaded on Telegram.

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According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Touching on Ukrainian anxieties that a direct meeting between Putin and Trump could marginalize Kyiv and European interests, Zelenskyy said: Any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time, solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions, they will never work.

Ukrainian officials previously told the Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraines inability to regain lost territories militarily.

Trump said he will meet with Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti cited Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, as saying.

Such a summit may prove pivotal in a war that began more than three years ago when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although theres no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

In comments to reporters at the White House before his post confirming the date and place, Trump suggested that any agreement would likely involve some swapping of territories, but he gave no details. Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed.

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Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy. Trump also previously agreed to meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy. That stoked fears in Europe that Ukraine could be sidelined in efforts to stop the continents biggest conflict since World War II.

Trumps announcement that he planned to host one of Americas adversaries on US soil broke with expectations that theyd meet in a third country. The gesture gives Putin validation after the US and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine.
A suspected shooter and a police officer were killed after law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter near the adjoining campuses of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University

An armed Police officer prepares near the scene of shooting at the Emory University in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. AP

A suspected shooter and a police officer were killed after law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter near the adjoining campuses of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University on Friday. The authorities noted that no civilians are believed to have been injured.

However, several rounds of gunfire hit buildings on the CDCs sprawling campus, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. According to the Associated Press, the officer who died in the incident received gunfire during the shooting. While speaking to the reporters earlier, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Padrick said that the officer was critically injured at the scene and taken to the hospital.

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Meanwhile, CDS employees circulated photos from inside the building that appear to show numerous windows with bullet impacts on them. A law enforcement official who asked to remain anonymous told Associated Press that the shooter was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three other firearms at the scene. The gunman was eventually found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDS and died at the scene.

A suspicious white car at the scene

While speaking to the reporters, Schierbaum noted that a white car with an open trunk was part of the crime scene and was being searched. However, it remains unclear if the car belongs to the suspect or not. We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, Schierbaum said.

After conducting a search operation, authorities made it clear that there is no longer a threat to the public. Meanwhile, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the mans motive is not known because the investigation is still in the preliminary stages. Staff at a nearby deli noted that they heard what sounded like a string of gunshots.

It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant. Soon after the incident, Emory University announced in a post on X that the shelter-in-place order on campus had been lifted, but asked people to avoid the area.

Governor Brian Kemp went on to laud the efforts of the first responders. Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, Kemp said, referring to the shooting at Fort Stewart. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are. Meanwhile, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said, Were horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community.

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Ukraine wont surrender land to Russia to buy peace, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Saturday, after Washington and Moscow agreed to hold a summit in a bid to end the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday firmly ruled out giving up any part of the countrys territory, rejecting US suggestions that a peace agreement with Russia might involve land swaps. His comments came as Washington and Moscow prepared for high-level talks aimed at ending the ongoing war.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on August 15 in Alaska for discussions on resolving the three-year conflict. The planned summit has drawn warnings from both Ukraine and European leaders, who insist Kyiv must be directly involved in any negotiations that affect its sovereignty.

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When announcing the meeting on Friday, Trump suggested that some swapping of territories to the betterment of both sides could be part of the deal. Although specific terms have not yet been revealed, such an arrangement could require Ukraine to relinquish substantial areas, a prospect Kyiv and its allies argue would embolden Moscows aggression rather than bring lasting peace.

Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier, Zelensky said on social media hours later.

Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing, he said, adding that the war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.

Zelensky also urged Ukraines allies to take clear steps towards achieving a sustainable peace, during a call with Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

US Vice President JD Vance will meet Ukrainian and European allies in Britain on Saturday to discuss Trumps push for peace, Downing Street said, adding that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had spoken about it with Zelenskyy.

They agreed this would be a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace, the Downing Street spokesperson added.

Zelenskyy rallies allies as Moscow touts great progress in Trump envoy talks

Zelenskyy has made a flurry of calls with Ukraines allies since Trumps envoy Steve Witkoffs visit to Moscow on Wednesday which Trump described as having achieved great progress.

Clear steps are needed, as well as maximum coordination between us and our partners, Zelenskyy said in a post on X after his call with Starmer.

We value the determination of the United Kingdom, the United States, and all our partners to end the war.

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Ukraine and the European Union have pushed back on proposals that they view as ceding too much to Putin, whose troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, citing what Moscow called threats to Russias security from a Ukrainian pivot towards the West.

Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab.

Moscow has previously claimed four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

Russian forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions and Russia is demanding that Ukraine pull out its troops from the parts of all four of them that they still control.

Ukraine says its troops still have a small foothold in Russias Kursk region a year after its troops crossed the border to try to gain leverage in any negotiations. Russia said it had expelled Ukraininan troops from Kursk in April.

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Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, described the current peace push as the first more or less realistic attempt to stop the war.

At the same time, I remain extremely sceptical about the implementation of the agreements, even if a truce is reached for a while. And there is virtually no doubt that the new commitments could be devastating for Ukraine, she said.

Fierce fighting is raging along the more than 1,000-km (620-mile) front line along eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces hold around a fifth of the countrys territory.

Russian troops are slowly advancing in Ukraines east, but their summer offensive has so far failed to achieve a major breakthrough, Ukrainian military analysts say.

Ukrainians remain defiant.

Not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory, to pull out troops from Ukrainian territories, Olesia Petritska, 51, told Reuters as she gestured to hundreds of small Ukrainian flags in the Kyiv central square commemorating fallen soldiers.

With inputs from agencies
NEW DELHI, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains on Saturday lashed the Indian capital territory Delhi and its outskirts, leaving many roads and areas waterlogged, besides affecting vehicular traffic, officials said.

The downpour also impacted flight operations, with reports saying over 180 flights were delayed and four were cancelled.

With several underpasses and arterial roads inundated, the commuters faced long delays.

According to the plane tracking site Flightradar, at least 182 flight departures have been delayed at the Delhi Airport. At least 30 flights arriving in Delhi have also been delayed.

Delhi airport and many airlines issued advisories to the passengers, urging them to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

An alert for very heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms has been issued for the areas including North Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, South East Delhi and Central Delhi. 
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. media reported on Friday that President Donald Trump plans to remove Billy Long, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), who has been in office for only two months. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting IRS Commissioner.

The New York Times reported that Long is expected to be nominated for an ambassadorial position, citing four people familiar with the matter. It is currently unclear who will take over the IRS. A senior government official said that Bessent will serve as acting IRS Commissioner until a successor is in place.

The report also noted that Long has little background in tax policy. While he was a congressman, he supported legislation calling for the complete abolition of the IRS.

Bessent and Long had clashed at times, the report said, quoting three people familiar with the decision. "Mr. Long had remarked to some colleagues that he had to ask Mr. Bessent for permission for everything he did at the IRS, two of the people said," the report said, adding that others said Long had at times appeared to "get out ahead of" the IRS and Treasury Department.

The Hill reported that since Trump began his second term, Long has been the fifth individual to lead the IRS, with four others serving in an acting capacity before him.

The Hill report also noted that he is a staunch ally of Trump but has faced criticism from Democrats due to his lack of experience and background in tax policy.

The IRS is an agency under the Treasury Department. Since the Trump administration took office, it has carried out significant layoffs across many federal departments, with the IRS being one of the key targets. A Treasury spokesperson said in May that out of approximately 100,000 IRS employees, over 20,000 have already left the agency. 
MOSCOW, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian air defense forces shot down two Ukrainian drones flying towards the capital Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.

The ministry said that between 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) and 12 p.m. (0900 GMT) Moscow time Saturday, the Russian military shot down a total of 44 Ukrainian drones within Russian territory. Over the Moscow Oblast, three drones were shot down, two of which were heading toward Moscow.

On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that the Russian troops have taken control of the village of Yablonovka in the Donetsk region. 
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.
This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2025 shows the Lebanese army holding a mourning ceremony for one of the six soldiers killed in the explosion of an arms depot in the city of Tyre, in front of a military hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Six Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of others injured on Saturday when a weapons depot exploded during an inspection and dismantling operation carried out by an army unit in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Six Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of others injured on Saturday when a weapons depot exploded during an inspection and dismantling operation carried out by an army unit in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon.

The army said in a statement that, "An explosion occurred inside the depot, resulting in an initial toll of six soldiers martyred."

It added that "follow-up is underway to determine the causes of the incident."

The official Lebanese National News Agency reported that munitions left over from the "Israeli aggression" in the south exploded while an army engineering team was dismantling some shells in the area.

A source in the Lebanese Red Cross told Xinhua that "its teams transported the bodies of dead army personnel and a number of injured to hospitals in the city of Tyre."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his sorrow over the fallen soldiers and offered his condolences to their families and the army for their loss, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery. 

This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2025 shows the Lebanese army holding a mourning ceremony for one of the six soldiers killed in the explosion of an arms depot in the city of Tyre, in front of a military hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Six Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of others injured on Saturday when a weapons depot exploded during an inspection and dismantling operation carried out by an army unit in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2025 shows the Lebanese army holding a mourning ceremony for one of the six soldiers killed in the explosion of an arms depot in the city of Tyre, in front of a military hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Six Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of others injured on Saturday when a weapons depot exploded during an inspection and dismantling operation carried out by an army unit in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2025 shows the Lebanese army holding a mourning ceremony for one of the six soldiers killed in the explosion of an arms depot in the city of Tyre, in front of a military hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Six Lebanese Army soldiers were killed and an unspecified number of others injured on Saturday when a weapons depot exploded during an inspection and dismantling operation carried out by an army unit in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
Less than two weeks ago, Colorado Politics reported that the VanWinkle family, known for their local cattle ranch and statewide agricultural advocacy, was considering selling their operation.

VanWinkle Ranch co-owner Janie VanWinkle told The Daily Sentinel this week that a full exit from the industry was never a consideration.

Rather, the family was considering a move to more ag-friendly states, like Kansas or Nebraska.

Then, the Turner Gulch Fire sparked. Just a few days after, it spread onto nearly half of the VanWinkles land leased through the U.S. Forest Service  a 39,000-acre parcel the family has cared for since VanWinkles great-grandfather.

The fire has made us realize that we need to be here, and we need to be a part of putting this all back together, VanWinkle said.

We know the landscape is going to look different when we come out the other side, and were going to be here to take care of that landscape and care for these cattle on the other side for a long time, she added.

The fire hasnt changed VanWinkles concerns about what she calls the states increasingly unwelcoming atmosphere for the industry. However, it has motivated her to speak on their concerns and, hopefully, bridge the gap between Colorado politicians and the states $47-billion industry.

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS

According to VanWinkle, the past years have been marked by a rising number of anti-agriculture actions that are individually insignificant, but in the big picture, demonstrate a refusal to support or collaborate with rural livestock producers.

The atmosphere is such that anti-meat activists are emboldened because of the governors position on many of these issues, VanWinkle said of Gov. Jared Polis. Really, any one of these issues are small, but its death by a thousand cuts. Its just creating an environment that is clearly not supportive of production agriculture.

According to Colorado Farm Bureau President Carlyle Currier, the states approach to agriculture has indeed shifted: through increased, uninformed regulations, controversial commission board appointments and a general anti-meat attitude.

One legislative example is SB21-087, dubbed the Agricultural Workers Rights Bill.

One of those changes requires overtime wages for workers, with a long-term goal of all ag employers paying overtime for more than 48 hours of labor per week  or 56 for small operations.

According to Currier, many producers cannot afford overtime pay, so they limit staff hours under the threshold. He said the limit can be a deterrent to seasonal migrant workers (under an H3 permit) who typically want to work as many hours as possible before returning to their country.

That has made Colorado a place of last resort to come work for foreign workers, he said.

Both of the Mesa County producers added that the states handling of wolf reintroduction is another testament to the lack of consideration for agricultural input.

VanWinkle said she accepts that voters were the ones who made the decision. Her concern is that the collaborative plan between wolf advocates and ranchers, approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, was disregarded.

Specifically, she said there was an agreement not to introduce any wolves with a history of depredation; yet, one of the Copper Creek Pack wolves came from a pack with a history of depredation.

A CPW statement said enough time had passed (two months) without depredation, so it didnt meet the plans exclusion criteria of chronic depredation.

The pack was relocated within a year of release after repeatedly killing livestock.

The plan (also) says we will not relocate a problem pack, VanWinkle added. And yet, the state captured the Copper Creek Pack, held them in captivity for a period, and then turned them loose in Pitkin County. And now theyve depredated there.

Page 27 of the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan does state that translocation will not be considered, as this is viewed as translocating the problem along with the wolves.

When asked about the disconnect, Colorado Department of Agriculture Commission Member Colleen Peppler said that (while CDA is not involved in the direct handling of wolves) her department and CPW have been consistently transparent and collaborative with producers in mitigating wolf depredation.

I think there are misconstrued rumors out there, and there definitely wasnt a disconnect, Peppler said. (CDA) has provided support for producers and helped them implement things like range riders and screens.

POLARIZED PERSPECTIVES ON POLIS

Many of the governors appointees to some commissions and boards with a direct agricultural tie have also drawn criticism for lacking knowledge of or a connection to the industry. Currier said it seems like none of the recommendations from his organization and others in the industry are ever considered.

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the governors office said rural representation has been a critical factor in his appointments. They added that 23% of Polis board and commission appointments have been rural Coloradans, despite the demographic accounting for 18% of the states population.

In the Department of Agriculture, 54% of appointees come from rural communities, including 36% from the Western Slope, 10% from the Eastern Plains and 8% from Southern Colorado, a spokesperson said. These appointments are part of a deliberate effort to ensure rural Coloradans have a strong voice in shaping policy.

Aside from actual policy, many in the ranching industry have yet to forget his 2021 proclamation that March 20 would be MeatOut Day, encouraging residents to avoid meat consumption for the day.

The MeatOut deal was certainly a real negative from the governors standpoint, Currier said. Hes shown that he isnt necessarily a great friend of animal agriculture.

The governors office spokesperson said that, at the time, Polis renewed any proclamations issued by previous governors when requested. According to them, a nearly identical proclamation was made by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2011.

They added that proclamations do not hold the weight of the law, unlike many of Polis past efforts to support agriculture, such as providing agrivoltaic (solar sharing) tax rate reductions, conservation easement tax credits and agricultural stewardship tax credits.

He (Polis) has not encountered any anti-meat attitude during his time as governor and would be happy to invite anyone to try his roast brisket, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson included a link to Poliss brisket rub recipe.

Nonetheless, VanWinkle said she has felt the shift in governmental attitude toward agriculture, adding that it has perpetuated misconceptions about the ethics and environmental impacts of cattle ranching to the public.

According to her, the well-being and preservation of their cattle and land matter more to livestock producers than anyone else: poorly treated livestock cant produce, and mistreated land cant feed livestock.

If we dont care for the land in an environmentally sensitive and safe way, then we cant depend on it, and we depend on these landscapes every day, every generation, for our livelihoods, VanWinkle said.

FIRE WAS A TURNING POINT

With such concerns about the states political environment, VanWinkle confirmed her family had contemplated moving shop.

She added that the ranchs finances are sound, and they understand that every state has its issues. Still, VanWinkle said, states like Kansas, where her son attended college, at least have a welcoming atmosphere that can facilitate true collaboration.

That conversation came to a complete stop when the Turner Gulch Fire spread onto the Uncompahgre Plateau, where around 600 head of the familys cattle were grazing.

We saw the fire come up over the rim of the Unaweep, onto the Uncompahgre, VanWinkle said. That was a pretty emotional moment to see the 70- to 100-foot flames coming over the top. We were maybe a mile away from it.

While the wildfire would be a sign to get out of Dodge for many people, VanWinkle said it was a sign that they needed to stay and support the land used by four generations of their family.

A subsequent outpouring of community support and collaboration with local agencies in the fire response, including the U.S. Forest Service and Mesa County, only affirmed the familys sense of belonging and responsibility to the Grand Valley.

With that, VanWinkle said their ranch is here to stay.

Despite nearing retirement age, she added that its unlikely she will hang up her spurs soon. At the same time, she added that her 27-year-old son, Dean, has stepped up since returning from Kansas four years ago.

From the time (Dean) was 6 years old, we talked about him going away to college, always with the caveat that if he wanted to come home to the ranch, he could, but he didnt have to, VanWinkle said. We feel really fortunate that he chose to come home, live this life, do this work and contribute to our communities in the way we think is important.

As time goes on, I think that transition will happen gradually, she added. Ive seen it in the last couple of years from a decision-making and labor point of view.

CARING FOR CATTLE AS FIRE CONTINUES

While the Turner Gulch Fire motivated the VanWinkles to stay in Mesa County, it has also posed a major concern to a large portion of the familys ranch.

As of publication, the wildfire has charred about half of the 39,000-acre allotment. In the past few days, the fire has shifted away from the area, but the smoke remains thick, risking respiratory complications for the

cattle. No cattle have died, but VanWinkle said the fire has consumed all the available grazing land. Without that land, the family has less than two weeks of feed and water remaining.

Fortunately, she said the Forest Service has offered them an alternative allotment. Now, its just a matter of moving the cattle  about 10 miles south.

Theyre spread out over, somewhere between 5,000-8,000 acres, VanWinkle said. Well gather them, and you have to make sure  the mom and the baby are together, because we dont want to separate anybody.

She added that the calves are due for immunization, so the family will have to vaccinate many of the cattle between gathering and transporting them.

Once the livestock are gathered and immunized, the VanWinkles will truck them to the new allotment, which she said will require 25 to 28 trucks and 10 to 14 days.

Despite the sizable workload, VanWinkle added that minimizing stress for the livestock is a priority.

Itll be extremely difficult, but we can get it done, VanWinkle said. If not me, then who?
Russo-Ukraine War - 08 August 2025 - Day 1262

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 131 combat encounters. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression.

Russian zagarbniki made two missile and 54 aviation strikes, using three missiles and dropping 92 controlled air bombs. In addition, 1572 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out 4142 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

10 clashes took place in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions. The Russian enemy launched 13 air strikes, dropped 31 guided air bombs in total and fired 226 artillery shells, including 10 from reactive salvage systems.

Today, the Russian enemy attacked four times in the South Slobozhansky direction - in the Vovchanskaya district and in the direction of Novovasilivka.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces made five attacks in the areas of Mirnoy, Kupyanska, Golubivka and in the direction of New Kruglyakivka. One battle is still going on.

In the Lymanian direction, the Defense Forces repelled 19 assault actions in the areas of settlements Grekivka, Karpivka, Zarichne, Kolodyazi, Torske, Dibrova, Serebryanka, as well as towards Shandrigolovy and Yampol. The six clashes are still ongoing.

In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces twice attacked in the areas of grigorivka and fedorivka - got vidsic.

Since the beginning of the day in the Kramators komu direction, Russian units twice attacked in the area of Chasovoye Yar and White Mountain.

Seven boezitknen  took place in Toretsky direction today. The Russian enemy tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Toretsk, Scherbynivka, Katerynivka, Rusynoy Yar and Pleshiyivka. Currently one fight is going on.

In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, Russian forces attacked 33 times in the areas of settlements Zvirove, Volodymyrivka, Rodinske, Poltavka, Boikivka, Red Lyman, Lisivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Novoukrainka, Zeleny Kut, as well as in the direction of Cossack, Road and Novopavlivka. Ukrainian defenders are holding back the pressure of the opponent, one confrontation is ongoing so far.

Today, according to preliminary data, 83 Russian invaders were defiled, of which 52 - irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed a mortar, one car, three motorcycles, seven bpla, one satellite communication terminal, three communication antennas and one personnel shelter. One tank, one car and 11 shelters for personnel warehouse were also significantly damaged.

In the Novopavlovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Filiya, Zelene Pole, Tolstoy, Temirivka, Maliivka, Novopil and Olgivsk. Yet another battle is underway.

In the Gulyaipil direction, the Defense Forces successfully repelled a Russian assault near Malinivka. In addition, the Russian enemy launched an air strike with unkempled aviation missiles on Bilogiru.

In the Orihiv direction Ukrainian defenders repelled one Russian attack towards Novoandriivka, another fight is ongoing.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Defense Forces repelled nine Russian attacks. The Russian enemy launched an air strike on Olgivka.

In other directions, significant changes in the environment have not been recorded.





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CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (TSXV: CMC; OTC PINK: CWSFF) (Cielo or the Company) announces the extension of its non-brokered private placement offering (the Offering) of up to 60,000,000 units (each a Unit, collectively the Units) at a price of $0.05 per Unit, initially announced on May 13, 2025. The closing of the first tranche was announced on July 28, 2025. The TSX Venture has approved an extension to the closing (a second and final closing) of the Offering until August 15, 2025.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

ABOUT CIELO

Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. is a publicly traded company focused on transforming waste materials into high-value products. Cielo seeks to address global waste challenges while contributing to the circular economy and reducing carbon emissions. Cielo is fueling environmental change with a mission to be a leader in the wood by-product-to-fuels industry by using environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and market-ready technologies. Cielo is committed to helping society by providing environmental waste solutions, which the Company believes will contribute to generating positive returns for shareholders. Cielo shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CMC, as well as on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol CWSFF.

For further information please contact:

Cielo Investor Relations

Ryan C. Jackson, CEO

Phone: (403) 348-2972

Email: investors@cielows.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, achieve, could, believe, plan, intend, objective, continuous, ongoing, estimate, outlook, expect, may, will, project, should or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements are subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Cielo, that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and are subject to certain factors and assumptions. The Company is making forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, with respect to: the Offering, including the closing thereof.

Investors should continue to review and consider information disseminated through news releases and filed by Cielo on SEDAR+. Although the Company has attempted to identify crucial factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Cielos actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
DENVER, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (Intermap or the Company), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced that it plans to release second quarter 2025 financial results after market close on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Intermaps CEO Patrick A. Blott and CFO Jennifer Bakken will host a live webinar on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET to review the results, provide Company updates and answer investor questions following the presentation.

Intermap invites shareholders, analysts, investors, media representatives and other stakeholders to attend the earnings webinar to discuss second quarter 2025 results.

Conference Call Details

Date Thursday, August 14, 2025 Time 5:00 pm ET Webcast Register

A recording of the webinar and supporting materials will be made available on the investor relations page of the Companys website.

Intermap Reader Advisory

Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "expect", "project", "estimate", "forecast", will be, will consider, intends and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermaps forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermaps Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

About Intermap Technologies

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermaps 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the worlds largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Companys collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermaps products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.

For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:

Jennifer Bakken

Executive Vice President and CFO

CFO@intermap.com

+1 (303) 708-0955

Sean Peasgood

Investor Relations

Sean@SophicCapital.com

+1 (647) 260-9266
Los Angeles, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advanced Networks, a key player in IT services across Southern California, is helping businesses in Orange County handle the challenges of digital transformation. Known for being a reliable managed service provider, the company offers customized solutions that aid businesses in updating their operations. With its Managed IT Services Orange County firms rely on, Advanced Networks is leading the charge to help local companies meet their technological needs and goals.

Digital transformation involves using digital tech to boost processes, improve customer experiences, and raise overall business performance. For companies in Orange County, keeping up with digital transformation is becoming increasingly important. This shift not only updates how things are done but also keeps businesses competitive. IT support services are a big help in this, offering guidance to make sure everything integrates smoothly.

One of the main hurdles during digital transformation is dealing with outdated systems and poor data management. Businesses often face problems like data silos and limited ability to scale, which can block progress. By using IT Support Orange County companies can get past these problems. Advanced Networks offers solutions that make system integrations smooth and allow businesses to grow their digital capabilities without hiccups.

Shifting to digital platforms can increase the risk of cyber threats, making cybersecurity even more important. Introducing new tech often creates openings for vulnerabilities. IT support is key in strengthening cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information and maintain business integrity. Advanced Networks provides full-fledged cybersecurity solutions to guard businesses from potential threats, detailed further on their site.

Besides security, digital transformation can improve collaboration and productivity. Many businesses adopt cloud solutions and tools to enhance efficiency. Through Managed IT Services Irvine, businesses can get expert help in setting up, managing, and improving these tools, making sure they aid productivity.

Cloud technology is a cornerstone of digital transformation projects. It offers scalable growth options for businesses looking to expand without worrying about system overloads or data loss. With support from IT, Orange County businesses can effortlessly move to the cloud, taking advantage of its benefits for scalable operations and better productivity.

Data management and analytics are becoming key factors in making business decisions. Digital transformation enables companies to use data analytics for smarter decisions. Advanced Networks, known for its excellent IT services, assists companies in setting up the infrastructure needed for efficient data handling and analysis, promoting informed and timely decision-making.

One challenge is to integrate old systems with new technology, which can be complex. IT support ensures these transitions are smooth, preventing workflow disruptions and optimizing processes. Businesses in Orange County gain from Advanced Networks' skill in managing these system integrations.

Cost is a major concern in any transformation effort. Investing in managed IT services can lead to significant cost savings over time. By helping Orange County companies streamline their processes, Advanced Networks aids in cutting operational costs and improving return on investment (ROI).

Digital transformation isn't just a one-time task. Keeping systems running smoothly after the transformation is crucial for performance and innovation. With ongoing IT support, businesses can quickly spot and fix potential issues, ensuring their operations stay efficient.

Preparing for future tech trends is crucial for long-term success. IT support providers like Advanced Networks assist businesses in planning for technological changes through strategic updates, protecting their operations from future uncertainties.

"Advanced Networks is devoted to making digital transformation smooth and effective for businesses in Orange County," said a spokesperson from Advanced Networks. "Our goal is to help our clients not only adopt new technologies but also use them for greater efficiency and growth."

https://vimeo.com/166894275?fl=pl&fe=sh

With its know-how and extensive services, Advanced Networks remains a vital partner for businesses ready to embrace digital change. In the fast-paced world of technology, IT support is a key factor for a successful shift, allowing Orange County companies to thrive and stay competitive. Visit their website for more information on how Advanced Networks can support any digital transformation needs.

###

For more information about Advanced Networks, contact the company here:



Advanced Networks

Advanced Networks

(213) 873-7620

contact@adv-networks.com

L.A. Office

10960 Wilshire Blvd. #1415

Los Angeles, CA 90024



O.C. Office

1340 Reynolds Ave. #116

Irvine, CA 92614
TORONTO, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q-Gold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: QGR) (Q-Gold or the Company) is pleased to provide the following corporate update on its recent and upcoming activities, including as they relate to the later stage mineral exploration project located in south-central Oregon (the Quartz Mountain Project) that the Company intends to acquire from Alamos Gold Inc. (Alamos) pursuant to a share exchange agreement dated March 31, 2025 (the Acquisition). For more information about the Acquisition and the Quartz Mountain Project, please see the Companys press release dated April 3, 2025, a copy of which is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company is pleased to announce that, in addition to being appointed as the Companys chief executive officer and president (see the Companys press release dated July 17, 2025), Peter Tagliamonte has joined the Companys board of directors, effective immediately.

Further, next week, Q-Gold representatives intend to visit the Quartz Mountain Project site for the first time. The delegation will include Dr. Andreas Rompel, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Exploration, and Fred Brown, who is currently working on preparing a new mineral resource estimate for the Company in respect of the Quartz Mountain Project (see the Companys press release dated July 21, 2025). The anticipated updated mineral resource estimate, which is being prepared for Q-Gold, is intended by the Company to replace all previous historical mineral resource estimates on the project. Fred Brown has also agreed to assume the role of Qualified Person (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) for certain of the Companys purposes in respect of the Quartz Mountain Project.

As part of the visit, the team expects to:

conduct sampling of selected diamond drill core; and

verify the current status of all claims at the Quartz Mountain Project (which is comprised of Quartz Mountain and Angels Camp).

The site tour will be facilitated by Wolf Schleiss, a former employee of Alamos, who participated in the companys diamond drilling campaign in 2014-2015.

The two-day trip is expected to include (among other things) the site visit, a tour of the core yard, and an introduction to the Lakeview, Oregon Town Council - the nearest community to the project.

Finally, the Company has entered into an investor relations agreement with bullVestor Medien GmbH (bullVestor) dated August 8, 2025, for assistance with its investor awareness marketing campaign.

bullVestor provides marketing and investor relations services. The company will assist Q-Gold in enhancing its visibility with potential investors by providing, among other services, content creation management, keyword optimization, ad groups and display ads, project management, and media distribution for a total cost of euro 315,000 for a 6-month period commencing on or about the date on which the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) approves the engagement (the TSXV Approval). Pursuant to the agreement respecting the engagement, euro 125,000 is payable within seven days following the date of the TSXV Approval, with the remaining euro 190,000 being payable within 90 days following the date of the TSXV Approval. bullVestor is an arms length party from the Company and principally operates out of Austria. As of the date of this press release, to the knowledge of the Company, neither bullVestor nor any of its directors and officers own any interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company. bullVestors engagement is subject to approval of the TSXV.

About the Existing Quartz Mountain Property

The Quartz Mountain Project is an advanced-stage exploration project located in south-central Oregon. Over the years, approximately 100,000 metres of drilling has been conducted, with the majority of work focused on the Crone Hill and Quartz Butte deposits, which host a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource. Combined with the Angels Camp property (which, for certainty, comprises a portion of the Quartz Mountain Project), the project covers a large land package which the Company believes offers significant exploration potential (for more information about the Quartz Mountain Project, please see the Companys press release dated April 3, 2025).

About Q-Gold Resources Ltd.

Q-Gold Resources (TSXV: QGR, OTC: QGLDF) is a publicly traded Canadian-based mineral exploration company targeting high-grade gold and silver discoveries in multiple jurisdictions. Q-Gold is currently exploring for gold at the past-producing Foley Gold Mine in Mine Centre, Ontario.

For further information, contact:

Dr. Andreas Rompel

Chief Operating Officer and VP Exploration

andy.rompel@qgoldresources.com

Cell: +1 778 987 9114

Cautionary Notes

The content and grades of any mineral deposits at the Companys properties are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on its properties and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in any target being delineated as a mineral resource.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys anticipated visit to the Quartz Mountain Project, the preparation of an updated mineral resource estimate to replace previous historical mineral resource estimates, and the Companys engagement of bullVestor to build awareness of the Company with potential investors. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals; successful completion of a financing and the satisfaction of the other closing conditions necessary to complete the Acquisition; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future mineral prices and market demand; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR UNITED STATES PERSONS

CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questerre Energy Corporation (Questerre or the Company) (TSX,OSE:QEC) reported today on its financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Michael Binnion, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Questerre, commented, Our production averaged over 3,000 boe per day in the quarter after the tie-in of the three (1.5 net) Kakwa North wells. We are assessing both owned and third-party processing capacity for these existing volumes and future growth. A follow-up drilling program is now scheduled for the second half of next year.

Commenting on developments in Quebec, he added, Interest is growing in our natural gas discovery as a secure and reliable supply in Quebec, particularly among industrial gas users. It is also being considered as the supply for the 550 MW Becancour thermal power plant as it may be converted to produce power for peak demand periods. As we work towards a business solution, we are also following the legal process to protect our shareholders rights. We recently filed an application for leave to appeal a decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal to reinstate certain provisions of Bill 21 prior to our hearing on the merits of the case.

Highlights

Kakwa North wells tied-in and on production

Questerre filed leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada following Quebec Court of Appeal ruling on Bill 21

Average daily production of 3,091 boe per day for the quarter, almost doubling production from the same period last year

Net cash from operating activities of $6.3 million and adjusted funds flow from operations of $5 million despite significantly lower realized prices

Following the tie-in of the Kakwa North wells, production volumes this year increased materially compared to last year. Production averaged 3,091 boe/d for the quarter (2024: 1,559 boe/d) and 2,414 boe/d for the first half of the year (2024: 1,612 boe/d).

Higher production volumes were partly offset by the lower realized liquids prices resulting in higher revenue for the quarter and six months ended June 30 compared to last year. For the quarter, petroleum and natural gas sales totaled $13.7 million (2024: $8.8 million) and $22.8 million year to date (2024: $17.8 million). The higher revenue contributed to adjusted funds flow from operations of $5 million (2024: $4.5 million) in the quarter and $8.5 million for the first six months of the year (2024: $7.4 million) and cash flow from operations of $6.3 million for the quarter (2024: $3.1 million).

The revenue was offset by higher expenses and contributed to a net loss of $0.7 million for the quarter and year to date (2024: $1.3 million income for the quarter and $1.1 million year to date). Capital expenditures in the quarter were $1 million (2024: $7 million) and $18.9 million year to date (2024: $9.7 million).

As at June 30, 2025, effectively no amounts were drawn on the facility and the Company held unrestricted cash and term deposits of $18.3 million. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had a net working capital surplus of $13.2 million (2024: $27.6 million surplus).

The term "adjusted funds flow from operations" and working capital surplus are non-IFRS measures. Please see the reconciliation elsewhere in this press release.

Questerre is an energy technology and innovation company. It is leveraging its expertise gained through early exposure to low permeability reservoirs to acquire significant high-quality resources. We believe we can successfully transition our energy portfolio. With new clean technologies and innovation to responsibly produce and use energy, we can sustain both human progress and our natural environment.

Questerre is a believer that the future success of the oil and gas industry depends on a balance of economics, environment, and society. We are committed to being transparent and are respectful that the public must be part of making the important choices for our energy future.

Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information (forward-looking statements) including its assessment of processing capacity for existing volumes and future growth, the operators plans for follow-up drilling, and the Companys views on interest in its natural gas discovery growing among industrial gas users. Forward-looking statements are based on several material factors, expectations, or assumptions of Questerre which have been used to develop such statements and information, but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Questerre believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Questerre can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further, events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation: the implementation of Bill 21 by the Government of Quebec and certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in Questerre's public disclosure documents. Additional information regarding some of these risks, expectations or assumptions and other factors may be found under in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents available on the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and Questerre undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Certain information set out herein may be considered as financial outlook within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The purpose of this financial outlook is to provide readers with disclosure regarding Questerres reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities for the periods indicated. Readers are cautioned that the financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes.

(1) For the three-month period ended June 30, 2025, liquids production including light crude and natural gas liquids accounted for 1,690 bbls/d (2024: 931 bbls/d) and natural gas including conventional and shale gas accounted for 8,409 Mcf/d (2023: 3,767 Mcf/d). For the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, liquids production including light crude and natural gas liquids accounted for 1,346 bbls/d (2024: 955 bbls/d) and natural gas including conventional and shale gas accounted for 6,412 Mcf/d (2024: 3,942 Mcf/d).

Barrel of oil equivalent (boe) amounts may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio has been calculated using a conversion rate of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil and the conversion ratio of one barrel to six thousand cubic feet is based on an energy equivalent conversion method application at the burner tip and does not necessarily represent an economic value equivalent at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalent of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

This press release contains the terms adjusted funds flow from operations and working capital surplus which are non-GAAP terms. Questerre uses these measures to help evaluate its performance.

As an indicator of Questerres performance, adjusted funds flow from operations should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP. Questerres determination of adjusted funds flow from operations may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. Questerre considers adjusted funds flow from operations to be a key measure as it demonstrates the Companys ability to generate the cash necessary to fund operations and support activities related to its major assets.

Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, ($ thousands) 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net cash from operating activities $ 6,288 $ 3,141 $ 9,646 $ 5,769 Change in non-cash operating working capital (1,283 ) 1,314 (1,099 ) 1,659 Adjusted Funds Flow from Operations $ 5,005 $ 4,455 $ 8,547 $ 7,428



Working capital surplus is a non-GAAP measure calculated as current assets less current liabilities excluding risk management contracts and lease liabilities.
KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Counter-narcotics police have uncovered 185 kg of illicit drugs in eastern Afghanistan's Laghman province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.

The seizure, which included 155 kg of opium and 30 kg of heroin, was made during routine operations carried out by the police along a highway linking Nangarhar to the capital Kabul, according to the statement.

In the fight against illegal drug smuggling and purchasing, police have taken into custody 22 individuals in the provinces of Balkh, Farah, Herat, Helmand, Nimroz, and Khost, the ministry said in another statement.

The Afghan interim government has stepped up its crackdown on illicit drugs and those involved in the business, vowing to fight the menace until the country is free from poppy cultivation and substances used in the manufacturing of heroin. 
New York City, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Herz P1 Smart Ring: 24/7 Health Monitoring, Sleep, Stress & Heart Rate Tracking

IN THIS RELEASE, YOULL DISCOVER:

Why demand for wearable health monitoring devices is accelerating in 2025

How the Herz P1 Smart Ring tracks heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, and activity metrics around the clock

tracks heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, and activity metrics around the clock The design elements that make Herz P1 comfortable for all-day, all-night wear

The role of real-time data insights in improving personal wellness decisions

Market trends showing how smart rings are reshaping the future of health technology

Which types of users benefit most from 24/7 wearable monitoring solutions

Balanced perspectives on the strengths and limitations of smart ring technology

Herz P1s mission to make advanced health tracking accessible and easy to use

TL;DR SUMMARY

The Herz P1 Smart Ring is a next-generation wearable designed to deliver 24/7 health monitoring, including heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, stress measurement, and activity tracking  all in a sleek, comfortable ring. As consumer interest in personalized wellness technology grows in 2025, the Herz P1 stands out for its blend of precision sensors, minimalist design, and real-time data feedback. This article explores why demand for smart rings is surging, how Herz P1 works, who its designed for, and the broader trends shaping the wearable health market. With balanced insights into both the advantages and limitations of smart ring technology, readers will gain a clear understanding of how the Herz P1 Smart Ring fits into the future of health and wellness.

SECTION 1  WHY INTEREST IN SMART RINGS IS SURGING IN 2025

The global wearable technology market is experiencing one of its most significant shifts yet in 2025  and smart rings are at the center of this transformation. While smartwatches have long dominated the space, a growing number of consumers are seeking devices that deliver comprehensive health insights without the bulk or constant on-screen distractions. This demand has fueled a surge in interest for sleek, discreet wearables like the Herz P1 Smart Ring, which offers advanced tracking capabilities while maintaining a minimal footprint in daily life.

Several market forces are driving this trend. First, the wellness industry has expanded its focus from fitness alone to overall health optimization, placing greater value on continuous, passive monitoring of vital signs. The rise of preventative health is reshaping how consumers view their overall health management. Todays wearables, including the Herz P1, play an integral part in this transformation, empowering individuals to track metrics like heart rate, sleep patterns, and stress levels in real time.

Second, more individuals are prioritizing stress management, sleep quality, and heart health as key components of long-term well-being  areas where smart rings excel due to their constant skin contact and high sensor accuracy. According to recent studies, stress-related illnesses and sleep disorders are on the rise globally, further driving the demand for accessible solutions like the Herz P1 Smart Ring.

Third, technological advancements have made it possible to pack precision sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, and long-lasting batteries into a compact, stylish form factor. As consumer awareness increases about the power of data-driven decisions, real-time data combined with long-term trend tracking helps users adjust their routines to achieve optimal health outcomes.

The growing intersection of fashion, comfort, and technology positions smart rings not just as gadgets but as integral tools for everyday health management. With the Herz P1, users gain access to advanced health insights without sacrificing style or comfort.

Learn more about the full features and specifications of the Herz P1 Smart Ring.

SECTION 2  HOW THE HERZ P1 SMART RING DELIVERS 24/7 HEALTH MONITORING

The Herz P1 Smart Ring is engineered to provide continuous, around-the-clock health tracking without disrupting daily routines or sleep. Its design integrates advanced biometric sensors directly into a lightweight titanium alloy band, ensuring constant skin contact for optimal reading accuracy. Unlike bulkier devices, the ring format allows for consistent wear  even while sleeping, exercising, or performing everyday activities.

At the core of its functionality is a multi-sensor system capable of capturing key wellness metrics in real time. This includes heart rate monitoring, sleep cycle analysis, stress level measurement, and activity tracking, all of which are transmitted to a companion app for easy review. The apps dashboard organizes data into intuitive charts and trends, making it simple for users to understand their health patterns and identify changes over time.

The sleep tracking feature is particularly notable. By monitoring resting heart rate, micro-movements, and body temperature, it can map out light, deep, and REM sleep stages, offering actionable insights into how rest quality impacts overall wellness. Sleep is often overlooked in wellness regimens, but its importance in recovery, mood regulation, and cognitive function is clear. The Herz P1 helps individuals understand the direct impact their sleep has on their health, including how external factors like stress and exercise influence sleep patterns.

The stress monitoring function also utilizes heart rate variability (HRV) to detect elevated tension levels, enabling users to take proactive steps toward relaxation and recovery. This level of monitoring, while valuable for anyone, can be especially beneficial for busy professionals or parents who face high daily stressors.

Battery efficiency is another advantage  the Herz P1 Smart Ring is designed for extended wear between charges, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring for days at a time. Combined with its durable, water-resistant construction, the device supports a seamless integration into users daily lives while maintaining accuracy and reliability in various environments.

SECTION 3  KEY FEATURES THAT MAKE THE HERZ P1 STAND OUT IN THE SMART RING MARKET

In a rapidly expanding wearable technology landscape, the Herz P1 Smart Ring distinguishes itself through a combination of precision engineering, user-focused design, and comprehensive functionality. While many smart rings offer basic tracking, the Herz P1 integrates an advanced set of features that appeal to both wellness enthusiasts and everyday users seeking reliable health insights.

One of its defining attributes is the high-accuracy biometric sensor suite, which captures continuous heart rate, sleep stages, stress levels, and daily activity data. This level of detail is comparable to  and in some cases exceeds  whats found in larger wrist-worn devices, but without the added bulk. The rings minimalist design also ensures it complements both casual and formal attire, making it practical for 24/7 wear.

The Herz P1s companion mobile app enhances its usability by presenting clear, actionable information. Data visualizations allow users to easily interpret trends, while goal-setting tools help align daily habits with long-term health objectives. For those who value discretion, the devices low-profile form factor ensures advanced tracking without drawing attention, a benefit for professionals and individuals in social settings.

Another key strength is its durability and comfort. Constructed from lightweight yet robust titanium alloy, the Herz P1 is resistant to scratches, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. The ergonomic inner band ensures a comfortable fit for long-term wear, even during intense workouts or overnight use. Battery life optimization means users can enjoy uninterrupted tracking for multiple days before needing to recharge.

By merging fashion, comfort, and science-backed performance, the Herz P1 Smart Ring positions itself as a versatile choice in the wearables market  bridging the gap between traditional health trackers and next-generation, discreet monitoring solutions.

SECTION 4  INTEGRATION WITH OTHER DIGITAL HEALTH TOOLS

The Herz P1 Smart Ring does not just operate in isolation; it seamlessly integrates with a variety of health and wellness platforms to offer a more holistic view of your wellness journey. It can sync with fitness apps like Strava or Google Fit, allowing users to consolidate their health data across multiple platforms for easier management and analysis. This integration enables users to set personalized wellness goals, track progress over time, and gain a deeper understanding of how their lifestyle affects their overall health.

In addition, the Herz P1 is also designed to integrate with smart home devices such as sleep trackers, air purifiers, or temperature regulation systems, offering users a connected ecosystem for optimal wellness. Imagine your smart ring communicating with your homes thermostat to adjust the room temperature based on the sleep data it collects, or sending alerts about elevated stress levels to help prompt mindfulness practices  all integrated into one unified health experience.

This interconnectedness makes the Herz P1 an essential part of any modern health monitoring routine, helping users make informed, data-driven decisions to support their long-term health goals.

SECTION 5  WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM USING THE HERZ P1 SMART RING

The Herz P1 Smart Ring is designed to serve a diverse range of users, making it a versatile health monitoring solution for various lifestyles and wellness goals. Its discreet size and advanced capabilities appeal to those who value both functionality and aesthetics, while its ease of use ensures accessibility for individuals at different stages of their health journey.

Health-conscious professionals are a prime audience, as the ring enables them to monitor key wellness metrics without disrupting their busy schedules. With its subtle design, it can be worn in boardrooms, during travel, or in client-facing roles without attracting attention, while still providing continuous tracking in the background.

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts also stand to benefit from the Herz P1s precision tracking. By analyzing heart rate variability, recovery patterns, and sleep quality, they can fine-tune training programs and improve recovery strategies, ultimately supporting better performance outcomes.

For individuals managing stress or seeking to improve sleep quality, the rings continuous monitoring provides valuable feedback. Real-time stress detection empowers users to take preventative action, while detailed sleep insights help identify habits or factors that may be affecting rest.

Older adults and those monitoring heart health can use the Herz P1 as a non-invasive, easy-to-wear tool to stay informed about their wellness status. Its intuitive app interface and long battery life make it a low-maintenance option for consistent use.

Overall, the Herz P1s combination of accuracy, comfort, and all-day wearability ensures it can meet the needs of anyone seeking reliable, data-driven health insights without the inconvenience of larger, more obtrusive devices.

SECTION 6  THE GROWING MARKET FOR WEARABLE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY IN 2025

The wearable health technology market has seen consistent growth over the past decade, and 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for innovation, adoption, and consumer expectations. Advancements in sensor technology, data analytics, and miniaturization have opened the door for devices like the Herz P1 Smart Ring to provide comprehensive monitoring in a discreet, stylish form.

A major factor driving demand is the increased consumer focus on preventative health. Rather than waiting for medical issues to arise, individuals are seeking tools that can help them monitor their wellness daily, catch early warning signs, and make informed lifestyle adjustments. Wearables offer a convenient way to collect and review this data without requiring invasive procedures or frequent clinic visits.

The rise of remote work and hybrid lifestyles has also played a role. With more time spent at home, users are taking a greater interest in self-tracking and optimizing health habits. Devices that deliver actionable insights  such as sleep cycle reports, heart rate trends, and stress level analysis  are in high demand.

Additionally, the integration of AI and cloud-based analytics is transforming the wearable experience. Smart rings like the Herz P1 can sync with secure apps to provide personalized recommendations based on long-term data patterns, allowing for a level of customization that was not possible just a few years ago.

Finally, the fashion-forward approach to wearable design is attracting a broader demographic. The Herz P1s minimalistic, premium look means it appeals not only to tech enthusiasts but also to style-conscious users who previously avoided bulkier health trackers.

With these trends converging, the wearable tech sector is set for rapid expansion, and smart rings are emerging as one of the most promising categories within it.

Discover how the Herz P1 Smart Ring supports health and wellness monitoring.

SECTION 7  CONTACT INFORMATION

Company: WuzuTech Herz P1

Email: support@wuzutech.com

Phone Support: (866) 479-1629

Address:

WuzuTech LLC

839 E Market St

Ste 106 #165

Akron, OH 44305

United States

Disclaimer: The statements in this release are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The information provided about the Herz P1 Smart Ring is based on publicly available sources, manufacturer claims, and product descriptions at the time of publication. Individual results from using the product may vary.

This release does not constitute medical advice, and readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing any health-related regimen, including the use of wearable health devices. The Herz P1 Smart Ring is designed as a consumer wellness product and should not replace professional medical equipment or services.

The publisher of this release has no liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages arising from the use or misuse of the product. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Washington, DC, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Link to ThinkCareBelieve's Article: https://thinkcarebelieve.blog/2025/08/08/week-29-of-americas-shining-success/





ThinkCareBelieve has published an article on Week 29 of the Shining Success of America with President Trump at the helm. In this the first 200 days in office, President Trump and his great team have achieved wonderful things. The numbers are out. This week, a report from Stephen Moore, a senior visiting fellow in economics at The Heritage Foundation, presented the unpublished new census bureau data for the first time in the Oval Office with President Trump. The data divided Americans into three groups: lower income (bottom 25% of earners), middle income (middle 50%), and upper income (top 25%). The data shows that all income groups of American families did better during President Trump's first term. The group benefitted the least, but still benefitted, was those in the highest income bracket.

This week in the article, culminated in a wonderful Trilateral Peace Agreement between the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ending more than 30 years of conflict. They are both looking forward to the opportunities that peace will bring their people loaded with possibilities and promise of a brighter future. President Trump says that these two leaders will go down in history as great leaders, and they feel that in 6 months in office, President Trump made miracles happen. Both Presidents will submit a joint nomination to the Nobel Prize Committee for President Trump to be given the Nobel Peace Prize. POTUS said he is interested in saving lives. The Russia~Ukraine War could have been a world war if the Trump Administration had not come into power. When you save lives, you really end up having a peaceful world. He told us to look for an announcement soon about where the meeting with Russia and Ukraine will take place, and America celebrated the 235th Birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The article entails the events this week, and there were many. President Trump attended a Ceremony signing a proclamation making the 7th of August officially Purple Heart Day Celebration where 100 Purple Heart Recipients were in attendance. The day also marked President Trump's first 200 days in office where so much has been accomplished. The article also has Apple's announcement of a massive manufacturing plan to invest $600 Billion into the United States over the next 4 years. They will build their factories and will become their own electricity producing facility selling their excess back into the grid. It will be chips, screens, and all the parts for an iPhone completely manufactured in the United States, while also making a manufacturing academy in Detroit.

A White House Task Force has been created for the 2028 Summer Olympics, set in Los Angeles, and ThinkCareBelieve's article has the details. A new White House Ballroom is planned which POTUS is providing with his own money. The article covers this week's two State Department Briefings and the progress on many peace talks. So many great numbers indicating for the economy. President Trump says that with all the money coming in, we will pay down debt. Doge cut 477 wasteful contracts this week saving the American taxpayers $1.1 Billion, while tariff revenue brought in a record $29.6 Billion in July. So far this year, an incredibe $100 Billion has come in the door from tariffs. President Trump says that with this money, we will pay down our debt. The article shows that 82% of the S&P 500 companies beat their quarterly earnings estimates at the highest rate in 4 years in a "2Q Rebound."



The article has the peace negotiations with Russia, Ukraine and talks with India over Pakistan and India's purchase of Russian oil. The article also has the unraveling details of the Russia Collusion Hoad and Durham Annex and more files were declassed this week and the hand-off to AG Pam Bondi from DNI Tulsi Gabbard will now be assessed by a grand jury. AG Bondi announced a $50 Million reward for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the FBI announced that they have many operations going on currently with operation "Summer Heat" showing some good arrest numbers. The article has information on redistricting for elections in Texas and the new list of sanctuary cities and states.

ThinkCareBelieve's article has all that happened with ICE and Immigration this week, with a focus on their efforts to end child trafficking and find the over 300,000 missing migrant children. The article covers all that HHS covered this week including the announcement of their re-organization and cancellation of Covid vaccine contracts. The article has Dr. Oz's announcement of how President Trump is putting $200 Billion into Medicaid, and President Trump's letters to 17of the leading pharmaceutical companies outlining the steps they must take to lower prescription drug prices for Americans, because Americans have been paying too much for their medications, disproportionately from other countries. Also, some hope about a new cancer discovery and a new vaccine being developed by the NIH that mimics natural immunity that could be safely used for Covid and flu.

This is a hopeful time of new opportunities and ThinkCareBelieve's article has many of the opportunities available for Americans such as joining ICE, with no age limits, the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Programs, and our beautiful First Lady is taking applications for Christmas decorating at the White House. ICE has had an overwhelming 80,000 applicants including Superman actor Dean Cain, who is anxious to assist the brave men and women of ICE making our country safer.





ThinkCareBelieve is an outlook. ThinkCareBelieves mission for Peace advocacy facilitates positive outcomes and expanded possibilities. To achieve Peace, we will find the commonalities between diverse groups and bring the focus on common needs, working together toward shared goals. Activism is an important aspect of ThinkCareBelieve, because public participation and awareness to issues needing exposure to light leads to justice. Improved transparency in government can lead to changes in policy and procedure resulting in more fluid communication between the public and the government that serves them. America needs hope right now, and Americans need to be more involved in their government.

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Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AONMeetings today announced the release of a new pricing structure that includes unlimited webinar featuressuch as registration management, interactive tools, and professional broadcastingstarting at just $3.99 per month. The announcement comes as small businesses increasingly push back against industry-standard webinar fees that can total nearly $100 per month on other platforms.





While other platforms charge $14.99 monthly for basic video conferencing plus an additional $79 for webinar features  totaling $93.99 monthly  AONMeetings includes unlimited webinars, registration management, and professional broadcasting tools in every plan starting at just $3.99.

"The industry has convinced businesses that presenting to an audience should cost 20 times more than having a conversation," said Dwight Reed, founder of AONMeetings. "We're asking a simple question: why should webinar capabilities be a luxury add-on when they're just another way to communicate professionally?"

The $79 Question That's Waking Up Businesses

The pricing disparity reveals how competitors monetize basic functionality. A typical business using Zoom's webinar features pays $1,127.88 annually, while AONMeetings delivers the same capabilities for $47.88 yearly  a difference of $1,080 per year that goes directly to profit margins instead of customer value.

"I was floored when I realized I was paying almost $100 monthly just to present to my clients," said Marcus Thompson, a business consultant who switched to AONMeetings. "The exact same features are included free here. It honestly felt like I was being scammed by my previous platform."

The math becomes even more striking for growing businesses: a company needing to host weekly webinars pays competitors an extra $948 annually just for presentation capabilities that should be standard.

Complete Webinar Suite Included at No Extra Cost

AONMeetings includes enterprise-grade webinar features that competitors charge premium prices for:

Unlimited webinar hosting with no time restrictions

Professional registration pages with custom branding

Audience management tools including attendee lists and analytics

Interactive features like polls, Q&A, and chat moderation

HD broadcasting quality with screen sharing capabilities

Recording and playback for on-demand content Email marketing integration for automated follow-ups

Custom branding and professional presentation tools

Multi-presenter support for panel discussions and team presentations





"Every business needs to present to groups  whether it's training employees, showcasing products, or educating customers," explained Dwight Reed. "Making this a premium feature is like charging extra for the ability to speak to more than one person at a time."

Exposing the Add-On Economy

The webinar pricing model exemplifies how traditional platforms have created an "add-on economy" where basic business communication features are carved up into expensive premium tiers.

Industry analysis reveals that 84% of businesses require webinar capabilities, yet 71% avoid using them due to additional costs imposed by major platforms. This pricing barrier forces companies to compromise their marketing and training capabilities or significantly inflate their communication budgets.

"We're democratizing professional presentation tools," said Dwight Reed. "A small business owner shouldn't have to choose between hosting a product demo and making payroll. Professional webinar capabilities should be a given, not a premium add-on."

Challenging the Status Quo

AONMeetings' approach challenges the industry practice of segmenting basic communication features into expensive tiers. The platform treats webinars as a fundamental communication need rather than a luxury service.

"The question isn't how we can afford to include webinars for free  it's why competitors think they can justify charging $79 monthly for something that costs pennies to deliver," said Dwight Reed. "We're simply refusing to participate in the industry's artificial scarcity model."

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 transparent, inclusive 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 without hidden fees or premium add-ons.

For more information about AONMeetings, visit aonmeetings.com or contact:
NEW YORK, Aug. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in J.M. Smucker, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit.

Why Is J.M. Smucker being Investigated?

J.M. Smucker manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products. In November 2023, the company completed an acquisition of Hostess Brands, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of sweet baked goods brands. The company stated that the Hostess acquisition was highly complementary and that underlying trends in snacking and specifically sweet snacking still bode well for the category.

In truth, it appears the companys Sweet Baked Snacks segment, which includes Hostess, significantly deteriorated in the face of declining trends in sweet snacking.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On June 10, 2025, J.M. Smucker reported its Q4 2025 financial results and announced that it recognized a $867 million impairment charge related to the goodwill of its Sweet Baked Snacks segment and a $113 million impairment charge related to the Hostess brand trademark driven by the continued underperformance of the Sweet Baked Snacks segment. On this news, the price of J.M. Smucker stock fell $17.44 per share, or more than 18%, from $111.85 per share on June 9, 2025, to $94.41 per share on June 10, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in J.M. Smucker 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:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212.789.3619

Why 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.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/the-jm-smucker-company-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
NEW YORK, Aug. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces 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 Brands operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Companys primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink (RTD) 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 Companys 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 Revealed

On 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.

Then, on August 4, 2025, after market hours, BellRing announced disappointing quarterly consumption of Premier Protein RTD Shakes, which had been expected to outpace shipments by a wider margin given previously announced retailer destocking, but instead came more in line with shipments. On this news, the price of BellRing Brands stock fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 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:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212.789.3619

Why 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.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
NEW YORK, Aug. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed or the Company) (NYSE: LMT). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Lockheed and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until September 26, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Lockheed securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com .

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On October 22, 2024, before the market opened, Lockheed announced that it was forced to recognize losses of $80 million on a classified program at the Companys Aeronautics business segment due to higher than anticipated costs to achieve program objectives. The Company also announced that it had recognized a reach-forward loss in its Rotary and Mission Systems segment as a result of additional quantity ordering risk identified on fixed-price options.

On this news, Lockheeds stock price fell $37.63 per share, or 6.12%, to close at $576.98 per share on October 22, 2024.

Then, on January 28, 2025, before the market opened, Lockheed announced that it was forced to record pre-tax losses of $1.7 billion associated with classified programs at its Aeronautics and Missiles and Fire Control business. The Company explained that as a result of performance trends and in contemplation of near-term program milestones, it had performed a comprehensive review of the program requirements, technical complexities, schedule, and risks based on which it recognized $555 million of losses in its Aeronautics program. The Company further reported additional losses of approximately $1.3 billion in its Missiles and Fire Control business due to, among other things, the future requirements of the program, discussions with the customer and suppliers. As a result, the Companys net earnings in 2024 were $5.3 billion, or $22.31 per share, compared to $6.9 billion, or $27.55 per share, in 2023.

On this news, Lockheeds stock price fell $46.24 per share, or 9.2%, to close at $57.45 per share on January 28, 2025.

Then, on July 22, 2025, Lockheed released its second quarter 2025 financial results, reporting sharply lower second-quarter earnings, including $1.6 billion in program losses. The Company disclosed that it was forced to recognize $950 million in losses related to its Aeronautics Classified program due to design, integration, and test challenges, as well as other performance issues as well as significant changes to its processes and testing approach. Lockheed also reported $570 million in losses on its Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program due in part to providing additional mission capabilities, enhanced logistical support, fleet life extension, and revised expectations regarding flight hours. The Company further reported a $95 million charge related to its Turkish Utility Helicopter Program due to the current status of the program. Lockheed said it is in ongoing discussion with its customers regarding a potential restructure of certain contractual terms and conditions.

On this news, Lockheeds stock price fell $49.79 per share, or 10.8%, to close at $410.74 per share on July 22, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com .

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A released presentation from former CIA advisor and energy strategist Jim Rickards is turning heads in Washington and beyond. In it, Rickards warns that Americas greatest national asset isnt digital or financialits physical. And it's been neglected for decades.

Weve had this rich endowment, as I call it, right under our feet. Yet for years, we refused to touch it.

Why U.S. Energy Independence Was a Mirage

In the presentation, Rickards outlines how past administrations celebrated energy independence while importing critical materials from China and restricting access to the nations most resource-rich regions.

He points to large-scale deposits of copper, lithium, uranium, and rare earth elements sitting untouched across vast stretches of federal land.

We have all these essential materials right under our feet. Incredibly the United States is the only nation in the world that locks them up.

The Real Bottleneck Isnt OilIts Access

Rickards says the problem isnt finding energy or mineralsits bureaucracy. He calls out a decades-long pattern of permitting delays and federal restrictions that have stalled major projects for yearseven decades.

Theres a huge copper deposit in Arizona enough to supply 25% of what we need. Its been sitting there for 29 years.

The Thacker Pass Lithium Mine in Nevada is the largest known deposit of its kind shut down since 1978.

A Nation Sitting on a Resource Superhighway

According to Rickards, nearly one-third of the U.S. landmass is federally ownedand much of it contains strategic minerals needed for everything from national defense to electric vehicles and grid infrastructure.

Roughly 28% of all land in the U.S. belongs to the public. And it contains world-class mineral deposits.

He argues that tapping even a fraction of this land would give America a decisive edge in supply chains, manufacturing, and military strengthespecially as tensions rise with foreign powers.

The Next Phase of American Strength Is Subsurface

Rickards believes the next evolution of U.S. leadership wont be decided on the stock market or in Silicon Valley, but in places like Nevada, Texas, and Alaskawhere deep reserves of strategic materials remain largely untouched.

For decades the U.S. government has blocked us from tapping into our birthright. But thats all about to change.

About Jim Rickards

Jim Rickards is a former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Treasury, with five decades of experience in economic warfare and national resilience strategy. A bestselling author and respected commentator, Rickards now leads the research advisory Strategic Intelligence, where he provides monthly briefings on the hidden forces shaping Americas future.
NEW YORK, Aug. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (Inspire or the Company) (NYSE: INSP). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Inspire and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 4, 2025, Inspire issued a press release announcing its second quarter financial results and updating its 2025 outlook. Among other items, Inspire reduced its full-year revenue outlook and diluted net income per share to $900 million - $910 million and $0.40 - $0.50, respectively, compared to prior guidance of $940 million - $955 million and $2.20 - $2.30. Inspire attributed the reductions to the slower-than-expected progress of the commercial launch of its next generation Inspire V neurostimulation system.

On this news, Inspires stock price fell $42.04 per share, or 32.35%, to close at $87.91 per share on August 5, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com .

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Vancouver, August 8, 2025 - Edgemont Gold Corp. (CSE: EDGM) (the "Company" or "Edgemont") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated June 4, 2025, Laiva Gold Inc. ("Laiva") has completed a private placement which raised gross proceeds of $8,038,280 (the "Offering").

The Offering was significantly oversubscribed, culminating in the sale of 10,047,850 units (the "Units"), with each Unit priced at $0.80. Each Unit consists of one (1) common share of Laiva (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) Share at an exercise price of $1.20 for a period of 18 months from the date of issuance. Finder's fees consisting of $160,368 cash and 200,461 non-transferable finder's warrants were paid to certain arm's length finders in connection with the Offering. The finder's warrants have the same terms as the Warrants.

Edgemont has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Laiva, whereby Edgemont will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Shares of Laiva, which will constitute a reverse takeover transaction of Edgemont (the "Transaction").

About Laiva and the Transaction

Upon completion of the Transaction, the Company will indirectly own the Laiva mine ("Laiva Mine") in Finland. The Laiva Mine is an open pit operation, fully equipped with one of the largest gold plants in Europe (6,000 tonnes per day capacity). Following completion of the Transaction, the Company also anticipates acquiring additional assets to build a multi-asset mining company. The Transaction is subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange and certain other closing conditions.

For additional information with respect to the Offering and the Transaction, please refer to the Company's SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) profile and its news release dated June 4, 2025.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms and completion of the Transaction, the receipt of stock exchange approval in respect of the Transaction and satisfaction of other conditions required for completion of the Transaction, the future strategy and direction of the Company, including anticipated acquisition of additional mining assets and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking information or statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information or statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking information or statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, the ability to achieve its goals, expected costs and timelines to achieve the Company's goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, and that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information or statements reflect the Company's views with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties included in in documents filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information or statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the Transaction on the terms described herein, including obtaining the requisite regulatory and stock exchange approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, failure to compete effectively with competitors, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to comply with applicable laws, including environmental laws, risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties and failure to identify and acquire additional assets. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261925
Vancouver, August 8, 2025 - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper-gold explorer, announces that the Company has closed the non-brokered private placement previously announced on July 21, 2025. The Company has issued 15,000,000 units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.02 per unit for gross proceeds of $300,000 (the "Offering").

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share ("Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid finder's fees to Haywood Securities Inc., consisting of $7,000 in cash and 350,000 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant"), Research Capital Corporation, consisting of $490 in cash and 24,500 Finder's Warrants, and Ventum Financial Corp., consisting of $1,960 in cash and 98,000 Finder's Warrants. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.05 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

Pacific Empire's President and CEO, Brad Peters: "With this financing now complete, Pacific Empire is excited to move forward towards advancing and diamond drilling at Trident in 2025. This is the first time this highly prospective copper-gold porphyry target will be tested, and we believe 2025 has the potential to be a defining year for the Company."

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital, exploration at the Company's flagship Trident copper-gold project, and marketing activities.

Certain directors and officers of the Company participated in the Offering for an aggregate amount of $23,500, and therefore the Offering is a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities distributed to, nor the consideration received from, such related parties for the securities under the Offering exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company has not filed a material change report more than twenty-one (21) days before the closing date of the Offering, as the details of the Offering were not finalized until August 8, 2025, and the Company wished to close the Offering as soon as practicable.

The Offering was conditionally approved by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") but is subject to the final approval of the Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period expiring December 9, 2025 in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, and the concurrent Exchange hold period expiring December 9, 2025 in accordance with the policies of the Exchange, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Pacific Empire

Pacific Empire is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company has a district scale land position in north-central British Columbia totaling 22,541 hectares.

British Columbia is a "Green" copper jurisdiction with abundant hydroelectric power, access and infrastructure in close proximity to the end market.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds of the Offering and the receipt of regulatory approvals. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES

NOR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261926
BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- As European and Arab countries on Friday condemned Israel's Gaza takeover plan, the United States has signaled its approval despite the expected international backlash.

The decision violates international law, exacerbates Gaza's humanitarian crisis, and jeopardizes peace efforts, many have warned.

U.S. TACIT SUPPORT

Israel's Security Cabinet on Thursday approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City and the surrounding areas.

The Israel Defense Forces will prepare for the takeover while distributing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside the combat zones, Netanyahu's office said Friday.

Before the announcement, when asked if he could support such a plan, Trump told reporters Tuesday he was focused on boosting Gaza aid to help starving Palestinians.

"As far as the rest of it, I really, I really can't say -- that's going to be pretty much up to Israel," Trump said.

Then on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that position, telling Catholic TV Network EWTN, "Ultimately, what Israel needs to do for Israel's security will be determined by Israel."

"Trump and Rubio's comments speak volumes about the U.S. strategy: since Israel-Hamas talks on a ceasefire in Gaza fell apart, Washington has broadly embraced Israel's views following U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's visit last week," AFP reported Saturday.

Washington's Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also made clear that Netanyahu's Gaza plan is not America's concern. In an interview with CBS News, he said it'll be up to the Israeli government to decide whether to fully take over the Gaza Strip or not.

"It's not our job to tell them what they should or should not do," he said. "Certainly, if they ask for wisdom, counsel, advice, I'm sure the president would offer it. But ultimately, it's the decision that the Israelis and only the Israelis can make."

As the BBC said Friday, Israel's latest move is "one that, at least so far, the U.S. government has greeted with a telling and collective shrug."

WIDESPREAD OUTCRY

Following the announcement, Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote in a social media post that the decision is "a disaster that will lead to many more disasters."

It will drag Israel "into a move that will take months, lead to the deaths of the Israeli hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost Israeli taxpayers tens of billions, and lead to a political collapse," Lapid wrote.

European Council President Antonio Costa on Friday called on Israel to reverse the decision, warning on X that the move would have consequences for EU-Israel relations.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision would do nothing to end the conflict or secure the release of hostages, urging a surge in aid and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution.

France warned such actions would seriously violate international law, cause a political stalemate, and threaten regional stability, while doing nothing to improve Israel's security.

Germany has announced a halt to all military exports that could be used in Gaza, while Italy flew 100 tons of humanitarian supplies to Jordan for airdrops into the enclave.

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said the decision would worsen conditions in the Gaza Strip and said it was working with other EU members on a coordinated response.

In a post on X, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the decision is "an extension of the Israeli government's extremist policy that uses starvation and siege as a weapon against the Palestinian people."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Israeli move "marks a new phase of its expansionist and genocidal policy in the region."

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the decision "undermines the chances of achieving the two-state solution and obstructs the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called the move an attempt to cement Israel's "illegal occupation of Palestinian territories," continue a "war of genocide" in Gaza, and eliminate all "foundations of life" for the Palestinian people.

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement that the move is a reflection of the Israeli intention to completely occupy Gaza since the start of the war and to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

Gaza health authorities reported Friday that at least 201 people, including 98 children, have died from starvation and malnutrition since October 2023.

Authorities later said at least 9,824 Palestinians have been killed and 40,318 injured since Israel renewed intensive strikes on March 18, raising the total toll since the start of the war to 61,330 dead and 152,359 wounded. 
Featured

How Kofi Boat and his 'sakawa' gang allegedly swindled over $100million from American 'clients'

Kweku Zurek International News Aug - 09 - 2025 , 06:56 3 minutes read

In a shocking case that has spanned nearly a decade, four Ghanaian nationals have been indicted for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated criminal enterprise that defrauded vulnerable individuals and businesses of more than $100 million.

The accused, Isaac Oduro Boateng, alias "Kofi Boat," Inusah Ahmed, known as "Pascal," Derrick Van Yeboah, referred to as "Van," and Patrick Kwame Asare, dubbed "Borgar", are said to have orchestrated a web of romance scams and business email compromises, targeting victims across the United States, including the Southern District of New York.

According to the unsealed indictment, the group operated under the guise of "sakawa," a Ghanaian term for internet fraud. The scheme preyed on lonely, often elderly individuals, who were deceived into believing they were in romantic relationships with fictitious personas created by the defendants.

"Once trust was established, the victims were manipulated into transferring money to accounts controlled by the Enterprise, which they believed belonged to their romantic partners," the court documents revealed. The conspirators chillingly referred to these victims as "clients" and their stolen funds as "clean money," as the victims were unlikely to immediately report the transactions as fraudulent.

The indictment further detailed how the group expanded their operations to include business email compromises, a tactic where they impersonated company employees or associates to divert funds.

By creating email accounts with slight variations of legitimate addresses, they tricked businesses into wiring large sums to accounts under their control. This method, dubbed "ali baba" by the conspirators, involved forged authorization letters and fake signatures to lend credibility to their requests.

The stolen funds were laundered through a network of middlemen in the U.S., who operated shell companies purportedly involved in automobile sales, food imports, and freight shipping. These middlemen took a cut before funnelling the remainder to West Africa, where the profits were distributed to high-ranking members of the organisation, including Boateng and Ahmed, who held the title of "chairmen." Van Yeboah and Asare, also key figures, played active roles in executing the scams, with Van Yeboah personally engaging in romance fraud.

The long arm of the law finally caught up with the group after a collaborative effort between U.S. and Ghanaian authorities. Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited to the U.S. on August 7, 2025, and appeared before a magistrate judge the following day. Asare remains at large. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton condemned the defendants' actions, stating, "Offshore scammers should know that we, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will work around the world to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice."

FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia echoed these sentiments, emphasising the emotional and financial toll on victims. "Deceiving businesses and exploiting vulnerable elderly individuals through fraudulent companionship is not merely appalling but illegal," he said.

The defendants face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and receipt of stolen money, with maximum sentences ranging from five to 20 years per count. Authorities have also moved to seize assets linked to the illicit gains, vowing to recover every possible dollar for the victims.

As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the perils of online fraud and the global reach of law enforcement in pursuing justice. For now, the spotlight remains on the alleged "sakawa boys," whose lavish lifestyles, built on the backs of their victims, may soon come crashing down.
MUNICH, Germany, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Rising protectionist measures, particularly punitive tariffs, are undermining global industrial cooperation and slowing technological progress, Bavaria's deputy minister president told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Hubert Aiwanger, whose state is a hub for Germany's auto industry, said U.S. tariff hikes have hit German carmakers hard.

"Over the past few months, German auto exports were hit with tariffs of up to 27.5 percent, compared with just 2.5 percent previously," Aiwanger said. "Although a recent deal between the United States and the EU brought the rate down to 15 percent, the impact is still very painful and results in billions of euros in losses annually."

Bavaria has long been a leading exporter of vehicles to the United States. However, recent financial reports for the first half of 2025 from BMW and Audi, both headquartered in Bavaria, showed a sharp decline in profits.

Aiwanger warned that high tariffs not only hurt German and European industries but also drive up prices for consumers in the United States. Such policies, he said, are ultimately counterproductive and risk creating a lose-lose outcome for the global economy.

"We oppose high tariffs imposed by the United States," Aiwanger said. "The best solutions come from fair competition, not artificial barriers."

He emphasized that technical capability, not protectionism, should determine success in international markets. In his view, tariffs are being misused to block foreign products, which harms innovation and distorts trade.

Aiwanger also noted that forcing companies to build overseas factories in order to avoid tariffs undermines the principles of open trade. While large firms like BMW may be able to localize production in the United States, not every company can afford to follow suit.

"We need a fair environment where quality and technology are the main drivers of competition," he said.

During a recent visit to China, Aiwanger said he was impressed by the rapid development of the country's automotive industry, particularly in electric mobility, smart driving systems and user-friendly interior design. He called China one of Bavaria's most important trading partners.

"China is no longer just a large consumer market. It is becoming an increasingly important innovation partner for Germany's auto sector," he said, citing joint work in high-end manufacturing, renewable energy and digital technology. Chinese EV maker NIO has opened a design center in Germany to better understand local tastes.

The relationship between Bavaria and China is built on decades of deep-rooted ties. In 1975, then Bavarian minister president Franz Josef Strauss became the first senior West German official to visit China, a landmark moment that laid the groundwork for long-term cooperation. Today, about 700 Bavarian companies operate in China and more than 500 Chinese firms are located in Bavaria.

Aiwanger noted that as China's innovation capacity continues to rise, bilateral cooperation is shifting from traditional trade toward joint product development. Germany and China are increasingly working together to create globally competitive solutions in areas such as digitalization, intelligent manufacturing and green energy.

"We cannot rely on tariffs to make up for a lack of competitiveness," Aiwanger said. "Instead, we need reforms to strengthen our own industrial base. Companies like those from China are valuable partners in the process of global restructuring."

"Openness and mutual benefit are the right path forward," he added. 
Featured

Bawumia: Former Veep visits President Mahama, bereaved families after Ashanti helicopter tragedy

GraphicOnline Aug - 09 - 2025 , 18:30 1 minute read

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Saturday paid a commiserating visit to President John Dramani Mahama at his private residence to console him following the deaths of two ministers of state and six other officials in last Wednesdays helicopter crash.

Dr Bawumia, who was accompanied by officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and members of the previous government, expressed his deepest condolences to President Mahama, the bereaved families, and the nation. He reiterated that the loss of the officials was a national tragedy.

He also visited the family of the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, to convey his sympathies over their loss.

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, confirmed on Wednesday, August 6, that the crash claimed the lives of Dr Omane Boamah; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; and Samuel Aboagye, a former MP and National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The three crew members who also perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
Featured

FBI nabs alleged Ghanaian fraud ring leaders in $100m online scam case

Kweku Zurek Aug - 09 - 2025 , 06:41 3 minutes read

Three Ghanaian nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges over their alleged roles in an international fraud ring accused of stealing more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, Isaac Oduro Boateng, also known as Kofi Boat, 36; Inusah Ahmed, also known as Pascal, 40; and Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as Van, 40, arrived in the U.S. on Thursday, 7 August 2025, following their extradition from Ghana. They were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger on Friday.

A fourth Ghanaian, 39-year-old Patrick Kwame Asare, also known as Borgar, remains at large. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton alleged that the four were high-ranking members of a criminal organization based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the U.S. He added: Offshore scammers should know that we, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will work around the world to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia described the scheme as appalling, noting that the suspects allegedly deceived companies through fraudulent email campaigns and exploited elderly victims in fake online relationships to steal their money. The FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online is made to face the criminal justice system, he said.

Prosecutors allege that once the conspiracys victims  many of them older men and women  had been convinced they were in romantic relationships, they were persuaded to send money or help launder funds from other victims. Businesses were also targeted through spoofed email communications designed to trick them into wiring money to the fraudsters.

Investigators say the proceeds were laundered to West Africa, with the bulk funnelled to so-called chairmen who oversaw the operation. Boateng and Ahmed are alleged to have been among these leaders.

The accused each face five counts: wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to receive stolen money, and receipt of stolen money. The first three charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the other two carry maximum penalties of five and 10 years respectively.

The U.S. Attorneys Office credited the FBI, the Ghanaian authorities, and the U.S. Department of Justices Office of International Affairs for their collaboration in securing the extraditions. Ghanas Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service  INTERPOL, the Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau all contributed to the operation.

Officials stressed that the charges are allegations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Featured

Helicopter crash response exposes gaps in Ghanas emergency preparedness, says Colonel Festus Aboagye

Gertrude Ankah Aug - 09 - 2025 , 18:21 2 minutes read

Security analyst Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd) has called for a comprehensive review of Ghanas national emergency response system following the recent military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including senior government officials.

Speaking on Joy FMs Newsfile programme on Saturday, August 9, Col. Aboagye criticised the handling of the disaster, particularly how the victims remains were transported.

He described the use of cocoa sacks for carrying bodies as a grave disrespect to those who served the nation.

For the sake of dignity, the authorities should have ensured that the bodies were secured properly, he said. If they were covered with polythene inside the sacks, that would have been acceptable. But to carry someone who dedicated their life to the nation in a cocoa sack is unacceptable. Is this how we treat our fallen heroes? he questioned.

Col. Aboagye emphasised the urgent need for a coordinated national emergency response framework that integrates all relevant agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces, National Fire Service, Ambulance Service, and Police Service.

He cited previous disasters such as the 2022 Appiatse explosion and the Akosombo Dam spillage as evidence that despite existing institutions, Ghanas response efforts remain fragmented and inefficient.

Reflecting on the helicopter crash response, Col. Aboagye raised concerns over delays and inadequate preparation, pointing out that emergency teams arrived on site without essential equipment and personnel to manage casualties effectively.

When responding to such incidents, fire and ambulance services should never arrive empty-handed, he said, calling for improvements in preparedness and inter-agency coordination.

He also underscored the importance of providing psychological support to the families affected by such tragedies, noting that trauma counselling is a critical yet often neglected component of emergency management.

Col. Aboagye warned that urgent reforms are necessary to strengthen Ghanas capacity to respond to emergencies.

The military helicopter went down on August 6 in the Ashanti Region, killing Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and six others, including Air Force crew members.
Featured

Islamic burial for 2 victims of Adansi Akrofuom helicopter crash set for Sunday

Gertrude Ankah Aug - 09 - 2025 , 18:59 2 minutes read

Two of the eight victims of the military helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom in the Ashanti Region will be buried on Sunday, August 10, in line with Islamic customs that require prompt interment.

The funeral planning committee announced that the arrangements are for the late Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, both of whom were Muslim.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, the Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yogbun Wura and Ndan Ya Naa, the National Chief Imam and Leader of the Ambariya Sunni Group, alongside the families of the deceased, announce the burial rites in accordance with Islamic tradition, customs, and practices, the committee said.

According to the statement, Jannaza prayers will be held at 2:00 pm at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, followed by burial at 2:30 pm at the Military Cemetery, also in Accra.

The government and the families of the deceased have invited the public to participate in the prayers and burial to honour the fallen public servants.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah earlier confirmed that the crash, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Dr Murtala Mohammed; former Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Samuel Sarpong; Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed; and Samuel Aboagye, a former MP and National Vice Chairman of the NDC.

Three Ghana Armed Forces personnel  Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah  also died in the incident.

Read the public announcement below:
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Featured

Veep convenes emergency GAF Council meeting, visits family of late Defence Minister

Diana Mensah Aug - 09 - 2025 , 18:31 2 minutes read

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has met with members of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Council to discuss developments following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight individuals.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who also serves as Chairperson of the GAF Council, expressed solidarity with the families affected by the military helicopter crash in Sikaman, in the Adansi Akrofuom area of the Ashanti Region.

The accident, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, involved high-ranking government officials and military personnel. The victims were en route to a mining event when the tragedy struck.

As part of the Councils response, the Vice-President, together with other council members and government officials, visited the family of the late Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, to offer condolences and support.

The Council extended its heartfelt sympathies to all bereaved families, acknowledging the national grief caused by the loss.

We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for strength, comfort, and peace during this period of national mourning, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said.

The Ghana Armed Forces Council also assured the nation of its commitment to continuing its vital work even as it mourns the loss of these esteemed individuals.

The eight victims were:

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence

Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and MP for Tamale Central

Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator

Dr. Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate

Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala

Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu

Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah
A few hours ago, OpenAI announced ChatGPT-5, the best ChatGPT yet. Since the unveiling, you may have been wondering when Apple Intelligence will incorporate GPT-5, as right now it uses the older GPT-4o.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple will incorporate GPT-5 into the final releases of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26. All of those are expected to start rolling out next month, which is also when the iPhone 17 family should become official.

In Apple Intelligence, you can use Siri to access ChatGPT. Apple's assistant taps into ChatGPT to give answers when it's helpful for your request. You can also use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools, and use ChatGPT with Apple's Visual Intelligence with Camera Control to quickly learn more about what's around you.

All of these functions currently use GPT-4o but will be upgraded to GPT-5 with the release of the next versions of Apple's operating systems, so you won't have that long to wait to get all of the upgraded functionality in GPT-5.
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu will return latte and other artifacts back to the Marianas which were taken in the early 1900s after a ceremony Sunday Guam time.

The Office of the Governor is inviting residents to tune in 6 a.m. Sunday to watch Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio lead a Guam delegation at the Bishop Museum for the historic return of ancient CHamoru latte stones and artifacts to the Marianas.

Residents can watch a livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/TT4fl80fDBE?si=7Zf_8aIcbmyY-a1q.

This ceremony marks the beginning of the return of cultural treasures taken from Guam and the CNMI in the early 1900s, known as the Hornbostel Collection, Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin said on Saturday.

Hans and Gertrude Hornbostel lived in the Marianas in the early 1900s and collected thousands of artifacts from the islands which are now at the Bishop Museum.

The museum in a release said beginning Aug. 9 it will initiate a phased return of more than 10,000 pieces from the museums collection to the Mariana Islands.

This landmark decision comes after three years of collaboration with government officials, and colleagues at peer institutions in Guahan and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and is among the largest known ethical returns to ever occur, Bishop Museum said.

The museum, in partnership with the government of Guam and the government of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Guam Museum, the Guam Cultural Repository, and the NMI Museum invites the CHamoru community and friends to participate in a special ceremony at 10 a.m. Aug. 9 on the Gallery Lawns of the Bishop Museum near the latte.

Prayer and offerings made of natural materials will be gifted, the museum said.

The public is welcome to gather with us and to honor the latte stones as we celebrate their journey back home, Bishop Museum said.

Some artifacts on island already

Guam Museum curator Michael Lujan Bevacqua said the latte, one from Ypao, one from Uranao and one from Rota, are the most visible components and largest pieces to be returned, but the collection contains so much more than that.

There are thousands of pieces of pottery, sinkers, sinahi, beads, adzes and slingstones and more, he said.

Bevacqua said some pieces of the collection are already on island after he visited the museum in June while in Hawaii for a family reunion.

The ethnology team at the museum prepared a case with items chosen specifically by Nicole Delisle Duenas from the Guam Cultural Repository.

In the case was several sinahi, several beautiful spondylus burial beads, a rare crystal bead from Inalahan and the largest item, a pictograph that had been carved from the wall of As Quiroga cave in Talofofo. The padding and interior of the case was designed and created by the Ethnology team with great care and skill, he said.

He said Duenas, himself and others have been working on the return of the latte and the collection since 2022 when they first saw them and the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Museum Institute cohort from the Marianas held a ceremony, making a promise to bring them home one day

One of the strategies was for Duenas to organize and curate an exhibit at the Guam Museum that would feature items from the Bishop Museums collection that they would borrow.

In June when I took the case with me and brought it home, the artifacts were being loaned to the Guam Museum. It was such a great honor to bring them back with me. But knowing that the Bishop Museum board vote was on the horizon and that they would no longer be loaned but instead returned, I decided to not publicize just yet that they had come home, Bevacqua said.

But since the news is out that the museum will return the artifacts back to the Marianas, he was excited to share that some of them are already here.

These amazing ancestral treasures, taken a century ago from Hagatna, Talofofo, Inalahan, Tumon and elsewhere are home again and they are ours once again, Bevacqua said.

He said more waves of return will happen in the future. Duenas is attending the ceremony and will be brining more artifacts to Guam.

These are just the first, eventually all 10,000 will be back in the Marianas. Currently the first group are housed at the Guam Cultural Repository, he said.

Later this month, there will be a HITA Talk presentation at the Guam Museum where the community will be welcomed to visit with the first wave of return, to hear more about the history behind them, he said.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two troopers belonging to the Indian army were killed in an ongoing fierce gunfight with militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Saturday.

According to police, the gunfight broke out on Aug. 1 in a dense forest area of Akhal in Kulgam district, about 75 km south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the operation in the area is underway.

Local media reports quoting official sources said two more soldiers were injured in the gun battle, taking the number of wounded soldiers to 10 since its beginning.

Police said the gunfight started after joint contingents of the army, police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force launched a joint operation on specific intelligence suggesting the presence of a large group of militants in Akhal area.

The Indian army said on Aug. 2 that a militant was killed in the operation. 
Sen. Jesse Lujan is asking federal officials to exempt Guam from any future proposed bond requirement for tourists from the Philippines as the island continues to struggle with low tourism rates.

The senator wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Friday over concerns the pilot program requiring a bond of up to $15,000 for some tourists and business visas could include the Philippines in the future.

Lujan, who chairs the Legislatures committee with oversight over tourism, requested that if the Philippines were to be included in the bond program in the future, that an exemption for Guam be considered.

As Guams tourism industry continues to rebound from the impacts of the global pandemic, it is critical that additional barriers not be placed to make travel into Guam more challenging. The Philippines visitor market is one that has the potential of filling many gaps of arrival numbers, and we need the support of the federal government to ease that process and not implement policies which would impede it, Lujan said in a statement.

The U.S. government plans to require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program starting Aug. 20, part of efforts to crack down on visitors who stay beyond their visas.

The plan impacts only those applying for B-1 and B-2 visas to come to the U.S. and so far, the U.S. State Department identified visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, determined by U.S. consular officers at the time of the interview.

The list is expected to be updated from time to time, national news agencies reported, citing U.S. State Department sources.

The funds will be returned to travelers if they leave the U.S. in accordance with the terms of their visas, based on an Aug. 5 notice on the Federal Register.

A bond of $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 may make the process of applying for B-1 and B-2 visas to visit Guam or other U.S. soil unaffordable or less attractive for many.

Lujan wrote the bond could have a chilling effect on visitor volumes from the Philippines, further harming Guams ongoing recovery from pandemic-era economic shocks.

Officials with the Guam Visitors Bureau and Guam Economic Development Authority are looking into potential impacts of the bonds but based on preliminary indications the majority of Guams target markets will remain unaffected, Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the governors director of communications said on Wednesday.

On Friday she said she would follow up with the agencies on any new information gathered.

Paco-San Agustin said the primary concern is the impact to the Philippine market as it is not covered under the U.S. or Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and could potentially impede travel.

Lujan again reiterated previous requests made to include the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program, to supplement Guams arrival numbers.

He said the federal government has shared concerns on the overstay of travelers from the Philippines into the mainland U.S., but a 2023 report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed a 3.11% overstay rate.

While it is concerning, it is still relatively low statistic by global standards. We are also reminding the federal government that this is an inclusion into the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program, hence they can only enter one of the two territories without a visa and not a state, and Guam has experienced a very minimal to none overstay problem from Philippine nationals, Lujan said.

He added that Guam is outside the U.S. Customs Zone and every traveler regardless of passport has to clear Customs when they get to Hawaii or the mainland U.S.

The onus on ensuring such visitors dont enter the mainland illegally is on the federal government, Lujan said.

The senator said including the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program could bring in a sizeable market of visitors. Guam continues to struggle with lower tourist numbers from Japan and Korea.

Lujan is also requesting the departments to formally consult with GVB, Guam Department of Labor and the governors office prior to any expansion of the visa bond program to new countries.

Our work has only started, and while we understand the current climate on immigration on a national front, we will continue to advocate and educate, so we can eventually see this into fruition. It wont be easy, but it needs to be done," Lujan said.




Haiti - FLASH : USA in favor the UN to send a mission to Haiti to fight gangs





The White House will propose to the UN Security Council that the United Nations (UN) send a "security mission" to Haiti, whose primary objective would be to combat the criminal organizations that control 80% of Haitian territory.



However, this initiative, whose the form is unknown, requires that China and Russia refrain from exercising their veto power in the Security Council in order to obtain ratification of a resolution. This outcome remains uncertain but not impossible in the current global context.



On Thursday, August 7, Jimmy Cherizier, leader of the most powerful coalition of criminal gangs known as "Viv Ansanm," classified as a foreign terrorist organization www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44822-haiti-politic-us-designates-viv-ansanm-and-gran-grif-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-official.html , threatened to overthrow the interim Haitian government by force if the Transitional Presidential Council did not resign https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45504-haiti-news-zapping.html



"Haiti has reached a turning point where it can no longer hold on. The country has reached a point where total anarchy reigns," declared Cherizier, whose coalition is materially responsible for most of the murders, rapes, torture, and kidnappings in Haiti. He concluded his video lauching a call "Haitian people, join us in the battle. Freedom or death." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45504-haiti-news-zapping.html



The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) indicated in an official report that 1,520 people were killed and 609 others injured in the last three months of 2025 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45478-haiti-flash-one-haitian-killed-or-injured-every-hour.html



Secretary of State Marco Rubio is aware of the situation in Haiti and the geopolitical implications of its institutional crisis. The United States is experiencing a constant flow of illegal migrants, and its territory has become a hub for illicit activities related to drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, and smuggling.



The Republican administration analyzed various variables to find a solution to the political crisis that has placed Haiti in the hands of criminal organizations, and the Secretary of State concluded that the United Nations was the only solution to the social and political situation in Haiti, which is deteriorating daily.



TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Drone and weapon discovered in a package

On Friday, August 8, 2025, during a package inspection at Cargo Mesdhasa, customs officers seized a drone, three magazines for 9mm pistols, one magazine for a 7.62mm assault rifle, and one bolt for a Taurus 9mm pistol.



Brazil : 30 Special Forces Police Officers in Training

On Friday, August 8, 2025, 30 Haitian special forces police officers (24 men and 6 women) began intensive training at the Brazilian National Police Academy, supervised by the prestigious Tactical Operations Command (COT) of the Brazilian Federal Police.



Laurent Saint-Cyr at work

Laurent Saint-Cyr, the new President pro tempore of the Transitional Council, has already begun meeting with various stakeholders to lead Haiti on the path to elections, according to presidential spokesperson Jacques Ambroise.



OAVCT : Important Notice

In a press release published on August 6, 2025, the Office of Third-Party Vehicle Insurance (OAVCT) informs that insurance documents bearing the words "Vignette a demander" (Sticker to be claimed) are fully valid. This type of policy constitutes temporary proof of subscription, pending the issuance of the definitive sticker. An official seal affixed to the back of these documents attests to their authenticity. The institution asks police authorities not to sanction users who comply with the rules.



CAS accuses certain actors of manipulation

The Social Assistance Fund (CAS) has rejected information from the Haitian National Police (PNH) that checks found in a hotel in Delmas 40 B were linked to former Senator Nenel Cassy https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45504-haiti-news-zapping.html In a note published on August 6, 2025, the CAS explains that these checks shown by the PNH were in a temporary office set up after the fire at its headquarters. It accuses certain actors of trying to manipulate public opinion.



FAES : Training to Resolve Conflicts

The Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) has initiated five cycles of socio-emotional training for fifty teams from the Arniquet, Port-Salut, and Saint Jean du Sud areas. Composed of 21 participants each, for a total of 1,050 people, they are invited to complete a program designed to provide them with tools to better manage and resolve conflicts. The beneficiaries of this initiative, carried out thanks to the expertise of the Association of Volunteers for International Service (AVSI), reside in the three locations where the HA-J0005 program, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has already enabled several projects to be carried out. To date, 21 teams have completed this training.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















GUANGZHOU, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- New cases of Chikungunya fever in Foshan, a city in south China's Guangdong Province, have continued to decline thanks to a series of targeted prevention measures, municipal authorities said on Saturday.

For the past five days, the city has recorded fewer than 200 new cases each day, signaling early containment success, Wen Xi, the city's vice mayor, told a press conference.

No severe cases or fatalities have been reported to date, and more than 90 percent of all cases have recovered, Wen noted.

Recent efforts have focused on patient treatment, mosquito control and environmental cleanup. Specific measures include the targeted elimination of mosquito breeding grounds, the drainage of stagnant water and the extermination of adult mosquitoes. Disinfection work has been carried out in villages and neighborhoods that have reported high case numbers.

Despite the progress, authorities warn that challenges remain. Heavy rainfall during the annual flood season, coupled with typhoons, can boost mosquito activity and increase the risk of Chikungunya transmission.

"We will continue to promote public health campaigns, remove breeding sites and maintain strong mosquito control measures to consolidate the results achieved so far," Wen said.

Chikungunya fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the Chikungunya virus, which presents in clinical symptoms such as fever, rashes and joint pains. The virus is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. 
The state media authorities want to force financial service providers to refuse payments to erotic portals such as Pornhub and Youporn  including payments from adults. The legal basis for this is the new Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media (JMStV).

Anzeige

The chairman of the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM), Marc Jan Eumann, explained this to the Evangelischer Pressedienst (epd). "Only if the porn providers lose reach and revenue can we get them to give in when it comes to the protection of minors in the media," said Eumann, explaining the financial blocks. The state media watchdogs have been taking action against porn sites for five years.

This is based on an enforceable injunction issued in June 2020 by the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LfM) against the platform operator Aylo, which is based in Cyprus, to ensure the protection of minors with stricter age controls. As a result, several media authorities issued blocking orders in 2024. The method of choice is to manipulate the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS).

New measures against mirror domains

Meanwhile, three administrative courts and two higher administrative courts have rejected urgent applications by Aylo to temporarily suspend the DNS blockades and declared the orders to be immediately enforceable. The Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Administrative Court (OVG) recently confirmed that access to Pornhub and Youporn via the provider 1&1 should remain blocked for now. DNS blocks are easy for end users to circumvent. Technical tricks also help the operator to keep the portals accessible in Germany.

Until now, providers have often used so-called mirror domains to circumvent blockades, says Eumann. These differ only slightly from the original address. The director of the Rhineland-Palatinate Media Authority emphasizes that the amended JMStV will also make it easier for regulators to take action against this. The highly controversial amendment, which prescribes general porn filters at operating system level, is currently being discussed in the state parliaments and is due to come into force on December 1. Eumann told epd that studies have shown that pornography is more harmful to minors than, for example, non-sexually motivated depictions of violence in a TV thriller.

(ds)

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.
In the first six months of 2025, authorities seized peukku 354 times. The corresponding figure for the same period in 2024 was just 41. The 763 percent increase was confirmed by the Helsinki Police Department in a statement released on Friday.

Police in Helsinki have reported a sharp rise in drug-related offences involving alpha-PVP, a synthetic stimulant commonly known as peukku, with seizures growing by over 700 percent this year compared to 2024. The surge marks a new record for the city.

While the number of seizures has risen for nearly all common illicit substances, alpha-PVP stands out in the statistics. Only amphetamine-related seizures have declined slightly.

Kimmo Sainio, Chief Inspector at Helsinki Police, said alpha-PVP is being trafficked primarily from the Baltic countries by foreign organised crime groups.

Our investigations indicate that the substance is produced abroad and smuggled into Finland with the support of structured criminal networks, Sainio said.

He added that criminal networks linked to Swedish and Albanian groups remain central to Finlands drug trafficking routes, particularly for cocaine and amphetamines.

Drug-related disorder has become increasingly visible in public areas. Police report that calls to address disturbances tied to substance use have doubled compared to the first half of 2024. Most complaints stem from central locations such as Kurvi, Itakeskus, and Kontula, where law enforcement has increased patrols.

Hanna Kiiskinen, Chief Superintendent, said officers are responding to growing safety concerns.

Disruptive behaviour is increasingly concentrated in certain hotspots, and we have intensified monitoring in those areas, she said.

According to police data, drug users with multiple dependencies are spending between 3,000 and 6,000 a month on substances. The demand is fuelling property crime, fraud, robbery, and drug dealing.

Sainio warned that the financial pressure on users contributes to broader criminality.

Many fund their use through theft and fraud. Young women, in particular, are at risk of being exposed to sexual crimes while seeking out drugs, he said.

Reported crime across Helsinki has risen 9 percent in the first half of the year. Theft offences have seen the sharpest increase, up 54 percent compared to the same period last year. Police say many of these incidents have become more aggressive, leading to a rise in threatening situations for shop staff and customers.

The latest figures come ahead of the release of the citys full urban safety report, based on data collected at the turn of 20242025.

HT
Speaking to STT on Wednesday, Niemela confirmed that work on compiling proposed spending cuts only began last Friday, following a request from Finance Minister Purra. The governments 1 billion savings target had not yet taken form when the June draft was completed.

The June budget draft prepared by Finlands Ministry of Finance did not include any of Riikka Purra s savings proposals , according to the Ministrys Budget Director Mika Niemela .

At that point, it was just the first items on paper, Niemela said.

He added that the full savings package has since been developed through close coordination between the minister, her staff, and Ministry officials. No separate civil service draft was produced for the proposal.

The clarification comes amid growing public and political interest in the scope and timing of the cost-cutting measures outlined by Minister Purra during preliminary budget talks in August. The proposals include major structural changes such as freezing university funding, abolishing Finlands refugee quota programme, and dissolving the Finnish National Agency for Education.

HT
The proposal, announced on Wednesday as part of Purras 2026 draft budget plan, would see the agencys functions transferred to the Ministry of Education and Culture. The move would end OPHs status as an independent expert body.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra has proposed dismantling Finlands National Agency for Education , triggering concern over the future independence of school curriculum development and the role of political influence in education policy.

It was a complete surprise, and a bit of a shock, said Minna Kelha, Director General of OPH. Especially since a major consolidation of education administration is already in progress, approved by Parliament just before the summer break.

That restructuring project aims to reduce the number of education agencies from ten to five by early 2026, a plan Kelha said is already designed to deliver administrative savings.

OPH currently holds a central role in Finlands education system, responsible for preparing national curricula and providing expert guidance. Its independence from political control has long been seen as a safeguard against shifting party agendas.

Transferring all legislative preparation, implementation, and development under one political ministry would inevitably have an effect, Kelha said.

The move comes amid repeated criticism of OPH from within Purras own party. In June, seven MPs from the Finns Party, including deputy chair Teemu Keskisarja, accused the agency of promoting woke ideology through its public materials.

Their joint statement condemned the use of terms such as anti-racism, microaggressions, white normativity, and cisnormativity on OPHs website, calling it intersectional pseudo-information and claiming it damaged the agencys credibility.

It cannot be that the leading expert agency in Finnish education is producing such fashionable nonsense, the MPs said.

Joakim Vigelius, another deputy chair, told Yle's Ykkosaamu programme on Thursday that OPH had overstepped its role by issuing guidelines that limit teachers' freedom to design lessons.

Teachers in Finland have wide autonomy, but OPH has tried to interfere with how they teach, Vigelius said, without citing specific examples.

He also accused the agency of failing to address declining academic performance and the overuse of smartphones in classrooms.

Over the last 1020 years, learning environments have become worse. OPH should have been responsible for improving them, Vigelius said.

While Purras draft budget frames the closure of OPH as part of a wider effort to find 1 billion in state savings, Kelha said the agencys removal is unlikely to make a financial difference.

If OPHs services are still expected to be delivered, even under a new structure, then this wont result in significant savings, she said.

Kelha also questioned the timing of the move, given that the agency consolidation process is already under way and set to take effect at the start of 2026.

Were just beginning that transition, so it seems unreasonable to start over with a new change in the same timeframe, she said.

So far, OPH has received no official details on the reasoning behind the proposal or what practical changes it would bring. Without further information, Kelha said it remains unclear how such a move would be implemented, or justified.

HT
The For the Cause of Justice medal was presented by Justice Minister Nguyen Hai Ninh at a ceremony held on 6 August at the Ministry of Justice headquarters in Hanoi.

Vietnam has awarded its highest legal distinction to Keijo Norvanto , Finlands Ambassador to Vietnam, in recognition of his contributions to strengthening legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries.

The minister praised Norvanto and the Finnish Embassy for their role in building closer ties between the two ministries of justice, noting the ambassadors active involvement in promoting institutional cooperation and long-term legal partnerships.

Ambassador Norvanto and his colleagues have played an important role in consolidating legal and judicial relations between Vietnam and Finland, Nguyen said.

Vietnam is currently undertaking wide-ranging legal reforms as part of its national development strategy. These include institutional modernisation, technological innovation, and the digital transformation of public services, all of which depend on legal structures that ensure transparency, fairness and democratic accountability.

Minister Nguyen referenced Politburo Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW, which sets a target for Vietnam to establish a cohesive and equitable legal system by 2030. He said Finlands experience offers a valuable model for Vietnams reform efforts.

He also called for continued legal collaboration, proposing early negotiations for a memorandum of understanding between the two justice ministries. He noted the potential for stronger academic and institutional cooperation, specifically mentioning the Rule of Law Centre at the University of Helsinki.

Ambassador Norvanto thanked the Ministry for the honour and reaffirmed Finlands commitment to supporting Vietnams legal reforms. He said digital transformation would remain a key theme in future cooperation.

Norvanto also expressed confidence that his successor would continue to advance bilateral ties and deepen cooperation between legal institutions in both countries.

HT
China's marriage uptick raises hopes for higher birthrate

Xinhua) 11:46, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's marriage registry offices were busier than usual this year, with nearly 3.54 million couples tying the knot in the first half of 2025, a notable increase of 109,000 compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

China recorded 6.106 million marriage registrations throughout 2024, down 20.5 percent year-on-year. The unexpected rebound in marriages this year has sparked optimism that China's recent pro-marriage and pro-childbirth policies appear to be gaining traction.

One landmark reform, piloted in 2021 and implemented nationwide this May, allows couples to get married anywhere in the country without presenting their household registration booklet, or hukou, ending a decades-old restriction that required people to register their marriage in their hometowns.

On the very first day the new rule took effect, Mao Yuanjing, a marriage registrar in Guiyang in southwest China's Guizhou Province, had her hands full. She processed marriage registrations for more than 70 couples, with over 60 pairs showing up with their ID cards. The buzz didn't stop there as her phone kept ringing with calls from would-be newlyweds eager to confirm the details of the policy change.

The relaxed regulation has not only simplified the paperwork but also freed young couples from the old hometown-bound hassle. In some places, saying "I do" now comes wrapped in scenic backdrops and an extra layer of celebration.

Xinjiang's Sayram Lake scenic area, often dubbed a lovers' paradise, has rolled out a lifetime free entry policy for newlyweds who register their marriage there, while Urumqi offers on-site marriage registration services during music festivals. In Sichuan, a registry sits 3,250 meters above sea level on a snow-capped mountain, letting adventurous couples marry with breathtaking views.

The wedding vows are just the prologue. China has also ramped up family-friendly policies.

At least 28 provincial-level regions across the country now offer extended marriage leave. Shanxi and Gansu provide up to 30 days of marriage leave, with additional maternity and paternity benefits.

Meanwhile, measures aimed at easing the financial burden on families are also on the way. Last week, China introduced a nationwide child care subsidy program, which will provide families with an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about 504 U.S. dollars) for each child under the age of three starting from Jan. 1, 2025. The program is expected to benefit more than 20 million families every year.

"This marks China's first direct cash subsidies for all families with children, sending a clear message that raising children is a shared responsibility of the country, society and families," said Du Min, a researcher at the China Population and Development Research Center.

In addition, starting from the autumn semester of 2025, China will waive the care and education fees for children in public kindergartens in the year prior to entering primary school, and the policy is expected to cover 12 million children.

Twin boys of a mother surnamed Chang will start their final year of kindergarten in Beijing this September. Although the 900 yuan monthly fee at public kindergartens isn't high, having two children means the costs add up quickly, so saving on tuition makes a real difference, according to Chang.

"The policy means more than just financial relief, as it eases the stress and anxiety of raising children," she said. "What matters most is knowing that China is creating a truly child-friendly environment. The support measures will, hopefully, encourage more young couples to embrace parenthood."

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
A medical worker (L) measures blood pressure for a villager at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A medical worker measures blood pressure for a villager at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A villager (L) receives a meal at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

Volunteers (R) communicate with villagers at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A volunteer serves complimentary beef noodles at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A volunteer (R) delivers disaster relief supplies to a villager at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A cook prepares complimentary beef noodles at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

A villager calls to reassure her friend at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

Volunteers unload disaster relief supplies from a truck at a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

This photo taken on Aug. 9, 2025 shows a school-turned temporary resettlement site in Gaoya Township of Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province.

The temporary resettlement site has received more than 170 villagers from Maliantan Village, providing dormitories, bedding, meals, drinking water, medicine and other necessities to support the life of flood-influenced villagers.

Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)
LONDON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The China National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra launched its first multi-nation European tour in Britain this week, presenting two concerts and a cultural exchange event from Wednesday to Friday that attracted thousands of music lovers.

On Friday night, the concert at Saffron Hall in Essex, eastern England -- the last stop on the orchestra's British tour -- attracted more than 600 audience members, many eager to seize their final chance to hear one of China's leading music ensembles.

As the final notes of composer Chen Qigang's "Wu Xing" (The Five Elements) lingered in the air, applause and cheers erupted throughout the hall. Angela Dixon, director of Saffron Hall, said she was honored to host the Chinese orchestra.

Wednesday night's concert, a highlight of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, drew an audience of about 2,000 in Edinburgh. Alongside landmark Chinese symphonic works, the orchestra collaborated with musicians from across the world.

"In both our ensemble makeup and repertoire, this tour reflects our philosophy of being 'rooted in China, embracing the world,'" Ren Xiaolong, general manager of the NCPA Orchestra, told Xinhua Wednesday before the start of the orchestra's first concert in Edinburgh.

"We should learn more about Chinese music and, through it, gain insight into Chinese culture," said Henry Ross, an Edinburgh resident.

"Through our performances, we are telling Chinese stories and conveying the Chinese voice in a vivid and emotional way, allowing audiences worldwide to experience the charm of Chinese culture," said Zhao Haiying, vice president of the NCPA.

On Thursday, orchestra members performed an octet at Edinburgh, blending pieces from China and other countries to promote cultural exchanges.

Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh, welcomed the Chinese artists and expressed hope to host more NCPA Orchestra members in the future.

Following Britain, the orchestra will tour Spain and Germany, with another cultural exchange event planned in Frankfurt.

"We hope this tour will bring Chinese art and culture to Europe, allowing local audiences to experience the skill and artistry of the Chinese orchestra performers," said Wang Ning, president of the NCPA. 
Zhen Rui gives interpretation for visitors at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 7, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui (1st R) gives interpretation for visitors at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 7, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

A tourist visits the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 7, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui looks over the books at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui (1st L) reads a book at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui practices vocal exercises before work at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui, representing Wuxiang County, attends an interpretation skill demonstration event in Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, July 11, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua)

Zhen Rui (C) discusses with her colleagues at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui poses for a photo at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui looks at the pictures displayed at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 8, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui gives a lecture to students and teachers from a school at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 21, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua)

Zhen Rui practices for interpretation work at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 7, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Zhen Rui (2nd R) checks the feedback comments from visitors with volunteers after interpretation work at the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County of Changzhi City, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 7, 2025. The Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army is located in Wuxiang County, the former site of China's Eighth Route Army Headquarters during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhen Rui, a "post-2000" girl born in an old revolutionary base area of Lucheng in Shanxi, has worked as a docent at the museum since graduating from college in 2023.

Zhen has spent her spare time memorizing and studying a wealth of literature to expand her knowledge. As the youngest of the museum's 22 docents, she has actively sought guidance from senior docents and has striven to innovate her interpretation style. Zhen has achieved excellent results in local interpretation skill competitions.

During two years of work, Zhen has received over ten thousand visitors. In addition to giving interpretation at the museum, she has also visited schools and rural areas to share the stories of revolutionary history. Zhen Rui said her goal is to help more people to understand history and to cherish the hard-won happiness nowadays. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)
Crew members of China's "HYSY 295" trenching vessel are pictured near the vessel at Muara Port in Brunei, Aug. 8, 2025. Designed and built in China, the "HYSY 295" trenching vessel is launching its first engineering project mission in Brunei. (Xinhua/Li Meng)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- "Designed and built in China, this vessel is launching its first engineering project mission in Brunei," Qiao Baoxin, captain of China's "HYSY 295" trenching vessel, told Xinhua on Friday.

The Chinese vessel, distinguished by its large helicopter deck and towering crane, was making final preparations for offshore operations at Brunei's Muara Port on Friday. The project's primary task involves replacing subsea pipelines for a leading energy company in Brunei.

"Such projects demand the highest international standards. We're honored to execute this project and proud to contribute to Brunei-China cooperation, while fully recognizing our responsibilities," said Li Jiannan, project manager of China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC).

COOEC, a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) with nearly 10,000 employees, has executed engineering projects in over 20 countries and regions globally. The company has established strong cooperative relationships with global leaders in the oil and gas industry.

Brunei is a Southeast Asian country blessed with rich oil and gas reserves. The Sultanate maintains strong ties with China, fostering comprehensive collaboration across various sectors. 

Qiao Baoxin (L), captain of China's "HYSY 295" trenching vessel, and a crew member inspect the underwater work robot on the vessel at Muara Port in Brunei, Aug. 8, 2025. Designed and built in China, the "HYSY 295" trenching vessel is launching its first engineering project mission in Brunei. (Xinhua/Li Meng)

Crew members of China's "HYSY 295" trenching vessel inspect the equipment on the vessel at Muara Port in Brunei, Aug. 8, 2025. Designed and built in China, the "HYSY 295" trenching vessel is launching its first engineering project mission in Brunei. (Xinhua/Li Meng)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Gazan civilians enduring a heat wave say most basic daily tasks like finding food and water have become impossible, UN humanitarians reported Friday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Gazans are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction.

"Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs," OCHA said. "The United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza."

Aid missions continue to face significant delays. OCHA said that a mission on Thursday took 18 hours to complete.

Daytime temperatures in the Gaza Strip reached the low 30s Celsius on Thursday and Friday, with similar weather forecasts for the coming days.

In the southern part of the Gaza Strip, humanitarian partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that the South Gaza seawater desalination plant's electricity line was damaged on Thursday, the third time over the past seven days. As a result, the plant was operating at less than 14 percent of its capacity, said the office.

Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza over the past few days, OCHA has reported that its partners have noted a minor reduction in commodity prices, although most food items remain scarce in the market and are sold at exorbitant prices.

The office said that airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, reiterating that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road.

Aid must be "allowed to enter through all crossings and via all available corridors so that the UN and its partners can deliver it at scale in a safe and dignified manner through their community-based mechanisms, reaching the most vulnerable," the office said.

Also, a statement issued by Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Friday said that the secretary-general is gravely alarmed by the Israeli decision to "take control of Gaza City."

"This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including (those) of the remaining hostages," the statement said.

"The secretary-general warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza," it added. 
TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday welcomed a recent peace agreement between its northern neighbors, Azerbaijan and Armenia, while expressing concern about foreign interference near common borders.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry responded to the peace agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House in Washington on Friday, which marks the end of a decades-long border conflict.

It stated that Iran closely monitored the ongoing processes and developments in the South Caucasus region and was in contact with Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the developments.

"No doubt, peace and stability in the South Caucasus region are in the interest of all regional countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the finalization of the text of the peace agreement by the two countries and evaluates the development as an important step towards ensuring sustainable peace in the region," said the statement.

It stressed, "However, Iran voices its concern about the negative consequences of any foreign interference in any way or form, especially in proximity to common borders, that would compromise sustainable regional security and stability."

Iran also expressed its readiness to continue "constructive" cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual interests to ensure the region's peace, stability, and economic development through bilateral and regional cooperation.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, at loggerheads over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988, have been having peace talks since 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed on, despite sporadic clashes since then. 
WUHAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- To many Chinese, the Chishui River stirs memories of the Red Army's epic crossing during the Long March or the rich aroma of Moutai it has nurtured, but to fish ecologists, it is a living vault of ecological mysteries.

As the only major tributary in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River that still flows freely, the Chishui River has become a vital sanctuary and breeding ground for rare and endemic fish. Chinese scientists are using it as a natural laboratory to conduct research aimed at reviving the ecology of the Yangtze, China's longest river.

SANCTUARY FOR RARE FISH

Flowing through Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces in southwest China, the Chishui River runs freely, undammed along its main course.

Since the 1990s, researchers from the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have been stationed along its banks, surveying, monitoring and breeding fish. Their work has yielded an unrivalled chronicle of the river's biodiversity.

More than 160 fish species inhabit the Chishui, over 40 of which are rare and endemic to the upper Yangtze. With the hydropower development along the Yangtze's main stem and many of its large tributaries, the Chishui River's role as a "refuge" for rare fish has become increasingly vital.

Liu Fei, born in 1984 far from any great river, first joined an IHB research team on the Chishui as a senior university student in 2008. That experience changed him, sparking a lifelong commitment to protecting the Yangtze. Today, as an associate researcher at IHB, he has spent 17 years conducting continuous scientific monitoring along the Chishui's free-flowing waters.

The monitoring data from Liu's first decade in the field painted a sobering picture. Compared to historical records, large and medium-sized fish were shrinking from the catch, while populations of some endemic species were declining year after year.

Following strong appeals from scientists, a "10-year fishing ban" was implemented on the Chishui River starting January 1, 2017.

The impact was immediate. Catch per unit effort nearly tripled, biomass surged, and the ecosystem grew in maturity and stability. Rare species increased from seven to nine, while 11 species, including the Yangtze sturgeon and eel, reappeared after years of absence, according to Liu Huanzhang, director of the IHB's Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization Laboratory and head of the Chishui River research station.

The fishing ban was just the first step. Unregulated small hydropower stations on the Chishui's tributaries had once caused riverbeds to dry up and habitats to fragment. In 2020, a "dam removal campaign" was launched.

Liu Fei's team inspected 373 small dams one by one, prioritizing removals based on the ecological needs of rare fish and local demands for drinking water and irrigation.

By the end of 2024, over 320 small dams had been dismantled. In addition, researchers and conservation authorities adopted nature-like restoration techniques to create diverse habitats for fish with different ecological requirements.

For species like the Yangtze sturgeon, recovery remained slow. Relying on the river's excellent water quality, the team conducted natural breeding experiments.

"Since around 2000, no natural reproduction of the Yangtze sturgeons had been recorded," Liu said.

"We modified the Chishui's natural riverbed, and in April this year, the sturgeons finally spawned and hatched successfully. This marks a critical step toward restoring their wild population," Liu added.

Liu Huanzhang said that the Yangtze sturgeon experiment also provided valuable insights for the assisted reproduction of more endangered species, like the Chinese sturgeon and other species.

RECUPERATING YANGTZE

The Chishui's comprehensive, long-term datasets, breeding experiments and fluvial-ecology insights now underpin restoration strategies for the entire Yangtze.

Hu Wei, deputy director of IHB, pointed out that since the turn of the century, the Yangtze's ecological environment has deteriorated sharply. Rare aquatic species like the Baiji dolphin and Chinese paddlefish have been declared functionally extinct, while the Chinese sturgeon and finless porpoise are critically endangered. Populations of the four major domestic fish have also declined drastically.

IHB-led surveys of the Yangtze finless porpoise show its numbers plummeted from about 1,800 in 2006 to just 1,000 in 2012, making it even rarer than the giant panda. Without timely and effective conservation measures, the species could vanish from the wild within 15 years. Overfishing is the primary culprit, Hu said.

As early as 2006, CAS academician Cao Wenxuan, with the IHB, first called for a 10-year fishing ban for the Yangtze, a pivotal policy that later materialized.

Liu Huanzhang explained that the traditional three or four-month seasonal bans only postponed inevitable overfishing once they ended. A decade-long ban, covering two to three generations of key species, provides a real opportunity for lasting recovery.

On January 1, 2020, the Yangtze River 10-year fishing ban took effect.

IHB established 10 field stations covering key Yangtze habitats. It also maintains the longest and most comprehensive aquatic biodiversity database for the river, and has developed advanced smart monitoring systems.

Hu noted that the fishing ban has now reached a crucial midpoint. Monitoring data from 2021 to 2024 recorded 344 native fish species in the Yangtze basin, 36 more than before the ban. In the Yichang section of the middle Yangtze, the spawning biomass of four major native fish species has nearly doubled each year, rising 1.97-fold annually.

SAVING "GIANT PANDA OF THE WATER"

In an aquarium named after the Baiji dolphin at IHB in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, visitors can only see preserved specimens of the Baiji, a species declared functionally extinct in 2007, leaving a deep regret felt by people worldwide.

"The Yangtze was once home to two cetacean species: the Baiji and the Yangtze finless porpoise. Now, this facility is dedicated to protecting the latter," explained Zheng Jinsong, head of IHB's cetacean conservation biology research group.

The Yangtze finless porpoise, dubbed the "giant panda of the water," is the ecological barometer of the Yangtze and its population mirrors the health of the river.

Wang Kexiong, a researcher with IHB's cetacean conservation biology group, recalled, "In the 1990s, Yangtze finless porpoises were still common, and our attention was focused on the Baiji. But by 2006, their numbers had plummeted, falling to just 1,012 by 2017. Sand mining, illegal fishing, pollution, heavy shipping and habitat loss were the main culprits."

Facing this crisis, IHB established an integrated protection system combining in-situ conservation, ex-situ conservation and captive breeding research.

Zheng noted that the aquarium currently houses 12 finless porpoises, five of which were born in captivity, including second-generation births. New calves arrive almost every other year since 2018.

Ten nature reserves protect the species in the wild, supported by regular monitoring and targeted habitat restoration.

"China conducts a finless porpoise population survey every five years. The 2022 survey recorded 1,249, increasing over 200 since 2017. This marks the first recorded increase, a historic milestone. This rebound would have been impossible without the 10-year fishing ban," Wang said.

As early as the 1980s, witnessing the Yangtze's ecological decline, Chinese scientists feared the finless porpoise might follow the Baiji into extinction. They proposed an innovative approach of ex-situ conservation in the Yangtze oxbow lakes, which are old river channels formed by natural course changes. Although met with skepticism internationally because no successful precedent existed for cetacean ex-situ conservation, Chinese scientists persisted and ultimately succeeded.

Of the four ex-situ conservation sites, the Tian'ezhou oxbow in Shishou, Hubei Province, stands out. This lake, formed by a Yangtze course shift, has seen its porpoise population grow from four in 1996 to about 100 in 2021.

As ex-situ populations thrived and approached their environmental capacity, scientists began a new effort to reintroduce them into the Yangtze's mainstream.

"With the Yangtze's improving environment and recovering fish stocks, we're confident about returning ex-situ finless porpoises to their natural home. They belong in the Yangtze," Wang said.

Scientists chose Laowan, an oxbow in the Xinluo section of the Yangtze, as China's first finless porpoise rewilding base.

"Ex-situ conservation sites resemble lakes with calm waters, but the water flow in the Yangtze is complex. Laowan's seasonal water level changes mimic the Yangtze's main stem. Porpoises here learn to navigate currents and hunt in running water. We even simulate ship noises to acclimate them," Zheng said.

In April 2023, two porpoises trained in this base were released into the Yangtze's main stream near Laowan. Three months of monitoring showed their successful integration into a wild group. At the same time, another two porpoises were released into the Shishou section of the Yangtze, after five months of rewilding training at Jiaozi River, a small branch of the Yangtze River, near the Tian'ezhou oxbow. Currently, three more porpoises are undergoing training in the Laowan oxbow, slated for release later this year.

"We hope the reintroduced porpoises can aid wild population recovery in the Yangtze," Zheng said.

China's success in finless porpoise ex-situ conservation has reversed international skepticism. This innovation stands as the world's first successful case of small cetacean ex-situ conservation, offering Chinese wisdom and a Chinese model for global conservation efforts.

In June 2025, 19 officials and cetacean experts from five Southeast Asian countries visited IHB to study the Yangtze experience, seeking solutions for the critically endangered Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin while exploring opportunities for international collaboration on cetacean conservation. 
TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday strongly condemned Israel's plan to take over Gaza City.

He made the remarks in a statement released by the ministry a few hours after Israel announced on Friday that its Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City.

Baghaei said the plan for the military occupation of Gaza City and forced displacement of its citizens "is a plot to complete the genocide against the Palestinian nation."

He said the "criminal" Israeli leaders' threat to completely occupy Gaza is further a "proof of Israel's specific intent to carry out ethnic cleansing in Gaza and genocide against Palestinians," which should be considered by the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Baghaei highlighted the legal and moral responsibility of each government and the United Nations to stop the "genocide and heinous crimes that are being perpetrated in the occupied Palestinian territories," and criticized the United States and certain other Western countries for continued complicity in Israel's "crimes."

Baghaei urged an end to the catastrophe in Gaza and collective actions by Muslim countries in support of the Palestinian people. 
BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood-control emergency response on Saturday for five provincial-level regions, as heavy to torrential rains are predicted to sweep across vast parts of the country in the coming days.

From Aug. 9 to 11, intense rainfall is expected to batter Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Anhui, and Gansu, where the alert was already in place, with some areas facing extreme downpours.

The downpours may cause sharp water level rises in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, while some small and medium-sized rivers in high-risk areas could exceed warning levels.

The ministry has urged local authorities to step up real-time monitoring of rainfall and river conditions, issue timely public alerts, and enhance urban waterlogging-prevention measures.

Special emphasis should be placed on mitigating risks in smaller rivers and ensuring early evacuations of residents in dangerous areas, according to the ministry.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Saturday initiated a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in the provincial-level regions of Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Chongqing.

The headquarters' office has dispatched work teams to Anhui and Hubei to assist and guide flood control efforts, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

On Saturday evening, the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued an orange alert for mountain torrents in parts of Henan, Hubei and Sichuan from Saturday night to Sunday night, noting that such disasters could also occur in other regions due to heavy rainfalls and urging local authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring, flood prevention alerts and precautionary evacuations.

China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. 
WELLINGTON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australian leaders announced Saturday a partnership between their national standards agencies, designed to further ease trade and strengthen economic ties.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New Zealand's Queenstown for their annual leaders' meeting.

According to the New Zealand government statement, the agreement aims to harmonize product and service standards, streamlining trade across the Tasman, reducing costs for businesses, and supporting economic growth in both countries.

"We discussed the shared challenges facing the New Zealand and Australian economies and the opportunities we have to work together," Luxon said, noting the synergy between New Zealand's "Going for Growth" agenda and Australia's productivity priorities.

The Queenstown meeting marks the beginning of a series of high-level trans-Tasman economic meetings, including the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum in Canberra, Australia's capital, in September. This will be followed later this year by the Climate and Finance Ministers' meeting and the Closer Economic Relations Trade Ministers' meeting. 
China urges objective, rational view of its defense cooperation with Russia

Xinhua) 11:47, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Friday called on relevant parties to view defense cooperation between China and Russia objectively and rationally, noting that this cooperation does not target any third party.

Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a question about China's view on certain countries repeatedly dispatching aircraft and ships to the vicinity of Chinese and Russian task forces during their Joint Sea 2025 exercise. Some analysts have suggested the joint exercise was targeted at third parties.

"The Joint Sea exercise is an institutionalized cooperation program between the Chinese and Russian navies. Since its inception in 2012, the exercise has been held 10 times and has become a key platform for China-Russia military cooperation," Jiang said.

He added that task groups from both sides have completed work related to planned subjects, including joint air defense, counter-sea and anti-submarine operations, and have transitioned to a joint maritime patrol.

"China and Russia adhere to non-alliance and non-confrontation principles, and do not target any third party in their development of bilateral and military relations. Together, they play an important role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability," Jiang said.

"We hope relevant parties will view defense cooperation between China and Russia objectively and rationally, and cease making groundless speculations and spreading slander," he added.

From Aug. 1 to 5, the Chinese and Russian navies held a joint sea-and-air exercise near Vladivostok, Russia.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
LISBON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Bernardo Mendia, secretary-general of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry has criticized U.S. tariff policy, saying it marks another step in a worrying trend toward fragmentation of global trade.

These tariffs, which heavily penalize European exporters, including Portuguese businesses, are "particularly asymmetrical" as they were imposed unilaterally by Washington, Mendia has said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

For Portugal, the impact will be felt mainly along value chains where the country serves as an indirect supplier to European industrial sectors such as automobiles and machinery. Those sectors will now face higher costs when accessing the U.S. market, he said.

For Europe as a whole, the move delivers a blow to its strategic autonomy and undermines the credibility of a common trade policy, he noted.

According to final data released Friday by Portugal's National Statistics Institute (INE), Portuguese exports to the United States plunged 39.4 percent year on year in June to 338 million euros (394 million U.S. dollars). The drop came amid market anticipation of tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

On a quarterly basis, exports to the U.S. in the quarter ending June dropped 13.9 percent to 1.22 billion euros from 1.42 billion euros a year earlier.

Mendia said what is even more concerning is the geopolitical backdrop, in which the United States, rather than promoting multilateral cooperation, has chosen protectionist measures with extraterritorial effects, exerting pressure on both allies and competitors.

By contrast, he added, the Chinese market offers expanding opportunities for European companies in trade and investment, especially in areas such as the energy transition, technological innovation, and the digital economy. "The global trend should be toward building bridges and diversifying relationships, not erecting barriers that only fuel tensions," he said.

Mendia stressed that the tariffs run counter to the global development priorities of balanced interdependence, economic sustainability, and inclusive growth driven by multiple centers. As a country committed to openness and multilateralism, Portugal will continue to defend a fairer and more predictable international trading system, he said.

In July, Portugal took part for the first time as a national delegation in the China International Supply Chain Expo, seeking to expand supply chain partnerships with China.

Heading the delegation, Mendia said he was pleased with the results, noting that amid unprecedented pressure on global supply chains, promoting cooperation, dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the removal of trade obstacles is vital.

The expo, he said, provides a constructive platform for deepening cooperation in business, economy, commerce, technology, and logistics, which ultimately benefits all participants, especially end consumers.

(1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollars) 
MAPUTO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique has inaugurated its first forensic DNA laboratory in the national capital of Maputo, which is expected to enhance the country's capacity to solve crimes and paternity disputes, said an official from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC).

During the inauguration ceremony on Friday, Director General of SERNIC Nelson Rego said the laboratory will enable authorities to analyze and process genetic material to identify individuals, establish links between crime scenes and victims, and clarify complex cases.

"The laboratory will allow us to collect and analyze biological material, including saliva, blood, and hair analysis, and the results will help the judiciary, particularly the Public Prosecutor's Office, as well as the courts, in clarifying crimes in criminal investigations," he said.

"With the launch of this laboratory, it becomes possible to resolve paternity evasion cases in the country," Rego added.

With a processing capacity of 200 samples per day, the laboratory was constructed with funding from the state budget, totaling approximately 150 million Mozambican meticais (about 2.35 million U.S. dollars). 
People gather to voice their support for Gaza in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 9, 2025. Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza. Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

ISTANBUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.

Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque.

They chanted slogans like "Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine," carried Palestinian flags, and held banners accusing Israel of starving Gaza and demanding accountability.

Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which Erdogan condemned Israel's decision to bring Gaza under full military control as "absolutely unacceptable."

According to a statement by the Turkish presidential office, Erdogan reiterated Turkiye's continued diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and its support for Palestine, welcomed European countries' rising call for Palestine's statehood, and noted growing criticism of Israel in the West.

At least 9,862 Palestinians have been killed and 40,809 injured since Israel renewed intensive strikes on March 18, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 61,369, with 152,850 wounded, Gaza-based health authorities said Saturday.

Eleven new deaths due to starvation and malnutrition were recorded in Gaza over the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll of that kind since October 2023 to 212, including 98 children, the authorities said.

On Friday, Israel announced that its Security Cabinet had approved a plan to take over Gaza City, which immediately drew condemnation both domestically and internationally, with critics arguing it violates international law, worsens the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and undermines efforts to reach a ceasefire. 

People march in a street to voice their support for Gaza in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 9, 2025. Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.

Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

People march in a street to voice their support for Gaza in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 9, 2025. Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.

Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

People gather to voice their support for Gaza in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 9, 2025. Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.

Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

People march in a street to voice their support for Gaza in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Aug. 9, 2025. Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.

Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni government forces repelled a large-scale offensive by the Houthi group in southern Yemen's Dhalea province on Saturday and killed three Houthi militants during the confrontation, a military official told Xinhua.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the Houthis used heavy artillery in an attempt to break through government defensive lines in the Bab Ghalaq area in northern Dhalea, triggering intense fighting between the group and government forces.

The fighting lasted for about an hour before the Houthis were forced to withdraw in disarray toward their positions, whereas the government forces maintained their defensive positions, said the official.

Apart from three fatalities, the group also suffered military equipment losses, said the official, adding that five government soldiers were injured during the fighting.

The Houthi group has yet to respond to the reported confrontation.

Yemen has remained in a fragile state of calm since the collapse of a UN-brokered truce at the end of 2022, with both sides failing to agree on its renewal or expansion.

The conflict, which began in late 2014, has killed hundreds of thousands and pushed millions to the brink of famine, according to UN estimates. 
BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Saturday dismissed the commanders of two Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) brigades and referred individuals involved in a July 27 attack on a Baghdad government office to the judiciary.

A committee investigating the attack found armed elements from the Kataib Hezbollah, affiliated with the PMF's 45th and 46th Brigades, responsible, said a statement by Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, a position held also by al-Sudani.

The elements acted "without orders or authorizations" and used weapons against security personnel, causing casualties among security forces and civilians, said the statement.

The investigation also implicated the government office's former director, previously dismissed for "administrative corruption, impersonation, forgery of official documents and certificates, and participation in the falsification of contracts," in coordinating with the attackers, said the statement.

"A leadership and control deficiency within the PMF" was also identified, it said, adding that al-Sudani approved the committee's recommendations, including dismissing the brigade commanders.

According to Iraqi security sources, the July 27 incident occurred as a newly-appointed director was assuming his duties in the office building of the Agriculture Ministry, leading to clashes between the attackers and security personnel that killed one security officer and one civilian, and injured eight other security personnel. 
Peregrine Falcon Nesting Season Complete

MONTPELIER, Vt.  Hikers and rock climbers can return to Vermont cliffs now that peregrine falcon nesting season has ended.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Audubon Vermont have confirmed that the majority of young falcons have learned to fly and should not be disturbed by human presence on the cliffs.

According to Audubon biologist Margaret Fowle, who coordinates the monitoring effort on behalf of the Fish and Wildlife Department, biologists and volunteers monitored peregrine pairs that occupied at least 40 Vermont cliffs in early spring and summer.

"The young peregrines have fledged, and many of Vermonts falcons had another successful year," she said, "The success is due to a combination of factors, including good weather and cooperation from hikers and rock climbers who observe a respectful distance from the nests during this critical period."

Fowle noted that peregrine nesting success would not be possible without the more than 45 volunteers who monitor the nest sites statewide from March to the end of July.

Vermont Fish and Wildlifes nongame bird biologist Jillian Kilborn, who works closely with Audubon partners, said "We greatly appreciate the time and effort volunteers put into monitoring the population this year. We thank landowners and recreationists for their cooperation in protecting nesting peregrines from human disturbance."

Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Audubon Vermont partner to monitor and protect peregrine nesting sites in Vermont. Peregrine falcons were removed from the states Threatened and Endangered Species List in 2005. Ongoing cooperation from recreationists and continued monitoring efforts by Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Audubon Vermont will help sustain the peregrines remarkable recovery into the future.
The Berkshire Art Center's North Street location offered a drop-in crochet circle for people to add to the countywide Berkshire Satellite Reef project. PreviousNext

Berkshires Creating with Crochet Coral Reef Project



Williams College professor Amy Holzapfel shows a student at the event how to crochet.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  More than a dozen people of all ages were crocheting colorful versions of coral out of yarn on Friday at the Berkshire Art Center's Gallery Shop on North Street.

Their creations will become part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef Project, which has attracted thousands of participants from around the world.

Williams College in Williamstown has been collaborating with community members and local organizations on artists Christine and Margaret Wertheims' international project that will become part of a life-size installation.

"What we're going to be doing is working with the campus and the community together to create a living and breathing reef that will be exhibited in the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance during Earth Week of April 2026," said Amy Holzapfel, Williams College Frederick Latimer Wells professor of theatre and chair at a Friday workshop in Pittsfield.

"It's going to be an immersive installation with sound and lights and people. Everyone who is an artist in the project, which means anyone who makes a coral or participates in some way, will be seeing their work exhibited as part of this beautiful exhibition."

In preparation for the exhibit, the college has been holding workshops on the first of every month at select locations, during which participants are given instructions and kits to create the Berkshires Satellite Reef.

Holzapfel and Art Center Executive Director Laura Dickstein Thompson have been friends for "forever," so when Holzapfel presented the opportunity to host crochet workshops, she jumped at the chance because it highlights the center's dedication to community and connecting through various artistic expressions.

The Stockbridge art school hopes to expand by offering exhibitions and artist residencies, and by bringing in an artist to re-envision the Pittsfield space, located at in the Brothership Building.

"For me, it is a way during our downtown celebration, First Friday, that we can bring in people into this space and to see what it's about. And you can see that they're all working together to make these little sculptural components through crochet that's going to be added to a larger project making a coral reef," said Thompson.

"Creativity is an innate language that we all hold, and it can restore faith in your own ability to express yourself and being your authentic self and sharing who you are and connecting with each other in a language, in a vocabulary, using your technology, if you will, that is about forging relationships in positive way."

No experience in crochet is necessary to participate in the workshops and there are a weekly crochet circles on Friday afternoons at the Milne Public Library in Williamstown and Friday evenings at the Berkshire Art Center in Stockbridge. Participants can also crochet at home by following the provided written or video instructions here.

Although beginners are welcome at the circles, formal instruction and materials are not guaranteed.

The materials used for the project have been upcycled or made of recyclable material, including plastic yarn, Holzapfel said. Learn how to donate yarn for the project here.

"It's not even so much about the product as about the active participation of anyone who wants to learn to crochet and participate. So, however many corals we make is beautiful," Holzapfel said.

"It's about bringing people together in a time when there's very few opportunities for community. For communities to come together and make and be part of something larger than themselves. It's giving people the chance to sit down with others, be in community learning a skill that hopefully they'll have for the rest of their lives."

The next workshop takes place on Monday, Sept. 1, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the '62 Center. More information here.

People are hungry for finding ways to share art, coming together, and spreading awareness about things that they care about, such as climate justice, Holzapfel said.

"It's about bringing attention to climate change, but it's also about gathering the public together to participate in a larger effort," she said.

The exhibit, Berkshire Satellite Reef, is one of many community art projects that has come out of the Crochet Coral Reef Project.

The Wertheims' Institute for Figuring develops physical activities to present abstract concepts in art forms, such plastics and the environment and trade relations.

The coral reef project intersects mathematics, handicraft, and environmentalism and aims to raise awareness about the decline of coral reefs because of global warming and ocean acidification, Margaret Wertheim told the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in 2013.

"It's a lovely project because it emerges from my sister Christine's realization that if you deviated from the pure, mathematically perfect hyperbolic structure, which is what [Cornell professor Daina Taimina] had worked out how to do  and start making the code a bit wonky, they immediately look more natural," she said.

Nature isnt mathematically perfect, Wertheim said.

"There's lots of things in nature that are spherical like but there's no such thing as a pure sphere in nature and so, there's no such thing as perfect hyperbolic structure in nature. Nature loves deviation, mutation," she said.

"Materials have qualities that introduce their own kinds of aberrancies into the mathematical ideal. So, once we started playing around with deviating the code, we began to have these things that really began to look like real coral structures."

Margaret and Christine, twins, started the project in 2005 because it was becoming evident to scientists that the "devastation of coral reefs" was happening globally due to global warming and rising sea temperatures, Margaret told the Ontario Science Centre in 2021.

When the project started it was "inconceivable" that we would live in a world without coral reefs.

"It was inconceivable that we could face a future without reefs, 16 years later, scientists are now warning that if we don't change our practices and see temperatures keep rising, coral reefs could be gone by the middle of this century, like in the next 20 or 30 years," she said.

During the Ontario presentation, Margaret explained how two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef had been devastated.

"The Great Barrier Reef  is the largest living organism on planet Earth. It's the first living thing as you approach Earth from outer spaceis the first living thing you can see. It's bigger than the Amazon rainforest, and yet, two thirds of it has been devastated," she said.

In 2024, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority concluded that "the overall outlook for the Great Barrier Reef remains one of future deterioration due largely to climate change  despite some habitats and species improving over the past five years thanks to windows of low disturbance and decades of protection and management."
Lisa Ake and Nik Rhodes co-owners with Josh and Emily Irwin in the reopened The Well Restaurant in Great Barrington.

The Well Restaurant & Bar has New Owners



The Well's smashburger, a popular menu item.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  The Well Restaurant and Bar recently reopened under new management.

Four friends who have worked together previously decided to buy Main Street eatery a month ago to keep open a local hotspot.

"We all knew we all worked together. And this came up, and we just knew it was meant for us to take over, and we knew we could do a great job of it. We knew we could just keep it the neighborhood place," said co-owner Lisa Ake.

Ake, Nik Rhodes, and Josh and Emily Irwin bought the business together. They did some minor changes to the space but will keep a lot of the look along with some staple dishes.

"The Well has always been known as kind of the neighborhood watering hole, the place where the locals maybe can come in and get a really good burger, some nachos, really good classic American pub food, you know," Ake said. "So that's kind of what I think this place has been known for this whole time, and we're continuing that by keeping the staples on the menu."

The Well opened in the late aughts and changed hands last year. When it was put up for sale again this past spring, the foursome jumped on the opportunity to purchase because they didn't want the town to lose another good place for the community to enjoy.

"Looking around, there's so much change happening, happening right now in Great Barrington, with businesses like Baba Louie's is gone now, which was a huge loss to the community. It was so sad. And there's other businesses that there are empty places now on Railroad Street, which is insane to me," Ake said. "We just had write-ups in Vogue about how cute this town is, and we just thought it would be a travesty to lose another place."

Ake says all four co-owners plan to be a big part of the restaurant's operation, and not just oversee from afar.

"We are not just owners. We are here all the time. Every dish that goes out [Josh Rhodes] touches. Like we care about the food, we care about what we're doing, service, food, everything," she said.

Rhodes is the chef at The Well and said he wants the food to have good taste at a good price.

"We are operating as a from-scratch kitchen. But that does not mean that we're gonna inflate the pricing," he said. "We want the food to have quality but maintain its approachability, both pricewise, but also flavorwise."

Ake said some of the favorites on their menu are the pork schnitzel and the "Not your IKEA meatballs," which is a Rhodes family recipe.

The Well also offers salads, soups, burgers and bar snacks and entrees likes steak frites, fish and chips, a mushroom pasta and macaroni and cheese with toppings.

The Well is currently open from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with the bar open later on Fridays, noon to 10 on Saturday with bar open later, and noon to 9 on Sunday. The owners hope to expand their hours in the coming weeks.

Their menu and contact information can be found on their Facebook page.
SAO PAULO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and 46 others injured when a bus collided with a truck late Friday on a highway in Brazil's central-western state of Mato Grosso, Brazil's federal highway police said Saturday.

Among the injured, eight sustained minor injuries, 26 were in moderate condition, and 12, including the truck driver, were in serious condition, according to state news agency Agencia Brasil.

The accident occurred near the city of Lucas do Rio Verde, about 360 km from Cuiaba, the state capital. The bus was traveling from Cuiaba to Sinop, a key hub for Brazil's agribusiness industry.

Civil police are investigating the cause of the accident. 
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North Korea has begun dismantling some of its loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border, South Koreas military confirmed on Saturday, following Seouls own removal of propaganda speakers in a concerted effort to de-escalate tensions.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff did not disclose the specific sites where the North Koreans were removing the equipment, nor was it immediately clear whether Pyongyang intended to take down all of its loudspeakers.

This development follows recent months of complaints from South Korean border residents, who reported being subjected to irritating sounds, including howling animals and pounding gongs, blasted from North Korean speakers in a tit-for-tat response to Seouls propaganda broadcasts.

This latest development follows North Koreas cessation of its own broadcasts in June, a direct response to Seouls new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, halting South Korean transmissions.

This initial step was seen as the first concrete measure by his government to ease friction between the long-divided rivals. South Koreas military commenced the removal of its border speakers on Monday, though details regarding their storage or potential rapid redeployment in the event of renewed tensions remain undisclosed.

open image in gallery South Korean soldiers removing loudspeakers that were set up for propaganda broadcasts near the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in an undisclosed location in South Korea ( South Korean Defence Ministry/AF )

Pyongyang, known for its extreme sensitivity to any external criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, has yet to officially confirm the dismantling of its loudspeakers.

South Koreas previous conservative government resumed daily loudspeaker broadcasts in June last year, following a yearslong pause, in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-laden balloons toward the South.

The speakers blasted propaganda messages and K-pop songs, a playlist designed to strike a nerve in Pyongyang, where Kim has been pushing an intense 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 Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns further heightened tensions already inflamed by North Koreas advancing nuclear program and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the United States and their trilateral security cooperation with Japan.

Lee, who took office in June after winning an early election to replace ousted conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, wants to improve relations with Pyongyang, which reacted furiously to Yoons hard-line policies and shunned dialogue.

open image in gallery A North Korean military guard post, loudspeaker, top right, and South Korean military guard post, bottom, are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea ( Associated Press )

But Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, rebuffed overtures by Lees government in late July, saying that Seouls blind trust in the countrys alliance with the United States makes it no different from its conservative predecessor.

She later issued a separate statement dismissing the Trump administrations intent to resume diplomacy on North Koreas denuclearization, suggesting that Pyongyang  now focused on expanding ties with Russia over the war in Ukraine  sees little urgency in resuming talks with Seoul or Washington.

Tensions between the Koreas can possibly rise again later this month, when South Korea and the United States proceed with their annual large-scale combined military exercises, which begin on Aug. 18. North Korea labels the allies joint drills as invasion rehearsals and often uses them as a pretext to dial up military demonstrations and weapons tests aimed at advancing its nuclear program.
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Relatives of those who were killed in the devastating Air India crash in June have formally demanded the immediate release of the data from the aircrafts two flight recorders, insisting that delays in doing so are severely undermining public confidence in the investigation.

On 12 June, Air India Flight 171 crashed into a medical college less than a minute after it took off from Ahmedabad in western India heading for London Gatwick, killing 241 people on board and another 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived the crash.

While one of the two black boxes was retrieved within roughly 28 hours, the second took three days to recover. Both were taken to Delhi, where data retrieval yielded approximately two hours of cockpit audio and 49 hours of flight data, an Economic Times report stated.

Black boxes provide crucial data such as altitude, airspeed and audio from the pilots conversations, which can help investigators establish the cause of a crash.

A preliminary report was issued by Indias aviation authorities one month after the crash, in line with international regulations. It revealed that the Boeing 787 Dreamliners fuel switches had flipped from run to cutoff within one second of each other and shortly after takeoff, causing the engines to lose power.

The report does not say how this occurred.

Investigators also summarised a conversation between the flights two pilots, saying one asked the other why he had flipped the fuel switches. The second pilot denied doing so, the report said.

The report did not identity who said what, but subsequent media reports based on sources in the investigation revealed it was the younger co-pilot, Clive Kunder, who asked flight captain Sumeet Sabharwal why he had turned off the planes fuel-supply switches.

The authorities have stressed that they need more time to carry out their full investigation, but victims families are now growing increasingly frustrated by a perceived lack of progress.

We are formally demanding the immediate release of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder  the black box. These devices contain vital information that can reveal the truth behind this horrific tragedy, Imtiaz Ali Sayed, who lost several family members in the crash, told AFP.

Every day without answers deepens the pain of our loss and erodes public trust in aviation safety, he said, adding that he was speaking on behalf of 60 other families with the same pain and unanswered questions.

Air India employees pay a floral tribute to the victims of last month's Air India flight 171 crash, at the accident site in Ahmedabad ( AFP via Getty Images )

Both the pilots on board Flight 171 were highly experienced, with about 19,000 total flying hours between them, including more than 9,000 on Boeing 787s.

The preliminary report said CCTV footage showed the planes backup engine, known as a RAM air turbine, deployed almost immediately after the plane lifted off the ground, indicating a loss of power from the engines.

The London-bound plane began to lose thrust, and after reaching a height of 650 feet, the jet started to sink. The fuel switches for both engines were turned back to run, and the airplane automatically tried restarting its engines, the report said  but not before the plane crashed into a medical college building.

The incident has rekindled debate among experts over whether planes should have video cameras in the cockpit. Some argue that it would offer valuable insights to investigators, while pilots describe it as an unnecessary intrusion into their workplace that is not justified by the rare cases such footage might be useful.
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Indias air force chief has claimed that five Pakistani fighter jets and another military aircraft were shot down during clashes in May, marking the first such official statement from the country in months regarding its recent military conflict with its neighbour.

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh stated on Saturday that most of the Pakistani aircraft were downed by India's Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he cited electronic tracking data as confirmation of the strikes.

"We have at least five fighters confirmed killed, and one large aircraft," he asserted, adding that the larger plane, potentially a surveillance aircraft, was brought down from a distance of 300 km.

He added: "This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill," a statement that drew applause from the assembled audience, which included serving air force officers, veterans, and government and industry officials.

India and Pakistan stepped back from the brink of all-out war in May following their worst military escalation in decades ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Pakistan's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Singh did not mention the type of fighter jets that were downed, but said that airstrikes also hit an additional surveillance plane and "a few F16" fighters that were parked in hangars at two air bases in southeastern Pakistan.

Islamabad, whose air force primarily operates Chinese-made jets and US F-16s, has previously denied that India downed any Pakistani aircraft during the May 7-10 fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan has claimed that it shot down six Indian aircraft during the clashes, including a French-made Rafale fighter. India has acknowledged some losses but denied losing six aircraft.

The nuclear-powered neighbours stepped back from the brink of all-out war in May following their worst military escalation in decades, which saw dozens of people killed in cross-border shelling as well as drone and missile attacks on both sides.

France's air chief, General Jerome Bellanger, has previously said that he has seen evidence of the loss of three Indian fighters, including a Rafale. Indian Air Force has not commented on the claims.
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She was only eight when she saw people with their skin peeling off, faces swollen beyond recognition, stumbling through a city in flames. For Keiko Ogura, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the morning of 6 August 1945 was the day her childhood ended.

She remembers the moment the bomb fell: Hiroshima flattened in an instant, as if a giant had stomped the city into the ground. Buildings were crushed, and fires broke out everywhere. That night, Hiroshima burned. The entire city kept burning through the night.

Oguras family had moved a year earlier to the far side of a small hill just outside the city centre  a decision, made by her father to avoid air raids, that ultimately saved their lives. The hill stood between their home and the bombs hypocentre, shielding them from the full force of the blast.

open image in gallery A photo, dated September 1945, of the remains of the Prefectural Industry Promotion Building after the bombing of Hiroshima, which was preserved as a monument, now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome ( AFP/Getty )

Scenes of horror surrounded Ogura in the days after the bombing. Survivors had leapt into Hiroshimas seven rivers to escape the fires, but many drowned or died from their injuries. She remembers the waterways choked with bodies  some drifting downstream, others washing back with the tide, missing limbs and swarmed by flies.

Mass cremations became part of daily life. In front of her home alone, her father cremated around 700 people. Even children like me had to help carry bodies on straw mats, she recalled in a video published by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Nearly eight decades later, those memories remain vivid  etched with scenes of unbearable pain and incalculable loss.

For Ogura, they are more than personal recollections. They are warnings. Warnings, she says, that the world must never allow itself to forget.

open image in gallery Keiko Ogura, a survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing, at the 2023 G7 leaders summit meeting, at the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima ( JiJi Press )

Hiroshima Day, observed each year on 6 August, commemorates one of the most devastating moments in human history  the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States in 1945, during the final days of the Second World War.

That morning, a US B-29 bomber named Enola Gay dropped a uranium-based atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, which detonated about 600 metres above the city.

The explosion unleashed a ferocious blast, scorching heat, and lethal radiation, instantly killing 70,000 to 80,000 people.

In the days and months that followed, tens of thousands more died from injuries and radiation sickness. The city was flattened, and survivors  known as hibakusha  endured long-term health effects and unimaginable psychological trauma.

open image in gallery Japanese men carry a victim of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki in August 1945 after that city was bombed too ( Reuters )

Three days later, on 9 August, the US dropped a second bomb, Fat Man, over Nagasaki. These bombings marked the first and only use of nuclear weapons in war and led to Japans surrender on 15 August 1945, bringing the Second World War to an end.

The atomic bombings killed more than 210,000 people.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand as lasting reminders not only of the immense human tragedy that unfolded, but of the profound danger nuclear weapons pose to humanity in todays fractured world. In the years since 1945, survivors, activists, and global leaders have repeatedly invoked the devastation as a stark plea for disarmament and a cautionary lesson for generations to come.

Last year, survivors of the bombings said that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize had renewed their determination to campaign for nuclear disarmament.

open image in gallery The crew of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay , including pilot Paul W Tibbets (centre), who named the aircraft after his mother ( US Air Force )

I felt like I needed to work even harder on what I had done so far, Terumi Tanaka, who survived the atomic attack on Nagasaki, told the Associated Press at the time.

Tanaka, 93, spoke at a press conference in Tokyo last year following his return from Oslo, where he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Nihon Hidankyo, the organisation of Japanese atomic bomb survivors.

I believe it is important to focus on the next 10 years and strengthen the movement moving forward, he added. I would like to lead a big movement of testimonials. On Monday, Tanaka told the press: I believe a nuclear war could happen in the near future. Most young people today may not know how many nuclear weapons exist. There are 12,000 nuclear warheads.

He added: One warhead is 2,000 times more powerful than the bombs 80 years ago.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings  a poignant milestone for survivors and campaigners alike.

open image in gallery Visitors use umbrellas to shelter from the sun at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ( Getty )

Last year, Michiko Kodama, who survived the Hiroshima bombing, said: We hibakusha who saw the hell ... within a decade wont be around to tell the reality of the atomic bombing. I want to keep telling our stories as long as we live.

Kodama was seven years old in August 1945.

I saw an extremely strong light coming in from the window. It was white, or shall I say yellow? So strong that I couldnt keep my eyes open, another survivor, Fumi Takeshita, 80, remembered.

It was the day after the bomb dropped. [My father] walked through the hypocenter, the Urakami area, and heard many people calling for help. There were heaps of bodies, too. Buildings were crashed to the ground and there was nothing left, apparently. I heard that from my grandmother. She said, Fumi-chan, remember the light you saw the other day? Because of that, there is nothing left in Urakami, and many people died.

open image in gallery The Atomic Bomb Dome at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park ( Getty )

While Takeshita painfully recalls the devastation in the aftermath of the atomic bombing, other survivors have also borne the weight of their memories for decades.

Despite battling numerous health issues, 83-year-old survivor Kunihiko Iida has dedicated his retirement to sharing his story in the hope of advancing the cause of nuclear disarmament.

Iida now volunteers as a guide at Hiroshimas Peace Memorial Park, determined to raise awareness among foreign visitors, who he believes often lack a full understanding of the bombings.

Iida tried to scream, Mummy, help! on that day in August 1945, but no sound came out, he recalled. He was eventually rescued by his grandfather.

open image in gallery A young girl visits the Childrens Peace Monument at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park ( Getty )

Within a month, his 25-year-old mother and four-year-old sister died after suffering nosebleeds, skin problems, and extreme fatigue  symptoms of radiation exposure. Iida experienced similar effects throughout elementary school but slowly recovered.

It wasnt until he was nearly 60 that he returned to the peace park at the bombing site. His elderly aunt asked him to go with her, and he finally agreed. It was his first visit since that day.

The only path to peace is nuclear weapons abolishment. There is no other way, Iida says.

With each passing year, as the hibakusha grow older, their warnings also feel more urgent. As of 31 March 2025, Japans Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that there were only 99,130 people officially recognised as hibakusha.

Their calls for a nuclear-free world have yet to be realised.

open image in gallery Visitors walk under a sign at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack ( Getty )

Instead, rising global tensions have brought back fears of a nuclear war. Just recently, US president Donald Trump said he ordered the deployment of nuclear submarines near Russia in response to what he described as threatening remarks from Moscow.

In 2024, nearly all nine nuclear-armed states  the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel  continued to pursue extensive nuclear modernisation programmes, upgrading existing arsenals and developing newer, more advanced weapons, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

As of January 2025, an estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads existed worldwide, with approximately 9,614 held in military stockpiles and available for potential use, the report said.

In March 2023, Russia announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus  marking the first time it has stationed such arms outside its borders since the Soviet Unions collapse.

open image in gallery The US military aeroplane, nicknamed Bockscar , which dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki ( AFP/Getty )

While not an outright breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), critics contended that, much like Natos nuclear sharing arrangements, the move undermines the treatys spirit. Then, in November 2024, Russian president Vladimir Putin approved revisions to Russias nuclear doctrine  changes that, according to many analysts, appeared to lower the threshold for potential nuclear use.

Last year in November, North Koreas UN envoy said that the country has vowed to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme after testing an intercontinental ballistic missile, citing threats from the US. Kim Song, North Koreas ambassador to the UN, said during a security council meeting that Pyongyang would accelerate the programme to counter any threat presented by hostile nuclear weapons states.

Last month, it was reported that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country, with at least 600 warheads now in its stockpile and about 100 being added annually since 2023, according to SIPRI.

open image in gallery Views of Hiroshima before and after the first atomic bomb was dropped ( AFP/Getty )

The SIPRI report also mentioned that Israel, though it does not officially acknowledge having nuclear weapons, is believed to be modernising its arsenal. In 2024, the report said it tested a missile propulsion system likely linked to its nuclear-capable Jericho ballistic missiles, and satellite imagery suggested ongoing upgrades at its Dimona plutonium production facility.

The report noted: Russia and the USA together possess around 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. The sizes of their respective military stockpiles (ie useable warheads) seem to have stayed relatively stable in 2024, but both states are implementing extensive modernisation programmes that could increase the size and diversity of their arsenals in the future.

The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end, said Hans M Kristensen, associate senior fellow with SIPRIs Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements.

open image in gallery The sun rises above the Atomic Bomb Dome ( Getty )

Tanaka of Nihon Hidankyo told the media on Monday: There are 3,000 to 4,000 ready-to-use nuclear warheads that leaders can launch instantly. Accidental launches can also happen. Thats the world we all live in. If that happens, young people will lose their future. I want to tell young people to think about this.

So this August, when the world holds events and talks of nuclear disarmament and a future free of atomic weapons, the question still looms: have the powers that be deliberately made nuclear disarmament a distant dream in todays world? Is the dream of a nuclear-free world further out of reach?

And in the process, are we beginning to forget the horrors that hibakusha like Keiko Ogura endured?

On Monday, Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Jorgen Frydnes said: I dont think fear [of nuclear weapons] is the solution to our problems. The hibakusha clearly show that it is possible, even though in a situation of pain, sorrow, [and] grief, to choose peace, and thats the message we want the world to listen to.

Frydnes visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki last week, ahead of the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings.

Their story is also a story of memory becoming a force for change, he said.
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Two Malaysian tourists are in critical but stable condition after being doused with paint thinner and set on fire by an unemployed man outside a shopping centre in Bangkok on Thursday night.

Thai police have arrested a 30-year-old suspect, identified as a former boxer named Varakorn Pubthaisong, who allegedly carried out the attack out of frustration over losing his job.

The incident took place around 10pm on Thursday outside one of Bangkoks most popular shopping centres. The two victims, 26-year-old Ong Yik Leong and 27-year-old Gan Xiao Zhen, were sitting on the steps of the mall when an assailant approached them from behind and poured the paint thinner from a plastic bottle over them, according to Bangkok Post.

The pair fled in shock but were chased down by the attacker, who then set them alight.

Members of the public intervened and police say the suspect, Mr Varakorn, was detained at the scene. He was handed over to police and is now in custody at Lumpini Police Station.

Lumpini police chief Yingyos Suwanno told repoters that Mr Varakorn had admitted to the attack during questioning. Police said he had recently been dismissed from his job as a security guard and was experiencing stress over his unemployment.

The victims were rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries. Mr Ong was admitted to the intensive care unit at Police General Hospital, while Ms Gan was being treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Bong Yik Jui, Malaysias acting charge daffaires in Thailand, said Mr Ong sustained second-degree burns across his upper body, both front and back. The injuries are considered serious but not life-threatening, Mr Bong told Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Ms Gan suffered second-degree burns covering 36 per cent of her body.

Both are now in a critical but stable condition, according to the New Straits Times.

Representational image; The incident took place outside one of Bangkoks most popular shopping centres, when a man poured paint thinner on two Malaysian tourists and then set them on fire ( AFP via Getty Images )

Foreign minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said: Both victims are receiving treatment and are in stable condition. However, doctors have advised against their immediate return to Malaysia as burn wounds are pressure-sensitive and must be allowed to dry first.

He added that the families of both victims were expected to arrive in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon and would receive support from the Malaysian embassy and the foreign ministrys consular division.

[The suspect] is currently in Thai police custody, and the embassy is still seeking further clarification from the authorities on the next course of action, he said about Mr Varakorn.

Police say they are preparing to formally charge Mr Varakorn with assault and will be taking full statements from the victims once their medical condition permits.

We would take statements from both victims once they are in stable condition, Pol Col Yingyos told The Star.

The attack was reportedly captured on video, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether the footage will be released.
LONDON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Britain on Saturday condemned the recent "erroneous remarks" by the Group of Seven (G7) on Hong Kong.

"The irresponsible remarks made by a small group of countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), regarding the law enforcement actions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) police constitute a gross interference in China's internal affairs and the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR. We strongly condemn such remarks," said a spokesperson for the embassy.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the G7's comments on Friday regarding the arrest warrants announced on July 25 by the Hong Kong Police Force against 19 absconded anti-China disruptors.

"We firmly support the Hong Kong SAR government in performing its duties in accordance with the law, and firmly support the Hong Kong police in taking law enforcement actions in accordance with the law," said the spokesperson.

"The collusion of these countries to meddle in the rule of law in Hong Kong only further exposes their double standards and hypocrisy on issues of human rights and the rule of law," said the spokesperson, adding that it will only strengthen the resolve and will of the Hong Kong SAR government to administer Hong Kong in accordance with the law and to punish crime.

"We once again urge the relevant countries to stop fabricating excuses for shielding criminals and to cease interfering in China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson. 
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Hundreds of people have been arrested in London for protesting against the terror ban on the group Palestine Action.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed 466 people were arrested for showing support for the organisation in its final update on Saturday, with another eight arrests for other offences.

Demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster in the afternoon to silently hold up signs, which read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Within minutes of the protest starting at 1pm, rows of police officers filed into the square and started handcuffing protesters.

With limited space in police cells, many of the activists were not taken into custody but released after their arrest and allowed to go home, with bail conditions not to attend any further protests in support of Palestine Action.

open image in gallery Supporters protesting the ban of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square, Westminster ( PA )

The Metropolitan Police said: Parliament Square and Whitehall are clear. As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action.

There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers.

The Metropolitan Police brought in scores of officers from other forces to help with a busy weekend of protests. Around 15,000 people were estimated to have taken part in a separate Palestine solidarity march through London to highlight the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

open image in gallery Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square ahead of a demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action ( AFP via Getty )

Organisers of the action in Parliament Square claimed that between 600 and 700 people took part in the demonstration against the terror ban. However the police disputed this, saying that around 500 to 600 people were in the square at 1pm, but many were onlookers, media people or people not holding placards in support of Palestine Action.

A spokesperson for the force said they were confident everyone holding a placard in support Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper decided to proscribe the group Palestine Action after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two military planes with red paint.

open image in gallery Police moved in to arrest people minutes after demonstrators began a silent vigil ( PA )

Huda Ammori, the co-founder of the group, has been allowed to challenge the governments decision to ban the organisation under anti-terrorism laws, with a court case due to be heard in November.

Campaigners from Defend Our Juries, who co-ordinated Saturdays action, have pledged monthly protests against the ban until the High Court case is heard.

As a result of Palestine Actions proscription, it is an offence to hold up a sign or wear a T-shirt in support of the group under section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

open image in gallery A protester is carried away by police officers ( Defend Our Juries )

The first arrests were near the statues of feminist campaigner Millicent Fawcett and the Indian non-violent activist Mahatma Gandhi.

Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted shame on you at the police making the arrests.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The home secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

Separately, thousands of people joined a pro-Palestine solidarity march in London to highlight the worsening crisis in Gaza.

Marchers chanted Gaza must have food and water, no more killing, no more slaughter and free Palestine as they made their way from Russell Square to Westminster.
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Hundreds of arrests have been made as part of a week-long crackdown on asylum seekers working for delivery firms.

A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to at locations across the UK over suspected illegal working activity between July 20 and 27.

Some 280 were arrested as a result, in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham, the Home Office said.

Some 89 of those have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn.

open image in gallery The crackdown was part of the Home Offices nationwide intensification week ( Alamy/PA )

The Home Office described the operation as a nationwide intensification week targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy and people working as delivery riders.

Immigration enforcement teams will receive 5 million from the 100 million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, it said.

Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said: Illegal working undermines our border security and were cracking down hard on it.

Thats why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK. 

As well as the arrests, 51 businesses including car washes and restaurants were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines if they are found to have hired people without the right to work in the UK.

open image in gallery Ministers Dame Angela Eagle and Justin Madders met with Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat bosses to discuss illegal working ( Home Office )

Eddy Montgomery, enforcement director at the Home Office, said officers were taking action around the clock against those who think they can get away with working illegally.

Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.

Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the pull factors attracting migrants to the UK.

It comes after the government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots.

Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have also said they will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.
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Astronomers have found strong evidence of a giant gas planet orbiting a star in a solar system close to our own sun.

Four light-years away from Earth, the Alpha Centauri triple-star system has long been a compelling target for scientists to search for worlds outside our solar system. Now, scientists have found a lifeless planet which could be a close neighbour to Earth in astronomical terms, and could even have moons that sustain life.

The potential planet, detected last year, disappeared in follow-up observations. But astronomers found new signs using NASAs powerful James Webb Space Telescope.

If confirmed, the planet would be the closest to Earth that orbits in the habitable zone of a sun-like star.

The gas giant is four light-years away ( Nasa )

"Four years is a long way but in galaxy terms, it's very close - it's in our neighbourhood," Dr Carly Howett, associate professor of space instrumentation at the University of Oxford, told the BBC.

"It is around a star that is sun-like and about the same temperature and brightness. That's really important if we want to think about habitable worlds.

However, because the planet candidate is a gas giant, scientists say it would not support life as we know it.

Charles Beichman, from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltechs IPAC astronomy center, said: With this system being so close to us, any exoplanets found would offer our best opportunity to collect data on planetary systems other than our own.

Yet, these are incredibly challenging observations to make, even with the worlds most powerful space telescope, because these stars are so bright, close, and move across the sky quickly, he added.

The stars create huge amounts of bright light which can block out nearby objects, which might explain why the potential planet appeared to disappear.

Mr Beichman added: Webb was designed and optimised to find the most distant galaxies in the universe. The operations team at the Space Telescope Science Institute had to come up with a custom observing sequence just for this target, and their extra effort paid off spectacularly.

Confirmation of the potential planet would mark a new milestone for exoplanet imaging efforts, as it would be the closest to its star to be seen so far.

It's also the most similar in temperature and age to the giant planets in our solar system, and nearest to our home, Earth," said PhD student Aniket Sanghi of Caltech, a co-first author on the two papers covering the teams research. "Its very existence in a system of two closely separated stars would challenge our understanding of how planets form, survive, and evolve in chaotic environments."

Astronomers hope to use a new telescope, NASAs Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is set to launch by May 2027, equipped with dedicated hardware to test new technologies in the search for new life.
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The Royal Albert Hall has apologised to a concertgoer after he was stopped from entering the auditorium because he was wearing a Palestine flag pin.

Roger Cauthery, 81 and from north London, was attending a BBC Proms concert with his wife Angele last Friday, featuring the pianist Yunchan Lim performing Rachmaninov.

As the couple showed their tickets and had their bags searched in the foyer, two contractor staff spotted the lapel pin and said Mr Cauthery would not be allowed into the concert because he was wearing it, according to The Guardian.

One of the contracted staff then asked a colleague stationed at one of the entry doors not to let Mr Cauthery in. After the couple was left standing in the foyer for 15 minutes, a supervisor arrived and overruled the earlier decision, allowing the couple to attend the concert.

Mr Cauthery said the couple felt extremely upset, not to say humiliated, by their behaviour. He told the publication: Im a middle-class ex-public school boy brought up to believe that Brits are decent and law-abiding and that one can live ones life freely.

I was merely showing solidarity with the Palestinian people and expressing my support for what I believe, and the UN believes, is a legitimate state. My wife and I feel strongly that Palestine should be recognised as a state and indeed it seems that our government is finally about to do so.

Contracted staff refused Roger Cauthery, 81, entry into the concert ( Alamy/PA )

I have lived in London all my adult life and am very proud of the diversity of my city. It is tragic that this small pin badge should be seen as a threat to the Royal Albert Hall, which surely should be one of the symbols of our democracy. The result of this incident was that we were too distressed to enjoy the concert and left at the interval.

The Royal Albert Halls chief executive, James Ainscough, issued a full public apology, as well as a personal letter to the couple following the incident.

I have written to apologise to Mr and Mrs Cauthery, who were initially halted at the door on Friday by one of our contractors, Mr Ainscough said in a statement. This isnt in line with our policy and was a mistake. The duty manager who stepped in to resolve the situation was correct to authorise their subsequent entrance.

As well as writing to apologise for an experience that was understandably upsetting and humiliating, we have offered a full refund and an invitation to return to the Hall as our guests, so we can give the couple the warm welcome that was sadly lacking on Friday.

We have also spoken to our contractor to ensure that a similar situation doesnt arise again.

Mr Cauthery has said he will donate the refunded ticket fee to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, telling The Guardian: Im very grateful to the Royal Albert Hall for responding in this way. Of course we will continue to go and enjoy concerts there.

In a letter of apology to the couple, Mr Ainscough said: Music has an enduring power to bring people together, and we want the Hall to offer a warm welcome to all who come to enjoy our concerts. It is very sad to think that your experience with us on Friday was the very opposite of that. I do hope you will consider returning to the hall in the near future so we have an opportunity to give you the warm welcome you should expect.
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The UK has pledged an additional 8.5 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, announced after Israel unveiled plans to expand its military operations.

Development minister Baroness Jenny Chapman said the money would "help address urgent need" in Gaza, but only if Israel allowed the region to be "flooded with aid".

She added: "It is unacceptable that so much aid is waiting at the border  the UK is ready to provide more through our partners, and we demand that the government of Israel allows more aid in safely and securely."

"The insufficient amount of supplies getting through is causing appalling and chaotic scenes as desperate civilians try to access tiny amounts of aid," she said.

The funding, delivered through the UNs Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is part of a 101 million UK commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.

OCHA has warned of widespread hunger among Gazas 2.1 million people, along with difficulties accessing water amid a severe heatwave and significant impediments and other delays to UN efforts to provide aid.

Palestinians struggle to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip ( Associated Press )

The UKs announcement comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined his counterparts from Australia, Italy, Germany and New Zealand to condemn Israeli plans to escalate the conflict by taking over Gaza City.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said on Friday that Israel would seek the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, as well as Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

In their joint statement, the foreign ministers said the plans risk violating international law and any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.

They added: We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.

A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Israels plans as wrong and called for a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution.

A UN Security Council meeting to discuss Israels plan had been due to take place on Saturday, but has been rescheduled to Sunday at about 3pm UK time.
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European leaders have rallied in support of Ukraine after a defiant Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Donald Trumps suggestion that a peace plan may involve giving up land to Russia.

President Trump, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska as he seeks to bring an end to the war, has said the talks could include some swapping of territories.

But an angry President Zelensky hit back on Saturday, insisting Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Members of the so-called coalition of the willing  countries which have pledged support for Ukraine against Russias aggression  were quick to show their support, insisting that any deal must include Ukraine and Europe, warning its security is at stake.

The joint leaders statement from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said: We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraines and Europes vital security interests.

Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.

open image in gallery Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tour the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, after a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing at the Presidential Palace in France earlier this year ( PA Wire )

The show of unity came as the UK hosted a hastily arranged meeting of national security advisers from the US, Ukraine and European countries on Saturday. The meeting at David Lammys official country retreat, Chevening, Kent, and held with US vice-president JD Vance, was called to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.

Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday reiterated his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people, while Frances President Emmanuel Macron said the UK and Germany were ready to work as productively as possible for the sake of real peace after a call with Sir Keir and Chancellor Frederich Merz.

In their call, Sir Keir and President Macron said they welcomed President Trumps efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russias war of aggression, and discussed how to further work closely with President Trump and President Zelensky over the coming days.

Confirming next weeks summit with the US president in Alaska, the Kremlin said Mr Trump and Mr Putin would focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution.

President Putin is expected to use the meeting to set out his demands, including that Ukraine give up two eastern regions as well as Crimea.

Announcing the talks to reporters at the White House on Friday, Mr Trump said any deal may include the some swapping of territories, adding: Were going to get some back. Were going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.

However, Mr Zelensky has rejected that notion and said his country would not violate its constitution by ceding territory.

Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers, he said. He also warned that any peace deal that excluded Kyiv would lead to dead solutions.

President Trumps decision to meet Mr Putin has fuelled fears that Ukraine could be sidelined in the efforts to end the war.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken, No 10 said ( PA Wire )

But Mr Zelensky issued a staunch warning to the international community that any agreement reached without Ukraine would ultimately fail.

He said: Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.

After his call with Sir Keir, Mr Zelensky said the two men shared the same view on the need for a truly lasting peace and on the danger of Russias plan to reduce everything to discussing the impossible.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: Both leaders welcomed President Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war. The prime minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

Mr Macron insisted that Ukraines future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians and warned that Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake.

Kristen Michal, Estonias prime minister, joined the chorus of support, saying she agreed that security decisions for Ukraine matter for everyone in Europe. Pointing to demands for Ukraine to give up land to secure peace, she added: Respect for territorial integrity is the foundation of stable international relations and changing borders by force can never be accepted.

This was echoed by Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, who wrote on X: Any lasting settlement must respect UA's sovereignty  nothing about UA without UA. DK stands with our partners for a ceasefire built on Ukrainian strength and Western unity and resolve.

And after his phone call with Mr Zelensky, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister of Spain, said: We must reach a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraines independence and sovereignty. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We must remain united.

Russia has previously claimed four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

Mr Putins forces do not fully control all land in those areas and Moscow has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the parts they still control.
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The chief financial officer in Wilton, Connecticut, resigned last week after town officials discovered she was simultaneously serving as a town administrator in a Wyoming town 2,000 miles away.

However, Dawn Norton claims she fully complied with her employment terms when she took on the role of Town Administrator and Finance Director in Greybull, Wyoming, and says she kept Wiltons leadership fully informed about the arrangement.

Norton began serving as Wiltons CFO in March 2022 and took on the Wyoming position in May, Wilton Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker told CT Insider on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Norton told Good Morning Wilton that she had been working remotely for Wilton from Wyoming since February of this year while on Family Medical Leave, caring for her injured husband. In April, she applied to the Greybull job and was initially hired on a part-time trial basis before being offered a permanent full-time position.

I gave him my retirement notice  I gave it to him when I went full-time, Norton told the outlet. My notice said Id give them full support, whatever it is, up to Nov. 3 when all department head contracts are  renewed. I said, Ill do 100 percent of everything. I will get the audit done. I will attend meetings. I will do whatever it is that you need me to do in my full capacity.

Wilton, Connecticut, CFO Dawn Norton also worked as a town official 2,000 miles away in Greybull, Wyoming ( Town of Wilton Zoom )

But Knickerbocker tells CT Insider, On Sunday night, our HR director  alerted me that Dawn was listed as the town administrator ... for Greybull, Wyoming.

On Monday morning, I called her to verify that and found that yes, she had" taken on the new role.

Once HR confirmed with Norton that she held both positions, she resigned from Wilton.

Both Knickerbocker and First Selectwoman Toni Boucher say Norton never told them about her confirmed job in Greybull. Norton disagrees, pointing to a written notice she sent on April 7, 2025, to Boucher and the HR director stating she was actively seeking employment elsewhere.

The Wilton officials say the town allows occasional part-time external roles only in limited, emergency situations, not another full-time public office, which would have prevented approval had they known.

The Independent has contacted representatives for the Town of Wilton, the Town of Greybull, and Norton for comment.

This controversy arose amid a recent Town Hall review triggered by concerns over Wiltons Finance Department, including auditor findings of material weakness, chronic understaffing, unauthorized tax credits, and a difficult budget process. Town officials had focused on the department being overworked, unaware Norton was also employed elsewhere.

Norton said these ongoing issues at Town Hall motivated her decision to leave Wilton.

[It] is one of the reasons why I was actively seeking to get the heck out of dodge because I cant handle the work that was being dumped on me, and I was not getting any support whatsoever in hiring positions in my office. For a year, I did accounts payable  I paid the bills, I filed the invoices, and that is not my responsibility, that is a clerks responsibility, she said.

She said that negativity surrounding the audits material weakness and the senior tax credit issue added to the stress of her job.

I want out. Im tired of the negative that I keep getting pushed on me. People arent listening to the situation, she told Good Morning Wilton. I cant do it all, and theres no help in my office, and theres no help and support from Toni or from Matt.

Everybody keeps saying, Well, the assessor and the [tax] collector report to the finance director. No, they dont. They report to Matt. I have nothing to do with tax collection and assessment. The only thing I review is what gets posted to the ledger. And as for the material weakness, the material weakness is because we dont have the staff in my office to get all the work done that we need to get done, she continued.

Wiltons Board of Selectmen swiftly posted the CFO vacancy upon Norton's resignation, setting a revised salary range of $160,000 to $200,000, down from Nortons $210,108 in 2024, removing Board of Education responsibilities from the role, and creating a search committee to appoint an interim CFO immediately.

In Greybull, council meeting minutes show Norton was officially appointed as Town Administrator on May 12, and she has since participated in municipal meetings, delivered financial reports, and signed official resolutions.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi hasnt appeared on Fox News since backlash to the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files started.

Bondi, once a regular on the cable giant, was last on-air as a guest with Sean Hannity on June 30, just days before the Justice Department and FBI dropped a bombshell memo about the Epstein case that ignited weeks of chaos, Mediaite first noted.

The memo poured cold water on the theory that Epstein had a client list, concluded that he died in a New York jail cell by suicide, and said that no further documents in the case would be released to the public.

It was the beginning of weeks of uproar over the administrations failure to release the full Epstein files despite making numerous promises to do so, and Bondi was in the middle of the MAGA firestorm.

Fox News has largely followed President Donald Trumps lead and focused its attention on anything other than the controversy, which has dominated coverage at other outlets.

open image in gallery Attorney General Pam Bondi hasnt appeared since June 30. Since being in office, she has been interviewed on the network regularly, including on Jesse Watters Primetime in February to issue 'breaking news' about the Epstein files ( Fox News )

Bondi has played a central role in the Epstein files saga. She told Fox News that the Epstein files were sitting on her desk back in February, but the comment came back to haunt her after the memo was released on the Fourth of July weekend.

Its sitting on my desk right now to review, Bondi told John Roberts in February, who asked if the Justice Department would release the list of clients. Thats been a directive by President Trump.

Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy challenged Trumps press secretary Karoline Leavitt about Bondis comment at a press conference in July, following the DOJ and FBI memo.

So, what happened to the Epstein client list that the attorney general said she had on her desk? Doocy asked Leavitt.

Well, I think if you go back and look at what the attorney general said in that interview, which was on your network, on Fox News Leavitt said, before Doocy interrupted her to repeat Bondis quote from February.

Leavitt pushed back and said that Bondi was referring to the entirety of all of the paperwork, all of the paper in relation to Jeffrey Epsteins crimes.

open image in gallery Bondi has played a central role in the Epstein files saga. She told the network the Epstein files were sitting on her desk back in February, but the comment came back to haunt her ( REUTERS )

Bondi also infuriated MAGA after she invited right-wing influencers to the White House and gave them Phase 1 binders. The binders contained information already in the public domain.

Some of the headlines Fox has run about Bondi since have been less than favorable.

Bondi under siege after DOJ reveals no Epstein client list, a July 7 headline read, which again railed against the comment about the files being on her desk.

The network also covered the reported feud between Bondi and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, headlined: Inside Dan Bonginos tense meeting with White House officials over Jeffrey Epstein fallout.

Despite some noise that he could walk over frustration with the Epstein case, Bongino remained in his role.

Bondi briefly spoke with Fox correspondent David Spunt on July 18 during a tour of Alcatraz Island, but she did not appear as a guest as she has done many times previously.

While Bondi was Floridas Attorney General, she once guest hostedThe Five and was a regular commentator on the network for years.
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Earlier this week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called on FBI Director Kash Patel to track down Democrats in the State House of Representatives who fled to blue states to break quorum.

Texas Democrats fled to places like California, New York and Illinois after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session at the behest of Donald Trump to redraw Texass congressional maps in the middle of the decade to give Republicans give more seats.

On Thursday, the FBI granted Cornyns request, and Cornyn preened. Specifically, he criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for not going after the Democrats. On the surface, Cornyns acts might make a casual politics observer wonder what that has to do with the price of crude in Houston?

But Paxton is now running in the Republican primary to unseat Cornyn next year. In response, Cornyn has spent the last few months prostrating himself before Trump, taking photos in front of Trump Burger in Houston and photographing himself reading Trumps book The Art of the Deal.

Its the latest instalment in one of the ugliest Senate fights in the country, and one that could determine the fate of the GOP in their biggest state. The Independents newsletter Inside Washington ranked the Senate race as the fifth most likely to flip given Paxtons extensive baggage.

open image in gallery Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is in the battle of his life. And hes hoping the redistricting fight can save it ( AP )

Understanding the feud requires some history. As Texas became solidly Republican on the national level after native Texan Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act like the rest of the South, Democrats continued to dominate on the state level. Then George W. Bush won the governorship in 1994. Bushs 1998 re-election opened the floodgates and Cornyn became the first Republican elected attorney general since Reconstruction.

That began Texas Republicans dominance in the state. The same year Cornyn became a senator in 2002, Texas Republicans took over the legislature and Abbott became attorney general. Cornyn moved up the ladder, becoming Senate majority whip and a staunch conservative on economic policy to the U.S.-Mexico border.

To many conservatives, hes a RINO and a vestige of the past. That came into starker relief when after a shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde killed 19 children and two adults, he negotiated a gun control bill with Democrats that Joe Biden signed. For gun-loving Texas conservatives, that was an unforgivable sin.

open image in gallery George W. Bush, with Cornyn, played an instrumental role in the GOPs takeover of Texas. Now members of his party have their sights set on Cornyn for being a Bush Republican ( TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images )

In 2014, Cornyns successor as attorney general  Abbott  became governor while Paxton became attorney general and a darling of the right. MAGA lauded him for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election; he even spoke at the White House Ellipse on January 6, though he did not participate in the riot that followed.

Paxton also faced numerous scandals, facing federal indictment almost as soon as he became attorney general, though the charges were dismissed after he finished a restitution agreement. Despite this, in a poetic move, Paxton beat Bushs nephew George P. Bush in the primary in 2022. But in 2023, his fellow Republicans in the state House impeached him, though Trump intervened at the last minute and the Texas Senate acquitted him.

open image in gallery Texas Attorney Ken Paxton and his wife Angela announced their divorce last month. Republicans fear Paxtons baggage could cost them a seat ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Now conservatives want to target Cornyn, whom they see as the last of the Bush Republicans they despise, while establishment Republicans fear Paxtons baggage could cost them a Senate seat in what should be a safe state.

Last month, Paxtons wife Angela, who was a state senator who had to hear about the attorney generals affairs during the impeachment trial, announced she would divorce Ken on on biblical grounds, a signal suggesting Ken had been unfaithful since the Bible permits divorce for infidelity.

This explains why Cornyn is rushing to Paxtons right flank and the National Republican Senatorial Committee has released an ad praising Cornyn. Cornyn fears not only for his Senate seat, but also that if Paxton wins, the Democrats might get a foothold.

The whole reason Republicans called this special session was to use their victory in Texas to shore up future elections and a Paxton primary victory could make that all for naught and allow for the Democrats to be at least competitive in the Lone Star State.

If that happens, Republicans will now have to fight for a state they long considered safe and it could change the political calculus. After all, they did the same in Texas many years ago.
A child tries to find food from a bucket at a displacement camp in El Fasher, North Darfur region, Sudan, on July 9, 2025. (UNICEF/Handout via Xinhua)

KHARTOUM, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 civilians were killed and eight others injured in an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a village in North Kordofan State, western Sudan, volunteer groups said on Friday.

"Yesterday (Thursday) evening, RSF forces attacked the village of Markaz Al-Ziyadiya in North Kordofan State," which also left six individuals missing, the Sudanese Doctors Network, a volunteer group, said in a statement.

The network condemned what it described as "a brutal attack," stating that it constitutes a full-fledged "war crime" and reflects a systematic pattern by the RSF of targeting civilians in Sudan.

For its part, the Coordination of Resistance Committees in North Kordofan, also a volunteer group, confirmed in a statement that 16 civilians were killed in the RSF attack on the village of Markaz Al-Ziyadiya, noting that several others were wounded or taken captive.

According to the statement, an RSF armed group launched an assault on civilians inside their homes and looted residents' properties in the process.

The RSF has not yet issued any comment regarding the incident.

Recently, clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF have intensified in the Kordofan region, which includes North, West, and South Kordofan states. The RSF controls most towns in West Kordofan and is imposing a siege on El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan.

Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country's humanitarian crisis.
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President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday morning to announce a press conference on Monday that he claimed would end violent crime in the nations capital.

On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. said Trump. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!!

This comes after a Thursday announcement from the White House that it will utilize federal law enforcement on the streets of Washington. Trump said the ramp-up of security would last for seven days, with the option to extend as needed. On Wednesday, Trump threatened to take charge of the citys police force following an attempted hijacking in which an administration staffer was injured.

Last weekend, a member of the Department of Government Efficiency, Edward Coristine, nicknamed Big Balls, was assaulted by a group of teenagers. Police have detained two 15-year-olds and have said theyre still looking for other members of the group.

If D.C. doesnt get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that theyre not going to get away with it anymore, Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week.

open image in gallery Trump said Saturday that a Monday press conference would mean the end of violent crime in the nations capital ( AP )

Trump didnt specifically say what the press conference would include. He has, in recent months, claimed that violent crime was taking over Washington, and he has threatened to send in the National Guard.

This week, he told reporters that he may attempt to repeal Washingtons limited home rule and that hes considering bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly.

Between 2023 and 2024, rates of violent crime dropped 35 percent in Washington, the lowest rates in more than three decades, according to the Department of Justice. This year, violent crime has continued to decrease, down 26 percent year-over-year, according to data released on August 8 by the Metropolitan Police Department.

open image in gallery Violent crime has dropped significantly in Washington in the last several years ( AFP via Getty Images )

William McGinley served as the White House cabinet secretary during Trumps first term. He took to X on Saturday to back up the president, saying that Trump is taking concrete steps to make the Nations Capital safe, beautiful, and a capital worthy of this great nation.

Democrats will hurl spurious insults about these moves but the blame for DCs failures lies with the Democrats, he added. They know it. Do not be distracted. Hold the line and take action to support this move.

Juan Carlos Green, a community engagement manager at the DC public charter school board, wrote that DC residents elect leaders to govern our city, and not the White House. We deserve the same right to self-govern as every state.

A White House official said that more than 120 members of a number of federal agencies were set to be on duty in Washington on Friday night.

"This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, D.C.," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
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Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton appeared on CNN on Friday night, comparing the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to Trump inviting the Taliban to peace negotiations at Camp David.

Trump announced on Truth Social earlier that the highly anticipated meeting would take place on Friday, August 15.

Its very gracious of Putin to come to former Russian America for this summit, a sarcastic Bolton noted. This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, but it certainly reminds one of that. Trump later canceled the talks with the Taliban in September 2019.

The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow, Bolton added. So, the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin. Hes a rogue leader of a pariah state, and hes going to be welcomed into the United States.

He went on to argue that the situation is sliding very quickly in Russia's direction.

open image in gallery John Bolton said meeting with Putin in Alaska was akin to Trumps planned 2019 meeting with the Taliban at Camp David ( Getty Images )

We're not quite back at February the 28th, in the Oval Office, when Trump told [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, You don't have any cards. But what's happening is that Russia and the United States are discussing what terms they're going to present to Zelenskyy, and it may well be that Zelenskyy has no choice here, he added. Surrendering is always one way to get a peace deal.

Bolton suggested that even without the meeting, Putins got his old magic back with Trump.

All that disappointment, all that outrage  now you're talking about a deal between Trump and Putin? Think of the press that will get. I have to say, from the strategic perspective, from the U.S. interest perspective, this was not a good day, said the former U.N. ambassador.

Host Kaitlan Collins noted that Putin cant go to Europe for a meeting, as theres an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest.

Bolton argued that they could have met in Vienna or Geneva, where Putin met then-President Joe Biden in 2021.

open image in gallery Bolton argued Trump and Putin could have met in Geneva or Vienna, saying theyre considered U.N. cities ( AP )

They're basically considered U.N. cities, and the ICC warrant could have been waived, and I don't think anybody would have objected, frankly, he said.

Bolton said, If Trump really wanted to get an equitable peace deal, he could certainly listen to what Putin had to say.

But they're doing a lot more than listening. They could receive the material and send it to Zelenskyy, and hear what he thought of it first, he added.

Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trumps first term, said, This sounds an awful lot like the peace plan proposed by Vice President JD Vance during the campaign last year.

Russia keeps all the territory it currently holds, a demilitarized zone, maybe with a peacekeeping force on the Ukrainian side is set up, and Ukraine pledges not to join NATO, said Bolton. If Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire here, it's agreeing to its new border with Russia, effectively. I think this is a very dangerous point for Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government.
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President Donald Trump is set to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week, the state that Russia once laid claim to and nationalists want to take back.

Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine, which the president claimed he would end on Day One.

Despite facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, the meeting would mark the first time in a decade that Putin has set foot on U.S. soil.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine ( AP )

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska, Trump declared on Truth Social.

Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they mercilessly exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back.

Alaska was purchased from the Russians by the U.S. for a sum of $7.2 million in 1867the equivalent of between $129 million and $153.5 million today.

Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected, said Michael McFaul, a professor of political science at Stanford University and former. U.S. ambassador to Russia.

Let's all hope that Putin doesn't ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too, political commentator David Frum said in a post on X.

Trump inviting war criminal Putin to America is nauseating enough, but hosting him in Alaska  while Putin's pet propagandists routinely demand it back from the US on state TV  is beyond the pale, author and commentator Julia Davis wrote on X. Unless Putin is arrested upon arrival, there's no excuse.

She posted a series of clips and screenshots of pro-Putin Russian commentators suggesting that Alaska should be part of their country once again.

Trumps former national security adviser-turned foe, John Bolton, said the move reminded him of a blunder the president allegedly nearly made in his first term.

open image in gallery Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back ( Reuters )

This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlan Collins. But it certainly reminds one of that.

The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow, Bolton added. So the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin.

Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck News, tweeted: So Vladimir Putin, who has an ICC warrant out for his arrest, gets a meeting with the U.S. president on U.S. soil without having to give up or even promise anythingafter ignoring and insulting Trump. One more win for Putin, one more loss for Trump.

Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in war studies at Kings College, London, wrote: Since the end of the Cold War, summits have been used by US presidents as a mark of approval and withheld when they disapprove of Russian actions. Trump is, once again, signalling the value he places on Putin's friendship. It's a profound humiliation for the US.

For Trump to announce a summit - the traditional US reward for friendly Russian presidents - with Putin, on the day he had said would be the deadline for announcing action to punish Russian aggression is an extraordinary move. It's an unambiguous signal of alignment with Russia.

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said that she was deeply wary of Putin as she reacted to the news that the summit would take place in her home state.

This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements, Murkowski said in a post on X Friday. While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.

open image in gallery Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Putin is wanted by the ICC on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the conflict triggered by Moscows invasion of its neighbor. At least 19,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have been kidnapped and taken to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022, although Ukrainian officials say the total is probably far higher. Putins childrens rights commissioner, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, is also charged over the same alleged offenses.

Putin has traveled overseas since the warrant was issued, including to ICC member state Mongolia. Hes also traveled to China and North Korea, which are not court members.

During the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on Day One, but later claimed he said it in jest.

Negotiations on peace talks have been slow moving and, at times, fraught.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in the Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The vice president attacked Zelensky for not saying thank you enough for U.S. financial and military support and accused him of being disrespectful.

Trump has made numerous pro-Putin statements in the past, and said gets along with the dictator very well. His tone changed this month, when he said he was disappointed with Putin as peace talks continued to drag and violence in Europe continued.

The most famous meeting between the two presidents took place in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018, during Trumps first term as president. Following the meeting, Trump publicly contradicted U.S. intelligence agencies and appeared to take Putins word over their findings regarding Russian election interference.

The remarks caused bipartisan outrage in Washington, with many accusing Trump of having sided with the enemy.

Trump has also publicly blamed Zelensky  rather than Putin  for starting the war.
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In May 2021, an intoxicated Oklahoma woman called an Uber to take her home from her nieces engagement party. Although the ride should have only taken 23 minutes, when she woke up hours later, she wasnt home, but seated behind the steering wheel of a strange car, with her underwear in her purse and her jeans on inside out.

Her mind blurred with confusion and her body covered in bruises, she went to the hospital and was given a sexual assault examination, according to a civil lawsuit against Uber and the driver, seen by The Independent.

Authorities charged the driver, Timothy Alexander Greene, in June 2021. A jury convicted him of sexual battery two years later, court records show, and he is serving a 10-year prison sentence.

The womans horrifying assault in a ride-share vehicle is far from an isolated incident.

Especially with solo female passengers, this is a huge problem in the industry, Jim Mitchell, one of the attorneys representing the Oklahoma woman, told The Independent.

open image in gallery Uber received reports of sexual misconduct on an average of every eight minutes, documents first reported by The New York Times revealed this week. ( Getty Images )

Safety is a core value at Uber, and we have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to reduce safety incidents during trips, particularly when it comes to sexual misconduct and assault, the company said in a statement on its website.

Across the country, passengers have shared claims of misconduct that took place in Uber rides. In Utah, a woman on her way home was subjected to unwanted touching. In California, a driver touched himself as a female passenger vomited. In Texas, a 20-minute ride turned into a five-hour ordeal and an alleged rape at a motel.

While Uber touts its safety record  and the company has implemented a string of features to protect passengers and drivers since its inception  allegations detailed in thousands of legal cases, internal company documents, and stories on social media underscore that staying safe in ride-shares is still an issue.

Uber received reports of sexual misconduct every eight minutes from U.S. riders from 2017 through 2022, documents first reported by The New York Times revealed this week. Over six years, that totaled more than 400,000 Uber trips in the U.S. resulting in reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, according to the report.

Ubers 2022 safety report disclosed 12,522 sexual assault and misconduct reports over the same time period. The tech company addressed the large discrepancy in a statement posted on the company website Wednesday after the Times published its report.

The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of misconduct reports were less serious and non-physical in nature, like flirting or staring, Hannah Nilles, Ubers Head of Safety for the Americas, wrote.

Most of these 400,000-plus reports have not been subjected to a rigorous process that vets allegations and weeds out false reports made with the goal of getting a refund, Nilles continued. Uber claims that 99.99 percent of trips end without any issue. Roughly 0.006 percent of the 6.3 billion trips in the U.S. in the six-year span ended with a sexual misconduct or assault report, according to Nilles. The most serious reports accounted for 0.00002 percent  or 1 in 5 million trips  she said.

The vast majority of sexual misconduct reports between 2017-2022 were made by female drivers or riders. Women represented 89 percent of survivors, according to the companys 2022 safety report.Uber has not released a safety report since.The Independent has asked the company why this is the case.

Uber identified other patterns in the sexual assault report data, according to internal documents seen by the Times. Incidents tended to occur late at night and on weekends with pick-ups near bars.

The company has implemented a series of safety measures over the past several years.

RideCheck uses GPS tracking to detect whether the ride stays on course, pinging drivers and riders to ensure theyre safe. Theres also a Follow My Ride feature that allows riders to share their trips so loved ones can track. But Uber acknowledges the features limitations.

No single safety feature or policy is going to prevent unpredictable incidents from happening on Uber, or in our world, Nilles told the Times.

open image in gallery The ride-share giant has implemented a number of safety features over the last several years, like RideCheck, which uses GPS tracking to ensure the trip stays on course ( AFP via Getty Images )

In one case, what should have been a 20-minute trip became a harrowing five-hour ordeal that culminated in an alleged rape,The Times reported.

A woman in Houston requested an Uber in December 2023. The driver picked her up at 8.53 p.m. at an apartment complex to take her to a house 22 minutes away. But the driver took a detour to a gas station around 9.10 p.m., the records show. Thats when Uber sent a ping to check in on the woman, who didnt respond.

By 9.29 p.m., the car continued to veer off the requested course and instead stopped at a motel. The company notified the woman again, and again, it went unanswered. Minutes later, Uber tried to get in touch with her with a robocall, to which she also didnt respond.

The driver didnt mark the trip as complete until 2.01 a.m. Three hours later, the woman called Uber, claiming that she had been intoxicated and woke up in a motel with the driver, who had raped her, the Times reported.

Uber banned the driver immediately after the alleged attack.

An investigation into him the following month revealed a a concerning fact pattern that included two previous accusations of sexual misconduct for inappropriate comments.

The three missed contact attempts served as a potential signal that something could have gone wrong in the trip, the documents said. The report asked: Are our actions (or lack of actions) defensible?

In Oklahoma, when charges were brought against Uber driver Greene in 2021, the State Bureau of Investigation warned that there may be other survivors. Authorities had reason to believe other women could also have been assaulted by the ride-share driver.

It appears that investigators found another survivor. Last June, Oklahoma County District Attorneys Office brought another charge against Greene, accusing him of raping a woman in July 2019 while he was driving for Lyft, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court on August 20. An attorney for Greene declined to comment on the ongoing cases.

The woman filed a police report and contacted Lyft to report the alleged incident. Greene was booted from the platform, the 2021 civil suit says.

Greene then allegedly engaged in platform hopping, jumping over to Uber after being deactivated from Lyft, said Mitchell, who also represents the woman.

open image in gallery Timothy Greene, an Oklahoma Uber driver, who was convicted of sexual assaulting a passenger ( OSBI )

In March 2021, Lyft and Uber launched the Industry Sharing Safety Program which allows both companies to share information about drivers who were banned from the others platform for sexual or physical assaults.

"Any act of violence or assault has no place in the Lyft community or our society. When an incident is reported to us, our trained team takes immediate action to investigate, provides our support to the victim, and works with law enforcement on any investigation. With regard to the Oklahoma case, we were made aware of the allegations against the driver in June of 2019, and we immediately and permanently banned him from ever driving on the Lyft platform again. At that time we also provided support to the rider, and assisted law enforcement with their investigation, a Lyft spokesperson told The Independent.

Since Uber issued its first safety report for 2017 and 2018, the rate of reported sexual assaults has declined 44 percent, according to the companys latest report.

Meanwhile, hundreds of plaintiffs across 29 states have joined a class action lawsuit against the ride-share giant.

More than 2,435 cases are pending in the multidistrict litigation against Uber for activity described in the Times article, lead attorneys Rachel Abrams, Sarah London, and Roopal Luhana told The Independent in a statement. There are an additional 621 cases brought in California under a related proceeding.

We look forward to litigating these claims in Court on behalf of the brave survivors who have come forward to seek justice from a company that has put profits over safety, the attorneys said. The cases are scheduled to go to trial in December.

Lyft, Ubers ride-share rival, also disclosed thousands of sexual misconduct reports from 2017 through 2022. In that period, there were 6,809 reports, accounting for 0.0002 percent of rides, according to Lyfts 2022 safety report.

On social media, women have also been sharing their disturbing stories.

One TikToker, xknowlsallpodcast, alleged she was sexually assaulted in 2016 in San Francisco. Intoxicated, she got in an Uber and immediately started feeling sick. She threw up a little on the cars central console. The driver then stopped the car and asked what she was doing, she recalled.

The rider then opened the door and continued to vomit. The driver walked around to her side of the car. He then took off his pants and started touching himself, she said. She then ran out of the car, hid behind a nearby house, and called another Uber.

Later, she looked at her Uber receipts to find that her second ride picked her up far from where she wanted to go. She had ordered a car to take her from a holiday party in downtown San Francisco to her home in the northern part of the city. Instead, she said, her receipts showed that she was south, near the airport.

When I look at my Uber receipts, the first car that was supposed to take me downtown to my house was cancelled, the woman said in the video. My theory is this driver saw me, he saw how intoxicated I was, he saw an opportunity to hurt me, and he cancelled the ride when I got into his car.

When she reported the incident to Uber, the company told her that she got into the wrong car that night, the TikToker recalled. She also said that this was a possibility.

Since then, she said she shares her rides with her friends and never, ever, ever get into a car by myself intoxicated like that.The Independent has asked Uber about the alleged incident but received no response.

open image in gallery NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 14: A woman walks by a hired SUV as it waits for a client in Manhattan a day after it was announced that Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick will take a leave of absence as chief executive on June 14, 2017 in New York City. The move came after former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. and his law firm, Covington & Burling, released 13 pages of recommendations compiled as part of an investigation of sexual harassment at the ride-hailing car service. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) ( Getty Images )

In Utah, a Facebook user said she called an Uber to take her home in August 2021. The driver reached into the backseat where she was sitting and started repeatedly touching and rubbing her leg, despite her pleas for him to stop, she wrote in a social media post.

When she tried to exit, he locked the door, she claimed. She eventually got to her destination after telling him that family members were expecting her. The woman contacted Uber about the incident, she said, and urged other riders to share their locations when using a ride-share.

The driver was banned from the platform, Uber told The Independent.

Safety issues extend to female drivers as well. And due to the media attention around ride-share assaults, attracting female drivers has become a challenge.

Safety has ranked as one of the top reasons for prospective female drivers to not join Uber, and for current female drivers to not drive during certain hours of the day, an internal document, seen by the Times, stated.

Uber rolled out an experimental program that matched female riders with female drivers in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and found an overwhelmingly positive response, the company said. It has since replicated the feature in 40 countries.

The company had planned to launch the same program in the U.S. in November, but Donald Trumps election victory prompted executives to rethink the timing of the rollout. This is not the right environment to launch, and we want to take a beat to assess our timing, an internal document, reported by The Times, stated. The Independent has asked Uber about the decision.

Last month, Uber announced that the Women Preferences option for riders and drivers will become available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit starting in the next few weeks. Lyft rolled out a similar program  Women + Connect  last September, giving women and nonbinary riders and drivers the option to be paired. The company has since expanded the program nationwide.

Editor's Note: This article's headline has been changed from 'Attacks every 8 minutes' to 'Incidents every 8 minutes'. This reflects that Uber received reports of sexual misconduct every eight minutes from U.S. riders from 2017 through 2022. This statistic included incidents of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, and a wide range of behaviorssuch as staring/leering, inappropriate comments, and gestures -- and not only physical attacks.
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Donald Trump has said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Putin is expected to use the talks to set out Russia's demands for a ceasefire deal.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Mr Trump admitted any peace deal may involve some swapping of territories.

But Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky hit back, vowing he would not cede land, saying: Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers.

Trump has said he will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin next Friday ( AP )

When and where are talks happening?

The talks are set to happen on Friday, August 15 in Alaska.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska, President Trump declared on Truth Social.

The meeting between the two leaders will be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former US President Joe Biden met Mr Putin in Switzerland.

However, critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770s, where they mercilessly exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russians, and nationalists have long wanted to take it back.

The agreement to meet comes after Mr Trumps growing frustration with Mr Putin's refusal to halt Russia's military offensive.

The US president had threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs from Friday against Moscow and countries that buy its goods unless the Russian leader agreed to end the war. Itis not yet clear whether those sanctions would still go ahead or have been delayed.

What will they discuss?

The two presidents are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and Russias demands if a ceasefire is to be agreed.

It could lead to a breakthrough in President Trumps effort to end the conflict, after he vowed during his election campaign to end the war in 24 hours of taking office.

But there is no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

What has Trump said?

Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he couldn't announce where or when the meeting would take place, but he would do so soon and suggested the talks would come before any discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

But shortly after, he announced it would take place in Alaska on 15 August.

The US president has said a peace deal may involve the swapping of territories between Russia and Ukraine.

We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, he said.

What has Russia said?

Russia wants to discuss its demands for a ceasefire deal, including Ukraine giving up two eastern regions and its sovereignty over Crimea.

The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement and said the two leaders would focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

"It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska," President Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said in a statement posted to the Kremlin's news channel.

What has Zelensky said?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the planned summit between Mr Trump and Mr Putin, would lead to "dead solutions if the deal excluded Kyiv.

In a statement posted to Telegram, Zelensky said Ukraine "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done" and that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier."

The answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this.

He added: "Any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions, they will never work."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has also said Ukraine remains open to meaningful dialogue but warned "Russia must not be rewarded for starting this war".
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This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Arabia

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who initially backed the war in Gaza as an inevitable response to the October 7 attacks, describes plans to take over the whole strip as a historic disaster.

In an exclusive interview with Independent Arabia, Olmert, who served as Israels prime minister from 2006 to 2009, states that the war which is entering its second year has achieved all of its objectives and its continuation runs counter to Israels interests and serves only the personal interests of the countrys current leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Olmert, Netanyahu is determined to keep the war going, and to further escalate it, in order to avoid the political fallout that an end to the war would bring. The former premier believes this would likely include the formation of a commission of inquiry into security failures surrounding the October 7 attack, and see the collapse of Netanyahus government, which is propped up by what Olmert calls the messianic faction led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The far-right ministers were both recently banned from entering the UK for repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities.

Olmert claims this political bloc is singularly focused on waging war and destruction on Gaza and the West Bank, aiming to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, expel its Palestinian residents, and hand it over to Israeli settlers.

The majority of Israelis reject this agenda, Olmert insists, We are doing everything we can to stop these plans, because they would lead to a historic disaster.

An unjustified war

According to Olmert, the war that began in 2023 was initially launched as a response to Hamass brutal attack on civilians, in which 1,200 people were killed in their homes and bedrooms. At the time, he says, Israel enjoyed overwhelming support and broad international backing.

open image in gallery Palestinians carry a man injured while rushing to collect humanitarian aid in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday 7 August ( AP/Jehad Alshrafi )

However, Olmert later became opposed to the continuation of the war, arguing that Israel had already achieved everything that could reasonably be achieved, including killing key Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, along with the majority of the groups senior and mid-level commanders, as well as the destruction of most of its rockets and command infrastructure.

Whats happening now is no longer necessary, he says, noting the large numbers of both Israeli military casualties and the estimated death toll of over 60,000 Palestinians. What is needed now is to end the violence and bring the hostages home  and the only way to do that is by ending the war, not expanding it  especially as international opposition continues to grow.

Olmert adds that most former Israeli military and security officials have called for an immediate halt to the war, as there are no further military objectives left to achieve. Continuing this war in the face of mounting civilian deaths on both sides is a crime that cannot be ignored.

He believes the war should have ended in March, criticising Netanyahu for withdrawing from a ceasefire deal at that time rather than pursuing negotiations for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. At that point, Olmert says, the war became illegitimate.

Both Hamas and Netanyahu to blame

When asked who bears responsibility for the failure of current ceasefire negotiations, Olmert declined to give a direct answer. Dont expect me to side with Hamas, he says. It is a brutal and murderous organisation. But Netanyahu is a deceitful prime minister  so both are guilty, each in their own way.

open image in gallery A demonstrator dressed up as Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages in Tel Aviv on Thursday ( Reuters/Ammar Awad )

Olmert explained that reaching an agreement is actually quite simple  it all depends on how you choose to see things. Israel wants to retrieve the hostages and continue the war, which Hamas refuses  so from the Israeli perspective, Hamas is obstructing the talks.

On the other hand, he adds, Hamas appears willing to release the hostages and end the war, something Israel now rejects, which is why, from Hamass view, it is Israel that is responsible for the failure.

As for what would happen after the war finishes, Olmert says Israel has no clear vision with the exception of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who clearly advocate reoccupation, expulsion of Palestinians, and expanding settlements in Gaza.

Olmert insists that the Palestinian Authority remains the only possible partner for a peace agreement, despite its weaknesses and the need for internal reform. Netanyahu has rejected the PA [Palestinian Authority] for 15 years. He prefers to empower Hamas rather than negotiate with the legitimate Palestinian leadership. Thats one of the main reasons we are stuck in this ongoing tragedy  the other being Hamas itself, with its murderous ideology.

While Olmert acknowledges that the Israeli military has committed war crimes in Gaza, he describes them as unintentional failures of discipline or judgment, not official policy. Still, they are grave and perhaps unforgivable.

He accuses Hamas of pursuing a strategy designed to kill as many civilians as possible, driven by hatred and intolerance, but warned that the continued military campaign could deepen Israels international isolation. A widespread boycott is coming, he says, and it could spread across the world. The only way to stop it is to change course and end the war.

The decision lies with the White House

Olmert believes that US President Donald Trump is the only person capable of pressuring Netanyahu to end the war, suggesting that all it would take is for Trump to summon him to his favourite place  the White House  and tell him in front of the cameras: You need to stop the war now.

Citing a recent example, the former premier pointed to an incident on the first day of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel when Israeli fighter jets reportedly en route to strike Iranian targets turned back after Trump issued a direct order to stand down.

Olmert describes Trump as Netanyahus only true friend, adding that while former President Joe Biden was a staunch Zionist and a great friend of Israel, he may not have been a friend to Netanyahu personally.

open image in gallery Olmert claims US President Trump is the only person capable of pressuring Netanyahu to end the war ( AP )

Currently, Olmert is working with former Fatah official Nasser Al-Qudwa on an initiative promoting the two-state solution as the only viable path to resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict. Fatah is the political party in charge of the Palestinian Authority, and partially governs Palestinian communities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

According to Olmert, this project is based on a peace proposal he presented to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in 2009, an offer he describes as a comprehensive and final agreement unlike any previously proposed by an Israeli leader.

He recalls warning Abbas at the time: Dont miss this opportunity  it wont come again for another 20 years. Olmert noted that Abbas never gave a clear answer, He didnt say no, but he also didnt say yes.

According to Olmert, Abbas failed to sign an agreement that could have changed the history of the Middle East and the lives of millions  a failure that is unforgivable.

Olmert explained that he presented a detailed and comprehensive map outlining everything, proposing the establishment of a Palestinian state over more than 95 per cent of the territories based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps agreed upon with Israel.

His initiative envisioned the Arab part of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, while the Old City, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall, would be placed under the joint administration of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and the United States.

At the time, Olmert refused to hand the map directly to Abbas for review, instead asking him to bring a team of experts the following day to study it. Olmert explained his caution by saying, I didnt want him to take the map and disappear for years, then claim this was the offer made by the Israeli prime minister and start negotiations from there.

Earlier this year, Mahmoud Abbas denied missing the opportunity to sign a peace map presented by Olmert, stating that he never received any peace map from him during the talks, which lasted until the last day of his premiership.

According to an official statement published by the Palestinian News Agency, Abbas stated that the talks with Olmert were serious and covered all final issues, but Olmert was not allowed to remain in office long enough to follow up on what was discussed, and during these talks, we never received any map or document to respond to.

Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar
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Travelers often assume that over-the-counter medications are harmless to pack, but international drug laws may tell a different story.

U.S. staples like Sudafed and Benadryl are banned or strictly regulated in a number of countries, making preparation essential for hassle-free travel. Some countries even require special permits or advance approval for common medications.

Here are some OTC drugs you may not think twice about packing for your next trip abroad, but could require a doctor's note or previous preparation for smooth entry.

Sudafed and Pseudoephedrine restrictions

Pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in cold decongestant Sudafed, is prohibited in destinations such as Japan and Mexico. Bringing it in without awareness may result in a seizure at customs.

Codeine: A controlled substance abroad

OTC medications containing codeine, commonly used in cough suppressants or pain relievers, face strict restrictions in multiple countries. For instance, the UAE, Japan, Greece, and Indonesia all consider codeine a controlled substance and may require prior approval or a doctors note to allow entry.

open image in gallery Benadryl is restricted in places like Japan and Zambia ( Getty Images )

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) May Be Flagged Internationally

The antihistamine diphenhydramine, present in Benadryl, is restricted in places including Japan and Zambia. It can be confiscated at customs and may only be allowed with proper documentation.

ADHD medications

Travelers bringing along ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin may require prior approval before entry into the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

Often classified as controlled substances, these substances may require documentation or approval for special permits for entry.

What to know before you go

Travelers should always do their research on the country they are visiting and their respective drug laws.

Even though its sometimes handy to put your medications into a fun little travel organizer or loose in your luggae, experts encourage travelers to keep their OTC drugs in their original bottles.

Optics matter. This can create more of a headache when navigating questions than the medications are meant to help, Quinn English of FreeQuinnt Flyer, told Travel and Leisure.

open image in gallery Pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in Sudafed, is banned in Japan and Mexico ( Getty Images )

Always travel with the original prescription bottle on your person so they can be easily examined and can help answer immediate questions related to the condition, she added.

Traveling with a written copy of your prescriptions and/or a doctors note is also suggested. The potential consequences of entering a country with illegal OTC drugs can range from paying a fine to being detained or arrested.

The CDC and travel expert Katy Nastro recommend checking the U.S. Embassy website for your destination, and consulting groups like the International Narcotics Control Board or the International Pharmaceutical Federation for medication-specific rules.
Anti-immigration protesters gathered in Bristol waving Union Jacks and chanting, with signs reading Stop immigration, start deportation among many on display (Saturday, 9 August).

Nearby, anti-racism protesters gathered outside the Mercure Brigstow Hotel in Bristol for a 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally on Saturday in opposition.

Avon and Somerset Police pledged a robust response to any disorder, maintaining a significant presence in the area.

The events reflect growing friction over immigration in the UK, with police in different cities across England bracing for possible demonstrations this weekend amid the far rights promotion of protests across multiple locations.
Watch as police detain demonstrators during a protest against the terror ban of the group Palestine Action. (9 August)

Footage shared by Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington John McDonnell captures officers carrying a demonstrator into a police van in Parliament Square.

People are being arrested for peacefully protesting against the proscription of Palestine Action. Its a disgrace that people are being arrested for upholding our democratic rights, McDonnell wrote.

The governments proscription of Palestine Action as a terror group, which makes it an offence to hold up a sign or wear a t-shirt in support of the group , is currently being challenged in the High Court.
KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least six commuters were killed and another injured in a road accident in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province on Friday afternoon, a local official confirmed Saturday.

Mullah Ezatullah Haqqani, spokesman for the provincial government, said that a car collided head-on with another vehicle, killing six people, including a mother and her four children, on the spot in Washir district along the highway linking Herat to the capital Kabul.

The official blamed reckless driving for the incident, saying the injured passenger was taken to a nearby health center for treatment.

In a separate incident on Friday morning, one commuter was killed, and six others were injured in a highway crash in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province.

Fatal road accidents are frequent in Afghanistan due to poor road conditions, reckless driving, challenging terrains, overloading, and dangerous overtaking. 
Police officers outnumbered anti-migrant protesters outside a hotel in Islington where a protest was being held in support of refugees on Friday 8 August.

Around 80 anti-racism demonstrators from Stand Up to Racism turned up outside the London hotel, where asylum seekers are believed to be housed by the government.

Immigration has brought a great growth and diversity to Britain. And we are richer for the people that have come here, said Claudia Webbe, a former MP for Leicester East who was in attendance at the demonstration.

An increased police presence is expected over the weekend amid concerns that anti-asylum seeker protests and counter-protests could lead to violence and disorder.
Donald Trump has confirmed he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at the White House on Friday (8 August), Mr Trump said the meeting would take place very shortly. He later announced on Truth Social that it would be held in Alaska next Friday.

He suggested a possible peace deal could involve some swapping of territories.

The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement, saying the two leaders would explore options for a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded on Saturday (9 August), saying Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will not give up land, following Donald Trumps claim that a peace deal with Russia may involve some swapping of territories.

Mr Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Friday (8 August), he said there would be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.

Mr Zelensky responded on Saturday morning, stating, Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.

The answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this, he added.
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Today, I will be in Parliament Square to demand that the UK government uphold our right to freedom of speech, and to denounce the genocide that the Israeli government is perpetrating in Gaza against the Palestinian people.

As a human rights defender, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has denounced genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing throughout the world, I cannot remain silent, witnessing the genocide and the abhorrent starvation of the Palestinian people.

I will be holding a sign that will read: The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

Volker Turk, UN human rights chief, stated that [the proscription of Palestine Action] appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UKs obligations under international human rights law.

Since 5 July, when the order proscribing the Palestine Action protest group under terrorism legislation came into force, hundreds of people have been arrested for holding up peaceful signs motivated by their consternation and horror at the genocide in Gaza.

I was shocked to see 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt on television being arrested on the day that Palestine Action was proscribed. Reverend Parfitt was attending a demonstration in Parliament Square, sitting in a camp chair around fellow protesters holding a placard stating her support of the outlawed protest group.

While being carried away by police, Reverend Parfitt described the ban as total nonsense, and went on to add that it symbolised a loss of civil liberties in this country.

Some have had their homes raided by the police. No one arrested seemed to pose any threat to the public.

At the protest in support of Palestine Action, veteran activist Bianca Jagger holds a sign reading: The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights ( AFP/Getty )

Turk has also said that the UKs counter-terrorism legislation misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries, to encompass further conduct that is already criminal under the law.

He added: The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effects on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people.

Yesterday, Amnesty International wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, stating that arresting protesters would violate international law:

The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters solely for expressing the statement I Oppose Genocide  I Support Palestine Action is a violation of the UKs international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Further arrests [carried out on the 9 August demonstration] would violate international human rights law. As such, we urge you to instruct your officers to comply with the UKs international obligations and act with restraint in their response to any such protests that occur, by not arresting protesters who are merely carrying placards that state they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.

The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights recently wrote a paper, supported by numerous legal advocacy groups, that states: Evidence suggests active and sustained cooperation between the UK and Israeli armies. Concerns surround reports that the UK military has carried out over 500 surveillance flights around Gaza since December 2023, sharing intelligence with Israel  including during the ceasefire.

Only yesterday, further evidence emerged of the RAFs ongoing support for Israel: Britain continues to run near daily surveillance flights over Gaza with the help of a US contractor at a time of growing questions about how the intelligence obtained is used and shared with the Israeli military.

Specialist flight trackers estimate that RAF Shadow aircraft have run more than 600 flights over the Palestinian territory from the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus in an attempt to locate the remaining hostages held by Hamas since December 2023.

Palestine Action is being punished for exposing the crimes of the British government and taking action to uphold international law. We cannot turn a blind eye to the horrific crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. I will be joining the demonstration in Parliament Square to oppose genocide and defend human rights and freedom of speech.

Bianca Jagger is the founder and president of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, a Council of Europe goodwill ambassador, and a member of the executive director's leadership council of Amnesty International USA
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Donald Trump understands symbolism and imperial delusions, so Alaska is a fitting location for his meeting with Vladimir Putin on Friday. The US president will know that in Mr Putins eyes, Alaska ought to be Russian territory, sold in a moment of weakness by Alexander II.

Just as, in Mr Trumps mind, Canada and Greenland ought to be part of the United States.

The theatre of the summit, then, is all set. But some of the cast will be missing. By agreeing to a meeting of just the two of them, Mr Trump appears to be convening a conspiracy to carve up Ukraine in the absence of its leader, Volodymyr Zelensky.

This impression was reinforced by Mr Trump talking breezily about Russia and Ukraine swapping territory as part of a peace deal. To Ukrainians  or indeed to anyone who respects the principle of self-determination and the rule of law  this means Mr Putin giving up territory that he has seized by force in exchange for being rewarded for his aggression by gaining further territory that he has not yet been able to steal.

No wonder Mr Zelensky has his doubts about this meeting. The Ukrainian president has made it clear that he will discuss anything with anyone anywhere, but what he will not do, rightly, is agree to the dismemberment of his country as a condition of talks.

Without Mr Zelensky, it is not clear what this summit can achieve, except to demonstrate ever more clearly to the world and to Mr Trump that it is Mr Putin who is the obstacle to peace.

The other cast members who will be missing in Alaska are Ukraines allies in Europe, what Sir Keir Starmer calls the coalition of the willing. But the Trump administration has at least ensured a side negotiation takes place, with a meeting of national security advisers convened on Saturday by JD Vance, the US vice-president, and David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, at Chevening in Kent.

Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky has been canvassing support from European allies, holding phone calls on Saturday with Sir Keir, as well as leaders from Estonia, Denmark and France, including conversations about Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.

Recently, Mr Trump has shown some signs of recognising that Mr Putin does not want peace in Ukraine. He said that he had had enough of the Russian leader assuring him on the phone that he was ready to negotiate, only to discover the next day that Russian missiles had hit a hospital or a school in Ukraine. He set a deadline for the imposition of further sanctions on Russia, which passed this weekend with no measures announced. By agreeing to the Alaska meeting, it looks as if Mr Putin has strung Mr Trump along  again.

We have no way of seeing into Mr Trumps heart, so we cannot tell if his appeasement of Mr Putin is a diplomatic ploy to allow the Russian leader to agree a deal that saves face, or if it arises from the genuine admiration for a strong leader. But Mr Trumps motive does not matter  except that, if he is as fixated on the idea of a Nobel Peace Prize as he is said to be, he should be unlikely to win the prize by securing peace through Ukraines surrender.

If it is beginning to dawn on Mr Trump that Mr Putin wants the war to continue, then that can only be a good thing, because it will then be clear exactly who is responsible for prolonging the bloodshed. It is not Mr Zelensky or the Ukrainian people who started this war or who are keeping it going.

A recent Gallup poll suggested that a large majority of Ukrainians want a negotiated end to the fighting. They know that this means yielding territory, however bitterly they may resent it. They are willing to pay a price for peace.

Mr Trump must ensure that Mr Putin is made to pay a price as well. The Russian aggressor must not be rewarded.
We think our old neighbour is grazing his cattle on our vacant family farm and were worried he could claim squatters rights. What can we do?
Fresh crisis for Intel after Donald Trump demands resignation of conflicted chief executive

Lip-Bu Tan previously invested in Chinese firms with links to its military

Lip-Bu Tan, chief executive officer of Intel. Photo: Bloomberg

Donal O'Donovan and Fearghal O'Connor Fri 8 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Shares in Intel fell yesterday as the battered chipmaker was plunged into a fresh crisis after US president Donald Trump demanded the immediate resignation of its new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.
No Wonderwall? The greatest Oasis songs ranked from ten to one

Ahead of the Croke Park gigs next weekend, our music critic John Meagher looks at the bands best anthems from a full-on rock-stomp to a hymn for the ages

Budding rock n roll stars: Oasis in 1993, from left, Bonehead, Tony McCarroll, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Paul McGuigan. Photo by James Fry/Getty Images

John Meagher Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

They are the most eagerly awaited shows of the year and, for many, a prospect that looked increasingly unlikely as the years went by. Noel and Liam Gallagher have put their differences behind them and have already played a batch of enthusiastically reviewed UK shows. Next weekends two dates at Croke Park will be their first Irish shows since headlining Slane in 2009.
From Tallaght to Netflix stardom, Emily Ring manifested role of young Wednesday Addams in hit show, says mum

Seven-year-old had only recently joined casting agency when she was approached to play a childhood version of the title character

Emily Ring (7) in character as the young Wednesday Addams in the hit Netflix show, with Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester. Photo supplied by Margaret Ring

Laura Lynott Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Seven-year-old Emily Ring manifested her role as the young Wednesday Addams in the latest season of the hit Netflix show, according to her proud mother.
The different kinds of jellyfish in Irish waters  when to look out for them and how to treat stings
KABUL, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Police have destroyed 9,000 kg of narcotics and arrested 100 suspected traffickers in a major anti-drug operation in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, local media Tolonews reported Saturday.

The large quantity of contraband was seized during a series of coordinated routine operations aimed at curbing the drug trade in the region, Tolonews quoted Mullah Ezatullah Haqani, spokesman for the Helmand provincial police office, as saying.

The suspects, detained on charges of drug trafficking, have been transferred to judicial authorities for further investigation and prosecution, the report said.

Helmand has long been a hub of opium cultivation, and Afghan authorities have intensified operations there since last year to curb production, dismantle trafficking networks and enforce the country's strict anti-drug laws. 
Laxman Das was assaulted and robbed on his way to work

An Indian man, who was brutally assaulted and robbed in Dublin this week, has said his community is feeling terrorised after a spate of racial attacks.

Laxman Das (51), a senior sous chef at the Anantara Marker Hotel, was on his way to work on his electric bike at 4.40am on Wednesday when he was assaulted by three men at Charlemont Place, Dublin 2.
Patrick Geoghegan: From Gaza to Ukraine, Daniel OConnells torch of freedom still shines in hours of darkness

Liberators ideals continue to inspire those fighting for human rights

Dublin's statue of Daniel O'Connell at dawn. Photo: Getty

Patrick Geoghegan Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Despite the many events over the last week, including a state commemoration, in many ways the most important Daniel OConnell anniversary is still to come.
Gardai have arrested three men following a seizure of 1.28 million in cash in South Dublin.

As part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs and money laundering activities in the Dublin area, the arrests and cash seizure were made between Thursday, August 7, and Friday, August 8.
David Quinn: Cavan mothers tragic case exposes the absurdity of Switzerlands assisted suicide regime

Maureen Slough, who had no terminal conditions, died in the Pegasos clinic. Her daughter Megan Royal found out by WhatsApp message

Maureen Slough with daughter Megan

David Quinn Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Megan Royal has performed a great service by telling the Irish public about the circumstances of the death of her mother, Maureen Slough. Maureen died in an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland last month, aged just 58. She was not terminally ill. She had decided to end her life and she located a clinic in Switzerland that was willing to facilitate her wish.
Demonstrators protest outside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to demand the immediate release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas. Photo: Reuters

Palestinians walk through the rubble after an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City. Photo: Reuters

Future historians may have the luxury of assessing the relationship between the number of disastrous decisions made by Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the threats to his personal political survival. But many of the benighted people of Gaza caught in the catastrophic chain reaction of those consequences may not survive to see them.

Israels declaration to take control of Gaza City, a move that could displace one million Palestinians, can only open another unfathomable seam of suffering for people already fighting starvation and in fear for the lives.

Aid agencies say many people have already been forced to flee several times. But they no longer have food, means of transport or a safe place to go.

Apart from the anticipated wave of international alarm, Netanyahus plan for a deeper military push into Gaza has brought warnings from the Israeli militarys leadership, and fierce criticism from families of the hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.

Concerns that more Palestinians will inevitably be killed were raised by UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Even Germany, one of Israels staunchest allies and one of its largest suppliers of arms, has said it is suspending military exports over the move.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government remained deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Moves by France, the UK and Canada to recognise a Palestinian state had added pressure on Berlin.

But Israels opposition leader Yair Lapid also attacked the plan, saying it will lead to many more disasters. He said it was a surrender to Netanyahus far-right coalition members in complete contradiction to the opinion of the military.

Demonstrators protest outside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to demand the immediate release of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas. Photo: Reuters

Those surveying the devastation and deprivation in Gaza would have thought it unimaginable that there could be any way to further escalate a conflict that has already turned the enclave into a living hell, with the death toll passing 61,000 this week.

Israel has already been plunged into international isolation over the spiralling humanitarian cost of the war. The Netherlands has revoked permits for the export of naval ship components to Israel, while Turkey condemned the new offensive and called on the UN to prevent its implementation.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, EU Council president Antonio Costa said the move to take over Gaza City must have consequences for EU-Israel relations.

In Gaza City, the BBC quoted a Dr Hatem Qanoua who said: Im very afraid for my children and all the innocent people who may die. Theyve only known death and destruction.

Since the start of this year, at least 99 people, including 29 children under the age of five, have died of malnutrition, according to the World Health Organisation, which says its figures are likely underestimates.

Mr Netanyahu has turned a deaf ear to the world, but the words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel demand attention: I dont think I should accept other peoples suffering because I suffered. Just the opposite: because I suffered, I dont want others to suffer.
Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP

In late September, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will make the transatlantic journey to Dublin for a much-publicised 3Arena show.

While event promoters promise a once-in-a-lifetime chat, its the story happening elsewhere in the city thats overshadowing proceedings.

A move by the citys Lord Mayor Ray McAdam has sparked tensions as Dublins most prestigious award overlaps with criticism of US foreign policy.

In a praiseful letter last month, Mr McAdam invited the former US president and his wife to accept the Freedom of the Dublin award at the Mansion House.

The Lord Mayor references the Obamas and their connection with the capital, citing the fond memories Dubliners hold of their visit back in 2011.

He said residents of the capital had long admired your leadership, your commitment to public service and your shared belief in the power of community, equality and democracy.

Barack and Michelle Obama first visited Ireland in 2011. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

But as news of the invitation percolated around City Hall, old opposition to US foreign policy reared its head again.

In 2017, when the matter of awarding the Obamas came to a vote by the council chamber, it passed by the not-so-comfortable margin of 30 to 23 votes, with four abstentions.

And it appears another wave of anger is brewing ahead of his next visit.

Obama is just as complicit in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as his successors  Biden and Trump

In the eight years since Barack Obama was first granted this symbolic honour, the world has become a far more dangerous place and all of these changes can be traced back to foreign policy decisions made by the Obama administration, Dublin People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said.

Former president Barack Obama is due to speak at the 3Arena in Dublin in September. Photo: AP

Today's News in 90 seconds - 8th August 2025

Obama is just as complicit in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as his successors  Biden and Trump. For this reason alone, he should receive no welcome in Ireland, he added.

On top of his Middle East policy, Mr Reddy said Mr Obama expanded the use of drones substantially, ordering hundreds of strikes across Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia and killing many civilians.

His party colleague, Cllr Hazel De Nortuin, sounded a similar tone, while opposition is also building in larger parties like Sinn Fein.

The partys leader on the council, Daithi Doolan conceded that Ireland has a unique and important relationship with the US, but remained critical of its foreign policy and particularly its support of Israel.

When the vote was put to the council eight years ago, Mr Doolan said most Sinn Fein councillors voted against the move. I dont think that will change, he said.

The US must begin to play a positive role in brokering a permanent ceasefire in Palestine and lay the foundation for a peace process that leads to a viable, independent Palestine, he added.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr McAdam said the Obamas had not yet responded to the invitation, but he defended his decision to invite them to the Mansion House, saying it was a civic gesture, not a policy endorsement.

Its not a blanket endorsement of his term of office

I know President Obama is set to be here later this year. What Im doing is simply inviting them now. What Im trying to do is fulfil what was already democratically decided by city councillors. I dont think it would be in any way useful or helpful for the city council to reverse that decision, he said.

He acknowledged the legitimate concerns of some councillors, but saw the invitation as a symbolic gesture that recognises shared values like hope, service equality and reconciliation.

Its not a blanket endorsement of his term of office, nor any aspect of US foreign policy, he said.

Lord Mayor Ray McAdam wrote to the Obamas, inviting them to accept the award. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Every term of office, be it a US president, or an Irish taoiseach, or whatever, those terms of office involve complex issues and therefore have complex legacies.

He said Mr Obama was a moderating voice for the world during his eight-year term, pointing out that he won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

One of the ancient duties of a recipient of the Freedom of Dublin award is the responsibility to join a city militia to defend Dublin at short notice if required.

While awardees are unlikely to be called upon any time soon, the battle over granting the Obamas with the citys most prestigious award is clearly set to heat up as September approaches.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The service provider Riada Care Ltd made the announcement

Riada Care Ltd  owners of the Ocean View Nursing Home in Camp in west Kerry  has said the decision to temporarily move 13 residents from the facility is to facilitate essential works at the building.

The initial decision to close the facility caused anger for the families of residents over a lack of prior consultation. However, Riada Care Ltd say essential fire safety works are urgently required at the home.

Riada Care purchased the building but is awaiting registration from HIQA to be the service provider. It added that with more than 30 years experience in the residential nursing home sector, it wants to reassure residents, family members and the wider community that the health and safety of residents remains its top priority.

Since acquiring the property in March 2025, Riada Care Ltd  along with the external fire safety consultants MSA  assessed the site and developed a comprehensive fire safety remediation plan. Contractors have now been appointed.

In a separate statement this week, the HSE acknowledged that it cannot meet its legal obligation to guarantee the safe care of residents under the current circumstances. Riada Care Ltd fully agrees and supports the HSEs position.

It is regrettable that the 13 residents will have to be temporarily relocated. Every option has been explored to allow the residents to remain in the facility while the works are conducted. However, resident-safety determined that this is not feasible, and all residents would have to be temporarily relocated for the duration of the fire safety works, said a spokesperson for Riada Care Ltd.

The company also revealed that work at the home will commence later this month once alternative locations have been secured for the residents. Its estimated that it will take approximately two to three months to complete the fire safety works, which will include electrical upgrades and building works to meet fire safety standards throughout the facility.

The cost of the works is estimated at 650,000 and will be fully funded by Riada Care Ltd. Upon completion  and subject to HIQA registration  the facility will be able to operate with an additional 21 beds, bringing total capacity at the nursing home to 34 beds, supported by a full complement of staff of more than 40 employees.

Moreover, Riada Care Ltd has applied to HIQA to become the registered provider and to take over the day to day management of the Ocean View Care Home.

Riada Care remains entirely committed to providing the highest standards of residential nursing home care at all of its facilities across Ireland. It looks forward to the completion of the scheduled works and the restoration of full operations at the only nursing home located on the Dingle Peninsula, said a spokesperson.
Irelands circus queen  I was carried in a basket on an elephant as a baby

Ringmistress Marion Fossett talks tradition and family as the circus prepares for a record 65th Rose of Tralee Festival in Kerry

Marion Fossett.

Stephen Fernane Kerryman Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 09:02

Marion Fossett is the fourth generation of her family to welcome people to a circus synonymous with the Rose of Tralee. As Irelands most famous ringmistress, Marions mantra is that you can shake the sawdust from your feet but you cant shake it from your blood.
BANGKOK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion on Saturday morning during a patrol operation along the Thai-Cambodian border, the Thai Army said.

In a statement issued by Thailand's Second Army Region, the incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. local time, when Thai troops were conducting a patrol and laying barbed wire to reinforce border security.

All injured soldiers were promptly evacuated and transported to a local hospital for treatment, the Thai Army said.

Armed clashes broke out on July 24 between soldiers of Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed border, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law.

On Aug. 7, Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of a ceasefire and signed an agreement at an extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee held in Malaysia. Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments and not to increase forces along the border. 
One Wexford town said no to hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in 1970 over concerns about debauchery

The Fleadh was due to be hosted in Enniscorthy, but the Irish Countrywomens Association expressed concerns over debauchery, obscenity and immorality

Breandan O hEithir on Feach.

Cillian Boggan Wexford People Fri 8 Aug 2025 at 17:29

Wexford has been immersed into Irish culture, traditional music and the language in recent days as Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2025 attracted thousands to the county
With criminals continually devising new methods of parting people with their cash, the Wexford Garda Division is to set up a mapping system to provide additional security for those living in the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD). Crime Prevention Officer Eddie Wylde attended the July meeting of the RMD and explained how the starting point for many rural areas was a community text alert system.

The text alert system is about protecting older and vulnerable people through community engagement, he said. You can set one up in your area by contacting your local Garda Station and a member of An Garda Siochana will come and attend a meeting to help you.

However, Officer Wylde said that many areas struggle to keep text alert systems active due the age profile of their committee members.

Maintaining community alert systems is a huge problem, because the age profile of those who go on to the committees tends to be very senior, so its hard to get that long-term commitment.

A further issue, according to the officer, is that digital communication can often supersede face-to-face meetings in already fractured communities.

In recent years the text system has stopped people from meeting up, but only by meeting up can you help the community to build, thats how older and vulnerable people meet, and how the volunteers take on the issues to support these people, he said. The groups which havent focused on maintaining their meetings havent been as successful as some of the others.

Chief superintendent Derek Hughes is currently in the process of mapping the parts of the county which have active community alerts, and, with that in mind, Councillor Ger Carthy suggested a pilot project for the RMD.

Can we map the RMD and identify the areas which have a deficit in relation to a community text alert?" he proposed. Then we can work together on that to improve the safety of our people.

In full agreement, Officer Wylde suggested they begin by contacting organisations like the womens and mens sheds and utilising their local knowledge.

One area which does have a text alert system in place is the parish of Mayglass. But local councillor Frank Staples said it had begun to create as many problems as it resolved.

We have the text alert system in my own parish, but it needs to be looked at, he said. Ive seen a few texts lately that might be frightening for some of those living on their own. How we do combat that?

Part of the issue, according to Officer Wylde, is that some committees opt to send updates independently of the guards.

Its structured in a way that it goes through the guards, but people are sending texts independently, not thinking theyre going to cause trouble. Its important to strike a balance when sending those texts so as not to cause unnecessary alarm.

Complicating matters yet further are what Cllr Jim Codd described as the tentacles of serious criminality.

We need community alert systems in place in time for the winter, he said. Life in rural Ireland is different now, people used to meet in person, whether in pubs or at Mass, and they spent time talking. Theres less of that now, so it falls upon us to watch those elderly people and ensure they feel theres someone always available to them.

With some of those elderly people falling foul of online scams, Officer Wylde said the best way to help those unsure of how to deal with suspicious activity on their devices was through education.

The landscape of crime is changing, instance of fraud, economic crime, deception have tripled, he said. The best way to combat that is through education; bring communities together and provide the information for them. If there are any groups in the RMD who wants to set up an alert system, we will attend and help them to do so.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Her carrot cake whoopies were a sensation on the morning show

Owner of First Batch Bakery in Aughrim, Niamh Dillon (centre right), with Ireland AM presenters Muireann OConnell, Alan Hughes and Ray Foley.

The owner of a booming Wicklow bakery made her television debut, causing quite a stir on the set of Ireland AM as her carrot cake whoopies, with cream cheese icing, went down a treat.

Leaving presenters Alan Hughes, Muireann OConnell, Ray Foley and thousands watching at home salivating, Niamh Dillon from First Batch Bakery in Aughrim wowed with her take on an American classic, swapping the chocolate in whoopie pies  the state treat in Maine  for a fusion of carrot cake and cookie.

Providing a platform to showcase her and her husband John Crehans burgeoning business, which has proved popular since opening last year, the shoot was such a success that they have been invited to appear again before the end of the month.

Still on cloud nine, Niamh explained how some inspiration from a foodie friend and a little bit of initiative led to the unforgettable experience at the Ireland AM studio.

John and I have a friend who was appearing on the show and, as we were sitting down watching it, we saw some of the chefs coming in and I thought: We could do this, Niamh recalled.

So, we got in touch with Ireland AM to ask if we could drop in and show them our stuff. They said yes.

Ive always thought the baking and cooking segments look like a lot of fun to shoot, and it absolutely was. The presenters are extremely professional. Theyve done it so many times, and they just put you at ease.

I had six minutes to do the segment, and with about 45 seconds to go, you have to present the food so everybody can taste it. The timings are very tight, but they run such a tight ship, it all goes just as seamlessly as it looks on TV.

Those segments are supposed to be about capturing the fun of cooking and baking, and eating good food in good company, and I think thats also what our bakery is all about, she added.

Life can be so serious and stressful. But coming into First Batch for a bit of coffee and a cake, youre never gonna have somebody leaving the place grumpy.

It was so much fun on Ireland AM, and theyve invited us back again at the end of the month, which will be amazing for the shop and for Aughrim, to bring more people into town. I really enjoyed it, and if it turns into a more regular thing, that would just be the icing on the cake.

It was just me who appeared this time, as John was back in Aughrim taking care of the shop. Hes happy for me to do it. He likes to be behind the scenes, at the bakery, or fixing up the coffee van.

Originally from Meath, Niamh and John set up shop in Aughrim after returning home to Ireland from Canada with their two young children, having spent years honing their craft at a popular bakery near the slopes of Whistler.

Business has been great for the couple since First Batch opened, receiving glowing praise from locals, passers-by and tourists exploring the Wicklow Way, who have spread the word far and wide on social media about their moreish treats and intriguing food combinations, particularly their blackberry and goats cheese brownies.

Blown away by the feedback in the wake of the television appearance, Tinahely resident Niamh said that the response exemplifies the backing the bakery has had from day one.

A lot of friends and family watched the show, and a lot of our local customers have actually come in this morning to say that they saw it, which is lovely, she said.

One of the best things about the show was that what we made on it is available in the bakery, and a lot of people whove only recently started following or learning about us have been in touch to say that they tried that cookie. Its fun for them to say: Ive had that in the bakery, but now Im watching it on the TV!

Our local customers are just fantastic. Im blown away every single time. We also get great footfall from tourists doing the Wicklow Way, or people attending weddings at Brook Lodge. We honestly couldnt have picked a better location.

Asked what the future holds for First Batch, Niamh said that they will keep attending the markets across Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin and beyond that have given them such invaluable exposure, while continuing to experiment with their menu to deliver new taste experiences for their customers.

The couple recently converted a van to serve coffee and treats at public events and private functions, and have also expanded their bakery range to include a myriad of savoury options, such as a must-try chicken and pesto sandwich.

The business has been going great. We just had our first anniversary on June 1, and now have our own little coffee truck, Niamh said.

We bought a Japanese Hijet and converted it, with John and our friend putting the shelves and coffee machine into it. We named it The Batch Mobile. It is a great little machine, but its very slow, so please dont get caught behind us. We can only hit about 70 kilometres an hour, so Im not sure everybody in Aughrim loves that!

Weve started doing weddings, public events and car events in it. We did a private event down at a local company last week, where they rented us out for their breakfast morning, with coffee, croissants and cakes, for their staff. Its a nice way to treat them.

Were still doing farmers markets, including the Maynooth market, the Marlay Park market in Dublin, and we did Macreddin market last month as well. Wed love to do some more of those, too.

John and I are always trying to keep ourselves on our toes and offer new, exciting recipes to keep people interested, rather than them coming back for a brownie every time, so we have started doing not only just cakes and cookies, she continued.

We now have sandwiches and all of our savoury and lunch offerings too, which have gone down very well with customers so far. People are now coming in for their lunch and a treat and a coffee, not just a cake. The chicken, pesto, rocket, cheddar and focaccia sandwich has been very popular.

We also have mango cream cakes at the moment, which have really taken off with customers, and this week, well have peach cream cakes too.

Its an exciting time for First Batch, and were coming into a time of year that John and I always look forward to, when we start to think about which Halloween or Thanksgiving treats well do, and then its on to the Christmas goodies!
Former employee claims Trump offered disgraced financier a job during first term in White House

Jeffrey Epstein loved life too much to kill himself and was confident of securing bail before he died, his butler for 18 years has told The Telegraph.

In an interview that will heap renewed pressure on the Trump administration to make the Epstein files public, one of his closest aides said he spoke to the paedophile financier before he died and insisted he was in good spirits.
Germany halts weapons exports to Israel as outrage grows over Gaza City plan

Global leaders have urged Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider decision to take over Gaza City

German chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the pause on weapons exports to Israel yesterday. Photo: AP

Alexander Cornwell Reuters Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Israels security cabinet yesterday approved a plan to take control of Gaza City  a move that expands military operations in the shattered Palestinian territory and which drew fresh criticism over the countrys pursuit of the almost two-year-old war.
New ICE recruitment drive targets young Americans by promising student loan forgiveness

This is just one of a raft of benefits the Department of Homeland Security is using to entice applicants

Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem. Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Joe Sommerlad UK Independent Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 06:30

Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem is offering young people in the US student loan forgiveness to entice them into considering careers as ICE agents.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Thursday (August 7) greenlit a proposal that allows urban local bodies to draw funds from the State Finance Commission for flag distribution as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga programme.

This comes ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The government will be encouraging the mass hoisting of the flag across the state on the special occasion. As per the proposal, 60 lakh national flags will be distributed free of cost in urban poor areas. The State Finance Commission will provide Rs 12 crore for the same.

More than just symbolism

The flags in question will be made by SHGs associated with the State Urban Livelihoods Mission under the urban development department. The initiative will provide employment to nearly 29,000 women.

The official logo of the UP government. | Credit: UP government

Explaining the purpose of the programme, Amrit Abhijat Principal Secretary of the department said that it aims to promote nation-building and empower women. He added that it will also promote cleanliness.

"Involving SHGs will not only generate employment but also fulfil the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The objective of the campaign is to foster a deeper sense of patriotism and national unity among citizens," said Abhijat.

He added that public representatives, student bodies, and the public in general will serve as the driving force of the programme.

DMs to lead the charge

The plan for ensuring the smooth execution of the programme has already been drawn up. The government will set up committees, headed by the DMs, in each district. They will be tasked with the responsibility of making this initiative a success.

Central as well as state government schemes will be promoted as part of the programme. There will also be special cleanliness drives at martyrs memorials and historical sites. Additionally, urban local bodies will carry out several activities with the Swachh NagariJhanda Nagari' theme.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistan military has killed 14 terrorists in an operation early Saturday morning in Zhob district of the country's southwest Balochistan province.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said in a statement that the security forces conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Sambaza area of the district along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The military said that 14 terrorists were killed during the operation, and weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed militants.

The military added that it is a continuation of the operation, which started late Thursday night in the area in which 33 terrorists were killed by Friday morning.

"The number of terrorists killed in two days of anti-infiltration operation has risen to 47, including the 14 killed on Saturday morning," the military said. 
One moment, you are scrolling through TikTok or Instagram. Next, you are knee-deep in fan theories after spotting a video of a blonde in a baby-blue hooded sweatshirt exiting a trailer on the Devil Wears Prada 2 set, right next to Emily Blunt. The mystery camouflaged with an umbrella did little to quell the frenzy. Cue the verdict: fans almost unanimously believe it was Sydney Sweeney pulling off a stealthy cameo.

American Eagle breaks silence on Sydney Sweeney ad controversy | Credit: Instagram/americaneagle

Who was that blue hoodie girl on the sets of Devil Wears Prada 2?

The footage went viral fast, someone dubbed it "Sweeney sighting," and social media ramped into overdrive. A commenter even claimed she was walking with Emily Blunt, while paparazzi moments earlier captured a blond figure shielding her face with a huge umbrella. Though neither Sweeney nor the studio has confirmed anything, fans read every visual clue like it is their final assignment.

Is Sydney Sweeney secretly slipping into Devil Wears Prada 2? | Credit: x/dearaniston

When fans start connecting the dots

Officially, Devil Wears Prada 2 is not listed on Sydney Sweeneys IMDb. And her calendar is full. She is deep into filming Euphoria Season 3, just wrapped a biopic where she plays boxer Christy Martin, and is starring in Paul Feigs upcoming The Housemaid. Not to mention, she recently dropped a high-key controversial campaign where the tagline read "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans."

gnt sydney sweeney em o diabo veste prada 2? pic.twitter.com/ECUfpYcPR3  jenni (@dearaniston) August 6, 2025

An insider close to her reportedly said she is exactly where she wants to be, prioritising work and addicted to her schedule, or, as fans joked, personal heartbreak and jet-lag shaped her I can take on anything vibe.

Sydney Sweeney calls it quits with boyfriend Jonathan Davino after 7 years | Credit: Instagram/sydneysweeney

Pradas returning icons

Nevertheless, the sequel is already stacked. Emily Blunt is revisiting fiery red Emily Charlton hair, with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep returning. Newcomers include Lucy Liu, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, and more. The plot, apparently pitched as Miranda Priestly facing off against Blunts character in a world shifting from print to digital, sounds juicy enough without shady cameos.

A still from the film Devil Wears Prada | Credit: Netflix

So: Is Sweeney truly sneaking onto the Prada runway? We do not know. But right now, fans are acting like detectives with Instagram stories and screen timestamps. Until Instagram or the studio confirms it, she remains an unverified cameo legendadding a delicious dash of mystery to a sequel already brimming with style and intrigue.
Musical talent clearly runs in the family for many K-pop idols, especially when it comes to brothersister duos. Some have trained under the same label, while others have walked completely different career paths - yet all have supported each other with pride. This Raksha Bandhan, here's a look at some brothers and sisters who have made their mark on the K-pop world.

Hueningkai, Huening Bahiyyih, and Lea Navvab

Hueningkai, Huening Bahiyyih, and Lea Navvab. Credit: X

The Huening siblings are one of K-pop's most famous idol families, each making their mark while openly supporting one another. Though in different groups, the siblings often reunite for TikTok challenges and dance covers, winning fans over with their playful chemistry.

Lea Navvab (J'LEA), born January 5, 2000, is a Korean soloist and influencer under Model Directors ENT. A former member of VIVA, she later joined I.MET.U through the 2024 survival show Time Turner.

Lea Navvab. Credit: Instagram|leanavvab

Hueningkai, born August 14, 2002, is the youngest member of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT). A multi-talented performer, he plays the drums, guitar, piano, and flute, and is loved for his bright stage presence.

Hueningkai. Credit: Instagram|txt_bighit

Huening Bahiyyih, born July 27, 2004, gained fame on Mnet's Girls Planet 999 and now promotes as a member of Kep1er.

Huening Bahiyyih. Credit: Instagram|official.kep1er

Moonbin and Moon Sua

Moonbin and Moon Sua. Credit: X

Moonbin, born January 26, 1998, was ASTROs main dancer, lead vocalist, and center, admired for his charisma, talent, and genuine warmth.

Moonbin. Credit: Instagram|moon_ko_ng

His younger sister, Moon Sua, born September 9, 1999, is the main rapper and lead vocalist of Billlie. The duo once delivered a charming and memorable stage of Candy In My Ears, captivating fans with their natural sibling chemistry.

Moon Sua. Credit: Instagram|a_us_noom

After Moonbin's passing on April 19, 2023, Sua has honored his memory by sharing heartfelt tributes while continuing to grow her own career, carrying forward the musical legacy they both cherished.

Chanhyuk and Suhyun

Chanhyuk and Suhyun. Credit: Instagram|akmuofficial

Dubbed "The Nation's Siblings," Chanhyuk and Suhyun rose to fame after winning K-pop Star 2, quickly becoming one of Korea's most beloved musical duos.

Chanhyuk. Credit: X

Chanhyuk (born September 12, 1996) serves as the main rapper and lead vocalist, while Suhyun (born May 4, 1999) is the soulful main vocalist and the group's maknae.

Suhyun. Credit: Instagram|akmu_suhyun

Their clever songwriting, seamless harmonies, and playful sibling banter have endeared them to fans. Even lighthearted moments - like when Chanhyuk once unfollowed Suhyun on Instagram - only highlight the affection and mutual respect at the heart of their bond.

Sandara Park and Thunder

Sandara Park and Thunder. Credit: X

Sandara Park, born November 12, 1984, rose to stardom as a member of 2NE1 before carving out a thriving solo career.

Sandara Park. Credit: Instagram|daraxxi

Her younger brother, Thunder (born October 7, 1990), made his mark as MBLAQ's lead rapper, lead dancer, vocalist, and visual.

Thunder. Credit: Instagram|hiptriever

Beyond their music, the siblings are admired for their shared philanthropic spirit, often joining forces for charity projects, especially in the Philippines, where they spent part of their childhood. Though their careers have taken different paths, their close-knit bond has remained unwavering over the years.

Choi Yena and Sungmin

Choi Yena and Sungmin. Credit: X

Yena, born September 29, 1999, is a dynamic soloist and former member of IZ*ONE, known for her bright energy and versatility.

Yena. Credit: Instagram|yena.jigumina

Her older brother, Sungmin (born December 7, 1995), was SPEED's main dancer, lead vocalist, lead rapper, center, and maknae.

Sungmin. Credit: Instagram|from_mean

The siblings have often expressed their pride in each other's accomplishments, and fans love catching glimpses of their warm, supportive interactions whenever their paths cross in public.

Seungwoo and Sunhwa

Seungwoo and Sunhwa. Credit: X

Seungwoo, born December 24, 1994, is VICTON's lead rapper, lead vocalist, and lead dancer. Known for his versatile talent and stage charisma, he has built a strong career as both a group member and a solo artist.

Seungwoo. Credit: Instagram|w_o_o_y_a

His older sister Sunhwa, born October 6, 1990, rose to fame as the vocalist, visual, and maknae of Secret. Though she was initially concerned about her younger brother entering the competitive idol industry, she has since been one of his biggest supporters.

Sunhwa. Credit: Instagram|shh_daily

From visiting Seungwoo during his military service with homemade gimbap to joining him for a heartwarming magazine pictorial, she has shown unwavering pride in his journey, reflecting their affectionate sibling bond.

Jaehyun and Jaekyung

Jaehyun and Jaekyung. Credit: X

Jaehyun, born July 15, 1994, is the skilled drummer of N.Flying, known for his dynamic performances and strong stage presence.

Jaehyun. Credit: Instagram|_.kimjaehyun._

Jaekyung, born December 24, 1988, made her mark as Rainbow's leader, main dancer, lead vocalist, visual, and face of the group.

Jaekyung. Credit: Instagram|_kimjaekyung_

Though the siblings keep much of their relationship out of the public eye, fans admire their shared talent, work ethic, and the professionalism that seems to run in their family.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Legend of the Female General Episode 12 online: Fans of the hit C-drama Legend of the Female General can stream Episode 12 online, August 10, 2025, at approximately 5:30 PM IST, as per the official schedule.

The drama follows He Yan, who disguises herself as a man to protect her family's title and rises as a decorated soldier. Reuniting with scholar Xiao Jue, who suspects she's a spy, she faces battles, betrayals, and trials where suspicion slowly turns to trust - and love.

Legend of the Female General Episode 12 online. Credit: X

Legend of the Female General: Release date and time for Episode 12

Episode 12 airs on Sunday, August 10, 2025, which means viewers in different time zones can expect the release at approximately 3:00 PM GMT in the UK and 5:30 PM IST in India on the same day. It will also be available for international viewers via streaming on WeTV, iQIYI and Viki, which offers English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience.

Where to Watch Legend of the Female General Episode 12 Online?

Episode 12 is available to stream on WeTV and iQIYI, the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and the UK, WeTV, iQIYI and Viki continues to be the top choices for watching the series.

Legend of the Female General: Plot highlights of Episode 12

He Yan discovers Lei Hou is a spy for the Qiang army and captures him during a nighttime ambush but is seriously injured. Xiao Jue kills the Qiang commander, forcing the enemy to retreat. He Yan is treated by Dr. Lin Shuanghe and wakes up alone in her room, recovering from her wounds.

Legend of the Female General episode 12: Spoilers

Here are the spoilers for Episode 12 of the Chinese series Legend of the Female General based on the YouTube preview:

He Yan had long suspected Lei Hou was a spy, and his investigation confirmed Lei Hous allegiance to the Qiang army. During a nighttime ambush on their camp, He Yan confronted Lei Hou, killing two enemy soldiers and capturing him, though sustaining serious injuries himself.

Xiao Jue arrived just in time to kill the Qiang commander, forcing the remaining soldiers to flee. Xiao Jue then brought the wounded He Yan to his quarters and summoned Dr. Lin Shuanghe to treat her. Lin was surprised to learn He Yan was a woman and that she and Xiao Jue were romantically involved.

To treat her wound, Lin asked He Yan to expose her waist, and despite some hesitation, Xiao Jue helped, avoiding eye contact. He Yan remained unconscious through the treatment, showing signs of pain but not waking.

Lin expressed concern for her wellbeing, while Xiao Jue reminded him of her fierce combat skills. Eventually, He Yan woke up, wincing as she sat up slowly with support. Alone in her room next to Xiao Jues, she had no one to tell her what had happened.

Legend of the Female General: Cast and Characters

The Chinese drama Legend of the Female General, starring Zhou Ye and Ryan Cheng, is adapted from the popular web novel Rebirth of a Star General.

FAQs

1. When will Episode 12 of Legend of the Female General be released?

Answer: Legend of the Female General Episode 12 will be released on August 10, 2025, and will air at 3:00 PM GMT in the UK and 5:30 PM IST.

2. Where can I watch Episode 12 of Legend of the Female General online?

Answer: Legend of the Female General Episode 12 will be available for streaming on WeTV, iQIYI and Viki, the platform offering English subtitles.

3. Does Legend of the Female General have English subtitles?

Answer: Yes, Legend of the Female General is fully subtitled in English on WeTV, iQIYI and Viki, including Episode 12.

4. What is the plot of Episode 12 of Legend of the Female General?

Answer: Legend of the Female General Episode 12 continues to follow He Yan who faces battles, betrayals, and trials where suspicion slowly turns to trust - and love.

5. Is Legend of the Female General available on Netflix, Viki or Viu?

Answer: No, Legend of the Female General is not available on Netflix. The drama officially streams on WeTV, iQIYI and Viki.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 release date: Fans of My Dress-Up Darling are counting down for the upcoming episode, when episode 6 of season 2 drops in Japan. The beloved CloverWorks series continues to explore the heartfelt and often hilarious journey of Marin Kitagawa and Wakana Gojo, as they navigate friendship, cosplay, and self-discovery.

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 5 left the cultural festival just around the corner, with Marins Rei-sama costume almost complete, yet with some details still needing adjustment. Episode 6 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for both the cosplay reveal and the storys emotional beats.

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 release date and time

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 will air in Japan on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 12:00 am JST. International fans can catch the episode earlier due to time zone differences:

Pacific Daylight Time  August 9, 8:00 am

Eastern Daylight Time  August 9, 11:00 pm

British Summer Time  August 9, 4:00 pm

Indian Standard Time  August 9, 8:30 pm

Viewers outside Japan can stream it on Crunchyroll, while local Japanese broadcasts will include BS11, TOKYO MX, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV.

Where to watch My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 online?

Crunchyroll is the primary global streaming platform offering the latest episode soon after its Japanese air date. It's available in various regions with subtitles and sometimes dubbed versions for subscribers. The platform also supports simulcast releases.

Crunchyroll is the primary global streaming platform offering the latest episode (Credits: Crunchyroll)

Some markets, particularly in Asia, may have the series available via Netflix. Availability varies by region, and it's known to appear shortly after Crunchyroll's release. In Japan, the episode airs on local networks: BS11, TOKYO MX, Gunma TV, Tochigi TV, and later on AT-X.

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 5 recap

In episode 5, Gojo pushed himself to complete Marins cultural festival cosplay while still focusing on accuracy and craftsmanship. Marin tried to support him in her way, preparing homemade lunches to brighten his days. While her food was a little unconventional, her efforts showed her growing care for him.

In episode 5, Gojo pushed himself to complete Marins cultural festival cosplay (Credits: Crunchyroll)

The real highlight came when Marin tried on her Rei-sama outfit for the first time in front of their classmates. The response was overwhelmingly positive, but Gojo noticed subtle imperfections, particularly with the coats waistline. Determined to make it perfect, he planned last-minute alterations with just days to spare.

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 spoilers

Episode 6 is expected to showcase the cultural festival in full swing, with Marin stepping onto the stage as Rei-sama in her polished cosplay. Gojos extra effort to adjust the outfits fit will likely pay off, enhancing the costumes accuracy and capturing the characters essence.

Episode 15 of My Dress Up Darling is the perfect demonstration of what this series is all about 



It's about acceptance of who you are, of your passions and what people around you love



And Marin and Wakana relationship is the perfect representation of this beautiful message pic.twitter.com/TS5A7bo8UO  Asgy  (@Manim_Asg) July 20, 2025

Beyond the cosplay reveal, fans can look forward to glimpses of what Marin and Gojos classmates have prepared for the festival. The lively event will serve as a backdrop for meaningful character interactions, possibly deepening the bond between the two leads.

FAQs

Q1: When is My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 releasing?

My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 will release on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 12:00 am JST.

Q2: Where can I watch My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 online?

The My Dress-Up Darling season 2 episode 6 will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll and broadcast on Japanese TV channels like BS11 and TOKYO MX.

Q3: Will there be a time difference for the episode release in different countries?

Yes, due to time zones, the episode will be available at different local times, mostly on August 9, 2025, in regions outside Japan.

Q4: What should I expect in episode 6 of My Dress-Up Darling season 2?

Expect the final preparations for the cultural festival, with Marin trying on her cosplay outfit and Gojo making last-minute adjustments.

Q5: Is My Dress-Up Darling season 2 airing weekly?

Yes, new episodes typically release weekly, following the Japanese schedule.
You know how every festival suddenly gets that one extra element that turns the whole vibe on its head? For Raksha Bandhan, it is the Lumba Rakhi, the sparkly, sassy, bhabhi-exclusive accessory that has gone from cultural niche to nationwide rage.

Why is suddenly Lumba going viral on e-commerce sites? | Credit: Freepik

Wait, what is a Lumba and why is it suddenly everywhere?

Born in Marwari and Rajasthani households, it was once reserved for the brothers wife. Fast forward to now, and it is adorning wrists from Delhi to Dallas.

Why is suddenly Lumba going viral on e-commerce sites? | Credit: Freepik

The Lumba Rakhi is not your average thread-and-bead job. These babies are ornate, colourful and sometimes so blingy they could double as festive jewellery. But beyond aesthetics lies a deeper sentiment, the bhabhi is seen as the husbands ardhangini, the other half of his being. Blessings, therefore, are incomplete without her. Tying a lumba is like giving your siblings marriage a joint happiness-and-safety warranty.

How e-commerce turned local love into a pan-india pbsession

This tradition could have remained a charming community ritual, but then Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, and their friends decided to get involved. Cue dedicated Raksha Bandhan sections stacked with Lumba Rakhis alongside the classic ones. Even if you had never heard of them, one scroll through these Festival Specials and boom  you are adding a Bhaiya-Bhabhi set to your cart.

Why is suddenly Lumba going viral on e-commerce sites? | Credit: Freepik

Matching rakhi pairs? Check. Designer bangle-style lumba? Double check. Gift-packaged in Insta-worthy boxes? Of course. The internet did not just sell the tradition; it glamorised it.

Social Media: The glitter glue holding the trend together

Instagram reels, Facebook albums, and Pinterest boards are full of bhabhis flaunting their Lumba Rakhis like it is couture. Those perfectly coordinated couples wrists? Instant FOMO fuel. And with global shipping now making it possible for sisters abroad to send a lumba back home, distance is no longer an excuse.

Why is suddenly Lumba going viral on e-commerce sites? | Credit: Freepik

Raksha bandhan, refashioned

What was once strictly about the brother-sister bond has expanded into a full family moment. And honestly? It makes sense. In the era of matching fits and aesthetic gifting, why would your bhabhi be left out of the party? The Lumba Rakhi is not just a trend, it is Raksha Bandhans glow-up moment.
The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 online: Fans of the hit C-drama The Immortal Ascension can stream Episode 25 online, August 10, 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM KST / 4:30 AM GMT / 12:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM IST, as per the official schedule.

Han Li, a quiet village boy with weak spiritual power, joins the Qixuanmen sect in hopes of achieving immortality. Alongside the strong and graceful Nangong Wan, he faces off against the sinister Wang Chan, fighting dark forces to protect his realm and fulfill his destiny.

The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 online. Credit: X

The Immortal Ascension: Release date and time for Episode 25

Episode 25 airs on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM KST / 4:30 AM GMT / 12:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM IST on YOUKU in China. It will also be available for international viewers via streaming on YOUKU and Rakuten Viki offering English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience.

Where to Watch The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 Online?

Episode 25 is available to stream on YOUKU and Rakuten Viki, the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, YOUKU and Viki continues to be the top choice for watching the series.

The Immortal Ascension: Plot highlights of Episode 25

A group confronts a powerful fiend cultivator whose spiritual power is rapidly rising. They set a trapping array in a bamboo grove, but one member refuses to enter, believing it won't keep him safe. Despite their efforts, including the need for a talisman to finish the fiend who regenerates from blood, they realize the array only holds him temporarily - and his aura still lingers, hinting the fight isn't over.

Beautiful #TheImmortalAscension

Episode 24 is really good. We finally get to see Han Li's seniors fight pic.twitter.com/LJgG3iEvoh  MM (@Disconsolateme) August 9, 2025

The Immortal Ascension episode 25: Spoilers

Here are the spoilers for Episode 25 of the Chinese series The Immortal Ascension based on the YouTube preview:

The group noticed another fiend cultivator appearing. It was unfortunate, especially since his spiritual power was still growing. One instructed to set the array in the bamboo grove, while another planned to lure the fiend over. The Black Fiend Cult Master was approaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, raising doubts about whether the array would hold him.

At this critical moment, they could only trust Han. However, Han refused to step into the array, challenging what the others could do about it. They warned him that staying outside the array wouldnt keep him safe  the moment he caught up, he was already trapped.

They acknowledged that the array could only hold the fiend temporarily and that a talisman would be necessary to finish him. The fiends ability to regenerate from blood made him nearly impossible to kill. Burning him to ashes seemed to be the only solution. Yet despite these efforts, they wondered why his aura could still be sensed within the array.

The Immortal Ascension: Cast and Characters

Starring the versatile Yang Yang - known for You Are My Glory and Fireworks of My Heart - The Immortal Ascension has become one of 2025's breakout fantasy hits, rapidly topping Youku charts and trending across social media in Asia.

FAQs

1. When will Episode 25 of The Immortal Ascension be released?

Answer: The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 will be released on August 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM KST / 4:30 AM GMT / 12:30 AM ET / 9:30 AM IST.

2. Where can I watch Episode 25 of The Immortal Ascension online?

Answer: The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 will be available for streaming on YOUKU and Rakuten Viki, which offers English subtitles.

3. Does The Immortal Ascension have English subtitles?

Answer: Yes, The Immortal Ascension is fully subtitled in English on YOUKU and Rakuten Viki including Episode 25.

4. What is the plot of Episode 25 of The Immortal Ascension?

Answer: The Immortal Ascension follows Han Li a humble boy with weak powers who begins a journey of cultivation and love while battling dark forces threatening the kingdom.

5. Is The Immortal Ascension available on Netflix?

Answer: No, The Immortal Ascension is not available on Netflix. The drama officially streams on YOUKU and Rakuten Viki.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
Water security and sustainability in Uttar Pradesh can be attained only through a combination of government and private initiatives and cooperation from the local communities. This was the biggest takeaway from the TOI Dialogues panel discussion on Green & Blue Future: UP's Holistic Approach to Sustainability & Water Security on Thursday, August 7.

Unless we conserve water, scarcity will follow

Water conservation is one of the most important issues globally in todays day and age. And, it was the centre of attention at TOI Dialogues. Speaking at the event, GS Naveen Kumar Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources highlighted that even though Uttar Pradesh is lucky to have many rivers, preserving them would be possible only through a collective effort. To illustrate his point, he highlighted that Prayagraj faces water scarcity despite being surrounded by two major rivers the Ganga and the Yamuna.

GS Naveen Kumar. | Credit: Instagram

Our state may seem abundant in water, but the reality is differentunless we actively conserve it, scarcity will follow, he said.

Kumar then pointed out how Azamgarh and Varanasi set a benchmark in this regard when several dying rivers were given a new lease of life to benefit farmers.

Community involvement is a must, says Kumar

Kumar then highlighted the role of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, which includes both green (vegetation conservation) and blue (water) initiatives, in ensuring sustainability.

He, however, emphasised that the government's initiatives for ensuring infrastructural support alone aren't enough as the key lies in encouraging local communities to protect these resources. This, he added, can happen only if they receive proper training and education.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ganesh the CEO of Naam Foundation highlighted how the community once funded the cleaning of a 25-acre pond in Jalalpur, Derapur (Kanpur district) with his organisation providing the machinery.

Naam Foundation also plays a crucial role in helping farmers adapt to less water-intensive crops. Highlighting this, he pointed out that some farmers already have an idea of the subject but need guidance on the practical front.

His comments come at a time when the siltation of farm ponds in Jhansi and Banda has had an adverse impact on ground level recharge. Naam Foundation plans to improve the situation by rejuvenating 5,000-6,000 such ponds while sharing costs with farmers and requesting CSR funding.

Additionally, once the spotlight shifted back to Kumar, he highlighted a plan to modernise the canal network. The process involves metering and a water accounting system. These steps will ensure that farmers get access to the exact amount of water they need and eliminate wastage or scarcity.

On a related note, crop diversification projects in Banda and Bundelkhan are already underway. They include the use of solar power to lift and distribute water. This is set to add a new dimension to the conversation surrounding sustainability.
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Thursday, August 7, gave the go-ahead to the MSME Industrial Estate Management Policy 2025. This essentially means that industrial plots and sheds will now be allotted on lease or rent after a detailed e-auction. Moreover, those who apply to the said auction will mandatorily be required to deposit 10% of the lands cost as earnest money.

UP government set to rejuvenate the industrial estate sector

The MSME Industrial Estate Management Policy 2025 is set to shake the sector through a series of reforms aimed at transforming the procedure to acquire industrial plots.

The official logo of the UP government. | Credit: UP government

Detailing the changes, an official said plot rates are fixed at Rs 3,000 per square metre in Paschimanchal and Rs 2,500 in Madhyanchal. Further, it stands at Rs 2,000 in Purvanchal/Bundelkhand. Additionally, the rates will be increased by 5% every year.

Heres why the policy was needed

Interestingly, these estates have been an integral part of the landscape since the 1960s. However, originally, there was no mechanism to regulate them. The task was taken by the state government through a specific order. Sadly, this did not yield the desired results and became a burden rather than a resource. The MSME Industrial Estate Management Policy 2025 aims to make up for overhaul the existing system by streamlining the process and transforming it into a revenue-generating asset for the state machinery

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has held separate phone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Palestinian President Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, focusing on the need for stability in Libya and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, respectively.



In the call with Mr. Rubio, the two men discussed the situation in Libya

and the need to advance a political process that leads to free elections and removes "foreign presence and influences" from the country, a veiled reference to Turkey's role there.

According to the state-run Athens News Agency, they also reviewed the "excellent level" of U.S.-Greece relations and the need to control illegal migration flows from North Africa.



Later, in his conversation with Mr. Abbas, the Greek prime minister expressed deep concern over the "humanitarian disaster in Gaza," according to reports.



Mr. Mitsotakis called for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, and an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid.



He also expressed Greece's support for the Palestinian National Authority as the "only legal representative of the Palestinian people."

   iefimerida.gr
"This morning, two Hellenic Air Force planes dropped 8.5 tonnes of essential food supplies onto areas of Gaza," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a social media post on Saturday.

"The operation was organised in collaboration with the countries of the European Union and the Middle East and its aim

is to support the basic needs of the people in this war-torn region.

"Greece will continue to take initiatives for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages, and the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. It is our collective duty to bring an immediate end to human suffering," he added.

According to an announcement, the successful humanitarian aid operation was carried out following the cooperation and coordination of the Greek foreign and national defence ministries with Jordanian authorities.

The food aid was transported to the designated drop zones within the Gaza Strip in two HAF cargo planes, a C-130H and C-27J, and their crews, as well as personnel from the Special Warfare Command. The operation was constantly monitored in real time by the National Operations Centre.

   iefimerida.gr
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Army said three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion on Saturday morning during a patrol operation along the Thai-Cambodian border. However, Cambodia strongly refuted the Thai accusations.

According to Thailand's Second Army Region, the explosion occurred at around 10:00 a.m. local time, when Thai troops were conducting a patrol and laying barbed wire to reinforce border security in Sisaket Province.

Thai army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree said that the incident clearly demonstrated the continued, concealed use of weapons along the border by the Cambodian side, which is a clear violation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or the Ottawa Convention.

"Such actions pose a major obstacle to implementing ceasefire measures and resolving the conflict through peaceful means and further reinforce evidence that Cambodia has consistently initiated the use of weapons first," Winthai said in a statement.

The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) on Saturday evening strongly refuted the Thai accusations that Cambodia laid new mines that exploded and injured three Thai soldiers.

"Cambodia's position is unequivocal: We have not, and will not, plant new landmines," the CMAA said in a press release.

"At this time, no official and transparent investigation has been carried out regarding the reported incident involving injured Thai soldiers," the press release said.

"In the absence of verified facts, it is essential that all parties exercise restraint in public statements. Unsubstantiated accusations not only risk undermining the spirit of cooperation established under the ceasefire but also threaten to erode trust at a moment when constructive engagement is most needed," it added.

The press release said Cambodia hopes that the Thai side will respect the points agreed upon at the extraordinary meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC), especially point two, which states that both sides maintain current troop deployments without further movement, including patrol towards the other side's position.

On Aug. 7, Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of a ceasefire and signed an agreement at a GBC extraordinary meeting held in Malaysia. Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments and not to increase forces along the border. 
The plan takes its cue from Frances taxe sur les logements vacants (TLV), in force in thousands of French municipalities.

News that the Greek government is weighing the introduction of an inactivity tax on homes and apartments left vacant for at least a year has triggered an outcry from property owners.

According to sources, the finance

ministry is examining a scheme that would penalize owners of empty , unused homes and apartments in an effort to unlock the countrys dormant housing stock, increase rental availability, and support social housing programs. The idea has sparked an angry backlash from property owners, who see it as yet another burden on an already heavily taxed sector

The plan takes its cue from Frances taxe sur les logements vacants (TLV), in force in thousands of French municipalities. In the French model, homes left empty for more than twelve months are taxed at 17 percent of their rental value in the first year, rising to 34 percent thereafter. The Greek version under discussion would set the levy at around 15 percent of the official annual rental value, targeting unfurnished properties that are neither occupied nor actively offered for rent or sale.

Certain exemptions are being considered, such as homes undergoing renovation, properties in the process of legalizing unauthorized construction, or dwellings unfit for habitation due to lack of utilities or serious structural damage. Properties that have been repeatedly listed on the market without finding a tenant or buyer could also be spared. How the taxable rental value would be calculated has not been finalized, though proposals suggest using a figure of up to five percent of the propertys assessed value. Under that method, a home with an official annual rental value of 4,800 would face a 720 tax if left idle.

Greece is estimated to have more than 750,000 vacant properties. Even if only 30 percent of these fell under the proposed tax, the government could raise more than 150 million a year. Officials are also weighing whether to extend the measure to properties purchased through the Golden Visa scheme, many of which remain unoccupied for long periods.

Property owners associations are mounting fierce resistance. The Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners argues that the tax would unfairly hit people already struggling with high maintenance costs and multiple property levies. Many owners, they say, are not leaving homes empty by choice but because they cannot afford to renovate them or are unable to find tenants or buyers in the current market.

The government itself appears divided. While the finance ministry sees potential benefits in both increased housing supply and additional state revenue, political advisers warn of the risk of a public backlash, particularly with the high-profile Thessaloniki International Fair just weeks away. Announcing such a measure now, they fear, could overshadow the social welfare package the administration plans to promote at the event. Ministry sources say that before any decision is finalized, the government will open talks with property owners groups and real estate market representatives to explore possible compromises.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has downplayed the relevance of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the coalition supporting the party has only weakened the opposition rather than strengthening it.

Speaking on Friday shortly after his visit to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, Governor Sule met with the partys National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

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He made it clear that the APC is not threatened by the emergence of the ADC as a unifying platform for opposition voices.

I dont know about ADC. ADC, actually, from what I was told, is a split, not from our party, but from another party.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/create-federal-sharia-courts-in-south-muric-tells-nass.html

So, if it is a split from another party, well, they are only getting weaker, he said.

So, as far as we are concerned, we are not worried about that.

The governor emphasized the ruling partys focus on performance and internal consolidation rather than paying attention to rival political camps.

We have never been worried about opposition, we have always been concerned about our strengths and what we need to do in order to give back to the good people of Nigeria, Sule added.

On Prof. Yilwatdas appointment as APC National Chairman, Sule praised the move, stating that the North-Central now has no reason to complain.

We, the people of North-Central, who have been agitating for the return of the chairmanship to our zone, we have no complaints now, he is in our zone, he noted.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) warned the Federal Government to act quickly to prevent a strike in public universities.

The warning was made in a statement signed by ASUUs National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, on Saturday.

The union said, Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on empty stomachs.

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The union highlighted the dire conditions academics face, including lack of resources for research, inadequate funding, and personal financial struggles.

ASUU criticized the government for blaming universities for producing unemployable graduates while ignoring their failure to support the educational system.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/detained-sowore-regains-freedom-following-nationwide-outcry.html

The statement further noted, Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by past and present governments.

ASUU also pointed to the governments failure to honor the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and criticized delays in renegotiation, which has lasted since December 2024.

Nothing illustrates this antipathy better than the frustrated attempts to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, the union said.

The union condemned attempts by some university governing councils to politicize academic appointments and urged all stakeholders to address lingering labor issues to avert another industrial crisis.

ASUU concluded, Nigerian academics are tired of governments excuses, stressing the urgent need for action.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended a suspected ritualist, identified as Cletus Effiong Bassey, for allegedly providing charms to criminal gangs.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, made this known in a statement on Friday, explaining that the suspect was arrested on July 29, 2025, at about 7:00 pm, when operatives raided his shrine in Nung Oku Village, Uruan Local Government Area.

John said early investigations linked the 30-year-old to ritual practices, including preparing native charms and bullet repellers for armed robbers.

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Akwa Ibom State Police Command has announced another achievement in the arrest of a suspected ritualist and the recovery of a firearm in Uruan Local Government Area.

On July 29, 2025, at approximately 18:51 hours, operatives acting on credible intelligence apprehended one Cletus Effiong Bassey, a 30-year-old male, at his shrine in Nung Oku Village, Uruan LGA, she said.

Bassey is suspected of being involved in ritualistic activities, including providing native charms and bullet repellers to armed robbers.

A subsequent search of his compound led to the recovery of one fabricated single-barrel gun, she added.

The police spokesperson confirmed that the case is still under investigation.
Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has revealed how Buhari opposed Obasanjos alleged third term bid.

In a statement on Friday, Okechukwu highlighted Buharis role in blocking Obasanjos 2006 attempt to extend his tenure.

According to him, Buharis opposition was instrumental in preserving Nigerias multiparty democracy.

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In this era (19992007), Chief Olusegun as president nearly subverted our fledgling democracy, Okechukwu said.

It is with nostalgia that one remembers how Buhari rose to his feet when news filtered out that Obasanjo was allegedly plotting for 3rd Term, in 2006.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/inec-backs-inmates-voting-rights-seeks-national-assemblys-backing.html

Buharis steadfast opposition, strategic meetings with National Assembly members, ensured that the National Assembly did not allow the 3rd Term plot to stand.

Okechukwu explained that Buhari held several strategic discussions with lawmakers.

He persuaded then-Senate President Ken Nnamani and then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Masari to reject the proposal.

He stressed that this resistance came despite alleged offers of N50 million to each lawmaker to support the amendment.

He reinforced and made Ken Nnamani and Aminu Masari appreciate the support of the greatest number of Nigerians.

This was the death kneel of a One-Party State, in spite of the N50 million handout allegedly doled out to each member of the National Assembly, he said.
Celebrity barman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has revealed the reason behind his absence from Davido and Chiomas white wedding in Miami, Florida, attributing it to ongoing challenges with obtaining a United States visa.

In a heartfelt Instagram post on Saturday, Cubana Chief Priest shared his mixed emotions over missing the special day. While he celebrated the couples happiness, he expressed deep sadness about not being able to attend in person.

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He wrote, Woke up this morning with mixed feelings. Im happy, and Im still sad at the same time. Sometimes, God has a way of making you understand that you are powerless regardless of all you may think you have.

READ MORE: Im At That Point To Date Wealthier Men Now  Tiwa Savage

Addressing critics who questioned his absence, he added, I appreciate the bashing because that has given me multiple reasons and proofs to apply again.

Cubana Chief Priest also made a direct plea to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, saying, #usinnigeria do it for me this time. You can clearly see how disappointed and hurt the world is to see me absent at my best friends wedding. You need to give me access to get my fat ass into America. Well, delay is never denial  CP is still hopeful.

Though he was not physically present at the ceremony, he revealed that his wife and family attended to represent him.

The largest part of me, which is my family, my beautiful, elegant, expensive, eloquent and sophisticated wife #_deangels, is there to share in this luxury blissful experience. So Im there in body and spirit, he wrote.

He also sent his best wishes to the newlyweds:

Im wishing my best friend #davido and his beautiful wife #thechefchi an amazing wedlock.

Cubana Chief Priest said he plans to reapply for the visa soon, urging the embassy once again, #usinnigeria Im in again next week. Please give me access to the greatest country in the world. This pain is really paining.

Earlier this year, he explained on Channels TVs Rubbin Minds that a mistake made on his first visa application when he was younger continues to haunt him in the US immigration system, causing repeated denials.

I have been denied access to America. If I had a visa to enter Yankee today, it would be a dream come true, he said.

Somebody filled out my form when I was much younger and was trying to get into America. Some mistakes were coming up during interviews. And I think they have it on their system. Anytime I came, it kept popping up.

He added, David tells me about America and the lifestyle. It is something I want to experience. I hope very soon I am going to get access to get into Yankee.

Meanwhile, friends and other celebrities joined Davido and Chioma at their pre-wedding party in Miami on Saturday to celebrate the couples union.
Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has announced his release from detention by the Nigeria Police Force.

He described the detention as unjust, unwarranted, and unlawful, alleging that the police acted under the direction of what he termed an illegal IGP.

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In a statement made via his official X handle on Friday, Sowore said the police, along with what he termed an illegal IGP, had capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement.

Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG and its illegal IGP has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement, I have been released from unjust, unwarranted & unlawful detention, Sowore wrote.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/2027-emergence-of-adc-is-no-threat-to-us-gov-sule.html

However, it is nothing to celebrate, work tongues, but I cant do without thanking you all for not giving up. Youve all seen the power of unity.

The activists release follows widespread public outcry and pressure from rights groups, political activists, and supporters of the #RevolutionNow movement.

His detention, which supporters have described as politically motivated, had sparked online campaigns and protests demanding his freedom.

Sowore, who has long been a vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, reiterated that the struggle for justice and good governance must continue despite his release.

https://x.com/YeleSowore/status/1953895379822588056?s=19
Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has passed away at the age of 78.

The Ogbeh family announced his death on Saturday, describing him as a man of great integrity who made significant contributions to Nigerias political and agricultural sectors.

In a statement released by the family, they said, With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the age of 78.

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He was a man committed to the service of his country and a shining example of leadership and integrity.

Born in Otukpo, Benue State, on July 28, 1947, Ogbeh was widely admired for his dedication to public service and principled leadership.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/buharis-defiance-against-third-term-bid-saved-nigerias-democracy-osita-okechukwu.html

During his tenure as Minister of Agriculture from 2015 to 2019 under President Muhammadu Buhari, Ogbeh spearheaded several agricultural initiatives.

His efforts to promote indigenous crops like purple hibiscus (zobo leaves) helped Nigeria earn $31 million in export revenue within a single year.

Reflecting on his legacy, the family added, His passion for agriculture transformed many lives and helped place Nigerian produce on the global map. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Members of the agricultural community also expressed their condolences. Chief Ogbeh was a visionary leader who believed in the potential of local farmers and indigenous crops.

His policies helped open new markets for Nigerian produce worldwide, said a leading agronomist.
NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- A shooting on Emory University's Atlanta campus in the U.S. state of Georgia on Friday left the shooter dead and one officer injured, according to media reports.

There was a single shooter who is now dead, with no further threat to the campus or surrounding area, said NBC News, quoting the Atlanta Police Department.

A law enforcement officer was injured while confronting the shooter, according to reports.

A shelter-in-place order was put into place and now has been lifted, said the latest post by the university.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp decried the shooting on social media platform X, noting it was the second high-profile shooting in the state this week.

Five soldiers were shot and injured at the U.S. Army's Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia on Wednesday. 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 66 suspected internet fraudsters in a coordinated sting operation across Ogun and Lagos states.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Friday, by the Commissions spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in Abuja.

According to him, 55 suspects were arrested on Wednesday at K Hotel in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, while 11 others were picked up on Thursday at Tulip Haven, Chevron area of Lekki, Lagos State.

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Oyewale disclosed that the arrests followed credible and actionable intelligence received by the EFCC concerning the suspects involvement in online fraud activities.

The EFCC acted on verified intelligence, and our operatives moved in swiftly to apprehend the suspects.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/our-victory-in-august-16-by-election-will-confirm-pdps-strength-in-oyo-gov-seyi-makinde.html

We remain committed to curbing cybercrime and bringing perpetrators to justice, he said.

Items recovered from the Ogun suspects included six exotic cars, two locally made pistols, a motorcycle, and dozens of mobile phones and laptops.

In addition, investigators found incriminating documents and 89 unclaimed phones at the scene.

From the Lagos operation, the EFCC recovered one Range Rover, three MercedesBenz vehicles, two Lexus cars, a Toyota, 15 iPhones, two Android phones, a Nokia torchlight phone, and one MacBook.

All the suspects are cooperating with investigators and have provided useful information. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, Oyewale added.
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has extended an open invitation to Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi.

He urged Obi to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a bid to unite the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors Forum, made the appeal during Obis visit to the Bauchi Government House on Friday.

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He stressed the need for collaboration among opposition parties to salvage Nigeria from what he described as the failings of the current administration.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/ekiti-2026-oyebanji-declares-bid-for-second-term.html

Your Excellency, my brother, we are really delighted by the new lease of life you bring to Nigerian politics, he said.

I told you last night, and Im saying it again publicly we want you to come back to PDP. Thats where you belong. Dont go anywhere else.

He lauded Obis achievements in education and healthcare and emphasized that politics must focus on empathy, competence, and planning.

Politics is not about sharing rice during Sallah or Christmas.

It is about understanding where the shoe pinches and acting accordingly.

Peter Obi responded by reiterating his call for a united and issue-based opposition.

To all of us in the opposition, its important that we work together. Its no longer about us its about our country.
A suspected member of the notorious One-Chance gang was killed while six others were arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Abuja.

The incident was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday, by the Commands spokesperson, Josephine Adeh.

Adeh explained that during a routine patrol on Wednesday, officers spotted a victim, Angel Patrick, being pushed out of a moving vehicle along Kubwa Expressway.

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She said, The operatives immediately stopped and rescued the victim, who was then conveyed to Zankwochi Hospital, Mabushi, for urgent medical attention.

An undercover team pursued the fleeing suspects to the Aso area of Mararaba in Nasarawa State. After a fierce gun battle, the suspects were stopped and arrested.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/police-deny-torturing-sowore-who-rejected-medical-treatment-twice-insist-detention-backed-by-court-order.html

Adeh added, Following a hot chase and a fierce gun duel, the suspects were forcefully halted and arrested.

The arrested individuals include Daniel Benson, Uche Thomas, and Tope Ola from Mpape, and Jude Simon of Mararaba.

The gangs operational vehicle, a dark grey Toyota Corolla, was recovered alongside six ATM cards believed to belong to previous victims, a jackknife, and N115,000 in cash.

Adeh also revealed, One suspect was neutralized during the exchange of fire and later confirmed dead at Asokoro General Hospital.

Investigations showed that one suspect, John Simon, was previously arrested in December 2024, charged, and remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre for similar offenses.

The suspects freely confessed to being members of the One-Chance gang and admitted, We have been involved in the crime for several years now, according to the police statement.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed allegations that renowned activist Omoyele Sowore was tortured in custody, insisting that his recent arrest was based on credible, corroborated allegations of criminal offences, including forgery and cyberstalking.

In a statement issued on Friday, August 8, 2025, and signed by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Police described Sowore as a figure known for manipulating public narratives and weaponizing propaganda to malign state institutions and their leadership, particularly the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

According to the statement, the arrest was carried out in line with the law.

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READ MORE: My Death Will Come On A Sunday After Eating Pounded Yam  Pastor Adeboye

Mr. Sowore was arrested based on credible, corroborated allegations involving criminal offences such as forgery, cyberstalking, and other infractions currently under active investigation. The arrest was effected in full compliance with extant legal provisions, and with strict adherence to constitutional safeguards, due process, and the rights of the suspect, the Police said.

They added that Sowore was released on bail well within the 48-hour constitutional window and is fully aware of the nature of the allegations against him as he is expected to appear in court soon.

On the viral photo showing Sowore with a bandaged arm, the Force maintained that it was mischievously presented to mislead the public and stir unwarranted outrage, explaining that the bandage was part of his personal belongings at the time he honoured the Polices invitationprior to his arrest and detention.

The statement further revealed that the Inspector-General of Police ordered an internal investigation into how Sowore had access to the bandage while in custody, noting that the activist had twice refused independent medical examinations arranged by the Police on August 7 and 8, 2025.

In the spirit of accountability and transparency, the Force promptly responded to the claims of brutality by dispatching a medical teamled by the Medical Director of the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospitalto conduct an independent examination on 7th August 2025. Mr. Sowore declined the evaluation. A second medical team, this time led by the Force Medical Officer, was sent on 8th August 2025, and again, access was denied by the suspect, the statement read.

The Police also stressed that Sowores detention was not arbitrary but anchored on a valid remand order issued by a competent court of jurisdiction, adding that all actions taken have been underpinned by legal authority, devoid of malice, bias, or political undertones.

Urging the media and civil society to exercise restraint, the Force stated, Sensationalism, particularly when driven by those with personal vendettas against the Police leadership, poses a clear risk to public trust and the integrity of ongoing investigations.

The statement concluded, The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the protection of human rights, respect for the rule of law, and the pursuit of justice without fear or favour. No individualregardless of their status, influence, or social media reachis above the law.
Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is celebrating a special milestone as he marks his 9th wedding anniversary with his wife, Layal.

On his official Instagram page on Friday, Seyi shared a heartfelt message expressing his love and gratitude.

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He revealed that although they have been married for nine years, they have been together for two decades.

READ MORE: Wande Coal Is Most-Talented Nigerian Afrobeats Artist  Seyi Sodimu

In his post, he praised Layal for her strength, compassion, and grace, thanking her for her unwavering love and sacrifices for their family.

He wrote: 9 years married, 20 years together, and our beautiful kids  I remain in awe of your strength, compassion, and the grace you show every day. @layaltinubu Thank you for loving me through it all. Heres to the life weve built and the future where we grow stronger beyond what we sacrifice, to protect those we love, especially each other and our family. I love you. #Happy9thAnniversary #LoveYou.

SEE BELOW:
The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended two suspected gun runners, seizing four locally fabricated rifles, four pistols, and four motorcycles in separate operations within the state.

Spokesperson of the Command, DSP Mansir Hassan, revealed this in a statement on Friday, stating that the breakthroughs came after credible intelligence was acted upon.

He explained that on August 5, 2025, around 2:00 pm, officers from the Ikara Division carried out a raid on Kurmin-Kogi village following reports of illegal arms dealings.

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The operation resulted in the arrest of two men  identified as Isah Bello and Saidu Haruna  both from Damdami village in Soba Local Government Area.

The suspects led detectives to their hideout in a bushy area, where four locally made rifles and four locally made pistols were recovered, Hassan stated.

He added that Bello resisted arrest and assaulted a police inspector, leaving the officer with facial injuries. The injured officer is currently receiving medical treatment.

On the 5th of August, 2025, at about 14:00 hours, following credible intelligence reports about the activities of suspected gun runners, operatives of the Command from Ikara Division stormed Kurmin Kogi village Area and successfully arrested two suspects, namely Isah Bello and Saidu Haruna, both residents of Damdami village, Richifa Ward, Soba LGA.

The suspects further led detectives to their hideout located in a bushy area where four locally made guns and four locally made pistols were recovered, he said.

In another operation on August 7, operatives from the Dan Magaji Division arrested 36-year-old Shamsudeen Haruna of Galadimawa, Giwa LGA, over alleged involvement in a motorcycle theft ring.
An image from a video release by police shows people shooting guns on the 1500 block of South Etting Street on July 7, 2025. Read more

Police on Friday identified another alleged gunman accused of being involved in the Grays Ferry mass shooting in which three men were killed and nine other people wounded.

An arrest warrant was issued for Christopher Battle, 24, who is facing three charges of murder and multiple related offenses, police said. No other details about Battle or his alleged involvement were released.

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On Thursday, police announced the arrest of Terrell Frazier, 22, who has been charged with three counts of murder and related offenses.

Police said they believe at least 13 guns were fired indiscriminately in a panic during a party on the 1500 block of South Etting Street on July 7  likely all by partygoers spooked by what they thought was the sound of gunfire.

The sound led to more than a dozen people, believing they were under fire, to pull out weapons and fire more than 120 shots indiscriminately down the block, police said.

All the spent shell casings were found in the middle of the block, where the party attendees were firing their guns, police said. No casings were found at the end of the block, where the people were shooting toward.

Three people were killed: Zahir Wylie, 23, of Overbrook; Jason Reese, 19, of West Philadelphia, and Azir Harris, 27, who used a wheelchair after being paralyzed in a prior shooting.

The wounded ranged in age from 15 to 24.
In July, a right-wing influencer shared a video to X of a same-sex York County couple smiling and playing with their infant.

Unless a miracle happens, this child has almost no chance at a normal life, the influencer wrote on the social media platform. The post garnered nearly 40,000 likes, generating a flurry of anti-LGBTQ responses.

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Now the content is stirring conversation in a different context: One member of the couple featured in the video, Brandon Riley-Mitchell, is a registered sex offender who may have exploited a Pennsylvania legal loophole when conceiving the child via surrogacy.

Riley-Mitchell, 39, was a chemistry teacher at Downingtown West High School in 2016 when he was convicted on charges of sexually abusing a minor and possession of child pornography.

The former West Chester resident carried on a sexually inappropriate relationship via thousands of text messages with an underage student at the school for more than a year, according to local media reports.

Riley-Mitchell was jailed for about three months and sentenced to probation, ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors, and placed on a registry, among other state requirements for convicted sex offenders.

Pennsylvania law prohibits registered sex offenders from adopting or fostering children. But no statute exists in Pennsylvania regarding who can conceive through surrogacy, according to a legal specialist, leaving the 2024 birth of Riley-Mitchells child via gestational surrogate open to interpretation.

Besides spurring state lawmakers to reexamine Pennsylvanias surrogacy laws, the video has garnered more than 11 million views on X, and national news outlets from Newsweek to TMZ have weighed in on the unique circumstances surrounding Riley-Mitchells fatherhood.

On Change.org, a petition calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro and other state officials to remove the child from Riley-Mitchells care has more than 10,000 signatures.

Parents who choose to conceive through surrogacy typically apply for a pre-birth order, making them, rather than the surrogate mother, the childs legal guardians from the moment of birth. Otherwise, prospective parents would technically need to adopt the baby and become subject to background checks. It is unclear whether Riley-Mitchell and his partner obtained a pre-birth order.

Peter Kratsa, Riley-Mitchells attorney in his criminal case, said his former client did nothing illegal or unethical in becoming a surrogate parent, adding that he had accepted responsibility for his conduct, served his sentence without incident, and engaged in extensive counseling.

Perhaps the attention of those decrying his parenthood would be more appropriately directed toward those who are not held accountable for child abuse, are not punished, and make no efforts at rehabilitation, Kratsa said.

According to an archived GoFundMe page from 2020, Riley-Mitchell and his partner did not hide their pursuit of having a child.

Once the baby is born, the intended parents (Brandon and I) would have full legal custody, Riley-Mitchells partner wrote on the page, which raised more than $2,000 out of a $50,000 goal for an IVF procedure.

In an update in November 2023, an announcement on the page read that a family friend had agreed to carry the child.

Our surrogate went through extensive medical and social worker evaluations in order to be approved for surrogacy, the update said. Once approved, the lengthy legal and financial process began.

Stuart Sacks, a Harrisburg-based surrogacy and adoption attorney, said he couldnt form a complete opinion on the couples surrogacy until he knew whether it was Riley-Mitchells DNA that contributed to the procedure.

If Brandon is the genetic parent, thats maybe where the loophole comes in, Sacks said.

Despite ambiguities around the procedure, the state legislature has refused to adopt a surrogacy act in the past, according to Sacks  though some Harrisburg lawmakers would like that to change.

Citing the Riley-Mitchell case by name, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R., Lawrence) announced last month that he intends to introduce a bill barring sex offenders from becoming parents via surrogacy.

Bernstine said the process of obtaining a pre-birth order bypasses the background checks, home studies, and judicial oversight that would otherwise be required in an adoption or foster care placement.

This loophole was recently brought to light in a deeply disturbing case in which a Tier I sexual offender  who was previously convicted of sexually abusing a minor  was successful in lawfully obtaining full legal parentage of a child through surrogacy, Bernstine wrote.

The bill would require background checks and child abuse clearances for surrogacy-seeking parents, according to the lawmaker.

Riley-Mitchell was 30 years old when he was charged for sexual misconduct involving the student, who was 16 when the abuse began, according to the Times of Chester County.

Riley-Mitchell was found to have exchanged more than 12,000 text messages with the student between May 2013 and December 2014, some of which included nude images and videos of the minor. Riley-Mitchell also suggested that the student perform oral sex on him upon graduation, according to the report.

At one point, Riley-Mitchell told the student to delete their text messages; investigators were able to recover incriminating messages from Riley-Mitchells phone after obtaining a search warrant.

Riley-Mitchell surrendered his teaching license and is no longer a teacher at Downingtown West. His last known employer is based in Lancaster, according to his Megans Law offender profile.
Many Shih Tzu owners came out with their dogs for a meetup event at The Boozy Mutt in Philadelphia on Saturday. Read more

The Shih Tzus came from far and wide, rallying to Fairmounts The Boozy Mutt for an assemblage of adorableness unrivaled in the greater Philadelphia area.

Theyre like joy personified, said Cheryl Mattis, who drove up from the Baltimore area for this first meeting of Philly Shih Tzus, a group for enthusiasts of these tiny pups. Like, this thing has never had a bad day ever. Shes happy all the time. You just cant be unhappy when theyre around.

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Mattis pooch is Olivia Benson, named after the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit hero, and she dressed to impress in fetching black apparel embroidered with pink flowers.

Mattis and her daughter learned about the Philly Shih Tzu gathering at the Boozy Mutt  a bar that caters to dog owners  on TikTok, where they follow dogs Hazel and Hendrix. Their owner, Tess Bodden, is one of the organizers of the event. (There is no similar conclave of cuteness held in Baltimore.)

Bodden and Jen Maher are the leaders of the pack, which swelled to a few dozen Shih Tzus by mid-morning.

Its always been my dream, to be honest, said Maher, a marketing professional who lives in Center City (her canine companion is named Kelce, for obvious reasons). My perfect birthday would be in a winery, with the vines and all that and surrounded by Shih Tzu puppies. This is pretty close!

Maher organized the group via social media, with Bodden reposting her call to meet, and by advertising with groomers and pet stores in the area.

To enter the Boozy Mutt, on Poplar Street, owners must meet a few safeguards like providing vaccine paperwork (for the pets, that is). But once through the gated entryway there is a bar  with booze, food, coffee, and other non-alcoholic drinks  and an expansive outdoor area for canine romping.

For Maher and Bodden, who also lives in Philadelphia, Shih Tzus are perfect city dogs. With their small statures and friendly dispositions, they are well-suited for apartment or rowhouse life.

Because they have short legs, so they dont need to really run, said Maher. They can run around in your apartment, or I will open the door to take the trash out to the trash chute and thats her time to sprint up and down the hall. Thats all she needs, she doesnt want to go do laps.

With the Boozy Mutt meetup a success, Maher is planning future Shia Tzu confabs at Urban Farmer on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Aug. 26 with a photographer for pooch portraits. Follow ups will be held at Salty Paws on South Street, and additional locations in University City, and Manayunk.

They do one every year in New York, but I missed it and I was so upset, said Bodden. So when [Maher] reached out to me I was like, oh my gosh, absolutely, because I dont want to travel all the way up there. This is like heaven.
In March, the Trump administration issued an executive order that prohibited the expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race. The order targeted numerous museums of the Smithsonian Institution, as well as Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

The result of this targeting is the planned or executed removal of artifacts. In other words, the erasure of history.

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The Presidents House that housed George Washington and John Adams, as part of Independence National Historical Park, has come under fire from the Trump administration for inappropriately [disparaging] Americans past or living.

The Presidents House includes information about the Africans enslaved by Washington  including Ona Judge, who escaped her captivity with the support of free Black Philadelphians, never to return to enslavement. The exhibits that feature the information have been part of the site since 2010, and are the result of a sustained campaign by local lawyer Michael Coard and a community group known as the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition.

To be clear, Donald Trumps targeting of the Presidents House is a racist attempt to change American history to reflect a lie about the African American experience in this country.

 READ MORE: Teaching Black history shouldnt fall solely on the shoulders of Black people | Opinion

It means federal institutions cannot be trusted to preserve history accurately  namely, the nations fraught relationship with Black Americans and other people of African descent. Sadly, textbooks could rarely, if ever, be trusted to preserve that history accurately, making these exhibits even more important as a teaching tool for young people and adults alike.

Whats the response we need in the moment?

Educators must begin preserving history, if they havent already begun doing so  especially Black educators.

Social studies teachers may be the educators who first come to mind for this work; however, no educator should limit themselves because of their content area or racial/ethnic background. History matters and is part of any content area, from the arts to science, literature, and even mathematics.

Likewise, all people should be  must be  invested in history because history tells the story of who we are. History shows us from whence we came, where we went wrong, and how we can reach the places we want to go.

Thats true for people of color and white people.

 READ MORE: For GOP voters feeling the pain of Trumps cuts, a realization dawns: Weve had our pockets picked | Opinion

But for African Americans, history is more than just knowledge. History  our history here, throughout the Americas, and in Africa  is a systematic study wrapped around our collective DNA. With so many of our individual family stories lost to the original sin that was chattel slavery, Black history is an essential educational component that is vital to informing our communitys identity.

When I teach history, I approach it as a sacred rite in which the ancestors are able to reach back across the eons to tell their own stories as Black people in a society that continues to deny the truth of who they were, how they came to these shores, and how they labored to make America what it is.

In response, I keep history in my home library  books, academic journal articles, newspaper and magazine articles, and videos. I use these to teach my students, my children, and the readers of my writing. I fight against the erasure of Black history in this way.

Black educators must find their own way to carry on this fight, and it begins with preserving history. Teaching, displaying, or writing Black history means nothing if white nationalists in government have been allowed to erase it from our memory. Teaching, displaying, or writing Black history will only matter if we preserve it so that we can share it with the world.

As we embark on the dawn of another school year, my challenge to educators  specifically Black educators  is to research, learn, and preserve Black history.

Find and save academic journal articles written by scholars of color.

Purchase photo books that capture history, like those by Gordon Parks and Bruce Talamon.

Build your personal library of books. Visit historical markers in your area and document them. Visit your local historical societies. Join these and other organizations and document what you learn.

Research, learn, and preserve. We, the teachers, must once again become the students, to become better teachers and to become archivists in a post-truth and anti-Black society, because the war against Black history wont be won in the legislature or the White House. Instead, it will be won in your libraries, your living rooms, and your classrooms.

It will be won by the keepers of the oral tradition who end up preserving the histories that we share with them in the libraries of their minds.

Rann Miller is an educator and freelance writer based in South Jersey. His Urban Education Mixtape blog supports urban educators and parents of children attending urban schools. Miller is also the author of Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids, which was reissued in 2024. @RealRannMiller
BRASILIA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Flavio Dino criticized the U.S. embassy here for saying it would "monitor" the work of a judge.

His remarks referred to a statement of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia warning allies of Justice Alexandre de Moraes -- sanctioned under the U.S. Magnitsky Act in July -- against supporting his actions, adding, "We are monitoring the situation closely."

"I recall that, under international law, it is not among the duties of any foreign embassy to 'warn' or 'monitor' what a justice of the Supreme Federal Court, or any other Brazilian court, should do," Dino wrote on Facebook.

Moraes was sanctioned by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for alleged abuse of authority, suppressing free speech, and human rights abuses. The justice is overseeing the criminal case of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been charged with scheming to overthrow Brazil's 2022 elections.

"Respect for national sovereignty, moderation, common sense, and good manners are essential in diplomacy. I hope dialogue and friendly relations between nations that have long been partners in trade, culture, and institutions will prevail again. That is best for all," he added.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Charge d'Affaires Gabriel Escobar to lodge a formal protest and requested an explanation. 
Former Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan, who is running for Philadelphia district attorney, talks with reporters as his wife Nancy Dugan looks on during a primary election night party at the Sprinkler Fitters Local 692 Hall in Philadelphia in May. Read more

Former Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan announced Saturday that he will challenge District Attorney Larry Krasner in the general election, after handily losing the Democratic primary in May.

Dugan is a registered Democrat, but he will file paperwork to appear on Novembers ballot as a Republican after the Philadelphia GOP had organized a write-in campaign in an effort to recruit him to continue running against Krasner.

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I cannot stand by and allow Mr. Krasners failed policies to continue to hold our city hostage, Dugan said in a news release announcing his decision. Every Philadelphian has a real choice this fall, and I believe they will stand with me for common sense and safety.

Dugan, who had previously said he would not run as a Republican, did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

In his news release, Dugan argued that progressive prosecutors like Krasner have lost recent campaigns in Baltimore and Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. The progressive movement has seen similar setbacks in the Midwest and California.

But Krasner, who is running for a third term, won the May Democratic primary decisively. He won the 2021 primary by a similar margin, as city homicides were near record highs.

Today, Philadelphias violent crime rates have dropped dramatically, although Dugan still sounded a law-and-order message in his announcement.

Larry Krasners policies have brought chaos to our city with rampant lawlessness, open-air drug trafficking, and skyrocketing violence, he said. He has virtually legalized shoplifting, tolerated illegal firearms, and turned a blind eye to the trafficking of women and the poisoning of our communities.

The two men waged a heated and antagonistic campaign against each other, and that level of vitriol continued in Dugans announcement Saturday.

He has abandoned countless crime victims, Dugan said in the release. His lies, lack of integrity, lectures, and letthem loose philosophy have failed all of us.

Krasner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bob Brady, chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party, said that its a total disgrace for Dugan to run in the general election.

Hes got zero integrity. Zero, Brady said, noting Dugans past commitment not to run as a Republican.

The Philadelphia Democratic Party supported Dugan in multiple races in the past, Brady said. By running against the Democratic nominee, Dugan turned his back on the party for a pure ego trip.

Hes out of the party. Hes got to register Republican, Brady said. Thats fine with me. I dont need liars in our party.

Electorally, Brady isnt concerned about Krasners chances to defeat Dugan again in November saying, I cant see a scenario he wins and that it will be fun to beat him.

Republican ward leaders and committee people organized a write-in campaign for Dugan during the primary, paving the way for him to appear on the ballot in November.

But the judges campaign said in May that the lifelong Democrat committed to not running as a Republican in the event that he lost the primary to Krasner.

Dugan earned more than 6,000 Republicans write-in votes in the primary, winning him the partys nomination. There was no Republican candidate on the ballot in the May primary.

The ex-judge had until Aug. 11 to decide either to pay a filing fee to be the GOP nominee or withdraw from the ballot, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Philadelphia Republicans hope that there are enough Dugan Democratic primary voters, independents, and Republicans for their new nominee to pull an upset in the General Election race. That playbook worked in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, said Vincent J. Fenerty Jr., the chairman of the Philly GOP, in a statement.

Republican elected officials from Philadelphia celebrated Dugans announcement in statements.

Firing Larry Krasner has always been a top priority for me and for Northeast Philadelphia, said State Sen. Joe Picozzi. [Dugan] has my full support, and Ill stand shoulder to shoulder with him to take back our city.

State Rep. Martina White said that Dugans no-nonsense, no-politics approach to public safety will resonate even more strongly in the November election.

In a phone interview, Fenerty said he was ecstatic to learn about Dugans decision to run as a Republican in the general election.

It was a very personal decision that he and his family had to make, Fenerty said.

The city Republican Party chairman said he believes that Dugan can beat Krasner in the fall.

Its a big mountain to climb but its achievable, Fenerty said.
Activists gather for an Aug. 2 event at the Presidents House in Philadelphia as part of an effort to preserve exhibits on slavery threatened by President Donald Trump's order. Read more

Twenty-three years ago, Black activists led a relentless effort to make slavery the focal point of an exhibit on a Philadelphia home once occupied by Presidents George Washington and, later, John Adams. It was a chapter of history that the National Park Service was  at first  hesitant to explore.

But the activists persistence helped transform the Presidents House Site at Independence National Historical Park into what it is today: a powerful tribute to the nine people President George Washington enslaved there during the founding of the United States.

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And now in a little over a month, by Sept. 17, those efforts could be altered or erased in another attempt to sanitize history in response to an order from President Donald Trump, who seeks to remove content at national parks that his administration deems to inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.

Were not dismayed, were not exhausted, were not pessimistic, were not beaten down. We are resilient, Michael Coard, an attorney and founding member of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), said in an interview Wednesday. The same energy and passion that we used from 2002 to 2010, its here now on steroids.

Six of the displays that have come under scrutiny are at the Presidents House and many shine a light on the horrors of slavery, the depths of which, activists say, hadnt been fully explored at Independence Park until the sites grand opening in 2010.

But telling that story didnt come without a fight.

In 2002, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, a Black-led coalition of activists worked with local scholars, lobbied elected officials, and negotiated directly with Independence Park to ensure the history of slavery was centered at the site. Generations Unlimited, led by the late historian and curator Charles L. Blockson, also joined the advocacy.

Starting that year, ATAC originated the celebration of Black Independence Day there, Coard said.

More than two decades later, many of those same advocates are once again strategizing to save the exhibits from Trumps order. In September, activists will hold a public town hall.

The turmoil signifies what could be a larger battle over who gets to tell the story of Americas founding ahead of the nations 250th anniversary next year when all eyes will be on Philadelphia.

One step forward, two steps in place, and then we go back

The memory of the house where the first two U.S. presidents resided has almost faded before.

It served many purposes: a home for William Penns grandson, infamous traitor Benedict Arnolds residence for a year, financier Robert Morris for another. From 1790 to 1800 it was Washingtons and later Adams executive mansion. Then it was a hotel and later demolished and transformed into commercial properties. In 1951, the last aboveground remnants of the structure were dismantled for the construction of Independence Mall.

The historical reverence of the house then significantly deteriorated  a public toilet sat at that spot from 1954 until 2003.

Edward Lawler Jr., historian of the nonprofit Independence Hall Association, put the sites history together in 2002 when he published an article, The Presidents House in Philadelphia: The Rediscovery of a Lost Landmark in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, seeking to set the record straight about the true location  and stories  of the house.

Historians Gary B. Nash and Randall M. Miller and The Inquirers reporting during that time also brought awareness to the history of slavery at the site, including the revelation that the Liberty Bell pavilion was built on top of the slave quarters Washington commissioned. At the time, the Park Service did not want to have the site studied, according to Inquirer archives.

No matter what happened at the Presidents House, I presumed it would have to be based on my research, because I eliminated everybody else who got things wrong, Lawler said in an interview Thursday, referring to other inaccurate speculation about the location of the house.

Lawlers work served as a catalyst for ATACs advocacy, Coard said.

ATAC was able to engage Independence Park in serious discussions in less than a year, Coard said. He noted the park never told advocates no, but that it was pretty antagonistic for the first couple of years. It wasnt until roughly six years after their advocacy began, when activists felt like focusing the site on slavery was a done deal.

We all agreed that slavery was going to be prominent, Coard said of the negotiations. The question was, how prominent?

Former Park Service director Mary A. Bomar, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, was also credited by Coard for her cooperation.

After park officials presented an exhibit plan, public reaction, city government and other stakeholders broadened the conversation and started a constructive process which created a plan that all parties believed was both accurate and respectful to all people in the past and in the present, a spokesperson for Independence Park said in a statement to The Inquirer.

It involved compromise by all parties, the spokesperson added. Overall, the park is pleased with how the collaboration evolved and with the final result.

Two decades later, that work has brought the site under the scrutiny of the Trump administration.

One of the panels flagged by staff at Independence Park for the administrations review sheds light on Washingtons signing of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, which allowed people who had escaped slavery across state lines to be recaptured by their slaveholders. Washington signed the law while he resided in Philadelphia.

Two of the people who Washington enslaved at the Presidents House were able to escape to freedom: Hercules and Oney Judge. Their names along with Austin, Paris, Christopher Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Moll, and Joe, are memorialized at the site.

Former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street brought a sense of legitimacy to ATACs advocacy, Coard said. Activists noted he was the first elected official to start funding the project and he created a steering committee, which Coard, Lawler, Blockson, and other key government and scholarly stakeholders sat on. The site was completed under former Mayor Michael Nutter.

Michelle Flamer, who worked for the citys Law Department for a little over 39 years and oversaw the contractor bids for the project, said the unity in the Black community almost transcends the value of the exhibit.

Just the idea that we had Black people in Philadelphia coming together and leading an effort to fully talk about history, the full story of what happened, the good and the bad, Flamer said.

Diversity was also at the forefront of the sites development. Roz McPherson, who served as the project director during the sites years of development, said everything about the creation of the Presidents House, including hiring professionals from nonwhite backgrounds, was intentional.

Kelly Maiello Architects, a Black-led firm, was on the project. Exhibit design firm Eisterhold Associates Inc. contracted a Black artist for the panels at the site, and Louis Messiah, a documentary filmmaker, and Lorene Cary, an author, also helped with storytelling.

But McPherson is furious that those years of hard work and this important part of American history are in jeopardy under Trump.

It makes me furious that the ignorance of the person whos trying to  Hes probably never, ever been to the site, has no idea what a lot of this history means, and hes acting like the segregationist of yesteryear, quite frankly, McPherson said.

Karen Warrington, who served as then-Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Bradys communications director, was on the steering committee. Brady and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah helped secure federal funds for the project. More than a decade later, Warrington sat in the shade near the Presidents House and looked out at an Aug. 2 rally to protect the Presidents House exhibits from the Trump administration. She remarked that the U.S. is like the cha-cha-cha.

One step forward, two steps in place, and then we go back, she said.

All eyes could be on Presidents House activism

In the 2000s, the public watched the creation of the Presidents House unfold.

Visitors stood on a nearby platform and watched the archaeological dig that resulted in the discovery of some of the original structural remnants of the house that was eventually incorporated into the modern-day project.

At a ceremonial groundbreaking in March 2007, Philadelphians collected bricks or bags of soil to commemorate the meaningful occasion.

That dig is currently housed under a glass enclosure at the park for the viewing public.

Now, activists say, public engagement will be key to protecting the sites exhibits as they remain in peril under the Trump administration and theyre looking to build a coalition of people from all backgrounds.

The town hall in September will be an opportunity to continue spur awareness and activity, McPherson said. Shes leading the charge alongside Coard, historiographer Rev. Mark Tyler of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Flamer, the former Philadelphia law department attorney.

Other Philadelphians have embarked on their own projects to preserve the Presidents House before its too late, creating crowdsourced community archives or developing an AI recreation of the original house.

Advocates are also exploring potential legal options and whether the Trump administration has jurisdiction.

The first thing is build the army, Coard said. The second thing is to work on our political strategy and our legal strategy, noting that if the former doesnt work, were compelled to go to court.

The hope, Tyler said, is for Philadelphia and the Presidents House to set an example for other at-risk exhibits nationwide.

We have a vested interest in getting this right in Philadelphia because other sites like ours are watching us, Tyler said. Because, as always, Philadelphia is generally first.
Members of the public and businesses can directly engage an experienced barrister for legal advice thanks to an innovative new service.

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It might have been like any other movie night were it not for one minor detail. I was starring naked in a short film written by my wife Rosie.

The project itself was an arthouse production. Something of a conceptual piece, it centred around a man trapped in the clutches of addiction.

It was Rosies idea that I act naked in the film to further reiterate the theme of vulnerability.

Ever the supportive in-laws, Rosies family huddled around the television set in eager anticipation. I had found a comfortable vantage point upstairs and away from burning gazes.

Meanwhile, Rosie had been tasked with the role of making tea for our watch party. She stirred every cup with exaggerated care and for considerably longer than necessary.

Ive no doubt there were others surrendering to embarrassment too. Rosies niece, who had just turned 18, specifically removed her glasses.

It might have obscured her view, but maybe that was the point. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. There were sighs of relief from Rosie and I as the credits finally started rolling.

It turned out we neednt have worried. Rosies family loved the film. Ive always been really close to them. Sometimes I feel like they are more like my own family.

They have always been very supportive in everything we do and this film was no different.

COMFORT IN SEX

Rosie and I have two children, Charlie, six, and Jackson, nine. We have always raised them to be comfortable in who they are.

Our oldest has come home from school with questions about sex and while this has left us taken aback in the past, we have always found the means to talk about these topics in a child-friendly way.

Weve never attempted to hide the fact that sexuality and nudity exists. Your body is your body, and thats okay.

It hasnt always been that way. When we first started going out Rosie and I were 15 and 16, respectively.

If someone had told us then that we would grow up to make a movie where I was fully naked we would never have believed them.

In those days we were far happier enjoying movies from the comfort of our parents sofas. We never thought that making art together could ever be a possibility.

That was until I dragged Rosie along to an acting class. From that day on, we were hooked.

Joining the drama school Actors Vision in Cork city years later was the making of both of us.

Even the nudity wasnt a big deal because of the training we had with our acting teacher Darren Kelleher.

We had done nudity stuff in class to prepare ourselves for situations like this. I was in another film called Smut directed by Owen Warren where nudity was also central to the role.

It was a group situation which made for a much more comfortable atmosphere. It was a similar vibe on the set of Contrition. Darren Kelleher directed and shot the movie.

Matt Real: "If someone had told us then that we would grow up to make a movie where I was fully naked we would never have believed them." Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

ATTUNED TO CRITICISM

The film  like many controversial projects  had a polarising reception. As an actor, you become attuned to criticism. There were people who were shocked by the nudity.

However, the backlash didnt come from your typical demographic. Young people came up to me after it was screened in festivals, describing it as pointless and pornography like.

Meanwhile, the old ladies loved it and seemed to appreciate the film the most. Luckily, the positives far outweighed any negative feedback.

We are all so proud of Darren Kellehers directing and cinematography but also the important message of Rosies script. I still laugh about the hesitation I had about being nude in a film.

Ironically, it was a fully clothed appearance I made in an advertisement last year that ended up being banned.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) campaign depicted the driver, played by myself, being carried around by friends after losing his licence.

It had been criticised by some for being ableist and suggesting that people who dont drive are a burden.

While it was a disappointing result, we refused to let it dampen our enthusiasm.

Making films together has been great for Rosie and I, both as a couple and as parents.

We are very close, to the extent that we even work for the same company.

Our day job is with a call centre which allows us the luxury of working from home.

The break between calls offers us the chance to discuss ideas for films and upcoming projects.

Having an artistic household has definitely rubbed off on our children.

Jackson loves to paint and even created a copy of a Basquiat painting for us display in the house. Charlie on the other hand adores Minecraft.

When the kids ask if they can see my films I try to brush off the question, saying maybe when youre older.

Eventually though, when theyre all grown up, Id like to see what Rosie and I created together.

All these films are keepsakes of a life spent creating art together. Why wouldnt you want to share that with your children?
John Duncan Morris knew who his birth mother was for many years, and that he had two sisters, but he waited until he was 54 years old before he made any approach for fear of causing upset.

I didnt want to hurt anyone and so I always held off, and I think that was the right thing" he explained.

They were living their lives, and I didnt know if my sisters knew about me. It wasnt until my wife encouraged me to try and connect, that I started making those steps.

The father of two, who lives in Scotland with his family, began gathering his paperwork under Freedom of Information more than a decade ago.

He learned he was born in Corks Bessborough mother and baby home in 1967, before he was moved to St Josephs home in Stamullen in Co Meath 90 days later.

Johns mother, Kathleen Morris, who was from Cavan, did not marry his father and remained working for the nuns as a domestic in Cork for the next year before she moved back home. There, she kept her secret until she was 89 years old.

On April 13, 1967, I was taken by a nun from Cork to Heuston station in Dublin, where a social worker took me to Stamullen in Meath, John told the Irish Examiner.

John Duncan Morris as a child.

After five years in Stamullen I was transferred to St Marys in north Dublin, where I was described as mildly handicapped. I was there for two and a half years, and then I was boarded out to a family for nine years.

I never called them mum and dad; I called them by their first names. I was never adopted. When I was 16 years old, I went to the Los Angeles boys home in Blackrock, in South Dublin and I do have fond memories of that time," he said.

Despite being taken from his mother as an infant and moved around several care homes until he was in his late teens, John is not entitled to any redress under the mother and baby institution redress scheme.

The scheme, which opened to survivors of mother and baby homes in March of last year, is meant to offered redress for the time men and women spent in such institutions, and for the mental trauma so many of them experienced.

The act stipulates that anyone who was in a home for less than six months is not entitled to a payment, while children who were boarded or fostered out, are also excluded.

The Bessborough home in Cork is recognised under the scheme, however, John was only there for 90 days, and therefore does not meet the criteria for payment.

And even though he spent five years in St Josephs home in Stamullen in Co Meath, it is not on the list of eligible homes  so John is not entitled to any redress for his time spent there either.

The 800m redress scheme  the largest of its kind  has been criticised for the fact it excludes people like John Duncan Morris and up to 34,000 other mother and baby home survivors  and campaigners say has only added to the trauma suffered by these people.

Last month, John and fellow survivor Maire Thornton  who are not known to each other  took the first High Court case against the State over these exclusions.

Last month, John, and fellow survivor Maire Thornton took the first High Court case against the State over exclusions from the mother and baby home redress scheme.

In a sitting in Dundalk Co Louth, counsel for Coleman Legal, which has 1,400 clients in similar circumstances, argued they should be included in the scheme and that children's minister Norma Foley  who is defending the action  has the discretion to add other homes to the eligible list.

Presiding judge Alexander Owens was told to exclude survivors from the scheme under these rules was in breach of the doctrine of reasonableness and is unfair and arbitrary.

The plaintiffs want a review of the exercise of discretionary power according to settled principles of reasonableness. Mark Harty SC and John Gordon SC for the plaintiffs, claimed the Government had acted unreasonably in its establishment of a policy of refusing to provide redress to individuals from certain mother and baby institutions.

The hearing was centred on the wording of section 49 of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Act 2022.

It states: The minister, with the consent of the minister for public expenditure, may by regulation provide for the insertion in column two of part one, or column two of part two, of schedule of any institutions which was established for the purpose of providing pregnant-related and infant care services and the placement of children for the purposes of adoption or care arrangements, and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function.

Senior counsel for the minister, Eileen Barrington SC, told the High Court the act states the homes that are eligible for the scheme were ones that provided pregnant-related and infant care  and that St Josephs and Temple Hill  where the second plaintiff Marie Thornton was placed, were for infant care only.

Justice Alexander Grant has reserved his judgement for a later date.

Speaking outside the court John said: We shouldnt be here fighting this, its not about money, it is about the State recognising you.

His sister, Sarah McCloskey, who met John for the first time four years ago, said: It is disgraceful it had to come to this. They are still forcing John into the courts, it is crazy, I cant believe they are doing that, and its all based on what institution qualifies when it was a person who was affected.

Ms McCloskey said she was delighted when she learned she had an older brother in 2021. She had sat with her mother through films such as Philomena, based on Philomena Lee's search for her son, who was given up for adoption without her consent, and stories similar to her mother's own.

But she never let on, Ms McCloskey told the Irish Examiner.

There was no indication whatsoever, except that she was very critical of the nuns and the church, she stopped going to mass and she didnt send us to religious schools.

When we learned about John through a letter from Tusla, when he decided to reach out, we were absolutely delighted.

When I think of how lucky I was, I went to college in Dublin in 1989 and did my degree, and my sister went to Trinity  we were so privileged, and John was going through all this just because of the stigma of a baby out of wedlock. It was disgraceful.

Sarah said when her mother met John it was like a massive burden off her shoulders.

John doesnt share the same father as me and my sister, dad died when I was 17, so mam raised us on her own and did everything for us she said.

John Duncan Morris with his mother Kathleen, who he met for the first time in October 2021 when she was 89 years old.

Sadly, that first meeting between John and his mother on October 14, 2021, was to be Johns last  because Kathleen died in February 2022.

I would have liked to get to know her more, said John. But that meeting went really well, she could see a resemblance between me and her father.

While Sarah said: It was 50 something years of holding this in, and then it all came out it was a great release for her.

My mother thought he was adopted, but he never was, and she immediately went into mothering mode with him."

Sarah and John both admit they were nervous before the meeting at her home in Cavan. We sat and had tea and cakes, and we talked.

But mam was absolutely delighted to meet you John, she put her arms around you.

The plan was to meet again for their mothers 90th birthday the following April, but Kathleen's health declined, and she died, and John was honoured to help carry her coffin at her funeral mass.

Mum said she planned to leave a letter said Sarah, But she hadn't the opportunity to tell us about that part of her life.

The whole redress and what is happening in the court room, its about the legality of things. And its not just about the nuns, the Cavan social workers were involved too", she said.

While John added We meant nothing to the State. My mother was sent out to work for a year after I was born, she was given the name Dolly, and her number was 2274.

She was like a prisoner, said Sarah. None of it is right and no survivor should be here fighting this.

Johns case was heard alongside Marie Thornton, who is now 71 years old, and is now a married mother of grown-up children.

She said she knows who her parents are, but that they were not allowed to get married.

And so, I ended up in Temple Hill, she said.

Pointing to her left leg with her cane, she described how her two legs are different, this one [on the left] is very damaged because of three degree burns and I live in constant pain.

Sarah McCloskey who met her brother John Duncan Morris for the first time four years ago.

This lifelong injury she has had to learn to live with, was referenced in her High Court action in Dundalk and Justice Owens was told the injuries were sustained while in the care home in Temple Hill.

I was born in a private maternity hospital in 1954 and then one week later I was put into Temple Hill in Blackrock" said Marie.

I was adopted, and the order shows I was adopted in 1958, four years later. I have records from my adoptive parents asking the nuns about my leg and how they were never given much information on how to deal with it.

Ms Thornton is also excluded from the redress scheme because Temple Hill is not recognised in the list of eligible institutions under the scheme.

It is totally unfair she said.

I am not here for money; I am here to stand up for myself and others".

Ms Thornton said her adoption was not a good one and she spent decades trying to piece her life together.

"I was born in June, and in August the burns occurred and I ended up in Temple Street hospital.

Obviously, a serious accident must have occurred but to this day I have no answers, I was never told, even though they have very limited information from the medical records from Temple Street, they do refer to the burns in my records.

She said she tried since she was 18 years old to get her information but was told by the nuns she had no right to it.

One nun was sitting with my very large file beside her and all she could say was, what do you want that for.

They did as they pleased and now the minister is refusing to take us on board. Its been a lifetime of fighting".

The latest figures from the Department of Children show:

6,641 applications have been made to date 58% via online portal, 42% via post;

4,523 general and work-related payments have been processed;

There have been applications from 25 countries. 83% from Ireland, 11% UK, 4% USA and 2% rest of world.

Norman Spicer with Coleman Legal told the Irish Examiner he was working with 1,400 survivors and

"It was appalling that the State had fought the survivors of these institutions who suffered at the hands of the religious orders and the State, in institutions which mirrored in every way, the circumstances that existed in institutions already qualifying for redress under the scheme".

Mr Spicer went on to say the State had an obligation to match action with words when it came to the apology given to survivors of the institutions in January 2021.

Commenting on a recent report compiled by the minister on the redress scheme, Mr Spicer said it was clear the numbers currently eligible to apply to the scheme fell well short of the expected 34,000 applicants envisaged when it was established.

Almost 18 months into the scheme's operation, only about 8% of the 800m budget had been spent on redress for survivors with about 6,600 applications made.

Mr Spicer argues to extend redress to these two institutions was not only the right thing to do but would clearly still keep the costs confined to the budget set previously by government.

A statement from Ms Foleys office said: As this case is still before the courts, we cannot provide a response at this time.
While Palantir (PLTR) continues to trade at premium valuations, savvy investors should consider AeroVironment (AVAV), a defense technology powerhouse trading at significantly lower earnings multiples despite comparable growth prospects. AeroVironment develops defense technology and cyber operations at a much more attractive valuation than Palantir, making AVAV stock more attractive for value-conscious investors.

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The $4.1 billion BlueHalo acquisition has transformed AeroVironment into a diversified defense technology leader spanning air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. This strategic acquisition reduces concentration risk as no single mission area is expected to contribute more than 30% of fiscal 2026 revenue.

With over 50 years of proven battlefield experience and nearly $2 billion invested in research and development over the past decade, AeroVironment delivers software-defined hardware solutions, including Switchblade loitering munitions, unmanned aircraft systems, and cybersecurity platforms.

The expansion of the U.S defense budget, which includes $25 billion for missile-defense systems and $13.4 billion for autonomous platforms, directly benefits AeroVironments core competencies. AVAV stock is well-positioned to capitalize on the U.S. governments shift toward next-generation defense technologies.

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In Q4 of its fiscal 2025 (ended in April), AeroVironment reported revenue of $275 million, an increase of 40% year over year. The company ended fiscal 2025 with revenue of $821 million, indicating organic growth of 14% despite lower Ukraine-related sales.

AeroVironment secured $1.2 billion in total bookings and reported a backlog of $726 million, up 82% year over year. Notably, its Loitering Munition Systems segment generated $352 million in annual revenue, an 83% increase, driven by strong Switchblade demand from both domestic and international customers.

AeroVironments innovation engine produced three groundbreaking products during fiscal 2025, which include the AI-driven P550 autonomous UAS, the JUMP-20X vertical takeoff maritime system, and the Red Dragon one-way attack drone.
Dead bodies, many shot in the head or stomach as they reached out for food, now lie uncollected for weeks at aid delivery sites, decomposing under the bright Gazan sun.

Its too dangerous to collect them, Cork chef, Gazan refugee, and UCC student Habib Al Ostaz said.

They think if I go to move him Ill die next to him. Bodies are now left there for weeks.

At first, if someone was injured, people would rush to help. If someone died, their body would be taken.

Habib Alostaz, manager and chef, next to a map of Palestine in Izz Cafe, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane

But now, when someone is injured trying to get aid, people just care about what food aid they can get themselves. People are so hungry and desperate.

On Thursday, medical aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) described the food distribution sites as orchestrated killing.

A new report by MSF found both targeted and indiscriminate violence by Israeli forces and private American contractors against starved Palestinians at food distribution sites run by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

MSF has called for the immediate dismantling of the GHF scheme and the restoration of the UN-coordinated aid delivery mechanism.

A Palestinian carries the body of a man killed while trying to receive aid near a distribution center operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Netzarim, in the Gaza Strip.

In May, Israeli authorities sought to dismantle the UN-led humanitarian response and replace it with a militarised food distribution scheme operated by GHF. All four GHF-run distribution sites are in areas under full Israeli military control, and secured by private American armed contractors, the report noted.

MSF also called on governments, especially the United States, as well as private donors, to suspend all financial and political support for the GHF, "whose sites are essentially death traps."

Between June 7 and July 24, 2025, 1,380 casualties, including 28 dead, were received at MSFs Al-Mawasi and Al-Attar clinics in southern Gaza, located near the GHF-run distribution sites.

During those seven weeks, our teams treated 71 children for gunshot wounds, 25 of whom were under the age of 15. Faced with no alternatives to find food, starved families frequently send teenage boys into this lethal environment, as they are often the only males in the household physically able to make the journey," the report said.

Patients also included a 12-year-old boy hit by a bullet that had passed all the way through his abdomen, and five young girls, one of whom was only eight years old and suffered a gunshot wound to her chest, the MSF report said.

Children shot in the chest while reaching for food. People crushed or suffocated in stampedes. Entire crowds gunned down at distribution points, Raquel Ayora, MSF General Director said.

In MSFs nearly 54 years of operations, rarely have we seen such levels of systematic violence against unarmed civilians

The GHF distribution sites masquerading as aid have morphed into a laboratory of cruelty, Ms Ayora said.

This must stop now.

Speaking from Cork, Mr Al Ostaz questioned what kind of aid GHF was delivering when so many are being killed when trying to access food.

He cannot listen to his family's voices anymore, they are so weakened by starvation.

If you heard them, you would cry, he said.

Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Zawaida in the central Gaza Strip.

Although his father narrowly escaped almost certain death in an airstrike on an aid delivery point earlier this summer, the family was so hungry that they have had to return to the aid delivery sites.

They just want to eat. The children just want to eat," Mr Al Ostaz said.

A kilo bag of flour now costs 60. There is no cash left in ATMs so dealers take 50% commission for giving out any cash from online bank transfers.

And even if you have money, theres nothing to buy. The markets are empty.

Sometimes, his family grinds lentils to use as a flour to make bread. But this causes some of his family extreme stomach pain.

His 45-year-old mother has cancer. Habib and his brother have appealed to the Irish State and the Red Cross to evacuate her for medical treatment in Ireland.

But their pleas have gone unanswered.

We applied one-and-a-half years ago but have no updates on it."

Because Mr Al Ostaz does not currently have refugee status in Ireland they did not qualify, he was told.

Living in their partially bombed home in northern Gaza, his family can no longer work to rebuild it.

Exhausted, their days are now spent searching for food and water and gathering wood to make a fire to cook on.

Its like theyve gone back to the stone age, Mr Al Ostaz said.

Just last week, their neighbours home was bombed and a deadly fire gutted the building.

All six members of the family were killed, including three young children. The youngest was just two years old.

The pain in Mr Al Ostazs voice is awfully audible as he speaks about the tragedy and shares a video of the raging fire which trapped the young family inside their home.

Dad went to try to save them but the whole family was burned. They were our neighbours. They lived 10m away," he said.

Imagine if that bomb went to my family.

Habib turned 29 this week but he did not celebrate it.

I didnt want a celebration. I didnt want gifts. I cant celebrate while my family and so many other people are starving.

Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City.

The 22-month war has been so relentless in its horror that it leaves no time to process the constant march of tragedies, he said.

You cant catch the feeling from yesterday, you just have to prepare yourself for the next catastrophe.

He used to dream of meeting his family and hugging them. Now, his biggest dream is that they will stay alive and get enough food to avoid starvation.

He used to hope for a good education for his siblings, the youngest of whom is aged five. But now I just want them to live and survive, he said.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel intends to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, drawing condemnation both internationally and within Israel.

Military officials in Israel have warned that such an escalation of the war would risk hostages' lives.

On Friday, Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations, however, this plan stopped short of Netanyahu's call for a full takeover of the besieged strip.

Any full-scale military takeover of Gaza will cause more deaths and suffering and must be halted immediately, the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said.

But Israels threats to taken over the entire strip do not feel new or surprising, Mr Al Ostaz said.

Since 1948 [when the State of Israel was formed and more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced] we have seen this.

They only know about occupying lands from the Palestinians.

This is not new.

We need him to stop this war, to stop sending weapons.

20,000 children have been killed in Gaza.

Children are starving, being maimed and murdered. But countries still keep sending arms to Israel.

What kind of world are we living in?

Children have been left with no hands, no legs, no water, no education.

Everyone knows whats going on but they dont do anything about it.

There has been talk of recognising a Palestinian state. But it's just speeches and useless words when these countries are still sending weapons to Israel."
A woman wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt has been arrested at an anti-racism protest in Belfast city centre.

It comes after the British Government in July made expressing support for or being a member of Palestine Action a criminal offence under terrorism legislation.

In London, around 466 people were arrestedfor supporting the banned group after protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll (Claudia Savage/PA)

In Belfast, videos shared online show a woman wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt being told by police officers she was being arrested on suspicion of possessing an article, namely a sign or t-shirt, that indicates support for Palestine Action.

Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll condemned police action against pro-Palestine activists.

He called on Executive ministers to speak up for the right to protest and dismiss any charges people may face.

The whole world can see the mass starvation and daily executions carried out by Israel, yet the people being harassed in Belfast are those who stand up for Palestine, Mr Carroll said.

On the same day we saw far-right protesters with offensive and provocative signage, including pro-Israel items, the police took it upon themselves to arrest activists for having the temerity to wear items of clothing in solidarity action.

The British Government implemented a regressive clampdown with their vote to proscribe Palestine Action, without a single vote being cast in the local Assembly.

Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan said the British Government and PSNIs actions were disgraceful.

Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israels policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain

While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out, he said.

Just yesterday, (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City.

Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage.

Like all previous censorship attempts by the British Government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail.

Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israels policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain.

The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
Fresh health and safety concerns have been raised about Strykers operations in Cork after another fire at one of its facilities.

Trade union Siptu, which has been raising concerns about the companys approach to health and safety for several years, has now written directly to the firms chief executive in the US after the fire at one of its Cork plants this week.

It also plans to ask the Health and Safety Authority to investigate the matter.

Siptu spokesman Neil McGowan said it wants Stryker chief executive officer Kevin Lobo to intervene at the highest level to ensure that an urgent meeting between local management and worker representatives takes place. Mr McGowan said:

There are genuine health and safety concerns among the staff after this latest incident.

Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo on a visit to Cork in 2023. File picture

Fire broke out at the companys Tullagreen plant in the IDA Business Park in Carrigtwohill  one of three facilities it has in the area  on Wednesday.

Sources said that despite the fact that the fire broke out near the top of a large machine, and was burning for some time close to the plant ceiling, an automatic alarm system failed to sound.

One staff member who spotted the flames used a break glass unit to set off the alarm, which triggered a full evacuation of the facility.

As staff assembled in zones in the car park, fire crews investigated the scene but the blaze was under control.

There were no injuries.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Stryker described the incident as minor.

All employees were safely evacuated as per our safety procedures. Our local emergency services were notified and attended the facility as a precaution. Were committed to a safe and healthy work environment at all of our facilities, she said.

In 2021, the 'Irish Examiner' revealed how six workers from across the companys East Cork sites  Tullagreen, Springhill, and Anngrove  had been raising health and safety concerns about the facilities with the HSA for the previous three years.

Then, in 2023, tragedy struck when one of two contract staff  who had been injured in an explosion while working on the roof of the companys Anngrove site  died two months later from his injuries.

One source said there are now real and genuine fears among the workforce that it could take another serious injury before the company responds.

Stryker began operations in Cork in 1998 with 20 staff. Today, it employs more than 4,000 people across its Cork operations  its biggest innovation and manufacturing hub outside its US headquarters, and home to its European operations leadership.
It may not be as old as Irelands most famous religious artefacts but a chalice that two priests died trying to protect more than 200 years ago is certainly one of its most mysterious.

This is because nobody is quite sure about how the Mount Keefe Chalice ended up in the estate of a controversial Cork City antiquarian and photographer who collaborated with one of Irelands most notorious forgers.

Like the other centuries-old artefacts Robert Day accumulated over the years, it was one of many sold after his death at auction around 1915.

It was bought by a wealthy landowner family who wanted it to be used for the wedding of one of their daughters in their private chapel, on their estate in Buttevant, Co Cork.

Nobody, however, knows quite where Mr Day, whose controversial involvement in the discovery of gold ornaments in Cork in 1896 led to him being investigated by the Royal Irish Constabulary, got the chalice in the first place.

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

He may have acquired the chalice around the 1860s, when documents of his extensive collections are known to have featured what he described as ecclesiastical antiquities.

No stranger to controversy, Mr Day had also earned a living in collaboration with the late 19th-century forger Franz Tieze in producing imitation vintage glassware.

A review in the 1990s of their work even led to a number of museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, re-evaluating attributions initially given to some period glassware in their collections.

But whatever about its provenance, a small group of people in North Cork have got together to try and bring the chalice back to Ireland, if even just on loan from the London museum.

The Friends of the Mount Keefe Chalice - Morti OKeeffe, Sheila OSullivan and Katherine Walshe - have secured an agreement in principle from the Cork Public Museum in Cork City that they will approach the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

For its part, the V&A has said it is very open to the idea of returning it to Ireland on loan. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, it repeated an assurance it gave to the paper in 2023 about giving it on loan.

The Mount Keefe Chalice Chalice. 'As well as the mystery around how it ended up going from the hands of the soldiers who killed the priests to the auction of the antiquarian Robert Days collections, it is a precious reminder of our past.' Photo: V&A

It also reiterated its desire to find out more information about the chalice. A spokesperson said: We would welcome the opportunity to explore any new information that comes to light about items in our collection.

The chalice is available for loan to museums in Ireland, which could support further study.

Cork City Council is looking forward to helping get the chalice over to the city.

A spokesperson said: Cork Public Museum is delighted to be involved in facilitating the possible future display of this historic chalice in Cork and look forward to working with the V&A in exploring the logistics of making this a reality.

The chalice history

It is understood to have been made in 1590 for a member of the OKeeffe family of the village of Cullen, near the Cork and Kerry border.

A wealthy landowning family, they would have loaned the chalice out to the local parish priests.

According to local folklore, two Catholic priests - a Fr Gallivan and an unnamed priest from Kerry - were celebrating mass on a farm near the North Cork town of Newmarket during penal times - when celebrating mass was banned.

They were attacked in the late 1700s by a contingent of redcoats - the name given to British soldiers occupying Ireland who, at the time, wore red tunics.

Friends of the Mount Keefe Chalice, Katherine Walshe and Morti O'Keeffe, at the Chalice Tree in north Cork. Picture: Neil Michael

The priests are understood to have hurriedly buried the chalice in a hole before they were murdered, and what is now a 10m sycamore tree, known as The Chalice Tree, grew up out of that hole.

However, this is probably unlikely as the tree has since been dated as being no older than between 150 and 200 years old. But that hasnt stopped the tree from being known locally as the Chalice Tree.

A short walk from the tree itself, which is near the ruins of a small village in a remote hamlet on private farm land, is a memorial to the two priests. It is positioned at the spot where they are said to have been buried after they were murdered by the English soldiers.

The history of the chalice then goes blank for a period, until it resurfaced after the Cork city antiquarian Robert Day died and his collections were sold at auction.

The chalice is believed to have been bought by Anne Marie Daly, who was the widow of Matthew John Purcell, who - before he died in 1904 - had owned and run Burton Park, in Churchtown, Buttevant, County Cork.

The couple had had nine children after their marriage in 1882, and one of their daughters was due to get married in 1916 - in the estates private chapel. The chalice was reconsecrated specially for the event.

However, while the couple had had two sons, both served in the British army and later died. Major Raymond John Purcell, of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps inherited the sprawling estate in 1904.

But both he and his younger brother, Lieutenant Charles Francis Purcell, of the Irish Guards, fought in the First World War. When the younger brother was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, Raymond became the last male of the Purcells of Burton Park.

Although he had managed to survive the war, he never got over the trauma he endured or the injuries he sustained and he died in 1928.

It appears that his London-based aunt Louisa Purcell, Matthew John Purcells sister, then inherited the estate. Before she came over to Ireland, she contacted the V&A and offered it to them for sale.

In her dealings with the museum, Ms Purcell - according to notes made at the time - told officials there she didnt want to sell the chalice but was forced to due to the troubles.

She was at the time living at an address in Londons Hyde Park, but was due to go and live in her familys ancestral home of Burton Park in Cork.

Given the year was a relatively non-violent one in Irish political history, and the biggest event to happen was the Wall Street crash, the real decision may well have been more of a financial one.

She may have had to sell various items to pay not just for the upkeep of the estate but also death duties and related taxes.

Ms Purcell duly sold it in 1929 for 400, or around 25,000 in todays money, although a similar chalice sold around the same time for substantially more, 75,000 in todays money.

At the time, the museum was very excited to have been offered such an "outstanding" item at such a reasonable price despite the beauty and rarity of the object, curators notes on the chalice reveal.

'An unusually fine example'

Today, the chalice is on display in the museum, but a photograph of it also appears alongside detailed notes about it.

While it lacks in the prestige - or even the fame - of more famous artefacts like the famous Ardagh Chalice, which was found in Limerick in the 1990s, or the Tara Brooch, it is considered very rare and valuable.

In its own notes taken at the time the museum bought it, an expert described it as "an unusually fine example of an Irish chalice".

Morti OKeeffe has known about it all his life, as he and his family have links to the land where the Chalice Tree is today.

In my time, there have been many attempts to try and bring the chalice back to Ireland," he said.

It is probably Irelands least-known important religious relic.

As well as the mystery around how it ended up going from the hands of the soldiers who killed the priests to the auction of the antiquarian Robert Days collections, it is a precious reminder of our past.
Last week, an embassy of India issued a stark warning.

"There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens recently. The Embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in this regard. At the same time, all Indian citizens are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours."

Embassies often make warnings about security situations or perceived dangers posed to their citizens, that is not new.

But this warning was made about Ireland. In 2025. Does it make you feel a little bit ashamed?

A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an assault on a man in his 40s in Kilnamanagh in south-west Dublin in which he was attacked viciously by a group of young men, stripped of his pants and underwear and baselessly accused of inappropriate behaviour towards children.

A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an attack on Santosh Yadav at a train station in Clondalkin. He suffered a broken cheekbone after a group of teenagers on e-scooters attacked him.

A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes an attack on taxi driver Lakhvir Singh by two of his passengers. He told The Irish Times: "My children are so scared, they have asked me to promise them that I will never drive a taxi again". Mr Singh had been on a drop-off to Poppintree with two men, one of whom willingly paid the 50 fare upfront, though one did not want to take a taxi with a black driver.

"The customer sitting in the front ran out and around to my door, he said.

He tried opening it but I held it firmly shut and the second man ran around to help his friend open the door. When they couldnt get it open, one of the men ran back around to the passenger side, picked up a broken bottle from the ground and struck me twice across the forehead. He was shouting Go back to your country at me."

A rise in attacks on the Indian community which includes a group of boys telling six-year-old Nia Naveen to "go back to India" as they hit her. Six years old and attacked by a group of teens shouting racist abuse.

Racist attacks in Ireland are not a new phenomenon, just ask anyone who isn't white and doesn't speak with an Irish accent. But the latest spate of attacks on Indian people is simply the outworking of a renormalisation of racism within our public discourse. It starts with "legitimate concerns" about "unvetted men" and becomes marches demanding the country "get them out". In these instances, the "them" is never defined, handing those who try to sneak their racism in through the backdoor the plausible deniability when something like the above happens. You see, they were talking about "them", not "them". The joy of creating the other is that you never have to take responsibility when your ugly caricature is imposed on a different other.

But the racist narrative that has found itself more comfortable in the homes, minds, and conversations of Irish people in recent years is a direct facsimile of every racist playbook ever, and those who meekly allow its passage should be embarrassed to be hoodwinked by it

It starts with public meetings where lies about immigrants go unchecked, then becomes protests at IPAS centres, standoffs with gardai and abuse roared at women and children fleeing from war. But all of these are justifiable, right? The community has fears, services are stretched, and the town doesn't want to lose a facility. The ends justify the means, surely?

And while that front door is being hammered and attacked, the insidious message is smuggled through as "legitimate concerns" become dogwhistling photos of queues for new-build homes featuring large numbers of Indian people. And that turns into questions about whether non-native Irish people should be allowed to buy homes at all in a housing crisis, or demands that they prove they are here to stay.

I do not suppose to speak for the immigrant communities of Ireland, but this moving of the goalposts is constant when people claim they're not racist, but... First, it's that people who come here should integrate and speak the language. But just this week, a video of a black man singing Oro, Se Do Bheatha 'Bhaile was labelled "disgusting" by some of the worst people on the internet. A follow-up response by a black Irishman living in London pointing out that on his London-based GAA team he is the only one Irish-born and Irish-speaking member drew the same predictable and tiresome rhetoric from the emboldened and increasingly unhinged anonymous fringe.

This is why there is no point in attempting to discuss issues of immigration with those whose starting position is blind hatred.

You cannot reason with them because their end goal is mass deportation, racial segregation and a version of Ireland that neither existed nor is possible

When they say Make Ireland Great Again, I don't know which version of a great Ireland was achieved without immigration being a part of Irish life. The two greatest periods of Irish prosperity have occurred in the last 30 years and have been made possible in part by the contribution of those who came from beyond our shores.

There are an estimated 90,000 Indian people in Ireland, and they are crucial in our health and tech industries. However, even if they weren't, if they came here and worked and lived peacefully and contributed to their communities, they would deserve to do so unmolested. There can be no narrative of good immigrants versus bad immigrants, as if there is a bar beyond contribution and decency for any of us. An attack on one group among us is an attack on us all.

It is easy to play off these incidents as youthful aggression, the kind of things that bored boys do. But these cases are more insidious, more complex and definitely more vicious. And they are the direct outworking of a conversation that was never wanted in good faith and was always designed to get to this point, where people who are good and decent and welcome in our communities are writing open letters because they no longer want to remain in a country where their community does not feel safe.

We must meet these narratives head-on. We can have a discussion about immigration if a conversation is genuinely being sought  because if the current system was working, there wouldn't be people sleeping in tents. But that conversation cannot be a cover for violence against our neighbours, violence against each other. And it is incumbent on all of us to speak out when the wolves arrive in sheep's clothing or when their dangerous narratives are repeated back to us at the dinner table or in the pub, no matter how uncomfortable that may be.

Because the reality for those of us who don't conform to a narrow version of Irishness is a lot more uncomfortable.
To most of us this side of the pond, Stephen Colbert exists as a series of funny clips on social media.

Unless you live, or travel regularly to America, it's unlikely his show  The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  is a regular part of your televisual lexicon, especially as it airs at 11.35pm. Still, for all the obscurity of his existence relative to us, one could argue he's never been as popular.

President Donald Trump is the gift that never stops giving to monologue makers, and if there's one thing Colbert can deliver with panache, it's a damn good monologue.

Perhaps, too good, because his nightly shrine to shot glasses of satire and political punchdrunk comedy has been abolished. CBS, citing financial woes, has slated the final curtain for May 2026, closing not just Colberts show but the entire Late Show franchise.

Its the end of an era. Since Letterman passed the torch in 2015, Colbert has used that stage as part-sarcastic political commentator, part-sky-high comic helmsman. In the last season alone, he reigned as ratings champ among latenight talkies, improbably packing more audience than overcaffeinated hours warrant.

So yes, it may have been a purely financial choice, as CBS insists. But that phrase feels about as believable now as our own government saying they intend to pass the Occupied Territories Bill.

It comes just after Colberts attack on a TrumpParamount $16 million bribe just days before the axe fell  timing that smells less like coincidence and more like political orchestration.

Fellow comic gladiators rushed to his defence. Jon Stewart roared on The Daily Show: This is not the moment to give in  you are fucking wrong, decrying corporate fear over political reprisals. John Oliver lamented the loss of a fertile training ground for future latenight scribes, calling it incredibly sad".

What will it mean for our own Late Late Show? For decades, its been a crosspopulation of smalltown sentiment, bigcity celebrity sycophancy, and hushed confessions over talk of tragedies, triumphs, and teddy bears. And every so often it even platforms a proper comedian, albeit one who knows better than to mock a sitting TD.

And it's in that vacuum we could all do with a little Colbert. There is little or no political satire on Irish television these days - and doing mediocre impressions does not count.

Host Patrick Kielty is a fireman reduced to rescuing kittens from a tree, and it's perhaps because of that that the Late Late Show is weathering whatever storm downed Colbert in the US. Its appeal may lean more cosy than cutting, but the crowds still tune in.

Still, you can't help wondering: does Colbert's demise signal the death of the late-night format, or merely the flickoff of an old lamp?

Patrick Kielty's Late Late Show stands as a testament to bland adaptability. File picture: Andres Poveda

Streaming platforms, TikTok, 24hour news cycles  theyre all wedding their viewers to the immediacy of media, stealing them away from the halfhour a night in front of the TV.

CBS isnt the only network hitting budgetary bottom, though its certainly first to pitch out the stage talent. Even NBCs stalwarts are trimming staff and band members. Attitudes and ad revenue are shifting, fast.

But heres the irony: late-night talk shows are vital national psychotherapies. A place where politicians are cut into satire, pop stars unfurl their latest single, and comedians sharpen their wit against the absurd.

The loss of Colberts show leaves a hole  one thats political, comic, and uncomfortably silent.

In contrast, The Late Late Show stands as a testament to bland adaptability. Its become more relatable because of, not despite, its softer profile.

When guests spill their innermost thoughts or confess shame over missed anniversaries, we nod along, waiting for the former weather girl to tell us how stressful she found Dancing with the Stars.

There is little or nothing revolutionary about the formula. RTE can point to the Tommy Tiernan Show as a totem of brave programming, but, despite the quality differential, you can be damn sure which darling they'd kill first if given a choice.

Which is why the American axing is unlikely to trouble Kielty and co just yet, largely because the Late Late acts like an art project. A loss leader, less about the shining host, more about the cultural heartbeat it captures.

Colbert's exit, counterintuitively, does amplify the dearth of political criticism in Ireland, however. How can a nation of storytellers and general smart arses not produce one hour-long piece of satire per week, especially when there has never been more material with which to humorously work?

I think I know the answer. And it might be much closer to Trump's America than we like to admit  the politicians would never allow it.
It was an unimaginably beautiful day, said one of the Hibakusha, the dwindling number of Japanese women, and men, who survived the bomb.

A blue sky. A bustling city of 350,000 people. Trams packed with workers and schoolchildren. Restaurants busy with early breakfasters. Mothers at home with little ones, and babies. Nurses and doctors readying their hospitals for the days work. Factories getting busy.

An entire city is unaware that the glinting silver B29 flying overhead carries a bomb, weighing 10 tons and costing $2bn, which took 140,000 of Americas most brilliant minds to make and has been wittily named Little Boy by the military elite.

In spotless buff uniforms, they josh each other on the tarmac as their baby is loaded onto the even more wittily named Enola Gay, for the mother of the pilot. Little Boy is the worlds first atomic bomb, and the Americans are about to drop it on Hiroshima.

At 8.15am, city residents experienced a blinding light, as if a million magnesium lights went off together, then a loud boom.

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

Little Boy was detonated at 2,000 feet above the city. All living beings  women, schoolgirls, mums, dads, school boys, babies, grandparents  within a two-mile radius of the blast, were instantly vapourised. Over 70,000 human beings, 95% civilians, mostly women and children. Everything burnt, smashed, annihilated.

Too late, the American co-pilot cries out: My God, what have we done?

Thats the beginning.

A granddaughter of one of the Hibakusha says: Everything was burned in the city that day. People, birds, dragonflies, grass, trees  everything.

Her grandmother, Teruko Ueno, at the Red Cross hospital, saw dozens of fellow student nurses burned alive in the fireball that engulfed the city, temperatures rising to 4,000C.

It felt like the sun had fallen, said another Hibakusha, Chieko Iriake.

Mitsuko Koushi, a 13-year-old school girl working at the Postal Savings Bank, with flesh slashed and burns when the bomb blew in all the windows, ran with six friends to the bridge leading away from the city  spotless, gleaming teenagers transformed in seconds into dazed ragged tramps, hair burnt, clothes in tatters, bleeding profusely.

Everyone looked like monsters, said Mitsuko.

Smoke rises above Hiroshima after the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. File photo: AP

Their shocked misery captured by a young soldier as a mushroom cloud rose seven-and-a-half miles into the sky  the pretty bustling city below now churned into a waste ground, piled with twisted blackened corpses, the dying, people crying out, people with their skin hanging behind them like old clothes, human limbs snapping like twigs from the heat.

To this day, Mitsuko prays for the young mother screaming in agony and disbelief at the blackened charred corpse of her baby in her hands.

Nobody knew what had happened. The shock so terrible, nobody spoke. Everyone just looked at the ground. It wasnt until 16 hours later that US president Harry Truman informed the world that the US had conducted the greatest scientific gamble in history  Americanese for dropping a nuclear bomb on thousands of civilians.

It was tremendous and awe inspiring, said the Americans. They had done it for the world! For peace! Hiroshima was a military target! The Japanese had it coming!

Not that the Japanese army was saintly, far from it. Brutality and dehumanisation of non-nationals was celebrated. But America incinerating civilians? Was that war, or war crime?

On the ground fires and 1,000 miles per hour winds followed the blast  gobbling up people, houses, hospitals, factories, and shops. The force of the winds blew bodies apart, 60,000 buildings were flattened  90% of Hiroshimas doctors, nurses, and medical staff were killed or injured.

'Everything was burned in the city that day. People, birds, dragonflies, grass, trees  everything.' File photo: AP

Some 45 hospitals were destroyed or damaged. Medical aid for victims was poor to non-existent. On the bridge where Mitsuko was, a single soldier arrived with a can of rapeseed oil. When that ran out, sump oil from the nearby railway was substituted.

Chieko Irieka remembers rubbing oil, found in the home economics classroom, onto classmates wounds. They died one after the next. Us older students were instructed by our teachers to dig a hole in the playground. I cremated [my classmates] with my own hands.

Kieko Oguro remembers her father cremating 700 bodies in front of their house, even children like me had to carry the bodies. She was eight years old.

The Hiroshima Plague

After the fires, the sky turned black and rain heavy as mud fell. No one warned the rain would be lethal and radioactive.

Wilfred Birchett, an intrepid Australian journalist, slipped his American handlers in Tokyo, and took a 22-hour train journey to Hiroshima unarmed, carrying rations for seven meals, a black umbrella and a Baby Hermes typewriter.

He was the first outsider. As The New York Times assured: No radioactivity in Hiroshima ruin.

He saw women die in impossibly overcrowded hospitals, with hair fallen out in a halo around their heads, and blood pouring from their mouths. The Hiroshima Plague, or radiation sickness, had taken hold.

The building on the right was preserved as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. File photo: Keystone/Getty Images

Hundreds died. Women miscarried still born babies, white as candles. People who were well one minute, were dead the next. Burchetts reports for the Daily Express: Hiroshima does not look like a bombed city. It looks as if a monster steamroller had passed over it and squashed it out of existence. It shocked the world. Maybe nuclear war wasnt such a brilliant idea after all?

The Americans, still busy patting themselves on the back, saying our bomb did the job!, bustled in with their dollars and their scientists. Every record, photo, and lab test carried out by Japanese doctors since August 6 was confiscated.

America would take over. There was no such thing as radiation sickness. There was no such thing as the Hiroshima Plague. Stuff and nonsense. These were surface burns, nothing more.

By 1945s end, 140,000 people were dead  Almost half of Hiroshimas population.

The atom bombs lethal kiss didnt stop there.

Generations of women, mothers and grandmothers exposed in Hiroshima  or Nagasaki, where the Americans dropped a second bomb titled Fat Boy, because the Japanese werent surrendering fast enough, three days after Hiroshima  suffered from leukemia, cancerous cataracts, cancerous tumours, kidney failure, and skin cancers. Not to mention nightmares.

A Japanese man pushes his loaded bicycle down a path that had been cleared of rubble after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. File photo: AP

Shamefully, the Hibakushas werent treated brilliantly. Even by their own.

People ostracised us. They said we women gave birth to monsters. And the men were sterile.

Many hid their history for fear of social isolation. The government, a bit like our own miserable lot, granted them a pension and free medical care.

In 1982, the Hibakushas were invited to the UN to meet the scientists whod devised the monstrosity that had obliterated their reality. One recalled being asked if she held a grudge against America, against the people whod created the bomb?

Somewhat wryly, she told the questioner at first she felt a tremendous grudge, but now she is simply determined to keep telling her story. She wants no one else in the world to have to go through what she and the people of Hiroshima did.

Many Hibakusha died without being able to talk about these things, or their bitterness over the bombing. They couldnt speak, so I speak, says Emiko Okada.

All say the same: They must keep living to tell the horror of what happened. To see that it never happens again. To anyone, ever.
President Donald Trump has said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska.

Mr Trump announced the meeting in a post on social meeting and said more details would follow.

Earlier, the President had said he will meet very shortly with Mr Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine and that he will announce the location soon.

Were going to have a meeting with Russia, start off with Russia. And well announce a location. I think the location will be a very popular one, Mr Trump said.

President Donald Trump (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Those comments came as Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield expressed little hope for a diplomatic solution to the war and Mr Trumps deadline arrived on Friday for the Kremlin to make peace.

Exasperated that Mr Putin did not heed his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, Mr Trump almost two weeks ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.

Mr Trumps efforts to pressure Mr Putin into stopping the fighting have so far delivered no progress.

Russias bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armour while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.

Russia and Ukraine are far apart on their terms for peace.

Ukrainian forces are locked in intense battles along the 620-mile front line that snakes from north-east to south-east Ukraine.

The Pokrovsk area of the eastern Donetsk region is taking the brunt of punishment as Russia seeks to break out into the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region.

Ukraine has significant manpower shortages.

Intense fighting is also taking place in Ukraines northern Sumy border region, where Ukrainian forces are engaging Russian soldiers to prevent reinforcements being sent from there to Donetsk.

Russian president Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

In the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk, a commander said he believes Moscow is not interested in peace.

It is impossible to negotiate with them. The only option is to defeat them, Buda, a commander of a drone unit in the Spartan Brigade, told The Associated Press.

He used only his call sign, in keeping with the rules of the Ukrainian military.

I would like them to agree and for all this to stop, but Russia will not agree to that. It does not want to negotiate. So the only option is to defeat them, he said.

In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a howitzer commander using the call sign Warsaw, said troops are determined to thwart Russias invasion.

We are on our land, we have no way out, he said. So we stand our ground, we have no choice.

The Kremlin said that Mr Putin had a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which the Russian leader informed Mr Xi about the results of his meeting earlier this week with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

Kremlin officials said Mr Xi expressed support for the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis on a long-term basis.

Mr Putin is due to visit China next month. China, along with North Korea and Iran, have provided military support for Russias war effort, the US says.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said on X that he also had a call with Mr Putin to speak about the latest Ukraine developments.

Mr Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to place an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, which the American president says is helping to finance Russias war.

Mr Putins calls followed his phone conversations with the leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, the Kremlin said.
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan shook hands at a White House peace summit before signing an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict.

President Donald Trump was in the middle as Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan flanked him on either side.

As the two extended their arms in front of Mr Trump to shake hands, the US leader reached up and clasped his hands around theirs.

The two countries in the South Caucasus signed agreements with each other and the US that will reopen key transportation routes while allowing the US to seize on Russias declining influence in the region.

The deal includes an agreement that will create a major transit corridor to be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, the White House said.

Mr Trump said at the White House on Friday that naming the route after him was a great honour for me but I didnt ask for this.

President Donald Trump, centre, joined by Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Ilham Aliyev hold a signed trilateral agreement (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

A senior administration official, on a call before the event with reporters, said it was the Armenians who suggested the name.

Mr Trump has sought to be known as a peacemaker and made no secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel Peace Prize.

Fridays signing adds to a series of peace and economic agreements brokered by the US this year.

Both leaders said the breakthrough was made possible by Mr Trump and his team.

We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past, Mr Pashinyan said, calling the agreement a significant milestone.

President Trump in six months did a miracle, Mr Aliyev said.

Mr Trump remarked on how long the conflict went on between the two countries.

Thirty-five years they fought, and now theyre friends and theyre going to be friends a long time, he said.

That route will connect Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by a 20-mile-wide patch of Armenian territory.

The demand from Azerbaijan had held up peace talks in the past.

For Azerbaijan, a major producer of oil and gas, the route also provides a more direct link to Turkey and onward to Europe.

Mr Trump indicated he would like to visit the route, saying, Were going to have to get over there.

Asked how he feels about lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mr Trump said very confident.

Mr Aliyev and Mr Pashinyan on Friday joined a growing list of foreign leaders and other officials who have said Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping ease long-running conflicts across the globe.

The peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda helped end the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo, and the US mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, while Mr Trump intervened in clashes between Cambodia and Thailand by threatening to withhold trade agreements with both countries if their fighting continued.

Yet peace deals in Gaza and Ukraine have been elusive.

The signing of a deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, also strikes a geopolitical blow to their former imperial master, Russia.

Throughout the nearly four-decade conflict, Moscow played mediator to expand its clout in the strategic South Caucasus region, but its influence waned quickly after it launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Trump-brokered deal would allow the US to deepen its reach in the region as Moscow retreats, senior US administration officials said.

The Trump administration began engaging with Armenia and Azerbaijan in earnest earlier this year, when Mr Trumps key diplomatic envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Mr Aliyev in Baku and started to discuss what a senior administration official called a regional reset.

Negotiations over who will develop the Trump Route, which will eventually include a rail line, oil and gas pipelines, and fibre optic lines, will likely begin next week, and at least nine developers have expressed interest already, according to the senior administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Separate from the joint agreement, both Armenia and Azerbaijan signed deals with the United States meant to bolster cooperation in energy, technology and the economy, the White House said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early on Saturday that Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers after Donald Trump said he would meet Vladimir Putin next week and that an end to the war must involve some swapping of territories.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was ready for real solutions that could bring peace but that any solutions without Ukraine would be against peace. Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing, he said, adding that the war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.

Trump said he planned to meet the Russian president next Friday in Alaska. He announced the location in a brief post on his Truth Social site.

Russian state media agency Tass confirmed the date and location of the meeting, citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.

Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters in the White House the meeting would have been sooner, but I guess theres security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make.

The US president also said therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia and that the issue would be discussed soon but he gave no further details.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that the deal could cement some of Putins territorial gains in Ukraine, in effect freezing the battle lines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Putin has claimed four Ukrainian regions in their entirety, although much of their territory remains under Ukrainian control.

Read More Trump says he will meet with Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine

US and Russian officials were working on a deal under which Russia would halt its offensive in exchange for the territorial concessions  making it a politically fraught proposal in Ukraine, Bloomberg said.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Picture: Heinz-Peter Bader/AP

Trumps comments came after Polands prime minister said a freeze in the conflict could be close, after speaking with the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has communicated with Trump and European leaders in recent days.

There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict  I dont want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict  is closer than it is further away, Donald Tusk said during a news conference. There are hopes for this.

Tusk said Zelenskyy was very cautious but optimistic about the ceasefire, Reuters reported. Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement, Tusk said.

Trump has previously expressed his readiness to meet Putin one on one without preconditions, including direct negotiations between Putin and Zelenskyy, stoking fears that Ukraine may be left out of negotiations for the framework of a potential ceasefire.

If the summit happens, it would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former president Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

Zelenskyy has responded by speaking with European leaders including the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who are key conduits to Trump.

The US envoy Steve Witkoff had proposed a three-way meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy but the Kremlin had ignored that suggestion, said the Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, and was focusing on preparations for a bilateral meeting with Trump in the first place.

Putin has said he is not ready to meet Zelenskyy, even as the Kremlin claimed preparations were under way for a bilateral summit with Trump next week.

I have nothing against it in general, it is possible, but certain conditions must be created for this, Putin said of a meeting with Zelenskyy. But unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions. Last month, Trump issued an ultimatum for Putin to agree to a ceasefire or face secondary sanctions with the deadline set for this Friday. That deadline appeared in place despite plans for the summit, although the White House has not said what secondary measures it could enforce.

Trump did target India with a 25% tariff hike for purchasing Russian oil this week, singling out one of Moscows economic enablers in a move that New Delhi complained was unfair and selective.

Trump had grown frustrated with Putin in public in recent months as the war dragged through its third year and Putin continued to launch nightly missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities despite Trumps insistence that he could strike a deal within 24 hours of becoming president.

Putin  talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening, Trump said last month. So theres a little bit of a problem there.

- The Guardian
Much of the money advice many people were given growing up doesnt really work anymore. Buying a home in your 20s and marrying rich mightve made sense back then, but times have changed.

Read More: The No. 1 Key To Wealth, According To Wahei Takeda, the Warren Buffett of Japan

Find Out: 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years

Gen Z finance creator Taylor Price is helping people rethink the old-school money mindset. In one of her recent TikToks, she broke down 11 traditional money rules and replaced them with more realistic strategies for building wealth.

Old Rule: Dont Spend More Than You Earn

Prices new rule: Dont let your lifestyle inflate with your income.

Living within your means is important, but you should also be aware of lifestyle creep. Thats when your expenses rise every time your paycheck does. Instead of upgrading your car, apartment or wardrobe every time you get a raise, keep your core expenses the same and funnel the extra money toward investing or saving.

Check Out: 3 Signs Youve Made It Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley

Old Rule: Save 10% of Your Income

Prices new rule: Invest at least 20% of what you earn no matter what.

Saving wont get you far if your money is just sitting in a low-interest savings account. Prices advice is to invest at least 20% of your income into something that grows. The average savings account rate is 0.38% as of August 7, 2025, per CNBC, while the stock market has seen an average return of about 10% annually, per Experian.

Old Rule: Stick to a Budget

Prices new rule: Build a spending plan that supports your goals.

Budgets can feel pretty restrictive, whereas a spending plan can feel more empowering and teach you to be intentional with your money. With a spending plan, you can allocate money toward things that actually matter to you, like travel, investing or building a business, while still covering your essentials.

Old Rule: Avoid Credit Cards

Prices new rule: Utilize credit cards in a responsible way.

Credit cards can be beneficial if you actually know how to use them. If you use them correctly, they can help you build credit and earn rewards. Just make sure to pay off your balance in full every month and never spend more than what you can afford.

To use credit cards responsibly, Capital One recommended understanding your cards terms, monitoring credit limits and reviewing monthly statements.

Old Rule: Buy a Home ASAP

Prices new rule: Buy a home only when it adds freedom, not stress.

Owning a home used to be the American dream, but it may not make financial sense for everyone. Dont feel pressured to buy if its going to leave you house poor or lock you into a place you dont love.
The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the US atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb.

The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on August 9 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000.

Japan surrendered on August 15 1945, ending the Second World War and the countrys nearly half-century of aggression across Asia.

About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where mayor Shiro Suzuki and prime minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests.

At 11:02am, the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang.

Visitors bow to pray at the bottom of the Nagasaki Peace Statue (Eugene Hishiko/AP)

Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Mr Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack.

He said the citys memories of the bombing are a common heritage and should be passed down for generations in and outside Japan.

The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth, Mr Suzuki said. In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realisation of everlasting world peace.

Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocentre Park, located below the bombs exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony.

I simply seek a world without war, said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the Hypocenter monument decorated with colourful paper cranes and other offerings.

Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japans feudal era.

The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers.

Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons.

But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction.

Ageing survivors and their supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack is not distant history, but an issue that remains relevant to their future.

There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war, survivor Fumi Takeshita said.

I only see a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace.

In hopes of passing on the lessons of history, Ms Takeshita visits schools to share her experience with children.

When you grow up and remember what you learned today, please think what each of you can do to prevent war, Ms Takeshita, 83, told students during a school visit earlier this week.

Teruko Yokoyama, an 83-year-old member of a Nagasaki organisation supporting survivors, said she feels the absence of those she has worked, which fuels her strong desire to document the lives of remaining survivors.

The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86.

Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to recall the attack clearly.

We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages of the survivors and their lifetime story, said Ms Yokoyama, whose two sisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation.

Her organisation has started to digitalise the narratives of survivors for viewing on YouTube and other social media platforms with the help of a new generation.

There are younger people who are beginning to take action, Ms Yokoyama said.

So I think we dont have to get depressed yet.

Teruko Yokoyama, vice chairwoman of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Nagasaki hosted a peace forum on Friday where survivors shared their stories with more than 300 young people from around the country.

Seiichiro Mise, a 90-year-old survivor, said he is handing seeds of flowers of peace to the younger generation in hopes of seeing them bloom.

Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence.

They criticise the Japanese governments refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons because Japan, as an American ally, needs US nuclear possession as deterrence.

In Mr Ishibas speech, the prime minister reiterated Japans pursuit of a nuclear-free world and pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and non-nuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York City.

Mr Ishiba, however, did not mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony Saturday.

China notably notified the city it would not be present without providing a reason.

The ceremony last year stirred controversy due to the absence of the US ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese citys refusal to invite Israel.
More than 460 people have been arrested for supporting banned group Palestine Action, with a further five detained for assaulting police officers after protesters gathered in central London.

Hundreds attended Saturdays demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, with the Metropolitan Police warning it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.

In an update posted on X on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said 466 people had been arrested for supporting the group as of 9pm.

A further eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers. None were seriously injured, the force added.

The Met earlier said the detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action.

Hundreds gathered in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Those whose details were refused, or could not be verified, were taken to custody suites across London.

Charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests under UK terrorism law as deeply concerning.

The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent.

Several demonstrators carrying placards that read Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques, briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers.

Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square, singing pro-Palestinian chants.

Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square.

A separate group of officers attendedto a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue.

They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square.

The officers lifted the protesters  some sitting and some lying flat  off the ground before escorting them away.

A woman is led away by police officers (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted Shame on you at the police making arrests.

Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air.

One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand.

Protesters held signs in support of Palestine Action (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The arrest was for a placard showing support for Palestine Action, Scotland Yard said.

Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.

Demonstrators were seen lying on the ground (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.

This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.
International condemnation grew on Saturday over Israels decision for a military takeover of Gaza City, while little appeared to change immediately on the ground in the territory shattered by 22 months of war.

Health officials said that 11 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead, and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet with Qatars prime minister in Spain on Saturday to discuss a new proposal to end the war, according to two officials familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak with the media.

Palestinians collect humanitarian aid packages from the United Arab Emirates after they were airdropped into Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Mediators in Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages  dead and alive  in one go in return for the wars end and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, two Arab officials have told The Associated Press.

 Shut the country down

Families of hostages were rallying again on Saturday evening to pressure the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid new fears over the 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive and struggling.

The living will be murdered and the fallen will be lost forever if the offensive goes ahead, said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza.

She called on Israelis to help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel Shut the country down.

A joint statement by nine countries including Germany, France and Canada said that the strongly reject Israels decision for the large-scale military operation, saying it will worsen the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement.

They said any attempts at annexation or settlement in Gaza violate international law.

A separate statement by more than 20 countries including ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates called Israels decision a dangerous and unacceptable escalation.

Meanwhile, Russia said Israels plan will aggravate the already extremely dramatic situation in Gaza.

The UN Security Council planned an emergency meeting on Sunday.

And Germany has said it will not authorise any exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza until further notice.

 Killed while seeking aid

Officials at Nasser and Awda hospitals said that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people seeking aid in southern and central Gaza.

Some had been waiting for aid trucks, while others had been approaching aid distribution points.

The sun sets behind buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP)

Israels military denied opening fire and said that it was unaware of the incidents.

The military secures routes leading to distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed and US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two witnesses told the AP that Israeli troops fired toward crowds approaching a GHF distribution site on foot in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone that bisects Gaza.

One witness, Ramadan Gaber, said that snipers and tanks fired on aid-seekers, forcing them to retreat.

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, some aid-seekers cheered the latest airdrops of aid.

Hundreds of people rushed to grab what they could, though many have called the process degrading.

Aid organisations have called airdrops expensive, insufficient and potentially dangerous for people on the ground.

Israels military said that at least 106 packages of aid were airdropped on Saturday as Italy and Greece joined the multi-country effort for the first time.

Footage from Italys defence ministry showed not only packages being parachuted over Gaza but the dry and devastated landscape below.

This way is not for humans, it is for animals, said one man at the scene, Mahmoud Hawila, who said he was stabbed while trying to secure an airdropped package.

Palestinians collect humanitarian aid packages from the United Arab Emirates after they were airdropped into Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Barefoot children collected rice, pasta and lentils that had spilled from packages onto the ground.

The United Nations and partners, whose existing aid delivery system has been criticised by Israel, has called repeatedly for more of the trucks waiting outside Gaza to be allowed not just into the territory, but safely to destinations inside it for distribution.

 More deaths from hunger

Gazas Health Ministry said that 11 more adults died of malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 114 since it began counting such adult deaths in late June.

It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

Israel is forcing Palestinians into a state of near-starvation to the point that they abandon their land voluntarily, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference in Egypt.

The toll from hunger is not included in the ministrys death toll of 61,300 Palestinians in the war.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, does not distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children.

The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.

Israel disputes the ministrys figures, but has not provided its own.
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Key Points

UPS' ultrahigh-yield dividend remains a top draw for income investors.

The impact of tariffs and the tapering of Amazon shipment volumes are key things to monitor with UPS.

However, the company's expansion into higher-profit opportunities could boost growth over the long term.

10 stocks we like better than United Parcel Service 

Like many investors, I keep tabs on quite a few stocks. Some of them are big winners, while others aren't. United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) falls squarely into the latter category.

Shares of the package delivery giant have plunged more than 30% year to date, with the sell-off intensifying after the company's second-quarter update last week. Here are four reasons I'm still keeping my eye on UPS stock right now.

1. The dividend

I'd be lying if I said the dividend wasn't the primary thing about UPS that's capturing my attention. The stock's forward dividend yield now stands at 7.57%. Such a juicy yield is hard to ignore.

The obvious question, though, is whether or not UPS' dividend is sustainable. CEO Carol Tome thinks it is. In the Q2 earnings call, she said: "UPS is rock-solid strong, and so is our dividend. The UPS dividend is backed by solid free cash flow and a strong investment-grade balance sheet."

Perhaps the most striking thing Tome said, though, was that management understands "how important the dividend is to our investors." She added, "[Y]ou have our commitment to a stable and growing dividend."

2. Tariff impact

The economy has yet to feel the full brunt of the Trump administration's tariffs. However, UPS is already experiencing some tariff-related pain. Tome expressed her opinion on tariffs bluntly in the Q2 call, stating, "Trade follows policy, and generally, tariffs are not good for trade."

I'm watching to see how UPS adapts to the new normal of high tariffs. The company is already dancing to some extent. For example, its most profitable trade lane is between China and the U.S. The average daily volume for this trade lane fell by 34.8% year over year in May and June. But UPS' volume from China to the rest of the world jumped 22.4% in Q2. The company also almost doubled its capacity in the India-to-Europe trade lane to meet growing demand.

3. Amazon glide-down

Some might view UPS' decision to slash its business with Amazon by 50% as crazy. I suspect the move might instead be crazy like a fox. Why? I expect UPS to emerge as a more profitable business.

The main hitch in the Amazon glide-down so far is that UPS' staffing attrition rate hasn't been as high as anticipated. However, the company initiated a voluntary separation program for its full-time U.S. drivers. As drivers (and especially the higher-paid ones) begin to leave at the end of this month, UPS should start seeing significant cost reductions.
Belfast (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Last week, Israel launched the latest of some 300 raids into Syria in the past few months. Some such incursions, as with a major set of airstrikes on Syria in July shows its determination to be a destabilizing factor in the region. Israel claimed that it carried out the airstrike in order to protect the Druze community in Syria  trying to project itself as the protector of minorities in the region.

In November of last year, Israel foreign minister, Gideon Saar, went beyond protection and talked about an alliance between Israel and minorities in the region such as the Druze and the Kurds.

However, the talk about protection and alliance with minorities contradicts how Israel treats its own minorities. To start with, Israels own legislation discriminates against minorities. A report issued by Amnesty International in 2022 condemned Israel as an apartheid stated. Amnesty highlighted that not only in Gaza and the West Bank but also inside Israel itself, Palestinian communities  including Druze  are treated as lesser citizens than Jews and face many forms of institutionalized discrimination. the 2018 nation state of the Jewish people constitutional law crystallized and enshrined this discrimination, investing sovereignty solely in Israels Jewish citizens, some 79% of the total.

Although the Druze who live inside Israel serve in the Israeli army, Israel still discriminates against them. For example, The Druze Have a higher rate of conscription than Jews and are more likely to be assigned a combat role where they face greater danger. Despite that, like Palestinian Muslims and Christians, the Druze have seen large parts of their land  estimated at 70%  confiscated by Israel to build houses exclusively for Jews while the Druze were often denied building permits.

In relation to the Kurdish Jewish community in Israel, during a recent conversion with the renowned Jewish historian Avi Shlaim who lived in Israel and served in the Israeli army, he told me about racism towards the Jewish Kurds in Israeli society, where they use Kurds as an example of stupidity. This reflects the often unfaced racism of European Jews in Israel toward Jews who are not of European origin.

To deconstruct Israeli officials discourse about protecting minorities, we just need to look at how Israel treats other minorities in the wider region. Soon after bombing Syria, Israel bombed a church in Gaza, killing three people. The attack on the church attracted worldwide condemnation, including by Pope Leo XIV who called for an immediate halt to Israeli military barbarity in Gaza. Additionally, not only in Palestine but also in Israels latest war on Lebanon, Israeli forces attacked a church compound destroying the church, the priests house, and the parish offices, and killed a number of people. There are many other documented attacks on Christians by Israel.

It is, therefore, clear that Israeli officialdom often has a blind spot in its view of other ethnic and faith groups. For hard line Israeli nationalists, it is all about using minorities to serve a national agenda. It is about going back to David Ben Gurion strategy of the periphery doctrine designed in the 1950s to use the neighbors of the Arabs against the Arabs. This strategy also applies to minorities within the Arab world. For example, the Israeli alliance with the Lebanese far-right Maronite militias led to the infamous Sabra and Shatila massacre in which thousands of Palestinian civilians and others were killed.



File photo of Aleppo, Syria by Fadi Alagi on Unsplash

After Israel signed peace and normalization agreements with several Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, it became possible for its elites to abandon the periphery doctrine and focus on building bridges. It seems, however, that like other colonial powers, Israel prefers to continue to use divide and rule politics in order to weaken the Arab states further. Some Israeli strategists may view the Syrian revolution as an opportunity to expand its borders, or to further partition an Arab world long since partitioned by imperial Britain and France  and to carve out tiny new sectarian and ethnic mini-states loyal to Israel and dependent on it, but constantly at war with each other.

Minorities in Syria are best placed to thrive by building a new, multi-cultural society and engaging in the necessary internal struggles  through peaceful politics  to accomplish that goal. Weakening their own homeland by becoming cats paws of an external power will not benefit them or their country in the medium to long run.
By Amin Saikal, The University of Western Australia

For all its claims of being a democracy that adheres to international law and the rules of war, Israels global reputation is in tatters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus latest plan for a full military takeover of Gaza, along with the expanding starvation crisis in the strip and Israels repressive measures in the West Bank, underline the countrys predicament.

Notwithstanding US support, the Jewish state faces a crisis of international credibility, from which it may not be able to recover for a long time.

According to a recent Pew poll, the international view of Israel is now more negative than positive. The majority of those polled in early 2025 in countries such as the Netherlands (78%), Japan (79%), Spain (75%), Australia (74%), Turkey (93%) and Sweden (75%) said they have an unfavourable view of Israel.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israels former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many international law experts, genocide scholars and human rights groups have also accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israels traditional supporters have also harshly criticised the Netanyahu governments actions, from both inside and outside the country. These include

former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, the Israeli literary giant David Grossman, and Masorti Judaism Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur.

In addition, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials have appealed to US President Donald Trump to push Netanyahu to end the war.

Israels global partners distancing themselves

With images of starving children in Gaza dominating the news in recent weeks, many of Israels friends in the Western alliance have similarly reached the point at which they can no longer tolerate its policy actions.

In a major shift in global opinion, France announced it would recognise Palestinian statehood in September. The United Kingdom and Canada vowed to follow suit. Even Germany has now begun the process for recognition. And Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated his countrys recognition of Palestine was only a matter of time.

Spain and Sweden have called for the suspension of the European Unions trade agreement with Israel, while the Netherlands has officially labelled Israel a security threat, citing attempts to influence Dutch public opinion.

Israel and the US have rejected all these accusations and moves. The momentum against Israel in the international community, however, has left it with the US as its only major global supporter.

Israels sovereignty, security and prosperity now ride on the back of Americas continued support. Without US assistance, in particular its billions of dollars worth of arms exports, Israel would have struggled to maintain its devastating Gaza campaign or repressive occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

Yet, despite Trumps deep commitment to Israel, many in the US electorate are seriously questioning the depth of Netanyahus influence in Washington and the value of US aid to Israel.

According to a Gallup poll in March, fewer than half of Americans are sympathetic toward Israel.

This discontent has also been voiced by some of Trumps MAGA ideologues and devotees, such as political strategist Steve Bannon and congressional hardliner Marjorie Taylor Greene. Even Trump publicly questioned Netanyahu on his claim there was no starvation in Gaza.

Israelis have dim view of two-state solution

Many Israelis would like to see the back of Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing ruling cohort, especially given his failure to secure the release of all the hostages from Hamas.

Many want the war to end, too. Recent polling by Israels Channel 12 found that 74% of Israelis back a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

However, a majority of Israelis maintain a dim view of a future Palestinian state.



Gaza 50, Digital, Midjourney, 2025

One poll commissioned by a US academic showed 82% of Jewish Israeli respondents backed the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. And a Pew poll in early 2025 showed that just 16% of Jewish Israelis believe peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state is possible, the lowest percentage since the pollsters began asking the question in 2013.

This indicates that not only the Israeli state, but also its electorate, has moved to the extreme of the political spectrum in relation to acknowledging the right of the Palestinians to an independent state of their own.

Under international pressure, Netanyahu has expediently allowed a little more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. However, his new plan for a full military takeover of Gaza indicates he is not prepared to change course in the war, as long as US support remains steady.

His government is bent on eliminating Hamas and potentially depopulating and annexing Gaza, followed possibly by the West Bank. Such a move would render the idea of a two-state solution totally defunct.

To stop this happening, Washington needs to align with the rest of the global community. Otherwise, an unrestrained and isolated Israel will only widen the rift between the US and its traditional allies in a highly polarised world.

Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; Vice Chancellors Strategic Fellow, Victoria University; Adjunct Professor of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North Africa | 

Letter to the administration of Occidental College about disciplinary proceedings against students accused of participating in protest activity

Tom Stritikus

President, Occidental College

Dear President Stritikus, Deans Leonard and Santiago, Ms. Kahn and Trustees:

We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our concern at the decision of Occidental College to subject three students (who wish to remain anonymous) to investigation and disciplinary action for seeking to exercise their constitutionally protected right to protest. Your administrations actions in this regard, which may result in the students suspension or expulsion, threaten the right of all members of the Occidental College community to freedom of expression and academic freedom as well as to due process.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America.

According to The Occidental , on 25 April 2025 some thirty students sought to stage a protest at the inauguration of Occidentals new president, Thomas Stritikus. The protest was reportedly directed against the colleges refusal to divest from companies complicit in Israels war on Gaza and a heightened police presence on campus. A confrontation ensued outside the venue; the protesting students contend that they were treated brutally by Campus Safety officers and private security guards.

Soon thereafter, the college announced that it had engaged an outside law firm to investigate the incident. Students have raised plausible concerns about the neutrality of the law firm as well as about Occidentals Right to Dissent and Demonstration Policy , which was recently revised, in response to pro-Palestine activism, to significantly tighten restrictions on student protest. On 31 July 2025 The Occidental reported that disciplinary charges had been brought against three students allegedly involved in the 25 April 2025 incident. Hearings in the three cases were held in late July and early August, and the students are now waiting to learn what the college has decided. One Occidental student noted that these proceedings could result in the most extreme punitive measures towards students for protesting since the colleges suspensions of Vietnam War protestors.

In these fraught times college and university leaders have a heightened responsibility to protect the freedom of speech, academic freedom and physical safety of all members of the campus community. We call your attention to the statement issued by MESAs board of directors and its Committee on Academic Freedom on 6 May 2024, which denounced actions by college and university leaders to delegitimize and repress campus advocacy opposing Israels war on Gaza.

We therefore call on Occidental College to take seriously criticisms of the investigative and disciplinary processes to which these students were subjected and ensure that they receive the due process to which they are entitled. We further call on you to refrain from harshly punishing students for exercising their right to protest. Finally, we urge you to publicly and forcefully reiterate  and implement  Occidental Colleges avowed commitment to respect and defend the right of its students, faculty and staff to freedom of expression, including the right to protest.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie A. Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California
Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 10 people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza.

The spokesman said strikes also hit areas in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence and the Israeli military.

Thousands of Gazans congregate daily near food distribution points in Gaza, including four managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Since launching in late May, its operations have been marred by almost-daily reports of Israeli forces targeting those waiting to collect aid supplies.

Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.

Early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe.

Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant over the decision.

In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas".

Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Israel's arch enemy Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, slammed the plan to expand the fighting, calling it a "new war crime".

Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable.

The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, as it called on the international community to push for the entry of aid into the strip.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the PA's presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were "an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability".

He also called on the "international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", reported Wafa.

Early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe.

Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant over the decision.

In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas".

Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Israel's arch enemy Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, slammed the plan to expand the fighting, calling it a "new war crime".

Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable.

The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 18 people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza.

The spokesman said strikes hit areas elsewhere in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties.

He later added that a drone attack near the southern city of Khan Yunis killed at least three people and injured several others.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence and the Israeli military.

Thousands of Palestinians congregate daily near food distribution points in Gaza, including four managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Since launching in late May, its operations have been marred by almost-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on those waiting to collect aid.

Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.

But early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe.

Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision.

In a post on social media late Friday, he said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas".

The Palestinian militant group, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, has slammed the plan to expand the fighting as a "new war crime".

Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable.

Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the best depressed stocks to buy in 2025. On July 11, analysts at Stifel reiterated a Buy rating on the stock, impressed by the companys management quality despite market challenges.

Accenture Plc (ACN) Rated as a Buy at Stifel amid Market Challenges

Pixabay/Public Domain

While the stock has come under pressure, dropping close to its 52-week low, Stifel insists Accenture is one of the consistently best-managed businesses in the sector. The research firm has reiterated its confidence in the companys leadership team amid the cyclical and secular challenges at play.

Stifel has reiterated that the companys fiscal year 2026 consensus estimates are reasonable, if not beatable. The remarks come on Accenture delivering 4% year-over-year organic growth in its fiscal third quarter. Earnings per share in the quarter were up 13% outperforming the expected 6% increase.

Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) is a global professional services company that provides a wide range of services, including consulting, technology, and operations. It helps clients transform their businesses by leveraging digital technologies like cloud, AI, and data.

While we acknowledge the potential of ACN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: Top 10 Medical AI Companies to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Best Rare Earth Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.






Friday, August 8, 2025 - A single mother from Mwihoko, Mercy Nafula, has made an emotional appeal for help after tragically losing her daughter in the plane crash that occurred on Thursday, August 7th.

The devastating incident involved a Cessna Citation XLS operated by AMREF Flying Doctors, which crashed into her home and burst into flames, killing her daughter instantly.

Speaking with raw emotion on Friday, August 8th, Nafula recounted the heartbreaking sequence of events.

She had left her three children at home to run errands.

Later, the children joined her sister at a local salon.

Her daughter, determined to help with lunch, returned home ahead of the others - unaware it would be her last moments.

Its hard to even speak. Im a single mother who has worked so hard to raise my children.

Now, Ive lost my daughter and everything I owned, she said, holding back tears.

Her clothes, my business items, their birth certificates - it's all gone.

Im appealing for help to bury my daughter and start over.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying unusually low before it slammed into the house and exploded.

Firefighters from Ruiru, along with military officers, rushed to the scene to battle the blaze.

AMREF confirmed the aircraft had departed Wilson Airport at 2:17 p.m en route to Hargeisa, Somalia, before losing radio and radar contact three minutes later.

Six lives were lost - four onboard and two on the ground, including Nafulas daughter.

Investigations led by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) are ongoing, with AMREF pledging full cooperation.






Friday, August 8, 2025 - Former Kisii Gubernatorial Aspirant, Bishop Josiah Onyancha, and his wife have tragically passed away following a fatal road accident in Narok.

The couple was travelling to Nairobi to attend their son Edwin Nyarangis graduation ceremony at Mount Kenya University when tragedy struck.

Bishop Onyancha, a well-known figure in Kisii politics who contested the 2022 General Election as an independent gubernatorial candidate, died alongside his wife after their vehicle collided head-on with a lorry.

Photos have since emerged showing one of Bishop Onyanchas sons standing solemnly beside the wreckage of the ill-fated car, a stark reminder of the devastating crash that claimed his parents lives.





The vehicle was completely written off in the accident.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Alstom has inaugurated its first signalling competence centre in the CIS region, located at Astana in Kazakhstan.

This centre aims to support the digital transformation of the countrys railway network through advanced signalling technologies and local engineering development.

The new hub will offer technical support and tailored signalling solutions to meet Kazakhstan Temir Zholys (KTZ) operational requirements.

It will also function as a training centre for specialists in Kazakhstan, promoting local expertise and strengthening the rail system in the country, the company said.

Alstom aims to recruit and train Kazakhstani engineers in software and system development.

JSC NC KTZ chief engineer Ramazan Sadyrkulov said: The opening of this centre is a direct result of the agreements reached between KTZ and Alstom during President Kassym-Jomart Tokaievs visit to France.

We can see that the company is fulfilling its commitments, and KTZ is providing the necessary support.

The Astana competence centre is installed with Onvia Lock, Alstom's interlocking technology that is currently deployed at 85 KTZ stations.

This centre will focus on developing, adapting, and integrating signalling solutions, as well as supporting system maintenance, and modernising legacy assets.

It will also focus on creating technical documentation for KTZ projects, conducting certification activities in accordance with TR TS 003/2011, and training operational teams.

Besides supporting national projects, the centre will connect with Alstom's global innovation network, which will facilitate collaboration with international experts, academic institutions, and public stakeholders to advance rail technologies in Kazakhstan.

Alstom Western and Central Asia managing director Jerome Boyet said: We are proud to open Alstoms first signalling competence centre in the CIS region.

This is an important step beyond our traditional businesses and focused on improving railway safety and efficiency. We are now producing signalling solutions in Kazakhstan and for Kazakhstan.

Recently, Alstom signed a deal worth more than 300m ($345m) with SYTRAL Mobilites to modernise Lyon's Line D metro.

The agreement includes 26 new-generation automatic metros valued at 145m and 158m for system and automation enhancements.

"Alstom inaugurates signalling competence centre in Kazakhstan" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.










Friday, August 8, 2025 - ODM leader, Raila Odinga, has firmly defended his decision to support President William Rutos administration.

Speaking during the funeral of veteran politician Phoebe Asiyo in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, on Friday, August 8th, Raila stated that the move was necessary to prevent Kenya from descending into chaos.

I have no regrets. We did it in the countrys best interest. Rails declared.

The former Prime Minister warned that Kenya was at serious risk of becoming a failed state, citing examples like Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Egypt.

People who dont understand history talk carelessly. Thats why they write newspaper articles and I just read and laugh, he remarked.

Raila challenged critics to offer viable alternatives, maintaining that the formation of a broad-based government helped stabilize the country.

I invite anyone to tell me what better option existed. We sacrificed for peace, he said.

Raila also outlined key issues that must be addressed going forward, including human rights, job creation, access to education, and the high cost of living.

He called for respect for the rule of law and reform in how security forces engage with civilians.

The police are servants of the people, not masters. If I commit an offense, arrest me - dont shoot me, he added.




Friday, August 8, 2025 - The woman captured on CCTV two weeks ago attacking her husband with a kitchen knife in Buru Buru has been identified as Joyce Wambui, and this isnt her first time making headlines.

The same woman was caught on CCTV last year in a similar domestic confrontation, brandishing a knife at her visibly shaken spouse.

The latest footage shows her advancing on her husband in a heated row, knife in hand, before other occupants in the house stepped in to restrain her.

Wambuis husband sustained injuries on his head during the scuffle.

Kenyans on X, led by blogger Aoko Otieno, are now calling for her arrest.





We are so Loud when women are the victims of GBV,



But Men wanakapitia huku nje



Bro, why open the door for a psycho, na hadi kuna restraining order?



Awekwe Mathare. Ladies, no day utashinda Dume na nguvu



Anakuacha tu coz he's a gentleman, otherwise unaeza okota meno Sugoi pic.twitter.com/du1HzA5I8O  Maverick Aoko (@AokoOtieno_) August 8, 2025






Friday, August 8, 2025 - Kevin Otieno, better known as Kevo Sonko, is among the high-profile suspects nabbed as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intensifies its crackdown on transnational gold fraud syndicates.

These cartels have been accused of swindling foreign investors out of millions through elaborate fake gold export deals.

According to investigators, Sonko and his accomplices lured a Canadian investor into a bogus transaction involving 250 kilograms of gold, conning him out of a staggering USD 618,000 (approximately KSh 79 million).

Kevo Sonko flaunts his ill-gotten wealth on social media, showcasing his extravagant lifestyle.





His rides include a pricey Mercedes G-Wagon, and he reportedly moves around with his own bodyguard, a true display of his self-styled big baller image.

Watch the videos.

Lavish lifestyle of KEVIN OTIENO alias Kevo Sonko, who was arrested for defrauding a foreign investor of over Ksh 79 Million - Rolls in a pricey Mercedes G-Wagon pic.twitter.com/g31phNRXB5  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) August 9, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, August 8, 2025 - Six people have been confirmed dead and two others injured after an AMREF Flying Doctors aircraft crashed in a residential area of Mwihoko, Kiambu County, on Thursday afternoon.

The Cessna Citation XLS, registration 5Y-FDM, was en route to Somalia with four people onboard when it went down under unclear circumstances.

Kiambu County Commissioner Henry Wafula said the dead include two crew members, two nurses, and two members of the public at the crash site.

One of the crew members was identified as Eric Munuve, a seasoned pilot who had served with AMREF Flying Doctors since October 2018.

Investigations are ongoing.

Condolences to the families of the victims.

Below are Erics photos.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Friday, August 8, 2025 - Shes at it again! The notorious Buru Buru woman, who shocked Kenyans last year when CCTV footage showed her threatening her husband with a knife, has been caught on camera pulling the same stunt, barely a year later.

The latest footage, recorded about two weeks ago, captures yet another heated domestic dispute, with the woman brandishing a kitchen knife at her visibly shaken husband.

The tense moment ended only after other occupants of the house rushed in to restrain her.

Last years clip went viral, sparking outrage and calls for her arrest.

It is still unclear if any action was taken at the time, but the repeat incident has reignited a fierce debate on domestic violence and how repeat offenders are handled.

Last years incident.

Last year pic.twitter.com/hRLbKlj4Vs  The Nairobi Times (@TheNairobiTimez) August 8, 2025

She was captured on CCTV threatening her husband again two weeks ago.

We are so Loud when women are the victims of GBV,



But Men wanakapitia huku nje



Bro, why open the door for a psycho, na hadi kuna restraining order?



Awekwe Mathare. Ladies, no day utashinda Dume na nguvu



Anakuacha tu coz he's a gentleman, otherwise unaeza okota meno Sugoi pic.twitter.com/du1HzA5I8O  Maverick Aoko (@AokoOtieno_) August 8, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Vertiv (VRT) is a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, specializing in power, cooling, and information technology management solutions for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments. It delivers end-to-end, rapidly deployable solutions, including thermal management, power distribution, integrated racks, and monitoring software, to ensure the stable performance of digital ecosystems.

The company operates in more than 130 countries and is headquartered in Ohio.

More News from Barchart

About Vertiv Stock

Vertiv Holdings has delivered standout stock performance in 2025, up 23% in 2025, significantly outpacing the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 8.7% gain during the same timeframe. Over the past 12 months, Vertiv stock surged nearly 97%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500s 20% growth. Notably, a major portion of Vertivs gains occurred after April, with shares up 46% over the past three months.

www.barchart.com

Fresh Analyst Rating on Vertiv

Vertiv Holdings was recently rated Outperform by William Blair analysts, citing its pivotal role in meeting surging demand for artificial intelligence-driven data center infrastructure. The expanding adoption of generative AI, cloud software, and high-performance computing is driving a projected annual increase in data center capacity of 13-20 GW through 2030, leading to a potential 100 GW in new capacity.

Vertiv, specializing in high-density, prefabricated power, and cooling systems suited for GPU workloads, is seen as well-positioned to benefit. Roughly 80% of its revenue is derived from the data center industry, and the company boasts strong relationships with leading chipmakers, hyperscalers, and colocation providers.

William Blair estimates that each additional megawatt of deployed data center capacity generates $2.75 million to $3.5 million in Vertiv revenue. The companys backlog covers at least 78% of expected revenue over the next 12 months, providing strong forward visibility.

Vertiv Posts Stellar Results

Vertiv Holdings reported stellar Q2 2025 results on July 30, exceeding analyst expectations on both earnings and revenue. The company posted non-GAAP earnings of $0.95 per share, a 42% increase year over year. Revenue surged 35% to $2.64 billion, also beating analyst projections by nearly 12%. This compares to $1.95 billion in the same period last year, marking a significant acceleration in business momentum.
IF, as a parent, youre already dreaming of the return to school because your treasures are beginning to pluck at your last nerve, why not tire them out with a free family fun day at Castletown House this Thursday (14 August).

Castletown Estate will be bustling with exciting activities on the day, with free admission, and events running from 11.30am until 3.30pm.

Themed entertainers will keep the children occupied, from wonderful face and arm painting to mystical magic shows to party games and bubble discos.

For book lovers, come and meet Mrs. Books who is absolutely bonkers about books.

She loves books of all kinds, big books, small books, scary books, funny books, nature books, art books, she just loves books.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to hear her read, ask questions, and celebrate the joy of books.

Join our knowledgeable tour guides on our family friendly tours of Castletown House where visitors can explore the exquisite interior that reflects power and grandeur and witness the significant collection of paintings and furnishings.

For nature lovers, biodiversity tours of the Estate, will bring visitors through the beautiful parklands, identifying native flora and fauna that are at home in Castletown Estate, or meet with the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland and interact with the wolfhounds of Irish Legends.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) would like to remind potential visitors that while there is no general visitor parking for Castletown House, we welcome families to walk, cycle or take public transport, bring a picnic and make it a fun day out.

Remember to respect our neighbours and dont park in local housing estates, but also there are limited accessible parking spaces available in front of the House, which can be accessed via Lime Avenue.

The Castletown Parklands is open from Dawn till Dusk for visitors. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead, and away from the lake area.
Analysts reboot Uber's stock price target after earnings originally appeared on TheStreet.

Buckle up, people, we're taking off at Uber speed.

The ride-sharing and delivery platform Uber Technologies (UBER) delivered some nice numbers to Wall Street on Aug. 6, meeting second-quarter earnings forecasts and beating revenue estimates.

Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 

The San Francisco company also plans a $20 billion stock buyback, which Chief Financial Officer Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah said in a statement underscores our confidence in the business, following yet another quarter of strong top and bottom-line performance.

"Q2 was another quarter of new records for Uber as we achieved all-time highs in both audience and frequency," Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi told analysts during the earnings call.

"Weve already made great progress harnessing the unique power of our platform to foster deeper engagement with our consumers, who visited our apps nearly 30 billion times over the past 12 months. But were just scratching the surface of whats possible."

While Uber remains as focused as ever on its core business, Khosrowshahi said, "we continue to push forward on building the future with [autonomous vehicles]  and Q2 was jam-packed."

He said the company expanded its operating zones in Austin with Alphabet (GOOGL) subsidiary Waymo and in Abu Dhabi with WeRide. And it launched exclusively with Waymo in Atlanta.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Uber would be ramping up autonomous-vehicle deployments.Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Uber CEO: Ramping up AV deployments

Uber has also partnered with electric vehicle maker Lucid (LCID) and Nuro, a robotics and autonomous-vehicle-tech company, to form a global robotaxi program.

"Our autonomous momentum continues at Uber speed, and well be ramping those deployments significantly over the next few quarters in the U.S. and internationally," Khosrowshahi said.

More Tech Stocks:

He added that commercializing autonomous vehicles would take time, "but were going to be in the lead in terms of commercialization."

"Austin launch continues to go really well in terms of utilization," he said. "Its early, but the Atlanta launch has been great. And in both cases the average Waymo is busier than 99% of our drivers in terms of completed trips per day."

Now, despite the talk of Uber speed, Wedbush analysts Scott Devitt and Matthew Weiss called the company an "AV laggard" as they knocked a dollar off their stock price target to $84 while maintaining a neutral rating on the shares.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Mel Gibson posed for selfies and signed posters in Co Meath to mark 30 years since Braveheart was filmed in Ireland.

Fans travelled from all over Ireland to get a chance of meeting the Oscar-winning actor and director, who starred as the Scottish hero in the historical epic.

The film was mostly shot in Ireland  despite the story being set in Scotland  after the Irish Government lobbied and offered to supply 1,600 army reserves as extras.

Actor Mel Gibson signs posters in aid of the Irish Equity Support Fund at the Trim Castle Hotel, Co Meath (Conor O Mearain/PA)

People queued at Trim Castle Hotel to meet Gibson and other Braveheart cast members.

The event was held as part of the local King John Summer Prom festival, with proceeds raised for the Irish Equity Support Fund.

Maksim Okhotnikov, eight, dressed up as Braveheart hero William Wallace in a costume created by his mother, who also sketched a charcoal drawing of Gibson.

I didnt watch all of the film, I just watched pieces because its (rated) 16+, Maksim told the PA news agency.

Asked what he likes about the film, he said: I like himself.

Actor Mel Gibson meets fans Adam Walker and his son Nathan, from Dublin (Conor O Mearain/PA)

Adam Walker and his son Nathan (7) from Dublin, were among the first people into the room to meet the cast.

Obviously hes too young to watch the full movie, so I was trying to show him the quotes, the big freedom speech at the end of the movie. We were watching that, we were watching the mad Irishman of course: David OHara who plays Stephen of Ireland, Mr Walker told PA.

We were at the Q&A yesterday and a lot of the lads pointed out that the actors said the thing that it did was it really changed things, Ireland seemed to really latch onto it, there was a lot of similarities between the Irish and the Scottish, but it seemed to call out to everybody.

We were looking for a wedding venue 12 years back and we were looking everywhere and we found here, it was lovely, the prices were great, and then I read at the end the castle was where Braveheart was filmed.

I said to my wife were doing it so we got married in the room just there and we had the castle as the backdrop.

So its very interesting to be able to come back 12 years later and actually meet Mel Gibson here, and this little lad wasnt even alive at the time.

Maksim Okhotnikov wore a costume created by his mother (Conor O Mearain/PA)

Elaine Coyle, who travelled with her mother from Dublin, said watching Braveheart was a family tradition.

My dad would be a big fan, its what we grew up with. Its a Christmas tradition in our house, she said.

She said of the film: You can relate to it as an Irish person a little bit too, its iconic.

It definitely opened the door to the Irish economy around films, it completely changed how the industry worked going forward, but I think in general people recognise that it made such an impact on Ireland, and we can also relate to the history of it. Its generational.

Cousins Eileen Shields and Anita McGrath travelled from Galway at 6am to meet the star.

They said they are fans of Gibsons films Lethal Weapon and Daddys Home 2.

Actor Mel Gibson records a video message for Rian Egan, from Gorey, Co Wexford (Conor O Mearain/PA)

He has a wicked wink in his eye, Eileen Shields said.

It was lovely to meet him, short and sweet but its nice to have the opportunity.

Hopefully we see a lot more of him in Ireland. You know his family are from Longford, he was named after St Mels Cathedral.

Anita McGrath said: I crocheted a shamrock for him, for good luck, so I gave it to him and he said thanks very much. Just something different.

Ms Shields added: He wiped his brow with it.

Sevinc Ozogul, who lives across the road from the hotel, said she was excited to see the castle from Braveheart when she moved to Trim.

She said Gibson is also one of her favourite actors, adding: I was so excited to see him.

She added: He was a bit tired but he looks great.
On Saturday, hundreds of people took to the streets of Kilkenny in a powerful and peaceful march in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The scale of the turnout was striking  not only in numbers, but in the diversity of those present: families, students, community leaders and citizens from all walks of life.

Ireland has a tradition of standing with oppressed peoples  rooted in our own history and struggle. That spirit was on display.

People are making their views known on the horror show that is unfolding in Palestine, and it is up to public representatives to reflect that. Ireland needs to meet its obligations under international humanitarian law.

READ MORE KILKENNY OPINION/EDITORIAL HERE

Statements from politicians  local or otherwise, and indeed the Taoiseach and Tanaiste  are welcome. However, words alone do not suffice. The Irish Government must match its words with meaningful action.

There may be some consequences, including causing problems for our American friends and some of the tech giants. But it is the right thing to do, and will see Ireland on the right side of history. The tide of public opinion is already shifting as people learn more and see whats happening.

Time now for impetus on the Occupied Territories Bill, and a ban on trade, including goods and services, with the illegal Israeli settlements. The EUIsrael trade agreement must be reviewed.

Saturdays protest will not bring an immediate end to the war. But it sends a message to leaders, to the international community, and to those suffering in Gaza.

GRAIG REGATTA

Unfortunately, our worst fears came to pass and the Graignamanagh Regatta ended up being cancelled at the weekend.

The ongoing problem with water quality was the culprit.

Its high time we got to grips with whatever is happening in our waters. Its great to see the ban lifted in Thomastown and Inistioge, butmore needs to be done to finally fix this problem.
Gardai in Waterford city are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road crash on the Williamstown Road this Saturday afternoon.

Shortly after 1pm, emergency services responded to the collision involving a car and a motorcycle.

"The motorcyclist, a man aged in his 40s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been removed to University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course," said a spokesperson.

Gardai say the driver of the car, a woman aged in her 30s, was taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment of injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

No other injuries reported.

READ NEXT: RIP: Gardai seek witnesses after man dies in road crash on busy Tipperary road

As of 8pm, Garda Forensic Collision Investigators were conducting an examination of the scene and motorists are being advised the road remains closed with local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this crash to come forward and any road users who were travelling in the area between 12.50pm and 1.30pm and who have dash-cam footage are asked to make the footage available to gardai

Homeowners along the Williamstown Road who may have CCTV or doorbell-camera footage are also asked to make this available.

Anyone with any information should contact Waterford garda station on (051) 305300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has officially launched the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026, along with a dedicated Historic Thatched Buildings Stream, offering vital support to those preserving Irelands rich architectural legacy.

Announced by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan, the schemes aim to allow owners and custodians of historic buildings to carry out essential conservation works. These initiatives play a key role in safeguarding the unique character and charm of Irelands built environment.

TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS

Administered locally through Kilkenny County Councils Architectural Conservation Office, the BHIS offers grants ranging from 2,500 to 50,000. Funding is available for works to protected structures, as well as vernacular buildings and historic shopfronts that, while not statutorily protected, are integral to our cultural and architectural heritage.

In addition, a special funding stream for historic thatched buildings is available, recognising the distinctive contribution of thatch to Irelands rural and coastal landscapes. Applicants may apply under either scheme, but only one grant will be awarded per applicant.

This is a fantastic opportunity for property owners to invest in the future of their historic buildings while contributing to the preservation of Irelands national heritage.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE KILKENNY BUSINESS NEWS

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Kilkenny has been named the most sleepless city in Ireland, and the second most sleepless globally, as new research shows more people are turning to sleep sounds like white noise and rain to help them switch off.

The analysis, carried out by hearing care specialists Audika, looked at Google search data across international cities to find out where people are relying most on sound-based sleep aids.

By adjusting for population, the research reveals where sleep struggles are most common, and its not just in Irelands biggest cities.

According to the data, 100 searches are made each month in Kilkenny for sleep-related audio, equating to 368 searches per 100,000 people.

Top 5 Irish Cities Searching Most for Sleep Sounds (per 100,000 people):

Kilkenny  368

Dundalk  325

Drogheda  249

Derry  212

Dublin  201

The results show that smaller cities like Kilkenny and Dundalk are actually searching more for help getting to sleep than places like Dublin.

Kilkenny ranks not only as Irelands most sleepless city, but second globally. While it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of sleepless nights, the data suggests locals are increasingly relying on white noise, rain sounds and meditation music to drift off.

People in Dundalk are also struggling to nod off as its named in the top three sleepless cities in the world, acting as a reminder that sleep issues arent just a big city problem.

Oliver Applebaum at Audika commented on the results, Using sound to aid sleep has become increasingly popular, but its not always straightforward.

For people experiencing hearing issues, certain frequencies may be harder to perceive or may cause irritation. This can affect how effective sound is in promoting sleep.

If you find yourself relying on sleep sounds but still struggling to fall asleep, or needing to turn the volume up, your hearing could be part of the problem.
We came across a bullish thesis on AST SpaceMobile, Inc. on Victorious Investings Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on ASTS. AST SpaceMobile, Inc.'s share was trading at $52.57 as of August 5th.

A satellite array in Earth's orbit, showing the vast scope of the company's space-based solutions.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is pioneering space-based cellular broadband by deploying large low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to connect directly with standard, unmodified mobile phones, eliminating the need for terrestrial towers and filling coverage gaps globally. Its BlueWalker prototype, launched in 2022, successfully demonstrated direct-to-device connectivity, achieving 4G download speeds and later enabling 5G voice calls. The company has since launched five Block-1 satellites and plans to deploy 60 larger Block-2 satellites by 2026, each capable of servicing 1 million users, supported by a $300M manufacturing expansion to scale production to six satellites per month.

AST is currently pre-revenue but well-capitalized, with $873.8M in cash following a $458M raise, minimal debt, and $0.5B in government funding. It maintains partnerships with over 50 carriers, including Vodafone, Verizon, and Google, which collectively serve 3 billion subscribers, positioning AST to tap into the $1.1T global mobile broadband market where 42% of the population lacks coverage. The company also holds U.S. defense contracts worth over $60M, expanding its commercial and government footprint.

Competition from SpaceXs Starlink, Apples Globalstar partnership, and Amazons Project Kuiper remains a key risk, alongside technical scalability, regulatory hurdles, and ongoing cash burn. However, ASTs technology advantage in supporting low-band frequencies gives it an edge in carrier integration. While valuation remains speculative, forecasts suggest billions in potential revenue by 2030 if adoption scales as planned. For risk-tolerant investors, AST offers significant upside as it transitions from testing to commercialization, with 2025-2026 deployment as a pivotal catalyst.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) by Steve Wagner in May 2025, highlighting its progress toward commercialization and strong funding runway despite losses. The stock has appreciated about 100% since then as deployment momentum built. The thesis still stands given upcoming launches. Victorious Investing shares an identical view but emphasizes long-term upside and technology scalability.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 22 hedge fund portfolios held ASTS at the end of the first quarter which was 22 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of ASTS 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.
The Herald reports:

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are suing former Maga influencer Candace Owens after she falsely claimed Frances first lady was born a man.

The French President and his wife are willing to travel to the United States for the case, should it go ahead, to end what their lawyer described as a relentless and unjustified smear campaign.

The 218-page lawsuit, filed in Delaware yesterday, accuses Owens of publishing outlandish, defamatory and far-fetched fictions, chief among them the claim that Brigitte Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux.
A group of Jewish school kids were forced off a plane in Spain after they sang in Hebrew. Snopes looks into this story, and they find that there is no evidence to back up the airlines assertion they were unruly.

In fact several passengers on the flight with no connection to the group did affidavits saying the teens were well behaved and respectful. Utterly disgraceful behaviour from the airline.
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(Reuters) -Shares of Australia's Iress surged on Friday after the company said it had earlier considered a takeover approach from Blackstone and is now in talks with both the U.S. investment giant and private equity firm Thoma Bravo over a new proposal.

Shares of the Australian financial software firm jumped as much as 15.6% to A$9.69, but remained below the A$10.50 apiece previously offered by Blackstone.

The stock touched its highest level since late-January and marked its biggest intraday percentage gain since November 2023.

The initial proposal from Blackstone valued Iress at A$1.94 billion ($1.27 billion) but was later withdrawn, the software company said, without providing further details in its statement.

Blackstone declined to comment, while Thoma Bravo did not immediately respond.

The takeover bid comes as global private firms show growing interest for Australia-listed software players.

Earlier in the week, automotive software platform provider Infomedia agreed to a A$651 million takeover by TPG's Asia-focussed private equity fund.

"Iress is currently in the early stages of engagement with Blackstone and Thoma Bravo in order to ascertain whether an offer can be made which can be recommended by the Iress Board," the company said on Friday.

The company did not provide a per-share price in the latest offer.

The announcement follows a report by the Australian Financial Review that Iress was in talks with Blackstone over a potential buyout, which could value the company at A$1.9 billion.

Iress is not unfamiliar with takeover interest from private equity firms, having previously drawn a $3 billion deal from Swedish investment firm EQT in 2021. The deal ultimately fell through after EQT walked away despite making several improved offers.

In February, Iress reported a net profit after tax attributable of A$30.1 million in fiscal 2024, along with A$604.6 million in revenue.

The company will release its half-year earnings next week.

($1 = 1.5323 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Sneha Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
Brown & Brown released its 2Q25 results on July 28, posting several encouraging data points. Quarterly revenue came in at $1.3 billion, slightly ahead of estimates and up 9.1% year-over-year. Adjusted diluted EPS also impressed, climbing 10 cents from the prior year to reach $1.03, 4 cents above consensus.

From those modest beginnings, Brown & Brown has evolved into a major industry player. It now employs over 17,000 people across more than 500 locations and has extended its presence to nearly 20 countries. Backed by $4.8 billion in annual revenue and a market cap exceeding $30 billion, the company is firmly established as a force in the global insurance landscape.

Well start in the insurance industry, where Brown & Brown is a specialist in risk management. The company has been in business since 1939 and is based in Daytona Beach, Florida. Brown & Brown offers policies across a wide range of categories, including property & casualty, employee benefits, and personal insurance. Its specialties span dealer services in the automotive industry, enterprise-scale risk solutions, and even tribal policies tailored to the specific needs of various Indian tribes.

With those drivers potentially in play, BofAs analysts are sharpening their focus on the stocks they believe are positioned to ride the next wave. Two names in particular stand out, and weve turned to the TipRanks database to see what sets them apart. Lets dive in.

Against this backdrop, Bank of America sees five key factors aligning that could set the stage for the markets next leg higher. These include a political will to drive short-term strength ahead of next years midterm US elections; the impact of the recent Big Beautiful Bill on U.S. manufacturing; the likelihood of substantial economic stimulus in Europe, particularly from Germany; a surge in capital expenditures on Wall Street, especially among the Magnificent 7 hyperscalers; and finally, BofAs proprietary regime indicator, a historically accurate set of predictive signals that is starting to show signs of a recovery in the making.

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After a steady climb through much of July, the stock market has shown signs of cooling in early August. Mixed economic data, including a softer-than-expected jobs report, and renewed concerns about inflation have introduced a dose of caution among investors. Still, the broader uptrend is holding, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in positive territory for the year.

Story Continues

However, those solid headline numbers werent enough to satisfy the market. The stock fell as investors reacted to a weaker GAAP EPS of $0.78, down 13% from the year-ago quarter, and signs of margin compression. Organic revenue growth slowed to just 3.6%, raising questions about the quality of top-line expansion, which appeared heavily acquisition-driven. Broader industry challenges, such as softening insurance rates and mounting cost pressures, added to investor unease.

For Bank of America analyst Joshua Shanker, this pullback may present a compelling entry point. He argues that Brown & Brown remains fundamentally strong, even if the stock has underperformed.

BRO shares have fallen 26% since April 2, while the S&P 500 has appreciated 12%. This would represent one of the most significant periods of snap underperformance in BROs history. The stock is now trading near trough valuations relative to the insurance broker peers whereas it has typically traded at a thick premium. Our EPS forecasts run ahead of consensus, and we believe that 2Q25 results have reset the outlook to a more steady-state growth rate. With material upside to our price objective, we believe investors should buy shares of Brown & Brown, Shanker opined.

That bullish stance is underscored by his new Buy rating and a $130 price target, implying a potential upside of ~42% over the next year. (To watch Shankers track record, click here)

Shankers optimism aligns with a broader, albeit more cautious, sentiment on Wall Street. Brown & Brown has earned a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 12 recent analyst reviews, which include 5 Buys, 6 Holds, and 1 Sell. The stock currently trades at $91.80, and the average price target of $111.40 suggests room for a 21% gain in the year ahead. (See BRO stock forecast)

Surgery Partners (SGRY)

The next BofA pick well look at, Surgery Partners, works as an adjunct in the healthcare field, providing surgical facilities and ancillary services in 200 locations in more than 30 states. The company acts as a link between providers and patients, offering expertise in general surgery, hand surgery, dermatology, oncology, plastic surgery, and anesthesia, to name just a few of the specialties available.

The company got its start in 2004, and today works through a network of partnerships with healthcare systems, surgical hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and physician practices. Surgery Partners has more than 4,000 affiliated physicians, and sees more than 600,000 patients annually  and has achieved an impressive patient satisfaction rate of 94%.

Surgery Partners went public in 2015, and since then has built itself up into a $2.87 billion player in the healthcare sector. Last year, the company brought in $3.1 billion in total revenue, a 13.5% gain from the $2.7 billion generated in 2023. The increase reflects rising demand for quality healthcare services.

Looking at the companys most recent quarterly results, Q2 2025, Surgery Partners delivered $826.2 million in revenue, marking an 8.4% yearoveryear increase, and slightly beating forecasts by $9.24 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 9% to $129 million, yielding a 15.6% margin. The company posted an adjusted EPS of $0.17, exceeding analyst forecasts by $0.03.

Despite these solid results, the stock has remained range-bound for most of the year, held back by concerns over slowing case volume growth and cautious full-year guidance. But for Bank of America analyst Joanna Gajuk, the current share price has opened a window of opportunity.

We rate SGRY Buy given the strong tailwinds for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) while the stock is trading at a depressed multiple: 10x 2026E EBITDA less NCI, below the historical average of 14x and below the 14x multiple on the recent ASC platform deal (AmSurg) takeout Being a low-cost setting (40-50% lower vs inpatient), ASCs are the beneficiaries of payors (including Medicare) pushing utilization to outpatient. The aging demographics are also driving ASC vols (utilization increases with age). Meanwhile, ASCs are a lower capital intensity business compared to acute care hospitals, yielding higher returns on invested capital, Gajuk noted.

Her bullish stance is backed by a $28 price target, implying a potential one-year upside of ~25%. (To watch Gajuks track record, click here)

Overall, Wall Street echoes a similar sentiment. Surgery Partners holds a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 11 recent analyst reviews that break down to 8 Buys and 3 Holds. With shares currently trading at $22.41, the average price target of $30.90 suggests a potential gain of ~38% in the year ahead. (See SRGY stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue
Diamond Hill Capital, an investment management company, released its Large Cap Fund first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. After a significant decline in April following President Trumps Liberation Day tariffs announcement, markets recovered and increased consistently for the remainder of the quarter. The strategy modestly trailed the Russell 1000 Value Index in the second quarter and returned 2.87% (net) vs 3.79% for the index. The financial and consumer discretionary holdings lagged, while healthcare and communication services outperformed, boosting overall performance. To get an idea of the funds best choices for 2025, check out its top 5 positions.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B). Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses. The one-month return of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) was -3.02%, and its shares gained 6.90% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 7, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) stock closed at $461.47 per share, with a market capitalization of $1.011 trillion.

Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Other bottom contributors in Q2 included Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) and Aon. Despite a strong quarter for diversified holding company Berkshire Hathaway, shares declined as investors weighed the implications of Warren Buffetts retirement at the end of the calendar year."

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B): "You're Getting A Great Franchise," Says Jim Cramer

A team of insurance professionals in a boardroom overlooking a city skyline.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) is in 15th position on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 125 hedge fund portfolios held Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) at the end of the first quarter which was 131 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) 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 Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) and shared the list of stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Way back in May of 2018, I was unable to get the SparcStation 1+ to stop returning Illegal Instruction errors for any attempt at booting. This made absolutely no sense to anyone I asked about it, and they suggested replacing the PROM battery, because at least then wed have fewer known-broken parts in the computer. I ignored this advice, and just stuck the computer in a corner with the other broken machines for awhile so it could think about what it did.

A few weekends later, I decided to go back and give the little Sun another chance. Perhaps it was the cute pizzabox appearance, or maybe it was that I needed to clear the bench space for something else.

To begin diagnosis, I yanked the hard drive out, and discovered the Quantum ProDrive in it was in fact an Apple factory drive. Heres the badge, indicating that the drive was shipped with an Apple ROM.

Looks like it has some pins for a hard drive access LED. Considering its a full-height drive, I wonder which Mac this would have come out of. Maybe an early SE or II? Definitely not an LC.

A lot of early Apple hard drives are hardcoded to SCSI ID 0, and while they have pins to reset them, they dont come with jumpers (I realized this was since the three jumpers set the SCSI ID in binary, which should have been obvious to me before - no jumpers = all false = 0). As far as I can tell, this one is the same way.

I decided to boot it without a hard drive installed at all. Maybe that would give me a cooler error than Illegal Instruction!

It did - the computer decided to try and boot off the loopback device instead, and when it failed, it didnt say illegal instruction. Whats more, I could now type boot sd(0,0,0)vmunix without getting Illegal Instruction either!

I immediately slammed the drive back in and tried to boot. This time, I just got a SCSI device is not responding error. Assuming the drive was dead, I began my usual Quantum ProDrive diagnostic method of:

Feeling the drive for vibrations that indicate it is working, Tapping the drive gently with the handle of a screwdriver, Tapping the drive less gently with the handle of a screwdriver, Repeatedly trying to start the drive until I hear it finally come to life.

Eventually, the drive started making noise and vibrating, so I assumed it was fully alive. This was not the case, as I would find out later, but it didnt matter.

I looked online for information about the not responding error, and found one Usenet post from 1995. In it, the protagonist had a similar machine (an IPX) that wouldnt boot, but was able to boot it using boot sd(0,3,0)vmunix instead of the default ID of 0.

Thats weird, since probe-scsi was pretty adamant the drive was target 0, device 0. Some more searching revealed that, yeah, the SparcStation firmware reroutes ID 0 to ID 3 for some reason only understood by Sun engineers and/or the legally insane (pay attention - this comes up again later.) OK, whatever lets try it.

Now I got an even better error message - bad magic number in disk label . I assume that this is telling me that the firmware doesnt understand the partition map of the disk.

That error message was followed by a complaint that I had pointed the computer at a non-executable file, which makes sense, since not being able to read the partition map generally makes it difficult to find any files.

More disks! More parts! More problems!

To check if I could magically make this thing start working by adding more variables to the problem, I did a little bit of disk swapping. In went a second SCSI disk from my collection, a 2.2GB Quantum Viking that I found in a greasy shoebox. While this drive is supposedly a little big for the older firmware to support, it should at least be detected by probe-scsi as a SCSI device.

The following table describes my findings:

Viking in Left Bay ProDrive in Left Bay Nothing in Left Bay Viking in Right Bay N/A SCSI bus hung Bad magic number ProDrive in Right Bay Hangs after banner N/A Bad magic number Nothing in Right Bay Hangs after banner Bad magic number Hangs after banner

Hanging the SCSI bus wasnt too big of a surprise in retrospect, since both drives are set to ID 0 from the factory and would of course conflict. I was not thinking awfully clearly back in 2018 when I was doing this, apparently.

What surprised me is that putting the Viking in bay 1 locked up the machine, and so did not having any disks at all. I thought this was supposed to be a diskless-capable workstation.

Nothing was adding up.

Floppy drives exist, right?

There is one more thing the SparcStation 1+ has up its sleeve: an auto-eject floppy drive. Like the Macintoshes, ejecting the floppy is driven by software, which is a feature that sounds really boring but is actually cool in person. Much like this entire machine. At least a Macintosh got to eject floppy disks in outer space.

In theory, I could make a Linux or BSD boot floppy and boot off it. Then I could use the booted-from operating systems disk tools to look at the drive, figure out what (if anything) is on it, and maybe get a better clue as to why this computer doesnt want to boot. Worst case, I could at least format the drive and install a new OS.

In practice, not so much. My first indication that something was up came when I tried to run boot fd() on a blank floppy. The computer ran the drive for a few seconds, and then complained that it could not read the first sector, and the floppy self-test failed.

After a few more attempts with different boot disks, I determined that nothing really worked on this floppy drive except for the eject command, which, it seemed, would be the only real functionality I could squeeze out of this computer. At least it makes a cool noise.

After thinking about it, I decided to remove the floppy drive and take a look inside. Everything looked great, except that the drive doors spring was no longer able to hold it closed, and that there was a tiny piece of plastic - probably from the drive door - lying in the back of the drive away from the mechanism. I removed the plastic, lubed up the jackshaft and eject gears with a stingy amount of lithium grease, and reinstalled the drive.

No change.

I removed the floppy cable from the motherboard. For some reason, a previous owner had filed off the alignment tab from the cable, and then installed it backward. Could this be the problem?

It wasnt - with the motherboard cable flipped around, the floppy drive displayed the normal PC-standard LED on all the time, nothing else works symptoms. I got a self-test error for expected track 2, got track 0 and eject no longer worked. At least now I know its probably 34-pin Shugart, and also that the cable was in the right way around the first time, since eject works.

Fine, be that way. Who needs a floppy drive anyway?

Nice drive

After a few more power cycles of the SparcStation, the ProDrive HDD, which was already pretty loud when booting, made an even louder noise and then started to spin at the approximate volume of a jet engine. I am pretty sure the spindle was still a little rusted during the previous attempts. Now its finally free to spin again!

However, the drive still near-instantly returned the bad magic number for ID = 3 (really ID = 0, more on this later.) Which is weird, because if the drive wasnt spinning before, how did the computer know what was on the disk? And why cant I hear the drive being accessed when I try this?

Something very weird was going on with this machines SCSI setup. And the floppy drive. And without an AUI adapter, I also couldnt expect to net-boot the machine.

Frustrated, I decided to shelve the computer for a few months and come back to it later. And by a few months, I mean, like, seven years.

Several Years Later

Picking the project up in 2025, I decided I would use my BlueSCSI in Initiator Mode to dump the disk. I had been dumping a whole lot of other SCSI disks lying around the house, and the mystery of just what was on this Apple ROM disk had been gnawing at me.

Unfortunately, as it had been a few years in the interim, the drive had seized up again. Curse you, entropy.

No amount of hammering seemed to be able to get the stuck spindle free this time, and I stripped one of the screws badly trying to remove the lid. After a few sessions of no progress, I was getting angry messing with it, so the hard drive went in the freezer for a bit to see if that would shrink the horrible rubber and loosen its impervious hold. Surprise, the thing that makes no sense didnt work either.

After several attempts at freeing up the drive, I put it on the shelf. Well drill out this screw, free up the bumper, and dump it some other day. Who knows what mysterious (Mac?) treasures could be living on this hard drive?

Even though this part of the project was a failure, it got the SparcStation uncovered, and opened. So why not take another whack at fixing it?

Even if the Quantum had spun up and worked, I decided it would be best to start over with a known-good drive. I put a BlueSCSI v2 SCSI emulator inside the SparcStation, with a known-good install of SunOS. And what better way to do it than to build a fresh disk image in the very same emulator that I once used to play Time Killers?

MAME-ing myself

I knew that the sun4 machines were supported in MAME, so I went looking to see if anyone would hold my hand through the process. That was a bit too much to ask, but I did get basically 90% of the way there from reading this wiki page on installing SunOS into MAME.

After starting MAME with a valid SparcStation BIOS ROM and configuration, I had to boot cdrom , then tell the partitioner the type of disk I was running. I didnt know what random 2.0GB compressed file was in Sun-land, so I picked Sun 1.3G and then proceeded to partitioning.

The partitioning utility lets you pick a pre-defined layout based on the aforementioned type, which had two options for the 1.3 gig drive. I picked the standard one, because I dont drive an automatic. After writing out the disk label (now I know what that is!) and rebooting, I was able to run suninstall and install the rest of the operating system.

Of course, it then punted me out to OpenBoot without any idea what to type to boot into my new operating system. After some stumbling, I determined it was boot disk3 . At one point, I had to set the date and time, and the installer really did not like the idea of it being 2025. Me neither, bud. Were all trying to get through this together. I lied to it, and said it was 1997, which has the same days of the week as 2025.

I got all the way into OpenWindows before I realized I didnt know how to run shutdown from a regular account

When in doubt, pop a root shell. No idea how youre supposed to safely turn off your expensive workstation if youre a lowly engineer without root access, but such plebian problems are beneath me.

So now I had a two-gig CHD file containing a working SunOS installation. How was I gonna get it to the SparcStation so I could enjoy the fruits of all this labour?

chdman extracthd looked like the best course of action. That dumped out a roughly 2-gigabyte flat file. I offered that up onto the BlueSCSIs SD card, along with the CDROM image.

I crossed my fingers that I had gotten all the filenames right, but that was going to be the least of my issues

Big Sparc, Little Smoke

After many years, it was time to introduce power into this machine once again. I had to root around my workshop to find the Sun 13W3 video adapter, but thankfully the keyboard and mouse were big enough that they were hard to lose. Of course, it had been wedged into a corner where it was not especially usable, along with a pile of other dead and half-dead machines that had been piled up in the area since the little Suns pseudo-accidental decommissioning.

While inspecting the machine again, I noticed that the black plastic part of the keyboard port was falling out. I shoved that back in, and made a mental note to glue it up later.

First, I plugged the BlueSCSI in without any power cables. I figured that the SS1+ was new enough to provide termination power on the SCSI connector, and therefore it would be enough to power the BlueSCSI without having to run any power cables.

To my surprise, I was wrong. The BlueSCSI didnt light up, and the SparcStation hung after showing the sign-on banner. Stop+A didnt work to break into OpenBoot. That sure sounds like what happened back in 2018 when I didnt have any disks installed at all, doesnt it?

I went rummaging through my cables for a Molex-to-Berg power adapter. Despite knowing that I had some good ones downstairs, I decided I would instead save myself the trip and get some from my ancient bin of 90s cables. In a SATA-to-IDE adapter board box, I found one.

I plugged it in, and the BlueSCSIs power LED lit up.

The voltage regulator on the Pico lit up, too.

And smoked. Huh.

After quickly shutting everything off, I unplugged the BlueSCSI and checked the voltages coming out of the SparcStation. +12V was coming out of the red wire on the adapter. Someone a long time ago had wired the Molex end backward in this adapter, while wiring the Berg end correctly. I didnt notice, because the cables coming out of the SparcStation are all black. If I had seen a red/yellow mixup between the motherboard and adapter, I would have never turned it on.

The Pico on my BlueSCSI was now dead, having been force-fed +12V in a place that it expected to receive only +5V.

The microSD card that was in the slot at the time also refused to mount or even identify later on my modern computers, so the damage was quite comprehensive.

In the future, Im going to swap out the Pico and see if the BlueSCSI comes back to life. I will probably also see if the stricken Pico works when powered directly from 3.3V with the voltage regulator disabled. Im not confident that the board will be in good shape, especially the level shifters, as they would have also gotten whacked with the twelve volts that killed the SD card. It will be more of a for fun project.

Luckily, the SparcStation itself seemed to be fine, with it able to boot to the same useless just the banner screen as before I installed any hard drives. Still, it would be hard to tell for sure until I got another hard drive in here.

Note to self: dont feed your five-volt peripherals twelve volts.

Land of Con-Fuse-ion

After I was done being extremely angry, I got to thinking. If only termination power had worked, none of this would ever have happened.

And, you know, its kind of weird that the SparcStation 1+ doesnt have termination power. Its a pretty modern computer. Although I wasnt initially able to find conclusive documentation either way due to the collapse of actual useful search engines, the Sun-Managers Old System and Software Frequently Asked Questions FAQ says this:

On newer machines (sparcstations and later), many people have done this [hot swap SCSI devices] regularly without problems. Halt the machine (sync;L1-A), remove or add the device, then continue. However, it is possible to blow the SCSI termination power fuse on the motherboard. If your machine hangs immediately on powerup unless the SCSI bus is externally terminated, this fuse (2A Littelfuse) may need to be replaced. Caveat Emptor.

The sunhelp hardware reference FAQ concurs, and further says that a SparcStation 1+ does indeed have this fuse:

18) My SPARCstation 1/1+ says The SCSI bus is hung. Perhaps an external device is turned off. when I try to boot, or it locks up completely after displaying the banner. What do I do?

Check the SCSI termination fuse, located on the motherboard near the external SCSI connector. The fuse looks like a small cylinder that is usually clear or totally black with a black top and white writing. It is in a socket and is easy to remove. If adding an external device that powers its own terminator makes the machine work, the problem is definitely the termination fuse.

You know, this system is hanging on startup with no SCSI drive inserted (see above, in hangs after banner.) And before that, it complained that the SCSI bus was hung. Is the fuse blown?

I pulled out the TurboGX card and looked around the vicinity of the external SCSI connector. To my surprise, I found two fuses, along with a third one close to the keyboard port.

Checking them in order, I found that the one marked U2 was open. Both of the other two fuses were intact. Checking part III of the Sun hardware FAQ, it was confirmed that U2 is the SCSI termination fuse on the 4/60 (SparcStation 1) and 4/65 (SparcStation 1+) motherboards, Sun part number 150-1174.

Blown fuse! Time to get another. On the top is written 125V 2A LF, which confirms that its a Littelfuse part. However, a couple years have passed since it was made, and Littelfuse has changed hands quite a few times, and whats left of Sun probably isnt about to sell me one. Would I still be able to find whatever fuse this was?

After some searching, I was able to figure out that this is called a Micro 273 fuse, part number 0273002.H, and they are still in production. Unfortunately, Digi-Key wanted $11.23 Canadian for one fuse, and they were also out of stock.

My luck finally began to turn when I saw that Littelfuse had a samples program that included the 0273002.H, so I ordered two. Hey, I might need another depending on how this goes.

At the time of writing, they havent shipped these sample fuses yet. When that changes, Ill change this sentence.

In the meantime, I swapped the intact Ethernet fuse to the SCSI position and fired up the machine with no drives in it. Sure enough, it got past the banner immediately and proceeded to the self-test. After a couple minutes, it kicked me out to the boot prompt. This is what I had been expecting it to do back in 2018, so at least were making some progress.

Not having bus termination would sure explain some of the weird stuff going on with this computer.

Fuses dont just blow on their own. Who or what blew the fuse? Considering the shenanigans with the SCSI cables and the mismatched Quantum hard drive, Im guessing the previous owner, or even the recycler that sold it to me. The FAQs blame hot-swapping SCSI disks for blowing these fuses, but I cant imagine a lot of people using a Sun workstation would ever think thats okay to do.

Its too bad I didnt figure this out before I turned a BlueSCSI into very expensive smoke, but that miswired cable would have eventually killed something anyway. Im glad it wasnt the entire computer.

Another emulator

All of my BlueSCSIs were being used for other purposes, so I needed another disk emulator to keep momentum going on this project.

Drake was out of BlueSCSIs, so I ordered a ZuluSCSI Compact RP2040 with mounting brace from DECromancer. Id been meaning to try out the Zulu for a little while, and this seemed like the perfect excuse.

The mounting brace is not exactly what I thought it would be. I figured it would be an adapter plate so that the ZuluSCSI would easily screw into the Suns plastic standard hard-drive retainer like any other internal hard drive, but it seems to be designed for use as a front-panel for a computer with 3.5 bays.

I took the opportunity to redo my disk images, as well. Having the mismatch between the 2-gig file and the Sun1.3G layout was bothering me, so I decided to create a whole new image of the correct size.

The BlueSCSI platforms page for the SparcStation tells me that a Sun1.3G drive is 1,369,661,440 bytes long. I went ahead and used chdman to produce a hard drive image of that size, and then repeated the SunOS 4.1.4 install as described in the previous section.

This time, I picked the full install, instead of opting only for a developer-style workstation. Weve got one point three gigabytes of storage, man. Well never run out! And if we do, Im sure I can figure out how to use up the rest of this 8GB card on a second drive that gets mounted into the tree.

I plugged the SD card into the ZuluSCSI, and it was time to party. Unfortunately, nothing came up on probe-scsi , so obviously booting would have failed. The ZuluSCSI blinked five times rapidly at startup, which indicates SD card not detected.

I noticed a suspicious-looking solder bridge on one of the buffers, so I took a picture and sent it to the ZuluSCSI support email written on the board. Alex got back to me within a half hour (on a weekend, even) and explained that it was normal and not to worry about it. After some more back-and-forth, he asked if it was running the latest firmware.

I had no idea what firmware this board was running, so I plugged it into a USB cable and got ready to flash a new Pico UF2 file on it. But at that moment the LED blinked only once. When it was plugged into USB power, the ZuluSCSI had absolutely no problem seeing the SD card!

I went back to the SparcStation and plugged it back in. Five blinks. I measured the +5V power at the unpopulated Berg connector on the top of the ZuluSCSI, which should be reflecting how much power the RP2040 microcontroller is seeing from the SCSI termination line.

It was only showing 2.4 to 2.6 volts, which is certainly not enough for a 3.3V system, and definitely not enough for a 3.3V system that expects to be given a 5V power source! Termination power, it seems, was still not in great shape on this SparcStation after all.

After some grumbling and anger at the universe, I decided to externally power the ZuluSCSI.

USB powered

It was getting late, so to temporarily test this theory, I ran a too-short micro-USB cable to an old phone charger and powered the ZuluSCSI inside the SparcStation. Now, probe-scsi would actually return some devices!

After some fumbling, I managed to get the SparcStation to attempt boot by typing the command boot sd(0,0,0)vmunix , which got it as far as trying to mount the /usr filesystem (at /dev/sd3g ) and failing.

Well get to that complaint about the ZuluSCSI-brand CD-ROM drive later.

I think this is because I built the image while telling MAME it was at ID 0, but the firmware does a little swapping for historical reasons, and maps ID 3 into ID 0 and vice versa. So that 3 in /dev/sd3g probably means the SunOS install was done thinking it was at SCSI ID 3, which is really at SCSI ID 0, which means that telling the ZuluSCSI to mount it at SCSI ID 3 makes the computer think its at SCSI ID 0 which means it should be getting it from /dev/sd0g but is not. Confused yet?

I renamed the HD3_512.img hard drive image to HD0_512.img and then started the system again. After typing boot sd(0,3,0)vmunix I was soon inside SunOS. After login, it started OpenWindows and the OpenLook window manager. In colour.

Unfortunately, at this point I wasnt sure how to get out of it and safely shut the computer off. I hadnt plugged in a mouse, I wasnt sure if the mice could be hot-plugged, and I didnt have the right mouse pad for the (optical) mouse, either. After a little fumbling and key-pressing to try and get a terminal to appear that I could type into, I gave up and switched the SparcStation off at the switch on the back.

I did see a mysterious network security violation error on the open console complaining about refusing a connection from itself (the hostname blort ,) which I didnt see in MAME. It seems like that would have kept me from getting a usable terminal even if I had a mouse installed. I wonder what thats all about?

Conclusion

Theres a lot more to do with this thing before it can become a fully operational SparcStation:

Find a usable mouse;

Find a fuse for the Ethernet, and get it working;

Figure out what exactly is going on with SCSI termination power on this system, and what regulates it;

In the meantime, put a Berg connector on the ZuluSCSI so Im not using a phone charger to power it;

Bodge a battery onto the NVRAM module so we can have permanent settings and not wait minutes for a memory test every time;

Glue the loose plastic part of the keyboard port back in, if thats even possible;

Upgrade the ROM to the same version I used in MAME, and see if that supports the other video card I bought;

Figure out how to work OpenLook well enough to write some code.

Phew! Making a working computer out of someones dumpster liner is hard work.

For now, though, this is the most progress made in the last, oh, eight years? Ill take it.

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice on how to misuse this once-expensive machine as an e-waste toy. And thank you to Sun, for making this system very wide and very flat, so I could stack other broken computers on top of it while I was waiting to fix a problem that (in retrospect) was very obvious.

Thank you also to you for reading.

If youve got a broken old computer you havent looked at for a while, you should dust it off and give it a try. Whats the worst that could happen, letting the magic smoke out?

Repair Summary
(Reuters) -Global miners BHP Group and Vale have offered around $1.4 billion to settle a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom tied to one of Brazil's worst-ever environmental disasters, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The lawsuit stems from the collapse in 2015 of the Mariana dam in southeastern Brazil, owned and operated by the Samarco joint venture of BHP and Vale. The disaster prompted legal action from hundreds of thousands of people.

BHP is currently facing a London lawsuit that claimants' lawyers have valued at up to 36 billion pounds ($48.29 billion).

The proposed settlement includes around $800 million in compensation for victims and $600 million to cover legal costs associated with the High Court proceedings, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The offer was reportedly made during a June meeting in New York with Pogust Goodhead, the British law firm representing the claimants, and their primary financial backer, U.S. hedge fund Gramercy, the report said.

BHP and Vale did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

In October last year, BHP described allegations that a focus on profit over safety contributed to the disaster as "far-fetched and unjustified".

($1 = 0.7454 pounds)

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)
Friendly's-branded tubs of cookies and cream ice cream have been recalled in three states due to undeclared allergens. Canva

If you recently bought this tub of Friendlys ice cream from the store, you might want to take a closer look at its ingredients before eating it.

DFA Dairy Brands, LLC is recalling its Friendlys-branded Cookies & Cream ice cream due to undeclared soy and wheat allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The agency stated that the recalled product was mistakenly packaged in Vanilla Bean containers but topped with a Cookies & Cream lid.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Heres what you need to know about the recall.

What Friendlys ice cream was affected by the recall and where was it distributed?

Friendly's Vanilla Bean ice cream was mislabeled with a Friendly's Cookies & Cream lid. DFA Dairy Brands, LLC/FDA

The recalled ice cream was sold in 48-fluid-ounce containers with a sell-by date of Nov. 26, 2025.

It was distributed to stores in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

The FDA stressed that no other Friendlys products were impacted by the recall.

What should people who bought the Friendlys ice cream do with the product?

Those with soy and wheat allergies are urged not to consume the product. As the FDA states, People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy and/or wheat run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Customers who have purchased the recalled ice cream are advised to return it to its place of purchase for a full refund.

Those with questions about the recall may contact the company at 800-587-2259.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A man who is alleged to have issued threats on social media has asked to be produced at his next court hearing.

Petre Beniamin (50) of No Fixed Abode, is accused of publishing a grossly offensive communication on TikTok. Its alleged he published a communication about slicing up Irish babies, kids and you with intent to cause harm contrary to Section 4(1) and (3) of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

He was further charged with engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and demonstrating at the time of the offence, hatred towards the Irish people contrary to the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024. Both offences were alleged to have been committed at an unknown location in Dublin on May 24 last.

He appeared before Portlaoise District Court via video link.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told Judge Michael Ramsey that the defendant had chosen to represent himself in court.

Sgt Kirby said a file had gone to the DPP and directions were awaited in the case. He suggested an adjournment to September 1. Sgt Kirby said the defendant hadnt looked for bail.

I cant apply for bail today, the man told Judge Ramsey.

He agreed to a remand in custody to Portlaoise District Court on September 1.

Sgt Kirby said we should have directions by then hopefully.

Judge Ramsey remanded the defendant in custody and adjourned the case to Portlaoise District Court on September 1. He ordered that the defendant be produced on that date.
Laois Offaly Gardai are warning of possible traffic delays for people travelling towards Offaly this Sunday, August 10.

The annual Tullamore National Livestock Show is taking place at the Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore and will attract visitors from across Ireland.

Over 50,000 people attended last years event and similar numbers are expected this year so plan your journey ahead and leave plenty of time to get safely to the site just off the N52 on the outskirts of Tullamore town.

Please be advised that alternative routes have been selected around Tullamore for traffic not attending the event so that they can best avoid delays, Gardai said.

The main N52 will be closed to through traffic from the junction at Mucklagh to Blueball to accommodate the event. Those that live along this stretch of road will be accommodated while diversions will be put in place for non-show traffic using this route.

There will be four large car parks in operation across 240 acres. Dedicated routes have been selected leading directly to the car parks as follows:

North/North East  Tullamore  (Green Car Park) West/North West  Athlone  Clara  Rahan  (Yellow Car Park) South/South West  Birr  Blueball  (Red Car Park) East/South East  Portlaoise  Killeigh  (Blue Car Park)

Gardai said buses are to use the Blue carpark while a carpark for those with a disability will also be available - the show committee will issue PWD Passes to allow for access straight to the event site by following signage for Livestock Entrance on the Greatwood Road (Zone B  PINK Pass) and enter at Gate 3.

Each car park will be operated by stewards selected by the show committee.

All Exhibitors/Competitors/Trade Parking (ZONE B  Pink Pass) with the exception of livestock will be directed to the event site where they will gain access at Gates 5/6.

Livestock Exhibitors/Competitors/Trade (ZONE A  BLUE PASS) only will between 7:30am and 9:30am gain access at Gates 2/3 to the site via the closed section of the N52 onto Greatwood Road.

Following the event, only cattle exhibitors will leave via the closed section of the N52.

Parking restrictions will be in place and strictly enforced. There is no parking:

Mucklagh to Blueball

Blacklion to Portlaoise Car Park

Blueball to the event site

Screegan via Glaskill and Agall to the event site (the emergency route).

READ ALSO: Forestry and energy to feature at Tullamore Show

We hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable day at the Tullamore Show, and please be sure to stop anyone of us who will be on duty at the event if you need help or assistance.

Drop by our tent too to say hello! Gardai said.
BHP Group and Vale have reportedly proposed a $1.4bn settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit in the UK concerning the failure of the Mariana dam in Brazil, which occurred in 2015, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The Samarco joint venture (JV), operated by BHP and Vale, was responsible for the dam, leading to significant legal repercussions.

The London lawsuit against BHP has seen claimants' lawyers estimate potential damages of up to 36bn ($48.2bn).

The proposed settlement includes roughly $800m allocated for victim compensation and $600m intended to cover legal expenses related to the High Court proceedings, the report said.

The offer was reportedly disclosed during a meeting in New York in June with Pogust Goodhead, the law firm representing the claimants, and their main financial supporter, US hedge fund Gramercy.

In a contrasting stance, BHP, in October of the previous year, dismissed claims that prioritising profit over safety contributed to the disaster, calling such allegations far-fetched and unjustified.

In a separate development, BHP and Lundin are reportedly preparing to take advantage of Argentina's new Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) for their Vicuna copper project.

Launched in October, the RIGI seeks to stimulate the mining sector with tax incentives and access to international dispute resolution courts for investments exceeding $200m until July 2026, with a potential extension of one year.

Furthermore, Vale has also reported a 4% year-on-year increase in iron ore production to 83.6 million tonnes (mt) in the second quarter of 2025.

However, pellet production decreased by 12% to 7.9mt compared to the previous year, in line with the revised production guidance for 2025, given the current market conditions.

"BHP and Vale offer $1.4bn to settle UK lawsuit" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




A Laois hotel has taken to social media with a touching tribute to their general manager.

Mr George Leahy currently works as the General Manager at Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

Mr Leahy and his partner Ms Raluca Miszelta (now Mrs Leahy) celebrated their wedding at the Portlaoise hotel.

Pictured: The happy couple, George and Raluca Leahy. Photo credit: Patrick Ryan Photography

"When your General Manager celebrates his wedding at your hotel," Midlands Park Hotel Portlaoise posted online.

"A huge congratulations to George and Raluca! We were absolutely honoured to host and celebrate your special day with you," they said.

"Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness together. Thanks to @patrickryanphotography for sharing these gorgeous images," the post finished.

Dozens of comments were left beneath the post, congratulating the couple on their nuptials.

"Ah Congratulations George, could not think of a better hotel to have your special day," one user wrote.

"Congratulations George and Reluca. I wish you both a very long and Happy Journey together!" another person said.

"A huge congratulations to George and Reluca on your special day," another user commented.

Originally from Cork, Mr Leahy was promoted to General Manager at the four-star hotel in September of 2024, following the move by his predecessor, Dara Cruise, to Neville Park Hotels where he is now the Group General Manager.

The Neville Park Hotel group encompasses the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy, and Crown Quarter in Wexford Town.

Mr Leahy has two decades worth of experience in the hospitality sector. Following his training with the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, he held multiple management positions at some of Ireland's leading hotels, including Adare Manor, Castleroy Park Hotel and the Montenotte.

Congratulations to the happy couple!
A Laois charity shop's wedding department has won the celebrity seal of approval by the former Rose of Tralee who is engaged to Ryan Tubridy.

Clinical psychologist Clare Kambamettu paid an exclusive visit to the bridal floor of Vincent's shop in Portlaoise this week, to try on wedding gowns for her big day.

Clare was born in Leeds in 1984, but at the age of eight years old moved to Athy where her mother Breda is from.

The green conscious lady has also appeared on our TV screens when she presented RTEs environmental programme, Eco Eye.

Clare told the Leinster Express / Laois Live: "I've bought second hand clothes for years - my pal Sarah Kate Byrne from Tullow (now living in London and working as a very successful stylist using mostly vintage fashion) helped me to put together my wardrobe for Tralee in 2010 using our local charity shops in London and ever since I've continued the habit.

"I try to reduce my environmental footprint where I can and buying a wedding dress definitely feels like a good opportunity to do that, there's tonnes of second hand wedding dresses out there that are just gorgeous and I'm only going to wear it once.

"I think now more than ever the charities around Ireland, particularly SvP are doing so much to support vulnerable people, buying second hand is a wonderful way to give something back.

"I didnt find my wedding dress in VdP Portlaoise but I did find a couple of fab dresses which I'll be wearing in Tralee this year," Clare said.

She is a judge at the Rose of Tralee this August, where 2025 Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins is hoping to bring the title home for the first time.

"The set up in the shop is fabulous, the two Mary's couldn't have been more helpful and their selection of stock is great. They've a huge dressing room and you have the place to yourself to try things on," Clare added.

She even gets her preloved items altered in Portlaoise, bring them to Diana in the Dressmakers Wardrobe on Main Street.

"I bring any second hand pieces that I get in charity shops into her and she makes me feel like they've been made just for me, shes a wonder," she recommends.

Mary Ryan manager at Vincent's spearheaded their recently opened luxurious bridal department, see its official opening here.

Vincent's Portlaoise manager Mary Ryan with one of the gowns on sale in their wedding department, from as little as 100.

"Clare is a regular customer to our shop. She booked an appointment to try on wedding dresses, I didn't recognise her at first, we were just chatting away. One of the girls who volunteers with us copped her because she is a big fan of the Rose of Tralee.

"She was lovely, so down to earth. We were all so excited, we're still buzzing," Mary said.

Read also: Portlaoise getting most of new Laois electric car chargers

SVP Vincent's Portlaoise located at 1, Dublin Road, R32KN28, is open Monday to Saturday, call 057 8660486. The shop also has a furniture department, with parking available to the rear and in the church carpark next door.
MEP Ciaran Mullooly has been actively campaigning to raise awareness about the potential impact of the Mercosur trade deal, which, if approved, could see meat imports from South America flooding the European market. The deal, proposed by the European Commission, aims to enhance trade relations between Europe and Mercosur countries like Brazil and Chile. While Mullooly is not opposed to trading with these regions, he expressed serious concerns about the health and safety standards associated with the meat products, particularly beef and chicken, that could enter Europe under the deal.

In a recent interview with the Leitrim Observer, Mullooly emphasized the lack of rigorous standards in South America, especially when it comes to the use of illegal growth promoters and hormones in meat production. These substances, banned in Europe, are reportedly still used in Brazil, and Mullooly fears that without proper inspection regimes in place, contaminated meat could make its way into European markets, including Ireland.

Theres a real concern about the standards in Brazil, Mullooly said. The European Commission says theyll have inspections, but theres no European inspection system in Brazil itself. Weve already seen incidents where meat that was cleared by Brazilian authorities failed European tests when it arrived.

He also stressed that Irelands beef industry, known for its high standards and grass-fed beef, would be severely impacted if the deal goes ahead. We export 90% of our beef, and its highly prized for its quality, Mullooly explained. But if cheaper, substandard beef from Brazil enters the market, it will drive down prices for our farmers.

Mulloolys concerns are compounded by the price disparity between Irish and Brazilian beef, with Brazilian beef currently trading at about 3.50 euros per kilogram, compared to 9 or 10 euros for Irish beef. This deal will flood the market with cheap meat, undermining Irish farmers who are committed to maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare and product traceability, he warned.

The campaign, which has been running for several months, seeks to garner support from European farmers and MEPs to block the deal. Mullooly is particularly focused on pressuring the Irish government to take a stronger stance. Fianna Fail and Fianna Gael MEPs say theyre opposed to the deal, but the Irish government has not shown the same level of opposition, he said. Farmers need to put more pressure on our government in the coming months.

Mullooly has also been meeting with farmers across Ireland to raise awareness of the issue. Recent meetings in Leitrim have included discussions on the Mercosur deal and its potential impact on local agricultural communities. The MEP has stressed the need for more unity among farmers to put pressure on their government and European lawmakers.

In addition to his work on the Mercosur trade deal, Mullooly is also addressing environmental concerns related to the re-wetting of bogs in Leitrim and Roscommon. The European Unions Nature Restoration Bill requires the restoration of 40,000 hectares of bog land, which could lead to flooding issues for nearby farms. Mullooly is working with local farmers and environmental authorities to ensure that drainage systems around bogs are cleared to prevent potential flooding.

Mulloolys efforts to raise awareness about these issues are ongoing, with plans to attend agricultural shows and continue campaigning across the region. His message remains clear: Irelands agricultural community needs to make their voices heard in Brussels and beyond.

The next few months will be crucial, Mullooly said. We need to ensure that the Irish government stands firm against the Mercosur deal, and we need more support from MEPs across Europe to protect our farmers and the integrity of our food standards.

READ MORE Carrick-on-Shannon woman remembered after tragic Donegal swimming accident

MEP Ciaran Mullooly hears firsthand from farmers and families at the Arva Show about their deep concerns regarding the potential damage the Mercosur trade deal could cause to the beef sector.
A Leitrim councillor has expressed disappointment that the Irish diaspora will not be granted a vote by the Government in the upcoming presidential election this November.

In January, Cllr Justin Warnock called on elected members at a meeting of Leitrim County Council to support a push for the Government and all Oireachtas members to pass legislation for the promised referendum outlined in the Diaspora Strategy.

In 2020, the Government approved a Diaspora Strategy 2020 - 2025, which included plans for a referendum to extend presidential voting rights to Irish citizens wherever they reside. However, this has yet to happen.

The motion was unanimously supported by all councillors at the time.

When he tabled the motion in January, Cllr Warnock described Irish citizens abroad being unable to vote as one of the biggest failures of this state and country, and a total neglect of the state.

READ NEXT: New LIS funding for Leitrim welcomed, but backlog still a major hurdle

Expressing disappointment that voting rights have once again not been extended to Irish citizens abroad, he highlighted that an entire generation of Irish emigrants will never have the chance to vote.

Were denying our citizens abroad a vote and unfortunately the people that left in the 30s and 40s arent going to be around when the Government affords them the opportunity to vote. Another generation of people will never have a vote, Cllr Warnock said.

He also pointed out that Ireland is just one of three countries in Europe that do not grant their citizens living abroad the right to vote, alongside Slovakia and Malta.

Leitrim County Council and councillors were fully supportive of the motions I had down to try and bring this to a head, he said. We tried but unfortunately the powers that be didnt listen to our call.

READ NEXT: Dromahair mother taking on the Warrior's Run in Strandhill for Barretstown

Currently, only a small number of Irish citizens abroad have the right to vote. Members of the armed forces and diplomatic services abroad can participate in Dail elections, and graduates of NUI and Trinity can vote in Seanad elections regardless of where they live.

Yet the right to vote in presidential elections remains out of reach, off the table for at least the next seven years.
A former Boko Haram member in Bol, the capital of Chad's Lac province, on June 20, 2025. JORIS BOLOMEY

"Today, mother died," said Abba Ali Abakura, 57, his voice heavy with grief. He is the head of the Kiskra canton, located in the Lac province on the shores of Lake Chad: a vast, marshy expanse where the borders of Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad converge. The white mourning veil highlighted his proud bearing, despite the shame that consumed him. "My family won't come to offer condolences because I have nothing to give them to eat," he said, tracing shapes in the sand. "This is the height of dishonor in our culture."

Kiskra was once prosperous, before the Islamist group Boko Haram imposed a reign of terror on the local population, destroying the largely fishing- and farming-based economy of Chad's Lac province, a neglected region where half of the population lives below the poverty line.

Read part 1 of our series 'Lake Chad's Troubled Waters' Lake Chad residents caught between Boko Haram and rising waters

Founded in the early 2000s in neighboring Nigeria, Boko Haram initially advocated a return to the fundamental principles of Islam, all while condemning elite corruption and government neglect. Gradually, the group became radicalized, making grim headlines through suicide bombings, kidnappings, rapes and deadly attacks on both civilians and regular armies. Military operations conducted by the countries around Lake Chad have severely weakened the group, but have not been able to eradicate it.

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YOUNG baker Ayesha Jones represented Limerick Youth Service at the 'prestigious' Renshaw Cup this July.

She joined student bakers from across the UK and Ireland at the events historic return to Liverpool.

The Renshaw Cup, first held in 1952 and revived this year after a 21-year hiatus, was hosted at British Bakels Liverpool site, home of the Renshaw brand.

The three-day event from July 8-10 brought together 20 students for hands-on challenges, expert demonstrations, and mentoring from industry leaders.

Ayesha, a Newcastle West native, was nominated by her tutor Paul OBrien, who competed in the 1993 Renshaw Cup.

When I was nominated for the Renshaw Cup, Paul said, it was a huge honour for me... I still have great memories of fellow participants and, of course, the amazing demonstrations given by Renshaw.

After Ayesha received her place this year, I explained what this award means going forward. You are now part of a very limited group of people, which is recognised throughout the bakery community.

READ MORE: Local light engineering company bought by Philadelphia-based private investment firm

Over the course of the event, Ayesha took part in a series of practical baking and decorating challenges, connected with like-minded students from across the UK, and received mentorship from past winners and professionals.

James Cawthorne, managing director at British Bakels, said: We were thrilled to welcome Ayesha to the Renshaw Cup and see her represent Ireland with such skill and enthusiasm. Her work throughout the event was a testament to her talent and the guidance shes received from Paul OBrien and the team at Limerick Youth Service. The Cup is all about inspiring and empowering the next generation of bakers, and Ayesha truly embodied that spirit.

Ayesha completed her FDQ Certificate in Professional Bakery qualification with Limerick Youth Service Community Training Centre.

For the competition, she had to develop a product suitable for selling in a cafe. She based her concepts on the recent Dubai chocolate craze, choosing a breakfast morning bread with a Dubai chocolate filling and a crumble.
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MADRID (Reuters) -Binance is working with Spanish bank BBVA to allow customers to hold their assets off the cryptocurrency exchange, Financial Times reported on Friday.

The Spanish bank is working as one of only a small number of independent custodians for the world's biggest crypto exchange, the report added, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The move comes as Binance, the world's leading digital asset exchange, faces heightened regulatory scrutiny worldwide and as crypto exchanges seek to reassure investors about fund safety in the wake of FTX's 2022 collapse.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

A BBVA spokesperson said the bank does not comment on current or potential clients, adding that although it acts as a cryptocurrency custodian for individual customers in markets such as Turkey and Switzerland, where it offers the service for institutional investors.

Binance could not be immediately reached.

Last February, U.S. authorities fined Binance more than $4.3 billion for violating federal anti-money laundering and sanctions laws through lapses in internal controls at the company, while its founder and chief executive Changpeng Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison.

(Reporting by Abu Sultan in Bengaluru and Inti Landauro in Madrid; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
The very qualities that make chatbots appealingthey always listen, never judge, and tell you what you want to hearcan also make them dangerous. Especially for autistic people.

When chatbots say things that arent true or reinforce misguided beliefs, they can be harmful to anyone. But autistic people, who often have a black-and-white way of thinking and can fixate on particular topics, are especially vulnerable. That was the case for Jacob Irwin, a Wisconsin man on the autism spectrum I wrote about last month who experienced mania and delusions after interacting with OpenAIs ChatGPT.

Now, Autism Speaks, the nations largest autism advocacy organization, is calling on OpenAI to develop more guardrails not only for the benefit of autistic people, but for anyone who might find themselves going down potentially dangerous chat-rabbit holes.

A lot of folks with autism, including my son, have deep special interests, but there can be an unhealthy limit to that, and AI by design encourages you to dig deeper," said Keith Wargo, chief executive of Autism Speaks. The way AI encourages continued interaction and depth can lead to social withdrawal, and isolation is something people with autism already struggle with."

ChatGPT changes

Wargo emailed Andrea Vallone, a research lead on OpenAIs safety team, after reading my column on Irwin and offered to help the company understand how autistic people might experience ChatGPT. He said he hasnt received a response yet but is encouraged by some changes OpenAI announced earlier this week. OpenAI said it is forming an advisory group of mental health and youth development experts but a spokeswoman said the makeup of the group hasnt yet been determined.

The company said that there have been times when ChatGPT fell short in recognizing signs of delusion or emotional dependency" among users and that it is developing tools to better detect when people are experiencing mental or emotional distress.

ChatGPT will now encourage people to take breaks when they are engaging in lengthy chat sessions, helping you stay in control of your time." And instead of simply providing answers when people ask for help with personal decision-making, such as whether to break up with a partner, OpenAI said ChatGPT will guide users in thinking through the pros and cons.

The company on Thursday introduced GPT-5, which it said is less effusively agreeable" with users than the previous model, which encouraged some users to believe they had made stunning scientific or spiritual discoveries.

Autistic people often take people at their word and can miss sarcasm and other subtle social cues. They can also fixate on things and have difficulty shifting their focus, say doctors who treat autistic people.

The good thing about a chatbot is it will respond to you all the time, but the disadvantage is it doesnt care about you, and an autistic person might have a harder time understanding that," said Catherine Lord, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who specializes in autism.

While chatbots will answer questions about a singular topic all day long if prompted, they dont redirect the conversation, which Wargo and others said can be problematic. At some point theres an obsessiveness, and going down a particular path for too long can be unhealthy, especially if youre not getting a counterpoint to be more balanced," Wargo said.

This thing isnt going to reject me

Interpreting language literally can make autistic people vulnerable to being taken advantage of because they cant always tell when someone has ulterior motives.

Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, co-wrote a 2022 study that found autistic people are more susceptible to online radicalization.

Autistic people might be at risk not only of being exploited by other people but by AI," Baron-Cohen said, explaining that they may not be able to distinguish chatbot role-play from reality. Its not that theres malicious intent, but chatbots may not have safeguards built in."

And yet chatbots are appealing because they offer a proxy for human interaction, which some autistic people may find uncomfortable. It is similar to the reason online videogameswith set rules and structured interpersonal interactionare popular.

Autistic people get very stressed when things are unpredictable, and conversations can be extremely unpredictable," Baron-Cohen said.

Conversations with chatbots can feel more predictable because they are guided by user promptsthough the chatbots responses can still veer into unexpected territory.

Paul Hebert, a 53-year-old Nashville man who said he has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD, said autistic people are often criticized for being different. Talking to a chatbot is nice, because its like, this thing isnt going to reject me," he said.

Hebert has studied how large language models work after having his own troubling conversations with ChatGPT.

In the beginning I believed everything ChatGPT told me because I didnt understand it," he said. Now I take it with a grain of salt."

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

Write to Julie Jargon at Julie.Jargon@wsj.com
(Bloomberg) -- TDB Group, an African trade and development lender, is considering claiming insurance on debt its owed by Zambia that has become entangled in a complex restructuring process.

The southern African nation, which defaulted in 2020 and later sought to rework around $13 billion of external loans, has said its including about $500 million it owes to TDB in that process. The government must seek similar relief to what other creditors provided, requiring TBD to agree to losses.

That could lead TDB to call in insurance it has with a Lloyds of London syndicate for a portion of the debt, Admassu Tadesse, the lenders managing director, said in an Aug. 2 interview in Rwandas capital, Kigali. He cautioned, though, that doing so may have systemic ramifications for trade finance on the continent.

The reason they would come in and share a risk with us is because they didnt expect trade finance credits to be pulled into restructuring, he said. If mistakes are made and important rules are broken, then I think trade finance will dry up.

TDB  together with the African Export Import Bank - has found itself at the center of an increasingly contentious debate about including the lenders facilities in sovereign-debt restructuring on the continent. While Afreximbank is adamant it wont participate, TDB is discussing further debt relief with Zambia, which may lead to losses and, in turn, prompt the insurance claim.

Its part of the picture and were definitely looking at that very closely, Tadesse said of the insurance claim. It may very well be triggered in the final analysis.

Lloyds declined to comment.

The risk of being included in sovereign debt workouts has already had a negative credit-rating impact for Afreximbank and TDB, with bond yields rising.

TDB has a total country exposure to Zambia of $872 million, of which it has insurance for about $348 million, according to the groups 2024 annual report, which doesnt break down how much is sovereign and private.

The lender intends to offer Zambia another round of restructuring in a matter of weeks or months, Tadesse said. It had already rescheduled the debt in the immediate wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Malawi Exposure

Malawi, Zambias eastern neighbor, is going through its own restructuring process, and TDB has more than $530 million of exposure to that country, with $214 million insured, its annual report showed. The government is in default on its commercial loans, which include TDB and Afreximbank debt, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Afreximbank and TDB were both expected to provide debt relief to Malawi as part of the governments restructuring strategy, the IMF said this week.

TDBs lending to Malawi involves revolving trade-finance facilities, which Tadesse said should be excluded from any restructuring as the funding is for crucial imports like medicine, fuel and food.

In the world of debt restructuring, trade finance generally is left out of restructuring for very good reasons, he said. If you involve short-term trade finance in debt restructuring, you literally lock a country out of the world.

TDB also has $638 million of country exposure to Ethiopia, which, like Zambia, is using the Group of 20s Common Framework to rework its debts. Those trade finance facilities have been left out of the restructuring, Tadesse said.

At the moment theres no concern theyll be included, he said. There are already payments coming through and theyre redrawing.

(Updates with Malawis required debt relief in second paragraph after Malawi Exposure subheadline)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
In the chiaroscuro world of spirituality and commerce, Chandra Mohan Jain (more popularly known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later as Osho) stands as a true prototype of the guru who used multimilliondollar messaging to build a global business in meditation and mysticism.

Long before mindfulness went mainstream and gurus trended on Instagram, Osho was branding spirituality with the flair of a luxury startup, leveraging charisma, psychology, and sharp marketing instincts to set up a highly profitable and equally controversial business.

Born in 1931 in Kuchwada, a small village in Madhya Pradesh, Osho started his career as a philosophy lecturer in Jabalpur. His public talks, initially free, then paid, resonated with the educated elite and a growing cadre of wealthy patrons started funding his retreats and lectures.

The Osho enterprise

By the early 1970s, he had initiated thousands of sannyasins into his cause. Clad in ochre robes and sporting new spiritual names, they were the harbingers of a global movement led by a bearded oracle.

Shrewdly, the new-age guru didnt just gather followers; he transformed them into customers. The meditation camps, therapy sessions, and one-on-one darshans were duly monetized as the rich and famous flocked to his Pune ashram in search of enlightenmentthough they also found free love", a call to open sexuality that was unique to the place. While the eager disciples sought peace, Oshos staff were busy tallying their growing riches.

The movement accelerated with Oshos relocation to Oregon in 1981. Here, in a place called Wasco County, he and his followers purchased a 64,000acre ranch to build Rajneeshpuram, a selfcontained city with its own airstrip, bank, police, and university. For variety, it also boasted a disco and malls.

This was the heart of the Osho enterprise, with followers paying thousands for therapy courses that ranged from the exotic to the more exotic. The enterprise was on a roll, such that a week-long World Festival in 1984 attracted 15,000 participants who spent over $10 million in admissions, accommodations, souvenirs, and sessions.

The whole operation was predictably opaque with a corporate labyrinth of entities, including Rajneesh International Foundation (RIF), Rajneesh Investment Corporation (RIC), Rajneesh Services International Ltd (Switzerland), and niche verticals like The Rajneesh Modern Car Collection Trust used to channel funds, hold assets, and mask financial flows.

The Rolls-Roycenearly 90 of thembesides fueling Oshos lifestyle, added to his mystique. Along with the diamond-studded Rolex watches, these were symbolic tools in a carefully crafted display of wealth and freedom.

The dark underbelly

But hidden away from the public eye was the movement's dark underbelly. By the mid1980s, legal and financial allegations started surfacing. The commune was implicated in immigration fraud and misusing tax exemptions to smuggle foreign donations.

A former disciple, Helen Byron, filed a lawsuit against Rajneesh Foundation International, leading to a federal trial in Portland in 1985 and an adverse judgment for the guru.

Bigger scandals lay in store, none more infamous than the 1984 case where followers led by his closest ally, Ma Anand Sheela, carried out a salmonella-biological attack in The Dalles, Oregon, in a bizarre plot to influence local elections. The lady was convicted and sent to prison, and shortly after that, Osho was arrested too. He pleaded guilty to immigration violations and was deported in 1985.

Osho returned to Pune, where he died in January 1990. At the time of his death, his net worth was believed to be over $100 million, mostly in intellectual property, real estate, brand licensing, and the residual value of a global spiritual enterprise.

While the commune had collapsed, its material hangover continued unabated. In 2000, nearly 10 years after his death, the Osho brand in the US was said to be generating over $25 million a year through seminars, licensing and corporate stress-management programmes.

A 2018 Netflix series, Wild Wild Country, reignited interest in the criminality of the cult. But it was another documentary, Children of the Cult, which threw light on the worst aspect of the movementchild sexual abuse. It spotlighted the shocking treatment of children who were included in the orgies, all in the name of free sex.

It should have served as a warning to the world that the mosaic of spirituality and business often masks evil. Clearly, it didnt.

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Osho, the spiritual libertine turned spiritual capitalist, continues to inspire many of todays godmen and spiritual influencers who have adopted facets of his model, including charismabased global branding and retreats that double as resorts. Who knows what horrors lie beneath these business-savvy management apparatuses?

For more such stories, read The Enterprising Indian: Stories From India Inc News.
Emirates flights have banned the use of power banks while on board, with the new rule set to come into effect starting October 1.

Although passengers can still carry one power bank on board, but will no longer be allowed to charge any personal devices using the same, Emirates airlines said in its release.

What do IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, other airlines say Here's what other airlines including IndiGo, Air India, among others mandate about power banks:

IndiGo : Power banks allowed in Cabin baggage. Power must be visible on the battery,over 160Wh (Watt-hours) not allowed.

: Power banks allowed in Cabin baggage. Power must be visible on the battery,over 160Wh (Watt-hours) not allowed. Air India: Power banks are considered spare batteries, and have to be carried in hand baggae. The Tata Group airline mandates that the battery must be packed individually to prevent short circuits. Each passenger is allowed to carry only a maximum of 2 spare batteries.

Also Read | After Etihad, South Korea to direct airlines to check Boeing fuel switches

SpiceJet: Allows power banks in cabin baggage only, with specific restrictions based on their capacity. Power banks with a capacity up to 100 Watt-hours are generally permitted.

Allows power banks in cabin baggage only, with specific restrictions based on their capacity. Power banks with a capacity up to 100 Watt-hours are generally permitted. Akasa Air allows passengers to carry power banks in their cabin baggage. Emirates bans power banks: 5 points to know Starting October 1, the following rules will come into effect for all Emirates flights:

Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard. 2. Charging a power bank using the aircrafts power supply is not permitted.

3. Power banks can not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of the flyer.

Also Read | Etihad flight aborts takeoff from Melbourne airport after two tyres burst on run

4. All Emirates flyers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours.

5. All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available.

Why the change? Emirates, in its release stated that the change has been made to reduce risks associated with power banks by prohibiting their use while onboard the aircraft.

Which other airlines have banned power bank use? Recently, Singapore Airlines banned the use of power banks on flights, which went into effect on April 1. However, passengers can carry power banks not above 100Wh in cabin baggage.
Amid calls from Donald Trump demanding the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, four former directors of the chipmaking company have said that his fate should be decided by the shareholders and board.

In a statement to Fortune, four former board members of Intel also demanded a radical restructuring of Intel that would revamp the company's manufacturing vertical into an independent company to re-establish its dominant position in the United States' chipmaking market.

Charlene Barshefsky, Reed Hundt, James Plummer, and David Yoffie said that Intel has hired its fourth CEO in seven years but results have hardly improved. They claimed that only a dramatic shift in the company's workflow could restore Intel's competitiveness in the American market, much of which has been captured by rival Nvidia.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan responds to Trump's demand Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan says he's always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards after President Donald Trump said he should resign.

Tan also said Intel was in contact with the Trump administration.

We are engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts, Tan said. I fully share the Presidents commitment to advancing US national and economic security, I appreciate his leadership to advance these priorities, and Im proud to lead a company that is so central to these goals.

Also Read | Intel CEO Dogged by Decades of China Chip Bets, Board Work

Intel said in a statement that its deeply committed to advancing US national and economic security interests and are making significant investments aligned with the Presidents America First agenda.

Tan also addressed the situation, saying in a message to employees that there was misinformation circulating about his past roles at Walden International and Cadence Design Systems and that he's always followed proper standards.

What did Donald Trump say? In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said, The CEO of Intel is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!

His comment came shortly after Senator Tim Cotton wrote a letter to Intel Chairman Frank Yeary, flagging concerns over Tan's alleged ties with Chinese firms.

In his letter, Senator Tim Cotton also flagged a recent criminal case involving Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's former company Cadence Design.

Also Read | Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan says engaging with US govt after Trump demands his exit

Writing in order to express concern about the security and integrity of Intel's operations and its potential impact on US national security, the Senator posed questions to Intel Chairperson Frank Yeary in his letter. He asked if Intel's board was aware of the subpoenas received by Cadence during the time Tan was CEO of the company.
(Bloomberg) -- An Indigenous group won claim to hundreds of acres of metropolitan Vancouver after a years-long trial and landmark judgment at British Columbias supreme court.

The Cowichan have aboriginal title to a section of riverbank in the city of Richmond, according to the 863-page ruling published Friday. Interests of the government of Canada and the city in the area alongside the Fraser River outlined in black on a map attached to the ruling are defective and invalid, the judge said.

The court found that in 1846, when the British Crown asserted sovereignty in what is now British Columbia, the Cowichan sufficiently and exclusively occupied a village, its surrounding lands and a strip of submerged lands in what is now Richmond.

Grants later made by the British to others unjustifiably infringe on the Cowichan land title, according to the ruling, which also recognizes the Cowichan descendants right to fish part of the Fraser River. The plaintiffs called it a historic victory.

Many Indigenous groups in what became Canada signed treaties with the British Crown, predominantly during the 18th and 19th centuries.

That isnt the case in British Columbia, where the lower mainland has some of Canadas most expensive land. Many areas of the province are subject to legal and political disputes.

I fully expect itll become a very important precedent, said David Rosenberg, senior litigation counsel for the plaintiffs, adding that he understood the land affected to be about 750 to 800 acres.

Owners rights for some 120 properties in the affected area will not change except if they come to do something with the property that requires Crown authorization, Rosenberg said by phone. Property sales by owners who have used the Crown land title system may end up requiring Cowichan consent, he said.

Rosenberg, who represented the Tsilhqotin Nation in a 2014 Supreme Court case which reinforced Aboriginal rights, said he expects the case will be appealed and may not be resolved for years.

The Cowichan descendants claim was opposed in court by Canada, British Columbia, Richmond, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and two other Indigenous groups  the Tsawwassen First Nation and the Musqueam Indian Band.

Richmond said the decision is under legal review. The Musqueam said they are devastated in a statement, while the Tsawwassen First Nation said they are reviewing the decision with legal counsel. A Port Authority spokesman said the agency is reviewing the decision.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said his attorney general will consider grounds for possible appeal and the province will also seek resolution through out-of-court negotiations with the First Nations.

Owning private property with clear title is key to borrowing for a mortgage, economic certainty, and the real estate market, and the province remains committed to upholding that this foundation of business and personal predictability, and our provincial economy, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, Eby said.

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CapitaLand India Trust, an India-focused real estate investment trust listed in Singapore, is ramping up its presence in the country with plans to develop seven new projects across key cities, according to chief executive Gauri Shankar Nagabhushanam.

In India, we've had a presence, but we actually haven't really focused that much so far," Nagabhushanam, who was in the country this week, told Mint. I think the time for India has come now, and it has become core for CapitaLand. Thats why you'll see a lot more traction."

Overall investment activity in Indias real estate sector has moderated in the first half of 2025, amid global economic uncertainty and political headwinds. However, CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) plans to significantly expand its footprint in the country.

Projects across key cities

CLINTs upcoming growth pipeline includes seven projects across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai, which will together add approximately 7.26 million sq ft of floor area to its portfolio. Two are coming up in Hyderabad, three in Bengaluru, and one in Chennai.

Of the seven projects, six are IT parks, and the seventh in Chennai is an industrial asset, a large-scale development, which could include manufacturing and logistics spaces.

Theres clear momentum building among global investors towards India-focused Reits and real estate assets, said Shobhit Agarwal, managing director and chief executive of Anarock Capital. India is still the fastest-growing large economy in the world," he said, and the recent regulatory clarity is helping boost investor confidence.

While geopolitical uncertainties have tempered some inflows, long-term interest remains intact and strong" as investors look to diversify beyond saturated Asia-Pacific markets, said Agarwal.

Investments and asset strategy

The total expected investment for CLINT's projects is around 6,490 crore (S$984 million), with 3,780 crore (S$572 million) of committed capital still to be deployed as of 30 June. The developments span across office parks, logistics facilities, and data centre-aligned assets.

Agarwal attributed the surge of capital in IT parks and logistics to Indias deepening digital and consumption economy. In offices, demand is driven by the expansion of GCCs (global capability centres) and co-working operators," he said.

CLINT is also looking to partially divest its data centre development projects, with plans to sell a 33% stake. The idea, according to Nagabhushanam, is to establish credible valuations for this relatively new asset class in India and bring global institutions on board to validate the assets.

Future plans

Nagabhushanam said the partial divestment strategy also aligns with CLINTs broader approach to reduce exposure to development-stage assets and keep capital free for returns-focused deployment. Instead of putting in 100 dollars, I can sell 33% and free up capital," he said.

Also Read: IPOs get trimmed as selling shareholders hold back on OFS plans

I have a high NAV (net asset value), but the market in Singapore is still skeptical, unsure if it holds value," he said. So Ill bring in large global institutions. Theyll do their due diligence, and once they invest, the market will understand there is value."

The current valuation of the four data centres under development stood at 3,505.6 crore as of 31 December 2024.

Data centres are also attracting foreign interest due to low data costs, cloud adoption, and regulatory pushes for data localization. Global investors see structural growth and improving asset quality as a compelling long-term play," Agarwal said.

CapitaLand Investment, CLINT's parent firm, is a Singapore-based real estate investment firm with S$117 billion in funds under management. It manages six listed Reits globally, including CapitaLand India Trust, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, CapitaLand Ascendas Reit, CapitaLand Ascott Trust, CapitaLand China Trust, and CapitaLand Malaysia Trust.

While CapitaLand may consider listing another Reit in India in the future as the country's capital markets are opening up, Nagabhushanam clarified that there are no such plans currently
The Trump administration threatened to assume ownership of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of patents from Harvard University, accusing the Ivy League college of failing to comply with the law on federal research grants.

In a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber on Friday, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the university is failing its obligations to US taxpayers, paving the way for a process that could result in the government seizing its patents under the Bayh-Dole Act.

Harvard has until Sept. 5 to prove its complying with the requirements, including whether it showed a preference for US manufacturing, or risk forfeiting its patents, according to the letter that was viewed by Bloomberg News. The government could issue third-party licenses to Harvards patents.

This unprecedented action is yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom, said a university spokesperson. We are fully committed to complying with the Bayh-Dole Act and ensuring that the public is able to access and benefit from the many innovations that arise out of federally funded research at Harvard.

The move is the latest escalation of the White Houses pitched battle with Harvard over more than $2 billion in suspended federal funding as the two parties negotiate over a potential settlement. It is also the first time that the administration is leveraging the Commerce Department and patent law in its pressure campaign against Harvard and other elite institutions.

The university has sued over the withheld funding as well as the administrations attempts to ban the school from enrolling international students.

The Trump administration is seeking at least a $500 million payment from the university to return the federal funds, Bloomberg News has reported. Harvard reportedly has balked at that figure.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- A US government watchdog has launched an audit of the Federal Aviation Administrations oversight of the congested airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, after Januarys deadly midair collision.

The Transportation Departments Office of Inspector Generals Friday announcement comes a week after an investigative hearing on the midair collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet that killed 67 people.

During the hearing, members of the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent government agency, grilled FAA officials on how they could have missed the problems that existed in the airspace around Reagan airport.

After the accident, the NTSB identified more than 15,000 incidents between October 2021 and December 2024 where commercial planes and helicopters came within an unsafe distance.

FAA leaders, including the regulators Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau, have acknowledged that risks were missed and the agency needs to do better going forward.

The inspector general will have the FAAs full support, the agency said in a statement Friday. There must never be another tragedy like the one on January 29 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Since the midair collision, the FAA has restricted helicopter flights near the airport and curtailed exemptions that allow aircraft to fly without broadcasting their location using a technology known as ADS-B Out. The Army helicopter involved in the crash was equipped with but wasnt transmitting data via ADS-B Out on the night of the crash.

An Army official said during last weeks hearing that there was a technical issue preventing the Black Hawks ADS-B Out from functioning properly, but the helicopter pilots also werent required to have it turned on under the policies at that time.

The Office of Inspector General said that as part of its audit, its assessing the FAAs management of the airspace around Reagan airport, as well as policies and procedures for overseeing ADS-B Out exemptions. The watchdog said it plans to begin its review this month.

(Adds FAAs statement in sixth paragraph.)

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Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook has been officially expelled from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) for working during the unions strike in 2023.

The decision was announced by the WGA on Friday, alongside the expulsion of Canadian writer and director Don McKellar.

Park Chan-wook Expelled from Writers Guild of America Park and McKellar were both involved in the HBO miniseries The Sympathizer, which aired in 2024. The seven-part series, based on the award-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, starred Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr.

The WGA stated that the two men continued writing for the show during the strike, which broke the guilds rules. Neither Park nor McKellar appealed the decision.

Park, 61, is best known internationally for directing powerful films such as Oldboy (2003) and The Handmaiden (2016). He is considered one of South Koreas most important directors. His next film, No Other Choice, will premiere at the Venice Film Festival later this month.

McKellar, known for his work in Canadian cinema, shares writing credits on the film alongside Park and others.

What was the WGA Strike About? The Writers Guilds strike in 2023 aimed to improve working conditions, pay, and rights for writers in film and television. During the strike, members were expected not to take on any writing work. The WGA has been strict about enforcing these rules, and Parks expulsion sends a clear message.

In addition to Park and McKellar, the WGA also suspended another writer, Anthony Cipriano, until 2026 for a similar violation. Cipriano was also banned from serving in leadership roles within the guild.
In recent weeks, a major trend on Wall Street is unfolding. Companies from all industries and sectors are turning their attention to crypto treasury strategies, using their capital to buy up cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and Ethereum (ETHUSD).

Headquartered out of Palo Alto, California, 180 Life Sciences Corp (ATNF) was founded as a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics for inflammatory diseases, fibrosis-related conditions, pain, and post-operative cognitive decline.

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Once valued at a market cap of $290 million, the companys current market cap is now a fraction of those levels at $21.6 million. Although the shares are up 95.3% on a YTD basis, ATNF stock is down a debilitating 99% since its listing, representing an enormous loss of shareholder value.

Now, this biotech penny stock is going all in on Ethereum.

www.barchart.com

Is Holding ETH the Last Roll of the Dice?

180 Life Sciences has gone with Ethereum (ETHUSD) as its preferred digital asset in its quest to become a successful crypto treasury company. As part of this rebrand, the company will change its name and will be known as ETHZilla, which the management believes is in line with its aspirations of becoming "one of the largest holders of ETH in the world.

The company will raise $425 million via a private investment in public equity (PIPE) offering at $2.65 per share, with plans also to raise $150 million through debt. The new company will partner with external asset manager Electric Capital, whose experience in generating yield on Ethereum with its differentiated, on-chain yield generation program, will help the firm stand out from the growing pack of ETH treasury firms.

Commenting on the development in a recent interview, incoming ETHZilla Chairman McAndrew Rudisill said, ETH is one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies in the world because it can be used for people to build apps and financial tools to manage assets and generate yield. A true yield curve will be built on Ethereum, and we can generate yield holding Ethereum.

And he is right, with a market cap of $463 billion, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world with only Bitcoin ahead of it in the rankings. Launched in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation and deployment of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).
Israeli authorities say the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip threatened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to start with a narrower goalseizing control of Gaza Cityreflecting serious resource constraints that are likely to limit the pace and scope of military operations.

After nearly two years of intense conflict sparked by an assault on southern Israel by Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas that killed around 1,200 people, Israels troops are exhausted, and a large majority of citizens say they want a deal to end the war and free hostages still held by Hamas.

Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli forces would take over the entire strip, a Palestinian enclave of roughly two million people along the Mediterranean coast, in order to disarm Hamas and remove it from power. The plan was approved by the security cabinet, which said the military would start with Gaza City.

Israel hasnt said when the operation would begin, how long it would take or how many troops it might require. Military analysts said it could play out over weeks or months. Aid groups say they worry any offensive would further curtail efforts to supply food and medical care to residents.

Gaza City is the biggest population center in the northern part of the strip, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Its dense urban landscapewith a web of underground tunnels used by militantsmakes it a difficult battlefield. Some surviving Israeli hostages are thought to be held there.

A rapid advance would require several army divisions with tens of thousands of soldiers, said Amir Avivi, a former Israeli defense official who is close to the current government. It is likely Israel will opt for a more gradual operation that puts less stress on manpower, he said.

Israel is trying to find a balance, not conquering everything but concentrating on a critical area," he said.

Some analysts said Israel appears to hope the increased military pressure will bring Hamas back to the negotiating table on its terms and could pause the operation at any point. But it is a big gamble given the pressure on the military and the risks to Israels international image and internal support.

With the threat of a full takeover, Israel may have bitten off more than it can chew," said Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank based in Tel Aviv.

Israels own military has expressed doubts about the idea. Military chief Eyal Zamir has opposed the idea, warning of falling into traps set by Hamas and the need to give his troops a rest.

Since a cease-fire collapsed in March, Israel has taken over about 75% of the Gaza Strip, and parts of Gaza City are already under its control. On Thursday, the military ordered two more neighborhoodsAl Daraj and Al Tuffahto be evacuated in response to what it said was rocket fire from the areas.

Manpower shortages are among Israels chief constraints, Israeli officials say, as the military has been fighting for almost two years across multiple fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

Commanders say it is becoming more difficult to persuade reservists to show up for new rounds of fighting in Gaza. Their service isnt optional, but there is some give and take in Israel, which tries to be accommodating of family circumstances or financial pressure, particularly given the long deployments.

In recent weeks, the military has pulled troops out of Gaza to give soldiers some rest. Several reservists told The Wall Street Journal they wouldnt return to Gaza if called again. The stress on soldiers has contributed to flagging public support for the war.

Polling in Israel has shown for months that a large majority of the population supports ending the war in exchange for the hostages release. A recent survey by the aChord Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that 79% of Israelis feel ending the war in Gaza is the most urgent national task.

Families of hostages taken by Hamas also fear military operations in areas where people are still being held could put them in danger.

If Israeli troops push into Gaza City, it would likely order evacuations, enlarging the numbers of displaced people and worsening the humanitarian situation. The United Nations says starvation deaths and malnutrition are rising.

So are deadly incidents near aid distribution sites and convoy routes, where Israels military has acknowledged firing toward crowds of Palestinians it says got too close to its positions.

Israels plan risks deepening its international isolation. Germany, a close Israel ally, will formally suspend sales of arms that Israel could use in the Gaza Strip until further notice, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel made a bad decision to expand the war and pressed it to reconsider.

Arab governments are asking the U.S. to help stop the offensive from moving forward and get the parties back to the negotiating table, people familiar with the efforts said. President Trump has expressed concern about starvation but said a decision to take over all of Gaza is up to Israel.

Netanyahu suggested on Thursday that while Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza, the enclave would eventually be administered by Arab forces. Arab governments, which have pushed various plans for postwar Gaza and a path to a Palestinian state that Israel has resisted, are reluctant to step in and be seen as foreign conquerors bailing Netanyahu out.

Regional neighbors also worry that the plan could ultimately push more Gazans to seek refuge within their borders, the people said.

Analysts expressed doubts over whether the threat of occupation would be enough to break the logjam in talks to reach a cease-fire. Israel and the U.S. pulled their teams out of the talks last month, saying Hamas didnt appear interested in reaching a deal. Hamas has said it was negotiating in good faith.

Maybe Israel is in a way rushing to military methods, which might at the end of the day be a mistake, but they dont have a lot of options," said Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general who once headed Israels Gaza division.

Write to Feliz Solomon at feliz.solomon@wsj.com
Three years ago, the Biden administration came up with what it considered a clever policy to curb Russias ability to finance the war on Ukraine. Instead of trying to remove Russian oil from the global market, something that would have shaken economies worldwide, Washington quietly urged countries such as India to keep buying itas long as Moscow was forced to sell at a steep discount.

Its strategy of capping the price below market rate, developed when a barrel of crude neared $120, proved a boon for buyers. Top among them were India and China. But it failed to derail the Russian economy or dent President Vladimir Putins ambitions to conquer Ukraine.

Now, with oil prices at $67 per barrel of Brent, President Trump has sensed an opportunity to turn up the pressure on Moscow to end the war. He announced Wednesday an additional tariff of 25% on India for buying Russian oil. He said he was considering similar punishments on other buyers, including the biggest, China, as he plans for a possible summit with the Russian leader. The moves have caused the biggest rift between Washington and New Delhi in decades.

The fundamental question now is whether these secondary sanctions, combined with other steps such as increasing arms deliveries for Ukraine, would convince the Kremlin to accept a cease-fire in the foreseeable future.

Oil and oil-product exports, worth more than $500 million a day, constitute the lifeblood of the Russian economy, allowing the Kremlin to keep recruiting troops with high bonuses and to fund the countrys vast military industries that have expanded despite Western sanctions.

Political unrest in Russia follows the oil prices and the oil revenues," said Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Kyiv School of Economics and a former economy minister of Ukraine. If the sanctions on Russian oil are really going to be enforced, and its a big if, and if they last for at least a few months, then people around Putin will start getting seriously nervous that that cash may run out."

Not everyone is as optimistic. Even if all Russian oil is removed from the global marketsomething that is unlikely to happen because of Chinese purchasesthe Kremlin would likely persist in its war aims, said Sergey Vakulenko, who served until 2022 as head of strategy and innovation at Gazprom Neft, one of Russias main state oil companies. Halving Russian oil and oil-product exports could cause global crude prices to jump well above $100 a barrel, he predicted.

The world will suffer a lot of pain if Russian oil is cut off, and the Kremlin knows that. Putins calculus is that his pain endurance is much higher than the Wests, and so hes ready to wait for some time in complete certainty that the West will blink first," said Vakulenko, who is now a scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

Trumps moves would overlap with other measures meant to increase the economic pressure on Russia. The European Unions latest round of sanctions, passed last month, introduced a rolling cap for permitted Russian oil sales that is meant to stay consistently 15% below the market rate. The EU also expanded sanctions on Russias shadow fleet of tankers.

Elina Ribakova, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said secondary sanctions could create a problem for Moscow and Beijing alike. It would meaningfully slow down Russia-China trade until they figure out how to circumvent it," she said.

Since the European Unionhistorically the biggest buyer of Russian energycut its purchases in 2022, India has accounted for 38% of Russian crude exports, re-exporting much of it to Europe after refining, and China 47%. Inside the EU, Slovakia and Hungary continue to buy Russian oil through a special exemption. Turkey is the largest global buyer of Russian oil products.

Phil Gordon, who served as Vice President Kamala Harriss national security adviser, said the Biden administration weighed several factors as it encouraged India to continue buying Russian oil.

The logic was that we obviously wanted to punish Russia and make it pay a price for the outrageous invasion of Ukraine. But we needed to balance that against concerns that driving Russian export volumes down too much could significantly increase the price of oil," he said. If you drive up global energy prices and force the U.S. or the world into a recession, we would then end up paying the price and be less in a position to help Ukraine."

The U.S. efforts, while reducing Russian oil income, didnt have as much of an effect on the Russian economy as we hoped," Gordon said.

Still, the cumulative effect of sanctions and the economic demands of pursuing the war are starting to cause cracks in the Russian economy.

Russias National Wealth Fund, which receives tax revenue from oil sales, has lost some 80% of its liquid assets as Moscow draws on its reserves to boost its defense industry and provide cash payouts to Russian men signing up to fight in Ukraine.

Moscow is also seeing a growing budget deficit, said Iikka Korhonen, the director of the Bank of Finlands Institute for Emerging Economies, as it looks elsewhere to pay for the war. Ultimately, though, Korhonen said a lack of funds would likely only cause Putin to cut social spending to keep up the effort. I dont see any indication that Putin will cut down on defense spending," he said.

Gordon said that with softer global oil prices, it makes sense for the Trump administration to try curbing Russian exports. There is a much looser oil market now, and we could be more comfortable taking Russian barrels off without worrying about a price spike," Gordon said.

Success, he said, would require not only tariffs on buyers of Russian oil but also sanctioning Russian and Chinese banks, joining G-7 partners in lowering the price cap and going aggressively against the shadow fleet of Russian tankers shipping its oil to customersmeasures that the Trump administration hasnt pursued so far.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government seemed to be initially willing to quietly reduce its purchases of Russian oil. Its relationship with the U.S. was more important. But Trumps public outbursts on the matter have turned it into an emotionally charged issue, making it harder for Modi to compromise.

Do you think it is domestically sustainable even for someone as strongly positioned as Narendra Modi to go and cave in to the Americans?" said Evan Feigenbaum, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia. No way."

India has complained of double standards in Washington, which continues to buy Russian uranium hexafluoride, and in the EU, which remains a key buyer of Russian liquefied natural gas.

India thought it had covered its base, and now it is in the crossfire between Russia and the U.S.," said Indian strategist Raja Mohan. These guys changed their lines, and India finds itself with a political challenge."

Chinas incentives to comply with U.S. pressure are even lower. Beijing sees Moscow as a critical partner in its strategic confrontation with Washington, one of the reasons China is providing Russia with access to funding and technologies even as it stopped short of supplying lethal weapons.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has been trying to dent Russias revenue from selling oil products by attacking refineries, with significant hits in recent weeks. It has also been targeting Russian fuel-storage facilities with a slew of drone strikes. If Russia is forced to significantly cut the volume of oil exports, it will simply run out of storage for oil and will have to cut production and even close down some wells, potentially causing severe damage to its economy.

Russian analyst Anatoly Nesmiyan estimated that, under the current conditions of the Russian oil industry, nearly half of the closed wells would be impossible to restart later.

Vakulenko, the former Gazprom Neft executive, disagreed, saying that Russia revived production after a slowdown caused by the Covid pandemic and that it has sufficient equipment and expertise to manage its wells.

Either way, Russia is trying to signal it has the patience and resolve to continue the war in Ukraine indefinitely, said Eric Green, who served as senior director for Russia in the Biden White House. That is probably partly bluster," he said. But there is also an element of truth to that, given Putins obsession with Ukraine over the last several years."

Write to Yaroslav Trofimov at yaroslav.trofimov@wsj.com and Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com
To deliver for their boss, senior administration officials embarked on an aggressive campaign beginning this spring to pressure trading partners into agreements that would allow Trump to declare victory.

On trips to Europe, a top economic adviser, Stephen Miran, delivered a warning to his counterparts: If they didnt start seriously negotiating and find a way to come to a deal with the US, then their countries would face high tariffs. Miran conveyed the message in May to France and Germany, and later in June to officials in Brussels, where the European Unions executive arm is based, according to a senior administration official.

The behind the scenes campaign was launched after Trump paused a wave of tariffs he announced in April, according to people familiar with the matter. He had pulled the plug on his large-scale reciprocal tariff plans that were initially announced on Liberation Day" as global markets faltered. The effort has resulted in a tariff truce with China and deals with some of the countrys largest trading partners, including the EU, Japan and South Korea, as well the highest overall US tariffs since the Great Depression. On Thursday, higher tariffs on nearly 100 nations went into effect.

The private negotiations since the pause were largely led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. All three men used their own methods of trying to set up Trump with trade deals featuring enormous investment promises in the U.S. by trading partners and a range of Trumps beloved tariffs.

President Trump has assembled the best and most experienced trade and economic team in modern history, and their full court efforts have delivered one historic trade deal after another to level the playing field for American industries and workers." said White House spokesman Kush Desai.

Trumps deals with the EU and others highlight a new type of accelerated negotiation strategy used by the administration with allies and adversaries alike. Instead of months or years of talks that arrive at extensive, legally binding trade agreements, Trumps team has sought broad, fast-tracked trade agreements in which enforcement relies on Trumps personal interpretation of emergency economic powers, rather than typical dispute-settlement processes that often involve neutral arbitrators.

This is not like a free-trade agreement, where theres a dispute settlement system and we have to give consultations for 45 days and then select arbitrators," Greer told reporters after a recent round of talks with the Chinese officials in Stockholm. This is a situation where we aretrying to control our trade deficit" using an emergency measure and an International Emergency Economic Powers Act order that the president can modify as needed, he said.

While the administration has trumpeted initial successes from its aggressive approach, officials have left some important details unfinished in their rush to announce deals.

In Southeast Asia, the administration has said that nations will face higher tariffsdouble their normal rate or moreif their goods contain too much content from nonmarket economies, particularly China. But no information has been released on how much Chinese content would make goods eligible for higher tariffsa detail that will determine how the brunt of exports from nations like the Philippines, Vietnam or Malaysia are handled.

A senior administration official said the Trump team knows what that rule of origin is going to be" for Chinese content, but isnt yet ready to implement it and declined to give more details. Major retailers are still in the dark, as are several Southeast Asian trading partners that havent been notified of U.S. plans and havent agreed to any rule of origin when it comes to the Chinese content, said people familiar with the discussions.

Elsewhere, the administration is still working through details of trade frameworks that it has already announced. The U.S. and U.K. are still negotiating the finer points of the trade pact they struck back in May, including details for U.K. steel exports. U.S. and Japanese negotiators met this past week to iron out how automotive tariffs would be treated under their deal. There are still open questions about how the Japanese government plans to fulfill its pledge to provide $550 billion in funding for infrastructureprojects that Trump has insisted will be under his sole discretion.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spoke at a recent news conference following trade negotiations with Chinese officials in Stockholm.

The administration faces another self-imposed deadline on Aug. 12the date that tariffs on China will climb to 80%-85% if the president doesnt extend a tariff truce with Beijing. Greer and Bessent concluded what they termed constructive talks with the Chinese recently in Stockholm, but Trump hasnt yet said if he would extend the deadline.

Still, the administration said its aggressive, personalized approach to trade talks is yielding results. In the days leading up to Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens announcement of a deal in July in Scotland, Lutnick personally called French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other leaders in the EU, according to U.S. officials. Lutnick was concerned that von der Leyen couldnt make a deal with Trump on her own authority without the backing of key European leaders, these people explained.

When Lutnick got on the phone with Macron, the French president pushed back on a larger agreement with the EU. Trump had threatened in July that it might include zero tariffs on the U.S. and potentially up to a 30% tariff on Europe.

Lutnick warned Macron that if he wanted the pharmaceutical giant Sanofi to remain based in France, he shouldnt put up too much of a fight, the people said. Trump, at the time, was publicly threatening a tariff of over 200% on non-U.S. pharmaceutical companies, which could have hurt the likes of Sanofi, possibly spurring them to relocate.

The deal eventually struck by Trump and von der Leyen featured a 15% tariff on European pharmaceutical products as well as no tariffs on U.S. goods. The EU also agreed to purchase $750 billion of U.S. energy exports through 2028.

Just before the president signed an executive order on July 31 imposing a 39% tariff on Switzerland, Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter spoke to Trump on a tense phone call. Trump said in a subsequent CNBC interview that during their call, Keller-Sutter didnt want to listen" to the points he made about the trade deficit between the two countries.

In a separate call, an aide to Greer told Keller-Sutter she must come to the negotiating table with a compelling case of how the Swiss plan to help eliminate the deficit. The U.S. has a $38 billion trade deficit with Switzerland as of 2024.

The calls led to the Swiss presidents scrambling to get to Washington to meet with Trumps advisers. During her trip she was unable to have a meeting with Greer, Lutnick or Bessent, according to people familiar with the matter.

She met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio instead. A Swiss government official insisted that their offer to Rubio would lead to a reduction in trade deficits between both countries but declined to provide further details. No deal has been struck yet.

Write to Brian Schwartz at brian.schwartz@wsj.com and Gavin Bade at gavin.bade@wsj.com
President Trumps tariffs barrage has landed the heaviest blow on the very nations that global trade was supposed to help: poor countries.

For decades, the U.S. and other rich countries have granted special trading privileges to many poor countries, cutting tariffs and boosting market access to lend emerging countries a helping hand.

That hasnt been Trumps approach.

While his administration placed tariffs of 10% to 15% on imports from many of the worlds wealthiest countries, such as South Korea, Japan and European Union member states, it slapped goods from developing countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Africa and Iraq with duties of 20% or higher.

Two of Asias poorest countries, Myanmar and Laos, were hit with tariffs of 40%, a potential death knell for their U.S. exports, which include goods such as furniture and garments.

On Wednesday, Trump said he would raise tariffs on India to 50%, as Washington and New Delhi scuffled over Indias continued imports of Russian oil.

In a new era of gloves-off trade negotiations, these poorer countries had the least leverage with a country the size of the U.S.

Low wages have turned some of them, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, into manufacturing powers, but their citizens cant afford expensive American products, meaning they often run the sort of large trade surpluses with the U.S. that have drawn Trumps ire.

Moreover, the president has demanded that trading partners invest in the U.S., but few developing countries have the financial firepower to match the hundreds of billions of dollars that Japan, South Korea and the EU have pledged to sink into the American economy.

Some countries that carry geopolitical or economic weight with the U.S. were spared the worst of the tariffs. The U.S. didnt levy tariffs higher than the baseline 10% on Saudi Arabia, Qatar or the United Arab Emiratesoil and gas producers whose leaders are close to Trump.

Its left developing countries with very high tariffs," said Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, an Asia-based think tank. Its a significant change especially for treatment of least developed countries."

Until 2020, many poor countries, such as Cambodia and Bangladesh, benefited from a special arrangement known as the Generalized System of Preferences that eliminated trade duties on products from more than 100 of the worlds poorest countries and territories. The arrangement hasnt been renewed. Now poor countries access to the U.S. has diminished further.

Take Cambodia. The small country, a large garment exporter to the U.S., was hit with 19% tariffs, causing widespread worry in the countrys clothing industry.

We are a poor country. Our purchasing power is not the same as a rich country," said Sun Chanthol, Cambodias deputy prime minister who led the tariff talks with the U.S., in an interview.

Cambodia has slashed its own tariffs on U.S. imports to zero. Its national airline has promised to buy 10 planes from Boeing, with an option to buy 10 morea modest proposition compared with financial pledges of rich countries such as Japan, which agreed to buy 100 jets from the U.S. aerospace company.

Although the 19% tariff Cambodia ended up with was slightly better than that of some other developing countries, the government had been pushing for a lower rate.

I was hoping to at least get 15% like Korea or Japan," Sun Chanthol said.

Now, companies are worried about the fallout of higher tariffs on their exports to a market as crucial as the U.S.

Bernhard Wewengkang, an executive at PT Great Giant Pineapple, one of the worlds largest canned pineapple exporters, based on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, expects demand will soften in the U.S., the companys largest market, given the 19% tariff on Indonesian exports to the American market.

He is hoping to offload more canned pineapple into other marketsbut so is everybody else in the industry. Great Giant Pineapples margins are too small to lower its prices, meaning U.S. importers will face higher costs that they may pass along by raising prices for shoppers. Wewengkang worries that will hit canned pineapple sales and hurt the companys revenue.

Its a lot," he said of the tariffs.

Economists and trade officials are often left scratching their heads about why certain countries have dodged the bullet while others get slammed. Algeria and Libya face tariffs of 30% on their exports to the U.S., while Iraqs goods will be charged a duty of 35%. Among the highest tariffs was the 41% levy placed on goods from Syria. Having lived under punishing sanctions for years, the country exports very little to the U.S. Its tariff rate is higher even than the 39% tariff on Switzerland, one of the rare rich countries to get hit hard.

In some cases, such as with Vietnam, developing countries have come under scrutiny from the White House because of their close trade and diplomatic ties with China. Other times Trump has expressed anger about their domestic politics. Trump placed 50% tariffs on certain Brazilian products, such as coffee. In justifying the levies, he cited legal action against former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro and against U.S. tech firms.

Last week, the White House confirmed that South Africa would be hit with 30% tariffs, despite monthslong efforts by South African officials to reduce them.

In May, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Trump at the White House to try to salvage a deteriorating relationship with the U.S. over issues ranging from race relations to Israel and trade. But the Oval Office visit devolved into a tense exchange over perceived threats to white farmers in South Africa.

South Africas exports are mostly platinum and cars. But senior South African officials say many exportsparticularly the countrys citrus fruitdont pose a threat to American producers because they are counterseasonal, meaning they fill gaps in the U.S. market rather than replacing domestic products.

Hundreds of thousands of cartons of citrus have already been packed and are awaiting shipment to the U.S. in the coming weeks, the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa said in a statement. The implementation of a 30% tariffwill mean most of this fruit will be left unsold," it said.

Write to Jon Emont at jonathan.emont@wsj.com and Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com
Mumbai: Having received the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) in-principle approval to transition to a universal bank,AU Small Finance Bank Ltds founder and managing director Sanjay Agarwal said the lender's next focus will be creating a holding company and rebranding.

My shareholding has to be shifted to the NoFHC structure, where we need to figure out the process and the modalities," Agarwal said. We just got it (the approval) last night, so it takes some time, but it should not be so complex in my opinion. Also, we need to change our name from AU Small Finance Bank Limited to AU Bank Limited."

A non-operating financial holding company (NoFHC), a precondition for becoming a full-service bank, is a regulatory requirement that ensures lenders are managed independently without conflict of interests. RBI has given AU Small Finance Bank 18 months to set up the holding company.

The universal tag, well only get when we do all these things. It will not be universal from tomorrow. What we need to do and how it will be done, it will be discussed with the regulators," he told Mint on the sidelines of an event to announce the RBI approval.

While this will have tax implications, there is a provision allowing a dispensation for such regulator-mandated company structures, Agarwal said, adding that the bank will discuss with RBI to figure out the transition, as a universal bank licence has not been granted in over a decade.

We need to rewind that whole process and see how it can be done," he said. But on the face of it, it is a more pragmatic and progressive structure where they safeguard the banks interest as well as the promoter's interest."

Agarwal said he has no plans to venture into other areas of business until he heads the bank, but could consider other financial services after retirement.

Till I remain a CEO of a bank, there is no other plan. I want to completely focus on this franchise. Of course, post my retirement (I might look at it). The bank can do a lot many things, but at my personal level, I will only do once I get free from the bank," he said.

Agarwal has headed the Jaipur-based small finance bank for eight years since it started its journey in 2017, transitioning from the original company Au Financiers established in 1996.

RBI has capped the tenure of private sector bank heads at a maximum of 15 years. Agarwal said while he will make his case" with the RBI for a full 15-year tenure, he is unlikely to get it.

I will apply for it that way, that you should give me my 15 years from the date of universal (bank licence). I will push my case," Agarwal quipped at the conference. But if you ask me, in spirit I am already in the eighth year as MD and my tenure of 15 years should complete by 2032 on the universal bank platform. I don't expect that RBI will be giving me another 15 years."

Perception change

The biggest advantage Agarwal sees coming from the universal bank tag is the change in customer perception as most people still do not completelytrust a small finance bank or understand how it works differently than a universal bank.

SFB, as such, is a brilliant model because they allowed people like us to transit from NBFC (non-banking financial company) to SFB. But I think in the longer run, it is difficult to explain to the public at large what small finance means and whether you are allowed to take deposits and you are a normal bank or whether it is a safe bank," he said.

Also Read | AU Small Finance Bank gets RBI nod for universal bank licence, first in a decade

Deposit mobilization at lower or competitive rates has been the biggest challenge for small finance banks, given that their rates are around 100 basis points higher than universal peers.

If you can establish that you are more secure, people can also trust you more, and you can build a brand and retail deposits at lower cost, then your sustainability is cemented. We need to work on those parameters now," he said.

Lower cost of funds

Agarwal said the bank aims to bring the cost of funds below the prevailing repo rate in the next five years. Cost of funds for the lender decreased to 7.08% in first quarter of FY26 from 7.14% in the previous quarter.

Cognizant of the fact that the bank has to grow its unsecured loan book, Agarwal said the focus will be more on segments such as personal loans and credit cards in a more measured manner", given some asset quality stress seen in these segments over the past year. We have to increase our unsecured book portfolio, but the cap (on share of unsecured loans) we have maintained as of now is around 15% and right now we are around 8%," he said.

Unsecured loans typically attract higher rates of interest owing to the lack of collateral offered by the borrower and the higher risk for the lender. AU, despite operating largely in secured loan segments so far, has a relatively higher yieldon advanceswhat the bank effectively earns on loanscompared with peers, due to the customer segments it operates in. But this will normalize to an extent as the portfolio grows, Agarwal said.

Yield on gross advances declined by 27 basis points to 14.1% in Q1 FY26 from 14.4% in the prior three months.

My cost of money will go down, my yield will go down. That's why my growth will happen. Over the period of time, I believe that our NIM (net interest margin) should be well protected because of this whole balancing around cost of money and the yield," he said, adding that in the longer run, the aim will be to maintain return on assets of around 2%. NIM for the last reporting quarter was at 5.4% compared with 6.0% a year earlier.

Asked if he is feeling the pressure of competing with larger banks after becoming a universal lender, Agarwal said in the conference that the business model of pricing deposits at higher rates and lending at higher rates puts it against NBFCs more than banks.

I think honestly, for them we are threatening," he said, adding that given the choice, AU would want to use the universal bank license to make the loan pricing more competitive and keep operating in these markets, which give a higher yield and allow secured lending. Our competition is more with NBFCs than a bankso ideally I want to be in this market till this (model) allows me."
Bank holiday today: Banks will be closed on Saturday, August 9, 2025 as it is second Saturday of the month and to mark Raksha Bandhan, according to the state-wise holiday calendar of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Raksha Bandhan 2025 - Region-wise bank holiday list Banks in cities including Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Dehradun, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow and Shimla are scheduled to be closed on Saturday, August 9, 2025, on account of Raksha Bandhan, the Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.

Are banks closed on Saturday? According to the RBI calendar, banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays. Therefore, banks in the rest of the country will be closed today, as August 9, 2025, is the second Saturday of the month.

Next bank holiday In addition to the weekend, banks in Imphal are scheduled to be closed on Wednesday, August 13, to commemorate Patriots' Day.

When are banks closed? Banks are typically closed in various parts of the country to mark national, religious and regional observances. Additionally, banks are closed during the weekends except the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month.

Bank holidays are included in the annual holiday calendar released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), following the Negotiable Instruments Act that oversees the issuance of cheques and promissory notes. On these days, transactions involving such instruments are not processed.

Also Read | Raksha Bandhan 2025: Delhi Police issues traffic advisory on Rakhi eve
Mumbai: On 31 July, PNB Housing Finance Ltd announced the resignation of its managing director and chief executive officer Girish Kousgi, just two months after its second-largest shareholder Carlyle sold its entire 10.4% stake in the company.

While the move caught both shareholders and investors by surprise, Kousgi clarified that the decision was entirely personal, driven by career aspirations, and unrelated to Carlyles exit from the housing finance company.

Still, the announcement triggered a sharp reaction in the markets, with shares plunging over 17%, the steepest single-day fall in nearly seven years.

Kousgi is the third managing director and chief executive to exit the company since its long-serving chief Sanjay Gupta stepped down in 2020. The company's Nomination & Remuneration Committee has now initiated a CEO search, evaluating both internal and external candidates.

If an internal candidate is selected, the process is expected to conclude shortly. An external appointment, however, could take another one to two months following Kousgis departure.

Lets unpack what triggered this market reaction, and what it means for the future of PNB Housing.

Why has Kousgis exit rattled investors?

According to Motilal Oswal, the resignation has triggered concerns around key man risk."

The brokerage noted that Kousgi had begun laying a strong foundation and strategic roadmap for future growth, through product mix realignment and healthy execution. It added that while the franchise has its inherent strengths, the board will need to instill greater investor confidence regarding the robustness of asset quality and its ability to identify a suitable successor.

The resignation also comes at a time when nominee directors of promoter Punjab National Bank (PNB), including its new MD & CEO and executive director, are yet to be inducted onto the board of PNB Housing Finance, pending approvals from the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

Some investors have also raised questions about Kousgis chequered career, according to industry watchers.

Also Read | Mortgage financiers turn to affordable housing in hunt for higher yields, growth

How the company fared under Kousgi

Since taking charge in October 2022, Kousgi oversaw a sharp turnaround.

During his tenure, PNB Housing raised 2,500 crore in capital, reduced gross non-performing assets (GNPA) from 6.06% in October 2022 to 1.07% as of June 2025, and brought corporate bad loans down to 0% in the past year. Return on assets improved from 1.6% in H1FY23 to 2.55% in FY25.

Its loan book grew 47%, from 52,124 crore in October 2022 to 76,923 crore by June 2025, driven by a strategic pivot towards emerging and affordable housing, and a gradual exit from lower-margin segments like super-prime and riskier corporate lending.

In fact, the company scaled its affordable housing franchise to 5,744 crore, growing faster than peers over the past two years. Since Kousgis appointment, the stock had surged 181%, until the latest drop.

Past setbacks

Kousgi had succeeded former CEO Hardayal Prasad, under whose leadership the firm failed to raise 4,000 crore via preferential allotment of shares and convertible bonds in 2021. That proposed capital raise, led by Carlyle Groupbacked vehicles, Aditya Puris family investment office, and a few other investors, had triggered opposition from proxy advisory firm SES, which flagged concerns to the Securities and Exchange Board of India. The objections ultimately stalled the deal.

The failed transaction would have increased Carlyles stake from 32% to 50%, while reducing PNBs holding below 26%.

Also Read | Clean-up of bad loans frees PNB Housing to focus more on growth

Where the peers stand

LIC Housing Finance, Indias largest housing finance company, saw its loan book grow from 2.68 trillion in September 2022 to 3.1 trillion by June 2025. Its share price rose 39% over the past three years.

Meanwhile, Bajaj Housing Finances assets under management (AUM) jumped 65%, from 69,228 crore in March 2023 to 1.20 trillion by June 2025. Its return on assets stood at 2.3% in Q1FY26.

This puts PNB Housings growth, especially in affordable housing, in a strong position relative to its peers, despite recent leadership turbulence
Indias midcap space has been on a tear, but some cracks are beginning to show. Even as headline indices stay firm and retail flows remain strong, the June quarter has revealed a subtle but important shift in institutional behaviour.

In a handful of midcaps,foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have started trimming their stakes.

The FII pullback is not broad-based, but it stands out against the backdrop of strong domestic flows.

Whether its on account of weak earnings, execution delays or simply stretched multiples, these 5 midcaps have seen a notable drop in FII ownership in the June quarter.

Heres a closer look

#1 Kajaria Ceramics

Kajaria Ceramics is one of Indias largest ceramic and vitrified tile manufacturers. The company has a strong pan-India presence and growing international ambitions.

FII holding fell from 16% in March 2025 to 12.6% in June 2025.

FY25 was a challenging year on the profitability front. While revenue remained steady at 4,600 crore, Ebitda and net profit fell. It was weighed down by losses in the UK business, one-time provisions in the now-discontinued plywood division, and margin pressure in the bathware segment.

Yet Kajaria managed to grow faster than the industry. Tile volumes rose 6% year-on-year (YoY) to 114.7 million square meters, outpacing the broader market, which barely grew 2-3%.

There were export headwinds, especially due to the Red Sea crisis. The management expects a bounce-back in global shipments as freight rates normalise.

Kajaria has undertaken a major restructuring. Its three sales teams  ceramic, polished vitrified and glazed vitrified  are being unified into a single team under one state head.

The aim is to streamline costs and improve dealer engagement. Margins have already improved to 16.7% in Q1FY26 from 10% in Q4FY25.

Kajaria has exited the plywood business and rationalised its UK operations. The company is now doubling down on its core areas: tiles, adhesives and bathware.

The adhesives business revenue jumped 64% in FY25. A new plant in Erode, Tamil Nadu, will expand capacity and improve regional servicing.

The bathware segment saw a dip in margins to 4% in FY25 due to initial costs at a new high-end plant. However, the company expects the segment to become profitable in FY26 as capacity utilisation rises. Kajaria is net-debt free with 420 crore in cash.

Also Read | Kajaria Ceramics had a bumper start to the year. Now it needs demand to catch up

#2 Astral

Astral has quietly evolved from a pipe company into a building materials company with interests in plumbing, adhesives, paints, and even sanitaryware.

In June 2025, FII ownership stood at 20.15%, which was down consistently every quarter from 22.3% in September 2024.

Astral clocked revenue of 5,830 crore in FY25, up just 3.4% over FY24. Net profit dipped 4.9% to 520 crore, partly due to higher depreciation and interest costs from recent capacity expansions.

This came on top of a soft FY24, making FY25 the second year of subdued bottom-line growth.

The plumbing segment, which accounts for 72% of revenue, grew just 1.3% to 4,200 crore. The paints and adhesives segment did the heavy lifting, growing 9.1% to 1,640 crore. It now forms 28% of the topline. The company is targeting a 60:40 split between the two segments in the medium term.

Despite weak demand conditions in the core piping market, the company maintained EBITDA margins near 17%. Its also sitting on 460 crore of net cash, giving it room to invest without stretching the balance sheet.

On the capacity side, Astral expanded its pipes and fittings capacity to 310,000 metric tonnes per annum and ramped up production at its recently launched Aurangabad paint plant.

Its sanitaryware business under the "TRUFLO" brand is scaling up gradually and is expected to break even in FY26.

The management is betting big on branding, consistently spending 2.5-3% of revenue on advertising.

#3 Syrma SGS Technology

Syrma SGS Technology is carving out a space for itself in Indias electronics manufacturing landscape by focussing on high-margin, export-driven segments.

In June 2025, FII shareholding stood at 6.34%, down from 10.32% in September 2024.

While FY25 ended on a softer note due to a fall in global electronics demand, the company kicked off FY26 with a strong rebound in earnings.

In Q1FY26, Syrma posted revenue of 960 crore. While that was down 18% from a year ago, EBITDA jumped 69% YoY to 103 crore. Operating margins improved to 10.7%, reflecting better cost control, shift in revenue mix and reduced input price volatility.

Exports now account for 25% of revenue. Among verticals, industrials and auto were strong performers. The industrial segment grew 34% YoY in Q1FY26, while auto rose 18%.

Consumer electronics, hit hard by destocking and global demand weakness, were down 48% YoY but showed a sequential recovery.

Syrma specialises in building complex electronics for global OEMs. That includes products like PCB assemblies, magnetics, and RFID solutions, often co-developed with clients.

The company has 314 crore in net borrowings as of June 2025 but the balance sheet is stable due to rising cash flows.

Going forward, Syrmas pipeline remains robust. The management has reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 4,5005,000 crore in revenue for FY26, with operating margins in the 1011% range.

A new dedicated facility for automotive EMS is under development, which should start contributing in the second half of FY26.

#4 PI Industries

PI Industries is one of Indias most diversified and research-led life sciences companies. The company is scaling up across verticals, aiming to become a global contract research and manufacturing powerhouse, from agri-inputs to custom synthesis to biologicals and pharma.

FII shareholding was 16.98% as of June 2025, down from 19% in September 2024.

FY25 was a year of moderate top-line growth but expanding capabilities. PI reported consolidated revenue was up 4% YoY. Gross margins improved to 53%, thanks to a better product mix and growth in higher-value segments, like biologicals and new molecule exports.

Domestic agri-branded revenue rose 6%, driven by strong Rabi season demand, while export revenues grew 5% despite price corrections. Biologicals were a bright spot, rising nearly 20% YoY.

What sets PI apart is its aggressive investment in innovation. Its in-house R&D team includes 700 scientists and over 200 PhDs. The company has filed more than 210 patents (44 in FY25).

New product contributions stood at 15% of revenue. The biologicals pipeline now includes over 20 products across multiple geographies.

PI now operates 15 multipurpose plants and is scaling up both domestic and overseas capacity.

Pharma, via its PI Health Sciences arm, now contributes 6% of exports. Q1 FY26 showed a 33% sequential jump in pharma revenues.

The management aims to be a differentiated CRDMO player over the next 3-5 years.

PIs balance sheet remains rock-solid. It ended FY25 with surplus cash of 4,090 crore and almost negligible debt.

Also Read | PI Industries bets on innovation and scale to ride out trade turbulence

#5 Container Corporation of India

Concor is Indias largest rail-based container operator and acritical player in the countrys freight logistics chain.

The company stands to be one of the biggest infrastructure beneficiaries of the logistics upcycle, with Indias container handling capacity expected to double over the next five years.

FII holding stood at 12.69% as of June 2025, down from 16.15% a year ago.

In the June quarter of FY26, Concor clocked volume growth of 9% YoY. Revenue for the quarter stood was up 11% and net profit rose 22.8%, aided by better lead distance, higher double-stack movement, and improved realisations ( 18,283 per TEU).

The domestic segment remains a margin sweet spot. While it accounts for less than a quarter of overall volumes, it delivers higher EBITDA per TEU than EXIM does. This helps Concor manage profitability even in a weak global trade environment.

Concor is upgrading infrastructure with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) set to be fully commissioned by FY26.

It already operates 63 terminals across India and is building a new multimodal logistics park in Varnama, Gujarat. Land acquisition for new terminals is underway in Jharkhand, Haryana, and UP.

Capex for FY25 is pegged at 650 crore, largely aimed at DFC readiness, equipment upgrades, and terminal expansion. The company is debt-free and ended FY25 with 2000 crore in cash on its books.

Conclusion

When foreign investors start selling, its worth asking why. FIIs arent always right, but their exit often reflects more than just short-term noise.

Whether its stretched valuations, earnings disappointments or shifting global capital allocations, large investors usually move for a reason.

But following them blindly has its own risks.

Stocks that FIIs exit sometimes turn out to be long-term winners for those who stay patient. The key is to understand the "why" behind the move.

Falling FII ownership is not a verdict. It is a signal. Use it to sharpen your lens, not to shut the door.

To know what's moving the Indian stock markets today, check out the most recent share market updates here.

Investors should evaluate the company's fundamentals, corporate governance, and valuations of the stock as key factors when conducting due diligence before making investment decisions.

Happy Investing.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
Artificial intelligences imprint on US financial markets is unmistakable. Nvidia Corp. is the most valuable company in the world at nearly $4.5 trillion. Startups from OpenAI to Anthropic have raised tens of billions of dollars.

But theres a downside to the new technology that investors are increasingly taking note of: It threatens to upend industries much like the internet did before it. And investors have started placing bets on just where that disruption will occur next, ditching shares in companies some strategists expect will see falloffs in demand as AI applications become more widely adopted.

Among them are web-development firms like Wix.com Ltd., digital-image company Shutterstock Inc. and software maker Adobe Inc. The trio are part of a basket of 26 companies Bank of America strategists identified as most at risk from AI. The group has underperformed the S&P 500 Index by about 22 percentage points since mid-May after more or less keeping pace with the market since ChatGPTs debut in late 2022.

The disruption is real, said Daniel Newman, chief executive officer of the Futurum Group. We thought it would happen over five years. It seems like it is going to happen over two. Service-based businesses with a high headcount, those are going to be really vulnerable, even if they have robust businesses from the last era of tech.

So far, few companies have failed as a result of the proliferation of chatbots and so-called agents that can write software code, answer complex questions and produce photos and videos. But with tech giants like Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. pouring hundreds of billions into AI, investors have started to get more defensive.

Wix.com and Shutterstock are down at least 33% in 2025, compared with a 8.6% advance for the broad benchmark. Adobe has fallen 23% amid concerns clients will look to AI platforms that can generate images and videos, as Coca-Cola has already done with an AI-generated ad. ManpowerGroup Inc., whose staffing services could be hurt by rising automation, is down 30% this year, while peer Robert Half Inc. has shed more than half its value, dropping to its lowest in more than five years.

The souring sentiment among investors comes as AI is changing everything from the way people get information from the internet to how colleges function. Even companies at the vanguard of the technologys development like Microsoft have been slashing jobs as productivity improves and to make way for more AI investments. To many tech-industry watchers, the time is nearing when AI becomes so pervasive that companies start going out of business.

Anxiety about AIs impact on existing companies was on display last week when Gartner Inc. shares were routed after the market-research company cut its revenue forecast for the year. The stock fell 30% in the five days, its biggest one-week drop on record.

While the company blamed US government policies including spending cuts and tariffs, analysts were quick to point the finger at AI, which investors fear could provide cheaper alternatives to Gartners research and analysis even though the company is deploying its own AI-powered tools.

Morgan Stanley said the results added fuel to the AI disruption case, while Baird was left incrementally concerned AI risks are having an impact. Gartner representatives didnt respond to a request for comment.

Historical precedents abound for new technology wiping out industries. The telegraph gave way to telephones, horsewhips and buggies were toppled by the automobile, and Blockbusters eradication by Netflix Inc. exemplified the internets disruption.

There are a lot of pockets of the market that could be basically annihilated by AI, or at least the industry will see extreme disruption, and companies will be rendered irrelevant, said Adam Sarhan, chief executive officer at 50 Park Investments. Any company where youre paying someone to do something that AI can do faster and cheaper will be wiped out. Think graphic design, administrative work, data-analysis.

Of course, plenty of companies that were expected to be hammered by AI are thriving. Even though many AI companies offer instant translation services, Duolingo Inc., the owner of a language-learning app, soared after raising its outlook for 2025 sales, in part because of how it has implemented AI into its own strategy. The stock has roughly doubled over the past year  but concerns linger that the next generation of AI will be a threat.

The defensive moves from investors come as AI has re-emerged as the dominant theme between winners and losers in the stock market this year. Its been a stark reversal from earlier in 2025 when AI models developed on the cheap in China called into question US dominance in the field and raised concerns that spending on computing gear was set to slow.

Instead, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. have doubled down on spending. The four companies are expected to pour roughly $350 billion into combined capital expenditures in their current fiscal years, up nearly 50% from the previous year, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Much of that is funding the build out of AI infrastructure, which is benefiting companies like Nvidia, whose chips dominate the market for AI computing.

Figuring out which companies are vulnerable to the technology takes a bit more nuance. Alphabet is widely seen as one of the best-positioned companies, with cutting edge features and top-tier talent and data. However, it is a component of Bank of Americas AI risk basket, and the sense that it is playing defense  protecting its huge share of the lucrative internet search market  has long dogged the stock.

For other companies, the risk seems more clear. Advertising agency Omnicom Group Inc. has dropped 15% this year, as it faces a future where Meta is reportedly looking to fully automate ad creation through AI. Peer WPP Plc is down more than 50%.

The traditional advertising agency model is under intense pressure and that is before GenAI starts to really scale, Michael Nathanson, senior analyst at MoffettNathanson, wrote in a research note.

With so many companies facing AI risks, its an investment theme that is poised to intensify, according to Phil Fersht, chief executive officer of HFS Research.
Over 20 actorsall on stage together at timesare in sync relaying the chaos that comes with a wild albeit deeply political satire. Music interludes elevate the crowd scenes or craft moments of intimacy and idiocy around a horse. The horse is called Incitatus and has Romeand specifically its notorious emperor Caligula (Akash Khurana)in a tizzy. After all, no ones ever seen an animal so magnificent. The last in Aadyam Theatres Season 7 is a play by veteran director Sunil Shanbag featuring horse heads and halters too.

Shanbag first read Hungarian playwright Julius Hays The Horse in the 1980s. It was one of three in a collection of Eastern European plays published by Penguin. The other two were by noted Czech writers Vaclav Havel and Christy Rozek. It was a time when there was a fair interest in Eastern European plays. Satyadev Dubey had already done Rozek. Anmol Vellani had done Vaclav Havel. Marathi playwright Vrindavan Dandavate had travelled to Eastern Europe. Mahesh Elkunchwar had spent time in Eastern Europe," recalls Shanbag.

Also Read | A new play offers a slice-of-life story on stage

He remembers being delighted" when he read it, but was aware that it wasnt possible to mount a production of such scale at the time. The play stayed with him and cropped up during workshops and readings at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).

On further reading, I found out that Hay was a contemporary of Bertolt Brecht. While both were interested in the theatre of ideas, they had differing opinions about the nature of theatre," he says. When the time came to do a play for Aadyam, Shanbag recalled The Horse for its inherent scale and satire. Then came the task of acquiring a copy of the play and requesting permission from Peter Hay, the son of the author and the translator of The Horse.

The play begins with a scene at the taverna young man, Selanus (Neil Bhoopalam), on his first day in Rome; emperor Caligula in disguise; and a coterie are playing a game of dice. Selanus has lost it all with nothing left to wager but his horse, the mighty Incitatus. Caligula is so taken by the animal that he will go to great lengths to acquire it. With erratic ideas and a God complex, Caligula passes decree after decree, including one to erase every other decree. Another such is the appointment of Incitatus as the Consul of Rome. And the revered Consul must eventually find a suitable bride. Theres a love story somewhere in this mix. Theres also a donkey and a man pretending to be a horse.

The satirical play is large and loud. Shanbag didnt set out to do a comedy but believes it can make complex ideas accessible to an audience. Comedy is perhaps the most difficult form of theatre. It must come with comic skills, comic timing and a sense of fun and joy. This play has an additional challenge of an underlayer of satire," he says, adding that its been a fascinating journey for him and the cast. We dont get to do comedy often. Its not looked upon as serious enough," he says.

Also Read | The Pehel programme in Mumbai helps theatre newbies find their voice

The playfirst staged in 1965is over half a century old but Shanbag believes that satire with a certain depth of ideas resonates with the contemporary regardless of when it was written. Besides, history has patterns," he says. There are some common themesthe seduction of a population with an idea, the abandonment of rationality and blind faiththat are all relevant today," he adds.

As for scale, Shanbag finds it both daunting and thrilling. Daunting for the planning (eight months) and the organisation that it takes to bring a 20-member cast together in a rehearsal room, and thrilling for the ability to perform to an 800-member audience.

View Full Image Sunil Shanbag.

I dont think we get enough opportunities to do that. Its lovely to perform in intimate spaces but the thrill of 800 people watching and laughing is quite something. I believe that with our kind of theatre, we should not surrender or abandon mainstream spaces. We should seize every opportunity to occupy them," he says.

The scale also allows him to bring in skilled collaborators like Kaizad Gherda for music, and Shampa Gopikrishna and Bertwin DSouza for choreography. This, in addition to a vibrant cast which includes senior actor and co-founder of Shanbags Arpana Theatre Akash Khurana. The two have reunited for a production after three decades, and Khurana portrays the maniacal Caligula with rare charm.

While Shanbags preoccupation with the theatre of ideas has always been evident (his last production was Utpal Dutts Barricade), he believes comedy is as valid as any other form. He hopes the audience takes a moment to reflect amid laughter.

Thats what theatre can dohold a mirror and help you reflect a little. In this case, it is through laughter and the absurdity of the situation. All comedy relies on the ability of people to laugh at themselves," he says. I want people to have an entertaining and stimulating evening. For me, thats the perfect definition of an evening at the theatre."

On 9 August, 7.30pm, and 10 August, 4pm and 7.30pm at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Mumbai. On 6-7 September at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi

Prachi Sibal is a Mumbai-based culture writer.
Two Seas Capital, the third largest shareholder in Core Scientific (CORZ) with a 6.3% stake, has come out against the bitcoin miners proposed all-stock acquisition by AI cloud provider CoreWeave (CRWV).

In a letter published Thursday, Two Seas said it intends to vote against the deal, which was announced July 7, and plans to rally other shareholders to do the same unless significant changes are made.

The opposition centers on the all-stock, uncollared nature of the transaction, which Two Seas argues unfairly favors CoreWeave and fails to reflect Core Scientifics strategic position in high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure.

"The proposed sale materially undervalues the company and unnecessarily exposes its shareholders to substantial economic risk," said Sina Toussi, founder of Two Seas.

CORZ is up modestly in Thursday trading at $14.24, substantially below what the roughly $20 the shares would have been worth at the time of the proposed acquisition four weeks ago.

Two Seas has backed CORZ since 2022, participating in its post-bankruptcy restructuring and financing rounds. The firm says it still believes in Core Scientifics long-term value and prefers it remain independent if a better offer doesnt emerge.

Despite also holding a stake in CoreWeave and supporting the idea of a combination, Two Seas called the current deal underwhelming and pointed to Core Scientifics 30% stock drop after the deal announcement as evidence of investor concern.

Two Seas urged the board to pursue alternative bids, including from CoreWeave, but only at terms that reflect the full strategic value of Core Scientifics assets and growth prospects. The firm plans to release further analysis and engage with shareholders in the coming weeks.

Analysts at investment bank KBW predicted that Core Scientific shareholders may push back on the terms of the deal, given the unchanged asset base since CoreWeave's first failed bid and the lack of a cash component, in a report published last month.

Read more: CoreWeave's All-Stock Bid for Core Scientific Likely to Draw Shareholder Scrutiny: KBW
When songs from Sholay appeared on TV in the 1990s, my parents always livened up. It wasnt just the music; they also had a story to tell about trekking to Leicester from London, a distance of about 100 miles, to find a theatre that screened Hindi films in the UK of the 1970s. Its a day that came alive with just a few bars of music. Theyd loved the cast, the music, the drama, and described it all in vivid detail, saying we should watch it, but somehow, we never did. It was almost as if they didnt want to erase the memory of a time before they had the depressing responsibilities of raising children and making ends meet. Or as Virginia Woolfe wrote nearly a century ago in The Movies and Reality, As we gaze, we seem to be removed from the pettiness of actual existence.

Sholay, perhaps the greatest popular Indian film, turns 50 next week. Most people have a Sholay reference of their own. Even people like me who grew up in places where Hindi wasnt terribly popular. To date, I havent seen Sholay in full. I know the songs. I can spot scenes from it. I know when its being quoted (well, somewhat) but I dont really understand it. Yetjust like people who have watched the filmI have memories of it. What makes a film seem timeless, even iconic, and a part of popular culture and memory? Its the question we attempt with essays to mark 50 years of Sholay. While Jai Arjun Singh recalls watching Sholay, which released on 15 August 1975, at different ages and finding layers of meanings with each rewatching, Nasreen Munni Kabir discusses subtitling the film in English. And could Sholay have been the hit it was without Gabbar Singh? Raja Sen pays tribute to Hindi cinemas most iconic villain. And then there are all your popular favouritesbooks to read, shows and exhibitions to see and ideas for quick weekend meals.

Match your meal to the music

You probably have noticed itthe music in a restaurant can elevate or ruin your meal. Chefs and restauranteurs know it too, and a small crop of them have taken this attention to music a step further. Listening rooms inspired by Japanese music cafes are popping up across Indian cities, with a focus on intimate bar experiences framed by analogue music. Shrabonti Bagchi visits these restaurants that pay as much attention to music as food, and match the menu to the mood and the sound. Read the story.

Ghich Pich review: A diverting coming-of-age film

A trio of best friends in high school in a small, charming city at the turn of the millennium. Its a formaula thats perfect for an uncomplicated yet resonant film. Ankur Singlas Ghich Pich is a simple but reasonably effective slice of nostalgia set in Chandigarh, writes Uday Bhatia. Read the review.

Michael Douglas and male insecurity

Popular films have always been used as loudspeakers for our worst impulses. This is the central premise of Jessa Crispins new book, What is Wrong With Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything. The US ushered in a number of legislative and societal reforms in the 1960s and 1970s, the goal being equal rights for women. Crispin locates Michael Douglas as representative of a certain kind of liberal man who struggles to cope with the shifting role of men in such a landscape, writes Aditya Mani Jha. Read more.

Why surrogacy scams persist in India

A decade ago, the business of fertility treatment was at its peak in India. With guidelines firmly in place, there were well-established clinics with experienced doctors, state-of-the-art equipment and streamlined services that attracted couples from all over the world. The ban on commercial surrogacy in 2019and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act in 2021changed things. Today, the fertility business is in chaos. Until lawmakers understand that women have reproductive rights and that womens labour doesnt come free, we will continue seeing fertility scams like the recent instance of a doctor in Hyderabad who offered fake fertility treatments and was involved in trafficking babies, writes Gita Aravamudan. Read more.

Samsungs foldable gets a makeover
Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was the first guest at Dhyaana Farms in February 2023 but it took several months for the luxury farmstay in Verul, Maharashtra, to open for guests. Two years later, this 14-acre property with just five rooms has transformed itself into an oasis of biodiversity in the arid lands of Aurangabad.

Neem and banyan trees border the organic farms that supply 80% of what the guests eat. Native trees, including papaya, banana and pomegranate, are ripe for the plucking. Milk and butter come from Gir cows on the property. Rescued Marwari horses take guests on rides through the grasslands surrounding the farm.

Sunbirds, kingfishers, munias and bulbuls fly between the fragrant parijatha, frangipani and night jasmine shrubs. Beehives supply honey and palm-sized hibiscus flowers are plucked for rose-tinted iced tea. There is no plastic; electricity is solar and water is harvested from rain. The air quality index sits at 11.7. In contrast, Mumbai, the state capital, veers near 80. Slow living is the ultimate luxury," says Sahaj Sharma, one of the two owners.

Also Read | Ajanta Caves: Discover the secret stories behind the ancient mural paintings

Aurangabad, now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, has long been the gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora caves that date to the 1st century BCE-10th century CE. These rock-cut caves were the first in India to be listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites. India now has 44, compared to Chinas 59 and Italys 61, the highest in the world. In March, India added six more sites to Unescos tentative" list, bringing up its number to 62 tentative World Heritage Sites, a prerequisite for them to become permanent.

View Full Image Tourists at the Ajanta Caves. (Istockphoto)

My first sighting of the Ajanta Caves was from the top of the deep gorge carved by the Waghora River over millennia. The 30 caves carved into the layered basaltic rock of Marathwada are shaped like a giant horse-shoe. According to our guide Sanjay Vaswani, they were part of an ancient pilgrim route and served as pit stops for wandering Buddhist monks. Each set of caves were 30km apart, about the distance a human can traverse in a day.

To stand in front of the Bodhisattva Padmapani, whose downcast eyes and elegant posture adorns the covers of most books and posters depicting these caves, is to experience grace. In contrast, the later period Ellora caves holds riotous stone-carvings of Hindu gods doing battle. Even though the 100 Ellora caves include Buddhist and Jain ones, the Hindu caves have the most carvings. Giant sculptures depict tales of Shiva, Parvathi, Vishnu, Ganga, Rama and other gods.

Also Read | How the Kanheri Caves of Mumbai tell us the secret Buddhist history of the city

The most famous structure in Ellora is the Kailasa temple, the largest monolithic structure in the world. Go with a guide who can explain the process of how the artists used simple hammers and chisels to remove 400,000 tons of basaltic rock and create the structure. Stone sculpture, unlike most other visual arts, allows for no mistakes. Intricate depictions of the Ramayan and Mahabharat fill two rock panels. The Buddhist caves are carved to amplify chants, making them reverberate through the space. At the end of four hours, the sensory overload leaves you hungry.

View Full Image Indian Buddhist devotees at Ellora Caves. (Istockphoto)

The traditional Maharashtrian thali with masala bhaath, aam ras, comforting varan dal, kokum-flavoured rasam, tiny brinjals cooked in a peanut gravy and jowar rotis hits the spot. Almost everything is from here, except for things like cheese and olives, which we buy," says Aparna Phalnikar, one of the owners of Dhyaana.

When Clinton came visiting, they brought in chef Mohib Farooqui to cook for her from nearby Aurangabad. For the last five years, Farooqui has been quietly offering what is arguably Indias best bespoke home-dining experience in his eight-seater dining room in Aurangabad. His Accentuate Food Lab serves a kaisekiexperience that could be set in Tokyo or Manhattan. On the day we visited, he served a vegetarian degustation menu that he was designing for a restaurant in Ahmedabad.

View Full Image Dhyaana Farms in Aurangabad. (Courtesy Dhyaana Farms)

While global flavours have made their way to all our tables, the charm of farmstays is their connection to rural India. Everywhere we travelled, we saw men in white dhotis and kurtas with distinctive white caps or pehtas. Women vendors near the caves wore beautiful noserings with nauvari saris. Near Ellora are weaving centres that sell himroo and Paithani saris with their distinct peacock and parrot designs. Himroo was patronised by Mohammed Tughlaq and is similar to the khinkhwab with its mango-paisley designs. Paithanis, whose history can be traced back to the Satavahanas who were patrons of Ajanta, thrived under the Peshwa rule.

Also Read | A secret art history of Bihar: The Buddhist ateliers of ancient Magadha

When the pandemic ended, I made a vow to myself that I would travel within India to experience the distinct humour and mindset of our land. Even though the word farmstay seems like an oxymoron, combining luxury with travel in rural India is becoming possible thanks to owner-run boutique lodges. The pleasure is in the creature comforts, but also the ability to glimpse a way of life that is impossible in a city.

Every morning, I sat outside my cottage with a cup of coffee, listening to birdsong, and watched butterflies, and langurs clambering up trees. I read, napped and ate in between visiting heritage sites. Best of all, I touched animalshorses and desi cows with their silken skins, cats and dogs with their limpid eyes, each of whom helped me connect with the earth.

Shoba Narayan is an author, an independent journalist and a long-time Mint columnist based in Bengaluru.
Urdu scholar and translator Rakshanda Jalils new collection Whose Urdu is it Anyway? is linked by one theme: to challenge the notion that Urdu is the language of Muslim writers alone, especially in a pluralist country like India. She brings together 16 stories by non-Muslim writers who wrote in Urdu, most of whom were born in the early years of the 20th century, and achieved varying degrees of fame during their lifetimes. From Krishan Chandar (1914-77), one of the key figures of the Progressive Writers Association, to the much-loved Gulzar (b. 1934), the volume features a range of styles and sensibilities to illustrate a powerful sentiment: ...as long as Urdu is yoked to religionIslamand a certain communityMuslimsit will never be understood in its entirety," Jalil writes in the introduction.

Urdu, along with its spoken variant Hindustani, was ubiquitous in public life once upon a time, especially all over the north of the Vindhyas. In the south, it still survives in the form of Dakhini, but in the last decade, the language is less visible and heard in the public domain. The written form of the language is no longer ubiquitous on signages, cinema titles and names of railway stations. Instead, Urdu has become politicised and framed as a language of appeasement.

Also Read | Manuel Bauer: The man who has been photographing the Dalai Lama for 35 years

Jalils selection defies the Islamic exclusivity of Urdu. While a substantial body of fiction written in the language deals with Partition and its aftermath, writers like Devendar Issar, in his story Mortuary, and Surendra Prakash in Scarecrow focus on the plight of the poor and downtrodden. Renu Behls Draupadi Has Woken Up is a sharp indictment of female foeticide in Punjab, while Deepak Budkis The Rape of an Abandoned House is a story of loot (most likely in the aftermath of a communal riot) that is at once original and disturbing.

By bringing attention to famous and less-known writers, Jalil shows that Urdu belongs to whoever is willing to embrace it and in their capable hands, willing to be moulded like pliable clay."

Edited excerpts from an interview:

What were some of the surprising or unexpected insights you discovered while researching this book?

That Urdu fiction is a faithful mirror of a writers times and draws from their milieu and circumstance. And that it steadfastly refuses to follow a formula, hence the output is so far removed from the stereotypical understanding of Urdu writers and by extension Urdu writings.

Tell us about your thoughts behind the selection. Why these authors and stories?

All collections are, by their very nature, selective. I make no claim to be objective nor do I claim to be comprehensive. There are many non-Muslim Urdu writers I have perforce not been able to include. I wish I had the space to include Fikr Taunsvi (whose real name was Ram Lal Bhatia), Kashmiri Lal Zakir, Zafar Payami (Diwan Birender Nath), Shamsher Singh Narula, Prakash Pandit, Balraj Menra, Balwant Singh, and several others. By the same token, I have omitted some of the best-known names of Urdu literature: Premchand, Upendranath Ashk and Ram Lal. None of these omissions are oversights; mindful of the immense variety before me, I have had to exercise editorial discretion and choose stories that pique the interest of modern readers. I wanted to present as comprehensive a range of concerns, topics and voices as possible.

Urdu is often perceived as a florid language due to its usage in poetry. But prose fiction and non-fiction in Urdu seem to have a spare, modernist style. Can you talk about these two faces of the language?

Yes. Urdu poetry and prose are like apples and oranges, though it is also true that Urdu prose can occasionally be very poetic and there is some excellent prose poetry" being written by modern poets. But as I have said, much of modern Urdu short fiction draws from its time and circumstance, hence it is spare, spartan, sometimes staccato, given the circumstances. A dialogue between present-day characters cannot be in florid Urdu; that would take away from the realness that the modern Urdu writers are at pains to create. Renu Behls characters in rural Punjab cannot speak in courtly Lucknowi Urdu; it would be absurd. Similarly, Krishan Chandars footpath dwellers cannot speak in the same tone and tenor as Kanhailal Kapurs husband and wifeeven though both writers are from Bombay.

Were there specific challenges involved in translating the texts?

I didnt want to flatten out the variations I found in the original Urdu into standard 21st-century English. I wanted to retain as much of the cadence of the original stories (as possible). For that I had to remain mindful of the context: Who is speaking? Are they rural or urban characters? Educated or illiterate?

View Full Image 'Whose Urdu is it Anyway?': Edited and translated by Rakshanda Jalil, Simon & Schuster, 208 pages,  499.

Are there any stylistic or cultural differences in the way in which Muslim and Hindu writers use the language?

Not in the early years, no. I think both were well aware of the cultural contexts of the other", which explains why Muslim writers have written with so much authenticity about, say, Navratri celebration or about festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Shivratri, and so on. And it was the same with non-Muslim writers writing about Muslim festivals and religious figures; Premchands Karbala and Eidgah instantly spring to mind. Among women writers, I can see a difference but to be fair, my sample size is very small: Sarla Devis language is very different from all the other writers included here and yes it is different from an Ismat Chughtai or a Khadija Mastoor.

I would like to know more about Sarla Devi.

I must confess I had to look very hard to find a non-Muslim woman Urdu writer. Knowing full well that boys in non-Muslim families were taught Urdu and Persian whereas the girls were mostly taught Hindi, I was still hoping to find at least a few names who might have bucked the trend and proved to be in the same league as a Chughtai or a Hajra Masroor or any of the other male writers in this collection; regrettably, it took a great deal of diligent digging to find a lone Sarla Devi. Having found her, I was hard pressed to make a choice from her work spread across two collections of short fiction and numerous stories scattered in the literary magazines of her time, some even edited by her, such as Shahrah, along with Prakash Pandit. She was the sister of Krishan Chandar and Mahendar Nath, and wife of the Hindi writer Rewti Saran.

While the Hindi-Urdu binary is much spoken these days, does Hindustani survive in contemporary literature, if at all?

If a language is defined by vocabulary then yes there is a huge difference between the writers who have been active in the past 50 years than those who were active in the post-Partition years. The writings of Devender Issar, Surendra Prakash, Deepak Budki, Balraj Komal are very close to the spoken language. So the question we need to ask is: Are languages differentiated by script, grammar or vocabulary?

What are the most promising current effortsinstitutional or grassrootsto reclaim Urdu as a shared cultural heritage in India today?

The single most promising thing in our times is content-driven programming. When it is intelligently done, it can truly open a window into a shared literary culture and sensibility. You may or may not know the script, you may not have read a lot in translation either but if you are willing to sit and listen to good literature being read or recited and allow yourself to be transported into another world, you can truly soar above the picket fences of language politics devised by petty minds.

Also Read | Longform: Comics that force our attention to the little details
At the Crafts Museum in New Delhi, three long island tables come into view. They feature an assortment of natural dyes, snatches of fabric and samples of indigenous cotton varieties. On one of the tables, theres an assortment of tools. Usually popular imagination does not go beyond the charkha or the loom in this context. However, there is a wide variety of equipment which has been used for centuries in the processing and weaving of indigenous cotton.

Some of these such as manual ginning tools, sizing brushes and hand winders can be seen in the three-table installation Cotton 0.0. The three-table installation is based on grassroot insights by the likes of Kora Design Collaborative, a design and research practice headquartered in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, which works in the textile and craft sector.The installation is uniquely titled Cotton 0.0 as it is all about going back to the roots and a natural way of being.It showcases the journey of 12 native varieties of cotton seeds from harvesting to processing and finally weaving. Underlying these exhibits is a story of intangible heritage, inherited knowledge, and adaptation.Visitors can see the mapping of stakeholders and also experience the palette of dyes used in the process.

Cotton 0.0 is part of the second edition of Weave the Future, being organised by the Development Commissioner for Handlooms (DCHL), the Union ministry of textiles, to commemorate National Handloom Day (7 August). It spotlights regenerative textile practices and the future of indigenous cotton in the context of pressing concerns such as climate change and overconsumption. Panel discussions outline possible ways forward of creating sustainable and viable economic models for farmers and weavers through dialogues with grassroot implementers like Kora and Khamira platform for the craft, heritage and cultural ecology in Kutch, which launched the Kala cotton initiative in 2010. The journey from the farms and the weaving clusters to the design board and finally the market can be seen through showcases by brands like Dhi Earth, Lafaani and Indigene.

The events focus on native cotton is part of the overall resurgence in various varieties across India. The usage of Kala, Punasa, Konda Patti and Gavran Kapus cotton is seeping into the design language at major fashion labels such as Anavila and Anita Dongre as well. Being pest-resilient, rain-fed and sturdy, indigenous cotton offers a way forward in the face of water scarcity and climatic vagaries.

Indeed, today, several pockets of India are seeing persistent droughts and water scarcity. It is in such areas that grassroot organisations such as Khamir are attempting to revive old world cotton". They are doing this by getting certifications for the cotton and supporting weaver-ginners-spinners clusters while also maintaining ecological balance in the region. Through the Kala Cotton Initiative, Khamir has also tried to create awareness with design labels, especially those working with denim, about the strength and flexibility of the fibre.

For Satish Poludar, founder, Kora Design Collaborative, it is also important for people to understand the diversity that desi cotton offers in terms of its texture, fibre length and strength. It is a thought echoed by Shubhi Sachan, founder Material Library of India for DC Handloom, ministry of textiles. Today, we are aware that saffron from Kashmir would have a different quality from saffron produced elsewhere in the country. Then why do we expect cotton to have a homogenous quality?" she asks. If the soil is right, the seed will flourish, producing a fibre length, which is best suited for the region. Not every region requires the same kind of length."

View Full Image Panel discussions outline possible ways forward of creating sustainable and viable economic models for farmers and weavers

Also Read | Why are there no retrospectives of Indian designers?

If the installation helmed by Kora Design Collective jolts you out of a stupor, the one by Lafaani, an artisanal circular clothing brand, is meditative. It shows how inherited craft skills can be merged with modern sensibilities. True to the theme of the event, the work, What if Every Thread Remembered, makes indigenous cotton both its subject and material. A light cotton panel, woven by an artisan cluster in Bengal, has been embellished with floral dyes using a drip-dry technique. These hues coalesce to form abstract landscapes to give a sense of the expanse of artistry and craft in the country. The eco-printed panel with hand-appliqued dried flowerssourced from an organisation in Mumbai that upcycles discarded bloomsalso alludes to the cultural memory that comes with the handmade. All of the patches in the panel are joined together with Kantha stitchesa technique which was born out of resourcefulness. It stands as a symbol for the strength of craft in the country," says Rashmick Bose, co-founder, Lafaani.

The brand was founded in early 2022 by Bose and Drishti Modi, who met while pursuing environmental science at the TERI School of Advanced Studies in New Delhi. Modi picked up on the complexities of regenerative cotton farming while working on a project for the United Nations in Andhra Pradesh in 2018. When they founded Lafaani, they were clear that collaboration with grassroot initiatives reviving these practices would be at the core of their design label.

Currently, they work regularly with eight artisan clusters on innovation and experimentation. We are also engaging with an additional five clusters and grassroot organisations that are reviving the Akola 7 cotton variety in Maharashtra," says Modi.She acknowledges that it might be tough for growers of prevalent hybrid varieties to make the transition to certain desi cotton types like brown cotton. However, if a palpable shift has been made in parts of Kutch and Andhra Pradesh, the models can be replicated for different varieties elsewhere as well, while keeping the regional complexities in mind. We are collaborating with Kandu, which works at the grassroot level with growers of organic brown cotton in Karnataka. We are doing our bit on the design front. Slowly, market acceptance will come about. Our role is to create products around indigenous cotton that are aesthetically pleasing and desirable so that people make that initial shift and then look deeper into stories of sustainability," she adds.

Weave the Future 2.0 is at the Crafts Museum, New Delhi, till 17 August.

Also Read | Celebration of traditional craft does not need a viral moment
Air India has informed passengers on X (formerly twitter) that Mumbai Airport has been hit by a data network outage, disrupting check-in systems at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, today, 9 August.

Though the glitch affected the system for a couple of minutes, it took an hour to fix it, sources told PTI.

This issue caused delays in flights of Air India and several other airlines.

Air India's statement Air India issued a travel advisory on X, stating A third-party data network outage had impacted check-in systems at Mumbai airport, thereby delaying flight departures of airlines, including Air India."

The systems have since been restored, however, some of our flights may continue to be affected for some time as the situation normalises progressively, the airline added.

When will the issue be resolved? According to Air India, the technical teams positioned in the Mumbai airport have worked on restoring the systems, and the outage has now been resolved.

However as a signal of caution, the airline also said that residual delays are expected as operations progressively return to normal. Air India has assured the affected passengers that staff at the airport are assisting with rebooking, check-in, among other queries.

Passengers advised to check flight status The airline has urged travelers to keep themselves updated on the flight schedules before heading to Mumbai airport. This can be done through the Air India website, mobile app, or airport information desks.

Please check your flight status through this link to stay updated, the airline posted.
United States President Donald Trump has announced that he would be meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 in a massive breakthrough after weeks of expressing frustration that more was not being done to quell the war in Ukraine. The Trump-Putin meeting comes days after Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs on India over its energy dealings with Russia, as he seeks to bring the Ukraine war to an end.

The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was announced by the US President in a post on Truth Social. He said, The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Addressing reporters at the White House earlier on Friday, Donald Trump suggested an agreement would involve some exchange of land.

"There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," the Republican president said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Kremlin, too, has confirmed that an agreement was reached to organise a meeting between Putin and Trump on August 15 in Alaska.

Ahead of the much-anticipated, Trump and Putin are, however, seeming to spar over the location of their in-person meeting. While Donald Trump has announced that they would meet in Alaska, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said it was natural to hold the discussion in Russia.

He said, [It is] national to consider holding next meeting of President [Trump and Putin] in Russia; an invitation has already been extended to Trump.

However, the reports say that the meeting may happen in Alaska.

The two leaders will focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, Yuri Ushakov said, adding, This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically.
India on Friday hailed the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that it promises to end the conflict.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the Trump-Putin meet in Alaska on August 15 could bring prospects of peace.

India welcomes the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on 15th August 2025. This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace, it said.

The MEA further cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opinion on wars.

"As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, This is not an era of war. India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts, it said.

Also Read | Trump announces in-person meeting with Putin on August 15

Trump-Putin talks next week US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter, he said in a post on Truth Social.

Is Trump-Putin talk important for India? The talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could be potentially beneficial of India, who faces a 50 per cent tariff on its exports to the US for buying Russian oil.

I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, Trump had said in an executive order on August 6.

Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent, the executive order reads.
In a tragic incident, one person was killed while eleven others were rescued after a fire broke out at Kosmos Hospital in Anand Vihar area of Delhi on Saturday afternoon.

The incident took place at around 12.20 Pm initially in the server room located on the ground floor of the Kosmos Hospital, the Delhi Fire Service said.

Following the incident, the patients were shifted to the nearby Pushpanjali Hospital.

Fire Officer Ashok Kumar Jaiswal told the media that 11 people were rescued, among them eight were patients.

"The control room of Delhi Fire Service received information around 12.20 pm that a fire broke out at the Kosmos hospital. Eight fire tenders reached the spot, and the fire initially broke out in the server room on the ground floor...11 people have been rescued, and one person died. Eight patients were among the rescued," said Jaiswal.

Delhi Police said: Fire broke out at the Kosmos hospital, Vikas Marg, at around 12.20 pm. One person died in the incident. Eight patients were shifted to the nearby Pushpanjali Hospital.

A case u/s 287/106(1) BNS (285/304A IPC) is being registered, they said.

The cause of the fire is not known yet and further investigation is underway.

Man dies of asphyxiation after fire breaks out in Ashok Vihar apartment In a separate incident, a man had died of asphyxiation after a fire broke out in a residential apartment in northwest Delhis Ashok Vihar area on Monday.

A call regarding the fire at a flat in a residential apartment near Lakshmibai College was received on Monday at 5.29 AM, reported PTI citing a Delhi Fire Services official.

Manoj Jain, a chartered accountant died in the blaze.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Jain was trapped inside the apartment and died due to smoke inhalation, the official said.

He lived alone in the apartment after his wifes demise last year, he added.
In a shocking incident, a man allegedly murdered his wife and two minor daughters at their residence in Karawal Nagar area of Delhi. The Delhi Police said the accused identified as Pradeep is absconding.

Also Read | Woman bank employee in Mumbai frames IT professional friend in rape case

The incident took place on Friday night.

A man named Pradeep has murdered his wife and two daughters aged five and seven in Delhi's Karawal Nagar area. The accused is absconding, said Delhi Police.

According to NDTV report, long-standing arguments with his 28-year-old wife, Jayshree, may have been the motive behind the killings.

"We got to know about the incident today morning at 6 am. When we opened the door, we saw the mother and two daughters on their bed. The husband and wife used to fight regularly," a neighbour said, reported NDTV.

However, the exact behind the murders is being probed.

The police have registered a case against Pradeep and launched a manhunt to track him down.

The bodies of the three victims have been sent for post-mortem at the GTB Hospital in Delhi.

Bengaluru news: Man kills woman, dies by suicide A woman was murdered and the accused allegedly died by suicide shortly after the crime in Tirupalya near Hebbagodi on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased woman has been identified as Mandira Mandal (27).

Police said she was attacked with a knife and her throat was slit. The accused, Suman Mandal (28), was found hanging in the same house later. Both hailed from West Bengal.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Suman was a friend of Mandiras husband Bijoy Mandal.

Mandira and Bijoy had been married for eight years and had a six-year-old son. However, the couple had been living separately for the past two years. Mandira was residing in a rented house in Tirupalya.

According to police, on Sunday evening, Suman reportedly went to visit Mandira. An argument is said to have broken out, during which Suman allegedly killed her using a knife available in the house. He later died by suicide by hanging himself in the room.

Hebbagodi police visited the spot and have sent both bodies for post-mortem.
Two brothers from Himachal Pradeshs Sirmaur district have defended their decision to marry the same woman, saying the arrangement follows a centuries-old community tradition.

Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi, from Shillais Thindo family, married Sunita Chauhan of Kunhat village last month under the Jodidar Pratha-- a form of fraternal polyandry practised among the Hatti community in the Trans-Giri region. The custom, also known locally as Jodidara, is followed in certain parts of Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand.

In a video posted on Facebook, elder brother Pradeep said the practice is deeply rooted in culture and is not a matter of personal publicity. This is our tradition, and we are not ashamed of it. We are not affected by social media criticism. Similar customs also exist in Uttarakhands Jaunsar-Bawar region, he said.

Younger brother Kapil emphasised that the marriage was consensual. Our wife, our family, and both of us agreed to it. This was not forced. We have our communitys blessing, he said.

The brothers explained that the primary purpose of such marriages has historically been to prevent ancestral farmland from being divided among heirs  an important consideration for families living in the hills. Traditionally, the eldest brother is regarded as the legal father of children born from such unions.

The three-day wedding, held from July 12 in Shillai, featured folk music, traditional dances, and community celebrations.
(Bloomberg) -- Investors are pulling money from US equities and flocking into cash funds, Bank of America Corp.s Michael Hartnett said, amid renewed concerns that sweeping tariffs are crimping economic growth.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Nearly $28 billion was redeemed from US stocks in the week through Aug. 6, while money market funds attracted about $107 billion, the biggest inflows since January, according to a note from the bank citing EPFR Global data.

Hartnett said global stocks had outflows of $41.7 billion, which was driven by abnormal liquidation outflows from three UK-domiciled funds on July 31.

A record-breaking rally in the S&P 500 Index stalled last week as data showed a slowdown in the US labor market. Investors are also worried about the outlook for corporate earnings as President Donald Trumps new levies took hold Thursday. The average tariff rate has now risen to 15.2%, well above 2.3% last year and the highest level since the World War II era.

The focus is turning to the Federal Reserve, with swaps markets pricing in about 100 basis points in rate cuts by mid-2026.

Hartnett said a majority of the banks clients are betting on a Goldilocks outcome, which implies an economy thats running neither too hot nor too cold. He said investors expect a scenario where lower rates would fuel a rally in equities.

The strategist, whose recommendation on international stocks versus the US proved correct this year, has warned of a potential equity market bubble in recent weeks.

--With assistance from Michael Msika.

(Adds global equity outflows in third paragraph)

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The Indian Air Force, on Saturday, revealed Before and After images of headquarters of terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan, revealing the extent of destruction Pakistan incurred after India's Operation Sindoor.

The 'before' and after images of the damage show devastating differences  showcasing gaping holes in the facilities. Aerial photos of the LeT, JeM headquarters captured after India's attack, reveal nearly half of the facilities covered with barren patches, where buildings and rooftops once stood.

Before and After images of LeT, JeM HQs following Operation Sindoor

Indian Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh showcased the photos while addressing the 16th Air Chief Marshal L M Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru on Saturday, August 9.

Extent of damage JeM, LeT HQs suffered Speaking about the extent of damage that the terror beds in Pakistan suffered following India's Operation Sindoor, the IAF chief said that there was hardly any collateral at the JeM headquarter in Bahawalpur.

"These are the before and after images of the damage we caused (at Bahawalpur - JeM HQ)... There's hardly any collateral here... The adjacent buildings are fairly intact... Not only did we have satellite pictures, but also from local media, through which we could get inside pictures..."

Extent of attack in JeM HQ in Bahawalpur

Air Marshal A P Singh also shared the images of the Lashkar-e-Taiba HQ's senior leadership's area where members of the terrorist outfit would come together to conduct meetings. It is located in Pakistan's Muridke.

Extent of damage in Muridke

... This is their senior leadership's residential area. These were their office building where they would get together to conduct meetings. We could get video from the weapons themselves as the location was within range," said IAF Chief AP Singh while displaying the photos.

Operation Sindoor In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor  striking nine terror beds across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)  in retaliation to the lethal Pahalgam attack in April, that killed 26 civilians.

Touted as the Indian militarys biggest and deepest strike yet, Operation Sindoor marked India's first joint operation since the 1971 war. All three defence branches  Army, Navy, and Air Force  coordinated to carry out the strikes on Pakistan to eliminate Jaish-e-Muhammed and Lashkar leadership.
Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday as the gunfight entered the ninth day  one of the longest anti-terror operations in the valley, officials said.

Chinar Corps paid tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

In a post on X, Chinar Corps, Indian Army, said, Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us."

"Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families," the post read.

The operations began on August 1 after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area at Akhal in the South Kashmir district, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists there.

The operation was being carried out by security forces in Akhal Devsar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said.

Two terrorists have been killed in the encounter.

Meanwhile, 11 security personnel were injured in the operation since the beginning of the operation, officials told news agency PTI.

After an initial exchange of fire between the two sides last Friday, the operation was halted for the night, but the cordon was strengthened, and additional reinforcements were rushed to the area, officials said.

When the firing resumed the next day, two terrorists were killed. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists have not been ascertained so far.

The operation is still ongoing, and further details are awaited.

Security forces have maintained a tight cordon in the area and continued to battle the terrorists hiding in dense forests.

Senior police and Army officers, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat, and the Army's Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, are closely monitoring the operation round-the-clock, officials said.

Also Read | Encounter breaks out between terrorists and security forces in Kulgam

Security forces have pressed drones and helicopters into service to track the terrorists down in the forest area. Para commandos were also assisting the security forces in neutralising the hiding ultras.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Bengaluru, Karnataka on Sunday, August 10. As per his schedule, he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of several projects, including the urban connectivity projects.

PM Modi will remain in the city for around four hours, according to the Chief Ministers Office. His visit will begin at 10:30 AM after landing at HAL Airport in Bengaluru.

What's expected? 1. Vande Bharat Express trains: PM Modi will flag off threeVande Bharat Express trains at KSR Railway Station in Bengaluru around 11 am.

The new high-speed trains include a Vande Bharat Express from Bengaluru to Belagavi,Vande Bharat from Amritsar to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Vande Bharat from Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune.

PM Modi said in a post on X, Look forward to being among the people of Bengaluru tomorrow, 10th August. From the KSR Railway Station, 3 Vande Bharat Express trains will be flagged off which will enhance connectivity."

2. Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project: During his visit, PM Modi will address a public function and lay the foundation stone of Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project worth over 15,610 crore.

The total route length of the project will be more than 44 km with 31 elevated stations. This infrastructure project will address the growing transportation needs of the city catering to residential, industrial, commercial and educational areas, the PMO said.

3. Bangalore Metro's Yellow Line: He will flag off Bangalore Metros Yellow Line from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Bommasandra of Bangalore Metro Phase-2 project having a route length of over 19 km with 16 stations worth around 7,160 crore.

"In a boost for Bengalurus Urban infrastructure, Yellow Line of Bengaluru Metro will be inaugurated. The foundation stone of the Bengaluru Metro Phase-3 will be laid. Will also be addressing a public programme in the city," PM Modi said.

4. Metro ride: PM Modi will also undertake a metro ride from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Electronic City metro station.

5. Urban connectivity projects: Around und 1 pm, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of urban connectivity projects in Bengaluru.

PM Modi will also address a public function.

Bengaluru Traffic Curbs Karnataka's capital will witness several traffic diversions and parking bans on Sunday due to the prime ministers visit.

According to the Bengaluru Traffic Police, heavy crowds and VIP movements are expected due to which restrictions have been imposed on several stretches between 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
RG Kar rape case victim's parents were injured in police action, with the young doctor's mother hit on her head, wrists broken and BJP MLAs were lathi-charged as they marched to the Bengal Secretariat, Nabanna in Kolkata, on Saturday, August 9.

...The police broke my wrist in Dharmatala. They hit me on the head. I want to go to Nabanna. Why was my daughter killed? When my daughter was killed, why didn't the Police become active? Our movement will continue. We will not back down from the movement, the RG Kar rape, murder victim's mother told news wire ANI.

The rally to the Secretariat had been called to mark the one-year anniversary of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder in Kolkata. On August 9, last year, the body of a post graduate trainee doctor had been found at the seminar hall of the medical institute. Autopsy reports later confirmed that she had been raped, murdered, revealing horrifying details of severe injuries with shards of glass from her broken spectacles penetrating her eyes, causing bleeding.

Why are they stopping us like this? All we want is to reach Nabanna and seek justice for my daughter, said the RG Kar rape victim's murder.

Rally participants demand Mamata Banerjee's resignation Participants of the August 9 rally demanded the resignation of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for "failing to protect women".

Police baton-charged protesters at the Park Street crossing in central Kolkata as agitators tried to breach the barricades in their attempt to head towards the Vidyasagar Setu defying police warnings not to move beyond the Rani Rashmoni Road assembly point.

Both the assembly points in Howrah and Kolkata swelled with crowds, with the state police not allowing the protestors to reach anywhere close to the West Bengal secretariat, reported ANI.

Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan The rally, which was named the Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan had protestors raising slogans for justice for the RG Kar victim. They also voiced their resolve to reach the state secretariat, with many demonstrators seen scaling 10-ft-high barricades in their attempts to breach them.
A growing number of Gen Z workers are fed up with toxic workplaces where micromanagement and dismissed ideas are the norm, but instead of going straight to the HR with their complaints, they are turning to TikTok for advice on how to protect their peace.

The advice that they are getting isnt about setting boundaries or documenting issues  its about most unhinged, borderline unethical things they can do to keep their sanity, Fortune reported.

Malicious compliance: A form of passive-aggressive protest Gen Zs most common and popular unhinged hack is malicious compliance. This is a passive-aggressive form of protest where employees follow instructions exactly as they are given, even when they know doing so will cause inefficiency or backfire.

Once my job made us do productivity timesheets and we all agreed to be maliciously compliant, one user commented. People were writing, 8:01, hang up jacket, 8:05 took tampon out.

I do exactly what my boss tells me. Word for word, another user wrote. If it wasnt spelled out, it isnt getting done. Malicious compliance.

Other not-so-standard corporate survival tricks Beyond malicious compliance, Gen Zers are using other creative methods to cope with toxic jobs, including:

The Let them theory: This idea, originated from author Mel Robbins, is about letting go of things you cant control.

The Gray Rock method: This involves disengaging emotionally from a job or person as uninteresting as a gray rock.

Faking a lawyer: Some workers copy a fake lawyer into emails to get difficult clients to cooperate. I tell myself were all characters in a sitcom like The Office, a user said.

I started lying about myself lol, another user commented. I would give different people different versions of events about myself and when someone confronted me about the stories being different, I knew they were talking about me behind my back.

Whereas some young workers arent passively aggressively expressing their discontent and unhappiness at the workplace, instead, they are taking a direct approach of revenge quitting.

The shifting mindset of this generation This online trend reflects a larger trend among Gen Z. Nearly 60% of Gen Zers described their current role as a situationship, a short-term job they never intended to stay in for the long term, according to a recent survey of young workers. Of those planning to leave their roles, nearly half said they expect to exit within the next year, and a quarter said theyre ready to quit at any moment.

Hence, for employers, the message is clear: failure to provide flexibility, growth, and respect for personal boundaries that the post-millennial generation strives for is leading to higher turnover rates, Fortune reported.

Psychologist warns of potential career damage While these tactics may provide a temporary sense of relief, a workplace psychologist warns they could harm future career prospects.

The expert Ben Granger explains that employers may commit a psychological tendency called the fundamental attribution error, which is a tendency to assume that someones actions reflect their personality, rather than the environment they are in.

Also Read | Gen Z likes to stay fit with friends and trends

If they [employers] have that perception, it can really do a lot of damage, Granger told Fortune.
In a major Labubu heist, thieves made off with 26.23 lakh worth of the viral toys from a store in Los Angeles, California. The toothy, fluffy, mischievous monster dolls  along with their viral spinoffs  are fueling what could be a growing crime wave.

According to The Guardian, the theft was pre-planned and was carried out by a group of burglars. The store had just announced a restock in Labubus.

Joanna Avendano, co-owner of One Stop Sales, told local news that a lot of Labubu dolls were taken, estimating his loss at "maybe like around $30,000 or more of inventory".

We worked so hard to get to this point, and for them to just come in and, like nothing, take it all away, its really bad, she said.

The elaborate Labubu heist: According to the store's co-owner, the burglars targeted the Labubus specifically, bypassing other merchandise. She also alleged that the break-in was planned.

A suspicious truck was reportedly parked outside the store on Tuesday night, which Joanna Avendano said she suspects was the burglars monitoring the stores social media account.

It wasnt clear how many dolls were stolen.

What did the police say? The Los Angeles County Sheriff said an investigation into the burglary is underway, and shared that the van used for the crime was found abandoned shortly after.

Several boxes of Labubu dolls were stolen, valued at approximately seven thousand dollars, the sheriffs department said in a statement.

About the Labubu dolls Labubu dolls are priced at a whopping $500 ( 43,730) each on its official website. However, their significant demand has incited resellers to hike prices by thousands of dollars each and the rise of a black market of fake Labubus.
In a striking display of punctuality and discipline, a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train was delayed by just 35 seconds-- prompting the conductor to apologise to all passengers and refund their tickets. This incident underscores Japans exceptional commitment to time management, a lesson many countries, including India, could take to heart.

As reported by The Times of India, the 35-second delay was slightly longer than the Shinkansens average delay of 24 seconds, according to data shared by the Central Japan Railway Company in 2016. The conductors apology and ticket refunds highlight how seriously even minor delays are treated in Japan.

This is not an isolated example. In 2017, the Tsukuba Express publicly apologised for leaving 20 seconds early, and in 2018, a Shinkansen train operator apologised for departing 25 seconds ahead of schedule, calling it unforgivable.

Highlighting the story on social media, Uday Kotak, founder and non-executive director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, shared on X: Japanese bullet train Shinkansen was delayed by 35 seconds! The conductor apologised to all passengers and refunded their tickets! Japan is truly an amazing nation of discipline and commitment for all of us to learn from.

Uday Kotak's post soon went viral on the internet.

A user wrote, Its about respect foe others time. It has huge positive impact on economy.

Another user wrote, Had that been in India , indians would have not taken money back from the conductor... Cultural difference.

It is really surprising. Getting late in India is a norm and never expect apology for a norm, the third user wrote.

This strict adherence to schedules starkly contrasts with Indias more flexible approach to train timings, where delays are often expected.
A historic shift is underway among the worlds wealthiest individuals, with a record number of millionaires opting to migrate in search of better financial opportunities and greater stability.

This year, approximately 142,000 millionaires are planning to relocate, a number expected to rise to 165,000 next year, reports Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025.

This movement, dubbed the great wealth migration is being driven by the recent geopolitical instability, macroeconomic challenges, and shifting sociopolitical landscape.

Where are the millionaires going? While traditional destinations like Switzerland, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain popular among affluent people, one lesser-known eastern European nation  Montenegro has emerged as the worlds fastest-growing millionaire hub.

Over the past decade, its millionaire population has surged by 124% to 2,800 individuals, said to Fortune the report.

Also Read | President of wealthy Switzerland rushes to Washington to try to avert steep US tariffs

This rapid growth is attributed to several key factors:

Fiscal flexibility: Montenegros low-tax regime, with flat income taxes and no inheritance or gift tax, has made it highly attractive for wealth preservation.

Lifestyle appeal: The country offers luxury real estate offerings, and an appealing Mediterranean lifestyle.

Golden Passport program: The Balkan nations former investment-for-citizenship program, which has since been terminated, played a significant role in attracting a crowd of affluent individuals and families. Other top destinations for relocation The UAE continues to attract high-net-worth individuals, projected to net about 9,800 millionaires this year, which is the most in any country.

The nation is appealing because of its political stability, business-friendly environment and its own Golden Visa program, Fortune reported.

Wealth value in U.S. dollars

Other nations such as Malta, and Poland are also experiencing sizable increases in millionaire growth.

Wealth is migrating out of Western Europe In contrast to the surge in millionaires relocating to places like Montenegro and the UAE, many established European nations are experiencing a significant outflow of their wealthiest citizens.

This year marks the first time in a decade that a European country, the United Kingdom (UK) is leading the world in millionaire departures.

Also Read | US Millionaire CEO reveals Red Flag that makes her reject candidates immediately

An estimated 16,500 millionaires, representing around $91.8 billion in wealth are expected to leave the British Isles this year. This decline is linked to the fallout from Brexit, political uncertainty, and recent changes to non-domicile tax rules.

Millionaire outflows by country Country Millionaire Migration (2025) Est. wealth of migrating millionaires (2025) Millionaires growth (2014-2024) UK -16,500 $91.8 bn -9% China -7,800 $55.9 bn 74% India -3,500 $26.2 bn 72% South Korea -2,400 $15.2 bn 17% Russian Federation -1,500 $14,7 bn -25% Brazil -1,200 $8.4 bn -18% France -800 $4.4 bn 7% Spain -500 $3.1 bn 3% Germany -400 $2.2 bn 10% Israel -350 $2.5 bn 35% Source: Henley & Partners

Despite this outbound wave, the UK remains a desirable destination for high-net-worth individualsparticularly Americans disenchanted with the current Trump administration, wrote Henley & Partners CEO Juerg Steffen. Yet without a viable entry pathway, the country is unable to offset the outflow, leaving a growing imbalance between incoming and outgoing wealth.

Other major European economies like France, Spain, and Germany are also showing worrying signs of wealth migration.
US President Donald Trump's high-ranking official Pete Hegseth stirred a controversy as he reposted a video that says women should not have the right to vote.

The controversial repost on X shows a video of a Christian nationalist church where various pastors say women should not be allowed to vote.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the video on Thursday night, illustrating his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor who has extreme views on the role of religion and women.

The Trump official commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN, examining Doug Wilson, cofounder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC.

The report featured a pastor from Wilson's church who is seen batting for the repealing of womens right to vote from the Constitution. Another pastor can be heard saying that in his ideal world, people would vote as households.

The video also featured a female congregant saying that she submits to her husband.

All of Christ for All of Life, Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video.

Hegseth's post divides internet Hegseths post received more than 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas.

Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organization Vote Common Good, said the ideas in the video are views that small fringes of Christians keep and said it was very disturbing that Hegseth would amplify them.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Associated Press on Friday that Hegseth is a proud member of a church that is affiliated with CREC and he very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilsons writings and teachings.

In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defense Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails.
A shocking shooting incident took place near the campuses of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University on Friday. Here are top 10 things we know about the fierce standoff:
We came across a bullish thesis on Bruker Corporation on Notes From The Beauty Contests Substack by Crashkolnikov. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on BRKR. Bruker Corporation's share was trading at $32.07 as of August 5th. BRKRs trailing and forward P/E were 61.67 and 13.14, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Bruker Corp. (BRKR) Dismal Q2 Earnings Weighs On Sentiment

A scientist in a laboratory wearing safety gear while operating a mass spectrometry machine.

Bruker Corporation (BRKR) delivered its second-quarter earnings after issuing preliminary results in late July, reaffirming the significant challenges facing the company this year. The primary headwinds remain the sharp decline in U.S. academic and government research funding, with NIH budgets under pressure, and uncertainty around U.S. trade policy. These issues, flagged earlier in the year, have intensified, forcing BRKR to revise guidance downward once again after already lowering expectations in Q1.

The company now estimates NIH funding to be down about 15% year-to-date, with Q2 seeing the steepest impact. This has weighed heavily on demand for high-end research instruments, particularly from U.S. pharma and industrial clients, while delays in releasing stimulus funds have further softened Chinese academic orders. Although tariffs have recently begun to see some resolution, visibility remains limited.

The markets reaction has been predictably harsh, punishing the stock for negative earnings momentum and uncertainty. Management admits prior optimism was misplaced when characterizing Q1 guidance as a floor with upside, given how sharply conditions have deteriorated since then. Nevertheless, Brukers long-term fundamentals remain intact, and CEO Frank Laukien emphasized the companys ability to control what it cancontinuing to invest in innovation and maintaining leadership in life science tools.

While near-term pressures persist, Bruker remains a critical player in enabling advanced research, and its management has historically adapted well to cyclical funding challenges. For investors with patience, the current dislocation may offer an opportunity once funding and macro conditions stabilize.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Bruker Corporation by FckYouMoney in May 2025, which highlighted temporary margin pressure, weaker China demand, and reorganization costs masking strong fundamentals and undervaluation. The companys stock price has depreciated by approximately 21.26% since our coverage, as recovery has not yet materialized. The thesis still stands given Brukers resilient core markets. Crashkolnikov shares a similar view but emphasizes funding cuts and guidance downgrades.
President Donald Trump said he will lay out his administrations plan to reduce crime in the nations capital, even as violent incidents in the District of Columbia are at a 30-year low.

Trump said in a social media post that he will have a news conference on Monday that will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, DC.

Also Read | Donald Trump Jr shares bizarre meme of his father, Instagram is confused

Trump on Thursday directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement around Washington, DC, a day after threatening the federal government could seize control of it. That move came a day after a former member of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency was injured during an attempted carjacking in DC. The city, which has voted overwhelmingly for Democrats for decades, has also been seeking to end all federal control of the city, a movement known as home rule.

Violence has been dropping in the District for two years, according to local police data. As of Jan. 3, violent crime in DC in 2024 was at a 30-year low, according to the US Justice Department.

Trumps powers to take over the capital city are limited.

Partial home rule was established by Congress in 1973, which allows residents to elect their own mayor, who appoints the police chief. Residents also elect a District council that can pass local laws. But those laws can be overturned by Congress, which approves the citys budget.

Also Read | Columbia University expels nearly 80 students for pro-Palestinian protests

Trump cant override the home rule law without Congress, but he can assign federal agents to conduct law enforcement operations inside the city and has done so before, acting independently of the Metropolitan Police Department. He has also said that he is considering deploying the National Guard in the city.

The president has often, without evidence, cast cities around the country as crime-ridden, and has increased those complaints about DC since the former staffer was attacked.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform earlier this week that he wants to federalize the city if local officials dont do more to address crime.
US President Donald Trump on Friday used the signing of a peace accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House to highlight once again his role in brokering peace accords, recalling earlier interventions in conflicts around the world.

Soon after this, the White House claims Trump as THE PEACE PRESIDENT after Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a treaty.

Also Read: White House says Donald Trump deserves Nobel Peace Prize for global ceasefire deals

Speaking at the ceremony alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump described his "highest aspiration" as bringing peace and stability to the world.

"Today's signing follows our success with India and Pakistan. They were going at it. They were going at it big. And they were great leaders that came together just prior to what would have been a tremendous conflict, as you know, a nuclear conflict probably," Trump said.

Weve saved many lives, said Trump, presenting the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement as a key example of his administrations diplomatic successes.

The agreement is the most recent U.S.-mediated effort in a region long affected by conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Trump called the deal historic and expressed hope that it could lead to enduring peace.

Trump also reflected on his administration's efforts over the past months. "I came in, and this whole world was on fire. All these things were sort of happening. We've only been here for six months. The world was on fire. We took care of just about every fire," he said.

Both Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President Aliyev said they would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize." We will defend that, and we will promote that," Pashinyan said. Aliyev added, "Who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize? As soon as we [return], we will agree to issue a joint letter."
United States President Donald Trump has appointed Dr Stephen Miran as the temporary appointee to the Federal Reserve Board until January 31, 2026, filling the seat left vacant by the surprise resignation of Governor Adriana Kugler.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said: It is my great honor to announce that I have chosen Dr. Stephen Miran. He has been with me from the beginning of my Second Term, and his expertise in the World of Economics is unparalleled. He will do an outstanding job.

Stephan Mirans career so far Miran, 42, is currently serving the US government as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. He is often credited as the mind behind Trump's economic policies including the tariffs.

He has been a prominent figure in conservative economic policy, shaping key financial strategies under Trump since the beginning of the presidents second term.

Also Read | Trump taps tariff architect Stephen Miran to replace Adriana Kugler on Fed Board

Previously, he served in the Treasury Department under Secretary Steven Mnuchin, where he was assigned the position to design the Paycheck Protection Program during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis.

Other than serving the U.S. government, Miran has worked as a senior strategist at Hudson Bay Capital Management and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. He is known for his strong economic views, such as publicly criticizing the Federal Reserves pandemic-era stimulus policies. He has also authored Mar-A-Lago Accord, a controversial proposal that suggests dollar devaluation as a way to address the U.S. current account deficit.

Also Read | Who is Adriana Kugler and what her exit mean for Trumps pick for next Fed Chair

His economic stance aligns closely with Trumps viewpoints, as he is a strong advocate for not just reciprocal tariffs but also pro-crypto initiatives.

Mirans educational background, family and other details Miran earned his bachelors degree in Economics, Philosophy, and Mathematics from the prestigious Boston University in 2005, and went on to complete a PhD in Economics at Harvard University in 2010.

Also Read | Trump demands Powell's resignation as Fed Guv steps down
US Senator Lindsey Graham has called on India, stating that one of the most consequential things the nation could do to improve India-US relations is to help President Trump end the bloodbath in Ukraine.

He urged India to use its influence to help Trump to end the bloodbath in Ukraine.

Responding to Fridays phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham expressed hope that PM Modi pressed Putin to end this war in Ukraine justly, honorably and forever.

Trump's tariffs The US senator's remarks came amid tariff tensions between India and the US over Trump's 50% tariff threat on all Indian goods.

The POTUS, via a fiery Truth Social post made on July 30, imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing India's high trade barriers, raising the total duty on Indian exports to 50 per cent. He also announced an additional penalty for India's continued energy and defense ties with Russia.

Donald Trump had been critical of countries purchasing oil from Russia and warned last month that he would impose 100% tariffs on Moscow, along with secondary sanctions on nations trading with it, if Russia refused to agree to a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi's call with Putin Amid the ongoing tariff tensions, PM Modi, on Friday, spoke to Putin, vowing stronger India-Russia ties.

Following the call, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office revealed that President Putin briefed PM Modi on the "latest developments concerning Ukraine."

"I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine," PM Modi said.

Graham's earlier warning Earlier, the senator had 'warned' European nations against procuring Russian oil via India, calling to cease this practice.

"To my European friends who have been helping Ukraine, it is much appreciated. However, it is not lost upon me or others that you are buying oil from India  that India originally purchased from Russia," the senator wrote on X.
Former US National Security Adviser (NSA) John Bolton warned that US President Donald Trump's tariff policy could have the opposite effect of what it intends  by pushing India closer to Russia and China.

Speaking to CNN, Bolton said, As you might expect, to these tariffs related to Russian oil purchases, in part because they see that China has not been tariffed. And Trump seems to be, in the minds of many China experts, setting up to treat China more leniently than he's treated India, thus putting in jeopardy decades of American effort to bring India away from Russia, to bring India away from China, to join us in trying to push back on Chinese efforts to gain hegemony along its long Indo-Pacific perimeter.

He added, And the irony here is that while the secondary tariffs against India are intended to hurt Russia, it could push India back closer to Russia and closer to China, perhaps negotiating together against the US tariff efforts.

Bolton also warned that Trumps seemingly softer stance on China could undermine years of US efforts to shift India away from its ties with Russia and China, CNN reported.

Despite imposing a 25% penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil, on top of another 25% tariff on Indian goods, Trump has shown restraint toward China after a short-lived trade war in April. Currently, China faces a 30% tariff, though it remains tentative pending a potential deal.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that Chinas August 12 deadline might be extended if negotiations show progress.

Earlier on Thursday, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said that the United States already has 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, similar to India, but the reasoning behind them is starkly different, according to C-SPAN.

"As the boss says, let's see what happens. Keep in mind that we have over 50 per cent tariffs on China already. We have over 50 per cent tariffs on China, so we don't want to get to a point where we actually hurt ourselves. And I think I've given a really good answer to that," Navarro said, as per C-SPAN.

He explained that India was targeted with 50 per cent tariffs because of its refusal to stop buying Russian oil, which the US claims is helping fund the conflict in Ukraine.

Indian goods exported to the US face a 25 per cent tariff in addition to the remedial 2.49 per cent anti-dumping duty and a 5.77 per cent countervailing duty.

The irony here is that while the secondary tariffs against India are intended to hurt Russia, it could push India back closer to Russia and closer to China.

The sectors expected to bear the brunt include textiles or clothing, gems and jewellery, shrimp, leather and footwear, chemicals, and electrical and mechanical machinery.
Before announcing his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said at the White House on Friday that the peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would likely involve swapping some territories.

Nothing easy, Trump said, adding, But were gonna get some back. Were gonna get some switched. Therell be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both" Ukraine and Russia, without providing further details.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the talks or the possibility of territorial exchanges.

Trump told reporters he planned to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine with Putin. The president expressed cautious optimism, saying he believes we have a shot at brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Hours later, Trump announced the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Trump-Putin meet In a post on social media, Trump said, "The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska."

The Alaska summit would be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.

Trump said that the expected meeting with Putin would have been scheduled for sooner than August 15, but I guess there are security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit would bring peace any closer.

Territorial exchanges Putin claims four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which he annexed in 2014. His forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions.

Earlier, Bloomberg News reported that US and Russian officials were working towards an agreement that would lock in Moscow's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion.

Ukraine has previously signaled a willingness to be flexible in the search for an end to a war that has ravaged its towns and cities and killed large numbers of its soldiers and citizens.

But accepting the loss of around a fifth of Ukraine's territory would be painful and politically challenging for Zelenskiy and his government.
(Bloomberg) -- Thailands army said three soldiers were injured in a landmine blast near its disputed border with Cambodia, threatening a fragile ceasefire agreement between the two neighbors.

One soldier suffered a severe leg injury when he stepped on a landmine while patrolling the border in Si Sa Ket province on Saturday morning, the Royal Thai Army said in a statement. Two other soldiers sustained minor injuries, it said.

The landmine blast pointed to covert use of weapons by the Cambodian troops, Thai army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in a statement, adding the incident poses a serious obstacle to the ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the border conflict.

The Thai government said it will be lodging a protest against Cambodia for breach of the Ottawa Convention banning use of anti-personnel mines.

Thai and Cambodian forces fought for five days in late July, using fighter jets, missiles, and heavy artillery, before Malaysia brokered a ceasefire backed by the US and China. The clashes killed over 40 people, injured many others, and displaced hundreds of thousands from border areas in both countries.

Read: Godbrothers Fallout Hangs Over Fragile Thai-Cambodia Truce

This was preceded by months of simmering border tensions, during which at least two Thai soldiers were maimed by landmines. Last week, senior security officials from Cambodia and Thailand agreed on measures to enforce the truce and ease tensions. They also accepted neutral monitoring of the ceasefire by defense attache teams from Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states.

Thai-Cambodia tensions trace back to the colonial-era treaties that defined their boundaries and the resulting maps that laid them out differently. The sovereignty of several areas along their roughly 800-kilometer (500-mile) disputed border remains points of contention, and various efforts to demarcate the boundary have yet to yield results. Relations had been stable since the 2011 clashes that left dozens dead, before last months fresh round of fighting.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Any peace deal without Ukraine will lead to dead solutions, the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as he dismissed the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Trump will meet Putin on Friday in Alaska, a summit that experts are viewing as a potential breakthrough to end the Russia Ukraine war.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done, adding that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Zelenskyy, while posting a statement on Telegram, said that Ukraine's territorial integrity, enshrined in the constitution, must be non-negotiable and emphasised that lasting peace must include Ukraine's voice at the table.

The Ukrainian President touched on country's anxieties that a direct meeting between Putin and Trump could marginalise Kyiv and European interests. He said, as quoted by AP, "Any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time, solutions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead solutions, they will never work.

Earlier, the Ukrainian officials had said that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognise Ukraine's inability to regain lost territories militarily.

What Trump said? Meanwhile, Trump said he will meet with the Russian President to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti cited Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, as saying.

Responding to reporters at the White House before his post confirming the date and place, Trump suggested that any agreement would likely involve some swapping of territories, but he gave no details.

Trump added that his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy. In his previous statement, Trump agreed to meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy.
NEW DELHI : Climate Change & You is a fortnightly newsletter written by Bibek Bhattacharya and Sayantan Bera. Subscribe to Mints newsletters to get them directly in your inbox.

Dear reader,

Today, we begin with an outrageous event unfolding in the US. Under President Donald Trump, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is claiming that greenhouse gases are not harmful to the planet and its inhabitants. The fact that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming is the very foundation of the science and action around climate change.

Why is the EPA doing this?

The Trump administration wants to do away with the past governments endangerment findingaccording to which polluting greenhouse gases could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. This is to give a free run to the fossil-fuel lobby and undo emission norms for most industries, including auto and power plants.

When this ludicrous proposal was floated in March, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin had said: We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the US and more."

To call climate change a religion is classic ostrich syndrome: Burying ones head in the sand to avoid uncomfortable truths. More so, when it comes from the worlds second-largest carbon emitter.

Also Read | Remembering the Climate Pope, and the race to avoid catastrophic global warming

As part of its effort to end the authority to regulate greenhouse gases, the Trump administration released a new report on 29 July. The report, defying scientific consensus on climate change, concludes that carbon dioxide-induced warming appears to be less damaging economically than commonly believed. It further said that aggressive mitigation strategies could be more harmful than beneficial. This seems not just a denial of years of scientific research and international efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, but also laying the groundwork to keep on polluting.

STATE OF THE CLIMATE

View Full Image Vehicles are stuck in a waterlogged vacant plot in Gurugram, India, following heavy rains in May. (Hindustan Times)

The monsoon has been vigorous this year. India receives 75% of its annual rain during the June-September south-west monsoon season. Halfway through, as on 4 August, 29 out of 36 states and Union territories have received normal to excess rains (compared to the long period or 50-year average). Rains were 21% above normal in the north-west and 15% above normal in central India. But east and north-east have seen a deficit of 19% while the deficit was 6% in the south peninsula region.

In addition to loss of lives and property in multiple states, major cities are battling waterlogging and floods. As this Long Story in Mint points out, drains and stormwater channels in most cities are perennially blocked by discarded solid waste and debris. This leads to waterlogging and floods during intense rains.

If you are held up by the rains and wondering what to do, I have a book suggestion. Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater is written like a pilgrims tribute. Every year, the monsoon makes landfall in Kerala in early June and then gradually moves northwards and westwards, covering the entire country in a wide embrace. Could you run with it? Chase it, as it moves? Yes, Frater did. So can you.

THE NEWS IN BRIEF

View Full Image Houses being swept away in a flash flood at Dharali in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, on 5 August. (PTI)

Over 60 are missing as flash floods following a likely glacier collapse wreak havoc in Uttarkashi.

India continues to buy oil from Russia despite the threat of penalty and higher tariffs by the US President, reaping an even bigger discount.

Indias nascent electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a quagmire of contradictions. When it works, it is a charmbut to find one that really works is a task.

Short on rooms, the Brazilian city of Belem, which is hosting the next climate change conference (COP30) in November, is deploying Love Motels into service.

A $167 billion mega dam is Chinese President Xis bet for economic stimulus, energy security and control of a river vital to millions.

Sulochana Gadgil, whose research on monsoon inspired generations of climate scientists, passed away at 81. The monsoon is a tantalizing mixture of order and chaos, she once wrote.

KNOW YOUR JARGON

View Full Image Minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel and rare-earth elements are collectively called critical minerals.

Critical minerals

The shift from polluting fossil fuel to cleaner sources of energy like wind and solar power is dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel and rare-earth elements. These are collectively called critical minerals. Their use is now widespread, from batteries in electric vehicles to wind turbines, solar panels, and electronics. With growing uptake of renewable energy, demand for critical minerals is expected to rise sharply. According to one estimate, demand is set to double by 2030 if countries were to meet their current climate pledges.

Currently, India is heavily reliant on imports, but as this report from Forum for the Future points out, it also has an opportunity to position itself as an alternative to China, which dominates the supply chain. The transition to clean energy and growing demand for critical minerals can also have disastrous consequencesso a just transition is critical. Here is a report on how the EV rush brought a surge of Chinese investments into Zimbabwes lithium mines, pushing locals to the wrong side of a resource curse.

PRIME NUMBER

94

Since the onset of monsoon, the hill state of Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses estimated at 1,539 crore. At least 94 have died and 36 are missing due to flash floods and rain-related calamities. This tragedy is comparable in scale to the devastating Texas floods. But Himachal has received little attention.

Also Read | Leena Srivastava: Watch out for the legal implications of climate inaction

While hearing a hoteliers plea on construction in designated green zones, the Supreme Court lamented that the day is not far when the entire state of Himachal Pradesh may vanish". The apex court went on to list multiple concerns, which ranged from deforestation, hydropower projects causing water shortages and landslides, to unchecked tourism and the relentless construction of four-lane roads disturbing the states ecological balance.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH

View Full Image David Attenborough's Parenthood explores the strategies and sacrifices of animal parents.

Parenthood, a new five-part series by David Attenborough, explores the strategies and sacrifices of animal parents to give their young a head starta wild ride that is rife with risks and rewards. Every habitat has a unique set of challenges, and every parent has a unique strategy. The stakes are high because success, for all parents, ensures the future of life on this planet. But some species take providing to extremes. For example, an African spider spews a kind of milk made from dissolved body parts to feed her young. When her babies need more, she offers herself.

Thats it with this issue of Climate Change & You, dear reader. Bibek Bhattacharya will be back with the next instalment in a fortnight.
NEW DELHI : With the US slapping a punishing 50% tariff on Indian goods, New Delhi is changing tack that will help in the log term. Even as uncertainty looms over a bilateral trade agreement with the world's largest economy, the Indian government on its part is working on a reform-heavy game plan to increase ease of doing business, strengthen manufacturing, and keep foreign investors coming, two senior government officials directly involved in the consultations told Mint , requesting anonymity.

US President Donald Trump's latest move, which will double the tariff on Indian goods from 27 August, targets $6.2 billion in garment exports, $1.3 billion in leather goods, and billions more in chemicals, pharma, shrimp and petroleum. While the textile and leather sectors face an immediate competitiveness shock, the Narendra Modi government is using the crisis to accelerate ease-of-doing-business reforms: a single-window clearance system modelled on passport services, side-letter deals with trusted partners, and streamlined land and contract processes.

The officials say these measures will fortify Indias manufacturing and export base and protect jobs, regardless of whether a US trade pact materialises, as the global trade order is becoming more unpredictable by the day.

The new tariff regime, announced by Trump imposes a 25% penalty tariff on goods from India over and above the 25% duty that came into effect 7 August.

Without going in for counter measures, the government is focusing on making India more self-reliant, boosting domestic manufacturing, and attracting higher investment from trusted global partners, the officials directly involved said.

The emerging plan includes a series of structural steps aimed at increasing India's resilience against external shocks. This includes finalising side-letter arrangements with friendly trading partners for assured long-term procurement, streamlining clearances for exporters through a faceless, passport office-style system, and removing procedural hurdles that raise transaction costs," said the first of the two officials mentioned above.

However, this person clarified that these structural reforms will continue even if a trade agreement with the US is eventually concluded.

The government sees this as an opportunity to address long-standing procedural bottlenecks that often compel investors to rely on middlemen for basic services such as unit registration, identification of industrial land, and conversion of agricultural land for commercial use, among others. The prime objective is to keep the manufacturing sector on track and protect employment."

These fundamental requirements will now be streamlined under a new centralised system," said the second official.

India got foreign direct investment (FDI) worth $81.04 billion in FY25, marking a 14% rise from the previous year and maintaining its position as one of the worlds leading investment destinations.

Commerce ministry data showed that the services sector emerged as the top recipient of FDI equity inflows, accounting for 19% of the total, with investments rising nearly 41% to $9.35 billion in FY25 from $6.64 billion a year earlier. The government has set an FDI target of $100 billion for FY26.

India ranked 63rd out of 190 countries in the World Banks Doing Business 2020 report, the last edition published before the index was discontinued in 2021 due to data irregularities. This ranking marked a significant improvement from the 142nd position in 2014.

A single interfaceboth physical and digitalis being planned, through which most of the approvals will be processed online," said the second person.

A time slot will be allocated to investors and manufacturers upon request, allowing for in-person visits only where necessary. The model draws inspiration from the faceless passport service system and may leverage existing infrastructure such as common service centres in rural areas," the second official said, adding that the objective is to address key challenges such as enforcing contracts and registering property, as these often involve bureaucratic delays and a reliance on intermediaries.

Analysts have pointed to a deeper concern that the global trade order is becoming increasingly unstable. The entire trade dynamic has been distorted. Its becoming completely trustless. No rulebook is being followed, particularly not the WTO (World Trade Organization) framework, which was originally shaped by the US itself," said Dattesh Parulekar, assistant professor of International Relations at Goa University.

Tariffs were earlier seen as instruments within a rules-based system, they are now being deployed as tools of pressure, in contravention of the very trade norms that the multilateral order was built upon," Parulekar added.

The loss due to high tariffs is imminent unless the issue is resolved. Shifting the manufacturing base to a low-tariff country is also not a practical optionwho knows, after a few days or months, that country may also face similar tariffs, as the entire trade dynamic has changed. Every country now wants to expand its manufacturing base and earn through exports," a senior executive from the textile industry said.

Sectors hits by tariffs

The US cited Indias oil trade with Russia as the reason for the stinging tariffs, even though such trade is not restricted under US or UN rules. With this, India becomes one of the most heavily taxed trading partners of the US, much worse off than China (30%) or Vietnam (20%), and on par with Brazil.

The textile and apparel sector, which exports about $6.2 billion worth of garments to the US annually, will be among the hardest hit. Most products in this category previously faced zero or low tariffs, but will now attract the full 50%, severely denting price competitiveness and potentially leading to order cancellations in the coming weeks.

Leather goods and footwear, another labour-intensive segment, is also expected to lose ground. These exports, valued at around $1.3 billion to the US, may become unviable as buyers turn to Southeast Asian suppliers, especially Vietnam and Indonesia.

Organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals are also vulnerable. India exports about $2.7 billion worth of organic chemicals and $7.2 billion worth of pharmaceutical products to the U.S. The new tariffs could impact formulations and intermediates unless exemptions are granted for essential medicines or ongoing supply contracts.

Shrimp exports, currently valued at $2 billion, will now face a sharp rise in duties. Despite being duty-free earlier under GSP and MFN rates, they will now attract the full 50%, making Indian seafood considerably more expensive than that from Latin American or ASEAN competitors.

Even petroleum products, which contributed $4.1 billion in FY25 exports to the US, are under pressure. While already facing a 6.9% most-favoured nation duty, the new measures could restrict volumes as refiners lose pricing advantage.
Sarah Torres was counting on two government checks to keep her family-owned bakery afloat when an unfortunate mishap turned her business upside down.

After depositing two Employee Retention Credit (ERC) checks from the U.S. Treasury worth $212,853, Torres discovered that not only were the checks placed on hold, but her entire business account was frozen.

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It was just a nightmare, Torres told ABC7 News. I was crying to them, please, this is a business account I have 20 employees that I need to pay!

Torres eventually learned that the issue was a clerical error involving her businesss Employer Identification Number (EIN) that had been changed last year but apparently wasnt updated with the IRS.

For more than a month, Torres struggled to access her business funds  which threatened the very existence of A Sweet Affair Bakery, a staple for those with a sweet tooth in Walnut Creek, California for more than four decades.

Had to take out money from my kids college account

Congress created the ERC program in 2020 to help U.S. businesses keep employees on payroll during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For Torres, these credits represented a vital financial lifeline.

Its money weve been waiting for years for, and we desperately need, said Torres.

Unlike many small businesses during the pandemic, A Sweet Affair Bakery didnt receive any federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, making these retention credits all the more critical to her operation. But with her business account frozen, Torres was forced to take drastic measures.

We had to take out money from my kids college account borrowed money from family members, she said. So its been a lot of stress. And I dont really know why.

When Torres contacted the IRS about the situation, she was reportedly told there were no flags on her account and that the agency had verified the cashed checks with her bank.

I was so confused  like someones stealing our money? Whats going on? she asked.

Her attempts to resolve the issue with Bank of America proved to be equally frustrating. Torres estimates she tried to contact the bank hundreds of times, with disappointing results.
Israels decision to expand the war in Gaza drew expressions of concern amid fears it will endanger hostages still held in the enclave and deepen a humanitarian crisis there that has already left many Palestinians near starvation.

Under the plan approved by Israels cabinet overnight, the military will begin preparations to take over Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are believed to be sheltering and where some Israeli hostages are thought to be held.

Security analysts familiar with the outlines of the plan said Israel hopes the expanded force will pressure Hamas to capitulate in cease-fire talks. The Gaza City operation could take many weeks and be paused at any time, they said.

Arab governments brokering those talks are scrambling to line up U.S. help to stop the offensive from moving forward and to get the parties back to the negotiating table, people familiar with the efforts said. President Trump has expressed concern about starvation in Gaza but recently told reporters that a decision to take over all of Gaza is up to Israel.

The move risks deepening Israels international isolation over the toll of the war. Germany, a close Israel ally, will formally suspend sales of arms that Israel could use in the Gaza Strip until further notice, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday. The planned expansion of the fighting is unlikely to be effective and risks worsening the suffering of Gazas civilians, he said.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israels decision to expand the war was wrong and pressed it to reconsider in light of the humanitarian crisis and condition of the hostages.

The U.K. and France have vowed to recognize a Palestinian state in September, and last month 28 countries including the U.K., France, Italy, Canada, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Greece and Belgium called for an immediate end to the war.

Inside Israel, the plan to expand the war is heightening concerns about the fate of the hostages still held in Gaza as well as strains on the Israeli militarys forces after nearly two years of fighting on multiple fronts.

Hamas-led forces seized around 250 hostages during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that also left around 1,200 people dead. Around 20 of those hostages are believed to be alive in the enclave along with the bodies of around 30 others.

Polling in Israel has shown for months that a large majority of the population, including on the right, supports ending the war in exchange for a deal to free the hostages. Thousands of Israelis, led by hostage families, took to the streets Thursday to protest the plan to invade areas where Israel believes hostages may be held. Hostage families and many Israeli security officials say that military pressure puts the hostages in danger.

Israels military chief, Eyal Zamir, has opposed the idea of a full takeover of Gaza, warning of the need to give exhausted troops a rest. Military commanders say it is becoming increasingly difficult to convince reservists to show up for new rounds of fighting in the enclave.

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a senior member of Netanyahus Likud party, warned against occupying Gaza before being removed from his position last year by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Write to Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com and Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com
The Trump administration asked a federal judge to throw out Harvard Universitys lawsuit over a proposed ban on international students, saying the president has broad authority to issue rules restricting the entry of non-citizens into the country.

The Justice Department said in a court filing in Boston Friday that Harvard doesnt have the legal right to challenge the restrictions.

The dispute involves Harvards certification with the Student Exchange and Visitor Program  a requirement for any university to enroll international students. In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive action that prevents foreign nationals from entering the US to study at Harvard, accusing the school of failing to implement discipline on campus and fostering a dramatic rise in crime.

Trump has made Harvard the main target of his effort to force universities to reshape higher education by cracking down on alleged antisemitism, removing perceived political bias among the faculty and eliminating diversity programs. Judge Allison Burroughs is expected to rule soon in another dispute over whether the government can terminate more than $2 billion in federal research funding for the school.

Harvard sued the administration over the international students in May, arguing that the enrollment ban violates its due process rights and fails to follow federal regulations.

Burroughs, who is overseeing multiple lawsuits between the school and the Trump administration, granted the universitys request for a preliminary injunction blocking the policy, and then issued another order saying the government cant enforce Trumps ban on its international students entering the US.

The Harvard lawsuit related to foreign students addresses both sections of the Trump policy.

Compliance with the program is an important requirement for hosting foreign student visa holders to ensure they are adequately monitored, disciplined, and reported on, the US said in the filing. Harvard was not complying with its obligations. This raised serious national security and public safety concerns, of which the Presidents determination is due the utmost deference.

A Harvard spokesperson said that the governments motion Friday has has no impact on the schools ability to enroll international students.

The university will continue to defend its rights  and the rights of its students and scholars, the spokesperson said.

The Justice Department didnt immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Trump administration has been trying for months to stop foreign students from enrolling at Harvard, one of several levers that could hurt the universitys finances. In the last academic year, 27% of Harvard students came from abroad.

Ivy League Settlements

Harvard, the oldest and richest US college with an endowment of $53 billion, and the government have been negotiating toward a global settlement but have yet to come to a deal. Ivy League peers the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia and Brown have reached agreements in recent weeks.

The White House views a payment of $500 million by Harvard University as a floor in negotiations, and the cost of a deal could climb far higher if the school doesnt submit to government oversight provisions, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Justice Department lawyers said earlier this week that the US would no longer rely on a May 22 letter by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to justify the near-immediate ban on foreign students it sought, but plans to move forward through an administrative process to simplify this case and narrow the issues.

The case is Harvard v. US Department of Homeland Security, 25-cv-11472, US District Court, District of Massachusetts .

With assistance from Janet Lorin.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
OpenAI's big language model update was finally revealed to the public on Thursday and soon started rolling out to all users. After the GPT-5 launch, OpenAI decided to discontinue its older models running ChatGPT like GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, o3, o3 Pro, o4-mini and more.

For most use cases, GPT-5 takes over the reins from GPT-4o, the large language model which replaced GPT-4 as the default model on ChatGPT earlier this year.

In case you are wondering what exactly has changed in ChatGPT with the new model, let's take a detailed look.

GPT-5 vs GPT-4o: What's new 1) Technical changes: OpenAI says that GPT-5 marks a big leap in intelligence over all its previous models, with the new model said to boast state-of-the-art performance across coding, math, writing, health and visual perception.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman even went on to tout GPT-5 as a PhD-level expert across various domains.

2) Faster responses and less hallucination: OpenAI also claims that GPT-5 is much faster and more accurate than its previous models. Meanwhile, the AI startup states that GPT-5 is less likely to hallucinate (make stuff up) compared to its previous models.

GPT-5 responses were 45% less likely to contain a factual error than GPT-4o and 80% less likely than o3 with web search enabled on anonymized prompts, OpenAI stated.

It's worth noting that while OpenAI has focused on speed and accuracy a lot with GPT-5, many users on social media have claimed to receive slower and inaccurate responses compared to GPT-4o.

3) Better coding: OpenAI says GPT-5 is its strongest model for coding to date, with improvements in complex front-end generation and debugging larger repositories. ChatGPT running GPT-5 can now create responsive websites, apps and games with just simple prompts in natural language, reducing the need for users to have any coding abilities.

4) Better writing: GPT-5 is also said to be the most capable writing collaborator to date by OpenAI, which the company says can translate rough ideas into compelling, resonant writing with literary depth and rhythm.

The social media reviews for GPT-5 for writing, however, seem to be varied, with some users reporting better narrative consistency and improved rhythm and flow, while others state that the new model is less creative than GPT-4o and struggles with character consistency while giving shorter responses with less emotional depth.

5) Health related questions: OpenAI has made big improvements with GPT-5 in answering health related questions, which the company says will empower users to be more informed and advocate for their health. The company states that GPT-5 acts more like an active thought partner by proactively flagging potential concerns and asking questions to give answers to their health-related queries.

"The model also now provides more precise and reliable responses, adapting to the users context, knowledge level, and geography, enabling it to provide safer and more helpful responses in a wide range of scenarios," OpenAI said in its blog post.

6) Unified interface: OpenAI has officially removed the model picker from ChatGPT, meaning that users can no longer choose which model they want to interact with. GPT-5 instead contains an efficiency model and a reasoning model, but switching between them isn't as easy as earlier, with a real-time router now deciding which queries are sent to the thinking model based on the conversation type, complexity, tool needs, and query intent.

7) Usage limits: At launch, the GPT-5 usage limits were more or less unchanged for all users, with free-tier users having the ability to send 10 messages every 5 hours, Plus users having 80 messages every 3 hours, and Pro users getting unlimited messages for the standard version.

However, with OpenAI facing a lot of flak for removing the older GPT models, the company has decided to temporarily double the limit for Plus users to 160 messages every 3 hours.

Once the usage limit is breached, other queries of the user are then handled by a Mini version.

8) Reduced personality: OpenAI has managed to reduce sycophancy (being too agreeable with users) on ChatGPT with the GPT-5 update, but long-time users are now complaining that the latest model doesn't have much personality compared to the incumbent ones. Many users who had grown accustomed to using ChatGPT as their friend, therapist, or just a companion of sorts state that the new model lacks the emotional depth of GPT-4o and feels sterile, formal, and less engaging.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ICSA Sheep chair Willie Shaw has said that any move by processors to cut lamb prices again next week will rightly infuriate sheep farmers, particularly at a time when supplies have collapsed.

It is one thing getting a bad price when there is an oversupply - but getting a bad price when theres an undersupply is something else entirely, he said.

Continuing, Mr Shaw said, We are in the middle of a supply collapse. New figures show that throughput is down 16% for the year, yet Irish processors are threatening more cuts. It defies logic, fairness, and any sense of a functioning market - and its driving the sector over the edge.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, just 36,643 sheep were slaughtered here last week, down 1,588 head on the previous week, and nearly 11,000 fewer than the same week in 2024.

Year-to-date throughput is down 232,921 head, which is on top of a drop of over 370,000 head in 2024.

Continuing Mr Shaw said, In just 18 months, over 600,000 fewer sheep have been processed as farmers cut back or exit the sector entirely because the figures dont stack up.

Meanwhile, the processors just carry on regardless, conjuring up excuses to slash prices further. Farmers in France and Spain are getting up to 1.40/kg more at the minute. Here, were facing another cut. How can anyone justify that?

Mr Shaw said that the situation has now reached a point where cattle prices are ahead of lamb.

I honestly cant remember a time when beef prices were higher than lamb. Lamb has always carried a premium due to its seasonality and lighter carcase.

The fact that cattle are now pulling ahead says it all - sheep farming is being slowly eroded into oblivion.

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A Circuit Court judge has expressed his utter distaste at the shoulder- shrugging attitude of three young men who were caught red handed with just under 18,000 worth of cannabis in the boot of their car.

Daniel Kuponiyi (21), with an address in Shannon Park, Edgeworthstown, Toluwalope Onayemi (21), from Gleann Riada, Longford, and Ruben Olusanya (20), of Oakland Green, Longford spent two weeks in custody in July while Judge Kenneth Connolly considered their sentence.

They reappeared before him on the last day of the Longford Circuit Court sittings, where they were each given community service orders in lieu of prison sentences, due to their young age and the fact they are actively pursuing college education and/or employment.

All three were charged with possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis for sale or supply after they were discovered with significant quantities of the drug by Gardai on November 6, 2023, at Ballinalee Road, Longford. Mr Kuponiyi and Mr Onayemi were also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

At the initial sentence hearing, Garda Louise Fleming gave evidence of intercepting the car on the Ballinalee road on November 6, 2023. She said the car had no lights and it was dark, which drew attention to the vehicle.

There was an immediate strong smell of cannabis coming from the car when the window was opened and the men and car were searched, with a box containing suspected cannabis being discovered in the boot.

The court heard that Mr Kuponiyi had amassed a debt of 500 and agreed to transport the drugs to pay off that debt.

The three young men took a taxi to the outskirts of Longford town, where they met a vehicle and took the box.

They then contacted one of the mens fathers to give them a lift back into town. The father did not know what was in the box, the court heard, and he was not charged with any offence.

Mr Onayemi was found to have a large number of deal bags on his person when searched by Gardai. Mr Kuponiyi also had a smaller number of baggies, which he said he used to sell earrings.

The cannabis in the boot was contained in a box with two sealed bags, and covered in nail polish remover in an attempt to mask the smell.

It was Mr Kuponiyi who brought the box into the car, but all three men accepted responsibility when questioned by Gardai.

The total value of the cannabis discovered was 17,926, and Judge Connolly expressed concern at the presence of baggies in relation to two of the accused, which suggests the drugs were to be distributed.

Kieran Collins BL told the court that Mr Olusanya had worked in Spain for a month as a nightclub promoter and was hoping to return there after court proceedings.

Niall Flynn BL, for Mr Onayemi, said his client had also been working at the same Spanish nightclub, to earn money to pay his college fees, as he hoped to return to an International Business course in Athlone in September.

Neither of those two accused attended their second probation meetings, the court heard and, while testimonials were furnished to the court from the owner of that nightclub, Gda Fleming was unable to make contact with the author to prove the recommendations.

Raymond Groarke, on behalf of Mr Kuponiyi, said his client works in Dublin, does not receive social welfare, and has completed the first year of a Computer Engineering degree in Blanchardstown.

He hopes to continue with his second year in September, Mr Groark said.

He did attend his probation appointments and was assessed at low risk of reoffending, and suitable for community service.

At the initial sentence hearing, Judge Connolly expressed concern at the quantity of drugs, the intent to supply, and the fact that two of the accused had not attended their probation appointments.

Without those probation reports, he was unable to finalise sentences and so he remanded all three in custody for two weeks and ordered those two to cooperate with probation services in the intervening period.

When the case reappeared before him last week, he expressed his distaste at the attitude of the three accused towards what he said were very serious offences.

What struck me about the matter was it seemed there was a blase attitude taken by them.

They seemed to think this was a shoulder-shrugging matter of very little consequence, he said.

He noted that when one of the males was asked about the cannabis, his reply was I wish I got to smoke it. It was also

said that they got the drugs for free and would share it with whoever wanted it.

This was very indicative of the attitude taken by all three and was one of the reasons they were remanded in custody, said Judge Connolly.

He noted none of the three had previous convictions, but all three had come to subsequent adverse Garda notice for drugs offences, which is troubling to the court.

However, considering the age of the three men, the fact that they each have structured plans to continue with employment or education, he said he would be as generous as I can with sentencing.

He noted all three admitted their involvement immediately and came forward on signed guilty pleas. They also come from good families, he said.

Im sure their families are ashamed and I hope they apologise for that shame theyve brought on their families, he said.

Given the attitude in court on the last occasion, Im sorely tempted to employ an immediate custodial sentence, but I wont.

He proceeded to impose a 12 month prison sentence on Mr Olusanya, which he commuted to 150 hours of community service, to be completed within one year.

For Mr Kuponiyi and Mr Onayemi, he imposed a slightly higher sentence of 18 months because they were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, but he commuted those sentences to 240 hours of community service, to be completed within one year.

Regrettably, they now have criminal records. Theyd want to get a grip or theyll spend their lives in prison. I truly hope I do not see any of these three young men back in court again, he said, before concluding matters with a destruction order for the cannabis."

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Diamond Hill Capital, an investment management company, released its Large Cap Fund first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. After a significant decline in April following President Trumps Liberation Day tariffs announcement, markets recovered and increased consistently for the remainder of the quarter. The strategy modestly trailed the Russell 1000 Value Index in the second quarter and returned 2.87% (net) vs 3.79% for the index. The financial and consumer discretionary holdings lagged, while healthcare and communication services outperformed, boosting overall performance. To get an idea of the funds best choices for 2025, check out its top 5 positions.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX). CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) is a used vehicle retailer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The one-month return of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) was -14.13%, and its shares lost 27.00% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 7, 2025, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) stock closed at $55.25 per share, with a market capitalization of $8.291 billion.

Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Among our bottom Q2 individual contributors were CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX), ConocoPhillips and Diamondback Energy. Shares of used car dealer CarMax declined as investors considered whether the company can sustain its recent growth rates, despite some weakness in its captive financing arm."

Jim Cramer Holds on CarMax (KMX): Dont Sell It Down Here  Thats a Remarkable Decline

A happy customer inspecting a newly purchased used car with the help of a sales assistant.

CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 59 hedge fund portfolios held CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 57 in the previous quarter. In the first quarter, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) delivered total sales of $7.5 billion, up 6% compared to last year. While we acknowledge the potential of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In another article, we covered CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX) and shared Ariel Appreciation Fund's views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.
Two people have been jailed, with another two facing incarceration for a violent disorder incident, savage in nature, while members of the public brought their children to a nearby school.

John Keenan (31), of 37 Palace Crescent, Longford, Martin Keenan (35), of 81 Ardnacassa Avenue, Longford, Winnie Keenan (29), of 5 Palace Crescent, Longford, and her husband David Joyce (29) of the same address, all appeared at Longford Circuit Court where evidence was heard of what Judge Kenneth Connolly called an incident of utter impunity and an unambiguous, foul gesture towards public law in this country.

All four had pleaded guilty to charges of violent disorder on October 10, 2024, at Deanscurragh, Longford, early in the morning while children were being dropped to a nearby school and Gardai were present.

John Keenan was also charged with production of an article and section 3 assault causing harm.

A section 4 assault causing serious harm was also added to the indictment. He will be sentenced for that in October, pending medical reports.

Martin Keenan was also charged with production of an article, namely a shovel, and previously pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, while David Joyce was charged with the production of a shovel and a screed in the course of the dispute.

Garda Gerard Mullarkey told Shane Geraghty BL, prosecuting, that an anonymous report was made to Gardai early on October 10, stating that there would be a flashpoint at the school.

At 9.30am, Gardai arrived to the area, where they told Patrick and Carmel Stokes to move on after they had dropped two of their five children to school.

CCTV footage from a house in the area shows Mr and Mrs Stokes passing a Hyundai Tucson and a white tow truck, from which the four accused alighted, blocking traffic trying to exit onto the main Dublin road.

Michael Keenan had a shovel, and David Joyce carried a screed and a shovel, which were taken from the back of the white tow truck. The footage also shows John Keenan recovering something from the right pocket of his gilet.

Winnie Keenan can be seen running down the road after the Stokes couples vehicle, shouting and gesturing, before the three men run at speed off screen.

A WhatsApp clip made by a motorist who was stuck in traffic as a result of the incident showed the four accused shouting as they ran down the street.

A loud noise is heard as Michael Keenan swings the shovel, wich connected with Patrick Stokes shoulder and arm. At this stage, Mr Stokes was also stabbed in the abdomen, allegedly by John Keenan.

The attack is followed by cheering and shouting from the accused as all four are seen running back towards their vehicles.

Mr Stokes attended Midoc but said he felt no pain as adrenaline and shock took over. It was only when he was airlifted from Midoc to the Mater Hospital that he began to feel pain.

He spent 22 days in hospital and underwent two surgeries. He was in an induced coma, suffered two collapsed lungs, and contracted sepsis in both the stab wound itself and behind his lungs.

In a victim impact statement, Carmel Stokes said that October 10 is a day well never forget, because her husband was savagely attacked as the four accused gave each other cheers and encouragement before running off and leaving him in his own blood.

Theyre a pack of wolves in sheeps clothing, she said.

All four accused, when arrested, exercised their right to silence. Gda Mullarkey explained that the incident related to an ongoing feud that started in June of last year when a member of the Keenan family was assaulted by a relative of Carmel Stokes.

John Keenan has 32 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of this offence, awaiting sentence for an affray which occurred on October 10, 2021.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in November 2024 for that offence. His other convictions include assaults, public order and road traffic offences.

Michael Keenan has 15 previous convictions and was also on bail for the same affray, for which he received a similar sentence of two years and six months. His previous convictions include affray, violent disorder, road traffic offences, and drug offences.

David Joyce has a total of 51 previous convictions, including public order, assault, road traffic offences, production of articles, theft, fraud and handling stolen property.

He was also on bail for the same affray and received a two year and six month prison sentence in November.

His wife, Winnie Keenan, has 40 previous convictions, including violent disorder, production of articles, theft, public order and road traffic offences.

Judge Connolly expressed his concern for the five children of Ms Keenan and Mr Joyce, stating that it is tantamount to child abuse to expose children to such criminal behaviour.

He stressed that the role of anyone as a parent does not preclude them from a custodial sentence and expressed his distaste that impressionable, beautiful, nice young children would grow up exposed to such conduct.

He said he hadnt the slightest hesitation in setting a headline sentence of three years in prison for Ms Keenan, which he mitigated down to two years and three months before pausing the sentence and adjourning it to October, when a pre-sanctioned report will asses her suitability for community service and the restorative justice programme.

Her husband, David Joyce, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, which will be served consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving.

Michael Keenan received a three year sentence for the violent disorder and a concurrent three year sentence for the section 3 assault. Those three years will be served consecutively to his current sentence.

John Keenan will reappear at the next sittings of Longford Circuit Court where he will face a charge of section 4 assault causing serious harm to Patrick Stokes.

Feuding will attract a significant penalty, said Judge Connolly, who has put the message out many times that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated while he sits as Circuit Court judge in Longford.

This was an utter disregard for society in general. These acts were brazen, perpetrated with impunity, with a disregard for the law. It must be deterred as strongly as possible, he said.

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A man accused of verbally abusing Longford County Councils Dog Warden and Community Warden has been given a two month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years.

Joe Campbell, with an address on Great Water Street, Longford, appeared before Judge Vincent Deane at Longford District Court, where he represented himself.

County Dog Warden Martha Kelly told the court how, on July 16, 2024, at 8.40am, she was driving down Great Water Street on her way to work, when she saw a small dog defecating on the footpath.

Approximately 20 metres further down the street, she said she saw Mr Campbell walking with a dog lead, so she rolled down her window and informed him what his dog had just done.,

Mr Campbell became quite aggressive, she said, and as she drove off, he started banging on the roof of her car.

Later that same morning, Ms Kelly was walking back to work from the court with two of her colleagues, when they saw Mr Campbell coming towards them.#

She had informed her colleague, Michael Murphy, who is the Community Warden for Longford County Council, that Mr Campbell had been aggressive towards her that morning.

Mr Murphy introduced himself and said he wouldnt tolerate violence or aggression towards members of staff.

He said who the f*ck are you? Youre not a guard. I told him Id ring the guards and hed get a fine for his dog defacating, and he said I dont care about the guards and call the guards and youll get a slap, Mr Murphy told the court.

Mr Murphy contacted Garda Anthony Scanlon the following day and informed him of what had happened.

Gda Scanlon made eight attempts to contact Mr Campbell, via phone and visits to his home over the course of a couple of weeks.

He was aware that I was looking for him because Sergeant (James) Rowan has informed him I was investigating the incident, he said.

Gda Scanlon managed to get in touch with Mr Campbell via telephone on August 4, and arranged to meet him on August 9 at Longford Garda Station, but he failed to keep that appointment.

Mr Campbell, defending himself, said he was walking back to his house to get poo bags to pick up after his dog, and that he often picks up other excrement because its cat down there.

He said Mr Murphy had come towards him saying youre in trouble now Joe, as if he had it in for Mr Campbell.

When questioned by Inspector Dave Jordan, he admitted that slapping the roof of Ms Kellys car was aggressive behaviour.

Mr Campbell says the council workers shouldve gone about matters differently. When I asked him how, he said they should have called to his house, said Judge Deane.

But a few minutes later, he said Mr Murphy had come to his house on another occasion and he couldnt understand why.

He noted Mr Campbell had admitted his behaviour was aggressive, but he feels he was justified in doing it.

Mr Campbell has 14 previous convictions, with five out of the six most recent convictions being for threatening and abusive behaviour.

This is a case where theres absolutely no remorse and there is a history of public order, said Judge Deane.

He proceeded to sentence Mr Campbell to two months in prison for the first count of public order, suspending that sentence for two years. The second count was taken into consideration.

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A complaint to Ireland's Advertising Standards Authority about a 'misleading' Ryanair summer sale advert has been upheld after a passenger made a telling discovery.

The advertisement was a banner on Ryanairs website for the Big Summer Sale. The advertisement included the statement Prices Will Rise.

The complainant said that they considered the statement Prices Will Rise as misleading. They discovered that some prices actually dropped after they had availed of the summer sale prices and the flight they purchased had a lower price the following month.

In response to the complaint, Ryanair said that the promotion ran from 26th December 2024 to 31st January 2025 and offered flights from 29.99 for travel between April 2025 and October 2025. They said that the terms and conditions of the promotion stated that the offer was subject to availability and was applicable to bookings made on selected routes and dates. The terms also clarified that route and seat availability may be modified.

The airline explained that their lowest fares were limited and sold out quickly. These fares, they claimed, required "adjustment based on sales and customer demand due to dynamic pricing within the airline industry."

They added that adjusting a fare did not guarantee identical routes, flights, or availability of low fare seats. Nor, they said, did it guarantee that current fares would be comparable to future fares. They said that adjusting fares due to demand actually increased the customers access to low fares as it meant that they could offer fares at competitive rates.

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They believed that the complained-about advertising was in fact accurate. They provided evidence that, at the time of their response, the flight purchased by the complainant was on sale for a higher price than that offered during the promotional period.

The Council, however, upheld the passenger's complaint, noting that the advertising said Prices Will Rise but did not offer qualification as to when.

Their conclusion read: "The statement was not asterisked to direct to the terms and conditions and nowhere in the advertisement did it say that these price rises will occur generally after the sale while the individual prices may fluctuate during it. On the terms and conditions, the Council noted that they were not clear as to when a price rise would have occurred.

"In the context of an advertising claim that Prices Will Rise, the Council considered it was reasonable for a consumer to presume that after the sale price promotion the price would increase rather than decrease. Further, they considered that consumers would have reasonably understood that prices would not fluctuate upwards during the promotional period unless they had additional clarifying information.

"The Council also considered that the statement Prices Will Rise created a pressure to purchase and a customer would likely have purchased a flight as soon as possible based on this information.

"The Council concluded that the advertising was therefore misleading and in breach of Code sections 4.1; 4.4; and 4.9."

Ryanair has been told the advertisement must not reappear in its current form.

The Ryanair issue came to light as the Advertising Standards Authoritys independent Complaints Council released its latest Complaints Bulletin which contains 10 case reports on complaints recently investigated by the organisation.

Nine cases were upheld in full. Advertisements across Radio, Social Media, Television and Online were found to be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority Code on grounds related to Misleading, Environmental, Principles, Safety and Responsibility. The Complaints Council chose to not uphold one complaint.

The Complaints Council is a completely independent arm of the Advertising Standards Authority and is responsible for considering and adjudicating on complaints submitted by the public, by an organisation, by a Government Department, or any other person or body. The Council is made up of a range of experts from the advertising, media, education, consumer, and marketing sectors.

Commenting on the latest Advertising Standards Authority rulings, Orla Twomey, Chief Executive of the Advertising Standards Authority, said: The Advertising Standards Authority is committed to protecting consumers from advertising that is harmful, misleading, or offensive. Our latest complaints bulletin showcases the broad scope of our work in maintaining honesty, transparency, and integrity across Irish advertising.

"In addition to ensuring adherence to the Code, we actively promote its values throughout the industry. Our approach goes beyond addressing non-compliant advertising, we also focus on educating both consumers and advertisers. Through these efforts, we strive to build and sustain public trust in advertising.

"Additionally, to assist advertisers, we offer a free and confidential copy advice service, guiding them in creating responsible and compliant advertisements. This service provides invaluable guidance for advertisers, agencies and media that carry advertisements who may have questions or concerns about the compliance of marketing communications. We encourage anyone in the industry to take advantage of this resource to ensure their advertising is both responsible and effective."
Left to right: IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. (Israeli Government Press Office)

Israels key decision-making security cabinet approved a controversial plan on August 8 to occupy Gaza City militarily. The decision balks at both international and domestic pressure for Israel to accept a ceasefire deal that would keep Hamas in power in exchange for the return of all the hostages, an end to the war, and the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip.

In addition to approving the operation to control Gaza City militarily, the cabinet also approved a plan outlining five principles to end the war against Hamas in Gaza: Disarming Hamas, returning all the hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, establishing Israeli security control over the territory, and the existence of an alternative civilian government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who reportedly opposed the operation, noted that the plan would place the lives of the hostages in danger and the military was suffering from attrition due to a multi-front war that had lasted almost two years.

The head of Israels National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, also opposed the move, agreeing with Zamir that the operation posed an additional risk to the lives of the remaining hostages, Israels News Channel 12 reported. The report also noted that David Barnea, director of the Mossad, expressed reservations about occupying Gaza City.

Hamas responded to the announcement with derision, predicting that the move would ultimately fail. The Islamist group also reiterated previous accusations of American complicity in the war.

We warn the criminal occupation that this criminal adventure will cost it dearly. It will not be a walk in the park. Our people and their resistance are resilient to defeat or surrender, and Netanyahus plans, ambitions, and delusions will fail miserably. We hold the US administration fully responsible for the occupations crimes, due to its political cover and direct military support for its aggression, Hamas stated.

The security cabinets decision has strained relations with Germany, a key European ally. The German government announced a partial embargo on weapons exported to Israel. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained that Israels decision to carry out stronger military measures makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved. Merz added that the German government would not authorize arms exports that could be used in Gaza until further notice.

The Israeli government and the IDF did not offer details about when the campaign to occupy Gaza City would begin. However, CNN reported that the deadline for the first phase of the operation, which includes the evacuation of Gaza City and an expansion of aid distribution, is October 7, which coincides with the second anniversary of the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel that began the war.

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
(Reuters) -Chinese regulators have asked big local brokers to halt publication of research endorsing stablecoins in a bid to curb a surge in interest in the digital currency among domestic investors, two sources familiar with the matter said.

While crypto trading is banned in mainland China, brokerages have received a wave of requests for information on stablecoin and digital assets from Chinese investors since Hong Kong passed a stablecoin bill in May, sources at the brokerages say.

Some major brokerages received guidance from market regulators in late July and earlier this month pushing them to discontinue publishing research notes and making public comments on stablecoins, the sources said.

The People's Bank of China said it had no immediate comment on the matter, while the China Securities Regulatory Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Bloomberg first reported the news. Some think-tanks have also received guidance from financial regulators that they should cancel stablecoin-related seminars, its report said.

Chinese policymakers have been more openly talking about stablecoins in the past few months, with PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng saying in June the boom in digital currencies and stablecoins poses huge challenges to financial regulation.

A Shanghai regulator held a meeting last month for local government officials to consider strategic responses to the rise of stablecoins and digital currency - a sign of a potential shift in tone from China over crypto assets.

But the post on the Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's official WeChat account giving details of the meeting is no longer available.

Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a constant value. They are usually pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar, and are commonly used by crypto traders to move funds between tokens.

(Reporting by Hong Kong and Shanghai newsroom, Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Jan Harvey)
A Latin American restaurant in Attleboro is expected to be declared a total loss following a two-alarm fire that broke out in its building early Saturday morning, according to the citys fire department.

Firefighters responded to El Buen Sazon at 147 Pine St. shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, the Attleboro Fire Department said in a press release. At the scene, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the building.

Interior crews faced zero visibility and extreme heat while working to extinguish the flames. Firefighters cut ventilation holes in the roof to help release heat and smoke, the release reads.

Around 2:05 a.m., the incident commander noticed the roof of the restaurant sagging, and it partially collapsed soon after, the fire department said. The commander then ordered an emergency evacuation from the building, and all firefighters who were inside the restaurant managed to get out safely.

Fire crews then switched to an exterior, defensive attack strategy to douse the flames, the fire department said. Firefighters remained on scene until nearly 5:40 a.m.

This was a challenging fire to extinguish, the incident commander, Attleboro Fire District Chief Michael Maitland, said in the release. The buildings layout was far from typical, which made accessing and reaching the seat of the fire difficult. Despite those challenges, our crews worked tirelessly under dangerous conditions to bring the fire under control.

The building is expected to be declared a total loss, the fire department said. The fire does not appear suspicious, but firefighters are still investigating.

El Buen Sazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday morning. Its website says it specializes in Guatemalan and Salvadoran cuisine.
A carving outside an entrance to Harvard Yard at Harvard University reads "veritas," which is Latin for "truth." Hadley Barndollar

The Trump administration is threatening to take over Harvard Universitys patents, saying that the university has failed to live up to its obligations to the American taxpayer, according to a Friday letter.

The department began a comprehensive review of Harvards federally funded research programs compliance with federal law, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who sent the letter.

If the university isnt in compliance with federal law, the department will take them over or grant third-party licenses to Harvards patents, he said.

Lutnick said the federal government places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements from institutions like Harvard.

However, the Trump administration also needs to ensure that intellectual property derived from federal funding aligns with the Bayh-Dole Act, its associated regulations and our contractual agreements, thereby maximizing the benefits to the American public, he said.

The Bayh-Dole Act is a 1980 federal law that allows institutions like Harvard to own patents on inventions created with federal funding.

A Harvard spokesperson said the Trump administrations actions are yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom.

Technologies and patents developed at Harvard are life-saving and industry-redefining. We are fully committed to complying with the Bayh-Dole Act and ensuring that the public is able to access and benefit from the many innovations that arise out of federally funded research at Harvard, the spokesperson said.

The university must submit to the Trump administration a list of all patents from federally funded research grants, along with information to prove their compliance with the Bayh-Dole Act, by September 5, according to Lutnick.

The Friday letter comes after discussions of a deal between Harvard and the Trump administration.

At the end of July, The New York Times reported that Harvard University was open to a potential $500 million settlement as a means of ending the months-long battle with the Trump administration.

However, faculty at Harvard close to university President Alan Garber dispute that, according to three unnamed sources in reporting by The Harvard Crimson.

The sources said that information was leaked to the press by White House officials and that the university is interested in resolving the dispute through its two federal court cases, according to the outlet.

What has happened between the Trump admin and Harvard?

The Trump administration has gone after Harvard since April, cutting billions of dollars.

Demanding an overhaul of Harvards leadership structure, admissions and hiring  the federal government warned the school could risk losing $9 billion in funding.

Harvard rejected those demands, saying the administration sought to invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court.

Then the fight over funding occurred.

It began with a $2.2 billion funding freeze on April 14 after the school refused to comply with the White Houses demands.

In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21, arguing that its constitutional rights had been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding.

Garber also signed onto a letter with hundreds of other university presidents pushing back against government overreach and political interference by the Trump administration.

At the beginning of May, the Trump administration said it would bar Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants while the school continues to refuse to comply with the administrations demands for change on its campus.

A few days later, eight federal agencies cut $450 million in grants and then the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from the university.

Harvard went on to amend its lawsuit against the Trump administration.

On May 16, a wave of nearly one thousand federal research grant terminations began, amounting to more than $2.4 billion, according to an analysis by Nature.

In response, Harvard established a new Presidential Priorities Fund, asking for donations in the midst of federal cuts.

Some of Harvards schools, including its School of Public Health, took to social media to ask for donations after nearly every single federal grant had been terminated.

Other investigations and threats have been made against the institution, some of which have focused on threatening the universitys ability to enroll international students.

This prompted Harvard to open a second lawsuit against the Trump administration over its ability to accept international students.

Most recently, the U.S. State Department opened an investigation into Harvard Universitys use of international visas.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also subpoenaed Harvard over its failure to provide documents concerning the misconduct or criminal actions of foreign students.
NASA astronauts Buzz Aldrin, left, and Jim Lovell shake hands in front of their Gemini 12 spacecraft at the dedication of the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum?s new permanent exhibit that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Gemini 12 mission, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, in Chicago. The fully restored spacecraft is the centerpiece of the planetarium's new "Shoot for the Moon" exhibit, which highlights the exciting stories of space exploration and America?s bold plans to return to the moon. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) AP

Hollywood star Tom Hanks has paid tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell, whom he portrayed in the 1995 Oscar-nominated film Apollo 13.

There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to places we would not go on our own, Hanks said of Lovell, who died this week, aged 97.

Jim Lovell, who had for a long while gone farther into space and longer for any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy, Hanks posted to Instagram.

Lovells many voyages around Earth, and on to so-very-close to the moon, were not made for riches or celebrity, he continued. But because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive.

On Friday, acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy confirmed the news of Lovells death in a statement.

NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades, the agency said. Jims character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.

Lovell served as the command module pilot for Apollo 8. During the mission, he and fellow astronauts Frank Borman and William Anders became the first three people to successfully fly to and orbit the moon, paving the way for Apollo 11s historic moon landing.

The astronaut is probably most well known for leading the nearly disastrous Apollo 13 mission, widely regarded as NASAs finest hour.

Lovell was the mission commander for what was meant to be NASAs third moon landing.

The explosion of one of the crafts oxygen tanks almost left the crew stranded in space. But the quick thinking of the astronauts on board and NASA ground control led them to slingshot the ship around the moon, allowing Lovell and his crewmates to safely return to Earth.

From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond, NASA said in a statement.

On Instagram, Hanks said of Lovell, Godspeed you on this next voyage.
As temperatures near the 90s in some parts of Massachusetts on Saturday, over 40 beaches across the state will be closed.

In all, 44 beaches were closed as of 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 9. The Massachusetts Department of Public Healths publicly available water quality dashboard is updated hourly every day  including weekends, and more than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches are regularly monitored.

On the Cape, Seymour Pond in Harwich and Satuit Pond at Bryants Neck and Town Landing were closed.

Most beaches were shuttered due to having dangerously high bacteria levels, and the majority of the rest were closed as a result of harmful cyanobacteria blooms. The one exception was the main beach at Walden Pond in Concord, which is closed for renovations all summer.

Even when beaches are closed, they are still safe for recreational activities other than swimming, according to state officials.

The full list of beach closures can be found below, or on the Department of Public Healths website.

What causes high bacteria levels at beaches?

Excessive bacterial growth at beaches can result from:

Stormwater (rain) run-off

Failing or malfunctioning septic systems

Combined and sanitary sewer overflows

Leaking sewer pipes

Illegal sewer hookups

Wildlife and pet waste

Agricultural runoff

In order to ensure Massachusetts beaches are safe for swimming, state public health officials test the waters for bacteria anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on the beachs popularity and how likely it is to have water quality issues, according to the public health department.

Beaches remain closed until laboratory analysis shows that bacteria levels have lessened enough that the water is again safe for swimming. Each analysis takes about 24 hours to complete, so beachgoers can expect their favorite spot to remain shuttered for at least a day following its initial closure, according to the public health department.

The risks of swimming at beaches with high bacteria levels

Swimming at a beach that has high bacteria levels can result in illness including:

Gastrointestinal symptoms - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain

Respiratory symptoms - sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezing

Dermatological symptoms - skin rash and itching

Eye and ear symptoms - irritation, earache and itching

Flu-like symptoms - fever and chills

Members of the public can help prevent excessive bacterial growth at beaches by:

Cleaning up after pets

Refraining from feeding birds at the beach, as it encourages them to spend more time there and thus increases the amount of fecal matter they deposit

Reminding children not to use the bathroom in the water

Refraining from littering

Refraining from swimming when sick or feeling unwell

Using swim diapers with young children

Avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards

Using walkways instead of sand dunes to prevent erosion of natural runoff barriers

Visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Healths website for more information about beach closures and water quality.
Members of the crowd exchanged a hug at a rally in support of Israel on Boston Common on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. WCVB-TV/State House News Service

With the start of a new school year just days away, a state panel charged with tackling antisemitism in the classroom has rolled out a preliminary suite of recommendations aimed at better classroom instruction, more anti-bias training, and promoting community bonding.

There has been so much reach-out on this. Folks obviously feel very strongly on this, the commissions co-chairperson, state Sen. John Velis, D-Hampden/Hampshire, said of the recommendations for the states K-12 public schools.

The Westfield Democrat made his comments during a public meeting at the State House that was punctuated by outbursts from those who opposed the report.

There is a whole breadth of opinions, thoughts on this, and there have been, quite literally, hundreds of meetings that have taken place on this topic -- meeting with people that some folks agree with, dont agree with, are indifferent to, Velis continued.

Its been a process, and I think were just grateful. Were grateful for everyone [who] has weighed in ... and will, as we know, continue to weigh in on this conversation that is very robust, very expansive, he said.

The commission recommends that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education create an Advisory Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education within the next six months.

It would be tasked with monitoring the development and availability of curriculum for students. A 2021 law requires that middle and high schools offer genocide education, though the commission learned not all districts are teaching about the Holocaust.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is urged to create model curricula and best practices/resources for teaching about antisemitism and Jewish identity, and to provide resources that are appropriate for classroom instruction at various grade levels to teach about Ancient Israel, Palestine, the modern State of Israel, and related conflicts in the Middle East that align and relate to the Content Standards for History and Social Science, according to the report.

Public school committees should have mandatory anti-bias training for school committees, plus K-12 faculty and administrators, that includes antisemitism, the commission recommends.

Schools and districts should also develop programming for Jewish American Heritage Month in May and treat JAHM in an equivalent fashion to other history, identity and heritage months recognized by the schools throughout the year, the report says.

New DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez told the commission Thursday that his department would support the implementation of these recommendations. DESE this fall plans to release a rubric to establish basic standards for teaching antisemitism, the report notes.

Were on board to (make) sure our children feel safe and protected, Martinez said.

The topic of how to teach the Holocaust, antisemitism, and the Israel-Hamas war has been a hotly contested one.

Late last year, one of the nations preeminent Jewish organizations accused the Massachusetts Teachers Association of attempting to politicize classrooms by wading into debates on the Israel-Hamas war and developing lessons on the conflict it says are biased against the Jewish state.

In a report, the American Jewish Committee said the union representing 117,000 educators across Massachusetts had hosted workshops and forums that presented an extreme, one-sided narrative about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The report also asserted that some union members animosity toward Israel had seeped into curriculums they were developing to help teachers understand the war and its historical roots.

Ahead of the vote this week, advocates with Concerned Jewish Faculty and Staff (CJFS-B) and Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM) asked the commission to delay its vote.

Due in part to the Commissions lack of transparency and exclusionary process, the flawed and partisan recommendations are unlikely to effectively address antisemitism and will undermine safe learning and working environments for students and teachers alike, the groups said.

The groups also warned that the recommendations would seriously threaten free speech, erode civil rights and compromise student learning in the Commonwealth, effectively mandating a Dont Say Palestine rule in Massachusetts schools.

The preliminary report details all of the experts and advocates that have testified at commission hearings.

Antisemitic hate crime incidents in Massachusetts rose by more than 20% in 2024, and antisemitism in K-12 public schools is a pervasive and escalating problem, with a large number of reported incidents of hate, bullying, harassment and discrimination experienced by families and teachers, according to the report.

The Israel-Hamas War has led to a surge in antisemitic incidents, and the commission found [m]any Jewish students in Massachusetts schools are scared to publicly display their Judaism or let others know they are Jewish for fear of disparate treatment or bullying.

To improve safety and security for Jewish communities, the commission says Massachusetts should establish a statewide bias reporting program that explicitly counts antisemitism as a form of bias, starting with a pilot within the next school year.

Schools should have a clear, transparent, and publicly available protocol for community members to report incidents to administrators. School counseling departments should also expand resources for Jewish students who are experiencing antisemitic bullying or harassment, the report states.

To reverse the normalization of antisemitism and tackle discrimination, the commission wants school officials to adopt communication standards for handling antisemitic incidents and awareness.

When an incident occurs, school officials should speak out clearly, forcefully, and with specificity as to the type of hate, rather than using vague language around all forms of hate, the report says.

DESE and state Attorney General Andrea Campbells office should also coordinate guidance around the First Amendment, including students right to free expression.

The commission also wants DESE to create a system for reporting problematic curriculum, including materials that prompt bias, bigotry or discrimination.

Aiming to build cross-communal solidarity and collective action to reduce hate, the commission suggests schools promote and invest in after-school programs and clubs that help with bonding and shared experiences.

In a statement, state House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-3rd Norfolk, thanked the commission and co-chairs for working tirelessly to ensure that every student in Massachusetts feels safe, supported, and seen.

The preliminary K12 recommendations issued by the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism mark a critical step forward in response to the alarming rise in antisemitism in our schools, Mariano said. The Commissions commitment to this workand the strong support it has received from state leadersreflects exactly the kind of leadership this moment demands.

But critics of the report say they deserve better.

From the outset, TIM and CJFS-B have urged the Commission to address antisemitism in a way that does not pit some Jewish students against other marginalized populations, including other Jewish students, the groups said. The current K-12 education recommendations fail that critical test.

The commissions final report is due Nov. 30. Unlike that product, the preliminary report will not be filed with the House and Senate clerks, co-chair Rep. Simon Cataldo, D-14th Middlesex, said.

The reason we did this on this timeframe is based on encouragement from major stakeholders to distribute our recommendations prior to the beginning of the school year, the K-12 school year, on K-12 education, Cataldo said.

So that is why we are not waiting until the end of our commission. But this will be folded into the final report, and the commission still has the option of making additions or changes, Cataldo said.
Federal agents including Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain a person outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) AP

Calling them a threat to due process and civil liberties, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called on the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the detention and deportation of U.S. citizens during immigration sweeps.

Warren, D-Mass., joined by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and U.S. Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., made that request in a Friday letter to the agencys Inspector Generals Office.

American citizens, including Padilla, have been caught up in immigration raids and enforcement sweeps by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Others, including a 4-year-old boy with cancer deported to Honduras, a doctoral student filming a raid in Hollywood detained for 25 hours, and an Illinois man held for 10 hours in detention, also have been caught in the agencys net, according to published reports.

Warren and her colleagues, joined by 48 Democrats on both sides of Capitol Hill, said they were increasingly concerned by reporting that U.S. citizens are being detained as a result of the Trump administrations immigration enforcement actions.

The other New England lawmakers who joined the letter were U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.

The lawmakers argued that ICE policy makes clear that the agency cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.

Yet, the agency has done just that, sometimes even appearing to use violent physical force" the lawmakers wrote. Thats created a climate of fear  especially in Latino and Native American communities, they said.

Enforcement actions against U.S. citizens are not new. For decades, ICE has arrested, detained, and even deported U.S. citizens, a practice that the agency has acknowledged, Warren and her colleagues wrote to the agencys Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and its Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman.

But under the second Trump administration, this rare practice is becoming more frequent. Experts warn that citizens are becoming increasingly vulnerable in a system moving faster and operating with fewer safeguards, they asserted.

ICE agents frequently fail to verify citizenship, and often ignore citizens offers to show proof of citizenship, even though ICE policy directs them to handle these matters with the utmost care and highest priority," the lawmakers wrote.

When immigration agents arrest Americans without sufficient cause or simply because they are near an enforcement action, detain them without access to counsel, or ignore proof of citizenship, DHS fails in its core duty to protect the public and undermines trust in its operations, the lawmakers wrote.

Data compiled by the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute concluded that one in five people detained by ICE agents are Latinos with no criminal past or a removal order.

Further, the agency is arresting thousands of people with no reason to target them, the Washington D.C.,-based think-tank found.

Warren and her colleagues gave DHS and ICE until Sept. 5 to provide clarity on its policies and guidelines related to arresting or detention of U.S. citizens, along with: data on stops, arrests, detentions, and deportations of citizens this year; information about how agents are trained to verify citizenship status; and any ongoing reviews of wrongful detentions of citizens.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, the Trump administration defended its aggressive policies.

DHS enforcement operations are highly targeted and are not resulting in the arrest of U.S. citizens, a department spokesperson told the newspaper.

U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined in signing the letter.

Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-Va.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Jesus G. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Al Green (D-Texas), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-Ill.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) joined in signing as well.
Worcester police respond to what they called a "hostile crowd" on Eureka Street following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest on Thursday. Adam Bass | MassLive.com

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services told MassLive it is assisting Massachusetts in its search for a 13-year-old from Worcester who went missing.

The 13-year-old is the youngest daughter of Rosane Ferreira-de Oliveira, a woman from Brazil who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8.

Following Ferreira-de Oliveiras arrest and detainment, her 17-year-old and 13-year-old daughters went into the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). The 17-year-old has since left the United States for Brazil to be with her older sister, Augusta Clara Moura, according to the familys lawyer.

The 13-year-old daughter is currently missing, according to the Worcester Police Department. She was last seen in Worcester on July 20 and the Worcester Police Department has been looking for her, MassLive previously reported.

These are heartbreaking and complex situations and DCF has been working extensively with law enforcement to ensure their safety, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah said in a statement on Friday.

Angelica Almeida, a woman from Philadelphia, told MassLive this week that she gave the 13-year-old a ride from Worcester to Maple Shade, New Jersey, and did not know she was Ferreira-de Oliveiras daughter.

Maple Shade is about a 30-minute drive to Pennsylvania.

Keeping children safe is our top priority at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), the press secretary for the Pennsylvania DHS wrote on Friday. Massachusetts has alerted Pennsylvania to this situation and we are working with Massachusetts.

In a statement provided to MassLive, the New Jersey DCF wrote that it collaborates with law enforcement as necessary to assist with missing child cases in and outside of New Jersey but said that state and federal confidentiality laws prohibit the agency from commenting on or confirming involvement in any specific cases.

The lawyer for the family did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Friday.

How Almeida came across the girl

In July, Almeida was visiting her sister in Worcester.

While she was there, she said she saw a Facebook post in a group for Brazilians living in Philadelphia asking for anyone to give a person from Massachusetts a ride back to Philadelphia.

The person claimed the ride was for his sister and made an agreement for Almeida to pick her up and drive her down to Philadelphia for $200.

I wasnt scared because I didnt know who she was, and didnt know she was missing, Almeida told MassLive. To me, I was just giving a ride to a girl who was going to live with her brother.

Almeida picked up the girl in Worcester on July 27. The girl told Almeida that she was 15 and that her parents were in Brazil. Almeida said the girl looked tired and as if she hadnt showered but she seemed nice nonetheless.

For most of the drive, the girl didnt talk. Almeida received a notification from the person who requested the transportation, saying that the destination would be changed to Maple Shade, New Jersey.

After she dropped off the girl in Maple Shade, Almeida contacted the requester about her money. She said that the person told her that he wouldnt pay because she was being rude. She then posted to Facebook about her situation and she saw a missing child alert. The picture of the child was of a 13-year-old from Worcester, whom Almeida then recognized as the teenager she had driven to New Jersey.

Almeida had no idea that the girl she had driven was missing and that she was 13, not 15 as she told her.

After I found out that she was missing and it came to my attention that she used my ride to escape, I was obviously scared, she said. I dont want to be involved in anything involving ICE. I dont want to be involved in controversy and I also dont want people to think that I helped her, because I didnt even know who she was.

Almeida gave DCF the address of the house where she dropped off the 13-year-old.

The teens mother is currently being detained at the Strafford County Correctional Center in Dover, New Hampshire.
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(Bloomberg) -- Copper is set for a weekly increase as traders assess the impacts of the closure of Codelcos biggest mine in Chile following a fatal accident.

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The seismic event that halted operations at El Teniente, one of the worlds biggest underground copper mines, from July 31, is likely the result of mining activities rather than nature, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The collapse has rocked the mining industry in Chile, where projects need to be built to withstand frequent and sometimes catastrophic seismic activity. It also happened at a time when lagging global supplies are forcing smelters to curtail output of the refined metal thats critical to the green transition. State-owned Codelco has filed a request to restart parts of the mine while it carries out an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Copper rose 0.2% to $9,707.50 a ton on the London Metal Exchange as of 11:49 a.m. in Shanghai, extending the weekly gain to 0.8%.

Iron ore fell 0.5% to $101.70 a ton in Singapore, as investors expected steel production cuts in northern parts of China, the top consuming nation, ahead of a military parade on Sept. 3.

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All roads will lead to the picturesque town of Westport on the weekend of March 1 2026 as plans are in gear for the Mayo Stages Rally to roll back into the Adventure Capital of Ireland. Despite stages being run in the area in the late 2000s, Westport, located on the famous Wild Atlantic Way hasn't hosted the high octane event since January 2002.

The Mayo Stages Rally Clerk of the Course, and proud Covey Stephen McGing said: It is fantastic to announce the return of the event to Westport. It is important to bring the rally to the area so locals and tourists alike get a chance to see the rally cars and drivers up close as elements of the rally will operate as a family-friendly event, further promoting Westport as a town that has something for all ages. It is also an opportunity for local businesses to get a well-earned spin-off from the weekend which will see over 160 Rally crews arrive into town.

Organised by Mayo and District Motor Club, the Mayo Stages Rally is a race against the clock, pitting crews (driver and co-driver) against a section of road (stages). The 2026 Westport event will feature three challenging stages run three times, offering what Stephen and his team of organisers describe as a tricky, yet very enjoyable test.

With minimal road mileage and all logistics, and scrutiny, sign-on, and service based in the heart of Westport the rally promises a compact and highly competitive format.

READ MORE: Paschal Donohoe to visit Mayo to open new constituency office of new TD Keira Keogh

Top Local driver and current holder of the Margaret McGreal Award for top Mayo crews on Mayo Stage Rally events, John Warren was excited to hear the news of the rally coming to Westport as he stated As our home event, going into Mayo Stages Rally always feels special with a lot of excitement and support from locals that recognise the McHale Rally2 Fiesta, but this one is a little extra special because myself and my co-driver and wife Ruthann only started competing in rallying in 2011 so weve never got to experience the roads around Westport, this is going to be an extra special one, weve had good results in Mayo in the past so well look forward and do as much as we can to get a top result again!

More details on the event will be announced in the coming weeks as the team continue to work through the key aspects involved in running the event in line with strict Motorsport Ireland regulations and safety guidelines.

The Mayo Stages Rally is one of the biggest sporting events to take place in the region and brings significant revenue into the area. In addition to the rally competitors, their service crews, friends and family, many thousands of spectators, estimated at least in the tens of thousands will visit Mayo over the weekend. With all these people requiring accommodation as well as food and beverages, it is clear to see that the Mayo Stages Rally brings a welcome boost to the local economy.
Breakthrough research reveals how children develop immunity to Strep A, paving the way for a life-saving global vaccine.

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Early-life serological profiles and the development of natural protective humoral immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes in a high-burden setting



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Breakthrough research has identified the specific #antibodies that may protect children from #StrepA, a #bacterial_infection that tragically claims half a million lives annually. This discovery is a huge step toward developing a life-saving vaccine. #Vaccine #PublicHealth

The Hidden Dangers of Strep A

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Hope for a Future Without Strep A Deaths

Early-life serological profiles and the development of natural protective humoral immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes in a high-burden setting - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03868-4)

Scientists have made a landmark discovery in the fight against Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A), a bacterial infection that claims around 500,000 lives globally each year. For the first time, researchers have identified specific).The collaborative studyled by the University of Sheffield and the MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicinetracked children in The Gambia and revealed how natural immunity develops in early life.Strep A is often associated with mild conditions such as sore throats and skin infections, but it can also lead to life-threatening illnesses including sepsis, pneumonia , and rheumatic heart disease In low and middle-income countries, repeated infections are a major cause of heart damage and early death. Even in wealthier nations, the risk remains significant: a deadly 2022 outbreak in the UK and Europe claimed hundreds of lives, including many children.The research team discovered that while babies are born with some maternal antibodies against Strep A, this protection fades quickly. Young children, however, rapidly develop immune responses to various parts of the bacteria after repeated exposureparticularly during the first few years of life.This critical window for immunity development is a major breakthrough for vaccine strategies, highlighting when a vaccine could be most effective.Historically we have not understood how people develop natural immunity to Strep A, said Dr. Alex Keeley, Wellcome Clinical PhD Fellow at the MRC Unit The Gambia and the University of Sheffields Florey Institute of Infection. Now, for the first time in humans, weve observed how antibodiessimilar to those induced by vaccinationmay be preventing infections. This represents a significant step towards a safe and effective vaccine that could save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide.The study, published inwas conducted with field teams in The Gambia, where the burden of Strep A is especially severe. Fatouamta Camara, a Gambian scientist who played a central role in the study, explained: In The Gambia, Strep As impact is devastatingnot just in illness, but in how it disrupts families and communities. A vaccine would be a powerful tool to protect our people and give children the opportunity to thrive.The project began as a partnership between the Florey Institute of Infection and the GSK Vaccine Institute for Global Health (GVGH), enabling Dr. Keeley to train in immunoassayslaboratory techniques used to measure antibodies. He went on to train a team of scientists in The Gambia, building local capacity alongside groundbreaking research.Professor Thushan de Silva, Co-Director of the Florey Institute of Infection and Principal Investigator at the MRC Unit The Gambia, emphasized the value of such partnerships:This study shows the impact of cross-institutional collaboration in global health research. The Wellcome Trusts support for Clinical PhD programmes is vital for training the next generation of scientists in internationally connected environments.By pinpointing the antibodies that develop naturally in young children, scientists now have a clear target for vaccine development. The next steps will involve testing potential vaccines in trials around the world to determine if they can safely mimic this natural immunity.If successful, a Strep A vaccine could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, particularly in countries where the diseases impact is most severe.Now that we understand how immunity develops, were in a stronger position than ever to create a vaccine, Dr. Keeley said. The goal is simplestop Strep A from taking lives that could be saved.Source-Medindia
Study shows environmental factors like copper use can speed drug-resistant bacteria evolution, offering insights for prevention.

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Survival, Resistance, and Fitness Dynamics of Escherichia coli Populations After Prolonged Exposure to Copper



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The fight against superbugs just got a new ally! Scientists are exploring how to use copper's #antimicrobial power to combat #antibiotic_resistance. The key challenge? Balancing its effectiveness to wipe out bacteria without creating new issues. #Copper #PublicHealth

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Copper: From Vineyards to Hospital Surfaces

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The Silver Lining: Resistance Can Fade

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A General Pattern Across Bacteria?

Survival, Resistance, and Fitness Dynamics of Escherichia coli Populations After Prolonged Exposure to Copper - (https://academic.oup.com/emph/advance-article/doi/10.1093/emph/eoaf015/8182076?login=false)

Copper, long valued for its antimicrobial properties, is proving to be a double-edged sword in the global battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria New research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reveals that while).The study, published infound that bacteria exposed to copper over multiple generations not only evolved copper resistance but also became resistant to several common antibiotics.Copper-based antimicrobials, such as copper sulfate, have been in use since the 1700s to control fungal infections in agriculture. Today,However, the UCLA teamled by first author Sada Boyd-Vorsah, then a postdoctoral researcher, and corresponding author Professor Pamela Yehwarns that over-reliance on copper could unintentionally breed bacteria that can survive both copper and antibiotic treatments.Researchers grew E. coli colonies and exposed them to copper sulfate. Of the initial 50 bacterial populations, only eight survived prolonged copper exposure. These survivors were then tested against various antibioticsand consistently showed dual resistance.Genetic sequencing revealed 477 unique mutations in copper-resistant bacteria, many linked to metal resistance. Surprisingly, the same biological pathways enabling copper resistance also conferred antibiotic resistancea link the Yeh Lab had previously observed with other stressors such as extreme temperatures.We found thatBoyd-Vorsah explained.In a surprising twist, the team discovered that when copper-resistant bacteria were grown without copper exposure for just seven days, their resistance levels droppedsometimes back to baseline. This suggests that alternating copper use with other antimicrobials could help prevent long-term resistance from taking hold.Copper is still a great antimicrobial, said Boyd-Vorsah, now a visiting assistant professor at Winston-Salem State University. We just need to be mindful of how we use it to avoid repeating the mistakes made with antibiotics.Although the study focused on E. coli, the researchers believe the findings likely apply to many bacterial species due to the ancient, evolutionarily conserved nature of resistance pathways.I dont see any reason why this wouldnt be a generalizable pattern across manymaybe allspecies of bacteria, Yeh said.The study underscores the importance of balanced antimicrobial strategies. By alternating copper with other control methods, hospitals, farms, and industries could maintain coppers benefits while reducing the risk of breeding superbugs Source-Medindia
India opens first animal stem cell biobank to drive regenerative medicine, advanced therapies, and livestock health research.

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Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates India's First-of-its-Kind State-of-the-Art Animal Stem Cell BioBank and Laboratory at NIAB, Hyderabad



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India is taking a giant leap in #animalhealth! The nation's first animal #stemcell biobank and lab, focusing on #regenerativemedicine for #livestock, has been inaugurated at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology in Hyderabad. #StemCellResearch #India

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A National Milestone in Animal Biotechnology

Stem cell culture units

3D bioprinter

Bacterial culture lab

Cryostorage facilities

Autoclave rooms

Advanced air handling systems

Uninterrupted power backup

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Five Veterinary Innovations Launched

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PM Modis Futuristic Vision & the BioE3 Policy

Impact on Agriculture & Rural Prosperity

Acknowledgment to NIAB Leadership

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Inaugurates Indias First-of-its-Kind State-of-the-Art Animal Stem Cell BioBank and Laboratory at NIAB, Hyderabad - (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2154663)

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Indias first-of-its-kind State-of-the-Artand Laboratory at the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad ().The Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new hostel block and Type-IV quarters, approved by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) at a total cost of 19.98 crore, to cater to the residential needs of research scholars, faculty, and staff. The new infrastructure is expected to foster a vibrant academic and innovation ecosystem within the institute.The newly inaugurated Animal Stem Cell Biobank, spanning 9,300 sq ft and built at a cost of 1.85 crore, will serve as aThe facility is equipped with:This initiative, supported by the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) of DBTBIRAC, will expandDuring the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled five breakthrough veterinary diagnostic tools aimed at strengthening Indias animal health management framework and promoting the One Health approach:A field-deployable, DIVA-capable diagnostic kit for early and accurate detection of Brucella species.A cost-effective on-site assay for subclinical and clinical mastitis in dairy cattle.A portable device providing results within two hours to encourage judicious antibiotic use.A sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for Toxoplasma gondii infections in animals.An indigenous rapid strip enabling large-scale surveillance in both animals and humans.The Minister emphasized that these innovations will boost agriculture-linked GDP, enhance livestock productivity, and drive an Evergreen Revolution in animal husbandry.Dr. Singh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis foresight in enabling the rollout of the Biotechnology BioE3 policy, positioning India as an early global initiator in this critical sector.We are entering a new era where the economy will move from manufacturing-based growth to regenerative and genetic processes, the Minister said. With enabling policies like BioE3 and the 1 lakh crore RDI fund under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, India is poised to be a global biotechnology leader.He also highlighted DBTs unique integration of plant, animal, and human sciences, as well as its collaborations with the Department of Space in emerging fields like space medicine and space physiology.Reaffirming the governments commitment to farmer welfare, Dr. Singh stressed thatHe noted that every rupee spent on agricultural research yields a return of 13 and urged industry collaboration from the outset to ensure real-world impact.Awareness about diseases such as brucellosis , mastitis, and toxoplasmosis remains low among farmers. Early detection not only saves animal lives but also increases farm incomes, he remarked.The Minister also interacted with farmers, encouraging them to adopt modern diagnostic tools and disease prevention measures.Commending NIAB Director Dr. Taru Sharma, Dr. Singh said:We had such facilities for human stem cells, but hardly any for animal cells. Establishing this biobank is a historic achievement, and the best of NIABand Indian biotechnologyis yet to come.With this landmark initiative, India takes a decisive step toward advancing animal biotechnology research, improving livestock health, and strengthening the countrys bioeconomy.Source-Medindia
(Reuters) -Two Seas Capital, the largest shareholder of Core Scientific (CORZ), issued an open letter on Thursday saying it would vote against the company's proposed sale to CoreWeave (CRWV), in a potential blow to the $9 billion deal.

The investment management firm owns roughly 6.3% of the crypto miner and said the sale "materially undervalues" Core Scientific and unnecessarily exposes its shareholders to substantial economic risk.

"We do not believe this transaction should receive shareholder approval," it said.

CoreWeave announced its intention to buy Core Scientific last month in an all-stock deal, as it seeks to tap into more data center capacity in order to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence services.

CoreWeave provides access to data centers and Nvidia-powered AI chips to companies seeking to train large language models.

Two Seas says the transaction "decidedly and unfairly favors CoreWeave at the expense of Core Scientific shareholders."

At the time of announcement, the deal valued Core Scientific at $20.40 per share.

The firm says it is not "philosophically" opposed to a merger but emphasizes that the board's job is to ensure that any deal should reflect strategic value of Core Scientific's assets.

Shares of Core Scientific were marginally up, while CoreWeave's stock was 6% higher but unchanged on the news.

The crypto mining firm's stock ended over 17% lower on the day the merger was announced.

Core Scientific did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment; CoreWeave declined to comment.

Bitcoin miners' energy-intensive sites and power contracts, built during the crypto boom, have emerged as prime targets for AI companies expanding their computing infrastructure.

Core Scientific came out of bankruptcy in early 2024 and has since shifted its focus to leveraging its energy capacity to lean on AI.

Core Scientific first received an unsolicited, non-binding takeover offer from CoreWeave in June 2024. At the time, the company rejected the offer, saying it was significantly undervalued.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Core Scientifics largest active shareholder is moving to block the miners proposed $9 billion all-stock sale to AI infrastructure provider CoreWeave, calling the offer inadequate and unfavorable to existing shareholders.

The proposed sale materially undervalues the company and unnecessarily exposes its shareholders to substantial economic risk, New York-based Two Seas Capital, the largest active shareholder in Core Scientific with about a 6.3% stake, said in a statement Thursday.

Two Seas Capital voiced how it was disappointed at the choice of selling at an inadequate valuation, arguing that the all-stock, uncollared structure leaves shareholders exposed to CoreWeaves volatile share price with no value protections.

The hedge fund claims the $9 billion deal decidedly and unfairly favors CoreWeave at the expense of Core Scientific shareholders like them, noting that the companys stock fell 30% in the days after the transaction was announced, a move it says reflects broader investor concern.

Announced last month, the deal pegs each Core Scientific share to 0.1235 of a CoreWeave share, which at the time implied a value of about $20.4 per share.

CoreWeaves stock has since fallen by between 26% and 30%, reducing the effective valuation to just over $13 per share. Core Scientific shares, meanwhile, showed a modest recovery in intraday trading on Thursday, rising 1.7% to $14.35, Google Finance data shows.

The drop has sharpened scrutiny of the deals terms, with some investors pointing to patterns seen in other contested all-stock mergers.

Public Keys: CoreWeave Fusion Dance, $1 Billion Day for Bitcoin ETFs and Strategy's Bye Week

The situation is common in all-stock deals, especially when large shareholders began as distressed debt investors who converted bonds into equity in a reorganization, according to Jeffrey Emanuel, founder and CEO of blockchain infrastructure firm Pastel Network.

Those investors tend to lean more activist and are more aggressive in defending their rights, as is the case here, Emanuel told Decrypt.

Investors against a stock transaction will either want more of the consideration to be in the form of cash or a less volatile security (e.g., preferred equity), or they will want a more favorable merger ratio, he added.

CoreWeave Revenue Soars on AI Demand, But Heavy Spending Hits Profit

Still, CoreWeave would likely be unwilling to do those things because its in their interest to use their inflated stock as a currency, he said.

What is at issue, instead, is the wildly inflated valuation of CoreWeave stock, Emanuel said, particularly with its IPO lockup set to expire in a month, a milestone he expects will likely put pressure on the share price.

A shareholder vote on the deal is expected later this year, a timing that could add volatility to both companies shares.
A person has been arrested in connection to the death of a Security Forces airman after a firearm discharge at F.E. Warren Air Force Base last month that led to service-wide scrutiny of the Sig Sauer M18 handgun.

Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed on July 20 at the Wyoming base while on duty. Air Force Global Strike Command issued an immediate pause and subsequent investigation of the use of 9mm Sig Sauer M18 handguns, and the service as a whole directed a service-wide supplemental inspection of the pistol. The probe into the incident led to Friday's announcement.

"Since then, the investigation has progressed and an individual has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter," an Air Force spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "As with all individuals accused of a crime, the person arrested in this case is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

Read Next: The Little-Known Role of Jimmy Doolittle in Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

The news marks a major development in the ongoing investigation into the circumstances behind Lovan's death and the scrutiny of Sig Sauer's P320 handgun, including its M17 and M18 military variants, amid yearslong allegations and lawsuits tied to reported accidental discharges of the firearms.

Air Force officials did not immediately provide the name of the person who had been arrested or release a charge sheet on Friday that would include more detail about the accusations.

Air Force Global Strike Command's pause and probe of the M18 is ongoing. Additionally, the Air Force's service-wide inspection continues, a spokesperson told Military.com.

An attorney with Philadelphia-based law firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky who had been hired by Lovan's family told Military.com in an emailed statement that the Air Force is still seeking answers.

"We have understood for weeks that the Air Force is continuing to investigate this incident, including performing analysis on the weapon at issue," Attorney Robert Zimmerman said on Friday. "We look forward to a full review of the investigative file when it is ready."

Sig Sauer did not immediately provide a statement related to the development. The gunmaker, in a news release late last month, defended the safety of its P320 series handguns.

"The P320 pistol is one of the safest, most advanced pistols in the world -- meeting and exceeding all industry safety standards. Its design has been thoroughly tested and validated by the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels," Sig Sauer said in a July 29 post on its website.

Related: Air Force Conducting Service-Wide Inspections of Sig Sauer M18 Pistol After Airman's Death
A man suspected in a shooting at a Montana bar that left four people dead was captured Friday just a few miles from where the shooting happened after hundreds of law enforcement officers spent the past week scouring nearby mountainsides, authorities said.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, was taken into custody around 2 p.m. near the area where authorities had focused their search in the days following the Aug. 1 shooting at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, about 100 miles (190 km) from Missoula.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said during a news conference that about 130 law enforcement officers made a hard push Thursday after getting tips that helped verify they were looking in the right area.

We think that was directly correlated to flushing him out, Knudsen said of the number of officers that had swarmed the area. "We were able to move really quickly and get our suspect apprehended.

Gov. Greg Gianforte first confirmed Browns capture on social media Friday afternoon, saying it was an incredible response from law enforcement officers across the state.

They followed up on every tip. They spent hours climbing over these mountains, looking for this criminal, the governor said later during the news conference. They used every resource available to them to search for him.

The community finally would be able to sleep tonight, Anaconda-Deer Valley County Attorney Morgan Smith said, adding that the case is just the beginning for prosecutors who will be seeking to charge Brown with the killings.

It was not immediately clear if Brown had legal representation. Email and phone messages were left Friday with the Montana public defender's office.

Montana authorities have not said what sparked last week's shooting, which killed a female bartender and three male patrons. They were identified as Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

Browns niece, Clare Boyle, said Kelley worked as an oncology nurse before becoming a bartender to fill free time in her retirement and that she was a close family friend who helped Brown's mother when she was sick.

The shooting rattled the tight-knit town of about 9,000 people and prompted the closure of a 22-square-mile (57-square-kilometer) stretch of forest as authorities searched for Brown. Earlier in the week, Knudsen had said it didn't appear that Brown had broken into any cabins or homes in the area for food or additional supplies.

Eric Hempstead, who owns The Ranch Bar, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of The Owl Bar, described an intense law enforcement presence in the densely wooded area over the last couple days that involved search dogs.

The guy was never going to make it out in the open, he said, noting that he and his neighbors were armed and ready to protect themselves.

Brown, who lived next door to The Owl Bar in Anaconda, served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005. He also was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009.

Boyle told The Associated Press that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years and she and other family members repeatedly sought help.

Before Brown's father died in 2015, Boyle said Brown was a good, loving uncle and worked odd jobs such as painting and roofing. Then, she and other family members noticed a slip in his mental state. Brown began experiencing delusions and often did not know who, when or where he was.

Family members had requested welfare checkups when they believed he was becoming a danger to himself. He was an avid hunter and kept guns at his home. Boyle said Brown would tell authorities he was fine.

The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Department did not respond this week to several email and phone messages requesting records of the welfare checks Boyle said they helped conduct on Brown in the years leading up to the shooting.

Montana is not among the states that have red flag laws allowing families to formally petition for guns to be removed from the homes of people who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The state Legislature passed a bill this year banning local governments from enacting their own red flag gun laws. The governor signed it into law in May.

___

Associated Press writer Thomas Peipert in Denver contributed to this report.
Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle famously led the first U.S. strike against the Japanese homeland during World War II, and Doolittle as a lieutenant general also had a little-known role by happenstance in the last strike in the form of the atomic bombing that destroyed Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

Doolittle became involved when a distraught Navy Cmdr. Frederick L. "Dick" Ashworth came to his tent on just-liberated Okinawa to give a report on what he then thought was a failed mission to bomb Nagasaki with the second atomic weapon used in warfare, resulting in the bomber missing the target and ending up with a "Mayday" landing on Okinawa.

Ashworth, who had been the "weaponeer" aboard the B-29 Superfortress in charge of arming the bomb, had just come from a harrowing landing in which two engines conked out for lack of fuel. He could have expected the chewing out of the century for bursting into the general's tent unannounced to give a failed mission report, but Doolittle settled on hearing out Ashworth after his initial "Who the hell are you?" greeting.

"Commander Frederick L. Ashworth, U. S. Navy, reporting, sir. We've just dropped the second atomic bomb over Nagasaki. We need to send a report back to Guam, but your communications people aren't cooperating," Ashworth would later recall in a 1958 article for the U.S. Naval Institute.

"Well, son, sit down and tell me about it," Doolittle said.

Ashworth, a 1933 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who had earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for his service on torpedo bombers in the Solomon Islands, told of a mission plagued by mishaps before the B-29 carrying the 10,000-pound plutonium bomb dubbed "Fatman" got off the ground from Tinian island for the 1,500-mile flight to Japan.

A pump on a reserve fuel tank had failed, meaning that the mission would have to proceed without a hitch for the bomber to make it back to Tinian, but there were several hitches to come.

The B-29 was dubbed "Bockscar," for its usual pilot Frederick Carl Bock, but the pilot of Bockscar for the Nagasaki mission was Maj. Charles Sweeney. Bock instead flew a B-29 called "The Great Artiste" that carried scientific instruments and photography to measure and record the effects of the nuclear weapon.

A third B-29 carrying special cameras missed a rendezvous point, forcing Bockscar to waste fuel waiting for the third plane to show up before the decision was made to proceed to the primary target of the city of Kokura without it.

"So we headed for Kokura, our primary target," Ashworth wrote. "However, at 30,000 feet over Kokura, we looked down at a heavy concentration of haze and smoke, apparently resulting from a bombing attack the night before on Yawata, just across the river. That place was still burning."

The Bockscar crew was under strict orders from Gen. George C. Marshall to make a visual sighting of the target and not bomb by radar. The B-29 made three passes over the city, burning more fuel, but could not find a hole in the clouds for bombardier Capt. Kermit Beahan. It was said of Beahan that he could drop a bomb on a pickle barrel from 30,000 feet.

"After the third pass over Kokura, ground anti-aircraft fire opened up on us," Ashworth wrote. "Shortly after, we saw about 20 fighters on their way up. The decision to get out of there and head for our secondary target of Nagasaki was not difficult to make."

Ashworth continued: "At this point, we broke radio silence to notify air-sea rescue teams that we might have to ditch south of Japan. As we approached Nagasaki, the weather appeared to have deteriorated to almost solid overcast. That left us in a real pickle. Here we were supposed to drop an atomic bomb on Nagasaki under visual conditions, and we couldn't even see Nagasaki!"

"At the last minute -- actually about the last 20 seconds -- the bombardier, who had been following very closely the radar run, and who had been receiving dropping angles from the radar operator, detected what he thought was the aiming point, a bend in the river flowing through the middle of Nagasaki. He yelled that he had his bomb sight on the target and let go visually."

The air burst of the Fatman bomb exploded at an altitude of about 1,650 feet with a force of about 22 kilotons of TNT, compared to the 12.5-kiloton "Little Boy" uranium bomb that destroyed Hiroshima three days earlier on Aug. 6, 1945, according to initial estimates.

The initial estimates also were that 60,000 to 80,000 people were killed in the Nagasaki bombing, compared to the 90,000 to 166,000 killed at Hiroshima, but many thousands more were to die of the aftereffects.

"Our gas shortage restricted us to one turn around the atomic [mushroom] cloud, after which we picked up a heading for Okinawa. On the way, I pulled out my target chart. A prolonged examination produced a gnawing uncertainty," Ashworth wrote. "I knew we had hit Nagasaki, but did we hit our target?"

Doolittle interrupted: "What do you think? Did you hit the target?"

Ashworth replied: "No, sir, I don't think we did." He pointed to a spot on the map that was about a mile and a half northeast of the main target. Doolittle then leaned over "and took a closer look at the map. A smile played upon his lips. Then, he stood up and put his arm around my shoulders."

"Well, son, I wouldn't worry a bit about that mission," Doolittle said. "I'm sure that General Spaatz [Gen. Carl Spaatz, commander of Strategic Forces] will be much happier to know that the bomb went off up there in the industrial area instead of over the city of Nagasaki."

Six days after the Nagasaki bombing, Emperor Hirohito announced the unconditional surrender of Japan on Aug. 15, 1945. The formal surrender documents were signed aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945.

In his radio address to the nation announcing the surrender, Hirohito, whose voice was being heard by much of the Japanese public for the first time, said, "We must bear the unbearable and endure the unendurable in order to pave the way for peace for all future generations."

"Furthermore, the enemy has begun to employ a new and cruel bomb, causing immense and indiscriminate destruction, the extent of which is beyond all estimation," Hirohito said. "Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but it would also lead to the total extinction of human civilization."
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP)  The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb.

The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on Aug. 9, 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II and the nearly half-century of aggression by the country across Asia.

About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang.

Even after the war ended, the atomic bomb brought invisible terror, 93-year-old survivor Hiroshi Nishioka said in his speech at the memorial, noting that many who had survived without severe wounds started bleeding from gums and losing hair and died.

Never use nuclear weapons again, or were finished, he said.

Doves released

Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack. He said that the citys memories of the bombing are a common heritage and should be passed down for generations in and outside Japan.

The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth, Suzuki said. In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.

A world without war

Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocenter Park, located below the bombs exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony.

I simply seek a world without war," said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the hypocenter monument decorated with colorful origami paper cranes and other offerings.

Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japans feudal era.

The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers.

Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction.

Passing down lessons

Aging survivors and their supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack isn't distant history, but an issue that remains relevant to their future.

There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war, said Fumi Takeshita, an 83-year-old survivor. I seek a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace.

In the hope of passing down the lessons of history to current and future generations, Takeshita visits schools to share her experience with children.

When you grow up and remember what you learned today, please think what each of you can do to prevent war, Takeshita told students during a school visit earlier this week.

Teruko Yokoyama, an 83-year-old member of a Nagasaki organization supporting survivors, said that she thinks of the growing absence of those she had worked with, and that fuels her desire to document the lives of others who are still alive.

The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86. Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to clearly recall the attack.

We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages of the survivors and thier lifetime story, said Yokoyama, whose two sisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation.

Her organization has started to digitize the narratives of survivors for viewing on YouTube and other social media platforms with the help of a new generation.

There are younger people who are beginning to take action, Yokoyama told The Associated Press on Friday. So I think we dont have to get depressed yet.

Nagasaki hosted a peace forum on Friday where survivors shared their stories with more than 300 young people from around the country. Seiichiro Mise, a 90-year-old survivor, said that he's handing seeds of flowers of peace to the younger generation in hopes of seeing them bloom.

Japan's security dilemma

Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence. They criticize the Japanese governments refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer because Japan, as an American ally, says it needs U.S. nuclear possession as deterrence.

In Ishiba's speech, the prime minister reiterated Japans pursuit of a nuclear-free world, pledging to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and nonnuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York. Ishiba didn't mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

Countries must move from words to action by strengthening the global disarmament regime, with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, at the center, complemented by the momentum created by the nuclear weapons ban treaty, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his message read by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu in Nagasaki.

Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony on Saturday. The government in China notably notified the city that it wouldn't be present without providing a reason.

The ceremony last year stirred controversy because of the absence of the U.S. ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese citys refusal to invite officials from Israel.

___

Mari Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

___

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___

Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/
Is YouTube Secretly Googles Golden Goose?







(Does Google Own Youtube)

Ever wonder who really owns YouTube? You watch videos there daily. Maybe you even upload your own. That familiar logo and layout feel universal. But the truth is simple: Google owns YouTube. This isnt a secret. It happened way back in 2006. Understanding this connection matters. It shapes your experience on the platform. Lets peel back the layers.

**1. What Does Google Owns YouTube Actually Mean?**

Google owns YouTube completely. YouTube operates as a subsidiary of Google. Think of Google as the parent company. YouTube is one of its many children. This ownership means Google controls YouTube. Google makes the big decisions. Google provides the massive technical backbone. Google handles the money. When you use YouTube, youre using a Google service. Your YouTube account links to your Google account. Your data flows between them. Google sets the rules for what content stays up. Google decides how ads work on videos. Google invests the money to keep YouTube running globally. Google owns the YouTube brand. Google owns all the technology behind it. Google owns the vast libraries of videos uploaded. This control is total. Its not a partnership. Its not a minor investment. Google bought YouTube outright. YouTube answers to Google.

**2. Why Did Google Buy YouTube?**

Google bought YouTube for several smart reasons. First, video was exploding online. Google saw the future. People loved sharing and watching videos. Google needed a strong player in this space. YouTube was already winning. It was the top site for user-generated videos. Google had its own video service, Google Video. It wasnt catching on. YouTube was growing incredibly fast. Buying YouTube was faster than building something new. Second, Google saw huge advertising potential. Video ads are powerful. People pay attention. Google knew how to sell ads better than anyone. Combining YouTubes audience with Googles ad tech was a goldmine. Third, YouTube had massive user engagement. People spent hours watching videos. Google values user attention highly. More time spent means more ad views. More data collected. Fourth, it was strategic defense. Other big companies wanted YouTube. Microsoft and Yahoo were interested. Google didnt want rivals to get it. They paid $1.65 billion in stock. It seemed huge then. Today, it looks like a bargain. YouTube became central to Googles empire.

**3. How Did the Google-YouTube Deal Happen?**

The deal happened surprisingly fast. YouTube started in early 2005. It grew like wildfire. By late 2006, it was a phenomenon. Google noticed. Talks started secretly. Google executives met YouTube founders Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. Negotiations were intense but quick. Both sides saw the value. Google offered stock, not cash. This protected YouTube founders if Googles stock dropped. It also tied their success together. The deal closed in November 2006. The announcement shocked the tech world. $1.65 billion was a massive sum for such a young company. Many analysts thought Google overpaid. YouTube faced lawsuits over copyrighted content. That was a big risk. Google believed it could handle the legal issues. It integrated YouTube carefully. Google kept the YouTube brand strong. It didnt rename it Google Video. That was smart. People trusted the YouTube name. Google focused on improving the technology. It scaled up servers. It made the site more reliable. It added features slowly. The transition was mostly smooth for users. The founders stayed for a while. Eventually, they moved on. Google fully absorbed YouTube into its operations.

**4. Applications: How Googles Ownership Shapes Your YouTube**

Google owning YouTube changes everything about how you use it. See it every day. The search bar? Thats Googles legendary search engine powering YouTube results. Your recommendations? Googles complex algorithms analyze everything you watch. They suggest videos to keep you glued. The ads you see? Googles massive AdSense network places them. Advertisers bid using Googles tools. Creators earn money through Googles AdSense program. Your account? Its a Google Account. Signing in with Gmail works. Your watch history? Saved in your Google activity. Google uses this data across its services. It helps target ads better. Features like YouTube Music and YouTube Premium? Bundled with Google services. Google pushes YouTube integration across Android phones. YouTube TV competes with cable using Googles infrastructure. Copyright claims? Handled through Googles Content ID system. Monetization rules? Set by Google policies. Even the video compression technology? Often powered by Googles research. Googles deep pockets fund YouTubes constant development. New features, global access, fighting spam  it all costs money. Google provides it. Without Google, YouTube wouldnt be the giant it is today. It might not even exist.

**5. FAQs: Your Burning Questions About Google & YouTube**

People often ask key questions about this ownership.

* **Did Google create YouTube?** No. YouTube was created independently by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim in February 2005. Google bought it in November 2006.

* **Why doesnt Google rename YouTube?** Brand recognition. YouTube was already huge. Renaming it would confuse users and waste that value. Google wisely kept the powerful brand name.

* **Does Google control YouTube content?** Yes, indirectly. Google sets YouTubes community guidelines and terms of service. It decides what content is allowed or demonetized. It responds to legal requests and copyright claims. Creators must follow Google/YouTube rules.

* **Is YouTube profitable for Google?** Yes, absolutely. While exact figures are complex, YouTube generates tens of billions in ad revenue yearly. Its a major profit center, validating the expensive purchase.

* **Does Google use my YouTube data?** Yes. Data from your YouTube activity (searches, watch history) is linked to your Google account. Google uses this data primarily to personalize ads across its services and improve recommendations on YouTube itself. You can manage some privacy settings.

* **Could YouTube exist without Google?** Its unlikely at its current scale. The costs of bandwidth, storage, staff, legal battles, and technology are astronomical. Few companies besides Google (or maybe Amazon, Meta, Microsoft) could sustain it. Its pre-Google growth was rapid, but Google provided the fuel for global domination.







(Does Google Own Youtube)

* **Are YouTube and Google the same company?** Technically, YouTube is a subsidiary owned by Alphabet Inc., Googles parent company. For everyday purposes, saying Google owns and runs YouTube is accurate. You interact with Google systems when using YouTube.

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Cracking Samsungs TV Code: What UA43NU7100SXNZ Really Tells You







(What Do The Numbers In A Sumsung Tv Ua43nu7100sxnz Mean)

Ever stared at your Samsung TVs model number? It looks like alphabet soup mashed with numbers. Take UA43NU7100SXNZ. It seems random. It isnt. Samsung packs important specs right into that name tag. Think of it like your TVs secret decoder ring. Understanding it helps you shop smarter and know your screen better. Lets break down UA43NU7100SXNZ piece by piece.

**1. What Do the Letters and Numbers in Samsung TV Models Mean?**

Samsung model numbers arent gibberish. They follow a pattern. Each part tells you something specific about the TV. Look at UA43NU7100SXNZ. It breaks down clearly. The first part is UA. This means its a UHD TV. UHD stands for Ultra High Definition. Thats 4K resolution. Four times sharper than old Full HD TVs. Next is 43. This is easy. Its the screen size in inches. Measured diagonally. So, a 43-inch TV. Then comes NU. This points to the series or model year. Here, NU means its from Samsungs 2018 lineup. The 7 after NU shows the tier level. Samsung uses numbers like 6, 7, 8, 9. Higher numbers mean more features or better quality. A 7-series TV sits comfortably in the mid-range. The 100 part often relates to the specific design or minor revisions within that series. Sometimes it distinguishes similar models. Finally, SXNZ usually indicates the region or country. SX might mean its sold in India or Southeast Asia. NZ could point to specific features or tuners for that market. Your TVs name tag isnt just random letters!

**2. Why Does Samsung Use Such Complicated Model Numbers?**

It seems messy. Samsung has good reasons. First, it gives precise product identification. Every single variation gets its own unique code. This helps Samsung track manufacturing. It helps retailers manage stock. It helps service centers identify the exact parts needed. Second, the code packs in key specs. Screen size, resolution, series year, quality tier  its all there. You dont need a separate spec sheet for the basics. Third, it signals positioning. Seeing NU7 tells you its a 2018 mid-range model. Seeing QN90 signals a top-tier 2021 QLED model. The code creates a hierarchy. Finally, regional suffixes like SXNZ ensure the TV meets local requirements. Broadcast standards differ. Power plugs differ. Language settings differ. The suffix ensures you get a TV built for your area. Its a compact information system.

**3. How to Decode Any Samsung TV Model Number Yourself**

You can crack the code. Its simpler than it looks. Start from the left. Identify the screen technology first. Common starters:

* UE = LED/LCD Full HD (1080p)

* UA = LED/LCD UHD (4K)

* QE or QN = QLED (Samsungs quantum dot tech), often 4K or 8K

* LS = Lifestyle models like The Frame

Next, find the screen size. Its usually the first two digits after the technology letters. Like 43 in UA43. This is always inches. Then, look for the series/year code. This is typically two letters right after the size. Examples:

* KU = 2016

* MU = 2017

* NU = 2018

* RU = 2019

* TU = 2020

* AU = 2021 (Crystal UHD)

* BU = 2022 (Crystal UHD)

* CU = 2023 (Crystal UHD)

After the series letters, find the tier number. Its usually a single digit (6,7,8,9). Higher is better. The following numbers (like 100, 200, 500) refine the model within the tier. Finally, the ending letters (like SXNZ) are the region code. You might need to look these up online for your specific area. Practice makes perfect. Try it on other models you see!

**4. Applications: Using Model Number Knowledge in the Real World**

Knowing the code is powerful. Use it when shopping. See a deal on a Samsung UA55AU7000? You instantly know: 55-inch, 2021 model (AU), Crystal UHD (UA), entry-level tier (7 series). Compare it fairly against other models. Avoid buying older stock thinking its new. A NU series (2018) might be deeply discounted but lacks newer tech found in AU (2021) or BU (2022) models. Understand the tier. A QN85B is a high-end 2022 QLED. A AU8000 is a 2021 entry-level Crystal UHD. They serve different needs and budgets. Know your tier. Troubleshoot smarter. Searching for fixes or compatible accessories? The exact model number ensures you get the right info. A mount for a 43-inch UA model might differ slightly from a UE model. Understand regional features. A model ending in UXZA (Europe) might have different tuners or smart features than SXNZ (Asia). Check compatibility if importing. This knowledge saves time and avoids mistakes.

**5. Samsung TV Model Number FAQs**







(What Do The Numbers In A Sumsung Tv Ua43nu7100sxnz Mean)

Are Samsung model numbers the same worldwide? No. The core specs (size, tech, series, tier) are usually the same. The ending region code changes. Features like tuners, remotes, or default apps might adjust for local markets. A UA43NU7100SXNZ is built for specific regions. Can I tell the exact year from the model number? Mostly yes. The series code (like NU, RU, AU) reliably indicates the launch year. Samsung typically releases new models each spring. NU is 2018, RU is 2019, AU is 2021, and so on. What does the Crystal UHD in newer models mean? Models starting with AU, BU, or CU are Crystal UHD. This refers to Samsungs standard 4K LED TVs. They use an LCD panel with a LED backlight. They sit below the QLED range in features and price. How do QLED model numbers differ? QLED models usually start with Q (e.g., Q60A, QN85B, QN90C). The number after the Q (or QN) indicates the tier. N often signifies Neo QLED with mini-LED backlighting for better contrast. Higher numbers (90, 95) mean higher tiers. Why do some model numbers have extra letters like K or W? Sometimes extra letters denote specific designs or stands. For example, a K might mean a special color finish. A W might indicate a specific wall-mount design. Check the full specs for details on these less common suffixes.

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Dear Eric: I have moved to a new community and many of the older residents keep asking me what church I go to. I have not attended any church for decades as the church I went to preached things that were not practiced.

One of these older residents of the community has told me that the Bible actually says that the races should not intermarry because each race has its own disease and God did this so people would not intermarry. He is extremely prejudiced. I have not confronted him on the hateful language he uses.

How do I tell these people I am not discussing religion or have no plans to attend any church?

 Still Trying to Be Polite

Dear Polite: There are so many different churches and so many different ways of practicing ones faith. So, I hope for your sake that the one prejudiced resident is not representative of the views of the others in the community. Its likely they go to a number of different churches, and hopefully they have a more accurate understanding of religious doctrine. At the very least, avoid him. You dont have to be polite in the face of hate. You can tell him plainly, I dont want to hear this and I wont discuss this with you anymore.

As for the others, they may be asking out of general curiosity. Its not impolite to tell them the simple truth: you dont go to church. Then change the subject.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WEXFORD COUNTY, MI - A 23-year-old Mesick man has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault complaint involving a minor under the age of 14.

Police believe Joshua Johnson used social media platforms to contact victims, establish relationships, and then coerce them into sexual acts, based on an investigation that began June 17.

Johnson was arrested on July 21 by the Seventh District Fugitive Team and lodged in the Wexford County Jail without incident, police said.

He was then arraigned in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree, involving a victim between 13 and 15 years of age, police said.

Police believe there may be additional victims who have not yet reported the criminal acts to authorities.

Anyone who believes themself or their child may have been inappropriately contacted by Johnson is urged to contact the MSP Cadillac Post at (231) 779-6040.

Johnson was given a $150,000 cash surety bond, and his next scheduled court appearance is at 2 p.m. Aug. 18, police said.

MSP encourages parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online, including:
CorMedix, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in critical care products, has signed an agreement to acquire Melinta Therapeutics for $300m upfront.

The acquisition includes additional milestone payments related to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the expanded Rezzayo indication.

The total consideration will comprise $260m in cash and $40m in equity, which will be issued to Melinta's shareholders of Deerfield Management Company.

The cash component will be financed through existing funds and proceeds from CorMedixs new $150m convertible debt financing arrangement with healthcare investors, including Deerfield.

There is also potential for an extra payout of up to $25m based on future Rezzayo regulatory milestones, with the milestone to be achieved by 30 June 2029.

The acquisition also entails royalties from US net sales of both Rezzayo and Minocin.

The transaction is subject to the waiting period expiration or termination under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

CorMedix anticipates that the acquisition could close as early as 1 September 2025.

CorMedix CEO Joseph Todisco stated: This acquisition is a transformational step in the evolution of CorMedix, providing an attractive revenue base of highly synergistic assets, as well as multiple opportunities to drive future growth.

We are excited to acquire Melinta, which enables us to expand our product portfolio in the hospital space while delivering therapies to patients with high unmet needs.

The combination with Melinta creates a formidable and diversified speciality platform with a deep and experienced team in the hospital acute care and infectious disease arena.

The acquisition is set to enhance CorMedixs team and commercial platform while broadening its portfolio with seven marketed, highly differentiated infectious disease products: Baxdela (delafloxacin), Kimyrsa (oritavancin), Minocin (minocycline) for injection, Orbactiv (oritavancin), Rezzayo (rezafungin), Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate) for cardiovascular health and Vabomere (meropenem/vaborbactam).

Moelis & Company is the exclusive financial advisor to CorMedix for its acquisition of Melinta and the sole placement agent for convertible debt financing.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher serves as legal advisor to CorMedix for both the acquisition and financing.

RBC Capital Markets is also advising CorMedix on the convertible debt financing, while Goodwin Procter is advising Moelis & Company.

"CorMedix signs agreement to acquire Melinta for $300m" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
A Michigan State Police logo on the side of a vehicle. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com)

MANISTEE COUNTY, MI - Troopers from the Michigan State Police (MSP) have arrested a man in connection with an alleged sexual assault that occurred on Jan. 5, 2023.

The incident took place at two locations in Manistee and Lake counties, police said. Following a lengthy investigation, an arrest warrant was authorized for 23-year-old Joshua Dekoekkoek of Irons.

On August 1, 2025, Dekoekkoek was arrested without incident and was booked into the Manistee County Jail, police said.

Dekoekkoek was arraigned on Aug. 3 in the 85th District Court in Manistee County on two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with Force/Coercion in the Third Degree.

He was given a $10,000 cash surety bond, with his next scheduled court appearance set for 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 13.
Bradford James Gille, the suspect in the Traverse City Walmart mass stabbing, has been ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation. (AP File photo | Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle) AP

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI  The man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Traverse City Walmart last month will undergo a mental competency evaluation.

Bradford Gille, 42, is charged with 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one count of terrorism for his suspected role in the July 26 mass stabbing.

Each of the 12 counts carry a penalty of up to life in prison or any term of years.

According to court records, Gille  who was arraigned on July 28  has since been ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation.

Gille, a native of Pellston, had been scheduled to undergo a probable cause conference on Wednesday, Aug. 6, and a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Both court dates have been removed from the calendar, while Gille undergoes the evaluation at the Michigan State Center for Forensic Psychiatry. The evaluation will determine if Gille is capable of participating in his legal proceedings.

Gille, who was arraigned on July 28, has been disruptive at his court hearings so far.

During the arraignment hearing, he asked, Do I have to do this? I dont want to.

He later interrupted the magistrate, telling her, I dont want to talk to you.

When asked for his address, he started responding by saying: I saw a black and white video on the internet about psychotropic drugs being ..., before his attorney stopped him.

At an ensuing bond hearing, in which his bond was raised to $1 million, he damaged the camera that was sending his video feed to the courtroom.

The defendants bond conditions remain the same while he undergoes his competency evaluation, court records indicate.

Gille has a long history of issues with mental illness and substance use, according to family. He was first psychiatrically hospitalized at the age of 14, records show.
The restaurant owner came to the U.S. in 2019, but has allegedly overstayed his visa. Neil Blake File Photo | For MLive.com

One of the owners of the controversial Trump Burger restaurant franchise is facing deportation from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite his perceived allegiance to President Donald Trump, ICE arrested Roland Mehrez Beainy on May 16 and placed him in detention, The Hill reports.

Beainy came to the U.S. in 2019 from Lebanon on a non-immigrant visitor visa. However, it is alleged that he overstayed his visa and is now subject to deportation. Beainy was supposed to leave the U.S. in 2024, according to ICE.

Since coming to the U.S., Beainy helped open a small chain of burger restaurants in Texas known for stamping Trump into the top of its burgers. The menu and decor of the restaurants all heap praise on the president. The company recently opened its fourth location in Texas.

Beainy has been released on bond while his immigration case works through the courts. In a statement to The Hill, an ICE spokesperson said Beainy does not have any benefits related to his status that would prevent him from being deported.

It is unclear when Beainy will be back in court.
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Jewelry is displayed at a Claire's store on June 23, 2025 in Novato, California. The teen fashion retailer is seeking potential buyers as its business model is being impacted by surging import costs resulting from tariffs and increased competition. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images

Once a staple of shopping malls across the U.S., teens and tweens retailer Claires announced this week it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The once thriving retailer has faced numerous challenges in recent years caused in part by growing competition and a decrease in mall traffic nationwide.

While the company says it is exploring strategic alternatives to its current business model, it has also confirmed some stores are already set for closure. Heres what you need to know about the Claires bankruptcy announcement.

1. Claires files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time

Claires Holdings LLC has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in six years, following a previous filing in 2018. Despite operating approximately 2,750 stores across the United States, the company has been unable to overcome financial challenges that have persisted since its last restructuring. CEO Chris Cramer acknowledged the difficulty of this decision but deemed it necessary given the companys current financial situation.

2. Multiple factors contributed to the bankruptcy filing

According to Cramer, several factors necessitated the bankruptcy filing, including increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail. These industry-wide challenges, combined with Claires existing debt obligations and broader macroeconomic factors, created financial pressures the company could no longer sustain. The retailer, once extremely popular among teens and tweens, has struggled with declining business in recent years.

3. Most stores will remain open, but some are already scheduled to close

Despite the bankruptcy filing, Claires says most of its approximately 2,750 U.S. stores will remain open throughout the proceedings. The company has also assured that employees will continue to receive their regular pay while the restructuring process unfolds. This approach allows Claires to maintain its retail presence and workforce while it addresses its financial challenges and explores strategic alternatives for the business.

So far, 13 Claires locations and 5 Icing stores (which is owned by Claires) are scheduled to shutter by Sept. 7. Among these closures are two locations in Michigan, with the full list of closures available here.

4. Claires is exploring potential sale of assets

As part of its bankruptcy strategy, Claires announced it will begin the monetization process for its assets to maximize value for the business, suggesting the company is actively considering selling some or all of its operations. The bankruptcy filing revealed that Claires has between $1 billion and $10 billion in both liabilities and assets. The company stated it remains in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners as it reviews various strategic alternatives.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was edited and expanded by MLive staff.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, converses with staff on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at the University of Michigan after being handed the Champion of Science Award from David Miller, CEO of Michigan Medicine and the executive vice president for medical affairs at UM. Jackie Smith | MLive

ANN ARBOR, MI  Congresswoman Debbie Dingell tightly clasped a wooden plaque affixed to a small 3D-printed microscope early Friday afternoon, waving one hand as she listed the benefits of supporting scientific research with federal funding.

Her staff had gathered for a retreat in a side room at the University of Michigans Ruthven Building when UM officials popped in to present her with this years Champion of Science Award.
Food, music, and community took center stage in downtown Ypsilanti on Saturday, Aug. 9, as the city hosted the first-ever Ypsi Food Fest, a new event spotlighting local vendors and culinary entrepreneurs.

Hosted by Growing Hope in partnership with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, the one-day event at 301 W. Michigan Ave. featured more than 30 local food vendors, live music, lawn games and family-friendly activities.

The festival aims to highlight local culinary talent and small food businesses, many of which have worked with Growing Hopes urban farm and test kitchen programs.

The nonprofit also runs the Saturday Ypsilanti Farmers Market, known for its emphasis on local agriculture and food access.

The event is free and open to the public.

Several other events are also happening in Ypsilanti this weekend, including Fun Fest at Frog Island Park, community garage sales as part of Michigans Longest Garage Sale along U.S. Route 12 from Detroit to New Buffalo and the 15th annual Ton-Up Bike Show and Music Festival.

For updates and a full list of vendors and food trucks at Ypsi Food Fest, visit their Facebook page.
LANSING, MI  A fraudulent website, using the name of a fake university is attempting to invoke Eastern Michigans reputation and credibility to lure prospective students, Attorney General Dana Nessel warns.

As a result, Nessel issued a consumer alert on Friday, Aug. 8, warning prospective students and their families about fraudulent college and university websites.

These websites impersonate legitimate higher education institutions to exploit students financially and steal personal information, she stated in the alert.

Eastern Michigan University filed a complaint with Nessels office, reporting that a fraudulent website, smich.education, was using the name Southeastern Michigan University and attempting to invoke EMUs reputation and credibility.

The website, which is not connected to EMU and does not represent an actual unversity, appears to be attempting to lure prospective students worldwide who may be seeking online educational opportunities.

While Nessels office reviews potential actions against the people behind the website, the attorney general is urging prospective students to refrain from providing any personal or financial information to the site.

Fraudsters know that students and families are making big decisions about education, and theyre exploiting that moment to steal their hard-earned money, Nessel said. If something seems suspicious or too good to be true, do your homework before sharing any personal information.

I want to thank Eastern Michigan University for bringing this matter to our attention so we can help protect our students from these scams.

Walter Kraft, EMU VP of communications, said the university appreciated Nessel issuing the consumer alert.

Protecting students from deceptive and fraudulent schemes is a shared responsibility, Kraft stated. In an era where unscrupulous actors exploit digital platforms to mislead students, it is vital that we remain vigilant and proactive in defending those seeking legitimate educational opportunities.

A fake college or university website, Nessels office warned, may have:

Wrong or missing contact information: If there is no phone number, no address, or no one is answering, the website might be fake.

A domain that doesnt end in .edu: Most real colleges have websites that end in .edu. Fake sites may use .com, .net, .college, .education, or .university.

Promises that sound too good to be true: Fake colleges may say students can earn a degree without doing any homework. Some may also offer degrees in just a few weeks or allow students to obtain a degree based on experience alone.

Strange ways to pay: Real colleges will never ask students to pay using gift cards or cryptocurrency. Scammers use these methods because they are hard to trace.

Grammar or spelling mistakes: Fake websites often have misspelled words or confusing sentences.

Pushy advertising tactics: Fraudsters may use spam, pop-up ads, and high-pressure calls to advertise their fake school. Real colleges are less likely to do that.

Prospective students targeted by fraudulent college or university websites are encouraged to:
Prison staff intercepted a large number of substances after an attorney-client visit at Central Michigan Correctional Facility. Pictured is a sign outside the Michigan Department of Corrections' Muskegon Correctional Facility and the Ernest C. Brooks Correctional Facility (or E.C. Brooks) in Muskegon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

ST. LOUIS, MI - Staff at a Michigan prison facility caught an attorney attempting to smuggle drugs to his client at a recent visit.

During the Aug. 4 visit at Central Michigan Correctional Facility in St. Louis, the attorney was seen passing a package to their client, who is currently incarcerated at the facility, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Corrections.

When the prisoner was subsequently searched, officers discovered 211 strips of paper film suspected to be Suboxone, 68 grams of a brown, waxy substance, and 45 grams of white powder.

This recovery protected countless individuals from potential illness, overdose, or violence associated with the sale of these drugs or from those under the influence, said Heidi E. Washington, MDOC director.

Michigan State Police were called onsite after the discovery to further investigate.

A search of the attorneys car revealed additional Suboxone strips and white powder.

The attorney is under investigation by MSP and the prisoner is currently undergoing discipline and investigation according to MDOC department policy.

MDOC has implemented new technologies to combat contraband smuggling attempts such as body scanners, package scanners and legal mail verification.

Improved search procedures, officer training and investment in intelligence activities are also helping to address security risks.

As the nature of contraband continues to evolve, the department continues to implement effective strategies to deter and halt such illegal activities, said Correctional Facility Administration Deputy Director, Jeremy Bush.

This case is still under investigation and the department is not releasing suspect names at this time.

I want to especially commend our officers, whose vigilance and dedication were instrumental in this drug bust, Washington said. We are proud of them and all the staff who worked together not only to make this operation a success, but for the work they do every day to protect those in our custody, their colleagues and the people of Michigan.
John Ball Zoo envisions building a large-scale waterfront aquarium on a 190-acre property along the Grand River in Walker that formerly housed a landfill. (Rendering provided by John Ball Zoo) Courtesy

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - My niece in South Carolina is a marine life fan like her aunt, so I have been planning a trip to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

The aquarium is one of the largest and best in the world. I think she will love the sea lion exhibit. The playful marine animals with tons of personality are among many there to delight and engage the millions of guests.

Readers continue to have a high interest in John Ball Zoos proposed large-scale waterfront aquarium, projected to cost upwards of $350 million. CEO Peter DArienzo, who has the goal of opening the facility by 2031, says whats envisioned would rival the best aquariums.

He spoke with reporter Brian McVicar about the facility, including the economic impact and shared some renderings, giving readers their first glimpse of the massive aquarium planned on the former Fenske landfill in Walker along the Grand River. Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg raised questions for consideration if the county is asked to partner on the project.

Many readers shared John Agars story about the jogger struck and killed on Monday in Spencer Township. He was identified as Peter Luea, 53, a doctor from Dimondale, just outside of Lansing. There are not a lot of details available yet.

Ehren Wynder reported the big business news this week with the announcement that longtime furniture manufacturer, Steelcase, was being acquired by HNI for $2.2 billion. He told readers all about the Iowa-based company, including how it rose from humble beginnings to become one of the top global office furniture manufacturers alongside Steelcase.

Melissa Frick reported on the new outdoor marketplace in Kent County. The city of Wyoming plans to host a grand opening on Aug. 16, with construction nearing completion on the Godwin Mercado at 301 36th St. The new public space will serve as a venue for farmers and artisan markets, live music, food demonstrations and community events.

Readers were also curious about what the leaders of several West Michigan Hispanic organizations shared with U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, during her visit to Grand Rapids on Monday.

Guillermo Cisneros, president and CEO of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, attended the lunch at MeXo with Slotkin. He spoke about the fear of deportation, telling reporter Danielle James later about how the policies of President Donald Trumps administration were causing fewer Hispanic and Latino community members to participate in West Michigans economy.

Those are just some of the stories in the Grand Rapids area this week that interested our readers.

Monica Scott is the editor for MLive Media Groups The Grand Rapids Press and Muskegon Chronicle. She was previously a reporter who covered the city, county and schools in Grand Rapids.
Police said the adult suspect is cooperating with investigators. RichLegg | Getty Images

WYOMING, MI - A 14-year-old was injured in an accidental shooting Friday night, according to the Wyoming Police Department.

Officers responded at 10:20 p.m. to reports of a shooting in the 4000 block of Heron Avenue SW.

The teen victim was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The adult suspect is cooperating with investigators.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicated this was an isolated and accidental incident.

Detectives from the Wyoming Police Department, along with members of the Forensic Science Unit, are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Wyoming Police detectives at 616-530-7300 or report anonymously through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345, 1-866-774-2345, or online at www.silentobserver.org.
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Some consumers have become super cautious, but thats not stopping Crocs Inc. CEO from taking some bold steps to ensure sustainable growth on a going-forward basis.

As we have consistently said, we are not trying to manage our business quarter-to-quarter. We had a solid first half of the year with our brands fueling strong gross profit and cash flow. The current environment in the second half is concerning, and we see that clearly reflected in retail order books, Crocs CEO Andrews Rees said. We strongly believe this is a time to make bold decisions for the future to sustain and advance our durable cash flow model. As a result, we have chosen to amplify certain measures in the second half of the year to protect brand health and profitability.

More from WWD

Rees told investors in a conference call on Thursday after the company posted second quarter results that a portion of the consumer base is no longer going to stores, and that has impacted the shoe firms wholesale business. Not only are order books down for the start of the second half, but the lower-end consumer is also making fewer trips to the firms outlet stores, he said. The decline in orders has the company, in part, expecting a 9 percent to 11 percent decrease in third quarter revenue. Rees emphasized that the projection embeds conservative assumptions around returns of cancelations. He also said the company is losing some shelf space to athletic brands, but is also working on picking up shelf space in the summer with sandals.

Despite that early trend, he said theres also been strong trajectory in the sandal business, which is expected to grow next year, helped by new product innovation on clogs slated for the fourth quarter. And the firm is growing its personalization business, both in Jibbitz and expanding that beyond Jibbitz into a broader personalization offer, Rees said.

Crocs last week opened its new Icon store at 543 Broadway in the SoHo neighborhood in Manhattan. The concept, which allows for hosting shopping events, also incorporates two areas for personalization options.

For the Crocs brand, he said the company, in addition to adjusting its forward receipts, has pulled back on promotional activity across the direct channels since May.

While this has and will continue to impact our top line, we see this as an opportunity to drive margin dollars over time, support continued cash flow generation and tightened brand control, Rees said.
SALINE, MI  Shoppers in search of deals, vintage treasures and handmade goods can hit the road this weekend as Michigans Longest Garage Sale returns along the historic U.S. 12 Heritage Trail.

The 200-mile-long event runs Friday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 10, stretching from New Buffalo to Detroit and winding through numerous southern Michigan towns, including Ypsilanti, Clinton, Saline, Brooklyn and the Irish Hills area.

Rose Standifer of Carrolton visited 10 garage sales on Friday. Standifer explained her way to finding the best treasures.

Talking to the people who sell it, they come up with better things for you, Standifer said. Ask the people when you arrive to help find something you might be looking for.

The U.S. 12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale draws thousands of bargain hunters from across the state. Residents, businesses and organizations set up along the highway to sell antiques, furniture, collectibles, crafts, tools, books, fresh produce and more.

Garage sales all along U.S. 12 welcome bargain hunters from all over to look through antiques, furniture, toys and collectibles on Friday, August. 8, 2025. This garage sale is located at 1265 E. Michigan Ave. Abra Richardson | MLive.com

From barns and churches to suburban yards and roadside stands, sellers showcase a wide variety of items. Clusters of vendors in some areas turn fields, parking lots and fairgrounds into bustling temporary markets, while other stretches take on the feel of a classic yard sale.

Many shoppers simply follow the U.S. 12 corridor  one of Michigans oldest roads, established in 1825  hunting for hidden gems while taking in the small towns, local landmarks and scenic countryside along the way.

Organizers urge drivers to slow down, stay alert and use caution when parking or walking near sale areas. Some towns offer designated parking or shuttle services to help reduce traffic congestion.

A full map of vendor locations and travel tips is available at us12heritagetrail.org and on the U.S. 12 Heritage Trail Facebook page.
A new storybook trail behind St. Paul's United Methodist Church honors long-time resident Anne Coombs who shared her love of reading with countless children. Courtesy/ Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI  A storybook trail, dedicated to the memory of a 90-year resident who shared her love of reading with countless children, is now open in a small town near Kalamazoo.

Anne Coombs worked at the Lawton Public Library for 37 years and died in 2022. She hosted many story hours and just loved to read and share her love of reading with kids, her daughter Susan Woodruff said.

The trail is located behind St. Pauls United Methodist Church at 63855 North M-40 Highway, just north of Lawton. Its about 850 yards long and has 10 storybook stations, each revealing the next page of a childrens book, Woodruff said.

One of the stops on a storybook trail in Lawton, Michigan. Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Use of the trail is free and open to everyone daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There are also other types of stations along the trail, Woodruff said.

We have a gnome village and a fairy village. A tea party area and a peacock area and ladybugs and butterflies and all these different things that my mom loved, she said.

A new storybook trail behind St. Paul's United Methodist Church honors long-time resident Anne Coombs who shared her love of reading with countless children. Courtesy/ Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

The trail, made of crushed asphalt, is mostly level and easily maneuverable by strollers and people with walkers, Woodruff said. Benches are available at the end of the trail and at the tea party area for adults to rest while their children play.

A different book will be displayed each month, she said. At the end of the trail, theres a picture of a butterfly that kids can take a picture of to get a free childrens book at the Lawton Public Library.

The variety of free books are geared for kids ages 2 through 11, Woodruff said. One book per child per summer is available.

Everyone is welcome to use the trail, Woodruff said. Older kids, younger kids would enjoy it too. I enjoy it just as an adult.

The trail is sponsored by the Womens Fellowship Group of St. Pauls church, Woodruff said, of which she is a member. Most of the seed money came from memorial donations at Coombs service, but the Womens Fellowship Group supplied the rest, including donating the books.

The view from a new storybook trail in Lawton, Michigan. Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Susan Woodruffs husband, Mike Woodruff, built the stands for the book pages and the benches along the trail.

Woodruff said the church group is planning different activities for the trail every month.

This month, kids can do a scavenger hunt, where laminated cards are available at one of the stations to take and present at the Modern Well, a coffee shop in Lawton, for a free ice cream cone.

Woodruff said the goal is to involve the community. In October, for example, she is planning to decorate the trail in a Halloween theme with ghosts and bats and different things, she said.

And little bags of candy. But theyll have to go to one of the businesses to get it, she said.

The trail will likely stay open until the end of October, she said, then open again next year around May, depending on the weather and use.

Coombs loved to throw parties, especially tea parties, Woodruff said. Many folks in Lawton were invited to her tea parties.

They were fancy affairs, with tea sandwiches and tea things. She was very big into that, Woodruff said.

While the trail has been open since July, its official opening ceremony was Sunday, Aug. 3, featuring a pig roast and community picnic attended by about 120 people, Woodruff said.

Her mother would absolutely be thrilled about this trail, Woodruff said. Because its getting families out there and reading.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI  Thousands of visitors transformed South Havens downtown and waterfront into a bustling celebration of everything blueberry on a steamy hot Saturday, Aug. 9, for the annual National Blueberry Festival.

The four-day event, from Thursday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10, attracts more than 100,000 visitors every year to the Blueberry Capital of the World, according to Brianne Hooper, the festivals board president. It runs until 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The festival is one of the nations oldest and longest continually running fruit festivals, Hooper wrote in an email to MLive, starting more than 60 years ago with a recipe competition.

This year, visitors can look forward to all the classic favorites that make the National Blueberry festival so special, Hooper said. The heart of the event remains the same, featuring fun for the whole family, delicious blueberry treats, lively music and a great community atmosphere.

Among those attending the festival were Susie Dorazio, 41, who came with her husband Andrew Dorazio, 40, and their two kids, ages 4 and 6.

The family lives in Chicago, but has visited South Haven regularly since about 1992, visiting a cottage in town left by Susie Dorazios grandmother. However, other family members always got the cottage during the Blueberry Festival, so she hadnt been to the event since she was a kid, she said.

So far theyve been enjoying the festival, visiting every day. Its been awesome, she said. We did Farm Day, so we went to Bumbleberry Acres and the kids had a blast there.

I hear today is supposed to be the most crowded, but it hasnt been overwhelmingly crowded where you feel stressed out, Dorazio said.

Saturdays events started at 7:45 a.m. with a record of nearly 1,000 runners and walkers joining the 5K run/walk through downtown and along the waterfront, according to organizers.

Scenes from the National Blueberry Festival Grand Parade on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in South Haven, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

The parade started at 11 a.m. at the high school, moving up Kalamazoo Street to downtowns Phoenix Street and down Center Street past cheering crowds trying to stay cool in the shade.

A large truck from a local blueberry farms, DeGrandchamps Farms, led the parade with dozens of groups participating, including the South Haven High School marching band, Santas summer car, this years Blueberry Court finalists, the South Haven pickleball club, Casco community band and many others.

Another highlight of the festival was the annual pie eating contest, with the kids competition starting at 1 p.m. and adults at 3 p.m., held along the Black River.

Paul Layendecker from the local radio station Cosy Classic Hits 103.7 emceed the contest, directing the dozens of kids 14 years and under as they tried to devour as much of the blueberry pies as possible with hands held behind their backs.

Randy Hancock, 60, and his wife Cindy Hancock, 61, drove over for the day from Jackson. They relaxed on folding chairs set up on a blanket along the Harbor Walk, watching boats go by.

We come every year just for the festival, Cindy Hancock said.

Theres a lot of festivities going on, she said. Theres the craft show events, and we just like to sit here by the water.

From where they sat, they could also watch the pie eating contest, projected on a large screen.

The couple was planning to have dinner at Clementines, a restaurant in downtown South Haven, before heading back to Jackson.

Another festival mainstay is the bustling Blueberry Central Market at the Huron Street Pavilion, filled with familiar blueberry staples like jams, pies and scones, plus more creative blueberry dishes such as blueberry salsa, coffee, pet treats and freeze dried candy.

A craft fair with more than 175 vendors selling various arts and crafts, including jewelry, pottery, fabrics and more is located at Stanley Johnston Park along Dyckman Avenue across the Black River from Riverfront Park.

Starting at 4 p.m., the South Haven Steelheaders Fish Broil offered dinner to festival goers until the food runs out, according to organizers.

Other events on Saturday included a book sale, a beer tent, a quilt show and carnival rides.

Stephanie Greenstein rides the Chutes with her son, Eli, at the National Blueberry Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in South Haven, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

Parking can be an issue, so organizers encourage visitors to park at South Haven High School and take the Blueberry Express Shuttle, provided for free by Van Buren Public Transit, to festival activities. It is scheduled to run every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Events on Sunday are:

South Haven Regional Airport fly-in and Rotary pancake breakfast at South Haven Area Regional Airport. 7 a.m. to noon

Kiwanis Club blueberry pancake breakfast at Huron Street Pavilion. 9 a.m. to noon

Sand sculpture contest at North Beach. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Blueberry central market at Huron Street Pavilion. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Craft fair at Stanley Johnston Park. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A full schedule of events is available on the National Blueberry Festival website and on their app.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette photojournalist Chloe Trofatter was there to capture the event. Check out the full gallery above, or click here.
NEWBERG TOWNSHIP, MI - A two-vehicle crash on Friday, Aug. 8, sent a woman to the hospital, according to the Cass County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies responded to the crash at approximately 8:45 p.m. east of the intersection of M-60 and Woodlake Road in Newberg Township.

The investigation showed that Nora Gill, 44, of Chicago, IL, was driving eastbound on M-60. Logan King, 19, of Plainwell, Mich., was driving westbound on M-60 when he crashed into Gills vehicle while turning into the eastbound lane.

King failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Gill was then transported by Newberg Township EMS to Three Rivers Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.

Assisting agencies were the Newberg Township Fire Department and Newberg Township EMS.

Police said drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors, but the crash remains under investigation.
MUSKEGON, MI -- Unity Christian Music Festival celebrated 25 years of Christian music and ministry this year.

Unity co-founder and director Kevin Newton started the festival to raise funds for nonprofits in the area.

Since its inception in 2001, Newton said theyve raised over $1.5 million for 16 organizations that provide services like marriage counseling, addiction treatment and shelter and food for Muskegons homeless community.

The festival returned to Heritage Landing on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Drawing more than 50,000 attendees over its four days, the festival is billed as the largest event of its kind in the state and one of the largest annual events in Muskegon.

Elizabeth Putnam hugs her son, JJ, during Seph Schlueters set at Unity Christian Music Festival on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Heritage Landing in Muskegon, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

Unity boasts its family-friendly atmosphere, providing a summer camp-like experience for kids through its partnership with CranHill Ranch, a Christian camp and retreat in Rodney.

The kids zone has options for all ages, including a play area for the little ones and activities like laser tag and rock climbing for the older kids.

ZiAir Fritz, 7, plays laser tag in the Kids Zone at Unity Christian Music Festival on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Heritage Landing in Muskegon, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

The festival is also an alcohol-free event. Theres very few events that can survive without the profits from alcohol, Newton said. And its hard to do it this way, but it makes a really neat, truly family-friendly atmosphere.

After attending Unity for the first time last year, Donyella Hayhoe had no question about returning. Hayhoe and her family already have their sights set on the 2026 festival, its performers, their stories and praisin God! she said.

For information on attending the final two days of this years festival or to purchase tickets for 2026, visit unitymusicfestival.com.

MLive/Muskegon Chronicle photojournalist Chloe Trofatter was there to capture the event. Check out the full gallery above, or click here.
SAGINAW, MI  Behind the bar of a well-known corner distillery, youll find some of Old Town Saginaws newest bartenders.

And theyre both smiling from ear to ear as they learn on this journey together.

Old Town Distillery by Wonder co-owners Dyann Fulgencio and Isobel Jarema left the corporate world to go all in on a business venture with Javier Fulgencio Jr. and Javier Fulgencio III.

From left, owners Isobel Jarema, Javier Fulgencio Jr., Dyann Fulgencio and Javier Fulgencio III pose for a photograph inside Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Dyann Fulgencio is married to Javier Fulgencio Jr., Javier Fulgencio III is their son, and Jarema is Javier Fulgencio IIIs fiancee.

It started with purchasing the event space, Old Town Wonder, next door to the distillery in March. Shortly after, the family decided to dive into the bar business, making Dyann Fulgencio and Jarema the faces behind the bar.

A view inside the Old Town Wonder event space next door to Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Javier Fulgencio Jr. and Javier Fulgencio III, the father-and-son duo, still operate the beloved Wonder Burger food truck that serves at the distillery one or two days a week, if it isnt already booked for an event.

It just made sense to expand to give our people an actual place to sit and enjoy our food rather than wait outside or anything like that, Javier Fulgencio III said. The Fulgencio family has got some deep roots in Saginaw, we are very proud of that. The point of pride for all of usits a big thing.

A view of a smash burger from the Wonder Burger food truck at Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

The burgers from Wonder Burger are crispy and juicy smash burgers with special wonder sauce, cheese and pickles. Customers can customize the toppings.

Even though Wonder Burger may not be set up at Old Town Distillery by Wonder, Javier Fulgencio III said they have had other food trucks serve there, such as 5-2-oh and Big, Meaty, Phillys.

As for inside the bar, Dyann Fulgencio said they are only serving the alcohol distilled in house by the previous owners, Chad Gohm, Art Felton and Tim Turner, like the whiskey and moonshine.

A view of the Wonder cocktail available at Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Dyann Fulgencio and Jarema worked together to create the cocktails, such as the Wonder, which is red in color and sparkles with edible glitter, an old fashioned with a Michigan shaped ice cube, and the spicy Casa Amor featuring a Tajin rim and jalapeno.

Jarema said they use fresh fruits, freshly squeezed lemon and lime juices and higher quality ingredients to create their cocktails.

A view of a Michigan shaped ice cube in an old fashioned drink available at Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

We have a lot of fruity drinks, I think in part, because thats what we like. So we kind of want to represent what we like as well to our customer base, Jarema said. Almost all of our drinks are very strong.

The relationship between the Fulgencio family and the previous owners remains strong, too, and the new owners expressed how thankful they are to them.

I think all three of them were just like so excited and encouraging and helpful. Theyre amazing, Dyann Fulgencio said.

A view inside Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Due to the buildings history and excellent condition of the bar and event space, Dyann Fulgencio said they didnt change much.

We all immediately agreed that we wanted to be in Saginaw in this area. I grew up just blocks away. So for me, this is home and it will always be home, Dyann Fulgencio said.

The family added that everyone in the Old Town community and Saginaw in general has been very welcoming to them.

A view of Old Town Distillery by Wonder located at 124 S. Michigan Ave. in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, July 28, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Jarema said they plan to host a variety of specialized events, such as celebrity bartender nights, where pillars of the community will be in attendance to mingle with customers and spark meaningful conversations.

The celebrity bartender will pick a charity for a portion of the bars proceeds to go to.

Thats why we try to tie ourselves in the experience and the community aspect of it because we realize what theyve done for us, Javier Fulgencio Jr. said.

Old Town Distillery by Wonder is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and from noon to midnight Saturday.

Check out the Old Town Wonder Facebook page here, the Old Town Distillery by Wonder Facebook page here and the Wonder Burger Facebook page here for more information.

Would you like MLive to feature your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Kaytie Boomer at kboomer@mlive.com.
If you didnt get your hands on Stanleys Madeleine Midi Cooler backpack before it sold out earlier this summer, now is the time to try again.

Not only is the bag in stock in almost every colorway, but theyre all $40 off with free shipping for a limited time. The All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack was originally $170, but now its $130 on sale.

Gone are the days when Stanley was just a beverage tumbler brand with a stock of must-have colorways. This cooler can reliably fit 20 cans into its 14.8-quart capacity with ease. Fans went nuts over the Madeleine when it first launched in 2024 and again when colorways were restocked and added earlier this summer. Its safe to say this current stock wont last long, especially at a discounted rate. One colorway has already sold out since the sale began.

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Azure $130 on Stanley

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Peony $130 on Stanley

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Black $130 on Stanley

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Rose Quartz $130 on Stanley

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Fuchsia $130 on Stanley

Madeleine Midi cooler $170 $130 Stanley All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack in Lilac $130 on Stanley

The Madeleine Midi cooler maintains the perfect chill. Its made from 100 percent recycled polyester with vibrant colors, contrasting details and a winged bear pattern liner inside. Your food and drink will stay chilled for up to 24 hours, and you can place a Quencher or beverage in the mesh pocket for easy carrying. If you need to, you can also store valuables in a discreet pocket for safe keeping.

Buy sooner and get your pick of these vibrant and neutral colorways:

Colorways Colorways Lilac Fuchsia Azure Black Cream Stone Rose Quartz Seafoam Hot Coral Mist Peony Tigerlily Plum

Intentionally made to differ from other coolers on the market, the doctors bag design allows the lid of the bag to hinge open for easier unpacking. Padded straps also add comfort when carrying the bag, even at full capacity.

We suggest using the cooler for picnic dates, hikes and pool-day outings. Take advantage of the travel hack opportunity and use your Madeleine Midi as a carry-on bag, then use it as a cooler during your stay.

Summer may be ending in a few weeks, but you can use this cooler year round. Catch the All Day Madeleine Midi Cooler Backpack sale and all kinds of cute colorways before it ends.
The National Weather Service issued an updated report at 7:18 p.m. EDT on Saturday for strong thunderstorms until 8:15 p.m. EDT for Otsego, Montmorency, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Manistee, Wexford and Missaukee counties.

Residents can look for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

"At 7:16 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms producing strong outflow winds ahead of them. These storms are along a line extending from near Wolverine to near Wellston. Movement was east at 35 mph," says the weather service. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects."

Locations impacted by the alert include Cadillac, Manistee, Gaylord, Kalkaska, Grayling, Elk Rapids, Lake City, Sharon, Elmira, Kingsley, Frederic, Manton, Sherman, Buckley, Boon, Lovells, Vanderbilt, Eastlake, Kaleva and Fife Lake.

According to the weather service, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. If on or near any area lakes, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Thunderstorm outflow winds can happen before rain or thunder is observed. Do not wait to see rain or lightning or to hear thunder!"

When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, mostly during the summer. Lightning claims the lives of about 20 people annually, according to the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it's crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.

Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's an indication that lightning is nearby.

Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you're indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.

Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn't available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.

Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.

If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.

Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It's crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.

Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Slow down and drive with care:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes - water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don't follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Dipika Kakar thanks her fans for their support amid cancer battle, calls them reason of my smile

Gayatri Rani

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A recent episode of The Ramsey Show featured a caller from Phoenix asking a question that many Americans are weighing right now: should you buy solar panels before federal tax credits disappear?

Ramsey Says Think Twice Before Buying Solar

The caller, Sid, is 33, married with two kids, and said a door-to-door solar salesman told him that solar credits are going away soon. Sid explained that he had $35,000 in cash sitting aroundseparate from his emergency fundand no debt except his mortgage. He was thinking about putting that cash toward solar panels before the federal incentive expired.

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Dave Ramsey confirmed that the tax credit on solar panels is set to expire at the end of the year under the One Big Beautiful Act, backed by President Donald Trump. But he quickly cautioned Sid against making a rushed decision.

"Solar needs to have a break-even of six years or less," Ramsey said. Sid estimated his break-even point at eight to nine years after a $22,000 net cost with the credit. Ramsey didn't hesitate: "Don't do it."

Why? Because solar is a fast-moving technology.

"Eight years ago, solar technology was substantially different than it is right now. Eight years from now, it will be substantially different than it is right now," Ramsey explained. "People don't use 8-year-old technology for hardly anything."

Co-host John Delony agreed and pointed out how quickly technology has changed even in household items like TVs.

Trending: Scrolling To UBI'  Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.30/share.

Cash Only, No Exceptions

Ramsey was explicit that if solar makes financial sense in your region and you can pay cash, it might be worth it. But debt is not an option. "It never makes sense to buy solar on debt," he said. "Do you have the cash to do this?"

In Sid's case, he did. But Ramsey still advised against it.

With the 30% tax credit expiring, Ramsey predicts a shake-up in the solar industry. "The solar people have based their business on tax law. Now they're going to have to base it on economics," he said. "Either the cost of solar panels is going to have to go drastically down, or the business goes away," Delony added.
Khalid Ka Shivaji to be removed from Cannes Festival listings on 'objectionable' content: Shelar

Dipti Deshpande is Principal Economist, Crisil Ltd. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Gayatri Rani

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Krushna Abhishek shares photos with sister Arti Singh from Rakhi celebrations: 'Thank u for always being there for me'

Gayatri Rani

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Priyanka Chopra gets nostalgic about Barfi ahead of its 13th anniversary, calls it "one of my most treasured films"

Gayatri Rani

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Deblina Halder

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WTO upgrades goods trade outlook to 0.9%, citing frontloading of imports to US

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.

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1.46 lakh people affected as Saryu, Ganga flow above danger mark in UP

Yeeshu Yadav

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Ahead of PM Modis China trip, Ajit Doval to meet Chinese FM Wang Yi in Delhi on Aug 18

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MILAN  Since the ancient Romans began excavating marble more than 2,000 years ago, the average price of Italian natural stone per ton has reached a record 1,016.4 euros. This new height is the culmination of a path intertwined with economic and geopolitical hurdles to which the sector has become accustomed.

This achievement underscores how our product consistently ranks first in terms of material quality and craftsmanship, trade show organizer Adolfo Rebughini, general manager of Veronafiere, told WWD.

More from WWD

Veronafiere, in the Italian city of Verona, is gearing up to welcome 1,400 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 50,000 operators and professionals from 150 nations to Marmomac, the international trade show for the stone supply chain. At Marmomac, which will take place Sept. 23 to 26, Italian white marble takes center stage as one of the most successful products internationally, Rebughini said.

The demand for classic Italian marbles, from Carrara to Calacatta, is experiencing significant growth in the luxury construction sector, both in private settings and in the hotel and spa industries. Especially in China and the Gulf region where bright interiors contrast with the warm climates. Highly prized colored marbles are also in great demand: Rosso Verona, Travertine, Perlato di Sicilia, Pietra Serena, Trani Bronzetto, Palissandro Botticino and Porfido.

According to fine stone industry consortium Confindustria Marmomacchine, exports of Italian stone materials in 2024 rose 3.8 percent in volume, reaching 2.1 million tons. In value terms, exports reached 2.18 billion euros, marking a 5.8 percent rise compared to 2023.

Raw materials, which account for 21 percent of exports, increased by 10.7 percent, while exports of semi-finished and processed materials (which make up 79 percent of the total) grew by 4.5 percent.

The U.S. is the industrys top market according to Confindustria Marmomacchine. In 2024, exports of processed Italian natural stone to the U.S. rose 14 percent to 542 million euros. Germany ranked second with 125.2 million euros worth of exports, down 1.7 percent, while France was up 9.5 percent to 115.6 million euros. Emerging markets like Saudi Arabia featured prominently with 84.5 million euros, surging significantly, up 37.2 percent. China was the top consumer of raw materials with exports totaling 229 million, up 27 percent, followed by India at 46.7 million, down 14.7 percent.
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IAF chief lists factors behind Operation Sindoor success: Political will, clear directions and no restrictions

Smriti Mishra

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U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to allow crypto investments in 401(k) retirement plans, opening the gates for billions of dollars to flow into the asset class.

The order, which also allows for private equity investments, is poised to dramatically widen the scope of what retirement plan providers can direct funds to. This in turn could help crypto prices while further integrating digital assets with the broader financial system.

"Alternative assets, such as private equity, real estate, and digital assets, offer competitive returns and diversification benefits," a fact sheet published Thursday said.

While it was never technically prohibited to add crypto to a retirement plan, the Department of Labor previously put out guidance for fiduciaries to exercise extreme care before they consider adding a cryptocurrency option to a 401(k) plan's investment menu for plan participants."

In May, that guidance was fully rescinded. Trumps order would now direct the DOL to publish new guidance which would put cryptocurrencies in the same bucket as other assets.

This could encourage wealth managers, who previously stayed away from the risky asset class, to reconsider their positions, possibly bringing millions of dollars into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holding bitcoin (BTC) and other assets, or the cryptos directly.

This order isn't about the government saying 'crypto belongs in 401(k)s.' It's about the government getting out of the way and letting people make their own decisions, said Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise.

The order comes as crypto assets have finished one of its best quarters to date, with many of them reaching new all-time highs in June amid several promising steps towards clearer regulation in the U.S. Bitcoin, which is currently trading at $117,351 and is up 26% year-to-date, has also been seeing its volatility shrink to levels not seen since 2023, signaling a maturing market and investor confidence.

While both spot crypto as well as other financial vehicles holding the assets will be ok to add to retirement plans, given the risk-averse nature of such investments, many managers could reach for the ETFs rather than direct exposure.

I already trade the BTC ETFs in my IRA. I think the BTC ETFs are fine for retirement accounts. But straight coin seems too risky and would be better suited to non retirement accounts, said Jeffrey Hirsch, CEO of Hirsch Holdings and editor-in-chief of Stock Traders Almanac.

The spot bitcoin ETFs have seen unprecedented success since their launch in January 2024. BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) alone is now handling over $85 billion worth of bitcoin.
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'Should support the government to protect the interests of the country': Pawar on Trump's tariff decisions

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Sibal questions Dhankhar's whereabouts since resignation: 'Heard of Laapataa Ladies not of laapataa VP'

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Since its inception, Dutch Bros embraces a customer-first approach, giving it a competitive edge over the competition. The company is recognized for its positive and fun work environment, which has a direct impact on the experience, resulting in more satisfied employees. This, in turn, leads to loyal customers, positive word of mouth, and increased sales.

This strategy is paying off. Dutch Bros has attracted a large following of die-hard fans and repeat customers who frequent its 1,043 locations in 19 states. The Dutch Rewards program, available exclusively through the app, accounted for 72% of transactions in the second quarter, a number that has been steadily rising.

The company's motto helps spell out the allure: "Dutch Bros is a fun-loving, mind-blowing company making a massive difference, one cup at a time." The company strives to embody its core values of quality, speed, and service in every transaction.

While Starbucks focused on the atmosphere of its namesake coffee shops, Dutch Bros has taken a different approach. The company's focus is on the drive-through and an elevated customer experience. High-energy "broistas" greet each guest with a smile and ask about their day, part of Dutch Bros' "people-first" culture. The company offers a wide variety of customizable cold and hot beverages, including coffee, tea, signature energy drinks, and a rotating list of seasonal specials. Dutch Bros also has a secret menu with fan-favorite drinks.

With that in mind, Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) has thrown its hat in the ring. While investors may not yet be familiar with this regional coffee chain, it boasts many of the same qualities that helped make Starbucks a household name. Dutch Bros' consistent growth, repeat customers, and fun-loving employees have helped the company become the third-largest coffee chain in the U.S. and put it on the fast track to success.

There's little question that early investors in Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) have been abundantly rewarded. Since the company's initial public offering (IPO) in mid-1992, the stock has returned an incredible 26,390% (as of this writing). Starbucks was a pioneer in the coffee chain industry, offering a consistent java experience while creating a "third place" for customers, away from work and home. Despite recent challenges, the company has been wildly successful, and some investors are understandably on the lookout for the "next" Starbucks.

Story Continues

Dutch Bros boasts an extremely low employee turnover rate of just 35%, far below the industry average of 50%. In fact, in 2024, the company improved its store-level employee turnover rate by 5%. By retaining qualified workers, the company also helps preserve its unique and positive culture.

Dutch Bros has a history of industry accolades. It was one of the top quick service restaurant (QSR) brands in 2024, taking up the No. 2 spot, according to Earnest Analytics. In 2022, Dutch Bros was awarded the Pacesetter Award by Restaurant Business Magazine, cited for its "strong corporate culture, successful loyalty program, and thoughtful growth." The company was also ranked the No. 4 Best Employers for New Grads in 2024 by Forbes Magazine.

If that weren't enough, Dutch Bros was recognized by USA Today in its annual 10 Best Readers' Choice awards, voted No. 4 Best Drive-Thru Coffee and No. 5 Best Coffee Chain.

Show me the money

Dutch Bros is noted for having among the best unit-level economics in the industry, with average unit volume (AUV) of just over $2 million. That puts Dutch Bros in elite company, ranked No. 18 among all quick service restaurants and the top-performing coffee chain in 2024, according to QSR Magazine. For context, Starbucks clocked in at No. 23 with AUV of $1.8 million.

The company's financial results, released just this week, help paint a compelling picture. In Q2, Dutch Bros generated revenue that grew 28% year over year to $416 million, resulting in earnings per share (EPS) that soared 66% to $0.20. The results were fueled by strong same-store sales (comps) that grew 6.1% and 7.8% for company-owned shops.

For context, during the same period, Starbucks reported dismal results. In the company's fiscal 2025 Q3 (ended June 29), revenue of $9.5 billion increased 4%, while EPS plunged 47%. Global sales declined 2%, driven by a 2% decline in comps.

Dutch Bros continues to take a measured approach to growth, adding 31 new locations across 13 states during the quarter, bringing the total to 1,043 across 19 states to close out Q3. Starbucks currently operates 32,000 stores in 80 countries, which helps illustrate the magnitude of the opportunity for Dutch Bros. If the company continues along its current trajectory, even if it grows to just a fraction of the size of the Starbucks empire, it will likely be a highly successful investment.

You get what you pay for

Dutch Bros stock has been a wild ride for investors. Within weeks after its IPO in late 2021, the stock soared as much as 108% before shedding as much as 70% of its value. However, since hitting its bottom in late 2023, the stock has gained 153% (as of this writing), and the future looks bright.

I'd be remiss if I didn't discuss the elephant in the room -- Dutch Bros' pricey valuation. The stock currently sells for 70 times next year's earnings and 3.7 times next year's sales, so it's definitely fetching a premium. That said, Dutch Bros is outperforming the more seasoned competition and has a long runway for growth ahead, which helps to explain the high multiples.

Make no mistake, plenty of things will have to go right for Dutch Bros to become the next Starbucks, but given its loyal customer base, happy broistas, and robust results, the company is off to an impressive start.

Should you invest $1,000 in Dutch Bros right now?

Before you buy stock in Dutch Bros, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Dutch Bros wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $635,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,099,758!*

Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,046%  a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of August 4, 2025

Danny Vena has positions in Dutch Bros and Starbucks. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends Dutch Bros. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Dutch Bros Stock Is Steaming Hot. Could It Be the Next Starbucks? was originally published by The Motley Fool
'Were able to take care of ghost of Balakot': IAF Chief on proving success of Operation Sindoor | Watch

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Apple faces new lawsuit with accusations of stealing trade secrets for Apple Pay

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'There has been a lot of misinformation...', Intel CEO defies Trumps call to quit amid China controversy

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Emory University shooting: Suspect and officer dead in Atlanta incident near CDC; no civilians injured

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By Aishwarya Jain

(Reuters) -Shares of Expedia surged nearly 12% than on Friday, after the online travel agent raised its full-year gross bookings forecast and struck an optimistic tone on the recovery in U.S. travel demand.

Expedia is the latest travel company to hint at a rebound in demand, following weakness earlier this year when consumers fretted over the economic impact of President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

"Since the beginning of July, we've seen an uptick in overall travel demand, particularly in the U.S.," CEO Ariane Gorin said on the earnings call on Thursday.

The company expects 2025 gross bookings to grow between 3% to 5%, up 1 percentage point from its earlier forecast.

Morningstar analyst Dan Wasiolek expects bookings growth to accelerate further to 7% in 2026 as demand improves alongside policy visibility.

Tariffs had disrupted travel spending, "but it appears prospective U.S. travelers are prepared to book again," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.

Expedia has also been focusing on simplifying its organizational structure by eliminating roles, streamlining operations and deploying generative AI technology.

Its second-quarter margin grew by 190 basis points, surpassing the company's May guidance of a 75- to 100-basis-point increase.

The biggest fundamental takeaway is that Expedia's continued strategic focus and tighter expense controls are driving more consistent results, said Baird analyst Michael Bellisario.

Expedia also joined industry peers Marriott and Airbnb in noting strong bookings from higher-income consumers while lower-income consumers were more cautious with discretionary spending.

Expedia's shares trade at about 12.01 times their forward profit estimates, below the industry median of 14.19.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
JD Vance says US wont recognize Palestinian State during his UK visit

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Amid backlash, Netanyahu defends Gaza city plan: 'Not going to occupy, will free it from Hamas'

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'Save us or destroy us': Harvard scientist warns of Manhattan-sized object speeding towards Earth

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Swapping of territories may feature in Russia-Ukraine deal, says Trump ahead of his meeting with Putin

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TrumpPutin Alaska summit: What it means for the war in Ukraine

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Why Alaska? Inside Trump and Putins high-stakes summit to end the Ukraine war

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Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Although comparison can really be the thief of joy, knowing where you stand financially is critical to making sure youre on track to meet your money goals.

2021/22 tax data shows a very wide income range on a state-by-state basis.

Don't miss

Connecticut has the highest threshold required to be considered among the top 1% of earners, at $1.15 million. Massachusetts and California residents require an annual income of $1.11 million and $1.04 million, respectively, to be considered at the top.

Meanwhile, West Virginia has the lowest threshold to be a 1% earner at $420,453. Mississippi has the second lowest threshold, $440,744, with New Mexico ranking third-least, at $476,196.

Knowing the income threshold in your state is just one little piece of the puzzle. To actually join the top 1%, a diversified portfolio is essential. Here's how the wealthiest Americans are doing it and what you can learn from their approach as we head into a new year.

Invest in real estate

Earning enough to qualify for the top 1% is challenging. But, there are wealth-building strategies you can employ, regardless of your income, to set yourself up for financial success in 2025.

For instance, Bank of Americas 2024 Study of Wealthy Individuals reported that 31% of investors with $3 million in investable assets believe real estate is the greatest growth opportunity.

With this in mind, its no surprise that the top three states for income listed above also have some of the highest home prices in the country.

Residential real estate isnt the only growth area, however.

Commercial real estate can also offer lucrative investment opportunities  especially when it comes to necessity-based properties, such as grocers. CBRE, the worlds largest commercial real estate firm, foresees both positive developments and growth for the 2025 commercial market.

Accredited individual investors can invest with First National Realty Partners to access institutional-quality commercial real estate investments without the legwork of finding deals themselves.
Why Israels plan to take over Gaza City is facing backlash at home and abroad

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Why Trump has targeted Switzerland with steep tariffs and what it means for trade

Pragya Trivedi

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Why Trump is targeting India over Russian oil  and what it means for the Ukraine war

Pragya Trivedi

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Why Trumps marijuana reform pledge is stalled and what could happen next

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Will not give land to occupier: Zelenskyy rejects Trump-Putin Alaska summit, warns against decisions without Ukraine

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Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) is one of the best depressed stocks to buy in 2025. On July 28, Infosys (NYSE:INFY) announced a strategic partnership with German energy giant RWE to deploy automated digital workplace solutions aimed at boosting operational efficiency.

Infosys (INFY) and RWE Unite for Digital Workplace Transformation

Using the Infosys Workplace Suite, the initiative will introduce tools like Office 365 migration, Azure-powered bots, collaboration apps, and service automation to streamline workflows and empower employees with self-service capabilities. Building on a 12-year relationship, the collaboration emphasizes user-centric design and sustainability. RWEs Group CIO Gulnaz Ones highlighted the alignment of modern tech with the companys efficiency goals, while Infosys EVP Ashiss Kumar Dash underscored the mission to enhance RWEs customer value and workforce capabilities. The project marks a key step in RWEs journey toward operational excellence. Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) provides a broad range of digital, consulting, and cybersecurity services. Its Cyber Security division helps organizations build resilient security frameworks tailored to evolving threats. Key offerings include managed security services, cloud protection, identity and access management, and data securitydelivering end-to-end solutions to safeguard business operations. While we acknowledge the potential of INFY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Top 10 Medical AI Companies to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Best Rare Earth Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
(Reuters) -Instacart forecast third-quarter gross transaction value above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, betting on resilient demand amid efforts to offer cheaper groceries through its platform, sending its shares up 9% in extended trading.

The company, also known as Maplebear, has doubled down on its push to match in-store prices on its platform to attract value-seeking consumers looking to stretch their budgets.

"On our platform, retailers that price items at in-store parity consistently grow faster on average than those with markups," outgoing CEO Fidji Simo said in a letter to shareholders.

Its partnership with UberEats has also helped add restaurants to its platform.

The company forecast current-quarter gross transaction value, or the total money spent by consumers on Instacart orders, to be between $9 billion and $9.15 billion, above estimates of $8.99 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Instacart, like its peers in the food and groceries delivery space, has leaned on promotions on its membership program to keep consumers shopping online, such as lowering minimum order value to $10 to get the delivery fee waived.

Rivals DoorDash and Uber also forecast strong third-quarter results as convenience and affordability driven by investments in membership programs kept consumers ordering food and groceries online.

For the quarter ended June 30, Instacart's GTV grew 11% to $9.08 billion, with orders growing 17% year-over-year.

Advertising revenue rose 12% in the reported quarter, despite one of its largest brand partners pulling back from some ad spending due to macroeconomic uncertainty, Instacart executives said on a post-earnings call, without naming the company.

Total revenue of $914 million for the quarter topped estimates of $896 million.

The company also reiterated its target for year-on-year GTV growth between 8% and 10%. Quarterly adjusted earnings of 41 cents per share also beat estimates of 38 cents apiece.

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Alan Barona)
Louisiana to pay $9 million to a man who was shot in the back by state trooper during traffic stop

Louisiana to pay $9 million to a man who was shot in the back by state trooper during traffic stop View Photo

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana authorities have agreed to pay $9 million to a man who was partially paralyzed from the waist down after a trooper shot him in the back during a 2018 traffic stop in Baton Rouge and then falsely reported it as a Taser discharge.

The settlement reached last month is among the largest of its kind in state history and resolves a federal lawsuit by Clifton Scotty Dilley, whose injuries confined him to a wheelchair when he was 19. The terms of the settlement, which were not made public, were provided to The Associated Press by a person with direct knowledge who was not authorized to disclose them and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The shooting was mentioned in a U.S. Justice Department report this year that found Louisiana State Police used excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits.

State police fired Trooper Kasha Domingue after determining she shot Dilley without any reliable justification, failed to activate her body-worn camera and gave inconsistent accounts that were contradicted by surveillance video.

The agency also found that her misreporting the incident as a tasing delayed the appropriate responses to the shooting, according to records reviewed by AP.

Domingues explanation for opening fire evolved over the years. Court records show that she alternatively claimed she mistook her firearm for a Taser, pulled the trigger by accident or said the shooting was justified because she feared for her life.

Dilley was a passenger in the vehicle that was pulled over. He said the trooper never ordered him to stop fleeing before shooting. Moments after he was struck, he told Domingue he had lost feeling below his waist.

I was like, Whats wrong with my legs? Dilley said in a deposition. She says, Its a Taser aftereffect. It will wear off.

In fact, a bullet struck Dilleys spine.

Domingues initial account fell apart quickly. She told investigators Dilley ran around the stopped vehicle and reached inside it before charging toward her. That claim was contradicted by surveillance video from a nearby store that clearly showed the unarmed man running away from the trooper.

If that camera wasnt there I dont know how this wouldve turned out, Dilley said in the deposition.

What happened to me that night will forever change my life, said Dilley, who was represented by former U.S. attorney and Louisiana congressman Don Cazayoux. Dilley said he hopes the case will effect change within the state police that will keep this from ever happening again.

An attorney for Domingue, Louis Oubre, declined to comment, as did the state Attorney Generals Office.

The $9 million settlement is among the largest ever paid in Louisiana in a case involving police violence. Baton Rouge agreed in 2021 to pay $4.5 million to the children of Alton Sterling, a Black man whose fatal shooting by police was captured on video and sparked widespread anger and protests.

More than two years after the shooting, prosecutors charged Domingue with aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon. She pleaded guilty in 2022 to obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, avoiding jail but agreeing never again to serve in law enforcement. Her conviction has since been expunged.

The civil proceedings raised questions about whether Domingue ever should have become a state trooper, underscoring the liability the state could have faced had the lawsuit gone to trial. State police records show a series of red flags dating back to her time in the training academy, including failed tests and issues on the firing range.

The agency allowed her to graduate academy despite those problems, requiring that she complete additional training before receiving her commission. But instructors expressed misgivings about her suitability. One internal report said she struggled from the onset of the class, both physically and mentally.

The Justice Department alluded to Domingue in its findings on the state polices widespread use of excessive force. It noted that she remained a trooper for more than two years after the shooting due to a policy of putting off internal investigations while criminal inquiries are underway.

This can add significant delays to the accountability process, the report said.

Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, criticized the report as an attempt to diminish the service and exceptionality of the state police. The federal probe began in 2022 amid fallout from the in-custody death of Ronald Greene, who was beaten, tased and dragged on a rural road in northern Louisiana.

The DOJ rescinded its findings in May, saying it was ending the failed experiment of handcuffing local leaders and police departments.

By JIM MUSTIAN

Associated Press
Acai berry producers are concerned as Trump imposes tariffs on Brazils exports View Photo

BELEM, Brazil (AP)  When U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 50% on Brazilian exports in July, acai producer Ailson Ferreira Moreira felt immediately concerned.

After all, who was going to eat all of that Amazon berry, globally famous as a delicious, refreshing and nutritious superfood, if American consumers suddenly could no longer afford it?

As the main importer of the Brazilian berry, prices of acai smoothies and bowls look certain to go up in the United States.

The acai thats all produced here  If only people here eat it, its going to be a lot of acai, right? Moreira told The Associated Press outside of Belem, an Amazon city of 1.4 million residents that will host this years U.N. climate summit COP30 climate summit in November. If theres too much acai here, people wont be able to eat it all and the price will drop.

A single full crate of acai sells for around $50 at local markets in Brazil, a price that is now expected to plummet. The U.S. is by far the largest acai importer of a total Brazilian output currently estimated at about 70,000 tons per year.

Impact already being felt

The most vulnerable acai producers in the northern state of Para say they have already been hit by tariffs imposed by the U.S. government, as a surplus of the berry without a clear destination starts to mount only days after the new economic scenario unfolded.

More powerful exporters, such as Sao Paulo-state based company Acai Tropicalia Mix, are also feeling the impact.

One of its owners, Rogerio de Carvalho, told the AP that last year he exported to the U.S. about 270 tons of acai cream  an industrialized version of the berry  ready for consumption. As tariffs started to loom, he said, American importers steered away and clients suspended negotiations. Until the end of July, de Carvalho estimates that his company sold 27 tons to the U.S.

Thats 1.5 million Brazilian reais ($280,000) that we lost, the businessman said. We are confident there will be a deal between the two countries to allow not only our clients to return, but also getting some new ones.

Tariffs linked to Bolsonaro case

Trump has linked the higher tariffs on Brazil to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is now under house arrest for his alleged role in leading an alleged coup plot to remain in office, despite his election loss to current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

And despite several Brazilian exports being exempted from the tariffs, acai berries arent among them.

Brazils industry ministry didnt reply to a request for comment on whether acai berries are among the items that remain on the negotiating table with U.S. trade representatives.

Flavor explosion

Nearly all of the acai consumed in the U.S. originates from Brazil, with the state of Para alone accounting for 90% of the countrys total production. Several communities in the Amazon depend on its harvest.

The harvesting of acai is a physically demanding job that requires workers to climb tall trees with minimal safety equipment, and then sliding down branches full of berries to fill baskets and then place them carefully in crates. Analysts say its producers also help protect the rainforest from illegal loggers, miners and cattle ranchers.

The night markets of Belem, such as the Ver-o-Peso acai market, are a hub of activity where the freshly harvested berries are brought in by boat and prepared for sale.

The Brazilian Association of Fruit and Derivative Producers and Exporters estimates there was an explosive growth of acai exports from Para state, from less than one ton in 1999 to more than 61,000 tons in 2023. Another explosive rise was expected for this year, before the tariffs.

On Thursday, Brazil requested consultations at the World Trade Organization over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration against the South American nation that went into effect on Wednesday.

That could be took little too late for acai harvester Mikael Silva Trindade, who agrees that the future of the trade is at risk as higher U.S. tariffs can disrupt the delicate balance of supply and demand that holds the industry.

There will be nowhere to market (the excess of acai), Trindade told the AP as he picked berries in Para state. The more you export, the more valuable it becomes. But if theres too much to sell, it will stay here and become cheap.

___

Mauricio Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

By ALAN K. GUIMARAES and MAURICIO SAVARESE

Associated Press
Iraqi prime minister removes paramilitary commanders after deadly clash with police View Photo

BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraqs prime minister approved sweeping disciplinary and legal measures against senior commanders in a paramilitary force after clashes with police at a government facility that left three people dead last month, his office said Saturday.

Gunmen descended on the agricultural directorate in Baghdads Karkh district on July 27 and clashed with federal police. The raid came after the former head of the directorate was ousted and a new one appointed.

A government-commissioned investigation found that the former director  who was implicated in corruption cases  had called in members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia to stage the attack, Sabah Al-Numan, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said in a statement Saturday.

Al-Sudani, who also serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the attack.

Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite, Iran-backed militias that formed to fight the Islamic State extremist group as it rampaged across the country more than a decade ago.

The PMF was formally placed under the control of the Iraqi military in 2016, but in practice it still operates with significant autonomy. Some groups within the coalition have periodically launched drone attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Syria.

The Kataib Hezbollah fighters who staged the attack in Karkh were affiliated with the 45th and 46th Brigades of the PMF, the government statement said.

Al-Sudani approved recommendations to remove the commanders of those two brigades, refer all those involved in the raid to the judiciary, and open an investigation into negligence in leadership and control duties in the PMF command, it said.

The report also cited structural failings within the PMF, noting the presence of formations that act outside the chain of command.

The relationship between the Iraqi state and the PMF has been a point of tension with the United States as Iraq attempts to balance its relations with Washington and Tehran.

The Iraqi parliament is discussing legislation that would solidify the relationship between the military and the PMF, drawing objections from Washington, which considers some of the armed groups in the coalition, including Kataib Hezbollah, to be terrorist organizations.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Al-Sudani defended the proposed legislation, saying its part of an effort to ensure that arms are controlled by the state. Security agencies must operate under laws and be subject to them and be held accountable, he said.

Associated Press
Yves here. I must confess to not having read Mackinder and even for those who have, Alfred McCoys analysis based on Mackinders World Island theory. A quick search did not turn up what I would very much like to have seen: an overlay of Mackinders pivot area with a map of modern Russia, as in what exactly lies out of Russias confines.

I hate to invoke Wikipedia, but it does list an important critique of Mackinder:

Mackinder only considered land and sea powers. In modern day time there are possibilities of attacking a rival without the need for a direct invasion via aircraft, long-range missiles, or even cyber attacks.

A blind spot, as opposed to lack of prescience, of Mackinder, lay in seeing Russia as technologically and even socially backwards, and not recognizing that Russia could and would catch up and even surpass the West in military prowess.

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies

Image source: Alfred McCoy, To Govern the Globe, Chapter 1

Were approaching the end of our look at Alfred McCoys To Govern the Globe, his examination of the centuries-long Western project to, well, govern the globe.

Links to previous parts of this series appear below:

Today well examine a single persistent notion, an idea that has driven the West since the global project began  the domination of Asia, which Western strategists came to call the world island.

Consider the image below, from McCoys Chapter 2, The Iberian Age. It shows the Portuguese Empire circa 1570.

Note that while this is ostensibly a map of trade routes and ports  not military installations per se  it foreshadows whats to come in Western thinking.

Note also that the ports and routes consist of two parts  those that dominate littoral (coastal) Africa to secure the Portuguese slave trade, and those that dominate littoral (coastal) Asia to secure access to that continents great wealth. (Littoral, noun and adjective, comes from the Latin for shore.)

Elimina Castle, or St. George Castle, Gold Coast (present day Ghana), from the Atlas Blaeu van der Hem, 1665-1668. The Portuguese established Elmina on the Gold Coast as a trading settlement in 1482. It eventually became a major slave trading post in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Dutch seized the fortress from the Portuguese in 1637.

The slave trade eventually disappeared, but the domination of littoral Asia, the Asian coast, as a way to dominate the continent itself has informed Western strategists from that day through now. Why else do you think the West is today so upset about China building out islands in the South China Sea to use as bases? Answer: The West doesnt want China to challenge Western control of its coast.

Image source

The West wants control for itself. The thinking behind dominating the coast of Asia goes way back. Lets take a look through Alfred McCoys eyes.

What is Geopolitics

McCoys notion of geopolitics as a way of managing empires underlies the Wests whole strategy. From Chapter 1 (emphasis mine):

Geopolitics is essentially a method for the management of empire through the use of geography (air, land, and sea) to maximize military and economic advantage. Unlike conventional nations, whose peoples can be readily mobilized for self-defense, empires are, by dint of their extraterritorial reach and the perils inherent in the overseas deployment of armed forces, a surprisingly fragile form of government. They seem to require a strategic visionary who can merge landforms, seascapes, and societies into a sustainable global system, allowing such strengthened empires both extraordinary power and exceptional economic opportunity.

Empires are fragile and require extraordinary strategies to maintain. Hitler, for example, relied on the flawed geopolitical analysis of H.J. Mackinder  he thought the world island could be dominated by land  in his attempt to conquer post-Revolution Russia and prevent an Asian (Russia plus China) domination of Europe. That turned out badly.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jimmy Carters National Security Advisor, followed similar ideas when he armed Osama bin Laden and the Mujahideen in the late 1970s in Afghanistan.

As an intellectual follower of Mackinder, Brzezinski would prove adept at applying the British dons famous dictum about the geopolitical connection between Eastern Europe and Eurasias heartland.53 Wielding a multibillion-dollar CIA covert operation like a sharpened wedge, Brzezinski drove radical Islam from Afghanistan deep into Soviet Central Asia. That geopolitical gambit drew Moscow into a debilitating decade-long Afghan war, which weakened the Soviet Union sufficiently for Eastern Europe, three thousand miles away, to finally break free of its imperial grasp.

Brzezinski was proud of this move, even when, decades later, the chickens returned to the roost and these wars began to come home.

What is most important to the history of the world? [Brzezinski] asked in 1998. The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the Cold War?54

Thats geopolitics at work  modern attempts to dominate the world island by land or by sea. Needless to say, attempts to dominate by land have, all of them, failed.

Controlling the World Island by Sea

Enter the American strategic thinker Alfred Thayer Mahan, a rather incompetent Navy captain and a more respected historian at the Naval War College. Mahan wrote extensively about the importance of sea power in the 1890s, and his work formed the basis of American naval strategy in the Pacific from then until now. From Chapter 1 (emphasis mine):

When Washington [meaning the U.S.] took its first steps onto the world stage in the 1890s, an American naval historian, Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, argued that sea power was, through the exceptional mobility of warships, the key to national security and international influence. His writings inspired Washingtons decision to build a blue-water navy and seize an empire of islands for naval bases stretching halfway around the globe, from Puerto Rico to Hawaii and the Philippines. Mahans international influence was extraordinary. His view that modern wars turned on a concentration of capital ships for a decisive battle would shape the strategies of Germany in World War I and Japan in World War II.46

Mackinders and Mahans geopolitical ideas formed the basis of modern strategic thinking. Those ideas even preceded their writings and properly describe the Western Project from its start.

If we combine Mahans emphasis on naval strength as the means to control continents with Mackinders focus on the world island, we will find that a succession of leading empiresPortuguese, Dutch, British, US, and Chinesehave all tried to achieve global power by dominating that tri-continental landmass of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Indeed, Portugals sixteenth-century chain of 50 fortified ports around Africa and across the Indian Ocean seems strikingly similar to Chinas current string of 40 commercial ports covering much of the same terrain. Of course, Chinas position has also been strengthened by a transcontinental grid of railroads and pipelines. Beneath the visible, much-discussed issues of trade and technology, this geopolitical strategy has become a battering ram for Beijing to break Washingtons control over Eurasia and thereby challenge its global hegemony.

The Pax Americana

This leads us to consider the present imperial age, what came to be called (by Americans) Pax Americana. That American Peace was, from the start, to be achieved through empire, and according to Mahan, the leading geopolitical thinker of his day, that empire rested on sea power. In Americas case, that meant the need to dominate strategic Pacific islands (emphasis mine):

Written at a time when America was just beginning its ascent to global power and expanding its navy, Mahans book made the crucial argument that Washington needed both to build a battle fleet and to capture island bases that could control the surrounding sea-lanesparticularly in the Pacific. In marked contrast to the Royal Navys chain of fortified bastions that made an extensive empire, like that of England, secure, US warships with no foreign establishments, either colonial or military would be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting-places for them  would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea.17 In reviewing the book for the Atlantic Monthly, a young Theodore Roosevelt wrote: Captain Mahan shows very clearly the practical importance of naval history. We need a large navy, composed not merely of cruisers, but containing also a full proportion of powerful battleships.18

China and the Pacific Littoral

The book contains a lengthy and fascinating discussion of the way the U.S. came to rule the Pacific. Consider, for example, that in the 1920s much of the West had claims (mandates) to Pacific territories.

From To Govern the Globe, Chapter 5

But in the end, World War II, which closed a dying imperial age, that of the British, had birthed the aforementioned Pax Americana, the next new world order. And under the veneer of what McCoy calls liberal internationalism  which means, for example, the ideals behind the U.S.-led United Nations  lay the reality of consolidating and keeping power. On this contradictory stance, McCoy cites George F. Kennan, the chief architect of U.S. post-War foreign policy, who saw the situation clearly:

We have about 50 percent of the worlds wealth but only about 6.3 percent of its population, said George Kennan in 1947, when he was chief of policy planning at the State Department. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all  high-minded international altruism.

U.S. global domination depended, then as now, on domination of the Pacific coast of Asia, the Pacific littoral. President Obamas geopolitical strategy was to reduce American need for Middle East oil (a goal he accomplished) while simultaneously pivoting toward Asia and reinforcing our control of, you guessed it, the Asian coast.

As Obama withdrew troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, Washington began rebuilding its chain of military bases and strategic alliances along the Asian littoral. In March 2014, a full battalion of US Marines was deployed at the port of Darwin, Australia, on the Timor Sea, well positioned to access the strategic Lombok and Sunda Straits that lead to the South China Sea. Five months later, the two powers signed the USAustralia Force Posture Agreement allowing for the basing of American troops and warships at Darwin.158 Further north, in February 2016, the South Koreans completed a naval facility on Jeju Island, between that country and Japan, giving the US Navy access to a strategic port astride the East China Sea. Washington also signed an enhanced defense agreement with the Philippines, allowing use of several military bases astride the South China Sea.159 In combination with its eight established air and naval bases in Japan, Washington had effectively rebuilt its chain of military enclaves at the edge of Asia.160 To operate them, the Pentagon planned to forward base 60 percent of our naval assets in the Pacific by 2020 along with a similar preponderance of Air Force fighters and bombers, which would be bolstered by space and cyber capabilities.161 By strengthening long-standing bilateral alliances, the Obama administration had taken the first steps, militarily speaking, toward rebuilding the US axial position on the Pacific littoral, which had long been central to its control over the vast Eurasian landmass.

Now perhaps we can understand the context of the Chinese reaction to these advances. The West has been encircling Asia with an eye to control since the mid-1400s. This is the Western Project, properly considered.

U.S. geopolitical strategy, from its earliest entry into the Western Project game, has been, explicitly, to control the Asian coast. It achieved that goal by the start of World War II, and by the end of the war and the years immediately following, achieved its strongest position to date in that region.

China, since the days of British domination, has worked to prevent Western domination of Asia. Its wish to build bases in the Spratley Island atolls are just the start of that struggle. This is what the conflict between the U.S.  inheritor of the Western Project  and China is actually about. Its geopolitics American style.

The fight for control of Asias Pacific coast is six centuries old, and it will not end until the West has finally failed, or the inevitable chaos of climate makes mincemeat pie of everyones empire dreams. And now you know.
California wild hogs turn NEON BLUE, exposing hidden dangers of pesticide contamination

Wild pigs in Monterey County, CA, exhibit bright blue flesh due to ingesting diphacinone, a blue-dyed anticoagulant rodenticide, raising concerns about food chain contamination.

The poison spreads through the food chain, affecting not only pigs but also bears, geese and aquatic life, with studies showing high contamination rates in wildlife.

Hunters and low-income communities face health risks, as contaminated game meat poses secondary poisoning threats; officials warn against consuming blue-tinged tissues.

Regulatory gaps and pesticide misuse exacerbate the issue, with inconsistent enforcement and leaching into ecosystems despite restrictions on rodenticide use.

Calls for systemic changes include better bait station security and alternative pest management, but without action, the ecological crisis could worsen.

In a bizarre and alarming discovery, wild pigs across California's Monterey County have been found with bright blue flesh  a direct result of ingesting rat poison-laced pesticides.

The blue discoloration in the pigs' tissues comes from diphacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide that prevents blood clotting  leading to internal bleeding. The poison is often mixed with bright blue dye to deter accidental human consumption. But wild pigs, who are omnivorous scavengers, have been consuming it either directly from bait stations or through poisoned prey like mice.

Not all contaminated pigs display the vivid blue hue, as the discoloration depends on the timing and amount of exposure. However, when present, the effect is striking. One wildlife expert described the coloration as "neon blue" or "blueberry blue."

California's wild pig population, a hybrid of feral boars and domestic swine, spans 56 of the state's 58 counties. These animals are notorious for their destructive foraging habits, which now include consuming toxic bait meant for smaller pests.

State wildlife officials warn that this contamination could extend to other game animals, including bears and geese, raising serious concerns about food safety and environmental mismanagement. The issue, first reported in March, underscores the unintended consequences of pesticide use in agricultural regions, where chemicals designed for rodents are infiltrating the food chain.

A 2018 University of Nebraska study found that eight percent of wild pig tissue samples tested positive for rodenticide residue, while an astonishing 83 percent of bears showed contamination. The poison spreads through the food chain  first affecting aquatic life via pesticide runoff, then predators that consume tainted fish or rodents. (Related: More than 80% of bald and golden eagles in the US have RAT POISON in their systems, study shows.)

Chemical contamination turning California's wildlife blue

Hunters and low-income families who rely on wild game for food are at risk of secondary poisoning. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued warnings against consuming meat from animals with blue-tinged tissues, urging hunters to report any abnormalities.

Dan Burton, a wildlife control operator who first documented the phenomenon, typically donates pig meat to needy families. Now, hes forced to discard contaminated carcasses  a stark reminder of how chemical mismanagement disrupts both ecosystems and human livelihoods.

Despite strict regulations limiting diphacinone use to certified professionals, enforcement remains inconsistent. Pesticides often leach into water supplies or are ingested by non-target species, creating a ripple effect of contamination.

The CDFW has called for better protective measures, such as securing bait stations and adopting integrated pest management strategies. Yet, as long as agricultural and residential areas continue heavy pesticide use, wildlife  and potentially humans  will remain at risk.

State officials are expanding investigations into rodenticide exposure among wild game, but the problem is deeply rooted in California's reliance on chemical pest control. Without systemic changes, neon blue pigs may be just the beginning of a much larger ecological crisis.

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(Bloomberg)  For more than three decades, Lip-Bu Tan invested in the Chinese economic boom, placing the kind of no-brainer bets that enriched venture capitalists and fund managers around the world and across the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

He set up a venture firm called Walden International based in San Francisco that pumped more than $5 billion into over 600 companies. More than 100 of those investments were made in China, including deals with once-obscure startups such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.  today Chinas largest chipmaker  where he served on the board for a decade and a half.

In recent years, as US-China tensions escalated, Washington increasingly restricted Beijings access to advanced technology and placed tighter limits on the ability of US companies to do business there. And Tans efforts to distance himself from Chinese investments accelerated with his appointment at Intel Corp. (INTC) in March, when he agreed to divest his holdings there, according to a person familiar with the arrangement.

That hasnt stopped US lawmakers  and, now, Donald Trump  from holding Tans past Chinese affiliations against him. The US president called the executive highly conflicted in a social media post and urged him to resign.

Intel has said Tan and the board are deeply committed to advancing US national and economic security interests. Late on Thursday, Tan said hes got the full backing of the companys board, responding for the first time to Trump. We are engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts, he said in a letter to staff posted on Intels website.

Heres what we know about Tans business dealings in China.

Walden

He started work at a venture capital firm in the 1980s called Walden Ventures, where he helped create a spinoff named Walden International that focused on overseas opportunities.

Tan, a Mandarin speaker born in Malaysia, helped the company make investments all over East Asia, including China. He pushed some of Waldens funds into the then-unfashionable area of chip investing. Most venture capitalists had moved away from the industry, figuring that it was impossible to challenge giants such as Intel with startup money. But Tan played those odds.
Escalating crisis in Gaza: Over 135 KILLED in 24 hours as aid desperation and violence surge

Israeli forces killed 135 Palestinians in Gaza in 24 hours, including 87 who were attempting to reach aid distribution points. Witnesses reported Israeli fire as crowds overwhelmed UN convoys.

Gaza's Health Ministry reported five more starvation deaths due to the blockade, bringing the total famine/malnutrition deaths to 193 (including 96 children). Actual numbers are likely higher, with victims trapped under rubble.

Only 1.5 percent of Gaza's cropland remains accessible after Israeli destruction, forcing reliance on aid. The Israeli-backed GHF faces UN scrutiny for militarizing aid distribution.

The UN documented 1,400+ Palestinians killed while seeking aid since May, often near GHF sites. Jordan condemned an Israeli settler attack on an aid convoy.

With 61,000+ dead and 150,000+ injured, Israel stands accused of engineering starvation by redirecting aid trucks into dangerous zonesexacerbating chaos and civilian suffering.

Israeli forces killed at least 135 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours  including 87 individuals who were attempting to reach aid distribution points, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The relentless violence, coupled with the ongoing Israeli blockade, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis, pushing the territory's population to the brink of famine and despair. The majority of the fatalities occurred as Palestinians, driven by hunger and desperation, converged on aid distribution sites.

The Morag Corridor, an Israeli-controlled area in southern Gaza, witnessed the deaths of at least 28 Palestinians on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces opened fire as crowds overwhelmed United Nations convoys, which have been struggling to meet the overwhelming demand for food and supplies.

Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, confirmed that another four people were killed in the Teina area, while the Al-Awda Hospital reported six fatalities near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site in central Gaza. The GHF, an Israeli-backed American contractor, has faced criticism for its role in controlling aid distribution. Both the UN and human rights experts call for its dismantlement, citing concerns over its exploitation for military and geopolitical agendas.

In addition to the violence, Gaza's Health Ministry reported five more starvation deaths due to the Israeli blockade, bringing the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 193, including 96 children. The ministry emphasized that these figures are likely a significant undercount, as many victims remain trapped under rubble or in areas inaccessible to medical and civil defense crews. (Related: The people of Gaza are being deliberately starved.)

"A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the streets, where ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them at this time," the ministry stated on Telegram.

The ongoing Israeli military offensive has destroyed nearly all of Gaza's food production capabilities, leaving its people reliant on international aid. A recent report by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN satellite center revealed that only 1.5 percent of Gaza's cropland is accessible and undamaged, further exacerbating the hunger crisis.

UN denounces genocide by FAMINE in Gaza

The UN has condemned the Israeli-backed aid system, arguing that it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food. The UN human rights office reported that approximately 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since May, mostly near GHF sites and along UN convoy routes overwhelmed by desperate crowds.

Jordan also condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on an aid convoy bound for Gaza, which resulted in the stoning and damage of four trucks. The Israeli military claimed it intervened to disperse the gathering and ensure the trucks reached their destination, but the incident underscores the escalating tensions and violence surrounding aid distribution.

As the death toll from the conflict surpasses 61,000, with over 150,000 injured, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of intentionally engineering starvation and chaos by forcing truck drivers to take dangerous routes, leading to incidents like the one on Tuesday, Aug. 5, where 81 Palestinians were killed, including 57 starving civilians at aid distribution points.

The international community has expressed growing concern over the escalating crisis, with calls for immediate intervention to address the humanitarian catastrophe. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Hamas, which has been accused of using civilian populations as shields, and the Israeli government's plans to potentially reoccupy Gaza, a move that could exacerbate the conflict and endanger the lives of both Palestinians and Israeli hostages.

The crisis in Gaza is a stark reminder of the urgent need for a comprehensive and immediate resolution to the conflict. As the world watches, the international community must act decisively to address the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and work towards a sustainable peace that ensures the safety and dignity of all civilians caught in the crossfire.

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Warsaw and Tel Aviv clash over Gaza as historical wounds resurface; Polish PM Tusk compares Israel to Nazis

Diplomatic tensions escalated after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, invoking World War II parallels, which draws strong rebukes from Israeli and U.S. officials.

Tusk emphasized Poland's support for Israel against Hamas but criticizes policies worsening hunger in Gaza, while Foreign Minister Sikorski insisted Israel must comply with international humanitarian law.

Israel pushes back sharply, calling Tusk's historical comparison "unacceptable" and defending its military conduct as lawful self-defense against Hamas, whom it equates to "new Nazis."

U.S. ambassador nominee Tom Rose rebutted Sikorski, praising Israel's wartime humanitarian efforts and contrasting its actions with other conflicts (e.g., Ukraine), suggesting double standards in international scrutiny.

The dispute reflects longstanding Polish-Israeli tensions over WWII complicity, Holocaust memory and modern geopolitical stances, highlighting how historical trauma influences current diplomatic rhetoric and global divisions over Gaza.

The diplomatic rift between Poland and Israel deepened after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, invoking memories of World War II and prompting a swift rebuke from Israeli and U.S. officials.

On Sunday, Aug. 3, Tusk took to social media to affirm Warsaw's support for Tel Aviv in its fight against Hamas while condemning policies that exacerbate hunger and civilian casualties in Gaza. "This must be obvious to the nations that went through the hell of World War II together," he wrote, drawing an implicit parallel with wartime atrocities.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski further escalated tension, asserting that Israel must respect international humanitarian law regardless of self-defense claims. "Starving children in Gaza do not know what Hamas is," he remarked, underscoring the moral dimensions of the conflict.

The remarks by both Tusk and Sikorski did not sit well with both Washington and Tel Aviv. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs fired back, calling the Polish leader's reference to history "unacceptable" and defending its adherence to international law. The ministry invoked the slogan "Never Again," emphasizing that Israel's war against Hamas  whom it likens to "new Nazis"  is justified. (Related: The ugly, horrifying history of Israel's military, the "most moral army in the world.")

Tom Rose, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Poland, countered Sikorski's remarks by defending Israel's unprecedented humanitarian concessions, despite Hamas' tactics of embedding within civilian populations.

Rose, formerly the publisher and CEO of the Jerusalem Post, framed Israel's actions as historically unmatched in wartime ethics. He contrasted them with expectations placed on other nations like Ukraine, which faces no such demands to aid Russian-occupied territories.

The unfinished past: How WWII still divides Poland and Israel

The controversy underscores the complex interplay of history and modern conflict. It also highlights how historical grievances continue to shape contemporary geopolitics, particularly in conflicts where civilian suffering becomes a focal point of international scrutiny.

Poland and Israel share a fraught legacy stemming from World War II, including debates over Polish complicity in Nazi crimes and post-war property seizures. While Poland has championed Palestinian statehood since 1998, its solidarity with Israel against perceived Iranian threats has been tempered by historical sensitivities. Israeli officials have long accused Poland of minimizing its role in anti-Semitic persecution, while Polish leaders emphasize the sacrifices of Poles who resisted the Holocaust.

As the war in Gaza rages, these exchanges reveal how historical trauma shapes diplomatic rhetoric. They also showcase how allegations of hypocrisy resonate in conflicts where civilian suffering becomes the defining narrative.

Moreover, the debate reflects broader global divisions over Israel's military conduct and the moral responsibilities of nations engaged in asymmetrical warfare. For Poland, a country still reckoning with its wartime past, the current dispute is a reminder of how historical memory continues to inform its stance on justice, sovereignty and international law.

The fallout serves as a sobering testament to the enduring weight of history  and how its echoes reverberate in today's most contentious conflicts. As both nations invoke the past to justify present positions, the civilians caught in the crossfire remain at the heart of a debate that shows no signs of resolution.

Visit Genocide.news for more similar stories.

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Trump unveils 100% semiconductor tariff, but offers full exemptions to U.S. investors like Apple

President Donald Trump announced a proposed 100 percent tariff on foreign-made semiconductors but offered exemptions for companies actively investing in U.S. manufacturing.

India, a key iPhone assembly hub, faces phased 50 percent tariffs, while Vietnam, which produces iPads and MacBooks, is already subject to a 20 percent tariff. Additional levies on semiconductor-containing products may follow.

Flanked by Tim Cook, Trump highlighted Apple's expanded $100 billion domestic investment, raising its total U.S. commitment to $600 billion, including new manufacturing programs and supplier partnerships.

Companies like Apple that are building or have committed to build in the U.S. will be exempt from the tariffs, even if production hasn't yet begun.

Apple's exemption is seen as a win after Cook's lobbying efforts, but economists question whether many CEOs' post-election investment pledges, often pre-planned, will truly result in new jobs or facilities.

President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs targeting semiconductor imports, unveiling a proposed 100 percent levy on foreign-made chips, but offering full exemptions to companies like Apple Inc. that commit to U.S.-based manufacturing.

On Aug. 6, Trump announced his plan to impose semiconductor tariffs on global production hubs that power the electronics industry. India, a major Apple production partner, faces a two-phase 50 percent tariff, with half already taking effect, while Vietnam, where Apple manufactures iPads and MacBooks, is already subject to a 20 percent import tariff. Additionally, Trump has threatened to impose additional levies on any product containing semiconductors, possibly as early as next week. (Related: U.S. tariffs inflict huge blow on German automakers.)

However, Trump has signaled that exemptions will hinge on whether companies are actively investing in U.S. production, even if full-scale manufacturing hasn't yet started.

In line with this, Trump, flanked by Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Oval Office, announced Apple's new $100 billion investment plan in American manufacturing. The expanded $100 billion commitment builds on an earlier pledge to spend $500 billion over four years in the U.S., bringing its total planned domestic investment to $600 billion.

New spending will include a U.S. manufacturing program that ropes in suppliers like Corning Inc., Texas Instruments and Applied Materials; a dedicated Corning facility in Kentucky for Apple glass production, increasing that plant's workforce by 50 percent; and ongoing expansion of Apple's supply chain footprint across states like Texas and Michigan.

Trump then offered full exemptions to companies like Apple Inc.

"We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors, but the good news for companies like Apple is, if you're building in the United States or have committed to build, without question, committed to build in the United States, there will be no charge," Trump said. "So in other words, we'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100 per cent on chips and semiconductors. But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge. Even though you're building and you're not producing yet, in terms of the big numbers of jobs and all of things building, if you're building, there will be no charge."

Still, Apple has not fully committed to moving final iPhone assembly out of Asia.

CEOs race to align with Trump amid tariff threats

Apple is far from alone in courting the administration.

Since Trump's 2024 presidential victory, dozens of CEOs have visited Mar-a-Lago and the White House to align with the new administration and unveil hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending commitments.

However, many of these announcements had been planned before the election or are consistent with existing investment patterns. Economists have also raised doubts about whether all the promised spending and the jobs tied to it will ultimately materialize.

In other words, the announcement marks a significant win for Apple and Cook, easing mounting pressure from Trump's escalating tariff threats that had risked sharply increasing the cost of producing the company's flagship devices. Cook, who attended Trump's inauguration and contributed to his inaugural committee, has actively lobbied for tariff exemptions on Apple's iPhones.

Follow Trump.news for the latest updates, exclusive insights and in-depth coverage on this topic and similar stories.

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2 Chinese nationals charged for illegally smuggling AI chips

Two Chinese nationals  Chuan Geng (U.S. permanent resident) and Shiwei Yang (visa overstay)  were arrested in Southern California for orchestrating a scheme to smuggle advanced AI microchips from the U.S. to China in violation of export controls under the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).

Their company, ALX Solutions Inc., allegedly funneled high-performance GPU chips (critical for AI systems) through Singapore and Malaysia to conceal their final destination (China), evading U.S. licensing requirements from October 2022 to July 2025.

Payments originated from Hong Kong and Chinese firms (including a $1 million transfer), contradicting claimed Southeast Asian buyers. Seized communications revealed discussions about using Malaysian middlemen to circumvent U.S. laws.

The case reflects the U.S.-China tech Cold War, with Washington tightening semiconductor export restrictions (since 2022) to curb China's AI military ambitions, while China accelerates domestic production and exploits smuggling networks (e.g., Huawei's 2023 breakthrough with a 7nm chip).

This prosecution is part of a pattern of U.S. crackdowns on export-control violations since 2021, underscoring the high-stakes battle over silicon supremacy and the strategic importance of AI and semiconductor dominance.

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested in Southern California for allegedly orchestrating a multi-million-dollar scheme to smuggle advanced microchips  critical to artificial intelligence (AI) systems  from the U.S. to China in violation of federal export controls.

Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang, both 28 years of age, where charged Tuesday, Aug. 5, for violating the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA). Geng is a lawful U.S. permanent resident from Pasadena, while Yang  an El Monte resident  overstayed her visa.

Prosecutors say their company, ALX Solutions Inc., funneled "the most powerful GPU chips on the market" through Singapore and Malaysia to conceal their ultimate destination  China. Between October 2022 and July 2025, ALX Solutions allegedly shipped high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) designed for AI-driven systems  including autonomous vehicles and medical diagnostics  without obtaining required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The chips, though not named in court filings, are believed to be restricted models from U.S. firms like NVIDIA, whose advanced semiconductors are barred from export to China due to national security concerns. Moreover, authorities uncovered evidence suggesting deliberate evasion.

Payments for the chips came from Hong Kong and Chinese firms  including a $1 million transfer in January 2024  rather than the purported Southeast Asian buyers. During a raid, investigators seized cellphones containing messages discussing the use of Malaysian middlemen to skirt U.S. laws, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

U.S., China vie for dominance in semiconductor industry

According to a DOJ press release posted on Aug. 5, Geng surrendered to authorities days earlier on Saturday, Aug. 2, while Yang was arrested earlier that day. The two could face up to 20 years in jail for violating the ECRA.

The case underscores the escalating technological Cold War between Washington and Beijing. Both nations vie for dominance in semiconductors, a linchpin of modern defense and civilian innovation.

The arrests highlight the Trump administration's tightening chokehold on China's access to cutting-edge tech. In October 2022, Washington imposed sweeping restrictions on semiconductor exports to stifle Beijing's AI military ambitions.

China, in turn, has accelerated domestic chip production while allegedly enabling smuggling networks to bypass controls. This tactic was exemplified by Huawei's surprise 2023 release of a smartphone with an indigenously produced seven-nanometer processor. (Related: China bets on Huawei's Ascend chips to replace banned Nvidia technology.)

Geng was released on $250,000 bond, while Yang remains detained ahead of an Aug. 12 hearing. Both face arraignment Sept. 11.

The case reflects a broader pattern: Since 2021, U.S. authorities have prosecuted dozens of similar export-control violations, signaling zero tolerance for tech leaks to geopolitical rivals. As AI reshapes global power dynamics, the case serves as a stark reminder of the high-stakes battle over silicon supremacy and the lengths to which nations will go to secure it.

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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cancels $500 million in mRNA vaccine projects

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the termination of 22 federally funded mRNA vaccine development projects targeting COVID-19, flu and bird flu, citing concerns over effectiveness and adaptability.

Kennedy argued that mRNA vaccines are too vulnerable to viral mutations and fail to offer reliable protection against respiratory infections, calling for a pivot to "safer, broader vaccine strategies."

The canceled projects included efforts by major pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur and Moderna, signaling a sharp departure from prior pandemic-era vaccine investments.

Since taking office, Kennedy has made sweeping changes at HHS, including firing all members of the CDC's immunization advisory panel and appointing individuals critical of vaccines.

In May, Kennedy removed the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, citing a lack of supporting clinical data.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that the federal government is shutting down over $500 million worth of vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, Kennedy revealed there were 22 canceled projects funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Many of these projects seek to develop mRNA-based vaccines for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza and H5N1 bird flu. Among the halted efforts were proposals from major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur, as well as a now-defunct award to Moderna to create a vaccine for avian influenza. (Related: Big Pharma admits mRNA vaccine causes CANCER.)

In a video posted to his social media accounts, Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, framed the move as a shift toward what he called "safer, broader vaccine strategies."

"We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted," Kennedy said. "The data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We're shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate."

The canceled initiatives reflect a broader rethinking of mRNA as a go-to platform for pandemic preparedness and seasonal immunization. Kennedy criticized the platform's vulnerability to viral mutations and expressed concern about their long-term reliability.

"Let me be absolutely clear, HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them," Kennedy said. Meaning, mRNA-based vaccines were not one of them.

Kennedy has been enforcing significant changes to the HHS since taking office

The announcement marks another significant break from mainstream public health policy under Kennedy's leadership.

Since taking office earlier this year, Kennedy has enacted sweeping changes to how the nation's health department approaches vaccine development and oversight.

For instance, in June, he dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the independent panel responsible for issuing official immunization recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S., while appointing several individuals who have publicly questioned the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Kennedy cited concerns over conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency within the panel. He argued that the removals were necessary to restore public trust and allow the Trump administration to appoint new members more aligned with its views.

"The public must know that unbiased science  evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest  guides the recommendations of our health agencies," Kennedy said. "The prior administration made a concerted effort to lock in public health ideology and limit the incoming administration's ability to take the proper actions to restore public trust in vaccines."

Kennedy also eliminated the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women in May.

"As of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule," Kennedy said at that time. "Last year, the Biden administration urged healthy children to get yet another COVID shot, despite the lack of any clinical data to support the repeat booster strategy in children."

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Trump tariffs axe $12B from auto giants  industry braces for fragmented future

Global automakers face $12 billion in tariff-driven losses, with Toyota, VW and others hardest hit.

Trumps 25 percent car tariffs, imposed April 2025, force companies to raise prices or shift production to U.S. plants.

Mercedes, Audi and Honda accelerate production in North America to reduce costs amid trade friction.

Higher vehicle prices and potential shortages loom as companies grapple with supply chain retooling.

EU-Japan tariff talks contrast with stalled U.S.-China trade ties, deepening global auto industry fragmentation.

President Donald Trumps 25 percent tariff on imported cars and parts has triggered a seismic shift in the global auto industry. Targeting 185 nations, the tariffs  including Canada, Mexico and the EU  aimed to protect U.S. manufacturers but instead exposed automakers to staggering losses. Global giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford now face nearly $12 billion in cumulative losses, with analysts warning the pain is only beginning. The tariffs, paired with surging Chinese EV competition and shrinking markets abroad, force carmakers to weigh drastic moves: absorb costs, slash prices, or revamp production on a massive scale. For consumers, the stakes are clear: cars will cost more, supply chains will unravel and the era of globalization in manufacturing may be ending.

The tariff toll: Profits and prices pay the price

Toyota bore the brunt of the first wave, losing $3 billion in just three months, while Volkswagen faced a $1.5 billion hit. Even Tesla, largely U.S.-based, reported $300 million in losses from tariffs on imported batteries. For the 10 largest global automakers (excluding Chinese firms), net profits are projected to drop 25 percent in 2025  their worst year since the pandemics 2020 crash  according to the Wall Street Journal.

Auto executives tread carefully. Nobody is in a rush to raise prices before others do, said Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois, citing fears of igniting a social media backlash  or riling Trumps tweets. GM calculated consistent pricing would offset just 10 percent of its $5 billion tariff burden this year, while Toyotas finance chief, Takanori Azuma, stressed navigating the price customers are willing to pay.

Manufacturing reset: Factories pivot to the U.S.

Trumps ultimatum  build here or pay up  has spurred a production reshuffle. GM plans a $4 billion overhaul, shifting Mexico-made Equinox SUVs to U.S. plants by 2027 and scaling truck output in Indiana. Honda may add a third shift at U.S. factories, while Nissan boosts local Rogue SUV production. Even European rivals are rethinking their reliance on German assembly lines: Mercedes-Benz moved its GLC SUV production from Europe to Alabama, and Audi mulls a U.S. factory to compete with BMW.

However, retooling plans face hurdles. Building a new plant requires at least $1 billion and years of planning  a gamble given the political cycle. This isnt one administrations whim, said HSBC analyst Mike Tyndall. Instead, carmakers squeeze existing capacity.

Fragmentation fever: A world less global

The tariffs are accelerating a longer-term trend  the end of world cars tailored for every market. Globalization is fading, said Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson. Automakers must now cater to regional preferences, regulations and tastes. Electrification epitomizes this: Chinese EVs dominate Europe, while U.S. consumers favor gas-guzzling trucks. Mercedes GLC shift reflects a broader strategy: build locally where demand grows.

But upending decades of efficient global supply chains has ripple effects. European plants may idle, while Asian exporters face double penalties for not setting up U.S. operations early. Chinese brands, advancing rapidly in Europe and the U.S., add another layer of competition. Particularly in luxury, the global taste is fracturing, said Oliver Wymans Fabian Brandt.

The road ahead for a divided auto industry

President Trumps tariff ploy  a 21st-century iteration of protectionism  has carved $12 billion from automaker coffers, reshaped factories and pitted markets against one another. For consumers, the fallout means pricier cars, longer waits and less choice as companies localize production to survive. The auto sector once symbolized globalizations efficiency; now, its ground zero for its unravelling.

As automakers recalibrate for a fragmented future, the stakes extend beyond sales margins. From Stuttgart to Shanghai, the industrys focus is stark: adapt or become a victim of a world increasingly divided by policy and nationalism. The question lingers: Who will emerge stronger when the dust settlesand can free trade survive this era of reciprocal captivity?

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Trumps Ukraine peace proposal deemed acceptable by Kremlin: Putin-Trump-Zelensky summit under discussion

Russia confirmed receiving an "acceptable" peace proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine, following diplomatic talks with Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow.

Russian officials hinted at a possible summit involving Putin, Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, with the UAE floated as a potential venue.

Zelensky cautiously welcomed peace efforts but stressed conditions, including an immediate Russian ceasefire and Western security guarantees, while Putin dismissed direct talks with Zelensky due to political disputes.

Diplomacy unfolds amid heightened tensions, including U.S. trade pressure on India over Russian oil imports, signaling broader geopolitical maneuvering.

While all parties aim to end the conflict, major hurdles remain, including Ukrainian concessions, sovereignty disputes and international backing for Trump's proposal, leaving the outcome unclear.

The Kremlin confirmed Thursday, Aug. 7, that it had received an "acceptable" peace proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The announcement follows a high-profile visit to Moscow by Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Wednesday  a move signaling renewed diplomatic efforts amid escalating tensions. Russian officials described the talks as constructive, raising prospects for a potential summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

"This proposal from the Americans is something we are ready to consider," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, though he declined to disclose specifics. Ushakov characterized Witkoff's discussions with Putin as "business-like and constructive," adding that bilateral relations could shift toward a "mutually beneficial scenario."

The Kremlin's openness to dialogue suggests a cautious thaw in U.S.-Russia relations since Trump's re-election. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck an optimistic tone, calling the talks "a good day' while acknowledging lingering challenges.

"We still have a ways to go," Rubio remarked, "but we're certainly closer to peace today than we were yesterday."

Putin, meanwhile, hinted that a meeting with Trump could take place soon  potentially in the United Arab Emirates.

"The UAE would be quite suitable," Putin said, citing strong diplomatic ties with the Emirati leadership. The Kremlin has not ruled out a broader multilateral summit, possibly alongside Chinese President Xi Jinpings upcoming international gathering in Beijing. (Related: Putin signals readiness for Ukraine peace talks, but Russia's demands remain unchanged.)

Ukraine's conditions and the road ahead

Zelensky, whose legitimacy Moscow has repeatedly questioned over postponed elections, expressed cautious optimism about ending the war. In a social media statement, he emphasized Ukraines priorities: an immediate Russian ceasefire, high-level peace talks and long-term Western security guarantees.

"Ukraine has never wanted war," Zelensky said, but stressed that Russia must take "real steps to end its aggression."

Putin, however, downplayed prospects for direct talks with Zelensky, citing unresolved political conditions.

The diplomatic flurry comes amid heightened global tensions, including Washington's escalating trade pressure on India  a BRICS member  over its Russian oil imports. Some analysts speculate that tariff leverage may be tied to broader U.S. efforts to counterbalance Russia-aligned economies.

As discussions progress, key questions linger: Will Ukraine accept concessions? Can Putin and Zelensky reconcile fundamentally opposing views on sovereignty? And will Trump's proposed deal gain broad international backing? For now, all sides appear to be aligned on one goal  ending the bloody conflict  but the path to peace remains uncertain.

Watch the video below that talks about Trump's disappointment with Putin as he shortens the deadline for ending the Ukraine war.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump orders nuclear submarine repositioning amid escalating tensions with Russia.

Trump issues 10-day ultimatum to Putin, threatens sweeping tariffs over Ukraine war.

Trump REJECTS Putin's offer to mediate Israel-Iran conflict, tells Russian leader to focus on Ukraine.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

RT.com

X.com

Brighteon.com
One of the basic principles of investing is that you should adjust your goals and strategies as you get older. But that also applies to the amount of money you have to invest.

Explore More: How To Turn $100K Into a Million: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Read Next: 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks

No matter how old you are, your investment strategy should evolve based on your financial situation. Here are four changes you should make when it comes to investing your first $1,000 versus your first $100,000.

Also see the 10 worst investing mistakes to avoid at all costs, according to Tae Kim.

Time Horizon

Putting $1,000 aside for investments often means you have a specific goal in mind, such as a down payment on a car or home. In most cases, you have a fairly short time horizon of one to five years, depending on the goal.

With limited time and only $1,000 to invest, you want to ensure the most reliable return. Truist recommended putting your money in safe assets, like money market accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) or low-risk index funds.

With $100,000 to invest, you might be thinking more long term, such as building your retirement fund or eventually starting your own business. A longer time horizon means you can widen your investment options into a more aggressive mix of assets that includes stocks, mutual funds and real estate.

Check Out: Im a Financial Advisor: 4 Investing Rules My Millionaire Clients Never Break

Tax Strategy

When you attain the kind of wealth that lets you invest $100,000, then its time to change up your tax strategy. One goal should be to minimize your income tax burden to free up more money for investments, according to a blog from Dominion Asset Protection.

You should also adopt the kinds of tax-efficient strategies you didnt have to worry about when you had only $1,000 to invest. Improper tax planning could leave you with a big tax bill that diminishes your investment returns, according to Avidian, a Texas-based investment firm.

To reduce this risk, Avidian recommended considering strategies such as tax-loss harvesting and utilizing tax-advantaged accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs.

Risk Tolerance and Capacity

With only $1,000 to invest, you dont have much margin for error. One bad move  such as putting the entire amount into a high-risk investment  could wipe out the entire amount. In this case, you might not have much risk tolerance. Again, consider investing in safe assets like CDs and money market accounts.

Having $100,000 to invest gives you a lot more leeway. This is when you should put more thought into your risk capacity, which SmartAsset defines as the amount of risk thats necessary for you to meet your goals.
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By Karen Roman

IPO Edge Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone joined Schwab Networks Nicole Petallides in an interview to discuss the latest San Francisco venture capital-backed IPO of Figma, Inc. (NYSE: FIG), which currently trades at $80 per share  or nearly triple its offering price.

With a $20 billion valuation at IPO, Figma is the first classic tech company of this size going public in years, and Mr. Jannarone said he expects future IPOs like Klarna and Stripe as early as this fall with a potentially higher valuation than Figma. He also mentioned the companys founder, Dylan Field, aimed at attracting big institutional investors who would buy and hold the shares when he considered pricing.

Mr. Jannarone explained investors ought to be cautious when buying FIG shares now considering it has been trading at 50-times forward sales since its debut, an extremely elevated multiple.

For further insights into these topics readers are invited to attend the First LA CorpGov Forum on September 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. Click here to learn more about this event.

To watch the full Schwab interview with Ms. Petallides and Mr. Jannarone, CLICK HERE or watch below.

Read more

Save the Date: 5th Palm Beach CorpGov Forum Nov 5-6

Register for our weekly newsletter HERE

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IPO Edge

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One-third of people older than 85 in the United States are estimated to live with Alzheimer's disease today, according to the National Institute on Aging. The condition's characteristic long, slow decline places an enormous burden on families and on society. While the need for new treatments is urgent, Alzheimer's is a complex disease that requires multidisciplinary research across a wide range of specialties.

In a new article led by Yale's Amy Arnsten, researchers from across numerous disciplines share an update on the varied efforts that are driving these new treatments.

Writing in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, the group of experts - whose fields span neuropathology, fluid biomarkers, PET imaging, and proteomics/transcriptomics, as well as basic research - focus specifically on the early stages of the disease when new preventive therapies may be most effective.

This integrated view highlights that Alzheimer's pathology can be initiated by many different factors, including protein buildups in the brain and inflammation that appear to drive neurodegeneration in the common, late-onset form of the disease, said Arnsten, the Albert E. Kent Professor of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

"We're at a tipping point in Alzheimer's research today where we have begun to have the first treatments for the disease, but we still have a long way to go," Arnsten said. "We need to keep pushing ahead to have more effective medications with fewer side effects."

In an interview, Arnsten explains why so many more people are expected to develop Alzheimer's in the coming decades, the opportunities for new treatments, and challenges that threaten to halt this progress.

In addition to Arnsten, the Albert E. Kent Professor of Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, contributors include Christopher H. van Dyck, the Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professor of Psychiatry and of neurology and neuroscience at YSM, Dibyadeep Datta, assistant professor of psychiatry and of neuroscience at YSM, as well as Heiko Braak and Kelly Del Tredici from the University of Ulm in Germany; Nicolas Barthelemy from Washington University in St Louis; and Edward Lein and Mariano Gabitto from the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences and the University of Washington.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is the state of Alzheimer's disease research today?

Amy Arnsten: Alzheimer's research has expanded tremendously over the last decade, and we are now at an extraordinary time. After decades of research, the lessons we've learned about the brain changes that cause the disease are beginning to translate into FDA-approved treatments.

There are currently two approved antibody treatments that remove beta amyloid, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, from the brain, and slow the course of the disease. But they don't stop it, and they don't work for everyone. They can also have some pretty serious side effects.

Why is dementia so prevalent now?

Arnsten: Aging is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and people are living so much longer, especially now with many effective treatments for diseases like cancer. Aging is also a risk factor for other causes of dementia, such as vascular dementia, and dementia related to Parkinson's disease. Sometimes the forms overlap, which is particularly confusing for neuropathologists. These diseases place an enormous burden on patients and on their families.

What is new research focusing on?

Arnsten: There are many new approaches in the pipeline. Early intervention is one big priority. We need effective treatments with benign side effects so we can catch the disease early - maybe even before people start showing symptoms - and slow it down. My lab is researching the toxic actions caused by inflammation that contribute to Alzheimer's. The goal would be to have a treatment you could use very early  once the test indicates risk even if the patient has no symptoms - that is also remarkably safe. You want to be able to use this with a patient who is, say, 50 years old, because the process can start when you're still young.

Why does it take so long for discoveries in the lab to become medications people can take?

Arnsten: In many ways, Alzheimer's researchers have had to invent the field, and innovations from disciplines such as genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, spectroscopy, and brain imaging have all been necessary to figure out what was changing in the brain and why. There appear to be multiple drivers of brain pathology, for example, where inflammation may contribute greater risk in some people than in others, which makes things more complex. But it also offers more opportunities for different kinds of treatments.

This type of translational science is necessarily slow, as it takes time to unravel the many factors that initiate and drive the pathology. And once you have discerned a possible therapeutic target, it takes great time and expense to determine that a treatment is effective and safe in patients.

What are some of the more notable new breakthroughs in the field?

Arnsten: One key recent breakthrough is a new blood biomarker that can detect the beginnings of tau pathology [accumulation of the tau protein in the brain], which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. This signal of emerging pathology in the brain can be seen long before one can use PET imaging to see later stage tau pathology in the brain. This new blood biomarker will also allow us to track whether a new treatment is working.

There are many new, and likely better, treatment strategies also in early stages of testing that will likely not come to fruition if Congress cuts the NIH [National Institutes of Health] budget. This would be a tragedy for so many patients and their families, and would also be very short-sighted, as the financial burden of caring for patients by the federal government is enormous.

In my lab, we've worked for 20 years to understand some of the early changes that especially afflict the neurons that generate memory and higher cognition, and we have identified a compound that we think can stop these early, toxic effects of inflammation with few side effects. But now, due to NIH budget cuts, we can't get the funding to continue. These cuts will be devastating to so much research, and the field can't just bounce back from them, because they will destroy so much of the research pipeline, hurting our health and also the U.S. economy. In the past, Congress understood the importance of NIH-funded research to American strength; we hope that rational strategies can still prevail.
Rowan University and Sentrimed, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing safer, orally dosed oncology therapies, today announced results from a National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded clinical trial evaluating MASL in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The Company's lead product candidate, MASL, is a novel lectin-based therapeutic licensed from Rowan University. Results from this first-in-human Phase 1 trial, led by Dr. Gary Goldberg at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and Dr. Mahnaz Fatahzadeh from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, were recently published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology and demonstrated the potential of MASL to address critical unmet needs in the treatment of oral cancer.

MASL is a first-in-class, orally administered therapeutic that targets podoplanin (PDPN), an oncogenic transmembrane glycoprotein receptor that is expressed on malignant cells in more than 75% of oral cancer patients. PDPN plays a key role in promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy. By targeting PDPN, MASL may disrupt key oncogenic signaling pathways that drive cancer progression and mortality.

"Results from this study suggest that MASL can be developed to help treat patients with OSCC lesions," said Dr. Gary Goldberg, who has performed pioneering research on intercellular communication and its role in cancer progression, and is a Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Sentrimed. "The single oral dose of MASL used in this study caused no adverse reactions or side effects in any patients. In addition, MASL appeared to stimulate an antitumor immune response in one out of three patients examined within 24 hours after dosing. This first-in-human study marks a significant milestone in the development of MASL and we look forward to expanding its investigation in larger clinical trials."

Ex-vivo studies using patient-derived tumor cells from this Phase 1 trial found that MASL consistently inhibited oral cancer cell viability and motility in culture. Moreover, studies with these cells also indicate that antibodies can target PDPN to selectively destroy human oral cancer cells using near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT). This research was supported by Rowan University, Rutgers University, the NIH, Sentrimed, and collaborators from the New Jersey Medical School, NCI, and Tohoku University.
Once viewed only as infectious invaders, bacteria are now understood to play an important role in overall health. For example, the gut microbiome-the community of microorganisms that inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract-has garnered much attention recently as studies have explored its relationship with health and disease.

But what about the mouth? The mouth is the second most diverse human microbial system and, as the start of the digestive system, is directly and frequently exposed to the external environment. However, it has been vastly overshadowed by the focus on the gut.

Now, a collaborative team including Modupe O. Coker of Penn Dental Medicine has investigated the stability of the oral microbiome in children living with HIV and those exposed to the virus but uninfected. Their findings, published in Microbiome, challenge the conventional belief that a stable microbiome is important for overall health and offer insights into how early immune challenges shape not only oral health but also systemic health.

"Mouth microbes are central to health-they are the first to encounter food, promoting digestion and nutrient uptake," says Coker, assistant dean of clinical and translational research and co-senior author of the study. "But bacteria in the mouth don't stay in the mouth-they extend to the rest of the body, influencing system health and vice versa."

The researchers collected supragingival, or above the gum line, plaque samples across three time points from children in Nigeria. This included children living with HIV, children perinatally exposed to HIV but uninfected by the virus, and children not exposed to and therefore uninfected by the virus. All children living with HIV were receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) at the time of the study.

"This population is near and dear to us all," says Coker, adding that studying these groups of children offers the opportunity to better understand how challenges to the immune system early in life affect the oral microbiome and how that, in turn, affects other measures of development like growth and cognitive function.

The research team mapped the spatial (front-to-back) distribution of the microbial communities in the mouth and determined the association of HIV status and cavity- or caries-related bacterial species and intraspecies variants. They also calculated the degree of taxonomic turnover across the three time points within each group.

"[Taxonomic turnover] is measuring the entire microbial community at one time and then [measuring] the same community at a separate time and seeing how divergent they are from each other," explains Allison E. Mann, an assistant professor of biological anthropology at the University of Wyoming and the first author on the study. "The more divergent, the higher the taxonomic turnover or volatility, and the less, the lower."

In the gut, continues Mann, taxonomic stability over time is good, "that's what you want in the gut."

But, as this study showed, the opposite was true in the mouth-children unexposed and therefore uninfected by HIV exhibited higher turnover over time than those who had been exposed to HIV, suggesting, says Mann, that the oral microbiomes of children exposed to HIV might be less able to adapt to changes in environmental conditions or "disruptions."

"The idea is that because the oral microbiome has evolved to be able to live in our mouths and is obviously just constantly being bombarded with food and the like-it's evolved a different strategy than the gut, which is relatively protected," says Mann. "It has evolved to fluctuate and adapt to changing situations."

"This seems very reasonable," says Coker. "The children in this study are in their adolescence, experiencing a lot of changes in their bodies [such as] developmental and hormonal changes, including being in a mixed dentition phase where they have primary teeth along with permanent teeth. We expect the microbiome to change, so when it doesn't, that signals impaired adaptability. The fact that [the supragingival plaque microbiome] is more stable in children living with HIV actually makes sense."

Additionally, Coker adds, lower turnover was associated with higher frequencies of those groups of bacteria that cause cavities, increasing the risk of caries in this population.

The study also showed that the microbial communities in children exposed to and infected by HIV were more homogeneous-the bacterial clusters in the front, or anterior, of the mouth were similar to those in the back, or posterior-than in children unexposed to HIV.

"In normal circumstances, there are quite distinct differences between the front and the back of the mouth," says Vincent P. Richards, an associate professor of biological sciences at Clemson University and co-senior author of the study. "And in kids living with HIV, that's destroyed."

This is important, he adds, because it gets researchers closer to understanding the mechanism underlying these changes and their outcomes. "This tells us that the virus might be differentially affecting different glands and ducts differently," he says, referring to how perinatal HIV exposure without infection as well as HIV infection and associated treatment have been linked to decreased salivary flow, and how saliva from children living with HIV presents as more acidic.

As Coker explains, these results give a clue into the broader question of how an early-life disruption to systemic health-such as prenatal exposure to HIV-can impact the oral microbiome.

"We know that oral microbes affect systemic health," she says. "But systemic health also shapes oral health, so there is a cyclical relationship. And as an epidemiologist and translational scientist, I hope we can keep looking at novel ways to use this information to understand disease and to possibly prevent or treat it."
Music is a powerful tool for conveying mood, whether heard via a live performance or movie soundtrack, making it an effective medium for understanding how people identify and respond to emotions. Studies have found that children ages 5 to 11 show increasing accuracy in recognizing specific emotions in music.

However, research on emotion recognition in music among people with traits associated with "callous-unemotional" behavior-such as the absence of empathy, guilt, or open expression of feelings-is lacking. This matters because children higher in these traits are at higher risk for aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathological behaviors.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences have studied how well 144 Philadelphia-area children ages 3 to 5 recognized happiness, sadness, calmness, or fear in 5-second music clips.

They find that children can identify emotions with a level of accuracy better than a random guess, with performance improving with age. In addition, they find that children whose parents score them higher in callous-unemotional traits show poorer recognition of emotion in music overall but did not have a more difficult time recognizing fearful music. Their findings are published in Child Development.

"We show that children are good at matching emotion faces to the 'correct' emotion music, even at age 3," says associate professor Rebecca Waller, co-senior author with former MindCORE postdoctoral fellow Rista C. Plate, "which emphasizes how important music can be, particularly in emotion socialization and social skills teaching and for children who may still be learning ways to express their emotions verbally."

This is the first study examining whether children with higher callous-unemotional traits have difficulty recognizing music, Waller says. Yael Paz, a postdoctoral fellow in Waller's EDEN Lab and co-first author with Syndey Sun, a Penn undergraduate at the time of this research, says one of the most interesting findings is differences in emotion recognition from music compared to facial expressions.

Waller notes that previous work from her lab and others shows that children with higher callous-unemotional traits have more difficulty recognizing distress from facial expressions. The authors therefore hypothesized that children with higher callous-unemotional traits would have a harder time recognizing fearful music.

Paz says researchers were surprised to see that children higher in these traits were just as good at recognizing fear, suggesting that music may be uniquely well-suited for emotion recognition. She sees music as an alternate port of entry for children who struggle with understanding people's emotions through facial expressions or other visual cues.

This study was conducted in a community sample of children with low overall levels of callous-unemotional traits, and the authors note that a future direction of research is replicating their work among children referred from a clinic that sees children higher in callous-unemotional traits. Waller says another interesting follow-up question is what factors-such as genetics or experiences-explain differences in children's ability to identify emotions in music.

"We're excited to continue to use music as a paradigm both to understand underlying mechanisms and as a treatment target," she says. "Music can be highly evocative, which may be of particular benefit for this subgroup of children."
Air Force continues HADR operation in Uttarakhand; 123 civilians rescued

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 05:15 IST

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Uttarakhand [India], August 9 (ANI): Indian Air Force continued its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation on Friday in Uttarakhand after the devastating floods hit Dharali and Harsili. The X post by the Indian Air Force read, Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH helicopters of #IAF rescued 123 civilians, inducted NDRF teams, and delivered over 4 tons of critical supplies. A special telecom unit was airlifted, swiftly restoring vital communication links to the cut-off region. IAF assets remain ready for sustained operations."

#Indian Air Force Continues #HADR ops in #Uttarakhand. Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH helicopters of #IAF rescued 123 civilians, inducted NDRF teams, and delivered over 4 tons of critical supplies. A special telecom unit was airlifted, swiftly restoring vital communication links to pic.twitter.com/TExJo1eoOW Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 8, 2025

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Three days after the devastating floods hit Dharali and Harsil, a total of 566 people were evacuated by Friday noon from the affected areas, while personnel still carried out rescue operations for 300 people who were stranded. At least five people have been reported dead, and 50 are still missing.The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been actively involved in the rescue operations, utilising state-of-the-art equipment, including a victim locating camera and thermal imaging camera. Dog squads have been deployed alongside rescue personnel to search for stranded individuals.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been closely monitoring the situation, coordinating with rescue agencies, and ensuring that the states development agenda remains on track. He has also chaired a Cabinet meeting in the disaster-affected area, demonstrating his commitment to the regions development despite the crisis.As per a statement, the CM is also ensuring no hindrance in the development of the state. Camp offices have been set up to ensure the development works are sped up. A high-level review meeting was also held with the G ITBP, DG NDRF and DGP Uttarakhand Police. In this, the progress of the rescue operation, ground challenges and strengthening mutual coordination were discussed in detail.The CM sent instructions to ensure quick access to all affected areas, early rescue of stranded people and adequate deployment of relief teams in the inaccessible areas. Special emphasis was also laid on quick restoration of communication, electricity and road connectivity and uninterrupted supply of relief material. The Chief Minister gave clear instructions that there should be no delay in reaching assistance to any affected person, and the administrative machinery should work with full sensitivity.Additionally, the mobile network was also restored in the disaster-hit Harsil valley. The landslides have also disrupted the Char Dham Yatra. Nepal has initiated diplomatic efforts to search for 17 Nepalese workers who went missing in the floods. The Nepalese Prime Minister has condoled the incident and requested assistance from the Indian government. Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, while on his way back from Turkmenistan, took to social media platform Facebook and condoled the incident.I am deeply concerned by the tragic news of the huge loss of life and property due to floods in Uttarakhand, a neighbouring and friendly country in India. It has been reported that more than 17 Nepali citizens have also been affected by the floods. Immediate diplomatic discussions were held through the embassy for their rescue. I pay my respects to all those who lost their lives in the floods and landslides and wish the bereaved families the strength to bear the loss," Oli wrote on Facebook.Amongst those missing 17 are from Jajrkot district, and four others from Bardiya district, local officials have confirmed.According to officials, their whereabouts have been unknown since Tuesday afternoon, following a devastating flood in the Dharali area of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, India.The missing locals have not been contacted since the flood, and their families are deeply worried. We also have requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist in search and rescue operations," Hari Chandra Basnet, Chairperson at Kushe Rural Municipality in Jajarkot District told ANI over a phone call.Additionally, President of Uttarakhand Finance Service Officers Association, Jaipal Singh Tomar has informed that all Finance Service officers of the state would voluntarily donate one days salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund (CMRF).The decision reflects human sensitivity and social responsibility towards the disaster victims by the association. The situation remains critical, with the authorities working tirelessly to provide assistance to those affected by the disaster. The rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, with a focus on restoring communication, electricity, and road connectivity in the affected areas. (ANI)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 05:15 IST

News agency-feeds Air Force continues HADR operation in Uttarakhand; 123 civilians rescued

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Delhi police busts inter-state arms racket; one arrested, 10 pistols seized

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:30 IST

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New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Delhi Police has busted an inter-state firearms racket with the arrest of a 29-year-old man and recovered 10 semi-automatic pistols, 20 live cartridges and seven extra magazines from his possession, an official said on Saturday.

Police arrested Amit Kumar, a resident of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, from near Jasola, DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said.

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Kumar was an active member of a Madhya Pradesh-based arms racket who supplied more than 150 pistols in Delhi-NCR over the last two years, the officer said.

In view of the upcoming Independence Day and the festive season, police had intensified surveillance on illegal arms suppliers. Acting on a tip-off, a team laid a trap and intercepted Kumar around 8.45 pm on Friday, leading to his arrest," the DCP said.

During interrogation, Kumar disclosed that he procured pistols from a manufacturer-cum-supplier in Madhya Pradeshs Dhar district. He used to buy each pistol for Rs 12,000-15,000 and sell them for Rs 30,000-40,000 to criminals in Delhi-NCR and other states, the DCP said.

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A graduate, Kumar worked as a recovery agent with a private bank in Uttar Pradeshs Bhadohi district. He entered the arms trade after being lured by a fellow villager.

Initially working as a carrier, he later developed his own network and started supplying firearms independently, the officer said. PTI BM ARI

First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:30 IST

News agency-feeds Delhi police busts inter-state arms racket; one arrested, 10 pistols seized

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Man, two children, brother-in-law dead as two bikes collide in MPs Mandla

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:30 IST

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Mandla, Aug 9 (PTI) Four persons were killed and two others injured on Saturday when a couple of speeding motorcycles collided in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, a police official said.

The incident took place at 4pm near Jarga-Jargi village, about 25 km off the district headquarters, on the Mandla-Seoni border, Superintendent of Police Rajat Saklecha said.

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A motorcycle with five members of a family going from Seoni to Mandla rammed into another two-wheeler coming from the opposite direction. Rajendra Kushram (38), his sons Sohil (10) and Ravindra (7) and his brother-in-law Shivprasad Maravi (27) died. Rajendras wife, Shakun Kushram (32) and one Vivek Kumar Kakodia (28) were injured," the SP said.

A case has been registered and further probe is underway, the official said. PTI COR LAL BNM

First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:30 IST

News agency-feeds Man, two children, brother-in-law dead as two bikes collide in MPs Mandla

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Minor girl missing since 2023 rescued from Rajasthans Pali, five arrested

Last Updated: August 10, 2025, 04:15 IST

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Pali (Rajasthan) [India], August 10 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has rescued a minor girl from Pali, Rajasthan. She had gone missing from Bardhaman, West Bengal, since August 2023. The case was registered by CBI on February 16, 2024, in compliance with the order dated February 8, 2024, passed by the High Court of Calcutta in W.P. No. 793 of 2024. The missing girl had disappeared on August 9, 2023, when she had gone for tuition and did not return. It was believed that she had been kidnapped.Initially, the case was investigated by the local police and then by the CID, West Bengal. Thereafter, on the petition of the mother of the missing girl, the High Court at Calcutta transferred the case to the CBI. Based on the information received from sources and CDR (Call Detail Record) analysis, leads were obtained that the missing girl might have been sent to district Pali in Rajasthan.Accordingly, the CBI team visited Pali, Rajasthan, and after verifying the information, the missing girl was recovered from the residence of the accused at Pali, Rajasthan, on August 8, 2025.The investigation revealed that the missing girl was a minor when she went missing and was shown as a major in the affidavits created for her marriage. She was sold twice for marriage. It is suspected that this incident could be part of a bigger human trafficking network. After the rescue of the girl, CBI arrested five persons on August 8, in connection with the case and produced them in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Marwad Junction, District Pali on August 9, 2025, which granted Transit Remand for three days in respect of all accused persons for their production before the Court of Additional District & Sessions Judge at Purba Bardhaman in West Bengal. (ANI)

First Published: August 10, 2025, 04:15 IST

News agency-feeds Minor girl missing since 2023 rescued from Rajasthans Pali, five arrested

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One dead, 10 injured as fire breaks out at Anand Vihar Hospital in Delhi

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

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New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) A fire broke out at Anand Vihar Hospital in east Delhi on Saturday afternoon, leaving one person dead and at least 10 injured, Delhi Fire Service officials said.

According to the officials, a call about the blaze was received at 12.12 pm, following which eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

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Seven of the injured have been admitted to the Anand Vihar hospital itself, while three others sustained minor injuries, officials said.

The blaze has been brought under control, they added. PTI BM BUN NSD NSD

First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

News agency-feeds One dead, 10 injured as fire breaks out at Anand Vihar Hospital in Delhi

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Prestige Group acquires 102 acres of land in Q1 to build homes worth Rs 20k cr

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

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New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Realty firm Prestige Estates Projects Ltd has acquired 102 acres of land in the April-June quarter to build housing projects, with a potential to generate revenue of more than Rs 20,000 crore.

Looking to expand its residential real estate business, Bengaluru-based Prestige Estates Projects has been acquiring land parcels outright and also partnering with landowners.

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According to its latest investor presentation, the company acquired a total of 102 acres of land in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai in the first quarter of this fiscal year.

These land parcels will be used to develop residential projects, which would have an estimated gross development value (GDV) of Rs 20,400 crore.

According to the presentation, Prestige Estates in Hyderabad acquired two plots  28 acres in Tellapur and 37 acres in Pulimamidi.

In Bengaluru, the company has acquired three land parcels  10 acres in Poojanahalli  Devanahalli, 7 acres in Kothanuru, KR Puram and 10 acres in Ittangur, Sarjapura.

At Velachery in Chennai, the company acquired 3.48 acres.

Prestige acquired 6.3 acres of land in Mumbai.

The presentation did not mention the cost of the land.

On financial performance, the company recently reported a 26 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 292.5 crore during the first quarter of this fiscal.

Its net profit stood at Rs 232.6 crore in the year-ago period.

The total income rose to Rs 2,468.7 crore during the April-June period of this fiscal from Rs 2,024.5 crore in the corresponding period of the preceding year.

Last month, Prestige Estates Projects Ltd reported a four-fold jump in its sales bookings to Rs 12,126.4 crore in the first quarter of FY26, mainly due to strong demand for its housing project in Ghaziabad.

The companys sales bookings or pre-sales stood at Rs 3,029.5 crore in the year-ago period.

During the entire last fiscal year, Prestige Estates sales bookings declined 19 per cent to Rs 17,023.1 crore, reflecting the impact of deferred launches amid approval delays".

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The company has given guidance of achieving Rs 27,000 crore worth of sales bookings during the current fiscal year.

Prestige Group has delivered over 300 projects and has a pipeline of around 140 projects. PTI MJH BAL BAL

First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

News agency-feeds Prestige Group acquires 102 acres of land in Q1 to build homes worth Rs 20k cr

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramers radar. A caller asked if the stock is a buy given the recent recalls and rising cost of raw materials, and Cramer commented:

The stock acts better despite that bad news, which I like. However, I will have to say that if they dont get that warranty stuff down, it is just too tough to recommend.

Jim Cramer on Ford: "Just Too Tough to Recommend"

Image by Marcin Machalski from Pixabay

Ford (NYSE:F) designs and sells a range of vehicles, including trucks, SUVs, EVs, and luxury models, along with parts, accessories, and digital services. During a July episode, Cramer discussed the company in light of auto tariffs, as he commented:

I believe these auto tariffs are real. Theyll change the landscape even if Japan and Korea start putting in giant orders for natural gas turbines and airplanes. How can I tell? Its easy. I look at the stock of Ford Motor. This stock wouldve been moribund for ages for a host of reasons, from warranty issues to electric vehicles slow down to too many white collar workers, is suddenly on the move. Ford is the biggest winner because its cars and trucks have the most content made in the US, even more than General Motors, although GMs a winner from these tariffs too. I bet Ford stock could mimic the stock of Whirlpool

While we acknowledge the potential of F as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Rajasthan celebrates Rakhi with joy; governor, chief minister take part

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 21:30 IST

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Jaipur, Aug 9 (PTI) Raksha Bandhan, the festival symbolising the bond of love and protection between brothers and sisters, was celebrated across Rajasthan on Saturday with traditional enthusiasm.

Sisters tied rakhis on their brothers wrists, while markets brimmed with activity from early morning.

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The state government extended free travel for women in Rajasthan Roadways buses for two days, leading to a heavy rush at bus stands. The North Western Railway also operated special trains to accommodate festive crowds.

In Jaipur and other towns and villages, women and girls thronged markets to buy rakhis and sweets.

At the Raj Bhavan, girls from S.O.S. Balgram and members of the Brahmakumaris tied rakhis to Governor Haribhau Bagde.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma celebrated the festival at his residence, where school and college girls, armed forces widows, social workers, advocates, doctors and students tied rakhis on his wrist.

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This festival is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between brother and sister. Sisters play diverse roles in the family and are the torchbearers of our traditions and heritage. On this holy day, I have received the love and blessings of sisters, which is an impenetrable shield for me," Sharma said.

Former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje also extended greetings on the occasion. PTI AG VN VN

First Published: August 09, 2025, 21:30 IST

News agency-feeds Rajasthan celebrates Rakhi with joy; governor, chief minister take part

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Tripura: Red Shield Gunners celebrate Raksha Bandhan with school children

Last Updated: August 10, 2025, 04:15 IST

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Agartala (Tripura) [India], August 10 (ANI): Soldiers of the Red Shield Gunners at Agartala Military Station marked Raksha Bandhan with local school children, celebrating the festivals enduring message of protection and unity. The event, held at Bhagat Singh Auditorium, saw young girls tying rakhis on soldiers wrists, symbolising a bond of brotherhood deeply rooted in Tripuras cultural and historical ethos.While Raksha Bandhan is celebrated nationwide, in Tripura, it resonates strongly with the states tradition of camaraderie and community solidarity across tribal and non-tribal groups. Students expressed gratitude for the soldiers dedication to safeguarding the nations borders, calling them brothers who stand strong to protect us." The soldiers reciprocated with gifts, reaffirming their commitment to the security and well-being of Tripura and the nation. The celebration highlighted the deep cultural ties between the armed forces and the local community, underscoring shared values of protection, respect, and mutual trust.Raksha Bandhan was celebrated on August 9 throughout India, in honour of the protective bond between brothers and sisters. (ANI)

First Published: August 10, 2025, 04:15 IST

News agency-feeds Tripura: Red Shield Gunners celebrate Raksha Bandhan with school children

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Two goods trains derail in Jkands Seraikela-Kharswan, many trains cancelled

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

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Jamshedpur/Kolkata, Aug 9 (PTI) Two goods trains got derailed in Jharkhands Seraikela-Kharswan district on Saturday under South Eastern Railways Adra division, leading to the cancellation of several express trains, an official said.

The accident occurred when the two goods trains were passing each other in opposite direction between Chandil and Nimdih stations in Jharkhand, the SER official said.

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There was no report of any injury in the derailments, an official said.

He said that, as per initial reports, a few carriages of one of the two goods trains got derailed and hit the middle portion of the train moving in the opposite direction in the double-line section, leading to the derailment of some of its wagons.

The derailments in the early hours of Saturday severely affected train movement in the Chandil-Gunda Bihar section of Adra division, the SER official said.

Train services on both the up and down tracks from Chandil are affected due to the derailment, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Adra Division) Vikash Kumar told PTI.

The SER official said that efforts are on to restore train movement in the section at the earliest.

Several other express and passenger trains have also been diverted or short-terminated, he said.

The 20897/20898 Howrah-Ranchi-Howrah Vande Bharat express, 20894 Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat express, 18183 Tatanagar-Buxar express, 13301/13302 Dhanbad-Tatanagar-Dhanbad express, 28181/28182 Tatanagar-Katihar-Tatanagar express are among the express trains cancelled owing to the accident, he said.

The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani express (via Sambalpur) has been diverted via Jharsguda-Rourkela-Nuagaon-Hatia-Bokaro Steel City-Rajabera whereas Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Purushottam Express will diverted via Hijili-Modinagar-Adra-Bhojudih-Gomoh, it said.

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Three passenger MEMU including Tata-Asansol and Tata-Hatia would remain cancelled for the day.

LTT-Howrah Express stranded between Chandil-Kandra will be short-terminated and diverted via Tata-Kharagpur-Howrah, the statement said. PTI BS AMR RG

First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:30 IST

News agency-feeds Two goods trains derail in Jkands Seraikela-Kharswan, many trains cancelled

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UN Chief calls Israels move to take control of Gaza dangerous escalation

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 06:30 IST

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New York [US], August 9 (ANI): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that Israels decision to take control of Gaza City marks a dangerous escalation" that could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation for Palestinians.I am gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli government to take control of Gaza City. This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including the remaining hostages," Guterres said in a statement on Friday. The UN chief reiterated his call for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the immediate release of all hostages. He also stressed that there will be no sustainable solution to this conflict without an end to this unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-State solution," adding that Gaza must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State."Meanwhile, the UN Security Council (UNSC) will now hold its emergency meeting on Israels decision on Sunday, August 10, instead of Saturday, Anadolu reported. The meeting is scheduled for 10 am local time.According to Anadolu, the UK, Denmark, France, Greece, and Slovenia requested the meeting. The request has been backed by all UNSC members except Panama, the current chair, and the US.Israels Security Cabinet approved the plan to occupy Gaza City this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that his government intends to take full control of all of Gaza" ahead of the Cabinet meeting. (ANI)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 06:30 IST

News agency-feeds UN Chief calls Israels move to take control of Gaza dangerous escalation

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UP: Amid floods, man takes boat to meet sister on Raksha Bandhan

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 21:30 IST

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Varanasi (UP), Aug 9 (PTI) Manju Devi didnt want her brother, Saurabh Gupta, to visit on Raksha Bandhan this year, not when Varanasi was flooded. However, determined to celebrate the festival, he took a boat and navigated through the waters to reach his sister.

My sister told me not to come because of the floods, but since Raksha Bandhan is a once-a-year occasion, I made the trip. I took a boat to get to her place," Gupta said.

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Although the water level of the Ganga River has been decreasing in Varanasi district, the difficulties for those in flooded areas and nearby rural regions continue. The flood has inundated about 80 per cent of the crops in the surrounding villages.

Sampurnanand, a resident of Ramana in Varanasi district, mentioned that farmers in his village primarily depend on vegetable crops. Claiming that crops such as bitter gourd, beans, sponge gourd, brinjal, and papaya have been submerged, leaving farmers feeling disappointed due to their financial losses, he called for compensation and immediate cleanup of the affected areas.

Chandrakant Singh, a resident of Hukulganj, shared similar concerns, noting that his family had to move to the second floor of their home as water levels began to rise. He mentioned that women are using boats to reach their brothers to tie rakhis.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water level of the Ganga river came down to 69.8 metres on Saturday morning, whereas the danger mark is set at 71.262 metres.

Sandeep Srivastava, the Public Relations Officer of Varanasi Municipal Corporation, stated that the Municipal Corporation is working urgently in the flood-affected areas. As floodwaters recede, employees are focused on cleaning, followed by the spraying of bleaching powder. Subsequently, sodium hypochlorite is sprayed using a machine to protect residents from flies, mosquitoes, and the diseases they may carry.

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A total of 24 flood relief camps have been established, accommodating 4,500 displaced individuals. Teams from the District Administration, Police, NDRF, and Water Police are working together. The flood relief team is continually in contact with affected residents to assist, District Magistrate Satendra Kumar said.

Uttar Pradeshs Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Registration, Stamp and Court Fee, Ravindra Jaiswal, visited flood victims living in relief camps at the Ram Janaki Temple, Dhelvariya, Savitri Lawn, Saraiya, Shailputri Temple and Mauja Hall, Chitrakoot School. PTI COR NAV ANM ANM MPL MPL

First Published: August 09, 2025, 21:30 IST

News agency-feeds UP: Amid floods, man takes boat to meet sister on Raksha Bandhan

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Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, August 9? Check Bank Holiday List This Month

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 07:50 IST

Today, August 9, is the second Saturday of the month August. So, banks will remain closed across the country.

Bank Holiday Today, August 9.

Are Banks Open Today, August 9? If you are planning to visit your bank branch, it is necessary to check the holiday list for banks. Banks remain closed on RBI-notified holidays, Sundays and second & fourth Saturdays. Today, August 9, is the second Saturday of the month August. So, banks will remain closed across the country.

Bank branches remain closed on a number of bank holidays approved by the RBI. As per the standard banking schedule, all banks  both public and private  across India also remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

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Are Banks Closed Today And Tomorrow?

Today (August 9), both public and private banks will remain open across the country, as it is the second Saturday, according to the RBIs notification.

Tomorrow (August 8) also, banks will remain closed across the country as it is Sunday.

Timings of Banks?

Though banks are closed today, here are the timing of the bank during the business days. Most major banks in India, including SBI, Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, operate between 10 am and 4 pm, while ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank usually function from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm or 3:30 pm, depending on the branch. Bank of Baroda has slightly extended hours, operating between 9:45 am and 4:45 pm or 10 am to 5 pm, and Canara Bank typically works from 10 am to 3:30 pm.

Bank Holiday In August 2025

August 08 (Friday)  Tendong Lho Rum Faat

 Holiday in Gangtok

August 09 (Saturday)  Raksha Bandhan / Jhulana Purnima

 Holiday in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Dehradun, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Shimla, Bhubaneswar

August 13 (Wednesday)  Patriots Day

 Holiday in Imphal

August 15 (Friday)  Independence Day / Parsi New Year / Janmashtami

 Nationwide Holiday  All banks across India will remain closed

August 16 (Saturday)  Janmashtami (Shravan Vad-8) / Krishna Jayanthi

 Holiday in Aizawl, Chennai, Hyderabad, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Gangtok, Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar

August 19 (Tuesday)  Birthday of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur

 Holiday in Agartala

August 25 (Monday)  Tirubhav Tithi of Srimanta Sankardeva

 Holiday in Guwahati

August 27 (Wednesday)  Ganesh Chaturthi / Samvatsari / Ganesh Puja

 Holiday in Mumbai, Belapur, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Panaji

August 28 (Thursday)  Ganesh Chaturthi (2nd Day) / Nuakhai

 Holiday in Bhubaneswar, Panaji

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National Holidays (All Banks Closed Across India) In August

August 03 (Sunday)

August 09 (2nd Saturday)

August 10 (Sunday)

August 17 (Sunday)

August 24 (Sunday)

August 30 (4th Saturday)

August 31 (Sunday).

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 07:50 IST

News business  banking-finance Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, Saturday, August 9? Check Bank Holiday List This Month

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Did India Post Discontinue Registered Post? Check What Dept Says On Confusion

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 09:00 IST

India Post clarified that Registered Post is merged with Speed Post, enhancing delivery speed and retaining proof of delivery, aiming to optimize logistics and improve efficiency.

The integration aims to optimize logistics by combining the strengths of both services

The announcement of the discontinuation of Registered Post service by India Post has sparked a flurry of concerns among India citizens. Being a decade-old service with a history associated with Indias growth and development since its Independence, the Registered Post has been in the minds of Indians before the inception of Speed Post. Recommended Stories But did India Post really discontinue the Registered Post service? No. In a clarification, India Post confirmed that Registered Post service has been merged with Speed Post. Registered Post is a postal service that focuses on proof of delivery, while Speed Post, on the other hand, focuses on fast and time-bound delivery, where speed matters more than strict identity verification.

In a social media post, India Post stated, Now, send Registered Post with the speed of Speed Post  no compromise on trust, just quicker outcomes." The clarification came after confusion spread on social media over the fate of Registered Post, prompting the department to issue a fact check and reiterate that the service remains intact and has only been enhanced.

The integration aims to optimize logistics by combining the strengths of both services. Registered Post, known for its person-specific delivery and legal validity, will now operate under the Speed Post framework  ensuring faster delivery while retaining its trusted features. According to India Post, users will continue to receive delivery receipts, real-time tracking, and legal acknowledgments, just with improved speed and backend efficiency.

The revamped system maintains the accountability of both services. While Registered Post traditionally allowed delivery only to the addressee or their authorized representative, Speed Post was address-specific  delivered to anyone at the given address. Under the new structure, customers who opt for Speed Post with registration will receive person-specific delivery, preserving the unique benefit of Registered Post.

Fact Check: Registered Post is NOT being discontinued.India Post has upgraded the service by merging it with Speed Post. Heres what that means for you.  India Post (@IndiaPostOffice) August 7, 2025

Moreover, the upgraded service brings additional features including:

End-to-end online tracking

Real-time delivery updates

OTP-based secure delivery

Cash on Delivery (COD) option

Credit facility for regular users

Volume-based discounts

National Account Facility for corporate clients

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The Department of Posts believes this rationalization will reduce transit delays, enhance backend sorting, and improve overall service connectivity.

India Post urged users to share the update and help dispel misinformation, emphasizing, Were modernizing, not erasing."

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 09:00 IST

News business  banking-finance Did India Post Discontinue Registered Post? Check What Dept Says On Confusion

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Indias Textile Exports Under Pressure As Firms Move Production To Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 08:34 IST

Indian textile exporters are shifting US-bound production to hubs such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, others to offset impact of tariffs

Textile Industry

While uncertainty clouds Indias Rs 87,000-crore annual textile exports to the US, some exporters with overseas manufacturing bases are planning to shift production for American buyers out of India, according to a report by The Economic Times.

Pearl Global Industries said it would reassign US-bound production to more favourable hubs. We are seeing positive momentum from US customers for our Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Guatemala operations," managing director Pallab Banerjee said during the companys quarterly earnings call.

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Another top-10 garment and textile exporter told ET that it plans to move its US orders to Africa. We have a facility in Africa, where we will try to shift our US orders," he said.

Banerjee said the company was benefiting from an early resolution of tariff structures in several Asian markets. Now that the US has declared final reciprocal tariffs on all major garment manufacturing countries at 19-20%, we are seeing positive momentum from US customers for our Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Guatemala facilities," he said.

Pearl Global, which manufactures in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Guatemala, supplies to global brands including Chicos, Kohls, Old Navy, Poligono, Primark, PVH, Ralph Lauren, Stylem, and Target.

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With a 50% tariff now imposed on India, Banerjee said the company is recalibrating its business strategy to adapt to changing trade dynamics. While production for the US market will be reassigned to more favourable hubs, India will continue to grow by tapping new and advantageous partnerships, such as the UK FTA, and focusing on other existing FTA markets like Japan and Australia until the US tariff issue is resolved," he said in a call.

US revenue from India operations accounts for 16-18% of Pearl Globals FY25 group revenue, while the US business contributes 4-5% to overall group profit. We believe such recalibrations should help retain customer wallet share and maintain profitability," Banerjee said, adding that the company will go ahead with its planned capex in Bangladesh.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 07:57 IST

News business  economy Indias Textile Exports Under Pressure As Firms Move Production To Vietnam, Indonesia, Africa

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From Dream To Reality: How Technology Is Opening Doors To Property Ownership In India

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 14:54 IST

Digital real estate in India is breaking barriers of high costs, illiquidity by using technology to enable affordable, accessible property investments

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real estate investment

For decades, buying real estate in India was a cherished dream that often required yearssometimes decadesof disciplined savings or the burden of massive home loans tying families to long-term debt. High entry barriers, endless paperwork, and the need for substantial capital kept property ownership out of reach for many, especially young or first-time investors. But the rise of digital real estate is rewriting these rules. Leveraging technology, new-age platforms now allow investors to complete what was once a manual, paper-heavy process entirely onlineoften at far smaller ticket sizes. The idea is both simple and transformative: make property investment as seamless as buying a mutual fund or stock.

Breaking Down Traditional Barriers

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Historically, real estate investing in India faced four major roadblocks. First, high entry coststypically Rs 50 lakh or more, even in smaller citiesmade ownership difficult. Second, complex legal processes meant heavy paperwork, extensive due diligence, and dependence on middlemen. Third, the assets inherent illiquidity often meant selling property could take months, even years. Finally, opportunities were concentrated in metro cities, with rural and tier-2 markets largely underrepresented.

The Digital Shift in Real Estate

Technology is tackling these pain points through innovations like tokenized ownership, fractional real estate, and blockchain-powered transactions. Platforms such as Alt DRX now allow investors to buy and sell tokenized residential properties one square foot at a time, reducing the entry point from lakhs to just a few thousand rupees. Fractional ownership not only expands accessibility but also introduces greater liquidity to the asset class, making it easier for investors to enter and exit positions.

A Changing Investor Landscape

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While high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) are refining their real estate strategies to focus on risk-managed, income-generating assets, the real momentum is coming from younger, tech-savvy investors. With wealth increasingly shifting into the hands of self-made entrepreneurs and professionals in their 20s and 30s, the appetite for digital-first investment solutions is on the rise. Experts believe the growth potential for digital real estate is immense, whether via fractional ownership platforms, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), or direct exposure through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs).

In a country where property has long been regarded as the ultimate wealth-builder, digital real estate is democratizing access to an asset class once reserved for the wealthy. By lowering entry barriers, simplifying transactions, and improving liquidity, this shift could herald a more inclusive and dynamic real estate market in Indias future.

About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 14:54 IST

News business  real-estate From Dream To Reality: How Technology Is Opening Doors To Property Ownership In India

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'Tyre Punctured, Mud Splattered': Bengaluru Doctor Rages After Her 'Lawfully' Parked Car Vandalised

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 09:42 IST

A Bengaluru-based doctor took to X, saying her car was vandalised despite being parked inside a permitted zone. She also shared a picture of mud splattered on her windshield.

A Bengaluru-based doctor said her car was vandalised despite being legally parked. (PTI/X)

A Bengaluru-based doctor took to X (formerly Twitter), saying her car was vandalised despite being parked inside a permitted zone. She shared a picture of how her cars windshield was smeared with car despite being lawfully parked" and highlighted the citys parking problems.

Which other country lets you skip building a parking spot, add an extra room instead, claim public road as your personal parking, and grants you divine rights to vandalise any car lawfully parked there?" she said in her post.

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Tyre punctured, car scratched, a threat to damage car with a stick and now mud spattered over windshield, seen it all over the years, for parking in a legally permitted parking spot on a public road," the doctor added. Hoping to get some video footage of the entitled violator from the dash cam and share here soon!"

Which other country lets you skip building a parking spot, add an extra room instead,claim public road as your personal parking,and grants you divine rights to vandalise any car lawfully parked there? @peakbengaluru moments Tyre punctured, car scratched, a threat to pic.twitter.com/RGEb2ykd6A  WabiSabi (@Geeky_Foodie) August 7, 2025

In the comment section, the doctor said her vehicle was vandalised when she was away from the parking lot, adding that her other car was vandalised numerous times despite being parked in a permitted zone.

People should build houses in a way that permits them to have private parking for their private vehicle but no one wants to waste any square feet of personal property when public road is theirs to claim," she said in reply to a user.

The doctors post quickly caught the attention of several users, who expressed concern for her and advised her to file a complaint. So sad to see this. Disgusting. How ppl claim entitlement when none exists. And these are so called educated people. Strong law enforcement needed," a user wrote.

Requesting @BlrCityPolice to take this issue up themselves along with the right city authorities. Entitled homeowners equipped with traffic cones, flower pots and other barricades have to be re-educated and taken to task for claiming public property," another user said.

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A third person commented, There is no parking within the plan of 99 percent of independent houses public should prefer apartment to live where the parking is atleast taken care of , without fearing damage or theft to the vehicle the road infront of the house doesnt belong to the owner of the house! (sic)"

Entitled people here think the public space in front of their house is their private space. Lot of houses have stones placed on the footpath. Some even have sunshade for their cars parked on footpath/road," another netizen replied.

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 09, 2025, 09:42 IST

News bengaluru-news 'Tyre Punctured, Mud Splattered': Bengaluru Doctor Rages After Her 'Lawfully' Parked Car Vandalised

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Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the spotlight. During the episode, Cramer discussed the company in light of tariff news, as he commented:

The tariffs, most companies are mitigating them fairly well, not as well as Wayfair, the online furniture store that a lot of wise guys were busy shorting, not realizing that Wayfair may have the single best logistics operation out there, locating low or untariffed merchandise to keep prices down. The shorts thought that Wayfair was hostage to China and other high-tariff countries. They were wrong. And this stock shot up and just gaffed the shorts, I mean, like I havent seen in a long time.

Jim Cramer Notes Shorts Were Wrong About Wayfair

Stock market data showing an upward trajectory. Photo by Burak The Weekender on Pexels

Wayfair (NYSE:W) operates an e-commerce platform that provides furniture, decor, and home goods through multiple retail sites and private-label brands. The companys online storefronts serve both individual consumers and professional clients. Recurve Capital stated the following regarding Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:

We fully exited Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W) in May after owning it for about four years. We had given the company plenty of rope to right the ship and return to growth, but it has been unable to do so. It is hard to pin down exactly why theyve been able to gain share (i.e. grow faster than the market, i.e. shrink less than the market), but not grow in absolute terms. The succinct summary is that we believe Wayfair does not have a differentiated enough value proposition to be a secular winner. It can be an alpha winner by slightly outperforming its end market, but it is not disruptive enough to grow through choppier periods. We were extra patient with Wayfair because of the exceptionally severe industry headwinds it faced, but enough time has passed to convince us that it is more alpha than secular.

We sold Wayfair at what was likely an inopportune price during the recent tariff-induced drawdown. However, our approach is to exit whenever we lose faith instead of hoping to sell at a higher price. In truth, this process of losing faith began in the second half of 2024 and it took me a disappointingly long time to arrive here. Even though we lost money on the Wayfair investment, we certainly earned some precious scar tissue that will surely help our idea filtering and portfolio sizing processes in the future.

While we acknowledge the potential of W 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.
Chaos Erupts At RG Kar Protest; Victims Mother Claims Police Assault, Suffers Head Injury

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta



Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 21:01 IST

Chaos erupted in Kolkata as police clashed with protesters led by parents of a young female doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College last year.

BJP members and security personnel clash during a protest organised to mark the completion of one year of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital (PTI)

Chaos erupted in Kolkata after police personnel clashed with protesters as parents of a young female doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year, led a march to the West Bengal secretariat (Nabanna) on Saturday.

Victims Mother Assault Allegation

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Meanwhile, the parents of the victim were injured allegedly in police action and are currently admitted to a hospital.

The victims mother alleged that she was roughed up by women police personnel while on her way to join the march, which was called to mark one year of the rape and murder of her daughter in the state-run hospital.

She claimed that in the scuffle, her shankha (traditional conch shell bangle) was broken and she sustained a head injury.

#WATCH | Kolkata | West Bengal Police deploys lathi charge at protestors during the Nabanna Abhiyan rally. The rally has been called to mark the one-year anniversary of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder. pic.twitter.com/F3jtMFmXk3 ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

Why are they stopping us like this? All we want is to reach Nabanna and seek justice for my daughter," she said.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who visited the injured couple at the hospital, said the victims mothers condition is not good, while the fathers health is comparatively better.

Her husband and the victims father also alleged that the police tried to prevent the family from reaching Dorina Crossing to join the march, despite court permission for a peaceful rally.

The rally participants demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "failing to protect women".

Protest In Kolkata

The rally descended into chaos as protesters attempted to break through the barricades and tried to march towards the secretariat despite police warnings, and were lathi-charged by the police.

A section of protestors taking part in a march reached Santragachi in Howrah district and attempted to breach the iron wall barricades set up by the city police there.

As part of the Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan, the protestors raised slogans for justice for the RG Kar victim and voiced their resolve to reach the state secretariat, irrespective of the blockades put up by the police.

The police can fire upon us, but we are determined to reach Nabanna, where the state government must answer why justice has not been delivered to Abhaya (RG Kar victim) even after one year," a protestor said.

The protestors were seen carrying the Tricolour besides posters and banners demanding justice for the victim and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Additionally, Suvendu Adhikari, along with BJP leader Agnimitra Paul and other party MLAs held a sit-in at the Park Street-J L Nehru Road crossing, while alleging that more than 100 protesters, including Adhikari and other BJP leaders, were injured in police action.

Adhikari also claimed that the parents of the RG Kar victim were injured during the lathi charge.

Crowds were found swelling at both the assembly points in Howrah and Kolkata, with the state police not allowing the protestors to reach anywhere close to the West Bengal secretariat.

A total of five policemen were injured in the incident.

What Happened At RG Kar Hospital?

On August 9 last year, the 31-year-old postgraduate trainees body was discovered inside the Chest Medicine Departments seminar hall on the fourth floor of the hospitals emergency building. The nature of her injuries, which indicated brutality, and the fact that it happened within a state-run hospital, sent shock waves across West Bengal and beyond.

Widespread protests erupted across campuses, drawing students, doctors, and civil society to the streets.

The Kolkata police initially investigated the case, before the Calcutta High Court transferred the probe to the CBI.

A civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was found guilty of rape and murder by a Kolkata court in January 2025, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. But the victims family and several rights activists insist the case is far from closed.

Two other arrests followed  Sandip Ghosh, the then principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Abhijit Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Tala police station, on charges of misleading the probe.

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But Mondal was released on bail after the CBI failed to file a charge sheet within 90 days.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and womens issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East... Read More Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and womens issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:13 IST

News kolkata-news Chaos Erupts At RG Kar Protest; Victims Mother Claims Police Assault, Suffers Head Injury

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All Indian Attire Allowed: Delhi Restaurant Puts Up Notice After Backlash Over Entry Row

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:58 IST

A Delhi restaurant in Pitampura faced backlash for allegedly denying entry to a couple in Indian attire. The owner denied this, stating the couple lacked a reservation.

Screengrab from a video showing an All Indian attire allowed notice. (Instagram/delhiwalee_)

A video allegedly showing a Delhi restaurant in Pitampura  which recently faced heavy backlash for reportedly denying entry to a couple over their Indian attire  displaying a notice about its new dress code has gone viral.

The post, widely shared on social media, was published by an unverified user. In the video, a few uniformed staff members can be seen putting up two notices outside a building. All types of Indian attire are allowed in the restaurant (saree, suit, etc.)", the first notice read. The other notice has the restaurants name written in red, bold letters.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rohini wale (@rohini_walee)

This comes after a video went viral on social media showing a couple claiming that they were denied access to a restaurant in Delhis Pitampura for wearing Indian attire on August 3.

In the now-viral video, a man in a T-shirt alleges that his companion, a woman in a kurta-salwar, was denied entry to a restaurant named Tubata because of their Indian attire.

The man said, Inhone kum kapde pehenne walo ko jaane diya ye bolke ki aapke ethnic dress ko hum allow nahi karenge [They allowed people wearing shorter dresses to enter but denied us for wearing ethnic dress]."

Following the viral spread of the video, Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra acknowledged the incident and said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had been informed about the matter.

This is unacceptable in Delhi. A video has surfaced showing a ban on Indian attire at a restaurant in Pitampura. This is unacceptable. CM @gupta_rekhaji has taken serious note of the incident. Officials have been directed to investigate the incident and take immediate action," Mishra said on X.

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However, restaurant owner Neeraj Aggarwal denied the allegations, stating that the couple was refused entry because they hadnt made a reservation. He clarified that the restaurant does not have a dress code and welcomes all customers.

The incident sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users demanding action against the restaurant.

First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:58 IST

News new-delhi-news All Indian Attire Allowed: Delhi Restaurant Puts Up Notice After Backlash Over Entry Row

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Google Maps Will Now Flag 'Blackspots' In Delhi To Alert Commuters Of Accident-Prone Zones

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:06 IST

Delhi Traffic Police will mark black spots on Google Maps to alert commuters of accident-prone areas. The initiative, starting with 2024 data, aims to reduce accidents.

Delhi Traffic Police to mark 'black spots' on Google Maps to alert commuters of accident-prone zones (Representative image)

In a bid to enhance road safety in the national capital, the Delhi Traffic Police has announced to mark all identified black spots on Google Maps, which will provide real-time alerts to commuters as they approach accident-prone areas.

The project, initially set to launch in 2025, will begin with the 2024 list of black spots as the annual list is compiled at the end of each year. A black spot is a central point where accidents have occurred frequently within a 500-metre radius on both sides.

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If a particular stretch sees frequent accidents, the midpoint of that stretch is categorised as a black spot," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic Headquarters) Shive Keshari Singh told PTI.

The Delhi Traffic Police identified 111 such spots last year, resulting in over 1,132 accidents and 483 fatalities. The locations will be marked on the map to keep travelers informed and vigilant.

We are tying up with Google, and internal procedures are in progress," Singh said, adding, If and when it goes live this year, the map will carry the 2024 black spots first. The idea is to give timely information so commuters stay alert, their drive becomes easier and safer and reduces the number of fatalities."

Black Spots Identified

In 2024, Azadpur Sabzi Mandi on GT Karnal Road recorded the highest number of accidents at 20, which included 11 fatal cases. Akshardham Mandir on NH-24 recorded 19 accidents, eight of them fatal. Bhalswa Chowk on Outer Ring Road also recorded 19, with six fatal ones.

ISBT Kashmere Gate recorded 17 accidents, including eight fatal ones. SGT Nagar recorded 18, with seven fatal, while Libaspur Bus Stand witnessed 18 crashes, including six fatal ones. Anand Vihar ISBT and Rajokari Flyover each recorded 16 accidents. 12 accidents were recorded near Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, while Wazirabad recorded 15 accidents, nine of which were fatal.

In 2024, the top 10 black spots for accidents accounted for 180 incidents. Several corridors had multiple high-risk locations, with Outer Ring Road reporting at least 17 black spots, Ring Road having 13, and GT Karnal Road featuring 10. Other roads, such as Rohtak Road, NH-8, and Najafgarh Road, also had several black spots.

As of July 2025, an additional 25 black spots have been identified, which collectively witnessed 176 accidents, including 88 fatal ones. Corridors such as Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, and GT Karnal Road remain prominent, while ISBT Kashmere Gate, SGT Nagar, and Hanuman Mandir in Bawana have been flagged as repeat locations.

"There can be many reasons a black spot forms, from missing or faded signage, worn zebra crossings, to poor road condition," a senior official said.

We deploy personnel at these stretches and work with road agencies to fix the engineering issues, and now we are adding a tech layer through Google Maps," he added.

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The planning for this initiative is ongoing, including marking the black spot locations and coordinating with road-owning agencies to improve signage, road designs, and strategic deployment of personnel.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:06 IST

News new-delhi-news Google Maps Will Now Flag 'Blackspots' In Delhi To Alert Commuters Of Accident-Prone Zones

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Staffer Dies, Several Injured After Fire Breaks Out At Hospital In Delhi's Anand Vihar

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:21 IST

The staffer has been identified as Amit, who was among the three hospital employees trapped inside the building when the fire began

Firemen outside the Kosmos Hospital where a fire broke out in the server room, at Anand Vihar area, in New Delhi, Saturday. (PTI photo)

A 28-year-old housekeeping staff member died and several others were injured after a fire broke out in the server room of Kosmos Hospital in Anand Vihar, east Delhi, on Saturday afternoon.

The staffer has been identified as Amit, who was among the three hospital employees trapped inside the building when the fire began.

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According to officials from the Delhi Fire Service, the fire started around 12.20 pm in the server room on the ground floor of the multi-storey hospital located on Vikas Marg. A PCR call was also received by the police around the same time.

Fire Officer Ashok Kumar Jaiswal said eight fire tenders were sent to the site. The fire started in the server room on the ground floor. A total of 11 people were rescued, including eight patients. One person died," he told the media.

As a precaution, the hospital quickly evacuated patients, who were shifted to the nearby Pushpanjali Hospital. Three staff members  Amit (housekeeping), and Har Devi and Naresh (dialysis room employees)  were also rushed there.

Doctors declared Amit dead, while the other two staffers and all eight patients are reported to be stable, police confirmed.

A preliminary inquiry revealed that Amit had initially tried to escape the smoke and flames by going to the rooftop, but later, for reasons still unknown, allegedly locked himself inside a bathroom on the third floor.

We suspect he may have been overcome by smoke inhalation," a police officer said. His body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

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Police have registered a case, and the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. A senior officer said a detailed investigation is underway to check for any fire safety lapses at the hospital.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:21 IST

News new-delhi-news Staffer Dies, Several Injured After Fire Breaks Out At Hospital In Delhi's Anand Vihar

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Patna: Two More Arrested In Gangster Chandan Mishras Murder Case, Four Of Five Shooters In Custody

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:12 IST

Bihar Police on Saturday said it arrested two more persons in connection with the murder of gangster Chandan Mishra inside a private hospital here last month.

Firing at Patna hospital by armed men (Screengrab/CCTV video)

Bihar Police on Saturday said that it has arrested two more persons in connection with the murder of gangster Chandan Mishra inside a private hospital here last month.

According to the police, the arrested have been identified as Vijaykant Pandey, alias Rudra Pandey, and Rajesh Yadav, both residents of Buxar district.

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Police have also recovered 190 grams of heroin from a location in Patna based on revelations made by Yadav.

Pandey was one of the five shooters involved in Mishras killing, police added.

Out of the five shooters, four have been arrested. One is still absconding and he will be nabbed by police soon," news agency PTI quoted Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K Sharma as saying.

Murder convict Mishra, who was on parole, was gunned down by five assailants inside a private hospital here on July 17.

A purported CCTV video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed five armed men storming the hospitals ICU and firing at Mishra, killing him instantly.

So far, police have arrested four shooters  Tauseef, alias Badshah, Balwant Kumar, Raviranjan Kumar Singh and Vijaykant Pandey.

In addition, several associates of the prime accused have also been taken into custody. These include Harsh, Bhim, Nishu Khan, Abhisekh Kumar, and Rajesh Yadav.

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The SSP said investigations found that Rajesh had supplied the weapons to the prime accused, which were then used in the crime.

(With inputs from PTI)

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:10 IST

News patna-news Patna: Two More Arrested In Gangster Chandan Mishras Murder Case, Four Of Five Shooters In Custody

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Bihar STET Aspirants Demand Exam Be Held Before TRE, Hold Protests

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 11:13 IST

Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar has said that the STET exam will only be conducted after the vacancies of TRE-04 are sent.

Bihar STET aspirants allege police lathicharge during protests, (Image: @BasantKr_/X)

Chaos erupted at Dak Bangla Chauraha in Patna, Bihar, on Thursday when police used lathicharge to disperse aspiring teachers protesting over the Secondary Teachers Eligibility Test (STET). The protesters were demanding that the STET be conducted before the Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE). The STET is a mandatory eligibility test for candidates aspiring to apply for teaching positions in Bihar. Only those who pass it are eligible to apply for government teacher vacancies.

Amidst the protests by STET candidates in Patna and the subsequent police lathicharge, Education Minister Sunil Kumar said that the STET exam will only be conducted after the vacancies of TRE-04 are sent.

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He emphasised that the government has taken several crucial steps to enhance and bring transparency to Bihars education system. Currently, around four lakh candidates are awaiting the teacher appointment process through BPSC. Conducting the STET exam now would increase the number of pass outs, complicating the selection process further.

Kumar also mentioned that future STET exams will be conducted based on the old Bihar Board system. He reiterated that the government is making decisions in the best interest of every candidate and will continue to do so.

Patna  STET   ..     ..      ..      pic.twitter.com/qho47SBEvV  News18 Bihar (@News18Bihar) August 7, 2025

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Additionally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said teachers will now need to provide options for three places to bring transparency to the transfer process and resolve any arising issues. This option system will be implemented in districts facing transfer obstacles. If problems persist, the district-level committee will make the final decision. The aim is to ensure no shortage of teachers in remote districts like Banka and Jamui, so childrens education remains unaffected.

Sunil Kumar also announced that the Education Department will soon make over 6000 appointments on compassionate grounds. Additionally, a proposal has been sent to BPSC for the recruitment of 7000 teachers for Divyang students. He noted that the higher education session is currently running on time, improving the quality of education in colleges and universities.

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 09, 2025, 11:01 IST

News education-career Bihar STET Aspirants Demand Exam Be Held Before TRE, Hold Protests

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Delhi Assembly Passes Bill To Regulate Arbitrary Fee Hikes By Private Schools

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 10:12 IST

On Monday, Education Minister Ashish Sood introduced the "Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025" in the Delhi Assembly.

The Bill was introduced on the first day of the Monsoon session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly. (Representative/File)

The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) 2025 Bill was passed in the Delhi Assembly on Friday. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her cabinet ministers addressed the media following the bills approval. This Bill will provide relief to households from the worries of school fees. Schools will now be temples of education and not commercial establishments," she added.

On Monday, Education Minister Ashish Sood presented the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025" in the Delhi Assembly. He mentioned that the bill aims to stop the commercialisation of education and take action against those exploiting it for profit. The proposed legislation seeks to regulate arbitrary fee increases by private schools in the capital, providing relief to millions of students and their families.

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The 52-year-long vanvas of the parents in Delhi has ended today. For the first time after 1973, there is a Government in Delhi which had the courage to do justice to all parents in Delhi in a transparent manner and provide them reliefThe Bill has been passed today after a detailed discussion," CM Gupta added.

This Bill makes it clear that education will now be based on childrens future, not on balance sheets," she said.

Sood highlighted that education is a sacred duty  a duty we must fulfil for the progress and prosperity of our motherland." He stressed that the goal of education should be learning and nation-building, not earning.

This bill is a small effort on our part to honour Dr Mukherjees vision and to ensure that education does not become a burden on the people of India but instead becomes a path leading them to a better future," he added.

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The Bill was introduced on the first day of the Monsoon session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly, which started on Monday and will continue until August 8, with a possibility of extension based on legislative needs.

 with PTI and ANI inputs

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 09, 2025, 10:02 IST

News education-career Delhi Assembly Passes Bill To Regulate Arbitrary Fee Hikes By Private Schools

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Before-After Satellite Images Show Operation Sindoors Impact On Pakistans Airfields

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 20:43 IST

Indian Air Force chief AP Singh revealed images of Pakistani targets struck during Operation Sindoor, showing destruction of terror camps, airfields.

The aim of the presentation was to cover what happened during Operation Sindoor (IAF)

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh unveiled some rare before-and-after images of Pakistani military targets struck by India, depicting the destruction.

While speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre lecture in Bengaluru, the IAF chief shared a presentation that described what happened during Operation Sindoor and the IAFs thought process during the conflict.

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In a massive revelation, Air Marshal Singh said that Indias air defence surface-to-air missile systems destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets and an AEW&C/ELINT aircraft, which is a specialised military plane designed for airborne surveillance, early warning. He also said that some parked F-16 jets were destroyed in Jacobabad and an AEW&C in Bholari.

Before and after images of the Pakistani airfields post Operation Sindoor

The images showed before and after comparison of Indias retaliatory strikes on Pakistans air defence radars and airfields.

IAF chief said that the defence forces successfully executed their assigned tasks with precision and in line with national objectives during the operation.

Arifwala

In Arifwala, an IAF loiter munition successfully struck a radar installation.

Chunian

The IAF shared the image of the destroyed radar head at Chunian airbase.

Nur Khan PAF Base (Chaklala)  C2 Centre

The damage at Nur Khan airbase has already been analysed using satellite imagery.

Rahim Yar Khan PAK Base: Runway And UAV Hub

At Rahim Yar Khan airbase, based on specific intelligence, the runway and civil terminal were targeted, and the runway at this place is yet to be operationalised.

Sukkur PAF Base: UAV Hub

At Sukkur, a long-range radar was destroyed while the UAV hangar was decimated.

Bholari PAF Base: AEW&C Aircraft Hangar

The Indian forces struck various ammunition depots and bases like Sagodha and Bholari, which housed F-16s and JF-17 fighter jets were hit. This led to the destruction of 20% infrastructure of Pakistans air force.

At Bholari, the AEW&C hangar was targeted, and, likely, an AEW&C aircraft had just taxied inside the hangar, as per the IAF. The casualties at this location have been publicised in Pakistani media.

Sargodha PAF Base- Runway

The runway at this heavily defended air-base was hit precisely, to convey a message that we are capable of targeting the pride of PAF as it houses some prized PAF institutions.

Shahbaz PAF Base (Jacobabad): PAF F-16 Base

At Jacobabad, multiple F-16 aircraft are suspected to be damaged in the IAF attack on the main hangar at this important airbase.

Between 8 and 10 May, IAF fighter jets struck 11 military air bases across Pakistan in a coordinated, precision-led campaign. The objective was to cripple Pakistan Air Forces capability to launch aerial attacks using drones and fighter jets. The Indian Air Force had their assets up in the sky," DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai had said earlier.

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Within 3 hours 11 bases were attacked, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skaru, Bholari and Jacobabad," he had added.

Additionally, the IAF struck prominent targets, the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and the other at Lashkar-e-Taibas base Muridke in Punjab province of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

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 09, 2025, 20:40 IST

News india Before-After Satellite Images Show Operation Sindoors Impact On Pakistans Airfields

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BrahMos Primary Offensive Weapon, Akashteer Used For Defence: DRDO Chief On Operation Sindoor

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 17:55 IST

DRDO chairman Samir Kamat emphasised BrahMos missiles and Akashteer defence systems in Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India has reportedly offered Nicosia the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. (PTI)

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman Samir Kamat on Saturday emphasised that BrahMos missiles and the Akashteer defence systems were instrumental technologies that played a key role in Operation Sindoor Indias military strikes against Pakistan in response to Pahalgam terror attack.

While addressing the 14th convocation ceremony of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune, Kamat said that the operation was a declaration of its ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength.

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Operation Sindoor was more than a mission. It was a declaration of Indias ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight, and indigenous technological strength. It was a statement to the world that India has the capability to protect its borders through homegrown technology," he asserted as reported by news agency PTI.

He said the systems deployed for the operation included Akash surface-to-air missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the D4 anti-drone system, the AWNC airborne early warning and control system, and the Akashteer system  all developed by Indias defence R&D ecosystem.

The DRDO chairman said that the BrahMos missile, primarily launched from Sukhoi Mk 1, was used during the offensive phase. Meanwhile, the anti-drone Akashteer was the mainstay for defensive weapon systems.

When it comes to offensive weapons, BrahMos was the primary weapon used, which was launched from our Sukhoi Mark 1 platform. When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akashteer system, the anti-drone system and the MRSAM were used," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

He also explained how the Akashteer system helped in identifying threats coming towards the country, and in deciding what kind of weapon could be used to neutralise such threats.

All the sensors were networked using the Akashteer, which helped in identifying the threats coming towards us and then deploying the right kind of weapon to neutralise those threats. Advanced early warning and control aircraft were also used for advanced surveillance. This is broadly what I can say without getting into too much," the DRDO Chairman said.

All About BrahMos, Akashteer System

The BrahMos missile is a versatile and formidable weapon, capable of being launched from land, air and sea, enabling strikes from multiple fronts. Jointly developed by India and Russia, it is renowned for its supersonic speed, pinpoint accuracy, and adaptability across a range of military operations.

During Operation Sindoor, the IAF relied on BrahMos missiles to launch a precision strike campaign targeting key Pakistani military installations, including airbases and cantonments. The operation, which was executed with high accuracy and minimal collateral damage, has been hailed within defence circles as a major demonstration of Indias growing long-range strike capability.

The Indian armed forces activated the Akashteer system  an indigenous command-and-control air defence platform dubbed Indias Make in India Iron Dome  to intercept and neutralise a wave of incoming Pakistani projectiles.

The system integrated inputs from all radar sources  including ground-based radars and airborne early warning systems  and generated a live web of real-time data to precisely track aerial threats. This network enabled Indian forces to intercept and neutralise every missile launched from across the border that night, preventing damage to any intended targets.

Operation Sindoor

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, 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

First Published: August 09, 2025, 17:55 IST

News india BrahMos Primary Offensive Weapon, Akashteer Used For Defence: DRDO Chief On Operation Sindoor

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Cheetahs Breeding Better Than Expected, Says Bhupender Yadav; Lists Climate Change Goals | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 09:29 IST

The Union minister said the Cheetahs seem to have acclimatised in the local climatic conditions, hunting locally available prey & surviving in habitat shared with other carnivores

Bhupender Yadav said India had updated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) and termed it a major decision. (PTI)

India has demonstrated its commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions, Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav has told CNN-News18. He also said Project Cheetah has been very encouraging" so far.

India had brought in 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa. It is a challenging project, but the indications so far have been very encouraging. We brought in 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa and now after almost three years of the project, we have 28 cheetahs on the Indian soil in Kuno National Park & Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of the cubs born here are about to become adults and doing very well in the wild," Yadav told CNN-News18 in a detailed interview on the project.

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The minister said that the Cheetahs seem to have acclimatised in the local climatic conditions, hunting locally available prey, surviving in habitat shared with other carnivores like leopards very well.

I am happy to share that the cheetahs are breeding much better than expected. These developments, that too in such a short period, are unprecedented in other parts of the world. This is quite encouraging and a good indicator of success of the project," Yadav said.

He added that over a period of almost three years, out of 20 translocated cheetahs, eight adult cheetahs have died due to various reasons which was within the expected limit in such kind of inter-continental, wild to wild translocation".

Good news is that the birth rate is better than expected, which is highly satisfying," Yadav told CNN-NEWS18.

Indias Climate Change Goals

Yadav said India had updated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) and termed it a major decision.

The decision on enhanced NDCs demonstrates Indias commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions," the minister said. He said that in the larger scheme of things, the road ahead for India is premised on setting and meeting our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) because they are at the heart of the Paris Agreement".

India at COP26 held in Glasgow declared it would intensify its climate action," Yadav told CNN-News18.

He explained how earlier, India submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC on October 2, 2015. The 2015 NDC comprised eight goals; three of these have quantitative targets up to 2030 namely, cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources to reach 40 per cent; reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent compared to 2005 levels and creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover.

Yadav said that the updated NDC reads, To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation, including through a mass movement for LIFE Lifestyle for Environment as a key to combating climate change".

As per the updated NDC, India now stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, from 2005 level and achieve about 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. India is committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through afforestation and increased forest cover by 2030," the minister told CNN-News18.

Yadav said that as a party to UNFCCC, India is one of the few nations which has already submitted its LT-LEDS (Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy) and BUR (Biennial Update Report) 4 elaborating on its GHG inventory.

Significantly, we are making the necessary preparations to submit our National Adaptation Plan (based on several rounds of consultation with all stakeholders in form of regional workshops) ahead of COP30 which is also seen as Adaptation COP," the Union minister said.

Modis Vision

Yadav elaborated on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

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This Viksit Bharat will be an inclusive Bharat and a Green Bharat. Over the last couple of years, the Union Budget has focused on building a Green Economy with programmes like Green Credit and Green Bonds and promoting Renewables. In the Union Budget 2025-26, solar energy got the highest allocation of Rs 26,549 crore, with a clear focus on rooftop solar with the PM Surya Ghar Yojana," the minister said.

He added that the announcement for a Nuclear Mission with the aim for 100 GW of non-fossil-based energy by 2047 is a clear push towards harvesting clean energy beyond solar and building a sustainable economy.

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 09, 2025, 09:29 IST

News india Cheetahs Breeding Better Than Expected, Says Bhupender Yadav; Lists Climate Change Goals | Exclusive

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Krispy Kreme is trying new strategies. Krispy Kreme

You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter.

As Krispy Kreme reported double-digit revenue declines for the second quarter following the discontinuation of the McDonalds partnership last month, the Charlotte, N.C.-based doughnut chains stock plummeted by 7%.

In the face of ongoing profitability challenges, Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth outlined a four-part turnaround plan in Tuesdays second-quarter earnings call. The plan included steps to refreanchise (particularly in international markets), focus on asset-light development, cut costs, and pursue long-term profitability.

Part of this plan involves becoming a nimbler, franchising-forward company. For example, following the completion of the sale of Insomnia Cookies, Krispy Kreme also plans to reduce its ownership stake in the joint venture partnership with WKS Restaurants: one of Krispy Kremes largest franchisees in the U.S. With the proceeds from those deals, the company will be able to further pay down its growing debt.

Looking ahead, we have implemented a comprehensive turnaround plan aimed at unlocking our two biggest opportunities: profitable U.S. expansion and capital-light international franchise growth, Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth said in a statement. This plan is designed to reduce leverage and deliver sustainable, profitable growth through refranchising, improving returns on capital, expanding margins, and driving sustainable, profitable U.S. growth.

On the international expansion front, the company is refranchising and expects future growth in markets including South Korea and the Middle East to expand primarily through franchising and DFD (Delivered Fresh Daily) channels like convenience, grocery, and even additional quick-service partnerships. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, one franchisee has begun selling Krispy Kreme products at 50 KFC locations.

In the United States, Krispy Kreme appears to be reversing course on its prior focus on DFDs over hot light shops. The company is opening the first hot light theater shop in Minnesota and is in the process of closing approximately 1,500 underperforming DFDs (these will eventually be replaced with 1,100 higher-performing channels).

The marketing arm of Krispy Kreme is also getting back to basics, as the company redirects attention to its Original Glazed doughnut. Previously, Krispy Kreme had been mostly focusing on seasonal and promotional LTO doughnut collections.

In the U.S., our marketing focus has shifted to our original glazed donut: our most affordable, most profitable and most iconic product, typically sold by the dozen, Charlesworth said. We launched an all-new multimedia marketing campaign centered on the joy of experiencing a hot, fresh, Original Glazed which kicked off our National Doughnut Day in June. Early results are encouraging, with the campaign driving incremental sales and renewed excitement around our signature core offering.
IAF Chief's Statement Completely Disproves Trump's India-Pak Ceasefire Claims: Intel Sources | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 19:44 IST

The sources confirmed that the decision to halt hostilities came after Indias armed forces achieved specific and overwhelming military objectives

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh addresses the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture, in Bengaluru. (Pic/PTI)

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, has delivered a definitive statement that completely negates President Donald Trumps claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Saturday. As the highest authority on the matter, the Air Chiefs words have put an end to all speculation, providing a direct rebuttal to Trumps assertion of external mediation, they added.

According to the Air Chief, the ceasefire during Operation Sindoor was a unilateral decision made by India after the successful completion of the air dominance phase. This aligns with Indias established military doctrine, as seen in the 1999 Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, where conflicts were terminated on New Delhis terms once military objectives were achieved.

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Top intelligence sources confirmed that the decision to halt hostilities came after Indias armed forces achieved specific and overwhelming military objectives. The main combat phase lasted less than 72 hours, during which over 70 Indian Air Force (IAF) combat aircraft sorties were conducted on targeted missions. These operations successfully neutralised designated Pakistani launch pads, severely degraded the countrys air defence readiness, and forced the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) into a defensive mode. IAF intelligence has since confirmed that five PAF planes were damaged, along with significant damage to PAF Base Nur Khan and its forward operating locations.

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The short, decisive operational window is a clear indication that the ceasefire was not a result of US pressure but rather a strategic choice, said the sources. This is further supported by the fact that the Indian Navys carrier battle group remained deployed in the Arabian Sea and the Armys forward posture stayed in place for days after the ceasefire, demonstrating that India had the capability to continue the fight if it chose to do so.

Intelligence intercepts and diplomatic channels confirm that Pakistan, realising the rapid depletion of its operational reserves and heightened risk to its air assets, initiated backchannel de-escalation talks with New Delhi. This stands in stark contrast to the 2019 Balakot episode, where evidence of PAF losses emerged only gradually.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: August 09, 2025, 19:44 IST

News india IAF Chief's Statement Completely Disproves Trump's India-Pak Ceasefire Claims: Intel Sources | Exclusive

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India Backs US-Russia Talks In Alaska, Mentions PM Modi's 'Not An Era Of War' Remark

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 20:50 IST

India welcomed the upcoming meeting between US President Trump and Russian President Putin in Alaska on 15 August to discuss the Ukraine war, expressing hope for peace

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump have spoken twice since Trumps return to the White House to discuss the Ukraine conflict. (IMAGE: AFP)

India on Saturday welcomed the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August, where the two leaders are expected to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the summit holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace."

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India welcomes the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on 15th August 2025. This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace," the statement said.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modis consistent message that this is not an era of war," the MEA expressed full support for the diplomatic effort and said India is ready to contribute to peace initiatives.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, This is not an era of war". India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts," the statement added.

Trump-Putin Alaska Summit

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump confirmed the meeting with Putin in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote.

This confirmation ends weeks of speculation over the venue. Reports earlier suggested that Russian President Putin was interested in holding the summit in the United Arab Emirates. However, the US administration is believed to have insisted on a domestic location for security and diplomatic reasons.

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The summit in Alaska will be Trumps first official meeting with Putin since starting his second term in January 2025. It will also be the first formal US-Russia presidential meeting since June 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

The meeting is expected to focus mainly on the Ukraine conflict, which has now entered its fourth year. US officials have not yet shared details about the agenda or the team that will accompany Trump.

About the Author Siddhant Mishra Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More Siddhant Mishra is a Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, covering foreign affairs and international relations. With over 12 years of experience in journalism, he has also reported extensively on crime, ... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 20:01 IST

News india India Backs US-Russia Talks In Alaska, Mentions PM Modi's 'Not An Era Of War' Remark

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Indian Forces Destroyed 5 Pakistani Fighter Jets, Another Aircraft During Op Sindoor: IAF Chief

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 14:19 IST

IAF chief has shared details of aircraft losses by Pakistan during India's Operation Sindoor between May 7 and May 10.

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IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh (PTI Image)

In a massive revelation on Operation Sindoor, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Saturday that Indias air defence surface-to-air missile systems destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets and an AEW&C/ELINT aircraft, which is a specialised military plane designed for airborne surveillance, early warning.

He said that some parked F16 jets were destroyed in Jacobabad and an AEW&C in Bholari.

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IAF Chief Details Op Sindoor Success

His remarks came while speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre lecture in Bengaluru, in the first such instance when an official spoke in detail about the damage Pakistan sustained in terms of aircraft and platforms.

Revealing further details, the IAF chief said that the buildings were identified before Indias May 7 retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.

He noted that the accuracy of the damage caused by the Indian attack was calculated through satellite images.

Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield, one of the major airfields that was attacked. Here theres an F-16 hangar. One half of the hangar is gone. And Im sure there were some aircraft inside which have got damaged there. We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them smallWe have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance thereWe have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about. The accuracy of the damages was calculated through satellite images," he said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at pic.twitter.com/ieL6Gka0rG ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

The IAF chief said that they have confirmed intelligence of terrorists being killed in Indian strikes.

In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to achieve. We had intelligence of what had gone on inside, had human kind of intelligence where we had very clear picture of inside in terms of there had been huge damage. There have been so many terrorists who have been neutralised, but we could not convince our own people that, look, we have achieved thatSo Im very happy that this time we were able to take care of that ghost of Balakot, that we were able to tell the world what we have achieved," he said.

He attributed the causes of success of Indias precision strikes to political will and said that they had clear directions and there were no restrictions".

Notably, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had claimed in the Lok Sabha that the government had tied the hands" of the armed forces during Operation Sindoor.

How Were Targets Chosen During Op Sindoor

Detailing how targets were chosen for the strikes, Air Chief Marshal Singh said it was decided that strikes would not be limited to launchpads.

This time it was very clear that we sent an emphatic message to the world It should not be something limited to the launchpads. But, the terror leadership should be challenged Other agencies were involved, and we decided to hit those nine targets. The two headquarters were targeted which Bahawalpur and Muridke. Eight agencies along with three services were involved. It was all planned out," he said.

Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like, those long-range glide bombs that they have, they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system," the IAF chief added.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has pic.twitter.com/16DJkn8E8T ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

Cant Afford To Be Continuously At War: IAF

The IAF chief backed Indias decision not to continue the war after the Pakistani DGMO approached for a ceasefire on May 10, and said that it was a good decision by the government.

People have realised air power is the first form of responders. Our objective was to teach terrorists a lesson. We cannot afford to be continuously at war; we were in a mode of deterrence. People got down to their egos in this war Once we achieved our objective, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop Some people very close to me said, Aur maarna tha. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision," he said.

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He said that it was clear to Pakistan in the four days of war that they will pay for it more and more".

It was a high-tech war. In 80 to 90 hours of war, we were able to achieve so much damage that it was clear to them that if they continue, they are going to pay for it more and more. So they came forward and sent a message to our DGMO that they wanted to talk. This was accepted on our side," he said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 12:31 IST

News india Indian Forces Destroyed 5 Pakistani Fighter Jets, Another Aircraft During Op Sindoor: IAF Chief

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'It Was Like Playing Chess': Army Chief Sheds Light On Op Sindoor Preparation And Execution

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 23:39 IST

Army Chief said planning began on 23 April, when the three service chiefs and the Defence Minister agreed that decisive action was needed

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi during an interaction via video conferencing. (File photo)

For the first time, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has spoken publicly about the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor. He made these remarks during the inauguration of Agnishodh, the Indian Army Research Cell at IIT Madras, earlier this week.

Addressing the gathering, General Dwivedi described the operations strategy as similar to playing chess. He said Operation Sindoor operated in a grey zone", unpredictable and just short of a full conventional military engagement.

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In Op Sindoor, what we did, we played chess What does it mean! It means that we did not know what step the enemy was going to take and what we were going to do. It was a gray zone. The gray zone is that we are not going for the conventional operations but we are doing something which is just short of the conventional operations," he said.

General Dwivedi said planning began on 23 April, when the three service chiefs and the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh agreed that decisive action was needed.

This is the time when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also said, I think enough is enough. And all the three chiefs were very clear, something had to be done. And the free hand was given, of course, that you decide what is to be done," he noted.

By 25 April, the Northern Command had already prepared and executed strikes on seven high-value targets out of nine planned, eliminating several terrorists.

The Army Chief said that Operation Sindoor was different from earlier missions such as Uri and Balakot. He explained that during the Uri operation, the focus was on targeting launch pads to send a clear message. In the 2019 Balakot strikes, the objective was to penetrate through Jammu and Kashmir and hit training camps inside Pakistan, as a form of retaliation.

He noted that Sindoor went wide and deep", striking further into enemy territory  what he described as the heartland"  and targeted critical assets codenamed Nursery" and Masters".

This was the first time we hit the heartland. And our targets were Nursery and the Masters. And thats what came as a shocker to them," General Dwivedi said.

General Dwivedi added that five of the targets were located in Jammu and Kashmir, and four in Punjab. Two of the missions were carried out in coordination with the Indian Air Force.

This test match stopped on the fourth day and it could have continued for fourteen days also, one forty days also, fourteen hundred days also, we dont know. So we have to be prepared for those kinds of things," he said.

IAF Chief Reveals Major Aerial Kills During Sindoor

Meanwhile, in a major revelation on Operation Sindoor, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said on Saturday that Indias air defence systems shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one AEW&C/ELINT surveillance aircraft during the operation, confirming that these were the largest-ever surface-to-air kills recorded by India.

Speaking at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture, Singh detailed the 7 May strikes that targeted terrorist infrastructure near the border and inside Pakistan.

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We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, which could be either an aircraft or an AWC, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres," Singh said.

This is the first official confirmation of damage caused to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The delay in revealing the details had earlier drawn criticism from opposition leaders.

About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 23:08 IST

News india 'It Was Like Playing Chess': Army Chief Sheds Light On Op Sindoor Preparation And Execution

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Kanpur Jailbreak: Murder Accused From Assam Flees Prison, Massive Hunt Underway

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 22:31 IST

Asaruddin, a resident of Tiwari Pur in Jajmau, was arrested on January 14 for allegedly murdering his 25-year-old friend Ismail

The escape was discovered during a routine headcount at around 10:30 pm when officials found one inmate missing. (Representational image)

Prison authorities in Kanpur have launched a massive search operation, along with the police, after a murder accused escaped from the district jail on Friday night.

The inmate, originally from Assam, has been identified as 25-year-old Asaruddin. He had been lodged in Barrack No 14 since January last year.

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According to a report by Hindustan Times, the escape was discovered during a routine headcount at around 10:30 pm when officials found one inmate missing. Jail superintendent BD Pandey ordered a recount of all barracks, but by 2:30 am the accused was still unaccounted for, according to an official statement. The police were informed immediately.

A joint search has been launched at important spots like Kanpur railway station, the bus stand, and nearby areas around the jail. CCTV footage from inside the prison and its surroundings has been checked, but so far there is no evidence that Asaruddin has left the jail.

Officials believe he might still be hiding somewhere within the jail compound. Police and prison staff have carefully searched places like trees, toilet ducts, and other concealed areas.

Asaruddin, who lives in Tiwari Pur, Jajmau, was arrested for allegedly killing his 25-year-old friend Ismail on January 8. Police say the murder was driven by suspicions that Asaruddins wife was involved in an affair with the victim. Originally from Assam, Asaruddin is thought to have planned the murder beforehand.

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Senior police officers, including DCP (East) Satyajit Gupta and ADCP Anjali Vishwakarma, visited the jail after the escape. They checked footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras installed under Operation Trinetra, but none showed the accused leaving the prison. High-powered lights were used to search sensitive parts of the jail.

Prison authorities confirmed all other prisoners are accounted for and no unauthorised persons are inside. Questioning of fellow inmates is ongoing as the search for the escaped man continues.

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 09, 2025, 22:26 IST

News india Kanpur Jailbreak: Murder Accused From Assam Flees Prison, Massive Hunt Underway

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2 Soldiers Killed In Gunfight With Terrorists As Op Akhal Intensifies In J&K's Kulgam

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 11:18 IST

Security forces have launched a massive anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam and are hunting terrorists using drones and helicopters in the forest areas.

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Soldiers injured in Kulgam encounter (PTI File Image)

Two soldiers were killed in action in the overnight exchange of fire in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam as the anti-terror operation  Op Akhal  entered its ninth day, the Indian Army said on Saturday.

Four soldiers had sustained injuries in the encounter, of whom two succumbed to their injuries.

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The bravehearts were identified as L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, Chinar Corps said.

Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us," the Army posted on X.

Update: OP AKHAL, KulgamChinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. #IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in pic.twitter.com/La4i49Ov2h  Chinar Corps  Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) August 9, 2025

Firing continued in the hills of Kulgam, officials said.

The terrorists are heavily armed and carrying sophisticated weapons with them," they said.

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The encounter broke out on August 1 after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area at Akhal in the south Kashmir district, following specific information about the presence of heavily armed terrorists in the area.

A top cop said that the forces were using all means, including drones and helicopters, to hunt terrorists in the forest area.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

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Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:44 IST

News india 2 Soldiers Killed In Gunfight With Terrorists As Op Akhal Intensifies In J&K's Kulgam

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One Student Killed, 11 Injured After Tomato-Laden Tempo Mows Them Down In Nashik

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 09:38 IST

According to police, the tempo, heading towards Pimpalgaon, veered out of control and hit a group of students crossing the highway.

Nashik road accident | Representative Image

One student died and 11 others were injured after a tomato-laden tempo ran over them in Maharashtras Nashik district on Friday evening, police said.

The accident occurred around 5:30 pm at Sogras Phata in Chandwad taluka on the MumbaiAgra highway.

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According to police, the tempo, heading towards Pimpalgaon, veered out of control and hit a group of students crossing the road.

The deceased has been identified as Akshay Ramesh Mahale. Among the injured is the mother of one student.

Several of the injured have been admitted to hospitals in serious condition, said officials.

State school education minister Dadaji Bhuse, who was passing through the area at the time, assisted in the rescue efforts and later met the injured at the hospital.

Chandwad MLA Rahul Aher also visited the accident site.

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Following the incident, local residents staged a protest and blocked the highway, citing frequent accidents on this stretch.

The blockade was lifted after police intervened and assured action.

Location : Nashik [Nasik], India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 09:38 IST

News india One Student Killed, 11 Injured After Tomato-Laden Tempo Mows Them Down In Nashik

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'Political Will, Clear Directions And No Restrictions': IAF Chief On Op Sindoor's Success

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 13:40 IST

IAF chief's remarks came after an Indias defence attache to Indonesia said that the IAF lost some fighter jets during Op Sindoor due to political limits

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh | File Image

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday asserted that the success of Operation Sindoor was rooted in political will" and clear directions" from the countrys political leadership.

Notably, his remarks come against the backdrop of comments by Indias defence attache to Indonesia, Captain Shiv Kumar, who told a seminar earlier this month that the IAF lost some fighter jets during Operation Sindoor due to political limits.

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There was political will, clear directions given to us, and there were no restrictions," Singh said at an event in Bengaluru, calling it a key reason for the operations success.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us If there were any pic.twitter.com/nnveLS1fJr ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

If there were any constraints, they were self-made We decided how much to escalate We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it There was a synchronisation between the three forces," the IAF chief added.

Speaking at a seminar after Operation Sindoor, Captain Kumar had said: May not agree (with an earlier Indonesian speakers claim) that we lost so many aircraft, but I do agree we did lose some aircraft and that happened only because of the constraint given by the political leadership."

IAF Chief On Mission Gains

Detailing operational gains, Singh revealed that Indias air defence systems destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets and an AEW&C/ELINT aircraft  a specialised plane used for airborne surveillance and early warning  during the offensive.

He said some parked F-16s were destroyed in Jacobabad, and the AEW&C was downed in Bholari.

The IAF chief backed the decision to pause Operation Sindoor, saying people let egos drive the war and that once objectives were achieved, India should have explored opportunities to stop, despite calls from some quarters to continue fighting.

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We cannot afford to be continuously at war. We were in a mode of deterrence. The decision was taken at the higher level not to continue the war, and we were part of it."

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, and targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 13:33 IST

News india 'Political Will, Clear Directions And No Restrictions': IAF Chief On Op Sindoor's Success

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Raksha Bandhan 2025: 12 Years Without A Rakhi... Sister Across The Border, Brothers Wait In Barmer

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Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 10:07 IST

In Rajasthans Barmer, brothers have been waiting for 12 years to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with their sister, as political tensions keep the siblings apart each Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan 2025 is being celebrated today on Saturday, August 9.

Raksha Bandhan, one of the most cherished Hindu festivals, celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. As Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated today, Saturday, August 9, across the nation, Ran Singh from Barmer, Rajasthan, finds the day incomplete, as he has for the past 12 years.

His sister, Lahari Kanwar, lives in Umarkot, Pakistan, and the border between the two countries stands like a wall between their Rakhi threads. Lahari was married in Umarkot, and since then, the siblings have been separated by distance, politics, and paperwork.

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For over a decade, neither Lahari has been able to come to Barmer nor Ran Singh to visit Pakistan. Every year, on the festival day, Ran Singh and his two brothers in Barmer wait with hope to have their wrists adorned with their sisters Rakhi, but their wishes are halted at the border.

The emotional void is felt deeply in their family of four brothers and one sister. While Hakam Singh, Gokal Singh, and Ran Singh live in Barmer, their fourth brother, Jethu Singh, remains in Pakistan.

Ran Singh originally belonged to Umarkot but moved to India in 2014 with his father, Sawai Singh, and the family, settling in Indira Nagar, Barmer. The last time he met Lahari was before his move, and since then, the separation has only grown. On Raksha Bandhan, seeing his empty wrist, Ran Singh often struggles to hold back his tears.

The closest they came to reuniting was when Lahari received a visa once, but it was cancelled following the Pahalgam attack. Since then, the political situation and border restrictions have continued to keep them apart.

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Now, even though 16 members of Ran Singhs family live together in Barmer, the Raksha Bandhan celebration still feels incomplete without Lahari.

Ran Singh says that for 12 long years, his wrist has been left untied. He hopes that if the Thar Express resumes, the siblings will once again be able to bridge the border and strengthen the bond that no distance can break.

Location : Barmer, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 10:07 IST

News india Raksha Bandhan 2025: 12 Years Without A Rakhi... Sister Across The Border, Brothers Wait In Barmer

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Rakshabandhan 2025: Before She Died, This Woman Did Something That Would Never Make Her Brother Miss Her On Rakhi

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 12:00 IST

Three years ago, Anamta lost her right hand after being electrocuted in Aligarh. She later received Riyas hand after a Valsad family donated their late daughters organs

The unique Raksha Bandhan was celebrated along Valsad's picturesque Tithal Beach Road, with emotions running high. (Representative/News18 Hindi)

In a touching event on Friday, 14-year-old Shivams eyes filled with tears when 16-year-old Anamta Ahmad travelled from Mumbai to Valsad, Gujarat, to tie a rakhi. This gesture was profoundly significant, as the hand Anamta used to tie the rakhi belonged to Shivams late sister, Riya, who passed away last year due to a brain haemorrhage. Shivam fondly recognised the hand he had held and eaten with during his childhood.

Three years ago, Anamta was electrocuted by a high-tension wire hanging from the roof of her relatives house in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, which led to the amputation of her right hand. She received Riyas hand after a Valsad family donated their daughters organs, including her kidneys, liver, lungs, cornea, and both hands, benefiting eight individuals in total.

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The unique Raksha Bandhan was celebrated along Valsads picturesque Tithal Beach Road, with emotions running high. Doctors describe Anamta as the worlds youngest recipient of a hand transplant at the shoulder level," following a complex surgery after Riya was declared brain-dead in September 2024.

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Riyas mother, Trishna, expressed her emotions, saying, When I held Anamtas hand, it felt like Riya had come back to life. The pain in my heart transformed into deep affection for this girl who travelled a long distance to tie a rakhi on my sons wrist. Anamta is now my daughter too, and Riya will always live within her. While we are still grieving, it is heartening to see Anamta happy and thriving."

Shivam noted, Anamtas hands felt just like Riyas, even the texture. It was as if I was seeing Riya again. This year, Anamta came to meet me from Mumbai; next year, I will visit her. This tradition will continue for life." Anamta shared, I never met Riya, but she has made my life complete. I feel a deep connection to her."

Location : Valsad, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 12:00 IST

News india Rakshabandhan 2025: Before She Died, This Woman Did Something That Would Never Make Her Brother Miss Her On Rakhi

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By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Apple has been sued by a Texas company that accused the iPhone maker of stealing its technology to create its lucrative mobile wallet Apple Pay.

In a complaint made public on Thursday, Fintiv said Apple Pay's key features were based on technology developed by CorFire, which Fintiv bought in 2014, and now used in hundreds of millions of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fintiv, based in Austin, Texas, said Apple held multiple meetings in 2011 and 2012 and entered nondisclosure agreements with CorFire aimed at licensing its mobile wallet technology, to capitalize on fast-growing demand for contactless payments.

Instead, and with the help of CorFire employees it lured away, Apple used the technology and trade secrets to launch Apple Pay in the United States and dozens of other countries, beginning in 2014, the complaint said.

Fintiv also said Apple has led an informal racketeering enterprise by using Apple Pay to generate fees for credit card issuers such as Bank of America, Capital One, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, and the payment networks American Express, Mastercard and Visa.

"This is a case of corporate theft and racketeering of monumental proportions," enabling Cupertino, California-based Apple to generate billions of dollars of revenue without paying Fintiv "a single penny," the complaint said.

In a statement, Fintiv's lawyer Marc Kasowitz called Apple's conduct "one of the most egregious examples of corporate malfeasance" he has seen in 45 years of law practice.

The lawsuit in Atlanta federal court seeks compensatory and punitive damages for violations of federal and Georgia trade secrets and anti-racketeering laws, including RICO.

Apple is the only defendant. CorFire was based in Alpharetta, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb.

On August 4, a federal judge in Austin dismissed Fintiv's related patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, four days after rejecting some of Fintiv's claims, court records show.

Fintiv agreed to the dismissal, and plans to "appeal on the existing record," the records show.

The case is Fintiv Inc v Apple Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 25-04413.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Diane Craft)
Slab Collapses At Mahalaxmi Temple In Nagpurs Koradi, Several Workers Injured

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 22:18 IST

A slab collapse at Mahalaxmi Temple in Koradi, Nagpur injured several workers. In Jaitpur, South East Delhi, a boundary wall collapse killed seven people after heavy rain.

Slab Collapses At Mahalaxmi Temple In Nagpurs Koradi, Injures Several Workers. (News18)

A construction accident at the Mahalaxmi Temple in Koradi, Nagpur, left several workers injured on Saturday. According to the initial reports suggest that an under-construction slab in one part of the temple collapsed, trapping 5 to 6 workers underneath.

Construction of a new gate is underway along the route from Koradi to the temple. The incident occurred near Gate No. 4, where slab laying work was in progress. During the process, the slab suddenly gave way, causing workers at the site to be buried under the debris.

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The injured workers were taken to a hospital for treatment. Following the incident, there was chaos at the construction site, and local authorities, along with police, reached the spot to assess the situation and initiate an investigation.

Meanwhile, seven people, including two children, were killed on Saturday morning when a boundary wall collapsed in Jaitpurs Hari Nagar area of South East Delhi following heavy overnight rain.

According to Delhi Police, the 100-foot-long wall fell on nearby jhuggies, trapping eight residents.

They were rescued from the debris and rushed to the hospital, but seven of them died from their injuries.

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The victimsthree men, two women, and two girlswere living in makeshift huts on a vacant plot.

Additional DCP (South East) Aishwarya Sharma said the wall was next to an old temple and a cluster of jhuggies occupied by scrap dealers. The wall collapsed due to the rain. Rescue teams recovered the trapped residents and evacuated the remaining jhuggies to prevent further incidents," she said.

Location : Nagpur, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 22:18 IST

News india Slab Collapses At Mahalaxmi Temple In Nagpurs Koradi, Several Workers Injured

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'We Couldn't Convince Our Own People': IAF Chief Says Ghost Of Balakot Buried After Op Sindoor

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 15:41 IST

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said India's success in Operation Sindoor put an end to the "ghost of Balakot" and praised India's decision to announce a ceasefire with Pakistan.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh addresses the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture. (PTI)

Chief of Indian Air Force Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, reflected on the lessons from the 2019 Balakot airstrike and expressed regret that they were not able to convince people about the damage inflicted on terrorist camps after the Pulwama strike, but they managed to do with Operation Sindoor.

In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to achieve. We had intelligence of what had gone on inside, had intelligence where we had a very clear picture of inside in terms of there had been a huge damage," he said at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru.

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#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to pic.twitter.com/S7fJeqnBuZ ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

There have been so many terrorists who have been neutralised, but we could not convince our own people that, look, we have achieved that," he added. So Im very happy that this time we were able to take care of that ghost of Balakot, that we were able to tell the world what we have achieved."

Air Chief Marshal Singh said a lack of video evidence would have raised similar issues following Operation Sindoor, but those videos are out in the open" due to satellite imagery and inputs from local media. His remarks came after some opposition parties and leaders raised questions over the Balakot strikes of 2019.

ALSO READ: Political Will, Clear Directions And No Restrictions: IAF Chief On Op Sindoors Success

India-Pakistan Ceasefire

The IAF chief also praised Indias decision to stop the war", saying the only motive of Operation Sindoor was to teach terrorists a lesson" after the barbaric terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, in which 26 tourists were killed.

People got down to their egos in the war, and that is what is continuously driving the ongoing conflicts. We set a very good example. Our objective was very clear: to teach terrorists a lesson. Once we achieved our objective, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop that. Some people very close to me said, Aur maarna tha. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision," he said.

He also revealed that Indias air defence surface-to-air missile systems destroyed five Pakistani fighter jets and an AEW&C/ELINT aircraft, which is a specialised military plane designed for airborne surveillance and early warning.

We have at least five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," he said.

The Indian armed forces carried out strikes on terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:37 IST

News india 'We Couldn't Convince Our Own People': IAF Chief Says Ghost Of Balakot Buried After Op Sindoor

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'India Is The Mother Of Creating Luxury': Rahul Mishra On Craft, Couture, And Culture

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 18:39 IST

Ace designer Rahul Mishra talks about representing India on global runways, his muse, and the art of restrained opulence.

Rahul Mishra blends Indian craftsmanship with global sensibility.

For designer Rahul Mishra, philosophy and art move hand in hand  a synergy that defines his design language. His creations seamlessly blend traditional Indian craftsmanship with a modern, global sensibility, each backed by a deeply emotional narrative. From The Pale Blue Dot, which was showcased earlier this year, to Becoming Love presented at both Paris Couture Week and Hyundai India Couture Week last month, the designer continues to push creative boundaries, leaving audiences spellbound.

A hallmark of his work is the way he incorporates jewellery to heighten the impact of his couture. A striking example was his collaboration with Tanishq at Paris Couture Week, where the brands Radiance in Rhythm collection became an integral part of Becoming Love. In an exclusive conversation with News18, Rahul Mishra and Pelki Tshering, CMO of Tanishq, share their thoughts on fashion, jewellery, and the art of quiet luxury.

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Excerpts from the interview

(The responses have been edited for length and clarity)

Q: What does modern heirloom" mean to you, and how can fashion and jewellery together redefine that?

Rahul Mishra: India has a remarkable history of jewellery  from careful selection to preserving the culture of jewellery making, gemstones, and craftsmanship. The entire world sources from India. Similarly, in fashion, the world also looks to India. In haute couture, I would say 95% of hand-embroidered garments are actually made here, whether its Chanel, Dior, or any other house.

The same applies to global jewellery  most coloured stones, natural diamonds, and other materials come from India. When you think of high fashion or high jewellery, India is the mother of creating luxury. I believe that creating luxury will always be one of the most significant things in the world, and India has all the ingredients to be a global leader and a thought leader.

Indian craft is already showcased globally, but what makes us unique is our role as authors and creators  shaping what is yet to be created. That is something truly special.

Pelki Tshering: Our muse is the modern Indian woman  someone who strikes a beautiful balance between tradition and constant reinvention. In our collaboration with Rahul, there was a clear creative synergy. Who else but Rahul could embody that balance so effortlessly? Like Rahul said, our work draws from Indias rich heritage, but we reimagine it so the designs can be worn anywhere in the world. The craftsmanship is deeply Indian, but the silhouettes and styling make it universally appealing.

Q: How do you think jewellery can elevate restraint  rather than excess  in fashion?

Pelki: At the end of the day, jewellery is not just an ornament  its an emotion. And that emotion belongs to the modern Indian woman in all her forms. Sometimes shes vibrant and full of colour; other times she prefers the subtlety of quiet luxury. We design to give her choices for every mood, because jewellery is emotional. It allows her to express herself in the moment, in a way that feels authentic to who she is right then.

Q: Who is Rahul Mishras muse?

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Rahul Mishra: Every day, Im surprised by the diversity of people who connect with our work  sometimes from parts of the world where theyve never even seen the garment in person. It reminds me of when A.R. Rahmans Jai Ho became a global hit. Many listeners didnt understand the language, yet they loved it. Thats the power of love and beauty  when something is crafted with care and sincerity, it resonates universally.

For me, the muse is not defined by age: she is a modern woman who loves to express herself. When she sees something that connects with her, she wants it, no matter where she is. She values authenticity, ethical sourcing, and the human touch of something handmade with a story behind it. Thats where we find our strongest connection, and thats what our brand stands for.

fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 18:37 IST

News lifestyle 'India Is The Mother Of Creating Luxury': Rahul Mishra On Craft, Couture, And Culture
Raksha Bandhan 2025 Shubh Muhurat: When To Tie Rakhi On August 9? Know The Auspicious And Inauspicious Timings

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 06:03 IST

Raksha Bandhan 2025 Shubh Muhurat: Tie Rakhi between 6:03 AM and 2:54 PM. The ideal Aparahna muhurat is 1:41 PM2:54 PM. No Bhadra concerns, making it perfect day for celebrations.

Raksha Bandhan 2025 is being celebrated today on Saturday, August 9. (AI generated image)

Raksha Bandhan Shubh Muhurat: Raksha Bandhan is a cherished Hindu festival that honours the deep bond between brothers and sisters. Celebrated with heartfelt emotions across India, this special occasion represents love, protection, and lifelong commitment between siblings.

ALSO READ: Happy Raksha Bandhan Wishes 2025: Top 50 Rakhi Images, Messages, Quotes And Status For Brothers And Sisters

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On this day, sisters tie a sacred thread known as the Rakhi around their brothers wrists, wishing them health and happiness, while brothers promise to stand by and protect their sisters always.

In 2025, Raksha Bandhan falls on Saturday, August 9, coinciding with the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) in the Shravana month as per the Hindu lunar calendar. This timing is especially important as it plays a significant role in deciding the most auspicious moments for performing the rituals.

What is the muhurat of Raksha Bandhan 2025?

The Raksha Bandhan thread-tying ceremony, known as Rakhi Bandhan, is ideally performed during the Aparahna Muhurat, which refers to the late afternoon period according to Hindu time division. For 2025, the most favourable time for the ceremony begins at 5:47 AM and lasts until 1:24 PM, offering a generous 7 hours and 37 minutes window.

ALSO READ: Raksha Bandhan 2025 Celebrations: Did You Know These Unique Traditions Across India?

Raksha Bandhan 2025: Best Time To Tie Rakhi

The most auspicious time to tie Rakhi on August 9 is from 6:03 AM to 2:54 PM, with the Aparahna period  considered the most ideal  falling between 1:41 PM and 2:54 PM.

This year, theres no need to worry about Bhadra, the inauspicious phase, as it ends before sunrise, according to Drik Panchang.

ALSO READ: 10 Raksha Bandhan Recipes To Celebrate The Bond Of Love This Rakhi 2025

It is essential to note that Bhadra, an inauspicious period, will have concluded before sunrise on this day. Hindu scriptures strictly advise avoiding rituals during Bhadra, as it is considered an unfit time for beginning anything auspicious, including tying Rakhi. Since Bhadra ends early this year, the day remains favourable for celebrating Raksha Bandhan without concern.

Purnima Tithi Timings

Begins: 2:12 PM on August 8, 2025

Ends: 1:24 PM on August 9, 2025

Hence, rituals should ideally be performed on August 9, post-sunrise and before 1:24 PM, after the Bhadra period is over.

Raksha Bandhan 2025: Shubh And Ashubh Muhurat

In addition to the main ritual timings, several other auspicious muhurats enhance the spiritual energy of the day.

The Brahma Muhurat starts early at 4:22 AM and ends at 5:04 AM, followed by Pratah Sandhya from 4:43 AM to 5:47 AM.

PHOTOS: Raksha Bandhan 2025 Fashion: Mrunal Thakur To Triptii Dimri-Inspired Looks For Rakhi

The Abhijit Muhurat, considered highly effective for all sacred activities, occurs between 12:00 PM and 12:53 PM, while the Vijaya Muhurat is from 2:40 PM to 3:33 PM.

In the evening, the Godhuli Muhurat lasts from 7:06 PM to 7:27 PM, and the Sayahna Sandhya continues until 8:10 PM.

The day concludes with the Nishita Muhurat, observed from 12:05 AM to 12:48 AM on August 10.

However, it is equally important to be aware of inauspicious periods that should be avoided for performing rituals.

ALSO READ: Raksha Bandhan 2025: Celebrate The Sibling Bond Virtually With These Ideas

On August 9, the Rahu Kalam falls between 9:07 AM and 10:47 AM, and the Yamaganda Muhurat runs from 2:06 PM to 3:46 PM.

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Additionally, the Gulikai Kalam is observed from 5:47 AM to 7:27 AM and Dur Muhurtam spans from 5:47 AM to 6:40 AM.

These timings are traditionally considered unfavourable for beginning any important or spiritual task.

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 06:03 IST

News lifestyle Raksha Bandhan 2025 Shubh Muhurat: When To Tie Rakhi On August 9? Know The Auspicious And Inauspicious Timings
Raksha Bandhan Songs 2025: Top 10 Tracks For Your Brother, Sister

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 07:38 IST

Raksha Bandhan Songs 2025: Celebrate Rakhi 2025 with 10 emotional and fun Bollywood songs that beautifully express the sibling bond. Dedicate one to your brother or sister today.

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Raksha Bandhan Songs 2025: Dhaagon se Baandhaa song from Raksha Bandhan is a beautiful duet that speaks of the emotional resilience of the sibling relationship. (File pic)

Raksha Bandhan Songs 2025: Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival to celebrate the bond between a brother and sister. On this day, sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) around their brothers wrists, symbolising love and the promise of protection. Rakhi is celebrated on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shravan, and generally falls in August. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated today, on August 9.

But how can Rakhi be completed without some good music? Here are top 10 songs to mark the occasion and make your Raksha Bandhan extra special. These warm-hearted numbers exquisitely express the love, banter and emotional connection among siblings.

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ALSO READ: Happy Raksha Bandhan Wishes 2025: Top 50 Rakhi Images, Messages, Quotes And Status For Brothers And Sisters

If you are looking for a playlist for the day or dedicating a song to your brother or sister, these classic songs will definitely bring joy, nostalgia and significance to your celebration.

10 Songs To Dedicate To Your Brother Or Sister

1. Raksha Bandhan from the movie Raksha Bandhan, by Shreya Ghoshal and Himesh Reshammiya: This sentimental title song pe rfectly depicts the sibling relationship and emoti onal rituals of Rakhi. It embodies the happiness, sor row and sacrifice enveloped in a sisters love.

PHOTOS: Raksha Bandhan 2025 Fashion: Mrunal Thakur To Triptii Dimri-Inspired Looks For Rakhi

2. Phoolon Ka Taron Ka from Hare Rama Hare Krishna, by Kishore Kumar: An ageless classic conveying a brothers appreciation and lov e for his sister. Its one of the most recognisable Rakhi tracks of all time.

3. Dhaagon Se Bandhaa from Raksha Bandhan, by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal: A beautiful duet that speaks of the emotional resilience of the sibling relationship. The track increases the festivals depth with its heart-wrenching lyrics.

4. Mera Bhai Tu by Naved Shaikh Aka Naezy: This heartfelt song celebrates the bond of brotherhood with sincerity and warmth. Naved aka Naezys powerful voice adds deep emotional resonance to this tribute.

ALSO READ: 10 Raksha Bandhan Recipes To Celebrate The Bond Of Love This Rakhi 2025

5. Bhaiya Mere Rakhi Ke Bandhan Ko Nibhana  from Choti Bahen, by Lata Mangeshkar: A sisters plea to her brother to honour the sacred thread. Lata Mangeshkars voice turns it into a timeless emotional anthem.

6. Rang Birangi Rakhi Lekar  from Anpadh, by Lata Mangeshkar: This festive song celebrates Rakhi with bright emotions and traditional warmth. It paints the joy of the festival in rich musical colors.

7. Behna O Behna  from Resham Ki Dori, by Suman Kalyanpur: A touching melody that reflects a sisters unconditional love and prayers. It stands out as a wholesome expression of sibling affection.

8. Bhai Takat hai tu meri by Swasti Mehul: A powerful modern track that salutes the strength and support of a brother. Its an inspiring song for todays generation.

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9. Meri Rakhi Ka Matlab  from Tirangaa, by Sadhana Sargam: This song highlights the deep emotions behind tying the sacred thread.

10. Bhai Meri Jaan by Pragati: A sister lovingly calls her brother her lifeline and strength. Its a beautiful dedication for siblings who share a deep connection.

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 06:33 IST

News lifestyle Raksha Bandhan Songs 2025: Top 10 Tracks For Your Brother, Sister
Global Watch | Pakistans Dirty War: Enforced Disappearances, Extrajudicial Killings Surge In Balochistan

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 04:32 IST

The Baloch are demanding the most basic right of allthe right to exist. And in Pakistan, that demand is costing them their lives

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Between January and June 2025, Balochistan has witnessed an alarming escalation in grave human rights violations. (Representational pic: Reuters)

With a significant spurt in the Baloch freedom movement, the crackdown by Pakistans militarised state has also gained new momentum. This is reflected in an increasing number of forced disappearances" of Baloch people, according to the latest report of the Baloch National Movement (BNM)s human rights wing, Paank.

In June 2025 alone, 84 Baloch men were forcibly disappeared from various districts of Balochistan, including major cities like Karachi and Islamabad. These are not suspected militants or armed rebelsthey are students, farmers, poets, educators, and human rights activists. The targeting is precise and ethnic. The victims are almost exclusively Baloch. Their crime? Speaking out. Demanding answers. Refusing to be invisible. But in Pakistan, demanding justice is seen as sedition, and in Balochistan, it is met with disappearances, torture, and death.

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Between January and June 2025, Balochistan has witnessed an alarming escalation in grave human rights violations. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and systematic targeting of civiliansespecially students, journalists, and activistshave defined this period.

This brutal campaign of repression is run by Pakistani military forces, including the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and intelligence agencies such as the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

The state" death squads have played a major role in this sustained repression and continue to operate with impunity under state protection. Most are backed by Pakistans intelligence agencies.

From January to June 2025, Paank recorded 785 enforced disappearances, 261 released survivors of torture, and 121 extrajudicial killings. These statistics point to a disturbing trend of systemic violence, repression, and abuse targeting civilians across the region. The scale and consistency of these violations indicate a coordinated policy of silencing dissent, observed Paank.

The tactics follow the same old playbook that Pakistani authorities have deployed over the years. Victims were picked up without warrants, mostly in the presence of witnesses. They were held incommunicado and severely tortured. Families of the victims remained unaware and uninformed about their locations. The districts of Kech, Awaran, Gwadar, Quetta, Khuzdar, and Mastung recorded the highest number of disappearances.

A number of abductions were carried out on university campuses and at peaceful protest sites, particularly in Karachi and Islamabad. Students and intellectuals were the prime targets.

It is a well-known fact that even peaceful figures like Dr Mahrang Baloch and several other leaders and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) have been arrested under fabricated charges, including under the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) law and the Anti-Terrorism Act. They still remain in prison and incommunicado to the outside world.

Extrajudicial killings

Pakistani security personnel and their death squads have executed at least 121 Baloch individuals without judicial process from January to June 2025. Many of them were abducted, and later their mutilated or bullet-ridden bodies were found. Numerous fake encounters have been staged where victims were falsely labelled as militants". Most of these fake encounters took place in the Barkhan, Panjgur, Dukki, and Awaran districts. The indiscriminate use of lethal force has even led to the killing of children. Twelve-year-old Sahil Baloch and Nehmat Baloch were both killed during peaceful protests.

In one of the most dreadful incidents of extrajudicial killing, journalist Abdul Latif Baloch was shot dead inside his home in front of his family by a state-backed death squad. According to the International Federation of Journalists, Baloch was shot four times and killed in his home in the Mashkay Tehsil area of Awaran district in the early morning of May 24, when four armed men broke into the property. The death squad first tried to abduct him, but when Baloch resisted, they shot him dead on the spot. Baloch was a veteran journalist, well-known for his coverage of human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistans security apparatus.

Earlier in February 2025, journalist Abdul Latif Balochs eldest son, Saif, was kidnapped and killed along with three other members of his family. No investigation has happened in this case either. The IFJs South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25, which documents media rights violations, has reported that from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, at least seven journalists were killed in Pakistan.

According to Paank, the first half of 2025 has further deepened the human rights crisis in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and state-sponsored propaganda constitute a systematic assault on the civilian population. The targeting of intellectuals, youth, and journalists demonstrates a deliberate effort to crush the regions sociopolitical fabric.

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If democracy means anythingif human rights are more than slogansthen enforced disappearances must be treated for what they are: crimes against humanity. The Baloch are demanding the most basic right of allthe right to exist. And in Pakistan, that demand is costing them their lives.

The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 04:32 IST

News opinion Global Watch | Pakistans Dirty War: Enforced Disappearances, Extrajudicial Killings Surge In Balochistan

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Opinion | Grappling With Trump And His 'WrestleMania' Diplomacy

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 20:56 IST

Experts suggest that Trump's affinity for the spectacle of professional wrestlingwhere drama, competition, and supremacy are celebratedmay influence his diplomatic style

Donald Trump with his Education Secretary Linda McMahon. (File image/Reuters)

Donald Trumps policy towards India marks a significant shift from the earlier strategic partnership era of his predecessors, focusing more on transactional and unilateral interests rather than long-term diplomatic considerations, which have jeopardised the fundamentals of bilateral relations.

For over two decades, successive US administrations have steadily built ties with India, evolving from a tentative friendship to a strong partnership rooted in the historic nuclear agreement and strategic alignment against common threats, particularly China. Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden employed political acumen and cultivated mutual respect, paving the way for cooperation in defence, commerce, technology, and climate action.

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In contrast, Trump has consistently promoted his America First" economics, disregarding mutual benefits and using heavy tariffs to pressure India for its independent strategic choices, particularly its dealings with Russia. Upon returning to the White House in 2025, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, later doubling it to a punitive 50 per cent rate, ostensibly to punish Delhi for continuing to import Russian oil. These actions have far-reaching consequences, casting a shadow over nearly all of Indias $86.5 billion exports to the US, trade negotiations, defence purchases, and technology collaborations, potentially setting bilateral ties back by decades.

Trumps approach diverges sharply from diplomatic traditions, with his administration making repeated tariff announcements, threatening further sanctions, and openly criticising the Indian economy for its energy purchases, which he claims hinder his broader objectives in Ukraine. American businesses have been encouraged to withdraw from India and move manufacturing back home, undermining Modis Make in India" initiative, as both sides engage in a public battle over strategic autonomy.

The Presidents communication style also lacks goodwill. Trump frequently airs complaints, accusations, and policy changes on social media, making interactions unreliable and risky. Unlike previous presidents who sought compromise even in opposition, Trumps preference for maximum pressure and public spectacle dominates all interactions.

This confrontational behaviour has led to renewed scrutiny of Trumps personality and background. Experts suggest that Trumps affinity for the spectacle of professional wrestlingwhere drama, competition, and supremacy are celebratedmay influence his diplomatic style. Trump has long-standing ties to the wrestling world, dating back to hosting WrestleMania events at his Atlantic City venues in the late 1980s. He is a WWE Hall of Famer, becoming involved in the famous Battle of the Billionaires" match at WrestleMania 23 in 2007, where he shaved WWE chairman Vince McMahons head.

His connections with wrestling continue through personal friendships and endorsements from wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, and Kane (Glenn Jacobs), who have publicly supported Trump in recent years.

Trump frequently attends top wrestling and UFC events, incorporating the shows theatrics into his political brand, blending spectacle, hypermasculinity, and narrative devices typical of professional wrestling.

Moreover, Linda McMahon, a prominent wrestling executive, was appointed to a senior US government role under Trump despite lacking relevant experiencea move seen as a political reward rather than based on expertise. Recently, WWE executive Paul Triple H" Levesque was appointed to the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and joined Trump at the White House to promote fitness projects, indicating a formalised relationship between Trumps administration and wrestling personalities. This preference for show over substance appears to extend to Trumps governance.

Unlike previous presidents who adhered to established rituals and multi-constituent processes, Trumps abrupt reversals and public denunciations keep allies like India wary and on edge. Prime Minister Modi has responded resolutely, reaffirming Indias right to economic and strategic autonomy amidst escalating tariffs and redefining import standards to support domestic products. Indian exporters warn that tariffs as high as 50 per cent make US trade nearly impossible, risking significant slowdowns and layoffs.

A senior analyst told News18 that India-US ties have a strong foundation built over the years, with substantial investments in cooperation across various sectors. Trumps erratic behaviour poses challenges not only for India but also for many countries dealing with his Trumpmanship". The analyst suggested that this turbulence might persist in the near term but that the ties will eventually return to normal.

Experts caution that Trumps aggressive economics risks pushing India towards other allies, including Russia and the BRICS bloc, undermining the very basis of US-India cooperation aimed at countering Chinas growing influence. While Trump may view his actions as bargaining tactics, most argue they erode trust, reduce mutual economic opportunities, and overlook the complex political realities of a rising Asia.

The coincidence of Trumps presidency and his personal enthusiasm for spectacle raises questions about his capacity for statesmanship. Is he a diplomatic strategist or merely an amateur impresario translating show business from wrestling to high-stakes diplomacy? Does his love of spectacle and personal friendships overshadow experience, wisdom, and the need for sustained partner interaction?

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Trumps India policy, characterised by tariffs, threats, and grand gestures, highlights a broader trend: the precariousness of bilateral relations when political processes are secondary to personal style.

For India, navigating this new landscape means rebalancing its US policy, doubling down on independence, and preparing for an era where cooperation is not based on shared values or interests but negotiated in the unstable terrain of Trumpian politicsa world where loyalty and hegemony are valued above dialogue and where strategic partnerships can fracture not due to lack of substance but due to an excess of spectacle.

First Published: August 09, 2025, 20:56 IST

News opinion Opinion | Grappling With Trump And His 'WrestleMania' Diplomacy

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Opinion | Peace For Profit: The Pitfalls Of Trumps Trade-First Diplomacy

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 14:55 IST

Mediating complex conflicts using such transactional approaches risks undermining the sustainability of any agreements

Applying Trumps transactional approaches to conflict mediation might weaken not only his bid to present himself as a peacemaker, but also undermine international peace. (Reuters)

The second Donald Trump administration is known for its transactional diplomacy. With a combination of America First" and Peace through trade" policy approaches, Trump has actively transformed the American network of security guarantees into an overtly transactional system of resource and/or market access in exchange for security commitments.

But this transactional approach has also extended into the realm of conflict mediation, where the Trump administration is using peace efforts as an opportunity not only to gain mineral or market access, but also to secure deals for private organisations associated with Trump or his allies. This transactional approach to the sensitive mediation process fails to keep its outcomes sustainable and threatens to endanger international security in the long term.

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Trumps record in maintaining international peace and security in 2025 might seem like a mixed bag on the surface. His mediation attempts in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts were unsuccessful, as both Russia and Israel regularly violated negotiated ceasefires. His primary success came in mediating a peace deal between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Besides that, there have been unilateral claims by Trump of having mediated the India-Pakistan confrontation in May and the Cambodia-Thailand confrontation in July, despite being openly denied by the parties involved.

Each of these attempts at peace is distinct and varies in its context. However, one common element in these cases is the Peace through trade" approach, where the US attempts to mediate or claim diplomatic influence in exchange for trade promises or direct economic dealsor by pitching money" and trade" as answers to complex socio-political questions. Thus, through a combination of America First" and Peace through trade" policy approaches, these solutions not only place trade dependence at the core, but also actively seek direct economic benefits for the US or Trump partners for their mediation services."

In the case of Israel and Palestine, the Trump administration floated a business-oriented redevelopment proposal for Gaza, branding it as the future Riviera of the Middle East." Though this was not a formal agreement, it was presented as a symbolic prelude to future mediation efforts, highlighting the administrations market-first vision of peace. In the case of DR Congo and Rwanda, the US signed a major mineral extraction and trade access deal with the Congolese government immediately following the peace deal. This deal included US investment rights in cobalt and coltan miningwith firms linked to Trump allies, including Gentry Beach, reportedly positioned to benefit. This has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and blurred the lines between American diplomacy and private gain.

In the case of India and Pakistan, Trump claimed to have mediated a ceasefire in May, though this claim has been repeatedly denied by Indian officials. However, within weeks of the ceasefire, World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency firm 60 per cent owned by the Trump family, signed a blockchain cooperation deal with the Pakistani government. The timing surrounding this deal has raised further concerns about the transactional nature of Trumps mediation efforts, and whether peace attempts are being leveraged for personal-commercial benefit rather than security interests.

Most recently, the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire was claimed by the White House as a product of Trumps peace through trade" strategy. While ASEAN, especially Malaysia, played the lead role in mediating the ceasefire, the Trump administration publicly asserted that US trade leverage and tariff threats helped pressure both parties. Irrespective of the credits, this public framing by the US supports the broader pattern of using economic pressure and transactional rhetoric to claim diplomatic wins.

The US has an unmatched global military presence and the capability to intervene and guarantee the outcomes of mediation with the threat of force. This is also the reason why, despite numerous criticisms of US efforts in ensuring international peace and security, democratic-liberal values, and human rights, it still stands as a credible deterrent and a viable party to initiate mediation processes.

These capabilities can be used to further Trumps transactional diplomacy and mineral for military" security guarantees, as partner nations may be willing to trade and develop deeper economic ties with the US. This approach has been part of US grand strategy since the end of the Second World War and has also deterred nations from direct military confrontation with a US-aligned partner. However, applying this approach to mediation efforts, especially in active conflict zones, may prove counterproductive.

Each of these conflicts is deeply rooted in the historical, political, and emotional fabric of these nations, and trade" alone cannot resolve them. Trade might contribute to peace by enabling economic development and complex interdependence, raising living standards, and enhancing education qualityas seen most notably in the long-term reconciliation between the historical rivals France and Germany. However, it cannot guarantee peace without strong institutional support, inclusive policies, and domestic political will. Even where this strategy has seemed to yield temporary results, it is likely due to the looming threat of Trumps tariffs.

Using security guarantees or undertaking military interventions has been a core aspect of US foreign policy practice. Over the years, it has used transactional models that range from trade to soft power. However, under Trump this approach has been extended from security guarantees to conflict mediation, with trade with the US and Trump partners as the core aspect of all these deals.

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Mediating complex conflicts using such transactional approaches risks undermining the sustainability of any agreements. When further complicated by the involvement of private actors and credible accusations of conflict of interest or corruption, the legitimacy and endurance of these agreements come into question. Therefore, applying Trumps transactional approaches to conflict mediation might weaken not only his bid to present himself as a peacemaker, but also undermine international peace and security, with the omnipresent risks of these conflicts resurfacing in the future.

Abhishek Kadiyala is a Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institutions Indo-Pacific programme with a focus on the United States and US-India relations. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 14:55 IST

News opinion Opinion | Peace For Profit: The Pitfalls Of Trumps Trade-First Diplomacy

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Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 10:27 IST

1 / 8 There are many places to explore close to Delhi, whether youre looking for an outdoor adventure, a summertime getaway to the hills, a weekend of safaris and camping, or even a cultural experience. (Image: Canva)

2 / 8 Whats great about these locations is that they all accommodate a variety of journeys, whether they be for lone travellers, couples, families, or groups of friends. Here are a few choices if you are planning a getaway this Independence Day. (Image: Canva)

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3 / 8 Jibhi, Himachal Pradesh: Jibhi is situated in the Tirthan Valley, between beautiful green trees and a range of colourful mountains. This location is worth visiting because of the thick pine trees, peaceful freshwater lakes, and spotless temples. An added advantage that gives you the impression that you are living in the Victorian Era is the cosy cottages in which you can stay. So relax in nature with a cup of chai and take in the pleasant chirpings of the birds. (Image: Canva)

4 / 8 Lansdowne, Uttarakhand: Lansdowne is a charming tiny hill town in Uttarakhands Pauri district, 258 kilometres from Delhi. This hill station is a paradise for bird watchers, casual hikers, and weekend visitors from Delhi NCR. It is covered in oak and pine forests and has structures from the colonial era scattered around. (Image: Canva)

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5 / 8 Kasol, Himachal Pradesh: Kasol is a tiny village located on the banks of the Parvati River. It is quickly gaining notoriety as a major hub for trekkers, backpackers, and nature lovers, and is referred to as the "Amsterdam of India." Take in the scenery of snow-covered mountains, pine trees, and gurgling rivers in Kasol, which is located 23 km from Bhuntar and near to the religious town of Manikaran. (Image: Canva)

6 / 8 Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Rishikesh, which is situated at the confluence of the Ganga and Chandrabhaga Rivers in the Himalayan foothills, is renowned for its adventure sports, historic temples, well-liked cafes, and status as the Yoga Capital of the World." With the expansion of the whitewater rafting industry and the emergence of numerous camping and cafe locations, Rishikesh has become a popular destination that can meet the needs of a wide range of visitors. (Image: Canva)

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7 / 8 Sethan Valley, Himachal Pradesh: This Buddhist community is a little hamlet that looks over the Dhauladhar range and is located around 12 kilometres from Manali. Sethan Valley has retained its original natural splendour since it is rarely visited. (Image: File Pic)
Last Updated: August 08, 2025, 16:13 IST

1 / 12 For travellers looking to avoid tourist rush, explore new cultures, and do it all without burning your pocket, September offers the sweet spot between off-season rates and good weather. (Image: Canva)

2 / 12 And were not just talking about quick weekend escapes near your city. Think international. Yes, there are countries just a short flight away that are easy on the budget. Many of them even offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for Indian passport holders. (Image: Canva)

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3 / 12 Malaysia: September is a great time to visit Malaysia, just before the northeast monsoon season begins. This means you get pleasant weather and fewer tourists, especially on the west coast. (Image: Canva)

4 / 12 Begin your journey in Kuala Lumpur, the buzzing capital. Marvel at the Petronas Towers, stroll through the Islamic Arts Museum, or hop on a train to explore the iconic Batu Caves. Dont miss the mouth-watering street food at Jalan Alor, where flavours of Malaysia come alive without costing much. (Image: Canva)

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5 / 12 Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is known for its island beauty, cultural treasures, and soulful beaches. September offers quieter beaches and better hotel rates as it sits between peak tourist seasons. (Image: Canva)

6 / 12 Visit Colombo for a mix of modern and colonial charm, explore the hills of Kandy, or head to Galle for a coastal retreat. Beaches in Unawatuna or Mirissa are perfect for those seeking some downtime with a coconut in hand. (Image: Canva)

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7 / 12 Nepal: Want to escape to the mountains without leaving the subcontinent? Nepal is a visa-free destination for Indians and it offers some of the most budget-friendly travel experiences. (Image: Canva)

8 / 12 September is the post-monsoon season, meaning clearer skies and green landscapes, ideal for trekking or just relaxing in the valley. Visit Kathmandus cultural landmarks, relax by the lake in Pokhara, or take a short trek in the Annapurna region. Its a dream destination for nature lovers and spiritual travellers alike. (Image: Canva)

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9 / 12 Vietnam: Affordable adventures and scenic landscapes with rich culture are waiting for you. September marks the tail-end of summer in northern Vietnam and the beginning of cooler, drier days in the south. (Image: Canva)

10 / 12 Explore the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit the War Remnants Museum, the Independence Palace, or climb up to the Saigon Skydeck in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is extremely budget-friendly with delicious meals, scenic train rides, and great hostels all costing very little. (Image: Canva)

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11 / 12 Thailand: Thailand remains a favourite for Indian travellers and good reason. Its close, affordable, and offers something for everyone, whether youre into bustling markets, scenic islands, or ancient temples. (Image: Canva)
We came across a bullish thesis on Lockheed Martin Corporation on Dividendologys Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on LMT. Lockheed Martin Corporation's share was trading at $428.24 as of August 5th. LMTs trailing and forward P/E were 24.03 and 17.95, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

5 Countries that have the Most F-16 Fighter Jets

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Lockheed Martin stands as one of the most prominent defense contractors globally, renowned for its F-35 fighter jets, missile defense systems, and Black Hawk helicopters. The company offers a unique position as a defensive investment in an otherwise volatile stock market. While some investors seek to capitalize on market fluctuations, others prioritize stability and predictable cash flowsqualities that Lockheed Martin delivers consistently.

Approximately 92.5% of its revenue is derived from government contracts, primarily with the U.S., providing a strong foundation of security and reliability. Further reinforcing this stability is a record backlog exceeding $166 billion in signed contracts, ensuring predictable revenue streams and visibility into future earnings. This robust pipeline underpins Lockheed Martins ability to generate steady cash flows, sustain operations, and continue its long-standing commitment to shareholder returns.

The company has increased its dividend for over 22 consecutive years, reflecting financial discipline and resilience. Currently, Lockheed Martin offers a dividend yield of about 3.14%, complemented by an average share buyback yield of 3.3%, making it an attractive option for income-oriented investors. This combination of predictable government-driven revenue, strong backlog, and consistent capital returns positions Lockheed Martin as a reliable choice for those seeking stability and long-term value amid broader market uncertainty.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) by Steve Wagner in April 2025, which highlighted strong Q1 results, a $173 billion backlog, and strategic ISR expansion. The stock has depreciated about 8.3% since then due to market volatility. The thesis still stands as fundamentals remain solid. Dividendology shares a similar view but emphasizes defensive positioning, stable cash flows, and consistent shareholder returns.

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Congress Must Apologise For Trying To Taint Hinduism; Rahul Threatening ECI: Bhupender Yadav | Interview

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 08:00 IST

The union minister also told News18 that the Congress-led opposition doesn't stand with the Modi government because, in a bid to oppose the BJP, it has started opposing the country

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Yadav said it was the opposition that had demanded the revision of voter lists, alleging anomalies. File pic/PTI

The Congress must apologise for trying to taint Hinduism as it fabricated a whole case to dent Sanatan by claiming terror is saffron, senior BJP leader and union environment minister Bhupender Yadav has told News18, reacting to the Malegaon blast case acquittals. He said that after the court order is out, Congress leaders are mum like they have lost the ability to speak".

In a wide-ranging interview, Yadav also told News18 that after being chided by the Supreme Court for his derogatory remarks against the Indian Army, Rahul Gandhi is now threatening the Election Commission with consequences". How can the leader of opposition talk in this language, Yadav asked. He said it was the opposition that had demanded the revision of voter lists, alleging anomalies. Gandhi, in a press conference, has now alleged voter list fraud. The Election Commission has asked him to sign a declaration/oath. But he wont sign it because he knows he is lying. He is lying with the intention to belittle institutions," Yadav said.

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The union minister also told News18 that the opposition led by the Congress does not stand with the Narendra Modi government because, in a bid to oppose the BJP, it has started opposing the country. Even the Supreme Court has rapped Rahul Gandhi for his anti-India rhetoric. It is dangerous that the Congress is quoting Pakistans fake claims to allege that Operation Sindoor failed. This is an insult to the Indian Armed Forces," Bhupender Yadav said.

Edited excerpts:

Have the acquittals in the Malegaon case demolished the saffron terror" theory? Was it all a Congress conspiracy?

Appeasement for vote bank has been Congresss open secret for decades. Retired ATS officer Mehiboob Mujawar has said on record that he was under pressure to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ji.

While on the one hand, they cried that terror has no religion when it was minorities caught in terror attacks, and they fabricated a whole case to dent Sanatan by claiming terror is saffron.

Now that the court order is out, Congress leaders are mum, like they have lost the ability to speak. Colonel Purohit, a highly decorated Army officer who fought against terrorism in Kashmir, was framed in the case.

In fact, Rahul Gandhi even said Hindu terror is more deadly than Lashkar-e-Taiba. This shows the Congress partys true intentions.

The Congress must apologise for trying to taint Hinduism.

The entire Parliament session has been rocked by protests over the Bihar SIR issue. The opposition calls it a conspiracy to snatch votes.

There are two aspects to this question. One, the disruption of Parliament. Two, the issue of SIR. Over the last 11 years, look at the record of the opposition in Parliament. They have not allowed either house to function on the pretext of one issue or the other. In this session, first, they disrupted the House in the name of a discussion on Operation Sindoor; now, after a full-fledged debate on it, they are saying we wont let the house function over SIR.

So, SIR is their ploy to not let Parliament function because they dont want the country to move ahead.

Now, to the second aspect of SIR. The opposition demanded a revision of voter lists, alleging anomalies. Now, they have a problem that voter lists are being revised. They have consistently attacked the Election Commission in a bid to hide their electoral failures.

In fact, they are attacking all democratic institutions by design. The Supreme Court recently chided Rahul Gandhi for derogatory remarks against the Indian Army. He is now threatening the Election Commission with consequences". How can the leader of opposition talk in this language?

The Election Commission has asked him to sign a declaration/oath under Rule 20(3) b of the Registration of Electoral Rules 1960. But Rahul Gandhi wont sign it because he knows he is lying. He is lying with the intention of belittling institutions.

They have a policy of shoot and scoot. Congress knows a debate on EC cannot happen in Parliament because it is an autonomous body, yet it is trying to create chaos.

It was Balram Jakhar, former Congress leader and Lok Sabha speaker, who refused such a discussion, stating that the poll panel is conceived as an independent entity.

Now, if bills are passed without discussion, they will say the government is bulldozing legislation. I will use this opportunity to urge the opposition to behave responsibly. Casting such aspersions on institutions is detrimental to democracy.

To win elections, you need to understand the countrys aspirations and offer reliable leadership.

Operation Sindoor and then Operation Mahadev have seen big success for our forces, but the opposition did not appreciate it in the Parliament session. Why do you think the opposition does not stand with the Modi government on such issues?

The opposition led by the Congress does not stand with the Modi government because, in a bid to oppose the BJP, it has started opposing the country. Even the Supreme Court, the apex court of the country, has rapped Rahul Gandhi for his anti-India rhetoric.

When the UPA was in power, terror attacks were so common that people feared going to markets or travelling in trains. Prior to 2014, the terror infrastructure was spread extensively across India. Bomb blasts across our big cities, be it Patna, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and even Delhi, were common.

UPA restricted its action to sending dossiers to Pakistan. But under PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, we have adopted a zero tolerance to terror" policy. The new normal states, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism.

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People of India stand firmly behind this approach. So, it is obvious the Congress is opposing it.

It is dangerous that the Congress is quoting Pakistans fake claims to allege that Operation Sindoor failed. This is an insult to the Indian Armed Forces. The BJP strongly and unequivocally condemns the Congresss attitude towards the Indian forces and the innocents who lost their lives. Their families, who were witnesses, have been saying that people were segregated based on religion. Hindus were lined up and shot. But the Congress has the audacity to say they are lying. It is reprehensible politics by Congress.

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

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:00 IST

News politics Congress Must Apologise For Trying To Taint Hinduism; Rahul Threatening ECI: Bhupender Yadav | Interview

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'Gave Up Self-Respect...': Shinde, Fadnavis Jab Uddhav Over 'Last-Row Seat' At Rahul's Meet

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 11:14 IST

A war of words broke out between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and the Opposition UBT over Uddhav Thackeray's seating at Rahul Gandhi's dinner meet.

Uddhav sits in last row at Rahul Gandhi dinner meet (Photo: X/ Maharashtra BJP)

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray over his last row seating at Rahul Gandhis dinner meeting, prompting a war of words with Shiv Sena UBT, which said that their leader was made to sit in the front, but he moved back on his own.

Rahul Gandhi had held a presentation in front of the Opposition leaders at a dinner meet over alleged electoral fraud by the Election Commission of India.

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In the picture shared by Maharashtra BJP, Uddhav, his son Aaditya, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut were seen sitting in the last row, as Rahul Gandhi gave a presentation on the screen.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mocked Uddhav and said that Congress had shown Thackerays their place.

Those who give up their self-respect and abandon Bal Thackerays ideals wont feel anything about this insult. Congress has shown them their place," Shinde said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a jibe at Uddhav, stating that when he was a part of the NDA, he was always made to sit in the front row.

For us, his respect always came before our own. We have realised what kind of respect and honour he gets there," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis pointed out that Uddhav often said he would never bow before Delhi.

Look at the situation nowtheyre not even in power. Its sad. When he was with us, he always sat in the front row," he added.

The Maharashtra BJP also mocked Shiv Sena UBT leaders in the picture.

Find and show the self-respect in this photo," the post captioned.

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Responding to the BJP, Raut said Uddhav had a front-row seat but moved back to see the presentation screen more clearly.

We were sitting in the front, but the TV screen was straining our eyes, so we shifted to the back. Look at other photos of Uddhav ji  Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi welcomed him and his family to their home," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 11:04 IST

News politics 'Gave Up Self-Respect...': Shinde, Fadnavis Jab Uddhav Over 'Last-Row Seat' At Rahul's Meet

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Country In Safe Hands, Says Ahmed Patel's Son Faisal, Praises PM Modi And Amit Shah | Exclusive

Curated By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 22:12 IST

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Faisal called PM Modi and Amit Shah 'great leaders'

The significance of Faisal Patel's statement is magnified by the legacy of his father. File image

Faisal Patel, the son of the late Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel, has triggered a political uproar with a statement praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Faisal called PM Modi and Amit Shah great leaders" and affirmed that the country is in safe hands". This statement has created a tricky situation for the Congress, particularly as it comes at a time when the party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, are aggressively attacking the government on issues such as Operation Sindoor and alleged vote theft".

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Faisal Patels remarks are also being seen in light of other Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari, who have recently diverged from the party line on a few occasions. He went on to name other prominent ministers, stating, Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, Nitin Gadkari ji, S Jaishankar are all solid leaders."

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The significance of Faisal Patels statement is magnified by the legacy of his father. Ahmed Patel was not just a leader but was revered as a trusted strategist and troubleshooter" for the Congress high command. Often referred to as Sonia Gandhis right hand", he was a quiet yet influential player in Delhi politics, and no major party decision, from organisational reshuffles to electoral ticket distribution, was made without his counsel. His robust network and strategic acumen made him one of the most effective behind-the-scenes figures in the party.

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 09, 2025, 22:12 IST

News politics Country In Safe Hands, Says Ahmed Patel's Son Faisal, Praises PM Modi And Amit Shah | Exclusive

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How BJP, EC 'Fact-Checkers' Have Tried To Defuse Rahul Gandhi's Explosive 'Vote Theft' Claims

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 17:34 IST

Several of these fact-checks have concluded that the situation is not as alarming as Rahul Gandhi has depicted

In an attack on the Election Commission, Rahul Gandhi has alleged widespread voter ID fraud in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party. File pic/PTI

Rahul Gandhis explosive presentation on the workings of the Election Commission and what he termed as vote theft" has created quite a stir. However, fact-checks" by the BJP and Election Commission have shown that it might not be as significant as the Congress would like to believe. Several of these fact-checks have concluded that the situation is not as alarming as Rahul Gandhi has depicted. Lets take a closer look.

Firstly, Rahul Gandhis major allegations are regarding the Mahadevapura polls in Karnataka, where he claimed the elections were clearly rigged in favour of the BJP. In fact, a big rally was held by the Congress in Bengaluru on Friday with this poll as the focal point. A fact-check raises the following questions: a photograph of the electoral roll with BLA signatures does not show or prove multiple voters. Also, according to the Election Commission, the BJP led in 4 assembly segments in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, not just Mahadevapura. Congress led in four assembly segments too in the same seat.

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According to one fact-check, the presence of duplicate voters in minority stronghold areas of the Congress, such as Shivajinagar and Chamarajpet, raises serious concerns. The BJP is asking why the Congress is not addressing this issue. It also wants to know why the Congress is assuming that only in areas where the BJP led, the voter list is rigged.

In Maharashtra, fact-checkers are raising the issue of the Dhule Lok Sabha seat, which the Congress won. Maharashtra is the state Rahul Gandhi often cites in his criticism of the Election Commission. In Dhule, the BJP polled 5.75 lakh votes in five assembly segments, while the Congress polled 3.84 lakh. Congress led the minority-dominated Malegaon Central by about 94.52%, while the BJP got only about 2.21% of votes. The BJP questions this disparity. This constituency also showed many duplicate voters, prompting the BJP to question how the Congress won and if duplicate voters contributed to its victory.

Another issue raised against Rahul Gandhis allegations is the scrutiny of Mahadevapura. He highlighted the issue of 80 voters registered at one address, but it was discovered that this address was used by migrant labourers who had since moved out. There is no evidence to show that they all voted for the BJP. Also, it was found that 18 names were registered from one house (house number 80). How does one explain this?

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The BJP argues this is why there is an urgent need for special intensive revision (SIR). According to the Election Commission, the multiplicity of voters occurs not because of deliberate fraud but due to multi-city, multi-town listings. This is why the Election Commission has been urging all parties to cooperate to prevent duplication.

With Rahul Gandhi remaining adamant, there is no breakthrough in sight.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 17:34 IST

News politics How BJP, EC 'Fact-Checkers' Have Tried To Defuse Rahul Gandhi's Explosive 'Vote Theft' Claims

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Karnataka Forms Special Committee To Probe Voter Fraud Flagged By Rahul Gandhi

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 12:42 IST

Alleging that the ECI colluded with the BJP to steal seats and elections, Gandhi called on the Karnataka government to probe the alleged fraud in Mahadevapura

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during the party's 'Vote Adhikar Rally'. (PTI)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with his deputy and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, in consultation with home minister Dr G Parameshwara and law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil, will be in a huddle to investigate voter fraud" identified in the state and flagged by Rahul Gandhi.

Government sources indicated that it is soon expected that a special committee will be constituted on an urgent basis to address the allegations, with a mandate to conduct a detailed probe into the irregularities Gandhi has highlighted.

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Addressing a massive gathering of party workers at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that 1,00,250 fake votes" were created in Mahadevapura to secure a BJP victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) of working for the BJP instead of upholding the Constitution, Gandhi insisted the commissions foremost duty is to protect both the Constitution and the rights of citizens.

The Mahadevpura constituency was carved out of the erstwhile Varthur segment along with KR Pura during delimitation. Mahadevapuraknown in recent decades for a rapid influx of migrants drawn to the IT corridor and tech hubs of Whitefield and Marathahallihas seen steady population growth, offering affordable housing and jobs to newcomers.

With over four lakh residents, the Bengaluru Central parliamentary seat was also created at that time, and since then, BJPs PC Mohan has won all four Lok Sabha elections held there  2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024  with Mahadevapura and KR Pura serving as key support bases.

Mahadevapura, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency, is currently represented by Manjula S, wife of BJP leader Aravind Limbavali, who held the seat in 2008, 2013, and 2018. Denied a ticket in 2023, Limbavali was replaced by his wife, who went on to win by 44,501 votes. Limbavalis had been winning with thinner margins and later, using the Narendra Modi wave, the margins got bigger.

Alleging that the ECI colluded with the BJP to steal seats and elections", Gandhi called on the Karnataka government to probe the alleged fraud in Mahadevapura, which falls under the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, and to take action against the officials responsible.

The data we have uncovered in Mahadevapura is evidence of a crime. It took us six months to collect this evidence; every name was verified, every photo was matched. We believe that Indias election data itself is evidence and if anyone destroys that, itll mean they are destroying the evidence and perpetuating the crime," said Gandhi during the protest.

In 2024, BJPs Mohans margin of victory in Bengaluru Central was its narrowest since 2009  just 32,707 votes  compared to earlier wins by 35,218 votes in 2009, a landslide 1.37 lakh in 2014, and 70,968 in 2019.

Pointing out that Mahadevapura was only one example, Gandhi alleged that Modis hold on power came from stealing" 25 Lok Sabha seatseach supposedly won by a margin of roughly 34,000 votes.

In Karnataka, according to our internal assessment, we were poised to win 16 seats but secured only nine. We asked the Election Commission for the digital voter list, but they refused. They also denied us access to polling videography and even changed the law to reduce the retention period for CCTV footage to 45 days," he said.

When the EC refused to cooperate, we began our own investigation. We chose Mahadevapura in the Bengaluru Central LS seat. In my press conference, I proved beyond doubt that the BJP and EC colluded to steal votes. Out of 6.5 lakh votes in Mahadevapura, 1,00,250 were fraudulent  thats one in every six votes," Gandhi told the crowd.

He claimed to possess physical, paper-based voter data and warned that if electronic data was withheld, Congress would continue its investigation and public campaign. This is not just a crime against Karnatakait is happening nationwide. You cannot hide evidence. The Karnataka government must act against ECI officials who inserted thousands of fake voters. The truth about Mahadevapura must be revealed," he said.

When we didnt get help from the EC, we started investigation on our own. We chose Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bangalore Central LS seat. In my PC yesterday, I proved it 100 per cent that BJP and EC colluded to steal votes. There are 6.5 lakh votes in Mahadevapura Assembly segment, out of which 1,00,250 votes were stolen. This implies that 1 out of every 6 votes was stolen," said Gandhi.

Gandhi urged every Congress worker to protect the Constitution and its principles, questioning why the ECI is not sharing electronic voter data. Instead, they are changing rules and taking down websites in states where people are demanding answers."

Outlining what he called the five methods" of the alleged voter fraud, Gandhi said:

1. Duplicate voters  individuals registered in multiple booths or even in voter lists of other states (11,965 such cases).

2. Fake or invalid addresses  including voters listed with no address or House No. 0" (around 40,000).

3. Bulk voters  up to 80 people registered at a single one-bedroom home, often owned by BJP leaders (10,452 cases).

4. Invalid photographs  either missing entirely or too small to identify the voter (4,132 cases).

5. Misuse of Form 6  intended for first-time voters, but allegedly used to add individuals aged 8090 years (about 34,000 cases).

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Siddaramaiah demanded PM Modis resignation, saying he had no moral right" to remain in office after such an expose. Gandhi also pressed for the release of all electronic voter data and polling booth videography from the past decade, arguing that any refusal would be proof" of a cover-up in aid of the BJP.

It is also alleged that both Limbavali and former KR Pura MLA Nandish Reddy have used private agencies to court the migrant vote. In 2018, Reddy hired a private group to collect voter details, later defending the move as necessary to identify and remove duplicates.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 12:42 IST

News politics Karnataka Forms Special Committee To Probe Voter Fraud Flagged By Rahul Gandhi

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
Sharad Pawar Rules Out Joining Forces With Ajit Pawar's NCP: 'Will Never Support...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 12:38 IST

The NCP split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar broke away from the party and joined forces with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar is now the deputy CM of the state.

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Sharad Pawar with his nephew Ajit Pawar | File Image: PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) chief and veteran politician Sharad Pawar on Saturday ruled out joining forces with his nephew Ajit Pawars faction, saying he would never support a BJP-led alliance.

His remarks came after Sharad and Ait Pawar were seen together for the engagement ceremony of the formers grandson, Yugendra Pawar, at the residence of Yugendras fiancee, Tanishka Kulkarni, in Mumbai.

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Yugendra is the son of Shrinivas Pawar, the younger brother of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The engagement ceremony saw attendance from the prominent members of the Pawar family, including Supriya Sule, along with her husband and two children.

The NCP split after Ajit Pawars 2023 rebellion, when he decided to join the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. This cast doubts over the strength of the Pawar family ties. This was further tested in the 2024 assembly elections, where Yugendra was defeated by his uncle Ajit Pawar in the Baramati constituency, and Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra was defeated by her sister-in-law Supriya Sule.

Earlier, in June, Sharad Pawars grandnephew, Rohit Pawar, had stoked speculations over a possible merger of the party with Ajit Pawars faction, saying that Supriya Sule was entrusted" to take a final call on the matter.

However, Sharad Pawar quickly shot down rumours of joining hands with his nephews NCP faction, saying he could not join hands with someone allied with the BJP. We cannot join hands with those who have joined hands with BJP. We will take along only those who believe in the ideology of Gandhi, Shahu, Phule and Ambedkar," he said at an event.

Sharad Pawar On Indias Foreign Policy

Meanwhile, the NCP-SP on Saturday also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government over Indias foreign policy and growing tensions with neighbours.

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If you look at the map of India, Pakistan is against us, Nepal is angry with us, Bangladesh is angry with us, Sri Lanka is angry with us. All our neighbours are moving away from us. PM Modi should not ignore this. He should pay attention to improving relations with them," he said.

He also criticised US President Donald Trumps 50% tariffs on Indian goods. This is an attempt to pressurise us I do not want to say today that diplomacy has failed Nobody has control over Trump. He does whatever comes to his mind. Not much attention should be paid to him," he added.

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

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 12:29 IST

News politics Sharad Pawar Rules Out Joining Forces With Ajit Pawar's NCP: 'Will Never Support...'

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
Not Our Path: Sharad Pawar Claims Getting Offer Of 160 Seats Before Maharashtra Polls

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 17:07 IST

Sharad Pawar said two people offered to guarantee 160 of 288 seats in Maharashtra elections, but he and Rahul Gandhi dismissed it.

NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar. (ANI)

Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that two people had approached him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, claiming they could guarantee 160 out of 288 seats.

While addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Pawar said that he had arranged a meeting with those people and Rahul Gandhi, but the two leaders ultimately dismissed the offer, stating, This is not our way".

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I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I had no doubts about the Election Commission" he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

After that, I arranged a meeting with those people and Rahul Gandhi. Whatever they wanted to say, they said in front of Rahul Gandhi. But Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that we should not pay attention to this; this is not our path," he added.

Nagpur, Maharashtra | NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar says, I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I pic.twitter.com/0GdXL9bDOR ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

The NCP veteran further said that Rahul Gandhis recent presentation on alleged polling irregularities was well-researched and well-documented, and it is up to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to look into the matter.

He also criticised the poll body for seeking a separate affidavit from Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition.

He also admitted that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance should have been more careful before the elections in Maharashtra.

"We should have looked into it earlier and been careful," he said.

The Election Commission is an independent body. Rahul Gandhi said he has already taken an oath in Parliament, so there is no need for a separate affidavit. If the Election Commission still insists on such a thing, that is not right. Rahul Gandhis allegations need to be probed in depth," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Rahul Gandhi has described the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as an "institutionalised theft" and claimed that the Election Commission was "openly colluding" with the BJP to carry out this "theft" with the objective of taking away the voting rights of the poor.

CM Fadnavis Questions Timing

Reacting to Pawars statement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked why the former spoke up only now about two men meeting him and offering to ensure the Oppositions victory in the last years state elections.

Why is Pawar disclosing this after Rahul Gandhis claims? Earlier Pawar never endorsed Gandhis claims about (manipulation of) EVMs. No matter what, free and fair polls are held in India Gandhi tells stories that sound like a Salim-Javed script, and what Pawar has said seems to be the same script," Fadnavis told reporters as quoted by the news agency.

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The Chief Minister defended the electoral process, calling Indias elections free and fair" and accusing the opposition of avoiding formal complaints to the ECI despite making public allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Nagpur, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 17:07 IST

News politics Not Our Path: Sharad Pawar Claims Getting Offer Of 160 Seats Before Maharashtra Polls

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'Political Conspiracy': Assam CM Claims Honey Trap Attempt During Jharkhand Polls

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 18:55 IST

Sarma said that two women had approached him and initiated conversations that he found suspicious

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (PTI file photo)

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday alleged that an attempt was made to entrap him in a honey trap during the Jharkhand Assembly elections held in November last year.

Speaking to the media, Sarma said two women had approached him and engaged in conversations he found suspicious. The Assam CM said he immediately asked them to leave.

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Sarma linked the incident to a post made by Leader of Opposition and Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi on social media platform X. He suggested the incident may have been part of a larger political conspiracy".

In his post, Marandi alleged that a senior Jharkhand police officer had paid someone twice to travel to Delhi and Guwahati in an attempt to frame the Assam Chief Minister in a conspiracy. He further claimed that evidence of this would soon come to light.

The senior BJP leader, who was the first chief minister of Jharkhand, questioned whether Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was aware of the alleged actions and urged him to clarify his role.

He also warned that an officer willing to target a high-ranking official like Sarma could just as easily turn against Soren in the future for personal gain.

Hemant ji, dont you think that an officer who, driven by greed for position and money, dares to commit such a vile act and conspiracy against someone holding a prestigious high office in the country, could, in bad times, do something equally despicable and dirty against you for their own benefit?," he wrote.

                 @Himantabiswa           -       ( )  ?           Babulal Marandi (@yourBabulal) August 9, 2025

At the time of the election, Assam Chief Minister was BJPs co-incharge for Jharkhand and was actively involved in the partys campaign and strategy.

The Jharkhand Assembly elections, held in November 2024, saw the JMM-led Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) return to power with a strong mandate. The alliance, which included the Congress, CPI(ML)L, and RJD, won 56 seats, securing 44.37% of the total vote.

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The JMM alone won 34 seats with 23.44% of the vote share.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the second-largest party, winning 21 seats and securing 33.18% of the vote. The BJP-led NDA alliance managed a total of 24 seats, with 38.14% of the vote share  a result considered below the partys expectations.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Assam, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 18:25 IST

News politics 'Political Conspiracy': Assam CM Claims Honey Trap Attempt During Jharkhand Polls

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Vote Theft Protest Rally: DK Shivakumar Seconds Rahul Gandhis Legal Bank Proposal

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 08:30 IST

The plan includes creating a battery of lawyers, constitutional experts, and civil society members to act as watchdogs against any wrongdoing or violations of the Constitution

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The Congress organised a protest rally and march against 'large-scale vote theft', at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Friday. Image/X

Karnatakas deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, during Rahul Gandhis visit to Bengaluru on Friday as part of his protest against vote theft", announced that the Congress government supports the setting up of a legal bank" in the state.

I agree with you, Rahulji," said Shivakumar, speaking at the protest rally. It is your wish that legal banks should be set up to protect the rights of every voter at the booth level. I assure the party that we will work towards setting up such banks on the lines of blood banks."

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Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP of orchestrating what he called a huge criminal fraud" in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, specifically pointing to the Mahadevapura assembly segment, where he claimed over 1,00,250 votes were stolen" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Calling it a vote chori" (vote theft) operation, the Congress leader alleged that the fraud was carried out with the help of the Election Commission. Both the BJP and EC have rejected these claims.

So, what exactly are these legal banks"? Congress insiders explained that during an All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi proposed starting legal banks".

The role of a legal bank would be to protect democracy, votes, and most importantly, our Constitution," a senior Congress functionary told News18.

Congress leaders in Karnataka explained to News18 that the idea is to have an immediate legal bank of lawyers and legal aid to check voter fraud, assure voters that their rights are safeguarded, and initiate legal proceedings in court with strong evidence to protect democracy.

The proposal includes creating a strong battery of lawyers, constitutional experts, and members from civil society who would act as watchdogs against any wrongdoing or violations of the Constitution. Their job would be to maintain constant vigilance and act immediately. As one leader put it, Justice delayed is almost like justice denied, so it is better to act swiftly and have the first-mover advantage."

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Congress state units already have legal cells, but this initiative is expected to be extended to the districts and down to the grassroots, ensuring every Congress worker can access legal aid without delay. Many party workers are currently battling legal cases or facing what the Congress alleges are false charges, and a dedicated legal aid unit would provide swift and methodical relief. The larger goal, insiders say, is to build a stronger legal team within the party and fight for justice for the people.

Rahul Gandhi had also pointed to the BJPs alleged targeting of specific constituencies, with particular focus on the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, where Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan lost by just 32,707 votes to the BJPs three-time MP PC Mohan. The Congress alleged major fraudulent activities, including fake votes" to a scale of close to 1 lakh in one constituency itself, played a role in the defeat of the partys candidate and believes the legal bank will be a tool to fight such cases in the future.

About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More

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First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:30 IST

News politics Vote Theft Protest Rally: DK Shivakumar Seconds Rahul Gandhis Legal Bank Proposal

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A 62-Year-Old Man's Affair With His Daughter-in-Law Ended With A Murder Attempt. Here's Why

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 11:05 IST

Mark Gibbon, 62, from USA, began dating his exdaughter-in-law Jasmine Wilde, 33, after her 2021 divorce from his son. He later split from his wife and moved into an 800,000 home

Gibbon and Jasmine had been in a relationship for two years, often holidaying together. (News18 Hindi)

Some relationships defy social norms, leaving people shocked and full of questions, especially when they resemble a real-life episode of Crime Patrol.

One such disturbing incident has emerged from Florida, USA, where a 62-year-old father-in-law allegedly tried to kill his 33-year-old daughter-in-law after a two-year secret romance. Both had left their respective partners to be together, but a dispute over a will escalated into violence.

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According to the Daily Star, Mark Gibbon, began a romantic relationship with his daughter-in-law, Jasmine Wilde, after she divorced his son Alex, 34, in 2021. They holidayed together and kept their relationship hidden from most of the family. Gibbon also divorced his wife and moved into an 800,000 home alone.

The relationship caused deep rifts as Alex and his father had long-standing tensions. Alex was jailed last year for driving his car into Gibbon. A family source revealed that Alex felt betrayed when he discovered the affair.

The latest incident unfolded at the Solterra Resort near Disney World, where Gibbon and Jasmine were staying with their children. Police say the pair began arguing near the pool over Gibbons will. According to the police, Gibbon allegedly forced Jasmines head underwater multiple times, leaving her unable to breathe.

When Jasmine tried to escape, he allegedly pushed her back into the pool repeatedly. Her nine-year-old daughter attempted to intervene but was pushed away. Jasmine eventually called for help from two women nearby, who threatened to call 911. Gibbon reportedly stopped only then.

Police arrested Gibbon on charges of attempted murder and two counts of battery. Officers were initially told there was no romantic involvement, but later, family sources confirmed the pair had been secretly dating for two years.

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Jasmine claimed tensions had grown recently because she was upset her name was not in Gibbons will. Gibbon admitted to dunking her head underwater but denied wanting to kill her, claiming they were drunk and the fight began after she slapped him.

Gibbon, a lighting technician by profession, has worked with artists including Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Paloma Faith.

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Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 11:05 IST

News viral A 62-Year-Old Man's Affair With His Daughter-in-Law Ended With A Murder Attempt. Here's Why

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Lynas Rare Earths ADR (OTCMKTS:LYSDY) is one of the best rare earth stocks to buy now. On July 25, JPMorgan upgraded the stock to a Neutral from an Underweight and increased its price target to AUD10.00 from AUD4.90. The adjustment follows the companys delivery of solid quarterly results, which affirmed robust production.

Lynas Rare Earths ADR (LYSDY) Upgraded to a Neural at JPMorgan

The company produced 2.1kt of NdPr oxide, exceeding JPMorgans forecast by 22%. The average basket selling price was $60 per kg, outperforming estimates by 22%. The higher price tag offset high production costs and capital expenditure.

In addition, JPMorgan is buoyed by Lynas Rare Earths inking a non-binding memorandum of understanding with JS Link for the supply of rare earth metals to be used for magnet production in Malaysia.

Lynas Rare Earths ADR (OTCMKTS:LYSDY) is a company that mines and processes rare earth materials, essential components for various high-tech and green technologies. It extracts rare earth minerals from its Mt Weld mine in Western Australia and processes them at its facilities in Malaysia and Kalgoorlie.

While we acknowledge the potential of LYSDY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: Top 10 Materials Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Best Organic Food and Farming Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Do You Know Nalandas Chinese Baba, Who Has Devotees From Vietnam, Thailand & US?

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 12:21 IST

Dr Panyalinkara, renowned as Nalandas Chinese Baba, arrived in India in 1981 for higher studies and earned his doctorate in Pali from Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in 1983

Monks from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka gathered in Nalanda to pay tribute to the Chinese Baba on his death anniversary. (Local18)

A monk from China who made Nalanda his home went on to become a guiding light for thousands. Known fondly as the Chinese Baba, Dr Yu Panyalinkaras life was one of service, compassion, and dedication to the spread of Buddhism. On his third death anniversary, Nalanda remembered the man who bridged cultures and touched countless lives.

Bihars Nalandas revered Chinese Baba, Dr Yu Panyalinkara, made this historic land his karmabhoomi in 1981, devoting himself to serving the poor, promoting Buddhism, and fostering international harmony. On his death anniversary, monks from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka gather in Nalanda to pay tribute to their Guru and share stories of his tireless service.

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For decades, the Buddhist Chinese Temple in Nalanda has been a centre of faith for devotees and tourists alike, drawing monks and visitors from across India and the world. On this special occasion, the temple once again became a hub of prayers, memories, and gratitude for a spiritual leader whose life touched thousands.

Dr Panyalinkara first arrived in India in 1981 for higher studies and earned his doctorate in the Pali language from Nava Nalanda Mahavihara in 1983. After obtaining Indian citizenship in 2002, he made Nalanda his permanent home, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to social and spiritual causes.

Affectionately called the Chinese Baba, he helped anyone in need, whether poor, sick, or facing personal hardships. His compassion drew people from all walks of life, from politicians and social workers to ordinary citizens, all of whom maintained a deep bond with him.

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In 2009, the Government of Myanmar honoured him with the rare and prestigious Highest Degree in Religion for his extraordinary contributions to social service and the propagation of Buddhism. His vision helped place Nalanda firmly on the global map of Buddhist pilgrimage.

Even today, thousands of devotees and foreign tourists visit Nalanda each year, inspired by Dr Panyalinkaras enduring legacy, a reminder of how one persons unwavering service can leave an indelible mark on both people and place.

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Location : Nalanda, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 12:21 IST

News viral Do You Know Nalandas Chinese Baba, Who Has Devotees From Vietnam, Thailand & US?

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Father Of Pahalgam Attack Victim Meets Premanand Maharaj, Seeks Spiritual Solace

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 16:23 IST

Premanand Maharaj empathised with their sorrow, saying losing a son is the greatest pain, like King Dasharaths grief for Lord Rama in the Ramayana

Premanand Maharaj recommended Naam Jap, advising the family to remember and meditate on God to alleviate their sorrow. (Local18)

The family of Shubham Dwivedi, who was tragically killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, made an emotional visit to Vrindavan to meet Saint Premanand Maharaj. Shubhams wife Aishanya, father Sanjay Dwivedi, and mother were present during the heartfelt meeting.

The family sought blessings from Maharaj and shared their sorrow, reflecting on their loss. Reports indicated that Shubhams father wondered why the tragedy happened despite his sons strong faith. Premanand Maharaj offered comforting words, explaining that such events are part of Gods plan.

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The meeting lasted about 10 minutes. Sources said that Aishanya, moved by memories of her husband, became emotional. The family reportedly recounted the details of the attack, explaining how terrorists killed Shubham after questioning his religion during their holiday in Pahalgam in April.

Reports suggested that Premanand Maharaj empathised with their sorrow, acknowledging that the separation from a son or loved one is the greatest agony, drawing parallels to King Dasharaths grief for Lord Rama in the Ramayana.

According to the reports, Maharaj emphasised that Shubhams death is a significant loss but also part of divine law that must be accepted. He shared that the incident had distressed him for days and, now, recalling the scene brought back the pain. He explained that birth and death are predetermined, and Shubhams passing was inevitable according to destiny. Accepting this truth, he said, is essential for finding peace.

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To provide mental strength, Premanand Maharaj recommended Naam Jap, advising the family to remember and meditate on God to alleviate their sorrow. His comforting words reportedly brought tears to their eyes but also instilled a sense of spiritual peace.

According to reports, the visit to Vrindavan was a quest for mental support and spiritual solace for Shubhams family. The blessings of the saint reportedly offered them some relief, and they returned with renewed hope, determined to live their lives with patience and faith while cherishing Shubhams memory.

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Location : Vrindavan, India, India

First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:23 IST

News viral Father Of Pahalgam Attack Victim Meets Premanand Maharaj, Seeks Spiritual Solace

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Armenia, Azerbaijan Join Pakistan In Endorsing Trump For Nobel Prize After Peace Accord

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 07:30 IST

With Armenia and Azerbaijan, five countries have now publicly endorsed US President Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.

US President Donald Trump | Image: AP

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev on Friday proposed a joint initiative with Armenia to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, following the signing of an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict between the two nations.

So maybe we agree with Prime Minister (Nikol) Pashinyan to send a joint appeal to the Nobel committee to award President Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize," Aliyev said during an event at the White House.

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan supported the proposal, saying: I think President Trump deserves to have the Nobel Peace Prize and we will promote that."

With this development, five countries have now publicly endorsed Trump for the award.

Pakistan was the first to make such a call, crediting him for helping broker what Islamabad described as a ceasefire with India.

However, New Delhi has strongly rejected the claims that America was involved in the May 10 ceasefire development following Operation Sindoor.

Israel also extended its support, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handing Trump a letter addressed to the Nobel committee during his visit to Washington, formalising Tel Avivs backing.

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Cambodia voiced its endorsement after the US mediated a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, which followed five days of hostilities.

Azerbaijan and Armenias endorsement comes days after they signed a peace accord at the White House, a deal the leaders say could pave the way for lasting peace between the longtime rivals.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 07:29 IST

News world Armenia, Azerbaijan Join Pakistan In Endorsing Trump For Nobel Prize After Peace Accord

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'Assault On Equality, Human Dignity': Ireland Condemns Attack On Indian Citizens

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News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 08:24 IST

The embassy emphasised that racism and xenophobia have no place in Irish society, stating that the actions of a few individuals do not represent the values of the Irish people.

The Garda (Police) in Ireland. (Reuters/Representative Image)

The Irish Embassy in New Delhi has condemned the attack on Indian citizens in Ireland and informed that the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs will meet the representatives of the Indian community on August 11.

We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. They are an assault on the values of equality and human dignity that Ireland holds dear," said an official statement from the Embassy.

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While the embassy noted that there is no place for racism and xenophobia in Irish society, it also maintained that the actions of the few do not reflect the spirit of the Irish people and will not be tolerated.

It further noted the contribution of the Indian community and stated that more than 1,00,000 Indians call Ireland their home.

Our society is enriched by the diversity of people who live in Ireland, particularly our Indian community, whose contributions continue to deepen the bonds between our nations," it said.

The Embassy is in regular contact with the Indian mission in Dublin, and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is in ongoing contact with An Garda Siochana, Irelands police force, regarding investigations. The Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs will be meeting with representatives of the Indian community in Ireland on Monday, 11 August", the post further added.

Statement from Embassy New Delhi  pic.twitter.com/ouARR4ILPV  Irish Embassy India (@IrlEmbIndia) August 8, 2025

Meanwhile, recently, there has been a rise in physical attacks against Indian citizens in the country. The Indian Embassy in Ireland had asked its citizens to take precautions and be aware of their surroundings for their personal security on August 1.

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According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ireland has emerged as a key destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, especially at the postgraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels. Fields such as engineering, technology, medicine, and management are particularly popular. Currently, approximately 10,000 Indian students are enrolled in educational institutions across Ireland.

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her... Read More Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:24 IST

News world 'Assault On Equality, Human Dignity': Ireland Condemns Attack On Indian Citizens

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China's Wang Yi To Visit Pakistan This Month Amid Islamabad's 'Deepening Bond' With US | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 15:08 IST

The dialogue will cover updates on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, joint security cooperation, regional stability & expansion of defence exchange programmes

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will embark on a two-day visit to Pakistan later this month to attend the annual Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, a key diplomatic forum aimed at reviewing progress on flagship projects and strengthening bilateral cooperation across economic, defence, and security domains. The meetings are scheduled for August 2021 in Islamabad and come at a time of shifting regional alliances and heightened geopolitical sensitivities.

During his stay, Wang Yi will hold separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. Sources within Pakistans foreign ministry told CNN-News18 that the dialogue will cover a broad agenda, including updates on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), joint security cooperation mechanisms, strategic depth assessments, regional stability, and the expansion of defence exchange programmes.

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The visit will mark Wang Yis first trip to Pakistan since the recent flare-up in Pakistan-India tensions. Sources believe the evolving nature of Pakistans relations with Washington, which have shown signs of deepening in recent months, could feature as a notable undercurrent in the discussions. Beijing is expected to seek reassurances that its strategic and economic footprint in Pakistan remains firmly anchored despite Islamabads growing outreach to the United States.

Beyond bilateral priorities, the dialogue will also address broader regional concerns. Officials familiar with the planning revealed to CNN-News18 that after the Islamabad meetings, senior figures from both countries may jointly travel to Kabul for consultations with the Afghan leadership. The focus would be on fostering economic connectivity and enhancing cooperation on cross-border security, particularly in the wake of increased militant activity in border regions.

The timing of Wang Yis visit is seen as part of a broader sequence of high-level engagements between the two countries. Shortly after the dialogue, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to China on August 29/30 for a bilateral visit and to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. In Beijing, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, investment, infrastructure development, and regional integration initiatives.

Sources say the back-to-back visits are critical for reaffirming the strength of the Pakistan-China partnership. They come as Islamabad faces mounting economic challenges, seeks to accelerate delayed CPEC projects, and navigates an increasingly complex regional environment marked by security volatility and shifting global alliances.

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The Islamabad dialogue will likely serve as a platform for both countries to recalibrate their strategies in light of emerging connectivity opportunities in Central Asia, the evolving Afghan situation, and the need to safeguard CPEC investments from security threats. The meetings are also expected to highlight Beijings continuing role as Pakistans principal development partner, even as Islamabad works to balance its relations with other global powers.

With CPEC projects entering a new phase focused on industrial cooperation, energy diversification, and socio-economic development, both sides are expected to use the upcoming dialogue to set concrete timelines for project execution and review security arrangements for Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: August 09, 2025, 15:08 IST

News world China's Wang Yi To Visit Pakistan This Month Amid Islamabad's 'Deepening Bond' With US | Exclusive

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Comedian Jimmy Fallon Makes Fun Of Trumps Tariff Move Against India, Jokes About Putin

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 08:40 IST

Fallon mentioned India among other countries as Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on New Delhi in response to its refusal to halt oil imports from long-time ally Russia.

American Comedian Jimmy Fallon and US President Donald Trump | File Images: X

American comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon once again mixed politics with punchlines, this time targeting US President Donald Trumps latest tariff move against India, all while taking a jab at Russias Vladimir Putin.

On The Tonight Show, Fallon told viewers, Today, more of President Trumps tariffs hit over 90 countries, including Canada, Brazil, and India. The only places Trump didnt charge are North Korea and Epsteins island."

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The remark referenced the recent Wall Street Journal expose, linking Trump to the disgraced financier.

The outlet ran a story claiming the president had signed a birthday letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump denied sending the letter and filed a lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, the Wall Street Journal, and NewsCorp, alleging the report was based on sources that dont even exist."

As the case moves through the court, the president has continued to push back against criticism from the publication.

Fallon mentioned India among other countries as Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on New Delhi in response to its refusal to halt oil imports from long-time ally Russia.

That lumps India in with Brazil, already battling a 50 per cent US tariff. Notably, both India and Brazil held talks to discuss future trade strategies amid tariff threats.

Fallon, riffing on Brazils trade woes, quipped about rising fruit prices and even toilet paper shortages, joking that desperate shoppers might resort to using long CVS receipts" instead.

The comedian also poked fun at Trumps claim he would give Russia a deadline to end the Ukraine war, delivering the punchline: Right under building a new ballroom to meet Sydney Sweeney."

He then imagined world leaders reacting to Trumps possible meeting with Putin: Oo, youre in trouble."

The Kremlin has consistently rejected the proposal to meet Trump alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Thursday, it reportedly said a USRussia summit would take place only if Zelenskyy were not present.

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Fallons blend of satire and celebrity gossip is a staple of his show.

Priyanka Chopra has been among the Indian stars to mark her presence on his worldwide popular show, though on this occasion, it was Indias trade policy  and its oil ties with Moscow  that put the country squarely in Fallons comedic crosshairs.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:40 IST

News world Comedian Jimmy Fallon Makes Fun Of Trumps Tariff Move Against India, Jokes About Putin

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Ex-NSA Warns Trump Against Levying Tariffs On India, Says Could Push Delhi Towards

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 13:38 IST

Trump's 50% tariffs on India have raised fears in American analysts that this could push New Delhi towards Moscow and Beijing.

India-US tensions: John Bolton criticises Trump's tariffs on India (AP Image)

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has issued a warning to Donald Trump over his 50% tariffs on India, stating that even though they are meant to hurt Russia, but they may have an opposite impact, pushing New Delhi closer to Moscow and Beijing.

Trumps tariffs against India are intended to hurt Russia but they could push India closer to Russia and to China to oppose these tariffs," John Bolton said in an interview with CNN.

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He flagged Trumps leniency" on China and heavy-handed tariffs" on India, cautioning that they could jeopardise decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China".

In an opinion piece in The Hill, Bolton said that Trump giving a pass to China for the same thing he imposed tariffs on India  for Russian oil purchase  is an enormous mistake and entirely counterproductive for America".

He said that tariffs on India do not go in line with the US long-term geopolitical objectives, as his administration was levying tariffs on friend and foe alike", which has resulted in loss of trust between New Delhi and Washington.

Unfortunately, based on international reactions so far, the U.S. by levying tariffs on friend and foe alike has likely suffered a considerable loss of trust and confidence, built up over decades of effort, in exchange for minimal economic gains  if any  and the risk of formidable losses," he wrote.

He said that the Trump administration seems headed towards more lenient treatment for Beijing on tariff rates and other metrics than it imposed on New Delhi".

He mentioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents remark that the deadline for China could be extended beyond August 12 if negotiations were well on track.

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He also expressed his apprehension that if China secured a better trade deal with the US, it could lead to resentment in India, whose negotiations were paused by Trump.

China runs a significantly larger trade surplus with the U.S. than does India. Washington has also long complained about Chinese trade practices, which include stealing intellectual property, unfairly subsidizing its international companies and denying access to Chinas domestic market, contrary to repeated commitments," Bolton said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 13:36 IST

News world Ex-NSA Warns Trump Against Levying Tariffs On India, Says Could Push Delhi Towards

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India A Soft Target In Trump's Negotiations With Putin: Former Singapore Foreign Minister | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 16:31 IST

George Yeo Yong-Boon also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'strong leader' who has 'done a lot of good work for India'

Yeo also shared his desire for India to 'take a stronger position on Gaza', a stance he qualified by noting his understanding of why India, much like China, has chosen not to get involved in the Ukraine conflict. File image/X

Former foreign minister of Singapore George Yeo Yong-Boon offered a nuanced perspective on current global geopolitics in an interview with CNN-News18 on Saturday, cautioning that negotiations for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine have reached a crucial point. Yeo highlighted the unpredictable nature of Donald Trumps foreign policy, stating that the US President wants to maximise his leverage in negotiation with Putin".

In this high-stakes dynamic, the minister warned that India is a soft target", due to its important but sometimes challenging relationship with the United States. He noted that Trumps tendency to change his mind all the time" makes a firm and united stance from India essential, even as he acknowledged the paramount importance of Indias relationship with the US.

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Pivoting to Indias domestic political landscape, the former minister offered high praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described Modi as a strong leader" who has done a lot of good work for India". The minister went on to underscore that Indias vast and diverse nature necessitates strong leadership, without which the country would be scattered all over the place". Expressing a deep respect for Modi, he added that the Indian Prime Minister is a good friend of Singapore".

On regional and international matters, the former minister expressed his hope that Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping could find a common ground to the path of normalisation" for their bilateral relationship. He also shared his desire for India to take a stronger position on Gaza", a stance he qualified by noting his understanding of why India, much like China, has chosen not to get involved in the Ukraine conflict. Yeo also expressed his happiness to see India doing well under the strong leadership of PM Modi".

About the Author Anand Narasimhan Anand Narasimhan is Managing Editor, Special Projects and senior anchor at CNN-News18. He writes extensively on Indian politics and sports. He tweets at @AnchorAnandN. Anand Narasimhan is Managing Editor, Special Projects and senior anchor at CNN-News18. He writes extensively on Indian politics and sports. He tweets at @AnchorAnandN.

First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:31 IST

News world India A Soft Target In Trump's Negotiations With Putin: Former Singapore Foreign Minister | Exclusive

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India's Envoy Vinay Kwatra Speaks To US Senator Lindsey Graham Over Energy Security

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 23:07 IST

India's Ambassador Vinay Kwatra discussed energy security and trade with US Senator Lindsey Graham, who warned of tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, including India.

It is noteworthy that Graham was one of the Senators who had issued warnings to countries doing business with Russia (File)

Indias Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, held a conversation with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday and shared New Delhis perspective on energy security and national interests.

Kwatra also said that he held a discussion with Graham on increasing energy trade with Washington.

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Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security, including increasing energy trade with the United States," the Indian envoy said in a post on X.

Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security including increasing energy trade with the United States. Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra (@AmbVMKwatra) August 9, 2025

It is noteworthy that Graham was one of the Senators who had issued warnings to countries doing business with Russia that US President Donald Trump would impose massive tariffs on their goods.

In an interview with Fox News, the US senator had said, Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oilChina, India, and Brazil," arguing that the countries were helping fund the war in Ukraine as they accounted for around 80 per cent of Russias crude exports.

If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you. And were going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money," he added.

His warning had come weeks before Trumps 25% reciprocal tariff announcement for India. The US President intensified his tirade against New Delhi later, with an additional 25% tariff announcement for buying Russian oil. While the reciprocal tariffs have come into force, the additional duties will take effect starting August 27.

Meanwhile, India has defended its 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.

It further asserted that the country will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

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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.

The MEA termed the levies as unjustified and unreasonable" and called out the double standards of the United States and the European Union over their trade ties with Russia. The statement highlighted that the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 23:07 IST

News world India's Envoy Vinay Kwatra Speaks To US Senator Lindsey Graham Over Energy Security

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Pakistan Airports Authority Suffers Rs 4 Billion Loss After Airspace Closure To India: Report

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 10:46 IST

The move disrupted 100150 Indian flights daily, leading to a 20 per cent drop in total air traffic and reduced income from overflying fees

(Representative image / PTI)

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) reported a loss of Rs 4.10 billion due to the closure of airspace to India between April 24 and June 20, 2025, according to reports.

The move disrupted 100150 Indian flights daily, leading to a 20 per cent drop in total air traffic and reduced income from overflying fees, reported Dawn, citing information presented by the Pakistani Defence Ministry to the National Assembly.

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Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said the revenue shortfall from April 24 to June 30 was related to overflying charges and was lower than the earlier reported figure of Rs 8.5 billion.

He noted that the decision of airspace closure came after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, in the diplomatic escalation following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan extended by one month the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft till August 24, 2025, according to officials.

In a tit-for-tat move, India also extended its ban on Pakistani aircraft entering domestic airspace until August 23, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said.

He confirmed that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting Pakistani flights over India has been officially prolonged, citing ongoing strategic considerations and adherence to current security protocols.

The Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkars offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.

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Before launching Operation Sindoor on May 7, India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including downgrading diplomatic relations, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and imposing a complete ban on trade  covering both direct and indirect imports and exports.

In retaliation for Indias diplomatic measures, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian flights  a move that has now reportedly cost the Pakistani government billions in losses.

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: August 09, 2025, 10:39 IST

News world Pakistan Airports Authority Suffers Rs 4 Billion Loss After Airspace Closure To India: Report

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By Chandni Shah and Surbhi Misra

(Reuters) -Meta has tapped U.S. bond giant PIMCO and alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital to spearhead a $29 billion financing for its data center expansion in rural Louisiana, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

PIMCO will handle about $26 billion of debt, likely to be issued in the form of bonds, while Blue Owl will contribute $3 billion in equity, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bloomberg News, which first reported the deal, said that the company has been working with Morgan Stanley to raise funds, while Apollo Global Management and KKR were also in the running to lead the deal until the closing stage of negotiations.

Meta, PIMCO and Blue Owl declined to comment on the report.

The deal comes as Meta looks for partners to help fund its AI infrastructure push. Last week, the company said in a filing that it planned to offload about $2 billion in data center assets as part of a co-development strategy to share the costs of building facilities for generative AI.

In July, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company would spend hundreds of billions of dollars to build several massive AI data centers for its superintelligence unit, intensifying his pursuit of a technology he has chased with a talent war for top engineers.

Its first multi-gigawatt data center, dubbed Prometheus, is expected to come online in 2026, while another, called Hyperion, will be able to scale up to 5 GW over the coming years, Zuckerberg said in a post last month on his Threads social media platform.

In June, the Financial Times reported that Meta was seeking to raise $29 billion from private capital firms to build AI data centers in the U.S., adding that the company is debating how to structure the debt raise and is also evaluating options to raise more capital.

(Reporting by Surbhi Misra and Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Sonia Cheema)
Trump Again Claims Credit For India-Pakistan Ceasefire At Signing Of Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Pact

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 10, 2025, 04:22 IST

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Saturday that the decision to implement a ceasefire was a unilateral move by India, not the result of any external mediation

Speaking at a trilateral signing ceremony of a peace pledge with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House, Trump also claimed that 'five or six planes' were shot down during the India-Pakistan conflict. (Image: Twitter/Azerbaijan MFA)

US President Donald Trump has again claimed that he intervened in the India-Pakistan conflict in May to prevent a nuclear escalation, asserting that he got things settled" between the two nations. Speaking at a trilateral signing ceremony of a peace pledge with the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House, Trump also claimed that five or six planes" were shot down during the conflict.

After the signing of the accords, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan also stated that they would nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for the historic agreement.

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Speaking at the ceremony alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump said, Todays signing follows our success with India and Pakistan. They were going at it. They were going at it big. And they were great leaders that came together just prior to what would have been a tremendous conflict, as you know, a nuclear conflict probably."

This is not the first instance where Trump has claimed credit for brokering a truce between India and Pakistan. He has been making such statements since May 10, when hostilities between the two countries calmed down. Indian officials have repeatedly rejected these claims.

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Air Chief Marshal AP Singh confirmed on Saturday that the decision to implement a ceasefire was a unilateral move by India, not the result of any external mediation. During a lecture in Bengaluru, the Air Chief stated that the conflict was a high-tech war" that had inflicted so much damage on Pakistans military infrastructure within just 80 to 90 hours that the adversary was compelled to seek a truce. They came forward and sent a message to our DGMO that they wanted to talk," he said, confirming that the ceasefire was a result of Pakistans military leadership initiating backchannel de-escalation.

He also confirmed that the Indian Air Force shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets and one large aircraft, in addition to damaging key airbases and command centres. The military objectives achieved during this short, decisive operational window forced Pakistan to its knees, indicating that India halted the conflict by choice, not compulsion.

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 10, 2025, 04:22 IST

News world Trump Again Claims Credit For India-Pakistan Ceasefire At Signing Of Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Pact

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Trump To Meet Putin In Alaska On August 15 To Discuss High-Stakes Ukraine Peace Deal

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 07:02 IST

This announcement brings an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the venue for the high-level talks.

This would be Trump's first meet with Putin since coming to power for the second presidential term

US President Donald Trump has officially confirmed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place next week. In a Truth Social post shared on Friday, Trump announced that the two leaders will meet on August 15, 2025, in Alaska, to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote in his post.

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This announcement brings an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the venue for the high-level talks. The confirmation of Alaska as the location comes just days after reports that President Putin had shown interest in holding the summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, the US administration appears to have pushed for a domestic location, citing security and diplomatic considerations.

The upcoming summit marks Trumps first official meeting with Putin since beginning his second term in office in January 2025. It will also be the first formal US-Russia presidential meet since June 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva, Switzerland.

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The Alaska meeting is expected to focus heavily on the Ukraine conflict, which has entered its fourth year and remains one of the most pressing international crises. US officials have not yet released details on the agenda or which aides will accompany President Trump during the discussions.

More updates are expected in the coming days as final preparations are made.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 04:25 IST

News world Trump To Meet Putin In Alaska On August 15 To Discuss High-Stakes Ukraine Peace Deal

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Trump Hints At 'Swapping Of Territories' Between Ukraine And Russia Ahead Of Alaska Talks

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 09:10 IST

Trump said a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would include territorial exchanges, as he confirmed upcoming talks with Russia's Putin on August 15 in Alaska.

Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy (Reuters Image)

US President Donald Trump on Friday said a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine would include territorial exchanges, as he confirmed that face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled for August 15 in Alaska.

But were gonna get some (territory) back. Were gonna get some switched. Therell be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both," Trump said, without offering further details on which regions could be affected.

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Trump said that he planned to meet the Russian president next Friday in Alaska in a Truth Social post.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Notably, the Kremlin consistently rejected the proposal to meet Trump alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

US envoy Steve Witkoff had suggested holding a three-way meeting involving Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the Kremlin did not respond to the proposal, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

He added that Moscow was focusing on preparations for a bilateral meeting with Trump in the first place."

Putin stated he is not planning to meet Zelenskyy, while the Kremlin maintains that preparations are ongoing for next weeks bilateral summit with Trump.

The planned summit will be Trumps first official meeting with Putin since starting his second term in January 2025, and the first formal USRussia presidential encounter since June 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

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Trumps remarks followed comments from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who suggested a pause in the war could be approaching. Tusk said this assessment came after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has recently been in contact with Trump and other European leaders.

There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict  I dont want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict  is closer than it is further away," Tusk told reporters. There are hopes for this."

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 08:52 IST

News world Trump Hints At 'Swapping Of Territories' Between Ukraine And Russia Ahead Of Alaska Talks

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Why Alaska Was Chosen For Trump-Putin Meeting And The Legal Issues They Sought To Avoid

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 16:56 IST

As the only US state with Arctic territory, Alaska is key to US Arctic policy amid climate change opening new shipping routes and resource exploration opportunities

Addressing reporters at the White House, Donald Trump hinted that the agreement would involve the exchange of some land. (AP/File)

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump announced this anticipated meeting via social media on Friday, mentioning that all parties, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are nearing a ceasefire agreement.

This meeting could potentially resolve the conflict that has been ongoing for three and a half years, although Ukraine might have to cede significant territory. The exact location in Alaska for the Trump-Putin meeting has not been disclosed yet.

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This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump returned to the White House earlier this year, and the first time the two leaders will convene on American soil. This summit is expected to be a pivotal moment not only for the prolonged conflict but also for US-Russia relations and Alaskas legacy as a bridge between the two nations.

Perspectives From All Three Parties

Addressing reporters at the White House, Trump hinted that the agreement would involve the exchange of some land. He stated, There will be a swap of some territories in the interest of both." However, President Zelensky asserted that Ukraine cannot violate its constitution regarding territorial issues, saying, The Ukrainian people will not gift their land to the occupiers." Meanwhile, Putins aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned that the leaders will focus on discussing options for a long-term peaceful solution to the Ukrainian crisis."

Why Was Alaska Selected As The Meeting Location?

According to a report by Firstpost, Putins decision to choose Alaska as the meeting venue avoids legal complications that could arise if he visited a member state of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Putin concerning alleged war crimes in Ukraine, meaning member countries would be obligated to detain him if he enters their territory. Since the US is not a member of the ICC and does not recognise its jurisdiction, it eliminates the legal responsibility of arresting Putin.

Geographical Practicality

Alaskas geographical location also made it a practical option for the meeting. The states mainland is only 88 kilometres (55 miles) from Russia, across the Bering Strait, with some smaller islands even closer. Despite the Kremlins earlier proposals for other locations, including the United Arab Emirates, Trump confirmed in his announcement that he would host Putin in Alaska.

Russia Previously Controlled Alaska

Alaskas relationship with Russia dates back more than two centuries. The Russian Empire explored parts of the region in the 18th century and began settling there. They established fur trade posts and expanded their presence across the Bering Sea. On March 30, 1867, the US and Russia signed the annexation treaty, transferring Alaska to the US for $7.2 million, approximately two cents per acre. This agreement ended Russias 125-year presence in North America.

For the US, acquiring Alaska was motivated by both economic and strategic interests. Officials considered Alaska rich in natural resources, including gold, fur, fisheries, and later petroleum. The US envisioned it as a potential gateway for trade with East Asia. Over the years, immense wealth was generated from resources extracted from the region, ranging from whale oil and fur in the 19th century to copper, gold, timber, fish, platinum, zinc, lead, and petroleum in subsequent decades. Today, Alaska still boasts abundant oil reserves.

When Did Alaska Become A US State?

Alaska became the 49th US state in 1959 when President Dwight D Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act, granting the state control over more than 104 million acres of land. However, the law required citizens of the new state to relinquish claims to land under native ownership, a controversial provision given the longstanding claims by Alaska Natives (who numbered about 75,000 at the time).

In 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, resolving these disputes by transferring 44 million acres of land and providing $1 billion to Alaska Natives. Today, the states population is approximately 740,000, including about 120,000 indigenous residents.

Why Is Alaskas Location Important?

Alaskas location makes it a crucial asset in the US defence strategy. The state hosts major US military installations, including Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage and Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks. As the only US state with territory in the Arctic, Alaska plays a central role in US Arctic policy, especially as climate change opens new shipping routes and resource exploration opportunities. This connection to the Arctic makes Alaska a natural choice for high-level discussions on global security, commerce, and environmental concerns.

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Historical Diplomatic Meetings

Although the upcoming August 15 summit will be historic, Alaska has previously hosted significant international diplomacy. In March 2021, senior officials from President Joe Bidens administration met top Chinese officials in Anchorage, resulting in a public clash over policies that heightened bilateral tensions. In 1984, Pope John Paul II met with President Ronald Reagan in Alaska, and in 1971, Nixon met the Emperor of Japan there.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 09, 2025, 16:56 IST

News world Why Alaska Was Chosen For Trump-Putin Meeting And The Legal Issues They Sought To Avoid

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Will Soon Be Safest: Trump Announces He'll Hold Presser Over Crime In Washington DC On Monday

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 10, 2025, 00:03 IST

President Trump announced a Monday press conference to address violent crime in DC, suggesting the use of the National Guard and control of the city's police force.

US President Donald Trump (Reuters Image)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that a press conference would be held at the White House on Monday to address the increasing crime incidents in Washington, DC.

In a post on Truth Social, the US President claimed that Mondays presser would end violent crime in the capital city.

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On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT," Trump posted on Truth Social.

The announcement came days after Trump said that he may use the National Guard to police the streets of Washington, DC.

Trump said the ramp-up of security would last for seven days, with the option to extend as needed." On Wednesday, Trump threatened to take charge of the citys police force following an attempted hijacking in which an administration staffer was injured.

Mondays press conference is expected to outline the administrations plans to address violent crime in the capital.

Last week, a US government official was assaulted by a group of teenagers. Police have detained two 15-year-olds and have said theyre still looking for other members of the group.

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On May 21, 2025, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum during a reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee. The suspect was held at the spot and charged with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offences.

On July 4, 2025, a 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Representative Ron Estes (R-KS), was killed in a drive-by shooting in Northeast D.C.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: August 10, 2025, 00:01 IST

News world Will Soon Be Safest: Trump Announces He'll Hold Presser Over Crime In Washington DC On Monday

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Zelenskyy Warns Against 'Decisions Without Ukraine' Ahead Of US-Russia Summit In Alaska

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: August 09, 2025, 17:24 IST

President Donald Trump, earlier, indicated that a potential peace agreement with Russia could include territorial exchanges.

A file photo of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a firm warning that any peace agreement between the US and Russia excluding Ukraine would be ineffective and illegitimate. His remarks came ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

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In a televised address posted on Telegram on August 9, 2025, he asserted that solutions that are without Ukraine are, at the same time, solutions against peace," calling them dead solutions" that will never work." He added that Ukrainian constitutional integrity must be respected and emphasized that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," reported the Associated Press.

Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we all need real and genuine peace. Peace that people will respect," he said.

Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we pic.twitter.com/JFg0rIeLzP Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 9, 2025

Putin did not believe in our people and therefore made the hopeless decision to try to take Ukraine. This was his main mistakenot taking Ukrainians into account," Zelenskyy added. Of course, we will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated. The Ukrainian people deserve peace. But all partners must understand what a dignified peace is."

Wont Give Land To Occupier

The President said Ukraine will not gift their land to the occupier" and stressed that his government was ready to work with Trump and other partners for a lasting peace.

Earlier, the Ukrainian officials told AP that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognise Ukraines inability to regain lost territories militarily.

This came after US President Donald Trump said he will meet with Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump indicated that a potential peace agreement with Russia could include territorial exchanges. There will be some exchange of territories in a way that benefits both sides," he stated.

However, a day later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected any such idea and stressed that Ukraines constitution prohibits ceding territory. Ukrainians will not hand over their land to the occupiers," he declared.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin officially confirmed the upcoming summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska," Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlins news channel.

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According to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the two leaders will concentrate on exploring paths toward a lasting resolution of the war in Ukraine.

About the Author Anushka Vats Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her... Read More Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her... Read More

First Published: August 09, 2025, 14:32 IST

News world Zelenskyy Warns Against 'Decisions Without Ukraine' Ahead Of US-Russia Summit In Alaska

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Minerva Foods, one of Brazils largest meat processors, has quantified the potential impact on revenue from President Donald Trumps tariffs.

Trump exercised his pledge made in July on Wednesday (6 August) to raise import tariffs on Brazilian goods to 50% from 10%, prompting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to request talks with the World Trade Organization.

While some Brazilian products are exempt from the US import levies, meat, poultry and coffee are not.

The same day those increased tariffs went into effect, Minerva Foods issued its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results.

The meat giant said in an accompanying presentation that the impact would amount to an estimated 5% of its net revenue, which based on the full-year 2024 results would equate to around 1.71bn reais ($314.6m), in historical terms.

Minerva Foods booked revenue in 2024 of 34.1bn reais.

Based on the results of the last 12 months, the companys consolidated exposure to the US market accounted for approximately 16% of revenue, with Brazil representing around 30% of that exposure, the company said on Wednesday.

Therefore, Brazilian exports subject to the new tariff policy may have a maximum potential impact estimated 5% of net revenue.

However, Minerva Foods explained it may have a certain element of leverage due to its geographical diversity in meat supply to the US.

The company hereby announces that it accesses the US market through its operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Australia.

It is worth noting that, in line with our geographic diversification strategy, exposure to the US market also takes place through our operations in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Australia, allowing the company to maximise its ability to arbitrate between markets, reduce risks, leverage opportunities, and respond efficiently to scenario changes such as this one.

The Brazilian president said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday that he saw no room for direct talks with Trump at present, in what would amount to a "humiliation".

Lula described US-Brazil relations at a 200-year nadir after Trump tied the new tariff to his demands for an end to the prosecution of right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is standing trial for plotting to overturn the 2022 election, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Minerva Foods said it posted revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 of 13.9bn reais, an 81.6% increase from a year earlier.

The company confirmed in its results presentation that it concluded the acquisition in October of assets in Brazil, Argentina and Chile from meat rival Marfrig Global Foods.
A new slur is making the rounds, with a twist: "Clanker" is reserved for robots. As NBC News reports, the term saw a spike on Google Trends in June, thanks in part to a slew of TikTok videos using the term. In one of the more popular clipssee it here people berate a wheeled delivery robot on the sidewalk. And it's spread well beyond TikTokkers, even to the halls of Congress. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Texas used the term in a tweet about legislation requiring actual humans to answer customer service calls. "My new bill makes sure you don't have to talk to a clanker if you don't want to," he wrote.

A piece at Gizmodo ties the rise of "clanker" to the increased use of generative artificial intelligence. "It's become an increasingly common derogatory term, growing beyond the constraints of referring to chatbots and image generators to refer to any kind of non-human robotic intelligence," writes James Whitbrook. As it turns out, the term has been around for awhileand it hails from the Star Wars universe. Know Your Meme traces it to the 2005 video game Republic Commando, where it was used as a derogatory way to describe the way droids clanked when they moved.

It appears the term is now well on its way to entering the mainstream lexicon, though the NBC story adds a note of caution to those slamming AI with its use:

"By using a slur in a way that would typically apply to a human, people are also elevating the technology, offering some sense that people both want to put down the machines and recognize their ascension in society."
A California wildfire that has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County kept growing on Friday, as crews battled flames and extreme heat. The Canyon fire had expanded to 5,400 acres, the Los Angeles Times reports, helped by the hot and dry conditions. Despite achieving 25% containment, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson said crews can't relax yet. "We still have record-low fuel moisture in the area, so we're not letting our guard up," said Andrew Dowd.

The department reported that more than 2,700 residents have been asked to evacuate and another 14,000 people have been given evacuation warnings, per the BBC. No damage to homes or businesses has been confirmed by officials. The president of the Val Verde Civic Association in Santa Clarita said residents of her neighborhood had to evacuate Thursday but was allowed to return home Friday, per the Times. "There's a lot of smoke, the air is really, really bad," said Jennifer Elkins, adding, "This is a really tough fire season and I'm really glad the fire department is really taking every fire seriously."
A Missouri woman who starred in the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after she lied that a movie star primate that she was accused of mistreating had died. Tonia Haddix, 56, was also ordered Thursday to serve three years of supervised release after her 46-month prison sentence ends, reports the AP . Haddix, who ran a primate facility in the St. Louis suburb of Festus, pleaded guilty in March to two counts of perjury and one of obstructing justice.

It all started nearly a decade ago, when PETA sued, claiming Haddix was keeping several chimps in "confined [and] cramped, virtually barren enclosures" at the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation facility. Among the chimps was Tonka, who appeared in the 1997 movies Buddy and George of the Jungle. Actor Alan Cumming, the British-born actor who starred in the movie Buddy alongside Tonka, also begged for the primate to be moved. Haddix signed a consent decree in 2020 agreeing to send four of the chimps to a Florida sanctuary. The order allowed her to keep three others, including Tonka, at a facility she was to build.

But after a judge found that wasn't complying with the agreement, authorities arrived in 2021 and removed the remaining chimps, except for Tonka. Haddix claimed Tonka had died and that she'd cremated the remains, according to court records. "I wanted to keep trying to save Tonka if l could," she said, according to court records. "But then he just died on his own, so there was no saving him." Except Tonka was alivein 2022, PETA removed him from a cage in the basement of her home in Sunrise Beach, Missouri. Haddix told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2022 that she lied to protect Tonka from "the evil clutches of PETA."

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She also admitted what happened in the third episode of Chimp Crazy, which premiered last year, saying, "Tonka was literally on the run with me." Just last month, investigators found another chimp locked up in the basement of her home in Sunrise Beach in violation of court orders, documents in the case said. She was arrested and her bond was revoked. Her lawyer, Justin Gelfand, asked for mercy in court filings, saying she suffered abuse as a child and then endured several rocky marriages as an adult. "In the face of these harsh realities threaded throughout her life, Haddix came to form secure attachments with animals," Gelfand wrote. PETA, meanwhile, praised the sentence in a news release, saying that Haddix now "can't hurt another chimpanzee."
A suspect and a DeKalb County police officer are dead following a shooting incident near Emory University and the CDC in Atlanta, officials confirmed Friday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The situation unfolded late Friday afternoon, beginning with reports of gunfire near the Emory Point CVS, just across from university buildings and the CDC. University officials warned of an "active shooter" just after 5pm local time via social media , urging students and staff to "run, hide, fight" as a precaution. The unfolding emergency triggered lockdowns at Emory and the CDC, with CDC officials noting that at least four of the agency's buildings had been hit by gunfire.

The university lifted its shelter-in-place order less than two hours later, signaling the immediate danger had passed, per NBC News. Meanwhile, authorities cordoned off local roadways, disrupting evening traffic in the area, reports FOX 5 Atlanta. Police have released few additional details about the sequence of events or what led to the confrontation between the suspect and law enforcement. Officials haven't provided information about the suspect's identity or motive, and it's still not clear if the suspect, who was found dead on the second floor of the CVS, died at the hands of officers or due to a self-inflicted injury. A law enforcement source tells the AP that the shooter used a long gun, and that three other weapons were found at the scene.

The DeKalb County Police Department has IDed the officer who died in the line of duty as 33-year-old David Rose, reports WXIA. "This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do, and during that incident, he received gunfire and he lost his life in this incident," said Greg Padrick, the department's interim chief, in a Friday evening presser. "He was committed to serving the community." Padrick noted that Rose left behind two children and a wife pregnant with their third.
The man who oversees the nation's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. The extraordinary repost on X from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women, per the AP . In the post, Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The report featured a pastor from Wilson's church advocating the repeal of women's right to vote from the Constitution, and another pastor saying that in his ideal world, people would vote as households. It also featured a female congregant saying that she submits to her husband.

"All of Christ for All of Life," Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video. Hegseth's post had received more than 13,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X as of Saturday morning. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organization Vote Common Good, said the ideas in the video are views that "small fringes of Christians keep" and said it was "very disturbing" that Hegseth would amplify them.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said on Friday that Hegseth is "a proud member of a church" that's affiliated with CREC and that he "very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings." In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defense Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails. "I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world," Wilson said in the CNN report.
President Trump says he's set to meet with Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, with plans to discuss ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though the Russian leader seems to already have his asks in mind. The Wall Street Journal reports that Putin delivered a proposal this week to the Trump administration that laid out his conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine, including "major territorial concessions" by Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and European officials. Those concessions would include Ukraine delivering the eastern region of the Donbas to the Kremlin, while Russia would simply agree to stop the fighting but little else.

Putin's plan includes having Ukraine withdraw its troops from the Donetsk region, with Russia taking over that area and Luhansk, and making Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, a sovereign Russian territory. Although Russia currently controls much of Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine still controls some "sizable chunks" of territory there, including important cities. The proposal was said to have been offered by Putin on Wednesday to US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Officials in Ukraine and Europe, meanwhile, fear Putin is simply offering this plan as a stall tactic to avoid more US sanctions and tariffs, with no guarantees he wouldn't pick up on the war where he left off at any given time.

The Russian leader's previous demands included Russian control of all Ukrainian regions along the front line, which stretches beyond the Donbas. Per the AP and Washington Post, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has responded to the planned Trump-Putin meeting and the prospect of Ukraine ceding land to Russia, in a language Putin can understand: Nyet. "Any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelensky wrote Saturday on social media. "They will not achieve anything." As for a possible land grab, he noted: "We will not reward Russia for what it has perpetrated. ... This war must be brought to an endand Russia must end it. ... [but] Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier."
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is one of the Most Undervalued Long Term Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On July 24, Mizuhos analyst, Wei Fang, reduced the price objective on the companys stock from $160 to $149, hinting at the growing concerns related to the profit margins. As per the analyst, increased competition in Chinas local commerce sector, mainly in food delivery and instant retail, is starting to impact Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)s bottom line.

Mizuho Reduces PT on Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Stock

An e-commerce platform displaying a wide range of products to customers online.

However, the analyst was confident in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)s long-term outlook and maintained an Outperform rating. The consumer demand remained robust during the June quarter, thanks to the promotional events and smartphone trade-in offers. For FY 2025, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)s user-first AI-driven strategy delivered healthy results amidst accelerated growth throughout its core businesses. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) established a well-defined growth portfolio focused on AI + Cloud, e-commerce, and other internet platform businesses.

The company continues to seize the historic opportunity offered by AI and has been ramping up its investments in AI infrastructure and advanced technologies to further strengthen Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)s global leadership in technology. Patient Capital Management, a value investing firm, released its Q2 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) sold off early in the quarter following President Trumps Liberation Day tariff announcement, which imposed ~50% tariffs on Chinese goods. As the US and China moved toward tentative agreements, the stock began to recover. Fundamentally, we continue to see an attractive setup. Alibaba is benefiting from accelerating AI initiatives, renewed momentum in its Tmall platform, and rapid growth in instant shopping and local services. These trends support a broader turnaround in core commerce and digital services. Despite these tailwinds, the company trades at just 11.2x earnings, well below historical averages, and continues to return capital to shareholders through a 1% dividend yield and a robust buyback program. We believe Alibaba remains significantly undervalued relative to its sum-of-the-parts, and see meaningful upside as fundamentals stabilize and sentiment improves.

While we acknowledge the potential of BABA 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.
A Massachusetts woman who was set to go to trial for allegedly unleashing a swarm of bees upon sheriff's deputies trying to carry out an eviction has been arrested in Tennessee after ditching that trial. MassLive.com reports that Rebecca "Rorie" Woods, in her late 50s and hailing from Hadley, was taken into custody on Thursday evening at a hotel in the Volunteer State, two days after missing her trial back home in Springfield District Court, according to the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.

The court proceedings were set to revolve around the October 2022 incident in which Woods is accused of showing up at a Longmeadow home for an eviction protest, lugging a trailer behind her vehicle filled with beehives. Woods, who's said to have donned a beekeeper suit herself, is accused of flipping the hives off of the flatbed, making the bees "aggressive" and causing them to sting several sheriff's deputies, some of whom were allergic to bee stings, per the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

One sheriff's office worker was treated at a nearby hospital and released. "She may have delayed justice, but it won't be denied," the office of the Hampden DA said in a statement this week announcing an arrest warrant issued after Woods didn't show for her trial, per WWLP. She's expected to be extradited back to Massachusetts, where she'll face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (the bees), assault, and disorderly conduct.
Four astronauts returned to Earth on Saturday after hustling to the International Space Station five months ago to relieve the stuck test pilots of Boeing's Starliner. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Pacific off the Southern California coast a day after departing the orbiting lab. "Welcome home," SpaceX Mission Control radioed, the AP reports. Before leaving the space station on Friday, one of them, NASA's Anne McClain, noted "some tumultuous times on Earth" that include people struggling. "We want this mission, our mission, to be a reminder of what people can do when we work together, when we explore together," she said.

Also splashing down were NASA's Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi, and Russia's Kirill Peskov. They launched in March as replacements for the two NASA astronauts assigned to Starliner's botched demo. Starliner malfunctions kept Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams at the space station for more than nine months instead of a week. NASA ordered Boeing's new crew capsule to return empty and switched the pair to SpaceX. They left soon after McClain and her crew arrived to take their places. Wilmore has since retired from NASA.

It was SpaceX's third Pacific splashdown with people on board, but the first for a NASA crew in 50 years. Elon Musk's company switched capsule returns from Florida to California's coast earlier this year to reduce the risk of debris falling on populated areas. Back-to-back private crews were the first to experience Pacific homecomings. The last time NASA astronauts returned to the Pacific from space was during the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission, a detente meet-up of Americans and Soviets in orbit. "From the entire Crew-10, thank you," radioed McClain, capsule commander, after splashdown, per Space.com. "It was truly the ride of a lifetime."
London police arrested 365 people on Saturday after supporters of the recently banned group Palestine Action gathered in Parliament Square to protest the new law prohibiting public support for the organization. The demonstration drew more than 500 people, some displaying signs backing Palestine Action, which Parliament outlawed last month after activists broke into an air force base and damaged military aircraft to protest UK support for Israel's actions in Gaza. Authorities said the demonstrators intended to be arrested in large numbers to test the law's practicality and strain police resources, the AP reports.

Many demonstrators simultaneously unveiled handwritten signs saying: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action," per the BBC. Police said those holding placards expressing support for the organization were either arrested or were in the process of being detained. Many of them received street bail. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators later marched to Downing Street, where more rallies, including some demanding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, were scheduled. London is expecting multiple protests over the weekend.

One demonstrator told the BBC: "If they ban Palestine Action, what other group is next? Until we're just no longer allowed to protest anything. That's the opposite of democracy." Another said: "I believe in freedom of speech. What this government is trying to do is deeply authoritarian. And it's extremely dangerous." On Saturday evening, the home secretary reiterated the decision to ban Palestine Action, per the Guardian. "Many people may not yet know the reality of this organization, but the assessments are very clearthis is not a nonviolent organization," Yvette Cooper said. "UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority."
William Webster, who became the only person to run both the FBI and CIA and who is credited with restoring public faith in the agencies after they were mired in scandals, has died. He was 101. Webster died Friday in Warrenton, Virginia, a family spokesman said, per the New York Times . He built a reputation for integrity as a federal judge before becoming the FBI's third director, picked by Jimmy Carter, in 1978. Webster was a Republican, appointed to the bench by Richard Nixon, but his nonpartisan stances on partisan issues made him someone presidents of both parties wanted in high-profile positions.

"The liberals who like me think I'm liberal; the conservatives who like me say I'm conservative," Webster once said, per the Washington Post. When he took over the FBI, it was dealing with a loss of trust over disclosures that agents had taken part in break-ins, illegally opened the mail of people under surveillance, and spied on civil rights leaders. Webster said during Senate confirmation hearings that the FBI "is not above the law" and should not "wage war on private citizens to discredit them." He was director during the Abscam undercover operation, in which six members of Congress were convicted of crimes including bribery.

In 1997, Ronald Reagan chose Webster to be director of the CIA, which was dealing with the aftermath of the Iran-contra illegal weapons sales. Webster quickly fired two staff members tied to the scandal, demoted a third, and reprimanded four more. He increased oversight of clandestine operationsbringing back a retired covert officer to superviseadded lawyers to review the legality of missions, and gave the agency's inspector general more power. He was widely praised though he came in without experience in the field. "He was criticized for not being a strategic thinker, but that's not why he was selected," Vincent Cannistraro, a former counterterrorism official, told the Post in 1991. "He was selected to calm troubled waters."

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Webster, who grew up in St. Louis, went on to practice law at a top Washington firm into his 90s, per the Times. Along with other former CIA officials, he signed a letter in 2018 criticizing President Trump for revoking former Director John Brennan's security clearances in retaliation. And in a Times essay, Webster condemned attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. He helped the FBI catch and win a conviction against a scammer who tried to get $50,000 from him, then did a public service announcement warning against elder fraud.
Ukrainian and European leaders shut out of the upcoming presidential summit in Alaska held their own meeting on Saturday with US officials, in an effort to understand the American and Russian positions on peace talks and make their own clear. The session was hosted by Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy near London, the New York Times reports. "Ukraine's future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now," French President Emmanuel Macron posted Saturday on social media. "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it concerns their security," he added.

President Trump had briefed European leaders late Wednesday on Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal that his nation receive territory in any deal. The Europeans gave that idea a hostile reception. On Saturday, the group rejected it and made its own proposal, per the Wall Street Journal. One European attendee said the American officials present, who included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, responded positively to the counterproposal. Its provisions include a requirement that a ceasefire be in place before any other steps are taken. In addition, it says any exchanges of land must be reciprocal: Russia would have to pull out of regions in order for Ukraine to leave others.

In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had earlier rejected turning over territory to Russia, also spoke positively of the meeting Saturday. "Our arguments are being heard," Zelensky told Ukrainians. "The dangers are being taken into account." The European leaders worry that Trump and Putin will cut a deal and then try to impose on Ukraine, per the Times. A couple of them expressed the sentiment that the era of the Yalta Conference, when the Allies sat at a table and divided Europe after World War II, are over.
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A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Rae Wee

With U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination to fill a newly vacant seat at the Federal Reserve now out of the way, investors are awaiting a Senate confirmation to see if Stephen Miran would have a vote at the central bank's September meeting.

Trump on Thursday picked the Council of Economic Advisers Chairman to serve out the final few months of an open spot on the Fed Board, following Fed Governor Adriana Kugler's surprise resignation last week.

The news hardly elicited a response from markets on Friday, with Miran's chances of winning Senate confirmation still uncertain. The economist has called for a complete overhaul of the Fed's governance.

But one thing's for sure - should Miran join the Fed, he would most certainly vote to lower rates.

And even in a placeholder role, his appointment would give Trump a potentially more direct route to pursue his desire for easier monetary policy and sway over the world's most influential central bank.

Trump also said that the White House continues to search for someone to serve in the 14-year Fed Board seat that opens February 1 and is also weighing options for a successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends May 15, 2026.

Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that Fed Governor Christopher Waller is emerging as a top candidate to be the central bank's next chair and has met with members of Trump's team, who are impressed with him.

In other tariff news, the U.S. government on Thursday promised to amend a presidential executive order to remove overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods, Tokyo's trade negotiator said, after talks in Washington to fix what he called a "regrettable" oversight.

In those discussions, Ryosei Akazawa urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that a 15% levy agreed last month on Japanese imports was not stacked on goods, such as beef, that are subject to higher tariffs.

The removal of the tariff overhang lifted stocks in Tokyo and sent the Topix index climbing above the key psychological mark of 3,000 points for the first time on Friday, further buoyed by a streak of strong earnings reports.

Shares of SoftBank Group rose nearly 11% after the technology investor reported a swing back to profit in the first quarter.

Key developments that could influence markets on Friday:

- St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem speaks

- Under Armour Q1 earnings

Trying to keep up with the latest tariff news?

Our new daily news digest offers a rundown of the top market-moving headlines impacting global trade. Sign up for Tariff Watch here.

(Reporting by Rae Wee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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Motorola Solutions has concluded the acquisition of Silvus Technologies Holdings, a company specialising in mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET), in a deal valued at $4.4bn.

The deal includes about $4.38bn in cash (subject to customary adjustments), as well as around $20m in restricted stock for certain employees to equity holders.

The purchase agreement terms also allow for earnout consideration of up to $600m based on business performance over consecutive 12-month periods ending in 2027 and 2028.

In May 2025, Motorola first signed an agreement to acquire the Los Angeles-based company.

The MANET technology is engineered for frontline operations in challenging environments, providing secure data, video, and voice communications without fixed infrastructure.

Its devices are claimed to create large, scalable, and self-healing networks that adapt to ongoing mobility.

These mobile networks are said to connect people, devices, and nodes over long distances, supporting bandwidth-intensive technologies such as video, sensors, and drones.

Silvus Technologies CEO Babak Daneshrad said: At our core, both our companies are driven by innovation that makes the world safer.

Bringing our advanced engineering teams together amplifies our ability to build more powerful solutions to serve more customers globally. I am incredibly optimistic about the future we have with Motorola Solutions.

Autonomous technologies such as drones, vehicles, and robots are being utilised to enhance safety by increasing the distance between soldiers and potential threats, according to the company.

Silvus stated that its technology enables human operators to control these systems with minimal latency, saving lives and improving tactical decision-making.

Silvus serves a diverse clientele, including defence agencies, autonomous systems manufacturers, the intelligence community, law enforcement, and global enterprises.

Motorola noted that it aims to expand Silvus reach by leveraging its global scale and established relationships with government and public safety customers worldwide.

Motorola Solutions chairman and CEO Greg Brown said: Silvus advanced solutions for drone and unmanned systems are trusted in the world's most demanding defence environments, and offer vital applications for border security and public safety.

Their capabilities are an excellent complement to our land mobile radio and video technologies, and we look forward to bringing them to more customers around the world.

"Motorola concludes acquisition of Silvus Technologies for $4.4bn" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.
By Vallari Srivastava

(Reuters) -MP Materials posted a smaller-than-expected second-quarter loss Thursday, as the U.S. rare earths miner benefited from higher production amid booming demand, sending its shares up 8% after the bell.

The company - which operates the only U.S. rare earths mine in Mountain Pass, California - has been in the spotlight as President Donald Trump's administration ramps up efforts to build out a domestic supply to reduce dependence on China.

The push has powered a more than four-fold increase in the company's stock so far this year.

MP Materials said quarterly rare earths concentrate production at the mine increased nearly 45% to 13,145 metric tons, while production for neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr)  the two most in-demand rare earths  jumped nearly 120% to 597 metric tons.

Current-quarter production of NdPr oxide is expected to rise 10% to 20% sequentially, founder and Chief Operating Officer Michael Rosenthal said on a post-earnings call.

Rare earths refer to a group of 17 metals used in a wide range of products including consumer electronics, electric vehicles, aircraft engines and military applications.

Last month, the company signed a multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. government to boost output of rare earth magnets.

The agreement guarantees a floor price of $110 per kilogram for NdPr, nearly twice the current Chinese market level. The price floor had long been sought by U.S. critical minerals companies who have complained about China's market manipulations.

The deal, which would make the Pentagon the company's biggest shareholder, was followed by a $500 million deal with Apple for the supply of rare earth magnets to the iPhone maker.

Prepayments from the Apple deal will fund a majority of the capital investments required to expand the Independence rare earths mine located in Texas, CEO James Litinsky said on the call.

The Las Vegas-based company posted an adjusted loss of 13 cents per share, compared with analysts' expectations of 19 cents loss per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Atlantic City firefighters are battling a three-alarm blaze at New Jersey Avenue School, a former city school, on Aug. 8, 2025. Kevin Shea

Atlantic City firefighters are battling a three-alarm blaze at a former city school on Friday evening.

Smoke from the fire at the New Jersey Avenue School, which dates to 1925, can be seen for miles.

The fire was first reported at 6:05 p.m., according to a statement from the city. The building, at New Jersey and Arctic avenues, was undergoing demolition and was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

The fire spread to all three floors in the center of the building, Andrew Kramer, a city spokesperson, said. The Atlantic City Fire Department is receiving assistance from fire departments in Ventnor, Pleasantville and Absecon. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.

Some area residents could see discolored water as a result of the firefighting operations, officials said.

The school, slated for demolition, has been vacant since 2012, when the district moved students to the Pennsylvania Avenue School.

The building was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, making it unsuitable for reuse.

A new centralized administration building is scheduled to be built at the location, according to the district.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com.
The A.J. Meerwald returning from a tour of the waterway during Delaware Bay Day in Commercial Township Jesse Bair | South Jersey Times

New Jerseys official tall ship, the historic A.J. Meerwald is docked at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Cape May, offering residents and visitors a chance to experience maritime history firsthand through September 21.

The 115-foot schooner provides visitors a hands-on sailing experience, with opportunities to help the crew haul lines and set sails, according to the non-profit Bayshore Center in Bivalve.
We came across a bullish thesis on Noble Corporation plc on Lasses Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on NE. Noble Corporation plc's share was trading at $26.91 as of August 5th. NEs trailing and forward P/E were 9.06 and 22.42, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Is Noble Corporation plc (NE) the Oversold Stock to Buy in 2025 Amid Inflation Fears?

An aerial view of a Noble Holding Corporation plc drilling facility in Sugar Land,Texas.

Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE) is a leading offshore drilling contractor specializing in deepwater and ultra-deepwater projects. Following its 2024 acquisition of Diamond Offshore, Noble significantly strengthened its global position with a modernized fleet of around 30 rigs, including advanced drillships, semi-submersibles, and jackups. This strategic move not only expanded its asset base but also enhanced its ability to serve major offshore oil and gas operators in an improving market.

For the trailing twelve months ending Q1 2025, Noble generated $3.3 billion in revenue and $1.1 billion in adjusted EBITDA, underpinned by strong operational performance and cost discipline. The company maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, reflecting a balanced capital structure that provides flexibility for growth while preserving financial stability. The investment case for Noble rests on its high-spec fleet and strategic emphasis on securing long-term contracts, which position it well to capitalize on the resurgence in offshore drilling activity driven by energy demand and favorable oil price trends.

With the integration of Diamond Offshore delivering operational synergies and strengthening customer relationships, Noble is well placed to deliver robust cash flow and earnings growth. Its modern fleet, combined with financial discipline and market leadership, provides a strong platform for shareholder value creation in a tightening rig supply environment. As the offshore drilling cycle accelerates, Noble offers investors an attractive opportunity for exposure to high-spec rig demand with compelling upside potential, supported by solid fundamentals and a prudent approach to capital allocation.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) by Nugget Capital Partners in April 2025, which highlighted its dominant Canadian market share and resilient earnings despite U.S. softness. The stock has appreciated about 29% since then as Canadian operations outperformed. The thesis remains valid given LNG-driven demand. Lasse shares a similar view but emphasizes Nobles offshore leadership and Diamond Offshore acquisition.
A three-week-old baby went to two ERs with troubling symptoms. Hours later, he was gone. Canva for NJ.com

A lawsuit over the death of a 3-week-old infant has been revived by a New Jersey appeals court, ruling that a jury should determine if doctors overlooked crucial warning signs.

The case stems from the 2017 death of an infant who was taken to Clara Maass Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center Mountainside. The baby presented symptoms including vomiting, irritability, and labored breathing.

The baby was discharged both times without extensive diagnostic testing, according to the court opinion.

Hours after the second visit, he was found unresponsive in his crib and later pronounced dead.

The Appellate Division reversed a trial courts dismissal of the case brought by the babys parents, finding that the judge was wrong to exclude the familys medical expert from the case.

The infants parents, Kayronna Benjamin-Carter and Gregory Carter, filed a lawsuit against both hospitals and several medical professionals. They alleged that their son died from dehydration and an undiagnosed infection due to inadequate emergency care.

On Sept. 26, 2017, Dr. Frederik DiCarlo, a New Jersey state assistant medical examiner, performed an autopsy on the infant and concluded that the cause of death was Sudden Unexplained Infant Death.

Despite that conclusion, the plaintiffs expert, Dr. Michael Tunik, a board-certified pediatric emergency physician, testified that the emergency room staff at both hospitals failed to meet the required standard of care.

The appellate panel found Tuniks conclusions were supported by the medical record and were not speculative.

The panel also ruled that the trial court was wrong to reject a New Jersey Supreme Court precedent. This precedent allows juries to consider whether not performing diagnostic tests increased the risk of harm from a preexisting condition.

Whether the infant had such a condition such as dehydration or infection is a question for the jury, the court said.

The case now returns to Essex County Superior Court for further proceedings.

We are pleased that the Appellate Division agreed with our interpretation of the law and has restored the Carters tragic case to the trial docket, the attorney for the Carter family, E. Drew Britcher, said in a statement.

We always believed that Dr. Tunik was qualified to offer the opinion he provided in his expert report and deposition and that it was well supported by his education, experience and certification, Britcher said.

We look forward to the day when the Carters case can be heard by a jury, he said.

Jessica Nussman, director of media and public relations for Hackensack Meridian Health, said in a statement: At Hackensack Meridian Health, the well-being and privacy of our patients are our top priorities. We are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to every individual we serve. Due to patient privacy laws and our respect for the legal process, we do not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.

A spokesperson for RWJ Barnabas Health on behalf of Clara Maass Medical Center, declined to comment on ongoing litigation.

Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com.
Lauren Semanchik and Tyler Webb at a concert. (Photo from the Webb family)

Three separate neighbors called 911 last Friday evening to report multiple gunshots and a woman screaming near Lauren Semanchiks Franklin Township home, according to audio of 911 calls made public late Friday.

One chillingly said: When it stopped, the last shot, it was quiet.
The Jonas Brothers are ready to kick off their anniversary tour in a big way in their home state.

Nick, Kevin and Joe Jonas will be starting their JONAS20: Living The Dream tour in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 10, and New Jersey fans should get excited for a number of surprises.

Jonas Brothers tour 2025 The cheapest Jonas Brothers tour tickets can be found on Viagogo. Buy Now

In a recent interview, Nick Jonas stated that there are a few surprises fans should get pumped for when it comes to the MetLife Stadium concert.

We have a few moments incorporated into the night where were including the fans in the show, in some really meaningful ways, getting to hear their stories, he stated. And then also a little dance break during our current single, No Time To Talk, so get your dance moves ready.

Rumor has it theyll bring out some special guests, with fans speculating it could be Miley Cyrus or Demi Lovato.

So, if this is a concert you dont want to miss out on, then heres how you can get last-minute tickets to the Jonas Brothers MetLife Stadium concert.

How to get tickets to see the Jonas Brothers this weekend

Currently, the cheapest ticket we could find for me the Jonas Brothers MetLife Stadium concert on Aug. 10 is $43 on Viagogo.

Dont worry if you dont catch them at MetLife Stadium, because youll have a second chance to see them in New Jersey in Camden at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Aug. 14.

The cheapest ticket we could find for the Jonas Brothers Aug. 14 concert, before any fees, is $33 on Viagogo.

If you happen to miss out on both of these cheapest tickets, then you can find more on sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TicketNetwork and Viagogo.

Plus, if you buy your tickets through Vivid Seats as a first-time customer, then you can receive $20 on ticket orders over $200 just by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

You can find all of the Jonas Brothers upcoming stadium tour dates here.

The Jonas Brothers 2025: Dates, schedule & more

The Jonas Brothers will begin their JONAS20: Living The Dream tour on Aug. 10 in East Rutherford and will wrap up on Nov. 14 in Uncasville, Conn.

Were beyond excited to hit the road and celebrate 20 years of music, said the Jonas Brothers in a statement. Our fans have been with us through every chapter, and this tour is our way of honoring them, the memories weve made, and the ones well create together. We cant wait to make this our biggest, most unforgettable tour yet.

Marshmello, The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls will join on select tour dates.

The Jonas Brothers promise fans a full, career-spanning journey once they hit the live stage. This includes Nick Jonas & the Administration, Nick Jonas solo music, Joe Jonas solo work, and DNCE.

Upcoming 2025 tours heading to MetLife Stadium

The Jonas Brothers are not the only ones performing at MetLife Stadium this year.

Here are a few more artists you dont want to miss out on: Oasis, My Chemical Romance, Chris Brown and System of a Down.

Hi, Im Nicole, NJ.coms expert live events and deals writer! Ive made it my mission to find the absolute cheapest tickets for the biggest artists, like Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Sabrina Carpenter, & more. If you missed the general sale or presale for your favorite artist, you dont have to panic. Ive already done the hard work of sifting through tickets and finding you the best price.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) is one of the Most Undervalued Long Term Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On July 30, Oppenheimer upgraded the companys stock to Outperform from Perform with a price objective of $238, as reported by The Fly. The firm noted that the shares have lagged both the banks and the broader market over the past year. That being said, it sees The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) as a well-managed, high-quality, and consistently profitable regional banking company.

Oppenheimer Upgrades The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC) Stock to Outperform

An investor confidently discussing portfolio options with their asset manager.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) released results for Q2 2025, wherein its total revenue came in at $5.7 billion, reflecting a rise of $209 million, or 4%, due to the growth in both non-interest income and net interest income. Furthermore, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) highlighted that new customer acquisition continues to accelerate. The strength of its franchise led to strong loan and revenue growth even during an uncertain macro environment, with expenses remaining well-controlled.

Cullen Capital Management, LLC, operating under the name Schafer Cullen Capital Management, Inc. (SCCM), has released its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

A position in The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:PNC) was established during the quarter. PNC Financial is a large regional bank with $560 billion in assets and 2,200 branches across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeast with retail and corporate banking operations as well as asset management services. In 2022, PNC acquired the US subsidiary of Spanish financial group BBVA, increasing PNCs size by roughly 25%. The bank has also been successful at organically expanding its customer base, both in commercial banking and in retail. Its expanding client base has led to solid loan, deposit, and fee income growth. Shares of PNC were purchased at 13.1x earnings with a 3.4% dividend yield.

While we acknowledge the potential of PNC as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Hey Blake,

A recent social media post from the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department mentioned the Johnny Jacobs Pool was temporarily closed for repairs. Who is, or was, Johnny Jacobs?

Dear reader,

The Johnny Jacobs Jr. Playground and its pool, located on Fifth Avenue in Marrero, are named for a longtime West Bank business owner and community activist known for much of his life as Mr. Marrero.

Jacobs was born in Vacherie in 1920 and lived in Marrero from 1921 until his death in 1997. According to The Times-Picayune, he was a former Jefferson Parish sheriffs deputy and member of the West Bank Black Caucus and the Jefferson Parish Voters League, which helped organize voter registration efforts.

He also was a leader of the Marrero Action Committee, a group formed to organize, build and maintain recreational facilities in Marrero. He was instrumental in getting land donated for the Marrero Action Playground.

He always wanted a place for kids to play that wasnt in the street, his daughter Lorraine told the newspaper in 1998. He would always worry that someone would get hit by a car or something like that.

In 1998, the Jefferson Parish Council voted to change the name of the Marrero Action Playground to the Johnny Jacobs Jr. Playground. It was dedicated in March of that year.

Four years later, a $1.4 million pool opened at the playground. Last year, a new splash pad opened there as well, named for Claudette B. Fennidy, who owned and operated a childcare center nearby.
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Valued at $157.4 billion, Qualcomm (QCOM) has positioned itself as a strong contender in the semiconductor space by leading in mobile processors, making a significant push into artificial intelligence across devices, and expanding into automotive, internet of things, and data centers. The company just reported strong fiscal third quarter results and is still on track to meet its ambitious fiscal 2029 goal of $22 billion in combined automotive and IoT revenue.

If the companys current trajectory continues, it could be one of the best growth plays in the semiconductor industry. QCOM stock is down 3.8% year-to-date, compared to the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Indexs ($NASX) gain of 10.9%. Lets find out if QCOM stock is a buy now on the dip.

www.barchart.com

Qualcomms Snapdragon Processors Are Leading the Charge

In its fiscal 2025 third quarter, the company reported adjusted revenue of $10.4 billion, up 10% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings per share of $2.77 increased by 19% YoY, placing the company near the top of its guidance range. Qualcomm CDMA Technologies (QCT), the companys core chipset business, generated $9 billion in revenue, up 11% YoY, with Automotive (up 21%) and IoT (up 24%) showing particularly strong growth. Qualcomms licensing segment, Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL), generated $1.3 billion in revenue.

More News from Barchart

Qualcomms Snapdragon Digital Chassis continues to win contracts in the automotive industry, with 12 new designs introduced this quarter and 50 vehicle launches planned for fiscal 2025. Qualcomm and Xiaomi (XIACY) have signed a multi-year agreement to collaborate on smartphones. Xiaomis Snapdragon 8-series processors will power multiple generations of flagship devices in China and around the world, with shipment volumes increasing year after year. The Snapdragon 8 Elite continues to set the standard for mobile innovation, particularly in enabling the transition to AI-powered smartphones. Qualcomm reports that 124 AI smartphone designs have been shipped or announced, and AI adoption is accelerating.

Qualcomms push into PCs is only a year old, but it is already gaining traction. The Snapdragon X Series powers devices from Acer, Lenovo, Microsoft (MSFT), Dell (DELL), and Samsung, with over 100 designs planned for commercialization by 2026. Management also stated during the Q3 earnings call that the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform continues to dominate AI-powered smart glasses. Qualcomm now supports 19 partner designs, including Metas (META) AI smart glasses, which have outperformed sales expectations, as well as the new Meta Oakley and expanded Ray-Ban lines.
Stefan Wermuth / Bloomberg / Getty Images Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, shown earlier this year at the World Economic Forum, recently unveiled the crypto exchange's stock token ambitions

Key Takeaways

Trading platforms and crypto exchanges are vying for share in equities trading in token form, but there are meaningful differences between the ones on the market and the securities they try to mime.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announced the crypto exchange was working on its own initiative during the company's recent earnings call, saying that a 3% share of equities trading would double the current crypto market.

Crypto trading exchange Kraken touts its xStocks model, which was recently launched with partner Backed.





Tokens that are designed to be digital twins of stocks have subtle differences that make them less identical and more fraternal to the securities they're supposed to replicate.

Tokenization was theoretical when BlackRock chief Larry Fink publicly discussed it in early 2024, but has landed in the real world via popular trading platforms including Robinhood (HOOD), Kraken and Coinbase Global (COIN). While they haven't cleared regulatory hurdles for U.S. investors' yet, rollouts of stock tokens in Europe started in June, ratcheting up the competition between trading venues that offer, or plan to offer, them to their customers.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who unveiled the crypto exchange's tokenization ambitions in late July, quantified the business case for it: Just 3% in equities trading market share would double the current crypto market. "We've always said we're updating the system and building the bridge to bring equities on to crypto rails is the next phase of our strategy," he said.

Anything can be made into tokens, from mortgage contracts representing real estate to shares in special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that reference the price of the underlying assetswhether they are publicly traded stocks or stakes in private companies, the latter of which made headlines when Robinhood unveiled OpenAI and SpaceX stock tokens.



Robinhood chief Vlad Tenev, during the company's recent earnings call, said that the true opportunity in tokenization is in inaccessible assets like private market assets, according to a transcript provided by AlphaSense. He also said there was a "very positive" reception to stock tokens. "It's clear customers want this," he said. "They not only want it in Europe but they want it in the U.S. as well."

OpenAI, the ChatGPT maker, has publicly said that it was not associated with the OpenAI stock tokens launched by Robinhood. The private-asset "stock tokens" weren't technically equity, but derivative contracts.


The toys are so popular that people line up for hours at stores for the chance to buy one.

Shoppers often dont know which Labubu theyre getting because some of them come in a blind box, meaning their identity is unknown until the box is opened.

There are more than 300 versions of the toys, with each doll costing roughly $30, though some limited-edition versions fetch more. The website for Onestopsaless shows Labubus sell for as much as $500.

The dolls have spawned communities  in real life and online  where fans share tips about how to dress the figures. The demand has also driven a market for knockoffs, called Lafufus.

Celebrities, including Rihanna and Cher, have sported them on their handbags. The dolls, which also come in key chains, have been featured hanging off designer bags, such as a Hermes Birkin.

Joanna Avendano and Leonardo Rodriguez opened Onestopsaless, which sells trending collectibles and accessories, such as Powerpuff Girls and Hello Kitty merchandise, a few months ago, Ms. Avendano said.
How North Korea Promotes Kims Dear Daughter as a Worthy Heir

Kim Jong-un Kim Ju-ae Kim Jong-un Kim Ju-ae Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters Kim Jong-un introduced his daughter to the world in November 2022 with a show of affection and menace, holding her hand in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile.



Since then, state media has shown Kim Ju-ae more and more prominently next to her father, the leader of North Korea. Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Korean Central Television Korean Central Television Now she is being hailed as a great person of guidance  a sign, experts say, that she is perhaps being groomed to take the reins of the isolated, nuclear-armed regime one day. Korean Central News Agency, via Associated Press Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters

She holds no known official title in North Korea. The outside world has never heard her voice. The Norths state media has not even named her, referring to her only as the most beloved, respected or dear daughter of its leader.

But intelligence officials and analysts in South Korea are paying close attention to the young woman whom they consider to be her father's most likely successor.

She is believed to be just 12.

The New York Times analyzed hundreds of images and videos of Ju-aes public appearances since her debut three years ago to trace her transformation from a shy girl by her fathers side to a poised public figure who shares center stage with him.

Some analysts say she has largely replaced her mother, Mr. Kims wife, Ri Sol-ju, in the role of first lady. North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since its founding at the end of World War II, making it the only dynasty in the communist world.

South Korean intelligence officials believe that Mr. Kim most likely has two children. There have also been unconfirmed reports that he might have a third child, possibly a son older than Ju-ae. But Ju-ae is the only child who has made public appearances. If she is her fathers designated successor, she would be in line to become the first woman to rule North Koreas deeply patriarchal and highly militarized society and the worlds newest nuclear power. Mr. Kim is only 41 but, with a family history of heart trouble, preparing a successor makes sense.

Here is a look at Ju-aes rise.

Taking the Stage

Ju-ae has undergone a striking transformation in North Koreas tightly choreographed state media.

Intelligence officials and analysts in South Korea caution against firm conclusions about her future role. But as her profile has risen, she has eclipsed her mother and Mr. Kims powerful sister Kim Yo-jong, also once considered a potential successor, as the main female face of the ruling family.

Mother Mother Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters In Ju-aes first public appearance, she stood behind with her mother as Mr. Kim talked to military officials at a missile test. Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters Three months later, she attended a state banquet celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Korean Peoples Army with her parents. Korean Central News Agency, via Associated Press She is often portrayed as a loving daughter in a happy family. Ju-ae is in the second row Mother Ju-ae is in the second row Mother Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images When she took in a military parade, she stood on the podium behind her father, alongside her mother. Sitting next to each other Sitting next to each other Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images But over time, she made her way to the front row. Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Then, in November 2023, state media carried a photograph featuring Ju-ae front and center, with Mr. Kim taking a background spot. It spoke volumes about her status. Mr. Kim had never before been relegated to a secondary role, and a picture like this would not have been published without his permission, analysts say. Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters In March 2024, she took a more active role in military settings. Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters That same month, she joined her father to inspect the Gangdong Greenhouse agricultural complex, part of a series of events meant to highlight domestic achievements. Korean Central Television Only months later, Mr. Kims sister was on hand to usher her niece onto the podium at a state ceremony. Korean Central Television Mr. Kim also nudged his daughter forward to greet the Russian ambassador, signaling her growing diplomatic role. Russias minister of culture Russias minister of culture Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images This year, Ju-ae received foreign dignitaries with Mr. Kim. She was mentioned before her fathers top aides when state media reported the list of notables who attended government events.

When Mr. Kim and his daughter visited the greenhouse complex, state media called them great persons of guidance  an honorific that over the years has been reserved for only North Koreas top leader and his designated successor.

North Korea also began issuing postage stamps bearing the images of father and daughter together.

2024 2023 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024

In North Korea, where officials and people are not ready to accept a female leader, Kim Jong-un is making his daughters successor status a fait accompli by repeatedly exposing her through state media, said Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the Sejong Institute in Seoul who has written books on Mr. Kim and his family.

A New Look

Ju-aes birth and name were first revealed to the outside world by the retired N.B.A. star Dennis Rodman, who met the Kim family during a visit to North Korea in 2013.

When she made her first public appearance in 2022 in a white padded winter jacket, Ju-ae looked no different from the other children of the elites in Pyongyang. But as she has grown, her clothes have become more formal, and she has been transformed into a figure of authority. Her wardrobe now includes tailored leather coats with fur collars and two-piece designer suits.

2023 2022 2024 2025 2022 2023 2024 2025 2022 2023 2024 2025

As her mother has receded from public view, Ju-ae has begun to adopt her sense of fashion.

Her mannerisms and demeanor have also changed. Even something as small as how she claps looks different now than it did two years ago.

2023 2025 2023 2025 Source: Korean Central Television

The child who first appeared as a family curiosity is now a polished, rehearsed figure woven into North Koreas ongoing story of dynastic power, said Donald Southerton, the author of Korea 101. Each photo, parade walk and salute I see as a carefully staged story of succession, legitimacy and continuity for the Kim dynasty.

Should a brother emerge, Ju-ae may end up serving as a mere placeholder, said Kang Dong-wan, an expert on North Korea at Dong-A University in South Korea. For now, though, her prominent portrayal is sending a message to North Koreans that the Kim family rule will continue into a fourth generation.

Her Main Inheritance

Mr. Kim chose the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, for his daughters public debut in November 2022. Since that day, he has taken her to other nuclear-related sites, introducing her to officials involved in North Koreas weapons programs. He has lauded the arsenal as a major legacy of the familys rule.

Of Ju-aes 39 public appearances, 24 were at military-related events. 2022 2023 2024 2025 Of Ju-aes 39 public appearances, 24 were at military-related events. 2022 2023 2024 2025 Of Ju-aes 39 public appearances, 24 were at military-related events. 2022 2023 2024 2025 Sources: Korean Central News Agency; Korean Central Television

When Mr. Kim himself was being groomed to succeed his father, he first established his authority with the military, the key to maintaining power. Now, by taking Ju-ae to military events, Mr. Kim has been showing her how he handles the top brass.

He has also offered senior military officers opportunities to meet and show loyalty to her, analysts said.

Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Three months after her first appearance, she attended a military parade, walking with her parents and followed by the top brass. Korean Central Television At a later parade, a top general was seen kneeling before her, a gesture of deference that had once been reserved for her father. Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images She visited members of the First Air Force Division, signaling her presence across all branches of the military. Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Soon after, she appeared in official portraits with her father and the top military leadership. Korean Central News Agency, via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images And this year, she attended the launch of the Kang Kon, one of the North Korean Navys new destroyers, standing near her father and top officials.

Mr. Kims Health

By preparing a successor publicly from an early age, Mr. Kim may be trying to avoid the mistake his father made, analysts say. It was not until after his father had a stroke in 2008 that Mr. Kim was unveiled as the heir apparent.

That led to uncertainty about the younger Mr. Kim. In his early years, he faced skepticism from outside analysts who dismissed him as an inexperienced leader and argued that he would not last long.

That was before Mr. Kim executed his uncle, had his half brother assassinated by his agents in Malaysia and purged several top generals to establish his unchallenged authority.

Now it is primarily Mr. Kims health, not his hold on power, that is in question. He is about 5 feet 7 inches and weighs about 310 pounds, according to South Korean intelligence officials. They added that he had unhealthy habits, including chain-smoking, heavy wining and dining, and frequently staying up into the early morning to surf the internet, where he likes to browse weapons sites.

Cigarette Cigarette Cigarette Source: Korean Central News Agency

Mr. Kim is believed to have cardiovascular issues, which contributed to the deaths of both his father and grandfather.

One advantage to grooming a successor early, even a young child, is leverage against his American and South Korean adversaries, said Sung-Yoon Lee, the author of The Sister: North Koreas Kim Yo Jong, the Most Dangerous Woman in the World.

It tells them: We have all the time in the world, while you are bound by term limits of four to five years, Mr. Lee said.
FOLLOWING its highly anticipated premiere at Birr Theatre and Arts Centre in May 2025, 'The Singing River' returns for a limited engagement on August 29th and 30th, 2025.

"The Singing River" is a poignant narrative that delves into the lives and tragic fate of three young men from Tullamore: William Conroy (played by Alex Byrne), Patrick Cunningham (played by Cameron O'Sullivan), and Colm Kelly (played by Jack Marshall). Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Irish Civil War, the story unfolds the events leading up to their execution by the Free State Military.

On the fateful day of January 26th, 1923, these three men met their end in the historic grounds of Birr Castle. The Singing River not only chronicles their final moments but also explores the broader context of the Civil War, the deep divisions it created within communities, and the enduring impact of their sacrifice on the local populace.

To enhance the immersive experience of the play, a video wall will be utilised to help set the period of the show. This innovative feature will display historical visual images, transporting the audience back to the early 1920s and providing a vivid backdrop to the unfolding drama. Additionally, a live band will perform music and song, further enriching the storytelling and creating a powerful emotional atmosphere.

READ NEXT: Visual Arts Trail launch highlights variety of exhibitions on display at Offaly festival

Through a blend of historical accuracy and emotional depth, the play acknowledges the courage and resilience of these young men, the terrible futility of violence and ensures their stories are not forgotten amidst the passage of time.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary eventtickets are flying fast, so secure yours now and prepare to be swept away by the magic of "The Singing River"!
THE Sustainable Livestock Village returns to the Tullamore Show FBD National Livestock Show on this Sunday, August 10.

This year places a strong emphasis on the role of young farmers in delivering sustainable change, with Macra na Feirme joining the Village for the first time to highlight generation renewal and youth-led innovation.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, and Research and Development, Noel Grealish, T.D., officially launched the 2025 Village this morning on the farm of FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2024, dairy farmer, Christopher Cahill.

Minister of State Noel Grealish commented, Young farmers are the heartbeat of Irelands agricultural future. Supporting them is central to achieving our sustainability goals while ensuring we maintain vibrant rural communities and a resilient food sector. Im delighted to officially launch this years Sustainable Livestock Village, which reflects a strong partnership approach across Government, industry and the farming community.

READ MORE: TULLAMORE SHOW: Visit and engage with Teagasc Forestry at the Forest & Energy Section

Michael Dolan, Chairman of the Sustainable Livestock Village said: Were proud to see the Sustainable Livestock Village return bigger and better for 2025. The addition of features focused on young farmers, shared learning and innovation reflects what we want to achieve, a space that brings the farming community together to talk openly about solutions and supports. This years Village also highlights key areas such as improving water quality, enhancing nature on farms and supporting earlier finishing all while making sustainability more accessible to farmers on the ground.

A wide range of hands-on supports are on display to help farmers reduce emissions, enhance biodiversity, and boost farm profitability. A new outdoor nature and water quality zone, developed with support from Teagasc and DAFM, showcases biodiversity and nutrient management in action. The livestock display features beef and new sheep exhibits, highlighting genetics, animal health and the benefits of earlier finishing.

This year also features a Photography Competition held in the lead-up to the Show, with 1,000 in prizes and winning entries will be on display in the Village. Categories include Generations Working Together and Sustainable Farming in Action, supported by the Irish Farmers Journal.

An expanded Speakers Corner, in partnership with FBD Insurance, is running from 11am to 2pm with short, farmer-led talks on sustainability, succession planning and protecting natural resources. This is followed by a Livestock Innovators session in partnership with Macra na Feirme, where young farmers will present practical solutions and explore the use of innovative practices and technology to support sustainable farming systems, improved work-life balance, and farm succession.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Tanaiste to open Tullamore Show as Taoiseach cancels

In a first for the event, this years Village is being powered by zero-emission Green Hydrogen, delivered in partnership with Offaly County Council and the ESB to reinforce the Villages commitment to practical, low-carbon innovation.

Organisations and state bodies, including, FBD, DAFM, Bord Bia, Teagasc, ICBF, Animal Health Ireland, Dairy Industry Ireland, FBD, Meat Industry Ireland, Macra na Feirme and the Irish Farmers Journal, are present in the Village to provide information and support.
I used AI to identify arguments that zionists would use defending Israel and reframing ideas that could work to get zionists and Israel-supporters to rethink their position. I broke it down into Jewish zionists and Christian zionists.

Arguments against Israeli policy

# Arguments in Israel-Palestine Discourse: Multiple Perspectives

## Arguments Commonly Used with American Jewish Communities

### Arguments for Policy Change (Critical of Current Israeli Actions)

1. **Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)**: Jewish values mandate protecting the vulnerable and pursuing justice, which requires addressing Palestinian civilian suffering.

2. **Pikuach Nefesh (Saving Life)**: The religious imperative to preserve human life applies to all people, not just Jews, making civilian protection paramount.

3. **Historical Memory**: Jews' experience of persecution should foster empathy for other oppressed peoples, not justify oppression.

4. **Prophetic Tradition**: Jewish prophets consistently called for justice over power, challenging leaders who harmed the innocent.

5. **Diaspora Jewish Values**: American Jewish commitment to civil rights and social justice should extend to Palestinians.

6. **Long-term Israeli Security**: Current policies may increase rather than decrease threats to Israeli civilians.

7. **Jewish Pluralism**: Supporting Palestinian rights doesn't negate Jewish rights - both peoples deserve dignity and security.

8. **Ethical Judaism**: Actions should reflect Jewish ethical teachings, not just Jewish tribal loyalty.

9. **Children's Welfare**: Jewish values prioritize protecting children regardless of their ethnicity or nationality.

10. **International Law**: Supporting rule of law serves Jewish interests globally by protecting minority rights.

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(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A Portland police car at the scene of a homicide on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Portland has seen the steepest decline in killings among major U.S. cities in the first half of the year, per a violent crimes survey. Zaeem Shaikh/The Oregonian

Portland has recorded the steepest drop in homicides this year among the 68 U.S. cities represented in the Major Cities Chiefs Association, according to data released from the organization.

Homicides in Portland decreased by 51% in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to a violent crimes survey released last week from the association of police executives.

The survey counted 17 homicides in Portland through June, compared with 35 the year before. The city also saw slights decreases in reported rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults.

Nationwide, violent crime has declined for the last three years. The survey notes homicides are down about 19% nationwide compared to last year.

In particular, so far this year, Portland has had two months with no homicides, a respite not seen since 2023. Shootings have also declined by 31% in the city in the first six months of this year, according to police data.

Of course, theres no guarantee that the downward trend will continue for the rest of the year. Six people were killed in homicides in July, including a man who was gunned down in broad daylight outside the Multnomah County Central Library in downtown Portland. But city leaders and public-safety officials attributed the declines to continuing police strategies and policy choices, and partnerships with intervention programs and community organizations.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the achievement belongs to every family, community leader, neighborhood group and faith organization that has stepped up to look out for one another.

At the same time, we know more work remains, and well continue investing in proven programs, strengthening partnerships and using clear data to guide our next steps, Wilson said in a statement.

Police Chief Bob Day said the drop in violent crime in the city is a promising sign that our collective efforts are having a real impact.

One of those collective efforts comes from the violence-intervention program known as Ceasefire, which identifies people or groups involved in shootings and most at risk of being involved in shootings. The program sends outreach workers to talk to people about available services, such as job placement, mental-health treatment and relocation help.

Were so focused on each persons individual needs to help them get out of the cycle of violence, said Sierra Ellis, the director of the Ceasefire program.

What has been different this year has been increased buy-in from others involved in the public-safety system since Ceasefire launched in June 2023, Ellis said. Twice a week, she meets with law enforcement, prosecutors, parole and probation staff and juvenile court counselors. That level of daily connection is new and makes a difference, she said.

Other American cities comparable to Portland have not seen as large a decline in homicides as Portland, per the survey. San Francisco and Seattle both saw declines by about a third, from 17 to 11 and 27 to 18, respectively.

Meanwhile Boston saw an increase from 7 to 17 homicides in the first six months this year compared to 2024. The city ended last year with 24 killings, the lowest count in roughly seven decades.

Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221-4323, zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X@zaeemshake.
EUGENE  Daylen Austins legal Hail Mary is headed to review by the Oregon Supreme Court, which will allow the Ducks defensive back to play at least some  if not all  of the upcoming season.

Oregon Chief Justice Meagan Flynn granted a motion to delay Austins criminal trial, scheduled for Thursday in Lane County Circuit Court, Friday afternoon hours after a delay was denied by Circuit Court judge Bradley Cascagnette. The trial will be delayed until a decision from the state Supreme Court regarding a request by Austins attorney to review the motion to dismiss the indictment, which was denied earlier this week.

Petitions take 60 to 90 days to grant review and could take between three to 12 months after arguments, according to legal experts.

Austins attorney, Bryan Boender, is petitioning the state Supreme Court to review the motion to dismiss the indictment, which he argued should have been dismissed with prejudice due to severe prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury testimony.

Lane County Circuit Court judge Stephen Morgan denied that motion and said the use of grand jury transcripts as evidence to dismiss an indictment was not permitted by law.

Austin, 20, pleaded not guilty in February to fatally striking Frank William Seaman with his SUV on April 15, 2024 near the intersection of West Fourth Avenue and Polk Street.

The third-year defensive back has been practicing with the Ducks and, if available, is expected to start at nickel this season.

-- James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten.
When Nathan Crockett touched down at PDX on Sunday evening, a friend was at the curb, ready to pick him up.

But then it took him 20 minutes to walk from his gate to baggage claim  an extra long hike, he said, compared to what he remembered in past visits to Portland International Airport. It took him so long that his friend was waved off by a traffic officer and had to loop out of the airport and back around.

That hallway feels like a mile long just to get through, said Crockett, 33, of Portland.

After debuting last summer, the renovations to PDX have met with acclaim. The light-filled terminal, affordable food and drink prices and homages to the Pacific Northwests timber industry propelled it to the top of the list of The Washington Posts best airports in the U.S. and earned it the prestigious Prix Versailles international honor.

But as the airport continues construction on parts of its main terminal, theres one thing irking some passengers: The long treks between some concourses and the check-in or baggage claim areas.

Signs along hallways let people know: More steps seem scary. But longer walks are temporary. And the PDX website offers five tips to navigate the terminals during construction. Sorry, it says under tip #3. We know this one hurts.

Signs posted around the PDX airport explain that the detours due to construction are temporary. Special to The Oregonian

But the longer walks will last for at least another five months as the airport finishes construction on the remaining 30% of the new terminal. The rest opens in early 2026.

Until then, passengers arriving at B and E gates  where the walking distances are twice as long as usual  may need to lace up their walking shoes or call for assistance.

The detours are necessary to ensure a safe buffer from the construction zone, said Kara Hansen, a Port of Portland spokesperson.

Passengers who spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive noted that the twists and turns on their walks made them feel extra long and described the confusion of walking back through the check-in foyer.

It feels like it takes you through a lot of different areas, said LeAnn Miner, 67, who had just flown in from Austin, Texas, where she recently moved after living in Portland for years. Youre thinking, Am I going to the right place?

A graphic on the airports PDX Next website shows the winding detour for passengers to loop their way from concourses B and E to baggage claim. The path takes passengers around blocked-off construction sites, northwest toward the C and D terminals, before turning back through the entrance area to get to baggage claim.

Once the rest of the terminal opens next year, the walks to and from each concourse will flow more smoothly and new exit lanes and escalators will descend to baggage claim, according to the site.

Walk times could be slashed in half for some gates and there will be new seating, additional restaurants and even more photo ops with pieces of the iconic PDX carpet, said Hansen, the port spokesperson.

The walking distance to gate B3, for example, will be reduced from around 1,000 feet to less than 600 feet once construction is finished, Hansen said. In the meantime, the airport has added more seating and signs with walk time information.

Despite the detours, the walks to even the furthest gates at PDX are quicker than at other airports.

According to the airports online wayfinding map, it takes 12 minutes to walk about two-thirds of a mile from gate E13, at the far end of the concourse, to baggage claim. That might seem like a leisurely stroll compared to the 1.5-mile walk from the entrance to the furthest gate in the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport or the mile-long treks at the Denver and Washington Dulles airports, according to an analysis by the footwear company KURU.

Phil Stenstrom, the Portland airports director of innovation and customer experience, earlier this year responded to a public complaint about the hardship on people with mobility issues, saying travelers should call ahead for free wheelchair assistance (503-460-4300) or pick up a white courtesy phone at the airport for help.

The concourse bypasses and resulting detours proved to be the best option for the terminals phased opening, Stenstrom said. Still, These long walks are hard, especially for passengers and employees with mobility issues, he acknowledged. We know these longer distances are a pain point, but theyre paving the way for an even better PDX.

The complaint  a letter to The Oregonian/OregonLive  noted that PDX doesnt offer motorized carts. Airlines are required to provide assistance under federal law, so its up to airlines to determine which equipment is used, Hansen said.

If an airline wanted to test motorized devices at PDX  wed work with them to determine how that might work, Hansen said. Considerations may include concourse design, noise, navigation and safety, device maintenance and charging, liability and other factors.

Hansen wasnt able to provide information about whether airlines have considered testing motorized carts or autonomous wheelchairs in the past.

Although most of the dozen passengers who spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive noted the long walk, many said the good parts of the airport renovations outweigh the trudge.

Katie Campisi, 32, who on Sunday returned to Portland from a visit to Boston, said shes seen others complaining about the detours online. Yes, she said, it felt like she was walking upstream through the entrance terminal, and yes, the first time she flew in after renovations, she accidentally found herself almost back in the security line because of the confusing route.

But still: Its the airport, she said. Youre gonna have to walk.

 Maddie Khaw covers breaking news, public safety and more for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at mkhaw@oregonian.com.
One of my fondest childhood memories from the coast is also one of the most ordinary: Its early afternoon on a bright summer day, and weve just come in from the beach. My dad must be napping, because its just me, my older sister and my mom sitting by the big window of our beachside condo in Neskowin, the green lawn outside giving way to a cliff over the sand, and were going around playing Mad Libs, all of us giggling uncontrollably.

Since then, Ive made a lot of memories on the Oregon coast (many more once I started covering the travel beat for The Oregonian/OregonLive), but recently Ive found all those childhood memories bubbling back up and gaining new traction in my mind  undoubtedly because of my new role as a parent.

My daughter, whos just about to turn 1, has already seen a good slice of Oregon. Shes stayed in a tiny house on Mount Hood, strolled through the gorge, driven up and down the Willamette Valley, been twice out to Breitenbush Hot Springs, and once, briefly, to the coast. This summer, my partner and I decided that it was high time for her first official beach trip.

There was no question in my mind where we should take her: It had to be Neskowin.

Proposal Rock, a sea stack covered in a small forest, dominates the beach at Neskowin. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A living room view from one of the units in The Chelan, one of many small places to stay in Neskowin. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A summer sunset over the beach at Neskowin. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

My parents, who moved us away from the Pacific Northwest when I was 10, never had the strongest allegiance to any particular vacation destinations. We stayed at Sunriver a couple of times. We often drove up to Mount St. Helens. There were always trips to the Tillamook Creamery (or the Cheese Factory, as it was known back then) as we tried out a few different beach spots along the coast. Neskowin was different. We didnt always go, but we always made sure to go back. We were drawn to the place.

Neskowin isnt like most beach towns on the Oregon coast. It doesnt have any cute little shops, theres nowhere to play Skee-Ball or eat elephant ears, and there are no funky roadside attractions. Neskowin is probably best described as a hamlet, a small settlement of cottages and condos tucked away on the north-central stretch of the coastline. Its not a place for doing things (though the art gallery is worth a visit), but a place for simply being.

My strongest childhood memories of Neskowin are of the beach, where Proposal Rock dominates the landscape, the sea stacks craggy surface covered in a small forest of trees and brush. Along its edges, you can sometimes find tide pools, where sea stars may be seen clinging to the rocks  though you might also find them attached to the old, waterlogged stumps of the Ghost Forest, which emerges from the sand at low tide.

Our family loved exploring the coastline, spying on sea stars and hunting for unbroken sand dollars. I especially loved walking the beach with my mom, who grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast but was spiritually adopted by the Oregon coast. She helped instill in me the love of the ocean: the brisk salt air, the chilly water, the dramatic scenery. As if through osmosis, her love of this place transferred to me.

Reporter Jamie Hale on one of his first Oregon coast trips as a baby with his mom, Sally Hale. Rick Hale

Reporter Jamie Hale, with his daughter on her first trip to the Oregon coast. Sadie Leigh

This is something Ive thought a lot about with my daughter. Passing down the love of a place has suddenly felt important to me, and theres no place I love more than the Oregon coast. But you cant just wish that kind of transference into existence (it isnt really osmosis, after all); it only works if you visit that place together. That was why we had to go to Neskowin.

As luck would have it, those same beachside condos, part of a 1930s art deco building called The Chelan, are still up and running. The same big windows look out over the same green lawn. The cliff, now shored up with riprap, still leads down to the same stretch of sand where I played as a kid. When we arrived, my mind swam with nostalgia. Even if my daughter, crawling around the kitchen, was more invested in tipping over the trash can.

Unlike the beach trips of my childhood, which seemed to stretch on forever, this trip to Neskowin felt hurried. One reason is that for me it was a work trip (yes, its a great job, I know), but a bigger part was the fact that we could only afford to stay the minimum of two nights at The Chelan. Prices for vacation rentals have skyrocketed the past few decades, putting long trips out of reach for most families, including ours. In 1995, two-bedroom condos at The Chelan rented for $95 a night  a decade earlier, my parents paid $45 a night, my mom said. This summer, the same condos rented for around $330 a night, with taxes and fees included.

It meant that we had only one full day at the beach, and, in true dad fashion, I was determined to make it count. I made a plan. I wrote up a detailed itinerary. The results, unsurprisingly, were mixed.

Stumps of the Ghost Forest emerge at low tide. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Neskowin Provisions, a market with a to-go menu and fresh-baked pastries, is one of only a few businesses in Neskowin. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A summer sunset over Neskowin, seen from the back deck at The Chelan. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

On the morning of our one full day, the three of us had a nice little breakfast on the patio at Neskowin Provisions, a beach market with a decent to-go menu. Our planned family stroll to the Ghost Forest, however, turned into a solo trip (guess who was solo!) when low tide coincided with our babys morning nap time. Back at the condo, we made a delicious lunch of pan-seared tofu and chickpeas with fresh cherry tomatoes. I was itching to get the baby to the beach, but first needed to stop at the Hawk Creek Gallery, which turned into a two-hour affair as I put on my reporter hat and conducted a lengthy interview with artist Michael Schlicting, who has run the Neskowin art gallery since before I was born. After that, my family and I got ice cream, then it was nap time again.

I started to worry that we would never make it down to the sand, the implication of which (in my mind at least) was that my daughter would never get the sensory experience that would help her form a meaningful connection to this place that I so adored.

It was almost 6 p.m. when the baby woke up. The light was turning gold as the sun began its long descent to the horizon. I felt a sense of urgency as we slathered our daughter in that thick baby sunscreen (more paste than lotion) and tied her silly little sun hat around her chin. Soon enough, we were down the boulders and crossing the sand to the ocean, our baby in my arms, salt air blowing across our faces. At last.

I had obviously thought about this moment a lot. While some aspects of it were exciting, the kindling of a spiritual connection to the coast, for instance, other parts of it gave me the new-parent-jitters. A lot of it was about the sun (would the sun paste do its job? what if she refused to wear her silly little hat?), but also about the sand (what happens if she eats the sand? what if she finds something gross and weird?). Before we left for the coast, a contingent of parent and grandparent friends calmed my nerves  babies will eat a little sand, they said, it comes out the other end. I attempted to channel their chill. Its fine.

When the moment finally arrived  when we plopped her down on the beach, and her chubby little fingers dug into the sand, her eyes shining with curiosity as she made what appeared to be a kind of primeval connection to the Earth  all I could feel was overwhelming jubilation.

The baby waves her hands at the ocean during her first trip to the beach. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Digging her hands in the sand on the beach. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A sun hat and sunscreen were crucial tools for keeping the baby safe on her beach trip. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Here was my baby, covered in sand. Here she was, staring contemplatively into the horizon. On hands and knees, she crawled across the beach, stopping to poke at a shell or to lift a handful of sand and watch the grains fall. Did she get sand in her mouth? Definitely. Did she pull off her silly little hat? Of course she did. It was more than fine; it was life-affirming.

Everything was great until she made a sudden beeline for the water, crawling frantically like a newly hatched baby turtle, which suddenly struck me with panic. Horror stories of sneaker waves flashed through my mind and I found myself rushing over to snatch her up. Sadie, my partner, who grew up on the East Coast and therefore carries none of my same (not irrational!) fears around the terrible power of the Pacific Ocean, and who is not a reporter, meaning she doesnt carry innumerable (very real) stories of horrific coastal tragedy  many concerning children  allayed my concerns as she gently ushered our baby away from the surf.

It wasnt long before dinner and bedtime beckoned. I picked up the crawling baby from the beach, and even though she howled with frustration (she is now a creature of the sand!), I soothed her and carried her back up the boulders to The Chelan, where we brushed off our feet (and hands, legs, elbows, and the insides of many little fat folds) and settled into the living room to watch the sky turn pastel pink over the ocean.

With my daughter in my arms, all those cherished memories melded with the present moment, like the purples over reds over blues in the sky. I know she will probably never remember this day (though we will obviously show her the pictures), but I hope shell build her own relationship with this place, someday, one beach trip and one fistful of sand at a time.
ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is one of the Most Undervalued Long Term Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On July 22, Raymond James lifted the price objective on the companys stock to $117 from $109, while keeping an Outperform rating, as reported by The Fly. While there are macro uncertainties, the oil price has, for the time being, witnessed a recovery. Therefore, the firm sees minimal activity changes from management teams.

Raymond James Lifted PT on ConocoPhillips (COP) Stock

Amidst a volatile macro environment, ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) remains confident in the competitive advantages offered by the differentiated portfolio, healthy balance sheet, and disciplined capital allocation framework, which prioritizes returns on and of capital to shareholders. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) believes that its fundamental long-term value proposition remains differentiated. It possesses a deep, durable, and diverse portfolio with decades of high-quality, low-cost supply inventory to develop.

Furthermore, the company remains on the cusp of a compelling multi-year FCF growth trajectory, thanks to its high-quality, longer-cycle investments in Alaska and LNG.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
The warning was in place for Tualatin Valley, West Hills and Chehalem Mountains, Inner Portland Metro, East Portland Metro, Outer Southeast Portland Metro, West Central Willamette Valley, East Central Willamette Valley, Benton County Lowlands, Linn County Lowlands, Lane County Lowlands, West Columbia River Gorge of Oregon above 500 ft, West Columbia River Gorge I-84 Corridor, Upper Hood River Valley, Central Columbia River Gorge I-84 Corridor, Clackamas County Cascade Foothills, Cascade Foothills of Marion and Linn counties and Lane County Cascade Foothills.

"Maximum heating for the day has ended, and temperatures will fall through the evening. Overnight temperatures ranging from 55-65 degrees F are expected with the warmest temperatures within the northern Willamette Valley and Columbia River Gorge. While cooler overnight, HeatRisk remains moderate. High temperatures will continue to fall through the remainder of the week," states the National Weather Service.

Tips from the weather service for staying safe during a heat wave

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids.

Seek shelter: Stay in an air-conditioned room.

Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.

Child and pet safety: Exercise vigilance when it comes to young children and pets. Never leave them unattended in vehicles during high temperatures, as car interiors can quickly become dangerously hot.

Caution outdoors: If you work or spend time outside, be sure to take additional safety measures.

Select the ideal time: Consider rescheduling strenuous activities to early morning or evening if possible.

Recognize heat-related issues: Familiarize yourself with warning signs and how to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Stay cool with clothing: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to help your body stay cool.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.

If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.

In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety recommendations are vital for your well-being during periods of high temperatures. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the heat's potentially dangerous effects.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for the Willamette Valley from noon Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. National Weather Service

A warm and sunny Saturday is expected for northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, with the occasional high cloud drifting across the area and an expected high in the mid- to upper 80s in the Willamette Valley.

Then it gets hot. Really hot.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning from noon Sunday to 5 a.m. Tuesday covering the Portland/Vancouver area and the Willamette Valley, extending into the Columbia River Gorge out to Hood River.

Dangerously hot conditions are expected, the weather service said, with an expected high temperature ranging from 97 to 105 degrees.

A marine layer will keep the Oregon coast significantly cooler during the stretch, with highs reaching into the low 70s on Saturday and possibly 80 degrees Sunday.

With overnight lows only expected to drop within a range of 62 to 70 degrees, the region is likely to stay warm until midweek, when temperatures are expected to return to seasonal norms, the weather service said.

The weather service recommends area residents:
In the hills of West Linn, with a view of Rock Island in the Willamette River and Mount Hood on the horizon, theres a wine oasis that you may not be familiar with. Its called Petes Mountain Vineyard & Winery, and after one visit, youll want to take all of your friends there.

Petes Mountain is best known for: hospitality. Kristy and Mike Thayer are so humble and gracious, I immediately felt welcome and at ease. Its our home, its where we live, and we want people to feel comfortable here, Mike Thayer said.

A must try current release: 2023 Petes Mountain Haleys Block Pinot Noir ($42  13.5% ABV)

Like all Petes Mountain wines, Haleys Block is made by Laurent Montalieu of Solena Estate, Hyland Estates and NW Wine Company fame, and Anne Sery, NW Wine Companys director of winemaking.

The wine smells like a warm raspberry pie, garnished with aromas of fresh rosemary and a cup of Rishi Bergamot Rose tea. That tea mixes red rooibos, rose petals and bergamot. Thats how good this wine smells.

Accompanied by bright acidity and tannins that ever so gently rough up the roof of your mouth, the wines ripe boysenberry, raspberry and fig flavors will make any evening better.

Innovation: The Thayers offer a wine club that isnt a wine club. Mike Thayer adds that their non-wine club also offers better prices than any wine club in America.

We always tell people that we dont have a wine club, but we kind of do. You just have to show up. Its a low bar, Mike Thayer said.

The Thayers elaborated that anyone who visits the winery is treated with equal care and attention, so its like everyone is a club member.

And that pricing? Mix and match six bottles to receive a 15% discount. With a mix-and-match case, that discount jumps to 25%. This means you can get Haleys Block for $36 or $31 in mix-and-match six-packs or cases, respectively.

Best of all, you get wine club treatment without having to commit to regular wine shipments

History: The Thayer family is celebrating two significant anniversaries this year  the 25th anniversary of planting their first vines and the 20th anniversary of their first vintage. Today they make approximately 3,800 cases of mostly pinot noir and chardonnay, along with smaller amounts of sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon and syrah.

The Thayers winery and vineyard are located on Petes Mountain, which is named in honor of Peter A. Weiss. Dutch Pete, as he was known, emigrated to Oregon in 1845, where he staked a 327-acre claim on the 839-foot peak that now bears his given name. Weiss is probably best remembered for operating a ferry on the Willamette River.

What we dont know: The Thayers tasting room was originally an alpaca barn. When the Thayers decided not to raise alpacas, they removed the stalls. They then converted it into the elegantly appointed tasting room you see today.

Name game: Is it Petes Mountain, or is it Petes Mountain. The answer is yes.

The winery uses an apostrophe as a tip of the cap to Weiss. The road to the winery, however, is Petes Mountain Road. We likely have the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) to thank for the confusion.

Since its formation in 1890, the BGN has discouraged the use of the possessive apostrophe and s within the body of proper geographic names. The policy aims to avoid implying ownership associated with natural features, hoping to deter Petes from Sampras to Schulberg from laying claim to Petes Mountain.

How to taste: The Thayers serve up wine, live music and light bites from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays, from May through September. Reservations are available at 5 and 7 p.m.

Year-round, Petes Mountain is open on Sundays from noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. Tastings take 90 minutes, and reservations are available at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Sunday tastings, which include charcuterie boards and light bites, are $25. Any guest buying two or more bottles will have their tasting fee refunded.

Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations through tock are encouraged.

Hot tip: Michele Van Kleef of Calobo fame plays Petes Mountain on Aug. 22.

Where to buy: Petes Mountain wines are available at the winery and Market of Choice, J. Willys and Sushi Kuni, all in West Linn. Petes Mountain wines are also available in Cannon Beach at Fresh Foods and the Stephanie Inn.

5-8:30 p.m. Friday, May-September; noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays year-round, 28101 S.W. Petes Mountain Road, West Linn, petesmountainvineyard.com or 503-656-2130.

-- Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He can be reached at malberty0@gmail.com. To read more of his coverage, go to oregonlive.com/wine
Armed police officers walk near the scene of shooting at the Emory University in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP

ATLANTA  A man opened fire outside the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet impacts in windows across the sprawling campus and killing a police officer before he was found dead in a nearby building, authorities said.

The attack, which unfolded near the neighboring Emory University campus, prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nations most prominent public health institutions, but no one else was reported to be injured.

Images shared by employees showed multiple CDC buildings with bullet-pocked windows, underscoring the breadth of the damage to a site where thousands of scientists and staff work on critical disease research.

The gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus and died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. He added that we do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.

The shooter was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three other firearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

The gunmans motive is still unknown this early in the investigation, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.

Police declined to name the officer who was killed, but DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson struck at the emotions of the loss.

This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father, Cochran-Johnson said.

When the shooting kicked off, staff at a nearby restaurant hunkered down and said they heard a string of gunshots. It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant.

She then saw people running past her business. Two people paused to warn them of a shooter nearby.

When Anurag Mehta and his wife heard about the shooting, they tried to get to their 3-year-old son in a preschool near the CDC, but they were unable to approach.

I was thinking that when I left for work this morning, was that the last time I saw my son? said Mehta, who later learned his son was safe.

The CDC and Emorys main campus are surrounded by affluent wooded neighborhoods in northeast Atlanta. All three institutions line up along Clifton Road. The area is hard to access, and notoriously traffic-choked, but on Friday few cars were in evidence as a warning siren blared.

Gov. Brian Kemp praised the efforts of first responders.

Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, Kemp said, referring to the shooting at Fort Stewart as well as the CDC campus. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.
Fire crews in Lancaster County battled two separate blazes early Friday morning: a duplex fire in Providence Township and a fire at a large industrial building in Bart Township.

Just after 12:30 a.m., the Quarryville Fire Department was dispatched to the first block of Cinder Road in Providence Township for the duplex fire.

The two-and-a-half story duplex had smoke showing from a fire in the basement, the department said. Once inside, firefighters said the blaze had already extended to the first floor and burned the stairs leading up from the basement.

The duplex fire was under control in about an hour, but crews remained in the area to search for hotspots and extinguish rekindling flames.

Fire officials said six adults and four children were displaced as a result of the duplex fire. One side of the duplex had burn damage, while the other side was affected by smoke from the fire.

The American Red Cross and PPL also responded to the duplex.

As crews were clearing the Providence Township call just before 2 a.m., Quarryville Fire Department units responded to a fire at a large industrial building in Bart Township.

Firefighters needed more manpower to battle the flames within the shed manufacturing building, ringing a second alarm.

Units from Gap Fire Company and Christiana Fire Company also responded to the fire at the industrial building.

Quarryville Fire Department crews and other fire agencies from Lancaster County were on-scene until after sunrise, clearing the area just before 8 a.m.

As of Saturday, it is unclear what caused either of the fires.
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A Reddit user recently shared a story that received a lot of attention. Posting to r/povertyfinance, the person explained how her elderly, unemployed parents in Alabama were drowning in credit card debt. After speaking with a lawyer about filing for bankruptcy, they were told not to bother.

Lawyer Says: No Assets, No Problem

The lawyer asked about the couple's finances and quickly concluded that they had nothing of value to collect. Their only income was from Social Security. Their assets? A 20-year-old truck, a 24-year-old car, and a 30-year-old mobile home sitting on rented land. In the lawyers words, they were essentially judgment proof.

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"So the lawyer told my parents to simply ignore their credit card bills and credit card companies," the Redditor wrote. "There's nothing of value creditors would want, and they can't garnish their Social Security income."

While the advice seemed shockingly blunt, it was legally sound. Under 42 U.S. Code  407(a), Social Security benefits are protected from garnishment by creditors. This federal law explicitly states that Social Security income shall not be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process for consumer debt.

Collectors can sue, but even if they win, they cant collect if theres nothing to take.

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Calls, Pressure And Peace Of Mind

Still, the daughter was worried. "The credit card companies are calling them every single day now," she wrote. Commenters quickly chimed in, confirming that the lawyer had done the right thing. Yes, it really is that simple, one person replied bluntly.

Others shared similar experiences. One person noted, My mom filed [bankruptcy] at 90 with no assets... It gave her great peace of mind for her final 5 or 6 years. Priceless.

Some commenters recommended sending a written cease-and-desist letter to the debt collectors. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, once such a letter is received, collectors are legally obligated to stop calling.
Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, was killed at the Trump rally July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. A statue of him was erected at the site. Facebook

A bronze statue of a man who lost his life during an attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania in July 2024 has been placed at the site.

Corey Comperatore, 50, a volunteer firefighter and former chief, was shot and killed when Thomas M. Crooks, 20, opened fire during a Trump campaign rally in Butler July 13, 2024.

Secret Service agents shot and killed Crooks less than 30 seconds after he opened fire.

A statue of Comperatore was installed near the entrance to the 77th annual Butler Farm Show.

The statue shows Comperatore wearing his wedding ring, a casual shirt and boots. He is also depicted holding two bracelets with his daughters names and a Bible, according to CBS News.

Ken Laughlin, the president of the Butler Farm Show board of directors, said the statue is a constant reminder of the tragic events that took place just over a year ago.

[The statue] reminds me of the day everything happened here, Laughlin, who was there on the day of the shooting, told CBS News. The whole [Butler Farm Show] shows pretty special, but this statue up front here was donated by the Comperatore family.

This year, the Butler Farm Show started a community outreach program that aims to donate to local fire departments and other organizations that contribute to the community. The farm show plans to donate $10,000 annually.

The statue of Comperatore was unveiled at the show grounds one year after the shooting.
Americans will pay a lot more for health insurance next year, according to analysis from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. Those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act will see premiums rise an average of 75%. This includes millions of Americans who dont have employer-sponsored insurance and dont qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

Insurance companies attribute the price hikes to the end of government subsidies, which helped drive the uninsured rate to a historical low. Higher costs will lead many healthy people to take their chances and go without insurance. Thats bad news for the rest of us. Those left in the insurance pool will be sicker and more expensive, leading to further premium hikes for everyone.

Theres a simple solution: Congress could extend those subsidiesexcept that Republicans claim those subsidies are an unfair burden on taxpayers.

So, Republicans dont mind taxpayer-supported subsidies for private jet owners, but think its okay for millions of Americans to lose their health insurance? The budget legislation they just passed allows jet owners to immediately deduct the full purchase price of aircraft, which will result in $378 billion in LOST government revenue over 10 years. The cut to healthcare subsidies will result in more costly medical problems, earlier deaths, and higher premiums for everyone.

Speaking of jets, Republicans just voted to let Trump keep the gifted Qatari jet after leaving officeand a taxpayer-funded $1 billion retrofit!

What kind of country are we?

Ed Satalia, State College, Pa.
Nicolas Chouity Reigns in the Sweet Life of La Notte Degli Assi

Kai Cocklin Live Reporter Copy link

After thirteen days of poker under the Mediterranean sun, the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series has crowned its final champion. Nicolas Chouity of Lebanon conquered a record-setting 1,023-entry field in the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi, claiming the title, the trophy, and a career-boosting $460,000 payday inside the luxurious Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.

The event generated a massive $2,823,480 prize pool, making it the largest Merit Poker tournament of 2025 in terms of both field size and prize pool.

The final chapter of La Notte Degli Assi (Night of the Aces) delivered all the drama and glamour expected from one of Merit Pokers crown jewel events. Chouity began the final table as chip leader and never looked back, navigating a stacked lineup with experience, composure, and a little bit of luck. In the end, he overcame Hungarys Richard Broda in a tough and tactical heads-up battle, marking a powerful return to the spotlight for one of Lebanons most accomplished players.

$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Nicolas Chouity Lebanon $460,000 2 Richard Broda Hungary $307,000 3 "Ma" France $215,000 4 Mehmet Deniz Turkey $156,000 5 Aleksandr Razinkov Russia $115,000 6 Tommy G San Marino $95,000 7 Nebi Baysal Turkey $77,500 8 Viacheslav Balaev Russia $61,500 9 Adil Tlimisov Russia $46,280

Cedric Schwaederle Wins Record-Breaking Merit Poker High Roller

Winners Reaction

Reflecting on the win, Chouity shared that tournament poker had taken a backseat in recent years. He noted that he mostly played EPT stops and occasionally travelled abroad, but this result reminded him of how special the thrill of victory can be. Im really excited and happy to be back and to beat a field of 1,000 players, he said. For me its something really nice; Im truly satisfied.

Starting the final table as chip leader added both opportunity and pressure, but Chouity handled it one step at a time. My goal was to finish top three, but being out in front also let me apply pressure on the other players, he explained. That helped a lot.

As for his final opponent, Chouity gave credit where it was due. The heads-up was tough. I dont play much heads-up, maybe he has more experience than me, I dont know, but it was fun, it was challenging, and I really enjoyed it.

Chouity - Broda Heads Up

When told that a top-three finish would elevate him to second on Lebanons all-time money list, according to TheHendonMob, Chouity shrugged it off with a smile. Honestly, Im not looking at that. Im just happy to win the tournament. I dont care about moving up in Lebanons all-time rankings. I hope [Albert Daher] he wins 3 or 4 tournaments, Im even happier because hes my friend.

He also had high praise for the host venue and the Merit Poker series itself. This venue provides a very good service, very convenient for players. They have a nice room, great fields, friendly people, and excellent staff. Merit is now one of the best poker destinations. I think theyre doing a fantastic job and I hope they keep it up.

As for whats next, Chouity confirmed that hell be sticking around a little longer for the inaugural Onyx High Roller Series.

Yes, I will definitely play more. Im not yet sure which events Ill enter, it depends, but Im staying for a couple more days. I might have to head back to Dubai, but Ill be in the $10,000 and the $25,000 for sure.

Xiaosheng Zheng Stays Cool to Conquer $2,200 IPO Master

From Chip Lead to Champion

Chouity started the day as chip leader and played his part in thinning down the field early, as within an hour, four of the finalists had already hit the rail. His contribution came when his king-queen flopped a king against the pocket jacks of Viacheslav Balaev, ending the Russian player's run in eighth.

When play was four-handed, Chouity and Broda engaged in an on-felt war with each other, despite two shorter stacks still being in. Broda briefly took the chip lead, but a fortunate river for Chouity gave him around 75% of the chips in play with three remaining.

Mehmet Deniz

Mehmet Deniz three-bet with pocket aces and quickly called off the shove from Chouity, who held pocket jacks. A brutal jack on the river spelled the end for Deniz, who had to settle for fourth, just shy of the podium.

Broda then flopped a set of nines to dispatch "Ma" in third, setting up the heads-up finale. Chouity took a better than two-to-one advantage into the duel, but Broda clawed his way back and even regained the chip lead after scooping several small pots.

Richard Broda

But that momentum didnt last. In the final hand, the chips went in on every street, culminating in a shove from Broda and a call from Chouity. Both had diamond flushes, Broda with seven-five and Chouity with eight-three, but it was the Lebanese pro who held the better one, bringing the curtain down on a hard-fought final day.

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In ink and longing, family letters reveal poignant wartime memories

16:35, August 08, 2025 By Xiong Run and Cheng Lu ( Xinhua

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Though the ink has faded and the paper is creased and yellowing at the edges, the longing in a letter penned by one U.S. pilot stationed in China during World War II remains evident.

"Darling, it is understood that no place could really be home without you..." Major D. J. Campbell wrote to his wife in Cincinnati.

Dated 1945, the letter was never meant for the public eye. Today, it rests at Renmin University of China's museum of family letters, tucked away in the heart of Beijing.

Campbell was a member of the Flying Tigers -- officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force -- which was formed in 1941 by U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault to help China in its fight against invading Japanese forces.

His letter is just one among more than 80,000 preserved in the museum's growing archive of handwritten messages between husbands and wives, parents and children, as well as soldiers and their loved ones. Many were written during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, revealing stories of separation, sacrifice and the endurance of love amid one of history's darkest chapters.

One letter was from Zhao Yiman, a revered figure in the resistance movement in northeast China. Captured in 1935 and executed the following year at just 31, she withstood brutal torture without betraying her comrades.

In her final words to her young son, she wrote: "It's my regret that I haven't fulfilled a mother's duty to raise and guide you. There will be no chance for us to meet again in this life. My most beloved child, I have no need for a thousand words to teach you. I teach you by how I have lived. When you are grown, I hope you will never forget that your mother gave her life for the country."

Another letter bears the heartbreak of Zuo Quan, a general of the army led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), who was killed in a battle in 1942. In it, he poured out his longing for his wife and daughter, torn from him by the war.

"What a pity that the three of us are scattered in different places. If only we were together, how joyful that would be!" he wrote. "Zhilan! My dear, parting is easy; meeting again is so hard. It's been 21 months since we separated. When will we reunite? I miss you, I miss you!"

Fought from 1931 to 1945, the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was the first major conflict and the longest-running campaign in the World Anti-Fascist War. It resulted in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties.

"Amid the torrent of the war, the fierce battles on the front lines and the daily struggles of life are faithfully recorded in family letters," said Zhang Ding, the museum's deputy director. "Each wartime letter represents an individual's memory. Together, they form the collective memory of that era."

Zhang's view is echoed by Tian Yanfei, a lecturer at the Hunan Academy of Governance.

"China made tremendous sacrifices and contributions to the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War," Tian said. "The sorrow and sincerity captured in these letters come together to form an epic chronicle of the Chinese people's 14 years of courageous resistance."

Tian noted that wartime letters between family members serve as constant reminders that the wounds of war must not be forgotten, and that the fruits of peace must be safeguarded by all.

This year, China will host an array of cultural events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Among these events is a themed exhibition currently underway at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. It features an immersive audiovisual zone that brings wartime family letters to life.

Similar exhibitions have opened in other parts of China, including the provinces of Jiangsu, Hebei and Hunan, where museums are showcasing the private words and untold stories behind the war.

Renmin University of China began collecting private wartime letters in 2005, and its museum of family letters continues to expand its archive.

"I never expected to find such letters in our museum," said Feng Zhouyue, a university sophomore who recently toured the exhibit. "Reading them was deeply moving. They turned the war from a distant historic event into something deeply personal and real."

"It's not just about remembering the past," Feng added. "It's also about letting that memory inspire me to become a better person."

(Xinhua correspondents Wei Mengjia and Zhang Ge contribute to the story.)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Diamond Hill Capital, an investment management company, released its Large Cap Fund first-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. After a significant decline in April following President Trumps Liberation Day tariffs announcement, markets recovered and increased consistently for the remainder of the quarter. The strategy modestly trailed the Russell 1000 Value Index in the second quarter and returned 2.87% (net) vs 3.79% for the index. The financial and consumer discretionary holdings lagged, while healthcare and communication services outperformed, boosting overall performance. To get an idea of the funds best choices for 2025, check out its top 5 positions.

In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX). Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) is a global manufacturer of industrial powertrain solutions, power transmission components, electric motors and electronic controls, air-moving products, and specialty electrical components and systems. The one-month return of Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) was -7.16%, and its shares lost 8.10% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 7, 2025, Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) stock closed at $141.01 per share, with a market capitalization of $9.359 billion.

Diamond Hill Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Among our top individual contributors in Q2 were Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) and Texas Instruments. Power transmission components manufacturer Regal Rexnord has held up well against an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop. Merger synergies, its 80/20 growth initiative and continuous improvement efforts are driving strong margin improvement and better-than-expected organic growth. While somewhat elevated leverage could leave the company vulnerable to further near-term macroeconomic weakness, we believe Regal Rexnords self-help initiatives should contribute to ongoing margin improvement and organic growth faster than peers, which we dont believe the current share price reflects."

Regal Rexnord Corporation (RRX): Among Billionaire Ken Fishers Industrial Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential

A technician inspecting a specialized industrial machinery in an engineering lab.

Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 38 hedge fund portfolios held Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) at the end of the first quarter, which was 34 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX) 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.
Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter and assistant editor at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012.
The Robert E. Lee Memorial Highway marker was removed from a charter school campus in July 2021. Heritage groups are fighting that again, all to re-install a monument that Lee himself would not have approved of.
An earlier version of this story included an incorrect photo of a house that was described as a home where Capers once lived. The story has been revised to eliminate the image.
Rocket Lab is signaling to investors, yet again, that its more than just a rocket company.

Rocket Labs second-quarter results, which were posted Thursday, show revenues continue to be driven by its space systems business rather than launch. The results also highlighted the companys acquisition strategy and how its purchase of a new optical payloads company will make it more competitive for lucrative government contracts.

The companys space systems brought in $97.9 million of the $144.5 million in total revenues for the second quarter. Rocket Labs total revenue, its highest quarterly revenue in the companys history, jumped 36% from a year ago. The companys net loss widened to $66.4 million.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck highlighted the busy quarter of M&A activity as the company gets close to closing its deal to buy Geost, a company that builds optical payloads. Through that acquisition, which will close at $275 million in cash and equity, Rocket Lab is opening a new business unit called Optical Systems to scale electro-optical and infrared sensor manufacturing.

Those sensors are used in missile warning, tracking, and space domain awareness. The acquisition is also one part of a larger play from Rocket Lab  spelled out quite explicitly in the companys earnings presentation  to bid for multibillion-dollar DOD initiatives like Golden Dome.

Rocket Lab has already won some major defense contracts, including a $515 million, 18-satellite build contract to support the Space Development Agencys constellation of missile-tracking satellites. The company has moved into production on those satellites, following confirmation that they meet the DODs mission requirements, Rocket Lab said.

Down on Earth, Rocket Lab says its progressing well toward the first launch of its larger Neutron rocket. The rockets launch complex in Virginia is expected to be complete in the third quarter of this year, with hardware en route and the new rocket engine, called Archimedes, undergoing multiple tests per day.

The company is staying vague about the exact launch date, saying only in the presentation that it is pushing an all-out effort to get Neutron to the launch pad before the end of 2025.

Rocket Lab ended the quarter with $564 million in cash and cash equivalents and estimates revenues will hit between $145 to $155 million next quarter.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 9, 2025 /Akka Probiotics ReviewsIn recent years, supplements and probiotics designed to enhance energy, digestion, and general well-being have become more popular in the United States. Sluggishness, bloating, and fatigue are no longer problems exclusive to people with hectic schedules or unhealthy eating habits. People from many areas of life are on forums like Reddit, Trust Pilot and BBB looking for solutions that seem both natural and practical. Akka is one supplement that has been gaining popularity among diabetics, obese and people with many chronic illnesses.Akka is marketed as a daily supplement that promotes liver function and makes the body feel cleaner, lighter, and more invigorated. The core of Akka's strategy is the liver, an essential organ that is often disregarded until things get very bad. Improving energy levels, promoting natural weight control, and lessening feelings of heaviness can all be significantly aided by a healthy liver. For this reason, Akka promotes itself as a means of enhancing the body's internal functioning rather than merely as another health supplement.What makes Akka unique, at least according to available consumer reports, is the way it presents itself as more than a "quick fix." Rather than depending on stimulants or short-term energy spikes, Akka emphasizes cleansing and promoting the body's natural processes, especially the liver's capacity to detoxify and metabolize effectively. Curiosity is piqued for many by the promise of addressing the underlying causes of their problems rather than just their symptoms.Even with many verified users rating the Akka SupeRbiotic 5/5 and some calling it a 7-second Liver Cleansing Ritual, the question still stands, though, as with any supplement: does it truly provide any discernible advantages? Can it really help someone who experiences energy slumps and poor digestion that make them feel exhausted, bloated, or weighed down all the time? More importantly, with the abundance of wellness products available today, is it safe and worth the investment?The Akka is a product of a leading New York City gut Dr. Gina Sam claims to have more benefits than Ozempic, Zepbound and even GLP-1 drugs. Dr. Gina claims to include a superbiotic called Akkermansia in the formulation as well as Quercetin, Resveratrol and Silymarin. All geared towards Hemingway, you lose stubborn belly fat by helping regenerate your weak liver. In fact, the Akka claims to help you shed up to 7-15 pounds of visceral fat buildup!We will look at what Akka really has to offer, how it works, and what makes it special in this review. We will also analyze its pricing structure, the money-back guarantee that comes with every purchase, and actual user experiences from verified consumers. This in-depth review of Akka will help you determine whether it merits a place in your regimen, regardless of whether you're just interested in trying out new health remedies or you've been dealing with low energy, digestive problems and persistent weight gain.What is Akka?(Akka Superbiotic Reviews)Akka is a superbiotic made to enhance liver health, detoxify the body, and help people feel more energized overall. Akka was developed for those who experience weight gain, bloating, exhaustion, and other symptoms of an overworked or sluggish liver. By encouraging natural detoxification and balance, Akka seeks to address the underlying causes of these problems.As the body's primary filter, the liver aids in metabolism, breaks down pollutants, and controls vital processes that impact digestion and energy. Natural ageing, environmental pollutants, and poor food can all slow down liver function over time, making the body more susceptible to toxins, low energy, and weight swings. The main goal of Akka is to cleanse and revitalize this essential organ so that it can perform at its best.Akka supports a healthy and functioning liver, which enhances energy levels, encourages better digestion, and initiates natural weight loss processes. Additionally, the supplement helps lessen problems like ringing in the ears and exhaustion that may result from impaired liver function. As the supplement starts to work, users often feel healthier and experience increased vitality.To accommodate different needs, Akka is offered in three different buying options. Perfect for new users, the 30-day supply comes with one bottle for $69 plus $4.95 shipping. Three bottles of the 90-day supply are available for $59 each, with free and quick shipping, for individuals looking for longer-lasting effects. The most economical choice, the 180-day supply, offers six bottles at $49 each, along with free and quick shipping, enabling regular use for lasting effects.For individuals looking to regain equilibrium, feel lighter, and enjoy improved daily wellness, Akka provides a solution by helping with liver health, energy restoration, and natural detoxification.MUST SEE: CLICK HERE NOW TO GET AKKA DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICEHow Does Akka Work?Akka restores your body's equilibrium and promotes general vitality by focusing on the liver, the body's main detoxifying organ. Natural substances that support liver cell protection, renewal, and cleansing are included in the mix. Akka lessens the strain on the liver, enabling it to work more effectively, by encouraging the elimination of accumulated waste and poisons.The liver can more effectively process nutrients, break down lipids, and control metabolism when it is functioning at its peak, which promotes good weight management and increases energy output. Additionally, Akka's composition promotes better bile flow, which facilitates digestion and nutrient absorption while lessening discomfort and bloating.Beyond cleansing, Akka helps the body fight oxidative stress and inflammation naturally. In addition to helping the liver balance hormones and stabilize mood and energy, its components shield cells from free radicals and environmental pollutants.By using this novel method, Akka aims to invigorate the body from the inside out. Better digestion, increased energy, a more effective metabolism, and a revitalized sense of general wellbeing are the outcomes. Akka enables the body to function at its peak every day by addressing the underlying reasons of imbalance and exhaustion.Unique Features Of Akka(Akka Reviews)Every component and ingredient of its formulation and design aims to promote balance and vitality while addressing common issues including weariness, slow digestion, and liver support. From its carefully chosen natural ingredients to its user-friendliness, Akka strives to offer advantages that support optimal b
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 8, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), is pleased to announce today that it has closed the final tranche of its previously announced nonbrokered private placement (the "Offering") of convertible debenture units (the "Debenture Units") at a price of $0.60 per Debenture Unit, for gross proceeds of $241,200. The $241,200 represents the principal amount outstanding pursuant to the Debentures (as defined herein); the Company also issued 402,000 Warrants (as defined herein) pursuant to the closing of the final tranche of the Offering.Over the two tranches of the Offering, the Company raised aggregate gross proceeds of $1,250,400, representing the aggregate principal amount outstanding pursuant to the Debentures, and issued a total of 2,084,000 Warrants.Each Debenture Unit consisted of: (i) $0.60 principal amount of 8.0% unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") and (ii) one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") at a price of $0.75 per Common Share for a period of two years following the date of issuance. The Debentures bear interest from their issue date at 8.0% per annum on an accrual basis, calculated and payable on an annual basis, up to and including the date which is two years following the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"). The principal amount of the Debentures is convertible, at the option of the holder, into Common Shares at any time prior to the Maturity Date, at a conversion price of $0.60 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price"). At the election of the Company, the interest payable on the principal amount of the Debentures may be settled by a cash payment or through the issuance of Common Shares at the Conversion Price.The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for product development and commercialization, intellectual property filings, and general working capital.In connection with the closing of the final tranche of the Offering, the Company paid an aggregate cash finder fee of $19,296 and issued an aggregate of 32,160 finder's warrants to Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Finder Warrants"). Each Finder Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share (a "Finder Share") at an exercise price of $0.60 per Finder Share for a period of two years from the date of issuance of the Finder Warrants.The securities of the Company issued in connection with the final tranche of the Offering, and any Common Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, are subject to a statutory hold period until December 9, 2025, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on nextgeneration drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (ThinFilm), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (EntericCoated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity. With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization efforts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patientcentric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com Investor Relations & Media ContactHugh Rogers, CoFounder, CEO and DirectorEmail: investor.relations@bionxt.com Phone: +1 778.598.2698Web: www.bionxt.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bionxtsolutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bionxt THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THE DEBENTURES AND THE SHARES WHICH MAY BE ISSUED ON EXERCISE THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.Cautionary Statement Regarding "ForwardLooking" InformationThis news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking information in this news release includes the projected use of proceeds from the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.SOURCE: Bi
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / August 8, 2025 /Robbins LLP informs stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) securities between May 7, 2025 and July 28 2025. Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company, focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of pharmaceutical productions globally.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 Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) Misled the Market About its 2025 Revenue and Profit Growth PotentialAccording to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (1) Novo Nordisk's representations regarding its growth potential were overstated and failed to account for the impact of the personalization exception to the compounded GLP-1 exclusion; (2) defendants misrepresented the likelihood that patients using compounded GLP-1s would transition to Novo Nordisk's branded alternatives; and (3) Novo Nordisk significantly overstated both the size of the GLP-1 market and its ability to penetrate that market to sustain growth.On July 29, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced it was lowering its sales and profit outlook ahead of reporting its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The Company attributed the guide down on "lowered growth expectations for the second half of 2025" for both Wegovy and Ozempic due to "the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expectations and competition." On this news, the price of Novo Nordisk's common stock declined from $69.00 per share on July 28, 2025, to $53.94 per share on July 29, 2025.What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Novo Nordisk A/S. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their papers with the court by September 30, 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 Novo Nordisk A/S 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.Contact:Aaron Dumas, Jr.Robbins LLP5060 Shoreham Pl., Ste. 300San Diego, CA 92122 adumas@ robbinsllp.com (800) 350-6003 www.robbinsllp.com SOURCE: Robbins LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 8, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., August 8, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) between January 23, 2024 and July 21, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 26, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Lockheed Martin securities 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 Lockheed Martin class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2661or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 26, 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 misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Lockheed Martin lacked effective internal controls regarding its purportedly risk adjusted contracts including the reporting of its risk adjusted profit booking rate; (2) Lockheed Martin lacked effective procedures to perform reasonably accurate comprehensive reviews of program requirements, technical complexities, schedule, and risks; (3) Lockheed Martin overstated its ability to deliver on its contract commitments in terms of cost, quality and schedule; (4) as a result, Lockheed Martin was reasonably likely to report significant losses; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Lockheed Martin's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Lockheed Martin class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2661 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY) has been in the news recently thanks to its massive drop. According to a CNBC headline, the volatility in LLY stock is tied to the underlying companys obesity pill showing modest late-stage trial results. I know this is going to sound sacrilegious but for trading purposes, I dont really care. Im going to work off the reasonable presupposition that the market has already priced this and other developments into the security.

In that case, knowing the Greeks likely wont help you. It all comes down to probabilities, which well discuss next.

Contrary to popular misconception, you dont really need a boatload of data to be an effective options trader. This is especially the case when youre buying call spreads: youre either going to break into the predefined profitability zone or you will not.

Even better, discrete-event analysis is very much compatible with the core features of Barchart Premier . In the below screenshot, I have circled the metrics (aside from the expiration date) that I utilize daily:

My system comprises of two Russian terms: Troitsa , which refers to the Holy Trinity of null hypothesis, alternative hypothesis and expected payoff and Proverka , an inspection or audit of the aforementioned predictive signals empirical viability. From these two concepts, we can utilize the principles of applied game theory to help guide our strategies.

So, the question isnt how cheap your options are. In my opinion, this is a useless statistic without appropriate context. Instead, traders should ask how likely a successful outcome is  and thats where the Russians, rather than the Greeks, provide additional clarity.

Im about to drop a truth bomb. It doesnt matter how cheap implied volatility screeners indicate your debit-based strategy is or how much premium your credit-based strategy will give; if your target asset has a probabilistically low chance of success, then your entire trade carries an unacceptably high risk profile.

So, it raises the obvious question: if Im not intimately familiar with the Greeks (and Im not because I have to look them up to know what others are talking about), why do I write so much about options? The answer: my methodology, which is a discrete-event analysis based on the work of Russian mathematician Andrey Markov, seeks to overcome the epistemological flaws of traditional western methodologies.

Im going to be completely honest with you. Ive always found options the way theyre traditionally taught to be utterly confusing  and dare I say irrational. So, Ive never really bothered. I know the basic Greeks and even then, Im a little shaky.

Story Continues

What were concerned with, then, is the sentiment voting record. In the past 10 weeks, the market voted to buy LLY stock six times and sell four times. During this period, LLY incurred a downward trajectory. For brevity, we can label this sequence as 6-4-D.

Since January 2019, the 6-4-D sequence has materialized 38 times on a rolling basis. Its an unusual quantitative signal as the balance of accumulative sessions outweighs distributive, yet the security declined. This sets the stage for a potential reversal.

As a baseline, the chance that a long position in LLY stock will rise on any given week is 60%, an extremely strong upward bias. This is effectively our null hypothesis, the probabilistic performance expectation assuming no mispricing. However, our alternative hypothesis is that, because of the 6-4-D sequence, the chance of upside is actually 68.42%.

Assuming the positive pathway, the median expected return in the following week is 2.47%. If the bulls maintain control for the next three weeks, LLY stock could reach close to $655 based on past analogs.

To be upfront, running a one-tailed binomial test on the 6-4-D reveals a p-value of 0.1864. This means that theres an 18.64% chance that the implications of the signal could materialize randomly as opposed to intentionally. Still, with the null hypothesis landing at 60%, I like my odds.

As an intriguing idea, take a look at the 640/650 bull call spread expiring Sep. 19.

Equinor (EQNR)

Next up is Norwegian multinational energy company, Equinor (EQNR). Im not terribly familiar with this enterprise. Okay, I lied  I dont know anything about it. What did attract me, though, was the volatility. EQNR stock has lost about 3% of value in the past five sessions. In the trailing month, the security dropped just over 7%. It could be a potential discount so long as were reading the probabilities correctly.

In the past 10 weeks, the market voted to buy EQNR stock four times and sell six times. During this period, EQNR enjoyed an upward trajectory. For brevity, well label this sequence as 4-6-U. This is another unusual sequence as the balance of distributive sessions outweighs accumulative, yet the security has moved higher.

Since January 2019, this sequence has materialized 18 times. Notably, in 61.11% of cases, the flashing of the 4-6-U leads to upside in the following week, with a median return of 2.5%. Should the bulls maintain control for the next two weeks, the expected median performance is an additional 3.82%. With EQNR stock closing at $24.50 on Friday, it could be on pace to reach over $26.

What makes Equinor intriguing is that normally, the security suffers from a negative bias. In this case, the null hypothesis is only 48.7%. However, with the 4-6-U, the odds improve dramatically in our favor. Still, one should be cognizant of the signals p-value, which stands at a relatively lofty 0.2069.

Still, if you want to take a stab here, check out the 24/26 bull call spread expiring Sept. 19.

Transocean (RIG)

An American drilling company, Transocean (RIG) is the worlds largest offshore drilling contractor based on revenue. Given that RIG stock trades hands for a little over three bucks, its easily the riskiest idea on this list. Moreover, on a year-to-date basis, RIG lost more than 17%. In the past 52 weeks, its down more than 40%. Its wildly volatile but thats also where the opportunity could be.

In the past 10 weeks, the market voted to buy RIG stock six times and sell four times. During this period, RIG enjoyed an upward bias. Following the earlier logic, well label this sequence as 6-4-U. On a rolling basis since January 2019, this pattern has materialized 35 times.

As you might imagine, what makes RIG stock particularly risky is its negative bias. On any given week, the chance that a long position will be profitable is only 48.12%. Thats not good. However, with the 6-4-U sequence, the odds improve to 57.14%.

True, thats not exactly earth-shattering. However, the median expected performance assuming the positive pathway is 6.69%. Further, if the bulls can hold on for the next five weeks, speculators may anticipate an additional 3.08% of performance. Therefore, the upside target for RIG stock would be around $3.41.

As such, Im intrigued by the 3.00/3.50 bull call spread expiring Sep. 19. With a little luck, RIG stock could potentially hit the short strike price. Otherwise, the breakeven point for this trade is $3.22, which is a realistic target.

On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 8, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., August 8, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) between May 7, 2025 and July 28, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 30, 2025.SO WHAT: If you purchased Novo Nordisk securities 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 Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 30, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, 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 Novo Nordisk's growth potential. Notably, Novo Nordisk's asserted potential to capitalize on the compounded market greatly understated the potential impact of the personalization exception to the compounded GLP-1 exclusion and overstated the likelihood that such patients would switch to Novo Nordisk's branded alternatives. Further, defendants greatly overstated the potential GLP-1 market or otherwise, Novo's capability to penetrate said markets to achieve continued growth. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Novo Nordisk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34168 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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JACKSONVILLE, NC / ACCESS Newswire / August 8, 2025 / In the aftermath of the recent tsunami that struck Hawaii's coastal regions, emergency preparedness expertRowdy Oxfordis encouraging local and national agencies to reevaluate how public communication is handled during fast-moving disasters. The tsunami, triggered by a strong undersea earthquake near the Pacific Rim, caused significant damage along parts of the Big Island and Maui. While early warnings were issued, confusion surrounding evacuation zones, shelter access, and safety updates revealed weaknesses in current communication protocols."Disasters don't wait for perfect messaging," said Oxford, a U.S. Army veteran and Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) to FEMA. "When the waves are coming, people need clear, timely, and trusted guidance. That's where we still have work to do." Oxford has spent over two decades coordinating civilian and military emergency response efforts. His experience gives him a unique perspective on the challenges communities face during high-pressure situations. He believes the Hawaii tsunami revealed a broader issue seen across the United States. Communication systems are often fragmented, inconsistent, or overly technical when clarity matters most.What Went Right and What Can ImproveRowdy Oxfordpraised local responders and emergency crews for acting quickly and with determination under intense pressure. "They did incredible work with the tools they had," he said. "But every disaster shows us areas where we can do better, especially when it comes to how we speak to the public during emergencies." Some residents said they did not receive alerts in time. Others were unsure if they needed to evacuate, which routes were safe, or where shelters were located. In several coastal towns, guidance from different levels of government used varying terms, leaving people uncertain about what to do."People will act if they trust and understand the information," Rowdy Oxford explained. "When the message is unclear or arrives too late, that hesitation can become dangerous." Recommendations for More Effective CommunicationOxford shared several practical recommendations to improve public messaging in future disasters across Hawaii and beyond:1. Use Clear, Simple Messages During Crises "In the middle of a fast-moving emergency, people don't need technical explanations," Oxford said. "They need to know where to go, what action to take, and how urgently they need to move. Keep it short and direct." 2. Designate a Single Source of Official Information Multiple agencies giving updates can be confusing.Rowdy Oxfordnoted that during the tsunami, people received different instructions from state, county, and federal sources. "One agency should be chosen to lead public updates so there is no mixed messaging." 3. Build Multiple Layers of Alert Systems Relying on one alert method is risky. "Text messages, radio, sirens, social media, and even door-to-door alerts should all be used," he said. "If one system fails, another can fill the gap." 4. Empower Trusted Community Voices Rowdy Oxford encourages local governments to prepare well-known and trusted figures, such as pastors, school principals, and neighborhood leaders, to deliver updates. "People often respond more quickly when the message comes from someone they know." 5. Distribute Visual Evacuation Maps Before Disasters Happen Evacuation zones and routes need to be clearly marked and distributed ahead of time. "People should already have printed maps in their homes, especially in areas where the internet or cell signal might go down." 6. Conduct Regular Public Drills Oxford says communities should not wait for a real event to test their plans. "Practice builds confidence and familiarity. Everyone should know what alerts sound like and where to go if a tsunami is coming." Turning Lessons Into Long-Term ImprovementsRather than focus on what went wrong, Rowdy Oxford emphasizes the importance of learning and evolving. "Responders did their job with dedication and courage," he said. "Now it's our responsibility to build on that and prepare even better for the next time." He also pointed out that public communication is not just about issuing statements. It's about building trust before disaster strikes. "People are more likely to listen if they've heard from those same voices before," Oxford said. "Consistent outreach builds confidence and faster reactions." As the Pacific region enters its most active storm and seismic season, Rowdy Oxford hopes Hawaii's experience encourages more investment in readiness. "Tsunamis and other natural disasters will keep coming," he said. "But confusion doesn't have to. We can give people the tools to respond faster and more confidently if we communicate clearly and work together." About Rowdy OxfordRowdy Oxford is a U.S. Army veteran and serves as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer to FEMA. With more than 20 years of experience in defense, disaster logistics, and commercial strategy, he supports coordination between military and civilian agencies during national emergencies. Oxford regularly advises on leadership, operational planning, and resilience building. He is also a strong advocate for mentoring veterans and creating stronger public-private partnerships in emergency response.To learn more visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rowdy-oxford/ Contact: email oxford@ rowdyoxford.com SOURCE: Rowdy Oxford
The Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, recently spoke with PREMIUM TIMES about the evolving trade relations between the two countries, Belgiums support for Nigerias energy transition, growing investments in agriculture and pharmaceuticals, and the future of bilateral relations.

Here is an excerpt of the discussion.

PT: Last year, Belgium introduced a policy limiting sulphur in fuel exports to Nigeria and other West African countries. This had some negative impacts on such countries. Can you speak on why the policy was made?

Mr Leenknegt: Okay, I like that question a lot, because it generates such a cascade of other questions. So, at first, yes. Belgium introduced this regulation on export qualifications for fuel to West Africa last year, youre correct. Its also important to note that it wasnt the first country to do that in the EU.

The Netherlands went before us the year before. So, at that time, many eyes were on Belgium to take a similar measure, and typically, there was a lobby, I think, from mostly NGOs, third-world-minded NGOs, that wanted to get this straight.

This is actually quite an interesting piece of regulation, because usually, when a regulator takes an initiative to protect public health, that, in the end, is what its all about, with these sulphur levels. You do it to protect your own consumers.

Now, in this case, it actually protects consumers elsewhere in the world from a product that you produce and then export. So, thats quite novel, and I can imagine, as you explained it, that since in that way you do also then meddle, so to speak, with another jurisdiction, you may also run into the law of unintended consequences, such as price effects and this and that. So, in the end, you end up regulating far more than just public health, but actually also market conditions, economic conditions and all of that.

Some green parties in our government coalition pushed very hard for the country to take this kind of initiative, also to protect health, the environment, both at home and abroad. But, as you say, there can sometimes be consequences.

PT: Considering these changes, is Belgium engaging Nigerian regulators or refineries in any transition strategy or technology support to align fuel standards?

Mr Leenknegt: Well, this is only relevant as long as Belgium and other European countries export fuel or refined petroleum to Nigeria.

Theres something very absurd and illogical about all of that. Theres no reason why West African countries shouldnt be refining their own petroleum products, and theres even less reason now that there is the Dangote refinery in Lekki that is claiming to do exactly that. So, Id say, henceforth, the ball is even more squarely in the court of the Nigerian regulator than it was in the Belgian regulators.

If our assumption, I think that assumption is fair, that in the near future, most of the petroleum in Nigeria, both produced and consumed, by the way, in Nigeria, would also be refined in Nigeria. It would be squarely in the remit of the Nigerian regulator to then decide what it thinks are acceptable sulphur levels for the public health of its own population.

PT: Interestingly, you mentioned the Dangote refinery. As Nigeria moves toward local refining, how does Belgium view its commercial interest, given its role as a major supplier? And how does it align with Nigerias goal of increasing local production?

Mr Leenknegt: I mean, interests and strategies and political strategies about trade always run into natural limitations. And those natural limitations are the laws of supply, demand and competitive advantage, and as from the moment Nigeria is able to produce as good a product in terms of refined petroleum as Belgium does, then of course, who would Belgium be to oppose that?

Clearly, this is not going to be without any consequences for our bilateral trade in the short run, because we are the top importing European country into Nigeria. I mean, it cant be said enough, because it sounds almost out of this world.

Belgium represents 40.1 per cent of (European) imports into Nigeria, most of it being refined oil. Now, weve seen a bit of a dip in that export in 2024. Still, I wouldnt call that significant for that particular product, because you saw a dip generally in exports from Belgium to Nigeria, and even from some imports from Nigeria to Belgium. But thats not the Dangote refinery effect. Its, Id say, the purchasing power dip effect in Nigeria, which just makes Nigerians have fewer dollars and euros to spend on purchasing goods abroad. So, Im still waiting to have that Dangote effect show up in our trade statistics, but I do expect it in 2025.

Now, what does Belgium wish for, I think, and its not very different from what Nigeria wishes for, I guess. Weve been hoping for a diversification of our trade for the longest time. For a move away from petroleum products, because its just not very healthy for any economy to depend too much on that.

As I already answered after your first question, its also not very logical for petroleum to be first shipped from Nigeria to Europe, then to be shipped back, refined in Europe to Nigeria. Theres no sound logic for that. So, its also a matter of common sense that our trade in the future will be more about other products, and an interesting development in that regard is also if you look in the other direction. The exports from Nigeria to Belgium are just a fraction of the value of the exports from Belgium to Nigeria. By the way, this is also where Belgium is the odd man out in Europe. Were one of the very few European countries with a trade surplus with Nigeria. Most of our neighbouring countries have a trade deficit.

So, because of all this refined oil departing from the port of Antwerp to Nigeria, there is a trade surplus. But what Nigeria imports into Belgium historically has also been mostly crude oil. Now, that is no longer true in 2024, because now cocoa has overtaken crude oil as a main product of export to Belgium.

So, we can already notice the diversification a little bit, but we want to see much more of it.

Also, lets be clear, this whole thing about fossil fuels, Europe wants to get rid of them. We want to move to a net-zero world, and so it doesnt make much sense that our trade relations would rely so much on fossil fuels. Its a thing of the past.

Its a dinosaur of the 20th century that we have to bury before too long.

PT: Belgium is one of Nigerias top trading partners, largely due to fuel. Youve suggested that trade may soon shift to other sectors. Besides cocoa, are there any other areas where you see future trade growth?

Mr Leenknegt: I am mostly thinking of Belgian exports to Nigeria, because thats where youll probably see the biggest decline in one product, and therefore the biggest question mark as to what the other sectors would be. So what we definitely have had historically is imports of all kinds of machinery, including agricultural machinery, but also sometimes household appliances from Belgium to Nigeria. Pharmaceuticals are also a big export product for Belgium worldwide, and theres also no reason why a market as big as Nigeria should not be interested in getting some of our products, and sometimes also some of our investments for local production. The health sector is also quite a bit broader than just pharmaceuticals. There are also medical appliances that we can definitely supply, and high-quality ones for that matter.

PT: Much of Belgiums trade with Nigeria occurs within the broader EU framework. Are there specific sectors that Belgium is lobbying the EU to prioritise in West Africa?

Mr Leenknegt: Trade policy is 100 per cent European. Since the 1960s, we have had a common trade policy, and since the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009, its in exclusive competence of the European Commission. So when it comes to negotiations on trade, its the European Commission that is fully in the driving seat. So we give them a mandate, and then they negotiate on our behalf.

Now, we are actually very much on the expecting side for some signals from the Nigerian side on our proposals for an economic partnership agreement, which would be all-encompassing, which would involve trade, but also other economic sectors, also involving environmental trade-offs and arrangements. There were some hopeful signs at the beginning of this new Tinubu administration that there would be an increased interest in concluding an economic partnership agreement, which, by the way, the EU always prefers to do wherever possible in Africa at a sub-regional level.

That would be the EU and ECOWAS. It could also be done with only Nigeria, which would still cover over half of the population and over half of the trade with ECOWAS, of course. But were still waiting for some confirmation and reassuring signals from the administration that theyre really very eager and keen to get that arrangement done, because that would be the up-to-date new framework for such trade.

Same for what we call investment facilitation. There is what we call a SIFA. The Substantive Investment Facilitation Agreement that the EU is offering and that we have with other countries in Africa already. But where we are basically now is awaiting Nigerias reaction and negotiations to get that done. So the ball is fully in the court of Nigeria for now.

PT: You talked about pharmaceuticals earlier, and I want to go next to that. If Nigeria reduces its reliance on imports, that would naturally affect major suppliers like Belgium. How does Belgium balance its commercial interests with Nigerias push for local production?

Mr Leenknegt: It is not at all a problematic kind of scenario, I must say. In March last year, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, was in Brussels, where he concluded a memorandum of understanding with a Belgian pharmaceutical, a vaccine-producing company, that has much added value and has specific expertise in locally producing vaccines in countries in the global south, including in the sub-region. They already do that in Senegal.

They also work in South Africa. And so they have some revolutionary technologies which allow them to produce at a fraction of the cost in countries in Africa and also at a fraction of the size of those mammoth vaccine-producing factories as we know them in other places in the world, and as we also previously knew them in Europe. That MOU has been signed.

I should also add that we, as Belgium and as an embassy, are very often in talks with Abdu Mukhtar, coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). We are fully aligned with the logic of developing and unlocking the health value chain in Nigeria. So that kind of collaboration could be part of it.

This being said, if you want to make it a collaboration and a joint venture, you also need to be able to lean on local expertise here. Now, when it comes to producing vaccines and pharmaceuticals, that expertise over the decades in Nigeria, unfortunately, has decayed a lot.

So theres only a very, very limited number of partner organisations that are actually, for now, up to that job. So it will also come with some training, and as I understand, that is exactly what is in the books for the next years for Nigeria. We have Nigerians trained in Belgium with that company and other partner organisations, in order to break the ground and make preparations for local vaccine production here.

However, this is not going to be an overnight development; lets be clear. The argument for healthcare sovereignty, although accurate, is sometimes a little oversold. It is no doubt a good thing to have. But wanting it to happen and actually having it happen will require time, effort, and resources. So Belgium can come in because these companies are ready, and they realise the importance and the size of the Nigerian market. But this is going to be baby steps at first, and then bigger steps, and then hopefully giant steps afterwards. But definitely, there are lots of interesting developments happening.

We hope also to say a little more about all of this in September, when we will organise a pharmaceuticals event involving several Belgian startups and Belgian companies here in Nigeria in partnership with PVAC and with the European Union. But as I often tell Nigerians and Belgians alike, Belgian-Nigerian relations in 2025 are going to be about farms and pharma.

PT: You mentioned that Belgian-Nigerian relations will increasingly focus on agriculture this year and possibly beyond. Could you elaborate on the specific goals or priorities set for this new trade relationship?

Mr Leenknegt: In terms of existing investments from Belgium and Nigeria, we have already quite a wide range. I mean, its not always humongous companies. Still, we do have a bit of everything, from shrimp fishing to producing roofing materials to palm oil plantation groups mainly based in Edo, which was taken over by a Nigerian company, but still with a bit of a Belgian component nowadays. So there are lots of very different things happening. We also had maritime business with dredgers, preparing all kinds of things, both in the oil and gas and in other sectors, including eco-Atlantic.

But when it comes to agriculture, we have also had a number of companies that have had business and investments in Nigeria that made them sufficiently confident to focus on this sector. Last year, for instance, eight Belgian companies organised a mini trade mission in Nigeria without any public sector support. So they were basically self-organised and talking to their business partners here in Nigeria, and also shifting business partners among themselves. So we already have these eight companies that were either offering innovative solutions in siloing, storage, cold chain management in the case of non-constant power supply, or food waste to energy solutions and independent grids.

Also, Belgian importers are looking into how to start processing some imports locally, particularly those subject to an import ban, to allow them to be eligible to work in the Nigerian market.

PT: Bilateral trade agreements between Nigeria and Belgium have long operated without any enforceable clauses on local value addition. What specific economic and political factors may be responsible for this?

Mr Leenknegt: I find this to be a bit of a curious question. Value addition does not come when it comes to trade. Basically, if you want to buy a product from abroad, you expect that product to be produced abroad.

I would expect value addition to come in for sectors such as government procurement, where you open your procurement market and then require the incoming market operator to purchase some goods in their project locally. But I dont think that we are very big into these procurement markets except for a few very big projects, such as Eko Atlantic, where the local content and local buy-in and local employment are going to be a very big factor.

When it comes to trade, I honestly dont see how local content requirements can come in at first glance.

PT: The Port of Antwerp processes over 6 million tonnes of freight from Nigeria annually, making Nigeria its largest West African trading partner. Does Belgium see itself as playing a role in supporting the modernisation of Nigerian ports?

Mr Leenknegt: Yes, indeed. Lets also be candid, when it comes to those trade volumes, its only natural that the country with the most inhabitants in West Africa is also the destination for most of the value of these goods from the Port of Antwerp. But when it comes to the Port of Antwerp, more as an active actor in the maritime sector in Nigeria than just a comrade of trade, theres definitely scope for much more growth. Especially if you look at neighbouring countries where those trade volumes are much smaller. The Port of Antwerp is actually a bigger player for now, running the Port of Cotonou. They are also present in the Port of Conakry.

There are a number of other places where the Port of Antwerp has been more involved so far. This being said, the Port of Antwerp has a representative in Lagos and is always on the lookout for possibilities in order to develop ports.

I must immediately also add that its not only about ocean ports or deep-sea ports. The Port of Antwerp also has quite a bit of expertise in terms of hinterland development. From that perspective, inland ports and riverine ports are as important for Antwerp from a developmental perspective in Nigeria and elsewhere than deep sea ports are. Thats why Antwerp has been present in the Port of Onitsha for a while. Thats why theyre now also going to be part of a consortium that looks into making the Niger River navigable and profitable in terms of waterways trade and development. All the way from Lagos to Port Harcourt to Lokoja. So those are definitely things that are being looked into.

Antwerp does also offer training programmes and management modules, and all of that. It is not only the big ports in Lagos that should benefit from this expertise, because the last time I saw an expression of interest from a Nigerian state for such training was from the South-South and not from the South-west.

PT: In April, you stated that Nigeria needed to commit to improving its global image. From your understanding, what are the misconceptions of Nigeria that exist among the Belgian public?

Mr Leenknegt: The brand image for Nigeria is still largely to be made, except for a few fields. For instance, some younger Belgians working in Nigeria would always draw my attention to the fact that nowadays in clubs in Brussels, people are dancing and singing in pidgin English.

Thats quite a development. We think we go to the country and discover a new scene, but basically, its already among us in a big way. Davido, the artist, says he wants to buy Belgium, and hes more than welcome to do so. Funny.

But yes, apart from that, a case where Nigeria sometimes overrates its fame in the world is when it comes to its food. I mean, there are hardly any Nigerian restaurants to be found anywhere in Europe that I know of, perhaps a little bit in the UK. I stand to be corrected on that one. But, I mean, Nigerian food is by no means either popular or even remotely famous anywhere in Europe. So thats perhaps a misconception, but definitely, Id say, a misperception from the Nigerian side on what is renowned from Nigeria abroad. Now, of course, when it comes to literature, Nigeria is an established brand by far.

Cinema still has to make its way, although people start realising, you know, that Lagos is quite a booming place from that perspective.

Other than that, you know, images come with their ups and downs. Of course, in terms of the internet, Nigeria definitely has to shed a bit of a bad image.

PT: As a follow-up question to your statement, Id like to ask you, from your point of view, what do you think is the perception of Nigeria in the diplomatic world?

Mr Leenknegt: Nigerian diplomats abroad are in the best position to answer these questions. If anything, I can only speak on the perception of Belgian diplomacy in the world. My job is to correct it every day, and thats quite a different kind of thing.

But to use general statements or general images that come to mind, it is that Nigeria is or should be the powerhouse of West Africa, and therefore is expected sometimes to represent the region or take responsibility due to its demographic and economic size. Its no longer the biggest economy in Africa, but its still the biggest economy in West Africa.

We all know and remember from the decades past that Nigeria and former Nigerian heads of state have played important, recognised, sizable roles in mediation processes elsewhere in Africa.

That role has perhaps reduced a little bit over the last few years, but theres no reason why it couldnt be revived or why it shouldnt be among us.

PT: Language and colonial history shape European relations with Africa. So, how does Belgium approach cultural relations with Nigeria as a non-Francophone country?

Mr Leenknegt: Colonial history is one thing. But it is important to realise that African countries have now spent almost as long as the colonial period actually lasted. That, I think, is a very important perspective to keep in mind. I was born 15 years after most African countries became independent, so thats my perspective.

Language influences our relations with countries in Africa, as well as European countries, but only to some extent. And that even goes to the most French of all French-speaking countries, namely France itself, which seems to be thriving very well also economically and business-like in Anglophone countries in Africa. Sometimes, even easier than in traditionally French-speaking countries. Now, for Belgium, that is not so different.

For instance, our trade volumes with Nigeria are 10 or 12 times what they are with our former colony, DRC, and also many times bigger than with South Africa, where we also, by the way, have a bit of linguistic affinity because Afrikaans and the Dutch that is spoken by a majority of Belgians is also very related.

So language explains only so much, and sometimes its also good to have a bit of a greenfield orientation to international relations. You have so many people-to-people ties in countries that speak your language or that you have a shared history with, as we call it. But I mean, it comes with assets, but also with burdens of the past, and sometimes its also good to be in a place where you dont carry those burdens and where you can start something new. Now, when it comes to cultural diplomacy, you could assume that language could be a stumbling block. But I dont feel that so much when it comes to Nigeria.

Our cultural diplomacy events of the last few years have focused mostly on fashion, photography, and visual arts, where none of these stumbling blocks exist. Even when it comes to literature, nowadays, and especially with Nigerian diaspora being so prolific, we also end up having a Nigerian author who settled in Belgium and married in Belgium and lived there for a few decades, and who ended up writing novels in both Dutch and English, and who considers both these versions as actually hers and not just as a translation from one to the other.

See, so all of this is nowadays also possible, and of course, as an embassy, you want to seize those occasions with both hands. To give you an example or to illustrate to what extent we have embraced that author, that novel writer, is that she nowadays lives in Atlanta, and there she received a decoration from our consul general in Atlanta as a notable individual in the Belgian community in the United States.

So you see, nowadays, these things tend to become a bit more fluid in a globalised world. So its, I think, easier than ever. Musicians, its another example. We had a Nigerian musician living in Belgium, playing at our Kings Day event here in Nigeria.

I mean, of course, he sings in English, but then most of the Belgians who settle in Nigeria will have to be fluent English speakers anyhow.

There is no representation of the Belgian linguistic communities in Nigeria. They dont have their own offices. They dont run their programmes. Its basically the embassy that has to run it. But dont forget Belgium is also only partly a French-speaking country. Dutch speakers are a majority. Its perhaps also not much of a coincidence that most of the, lets say, 6,000, 7,000 Nigerians in Belgium end up clustering in the Antwerp area and in the Dutch-speaking parts of the country, where usually English is spoken a bit more frequently and better than in the French-speaking parts of the country.

So theres always scope for exchange, and definitely when it comes to our cultural agenda here, there is never a dull moment.

PT: As a Belgian living in Nigeria, what do you miss about your home country and also, how would you like to compare Nigeria and Belgium?

Mr Leenknegt: When it comes to what I miss most, without having to think too long, Ill say biking and walking in the streets. There are different reasons why that is less possible here. Theres the security factor here that I dont have to face in my own country. Theres also, of course, a weather factor.

You know, sometimes its just too hot for it, but I dread being driven around in armoured and air-conditioned cars. And just for health, generally speaking.

I find it a big plus if I dont have to go to gyms or do fitness exercises to remain fit, and that I can just combine transport from home to work with staying fit. So, thats basically one of the things I miss most.

Id say also what I miss a lot from Belgium would be the density of museums, of cultural institutions, of the cultural calendars. I mean, of course, you have it in Nigeria as well, but for a country of only 11 million inhabitants in Belgium, these sectors are very, very developed and very flourishing.

But, of course, I chose this life, and what I get in return is, of course, exposure to so many cultures here. One thing that struck me particularly about Nigeria, more than the literature or the exotic food, would be the sheer variety and traditional dress. Wherever you go, its different. In the north-east, north-west, the south-south, and south-west. Its very colourful, and the variation is enormous.

PT: Tell us about your personal experience.

Mr Leenknegt: I tried many things: food, music and all that. For food, the only thing I can really keep up with is egusi, because thats the only thing that is not too hot for my palate. I lived in Afghanistan before, where they also have Indian cuisine, which is supposed to be challenging for the European palate. But Nigeria is quite a different story.

PT: On a final note, how would you compare your perception of Nigeria before you came to the country and your perception of it now?

Mr Leenknegt: Yes, thats a good question. I had Nigerian friends for a long time before coming here. And even during my first diplomatic posting in Afghanistan, a good friend of mine was a Nigerian working with the Office of the Attorney General there.

Hes still a very good friend, and Im still very happy to run into him whenever hes in the country, because he also spends much time in the UK.

I also had colleagues, interns at UN organisations, even before I properly started my career, who were Nigerians from New York or actually from Nigeria itself. So there was no lack of exposure, I must say.

And there was relatively easy contact, and Id say a meeting of the mind with many Nigerians beforehand. So from that point, there werent too many surprises.

It was also not my first stay in sub-Saharan Africa. I spent four years as a deputy ambassador in Kenya, which comes with a different kind of popular mood, although less abrasive, less outgoing than in Nigeria.

So yes, all in all, not too many surprises. But what I will say is this, Nigeria is not in the picture as a country for tourism in our country. So basically, what the place looks like, most Belgians have absolutely no clue about.

On top of that, if you just go and browse the internet and you want to see a picture of Abuja, what you will find is the entrance gate, the white unity gate there.

But honestly, I mean, the big draw to Abuja for me are these volcanic hills everywhere. They are just sprouting up in the landscape. Nobody in Europe even knows that that exists.

And theres other natural features. I was in Taraba recently. Its a wonderful place in terms of nature.

Nobody in Europes ever heard of Taraba. The only thing that comes close is a friend of mine who just looked up the altitude levels on a map and says, that area there, neighbouring Cameroon, must be very beautiful because of the kind of the hills, the drawings of the hills. But nobody in Europe has a clue. But we all hope this is bound to change.
The US government has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuela President, Nicolas Maduro.

In a video announcing the reward on X, the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, on Thursday, said, Under President Trumps leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.

The US accused him of being one of the worlds largest narco-traffickers, working with cartels who flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine.

The recently announced $50 million bounty for the arrest of Venezuelas sitting leader is double the $25 million reward announced earlier in the year.

In the video, Ms Bondi accused Mr Maduro of working with Tren de Aragua and Cartel of the Suns, two major Venezuelan crime syndicates, and Sinaloa Cartel, a notorious trafficking organisation in Mexico.

He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security. Therefore, we doubled his reward to $50 million, she said.

The Venezuela President was indicted in Manhattan federal court in 2020, along with several close allies, on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. This was during the first Trump presidency.

At the time, the US offered a $15 million reward for his arrest, which the Biden administration later increased to $25 million.

The same bounty was once placed on Osama bin Laden after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Mr Maduro was also re-elected in 2024, in an election that was condemned by the US and several Latin American leaders as fraudulent.

The US Department of Justice has seized more than $700 million in assets linked to the president, including two private jets and nine vehicles, according to Ms Bondi.

She also claimed that tonnes of seized cocaine had been traced directly to the president.

However, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, has described Ms Bondis announcement as the most ridiculous smokescreen ever seen.

In a statement shared on Telegram, he said the announcement was only designed to sway attention away from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.

him as saying. It does not surprise us, coming from who it comes from. The same one who promised a non-existent secret list of Epstein and who wallows in scandals of political favours, Al Jazeera quoted him as saying.

Her show is a joke, a desperate distraction from her own miseries. The dignity of our homeland is not for sale. We reject this crude political propaganda operation, he added.
Despite being common and treatable, vaginal infections continue to affect the health and well-being of millions of women in Nigeria.

Many suffer in silence due to a lack of awareness and stigma, while poor hygiene and self-medication further contribute to the widespread neglect of these infections.

Some can lead to infertility, pregnancy complications, and an increased risk of HIV transmission.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), bacterial vaginosis, an infection of the vagina, affects nearly 30 per cent of women of reproductive age globally, with higher rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Nigeria, local studies have reported prevalence rates of vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and trichomoniasis, ranging from 20 to 50 per cent among adult women, with adolescents also significantly affected.

A public health expert, Odunola Olabintan, warned that untreated infections can affect the uterus and fallopian tubes, leading to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Ms Olabintan noted that, unfortunately, many women either ignore the symptoms or resort to self-medication, which often complicates the condition.

Common types of infections

One of the most prevalent vaginal infections is candidiasis, caused by the overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus.

While this organism naturally lives in the body, its uncontrolled growth can lead to itching, burning, and discharge. Factors like antibiotic use, pregnancy, poor hygiene, and diabetes increase the risk.

Another widespread but often misunderstood condition is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). It occurs when the balance of healthy bacteria in the vagina is disrupted, often due to practices like douching or having multiple sexual partners.

Trichomoniasis is also common among Nigerian women. It is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite and can cause vaginal discharge, pain, and discomfort, but many women have no symptoms at all.

Ms Olabintan explained that all of these infections have distinct causes and symptoms. However, a common factor is that they thrive when the vaginal ecosystem is disrupted, whether by poor hygiene, unprotected sex, or underlying health conditions.

She said, Most women dont realise that an imbalance in the vaginas natural bacteria can open the door to infections like BV or candidiasis. These conditions are common, but they should never be ignored.

Culture of shame delays care

Ms Olabintan noted that many Nigerian women delay seeking medical help for vaginal infections.

She said women dont want to face judgment or embarrassing questions, so they avoid clinics, while adding that other factors include poor access to healthcare facilities that are friendly to young people and women, as well as a lack of awareness of what is normal.

Some women dont know what healthy vaginal discharge looks like, so they might ignore changes unless there is severe itching or burning during urination, she said.

She also said self-medication is another challenge, with many women buying antifungal drugs or antibiotics over the counter without proper diagnosis.

For example, using medication for candidiasis when the problem is bacterial vaginosis is drug abuse. This misuse can worsen symptoms, mask the real problem, and even lead to antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria adapt after repeated exposure to the drugs, making infections harder to treat in the future.

Breaking the cycle

To reduce the burden of vaginal infections, the expert stressed the need for public awareness campaigns, affordable and accessible healthcare, and better sexual and reproductive health education.

She recommended that women should seek professional diagnosis before starting treatment, maintain menstrual hygiene, wear breathable and non-restrictive underwear, have regular sexual and reproductive health check-ups and avoid self-medication with antibiotics or antifungals.

Women need to feel safe seeking help without shame. We also need to discourage harmful practices like douching and promote good menstrual hygiene, she said.
The management of Legacy FM, a private radio station in Ebonyi State, has suspended Godfrey Chikwere as acting general manager.

Mr Chikweres suspension, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, followed his criticism of the state governor, Francis Nwifuru, both during radio broadcasts and on social media.

The suspended official previously worked at the state government-owned broadcast station, Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, before he was appointed the general manager of the private station in 2023.

Suspension

In an announcement on the radio station on Saturday, Legacy FMs management accused Mr Chikwere of flouting the stations code of conduct.

The management of Legacy FM 95.1, The Sound of Now, hereby suspends the acting general manager, Godfrey Chikwere with immediate effect, till further notice.

This is due to unruly behaviour and disobedience to the code of conduct guiding the Legacy FM, the station management said in the announcement.

With such effect, he is hereby directed to hand over all the company property in his position to the next senior officer.

Mr Chikwere has been critical of Mr Nwifurus administration in recent times.

The journalist in a Facebook post on Friday urged Mr Nwifuru to take decisive action to protect his image and that of Ebonyi State.

He claimed that public perception of the governors administration was deteriorating, and criticised the administration for what he described as poor communication, underperformance by appointees, and unfulfilled pronouncements.

Mr Chikwere cautioned that the governors goodwill was dwindling and advised him to step on toes to achieve results.

He stressed that the current state of affairs pained true supporters.

In response, Governor Nwifurus spokesperson, Monday Uzor, condemned Mr Chikweres criticisms of the administration.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, Mr Uzor described the criticisms as unfounded. He accused Mr Chikwere, although he avoided mentioning his name, of ungratefulness by using his platforms to attack the governor despite the radio station benefiting from government support.

It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates a greater percentage of the stations airtime to attack and run down the government whose support has kept his medium afloat.

For the avoidance of doubt, the governor gifted the medium a brand new Changan SUV, donated a brand new transformer that powers the station, constructed the road leading to the broadcasting house, he stated.

But rather than give at least balanced coverage of government activities, it has been turned into a slaughter house of the governors genuine development efforts and goodwill, what a way to be ungrateful to good deeds!

Mr Uzor urged the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigeria Union of Journalists to intervene in the matter.

He also called on Nigerians to disregard the critic, whom he claimed was attempting to suppress the states rising profile.

The Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, Ikeuwa Omebeh, also condemned Mr Chikweres criticisms of Governor Nwifuru, describing them as derogatory and inciting.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr Omebeh accused the journalist of overstepping his bounds.

He said such remarks were unacceptable and an affront to the collective identity of the Ebonyi people.

While noting that the government welcomes constructive criticism, the commissioner warned against attempts to incite citizens against their leaders.

Outrage

Mr Chikweres suspension has attracted criticism.

A resident, Ikechukwu Elom, argued that radio and television stations should accommodate critical voices.

Mr Elom noted that if such suspensions were the norm, stations like Arise TV and Channels Television would have lost prominent journalists.

READ ALSO: MSF hands over Lassa Fever Project to Ebonyi State Authorities

He stressed that the medias role is to hold the government accountable, provided such does not involve libel or slander.

Any radio or television station or even a media person who wants to thrive must have the capacity to hold the government and politicians accountable because thats the role of the media, so long as the media person or house is not committing libel or slander, he said.
Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has recounted how former President Olusegun Obasanjo persuaded him to fund the completion of the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja with a donation of 300 million.

In an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir, Making It Big, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Otedola said the encounter took place in late 2005 during a breakfast meeting with Mr Obasanjo at his Ota farm in Ogun State.

He was very warm, friendly and jovial that time around, Mr Otedola recalled. As we were eating, he would take yam from his plate and put it on mine. Same with some fried eggs. I was wowed. Hed won my heart.

The businessman said Mr Obasanjo then turned the conversation to a stalled national project.

Femi, he said, you know what I like about you? You have what everybody wants: money. I need you to kick-start the completion of the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja. I cant use government money.

According to Mr Otedola, the former president narrated how he had come across the abandoned church projectalso called the National Christian Centreon his way to the airport and pledged to complete it without government funds.

The centre, conceived as a national monument similar to the National Mosque, had been abandoned for years due to a lack of funding.

No problem, Mr Otedola said he replied. How much will it take to complete the project?

300 million, Mr Obasanjo reportedly responded. But you should just contribute a small donation, to get things moving.

No, Baba. Ill do it allanything for God.

Mr Otedola said that just two days after the meetingon a Fridayhe delivered a bank draft for the full amount to Mr Obasanjos Abuja office.

Baba, heres the draft, I told him. But he said, No, I cant take it just like that. We need a witness. I need to make this public.

Although the oil magnate initially resisted publicity, the former president insisted the donation should be announced to inspire other wealthy Nigerians to support the project.

The presentation eventually took place in front of a national television crew from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

The National Ecumenical Centre was subsequently completed and commissioned as the countrys foremost interdenominational Christian place of worship.

Mr Otedola, 62, is one of Nigerias most prominent businessmen and philanthropists, with investments spanning oil, power, shipping, and finance.

He served as chairman of Forte Oil Plc before divesting from the company in 2019, and is currently the chairman of Geregu Power Plc. He is chairman of First HoldCo Plc.

His memoir, Making It Big, is set for public release later this month. The book chronicles his journey from modest beginnings to becoming one of Africas most influential entrepreneurs.

The memoir contains personal anecdotes, business lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories involving some of Nigerias most powerful political figures.
9mobile, a telecommunications operator in Nigeria has officially rebranded to T2, featuring a bold orange colour scheme and a future-facing digital vision.

The T2 unveiling took place at the Tech Meets Tenacity launch event held at Eko Convention Center, Lagos, on Friday.

At the rebranding event, the CEO of the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), Obafemi Banigbe, stated that the effort to rebrand the company is the beginning of a bold new chapter.

This is not just a brand unveiling, it is the beginning of a bold new chapter in our history. It is a declaration that we are no longer who we were, but we are becoming something greater. We are becoming something more ambitious, the CEO stated.

Digital vision

He emphasised that the companys transformation into a customer-focused, technology-driven, and API-enabled operator will enable it to offer faster, smarter, and more tailored services, powered by cloud-native infrastructure and data analytics.

The CEO emphasised that technology has become a core part of business operations, organisational culture, and human connection, noting that Nigerians increasingly demand speed, access, and relevance.

We see it in the rising tide of the youth, we see it in the entrepreneurs that are all over the place across our nation, in the boldness of our startup ecosystem, in the resilience of our SMEs, in the desires of our families to stay connected, to stay informed and to stay entertained anytime and anywhere, he said.

Mr Banigbe explained that there is a need for the company to remain relevant by reshaping and rebranding the business enterprise. He also reiterated that the brand is proudly Nigerian and rooted in the spirit of resilience and tenacity that defines the nation.

In the face of overwhelming odds, our people, the Nigerian people, we have shown a spirit of resilience and of tenacity that continues to inspire the world, he said.

The official admitted that, despite facing challenging times and setbacks, the company has consistently emerged stronger and more resilient, especially with the renewed focus and determination to address market challenges.

Digital transformation

In his remarks on the T2, the minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, Bosun Tijani, commended mobile network operators (MNOs) for their significant role in reshaping Nigerias digital landscape.

The MNOs have invested boldly, spending more than 75 billion in towers, fibre, and now 5G, all without any government subsidy. The MNOs have powered our economy, contributing around 16 percent to our GDP, and creating millions of direct and indirect jobs, Mr Tijani said.

The minister described the T2 rebrand as a clear statement of the companys intent to compete, innovate, and play a stronger role in advancing Nigerias goal of becoming a global digital leader.

Let this rebrand be more than a change of colours or a new logo. Let it be a renewed commitment to innovation, to service excellence, and to the millions of Nigerians whose lives and businesses depend on your network every single day, the minister said.

Mr Tijani further assured that the government would continue to collaborate with industry stakeholders like T2, who invest in digital technology to embrace change in the industry.

Once known as Etisalat Nigeria and later 9mobile, the operator had dropped to just 3.2 million active subscribers by early 2025, a fall from its previous strength.

The rebranding followed LHs acquisition of 95.5 percent stake of the network, about a year ago. This marks the second time the company has undergone a name change in recent times, following its rebrand from Etisalat to 9mobile in 2017.
The police have confirmed that a farmer was killed on Thursday in a clash between locals and herders in the Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Villagers suspected that 40-year-old Irmiya Yohanna was killed by herders who had trespassed on his farm with their cows.

After they found his body on the farm, the villagers killed 20 cows and 19 sheep in reprisal attacks on herders.

The police said their state commissioner, Aliyu Sani-Omolori, visited the scene after a complaint.

In a statement by their spokesperson, Ahmed Wakil, the police said the officers recovered 249 cows and arrested a suspect.

On receipt of the report, a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Fitoka Golda, swung into action, visited the scene, and moved the deceased to Bogoro General Hospital, where a medical doctor certified him dead, Mr Wakil said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was suspected to have been killed by anonymous people. Subsequently, some irate locals invaded a nearby cattle herd, stabbed and killed approximately 20 cows and 19 sheep, and several were injured. In comparison, about 249 cows were rescued by the police, and one Ahmadu Mairiga was successfully arrested. He is suspected to be responsible for the tragic death of Irmiya Yohanna, Mr Wakil said in the statement posted on Facebook.

Mr Wakil said Mr Sani-Omolori urged residents to remain calm after visiting the area. He warned against further violence. Justice will be served accordingly, he said.

Government Intervention

The incident followed a similar one in the Darazo Local Government Area of the state.

Due to the frequency of cases, which have claimed lives and caused injuries, Governor Bala Mohammed last week established a land allocation committee, comprising community leaders and security and land officers, to ensure that the rights of all parties are protected in land allocation.

We need to come together and appreciate each other. We will work with all leaders, including the district heads and community leaders, to find a lasting solution to this problem, the governor said, as reported by the Punch newspaper.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned staff of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) against engaging in corrupt practices.

Ekere Usiere, the ICPC anti-corruption commissioner in charge of Rivers and Bayelsa offices, gave the warning in Port Harcourt, Rivers, according to a statement issued by the NDDCs Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The statement said Mrs Usiere spoke during the quarterly anti-corruption sensitisation workshop for NDDC staff. She warned that anybody caught in the act would face the full wrath of the law.

She acknowledged the NDDCs critical role in the development of the Niger Delta region and stressed the importance of holding periodic meetings to sensitise staff against corrupt practices.

NDDC staff must distance themselves from corruption, as anybody caught will be prosecuted in accordance with the law, she stated.

Mrs Usiere explained that regular anti-corrupt workshops would enable NDDC employees to understand the impact of corruption on development and how to prevent it.

This workshop, themed Infractions/Offences in Anti-Graft Laws; Preventive Measures, serves as an antidote to corrupt practices, she said.

Also speaking, Evans Peters, head of the Legal Department at ICPC in Rivers, urged the commission to strengthen its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit to enhance its effectiveness.

He further advised the NDDC to implement a system for continuous review of corruption-prone processes and procedures, and to develop a code of ethics that would include corruption prevention guidelines for staff.

According to Mr Peters, it is an offence for an individual to inflate contracts, award contracts without budgetary provision, and frustrate investigations.

In addition, any staff who make false statements and returns, fail to report bribery activities, and conspire to provide false information, or engage in similar acts will be prosecuted.

Every public servant should take the ICPC Act as a Bible and internalise its tenets, as ICPC frowns heavily on gratification, he said

Mr Peters further warned that proceeds from crime, or anything beyond a workers legitimate income, remained subject to seizure by the government, with the offender still liable to prosecution.

Anyone caught in corrupt practices could be sent to jail. The law does not condone ignorance, he added.

Earlier, Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director of the NDDC, emphasised the importance of adopting measures to tackle corruption and entrench transparency in public service.

Represented by James Fole, the NDDCs director III of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Ogbuku stated that the workshop formed part of a broader strategy to enhance service delivery in the commission.

We are passionate about service delivery. Hence, we organised this workshop to educate our staff on the need to avoid corrupt acts.

We want our staff to work with diligence and uprightness while carrying out their duties, he advised.

Mr Ogbuku noted that the NDDC board and management would spare no effort to ensure that ethics and values are firmly entrenched in the commission.

(NAN)
We came across a bullish thesis on Silicon Motion Technology Corporation on Valueinvestorsclub.com by Motherlode. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on SIMO. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation's share was trading at $74.76 as of August 5th. SIMOs trailing and forward P/E were 32.36 and 21.60, respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Is Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO) the Cheap Semiconductor Stock to Buy Now?

An engineer in a lab coat tweaking a circuit board with intricate semiconductors.

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (SIMO) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in NAND flash memory controllers, which manage data storage between host systems and NAND memory. SIMO benefits from a capital-light model and outsources manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor. The company is positioned for significant growth through new product introductions targeting AI data centers (DCs), high-end PCs, and mobile markets.

The NAND market, currently near trough levels post-COVID, is stabilizing as AI-driven demand accelerates and competitors prioritize DRAM and HBM development, reducing NAND controller innovation and creating opportunities for SIMO. Industry consolidation has left SIMO, Phison, and Marvell as the main merchant suppliers, but SIMOs focus on advanced controllers positions it favorably, especially as it enters new niches like AI DCs.

Key growth drivers include Montitan, an enterprise SSD controller for AI data centers, which offers 14GB/s read/write speed at 40% lower power and uses cost-efficient QLC NAND. Montitan already has six design wins, including two tier-1 customers, and represents a multi-billion-dollar TAM. SIMO is also introducing PCIe5 controllers for high-end PCs, winning four of six major flash makers, and UFS 4.0 products for mobile, driving higher ASPs.

Additionally, SIMO is qualifying controllers for Nvidia DPUs, opening another high-margin segment. These innovations could boost EPS to $7 by 2026, implying $118/share upside with net cash versus ~$70 today, and potential for $175+ in a bullish scenario. The company also has $8/share cash, possibly rising to $13 if it collects a $160M breakup fee from MaxLinear. With catalysts including strong 2H25 results and potential settlement, SIMO offers asymmetric upside with limited downside risk.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) by Stock Analysis Compilation in December 2024, which highlighted its leadership in high-growth semiconductor markets and strong R&D investments. The stock has depreciated about 2.62% since, as the thesis has not yet played out. The thesis still stands given robust industry trends. Motherlode shares a similar view but focuses on SIMOs growth from AI-driven NAND controllers and new product launches.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released corrected results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, showing that more than 1.2 million candidates passed with five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

According to the revised data presented by WAECs Head of Nigeria Office, Amos Dangut, at a press briefing in Lagos on Friday, a total of 1,239,884 out of the total 1,969,313 candidates who sat the examination passed.

This represents 62.96 per cent of candidates, an increased when compared to the initial figure of 755,043 candidates (38.32 per cent), which the council had wrongly announced on Monday.

Despite the correction, this years performance still shows a drop compared to 2024, when 72.12 per cent of candidates obtained five credits, including English and Mathematics. This represents a decline of more than nine percentage points.

Mr Dangut added that the new statistics revealed that 1,794,821 or 91.14 per cent of the candidates who sat the 2025 WASSCE for school candidates obtained at least a credit in a minimum of five subjects with or without English Language and Mathematics.

The council said it discovered an error in the previously released result during an internal review and temporarily suspended result access before issuing the corrected figures.

It has now advised candidates to recheck their results on its website.

WAEC apologised for the confusion and assured candidates and the public that measures are being put in place to prevent a recurrence.

Mr Dangut said some candidates under state sponsorship still cannot access their results because of unpaid examination fees. WAEC said three of the four indebted states have now settled their debts, with one still finalising payment.

What went wrong

WAEC had earlier said it serialised Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics Objective Papers.

Mr Dangut explained that the discrepancies were discovered in the grading of serialised papers.

He said the examination body discovered that a serialised code file was wrongly used in the printing of English Language Objective Tests (Paper 3), which resulted in them being scored with the wrong keys.

Nevertheless, the schools that sat WASSCE for School Candidates, 2025, using the Computer-based mode were not affected by this error, he said.

Consequently, the observable decline in the performance of candidates earlier announced was partly traceable to this absurd situation.

WAEC apologised for the error, noting that it deeply regrets the emotional and mental dismay it might have caused the affected candidates and all stakeholders.

More results being processed

Meanwhile, the examination body said it is still processing the results of 205,916 candidates, representing 10.5 per cent of candidates who have one or more of their subjects still being processed due to some unresolved issues.

Efforts are, however, being made to speedily complete the processes to enhance the release of the affected candidates results within a couple of days, Mr Dangut said.
The police in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, say they have killed a suspected armed robber terrorising residents of the state.

The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Mr Ndukwe, a superintendent of police, said police operatives shot dead the suspect during an operation at about 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday at Premier Layout in Enugu.

The spokesperson said police operatives from Independence Layout Division carried out the operation in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch Group in the area.

He said the operation was in response to a distress call about an armed robbery attack in the area.

Responding swiftly, the divisional police officer mobilised operatives and the Neighbourhood Watch Group to the scene.

On sighting them, the criminal gang opened fire, but the team responded with superior firepower, neutralising one of the hoodlums, whose identity remains unknown, while others fled, he said.

Recovery of arms and ammunition

Mr Ndukwe said the operatives searched the suspects body and recovered some incriminating items.

He listed the items recovered from the body to include a cut-to-size locally made single-barrel gun with one live cartridge, and a locally fabricated Beretta pistol with one live round of ammunition.

Others were a Nokia torch-button phone belonging to the suspect, two iPhones belonging to victims, a small red bag, a red-and-black coloured torchlight, and a cash of N9,000.

Further investigations on 8th August 2025 led to the recovery of a pump-action gun loaded with four live cartridges, suspected to have been abandoned within the vicinity of the incident by the fleeing suspects, Mr Ndukwe added.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, commended the bravery and professionalism of the operatives.

Mr Giwa reaffirmed the commitment of the police to tackling violent crimes in the state.

The police chief urged residents of Enugu State to remain vigilant and promptly support security operatives with credible information that would aid crime prevention and control.

Prohibited in Nigeria

Armed robbery is outlawed in Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2004.

The Act prescribes a minimum of 21 years imprisonment for offenders upon conviction.

The offenders face a maximum death penalty upon conviction.

Several persons have been convicted in Nigeria for offences of cultism and robbery across Nigeria.

An Abeokuta High Court, in 2021, sentenced two ex-convicts to death by hanging for conspiracy and armed robbery.
The Nigeria Police Force says human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, twice refused medical checks in custody, dismissing allegations he was tortured after his arrest.

Force spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Friday that the police dispatched two separate medical teams to examine Mr Sowore on 7 and 8 August, but he refused both visits.

The refusals, Mr Adejobi noted, were officially recorded.

While the Police respect the individuals right to decline medical assessment, the record must show that the opportunity for independent medical verification was twice provided and twice rejected, the statement read.

He described as false and grossly misleading a viral photo showing the activist with a bandaged arm, saying the bandage was among his personal belongings when he honoured a police invitation before arrest.

The statement noted that the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an internal investigation into how the bandage was accessed in custody.

Sowore to face charges

The police said Mr Sowores arrest followed two petitionsone alleging the forgery of a police document published online, and another alleging cyberbullyingand that he would be arraigned for forgery, cyberstalking, and other unspecified offences.

He is expected to appear before a court of competent jurisdiction in the coming days to answer to the accusations in a lawful and transparent judicial process.

The police insisted the arrest complied with constitutional safeguards and due process, adding that Mr Sowore was granted bail within the constitutionally required 48 hours under Section 35(4) of the Nigerian constitution.

His continued detention is not arbitrary; it is anchored on a valid remand order issued by a competent court, the statement read.

The police also rejected allegations of brutality, maintaining that every action taken was devoid of malice, bias, or political undertones.

Mr Adejobi echoed earlier remarks by Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, that the petitions against Mr Sowore were based on credible, corroborated allegations.

Sowore alleges brutality

Before his release on Friday evening, Mr Sowore accused the police of breaking his right wrist in detention.

In a SaharaReporters live stream, he said the injury occurred early Thursday morning and that he was denied proper medical treatment.

They broke my hand yesterday and have not brought a doctor  only a nurse, he alleged, claiming the police brought journalists to see him in custody to downplay concerns about his welfare.

He demanded immediate release, an apology, and medical care.

In the video footage, as Mr Sowore addressed journalists invited by the police into the detention room, the police officers abruptly ordered them out.

At 7:46 p.m. Friday, Mr Sowore posted on Facebook that his detention was unjust, illegal and unwarranted, thanking supporters.

Some minutes later, he went live on the platform to announce his release.

Background

Mr Sowores lawyer, Tope Temokun, alleged the arrest was retaliation for his clients criticism of the police chief, including a 21 July protest at Force Headquarters over retired officers welfare.

He questioned the propriety of the police acting as both complainant and investigator.

One of the petitions, he said, was filed by Bukola Yemisi Kuti, described as an associate of the IGP, accusing Mr Sowore of defamation.

This weeks events are separate from an earlier case in January, when the police charged Mr Sowore with 17 counts of cybercrime at the Federal High Court in Abuja over his description of the IGP as an illegal IGP in a video.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of N10 million with stringent conditions, including surrendering his passport.

Mr Egbetokun, due to retire in September 2024, remained in office after a controversial amendment to the Police Act extended a police chiefs tenure to four years.

Mr Sowore publicly mocked the January charges, pointing out spelling errors in the indictment.

Rights groups, political leaders react

Amnesty International alleged that police officers at the Force Intelligence Department assaulted Mr Sowore on Thursday morning while attempting to forcibly take him to court, injuring his hand.

The rights group described the charges against him as politically motivated and called for his immediate release and urgent medical care.

Nigerian Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero condemned the arrest as a violation of constitutional rights, warning that silence in the face of such repression could embolden authoritarianism.

If Sowore has violated any law, those offended should approach the courtsnot resort to harassment. Freedom of speech and association are inalienable rights, Mr Ajaero said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the police, calling the case a shameful abuse of power and alleging it was a personal vendetta by the IGP.

Sowores only offence is speaking out against injustice and misrule. For that, he was attacked, beaten, had his arm broken, and sprayed with chemicals, he stated.
Lawyers for human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, maintained on Saturday that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) broke his arm during detention and denied him access to independent medical care, dismissing police claims that he arrived at the facility with a bandage in his bag.

In a statement signed on behalf of the legal team by a leading member of the team, Tope Temokun, alleged that around 6:00 a.m. on Friday, eight armed officers entered Mr Sowores cell at the Force Headquarters Monitoring Unit, saying they were taking him to court.

He demanded to see his lawyers. It was during the violent attempt to forcefully move him from his cell at that hour that his arm was broken, Mr Temokun wrote. The injury occurred in police custody, by their hands, under their control.

Mr Temokun said police denied Mr Sowores request to be treated by his own medical team and instead produced an in-house nurse or first-aider who wrapped the arm without an X-ray or proper diagnosis.

He also dismissed as mischievous the police assertion that he refused examination by two police medical teams, arguing that no victim of alleged torture would submit to treatment from the same institution accused of inflicting the injury.

Rejecting the polices claim that Mr Sowore arrived at the Monitoring Unit with a bandage in his bag, the legal team said officers took an inventory of his belongings on arrival and should release it to prove transparency.

How can the police allege that a civilian invited for questioning walked into their heavily guarded headquarters with medical supplies unknown to them? If that were true, it would be self-indicting, they stated.

Mr Temokun also criticised the police for swiftly addressing the injury allegation while remaining silent on an earlier complaint about the alleged theft of Mr Sowores Ray-Ban AI glasses by an officer linked to the Force Public Relations Office.

He further argued that the arrest itself was unjustified, saying the polices claim that Mr Sowore refused to write a statement was not grounds for detention or denial of bail.

Citing Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 60(1) of the Police Act 2020, he noted that making a statement is voluntary and cannot be compelled.

The lawyer said they would petition the Nigeria Police Council and the Police Service Commission for a full investigation of all officers involved.

Police rebut allegations

Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the police denied the allegations of brutality, insisting that all actions taken were lawful and devoid of malice or political motives.

Force spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Friday that Mr Sowore twice refused medical checks in custody, on 7 and 8 August, despite two separate police medical teams being dispatched to examine him.

The refusals, he said, were officially recorded.

While the police respect the individuals right to decline medical assessment, the record must show that the opportunity for independent medical verification was twice provided and twice rejected, the statement read.

Mr Adejobi described as false and grossly misleading a viral photo showing the activist with a bandaged arm, saying the bandage was among his personal belongings when he honoured a police invitation before arrest.

Mr Adejobi said the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered an internal investigation into how the bandage was accessed in custody.

The police said Mr Sowores arrest followed two petitions  one alleging the forgery of a police document published online and another alleging cyberbullying  and that he would be arraigned for forgery, cyberstalking, and other unspecified offences.

Mr Adejobi maintained that the arrest complied with constitutional safeguards, that bail was granted within the 48 hours stipulated by Section 35(4) of the Constitution, and that his continued detention was based on a valid remand order.

Sowores account

Before his release on Friday evening, Mr Sowore appeared in a SaharaReporters live stream, alleging that police broke his right wrist early Thursday morning and denied him proper medical treatment.

They broke my hand yesterday and have not brought a doctor  only a nurse, he said, claiming that police brought journalists to see him in custody to downplay concerns about his welfare.

READ ALSO: Police release Sowore after two days in custody

He demanded immediate release, an apology, and medical care. In the video, the police abruptly ordered journalists out as he addressed them.

At 7:46 p.m. Friday, Mr Sowore posted on Facebook that his detention was unjust, illegal and unwarranted, thanking supporters.

Some minutes later, he went live on the platform to announce his release.
There was excitement on Monday at the Onitsha River Port, Anambra State, when the first barge for the 2025 berthed at the port.

The Port Manager, Martins Osazuwa, confirmed the development on Friday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr Osazuwa said the first barge was loaded with tiles from a company based in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, Nigerias North-central.

He described the barges arrival as a success story that other companies could emulate to cut transportation costs.

Onitsha Port can generate N10 billion annually

Mr Osazuwa said the Onitsha Port can generate N10 billion annually if fully operational.

He described the port as the golden egg of the eastern region, with vast economic potential.

If fully operational, the port could save money, reduce road pressure, decongest Lagos and other ports, and generate up to N100 billion, he said.

The manager lamented that the port has been facing various challenges. He listed them as insecurity, low patronage, and delays in dredging the River Niger.

Mr Osazuwa urged federal and state governments to provide incentives to attract more port patronage.

He also appealed to the Nigerian government to dredge the port, noting that dredging would ease the movement of goods.

According to him, the presence of militant youths and pirates also hampers the ports full operation.

The government should assist us in overcoming these challenges and encourage stakeholders to utilise the port, he said.

Background

Onitsha port was built in 1983 during the administration of then-President Shehu Shagari. However, the port remained non-functional and unutilised until 2012, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan rehabilitated and commissioned it.

Again, the port was left unused until 2018 when President Muhammadu Buharis administration reopened it for operation.

Since then, activities at the port have been seasonal, which usually peaks during the rainy season when the River Nigers water level is high enough to accommodate vessel traffic.

Importers and business persons in the South-east have repeatedly agitated for the establishment of a functional port in the region, stressing that the situation has forced them to endure congestion at Lagos ports.

They argue that establishing a functional port in the South-east would cut logistical delays, reduce business costs, and drive economic growth in the region.
This week, the Zamfara terrorism kingpin, Bello Turji, released 32 kidnapped persons and agreed to stop attacking farmers, following a series of meetings with some Islamic clerics in his hideout. This was disclosed by Musa Yusuf, a cleric popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, who revealed the development at a religious gathering on Monday in Kaduna. Terrorist Turji was also reported to have surrendered some of his arms after the meeting. The freed persons, including children and women, had spent about four months in captivity. Some of the women gave birth in captivity, while one suffered a snake bite. Mr Yusuf said the clerics were still trying to persuade Mr Turji to accept total peace, but they did not ask him to surrender all his arms so as not to make him vulnerable to attack by other groups opposed to the peace process in the state. The cleric commended President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and Senator Shehu Buba for supporting a non-kinetic approach in addressing the security challenges of the area. Clearly therefore, the process is sanctioned by the Nigerian State.

In January this year, the Nigerian military announced the killing of the second-in-command to the said Bello Turji, one Aminu Kanawa as well as his son. The army spokesperson said several of Mr Turjis key commanders, including Abu Dan Shehu, Jabbi Dogo, Dan Kane, Basiru Yellow, Kabiru Gebe, Bello Buba, and Dan Inna Kahon-Saniya-Yafi-Bahaushe, were killed in the operations. Furthermore, troops were said to have neutralised over 24 fleeing terrorists from Turjis camp around Gebe and Isa Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, as well as around Gidan Rijiya in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara. Clearly, terrorist Turji and his gang have been under severe pressure for some time and his search for reconciliation means he needs time to recover and recuperate from the pressure.

It has happened repeatedly over the past few years. When the terrorists are under severe pressure from the security agencies, they offer to negotiate and talk peace. They do not forget to demand and secure a financial package for agreeing to peace. They use the period of the truce to recover, buy new arms from the vast amounts of money they have been extorting from the people and when they feel strong again, they resume their atrocities against the security forces and innocent civilians. I now feel that the Nigerian State and the people need to engage in deeper reflection on the most effective path to peace. Opportunistic peace accords when terrorists are under pressure to allow them time to rebuild and strengthen their forces cannot be the way to peace.

The State must also consider what the people feel. These terrorists kill people, burn down their villages, rape women and girls, kidnap people and keep the for months while their relations sell their property, land, animals to raise money for ransom. The atrocities committed by these terrorists are destroying communities, dehumanizing people, impoverishing them and creating millions of internally displaced people living in hardship and squalor. Are these victims consulted when these peace negotiations are conducted?

My view has always been that the apparent success of terrorists in holding the country to ransom is not a sign of their strength but an expression of the weakness of State and society in contemporary Nigeria. The insurgency that has been on-going is a statement about the high level of public corruption. When government decides to bribe terrorists, it is because some people within government have decided to pocket most of the money. Have we not heard many cases in which the terrorists have complained some government officials stole the money that was set aside for their pay off? If religious radicalism found it easy to organise an insurgency against the State, is it not because religious education and authority had broken down within society? If young Nigerians feel justified in procuring arms and using them against State and society, is it not because of the breakdown of the social contract and the collapse of moral authority as mass poverty and penury on the one hand sees illegitimate wealth accumulated and displayed in a vulgar manner on the other side?

The danger is that it has now been almost two decades of perpetrating atrocities against innocent civilians and we are losing our humanity. Human beings are often slaughtered like rams. Bombs are attached to small girls sent to bomb people in their places of worship. Girls are kidnapped and their parents told they would be raped daily until they pay ransom. This type of behaviour is destroying our civilisation in a very profound manner and is creating a new social order in which the Kalashnikov is king and the new god is money obtained without hard work, ethics or morals. What would be the future for our society?

As our society and values disintegrate, we begin to lose our intellectual capacity to understand what is happening. We become ready to believe absurdities that one group  the evil Fulani are responsible for all our woes as if there is an ethnic group in Nigeria without its own share of bandits and killers. It was Voltaire, the French philosopher who made the point that those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. It is indeed the case that so many among our youth have turned their back on the religious education and socialisation they received from their parents and have been trained to commit mass atrocities. There are objective reasons why terrorists engage in mass atrocities. First, they create fear among the people and the forces they are confronting by making them believe that the outcome of engagement would be terrible suffering and painful death. Secondly, the terrorists who have committed atrocities break the bond with their society, and in this case, their religious group to which they know they cannot return and become bonded with the terrorist group.

The terrorists then become more lucid than the rest of society and start running rings around us. Boko Haram for example learnt to commit atrocities against different categories to achieve specific objections. They attack and kill Christians to encourage the emergence of confessional war with Islam that would divert energies and emotions to make the attainment of their own political objectives easier. They attack Islamic scholars who criticise them so that the absurdities of their belief would not be exposed to their members. They attack Muslims praying in mosques to convince their members that other Muslims are not real Muslims and deserve death. They attack schools, teachers and learning to block the development of critical thinking while promoting obscurantism. They attack traditional rulers who are also religious leaders to legitimise their own religious authority as the only valid one. They attack public servants and security agencies as part of their deconstruction and destruction of the State as we know it. Precisely because they are pursuing multiple objectives that are not only military and political but are also ideological, religious, social and familial, it is important that the response to their actions should also be multiple and emanate from various sources. They remain many steps ahead of the State in their strategies.

Terrorists are now home grown in all our communities and the profession has clearly become an equal opportunities practice. It is easy to justify when parallels are drawn with Nigerias official governing class. Which Nigerian is not aware that many governors, senators etc have a life history of criminality, drug dealing or financial crimes. As the two sides of the coin are compared by ordinary Nigerians, they see an extreme case of the absence of integrity and moral standing on both sides. No one is on the side of legitimacy and the public good. There are no good examples to point two. As this happens, most Nigerians revert into deeper and more devoted religious practice to save their own personal souls. As for the politicians, bandits and terrorists, they have signed their pact with the devil and decided their paradise will be here not the hereafter. If and when we develop philosophy, which we have never done in our history so far, we will see that this bifurcation between the good who will go to heaven and the bad who will turn the earth into their heaven is what is leading us ALL to PERDITION as much of our clergy is actually on the other side.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.
Monsieur Trump, on 6 August, increased the tariffs on Brazil from 10 to 50 per cent primarily because his personal friend, former President Jair Messias Bolsonaro is on trial, and the Brazilian government would not obey Trumps orders that the trial should be discontinued Bolsonaro, a pathetic duplicate of Trump, also known as the Trump of the Tropics, had, in a Trump-like action, been accused of trying to overthrow the Brazilian government in 2023, after he lost his re-election bid.

The regime in the United States (US), led by Mr Donald John Trump, has in the past seven months introduced many alien relations into international relations. But when many thought it could not get worse, the American regime is taking decisions that do not appear to be the products of sound thinking.

Perhaps the main instrument of Trumps alienating foreign policy is the weaponisation of tariffs. This was wielded like the Sword of Damocles cutting all sides, including foes like China and allies such as Canada. In fact, the regime insists that the latter should be its 51st state, and Trump calls the Canadian Prime Minister a Governor. But the use of tariffs had mainly been projected as an economic weapon, except for some cases such as the imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on India for buying cheap oil from Russia. That act itself is strange because both countries are sovereign and can decide on trade between themselves.

These acts, including the regimes desire to take over Greenland, ordering Panama to delink China from its Panama Canal business, sending migrant detainees to third countries, and advocating the forceful removal of Palestinians from their ancestral homes, while turning Gaza into an estate owned by Israel and the US, are weird.

But nothing prepared me for a tariff assault on another country, not because it benefits Americans or the state, but for personal reasons!

Monsieur Trump, on 6 August, increased the tariffs on Brazil from 10 to 50 per cent primarily because his personal friend, former President Jair Messias Bolsonaro is on trial, and the Brazilian government would not obey Trumps orders that the trial should be discontinued.

Bolsonaro, a pathetic duplicate of Trump, also known as the Trump of the Tropics, had, in a Trump-like action, been accused of trying to overthrow the Brazilian government in 2023, after he lost his re-election bid.

Bolsonaro had been quite confident that he would win the election. He was the incumbent president, a former military officer, and had been a Brazilian congressman for 27 years.

In a letter to Lula, Trump said the punitive 50 per cent tariff is being imposed due in part to Brazils insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans. He added: Please understand that the 50 per cent number is far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country And it is necessary to have this to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime.

In contrast, Lula has little formal education, and was a metal worker and a trade unionist. He had been a two-term president before he was convicted for money laundering and corruption in 2017. He spent 580 days in prison. Freed in 2018, he was again convicted in February 2019.

However, he fought on to the Supreme Court, which, in 2021, nullified both convictions for being politically motivated, and based on bias. The Court further ruled that the plethora of similar cases against him be discontinued. With this, he was free to challenge President Bolsonaro in the October 2022 presidential election.

While the latter assumed the election would be a walk over, many Brazilian voters were conscious of the fact that Bolsanaro had caused them lots of pain, including the deforestation of the Amazon. But far more devastating, he caused many deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolsanaro had declared that COVID-19 was a scam and nothing more than a little flu. He said there should be neither social distancing nor lockdown. As the infections grew and people died, the then Brazilian president held mass rallies and discouraged vaccination. Mainly, as a result of what became known as the Bolsonaro Effect, between February 2020 and by COVID-19.

However, when the maverick lost the election, he would not concede defeat. Rather, he allegedly organised his supporters to overthrow the new government. Bolsanaros supporters seized public buildings, highways, the Police Headquarters and other public places. Apart from these, prosecutors are charging Bolsonaro with organising a coup in which the Supreme Court justices were to be arrested, and a state of siege declared with intent to make the military seize power and organise new elections. It is for these reasons that he and 33 others are standing trial.

But Trump would have none of this. He insists that his friend should not face trial, adding that he had faced a similar trial for the 6 January 2021 attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC.

In a letter to Lula, Trump said the punitive 50 per cent tariff is being imposed due in part to Brazils insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans. He added: Please understand that the 50 per cent number is far less than what is needed to have the Level Playing Field we must have with your Country And it is necessary to have this to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime.

Trump added: The way that Brazil has treated former President Bolsonaro, a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World during his term, including by the United States, is an international disgraceThis trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!

In basing economic tariffs on parochial sentiments and seeking to punish 212 million Brazilians because of one man, the regime in Washington is seeking to climb the tree beyond its leaves; it might find itself tumbling down.

In many cases, when Trump slaps countries or organisations with high tariffs, the victims, like the 27-nation European Union (EU), crawl to him for negotiations. Some even bribe Trump, so that he does not get angry with them. That was the case of little Qatar giving Trump a $400 million Boeing 747-8 stretch model jumbo. The aircraft is more than 18 feet longer than his official Air Force One jet.

But, in this case, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula, rather than pacify Trump, literally told him to go to hell. Ruling out any meeting with the American President, Lula said: The day my intuition says Trump is ready to talk, I wont hesitate to call him. But today, my intuition says he doesnt want to talk. And I wont humiliate myself.

In a chat with the media on 6 August, Lula added, What Trump did with Zelenskiy was humiliation. Thats not normal. What Trump did with Ramaphosa was humiliation. One president cant be humiliating another. I respect everyone and I demand respect.

On the specific trial of Bolsonaro, Luna ruled out any concession to Trump, saying the Brazilian Supreme Court does not care what Trump says and it should not.

Recalling the American-backed 1964 military coup in Brazil, which ousted democratically elected President Joao Goulart with some 500 Brazilians killed or disappeared, and thousands detained after the coup, Lula told the Trump regime, We had already pardoned the US intervention in the 1964 coup. But this now is not a small intervention. Its the president of the United States thinking he can dictate rules for a sovereign country like Brazil. Its unacceptable.

In basing economic tariffs on parochial sentiments and seeking to punish 212 million Brazilians because of one man, the regime in Washington is seeking to climb the tree beyond its leaves; it might find itself tumbling down.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.
To overcome intellectual limitations, African countries must harness radical imagination. The future of Africa is written in Lagos, Dakar, Accra, within the equations of African scientists, the chants of protesters, the prayers of farmers, and even in the poetry of griots. Africa must become the creators of knowledge rather than passive receivers; its democracy must speak its indigenous languages, its education must unveil African histories, its development must respect its environment, and the migration of its people must become more of a choice than merely a statement.

This trilogy, set within the format of public lectures across four countries, begins with a focus on power, then explores changes, and concludes with the limitations of power and the shifts occurring in Africa. I feel privileged to discuss these limitations at four universities in Uganda.

Throughout postcolonial African history, an intellectual contradiction appears when Africans are told they are free through borrowed frameworks that define this freedom. They are urged to modernise, yet the modern tools they use distort elements of the African past. Although rich in ideas and resources, Africa remains limited not because it lacks ideologies, but because it is still suffocated by inherited philosophies. Colonial legacies have embedded these philosophies and they are maintained through global norms that now act as barriers to Africas potential growth.

This is more evident in the structure of African democracy, where the constitution is ignored, elections are manipulated, and parliaments meet to make democracy look good, instead of genuinely functioning. In Gabon, for example, political succession resembles that of monarchical dynasties; in Uganda, elections have become tools for the ruling elites to stay in power, rather than a way to bring change or reflect the will of the people. Therefore, in Africa, even though democracy exists in form, its spirit is missing.

Some European countries praise Africa for its political transitions, even though these transitions are only the repetition of the same faces with different slogans. As a result, the African people have planted the seeds of democracy but cannot reap its harvest because their votes do not count and their voices go unheard. The intellectual limitation in this area stems from the foreign systems of governance that Africa has adopted, without connecting them to African social contracts. This political model originates from abroad, just like its purpose, and it has created a strained relationship between the governed and those in power. To make things worse, political actors around the world support regimes that go against the principles of democracy, claiming stability as their justification.

Democracy for Africa must be experienced and not just performed. It should stem from reviving indigenous practices like consensus, rotational leadership, and community dialogue, rather than mimicking the activities of global centres of power like Washington or Westminster. Africa needs to return to governance rooted in its ancestral philosophies, by adapting them to modern frameworks that prioritise the people over the elites.

The importation of current political practices in Africa also leads to the importation of education as a derivative. The learning institutions in Africa are remnants of colonial designs, created to train interpreters for colonial authorities to communicate with the indigenous populations. These institutions produce graduates who are unaware of Cheikh Anta Diop but can quote Rene Descartes, who revere Isaac Newtons theories but are ignorant of the Dogon peoples astronomical knowledge. This setup creates a ladder of knowledge where European ideas, histories, and languages are at the top.

The apartheid of knowledge is, therefore, allowed to thrive as African students are educated to abandon indigenous contexts in favour of progress, and the African knowledge system is unfairly and intellectually dismissed as backward; socially acceptable behaviours are dismissed as primitive, superstitious, and irrelevant. However, continuing on this path would erase Africas genius from its future, as the continent has built unique spiritual philosophies, political structures, agricultural, and medicinal systems that reflect its society and knowledge for centuries.

The colonisation of knowledge is also clear in the state, and the post-colonial African state arose from the desire to unify and uplift its people. However, it was built in the image of its colonial masters, viewing its citizens as subjects. It remains centralised, extractive, and hierarchical  a space where police brutalise and courts exploit. Civil servants serve the party, rather than the people.

This intellectual exclusion is costly to Africa because the continent continues to produce graduates who can cite foreign theories but cannot apply them to solve local problems. Over time, the education systems in place have become a driver of brain drain, as educated individuals use them as pathways to leave Africa, rather than to help transform it, and seek Western approval, instead of solutions for Africa. To address this issue, Africa needs a revolution in the knowledge sector  one that not only updates its curriculum but also fundamentally reorients African realities, philosophies, and history, and reclaims Africas knowledge for its true home.

The colonisation of knowledge is also clear in the state, and the post-colonial African state arose from the desire to unify and uplift its people. However, it was built in the image of its colonial masters, viewing its citizens as subjects. It remains centralised, extractive, and hierarchical  a space where police brutalise and courts exploit. Civil servants serve the party, rather than the people.

The question of why the state exists is one we must ask ourselves. Citizens no longer see the government as legitimate; many leaders do not fear their people and they pay less attention to governance failures. African states need to be reformed to serve the good of their people, rather than to hold authority. There is morality in decentralisation; communities should be governed by systems they trust and traditions they understand. Power should no longer be used as a weapon but as a channel for the collective good.

The state is legal, political, and most importantly, cultural. Culture is the thread that connects memory to identity. However, in modern times, it has become a battleground. Globalisation has pushed African knowledge into resistance and endangerment. Many Africans sing in a foreign language, pray in foreign temples, and wear clothes that do not suit the African climate. The colonisation of Africa has gone beyond land and has moved into the African imagination.

The African culture, however, continues to survive through hybridity, as African religious creativity has been able to blend Islamic, Christian, and ancestral cosmologies to create unique religions, such as the Aladura Churches in Nigeria and the Zionist Churches in South Africa, serving as evidence of the African spiritual reinvention. Africans have not only received foreign religions but have also reshaped them, demonstrating ingenuity. However, this resistance alone is not enough. Culture must advance from a stage of resistance to one of sovereignty by revitalising African languages, philosophies, education, economics, and arts as the foundation of governance. Culture is the cornerstone of development, and those who forget their history are unable to build their future.

Cultural revitalisation, however, requires elevating indigenous knowledge systems that have long been dismissed as folklore. These knowledge systems are not merely remnants of the past but are foundational for the future. They encompass knowledge in ecology, medicine, ethics, agriculture, and more, potentially offering solutions for Africa during this era when climate change has become a global concern. Instead of seeking answers from Silicon Valley, Africa may find solutions in the rainforests of Congo. Nonetheless, ethics must play a crucial role in integrating these systems. African healers and custodians should be recognised as co-creators of knowledge, with their intellectual property safeguarded by law. The development of these systems must be inclusive and avoid exploitation, embracing inter-epistemic dialogues while rejecting the arrogance of technocratic fixes.

The issue with Africa isnt a lack of intelligence but the inability to surpass the limits placed upon it. We face a tough challenge in decolonising both our systems and our ways of thinking. We must break free from constraints and dismantle old moulds to achieve liberation. In doing so, Africa wont just rise; it will redefine what growth truly means.

Africa is on the verge of a technological revolution, catching up with various applications, from cell phones to solar panels, and more. However, its important to note that Africa isnt creating these technologies but mainly consuming them. This situation is now enabling the mining of African data, silencing African voices through algorithms, and shaping its history with foreign technology platforms. They control the African economy as colonial rulers once did; they are not in chains but in code.

For these freedoms to become reality, Africa must invest in intellectual infrastructure, focus on research that is locally relevant, and prioritise digital literacy and open-source technologies. These efforts will help African universities evolve into centres of creativity and innovation, rather than merely degree-producing machines. A decolonised African future is one in which Africans are not just online but truly in control. Africa needs to ask moral questions to determine who has access to technology and who owns it. Who built the platforms? Who are the gatekeepers of the narratives? Who is profiting from the data?

The most heartbreaking symptom of these intellectual limitations, perhaps, is that of migration. Year after year, millions of young, talented Africans are desperate to leave their home countries for abroad in search of jobs and dignity. Globally, this is seen as a crisis. Still, in truth, it is evidence of Africas failure because these migrations are caused not only by ambition but also by abandonment, unemployment, global inequality, climate change, and poor governance. We can then find silent answers to the question of why our best minds flee and why Africa exports bodies and imports hope. Although these migrations help with remittances, their true cost  fractured families, wasted potential, and the erosion of trust in Africas future  stands as incalculable.

The solution to this emigration problem does not lie in border control but in nation-building. African countries must become societies where jobs, justice, and joy are local commodities. Africa must also confront and change the global system  financial, legal, and diplomatic  that it operates within. The exploitation of African resources and the rejection of African people must end.

To overcome intellectual limitations, African countries must harness radical imagination. The future of Africa is written in Lagos, Dakar, Accra, within the equations of African scientists, the chants of protesters, the prayers of farmers, and even in the poetry of griots. Africa must become the creators of knowledge rather than passive receivers; its democracy must speak its indigenous languages, its education must unveil African histories, its development must respect its environment, and the migration of its people must become more of a choice than merely a statement.

The issue with Africa isnt a lack of intelligence but the inability to surpass the limits placed upon it. We face a tough challenge in decolonising both our systems and our ways of thinking. We must break free from constraints and dismantle old moulds to achieve liberation. In doing so, Africa wont just rise; it will redefine what growth truly means.

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland.
the recent renaming of streets in Lagos by Yoruba nativists is a major drawback on the much required Southern unity, especially in the face of renewed political hostility from some of his former powerful allies turned vicious foes. As the political leader of Lagos, President Tinubu cannot pretend not to know that some of the actions of his protege in Lagos are capable of throwing a spanner in the works of unity, peace and progress across southern Nigeria.

For some of us from Northern Nigeria, who are resolute about our position that presidential power should remain in the South until 2031, our efforts at ensuring peace and unity through equity, fairness and justice appear being undermined by the very people of Southern Nigeria to whom this matter mostly concerns. The simmering ethnic tension and mutual hate between the Igbo and Yoruba, two of Southern Nigerias largest ethnic groups, may boil over into xenophobic acrimony, if the leaders of Southern Nigeria do not rise up to the occasion and put out the burning fire. Nothing underscores the current situation between the Igbo and Yoruba than the recent renaming of streets in Lagos from Igbo to Yoruba names by the political leadership of Lagos, in their effort to take back their land from Igbo aliens, whose economic and political influence may have become unbearable to the Yoruba sons of the soil.

Although, the disunity and mistrust between the Igbo and Yoruba was always there right from colonial times, the recent deepening of the Igbo/Yoruba ethno-geographic fault lines is a fallout of the 2023 presidential election, when Peter Obi, an Igbo from Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, defeated Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba from Lagos State, South-West Nigeria. Obis defeat of Tinubu in Lagos was erroneously attributed to the large population of Igbo residents in Lagos, who voted for one of their own against a son of the soil. Since the defeat of Tinubu in Lagos, the relationship between these two Southern brethren has taken a turn towards hell. In fact, despite the fact that Tinubu emerged the eventual winner of the election, ahead of Atiku Abubakar from the North and Peter Obi, some group of Yoruba nativists in Lagos have decided that they have had enough of the Igbo people and their domineering influence.

In addition to Obis denunciation of the outcome of the 2023 presidential election that threw up Tinubu, a fellow Southerner, as winner and his teaming up with Atiku, a Northerner, to torpedo the election through judicial intervention, the follow up gubernatorial election of 2023 in Lagos, which saw Yoruba mobs being mobilised to prevent Igbo residents from exercising their democratic right of choosing who governs their state of residence, even when all the leading candidates for the position of the governor of Lagos were Yoruba, raised tension through the roof. So much was the trading of hateful words between the two groups that I had this to say then, Having fulfilled its pledge to ensure a shift of presidential power to the South, the educationally backward North must be bewildered, bemused and irritated by the on-going war of vile words and crude display of primitive politics by the educationally advanced South, as the bitter dispute over the outcomes of the 2023 presidential election continue between Nigerias Igbo and Yoruba people of southern Nigeria.

As a phrase that was widely popularised by Lateef Jakande, the former governor of the state, the notion that Lagos is no mans land is nothing but a euphemism for the cosmopolitan, urban and diverse nature of the state, which makes it effectively an all mans land to those who reside in it. Ordinarily, this should be a thing of pride to the aboriginal people, that their ancestral land is now a home for all.

While calling for healing across the South, I also had this to say: To arrest this ugly situation and avert the path to a mutually assured self-annihilation of the Igbo and Yoruba in the politics of Nigeria and save the country the avoidable road to Sudan, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the president-elect must rise up to his responsibility as next leader of Nigeria and begin the national healing process. This must begin with Southern unity. Tinubu must realise that he is only president-elect today because of Obis presence in the race, which decimated the Atikus chance in the South-East, South-South and the Middle Belt regions of Nigeria. If Obi and his Igbo kinsmen had betrayed their Yoruba kinsmen in their collective quest for a power shift to the South by aligning with PDPs Atiku Abubakar from Northern Nigeria, Tinubu would not have won the 2023 presidential election.

Whereas, President Tinubu has taken some concrete steps in this direction by extending a hand of fellowship across the Niger River, the recent renaming of streets in Lagos by Yoruba nativists is a major drawback on the much required Southern unity, especially in the face of renewed political hostility from some of his former powerful allies turned vicious foes. As the political leader of Lagos, President Tinubu cannot pretend not to know that some of the actions of his protege in Lagos are capable of throwing a spanner in the works of unity, peace and progress across southern Nigeria.

Having lost some ground in the North, President Tinubu and his Yoruba kinsmen must realise that only southern unity and solidarity and not the tribalistic misapplication of Yoruba Ronu can checkmate the coming onslaught from Northern Nigeria and as all it takes is for the Igbo and other Southern peoples across the Niger Delta region to feel sufficiently alienated by his leadership style and the behaviour of his people to consider reviving the age-long alliance between the old Northern Region and Eastern Region, as currently being proposed by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The obnoxious claim that Lagos is being referred to as no mans land by its Igbo residents is a regurgitated lie that is now believed by its purveyors, which is what is driving the level of tribalism in Lagos that is worse than racism in London, Paris and New York. As a phrase that was widely popularised by Lateef Jakande, the former governor of the state, the notion that Lagos is no mans land is nothing but a euphemism for the cosmopolitan, urban and diverse nature of the state, which makes it effectively an all mans land to those who reside in it. Ordinarily, this should be a thing of pride to the aboriginal people, that their ancestral land is now a home for all. Unfortunately, if the disunity in the South continues till 2027, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Yoruba nation will be the greatest losers and they will go down in history as unable to manage regional unity that is enough to ward off hostile takeover of power by the entitled and overbearing North. A man carrying a bowl of palm oil must be wary of a man carrying a log of wood. At the moment, President Tinubu and by extension the Yoruba nation, are carrying a bowl of oil and must be most careful not to collide with a man carrying a log of wood.

Having lost some ground in the North, President Tinubu and his Yoruba kinsmen must realise that only southern unity and solidarity and not the tribalistic misapplication of Yoruba Ronu can checkmate the coming onslaught from Northern Nigeria and as all it takes is for the Igbo and other Southern peoples across the Niger Delta region to feel sufficiently alienated by his leadership style and the behaviour of his people to consider reviving the age-long alliance between the old Northern Region and Eastern Region, as currently being proposed by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. Therefore, the Yoruba nativists of Lagos who purport to love President Tinubu, must now substitute Yoruba Ronu with Southern Nigeria Ronu by rising above the pettiness and silliness of fatal nativism in the heart of Nigerias commercial capital city of Lagos, which is an all mans land that belongs to every Nigerian that resides there, including the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. And the starting point will be for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to prevail upon the concerned authorities to revert to status quo before the ill-advised renaming of streets in Lagos.

Majeed Dahiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja and can be reached through [email protected].
The police command in Akwa Ibom State says it has arrested seven suspected armed robbers terrorising residents of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area and its environs.

This is contained in a statement from the commands spokesperson, Timfon John, and made available to reporters in Uyo on Saturday.

According to Ms John, a deputy superintendent of police, a team of operatives launched a raid on the syndicates hideout located at Ikot Osong in Obot Akara Local Government Area at 2:30 a.m. on 8 August and arrested the suspects.

The location also served as a shrine, where they reportedly fortified themselves before their operations, she stated.

She said the operation was initiated following the killing of one of the gang leaders during a foiled robbery attempt and a subsequent apprehension of the overall gang leader, who was hiding in Imo State.

The operation is a direct result of an ongoing effort to curb violent crimes in the region, Ms John said.

According to her, the gang leaders confession provided critical information that led the police to their operational base.

Ms John said items recovered from the operation include one locally made cut-to-size double-barrel gun, two expended cartridges, one live cartridge, and one live 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition.

Other items include five motorcycles, one bicycle, three face masks, two power banks, multiple mobile phones, a police-crested cap, an army camouflage cap, and suspected charms.

Investigation is ongoing to recover more stolen items and apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large, she added.

She reaffirmed the commands commitment to providing safety and security for all residents.

The police in Akwa Ibom have made a series of arrests lately in an impressive crackdown on criminal gangs, including cultists and kidnappers, in the oil-rich state.

The police said on 5 August that they arrested five suspected cultists, rapists, and armed robbers in the state.

The suspects were identified as Richard Udo, Hope Anietie, Joseph Ibongidi, Christian Johnny, and Joseph Joseph.

According to the police, the suspects are believed to be responsible for a recent home invasion, armed robbery, and rape incident at a guest house in Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
The Simon Property Group has promoted Eli Simon, executive vice president, chief investment officer and director, to chief operating officer.

Eli will work directly with David Simon, chairman, chief executive officer and president, who is also Elis father, on all aspects of the business, including property performance, new development projects, the companys strategic investments, and brand strategy.

More from WWD

The promotion, revealed Thursday, puts the 37-year-old Eli Simon squarely in line as the potential successor to his 63-year-old father, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer for several months.

Asked if Elis promotion represents succession, Simon Property Group provided WWD with a statement that read: The board made this appointment. The board is always focused on succession planning and evaluating the talent available and roles to be filled.

The position of chief operating officer has been vacant since Richard S. Sokolov moved up to his current role as vice chairman in 2019.

Eli Simon joined the company in 2019, leading the companys investment strategy for both real estate and non-real estate investments, including new business sourcing, strategic corporate investments, and the execution of various real estate transactions. Before joining the company, he was the principal and head of North American Lodging at Och-Ziff Capital Management and Och-Ziff Real Estate, where he oversaw all lodging related investments, including asset and portfolio acquisitions, operating company investments, and lending opportunities.

Simon also said that Jonathan Murphy and Eric Sadi have been named copresidents, North American Real Estate. They will oversee Simons North American real estate portfolio and all three of the companys platforms  Malls, Mills and Premium Outlets. They will also be responsible for asset management and leasing strategies. Murphy and Sadi, respectively, joined the Indianapolis-based company in 2010 and 2006, and have served in various capacities throughout their tenures. Since 2020 they have been copresidents of Simons Mall Platform, overseeing the revenue stream, occupancy, and merchandise mix for the companys malls.

One of the hallmarks of Simons success is the strength and depth of our management team, David Simon said in a statement. As we work to further advance our growth, I am pleased with these leadership appointments. Our culture of innovation will continue to be a strategic asset for us.
The Ekiti High Court in Ado-Ekiti, on Friday, voided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Congress held in May.

It, however, upheld the Ward Congress held earlier on 15 March.

The judge, Bamidele Omotoso, had on 6 May granted an order while ruling on a motion exparte number HAD/424M/2025, which was filed by a member of the party, Afolabi Adedeji.

The suit was brought against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, the Caretaker Chairman of the party in Ekiti State, Dare Adeleke, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The plaintiff, Mr Adedeji, had sought an order of interim injunction, retraining the defendants by themselves, privies, agents and successor-in-title/office, from accepting any list of persons who did not obtain election forms, participate in the elections and elected by the simple majority votes of the ward congress of the PDP in Ekiti State to act for the party, as delegates at any election of the party apart from those elected on 15 March..

However, in his judgement, Mr Omotoso nullified the new delegates list submitted by the National Working Committee (NWC) and also dismissed other actions and decisions taken after the Congress of 15 March.

The judge said, The Supreme Court held that it is an elementary principle that no suit based on a charlatan claim must be acted upon by the court.

The High Court, in adherence to the above-cited principle of law, relying on the unchallenged disposition and the supporting affidavit to the originating process against the defendant, hereby makes the following orders:

That the claimant is the duly elected first defendant, chairman, and delegate of Ward 1, Ado-Ekiti Local Government, as shown in Exhibit 1, having regard to Paragraphs 1, 2(a), and 12 of the Conduct of Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 2024.

I declare invalid, and it is hereby set aside, the purported list of delegates submitted by the defendants to the first, second, and third defendants, in contravention of Sections 2, 15(2)(3), and 49 of the Congress for election into all positions of the PDP, having regard to Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Section 40.2.2.3 and Item 15(c), Third Schedule of the Constitution of the PDP.

The defendants, their privies and agents are hereby perpetually restrained from recognizing the purported list of delegates in contravention of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended).

Having regard to Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, 2022, Section 40, Section 223, and Item 15 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), parties are advised to review the parts in this case to avoid sin and to refrain from resorting to self-help.

No one shall undermine the authority of this order; Registrars Order: The restraining of the parties during the pendency of the suit, and the flagrant disobedience to the aforesaid order of this court with regard to the election of congresses to the 177 wards, was in contempt. Such actions are hereby nullified, voided and set aside by this Honourable Court.

In his reaction, a PDP chieftain in Ekiti, Funsho Ayeni, commended the ruling of the court, saying it gives opportunities for party members to reunite and forge for its growth and development.

He urged the PDP leaders to Bury their differences and work towards making the party a formidable platform in the state in order to unseat the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Expert Consumers has named Magid as the top provider of safety work gloves in its recently released report. The evaluation highlights the brand's performance in key areas such as safety compliance, product range, material innovation, and suitability for diverse industrial applications.

Best Work Gloves

Magid - known for developing and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), including work gloves and sleeves, across various industries, from manufacturing and construction to warehousing and cleanroom environments.

The report highlights how the brand's product development stays closely aligned with real-world job requirements, delivering gloves designed to handle specific workplace risks - whether that's sharp edges, chemical exposure, or high heat. Used across a variety of safety-focused industries, the gloves were noted for striking a practical balance between protection, comfort, and compliance with occupational health standards.

A Continuing Focus on Workplace Safety

Hand injuries continue to rank among the most frequent workplace incidents across industrial settings, making protective gloves a critical part of any safety program. From cuts and punctures to chemical burns and impact injuries, gloves are often the last line of defense. As more industries adopt stricter safety protocols aligned with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the need for gloves that match specific hazards and performance standards is on the rise.

The report points out that no single glove fits every task. Jobs involving sharp metals, extreme temperatures, or chemical handling demand different materials and design features. With this in mind, the evaluation focused on gloves that not only meet safety benchmarks but also offer durability and real-world usability.

The reviewed products cover a wide range of needs - from polyurethane-coated gloves that enhance grip to nitrile options built for chemical resistance, as well as lightweight, cut-resistant sleeves for extended arm protection. These tools help companies address varied safety challenges while supporting compliance and everyday efficiency on the job.

Product Versatility: Standards Compliance & Cut Protection

Among the products featured in the report, several Magid gloves were noted for addressing overlapping safety needs.

At the center is the Magid D-ROC 21G GPD412 , a 21-gauge ultra-thin polyurethane palm coated glove recognized for its balance of comfort, flexibility, and ANSI A4 cut resistance. Its lightweight construction is ideal for jobs requiring fine motor control, such as material handling, electrical work, or assembly line tasks where precision matters as much as protection.

For construction and heavy-duty applications, the Magid T-REX Flex Series TRX400 earned recognition for its impact resistance and durable design. With thermoplastic rubber (TPR) protection across the fingers and knuckles, plus a strong grip in oily environments, this glove suits high-impact tasks in fracking, demolition, and equipment handling.

Touchscreen compatibility is increasingly important in industrial workflows, and the Magid T-REX TRX453 addresses this need by combining responsive touchscreen performance with ANSI A5 cut resistance and low-profile impact protection. This glove is well-suited for sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and field operations where rugged environments meet digital tools.

In chemical-heavy industries, the ComfortFlex WF5 nitrile glove stood out for its 15 mil thickness, embossed grip, and compliance with Federal Code 21CFR for food handling. Its flock-lined interior and liquid-proof properties support long-duration use in food processing and industrial cleaning applications.

For general-purpose use, the Magid ROC GP102 offers a sustainable approach without sacrificing performance. Made from a 90% recycled polyester blend with a foam nitrile palm coating, this glove delivers ANSI Level 4 abrasion resistance along with flexibility and breathability. It is especially useful in fast-moving environments like logistics, maintenance, and general assembly.

Meanwhile, the TRX848 welding glove was noted for combining impact protection and flame resistance using Magid's M-Force Defense System and a premium cow grain shell, addressing the needs of welders and high-risk job sites.

The report also highlights arm protection, including the Magid M-GARD 21G Hi-Vis Ultra-Thin Sleeve cut-resistant sleeves. These ultra-thin sleeves, available in both ANSI A4 and ANSI A6 cut protection levels, are made from lightweight 21-gauge fiber and come in 18- and 22-inch lengths. With a thumb slot, high-visibility design, and premium elastic bicep support, they offer extended protection for metalworking, automotive, and manufacturing environments.

Materials to Consider When Choosing Work Gloves

The report highlights several considerations for selecting appropriate work gloves, including material, grip, protection level, and fit. Material choice impacts both comfort and safety. Leather provides abrasion resistance and is suitable for lifting and rugged tasks. Nitrile and other synthetic blends are used for chemical handling and offer improved dexterity. Cotton and textile materials deliver breathability for lighter tasks requiring frequent movement.

Protection ratings based on ANSI or EN standards help determine a glove's suitability for specific hazards. Higher cut levels are recommended for sharp material handling, while puncture resistance is critical in industrial maintenance and healthcare waste disposal. For impact-prone tasks, gloves with thermoplastic rubber padding or similar reinforcements can help reduce blunt force injuries. Heat resistance is governed by ASTM F1060 or EN 407 standards, which ensure that gloves can safely withstand high temperatures.

Fit also remains a key consideration. Gloves should be snug enough to maintain control but not restrict movement. A proper fit supports compliance and improves wearability over long shifts. Many Magid gloves are offered in a wide range of sizes to accommodate diverse workforce needs.

Industry Outlook for Advancements in PPE

As industries continue to face rising expectations around worker safety, PPE remains a critical component of operational strategy. From regulatory compliance to worker retention and productivity, protective equipment like work gloves plays a central role. Brands that can offer both performance and adaptability are likely to gain more traction in 2025 and beyond.

With ongoing advancements in materials science and ergonomics, the work glove category is expected to see further innovations that prioritize user comfort, touchscreen compatibility, and hybrid protection features. Companies investing in purpose-built gloves tailored to specific applications are better positioned to minimize injuries and support safer, more efficient work environments.

Magid's presence in this space reflects a broader shift toward integrated, real-world safety solutions that align with modern industrial needs.

A Longstanding Commitment to Safety and Innovation

Founded in 1946, Magid began in Chicago as a small manufacturing facility and has grown into a leading supplier of PPE, serving companies across North America. Today, the company operates from a 700,000-square-foot facility with a global supply network and in-house manufacturing capabilities that support rapid innovation.

Magid's product development process includes continuous collaboration with industry partners to design PPE that meets evolving workplace demands. The company supplies over 700 brands and maintains a 98 percent same-day shipping rate. In 2024, Magid was recognized by Chicago Scholars with an Outstanding Company Service Award for its philanthropic and community engagement efforts.

The report notes that Magid's broad product catalog, focus on compliance, and ability to deliver specialized protection have positioned the company as a trusted resource for safety managers and procurement teams seeking reliable solutions.

To read the full report, visit Expert Consumers .

About Magid Glove & Safety, Manufacturing Company LLC

As a true partner in industrial safety, Magid's mission is to provide the expertise and revolutionary innovations in PPE that helps keep workers safe. The relationships we build with our customers drive everything we do as we get to know their unique needs. Our skilled manufacturing provides the latest innovations and technologies in PPE not available anywhere else. Our worldwide network of suppliers delivers access to the top brands in safety. We have everything needed to increase safety, reduce spending, and supercharge industrial workers! Fourth generation and family-owned since 1946, safety isn't just a job; it's our legacy. For more information, visit www.magidglove.com.

About Expert Consumers: Expert Consumers provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

SOURCE ExpertConsumers.org
"The longest-reigning pontiff after Saint Peter, Pius IX (1792-1878; r. 1846-1878) was the last pope to rule as temporal king of the Papal States, losing that position when Rome fell to the Piedmontese in September 1870. Drawing on original research from the Vatican archives, historian Caroline Weber discusses Pius's life and reigna volatile negotiation between the traditions of the Church and the forces of modernityand pays particular attention to his fraught relationship with the Royal House of Savoy."

Guest Speaker Caroline Weber is a Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Barnard College and Columbia University. Her most recent book, Proust's Duchess (2018), won the French Heritage Society Book Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography. She has been a Guggenheim Fellow, a Cullman Fellow at the New York Public Library, and a writer-in-residence at Edith Wharton's estate and library in the Berkshires. Her work on Pius IX is drawn from her forthcoming group biography of nineteenth-century royals who lost their thrones."

For more information on the American Savoy Foundation's Lecture Series, please view

www.savoy-usa.org

ABOUT THE ROYAL HOUSE OF SAVOY

The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy are among the oldest orders of Knighthood and Merit in the world. The Savoy Orders are headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and have 35 delegations worldwide that support the Orders' ongoing charitable works. Their origins and their principles, traditions and humanitarian goals date back a thousand years. H.R.H Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Duke of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont and of Venice is Head of the House of Savoy and Grand Master of the Savoy Orders.

In 1946, when the Kingdom of Italy came to an end, the House of Savoy was Europe's oldest reigning dynasty. The heads of the House of Savoy had ruled, first as counts, then as dukes and finally as kings, for almost a thousand years. Descended in the direct male line from a tenth-century vassal of the Holy Roman Emperor, the Savoys ruled Savoy, where they established their capital at Chambery. Their dominion was eventually extended to include Piedmont, Aosta and other territories in what are now Italy, France and Switzerland. By the eighteenth century, the Savoys were kings of Sardinia, and it was under the aegis of the House of Savoy that the Italian states were united by 1861-1870 as the Kingdom of Italy.

The Royal Family's heritage can be seen in castles and palaces, and in the beauty of the northwestern Italian city of Turin, the Savoys' magnificent capital in the heart of Piedmont in the 16th into the 19th centuries. The dynastic chivalric traditions of the Royal House of Savoy continue. The Order of the Annunciation and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, two of the world's oldest knightly institutions, are still alive today, epitomizing the dynasty's medieval spirit while supporting very modern charitable works in Italy, Switzerland, France, Japan, the Americas and elsewhere. Chivalry lives. Today, the House of Savoy remains one of the oldest royal dynasties.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS

Headquartered in New York City, the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, which includes the United States of America, is among the 35 delegations of the Savoy Orders located throughout Europe, the Americas and Japan.

The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) charitable organization, supports local, national, and international charities focusing on medical, educational and humanitarian fields, including philanthropy for U.S. veterans, hospitals and relief agencies for children, the poor, the sick and the elderly. In 2005, the Foundation became a Non-Governmental Organization in Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In 2019, the Savoy Foundation launched a new charitable initiative - Chivalry for Children's Causes - a multi-year program assisting institutions and charitable organizations that provide aid to children and families in need, building stable, healthy families, whether through enrichment spaces or basic meals for improved health and stable living conditions in poor economic environments. The program is made possible thanks to generous support from the members and friends of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders.

http://www.savoy-usa.org

SOURCE The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated
ROSEMONT, Ill., Aug. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- (AANA) -- Wisconsin recently enacted legislation that allows more autonomy for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).

On August 8, Wisconsin Assembly Bill 257, the APRN Modernization Act, was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers. The law provides for an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), including a CRNA, to "practice independently in his or her recognized role  outside of a collaborative relationship with a physician or dentist" following completion of educational hours and hours of practice with a physician or dentist set forth in the law.

The APRN Modernization Act includes APRN licensure, education and certification requirements, previously addressed in rules, now in statute for the first time. The APRN Modernization Act also explicitly authorizes health care providers who hold a doctorate degree to use the title "doctor" together with the "words, letters, or abbreviations that represent the field in which the person received the doctorate degree." As of 2025, all nurse anesthesiology program graduates earn a doctoral degree.

The CRNA scope of practice in the law includes "providing anesthesia care, pain management care for persons across their lifespan" in settings including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, and offices, and also includes prescriptive authority. For any APRNs treating pain, they are required to work "in a collaborative relationship with a physician" meeting specified criteria unless the APRN has qualified for independent practice and is practicing in a hospital/hospital-associated clinic or holds hospital privileges.

As the primary provider of anesthesia in most rural hospitals, CRNAs understand that accessing affordable healthcare is a challenge for Americans. Rural states are often faced with even less access to healthcare providers and facilities, yet their patient populations are some of the most in need.

"Gov. Evers' action ensures Wisconsin's most vulnerable patients have access to value-based, high-quality care and optimizes anesthesia care throughout the state," said Christine Roth, CRNA, president of Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists (WIANA). "By signing this important legislation, Wisconsin patients will benefit from CRNAs practicing to the full extent of their education and training."

"The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology applauds Gov. Evers for recognizing the important role CRNAs have in delivery of safe and efficient anesthesia care in Wisconsin," said AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC.

Each year, CRNAs safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics to patients in the United States. CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; ketamine clinics; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists; and U.S. military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.

SOURCE American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
This story was originally published on Packaging Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Packaging Dive newsletter.

Smurfit Westrock is closing a facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state this week.

The site produces corrugated packaging such as standard cases, boxes and trays suitable for all industries, Smurfit Westrock said on its website. Production will move to other facilities in Smurfit Westrocks network, according to Robby Johnson, director of external communications for North America.

The shutdown will affect 100 employees, the company reported. Layoffs are slated for Oct. 4, according to the notice, and closing activities will be complete by mid-October. Outplacement assistance will be available for impacted employees and eligible employees may apply for open positions within the company, Johnson said.

Smurfit Westrock recently celebrated its one-year anniversary following the combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock. On a second-quarter earnings call last week, CEO Tony Smurfit said the company would continue to optimize our system through the elimination of non-strategic or inefficient assets, as it targets eliminating 600,000 tons of capacity.

This follows announcements earlier this year about closures in Illinois, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas and internationally, impacting hundreds of workers across the company. These layoffs spanned production of containers, corrugated products, containerboard and coated recycled board.

The company maintains a presence elsewhere in Iowa, including a folding carton plant in Clinton and a sheet plant in Des Moines.

Recommended Reading
New York, Aug 9 : Amid signs of progress towards a Ukraine War ceasefire, US President Donald Trump has announced a path-breaking summit with Russia's President Vladimir Putin next Friday, a meeting on which the future of the 25 per cent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil may hinge.

Crowning three days of fast developments, Trump announced on Truth Social on Friday, "The highly anticipated meeting between myself and Putin will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska".

"Further details to follow.", he said in the Truth Social post.

It was a quick turnaround because Trump had said on Thursday that he was "very disappointed" with Putin, even as he spoke of progress in discussions with him.

While speaking to reporters before the summit announcement, Trump said, "President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and [Ukraine's President] Zelensky wants to see peace now".

"I think that a lot of things happened recently that would make this go forward", he said. "I'm not going to mention anything having to do with India", alluding to the punitive tariff.

On Wednesday, he singled out India for the punitive tariff of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil, and this was seen as a ploy to put economic pressure on Moscow by getting New Delhi to cut off oil revenue to Moscow.

Preparing for the summit, Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him about the discussions he had with the US on Ukraine.

The Kremlin Press Office readout of their conversation said, "In light of the special privileged partnership between Russia and India, Vladimir Putin shared the key outcomes of his meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steven Witkoff".

India's External Affairs Ministry said, "While thanking President Putin for his detailed assessment, Prime Minister reiterated India's consistent position for peaceful resolution of the conflict".

Friday was the deadline Trump had set for imposing more sanctions on Moscow, and secondary tariffs  punitive levies on exports  on countries that buy energy from Russia.

With the summit on the way, he did not follow through, although the separate 25 per cent punitive tariff still hangs over India with an August 27 deadline.

Kremlin Spokesperson Yury Ushakov confirmed the meeting and said that "Russia and the US are close neighbors" and "it seems quite logical that such an important and long-awaited summit between the leaders of the two countries should be held there".

Alaska is about 90 km from Russia, separated by the Bering Straits.

Witcoff's meeting with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday laid the groundwork for the summit.

Trump said, "We had some very good talks with President Putin" and there was "a very good chance" peace was around the corner.

Speaking to the media on Friday about a possible deal, he said, "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both".

While a ceasefire may come soon, a settlement would be complicated because Ukraine has maintained that its territory is inviolable.

And as the head of a democracy, Zelensky has to get his country behind him after three years of war of huge casualties and destruction.

Trump acknowledged this and said Zelensky is "working hard" to get everything he needs "to sign something".

Besides the territorial issues, there is also Putin's demand that Ukraine never join NATO, and Zelensky's for a guarantee from the US or NATO that Russia does not resume the war.
New York, Aug 9 : US President Donald Trump has claimed that he "got things settled" between India and Pakistan during their "conflict" in May through trade, even though in reality, there is no deal with India.

"I got things settled with India, Pakistan [and] I think it was trade more than any other reason," he said on Friday.

India has denied that trade came up in any of the discussions with US leaders during Operation Sindoor or that Trump mediated a truce.

Soon after Trump first made the claim after the cessation of hostilities in May, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions."

Trade negotiations between India and the US are at a stalemate and Trump has unilaterally set a 25 per cent tariff on India.

Trump also speculated that the additional punitive tariff of 25 per cent that he said he was putting on India could have spurred Moscow to make progress towards a peace deal with Ukraine.

"I think that a lot of things happened recently that would make this go forward," he said.

"I'm not going to mention anything having to do with India," Trump added.

Singling out India for the punitive tariff for buying Russian oil was seen as his attempt to put economic pressure on Moscow, as it could lose oil revenue from New Delhi, the second-biggest customer.

While Trump said on Truth Social that he concluded a trade deal with Pakistan on July 30 and that it involves joint oil reserves development, neither side gave full details, if indeed there was such a deal.

Trump imposed a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistan the next day, but nothing was said about what Islamabad had offered the US, which was reported in other deals.

Without a deal, India's tariff was set at 25 per cent.

Trump made the claim about using trade in the India-Pakistan "conflict" on Friday at a ceremony where Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a peace agreement to end their conflict of over 35 years.

The two leaders lauded Trump for bringing them together and said that they would jointly nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir, who joined Trump in asserting that the latter brokered the ceasefire, had nominated him for a Nobel Prize.

Operation Sindoor ended when Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations Major General Kashif Abdullah called his Indian counterpart Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai to ask for a ceasefire.

India launched the operation in May against Pakistan-based terrorist organisations after the Pahalgam attack in April claimed 26 lives, and the neighbouring country escalated it.

Trump, repeating his claims about ending the India-Pakistan "conflict", asserted, "I said, 'You know, I don't want to be dealing with countries that are trying to blow up themselves and maybe the world'."

They are "nuclear nations", and "that was a big one, getting that one settled", he said.

"They were going at it, you know, they were shooting airplanes out of the sky. You know, they five or six planes got shot down in their last little skirmish," Trump said.

"And then it was going to escalate from there. That could have gotten to be very, very big," the US President added.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Elon Musk-run electric car maker Tesla is all set to inaugurate its second showroom in India -- in Delhi on August 11 -- after it opened the Mumbai showroom last month.

In a post on social media platform X, Tesla posted, aArriving in Delhi - stay tuned," along with a graphic showcasing its upcoming arrival in the national capital.

The new Tesla Experience Centre will open 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.

The US electric vehicle major opened its first showroom in the country in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai and launched its electric Midsize SUV, Tesla Model Y, starting from nearly Rs 60 lakh. Deliveries of the Tesla Model Y are expected to begin in the third quarter this year

The Delhi opening comes less than a month after Tesla inaugurated its first showroom at the Maker Maxity mall in BKC in Mumbai.

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.

Tesla Model Y 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.

a"IANS

na/
New Delhi, Aug 9 : In an exclusive interview with IANS, Brazil's Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski Da Nobrega, emphasised that India and Brazil are working to turn current global economic challenges, especially the tariff hikes imposed by the US, into new opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation.

Referring to a recent call between Brazilian President Lula and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the envoy said the leaders are focussed on charting a long-term strategic road map despite uncertainties in global trade.

"The focus of the conversation was basically how we can turn these challenges into new opportunities for our bilateral relations," Da Nobrega said.

Here is the full interview:

IANS: As the world, including Brazil and India, witnessed US President Trump impose a 50 per cent tariff on both nations, what is your response?

Da Nobrega: Well, I think the comments were made by President Lula when he called Honourable Prime Minister Modi. They discussed over one hour about the prospects of our bilateral relations against this economic background which is quite uncertain. The trade outlook, world trade outlook has become uncertain because of these unilateral measures. So the focus of the conversation was basically how we can turn these challenges into new opportunities for our bilateral relations. I don't know if you recall, exactly one month ago, there was a state visit by your Prime Minister to Brazil and the two leaders charted a very concrete course for our bilateral economic relations over the next decade.

IANS: How important are Brazil-India relations in today's geopolitical environment?

Da Nobrega: Well, let me just give you one figure. In the last two years, we had 77 business missions coming from Brazil to India and 40 plus from India to Brazil. So business relations are burgeoning. And so, based on this mutual trade interest between our business communities, the leaders charted the course to boost our relations in Defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, DPIs, and agriculture. So we have a plan.

IANS: How important is agricultural cooperation between Brazil and India?

Da Nobrega: Yes, for example, agriculture, I think you have two tracks. The first is Brazil is ready to export to India some basic staples like pulses, edible oil to contribute to food security in the country. But there is another track that is not so well-known. It's technological cooperation. We have lots of technology to exchange.

IANS: How do you view President Trump's tariffs on Brazil in the current global climate?

Da Nobrega: Well, these tariffs will, of course, affect our trade with a very traditional partner with whom we have been developing strong links over 200 years of relations with the United States. But I think the focus of Brazil is that Brazilian and American societies are linked by business, people-to-people contacts, cultural bonds. And these bonds are very strong and they will go on.

IANS: What is Brazil's response to this approach by the US?

Da Nobrega: Well, we are still, I think, pondering what would be the reasons for this attitude of the American government. But basically, we are negotiating to the extent that these negotiations take a tone that is commensurate to the importance of the Brazilian economy, to the importance of Brazil's standing in the world.

IANS: How crucial is the fertiliser trade between Brazil and India?

Da Nobrega: Brazil is an important importer of fertilisers. It imports from many countries in the world. When it comes to India, let me recall that India has developed high technology in fertilisers. IFCO has just signed a joint venture with a Brazilian company to produce nano fertilisers in Brazil, which is really high technology in terms of using less inputs to produce, to have a higher productivity.

IANS: How do you view Prime Minister Modi's role in India's development?

Da Nobrega: Well, it's not up to Brazil to judge India, but what we have been seeing in the last 10 years is really a fantastic development and fantastic growth and social development. But it's not up to Brazil to pass these judgments, of course.

IANS: President Lula reportedly urged WTO to review US tariff actions. What is Brazil's position?

Da Nobrega: Yes, Brazil has always stood for international law. WTO agreements, the multilateral trading system is part of the international law. So, Brazil sticks to the importance of multilateralism and respect for international law. This is why it submitted a declaration on the violations of the multilateral trading system done by the United States.

IANS: What are the key sectors where Brazil and India can expand strategic partnerships?

Da Nobrega: I think another area is Defence, where both countries can make joint ventures to furthermore develop their Defence industrial base. These are some examples, but there are other examples.

IANS: How significant is Defence cooperation in the current global environment?

Da Nobrega: Well, Brazil and India have been developing a steady dialogue on Defence industry cooperation for the last two or three years. There have been a number of high-level missions from Brazil to India, from India to Brazil. And we cannot, of course, talk openly about what are the sectors because we are talking about Defence. But let me just say that Embraer, our aviation airplane maker, which also produces Defence planes, have just arrived in India and opened a full-fledged office in New Delhi. And, of course, we would like to offer its KC-390 Millennium Air Defence Aeroplane, including offering to produce part of these airplanes in India according to 'Make in India' requirements.

IANS: How do you view India's reply to the 50 per cent US tariff, especially in agriculture?

Da Nobrega: I think we are not talking about replying to a country. What we have talked is, given this uncertain economic and trade outlook, how India and Brazil can work closer together to guarantee their economic growth, their resilience in this very uncertain geopolitical environment. It's about looking for new ways, further ways to reinforce our partnership.

IANS: You mentioned future cooperation. Which sectors will define India-Brazil ties going forward?

Da Nobrega: It's energy, fossil energy and renewable energy, it's agriculture, it's Defence, it's pharma, and it's DPIs.

IANS: What impact did PM Modi's visit to Brazil for the BRICS Summit have?

Da Nobrega: Well, it was a historic visit because it was the first state visit in more than, I think, 20 years, if I'm not mistaken. So it impacted a lot. If you check the media coverage of this visit, you will see how this impacted Brazil. And because of the decisions that were taken there, we issued a very substantial joint statement.

IANS: What if President Trump does not engage with Brazil on tariff rollbacks?

Da Nobrega: Well, we are always open to negotiations to a certain limit in the sense that our sovereignty is not up for negotiation. This is very clear. But, of course, we are open to dealing with the United States when it comes to the economic aspects of the President of the United States' actions towards Brazil. So we are open for negotiations, but there are certain things that are not negotiable, I would say.
New Delhi, Aug 8 : Former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Saturday urged the need to strengthen the country's tourism sector to earn big on exports, as well as tackle tariffs, imposed by US President Donald Trump.

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on Saturday urged the need to strengthen the countryas tourism sector to earn big on exports, as well as tackle tariffs, imposed by US President Donald Trump.

His remarks came amid concerns over the Trump's escalation of tariff to 50 per cent on Indian goods.

"Indiaas biggest export earnings can come from Tourism which is totally free from Trumps tariffs," Kant said, in a post on social media platform X.

"We must attract global tourists. They will more than make up for 50 per cent tariff levied by Trump on goods," he added.

Despite having "natural beauty, history, and heritage, culture, and diversity", India gets a "mere 1.5 per cent share in international tourist arrivals".

He also lamented the lack of "concerted branding or marketing campaign for Indian tourism in the past decade".

While he highlighted Incredible Indiaas immense potential to attract global tourists, the former Niti Aayog CEO also emphasised the need for marketing campaigns to attract global tourists.

"We need the biggest global branding and marketing campaign to unleash Incredible Indiaas immense potential. Otherwise, with the 1800 planes Indian airlines are buying, we will just be ferrying Indians flying abroad for holidays," said Kant on X.

Kant played a pivotal role in shaping the "Incredible India" campaign, which focused on showcasing India's diverse culture, heritage, and natural beauty to attract tourists and investors.

While the initial duty of 25 per cent came into effect from August 7, the additional levy will become effective after 21 days.

Higher tariffs will make Indian goods, such as shrimps, organic chemicals, carpets, apparel (both knitted and woven), among others costly in the US market.

Earlier, Kant called the hefty tariffs by Trump as "once in a generation opportunity".

He stated that the US President has given India an opportunity to "take the next big leap" on reforms, and urged citizens to utilise the crisis fully.

"Trump has provided us a once in a generation opportunity to take the next big leap on reforms. Crisis must be fully utilised," Kant posted on X.
Chennai, Aug 9 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will launch a new welfare initiative on August 12, providing doorstep delivery of essential commodities to senior citizens above 70 years of age and persons with disabilities across the state.

The Chief Minister's Thayumanavar scheme aims to ensure that vulnerable sections of society receive their Public Distribution System (PDS) entitlements without the difficulty of visiting ration shops.

The programme will cover rice, sugar, wheat, palmolein oil, and toor dal, the key commodities supplied under the PDS.

According to state government data, Tamil Nadu has 2.26 crore ration cards covering a population of seven crore.

Of these, 16.73 lakh ration cards - benefitting a total of 21.7 lakh people - will be included under the Thayumanavar scheme. This includes 15.81 lakh family ration cards with one or more elderly members, covering 20.42 lakh beneficiaries, as well as 91,969 ration cards for households with one or more disabled members, benefitting another 1.27 lakh people.

The Tamil Nadu government had decided to implement the initiative statewide earlier this year.

Under the scheme, staff from the Co-operation Department, attached to respective ration shops, will deliver the commodities on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month. Deliveries will be made using mini-vans and other vehicles equipped with point-of-sale (PoS) machines and weighing scales. Beneficiaries will receive their goods after Aadhaar authentication at their doorstep.

The initiative is designed to help those unable to access ration shops on their own. It will particularly benefit households where all members are aged above 70, with no adult below 18 years, and those where all members are disabled or only one member is disabled without any other adult member aged 18 or above.

Officials said that the scheme will not only make life easier for elderly and disabled citizens but also ensure uninterrupted access to their entitled PDS goods. The state government hopes the monthly service will significantly improve convenience and food security for this section of the population.
(Reuters) -SoftBank Group Corp is acquiring Foxconn Technology Group's electric vehicle plant in Ohio, in a bid to launch the Japanese company's Stargate data center project, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump in January announced Stargate, a private sector investment of up to $500 billion for AI infrastructure, funded by SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle.

SoftBank, which has struggled to create a financial plan for Stargate, approached Foxconn to get the Apple supplier on board with its plan to build data centers and related infrastructure throughout the U.S., which led to the sale of the plant, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Ohio site may be used to host a data center, Bloomberg said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. SoftBank declined to comment, while Foxconn did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

The Stargate Project is expected create more than 100,000 jobs in the U.S.

(Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sonia Cheema)
Kolkata, Aug 9 : In August last year, West Bengal was rocked by widespread protests over the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises.

Doctors, common men, and women had taken to the streets to protest, demand justice, and hold the state government accountable for its failure to provide security to women in workplaces.

On the anniversary of the tragic incident, another round of protests and rallies is taking place to demand a fair investigation into the incident and justice for the victim.

Last year, the body of the victim was recovered from a seminar hall within the hospital premises on the morning of August 9. While the sole convict in the case and civic volunteer Sanjay Roy had already been sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court, even after a year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been unable to complete its investigation on the "larger conspiracy" behind the crime.

A quick look over the developments shows a mixed bag of achievements and failures of the spontaneous protest movement that not only rocked West Bengal but also the entire country and even some overseas nations.

August 9, 2024: The body of the victim was recovered from the seminar hall of R.G. Kar in the morning.

August 10, 2024: Kolkata Police started an investigation and arrested civic volunteer Sanjay Roy.

August 13, 2024: The Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the matter.

August 14, 2024: Women called for a night vigil named 'Reclaim the Night'. Thousands of people took to the streets in different parts of the state, including Kolkata, to mark their protest. The majority of them took out a candle march. At midnight, widespread vandalism took place at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, allegedly to destroy the evidence.

August 18, 2024: A special bench headed by the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, D.Y. Chandrachud, announced a suo motu hearing of the case.

September 2 & September 3, 2024: Junior doctors organised a drive at the city police headquarters demanding justice for the victims of RG Kar and the safety of working doctors and health workers. The probe was handed over to the then Kolkata Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyal.

September 10, 2024: Junior doctors started a sit-in protest in front of Swasthya Bhavan (headquarters of the state health department).

September 11 & 12, 2024: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called a meeting of junior doctors at Nabanna. However, the meeting was cancelled on both days.

September 14, 2024: Mamata Banerjee suddenly arrived on the stage of the doctors' protest at Swasthya Bhavan.

September 16, 2024: The Chief Minister announced the removal of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal from his post under pressure from civil society and doctors.

September 20, 2024: Junior doctors withdrew their protest from Swasthya Bhavan.

September 27, 2024: Doctors and nurses were allegedly attacked and beaten up at Sagar Dutta Medical College Hospital. A strike began in protest of the incident.

October 5, 2024: Junior doctors started a hunger strike in the Esplanade area of central Kolkata, demanding the resignation of the Health Secretary.

October 7, 2024: The CBI filed a chargesheet in the court, naming the main accused, Sanjay Roy.

October 19, 2024: The Chief Secretary went to the hunger strike venue and, through him, the Chief Minister spoke to the protesters over the phone. She requested them to break the hunger strike, but failed to break the ice.

October 21, 2024: Junior doctors met the Chief Minister again. After the meeting, the junior doctors withdrew their hunger strike on the same day. Although the hunger strike was withdrawn, the movement did not stop.

November 9, 2024: The CBI files its first charge sheet in the special CBI court (Alipore) in the parallel case on financial irregularities at R.G. Kar. Former principal of RG Kar Medical, Sandeep Ghosh, was named there, among others

January 18, 2025: Based on the evidence provided by the CBI, a trial court in Kolkata convicted the sole accused, Sanjay Roy, of the crime of rape & murder

January 20, 2025: Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment.

January 21, 2025: The West Bengal government filed a petition at the Calcutta High Court seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Roy

January 24, 2025: The CBI also filed a petition at the Calcutta High Court seeking the death penalty for Roy

February 7, 2025: The Calcutta High Court dismissed the state's petition seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Roy but accepted the CBI's petition. Meanwhile, the victim's parents did not demand the maximum punishment for Sanjay. They demanded that Sanjay was not the only one behind the incident; the CBI should find out who else is behind this. The victim's parents approached the Supreme Court with this petition. They pleaded that there are several more witnesses, including others, whose testimonies should be recorded by the CBI. The victim's family also requested that the Supreme Court allow the single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court to hear this case.

March 17, 2025: The Supreme Court ordered that the Calcutta High Court could hear this case.

March 28, 2025: The CBI submitted a status report before the Calcutta High Court. CBI said that the doctor-student was not gang-raped at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. CBI also said that DNA tests of samples from the scene have been conducted.

July 16, 2025: Sanjay Roy filed an acquittal petition at the Calcutta High Court seeking acquittal, which was accepted.

August 4, 2025: The Calcutta High Court sought the state's affidavit in the case filed by the family demanding a re-investigation into the murder and rape of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital, but the state sought more time to submit its affidavit. The state was supposed to present its statement on July 24. However, the judge expressed his anger when the state did not do so. He posted the case for further hearing on August 11.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday led partymen in greeting tribals on the 'International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples', also known as the World Tribal Day, vowing to join their fight for their rights. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, took to X for extending his wishes to people. "Heartfelt greetings to all tribal brothers and sisters on World Indigenous Peoples' Day. Your traditions and life values have enriched India's identity." New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday led partymen in greeting tribals on the 'International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples', also known as the World Tribal Day, vowing to join their fight for their rights. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, took to X for extending his wishes to people. "Heartfelt greetings to all tribal brothers and sisters on World Indigenous Peoples' Day. Your traditions and life values have enriched India's identity."

The Congress leader also expressed solidarity with tribals in their fight for their rights. "You are the first owners of India, and we stand with you in your fight for rights, dignity, and justice," wrote LoP Gandhi.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also wished tribals on the occasion.

"Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the citizens of our tribal society on World Indigenous Peoples' Day. The conservation of water, forest, land, and tribal civilisation and traditions is our aim, and the Congress Party is fully dedicated to protecting your interests," said Kharge on X.

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 every year for supporting and protecting the rights of the world's indigenous peoples.

It aims to raise awareness about the unique cultures, social challenges, and contributions of tribal communities globally.

Tribal communities contribute notably to environmental conservation and sustainable living, which the day celebrates and acknowledges.

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1994, August 9 was chosen to commemorate the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in 1982. This international observance encourages global efforts to defend indigenous rights and cultures.

According to the UN, the day marks recognition of the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples who, despite making up around 5-6 per cent of the global population, often face marginalisation, poverty, discrimination, and limited access to education and healthcare.

The occasion is important for reinforcing global awareness, promoting indigenous peoples' rights, preserving their cultures, and fostering social justice and equality on an international scale.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : In a strong endorsement of India's progress, Brazil's Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski Da Nobrega on Saturday praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the nation's development over the last decade "fantastic" in both economic and social spheres. He also reflected on PM Modi's visit to Brazil during the BRICS Summit.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) In a strong endorsement of India's progress, Brazil's Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski Da Nobrega on Saturday praised the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the nation's development over the last decade "fantastic" in both economic and social spheres. He also reflected on PM Modi's visit to Brazil during the BRICS Summit.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Ambassador Da Nobrega said, "It's not up to Brazil to judge India, but what we have seen over the last 10 years is really fantastic development  remarkable economic growth and social development. Of course, we don't pass judgments, but the progress is evident."

Reflecting on PM Modi's visit to Brazil during the BRICS Summit, the Ambassador described it as a historic milestone.

"It was the first state visit in over 20 years, if I'm not mistaken, and it had a major impact. The media coverage in Brazil reflected the significance of the visit. We issued a very substantial joint statement that outlined our shared goals," he added.

Highlighting areas of deepening strategic cooperation, Da Nobrega pointed to Defence as a key sector.

"Defence is certainly one area where we see potential for joint ventures to strengthen our industrial bases. But beyond that, energy  both fossil and renewable  agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPIs) are all sectors with strong bilateral potential."

The Ambassador further underscored the rapid momentum in trade and business ties, calling the India-Brazil relationship increasingly vital in today's geopolitical landscape.

"In the last two years alone, 77 business delegations from Brazil visited India, and over 40 Indian missions travelled to Brazil. This tells you how dynamic our trade and business ties have become. And so, based on this mutual trade interest between our business communities, the leaders charted the course to boost our relations in Defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, DPIs, and agriculture. So we have a plan," he added.
Chennai, Aug 9 : Three people were killed and one seriously injured when an explosion ripped through a house where firecrackers were being made near Vembakottai in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district on Saturday.

According to police, a group of workers was engaged in manufacturing firecrackers inside a house in the Vijayakarishalkulam area when explosives suddenly detonated.

The blast triggered a massive fire, which spread rapidly, causing the partially prepared crackers to explode in quick succession. The impact of the explosion left parts of the building in ruins.

Three people died on the spot, while another sustained severe burn injuries.

The injured person was rescued by the police and rushed to the Sivakasi Government Hospital for treatment.

This latest accident has once again highlighted the recurring safety concerns in the region's fireworks production units.

Virudhunagar district, particularly the Sivakasia"Sattur belt, is known as the country's firecracker manufacturing hub, but it has been plagued by frequent accidents caused by unsafe storage of explosives, overstocking, or manufacturing activities being carried out in unauthorised locations such as residential buildings.

Saturday's incident is the fourth fatal firecracker-related explosion in the district in the past month alone. Collectively, these blasts have claimed 16 lives, raising alarm among safety officials and prompting demands for stricter enforcement of rules under the Explosives Act.

In July, three separate blasts were reported in different parts of Virudhunagar district, each linked to either licensed fireworks factories flouting safety norms or illegal units operating without proper authorisation.

The accidents claimed the lives of workers, many of them daily wage labourers, and left several others injured. Senior police officials have launched an investigation into the latest explosion.

Preliminary inquiries suggest that explosives were being handled without adequate precautionary measures. Officials from the Revenue and Fire Safety Departments have also been roped in to assess the damage and determine the cause of the blast.

Authorities have once again urged fireworks unit owners to strictly follow safety protocols and warned that strict action would be taken against violators.
Brasilia, Aug 9 : Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Flavio Dino criticised the US Embassy here for saying it would "monitor" the work of a judge.

His remarks referred to a statement of the US Embassy in Brasilia warning allies of Justice Alexandre de Moraes -- sanctioned under the US Magnitsky Act in July -- against supporting his actions, adding, "We are monitoring the situation closely."

"I recall that, under international law, it is not among the duties of any foreign embassy to 'warn' or 'monitor' what a justice of the Supreme Federal Court, or any other Brazilian court, should do," Dino wrote on Facebook.

Moraes was sanctioned by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for alleged abuse of authority, suppressing free speech, and human rights abuses. The justice is overseeing the criminal case of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been charged with scheming to overthrow Brazil's 2022 elections.

"Respect for national sovereignty, moderation, common sense, and good manners are essential in diplomacy. I hope dialogue and friendly relations between nations that have long been partners in trade, culture, and institutions will prevail again. That is best for all," he added.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d'Affaires Gabriel Escobar to lodge a formal protest and requested an explanation, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised the foreign interference in Brazil's domestic affairs after Trump urged Brazilian authorities to end prosecution of Bolsonaro, who was on trial for attempting a coup.

"Defending Brazil's democracy is an issue that concerns Brazilians. We are a sovereign country; we do not accept interference or guardianship from anyone. We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law, especially those who threaten freedom and the rule of law," Lula said.

Bolsonaro, who served as Brazilian President from 2019 to 2022, is accused of plotting to stay in power through the use of violence after losing his re-election bid to Lula.

According to reports, the US President accused the Brazilian authorities of carrying out a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro, also a former military officer, served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. Previously, he also served as a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 2019.

Bolsonaro lost to Lula da Silva in the run-off for the 2022 Brazil's general election.

In January 2023, his supporters stormed federal government buildings, calling for a coup d'Atat -- an illegal attempt to unseat an incumbent leadership.

Eventually, the Superior Electoral Court blocked Bolsonaro from seeking office until 2030 for attempting to undermine the validity of the election, and also for abuse of power through the government communication channels. The Superior Electoral Court is the highest judicial body of the Brazilian Electoral Justice system.
Moscow, Aug 9 : Following the upcoming Alaska summit, Russia expects the next meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to be held in Russia, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said Saturday.

"If we look ahead, then, naturally, we should aim for the next meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to take place on Russian territory," Ushakov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. "A corresponding invitation has already been sent to the US President," Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier today, amid signs of progress towards a Ukraine War ceasefire, Trump announced a path-breaking summit with Putin next Friday, a meeting on which the future of the 25 per cent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil may hinge.

Crowning three days of fast developments, Trump announced on Truth Social on Friday, "The highly anticipated meeting between myself and Putin will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska".

"Further details to follow.", he said in the Truth Social post.

It was a quick turnaround because Trump had said on Thursday that he was "very disappointed" with Putin, even as he spoke of progress in discussions with him.

While speaking to reporters before the summit announcement, Trump said, "President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and [Ukraine's President] Zelensky wants to see peace now".

"I think that a lot of things happened recently that would make this go forward", he said. "I'm not going to mention anything having to do with India", alluding to the punitive tariff.

On Wednesday, he singled out India for the punitive tariff of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil, and this was seen as a ploy to put economic pressure on Moscow by getting New Delhi to cut off oil revenue to Moscow.
Bangkok, Aug 9 : Three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion on Saturday morning during a patrol operation along the Thai-Cambodian border, the Thai Army said.

In a statement issued by Thailand's Second Army Region, the incident occurred at around 10:00 a.m. local time, when Thai troops were conducting a patrol and laying barbed wire to reinforce border security, Xinhua news agency reported.

All injured soldiers were promptly evacuated and transported to a local hospital for treatment, the Thai Army said.

On August 7, Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of a ceasefire and signed an agreement at an extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee held in Malaysia. Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments and not to increase forces along the border.

Officials from Cambodia and Thailand attended the meeting, while delegates from the United States, China and Malaysia participated as third-party observers.

According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, both sides agreed to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, pledging to avoid unprovoked firing towards each other's positions or troops, and agreed not to increase forces along the border.

Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments without further movement as they were at the time when the ceasefire was reached at midnight on July 28. They also committed to ensuring the proper treatment of captured soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The statement further noted that both sides expressed support for an ASEAN observer team led by Malaysia to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. In the interim, a temporary observation mission consisting of defence attaches from ASEAN countries will be stationed in Cambodia and Thailand.

The statement also said that both sides agreed to maintain regular communication between all army areas and military regions and units, to convene a Regional Border Committee meeting within two weeks, to schedule the next General Border Committee (GBC) meeting of both countries within one month, and, if necessary, an extraordinary GBC meeting should be called immediately.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan, the festival marking pious bond between brother and sister, at his 7 Lok Kalyan Marg (LKM) residence in the national Capital on Saturday.

The festive celebration saw many schoolchildren and Brahma Kumaris tying 'rakhis' on PM Modi's wrist and offering sweets.

The heartwarming moment saw children showing their affinity and affection for the Prime Minister in multiple ways a" by shaking hands, extending warm smile, giving warm hugs, engaging in conversation and also planting a peck on his cheeks. The Prime Minister also reciprocated his affection for kids by embracing and showering them with blessings.

In the pictures shared by the Prime Minister's office, a large group of children be seen teeming around PM Modi at his official residence and tying 'rakhis' on his wrist, one by one.

Braham Kumaris a" the largest spiritual organisation in the world led by women, were the highlight of this year's Raksha Bandhan at PM's official residence. Several Braham Kumaris tied the sacred thread while the Prime Minister vowed to relentlessly work for their betterment.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi also greeted the nation and countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan a" the festival celebrating the traditional bond between brothers and sisters.

Taking to his social media handle on X, he wrote, "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan."

Raksha Bandhan, celebrated on full moon day of the Shravan month, honours the sacred bond between brothers and sisters.

While tying 'rakhi' (sacred thread), the sister wishes and prays for her brother's health, well-being and prosperity, while the latter pledges to protect her in all circumstances and also pampers her with gifts.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Brazil's Ambassador to India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski Da Nobrega, on Saturday responded to US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Brazil. Commenting on the impact of the new trade measures in the current global climate, he said that these tariffs would affect Brazil's trade with a very traditional partner with whom "we have been developing strong links over 200 years of relations."

This statement comes as President Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, taking the total duty to 50 per cent  the highest among America's key trading partners. While India's elevated tariffs are linked to its continued import of oil from the Russian Federation, Brazil's inclusion in the list is reportedly tied to political developments back home.

Speaking to IANS, Da Nobrega said, "These tariffs will, of course, affect our trade with a very traditional partner with whom we have built strong links over 200 years. However, the Brazilian and American societies are deeply connected  through business, people, and culture  and those connections will persist."

Reacting to the broader implications as the world  including Brazil and India witnesses the imposition of a 50 per cent US tariff, Da Nobrega recalled a significant conversation between Brazilian President Lula and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Well, I think the comments were made by President Lula when he called the Honourable Prime Minister Modi. They spoke for over an hour about the prospects of our bilateral relations against this economically uncertain backdrop. The global trade outlook has become unpredictable due to these unilateral measures.

"So, the focus of their conversation was how we can transform these challenges into new opportunities for strengthening our bilateral relations. Just a month ago, there was a state visit by your Prime Minister to Brazil, during which the two leaders charted a very concrete course for our economic relations for the next decade," he said.

Addressing the matter of response to the US levy, particularly in agriculture, Da Nobrega emphasised collaboration over retaliation.

"I think we are not talking about replying to a country. What we have discussed is how India and Brazil can work more closely together to ensure economic growth and resilience in this unpredictable geopolitical environment. It's about finding new ways to reinforce our partnership."

When asked what Brazil would do if US President Trump does not engage on rolling back tariffs, Da Nobrega stressed Brazil's readiness for dialogue, but with limits.

"Well, we are always open to negotiations  to a certain limit  in the sense that our sovereignty is not up for negotiation. This is very clear. But, of course, we are open to dealing with the United States when it comes to the economic aspects of its actions towards Brazil. So yes, we are open to negotiations, but there are certain things that are not negotiable," he asserted.

Regarding reports that President Lula urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to review the US tariff action, Da Nobrega reaffirmed Brazil's commitment to international law.

"Yes, Brazil has always stood for international law. WTO agreements and the multilateral trading system are integral to that framework. Brazil continues to emphasise the importance of multilateralism and respect for international law. That is why we submitted a formal declaration highlighting the violations of the multilateral trading system committed by the United States," he told IANS.

When asked about Brazil's overall response to the US approach, the Ambassador noted that Brazil is still assessing the motivations behind the decision.

"We are still evaluating what could be the underlying reasons for this stance by the American government. But fundamentally, we are open to negotiation  as long as the tone and terms of dialogue reflect the importance of Brazil's economy and its global standing," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of "threatening constitutionally-mandated bodies" and "spreading lies" about the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a manner detrimental to Indian democracy.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of "threatening constitutionally-mandated bodies" and "spreading lies" about the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a manner detrimental to Indian democracy.

Addressing a Press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Bhatia said, "The image Rahul Gandhi has built over the last decade is one of an anarchist. He always tries to destroy constitutionally-mandated institutions and raises questions on independent bodies. His August 7 Press conference, where he attacked the Election Commission, is another attempt to demolish India's democratic institutions. Does it befit the Leader of Opposition to threaten a constitutional body?"

Bhatia was referring to LoP Gandhi's recent remarks warning of "consequences" for EC officers if the Congress comes to power.

"He is threatening democratic bodies. His modus operandi is simple  when they lose elections, they blame EVMs, VVPATs, the Election Commission, or even the public. But he never files a formal complaint," Bhatia alleged.

He further claimed that LoP Gandhi spreads "falsehoods" without taking the oath required for lodging an official complaint, which could be pursued legally.

"Such baseless allegations create unrest and spread hatred," he said. Countering LoP Gandhi's charge that the EC does not share the digital voter list, Bhatia said, "As far as I know, all such lists are available on the EC website."

He also rejected the Congress MP's statement that CCTV footage of polling booths had been destroyed. "By law, video footage is preserved for 45 days. If he is certain of partiality, he can petition the court to preserve it for longer," he said.

Bhatia accused LoP Gandhi of giving contradictory figures on voter list increases in Maharashtra. "Sometimes he says 70 lakh voters increased, sometimes 39 lakh, and now one crore. But as per official EC data, the increase was 40 lakh," Bhatia claimed, adding that such misinformation was being spread just months before the Bihar elections.
Soybeans are trading with 1 to 2 cent losses so far on Friday morning. Futures rallied back on Thursday, with contracts up 9 to 10  cents at the close. Open interest was up 20,965 contracts on Thursday, suggesting net new buying interest. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was back up 8 1/2 cents at $9.35 1/4. Soymeal futures bounced back, with contracts up $3.30 to $4.00. Soy Oil futures were down 20 to 28 points on the day. There were 124 delivery notices for August soybean meal overnight, with 20 issued for soybean oil and none against August soybean.

The 7 day forecast is creeping higher, with totals up to 1-nearly 5+ inches for parts of IA, southern WI, northern MO, and northwest IL in the next week. Areas in KS, MN, IN and MI are also expected to to receive nearly an inch.

More News from Barchart

Export Sales data showed old crop soybean sales in the week of 7/31 at 467,842 MT. That was a 4-week high and still 43.8% above the same week last year. Taiwan was the buyer of 150,400 MT, with the Netherlands in for 119,700 MT. New crop business was 545,010 MT, a MY high for new crop. Unknown destinations was the buyer of 254,300 MT, with 106,000 MT purchased by Egypt.

Soybean meal sales were tallied at 281,761 MT, which was in the estimated range of 100,000 to 400,000 MT, with 169,393 MT for the current MY and 112,368 MT for next MY. Bean oil sales were tallied at 7,039 MT, which was in the middle of expectations of 0-13,000 MT.

Ahead of the Tuesday Crop Production report, traders are looking for US soybean yield to be 53 bpa, with a range of 52 to 54. Production is seen at 4.374 billion bushels, which is up 39 mbu from the July WASDE.

Aug 25 Soybeans closed at $9.71 3/4, up 10 1/4 cents, currently down 2 cents

Nearby Cash was $9.35 1/4, up 8 1/2 cents,

Sep 25 Soybeans closed at $9.74, up 8 1/2 cents, currently down 1 1/2 cents

Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.93 3/4, up 9 1/4 cents, currently down 2 cents

New Crop Cash was $9.26 3/4, up 9 1/2 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Mumbai, Aug 9 : Actor Aditya Thakare, who has made his film debut with the recently released film, 'Dhadak 2', has shared that getting selected for the part was a moment of joy and blessing. The actor said that he got the offer for the film when he was at a Ganpati Visarjan with his friends.

The actor recently spoke with IANS, and shared that before 'Dhadak 2' happened to him, things were quite "dry" for him professionally.

He told IANS, "'Dhadak 2' came to me as a blessing in disguise. At the time, things were quite dry professionally, not much was moving. One day I got an audition call, and I rushed without thinking twice. I still remember the day I found out I was selected, it was during Ganesh Chaturthi 2023 I was at Ganpati Visarjan with my friends when I got the call. It felt like Bappa's blessing, truly".

When asked about his preparations for the part, the actor said, "After getting selected, I didn't have a lot of time to get into heavy dialect training, so my main focus was on getting the local lingo right and what better way than spending time with locals and interacting with them? They're the ones who teach you so much, not just about the language, but also the body language of that particular region, which is equally important when you're portraying a character from a specific place. So, I started spending time at spots like Rajju Tea Stall in Bhopal, casually chatting with strangers, absorbing their rhythm, expressions, and body language to get into the skin of the character. I also included a lot of my real-life funny friends into Vasu's personality. It was about making him feel real like someone you already know".

He also shared his experience of working with Tripti Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi in the film, as he told IANS, "At first, I was in full fan mode, keeping my distance and being extra respectful. I've admired Siddhant since Gully Boy and Triptii since Qala. But I think Bhopal schedule changed everything. We shot there for nearly two months, and I'm someone who thrives on those chill evening hangouts, laughing over random stuff. Triptii and Siddhant started joining in and we would end up staying up late even with early morning shoots. That camaraderie translated into real chemistry on screen. I feel lucky to call such talented (and extremely good-looking) people my friends".

Is it the age of raw talent in not just film market but other artforms as well?

He said, "Absolutely, 100%. Raw talent isn't just being accepted anymore it's actually being celebrated. With so many platforms out there now, everyone has a shot at being seen, heard, and appreciated. People are consuming more content than ever, which is opening the door for a lot of fresh voices".

"For someone like me, it really feels like the perfect time to be starting out. I think a big reason for this shift is that audiences now want to see real, relatable faces and stories, not just over-the-top stuff all the time. And that's pushing a lot of filmmakers to take up those kinds of stories too", he added.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday launched a sharp attack on former Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan for his controversial remarks following the devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. Poonawalla accused Hasan of insulting the people of 'Devbhoomi' and warned that such comments would not go unanswered.

Speaking to IANS, Poonawalla said, "The low-level mentality of the Samajwadi Party is on full display. At a time when people are grieving a tragedy in Kashi of Uttarakhand, SP's ST Hasan makes outrageous comments suggesting the disaster is divine punishment. He implies that people are being punished for allegedly suppressing minorities. This is not the first time Samajwadi leaders have insulted Sanatan Dharma. These are the same people who blamed COVID-19 on reforms like triple talaq and Sharia law changes. They repeatedly question Hindu traditions, and even the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya."

Poonawalla added that such statements deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand and Hindus across the country.

"They have insulted the people of Devbhoomi, and for that, they will have to face the consequences," he said.

Earlier in the day, ST Hasan had said, "We don't know how many people are still trapped under the debris. It's a heart-wrenching incident. A whole village has been washed away. Such tragedies make us reflect. We've cut down too many trees."

However, it was his next remark that drew widespread outrage.

"In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, other religions are not being respected. There is someone who governs this world, and when divine justice happens, no one can protect themselves. Bulldozers should not be used on any dargahs or temples. It's better to evacuate such places peacefully," Hasan said.

Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations entered their fifth day in flash flood-hit Uttarkashi. The Indian Army, SDRF, NDRF, and ITBP are conducting joint operations in Harsil and Dharali.

According to Uttarkashi Police, "ITBP jawans have been shifted to Matli. Stranded people are being airlifted using Chinook and Cheetah helicopters, and medical teams are on standby in multiple locations."
Mumbai, Aug 9 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a distinct alternative investment fund (AIF) scheme that would admit only "accredited investors".

Such specialised AIF schemes can benefit from "a lighter-touch regulatory framework than a regular AIF," a release from SEBI said.

Accredited investors are persons or businesses who meet SEBI-certified wealth, net worth and income criteria. For sole proprietorships, HUFs, and Family Trusts, a minimum annual income of Rs 2 crore or at least Rs 7.5 crore net worth, with Rs 3.75 crore in financial assets, qualifies them for accredited investor status.

A SEBI-recognised agency, like a stock exchange or depository subsidiary (CDSL Ventures Limited), grants accreditation based on these criteria, financial assets, and investment experience.

SEBI's latest consultation paper has proposed a gradual transition from the traditional minimum commitment threshold (currently at Rs 1 crore per investor) to using only accreditation status as the metric for investor sophistication in AIFs. Stakeholders can send comments on these proposals until August 29.

According to the proposal, during the transition, both metrics would coexist, enabling AIFs to launch special schemes open exclusively to accredited investors.

SEBI informed that several relaxations to "accredited investor" only schemes are under consideration. "AI-only schemes may be exempted from the requirement of maintaining pari-passu rights among investors, subject to a waiver provided by each investor to this effect," the regulator said.

Other benefits include extended tenure, where the scheme tenure may be extended up to five years, subject to approval by two-thirds of investors by value in the fund.

Also, such schemes will be provided a "certification waiver", where key investment team members may be exempt from holding a mandated NISM certification, given investors' ability to conduct independent due diligence.

Further, there will be no investor cap for such schemes, allowing them to bypass the existing limit of 1,000 investors per scheme.

"In case of an accredited investors-only fund, the responsibilities and obligations cast on the trustee of an Alternative Investment Fund in terms of provisions of these regulations shall be carried out solely by the manager of the Alternative Investment Fund," the markets regulator said.

While the current count of accredited investors is modest, SEBI expects growth due to recent regulatory changes. Sebi is also considering several proposals to increase the number of accreditation agencies, foster more competition, and further simplify the process of accreditation.

IANS

aar
New Delhi, Aug 9 : President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children and students from various schools and organisations at Rashtrapati Bhavan, spreading joy and warmth on the festive occasion.

Taking to social media platform X, the President's office shared glimpses of the celebrations with a caption and said, "President Droupadi Murmu celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children and students of various schools and organisations at Rashtrapati Bhavan."

In the heartwarming images, President Murmu is seen tying 'rakhis' on the wrists of schoolchildren, symbolising the bond of protection and affection traditionally shared between siblings.

Earlier in the day, the President extended her greetings to the nation, saying, "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to all fellow citizens living in India and abroad."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the occasion at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the national Capital. The celebration featured vibrant moments as children and members of the Brahma Kumaris tied 'rakhis' on the Prime Ministeras wrist and offered sweets.

In pictures shared by the PMO, PM Modi is seen warmly interacting with children a" shaking hands, exchanging smiles, receiving hugs, and even being affectionately kissed on the cheek. The Prime Minister reciprocated their love with blessings and endearing gestures, creating a memorable atmosphere.

Raksha Bandhan, celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana, is a festival honouring the sacred bond between siblings. Traditionally, sisters tie colourful 'rakhis' on their brothersa wrists, praying for their well-being and prosperity. In return, brothers pledge to protect their sisters and shower them with gifts.

Beyond its traditional setting, Raksha Bandhan has evolved into a celebration of affection across all types of relationships a" between cousins, in-laws, and even between spiritual leaders and their followers. The phrase "Raksha Bandhan" literally translates from Sanskrit as "the bond of protection," symbolising love, duty, and mutual respect.

This vibrant festival, also observed in countries like Nepal, continues to reflect the deep-rooted cultural values of unity, care, and familial love in Indian society.
New Orleans, Aug 9 : Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, the southern US city famed for its nonstop nightlife, vibrant music, and spicy cuisine, is launching a series of tributes, workshops, and acts of service as an anniversary commemoration.

The 2005 disaster left more than 1,800 dead.

"Today is really an opportunity to hit the reset button to reignite our community in unity that will take us 20 years from now, empowered to move forward for the next 20," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said at a press conference Friday when announcing a week of civic actions and public dialogues from August 23 to 30.

Cantrell emphasised resilience as the central theme of this year's commemoration. "What we're saying is what we're living. New Orleans is resilient, and we are uplifting and recognising how our residents continue to push forward," she later told Xinhua news agency.

The schedule begins from August 23 with a citywide Day of Service, which will bring residents together for community projects, including the revitalisation of public playgrounds.

On August 28, artists and cultural leaders will gather at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for a panel discussion, "The State of New Orleans Culture: 20 Years After Katrina."

The following day, August 29, the anniversary of the storm's landfall, will feature the iconic Katrina March and Second Line, starting with a healing ceremony and culminating in a rally for community resilience.

On August 30, the mayor's Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Commemorative Summit will reflect on the storm's impact, the city's rebuilding efforts, and ongoing challenges such as poor infrastructure and climate injustice in underserved communities.

The city is already hosting a number of events leading up to the anniversary, including art exhibitions, film screenings, and music showcases, Xinhua news agency reported.

Beyond Louisiana state, Mississippi is hosting the "Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers" photo exhibit in Jackson that runs through November.

Nationally, documentaries and TV specials, from The Weather Channel's Katrina 20 to Spike Lee's Netflix documentary series "Katrina: Come Hell and High Water," will revisit the storm's legacy and lessons learned.

"Hurricane Katrina impacted all of us, and it took all of us to recover," New Orleans organisers said in a statement.

Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, is one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in US history. New Orleans, the Mississippi River city near the Gulf of Mexico, is where the storm hit hardest.

The storm's powerful winds and a massive storm surge overwhelmed New Orleans' levee system, causing more than 50 breaches and flooding approximately 80 per cent of the city, according to city records.

Entire neighborhoods were submerged, displacing tens of thousands and exposing critical failures in infrastructure and emergency response, the City of New Orleans said on its official webpage, commenting on the storm's impact 20 years after.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Eight people, including women and children, were killed in a wall collapse triggered by incessant rain in South East Delhi's Jaitpur area, the police said on Saturday.

The incident took place in a slum in the Hari Nagar area in the morning, the police added.

The victims were identified as Muttu Ali (45), Rabibul (30), Shabibul (30), Rubina (25), Dolly (25), Hashibul, Rukhsana (6), and Hasina (7).

The police said the victims were trapped after a wall near a temple collapsed with a loud noise, apparently because the weak structure could not bear the weight of the rain-drenched roof and walls.

Soon after the collapse, area residents rushed to help and assisted rescuers in shifting them to the hospital, the police said, adding that the victims died on the way.

The slum, home to scrap dealers, was evacuated soon after the incident to avoid any similar collapse, the police said.

Meanwhile, the overnight and morning downpour severely disrupted normal life across Delhi-NCR, causing waterlogging in several areas, including Panchkuian Marg, Mathura Road, and Connaught Place.

The waterlogging and rush due to the festival of Rakhi resulted in traffic congestion and delays on major roads.

The rain not only caused chaos on the ground but also in the skies. According to Flightradar data, more than 130 flights to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed on Saturday morning.

In response to the weather-induced disruption, airlines issued travel advisories. IndiGo and SpiceJet took to X to warn passengers about the heavy rain and urged them to allow extra travel time and check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

Air India also issued a cautionary message on X: "Rain may impact flight operations to and from Delhi today." It advised travellers to plan their trips by keeping in mind the delays anticipated due to traffic congestion in the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a rain alert for Delhi, warning of moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across the national Capital. The department also issued key safety guidelines for citizens amid deteriorating weather conditions.

"Today, the skies turn moody, moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning are expected, accompanied by gusty winds (3040 kmph) across parts of the city. This isn't just a forecast, it's a gentle reminder to care for one another. Drive cautiously  roads may be slippery. Secure loose items on balconies and rooftops. Avoid sheltering under trees during lightning. Stay tuned to IMD official weather updates," the IMD posted on X.
Chennai, Aug 9 : Malayalam actor Rahman, who has made a name for himself in both the Malayalam and Tamil film industries, has now come out strongly in support of actress Shwetha Menon, saying that he was shocked by the baseless accusations being made against her.

Taking to his Instagram page to pen a lengthy post expressing support to Shwetha Menon, who is contesting the polls for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), Rahman wrote, "Dear Shwetha, I was deeply shocked when I read about the baseless accusations against you. My heart is filled with anger at the injustice of it all. I have known you for almost three decades, and in all that time you have been a true friend a" one of the kindest and most genuine people I have met in our industry. Though we worked together in only one film, the shows we did and the time we spent together were enough for me to understand your character and to treasure our friendship."

Rahman, who is also the co-brother of music director A R Rahman, then went on to say,"During those shows, I saw firsthand how much you cared for others a" whether it was fellow actors, especially newcomers, the crew, organisers, or your fans. I still remember you quietly buying medicines for crew members who were unwell, without expecting any thanks or recognition. You treated everyone with respect, regardless of their position. Those moments spoke volumes about the person you are."

The actor then went on to comment on the current situation in which the actress finds herself in.

He wrote,"This current situation is nothing but utter nonsense. Meher and I are shocked and disgusted by the people behind this malicious act. It is clear to me that this is a deliberate attempt to tarnish your name and stop you from being elected as the President of the Malayalam Artistsa Association. Such dirty games are common in politics, but I never expected to see them in our film industry."

Seeking her forgiveness for not reaching out to her sooner, Rahman said he was unable to reach out, first because of food poisoning and then as he was mourning the loss of his dear friend, Shanavas.

"My words are meant for you, but I also want the public to know where I stand. Iam aware that some media outlets may twist my words, but I honestly donat care," the actor wrote.

Urging the actress not to lose heart, actor Rahman said, "Shwetha, please donat let this break your spirit. I know how hard you have worked to get where you are today a" without anyoneas help, through sheer determination and strength. You are stronger than this storm, and those who have tried to harm you will one day face the consequences of their actions. I have no doubt that you will make an excellent President of the Malayalam Artistsa Association, and I stand with you in full support."
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Karnataka on Sunday, where he will launch multiple metro projects in Bengaluru and flag off three Vande Bharat express trains from the IT city.

The Vande Bharat Express, being 11th in the Southern state, fulfils the long-pending demand for premium train service between Bengaluru and Belagavi and is set to give new momentum to seamless connectivity between the two cities.

PM Modi will flag off three Vande Bharat Express trains at KSR Railway Station in Bengaluru at around 11 a.m.

Thereafter, he will inaugurate the Yellow line of Bangalore metro and undertake a metro ride from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Electronic City metro station. At around 1 p.m., the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for urban connectivity projects in Bengaluru. He will also address a public function.

He will later inaugurate the Yellow line from RV Road (Ragigudda) to Bommasandra of Bangalore Metro Phase-2 project, with a route length of over 19 km with 16 stations worth around Rs 7,160 crore. With the opening of this yellow line, the operational metro network in Bengaluru will increase to over 96 km serving a large population in the region.

Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone for Bangalore Metro Phase-3 project worth over Rs 15,610 crore. The total route length of the project will be more than 44 km with 31 elevated stations.

The three Vande Bharat Express trains that will be inaugurated by PM Modi will connect Bengaluru with Belagavi, Amritsar with Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Nagpur (Ajni) with Pune.

The Bengaluru-Belagavi train cut travel time for commuters by almost an hour. It will leave Belagavi at 5.20 am and reach KSR Bengaluru at 1.50 pm. In the return route, it will depart from KSR Bengaluru at 2.20 pm and reach Belagavi at 10.40 pm.

The fare from Bengaluru to Belagavi is set at Rs 2,905 and Rs 2,535 respectively, for the executive chair car while those opting for the regular AC chair car will have to pay Rs 1,575 and Rs 1,264 respectively.

These high-speed trains are set to enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel time and provide a world-class travel experience to the passengers.
Nagpur, Aug 9 : NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that ahead of last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections, two individuals approached him with a "guarantee" to secure victory in 160 out of the 288 seats in the state.

Nagpur, Aug 9 (IANS) NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that ahead of last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections, two individuals approached him with a "guarantee" to secure victory in 160 out of the 288 seats in the state.

"I was surprised. I ignored those two people. During that time, I had no suspicion about the Election Commission. I arranged their meeting with Rahul Gandhi. After that, whatever those people wanted to say, they said to Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul Gandhi and I thought that we should not pay attention to them. This is not our path. We decided that we will go to the people and seek the mandate during the assembly elections," Pawar said.

Pawar made these revelations at a press conference held here in the presence of state party chief Shashikant Shinde, former home ministers Anil Deshmukh and Jitendra Awhad, state general secretary Rohit Pawar, among others.

He claimed that those two people had told him about manipulating votes in 160 seats. He reiterated that he did not pay attention to this; instead will seek people's mandate directly. Pawar supported Rahul Gandhi's move to raise various issues, including vote theft and rigging in the elections.

"There should be a thorough investigation into the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi, and we want an answer from the Election Commission, not from the BJP," added Pawar.

Awhad corroborated Pawar's account, saying that two people had gone to meet party chief Sharad Pawar and offered him about the manipulation of votes in 160 seats. However, the party chief did not pay attention to them, saying that this could not happen.

However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected the claims outright. He said, "I don't understand one thing. Why did Pawar Saheb remember all this only after meeting Rahul Gandhi, and that too after so many days?"

"Sharad Pawar didn't say anything for so long, but today he suddenly made this statement. Just like Rahul Gandhi, who is telling imaginary stories every day, is Pawar Saheb doing the same ?" he taunted.

He further stated, "Even if opponents create confusion, elections in India are held in a free and fair manner. They make accusations about EVMs and the election process in public, but when called by the Election Commission, they don't turn up. They are not ready to give an affidavit. They say they have taken an oath in Parliament. But does the oath in Parliament work in the Supreme Court or in the high courts? They know that if caught lying, they could face criminal action. So they just lie every day and run away."
New Delhi, Aug 9 : In a historic journey across the United States, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha saint Pujya Gyanvatsal Swami, a devoted disciple of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru and global leader of BAPS, has been honoured by a remarkable spectrum of American leaders, varying from state governments and senators to governors and mayors.

The widespread recognition of BAPS saint in US goes to justify the prophetic words of Swami Vivekananda, that India will one day lead the world spiritually.

In just one visit, Swami has received eight official state honours, alongside prestigious proclamations and citations from governors and mayors across the nation. These accolades not only recognise his eloquent and impactful discourses but also affirm his role in bringing the timeless values of Indian culture into the heart of a modern, material-driven world.

During his engagements, Pujya Gyanvatsal Swami addressed audiences ranging from community leaders to professionals, youth, and lawmakers. He spoke on themes of moral integrity, inner peace, selfless service, and cultural pride, offering a clear roadmap to navigate the pressures of contemporary life.

From the East Coast to the South, American dignitaries warmly welcomed him:

a New Jersey honoured Swami through Senator Patrick Diegnan for his moral and cultural contributions.

a In Massachusetts, Speaker Ronald Mariano of the House of Representatives praised his leadership in uplifting communities.

a The Senate of Virginia issued a formal resolution recognising his global impact.

a Delaware's Governor Matthew Meyer lauded his efforts in building cross-cultural bridges.

a Mayors including Daniel Rourke (Lowell, MA), James A. Gray Jr. (Hampton, VA), and Phillip Jones (Newport News, VA) presented official city honors.

Speaking at these events, Swami emphasised that while the modern world is filled with material comforts, true fulfillment comes from character, compassion, and clarity of purpose. His message resonated deeply with diverse audiences, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries.

Through these honours, Pujya Gyanvatsal Swami has once again shown that Indian spiritual values are not relics of the past, but living, breathing solutions for the present and future. His recognition in America is not merely a personal achievement a" it is a moment of pride for India, echoing Swami Vivekanandaas vision of spiritual leadership on the world stage.

The series of honours comes as a testament not only to Swamias eloquence and wisdom but also to the divine guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj, under whose spiritual leadership BAPS continues to inspire millions worldwide.

The blessings and vision of Mahant Swami Maharaj have empowered his disciples, like Gyanvatsal Swami, to share timeless Indian values with the world, fulfilling the vision of both Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Swami Vivekananda.
Release Date: August 07, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Tecnoglass Inc (NYSE:TGLS) reported record total revenues of $255.5 million for Q2 2025, marking a 16.3% year-over-year increase.

The company achieved a gross margin of 44.7%, a 400 basis point improvement from the previous year.

The backlog reached an all-time high of $1.2 billion, providing strong visibility into future projects.

The single-family residential business saw a 14.5% year-over-year revenue growth, driven by geographic expansion and market share gains.

Tecnoglass Inc (NYSE:TGLS) successfully completed the acquisition of Continental Glass Systems, enhancing its capabilities in high-end architectural glass solutions.

Negative Points

The company faced increased SG&A expenses, which rose to 20.8% of total revenues, partly due to aluminum tariffs and acquisition-related costs.

There was a pull-forward of $5 to $7 million in residential revenue from Q3 to Q2, which may impact future quarters' revenue recognition.

The company is exposed to potential headwinds from commercial construction ramp-up, which could affect margins due to increased installation costs.

Tariffs on aluminum and other inputs have impacted costs, although Tecnoglass Inc (NYSE:TGLS) has taken measures to mitigate these effects.

The company's guidance suggests potential margin pressure in the second half of the year, despite efforts to offset increased costs.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How much of the revenue pull forward was due to the Section 232 increase in June, and how has this announcement affected customer behavior? A: The pull forward occurred before the announcement, with price increases set for early to mid-May. Most of the pull forward will impact Q3, not Q4. - Santiago Giraldo, CFO

Q: Can you provide insights from the feasibility study for the new US manufacturing facility? A: We are in the early stages of planning, but the automation level is promising. We expect to achieve EBITDA levels similar to those in Colombia. An announcement will be made soon. - Chris Dias, COO

Q: Regarding the 5 to 7 million pull forward, did it impact Q2 revenue? A: Yes, some of it did impact Q2 as orders were placed ahead of price increases. The calculation includes orders from late April to early May. - Santiago Giraldo, CFO

Q: How are you managing margin expectations for the second half of the year? A: We are modeling gross margins in line with year-to-date figures. Commercial construction ramp-up may pose a headwind, but price increases from May will fully impact Q3. - Santiago Giraldo, CFO
New Delhi, Aug 9 : In a bid to boost the safe food practices in the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has trained more than 3 lakh street street food vendors, the government informed the Parliament.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, stated the steps undertaken by the government to boost food safety standards in the country.

This includes the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme launched in 2017.

"This initiative offers training in food safety and standards for individuals engaged in street food business, whether as food business operators or employees," Jadhav said.

"Under FoSTaC, a specialised awareness course titled "Street Food Vending" has been developed. Till now, more than 3 lakh street food vendors across the country have been trained through this programme," the Minister added.

Further, he stated that the government enhances street food safety through rigorous inspections, awareness campaigns, and enforcement through the FSSAI.

"The FSSAI conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products to check compliance with the standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations," Jadhav said.

In case the food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per provisions of the FSS Act.

Meanwhile, FSSAI is also carrying out a nationwide initiative, "Eat Right India movement" to ensure food safety and hygiene for all citizens.

Under this initiative, FSSAI has designed the Eat Right Street Food Hub certification programme to educate people about food safety and hygiene at Food Streets.

"There are 405 Eat Right Street Food Hubs certified under Eat Right India," Jadhav said.

Further, to extend outreach for on-the-spot food testing and dissemination of food safety information in remote areas, FSSAI has also introduced Mobile Food Testing Laboratories (MFTLs) to all the States and UTs.

"FSSAI has deployed 305 MFTLs to 35 States/UTs across India to date," the Minister said.
Agartala/Imphal, Aug 9 : BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma held a meeting with former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Imphal and discussed various issues including illegal immigration, a BJP leader said on Saturday.

Agartala/Imphal, Aug 9 (IANS) BJPas ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma held a meeting with former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Imphal and discussed various issues including illegal immigration, a BJP leader said on Saturday.

A senior BJP leader in Imphal said that several former ministers and leaders accompanied Biren Singh when he discussed several issues with the TMP chief at the former's residence.

"Both Biren Singh and Debbarma discussed the illegal infiltration issues along with developmental aspects of the northeastern region. They also discussed socio-economic matters of the indigenous tribals," the BJP leader said, refusing to be quoted.

Taking to social media platform X, Debbarma, a former royal scion of Tripura, wrote on Saturday : "It was wonderful meeting you yesterday, Kangleipak (Manipur) and Tipra (Tripura ) have deep historical ties and this bond will continue as long as I am there. The people of our states need to work unitedly to ensure our next generation is secur."

Both Manipur and Tripura were princely states for several centuries.

On October 15, 1949, both the northeastern states merged with the Indian union. Manipur and Tripura along with Meghalaya became full-fledged states on January 21, 1972 under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

Biren Singh, who resigned from the Chief Ministerial post on February 9, four days before the Centre promulgated President's rule in Manipur, in a post on the X said : "It was an honour to host the founder and leader of the Tipra Motha Party, Maharaja Shri Pradyot Manikya Ji, at my residence."

"Manipur and Tripura share deep historical ties and a cordial relationship that continues to this day. As both our states face the pressing challenges of illegal immigration and encroachment, we discussed ways to work together to address these concerns. I am inspired by his steadfast commitment to the people of Tripura and the Northeast. Together, we will prevail," the former Manipur Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the TMP has been agitating against the illegal infiltration into Tripura and demanded to deport all illegal migrants to their countries.

A delegation of TMP led by Debbarma, met the Election Commission of India in New Delhi and demanded to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tripura, similar to the procedure being adopted in Bihar.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday expressed concern over the well-being of the "incommunicado" former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying he has heard of 'Laapataa Ladies' but never heard of 'Laapataa Vice President'.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday expressed concern over the well-being of the "incommunicado" former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying he has heard of 'Laapataa Ladies' but never heard of 'Laapataa Vice President'.

Addressing mediapersons, Sibal sought clarification from Home Minister Amit Shah on Dhankhar's whereabouts since his resignation from the constitutional post, adding that "I hope the government has not, in any form, placed an impediment".

"He resigned on July 21, and we are today on August 9, and since that day, we don't know where he is," Sibal told reporters.

"He is not in his official residence. On the first day I tried to contact him, and somebody picked up the phone. I was told he was resting and he would get back to me. Thereafter, several colleagues and I have tried to contact him for days, but we can't get through," he said.

"I have heard of 'Laapataa Ladies' but never heard of 'Laapataa Vice President'," said Sibal, expressing surprise over the lack of communication with the former Rajya Sabha Chairman, in a veiled reference to a Bollywood film 'Laapataa Ladies' in which two young brides go missing before being rescued by police.

Sibal described Dhankhar's resignation as "unfortunate" and said it seems the time has come for the Opposition to support him. "Obviously, he is in some difficulty which we are not aware of. I hope he is well, and if he is not in his official residence, we should know where he is."

Sibal said he has a very close relationship with Dhankhar, and he is worried.

"I request the Home Minister to issue a public statement and let us know where his residence is, so that we can go and meet him," he said.

The Rajya Sabha MP wondered why Dhankhar is incommunicado, asking, "There must be some reason for it".

Raising a suspicion of some form of government curbs on Dhankhar's public appearance or dealing, he said, "The election for a new Vice President is in September and there is a long time to go. I hope the government has not, in any form, placed an impediment. I am sure that he is entitled to say his mind and what transpired."

Unless we know where he is, we will not be able to find out anything, he said.
Mumbai, Aug 9 : Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who was recently seen in the streaming movie 'Heads of State', has recollected the interesting journey behind her casting for one of her most heartfelt works, Jhilmil from 'Barfi'.

On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a video, showing different scenes from 'Barfi'. She penned a long note in the caption, as she shared she almost lost out on the role as director Anurag Basu couldn't picture her as an autistic girl as he saw a decked up version of the actress, who was "dressed to the nines".

She wrote, "In Jan 2009, while filming 'Anjaana Anjaani' in New York with Ranbir Kapoor, he mentioned his next, Barfi! With Anurag Basu, a filmmaker I admired. So when Sir offered me Jhilmil, I was thrilled. We met at my Mumbai home, I'd just returned from an event, dressed to the nines. He took one look and said he couldn't imagine me as Jhilmil. I understood, I didn't want to mess it up either. We agreed to workshop for 5 days".

She went on to share liberating experience during the workshop when she had to hurl Hindi expletives at the director, as she shared, "We immersed ourselves in research, reading, watching videos, meeting children on the autism spectrum, and doing exercises in his Aram Nagar office. One day, he asked me to hurl vile Hindi expletives at him. Mortified, I still tried, it was hilarious, liberating, and pulled me out of my comfort zone. After more "Basu-style" drills, Jhilmil was born. Most BarfiJhilmil scenes were improvised".

She further mentioned, "Sir shared an idea, and we ran with it. This was also one of the last times my Dad visited me on set. Barfi! remains one of my most treasured films - for the creativity, the crew, and the joy of shared challenges. Ravi Varman's cinematography was pure poetry. Gorgeous Ileana D'Cruz brought such grace to Shruti, Ranbir shone like the star he is, and Anurag Sir, brilliant, gentle, playful. His storytelling is magic".

"We shot over two years with breaks, unsure if audiences would embrace it. They did beyond our dreams. The love for Jhilmil has stayed with me ever since. On this nostalgic Saturday, I felt like sharing. What are you reminiscing about these days?", she added.

'Barfi', which was Anurag's love letter to cinema, was also sent as India's official entry for the Oscars. However, the film couldn't make it to the Oscar shortlisting.
Mumbai, Aug 9 : The Securities Exchange Board of India has proposed easier norms for resident Indians and mutual funds to invest in foreign funds. The regulator proposed to enable retail schemes based in IFSCs in India with resident Indian non-individuals as sponsors or managers to register as FPIs.

The investment limit is capped at 10 per cent of the targeted corpus, in line with IFSC rules, a release from SEBI said.

The suggestion is to replace the sponsor and manager with a fund management entity or associate for IFSC FPIs. SEBI has also proposed allowing Indian mutual funds to invest in overseas funds with India exposure.

These proposals aim to increase investment options for Indian investors to diversify their portfolios. If implemented, these reforms could bridge the gap between Indiaas domestic savings pool and international opportunities.

Currently, only certain institutional investors meeting SEBIas criteria can register as FPIs to invest in foreign securities. The proposed changes focus on retail-oriented investment schemes set up in IFS, which would allow a broader range of India-based entities to channel domestic capital into foreign assets through a regulated framework.

At present, non-resident Indians (NRI), overseas citizens of India (OCI) or resident Indians are not eligible to register as FPIs. However, NRIs, OCIs or resident Indian individuals are permitted to be constituents of FPIs, subject to certain conditions in terms of limits on contribution and control of the FPIs.

The Reserve Bank of Indiaas liberalised remittance scheme permits individuals to remit up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually for overseas investments. Retail investors depend on indirect channels and FoF opportunities in global mutual funds for foreign market exposure.

IFSC is a special economic zone (SEZ) acting as a global financial hub within India, allowing institutions to conduct international financial transactions and operations.

The capital market regulator has sought public feedback on its proposals till August 29.

-- IANS

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Patna, Aug 9 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary met Union MSME Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha- Secular (HAM-S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi at his residence in Patna on Saturday, fueling speculation over seat-sharing within the National Democratic Alliance ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

HAM-S national president and state minister Santosh Kumar Suman was also present during the meeting.

Sources suggest Union Minister Manjhi expressed dissatisfaction with the NDA's proposed seat-sharing formula, reportedly insisting on a minimum of 20 Assembly seats for his party, despite demanding 40.

Jitan Ram Manjhi has categorically said he will not "repeat the mistake" of the Lok Sabha elections.

However, the Union Minister publicly downplayed any "rift", stating, "There is no conflict here; everything is more or less decided regarding how many seats each party will receive to contest the Bihar Assembly elections. Whoever gets the seats will have to be content with the allocation. Bihar needs an NDA government. Opposition parties are spreading false narratives, and the only way to counter that is to ensure the NDA's victory in 2025."

He added that his meeting with Deputy CM Choudhary also included discussions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Gaya on August 22, with possible venues being Bela, Wazirganj, or another location in the district.

After the meeting, Santosh Suman described it as a formal interaction between Samrat Choudhary and Jitan Ram Manjhi focused mainly on preparations for the Prime Minister's visit.

"There is no resentment in NDA. Seat sharing will be done on time. We have discussed the venue of the Prime Minister's rally in Gaya, scheduled on August 22," he said.

Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular had contested on seven seats in Bihar during the 2020 Assembly elections and won four seats.

As the party has a strong hold among the Mahadalit community across the state, especially in Gaya, Nawada, Jehanabad and other districts, Union Minister Manjhi is bargaining more this time, citing a good strike rate in the 2020 Assembly elections.
Chennai, Aug 9 : The makers of director Selvamani Selvaraj's much-anticipated period drama, 'Kaantha', featuring actors Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse in the lead, on Saturday released the mellifluous romantic first single 'Panimalare' from the film.

Taking to his social media timelines, actor Dulquer Salmaan shared the link to the freshly released first single and wrote, "A love that echoes through time. Our first single is OUT NOW! #PANIMALARE #PASIMANASE. Groove along to this captivating rhythm with us, as we paint the town red with our first single of @kaanthafilm. Know their story on September 12th in theatres worldwide.A @thespiritmedia and @dqswayfarerfilms production."

The retro style melodious number, which has been picturised on Dulquer and Bhagyashri, has been set to tune by Jhanu Chanthar and Sivam. It has lyrics by Kutti Revathi, with additional lyrics having been penned by Sivam and Deepika Karthik Kumar. The song has been rendered by Pradeep Kumar and Priyanka NK.

The film has triggered a lot of interest in audiences and fans, especially after the makers released a teaser recently.

The teaser that was released recently begins with an announcer stating that 'Saantha', the film being made by Modern Studios, will be Tamil cinema's first horror film. Ayya (Samuthirakani) is the writer and director of this film and Dulquer Salmaan is the hero of the film. It is evident that both the director and the hero of the film are now at loggerheads with one another and are no longer on talking terms. While Ayya wants a scene in which a character called Chandran gets scared after seeing a spirit called Neeli to be shot first, Dulquer wants some other pleasant scene to be shot first.

The hero and the director are bitter enemies only now but there was a time when both of them loved and respected each other before turning foes. The teaser shows that Ayya is the one who trained and made Dulquer the hero he is today. However, all that is a thing of the past. While Ayya seeks to make the heroine the central character of the film, Dulquer continues to make changes. In the end, the teaser shows Dulquer changing the title of the film from 'Saantha' to 'Kaantha'.

The makers have also made it clear that the film will hit screens on September 12 this year.

A gripping period dramatic thriller set in 1950s Madras, 'Kaantha' will look to transport the viewers to the soul of that era. It captures a moment in time when tradition and modernity collided, giving rise to stories both personal and profound.

Sources close to the unit say that the film, which has been anchored by powerful performances, is a richly textured story and has stunning visuals.

The film, which is being jointly produced by Spirit Media and Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films, has cinematography by ace cameraman Dani Sanchez Lopaz and music by Jhanu Chanthar. Art direction for the film is by Tha. Ramalingam and editing is by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves.
Chennai, Aug 9 : In a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at ending persistent sewage issues in the northern parts of the city, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metrowater) has announced plans to replace the entire 40-year-old sewer network in key neighbourhoods.

The Rs 946-crore project, taken up under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam, will cover 213 km of sewer lines, benefitting more than 20 lakh residents in areas such as Royapuram, Tondiarpet and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.

The existing pipelines, many of which are prone to reverse flow, blockages and frequent breakages, will be replaced with larger-diameter pipes to handle the increased sewage load.

The main lines, currently 200 mm wide, will be expanded to 400 mm. Metrowater has engaged Sai Engineering Consultants to prepare the detailed designs for the works, which will commence shortly.

Metrowater Managing Director T.G. Vinay in a statement said the project would also include odour control systems at sewage treatment plants, along with the installation of 126 new pump sets and 41 diesel generators to fast-track the flow.

"We will also build between 200 and 500 new machine holes in each zone, enabling quick access for maintenance workers. Additional sewage pumping stations are planned in Kolathur and Villivakkam to address complaints of reverse flow," he said. The works are scheduled for completion by June 2026, though some have already begun.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar MLA J.J. Ebenzer welcomed the project but expressed concerns over the allocation of funds.

"Around 40 per cent of the estimated cost is earmarked for RK Nagar, but this will not be sufficient. We must also include Kasimedu and Tondiarpet, where the lines are over 30 years old. Narrow, rusted pipes often break, causing road sinkage," he said.

Royapuram MLA Idream Murthy said that six projects have been sanctioned for his constituency.

"We are replacing sewer lines in several bus route roads, including Mint, Cemetery Road and Old Washermenpet. The work is being carried out in patches to minimise inconvenience to the public. As per government instructions, no digging will be permitted after September 15, so 50 per cent of the pipeline work will be completed before that date, with the rest taken up after January," he said.

Metrowater officials believe the upgraded sewer network will significantly improve sewage flow and reduce maintenance problems, marking a major step forward in modernising the city's core infrastructure.
Kolkata, Aug 9 : BJP's former national vice-president and ex-West Bengal state president Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said the grievances of the parents of the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder victim against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were "quite justified." Kolkata, Aug 9 (IANS) BJP's former national vice-president and ex-West Bengal state president Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said the grievances of the parents of the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder victim against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were "quite justified."

Speaking to media persons on Saturday, which is incidentally the first anniversary of the ghastly rape & murder tragedy, Ghosh said that if the victim's family members do not get justice even after a year since the tragedy, their grievances against the investigative agency are bound to surface.

Ghosh, also a former party Lok Sabha member, even went to the extent of demanding a fresh probe into the matter, which should be court-monitored and by a new investigating team.

"If justice is not delivered in time, the grievances against the investigation agency are bound to surface. I also feel that many important aspects were ignored in the investigation. So I feel there should be a fresh investigation into the matter from the start, and with a completely new team. Those who have already investigated the matter should not be included in the new team," Ghosh said.

On Friday, the victim's parents returned to Kolkata from New Delhi after meeting the CDBI director there. After coming back to Kolkata, they told media persons that they had already expressed their dissatisfaction over the nature and progress of the investigation to the central agency chief.

"We have told the CBI director that his agency was an utter failure in the matter of the tragedy with our daughter. Initially, we had faith in CBI. But after one year, the faith has vanished," the victim's mother said on Friday.

With Ghosh now echoing their sentiments, the remarks have set off political rumblings in West Bengal, with questions being raised over both the handling of the case and the credibility of the probe.
Tarn Taran : , Aug 9 (IANS) In a first initiative in India to check supply of drugs from across the international border, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP national Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday jointly flagged off 'Baaj Akh', an anti-drone system.

Interacting with the media, Kejriwal said another chapter has been added in the crusade against the drugs. He said previous regimes hobnobbed with drug smugglers due to which this curse flexed its muscles in the state.

However, Kejriwal said now a massive crackdown has been launched against drugs and big fishes involved in this trade have been put behind the bars.

He said drugs have been supplied to Punjab from across the border and to check them this anti-drone system has been launched. He said three anti-drone system have been launched and six others will be launched soon to make Punjab free from this scourge.

Kejriwal said the government has strictly implemented a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers. He said properties acquired by drug smugglers through the illegal drug trade are being demolished.

The most notorious and feared drug lord has been put behind the bars by an honest government led by Bhagwant Mann. The Chief Minister said under the "War Against Drugs" (Yudh Nasheyan Virud) campaign, Punjab today launched a battle to stop drug smuggling from across the border.

"Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan, which is considered one of the most sensitive zones for the smuggling of narcotics and weapons."

Mann said that to strengthen border security and tackle the challenges posed by drone-based smuggling, nine anti-drone units are being set up along the international border. The Chief Minister said Rs 51.4 crore is being spent on these units.

He said although "our country's armed forces and the BSF have already been using such systems, Punjab is the first state in the country to deploy anti-drone systems at the international border".

He said the anti-drone system will give a strong response to drug smugglers from across the border, adding anti-national elements always use technology for anti-social activities.

--IANS

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Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday presented President Donald Trump with a one-of-a-kind, U.S.-made glass plaque and walked away with an assurance that Apple's expanding "American Manufacturing Program" will spare the company from a looming 100% tariff on imported semiconductors and chips.

What Happened: Cook handed Trump a circular slab of Corning Gorilla Glass etched with the presidential seal and Cook's signature, mounted on a 24-karat-gold base fabricated in Utah. "It is a unique unit of one," Cook told reporters, noting that the piece was designed by a former Marine who now works for Apple.

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During the Oval Office event, Cook said Apple will add $100 billion to its existing $500 billion domestic-investment pledge, bringing the total to $600 billion over four years. He added that 100% of iPhone and Apple Watch cover glass will soon be produced in Kentucky, expanding a Corning partnership first unveiled in 2021.

Trump used the ceremony to tout a proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made chips, but said, "The good news for companies like Apple is if you're building in the United States ... there will be no charge," he added. The White House warned that companies reneging on U.S. promises could face retroactive duties.

Why It Matters: "In terms of the longer-term issues, more than a year out, I would say tariffs are probably 20% of it," said Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, according to CNN. Cook told investors last week that tariffs already cost the company $800 million last quarter and may hit $1.1 billion in the September period.

Cook's latest offering to Trump follows earlier gift-diplomacy. As per CNN, Trump's final 2021 financial disclosure lists a $5,999 MacBook Pro from Apples chief. In 2019, Cook secured more tariff carve-outs after what Trump called direct chats, according to a CNBC report.

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Photo Courtesy: Ringo Chiu on Shutterstock.com
Seoul, Aug 9 : The offices of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have been coordinating to hold a summit in Tokyo later this month, a Japanese report said Saturday.

The meeting is most likely to take place around August 23, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported, citing multiple government sources.

When asked about the report, the South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the two sides have been coordinating the summit, but the schedule has not yet been confirmed.

If realised, it would be Lee's first visit to Japan since taking office in early June and would signal the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two nations' leaders, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lee and Ishiba last met in person on June 17 on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada, during which they discussed ways to advance bilateral ties and bolster trilateral cooperation with the United States.

Lee is also widely expected to visit Washington for his first summit with US President Donald Trump later this month, though the presidential office has yet to announce the schedule.

"The schedules for a South Korea-Japan summit and South Korea-US summit are still being arranged, and have not been confirmed. We will announce them once they are confirmed," Kang told reporters.

Last month, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Ishiba, during which the Japanese leader reaffirmed his intent to maintain and further develop good relations with Seoul.

Ishiba made the remarks during his 15-minute meeting with Cho at the prime minister's residence, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said during a press briefing.

"While maintaining and building on the favorable momentum in South Korea-Japan relations, I also intend to advance cooperation among South Korea, the US and Japan," Ishiba was quoted as saying.

Hayashi said he believes the two countries have been communicating closely since the Lee Jae Myung administration took office, describing South Korea and Japan as "important neighbors and partners" on many international issues.

Cho held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during which he highlighted South Korea's efforts to bolster ties with "friendly nations" under the Lee government, signaling an intent to maintain the thaw in bilateral relations with Japan.

In a subsequent meeting with South Korean correspondents in Tokyo, the South Korean foreign minister said he has emphasised to Japanese officials the need to develop bilateral ties in a future-oriented manner.
Tehran, Aug 9 : Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday welcomed a recent peace agreement between its northern neighbours, Azerbaijan and Armenia, while expressing concern about foreign interference near common borders.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry responded to the peace agreement signed by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House in Washington on Friday, which marks the end of a decades-long border conflict.

It stated that Iran closely monitored the ongoing processes and developments in the South Caucasus region and was in contact with Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the developments, Xinhua news agency reported.

"No doubt, peace and stability in the South Caucasus region are in the interest of all regional countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the finalisation of the text of the peace agreement by the two countries and evaluates the development as an important step towards ensuring sustainable peace in the region," said the statement.

It stressed, "However, Iran voices its concern about the negative consequences of any foreign interference in any way or form, especially in proximity to common borders, that would compromise sustainable regional security and stability."

Iran also expressed its readiness to continue "constructive" cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia based on mutual interests to ensure the region's peace, stability, and economic development through bilateral and regional cooperation.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, at loggerheads over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988, have been having peace talks since 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed on, despite sporadic clashes since then.

Earlier today, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a historic joint declaration for peace after decades of bitter conflict and significant loss of life as US President Donald Trump hosted both the leaders of the South Caucasus region in Washington, as confirmed by the White House.

According to a statement by the White House, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also signed bilateral economic agreements with the US, unlocking the great potential of the South Caucasus region in trade, transit, energy, infrastructure, and technology, and creating new opportunities for the American people and businesses.

Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan took to his social media stating that the peace deal would pave the way for peace, prosperity and development in the South Caucasus region.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday said that the maiden paperless session of the House concluded after legislative deliberations which lasted 19 hours and 40 minutes and included passage of key Education and GST Bills.

"The Third session of Eighth Legislative Assembly concluded, total matters discussed in 19 hours and 40 minutes," said Gupta while addressing the media.

The session commenced on August 4 and was adjourned sine die on August 8 after five sittings, he said.

Gupta stated that summons for the session were issued on July 28 and the sittings were held on August 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

He stated that the House conducted extensive deliberations on legislative, financial, and public welfare matters during this period.

During this period, 171 Special Mention notices were received under Rule 280, of which 62 matters were raised on the floor of the House.

Gupta said that these matters, covering a wide range of civic, administrative, and policy concerns, have been referred to the departments concerned with directions to furnish replies to the members within 30 days.

He added that three significant legislations were passed during the session. These included The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, introduced by Ashish Sood, Minister of Education, which was discussed over two days with participation from 24 members before being passed by voice vote.

He informed that the Delhi Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Delhi Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, both introduced by Chief Minister and Minister of Finance Rekha Gupta, were also passed by voice vote after due consideration.

Gupta added that several important papers and reports were laid on the table of the House during the session. These included the Finance and Appropriation Accounts of GNCTD for 202324, the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Finance and Appropriation Accounts, State Finances, and Welfare of Building and Other Construction Workers.

He said reports from regulatory and educational bodies such as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, Geospatial Delhi Ltd., Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi were also laid on the table.

He informed that the CAG report on the welfare of construction workers was referred to the Public Accounts Committee for further examination.

The Speaker informed that the House passed congratulatory motions under Rule 114 to honour astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for his mission to the International Space Station and to mark the launch of the NISAR satellite on July 28.

He said during the sittings congratulations were extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the armed forces, security agencies, and intelligence agencies for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev.

He said that a total of 20 members participated in the related discussion, including Abhay Verma, Chief Whip, and the Chief Minister.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Lakhs of students are expected to join the World Lion Day 2025 celebrations on Sunday at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, coinciding with the launch of wildlife conservation works amounting to approximately Rs 180 crore.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav will lead the celebrations as students join the event through satellite communication across the 11 districts of the Greater Gir Lion Landscape, said an official statement.

During the 2024 celebrations, 18.63 lakh students participated in the event on World Lion Day, it stated.

World Lion Day, celebrated annually on August 10, aims to raise awareness about the conservation and protection of lions worldwide.

In Gujarat, the Asiatic Lion is a unique ecological and cultural treasure, found only in the Saurashtra region.

The Ministry and the stateas consistent efforts under Project Lion and the leadership of the Gujarat government have made significant strides in ensuring the survival and growth of this iconic species.

The grand celebrations of aWorld Lion Daya will be organised on August 10 across 11 districts of Saurashtra, Gujarat, to promote awareness about the conservation and protection of the aKing of the Junglea- the Asiatic Lion.

These majestic animals roam freely in their natural habitat across approximately 35,000 sq. km in 11 districts of Saurashtra. The lion population in Gujarat has increased by 32 per cent since 2020, rising from 674 in 2020 to 891 as per the May 2025 lion population estimation.

The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary spans 192.31 sq. km across Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts. Barda is emerging as a second home for Asiatic Lions.

After the natural migration of lions to the area in 2023, the lion population has grown to 17, including six adults and 11 cubs.

The sanctuary is a significant biodiversity hotspot and a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions. Being in the vicinity of the Dwarka- Porbandar-Somnath tourist circuit, the Barda area holds a significant tourism potential.

A safari park in about 248 Ha area is planned to be initiated, for which land has been allocated by the state government. Wildlife conservation works amounting to about Rs 180.00 crore will also be launched at the event.
Mumbai, Aug 9 : Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, who was last seen in the streaming film 'Jewel Thief', received a heartfelt note from his sister Saba Ali Khan.

On Saturday, the actor's sister took to her Instagram, and shared a series of throwback pictures. She also penned a long note in the caption, praying for her brother's well-being. Incidentally, Saif sustained a knife attack at the start of this year.

She wrote, "Happy Rakhi! To my brother....Bhai, To all the years growing up , I know we've led our separate lives,been busy with respective things, and still found time to make moments matter. I love you always. And have your back! As I'm sure you do mine. My duas and prayers will protect you ,especially when I worry about your safety and in this mad world life is so unpredictable. I wish you all the best today and always. That's a given. To Kamal, my other brother. The same! You've been a gem, and I treasure each moment".

The actor was stabbed multiple times in an attempt to fight off a burglar during the wee hours of Thursday. The actor sustained six stab wounds, two of which are said to be serious as they are closer to his spine. The incident took place at 2:15 am when the burglar allegedly barged into their Bandra home, and attacked their house help and then Saif when he intervened.

Saif was woken up by the commotion in his son Jeh's room. He went inside the room to see the culprit arguing with their house help, looking at this, Saif intervened to save the house help with bare hands to fight off the intruder.

She also appreciated Kunal Kemmu, her brother-in-law, who is the husband of actress Soha Alia Khan, as she wrote, "Kunal Kemmu SO proud. And you're a brother I'm thrilled to have found! And all my darling cousins... U ALL rock! Soha n Bebo...sisters are the best. Loveeee you both! Some old pics taken my me ..of Sara n iggy 1st rakhi (tag if used!) And a random share from a follower of bhai n abba . My favorite pic #happyrakshabandhan (sic)".
Quetta, Aug 9 : Leading Baloch human rights defender, Mir Yar Baloch on Saturday slammed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people while at the same time, conveniently concealing its own "brutal terrorism" and decades-long war against the people of Balochistan at home.

Pakistan, Baloch mentioned, lectures the world about justice, humanitarian rights, and the plight of the Palestinian people but is indulging in massive human rights violations in the province of Balochistan.

His remarks came after Sharif took to his social media, condemning the Israeli cabinet's approval of a plan to take control of Gaza City, describing it as illegal and illegitimate.

"Pakistan's hypocrisy is glaring: it sheds crocodile tears for Palestinians while crushing the Baloch peopleas struggle for independence with unparalleled brutality and state terrorism. If Islamabad truly believed in the principles of freedom, justice, and human rights, it would first end its illegal occupation of Balochistan and allow the Baloch people to decide their own future in peace," Mir posted on X.

The human rights activist asserted that the Pakistan's "occupational forces" are committing the very crimes it accuses Israel of, including forced internal displacement of entire villages, systematic subjugation, extrajudicial killings, aerial bombardments of civilian areas, mass enforced disappearances, cultural erasure, and the deliberate destruction of livelihoods in Balochistan.

"Just as Pakistan demands 'international intervention' in Gaza, it has sealed Balochistan off from international humanitarian organisations, journalists, and human rights observers, ensuring that its crimes remain hidden from the world. No foreign aid is allowed, no UN fact-finding missions are permitted, and no independent humanitarian assistance reaches those suffering under its military siege," Mir said.

"No access to the internet is available to the 60 million Baloch people as an illegal notice is issued by the rogue military of Pakistan," he stated.

Mir emphasised that the world must recognise Pakistan's moral posturing on Palestine is nothing more than a smokescreen to deflect attention from its own "war crimes" in Balochistan. Just as it calls for the protection of innocent civilians in Gaza, he stated that the same call must be made for the people of Balochistan, who have endured over "seven decades of military oppression" without international relief.
Mumbai, Aug 9 : Director-producer Om Raut, whose production 'Inspector Zende' is set to release on OTT next month, has spoken about his knack for showcasing historical characters from Maharashtra, and how he mounts them for the national or international audience.

The director-producer spoke with IANS recently at his office in Mumbai, and shared that his aim is to tell grassroot stories.

He told IANS, "I want to tell the grassroot stories. I want to tell the stories that are rooted deeply into our culture. I want to tell the stories that are about Indian heroes or Indian superheroes or Indian characters, male or female, doesn't matter. The stories that we have in our culture, the stories that we have in our great history of Bharat is something that I would like to tell. And because I come from Maharashtra, these are the stories that I actually grew up with. These are the stories that were told to me by my grandparents, by my parents, my father and my mother".

He further mentioned, "So, they have a very deep impact on you while growing up. And to be honest, whatever I have understood, I am only trying to recreate that into cinema. When it comes to Marathi, I am an extremely proud Marathi boy. Whatever are the stories of our culture, and that is why I have an attraction towards Marathi culture and Marathi great personalities in our history".

"There is so much contribution of all these people towards building the nation that we have today. The nation that we have today is a tremendous contribution of all these forces that have come to us, you know, over a period, even pre-independence also, post-independence also", he added.

'Inspector Zende' is set to release on September 5, 2025 on Netflix.
Chennai, Aug 9 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) suspects that the theft complaint, which led to the custodial torture and death of a temple guard in Sivaganga district, may have been fabricated.

Ajithkumar, who worked as a guard at the Madappuram Kali temple near Thiruppuvanam, died after allegedly being tortured in police custody. He had been taken into custody following a complaint lodged by a woman named Nikitha, who accused him of stealing her jewellery from her car.

The incident triggered widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu, with demands for justice and accountability. The case is being investigated by CBI Special Crimes Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohit Kumar from Delhi, who began the probe on July 14.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the CBI to submit its final investigation report by August 20.

According to the revised FIR, five members of a special police team allegedly assaulted Ajithkumar despite knowing the assault could prove fatal. The officers are accused of using excessive force after Ajithkumar refused to confess to the alleged theft.

All five personnel have been questioned, arrested and produced before the court, and remanded in Madurai Central Prison until August 13. Fresh evidence uncovered by the CBI now casts serious doubt on the original theft allegation.

Investigators have found that Nikithaas car never left the temple parking lot on the day she claimed her jewellery was stolen. This finding directly contradicts her initial statement that the jewellery went missing after she had parked the vehicle elsewhere.

Officials have also noted several inconsistencies in Nikithaas statements during questioning. Based on these discrepancies, the CBI suspects that her complaint may have been deliberately fabricated, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to Ajithkumaras death in custody.

The custodial death has intensified public scrutiny of police procedures and the handling of theft allegations.

Rights activists and political parties have called for strict action against those responsible, both for the alleged custodial torture and for any role in lodging a false complaint.

With the CBIas findings pointing towards a possible false theft report, the case has taken a significant turn, raising questions not only about police conduct but also about the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.

--IANS

aal/dan
Mysuru : , Aug 9 (IANS) In a major development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced an investigation would be conducted into the allegations of electoral fraud during the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Speaking to the media at the Mysuru airport on Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded to questions regarding the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's suggestion that the government should take action on the issue of electoral fraud.

Rahul Gandhi, during his speech at a protest rally in Bengaluru on Friday, urged CM Siddaramaiah to investigate the election fraud in Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bengaluru and other constituencies in Karnataka and initiate legal action against those who indulged in stealing of votes.

He further stated: "Legal action will be taken based on the recommendations."

The Chief Minister added that the party will examine this matter before the upcoming Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections.

He further mentioned that the Advocate General will be directed to conduct the inquiry swiftly and submit a report.

However, CM Siddaramaiah clarified that full authority over the electoral roll rests with the Election Commission.

Responding to former minister C.M. Ibrahim's statement alleging that 3,000 votes were purchased in Badami assembly constituency in 2018, for Siddaramaiah's victory, the Chief Minister said: "Ibrahim is not from our party. I had only visited Badami for nomination and campaigning. Other than that, I am not aware of any such issue. I won with a margin of 1,600 votes. This is new information to me, and I know nothing about it."

Responding to BJP's criticism of Congress raising concerns over electoral fraud now, Siddaramaiah said: "The BJP is making false claims to cover their own wrongdoings. Our internal survey had predicted we would win 16 Lok Sabha seats, but we ended up winning only 9. Rahul Gandhi has presented evidence-based claims.

"All relevant documents are with the State and Central Election Commissions. Rahul Gandhi has raised issues based on official records. Is it really possible for 80 people to live in a single small room? We came to know about these facts only after studying the matter," CM Siddaramaiah stated.

Asked whether the judiciary should take suo motu action to ensure public trust in the Election Commission amid these fraud allegations, the Chief Minister said: "We have always maintained that manipulation happens during electionswhether in EVMs or voter rolls. In my opinion, Rahul Gandhi's claims made in the media are true."

When reporters questioned him about an old speech of hisnow going viral on social mediawhere he had allegedly stated that even dead people had voted in a by-election, the Chief Minister responded: "If dead people have voted, then who is responsible for that? The Election Commission is directly accountable."

Responding to BJP's claim that he won because IAS officer Raymond Peter was appointed as an observer in 2006, during crucial phase of his political career, Siddaramaiah countered, "Had Peter not been there, they might have defeated me."

It can be recalled that Siddaramaiah had been expelled from JD(S) and joined the Indian National Congress in 2006. To reaffirm his political strength and re-enter the Karnataka Assembly, he contested the Chamundeshwari by-election.

Siddaramaiah won the by-election held in December 2006, but by a very narrow margin  around 257 votes against JD (S) candidate late M. Shivabasappa.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Muhammad Yunus, the caretaker of the interim government in Bangladesh, has assured that an election in his country would be held next year. With plenty of uncertainty over the Awami League on whether it could contest or not, it is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is the frontrunner.

The BNP wanted an election before December 2025, but the interim government has said that it would require time until next April, as there are some reforms to be implemented. However, during a meeting between Yunus and the BNPas Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the party, it was decided that elections could be held by February 2026.

Yunus and his supporters are clear that unless and until the reforms are implemented, there shall be no elections. The reforms include constitutional reforms, busting judicial freedom, press freedom, and, more importantly, changes to the electoral processes.

India, on one hand, is closely watching the developments and has repeatedly said that Bangladesh needs to have a democratically elected government in place. The question that arises is whether Bangladesh is ready for elections and can the reforms that Yunus and the National Citizen Party (NCP) are talking about can be implemented before February 2026.

The ouster of Sheikh Hasina took place due to a mass uprising of students. During those protests, the security forces used extreme force against the protesters. Hence, the people first want those in the security establishment who were loyal to Hasina brought to justice.

Last year, a UN fact-finding mission had found that officials in Bangladeshas former government and the security agencies had committed serious human rights violations against the protesters. It noted that grave crimes against humanity had been carried out. There have been hundreds of cases filed against these officials after Hasina fled the country on August 5, 2024.

While the Awami League says that these cases are politically motivated, the fact is that the people have lost trust in the security apparatus of the country. It is the lack of trust in the security mechanism that has led to violence and mayhem daily.

If this is the situation now, then one could imagine what the case would be at the time of elections, as political parties tend to get extremely violent in a bid to control booths.

Due to the lack of trust, the army is unable to control the violence. Due to this, it is acting with caution, and this is no good for the law and order situation in the country. This is why it is important that those involved in crimes be brought to book in a bid to win over the faith of the people.

Adding to the complex situation is the fate of the Awami League and whether it will be able to contest the elections. The countryas Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said that the Awami League could contest the general elections unless the interim government or judiciary bans it from doing so.

There is a big question mark on the Awami League's contesting the general elections. Yunus is against the party, and so are the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the NCP. IF the Awami League is barred, then one could expect major violence as the party still has a considerable base across the country. Its strongholds are in the rural areas and among the minorities and women. Banning it from contesting could only cause more harm than good.

For a smooth election, the interim government has ensured that those who have committed criminal acts must be brought to justice. The army and other security apparatus must be held accountable for the faith of the people to be restored. A bar on the Awami League would mean a landslide victory for the BNP.

With such a majority on hand and having been out of power for such a long time, there would be no doubt that the party would run an autocratic regime.
(Bloomberg) -- Artificial intelligences imprint on US financial markets is unmistakable. Nvidia Corp. is the most valuable company in the world at nearly $4.5 trillion. Startups from OpenAI to Anthropic have raised tens of billions of dollars.

Most Read from Bloomberg

But theres a downside to the new technology that investors are increasingly taking note of: It threatens to upend industries much like the internet did before it. And investors have started placing bets on just where that disruption will occur next, ditching shares in companies some strategists expect will see falloffs in demand as AI applications become more widely adopted.

Among them are web-development firms like Wix.com Ltd., digital-image company Shutterstock Inc. and software maker Adobe Inc. The trio are part of a basket of 26 companies Bank of America strategists identified as most at risk from AI. The group has underperformed the S&P 500 Index by about 22 percentage points since mid-May after more or less keeping pace with the market since ChatGPTs debut in late 2022.

The disruption is real, said Daniel Newman, chief executive officer of the Futurum Group. We thought it would happen over five years. It seems like it is going to happen over two. Service-based businesses with a high headcount, those are going to be really vulnerable, even if they have robust businesses from the last era of tech.

So far, few companies have failed as a result of the proliferation of chatbots and so-called agents that can write software code, answer complex questions and produce photos and videos. But with tech giants like Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. pouring hundreds of billions into AI, investors have started to get more defensive.

Wix.com and Shutterstock are down at least 33% in 2025, compared with a 8.6% advance for the broad benchmark. Adobe has fallen 23% amid concerns clients will look to AI platforms that can generate images and videos, as Coca-Cola has already done with an AI-generated ad. ManpowerGroup Inc., whose staffing services could be hurt by rising automation, is down 30% this year, while peer Robert Half Inc. has shed more than half its value, dropping to its lowest in more than five years.

The souring sentiment among investors comes as AI is changing everything from the way people get information from the internet to how colleges function. Even companies at the vanguard of the technologys development like Microsoft have been slashing jobs as productivity improves and to make way for more AI investments. To many tech-industry watchers, the time is nearing when AI becomes so pervasive that companies start going out of business.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Hours after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed in Bengaluru on Saturday that the Indian Air Force's (IAF) S-400 air defence systems had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets during Operation Sindoor, senior defence expert Major General (Retd) P.K. Sehgal lauded the achievement, calling it a decisive blow to Pakistan's air power.

Sehgal said the Air Chief's statement was "absolutely correct," adding that the IAF's S-400 systems have a range of 300 kilometres and had effectively neutralised enemy aircraft during the operation.

"Five Pakistani aircraft were destroyed - a fact even US President Donald Trump mentioned in his speech, though he did not specify their nationality. Now, it is completely clear that these were Pakistani jets," he said.

According to Sehgal, Pakistan suffered "severe and irreplaceable" losses during Operation Sindoor. Several of its airbases were rendered inoperable, including the strategic Noor Khan Airbase. "Thirteen of their airbases were badly damaged. Even today, their air assets are in the ICU," he remarked.

Highlighting the operational excellence, Sehgal praised the political leadership for showing strong will, saying there were no "compulsions or restraints" on the armed forces. "The integration and jointness displayed were a dream come true. The role of the Chief of Defence Staff was extraordinary, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's contribution was extremely significant," he added.

He further stated that Pakistan failed in all its offensive attempts during the operation. "None of their drones or other aerial attacks succeeded. Not a single Rafale was shot down, and we did not lose any pilots," Sehgal noted.

Calling the outcome a "major victory" for India, Sehgal emphasised that the scale of Pakistan's losses has made recovery a daunting task for its military. "This was a huge setback for them, and its impact will be felt for years," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Political sparring intensified on Saturday over Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh's statement that India shot down five Pakistani fighter aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

While the Shiv Sena accused Congress of echoing Pakistan's narrative, the opposition party questioned the government's delayed disclosure and alleged inconsistencies in its account.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC launched a sharp attack on the Congress, saying the party had "essentially become the spokesperson for Pakistan" by rejecting the Indian government's version but accepting Islamabad's.

"The Army, Navy and Air Force have done extraordinary work to keep India safe. When you raise such serious questions without any solid evidence, your mentality becomes clear," she told IANS.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi's earlier remarks on Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, Shaina NC accused the Leader of Opposition of insulting not only the Prime Minister but also the armed forces.

"When the Air Force Chief says they shot down five Pakistani planes, it is a truth in the public domain. Until Rahul Gandhi accepts this, the people will neither accept nor respect him," she added.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, however, said his party fully trusted the armed forces but sought answers from the government.

"I have faith in the Indian Army and in the government. But today, tell me this, the Army says the incident took place on April 22, followed by Operation Sindoor. In all these days, why hasn't the government answered? Even when discussions took place in the House, were their mouth sealed shut?"

Bhagat also dismissed claims that Rahul Gandhi had questioned the Army's bravery, saying the Congress leader never did so.

He referred to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in Parliament that no Indian troops were killed, questioning why the government did not acknowledge the reported death of around 10 soldiers. "Were they not our troops? Did they not consider them martyrs?" he asked.
Baba Bakala : , Aug 9 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Saturday assured Punjabis that once they form a SAD government in Punjab it would return all land acquired by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to farmers on the same pattern in which it had returned land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal to the farmers in 2016.

Addressing a political conference on the occasion of Rakhar Punya here, Badal said: "We are very clear. We can sacrifice our life but will not allow even once inch of land to be forcibly acquired from the farmers. It is for this reason that we are launching the 'Jameen Bachao - Punjab Bachao Morcha' from September 1 which will witness an indefinite march every day from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib in Mohali to the nearby new 'Sheesh Mahal' where Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has taken up residence."

Badal said unlike the previous SAD governments which had always given adequate compensation for land acquisition for important projects, Kejriwal was intent on grabbing fertile farm land for peanuts and handing it over to builders from Delhi as part of a Rs 30,000 crore under hand deal.

He said farmers across 65,000 acres which is being acquired have already been facing problems with all registry and even change of land use processes being stopped.

Asserting that the Akali Dal always stood for safeguarding the rights of Punjabis, Badal said: "Once we form the government in 2027 we will ban outsiders from purchasing land in Punjab. We will also ensure that government jobs are given to Punjabis only and that all new companies recruit as much as 80 per cent Punjabi employees."

He also announced that the 'atta-daal' and Shagun schemes would be restarted and that old-age pension would be hiked. Asserting that it was a defamation campaign which had resulted in the Akali Dal loss in 2017, Badal said AAP and the Congress were together to defame the party.

"Now conclusive proof has emerged that AAP was behind the sacrilege incident in Malerkotla in 2016 with the conviction of its legislator in 2024. "If a thorough probe is launched into other cases of sacrilege it will be revealed that AAP was behind them also," Badal added.
Kozhikode, Aug 9 : Thamarassery Diocese Bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil on Saturday strongly condemned recent attacks on priests and nuns in the country.His remarks came in response to incidents in Odisha where clergy and nuns were assaulted and also about the incident that took place in Chhattisgarh early this month, when two nuns was jailed for eight days.

The two incidents at Chhattisgarh and in Jaleswar in Orissa has rocked the Christian community in Kerala.

"Attacks against Christian workers are continuing. When minorities in Pakistan were attacked, the Central government enacted a law granting citizenship to Hindus. Similarly, should minorities in India be forced to move to foreign countries?" he remarked.

He went on ask whether Christians should be compelled to migrate to Europe.

The Thrissur Diocese Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church, Yuhanon Mar Meletheos took pot shots on Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, who won a stunning victory at the Thrissur Lok Sabha polls. Taking to social media, he wrote: "We haven't seen an actor from Thrissur, whom we elected and sent to Delhi. Should we inform the police?"

Thrissur is home to a sizeable and influential Christian community which includes the presence of a good number of priests and nuns.

The ire by the Christian Bishops is on account of the stoic silence of Gopi even after two incidents that hogged the media headlines.

Incidentally, the anger came at a time when a Hindu organisation in Chhattisgarh has approached the state government with a petition to see that Christian missionaries are banned entry into tribal hamlets.

On Friday, Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) urged the Odisha government and the Centre to take decisive action against those who attacked Christian priests and nuns in Jaleswar on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Churches are likely to come out with a pastoral letter condemning these attacks and will be read out in between the Sunday mass.
Beijing, Aug 9 : China's Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood-control emergency response on Saturday for five provincial-level regions, as heavy to torrential rains are predicted to sweep across vast parts of the country in the coming days.

From August 9 to 11, intense rainfall is expected to batter Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Anhui, and Gansu, where the alert was already in place, with some areas facing extreme downpours.

The downpours may cause sharp water level rises in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, while some small and medium-sized rivers in high-risk areas could exceed warning levels, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry has urged local authorities to step up real-time monitoring of rainfall and river conditions, issue timely public alerts, and enhance urban waterlogging-prevention measures.

Special emphasis should be placed on mitigating risks in smaller rivers and ensuring early evacuations of residents in dangerous areas, according to the ministry.

On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out search and rescue efforts, as well as flood control and disaster relief work, after mountain torrents in northwest China's Gansu Province have left 10 people dead and 33 missing as of 3:30 pm.

Xi, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attached great importance to the situation of the disaster triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, which hit areas including Yuzhong County of Lanzhou, the provincial capital.

The immediate task was to search for and rescue the missing people by every possible means, relocate and resettle residents in danger, minimize casualties, and restore communication and transportation as soon as possible, Xi instructed.

He noted that given the recent frequent occurrence of extreme weather, local authorities and relevant departments must strengthen risk forecasting and early warning, identify and rectify hidden hazards, reinforce emergency response and on-call duty arrangements, and enhance flood control and disaster relief work with targeted measures so as to ensure people's safety during the flood season.

Noting that China is currently in a critical period of flood control, Li stressed the need to stay vigilant, fulfill duties, strengthen monitoring and early warnings of rain and flooding, and enhance disaster-prevention and response efforts.
Shillong, Aug 9 : In a midnight daring attempt, some Bangladeshi armed men reportedly attacked villagers after illegally entering Indian territory in Meghalaya's South West Khasi Hills district, officials said on Saturday.

A senior official of Meghalaya police said that during the intervening night of Friday, eight to nine armed Bangladesh nationals entered Rongdongai village and fired at the villagers and assaulted an Indian villager.

The Indian villager was stabbed after he detained a Bangladeshi national. All the Bangladeshi attackers were forced to flee the area after other villagers chased them.

However, before leaving the Indian territory, the Bangladeshi attackers left behind several items in haste, the official said, adding that Bangladesh police were suspected to be accompanying along with the attackers.

Police later recovered an ID of a Bangladesh police constable at the site of the incident along with several other items. The other items recovered from the bordering areas include handcuffs, magazine covers of arms, a pistol holster, radio sets, mobile phones, face masks, an axe, a wire cutter, some Bangladeshi currencies, and other objects. Rongdongai is a remote village located around 10 km from the Bangladesh border.

Meghalaya Police, along with the Border Security Force (BSF) troops, have been conducting a massive search along the India-Bangladesh frontiers. A BSF official said that four "miscreants" were arrested and their identities are being verified.

Large stretches of the 443 km India-Bangladesh border with Meghalaya remained unfenced due to various reasons, including difficult terrain, water bodies, forests, and mountains.

Police suspect that the Bangladesh intruders might have crossed through these porous areas by swimming water bodies or using underground culverts.

Meanwhile, on August 7, early morning, eight suspected Bangladeshi nationals entered a stone quarry at Bagli, also in the same South West Khasi Hills district.

Police immediately launched a search operation after receiving information, but the intruder managed to escape.

--IANS

sc/dan
Beijing, Aug 9 : Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for all-out efforts to search for people missing in mountain torrents in Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, when directing emergency response work at the disaster site.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, left for the county on Friday evening to guide on-site search and rescue and emergency response work. He visited the hardest-hit villages of Maliantan and Jiuzhuanggou, as well as a hospital and multiple temporary shelters for relocated residents.

At the on-site command centre, Zhang chaired a meeting on rescue and relief operations, stressing that the search for those who are missing remains the top priority and urging rescue workers to move as quickly as possible while taking precautions against secondary disasters, Xinhua news agency reported.

He stressed the need for meticulous care for the injured and compassion towards victims' families, directing authorities to ensure adequate living conditions for all relocated residents.

Repairs to damaged transportation, telecommunications and power infrastructure should be accelerated, he added.

Given recent, repeated extreme weather events, Zhang urged enhanced accuracy in rainfall forecasting, close monitoring of areas vulnerable to mountain torrents and geological hazards, and prompt relocation of at-risk residents.

The country's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Friday said that it has allocated 100 million yuan (about 14 million US dollars) from its central budget to assist Gansu.

The funds will focus on restoring damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water conservancy projects and public service facilities in affected areas, accelerating the return to normal production and daily life, the NDRC said.

China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Friday initiated a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest level in China's four-tier emergency response system, to the floods in Gansu.

Specialised personnel have been deployed to the affected areas to assist with local relief operations, with a particular focus on ensuring the basic livelihoods of impacted residents.
Dhaka, Aug 9 : Samina Lutfa, an Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology at the Dhaka University, on Saturday criticised the male-dominated decision-making process in Bangladesh, where men bargain over political participation of women, their roles, and seat allocations, quite "similar to a fish market".

Lutfa's observations came at a roundtable titled 'Women's seats in the National Parliament and women's political empowerment' organised by Bangladeshas leading daily Prothom Alo in Dhaka, on Saturday.

"When political parties go to the commission meetings and speak, the picture I see is that it is a whole boys' club. All the men are sitting around here, and they are sitting there deciding the fate of women. We were getting news that if you want 15, I can give you 10. Is this bargaining in a fish market? Men are sitting and deciding how women will enter politics. Nothing could be more ridiculous than this," Prothom Alo quoted Lutfa as saying.

"If we consider it from the perspective of human rights, the parties have failed to understand it. I think the political parties of Bangladesh have never made a bigger historical mistake than this. At the same time, they all took a terrible conservative position and they will have to pay the responsibility and the cost for it," she added.

The academcian further commented that no discussions were held on the report of the Women's Affairs Mission and its proposals during the second round of dialogue of the National Consensus Commission, terming it as an incredibly irresponsible act.

"The government gave the Women's Commission the responsibility to do this work and they did that work. Then, during the terrible attack that was launched on them, the government, by remaining completely silent, has proven that they are not really with women. They are with those people who want to stop the movement of women, the progress of women," the professor said.

Meanwhile, A M M Nasir Uddin, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Bangladesh, on Saturday said that the Election Commission (EC) is preparing to conduct the upcoming general election within a limited timeframe amid "several challenges".

He made the remarks while speaking at a views-exchange meeting on the national election at the Commission's Rangpur district regional office.

aRestoring public trust in the election system is now a major challenge. People have lost confidence in the system. Bringing them back to the polling centres will be a big task," Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted the CEC as saying.

"The election date will be disclosed two months before the schedule is announced," he added.

Earlier this week, several key political parties in Bangladesh voiced differences over the announcement made by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on the date for the general elections.

While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has welcomed the decision to hold the elections before Ramadan, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has raised doubts over conducting a fair and acceptable election.

Bangladesh has been gripped by uncertainty over the next general elections since the democratically elected government of Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was overthrown during violent protests last year.

The parties that collaborated with Yunus to remove Hasina are now at loggerheads over reform proposals and the timing of the next polls.
New Delhi, Aug 9 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Swaminathan Janakiraman on Saturday highlighted that true financial inclusion goes beyond expanding banking access, stressing the need to empower citizens through financial literacy.

Speaking at the Indian Bank-hosted 'Financial Inclusion Saturation' programme, Janakiraman said programmes like Re-KYC camps help people enhance their quality of life and support the nation's economic development in addition to making banking services more accessible.

Customers can update their Know Your Customer (KYC) information through the Re-KYC drive without physically visiting bank branches, which the RBI official said is especially helpful for underserved and rural communities.

Indian Bank, which hosted the camp, said the outreach focused on updating KYC for Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana account holders, while also promoting enrolment under two flagship social security schemes -- the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, a renewable term life insurance plan, and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, offering personal accident cover against death or disability.

Applauding the bank's efforts, Janakiraman said such proactive measures bring essential services closer to citizens, reducing the burden on customers and boosting participation in the formal financial system.

Indian Bank Managing Director and CEO, Binod Kumar, reaffirmed the lender's goal of "bringing banking to the doorstep of every citizen" and enabling broader participation in India's growth story.

More than 2,000 members of the local community participated in Tiruvallur's Financial Inclusion Saturation program, which received a positive response. A wide range of individuals, including farmers, self-help group members, students, and senior citizens, attended the event, demonstrating the initiative's broad appeal and pertinence.

Nearly 350 clients successfully finished their Re-KYC updates during the event, removing the need for them to visit bank branches and highlighting the camp's contribution to improving accessibility and convenience.
Chennai, Aug 9 : Nearly three years after an application was filed, Salem's celebrated silver anklets are still waiting for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The delay, according to industry representatives, stems from the lack of documentary proof required to establish the craft's antiquity and distinctiveness -- even though Salem is one of the country's largest hubs for silver anklet production.

The trade has been part of the city's cultural fabric for generations, but most units are small-scale, family-run operations led by artisans without formal education or record-keeping practices.

"Our business has never been formally documented," said C. Sri Anandarajan, president of the Salem District Kolusu Manufacturers Kaivinai Sangam.

"The GI registry needs evidence that the craft has existed in the same geography for at least 25 years, and producing that proof has been our biggest obstacle."

Unlike gold jewellery, which carries the BIS 916 hallmark, silver jewellery in India lacks a uniform quality standard.

A GI tag, manufacturers believe, would not only enforce such standardisation but also enhance the reputation of Salem's silver anklets globally. Markets in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam are seen as having strong potential for direct exports.

"At present, our anklets are sent to other states before being exported, and in the process, they lose their identity," Anandarajan explained.

"With a GI tag, Salem anklets could carry their name abroad and meet consistent quality benchmarks."

The absence of formal recognition has also affected the industry's future workforce. Many senior craftsmen fear they may be the last generation in this profession, as younger artisans opt for daily wage jobs in painting, construction, or petrol stations, seeking more stable incomes.

The industry remains a vital source of employment in Salem, with nearly 10,000 units supporting about 1.15 lakh people -- 78 per cent men and 22 per cent women.

Production is decentralised, with specific stages handled by specialised groups across different neighbourhoods.

Over 15 types of silver anklets are made in Salem, including the distinctive 'Thalakkolusu', crafted for infants.

This design expands as the child grows, allowing it to be worn for up to four years. Until the GI tag is granted, however, this centuries-old craft continues to fight for its rightful place on both the national and international stage.
Bitcoin is close to revisiting last weeks highs after U.S. President Donald Trumps pro-crypto announcements on Thursday.

Up 3% from this weeks open, Bitcoin is trading close to $117,000, CoinGecko data shows.

The spurt in buying pressure follows Trumps executive orders to include crypto in 401(K)s and prohibit the debanking of crypto-related initiatives.

The top crypto jumped 2.3% from Thursdays open to set a daily high of $117,580, causing nearly $300 million in short positions to be forced closed or liquidated, marking a three-week high.

While its very positive news for the industry and investors, we dont anticipate this action alone having an outsized impact on near-term prices, Gerry OShea, head of global market insights at Hashdex, told Decrypt.

Still, it marks a point of difference for Bitcoin bulls, whose $275 million, on average, in longs faced forced daily closures for the past three weeks, mainly due to the assets choppy and gradual price decline.

Bitcoin ETFs Pull In $91.6M, Snapping Four-Day Outflow Streak

Open interest in Bitcoin futures, which measures the total number of outstanding contracts not yet settled, surged from about $9.71 billion to more than $10 billion in the hours after Trumps announcement, before quickly retreating to pre-news levels, CoinGlass data shows.

The pullback, alongside a still-elevated cumulative volume delta, or a measure of the gap between market buys and sells, suggests rapid profit-taking even as buyers attempt to sustain the rally.

But even as pressure on the bulls in the short term remains, OShea acknowledged Thursdays developments from the White House are collectively legitimizing crypto in the eyes of investors, setting up those who invest in them for strong performance over the next 12 months.

That could drive the price of Bitcoin to $140,000 or higher this year, he said.
Thrissur, Aug 9 : Thrissur District Congress Committee (DCC) president Joseph Taget has leveled serious allegations against the BJP, accusing the party of manipulating the voter list in Thrissur just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to the media, Taget alleged that 11 votes were added under the name "Bharath Heritage" at the Nettissery residence where the current BJP MP and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi previously stayed.

These votes allegedly included those of Suresh Gopi, his wife, children, and other relatives, despite none of them residing there at the time.

"The property is now owned by a Mumbai-based individual, and no one from Suresh Gopi's family lives there. They came only during elections to include their names in the voter list and cast votes," said the Congress leader.

According to Taget, similar voter additions occurred in the final stages of the revision process, with as many as 45 votes in certain polling stations being suspect.

He further alleged that the BJP added numerous voters from other constituencies and districts into various booths across Thrissur, bypassing the proper Form 6 procedure.

Many of these newly added voters were reportedly aged between 45 and 70.

He also cited earlier complaints filed with the then District Collector and Returning Officer, Krishna Teja, questioning whether they were forwarded to higher authorities.

"We have proof that complaints were filed in March and April 2024. The Chief Electoral Officer's claim that no complaints were received is false," he added.

Taget criticised the Election Commission for failing to investigate and for blocking access to the official voter list site, making verification impossible.

He alleged that rules for adding voters were relaxed, enabling ineligible persons to be enrolled, with voters from Alathur and Thrippunithura constituencies added to Thrissur rolls.

Calling for an independent probe into the matter, the DCC chief warned against personal attacks on complainants, saying such behaviour undermines democracy.

"The irregularities in Thrissur's voter list were deliberate attempts to subvert the election," added Taget.
Dhaka, Aug 9 : Flagship Chinese projects in Sri Lanka - such as the Colombo Port City and Sinopec's $3.7 billion Hambantota oil refinery - are now entangled in complications the government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is struggling to resolve, a report highlighted on Saturday.

Dhaka, Aug 9 (IANS) Flagship Chinese projects in Sri Lanka a" such as the Colombo Port City and Sinopec's $3.7 billion Hambantota oil refinery a" are now entangled in complications the government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is struggling to resolve, a report highlighted on Saturday.

While both sides had lined up multiple ventures, recent issues, including regulatory concerns, have cast doubt on the long-term sustainability of Chinese investments, the report in Daily Sun, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh, detailed.

"In late July 2025, Sri Lanka Customs detained nearly China's 1,000 BYD electric vehicles a" mainly the ATTO 3 modela"across six consignments. The seizure was due to discrepancies in the declared motor capacity, which directly impacted excise duty calculations," wrote Sulochana Ramiah Mohan, an award-winning journalist and the Deputy Editor of Ceylon Today - a Sri Lanka-based English daily.

During Dissanayake's four-day State Visit to China in January this year, a total of 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, covering areas like economic and technical cooperation, agriculture, tourism and media with the most significant agreement being the formalisation of the Sinopec oil refinery project in Hambantota.

According to the report, a major setback to the long-anticipated $3.7 billion Sinopec refinery a" a project under negotiation for nearly five years - was the company requesting for an additional 100 acres of land beyond the agreed terms.

"While the original 20 per cent of the refinery's output was to be allocated to the domestic market, with the remainder for export, Sinopec requested that 100 per cent of the refined output be retained for Sri Lankan consumption. This revision has prompted the government to reassess the agreement and even suggested that they may call for a new tender," wrote Mohan.

Such a change, the report mentioned, would disrupt longstanding oil supply arrangements, placing the Lankan government in a difficult position.

The report highlighted that Sri Lanka's Power and Energy Secretary has publicly stated that the government cannot alter the MoU terms or bypass the tender process, even hinting that the agreement might be annulled entirely.

Other projects under China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are also facing pressure.

"Historically, Sri Lanka has been a major BRI participant. Key projects such as the Hambantota Port, Southern and Central Expressways, and the Colombo Port City were all implemented with Chinese financial and technical backing. However, the Hambantota Porta"leased to China Merchants Port Holdings on a 99-year agreement after Sri Lanka failed to service its debt a" has become a global talking point on the risks of 'debt-trap diplomacy'," the report stated.

The report spotlighted how Bangladesh, which joined the BRI in 2016, is reassessing its investment strategy and the Maldives, which had formally entered the BRI in 2014, is at high risk of debt distress with approximately $1.3a"1.4 billion of its public debt a" roughly 40 per cent of the total a" is owed to China.

Due to rising strategic concerns heightened by Sri Lanka's experience with Chinese-backed debt, no major BRI project has been completed in Nepal this year.

"China must remain a cooperative and responsible partner, avoiding demands that could place undue strain on the economies of its regional allies. By focusing on win-win outcomes and respecting domestic constraints, China can maintain its role as a key development partner without destabilising the nations it aims to support," Mohan wrote in the Daily Sun.
Tokyo, Aug 9 : Japan and India are breaking through decades of constraints and traditional defence partnerships to forge an "unprecedented high-technology military collaboration", Tokyo-based Japan Forward Association emphasised this week in a detailed report.

"The Indo-Pacific region is at a critical juncture where technological superiority increasingly determines strategic outcomes. Against this backdrop, Japan and India are breaking through decades of constraints and traditional defence partnerships to forge an unprecedented high-technology military collaboration," wrote Pema Gyalpo, a visiting professor at the Takushoku University Centre for Indo-Pacific Strategic Studies.

"This evolving relationship transcends conventional arms trade. It represents a fundamental reimagining of how two major democracies can jointly develop, produce, and deploy cutting-edge defence systems that will shape regional security architectures for generations," Gyalpo added in a report titled 'Japan, India Security Cooperation Rises Across the Board'.

India and Japan share a long-term friendship, which has further gained qualitative momentum after the elevation of this collaboration to Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.

Defence exchanges between India and Japan have gained strength in recent years due to the growing convergence on strategic matters. Its significance is increasing from the common outlook on issues of peace, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region.

A Memorandum of Implementation was signed at the Embassy of India, Tokyo on November 15, 2024 between India and Japan, for co-development of Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) mast for fitment onboard ships of the Indian Navy.

The MOI was signed and exchanged between the Ambassador of India to Japan, Sibi George and Ishikawa Takeshi, Commissioner of Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) under Japan MoD in a ceremony at Tokyo.

The Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) is a mast with Integrated Communication systems which will help improve the stealth characteristics of Naval platforms.

The Indian Navy is pursuing the induction of these advanced systems which will be co-developed by Bharat Electronics Limited in India with Japanese collaboration.

When implemented, this would be the first case of co-development of defence equipment between India and Japan.

"The significance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated. Japan's decision to share this advanced stealth technology, currently deployed on its cutting-edge Mogami-class frigates, positions India as only the second Asian nation, after the Philippines, to receive such high-grade defense equipment from Tokyo. This selective technology transfer underscores the strategic trust between the two nations. Moreover, it demonstrates Japan's recognition of India as a critical partner in maintaining Indo-Pacific stability," the Japan Forward report highlighted.

Both countries have reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation, having agreed for enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector.

"Beyond radar systems, the potential for collaboration extends through the entire spectrum of advanced military technologies. Japan's expertise in submarine technology presents immense opportunities. The Soryu-class submarines, featuring revolutionary lithium-ion battery propulsion systems, are the pinnacle of conventional submarine technology. These 4,200-tonne vessels offer unmatched stealth and endurance capabilities, surpassing both the French Scorpene submarines currently being built in India and the German Type 214," the report detailed.

It emphasised that Japan possesses advanced technologies and manufacturing precision while India offers a large market, growing technological capabilities, and strategic depth in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

"The Japan-India high tech defense partnership embodies a vision for an indigenous Indo-Pacific security architecture built on shared democratic values and mutual strategic interests. This partnership offers both nations a pathway to advanced capabilities while maintaining strategic autonomy. The UNICORN masts agreement may be just the beginning, but it signals a transformation that could redefine regional security dynamics for decades to come," believes Gyalpo.
Kolkata, Aug 9 : The son of a Trinamool Congress leader and head of a village panchayat has been killed in a shootout in broad daylight. The incident happened in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal on Saturday.

The deceased youth has been identified as Amar Roy, son of the head of the local Dawaguri village panchayat, Kuntala Roy. The deceased youth himself was an active member of the youth wing of Trinamool Congress in the area.

According to statements given by eyewitnesses to the police, the deceased youth, along with one of his associates, came to a weekly market in the area. There, the two quarreled with another group of youth who arrived at the market riding motorcycles.

"Suddenly, one of those youths who came in motorcycles brought out a firearm and shot at the deceased youth from point-blank range," an eyewitness told media persons.

Being shot in the head, the deceased youth fell. He was rushed to a local hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, the other group of youths, including the killer, immediately vanished from the scene on their motorcycles.

The Cooch Behar district police superintendent, Dyutiman Bhattacharya, informed the media persons that the group of youths arrived at the marketplace on two motorcycles.

"Investigation in the matter is on," he added.

However, it is yet to be clear whether any personal rivalry was the reason behind the murder or any political enmity prompted the crime.

Cooch Behar was in the news early this week over an attack on the convoy of the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists and supporters.

A complaint was registered in the matter against 41 individuals, including the local Trinamool Congress leader and the West Bengal minister in charge of the North Bengal Development department, Udayan Guha.

Adhikari claimed that he could have been killed in the attack unless the car in which he was travelling was a bulletproof one.
Dhaka, Aug 9 : For Bangladesh, a nation where over 160 million people depend on the Brahmaputra - known locally as the Jamuna - the consequences of China building a colossal $170 billion hydropower dam in Tibet could be catastrophic, a report cited on Saturday.

"It represents more than just an engineering marvel a" it stands as a stark indictment of Bangladeshas misplaced diplomatic priorities and naive trust in Beijing. As this mega-dam threatens to devastate Bangladeshas water security, economy, and environment, Dhakaas leadership must confront an uncomfortable truth: their extensive courting of China has blinded them to the very real dangers of hydro-hegemony," a Northeast News report detailed.

It mentioned that the most damaging is the Chinese dam's impact on sediment flow as the nutrient-rich sediments carried by the Brahmaputra are essential for maintaining soil fertility across Bangladesh's delta region.

By blocking these sediments, the report stated, Chinaas dam threatens to undermine the "very foundation" of Bangladeshas agricultural productivity, potentially reducing rice yields by millions of tons annually.

It detailed further that Bangladesh's leaders "would be wise to examine" Chinaas behaviour on other transboundary rivers, particularly the Mekong, where Beijingas upstream dams have caused immense suffering for downstream nations, including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

"The lack of transparency surrounding the Brahmaputra project mirrors China's secretive approach on the Mekong. Despite repeated requests from Bangladesh for detailed environmental impact assessments and hydrological data, Beijing has provided minimal information, citing 'sovereignty' over its dam construction in Tibet. This opacity reflects a broader Chinese strategy of fait accomplia"build first, negotiate later, if at all," the report highlighted.

Bangladesh, it said, must fundamentally "recalibrate its foreign policy" to address the China challenge by taking several concrete steps.

"Bangladesh should immediately demand that China halt dam construction until comprehensive environmental impact assessments are completed and shared with downstream nations. China's claims that the dam will have 'no negative impact' ring hollow, given Beijingas refusal to provide detailed studies. Bangladesh should make clear that proceeding without proper consultation constitutes an unfriendly act incompatible with the bilateral partnership China claims to value," it cited.

The report mentioned further that Dhaka should work with India to establish a trilateral water-sharing framework that includes China.

"Rather than accepting Chinese unilateralism, Bangladesh and India should present Beijing with joint demands for transparent water management. The combined diplomatic weight of the two largest downstream nations could compel Chinese engagement in ways that isolated bilateral protests cannot achieve," the Northeast News report emphasised.

It also suggested that Bangladesh should accelerate economic and security cooperation with India to reduce Chinese leverage.

"This includes fast-tracking the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations, expanding connectivity projects, and deepening defence ties. Greater integration with India's $3.7 trillion economy provides Bangladesh with alternatives to Chinese financing and markets."
Bhopal, Aug 9 : What began as a festive Raksha Bandhan visit ended in heartbreak for families in Neemuch and Mandla districts of Madhya Pradesh, as two devastating road accidents claimed seven lives and left five others critically injured.

In Neemuch, a collision occurred around 4 PM on Saturday between Dekan and Ramnagar villages along the Neemuch-Singoli roada"a stretch increasingly notorious for high-speed traffic and lax enforcement.

According to preliminary police reports, a speeding car rammed into a motorcycle carrying five members of the Banjara family. Rooplal Banjara, who had gone to pick up his sister Mamta Banjara for Raksha Bandhan celebrations, was returning to his village Sutholi with his son Udaylal, sister Mamta, niece, and nephew Kanhaa"all riding on a single bike. The impact of the crash was so severe that Rooplal and young Kanha died on the spot.

Eyewitnesses alerted emergency services, and an ambulance rushed all victims to Neemuch District Hospital. Doctors declared Rooplal and Kanha dead upon arrival, while Mamta, her daughter, and Udaylal remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive care.

The bodies of the deceased have been placed in the hospitalas mortuary for post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the occupants of the car reportedly fled the scene, prompting a police investigation into possible charges of reckless driving and culpable homicide. In a separate incident in Mandla district, a fatal head-on collision between two motorcycles occurred around 4:30 PM near Jargi village, under the jurisdiction of Maharajpura police station.

According to police, Rajendra Kushram (38) of Rajarwara village was riding a motorcycle with his wife Shakun (32), and sons Sohel (10) and Ravindra (7), en route to Semikol for Raksha Bandhan celebration. They collided with another motorcycle coming from the opposite direction, ridden by Shivprasad Maravi (27) and Vivek Kakodia (32).

Rajendra, Sohel, Ravindra, and Shivprasad Maravi died in the accident, while Shakun and Vivek sustained severe injuries and are under medical care, police officials said.

Shakun remains unconscious, and Vivek has suffered serious facial trauma. Local residents have expressed outrage over the recurring accidents on the Neemuch-Singoli stretch and other rural roads, which have seen multiple fatalities in recent months.

Police officials have assured that all anglesa"including vehicle registration, eyewitness accounts, and road safety lapsesa"are being thoroughly investigated.

These twin tragedies underscore the urgent need for stricter traffic regulation, improved road infrastructure, and public awarenessa"especially during festive seasons when travel surges.

For the bereaved families, Rakshabandhan will now be remembered not for celebration, but for irreparable loss.
Guwahati, Aug 9 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday launched a sharp attack on opposition leaders over the state's ongoing eviction drives and action against illegal encroachment.

Taking aim at Congress MP and state party president Gaurav Gogoi, Sarma accused the Congress of attempting to "give illegal immigrants an identity" in Assam.

"If the Congress party and its state president have immense love for non-Assamese people, they can give them space at their homes and even send illegal immigrants to Rahul Gandhi's bungalow in Delhi. I don't have any space for illegal immigrants in Assam," Sarma said.

Reaffirming his government's stance, the Chief Minister added, "The Assamese people have been fighting for their land rights, and I am determined to give our citizens their deserving civil liberties."

Sarma also hit back at Assam Jatiya Parishad leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who has criticised the evictions.

"Since the Assam agitation, no Chief Minister has been able to free lands from the encroachment of illegal settlers. During my tenure, we have already recovered 1,29,000 bighas of land from encroachers, and we will continue this across the state," Sarma asserted.

He further clarified that none of the reclaimed land, whether in Gorukhuti or elsewhere, had been handed over to industrialists like Adani or Ambani. "Leaders like Lurinjyoti Gogoi must stop making false allegations and get their facts checked," he said.

Earlier in the day, Gaurav Gogoi had criticised the state government's handling of the ongoing 'Miya' campaign, accusing Sarma of ignoring the real concerns of indigenous communities while politicising the issue of illegal migration.

Gogoi questioned the absence of official data on arrests under the campaign, suggesting a political agenda behind the drive.

"If the district administration cannot fulfil its responsibilities, the Chief Minister should take accountability and resign," he said, while warning against harassment of Indian citizens under the guise of targeting illegal migrants.

--IANS

tdr/dan
Bhopal/Ratlam, Aug 9 : The festive spirit of Raksha Bandhan was marred by a series of injuries caused by banned Chinese manjha - a glass powder-coated synthetic kite string - on Saturday, leaving four people wounded in three separate incidents along Jawara Road.

Bhopal/Ratlam, Aug 9 (IANS) The festive spirit of Raksha Bandhan was marred by a series of injuries caused by banned Chinese manjha  a glass powder-coated synthetic kite string  on Saturday, leaving four people wounded in three separate incidents along Jawara Road.

The most serious incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. near Ghatala Bridge, where 18-year-old Sameer Khan, son of Shakoor Khan and a resident of Bapunagar, was riding his motorcycle into the city for shopping.

A stray kite string became entangled around his neck, slicing deeply into his throat and causing profuse bleeding. Sameer Khan, who happened to be passing by, intervened by biting through the string and helping rush the youth to the district hospital with the aid of bystanders.

Doctors performed emergency surgery to repair his windpipe, and his condition remains critical. According to attending physicians, "an immediate surgical procedure could save his life."

Earlier that afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., another couple was injured near the same bridge. Anand Gosar (25), a resident of Subhash Nagar, was en route to his in-laws' home in Nahargarh with his wife Muskan when a kite string struck his neck, police officials said.

While attempting to remove it, Anand suffered deep lacerations to his fingers, and Muskan sustained injuries to her hand.

Due to trauma to his throat, Anand is currently unable to speak properly. In another incident, according to police sources, a young man identified as Jitendra (22), a resident of Bangrod in Ratlam district, also sustained severe injuries to his throat and is undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

Despite a formal ban on Chinese manjha by the National Green Tribunal and local administrations, its sale continues unabated during kite-flying festivals such as Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day, the police said.

"The District Collector of Ratlam has issued prohibitory orders against the sale and use of Chinese thread used in kite flying, to curb its circulation due to repeated injuries and environmental hazards," read a government statement.

The sharp synthetic thread, outlawed for its lethal potential, once again proved its menace as it slashed throats and hands, prompting emergency medical intervention and renewed administrative action. Often coated with powdered glass or metal, the synthetic thread is prized for its strength in kite duels but has caused numerous fatalities and injuries across India.

Following Saturday's incidents, the Ratlam district administration has launched a crackdown on sellers. Raids are underway in multiple localities to seize banned reels and penalise vendors. Officials have reiterated that the use, sale, and storage of Chinese manjha is a punishable offence under environmental and public safety laws.
Imphal/Agartala, Aug 9 : BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on Saturday urged all indigenous people of the Northeast to remain united to resolve their demands, ethnic crisis and issues.

Debbarma, who is on a visit to Manipur's capital Imphal to attend an event organised in connection with the World Indigenous Day, said that the government of India has done a lot, but they need to do more.

"The national parties should not do politics with the emotions of the indigenous people," he told the media.

He also stressed the unity between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur, and said that the ongoing crisis in the state must be resolved by its own people.

Leaders and people of the Northeastern region better understand the problem of the region than the people in Delhi.

"We have to impress the leaders in Delhi about the issues and problems of the people of Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram or Sikkim. We have a limited number of Lok Sabha seats; we must be united," he said.

The TMP chief said that leaders in Delhi are more concerned about what is happening in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and other bigger states.

Demanding immediate deportation of the illegal migrants, the tribal leader said that if the US deport Indians with handcuffs, why is the Indian government not taking similar actions against the illegal infiltrators staying in India?

Meanwhile, the TMP has been agitating against the illegal infiltration into Tripura and demanded to deport all illegal migrants be deported to their countries.

A delegation of TMP led by Debbarma met the Election Commission of India in New Delhi and demanded to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Tripura be conducted, similar to the procedure being adopted in Bihar.

TMP supremo Debbarma on Friday held a meeting with former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in Imphal and discussed various issues, including illegal immigration.

A senior BJP leader in Imphal said that several former ministers and leaders accompanied Biren Singh when he discussed several issues with the TMP chief at the former's residence.

"Both Biren Singh and Debbarma discussed the illegal infiltration issues along with the developmental aspects of the northeastern region. They also discussed socio-economic matters of the indigenous tribals," the BJP leader said, refusing to be quoted.

--IANS

sc/dan
Kirsten Miller believes there are witches among us. Not the witches that ride around on broomsticks and wear pointy hats but those of a more human variety: women who give off what she calls powerful witchy vibesthe kind of women Miller likes to write about.

You can just feel a witch, Miller says over Zoom from her apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, which she shares with her 16-year-old daughter and polydactyl cat. Its not someone who casts spells; its someone with an innate sense of power. Im a big believer in energy. I feel that when youre in the presence of someone who has power that comes from the soul, rather than from money or anything else, you know it.

Millers books abound with witch-women who are agents of positive change in the worldand who sometimes engage in vigilante justice. If Marvel can create a world filled with superheroes, she says, I can create a universe filled with middle-aged witches who go out and kick bad-guy ass.

She sets her novels in worlds that are often off-kilter and magical, yet familiar, where strong female characters carry the day. Shes written a number of YA books, including the Kiki Strike series and the Nightmares! series, which she cowrote with actor Jason Segel, as well as two adult novels: The Change, a Good Morning America Book Club pick about women who develop mystical powers when they hit menopause, and Lula Deans Little Library of Banned Books, a satire about censorship. Millers adult novels have sold approximately 200,000 copies to date, according to her publisher, William Morrow, and her works have been translated into 24 languages.

The authors third adult novel, The Women of Wild Hill, out in October, is a multigenerational story about a family of witches, the Duncans, who use their powers to fight against the patriarchy and rid the planet of evilone crooked politician and billionaire at a time. I love this idea of a family who understand that theres something special in the blood that flows through their veins, Miller says. She hopes her book will inspire women to feel their own power. We are the most powerful generation of women in the history of the world. Its mind-boggling, over the past 100 years weve gone from a group of people who didnt have many rights, who werent able to own property or support ourselves, or have rights over our reproductive systems, to becoming more financially, politically, and culturally important than any women whove ever lived. I dont think a lot of us even recognize how powerful weve become.

Raised in Sylva, N.C., in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Miller attended a school on a Cherokee reservation, where her father was a teacher, until she was in the third grade. I was always a strange kid, she says. Always interested in the paranormal.

When she was young, her parents bought a house they later learned might be haunted, and Miller says she saw the ghost of the previous owner in her bedroom. There was a man standing next to my bureau, she remembers. I can see him to this day. Shes been open to all things otherworldly ever since. Ive always been fascinated by what we in our culture consider this dichotomy between science and magic. To me, magic is science that we dont understand yet.

Growing up, Miller knew she didnt belong in Sylva. Living in a small Southern town is like living in a fish bowl, she says. She moved to New York City as a teen, earned a degree in literature from Barnard College in 1994, and worked in advertising for 20-plus years while writing YA books before releasing The Change, which tackles ageism and sexism.

In 2021, while finishing The Changewhich is currently in development as a TV seriesMiller bought a house in the Hudson Valley, but it burned down less than a year after she and her daughter moved in, the result of an electrical fire. It was absolutely a sign! Miller says. She promptly moved back to the city, and has no plans to leave ever again. New York City has always been my muse. Its the greatest love of my life.

Suzanne Gluck, Millers agent at WME, has been with Miller for 20 years and has watched the authors career bloom. Kirsten is a warrior, Gluck says. When she came to me, with her first Kiki Strike book, I felt like Caleb Carr had been resurrected as a young woman.

The Women of Wild Hill is all about celebrating female power. It revolves around three members of the Duncan familyestranged sisters Brigid and Phoebe, who possess magical abilities (one can see how people will die, the other communicates with animals), and Phoebes daughter, Sibyland is set at Wild Hill, a property thats been in their family for generations, located in Mattauk, on Long Island. The women are summoned to Wild Hill by the Old One, a goddess-like entity whos displeased with how the planet is being treated by those in power and who wants the Duncans to set things right by any means necessary. Mattauk, it turns out, is a playground for the wealthy and influentialand the perfect place to pick off misogynistic politicians, billionaires, technocrats, and public relations fixers who cover up crimes. The Duncans must figure out how to tap into their abilities to take down the worlds nefarious forces and fulfill their destinies.

Rachel Kahan, Millers editor, highlights the authors ability to examine our culture in unexpected ways. Kirstens superpower, Kahan says, is that she can look at the crazy things that are happening in society and write novels that offer stark social commentary, but that are also wildly entertaining.

Miller describes herself as incredibly impatient. I can barely sit still long enough to get my hair done, she says. Im always desperate to get started with a book. Shes already writing her next, which will tackle the manosphere and trad-wife culture. Her bedroom wall is covered in note cards and sticky notes, which shes using to plot out the storyone she hopes will resonate with readers. One of my goals as a writer is to shake women like me awake and tell them, look at your life, look how powerful you are, go out and do something with that.

Like some of the magical characters in her novels, Miller has a green thumb (its among her witchy powers, she remarks) and a deep connection to nature. When she needs a break from writing, she heads to Prospect Park, where she works as a volunteer, tearing out harmful, invasive weeds. Its a metaphor for what she does in her fiction. Its wish fulfillment for me, to take on the bad guys that I feel need to be taken on and dispatch them in horrible ways, she says. Its cathartic. I have a good time.

Elaine Szewczyks writing has appeared in McSweeneys and other publications. Shes the author of the novel Im with Stupid.
Trump signs executive order to stop banks from cutting off crypto originally appeared on TheStreet.

On Aug. 7, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at what the administration characterizes as the ideological "debanking" of crypto individuals and organizations from U.S. banks.

The order explicitly instructs federal banking regulators to eliminate reputational risk as a basis for scrutinizing or severing relationships with customers. The White House argued that this vague term  often used by the Federal Reserve and FDIC  has been weaponized to cut off crypto firms from the U.S. financial system.

The digital assets industry has also been the target of unfair debanking initiatives, the White House said in a fact sheet. These practices erode public trust in banking institutions and regulators, harm livelihoods, freeze payrolls, and impose significant financial burdens on law-abiding Americans.

Related: What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency explained

Trumps move directly targets what the crypto industry has long described as Operation Choke Point 2.0  a term popularized by Castle Island Ventures co-founder Nic Carter in 2023 to describe an alleged backdoor campaign by regulators to isolate crypto businesses from the banking sector. The original Operation Choke Point was a 2013 DOJ initiative that pressured banks to de-risk from entire industries like payday lenders and firearm dealers.

Join the discussion with CryptoWendyO on Roundtable here.

Banks cant blacklist crypto

The executive order mandates that federal agencies such as the Federal Reserve, OCC, and FDIC remove reputational risk considerations from their internal guidelines and training materials. The Fed previously defined reputational risk as the potential that negative publicity regarding an institutions business practices will cause a decline in the customer base.

Crypto advocates say that definition allowed regulators to subtly discourage banks from servicing crypto firms without having to admit bias.

The order further directs regulators to audit prior debanking incidents and provide a report detailing whether any financial institution denied services unlawfully based on ideology. Those found guilty could face sanctions, including fines and restitution.

Gemini-JPMorgan dispute intensified pressure

The executive order comes weeks after a public clash between crypto exchange Gemini and JPMorgan, where the bank refused to onboard the exchange. Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss accused JPMorgan of carrying out a modern-day Operation Choke Point, aimed at suffocating fintech innovation.
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The Camino de Santiagoa network of hiking routes through France, Portugal, and Spain that converge on the shrine of St. James the Apostle in the Galician capital, Santiago de Compostelahas beckoned the Catholic faithful for more than 1,000 years. The trails are expected to host a record number of travelers in 2025, according to the pilgrim reception office in Santiago, with U.S. visitor stats second only to those of Spain.

John Brierleys independently published Camino Guides series, distributed by Baker & Taylor Publisher Services and billed as practical and mystical manuals, have been a mainstay among pilgrims for more than two decades; November sees the release of two updated editions. In recent years, as the route has attracted increasing numbers of secular travelers, mainstream guidebook publishers have begun to walk the walk.

Weve moved from mass tourism to experiential tourism to transformative tourism, says Lonely Planet publisher Piers Pickard. LPs Journey El Camino de Santiago (Sept.) is functional, with maps, lists, and mile-by-mile itineraries, and also personal, Pickard explains; essays include Josh Wests on the communal aspects of the trek and Anna Kaminskis on walking solo while grieving a friend. People invest so much in this experience, and not only financially. We want to help them come out of this journey changed.

Daniel Stables, one of three writers who contributed to DK Travels Walking the Camino de Santiago (Sept.), is not religious but is drawn to pilgrimage routes. Walking the Camino, you get those feelings of awe and personal development and physical accomplishment, whether you believe or dont believe, he says. Youre participating in something that millions of people have participated in before. The guide is highly visual, with DKs characteristic mix of photography, maps, and colorful infographics.

Moon Travel, an early convert, published Camino de Santiago in 2019. The guide, whose third edition is due out in February, offers historical context alongside the expected practicalities, says author Beebe Bahrami, an anthropologist and memoirist. There are layers of pre-Christian history that exist in these geographies that laid the track for what would later become a natural corridor for people in the Middle Ages to walk, she says. It was Roman roads. Before that it was Iron Age roads. And before that it was the migratory routes of animals and nomadic people.

Bahrami is mindful of overtourism, and advocates for cultural respect and environmental sustainability throughout her guide. But, as a student of history, she notes, We have documentation by an ambassador from the royal court in Morocco who, in the Middle Ages, wrote, The Camino is so crowded I can barely pass with my horse. Thats like some passages today. You know what? The Camino has seen this before and it survived.
CNN, August 8, 2025

Afghanistan is seeing its sharpest-ever surge of child malnutrition, the World Food Programme 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 US President Donald Trump cut off food aid to Afghanistan, one of the worlds poorest countries.

The US had been the largest funder of the WFP, providing $4.5 billion of the $9.8 billion in donations last year. Previous US 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.

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.
While it seems impossible for Hamas terror to worsen, it has. Having unleashed a genocidal terrorist attack on Israel two years ago, and still holding Israeli hostages, Hamas is now doing the same to Gaza. For Hamas, death has gone from being its perverted means to being its only end. Yet grotesque as Hamas terror has become, civilized nations are pushing to implicitly validate it.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas perpetrated an unquestionably genocidal attack on Israel, killing every Jewman, woman, or childit could; it committed atrocities; it took hostages; approaching two years later, it still holds those hostages.

Israel responded as would any nation whose citizens had been so attacked. In WWII, the Alliessuch as Britain, France, and Canadademanded nothing less than unconditional surrender and held trials for Axis war criminals. Israel is justified to demand nothing less from Hamas.

Over the almost two years, Hamas has not slackened its zeal for killing Israelis; only its means for doing so have been diminished. It still embeds its terrorists among civilians; it still fires rockets indiscriminately into civilian populationsboth Israels (intentionally, as it has long done) and Gazas (presumably unintentionally); when it releases hostages, it only does so on terms heavily favorable to it; it steadfastly refuses to release all the hostages it holds.

For nearly two years, Hamas has shown an utter disregard for human life. Now, its terror has expanded to include the Gazan people on a mass scale. Not that Hamas has not already caused enough carnage in Gaza. Roughly 60,000 have died in the war that Hamas brought on Gaza; Hamas is also careful to never divulge how much of that number is due to its own rockets or embedding among the civilian populations. Hamas has deliberately killed and tortured Gazans who oppose its leadership.

Dramatically higher Gazan casualties now loom. Starvations specter stretches over Gaza as Hamas is accused of stealing aid to the civilian population to resell on the black market.

Of course, Hamas could stop the threat of starvation at a moments notice by simply releasing all remaining hostages and surrenderingsomething it could have done at any point over the last two years. That it would still refuse to do so, even with the threat of starvation looming in Gaza, is no surprise. Such disregard for human life has always been at the heart of Hamas methods.

Dating back to the second intifada, during which Hamas emerged, suicide bombings were a prominent element, the most deadly being Hamas 2002 killing of 30 Israelis in Netanya. Following Hamas taking control of Gazas government, it systematically purged its opponents and constructed tunnels throughout the territory, including under schools and hospitals. Into these, Hamas sent its terrorists and then hostages, knowingly guaranteeing civilian casualties when Israel struck back.

Civilian deaths in Gaza was not a byproduct of Hamas strategy of waging terrorist war on Israel; they were integral to it: a callous propaganda tool. Now starvations threat takes Hamas unconscionable strategy to another level of human destruction.

It is clear to anyone objectively viewing the current situation: Hamas bears full responsibility for the carnage since October 7, 2023, not only in Israel but in Gaza too. Hamas also bears full responsibility for that now looming over the people it cynically declares to be its primary concern.

However, the world refuses to look objectively, because it is unwilling to look at the emaciated victims that Hamas refuses to help. Implicitly, the world knows Hamas will never stop killing, because it has no other purpose and no greater aim. The world cannot appeal to Hamas humanity because the world knows Hamas has none to which it can appeal. So, the world instead takes the easier route and presses Israel to stop what Hamas has brought on itself and Gaza but refuses to stop.

Blindly, such nationsBritain, France, and Canada who demanded unconditional surrender for WWIIs Axis powersare validating everything Hamas has done. Calling for a Palestinian state, while Hamas retains the reins of government in Gazasomething these nations would never have done with the Axis governmentsmeans allowing genocidal terror and all the crimes against humanityIsraeli and Gazanto accomplish Hamas ostensible purpose.

Never has Gaza shown itself less capable of self-government; never has such a states justification been less valid; never has Israel had less confidence in such a states future or its own security. How does such validation of Hamas despicable means do anything but add incentive for repetition for more terror?

Those nations calling now for a Palestinian state have no answer. They do not because there is only one answer. That answer reverses the solemn pronouncement of never again into ever again. And, tragically, again and again.
Instagram / Clayton Echard

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/08/2025



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

The Bachelor alum Clayton Echard has revealed the real reason why he chose to end things with Rachel Recchia after 24 hours on 's third season.Despite some initial resistance and hesitation on Rachel's part, she accepted Clayton's request to match up for the night on 's third season.But after a single day of being matched, Clayton changed his mind and told Rachel that he was following his intuition and couldn't continue dating her, even though he really didn't want to hurt her."Through the conversations we had, my intuition, the things I'm looking for in life, prior experiences, the conversations that her and I had, there were things that were said where I said, 'This isn't going to work,'" Clayton shared on the Thursday, August 7 episode of "The Viall Files" podcast."I know what it is I'm looking for, and things have changed. We've changed. It's not going to work. So I woke up and said, 'Okay, I have this feeling in my stomach that this wasn't right,' I still waited for most of the day just to make sure that that feeling stuck, and it did."Former The Bachelor star Nick Viall , who hosts "The Viall Files," asked Clayton to elaborate on what was said behind closed doors that made him realize he has no future with Rachel."There are certain things that privately I would say but I wouldn't say publicly," Clayton revealed."And there are things that, again, I maybe wouldn't even say to her, and so intuition is the safeguard to basically say, 'This is the truth. It's a feeling. I'm taken a pulse on our interaction. I've listened to what you have to say and the way you say things and your mindset and where you're currently at and your lifestyle.'"Clayton continued, "Ultimately, I said, 'Look, my vibe and your vibe is not matched. A few years later, I wanted to see, 'I've changed and you've changed, so will our vibes match?' I'll say this: the lifestyles that we have wouldn't match."Clayton told Nick that lifestyle "was part of it" but "there were other things as well" that turned him off."I don't feel comfortable saying more than that publicly," Clayton reiterated.Clayton, however, admitted that he never told Rachel what those things were privately."And I don't think I can," Clayton admitted."Because I don't think that she would receive them well. I think she would feel like they are an attack, if I were to say it -- coming from me. So I feel like it'll be something that she'll understand maybe over time."Nick summed it up by saying that it sounded like Clayton simply thinks he and Rachel aren't compatible."That's what it is, and the exact reasons, look, I don't feel like I can sit here and tell you because I don't think you'll receive it in a way that I would want it to be received, so therefore it's better off to just leave it be," Clayton explained.Nick pointed out how if Rachel wants to know his reasoning for dumping her, she probably deserves to know."Do you think it's not your place to assume what she can't handle?" Nick asked the former pro athlete."If she wanted to know, I just feel like it's a really hard conversation to have. I almost feel like, 'Hey, could I talk to somebody close to you to see if they feel I should bring it up directly?'"Clayton acknowledged he was being cryptic and "mysterious" -- but not intentionally."I just don't know if it would come across in a way that wouldn't be perceived as an attack. I don't know if this is meant to come from me or it's something that she's just meant to find out over time," Clayton explained.Clayton said it was a deep-rooted matter, and he added, "It's something that I clocked, and our energies just aren't aligned. And I could see that this would cause issues."Clayton therefore stands by his decision to let Rachel go on ."I had to do what I had to do. It wasn't going to work, and that's why I tried to cut it as quickly as possible," The Bachelorette alum noted.Clayton apparently thought Rachel was going to handle the breakup better since he didn't drag things out."I was surprised by the intensity of her emotional response," Clayton said on "The Viall" Files, referencing how their love story had played out a whopping three years ago on The Bachelor's 26th season in 2022.He added, "It felt like her intensity was the exact same [as it was on The Bachelor], and that was just a surprise to me... I was not expecting that reaction."Clayton said if Rachel had handled their breakup dispassionately, people wouldn't be sending him such hate.When looking back on his experience as a whole, Clayton admitted, "I'm not too happy with the edit, but I'm not going to sit here and dodge responsibility.""I just thought it went differently and thought it could've been portrayed differently," he concluded.Clayton appeared on "The Viall Files" after Rachel had a chance to share her truth.When speaking with Nick, Rachel slammed Clayton, saying that what he had done to her was "humiliating."After Clayton dumped Rachel on , he quit the show because he didn't feel a connection with any of the other women.Clayton apparently got the closure he needed from his relationship with Rachel, who went on to match with Love Island USA alum Scott van-der-Sluis.The first six episodes of 's third season are now streaming on Netflix. The rest of the episodes will drop weekly through the finale on August 15.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Key Points

Trump's tariffs have jolted markets and sparked lots of new volatility in crypto.

Long-term holders can use any tariff-induced dips to accumulate more coins.

The biggest risks here are consistent dents to sentiment and higher uncertainty.

10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin 

The word "tariff" has a habit of making investors wince in anticipatory pain. President Donald Trump's chaotic attempts at implementing these sweeping new import taxes have yanked the market's attention around repeatedly this year.

Crypto holders, long accustomed to wild price swings but now under new pressure, suddenly find themselves forced to confront trade policy in ways that they never had to before. Are these tariffs killing the crypto bull market, or merely adding even more raucous noise to an already rowdy asset class?

Image source: Getty Images.

Trump's tariff turbulence taunts the tenacious

The first salvo of the tariff saga landed on April 2 when the White House signaled "Liberation Day" duties on 70 of the U.S.'s major trading partners; Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) slipped roughly 3.1% while the S&P 500 lost 1.8% that day.

The sell-off looked dramatic on crypto charts, yet by April 4 Bitcoin was already clawing back ground, underscoring how quickly traders dismiss policy headlines. Now, it's up by 21% during the past six months.

So, for long-term-oriented crypto investors who simply ignored the news and held steady, the impact was minimal, and those who took advantage and bought the dip ended up slightly better off than those who remained on the sidelines waiting for the uncertainty to pass.

Still, the threat of more tariffs being imposed, as well as the potential positive catalysts of trade deals being signed, slammed sentiment in the markets, including crypto, from bullish to bearish and back again, hampering investors and businesses attempting to develop long-term plans.

Fast-forward to this week, when another tariff wave is set to hit on Aug. 7, lifting the average U.S. import tax rate to 18.3%, the highest since the 1930s. Bitcoin briefly fell to $114,000 before rebounding, with Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) mirroring that pattern. The net result thus looks to be basically the same as before, with a lot more volatility, minimal ability to chart a sensible course forward, but no structural break in the uptrend.

That dynamic may be fragile if the uncertainty continues, however.

U.S. Bitcoin miners import most of their mining hardware from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. A tariff as high as 36% on those machines (as part of the tariffs on those countries) would raise the capital expenditure needs of miners, thereby lengthening the time it takes for miners to recoup their investment. But if miners have less supply to offload to the market because they're stingy with investments, that would probably force the price of Bitcoin higher at a faster pace, not lower.
Indias micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)  which contribute over 45 per cent to outbound shipments  are facing a major disruption following the United States (US) decision to impose 50 per cent additional tariffs on the countrys exports.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

MSME industry bodies have raised an alarm over the deep impact, seeking immediate government intervention.

Vinod Kumar, president of the small and medium enterprises forum (SME Forum), said the hike could lead to an annual loss of over $30 billion in business, with MSMEs being hit the hardest due to their limited financial buffers and capacity constraints.

Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises, termed the tariff shock as a very tough situation for MSME traders.

He said, The new US tariffs of 25 per cent, along with an additional 25 per cent penalty puts Indian exporters at a 30-35 per cent cost disadvantage compared to competitors.

"This could potentially cut US-bound exports by 40-50 per cent, if there is no solution found by August 27.

Kumar called the hike a serious wake-up call for policymakers and exporters alike.

This is not just a disruption  its an opportunity to pivot, he said.

He added, Indian MSMEs must rise to the occasion by building new linkages with underserved, high-growth regions and broadening our global footprint.

Kumar emphasised the need to diversify Indias export geography by tapping into under-served but high-potential regions, such as Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.

These are markets that represent over $60 billion in untapped export potential.

These regions are actively seeking reliable suppliers in sectors where Indian MSMEs already demonstrate strength, including pharmaceuticals, agri and non-agri machinery, processed foods, and garments.

Bhardwaj called for urgent government intervention through fiscal and non-fiscal measures to support affected MSMEs and advocated for a parallel push towards market diversification.

He said while there is room to expand trade under agreements with the UK, Australia, UAE, and the European Free Trade Association, Indian MSMEs would need extensive capacity building.

There is a need to identify and penetrate these markets and meet increasingly stringent quality, packaging, and compliance standards, he further said.

To strengthen MSMEs in the face of these challenges, the India SME Forum is working with the government to expand access to digital trade platforms, provide timely and affordable export financing, and offer real-time market intelligence.

Adding a note of cautious optimism, Hemant Jain, president of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said India has the economic depth to weather this storm.
Unresolved succession plans and informal ownership structures are fuelling bitter family fights across India's corporate boardrooms.

IMAGE: Karisma Kapoor with Sunjay Kapoor. Photograph: Rediff Archives.

A growing wave of wealth clashes and a persistent reluctance to formalise succession plans is turning India's corporate boardrooms into a battleground of family feuds.

The latest flashpoint is the death of 53-year old Sunjay Kapur, chairman of auto parts maker Sona BLW Precision Forgings, which has triggered a family dispute.

His mother Rani Kapur has opposed the appointment of Sunjay's wife Priya Sachdev Kapur to the firm's board.

"There's often a mismatch between the mindset of ageing patriarchs and the aspirations of the next generation," says Ketan Dalal, founder of tax advisory firm, Catalyst Advisors.

"Add in unequal levels of contribution and commitments among family members, lack of shareholder agreements, and weak governance -- and you have a recipe for prolonged conflict," he adds.

The Kapurs join a long list of prominent Indian business families entangled in litigation over control, including the Kirloskars, the Baba Kalyani family, and the Chhabrias of Finolex.

In September last year, Bina Modi -- chairperson of Godfrey Phillips India -- was involved in a feud with her sons, Samir and Lalit, as she resisted sale of the company.

Her sons accused their mother of defying their late father's will.

Last month, the feuding Maran brothers announced a truce, which was mediated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, The Hindu reported on July 8th.

In the past, acrimonious family feuds have hit almost all conglomerates including the first family of India Inc, the Ambani brothers, and the older ones like the Birlas and the Bajajs.

Billionaire Lodha brothers announced a settlement in May after fighting over the 'Lodha' brand for months.

IMAGE: Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Experts attribute the growing discord to opaque ownership structures, informal arrangements, ageing and weakening patriarchs, and delayed planning.

"Most Indian families that have expanded in size and business complexity have not invested in formal ownership or succession frameworks," said Dalal.

"When circumstances change and there's no framework in place, disputes are inevitable."

Many legacy businesses still remain mired in cross-holdings, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) structures, and unclear promoter arrangements.

The cultural aversion to a formal structure compounds the problem.

The role of advisors is another under-discussed factor.

"Families are often reluctant to bring in objective advisors or are wary of those introduced by other members," Dalal says.

"The suspicion delays engagement and issues remain unresolved."

IMAGE: Lalit Modi and his mother Bina Modi have been at loggerheads since Modi Senior's death in November 2019. Photograph: Kind courtesy Lalit Modi/X

According to Dalal, underlying all of this is the "illusion of immortality" -- a belief that difficult decisions on succession or ownership can always be deferred.

"But too often, 'later' becomes too late."

"Irrespective of the age, every family/person must have a clear succession plan in place so that their descendants don't get involved in a bitter public fracas as it ultimately leads to shareholders wealth destruction," said a CEO, asking not to be quoted.

As India Inc continues to create wealth at scale, the absence of a clear succession road map threatens to fracture legacy businesses -- unless families embrace governance and structure as seriously as growth, say experts.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The answer is to be found in the rise of the global south and in particular, the rise of China, explains Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, August 6, 2025. Photograph: Jonathan/Reuters

The United States has 34 crore people (the size of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar).

Americans represent 4 per cent of the global population and they are the biggest beneficiaries of what the US called the rules-based order.

This order, imposed by the US and its European allies after the second world war, seeks global cooperation through institutions like the United Nations and also the World Trade Organisation.

Americans refer to their president, unironically, as the 'leader of the free world'.

America's per capita income is almost $90,000 according to the one of the institutions of the 'rules-based order', the International Monetary Fund.

India's per person income is less than 1/30th, at under $3000.

The US economy has surged over the last few decades because its companies have sent their products -- like planes, phones and computers -- and services -- like social media companies -- around the world, where they dominate.

Even with the recent downward revision in their jobs numbers, the US is running at what is referred to as full employment, meaning that joblessness is around 4%, which is optimal.

This means that from the standpoint of income and jobs, the US is in a very good place, particularly when compared to nations like India, where poverty and joblessness, particularly in the absence of regular, salaried employment, are a serious problem.

And yet the US is unhappy with the world, which it says is 'ripping it off', in the words of the US president.

He has reversed this theft, as he sees it, by making it more difficult for countries to export their products into the US.

America is India's largest export market, and a 25% tariff on our goods will weaken demand, hurting our exporters.

There is no getting around that fact. If the tariffs remain, our interests will be harmed, no matter who ultimately pays the tariff.

There is no meaningful debate inside the US' democracy of whether the actions taken by president Trump harm the global rules-based order and its friends and allies, to say nothing of poorer nations.

What the US has done is tear up the system where tariffs existed but were used under a system of WTO rules and regulations that could be appealed.

The US has disregarded that, and weakened the system that for decades has served it well. In doing so it is damaging the rest of the world.

There is a second disregarding of the rules based order and that is the American enabling of the genocide in Gaza.

Ever eager to free the world from tyranny and despotism through war, the US has protected Israel while it massacres and starves thousands of Palestinians, and wages illegal war on Iran.

The majority of the world's nations have called for an end to the horror in Gaza, through their vote in the United Nations General Assembly, but the US has used its veto to allow this 21st century holocaust to continues.

Like in the matter of the tariffs, the US is telling the world that it is leaving the rules-based order and prefers to use its strength to extract, and even extort, what it can from the world.

There are a few things that we can take away from these actions. One is that America has set now a precedent.

The next nation that becomes powerful will have an example of how to behave with weaker nations, and might is right is as legitimate as rules-based order.

There is today quite weak resistance to this from the global south, and the fissures inside BRICS, which we need not go into here, have helped American bullying.

The second is that we should seriously consider what the benefit of our personalised style of diplomacy has been.

We have thrown away decades of institutional consensus on matters like Palestine, for a hug with the Israeli leader.

All the honours we have bestowed on the US president, whether in rallies here or there, and indeed encouraging Indian-Americans to vote for him, have not produced any benefit or even mercy.

Emperors do not listen to anything other than the voice inside their head but this must be said nonetheless.

The last thing that we should consider is what is agitating the US at this point in time.

Why is it, given the wealth and power it has and its comfortable economic situation, that the US is going through this spell of madness?

The answer is to be found in the rise of the global south and in particular, the rise of China.

If things continue as they have been for the last 30 years, in a decade or two the US will for the first time in more than a century, not be the largest economy in the world.

This is unacceptable to what is called 'the west'.

It will not be able to continue doing what it has done for centuries in north America, in Australia, in South Africa, or what it is doing today in Palestine.

As the rest of the world grows equal to the west, its ability to control and dominate is slipping.

It has given up on the rules based order for this reason, and is resorting to pure might.

This is a most dangerous time for the world and, in particular, for those countries which need a few more decades of stability and global cooperation to pull themselves out of poverty.

Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'The Congress has faded and fighting for survival.'

IMAGE: Congress leader Ashok Kumar Ram with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Janata Dal-United leader and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan 'Lalan' Singh after joining the JD-U. Photograph: Kind courtesy JD-U/X

Veteran Congress leader Ashok Kumar Ram, a six time MLA in Bihar and former minister, quit the Congress recently and joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United.

Ashok Ram -- a former working president of the Bihar Congress Committee -- was a Congressman for nearly four decades. His father was also a Congress MLA and MP.

"Nitish is a must for Bihar, taking this factor into view I have joined the JD-U," Ashok Ram tells Rediff Senior Contributor M I Khan.

Why did you leave the Congress suddenly? Were you unsure of getting a ticket to contest the Bihar assembly election?

No, no. I will not contest the Bihar assembly election after joining the JD-U. I have contested and won elections several times.

I was feeling suffocated in the Congress, and there is no hope for its future politics.

It is a matter directly related to safeguarding the interest of Bihar. Taking the prevailing scenario in Bihar into consideration I decided to leave the Congress, which has become the RJD's B team.

Nitish Kumar has changed the face of Bihar through development and this government should return to power.

Nitish is a must for Bihar, taking this factor into view I have joined the JD-U. I will strengthen the hands of Nitish Kumar.

I have no regret about quitting the Congress.

There is a buzz in political circles that what forced you to quit the Congress was first, you were not appointed state Congress president and second, the party did not given an assurance of a ticket for your son to contest the election.

Right now I will not say much on this. All this is part of the stories planted by powerful Congress leaders.

The Congress is not visible in Bihar, it has faded and fighting for survival.

If the JD-U gives a ticket, my son will contest the polls, what is the surprise in it?

Dalits are being ignored in the Congress in Bihar. They have been fighting within the party to get their right place and share.

Rahul Gandhi has reportedly been taking interest in Bihar.

I don't want to say anything about Rahul Gandhi and wish him good luck.

The Congress in March appointed Dalit MLA Rajesh Ram as the Bihar Congress president.

Appointing a Dalit leader as state Congress president will not make any difference because Dalits are neglected and ignored in the party. Rajesh Ram is a powerless state president.

IMAGE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks during the Bihar Bandh protest in Patna, July 9, 2025, against the Election Commission's electoral roll revision ahead of the assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo

What will be your role in the JD-U given your long experience in politics in the state?

It is for Nitish Kumar to decide. I have no plan for now how to play active politics. If the JD-U will give any responsibility, I will try to fulfill it.

There are newspaper reports about Nitish Kumar's indifferent health.

Nitish is fit and healthy. I met him recently, spoke to him, found him active as usual.

A senior Congress leader called you an opportunist after you left the party.

No comment. Neither has any Congress leader spoken to me nor have I talked to them after I resigned from the party.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
A 64-year-old woman was pushed off the slowly moving Sampark Kranti Express shortly after it left Kozhikode railway station and robbed of over Rs 8,000 in cash and a mobile phone, the railway police said on Saturday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The woman, along with her brother, was travelling to Thrissur in Kerala from Panvel in Maharashtra.

The incident occurred at around 5 am on Friday, right after the train left Kozhikode railway station, and the woman has claimed that the assailant appeared to be from outside Kerala, a Railway police officer said.

The woman was standing near the train door, waiting for her brother to come out from the toilet when the incident happened, they said.

The assailant tried to snatch her bag, and when she resisted, he pushed her off the train, jumped down after her, grabbed her belongings, and ran away, the railway police added.

The train was moving slowly as it had just left the station, but the woman suffered injuries to the back of her head in the fall, they said.

"She was taken to the Kozhikode medical college and discharged later," they said.

Recounting her experience, the woman said that the man came suddenly and tried to snatch her bag.

"I did not let go and also grabbed hold of his shirt as he tried to jump off the train. So, he pushed me, and I fell backward out of the train onto the tracks," she claimed, speaking to a TV channel.

"There was another train approaching on the tracks where I fell, and people on my train started shouting for me to move away. I somehow managed to get up and get clear before the train arrived. I was drenched in my blood," she added.

She said that passengers on the Sampark Kranti pulled the chain to stop it.

"I was really scared. I was then taken to a nearby hospital and from there to the medical college as the wound on my head was very deep," the woman claimed.

A team has been formed to identify and catch the assailant, the railway police added.
Seven people were killed when a wall collapsed near Mohan Baba Mandir in Jaitpur amid heavy rains in the national capital on Saturday morning, the police said.

IMAGE: Resucue operation underway at the wall collapse site in Jaitpur, New Delhi, August 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

While the Delhi Fire Service earlier claimed that eight people had died in the incident, the police later stated that seven victims were confirmed dead and one injured person was undergoing treatment.

According to DFS officials, the department received a call regarding the wall collapse at 9:16 a.m. Three fire tenders, along with police teams, rushed to the spot.

The downpour, which began late Friday night around 11 pm, had lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR, and the India meteorological department had issued a red alert for Saturday.

The police said the PCR received the first call about the collapse at 9:13 a.m., with the caller stating in Hindi, "Badi deewar gir gayi hai," and that four to five persons were trapped under the debris.

A senior police officer said that upon receiving the call, the station house officer of Jaitpur, along with all available staff, immediately reached the site carrying ropes and other rescue tools.

"Rescue operations were initiated without delay. Additional DCP (South-East) Aishwarya Sharma and ACP Ravishankar also arrived to oversee the operations," the officer said.

The officer added that the wall was broken through to rescue those trapped. Eight persons were pulled out and rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Hospital.

"Of the eight, seven, including three men, two women, and two minor girls, succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The injured person, identified as Hasibul (27), son of Khushana, a resident of Gangadhari, Jortalapara in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, is undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital's trauma centre," said the officer.

The police said a thorough search was carried out by the Delhi Fire Service and National Disaster Response Force teams, but no other persons were found under the debris.

The exact cause of the wall collapse is yet to be ascertained. However, officials pointed to the possibility of waterlogging and soil weakening due to the overnight heavy rainfall.

A senior DFS official said, "The intensity of the rain since Friday night has been very high, which may have led to weakening of structures in low-lying and vulnerable areas. In this case, we are still examining whether poor maintenance, construction defects, or natural causes triggered the collapse."

The national capital received heavy rainfall through the night, causing waterlogging in several areas, traffic snarls, and reports of minor wall collapses and tree falls from across the city.

The police said that a case is being registered under the appropriate sections of law, and an investigation will be taken up.

"We will look into the structural condition of the wall, ownership, and any negligence involved. Statements of witnesses and survivors will be recorded," the officer said.
Glimpses from India and around the world that will make you smile and cry.

Bonding for Identity

IMAGE: Women tie rakhis on the wrist of a man dressed as Rabindranath Tagore during a protest demanding the protection of Bengali identity and language in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

Rakhi for Brothers-in-Arms

IMAGE: A lady ties a rakhi on the wrist of a senior army officer during the 'Rakhi for Soldiers' celebration organised by the Samskruti Foundation at Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad. Photograph: @tg_governor X/ANI Photo

NDRF To The Rescue

IMAGE: National Disaster Response Force personnel provide medical aid to stranded and affected people after the massive cloudburst at Dharali in Uttarkashi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Seeking Life Under Rubble

IMAGE: State Disaster Response Force personnel use ground penetrating radar for a search and rescue operation in flash flood-hit Dharali and Harsil. Photograph: ANI Photo

Sniffing For Life

IMAGE: An army sniffer dog conducts a rescue and search operation in Dharali and Harsil. Photograph: ANI Photo

Rescue Over The River

IMAGE: SDRF helps stranded people to cross the river after the road gets blocked due to the collapse of the high bridge three km ahead of Gangnani in Uttarkashi. Photograph: SDRF/Video Grab/ANI Photo

Restoring The Path

IMAGE: A drone view of the Border Roads Organisation and SDRF officials attempting to build a makeshift bridge to reach Dharali village after the bridge connecting it was swept away during landslides in Gangnani, Uttarakhand. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Buried By Mud

IMAGE: A house gets fully submerged after the mudslide in Kheer Ganga river in Uttarkashi. Photograph: Video Grab/ ANI Photo

People Rise To Rescue

IMAGE: People carry a sick woman through the flood-affected Danapur locality in Patna as the water level of the Ganga continues to rise. Photograph: ANI Photo

Search for Land

IMAGE: People with their belongings move to a safe location as their houses get submerged in Patna due to the rising water level of the Ganga. Photograph: ANI Photo

Assam Evictions

IMAGE: An eviction drive being carried out by the Assam government in Negheribil, Merapani, as part of the ongoing efforts to reclaim encroached land under the Doyang Reserve Forest in Golaghat. Photograph: ANI Photo

Shielding From War

IMAGE: A Palestinian boy carries a stroller at the site of a morning Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City. Photograph: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

Innocence Ready For War

IMAGE: A child gestures as protesters, predominantly Houthi supporters, demonstrate in solidarity with Palestinians in Sanaa, Yemen. Photograph: REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

Diamonds Under Scrutiny

IMAGE: A worker sorts diamonds at a diamond processing unit in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Bots Battle in Ring

IMAGE: Visitors watch humanoid robots fight at the Unitree Robotics booth during the World Robot Conference in Beijing. Photograph: cnsphoto/Reuters

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/ Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'The police could not save my daughter or bring her justice, but they didn't think twice about beating up women and elderly persons.'

Chaos and violent agitation dominated the streets of Kolkata and adjacent Howrah on Saturday, a day that marked the completion of one year of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar hospital, and left the mother of the victim hospitalised with a head injury.

IMAGE: BJP workers during Nabanna Rally to protest against the rape and murder of a PGT doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

The police-protesters face off took place in phases and at multiple points during the Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan', a march to the state secretariat demanding justice for the RG Kar victim, which had at least three converging processions of agitators in both Kolkata and Howrah amid elaborate police arrangements that included setting up of iron barricades as high as 10 feet to stop protestors' progress.

The violence, ironically, took place on the occasion of Rakhi Bandhan, a day traditionally observed in Bengal to spread harmony and brotherhood.

In a separate protest gathering at the Hazra crossing in south Kolkata, a few hundred metres from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence, the podium witnessed two bereaved mothers come together in their unified cry for justice.

The mother of 13-year-old Tamanna Khatun, killed in Kaliganj in Nadia district after being hit by a bomb hurled during a TMC celebration of bypoll results held there in June, joined the protests organised by several organisations.

I am here to be part of the protest rally because, being a mother, I can feel the pain of another mother who is yet to get justice, whose daughter was brutally murdered just like my daughter," Tamanna's grieving mother, Sabina, said, her anguish matching the agony of the parents of the RG Kar victim.

Much like Abhaya, the real killers of my daughter too are still roaming free, she alleged.

The march to Nabanna was called by the parents of the deceased doctor, who urged citizens to join them in their quest for unachieved justice for Abhaya, a name coined for the RG Kar victim by a section of the media since identification of a rape victim is prohibited by a Supreme Court ruling.

While people from various walks of life responded to the call and joined the march by the thousands, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also participated in the rally along with BJP leaders and MLAs, forgoing party flags.

Rally participants carried the National Tricolour and posters crying out for "justice for Abhaya", even as slogans for demanding the chief minister's resignation shattered the afternoon city air.

The mother of the RG Kar victim alleged she was roughed up by the police during her march, an assault that allegedly took place when the Kolkata police baton-charged protesters at the Park Street crossing in central Kolkata to disperse the crowd, which was trying to breach police barricades and move towards Vidyasagar Setu in their bid to reach the secretariat.

Both parents of the deceased victim were later admitted to a private hospital. A prominent bulge was observed on the forehead of the mother, allegedly caused by police excesses.

The mother, who reportedly suffered injuries to her forehead, hands, and back, underwent a CT scan and other diagnostic tests to assess the extent of both internal and external injuries, a hospital official said.

The police shoved me and pinned me to the ground. They broke my 'shankha' (traditional conch shell bangle) and hit me on my forehead," she alleged after the lathicharge.

The police, though, denied having used any force on the parents of the victim.

"We have no information about the victim's parents getting beaten up by the police at the Park Street crossing. The police did not do anything to the parents at this point. But their allegations will be duly investigated," DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai told reporters.

Undaunted by the police's resistance, both parents walked all the way up to Hastings at the foot of the Vidyasagar Setu, where they were again stopped by a police barricade.

"Why are they stopping us like this? All we want is to reach Nabanna and seek justice for my daughter," the victim's mother said.

The protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "failing to protect women".

"Why are you so inhuman? Why are you scared of us? We are unarmed," the mother said, asserting she wouldn't stop until she met the CM to seek justice for her daughter.

The victim's father also alleged that police tried to prevent the family from reaching Dorina Crossing to join the march, despite Calcutta high court's permission for a peaceful rally.

"The police were tailing us from the time we left our home. At Sinthi crossing, when we entered Kolkata police jurisdiction, police took photos of our vehicle and forwarded them to others so that we could be stopped. We had to play a cat and mouse game with the police to reach Dorina Crossing," he alleged.

Following the Park Street ruckus, Adhikari, along with other BJP leaders, held a three-hour sit-in before the police barricades. He alleged that over 100 protesters, including him, were injured in police action, many of whom had to be hospitalised.

Displaying a video clip purportedly showing police action on protestors, Adhikari said, We will ensure appropriate action against Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and other officers involved in atrocities on peaceful demonstrators.

The city police, on the other hand, said they were likely to lodge a suo motu case against the BJP MLA and former cricketer Ashok Dinda for allegedly threatening and assaulting policemen during the rally.
Defence Research and Development Organisation chairman, Samir V Kamat, emphasised on Saturday that India's BrahMos missiles and the Akashteer defence systems were instrumental technologies that played a key role in Operation Sindoor, carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

IMAGE: DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat speaking to reporters in Pune, August 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

According to the DRDO chairman, the BrahMos missile, primarily launched from Sukhoi Mk 1, was used during the offensive phase.

Meanwhile, the anti-drone Akashteer was the mainstay for defensive weapon systems.

"When it comes to offensive weapons, BrahMos was the primary weapon used, which was launched from our Sukhoi Mark 1 platform. When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akashteer system, the anti-drone system and the MRSAM were used," the DRDO chairman said during a press interaction in Maharashtra's Pune.

Kamat further mentioned how the Akashteer network helped in identifying any threats coming towards India, and also in deciding what kind of weapon could be used to neutralise such threats.

"All the sensors were networked using the Akashteer, which helped in identifying the threats coming towards us and then deploying the right kind of weapon to neutralise those threats. Advanced early warning and control aircraft were also used for advanced surveillance. This is broadly what I can say without getting into too much," the DRDO Chairman said.

Earlier, expressing pride over the growing strength of India's defence research and development sector, Kamat mentioned, "It's indeed a proud moment for all of us. It's a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I'm sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing."

Earlier, it was reported that the annual defence production has achieved a record high of Rs 1,50,590 crore for the Financial Year 2024-25. The milestone represents a robust 18 per cent growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90 per cent increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Kamat credited the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives to the PM Modi-led government.

Akashteer, India's fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System, which intercepted and neutralised every inbound projectile amid India-Pakistan hostilities, is no longer a concept confined to defence journals, but a sharp edge of India's air defence.

The BrahMos missile system has solidified India's position in defence diplomacy: Cruise Missile Triad that enables precision attacks against land and sea targets; Deterrent Capability, which strengthens India's defence posture with its supersonic speed and range and Indo-Russian Collaboration showcasing successful bilateral cooperation in defence technology.

Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who is also in charge of defence industry and trade, and discussed bilateral military-technical ties and implementation of joint projects in strategic sectors.

IMAGE: Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov meets with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in Moscow, August 9, 2025. Photograph: @RusEmbIndia X/ANI Photo

Doval was in Russia to hold crucial talks on bilateral energy and defence ties and to prepare the ground for President Vladimir Putin's visit to India later this year.

Manturov is co-chair of the India-Russia Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural Cooperation along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He met Doval on Friday.

The two sides discussed the topical issues of military-technical cooperation between Russia and India and implementation of joint projects in other strategic areas, including civil aircraft, metallurgy and chemical industry, the Russian government press service said in a release.

"The talks covered topical issues of #RussiaIndia military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy, and the chemical industry," according to the Russian embassy in India.

On Thursday, Doval called on President Putin at the Kremlin to discuss bilateral cooperation and reiterated New Delhi's commitment to continue cooperation on all fronts with Moscow in spite of outside pressure.

The NSA's visit to Russia comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump slapping an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for buying Russian oil, doubling it to 50 percent.

According to sources, Doval extended an invitation to President Putin on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India later this year, which Putin has accepted.

PM Modi on Friday spoke with President Putin over the phone during which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.

Prior to meeting with Putin, Doval also held detailed discussions with the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergey Shoigu, and discussed key bilateral and international issues in the wake of Trump's tariffs.
Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Brookline Bancorp have settled on Beacon as the brand for their merged company. The holding company will be styled Beacon Financial, and its subsidiary as Beacon Bank & Trust.

The Berkshire and Brookline combination, which the companies have advertised as a merger of equals, is set to close in the third quarter. When the two Boston-based institutions announced the $1.1 billion, all-stock deal in December, they indicated they would choose a new name for the consolidated company.

"The Beacon Bank name reflects our desire to be a reliable guide in financial decision-making, helping clients reach their goals with clarity, confidence, and trust," Brookline CEO Paul Perrault said Wednesday in a press release. Perrault will serve as Beacon Financial's CEO.

"Our new name honors the legacy of Berkshire and Brookline while looking toward a bright and ambitious future," Berkshire Hills Chairman David Brunelle, who will chair the merged company, said in the press release. "We look forward to our new company delivering the enhanced capabilities that come from the combined institution's scale and operational strength."

The merged company is expected to begin operations with $24 billion of assets and a footprint stretching from Massachusetts south into New York's lower Hudson Valley. The Beacon name figures to have particular resonance in Boston, where the Beacon Hill neighborhood has been a landmark since colonial days.

Berkshire Chief Communication and Sustainability Officer Gary Levante told American Banker in an email Thursday that the companies considered "multiple" prospective names and reviewed input from stakeholders and focus groups before opting for Beacon.

"We wanted a name that conveyed guidance, strength, and the promise of stability, core principles that the legacy institutions upheld for generations and that are essential to the combined organization," Levante said in the email.

The only two U.S. banks that currently use the "Beacon" moniker are based in San Francisco and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s website. Both of those institutions have less than $1 billion of assets.

Last month, in a conference call with analysts, Brookline's Perrault said he was hopeful the merger with Berkshire Hills could close as early as September.

Once it's complete, the companies plan to roll out the Beacon brand gradually. Clients will see it initially on statements, in digital banking channels and inside branches. The full transition is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2026, alongside the systems integration.
Four helicopters were pressed into service to airlift people stranded in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi after flash floods and landslides earlier this week that claimed multiple lives and left behind a trail of destruction.

IMAGE: Search and rescue operation underway in the Dharali-Harsil area of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, August 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

On the fifth day of rescue operations on Saturday, 170 people were airlifted to ITBP's Matli helipad and 107 to the airstrip at Chinyalisaur, the Uttarakhand police said.

According to official data, more than 1,000 people have been evacuated so far from parts of the disaster-hit Dharali area that are still cut off following mudslide and flash floods on Tuesday.

The district administration has confirmed four deaths and 49 people have been missing since the disaster.

Four helicopters of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority are making sorties to rescue people taking shelter in various locations of the district.

The IAF's Chinook helicopter transporting a generator set to the relief camp took off from the Jollygrant airport on Saturday morning. Power supply to Dharali and the surrounding areas was badly hit by the flash flood.

A Bailey bridge is being constructed at Limchigad near Gangnani on a war footing to improve road connectivity to the affected areas. Work on its construction went on overnight so that it is ready in the next 24 hours.

The Gangotri highway is blocked or breached at several points hampering efforts to transport advanced equipment required to search for the missing through tonnes of debris lying on the flash flood-ravaged site.
India on Saturday welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on August 15.

IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Reuters

The ministry of external affairs spokesperson said that the meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace.

He also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that 'This is not an era of war'.

"This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, 'This is not an era of war'," the spokesperson said.

"India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts," he added.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska.

The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump made a post on his Truth Social account.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he said.

Speaking earlier at the White House during the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord, Trump also hinted at progress on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Asked how far the negotiations on the Russia-Ukraine peace efforts had progressed, Trump replied, "We are getting very close to a deal. Working with European nations, who are terrific people and leaders, is a pleasure through NATO...In all fairness to President Zelensky, he is getting everything he needs, assuming we will get something done. I will be meeting very shortly with President Putin. It would have been sooner, but I guess there are security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make."

"...It's very complicated. But we're going to get some [territory] back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later, or tomorrow," he added.
Trade, defence cooperation and regional strategy had long formed the backbone of India-US ties, but the latest rift shows how quickly those pillars can be shaken by personal grievances and political optics.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a point as US President Donald J Trump, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen in at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

A chain of personal slights, diplomatic flashpoints and policy disagreements over the past few months has brought one of Washington's most important Asian relationships to its lowest point in years.

According to Bloomberg (external link), those tensions came to a head this week when US President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Indian exports to the United States -- 'half of which includes a penalty for purchases of Russian oil.'

The rupture began in May after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire to end four days of armed clashes. Trump publicly claimed credit for brokering the truce -- a claim that infuriated officials in New Delhi.

In a 17 June phone call, reports Bloomberg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Trump that India 'does not and will never accept mediation' and made it clear the ceasefire had been arranged directly between India and Pakistan 'upon Pakistan's request'.

What followed only deepened the mistrust.

Trump's plan to host Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for lunch at the White House on June 18 was seen in New Delhi as legitimising a military establishment that, in India's view, continues to back terrorist groups.

Modi, Bloomberg reported, declined an invitation to drop by the White House after the G7 summit, with aides pointing both to the Pakistan meeting and to a long scheduled trip to Croatia.

Bloomberg noted that 'once Trump began publicly attacking India... it was clear the episode marked a turning point in the broader relationship.' His criticisms were not confined to the ceasefire spat.

As Washington ramped up pressure on countries buying Russian oil, India found itself in the firing line. Trump's threats to penalise such purchases added a new and combustible dimension to the already strained ties.

Trade frictions also came to the fore. Negotiations faltered over access for genetically modified crops, agricultural market openings, and the removal of retaliatory tariffs imposed by India.

On July 30, Trump unveiled a 25% 'reciprocal' tariff on Indian goods, casting it as a necessary response to what he described as unbalanced trade. Bloomberg noted this announcement triggered 'a spiral in ties over Russia that led to the higher duties this week.'

In unveiling the 50% tariff, Trump lashed out at India's economic model, branding it a 'dead' economy with 'obnoxious' trade barriers.

He also accused New Delhi of showing 'little concern for Ukrainians killed in battles with Russia' -- remarks that underscored how geopolitical differences over the Ukraine war had bled into bilateral trade policy.

By Bloomberg's account, the sequence of disputes -- from the bruised egos over ceasefire credit, to the optics of the Pakistan meeting, to the oil-related penalties -- transformed what had been a working, if occasionally uneasy, partnership into open confrontation.

This deterioration in the India-US relationship marks a sharp reversal from earlier phases of engagement between Modi and Trump, when both leaders publicly emphasised personal rapport and mutual strategic interests.

The current tensions, however, appear rooted less in structural policy differences than in a series of incidents that were interpreted in New Delhi as slights or provocations.

Trade, defence cooperation and regional strategy had long formed the backbone of India-US ties, but the latest rift shows how quickly those pillars can be shaken by personal grievances and political optics.

According to the Bloomberg report the tariff move was not an isolated act of economic protectionism -- it was the culmination of months of accumulated resentments on both sides, sharpened by disagreements over Pakistan, Russia and the terms of global commerce.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday claimed that no aircraft of the military was hit or destroyed by Indian armed forces during the recent conflict.

IMAGE: Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Photograph: Courtesy X

His comments came hours after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

"We have an indication of at least one AWC in that AWC hangar, and a few F-16s, which are under maintenance there. We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, which could be either an aircraft or an AWC, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Singh said on Saturday.

He said the operation also resulted in a large number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones and some of their missiles falling into the Indian territory.

"Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by (the) Indian (side),

Asif claimed in a post on social media.

"For three months, no such claims were voiced - while Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath, presented detailed technical briefings to the international media...," he added.

He said the belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief regarding destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor "are as implausible as they are ill-timed."

Asif claimed that the losses on the Line of Control for the Indian armed forces were disproportionately heavier as well. "If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verificationthough we suspect this would lay bare the reality India seeks to obscure," he added.

He also said that every violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity will invite "swift, surefire and proportionate response".

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
India's most wanted illegal arms supplier, Sheikh Salim alias 'Salim Pistol', has been arrested in Nepal, police said on Saturday.

IMAGE: India's most wanted illegal arms supplier, Sheikh Salim alias 'Salim Pistol' arrested in Nepal. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to officials, Salim Pistol was arrested by the Delhi Police special cell and Indian security agencies in a joint operation with the Nepal police.

For years, Salim had been supplying sophisticated weapons from Pakistan into India. Investigators have found evidence linking him to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company.

Salim Pistol was a key supplier of arms to top gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba. His name surfaced in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case as well.

He was arrested by the Delhi police in 2018, but later managed to flee abroad. Recently, intelligence inputs indicated that he was hiding in Nepal. Acting on the tip-off, security agencies tracked him down and arrested him.

A resident of Seelampur in Delhi, Salim's name had earlier cropped up in the Baba Siddiqui murder case. His network spanned across India and Pakistan.

According to the police, Sheikh Salim, a resident of Jafrabad in Delhi, dropped out of school after completing Class 8 and initially worked as a driver.

Salim's criminal career spans decades, beginning with vehicle theft in 2000 when, along with his associate Mukesh Gupta alias Kaka, he stole multiple vehicles. He was arrested on May 25, 2000, and booked under sections 379, 411, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Over a decade later, he was implicated in a high-profile armed robbery in Jafrabad on August 7, 2011, involving Rs 20 lakh. He was eventually arrested on September 18, 2013, and charged with offences under sections 395 and 397 of the IPC.
A 14-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district has lodged a complaint against her parents for allegedly assaulting her when she expressed her desire to continue her studies, the police said on Friday.

Kindy note the image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay.com

The parents -- Digambar Singh and his wife Lata Devi -- now face legal action under the Juvenile Justice Act's Section 75 (punishment for cruelty to child), the police said.

According to the police, the incident took place on July 25, and was reported to the Jalesar police station in Etah district on August 5.

Citing a complaint filed by Bhavna Singh, a student of Class 10 at the Siddhartha Inter College in Jalesar, the police said, on July 25, the girl had asked her parents to register in the school so that she could appear in the examination.

Her parents declined her request saying that they do not have the money to educate her.

When she insisted on educating herself and her younger brother Ramraj, she was beaten up by her father at the home and later on the Agra-Jalesar road during a journey, the police said.

When a passerby, Ankit Pradhan, saw Digambar assaulting the girl, the police said he came to her rescue.

Ankit Pradhan took Bhavna, her brother and their mother to a police check post in Jalesar. From there, suddenly Lata Devi disappeared along with her son, and did not return to the police post even after a long time, the police said.

The 14-year-old girl also mentioned in her complaint that her father had dialled 112 and gave false information that Ankit Pradhan had kidnapped his wife, they said.

"The fact is that I myself want to study, and also want to make my younger brother educated," the 14-year-old girl said.

"It is my humble request to the Justice Board that proper arrangements be made for my education and that of my brother. And take appropriate legal action against my father Digambar Singh, who beat me and threw me out of the house and my mother Lata who left me alone," she said in her complaint.

A case was registered in Jalesar and the matter has been presented in the Juvenile Justice Protection Board.

Despite being summoned several times, the parents did not appear in court. Finally, the court has appointed police station in-charge Sudhir Kumar as the guardian of the girl, they said.

Jalesar SHO Sudhir Kumar said the girl's father is a peon at the Siya Devi Degree College and a habitual drinker and quarrelsome person by nature.

There has been a dispute between the husband and wife for a long time and at present both live separately. Some time ago, the wife had also filed a case of attempt to murder against the husband.

The SHO has taken the responsibility of the girl and has gotten her registered at a school so she can continue her studies and also provided books, uniform and Rs 2,000 cash for any other expenses.

SHO Kumar said after a month, when the girl returns from Noida, then efforts will be made to get her enrolled in a good residential school like Kasturba Gandhi or Sainik Vidyalaya so that she can continue her studies even without her parents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi on Saturday.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in New Delhi, August 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also took part in the celebrations.

Singh marked the occasion with school children and members of the Brahmakumari organisation, where young girls and women tied rakhis on his wrist and received his blessings.

Goyal celebrated at Vanijya Bhawan in Delhi, where he gave gifts to children.

Earlier in the day, Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings.

"Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings.

In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life."

Similarly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a X post said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all of you on the sacred occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This festival is not only about the purity of the rakhi thread but also a symbol of the commitment to honour, protect, and ensure the happiness and prosperity of our sisters. May this festival, a symbol of the love between brothers and sisters, further strengthen the spirit of protection within us - that is my prayer to God.

"Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters.

Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind.

This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9.

Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts.
As Congress leaders amplified the vote theft allegation of Rahul Gandhi, Election Commission on Saturday once again pressed the Leader of the Opposition to either sign a declaration to support his claims or apologise to the country for making "fake" charges.

IMAGE: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at Indira Bhawan, New Delhi, August 7, 2025. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

A day after Gandhi and the EC exchanged barbs over alleged vote theft in at least three states, poll authority officials again insisted for a signed declaration by the Congress leader to substantiate his claims.

"Rahul Gandhi should either give a declaration as per the rules, or apologize to the country for his false allegations," an official said.

After his "vote chori" claims, chief electoral officers of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana had asked Gandhi to furnish names of those he claims were either left out or wrongfully included in the electoral roles along with a signed declaration as per Conduct of Election Rules.

But Gandhi had made it clear that he will not sign a declaration, asserting that he has already taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of Parliament.
Two goods trains got derailed in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district on Saturday under South Eastern Railway's Adra division, leading to the cancellation of several express trains, an official said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accident occurred when the two goods trains were passing each other in opposite direction between Chandil and Nimdih stations in Jharkhand, the SER official said.

There was no report of any injury in the derailments, an official said.

He said that, as per initial reports, a few carriages of one of the two goods trains got derailed and hit the middle portion of the train moving in the opposite direction in the double-line section, leading to the derailment of some of its wagons.

The derailments in the early hours of Saturday severely affected train movement in the Chandil-Gunda Bihar section of Adra division, the SER official said.

Train services on both the up and down tracks from Chandil are affected due to the derailment, senior divisional commercial manager (Adra Division) Vikash Kumar told PTI.

The SER official said that efforts are on to restore train movement in the section at the earliest.

Several other express and passenger trains have also been diverted or short-terminated, he said.

The 20897/20898 Howrah-Ranchi-Howrah Vande Bharat express, 20894 Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat express, 18183 Tatanagar-Buxar express, 13301/13302 Dhanbad-Tatanagar-Dhanbad express, 28181/28182 Tatanagar-Katihar-Tatanagar express are among the express trains cancelled owing to the accident, he said.

The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani express (via Sambalpur) has been diverted via Jharsguda-Rourkela-Nuagaon-Hatia-Bokaro Steel City-Rajabera whereas Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Purushottam Express will diverted via Hijili-Modinagar-Adra-Bhojudih-Gomoh, it said.

Three passenger MEMU including Tata-Asansol and Tata-Hatia would remain cancelled for the day.

LTT-Howrah Express stranded between Chandil-Kandra will be short-terminated and diverted via Tata-Kharagpur-Howrah, the statement said.
On the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India movement, Utkarsh Mishra/Rediff recalls the conditions under which the Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi, launched the final struggle for independence.

IMAGE: Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru during the Quit India movement of 1942. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikimedia Commons

August 8, 1942. Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay was to witness the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi's 'last' and 'biggest' struggle.

Thousands had gathered on the ground, now known as the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, where the All India Congress Committee meeting was going on since the previous day.

The meeting was expected to ratify the 'Quit India' resolution that was passed by the Congress Working Committee in Wardha on July 14.

When Gandhi rose to speak, the sea of Congress workers and supporters that cheered and roared at the arrival of their leaders, listened to him in complete silence.

'I am about to launch the biggest fight of my life,' he announced, saying that this time, he was not going to be satisfied with 'anything short of complete freedom'.

'Nothing less than freedom,' said Gandhi, and exhorted the gathering with these electrifying words, 'Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is: 'Do or Die'. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.'

Although the resolution as well as Gandhi's address specified that this struggle would be non-violent, the government called it a 'declaration of war' and arrested all the top Congress leaders in one fell swoop.

Thus began the mass movement that came to be known as 'Quit India', although the resolution gave it no such name.

It was after years of alternating between confrontation and compromise that the Congress had decided to strike the final blow against the Empire.

A Tenuous Truce

The civil disobedience movement that began with Gandhi's Salt March in 1930 ended with his pact with Viceroy Lord Irwin on March 5, 1931.

It was followed by the Karachi Congress where a resolution was passed outlining the party's vision for an independent India.

The same year, Gandhi was called to London for the Second Round Table Conference, which failed to settle the question of establishing a responsible government in India. Gandhi was also opposed to the suggestion of treating the depressed classes as separate from the rest of the Hindu community.

Irwin was replaced as Viceroy by Lord Willingdon and the new viceroy thought that it was a mistake to sign the pact with the Congress. The government also refused to honour specific conditions of the pact like the return of land seized during the no-tax campaign.

The Congress resumed the no-rent campaign in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), which prompted the government to arrest Jawaharlal Nehru on December 26.

The truce crumbled and the Congress decided to resume civil disobedience two days later.

Gandhi was arrested in January 1932, followed by all leading Congress leaders along with 80,000 satyagrahis.

The government responded with utmost repression. Gandhi withdrew the movement in 1934 and resigned from the Congress. He devoted the next few years to working for the abolition of untouchability.

Congress Divided

This lull in the national movement divided Congress opinion. While the right wing in the party wanted to undertake parliamentary work and participate in council elections, the left wing, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted the anti-imperialist struggle to continue.

The party was heading for a split.

Gandhi defused the situation by setting up an AICC parliamentary board, thus placating the right wing. The left wing was assuaged by the election of Nehru as president in 1936 and 1937, followed by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1938 and 1939.

The government, meanwhile, was working on a plan to pre-empt another movement by the Congress. With the aim of 'weaning away' Congress leaders from 'mass struggle to constitutionalism', the Government of India Act was introduced in the British parliament in 1935.

The Act allowed for provincial governments with substantial autonomy, although the final power rested with viceroy-appointed governors. But the government thought that once Congress leaders tasted power, they would be 'reluctant to part ways with it' in favour of a mass movement.

While the Congress resolved to 'totally reject' the 1935 Act, it decided to contest the provincial elections in 1937, in which it registered a massive victory. Despite a limited franchise, the party won 716 of the 1,161 seats it contested, securing a majority in most of the provinces except Bengal, Assam and the North-West Frontier Province.

Push Comes to Shove

The Congress formed ministries in the provinces where it secured a majority.

But the arrangement was critical. While the party was ruling in provinces, it was also an adversary of the viceroy and the governors appointed by him.

Nonetheless, they managed to win a great deal of public confidence and made crucial decisions, including repealing emergency powers, returning seized land, releasing political prisoners and providing economic relief to peasants.

However, as war clouds were gathering over Europe at the beginning of 1939, Bose was re-elected as Congress president. He advocated for an immediate resumption of the anti-imperialist struggle and for giving the Empire a six-month ultimatum to withdraw.

However, he failed to get support within the party and stepped down as a result.

On September 1, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany when the Third Reich invaded Poland. India was also dragged into the war.

The Congress was taken aback. They demanded that the government declare in clear terms that the British would leave India after the war in return for the Congress' support. But the new viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, was least interested.

Consequently, in October 1939, all provincial ministries of the Congress resigned.

The stage was set for another mass struggle.

Offering Conditional Support

The Congress session at Ramgarh in March 1940 resolved that 'nothing short of complete independence' would be accepted by the people in exchange for support in the war. It also resolved that civil disobedience would be resumed as soon as the organisation was 'ready for it'.

The situation was once again peculiar.

Prominent leaders like Nehru and C Rajagopalachari wanted the British to leave, but were also wary of fascism and Japanese imperialism. And opposing the government in the war meant siding with Hitler and an expansionist Japan that was already inflicting horrendous atrocities in China. Chinese nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek had already requested Gandhi not to sabotage the war effort.

However, Gandhi and other Congress leaders did not recognise the Japanese as a threat in the way Nehru and Rajagopalachari did.

In December 1941, the Congress passed another resolution in Bardoli, which once again stated that it would support the war only when the government promises independence.

Once again it went unheeded. And the government secretly started preparing for punitive action against the Congress if it resumed civil disobedience on a mass scale.

However, when the Malaya, Singapore and Burma fell to the Japanese and they started closing in, the initially reluctant government felt the need for local support.

To bring the Congress on board, the government in Britain sent Sir Stafford Cripps, a Labour leader and an advocate for India's independence, to India in March 1942.

Cripps negotiated the terms for 'the earliest possible realisation of self-government in India' and the setting-up of a constitution-making body.

However, his offer contained a condition that individual provinces had the right to reject the constitution if they so desired. Nehru and other Congress leaders asserted that the provision would pave the way for the partition of India, as Muslim-majority provinces would certainly exercise this right.

Another point of contention was the demand for civilian control of the military. Congress wanted an Indian member of the Viceroy's Council to oversee the defence of India. It was unacceptable to the government.

Thus, the Cripps Mission failed in April 1942.

Gandhi, in turn, wrote to both Chiang Kai-shek and US President Franklin D Roosevelt, requesting them to exert pressure on the British government to grant independence to India and other colonies in Africa.

The Congress argued that Indians cannot be thrown into the war with 'their hands tied behind their backs.' Moreover, Britain cannot claim to fight for democracy and freedom in Europe while simultaneously denying it to India and other colonies.

To allay the apprehensions of the Axis Powers seizing India in the event of British withdrawal, Gandhi went so far as to suggest that the government of independent India would allow British and American soldiers to use its soil to resist the Japanese advance and help China.

The Final Showdown

While a reply from Roosevelt was still awaited and the British government under Winston Churchill showed no intentions of relenting, the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution on July 14, 1942, asking the British to quit India. If they failed to do so, the Congress would launch a mass movement on the 'widest possible scale'.

The nature of the movement was to be decided at the Bombay meeting of the AICC on August 7.

On August 8, Nehru moved the resolution and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel seconded it.

The resolution asking for 'an immediate end to British rule in India' was accepted. It also clarified that the end of the British rule would not mean support for the Japanese war effort.

In his address, Gandhi said he would wait for a few weeks before commencing the struggle to see if the viceroy was ready to accept the Congress's demands.

But the government was ready to strike a body blow against the movement.

In the morning of August 9, Gandhi was arrested along with Sarojini Naidu, his secretary Mahadev Desai and his associate Mirabehn. They were taken to the Aga Khan palace in Pune.

Later, all other Congress leaders, including Nehru, Patel and Maulana Azad, were arrested and jailed in the Ahmednagar Fort. They were to remain there for the next three years.

With all top leaders in jail, it fell to the local leadership to continue the movement.

For a couple of months, hartals and public demonstrations continued throughout the country.

Government buildings, including post offices and police stations, were attacked, railway tracks were removed, and bridges were blown up. Parallel governments were formed in some parts of the country, most notably in Ballia (UP), Tamluk (Bengal) and Satara (Maharashtra). These actions significantly impacted military preparations.

Apart from communal parties and the Communists (because the Soviet Union was an Allied Power), all others supported the movement.

Government repression knew no bounds, jails were brimming with satyagrahis, and within months, the open movement was crushed. However, underground movements continued in several provinces.

A Congress circular that asked protesters to 'be always non-violent', also listed instructions such as 'uproot railway lines, pull down large bridges, cut telegraph wires, and tear the roads asunder'. It also asked them to 'take away arms of the police and military and hoist the tricolour on courts, police stations and post-offices.'

Significantly, even Gandhi refused to condemn the violence during the movement and saw it as a reaction by the people.

In the words of historian Bipan Chandra, 'The great significance of this historic movement was that it placed the demand for independence on the immediate agenda of the national movement. After Quit India, there could be no retreat. Any future negotiations with the British government could only be on the manner of the transfer of power. Independence was no longer a matter of bargain. And this became amply clear after the War.'
By Neil J Kanatt

(Reuters) -Under Armour said on Friday its sales decline would worsen this quarter and warned of soft demand as well as $100 million more in tariff-related costs for the year, sending the sportswear maker's shares down about 20%.

The company has struggled to drive up demand in the past two years and efforts to revive the business have hit more roadblocks in recent months due to the Trump administration's shifting tariff policies.

Maryland-based Under Armour had brought back founder Kevin Plank as CEO in March last year to reboot the business.

"It's concerning that, going a year into its restructuring plan, there's still little sign of a reversal in its revenue declines and profitability struggles on the horizon," said Emarketer analyst Sky Canaves.

CEO Plank said Under Armour was also considering bumping up prices for the "embedded consumer who we do have pricing power with".

It expects quarterly gross margin to decline by 340 to 360 basis points due to potential tariff-related supply chain snags, but said favorable foreign exchange and pricing benefits would partially offset the decline.

As of May, the company was sourcing about 30% of its overall merchandise volume from Vietnam and 15% from Indonesia. It faces a direct risk from President Donald Trump's 20% tariffs on goods from Vietnam and 19% on Indonesian goods, though it remains unclear if the levies are final.

"Given the new tariff cost this year and related demand impacts ... we expect operating income on an adjusted basis to be roughly half of fiscal 2025 levels," said CFO Dave Bergman in a conference call.

The company also forecast a decline of between 6% and 7% in current-quarter revenue, compared with analysts' average estimate of a 2.9% drop, according to data compiled by LSEG.

For the first quarter ended June 30, revenue fell 4% to $1.13 billion, in line with estimates, while adjusted profit per share of 2 cents missed estimates of 3 cents.

(Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has renewed calls that any deal between Washington and Moscow to end the war in Ukraine must include Kyiv and the EU.

"The US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously. Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraines and the whole of Europe's security," Kallas said on August 10.

Kallas's comments came ahead of US President Donald Trump's meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska next week in a bid to end the Ukraine war. European leaders have welcomed Trump's efforts to try to resolve the 41-month-old military conflict but emphasized the need to pressure Moscow and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Kallas also announced she will convene a meeting of European foreign ministers on August 11 to discuss next steps.

International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine, Kallas said, reiterating support for Ukraine, which has pushed back against US suggestions it would need to cede some territory to Russia.

Kallas warned that "a deal must not provide a springboard for further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance and Europe."

Her comments echoed a joint statement on August 9 by Kyiv's European allies who said any peace talks with Russia must include Ukraine.

The statement by the British, French, Italian, German, Polish, Finnish, and European Commission leaders stressed that "only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine, and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed."

The European leaders also vowed to uphold their "substantive military and financial support to Ukraine," adding that "Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny."

"The end of the war must be fair, and I am grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine and our people today for the sake of peace in Ukraine, which is defending the vital security interests of our European nations," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post on August 10 in response to the statement. He said Kyiv "values and fully supports" it.

In another statement released by Kyiv's Western allies on August 10, the Nordic-Baltic 8 group voiced its support for Kyiv and said peace could only be brought about through increased pressure on Russia to stop its "unlawful" war.

The statement by the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden said they "reaffirm the principle that international borders must not be changed by force."

NBC News, citing a senior US official and three others briefed on the matter, reported late on August 9 that the White House is considering inviting Zelenskyy to the Alaska meeting on August 15.

However, Reuters later quoted another White House official as saying that while Trump would be open to a three-way meeting in Alaska, for now, plans were only for Trump-Putin bilateral talks as requested by the Russian leader.

In a Fox News interview on August 10, US Vice President JD Vance said he did not think it would be productive for Putin to sit down with Zelenskyy before meeting with Trump. Vance said Washington was still working to schedule future talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.

Putin has so far ruled out meeting with Zelenskyy, who has said he is ready for such direct talks.

Trump has suggested that any resolution to the war could include "swapping of territories." That would potentially conflict with Kyiv's longstanding position that it must regain all the territory Russia currently occupies.

"We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched," Trump said at the White House on August 8. "Therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later or tomorrow."

In a video released hours later, Zelenskyy warned that any peace deal excluding Kyiv or forcing the ceding of territory would not be acceptable.

"Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," he said

"Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work," Zelenskyy said.

"The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together, and only together with Ukraine. This is key principle," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron -- following phone calls with Zelenskyy and other Western allies -- echoed those remarks, saying, "The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for more than three years now."

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed negotiators, on August 9 reported that European officials had presented a counterproposal to the unspecified US plan, including a requirement that a cease-fire take place before any other steps are made and that any swaps of territory be reciprocal and include security guarantees.

European officials presented their proposals to Vance during a meeting with Ukrainian and European officials at a country mansion outside of London on August 9, said the report said, which could not immediately be confirmed.

Zelenskyy said his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, was at the meeting in Britain.

"There have been talks between security representatives of the United States and Europe -- Ukraine, the United States -- Vice President Vance, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Poland. The meeting was constructive. All our messages were conveyed. Our arguments are being heard," Zelenskyy said.

He added that "it is important that our joint approaches and shared vision work toward a genuine peace. A consolidated position. A cease-fire. An end to the occupation. An end to the war."

The Trump-Putin talks come at a pivotal moment, with Trump increasingly frustrated with Putin and the Russian president showing no signs of bending on the Kremlin's maximalist demands. Trump and Putin have held six phone calls, and the White House's lead envoy has traveled to Moscow at least three times.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov confirmed the meeting and said Alaska was a symbolic location, given the two countries' shared Arctic borders.

Russia's invasion has turned into the largest land war in Europe since World War II, devastating Ukraine, and transforming Russia, turning its economy into a war machine and establishing a police-state government criminalizing dissent.

Moscow's casualties, dead and wounded, stand at more than 1 million, according to Western estimates. Ukraine's war dead are believed to exceed 100,000, with overall casualties around 400,000.

Despite the toll, and international pressure, Putin has pressed his advantage on and off the battlefield.

Russian troops are grinding down Ukrainian defenses, closing in on two major cities, Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar.

Russia forces have also battered Ukrainian cities with record numbers of missiles and drones in recent months, targeting civilians, residential buildings, and electricity infrastructure.

A new round of Moscow's shelling and drone strikes on August 10 killed at least three civilians in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region, while two others were killed in Donetsk, Ukrainian authorities said.

Ukraine has also targeted military-related infrastructure deep inside Russia with drone strikes. On August 10, Ukraine's military said that it had struck an oil refinery in Russia's Saratov region in an overnight drone attack.

Earlier, regional authorities in Saratov said at least one person was killed and several others injured in a Ukrainian drone strike that hit several apartments and an "industrial facility."

Russias Defense Ministry claimed that it shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones, including one over the Moscow area on August 10.

The damage and casualties caused by the Ukrainian attacks are disproportionate to the many deaths and injuries, and severe destruction inflicted by the Russian forces since the invasion began.

Ukraine's military also said on August 10 that it had taken back the village of Bezsalivka in the northeastern Sumy region from the Russian Army. It claimed that 18 Russian troops had been "eliminated" in the fighting.

Meeting In Alaska

The decision to meet Putin face-to-face -- something Trump's predecessor Joe Biden refused to do following the invasion -- reflects Trump's belief that his relationship with the Russian leader will yield a durable peace agreement.

For Putin, meeting Trump in person -- without the presence of Zelenskyy or Ukrainian officials -- is a small victory, reflecting Putin's position that Zelenskyy is an illegitimate leader and that a grand bargain to end the war can only be reached directly with the United States.

Traveling to the United States is also a small victory for Putin who is under a war crimes arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Only members of the court are obliged to detain him, and the Trump administration is openly hostile to the Hague tribunal.

Land 'Swapping'

It was unclear what Trump meant by "swapping" territory; Ukraine doesn't currently hold any Russian territory.

Russia seized control of the Crimean Peninsula and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014 and now occupies about one-fifth of the country, including almost all of the Luhansk region and substantial parts of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions, the entirety of which Moscow now baselessly claims belong to Russia.

A senior EU official told RFE/RL on August 10 that "regarding territorial issues, the Russian position is framed as a territorial swap, but it appears as a rather one-sided swap."

"President Trump does not consider it to be a concession to President Putin to have this meeting in Alaska. Rather, President Trump wants to test the ground himself with President Putin."

"Security guarantees are of the utmost importance for Ukraine. The most robust security guarantee would be that there are no limitations on Ukraine armed forces and third countries support to Ukraine," the official added

Reuters quoted Kyiv resident Olesia Petritska, 51, as saying that "not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory, to pull out troops from Ukrainian territories."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
As Russia presses its offensive, Ukraine faces a crisis experts say is as critical as its shortages of ammunition and weapons: a dwindling supply of infantry.

"Drivers, artillerymen, and cooks" are holding the line, says Bohdan Krotevich, an officer formerly with the Azov Brigade's headquarters. "A maximum of 12 fighters hold sections 5-10 kilometers wide."

The lack of manpower is allowing Russia to employ what Ukraine's commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskiy, recently called "total infiltration" tactics. Small infantry groups make it through Ukrainian lines -- including into Pokrovsk, the key city in the Donetsk region that is likely the main target of Russia's current offensive.

One of the brigades responsible for defending the area had "run out of infantry," according to Ukrainian conflict-monitoring group DeepState, allowing the Russians through. A video from July, geolocated to a gas station in the southern part of the city, shows a Ukrainian transport coming under fire from one of the infiltration groups, and other units had to be sent in to attempt to clear the area.

The Manpower Gap Flips In Russia's Favor

Early in the war, the balance was radically different. In the lead-up to the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia's army had about 1 million troops, with some 150,000-190,000 concentrated along Ukraine's borders with Russia and Belarus.

At the time, Ukraine's military had some 260,000 in active service, but the country mobilized up to 700,000 men by midsummer, handing it a manpower advantage over the invading Russian forces, who had by then been expelled from the Kyiv region. Russia was forced to conduct a "partial mobilization" of about 300,000 reservists to stabilize the front line after yielding thousands of square kilometers of territory in eastern Ukraine.

In 2023, Russian recruitment picked up, introducing thousands of prison inmates to the army as well as mercenary groups like the infamous Wagner private military company and offering significant sign-up bonuses to volunteers. Ukraine, on the other hand, was struggling to find new recruits to replace losses.

As analysts from the investigative group, the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) observed, this was the year momentum shifted in Moscow's favor, as Russia's recruitment drive neutralized Ukraine's manpower advantage while Kyiv faced mounting difficulties replenishing its ranks.

In 2025, according to The Military Balance, an annual assessment of military capabilities worldwide, Russia's numbers of active-duty personnel reached over 1.13 million -- with Syrskiy claiming some 640,000 of them were on Ukrainian territory, a figure echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While Ukraine's total troop strength is officially over 1 million, the Warsaw-based Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) says not more than 300,000 of them are deployed on the front lines.

Russia Recruiting More Than Ukraine

According to the OSW, Ukraine needs to recruit some 300,000 soldiers to replenish its brigades, some of which are only at 30 percent strength. Last year, it managed 200,000, a number that "proved insufficient to maintain unit strength at an adequate level" given "the scale of desertions and personnel losses," the OSW report says. Currently, Ukraine recruits an estimated 17,000 to 24,000 people per month, or between 204,000 and 288,000 per year.

While it has had to increase its sign-up bonuses, Russian recruitment is estimated to have increased to a rate of about 30,000 per month - an advantage of roughly 70,000-150,000 per year.

Thousands AWOL

Beyond the gap in recruitment figures, Ukraine's army has a desertion problem, with tens of thousands of instances of soldiers going Absent Without Leave (AWOL) recorded per year. According to popular Ukrainian war correspondent Yuri Butusov, the Anne of Kyiv brigade, trained in France, had up to 1,700 soldiers go AWOL between March and November 2024 -- a staggering figure, given Ukraine's average brigade strength is between 4,000 and 5,000.

The founder of the Frontelligence Insight group says cases of forced mobilization, where Ukrainian men are taken off the street to a recruitment center, contribute to the desertion problem, with mobilized recruits often less motivated than those who volunteer. A Ukrainian commander told CNN that "the majority" of these recruits leave their positions. "They go to the positions once and if they survive, they never return. They either leave their positions, refuse to go into battle, or try to find a way to leave the army."

Can Ukraine Close The Gap?

Ukraine has adopted several policies to address the recruitment and desertion issues. Soldiers who went AWOL have been allowed to avoid prosecution by voluntarily returning to their units. Tens of thousands have done so -- although the numbers of those deserting are still higher.

Despite pressure from both the Trump and Biden administrations, Ukraine has so far resisted lowering its draft age to 18 -- a move that would be deeply unpopular with the public. Ukrainian men aged 25 and above can be drafted after the age was lowered from 27 in April 2024. However, the military has begun offering monthly salaries of 120,000 hryvna (about $2,900) and other financial incentives to incentivize those aged between 18 and 24 to volunteer.

Presidential military adviser Pavlo Palysa said in April that the new program had drawn just 500 recruits in the first weeks since it was launched, and it's unclear whether the figures have picked up since then.

While US President Donald Trump has recently threatened increased pressure on Moscow if a cease-fire deal is not agreed to soon, analysts haven't seen a shift in the Kremlin's policy yet. "I do not observe any substantive change in Russian tactics toward Trump or Ukraine," Tatyana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said on X.

With no indication that Putin is willing to back down or accept a cease-fire along current lines -- his forces have so far failed to take much of the four Ukrainian regions Russia officially claimed to have annexed in 2022 -- Ukraine will need to deal with its manpower shortage to hold the line.

This story was adapted by Ivan Gutterman from an analysis by RFE/RL's Russian Service. Read the original in Russian.
Yerevan residents spoke to RFE/RL about their thoughts on the possibility of ending decades of conflict with Azerbaijan following a US-brokered deal on August 8. The plan calls for a US-administered road through southern Armenia that would link Azerbaijan with its exclave territory to the west.
(Reuters) -Vanguard Group settled a lawsuit accusing the mutual fund giant of saddling investors in its popular target-date funds with inflated tax bills, after a federal judge rejected an earlier settlement.

In a filing on Thursday in Philadelphia federal court, Vanguard and the investors said they agreed in principle following private mediation to resolve all claims.

They plan by September 22 to seek preliminary approval of the settlement from U.S. District Judge John Murphy, who rejected a $40 million accord on May 19.

Terms were not disclosed. Vanguard said it was pleased to settle. Lawyers for the investors did not respond to requests for comment.

Target-date funds contain mixes of stocks, bonds and cash that are designed to become less risky as investors age, and also be tax-efficient.

The lawsuit stemmed from Vanguard's December 2020 decision to reduce the minimum investment in lower-cost fund classes meant for institutional clients to $5 million from $100 million.

Many investors shifted to those fund classes from higher-cost retail fund classes. This forced the retail funds to sell assets to meet redemptions, and pass taxable capital gains to investors like the plaintiffs who remained.

Murphy said the $40 million settlement did nothing for investors because Vanguard could have offset that amount from its related $106.4 million settlement in January with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The judge also said investors would have been worse off, once more than $13 million was taken out for legal fees.

Vanguard is based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It had $10.4 trillion of assets under management as of January 31.

The case is In re Vanguard Chester Funds Litigation, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, No. 22-00955.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The National Novena to Our Lady of Knock begins today. It will take place from August 13th to 21st at Knock Shrine, and approximately 150,000 people are expected to attend.

This years theme, "Pilgrims of Hope", invites all to embark on a journey of faith and reflection, rooted in the enduring message of hope.

Each day is designed to foster a sense of hope and unity, encouraging pilgrims to strengthen their spiritual journeys, while connecting with others in a supportive environment.

The Novena will feature daily ceremonies, with guest speakers, at 3 p.m.and 8 p.m. offering opportunities for spiritual nourishment and reflection.

Throughout the Novena, a series of insightful and thought-provoking workshops will be held daily at 12:45 p.m.. Novena workshops provide a unique and enriching experience for participants eager to explore the theme of the day more profoundly.

Ahead of this years National Novena, Fr. Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine said: We are pleased to welcome inspiring guest speakers each day, who will offer reflections and insights on the theme Pilgrims of Hope. Hope is at the heart of the Knock Apparition and throughout this years National Novena, we will explore how hope can shine through in the most unexpected places.

This years guest speakers include Fr. Kevin Kiernan, OFM Cap  Capuchin Director of the Capuchin Day Centre and guardian of the Capuchin Friary of St. Mary of the Angels, Church St. Dublin.

Miriam Wijlens is a Dutch theologian and professor of Canon Law at University of Erfurt, Germany, who served on the Coordinating Committee of the Synod on Synodality in Rome.

Bishop Kevin Doran is the Bishop of Elphin and Achonry, chairperson of the Council for Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference.

Msgr Kevin Gillespie is diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Raphoe and Administrator of St. Eunans Cathedral, Letterkenny. He will be joined by Elaine Patton, who is actively involved in youth ministry in Raphoe Diocese.

Eileen Dunne is a former news anchor at RTE, who has served as international president of the Association of European Journalists.

Fr. Niall Leahy SJ is an advocate for localism at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. He is based in Gardiner Street Parish in Dublin.

Ita Lohan is Chaplain at Loughan House open centre and former Chaplain at Castlerea Prison.

Breda Casserly is a former healthcare chaplain at the Galway Hospice and author of Lessons from a bedside.

Julian Drapiewski is a chartered engineer and permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Tuam.

Claire Kilroy is the seconded deputy principal working in Le Cheile Schools trust, who has recently been appointed CEO of the Association of Patrons and Trustees of Catholic Schools.

John Farrelly is the prayer guidance co-ordinator at Knock Shrine, where he leads Spiritual Direction Ministry.

Fr. Richard Gibbons is Parish Priest and Rector of Knock Shrine.

A family day will be held on Sunday, August 17th Family day features a variety of free activities that cater to all ages, beginning with a special blessing of families in the Apparition Chapel at 11 a.m. Children of all ages can participate in fun activities, games and workshops on the Basilica green.

The final evening of the Novena, August 21st marks the anniversary of the Knock Apparition. The evenings celebration will commence with the Witness Walk at 6.45 p.m.. This prayerful walk through the village of Knock will commemorate each of the apparition witnesses, who made their way from their homesteads to witness the extraordinary vision at the gable wall of the parish church in 1879.

This year's National Novena to Our Lady of Knock promises to be a spiritually enriching experience. For more information, including details on the daily schedule, guest speakers, guided prayer sessions and workshops, please visit the Knock Shrine website www.knockshrine.ie or follow Knock Shrine on social media.
Ballaghaderreen Library has re-opened following the completion of renovation works at the historic Dillon House.

The library now includes a large, dedicated childrens section with seating areas, a new area for teenagers, a large collection of novels, free high-speed internet and Wi-Fi, fully accessible entrance and exits, accessible bathroom, baby changing facilities, wireless printing, lendable tablets, study spaces, leisure reading space and a community meeting room.

The project was supported by funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht under the Small Scale Capital Works scheme, the My Open Library funding scheme, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Irelands Pathfinder Programme through the Midlands Energy Agency.

The opening hours have increased from 31 hours to 35 hours per week with lunchtime opening.

The library now includes a large, dedicated childrens section with seating areas.

The My Open Library service will launch later this year, allowing My Open Library (MOL) members access to the library for lending/returning, internet PC access and printing 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. outside of normal staffed hours.

Visitors to the library can also enjoy the artwork of Roscommon artist Annmarie Murray who created some unique pieces for the childrens and young adult sections.

A new area for teenagers has free high-speed internet and Wi-fi.

County librarian Sandra Turner said the re-opening was much anticipated: The re-opening of this library is very important to the people of Ballaghaderreen who have always supported the library service in the town.

I know the return of the library to Dillon House will be warmly welcomed, and I would like to thank the public for their patience and support for the duration of the project.

Thanks also to the local elected representatives for their ongoing support and the library team who have shown great commitment to delivering and providing top quality, state of the art library in Dillon House.

Im sure the people of Ballaghaderreen will join the library team in taking a moment to remember Deirdre Creighton, who sadly passed away in 2022. Deirdre was a dedicated librarian who worked to deliver wonderful service over many years in Dillon House and who advocated so well for the development of library services for the town, said Sandra.
The lack of parking at Roscommon University Hospital was highlighted at a recent sitting of Roscommon District Court.

Appearing before Judge Deirdre Gearty, a nurse was being prosecuted for illegal parking on a footpath at the hospital on the morning of December 16th, 2024.

The nurse, who represented herself, said that on the date of the alleged offence, she had arrived early for work and there were no car parking spaces.

We just cant get parking, she said. We have this battle every day. She said that she did not feel like she deserved to get penalised for going to work.

She added that there were no No Parking signs at the area where she parked and the day before the court there were also cars parked there.

Judge Gearty said as the matter was being disputed, she put the case back for hearing until September 9th.
CM Mann announces ex gratia of Rs 1 cr each to families of 2 soldiers martyred in Kulgam encounter

Their dedication and bravery will always be remembered, he said.

Kulgam Encounter Latest News Today: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday expressed grief over the martyrdom of two soldiers from the state who lost their lives during an encounter with terrorists in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

The martyrs have been identified as Pritpal Singh, a resident of Manupur village in Khanna, and Harminder Singh, from Badinpur village in Mandi Gobindgarh, who were serving in the Indian Army and were part of the operation Akhal in which they sustained fatal injuries.

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In a heartfelt message, CM Bhagwant Mann said Punjab salutes the courage and sacrifice of the bravehearts who laid down their lives to safeguard the nation. Their dedication and bravery will always be remembered, he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also announced that, in line with the state governments policy, the families of the martyrs will be provided an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore each as a mark of respect and support.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, CM Mann assured that the state stands firmly with them in this time of grief. He added that the supreme sacrifice made by the soldiers would continue to inspire future generations to serve the country with the same valor.
With a market cap of around $38 billion, The Hershey Company (HSY) is a leading global manufacturer of chocolate, non-chocolate confectionery, pantry items, and snacks. Operating through its North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International segments, the company markets iconic brands like Hersheys, Reeses, Kit Kat, and SkinnyPop in over 80 countries.

Shares of the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company have underperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks. HSY stock has dropped 6.2% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 21.9%. However, shares of Hershey are up 10.7% on a YTD basis, outpacing SPXs 7.8% rise.

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Narrowing the focus, shares of the chocolate bar and candy maker have lagged behind the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLP) over 5% return over the past 52 weeks.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Hershey rose 1.4% on Jul. 30 after the company beat Q2 2025 estimates with adjusted EPS of $1.21 and revenue of $2.6 billion, driven by strong Easter demand and a 21% sales volume increase from planned inventory and supply chain changes. The company also benefited from earlier Halloween shipments, a 5% price increase to offset soaring cocoa costs, and steady growth in its salty snacks segment, led by SkinnyPop and Dots.

For the fiscal year ending in December 2025, analysts expect HSYs adjusted EPS to decline 36.8% year-over-year to $5.92. The companys earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters while missing on another occasion.

Among the 22 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a Hold. Thats based on one Strong Buy rating, 17 Holds, and four Strong Sells.

www.barchart.com

On Jul. 31, TD Cowens Robert Moskow increased Hersheys price target to $204 and maintained a Hold rating.

As of writing, the stock is trading above the mean price target of $182.32. The Street-high price target of $220 implies a potential upside of 17.3% from the current price.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
August 9, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

August 9, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 09.08.2025, 20:01

MEASURES A second package of fiscal-budgetary measures aimed at curbing Romanias budget deficit, the highest in the European Union, is going to be promoted also through assuming responsibility in Parliament by the government as the first package. Deputy Prime Minister, Tanczos Barna, says the decision has been made by all the ruling parties and is going to be implemented next week. This second package would include a series of reforms in the local public administration such as reducing the number of jobs by 20%, an increased decentralization as well as new amendments to the legal framework regulating the taxes levied on buildings. The number of local police forces is also going to be resized. We recall the first package of measures came into effect in Romania on August 1st. The package includes higher excises and VAT, higher healthcare contributions for pensions above 600 Euros, frozen pensions and salaries in the public sector as well as limited bonuses and employments in state institutions. Disgruntled with the new measures, employees in various fields of activity have staged a series of protests.

MAE Romanias Foreign Ministry has announced in a communique that it is presently facing a shortage of personnel, which is getting worse constantly. The crisis was caused by a series of factors such as retirement, resignations due to low wages, years of banned jobs interviews or the enlargement of Romanias consular network in an attempt to respond to the need of bigger Romanian communities abroad, mainly n European countries. The Ministrys Foreign Service includes 598 people in diplomatic and consular jobs and 386-strong administrative personnel. Some of these employees have been embedded with various public, central and local institutions. The Ministry has announced that it is going to improve the situation by staging a series of job interviews aimed at attracting highly-trained professionals.

PERFORMANCE The Romanian librarian Avram Iancu on Friday achieved a notable performance by swimming through the Main-Danube Canal linking the rivers Danube and Rhine. The Romanian has thus become the first man to have crossed Europe by swimming along its main rivers from the North Sea to the Black Sea. In 2017, the librarian covered the entire Danube River swimming 2860 kilometers in 89 days. In 2023 he swam 1032 kilometers in 48 days. His last performance in the series was the 556-kilometer Main-Danube Canal, which took him 40 days. Avram Iancu has thus totaled 4448 kilometers of swimming without wearing a neoprene costume, a distance which he covered in 177 days. Among his performances there is also the crossing of the English Channel in 2016 and 2024.

SITE After almost three years of complex restoration and preservation works, the ancient amphitheater at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa in central Romania has been reopened to public. The amphitheater  one of the most precious monuments dating back to the Roman era  will become available for cultural events as its new stands are now boasting up to 500 seats. After two expeditions between the years 101-102 and 105-106 during the reign of Emperor Trajan, the Roman legions conquered the old kingdom of Dacia, at the north of the Danube, and set the capital of the new province at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa. One of the most spectacular buildings was the local Roman amphitheater, which back in its days used to host gladiator fights, artistic performances and sporting events. Most of the ruins of the former ancient Roman capital are scattered around the area as the present village of Sarmizegetusa lies over the ancient Roman settlement.

KYIV The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has stepped up talks with his European allies, after it was announced the US President Donald Trump would meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. The Kyiv leader has said that Ukraine and its European allies will work as productively as possible to achieve real peace. It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again. We all need a genuine end to the war and reliable security foundations for Ukraine and other European nations, Zelensky says. The Ukrainian president earlier rejected an agreement, which might involve land swapping between Russia and Ukraine.

(bill)
August 9, 2025 UPDATE

The latest world and local news

August 9, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 09.08.2025, 14:23

KYIV Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has today announced on social networks that his country will not give land to the occupier. Before the upcoming meeting between the US president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, Zelensky says, quote any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. On Friday President Trump said that the upcoming peace talks could involve some land swapping between the two sides. Russia had earlier called on Ukraine to officially cede the four regions partially controlled by its army (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson) as well as the Crimean Peninsula annexed in 2014, give up its intention to join NATO and reduce its military capabilities. Ukraine has rejected the conditions, which it described as unacceptable.

(bill)
Dominating the countrys scooter industry is Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI), which has single-handedly held this 2W segment for a very long time. All credits go to Honda Activa series of family-format scooters that made this happen. Honda also has the sporty Dio, but not a retro-style scooter.

This is where Yamaha Fascino and Vespa scooters among ICE scooters and Bajaj Chetak and Kinetic DX among EVs come into action with their retro-modern design and styling. Now, Honda has patented design of a retro scooter in India, suggesting the company could fill a void in its portfolio or just routinely protect its IPs in India. Lets take a closer look.

2025 Honda NS125 LA

The scooter we are talking about is the new 2025 version of Honda NS125 LA, which is a gorgeous retro-modern scooter. Everything about Honda NS125s design is a blast from the past and it even bears retro pastel colours to further up the charm. Circular LED headlights, round ORVMs with a doze of chrome and modern LED turn indicators look snazzy.

Further accentuating the retro-modern feel, we have dual-tone Black and Chrome alloy wheels, chrome exhaust heat shield, a ribbed dual-tone seat cover, painted apron, lockable glovebox, LED rear tail lights and more. Honda will even offer retro accessories like windshield, chrome front luggage carrier, chrome rear luggage carrier and chrome bumpers.

Modern elements include a disc brake setup at the front with option to choose ABS, a fully digital colour TFT instrument cluster with 4G connection unlocking a plethora of connected telematics features via the app and Honda will even sell you an integrated dashcam which will sync with this app.

Other notable features include side-stand engine cut off, spacious under-seat storage for a half-face helmet, 20W USB Type-A and Type-C ports in the glovebox area, 5.7L fuel tank, 760 mm seat height, 90 km/h top speed, 108 to 115 kg kerb weight, ACG silent start, engine stop/start system and more.

Powertrain & Pricing

The model patented in India is the newest 2025 version of Honda NS125 LA, which gets refined aesthetics. It is powered by a 124cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine that generates 9.38 bhp of peak power and 10 Nm of peak torque, mated to a CVT. It rides on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels.

Where pricing is concerned, 2025 Honda NS125 LA starts from CNY 10,480 and goes till CNY 12,980, which roughly translates to around Rs 1.27 lakh to Rs 1.57 lakh with currency exchange rates. HMSI has not confirmed whether it will launch NS125 LA in India. These design patents might either be launch intentions or just IP (Intellectual Property) protection exercise.

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Also read  2025 Honda CB125 Hornet Launched
Since its debut in India in December 1999, the Maruti Wagon R has been an enduring symbol of the countrys growing middle class

Wagon R has consistently ranked among the bestselling Maruti cars in India for several years. There were also times when the Wagon R was Marutis top-selling car. Globally, Wagon R sales have reached the 1 crore or 10 million milestone. And India has emerged as the largest contributor to its sales. Lets get some more interesting insights about one of Indias most popular hatchbacks.

Wagon R India sales

In the domestic market, Maruti Wagon R cumulative sales are at 34,14,176 units. Thats around 34.14% of the 1 crore units sold globally. Made-in-India Wagon R is also exported to overseas locations such as Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. After initial launch in 1999, the 2nd-gen and 3rd-gen versions of Maruti Wagon R were introduced in 2010 and 2019, respectively.

Maruti Wagon R was the highest selling car in India (across all segments) for four consecutive years  FY 2021-22, FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25. Cumulative sales of 5.30 lakh units were recorded between 1999 and 2008. Sales during the period from 2009 to 2018 were at around 15.69 lakh units. The 3rd-gen model launched in 2019 has contributed around 11.99 lakh units till date. Thats approximately 12% of Wagon Rs lifetime global sales. Highest ever annual sales of Maruti Wagon R were in 2022 at 217,317 units.

With cumulative domestic sales of 3.4 million units, Maruti Wagon R is the second best selling hatchback in the country. The top selling hatchback title goes to Maruti Alto, which has cumulative sales of around 5 million units. Alto was launched in India in 2000, a year after the Wagon R. It is the only car in India to reach the 5 million cumulative sales milestone.

In FY 2026 (April-June), Wagon R sales are currently at 40,292 units. In June 2025, Wagon R sales were at 12,930 units. Thats close to 11% of Marutis total sales in the month. Wagon R is ranked 5th in Marutis June sales, trailing Dzire, Brezza, Ertiga and Swift.

Suzuki Wagon R global sales

Sold globally, the Suzuki Wagon R is currently in its 6th generation. It was first launched in 1993 and is positioned as a kei car in its home market Japan. Suzuki Wagon R can be found in more than 75 countries globally. Some of the key markets include Japan, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and European nations.

Suzuki Wagon R took 31 years and 9 months to achieve the 10 million cumulative sales milestone (June 2025). Based on the market, the Wagon R has adapted its styling to suit local needs and preferences. For example, the Wagon R Smile variant in Japan comes with sliding doors.

Latest 6th-gen model was introduced in February 2017. A look at global sales numbers reveals that Suzuki Wagon R reached the 1 million cumulative sales milestone in October 1998. Next big milestone was cumulative global sales of 5 million units, achieved in February 2010. Sales as of June 2025 have crossed the 10-million mark.
Renowned Vietnamese brand, Vinfast, is shaping up its portfolio in India as the company has lined up VF 6 and VF 7 electric SUVs. Both of them are premium electric SUVs with a maximum seating capacity of 5 occupants. However, there seems to be a new electric SUV in the pipeline for India, which will be Vinfasts first 7-seater electric SUV in India. Lets take a closer look.

Vinfast 7-Seater SUV

After inaugurating their first ever manufacturing facility outside of Vietnam and third operational facility globally in Toothukudi, Tamil Nadu, Vinfast seems to be gearing up for a portfolio expansion. The company has just trademarked design of a new 7-seater electric SUV in India which will appeal to both fleet buyers and large families in India.

We say fleet buyers because the vehicle we are looking at is called Vinfast Limo Green, which the company has listed as a Service Vehicle and not a Car on their website. It is aimed at fleet buyers looking to operate electric 7-seaters. In Vietnam, Vinfast calls it an MPV and not an SUV, which might be changed in India, considering market trends.

Where design is concerned, Vinfast Limo Green is quite good looking. It has a minimal front fascia with what looks like a connecting LED light bar along with sleek vertically arranged headlights. In fact, it looks far sleeker than VF 6 and VF 7, launching soon in India. Side profile has a strong SUV-ish silhouette accentuated by tough-looking body cladding.

Specs & Features

Dimensionally, Vinfast Limo Green measures 4,740 mm in length, 1,872 mm in width, 1,728 mm in height and has a 2,840 mm long wheelbase. It has large 18-inch alloy wheels and a ground clearance of 170 mm. There are disc brakes at all four corners too. Battery is a 60.13 kWh unit which promises a range of 450 km on a single charge (NEDC).

Vinfast Limo Green is a FWD vehicle with a single electric motor rated at 201 bhp of peak power and 280 Nm of peak torque. It has three driving modes  Eco, Comfort and Sport. Fast DC charging is supported and Limo Green will go from 10%-70% SOC in 30 minutes.

On the inside, Vinfast Limo Green gets a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and a minimal dashboard and a three-spoke steering wheel. Features include leatherette upholstery, 360-degree camera, a floating centre console, chrome highlights for premium appeal, three-row seating to accommodate up to 7 occupants and more.

Will it launch in India?

Vinfast Limo Green deliveries commenced on 5th August 2025 as the company handed over the first batch to customers. Deliveries started four months after bookings began and 7 months after it debuted. Theres a good probability of Vinfast Limo Green launching in India considering market trends favouring 7-seater offerings in EV segment.

In Vietnam, Vinfast Limo Green has been priced at VND 749 Million that includes a 7-year or 1,60,000 km warranty and free charging at all V-Green public charging stations. This turns out to be around Rs 25 lakh in todays conversion rates. If the same price is employed for Indian market, it will rival the BYD eMAX 7, Kia Carens Clavis EV and upcoming Mahindra XEV 7e.
With a market cap of $231.6 billion, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. It operates in segments including Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing, offering solutions in hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, IT infrastructure, and business process services.

The IT giant has significantly outperformed the broader market over the past year. IBM stock has soared 33.9% over the past 52 weeks and 13.8% on a YTD basis, outpacing the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 21.9% gains over the past year and 7.8% rise in 2025.

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Zooming in further, IBM has also slightly outpaced the sector-focused Technology Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLK) 33.4% returns over the past year and a 13.2% gain in 2025.

www.barchart.com

On July 23, IBM released its Q2 2025 earnings, and its shares dropped 7.6% in the next trading session, as the software segments revenue came in at $7.39 billion, missing the expected $7.43 billion.

On a positive note, it posted revenue of $16.43 billion, up 2% year-over-year. Non-GAAP EPS of $2.52 beat expectations, while gross margin improved to 55.9% from 54.9% last year. IBM also reaffirmed its full-year outlook, targeting mid-single-digit revenue growth and approximately $12 billion in free cash flow.

For fiscal 2025, ending in December, IBM is expected to post non-GAAP earnings of $4.33 per share, reflecting 10.5% year-over-year growth. The company boasts a strong history of surpassing expectations, having beaten analysts earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters.

Among the 22 analysts covering IBM, the consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. The current consensus is based on nine Strong Buy, one Moderate Buy, 10 Hold, and two Strong Sell ratings.

www.barchart.com

This configuration is slightly more bullish than it was two months ago, when eight analysts issued Strong Buy recommendations.

On July 24, Bank of America Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan reiterated a Buy rating on IBM while lowering the price target from $320 to $310.
The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is one of the Most Undervalued Long Term Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On August 5, analyst Elyse Greenspan of Wells Fargo maintained a Buy rating on the companys stock, boosting the price objective to $333.00. The analysts rating is backed by the companys strategic management of its expenses and pricing strategies. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) exhibited operating leverage by improving the expense ratio, excluding advertising spend, indicating efficient cost management.

Wells Fargo Maintains Buy Rating on The Progressive (PGR) Stock

A team of accountants in a boardroom, discussing strategic moves of an insurance company.

Furthermore, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR)s decision to maintain increased advertising expenditure exhibits a commitment to growth, which can enhance its market position. Despite the concerns related to the tariff uncertainties and potential impacts on loss costs, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) kept its personal auto rates stable and adequately priced in most states. Also, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) remains proactive in adjusting rates for personal property and commercial auto, demonstrating its adaptability to market conditions.

Parnassus Investments, an investment management firm that focuses on owning a concentrated portfolio of U.S. large-cap stocks, released its Q2 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) underperformed as growth in policies slowed down. Investors also grew concerned about the impact of tariffs on costs. The company remains well positioned to outperform peers over the long term given its scale.

While we acknowledge the potential of PGR as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
More than 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous Period, much of northern Illinois outside Chicago -- including what is now the Mazon Creek ("muh-ZAHN") fossil site -- was alive with ancient creatures thriving in lush, tropical swamps, river deltas and shallow seas.

Now, researchers at the University of Missouri's College of Arts and Science are collaborating with geologist Gordon Baird to reanalyze his massive fossil collection from Mazon Creek -- currently housed at the Field Museum in Chicago -- which includes 300,000 siderite concretions from around 350 different localities.

The Mazon Creek fossil beds are renowned for their exceptional preservation of both plants and animals, made possible by their unique geological setting. The fossils are encased in siderite -- an iron carbonate mineral -- forming abundant concretions that have become a treasure trove for scientists and avocational fossil hunters alike.

Thanks to decades of research at Mazon Creek, including foundational fieldwork by Baird and colleagues in the late 1970s, we now have an extraordinary view of life along that ancient coast.

A snapshot of ancient life

Baird's original work at the Mazon Creek fossil site helped distinguish two major faunal assemblages, or groups of animal remains. These assemblages helped scientists understand the ancient environments where the fossils originated. They were a marine assemblage comprised of life in offshore coastal waters, and a mixed assemblage from a river delta along the shoreline, where freshwater organisms and washed-in terrestrial plants and animals were preserved together.

Now, Mizzou's team has confirmed a slightly more nuanced view of Baird's original findings, using modern data analysis techniques coupled with advanced imaging at Mizzou's X-ray Microanalysis Core.

"We found three readily identifiable paleoenvironments, including the unique characteristics of a benthic marine assemblage representing a transitional habitat between the nearshore and offshore zones," said Jim Schiffbauer, Marie M. and Harry L. Smith Endowed Professor of Geological Sciences. "These ancient environments were each dominated by specific groups of animals, for example freshwater animals nearest to shore, jellyfish and sea anemones further offshore, and marine clams and worms in the transitional zone."

The fossils formed during a phase of sea-level rise and flooding of what used to be large coal swamps.

"The different environments affected how quickly and deeply organisms were buried, and in what specific geochemical conditions fossilization may have started," Schiffbauer said. "That, in turn, shaped where certain microbes lived and helped form the minerals that make up the concretions surrounding these fossils today."

Next steps

In current and future research, Schiffbauer and Baird are using this information to create a sedimentological model to show how the Mazon Creek ecosystem connects to the Colchester coal layers below -- where coal mining led to the fossil site's original discovery.

"Given that multiple episodes of rapid coastal drowning events occurred in the U.S. midcontinent during the Carboniferous Period, refinement of information from the Mazon Creek locality will lead to a deeper understanding of similar deposits in other coal basins," said Baird, who is now an emeritus professor at State University of New York at Fredonia.

Mizzou's new collaborative analysis with Baird, colleagues from the private sector and the University of Toronto is the most comprehensive and data-driven picture of what Mazon Creek's ancient ecosystem looked like long ago. This knowledge contributes significantly to our understanding of the Carboniferous Period's biodiversity and paleoecology.

"It offers a real snapshot of the incredible diversity present in the late Carboniferous Period and allows for inferences about the complexity of food chains and how this ecosystem functioned," Schiffbauer said. "Now, we have an unparalleled and statistically supported look at the interconnected terrestrial, estuarine and marine life of the Carboniferous Period."

The study, "283,821 concretions, how do you measure the Mazon Creek? Assessing the paleoenvironmental and taphonomic nature of the Braidwood and Essex assemblages," was published in the journal Paleobiology.

Other co-authors are John Warren Huntley and Tara Selly at Mizzou; Charles Chabica at Northeastern Illinois University; Marc Laflamme at University of Toronto Mississauga; and A. Drew Muscente at Princeton Consultants, Inc.
Key Points

BlackSky met on sales but missed -- badly -- on earnings this morning.

Quarterly losses quadrupled, and per-share losses more than doubled.

BlackSky generated positive free cash flow in the first half, but only just barely.

10 stocks we like better than BlackSky Technology 

BlackSky Technology (NYSE: BKSY), the Earth observation satellite company, dropped in afternoon trading Thursday, down 2.6% through 12:30 p.m. ET after reporting a big earnings miss for the second quarter of 2025.

Heading into the report, analysts already weren't optimistic about BlackSky, forecasting a $0.48-per-share loss on $22.2 million in revenue. BlackSky hit the revenue target, barely, but reported a quarterly loss of $1.27 per share.

Image source: Getty Images.

BlackSky Q2 earnings

Revenue declined 11% year over year, with imagery orders rising nicely, but lumpier "professional and engineering services revenue" falling steeply. Net losses quadrupled year over year, a fact the company blamed on a large loss on derivatives contracts.

The per-share loss didn't increase quite as fast as the net loss, due to BlackSky selling a lot of shares (to raise cash) in the quarter, resulting in a much larger share count that spread out total net losses among more shares outstanding. Thus, the per-share loss increased "only" 144%.

Is BlackSky stock a sell?

Was there any good news to report? Actually, yes, although it took some hunting to find it. Way down at the end of the earnings report, on the cash-flow statement, BlackSky noted that through the first half of this year it's generated positive free cash flow of $11.9 million. The company did note that it spent $10.8 million in cash on "satellite work in process," however. If considered a capital expenditure (and to be conservative, we probably should consider it capex), that would cut FCF for the first half to just $1.1 million.

That's not great, but at least it's positive.

Still, with a $620 million market capitalization, falling sales and deeply negative earnings, it's hard to call BlackSky stock a buy right now. So I won't.

Should you invest $1,000 in BlackSky Technology right now?

Before you buy stock in BlackSky Technology, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and BlackSky Technology wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $635,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,099,758!*
After nearly five years of courtroom combat, the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple Labs are putting away their swords.

The two sides jointly agreed to dismiss their respective appeals in the XRP securities case, officially ending one of cryptos largest legal battles and sending the token up 11% on Thursday.

Following the Commissions vote today, the SEC and Ripple formally filed directly with the Second Circuit to dismiss their appeals, Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty wrote on X, The end, and now back to business.

According to the SEC, the joint stipulation covers Ripple Labs, CEO Brad Garlinghouse, and co-founder Christian Larsen.

The dismissal resolves the agencys civil enforcement action, leaving in place a final judgment imposing a $125,035,150 penalty on Ripple and a permanent injunction against violating the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933.

Ripple had sought to cut that figure to $50 million as part of a conditional settlement, but Judge Analisa Torres rejected the proposal in June, ruling that neither side had come close to justifying a change to her final judgment.

ETFStore president Nate Geraci said the truce clears the way for spot XRP exchange-traded funds, with Bloomberg analysts putting approval odds at 95% ahead of an October deadline.

I think BlackRock was waiting to see this before filing for iShares XRP ETF, Geraci added, arguing it makes zero sense for issuers to ignore crypto assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

XRP is currently trading for $3.31.

Crypto market movers

Bitcoin has gained 1.7% in the past 24 hours and is trading at $116,525.

Ethereum is up 5.7% in the same period to $3,905.

What were reading

Kyle Baird is DL News Weekend Editor. Got a tip? Email at kbaird@dlnews.com.
Patrizias, which has been a staple of the Staten Island restaurant scene for years, now offers Patrizias on Wheels." The new food truck is pictured here. (Advance/SILive | Nicolette Cavallaro)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Patrizias, which has been a staple of the Staten Island restaurant scene for years, recently announced the arrival of a food truck, Patrizias on Wheels, as a new way to connect with borough residents.

We want to bring Patrizia to your house, said Giacomo Alaio, who runs the Patrizias business with his brother. For people who know the restaurant, youre getting the same food that youre eating in the restaurant.

The Alaio family started the business in the Bronx with Patrizias at 3883 East Tremont Ave. The brand eventually expanded to Brooklyn, New Jersey, Long Island, Manhattan, Florida and Aruba.

My father, Antonio, started it with my brother in 1991, Alaio previously told the Advance/SILive.com. It all started with our fathers passion on the Oceanic cruise ship. He was a well-established chef who loved cooking and pleasing guests.

Patrizias of Tottenville is known for its casual Italian fare. Last year, the brothers opened Patrizias Taverna in New Dorp, a more eclectic bar and restaurant in The Boulevard shopping complex. And there is also Patrizias Amboy Road location in Great Kills.

Sister restaurant Lava in Richmond Valley is co-owned with Mario Perillo, and it is where Spanish and Italian cuisines connect.

Alaio said they have built deep connections with their patrons, so when people started asking about a catering food truck, they answered.

A lot of customers were asking us about it ..., said Alaio. So we made a decision, and now we do our own parties, and we bring our own food truck for our own parties at your house.

The truck, which has been customized to Patrizias specifications, is built to function as an independent kitchen. Staff members are equipped to run and serve an array of different events , such as weddings, birthday parties, or outdoor feasts.

The food truck offers a variety of menu items, drawing from Patrizia classics such as fried calamari and chicken carbonara, while also including Mexican and Greek items like tacos and gyros. There is even a dessert-only option, specializing in cannoli, zeppole and bomboloni filled with Nutella spread and pistachio nuts. The truck is also outfitted to serve frozen drinks, such as strawberry daiquiris and Pina Coladas.

The goal for Patrizias on Wheels is to be able to deliver the restaurants kitchen and its passion for food year round, according to Alaio.

It has been really, really good. I cant believe it. Im amazed, he said. Every day we are booking a different party.

Those interested in booking the truck can call the restaurant at 718-317-6600 or 917-604-8939.

In general, were having a good summer, said Alaio. Everythings great, and hopefully well get a few more trucks from it.

He said that next summer he hopes to be present at Staten Islands array of feasts and block parties.
Scratch-off tickets are shown at Honeybee Convenience store on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

New Yorkers have nearly a dozen chances to become a millionaire for just five bucks.

The New York Lottery has various $5 scratch-off games with top-prizes ranging from $250,000 to $1 million.

As of Friday, there were 11 tickets across six different $5 scratch-off games with guaranteed top prizes of $1 million.

Here are the $5 scratch-off games with top-prize tickets of $1 million still in circulation as of Thursday, Aug. 8, according to New York Lottery data:

Multiplier Money

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,082,100

Hit It Big!

Top prizes remaining: 2

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,804,233.33

Bonus 20X

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 3,397,625

Xtreme Winnings

Top prizes remaining: 1

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 4,536,400

New York Millionaire

Top prizes remaining: 3

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 1,976,400

$1M Gold

Top prizes remaining: 3

Odds of winning top prize: 1 in 1,508,175

More Information

For more information about the New York Lotterys scratch-off games, visit the New York Lottery website.

The New York Lottery continues to be touted as North Americas largest and most profitable lottery, contributing $3.8 billion in lottery aid to education for fiscal year 2023-2024 to help support education in New York state.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school districts size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of lottery school funding.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the states toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369). You can also contact your regional Problem Gambling Resource Center directly for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area, or contact a Recovery Center for a referral to treatment services (state-certified or private) in your area.
NEW YORK, N.Y.  New Yorkers took to the streets in full force Saturday morning to protest several natural gas pipeline projects, including one slated for construction in the waters surrounding Staten Island.

The protest began with a rally at City Hall park that featured remarks by four speakers, including Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado. A crowd of over 400 marchers then paraded across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Several organizations were involved in the protest, including Climate Families NYC, Rise and Resist, the New York Public Interest Research Group Fund, and Food & Water Watch.

Youre seeing here evidence of a statewide movement that is committed to moving New York off fossil fuels, said Eric Weltman, senior organizer for Food & Water Watch. [We are] committed to pressuring Governor Hochul to stand up to [President Donald] Trump and block these dangerous, costly, and unnecessary projects.

One of the protested pipelines is the Northeast Supply Enhancement project, an extension of the Transco pipeline system, that would run off the coast of Staten Island. Backed by the Trump administration, the operators of the pipeline have recently sought to restart the regulatory approval process.

That pipeline would carry fracked gas from Pennsylvania through New Jersey and 23 miles of pipeline along the coast of New York City, passing through Raritan Bay and hugging the shores of Staten Island, Coney Island and the Rockaways, said Laura Shindell, the New York State director for the Food and Water Watch.

Supporters say the pipeline would improve the supply of fracked natural gas to National Grid customers in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

All National Grid customers, including those on Staten Island, will be asked to help pay for the project through a 3.5% bill increase, despite the localized benefit. National Grid spokespersons have said previously that the increased supply would be a boon to all its downstate gas customers.

The cost of the pipeline would be borne by ratepayers, even those that wouldnt be receiving any of the gas, said Weltman.

Transco, the Texas-based pipeline manufacturer that would develop the project, and its parent company, Williams Partners, first introduced the project in 2016. But their efforts subsided during President Joe Bidens administration following a series of state rejections.

Several Staten Island elected officials, including Republican Borough President Vito Fossella, have voiced opposition to the expansion, citing rate increases and likening the project to battery storage facilities that have been set up on the Island.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican who represents Staten Island and part of South Brooklyn, applauded Trumps push to return to fossil fuels, but said regulatory agencies should work toward greater efficiency to avoid higher costs for consumers.

Others have cited environmental concerns, such as the impact of the pipelines construction on water quality. The state Department of Environmental Conservation previously denied the Northeast Supply Enhancement project because the pipeline could disturb decades of contaminated sediment on the seabed.

Protesters on Saturday also took issue with several other gas pipeline projects, including the proposed Williams Constitution pipeline, which was also recently revived after being rejected in 2016.

The protests were largely focused on the implications of natural gas pipelines on climate change, and the ability of New York state to meet emissions goals as set out in the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The NESE pipeline was denied by New York state a whopping three times, said Shindell. Our Department of Environmental Conservation reported themselves that the pipeline would have devastating effects on New Yorks water quality, the harbors marine life, and it would fly in the face of New Yorks climate law.

Much of the protesters ire was directed at Gov. Kathy Hochul. Opponents worry that the recent revivals of rejected pipeline projects suggest a deal might be in the works with the governor, who hopes to advance an offshore wind farm that will need a cooperative federal government.

We have politicians like Governor Hochul who is more concerned with serving herself, and power and self preservation than actually serving the public, said Delgado, who is challenging Hochul in the 2026 primary election. A gas-to-wind deal is foolish on its face, it makes zero sense.

Hochul has aimed to quell speculation about the extent to which she has cooperated with the Trump administration over the regulatory process.

My message is what I told the president, which is that I will make sure that any applicant for a pipeline or any energy project follows all state, local and federal laws, Hochul said at a May 29 press conference. I have to look at this in a different lens and will continue being committed to our climate goals. I believe in them, but also the realization that we need to be more open-minded and expansive, but they will have to follow our laws and they know that. I was very clear on this.
775 Todt Hill Rd., a local real estate masterpiece designed by famed architect Charlie Azzue, has hit the market for $2.2 million. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Its one of Staten Islands most unique and iconic contemporary homes: Modern, geometric, skinned in smooth concrete and finished with bold surface imagery. And now 775 Todt Hill Rd., the local real estate masterpiece designed by famed architect Charlie Azzue, has hit the market for $2.2 million.

Built in 1975, the home was designed by Azzue, a late-20th century designer, contractor and borough resident who, according to Advance/SILive archives, built houses and commercial buildings that were so unusual they stopped traffic. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

This is an exciting opportunity to own and reimagine a true architectural statement on Todt Hill, noted the listing, which was posted on July 30 by Sari Kingsley, Real Estate in New Dorp.

Set on a 14,950-square-foot lot with a large circular driveway, the home includes ample parking, and a detached two-car garage. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

Built in 1975, the home was designed by Azzue, a late-20th century designer, contractor and borough resident who, according to Advance/SILive archives, built houses and commercial buildings that were so unusual they stopped traffic. He died in 2018 at the age of 79.

The interior of the home features an open-concept layout, according to the listing, complete with a central kitchen with Viking appliances." (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

Among his signature designs are the Physicians and Surgeons Building on Victory Boulevard (opposite Clove Lakes Park), and another angular home on Todt Hill, which co-opted Pablo Picassos Three Musicians.

An indoor pool is one of the home's most notable features. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

But this particular home, perhaps his most recognizable, is well-known for its Egyptian motif, complete with prehistoric symbols and a commanding figure launching a thunderbolt.

The home is considered one of Staten Islands most unique and iconic contemporary homes: Modern, geometric, skinned in smooth concrete and finished with bold surface imagery. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

The interior of the home features an open-concept layout, the listing noted, complete with a central kitchen with Viking appliances overlooking indoor pool, and a flexible floor plan ideal for generational living. According to the realtor, some renovation is necessary.

In total, there are four bedrooms and three baths inside the home. (Staten Island Multiple Listing Services, MLSSINY.com)

Set on a 14,950-square-foot lot with a large circular driveway, the home includes ample parking, and a detached two-car garage. In total, there are four bedrooms and three baths. The home is shown by appointment only with pre-approval or proof of funds. Prospective buyers can contact Sari Kingsley, Real Estate at 718-667-1800.
(Bloomberg) -- The premium for gold futures in New York over the London spot price jumped after the Financial Times reported that US imports of one-kilogram bullion bars are now subject to tariffs.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Contracts for December delivery  the most actively traded contract  soared as markets opened in Asia on Friday, with their premium over spot climbing to more than $125 an ounce before easing to around $101 as of 8:01 a.m. in London. The magnitude of the divergence is unusual and mirrors a similar blowout earlier this year when fears over potential US tariffs created large price dislocations.

New York futures typically trade in lockstep with the London spot price. Gold in New York surged to an all-time high at $3,534.10 an ounce before paring some gains. Prices in London were little changed at $3,396.04.

One-kilo and 100-ounce gold bars  which are deliverable against the majority of contracts traded on the Comex in New York  should be classified under a customs code subject to levies, rather than in a tariff-free category, according to a July 31 letter from the US Customs and Border Protection agency seen by the FT.

The news raised uncertainty about the status of gold in President Donald Trumps sweeping tariff agenda. His administration had exempted the precious metal from duties back in April, causing the futures premium to collapse at the time and ending a massive arbitrage trade that pulled nearly 850 tons of bullion into New York warehouses as traders raced to capitalize on large price differences.

There is widespread confusion over whether the latest customs apply to imports from Switzerland, which has so far failed to clinch a trade deal with the US, or to all imports of one-kilo bars, said David Wilson, senior commodities strategist at BNP Paribas SA. Managers at two major refineries in Asia, who did not want be named discussing sensitive information, are pausing all shipments to US until there is more clarity.

People Ive been speaking to feel that this is an error on the CBPs part, that theyre misclassifying gold. But if this is correct, this is quite a dramatic change, he said.

The US imports large volumes of gold from Switzerland, the worlds biggest gold-refining hub. where 400 ounce bars are recast into smaller 1-kilogram ingots that can be delivered against futures contracts on the Comex exchange in New York via the exchange for physical mechanism or EFP.
Darlington County Park closed Friday afternoon after officials found hazardous algae blooms in the water, reported SILive.coms sister site, NJ.com.

According to Bergen County officials, the park temporarily shuttered Friday at noon, but is expected to reopen on Sunday.

The report said all water and non-water recreational activities will be closed until the park reopens.

The Bergen County Parks Department is working diligently to address the issue and reopen the park for water and non-water recreational activities as quickly and safely as possible, Bergen County officials said in a statement.

Park visitors will be refunded if they purchased Splash Zone tickets online for the periods while the park is closed, the report said.
Brazil is under a level two travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State. This photo from March 28, 2025, shows a Delta Airlines plane land at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The U.S. Department of State is urging residents to exercise increased caution when traveling to Brazil due to crime and kidnapping.

The level two travel advisory was updated on Friday to indicate the added threat of kidnapping within the nation.

Urban areas of Brazil, the largest country in South America, possess the risk of violent crime, including murder and armed robbery. Moreover, gang activity tied to the drug trade is prominent in the country, according to the advisory.

Additionally, as noted by the State Department, U.S. travelers were kidnapped and held for ransom.

Assaults involving sedatives and drink spiking has also been identified by the department. These criminals tend to target foreigners through dating apps or at a bar where they drug and rob their unsuspecting victims, the advisory alleges.

The State Department advises residents avoid traveling to anywhere within 100 miles of Brazils land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. Informal housing developments, such as favelas, should also be avoided, as should Brasilias Satellite Cities.

While the general travel advisory for Brazil is only a level two of a four-level scale, travel to the borders, the informal housing developments and the Satellite Cities are a level four. Residents are instructed by the Department of State not to travel to these areas for any reason.

Those who do decide to travel to Brazil are advised to remain vigilant, monitor drinks and reject food from strangers, avoid displaying signs of wealth and be careful when riding public transportation.

Travelers are also asked to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in the event of an emergency.
In 2023, nearly 1 million Americans aged 60 and older moved out of state to start a new chapter, according to the latest Census Bureau data. (Advance/SILive.com | Anthony DePrimo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Americans approaching retirement are packing up and heading for new cities that offer sunshine, peace, and affordability.

In 2023, nearly 1 million Americans aged 60 and older crossed state lines to start a new chapter, according to the latest Census Bureau data.

For many retirees, this move is more than a change of scenery, its a chance to go to a place that better suits their budget, tax, and lifestyle needs.

Heres a look at the top destinations for retirees, according to a SmartAsset analysis that examined migration patterns across 164 major U.S. cities and all 50 states to determine where retirees are relocating.

Top 10 cities where retirees are moving

1. Mesa, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona, welcomed the most retirees, with 4,941 moving in and 2,897 moving out. The citys total population of those aged 60+ is about 131,562.

2. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Ranking second is North Las Vegas, Nevada, with 2,443 retirees moving in and 1,023 moving out. The citys population of those aged 60+ is about 52,082.

3. Paradise, Nevada

Closing the top 3 is Paradise, Nevada. The city saw 2,054 retirees who moved in and 638 who left. It has a population of 37,849 retirees.

4. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City experienced a gain of 2,599 retirees, with 1,285 leaving the city. It has a population of 132,318 retirees.

5. Spring Valley, Nevada

West of the Las Vegas Strip, Spring Valley welcomed 1,421 retirees with only 109 leaving in 2023. Its population is about 47,754 aged 60+.

6. Henderson, Nevada

In 2023, 3,578 retirees arrived in Henderson, while 2,384 departed. Out of 337,280 residents, roughly 90,764 are retirees.

7. Durham, North Carolina

In 2023, Durham saw 1,406 arrivals and 289 departures. The citys total population of those aged 60 and over is 55,904.

8. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Despite its typical cold weather, out of 425,142 Minneapolis residents,70,151 are retirees. In 2023, 2,163 retirees moved in, and 1,109 left.

9. St. Petersburg, Florida

The coastal city has a total population of 263,546, with 79,785 individuals aged 60+. In 2023, the city showed 2,294 retiree arrivals and 1,313 departures.

10. Scottsdale, Arizona

Ending the top 10 list is Scottsdale, Arizona, which has a population of 244,421, including 87,179 retirees. In 2023, 2,519 retirees moved in and 1,615 moved out.

Top 10 states where retirees are moving

Beyond individual cities, SmartAssets data also reveals which states are attracting the most retirees.

1. Florida

Earning the first spot is Florida, which continues to lead the nation as a top retirement destination. In 2023, the Sunshine State saw 143,378 retirees moving in. The state is home to more than 6.5 million residents aged 60 and over.

2. North Carolina

Ranked second, North Carolina saw 45,803 individuals aged 60 and over move in. Overall, the state has a total population of over 2.6 million aged 60 and over.

3. Arizona

In 2023, 54,045 retirees moved to Arizona. The state has a total population of over 1.9 million of those aged 60 and over.

4. South Carolina

In 2023, South Carolina gained 34,738 retirees, with a total population of over 1.4 million residents aged 60 and older.

5. Georgia

The Peach State gained 37,145 retirees in 2023, with a total population of over 2.3 million aged 60 and older.

6. Texas

About 60,245 retirees moved to Texas in 2023. The state has nearly 5.8 million residents aged 60 and older.

7. Nevada

Nevada welcomed 22,036 retirees in 2023. It has a total population of 757,348 of those aged 60 and older.

8. Idaho

In 2023, Idaho welcomed 13,665 retirees, creating a total population of 463,083 of those aged 60 and older.

9. Oklahoma

Oklahoma gained attention as a retirement option. In 2023, 13,021 retirees moved to the state. Overall, 925,676 individuals aged 60 and older call Oklahoma home.

10. Delaware

Delaware attracted 8,718 retirees in 2023 and has a total population of 296,881 residents aged 60 and older.

This story is based on information from SmartAsset.com.
I have always strongly identified with the comic book character Captain America.

For non comic book readers: Captain America was created in December 1940 by artist/writers Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, preceding my birth in that month nine years later. I always assumed we shared a birth sign. Originally puny Steve Rogers, he is given a super-serum in order to become Americas super soldier. During World War II, he disappears, is found later to be preserved in an iceberg, thaws out and joins the Avengers, a group of fellow superheroes. Youve probably seen the movies.

But, like Cap (his nickname), I have always considered myself a man out of time. Most of my playmates growing up were younger than I was. In comparison, I was usually the youngest child in my class, celebrating my birthday in the last month of the year. I entered college straight out of high school at the urging of Brother Emmett and stayed an inordinately long time, changing my major from music to theater to music to education. I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in 1979, entered the work force at age 30, completing my Masters degree along with 30 credits in 1994. I was the oldest teacher in my after school program and Im usually one of the oldest people in the company at Sea View.

Ive gone places. Ive seen things. Most times, this works in your favor. But, not always.

Cap often swears his loyalty to the ideals of the nation, not one party or person. I fought Adolph Hitler, not because America was great, but because it was fragile, he states in What If #44, a spin-off series that explores other alternatives for its heroes.

Lately, that resonates with me a lot.

Our country is fragile, its liberty always at risk, and as its said, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. As Colonel Jessup uncomfortably points out in his final speech from A Few Good Men:

Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whos gonna do it? You?Deep down in places you dont talk about at parties, you want me on that wallyou need me on that wall. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.

I would have made a terrible soldier. My father, a veteran of World War II, knew this and so encouraged me to stay in school, even for an inordinately long period of time, until I graduated with a degree. I was also an only child and had a very high draft number. Those people born after the draft was no longer needed are often the most critical of our government. It has been suggested that a year of compulsory civic service might be a good idea.

Billy Pilgrim, the hero of the novel Slaughterhouse Five," claims in the first sentence of the book to have become unstuck in time, which means he uncontrollably travels from one time period of his life to another, an idea echoed in the novel The Time Travelers Wife. But, havent we all felt that way at one time or another? Dont certain photos or songs or books have the ability to hurl us back to the moment that picture captures, the moment we first heard that record playwho we were with, who we have lost, who we longed for, who we missed, who we were glad never to see again? Arent we all, at some point, capable of becoming unstuck in time? And doesnt that make us all time travelers?

What would we have done if a significant part of our past had disappeared? What if yesterday was a blur and today was somehow set in a future that we couldnt recognize? How would we react? Would our minds shatter? Would our bodies crumble? Would the sheer weight of all those years descend upon us and crush us?

Caps reaction to the fact that he fell into a coma during World War II and has woken up in the present day is a simple I had a date, referencing the last words he shared with Peggy Carter. His belief in his mission, to preserve and protect the Uniter States from all enemies, foreign and domestic is what seems to allow him to brave this entirely new world, until his days as a soldier come to an end.

There was a story arc in the 1974 Secret Empire series that found Cap unearthing a conspiracy to destroy America that leads him to the White House and the president, who, rather than face capture and trial, shoots himself. Cap, disillusioned, becomes Nomad, the man without a country, but only for a short time.

Like Cap, I have recently questioned the direction our country is headed in and wondered if there might be a plot to undermine our most basic faiths and beliefs. Like Cap, I have decided that our mission as a people is to preserve and protect our country from whomever wishes to undermine it, whether in Russia or even closer to home. I hope, like Cap, I have the courage and stamina to see this battle through to its end.

Hold those magnificent grey heads high!

Comments may be submitted to Talk To The Old Guy on Facebook.
MAGA architect Steve Bannon gave a stunning two-word answer when asked if he was planning to run for president in 2028.

Trump 2028, Bannon stated, according to Newsweek.

The answer is a shocker because the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits Trump from seeking a third term in office.

The Daily Mail had reported that Bannon was looking at running for president despite the fact that many of Trumps MAGA followers already seem to be coalescing around Vice President JD Vance.

But an unnamed source told the Daily Mail that Bannon had slammed Vance by saying: Love him ... but Vance is not tough enough to run in 2028.

But when asked if he was planning a run, Bannon told The National Pulse: Trump 2028.

When asked for comment on the Daily Mail report, Grace Chong, the chief financial officer of Bannons War Room podcast, shared The National Pulse article with Newsweek.

Despite the constitutional bar, Bannon has in the past said that he thinks Trump is eligible to run for another term.

Trump earlier this week said that Vance could probably be considered the frontrunner for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination.

The president further said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could join Vance as vice president and make for a formidable Republican Party ticket.

Vance has long been the top pick for the nomination among those placing bets on the 2028 race with legal gambling sites.

Esteemed pollster Frank Luntz this week threw a curveball into the 2028 prognosticating, saying that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is the best qualified person to be president and had the perfect resume for the job.

And Trump himself said probably not when asked recently about mounting a third White House bid.
Yum China, which operates almost 17,000 KFC and Pizza Hut outlets across the worlds second-largest economy, posted rising revenues and profits for the most recent quarter, growing even as Chinese consumption continues to be sluggish and as President Trumps trade war continues to shake up global economies.

Yet the companys Hong Kongtraded shares plunged by 6% on Wednesday, despite the solid financial results. Shares later pared back losses, but are still down by 3% since the earnings release.

Analysts point to one possible reason for the mismatch between Yum Chinas strong results and investor unease: Chinas Big Tech companies are locked in a brutal price war in the countrys fiercely competitive food-delivery space, promising billions of dollars worth of subsidies to merchants and consumers to win market share.

Thats shaking up not just the food-delivery market, but the companies that make the food as welllike Yum Chinaeven as deliveries surge in the short term.

Investor fears could in part be the result of worries that the delivery subsidy might not continue, wrote HSBC analysts in a Wednesday report. Once the subsidy ends, [Yum Chinas] earnings will be negatively impacted. For now, HSBC maintained its buy rating on Yum Chinas stock and increased its target price.

CEO Joey Wat called intense delivery platform competition the biggest dynamic for the quarter, in a post-earnings briefing with analysts.

Its the latest sign of how price wars and aggressive discountingdecried by both officials and business leaders as irrational consumptionis shaking investor faith in Chinas largest companies.

Food-delivery wars

JD.coms entry into the food-delivery market has shaken up a sector dominated by Meituan and Alibaba-owned Ele.me. In February, JD unveiled JD Takeaway, promising zero commissions for merchants who joined early. Founder Richard Liu has made food delivery a key part of the companys strategy, particularly as the e-commerce giant has floundered compared with its Big Tech peers. Liu even donned a uniform to deliver meals himself.

The fierce battle has worried both investors and Chinese officials. Shares in both Meituan and JD.com are down by around 25% over the past six months. Alibaba is up by 10% over the same period, yet shares are still below their March peak.

Both JD and Alibaba have promised subsidies worth billions of yuan to both merchants and consumers. Transactions on these platforms surged from 100 million daily orders at the start of the year to 250 million by mid-July, according to the South China Morning Post.
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Neutral Bay Villages Eastern Suburbs-style glow-up is near completion with the luxury apartment and private wellness resort complex, Pienza, due to open in weeks.

McVay Real Estates Sam McVay has been tapped by Pienzas developer, Central Element, to manage the sale of Pienzas retail area, at 12-14 Waters Road, Neutral Bay, which is expected to sell around the $35 million mark.

It almost seems the building was designed for locals with Eastern Suburbs tastes.

Pienza, 12-14 Waters Road, Neutral Bay, NSW.

Anchored by the most upmarket Dan Murphys to open in Sydney since the drinks retailers Double Bay store opened a decade ago, Pienzas 1654-square metre retail area will include popular Pilates studio Body Love and the artisan Wholegreen Bakery, in their first forays north of the bridge. A high-end hospitality operator is also preparing to move in.
After Liz became pregnant, she soon realised that her workplace wasnt going to afford her any flexibility when she returned to work.

The managers werent willing to be flexible at all. They were pressuring pregnant women or those with young babies to take overnight work trips. No wasnt an option, says Liz, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Working from home some days of the week is important for many workers. Credit: iStock

She had planned to return to work when her son was eight months old but, as the deadline approached, she knew she wasnt ready to leave him in childcare five days a week.

I tried to negotiate some flexibility to work from home, but they made it very clear that they wanted me back in the office full-time, she says.
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 You learn to expect the unexpected as a journalist. But receiving a personal serenade from the voice of Jessica Mauboy when you pop into an afternoon Zoom call isnt on the list of likely scenarios. First shock. Then appreciation. Then you just sit back and enjoy the ride. Jessica Mauboy will be this years inductee into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame. Credit: Wolter Peeters Much like her effortless vocal riffs, Mauboy is a joy to behold. Even through a screen, she radiates kindness and warmth. The musician credits her upbringing in the Northern Territory as one of the reasons shes remained so grounded, even after a music career thats spanned more than 20 years. Mauboy is the newest inductee into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame, a place reserved for First Nations artists who have had a longstanding and significant impact on the industry. The annual NIMA ceremony has been a celebration of First Nations music in Australia for more than two decades. Award recipients in 2024 included Malyangapa Barkindji rapper Barkaa and hip-hop collective 3%. Other recent winners include Baker Boy, Thelma Plum and King Stingray. Mauboy speaks fondly of the event, held in her hometown of Darwin. She remembers being in the mosh pit as a 10-year-old, dancing to the music of Yothu Yindi. Looking back as an adult, she says she is grateful that she experienced culture, community and advocacy through song.

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Rapper Birdz and Butchulla songman Fred Leone perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2022. Credit: Mitch Fresta The NIMAs, and what it holds in that space, opens doors and paves pathways  Its more than an award show. For me, its a space where community, culture and creativity comes together, Mauboy says. Its such a melting pot of diversity  All the performers and all the different First Nations people coming from community and from their language groups. And its such a space of recognition and acknowledgment. Mauboys induction means that she stands among superstars such as Archie Roach, Kev Carmody and her own childhood favourite, Yothu Yindi. But fame doesnt come from nowhere. In her own words, Mauboy started way from the bottom. The musician cut her teeth busking at the Arcade Mall in Darwin and sang with a local choir during childhood. She even had a brush with the professional industry as a teenager, winning a Telstra-sponsored Road to Tamworth competition in 2004 and releasing a country-inspired version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Mauboy on stage in Melbourne in 2023. Credit: Martin Philbey Youve just got to start somewhere, she says. It doesnt always have to be the big stage. There are different places and different spaces  every stage is going to be different. Every audience is going to give something to you that is completely different.

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Thats the advice she would give to up-and-coming Indigenous artists in Australia. And her message to the industry? To support and book the young musicians who are embarking upon such a time-consuming career. Allow them to be part of your space  its about collaborative spaces. And I think thats why I love music so much  we allow artists to collaborate, and we make amazing stuff. And then its about people giving us the space to go out and perform. Now 36, Mauboy started her career in 2006, when she was a runner-up in the fourth season of Australian Idol. A year later she joined the Young Divas alongside Paulini, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams. The pop group gained recognition for their noughties-style covers of hits from Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle among others. Career milestones have been plentiful since. Mauboy starred in 2012 film The Sapphires (winning an AACTA award for best supporting actress). She represented Australia on the Eurovision stage in 2018, making the finals and placing 20th. She even returned to her competition TV roots, this time as a judge on The Voice Australia. Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Miranda Tapsell and Shari Sebbens in The Sapphires. Credit: But accolades aside, 2025 has been a year of firsts. In January, she gave birth to her first child, Mia. In August, she released While I Got Time, the first single under her own independent label. The tracks stripped-back production creates a raw and intimate atmosphere for listeners. Mauboy says it was an intentional decision to bring attention to what the song is really about  her loved ones.

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The nature of celebrity is changing, and we should pay attention.

You may have noticed this in the past few years. Clubs are full again  and have a new life, thanks to dance music that actually makes people want to dance. Modern culture has been overtaken by the hedonism of brat summer. Even the modern Vaudeville of TikTok  where everyone is striving for a glimpse of digital fame that is probably not even worth having  reflects the kind of emotional world we live in.

(From left) Kesha in 2009, Lady Gaga rocks out the meat suit in 2010 and Beyonce during a recent Cowboy Carter show. Credit:

Relatability is out, fantasy to the point of mythology is what were seeing now.

To me, this seems the point of whats happening in culture around the world. If the prevailing feeling of the 2010s was despair, which might be absolved on the dance floor, the prevailing feeling of the mid-2020s is that of anger, blown up on the dance floor, opening the possibility of redemption and restitution. Recession pop is back.
Zurich Insurance Group has reported net income attributable to shareholders after tax of $3.06bn (SFr2.47bn) for the first half of 2025 (H1 2025), a 1% increase from $3.02bn in the same period last year.

For the half year ended 30 June 2025, the company also reported a 6% rise in group business operating profit (BoP) to $4.2bn.

The insurers diluted earnings per share saw a marginal decrease of 0.68% to SFr18.37.

The property and casualty (P&C) divisions BoP grew by 9% to $2.4bn for H1, fuelled by enhanced insurance revenue and technical results.

The division's gross written premium (GWP) and policy fees increased by 7% to $27.14bn.

This increase in GWP is attributed to currency fluctuations and the integration of previously acquired businesses, namely the AIG global personal travel insurance and assistance business and the Zurich Kotak General Insurance business.

The P&C segment's insurance revenue saw a 7% climb to $23.01bn from the prior year's $21.4bn in H1 2025.

The Life segment's H1 BoP experienced a slight dip of 2%, although it managed to sustain the prior year's high, with gross premiums and deposits in the segment witnessing 12% growth to $18.2bn.

Revenue from Life insurance short-term contracts edged up by 1% to $1.37bn.

The Farmers Exchanges, which are under policyholder ownership, achieved a 5% increase in GWP to $15.01bn for H1 2025, propelled by new business acquisition and improved retention.

The Farmers segment also reported its half-year BOP, with a 4% rise to $1.2bn.

The H1 net investment result on Group investments fell by 10% to $3.04bn.

Zurich Group CEO Mario Greco said: I am proud of these outstanding results, which reinforce the strength of our underwriting discipline and operational execution. This performance underscores our ability to effectively manage our diversified portfolio, strong capital position and high cash conversion to deliver continued industry-leading value to our shareholders, even in a volatile market environment.

In July 2025, Zurich Canada realigned its operations, focusing on four key customer segments: National, Middle Market, SME and Retail.

"Zurich Insurance net income rises to $3.06bn in H1 2025 " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




A federal government agency has asked for more information about the long-term impacts of gender-affirming surgery for transgender adults before agreeing to fund it under Medicare, despite acknowledging an unmet need for the service.

Australias leading surgical groups are lobbying the government to fund private patients undergoing a raft of 30 gender-affirmation surgeries, to provide more equitable access to patients across the country.

Leading medical groups want Medicare subsidies to increase access to a raft of 30 gender-affirming surgeries. Credit: Greg Newington

The surgeries include operations to remove breasts, reconstruct patients chests, genitals, faces and voices which, if the application is approved, would have their medical costs 75 per cent covered by the Medicare Benefits Scheme.

Following an initial consideration of clinical evidence the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) last month agreed there was an unmet clinical need for gender-affirming surgeries for people with gender incongruence.
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 Esoteric European royal families are a bit like a trip to an antique store  the objects inside might seem forgotten and obsolete, yet the allure of their gilded aura is difficult to deny. Or so it is for students and staff at the University of Sydney, whove developed an enthusiasm and protective streak for Norwegian princess Ingrid Alexandra since she arrived on campus this semester. Official photos released by the Royal Court of Norway of Princess Ingrid Alexander at the University of Sydney after her arrival on campus. Credit: Raquel Pires Photography / The Royal Court The 21-year-old royal, who recently did a stint of military service, can now add full-time arts student to her CV. She is living at St Andrews College, with its 19th century buildings, long sporting tradition and vibrant party scene  believed to have been recommended to her because it could offer an authentic student experience. Ingrid is studying a bachelor of arts, majoring in international relations and political economy, and is keen to garner new perspectives on both European and international affairs. Loading Like other students, she wears jeans around campus and has inconspicuously slipped into university events. But, unlike her peers, she has a security detail staying close by. Local paparazzi have taken a keen interest in her studies, capturing her quick transition to full-time-student mode, with photos showing her carrying a bottle of wine in a cardboard box back to her accommodation. Exact details of her security are unclear, but NSW Police have said they are working with the AFP and Norwegian authorities.

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General and specialist police will provide ongoing support to the princess during her time in Australia, they said. If Ingrid chose St Andrews for the Sydney student experience, she appears to be making the most of it. On Monday, she attended a boat party and made a trip to Newtowns Marly Bar; and on Wednesday she was seen at Camperdowns Alfred Hotel (known as The Grose) for its busy student night. When it was revealed Ingrid chose to live at St Andrews, traditionally favoured by private school students, some joked that she would not be the only princess in residence. Before her arrival this semester, the college was quick to warn her fellow students not to speak to the press. There may be media interest and inquiries. Please join us in respecting her privacy. We will share reminders about security on the college site ahead of Semester 2, college principal Dr Daniel Tyler said. St Andrews College told other students to respect the princess privacy and wanted her to have a positive student experience. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong Fast forward a couple of months, and students have heeded that advice. Earlier this month, a reporter from Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang waited outside St Andrews in the pouring rain hoping to catch the princess. He got a hostile reception: Shes gone. You can too, one irritated student reportedly told the journalist. A security guard also told him not to speak to students. Other members of the Norwegian media who have flown into Sydney for the start of semester have had slightly better luck, including reporter Anniken Aronsen from commercial free-to-air station TV2.

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I was talking to some students [who] said she lived there. And I was like, OK, I should go there and take some videos outside and see where this place is at. And then she just suddenly showed up, she said. I was so startled  And I just managed to [say]: Oh, there you are. Do you want to say something? The princess did not. And just as quickly as she appeared, she slipped inside the gates of the college and was gone. Requests for interviews made to Norways royal court from this masthead have also so far been declined. I think theres a sense of understanding that she wants to be her own person and just be a normal student. And I think all the people that Ive spoken to want to help her feel that way, Aronsen said, explaining the decision to report on Ingrids really far away move. Princess Ingrid is the future queen of Norway, and, obviously, theres a lot of interest in the royal family in general. Sydney is 16,000 kilometres from Oslo, and it has been a difficult few months in the Norwegian royal court. In June, Norwegian police revealed the princess maternal half brother, Marius Borg Hiby, the eldest son of Norways crown princess, had been charged with rape, sexual assault and bodily harm.

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Princess Ingrid Alexander of Norway while doing military service, where her fellow soldiers said she cleaned toilets. Credit: Getty Images Domestically, Ingrid is seen as fresh and down to earth. While other royal families struggle for popularity, a 2022 poll of young Norwegians aged 16 to 20 found 76 per cent supported the monarchy, and more than 80 per cent believed Ingrid would become queen. Loading Ingrid has just finished 15 months of Norwegian military service, where fellow soldiers said she cleaned the toilet and slept in a six-bed dorm. Stationed in a remote garrison in Norways north, she contended with sleet, hail, snow and freezing temperatures. Her weekly schedule involved running, strength training and polishing weapons. Exactly why the princess chose to study in Sydney is not exactly clear. But her own family might provide some clues. When Ingrids grandfather, King Harald V, visited NSW a decade ago, he spoke fondly of his time spent sailing at Palm Beach in 1970. Australia and Norway have always enjoyed excellent relations due to deep-rooted people-to-people contacts, shared values and well-established business ties, he said.

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And in this time, none of the 10 homes sold changed hands within the advertised price guide.

Every auction in this quiet crescent over the past two years has been overseen by just two local offices of well-known real estate brands: Ray White Mill Park and Barry Plant North Eastern Group.

The houses also have something else in common.

Made of brick and of similar age, many have a neat patch of grass in an unfenced front garden, peppered by droppings from the neighbourhood kangaroos.

The homes on Veronica Crescent, a snaking street in Melbournes suburbia, look much the same.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

In this year-long investigation, we are lifting the lid on an open secret in Australias property market that is costing buyers millions.

Among them are franchisees from Australias largest real estate group, Ray White, as well as celebrated young guns of the industry, Bentley-driving top-commission-getters and agencies throughout Melbournes leafy eastern suburbs and newer housing estates in the north.

An investigation by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald , analysing more than 36,000 property sales in Melbourne and Sydney across 18 months, has identified dozens of large real estate firms whose advertised price guides are almost always exceeded by the eventual sale price.

A property selling above the top of its advertised range is not necessarily, of itself, proof of underquoting, but the high prevalence of guide-busting sales has led to concerns the practice remains a widespread scourge on the industry .

Veronica Crescent in Mill Park isnt an anomaly. Rather, its a microcosm of a wider pattern that has taken hold across swaths of the city and fuelled hot debate about the extent of underquoting.

One family home, listed by Ray White, recently sold for almost $200,000, or 30 per cent, above the top of the guide.

Each fetched at least $70,000 more than the top end of the estimated selling price range provided to prospective buyers, according to Domain data.

They are going to go to a $1 million to $1.1 million property, and the seller in the same street will say, Im going to go with the agent that is getting 40 cars out the front.

If one agent is accurately quoting a property for $1.2 million to $1.3 million, and the other agent is underquoting a similar property at $1 million to $1.1 million, where do you think the buyers are going to go? said a veteran Melbourne real estate agent with 40 years experience.

The practice of deliberately setting low price guides has become so ingrained, industry whistleblowers and property experts say that agents who dont quote homes cheaply enough to be considered competitive risk losing business and buyers.

Price guides are more theatrics than anything, said Melbourne buyers agent and M R Advocacy director Madeleine Roberts. Its part of their strategy ... to keep that price lower, to bring more numbers through. I hear it time and time again [from agents].

In the most extreme cases, some local real estate offices are selling more than nine in every 10 of their listings above the top estimate given to buyers, according to this mastheads data.

When pressed, agents will often argue there are property-specific reasons that a sale tops the guided price.

The woman could be discussing many streets in Melbourne, based on this investigations data, which found that when properties in the city sell above the top of the price guide, as Veronica Crescents routinely have, they do so by about 8 per cent, or $83,000.

As others have come and gone, she has noticed one real estate technique becoming commonplace. Whatever the listing price, you can expect the home to sell for more, she says.

The retiree has lived there for decades, not long after the estate, first known as Blossom Park, emerged rapidly from paddocks in the 1980s.

One Veronica Crescent resident points to a for-sale sign down the road, plastered with a red sold sticker, and remarks: I knew it was going to go for more.

When pointed to online advertisements from the time showing Ray White telling buyers that, if they wished, they could simply move into the property and enjoy as is, Kouvas agreed he had used the wrong terminology by describing the property as uninhabitable.

Kouvas said there was a critical structural issue in an en suites floor that required urgent attention, and that due to the unique circumstances and condition of the property, it was sold without comparable sales as a reference point.

In justifying the advertised range, Kon Kouvas, the director at Ray White Mill Park  though not the agent who set the guide or conducted the sale  initially said the conservative price guide was set because of the uninhabitable condition of the brown-brick home, a deceased estate.

This three-bedroom home went for $852,000  a result that was $192,000 above the top end of the price guide.

The first  at 53 Veronica Crescent  was advertised by Ray White Mill Park with a price guide topping out at $660,000. No home had sold in the street via auction for less than $700,000 in the five years before, according to Domain.

On a Saturday in autumn this year, two homes in the street went under the hammer.

He said the condition of the home was better described as original state requiring significant renovation.

An hour after 53 Veronica Crescent was sold, another auction was held, a 400-metre walk down the road in the May sunshine.

That home, at No.8, also beat expectations, selling 11.7 per cent above the top of the guide.

While the gap between the advertised price and final sale was not as jarring, the initial listing still raised eyebrows.

Barry Plant real estate agent Con Kara.

This was because the agent responsible for the sale, Barry Plant agent Con Kara, advertised the home at a price lower than he had sold the same property for almost four years earlier.

In May 2021, the three-bedroom property went under the hammer for $827,000.

Come this year, the home, described in the listing as beautifully maintained, was advertised for between $700,000 and $770,000. It sold for $860,000.

Median house prices in Mill Park had risen by about 10 per cent in the four years since the earlier sale and relisting, according to Domain quarterly data.

However, Barry Plant chief executive Lisa Pennell said it was unfair to judge the listing price of a single property using headline trends because many properties sold during the pandemic property bubble had later resold at a loss.

Its important to understand the difference between headline data (like medians and averages) and individual property price data because rarely is Australian property homogenous  and so headline data or trend data cannot tell the story of individual property sales, outcomes of which are driven by so many factors, not the least of which is human emotion, she said.

Pennell also said the condition of the property had significantly deteriorated since the 2021 purchase, necessitating about $9000 of repairs before it was placed on the market again.

Our review of comparables shows that the  guide was appropriate and honest, she said.

Its important to note that another comparable property was launched on the same street at a similar time with a much lower selling range, so it was critical the selling range be as realistic as possible in the face of this competition.

This masthead is not suggesting these two specific Veronica Crescent sales are proven examples of deliberate underquoting, but they are part of a broader pattern of houses selling above the guide on Veronica Crescent and in Mill Park.

Under Victorias underquoting laws, last updated in 2017, the indicative selling price presented by real estate agents in the statement of information provided to buyers must be reasonable and, in most cases, take into account the sale prices of three comparable properties.

The advertised guide, which can be a single figure or a range of up to 10 per cent, must also be the same as that agreed to by vendors in sales authority documents.

A property selling above the price guide is not evidence of underquoting in and of itself, if the set price guide was reasonable.

In 116 property sales managed by Ray White Mill Park, more than 97 per cent of properties sold above the top end of the range, by an average of $64,371 or 9 per cent, according to data collected by this masthead. The data spans 18 months, though some sales from the agency would not have been captured.

In response to the findings, Kouvas said that compared with other areas of Melbourne, Mill Park had been the recent focus of intense interest from local and interstate buyers. He also pointed to a dozen Mill Park properties listed by Ray Whites competitors that had recently sold for between 15 per cent and 25 per cent above the high end of their final advertised guide.

Four Ray White offices  in Mill Park, Gladstone Park, Craigieburn and Taylors Lakes  sold at least 85 per cent of their listings above the top end of the highest estimate given to buyers, according to this mastheads data.

One former real estate agent who worked for a Ray White office in Melbournes outer northern suburbs through the pandemic, who didnt want to be named to discuss confidential information, said the culture at his former workplace was to quote the property as low as possible that they could get away with.

Sometimes it was $100,000 less than what the owner wanted, or it was worth, they said.

The former real estate agent said the low price guides were justified on the statement of information, which is meant to list comparable properties, by using inferior ones.

You can say, Oh, theres a similar three-bedroom property, but really, when you go and see it, its smaller and the finishes arent as nice.

In Sydney, the Ray White agency led by the man who calls himself Australias No.1 real estate agent, 30-year-old Josh Tesolin, had been advertising auction guides that fell 19 per cent or $180,000 below the advertised auction guide on average, according to an analysis of 412 sales by his Quakers Hill office.

The Bentley-driving agents relationship with Ray White was terminated in July by mutual agreement after an investigation by this masthead into Tesolins business conduct.

Tesolin, whose business has been rebranded under NGU Real Estate, denied any wrongdoing, saying that Ray White Quakers Hill was compliant with NSW price guide rules.

However, as the Bidding Blind investigation was published on Saturday, NSW Fair Trading slapped a four-month licence suspension, pending possible disciplinary action, on Tesolin and his private real estate company, Tesolin Consulting, over allegations of serious and repeated breaches of the law.

Josh Tesolin has been suspended by NSW Fair Trading for four months following an investigation by this masthead. Credit: Sam Mooy

The allegations include more than 100 cases of underquoting by Tesolin, all while his corporate interests operated under the Ray White Quakers Hill banner.

A spokesperson for the Ray White Group, which claims to sell three times as many properties as the next largest real estate group in Australia, said that while auction results were impossible to predict, data from across offices in Victoria and NSW showed that Ray White agents overall were very good at guiding appropriate prices at the start of a campaign, despite not being trained valuers.

The data shows about 61 per cent of the groups Victorian private and auction sales sold above the top end of the guide in the past financial year, mostly by less than 10 per cent. About 38 per cent of properties sold within or below the guide.

We certainly do have proof of a lot of runaway auctions in fast-moving areas, too, the spokesperson said.

Of the 210 sales overseen by Barry Plant North Eastern Group analysed as part of the investigation, more than 87 per cent sold above the top of the guide. The average miss across all the sales was $68,744 or 8 per cent. Fifty-three properties sold for at least $100,000 over the top guide.

Barry Plants Pennell said that if an agency was consistently selling properties for more than 10 per cent above the quoted range, she would consider that a potential red flag around integrity, but that is not the case here.

A close review of the process and sample audits confirms that the price guides for each property are set in agreement with the vendors and are based on realistic comparable sales, she said. We understand the regulator has also conducted spot audits in this office, as it does with many offices, and has been satisfied with the processes followed.

More than $100,000 above the top guide

In Melbournes eastern suburbs, there are agencies that routinely sell homes for prices more than $100,000 above the top estimate given to prospective purchasers, according to this mastheads data.

One is Box Hill-based agency CHN Real Estate Group.

The company is directed by young gun auctioneer Calvin Chan, and Jim Chen.

From left: Real estate agents Jim Chen and Calvin Chan. Credit: Instagram

In 2022, Chan was crowned one of Victorias top agents aged under 36, overseeing close to $200 million in sales in a single year.

Chen has also made the list of the countrys top agents, previously netting more than $103 million in annual sales, though he has not been working as a lead agent responsible for setting price guides in the past year, according to online listings.

Over 18 months to June this year, CHN Real Estate Group properties sold for an average of $109,047, or 9 per cent, above the top end of the advertised guide, according to 173 sales analysed by this masthead. Almost 90 per cent of these homes sold above the top end of the guide.

In March this year, as a coffee van pulled up to a three-bedroom home in Blackburn at a CHN auction, buyers agent Julie DeBondt-Barker predicted: I think theyve underquoted it.

DeBondt-Barker, the founding director of Property Home Base, had independently picked the listing before the sale, suggesting it could be an auction to watch because she believed the price guide of $1.2 million to $1.25 million was misleading, based on nearby sales.

This is a really tightly held area  The lake is nearby. People stay here for many, many years  Im thinking this will probably head towards $1.4 million.

The result would be frustratingly familiar to many navigating Melbourne auctions.

Although bidding reached $1.325 million, $75,000 above the top end of the guide, the property didnt sell at auction because the sellers reserve was not met. DeBondt-Barkers prediction was validated when the home sold shortly after the auction for $1.375 million.

A property failing to sell at auction, even once the guide is exceeded, is not of itself proof of underquoting, which has specific definitions in the law, but it is a particularly infuriating and confusing scenario for buyers.

Also in March, in the neighbouring suburb of Mont Albert, Anthony, a father of four, attended another CHN auction.

The Box Hill resident has helped his daughter on a drawn-out search for an affordable first home and said he had several reasons to be dubious that the two-bedroom unit would sell within the guide of $700,000 to $770,000.

Its right near a level-crossing removal station ... so the amenity of the area is now a lot better. A lot of young couples are looking for that as a first home. You could just tell at the auction due to the amount of people going through, and the amount of interest they had at the inspection, that it was going to go for a lot more.

Anthony had also picked up on another potential red flag in the previous sale price. In October 2019, the same brown-brick unit had sold for $855,000, meaning the vendors would need more than the advertised price just to break even.

The sales data for units in Mont Albert is patchy due to low sales volumes, though the available data shows median prices for units declined slightly from the earlier sale to when the unit was relisted in March, from $830,000 to $803,000, according to Cotality.

On auction day, when bidding hit $829,000, attendees began asking if the two-bedder was on the market.

Were just going to get some instructions, maam, but if you help us bid, it will help the owner make that decision, replied the auctioneer.

The agent and his team were able to cajole offers up to $840,000, at which point the property was declared on the market. When bidding slowed again for the final time, the gavel fell at $860,000, or 12 per cent over the top of the guide. The gap was too much for Anthonys daughter.

Chen, a director at CHN, though not the agent who set the guide or conducted the sales for any of the CHN sales analysed by this masthead, denied that the unit at Mont Albert or the house in Blackburn were inappropriately priced.

Instead, he said that CHNs price guides were determined by a disciplined and evidence-based approach that included assessing comparable sales from the past six months and reviewing buyer feedback through the campaign.

It is important to note that an owners original purchase price is not a valid consideration if the purchase occurred more than six months prior, regardless of whether that price was higher or lower, Chen said.

Equally, price guides are established by the agent based on available evidence and buyer engagement, whereas the reserve price is set solely by the vendor, often on the day of auction, based on interest levels observed during the campaign.

Top of the range is the bare minimum

Back on Veronica Crescent, Douglas Wong, 40, stands behind the flyscreen at his front door and says that he believes underquoting has been happening in his neighbourhood.

Hes noticed agents lowballing their initial price guide and then raising the estimate as time goes on. This practice can be allowable.

But he said he thought they often knew the initial figure was rubbish, which would be a breach of the rules requiring guides to be reasonable.

The IT worker sold a home in South Morang last year. He said his initial reserve price was $800,000, and the agent told him they could get him that.

But he started off the first week when he advertised; it started off as $650,000 or something like that, Wong said.

It eventually sold for $740,000.

We probably need a better law, I guess, Wong said.

Plenty of market participants and experts would agree.

One veteran real estate agent with 40 years experience, who did not want to be identified for fear of being seen as a rat in the ranks, said agents knew that the advertised price had to match that of the agency agreement with their seller, but would often explain to sellers that this was simply a marketing price, not the figure they truly believed the property would fetch.

Sometimes, they will even be bold enough to explain [to the vendor], Look, if we put $1.3 [million] on the authority, weve got to quote that to the public and wont get anyone turning up, so weve got to put a figure less than that.

One of the reasons why underquoting has proven so intractable, persisting through tougher laws and vows of crackdowns, is that it often works. Agents are reporting that if they do not list price guides so low, they get fewer people to inspections compared with their competitors.

In other words, low price guides drag down estimates across the market.

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I can see why they do it, buyers agent Roberts said. I can see how its effective. I often see when agents present a property, theyll put the quoted range a little bit higher, and they dont get as many numbers. The next tactic is to reduce that range, and then they get the numbers through. So obviously, it works. Thats why they do it.

Buyers advocate Scott Hall said that when this was done as a deliberate strategy from the start of the campaign, it was called step quoting.

If an agent expected $1 million for a home, they might begin quoting it at $850,000 to $900,000, then raise the estimated selling price to between $900,000 and $950,000, Hall explained.

Now they get a whole lot of people engaged, he said. They get them emotionally connected with the property, and then during the sales campaign, to cover themselves [from accusations over underquoting], they raise the quote range.

Buyers and vendor advocate Lauren Staley has observed the same strategy of listing a property significantly lower than what its worth to get people through the door, before the price is raised later in the campaign.

We tell our buyers every day of the week that the bottom of the range is very rarely an acceptable number [for the seller], said Staley, managing director of Infolio Property Advisors. The top of the range will often be the bare minimum. I just cant see it changing.

Staley said she had some empathy for agents, who were working within a system where the public had been conditioned to expect homes to sell up to 20 per cent above the price guide.

I do think that theres got to be some onus on the buyers because it doesnt take me a hell of a lot to work out whether a property is priced accurately or not, and buyers do have a huge amount of data available to them now that they can draw upon to reach a conclusion, Staley said.

On Saturday, the Liberal opposition slammed the Victorian government for keeping a 2022 review it commissioned into the states underquoting laws a secret, and labelled Consumer Affairs Victoria, which enforces underquoting rules, a toothless tiger.

The government should be coming clean and showing what this report shows, said opposition spokesman David Southwick. When people are not doing the right thing, there does need to be consequences.

On Saturday, the government again declined to explain why it wouldnt release the 2022 property review.

Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos said underquoting was illegal and Victoria led the nation in its efforts to stamp it out.

Well continue to go after dodgy real estate agents to make the property market fairer, he said.

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The feud led to more than a dozen homes and businesses being torched. The most high-profile of those was Sonsa Markets in Collingwood, a grocery store with family ties to Christopher Perrone. Police intelligence holdings seen by The Age identify Perrone and another relative as key figures within Sonsa Markets, which came under the radar of investigators for its suspected role in the importation of drugs and large-scale money laundering. This masthead is not alleging that Perrone and his relatives are involved in any wrongdoing, just that a business connected to them was under police investigation for illicit activity. CCTV cameras captured the moment the fire ignited and filled Sonsa Market with smoke and flames. The torching of the Sonsa Markets, which caused extensive damage to the business, wasnt the only attack on property connected to the family.

About a week earlier, three men in balaclavas broke into the shop using a sledgehammer and set it alight, and arsonists targeted two cars parked in the driveway of the Fawkner home of one of the stores co-owners. Loading The arson attack came two days after CCTV cameras outside the shop captured a group of men arguing on the street. Footage of the incident shows the men engaging in a series of heated exchanges before two of them walk off along Smith Street, telling the third man: Shes beautiful and F--- off. Perrones arrest will now trigger a series of hearings in Greece for authorities to determine whether his extradition back to Australia should be granted. But with the court closed throughout August in Greece, it could be at least a month before a hearing is scheduled. The 32-year-old is yet to engage a lawyer overseas.

Australia and Greece are bound by a bilateral agreement signed in 1991 that outlines the extradition process between both nations. In it, both Australia and Greece agree to extradite to the other any alleged offenders accused of having committed a crime punishable in both jurisdictions with a jail term of a year or more. The legislation requires both countries to make an extradition request in writing through diplomatic channels, submit an arrest warrant, and provide an outline of the allegations against the person whose extradition is being requested. Donald Rothwell, an international law professor at the Australian National University, said there were multiple variables at play to determine how the extradition might play out, including whether Perrone decided to contest the request in the Greek courts, a process that could take months. Another critical factor is how deep are the pockets of the individual who is seeking to contest the extradition? How much money do they actually have behind them to be able to engage lawyers in Greece to present and develop these arguments on their behalf? he said. Rothwell said the fact that Perrones arrest had been off the back of an Interpol notice was positive because it meant Victoria Police had been able to meet the requirements for the arrest warrant to be certified and acknowledged by international law enforcement.
Its a bar which is under constant threat of being under water but that hasnt stopped Ponyfish Island from notching up 15 years serving drinks under the Evan Walker Bridge on the Yarra River.

Owners Grant Smillie, Andrew McKinnon and Jerome Borazio originally opened Ponyfish Island as a pop-up bar for one summer but since then, it has established itself as one of the citys most iconic places to have a drink despite its precarious location.

The owners of Ponyfish Island at the bar: Jerome Borazio, Grant Smillie and Andrew Mackinnon. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Sitting in a patch of winter sun, testing out the bars cocktail list, the trio say other challenges include the occasional dead body floating past and the need to employ overnight security guards 365 days a year at an annual cost of $750,000 because the bar cant be locked up.

Its uninsurable as a venue because of flooding, DJ turned restaurateur Smillie says. The first time it flooded, we went and put our claim in, and they said, OK, and the second time, they said: All the best.
Loading Its above and beyond what is legitimate to charge and inconsistent with what their peers would charge for the same operation, he said. It is exorbitant. Another insider said the behaviour had been occurring for more than a decade. A TAC spokesman said the commission took all concerns of non-compliant billing by service providers seriously. It is not appropriate for the TAC to comment on specific matters, nor matters currently under investigation, he said.

The TAC has processes in place to identify irregularities with billing and takes all possible steps to address anything that affects the integrity of the scheme. Loading Surgeons say fraudulent billing is still regularly occurring at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In addition to billing for procedures that havent occurred, its alleged that a handful of surgeons are wrongly claiming lucrative assistant surgeon fees from the TAC when they have not assisted in surgeries. The government-owned TAC  which is funded by Victorian motorists to pay for the treatment of road accident victims  reimburses hospitals, surgeons and anaesthetists for each TAC patient they treat. Surgeons and anaesthetists are paid an hourly rate by the hospital and also bill the TAC for their work. According to insiders, this set-up creates a perverse financial incentive for some surgeons to harvest TAC patients.

Hospital insiders have questioned why the alleged perpetrators were able to continue working at the hospital while under investigation. What is happening is unjustified and corrupt, they said. One of the surgeons alleged by his colleagues to be engaged in fraudulent billing told this masthead that the matter was under investigation and that the Royal Melbourne Hospital had advised him not to comment. After this masthead first aired the allegations against the Royal Melbourne surgeons, the public hospital set up a new committee to develop a definition for appropriate billing. At the time, staff were told this would include a threshold for what constitutes an assistant surgeon. Royal Melbourne chief executive Shelley Dolan also emailed staff to tell them she would soon contact them to discuss how the hospital could strengthen its escalation systems.

Loading A Royal Melbourne Hospital spokeswoman declined to say whether these new guidelines and policies had been rolled out. The Royal Melbourne Hospital is proud of the care our people deliver for our community each and every day, the spokesperson said. We respect the important role regulators play in the health sector and work collaboratively with them. Health sources say the issues at the Royal Melbourne Hospital are the tip of the iceberg, and fraudulent billing is an issue in many health services.

Two doctors at Epworth HealthCare said they had observed a surgeon regularly performing unnecessary arthroscopies, a type of keyhole surgery, on patients ankles to earn additional income from the TAC and health insurers. Loading It is unnecessary except for rare instances to perform that arthroscopy, one doctor said. But this surgeon does it with monotonous regularity. It is laughable. Another hospital source said he had seen one surgeon regularly bill insurers for procedures that had not occurred. He took some screws out of someones ankle which takes less than five minutes, but he would put eight item numbers down, he said, referring to the codes that are used to submit a claim for payment to private health insurers and the TAC.

A senior anaesthetist at another private hospital, who also spoke to The Age on the condition of anonymity, described pockets of certain hospitals as rats nests of egos and greed. Its rampant profiteering, the anaesthetist said. Theres a difference between making a living and milking the system. An Epworth spokesman said it took all concerns about professional conduct seriously. He declined to say whether he was aware of the TAC investigating allegedly fraudulent billing at Epworth. Surgeons who operate at Epworth are not employed by Epworth, the spokesman said. They are independent practitioners who operate their own businesses and are credentialled to use our facilities. We have no access to, or oversight of, their billing arrangements. He said the hospital had not been asked to provide any information relating to Epworths billing practices.

If any credible allegations are made in relation to fraudulent billing practice and brought to our attention, we will refer them to the appropriate authorities, including Medicare, AHPRA, IBAC, or the relevant funding body for investigation. Medical billing and compliance expert Dr Margaret Faux said medical billing fraud was widespread in Australia and would continue unless there were serious consequences. Loading I have people coming to me almost daily telling me stories about bad billing behaviour, and they are too scared to speak on-the-record for fear of retribution, she said. That tells you everything you need to know about the toxic culture within our healthcare system. She said Australia needed to start treating billing fraud as a criminal justice issue like many overseas countries.

Our prosecution processes are ineffective so basically what happens is a doctor can be found to have inappropriately billed a six-figure sum, and they get nothing more than a slap on the wrist and they are straight back at it, she said. In the US, the FBI is involved in healthcare fraud and state district attorneys have dedicated healthcare fraud squads. The NHS has a dedicated counter-fraud authority [in the UK], and in South Africa it is a police matter. Late last year, The Age also revealed the state government had been warned in May 2022 about doctors manipulating claims to boost their income. An independent medical examiner, whom this masthead has chosen not to name, emailed the parliamentary office of then-premier Daniel Andrews. But he never received a proper response, apart from an acknowledgement that the correspondence had been received. The same thing occurred when he sent a follow-up email. Loading

The correspondence was sent almost a year before the Labor government bemoaned the cost blowouts plaguing the WorkCover scheme, describing the system as fundamentally broken. A government spokesman said Victorians expected hospitals to uphold the highest standards of integrity and patient care. He said as the matter was under investigation by IBAC, it would be inappropriate to comment further. An IBAC spokesperson said: As a matter of practice, IBAC does not comment on whether it has a complaint or investigation before it.
I thank police who maintained the public order. Its clear they need more powers, and were giving it to them, she said. Loading Were not afraid of these goons  but we wont tolerate them either. In footage posted to social media of the CBD march, police vehicles can be seen gathering at the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets in front of the group, before reversing out of the way of the march and allowing the neo-Nazis to proceed east along Bourke Street. A 26-year-old man confronted the group and was allegedly assaulted. The man, of no fixed address, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A number of police vehicles followed the neo-Nazis as they walked to Flagstaff Gardens, before they were dispersed about 1.25am. When asked why the protest was allowed to proceed, a spokeswoman for Victoria Police said officers were quick to respond to ensure public order was maintained. No arrests were made throughout the protest and police had a strong presence to maintain community safety and to prevent any breach of the peace, the spokeswoman said. Victoria Police respects the right to protest; however, there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity. Deakin University Associate Professor Joshua Roose, an expert in right-wing extremists, said there was limited action available to police to disperse the group, in the absence of banning face coverings or requiring protest permits.

He said the groups choice to rally late at night is a deliberate tactic, timed for when police resources are stretched thin. An attendee of the neo-Nazi gathering poses in a laneway on Saturday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui The group would be attempting to use this march to gain publicity for their national meeting today, build this sense of a movement, and inflate their numbers, Roose said, adding they likely included members from across the country. They have these snap rallies where they will show up unexpectedly in a location, often in the dead of night and then attempt to use that for online propaganda and any residual media coverage. In this case, they revel in being able to march through Melbourne without being arrested or intercepted by police.

He said that while protest permits would not be needed in an ideal democracy, the highly polarised political environment means the government should consider them. Members of the NSN gathered before midday at a property outside a town north-west of Melbourne ahead of the groups national conference. Organisers have claimed up to 250 people are attending the conference, which they said was due to run until Monday. Thomas Sewell speaks to media during the weekend of the National Socialist Networks national conference. Credit: The Age Wearing black attire, those involved with the group stood at the end of a country laneway next to a caravan park, using binoculars and a drone to watch police and media gathered on a main road nearby. One shirtless man, wearing a jumper adorned with a picture of Adolf Hitler tied around his waist, walked down the lane towards police alongside two other people.

He used a walkie-talkie before returning to the bigger group further down the road. A journalist and photographer, who remained inside their vehicle, were allegedly assaulted by members of the network in the lead-up to the meeting. Police said the man and woman, who sustained minor injuries, were able to leave the area and report the matter to nearby police. Opposition police spokesman David Southwick claimed Victoria had become the hate state with extremists free to march through the city and police unable to stop them. To see last night  police pretty much having to chaperone the protesters because they cant arrest them  whats that about?

Southwick said the government needed to urgently introduce a protest permit system, as well as bolster polices move-on powers. Loading These extremists are gutless cowards. They cover their faces, hide their identities. The government promised laws to ensure that people cant cover their faces at protests. Where are those laws now? he said. Legal activist groups have disputed claims that police need more powers, arguing the issue is being used as an excuse to expand police authority. Anthony Kelly from Melbourne Activist Legal Support, a group which regularly attends protests as a legal observer, said police already had the powers they needed to shut down neo-Nazi gatherings.

The actions and banners are highly provocative and by themselves form a breach of the peace, he said. The police can act on these if they have sufficient resources for mass arrests and attention to the issue. But in the past they have failed to focus on these actors as a problem, so they have been able to operate with a degree of impunity. Victorias new police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush last month ruled out pushing for protest permits, saying they have failed to be a game-changer in jurisdictions such as NSW, where they were introduced to curb violence and hate speech by neo-Nazi groups and some pro-Palestine groups. Weve had a look at it and its not something were going to drive towards, Bush said. Weve had a look at other jurisdictions that do that, and its not the game-breaker. Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the scenes of intimidation had no place in Victoria, accusing the government of allowing hateful behaviour to thrive.

The actions of alleged neo-Nazis is not unexpected when you have a government that is afraid to take a stand against weekly racist protests in Melbourne, he said in a statement. Protesters are now travelling from interstate to join these hateful rallies. Saturday mornings CBD march was led by white supremacist leader Thomas Sewell, and members of the group hoisted banners stating White man fight back and flew the Australian and National Socialist Network flags. Sewell was found guilty of attacking a Channel Nine security guard outside the networks headquarters in March 2021. He was also jailed for 37 days after pleading guilty to a separate attack on three bushwalkers who filmed his group at the Cathedral Ranges National Park at Taggerty in May 2021. After the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea in December, the Victorian government announced new laws which would stop people from wearing balaclavas at protests to stamp out hateful behaviour.
The interview runs for barely 50 minutes (only 20 minutes was released to media by the Supreme Court), but it offers a glimpse into Pattersons demeanour in the days immediately after the deadly meal, and exposes the web of lies she told the police in her attempt to get away with murder. The pandemic hobby As the interview gets under way, Eppingstall makes clear the concerns of the investigators. They are worried about the source of the mushrooms Patterson put in the beef Wellington meal she served at her home on July 29, 2023. Is that something youve done in the past? Foraging for mushrooms? Eppingstall asks. Patterson shakes her head, looking at Eppingstall from across the table separating them.

Never, she says slowly. Eppingstall asks again. Never? Never, she says before looking away and blinking several times. Patterson would later admit to the jury in her murder trial that this was a lie and that she had developed an interest in foraging wild mushrooms during COVID-19 lockdowns.

In court, she gave evidence that she first picked field and horse mushrooms growing in the paddock of a 1.2-hectare property she lived in at the time in Korumburra. She told the court she had cut them up, fried them with butter and ate them. They tasted good, and I didnt get sick, she told the court. Foraging for mushrooms would become a key plank of her defence, as the mother of two told the trial that, in the fatal meal, she could have accidentally mixed wild mushrooms she had picked and dehydrated with dried mushrooms she bought from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne. The dehydrator manual As Eppingstall moves on to ask Patterson whether she preserves foods, or anything like that, Patterson shakes her head. She says she does not.

Loading Eppingstall doesnt press the issue but as the interview continues, he asks Patterson about some items police have found at her house. Among those, theres a manual for a Sunbeam dehydrator. Do you know anything about a dehydrator in your house? Eppingstall asks. No, Patterson responds, shaking her head as she looks at the detective. OK. Do you own a dehydrator? Eppingstall asks.

Patterson says she doesnt before pausing briefly and offering an explanation. Ive got manuals of lots of stuff Ive collected over the years. Ive had all sorts of appliances and I just keep them all, she says. Asked by Eppingstall when she might have owned a dehydrator, Patterson contorts her face into a confused frown and shakes her head. I dont know. I might have had one years ago, she says.

When I first got the Thermomix, I got really excited about making everything from scratch, you know. And I did a lot of, um, you know, everything from scratch ingredients and I did a lot of that, so I could have had something like that back then. Loading This, too, would prove to be a lie, as Patterson admitted during the trial that she went to a tip and dumped a dehydrator she bought in Leongatha about three months before the lunch because she was scared people would think she deliberately poisoned guests. During the trial, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, told the jury Patterson had bought the dehydrator two hours after mobile phone data showed she had potentially visited a nature reserve in Loch where death cap mushrooms had been seen. Rogers told the court Pattersons visit to the reserve was part of her plan to seek out and locate death cap mushrooms, and then dehydrate, blitz and hide them in the individual beef Wellingtons she cooked for her guests.

Jurors were also shown images obtained from Pattersons devices of dehydrated mushrooms sitting on the trays of the appliance, and CCTV footage of her dumping the dehydrator four days after the lunch, on August 2, 2023. Great help or a wild goose chase? In the police interview, as Eppingstall tells Patterson investigators are trying to understand what made her guests so ill, she looks down at the table and nods. Conversely, we are trying to understand why youre not that ill, Eppingstall adds. Hmm, Patterson responds.

Asked by the homicide detective about whether she understands why she is being interviewed by the police, Patterson gets slightly agitated, almost confrontational. Yeah. I do. But I am sure you understand, too, that Ive never been in a situation like this before, and Ive been very, very helpful with the Health Department through the week because I wanted to help that side of things as much as possible because I do want to know what happened. So Ive given them as much information as theyve asked for and offered up all the food and all of the information about where the food came from, Patterson says. This is a line that Patterson would return to during the trial. But the prosecution painted a different picture for the jury. The prosecutions argument was that while Pattersons lunch guests fought for their lives in the hospital, she sent the Department of Health on a wild goose chase to search 14 Asian grocery stores for any evidence of potentially contaminated batches of mushrooms. And how despite having worked and lived in the Monash City Council area years earlier and possessing a remarkable memory, she seemed unable to remember where exactly she bought the dried mushrooms used in the meal.

Unconditional love As the interview moves on, Eppingstall tells Patterson he wants to understand why she invited her former partner Simon Pattersons parents, and his uncle and aunt over for lunch. Because I have no other family, she replies. So they are the only support that Ive got and theyve always been really good to me. And I want to maintain those relationships with them despite whats happened with Simon. Patterson looks at the table and adds: I love them a lot. Theyve always been really good to me. And they always said to me that they would support me with love and emotional support even though Simon and I are separated. And I really appreciated that. Because my parents are both gone. My grandparents are all gone.

She tells Eppingstall they are the only family she has, and the only grandparents her children have. I want them to stay in my kids lives. And thats really important to me. And I think Simon hated that I still had a relationship with his parents. But I loved them, she says. From left: Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Ian Wilkinson is the sole-surviving lunch guest. Nothing thats ever happened between us, nothing hes ever done to me will change the fact that theyre good, decent people, that have never done anything wrong by me ever. Patterson does not appear overly emotional when speaking with the detective, even though in an interview she gave to reporters outside her home two days later, she appears overcome with grief.
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 A son, a daughter and a grandson of Australian servicemen exposed to nuclear testing have made an emotional pilgrimage up to the remote Montebello Islands to capture details of an era with  literally and metaphorically  enduring fallout. Paul Grace, Maxine Goodwin and Gary Blinco recently stood together in the ruins of a bomb command centre overlooking the scene of three British nuclear tests in the 1950s that few younger Australians have ever heard of. As the world commemorates Japans wartime nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the trio say Australians should not forget the impact of atomic tests conducted on West Australian soil in the 1950s, starting with Operation Hurricane in 1952 and followed by two more tests in Operation Mosaic in 1956. Other atomic tests at Emu Field and Maralinga bookended the Montebello series. Grace, Goodwin and Blinco all know the tests left a family legacy of death or ill-health  and lingering contamination 70 years later on several islands. On a recent expedition up to the Montebello archipelago, 80 kilometres offshore from Onslow, the trio gathered documentary and archival material while filling gaps in their own family histories. For Grace and Goodwin, the most poignant moment was when they stood on the tarmac at Onslow airport in the exact spot where his grandfather and her father posed for a photograph with No 86 Transport Wing Detachment RAAF, to commemorate the successful test of Britains first ever nuclear bomb detonation on October 3, 1952. My grandfather Flight Lieutenant Ron Grace is seventh from left back row, and Maxines father Leading Aircraftman [later Sergeant] Max Ward is third from left front row, says Grace. They performed what they called coastal monitoring sorties after testing, but that was code for looking for fallout  the British had promised that no fallout would reach the mainland.

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Graces grandfather wrote later: As pilot of the aircraft, I would have been the most exposed crew member, being shielded only by the Perspex of the front and side windows. The navigator, radio operator and Mr Hale being in the body of the aircraft had, presumably, more protection. Further to the above, after leaving the atomic cloud, we spent approximately two more hours in a radioactive airplane (as proved by the Geiger-Counter check) during the return to Onslow, landing, parking and shut-down. Maxine Goodwin and Paul Grace at the airport. Credit: Merilyn Fairskye Maxine Goodwins father died of lymphatic cancer aged 49, when she was 16. He would have been servicing contaminated aircraft, so my mother and I do believe his illness was the result of his participation in the nuclear tests, she says. When Paul and I looked across at the original runway where the Dakota planes would have been taking off and landing, I could visualise the busy scene from that time, and it was very emotional. Gary Blincos father Allen made several trips to the Montebello Islands during the test years, working as a navy diver recovering moorings in a lagoon and monitoring radiation levels.

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I knew as a young guy that my father had been there, but I didnt really know what it meant, he says. I had a burning need to connect. By the time Blinco was able to sit down with his estranged father to discuss it, the older man had been diagnosed with dementia. But he vividly recalled diving on the site of Royal Navy frigate HMS Plym, which had been detonated by one of the explosions; he recalled a depression in the seabed and a shiny base. Im told there was high stress about being a navy diver there, says his son. I was able to swim in the water where my Dad had dived, and I walked on the beach where he guided scientists to do their monitoring. They were fully protected; he was wearing sandals and shorts. The British did a very good job of keeping things under wraps and applying pressure on the Australian government to do the same. Allen Blinco died of old age, but a 2006 DVA study of Australian participants in British nuclear tests in Australia showed an increase in cancer deaths and cancer incidence (18 per cent and 23 per cent respectively) than would be expected in the general population. They tried to explain these figures away, but they are really quite damning, says Paul Grace, an author whose book Operation Hurricane gives a detailed account of the events and personnel involved in UK nuclear testing in Australia. The three descendants of nuclear veterans describe the Montebello Islands as haunting but beautiful. Within the landscape, youve got an incredible number of Cold War artefacts lying around, what the British referred to as target response items, says Grace.

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It means stuff that they planted around the place to see whether it could withstand a nuclear blast, like World War II-era bomb shelters constructed out of corrugated iron and sandbags. Another relic is the metal framework of the command centre on Hermite Island, which Grace, Goodwin and Blinco visited. Its where the scientists triggered all three bombs, says Grace. Its on top of a hill with an extraordinary view over the entire island group, the only site during the tests that was still manned but evacuated afterwards. Paul Grace, Gary Blinco and Maxine Goodwin. Credit: Merilyn Fairskye The nuclear fallout was not limited to those servicemen involved. Still affected 70 years later are large tracts of land and seabed across the Montebello archipelago. New research into plutonium levels in marine sediment collected around some islands have found elevated levels up to 4500 times greater than other parts of the WA coastline. The research by Edith Cowan University, released in June, was supported by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Visitors are urged to spend no more than an hour on some islands. Grace says the Montebello story is a cautionary tale of Australias over-eagerness to host Britains nuclear test series, and of UK authorities lack of safety and casual attitude toward radioactive drift. It forces you to question the wisdom of tying Australias defence to powerful allies, especially in the context of the current debate over AUKUS, where the benefits are vague and shifting and the costs will only become clear decades in the future, he says.

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In that time, federal police investigated a caravan found in the outer Sydney suburb of Dural that appeared to be a prelude to an antisemitic bombing, but found it was a hoax. It was Barrett who spoke to the media to explain that organised criminals had faked the plot in Sydney, after a political furore over national security and antisemitism was whipped up in the vacuum of communication from, and between, state and federal law enforcement  something Kershaw was criticised for. Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana, who negotiated with Barrett over the forces latest pay agreement, says she is amicable, affable and strategic. Barrett will need those skills because the AFP commissioners role is a delicate balance of executing the will of the government while also leading the forces members. When the AFP was moved into the Home Affairs portfolio under the Morrison government, shortly before Barretts predecessor Kershaw assumed the role, the police association raised concerns that the force was losing its independence and integrity.

Loading Now the AFP is coming back into the mega portfolio after Albanese had separated it out in his first term, the reversal made in part because of the communications issues during the Dural caravan plot. Caruana said that during enterprise agreement negotiations, Barrett rigorously held the government line while also showing empathy for the members seeking better pay. We need a commissioner that is going to have some empathy, some compassion and some understanding to what the troops are going through, he said. And hopefully Krissy is the person to take that argument to the government, to get us what the members need in order to continue to keep Australia safe. Barrett deployed to the Solomon Islands in 2003 as part of the AFPs first contingent in a multinational peacekeeping force. The local government had requested assistance from neighbouring countries to help quell escalating, ethnically driven violence, and the AFP worked to disarm militias and investigate attacks in the region. She has been recognised for her distinguished service there, and began training to be a sworn officer two years later.

Barrett has since worked in fraud, anti-corruption and money laundering, counterterrorism, serious financial crime and transnational organised crime. Along the way, Barrett has been no stranger to being the first woman in a role, successively breaking new ground while climbing the AFP ranks. She was the first patrol sergeant at ACT Policing to work part-time after starting a family, and in 2015 did a research study into gender roles in frontline policing  achievements that were noted when she was awarded a Kings Birthday Honour in 2023 while an assistant commissioner. Barrett did not shy away from the first woman mantle when addressing reporters following her appointment. Its an absolute honour and privilege to be appointed to this position, and Im very aware its a significant milestone for the AFP and probably policing more broadly, she said. I have been very fortunate to have some fantastic role models throughout my career, both men and women, and I do hope that I can play that role for aspiring leaders.

Appropriately for top-level law enforcement, Barrett has a meagre online presence. There is no LinkedIn profile boasting of any classified work, Burke would be pleased to see, after spy chief Mike Burgess warned on July 31 that people with security clearances were making it too easy for foreign agents to target them by boasting about their access online. Loading But Barretts comments at the press conference with Burke this week provided a small insight into her priorities, starting with social cohesion right at the top of the list. Barrett honoured Kershaw in her remarks, saying he was a mentor and crediting him with transforming the AFP. I never imagined that one day I would be leading this very fine organisation, she said. As commissioner, I will ensure the AFP continues to keep Australians safe, protects the vulnerable, and identifies and disrupts an emerging cohort of criminals who have mixed motivations and threatens our national security.
Police are overwhelmingly charging low-level drug users rather than issuing fines, 18 months after they were handed discretionary powers to help free up NSWs overburdened court system.

Despite about two-thirds of NSW Police officers receiving training in the court diversion scheme, its implementation remains inconsistent even across neighbouring local area commands, such as in Sydneys eastern suburbs where charges are more than three times more likely north of Clovelly.

The Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI), introduced in early 2024, allows officers to issue a $400 on-the-spot fine for first or second low-level drug possession offences, which is waived if offenders attend an hour-long health counselling phone session.

The Herald reported in September that the schemes application was sporadic and inconsistent across postcodes, with only 6 per cent of low-level offenders avoiding court during the initial months of its operation.
The car park is overflowing with P-plates and there is a strict security system at the door. Some teens have been holding their spot for hours. Its 10.30pm on a Saturday and theres no hotter place for 17 and 18-year-olds to be than Forestville Library.

Forestville, operated by Northern Beaches Council, is one of just two 24-hour libraries in Sydney. The other is at Manly, which is also trialling all-hours access after the popularity of Forestville among high school students.

Students (from left) Isabelle Piesse, Tess Familton, Lila Lawrence, Georgie Young and Sienna Shelton. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Unsupervised teenagers in an adultless public building after hours  what could go wrong?

Surprisingly little, according to the councils library services executive manager, Maeva Masterson. There is nothing like peer pressure and a healthy dose of trust to keep teens in line.
Electric vehicles are an absolute steal in China right now. And the countrys top leaders are concerned.

EV manufacturers are locked in a death spiral of cost-cutting fuelled by weak domestic demand and an overcrowded, ferociously competitive marketplace that has been bloated by state subsidies.

A BYD showroom in Shanghai. The car maker has launched a range of smaller, cheaper models to appeal to younger buyers. Credit: Bloomberg

Today, Chinese motorists can drive off in BYDs top-selling Seagull hatchback for just 50,800 yuan (about $11,000)  more than 30 per cent below its guide price  after the EV giant kicked off a price-slashing war in May to squeeze its rivals.

Its competitors followed suit.
We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said. The leaders said they remained committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force, and added the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. They also said negotiations could take place only in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. Zelenskys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who took part in the talks with European leaders and US officials, said Ukraine was grateful for their constructive approach.

A ceasefire is necessary  but the front line is not a border, Yermak said on X, reiterating Kyivs position that it would reject any territorial concessions to Russia. Yermak also thanked Vance for respecting all points of view and his efforts towards a reliable peace. European representatives put forward a counterproposal, a European official said, declining to provide details. The Wall Street Journal said the counterproposal included demands that a ceasefire must take place before any other steps were taken and that any territory exchange must be reciprocal, with firm security guarantees.

You cant start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting, the newspaper quoted a European negotiator as saying. A US official said hours-long meetings at Chevening produced significant progress toward President Trumps goal of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine. Zelensky said Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done. Credit: Getty Images The White House did not immediately respond when asked about the European counterproposal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke and pledged to find a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and unwavering support for Zelensky while welcoming Trumps efforts to end the fighting, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

It was not clear what, if anything, had been agreed at Chevening, but Zelensky earlier called the meeting constructive. The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine, this is key principle, he said in his evening address to Ukrainians. Macron stressed the need for Ukraine to play a role in any negotiations. Ukraines future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now, he wrote on X after what he said were calls with Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Starmer. Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake.

Clear steps needed Zelensky has made a flurry of calls with Ukraines allies since Trumps envoy Steve Witkoffs visit to Moscow on Wednesday, which Trump described as having achieved great progress. Lammy and Vance fish in a lake in the grounds of Chevening House. Credit: AP Ukraine and the European Union have pushed back on proposals that they view as ceding too much to Putin, whose troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, citing what Moscow called threats to Russias security from a Ukrainian pivot towards the West. Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab.

Moscow has previously claimed four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Loading Scepticism on implementing deal Russian forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions and Russia has demanded that Ukraine pull out its troops from the parts that they still control. Ukraine says its troops still have a small foothold in Russias Kursk region a year after they crossed the border to try to gain leverage in any negotiations. Russia said it had expelled Ukrainian troops from Kursk in April.

Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre, said the current peace push was the first more or less realistic attempt to stop the war, but she remained sceptical about the agreements being implemented. There is virtually no doubt that the new commitments could be devastating for Ukraine, she said. Fierce fighting is raging along the more than 1000-kilometre front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces hold around a fifth of the countrys territory. Russian troops are slowly advancing in Ukraines east, but their summer offensive has so far failed to achieve a major breakthrough, Ukrainian military analysts say. Ukrainians remain defiant.
Tel Aviv, Israel: When Israels security cabinet ministers voted to approve a risky plan to take control of a war-torn Gaza City, objections flowed in from key international allies.

But criticism also notably came from the highest levels of Israels own military  the same military that is expected to carry out the cabinet directive.

Planes drop aid packages over Gaza City during the week. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images

This week, the militarys chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, objected to expanding the war in the Gaza Strip, according to four Israeli security officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. Zamir raised questions about the exhaustion and fitness of reservists after a grinding, nearly two-year war in the enclave.

Israeli military leadership has said that it prefers a new ceasefire instead of renewed fighting, according to three of the officials.
What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Washington: On a recent Wednesday night, I found myself in New York revisiting the new Australian bar thats opened up in Lower Manhattan. I first wrote about Old Mates pub in April, finding it was a surprise hit with discerning New Yorkers as well as the expat crowd.

I came back to see The Wiggles. Not in their usual coloured skivvies, but in casual pub attire for a free gig at the end of their month-long US tour.

Wiggles Simon Pryce (second from left) and Anthony Field (second from right) with friends outside Old Mates pub in New York City after a one-off free gig for adults. Credit: Michael Koziol

The crowd might have been adults-only, but the set list wasnt, with plenty of Wiggles favourites mixed with karaoke renditions of Youre So Vain and a rocking version of The Cockroaches Shes the One. The boisterous New York audience wouldnt let them leave without performing Hot Potato, while Dominic Field  sans Wiggles tree costume  brought the house down with the hoedown-style Rattlin Bog, an Irish folk song.
Chinese tech financier released after probe: former colleague



Beijing, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Chinese tech financier Bao Fan has been released by Chinese authorities after vanishing from public view over two years ago while "cooperating" with an investigation, a former colleague told AFP Saturday.

Bao was a key player in the emergence of some of China's biggest tech giants, supervising blockbuster IPOs and the landmark 2015 merger between ride-hailing giant Didi and its top competitor at the time, Kuaidi Dache.

He disappeared in February 2023 as authorities launched a crackdown that saw a number of prominent Chinese financiers placed under investigation.

In February last year his investment bank, China Renaissance, said he had stepped down as head.

His former colleague, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he remained in contact with Bao's investment bank and could confirm he had been released, as first reported Friday in financial outlet Caixin.

Bao was known for his close ties with the country's top tech bosses, and was seen as a celebrity in venture capital circles.

His disappearance -- and China Renaissance's subsequent announcement that he was "cooperating in an investigation being carried out by certain authorities" -- sent shockwaves throughout the financial services industry.

Chinese authorities never formally announced the scope of the investigation.

Beijing has since extended an olive branch to the country's private sector.

In February, President Xi Jinping met with prominent business leaders including Alibaba's Jack Ma, Tencent's Pony Ma and Xiaomi's Lei Jun.

A few months later, China introduced a law dedicated to promoting the private sector.
US-Russia summits: the highs and lows



Paris, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



With US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin set to meet next Friday in Alaska against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, we look back at previous historic encounters between the two nuclear powers:



- 1959: Eisenhower and Khrushchev -



Dwight Eisenhower and Nikita Khrushchev met at Camp David in September 1959 in what was the first visit by a Soviet leader to the United States.

In Hollywood, Khrushchev delivered one of his legendary rants to an audience that included Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

The summit concluded with a statement that the two superpowers work towards talks on disarmament and on the status of Berlin, which the Cold War had divided.



- 1961: Kennedy and Khrushchev -



President John F. Kennedy met with Khrushchev in June 1961 at the former imperial Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna.

The summit was an icy encounter befitting the Cold War era, made chillier by the failed US Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba that happened shortly before. Berlin was top of the agenda, but two months later, the wall dividing the city would be built.

A year later, the Cuban missiles crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.



- 1972: Nixon and Brezhnev -



The Vietnam War cast a long shadow over the Moscow summit in May 1972 between Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev.

But the summit would prove key in ushering in the period of detente between the two superpowers as they signed the SALT and ABM weapons-control treaties.

In a joint declaration, they said peaceful coexistence was the only basis for mutual relations in a nuclear age.

The two men met twice more while they were in power, underlining the thaw in ties. But relations would later chill again with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.



- 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev -



In four years, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev had four summits.

Their first encounter took place in Geneva in November 1985 where Reagan, still berating the "evil empire", suggested he and Gorbachev go for a walk "to get some fresh air" by Lake Geneva.

When they returned, the talk was of "chemistry". Reagan found Gorbachev "very comfortable, very easy to be with".

At the third of four summits in December 1987, both powers agreed a treaty to eliminate their short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles.



- 1992: Bush and Yeltsin -



Boris Yeltsin was welcomed as "a friend" by his American host George H.W. Bush in February 1992 during his first visit to the United States since the Soviet Union's collapse.

The two were at pains to forge a close personal relationship as a basis for economic cooperation between their countries but also to continue reducing their nuclear arsenals.

The summit marked Yeltsin's entrance onto the world stage and the first UN Security Council meeting devoted to the post-Cold War period.



- 1995: Clinton and Yeltsin -



Bill Clinton and Yeltsin held eight summits during their terms of office, which overlapped during most of the 1990s.

Their summits included one in Hyde Park, New York in October 1995 where at times the two men, who had many disagreements over the years, seemed to get on like old friends.

The summit brought no breakthrough agreements but a remark by Yeltsin at a news conference lightened the mood, and caused Clinton to burst into uncontrollable spasms of laughter.



- 2018: Trump and Putin -



Trump sparked outrage across the political divide in Washington at his inaugural summit with Putin in Helsinki on July 16, 2018 when he backed Russian denials of meddling in the election that brought him to power.

The pair championed a fresh start in relations, coming out of their meeting expressing a desire to talk again on global challenges, after discussing an array of issues from Syria, Ukraine and China to trade tariffs and the size of their nuclear arsenals.



- 2021: Biden and Putin -



Biden and Putin, who engaged in a war of words since shortly after the US president took office in January 2021, tellingly did not hold a joint press conference after three and a half hours of talks in Geneva on June 16, 2021.

However, they agreed to return ambassadors to each other's capitals, which had been withdrawn over Biden's allegations that Russia tried to undermine his candidacy in the 2020 election.

Putin said he sensed "no animosity" from the man who had previously called him "a killer" while Biden agreed the talks had been "constructive".
Trump may use military against drug cartels: reports



Washington, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



President Donald Trump is moving to target Latin American drug cartels with the military, US media said Friday, after Washington designated several narcotics trafficking groups as "terrorist" organizations earlier this year.

The New York Times reported that Trump has directed the Pentagon to use military force against cartels deemed terrorist organizations.

The Wall Street Journal said the president ordered options to be prepared, with the use of special forces and the provision of intelligence support under discussion, and that any action would be coordinated with foreign partners.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, while not confirming the reports, said in a statement that Trump's "top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations."

The United States designated Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and six other drug trafficking groups with Latin American roots as terror groups in February.

The US embassy in Mexico released a statement later Friday, saying both countries would use "every tool at our disposal to protect our peoples" from drug trafficking groups.

But the Mexican foreign ministry stressed that Mexico "would not accept the participation of US military forces on our territory."



- 'No invasion' -



Trump's administration has since added another Venezuelan gang, the Cartel of the Suns, which has allegedly shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the United States over two decades.

The United States accuses Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of leading that cartel -- an allegation Caracas has rejected as a "ridiculous smokescreen."

Trump signed an executive order on January 20, his first day back in the White House, creating a process for the designation of the cartels, which he said "constitute a national-security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a Thursday interview with EWTN that the designations allow "us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power, intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever -- to target these groups."

"We have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug dealing organizations," Rubio said. "It's no longer a law enforcement issue. It becomes a national security issue."

Trump vowed in March to "wage war" on Mexico's drug cartels, which he accused of rape and murder.

His Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum, following the reports of potential US military action against cartels, insisted on Friday that there would be "no invasion" of her country.

Sheinbaum has made strenuous efforts to show Trump she is acting against Mexico's cartels, whom he accuses of flooding the United States with drugs, particularly fentanyl.

"We are cooperating, we are collaborating, but there will be no invasion. That is absolutely ruled out," she said.

Sheinbaum has been dubbed the "Trump whisperer" for repeatedly securing reprieves from his threats of stiff tariffs over the smuggling of drugs and migrants across their shared border.

wd/bgs/abs/mtp
Mozambique insurgency grows at 'sensitive' time for TotalEnergies' return



Maputo, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Jihadist insurgents in northern Mozambique have multiplied their attacks in the past weeks, causing mass displacements ahead of the possible resumption of construction on TotalEnergies' huge natural gas project in the region.

A group affiliated with the Islamic State group, which has led a bloody insurgency in Cabo Delgado province since 2017, claimed responsibility for seven attacks in the south of the province in late July, including one in which they executed six villagers.

Nearly 59,000 people were displaced to the small district of Chiure alone, Sebastian Traficante, who heads the local mission of Doctors Without Borders, told AFP.

The region had not seen so many people forced to leave since February 2024, according to United Nations statistics.

"There hasn't been a mass displacement like this for many months now, so it was a bit of a surprise," Traficante told AFP from a transit camp set up in the small town in the south of Cabo Delgado, where shelter was initially insufficient to host the "massive" influx of people, most fleeing on foot.

"There were some people even sleeping under the open sky," toilet facilities were insufficient and "there was no food available", he said.

Some families were separated in the chaos and lost their children, while others had to "hide in the bush until they felt it was safe to go to the next town", Traficante said.



- Less protected area -



The recent attacks were carried out about 100 kilometres (60 miles) further south from the area where the insurgents were previously active.

"The terrorists fled their bases in Macomia, splitting into different groups and positioning themselves in various areas," a security source in Cabo Delgado told AFP.

"They took advantage of the security forces' weak presence in Chiure to carry out raids and loot several villages," the source said.

Mozambican troops and the Rwandan army, which has been deployed in the area since July 2021, are concentrated in the northern districts where the insurgency has been more frequent -- but also closer to TotalEnergies' liquefied natural gas project near the port town of Palma.

As a result, the insurgents could remain in Chiure "from at least the 24th of July until the 3rd of August, when army reinforcements arrived," said Peter Bofin, who observes the Cabo Delgado insurgency for the conflict tracking organisation ACLED.

"They had no engagements with state forces, police or army" during that time, he said.

The Rwandan army, which is better equipped and has a base about 50 kilometres north of the area, near Ancuabe, did not intervene.



- 'Tactical' -



The attacks in the south of the province do not mean the jihadists have abandoned their positions in the north, Bofin said.

"They are still there," he said. "It is quite tactical, we assume an attempt to stretch the Mozambican and possibly the Rwandan military -- If you stretch them, you make it more difficult for them to protect the north," he said.

Attacks in Chiure also cause more panic and larger population displacements than in the north, where many residents fled long ago and have not yet returned.

"The displacement is deliberate, they're looking to cause that," Bofin said.

"The Islamic State stated a couple of years ago, in their weekly newspaper, that the killing of a Christian in a village will spark people to flee from surrounding villages and put pressure on the towns. They said it in black and white," he said.



- $20 billion project -



The renewed attacks come as TotalEnergies has announced that construction on its $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project near Palma could restart during the European summer.

The project had been stalled since a deadly attack in March 2021 that resulted in over 800 victims, including several of the French energy giant's subcontractors, according to ACLED.

It estimates that more than 6,100 people have been killed since the beginning of the insurrection.

Mozambique's vast offshore natural gas reserves, discovered in 2010, could place the southern African country, where more than 70 percent of the population lives in poverty, among the top ten global producers, according to a 2024 report by the consulting group Deloitte.

"The push down south was accompanied by a pretty intense propaganda campaign by Islamic State," Bofin said, adding that the militants had devoted an entire page to Mozambique in their weekly newspaper in the last weeks.

"It's hard not to relate this to the situation regarding the LNG plant," he said.

"It's certainly happening at a very, very interesting time, and they know how sensitive this time is as well."

str-clv/jcb/js




Trump says Armenia, Azerbaijan commit to end fighting 'forever'



Washington, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Armenia and Azerbaijan have committed to a lasting peace after decades of conflict, US President Donald Trump said after the South Caucasus rivals signed a deal welcomed on Saturday by Iran and Western nations.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's long-time President Ilham Aliyev said Trump's mediation should earn him a Nobel Peace Prize -- an award the US leader has been vocal about seeking.

The two former Soviet republics "are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said at a White House signing event on Friday.

However, the fine print and binding nature of the deal between the long-time foes remained unclear.

The two leaders would have a "great relationship," Trump said.

"But if there's conflict... they're going to call me and we're going to get it straightened out," he said.

Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other's territories.

They went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.



- 'Historic signature' -



The Azerbaijan and Armenian leaders shook hands under the satisfied gaze of Trump before all three signed a document the White House called a "joint declaration."

Aliyev hailed the "historic signature" between two "countries which were at war for more than three decades."

"We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus," he said.

Aliyev offered to send a joint appeal, along with Pashinyan, to the Nobel committee recommending Trump receive the Peace Prize.

"Who, if not President Trump, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize?" he said.

Aliyev also thanked Trump for lifting restrictions on US military cooperation with Azerbaijan, which was announced on Friday.

Pashinyan said the "initialing of (the) peace agreement will pave the way to end decades of conflict between our countries and open a new era."

The Armenian leader said the "breakthrough" would not have been possible without "peacemaker" Trump.

"Today, we can say that peace has been achieved," Pashinyan told a news conference after signing the deal.

The agreement includes establishing a transit corridor passing through Armenia to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a longstanding demand of Baku.

The United States will have development rights for the corridor -- dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" -- in the strategic and resource-rich region.

Iran, which has long opposed the corridor over fears it would cut the country off from the Caucasus, welcomed the deal on Saturday.

However, it also expressed "concern over the negative consequences of any foreign intervention in any way and form, especially in the vicinity of common borders."

The foreign ministry in Turkey, a longtime supporter of Azerbaijan, hailed the "progress achieved towards establishing a lasting peace".

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy congratulated the two countries "on the bold steps taken in Washington."

European Union chiefs said it would pave the way to "lasting, sustainable peace for both countries and across the entire region."



- 'Strategic' partner -



Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on the text of a comprehensive peace deal in March.

However, Azerbaijan later outlined a host of demands -- including amendments to Armenia's constitution to drop territorial claims for Karabakh -- before signing the document.

Pashinyan has announced plans for a constitutional referendum in 2027, but the issue remains deeply divisive among Armenians.

Asked what Armenia stood to gain from Friday's deal, a White House official said it was "an enormous strategic commercial partner, probably the most enormous and strategic in the history of the world: the United States of America."

"The losers here are China, Russia, and Iran," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The disputed mountainous enclave of Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but was controlled by pro-Armenian separatists for nearly three decades after a war following the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Azerbaijan captured part of the territory during a 2020 war, then took all of it three years later. Almost the entire local population of around 100,000 ethnic Armenians left for Armenia.
Armenian PM hails peace deal with Azerbaijan



Washington, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday hailed a "historic" peace deal with Azerbaijan after signing an agreement aimed at ending a decades-long conflict.

Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan went to war twice over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other's territories.

"What happened today is a historic event. For months, I have been saying that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, that there will be peace. Today, we can say that peace has been achieved," Pashinyan said after signing the US-brokered deal in the White House on Friday.

There was no official reaction from Russia, previously the main power broker in the Caucasus.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan praised the US efforts in settling the conflict, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev even said he would back Donald Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The former Soviet republics went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Moscow, previously a key backer of Armenia, still has a military base there. It did not intervene in the latest conflict.

This has strained the historically warm ties between Yerevan and Moscow, home to a large and influential Armenian diaspora, triggering Pashinyan's drift towards the West.

The 50-year-old politician, who came to power after leading street protests in 2018, started pushing an unpopular peace deal with Azerbaijan that would essentially renounce Yerevan's claims to a region many Armenians see as their ancestral homeland.

Pashinyan's peace push has sparked a public conflict with the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, sparking protests and arrests of senior clerics.
Iran says investigating 20 people arrested over alleged links with Israel



Tehran, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Iran's judiciary said Saturday it was investigating the cases of 20 people arrested over their suspected links with Israel following the 12-day war between the two arch-foes.

"These cases were immediately filed under the supervision of the esteemed investigators and are being investigated," Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters in Tehran, adding that further information would be shared as it became available.

Iran's intelligence agency said in late July that it had identified and arrested "20 spies, Mossad operational and support agents, and elements connected to the regime's (Israel's) intelligence officers in Tehran" as well as several other provinces.

In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a war during which Iran responded with missile and drone strikes.

The Israeli offensive killed senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of others, striking both military and nuclear sites, as well as residential areas.

Iran has since vowed swift trials for those arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.

"The judicial system will not show any mercy in dealing with spies and Zionist agents and will teach a lesson to all spies... with firm rulings," Jahangir said.

On Wednesday, Iranian authorities executed by hanging Roozbeh Vadi, a man convicted of spying for Israel by passing on information about Iranian nuclear sites and scientists.

Fars news agency said Vadi worked at the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

Iranian media also shared a screenshot showing an academic paper co-written by Vadi, alongside two nuclear scientists killed during the war, Ahmad Zolfaghar and Abdolhamid Minouchehr.
Munitions blast in Hezbollah site kills 5 Lebanese troops: military source



Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Five Lebanese soldiers were killed in a blast on Saturday while removing munitions from a Hezbollah military facility in south Lebanon, a military source told AFP.

Under a November truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there.

"Five soldiers were killed in an explosion... inside a Hezbollah military facility," the source said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media.

The blast erupted as the troops were "removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war" between Israel and Hezbollah, the source said.

The army did not immediately issue a statement.

But President Joseph Aoun said he spoke to army commander Rodolphe Haykal about a "painful incident" near Majdal Zoun and Wadi Zibqin in Tyre district that led to an unspecified number of casualties among troops.

The presidency statement said the blast was due to a munitions explosion as an engineering unit "was working to remove and disable" the ordnance.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute on X to the troops who were killed "while performing their national duty".

The announcement came after Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, said Thursday that troops had "discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels" in the same area.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq had told reporters that peacekeepers and Lebanese troops found "three bunkers, artillery, rocket launchers, hundreds of explosive shells and rockets, anti-tank mines and about 250 ready-to-use improvised explosive devices".
Blast at Hezbollah site in Lebanon kills 6 soldiers



Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Lebanon's army said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border on Saturday killed six soldiers as a military source said troops were removing munitions from a Hezbollah facility.

Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there.

The deaths come as Lebanon tackles the thorny issue of disarming Hezbollah, with the cabinet this week tasking the army with developing a plan to do so by year end and the Iran-backed group pushing back.

Iran said Saturday it opposed the Lebanese government's decision.

An army statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed and others wounded "while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin", in the Tyre district near the Israeli border.

Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added.

A military source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media, told AFP the blast took place "inside a Hezbollah military facility".

Troops were "removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war" between Israel and Hezbollah when the blast occurred, the source added.

President Joseph Aoun said he was informed by army commander Rodolphe Haykal of the "painful incident" that led to troop casualties.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute on X to the troops who were killed "while performing their national duty", calling the army the protector of Lebanon's "unity and its legitimate institutions".







- Disarmament push -



The blast came days after Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, said that troops had "discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels" in the same area.

Under the November ceasefire which sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, weapons in Lebanon should be restricted to state institutions.

The government has tasked the army with presenting a plan for restricting weapons to government forces by the end of August.

Lebanon's cabinet met twice this week on the issue, while Hezbollah has rejected the government's decision to take away its weapons.

A senior adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Saturday that Iran "is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah... Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so."

Lebanon's cabinet on Thursday discussed a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action.

The government endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines, and called for the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas.

It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five south Lebanon areas they have occupied since the recent war.

In April, Lebanon's military said three troops were killed in a munitions blast in the south, just days after a soldier was killed and three others wounded in another explosion as authorities said they had been dismantling mines in a tunnel.
Iran will not allow Trump-backed corridor linking Azerbaijan to exclave: Khamenei aide



Tehran, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Iran will not allow the creation under a US-brokered peace deal of a corridor near the Iranian border linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave, an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday.

The planned corridor, dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity", is a key part of a peace deal signed at the White House on Friday between Azerbaijan and its longtime foe Armenia.

However, the proposed route, in which the United States will have development rights, passes near the Iranian border and Khamenei's international affairs adviser Ali Akbar Velayati said Iran would not accept it.

"With the implementation of this plot, the security of the South Caucasus will be endangered," Velayati told the Tasnim news agency,

He said the planned corridor was "an impossible notion and will not happen", while the area would become "a graveyard for Trump's mercenaries".

Iran has long opposed the planned transit route, also known as the Zangezur corridor -- fearing it would cut the country off from Armenia and the rest of the Caucasus, and bring a foreign presence to its border.

"We have the right to defend our interests in a completely powerful manner," Velayati said, adding that Iran had held multiple military exercises in the area to show its "readiness".

Iran's foreign ministry welcomed "the finalisation of the text of the peace agreement" between Armenia and Azerbaijan but expressed "concern over the negative consequences of any foreign intervention in any way and form, especially in the vicinity of common borders".

It added that such a move would "disrupt the security and lasting stability of the region."

Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other's territories.

They went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Asked what Armenia stood to gain from Friday's deal, a White House official said it was "an enormous strategic commercial partner, probably the most enormous and strategic in the history of the world: the United States of America".

"The losers here are China, Russia and Iran," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Blast at Hezbollah site in Lebanon kills six soldiers



Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



The Lebanese army said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border killed six soldiers on Saturday as a military source said the troops were removing munitions from a Hezbollah facility.

Under the truce that ended last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanese troops have been deploying in the south and dismantling the Iran-backed militant group's infrastructure in the region.

The deaths come after the Lebanese government agreed this week to disarm Hezbollah and tasked the army with drawing up a plan to complete the process by year end.

Hezbollah has said it will ignore the cabinet's decision, which came under heavy US pressure, while its backer Iran said Saturday it opposed it.

An army statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed "while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin", in Tyre district near the Israeli border.

Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added.

A military source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media, told AFP the blast took place "inside a Hezbollah military facility".

Troops were "removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war" when the blast occurred, the source added.

President Joseph Aoun said he was informed by army commander Rodolphe Haykal of the "painful incident".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute to the troops who were killed "while performing their national duty", calling the army the protector of Lebanon's "unity and its legitimate institutions".



- 'Doing their job' -



The commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major General Diodato Abagnara, said the soldiers were "simply doing their job to restore stability and avoid a return to open conflict".

The blast came days after UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said that troops had "discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels" in the same area.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that the troops uncovered a cache of artillery, rockets, mines and improvised explosive devices.

In April, the Lebanese military said three soldiers were killed in a munitions blast, just days after another was killed in an explosion as troops dismantled mines in a tunnel.

Under the November ceasefire which sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, arms are to be restricted to Lebanese state institutions.

The government has tasked the army with presenting a plan by the end of August for disarming non-state actors.



- Ongoing strikes -



Lebanon's cabinet met on the issue twice this week, while Hezbollah has rejected the government's decision to take away its weapons.

A senior adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Iran "is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah".

"Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so." international affairs adviser Ali Akbar Velayati told Iran's Tasnim news agency.

On Thursday, the government discussed a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action.

The government endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines, and called for the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas.

It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five areas of the south they continue to occupy.

Israeli has kept up its strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon despite the truce and has vowed to continue them until the militant group has been disarmed.

The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday on a vehicle in the town of Ainata near the border.
Russia cautious on Armenia-Azerbaijan deal, Iran reject border corridor



Moscow, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Russia cautiously welcomed a US-brokered draft deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Saturday, but Moscow's regional ally Iran rejected the idea of a new border corridor backed by President Donald Trump.

The two former Soviet republics signed a peace deal in Washington on Friday to end a decades-long conflict, though the fine print and binding nature of the deal remained unclear.

The US-brokered agreement includes establishing a transit corridor through Armenia to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a longstanding demand of Baku.

The United States would have development rights for the corridor -- dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" -- in the strategic and resource-rich region.

But Russia's ally and the warring parties' southern neighbour Tehran said it would not allow the creation of a such a corridor running along the Iranian border.

"With the implementation of this plot, the security of the South Caucasus will be endangered," Akbar Velayati, an advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told the Tasnim news agency.

The planned corridor was "an impossible notion and will not happen", while the area would become "a graveyard for Trump's mercenaries", he added.

In a similar tone, Moscow said it would "further analyze" the corridor clause, noting there were trilateral agreements in place between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, from which no one had yet withdrawn.

"It should not be ignored that Armenia's border with Iran is guarded by Russian border guards," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Moscow, previously a key backer of Armenia, still has a military base there. Embroiled in its Ukraine operation, launched in 2022, it did not intervene in the latest conflict.

This has strained the historically warm ties between Yerevan and Moscow, home to a large and influential Armenian diaspora, triggering Armenia's drift towards the West.



- Waning influence -



Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan went to war twice over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each other's territories.

Moscow, once the main power broker in the Caucasus, is now bogged down in its more than three-year offensive in Ukraine, diverting political and military resources into the grinding conflict of attrition.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan praised the US efforts in settling the conflict. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev even said he would back President Donald Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The US-led NATO alliance welcomed the deal as a "significant step forward".

But in Moscow, Zakharova refrained from even calling it a deal, referring to it merely as "the meeting of the leaders of the South Caucasus republics in Washington" -- adding, however, that it still deserved "a positive assessment".



- Repackaging for Trump? -



Analysts also sounded a note of caution, with the International Crisis Group pointing out that the deal left "a lot of questions unanswered".

The two countries went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on the text of a comprehensive peace deal in March.

Much of the White House agreement was a "repackaging" of that, which helped both countries get on Trump's good side "by giving him a role," the Crisis Group's senior South Caucasus analyst Joshua Kucera said.

Azerbaijan later added a host of demands to that March deal, including amendments to Armenia's constitution to drop territorial claims for Karabakh, before signing the document.

Pashinyan has announced plans for a constitutional referendum in 2027, but the issue remains deeply divisive among Armenians, with Kucera warning that this could yet derail the process.

Kucera called the corridor "one potentially significant development" from the White House meeting, but added that missing key details could prove "serious stumbling blocks".

The US-brokered deal was "definitely a testament to the fact that Russia has been losing its influence" as its Ukraine operation had "diverted its attention and resources from some other areas of its traditional interest", Olesya Vardanyan, an independent analyst on the South Caucasus, told AFP.

Nevertheless, she added, even if many details were still missing and nothing was guaranteed, the deal still gave Armenians "a promise of a better life and then maybe even more peace in the region".
Lebanon slams Iran opposition to Hezbollah disarmament as 'unacceptable'



Beirut, Lebanon, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



Lebanon slammed what it called "flagrant and unacceptable interference" by Iran on Saturday after an adviser to the Islamic republic's supreme leader expressed opposition to the disarmament of its ally Hezbollah.

The Lebanese cabinet ordered the army on Tuesday to draw up a plan to establish exclusive government control over weapons by the end of the year -- a move that would mean disarming Hezbollah.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah," Ali Akbar Velayati, international affairs adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency.

"Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so."

In a post on X, the Lebanese foreign ministry condemned Velayati's remarks, which constitute "flagrant and unacceptable interference in Lebanon's internal affairs".

"Some senior Iranian officials have repeatedly overstepped by making unwarranted statements regarding Lebanese domestic decisions that are of no concern to the Islamic republic," the ministry added.

It went on to remind "the leadership in Tehran that Iran would be better served by focusing on the issues of its own people".

Hezbollah is part of Iran's so-called "axis of resistance" -- a network of armed groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen's Huthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel.



- 'Not the first time' -



Beirut's disarmament push followed a war between Israel and Hezbollah last year that left the group's military clout and political influence severely diminished.

It also came amid pressure from the United States and anti-Hezbollah parties in Lebanon to commit to disarming the group, as well as fears Israel could escalate strikes on Lebanese territory if they failed to act.

Characterising the disarmament plan as the result of US and Israeli interference, Velayati said it was "not the first time that some in Lebanon have raised such issues".

"But just as previous anti-Lebanese plans failed, this one will also not succeed, and the resistance will stand firm against these conspiracies."

Earlier this year, the Lebanese foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador over critical remarks he made about the disarmament plans.

On Wednesday, Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi, said any decision on disarmament was Hezbollah's to make, adding Tehran supported its ally "from afar, but we do not intervene".

Hezbollah itself has slammed the cabinet decision as a "grave sin", adding it would treat the move "as if it did not exist".

The Lebanese government has cast disarmament as part of the implementation of the November ceasefire that sought to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Iraq toughens stance against pro-Iran faction after Baghdad clash



Baghdad, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



The Iraqi government toughened its position towards pro-Iran faction the Hezbollah Brigades on Saturday, announcing some members would be tried over a recent deadly clash and others had been stripped of their commands.

The decision follows an attack on a government office in south Baghdad late last month that killed three people, including a policeman, and which the authorities blamed on the group.

Like other armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the jihadist Islamic State group (IS), the Hezbollah Brigades were integrated into the regular security forces as part of the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force.

However, the faction has developed a reputation for sometimes acting on its own.

Iraq's Joint Operations Command previously said that more than a dozen suspects were detained over the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office, which was prompted by the sacking of the director.

Saturday's government statement said the suspects were "fighters belonging to Hezbollah Brigades and affiliated to Regiments 45 and 46 of the Hashed al-Shaabi".

It charged that the attack on the ministry's office had been led by the former director.

"In addition to being implicated in several cases of corruption", the suspected ringleader stood accused of "falsifying official documents, certificates and contracts so that farmland could be confiscated from its legitimate owners", the statement said.

The government said it regretted "command and control failings within the Hashed al-Shaabi" and condemned the "presence of armed factions which do not respect military rules and procedures".

The authorities announced the "dismissal of the commanders of Regiments 45 and 46" and the prosecution of "everybody implicated" in the case.

A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said 25 people faced trial -- the Hezbollah Brigades fighters and the former head of the ministry office.

The group says many of those detained had nothing to do with last month's clash.

The case comes amid deep divisions in Iraq over a proposed law that would further formalise the role -- and perhaps, the autonomy -- of the Hashed al-Shaabi.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation "would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty".

Formed in 2014 when Iraqis were urged to take up arms against IS, the Hashed now counts more than 200,000 fighters and employees, and wields major military and political clout.
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Hundreds had descended on the square for the demonstration as part of a busy weekend of protests in the capital. The Met said it had drafted in officers from other forces to form a significant policing presence and warned it would arrest anyone expressing support for the proscribed group.
As well as the arrests, 51 businesses including car washes and restaurants were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines of up to 60,000 per worker if they are found to have employed someone without the right to work in Britain.
Thelma Grimes/thelma.grimes@coloradopolitics.com Gabriele Giffords, of the GIFFORDS foundation, and Colorado Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Colorado State Rep. Monica Duran talk politics at a town hall in Thornton on Aug. 6, 2025.
She said: It is unacceptable that so much aid is waiting at the border  the UK is ready to provide more through our partners, and we demand that the government of Israel allows more aid in safely and securely.
A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights. It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.
Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, questions Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

In the wake of the catastrophic July 4 floods that killed more than 130 people and caused billions of dollars in damage across Central Texas, state House and Senate panels have advanced a suite of bills aimed at improving early warning systems, expanding emergency training and streamlining volunteer response.

The proposals come after House and Senate select committees heard more than 24 hours of public testimony from officials, experts and members of the public in Austin and Kerrville. The most comprehensive proposal, Senate Bill 1, passed unanimously out of committee Friday and would make sweeping changes to the states emergency management framework.

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Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testifies at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, questions Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testifies at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testifies at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said the bill would force leadership to respond more decisively to flood warnings.

We had some warning systems in place, but what we didn't have is leadership willing to do an (evacuation) call at the right time, he said. So now it's not optional.

SB 1 would:

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Mandate emergency manager licensing and annual training through the Texas Division of Emergency Management

Develop a volunteer registration and background check system

Require evacuation plans and rooftop access ladders for cabins in 100-year floodplains, and mandate evacuation orders for camps in those floodplains during a flash flood warning

Expand mass fatality coordination by creating a new rapid response team and clarifying that autopsies are optional under specific disaster-related conditions

Create a working group to plan out a statewide data system that could unify local flood gauge and weather data to improve real-time flood forecasting and hazard mapping

Require small counties and cities to consolidate command structures and conduct annual drills under TDEM oversight

Establish a statewide volunteer management database

Expand eligibility for the Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Program to include small businesses

Require the Upper Guadalupe River Authority to undergo a limited sunset review

The bill received a largely positive reception from Perrys colleagues and from public witnesses during a legislative hearing Friday.

However, many expressed concern that the volunteer background check requirements could create administrative bottlenecks, increase costs and discourage good Samaritans from helping after a disaster.

I want to make sure that we don't become the police state, saying, No, government does everything,' because Texas and Texans do incredible work, said state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

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Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testifies at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Many volunteers hesitate to register because of privacy concerns, said Ashley Harris, director of public policy for the United Ways of Texas, an association of charities in the state. Screening for volunteers should always be proportional to the volunteer role.

TDEM Director Chief Nim Kidd expressed support for added guardrails. But Vince Luciano, Central Texas regional director for the states Department of Public Safety, testified that the bills volunteer requirements would be impossible to implement. Only law enforcement officials can run criminal background checks, he said, and the high volume of volunteers would require routing them through a dispatch center.

Dispatch centers were overloaded during (the July floods), so you're not going to have the ability to do that, Luciano said.

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In response, Perry said his team will amend the bill, which could hit the Senate floor early next week.

Representatives of environmental groups also encouraged lawmakers to adopt a more proactive approach by considering land-use policy.

I think there are some circumstances where we have to look at, Should the cabin have been there in the first place? said Cyrus Reed, conservation director of the Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club.

Kenneth Lippin of the U.S. Green Building Council said many counties restrict building in floodways, or require new structures to be built one to two feet above forecast flood elevations.

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Another witness, flood engineer Wes Birdwell, testified that roughly half of Texas communities lack flood risk maps and that others  including Kerr County  have outdated maps that resemble cave markings.

Texas needs to step up and work with its communities to remap flood risk, Birdwell said. We can no longer continue to wait on FEMA for our flood risk maps.

Panel advances outdoor siren system funding

Another major bill headed to the Senate floor would establish a grant program for outdoor siren warning systems. The proposal, Senate Bill 2 by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would require the Texas Water Development Board to identify flood-prone areas and direct local municipalities or counties on where to install sirens. It would also authorize the governors office to distribute funding to local governments for that purpose.

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Many rural river systems in Flash Flood Alley are home to youth camps, campsites, RV parks and other large gathering sites near flood-prone rivers, Bettencourt said. With limited cell phone connectivity in parts of this region, there is a need to go back to what I call old school technology  outdoor warning sirens  which we know work.

The committee voted unanimously to advance the proposal.

Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, left, and Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, listens to Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, testify at the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Quorum break could stall legislation in House

Divides over redistricting could keep the Legislature from passing flood relief legislation before the special session ends later this month.

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Nearly 60 House Democrats left the state Sunday to prevent the House from voting on a proposal to redraw Texas congressional map mid-decade. Hoping to block President Donald Trump's request that lawmakers carve out five additional safely Republican seats in Texas, many have pledged not to return until the special session ends. Some have suggested theyd hold out even longer.

While Democrats have successfully kept the lower chamber from reaching a quorum this week, committee work has continued. On Tuesday, the House Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select Committee met to consider House Bill 1, an omnibus bill by state Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, that largely resembles SB 1. The panel also heard testimony on two bills from Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, aimed at strengthening regulations for camps built in floodways and reducing fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters.

This work is too important to wait on the political games to get over with, King said from the dais Tuesday.

Another measure authored by King, revived from the regular session, creates a statewide interoperability council that would administer a grant program aimed at increasing coordination at first responders and strengthening early warning systems.

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On Friday afternoon, the House panel voted to advance that proposal, House Bill 2, and four other bills that were heard on Tuesday.

While Republican lawmakers accuse their colleagues on the left of blocking desperately-needed flood relief, Democrats say nothing is stopping the executive branch from dispersing state funds. Gov. Greg Abbott has previously allocated resources to areas under disaster declarations, they said, including moving $250 million for border security measures in 2023.

Texas law specifically gives the governor the authority to use all available resources of the state government during disasters, state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, told reporters on Thursday. He can act today.

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The Pikes Peak National Cemetery will mark the 80th anniversary of end of World War II on Wednesday.
Susan McMullen places a penny on the headstone of her son Navy Lt. Rick McMullen before a Memorial Day ceremony at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in May 2024.
Librarian Avram Iancu of Petrosani has completed his swim across Germany's Main-Danube Canal, connecting the Rhine and Danube rivers a feat that, he says, makes him the first person in the world to swim across Europe's main waterways, from the North Sea to the Black Sea, inform Agerpres.

The athlete covered the 556 km route in 40 days without a wetsuit, finishing Friday evening at the confluence with the Danube.

"I managed to swim across the entire continent! Without a wetsuit. A world first: from the North Sea to the Black Sea. I thus became the first person to swim across a continent, following the famous Rhine-Main-Danube waterway," Iancu wrote on his official Facebook page.

The swim, held under the motto "Swimming for a United Europe," could earn him the "The World's First 'Triple Crown of Rivers Stage Swims' Challenge" award, granted by open-water swimming organizations.

Iancu was accompanied by Ulise Galu of Brasov, who piloted the support boat, and Radu Ileana of Alba Iulia, the official race observer.

Across his three major swims the Danube, the Rhine, and the Main-Danube Canal Iancu swam a total of 4,448 km in 177 days, all without a wetsuit.

In 2017, the librarian from Petrosani swam the entire Danube 2,860 km in 89 days marking the 10th anniversary of Romania's EU membership. In 2023, he swam the Rhine 1,032 km in 48 days to support Romania's entry into the Schengen Area. The last race in this series, the one on the Main-Danube Canal, was 556 km long and ended after 40 days.

Among Avram Iancu's open water swimming achievements is the crossing of the English Channel without a wetsuit, in August 2016 and July 2024.
Romanian police have discovered over 59 million cigarettes and more than three tons of tobacco during the first seven months of 2025. Authorities issued 554 administrative sanctions totaling approximately 4.67 million lei, according to the Romanian General Inspectorate of Police (IGPR), inform Agerpres.

As many as 231 integrated operations targeted tobacco smuggling nationwide between January and July, resulting in 264 criminal cases involving 391 suspects.

In early June, a record seizure of contraband cigarettes and a cross-border criminal group was dismantled with international cooperation involving Italian authorities (Guardia di Finanze) and OLAF. Approximately 2,500 cartons of cigarettes (25 million cigarettes) were seized, while in Italy, a clandestine factory producing for the European illegal market was uncovered, reportedly operated by Romanian, Moldovan, and Italian nationals," IGPR spokesperson, Police Chief Commissioner Octavian Dan said on Saturday in a press release.

Police dismantled 14 criminal groups linked to tobacco smuggling and reported 308 offenses under the Customs Code, Fiscal Code, and Law no. 241/2005 against tax evasion. They also seized and confiscated 59,763,845 cigarettes and 3,095 kilograms of tobacco.

Octavian Dan recalled that in mid-June 2025, over 1.3 million cigarettes of various brands, either unstamped or improperly stamped, were discovered and seized for further investigation.
Colorado Springs on Friday set a new daily high temperature record for Aug. 8 after temperatures reached 97 degrees at 3:40 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

The previous record of 96 degrees was set in 1969.

For Aug. 8, Colorado Springs typically sees a high of 85 degrees and a low of 58, according to weather service climate data.

"We typically hit our records in the summer from time to time, so this isn't really out of the ordinary," Kathleen Torgerson, a meteorologist with the weather agency, told The Gazette.

Outside of El Paso County, Alamosa set a new daily high temperature record of 91 degrees, breaking its previous record of 88 set in 1962 and 2000.

Torgerson said individual records are not indicative of climate change, but it "certainly seems plausible" the overall higher summer heat could be.

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"It fits the overall pattern of higher temperatures, more records being set and then the average temperature for the month will be higher too with time," Torgerson said.

Friday is the last forecasted day of high heat before the threat of severe thunderstorms rolls through on Saturday. The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe weather in El Paso County and much of eastern Colorado.

"We could see some large hail, damaging winds and even a tornado isn't out of the question for El Paso County tomorrow," Torgerson said.

Torgerson advised those under risk for severe weather to have multiple ways to receive emergency alerts and to stay weather aware.

"If you have outdoor plans keep an eye on the weather, and lightning is our No. 1 risk out here," Torgerson said. "I know hail is bad too ... but don't underestimate lightning either. The first strike of the day could be just as deadly as the one that happens later in the afternoon after you've seen the storms roll through."
Gabriel Megahey was always the first to get official notifications. Maybe thats because he lived on the East Coast and Matthew Morrison lived in St. Louis. Maybe official notifications, like fashion, take a while to get here.

Several weeks ago, Megahey received notice that he was to appear at an immigration office for a biometric check-in. New fingerprints. Maybe new photos. Not long after, Morrison received the same notice. Both men were former members of the Irish Republican Army. Both had lived in this country for decades. They shared the same murky immigration status. Deportation proceedings had been stayed in 1997 as part of the Good Friday Peace Accords in Northern Ireland. The accords were engineered by President Bill Clinton.

I remember being at Morrisons house in University City on the night the stay was announced. It was a celebratory night, but not quite joyous. The deportation proceedings had been put on indefinite hold. There was no finality to that, but there was a sense that the longer Morrison lived a clean life, the less chance the government would restart its efforts to deport him.

He lived an exemplary life. He became a registered nurse. He specialized in patients with psychiatric problems. He worked for the state of Missouri for almost 20 years. He was a supervisor at the State Hospital on Arsenal Street. He worked at Hawthorne Childrens Psychiatric Hospital. He was a guest lecturer at the St. Louis County Police Academy. He talked about nonviolent ways to handle people with mental problems.

Still, there were check-ins. He needed to renew his permit to work. He needed special permission to travel. The road was never smooth.

Then came the 2024 elections. Deportations became an obsession with the new administration. The White House wanted 3,000 a day.

So when Morrison got his notice for a biometric check-in, he worried. Might he be grabbed by ICE at the check-in? He is 69. He has had two serious strokes. He uses a cane. He takes medications. He did not think he could survive long in a detention center. Plus, the Supreme Court has ruled that our government can send deportees anywhere. Morrison could find himself in Sudan or El Salvador or Rwanda.

Megahey, who is 82, went first. If he was detained, his wife was supposed to call Morrison immediately, and Morrison would then try to make his way to Ireland. Megahey himself called. No problems, he said. Morrison, nervously, went downtown for his appointment. No problems.

Then Megahey got another notification from Homeland Security.

It is time for you to leave the United States, it began. If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States 

Morrison called his immigration attorney in New York.

Get out while you can, she said. Theyre coming.

Morrison grew up in Derry in Northern Ireland. He joined the IRA in 1972 when he was 16. He was 19 when he was arrested for attempting to shoot a Royal Ulster Constabulary. The pistol jammed. Morrison was sent to Long Kesh prison in Belfast.

While he was in prison, Francie Broderick of St. Louis, who believed in the cause, saw a list of IRA prisoners in a magazine and decided to write to one. She sent a letter to Willie Doherty.

Doherty was not a letter-writer and gave the letter to Morrison. Soon Morrison and Broderick were pen pals, and then more. Broderick visited the prison. When Morrison was released in 1985, he came to St. Louis.

He overstayed his visa. He and Broderick were married. He lived underground. He worked cash jobs. Without a Social Security number, he used his phone number on his tax forms. The IRS responded that you cant use a phone number for tax purposes and issued him a tax identification number.

A daughter, Kate, was born in 1988, a son, Matthew, in 1991. Somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody suggested that Morrison should apply for legal residency. He went to the immigration office, applied for residency, and the government began deportation proceedings, which chugged along at a glacial pace.

Then came the Good Friday Peace Accords and the deportation was stayed. Life went on. Morrison became a grandfather. He and Broderick divorced and Morrison married Sandi Swift. She is active in the Hibernians. She and Morrison lived with her 92-year-old mother in St. Charles.

Morrison and Swift pondered the advice of his attorney. What would a move to Ireland or Northern Ireland mean? As a non-citizen, Morrison would lose the Social Security benefits he had earned. Swift would retain hers. But what about her 92-year-old mother? And what about their children and grandchildren? None of these people is wealthy. Visits would be rare.

Morrison also wondered what it would be like to parachute back into Derry after 50 years. The city has changed. You can stand on the hill at Long Tower Church where Morrison served as an altar boy with Raymond McCartney, who later became a hunger striker at Long Kesh, and look down at the Bogside neighborhood and you wouldnt recognize it. It was once a maze of a place where The Boys, as they were called, ran through its narrow alleys and tossed their Armalite rifles into certain yards where the women would quickly pick them up and hide them in places the Brits could never find. Those narrow streets and alleys are gone. Urban renewal.

Morrison wondered how he would be accepted. Some people surely want to forget those times. Others just as surely cannot.

But misgivings and doubts aside, there was no choice. He had to leave.

Pete Gallagher, perhaps his best friend, organized a farewell dinner in a private room at Bartolinos on Hampton Avenue. There were 15 of us. A smattering of Morrisons friends from 40 years in St. Louis. The only dignitary was Comptroller Donna Baringer, and she was there not as an elected official but as a Lady Hibernian. There were a few toasts, and some singing. Nancy Bulte sang, Im So Glad We Had This Time Together, and Maryjo Gallagher sang, The Parting Glass.

A couple of days later, Matt left.

He is settling into his new old life. He has been welcomed back by family and friends. Among those friends is Willie Doherty, who got the letter that changed Morrisons life. Swift plans to split her time between St. Charles and Derry. Morrison is still figuring out the details. Health care is not a concern he told me. The national heath insurance in Northern Ireland is good. Perhaps he can get on disability.

I think what Ill miss the most is spending time with Aidan, he said. Aidan is his 11-year-old grandson. Hes too young to understand why this will be a better country without his grandfather. Im no help there. I dont understand it myself.
The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is the Navys main maintenance and repair facility on the West Coast. (Joseph Paolucci/U.S. Navy)



BREMERTON, Wash.  The Navy plans to build a new dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that can accommodate its largest aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines into the 22nd century.

Details of the proposal were released Thursday evening during a briefing for the public at a community center in Bremerton near the waterfront.

Capt. John Hale, commanding officer of Naval Base Kitsap, which includes the shipyard, said the plan would help ensure the Navy remains a major presence in the Seattle area well into the next century.

This is the only place on the West Coast that you can do maintenance on aircraft carriers, he said. The new dry dock maintains the capability here in the Pacific Northwest for the next 80 to 100 years.

The shipyard has the only dry dock along the Pacific Ocean that can be used to repair Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and a variety of nuclear-powered submarines. But the new Gerald R. Ford-class carriers weigh enough to displace more than 100,000 tons of water and are just under 1,100 feet long.

David Gibson, a project manager for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, said the dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard was designed in the 1950s and built in the 1960s.

Looking into the future, the Ford-class carriers will not fit in it, he said. You need to be able to have enough room at the back of the carrier to get the rudder off, get the shaft out, and get the prop off.

The facility also needs triple the amount of electricity to maintain the operation of the modern-era reliance on computers aboard ships, and new developments such as airplane elevators and launching mechanisms operated by electromagnets instead of steam used for those jobs on current carriers.

The Navy now has only one shipyard in Norfolk, Va., that can handle the Ford-class carriers.

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in June 2020. (Ethan J. Soto/U.S. Navy)



A Ford-class carrier in Honolulu would need 22 days at a speed of 25 knots to travel the more than 13,000 miles to Norfolk, via Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. The trip from Honolulu to Puget Sound at the same pace would cover 2,500 miles in four days.

Spread across 12,000 acres on a peninsula west of Seattle, Naval Base Kitsap has more than 15,000 sailors and other military personnel, along with more than 30,000 civilians, dependents and retirees.

We operate and maintain aircraft carriers, Hale said. We have all three classes of submarines: fast-attack submarines, guided-missile submarines and ballistic-missile submarines.

The Navy announced in May that Kitsap would be the homeport of the USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford-class carrier, after it is commissioned next year.

Earlier this month, it issued a request for information to companies that could redevelop and lengthen a dock used by submarines at the Kitsap submarine base near Bangor.

The constellation of facilities along the west side of Puget Sound includes areas for developing undersea warfare technology and testing autonomous uncrewed vessels. The base is a major fuel depot, maintains torpedoes, and is the only base where retired nuclear-powered submarines can be dismantled and their reactors removed for preservation or disposal.

The missions here are some of the most important missions that are required  in a part of the world, the Pacific, that is important to national defense, Hale said.

The new dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard would also accommodate all sizes of active and proposed Navy ships, including Columbia-class, ballistic-missile submarines.

So, we term it a multi-mission dry dock, Gibson said. Its robust enough to handle any Navy mission.

The first of the new class, the USS District of Columbia, is now expected to join the fleet in late 2028. Armed with ballistic missiles, its expected to replace the late Cold War-era USS Ohio class of ballistic-missile submarines.

The Navy recently began work on electric upgrades at a pier at Bremerton to upgrade its power supply to support the John F. Kennedy when it arrives in two to three years.

Plans for improving and lengthening a pier at the submarine area at Bangor for Columbia-class submarines and the new Virginia-class submarines were circulated late last month.

The Navy presentation on Thursday officially listed three alternatives. Alternative 1 would essentially do nothing  keeping facilities as they are and not building a new dry dock. Alternative 3 would see significantly less construction and renovation but allow for modernization of existing facilities.

The Navys preferred plan  Alternative 2  would demolish or replace piers, wharves, moorings, cranes, buildings and other facilities at the shipyard. It would build the new dry dock east of the current one and construct seismically resilient structures that could survive a major earthquake intact.

The cost of the preferred alternative has not been publicly disclosed. The Navy has reported spending nearly $50 million on the design work alone.

The project faces hurdles. Environmental issues such as the release of fuels, chemicals and solvents into Puget Sound have dogged the shipyard for years. The shipyard is listed as a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency. The draft statement also includes moving aircraft carrier maintenance to a more eastern portion of the shipyard that would increase noise in nearby neighborhoods.

Shipyard backers in Congress have questioned whether the shipyard can attract enough qualified workers to make the new dry dock a feasible operation. Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to exempt welders and other key shipyard workers from workforce cuts pushed by President Donald Trumps administration under the task force set up by billionaire Elon Musk called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

The more than 1,200 jobs that the project is expected to create would generate more than $76 million for the local economy. But locals would experience additional traffic and competition for parking and housing, the report said.

The Navys preferred plan would also lead to changes in an area covered by the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires consultation with local authorities, preservation advocates and representatives of tribal and other stakeholder groups.

The restored World War II-era workshop near the Bremerton Ferry building would have to be moved or demolished.

The soaring hammerhead crane  once used to lift finished World War II gun turrets onto the decks of battleships  would also be in the way of the project. The crane has been called the Eiffel Tower of Puget Sound because of its steel latticework. It would be demolished or moved to another location.

Hammerhead Crane at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in May 2025. (Gary Warner, Stars and Stripes)



Hale, the base commander, said Kitsap would continue to homeport at least one aircraft carrier and carry on its maintenance missions throughout the dry dock project, which could take 12 years to complete.

Theres activity that happens here today that will have to move, people work in those areas who will have to be relocated, he said. We cant stop doing the work for 12 years. Well have to work around it.

The Navy is asking for public comment on the alternatives through Sept. 3. A final decision on whether to move ahead with the preferred construction plan would officially come in summer 2026.

Hale said the project would ensure the Puget Sound area would remain a key Navy operations center as it has since the late 19th century.

This demonstrates the commitment that the Navy has to the Pacific Northwest, he said. The most important missions that the Navy does are done here.
Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on July 23, 2025, when the bases guardians and airmen supported NASAs TRACERS mission launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. (Jennifer Green-Lanchoney/U.S. Space Force)



(Tribune News Service)  SpaceX wants to nearly double the number of rocket launches into space from the California coast, with plans for almost 100 a year from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The plan would almost double the companys current timetable of 50 rockets a year, despite clashing with the California Coastal Commission over concerns about the impact that the blasts could have on coastal wildlife, and on nearby residents who have reported startling sonic booms with the already steep rise in launches.

In early 2024, SpaceX and the U.S. Department of the Air Force had an agreement with the California Coastal Commission to launch six rockets a year into space. But the Air Force and SpaceX have quickly moved to dramatically increase the number of rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, asking the commission to agree to 36, then to 50, and now 95 rocket blasts a year.

A spokesperson for SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The California Coastal Commission is a state agency tasked with protecting the states 1,100 miles of coastland.

The fast uptick in rocket launches off the California coast has put the space exploration company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, in direct conflict with the California Coastal Commission, whose members have raised concerns about the impact of the launches, the lack of monitoring and whether the privately owned company is circumventing the permit process because it is a federal contractor, despite most of the rocket launches involving no equipment or missions for U.S. agencies.

In October, the coastal commission rejected a plan for SpaceX to launch up to 50 times a year. Just days later, SpaceX responded by suing the commission and accusing the agency of egregiously and unlawfully overreaching its authority.

The dispute has taken on a political tone.

During the October meeting, commissioners cited concerns that Musk had inserted himself into the presidential race, spread conspiracy theories on social media and faced serious allegations that employees at his companies have been mistreated.

Commissioners have also pointed to reports that Musks company, Starlink, had refused to allow Ukraine to use satellite internet service to help carry out an attack against Russia in 2022, and questioned whether Musks decisions did not directly conflict with those of a U.S. ally.

In the suit against the commission, which is still pending in federal court, attorneys for SpaceX accuse commissioners of voting against the plan because of Musks political views.

Cooperation between the state commission and the Department of Air Force also seems to have flailed after the October meeting, with little agreement or communication between the two agencies.

During the October meeting when the commission rejected the plan for 50 launches, officials from the base said they had hoped to work with the commission to address seven conditions that had been requested from the U.S. Space Force.

But according to the staff report, theres been limited progress, and little communication from the base, on those goals since.

The legal fight and disagreements with the commission, however, have had little effect on SpaceX and the U.S. Space Forces plans to ramp up the number of rocket blasts so far at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Last year, Vandenberg Space Force Base was the site of 51 rocket launches with 46 of them being conducted by Musks SpaceX, according to a spokesperson for the base.

As of the first week of August, the base has been home to 38 rocket launches so far, with 33 of them being conducted by SpaceX.

The plan for more launches, submitted by the Air Force to the commission, would also double the number of landing events at the military base, which have also been reported to generate their own sonic boom blast. According to the staff report, the base expects 24 SpaceX rocket landing events a year at Vandenberg, including 12 first-stage booster landings and five Falcon Heavy missions that would have two boosters landing simultaneously at the base.

SpaceX is also planning up to 76 at-sea landings off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. The company would then transport the equipment to the Port of Long Beach, and transfer it to Vandenberg Harbor, back to the base.

On Thursday, the California Coastal Commission is scheduled to consider SpaceXs plan to fire 95 rockets a year, but military officials are expected to move forward with the plan despite the panels decision.

Military officials have argued that the SpaceX launches should be considered federal activity because all of the launches  even those done for the private benefit of Musks company, Starlink  also benefit U.S. military objectives.

A previous staff report from the commission stated that 87% of SpaceX launches from Vandenberg werent carrying equipment or conducting missions for government agencies, but were carrying equipment for Starlink.

If the launches are considered federal activity, Space Force officials are not legally bound to obtain a permit or permission from the coastal commission. Instead, they can try to reach an agreement to mitigate the effects of the blasts, but can move forward regardless of whether an agreement is reached.

Military officials argue that all launches from the base benefit the readiness of the country.

Vandenberg Space Force Base plays a vital role in strengthening Americas national security by leveraging the power of commercial innovation, Col. James T. Horne III, the Space Launch Delta 30 commander, said in a statement. The commercial sector is driving advancements once exclusive to government programs, such as proliferated low Earth orbit communication systems that directly support the Department of Defense. U.S. launch providers continue to innovate, offering agile, service-based solutions that operate at the speed of need. 

Staff for the coastal commission are expected to again raise concerns about the doubling of rocket launches from the base, arguing that military officials and SpaceX are not providing enough information about the impacts on wildlife, are failing to do enough monitoring to measure the impacts and reach of sonic booms, and that SpaceX should seek permits for its launches because it is conducting them for private benefit, not for the federal government.

Based on existing information, the proposed SpaceX launch activities do not appear to be a federal agency activity, the report to the commission reads. Rather, the existing available information indicates that the proposed launch cadences primary purpose is to further expand and support SpaceXs commercial satellite internet and telecommunications network, Starlink.

Despite the pending lawsuit, staff for the coastal commission continue to argue in its report that launches by SpaceX should be regulated as a private company.

The simple fact remains that it is a privately owned company engaged in activities primarily for its own commercial business, the report reads, which recommends that the board oppose the agreement. It is not a public federal agency or conducting its launches on behalf of the federal government. It should therefore be regulated accordingly.

2025 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Observers look out towards India, over the Kashmir ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan. Stars and Stripes reporter John Wright wrote: "From the check-point on the Pakistan side it is possible to look across the little stream and watch the Indian troops who man their barrier on the opposite bank." (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)



This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, June 17, 1958. It is republished unedited in its original form.

A thin stretch of no-mans land separates the powerful armies of India and Pakistan

War is only a triggers squeeze away along the seldom-remembered cease-fire line that divides the former Princely State of Kashmir.

For nearly 10 years, two powerful armies  the most powerful in the smoldering East  have faced each other across a scant 500 yards of no-mans land. From one side Indian army forces, augmented by brigades from Jammu and Kashmir, look across at the Muslims of Pakistan and Azad (Free) Kashmir, each defiant of the other in a dispute that has defied UN mediation for almost a decade.

Extending for nearly 400 miles from the upper reaches of the Indus River to the glacial highlands of the Himalayas, the Kashmir cease-fire line is a living reminder of fighting that started in the late summer of 1947, soon after the partition of the Indias subcontinent.

A million people lost their lives in an undeclared war that ravaged the princely state., including the beautiful Vale of Kashmir, until a UN-sponsored cease-fire in January 1949.

Since then, mediation of the touchy issue  one based on religion and nationalism  has failed.

A Pakistani guard stands along the ceasefire line in the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

Through slits in a guard post and with field glasses, a Pakistani sentry keeps watch on Indian territory on the other side of the ceasefire line in the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

Checkpoint in the Pakistani part of the ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

Possibly a United Nations' or Pakistani Army field station or Pakistani Army [no notes were provided by the photographer] in the Kashmir ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)



The early stages of fighting in Kashmir are completely shrouded in controversy, but it seems to have started in a number of isolated places at about the same time. At first it was not warfare at all, but armed attacks on one village with consequent retaliation on a similar village by the opposition.

Pitched warfare came when a band of armed tribesmen were advancing on Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir.

By force of arms against the Muslim irregulars, Indian airborne troops gained control of most Kashmir, until they were stopped in their unequal drive, first by guerrilla forces and later by Pakistans troops.

The UN was asked to settle the issue and a cease-fire line was drawn that has been observed  more or less  while mediation  so far unsuccessful  continues.

The cease-fire agreement permits each side to man the line on their respective sides restrains them from any increase in military potential over that in effect at the time the agreement was signed.

In general no troops are to approach within 500 yards of the line. However, there are some exceptions. Similarly the firing of weapons, repair of fortifications and photography of installations are prohibited.

On the Pakistan side farmers are permitted to cultivate their plots up to the demarcation line, but they too are prohibited from crossing.

A herder walks his cows along the riverbed in the Kashmir ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan, agreed upon in the Karachi Agreement of 1949 following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. In April of 1958 Stars and Stripes reporter John Wright and photographer Ted Rohde travelled to the Pakistani side of the disputed region. "The cease-fire agreement permits each side to man the line on their respective sides restrains them from any increase in military potential over that in effect at the time the agreement was signed. In general no troops are to approach within 500 yards of the line. However, there are some exceptions. Similarly the firing of weapons, repair of fortifications and photography of installations are prohibited. On the Pakistan side farmers are permitted to cultivate their plots up to the demarcation line, but they too are prohibited from crossing," Wright wrote in his article. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

A road in the Kashmiri country side in the ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan. Stars and Stripes reporter John Wright wrote: "The jeep ride from the UN field station to the cease-fire line is uneventful except for the claustrophobic feeling of being sandwiched between the Jhelum River, 1,000 feet below and the cloud-scraping mountains above." (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

A delegation of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) takes a rest. Military advisors of UNMOGIP manage the observers along ceasefire line in the Kashmir and Jammu regions between India and Pakistan, agreed upon in the Karachi Agreement of 1949 following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

Most likely Pakistani troops [no notes were provided by the photographer] at a check point along the ceasefire line in the Kashmir region. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)



A typical check post on the cease-fire line is one on the banks of the Jhelum River, north of Muzaffarabad in western Kashmir.

Here, on what used to be the main road from Rawalpindi in Pakistan, to Srinagar in Kashmir, participants in this undeclared war face each other across a dry stream bed that forms the demarcation line separating Indian-held territory from Azad Kashmir.

From the check-point on the Pakistan side it is possible to look across the little stream and watch the Indian troops who man their barrier on the opposite bank.

The road once made a horseshoe bend, but the bridge that spanned the dry wash was destroyed during the war and has not been rebuilt. Instead a narrow dirt fill and culvert replaces the bridge so that white UN jeeps  the only traffic that crosses between the belligerents  can go back and forth between UN check points on either side.

The meandering cease-fire line can be followed on a map of Kashmir that hangs on the wall of a former maharajahs rest house in Domel [Domail] where the UN now has a field station.

Starting a few miles east of Jhelum, on the Pakistan-Indian border, the line runs northward through the lower foothills that are the stepping stones to the Himalayas. After a couple of reverse bends in an area known as Punch, it crosses the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road and Jhelum River at a streamside check-point.

Lookout over the Kashmiri country side in the ceasefire zone between India and Pakistan. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

Farm lands border the ceasefire line along the Jhelum river in Pakistan. The line divides the disputed former princely states of Kashmir and Jammu since the Karachi Agreement of 1949. Per the agreement, farmers are allowed to cultivate their plots up to the demarcation line, but cannot cross it. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

A United Nations or Pakistani guard brews some coffee in a makeshift coffee pot. (No notes were provided by the photographer.) (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)

A number of unidentified Pakistani and United Nations officials look out over the ceasefire line between Pakistan and India in Kashmir, agreed upon in the Karachi Agreement of 1949 following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. (Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)



From there, the line slices through mountains in a northerly direction until it meets the Kishanganga River where it turns east to lose itself in the glaciers of Ladakh, near the Sinkiang [Xinjiang] border.

Indian forces hold the territory south and east of the line and Pakistan defends the region north and west.

The jeep ride from the UN field station to the cease-fire line is uneventful except for the claustrophobic feeling of being sandwiched between the Jhelum River, 1,000 feet below and the cloud-scraping mountains above. On every available flat place, Kashmir famers till their terraced lots of rice and wheat.

Military activity in the region is nil with the exception of occasional cease-fire line patrols. Pack-mule stables and camel caravans of supplies remind the visitor to the area is a military zone.

The officers and men who man the front are relaxed and casual, but constantly on alert to an overt move by the opposition.
(Ted Rohde/Stars and Stripes)



Ceasefire zone, Pakistani side, Kashmir, Apr. 9, 1958: Pakistani troops and UN observers at a check point along the ceasefire line in the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan. In April of 1958 Stars and Stripes reporter John Wright and photographer Ted Rohde travelled on the Pakistani side of the ceasefire zone with a delegation of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), responsible for monitoring the ceasefire.

Read the article and see additional images here.
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during the daily morning briefing at Palacio Nacional on Aug. 6, 2025, in Mexico City. (Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images/TNS)



MEXICO CITY (Tribune News Service)  U.S. military forces will not strike Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed Friday in response to reports that President Donald Trump has secretly directed the Pentagon to take action against Latin American drug cartels.

There will be no invasion: That is rejected, absolutely rejected, an emphatic Sheinbaum told reporters at her regular morning news conference. The United States is not going to come to Mexico with troops.

The media accounts, originating in The New York Times, revived nationalist fears in a nation that has endured U.S. invasions and land grabs over the years  though none in more than a century.

Sheinbaum said Mexico had been informed that Trump was issuing such an order, but it has nothing to do with Mexican territory.

The Mexican leader repeated her oft-stated mantra that Mexico cooperates and collaborates with its northern neighbor on drug-trafficking and other bilateral issues, but rejects any U.S. military presence or strikes on Mexican soil.

In May, Sheinbaum said she had rebuffed Trumps offer  made in one of many telephone calls between the two leaders  of direct U.S. military assistance.

We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory, Sheinbaum said she told Trump in May. Our territory is inalienable; sovereignty is inalienable.

Its unclear which countries might be a target for a U.S. operation, but in an interview Thursday with on the Eternal Word Television Network, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that, aside from Mexico, there are cartels in Venezuela, Guatemala and Ecuador.

Rubio said cartels were no longer just a law enforcement issue, but a national security issue. We cannot continue to just treat these guys as local street gangs, he said. They have weaponry that looks like what terrorists, in some cases armies, have.

In Mexico, fears that U.S. forces may strike Mexican territory have been growing since the Trump administration formally labeled six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Many in Mexico view the designation as a prelude to unilateral Pentagon attacks on purported cartel targets.

Trump has been complimentary of Sheinbaum, but has denounced what he alleges is an intolerable alliance between Mexicos government and organized crime.

Sheinbaum has rejected U.S. claims that organized crime permeates Mexicos government and controls vast swaths of Mexican territory.

Trump has already imposed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico  Washingtons leading trading partner  which he says is aimed at forcing authorities here to do more to curb the trafficking of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States.

The Trump administration has also ramped up U.S. surveillance flights over and near Mexican territory and has massed U.S. troops on the southwestern border in an effort to crack down on drug smuggling and unauthorized immigration.

But Mexico is not the only nation where the Pentagon might consider striking drug cartels. Venezuela could also find itself in U.S. military cross-hairs as Washington amps up its saber-rattling against the South American nation.

On Thursday the Trump administration said it was doubling its existing reward  to $50 million  for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime adversary who faces drug-trafficking charges in the United States.

The U.S. State Department calls Maduro a leader of the Venezuelan-based Cartel de los Soles, which the Trump administration has labeled a terrorist group.

Washington also accused Maduro of links to Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, which is among the crime syndicates the administration has labeled a foreign terrorist organization.

On Friday, Sheinbaum told reporters that Mexican authorities had seen no evidence connecting Maduro to the Sinaloa mob.

Venezuelan authorities dismissed the U.S. charges against Maduro as political propaganda.

Maduro returned to office in January after declaring victory in a 2024 election that critics called rigged and was widely rejected by the international community. Washington does not recognize Maduro as Venezuelas president.

Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report.

_____

2025 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A federal judge found a "real risk" that the government would try to unlawfully deport a man who was tortured in his home country, and ordered a hearing to determine if he should be released from immigration custody while his case proceeds.

Two years ago, the Denver-based federal appeals court concluded an immigration judge's decision to deport Dennis Arostegui-Maldonado "defies logic and the law," considering the abuse he experienced from Costa Rican police. Earlier this year, Maldonado received protection from deportation to Costa Rica and El Salvador, his countries of citizenship.

Maldonado then asked U.S. District Court Senior Judge William J. Martinez to release him from custody while the appeal of his immigration case proceeds indefinitely. Martinez declined to take that step, but his Aug. 8 order granted Maldonado the remaining relief he sought: a hearing before an immigration judge to gauge his suitability for release and a prohibition on being transferred out of Colorado.

Martinez, an appointee of Barack Obama, also barred U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting Maldonado "unlawfully." Based on Maldonado's testimony that the GEO Group-operated ICE facility in Aurora regularly turns its phones off, Martinez took the unusual step of noting the government possibly removing Maldonado unlawfully was "not merely theoretical nor remote.

"This suggests to the Court that there is a real risk that ICE will initiate efforts to remove Maldonado while severing his ability to seek counsel before he is deported," he wrote.

As for whether he was confident the government would honor Maldonado's right to due process, ICE's "conduct thus far leaves the Court with grave doubts regarding their intent to honor this fundamental requirement."

Because of the federal rules governing immigration cases, the majority of Maldonado's proceedings are shielded from public view. However, the prior decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, coupled with Martinez's order and a hearing he held last week, provided a fuller picture of Maldonado's case.

Maldonado repeatedly entered and was removed from the U.S. beginning in 2007. Upon his 2021 reentry, Maldonado testified that Costa Rican police officers kidnapped him at gunpoint and took him to an isolated location. They beat him and sexually assaulted him, demanding he sell drugs on their behalf. They also threatened to kill him if he made a report, and they demanded his family's contact information. Finally, the officers transported him to jail and held him for 24 hours without any criminal charge.

An immigration judge found him credible, but ultimately denied protection from deportation. Specifically, the judge decided Maldonado had not shown the police who tortured him were acting as government agents at the time.

The 10th Circuit disagreed with that finding and ordered another look, culminating in a new order protecting him from deportation to Costa Rica and El Salvador. The government has since appealed that decision. While the 10th Circuit was looking at his case, the government deported Maldonado  which allegedly resulted in Salvadoran officials having "branded him with a piece of rebar"  but he returned after prevailing at the circuit.

ICE immediately detained him again.

On July 18, Maldonado's lawyers learned ICE intended to move him somewhere unknown. Martinez, in response, temporarily blocked the removal. He then scheduled a hearing to consider releasing Maldonado.

"I am terrified he will be removed unlawfully like Kilmar Abrego Garcia," attorney Laura Lunn told Martinez on Aug. 1, referring to a Maryland man wrongfully removed to an El Salvador prison where numerous detainees have described widespread abusive conditions. The federal government did not return Abrego Garcia for months.

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"You have a fear that under this administration, (the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) and ICE will not follow the rule of law?" asked Martinez.

"That is exactly what I'm saying," Lunn replied.

Maldonado took the witness stand and testified that he needs medical attention because of his torture and sexual assault, but he is not receiving care while in custody. He also has no criminal convictions in the U.S. or elsewhere.

"I am not a delinquent. I am not a criminal," he said. "I really don't know of any other country that has treated me with the respect and equality I have received here."

In his order, Martinez found Maldonado's testimony "articulate, credible, internally consistent and poignant." He also credited the testimony of the psychologist who evaluated Maldonado and found his detention harmful.

"In stark contrast," Martinez continued, the testimony of ICE deportation officer Irma Quinones was "equivocal, uninformed and unhelpful."

Ultimately, Martinez declined to order Maldonado's release outright, reasoning his immigration proceedings will conclude at some point. However, he believed Maldonado was entitled to a hearing at which the government would need to prove his continued detention was justified. In doing so, Martinez followed the lead of other federal judges in Colorado who have determined that a lengthy detention without a bond hearing violates the Fifth Amendment right to due process.

"True, there may be a generalized public interest in the enforcement of the countrys immigration laws," he wrote. "But that cannot mean that (immigration officials) enjoy an unfettered right to detain noncitizens in contravention with their Fifth Amendment rights."

Martinez also had strong words for the government, calling the conditions at the Aurora detention center "abhorrent" and citing the limited access to medical care and the prison-like atmosphere.

Martinez ordered a release hearing to occur within 14 days.

Lunn, the attorney for Maldonado, said her client feels "relieved" and "grateful."

Mr. Maldonado's case is emblematic of everything that's wrong with the immigration system. He survived past torture in El Salvador and Costa Rica and the Department of Homeland Security locked him up without a key," she said. "Today he can breathe a little easier, and I hope that very soon, he will regain his liberty, reunite with his family and finally live a protected life here in the United States."

The case is Arostegui-Maldonado v. Baltazar.
Airman 1st Class Caleb Shaner is seen sitting near the opening of an aircraft in the air in this undated photo. (Geschwindt Stabingas Ebling Funeral Home)



The Pennsylvania Air National Guard lost two airmen in unrelated, off-duty incidents a world apart on the first weekend of August, according to a Guard spokeswoman.

The 193rd Special Operations Wing paused operations Aug. 5 to remember Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lohrmann, 45, of Kingsley, Pa., and Airman 1st Class Caleb Shaner, 21, of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., wing spokeswoman Maj. Susan Penning said Friday by email.

Lohrmann, assigned to the 201st Red Horse Squadron, a civil engineering unit based at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., apparently drowned Aug. 3 while snorkeling off Chulu Beach, on the Pacific island of Tinian, said Penning and a Tuesday report in the Marianas Variety newspaper.

Shaner died early Aug. 2 from a fall from a building in Lancaster, Pa., Penning said.

It is with a heavy heart that I report we lost two of our own this past weekend while off duty, wing commander Col. Robert Noren said in a statement Penning provided Friday.

In response to these tragedies, the 193rd Special Operations Wing stood down flying operations Aug. 5, he said. In addition, we currently have several chaplains and mental health team members available for support to assist Airmen who wish to talk.

Elizabeth Lohrmann, 45, of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, died Aug. 3, 2025, according to the Wyoming County Press Examiner. (Instagram)



Lohrmann, a yoga instructor in civilian life, was on active duty with the 356th Expeditionary Theater Support Group on Guam and from there deployed to Tinian, Penning said.

Lohrmann was snorkeling with two other airmen when she became distressed, according to the Marianas newspaper, which cited Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands assistant police chief Simeon Manacop.

Her companions helped her to shore, called emergency responders at 2:46 p.m. and administered CPR until they arrived. Lohrmann was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at the Tinian Health Center, according to the newspaper report.

Raeleigh Studio in Kingsley, Pa., mourned Lohrmann, an instructor there. She became a yoga instructor in 2017 and before arriving in Kingsley taught in York County, Pa.

We will forever miss the light she brought to the studio, reads a post on the studios website.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags in Susquehanna County flown at half-staff in Lohrmanns honor because she died while deployed on active service.

Shaner was on a full-time temporary assignment with the 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron in Middletown, Pa., Penning said. He was a crew chief assigned to an MC-130J Commando II called Chicken Joe, according to an obituary posted online by the Geschwindt, Stabingas and Ebling Funeral Home.

The Commando II flies clandestine, low-level missions inserting and extracting special operations forces and supplies and aerial refueling for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, according to the wings website.

Shaner enlisted in the Air Force two months before graduating in June 2022 from Blue Mountain High School in Orwigsburg, Pa. He liked to ski and studied business management at Commonwealth University  Bloomsburg.

Lancaster police did not respond to email and phone requests Thursday and Friday for information about Shaners death.
Evidence was given that investigators obtained a DNA profile from the till which led them to the accused.

A 26-year-old man who grabbed a cash register containing 3,000 cash before running out of a Drogheda shop has been further remanded in custody for finalisation of the case.

Ethan Skelly, Clusker Park, Navan, Co. Meath, appeared via video link, and his solicitor Maurice Regan indicated a plea of guilty to a burglary charge on behalf of his client.

Evidence was given that investigators obtained a DNA profile from the till which led them to the accused.

The DPP directed summary disposal of the matter in the district court.

Stock image

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

The incident occurred at Designer Soy Wax Melts, West Street, on December 7, 2023, and Sgt John OHehir said that the premises was empty at the time, the person in charge in a back room.

The defendant grabbed the cash register and ran out.

The money was not recovered. The till was, and gardai obtained a DNA profile from it which identified Mr Skelly as a suspect. He was arrested and made a full admission.

Judge Michael Ramsey accepted jurisdiction.

Mr Regan said that the defendant was serving a sentence and had a February 17, 2027 release date.

The case was adjourned to August 20 for finalisation with gardai to canvass a Victim Impact Statement in the meantime.
Defence solicitor Joe Mulholland told the court Harkins used to be a hotel manager but is now his wifes carer due to her illness

A former hotel manager appeared in court today accused of stealing 150,000 (173,000) of jewellery from his wife.

Due to hearing difficulties, a copy of the bill of indictment had to be handed to 75-year-old Joseph Harkins as he stood in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court, so that he could read it.

Harkins, from the Ballyrusley Road in Newtownards, faces a single count of theft in that between 4-8 August this year, he stole jewellery to the value of 150,000 from his wife and the offence is said to be aggravated by reason of domestic abuse.

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News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

Giving evidence to the court, Constable Kirk said she believed she could connect the pensioner to the charge, adding that subject to conditions, bail could be agreed.

Describing it as a very sad case, defence solicitor Joe Mulholland told the court Harkins used to be a hotel manager but is now his wifes carer due to her illness.

He said while the defendant was being bail back to the matrimonial home, he would be residing in an annexe at the property.

Granting bail in the sum of 250, District Judge Rosalie Prytherch barred Harkins from having any contact with his wife and from entering the main house.

The case was adjourned to 1 September.
Derek Boyd was arrested earlier this week and will face several other charges

A 30-year-old man is to appear in court again on Tuesday after he was charged with murder at a late-night special sitting of Dublin District Court.

Derek Boyd, of Scribblestown Place, Finglas, is accused of the murder of Mark Carroll (34) at that location on June 9 last year.

In January, an adjourned inquest into Mr Carrolls death was told that he had died from a stab wound. The incident happened at about 1am.

The father of four from Finglas was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Boyd was remanded in custody when he appeared before Judge Aine Clancy at Dublin District Court on Tuesday night and is due to appear before Cloverhill District Court by video link next Tuesday morning.

Mark Carroll was stabbed to death last year

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Detective Sergeant Niall Murray, who told the court that Mr Boyd made no reply when the murder charge was put to him at Finglas garda station at 7pm on Tuesday.

He was also charged with three separate offences.

He was charged with assaulting a named man at Barry Road, Finglas, on April 17 last year, as well as being intoxicated in a public place  Barry Drive in Finglas  the following day.

Derek Boyd

He was also charged that on April 18 last year he engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour at Barry Drive.

Mr Boyd was arrested on Monday by appointment. He was represented in court on Tuesday night by Aaron Sweeney of Phelim ONeill Solicitors, and legal aid was granted.

If Mr Boyd decides to apply for bail, he must make the application in the High Court.

The defence is awaiting a book of evidence and further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Carroll had been living in the Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne, Co Meath, at the time of his death.

At last Januarys brief inquest hearing at Dublin District Coroners Court, the victims father, Kevin Carroll, who lives in Co Monaghan, gave evidence of formally identifying his sons body to gardai on the day after his sons death.
Gardai from the Bridewell Community Response Team while conducting proactive foot patrols searched an individual in Smithfield Square on Friday at approximately 5.50pm

The weapon and ammo that was seized

A man has been arrested after gardai seized a handgun and ammunition in the Smithfield area of Dublin 7 yesterday evening.

Gardai from the Bridewell Community Response Team while conducting proactive foot patrols searched an individual in Smithfield Square on Friday at approximately 5.50pm.

During the course of the search, gardai recovered a handgun and a quantity of ammunition, a Garda spokesperson said.

The weapon and ammo that was seized

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

The individual, a male in his 50s, was arrested at the scene and is currently detained at a Garda station in the Dublin region under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.

According to gardai, the firearm has now been forwarded to the Garda Technical Bureau for ballistic examination while investigations are ongoing.
Detectives will probe whether the attack on the Black Forge Inn is connected to the disgraced MMAs stars high profile anti-immigrant stance

Firefighters at the scene after arson attack on Conor mcGregor's Black Forge pub

A suspect, arrested by the gardas anti-terror unit in connection with an arson attack on Conor McGregors pub, was being held on remand in Cloverhill prison in connection with a separate violent attack at the time of his arrest.

The suspect, who cannot be named as he is before the courts in connection with that attack, was removed from the prison under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act, by detectives from the Special Detective Unit, on Friday.

Its understood officers identified the man from CCTV harvested from the Black Forge Inn in south Dublin from the night of the attack on July 25.

The CCTV system captured the suspect as he set fire to some cardboard and placed it at the front entrance of the pub before leaving the scene.

Firefighters at the scene after arson attack on Conor mcGregor's Black Forge pub

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

The perpetrator made no efforts to hide his identity and detectives began treating the incident 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.

Detectives from the SDU are this weekend questioning the suspect in the blaze and will establish whether the attack on McGregors pub and a separate violent attack he carried out in the city are connected.

Detectives will also probe whether the attack on McGregors pub is connected to the disgraced MMAs stars high profile anti-immigrant stance.

McGregor has repeatedly said that he will run in this years presidential election and has shared strong anti-immigrant rhetoric online.

McGregor has also been criticised previously over what was labelled an Islamophobic tweets when he referred to MMA rival Khabib Nurmagomedovs wife as a towel in a post featuring two pictures of the Russian fighters wife wearing the traditional Islamic face veil.

The investigation into the attack in Walkinstown was being led by gardai from Crumlin Garda station but in a statement gardai yesterday confirmed the matter is now being dealt with by the Special Detective Unit.

Conor McGregor

Gardai attached to An Garda Siochanas Special Detective Unit have arrested a male in connection with the investigation into Criminal Damage at a licensed premises in the South Dublin area on Friday, 25th of July 2025.

Gardai have 24 hours, not including breaks, to quiz the suspect before he must be returned to Cloverhill Prison or charged.

The July 25th incident was not the first occasion in which the Black Forge has been targeted.

McGregor bought the pub for 2m in 2020 and later spent an additional 1m on renovations.

In January 2022, the pub was targeted in a 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.

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 were made in connection with that attack.
It took six officers to restrain them when they entered the unit, a source said.

TWO of the countrys most violent prisoners had to be removed from the states 2.7 million National Violence Reduction Unit (NVRU) in the Midlands Prison by prison officers in riot gear after they went berserk in their cells.

The pair, Evan OKeefe from Limerick and a second inmate who cannot be named as he is before the courts for serious offences, smashed up their cells in the NVRU on July 23rd.

Efforts were made by staff to calm the pair but, after these efforts failed, a decision was taken to send in a team of officers in control and restraint gear.

It took six officers to restrain them when they entered the unit, a source said.

They were both wild and had to be forcibly restrained before they could be removed.

OKeefe from Shanabooley Rd, Ballynanty, Limerick is serving a six-year sentence, handed down in March 2021, for repeatedly striking another man with a hammer during a home invasion the previous year.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to the offence which occurred in the Mulgrave Street area of the city on March 7, 2020.

During his sentencing hearing, Garda Enda Clifford said the alarm was raised at around 4am when the victim was woken by an intruder in his bedroom.

The Midlands Prison in Portlaoise

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

After he challenged the burglar, a second male entered the room and the occupant was punched and struck at least four times with a hammer.

The homeowner sustained six lacerations to his scalp and head and required ten staples.

In a victim impact statement, the now 38-year-old said he had never seen such savagery, brutality, and inhumanity from another human being as he did on the night and that he initially feared he had sustained a brain injury.

Garda Clifford said after fleeing the house the intruders broke into another home a short distance away.

Sometime later on the same day the defendant threatened and robbed a mobile phone from a young man who was eating his lunch at a fast-food restaurant in the city centre.

The court heard Mr OKeefe was on bail at the time as he had been charged with robbing a wallet from a 15-year-old boy at Davis Street in the city centre on September 24, 2019.

Barrister Yvonne Quinn said her client made full, frank and valuable admissions and that he has expressed his remorse.

She said he had a very significant addiction and that he was spending around 200 a day on drugs around the time of the offences.

Ms Quinn said the defendant is now drug free and that he has developed an insight into his drug use and behaviour.

Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said what happened was extremely serious and he said it was an aggravating factor that some of the offences occurred while Mr OKeefe was on bail.

He added that the use of a weapon was of serious concern.

He imposed a number of consecutive prison sentences totalling six years imprisonment.

The second inmate involved in the melee in the NVRU has long been regarded as one of the countrys most volatile inmates.

He has clocked up more than 106 convictions, including 30 for assault, firearms and robbery offences.

He has also had more than 250 breaches of prison discipline recorded against him.

Following a period of freedom, he was remanded back in custody in February of this year on a charge of knife possession following an alleged spate of shop raids and a stand-off with gardai.

He was arrested following an investigation into a crime spree allegedly targeting shops and a pharmacy in north Dublin.

Both prisoners have been subjected to P19 disciplinary proceedings and the loss of privileges in connection with the disturbances on July 23rd.
To meet the needs and demands of its local industries, Pikes Peak State College is bringing back an old option for aspiring nurses.

Starting this fall, students can sign up for the colleges Practical Nursing Program, which could provide a quicker path into the healthcare workforce. The certificate program will teach students hands-on skills for care over three semesters.

The first two semesters will include lecture and lab courses, utilizing new state-of-the-art equipment and a series of clinical hours at local facilities over the spring and summer semesters. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses and enter the workforce as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, PPSC President Lance Bolton called the new program the missing link in their health care ladder.

This ladder refers to the school's current nursing program . The new certificate joins the existing Certified Nursing Aide (CNA), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

LPNs provide basic medical care like vital checks and communication between patients, families and caregivers while under the supervision of registered nurses (RN) and doctors. Students can also build off this experience and earn additional certifications and degrees.

I think its really cool, nursing student Dominic Miranda said of the new program and facilities.

Its nice to know this program is starting IV certifications for LPNs because a lot of the LPNs that I work with arent IV certified, so they cant even start an IV (pump) without an RN there. So this already gives you a leg up.

PPSCs Director of Nursing Education Practices Carmen Luttrell said the college used to provide a similar program that was phased out during the 2010s in response to changing workforce demands.

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The demands changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, with local military bases, long-term care facilities and outpatient clinics experiencing workforce gaps, and prompted its return.

Pre-COVID, a lot of health care facilities were trying to move into RNs only because RNs can work at a higher level, Luttrell said. And then, with COVID and seeing the attrition of nurses in the community, hospitals started going back to that model of nursing.

While a lack of LPNs and nurses in general over recent decades is not limited to the Pikes Peak Region, solutions to fill these gaps can vary based on regional factors. Colorado Nurses Association Executive Director Mark Longshore said that while more densely populated areas like Colorado Springs and Denver can afford to build out additional programs and schools, other areas may not have the infrastructure in place to do the same.

He noted that insufficient faculty to teach these students and the clinical sites for the work arent often available in other regions where shortages persist.

Nursing is a very hands-on profession, so we want our students to have that hands-on practice, that experience through taking care of patients as a student, he said.

And as the number of RNs has gone down and as some hospitals have replaced them with LPNs or other health care workers, its getting more difficult to find those spots for those students. So thats actually a barrier to educating more students.

Prior to PPSC, other LPN programs near the Pikes Peak Region included Pueblo Community College, Community College of Denver and Front Range Community College in Fort Collins.

PPSCs new program was recently approved by the Colorado Board of Nursing and will host an initial cohort of 10 students, followed by new cohorts every semester. Incoming student Emiliana Cordova plans to utilize the new program as a stepping stone as she works toward becoming an RN.

To me, nursing is being there for someone at their worst moment, she said. And I just feel so fortunate with the opportunities here to be able to do that myself.
Chilled Dancing With The Stars winner Laura Nolan is taking wedding planning one step at a time with her fiance Matthew MacNabb.

Laura is proud to be an ambassador for the Very Pink Run

Laura and Matthew set the dancefloor alight when they were partnered on the hugely popular show in season five in 2022

She may have a Glitterball to her name, but bride-to-be Laura Nolan is in two minds as to whether to bust out her trophy-winning moves on her big day.

The Dancing With The Stars winner is more or less organised to wed Matthew MacNabb  whom she met when they were partnered on the 2022 season of the show  in Ireland next May, with only the guest list and their first dance yet to be ironed out.

Its one of those things thats still up for debate, begins Laura over the phone from LA, where the couple have been living since last year.

Everyone keeps saying, Oh, the first dance, the first dance  were unsure if were going to do a full-on dance or just do [something] a little bit more intimate, because I dont want it to become like another dance that youd see on Dancing With The Stars, where its not intimate between the two of us.

Laura and Matthew set the dancefloor alight when they were partnered on the hugely popular show in season five in 2022

People will be like, Ah yeah, sure we know she can dance anyway, so we still havent decided whether well do a first dance or not.

Ballroom and Latin queen Laura, who has been dancing since childhood, and fitfluencer Matthew (30), who found fame on Love Island in 2020, were eliminated during the semi-final of season five of the RTE hit.

Love won out away from the dancefloor, however, as the pair began dating during rehearsals, before ultimately getting engaged late last year, when the romantic Co Down man got down on one knee on a beach in California at sunset.

Were getting married on May 30 next year, shares the anti-bridezilla from Dublin, wholl also toast her 32nd birthday on day two of celebrations.

Laura and Matthew on the dancefloor

Its the bank holiday weekend, so weve organised a lot of the stuff that could get booked up, so we feel very organised, very chilled.

A lot of people are like, Yeah, yeah, just wait until six weeks out, youll be panicking! But were not really like that  I never understand that after putting so much work into something, and money, why you would get stressed.

Our families are all looking forward to it. My mam already has her outfit sorted for it, so does Matthews mam, and theyre all excited for it.

I said yes to the dress [too], and I have a dress for the evening time as well. My mam picked my dress out, it was the very first dress I tried on.

Excluding the dress-picking process, she praises her enthusiastic groom: [Matthews] been very much a big part of everything.

I was expecting him to just kind of leave most of it to me, but hes very much into it too. I wouldnt make a decision without putting it by him first.

The couple, who will celebrate their nuptials at Kilkea Castle in Kildare, are currently packing to return to Ireland after an action-packed year in the City of Dreams, which they shared with their combined 323k followers on Instagram.

Laura is proud to be an ambassador for the Very Pink Run

But the self-confessed home bird, who won DWTS with Olympian Rhys McClenaghan, teases that she could be jetting back to Hollywood for work in the future.

Im waiting to see if an opportunity comes through which Ive been working on  Ill know in the next few weeks.

But we have our flights booked for September 3 to go home.

Myself and Matthew got our 0-1 visas for three years, so we said well give it a go, and see what opportunities come our way.

Its such a different world, especially when you come over here for the first time  and the dance scene is huge.

I love it over here, it is like a big adventure, but to live full-term, no, I couldnt see myself [moving permanently], to be honest. Im too much of a home bird for that.

I am looking forward to getting home, continues the Lucan woman, who previously lived in Italy for five years.

Ive decided that once I get back Im going to set up my dance academy, with the idea of teaching adults and children ballroom and Latin, line dancing, all of that, at a really high level. [So that the] children could go on and actually audition for different roles in the West End, or for the likes of Dancing With The Stars once they get to that age.

The world champion dancer credits TikTok, and its absolutely fantastic dance challenges, for helping to get kids moving again in recent years.

Dancing With The Stars winner Laura Nolan

And she laughs at the prospect of there even being an Irish dancer in Aras an Uachtarain after Michael Flatley confirmed he intends to join the presidential race, shortly before chatting with Magazine+ at 8am LA time.

I literally just saw that on the news, I was like, That is hilarious! Laura for President 20-20-whatever! she jokes.

As well as her busy dance schedule, the 31-year-old attributes her shredded physique to gruelling hot yoga sculpt classes, or basically hot yoga with weights, and shes also returned to running as she prepares to lace up for Breast Cancer Ireland Very Pink Run.

The fun-filled fundraising event takes place in Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork between September 6-14, but participants can also partake at a time, place or pace that better suits them.

I actually did the Very Pink Run during Covid by myself there a few years back, says Laura, [So when] they reached out to me and asked would I like to be an ambassador, I was like, Absolutely, Id love to.

Im very lucky that [no one in the immediate family] has been affected by cancer; obviously, I do know people who have had it, [and] my friends mam was diagnosed last year, so its lovely to do that for her too.

You see so many people, it doesnt matter if theyre young or old, [who] are affected by it. So I think its a fantastic thing to spread awareness.

Next up, while not yet formally confirmed by the national broadcaster, Dancing With The Stars season nine seems all but guaranteed to be the dancers next big gig after through-the-roof ratings earlier this year.

I cant believe were saying that its nine seasons, Laura says. But, yes, I think its looking very good for it, because it was such a good show last year, and the viewership was so high.

I havent gotten my Glitterball yet, laughs the reigning champ. They actually take [the trophy seen on the show] off you the minute you come off the floor, but they do send out two miniature versions of the Glitterball to both of us. Ill probably get it towards the end of the year.

When I do get it, itll be sitting proud in my living room.
Ailton Soares de Oliveira was one of three people who were rushed to the hospital after the blaze broke out at the property on Granby Row

A young Brazilian man who was badly injured in a Dublin apartment fire in June passed away more than a month later, it has emerged.

Reports from Brazilian media indicate that Ailton Soares de Oliveira who had been hospitalised following the incident in June died in the early hours of July 20.

The 38-year-old was one of three people who were rushed to the hospital after the blaze broke out at the property on Granby Row in Dublin 1.

Emergency services battled the fire that was located on the third floor of the four-storey building.

In total, seven people were treated at the scene with three being transported to hospital by two Dublin Fire Brigade ambulances and one National Ambulance Service ambulance.

Ailton Soares de Oliveira

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

Ailton Soares de Oliveira, a native of Rio Grande do Norte, remained in serious condition since the incident on June 24, in the Intensive Treatment Unit (ICU) of St James's Hospital.

According to Brazilian media, Ailton had suffered burns caused by the battery explosion of an electric bicycle that was being charged in the apartment.

Ailton was working as a deliveryman in Ireland at the time of the accident, Diario Do RN reports.

He was rescued by the Fire Department and taken to a city hospital, where he underwent surgery and ended up in an induced coma. In recent days, he presented signs of recovery but later succumbed to his injuries.

An online campaign was launched by friends of the victim to help with treatment costs and to provide family support.

The GoFundMe page reads: With heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing of Ailton Soares, who unfortunately did not survive the serious accident that occurred in Dublin 1 on June 24.

The aftermath of the fire

After weeks of fighting for his life, he passed away in the early hours of July 20 at 4am.

In this moment of grief and farewell, we are launching this fundraising campaign to cover the legal procedures and cremation here in Ireland.

Funds raised would also go to the transportation of his ashes to Brazil, where his family is waiting to hold a funeral and burial with the dignity and love that Ailton deserves.

The appeal adds that any amount, no matter how small, will be of immense help.

Your contribution will make a real difference in ensuring that he has a respectful and dignified final rest.

May God reward all those who feel moved to help during this difficult time. Your generosity is a true act of love. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

A Dublin Fire Brigade spokesperson said at the time that they had been called at 8.13am to reports of a fire in a building off Granby Row.

On arrival firefighters found a four storey building with a fire located on the third floor, the spokesperson said.

In total, seven people were treated at the scene with three being transported to hospital by two Dublin Fire Brigade ambulances and one National Ambulance Service ambulance.

"Six fire engines were sent to the incident including a turntable ladder and emergency tender. Breathing apparatus teams were committed to fight and extinguish the fire and it is now under control.

Gardai added that they had assisted emergency services at the scene.

"The scene is currently being preserved and street is closed with local diversions in place, a Garda spokesperson said.

Three people have been taken to hospital. Investigation is ongoing."

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: "Six fire engines were sent to the incident including a turntable ladder and emergency tender.

"Breathing apparatus teams were committed to fight and extinguish the fire and it is now under control.
Carlow-born Martha Nolan-OSlatarra (33) was found dead on a yacht at the Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton on Long Island

A post-mortem examination and toxicology report on the remains of an Irish woman who died in the Hamptons in New York, could take several months, her family have been told.

Carlow-born Martha Nolan-OSlatarra (33) was found dead on a yacht at the Montauk Yacht Club in East Hampton on Long Island at 12am local time Tuesday.

Detectives in the US have said a post-mortem did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further examination.

Martha Nolan-OSlatarra

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

Earlier, they said a preliminary investigation and exam, after they arrived at the scene, were inconclusive in informing a cause of death for the fashion designer.

It is understood that Ms Nolan-OSlatarras family have been told that a final post-mortem report, toxicological, histological and other testing, will take at least three months to complete.

Her remains are currently in the custody of the Suffolk County Medical Examiners Office as her loved ones await news on when they will be released for repatriation home to Ireland.

Martha Nolan-OSlatarra

Ms Nolan-OSlatarra was found unconscious at the Montauk Yacht Club after a man called 911 around midnight, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Suffolk police said Good Samaritans tried to perform CPR, but she was pronounced dead on the boat by first responders.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said its officials were aware of the case and providing consular assistance.

Speaking to the Irish Independent on Wednesday, Ms Nolan-OSlatarras mother Elma expressed her anguish over her daughters death.

I feel numb and in shock, she said. My younger daughter, Jacqui, arrived in on Tuesday night and she was crying and shaking. She said, I have terrible news, Marthas dead.

The mother of two said she is struggling to get information about the circumstances surrounding her daughters death since she received the news.

I dont know what happened to my daughter, she said.

We werent told anything about the circumstances.

Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra founded her own fashion brand East x East

Montauk  located on the eastern tip of Long Island, almost 200km from Manhattan  is a seaside tourist destination popular with local families and overseas visitors.

It has a strong Irish community, and has been a favoured destination of J1 students in particular during the summer months in recent years.

The Montauk Yacht Clubs website describes the marina as the largest in the Hamptons, spanning 16 acres.

In a statement to CBS News, a yacht club spokesperson said: We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident that took place.

"Our team is co-operating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff.

Ms Nolan-OSlatarra worked in Ireland until 2015 when she emigrated to the US.
If allowed they will leave behind a younger membership which has no intention of ditching their UDA identity.

The renegade group has indicated that a significant element of their membership is ready to make a move towards standing down but have warned they have no intention of disappearing.

The Sunday World understands a significant number of SEA members  overwhelmingly veterans with more than 10 and in some cases 20 years active service  are keen to walk away.

If allowed they will leave behind a younger membership which has no intention of ditching their UDA identity.

The organisation has indicated it is no longer recruiting and that it no longer takes membership dues.

But that is far as they are willing to go.

Factions within SEA are already taking advantage of the situation and have set themselves up as autonomous groups.

According to well-placed sources, one such group is led by convicted drug offender, killer driver and murder suspect Colin Simms.

He has been at loggerheads with the SEA leadership and has set himself on collision course with brigadier Gary Fisher once again.

Simms is believed to have moved back onto home turf in the Glenfield estate in Carrickfergus where his close associates erected UDA flags.

Simms was once one of the most trusted figures in SEA  he was seen as ex-commander Clifford Trigger Irons right-hand man and faithful to Fisher.

He was then arrested and questioned in relation to the murder of Glenn Quinn in January 2020.

Terminally ill Glenn was battered to death in his own home by a gang, some of whom had connections to SEA.

He was beaten with iron bars and suffered 52 fractures to his upper body.

Simms was questioned and remains a suspect, although no one has been made accountable for the attack.

He was then accused of siphoning money from the SEA and was subjected to a punishment shooting allegedly on Fishers orders before being stood down.

It is understood one of the commitments made by SEA leaders to British government negotiators was to scale back displays of paramilitary emblems and flags.

Simms move will be seen as a direct challenge to Fisher.

Well-placed sources say SEA proposals place the British in an awkward position. There is an acknowledgement that there will be criminal elements who will continue to use the UDA name.

And there is no offer on the table to eradicate drug dealing despite repeated pledges to do so since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement almost three decades ago.

Simms move is an indication of the worst case scenario. Drug dealing in the town will become fragmented, with SEA losing overall control of the trade.

Should rival crime gangs follow suit it will result in a patchwork of organised crime gangs across the district.

With 2,500 members, SEA is by far the largest brigade under the UDA flag.

The vast majority are no longer active members.

What theyre (SEA) offering are small steps, the fact they will stop recruitment is welcome but in reality is window dressing, a security source told us.

It comes as the Sunday World also understands the remnants of the once-ruling Inner Council have told the British that they are not in a position to deliver UDA disbandment.

The command structure of the organisation has disintegrated almost entirely, those remaining from the original Inner Council such as veteran South Belfast Brigadier Jackie McDonald  regarded as the de-facto leader of the UDA  no longer hold any significant influence.

Loyalist terror groups put an 8.5 million price tag on them disbanding in the years after the Good Friday Agreement. Countless millions of pounds have been poured into loyalist areas.

powerless

Tommy Kirkham  who led the SEA breakaway in 2007 and who was dubbed Tommy Millions  said he could deliver the organisation, but nothing came of it.

The SEA UDA is not a part of the Loyalist Communities Council and negotiates autonomously from the rest of the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando.

The group has ruled out disbandment, with a source saying, if they stood down their leadership, theyd be replaced with a new one before teatime.

Their position is that they are offering only what they can. Realistically, they say, all they can do is cease recruitment and stop formal collection of membership dues.

They are powerless to stop people  including themselves  using the UDA for criminal purposes.

An interlocutor as recommended by the Independent Monitoring Commission is acting as a go-between with paramilitaries to gauge how far these organisations are willing to go.

SEA has been responsible for a raft of murders in recent years  with all victims coming from their own community, including one-time commander Geordie Gilmore murdered in 2017 after a year-long feud.

Other victims include 20-year-old Daniel McColgan in January 2002 as he arrived for work at a postal sorting office in Rathcoole, and 18-year-old Gavin Brett  the brother of DUP MLA Phillip  shot dead on the Hightown Road in Glengormley as he stood chatting to a group of friends in July 2001.

Speculation around SEA comes as it was reported the UDAs London Brigade had announced it was formally stand down.

As reported by former British army officer, historian and author Aaron Edwards, it is believed the unit has transitioned into a veterans organisation.

It is not thought the move will be regarded as in any way significant to the situation in Northern Ireland, with one security source describing it to the Sunday World as a distraction.
By the end I was like singing in a pub at two in the morning with a group of people I had never met before.

ACTRESS Jenna Ortega has revealed that the downside of filming Wednesday in Ireland was the weather here  but on the plus loved partying here until the early hours.

Jenna (22) appeared on American TVs Step[hen Colbert show where the host asked her where she filmed the new season of Wednesday.

Dublin, Ireland, very different, she told him. I was there for seven months, eight months.

I love it there. I feel like if the weather wasnt so s***ty I would probably get.

Colbert interrupted her and joked wheres my swear jar?.

Jenna Ortega plays the lead role in 'Wednesday'. Photo: Netflix

News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th

The comedian agreed the weather here is a little rough in Ireland and thats why you wear a chunky sweater here.

Asked if she loves the Irish accent, she replied: I actually love the Irish accent.

I think people are just being jerks when they say they cant understand what theyre saying. Its very clear.

Even their music. I remember when I went there, I didnt like Guinness or anything like that  I hate beer  and by the end I was like singing in a pub at two in the morning with a group of people I had never met before.

Colbert smiled, well, Guinness is better than beer, its a loaf of bread in a cup.

To which Jenna raved: Oh my God, thats what my friends says, she says its a sandwich in a glass.

Jennea stars Wednesday Addams, a teenager who possesses psychic powers.

The show, filmed in Ireland, drops on Netflix today, and Lumley says its slightly surreal, unreal quality sits very well on Irish shoulders."

Season two of Wednesday, which started streaming this week was filmed at various locations around counties Wicklow, Dublin and Offaly.

"The combination of sets and locations give it that kind of off-kilter vibe, says director Tim Burton.

The landscape here is sensational, so beautiful, so nostalgic," adds Luis Guzman, who plays Gomez Addams.

Jenna, who plays the lead role in the series, adds: Ireland itself is such a wild and poetic country, says Joanna Lumley, who plays Morticia Addams' mother, Hester Frump adds: Ireland itself is such a wild and poetic country.

Wednesday is based on characters from the cartoon created by cartoonist Charles Addams and the 1964 television series produced by David Levy.

The first season of Wednesday, which was shot primarily in Romania, centred on Wednesday Addams as a student at Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts.

She attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree, and solve a supernatural mystery from her parents' past, all the while building close friendships with her fellow Nevermore students, such as Eugene Ottinger and Enid Sinclair.

The show follows her attempts to master her psychic abilities, navigate the mysteries of Nevermore, and solve a series of murders in the nearby town of Jericho.

The series is known for its gothic aesthetic and dark humour, with Wednesday's black and white wardrobe contrasting with the colourful world around her.

In the second season, Wednesday returns to Nevermore and while developing her psychic abilities she must face a new tormentor and prevent Enid's death.

The Addams family was also a movie released in 1991, with Anjelica Huston nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Morticia Addams.
Events promoting and recognising newcomers to the horticultural industry have come together as one for the first time.

Cultivate Your Career, an expo for secondary school students showcasing where a future in the fruit and vegetable sector could lead, was held alongside the annual Bay of Plenty Young Grower competition.

Its often a challenge to make young people aware of the sector, says New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc events and communications officer Sam Vicente-Moa, who coordinated the joint programme with Priority Ones vocational & pathways lead, Dan Bromley.

We want to change the perception that horticulture is simply a side subject, involving just seasonal picking, and showcase careers available across the sector, including science, engineering and business.

This was highlighted with Phoebe Scherer, a technical lab manager at kiwifruit and avocado harvester and processor Apata, taking out the Bay of Plenty Young Grower title.

The 29-year-old says the sector offers tremendous opportunity for personal and professional growth.



This years Cultivate Your Career expo attracted about 300 students from across the Western Bay of Plenty and as far as Hauraki Plains and Hamilton. Photo / Supplied

There is a lot of on-the-job training, but I have also been lucky enough to do a number of external courses too, such as the Value Chain Innovation programme with Rural Leaders, which really opened my eyes to how, as an industry, we create value.

Growing up in Tauranga, Phoebe gained a degree in biology and evolution at Auckland University before heading off on her OE.

On her return, she took a seasonal job counting kiwifruit with Fruition Horticulture while she applied for laboratory jobs.

I was finding I was either underqualified or overqualified for roles I applied for, she says. But then Fruition took a punt on me and offered me a fulltime job as an assistant consultant.

Wide Range

It was straight in at the deep end, and I loved it. The work involved so many things feasibility planning for horticulture development, orchard profitability analysis, soil assessment, irrigation scheduling and a whole range of other things.

Phoebe was promoted to become a horticultural consultant and worked with Fruition for six years until last year when she joined Apata.

The Young Grower competition is so important for the development of the next generation of horticulturalists and to get people inspired, she says.

For anyone thinking about a career step, Id say horticulture is not just about picking and packing. There are so many different roles in the sector and in supporting industries just come and give it a go.

NZKGI has run the regional young grower contest for 20 years, joining forces this year with Western Bay of Plenty economic development agency Priority One to organise Cultivate Your Career under the same roof at Mercury Baypark.

NZKGI has traditionally hosted the Bay of Plenty Young Grower competition, with Horticulture New Zealand running the national final in Christchurch in September.

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says the competitions play an important role in highlighting the wide variety of different career opportunities in the industry.

The competition involved a series of theoretical and practical challenges that tested each contestants technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, and physical skills.

Twin Events

It ran in tandem with Cultivate Your Career, which Sam says is part of NZKGIs and Priority Ones joint mission to attract, develop and inspire young people within the horticulture industry.

The event aims to showcase horticultural businesses and industry professionals to secondary school students, opening them to the range of opportunities available in the industry and the skills they will need to transition into horticulture employment.

This years event attracted about 300 students from across the Western Bay of Plenty and as far as Hauraki Plains and Hamilton.

Cultivate Your Career was more than a day out of school, says Dan Bromley. It was a chance to see where a future in horticulture could lead.

The event offered a mix of hands-on activities, practical demonstrations, and one-on-one conversations with people working in the sector.

Dan says for students in Years 10 and 11, it was a rare opportunity to ask questions, try things out for themselves, and start to picture what a job in this industry might look like.

It was all about helping students make clearer, more informed choices about their futures.

Many school staff commented on how surprised they were by the number of roles in science, technology, and engineering that connect back to horticulture.

Others noted how engaged their students were, with interactive exhibits helping them better understand the industry and its people.
Massive twists and turns amongst humour and cleverly-written lines is what Taurangas newest comedy-thriller oozes.

This month 16th Ave Theatre presents the New Zealand premiere of Accomplice, from August 15-30.

Director Ben Hambling said many wont know the man behind Accomplice  Rupert Holmes  is a Tony Award-winning playwright and British-American musician and producer.

If you know Escape, better known as the Pina Colada song  he wrote and performed that.

After opening on Broadway in April 1990, Accomplice had been performed in countries worldwide.

Hambling said it originally debuted on Broadway with Seinfelds Jason Alexander among the cast. Its been given so many rave reviews in America, said Hambling.

The New York Times said it was: A deliciously witty cocktail of a whodunit with a maniacally seamless plot where skullduggery emerges the winner! while USA Today called it: Part murder mystery, part sex farce and completely entertaining ... Suspenseful, charming and funny.

Hambling said his version of Accomplice would delight as well as devilishly surprise.

The two-act, four-scene play is set in a renovated moorland mill house in 1970s England, with four main characters played by Tauranga residents Natalie Wright, Shaun Micheal, Katherine Knight and Ben Cain.

I cant tell you anything more [on the plot] because that would give everything away but I can tell you theres lots of comedy and many twists and turns  The play moves along at quite a pace, so the audience will go from an oh my gosh! moment to being blindsided the next, said Hambling.

Another US review said: A wonderful mix of sex, lies and secrets  it will be murder getting tickets! So get your Tauranga show tickets today!

Tickets are adults $30, seniors with SuperGold card $27, plus booking fees at: www.iticket.co.nz/events/2025/aug/accomplice or phone 0508 iTICKET (0508 484 253).
Emma Thompson says she once got asked out by President Donald Trump. She said shed get back to him, but never did.

The Oscar-winning British actress spoke about the experience on Friday, Aug 9. at the Locarno Film Festival.

Sharing the anecdote with a crowd in Locarno, Switzerland, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Thompson explained that she was filming the 1998 movie Primary Colors when he reached out to her. I was in my trailer one day while we were making that movie, and the phone rang, and it was Donald Trump, Thompson said. I didnt know the number of the phone. No one had rung me on it before, and I said, Hello. Hi, this is Donald Trump here, and I thought it was a joke. And then I said, How can I help you?, thinking maybe he needed directions.

Trump responded: Id love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner.

Thompson said she told the future president: Well, thats very sweet. Thank you so much. Ill get back to you.

However, then she made a jarring realization about the timing of Trumps call. And then I realized that on that day, my divorce, my divorce decree, you know, the final papers of my divorce had come through, Thompson recalled.

And I thought I bet [Trumps] got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm, you know, a nice divorcee. Thats what he was looking for, and he found the number in my trailer. I mean, thats stalking!

Thompson never got back to The Apprentice alum, but reflected on what couldve happened had she said yes.

But I could have gone on a date with Donald Trump, and then I would have a story to tell. I could have changed the course of American history, she said.

At the time, Thompsons divorce to British actor and filmmaker Kenneth Branagh had just been finalized. The pair married in 1989 and separated in 1995.

Thompson, 66, married her current husband Greg Wise in 2003. They met while filming the 1995 movie Sense and Sensibility together. They share two children together, Gaia Wise, who they welcomed in 1999, and Tindyebwa Agaba Wise, a Rwandan orphan and former child soldier who they adopted in 2003
Brutus, N.Y.  A tractor trailer driver died and two people were seriously injured Thursday when the rig crossed the Thruway median in Cayuga County and hit a car, State Police said Saturday.

The driver of the car, a Syracuse man, was airlifted to a Syracuse hospital, troopers said.

Around 4:57 p.m. Thursday, Mark S. Shidler, 50, of Apple Creek, Ohio, was driving a tractor trailer west on I-90 in the town of Brutus when it crossed the median and guard rail into the eastbound lanes, according to a news release from State Police on Saturday.

The truck hit a 2022 Honda traveling east, causing the car to roll several times and trapping both occupants inside

The driver of the Honda, John S. Roosa, 24, of Syracuse, was flown by helicopter to Upstate University Hospital with serious injuries, troopers said. He was in critical condition, they said.

The passenger, Ashley G. Fay, 22, also of Syracuse, was taken by ambulance to the same hospital and later released, troopers said.

Shidler was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers said eastbound traffic was backed up for about five miles for three hours while crews investigated and cleared the crash. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
After starting the week at 20,000 combined acres, the Elk and Lee fires surpassed 100,000 on Friday.

Started by lightning earlier this week, the twin fires have drastically grown in size over the past several days, according to the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office on Facebook. Officials have attributed the growth to the fires interior being filled in, though crews have not yet reached any containment on either fire.

The Lee fire is estimated at nearly 89,000 acres and the Elk fire at over 14,500 Saturday morning, officials said Saturday.

Despite the continued growth, the office downgraded the town of Meekers evacuation status on Friday from pre-evacuation to ready, according to the office, a sign of improvement after the town was seemingly under direct threat from the Lee fire as it was spread to the northeast.

The Colorado Department of Corrections said it has begun evacuating 179 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center in response to the Lee Fire.

DOC said it is transferring all of the inmates to other state facilities outside the area affected by the fire.

Rifle Correctional Center staff have implemented the facilitys emergency evacuation plan, which DOC said ensures the safe transfer of inmates with enhanced security and strong coordination among partner agencies.

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The minimum-security facility encompasses nearly 100 acres and includes 24 buildings, according to DOC.

Many in the town of Meeker self-evacuated throughout the week as the Lee fire drew closer, officials told The Denver Gazette on Friday.

Earlier, the office had ordered an immediate evacuation of areas south of the Lee fire, in the direction of Garfield County and the town of Rifle, Friday afternoon, they said on Facebook.

Officials earlier in the week had attributed the fires growth to it filling in its interior rather than spreading out.

While growing slightly, the Elk fire remained about the same size on Friday as it had the days before, according to Watch Duty. Crews were able to begin reaching containment on the blaze southeast of Meeker Friday for the first time all week.

Officials created a new fire information Facebook page where they will be posting updates about the Elk and Lee fires. Those looking for up-to-date information on evacuation notices and road closures should go to the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office Facebook page, or sign up for emergency alerts at this link.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Christine Makhuli Cotton, a Syracuse native and Le Moyne College grad, wants to bring her grassroots non-profit movement home to Syracuse.

It all started in 2010 in North Carolina, when her son would come in after school asking for more lunches. She said she was confused. Was her son going hungry?

But he was asking that question for another classmate in need. She said it opened her eyes to the problem of food insecurity. She began researching, contacting social workers at her sons school district in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She wanted to do something about it.

When one of her local pantries needed more canned fish at the time, she asked her friends to keep those cans outside on their porch. She and a few helpers would then pick up the canned goods and deliver them to the pantry.

The simple ask of telling folks what to leave out, that we were going to come to pick them up, it just started this whole movement, she told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

Cotton, a Syracuse native, officially started Porch Communities, a nonprofit movement to keep those pantries stocked, a few years later in 2018. Since then, she said they have set up Porch chapters across 14 states.

The movement is simple, she said. Porch reaches out to local food banks and asks what is needed. That list will be shared with the local chapter, who can ask immediate neighbors to place the items on their front porches. A volunteer will then come through the neighborhood and pick up the donations once a month.

Cotton said that through this model, the organization has contributed $15 million in hunger relief across all those chapters.

Porch Communities recently started their million-dollar fundraising campaign, Cotton said, a self-described two-fold funding. One part, she said, would fund creating a central headquarters for their organization, and the other would be to help create movements in other places such as Syracuse.

Our tagline is a porch in every community, and I truly believe that, she said. Theres no reason every community cant do this.

Cotton doesnt have a concrete date for opening something in Syracuse, but said shes talking with local food pantries about getting up and running.

For more information on how to get involved with PORCH, Cotton said to reach out to her at christine@porchcommunities.org or to visit their website at www.porchcommunities.org.
Camillus, NY - It started out a fun thing to try for Andrea Abdel and her kids. They started making crepes at home, and the response from their friends and family convinced them they had a hit.

A few years later, Abdel rented space at a small shop in Camillus and sold her crepes. When the shop closed, she said her husband, Emad, encouraged her to find her own space.

She did that in a now-closed smoke shop at 4605 W. Genesee St. in Camillus. Thats where she is now.

House of Crepes opened Sunday in a cozy 800-square-foot space with room for three tables and window seating for a handful. Most business has been take-out, Abdel said.

Opening day was nonstop, and Abdel said she makes all the crepes and other desserts herself. Her son, Rani, helps her and she has another employee. Her daughter now lives in California.

Andrea Abel and her husband, Abdel. Provided photo

Her crepes, or thin pancakes, come with fillings including pistachio, Biscoff cream, Oreo, strawberry banana and more.

Of Palestinian and Brazilian descent, Abdel said she also makes Middle Eastern pastries, and some Italian as well. She makes her own pistachio butter and sells popular Dubai chocolate bars in flavors like salted caramel, milk chocolate and pistachio and kataifi, a shredded Middle Eastern dough.

She also sells smoothies and refreshers, including a mint lemonade.

The community has been very welcoming, and we have been busy,' she said.
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Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2 Thanked: 22 Times

Re: 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Facelift Review Review of my Tiguan :



I got my white Tiguan in April 2022. Ive covered 42,000 kms in the past 3.5 years.



The things I love about this car are the smooth and free-revving EA888 TSI engine, the silky-smooth DQ381 DSG gearbox, the noise isolation of the cabin and the overall premium feel of the faux-leather seats. The air conditioning works nicely to cool the cabin down even in the harsh summer. The compact size and light steering makes it easy to drive in city traffic. The headlights are very powerful and the beam turns with your steering wheel movements. Quite a useful feature, one that I didn't even know I wanted.



Wired CarPlay works flawlessly but the screen is a bit on the smaller side for navigation.



Overall the car puts a grin on my face every time I drive. I do some light off-roading as I am a hobbyist bird photographer. The AWD system inspires confidence though I have never noticed it turning on or off. It just does its job quietly in the background.



The negatives are: ride quality is harsh, the sound system is average (should have included a subwoofer at this price) and it takes only 95 octane petrol which is harder to find in smaller towns. The sunroof liner is almost see-through which feels cheap and lets in a lot more heat than necessary. I don't really care about a 360 degree camera or ventilated seats.



So far the experience has been 98% flawless. Once, the exhaust made a clanking sound. On inspection, I found a screw loose and the dealership tightened it. This happened 25,000 kms ago and the problem has not come back. Then at about 35,000 km I got a message about a fuel system fault. The dealership did some kind of software update and the problem is gone without any hardware repairs. Since day 1, I have filled only 95 octane petrol.



Other than these, I have not had any problems. The car is totally silent and does not make any suspension noise or metallic noise during gearshifts as some others on this forum have noticed with their own vehicles.



The car has held up very well over the past 3.5 years, there are no rattles or squeaks anywhere. The tyres are still the original Hankooks that came with the car. Even with 42,000 kms the tyres have plenty of tread left in them. Plus so far Ive had only 1 puncture. So Im planning to change all 4 tyres together at 50,000 kms with the exact same set of Hankooks, Im satisfied with them.



I get the car serviced every 8-10,000 kms even though VW recommends a service interval of 15,000 kms. And recently, at 41000 kms / 3 years I got a bigger service done including changing of DSG oil and 4Motion Haldex fluid. I dont want to wait till the 60,000 km mark.



Overall, my Tiguan is a great car and I hope to drive it till at least 120,000 kms before I will replace it. Attached Thumbnails




NiInJa Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pune Posts: 1,231 Thanked: 4,889 Times

Re: Emigrating to a Foreign Land! Quote: aayusht Originally Posted by I am seeing many cases of London based Indians wanting to move back or already moved back to India. Is the situation in London different from Scotland?



London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have deteriorated in the last few years. There are daylight robberies: bicycles getting lifted in front of security staff, shoplifting, phone snatching and any resistance is met by knife attacks, so people just let it happen. A lot of it has to do with migrants coming from poor countries along with some locals who are badly raised. As much as you want to, you simply don't want to mingle with them as they cannot be trusted. Walking alone at nights is too risky.



Shortage of workers has led to a problem of cleanliness. Except for some posh areas where most bollywood movie shoots happen, London is not the cleanest city. Healthcare too has been affected by staff shortage and in general is not worth mentioning now. The wait times for appointments in some areas is minimum of 10 days. So by the time you visit a doctor, you have already started recovering from your sickness. MRI or CT scans for certain injuries/unexplained discomfort etc will have waiting of few months!



You can get better treatment in good Indian hospitals or in Dubai. I have some personal experiences to share in detail, but to summarize, I will say this: Don't trust NHS blindly. Some of the staff are grossly incompetent, not in terms of their knowledge, but in terms of decision taking abilities and lack of multi-directional thinking. There is a structural problem in the way healthcare works here when compared to India.



Then, there is a problem of raising kids. As long as you are in a good neighbourhood where everyone share same somewhat similar values of upbringing, things are fine. Step outside of it, and you will have bad tempered teenagers who are a real threat to you and your kids. And by law, you cannot even touch them. So while they may threaten you with a knife or some blunt object, your best bet is to move away and call the cops, who cannot do much either. In Glasgow itself, there was a case of a teenager 'knifing' a police officer that I read about a month back.



There is a lot to write honestly, but you will get the drift. For a permanent relocation, two things need to be guaranteed:

1. Upbringing of your kids with good values

2. Feeling of being in a mental safe-space



The first one is definitely a problem in most parts of midlands now. The second part is slowly getting bad. I mean, you have fresh air to breathe, better roads and less dusty environments to live, but would that matter if you have to constantly think if the guy walking up to you has a knife under his hoodie ? or whether a bunch of teenagers will not throw a can of Coke on you just for fun or make some derogatory comments. Last year, when I was taking some pictures with my wife near Piccadilly circus, a bunch of men walked past us and indulged in cat-calling.



The good side of this is that there are some bubbles all over UK where Indians/Asians have built a good neighbourhood for themselves over decades, and while an entry requires paying top UKP for owning/renting a place there, it offers best of both worlds, but not many can afford to go there for various reasons. Based on my exposure here in the last 2 years, I feel Scotland is still a better place to live compared to England, but one has to be ready for lower average salary and harsh climate. The upside is less migrant population, although we fear the current Labour party will make that worse here as well due to their political inclination to favour them (vote-bank)London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have deteriorated in the last few years. There are daylight robberies: bicycles getting lifted in front of security staff, shoplifting, phone snatching and any resistance is met by knife attacks, so people just let it happen. A lot of it has to do with migrants coming from poor countries along with some locals who are badly raised. As much as you want to, you simply don't want to mingle with them as they cannot be trusted. Walking alone at nights is too risky.Shortage of workers has led to a problem of cleanliness. Except for some posh areas where most bollywood movie shoots happen, London is not the cleanest city. Healthcare too has been affected by staff shortage and in general is not worth mentioning now. The wait times for appointments in some areas is minimum of 10 days. So by the time you visit a doctor, you have already started recovering from your sickness. MRI or CT scans for certain injuries/unexplained discomfort etc will have waiting of few months!You can get better treatment in good Indian hospitals or in Dubai. I have some personal experiences to share in detail, but to summarize, I will say this: Don't trust NHS blindly. Some of the staff are grossly incompetent, not in terms of their knowledge, but in terms of decision taking abilities and lack of multi-directional thinking. There is a structural problem in the way healthcare works here when compared to India.Then, there is a problem of raising kids. As long as you are in a good neighbourhood where everyone share same somewhat similar values of upbringing, things are fine. Step outside of it, and you will have bad tempered teenagers who are a real threat to you and your kids. And by law, you cannot even touch them. So while they may threaten you with a knife or some blunt object, your best bet is to move away and call the cops, who cannot do much either. In Glasgow itself, there was a case of a teenager 'knifing' a police officer that I read about a month back.There is a lot to write honestly, but you will get the drift. For a permanent relocation, two things need to be guaranteed:1. Upbringing of your kids with good values2. Feeling of being in a mental safe-spaceThe first one is definitely a problem in most parts of midlands now. The second part is slowly getting bad. I mean, you have fresh air to breathe, better roads and less dusty environments to live, but would that matter if you have to constantly think if the guy walking up to you has a knife under his hoodie ? or whether a bunch of teenagers will not throw a can of Coke on you just for fun or make some derogatory comments. Last year, when I was taking some pictures with my wife near Piccadilly circus, a bunch of men walked past us and indulged in cat-calling.The good side of this is that there are some bubbles all over UK where Indians/Asians have built a good neighbourhood for themselves over decades, and while an entry requires paying top UKP for owning/renting a place there, it offers best of both worlds, but not many can afford to go there for various reasons.
A Colorado Springs business has suffered a "significant" amount of property damage after a car crashed into the storefront Friday night, police said.

The Colorado Springs Police Department responded to the crash around 8:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Cheyenne Meadows Road, near South Nevada Avenue, according to a police blotter entry. The vehicle was reportedly jammed into the business.

The business, Broadmoor Nails & Spa, was closed at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported, and no arrest was made. Police said they do not suspect that the driver was under the influence.

Quyen Nguyen, the store's owner, said he was at home when he got a call that a car had crashed into his spa. He quickly rushed over to check the damages.

"Police told me that an (older) gentleman was trying to reverse but accidentally went forward instead," Nguyen said. "It's completely destroyed. We lost everything."

Nguyen is estimating it will take at least three weeks before the business is fully repaired.

Video footage seen by The Gazette shows the driver of the vehicle reversing out of the business as he's guided by Colorado Springs police officers.

"Luckily, the gentleman is OK," Nguyen said.
Brazil's Lula vetoes parts of environmental 'devastation bill'



Brasilia, Aug 8 (AFP) Aug 08, 2025



Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday vetoed some provisions of a bill that would have made it easier for companies to secure environmental permits, bowing to pressure from activist groups.

Dubbed the "devastation bill" by its detractors, the text recently adopted by lawmakers would have loosened environmental licensing laws for projects considered "strategic" by the state.

For some permits, all that would have been required is a simple declaration of the company's environmental commitment.

Lula instead reinstated the current strict licensing rules for strategic projects, such as a controversial oil mega-project at the mouth of the Amazon river, but set a one-year deadline for them to be approved or rejected.

His veto also ensures that several Indigenous territories and the Atlantic Forest, which stretches along the east coast, will continue to enjoy special protection, Environment Minister Marina Silva told reporters.

SOS Atlantic Forest, a non-governmental organization that had garnered over a million signatures calling for a veto of the law, hailed Lula's decision as "a victory" for environmental protection.

Greenpeace also praised the leftist president's action on the issue.

But the executive coordinator of APIB, Brazil's largest Indigenous rights group, told AFP he was disappointed that the president had not struck down the entire bill.

Lula's veto must now be ratified by Congress, which is dominated by conservatives.

Lula's environmental credentials are under close scrutiny in the run-up to the annual UN climate summit, which he will host in November in the Amazon city of Belem.

While seeking to take a leadership role on climate change on the global stage, Lula has faced criticism at home for backing drilling in the Equatorial Margin, along the country's northern coast.

He argues that the revenue from the oil field is necessary to finance Brazil's energy transition.

Silva said Lula's objective was to ensure that "the economy does not compete with ecology, but rather they are part of the same equation."

jss/rsr/cb/sst
Greeks count cost of wildfire 'tragedy' near Athens



Palaia Fokaia, Greece, Aug 9 (AFP) Aug 09, 2025



In the municipality of Palaia Fokaia, an hour's drive south of Athens, a typical bucolic Greek landscape of olive groves and hamlets was transformed by a raging Friday wildfire into a dystopia of blackened land and incinerated homes.

A howling wind ripped through the settlement on Saturday, spread dust and the bitter smell of ash coming from the surrounding hills, where fires and smouldering embers continued to burn.

The ground shuddered as low-flying helicopters and water bombers weaved through the steep terrain to release water onto the remaining blazes and retrieve sea water.

Hours earlier, over 200 firefighters had battled to keep the fire that erupted in the rural region of Keratea, some 43 kilometres (27 miles) southeast of Athens, from threatening the coastal resorts dotting the coast of Attica.

At one gutted home -- its caved-in roof nothing more than a tangle of warped metal -- mask-wearing residents returned to retrieve whatever belongings survived the inferno.

A despondent woman named Dimitria was more fortunate: the flames spared her home but razed the nearest forest, leaving it a desolate terrain of roasted trees and ash.

"From yesterday night, there were very few reinforcements from the fire brigade," she lamented, describing how help arrived after the advancing fire threatened "many houses" near the forest.

"My house is OK, but my forest is burned. And that is the pity," she said with a trembling voice, her eyes welling up as she left to survey the damage.

Firefighters with hoses combed through a copse of trees to douse any embers and prevent reactivations, scorched twigs and debris crunching under their boots.



- 'We knew it was dangerous' -



Observing them from his unscathed house was a relieved Kostas Triadis.

Despite the damage dealt to the landscape, he hailed the work of firemen and volunteers, "otherwise it would be very bad."

"It is regenerated by itself, I hope it will be the natural future," the 75-year-old added, referring to the devastated vegetation.

"It is a very good, small forest, we always knew it was dangerous."

His wife Eleni, 71, added that "everybody did their utmost to save the area, but the real tragedy is that the forest is lost. It was very old."

But she pointed to the many trees that were relatively unharmed because the fire burned itself out quickly in the short grass that residents had cut in June.

"It's a tragedy, it's the first time the fire has come here," she said of the area, where the couple spend the summer months away from their Athens residence.

A short distance away on the coast, the contrast could not be starker: beachgoers ambled on the sand and swam in the shimmering Mediterranean on a seemingly normal balmy summer morning.

But the signs of the emergency were unmistakeable as beachside diners were greeted with the spectacle of water bombers skimming the water to refill and return to the raging fires.
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A couple who were included in Raynor Winns now-disputed memoir The Salt Path have claimed that their encounter with the author and her husband doesnt add up.

Joanne and David Parsons, who are mentioned in the bestselling 2018 book, are alleged to have met Raynor and Moth Winn at a cafe on the South West Coast Path and introduced themselves using their real names, Sally and Timothy.

The two couples, who had bonded for an hour in the Fat Apples Cafe, near Porthallow in Cornwall, after sharing their health issues, were both said to be embarking on the 630-mile hike from Somerset to Dorset.

However, after reading about their chance meeting with the Winns, the Parsons, who are from Australia, found several discrepancies.

Not only had Raynor Winn described the Parsons as well off, but she also claimed that they used B&Bs when the weather turned bad and had given away their tent. Winn also claimed that they had met in 2013. The Parsons dispute this, saying that they had met in 2015.

Speaking to The Observer, Joanne Parsons said that she contacted Raynor Winn after reading an article about The Salt Path in 2018.

open image in gallery Raynor Winns memoir has been hit with several discrepancies ( Getty Images )

Joanne says she wrote in an email: When we saw the picture of you both in the article, we kept looking at each other saying: Thats Sally and Tim! But it cant be as you would have told us you were homeless and you said you were walking the other way! And why did you give yourselves false names? Or did you reinvent yourselves while on the path? Would love to know.

She said that she also questioned Winn about her husbands illness and why she wrote that they had ditched their tent at a charity shop. We worked out we were happier wild camping and only went to B&Bs when the weather was really bad, she added.

In response to the Parsons claims, Winn is said to have written that although she and Moth had walked the Salt Path in 2013, they then walked part of it again in 2015, which is when they met Joanne and David.

Explaining the date change, she reportedly wrote: We didnt explain any of that [in the book], as it all just seemed too complicated. She also apologised for misremembering the story about the tent.

Joanne told The Observer: We had a very good encounter with them. And thats why all this is quite disappointing.

The Independent has contacted Winns representatives for comment.

open image in gallery Raynor and Moth Winn with Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs at a London screening of the film adaptation of The Salt Path ( Getty Images )

Last month, The Observer published an investigation that raised several doubts about the truth behind Winns story. It was claimed that large portions of the book could have been embellished, as well as that the central premise of hardship and betrayal could have been built on a fiction of its own.

The investigation claimed that the book misrepresented how the couple lost their home, which, according to Winn, was due to a bad business investment.

However, The Observer reported that the couple lost the property after Winn allegedly defrauded her employer of 64,000 in 2008, which she apparently attempted to repay by taking out a loan from a relative.

In a statement provided to The Independent, Winn said at the time: [The] Observer article is highly misleading. We are taking legal advice and wont be making any further comments at this time.

The Salt Path lays bare the physical and spiritual journey Moth and I shared, an experience that transformed us completely and altered the course of our lives. This is the true story of our journey.
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An investigation has been launched into reports that up to 200 people were able to sneak into Oasiss concerts at Wembley Stadium without tickets.

The Britpop legends played the London venue five times between 25 July and 3 August as part of their ongoing 2025 reunion tour, with a further two shows scheduled for September.

Tickets sold out in hours when they went on sale last year, after brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher announced that they were reuniting for the first time since their infamous split in 2009.

Unprecedented demand was met with a surge in ticket prices and a row over Ticketmasters so-called dynamic pricing, which the company denied using.

It has now been reported that some people paid 350 each to be smuggled into Wembley through a disabled entrance across the five gigs, allegedly using copies of the same ticket to get through security.

The Sun reports that those people were handed wristbands by members of security that gave them access to the VIP area in front of the stage.

open image in gallery Liam Gallagher performing during one of Oasiss reunion shows ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images )

One fan claimed: We were given our tickets, which were all the same, and a woman drew a shape on our hands. We were told to go to the disabled door at entrance M, even though our tickets said entrance F.

We showed our stamped hands to the person on the door, they scanned the tickets, even though we all had the same one, and let us in.

Another member of staff apparently then handed them a golden circle wristband and that was it. There were zero security searches. We just walked straight in.

Sky News reports that six people were arrested for suspected unauthorised entry during the shows, while 24 were ejected from the venue on the same grounds.

A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said in a statement: Entering Wembley Stadium without a ticket is a serious offence and we are investigating these allegations.

If they are substantiated, we will refer our evidence to the police.

The Independent has contacted Wembley Stadium and Oasiss representatives for comment.

open image in gallery Oasis fans on Wembley Way, ahead of the first night of the Oasis Live 25 tour opening at Wembley Stadium in London ( PA Wire )

Oasis are currently in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they will play two further shows tonight (Saturday 9 August) and Tuesday (11 August), after their first gig at Murrayfield Stadium on Friday.

They will then perform at Dublins Croke Park before heading to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later this year.

On Friday night, Liam Gallagher hit out at the City of Edinburgh council over a report that predicted fans would be rowdy and intoxicated during their shows at Murrayfield.

Speaking in front of around 70,000 fans, Liam branded the council a bunch of snakes and said his band were still waiting for our apology.

Meanwhile, The Independent reported this week on outrageous price hikes for hotels and accommodation as the bands shows clash with the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

The Independent found prices approaching 4,000 for accommodation. With 92 per cent of hotels and lodgings sold out on sites including Booking.com, Expedia listed one 12-bedroom house at 8,009  the cost falling by almost half a month later. Meanwhile, one luxury hotel was charging 3,599 for a suite, with more affordable options no longer available.
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The controversial new series of MasterChef, featuring fired hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, lost almost one million viewers compared with last years launch.

There appeared to be fewer jokes from Wallace and Torode in the first episode, which the BBC decided to air earlier this week following upheld allegations against the presenting duo.

However, the BBC has revealed that the headlines have had an impact, as the launch show was watched by just 1.96 million, as opposed to the 2.73 million who watched last years debut episode. The fact that this series launched in August, rather than in the usual April slot, may also have affected viewing figures.

This is considerably down from the series' peak, which was 6.4 million viewers for the 2014 finale.

It raises questions about the future of the long-running cookery show, which already has a celebrity series in the can, presented by Torode and Grace Dent, as well as two Christmas specials.

Fans of MasterChef, which was revamped in 2005, have been left conflicted over the new series, with many feeling uncomfortable about watching Wallace and Torode following the misconduct allegations against them.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast that she certainly wont be watching this series.

The BBC said the decision to air the 2025 series of MasterChef, which started filming before allegations surfaced against Wallace and Torode, had not been an easy one.

In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters, a spokesperson for the corporation said.

open image in gallery Fired hosts John Torode and Gregg Wallace on the new series of MasterChef ( BBC )

We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC.

However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series.

Six amateur chefs feature in the first heat, and a message on the BBC media centre, alongside interviews with the contestants, states: Please note this information is accurate at the time of filming, certain aspects may have since changed but this represents the contributors as the competition starts.

It comes after one of the contestants, Sarah Shafi, agreed to be edited out of the series after objecting to it being broadcast.

During an interview with The Guardian, the 57-year-old explained that, during a heated conversation with a producer, she was urged to think about the life-changing opportunity the show provided to some contestants.

open image in gallery Masterchef star Gregg Wallace has been fired from the BBC cookery show ( BBC )

In November 2024, it was announced that Wallace had stepped away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. He was replaced towards the end of the latest series by Irish chef Anna Haugh.

In July, a statement from Banijay UK and the BBC said they had agreed that Mr Wallaces return to MasterChef is untenable.

This came after a review, published by the legal firm Lewis Silkin, upheld 45 of 83 allegations against the chef, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact.

Wallace issued an apology saying he was deeply sorry for any distress caused and that he never set out to harm or humiliate.

Meanwhile, one allegation of racist language was upheld against Torode, who said he had no recollection of the incident and was shocked and saddened by the claim.

open image in gallery John Torode has been dropped from MasterChef after one upheld allegation ( BBC )

The first three episodes of the new series of MasterChef are available to stream on iPlayer. Episodes air on BBC One from Wednesday to Friday each week.
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Gavin and Stacey actor Alison Steadman has recalled the ridiculous moment she was asked about falling off a camel when she injured her foot in Dubai.

Steadman, best known for playing Gavins mother Pam Shipman in the beloved BBC sitcom, suffered the incident six months while promoting her memoir Out of Character.

While she was in Dubai, Steadman explains that she managed to slip on a desert walkway and subsequently broke her metatarsal bone.

Speaking to The Times, the actor explained that she was left sitting on the sand sobbing in agony. When being attended by a paramedic, she was bizarrely asked how she had fallen of the camel.

I said, what? I havent even seen a camel, exclaimed Steadman.

She assumed that an elderly British womans broken her foot in the desert, the 78-year-old added. Well, she must have fallen off a camel. It was just ridiculous.

open image in gallery Alison Steadman in Gavin and Stacey ( BBC )

Steadman is now reportedly back on her feet following the injury.

Steadman, whose other roles include her work with director Mike Leigh, such as Abigails Party and Life is Sweet, is currently promoting the new season of Here We Go.

The BBC sitcom, set in Befford, focuses on the often chaotic life of the Jessop family. The acclaimed show stars Jim Horwick, Katherine Parkinson, as well as writer and creator Tom Basden.

open image in gallery Steadman (right) with the cast of 'Here We Go' ( BBC )

Steadman plays Granny Sue in the show, who often greets anyone who turns up at the front door with a variety of desserts.

Speaking with The Independent last month, Basden said that his own mother is a character of a similar nature to Granny Sue.

Shell just produce a roast chicken dinner and put it in front of someone, he says. Shes incredibly giving, but in a way that can be quite absurd.

Basden, meanwhile, plays Uncle Robin, a man who is obsessed with investing his time in whatever the hot new trend is. According to Basden, this is a riff on his own brother.

Around the age of 17, he had a very similar energy to Robin, he explains. So I wanted to write about that person in the family whos always reinventing themselves, and everyone being very accommodating, but sort of knowing its probably a mistake.
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A popular ice cream brand has recalled one of its flavors due to a packaging error.

DFA Dairy Brands, LLC issued a recall on 324 cartons of Friendlys 48 fluid-ounce Cookies & Cream ice cream, according to a report shared Wednesday by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall was issued after it was discovered that the product was packaged in the Vanilla Bean flavor carton with a Cookies & Cream lid.

The Vanilla Bean flavor does not have soy or wheat listed as ingredients, which may pose a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction to anyone with a food sensitivity or allergy.

Affected ice cream cartons have a best-by date of November 26, 2025, and were sold at stores across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

No illnesses have been reported.

open image in gallery The ice cream was sold in stores across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania ( FDA )

Customers who have bought the recalled ice cream are able to return the carton to the place of purchase in exchange for a full refund.

Friendlys ice cream isnt the first frozen treat to be recalled in the U.S. this summer. Last month, Rich Ice Cream Co. recalled more than 110,292 cases of various ice cream bars, according to a report shared July 17 by the FDA. The recall was issued because the products may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a disease-causing bacteria.

open image in gallery 324 cartons of the ice cream were found to be mispackaged ( Getty Images )

The Rich Ice Cream products affected by the recall include Chocolate Crunch Cake Bars, Strawberry Shortcake Bars, Rich Bars, Crumbled Cookie Bars, Orange Cream Bars, Fudge Frenzy Bars, Cotton Candy Twirl Bars, Savagely Sour Blue Raspberry Bars, Savagely Sour Cherry Bars, and Cool Watermelon Bars. Potentially contaminated packages contain lot number 24351 through lot number 25156.

Affected ice cream bars were sold in 23 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. They were also sold in a popular foreign summer vacation spot: Nassau, Bahamas.

The recall has also been classified as Class II, which is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences, according to the FDA. Consumers are urged not to eat these ice cream bars and to throw them away immediately.

As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria is a bacteria that can contaminate many foods, with infections caused by eating food with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Although symptoms can vary, a listeria infection can cause invasive illness and intestinal illness.

Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., killing roughly 260 people per year.
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The gunman who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus and Emory University on Friday was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, his father reportedly told police.

Police say 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White opened fire from a CVS on Friday afternoon, striking several CDC buildings across the street and leaving bullet holes in windows. A DeKalb County police officer was killed in the shooting, and White was found dead at the scene.

Whites father told police his son believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him suicidal, the Associated Press reports. Whites neighbor also said the 30-year-old often discussed anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

No civilians were hurt, officials confirmed.

Heres what we know about the suspected gunman and how Fridays shooting unfolded:

open image in gallery Windows on a CDC building pockmarked by bullet holes. The gunman struck at least four CDC buildings and killed a DeKalb County police officer, officials said ( REUTERS )

Police identify the suspected shooter

Police identified White as the shooter on Saturday morning. The 30-year-old lived with his parents in Kennesaw, Georgia, a suburb about 30 miles from the CDC campus in Atlanta.

The suspected gunman was found dead on the second floor of the CVS, though officials dont know whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.

What was the gunmans motive?

Officials have yet to confirm Whites motive. However, CDC Chief Operating Officer Christa Capozzola told agency staff that the shooting was a targeted attack on C.D.C. related to Covid, according to an email reviewed by The New York Times.

Whites father told police his son believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal, the Associated Press reports. White had become fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine and was also upset about the recent death of his dog, his father revealed.

Whites neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told The New York Times that he was unsettled and would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Hoalst noted she never thought he would take it out on other people.

He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people, Hoalst said.

Law enforcement officials told CNN on Friday they are working with the theory that White targeted the CDC because he believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him sick.

open image in gallery Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the CDC campus and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The suspected gunman is dead after officials say he killed a DeKalb County police officer ( Georgia Bureau of Investigation )

Officer killed in the line of duty

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed in the shooting after working in the role for nearly a year. He was a 33-year-old married father of two children, with a third on the way.

Rose was fatally shot after the gunman turned his aim away from the CDC campus and toward the officer, a law enforcement official told CNN. Rose later died at Emory University Hospital.

Officer Rose served DeKalb County with courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication, the DeKalb County Police Department said in a tribute.

Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community.

open image in gallery DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed in the shooting. He was a married father of two, with a third on the way ( DeKalb County Police Department )

Several CDC buildings hit by gunfire

Police say the gunman opened fire from inside a CVS across the street from the CDC campus on Friday afternoon. Before driving to the CVS, White tried to enter the CDC campus but was turned away by guards, the AP reports.

The gunman struck at least four buildings on the health agencys campus, CDC Director Susan Monarez said. No civilians were injured. White was armed with five guns, including one long gun, a law enforcement official told the AP.

CDC employees told CNN that bullets broke through the windows and flew past cubicles.

Its a miracle no one was killed here, one employee said.

open image in gallery Officers respond to the shooting near the CDC campus, where four buildings were struck ( Getty Images )

There were also 92 children in a daycare on the CDC campus during the shooting. A mother whose child was at the daycare told CBS News, "I'm also a bit angry that at a year and a half, he would have to experience something like this.

Its anxiety-inducing, its very scary, she added.

Employees at a nearby deli, General Muirs, also reported hearing gunshots, according to the Associated Press. Brandy Giraldo, the delis chief operating officer, said it sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other.

The gunfire sent the nearby Emory University campus into lockdown, along with the CDC, Emory University Hospital and other nearby schools and daycares.

Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT, campus officials wrote in a statement. Avoid the area. Continue shelter in place. Police on scene.

open image in gallery Windows on a CDC building pockmarked by bullet holes. The gunman struck at least four CDC buildings ( REUTERS )

What have officials said about the shooting?

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson told reporters Friday was a very dark day for the community and for Roses family.

This evening there is a wife without a husband, Cochran-Johnson said of Rose. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.

Several Georgia lawmakers, including Senator Raphael Warnock and Representative Mike Collins, acknowledged the shooting and sent prayers to those impacted. FBI Director Kash Patel also commented on the shooting.

Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, Patel wrote on X. The FBI will offer them our full support.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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At 2:54 a.m. on November 13, 2022, Bryan Kohbergers phone went dark.

The battery hadnt died, and it wasnt randomly powered off  it was silenced with precision. WiFi and cellular data were disabled. No location tracking on. And no background activity. A deliberate blackout during the exact window prosecutors say four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered at their off-campus home.

Two hours later, at 4:48 a.m., the phone turned back on. It would be months before investigators fully understood what that gap in activity meant.

But to the digital forensic experts tasked by prosecutors with retracing Kohbergers steps for evidence to be used against him in his trial, the silence spoke volumes.

What we learned is, he prepared, Heather Barnhart, Senior Director of Forensic Research at Cellebrite, told The Independent.

open image in gallery The Cellebrite team were able to recover details from Kohbergers digital history, including this selfie he took hours after the murders in 2022 ( Latah County Prosecutors Office )

Barnhart and her colleague Jared Barnhart, Head of CX Strategy and Advocacy at Cellebrite, also a digital forensics expert on the case, were slated to testify at Kohbergers trial before he unexpectedly accepted a plea deal, admitting to the November 2022 quadruple murders and receiving life without parole in July.

Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, who were found stabbed to death on November 13, 2022, in the small town of Moscow, Idaho.

Digital silence  a red flag?

Now, as more details began to trickle out through previously sealed police reports and court documents, the team is revealing to The Independent what they learned about the killer through his digital footprint.

The Cellebrite team had uncovered files scrubbed from devices, searches routed through VPNs, and deep downloads about serial killers  all of which, they say, painted a chilling picture of obsession and planning.

While DNA from the knife sheath ultimately tied Kohberger to the crime scene, it was the voids in his otherwise trackable life that revealed how the killings were premeditated, the experts say.

Forensic analysis revealed that Kohbergers phone had only four periods of total inactivity, dating back to June 2022. One of those silent moments occurred on the night of the murders.

He didnt just lose signal or run out of battery, Jared explained. This was an actual button press, power off, on purpose, and then a power back two hours later. And in the middle of that, four people were killed.

open image in gallery Bryan Kohberger powered off his phone during the time of the murders ( Getty Images )

Kohberger was no stranger to killings  in theory

As a criminology PhD student at Washington State University, Kohberger had long been immersed in the study of crime. But according to the digital forensics team, his interest crossed a line, from academic to obsessive.

He didnt just Google these cases, Heather said. He downloaded full PDFs of case files. Not once, but repeatedly. He was downloading detailed reports on serial killers, including Danny Rolling, who also murdered college students using a similar knife.

This wasnt casual browsing. This was meticulous research, she added.

To determine exactly what happened during that two-hour window on the night of the murders, the Cellebrite team re-created the digital environment and studied call logs.

Turning off your phone isnt enough, Heather said. You have to disable Wi-Fi, disable cellular, then power down. And thats what he did.

They discovered that in the days right before and right after the murders, Kohberger disabled WiFi access on his devices and routed his traffic through NordVPN, a tool designed to anonymize online activity.

While the act is not criminal, it is abnormal, Jared noted.

He was diligent in prep and cleanup and he made our job really hard, Jared said. This is someone who tried really hard to not be detected.

His phone had joined the WiFi at the restaurant two of the victims worked at

But Kohberger failed to do a full cleanup of his phone.

Details of what the team found  including scrubbed files, private browsing, VPN activity, and obsessive downloads about other serial killers  were found hidden deep in his phone, not in a visible gallery or standard folder, but in buried file directories that required forensic tools to uncover. He had also downloaded reports on the Idaho murders and extensive searches of his victims.

open image in gallery Four University of Idaho students were killed in 2022 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The team pointed out that despite law enforcements hard work, there was a period of time from the time that the crime happened until identifying an arrest, the phone seizure and then the phone extraction, so some of the best information was most likely wiped.

But with time and attention, we were able to paint a picture of what he did on this night, Jared added. Even though some of the best stuff wasnt there. He certainly didnt cover all his tracks. 

Kohbergers digital footprint also included a passive log of WiFi networks his phone sought out. On the night of the murders, before he phone was turned off, his phone was searching for WiFi signal  and he wasnt at home, Jared said.

And while motive and any connection between Kohberger and the victims remains completely unknown, to the frustration of the victims families, there is some digital evidence that showed Kohberger may have encountered at least one of the victims previously at their workplace.

Madison Mogen and Xana Kernodle worked at local restaurant The Mad Greek as servers before Kohberger murdered them. After the killings, a fellow employee said they remembered Kohberger visiting it twice and eating vegan pizza.

So one WiFi log caught Heathers attention when she was searching his digital footprint: the network name for The Mad Greek. Though nothing concrete tied him to the location at the time of the murders, the WiFi log suggested he had been there before, possibly more than once.

There it was, Heather confirmed. His device had passively logged that network.

No smoking gun

Unlike the DNA on the knife sheath found at the scene, the digital evidence didnt deliver one big aha moment, the team said. Instead, it emerged slowly, through fractured call logs, gaps in data, and strange behavioral shifts.

There wasnt a single smoking gun, Jared said. But we found that the digital evidence told the story of preparation.

DNA can tell you who did it, he added. But the digital evidence showed us intent. And thats what we were going to testify to.

open image in gallery The team found another photo of Bryan Kohberger after the murders ( Dateline )

Heather emphasized that proving intent required building a baseline of normal digital behavior  and then watching how it drastically changed leading up to the crime.

If you can prove normal behavior, and then go: Whoathis is completely abnormal, and that moment aligns with the crime well, thats not an accident.

And thats what the periods of silence showed.

His relationship with Mother

While much of Kohbergers activity pointed to calculated isolation, one relationship remained steady  his connection to his parents.

Starting at 6:13 a.m. the morning after the murders, hes calling and texting his mom and dad nonstop, Heather said. It was incessant. But it was also one of the only things he did that matched his normal behavior.

Even in the weeks leading up to the killings, Kohbergers digital communications showed few signs of friends or peer connections. Jared recalled seeing only one other contact  a classmate, briefly engaged in a group chat. All other correspondence was to who Kohberger called mother, father, and sister.

The moment we started to look at the messaging, it made me think of Bates Motel, Jared said, referencing the horror movie Psycho. I mean, it was like mother, and the label mother the constant contact with his mom. It was wild.

open image in gallery Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were killed on November 13, 2022 ( Instagram )

On December 29, a day before his arrest, Kohberger began calling and texting his parents obsessively, just as he had on the morning of the murders. If his mom didnt answer, hed call his dad, they said.

That same day, Kohberger searched terms like paranoid psychopath and wiretapping.

It was obviously weighing on him, Heather noted.

The contact with his mother continued after his arrest with inmates at Ada County Jail reporting that he while he was locked up waiting to hear his fate, he spent hours on the phone with his mother.

Described by other prisoners as a f****** weirdo, inmates said he would wash his hands dozens of times each day and would spend 45 minutes to an hour in the shower, court documents stated.

Kohbergers mother and sister were present during his sentencing . At one point during the victim impact statements his mother broke down in tears.

The only time Kohberger spoke at the hearing was to respectfully decline the opportunity to address the court or reveal why he committed the gruesome crimes.

We didnt find the why  but we found the how

Despite their exhaustive efforts, the forensic team never found a true why.

We didnt find the why, Heather admitted. We wanted to, for the families. And that was frustrating. But we found the how.

And the how, they say, suggests it wasnt spontaneous.

This wasnt someone who just snapped, Heather added. This was someone who planned. He didnt accidentally stumble into this house and commit this heinous crime. It was intentional.
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Two men have been arrested after the body of a pregnant woman was found wrapped inside a plastic tote, police say.

The gruesome discovery was made by people walking along the roadway last Sunday night in Jackson Township, Ohio, near Cleveland, according to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office.

The body was later identified as Brittany Fuhr-Storms, 28. An autopsy revealed she was pregnant when she died, and her unborn child did not survive.

A narcotics search warrant was executed on Wednesday for the home of James Rothenbusch, who later admitted to police, Brittany died in his home under suspicious circumstances, the sheriffs office said.

open image in gallery James Rothenbusch was arrested after a pregnant woman was found dead in a plastic tote, police say ( Montgomery County Sheriff's Office )

open image in gallery Rick Sheppard was also arrested in connection to the woman's death, and reportedly admitted she was left to decay for days before she was disposed of ( Montgomery County Sheriff's Office )

Police detained Rothenbusch at his home, where narcotics and other drug paraphernalia were found, as well as items related to the death investigation, according to authorities.

During the police interview, Rothenbusch also admitted to drug trafficking and to keeping Brittanys body in his home for about four days before it was disposed of, the sheriffs office said.

Another man, Rick Sheppard, also reportedly admitted Brittany died in the home and her body stayed there for nearly a week.

Both men admitted they were aware Brittany was pregnant, according to police.

They have both been charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

Additionally, Rothenbusch has been charged with corrupting another with drugs, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, failure to report crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Not even branding a burger with the name Trump could protect a Texas restaurant chain owner who the feds say has overstayed his visa amid ICEs mass deportation push.

Roland Mehrez Beainy, the restaurateur who co-owns the chain of Trump Burger restaurants, is facing ouster from the United States for allegedly overstaying his visa after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 28-year-old Lebanese national arrived in the United States in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa, which required him to leave by February 12, 2024, the feds say. He allegedly failed to comply and was arrested by ICE on May 16. He was released on bond on June 13 pending court proceedings.

Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States, an ICE spokesperson told The Hill.

Under the current administration, ICE is committed to restore integrity to our nations immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission, the spokesperson said. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have.

open image in gallery The Trump Burger restaurant started in Bellville, Texas ( AFP/Getty )

ICE and the Department of Homeland Security allege that Beainy attempted to get a legal immigration status through a sham marriage. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked the petition after discovering no evidence of cohabitation, and even admissions from the petitioners family, suggesting the marriage was fraudulent.

Newsweek reported that a woman who said she was Beainys wife sought legal status for him, but USCIS found no proof they were married.

DHS officials said enforcement applies regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have  even if you are a booster of President Donald Trump.

Beainy has denied the majority of the allegations, telling the Chon that "90 percent of the s--- theyre saying is not true," though he declined further comment, citing advice from his attorney.

open image in gallery Trump Burger offers menu options including the Trump Tower burger and the Melania Crispy Chicken ( AFP via Getty Images )

Complete with its Instagram-worthy Trump-branded burger buns, satirical menu items, and even Trump impersonators questioning patrons, Trump Burger opened its third restaurant in the Houston area in April.

A fourth franchise opened in Bay City this summer, just weeks after the owners arrest, due to hand demand, accrording to reports.

Beainy has an immigration court hearing set for November 18, which will determine his fate within the US legal system.
Stitch By Stitch: Assyrian Costumes Weave Centuries of Identity

In a sunlit room in Erbil, 72-year-old Marina Shamuel threads golden patterns into deep blue fabric, repeating stitches her mother and grandmother taught her decades ago.

"Each dress tells a story," she says, her hands moving with the confidence of a lifetime. That story is woven into the Assyrian Tiari costume--an enduring emblem of heritage for the Tiari tribe of the Hakkari mountains in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkiye. More than traditional clothing, it is a visual record of identity, worn for centuries at weddings, religious festivals, and cultural gatherings.

Men's attire typically includes a wool cap or turban, sometimes topped with a feather once reserved for warriors and leaders, paired with a dark cotton or wool shirt, embroidered jacket, and loose trousers fastened with a wide belt. Women wear long, brightly embroidered dresses with headscarves, often in vivid colors that showcase meticulous craftsmanship.

"The feather is not decoration--it's a symbol of history and pride," Assyrian scholar Rudy al-Qasrani told Shafaq News, noting its origins from wild birds like eagles or peacocks. While once a mark of bravery and rank, it now serves as a unifying symbol for all Assyrians.

Younger generations are also reclaiming the tradition. "Every stitch carries a memory and a hope," says Erbil craftswoman Jacqueline Mansour. Sandra Shamoun, from Shaqlawa, says wearing the costume makes her "feel connected to the authenticity of our ancestors."

In Duhok, shop owner Polos Johnson says young Assyrians abroad are buying the garments to reconnect with their roots. Heritage advocate Sarah al-Ashouri notes the challenge of passing on the tradition in a digital age but believes awareness is growing.

Researcher Sarkon Jamal says the costume's endurance speaks for itself. "This clothing teaches respect for history and strengthens bonds between generations. Every stitch and feather revives the Assyrian spirit."
Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects were told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics theyre given. This week he speaks to Atsuko Okatsuka. The Japanese-Taiwanese-American comedian, 37, was named Best Comedy Debut of 2022 by The New York Times for her stand-up special, The Intruder. Her latest release is Father.

Atsuko Okatsuka: More and more people started following me while I was being my authentic self. That helped me build an audience. Credit: Getty Images

POLITICS

Your maternal great-grandfather was a pro-independence Taiwanese politician whose son  your grandfather  was assassinated by the Kuomintang. Did you grow up knowing these stories? My family doesnt talk about a lot of things; it gives me bits and pieces and then I have to be a detective about it  with a comedians brain. I dont know if its an Asian family thing, but were all forced to be Sherlock Holmes because everyones just trying to swallow what happened in the past and keep it down.

Your comedy is laugh-out-loud, but you also talk about your family history and some of its heavy. How do you make that material approachable? Oh, I have to remember to chase the funny. Like when I tried to give my grandma a bath recently, it was hard. I was nude. I can laugh about it, but for someone else hearing it  they might need more jokes.
We lift the lid on an open secret in Australias property market thats costing potential buyers millions.

High-earning real estate agent Josh Tesolin has openly admitted he has been the subject of an investigation by the NSW Office of Fair Trading in recent months, publicly decrying what he might have done to earn such scrutiny.

Id like to hear what it is. And Id like to respond back as fully as possible with the truth, said Tesolin, known among his contemporaries as Teflon Josh.

Now he knows: Dummy bidding, underquoting, high pressure sales tactics and producing false documents to Fair Trading are among the allegations being levelled against one of Australias highest-earning real estate agents.

Star agent Josh Tesolin pictured leaving his Bella Vista home on Friday. Credit: Sam Mooy

An extensive investigation by the regulator has landed Tesolin and his private real estate company, Tesolin Consulting, a four-month licence suspension  pending possible disciplinary action  over allegations that he has committed serious and repeated breaches of the law.
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 This story is part of the August 9 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . Our pick of National Photographic Portrait Prize finalists salutes the stoic, the stubborn, the singular and the strong. Megans Place, 2024 Megans Place, 2024 Credit: Rebecca Polonski Megan is my friend and neighbour. Her life blends the ordinary with the extraordinary. Against the backdrop of her traditional weatherboard house in regional Victoria, Megan stands stoically with one of her rescue camels while her daughter bounces energetically on the trampoline. This moment captures the elements of both domesticity and adventure that encapsulate her life. Rebecca Polonski Thelma Plum, 2024 Thelma Plum, 2024. Credit: Em Jensen I made this picture with Gamilaraay musician Thelma Plum on Wilyakali Country last winter. The image was taken using a Rolleicord camera on the Mundi Mundi Plains near Broken Hill, where I live. We spent three days photographing throughout far west NSW, making a series of shots for Plums album Im Sorry, Now Say It Back. Em Jensen

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Sonny Jane Wise, 2025 Sonny Jane Wise, 2025. Credit: Bri Hammond My work is often playful, but also aims to challenge. Sonny Jane is a queer, non-binary, disabled and neurodivergent advocate and writer, who says their defiant tattoo is a commitment to resist systems that pathologise our minds, bodies and queerness. When people look at me, theyre going to see who I am. Bri Hammond Untitled #01 (Code Black/Riot), 2024 Untitled #01 (Code Black/Riot), 2024. Credit: Hoda Afshar Code Black/Riot is a collaboration with First Nations youths in far north Queensland, which interrogates a system that targets and imprisons them from the age of 10. The youths prefer to conceal their faces to avoid being identified. Hoda Afshar The Sky, 2025

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The Sky, 2025. Credit: Stuart Spence Grace Tame is extraordinary, devoting her life to advocating for survivors of child sexual abuse. Theres so much more to this portrait; a ripple on an ocean beneath that holds far more than it reveals. Stuart Spence Britney and Kayleb, 2024 Britney and Kayleb, 2024. Credit: Marcus Rowsell Kayleb paints up his partner, Britney, at the Waagan Galga Corroboree on Wonnarua Country [in the Hunter Valley, NSW]. Later, they dance together to display the depth of love and loss they have experienced. Culture is a powerful healer. Marcus Rowsell Diamond in the Sky, 2024 Diamond in the Sky, 2024. Credit: Matt Sav

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Research consistently shows trust and authenticity to be a potent influence over voter behaviour. Its little wonder Liberal leader Sussan Ley spent around a third of her June appearance at the Press Club telling her backstory.

Its a compelling yarn that winds its way through shearing sheds, crop-duster cockpits and university campuses. Yet it cannot fill the void where a resonant vision and credible policies should be if shes to succeed in her mission of rebuilding trust in the Liberals as a party of government.

Former opposition leader Peter Dutton and new Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Its a monumental undertaking. Trust in former leader Peter Dutton was so low before the May election that he sat below Clive Palmer and Donald Trump on Roy Morgans Trust & Distrust Index. The disastrous result that followed was the worst ever performance for the Coalition or their predecessors, going back 115 years.

The task of detoxifying the Liberal brand is only growing. The Resolve poll published in July showed the Coalitions primary vote has fallen a further three percentage points since the election.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Aug. 8, 2025 --

420-horsepower 2026 Dodge Charger R/T available at a starting U.S. MSRP of $49,995

550-horsepower 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack available at a starting MSRP of $54,995 , delivering the most horsepower under $55,000

, delivering the most horsepower under 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the turbocharged SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine, clocks a 3.9-second 0-60 time and runs the quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds with a top speed of 177 mph

Dodge launches award-winning 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo I-6 engine as SIXPACK, offering standard-output and high-output versions SIXPACK standard-output (S.O.) engine delivers 420 horsepower on 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Twin turbo-powered SIXPACK H.O. engine reaches 550 horsepower on Dodge Charger Scat Pack, and is the most powerful version of the Hurricane in production

SIXPACK H.O. engine delivers 88% of peak torque at 2,500 rpm for immediate low-end response and more than 90% of peak torque from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm for sustained performance

Line Lock  standard on SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack  enables tire-smoking burnouts with the push of a button and punch of the throttle

 standard on SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack  enables tire-smoking burnouts with the push of a button and punch of the throttle SIXPACK-powered Charger models feature standard all-wheel drive when you need it, rear-wheel drive when you want it

Drifting and donuts: Charger Scat Pack's class-exclusive rear-wheel-drive mode sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels, delivering effortless drifts, smoky donut spins and pure driving exhilaration on demand

Launch Control improves off-the-line acceleration and allows drivers to dial in preferred launch rpm to generate the highest possible boost pressure on launch, depending on the traction of the launch surface

SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack has distinctive performance-tuned dual-mode active exhaust with rolled exhaust tips

Five distinct drive modes include Auto, Eco, Wet/Snow, Sport and Custom

SIXPACK-powered Charger exterior design features unique performance hood, large front fascia area and rear fascia with debossed "CHARGER" text logo

SIXPACK Charger models share widest body of any car in the industry and award-winning interior with Charger Daytona models

SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack and R/T will be available as two-door coupes and as four-door sedans

All-electric two-door 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack will also be available at a starting MSRP of $59,995 , delivering the most horsepower under $60,000

Dodge is turbocharging into the future with the launch of the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack powered by the SIXPACK twin-turbo inline-six engine  a powerhouse engineered to continue the evolution of modern muscle with uncompromising performance, relentless power and unmistakable Dodge attitude.

Quick off the line with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD), the new SIXPACK-powered high-output (H.O.), 550-horsepower, with 531 lb.-ft. of torque, 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack clocks a 3.9-second 0-60 time and runs the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds. Dodge's newest muscle car makes its official public debut with Dodge smoke and fury in downtown Pontiac, Michigan, today to kick off the 10th anniversary of Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge.

"For 60 years, Dodge Charger has been known for delivering legendary muscle car performance, and we have every intention of continuing that legacy," said Dodge CEO Matt McAlear. "This next-generation Charger lineup delivers the most horsepower and most torque of any muscle car in its class, the widest body of any car in the industry, an award-winning interior, and, perhaps most important, what our customers have told us they want: the power to choose what fuels them. The all-new turbocharged 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is the most powerful car customers can buy priced less than $55,000."

Orders for the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack powered by the SIXPACK H.O. will open on August 13. Vehicles are scheduled to begin arriving at dealerships before the end of the year.

Power to Choose Your Powertrain

Dodge is again leaning into its rich history to fuel the future. Well-known in the 1970s, the Dodge "SIXPACK" badge referred to three twoa'barrel carburetors for a total of six barrels. Today, the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack revives that SIXPACK spirit with a straight six-cylinder layout.

Dodge launches the award-winning 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo Straight Six as the SIXPACK. In the new Dodge Charger lineup, the SIXPACK will be available in both high-output and standard-output variants that continue to push the nameplate further in performance:

Charger Scat Pack with the SIXPACK H.O. engine delivers 550 horsepower, 531 lb.-ft. torque, top speed of 177 mph

Charger R/T with the SIXPACK standard-output (S.O.) engine delivers 420 horsepower, 468. Lb.-ft. of torque, top speed of 168 mph

Boosted High Horsepower

The turbo-powered SIXPACK H.O. engine in Charger Scat Pack is the most powerful version of the Hurricane in production. The engine uses a new, low-restriction air induction system and low-restriction exhaust system to enhance horsepower and torque. Designed for maximum performance, the SIXPACK's power is centered on a solid foundation of a deep-skirt cast-aluminum block and structural aluminum alloy oil pan. Cross-bolted steel main bearing caps hold the forged steel crankshaft and forged steel connecting rods. Deck-plate honing of the block during manufacturing optimizes the cylinder bore shape.

The SIXPACK H.O. engine delivers its 550 horsepower with oil-jet-cooled, forged-aluminum pistons with an anodized top ring and a diamond-like coating (DLC) on the pins to minimize friction. It runs with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and produces maximum output on 91 octane premium fuel.

Key features of the SIXPACK H.O. engine include:

Boost that delivers 88% of peak torque at 2,500 rpm for immediate low-end response and more than 90% of peak torque from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm for sustained performance

High-pressure (5,075 psi/350 bar) direct fuel injection with centrally mounted injectors

Dual overhead camshafts with wide-range, fully independent variable valve timing

Engine-mounted water-to-air charge air coolers with dual inlets, with a separate cooling circuit

Plasma transfer wire arc coating in the cylinder bores for an ultra-thin, durable, low-friction wear surface

A carbon-styled engine cover stamped with a red-accented SIXPACK text logo announces the presence of the ICE engine under the hood.

Twin Turbos Tear It Up

Powerful twin-turbos feed the SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack, built with performance features that include:

Twin Garrett GT2054 turbochargers, 54mm, low inertia and high flow to spin up fast, with a peak boost of 30 psi and an RPM of 185,000 for the SIXPACK H.O., which pushes more air into the combustion chamber, delivering more horsepower and torque

Turbine material is constructed with Inconel 100, the first industry application, providing exceptional high-temperature strength and resistance to oxidation and thermal fatigue, making it ideal for withstanding the extreme heat and stress of turbocharger operation

Twin counter-rotating turbos reduce turbo lag and balance airflow dynamics, improving throttle response and overall engine efficiency in high-performance applications

All-wheel Drive When You Need It, Rear-wheel Drive When You Want It

The new 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK-powered models are the world's only AWD muscle cars with rear-wheel-drive capability. The robust 880RE TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission features a multi-disc wet clutch system that opens at the push of a button to enable on-demand RWD functionality, capable of sending 100% of torque to the rear wheels.

From street to strip, the Charger's AWD system enhances capability in inclement weather and on various road surfaces, as well as delivering when it comes time to launch at the drag strip. The Charger Scat Pack can be put in Line Lock or rear-wheel drive to perform a burnout to clean and heat the tires before a pass down the strip. When ready to launch, the driver can switch back to AWD and reap the benefits of launching off the line with all four tires, providing extra grip in the rear.

Charger's standard AWD system also includes a Front-Axle Disconnect feature to provide improved fuel economy. This system uses sensors throughout the vehicle to determine the optimal parameters to disconnect the front axle to reduce parasitic driveline losses.

Boosted, Brutal and Built to Turn Heads

The Dodge Charger Scat Pack's exclusive performance-tuned active exhaust includes a dual mode with electronically controlled valves and a unique aggressive tuning character for each drive mode. Active noise cancelling is engineered to minimize unwanted sound frequencies in the cabin while allowing in visceral external exhaust notes. The 100mm rolled dual exhaust tips for both SIXPACK-powered models are available in bright or Eclipse chrome finish.

Engineered for Exhilaration

All models in the all-new Charger lineup are engineered with standard AWD, delivering wicked fast launches off the line while loaded with performance features that ignite the drive, including:

Standard mechanical limited slip differential increases traction and performance while enhancing stability by using a preloaded clutch pack that limits wheel speed difference under load, ensuring both rear wheels stay locked for maximum grip during hard launches and straight-line acceleration

Line Lock  standard on SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack  lets the driver lock the front brakes only, while disconnecting the AWD transfer case clutch packs and removing torque from the front axle, enabling rear wheel spin to help clean/warm the tires before launch and to perform tire-smoking burnouts with a push of a button and punch of the throttle

 standard on SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack  lets the driver lock the front brakes only, while disconnecting the AWD transfer case clutch packs and removing torque from the front axle, enabling rear wheel spin to help clean/warm the tires before launch and to perform tire-smoking burnouts with a push of a button and punch of the throttle Selectable Launch Control lets drivers dial in RPM based on surface conditions while holding brake pressure, unleashing full power to all four wheels the moment the brake pedal lifts Launch parameters are configurable through the vehicle's race options, allowing adjustment of engine speed setpoints to optimize torque delivery based on surface conditions. During staging, brake pressure is actively maintained by the stability control system while the throttle is held wide open, enabling the turbos to build boost. At brake release, the powertrain control module precisely manages torque across all four wheels to deliver maximum traction and acceleration off the line

Five distinct drive modes include Auto, Eco, Wet/Snow, Sport and Custom Eco Mode For maximum efficiency, Eco Mode prioritizes fuel economy by biasing torque delivery to the rear wheels and engaging AWD only when necessary. The transmission delivers softer, slower shifts and upshifts earlier to keep torque low and RPMs down. Steering effort is reduced for a relaxed feel, and the active exhaust valves remain closed for quiet operation Wet/Snow Mode For low-grip surfaces, Wet/Snow Mode optimizes traction by locking the torque split to a balanced 50/50 front-to-rear distribution. Shift schedules remain soft and early to limit torque buildup, while reduced steering effort improves control in slippery conditions. Exhaust valves stay closed for quieter, more composed operation Sport Mode For performance driving, Sport Mode sharpens reflexes with a performance-tuned torque split and more aggressive shift patterns. The transmission delivers quick, firm gear changes, and steering feedback is increased for more direct control. The active exhaust valves open fully, unleashing the full sound signature of the SIXPACK engine Custom Mode Provides drivers the freedom to configure their Charger exactly the way they want it. From propulsion characteristics and paddle shifter behavior to traction settings and steering weight, nearly every aspect of performance can be tailored to individual preference

SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack features standard front 380-by-36mm and rear 360-by-32mm ventilated discs and Brembo six-piston front fixed 36mm and rear floating 52mm calipers enhance braking performance and provide brake fade resistance

Brake by Wire eBoost intelligent braking system uses a central module to control vehicle deceleration, with optimized response depending on drive mode, and to avoid heat-related system fade and pad wear

Charger raises the bar on handling with a purpose-built suspension system designed for serious control. Up front, a multi-link suspension with forged aluminum links, and in the rear, a fully independent 4-link setup: This equates to real world improvements over the previous generation Charger: 10% improvement in steady-state response for faster and more confident cornering 15% improvement in lateral response time or how quickly the vehicle reacts to rapid steering inputs, such as high-performance driving or accident-avoidance maneuvers An impressive 25% improvement in steady-state limit handling balance, significantly reducing understeer and delivering a more neutral, planted feel through corners

Performance Pages deliver info on key performance metrics, such as acceleration timers, gauges, g-force and more

Body structure of SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger models features a 55%/45% weight distribution, improving vehicle handling and control, and an increase in overall rigidity, which assists with performance and ride quality, minimizing cabin and driveline vibrations

Widebody Muscle Design  Widest Body of Any Car in the Industry

The new Dodge Charger exterior is unmistakable  pure Dodge muscle inspired by heritage, driven by performance. The next-generation Dodge Charger SIXPACK-powered models feature a modern, muscular widebody exterior design with a unique hood, front fascia/grille and exhaust.

The SIXPACK Charger performance hood announces its internal-combustion identity with a black SIXPACK-logoed grille-style bezel. The front fascia is unique to SIXPACK-powered models, with a larger, more pronounced grille area than Daytona models. In the back, bright, rolled, stainless-steel exhaust tips are housed in a rear fascia that features a debossed Charger text logo, with Eclipse exhaust tips available with the optional Blacktop Package. A standard Gloss Black rear spoiler on the Scat Pack enhances the drivability at high speeds.

Wheel center caps feature the Fratzog logo, the new symbol of next-gen Dodge performance vehicles. The Charger Scat Pack comes standard with 20-by-10-inch Diamond Cut Luster wheels, with a 275/40ZR20 Goodyear all-season tire square setup. True to Dodge, a variety of different wheel options is available.

Exterior content common for all Charger models includes distinctive white LED lighting, available as cross-car full-width lighting on Plus trims, and red "ring of fire" LED rear taillamps, with front and rear lights centered by a lit Fratzog logo. The Dodge logo is subtly laser-etched in the headlamps.

SIXPACK-powered models are currently available for order in eight exterior color options: new-for-2026 Green Machine joins After Dark, Bludicrous, Diamond Black, Peel Out, Redeye, Triple Nickel and White Knuckle.

All-new, Award-winning Interior

The dynamic, driver-focused and award-winning interior design enhances the SIXPACK-powered Charger's modern feel and builds on the exterior's pure design aesthetic with features that include:

Interior linework and texture inspired by the iconic 1968 Dodge Charger

CHARGER text logo instrument panel badging

Freestanding, wide-format standard 10.25-in. cluster screen, with a 12.3-in. center display positioned in a center stack angled toward the driver

Available Attitude Adjustment lighting is expressed through a parametric texture that adds a sculptural feel to the interior, wrapping 270 degrees from the driver door to the instrument panel to the passenger door

Attitude Adjustment interior lighting with 64 colors and intensity adjustability reacts to vehicle events, such as drive mode changes, opening the door or pressing the ignition button

Performance-oriented steering wheel is technical in feel, with a heated flat-top/flat-bottom design, and includes paddle shifters on Charger Scat Pack models

Pistol-grip shifter and the start/power button are packaged close together on the center console, which also incorporates an available wireless phone charger on Plus models

Premium seat options include heated Black Nappa leather and Demonic Red Nappa leather seats; high-backed fixed headrest seats embellished with a unique pass-through are available on Plus trims

The all-new Dodge Charger delivers best-in-class passenger volume with its "hidden hatch" muscle-car design. With rear seats that fold flat, the max rear cargo area is 37.4 cubic feet.

Muscle Car Performance Paired With Standard Advanced Safety

The turbocharged Dodge Charger Scat Pack includes a wide range of standard and available safety and advanced driving features. Next-gen Dodge Charger models are engineered with the highest level of autonomous driving features of any muscle car. Standard features on all Charger models include:

Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with Vulnerable Road Users Detection

Active Lane Management

Active Driving Assist

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go

Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path detection

ParkSense front/rear/side park assist

Traffic Sign Recognition

Drowsy Driver Detection

Optional features include:

Surround 360-degree camera: vehicle uses front, side and rear cameras to provide a bird's-eye view around the vehicle

Front tire to curb: vehicle uses side cameras to provide a tire-to-curb view before parking along the curb

ParkSense-based camera activation: ParkSense system activates the front camera when parking to show objects in front of the vehicle on the center screen

Turn Signal Active Blind Spot View: side cameras provide driver with blind-spot views in the center screen when turn signal is activated

Pick Your SIXPACK

The SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack will offer a Plus trim loaded with additional content and a variety of packages and options from which customers can choose when building their gas-powered Charger, including:

Plus Group features are available as a separate trim on the Charger Scat Pack and include: Eight-way power seating, illuminated door handles, proximity wake-up with DODGE welcome light, 64-color Attitude Adjustment interior lighting, premium LED headlamps and cross-car LED, wireless charging pad, 16-in. digital cluster, surround 360-degree camera, including tire-to-curb view and Head-up Display (HUD) Demonic Red seats are also optional on the Scat Pack High-back leather performance seats with 12-way power, and four-way lumbar are available with Plus Packages

Optional panoramic glass roof for Charger Scat Pack adds to the open-air feel of the cabin with a fixed tinted glass roof

Carbon & Suede package features real carbon-fiber interior accents and mirror caps, leather/suede high-back performance seats and suede instrument panel wrap, headliner, A-pillars and sun visors

Available Blacktop Package enhances the exterior with Dark badging and 20-by-10-in. Blacknoise aluminum wheels with 275/40ZR20 Goodyear all-season tires

Available 20-by-11-in. Satin Carbon or Luster wheel package with 305/35ZR20 Goodyear all-season tires

Optional audio package available with a 914-watt premium 18-speaker Alpine PRO audio system with subwoofer and amplifier

Immersive User Experience

The all-new Charger's award-winning user experience and infotainment system play a key role in meeting the mark for any Dodge vehicle.

The standard 10.25-in. and optional 16-in. digital instrument cluster features a free-floating design that is a first for Stellantis. Cluster options include classic, focused and navigation-based layouts and customizable cluster content.

An optional augmented HUD projects a large field of view with an improved virtual image distance. The 12.3-in. standard central touchscreen gives quick access to the Charger's Uconnect 5 infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Dodge Connected Services.

The one-button-press experience allows the driver to instantly switch the Charger's personality. A simple push of a steering-wheel button will change the Charger's dynamics, while the driver information in the cluster and HUD will also change to correspond with the chosen drive mode.

Attitude Adjustment interior lighting, included with Plus trims, uses new animation technology to communicate key driving events. The feature enables a seamless transition of light between the doors and instrument panel. Attitude Adjustment lighting events include drive mode changes, door open/close, ignition on/off and more.

The Uconnect 5 platform provides a customizable, intuitive touch screen with tabs to access standard and available features, including SiriusXM, TomTom navigation, Amazon Alexa capabilities and more. Performance Pages for the all-new Charger, with info on key vehicle performance metrics, can be accessed through the Uconnect 5 system.

Dodge Connected Services

The 2026 Dodge Charger lineup will launch with the new Connect ONE connected service package included. This package is active for 10 years from the date of vehicle purchase and includes:

Over-the-air (OTA) software updates

Vehicle health reports, alerts and service scheduling

Automatic SOS calls and recall notifications

Remote lock and unlock via the Dodge app

Smartphone as key for smartphone-based access and engine start (when available)

Basic navigation

EV-charging controls and management tools

Available Connect Wi-Fi PLUS, a premium subscription package, adds advanced connectivity, control and convenience with unlimited Wi-Fi data:

Unlimited Wi-Fi data and hotspot: connect up to eight devices with fast, reliable internet on the go

Advanced remote operations: start the vehicle, activate climate control, locate it with horn/lights

Stolen vehicle tracking: supports recovery if the vehicle is stolen

Drive alerts: set boundaries for speed, location and time  ideal for shared vehicle use

Voice assistant: hands-free control for vehicle functions and smart home integration

Connected navigation: real-time traffic updates, speed camera alerts, fuel prices, map updates and last-mile guidance

Alexa Built-in: Amazon Alexa voice assistant embedded into the vehicle

Customers can try Connect Wi-Fi PLUS for three months at no charge if enrolled within 30 days of a new vehicle purchase or lease. After the trial period ends, the subscription is $17.99/month.

Most Powerful Car Under $55,000

Whether gasoline power runs through their blood or they are charged up by pure battery-electric power, Charger buyers can pick their power. For the 2026 model year, Dodge is offering the most muscle priced less than $60,000:

The 420-horsepower 2026 Dodge Charger R/T will be available at a starting U.S. MSRP of $49,995 (all prices exclude taxes, title and destination charge of $1,995 )

(all prices exclude taxes, title and destination charge of ) The 550-horsepower 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack will be available at a starting U.S. MSRP of $54,995

The all-electric, two-door 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack will deliver its full 670-horsepower at a starting U.S. MSRP of $59,995

Charger buyers have the power to choose two or four doors, with the four-door versions of all models available for an additional $2,000 U.S. MSRP

U.S. MSRP Scat Pack and Daytona Scat Pack include a day of performance driving instruction at Radford Racing School, the official high-performance driving school of Dodge//SRT

Ordering for the two-door SIXPACK-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack will open on August 13, 2025. Ordering is currently open for the two-door and four-door all-electric 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The four-door SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack will be available in the first half of 2026.

The SIXPACK-powered two-door 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack will begin arriving in dealerships in the second half of 2025, with the two-door 2026 Dodge Charger R/T arriving in dealerships in the first half of 2026. Additional information on the SIXPACK-powered two-door 2026 Charger R/T and four-door SIXPACK-powered Scat Pack and R/T models will be shared in the future.

For complete information on the all-new Dodge Charger, visit Dodge.com.

Dodge//SRT

For 110 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge, America's performance brand, shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of the segments in which the brand competes while moving forward to a future that includes electrified muscle in the form of the next-generation, all-new Dodge Charger.

The next-generation Dodge Charger electrifies a legend, with the Charger retaining its title as the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car, led by the all-new, all-electric 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The all-new Dodge Charger will also offer performance choices via multi-energy powertrain options, including the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger SIXPACK H.O., powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo Hurricane High Output engine.

Dodge also keeps its foot on the gas as a pure performance brand with the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful gas engine SUV ever, and best-in-class standard performance in the compact-utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis , please visit www.stellantis.com.
College student dies by suicide, no note found





Staff Reporter :

A 19-year-old college student, Surabhi Sondhia, was found dead by suicide at her home in Gwal Mohalla, Roshanpura, under the Arera Hills police station area on Thursday night. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, leaving the reason for her death unclear. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.

According to police, Surabhi, a first-year BA student at MLB College, had reportedly been suffering from depression since the death of her father approximately three years ago. On Thursday night, she was alone at home when her mother had stepped out. Upon returning, her mother found the door locked from inside. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to open it, she sought help from neighbours and alerted the police.

Police personnel, with the assistance of neighbours, forced open the door and found Surabhis body hanging. The body was taken into custody, and a thorough search of the room was conducted, but no suicide note was found.

Her body was sent for post-mortem examination at Hamidia Hospital on Friday and subsequently handed over to her family. Police stated that they are currently recording statements.
Military Intelligence nabs fraudster for running fake Army recruitment racket





Staff Reporter :

In a significant crackdown, the Military Intelligence (MI) team successfully apprehended a notorious fraudster who was running a fake Army recruitment racket, duping innocent people by promising jobs in the Armys civil defence services and grabbed lakhs from them.

The accused has been identified as Rajesh Kumar Rajbhar (46), son of Sumeswar Rajbhar, a resident of Madai area in VFJ Estate in Ranjhi and ex-army personnel. According to police, the arrested Rajesh Kumar Rajbhar, is a retired Army personnel who served in MH Jabalpur from 2013 to 2016. After retirement, he began impersonating Army authorities and issued fake appointment letters to unsuspecting candidates, charging them hefty sums of money in return for false promises of Army jobs. After a prolonged surveillance operation, the Military Intelligence team caught Rajbhar and handed him over to Ranjhi Police Station for further legal action.

During the interrogation conducted jointly by MI and local police, several forged joining letters and fake documents were recovered from his possession. Preliminary investigations suggest financial transactions amounting to approximately Rs 45 lakh through his fraudulent activities.

According to Military Intelligence, Rajbhar created counterfeit documents in the name of several legitimate Army departments and formations, including HQ MB Area, Jabalpur (Medical Branch), AD Commandant MH JBP SO-III, 506 Army Base Workshop, Col HQ MB Area, JAK RRC, Jabalpur and IHQ, Delhi. He used these forged documents to gain the trust of potential recruits, often presenting himself as a serving Army officer to add credibility. Victims were lured with fake postings and false promises of quick appointments in exchange for bribes.

This arrest is a part of Military Intelligences ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of the Indian Army from impersonators and scammers. So far, around 303 fraudsters have been tracked and exposed in similar cases as a part of this sustained drive. Authorities emphasise that individuals seeking employment in the Army should verify all recruitment details through official channels and beware of middlemen or unofficial agents.
Nilgai meat seized in raid from criminals house, one arrested





Staff Reporter :

Police in Bhopals Talaiya Police Station area, near Badbuja Ghati Alok Press, raided the residence of notorious criminal Faheem Sheikh, also known as Faheem Bomb, on Thursday morning and seized approximately six kilograms of Nilgai meat. While Faheem Bomb managed to evade arrest, his son, Huzaifa Sheikh, was taken into custody. The confiscated meat has been sent for examination and has been preliminarily confirmed as Nilgai meat. Wildlife Protection Act Violated:

This incident constitutes a serious offence under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, as the Nilgai is a protected species. The raid has raised significant concerns regarding the operational efficiency of the Bhopal Forest Division and the Flying Squad Bhopal. Sources indicate that Faheem Bomb already has two cases registered against him in the Garhi Forest Range (Raisen Forest Division) and the Bhopal Forest Division Flying Squad, yet no stringent action had been taken against him previously. This points directly to gross negligence on the part of the Forest Department. Police Investigation Underway:

According to the police, Faheem Bomb is a known local criminal with a history of offences. Talaiya Police Station In-charge Deepak Dehriya stated that acting on a tip-off, a police team conducted the raid and recovered the prohibited meat. Huzaifa informed the police that his father, Faheem Bomb, had brought the meat. Given the gravity of the matter, a team from the Forest Department also arrived at the Talaiya Police Station, and the seized meat has been handed over to them. The Forest Department is investigating whether the accused purchased the meat or hunted the animal themselves. Police have registered a case under the relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, and a joint team of Talaiya Police and the Forest Department is conducting raids at potential hideouts to apprehend Faheem Bomb.
Traders launch campaign to promote Swadeshi goods





Business Reporter :

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to the nation to Buy and Sell Indian Goods, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) jointly with Swadeshi Jagran Munch launched a nationwide campaign from August 8 at Bal Gangadhar Tilak statue Gandhi Sagar lake, to promote indigenous products. The decision was taken at a two-day National Traders Conference held in New Delhi.

CAIT National President B C Bhartia, stated that all participating trade leaders unanimously described the Prime Ministers appeal as a symbol of Indias identity and decided to name the campaign - Indian Goods  Our Pride. Dhananjay Bhide of Swadeshi Jagaran Munch sharing the importance of campaign said it will leverage social media, posters, rallies, and public interactions to spread awareness. Rajkumar Gupta, President Team CAIT Nagpur highlighted the reasons behind supporting the Prime Ministers call. A large number of traders were present.
Trump certainly doesnt know whats happening in Asia, India: Jim Rogers





NEW DELHI :

AS US President Donald Trump imposes 25 per cent tariffs on India, with an additional 25 per cent slated to come into effect from August 27, ace American investor Jim Rogers said on Friday that Trump doesnt understand much of the world, and he certainly doesnt understand whats happening in Asia and particularly, India. Speaking to IANS, Rogers who is one of the top financial commentators in the world, said that India remains the fastest growing economy in the world and Washington should actually be doing a lot of business with New Delhi rather than hampering long-standing trade and investment ties by slapping unrealistic tariffs. Trump wakes up, watches TV and then decides what to do. He doesnt understand much of the world, and he certainly doesnt understand whats happening in Asia and India, Rogers told IANS.

According to him, both the countries can actually increase trade to $500 billion by 2030, an envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, if the US President aims to bring Washington and New Delhi closer with reasonable gestures. For the first time in my life, I see that people in New Delhi seem to understand economics. They understand that prosperity is good, and success is good too.

It is a very exciting and wonderful change for India, Rogers emphasised, adding that India could be an extremely exciting country, extremely exciting economy. He further stated that India is going to be one of the most exciting investment destinations in the world and it will certainly be compared to China and, maybe, even do much better than China in coming years. On Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Rogers told IANS that more free trade is better for the world, especially India. It will be extremely exciting for the world, including foreign investors, he mentioned. New Delhi has signed 13 FTAs with its trading partners. The country is currently negotiating the following FTAs with its trading partners: India-EU FTA, India Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), India-Peru Trade Agreement, covering goods, services and investment, India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and India-Oman FTA.
Two Kanwariyas killed, nine hurt as dumper hits them in Seoni





SEONI :

Two pilgrims on the Kanwar Yatra were killed and nine others sustained injuries after a speeding dumper hit a tractor-trolley and ran them over in Seoni district, police said on Friday.

The accident occurred on a national highway around 11.30 pm when the pilgrims were heading to Akola in Maharashtra from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, an official said. Bandol Police Station In-charge Arpit Bhairam said that a speeding dumper hit the tractor-trolley, which was carrying the belongings of the pilgrims, and ran over the victims, killing two of them on the spot and injuring nine others.

The condition of two of the injured persons is critical and they have been referred to Nagpur for treatment, he said. Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Mishra said that a group of 30 to 35 Kanwariyas were returning with Gangajal from Varanasi when the speeding dumper first hit the tractor-trolley and ran over the pilgrims walking in front of it. The deceased, identified as Banduvan and Avinash Kohre, were in their 30s, he said, adding further investigations are underway.
Youth held in attempt to murder case over dispute





Staff Reporter :

TT Nagar police arrested a 21-year-old man accused of attempt to murder a local youth last month over a long-standing dispute related to parking. The arrest was made on Thursday, just ahead of Raksha Bandhan, as part of efforts to ensure public safety during the festive period. On July 16, complainant Aman Khan was attacked near Gamen Mall India by Narendra Raikwar, Nilesh Rajak, and others.

The group allegedly assaulted him with a knife, leaving him with serious injuries on his arm, thigh, head, and fingers. The attack was reportedly motivated by a previous conflict over parking. A case was registered under sections 109(1), 296, 115(2), 351(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During investigation, it was found that one of the accused, Sandeep Ahirwar, had gone into hiding. Under the direction of senior officers,

TT Nagar Station House Officer Gaurav Singh Daur formed a police team to trace the absconding accused. Acting on a tip-off, the team arrested Sandeep Ahirwar, a resident of Journalist Colony, Panchsheel Nagar. He was produced in court and sent to Central Jail. Police confirmed that Sandeep has four prior criminal cases registered against him in various police stations in Bhopal. His arrest is part of the city polices larger strategy to ensure peace and order during the festive season.
Donoghue Forlines LLC bought a new position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 56,592 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $1,434,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Clarity Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Gould Capital LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 97.2% in the 4th quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares in the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. North Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Bernard Wealth Management Corp. bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

NYSE:PFE opened at $24.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $139.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.07, a PEG ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.52. The companys 50-day moving average is $24.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.50. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $20.92 and a 1-year high of $30.43.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $14.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 16.84% and a return on equity of 21.42%. Pfizers revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.60 EPS. Analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. Pfizers payout ratio is presently 91.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on PFE shares. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock. Wolfe Research upped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Berenberg Bank decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, HSBC decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.12.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Pfizer

Pfizer Company Profile

(Free Report)

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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AlphaCore Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 49.5% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,635 shares of the credit services providers stock after buying an additional 541 shares during the period. AlphaCore Capital LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $896,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Navigoe LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 10Elms LLP bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. 97.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Mastercard news, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total transaction of $178,049.04. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 8,469 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,833,004.23. The trade was a 3.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 9,428 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.05, for a total value of $3,328,555.40. Following the sale, the insider owned 58,451 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,636,125.55. This trade represents a 13.89% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 38,603 shares of company stock valued at $20,265,667 over the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Mastercard Stock Performance

Shares of MA stock opened at $574.42 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $523.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.03. Mastercard Incorporated has a 12-month low of $453.46 and a 12-month high of $594.71. The businesss 50 day moving average is $563.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $553.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.05 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $8.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.95 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 200.01% and a net margin of 44.93%. The businesss revenue was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.50 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, July 9th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Mastercards payout ratio is 20.50%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. KeyCorp increased their target price on Mastercard from $635.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Seaport Res Ptn raised Mastercard from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Mastercard from $640.00 to $612.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Mastercard in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. They set a buy rating and a $650.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Mastercard from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $615.33.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Mastercard

Mastercard Profile

(Free Report)

Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions.

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Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:BCCLF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 5,718,700 shares, anincreaseof60.0% from the June 30th total of 3,573,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 828.8 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 828.8 days.

Becle Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of BCCLF stock opened at $1.23 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.10. Becle has a 1-year low of $0.75 and a 1-year high of $1.75.

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Becle Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

Becle, SAB. de C.V. manufactures and distributes spirits and other distilled beverages in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers tequila under the 1800, Jose Cuervo Especial, Jose Cuervo Tradicional, Reserva de la Familia, Gran Centenario, and Maestro Dobel brand names; whiskey, including North American whiskey under the Stranahans, Tincup, and Pendleton brands, as well as Irish whiskey under the Bushmills, Proper No.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Fortis (NYSE:FTS  Free Report) by 52.0% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,922,870 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 1,683,377 shares during the quarter. Fortis makes up approximately 1.0% of Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Fortis were worth $224,278,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new position in Fortis during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Fortis by 286.7% during the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,106 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 820 shares during the period. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Fortis by 111.7% in the 1st quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,226 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 647 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of Fortis by 158,500.0% in the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,586 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 1,585 shares during the period. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Fortis by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,828 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares during the period. 57.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Fortis Price Performance

Fortis stock opened at $50.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.58. The firm has a market cap of $25.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.46. The businesss fifty day moving average is $48.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.51. Fortis has a 52 week low of $40.32 and a 52 week high of $51.45.

Fortis Increases Dividend

Fortis ( NYSE:FTS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.04. Fortis had a return on equity of 7.24% and a net margin of 14.48%. The company had revenue of $2.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.67 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Fortis will post 2.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.4448 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 19th. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. This is a positive change from Fortiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. Fortiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FTS. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Fortis from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Fortis in a research note on Monday. Cibc World Mkts upgraded Fortis from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Desjardins upgraded Fortis from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, National Bankshares reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Fortis in a research note on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.00.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Fortis

About Fortis

(Free Report)

Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 447,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 103,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,408 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity.

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Y.D. More Investments Ltd lessened its position in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 38.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 345 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 220 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltds holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $34,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Northern Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $208,000. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in ConocoPhillips by 53.8% during the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 5,240,275 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $550,334,000 after purchasing an additional 1,834,118 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 379.7% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 40,094,754 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $4,210,751,000 after purchasing an additional 31,736,423 shares in the last quarter. Coign Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.7% in the first quarter. Coign Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,698 shares of the energy producers stock worth $598,000 after buying an additional 202 shares during the period. Finally, Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI grew its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 135.1% during the first quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 189,976 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $19,951,000 after buying an additional 109,182 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.36% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on COP shares. Roth Capital restated a buy rating and set a $108.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Thursday. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 11th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $127.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $123.00 price objective (up from $113.00) on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $120.63.

ConocoPhillips Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $93.91 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $118.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.67. The stocks 50-day moving average is $92.77 and its 200-day moving average is $93.73. ConocoPhillips has a 52-week low of $79.88 and a 52-week high of $116.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.27.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The energy producer reported $1.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.36 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $14.94 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.39 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 14.60% and a net margin of 15.26%. The firms revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.98 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, August 18th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 18th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.64%.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In other ConocoPhillips news, EVP Kirk L. Johnson purchased 5,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $94.24 per share, for a total transaction of $499,472.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president directly owned 14,527 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,369,024.48. This trade represents a 57.44% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.

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Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 4,782 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the period. Covestor Ltds holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $240,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. HighMark Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 173.4% during the 1st quarter. HighMark Wealth Management LLC now owns 585 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. North Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. 91.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on CMG. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the stock from $56.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, July 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Citigroup cut their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $68.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.71.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Down 2.9%

Shares of NYSE CMG opened at $41.47 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 52 week low of $41.43 and a 52 week high of $66.74. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $51.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $51.64. The company has a market cap of $55.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.05.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.01. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 43.50% and a net margin of 13.32%. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.34 EPS. The firms revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.29 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 113,875 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.70, for a total value of $5,659,587.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 109,815 shares in the company, valued at $5,457,805.50. This trade represents a 50.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Further Reading

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Everett Harris & Co. CA raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 3.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 2,715 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CAs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $673,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Northern Trust Corp raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,667,653 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,465,570,000 after buying an additional 508,188 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 4,132,493 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,047,837,000 after buying an additional 71,934 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,528,833 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $627,176,000 after buying an additional 11,854 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 26,372.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,065,675 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,123,080,000 after buying an additional 2,057,872 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 11.3% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,059,119 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $522,110,000 after buying an additional 209,671 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on the company. Truist Financial cut Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $283.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $255.00 to $261.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $254.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $252.00 to $249.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $239.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $259.33.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director David Byron Smith, Jr. bought 872 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $241.16 per share, for a total transaction of $210,291.52. Following the acquisition, the director owned 122,884 shares of the companys stock, valued at $29,634,705.44. This trade represents a 0.71% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of ITW stock opened at $256.98 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1-year low of $214.66 and a 1-year high of $279.13. The firm has a market cap of $74.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.52, a PEG ratio of 5.54 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $252.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $250.12.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by $0.02. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 90.89% and a net margin of 21.31%. The business had revenue of $4.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.54 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 EPS for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.61 per share. This represents a $6.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 30th. This is an increase from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.59%.

About Illinois Tool Works

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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ESL Trust Services LLC trimmed its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 5.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,393 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 85 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF accounts for approximately 0.1% of ESL Trust Services LLCs holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. ESL Trust Services LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $503,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $2,739,000. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 20.1% in the 1st quarter. Summit Financial Strategies Inc. now owns 6,032 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,178,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Truepoint Inc. boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Truepoint Inc. now owns 24,482 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $8,840,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Savvy Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 17.2% in the 1st quarter. Savvy Advisors Inc. now owns 6,762 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,442,000 after buying an additional 992 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 20.0% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 38,571 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $13,920,000 after buying an additional 6,436 shares during the last quarter. 75.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWF opened at $445.93 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $423.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $395.57. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 12-month low of $308.67 and a 12-month high of $448.79. The firm has a market cap of $116.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

Further Reading

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JPMorgan China Growth & Income plc (LON:JCGI  Get Free Report) insider Nicholas Bannerman bought 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 256 ($3.44) per share, for a total transaction of 30,720 ($41,318.09).

JPMorgan China Growth & Income Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of LON:JCGI opened at GBX 252 ($3.39) on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 240.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 240.71. JPMorgan China Growth & Income plc has a 12-month low of GBX 182 ($2.45) and a 12-month high of GBX 287 ($3.86). The firm has a market cap of 210.54 million, a PE ratio of 33.33 and a beta of 0.47.

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JPMorgan China Growth & Income (LON:JCGI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, June 2nd. The company reported GBX 0.14 ($0.00) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. JPMorgan China Growth & Income had a net margin of 72.25% and a return on equity of 2.99%.

JPMorgan China Growth & Income Company Profile

Strategic thinking for Chinese markets

JPMorgan China Growth & Income plc aims to provide the best of both worlds. The Manager focuses on investing in Chinese companies listed on domestic exchanges and companies in Greater China by focusing on the growth of New China  companies and sectors that are capitalising on the transition of the country to a more consumer-driven economy  whilst the Company aims to deliver a predictable quarterly income distribution  announced at the start of each financial year.

Key points

Expertise  Strong focus on research capabilities, with investment teams based in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China.

Portfolio  Focuses on companies benefiting from the transition of China to a consumer-driven economy.

Results  Benefits from the economic transformation and evolving role of China as a global economic superpower while aiming to deliver a predictable quarterly income.

Why invest in this trust

The first investment trust to focus purely on the greater China region, the JPMorgan China Growth & Income plc capitalises on our extensive local knowledge and experience to find attractive opportunities in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Featured Stories

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Swiss National Bank raised its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 0.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 817,802 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned about 0.29% of Becton, Dickinson and Company worth $187,326,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BDX. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Alpine Bank Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. REAP Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 75.3% in the 4th quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 128 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 341.4% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 128 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nexus Investment Management ULC purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 86.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other news, Director Claire Fraser sold 863 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.30, for a total value of $165,954.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 23,143 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,450,398.90. This trade represents a 3.59% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP David Shan sold 1,166 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total transaction of $199,607.54. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $783,194.25. This represents a 20.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 3,214 shares of company stock valued at $579,206. Company insiders own 0.36% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BDX has been the subject of a number of research reports. Raymond James Financial cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Bank of America cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $190.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. William Blair cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $196.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, Citigroup cut shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the company from $217.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Becton, Dickinson and Company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $211.33.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Becton, Dickinson and Company

Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Up 3.2%

Shares of BDX opened at $193.65 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.83, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $175.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $198.98. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a twelve month low of $163.33 and a twelve month high of $251.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.40 by $0.28. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.51% and a return on equity of 16.23%. The firm had revenue of $5.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.50 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.50 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 8th will be given a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 8th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 79.39%.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional.

Read More

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Swiss National Bank lessened its position in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 1.7% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,579,400 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 26,900 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Banks holdings in EOG Resources were worth $202,542,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EOG. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new position in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Alpine Bank Wealth Management bought a new position in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in EOG Resources in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. 10Elms LLP bought a new position in EOG Resources in the 4th quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, Hanson & Doremus Investment Management bought a new position in EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.91% of the companys stock.

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EOG Resources Price Performance

EOG opened at $116.09 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $119.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $119.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.87 and a quick ratio of 1.71. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1 year low of $102.52 and a 1 year high of $138.18. The firm has a market cap of $63.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.28, a PEG ratio of 8.88 and a beta of 0.80.

EOG Resources Increases Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The energy exploration company reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.14 by $0.18. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 20.46% and a net margin of 25.25%. The business had revenue of $5.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.45 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.16 EPS. EOG Resourcess revenue for the quarter was down 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.47 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Investors of record on Friday, October 17th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 17th. This is a positive change from EOG Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 36.18%.

Insider Transactions at EOG Resources

In related news, COO Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 3,951 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.65, for a total transaction of $472,737.15. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 45,739 shares in the company, valued at $5,472,671.35. This trade represents a 7.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EOG has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Sunday, June 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on EOG Resources from $145.00 to $140.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Scotiabank upgraded EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $150.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Friday, April 11th. KeyCorp decreased their target price on EOG Resources from $150.00 to $140.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and issued a $148.00 target price (up from $144.00) on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $140.62.

Check Out Our Latest Report on EOG Resources

EOG Resources Profile

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EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily in producing basins in the United States, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and internationally. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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INDIA bloc members will take part in a rally on 11 August to protest against the arbitrary deletion of the voters in the name of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary, said today.

Talking to newsmen outside the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport this afternoon he said the rally will start from Parliament House and end at the Election Commission of India (ECI). A delegation of the INDIA bloc will meet the Chief Election Commissioner.

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He alleged that in the name of SIR, names of poor people will be deleted. We are not going to tolerate this. The ECI has become an office of the BJP where the officials say Yes SIR but we say No Sir. If the name of a genuine voter is deleted in Bengal then one lakh people will gherao the ECI office in New Delhi.

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Mr Banerjee said: If the voters are not genuine, then the Prime Minister, home minister, external affairs minister were elected by the fake voters. The ECI suddenly became active and felt that there are illegal voters in the country. They did not exercise in Bihar and their target was Bengal. The BJP has understood that without manipulating the voters list, they cannot help the BJP in Bengal. The ECI is playing with fire and will have to pay a very heavy price for it, he said adding, BJP lost in every election since 2014 and be rest assured, Trinamul Congress will get more seats in 2026.

He had urged the Speaker to allow a discussion on SIR. The BJP-led Centre wants to hide something and hence does not want any discussion on SIR. We want to run the House smoothly but it is the BJP that want not to run it smoothly.

We have already done this during the MGNREGA protests. Despite a court order, they still havent released the MGNREGA funds; this is contempt of court. Our delegation will meet Shivraj Singh Chouhan. They have also blocked Jal Jeevan Mission funds. Our party delegation will meet the Jal Shakti minister, said Abhishek.

Mr Banerjee categorically said Trinamul Congress will give support to those parties that will raise their voice against the attack and harassment of Bengali-speaking workers in the BJP-ruled states. We have no ego. Any one supporting the cause of Bengal will receive our support. This kind of deprivation cannot continue. Bengal is our priority. On the issue of Bengals deprivation, whichever party supports Bengal, we will stand by them, Mr Banerjee maintained.
Trinamul MP Abhishek Banerjee had posed an un-starred question to the ministry of external affairs about vandalism of Rabindranath Tagores ancestral house in Bangladesh.

He had asked if the government has formally lodged a diplomatic protest with the government of Bangladesh over the vandalism of Rabindra Kacharibari and if any assurances has been received from the government of Bangladesh regarding the security of the Kacharibari.

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The minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in his reply has said: On 12 June, the government of India strongly condemned the despicable attack and vandalisation of the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, underlining that the violent act was a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive values espoused by Gurudev Tagore. India urged the interim Government of Bangladesh to take strict action and prevent recurrence of such incidents.

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The reply goes on to say, The ministry of foreign affairs, government of Bangladesh, thereafter issued a statement indicating that two persons were arrested in connection to the attack and that appropriate legal action was being undertaken. Government of Bangladesh has also announced measures to increase the security of Rabindra Kacharibari.

The reply stated that the cultural exchange programme between India and Bangladesh, instituted under the framework of the 1972 Cultural Cooperation Agreement, provides for cooperation under various cultural disciplines, including support for archaeological conservation.
ICICI Bank has increased the minimum average balance required in savings accounts starting August 1, 2025. Customers in metro and urban areas now need to keep Rs 50,000, up from Rs 10,000.

In semi-urban areas, the minimum balance has gone up to Rs 25,000 from Rs 5,000, and in rural areas, it is now Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 2,500.

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Many customers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, may find it difficult to maintain this higher balance. If they dont, the bank will charge a penalty of either 6% of the shortfall or Rs 500, whichever is lower.

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Pensioners are exempt from these charges. Families in the banks Family Banking program must maintain a combined balance of 1.5 times the requirement; otherwise, members who fall short will be charged individually.

The bank will also charge fees for bounced ECS or NACH payments, returned cheques, and declined ATM or card transactions due to insufficient funds. Because of these changes, some customers may switch to banks with lower balance requirements or basic accounts, while others will need to manage their finances carefully to avoid penalties.

Social media users slam decision

Several social media users have slammed the decision questioning why would anyone want to keep money in their accounts instead of investing it.

One user on X said,  The Worst Decision of ICICI Bank #ICICIBank raises average minimum balance for savings a/c in metros & urban areas to Rs 50,000 Earlier it was Rs 10,000 Why the hell people put their money in accounts. Urban youth wants to invest those money not to sit dead in Bank Accounts.

ICICI Banks gameplan in increasing the MAB to 50000 is to weed out the small customers who are not adding value. This will enable it to focus on the affluent customers & cross-sell them products like insurance & brokerage. If the move succeeds, HDFC, Kotak etc will follow suit pic.twitter.com/RrMzEFVOra  RJ Stocks (@RakJhun) August 9, 2025

Another user said, ICICI Banks gameplan in increasing the MAB to 50000 is to weed out the small customers who are not adding value. This will enable it to focus on the affluent customers & cross-sell them products like insurance & brokerage. If the move succeeds, HDFC, Kotak etc will follow suit.

Goodbye masses, hello classes. Interesting move by ICICI Bank, hiking avg minimum balance in a savings a/c from 10,000 to 50,000. Reminds me of a similar move by Citibank a decade ago, when their Suvidha a/c balance requirement shot up from 5K, 10K, 25K to 2 lakh/mth. pic.twitter.com/Bpd7kTq6Cn  Atul Karmarkar (@atulkarmarkar) August 9, 2025

Goodbye masses, hello classes. Interesting move by ICICI Bank, hiking avg minimum balance in a savings a/c from 10,000 to 50,000. Reminds me of a similar move by Citibank a decade ago, when their Suvidha a/c balance requirement shot up from 5K, 10K, 25K to 2 lakh/mth, said a third user on X.
Tata Motors has officially announced that it has posted a 30% decline in its Q1 FY26 net profit of Rs 3,924 crore from the Rs 5,643 crore net profit reported in the same period last year.

Tata Motors stated that its performance was impacted by a decline in profitability primarily from its Jaguar Land Rover business, besides volume decline in all businesses.

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The company stated that US President Donald Trumps tariff impacted revenues from Jaguar Land Rover, which declined by more than 9% to 6.6 billion (UK pound sterling).

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Significantly, the United States is Jaguar Land Rovers most important export market, accounting for nearly a quarter of its sales.

Operating profit from Jaguar Land Rover slipped by 49% to 351 million pounds or Rs 4,130 crore in Q1FY26. Revenue at Jaguar Land Rover, which was acquired by Tata Motors in June 2008, also decreased by 10% to 6.6 billion pounds or Rs 77,662 crore after it had to stop exports to the United States for nearly a month in April in response to tariffs imposed by US President Trump and phased out older Jaguar models primarily made in the United Kingdom (UK).

However, despite the fall in revenue, Jaguar Land Rover has kept its guidance range for FY26 unchanged at 5% to 7%. Welcomed signing of UK-US trade deal to reduce tariffs on UK-produced vehicles exported to the US from 27.5% to 10%, effective from 30 June 2025. EU-US trade deal announced on July 27, 2025 will, in due course, reduce tariffs on Jaguar Land Rovers European Union-made vehicles exported to the US from 27.5% to 15%, the company stated.

The revenue of Tata Motors from operations dropped by 2.5% year-on-year to Rs 1.04 lakh crore in Q1 FY26, from Rs 1.07 lakh crore in Q1 FY25, while EBITDA declined 36% year-on-year to Rs 9,700 crore.

The companys commercial vehicle revenues declined by 4.7% to Rs 17,000 crore, while EBITDA margins improved to 12.2%, due to better realisations and cost savings despite lower volumes.

Revenues from passenger vehicles declined by 8.2%, reflecting decreased demand and transition to newer models.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his delight over the phenomenal participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, a nationwide initiative to promote patriotism and celebrate Indias independence. The campaign, which runs from August 13 to 15, encourages citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes, offices, and public spaces.

The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a celebration of Indias 75 years of independence. The initiative aims to foster a sense of patriotism and national pride among citizens, particularly the younger generation.

Taking to handle X, PM Modi praised the widespread participation in the campaign, which reflects the deep patriotic spirit that unites Indians.

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Glad to see #HarGharTiranga receiving phenomenal participation across India. This shows the deep patriotic spirit that unites our people and their unwavering pride in the Tricolour, PM Modi said in his post.

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Citizens are encouraged to share photos and selfies with the national flag on the official website.

The campaign promotes digital engagement, allowing citizens to showcase their patriotism on social media using hashtags like #Har Ghar Tiranga.

Participants can obtain a Har Ghar Tiranga Certificate and Tiranga ID card by registering online and uploading a selfie with the flag.

The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign aims to foster a sense of patriotism and national pride among citizens which promotes national unity and a sense of collective pride.
The overnight incessant rain affected normal life in and around the national capital on Saturday, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a rain alert, warning of moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.

It also issued safety guidelines amid deteriorating weather conditions.

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Today, the skies turn moody, moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning are expected, accompanied by gusty winds (3040 kmph) across parts of the city. This isnt just a forecast, its a gentle reminder to care for one another. Drive cautiously  roads may be slippery. Secure loose items on balconies and rooftops. Avoid sheltering under trees during lightning. Stay tuned to IMD official weather updates, the IMD said in a social media post.

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Meanwhile, waterlogging was reported from several places in the capital city with roads and by lanes in areas such as Timarpur, Panchkuian Marg, Mathura Road, and Connaught Place flooded.

This resulted in heavy traffic jams and delays on key roads of the city and caused hardships to a large number of people who were out to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Hundreds of flights to and from Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport were also delayed in view of the heavy rain that continued for hours.

IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and other airlines warned passengers about the weather conditions and urged them to allow extra travel time and check flight statuses before heading to the airport.

Rain may impact flight operations to and from Delhi today, said Air India, in a cautionary message posted on X.

It advised travellers to plan ahead due to anticipated traffic congestion in the city.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday assured the parents of Delhi that their children will now receive quality education in the national capital.

She said students will study in Delhis private schools, secure a bright future for themselves, and rise to leadership positions to serve the nation.

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The Delhi Chief Minister also emphasised that private schools are a necessity in the national capital, but her government has ensured provisions that will allow even children from underprivileged backgrounds to study there and build a better life.

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Gupta said on Friday, the Delhi Assembly passed her governments historic Delhi School Education (Fee Determination and Transparency in Regulation) Bill, 2025 by majority vote. This Bill will lay a new foundation of transparency, justice, and accountability in Delhis education system and deliver a decisive blow to the arbitrary practices of private schools that have persisted for years.

She said private schools have become a reality in Delhi because previous governments failed to build enough quality government schools.

The rise in the number of private schools in Delhi is not an overnight development, but the result of the Oppositions prolonged failure to provide quality education in public schools. Previous administrations did not provide good education, forcing parents to turn towards private institutions, the Delhi Chief Minister said.

Our sole aim, she said, is to ensure that children from every section of society can study in these schools without parents being burdened by excessive fees. The Bill, she added, has been drafted after detailed consultations with education experts and parents.

The Delhi Chief Minister further revealed that there are approximately 1,733 private schools in Delhi, of which nearly 300 were given land at concessional rates by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). She clarified that the land in these cases was not allotted by the Delhi Government. As per lease conditions, if a school violates the terms, the power to take action rests with the DDA. The Director of Education in Delhi can only write to the DDA but has no further authority. Under the new legislation, however, the Director of Education will be given powers equivalent to those of an SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate), enabling them to freeze school accounts and attach movable and immovable property. Importantly, the Bills provisions will cover not just the 300 DDA-allotted schools but all 1,733 private schools. Any school found implementing arbitrary fee structures will face strict action from the Delhi Governments Education Department.

Reiterating the Bills main objectives, the Chief Minister said these are: transparency in fee determination, empowered parental participation, and a veto power for parents over fee hikes. No private school will now be able to increase fees at will. Schools will have to provide detailed justifications for fees based on location, facilities, expenditure, and quality of teaching. Without permission, any fee hike will attract a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, which will double if there is a delay in refunding overcharged amounts.

This Bill is a shield for the dreams of Delhis children, she declared. No one will be allowed to put a price on their aspirations. We will remove the shadow of profiteering from education and build a new Delhi that will be defined not by false slogans but by real change. And we will ensure that no child is deprived of education because of poverty.
Seven people, including two children, were killed and one was injured when a building wall collapsed onto several jhuggis in Southeast Delhis Hari Nagar village, Jaitpur, after heavy rainfall on Saturday.

The victims included two young girls, four men, and two women: Rukhsana (6) and Hasina (7), Muttu Ali (45), Rabibul (30), Shabibul (30), Rubina (25), and Dolly (25). The lone survivor, Hashibul, was injured and taken to Safdarjung Hospital, where he told fire department officials about the incident.

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According to the Delhi Police, the wall collapse was reported at 9.16 a.m. Local police arrived at the scene between 9:20 and 9:22 a.m. and arranged earthmover machines to clear the debris and rescue those trapped.

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Eight people were pulled out and taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre and Safdarjung Trauma Centre. Of them, four were men, two women, and two children, said DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari.

Police said the victims were trapped after a wall near the Mohan Baba temple in Hari Nagar collapsed with a loud noise. The incessant downpour since Friday night had caused waterlogging in the area, weakening the adjacent wall, which then fell onto the shanties, they added. After the rescue operations, the shacks were evacuated, and police ensured that no one else was trapped under the debris.

Meanwhile, former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena took to social media to express grief and criticise the Delhi government for making huge claims about resolving waterlogging issues in the national capital, while lives continue to be lost due to even slight rain.

The heart is deeply pained by this tragic incident. Condolences to the bereaved families. The BJPs four-engine government makes grand claims, but the truth is that lives are being lost in Delhi. After the rain, waterlogging occurred, causing a wall to collapse, in which seven people lost their lives. Is the life of the poor worth nothing? Even a slight rain leaves Delhi in a deplorable condition, Marlena wrote in a post.

Former Education Minister Manish Sisodia also expressed his condolences on X, calling the Jaitpur tragedy extremely painful, especially on a sacred day like Raksha Bandhan. Amid heavy rain and waterlogging, a wall collapse took the lives of seven precious souls, including two innocent little girls. May God grant peace to the departed and give their families the strength to bear this unbearable pain, he wrote.

Earlier, on July 29, in a similar incident, a decades-old boundary wall collapsed in North Delhis Civil Lines, near the Lieutenant Governors house, following heavy rain. A woman and her son died, and two others were critically injured.
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and senior BJP leader from Assam, wears two hats with easechampioning national maritime reforms while looking after the Northeasts development.

In a conversation with Abhijit Deb of The Statesman, he speaks about balancing local aspirations with national responsibilities, expanding inland waterways in Assam, aligning maritime infrastructure with Indias global ambitions, and deepening strategic partnerships with Japan.

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Question: As a senior BJP leader from Assam and currently Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, how do you balance the expectations of local constituents from Northeast India with your national-level ministerial responsibilities?

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Our region  the Northeast  is rich with potential and possibilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has recognised this, and under his dynamic leadership, the government has been working relentlessly to realise them.

For far too long, our beautiful region was neglected, especially during the Congress regime. Our riches lay in ruins, and our possibilities went in vain. However, this changed under the BJP-led NDA governments. As a member of this government, my intent aligns with its broader vision  to power the engine of growth in the region and strengthen the Act East Policy.

Our goal is to build a prosperous Northeast by unearthing opportunities and unlocking its immense potential. As a son of the soil, I commit myself to the welfare of the people and do utmost to fulfil their expectation in line with the cause of nation building.

Question: As a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), what issues are you championing to ensure that maritime infrastructure aligns with broader political-economic strategies, both domestically and with neighbouring coastal countries?

The development of maritime infrastructure is crucial for advancement of national growth, and regional cooperation. Our work like modernisation of port along with port led development initiatives, enabling coastal connectivity, empowering inland waterways and green shipping are in sync with our nations broader political-economic strategies.

By emboldening the maritime sector, India aims to become a top maritime nation globally so that the Viksit Bharat is also an Atmanirbhar one when it comes to supply chain management.

By boosting trade, commerce, security and resilience, the maritime sector brings synergy to an integrated approach that not only drives economic development but also strengthens our global position through maritime diplomacy and regional leadership.

Question: You recently addressed newly elected panchayat representatives in Assam, urging them to uphold Viksit Bharat 2047. How do you ensure that infrastructure projects translate into tangible benefits at the grassroots level in rural areas?

Panchayat representatives are the backbone of rural transformation, of Indias democracy. By empowering them with resources, training, and decision-making authority, we ensure that infrastructure projects meet local needs effectively.

Every initiativebe it roads, digital connectivity, education, irrigation, or healthcareis aligned with grassroots priorities. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi jis vision of inclusive development, we are converging central and state schemes to ensure last-mile delivery and real impact. This bottom-up approach is key to realising the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, where rural India stands at par and the crucial pillar of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Question: With speculation about Assam assembly polls ahead, what are the BJPs strategies in the Northeast, and do you foresee any return to state political leadership for yourself as the party prepares for a third consecutive term?

Our partys strategy is very clear  to build a new Bharat: a Viksit Bharat, an Atmanirbhar Bharat. This vision can only be realised when we have a Viksit Assam and an Atmanirbhar Assam. Every state must reach this stage for India to emerge as a strong, self-reliant nation powered by innovation-driven development.

We aim to achieve this by reinventing governance through the principle of maximum governance, minimum government. Our focus is on broad-based economic empowerment across all sections of society, transforming India into an open, competitive, and opportunity-driven economy.

By strengthening independent institutions and upholding the Rule of Law, we are reforming governance to align with peoples aspirations and minimise corruption. Through investments in education, skill development, and healthcare, we are empowering society and laying the foundation for rich social development and stronger human capital.

Question: The central government has invested over 44,859 crore in more than 3,600 projects across the Northeast over the past decade. Can you detail the key achievements so far under your ministry and how they have enhanced regional connectivity?

As per the National Waterways Act 2016, 20 rivers of NER have been declared as National Waterways (NWs). Out of these 20 NWs, 04 NWs viz. i) River Brahmaputra (NW-2), ii) River Barak (NW-16), iii) River Dhansiri (NW-31) & iv) River Kopili (NW-57) are being developed for movement of Cargo. The other National Waterways are being developed as per the projects proposals received from the concerned States under Central Sector Scheme for NER.

Inland Waterways has major projects in the Northeast. A  5,000 crore roadmap is planned over the next five years. On NW-2 (Brahmaputra), four permanent terminalsDhubri, Jogighopa, Pandu, and Bogibeeland 13 floating terminals are supported by fairway and navigation upgrades. A  208 crore ship repair facility at Pandu and a 180 crore alternative road are set for completion by 2026 and 2025, respectively.

On NW-16 (Barak), terminals at Karimganj and Badarpur are active, while NW-31 (Dhansiri) is being developed to support NRLs expansion.

By strengthening urban water transport through water metro projects and promoting eco-friendly cruise tourism, we are paving the way for a cleaner, greener future in inland waterways transportation. Urban Water Transport on the lines of the Kochi Water Metro is being planned in Guwahati, Tezpur and Dibrugarh.

The Regional Waterways Grid aims to seamlessly connect Assam and the Northeast with the rest of India through an integrated network of inland waterways.

This will boost regional trade, tourism, and connectivity while unlocking economic potential across the Brahmaputra and Barak River systems.

Government is also working on a 5,000 crore roadmap for Inland Waterways Development in Northeast Over Next 5 Year.

Six projects worth Rs 763 crore have been incorporated under the Sagarmala Programme for the development of inland water transport (IWT) infrastructure on National Waterways in the northeastern region.

Rs. 461 crore has been allocated for the comprehensive development of National Waterway (NW)-2 (the Brahmaputra river), Rs 103 crore for the multimodal terminal at Pandu across NW-2, Rs 48 crore for the intermodal terminal at Dhubri across NW-2, Rs 3 crore for the intermodal terminal at Badarpur across NW-16, Rs 3 crore for the intermodal terminal at Sribhumi across NW-16, and Rs 145 crore for the comprehensive development of NW-16 (the Barak river) and the Indian portion of the Indo-Bangladesh route.

Question: Could you elaborate on the One NationOne Port process and how it is expected to streamline port operations and improve ease of doing business in India?

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) initiative which focuses on mapping and standardizing port processes and documentation.

This involves conducting a comprehensive review of the existing procedures and documents exchanged within the port value chain across all major ports which cover various cargo types, including containers, dry bulk, and liquid bulk, as well as different movement categories such as export-import, transshipment, and coastal operations.

The implementation of ONOP initiative will reduce the processing time of documentation which will lead to a reduction in logistics cost.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has prioritized the digitization and automation of port processes and documentation through the National Logistics Portal  Marine (NLP-Marine) which also integrates the Enterprise Business System (EBS) as the port operating system.

A review has been conducted to assess the implementation of ONOP initiatives at major ports which showed substantial improvement in port process documentation.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has taken various steps to enhance efficiency and competitiveness of ports in maritime sector which include development of new ports, terminals and berths, modernization, mechanization, digitalization, development of connectivity infrastructure for road and rail etc.

Further, Sagar Aankalan guidelines have been launched by the Ministry for enhancing efficiency and competitiveness of Indian ports in the global maritime sector.

Significant features of One Nation One Port Process Documentation (ONOP)

* Standardize and harmonize port processes across all major ports in India.

* Eliminate inefficiencies and inconsistencies arising from local considerations and legacy systems.

* Reduce variability in operational procedures impacting trade efficiency.

* Standardization of documentation with Immigration, Port Health Organization, and Port Authorities.

* Reduction of container operation documents by 33% (from 143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (from 150 to 106).

* Simplification of processes to enhance efficiency, reduce complexity, and improve trade competitiveness.

* Enhanced operational efficiency and cost reduction in cargo handling.

* Faster clearance and streamlined workflows benefiting shipping agents, customs authorities, and government agencies.

* Strengthen Indias position as a global maritime hub, aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

* Commitment to continuous process optimization, transparency, and efficiency.

Question: During your recent engagement with Japans Vice Minister, both countries agreed to deepen maritime relations. What specific areas of collaborationsuch as shipbuilding, port digitisation, or skill developmentare being prioritised under this partnership?

India and Japan have had discussions on multiple levels on various aspects of shipbuilding, specifically around green/ eco-friendly ships. Indian shipyards are keen to partner with leading Japanese shipbuilderssuch as Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and can explore joint ventures and collaborative arrangements.

Japan may also look to employ skilled Indian seafarers, tapping into Indias pool of over 1.5 lakh trained maritime professionals. Joint training programs and certification pathways are being considered by both nations.

Indian and Japanese industry and academia can work together in areas of ship design and R&D.
Kanwal Sibal, 77, is a career diplomat, who retired as Foreign Secretary of India. He was conferred with Padma Shri for his distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs in 2017. Sibal was appointed to the Indian Foreign Service in July 1966.

He has been an ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. He served as Foreign Secretary from July 2002 to November 2003. In an exclusive interaction with Sushil Kumar of The Statesman, he talked about the Opposition questioning the government on Operation Sindoor, Pakistan once again offering talks; China, Pakistan coming together against India, and the US President, Donald Trump, announcing from the roof-top time and again that he is the one who secured a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

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Q. Does the Opposition asking questions about Operation Sindoor give any kind of leverage to Pakistan?

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A . There is no point in the Opposition asking questions about Operation Sindoor as one can talk about it only after 10-15 years and not now. You must understand despite the world having images of destruction in Pakistan caused by the Indian strikes, its not revealing any losses officially. They have not uttered even a word on it, then why are the political parties in India asking to reveal anything about Indias loss or anything else in connection with the military operation that we launched against them. Pakistan is not accepting any claim regarding the attacks and subsequent damage simply because it would be demoralising for them. I do not see a point in India disclosing anything about it, especially when its still going on. Also, the Indian armed forces have made official statements on the entire issue, published papers on it, what else do you want to know? Raising questions on it is like providing Pakistan an opportunity against India. It will pick it up and make you look weak. The Opposition by doing so is taking up the Pakistani line.

Q. A few days ago, Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar reiterated Islamabads willingness to engage in dialogue with New Delhi on a range of issues  from trade and economic cooperation to counter-terrorism, do you think India should accept the talk offer?

A. No point in it. Its their agenda of putting the ball into Indias court as they have mentioned it also. India, as we all know, has made it clear several times that there would be no talks unless Pakistan stops supporting terrorism, and removes all terror facilities from its soil. Offering talks on all issues is their effort to make Kashmir a central point of talks. Its their usual ploy, and India would not fall for it. There is no ground for holding any dialogue with them unless they do what is expected of them. Indias position on having any kind of talks with them is crystal clear  stop terrorism and talk. They want to falsely show to the world how willing they are to resolve issues with India but their idea of talks is hollow. I believe they cannot befool the world, and far as India is concerned, it knows their game plan.

Q. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has charged the Central government with what he calls bringing China and Pakistan together as a force against India  the biggest mistake that the government has made, do you agree with him?

A. Its complete nonsense. China and Pakistan have been together for a long time now. They joined hands against India in 1962, much before the BJP came to power. Pakistan has been buying arms from China. China has also been providing all sorts of help to it for decades to contain India, and now someone saying that the BJP contributed in uniting the two against the country does not make sense at all. The whole world knows the truth, and statements such as this do not hold water. It was unnecessary and uncalled for, Rahul Gandhi should not have made it. This confuses the masses. Its understandable that it was political but one should avoid making such claims as it looks foolish.

Q . How do you look at U S President Donald Trumps repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan?

A. US President Donald Trump is doing it for his domestic audience. Even before he got elected to the office, he would make all sorts of claims, and that is exactly what he is doing. He, right after assuming the office for the second term, tried to do it with Ukraine and Russia. He would call up the President of Russia, speak to him on the phone for hours but nothing would happen. Similarly, he met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, and the whole world saw how frustrated he was with him in order to make him accept what he was offering to him in terms of a socalled peace deal. President Trump is desperately trying to display himself as a peacemaker, and he is trying it in several parts of the world, be it Israel and Hamas, India and Pakistan, and other regions where countries are confronting each other. Several diplomatic channels were active during the Indo-Pak conflict but that does not mean that Trump got it done. Donald Trump is doing what no US president has ever done. He is totally self-centered and very unpredictable, and indulging in such acts for his domestic audience.

Q. Should India continue to have relations with countries that supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor?

A. It does not work that way. It would be disastrous, no country can afford to do that. Many countries, including China and the US, supported Pakistan directly or indirectly but relations cant be put on hold just like this. You have to deal with the issue diplomatically, be it the US, China or any other country. There are several countries that offered support to Pakistan during our military confrontation with it.

Q. Are you satisfied with the government  sresponsetothe Pahalgam attack or do you think something more should have been done?

A. This is for the first time that such a response was given to Pakistan for its terror acts against India. India attacked its terror bases earlier also but this time it was far bigger. Our defence forces attacked them right inside their country, and it was there to be seen by the world. However, we do not encourage war or any confrontation with any county but in case of provocation, we would deal with it. India has made it clear to Pakistan that any terror attack would be met with a solid military response.
Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Saturday alleged that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is trying to create a Muslim state in this country and implement Sharia law.

He also said Congress cannot stand its own in the state without the support of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

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Inaugurating the SNDP Yogam branch leadership meeting at Edathua in Kuttanad on Saturday, the leader of the Ezhava OBC organisation said the Congress party in Kerala cannot move forward without using the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) as a crutch.

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He said not even a single tea shop is allowed to open in Malappuram during the Ramzan fasting period. He said that the Muslim faction is taking steps to threaten the ruling government by showing a vote bank.

He said that those who have been getting the votes of Kuttanad people for a long time do not need them now and that only by coming together in an organized manner can the community get what it deserves.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has questioned a revelation made by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder and chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday about being approached by two men who met him personally before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections and guaranteed him an NCP victory in 160 assembly seats out of a total of 288 assembly seats in the state.

Reacting to Sharad Pawars statement to media persons in Nagpur on Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, I dont understand why Sharad Pawar remembered all this only after so many days when he met Rahul Gandhi? He didnt speak for so long and suddenly he spoke today. Rahul Gandhi has been narrating Salim-Javed type movie screenplays for a long time. Though Rahul Gandhi spoke about electronic voting machines (EVMs) for many years, Sharad Pawar never talked about them. In fact, Sharad Pawar stated many times that it was not right to blame EVMs. But now, suddenly, Sharad Pawar made this statement after meeting Rahul Gandhi. Clearly, the result of meeting Rahul Gandhi is visible.

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No matter how much confusion is created, everyone knows that free and fair elections are held in India. When the Election Commission asked them for an affidavit about their claims, nobody was ready to do it. They say that they took an oath in Parliament. If the Supreme Court asks somebody to give an affidavit and if they refuse, will it work? Similarly, if anybody is asked for an affidavit in a legal matter, why dont they give it? Because they know that they are lying and if their lie is caught due to the affidavit, criminal action can be taken against them. That is why people lie and run away everyday, Fadnavis said, without naming Rahul Gandhi.

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The revelation of two men meeting Sharad Pawar personally before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections and guaranteeing him NCP victories in 160 assembly seats out of total 288 assembly seats in the state, was made by NCP founder and chief Sharad Pawar while interacting with media persons in Nagpur on Saturday.

I remember how before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi. They told me that there are 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, out of which they could guarantee my party a victory in 160 seats. I was surprised. Though they gave me such a guarantee, I did not have any doubts about the Election Commission. So I ignored those people but I got them to meet Rahul Gandhi. They spoke to Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that this is not our path. So we decided that we will go to the people in the usual way, NCP founder and chief Sharad Pawar said.

Rahul Gandhi worked hard to provide information about irregularities in the voting process but the Election Commission said that he should file an affidavit before it. The Election Commission is an autonomous body. Rahul Gandhi said that he has taken oath in Parliament, and so there is no need for a separate affidavit. If the Election Commission insists on such a thing, then it is not right, Sharad Pawar said.

There is a need to go deeper into allegations made by Rahul Gandhi and to investigate the entire matter so that the truth is revealed. All I am saying is that when a matter regarding the Election Commission was raised, what is the need for BJP leaders or the Chief Minister to answer it? We want an answer from the Election Commission and not from the BJP, Sharad Pawar said.
India on Saturday welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India endorses the upcoming Summit meeting, noting that it holds the promise of bringing an end to the Ukraine war

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This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, This is not an era of war. India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts, the MEA said.

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The statement came after Trump confirmed his meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow, Trump posted on Truth Social.

This announcement by Trump came on the day he had set as the deadline for Putin to make peace or face severe economic punishment.

Read More: Trump to meet Putin in Alaska next week

According to reports, the US has briefed Ukraine and its European allies on a plan offered by Putin to halt the war in exchange for significant territorial concessions by Kyiv.

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that he will not make any territorial concessions to Russia.

Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier, he said, adding Ukraine must be involved in the peace talks.
The medical education sector of Uttar Pradesh has achieved another historic achievement after King George Medical University (KGMU) was awarded A++ recognition by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

This honor has been received with a 3.67 CGPA, which is a testimony to the quality, research, education level, and management capability of the university.

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Two years ago, Prof. Sonia Nityanand, who took over as Vice Chancellor on August 9, 2023, had set a target to bring KGMU from A+ to A++ category.

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Under his leadership, all the departments of the university worked together and worked with the resolve to leave no stone unturned. During this period, academic and administrative reforms were implemented under the leadership of Prof. Rajiv Garg of the IQAC team, which took the overall performance of the university to new heights.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Nityanand, while giving credit for this achievement to the entire KGMU team, expressed special gratitude to the Governor and Chancellor of the University, Anandiben Patel, and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. She said that under the guidance of CM Yogi ji, there has been unprecedented improvement in the infrastructure and quality of the medical institutions of the state. This is the reason why today KGMU is among the leading medical institutions of the country.

With the efforts of the state government, transparency, technical upgradation, and better resources were provided in medical education, which has a direct impact on the performance of institutions like KGMU. This achievement is giving Uttar Pradesh a new identity in the field of medical education at the national level.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced investigation into the alleged vote theft in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhis claims are evidence-based.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said, The Law Department will investigate vote rigging in the Lok Sabha elections, before BBMP elections. Legal action will be taken as per the recommendation given by them.

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He said that Advocate General will be instructed to conduct the investigation quickly and submit a report.

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The development comes days after Rahul Gandhi alleged rigging in 2024 Lok Sbaha Elections and released what he described as criminal evidence to back his claim.

Rahul laimed that there were over one lakh fake voters in Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, where the BJP defeated Congress by a margin of 32,707 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Our internal polls indicated that we were expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka. However, we won 9. We then focused on the 7 unexpected losses and chose Mahadevapura, a Vidhan Sabha segment under Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat.

He claimed that upon examining the details, the Congress party discovered that approximately 1,00,250 votes were stolen out of 6,50,000 total votes in the Mahadevapura assembly segment.

The Congress MP alleged that the votes were stolen in five ways: duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, bulk voters registered at single addresses, invalid photos, and misuse of Form 6. READ FULL STORY HERE

Reiterating Rahul Gandhis claim, Siddaramaiah said that their internal survey had indeed predicted victory for Congress in Karnatakas Lok 16 Sabha seats, but the party won only 9.

Rahul Gandhis claims are evidence-based. All relevant documents are with the State and Central Election Commissions. Is it really possible for 80 people to live in one small room? We learnt of these facts only after studying the matter, he added.
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday affirmed that no political party has submitted any claim or objection concerning Bihars draft electoral rolls since the start of the review process on August 1.

In a statement, the EC noted that despite more than a week passing in the Claims and Objections period, not a single claim or objection had been filed by any party. However, the commission confirmed it had received 7,252 submissions directly from individual voters regarding errors in the draft rolls. It also reported that 43,000 new applications had come from those who have recently turned 18 or above.

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Under the rules, these claims and objections can only be addressed after seven days and must be handled by the relevant Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO. Furthermore, as per Special Intensive Revision (SIR) guidelines, no name on the draft list published August 1 can be removed without a formal, reasoned order following an inquiry and after giving the individual a fair opportunity to respond.

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The SIR exercise in Bihar has triggered political controversy, with the opposition INDIA bloc warning that it could result in mass voter deletions. Their MPs have been staging protests in Parliament since the beginning of the monsoon session, demanding a debate on the matter.

Earlier this week, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi accused the EC of facilitating vote theft and claimed that elections are being choreographed. Presenting Congress research on Karnatakas Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, Gandhi alleged that 1,00,250 votes had been fraudulently removed. He pointed out that while Congress won other seats, the BJP secured a sweeping victory in Mahadevapura.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with sisters from various parts of the country at his residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg here as women and children from diverse backgrounds, came together to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan with PM Modi.

The festival, which symbolizes the bond of love and protection between brothers and sisters, was marked with traditional rituals and warmth.

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Raksha Bandhan, observed on the full moon day of the Shravana month, is a significant festival in Indian culture.

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It is a day when sisters tie a rakhi, a decorative thread, around their brothers wrists, symbolizing their love and prayers for their brothers well-being and protection in return for the brothers promise to safeguard and support their sisters.

The celebration at PM Modis residence was a heartwarming affair, with sisters from different regions of India coming together to tie rakhi on the Prime Ministers wrist.

The event was filled with traditional rituals, laughter, and warmth, as PM Modi engaged with the sisters and shared stories and sweets.

While celebrating Raksha Bandhan with the sisters, PM Modi emphasized the importance of the bond between brothers and sisters and the values of love, care, and protection that it represents.

The Prime Ministers gesture of celebrating the festival with sisters from across the country highlights his connection with the people and his appreciation for traditional Indian values.

The celebration, at his residence, was a unique blend of tradition and modernity, reflecting the spirit of Raksha Bandhan and its significance in Indian society.

The individuals who tied rakhi around Prime Minister Narendra Modis wrist included widows from Vrindavan and Varanasi, female Members of Parliament from Gujarat, women members of BJP Mahila Morcha and Delhi Sikh Pratinidhi Sabha, specially-abled children, Qamar Sheikh, a woman from Pakistan, and a woman from Singapore, highlighting the cultural ties in South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his deep gratitude for all the freedom fighters who participated in the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.

PM Modi said that the courage of freedom fighters involved in the Quit India Movement united countless people in the quest for freedom.

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In a post on X, PM Modi said, We remember with deep gratitude all those brave people who, under the inspiring leadership of Bapu, took part in the Quit India Movement. Their courage lit a spark of patriotism that united countless people in the quest for freedom.

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We remember with deep gratitude all those brave people who, under the inspiring leadership of Bapu, took part in the Quit India Movement. Their courage lit a spark of patriotism that united countless people in the quest for freedom.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2025

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to the freedom fighters. He highlighted that the Quit India Movement infused new enthusiasm to fight for our independence.

In 1942, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, with his invaluable mantra Do or Die, initiated the Quit India Movement against British rule, which infused new enthusiasm into the fight for independence. Under the leadership of the Indian National Congress, countless Indians took to the streets during the Quit India Movement, writing an unforgettable saga in history, Kharge wrote on X.

On August Revolution Day, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the countrys independence, he added.

The Quit India Movement, also known as the Bharat Chodo Andolan, was started by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942, during the Second World War, demanding an end to British rule in India, as per the Ministry of Culture.

As per the Ministry of Culture, the Quit India Movement of 1942 is significant, especially because it brought home to the British that it would not be possible to continue to govern India and forced them to think of ways they could exit the country.

The Movement was accompanied by a mass protest on non-violent lines by which Mahatma Gandhi called for an orderly British withdrawal from India. Through his speeches, Gandhi moved people by proclaiming that every Indian who desires freedom and strives for it must be his own guide.

On this day in 1942, Gandhi gave the clarion call of Do or Die to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank in Mumbai.

The day is observed as August Kranti Day every year.

Celebration a across country on occasion of August Kranti Diwas

Maharashtra Congress held a demonstration at the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, celebrating the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India Movement on the occasion of August Kranti Diwas.

#WATCH | Maharashtra Congress holds a demonstration at the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, celebrating the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India Movement on the occasion of August Kranti Diwas. pic.twitter.com/HomTvomhVO  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

On the occassion of August Kranti Diwas, Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said, This march is a pledge to carry forward the resolution of Mahatma Gandhi People should continue their struggle against an effort to bring a dictatorship in this country, which has created a do or die situation. Today, we are sending a message to the BJP to go away.

Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the Tiranga Rally in Berhampur ahead of Independence Day to honour the armed forces after the success of Operation Sindoor. Union Minister Amit Shah pays tribute to revolutionaries on 100th anniversary of Kakori Train Action On the 100th anniversary of Kakori Train Action, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday paid tribute to Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Asfaqullah Khan and other freedom fighters involved in the historic event. Shah stated that the freedom fighters ignited the torch of revolution against the British looting and shook the foundation of the British Empire by robbing the train with the aim to give the nations wealth back to its people. In a post on X, HM Shah said, The Kakori Train Action is a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism in the Indian freedom struggle. On August 9, 1925, brave heroes like Ram Prasad Bismil Ji, Chandra Shekhar Azad Ji, and Ashfaqulla Khan Ji ignited the torch of revolution against British looting, shaking the foundations of the British Empire, With the aim that the wealth looted from Indians by the British should be used for the nations welfare, these valiant fighters carried out the Kakori Train Action, he added. Shah further stated that the nation will always be indebted to the bravery and valour of these freedom fighters.On Friday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Kakori Shaheed Memorial, dedicated to freedom fighters of Kakori Train Action, for the closing ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the historic event. The Kakori Train Action or Kakori Conspiracy was a train robbery that took place at Kakori, a village near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925 during the Indian Independence Movement against the British colonial rule. The robbery was organised by the Hindustan Republican Association, and more than 40 persons were arrested in this incident. They were finally sentenced to death by the British government, and severe punishments were also given to those people who helped with the incident. The main purpose of the robbery was to protest against the heavy tax that was collected from the Indians and use the money to fund the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) rather than leaving it with the Britishers.Earlier in August, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed the Kakori Kand to Kakori Train action as the word Kand denotes a sense of insult to this incident under Indias Independence struggle
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday extended his warm wishes to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrated to mark the sacred bond between brothers and sisters.

Taking to handle X, PM Modi said:        (Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan).

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Raksha Bandhan, observed on the full moon day of the Shravana month in the Hindu lunar calendar, is a significant festival in India. The festival is marked by sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers wrists, symbolizing love, protection, and mutual respect.

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The festival has deep roots in Indian culture and mythology, with stories like the bond between Lord Krishna and Draupadi showcasing the spirit of protection and care that Raksha Bandhan embodies.

Today, the festival is celebrated not just between biological siblings but also among friends and those who share a bond of care and loyalty.

On this day, families come together to strengthen bonds, exchange gifts, and share meals. The rituals involve sisters applying tilak on their brothers foreheads, performing aarti, and tying the rakhi, while brothers pledge to protect and support their sisters.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday credited Operation Sindoors success to the presence of political will, noting that armed forces faced no restrictions and that constraints, if there were any, were self made.

His remarks stand in sharp contrast to claims made by Indian defence attache in Indonesia, who had suggested that Indian Air Force lost fighter jets during Operation Sindoor due to political constraints.

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Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, Singh said, A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us If there were any constraints, they were self-made We decided how much to escalate We had full freedom to plan and execute. Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it.

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He also hailed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chouhan, saying the CDS ensured all the three forces  Army, Navy and Air Force  worked in a synchronisation during the operation.

There was a synchronisation between the three forces The post of CDS made a real difference. He was there to get us together, he said, adding, NSA (Ajit Doval) also played a big role in getting all the agencies.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief backed the government decision to agree to a ceasefire with Pakistan.

People got down to their egos in this war Once we achieved our objective, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop Some people very close to me said, Aur maarna tha. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision, he said.

India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets

The Air Chief Marshal also revealed India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets during the 4-day conflict in May early this year following Indias launch of Operation Sindoor.

We have five confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres.

According to the Air Chief Marshal, this was the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill.

He further stated that Indian strikes also destroyed an F16 hanger at Shahbaz Jacobabad airfield of Pakistan.

Im sure there were some aircraft inside which have got damaged thereWe have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there, Singh added.
Five youths, including three young girls, were killed when their car collided with a truck trailer near Kailai village in the Secandra block of Dausa district on Saturday.

The group of five students was returning to their native village after appearing in an examination here in the state capital when their car collided with the trailer near Kailai on the National Highway No 21 (Jaipur  Agra), police sources said.

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While three occupants of the car died on the spot, three others were seriously injured. They were rushed to the Dausa District Hospital, from where they were referred to the SMS Hospital here, after first aid in Dausa.

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At SMS Hospital here, the injured were declared dead after a brief treatment, the sources said.

Following the accident, the traffic on the busy Jaipur  Agra Highway was also disrupted for some time.
Diwali has traditionally been a 5-day festival in most tradition-abiding households across India. However, at the Rajasthan CMs residence this year, Raksha Bandhan emerged as a competitor to the festival of lights.

Raksha Bandhan was celebrated on Saturday (August 9) this year. However, the festival began with a major event on Tuesday (August 5) for Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, his supporters, and women from different parts of the state, concluding on Saturday with a grand ceremony.

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On Tuesday, the opening day of the mega event, a rare emotional moment unfolded  in contrast to the countrys otherwise negativity-filled politics  as Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Manju Baghmar led 1.21 lakh Aanganbadi Behanas in celebrating Raksha Bandhan with Chief Minister Sharma by tying Rakhi to him.

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The CM not only blessed his sisters for their safety and bright future, but also gave each of them a sagun of Rs 501, along with a pack of sweets and gifts.

On August 6, CM Sharma invited the women functionaries and workers of the ruling BJP to celebrate with him the festival that affirms the bond of love and responsibility between brothers and sisters.

On August 7, women media persons tied rakhi to CM Sharma and shared light moments with him. The CM blessed his journalist sisters and presented them with ceremonial gifts.

Friday was a busy day for the Chief Minister, who spent long hours celebrating the festival with his sisters. In the morning, he visited the Apna Ghar ashram in the Jamdoli area of the Pink City to celebrate the festival with the sick and destitute women, elderly women, and specially abled girls.

Later in the afternoon, it was celebration time for the local women of Jaipur.

On Saturday, the designated day of the festival, an open-for-all opportunity was given to school and college girls, NGO workers, nurses, women doctors, lawyers, policewomen, and women from different parts of the state.

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) has been providing free bus travel to women on Raksha Bandhan day for almost two decades. However, this year the free rides will be available on August 9 and 10.
Police resorted to lathi-charge on Saturday to disperse protesters during a justice march for the RG Kar Medical College rape case victim, as demonstrators attempted to remove barricades set up by the police in central Kolkata. The demonstrators had planned a march to the West Bengal secretariat, Nabanna. Advertisement Led by senior BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Agnimitra Paul, the protest commemorated the anniversary of the tragic RG Kar incident. Advertisement As per ANI, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul and other protestors tried to remove the barricades set up by the West Bengal police to contain them during the Nabanna Abhiyan rally.

#WATCH | Kolkata | BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul and other protestors trying to remove the barricades set up by West Bengal police to contain them during the Nabanna Abhiyan rally. pic.twitter.com/eZzeym5HI1  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025 Meanwhile, in response to protestors action, West Bengal police had to resort to the use of force.

#WATCH | Kolkata | West Bengal Police deploys lathi charge at protestors during the Nabanna Abhiyan rally. The rally has been called to mark the one-year anniversary of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder. pic.twitter.com/F3jtMFmXk3

 ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

LoP Suvendu Adhikari alleged that BJP MLAs were baton-charged and the parents of RG Kar victim were injured in the police action during the march to Bengal secretariat.

Adhikari said, She (Mamata Banerjee) is protecting Vineet Kumar Goyal (former Police Commissioner of Kolkata) and Dr Sandip Ghosh (former principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital) She should resign; otherwise, the people will wipe her out after 8 months He added: Mamata should go.

Agnimitra Paul alleged, Mamata Banerjee is scared It has been one year, and abhaya has not received justice. This rally is against Mamata Banerjee. She got all the evidence erased. We demand her resignation.

BJP leader Ashok Dinda said,  That day is not far when we will have to beat up the police as well. They will be thoroughly thrashed. Once the BJP gives instructions from the top, we will beat up the police so much that they will have to hide behind Mamata Banerjee

Saturday, August 9, completed a year since the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkatas state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital  a crime that shook West Bengal and the nation, triggering nationwide protests. Former civic police volunteer Sanjay Roy, arrested soon after the incident, was found guilty by a sessions court of rape and murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Security was stepped up and traffic restrictions imposed across Kolkata and Howrah for the march to the West Bengal secretariat Nabanna, marking a year since the horrific rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at the state-run hospital.

Police said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in areas adjoining Nabanna, with multi-layer barricades set up at key crossings. Vehicular movement on the Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu over the Hooghly has also been halted.

As per a Calcutta High Court directive, two locations have been earmarked for peaceful gatherings  Santragachi bus stand in Howrah and Rani Rashmoni Avenue in central Kolkata.

The victims parents earlier urged citizens to join the Nabanna march.

Addressing a press conference at West Bengal Police headquarters in Bhawani Bhavan, ADG (Law and Order) Javed Shamim had said, We are yet to receive any application from any organisation planning to take out a rally on Saturday to mark the first death anniversary of the RG Kar hospital doctor.

He clarified that no protest would be allowed near the state secretariat, Nabanna, where Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is in force, prohibiting gatherings.

Earlier this week, the victims family met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CBI Director Praveen Sood in Delhi, alleging the investigation remains incomplete.

Marking the anniversary, students from various medical colleges and members of the public held a torchlight procession and vigil through Friday night, with more peaceful marches planned through the day.

Timeline  RG Kar Medical College Rape & Murder CaseAug 9, 2024  31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor found raped and murdered in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. Aug 2024  Former civic police volunteer Sanjay Roy arrested. Aug 2024  Nationwide protests erupt; questions raised on womens safety in Kolkata and security for doctors. Aug 2024  Calcutta High Court orders CBI to take over the probe. Jan, 2025  Sessions court finds Roy guilty of rape and murder; sentences him to life imprisonment. Aug 5, 2025  Victims family meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah and CBI Director Praveen Sood, alleging probe remains incomplete. Aug 9, 2025  On first anniversary, torchlight vigils and marches held by students, doctors, and citizens across Kolkata.
Since the first time India launched a strike against Pakistan backed terrorism on May 7, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down six Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

Addressing a gathering at the Bengaluru based Hal Management Academy, the IAF Chief said that during Operation Sindoor one of the targets marked the longest recorded surface-to-air engagement by the Indian Air Force, highlighting the effectiveness of Russian defence systems in achieving airspace superiority.

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Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away from their weapons like, those long-range glide bombs that they have, they have not been able to penetrate the system, he added.

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Speaking about the Pakistan jets that were downed by India, the CAS said that five were Pakistani fighter jets while the other one was an AEW & C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) or an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft.

We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW&C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about, he said.

Speaking about the 2019 Balakot strike carried out by IAF, the Air Chief said that it was unfortunate that some sections raised doubts about the terror camps being destroyed in the strikes.

In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to achieve. We had intelligence (human kind of intelligence) on what had gone on inside, where we had a very clear picture of the inside in terms of them having been huge damage. There have been so many terrorists who have been neutralised, but we could not convince our own people that, look, we have achieved that, he said.

He further noted that the absence of video proof could have led to similar doubts after Operation Sindoor. However, he emphasized that footage from the recently concluded military mission is now publicly available.

Things like this would have given us the same problem (regarding Operation Sindoor). However, we were lucky that we got these videos in the open. So, Im very happy that this time we were able to take care of that ghost of Balakot, and we were able to tell the world what we have achieved, the Air Chief Marshal said.

Clearing the air about the liberties extended to the defence forces in carrying out the strikes during Operation Sindoor, the CAS said that there were no restrictions upon the planning and execution of the operation.

A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. We decided how much to escalate. We had full freedom to plan and execute, Singh said.

Commending the collaboration and coordination between the Army, Air Force and Navy, the IAF Chief said, Our attacks were calibrated because we wanted to be mature about it. There was a synchronisation between the three forces. The post of Chief of Defence Staff made a real difference. He was there to get us together. NSA also played a big role in getting all the agencies.

Claiming that the Operation Sindoor was carried out only with an aim to teach terrorists a lesson, the Air Chief Marshal said that once the objective was achieved, India chose to stop the conflict.

People got down to their egos in the war, and that is what is continuously driving the ongoing conflicts. We set a very good example. Our objective was very clear: to teach terrorists a lesson. Once we achieved our objective, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop that. Some people very close to me said, Aur maarna tha. But can we continue to be at war? The nation has taken a good decision, he added.
Calling for thorough probe into Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhis allegations of vote theft in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday made a startling claim, saying two people met him in Delhi and offered gauranteed victory in 160 seats before the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024.

Interacting with media persons in Nagpur, Pawar said, I remember how before the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi. They told me that there are 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, out of which they could guarantee my party a victory in 160 seats.

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Pawar said that he even introduced them to Rahul Gandhi but the latter and he himself decided to go to the people in a usual way.

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I ignored those people but I got them to meet Rahul Gandhi. They spoke to Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that this is not our path. So we decided that we will go to the people in the usual way, the NCP-SCP founder and chief said.

Pawar also backed Rahul Gandhis allegations, calling for a thorough investigation. There is a need to go deeper into allegations made by Rahul Gandhi and to investigate the entire matter so that the truth is revealed.

He also slammed the BJP for its remarks on Rahul Gandhi following his vote theft allegations, asking what was the need for the ruling party leaders to speak on it when the matter he raised was related to the Election Commission of India.

All I am saying is that when a matter regarding the Election Commission was raised, what is the need for BJP leaders or the Chief Minister to answer it? We want an answer from the Election Commission and not from the BJP, Sharad Pawar said.

He also asserted that the response of the poll panel, asking Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed declaration and oath on his allegations was not right.

Rahul Gandhi worked hard to provide information about irregularities in the voting process but the Election Commission said that he should file an affidavit before it. The Election Commission is an autonomous body. Rahul Gandhi said that he has taken oath in Parliament, and so there is no need for a separate affidavit. If the Election Commission insists on such a thing, then it is not right, he added.
For the last eight years, the Uttar Pradesh government has been making the youth aware of the history and saga of the country through various cultural, literary, and spiritual events.

The UP government will organise Partition Horror Memorial Day across all 75 districts of the state this year as well, on August 14. While the youth of Uttar Pradesh will learn about the tragedy of Partition, displaced families will also have the opportunity to express their pain. Numerous events will be held during this period, with the cooperation of various social and voluntary organisations, under the supervision of the Culture Department.

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Officials here on Saturday said the government has directed the Culture Department to seek the cooperation of several social and non-governmental organisations, including the Sindhi Council of India, Uttar Pradesh Sindhi Sabha, Uttar Pradesh Sindhi Academy, and Sanatani Punjabi Mahasabha.

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An exhibition of archives related to the Partition Horror will be organised at places selected by the district administrations. The youth will gain awareness of the events of that time through photographs, newspaper clippings, literature, government records, and preserved materials of displaced families. Local publishers and booksellers will also participate in the exhibition. Under the direction of the Culture Department, films and documentaries related to the India-Pakistan Partition Horror will be screened across all 75 districts, both at exhibition venues and in schools, colleges, and universities.
The notification for Census 2027 was finally issued by the Government on 16 June 2025. This represents a delay of more than six years as the notice for Census 2021 was issued on 26 March 2019. That notification has now been cancelled, and the government has named the present census Census 2027.

This also indicates that the government has finally admitted that the nation has broken its chain of 150 years history of uninterrupted census-taking. Now the government will have to decide whether it will continue the previous tradition of taking a census in the first year of each decade, or a tenyear interval from the present census, to take the next one in 2037. Section 3 of the Census Act 1948 provides the government with the power to notify its decision to take a census and its time. The best course of action in this context will be to continue the present convention of taking census at the beginning of each decade, as this will require only minor readjustment of the data.

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The notification dated 16 June has not given any further information regarding the much-talked-about proposal of updating the National Population Registrars (NPR). The NPRs are prepared and updated under the provisions of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, framed under the Citizenship Act 1955. Under Rule 3 (4) of these rules, the Union Government is to issue an order stating the dates for preparation of NPRs. Similarly, rule 4 of these rules empowers the Central government to carry out house-tohouse enumeration for the collection of specified particulars from the persons, including their citizenship status.

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Thus, it is for the Central government to issue a notification much prior to the beginning of house-tohouse enumeration for census 2027. It may be noted that NPR was first prepared in the year 2010, and thereafter these were last updated in the year 2015. Another notable absence visible in the context of the Census 2027 notification is the information about the governments decision to headcount the caste population. The caste populace was enthusiastic about the announcement made by the government on 30 April 2025. But thereafter, nothing came out. The government issued the notification under Section 3 of the Census of India Act 1948. The provision is that the government must announce publicly their decision to go for a census. Nowhere in the Act of 1948 has the word census been defined. So, the provision of Section 3 is very broad, and the Union Government could have elaborated on their decision to take a census along with their intention to capture caste data.

But government avoided this perhaps thinking it to be too early. In this context, the government has to decide first about the modalities to be adopted for capturing caste data. At present, there are two lists of caste groups/communities, viz., 1) the Central list showing State-wise caste groups containing a total of 2,633 caste groups and 2) the list of each State. The present State lists together contain names of more caste groups than the existing Central list. In view of this, the Central Government would have limited scope to choose the Central list for the present census, because this would mean leaving out some of the caste groups/communities from enumeration that are already on the list and getting the admissible benefits from States.

This would open up a wide scope for litigation, defeating the purpose of conducting a census. On the other hand, accepting the State list for the census would mean more State compliance in the census pro  cess, especially concerning tho  se caste groups/communities which are not in the Central list. The government, although it has not come up with any information about the caste census, will soon have to comply with the provisions of Section 8(1) of the 1948 Act read with Rule 5(1) (c), when they will be required to notify the census schedules for public information. These schedules must also comprise the schedule prepared for capturing data of caste population. The basic purpose of enumeration of backward castes such as Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs, is to bring them up from the level of backwardness.

For this, the Constitution has provided various benefits and concessions to the communities belonging to SC, ST, and OBCs, including reservations in government jobs and reserved seats in government educational institutions, etc. So far, the quota system in both jobs and educational institutions is working effectively. Fixation of the size of the quota for job reservation, etc., for SC and ST communities is a matter that falls within the purview of the States. Almost every State in India has its legislation dealing with the size of the reservation quota for SC & ST populations. This is mainly done depending on the size of their population. In most cases, these State enactments were made during the 1970s and 80s, and therefore the size of the quotas is proportionate to the populations of the SCs and STs as recorded in the censuses of 1971 and 1981.

For example, in Andhra Pradesh the strength of the SC and ST populations was 16.41 per cent and 7.0 per cent, respectively, as per the 2011 census. Against this, the quota for SC and ST was fixed at 16.0 and 7 per cent, respectively, of the total vacant jobs. Similarly, the proportions of SC and ST populations in Gujarat were 6.74 per cent and 14.75 per cent, respectively. As against this, the job reservation quota was fixed at 7.0 and 15 per cent, respectively. Likewise in Karnataka, as against 17.15 per cent SC and 6.95 per cent ST populations, quotas were 16.0 and 7 per cent, respectively. This makes it amply clear that the exercise of fixation of quotas for reservation of jobs, etc., for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes was not much of a difficulty, as the population for both the categories is enumerated in successive censuses.

Quotas were fixed, keeping some room for accommodating future increments in the populations of both categories. At the time of the launch of the reservation policy, the concept of other backward classes was not in place, and therefore job reservation for them as a group was also not on the agenda. The demands for job reservation came up strongly only after the submission of the reports of the Mandal Commission on 31 December 1980. The commission in its report recommended, inter alia, 27 per cent reservation for jobs under Central government for the members of OBCs.

The recommendations of the report, however, were not implemented till 1990, the year in which the VP Singh-led government decided to implement the recommendations and accordingly made an announcement in Parliament. Immediately after the announcement, the Government issued an office memorandum declaring 27 per cent reservation of jobs for the people belonging to OBCs. However, this was challenged in the Supreme Court by a senior advocate, Indra Sawhney. A nine-judge Constitution bench had taken up the case of Indra Sawhney vs. Union of India.

The judgment was pronounced on 16 November 1992, which elaborately explains the constitutional provisions inherent under Articles 14, 15, and 16. It opened up a new vista in the matter of reservation of jobs for backward classes in India. Of the several critical aspects that were covered in the judgment, one important one was the fixation of the ceiling limit for reservation at 50 per cent. Now the real issues concerning the other backward classes will emerge once the census data pertaining to the caste are available.

The government has already made adequate publicity about the electronic mode of data collection in this census. This would help in processing the data quickly and thus it can be expected to be available for the public online soon. In this context, one thing that is very sure is that the census will record more caste population than what is expected and that will undoubtedly exceed the present limit of 27 per cent. The Mandal Commission recorded 3,743 caste groups comprising 52 per cent of Indias population, and the Supreme Court subsequently ordered that the Government move to reserve 27 per cent reservation in government for OBCs, but it should be in exclusion of the creamy layer, i.e., the socially advanced section among them.

The NSSO 55th Round (1999-2000) estimated the proportion of OBC population in the total population of India at 35.8 per cent. This estimate was revised upward during their 61st Round (2004-05) to 41 per cent, and in their 68th Round (2011- 12), the estimate was further revised upward to 43.1 per cent. Although these estimates are based on tiny samples, at present this is the only baseline data available to us. If we go by the rising trend as presented by these estimates, the coming census can be expected to record a population of the size of not less than 47 per cent of the nations total population.

(The writer is a former IAS officer, who retired as Secretary, Finance, Government of Assam)
The United Kingdoms announcement that it will recognise a Palestinian state unless certain conditions are met by Israel signals not just a policy pivot, but a deep reckoning with history and principle. It is also a moment fraught with political consequence, as symbolism collides with the hard limits of power and diplomacy. For decades, Britain, like many of its Western allies, has spoken of Palestinian statehood as the inevitable outcome of a negotiated two-state solution.

But negotiations have long stalled. Instead, the reality has shifted on the ground: Israeli settlements have steadily expanded across the West Bank, the Gaza Strip remains under siege, and Palestinian governance is fractured and largely powerless. The idea of a twostate solution has gone from diplomatic orthodoxy to political fiction. What then does recognition mean in such a context? It means, primarily, the affirmation of a peoples right to self-determination. More than 140 nations already recognise Palestine as a state, though many do so in name more than in consequence. For Britain to join them, especially as a former colonial power in the region, is to acknowledge that moral responsibility lingers long after the empire. The Balfour Declaration promised a home for Jews but also warned against prejudicing the rights of non-Jewish communities.

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The failure to uphold both ends of that promise is a wound that remains unhealed. Yet recognition is not just an act of atonement or a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Palestinians under siege. It is also a political lever aimed squarely at a government in Israel that has made no secret of its disdain for Palestinian sovereignty. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus refusal to entertain a two-state solution, combined with Israels on-going military campaign in Gaza and recent threats of West Bank annexation, has effectively closed the door to a credible peace process. In that light, Britains recognition pledge becomes a conditional ultimatum. It gives Israel a diplomatic off-ramp ~ ceasefire, no annexation, return to negotiations ~ but it also sets a deadline. Few expect Israel to yield, but the move forces a stark choice into the open: either uphold the viability of two states or acknowledge that the alternative is indefinite occupation, and the erosion of both Palestinian rights and Israeli democracy.

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Critics may argue that recognition, without a functioning state apparatus or defined borders, is a hollow act. But hollow acts can still echo. They can redraw the moral map of international diplomacy. They can signal to the Palestinians that their cause is not forgotten; and to Israel that unchallenged impunity is no longer guaranteed. France and Canadas recent decision to recognise Palestine, alongside earlier moves by Ireland, Spain, and Norway, signals a broader Western shift. With Britain poised to follow, the moral and diplomatic isolation of Israel deepens and the demand for justice, even if symbolic for now, becomes impossible to ignore.
Just six months after pledging to double bilateral trade by 2030, US President Donald Trump has slapped India with a combined 50 per cent tariff on all imports ~ 25 per cent as part of his broad trade overhaul, and a fresh 25 per cent penalty targeting Indian purchases of Russian oil. The announcement came via a formal executive order citing national security threats arising from Indias continued energy dealings with Moscow.

The language of the order leaves little room for ambiguity. Indias direct or indirect imports of Russian oil, it claims, undermine US foreign policy in Ukraine. But the unprecedented move goes well bey  ond economic recalibration. It exposes a new era of transactional foreign policy ~ where punitive tariffs are not just about deficits or reciprocity but about compelling alignment with Washingtons broader geopolitical objectives. The Indian government has rightly called the measure unjustified and unreasonable. After all, it was the redirection of Russian energy to Asian buyers like India that helped stabilise global oil prices following Western sanctions in 2022.

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US officials at the time tacitly encouraged this shift to prevent a global shock. New Delhis energy strategy, driven by commercial and logistical realities, helped fill a supply vacuum created by Europes sudden turn away from Russian crude. Indias energy calculus is not ideological but pragmatic. With Europe crowding out traditional West Asian suppliers, and volatility in global markets, Russian oil offered both availability and affordability. Even private Indian refiners based their sourcing on price, not politics ~ something Western oil majors routinely claim as standard practice.

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To now weaponise those very actions is not just hypocritical, it is disingenuous. The justification ~ that Indian purchases of Russian oil threaten US interests in Ukraine ~ sounds less like strategy and more like selective morality. Washington had no qualms about conducting $3.5 billion in trade with Russia under President Joe Biden just last year. Yet India, whose energy decisions were driven by commercial logic and global supply dislocations, is now being punished under the guise of principle. India has chosen not to retaliate ~ at least for now. But the tariffs will bite. The Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative estimates that Indian exports to the US could drop by nearly 50 per cent if these duties stay in place. This includes everything from textiles and pharmaceuticals to auto components and IT hardware.

And the broader message being sent to India and others is chilling: foreign policy independence may carry a steep price tag. For all the rhetoric of friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump, the present state of bilateral ties points to a deeper div  ergence of interests. The shift from shared democratic values to hard-nosed economic coercion marks a turning point. India may eventually re-enter trade talks with Washington, but it will do so with caution and a sharpened sense of self-interest. Washington must ask itself what it ultimately wants from its allies: loyalty, leverage ~ or respect. It is losing all three.
Recently, the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), a premier institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, hosted its 19th Raja Ramanna Memorial Lecture. Organised at the Meghnad Saha Auditorium of the VECC-SINP campus, the annual lecture commemorates Dr Raja Ramanna, one of Indias eminent nuclear scientists and a key figure behind the countrys first nuclear test.

The lecture this year was delivered by Prof. Goutam Chattopadhyay, Senior Research Scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, USA. Titled Space Exploration and Our Place in the Universe, the talk emphasised how space exploration inspires future generations, advances science and technology, and deepens our understanding of Earth and the cosmos. We still dont know if we are alone in the universe, he said, focusing particularly on the search for water as a key to discovering life beyond Earth. He also explained how his team develops next-generation and low-power instruments.

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Speaking to The Statesman, Sumit Som, Director of the institute, said, This lecture started in 2005 in memory of Dr Ramanna. This year is particularly special as it is the 100th birth anniversary of Raja Ramanna. I am very much thankful to Prof. Chattopadhyay, and he has given an amazing and insightful lecture.

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At the end of the event, Prof Goutam Chattopadhyay engaged in an exclusive conversation with The Statesman, highlighting his journey from Nabagram, a village on the outskirts of Kolkata, to NASA.

Q. What first sparked your own interest in astronomy and space science, especially growing up in India?

We grew up in utter poverty, where we six siblings lived with our parents in a single-room house. My parents struggled, and sometimes we couldnt afford two meals a day. When you go to bed hungry, you cant fall asleep. So I used to dream. My brother and I used to wake up early to read the two newspapers available at our local club  one of them being The Statesman. Thats where I read science-related topics. These fascinated me and inspired me to work hard. I studied engineering in B.E. College (now IIEST, Shibpur) and took up a job in an organisation where I got the opportunity to work with Prof. Govind Swarup (widely recognised as the Father of Indian radio astronomy) and other noted scientists. That exposure opened my eyes and I realised I need higher education. I went to California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and my winter neighbour was Stephen Hawking.

Later, when I was about to complete my studies, I got a call from NASA regarding a job offer. That was my dream come true. I started working there, and just like the first day, it still feels exciting to work at NASA. It is because we are working on problems that no one has solved before. The more we explore, the more we realise how little we know; were only scratching the surface.

Q. Your research focuses on developing space instruments for the search for life beyond Earth. Can you share some of the technologies or methods being pursued, and how close are we to finding signs of life beyond Earth?

Im an instrument builder, an engineer, a technologist, and involved with science for space instruments. The instruments we build serve three domains  astrophysics, planetary science and Earth observation. My focus is on terahertz frequency. In astrophysics, we are trying to understand how stars and galaxies are formed. Our understanding is still incomplete, so we are building sensitive instruments to look deeper into space. For Earth observation, I work on the stratosphere. For instance, if you burn something in Kolkata today, within two days, that pollution can reach California. This is transported through the stratosphere. Weve built instruments that track how water vapour and chemicals move through the atmosphere. In planetary science, we study comets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies. This leads us to exoplanets, planets that orbit other stars. Were building instruments to detect whether these planets have atmospheres. Detecting atmospheres is key to determining whether they might support life. So, I cannot give you a definitive answer when we are going to find life, but I can tell you we are making good progress in that direction.

Q. What recent discoveries or missions do you believe have most significantly altered our understanding of the cosmos?

If you look at what the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is doing, it is a game-changer. It was launched a couple of years ago, and since then, we have discovered galaxies and star-forming regions we never thought wed see. Every new measurement adds excitement.

Science begins with a theory, but observations can challenge those theories. That is what is happening. JWST is amazing with discoveries that ask us to go back and revise our theories. Some of the things we are observing dont align with what we predicted. Thats the beauty of science: we will have to be flexible enough to admit that our theory is not always fully correct.

Q. Recently, India has achieved remarkable successes in space missions. How do you see Indias space program contributing to global space exploration, and is there future scope where NASA might be thinking of collaborating more with organisations like ISRO and also other private institutions?

Firstly, India is doing exceptionally well in space. Im really proud and have so many friends working in ISRO. If you see the recent progress, from Chandrayaan to Mangalyaan and now Gaganyaan, India is a key global player. And space exploration is becoming more expensive. So, a collaborative approach is the only way forward. One such upcoming collaboration is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission (launched on 30 July 2025). This is a joint programme where one instrument is built by ISRO and another by NASA. The launch will be from India, and its a great example of partnership.

I will be the happiest person if we collaborate more and then, as we used to say as children: Doshe mili kori kaaj, Hari jeeti nahi laj. This is absolutely true, and this collaboration is crucial for future space exploration. This is where private entities also become important. For NASA, we encourage more private partnerships because then we can focus our limited resources on core science and instrument development, while private companies handle the rest.

Q. The theme of todays lecture was Space Exploration and Our Place in the Universe. How has space exploration changed the way we see our place in the cosmos?

I always refer to the Pale Blue Dot: that iconic image taken by Voyager 1. It reminds us that this tiny blue dot is the only place we know where life exists. Thats why I titled my talk in that way. The more we explore space, the more it gives us a better understanding of our place in the universe. We say that there is a possibility of life beyond Earth, but we still havent found any sign of life elsewhere. Until we find it, we must value the uniqueness of Earth.

Q. As an expert in microwave and terahertz technologies, how do you think these systems have revolutionised our ability to study planets and the universe? And could you explain how these technologies are critical to current and future space missions?

The first light of the universe is called cosmic microwave background radiation. Microwave energy is present in every aspect of our lives. These energies are even in technologies that we are operating in here, such as mobile phones and satellite communication. So, microwave technologies are building the next generation of instruments to tell us our place in the universe, and at the same time, the same technology is making our lives better on planet Earth. Many organic materials leave signatures in these frequencies, so if were looking for life beyond Earth, these bands are essential.

Q. Can you share any challenges youve faced while developing instruments for NASAs missions?

Of course, we face challenges every day. Even though the motto of NASA is failure is not an option, we fail every day. But the best part is learning from them.

At NASA, for every mission, whether its successful or not, we have a database called Lessons Learned. Its a resource for future missions. We always go back and review what worked, what didnt, and how to improve. This is very important to make future progress.

Q. What can Indian research institutes do to become more involved in planetary science and instrumentation development at a global level?

I think India needs more investment in Research and Development (R&D). NASA and ISRO developed in different ways. ISRO originally focused on building communication infrastructure, and did an excellent job. Recently, they started doing more and more scientific exploration, and thats why its very much needed that our research institutions and universities get proper funding. We have to work at the grassroots level, and only then will some of the great ideas filter up. The progress ISRO is making shows were on the right path, but we need to do more.

Q. What advice would you give to young Indian scientists who want to pursue a career in this field?

Everybody knows about astronauts, but behind every mission lies critical instrument development. This is why we need hands-on experience. There are so many engineering colleges across the nation. If the students can get to build some project hands-on, thats when they will be coming up as trained individuals and will be contributing to the nation.

Also, we should focus on understanding the basics. Find your passion and try to understand the basics. No one can stop you. Dont run after marks or scores. It is not important what marks you get; it is important what you learn. Thats what is going to help you. Understanding is more important than anything else.

Q. Looking ahead, what do you believe are the next major milestones in space exploration that we should anticipate in the coming decades?

If you had asked me this question a decade ago, I think many of us wouldnt be able to predict the achievements we have made today. Its hard to say. Currently, we are working on a lot of projects. A major focus, right now, is on returning samples from Mars. The Mars Sample Return mission is a big thing, bringing materials to Earth to study. We also aim to explore other planetary bodies. As I said, our knowledge is so limited for our own solar system, and thats what we are trying to focus on for the next decade. For this reason, we have a Decadal Survey at NASA where we decide what the big questions are that we want to answer for the next decade. It sets the course for the future of space exploration.
In an evocative blend of artistry and activism, St. Xaviers University, Kolkata, played host to a ground-breaking feminist photography workshop recently, organised by the Department of English under the guidance of Head of the Department Prof. Medha Bhadra Chowdhury. The day-long workshop aimed to dismantle patriarchal narratives ingrained in visual culture, reclaim female subjectivity, and challenge the male gaze.

The event, held at the university campus, began on a note of reverence and purpose with the ceremonial lighting of the prayer lamp.

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What followed was an intellectually stirring engagement led by the keynote speaker and workshop conductor, Millo Ankha  a renowned documentary photographer, educator, and founder of the AAMA Collective. Well known for her visual documentation of Northeast India and Darjeeling, Ankha highlighted a diverse tapestry of indigenous identity, feminist criticism, and artistic expression.

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Drawing from her own roots in the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, Ankha addressed the first part of the session by unpacking the theoretical frameworks that mould feminist visual narratives. Candidly opening up about her origin, Ankha stressed the history of her tribe- how tattooed bodies of the Apatani women, which once stood as a cultural and social emblem, are now on the verge of extinction. While tattoos may have been their primary evidence of identification, she questioned the generalisation behind it- Our bodies were our language, she asserted, her voice resonating through the packed auditorium. But what happens when the world only reads one meaning into our skin?

From colonial documentation to war reportage, Ankhas talk skilfully navigated the history of photography, highlighting how the medium has historically been marshalled to document conflict and disaster, frequently overlooking the intimate realities. She urged the participants to look beyond traditional subjects and compositions, claiming that feminist photography must aim to confront the human psyche and expose the naked truth through its lens of transparency and raw approach.

Crucially, she challenged what has traditionally been deemed deserving of photographic attention by stressing the analytical tools required for decoding images  the lens, the gaze, and the frame  while also emphasising the significance of capturing anything and everything. Citing Virginia Woolfs claim that women require a room of ones own, Ankha compared the progressive reclamation of space and vision by female photographers in a formerly male-dominated field.

Students from St. Xaviers University, as well as La Martiniere for Girls and Hiralal Mazumdar College for Women, enthusiastically participated in the workshop. The diverse range of viewpoints at the event was further enhanced by a number of independent researchers and photography enthusiasts.

The second session shifted gears from theoretical to practical. In a dynamic and exciting hands-on exercise, participants were asked to venture across the campus and engage in a guided photography walk, where they could click pictures wherever their minds led them to. After they were done clicking pictures, Ankha invited the audience to display their photographs and build a literary narrative around them, thus fixating the audience in an engaging and fruitful discussion.

This immersive segment encouraged attendees to rethink representation- to question what stories are conveyed through images and, more crucially, by whom. Participants challenged the conventional idea of gaze and reoriented visual storytelling toward inclusivity and intersectionality by documenting everything, from everyday interactions to hidden corners of the university.

In a lively reflection circle that followed the exercise, participants shared their photographs and talked about how they attempted to assert female subjectivity and regain narrative agency. Every picture, whether it was of a classrooms empty bench drenched in the sombre light of the monsoon sky or the complexities of a tall, lone tree in the reflection of rainwater, became a storyprivate, political, and potent.

The Head of the Department of English, Prof. Medha Bhadra Chowdhury, said, Feminism as a theoretical framework can be complex, particularly for young people who have not yet been initiated in the discipline. The photography workshop, therefore, was a way of demonstrating simply and effectively how a feminist approach could shift perspectives and influence social understanding.
A long march by Shia pilgrims protesting the federal governments ban on overland travel to the shrines of Iran and Iraq was halted by Balochistan police at the Hub River Bridge, near the Sindh-Balochistan border, The Balochistan Post reported.

The group began their journey on foot from Karachi, with the goal of reaching the Taftan border and continuing towards Iraq for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage.

Security officials deployed police forces along with the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) to block main entry routes into Balochistan, citing precautionary security concerns, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

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Negotiations are currently underway as authorities seek to dissuade the protestors from advancing, hoping to resolve the matter peacefully, The Balochistan Post added. The protest is led by representatives of various Shia organisations, who have denounced the travel restrictions as infringements on basic constitutional and human rights.

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Pilgrims, including women, the elderly, children, and youth, have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the peaceful march despite the blockade. The Balochistan Post noted that many participants view their journey as not just religious but as an act of spiritual solidarity with Imam Hussains legacy of standing against injustice during the Arbaeen observance, marking the 40th day after Ashura.

In a related condemnation, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) described the ban as a clear infringement on religious freedom. The group pledged full support to the protest, calling it a legitimate expression of constitutional and democratic rights. We stand shoulder to shoulder with their peaceful protest, the BYC affirmed in a statement quoted by The Balochistan Post.

The pilgrims remain resolute in their mission, vowing not to abandon their religious obligations. They insist on continuing their protest in a non-violent manner, despite the state-imposed roadblock. The Balochistan Post reports that the standoff has sparked widespread debate over the balance between security measures and religious freedom in Pakistan.
Azerbaijan and Armenia on Friday signed a landmark peace agreement brokered by the United States during a meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump. The deal aims to strengthen economic ties between the long-time rivals and move their relationship toward full normalization after decades of conflict.

The deal also grant the United States exclusive development access to a critical transit corridor in the South Caucasus, which will be named after Trump.

If the agreement works, it would be a big win for the Trump administration and could upset Moscow, which sees the South Caucasus as part of its area of control.

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Trump, joined by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, highlighted the historic nature of the accord, noting, They fought for 35 years, and now theyre going to be friends for a long time. The tensions date back to the late 1980s over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region within Azerbaijan primarily inhabited by ethnic Armenians. Armenia supported the regions bid to break away, but Azerbaijan regained full control in 2023, leading to the mass exodus of nearly all of Nagorno-Karabakhs 100,000 ethnic Armenians to Armenia.

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Under the new agreement, both countries have pledged to cease hostilities, establish diplomatic relations, and respect each others territorial sovereignty. A key component includes granting the U.S. exclusive development rights over a strategic transit corridor in the South Caucasus, designed to boost exports of energy and other resources from the region.

Additionally, the U.S. signed separate cooperation agreements with Azerbaijan and Armenia focused on expanding partnerships in energy, trade, and technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, though specific details were not disclosed. The U.S. also lifted restrictions on defense cooperation with Azerbaijan, a move likely to raise concerns in Moscow.

Both Aliyev and Pashinyan praised Trump for facilitating the peace deal and announced plans to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout the early months of his second term, Trump has sought to position himself as a global peacemaker, with the White House crediting him for brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand and helping broker peace agreements between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Pakistan and India.

Despite these efforts, Trump has yet to resolve major conflicts such as Russias ongoing war in Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas crisis in Gaza. On Friday, he announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 in hopes of advancing peace talks.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump reiterated his claim of helping resolve tensions between India and Pakistan, this time while presiding over the signing of a peace accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House. He also pointed to his role in mediating disputes in other parts of the world, including Thailand and Cambodia.

Following the ceremony, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan announced their intention to jointly nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, calling the agreement a historic breakthrough. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev said both nations would submit a letter recommending Trump for the honor, remarking, Who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?

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Standing alongside the two leaders, Trump compared the Armenia-Azerbaijan pact to what he described as his earlier success in preventing a tremendous  and potentially nuclear  conflict between India and Pakistan. He said the two South Asian nations were going at it big before their leaders reached an understanding.

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#WATCH | Washington, DC | US President Donald Trump says, As president, my highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world. Todays signing follows our success with India and Pakistan. They were going at it. They were going at it big. And, they were great leaders pic.twitter.com/uLQA3lsHYl  ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2025

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had credited Trump with directly intervening to ease the India-Pakistan standoff, adding it to the list of conflicts where the administration claims to have brokered peace. Trump himself also cited efforts in Africa and Southeast Asia, including between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and between Thailand and Cambodia.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan accord, which aims to settle the decades-old Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, is the latest in a string of US-brokered deals. The mountainous region broke away from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s with Armenian backing, sparking years of conflict. Trump hailed the agreement as historic, saying it would enhance regional stability and open opportunities for trade and investment.

Trump has been making similar claims about mediating peace between India and Pakistan since May 10, when tensions between the two countries began to subside  assertions that New Delhi has consistently denied.
In a significant development underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between India and Russia, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with Russias First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov in Moscow.

During the meeting, Doval and Manturov discussed a broad spectrum of issues, from military-technical cooperation to joint projects in strategic sectors such as civil aviation, metallurgy, and the chemical industry.

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The Russian Embassy in India shared an update on the discussions via Telegram on Saturday, August 9, stating:

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Russias First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov held a meeting with Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval.

The parties discussed topical issues of bilateral military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy, and the chemical industry.

Earlier Doval met Russias Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu. Both sides explored ways to deepen strategic ties and enhance cooperation in multilateral forums.

Both sides stressed the need for collaborative efforts ahead of this years bilateral summit, and exchanged views on Russia-India cooperation in multilateral forums, as well as key global security issues.

On August 7, Secretary of Russias Security Council Sergey Shoigu held talks with Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval. The parties discussed ways to further strengthen the Russia-India special and privileged strategic partnership and emphasised the importance of joint efforts in preparation of the bilateral summit by the end of this year. They also discussed cooperation between Russia and India in multilateral formats and exchanged views on topical issues of international security, the Russian Embassy in India posted on Telegram.

The meetings come in the run-up to the annual India-Russia bilateral summit, with President Putin expected to visit India later this month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday received Doval at the Kremlin, marking a significant moment in the evolving strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow.
In a written appeal, prominent Baloch human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch has urged US President Donald Trump to formally recognise the Republic of Balochistan as an independent state, separating it from Pakistans territorial control.

The appeal, shared via a public letter on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, accuses Pakistan of illegal occupation, systemic exploitation, and fostering global terrorism through its rogue military-intelligence apparatus.

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Mir Yar Baloch, who is a member of the Free Balochistan Movement, a human rights defender, and special advisor to the Balochistan Studies Project at MEMRI, framed the letter as a plea from a nation under siege. He described Balochistan as a sovereign, secular, and tolerant land, currently suppressed by Pakistan and Iran despite its immense natural wealth in oil, gas, rare earth minerals, and strategic geography.

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We address you on behalf of the people of the Republic of Balochistan, an ancient, sovereign nation under illegal occupation by Pakistan and Iran, he wrote.

The letter, posted ahead of the anticipated U.S. visit of Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, accused the Pakistan Army and ISI of overseeing mass human rights violations, including the enforced disappearances of over 40,000 Baloch civilians. He questioned whether the United States would continue to engage with a military that sheltered Osama Bin Laden and continues to harbour radical Islamist groups.

Ask General Munir: On what legal or moral grounds does Pakistan claim Balochistans natural wealth as its own? Can he point to any similar reserves in Punjab, the true center of Pakistans military elite? Mir Yar Baloch wrote.

The letter condemns US policy after 9/11, saying Washington made a critical error by trusting Pakistan rather than empowering secular forces like the Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun. He warns that training camps for ISIS and Daesh are now operating under ISI supervision, posing a grave threat to both regional and international security.

The Baloch people have always upheld religious tolerance, he stated, adding that Pakistans military instead empowers groups chanting Death to America and Death to Israel.

Mir Yar Baloch urged Trump to initiate direct engagement with exiled pro-independence Baloch leadership, particularly under Hyrbyair Marri, president of the Free Balochistan Movement.

He concluded with a call to align US foreign policy with democratic, anti-extremist values:

The Baloch nation seeks peace, justice, and recognition. Support for Balochistan aligns with Americas long-term strategic interests.

The post has triggered heated discourse online, with many questioning Pakistans legitimacy over Balochistan and calling for international recognition of the Republic of Balochistan.
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the tariffs imposed on India by President Donald Trump have backfired, causing the worst possible outcome for the US. Instead of drawing India closer, the tariffs have pushed New Delhi further away, weakening years of American attempts to distance India from Russia and China.

In a post on X, he said, Trumps leniency on the Chinese, and heavy-handed tariffs on India, jeopardize decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China.

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Trumps leniency on the Chinese, and heavy-handed tariffs on India, jeopardize decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China. pic.twitter.com/aUQsD9aKWh Advertisement  John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) August 8, 2025

He also tweeted his statement given to the CNN where he said,  it was ironic that the secondary tariff, intended to hurt Russia, could instead push India closer to Russia and China, and perhaps lead them to negotiate together against the US.

Russia and China have backed or agreed with the Modi governments stand, as both try to counter US influence in a more multipolar world.

On Thursday, the day the USs first 25% tariff on Indian goods began, Chinas ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, seemed to aim a jab at Donald Trump on X, saying, Give a bully an inch, and he will take a mile.

Meanwhile, on August 5, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that every country has the right to choose its own trade partners.

Peskov added, We hear many statements that are in fact threats, attempts to force countries to cut trade relations with Russia. We do not consider such statements to be legal.

The latest round of tariffs, an additional 25 per cent hike, was announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, citing Indias continued imports of Russian crude oil as the primary reason. This comes on top of a previous 25 per cent tariff that came into effect on July 20.

Responding sharply to the US move, the Ministry of External Affairs called the decision unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable, stating that Indias energy needs and strategic autonomy must be respected.

In a public statement shortly after the new tariffs took effect, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his governments unwavering support for Indias farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen.

Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in Delhi on Thursday, he said, The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen. And I know that I will have to pay a huge price for this personally, but I am ready. India is ready, for the sake of the countrys farmers, fishermen and livestock holders.

Trump ruled out negotiations with India on the tariffs on Thursday. No, not until we get it resolved, he said when a reporter asked him if he expected more negotiations following the announcement of the 50 per cent tariff that is to take effect on August 27.
Taking to X, Netanyahu tweeted, We are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.

Amid strong backlash against Israels security cabinet decision to fully take control of Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, We are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to liberate Gaza from Hamas.

We are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Advertisement Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. Advertisement This will help free  Benjamin Netanyahu    (@netanyahu) August 8, 2025

On Thursday, after Israels Cabinet approved Prime Minister Netanyahus plan, Germanya key European allyannounced it would halt exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Meanwhile, the UK and other European nations urged Israel to reconsider escalating its military operations in the region.

Israel revealed intentions to intensify its ongoing conflict with Hamas, targeting control over Gaza City. According to AFP, a source familiar with the plan said the operation would proceed gradually, though no exact timeline has been provided.

Following the decision, Netanyahus office announced that the Cabinet had agreed on five principles to guide the campaign. These include the demilitarization of Gaza and the establishment of a new civil administration, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

The approved strategy, aimed at dismantling Hamas, involves the Israeli military preparing to take over Gaza City while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians in areas away from active fighting, the Prime Ministers office said in a statement on Friday.
Assyrian Representative Warns Against US Withdrawal From Syria

Bassam Ishak. Washington -- Amid growing discussions in diplomatic circles about the potential reduction or withdrawal of US military forces from North and East Syria, Bassam Ishak -- a member of the Syrian Democratic Council's (SDC) Representation Office in Washington, D.C., and President of the Syriac National Council in Syria (SSNC) -- issued a stark warning about the consequences such a move could have on local security and regional stability.

In an interview with Kurdistan 24, Ishak stressed that while the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have made significant progress in combatting the Islamic State (ISIS), the threat has not been fully eliminated. He noted that other extremist groups remain active in the region, reinforcing the necessity of continued international support -- particularly from the United States.

He warned that a premature US withdrawal could create a dangerous security vacuum that would likely be filled by groups with ideologies nearly identical to those of ISIS. "It makes no sense to replace forces that fought terrorism with factions that hold the same extremist views," Ishak said.

Ishak also spoke about his ongoing engagement with members of the US Congress, amid rising skepticism about the Trump Administration's Syria policy -- especially following recent violations and bombings in Damascus and Suwayda. He pointed out that proposed cuts to the US defense budget have already impacted funding for the SDF, deepening concerns over the future of security in the region.

Regarding the current government in Syria dominated by former members of Islamist group Hayat Tahri al-Sham, Ishak noted a growing shift in Congress's attitude, particularly in light of the government's continued human rights violations and systemic abuse of minorities, which have been underscored by recent developments in Suwayda.

He also advocated for a decentralized model of governance in a future Syrian state -- one that grants greater authority to local administrations. He emphasized that this model should not be interpreted as a move toward partition and stated that this vision is gaining increased acceptance among US lawmakers.

However, the debate over US policy toward Syria extends beyond military aid and governance. It also touches on the realm of political symbolism.

Controversy recently emerged when the US State Department continued to display the flag of the former Syrian regime on its official platforms, despite having declared the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government. National security lawyer Irina Tsukerman told Mujhar Platform that this was not a mere administrative oversight, but rather a deliberate political signal.

According to Tsukerman, the continued use of the Ba'athist-era flag undermines efforts to recognize a new Syrian government that seeks to distance itself from Assad's legacy. She suggested the move may reflect internal divisions within US institutions -- between those who prioritize short-term stability and those pushing for a clean break from the past.

"Flags are not incidental in diplomacy," Tsukerman said. "The insistence on keeping a symbol from a past era may indicate that the US has yet to finalize its vision for Syria's future." She added that this lingering ambiguity is part of what has allowed Assad to maintain his grip on power for more than a decade.
Contrary to Trumps tariff tantrum and the frozen vibes that have suddenly enveloped India-US trade talks, the discussions with the European Union (EU) have been proceeding pretty smoothly.

With Trumps hardening of stance, India now desperately needs to offset the shock of losing out on its biggest trading partnerwith major ramifications not just to its exports, but the whole economy itself.

That means it needs to recalibrate and find alternate options quickly. And what better than a market that is almost as big as the US, with whom you have been, coincidentally, already talking?

In reality, Indias free trade attempts with the EU have a very chequered past, with talks beginning nearly two decades ago but reaching nowhere. There were seven rounds of talks over six years from 2007, but those were different times, and India played hardball and refused to relax many of its trade barriers or open up many of its sectors. The result? Talks stalled after the seventh round in 2013, and it seemed that the dream had died.

But cut to the UK leaving the EU after Brexit and India refusing to join the China-led trade alignment called RCEP, both entities suddenly realised their mutual need for an alternative matched. Talks restarted in June 2022 after PM Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met, with the steady progress prompting some quarters to get optimistic about a treaty being finalised even before this year is out.

Looking at the rapid progress that we are making, my sense is that we can do it faster than the year-end, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had said back in June.

The fast progress this time, besides, of course, the fact that the Trump-induced upsetting of the global trading apple cart requires quick-fix solutions, has prompted both sides to be much more accommodating. After the 12th round of negotiation last month, tentative agreements have already been reached on five broad areas, which include IP, customs and trade facilitation.

It also helped that both sides had agreed to sort out the easier points first, before moving into more contentious issues.

Goyal has said that only a few unresolved issues remain, describing India and the EU as complementary economies.

But that may just be wishful thinking, for there are a total of 23 chapters that need to be thrashed out threadbare by both sides and settled down, and this includes topics ranging from technical barriers to trade, customs facilitation, rules of origin, etc. Duties on automobiles, alcohol and beverages, data security frameworks, etc., are also pending. The question of opening up government procurement (which India has already opened up to British contractors as per the UK FTA recently signed), as well free movement of professionals, to what extent services sector can be opened up are also likely to take time, especially since EU is a bloc of 27 countries, where consensus might take time.

The most sensitive, of course, will be the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM, which the European Parliament adopted back in 2023 and is undergoing a transition period of phasing init is slated to be fully implemented from New Years Day 2026.

For the EU, the carbon tax is central to its attempt to be sustainable and become completely carbon emission-free at least by 2055. Still, for India, the new rule adds increased compliance responsibilities on companies importing products into the EU area, with Indian companies having to pay additional penalties if they dont follow adequate carbon reduction methodologies as per the EUs stipulations.

MORE | Auto trouble: Trump tariffs eat into Tata Motors abroad before they hit India

For India, this has always been an issue, and even senior Indian ministers have lashed out against what they termed as an unfair proposal to limit their trade prospects and against the principles of multilateralism. Many Indian big scale exporters to European markets will find the going tough as they would either have to go in for major ramping up of climate control procedures (reduce dependence on energy from coal, which is cheaply abundant in India, for example) or come clean and pay up hefty carbon border tax when their exports enter the common market.

Either way, India fears this would jack up costs and bring down profitability, making many of its crucial export sectors to the EU, like iron and steel. In fact, a study by ICRA points out that the profit margin on Indian steel exports could fall by as much as 14,000 rupees per metric tonne once CBAM is fully implemented.

India had called out the EUs proposal at various fora, including the G20. While Indias call for an exemption from CBAM may be impossibleit is, after all, a legislation passed by the European Parliament and pivotal to Europes Net Zero goals, what negotiators could offer is reinforced co-operation in its implementationpossibly as part of the trade deal, or maybe separately.

RELATED | Can India afford to wage a trade war with United States? Modi vs Trump in the open

This could work out into perhaps a phased timeline for implementation of the new rules by developing a framework for co-operation. (India is not alone in its protestations against the new rules, and this timeline could involve multiple other trading partners from the Global South)

India, on its part, is quietly updating its rules related to environmental impact, so that it aligns with the EUs stringent green norms. The new benchmarks, which could come into effect as early as the new year, cover areas like products having to certify that they have not been made by cutting down trees or causing deforestation in any manner, as well as the use of recyclable packaging and waste disposal. There could also be a ban on the use of antibiotics in meat production, a practice said to be rampant in the country, especially with poultry.

In any trading relationship, there are certain sensitive issues which we have to resolve amicably, Goyal had said recently. The next round of India-EU talks is scheduled next month, by which time there could be better clarity on the fate of India-US trade, too.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh confirmed on Saturday that at least five Pakistani fighter jets and an Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) plane were shot down by India during Operation Sindoor. The Pakistan Air Force also lost two stationary aircraft in the Indian offensive, the Air Chief said in Bengaluru at the L. M. Katre Lecture.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, "None of their aircraft could come anywhere near the boundaries of Akash and even MRSAM. All their aircraft were taken on by LRSAM because they were trying to pic.twitter.com/WBAXFlpsvN  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025



ALSO READ | Airborne early warning explained: Why PAF fighter jets become sitting ducks if AWACS is downed by India

Referring to the AWACS as the "big bird", Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh said the Russian S-400 air defence systems were crucial in bringing down the airborne enemy targets and ensuring India dominated the airspace. The AWACS was about 300km away, and bringing it down was the longest-ever recorded surface-to-air elimination by the IAF in history, he reportedly said.

It was a major blow to Pakistan's ability to strike back, he said. Amid the India-Pakistan tensions, there were reports on May 9 that Islamabad had lost its AWACS in Pakistani-Punjab.





The presence of S-400 systems ensured that even Pakistan's long-range glide bombs were useless during the conflict. "Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job. The S-400 system, which we had recently bought, has been a game-changer. The range of that system has really kept their aircraft away... even those long-range glide bombs that they have, they have not been able to use any one of those because they have not been able to penetrate the system," the Air Chief Marshal was quoted as saying by news agencies.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, "...In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we have been able to pic.twitter.com/S7fJeqnBuZ  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

ALSO RESAD | S-400 missile system proved its might during Operation Sindoor. When will India get remaining squadrons?





He also lauded New Delhi's political leadership for the way the operation was handled. He said that there was no restrictions on the armed forces, who were allowed to operate with liberty."A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There were very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us... If there were any constraints, they were self-made... We decided how much to escalate... We had full freedom to plan and execute," Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.
Refuting Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh's statement that the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan claimed that none of its military aircraft were hit or destroyed by the Indian armed forces.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh says, "None of their aircraft could come anywhere near the boundaries of Akash and even MRSAM. All their aircraft were taken on by LRSAM because they were trying to pic.twitter.com/WBAXFlpsvN  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

"We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, which could be either an aircraft or an AWC, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Singh had said on Saturday during a public lecture in Bengaluru.

READ MORE: IAF Chief A.P. Singh gives Aug 15 celebrations a Sindoor victory theme by announcing 6 Pak kills

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that the assertion of the IAF chief was "implausible as they are ill-timed."

In a tweet, the Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif claimed that it is ironic how senior Indian military officers are being used as the faces of "monumental failure" caused by the strategic shortsightedness of Indian politicians. "For three months, no such claims were voiced  while Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath, presented detailed technical briefings to the international media, and independent observers recorded widespread acknowledgment of the loss of multiple Indian aircraft, including Rafales, by sources ranging from world leaders, senior Indian politicians to foreign intelligence assessments, he said.

He claimed that not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed and said Pakistan downed six Indian jets.

According to him, the losses that Indian armed forces suffered along the Line of Control were "disproportionately heavier.

He said both India and Pakistan should open their aircraft inventories to independent verification to know the truth.

Ironically, Asif, the defence minister of the country that has been waging a vicious misinfoamtion campaign ever since the start of Operation Sindoor, observed that wars are not won by falsehoods but by moral authority, national resolve and professional competence.
There appears to be no end to the vicious and provocative verbal attacks from Pakistani leaders and authorities directed at the Indian establishment and its officials.

The latest in this series of vitriolic attacks was directed at National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who has been accused by Islamabad as the evil chief architect of Indias terror enterprise.

Director General of the media and public relations wing of Pakistan's armed forces, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, claimed that NSA Doval is the chief architect of terrorism in Pakistan.

He made the baseless allegation during an interview with Al Jazeera.

Do you think its (terrorism in Pakistan) happening on its own? This terror enterprise cannot be sustained without the sponsorship of India...Who is the chief architect? Mr Ajit Doval," Dawn quoted him as saying.

ALSO READ: 'India shot down Pakistan's AWACS, 5 fighter jets during Operation Sindoor': IAF Chief A.P. Singh

The accusations against the NSA come amid Pakistan media reports that its security forces have killed as many as 47 "Indian-sponsored" terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

He claimed that India helped terrorist groups in Pakistan by offering funding, planning, intelligence and technical support.

Ironically, he claimed that the strategy of India is to keep Pakistan embroiled in the menace of terrorism, so that its true potential is not realised.

He also called India a "reckless and irresponsible state" and added that Pakistan is not like India.

We must understand that terrorism is an internal problem of India as a result of the continuous oppression which India does to its minorities as part of its policy," Lt Gen Chaudhry stated.
At least seven people, including two children, died on Saturday after a wall collapsed near an old temple in Hari Nagar, Jaitpur, following heavy overnight rain that lashed the national capital, the Delhi police confirmed.

The police explained that the incident occurred near an old temple where several scrap dealers lived in adjacent jhuggies (a type of slum dwelling).

#UPDATE | Seven people have died in the wall collapse incident in Harinagar, Jaitpur, including 3 men, 2 women and 2 girls: Delhi Police https://t.co/B9F9TE4LTk  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

The wall had been weakened by incessant rain, which led to its sudden collapse, trapping at least seven of the ragpickers. Although all of them were rescued and rushed to the hospital, many of them were in a critical condition, and later succumbed to their injuries.

ALSO READ | Dozens of flights disrupted as Delhi is lashed by heavy rain; IMD issues red alert

"Seven people have died in the wall collapse incident in Harinagar, Jaitpur, including 3 men, 2 women and 2 girls," the Delhi police said.

The victims were originally from the Bardhaman district of West Bengal, some of whom had built huts near the wall. Following the collapse of the wall, its debris fell on these huts, a Jagran report said.

While initial reports suggested the collapse of a "portion of a building", authorities later clarified that it was a wall adjacent to the temple that had collapsed in the early hours of Saturday.

ALSO READ | Weather forecast: Heavy rains to batter West Bengal and Odisha as cyclonic circulation forms over Bay of Bengal

After two fire tenders were rushed to the area, authorities have since evacuated the remaining jhuggies in the vicinity as a safety measure, with more rain set to lash the national capital over the coming days. Warnings have also been issued to people living in low-lying and structurally unsafe areas.

This comes amid an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) red alert advisory issued for Saturday, which predicted thunderstorms with rain. According to the police, traffic congestion has also been reported in several areas in the capital, including New Rohtak Road, Zakhira Railway Underpass, GTK Depot, Jahangirpuri, and Adarsh Nagar.
Andhra Pradesh can expect further rains on Sunday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast warned. There is a real possibility of thunderstorms late in the evening after showers are expected to intensify after 3 p.m. The rains are going to intensify as the second week of the month progresses, the official weather prediction showed.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema are more likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning on Sunday evening. Light to moderate rainfall is likely in these regions, the weather department said. The rainfall in the region is being influenced by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and a north-south trough running from south coastal Andhra Pradesh to north Sri Lanka.

Vedavathi River downstream to BTP Dam near Bhupasamudram village in Rayadurgam Taluk after heavy rain  from last few days.



This is the first time river flooding in Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/2SqvrCRiRI  Naveen Reddy (@navin_ankampali) August 9, 2025

Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Guntur are all likely to witness thunderstorms on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department's release said. Here is the weather forecast for some of the regions in the southern state that is witnessing some heavy downpours.

Srikakulam: Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places. Strong winds with a speed of 30 to 40 kmph are likely at isolated places.

Krishna: Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places. Strong winds with a speed of 30 to 40 kmph are likely at isolated places.

Prakasam: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning likely at isolated places. Strong winds with wind speed 30 to 40 kmph likely at isolated places.

Vizianagaram: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning likely at isolated places. Strong winds with wind speed 30 to 40 kmph likely at isolated places.

VIDEO | Andhra Pradesh: Tirupati witnesses heavy rain with thunder and lightning, causing waterlogged roads.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/yfWY7WFQ0A  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 8, 2025

Visakhapatnam: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning likely at isolated places. Strong winds with wind speed 30 to 40 kmph likely at isolated places.

East Godavari: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning likely at isolated places. Strong winds with wind speed 30 to 40 kmph likely at isolated places.

Guntur: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places. Strong winds with a speed of 30 to 40 kmph are likely at isolated places.
Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party, said that two individuals who approached him in New Delhi ahead of Maharashtras 2024 assembly polls had guaranteed the oppositions victory in 160 of 288 constituencies. Pawar, who spoke to reporters in Nagpur, said that her had facilitated a meeting between these people and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

He said that they ultimately dismissed the offer, stating that this is not our way."

"We did not give it the attention it perhaps required. But I still rememberbefore the Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi. They told me that Maharashtra has 288 Assembly seats, and out of those, they would guarantee us 160 seats. I was surprised. To be clear, even though they claimed such a guarantee, I did not have any doubts about the Election Commission. But such people do show up, so I ignored them," he told the reporters.

"I introduced them to Rahul Gandhi. He ignored what was told to him. He was also of the view that we (Opposition) shouldn't get involved in such things and go to the people directly," he added.

Pawar has backed Gandhis claims of voter theft and has demanded a detailed probe by the Election Commission into the allegations made.

He also criticised the EC, for asking Gandhi to file an affidavit and provide information under oath. He said that since the EC is an independent body, it shouldn't ask for a separate declaration from Gandhi. "Gandhi had also said this in Parliament. It is not proper for the election commission to ask for an oath (declaration) from him," Pawar said

Nagpur, Maharashtra | NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar says, "I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi... They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I pic.twitter.com/0GdXL9bDOR  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2025

Earlier on Thursday, Gandhi had made claims that there is a huge criminal fraud in the polls through collusion of the BJP and the election commission. He cited an analysis of voter rolls in a constituency in Karnataka last year. He also alleged that the Election Commission and the BJP colluded to "steal" the Lok Sabha election from the people, and that there was "vote theft" in at least three states.

Pawar said that Gandhis presentation of the vote theft was well researched and well documented. He said, A detailed inquiry is needed into the concerns raised by him to clear doubts (about the integrity of the electoral process) among people." "I feel the inquiry will bring out the truth," Pawar told reporters.

After the claims were made, the Chief Electoral Officers of Karnataka and Maharashtra asked the former Congress chief to share the names of electors he claimed were "wrong" in the voters' list. They also asked for a signed declaration for poll authorities to initiate "necessary proceedings" in the matter.

The Election Commission had accused Gandhi of bringing up recycled allegations of poll irregularities which had already been settled by the Supreme Court. They asked Gandhi to provide a written declaration on his claims about the wrongful entries or write an apology.

Pawar said, "The issue raised by Rahul Gandhi with authentic proof cannot be ignored. A detailed probe will only bring out the truth". If there is no truth in what we are saying, the EC should clearly say so, he said, adding that the prestige of a crucial institution like the Election Commission should be maintained.

Hours after Pawar made the statements backing Gandhi, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said, No matter how much confusion the Opposition creates, elections are not held anywhere as transparent and free as in India. Those who accuse EVMs and the Election Commission speak in public. But they are not ready to give an affidavit. They say that we have taken an oath in Parliament. But is the oath in Parliament valid in the Supreme Court and the High Court? They know that if they are caught lying, criminal action can be taken against them tomorrow. Therefore, these are cowardly people who lie and run away every day, criticised Fadnavis.
The political battle over electoral integrity in India intensified with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleging large-scale voter fraud across the country, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the BJP moved quickly to dismiss the charges as unfounded and politically motivated.

Expert opinion on the matter suggests that the issue is more political in nature with little legal remedy available. Constitutional interpretation holds that the facts in this case emerged long after the elections were concluded. Legally, I dont think there is any remedy available. But politically it is a very potent issue. The allegation is that the Election Commission is acting in collusion with the ruling party and supporting the election in the preparation of electoral rolls. People should be aware, Constitutional expert and former Lok Sabha Secretary PDT Achary said.

Achary also questioned the move by some state chief electoral officers to demand affidavits from voters, calling it wrong, as such requirements apply only at the stage when electoral rolls are being prepared.

He cited Article 324 of the Constitution, noting that free and fair elections form part of the Constitutions basic structure. When doubts are raised by the Leader of the Opposition, and when such a person raises them, it is the duty of the EC to examine the matter seriously, he said.

According to Achary, Article 324 not only grants the Commission powers but also imposes an obligation to rectify mistakes and assure the public of the electoral processs integrity. The Article makes it clear that the Election Commission is responsible for conducting elections and preparing the rolls in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This responsibility must be discharged in a fair manner, he said, as free and fair elections are part of the Constitutions basic structure.

If someone goes to court on the issue? Achary said, theres no legal remedy because there is a presumption that the electoral roll was prepared properly and that the election was conducted on that basis. Once this presumption is in place, you cannot alter the voter list after the fact.

Politically, the issue has again pitted Congress against the ruling BJP. The INDIA alliance has also backed Gandhis contention.

The Congress leader alleged that in some cases, individuals appeared multiple times in different booths  even across states. In other instances, entire clusters of voters were registered at single-room houses or at implausible addresses such as house number zero. He linked the alleged manipulation to instances where election outcomes defied pre-poll surveys and anti-incumbency trends.

The ECI reacted sharply to Gandhis allegations, accusing him of misleading citizens. If the Leader of the Opposition believes what he is saying is true, then he should sign the oath as per the election rules, the ECI said. If he does not believe in what he is saying, then he should stop arriving at absurd conclusions and misleading the citizens of the country.

The BJP also dismissed Gandhis allegations, saying the Leader of the Opposition has deliberately falsified statistics and was displaying arrogance towards the countrys constitutional bodies.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav presented data to claim that Gandhis allegations do not hold ground. Yadav pointed out that in many seats where voter numbers had increased, Congress or its allies in the INDIA bloc had actually won. He cited various examples from the Maharashtra polls arguing that Gandhis narrative collapses under the weight of its own data.

Rahuk Gandhis allegations have cast doubt on the sanctity of electoral rolls and the fairness of elections, placing the onus on the election body to convince voters that due process was followed. As the parliament is already being stalled by the Opposition over the conduct of special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the leader of Oppositions allegation has given another issue to be raised in the parliament.

Even leaders within the Congress were not sure how the issue will pan out in the coming days, given lack of clarity on the legal remedies, but seeks to put the government and the election body in dock.
The Congress, on Saturday, began an 11-day symbolic hunger strike to demand the return of full statehood to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The protest is part of the partys Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq campaign.

The party is stepping up pressure on the Centre amid renewed push for statehood by the political parties in the region. JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra launched the strike at the Congress headquarters on MA Road in Srinagar.

Demanding justice for J&K!



Today, JKPCC under the leadership of President @TariqKarra ji, along with AICC GS @GAMIR_INC ji, former PCC President Peerzada Mohd Syed, and other leaders, party workers, and supporters, is on a chain hunger strike demanding the restoration of pic.twitter.com/mLKWwXSpQH  Congress (@INCIndia) August 9, 2025

He was joined by senior leaders, including AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir and several MLAs. A similar protest will be held in Jammu on Sunday, with the strike continuing in a relay format across all districts until August 20.

Karra said the date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the Quit India Movement. From August 9 to August 21, we will hold hunger strikes in six districts. This is a peaceful effort to wake up the government in Delhi and to speak for the 1.40 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the party would closely follow the ongoing Parliament session for any move on statehood. If nothing happens by August 21, we will announce our next step, he said.

The Congress campaign coincides with the Monsoon Session of Parliament and the Supreme Courts decision to hear on August 14 a plea seeking restoration of J&Ks statehood.

The party has upped the ante as speculation grows that the Centre may grant statehood to Jammu and parts of the AnantnagRajouri parliamentary constituency, while keeping the Kashmir Valley as a Union territory, a move Karra called politically dangerous and certain to spark a strong public and global reaction.

Political observers opine that Congress, by taking the lead on the statehood demand, aims to regain political ground lost to the BJP, particularly in the Jammu region, where the saffron party has dominated in recent elections.

The partys leadership in J&K has also been buoyed by the return of several senior leaders who had left to join Ghulam Nabi Azads now-defunct Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).

The hunger strike is being seen as both a symbolic act of protest and a strategic political move to reassert Congresss presence in the Union territorys shifting political landscape.

It comes nearly five years after the Centre, on August 5, 2019, revoked J&Ks special status, split it into two Union territories, and scrapped Articles 370 and 35A.

In neighbouring Ladakh, a separate three-day hunger strike is also underway, demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Two Army soldiers were killed and two others injured in an encounter with terrorists in the Akhal Devsar area of Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district on Saturday morning.

Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh laid down their lives in the gunfight that broke out during the ongoing anti-terror operation in the region. The Operation Akhal, one of the longest in the Valley, entered the ninth day on Saturday.

"Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues," the Chinar Corps posted on X.

Update: OP AKHAL, Kulgam



Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. #IndianArmy expresses deepest condolences and stand in pic.twitter.com/La4i49Ov2h  Chinar Corps - Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) August 9, 2025

Two terrorists have been killed so far in the operation, which is jointly being carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and the Special Operations Group (SOG) in a forest at Akhal in the south Kashmir district. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain terrorists have not been ascertained so far.

Eleven security personnel have been injured since the beginning of the operation on August 1. After an initial exchange of fire between the two sides on Friday last, the operation was halted for the night, but the cordon was strengthened, and additional reinforcements were rushed to the area.

Security forces have pressed drones and helicopters into service to track the terrorists down in the forest area. Para commandos were also assisting the security forces in neutralising the hiding ultras, according to a PTI report.
The truce talks between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss and his son Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, who has turned his bete noire, by Madras High Court Justice Anand N. Venkatesh failed.

In an unprecedented gesture, Justice Anand Venkatesh had called the father-son duo to his chamber at 5.30 pm for a discussion. Later in the evening, while Anbumani appeared in person and Ramadoss spoke over the phone from his Thailapuram residence, the court dismissed the writ petition filed on behalf of the father seeking to restrain Anbumani from convening the partys general body meeting.

Father and the founder of the party, Ramadoss, had moved the Madras High Court on Wednesday seeking the court to restrain his son Anbumani from holding the partys general council meeting scheduled for August 9 at Mahabalipuram near Chennai. Its illegal and unauthorised, the petition filed by S. Murali Shankar said. Shankar was recently appointed as the general secretary of the party by Ramadoss for his faction of the PMK.

In the petition, Ramadosss faction argued that an executive committee of the party had passed a resolution in July to grant more powers to the founder Ramadoss, who would become the president of the party once the term of the incumbent ends. The petition also argued that Anbumanis term as the party president ended on May 28. It also said that Ramadoss was nominated as the new president of the party by a high-level administrative body.

When Ramadoss, who is the competent authority, has called for the general council meeting on August 17, Anbumani convening a meeting is an illegal act and is done with an ulterior motive to confuse the cadres and office bearers in the party, the petition argued. The petition was filed by K.S. Gopu and S. Arul, counsels on behalf of Murali Sankar, who represents Ramadosss faction.

On Friday, as the petition came up for hearing, Justice Anand Venkatesh decided to hold talks with Ramadoss and Anbumani to find a compromise between the two and arrive at a truce. He called for a meeting in his chamber at 5.30 pm on Friday.

Considering the background of the case, I can dispose of this petition within ten minutes, but I dont want to do so, Justice Anand Venkatesh said. He asked the counsels of both Ramadoss and Anbumani if it would be possible for both of them to be present in his chamber in the evening. I am making this request in the interest of everyone," he said.

Justice Venkatesh requested the two to be present for the meeting and said no one else, including their lawyers, would be allowed to attend.

Later, after hearing the father and son, Justice Venkatesh dismissed the petition filed by Ramadoss. It is purely a private dispute within the party and between the founder and the first respondent. At best, it can only be a subject matter of civil proceedings where the so-called illegality in convening the general body meeting and electing the president can be questioned. A private dispute between the father and the son can never be dealt with through a writ petition. A writ petition is normally not maintainable as against a private person in the absence of a public duty component.
Germany has announced it will halt approval of weapons exports to Israel for use in the Gaza Strip until further notice, marking a sharp policy shift for one of Israels staunchest allies. Chancellor Friedrich Merz made the declaration yesterday after weeks of publicly criticising Israels unclear goals in Gaza and expressing concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis, though until now he had avoided altering policy.

The decision followed intense domestic debate over how to respond to credible reports of widespread malnutrition and even starvation in Gaza. The immediate trigger was Israels decision yesterday to step up military operations in the territory and take over Gaza City.

Merz said the new offensive, approved by the Israeli cabinet, made it increasingly difficult to see how Israel could achieve its stated aims of disarming Hamas and freeing the remaining 50 hostages. He affirmed Germanys commitment to those objectives but stressed that a ceasefire and relief for civilians were top priorities. He also urged Israel to halt any moves towards annexing parts of the West Bank.

Under the new policy, Berlin will not approve the export of any military equipment that could be used in Gaza. Merz said the government was deeply worried about the continued suffering of the civilian population and that the planned offensive placed even stronger responsibility on Israel to ensure humanitarian provisions.

Germany has long described Israels security as integral to its own Staatsrason, a cornerstone of Berlins foreign policy, which considers Israel's security as intrinsically linked to German national interest, as a logical consequence of Germanys responsibility for the Holocaust. Support for Israel has been a hallmark of Merzs conservative politics, making the suspension a significant break from postwar policy, even if it is unlikely to alter the course of the Gaza war. Until now, Germany had resisted EU calls for punitive measures such as suspending Israels association agreement or cutting it out of programmes like Horizon and Erasmus.

EU action has been stymied by internal divisions, with Germany, Hungary and Austria always prioritising Israels right to self-defence. In his statement, Merz repeated calls for full-scale access for aid deliveries via UN agencies and other groups to improve conditions in Gaza.

Merz has faced mounting pressure from his coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats, to take a firmer stance. They have pushed for limiting arms sales and backing partial suspension of Israels preferential trade status with the EU. The Bavarian Christian Social Union, however, has demanded continued strong backing for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Public opinion in Germany has shifted sharply. A Forsa poll in late July found nearly 75 per cent of respondents favoured more pressure on Israel over the humanitarian situation. Support was strongest among Greens and the far-left Linke but also high among voters for the CDU/CSU and the SPD.

The SPD welcomed the move but said further steps should follow, including reviewing Israels EU trade status. Between the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 and May this year, Germany approved defence exports to Israel worth 485 million euros, including firearms, ammunition, weapons parts, electronic equipment and armoured vehicles.

Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil of the SPD called the decision just, saying the suffering in Gaza was unbearable. An ARD poll this week found nearly 70 per cent of Germans wanted the government to exert greater influence over Israels actions.

The move drew criticism from Israel. Netanyahu said Germany was rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel. "Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel.
Three Thai soldiers from Infantry Company 111 were injured by a landmine while patrolling the border with Cambodia, the Thai army said in a statement on Saturday.

The incident occurred around 10 AM (8:30 AM IST) in the Don Ao-Krissana border area (between Thailand's Sisaket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear provinces) the Second Army Regions Operations Centre said, as per a Bangkok Post report. It added that one of the injured soldiers even lost a foot.

ALSO READ | Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Why did Bangkok backtrack after rejecting Malaysian ceasefire talks?

"Sergeant Major First Class Thana (Pana) sustained a severed lower left leg at the ankle. Private Pakpoom Chaisura sustained injuries to his arm and back, while Private Thananchai Kraiwong sustained a concussion and ruptured an eardrum because of the blast," the report said.

This is the third time over the past few weeks that Thai soldiers have been injured due to landmine-related incidents along the border.

The incident comes days after the two nations agreed to a detailed 13-point ceasefire, following a violent five-day conflict from July 24-28 over the Preah Vihar temple, which killed 30 people and displaced more than 300,000 people across the border.

ALSO READ | 'Reminds me of India-Pakistan conflict': US President Donald Trump seeks to broker Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire using trade

It was also agreed that observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would inspect disputed border areas to ensure hostilities did not resume.

With two previous mine blasts on July 16 and July 23 being an important reason behind the downgrade of diplomatic relations that led to five days of violent clashes, the latest blast strains the fragile state of the ceasefire terms between the two nations.

Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai expressed sympathy for the wounded, and said that details of the incident were being documented and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be raised under the Ottawa Convention, highlighting the continued presence of landmines in the area.

ALSO READ | Preah Vihear Temple row EXPLAINED: The Hindu Shiva temple at the heart of Thailand-Cambodia border dispute

Bangkok also accused Cambodia of planting landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border that led to the earlier blasts.

Phnom Penh has denied these allegations, arguing that the Thai soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered old landmines left from its decades of war.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he would meet Russias Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss ways to end the Ukraine war.

If the meeting happens, it would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow, Trump wrote on his Truth Social page.

Trumps deadline for Kremelin to agree to a ceasefire expired on Friday, and the Ukrainian leadership has expressed little hope for a diplomatic solution to the war.

Trumps ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and his move to introduce secondary tariffs on countries that import Russian oil have made no breakthrough in bringing peace and stopping Putin from bombing Ukrainian cities.

When Vladimir Putin visits Akaska to meet with President Trump on Friday, August 15, it will mark the first visit to Alaska by a Russian head of state since Alaska was sold by the Russians to America for $7.2 million in 1867. pic.twitter.com/ethFTAcv60  Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) August 8, 2025

Trump had said on Thursday that he would meet with Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That has stoked fears in Europe that Ukraine could be sidelined in efforts to stop the war.

Demand for Eastern Ukraine

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Putin has presented a sweeping proposal to end the war before the Trump administration.

Quoting European and Ukrainian officials, the report said Kremelin has demanded the control of Eastern Ukraine and a push for global recognition of its claims in exchange for a ceasefire.

Moscow is demanding a total of four provinces in eastern UkrainenLuhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Putins phone calls

On Friday, Putin dialled both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and apprised them of the situation in Ukraine.

Earlier, Putin had made similar phone calls to leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, the Kremlin said.

The calls suggested that Putin perhaps wanted to brief Russia's most important allies about a potential settlement that could be reached at a summit with Trump, reported the Associated Press.
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who is a member of Donald Trump's Republican Party, has flagged concerns about US tariffs pushing India closer to Russia and China, saying it has resulted in the "worst outcome" for Washington.

Bolton questioned Trump's actions in hurting India ties while sparing China, calling it an "enormous mistake". Though Trump pulled China into a trade war in April, he later backed out as a deal is being worked out. Trumps leniency on the Chinese and heavy-handed tariffs on India jeopardize decades of American efforts to bring India away from Russia and China, he said.

His remarks come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to China for the upcoming SCO summit by end of this month while Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to come to India by the end of 2025.

Another Republican, Mike Pence, who was the US vice president during Trump's first term, said the tariffs have put the burden on US companies and consumers, calling for "Free Trade with Free Nations."

India has so far avoided giving in to Trump's demands on stopping purchase of discounted Russian oil, calling the US tariffs "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

Indian American and Republican Nikki Haley was among the first US leaders to warn Trump against "burning" ties with a strong ally like India while giving a pass to China. "China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Dont give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India," she posted on X on August 5.

Democrats too come in support of India

Republicans were joined by Democrats in calling out Trump's tariff blunder. Former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell, a Democrat, urged PM Modi that he should "not bend the knee to President Trump."

Campbell said India is America's most important relationship in the century and now Trump has risked it. "The way President Trump has spoken about India and PM Modi has spoken about India and PM Modi has put the Indian govt in a difficult position," he added.

Democrat Ray Vickery, who was former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development, earlier called the US tariffs on India "a typical Trump move" aimed at exerting pressure and later claiming victory. He urged both countries to act with sanity while warning India to reassess its interests in Russia. Vickery said this is India's chance to rise as a global democratic leader and stand against Trump's transactional foreign policy.
The US has raised the tariffs on Indias exports from 10 per cent on April 2, to 25 per cent on August 1, to 50 per cent on August 6, mounting pressure on India to wean away from the Russian crude. There is a point at which the rise in tariffs could affect an exporting country, where the exporters cut their margins, and the exports slow down. Once the tariffs become overwhelmingly unprofitable, any further rise in tariffs would have no meaningful effect on the targeted country toward coercion, as there would be no worthwhile trade thereafter. That limit has probably been breached on August 6, and any further increase in tariffs by the US would not yield any additional leverage in coercing New Delhi. Indias ministry of external affairs has clearly called it out in a very clear and measured response, stating that India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security, whilst terming the US actions as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

In this backdrop, let us revisit the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, as it is called now, which had its humble beginnings in the aftermath of the December 2004 Tsunami, where the four capable democracies of the Indo-PacificAustralia, India, Japan and the United Statescoordinated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and provided succor to various affected countries in the region. The idea of Quad as an informal strategic grouping of these four democracies was proposed by Japan, and in 2007, its first informal meeting was held in Manila, the Philippines, on the sidelines of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum. This initial version of the Quad was short-lived and lost steam soon thereafter, as there were concerns about how it would be perceived by other countries in the region, especially China.

However, in the ensuing period, with the increasingly assertive stance of China in the Indo-Pacific, there was a renewed thought by these four democracies, and the Quad regained momentum in 2017. The Quad was raised to Summit-level annual meetings by 2021. The Quad is not a military alliance, and its statements reflect cooperation with various regional organisations like the ASEAN, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), among others. The grouping is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific where peace and stability in the maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region, and all countries are free from coercion. The Quad strongly opposes any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. In due course, Quad came up with working groups on: Health Security, Critical and Emerging Technologies, Climate, Space, Cybersecurity, and Cable Connectivity and Resilience, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Counter-terrorism, Maritime Security, including the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), Policy Planners Dialogue, and Fellowships in STEM Education.

Apart from the Quad, the Malabar naval exercise between India and the US was expanded to include participation from Japan and Australia. In the Indo-Pacific, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) in May 2022, with the Quad members, along with Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the economies. Future negotiations are planned on its four pillarsTrade; Supply Chains; Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and Tax and Anti-Corruption. Agreements have been signed on the three pillars except Trade, where discussions are still underway. The IPEF heralded by the US appears to be in stark contrast with its recent imposition of indiscriminate tariffs, upsetting the global trade.

Australia, New Zealand and the US had signed the ANZUS Security Treaty in 1951, which remains a foundational treaty in the security relationship between Australia and the US, although it is held in abeyance with New Zealand since 1986 due to the latters nuclear-free policy. Both Australia and the US have fought together in the World Wars I & II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and are together in the operations against Al Qaida, the Islamic State, and their global affiliates. In September 2021, Australia, the UK and the US inked another trilateral security partnershipAUKUSintended to support security and defence interests, including a commitment to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs). Similarly, the Japan-US Security Treaty of 1960 granted the US the right to establish bases on the archipelago in exchange for a commitment to defend Japan in the event of an attack.

At the same time, India has no formal security pact with the US, whilst their bilateral defence trade cooperation has expanded with the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), the Industrial Security Agreement (ISA), and procurement of military assets and equipment. The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the United States in 1992, has since expanded in scope, size and participation.

The very thought of a Quad grouping was to get the four major democracies in the Indo-Pacific region together, of which Australia and Japan were already close allies of the US through two separate long-standing security treaties. Without India, a trilateral grouping with security treaties in place could possibly have gained more in terms of security imperatives against China, but at the cost of being labelled as joint adversary. Let us consider the other possible optionthe Republic of Korea (RoK) being the fourth Quad member, in lieu of India and not as an additional member. Here too, the US and the Republic of Korea signed a Mutual Defence Treaty during the Korean War in 1953, and the US has positioned over 28,500 military personnel in the RoK to maintain a strong defensive military posture alongside the RoK military personnel, to deter and defend the threat from the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Further, there was possibly no other country in the Indo-Pacific region, who would have come forward to be a part of the Quad as its fourth member, and not as an additional supporting member, challenging Chinas territorial ambitions and interests, without having the cover of a mutual defence security umbrella of the US, since the genesis of the Quad grouping. It may, therefore, be surmised that India, without a security pact with the US, and being the largest democracy, provided greater credibility and considerable heft to the Quad grouping, through a shared vision and collaborative efforts for the well-being of the countries and the populace of the Indo-Pacific region.

With the next Quad Leaders Summit being hosted by India later this year, and the likelihood of President Trump or his representative participating, given the background of the Quad, there will be some hard questions to be addressed sooner than later. The next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit meeting is scheduled from August 31 to September 1 in China and as gleaned from the available references, preparations are underway for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the summit, although yet to be confirmed, and could possibly include a bilateral on the sidelines with the President Xi Jinping on the US tariffs and purchase of the Russian crude. A separate bilateral with President Putin, if his attendance is confirmed in the SCO summit, could also be in the pipe line. India is also due to host the annual India- Russia summit later this year, which will include wide-ranging discussions across various sectors.

At 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US on Indian exports, the US demand will shift from India to the other South and Southeast Asian neighbours with relatively less tariffs, unless a reasonable deal is struck with the US before August 27, when these tariffs actually kick in. India has also rightly dug its heels on sensitive areas like dairy and agricultural produce, including genetically modified food. As the 50 per cent tariffs are bad enough, any further increase in tariffs slapped by the US does not significantly alter the situation for India, and therefore, any threat of slapping additional tariffs over the existing 50 per cent, may not yield anything to the US. From an Indian perspective, this could also be seen as an opportunity to review its trade policy and practices, reduce bottlenecks towards faster clearances, diversifying and seeking new opportunities in emerging markets etc.

While the additional tariffs by the US and the Quad partnership are two distinctly separate issues, these geo-economic and geo-strategic strands inter-twine with many other factors like the pieces on the chessboard, and their moves should be seen in the larger strategic calculus, which have a direct impact on Indias national interests. Is the US inadvertently pushing India towards a stronger BRICS partnership through these additional tariffs without adequate foresight?

On all these issues, India has the option of exercising its strategic autonomy, addressing them holistically, but before that, New Delhi has to study all the available options. Indias policy makers may have a difficult task at hand, to convince the US to review the path it has taken in the last few days on the tariffs, and its stance on the Russian crude purchase, balancing it with many other positives, which an Indo-US partnership has to offer, including one such piece on the chessboardthe success of Quad in keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open for all.

Commodore Sudhir Singh (Retired) retired from the Indian Navy in 2024, after over 35 years of service. specialist in Missiles and Gunnery, the officer spent over fifteen years on warships teneting various appointments. His shore assignments include Director of a Maritime Warfare Centre, a Deputy Director General in a Maritime Infrastructure Project, Director (Military Affairs) at the D&ISA Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Officer-in-Charge of Offshore Defence Advisory Group Cell (Delhi), and Joint Director in the Directorate of Foreign Cooperation. The Officer was assigned to the United Nations Headquarters, New York, as a Maritime Planning Officer in 2009. He is a keen student and follows geopolitics and international relations.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
Kathmandu, Aug 9 (PTI) As Nepal continues to witness man-tiger conflicts after an increased number of tigers, experts on Saturday advocated the need to change human behaviour towards tiger and taking efforts at managing the habitats for the big cats better.

In the past five years, at least 42 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks, data from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), the body responsible for preserving wildlife in the country, showed.

Nepal has the Royal Bengal Tiger, also called Pate Bagh (Pate meaning stripped) or Nepal Tiger in the local language.

At least 16 of the over 350 tigers across Nepal have been identified for straying beyond their natural habitat or protected areas and preying on both humans and livestock, the officials said.

Pointing out that tiger-human conflicts have occurred in the past too and calling it natural, Ghanashyam Gurung, WWF country representative for Nepal, said there have been conflicts between man and other wild animals too, for instance elephants.

However, the incidents of man-tiger conflict have reduced to a minimum. Compared to the data from 20192020, such incidents are negligible in 2024-25, Gurung said.

He, however, did not give exact numbers.

Nepal's conservation work has substantially increased the number of tigers over the past decade. After the 13 tiger range countries, including Nepal, pledged to double the number of tigers in 12 years since 2009, the Himalayan nation has succeeded in almost tripling the numbers from 121 then to 355 in 2022.

The next tiger census is yet to happen.

Haribhadra Acharya, DNPWC's Information Officer and senior ecologist said reasons for tigers straying into human habitations near the protected areas or buffer zone vary for each and every individual.

The tigers can be old, sick or wounded and cannot prey on herbivorous animals in their natural habitat. Such tigers usually enter human settlements in search of food and start creating problems for the local people, Acharya explained.

Loss of habitat for various reasons also contributes to tigers straying beyond forests.

As recently as on July 22, a tiger that had entered a human settlement from Chitwan National Park was brought under control and captured from Buddhanagar in Bharatpur Metropolis, Ganga Prasad Khatiwada, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, told local media.

Nepals current tiger carrying capacity is around 400, the WWF Nepal official said, adding, the issue of carrying capacity was also discussed during the International Tigers Day on July 29 at a meeting in Kathmandu.

The experts participating in the meeting pointed out that the carrying capacity of the tiger is not a big issue as such.

The five protected areas that are home to the tiger species are Chitwan, Bardiya, Shuklaphanta, Bankey and Parsa.

Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park at the Himalayan foothills in Terai region and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list for natural sites, had six such tigers from amongst 128, the largest number among all protected areas. An old tiger died recently, reducing the number to five.

Four of these 16 are from Bardiya and there is one each in Parsa and Bankey areas.

Five tigers that had led to man-animal conflict over the last few months are in the Central Zoo in Lalitpur district, near Kathmandu.

As the number of tigers has increased in the five protected areas over the years, managing them has also become a difficult task, conservationists said.

People living near the forest areas, especially the buffer zones, chop trees for fire-wood and cut grass for their livestock. Highways and other infrastructure projects cut across forests.

As we cant change the behaviour of the tiger, we need to change the human behaviour towards the tiger, Gurung said.

The WWF Nepal has, therefore, launched a campaign regarding behaviour change in the areas adjoining to the protected areas. This has started showing good results, Gurung pointed out.
A shocking antisemitic incident occurred on Friday in a park in the Outremont area of Montreal, Canada, when a 32-year-old Jewish man was brutally attacked in front of his two children.

A video of the incident that was posted on social media shows the perpetrator brutally beating the man as his young daughter screams.

A police investigation has been launched into the incident but the assailant has not yet been located. The police said that the victim suffered injuries which were not life-threatening.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted the video on X, writing, The incident shown in this video is shocking and stomach-turning.

A Jewish father was beaten in front of his daughter in Montreal, Canada, yesterday. These are images reminiscent of dark periods of Jewish persecution. This is appalling.

The Canadian government must do more to fight antisemitism!

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
You won't have far to look if you're hoping to enjoy a lazy summer staycation but want to add some automotive sparkle.

There is no shortage of car events this month and next. Here's my pick of what's on...

Get your glad rags on, bag a ticket, and head back in time for this year's Goodwood Revival (goodwood.com), held in vintage dress to recreate the glory days of the historic racing circuit between 1948 and 1966.

Among those attending this year from September 12 to 14 are burlesque star Dita Von Teese, discussing her collection of classic American cars.

The Revival also celebrates the extraordinary life and career of Jim Clark, the Scottish farmer widely regarded as the most naturally gifted Formula One racing driver of all time and a hero of mine.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Clark's greatest season before his tragic death three years later in 1968 at Germany's Hockenheim race circuit.

Good little runner: Young racers fighting for pole position at Goodwood Revival

And there's no need to buy new costumes  thrift, make-do and mend are the order of the day at what the host, the Duke of Richmond, says is 'proudly, the world's biggest and most glamorous second-hand event'.

 The British Motor Show (thebritishmotorshow.live) runs from August 15 to 17 at Farnborough International overlooking the airport from which stars and the super-rich fly in private jets.

But this show is one for families and petrolheads alike, with more than 1,500 cars from classics to supercars and F1 racers, stunt shows and Strictly Car Dancing and Back to the 80s displays.

 This year's annual CarFest (carfest.org) fundraiser for children's charities kicks off at former F1 racer Jody Scheckter's Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire from August 22 to 24.

It combines automotive fun with food, music  with the Boomtown Rats and Travis  and comedians Ben Miller and Dom Joly.

 One of the stars of the National Motor Museum collection at Beaulieu (nationalmotormuseum.org.uk), featuring 280 vehicles, is Sir Malcolm Campbell's Sunbeam 350hp Blue Bird which last month was taken back to Pendine Sands in Wales to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his 150.76mph world land speed record.

Naturally gifted: The Revival also celebrates the extraordinary life and career of Jim Clark (right)

 Among the poshest events are the Salon Prive at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, marking its 20th anniversary from August 27 to 31 (salonpriveconcours.com), and the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace (concoursofelegance.co.uk), with 60 of the world's rarest cars, from September 5 to 7.

 Finally, if you're on the M40 near Gaydon in Warwickshire, the British Motor Museum (british motormuseum.co.uk) at junction 12 is worth a visit.

Vehicles to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies named

The first vehicles to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies as part of the Governments new 650 million electric car grant have been named  and theyre all from French carmaker Citroen.

French flair: The first vehicles to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies as part of the Governments new 650 million electric car grant have been named  and theyre all from Citroen

Those benefiting from a 1,500 discount for models under 37,000 are: the e-C3 at 20,595, e-C3 Aircross at 21,595; e-C4 (pictured) at 26,150; e-C4 X from 27,215; e-C5 Aircross from 32,565 and the e-Berlingo (M versions only) from 29,740.

However, this is the lower Level 2 grant based on how green a car is.

Its not clear why they didnt qualify for the 3,750 grant  and neither Citroen nor the Department for Transport was saying.
Those of us choosing to holiday in Britain this year will be extremely cautious about taking a dip in the nearest beach, river or lake.

Many of our heavily indebted water firms neglect their responsibility for sewage-free wild swimming and nature.

Fines for spills are regarded by financiers, with scant regard for consumers, as another cost of doing business.

Nowhere is this more pronounced than at Thames Water, weighed down by 16.8billion of debt, where commercial sharpshooters are asking regulator Ofwat for an exemption from fines as a price for supporting an enterprise ruined by ruthless financial engineering.

Despite the mess, befuddled ministers and regulators, with the apparent support of Thames chairman Adrian Montague, believe there is a deal to be done.

The principal holders of the Thames debt  Elliott, Apollo, Silver Lake and Pimco, advised by investment bankers Jefferies  are remorseless.

Drowning: Commercial sharpshooters at Thames Water are asking Ofwat for an exemption from fines as a price for supporting an enterprise ruined by ruthless financial engineering

They have minimal interest in Thames' 16million trapped customers but are determined to make a killing on the company's debt.

The recent, thorough report on the failing water industry by former Bank of England deputy governor John Cunliffe, with its 88 recommendations, plots a way forward.

It seeks to end the regulatory fragmentation which has allowed owners and financiers to play havoc with the rules.

What it failed to do is provide a roadmap for Government decision-makers as they struggle with Thames.

The right thing for Labour is to put Thames into a special administration regime (SAR). It could then use legal powers to deploy an independent administrator to deliver a haircut to the debt and mitigate the high interest payments.

The way would then be clear for genuine, long-term infrastructure investors to come in and begin the mammoth task of restoring Thames' credibility.

There is no shortage of candidates.

We are not talking about the 'vampire kangaroo' Macquarie, which despite its poor stewardship of Thames is being allowed to make a similar hash of Southern Water.

The original great hope for saving Thames was a rescue by private equity barons at KKR through an infrastructure fund. It retreated at the last moment, after finishing due diligence, when the group's investment committee baulked at the potential reputational risk.

If the Government decided to put the enterprise into special administration, several bidders likely would appear. The owners of Northumbria Water, part of London-listed CKI, controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing, would be keen on doing a deal and be in for the long term.

There would be no demand for regulatory exemptions. CKI is already a big investor in Britain with interests in power and gas networks, and Britain's biggest container port at Felixstowe in Suffolk.

Ofwat and regulators are thought to be broadly in favour of taking the SAR route. The blockages are at a higher level.

A Government which is already taking control of the railways and rescuing British Steel doesn't want to be seen as prioritising public ownership and control, even if only temporarily, over market solutions.

The ultimate opponents are the Treasury. It is understood to be fearful of taking new obligations on to the books. This might happen should the SAR regime fail to produce a buyer and a quick sale.

There is a mistaken belief that blocking debt ghouls, such as Elliott, would be seen as unfriendly to overseas investment in Britain. It couldn't be more wrong.
This weekend will be one of the busiest periods of the summer at airports as hundreds of thousands of people depart for their annual break.

Queuing for a coffee or to board the plane, some travellers will be focused solely on their plans for fun in the sun.

But holidaymakers whose other passion is investing will also be looking for indications of the health of the stock market-quoted British and Irish airlines.

They are: IAG (owner of British Airways and Iberia); easyJet; Jet2; Ryanair; and Wizz Air.

Do the crowds mean that shares in these companies are poised to be up, up and away?

The Jet2 jingle 'Nothing Beats a Jet2 Holiday' has turned into a massive social media hit  in a response said to reflect the nation's longing for a getaway amid economic gloom.

Taking off: Since the start of the year, IAG shares have soared by 23 per cent, although they remain 32 per cent below their level a decade ago

And there is evidence the British are prioritising holidays, too. Earlier this month Luis Gallego, chief executive of IAG, whose empire also includes Aer Lingus and Vueling, said: 'We continue to benefit from the trend of a structural shift in consumer spending towards travel.'

In the depths of the pandemic in October 2020, IAG shares were 91p. Yesterday, they were 373.7p. Gallego's confidence was underlined by IAG's first-half profits which leapt by 44 per cent to 1.9billion (1.65billion). Total revenues rose by 8 per cent to 15.9billion (13.8billion).

There has been a pick-up in premium transatlantic trips, which is boosting British Airways' Rask (revenue per available seat kilometre), a key metric.

Gallego envisages 'good earnings growth, margin progression and strong returns to shareholders this year'. But he also highlighted 'the ongoing uncertainty that may result from the geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop'.

This confident tone may come as a surprise, given the array of external challenges that beset airlines. Richard Hunter, of Interactive Investor, cites a few: 'Virus outbreaks; industrial action; volcanic dust clouds; higher fuel costs; and technical outages.'

But people's attachment to vacations may serve as a signal to rethink your attitude to the sector. If you want to jump on board, these are the airlines that the experts think are worth backing.

IAG

Since the start of the year, IAG shares have soared by 23 per cent, although they remain 32 per cent below their level a decade ago.

Interactive Investor's Hunter is cheered by the reintroduction of a dividend and the reduction in debts. During the pandemic, the group borrowed heavily to ensure its survival.

However, despite IAG largely leaving this era behind, some effects linger. Virtual meetings, the norm during lockdowns, have continued, meaning a decline in business travel.

Analysts expect IAG's recovery to gather pace. Eight of the 16 analysts who follow the stock rate IAG a 'buy' while another seven consider the shares worth holding. The average target price is 488p.

EasyJet

EasyJet shares are down by 4 per cent this year to 507.6p, which seems largely due to the third-quarter results unveiled last month.

Revenues grew by 9.7 per cent to 2.9billion and profits rose by 21 per cent to 286million. EasyJet's holiday division is expanding, too, which should be good news for its Rask.

Yet investors were more preoccupied with other factors, such as the bill for an air traffic controller strike in France, a leap in fuel costs and a move to later booking. As a result, 11 of 19 analysts rate the shares a 'hold; for the rest the shares are a 'buy'.

If you are prepared for some ups and downs, Derren Nathan of Hargreaves Lansdown argues that easyJet's potential for growth is not reflected in its current valuation.

Jet2

Hitting the right note: Jet2's advertisement features Jess Glynne's hit Hold My Hand

The direction of the share price of this Leeds-based airline has not followed the rave reception for its advertisement which features Jess Glynne's hit Hold My Hand.

Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum even made his own version of the advert, calling it Jeff2 Holiday.

Since January, Jet2 shares have edged up by just 4 per cent to 1632p, although profits for the year to March rose by 11 per cent to 578m.

Chief executive Steve Heapy said last month that demand is up among all demographics and it is endeavouring to cater for a younger clientele with more affordable offers.

Analysts seem to agree that this strategy will win over customers who are organising an overseas jaunt at the last moment.

The majority rate the shares in the 3.4billion AIM-listed company a 'buy', with an average target price of 2164p.

Maybe Goldblum will add some to his portfolio?

Ryanair

This week Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, announced that its passenger numbers reached a record 20.7million in July, although the Dublin-based carrier was forced to cancel more than 600 flights due to the air traffic control strikes in France.

This followed the news last month that its profits for the first quarter more than doubled to 820million (711million), while revenues leapt by 20 per cent to 4.3billion (3.7billion).

The optimistic tone of these announcements is at odds with the usual litany of complaints over the late delivery of planes from Boeing and much else from the rambunctious Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.

But he has reasons to be cheerful, having qualified for a 100million (86.7million) bonus thanks to the much-improved share price.

It has soared by 74 per cent over the past year to 26 (22.54).

Analysts believe that O'Leary will deliver for investors as well as himself. They rate the shares a 'buy', with one analyst targeting a price of 30 (26).

Wizz Air

The Eastern Europe-focused budget carrier is based in Budapest but listed in London.

At 1418p, Wizz Air shares are 5 per cent lower than at the start of this year, having plunged in June when the company revealed a 40 per cent drop in profits.

This was mostly caused by the grounding of about a fifth of its Airbus planes due to persistent problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines.

Last month, chief executive Jozsef Varadi said that the company would be scaling back its growth plans. He is abandoning expansion in the Middle East because the region's dry air exacerbates the engine issues.

Unsurprisingly, most analysts consider Wizz to be a hold, although Deutsche begs to differ, having upgraded the shares to a 'buy' in the past fortnight.

The international set

Tariff fears are weighing on US carriers. These companies are also dealing with an oversupply of flights, as customers become more price-sensitive.

American Airlines shares are 33 per cent lower than at the start of the year, for example.

But Delta and United are faring better thanks to the clamour for premium travel.

United is investing in its Polaris premium service, planning to open more lounges for top-tier travellers. Analysts rate United shares, which currently stand at $89.87 (66.85), a 'buy'.

America's ultra-wealthy are increasingly underlining their status by using more private jets. But some also favour a carrier that provides something similar to the private jet experience in its first class cabin.

Shares in Air France-KLM, which is listed in Amsterdam and Paris, have soared by 64 per cent this year thanks to the clever and lavish redesign of its La Premiere first class cabin with its private jet feel.

A one-way ticket from New York to Paris costs between $10,000-$20,000 (7,440 to 14,880). This is the luxe way to embark on that Emily In Paris escapade.

Other airlines will doubtless be competing more for the holiday and business travel budgets of those people with very deep pockets. Premium seems like the way to go.
Drugmaker GSK will be paid up to 372million after settling a patent row over Covid vaccines in the US.

The London-listed pharmaceuticals giant  previously known as Glaxosmithkline  and German partner CureVac reached an agreement with rivals BioNTech and Pfizer.

The tussle had centred on the development of mRNA jab technology, which was at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19.

The settlement of the long-running dispute comes two months after BioNTech agreed to buy its domestic peer CureVac in a 930million deal.

In 2022, CureVac filed a patent lawsuit against BioNTech over its use of mRNA technology, seeking compensation for alleged infringement of its intellectual property rights.

GSK's share of the settlement payment is 275million and it will get 1 per cent of the royalties from the vaccine sales in the US from the beginning of 2025.

In the money: GSK is led by chief executive Emma Walmsley (pictured)

If BioNTech's takeover of CureVac goes ahead, GSK, led by chief executive Emma Walmsley, will also be paid a further 97million and royalties will be extended to non-US sales.

Drugmakers launched several lawsuits over alleged patent infringement in relation to their Covid vaccines.

CureVac said that, under the terms of the settlement, it would grant BioNTech and Pfizer a licence to make, use, and sell mRNA-based Covid and flu jabs.

GSK remains in dispute with Pfizer and BioNTech in the US and Europe over alleged infringement of patents. Shares in GSK shares rose 0.9 per cent, or 12.5p, to 1395.5p.

Danni Hewson, analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'The dispute gives GSK a modest, though still welcome, cash injection and the prospect of sales royalties.'

Derren Nathan, at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Today's rise hasn't quite clawed back all losses seen in the stock over the last month as concerns about tariffs and US vaccine policy continue to circle.

'But with full-year guidance nudged up to the top end of guidance in the latest earnings release, GSK looks to be in good health.'
Judges Scientific plc (LON:JDG  Get Free Report) insider Bradley Leonard Ormsby bought 4 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 5th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 6,188 ($83.23) per share, with a total value of 247.52 ($332.91).

Judges Scientific Stock Performance

Judges Scientific stock opened at GBX 6,050 ($81.37) on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 7,792.58 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 7,479.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.79, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.97. Judges Scientific plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 5,900 ($79.35) and a fifty-two week high of 112.25 ($150.98). The company has a market capitalization of 397.19 million, a PE ratio of 26.60, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.83.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on JDG. Berenberg Bank dropped their target price on Judges Scientific from 106 ($142.57) to GBX 7,900 ($106.25) and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a house stock rating on shares of Judges Scientific in a research note on Thursday, July 24th.

About Judges Scientific

(Get Free Report)

Judges Scientific plc (AIM: JDG), is a group focused on acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector. The Group now consists of 23 businesses acquired since 2005.

The acquired companies are primarily UK-based with products sold worldwide to a diverse range of markets including: higher education institutions, scientific research facilities, manufacturers and regulatory authorities.

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Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its stake in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 126.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 139,951 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 78,065 shares during the quarter. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $10,955,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. PCJ Investment Counsel Ltd. acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,174,000. Forsta AP Fonden increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 389,701 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,506,000 after buying an additional 24,700 shares during the period. Savvy Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Savvy Advisors Inc. now owns 20,775 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,626,000 after buying an additional 1,378 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,679,441 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $131,467,000 after buying an additional 289,948 shares during the period. Finally, AlphaCore Capital LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter worth approximately $250,000. 84.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Charles Schwab Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of SCHW stock opened at $97.05 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $92.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $176.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.09, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.96. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $61.16 and a fifty-two week high of $99.59.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 19.73% and a net margin of 33.68%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. Research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 29.03%.

Charles Schwab declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company set a $102.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. TD Securities raised their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $99.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Friday, July 18th. JMP Securities raised their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $106.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Cowen reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $99.35.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Charles Schwab

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other news, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 10,129 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.01, for a total transaction of $911,711.29. Following the transaction, the insider owned 39,154 shares in the company, valued at $3,524,251.54. The trade was a 20.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 10,176 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.39, for a total value of $889,280.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 308,016 shares of company stock worth $29,341,433. Corporate insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.1% of Sberbank of Russia shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.6% of Bay Banks of Virginia shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Bay Banks of Virginia and Sberbank of Russias net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bay Banks of Virginia N/A N/A N/A Sberbank of Russia 40.80% 21.45% 2.97%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Bay Banks of Virginia and Sberbank of Russias gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Bay Banks of Virginia $55.38 million 2.27 $7.06 million N/A N/A Sberbank of Russia $49.52 billion 0.06 $16.97 billion N/A N/A

Sberbank of Russia has higher revenue and earnings than Bay Banks of Virginia.

Summary

Sberbank of Russia beats Bay Banks of Virginia on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Bay Banks of Virginia

(Get Free Report)

Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and consumers in Virginia. The company accepts checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products include commercial and industrial loans, such as small business loans, asset based loans, and other secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit; purchased loans; residential and commercial mortgages; home equity loans; consumer installment loans; and consumer loans comprising automobile and boat financing, home improvement loans, and unsecured personal loans. The company also provides credit cards; and insurance, online banking, telephone banking, mobile banking, analysis checking, cash management deposit, wire, direct deposit payroll, lockbox, positive pay, and remote deposit services, as well as a line of commercial lending options. In addition, it offers management services, including estate planning and settlement, as well as trust administration, investment, and wealth management services; and revocable and irrevocable living trusts, testamentary trusts, custodial accounts, investment planning, brokerage services, investment managed accounts, and managed and self-directed rollover individual retirement accounts for personal and corporate trusts. As of March 9, 2020, the company operated 17 banking offices located throughout greater Richmond region, the Northern Neck region, Middlesex County, and the Hampton Roads region. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

About Sberbank of Russia

(Get Free Report)

Sberbank of Russia, together with its subsidiaries, provides corporate and retail banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, corporate clients, and financial institutions. The company offers deposit products; pension accounts; payment, transfer, brokerage, and asset management services; car, housing, education, and consumer loans; mortgages; debit and credit cards, and overdraft service; and refinancing products. It also provides derivative, financial instrument, foreign currency, precious metal, corporate structured, and commodities and securities products, as well as debt and capital markets funding, documentary, and other commission services. In addition, it offers life, property, bank card, accident, liability, trust management, investment and universal life, travel, and mutual investment funds insurance products, as well as individual pension plans and corporate pension programs. Additionally, the company provides business bank accounts, platform for exporters and importers, merchant acquiring and international trading services, and corporate cards for small businesses; and loans, investment products and capital markets services, fund investment services, and banking services for corporate clients. It also provides trade finance, interbank lending, currency risk hedging, and treasury services; deposits, custody services, and electronic trading systems; and settlement and cash collection services to financial institutions. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 11 Regional banks and 14,162 branches in Russia. The company also has operations in 18 countries internationally. Sberbank of Russia was founded in 1841 and is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of ArcelorMittal (NYSE:MT  Free Report) by 22.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,872,477 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 337,158 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned about 0.23% of ArcelorMittal worth $54,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vise Technologies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of ArcelorMittal in the 4th quarter worth about $217,000. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. purchased a new position in shares of ArcelorMittal in the 4th quarter worth about $2,521,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in shares of ArcelorMittal in the 4th quarter worth about $1,055,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund purchased a new position in shares of ArcelorMittal in the 1st quarter worth about $1,647,000. Finally, Castle Hook Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of ArcelorMittal in the 4th quarter worth about $1,780,000. 9.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ArcelorMittal Trading Up 3.8%

NYSE MT opened at $33.60 on Friday. ArcelorMittal has a 1-year low of $21.45 and a 1-year high of $34.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $31.91 and a 200-day moving average of $29.90. The firm has a market cap of $27.53 billion, a PE ratio of 10.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 1.65.

ArcelorMittal Cuts Dividend

ArcelorMittal ( NYSE:MT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $15.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.48 billion. ArcelorMittal had a net margin of 4.11% and a return on equity of 4.99%. The companys revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.63 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that ArcelorMittal will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $0.2338 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 144.0%. ArcelorMittals dividend payout ratio is 14.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays cut ArcelorMittal from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen cut ArcelorMittal from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, July 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of ArcelorMittal in a report on Monday, April 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $32.95.

View Our Latest Research Report on MT

ArcelorMittal Company Profile

(Free Report)

ArcelorMittal SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated steel and mining companies in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It offers semi-finished flat products, including slabs; finished flat products comprising plates, hot- and cold-rolled coils and sheets, hot-dipped and electro-galvanized coils and sheets, tinplate, and color coated coils and sheets; semi-finished long products, such as blooms and billets; finished long products consisting of bars, wire-rods, structural sections, rails, sheet piles, and wire-products; and seamless and welded pipes and tubes.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in Bank Of Montreal (NYSE:BMO  Free Report) (TSE:BMO) by 5.6% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,930,906 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 103,149 shares during the period. Bank Of Montreal accounts for about 0.8% of Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in Bank Of Montreal were worth $184,420,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Bank Of Montreal by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,997,776 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,960,102,000 after purchasing an additional 503,027 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its position in Bank Of Montreal by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 12,833,065 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,244,284,000 after purchasing an additional 1,020,712 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in Bank Of Montreal by 15.4% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 12,215,628 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,184,636,000 after purchasing an additional 1,630,962 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in Bank Of Montreal by 42.7% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 6,838,171 shares of the banks stock valued at $664,742,000 after purchasing an additional 2,044,862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JARISLOWSKY FRASER Ltd raised its position in Bank Of Montreal by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. JARISLOWSKY FRASER Ltd now owns 6,711,773 shares of the banks stock valued at $651,250,000 after purchasing an additional 426,442 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.82% of the companys stock.

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Bank Of Montreal Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of Bank Of Montreal stock opened at $112.82 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $81.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.63, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.00. Bank Of Montreal has a one year low of $80.97 and a one year high of $115.66. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $110.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $102.56.

Bank Of Montreal Increases Dividend

Bank Of Montreal ( NYSE:BMO Get Free Report ) (TSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The bank reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.84. Bank Of Montreal had a net margin of 10.25% and a return on equity of 10.15%. The business had revenue of $6.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.59 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Bank Of Montreal will post 7.71 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.1801 per share. This is a boost from Bank Of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 30th. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. Bank Of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 62.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Bank Of Montreal from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Barclays downgraded shares of Bank Of Montreal from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. They set a sector perform rating for the company. Finally, CIBC restated a neutral rating on shares of Bank Of Montreal in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $129.50.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Bank Of Montreal

Bank Of Montreal Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The companys personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its position in Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV  Free Report) (TSE:FNV) by 198.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,705,489 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 1,133,373 shares during the period. Franco-Nevada makes up 1.2% of Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.89% of Franco-Nevada worth $268,280,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Telemark Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Franco-Nevada in the 1st quarter valued at $15,756,000. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its holdings in shares of Franco-Nevada by 59.8% in the 1st quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 17,899 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,814,000 after buying an additional 6,701 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new position in shares of Franco-Nevada in the 1st quarter valued at $2,514,000. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Franco-Nevada in the 1st quarter valued at $506,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of Franco-Nevada by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 821,330 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $129,409,000 after buying an additional 12,729 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.06% of the companys stock.

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Franco-Nevada Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:FNV opened at $171.59 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $164.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $157.19. Franco-Nevada Corporation has a one year low of $112.70 and a one year high of $179.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.06 billion, a PE ratio of 53.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.36.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Franco-Nevada ( NYSE:FNV Get Free Report ) (TSE:FNV) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The basic materials company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.07. Franco-Nevada had a net margin of 50.39% and a return on equity of 11.40%. The firm had revenue of $368.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $328.79 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.76 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 43.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Franco-Nevada Corporation will post 3.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on FNV. CIBC reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Franco-Nevada from $165.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Raymond James Financial set a $186.00 target price on shares of Franco-Nevada and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, National Bankshares reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $172.13.

View Our Latest Report on Franco-Nevada

Franco-Nevada Profile

(Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in South America, Central America, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids through a third-party marketing agent.

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Stonebridge Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 11.0% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 19,254 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 2,368 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil comprises about 1.0% of Stonebridge Capital Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Stonebridge Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,290,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of XOM. True North Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 39.1% in the 1st quarter. True North Advisors LLC now owns 71,119 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $8,458,000 after acquiring an additional 19,984 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 19.7% in the 1st quarter. Johnson Financial Group LLC now owns 9,327 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,109,000 after acquiring an additional 1,532 shares in the last quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 21,454 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,552,000 after acquiring an additional 2,874 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 13.8% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 570,274 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $67,823,000 after acquiring an additional 69,102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 10.1% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,250 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on XOM. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Mizuho lowered their price target on Exxon Mobil from $129.00 to $124.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $127.00 price objective on Exxon Mobil and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $125.26.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

Shares of Exxon Mobil stock opened at $106.79 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $109.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.97. The company has a market capitalization of $455.27 billion, a PE ratio of 15.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a 52 week low of $97.80 and a 52 week high of $126.34.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The oil and gas company reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.17. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.34% and a net margin of 9.17%. The company had revenue of $81.51 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $79.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.14 EPS. Exxon Mobils quarterly revenue was down 12.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $0.99 dividend. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 56.25%.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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True North Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,355 shares of the companys stock after selling 128 shares during the period. True North Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $2,771,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Taylor Financial Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 11.5% during the first quarter. Taylor Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,391 shares of the companys stock worth $2,801,000 after acquiring an additional 350 shares during the period. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 24.8% during the first quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 2,127 shares of the companys stock worth $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 423 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% during the first quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 8,907 shares of the companys stock worth $7,356,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the period. Koss Olinger Consulting LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth $388,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 16.0% in the first quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 34,018 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,096,000 after buying an additional 4,688 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on LLY shares. UBS Group dropped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $895.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Leerink Partners reissued a market perform rating and issued a $715.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday. Hsbc Global Res lowered Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $975.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $1,135.00 price objective (up previously from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $990.89.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:LLY opened at $625.15 on Friday. 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 market cap of $592.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.86, a PEG ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.44. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $623.78 and a 52 week high of $972.53. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $774.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $798.80.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $6.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.59 by $0.72. The firm had revenue of $15.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 98.25%. The firms revenue was up 37.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.92 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.82%.

Insider Activity

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, Director Jamere Jackson acquired 200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $639.56 per share, with a total value of $127,912.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 9,402 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,013,143.12. This trade represents a 2.17% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

Further Reading

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Balanced Rock Investment Advisors LLC cut its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 5.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 277 shares of the companys stock after selling 16 shares during the period. Balanced Rock Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $229,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 97.5% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 101,305,650 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,669,349,000 after acquiring an additional 50,002,551 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 103,831.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 14,866,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,278,292,000 after acquiring an additional 14,852,076 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 79,224,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $65,432,218,000 after acquiring an additional 4,975,395 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 23.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,730,758 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,740,272,000 after acquiring an additional 1,645,222 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 16.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 10,757,511 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,304,811,000 after acquiring an additional 1,493,673 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 2.5%

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $625.15 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $592.48 billion, a PE ratio of 40.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 0.44. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $623.78 and a twelve month high of $972.53. The firms 50-day moving average price is $774.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $798.80. 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 issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $6.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.59 by $0.72. The firm had revenue of $15.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.40 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 98.25%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 37.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.92 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.82%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, Director Jamere Jackson bought 200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $639.56 per share, with a total value of $127,912.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,013,143.12. This trade represents a 2.17% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. HSBC downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and cut their target price for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Guggenheim increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $975.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partnrs downgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $990.89.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity.

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Cynosure Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 0.5% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 130,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 591 shares during the quarter. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF comprises about 6.5% of Cynosure Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Cynosure Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $47,015,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 37,046.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,515,933 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,269,568,000 after acquiring an additional 3,506,468 shares during the period. Demars Financial Group LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 39,345.2% during the 4th quarter. Demars Financial Group LLC now owns 834,661 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $335,183,000 after buying an additional 832,545 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 191.3% during the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 805,124 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $323,347,000 after purchasing an additional 528,761 shares in the last quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 36,009.0% during the 1st quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd now owns 494,693 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $178,629,000 after purchasing an additional 493,323 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 30,562,347 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $12,273,227,000 after purchasing an additional 456,535 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.33% of the companys stock.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF stock opened at $445.93 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $423.62 and a 200-day moving average of $395.57. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a one year low of $308.67 and a one year high of $448.79. The company has a market cap of $116.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report).

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Aftermath report and a glimpse at dangerous street life in the Dotte . . . Here's a quote from a police report and more TV news coverage . .

"The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which was called to investigate, said that it found just before 2:50 p.m., a man later identified as Paul Beasley Jr., 24, of Kansas City, Kansas, entered the business at 8301 State Ave. Once inside, he pointed a firearm at the cashier.



"Law enforcement officials indicated that Beasley demanded the cashier call 911 and report the robbery. One minute later, a KCKPD officer entered the store and was confronted by Beasley. The officer saw the firearm and retreated outside.



"However, investigators noted that Beasley followed and shot at members of the department who were gathering. Five officers fired back and hit Beasley, who was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. No law enforcement officials were injured as a result. "

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCFD: Armed suspect dies after shooting with police in Kansas City, Kansas
Right now models, biz ladies, producers and Insta hotties Syd & Emrata inspire our latest peek at pop culture, communityr reporting and top headlines.

Kansas City Leader STILL Inspires Good Deeds

Blood drive celebrates Kansas City leader and attack survivor's 90th birthday In March, an 89-year-old Kansas City leader was violently attacked. Thanks to help from people who didn't even know her, she not only survived, but recovered to continue her work serving others.

Cowtown Help Wanted

EDCKC touts leaders building Kansas City's workforce of tomorrow "The future of economic growth depends on how well we prepare our residents to thrive in a rapidly evolving labor market," writes EDCKC's Brian Escobar. "Workforce development isn't just a buzzword; it's the engine behind community resilience, economic mobility, and shared prosperity."

Kansas Summer Tradition

KC Sunflower Festival kicks off in Olathe For the next few weekends, families can celebrate the summer with sunflowers in Olathe, Kansas.

Show-Me Funnel Cake Excuse

Your guide to the 2025 Missouri State Fair Here's your guide to the 2025 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

Summer Treat Guide Debuts

Old-school soda fountains live on around Missouri and Kansas, if you know where to look Whether you're craving a float, a split, a phosphate or a vintage egg cream, find nostalgic sweet treats at these soda fountains around the City of Fountains.

The Sydney Sweeney Saga Shows Why Republicans Keep Winning OR . . .

The Sydney Sweeney Economy Donald Trump is president, commander in chief and also CEO.

Maybe MAGA Ceasefire

Trump and Putin to meet to discuss Ukraine peace deal in Alaska Trump made the announcement on social media after he said that the parties, including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, were close to a ceasefire deal.

Left Coast Pushes Back La Migra?!?

A grassroots effort is underway to monitor ICE operations in Southern California Home Depots have become a hotbed for immigration raids in recent months, so residents have vowed to remain a constant presence at dozens of locations across Los Angeles County.

Progressives Overruled

Judge blocks Beto O'Rourke from funding Texas Dems who fled to stop GOP redistricting vote A Texas judge issued a temporary restraining order against Beto O'Rourke's nonprofit after the state AG accused him of unlawfully fundraising for Democrats who fled to block GOP bills.

Holy Land Fights For Territory In The Cloud

Microsoft investigates Israeli military's use of Azure cloud storage Concerns that tech company's Israel-based staff may have concealed key details of work follow Guardian investigation

Blast Site Remembered

Nagasaki marks 80th A-bomb anniversary as survivors put hopes of nuke ban in the hands of youth NAGASAKI, Japan - Nagasaki is marking the U.S. atomic attack on the southern Japanese city 80 years ago and survivors of the attack are working to make their hometown the last place on earth hit by the bomb

Not Everybody Loves Appointments

Will More Sex Really Bring Couples Bliss? There's a risk in making sex a chore.

Building Up Waldo Heights

It's An Eyesore Now - But Upscale Apartments Coming Soon! You can't miss the big gray box at the northeast corner of Broadway and 74th St--where The Well was located. Are windowless apartments going in there?!? Nope, that's just the 5 story parking garage that confronts your eyes when driving by. The apartments, formerly known as 74 Broadway, will be wrapped around this garage.

Golden Ghetto Gets Fancy

European-style coffee shop opens in Johnson County, replacing longtime drive-in The owner, who hails from Croatia, is bringing his favorite European coffee brand to KC.

Another Swampy Weekend

FIRST WARN FORECAST: Weekend weather impacts from heat and storms Heat and storms are expected to impact your weekend in Kansas City.

Visions Of You - HAYLA is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Lots of local news to consider this morning as cold cases, legal action and community outreach take the forefront of this collection.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Son makes efforts to free father in decades-old Jackson County murder conviction On Monday, Cliff Middleton, Ken's son, said they plan to file a writ of habeas corpus in the Missouri Western Court of Appeals.

Overland Park police chief takes feedback, shares progress as she approaches 1 year in her job Overland Park's Police Chief Doreen Jokerst is nearing one year on the job. Jokerst was hired in October 2024 as the city's first female police chief.

One year in, Wichita violence interrupters see success. But how? In the year since the Cure Violence ICT program has been in operation in Wichita, violent incidents have dropped 35%.

Independence, Mo., Police Embrace Body Cams After Year of Use About a year after Independence police officers started wearing body cameras, the department says that the program has changed the way its staff interacts with residents and collects evidence.

Six former cult members sentenced in 12+ year KCK forced child labor scheme Six former cult members have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a 12+ year forced labor conspiracy.

Kansas City anesthesiologist booked into Texas jail for alleged child sex crime An anesthesiologist has been accused of a child sex crime.

Kansas City man sentenced to 40 years for fentanyl deaths of three people A Kansas City, MO man was sentenced to 40 years in prison in connection with the fentanyl overdose deaths of three people.

Arrest made after victim with traumatic brain injury shot during robbery A 19-year-old is believed to be behind an armed robbery that may have left his victim paralyzed.

North Kansas City teen sentenced to prison in murder of high school student - NewsBreak A Jackson County judge sentenced an 18-year-old North Kansas City man to 16 years in prison for the killing of a high school student last fall, according t

Kansas City man accused of shooting partner's family member during July argument A Kansas City man has been blamed for a July shooting that stemmed from an argument.

Defense attorney faults Anderson County legal system for lack of prosecution of alleged killer of Wyandotte County Sheriff Deputy - The Sentinel Attorney says the alleged killer should have been imprisoned for crimes committed in Anderson County.

Damaged businesses react to shooting involving KCKPD that left suspect dead Late Friday night, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation shared details in a shooting involving Kansas City, Kansas, police officers that left one suspect dead and multiple businesses damaged.

Funeral, procession information released for fallen Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming The public will have an opportunity to pay their final respects Monday to fallen Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming.

Teens in Transition program aims to limit teen violence in KC: 'You can be better' Teens in Transition held their end-of-summer celebration on Friday, after an eight-week program aimed at helping Kansas City high schoolers who are at risk for exposure to violent behavior.

Developing . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Azerbaijan and Armenia take a decisive step towards resolving a bitter conflict that has lasted for over three decades, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

Today marks a truly historic moment as Azerbaijan and Armenia take a decisive step towards resolving a bitter conflict that has lasted for over three decades. I commend the vision and resolve shown by President Ilham Aliyev in steering this process, and deeply appreciate the role of President Donald Trump in facilitating this breakthrough. I also extend my heartiest congratulations to my brother Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov as Azerbaijan moves forward on the path of peace with Armenia, he said

Mohammad Ishaq Dar expressed hope that this milestone would pave the way in the Caucasus for a future free of the painful shadows of the past and built on peace and stability.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The EU highly values the agreements reached in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said in a statement, Trend reports.

According to her, the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House mark a significant breakthrough toward ending decades of conflict.

"We strongly commend both sides and the US Administration for using the momentum and making progress possible. It will now be important to ensure the timely implementation of the agreed steps, notably the signing and ratification of the peace treaty," she said.

Kallas pointed out that following the finalization of bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations on the text of the peace agreement last March, this represents an important and decisive next step towards full-fledged normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of each others sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

She noted that once implemented, the steps agreed in Washington are expected to have a positive impact on the overall peaceful development of the region, and to help bring societies divided by legacies of conflict closer to sustainable peace and shared prosperity.

"The EU fully supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process and has been working for years with both parties and our international partners to create the conditions for lasting peace. We continue to stand ready to work with partners towards full-fledged normalization, providing additional support and expertise, including for the practical implementation of next steps," Kallas said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The UK congratulated Armenia and Azerbaijan on the bold steps taken in Washington towards achieving peace, the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X, Trend reports.

Lammy also praised the vital role of US President Donald Trump in securing this breakthrough.

"The UK stands ready to support peace in the South Caucasus, as both sides honour their commitments, the post reads.

As reported earlier, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, have signed a Joint Declaration in Washington on the peaceful settlement of relations between Baku and Yerevan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna highly praised the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the path to lasting peace, Trend reports.

I commend both sides determination, the US leadership, and partners - including the EU - for their consistent efforts. It is crucial now to fully and timely implement all agreed steps, paving the way for lasting peace in the region, wrote on his X page.

He called the Washington meeting a historic step by Azerbaijan and Armenia towards peace.

As reported earlier, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, have signed a Joint Declaration in Washington on the peaceful settlement of relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Michael Brown, suspected of fatally shooting four people at an Anaconda bar on Aug. 1, was arrested Friday after a weeklong manhunt that involved hundreds of officers.

Brown, 45, was found Friday afternoon near the Ranch Bar, 13177 Montana Highway 1.

Authorities said they believed Brown ditched a stolen Ford F-150 and scampered into the mountains along Stumptown Road just west of Anaconda. The Ranch Bar is near the western end of Stumptown Road.

Bill Everett, chief executive of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, said Brown was captured in or near an old abandoned trailer near the bar.

Hes alive and its over, Everett told The Montana Standard. Anaconda can get some sleep tonight.

Authorities said he was captured right at a structure and was armed, though they would not elaborate on that. He was upright and communicative and identified himself.

I thought he looked surprisingly in good shape, Lee Johnson, administrator of the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation, said at a news conference. One of the things we did immediately was get him medically cleared  get him medical attention as long as hes been out there.

The weather certainly hasnt been, you know, conducive to survivability with no resources," he said. "But you know, with the ability to basically move around the potentially inner structures, have some structure, I thought he was in pretty good shape.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Brown was "technically armed," but would not provide details.

There was a weapon on him, he said.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith said there was more work to be done.

This isnt the end, it is the beginning, she said, adding she plans to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.

Smith said the community has been on an edge throughout the ordeal and manhunt.

I can tell you that upon confirmation and apprehension today, my office was able to contact all of the victims families and provide them with official notice that he was in custody, Smith said. My understanding from that is that this is day one of all of those folks being able to move forward.

Brown was listed Aug. 9 in the Butte-Silver Bow County Detention Center.

When news of Browns capture was verified Friday afternoon, there were immediate responses of relief from Anaconda residents conveyed on a community-based Facebook page.

Prayers have been answered! one person posted. Great news!

Thank goodness  now healing may begin, wrote one woman, while another stated, So glad Anaconda can now have some peace.

The Ranch Bar is about 5 miles northwest of urban Anaconda on Highway 1. It is near Stumptown Road, which has been part of the search area since the shooting.

The property that housed the trailer is about 200 yards west of The Ranch Bar, which is itself about 5 miles from downtown Anaconda. The bar closed briefly last weekend because of the potential that Brown could be a threat.

Numerous law enforcement agencies were at the scene Friday afternoon. They included the U.S. Marshals Service, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Police, Montana Highway Patrol and several others.

Police vehicles lined Montana Highway 1 near the driveway. Motorists passing by noticed the commotion and flashing lights and slowed. All asked some variety of, Did they get him?

One man who stopped and left his vehicle thanked officers leaving the scene. Several grinned in response.

The property is near Warm Springs Creek. Stumptown Road is close at hand and offers a bridge over the creek.

An officer with the U.S. Marshals Service declined to say whether Brown was armed when found.

The Owl Bar victims are Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All four were residents of Anaconda. Authorities have not released any information regarding the shooter's motive.

Gov. Greg Gianforte praised officers for the arrest.

"Incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana," he said. "Thank you to all partners for your commitment to the search. May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss."

Knudsen, whose Department of Justice was leading the search, said he was proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort to find Brown.

The support weve seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable, he said in an emailed statement. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers.

According to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 at the Owl Bar at 819 E. 3rd St. in the Goosetown neighborhood of Anaconda. He was last seen around 2 p.m. Aug. 1 driving west of Anaconda on Stumptown Road. He was believed to be driving a stolen white Ford F-150 pickup.

Several days ago, authorities released a still photo taken from video surveillance that showed Brown walking on a set of stairs at some point after the shooting. He wasnt armed in that photo and it appeared he was wearing nothing but shorts or underwear.

He was last seen driving away in a white Ford pickup about 90 minutes after the shooting, with police apparently on his tail. That led to questions of how he could have ditched the truck and scampered into the mountains without getting caught right away.

Knudsen said there was a little time after the shooting when they believe Brown went to his house briefly, went down the street and hid in another structure. The photo was him leaving that structure, he said.

He ditched his clothes and some personal effects, Knudsen said, then jumped into the stolen truck.

He was identified almost immediately, Knudsen said. The trick became, an almost identical vehicle pulled onto the highway in front of him and so law enforcement wasnt sure which white Ford F-150 he was in. One continued going west and one went down Stumptown Road. We found (the right one) and identified it fairly quickly, but thats how that went.

Officials say more than 250 law enforcement officers from nearly 40 local, state and federal agencies have been involved in the manhunt in some capacity. Among other assets, authorities have deployed helicopters with infrared technology.

They havent stopped searching since the very beginning, Gianforte said at news conference Friday evening in front of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse. They responded to every call. They followed up on every tip. They spent hours climbing over these mountains looking for this criminal. They used every resource available to them to search for him.

'Thanks' does not cover what we owe these brave men and women, Gianforte said.

Brown lived in a home next door to the Owl Bar, authorities said. According to an initial online records search, Brown is a 1998 high school graduate with no listed criminal record.

He served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 and had been deployed at least once to Iraq. He was in the National Guard from 2006 to 2009 and his last known rank was sergeant.

Numerous social media posts from people who said they knew Brown claim he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had sought mental health help numerous times. Authorities have not confirmed those claims.

David Gwerder, owner of the Owl Bar, told the Associated Press that the suspect "knew everyone that was in the bar. I guarantee you that. He didn't have a running dispute with any of them. I think he snapped."

Gwerder said he was not aware of any conflicts between Brown and the victims.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, thanked law enforcement officials who helped apprehend Brown.

For the past week, Anaconda and the surrounding community showed the country the resilience and grit that makes MT special, he said in an email. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and their families.

This story will be updated.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The creation of a Strategic Working Group between the United States and Azerbaijan institutionalises US-Azerbaijani engagement, facilitating continuous dialogue on security, energy, and economic diversification, British journalist and political scientist Neil Watson told Trend.

He noted that the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington is a unique and historic moment of public alignment between Baku and Yerevan on the principles of peaceful coexistence and mutual recognition of sovereignty.

"Its core objectives are: 1. Finalising a framework for a peace treaty, moving beyond ceasefire arrangements towards a legally-binding settlement. 2. Establishing mechanisms for border demarcation and dispute resolution that can reduce the risk of renewed military escalation. 3. The launch of a homogeneous, independent South Caucasus, replete with economic and transport connectivity projects that can serve as mutual incentives for sustained peace," the British journalist said.

The political scientist underlined that the expected outcome is a shift from conflict management to conflict resolution, transforming the South Caucasus into a corridor for trade, energy, and cross-border cooperation.

"The creation of a Strategic Working Group is highly significant. On the security side, it creates a direct channel to align counterterrorism and maritime security in the Caspian, together with providing resilience against hybrid threats. On the economic front, it could result in investment in renewable and conventional energy, digital infrastructure, and regional transport links," Watson stated.

The journalist considers that the foundation of the Working Group positions the US as a more constant and reliable stakeholder in the South Caucasus, which could offset the influence and threat of Russia and give Baku more strategic options.

"The involvement of President Trump brings both prestige and political weight to the process. In diplomatic terms, when the President is personally engaged, it signals to all parties that Washington is willing to invest political capital to see the process succeed. This can create momentum and reassure both Baku and Yerevan that agreements reached in Washington will continue.

From a strategic partnership perspective, presidential attention often translates into broader interagency support, funding opportunities, and an elevated profile in US foreign policy. This should result in the success of bilateral projects, encourage private sector investment, and integrate the peace agenda with regional economic initiatives," Neil Watson concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. I highly value the personal relationship with President Donald Trump, said Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with Azerbaijani media representatives in Washington, Trend reports.

"I am sure we are opening a new chapter in our relationship. My personal contact with President Trump began with a very friendly, cordial, and result-oriented first meeting. Of course, I knew President Trump from his previous term and from what he had accomplished in six months. President Trump did not know who I was at first; he had heard about me through his team members. But my personal attitude toward President Trump has always been very positive. Even last year, when asked about the US elections, I said what I thought: we supported him because he is probably the only American president who did not start wars. This is true. He is a person who values family values, like Azerbaijani people. During these six months in office, as I said today at the press conference, he achieved things that seemed impossible  in Africa, Asia, and the South Caucasus. He is a person who brings tangible results. From this point of view, I highly value our personal relationship. I am confident that in the coming years, this personal relationship will greatly influence interstate relations between our countries," said President Ilham Aliyev.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Pakistan welcomes the historic peace agreement signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia at the White House Summit under the auspices of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, the Prime Minsiter of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

He noted that this landmark development marks the dawn of a new era of peace, stability, and cooperation in the South Caucasus, a region that has endured decades of conflict and human suffering.

"We congratulate President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on this historic agreement, that reflects wisdom, foresight and sagacity in charting a course for a peaceful future for their region. Pakistan has always stood by the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and we stand with them at this proud moment of their history.

We also appreciate the facilitation role of the United States, under President Donald Trump, in bringing the two sides together and securing an agreement that opens new avenues for trade, connectivity, and regional integration. It is our hope that this spirit of dialogue will serve as an example for other regions facing protracted conflicts," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the announcement of a peace agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and praised the United States for its role in sponsoring the agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the kingdom wrote on its X page, Trend reports.

In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdoms hope that the agreement would mark the beginning of a new phase of understanding and cooperation, consolidating security and stability between Armenia and Azerbaijan in a way that serves the interests of the peoples of both countries and the broader Caucasus region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. On August 8, a telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye, Hakan Fidan, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to Trend.

Meanwhile, it was noted that the Turkish Foreign Minister congratulated our country on the historic successes achieved during the meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington.

"The ministers emphasized that the agreements reached, the joint statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the US president as a witness, are of great importance for ensuring peace and stability in the region. It was noted that the initialing of the peace agreement, as well as the joint call for the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures, is an important contribution to peace. The ministers expressed their hope that the OSCE would soon decide to dissolve these structures.

The telephone conversation also covered issues related to Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance relations and cooperation within regional and international organizations," the information notes.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, considers the peace agreement signed in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia a historically significant achievement that has put an end to years of military conflict, the Press Secretary of the President, Ruslan Zheldibay, wrote on his social media, Trend reports.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev considers the peace agreement signed in Washington between Azerbaijan and Armenia a historically significant achievement. This document has put an end to the long-standing military conflict between the two states and paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic relations and the development of cooperation based on lasting peace, the publication reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. In Azerbaijan, we have never had any conflict or even misunderstanding based on ethnic or religious differences, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in an interview with the Azerbaijani press in Washington, Trend reports.

"For many years, Azerbaijan was demonized in the United States media, which President Trump fairly calls fake news. These media outlets, like The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, and many others, on a regular basis were spreading rumors about Azerbaijan, attacking us, publishing insulting articles, and actually misleading American public opinion. That was mainly done by representatives of the Armenian lobby, the group which today acts against Armenian interests. And today, instead of being happy about what happens, they are absolutely disappointed because their agenda is completely different. They were responsible for the occupation because their ideas, their advice, their money, and their influence on different Armenian governments played a destructive role for Armenia itself. If not for them and groups like them, Armenia would have been a much more developed country with a solid, independent system, but they just lost time. They lost time occupying our lands, and in the end, they could not keep this occupation forever and actually lost 30 years in their development.

All those rumors and false information about Azerbaijan, for those who know our country, seem absolutely biased, because Azerbaijan is one of the countries famous for its ethnic and religious diversity. All the religious sites are protected by the state. In Azerbaijan, we have never had even a conflict, not even a misunderstanding, on the basis of ethnic or religious differences. On the contrary, Azerbaijan today is one of the centers of multiculturalism, where representatives of different religious and ethnic groups live as one family. So, I think what happened today will also be a good answer to those who still either do not know the reality or deliberately try to create wrong perceptions," said President Ilham Aliyev.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Armenia and Azerbaijan have already made peace by signing a document in Washington, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference, Trend reports.

This was announced by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a press conference, according to Trend.

What has happened is a historic event. I have been declaring for several months that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but rather peace. Today, we can already say that peace has been established, and it has been established within the framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our countries, Pashinyan noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. President Ilham Aliyev and PM of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan wrote a historic page in Washington under the umbrella of President Trump, French Senator, member of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Nathalie Goulet told Trend.

''So happy with the historic page written by President Ilham Alyev, PM Pashinyan, under the Umbrella of President Trump. France would have been able to play an instrumental role in the peace process if 99,99 percent of the politicians hadnt followed blindly the Armenian lobby,'' she said.

According to Goulet, France took a dramatically disbalanced position and is now out of the picture.

'' I hope France will soon restore the good relations with Azerbaijan. I am proud to have been constantly on the right side of history,'' she emphasized.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement on the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the United States of America, Trend reports.

The statement reads: On 7-8 August 2025, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to the United States of America.

During the visit, the Presidents of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America regarding the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America to elevate the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations to the level of strategic partnership.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, a Strategic Working Group will be established between the two countries to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership, within a six-month time period, that will serve to strengthen strategic partnership in areas of mutual interest. In the Working Group, a priority will be given to areas such as regional connectivity, including energy, trade, and transit; economic investment, including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure; as well as defense, security, and counter-terrorism. This has particular significance in terms of establishing an institutional framework for bilateral practical cooperation.

A key highlight of the visit was also an Executive Order signed by the U.S. President on the extension of the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, during the bilateral meeting of the two Presidents. The waiver of this amendmenta negative legacy in Azerbaijan-U.S. relationsduring President Ilham Aliyevs visit holds profound symbolic significance.

The visit also yielded substantial outcomes in the context of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. A trilateral summit was held involving the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, culminating in the signing of a Joint Declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and by the President of the United States as a witness. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers of both countries initialed the Draft Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and signed a joint letter of appeal addressed to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office requesting the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures.

The signing of the Joint Declaration in Washington reaffirmed Azerbaijans peace agenda. Within the framework of the provision regarding the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, it was acknowledged that further actions are required to achieve the signing and ratification of the Agreement. In this context, to enable the signing of the Agreement, the Azerbaijani side expects that amendments will be made to the Constitution of Armenia in order to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Another noteworthy provision in the Joint Declaration is the commitment to opening transportation and communication links between the two countries. It emphasizes the necessity of ensuring an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The document also sets forth a special connectivity project to be implemented within Armenian territory: the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This initiative, led by the United States, aims to establish an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via the territory of Armenia.

The joint appeal to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office regarding the closure of the Minsk Process and its related structures marks another important step towards eliminating one of the major obstacles to peace and normalization.

Moreover, within the framework of the visit, in the presence of the President of Azerbaijan and the U.S. Presidents Special Envoy, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between SOCAR and ExxonMobil Corporation. The document aims to strengthen the existing positive relations between the companies and explore potential areas of cooperation in evaluating both conventional and unconventional oil and gas opportunities in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Overall, the agreements reached during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the United States and the outcomes within the AzerbaijanArmenia normalization process carry historic significance.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Iran hails the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the statement of the Iranian MFA on social media said, Trend reports.

The statement states that Iran considers this agreement an important step towards achieving lasting peace in the region.

Moreover, it is noted that Iran expresses its readiness to continue constructive cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia to maintain peace and stability, as well as economic development in the region through bilateral and regional cooperation.

As reported earlier, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, have signed a Joint Declaration in Washington on the peaceful settlement of relations between Baku and Yerevan.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, sent a congratulatory letter to President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Trend reports.

''Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and, through you, to your entire nation on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Singapore.

Over the past decades, Singapore has made remarkable progress, becoming one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic countries in the world, and achieving significant accomplishments in the fields of economy, industry, science, modern technologies, and other areas.

I believe that we will continue to consistently pursue our joint efforts to further develop the friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Singapore.

On this festive day, I extend to you my best regards and wish your people everlasting peace and prosperity,'' the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Washington, which took place at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, represents a historic significance not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the entire region, Azerbaijani MP Vugar Bayramov told Trend.

He said that during the visit, along with the discussion of the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, special attention was paid to strengthening the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the US.

"Along with political and strategic cooperation, Azerbaijani-US relations will also develop in the direction of regional ties, including energy, trade, and transit, as well as in the area covering artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. The Strategic Working Group created following the visit of President Ilham Aliyev will deal with important issues such as expanding the infrastructure of regional ties and investments in the energy sector, promoting regional trade and economic cooperation, as well as developing artificial intelligence," he noted.

According to the MP, cooperation in the energy sector will allow US allies to further strengthen their energy security through Azerbaijani gas.

"Azerbaijan, which supplies gas to 14 countries, makes a special contribution to strengthening the energy security of the US's European partners. Strategic cooperation with the US will create conditions for attracting more technologies and innovations to the non-oil sector. This will contribute to the implementation of Azerbaijan's goals for economic diversification. Strategic partnership between the US and Azerbaijan means the introduction of American technologies and investments in our country, as well as the growth of US economic activity," he pointed out.

Bayramov recalled that President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated the inevitability of the implementation of the Zangezur Corridor, emphasizing that it's only a matter of time.

"Thanks to the far-sighted policy of President Ilham Aliyev, the signed Joint Declaration provides for unimpeded communication between the main part of our country and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This means the implementation of the Zangezur Corridor. An agreement was also signed in Washington between the US and Armenia regarding the launch of the Zangezur Corridor. This means that Trump will act as a guarantor of this project," he concluded.

In turn, MP Sahib Aliyev told Trend that the Joint Declaration signed by President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the presence of the US President reflects all of Azerbaijan's conditions.

He noted that a major, decisive step was taken towards peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"The document states everything - a joint appeal to dissolve the Minsk Group, unimpeded communication with Nakhchivan, and the inadmissibility of revanchist attempts," the MP said.

According to him, the first article of the Joint Declaration notes the legitimacy of Azerbaijan's demand to amend the Constitution of Armenia, as well as the fact that without this, neither the signing nor the ratification of a comprehensive peace treaty is possible. Thus, this declaration effectively transfers the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, into a bilateral format with the support of the US, and this transformation fully takes into account the new reality created by Azerbaijan after 2020.

"This reflects the beginning of a new era not only for our region - this is the first step towards the formation of a new world order," he added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The meeting between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, US President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which took place on August 8 in Washington, is of historic importance, Azerbaijani MP Sabina Salmanova told Trend.

She said that this meeting will be a major turning point for the region, and the joint declaration adopted at the meeting will go down in history as a major step towards ensuring real peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia after many years of conflict.

According to her, the joint declaration reflects a number of important issues.

"The provisions of the document regarding the opening of communications serve to build political and economic bridges between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Ensuring direct, unimpeded communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is of particular importance from the viewpoint of our country's national interests. At the same time, it's envisaged that Armenia will also benefit from this process, which shows the mutually beneficial nature of the peace initiative. Of particular note is the international transport project, which was named Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). This project opens up economic prospects for all countries in the region. It's part of the regional transport integration plan initiated by President Ilham Aliyev and will further expand Azerbaijan's transit capabilities," she said.

The MP added that the document particularly emphasizes the initiative to officially end the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"The joint appeal signed by the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia officially launched the initiative to abolish the Minsk Group and all related structures. This shows that the format, which has not yielded any results for many years, was inactive and no longer corresponds to the real situation, and is becoming history. This diplomatic decision is another reflection of the political will of President Ilham Aliyev and the growing weight of Azerbaijan in the system of international relations," said Salmanova.

In turn, MP Zaur Shukurov told Trend that the role of President Ilham Aliyev in the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and forming a peace agenda is irreplaceable.

"After the conflict's end with Azerbaijan's victory, the head of state put forward a peace agenda. In early 2022, Azerbaijan presented Armenia with five basic principles of a peace treaty, including recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders, renunciation of territorial claims, a commitment not to use force or threat of force, demarcation and delimitation of borders, establishment of diplomatic relations, and opening of communications. In March of this year, the text of a peace treaty consisting of 17 articles, which was also prepared by Azerbaijan, was finally agreed upon," he said.

The MP pointed out that one of the main reasons for the delay in the peace process was that Armenia did not fulfill its obligations - didn't take steps to eliminate the main obstacles to signing the agreed draft peace treaty: removing provisions with territorial claims against our country from its Constitution and abolishing the unnecessary Minsk Group and related structures. In addition, Armenia, under various pretexts, prevented the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, and, therefore, the full-fledged operation of the region's transport infrastructure.

He stressed that the joint declaration signed within the framework of the Washington meeting is another victory of President Ilham Aliyev.

"It's thanks to the decisive position of President Ilham Aliyev that the declaration reflects provisions that serve our national interests. Armenia accepted all of Azerbaijan's conditions - a joint letter was signed regarding the abolition of the Minsk Group, and Armenia also agreed to the issue of excluding from its Constitution the clause containing territorial claims against us. In addition, the opening of the Zangezur Corridor is becoming a reality. Azerbaijan achieved this goal in Washington. President Ilham Aliyev, who won the war, also won in achieving peace," Shukurov concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. We've been witnessing very significant events in recent days and, as Azerbaijanis, we feel a great sense of pride, Azerbaijani MP Zhala Aliyeva told Trend.

She noted that the meetings held in Washington, as well as the initialed documents, are an important manifestation of the purposeful and unwavering policy, strong will that President Ilham Aliyev has been pursuing for many years. Today, the world has once again seen the strong position of Azerbaijan, its unity and stability.

The MP stressed that holding such a meeting in a superpower like the US and reaching an agreement between the parties is a very important page in the history of Azerbaijan.

"This is not only a page in the history of Azerbaijan, but perhaps also the beginning of a new history, a new world within the changing world order. It may seem a little pretentious, but it is true. Today, Azerbaijan was able to demonstrate and prove that it has become a significant force. And this is not limited to just a demonstration - with our actions, decisions, and determination, we were able to confirm this policy to the whole world," she said.

The official stressed that this is a great success, a great victory, and an important result of the correct policy that Azerbaijan has been pursuing for many years.

"One of the significant moments is the initiative to abolish the OSCE Minsk Group, the initialing of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the fact that today we are already on the threshold of signing this treaty. This is, in the truest sense of the word, a very important page in history. After this page, we'll witness successful development and significant progress not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also for the entire South Caucasus, as well as for the entire world and world order," said Aliyeva.

In turn, MP Nagif Hamzayev told Trend that the joint declaration signed with the testimony of US President Donald Trump is assessed as an important step towards resolving the conflict that has lasted between the two neighboring countries for decades.

"One of the key parts of the declaration was the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia by the foreign ministers. This step will form the basis for the signing and ratification of the agreement in the future. In addition, the signing of a joint appeal on the abolition of the OSCE Minsk Group and related structures symbolizes the end of the activities of the institution, which for a long time played a mediating role in the settlement of the former conflict," he noted.

The MP said that the Trump Route of Prosperity and Peace (TRIPP) project will be implemented in Armenia and demonstrates the US interest in this region.

"The TRIPP project and the opening of other communication routes will create new opportunities for economic development in the region. This promises economic benefits for both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the states of the region," he pointed out.

Hamzayev stressed that the end of the conflict will contribute to ensuring stability in the entire South Caucasus.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar welcomed the results of the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the United States in the White House, Trend reports.

The statement posted on the website of the head of the TRNC emphasized the importance of the talks in Washington.

"The truly historic Joint Declaration of Azerbaijan and Armenia opens the way to a stage of peace based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, renunciation of hostility, the formation of an atmosphere of trust between peoples, the establishment of diplomatic and trade ties," E. Tatar said in a statement.

The President of the TRNC sincerely congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the entire Azerbaijani people for this important step, and also gave a positive assessment to the political will shown in this process by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

The leader of the TRNC paid special attention to the issue of restoring communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. "The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, which is also reflected in the Joint Declaration, will become a stimulus for the economic development of the region," E. Tatar emphasized in his statement.

The politician also pointed out the importance of lifting U.S. restrictions on Azerbaijan, noting that this step by Washington creates new opportunities for both Azerbaijani-American relations and the economic prosperity of the South Caucasus. "Cooperation based on mutual respect and equality is, without a doubt, the key to protecting long-term peace and stability," E. Tatar noted.

The President drew parallels with the situation in Cyprus, where the residents of the TRNC have suffered from isolation for decades. "A fair settlement of disagreements is possible only through cooperation between two internationally equal states," he emphasized.

In conclusion, the President once again congratulated "his dear friend, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, as well as Armenia for the historic step." "I hope that the Joint Declaration will form a strong foundation for peace and prosperity in the region," E. Tatar said in a statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. On August 9, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon sent a congratulatory telegram to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports.

"Dear Ilham Aliyev,

I sincerely congratulate you and the friendly people of Azerbaijan on the signing of the Joint Declaration with the Republic of Armenia, which opens the way to achieving lasting peace between the two countries.

We welcome this historic event and emphasize the importance of peaceful dialogue as the only means of resolving crises and conflicts.

We are convinced that the agreements reached will create the necessary basis for the development of good-neighborly relations and partnership between the two states and, at the same time, will contribute to strengthening the foundations of stability and security in the Caucasus and expanding constructive interregional cooperation.

I take this opportunity to wish you, dear Ilham Aliyev, good health and new achievements in your responsible activities for the benefit of the friendly people of Azerbaijan," the telegram says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the Russian Federation is interested in the formation of a zone of stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus, while one of the most important conditions was the comprehensive normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, based on the interests of the peoples of both countries, Trend reports.

According to her, Russia consistently supports all efforts to achieve this key goal for regional security. In this regard, the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington with the mediation of the American side deserves a positive assessment.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the Russian side will additionally analyze Washington's statements on unblocking regional communications. She emphasized that the signing and entry into force of an agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be of paramount importance in establishing peace between the two South Caucasian republics.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia welcomes the historic agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, reached between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan under the mediation of the President of the United States of America Donald Trump, Trend reports.

It is noted that this landmark agreement is an important milestone in ensuring sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and creates a solid foundation for long-term stability and new opportunities for development in the region.

Georgia firmly supports measures to strengthen peace and enhance cooperation in the region, aimed at stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus.

"We welcome the exceptional contribution and efforts of the United States of America and President Donald Trump to ending the conflict that has lasted in the South Caucasus for decades. We express hope that this historic event will have a chain reaction effect in terms of peaceful resolution of conflicts in the Black Sea region and throughout the world," the statement said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. On 7-8 August 2025, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, paid a visit to the United States of America, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

During the visit, the Presidents of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America regarding the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America to elevate the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations to the level of strategic partnership.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, a Strategic Working Group will be established between the two countries to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership, within a six-month time period, that will be served to strengthen strategic partnership in areas of mutual interest. In the Working Group, a priority will be given to areas such as regional connectivity, including energy, trade and transit; economic investment, including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure; as well as defense, security, and counter-terrorism. This has particular significance in terms of establishing an institutional framework for bilateral practical cooperation.

A key highlight of the visit was also an Executive Order signed by the U.S. President on extension of waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, during the bilateral meeting of two Presidents. The waiver of this amendmenta negative legacy in Azerbaijan-U.S. relationsduring President Ilham Aliyevs visit, holds profound symbolic significance.

The visit also yielded substantial outcomes in the context of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. A trilateral summit was held involving the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, culminating in the signing of a Joint Declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and by the President of the United States as a witness. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers of both countries initialed the Draft Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and signed a joint letter of appeal addressed to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office requesting the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures.

The signing of the Joint Declaration in Washington reaffirmed Azerbaijans peace agenda. Within the framework of the provision regarding the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, it was acknowledged that further actions are required to achieve the signing and ratification of the Agreement. In this context, to enable the signing of the Agreement, the Azerbaijani side expects that amendments will be made to the Constitution of Armenia in order to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Another noteworthy provision in the Joint Declaration is the commitment to opening transportation and communication links between the two countries. It emphasizes the necessity of ensuring an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The document also sets forth a special connectivity project to be implemented within Armenian territory: the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This initiative, led by the United States, aims to establish an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via the territory of Armenia.

The joint appeal to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office regarding the closure of the Minsk Process and its related structures marks another important step towards eliminating one of the major obstacles to peace and normalization.

Moreover, within the framework of the visit, in the presence of the President of Azerbaijan and the U.S. Presidents Special Envoy, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between SOCAR and ExxonMobil corporation. The document aims to strengthen the existing positive relations between the companies and explore potential areas of cooperation in evaluating both conventional and unconventional oil and gas opportunities in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Overall, the agreements reached during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the United States and the outcomes within the AzerbaijanArmenia normalization process carry historic significance.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Congratulations to President Trump! Your bold leadership and global vision have made another peace agreement possible, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on his page on X, Trend reports.

"I also congratulate President Aliyev, Prime Minister Pashinyan and the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia on signing this historic agreement.

May you all enjoy a new era of reconciliation and shared prosperity, he wrote.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. A telephone conversation was held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan warmly congratulated on the agreements reached between Azerbaijan and the United States during the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States, as well as on the historic achievements in the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It was noted that the signed documents are of great importance for ensuring peace and stability in the region. It was emphasized that the initialing of the peace treaty, as well as the joint call for the elimination of the OSCE Minsk process and relevant structures are a significant contribution to the establishment of peace.

During the telephone conversation, issues arising from the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were discussed, including plans for the implementation of the agreements reached on multifaceted cooperation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. During her visit to Chernivtsi, Ukraine, Foreign Minister of Romania Oana Toiu met with representatives of the Romanian community, Trend reports citing the country's Foreign Ministry.

Oana Toiu reiterated the Romanian authorities support for protecting their rights, including in areas such as education and religious freedom.

In turn, members of the Romanian community extensively presented the main challenges and requests previously addressed to the Ukrainian authorities.

Foreign Minister conveyed to the Romanian community the outcomes of high-level meetings in Kyiv, including the good news regarding the Ukrainian authorities' intention to declare August 31 as Romanian Language Day in Ukraine, as it is celebrated in the Republic of Moldova.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Lithuanias Ministry of Culture is accelerating the implementation of the financial instrument Paveldas (Heritage), a dedicated program aimed at restoring and repurposing cultural heritage sites, Trend reports.

So far, five soft loan agreements have been signed, supporting the renovation of some of the countrys most historic landmarks, including one of Lithuanias oldest cinemas, two manors, a Renaissance castle, and an interwar-era villa. The program is implemented in partnership with ILTE, with a total loan value of nearly 4.1 million euros.

This financial tool represents a socially responsible approach to heritage preservation, which we set out as a key strategic priority earlier this year. We are glad to see the first positive results. These projects show how targeted EU investments combined with private capital can bring complex, large-scale projects to life. Every restored cultural site thats adapted to todays needs becomes a cultural hub, a boost to regional economies and tourism, and a driver for job creation. The strong interest in this instrument proves its necessity and timeliness  we expect many more success stories ahead, said Vice Minister of Culture Dr. Ingrida Veliute.

The loan agreements will support the revival of five culturally and historically significant sites:

1.5 million euros will go to the renovation of Daina, Lithuanias oldest surviving cinema in Kaunas, which will be modernized to host contemporary cultural events.

790,000 euros will support the restoration of Kaimelis Manor.

Over 640,000 euros have been allocated to complete long-running renovation works at Panemune Castle, one of Lithuanias Renaissance treasures. New additions will include accessibility upgrades such as a lift for people with disabilities and full modernization of engineering systems.

Villa Oaze, a wooden architectural gem in the resort town of Druskininkai, received nearly 600,000 euros and will be opened to the public with space for art exhibitions, concerts, seminars, workshops, and cultural programs.

Over 566,000 euros have been earmarked for Kalnaberze Manor, which will be transformed into a multifunctional space for events, education, a museum, and guest accommodation.

The Paveldas program operates on the principle of soft loans, with the potential for partial conversion into non-refundable grants if the project is successfully completed.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the instrument has a total value of 5.5 million euros and aims to attract private investment into cultural heritage revitalization. The initiative is administered by ILTE, with loan agreements available until June 29, 2029.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 9. Laziz Kudratov, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held a meeting with Vaclav Harant, Vice President of Air Products Central Asia Group, to discuss ongoing initiatives and explore future opportunities for cooperation in sustainable energy, industrial modernization, and investment attraction, Trend reports.

Following the talks, the parties expressed a strong commitment to further enhancing their partnership and expanding collaboration in priority sectors. Special emphasis was placed on production localization and involving domestic enterprises in the adoption of advanced technologies for freezing, processing, and storing food products.

Air Products, a global leader in industrial gases, operates in over 50 countries. The company supplies gases, equipment, and technologies to sectors such as energy, chemicals, processing, and food industries. It serves multinational corporations and public-sector clients and is renowned for its leadership in clean hydrogen and sustainable energy solutions.

Since 2019, Air Products has invested $1.15 billion in three significant projects in Uzbekistan, including hydrogen synthesis at the Fergana Refinery and liquid carbon dioxide production at Navoiazot, underscoring its dedication to the industrial growth and energy sector development in Uzbekistan.
Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 9. Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Akram Aliev, met with Yaroslav Kotsak, Commercial Director of Rokosan, to discuss advancing sustainable agricultural technologies, Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, the parties highlighted Rokosans successful efforts in advancing environmentally sustainable agricultural technologies in Uzbekistan, with particular emphasis on the production of high-efficiency organic fertilizers.

The sides expressed strong appreciation for the rapid progress of ongoing projects and initiatives, noting their significant economic benefits and social impact. As a result of the discussions, the parties agreed to deepen their cooperation, explore new promising avenues, and maintain continuous dialogue to ensure the achievement of concrete, targeted outcomes.

Rokosan is a leading provider of premium-quality organic fertilizers dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility. Founded in 1999, the company has steadily expanded its presence, becoming a trusted partner for farmers and agricultural professionals in Slovakia and around the world.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Negotiations between Iran and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will begin after six years, Trend reports via the Iranian Financial Intelligence Unit (IRFIU).

The statement notes that these direct negotiations on normalizing relations with Iran will take place in Madrid (Spain) to end previous mutual actions and remove Iran from the list of particularly dangerous countries, known as the Black List.

In this regard, the FATF invited Hadi Khani, secretary of Iran's Supreme Council for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, to the negotiations.

On May 15, 2025, the Iranian Advisory Council approved the FATF Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo). The Convention against the Financing of Terrorism (FT) is currently under review.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is an intergovernmental body that regulates the rules for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. At the last meeting of this organization, Iran was warned that if the country's program of steps is not improved, Iran may be added to the list of non-cooperative countries. Iran has complied with 37 out of 41 FATF steps.

The remaining four steps or conventions fall under the scope of the legislation. "Amendments to the Law on Combating Money Laundering," "Amendments to the Law on Combating the Financing of Terrorism," "Accession to the International Convention on Combating Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo)," and Accession to the International Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) have been drafted by the Iranian government and sent to the parliament. Although the four conventions were approved by the parliament and sent to the Advisory Council, the CFT conventions and the Palermo Convention have not yet been approved by the mentioned council.

The G7 group founded the FATF in 1989 to address money laundering. The organization comprises 37 members, with its administration situated in Paris.

The FATF designated Iran as a high-risk jurisdiction in 2007 and enacted formal sanctions on Tehran in 2009. Consequently, nations needed to exercise prudence in financial and banking transactions with Iran. Since 2016, diplomatic initiatives have postponed the implementation of retaliatory actions against Iran.



The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) designated Iran as a non-cooperative country (blacklist) on February 21, 2020.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 9. Uzbekistan has invested 2.8 trillion som ($254 million) in the development of Tashkent's energy supply system over the past two years, Trend reports.

This progress was highlighted during a government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which focused on measures to ensure the stability of the citys energy system.

As part of these efforts, 36 substations, 665 transformers, and more than 2,000 kilometers of power lines have been modernized.

Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain. Currently, 46 substations and 207 transformers are operating under overload conditions. Since the start of the year, the number of electricity consumers in Tashkent has increased by 40,000, driving demand up by 6 percent.

Furthermore, while extreme summer heatwaves previously lasted no longer than a week, this year they extended for 20 days. Consequently, electricity consumption in July exceeded 900 million kilowatt-hours.

These developments underscore the urgent need for continued systematic modernization. During the presentation, the Minister of Energy outlined detailed plans for each district and mahalla (neighborhood) in the capital.

In the first phase, scheduled for completion by the end of this year, the plan includes upgrading 374 kilometers of power lines, 11 substations, and 62 transformers. In 2026, modernization efforts will expand to cover an additional 788 kilometers of lines, 35 substations, and 145 transformers. This will involve repairing and installing new transformers and power lines within the region.

The President highlighted the approaching autumn-winter season and stressed the importance of completing all planned works by November 1.

Officials also reported on measures being taken to ensure a stable energy supply throughout the cold months.

In recent years, power generation capacity has been actively expanded across all regions of Uzbekistan. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to transition industrial enterprises to alternative energy sources. Notably, by 2027, solar power plants with a combined capacity of 752 megawatts and energy storage systems totaling 812 megawatts are planned for installation at major industrial sites and tourist facilities.

The President was also updated on progress in the nuclear energy sector.

As is widely known, Uzbekistan is constructing a small nuclear power plant. Every phase of this projectfrom design through commissioning- will be carried out under the strict supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), adhering to the latest safety standards.

The President instructed the authorities to ensure the timely and high-quality commissioning of these facilities, aiming to establish stable and reliable energy capacities. The Cabinet of Ministers was also tasked with holding weekly discussions on advancing energy efficiency.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 9. Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov met with Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev to discuss cooperation on the construction of the countrys first nuclear power plant in the Almaty region, Trend reports via Kazakh Government.

Likhachev briefed the prime minister on project progress and mechanisms to increase Kazakhstani content in goods, services, and equipment, as well as plans for workforce involvement and knowledge exchange. The parties also discussed localizing nuclear fuel cycle processes and forming an international consortium with Kazakh and foreign partners.

The Russian side confirmed readiness to work with suppliers from Kazakhstan and other countries to ensure broad cooperation in the project. Bektenov stressed that the plants construction is under the personal supervision of the president and that the government will provide full support for its implementation.

The completion of Kazakhstans first nuclear power plant is planned for 20352036. On October 6, 2024, Kazakhstan conducted a pivotal referendum regarding the establishment of nuclear power facilities. An overwhelming 71.12 percent of the electorate endorsed the initiative, accompanied by a voter engagement rate of 63.66 percent.
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Tajikistans trade volume with Kazakhstan contracts in 1H2025

Trade turnover between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan decreased in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. While exports to Kazakhstan fell, imports also declined. Despite this, Tajikistans overall foreign trade showed growth, driven by increased imports from other countries.

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'Mahadevapura Model of Vote Chori in Over 100 LS Seats: Rahul Gandhi



Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi Saturday August 9, 2025 dropped another video claiming the party believed Mahadevapura Model of Vote Chori (Vote Theft) was replicated in over 100 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 General Elections

Sunday August 10, 2025 0:00 AM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi Saturday August 9, 2025 dropped another video claiming the party believed Mahadevapura Model of Vote Chori (Vote Theft) was replicated in over 100 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 General Elections.

... Now I am 100% sure that there are more than 100 such seats in India where Mahadevapura model of Vote Chori was replicated, Rahul said in the video presentation.

And remember, if the BJP had won 10-15 seats less than it won in the 2024 LS Elections then Narendra Modi would not have been the Prime Minister today, Rahul said.

"Mahadevapura Model of Vote Chori"

In little over 8 minute video, Rahul summarized, what he called, Mahadevapura model of Vote Chori, the detailed analysis of which he had shared with the media on Thursday August 07, 2025 .

Mahadevapura is one of the seven assembly constituencies of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat. The Congress had won in all the 6 assembly seats but trailed behind the BJP by 1,14,046 votes in Mahadevapura. The result was the party lost the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat to the BJP by 32,707 seats.

Rahul said the Congress Party had formed a team of experts, which after a thorough investigation and analysis of data provided by the Election Commission, found 1,00,250 fraudulent votes in Mahadevapura.

Evidence of Manipulation

In his new video, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress Party was sure of its victory in Uttarakhand assembly elections, but lost.

"It was impossible that no one voted in polling booths where thousands had turned up for my road show", Rahul said.

After that, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh results... It was then that we realised something wrong is definitely happening, he added.

Rahul also shared how the Party lost in Madhya Pradesh despite massive anti-incumbency against the BJP.

"In 2018 Madhya Pradesh elections, we had won... But in 2023 we lost... Our government was stolen.... During Bharat Jodo Yatar I noticed massive anti-incumbency... Despite this we lost... Impossible... It can't happen... Rahul said.

Watch Video

Giving the example of Maharashtra, Rahul gave the details of how new voters were added ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls.

Then Maharashtra where first time we got the evidence when between the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections new voters were added... (and) Wherever these new voters were added, the votes went to the BJP, Rahul Gandhi claimed.

Rahul said after the Maharashtra elections the opposition parties requested the Election Commission to provide them the video recordings and voter lists.

The Election Commission refused... The EC refusal led to the doubt that it is helping the BJP to win the elections..., Rahul claimed.

Why the EC does not provide us the digital data? It is because if the digital data is provided, then the entire country will know the truth about the Election Commission, Rahul said.

Rahul said after they failed to get the digital data and CCTV footage from the Election Commission, the Party formed a team of experts and asked it to investigate if the cheating had been done, and if yes, how?

Rahul Gandhi, based on the analysis of EC data, claimed that unbelievable number of voters, in one case 80, had single address in Mahadevapura assembly seat.

Interestingly, something similar is also reported from Bihar where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of voter lists is underway. According to some reports, some 250 voters have a single address in house number marked as 27 in Muzaffarpur.

Meanwhile, the state election officers in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have dismissed the claims of Rahul Gandhi as false. When asked, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi hit back at the CEOs and asked how can they say this without any investigation.

"How do they know it is wrong.. Have they done any investigation? The evidence is in front of them.. How can they say it is wrong unless they investigate it? Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters outside the Parliament.

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Where is Ex-VP Dhankar? Kapil Sibal Rings Alarm Bells



Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate, Kapil Sibal, has expressed serious concerns as former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar remains incommunicado since July 22, 2025

Saturday August 9, 2025 9:07 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate, Kapil Sibal, has expressed serious concerns as former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar remains incommunicado since July 22, 2025.

Talking to media, Kapil Sibal said Dhankar defended the government till he resigned as Vice President. But now, it appeared, the opposition will have to ensure his protection.

Jagdeep Dhankhar had resigned as Vice-President on July 21, 2025 in a surprise move. He resigned from his post two years before his term was to end on August 10, 2027.

"Lapataa Vice President"

Dhankar has not been seen in public since resigning as Vice President. Kapil Sibal said a day after he tendered his resignation, he dialed him at his residence.

His Personal Secretary picked up the phone and said Dhankar is resting. But now nobody even answers the phone calls, Sibal said.

We have heard about Lapataa Ladies But this is the first time we hear about Lapataa Vice President Sibal said.

"Habeas Corpus Writ?"

Kapil Said he had also spoken with other political leaders. They too said they were unable to contact the former Vice President.

What to do now? Should we file a habeas corpus petition? Sibal asked.

Habeas corpus is a legal action or writ that requires a person be brought before a court or judge, especially to decide whether their imprisonment or detention is lawful.

Kapil Sibal asked the Union Home Minister to clear the air regarding the safety of the Former Vice President.

The Home Ministry might be aware about his whereabouts. (Therefore) Home Minister Amit Shah must issue a statement to clear the air. Especially because we all know he (Dhankar) was unwell, Sibal said.

Sibal also he is worried because Dhankar is not at his official residence and there is no information about his current location.

"The Home Minister should inform us where he is so that we can go and meet him", Sibal said.

"India is a democratic country and public has the right to get information about this", he added.

"This is also important because nothing like this has ever happened in the history of India", Sibal said.

"Is Dhankar Safe?"

Sibal had raised the similar concerns about the Missing Vice President in a social media post earlier in the day.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar Can we be informed: Where is he?

Is he safe?

Why is he incommunicado?

Amit Shah ji should know!

He was our Vice President The country should be worried! (sic) Sibal wrote on social media platform X.

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Amy Schumer has undergone back surgery.

Amy Schumer has had back surgery

The Life and Beth actress - who has six-year-old son Gene with husband Chris Fischer - has revealed she recently had an operation on her spine following a surfing accident.

She revealed she had undergone a procedure when she shared a joke she had heard from another patient alongside a photo of herself recovering in bed.

She wrote on her Instagram Story: "Overheard post back surgery 'pickleball keeps this place in business.'"

Amy later shared a picture of her standing with the aid of a walking frame.

She wrote: "Since my surfing injury back in the day my L5 has been killing me. Today I got a laminectomy! Its a short recovery and when Im feeling better I will buy a bra!"

Amy has previously been candid about her health issues, including her struggles with endometriosis, and last year she revealed she had been diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, a hormone disorder caused by prolonged exposure to steroids.

She wrote in a News Not Noise newsletter: "While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show, I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up.

"So, finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I'm healthy was the greatest news imaginable."

Amy was made aware of her condition after being criticised for her "puffier" face,a common side effect of Cushing syndrome.

She quipped: "But thank God for that. Because that's how I realised something was wrong."

Earlier this year, the Trainwreck star revealed she had had a "really good experience" with Mounjaro after struggling with Wegovy, another weight-loss drug.

She said on Instagram: "Three years ago, I tried Wegovy. I was puking, I couldnt handle it.

"I dont know if theyve changed the formula, whatever. But anyway, I went on this Telehealth meeting with Midi Health, and it was cheap. I wanted to try it myself cause I wanted to recommend it to my friends who are nurses and teachers."

Amy noted that the clinic "put [her] on oestrogen and progesterone".

She continued: "I realised I was in perimenopause and my symptoms from being perimenopausal have disappeared."

The actress has seen a marked change in her appearance since she adopted the new drug.

She said: "My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy, I want to get down more, if you know what I mean. Im talking about sex. So thats been great and Mounjaros been great."

Amy is keen to be open and honest with her followers about her weight-loss journey.

She explained: "Look, its not covered by insurance unless you have diabetes or like severe obesity, which most of the internet thinks I have. But Im having a really good experience with it and I wanted to keep it real with you about that."
Entrepreneur Joe C. Wen donated $30 million to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Nursing amid federal funding cuts.

The money would be used to support the nursing school's research, programming, and innovation. Additionally, the $30 million donation follows the freezing of more than $300 million in federal grant funding for scientific research to the university by President Donald Trump's administration.

$30 Million Donation to UCLA School of Nursing

In the July 31 announcement, the U.S. Department of Justice and Trump administration officials called the cut a "heavy price" for the university's reported failure to respond to reports of antisemitism and bias.

A spokesperson for UCLA, Aaron Hilf, said on Tuesday that some school researchers were significantly impacted by the federal cuts. However, he declined to provide more details about the situation.

The latest donation also marks the largest in the nursing school's 76-year history and will be used to support its four academic health care programs. These are known to serve roughly 600 students, including baccalaureate candidates seeking entry-level professional nursing roles and doctoral degree learners pursuing practice and innovation, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

The donation will also assist further the school's research, which officials said had previously resulted in advances in both evidence-based nursing and technology. In a news release, Wen said that the money will have an immediate and profound impact on communities in Southern California.

The UCLA's program was founded in 1949 and is home to the first undergraduate nursing program west of the Mississippi. It was also the first in California to confer a master's of science in nursing degree.

Helping Medical Professionals

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said the commitment represents both an acknowledgment of the importance of nurses and a farsighted vision of nursing's future. He called nurses the backbone of health care as they are often the first and last person people see, Newsroom reported.

He said Wen's extraordinary gift plays a vital role in helping these professionals as it expands the school's ability to educate the next generation of nurse leaders and faculty. It would also help fulfill UCLA's mission to improve lives through education, service, and innovation in health.

Wen's donation comes after billionaires Shirley and Walter Wang of JM Eagle Inc. agreed to donate $25 million to UCLA Health in April. The money would allow the center to offer help to people living with gastrointestinal disorders by taking a holistic approach and looking at disorders in a variety of ways, as per the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Originally published on parentherald.com
Temperatures rise in Italy ahead of national holiday

Italy is set to experience scorching hot temperatures from north to south in the days leading up to Ferragosto, the national summer holiday on Friday 15 August.

The heatwave is expected to last until the weekend of 16-17 August and will see temperatures tip 40 Celsius in southern Italy in the coming days.

Meteorologists from weather forecasting website Meteo.it say the heatwave is the result of an African anticyclone which will be reach "highs of 35-40C; while a thunderstorm phase cannot be ruled out during the following week, especially in the north."

Heatwave alerts

In its latest heatwave bulletin, the Italian health ministry has issued a Level 2 "orange alert" warning for five cities on Saturday - Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Perugia and Rieti - with a lower "yellow alert" in place for 13 cities including Rome, Milan and Venice.

The number of cities with an orange alert on Sunday rise to 13 - with the addition of Campobasso, Frosinone, Latina, Milan, Rome, Turin, Trieste and Verona - while a maximum Level 3 "red alert" will be in place in Florence.

Italy's heat warnings: a quick guide

Level 1 - Yellow: The lowest level yellow heatwave warning (bollino giallo) indicates risks of negative effects on the most vulnerable including those with chronic illness.

Level 2 - Orange: The medium orange warning (bollino arancione) indicates heat levels that pose risks of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young.

Level 3 - Red: Italy's bollino rosso alert indicates emergency conditions with possible negative effects on not just the elderly, sick or very young, but also on healthy and active people.

How to cope with the heat in Italy

The Italian health ministry advises people to avoid exposure to the sun and outdoor activity in the middle of the day, to drink plenty of water, eat lightly and preserve their medication properly.

Small children and pets should never be left in cars, even for a a short time, and people should check on elderly neighbours living alone.

Dogs should be walked early in the morning or at night and given plenty of water to drink.

Tourists walking around Rome can avail themselves of the ubiquitous nasoni drinking fountains but should note that the city's historic fountains are off-limits, no matter how hot it gets.

For heatwave updates, see the Italian health ministry website.

Image: Tourists cool off in Piazza del Popolo, Rome. Photo Wanted in Rome.
Aid mission comes after Italian premier Giorgia Meloni described Gaza situation as "unsustainable and unjustifiable".

Italy began airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday as part of a mission coordinated by the Italian defence ministry to help Palestinians facing starvation.

The Solidarity Path Operation 2 mission, announced last week by defence minister Guido Crosetto, is being conducted jointly by the Italian army and air force, with the collaboration of the Jordanian military.

A cargo plane carrying 100 tons of humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza took off from Rome's Fiumicino airport on Friday and landed at Amman airport in Jordan before transferring to a nearby Jordanian military base.

Primo volo in decollo per il lancio con paracadute di aiuti umanitari nella Striscia di #Gaza.

La Difesa ce sempre, dove serve e quando serve. #DifesaSempre #AiutiUmanitari pic.twitter.com/3CgUlYKIkW  Ministero Difesa (@MinisteroDifesa) August 9, 2025

The distribution of the essential goods, purchased by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), is being managed by the defence ministry which will use Italian Air Force C-130s to airdrop the aid into Gaza over the course of the next week.

Crosetto also announced that a new special Air Force flight is being planned to transfer more Palestinian patients to Italy for medical treatment.

UN agencies have warned that there is man-made, mass starvation in Gaza, blaming the crisis on Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies to the besieged territory.

In a phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni "insisted on the need to immediately end hostilities", describing the situation in Gaza as "unsustainable and unjustifiable".

In a statement, Meloni's office said she reiterated "the urgent need to ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access to the civilian population, renewing Italy's commitment to this area through the Food for Gaza initiative."

Photo Ministero della Difesa X
Ten aircraft combat huge blaze around Vesuvius.

Dozens of firefighters have been battling around the clock to extinguish a major wildfire raging on Mount Vesuvius in Italy's southern Campania region.

The blaze, which broke out around the volcano a few days ago, had reached a height of 3,000 metres by Saturday afternoon, with flames visible from Naples.

The fire front is about two metres wide and has already destroyed several hundred hectares of woodland, with devastating consequences for biodiversity.

The vast fire has affected in particular the Terzigno pine forest, including the Tirone nature reserve and woodlands near Trecase, Ercolano and Ottaviano.

Campania governor Vincenzo De Luca requested the government to mobilise the national civil protection service which dispatched two additional Canadair aircraft from the state fleet, adding to the four already present along with four regional helicopters.

A total of 10 aircraft were operating in the Vesuvius area on Saturday, assisted on the ground by teams from the Carabinieri forestry corps, civil protection volunteers, Naples police officers and soldiers.

The situation was complicated further by unfavourable weather conditions as temperatures rise with the arrival of a heatwave.

The reason for the fire is not yet known but arson is suspected, according to media reports.
Sympathy

We extend our sympathy to the Sheehan family on the recent passing of Edmond (Ned) Sheehan. Kilkeany, Ballymacarbry. Ned was a great hurler in his day and played on the 1955 county winning junior team at left half-back for Fourmilewater That title was Fourmilewaters first ever adult county title. Ned was predeceased by beloved grandson, Eoin, parents Tom and Catherine Sheehan, brothers Paddy, Maurice, Jack, Tommy, Mick, sisters Ellen (Murphy) and Tessie (Power). We extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Biddy, sons Anthony and Jim, daughters Colleen (Catherine) and Claire, daughter-in-law Noreen, son-in-law Tony, grandsons Ger, Caoimhin, Cian, Oran, Oisin, Conal, Olan and granddaughter Enya, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. Requiem mass for Ned was in St Helenas Church, The Nire, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May Ned rest in peace. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Graveyard Mass

The annual graveyard mass in St. Marys Church, Touraneena, will be held on Thursday evening, August 14, at 7pm. There will also be a collection on the night towards the upkeep of the graveyard.

GAA Draws

Unfortunately, Sliabh gCua/St.Marys had no winners in the recent Waterford, 'Win A House'. However, the club had some good fortune in the recent Deise Draw with the 4th prize of 1,000 being won by Della Ahearne. Congratulations to Della and also to the first prize winner of 12,500 which went to Noel Devereux, Colligan.

Sympathies

We extend our sympathy to the Conroy family on the unexpected passing of James (Jim) Conroy, Ballinard, Ballinacourty, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. Jim was predeceased by his beloved daughter Martina, parents Margaret and Paddy and sister Mary-Ann Lee. We extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Mary (nee: Organ), daughters Karen, Louise, Gillian, Maria, Sarah OCallaghan, Curradoon, Deirdre and Olga, brother Paul Conroy, sister Winnie Wall, sons-in-law Ben, Dermot, Eoin, Alan, Brian, Michael and James, grandchildren Emmalie, Cerys, Abigail, Rian, Mary, David, Caoimhe, Catriona, Stephanie, James, Dougie, Brooke, Kayla, Daisy, Rosie and Ollie, brothers-in-law Jos, Michael, Anthony (Bon), Benny and Colin Organ, sister-in-law Breda Conroy, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. Requiem mass for Jim was in St. Augustines Church, Abbeyside, followed by burial in Ballinroad Cemetery. May Jim rest in peace. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Touraneena Runner's Club

Touraneena Runners Club members would like to offer their sincere sympathy to our long-term club member Sarah O Callaghan and her sister Olga on the sudden passing of their dear dad, Jim Conroy. Our thoughts are with you both and all your family at this very difficult time.

Supporting Local

Chews Freedom Farm are pleased to announce the start of their local market every Friday from 1pm to 3pm in Newcastle (E91C3V9). You will find freshly harvested produce from local farms, jams, honey and essential oils, all naturally grown and produced locally. Come and support local farmers and business owners and of course, if you yourself are local and have anything to bring to the table, please do get in touch. Choose local, choose sustainable, choose regenerative, choose community, 'Chews Freedom'.

Naomh Brid

On Monday, July 28, our U12 team had the incredible opportunity to take part in a Hurling Activity Day at the iconic Croke Park. The day began with a guided stadium tour, giving the boys a behind-the-scenes look at one of Irelands most famous sporting venues. This was followed by three exciting matches played on the hallowed turf itself. Naomh Brid faced strong opposition from Valley Rovers (Cork), Doon (Limerick), and Abbeydorney (Kerry). Across all games, our players showed great skill, determination, and teamwork. A total of 23 boys took part in the event representing our U12, U11, and U10 squads. The trip was made even more special by the large group of parents and supporters who travelled with the team, nearly 50 in total. Thanks to the generous support of the community and the success of the previous weeks Bake Sale, a bus was arranged to transport everyone to Dublin. It was a truly memorable experience for the boys and their families, one that will stay with them for years to come. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special for our young players.

Riddle of the Week

Last weeks riddle was: If a papa bull eats three bales of hay and a baby bull eats one, how much hay will a mama bull eat?

Answer: Nothing. There is no such thing as a mama bull.

This weeks riddle is: When is a doctor most annoyed?

Answer in this column next week.
Sympathies

Marien Bolger, (nee: OBrien), of St. Killian's Place, Ferrybank and formerly of Fahee, Kilmacow, and Rockenham, Ferrybank, passed away on Thursday, August 7th, aged 74 years. She died peacefully in the tender care of her family and all the staff at University Hospital Waterford. She was predeceased by her husband Eddie, daughter Diana, parents Jimmy and Kitty, brother Joe, sister Kathleen, mother-in-law Biddy, and father-in-law Micky. Marien is deeply missed by her children Edwina, Michelle, Derek, Marie, Katie, and Brid; her sons-in-law Donal, Paul, Wayne, and Paul; daughter-in-law Brid; grandchildren Alan, Nathan, Lennon, Reece, Cain, Sean, Alanna, Mia, Alisha, and Lucie; great-granddaughter Grace; brothers Eugene and Leslie; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, Tommy Quinn, godchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Marien reposed at Powers Funeral Home, Ferrybank, on Saturday afternoon with removal to The Sacred Heart Church, Ferrybank for Requiem Mass, after which Marien was laid to rest in Bigwood Cemetery, Mullinavat.

New Business

The Abbey Take Away officially opened its doors over the August Bank Holiday weekend, bringing a new food option to Ross Abbey Retail Park. Despite a few early setbacks, owner Paul Westwood was delighted to finally welcome customers and was overwhelmed by the support from the local community. Conveniently located in the heart of the retail park, the Abbey Take Away is expected to become a popular spot for residents of the surrounding areas. While opening any new business comes with its share of challenges, Paul acknowledges that there are still some teething problems to work through. Hes asking customers for a bit of patience in the early days, as the team settles in and works to deliver a smooth and tasty experience.

Kilkenny Gospel Choir

Ferrybank Parish was honoured to welcome the Kilkenny Gospel Choir on a recent Sunday morning for what a truly uplifting and joyous occasion for our community. This year, the choir proudly celebrates 25 years of inspirational music, heartfelt outreach, and dedicated spiritual service. Founded in 2000 by Fr Willie Purcell, what began as a small group united by a shared passion for gospel music has blossomed into a dynamic, multicultural ensemble that continues to inspire audiences far and wide. In its early years, the Kilkenny Gospel Choir became the largest of its kind in Europe, boasting over 120 members. Over the past two and a half decades, the choir has welcomed members from every county in Ireland, as well as from numerous countries around the worldtruly reflecting a spirit of global unity and inclusion. As a registered charitable foundation, the choirs impact goes far beyond music. It has raised an incredible 450,000 for charitable causes at the local, national, and international level, making a real difference in the lives of so many. We extend our congratulations to the Kilkenny Gospel Choir on this remarkable milestone and thank them for their continued commitment to music, community, and compassion. Here's to the next 25 years of harmony and hope.

Worried About Substance Abuse?

Many Ferrybank residents have recently reached out about substance misuse concerns - whether for themselves, a loved one, or someone they know. Thankfully, support is available through the Cityside Community-Based Drug Initiative (CBDI), run by Waterford & South Tipperary Youth & Community Services (WSTCYS). This free, confidential, and non-judgmental service helps individuals, families, and the wider community. Supports include one-to-one help for people using substances: goal setting, harm reduction or abstinence, psychoeducation, and wellbeing support. There is also family and loved ones support with safe spaces to talk, cope, and access one-to-one or group support. Through community outreach there is training, workshops and early intervention for local groups and professionals. The local contact is Dana OByrne, Community Addiction Worker, on email citysidecbdi@wstcys.ie or call 086 8561641

Clothing Appeal

As summer winds down and we start thinking about the changing seasons, it's the perfect time to clear out your wardrobe  and support a great cause while you're at it. Ferrybank GAA Club Clothing Collection is still ongoing and were asking for your help. If you have any gently used clothes, paired shoes or curtains please consider donating them. Every item makes a difference. Donations can be dropped off at the GAA grounds most week nights or Saturday and Sunday mornings, 10am to 12noon. We kindly ask that you do not include pillows or duvets as we are unable to accept these items.

Line Dancing Classes

Dust off those boots and get ready to dance. A new Beginner Line dancing Class is starting in Ferrybank on Friday, September 5 at Connect Studio, Unit 19, Ross Abbey Town Centre (Eircode: X91 Y09W). Running every Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm, the class is perfect for anyone wanting to learn or get back into line dancing. No experience is needed, and its adults only. Just wear comfy shoes, bring your water bottle and you're good to go. Classes are 10 each with a pay-as-you-go system. No booking is required - simply show up and join the fun. Its a great way to kick off the weekend and all cowboys and cowgirls welcome.

Welcome News

Well done to the staff and the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Josephs Nursing Home in Ferrybank, who received positive results in a recent unannounced HIQA inspection, with all areas rated as 'compliant' or 'substantially compliant'. Inspectors found the home to be clean, welcoming, and well-maintained, with residents praising the kind staff, excellent food, and overall homely atmosphere.
A Tramore man has told a judge at Waterford District Court he would rather go to prison than take medication.

The defendant was re-applying for bail following the execution of a bench warrant, and the judge had made it a condition that he take any medication prescribed to him.

Patrick Flynn (34), of 15 Glen View, Tramore, Co. Waterford, was before Waterford District Court on three counts of threatening and abusive behaviour at Thurles Railway Station, Tipperary; Eustace Street, Dublin 2; and Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare on dates between April 17 and 25, 2025.

He is also charged with handling stolen property/ trespass on Harsonge Street, Limerick, on March 25, 2025.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham told Judge King that his client struggled with his mental health and was homeless, walking the streets.

Judge John King was considering granting bail despite the man's bench warrant history.

If he were to do so, Judge King said the defendant would need to sign on at the garda station, attend all of his medical appointments and follow all of his doctor's recommendations, including to take any medication prescribed.

However, Mr Flynn told Judge King that he had been ill but felt better and thought he should be allowed to decide if he should take medication.

Id rather go to prison for 10 years than take another medication, said Mr Flynn.

Judge King said that if that was the case, then he was not willing to grant bail.

If a doctor prescribes it, you take it, said Judge King.

Mr Cunningham asked for time to speak with his client, who he thought might have misunderstood, and the matter was left stand.

When the matter was called again, the defendant agreed to the bail terms.

But when the judge reiterated the terms that included following a doctor's recommendations, the man told him there was a difference between a must and a recommendation.

Judge King said to Mr Cunningham: Does he want to play games with me, because he can think about it in custody?

The defendant decided to agree to the terms and was granted bail.

All matters were put back to court sittings in their jurisdictions in August and September.
Two men, who became abusive to a garda when she seized their car, have been ordered to pay 50 each to the court poor box.

Daniel Sanussi (20), of 10 Briot Walk, Waterford, and Chimezirimes Uwaoma (22), of 40 Wellington Square, Waterford, pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behaviour contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, at Waterford District Court.

The court was told a garda was on patrol on Merchants Quay on March 23, 2025, when they identified a motor vehicle with an expired tax disc.

The garda spoke to Mr Sanussi, who was the driver, and he became abusive.

Mr Uwaoma was the passenger in the vehicle and joined in.

Acting for both defendants, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that the men apologised for their behaviour.

Mr Sanussi, he said, had been unfamiliar with the law and things escalated.

Mr Cunningham said Mr Sanussi was a student in marketing and digital media and was anxious to avoid a conviction.

Judge John Brennan said his behaviour was difficult for gardai to deal with.

Im sure it didnt make her job easier, said Judge Brennan.

The judge said that while he could understand that the defendant was upset at having his car seized, it was no excuse for his behaviour.

However, Judge Brennan also said imposing a conviction was unduly harsh.

He ordered both defendants to pay 50 to the court poor box, and if they did so, the charges would be struck out.

In his judgment in relation to Mr Uwaoma, Judge Brennan said he deserves a chance, notwithstanding his appalling behaviour.

He has been given a chance; he wont get it again, said Judge Brennan.
Small dogs and cats will be permitted to travel underneath the seat in front, secured in a carrier. Credit: iStock What is the pilots role? As Virgin moves ahead with its plans, the process by which pilots will judge the safety of dogs and cats remains unclear. Under Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules, a pilot in command must take reasonable steps to ensure the carriage of an animal does not adversely affect the safety of the flight. A person may only bring an animal onto an aircraft with your [the pilots] permission. Before you [the pilot] give permission, all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure carrying the animal will not adversely affect aviation safety, CASA general operations and flight rules say. What constitutes a reasonable step may vary depending on the airline, aircraft type and the animal being carried. Virgin already transports dogs and cats in its planes cargo holds, as well as non-exotic birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, snakes and lizards.

A common sight overseas. In New Jersey, an airline passenger checks in his pet labradoodle. Credit: iStock How much will travelling with a pet in a cabin add to your airfare? Virgin hasnt provided the cost yet. There will be one. In the US, United, for example, charges $US150 ($230) for a pet in the cabin, each way. What is spent on pet travel may be saved on lodging a dog or cat while away, Jopp said. Its always difficult to find a dog sitter, and you might feel that owners guilt if you have to leave a dog in a kennel when you are going on a holiday. So the ability to take a pet with you on the holiday might be something that a lot of people are looking for. What about people who dont like pets?

Not everyone is an animal person, said Jopp. They might be allergic to cats, perhaps. You never know how your pet is going to react the first time they go on a flight, especially during the take-off and landing. Maybe theyll become nervous; maybe theyll start barking or howling. Credit: Getty Images They could become nauseous. There is the possibility of backlash from people who oppose pets in planes, Jopp said. Nevertheless, a poll of pet owners commissioned by Virgin showed nearly 70 per cent of respondents said they would travel with their pet in the cabin if given the option. RSPCA Australia said it welcomed the announcement by Virgin. Nearly 70 per cent of the nations households own pets. What about people with allergies to pets?

Food Safety Australia New Zealand noted in its report allowing animals to be based in the same space where food is prepared and served that Virgin said it could relocate passengers with animal allergies or compromised immune systems away from the rows where the pets are. Submissions from individuals to FSANZ focused on concerns about health impacts for people with allergies to animals, but non-food allergens were beyond the scope of the application made to the regulator. Submissions from individuals were almost evenly divided between support and non-support for pets in cabins, it said. Loading For those with pet allergies on planes, the US-based Asthma & Allergy Network, which opposes pets on planes, has laid out a plan of action: Request to sit as far away as possible from pets when making a reservation, wear a mask or nasal filters to block pet allergens, pre-medicate with an antihistamine or nasal spray, and carry a quick-relief [Ventolin] inhaler if you have asthma.

What about the pets themselves? Dr Sam Kovac, founder of Sydney-based Southern Cross Vet said dogs and cats, like humans, also have Eustachian tubes that connect their ears, nose and throat. A pressure change can sometimes cause a sensation of build-up and even ringing for the animals. Dogs and cats cant tell us if theyre experiencing discomfort, and we cant give them a lolly to suck on, or tell them to yawn. However, special dog earmuffs exist to help with the pressure changes, he said. Bringing a chew toy on board with your pet can help to equalise the pressure for a more enjoyable flight, Kovac said. Travelling animals can also get motion sickness. Turbulence, the unfamiliar environment and take-off and landing can cause dogs to whimper, said Kovac. However, as theyre with their best friend [you], gentle affection and cuddling likely minimises this. RSPCA Australia said: Guardians should ensure that their pet is under control, socialised to other animals and people, and calm and comfortable when travelling.

When is this set to begin? FSANZ approved pets in cabins on select Virgin Australia flights in June, the airlines CEO, Dave Emerson, revealed last month. An FSANZ statement said: We assessed the microbiological food safety risks and found that, with appropriate risk management controls in place, the presence of pet cats and dogs in aircraft cabins presents a low risk to passengers. Emerson said the airline, which relisted on the ASX in June, looked forward to sharing more details with travellers about our trial flights in the coming months. A sense of family: The role of pets has changed. Credit: iStock

Why this change? Pets are more important than they used to be for many people, so allowing them on planes appears to follow this trend. The Victorian government commissioned a first-ever statewide pet census in the 2022-23 budget, finding that a quarter of those surveyed said owning a pet gave them someone to look after and provided a sense of family. In May, Italys aviation regulator decided to allow airlines to carry dogs larger than eight kilograms on planes. Italian Civil Aviation Authority president Pierluigi Di Palma described the change as a response to new societal needs. Jopp said declining birth rates had perhaps caused a rethink about the roles of pets. Maybe that is a sign people are replacing children with pets, and maybe thats part of the higher status that is now given to your pet cat or dog, because it really becomes a part of the family.

Indeed, public figures as varied as Elon Musk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the late Pope Francis have sounded the alarm on declining birthrates. Francis called out people who did not want children for reasons of selfishness. A man with a falcon shops at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Credit: Getty Images Sometimes they have one, and thats it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children, he said. Jopp said: I think that the dog has gone from being out in the yard and in the kennel to in the house to on the bed in many cases. So I think the position of the pet in the family has changed over the past couple of decades. He said some of the views around animals differed between cultures.
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 Rose Byrne is in every frame of If I Had Legs Id Kick You, the remarkable, funny and slightly scandalous movie that opens the Melbourne International Film Festival tonight. The camera sits tight  really tight  on her flawless face, tracking every twitch, grimace, scowl and frown as Linda, a therapist and the mother of a very sick child, descends into a psychological hell from which she can see no escape. Its called motherhood. What I wanted to do was something I have never seen before, says the movies American writer-director, Mary Bronstein, who is in Australia as a guest of the festival. I wanted to make an expressive piece of work about what its like to be a caretaker in a very serious, high-stakes situation, where you feel like the entire universe is against you. For most of the film, Lindas husband is nothing more than an angry voice (Christian Slaters, to be precise) on the other end of the phone, offering unwanted advice about how to fix things. The child  heard but not seen  wont or cant eat, and demands almost constant care. Writer-director Mary Bronstein, pictured at Wax Music Lounge in Melbourne, drew from her own life experiences for the film. Credit: Joe Armao Their home has become unlivable because a leak in the apartment above has caused the ceiling to collapse, so mother and child have moved into a motel room, whose tiny space is filled with the beeps and flashing lights of the machine that pumps life-sustaining nutrients into the child. Linda seeks relief in alcohol, drugs, and sly escapes from the nightmarish claustrophobia of her situation.

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Theres nothing heroic or stoic about this long-suffering woman  whose tribulations may be real or may be at least partly manufactured in her mind  but shes absolutely anchored in truth. The tiny seed that started the entire movie is a real situation I lived through with my daughter  shes 15 now  when she was seven, says Bronstein. She was very seriously ill. Bronstein and her husband live in New York City, and the treatment their daughter needed was in San Diego, on the other side of the country. So my daughter and I lived together as sort of demented roommates in a small motel room for eight months, and I had a full existential crisis. I was so focused on the situation at hand, which was everything to do with her, that I felt like I was disappearing, literally. The things that happen in the film, she adds, arent all drawn from her actual experience, and she isnt interested in detailing whats factual and whats not. What is important to me to get across is that its all emotionally true. Rose Byrne won the Silver Bear for best lead performance at the Berlin International Film Festival in February for her performance. Credit: Getty Images Bronstein, who started as an actor before making her directing debut 17 years ago with Yeast (in which she co-starred alongside Barbie writer-director Greta Gerwig), has a small role in this movie, as the doctor in charge of the sick childs care. And her view of Linda is not a particularly kind one. Doctor Spring represents, Bronstein concedes, the self-hatred she felt at the time. But in a more general sense, it is a judgment of mothers who are not being perfect all the time, who are having their problems, who are struggling, who maybe are faced with something they cant handle and need help [with]. You know, theres a lot of helpers in the film, and theres a lot of listeners, or potential listeners, but Linda feels as if shes screaming into the wind and the void and nobody is hearing or helping.

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There is a lot of very dark humour in the film, alongside a deep sense of frustration and confusion. Above all, its about a side of motherhood that rarely gets addressed in cinema. Loading I want it to spark a conversation about female rage, and why that makes people so uncomfortable, Bronstein says. It makes women uncomfortable too, not just men. It makes everybody uncomfortable, the idea of female rage, because it feels bottomless. The love for If I Had Legs Id Kick You has been almost bottomless too. Since its debut at Sundance in January, it has garnered rave reviews and earned Rose Byrne the best actress prize at Berlin the following month. But theres a special burden that comes with being the opening-night film at MIFF, one of the biggest film festivals on the planet  namely, that it should spark chatter at the after-party without killing the vibe. Theres every chance it will succeed on both scores. But exactly what sort of chatter are you hoping for, Mary Bronstein? I hope electric, thats the word Im going to use, she says. Curious, with people excited at seeing something they havent seen before. And, she adds, she hopes for a lot of car conversations on the way home. Thats my goal.

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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 A young girl lies on an operating table in a hospital in Gaza. She has lost the use of both of her legs from a bomb blast. A British surgeon, Graeme Groom, is about to amputate both legs to save her life. But he does not know her name because she is one of so many patients he will treat each day. Its shaming for me and appalling for humanity that a seven-year-old child can have both her legs blown off and just be the next one on the conveyor belt, he says. We can heal her residual legs, and she will not die if we can feed her. But when shes discharged, she will go  if she has family  to a tent where there will be no food. She will have no chance of prosthetic legs at the moment. She will go through life, however long that may be, totally changed. British surgeon Dr Graeme Groom at the European Gaza Hospital in March 2024. Groom shows me a photograph of this child in London, where he is based at Kings College Hospital, because I have asked to talk to him about his work as a volunteer surgeon. He is a medical expert with years of experience in limb reconstruction. He is also a witness to Gaza  a war zone few can see. Few journalists can enter. Most diplomats are barred. Groom, and a small number of volunteers like him, can tell us about the reality of this war. Now, with Israel intent on full control of Gaza despite international calls for a ceasefire, hearing these accounts feels more urgent than ever. One thing Groom has witnessed is a civilian population trapped without food. Others verify this when I seek them out. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies it: There is no policy of starvation in Gaza and there is no starvation in Gaza, he said last week. This makes it even more important to talk to those who have stood on Gazan soil.

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There were severe acute malnutrition cases diagnosed every day, Groom says of his most recent work at Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis in the southern part of the territory. In terms of deaths, the ones who are most at risk were neonates because their mothers, who were starving, could often not produce breast milk. These babies were most exposed if they were lactose intolerant because there was no baby formula for them and very little for others. Groom visited the malnutrition clinic at Nasser Hospital and found that 60 babies who were lactose intolerant had died from March to the end of May. I think the notion that there is no starvation in Gaza is totally fanciful, he says. And I dont know why anyone thinks its helpful to argue otherwise. The effects of starvation will be so obvious. Every statement about Gaza is contested. When international media reported on starvation in May, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told Reuters that terrorist group Hamas had caused the hunger by stealing aid meant for civilians. Hamas denied this and blamed Israel for the starvation. Those who spoke to this masthead were in no doubt that the hunger, injury and death have grown worse under Israeli rules. The World Food Program says Gaza needs 62,000 tonnes of food a month; it was able to offload only 21,000 tonnes in the two months to the end of July. In the week to July 25, it asked Israeli authorities for permission to send 138 aid convoys to Gaza; only 76 requests were approved. British plastic surgeon Victoria Rose was in Gaza in May, also working at Nasser Hospital. She returned to London on June 4. She and Groom volunteer with charity group Ideals, which has sent medical help to the region since 2009.

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I cant tell you the level of malnutrition  its shocking, Rose says. You know, the kids are dying of malnutrition. Nobody has any food. To illustrate this, she mentions the changes in what local staff have asked her to bring each time she arrives for several weeks of work. In December 2023, she says, they asked for mobile phones. In June 2024, they asked for clothing and shoes. In May this year, they needed multivitamins and energy bars. I can honestly tell you that its impossible to operate on people that are this malnourished, she says. None of their wounds heal. Theyve got zero body fat. They are skin and bone. They have not got the ability to mount an immune response because their immune systems are so depleted. Theyve got no nutrients and vitamins for normal cell turnover, so they dont repair at all. As well as that, you have infection. Everyone has a wound infection because there are no adequate antibiotics, because all aid has been stopped. As a plastic surgeon, Rose has treated many of the patients who come to the hospital with burns from bomb blasts. But she has seen a change in the injuries over time. Blast wounds were most common in her earlier work, but there were more gunshot wounds after Israel overhauled aid distribution in May and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation took over.

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The trip in May started very similarly to the others, but Id say the blast injuries were worse, so we were seeing people with bits of them blown off. And I think that thats because 64 per cent of the infrastructure in Gaza has gone, so there are no buildings to shelter you, really. And now theyre  tank-bombing tents, people in tents, so youre seeing a lot more direct impact on the body. And then in June, the gunshot wounds started again, and they were all from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution points. Most wounds were to the abdomen and groin, some were to limbs. When Rose spoke to patients and interpreters, she heard that some had been shot when arriving for the food and some when they were running away. Victoria Rose says the level of malnutrition is shocking. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images Did Rose see gunshot wounds that were compatible with the scenario of civilians being shot as they fled? Yes, she says. I saw wounds in [the] back of legs. Another surgeon, Nick Maynard, has been volunteering in Gaza for more than 15 years while also working as a gastrointestinal surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals. He told Good Morning Britain, on the ITV network, that he had seen more gunshot wounds on his most recent visit than at any previous point. He returned from Gaza three weeks ago with charity group Medical Aid for Palestinians. I saw, on this occasion, multiple gunshot wounds, almost exclusively on young teenage males  some of them as young as 11, 12, 13, 14  all of whom had been shot at the food distribution points, he told the network on July 25.

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I saw terrible injuries to the abdomen and the chest, but there was a very clear pattern of injuries, a cluster of injuries to specific body parts on particular days. So one day, for example, wed see patients coming in with gunshot wounds just to the head and neck. On another day, theyd be coming in with gunshot wounds to the chest or the abdomen. The next day, the legs. On one day, about 12 days ago, we saw four young teenage boys  13, 14  all of whom had been shot, specifically, in the testicles. Rose and Maynard were both cited in a Human Rights Watch report that blamed the increasing casualties on authorities at the aid distribution points. States should press Israeli authorities to immediately stop using lethal force as crowd control against Palestinian civilians, lift Israels unlawful sweeping restrictions on the entry of aid, and for the United States and Israel to suspend this flawed distribution system, Human Rights Watch said on August 1. A screenshot of the video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David. Credit: Hamas, a listed terrorist group in Australia, has revealed its own atrocities. It took videos of the slaughter of Israeli civilians in the October 7, 2023 attack, and its fighters raped women. It released a video last week showing an emaciated Israeli man, Evyatar David, in a dark tunnel after being held hostage for 666 days. At one point in the video, David was handed a can of food that he said would have to last him two days. Netanyahu cited this as proof that Hamas was perpetrating Nazi abuse. While the state of Israel is allowing the entry of humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza, the terrorists of Hamas are deliberately starving our hostages and document them in a cynical and evil manner, he said. Israel allows entry into Gaza for some surgeons, including those named in this feature, but the restrictions are tight. Groom has worked in Gaza on 45 visits over more than a decade. He used to be able to carry the medical equipment he needed. This changed after October 7, and it tightened again in May this year. He cannot take equipment, and he cannot carry more than about 1000 shekels, the Israeli currency, to help pay local staff. That is about $450.

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Sometimes a confluence of events occur. Individually singular but strangely interconnected. One appears or arrives from a preordained plan. The rest falls into place. Serendipity, happenstance and complete the journey. And the journey? Come follow me and I will take you with me and explain.

Recently I spent a week on Inis Meain, the middle island of the Arainns. I go there yearly to snas up my Gaeilge. Though serviced by regular daily ferries and airplane, the island stubbornly refuses to bend to commercialism. One pub, school and shop. A tiny population living atop the continuation of the Burren limestone that breaks the Atlantic surface. In essence, a moonscape.

I wont go into what it I love about it because its a thing beyond love. Its like a moment given to you in which you dwell in an Ireland that no longer exists. Irish the only spoken language, stone walls, stone fields and stone forts challenging the populace to dwell there. They do but in declining numbers. Government and council restrictions now are a bigger hurdle than the omnipresent limestone. A curios amalgam of the old, few in the middle and the very young. Set up to finally cease breathing or producing. And yet it stubbornly clings to life.

Sean nos songs that scrape your soul, musical instruments that when your eyes are shut, it could be 1825 or 1925. An island decimated with migration to America mainly. Walking towards the pier I overheard three men chatting about the Korean and Vietnamese wars. I was curious. Erris has men that moved to America and fought those two wars. On my way back I was too curious not to ask. In Irish we chatted about America, the islands, Holyoke, Springfield Massachusetts and wars. Turned out one of the men spent over forty years there. Turned out he was friends with people from up the road from me in Glosh and Falmor.

We spoke about the empty houses on the island. Boarded up. There is an Irish word for complexity and its called casta. Its complicated they explained. Many of the houses belong/belonged to people from the island long dead or resident in places like Springfield, Holyoke or Butte Montana. They are long gone with no one in the middle to light a fire or repair the roof. But no mechanism to fill the empty house. Like we said, casta agus nil se simpli.

Sitting in Synges cottage thats not Synges cottage but really Ti ac Dhonnacha where today a grandson sits beside the open turf fire as the rain hammered the roof outside, it could have been 1900, the time Synge himself availed of the locals generosity, a family of twelve under a roof with a kitchen and two bedrooms. Synge had one room. Ciaran, the descendant, fills in the gaps, the history, but its as if time itself has been suspended. All thats missing is the ticking clock.

Mairtin Mac Donnchas son of the house that Synge lodged in, has his picture festooned on the whitewashed wall of a small craft shop on the island owned by his granddaughter Juda. We chat about life, the island and emigration, Juda spent years in California before fate brought her back to the island. The single local shop sells books too. Looking back at me is the same picture as that which adorns Judas shop; its Mairtin adorning the cover of JM Synges book called The Aran Islands. History dead, history very much alive, history continuing down the familial line.

Reading the book through Synges 1900 eyes we find him back in Ti Dhonnacha again. Sadness fills the darkening room as the turf fire glows. The old lady of the house listens as a letter from another son in America is read to her. Work had dried up in New York and he was chasing the railroads six hundred miles inland. The reality of perception and reality hit the old lady. Having watched her son sail away towards Galway, a place she could see, then move across another sea but a horizon that was what you wanted it to be, close and mystical at the same time, now six hundred miles of inland rail track brought reality home. She would never see that son again. Which reminds of a sentiment recently expressed by a local Erris county councillor when he described his mother as rearing her nine children for export.

America loomed heavy in Synges interactions with the islanders. The first question asked of Synge was the state of the American Spanish War. American deadmans brake even back then lay across world affairs. The rationale of the islanders was simple. If the American economy tanked, if their menfolk and young women were swept into that war, the precious dollars and sovereigns sent home would cease. So too would the island.

The nearby cemetery has a bench on which affixed are police badges and memorabilia. The grave beside it contains the body of the young islander policeman who died before his time in Springfield. Beside him lays his brother who also died young, drowned at sea. The mother lays with them. All of this occurred inside the last thirty years. My granduncles on Inish Meain Gaoth Dobhair paralleled their island comrades almost a century apart. One, a 25-year-old fisherman drowned, the other, 23, an RIC policeman, contracted flu whilst searching the shoreline for his brothers body. The similarities were canny. A screeching seagull broke my reverie.

In Galway on my way back from the island I bought another book. First published in 1990, called The Aran Islands Another World, a book devoted mainly to Inis Meain by ace photographer Bill Doyle. The forward is by the late Muiris Mac Conghail. The Doyle Mac Chonghail was another part of the unfolding jigsaw regarding old Ireland and the Neo Ireland heading, in 1990, towards Berties Celtic Tiger. Doyles series of photos mixed with Mac Conghails words, written and photographed circa 1990, beautifully and poignantly overlay Synges pilgrimage ninety years earlier. Mac Conghail notes Inis Meain, the middle island, is in many ways the one whose social and economic structures show the greatest continuity with the past difficulties about landing made it the island that visitors tended to miss.

Whilst Synge of Playboy of the Western World was a wordsmith par excellence in 1900, Doyles black and white photographs taken ninety years later underline the great writers world and exposed them to us visually. The eternal stone walls, shiny limestone that after a shower of rain resemble lakes. Men, women and children at one and against nature in the continuing quest to dwell on the rocky outpost. Stiofan O Fatharta and his neat potato ridges, Mairtin O Cualain carrying a basket across a limestone pavement like their ancestors from Famine times. Doyle lays bare, in black and white, the collection of boards that make up a coffin, following the box on its bicycle journey to the wake house to be keened by shawled women in red dresses just like in Synges time. A time trapped in an atmosphere where the players change but the characters and stage remain rooted in the past.

Back in Blacksod, its an area like much of Erris that harks and has roots and connections with Inis Meain  emigration, American links, nearby islands, the Irish language and the connection with granite rather than limestone. Hardy souls are fashioned from that granite and despite road improvements and a more regular bus service, isolation. That great barrier of bog and heather ranged by mountain and lakes as one leaves Crossmolina heading to the bottom of the Erris Peninsula still deters the traveller. Not quite Inis Meain but hints and hues of it mixed with a rapid advancing modernity. I buy the Irish Times in Brogans supermarket along with the Western. The local intersecting the national and international.

Forgotten elders

On Wednesday, July 9 I read Mark Pauls London Letter in the Irish Times, titled Extending the hand of friendship to under appreciated Irish elders in Britain. The thing that caught my eye was the term elder. Its not a term associated with Ireland or being Irish. Regardless, I learned that we have a Minister of State for Diaspora. The author of the Irish Times piece interviewed the minister in the top floor of the Irish Embassy, not a cafe or greasy spoon where many of the forgotten and under appreciated elders may still gather for company. The article faffed on telling us essentially what minimal intervention and support our government gives the Irish in the UK. One initiative under the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith had an intergenerational meeting where children sang songs and asked about the past. Wow.

Inis Meain, Erris, Councillor Gerry Coyle, Synge, Bill Doyle, emigration, exile and the current kerfuffle where a ham-fisted effort to split local communities over housing in Mayo landed on my perch. The Irish Times quaint (Im being charitable here) description of our exiled Irish struggling in the UK are written out of our history. I could fill these pages with facts and figures but Im sure enough people that the Western People reaches know the emigrants story; salty tears, lumps in throat, poverty mixed with pain all overlaid in pride, hope and prayer.

A few facts. Mayo the county saw its population fall by two thirds. A population of 388k in 1841 fell incrementally to 274k in 1851 to a nadir of 109k in 1971. Needless to say the Great Famine has scarred the county to this day. UCCs Emigre Programme noted that in the 1950s half a million left the Republic. Our population then was three million. Between 1848 and 1900 a sum equal to 4.9billion today was sent back from America. In the 1950s, Dept of Finance figures show that Emigrant Remittances made up over 3% of national income in the Republic. In 1961, remittances from the UK alone amounted to 13.5million sterling. Our Education budget for that year amounted to a little more. THEY paid for OUR education.

Peter Kerrigan from Donegal standing on the end of the jib of a crane which he was erecting for use in the construction of a car park near Farringdon Road in London on October 8, 1964. Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images

Coincidence or not, three separate articles have entered my timeline as I try and finish this piece. The first is a piece on Kevin Rowland, Dexys Midnight Runners founder. His book called Bless Me Father is a microcosm of the next generation exposure to life in the UK. The racism, Paddywhackery, Irish jokes, menial work, hiding your Irishness like a dirty secret. Rowland, whose roots are in Crossmolina, saw how his father and comrades suffered. His music changed his anger as he wore his Irish heart on his sleeve in a city like Birmingham that had recent memories of IRA bombings. Not easy.

Hot Press provided a piece on the Gallagher brothers whose parents are from Mayo and Meath. Brought up in Manchester, ironically also hit by IRA bombs, the Gallaghers clung to their Irish roots and fought from the front. That swathe of Englands North West that produced Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Joy Division and dare I say, The Beatles, all were strongly connected to Ireland and influenced by it. And yet. For every Mark Lawrenson, Steve Heighway, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge and Kevin Kilcline, we had as many if not more of Irish descent who chose to stoop the shoulder and pass on us.

Kate Kerrigan, yes, the Irish Times again, opined, correctly, despite having a Mayo mother and a Longford father, her difficulties being accepted as Irish. Kerrigan is of the view that we at home here are unaccepting of those of her generation, a child of Irish people. Kerrigan noted our feting of Biden yet looking down on a plumber from Wembley. I agree. Our returning brothers, sisters and family meet nothing but obstacles in trying to change driving licences, tap into our banking system, obtain a Public Service Card or get onto a doctors or HSE list. Why?

Anyone over 74, that is the generation that did not avail of Donagh OMalleys Free Education Scheme not set up until 1968 and who through the failure of the Irish Government were forced, often at the age of 12 or 13, to leave this nation to pick potatoes, scamper around building sites, send money home, live a hard life away from their native village, should not be described as elders today and have a token cup of tea in the Irish embassy in London. As a gesture of goodwill and reparation and thanks, this government should belatedly financially reward them with what they have earned  a basic Irish state pension and access to all public services including relocation of housing. If we can do it for others, why not our own?

My journey started in Eachleam National School in 1957. Most of my fellow scholars, like their siblings and relations before them, just like my mothers family in Gaoth Dobhair, were forced to leave their native sod. Back then I took that emigration of my friends as an act of God, a way of life, when in effect it was a fact of life, poor governance, an abandoning of the periphery on this island. Personally, I know of children who went to the UK at the age of 11 in one case, 12 in many cases and at 14, heck you were nearly overage for the labour force by then. As life went by, a gnawing anger and guilt has followed me. Two hardworking parents who luckily had state paid jobs, I was spared that life. And of course, I am aware many were successful too, like Doohoma native John Keane who saved Glasgow Celtic from bankruptcy in the 1990s. Many others entered British life, kept quiet and oiled and contributed financially, economically and culturally to an empire, hiding their own roots, music and tongue.

Being Irish wasnt easy particularly in the UK, being Irish in the UK and indeed in parts of Ulster isnt easy today. Was it our survivors guilt inherited from the Great Famine that has kept us from recognising the massive service and sacrifice our exiles made? Was there an inherent superiority built into our own inner wiring? Did we fear that we too might board the cattle or mail boat slipping out from Dun Laoghaire on some foggy autumn morning, and a train from Holyhead to the heartlands of Birmingham, the sites of London or the relative sanctuary of a Leeds or Huddersfield already dominated by earlier Mayos and Galways?

The time for talk is over. The time for a Jesus, its great to see you Mick/Mary long time since we met when are you going back? is over.

Recently, in my area in Erris, the last remaining man of the house, usually a bachelor, has passed away. Most were school friends of mine. Those family homes once had between six and twelve children. Today they lie empty, their flock scattered across the globe. Whilst lauding our humanitarian efforts for those who now arrive on our shores seeking sanctuary, lets not forget the generations who left those same shores seeking a better life away from here. In ignoring our own, we sow the seeds of dissent towards those genuinely flowing here and deserving the nations help. That help should not be at the expense of our own but in tandem with it.
Attorney says heart device did not shock Tennessee man in execution who said he was 'hurting so bad'

The attorney for a Tennessee man who said he was hurting so bad during his lethal injection this week says his implanted defibrillator did not shock him during the execution
A bullet hole is visible in the door of a CVS pharmacy on Saturday, August 9, 2025, near where police say a man was shooting at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)
President Donald Trump, center, shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev during a trilateral signing ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Classroom air quality in Australia is a growing concern. Studies indicate that many classrooms have inadequate ventilation and exceed recommended levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other toxic substances.

Governments, state and federal, are overseeing a situation in which classrooms have become dangerous vectors responsible for likely poor health outcomes for teachers, students and their families.

In an article entitled, Australian classrooms have worse air quality protections than many pet shelters and greenhouses, scientists in THRIVE, a national research group, are calling for governments to improve the terrible ventilation.

THRIVE is part of a research centre based at Queensland University of Technology, funded by the Australian Research Council. It is a training centre for advanced building systems against airborne infection transmission.

Lidia Morawska [Photo: Queensland University of Technology]

Pointing out that animal shelters and greenhouses have more advanced air filtration systems than classrooms, Professor Lidia Morawska and her co-researchers wrote: Surely, what is good enough for dogs, cats and plants, is good enough for our kids.

Indoor air quality is a glaring gap in Australias approach to public health, the authors stated. People spend 90 percent of their lives indoors, so air quality inside buildings can have a significant impact on health. The researchers called for a national, coordinated process of reform to ensure that all children receive the benefits of cleaner indoor air.

Current state government interventions such as the Victorian Labor governments Air Purifier Program and the New South Wales (NSW) Labor governments Clean Air schools program, have proved to be inadequate. In Victoria, some filters have been installed in classrooms, yet there is little oversight of their use or maintenance, and no encouragement given for teachers to even switch them on. In NSW, the program is limited to data collection.

For historical and economic reasons, most Australian schools rely on the opening of windows to bring in fresh air. In winter, when windows and doors are shut, the air becomes thick with airborne particles carrying infectious viruses, bacteria and mould spores.

Everything that children exhale, including viruses and bacteria, is recirculated for others to inhale. For those who are immunocompromised or have a chronic illness, winter outbreaks can become life threatening.

Without ventilation, children can be exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter, for example formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide from unflued gas heaters. High levels of CO2 in classrooms can induce headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and impaired cognitive function. In more severe cases, this can cause dizziness and nausea, and even affect heart rate and blood pressure.

Anyone who has worked or studied in the education sector knows, often through bitter experience, how schools and childcare centres are notorious settings for infectious disease outbreaks. Experts have said this is not surprising, given the limited monitoring, ventilation and filtration of the inside air.

In Australia there are no requirements for sensors to monitor air quality and ventilation. Consequently, enforceable performance standards are lacking in schools, as is investment in ventilation and air purification.

Geoff Hanmer, an adjunct professor of architecture at University of Technology Sydney, and a THRIVE member, proposed installing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems because they provide fresh air as well as temperature control. This would cost, he estimated, around $2 billion a year over five yearsa total of $10 billion.

In 1998, the federal government mandated national standards for outdoor air quality, but not for indoor air quality. The National Construction Code specifies that all buildings must include some kind of ventilation, mechanical or natural (via windows or doors), but the only specification is that the ventilating area (windows and doors) must not be less than 5 percent of a rooms floor area.

For this natural ventilation to be effective, windows or doors have to be open. Hamner said 98 percent of NSW schools are naturally ventilated and the situation in other states appears to be similar. A recent study of 60 NSW public schools found that if windows were shut, classroom CO2 levels easily exceeded 2,500 parts per million (ppm), which was really bad ventilation.

Hanmer said that when CO2 goes above 1,200 ppm, it starts to impair peoples cognition. When weve measured schools, we find often that the quality of indoor air is pretty terrible, he stated. It starts to affect [students'] capacity to understand things, and consequently, their capacity to learn and participate in class. Afternoon rattiness [at school] is another by-product of this.

High CO2 levels indoors usually indicated an issue with ventilation, making it difficult to prevent the spread of disease. Hamner said that during the COVID pandemic, schools that were open, if they had poor ventilation, they tended to have super-spreader events.

In 2024, Morowska led a number of scientists around the world in calling for mandated indoor air quality. They recommended monitoring three pollutantsCO2, particulate matter and carbon monoxide. All these, she said, could be monitored with low-cost sensors.

We had a meeting with the Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) in the middle of August [2024] to present him with the blueprint, she said. While a Department of Health spokesman said the government was examining policies for improving indoor air quality, to date no changes had been foreshadowed.

A high school classroom in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia [Photo: Lynn D. Rosentrater/Flickr]

Governments, Labor and Liberal alike, and the teacher union leaderships are well aware of the dangers of poor air quality in classrooms, yet they have done nothing to ensure the safety of students and staff in their schools. This indifference to public health is starkly revealed in the record of the ongoing COVID pandemic.

When COVID hit in 2020, the Liberal-National Coalition government led by Scott Morrison and the state and territory leaders, mostly Labor, were initially forced by working-class demands, to adopt basic public health measures, such as lockdowns, quarantining, tracking and tracing, and mask and vaccine mandates.

Over the following 18 months, all these governments worked intensively to wind back these protections as soon as politically possible, in order to push people back to work for the sake of corporate profit. The union leaderships, particularly in the teacher unions, helped police the reopening of schools, forcing teachers and students back into unsafe classrooms to ensure parents could get back to work.

The dismantling of essential precautions was completed by the Albanese government after it took office in May 2022. Whereas 2,239 people died from COVID in 2020 and 2021, that figure was exceeded sixfold in the first year of the Labor government.

The situation teachers and students face now is one of continual reinfections, not just with COVID, but RSV and influenza. This is compounded by ageing schools.

Willyama High School, for example, one of two high schools in Broken Hill, was closed after the discovery of a toxic mould outbreak. More than 600 students had to be relocated to alternate schools in January 2024. An independent hygienist report found that the mould infestation was so extreme that the building would have to be stripped down to its bricks to be safe again. Over a year on since the initial closure, demolition work has only just begun.

Many more Australian schools, especially those in working-class areas, are stricken by crumbling infrastructure. A massive school building program is required, with the installation of proper air filtration systems to ensure that educators and their students are able to work and study in safe environments.

While the Albanese government finds hundreds of billions of dollars to fund war armaments, nuclear submarines and other weapons of mass destruction, school children continue to be exposed to dangerous air pollutants, disease and mould.

Classroom air quality is not just a concern in Australia. Studies by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, indicate that indoor pollutant levels in the US are five times higher than outdoor air levels, and that indoor air pollution is one of the five major environmental risks to public health.

While exact figures are not known, according to the National Center for Education Statistics there are almost 99,000 public K-12 schools in America, and the average school building is at least 42 years old. Of these, 30 percent reported heating systems, air conditioning systems and ventilation/filtration systems that were rated as being in fair to poor condition.

The Committee for Public Education urges educators to contact us if they have any information regarding classroom air quality and related health issues at your school. Only an independent movement of the working class, based on a socialist program that prioritises social need over profit and the austerity imperatives of capitalist governments, can end these public health dangers.

Contact the CFPE:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: CFPE_Australia

Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout
Around 300 Jewish public figures have delivered a scathing indictment of the Labour governments complicity in Israeli war crimes and its authoritarian crackdown on protest at home. Their open letter begins with the powerful declaration, Proscribe genocide, not protest.

Addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the letter is a response to the unprecedented move on July 5 to proscribe Palestine Action (PA) as a terrorist organisation. The Terrorism Act (2000) makes it a criminal offence for a person to belong to, invite support for, recklessly express support for, or arrange a meeting in support of a proscribed organisationcarrying a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.

The letter denounces the ban as illegitimate and unethical and declares, Opposing the brutality of genocide, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, including taking direct action, is not antisemitic. Nor is it terrorism.

The leading signatories include human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, filmmaker Mike Leigh and writers Gillian Slovo and Michael Rosen. Coming from prominent Jewish legal and cultural figures it represents a devastating public rebuttal to the Starmer governments smearing opposition to the Gaza genocide as antisemitic.

Mike Leigh

The signatories state: We are Jews who oppose the genocide by Israel against the Palestinian people, the reality of which is agonisingly on show every day on radio, television and social media.

Their letter draws historical parallels between the mass murder by the Nazis against Jewish people and the atrocities being committed by the Israeli state against the Palestinians: We oppose genocide as human beings. We oppose it because we are Jews who have learnt from our history to be vigilant against injustice and stand up for justice for all people, everywhere. They add, For us, Never again does not mean only crimes against Jews, let alone criticism of Israel, but never again by anyone to anyone.

The letter refutes attempts to deny that a genocide is taking place: The International Court of Justice identified Israels behaviour in Gaza as possible genocide. It is now widely recognised as actual genocide. Dozens and dozens of analyses by respected human-rights organisations and genocide scholars throughout the world have all now reached the same conclusion.

It cites three examples:

 BTselems Our Genocide publication in July 2025.

 Amnesty Internationals conclusion (December 2024) that Israel is committing genocide.

 Israeli historian Omer Bartovs statement in The New York Times (15 July 2025), Im a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.

The letter notes the Labour government is in violation of its binding obligations under international law: We also note the ICJs insistence that once it had identified the risk of genocide by Israel, the obligation on other states was to ensure they were not complicit, to halt genocide if it had happened, and to prevent it if it looked likely to happen.

Instead of halting arms sales and ending diplomatic cover for Israel, the Starmer government has criminalised those attempting to fulfil this obligation. This includes over 200 people arrested since the proscription of Palestine Action last month, some simply for holding signs that read Free Palestine or Israel is committing genocide, or for carrying the Palestinian flag.

The open letter says this is part of a broader authoritarian trajectory: The actions of the UK government expand on a disturbing trend of attempts by successive governments to restrict peaceful protests intended to save lives It has made the UK among the most repressive countries in Europe according to UN representatives, especially since the proscription of Palestine Action.

The letter refutes assurances given by Minister of State for the Home Office Dan Jarvis that the proscription of PA would not impinge on peaceful protest.:

In reality, we have seen some extraordinary police action, including an arrest involving Private Eye where a protester merely carried a poster image of a satirical cartoon previously published without challenge in the magazine, and in Kent, where police threatened to arrest a protester for holding a Palestinian flag.

We note the Kent police response, justifying an intervention of theirs, said in words quoted in Haroon Siddiques Guardian report: Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action. The offending items in that instance were a Palestinian flag, the utterance Free Palestine, and a poster saying, Israel is committing genocide.

The letter concludes by rejecting the crocodile tears shed by the Starmer government in the past weeks as the mass starvation methods have intensified against Gazans:

It is time to end the governments handwringing over the level of slaughter and suffering in Gaza and the West Bank, mixed with tacit support to the Israeli state. The United Kingdom is not powerless in the face of Israels breaches of international law and we call on the government to take the tough diplomatic, political and economic action to help end genocide, occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing.

The Starmer governments response was to refuse to even acknowledge the letter. When a delegation from Jewish Bloc for Palestine attempted to deliver it to the Prime Minister on Tuesday at his residence in 10 Downing Street, they were blocked by the police.

A video posted by Skwawkbox of the rally in Whitehall, carrying the banner Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide, showed the two-person delegation confronted with locked gates and a phalanx of police standing behind like guards of a fortress.

This is in line with the crackdown the Starmer government has mounted in response to a planned protest against the proscription of PA in central London this Saturday organised by Defend Our Juries.

As the WSWS has reported, in the days leading up to the demonstration, Londons Metropolitan Police has threatened mass arrests, with press reports of prison cells being cleared and officers drafted in from other forces. The Defend Our Juries website was taken offline following an implied legal threat against its hosting company, cutting off public access to protest rights information.

Metropolitan Police make an arrest at the Palestine Action protest in London, June 23, 2025

The government announced on August 7 that ten campaigners have already been charged under the Terrorism Act since the ban against PA. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has told protestors to stay away, branding such action as support for a proscribed terror organisation that wishes harm on the British people.

A Zoom meeting yesterday evening hosted by Defend Our Juries and planning for the upcoming protest was shut down just before it was due to start. Skwawkbox reported the email from the Zoom Trust and Safety Team, which informed the organisers: Zoom has received a request from the Metropolitan Police Service, Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit, London UK seeking to restrict access to users to a meeting scheduled by your account, specifically meeting number 88143893690.

The letter published by Jewish public figures speaks to the sentiments of millions who refuse to be cowed by the authoritarianism of the Starmer government. But the criminal actions they indict cannot be stopped simply through the application of mass pressure.

The bitter experience of nearly two years confirms that the genocide against the Palestinians can only be stopped as part of a broader fight against war, including the three-year NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia and the ongoing redivision of the Middle East, including a threatened military assault against Iran, all ultimately targeting China.

The defence of basic democratic rights and opposition to war and the gutting of social spending requires the building of a socialist movement, based on a mobilisation of the international working class and directed at the root of the problem: capitalism, its nation state system and the oligarchy which rules over it.
US President Trumps Executive Order on July 31 imposed a 20 percent tariff on Sri Lanka, applied on top of existing levies that vary from 0 to 25 percent. The tariff hike will impact hundreds of thousands of jobs, primarily in the apparel sector and Free Trade Zones, as well as in rubber, tea, and other smaller industries that rely on exports to the US market.

In early April, Trump announced a 44 percent tariff on Sri Lanka along with a host of other countries. He subsequently reduced it to 30 percent earlier last month before declaring the current 20 percent rate.

President Dissanayke heads special discussion on US tariffs on Sri Lanka [Photo: Presidents Media Division]

Despite the reductions, the broader US global tariff war and its economic repercussions continue to pose significant global dangers. As explained in the WSWS perspective on August 1, Trumps tariffs will bring about a rapid descent into intense economic conflict leading inexorably to the eruption of war.

According to Yales Budget Lab, as reported by CNN, the effective US tariff rate overall has risen from 2 percent last year to 17 percentthe highest since 1933.

While the average price paid by American workers for commodities will increase, workers around the world will face deepening attacks on their jobs, wages and working conditions caused by the tariff hikes.

The 20 percent tariff on Sri Lankan exports, which comes into effect on August 7, 2025, is being promoted by President Dissanayakes government as more competitive than other key apparel-exporting countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Treasury Secretary and former Deputy Finance Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that Sri Lanka had achieved the first objective of maintaining a competitive position with other exporting nations.

Dissanayake and his negotiating team, led by Suriyapperuma, were publicly praised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which said the agreement ensures more stable and competitive market access for our exporters. The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) also thanked them for their pragmatic and sustained engagement since the initial 44 percent tariff announced in April.

Behind the scenes, the government and big business have expressed concerns about the repercussions. The government has indicated it will continue discussions with US officials for further concessions. Business lobbies have also urged the government to secure more favourable terms.

Sri Lankas English-language weekly, the Sunday Times cited global trade database estimates projecting that Sri Lankas annual exports to the US will fall from $2.97 billion in 2023 to $1.82 billion in 2026 due to the new tariffs.

The US is Sri Lankas largest export market, accounting for 40 percent of its apparel exports ($1.9 billion) and 25 percent of its total exports ($3 billion) annually. The apparel industry, which directly employs over 350,000 workers and indirectly supports another 600,000, is particularly vulnerable due to declining sales in the US caused by the tariffs.

Workers in the sector typically earn an average monthly wage of around 35,000 rupees (approximately $116) and are often compelled to work overtime to meet production targets and boost their earnings. Apparel companies are increasingly relying on workers supplied by low-wage labour contracting firms to cut costs and maximise profits.

A decline in garment exports will lead to factory closures, mass layoffs, and deteriorating wages and working conditions. Other export industries such as tea, rubber, gems, and seafood will also be affected.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) previously warned that high US tariffs could reduce Sri Lankas exports and shrink its GDP by up to 1.5 percent below baseline projections, predicting a rise in unemployment. This comes on top of the IMFs harsh austerity program, which the current Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) government continues to implement, further eroding the living conditions of working people.

When the initial tariff hike was announced by Trump, President Dissanayake called for national unity with full backing from opposition parties, urging working people to bear the burden of a future economic collapse.

In this context, trade union bureaucracies have played a critical and treacherous role by politically disarming workers and collaborating with the government and employers to shift the burden of the crisisexacerbated by new tariffsonto the working class.

Instead of opposing the attacks, union leaders such as Anton Marcus of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union and S.P. Nathan of the Ceylon Mercantile Union sought engagement with the government and even appealed directly to the Trump administration for concessions after the April announcement.

These union bureaucratsand their counterparts in other unionshave remained completely silent on the new tariff regime imposed on Sri Lanka, despite its massive potential impact on the jobs and working conditions of the workers they claim to represent.

As in the past, they will negotiate with employers on how best to impose the crisis on employees in the garment and other industries. Their primary concern is protecting Sri Lankan industriesthat is, the profits of investorsat the expense of the working class.

Past crises, such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, saw union leaders supporting factory closures, mass layoffs, and wage cuts, effectively shifting the burden onto workers. Opposing any independent mobilisation of their member, they also failed to fight the mass layoffs during the 2022 economic collapse and have unwaveringly backed IMF-driven austerity measures implemented by successive governments.

The government has not disclosed the full details of the agreement it reached with the Trump administration regarding the 20 percent tariff. A key provision that remains unclear is Sri Lankas specific efforts to align with the US on economic and national security matters, as referenced in Trumps Executive Order.

This underscores a broader trend in Trumps economic strategy, where trade deals function as diktats requiring countries to align with US geopolitical interestsparticularly its advanced preparations for war against China which US imperialism regards as the chief threat to its global dominance.

While avoiding direct comment on geopolitical issues, Suriyapperuma stated that due to non-disclosure rules, Sri Lanka could not immediately release all details under discussion.

Addressing parliament on Thursday, President Dissanayake declared: The United States presented us with a number of proposals during the process. We are still at the discussion level regarding those proposals. As of now, no final agreement has been reached, and no deal has been signed. However, we have reached some levels of consensus in these talks.

Dissanayake did not reveal what these US proposals were. Media reports, however, indicate that the Trump administration has demanded Sri Lanka import oil and vehicles from the US.

Trump has also criticised India for purchasing Russian oil and weapons and imposed a 25 percent tariff on it. Similarly, the US imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazil despite a trade surplus, highlighting that political loyalty outweighs economic logic in Washingtons trade policies.

The JVP/NPP government is advancing military agreements with the US, including the Status of Forces Agreement and the Acquisition and Cross-Services Agreement, signed by previous Sri Lankan administrations.

Moreover, the Dissanayake government has demonstrated its alignment with the US by strengthening military ties, hosting senior American military officials, and discussing enhanced cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Sri Lanka also supported Washingtons anti-China war strategy, in which India plays a central role.

While the pro-US United National Party (UNP) welcomed the new tariff, it has called on the government to make a clear statement about the associated security arrangements, referencing provisions in the Executive Order.

Reportedly, Sri Lanka has been granted concessions on around 2,000 industrial goods and a smaller number of agricultural products. In return, the country has committed to purchasing $500 million worth of crude oil and $300 million in LPG from the US.

The tariff war and its dangerous consequences are not isolated incidents but reflect a deepening global capitalist crisis. Defending jobs, wages, and democratic rights cannot be achieved within the confines of capitalism or a national framework.

To defeat these attacks, workers must take control of their own struggle. This means organising independentlyoutside of bourgeois parties and union leadershipthrough action committees in factories, plantations, other workplaces, and rural communities.

These committees must operate democratically and lead the working class in building an independent political movement, rallying the rural poor against austerity measures dictated by the IMF and the US-led tariff war. Such a movement must raise the following demands:

No to job cuts, wage reductions, or worsening working conditions

Full pay until new employment is found

Decent wages indexed to the cost of living

Medical leave, affordable housing, and free healthcare

This is not just a local fight. Like IMF austerity, the tariff war is global and poses the necessity for Sri Lankan workers to unite with their class brothers and sisters in Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, across South and East Asia, and internationally. This cross-border unity must be built through the development of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) initiated by the International Committee of the Fourth International.
A Leopard II battle tank is on display to advertise for joining the German army Bundeswehr at the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Friday, December 1, 2023. [AP Photo/Martin Meissner]

The German federal government has announced that it will deliver two further Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine in the coming days. In a second step, the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) intends within the next two to three months to hand over further system components in order to strengthen Ukraines air defence with additional Patriot batteries.

With a total of five batteries delivered, Germany is now by far the largest supplier of Patriot systems to Ukraine. Germany is by far the strongest supporter of Ukraine in the field of air defence, boasted Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democrat, SPD) on Wednesday. According to official figures, Berlin has provided military support worth around 28 billion since 2022including deliveries of weapons, ammunition, heavy equipment, training programmes, as well as financial resources from various budgets and direct industrial contracts.

The official narrative that these deliveries serve solely to repel Russian missile and drone attacks is pure war propaganda. Russias reactionary invasion of Ukraine does not alter the fact that the imperialist powers have systematically provoked this war for years. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO has expanded its borders ever further eastwards, in violation of all assurances given to Moscow, encircling Russia militarily. Eighty years after the end of the Second World War, Germany once again finds itself at the forefront of a confrontation with the nuclear power Russia.

As in the two world wars of the 20th century, German imperialism is once again pursuing predatory economic and geopolitical interests: control of resource-rich Ukraine, the subordination of the whole of Eastern Europe to a Berlin-dominated EU, and the subjugation of Russia itself. In a government statement, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democrat, CDU) described the Russian leadership as a criminal regime that threatened Europe, declaring: The means of diplomacy have been exhausted. This amounts, in effect, to a declaration of warwhen diplomacy is said to be exhausted, the hour of the weapons has arrived.

Pistorius had already demanded in the autumn of 2023 that Germany must become fit for war. With the 100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr and a further long-term military spending plan amounting to around 1 trillion, the coalition government of the CDU and SPD has launched the largest rearmament since the Nazi era. The declared aim is to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe.

These plans are now being implemented aggressively. According to a report by the Reuters news agency, the government is planning a procurement wave worth several tens of billions of euros:

20 Eurofighter combat aircraft, costing 45 billion;

up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles from KNDS and Rheinmetall, costing around 10 billion;

Up to 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, costing around 7 billion.

As early as July, Bloomberg reported that the Bundeswehr is to receive around 1,000 additional Leopard battle tanks over the next ten years. This would represent a historic multiplication of the German tank forces, which currently comprise about 320 Leopard tanks and 500 Boxers.

Other large orders already confirmed include:

1,400 military logistics vehicles from Rheinmetall for 770 million, including 963 vehicles with interchangeable body systems and 425 unprotected transport vehicles;

a framework agreement with Rheinmetall for up to 6,500 lorries worth 3.5 billion;

35 nuclear-capable F-35 fighter jets (around 10 billion) designed to deliver US nuclear bombs to their targets in the event of war;

60 Chinook transport helicopters (7 billion);

the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defence system (4 billion).

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence stated that further investments are planned in the fields of long-range precision weapons, ammunition, unmanned systems, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Rheinmetall alone has received Bundeswehr contracts worth 12 billion in the field of digitalisation since the end of 2024. Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is reporting growing orders for conventional submarines, frigates and unmanned mine countermeasure systems.

The parallels with history are as striking as they are deadly: the same corporations that armed Hitlers Wehrmacht (Army) in the 1930s are once again rubbing their bloody hands together and raking in billions. The turnover of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems rose by 16.7 percent in 2023/24 to 2.1 billion. Rheinmetall reported the highest turnover in its history at 9.8 billion, an increase of 36 percent on the previous year, and expects an order potential of more than 300 billion in Europe alone by 2030.

Particularly dangerous is the nuclear component of the rearmament. The F-35 jets will be stationed with Tactical Air Wing 33 in Buchel, which will take over the role of nuclear sharing. This means that in the event of a war with Russia, the approximately 20 US nuclear bombs stationed thereeach many times more powerful than the Hiroshima bombcould be delivered to their targets by German pilots.

The government is currently mobilising additional funds to make Buchel Air Base operational for the F-35 as quickly as possible. At present, the Ministry of Defence is reckoning with additional costs of more than 640 million, according to a confidential document for the parliamentary Budget Committee obtained by Reuters. This increases total costs to just over 2 billion.

Under conditions of growing tensions with the United States, calls for Germany to have its own nuclear weapons are becoming louder in parallel. At the beginning of the week, leading finance daily Handelsblatt published an article entitled Strange  must we learn to love the bomb? discussing the idea of an independent or Europeanised nuclear force. Nuclear expert Fabian Hoffmann of the University of Oslo was quoted as saying: In theory, Germany could close the entire nuclear cycle, both industrially and technologically.

Handelsblatts conclusion: It is not the technology that is lacking. The decision for or against a European and, in the final analysis, also a German nuclear force is a political one.

Such nuclear war-gaming and the overall rearmament frenzy must serve as a serious warning to workers and young people. The ruling class is determined to impose the costs of rearmament on the population not only in the form of historically unprecedented social attacks. In Gaza, they are supporting Israels genocide against the Palestinians. Amid a mortal crisis of the entire capitalist system, they are prepared to resort to any crime, including using nuclear weapons, as stated in a recent WSWS perspective. And further:

Eighty years after the dropping of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, human civilization is threatened by annihilation through imperialist war. It is necessary to build a mass, international anti-war movement in the working class, armed with a perspective to take power out of the hands of the capitalist oligarchy and overthrow the capitalist system that is the root cause of imperialist war.
The artists' appeal to Merz. [Photo: Screenshot von https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/de/haben_sie_mut/]

Over 350 leading German actors, musicians and cultural workers have issued an appeal, urging German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to intervene to prevent mass starvation in Gaza.

For the first two years of the Israeli war against Palestinians, German media and television outlets restricted imagery of what was taking place in occupied Gaza and the West Bank. More recently, faced with the daily pictures of atrocities emerging on social media, the media in Germany has begun publishing and broadcasting limited reports indicating the spread of starvation across Gaza.

The urgent appeal by actors and cultural workers begins as follows:

Children, emaciated to the bone, their eyes empty, their wrists thin. Babies too weak from hunger to cry. Old, weak, and sick people who dont receive adequate care. Dying in Gaza. Day after day  Children who are not part of this warand yet bear its full burden. More than 17,000 have already been killed. Hundreds of thousands are injured, traumatized, displaced, and starving.

The appeal calls upon Chancellor Merz to:

Immediately stop all German arms exports to Israel

Support the suspension of the Association Agreement between the EU and Israel

Strongly demand an immediate ceasefire and unhindered access for humanitarian aid

Refuting the main argument used by successive German governments, that unconditional support for Israeli.e., for its war crimes and its genocideis part of German Staatsrason (reason of state), the appeal notes:

Continuing to fully support the Israeli government while Gaza is starved and detention camps for hundreds of thousands of people are planned has absolutely nothing to do with German Staatsrason.

The list of signees includes some of Germanys best-known actors, such as Daniel Bruhl, Sandra Huller, Peter Lohmeyer, Benno Furmann, Heike Makatsch, Anna Thalbach, Meret Becker, Jurgen Vogel and Armin Rohde, film directors Fatih Akin and Ari Folman and many more. Musicians include Joy Denalane, Yvonne Catterfeld and the bands Blond, Mighty Oaks and Querbeat.

The appeal by cultural workers follows on the heels of other expressions of public opposition against the genocide in Gaza, including a protest at the Salzburger Festspiele in Austria at the end of July. An open letter by 100 Israeli academics warned that the continuing failure by Germany to put pressure on Israel threatens to enable new atrocitiesand undermines the lessons learnt from its own history.

The academics addressed their letter to two senior Social Democrats (SPD) Rolf Muetzenich and Adis Ahmetovic. The SPD is currently part of the government, a coalition with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), led by Merz (CDU).

The artists appeal and open letter undoubtedly reflect the shock and horror of millions in Germany and layers of society in Israel. But such appeals to the German chancellor will have no effect. Merz is not, as the letter states, one of the few who can persuade Israel to change course after all.

After the administration of Donald Trump, the German government has been the chief enabler of Israel as it moves to the next stage of its goal of establishing a Greater Israel on the bones of the Palestinian people. Germany, as well as Britain and France, has continued normal trading relations with Israel, most notably supplying the country with all the weapons it needs to continue its illegal, homicidal war.

Actress Sandra Huller [Photo by Martin Kraft / CC BY 4.0

Germany is Israels second-largest arms supplier after the US. Between 2019 and 2023, around 30 percent of Israels heavy conventional arms imports came from Germany, including corvettes, submarines, tank components and missiles.

On June 2, a report to the Bundestag [German parliament] revealed that the country had provided Israel with nearly half a billion euros worth of arms since the genocide in Gaza began. The report indicated that

from October 7, 2023, to May 13, 2025, individual export licenses for the final export of military equipment to Israel with a total value of 485,103,796 euros [US$564 million] were issued. ... The deliveries included, among other things, firearms, ammunition, weapon parts, special equipment for the army and navy, electronic equipment, and special armored vehicles.

In recent weeks, the war criminals in the French and British governments have sought to distance themselves somewhat from Israels murderous war policy with statements suggesting they are prepared to envisage an independent state of Palestine, although all that remains of Palestinian Gaza after Israeli bombardment is rubble and ruin. Germany, notably, has refused even to go that far.

Yesterday, after Israels security cabinet announced plans to take over Gaza City permanently, Merz reluctantly announced that the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice. But this is a fraud. Merz did not explain what would happen to the weapons whose delivery has already been approved, and he excluded weapons used for the defence of Israel outside the Gaza Strip from the delivery stop.

Along with providing the means for repression abroad, the German state has intensified its censorship and repression of pro-Palestinian dissidents at home. The WSWS features a long list of articles dealing with the police state methods employed to censor and silence those, including many Jews, who have voiced opposition to Germanys support for the genocide in Gaza.

In June, the Council of Europe condemned Berlin for its police crackdowns on voices supportive of Palestine, accusing it of contradicting the European Convention on Human Rights and UN human rights treaties by suppressing free speech.

The futile nature of appeals to the German government to take action against Israel was most graphically expressed by the response of Chancellor Merz to the US-backed Israeli bombing of Iran. Merz thanked Benjamin Netanyahu for doing the dirty work for us all (Drecksarbeit).
Shamenia Stewart-Adams and family members at the IWA-RFC investigation into the death of Ronald Adams, Sr., July 27, 2025

The World Socialist Web Site is continuing its reporting on the July 27 public hearing of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) investigation into the death of Stellantis worker Ronald Adams Sr. by publishing international statements of support to the investigation.

Ronald Adams, a 63-year-old skilled tradesman, was crushed to death by an overhead gantry at the Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan on April 7 under circumstances which have still not been explained by either the company, the United Auto Workers or the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

The hearing was attended by 100 workers, youth and community members. It was addressed by Shamenia Stewart-Adams, Ronald Adams widow, and featured powerful reports from Mack Trucks worker and IWA-RFC member Will Lehman, WSWS labor reporter Jerry White, and other autoworkers and rank-and-file workers.

The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution to continue and expand the investigation, establish rank-and-file safety committees and build an international campaign to defend the lives and rights of workers.

To become involved in the inquiry or to report information on workplace deaths and injuries, submit the form at the bottom of this page.

Bahadr Celik, a municipal worker and member of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu in Istanbul, Turkey

It has been about four months since Ronald Adams Sr.s death. No progress has been made in the investigation during this time, and Thomas Cornman just lost his life in a workplace accident at the Stellantis Sterling Stamping Plant.

These deaths are the result of companies prioritizing profit over workers lives and of the complicity of trade unions and state institutions.

The third workplace homicide in a year at Stellantis factories highlights the importance of the independent workers investigation into Adams preventable death, launched by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). As workers from Turkey, we want you to know that we are following and supporting this investigation.

Our goal should be to hold those responsible for preventable deaths to account and to ensure that no worker ever falls victim to a workplace fatality again. This includes preventing deaths from work-related illnesses.

According to the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) in 2019, the rate of fatal occupational accidents in Turkey is approximately 10 times higher than the European Union (EU) average. Turkey, which has the highest rate of worker deaths in Europe, is among the countries with the highest number of deaths from work accidents.

A perspective published on WSWS on Saturday reports that a total of 5,283 workers were victims of workplace fatalities in the US in 2023. According to a report by the Workers Health and Safety Council (ISIG), the number in Turkey was 1,929 in the same year. While the number of employed people in Turkey is 32 million, the number in the US is approximately 135 million. That is, the death rate in the US is three per 100,000, while the rate in Turkey is six per 100,000.

At least 1,897 workers in Turkey were killed at work in 2024. In the first six months of 2025, this figure reached 961. The report by the Workers Health and Safety Council (ISIG) explained that 103 of these deaths were in the metal sector, adding that Precariousness is at an extreme level in this huge area [the metal sector], from auto body workshops to large automotive factories, from explosives production to the production of cables, pipes, iron-steel, etc.

In Turkey alone, three workers died in a cave-in at the Oltu Mine in Erzurum last month; one worker fell from a construction site in Bursa; six workers died in a mine collapse in Zonguldak; and five forest workers and five volunteer search and rescue personnel lost their lives while fighting forest fires. These are just a fraction of the approximately 150 deaths that occur each month.

These workplace homicides are caused by unbridled capitalist profit motives and governments working with companies to ignore necessary precautions. This is an international issue.

Why is an independent workers investigation by rank-and-file committees important? Because no one else will conduct this investigation.

Trade union structures cannot be trusted to carry out such an investigation. Trade union confederations stand by and watch thousands of workers fall victim to preventable accidents every year, sweeping these incidents under the carpet.

Workers should not rely on legal processes and official investigations either. The trial of those responsible for the Soma miners massacre in Turkey, in which 301 miners died in 2014, once again revealed that company owners can act with impunity, thereby inviting new mass killings. In this trial, the owner of the company involved served just eight days in prison for each worker killed. Throughout the trial, both prosecutors and judges were replaced. Yet no official responsible party was sentenced.

The investigation you are conducting is therefore of the utmost importance. The rank-and-file investigation into Adams death should not only be seen as an attempt to shed light on a single incident but also as an example and a starting point for the struggle for decent working conditions. It should inspire workers in Turkey and beyond to take action to prevent workplace homicides and conduct their own investigations.

As a municipal worker from Turkey, I call on automotive workers and all sections of the working class in Turkey and internationally to support the IWA-RFC investigation and join the struggle to transform the automotive sector into a public sector under the democratic control of workers.

National Steel Car Rank-and-File Committee in Hamilton, Ontario

Brothers and Sisters:

We all know the risks we take when we punch in at National Steel Car. This has been hammered home to a greater degree since the gruesome deaths (better described as industrial murders) of our former colleagues Fraser Cowan, Colin Grailey and Quoc Le at NSCs Hamilton, Ontario plant.

Workers protesting outside National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ontario, on Thursday, June 9, 2022, three days after 51-year-old worker Quoc Le was killed in a horrific workplace accident. [Photo: Hamilton and District Labour Council ]

Unfortunately, the very same fate recently befell Ronald Adams Sr., a Stellantis autoworker in Michigan, USA, in very similar circumstances.

The National Steel Car Rank-and-File Committee unequivocally endorses the initiation by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) of an independent inquiry into his death, and we will do everything we can to support it.

Some may ask why we are making this statement about a worker in another country? Simply put, an injury to one is an injury to all! The basic cause of Ronald Adams Sr.s death was the same as that of the three deaths at our plant right here in Hamilton: the prioritization of corporate profits over the safety and the very lives of the workers who produce them. Whats more, Adams worked for Stellantis. Stellantis has facilities in Canada, where workers here suffer under the same questionable safety practices as we do at NSC and under the same legal framework (the Ontario Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act) that fails to hold employers accountable.

As it relates to workers struggles, international borders have become relatively meaningless. We build railcars for the major railroad companies whose networks stretch across North America, including Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and BNSF. The companys annual turnover was over $500 million in 2021, but virtually none of that is spent on protecting our safety.

In September of 2020, Fraser Cowan was crushed when a 700-lb. lifting device fell on him after he accidentally lowered a crane, and the device unhooked itself because no safety latch was on the hook. This came after NSC had been previously ordered to install them by the Ministry of Labour.

In April of 2021, Colin Grailey was crushed after having a health issue in a skyjack. He passed out with his hand on the lever while hanging over the rail. The skyjack kept going up until it hit something, and Grailey was crushed to death. The job had previously been a two-man job, but Grailey was working alone. As we previously stated, it later came to light that the ground controls had been disconnected unbeknownst to anyone but management.

In June 2022, Quoc Le was crushed to death by a bulkhead for a gondola car after a chain broke.

Even after three industrial murders in the span of less than two years, the United Steelworkers (USW) kept telling us that we had to handle this through the legal system because thats what it was set up for, that taking matters into our own hands was not the way to deal with these issues. How wrong they were!

The company was fined a total of $650,000 for killing three people! No one has been charged for criminal negligence or manslaughter in any of these deaths, let alone done any time. Its clear that NSC management views these expenses essentially as the cost of doing business.

No faith can be put in the corporatist UAW bureaucratic apparatus to stand up for one of its members. No one can expect anything from Stellantis. They seem to have as much concern for peoples lives as National Steel Car does. Workers should put no faith in the government safety organizations in the US. Not only have they proven ineffective before, but now they have been gutted by Trump, the would-be Fuhrer currently residing in the White House.

That the union and company have been silent for over a month shows the necessity for an independent inquiry to get to the bottom of what went on, show the truth, and hold to account those responsible. Adams surviving family, friends and fellow workers deserve nothing less.

Warwick Dove, a metal worker and member of the Socialist Equality Party in Australia

My name is Warwick Dove. I am a member of the SEP in Australia. I worked in the metal manufacturing industry, including railway rolling stock, equipment maintenance in food production and mining for over 50 years.

To Ronalds family, I send my deepest condolences for the tragic and entirely preventable death of your husband and father.

Warwick Dove

The safety of the workers employed is often given very low priority in the running of a business. Thus, many of the workplace deaths have their source in the continual drive for profit and the pressure from management to achieve unrealistic deadlines or output.

As a result of the combination of management, trade union bureaucrats and government inspection departments, many workers have not been provided with an answer as to why their loved ones perished. In fact, often there is a strong attempt to apportion blame back to the worker as being careless or not following instructions.

However, the main cause of many of these tragedies is that workers are prevented from fully shutting down production to protect their own safety and that of others. Production is only partially shut down, allowing it to continue in other areas, which leads to machinery being turned on again during maintenance.

Then, in investigations led by companies or unions, workers often report that their input is ignored, their evidence is dismissed and their practical knowledge is overlooked.

To determine how Ronald was placed in a position that ultimately cost him his life, the IWA-RFC has called for a rank-and-file investigation. This investigation would enable the collection of information from experienced workers around the workplace, pertaining to the facts. Whether electrical switches are correctly identified. Were enough workers made available to carry out the work safely? Were procedures in place to ensure all moving machinery that could entrap workers was deactivated and electrically isolated?

In 1993, two of our comrades travelled to Thailand to investigate the Kader toy factory fire that killed 188 workers, mostly young women. Most died trapped behind doors locked by management. The firethe worst of its kind in historyremains a vivid example of the dirty, dangerous and slave-like conditions that are spreading worldwide.

In Australia, workers face dangerous industrial conditions, as in all countries. While Australia is often portrayed as a haven at the bottom of the world, the reality is that the same situation exists here as elsewhere.

According to the ACTUthe peak union body in Australiaeach year an average of 200 workers die from workplace accidents and 5,000 from work-related diseases.

But while the ACTU reports the growing number of workers killed or maimed on the job each year, the real role of the union bureaucracy is to force workers back on the job as quickly as possible after an incident and to suppress any attempt to strike against unsafe conditions.

Meanwhile, the government safety regulators carry out bogus investigations, often dragging on for multiple years, the purpose of which is to cover for the corporations responsible for workers deaths.

My own firsthand experience is that I have seen or been close to a number of serious industrial injuries, some leading to the loss of life. Some have involved both international corporations, such as Kelloggs cereal company in Sydney, and smaller worksites. I have seen workers sustain injuries that led to their early deaths from burns and broken bones, and others permanently maimed from crush injuries.

In the building industry alone, the resurgence of the once-controlled workplace disease, silicosis, has already resulted in thousands of stone-cutting workers contracting the disease due to the unsafe cutting of this stone. A study by Curtin University predicts 83,000 workers will contract silicosis due to the use of this deadly product, and the majority will be young workers.

The investigation by a rank-and-file committee will allow Ronalds fellow workers at his workplace to put on record all they know about the events leading up to Ronalds death, as well as any subsequent changes to work practices that may be managements attempts to cover their own responsibility.

The final report of this committee will be able to give Ronalds family a truthful account of how his life was taken while at work.
An Israeli army APC moves along the border of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. [AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg]

Israels national security cabinet approved a plan Friday to take over Gaza City, effectively occupying the entirety of Gaza in preparation for its annexation by Israel.

We are erasing the Palestinian state, said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Friday in response to the decision. First in action and then officially.

The cabinet approved a series of war goals, including ensuring that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority would govern Gaza. The plan declared the establishment of an alternative civil administration.

On Thursday, Netanyahu was asked in an interview on Fox News whether Israel would take over all of Gaza. We intend to, he replied.

Commenting on the significance of the move, the Financial Times wrote that the measure paves the way for Israel to take over the Palestinian enclave for the second time since the 1967 war, leaving the nation in effective control of all the territories between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

The total occupation of Gaza is the military prerequisite for the US-Israeli plan to transfer the entire population of Gaza to concentration camps in preparation for their forcible displacement to other countries.

In February, Trump declared, The US will take over the Gaza Strip, level it out, and disperse the Palestinian population of Gaza to other countries.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich declared, Within a year ... Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to ... the south to a humanitarian zone ... and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries.

On Friday, Trump said that the US is working on a proposal to remove the Palestinian people to Somaliland. Trump was asked by a reporter, You spoke of resettling the Gazans. The country of Somaliland has expressed potential interest if you were to recognize their independence.

Trump replied, Were looking into that right now.  Were working on that right now.

Earlier this week, the Financial Times reported that consultants from the Boston Consulting Group, a major US corporate consulting group, had worked on models for relocating the Palestinian people to Somalia and Somaliland, in a proposal first raised by the Trump administration earlier this year. The FT reported, Multiple potential destinations were listed in a complex spreadsheet created on behalf of Israeli businesspeople who were sketching plans for the redevelopment of Gaza after the war between Hamas and Israel.

Gaza City, in the enclaves north, currently contains approximately 1 million people, most of whom have already been displaced multiple times in the course of the 22-month war. Before the genocide, it already had a higher population density than New York City, and its population has only swelled as people fled there from other parts of the country.

Gazas approximately 2 million remaining residents have been forcibly displaced many times and are largely living in tents and in destroyed buildings. According to statistics from Gazas government health ministry, 61,000 people have been killed since the start of the genocide.

The sun sets behind buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Friday, August 8, 2025. [AP Photo/Leo Correa]

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the plan to occupy Gaza City, calling it a dangerous escalation. He said it will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza. The occupation of the city was scheduled to be completed by October 7.

In a statement, Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said the plan to occupy Gaza City was utterly outrageous and revolting, adding, Nothing can justify the additional mass atrocities that an expanded military operation in Gaza City will entail.

She concluded:

Just as we thought we had already seen the cruelest, most painful chapters of this genocide unfoldthrough Israels continued and escalating use of starvation as a method of warfareplans to escalate the military operations in Gaza City indicate that indeed the worst is yet to come.

Michael Lynk, a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, told Al Jazeera:

You know and I know over the last six months, weve heard a constant refrain coming both from the United States and from Israel with respect to wanting to see the Palestinian population in Gaza either thinned out or perhaps removed altogether. All of that would be certainly a war crime, quite likely also a crime against humanity. And if its part of a larger aim to try to destroy a people, in whole or in part, then its also genocide.

In a separate statement, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk said the occupation of Gaza City runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realization of the agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination.

In a statement published July 29, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned, The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.

It added:

Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. Latest data indicates that famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City.
Relations between New Delhi and Washington are rapidly deteriorating, with US President Donald Trump threatening to single India out for exemplary reprisals unless it radically downgrades it economic and military-security ties with Russia.

On Wednesday, Trump issued an executive order doubling the US tariff on Indian imports to 50 percent effective August 27. The order justified the 25 percentage-point increase in the so-called reciprocal tariff that Trump had announced August 1 and which came into force Thursday with the claim that Indias purchases of Russian oil threaten US national security.

In the preceding days, Trump and senior aides had issued a series of comments and social media tweets attacking India for its longstanding close ties to Russia, specifically its oil and weapons purchases.

After lashing out against India, Trump at one point declared on his Truth Social media network, They (Russia and India) can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.

The fascist billionaire president also boasted about a newly-inked deal with Pakistan, with which India came to the brink of all-out war in May, to jointly develop that countrys oil resources. Rubbing salt on the wound, Trump declared, Who knows, maybe theyll be selling oil to India someday!

President Donald Trump meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, February 13, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Successive US administrations, including his own, have aggressively courted India, with the aim of harnessing New Delhi to Washingtons drive to strategically encircle China and thwart its rise, including through war if necessary.

Trump is supposed to travel to New Delhi in the coming weeks for the annual leaders summit of the Quad the unofficial, anti-China, Indo-Pacific military-security alliance that unites India with the US and its two principal Asia-Pacific treaty allies, Japan and Australia.

But this has not deterred Trump from provoking a crisis in Indo-US relations, just as he has with Washingtons European NATO partners and its northern neighbour, Canada, which Trump has vowed to make Americas 51st state.

In a desperate bid to arrest the rapid erosion of US imperialisms global economic and geopolitical power, Trump is threatening, bullying and attacking Washingtons ostensible allies, no less than those it has long identified as its strategic adversaries.

Trumps attempt to exploit Indias economic vulnerabilitythe US is Indias single largest market, accounting for more than 10 percent of all its exportscome as his administration adopts a far more aggressive stance against Moscow, one that could rapidly spiral into full-scale war between Russia and NATO.

Accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin of blocking a ceasefire in the US-NATO instigated Ukraine war, Trump announced on July 29 a 10-day deadline for a ceasefire to be agreed upon. Failing that, he vowed to impose very severe additional tariffs and sanctions on Russia, along with secondary sanctions on countries that continue to trade with Russia. Trump supporter and confidant South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has already tabled legislation in the US Congress that would impose tariffs of 100 percent and higher on India, China and other countries that continue to buy Russian oil.

In a further incendiary provocation, Trump has announced that he is repositioning US nuclear submarines so they are better placed to carry out a nuclear strike on Russia.

Trumps sudden attack on Indias economy has rattled the countrys ruling elite. It has also incited widespread popular anger.

New Delhi has denounced the tariffs as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable, and complained of a double-standard, given that the US and European powers continue to import certain Russian products and Washington is not imposing similar tariffs on other large buyers of Russian oil, like China and Turkey.

We have already made clear our position on these issues, declared the foreign ministry. Our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India.

On Thursday, Narendra Modi, Indias authoritarian, Hindu supremacist prime minister, made a show of standing up for the countrys small farmers. He told a rally in Delhi, For us, our farmers welfare is supreme India will never compromise on the well-being of its farmers, dairy sector and fishermen.

His comments were a reference to pressure from the Trump administration for India to open wide its markets to US agribusiness, which would severely impact the meagre incomes of hundreds of millions of rural poor. Although Indias agriculture sector accounts for little over 15 percent of its GDP, almost half of all Indians are still dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.

This strong public push back notwithstanding, Indian officials have also let it be known that Indian purchases of Russian oil have fallen sharply in recent weeks. They insist this is due to market reasonsa shrinking of the discount at which Russia is forced to sell its crude due to the sanctions of NATO powers and their alliesnot US pressure.

Trumps economic attack is clearly causing consternation and apprehension in Indian government and ruling class circles, as they grope to formulate a response.

Access to discounted Russian oil has been a huge boost to Indias economy, which despite a higher growth rate continues to grow far less in absolute terms than China, and is unable to absorb many of the ten million annual new entrants to the labour force, with socially explosive consequences.

Under the formal rubric of an Indo-US global strategic partnership, the Indian bourgeoisie has for the past two decades made its alliance with US imperialism the cornerstone of its foreign policy and a key tenet of its class strategy.

Under successive BJP and Congress Party-led governments, New Delhi has aligned itself ever more closely with the US. This has included entering into an expanding network of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral military-security ties with the US, Japan and Australia and working with Washington to counter Chinese influence in Asia and Africa.

India has also sought to position itself as an alternate low-cost production chain-hub to China, and to benefit from Washingtons push for US and western-based firms to curtail their Chinese operations.

At the same time, New Delhi has maintained its longstanding strategic ties with Moscow, both because it values their long tested all weather partnership and because it fears US bullying, of which it has been a victim in the past. While India has become a major purchaser of US weapons, India continues to depend on Russian arms and co-production agreements, as well as Russian support for its nuclear industry. It also fears a major downgrade in its relations with Moscow could draw Russia into a China-Pakistan axis against it.

The disruption of Indo-Russian ties and ultimately the severing of the strategic partnership that New Delhi and Moscow forged during the Cold War has been a longstanding goal of US imperialism. However, it has been subordinated to what the Pentagon and CIA consider the more pressing imperative of transforming India into a front line state in its military-strategic conformation with China. The Biden administration was angered by New Delhis refusal to line up behind the NATO powers at the onset of the Ukraine war. Yet that did not stop the White House from feting the Hindu supremacist Modi when he visited Washington in June 2023 and, more fundamentally, signing a whole series of new agreements with him to foster closer strategic ties.

With his tariff broadside Trump has announced that he is intent on bullying India into major economic and geopolitical concessions and endure turbulence in relations with New Delhi to prevail.

Even before Trump brandished the threat of a punitive tariff on India due to its Russian oil purchases, trade talks between New Delhi and Washington had derailed due to the latters demands for the opening up of Indias markets. The Modi government had reportedly offered trade concessions of $35-40 billion, but this was dismissed out of hand, with Trump labeling India the worlds highest tariff country.

When talks on an interim deal collapsed last month, Indian officials none the less expressed relief that the impending 25 percent base rate on Indian goods would be lower than that of China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and other countries India competes with in exporting apparels, pharmaceutical, and electronics to the US.

The situation is now radically different. Indian products risk being priced out of the US market, threatening tens of billions in exports and millions of jobs. When the 50 percent tariff takes effect, the US base tariff on Indian goods will be higher than that of any other country except Brazil. Before targeting India, Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazil and demanded, as the condition for its removal, Brazilian authorities drop their prosecution of his fascist ally, the ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, for his 2022-23 coup attempt.

Hitherto India has sought to offset US pressure over Russia, by lining up more closely with Washington in its war drive against China. In 2023, high-level Indian officials let it be known that they were responding with urgency to a US request that New Delhi specify what military support India would provide in the event of the US waging war on China over Taiwan.

However, in what is clearly meant as a signal to Washington amid the current surge in tensions, New Delhi has indicated that Modi will travel to Beijing for the August 31 to September 1 Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. This would mark the first time Indias prime minster has traveled to China since border clashes in 2020 and the forward deployment by both sides of tens of thousands of troops, war planes, and tanks, which have only been partially rolled back, starting last fall.

Although Modi was only the second foreign leader to visit Trump in his second term, in what was clearly a sign of the priority the administration places on countering China, tensions between Washington and New Delhi have been mounting for several months.

The Modi government has fumed over Trumps repeated assertions that he brokered the May 11 truce that brought an end to the four days of cross-border attacks between India and Pakistan. This is because it cuts across its bellicose nationalist-communalist narrative that India inflicted a major blow on its arch-rival.

More importantly, New Delhi is angered and apprehensive about a recent warming of relations between the US and Pakistan. In June, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the head of Pakistans military and the power behind the throne of its government, met with Trump in the White House during a week-long trip to Washington.

The Democratic Party and powerful sections of the US ruling class have been agitating for Trump to escalate the war on Russia including by appropriating frozen Russian assets and intensifying the sanctions regime. However, there are fears that in singling out India and pressing for New Delhi to radically downgrade its ties with Russia, Trump could imperil a critical element in the US military-strategic offensive against China. We could be heading into a needless crisis that unravels a quarter century of hard-won gains with India, exclaimed Ashley Tellis, who as a member of George W. Bushs National Security Council played a major role in negotiating the anti-China Indo-US Global Strategic Partnership.
UAW President Shawn Fain following a press conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on May 17, 2024 [AP Photo/Kim Chandler]

A virtual civil war has erupted within the United Auto Workers bureaucracy. Six UAW locals have approved internal charges under Article 30 of the unions constitution against President Shawn Fain, initiating a disciplinary process that could remove him before next years election.

The chargesbrought by officials who until recently stood firmly behind Faininclude dereliction of duty, financial misconduct, retaliation, improper hiring practices, and violations of the UAWs consent decree with the US Justice Department. Resolutions were passed at five Stellantis plants: Locals 723 (Dundee Engine), 1700 (Sterling Heights Assembly), 140 (Warren Truck), 1248 (Warren Stamping), 7 (Jefferson North). Also passing the resolution was Local 94 (John Deere in Iowa). Six local resolutions are required to trigger the process.

Fains administration quickly denounced the charges as politically motivated, blaming UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock, Vice President Rich Boyer, and Stellantis worker and 2022 UAW presidential candidate Brian Keller. In an open letter published last week, the administration called for members to back Fain and resolve political disputes through elections, ignoring that Fain himself was installed with the votes of just 6 percent of the membership in a grossly undemocratic process marred by voter suppression.

There are more than enough reasons for rank-and-file workers to throw Fain out. The bogus 2023 stand-up strikes at the Big Three were a deliberate betrayal that ended in pro-corporate contracts, mass firings, and deadly working conditions. Among the dead are Stellantis workers Antonio Gaston and Ronald Adams Sr.victims of unsafe conditions sanctioned by the UAW.

Fains populist rhetoric about union democracyendlessly promoted by his inner circle of Democratic Socialists of America supporters and the now-defunct Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) caucuswas a fraud. The court-appointed UAW monitor recently cited reports that Fain threatened to slit the f**king throats of those who opposed his leadership. Fain has suppressed dissent, backed Trumps trade war policies, and helped prepare the UAWs alignment with imperialist war, austerity, and repression.

There is totally legitimate hatred of Fain and his crimes against the rank and file, said Will Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker and socialist who ran against Fain in 2022. But a bureaucratic maneuver will not resolve the issue or create democratic control. Only a rank-and-file rebellion to abolish the bureaucracy and transfer power to workers will.

The effort to remove Fain is no democratic revolt from below. It is a cynical factional maneuver by officials who share full responsibility for Fains crimes. Mock and Boyer both ran with Fain on the Members United/UAWD slate in 2022 and supported every betrayal. Keller, who lost in the first round of the 2022 elections, promptly endorsed Fain and lobbied for a leadership position. All now posture as defenders of the membership to cover for their complicity and reposition themselves for power.

They are joined by a layer of corrupt local officials fearful of a growing rebellion from below. This includes officials at UAW Local 723 at the Dundee Engine Complex, where 63-year-old skilled tradesman Ronald Adams Sr. was killed on April 7 when a gantry arm crushed him. Despite clear safety violations, both Local 723 and Fains administration have conspired to protect Stellantis and cover up the truth.

The hypocrisy extends to the votes approving the charges. At Sterling Heights, only 63 workers participated out of over 6,000; just 80 voted at Warren Truck, which employs roughly 3,000. Most workers were unaware a vote even took place.

The UAW was put under federal oversight in 2021 after the exposure of widespread corruption led to the jailing of nearly a dozen UAW officers, including two past presidents, for embezzling dues money and taking corporate bribes.

To head off a revolt by the rank and file, the first-ever election of top officers was held in 2022-23, but the bureaucracy did everything it could to suppress the vote, especially after Lehman entered the race. Refusing to act on the widespread evidence of voter suppression presented by Lehman, the UAW monitor sanctioned Fains election, in what was the lowest turnout of any union election in US history.

The current infighting erupted when Fain, under growing pressure, scapegoated Boyer for fallout from the 2023 contracts. After removing Boyer from overseeing Stellantis, Fain accused him of surrendering to the company. Boyer responded with a damning letter confirming that the entire UAW leadership had knowingly deceived workers about temporary supplemental employees (SEs).

The company told us during bargaining that they were not going to convert all 5,500 SEs, Boyer wrote, and we ensured that we communicated to you that they would only convert 3,200 after ratification.

Boyer has accused Fain of removing him from his post because he rejected the UAW presidents efforts to get favors for his domestic partner and her sister that would have violated the UAW Ethical Practices Codes Financial Practices. Fains fiancee works at the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC).

Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock says Fain stripped her of key assignments because she refused to approve improper expenditures.

The UAW Monitor is investigating the charges and in his most recent filings with the federal court pointed to the continuing culture of fear of retaliation within the UAW apparatus.

Despite this, the Article 30 petition whitewashes the collective betrayal. It accuses Fain of not knowing what was in the Stellantis contract regarding SE layoffsan absurd evasion. The promise of full-time conversion was a deliberate lie, used to ram through the sellout deal. Boyer and his allies are not objecting to the betrayal but to being held accountable for it.

Similarly, the petition criticizes Fain for selling a contract he didnt understand at Mack Trucks. In fact, Fain and other UAW leaders made it clear to striking workers they they would be replaced by scabs and abandoned to their fate if they did not vote to ratify a sellout deal they had previously rejected.

Crucially, the Article 30 process remains under the total control of the bureaucracy. Once charges are filed by six locals, they are submitted to Secretary-Treasurer Mock and the federal UAW Monitor. The UAW International Executive Board appoints a 12-member trial committee from delegates to the last convention. Both sides can strike namesa process rife with backroom deals, bribery and threats.

If two-thirds of the committee vote to find Fain guilty, they can recommend penalties ranging from a reprimand to removal from office. If he is acquitted, the committee decides whether the charges were brought in good faith or with malicious intentpotentially punishing the accusers as well. It is a closed loop, designed to exclude the rank-and-file.

Lehman emphasized that Fains accusersMock, Boyer, Kellerwere architects of the betrayals now being blamed on Fain alone. They backed the stand up strike and contracts that led to mass layoffs. They defended the use of scabs at Mack Trucks and remained silent about the deaths of Daulton Simmers, Antonio Gaston, Ronald Adams and others.

The factional war is driven by fear of growing worker opposition, not principle. As Lehman put it, When it comes to defending capitalism, promoting anti-Mexican and anti-Chinese nationalism, and tying workers to the two-party system, they all agree.

The Detroit Free Press, a mouthpiece for the union, has now cast Boyer in a sympathetic light. In an interview, Boyer claimed, My sole responsibility is to represent the membership not the best interest of the International Executive Board. In reality, his main concern is that infighting is paralyzing the bureaucracy as it attempts to contain rank-and-file opposition and head off growing anger toward Trumps austerity and war policies.

We havent sat down and talked about this Big, Beautiful Bill and what its going to do to Medicare and Medicaid, Boyer lamented, referring to Trumps latest social spending cuts. We have no idea what direction were going in. This is not concern for workers, but anxiety that the union cannot fulfill its political function of corralling opposition back into the Democratic Party before the 2026 midterms.

There are no fundamental political differences between Fain and those backing this bureaucratic maneuver. All support economic nationalism, corporatism, and the pro-imperialist Democratic Party, if not the fascist president Trump himself. All accept the UAWs integration into the US war machine. None support the international unity of the working class.

The entire conflict is a desperate attempt to restore control over massive assets and a union that is collapsing under the weight of its own betrayals. The rank and file must not choose between rival factions of the bureaucracy but strike out on an independent course.

The way forward is through the initiative of workers themselves, Lehman said. We need rank-and-file committees in every plant, controlled by workersnot staffers or party operatives. These committees must fight for what workers actually needsafe jobs, full-time employment, and an end to tiersnot what management and the union say is realistic.

Fain and the rest of the UAW bureaucrats say the enemy is China. But the real enemy is here: at Stellantis, in UAW headquarters, and on Wall Street. Workers must reject nationalism and unite internationally. We have more in common with Mexican, Canadian and Chinese workers than with any billionaire or bureaucrat.

Lehman said the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is organizing a strategy to turn this growing anger into conscious political action.

The conflict wracking the UAW is not a sign of renewal, but a symptom of its collapse. What is needed is not reform, but revolutionthe abolition of the UAW bureaucracy and the transfer of power to the working class itself.
Dockworkers in Genoa block shipment of weapons to Israel. [Photo: Unione Sindacale di Base]

On August 7, dockworkers in Genoa mounted a determined blockade against the transit of the Saudi ship Bahri Yanbu, in a direct challenge to Italys role in arming Israel and its imperialist allies.

The ship, arriving from Baltimore, Maryland in the United States, was scheduled to load military equipment produced by the Italian arms conglomerate Leonardo, including an Oto Melara cannon bound for Abu Dhabi and possibly tanks or other heavy weapons already staged in the terminal yard.

Refusing to become accomplices in the Gaza genocide, the workers blocked the loading of the cannon and exposed the ships cargoalready filled with weapons, ammunition, explosives, armored vehicles and tanksthrough on-site inspections at dawn.

Despite attempts to obstruct their access, around 40 dockworkers boarded to document the shipment. Their defiance forced the Port Authority into damage-control mode, offering vague promises to discuss in September the creation of a permanent observatory on arms trafficking.

The dockworkers made their position clear: We dont work for war. In 2019, workers blocked a similar shipment for the same Saudi company, after discovering the declared civilian cargo was in fact weaponry. That mobilization extracted a pledge to stop loading such cargo, but no ban on transit was ever implemented, allowing the weapons flow to continue.

This weeks action immediately drew the intervention of the major union federationsCGIL, CISL and UILalongside base unions USB (Unione Sindacale di Base) and CALP (Collettivo Autonomo Lavoratori Portuali). They were joined by pacifist groups and the Genoese Church, whose involvement since 2021 has enjoyed the explicit support of Pope Francis.

The confederated unions announced a ban on loading arms for war zones by any means, but their real role was to corral the protest inside the narrow confines of legality, invoking Italys Law 185/90, which supposedly prohibits arms exports to countries engaged in conflict.

USB, for its part, filed a formal complaint earlier and invoked the constitutions repudiation of war in its Labor Rejects War manifesto. CALP leader Jose Nivoi stated plainly that handling such cargo would make workers complicit in war crimes and the genocide in Gaza.

On August 8, CALP and USB staged another protest at Ponte Etiopia, disrupting traffic across the port area. The unions announced that mobilizations will continue, culminating in September with an international dockworkers assembly to coordinate opposition to turning Genoa into a logistics hub for war.

The present blockade follows a significant episode in late July, when Genoa dockworkers blocked the unloading of military cargo bound for Israel after receiving intelligence from Greek unions PAME and ENEDEP.

That shipmentmilitary-grade steelhad already been intercepted in Piraeus by Greek port workers, then re-routed to Genoa aboard the Chinese vessel COSCO Shipping Pisces. USB responded with an immediate refusal to handle the cargo and a threat to strike, ultimately forcing the operators to return the containers to the Far East.

These actions connect directly to earlier episodes of international solidarity. On October 20, 2024 dockworkers in Piraeus halted the loading of 21 tonnes of ammunition destined for Israel after Palestinian trade unions issued an urgent appeal for workers worldwide to refuse all roles in Israels arms supply chain. Similar refusals have occurred in Barcelona, Belgian transport hubs and the French port of Marseille, where CGT dockers blocked arms shipments in June. Such interventions demonstrate the enormous potential of targeted, sector-wide labor action.

The Mediterranean coordination between PAME, ENEDEP, USB and French dockers proves that workers possess the means to strike directly at the logistical arteries of imperialist war. However, these actions remain under the stifling grip of the union bureaucracies.

While PAME declared that workers will not become accomplices to Israel and its allies, their perspectivelike that of USB and Si Cobasremains trapped within the nationalist and legal framework of the capitalist state. They seek to politicize the strike while preserving their role as defenders of the system, rather than mobilizing the working class as an independent revolutionary force.

The intervention of the confederated unions, the church and various legal authorities in Genoa is aimed at preempting a broader struggle and keeping rank-and-file militancy within safe boundaries. By presenting the blockade as a question of legal compliancewhether with Law 185/90 or constitutional clausesthey channel workers anger into appeals to the very capitalist state that organizes and profits from the arms trade.

Leonardo, Italys largest weapons manufacturer, continues to export to regimes across the globe with the approval of governments of every political stripe. Melonis far-right coalition, like its predecessors, has no intention of halting the lucrative arms trade to Israel, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. Claims by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that all arms shipments to Israel have ceased are lies, exposed by the recent events.

Romes real policy is one of accelerating militarization and suppressing opposition. Last September, parliament passed the so-called anti-Gandhi law, criminalizing road and rail blockades with prison sentences of up to two years. This followed a June security decree that extended police powers, lengthened prison terms and targeted protest tactics. These measures are aimed squarely at the working class, to ensure that anti-war mobilizations like the Genoa blockade can be crushed under the guise of public order.

Italys place in the global war drive is central. As a NATO member and EU stalwart, it has committed to Washingtons confrontations with Russia and China, while maintaining close ties with Israel and Gulf monarchies.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presents herself as a champion of national interest and pro-Western nationalism, aligning with Trumps demand for higher European military spending. Under the EU SAFE plan, her government is drawing 14 billion in low-cost loans to modernize Italys armed forces, a windfall for defense industry giants like Leonardo and Fincantieri.

This militarization is integrated into civilian life through the dual-use doctrine, which designates infrastructure like Genoas port as both civilian and military. This blurring of lines forces dockworkers into the position of handling war cargo as part of their normal duties, under conditions of stagnant wages, worsening safety and the ever-present risk of retaliation for resistance. The Genoa blockade is therefore not just an act of solidarity with Gaza but a direct rejection of the militarized transformation of the Italian economy.

Yet the greatest danger facing workers is the role of the union bureaucracy itself. Time and again, workers have demonstrated their willingness to actblocking ships, refusing to load weapons, coordinating across borders.

But under the leadership of CGIL, CISL, UIL, USB, Si Cobas and similar bodies, this resistance is subordinated to appeals to the capitalist state and its laws. The unions strategy is to contain militancy, to prevent independent rank-and-file organization and to keep actions episodic rather than as part of a revolutionary strategy.

The international communications that enabled the July victory against the COSCO Shipping Pisces show what is possible when workers act in concert across national borders. But for this potential to be realized, workers must free themselves from the grip of bureaucracies that ultimately defend the existing order.

Genuine rank-and-file committees, democratically controlled by workers themselves, must be formed in every port, warehouse and transport hub. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is fighting to link up these struggles internationally, not only to share information but to prepare coordinated action aimed at stopping the imperialist war machine at its source.

The Genoa dockers stand resonates far beyond Italys borders. It shows that the working class, the producer of all wealth and strategically placed in the logistics chains of global capitalism, holds immense power to disrupt the plans of the ruling class. But power unusedor used only within the limits set by the state and its loyal union apparatuswill be dissipated.

The choice before workers is stark: continue to rely on organizations committed to defending capitalism, or build an independent movement aimed at ending both the wars abroad and the social assault at home.

The working class possesses the strength to halt the arms convoys, empty the warships and dismantle the production lines of death. The path forward requires organization, clarity and above all a conscious political break with all factions of the capitalist class, whether openly reactionary like Meloni or dressed in the pseudo-left rhetoric of the trade union officials.

It requires a turn to the international working class, uniting the struggles of dockers in Genoa, Piraeus, Marseille and beyond with those of transport, manufacturing and service workers across Europe, the Middle East and the world. Such a movement, which the IWA-RFC is building, must be connected to the fight for socialism, the only program capable of ending the system that breeds war, exploitation and repression.
This report was submitted to the World Socialist Web Site by underground journalists from the Ukrainian website assembly.org.ua with the following note: The long, hot summer is in full swing, and we need your financial support more than ever this year! You are welcome to visit our fundraising page and subscribe to become our sponsors. Many thanks to all in advance!

Torched enlistment office in Kharkov.

The May impasse in peace talks has become a catalyst for the political crisis and new social unrest in Ukraine. Following the lull and apathy described in our spring article, a new wave of public unrest has begun to sweep the country.

Since the evening of July 22, for the first time since 2022 political protests involving thousands of people have been taking place in Kiev and a number of regional centers. The reason is the adopted law No. 12414 on curtailing the powers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO), which were supposed to be transferred from the control of Western embassies to the Office of the Prosecutor General as ordinary bodies of the presidential vertical.

At the moment, the regime is quite tolerant of these protests since the protesters have not encroached on its pillars, i.e., they have not challenged the forced mobilization, closed borders and foreign funding of the war. Rather, they have only been demanding a more effective policy of using the country as a torpedo for NATO.

On July 31, the parliament approved bill No. 13533 to repeal the scandalous law on the NABU and the SAPO. The rallies immediately stopped as if at the snap of a finger  the guardians of democracy have no more reasons for discontent in the country. Nevertheless, the destabilization of the regime may open up space for anti-war activities.

For now, such flashes have been flaring up spontaneously and then suddenly fading away again. There is a pervasive fear of prison terms and cruel tortures. Like in the United States, circles affiliated with the Democratic Party openly support state suppression of any discontent other than their own.

On July 11, at the entrance to the Southern Railway in Kharkov, a crowd of disgruntled passersby, as the press service of the regional enlistment office claims, put the life and health of the district TRC servicemen at risk. One of the officers fell down after being slapped.

The investigative and operational group were sent to the scene. The regional police press service stated the next day that as the TRC (territorial recruitment center) employees were escorting a military serviceman to a unit, he began to resist while getting out of a service car, attracting the attention of citizens. The 44-year-old participant in the conflict was detained for causing bodily harm to a TRC employee.

A month earlier, on the evening of June 11, a 29-year-old Kharkov resident, who had been previously convicted, was invited to check the military registration documents at the Novobavarsky District TRC. He locked himself in one of the rooms, set fire to the fabric with a lighter and made his way out of the second-floor window. The area of the fire was 800 square meters.

The flames engulfed several floors; those inside managed to evacuate. The suspect was detained at night and faces up to 10 years in prison. This is the first and so far the only case in Ukraine of such a building being destroyed by its prisoner during the entire war. (Footage of the incident can be seen here.)

On the morning of August 5, in the city of Cherkasy, a 49-year-old passer-by took out a pistol and a grenade during a check of military registration documents. Threatening to explode the grenade, he tried to take an enlistment serviceman hostage. In the video, the one can hear him saying that he has neither a home nor a family. After negotiations, he was detained.

That evening, on the way out of Izmail in the Odessa region, the police stopped a 45-year-old scooter driver for a document check. He pulled out some firearm and fatally wounded one of the patrolmen, a senior lieutenant, who soon died in the hospital. The driver was also hospitalized with gunshot wounds; he faces life in prison.

A patrol car with a bullet hole in Izmail. Photo from the National Police of Ukraine.

A number of collective self-defense acts are also noteworthy. On May 25 in Kremenchuk, during a summoning raid, two TRC employees knocked down a cyclist. After that, they were attacked by seven people, using pepper spray and a traumatic pistol. The recording shows that they smashed the SUV windshield. Poltava Regional TRC added that within 24 hours two attackers were identified and taken into custody. On July 27 in Kremenchuk, a woman smashed the rear window of a TRC bus with a stone and was detained.

On May 21 in Novyi Rozdil of the Lviv region, Nestor Didyk, a TCR senior soldier and former 2014 Maidan protester, was rudely refused when he asked someone to show his military registration documents. Within a few minutes, about eight people ran up, knocked him to the ground, kicked him in the head and broke his ribs. A few days later, the cops announced that they had identified four of the attackers: they were all local residents aged 29 to 39.

On July 25 in Poltava, a group of civilians blocked the road to an enlistment minibus carrying mobilized soldiers to a training center. The vehicle was damaged and some passengers escaped. On August 3, in the village of the Voznesensk district of the Nikolaev region, three civilians with wooden bats attacked an enlistment patrol after a document check, damaged the service vehicle and wounded its member. In turn, he fired a traumatic pistol. One of the civilians was injured.

On May 29, in the town of Kamianets-Podilskyi in the Khmelnytsky region, about 100 civilians blocked an enlistment minibus where a man was dragged by force, and slashed the tires. The confrontation lasted for several hours, until late in the evening. What ultimately happened to the kidnapped person is unclear. That same evening, in the Transcarpathian village of Velykyi Bereznyi, a real battle broke out between border guards and a gypsy camp. The border guards were conducting an inspection raid together with the cops and the National Guard on suspicion of illegal border crossing or smuggling. A report of the incident stated:

During the clash, stones flew towards the border carstwo service vehicles were damaged. Shooting began, rubber bullets were used. As a result of the conflict, a woman was injured (in the stomach and arm) and a child was injured. Two border guards were also taken to the hospital. Eyewitnesses report that they beat the head of the outpost, the head of intelligence and his deputy. After the incident, the Roma tried to block the border unit in Velykyi Bereznyi, but it was unblocked.

Footage from Volyn appeared at the end of July showing how a Roma family chased away the enlistment group with flying stones. The scene is reminiscent of images of Palestinians being chased by Israeli occupying forces in the West Bank.

At about 11:00 p.m. on August 1 in Vinnytsia, despite the curfew, a crowd of residents gathered near the Locomotive stadium demanding the release of the kidnapped men who were there. The regional police reported:

On the night of August 1-2, about 80 people, including representatives of a public organization [Dosta Ukraine], arrived at the TRC facility demanding the release of a man who was brought in by military personnel as a person wanted for evading military service. Some of those present damaged the gates and entered the facility [about 30-40 people]. In order to push people back and prevent further violation of public order, law enforcement officers used special means. Investigators have opened a criminal case under Article 341 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (seizure of state or public buildings or structures). Five men aged 21 to 33 years who were involved in the crime were detained in a procedural manner.

The cops fought off the assault with batons. By 1 a.m. some of the people had dispersed, but the protest continued until at least 4 a.m., with several dozen people remaining on the scene. Neighbors brought them tea and coffee. An ambulance took away a pregnant woman who had been tear-gassed in the face. Nevertheless, the mobilized were eventually taken away through another exit and sent to the training center. Five men detained for participating in the assault were placed under house arrest for 60 days.

Mass riot in Vinnytsya. Screenshot from video.

The numbers of Ukrainian military personnel fleeing have remained stable since November 2024. The right-wing Kiev-based journalist Volodymyr Boiko, who recently retired from the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade due to age, made a post on his social networks on July 8 that was widely circulated:

In the first half of 2025, 107,672 new criminal proceedings were registered under Articles 407, 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized leaving of a military unit or place of service, desertion). Here are the data on the number of reports under these articles entered into the Register, broken down by month:

January 2025  18145

February 2025  17809

March 2025  16349

April 2025  18331

May 2025  19956

June 2025  17082

And in total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion as of July 1, 2025, 230,804 cases of desertion have been registered in Ukraine (Articles 407, 408 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

I would like to emphasize that the above statistics relate only to those cases of desertion for which criminal proceedings were initiated on the basis of materials of official investigations sent by commanders of military units to the SBI [State Bureau of Investigation] or specialized prosecutors offices in the field of defense. The real picture is much worse, since until October 2024, the SBI systematically refused to enter information on the facts of unauthorized leaving of units or places of service into the Register, and commanders of military units even had to appeal in court the inaction of the SBI investigators. At the same time, no one is looking for deserters and, despite the stories of the SBI leadership, they do not return to service. Thus, in the first six months of 2025, suspicion of unauthorized abandonment of military units was reported in only 3,538 cases (3.3 percent of the number of criminal proceedings registered during this period). During the same time, only 1,807 deserters (1.7 percent) returned to militarythis is the same number of petitions for exemption from criminal liability that were sent to the court. Another 1,079 (1.0 percent) criminal proceedings were sent to the court with indictments. The materials of the remaining 97.3 percent of criminal proceedings against deserters are covered in dust  I wrote three months ago that the number of criminal proceedings will decreasethere is no point in military unit commanders submitting materials to the State Bureau of Investigation, since deserters are now not dismissed from service, but remain on the lists of personnel. Therefore, commanders report desertion only to the Military Law Enforcement Service.

As a result of the tightening of measures against unauthorized leaving (SZCh in Ukrainian) and desertion last winter, the situation on the front lines has stabilized significantly: even Pokrovsk and Kupyansk, which were predicted to fall any day in the fall, are still holding out. But since the beginning of summer, the Russian Armed Forces have been advancing from Sumy to Zaporozhye at a record pace for this year. There may be a variety of reasons for this, ranging from a reduction in the rate of number of people who are being forcibly mobilized to a shortage of attack drones in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky claimed in the spring that last year Ukraine mobilized 30,000 people per month and that this rate should be maintained in the future; at the same time, the current mobilization figures are estimated at between 20,000 and 25,000 per monthpractically at the level of those taking up skis. This is the basis for the assumption that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will soon suffer a cumulative effect, like Assads army in Syria. Those who read Russian might be interested in our summer interview with a former Ukrainian border guard named Vadym who deserted after being ordered to transfer to the neo-Nazi 3rd Assault Brigade; gave the floor to fugitive military servicemen who were detained right when they tried to cross the Ukrainian-Romanian border and then escaped again, and also to the Ukrainian company commander who went from the Kursk region to his home in Dnepropetrovsk despite a spinal injury and is now preparing to clandestinely cross the border into Romania.

One way or another, it is still easy to meet people who have fled from their units, and no one is looking for them for six months or more. Nevertheless, Alex from Kiev, captured while trying to cross the border, told us on June 8 about changes in his training ground since last year:

They took me from Verkhovyna to Frankivsk and from there to the training ground in Rivne. Its very difficult to escape now, a ditch about two meters deep and three meters wide has been dug around the company perimeter. Theyre preparing posts for barbed wire right now and someone said that theyll throw a tangled barbed wire into the ditch itself. In the evening, several instructors with thermal imagers move to the perimeter to make sure no one escapes, the beasts from the fifth platoon are sitting in secret on the outer perimeter; whoever could understand, understood. They usually escape successfully during the day, just after the daytime formation. They often run across the river, but they also regularly pull out drowned ones there. Just the day before yesterday they pulled one out. Its a 10-stroke swim, but unfortunately people drown with a certain regularity. Every day, 30+ people leave each battalion, running off to their homes, sometimes the river cant cope; moreover there are swamps, quagmires. Well, we have such a battalion, in the rest everything is simpler and there is no ditch. The battalion commander has his own rules, although we are slowly pushing through anarchy. Here is a track, sometimes we listen to it near the tent on the speaker. We have already done all sorts of weird things here. The military law enforcement regularly drops in. Lyrics from real stories are here.

(The anarcho-rap he sent with the words We are not soldiers, we are SZCh is available for listening in Russian and Ukrainian.)

There are also still outbursts of violence by soldiers against their commanders. On the morning of July 16, at the Goncharivske training ground in the region of Chernihiv, a mobilized soldier from unit A3321 surnamed Koshel shot instructors with an automatic rifle. Senior Sergeant Kryshtal and Chief Sergeant Rekunenko were killed. Another serviceman, Senior Sergeant Skrypka, also came under fire. Four bullets hit his bulletproof vest, so he was not injured.

The shooting began when the soldiers were walking out to the firing line in pairs. Koshel suddenly turned around and started shooting the instructors in the back. One of the dead reportedly saw him for the first time that day. It is known that upon arrival at the unit, Koshel stated that he was not going to serve and wanted to leave for Russia back in 2022. On trial he said that he fully understood his actions and that he had not been acting in a state of affect. The training center in Goncharivske is widely known as Hondurasperhaps because they accept everyone, regardless of health problems. Many recruits end up in a military hospital in Chernigov and run away from there.

On June 13, state TV aired the story about a contract fighter from the Kirovograd region named Ruslan, who had served in the 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade in the direction of Volchansk since May 2024. In January, he returned there after having left without permission:

We had a case where a guy from the military police had his car burned because he was constantly beating up guys. So the next day, as soon as it got dark, I turned around and left. Because I started receiving threats because I was in SZCh. They decided to teach me a lesson.

After that, Ruslan ran away again. No further details about that incendiary attack are known.

The stolen armored vehicle. Photo from dbr.gov.ua

On July 3, the Sumy District Court convicted a senior soldier of an airborne assault unit who, while drunk, stole an armored personnel carrier on January 31, 2025 and drove it home to a village in the Lubny district of the Poltava region. He drove several hundred kilometers. Then he said that he abandoned the car on the side of the road because he was very tired and decided to rest. When he woke up in a forest belt, the Military Law Enforcement Service was already nearby. Despite the fact that the accused joined the army voluntarily, expressed his willingness to continue serving, and although the commander had given written consent, he was imprisoned for 7 years for armed desertion and theft of military equipment. Let others learn a lesson from this case.

David North has pointed out about the struggle against the fascistic Trump administration in the US that we are witnessing the collapse of a social order, but social consciousness is lagging behind social existence. In the realities of Ukraine, this is even more relevant. On the other hand, during political crises, mass consciousness is able to develop much faster than usual. Practice will show whether the prolongation of the war will become a trigger for such a qualitative leap, especially if rumors about the upcoming reduction of the mobilization age from 25 to 18 are confirmed.

As journalists of the assembly.org.ua website, we are conducting our work under extremely difficult conditions and ask for substantial donations to enable them to continue our work. From Los Angeles to the Carpathiansone path, one solution, one struggle!
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President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. [AP Photo/John McDonnell]

In another step towards the establishment of an authoritarian regime in America, with a dictator-president ruling through the police and military, President Donald Trump has ordered the mobilization of federal police from multiple agencies to patrol the streets of the US capital, Washington, D.C.

Federal officers have been drawn from 15 federal agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the US Capitol Police, the Federal Protective Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the US Park Police, the US Marshals Service, the US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the police forces of Amtrak passenger rail service and the Washington Metro.

At least 120 federal agents were on the streets Friday night, supplementing the 3,400 officers of the Metropolitan Police Department. But a far larger number may be mobilized over the course of the week-long exercise, which could be extended as needed, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Trump is threatening an even greater show of force in the US capital, including a direct federal takeover of the local District of Columbia government, and the deployment of the National Guard. Posting on Truth Social Tuesday, Trump wrote, If D.C. doesnt get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that theyre not going to get away with it anymore.

At a press briefing Wednesday, Trump repeated the threat, saying, We have to run D.C., adding, That includes bringing in the National Guardmaybe very quickly, too. Asked about seeking congressional repeal of home rule, the limited self-government in the federal district established in 1973, Trump replied, The lawyers are already studying it.

As that comment indicates, the effort to take control of the US capital by force has been under consideration for some time. Trump actually proposed taking such action in 2020, during the nationwide mass protests over the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Units of the National Guard were called up, but kept outside the District because the Pentagon high command viewed the deployment as poorly prepared and premature. There will be no such opposition in 2025.

As a pretext for his latest effort to flood the District with police and troops, Trump cited the attempted carjacking Sunday of a former staff member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the budget-cutting task force once headed by billionaire Elon Musk. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested and charged as juveniles for the alleged attack on Edward Coristine in Dupont Circle, but Trump called for the District of Columbia to change its laws to allow youth to be prosecuted as adults.

This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, D.C., Leavitt said in a statement Friday. However, FBI figures show a sharp decline in both violent and property crimes in the District for the past five years, despite the poverty and desperation in the poorest sections of the city.

The most deranged and bloodcurdling statement came, predictably, from White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Trumps most openly fascistic aide, who claimed Thursday that Washington, D.C. is more violent than Baghdad, it is more violent than parts of Ethiopia, and parts of many of the most dangerous places in the world. The clear implication is that Washington, like Baghdad, should be the target of US military violence on a massive scale.

Trumps provocation in Washington, D.C. must be seen in the context of repeated efforts to normalize police-military repression at home, and to accustom the American population to the sight of tanks and troops in their streets. In one of his first executive orders, Trump ordered thousands of Marines to be deployed to the US-Mexico border, and on Friday it was reported that US military forces have been authorized to engage in combat operations against so-called cartels which operate in the border region.

Even more ominous actions include the deployment of Marines and National Guard troops into Los Angeles in early June, on the pretext of violence deliberately provoked by ICE round-ups of immigrant workers, and mobilization of tanks, helicopters, warplanes and thousands of soldiers for a military parade in Washington on Trumps birthday, June 14. Large-scale ICE raids are targeting cities like New York and Chicago, aiming to provoke violence and set the stage for further military intervention.

In the US capital, Trump has the power to call up and deploy the D.C. National Guard without the consent of the mayor, Democrat Muriel Bowser. And under the 1973 Home Rule Act, he can take over the DC police department in special conditions of an emergency as the President may deem necessary and appropriate. Trump has invoked such emergency powers in virtually every sphere of his presidency, including tariffs, attacks on immigrants, and the crackdown on opposition by students and youth to the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

There is a glaring contradiction in Trumps law-and-order demagogy, particularly as it relates to Washington, D.C. By far the largest outbreak of violence in Washingtonor in any American cityin recent years was the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, by thousands of fascistic Trump supporters, invited to Washington by Trump and urged to march on the Capitol and fight to keep him in the White House. Five people died and more than 130 Capitol police were injured in the onslaught.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has pardoned all the January 6 criminals, while purging the Department of Justice of the FBI agents who investigated the coup attempt and the lawyers who prosecuted the fascist thugs. This history is studiously avoided in the media coverage of Trumps campaign in support of police-military violence.

Trumps threats to use military force in the streets of the US capital must be taken with the utmost seriousness. This is a government at war with the working class, at home and abroad, seeking to defend the class rule of the billionaire oligarchs who control both capitalist parties, the Democrats and the Republicans.

This war is being waged from a position of desperate weakness and crisis. Trump has already faced the largest mass demonstrations in American history, culminating in the June 14 No Kings protests in which more than 10 million people took part. His policies are deeply unpopular, and his approval rating in the polls has plunged below 40 percent.

Only the spinelessness of the Democratic Party and the collaboration of the trade unions allow Trump to proceed as though he were the undisputed ruler of the entire US population and even the world.

It is up to the working class, potentially the most powerful force in society, to prepare the necessary social and political response to the crisis of capitalism and the danger of dictatorship and imperialist war. This means building a mass political movement of working people, based on a socialist program.
Bob Dylan's 'Truly Special' Studio Sessions Fuel New Album Rumors originally appeared on Parade.

Bob Dylan, the legendary 84-year-old songwriter, has reportedly returned to the recording studio. The iconic musician recently spent two days at White Lake Studios in Colonie, New York, sparking speculation about a potential new album release.

According to a press statement from White Lake Studios, Dylan worked alongside members of his band during the recording sessions this past week.

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"The studio team had been preparing for the visit in advance and worked diligently to ensure discretion and privacy throughout the session," the release stated.

While the specific nature of Dylan's studio work remains undisclosed, fans have begun speculating about the possibilities. One person suggested, "New album maybe," while another celebrated, "omg this is gonna be great."

The recording sessions could mark Dylan's first studio work for an album since his 2020 release, Rough and Rowdy Ways  his last in five years. David Bourgeois, CEO of White Lake Studios, expressed his enthusiasm about hosting the Nobel Prize-winning artist.

"We want every artist and guest to feel relaxed and at home," he said. "We've had the privilege of working with many remarkable talents over the years, but this visit was truly special. I'm incredibly proud of our team."

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Dylans recent studio time came in the midst of his ongoing tour commitments. The sessions were held between dates on Willie Nelsons Outlaw Music Festival Tour, where Dylan is currently performing.

The timing is especially notable following the announcement of new U.K. and Ireland tour dates, part of the ongoing Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. That series began in November 2021, following the release of Dylans critically acclaimed 2020 album of the same name.

So far, the tour has completed ten legs, including a North American run in March and April that featured rare performances of classic songs  among them, The Times They Are A-Changin, played live for the first time in 15 years.

The U.K. and Ireland leg will begin on November 7. As with other recent shows, the use of mobile phones and video cameras will be strictly prohibited, in keeping with Dylans preference for distraction-free concert experiences.

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Bob Dylan's 'Truly Special' Studio Sessions Fuel New Album Rumors first appeared on Parade on Aug 9, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
This show is full of surprises. With a one-year time jump, the relocation of a major character into a whole other world, and the introduction of perhaps the most major character of all, Chief of War has once again shaken itself up from one episode to the next. What impresses me most isnt that it keeps introducing new wrinkles to what is at heart the simple story of a noble exile and an evil king, but how artfully its done.

Take the cold open, which begins with that ONE YEAR LATER title card. Suddenly were in the snowy mountains of Alaska, where Kaiana has become a rifle-toting, hide-wearing mountain man. Quickly, though, we make a striking jump back to his wife, Kupuohi, thousands of miles away. The cut connects the two, making it clear their thoughts remain of each other.

The dreamlike editing continues weaving back and forth from the village in Hawaii to the ship in Alaska. While English castaway John Young teaches the Hawaiian children English. Black sailor Tony (James Udom) teaches Kaiana the names of rifle parts. Elsewhere in the islands, King Kahekili begins festooning his fortification with the bones of his enemies, which is indicative of both the state of the war and the state of Kahekilis sanity. As Kaiana takes aim on a hunt in the snow, the show cuts between his quarry and the king; when Kaiana pulls the trigger, we are pointedly never shown whether his bullet found its mark or not.

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Working from a script by Doug Jung and co-creators Jason Momoa and Thomas Paa Sibbett, directors Anders Engstrom and Brian Andrew Mendoza ably maintain the expert and expensive look of the series, even as the action shifts beyond Hawaii. In what is now the Philippines and was then a part of the so-called Spanish East Indies, Kaiana and the crew of Captain Meares arrive in the bustling port city of Zamboanga. Kaiana makes quite an impression in his colorful chiefs crest and cape, but the whole place is teeming with soldiers and civilians from all over the globe. Hes unusual, but not that unusual.

He does, however, catch the eye of one of his countrywomen. Now in charge of a tavern, Vai (Sisa Grey) is a fluent speaker of English and Spanish, and shes got a plan. In the rest of the world, sandalwood is a hugely expensive commodity, but in Hawaii there are forests of it. However, no one else knows exactly where the islands are. With a loan from Captain Meares, whod she take in as a partner, and help from Kaiana, whose rank and renown could help her convince the chiefs to give the plan their approval, they could open and control a brand-new sandalwood trade.

You see the world like a Paleskin, Kaiana scoffs at first. You should too, Vai says. She notes that hes now seen what the white mans world is like, what it does to places like Zamboanga. Hawaiis only hope, she argues, is to beat them to the punch.

Kaiana ends up agreeing to participate, but thats because he has his eyes on a different prize: buying enough guns to take down King Kahekili. I made a mistake, he tells her. I must fix it.

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With guns? It must have been a big mistake, Vai replies. Its big, alright. Wait till she sees the bone sculptures!

But theres depravity everywhere you go. Even as King Kahekili forces an enemy chief to watch his wife and son be force-fed poison, Marley (Charlie Brumbly), the big-bearded shitkicker on Captain Mearess crew who shot at Kaiana, plans to lead an invasion force back to the islands. He also aims to sell Tony into slavery the bargain, brutally beating the good-hearted sailor when he uncovers the plot.

Back in the Kingdom of Hawaii proper, we meet a man whos going to be shaking the islands to their foundations soon enough. Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) is a handsome, incredibly strong young chief we first meet when he clowns all his buddies in a combined underwater weightlifting/footrace/breath-holding competition.

Kaahumanu is still no happier about her arranged marriage than she was a year earlier, though, despite the fact that her betrothed is a big slab of beefcake. Its not that she dislikes or distrusts him, though its not clear if she knows him well at all  its the prediction of the prophetess last episode that shell never bear the man the heir he desires. If thats the case, shell just be one wife of many, serving him but otherwise forgotten about. Its no life to lead.

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Her father Moku, who arranged the marriage, needs it to work  not for political advantage, but for the prophecy thats been guiding everyone from the start. Moku was present at Kamehamehas birth, the very night the prophesied comet streaked across the sky. That celestial omen wasnt meant to mark the rise of the king who would unify the islands, Moku says, it was meant to mark the birth of one.

Now the rise part has come at last. Moku says he has seen in a vision that Kaahumanu is destined to be by the great mans side. With the rest of the townspeople, he watches through the translucent canvas of the wedding tent as Kamehameha and his daughter consummate the marriage, in hopes of producing an heir Kaahumanu believes will never come. Moku, however, has given her strict instructions to never tell Kamehamea about the prophetesss prediction.

At any rate, our new hero has more immediate problems. The King of Hawaii, Kalaniopuu (Branscombe Richmond), does not have long to live. Even though King Kahekili has been bogged down in Oahu for longer than expected  much to the chagrin of his (gay) son, Prince Kupule, whos uncomfrotable with his fathers brutality  hell be on Hawaiis shores before long. When Kalaniopuu dies, his brusque son Keoua (Cliff Curtis) will take over, and his battle plans involve a glorious showdown in the sands at the foot of a volcano, where he of course will inevitably triumph.

Kamehameas counterargument  they should forget battle plans for a minute and worry about having enough edible food in storage to survive any attack  impresses the king and pisses off the prince. Hes strong, hes sexy, and hes wise? This guy is clearly destined for great things, unless hes stopped along the way. (If you know the history of Hawaii, you know how that goes.)

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Though this episode lacks the combat gore and high-energy fight and chase scenes of its predecessors, its got that same epic feeling. Like many memorable works of historical fiction, the vastness of the landscape is used to suggest both the grand sweep of events and the outsized emotions of the individual human beings swept up in them. The design of Zamboanga makes it feel like a market town straight out of a fantasy novel. And what it lacks in violence it makes up for in sex, from Kamehamea and Kaahumanus bed to Kupule and his lover-advisers.

Meanwhile, the use of contrasting color  Kaiana in red, Kaahumanu in pink  against brown and green backdrops is striking and engrossing. And Jason Momoa makes for a terrific fish out of water in his imposing noble robes, in the furs and hides of a trapper, or even just in the everyday clothes of a sailor. (Sadly, this means he wears pants the entire time.) Like everything else about this show, hes big and bold and watchable as hell.

Sean T. Collins (@theseantcollins) writes about TV for Rolling Stone, Vulture, The New York Times, and anyplace that will have him, really. He and his family live on Long Island.
Jen Lilley may have left the role of Theresa on Days of Our Lives in 2023, but the actress has kept busy since departing Salem. Now comes word that Lilley has landed a role in a new film, Jimmy. The actress will be portraying Gloria Stewart, the wife of actor James Stewart, who will be played by Riverdale alum KJ Apa.

Its A Wonderful Life

Lilley announced the news on her Facebook page, posting, I am so excited to share this news!!! If you already love James Stewart, just wait til you see this movie!! I laughed, I cried, and I was deeply inspired just reading the script that honors his life so well. He lived a truly wonderful life, and I know this film will impact you the way movies should, but so rarely do anymore. Jimmy and Gloria shared one of the most precious relationships of all time. She was a wonderful person, mother, wife, and friend, and I cannot wait to bring their love to the big screen! Mark your calendars for November 2026 because were going to the movies America!

The film follows the journey of Pennsylvania native James Stewart, charting his ascent to Hollywood fame and his Oscar-winning performance in The Philadelphia Story. His career was interrupted when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a combat pilot at the onset of World War II. After returning home, Stewart took on one of his most iconic roles in Frank Capras 1946 classic, Its a Wonderful Life.

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Stewart shared one of Hollywoods most enduring love stories with his wife, Gloria Hatrick McLean. The couple married in 1949, and their union lasted until Glorias passing in 1994. A former model and actress, Gloria brought a sense of grace and strength to Stewarts life. She had two sons from a previous marriage, whom Stewart adopted and raised as his own, embracing fatherhood with pride and devotion.

Despite Stewarts immense fame, he and Gloria led a relatively private life away from the Hollywood spotlight. They were known for their deep bond, shared values, and commitment to family. Stewart often spoke fondly of his wife, crediting her with being the emotional anchor in his life. Their marriage stood as a symbol of loyalty and love in an industry often marked by fleeting relationships.

His daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, is an executive producer on the project. Principal photography is set to kick off on September 1 in West Cork, Ireland, with backing from the Screen Ireland Nationwide Fund. Burns & Co. Productions plans to release the film in U.S. theaters in November 2026.

Are you excited to see Lilley tackle the role and see the sparks fly with KJ Apa? Sound off in the comments below.

WATCH THIS: Soap Hub Says delivers your dose of soap scandals and shockers.
Michel Franco's "Dreams" is a genre-defying tale which can be seen as both a dark love story and an allegory about Mexican-American relations.

"Its impossible for me to split life and film, said Michel Franco, one of Mexicos leading filmmakers, in an interview about his latest movie, Dreams, which opened throughout Israel on Thursday.

The film can be seen as both a dark love story and an allegory about Mexican-American relations.

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Dreams stars Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain as Jennifer, a wealthy socialite and philanthropist involved in a steamy affair with Fernando (real-life American Ballet Theater principal dancer Isaac Hernandez), a younger, Mexican dancer. Fernando hopes to make it as a dancer in America, and also to be publicly acknowledged by Jennifer as her boyfriend and to be accepted by her snobbish family.

It features harrowing scenes of what Fernando and other migrants go through to cross the border into the US, masterfully combining the personal and the political to tell a story that is both dreamlike and, at times, nightmarish.

That dreamlike quality characterizes most of Francos work. English-speaking audiences may know the director from his previous movie, Memory, which also starred Chastain, in which she played a social worker caring for a former classmate (Peter Sarsgaard), who has early onset dementia. Like Dreams, its a genre-defying story that doesnt have any easy answers.

MICHEL FRANCO (credit: LEV CINEMAS)

Michel Franco speaks on his career

The director has been moving back and forth professionally between Mexico and the US for most of his 20-plus year career. His acclaimed films include Sundown, in which Tim Roth stars as a wealthy British man who hides out in a cheap Mexican resort, and the 2020 drama New Order, which stirred controversy in Mexico for its dystopian look at a high-society wedding interrupted by violent rioters, as part of a series of disturbances used to establish a military dictatorship.

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While he focuses on diverse subjects, his films are all highly cinematic and feature wonderful performances and quirky, interesting characters.

SPEAKING ABOUT Dreams, he said, For me, there is the drama of the love story, if you may call it a love story, but I wrote it knowing that, of course, it represents and mirrors a bigger frame... I was interested in how the relationship would work if one character has the power and the security of Jessicas character... She has a double life when she travels to Mexico, and she enjoys a certain freedom that she doesnt allow herself to enjoy in the States, where shes very limited by the men in her family and she doesnt have the courage to break free from that, so I knew all those elements would play a part.

As much as the human drama between the two characters is compelling, its impossible to watch the movie without thinking of the context of the political struggle of America to keep out Mexican immigrants. Franco said it was a subject that has been on his mind for years.

I shot it and wrote it way before [President] Trump was reelected. I had the idea even before Trumps first term, he said. The relationship between Mexico and the States has always been similar to what it is today. I think the biggest difference with Trump is his speech, the way he communicates things and how hes pointing fingers, but its always been a relationship where one country is above the other. And Mexicans and Latin American immigrants  and immigrants and from all over the world  are unappreciated in the States Growing up in Mexico, I always felt this imbalance.

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WHEN HE first wrote the script, he said, People were telling me that I was exaggerating about the way Fernando gets deported  and now it looks like something much less tough than what we read in the papers every day. So, its always tricky with stories that deal with social and political aspects of the world; the reality can change and it can become even more extreme.

Proud of his Mexican identity, he said, Its not a one-way relationship [between the US and Mexico], because the Americans need Mexicans in the workforce... but the US is not treating and acknowledging Mexicans as human beings with rights and needs  its just using them. So I think from the very start I knew where the film was headed.

Chastain came aboard very early in the process, and they worked together on developing her complex, sometimes unsympathetic character. She liked the challenge, said Franco.

We were shooting Memory when I first talked to her about Dreams and... I casually started talking about this idea I had without knowing if she would be interested in playing that part because it is a ruthless character, but I was not that surprised when she quickly said yes... She knows that with me, shell explore characters that are not usually found in more Hollywood studio-driven productions. The two are on the same page when it comes to collaborating, and he said he hoped they would work together in the future.

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HERNANDEZ IS a true phenomenon, the most exciting dancer-turned-actor since Mikhail Baryshnikov decades ago. After Franco saw Hernandez perform, he realized that the character should be a dancer: I immediately knew I wanted to work with him and I was certain that he would pull off the job even though hes not an actor  because at the end of the day, he has this experience dancing and communicating with audiences, so he was great.

Hes a very clever person and Jessica was also very helpful to make him feel comfortable and challenging him in the right way, so it was a great experience and Im sure hes going to keep acting because hes a natural Mexico is very proud of him; hes one of the most charismatic dancers and everyones proud of his talent.

Franco, who seems much younger than his 45 years, as he speaks enthusiastically about his leading actors, is a cineaste who credits Luis Bunuel, the great Spanish filmmaker who made several important movies in Mexico, as one of his greatest inspirations, as well as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, whose film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, was one of the main influences on Dreams.

He said he produces all his films and keeps the budgets low, which has allowed him to create a body of work on his own terms. I enjoy a lot of freedom because I keep them small production-wise, but thats because I want to be able to reshape whatever has to be reshaped and to take it as far as I need to, he said.

While Franco has no illusions about this movie changing the tense situation between Mexico and the US, he said, I dont think that Dreams can change things on a large scale, but I think it can definitely start many conversations between the viewers and make a contribution in that way.
The Law & Order universe is expanding in the United States with the latest spinoff: Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.

News broke in May that The CW acquired the U.S. broadcast rights to seasons 1 and 2 of the Canadian procedural. Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent initially debuted in its home country in 2024 and follows the format of Dick Wolf's Law & Order franchise but was developed by Rene Balcer for Universal Television.

Law & Order Criminal Intent: Toronto is the next gripping chapter of one of the greatest and most recognizable broadcast television brands of all time, The CW president Brad Schwartz told Variety at the time. And we cant wait to bring this series to The CW this fall.

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Like the series before it, Law & Order Toronto follows the lives of the police and prosecutors who investigate crimes in their respective cities.

Dick Wolfs TV Universe: A Guide to the Biggest and Best Crossover Connections

The original Law & Order premiered in 1990 and focused on New York City crime  and was revived in 2022 with season 21. Over the past three decades, there have since been several spinoffs, including the most well-known and longest-running Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which enters season 27 this fall.

The current lineup in the U.S. includes Law & Order, SVU, Law & Order: Organized Crime and now Toronto.

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Scroll down for everything to know about Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent:

Who Are the Stars of Law & Order Toronto?

The CW Network/YouTube

Season 1 stars Aden Young as Detective Sergeant Henry Graff and Kathleen Munroe as fellow Detective Sergeant Frankie Bateman. The series also includes K.C. Collins as Deputy Crown Attorney Theo Forrester, Karen Robinson as Inspector Vivienne Holness, Araya Mengesha as Mark Yohannes and Nicola Correia-Damude as Dr. Lucy Da Silva.

Who Is and Isnt Returning to Law & Order for Season 25 After Casting Shakeups

What Is Law & Order Toronto About?

The series follows Specialized Criminal Investigations Units Detective Sergeants Henry Graff (Young) and Frankie Bateman (Munroe), as they investigate high-profile homicides in Canadas largest metropolis, according to the official synopsis. Their unique investigative skills are showcased through a variety of psychological tactics, with a heavy focus on the motives and actions of criminals. These cases delve into the worlds of high finance, politics, real estate, media and more.

Is There a Law & Order Toronto Trailer?

The CW dropped the first look at Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent in August, teasing the exploration of the darker side of the major Canadian city. In between intense scenes of interrogations and glimpses at dead bodies, fans get a sneak peek at the two lead detectives approach to solving crimes.

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"This was no crime of passion, this was a premeditated murder, Henry Graff (Young) declares in the video, while raising his voice in anger. Frankie (Munroe), meanwhile, ominously teases, Sometimes the dead do speak!"

Which Law and Order: SVU Stars Are  And Arent  Returning for Season 27 After Multiple Cast Exits

When Will 'Law & Order Toronto' Premiere?

The CW confirmed in July that season 1 of the series will premiere on Wednesday, September 24, at 8 p.m. ET. Season 2 is slated to premiere in 2026.

Where Can Fans Watch the New Show?

Fans can watch the spinoff in the United States on The CW beginning in September. The show initially premiered in Canada in 2024.
Love Actually star Emma Thompson claims that she could have changed the course of American history had she accepted a date with President Donald Trump.

Thompson recounted to a shocked audience at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on Friday that she was on the set of the 1998 political satire film Primary Colors when she received a call in her trailer.

It was Donald Trump. I thought it was a joke, Thompson told the audience, Variety reported. She continued, I said, How can I help you? I thought he needed directions. He said: I would love for you to stay in one of my beautiful places, and maybe we could have dinner.

Emma Thompson recounted getting a call from President Donald Trump in her trailer while filming the political satire Primary Colors. / Alessandro Levati / Getty Images

Thompson turned him down, but for the future POTUS to call on the day of her divorce from fellow British actor Kenneth Branagh was striking.

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I realized that on that very day my divorce has finally come through. I bet he has people looking all over for suitable people he could take out, for all these nice divorceesI mean, he found the number of my trailer! Thats stalking! Thompson said. So yes, I could have gone on a date with Donald Trump. I could have changed the course of American history!

Three years later, in 1998, Trump famously met future First Lady Melania at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City, according to her memoir. And the rest is history.

President Donald Trump met first lady Melania Trump at the Kit Kat Klub in New York City in 1998. / The Washington Post / Craig Hudson For The Washington Post via Getty Images

In Primary Colors, Thompson plays the first lady of Arkansas in a comedic take on former President Bill Clintons presidential run, based on a novel of the same name by Joe Klein.

Thompson remembered, If you remember the Monica Lewinsky scandal, poor Monica, that happened when we were making Primary Colors. We sat down, thinking: What are we going to do? We are making a film about something thats happening at the same time.

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She added: It seems like such a long time ago. Oh, if only we could have a nice sex scandal and none of this, please.

During a 2017 episode of The Graham Norton Show, Thompson recounted getting the call from Trump in greater detail.

I just didnt know what to say. I was absolutely astounded, she said.
New details have come to light following Malcolm-Jamal Warners shocking passing last month at age 54.

The Cosby Show actors mother, Pamela Warner, took to Instagram Friday, Aug. 8, to reveal that her beloved son did not suffer when he drowned while on a family trip in Costa Rica on July 20.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his mother, Pamela Warner, attending the 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, on September 21, 1986. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his mother, Pamela Warner, at the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2009. Getty Images

For those of you who are at a loss, pained by the suddenness of his departure, ache for his presence or just to hear his voice one more time, to see his beatific smile one more time, be comforted that he was at peace and more importantly, he did not suffer, she wrote.

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Malcolm was birthed through water and transitioned through water. This was his time. His mission on earth had been completed, the late actors mom added.

Warners mother previously took to Instagram on Wednesday to start the Malcolm-Jamal Warner Living Legacy account.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Living Legacy post by mother Pamela Warner Aug 8, 2025 mjwlivinglegacy/Instagram

Malcolm-Jamal Warners mother shared this message on Instagram on Friday, Aug. 8. mjwlivinglegacy/Instagram

She announced it was the official account honoring Malcolm-Jamal Warner and that in the weeks and months ahead, well be sharing updates on the work being done in his memory.

Besides revealing that the Emmy-nominated actor did not suffer, she also remembered Warner as an exceptional husband, father, and son who was deeply in love with life, his wife, and his daughter.

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He was a kind, loving man with a huge heart for humanity. He wanted all to be aware of their inner strength and that they could succeed, accomplish and transform, Pamela wrote. This was his latest mission and work, transformation, in order for you to be fully present in your life.

Malcolm left an indelible mark on the world and on countless hearts, she added. All who met him, however briefly, were better for the encounter.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his mother, Pamela Warner, attending Native Son at the Apollo Theater in New York City, New York, on December 8, 1986. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Pamela Warner and Malcolm-Jamal Warner at the 57th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. WireImage

Pamela added that she was honored and blessed to be Warners mother.

As his mother, there is so much that I can say. It would fill volumes, she wrote. But what I will say, is that I am so very blessed that he chose me to be his mother, to come into the world through the waters of my womb.

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It is an honor and blessing that will be with me all the days of my life, she concluded.

Pamela Warner and Malcolm-Jamal Warner at the 57th annual Grammy Nominee Celebration in West Hollywood, California, on January 17, 2015. WireImage for NARAS

Warner, who starred as Bill Cosbys on-screen son Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, tragically drowned to death on July 20 while swimming during a vacation to Costa Rica.

The Caribbean Guard, Costa Ricas volunteer lifeguard association, confirmed the devastating news on Facebook.

We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande, they wrote. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning.

Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) shared additional details regarding Warners death.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theodore Theo Huxtable during Season 7 of The Cosby Show. NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Malcolm-Jamal Warner shared this picture on Instagram on May 14, 2025. malcolmjamalwar/Instagram

Mr. Warner was playing with his daughter at the seashore at one point. He then left her out of the water, and he and a friend of his entered the sea, the agency told People in a statement translated from Spanish to English.

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It was at that moment that they were swept away by the current, and the friend managed to get out, the OIJ added. However, Mr. Warner was unable to get out and was pulled out by several people on the beach. He received care from Red Cross officials, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Warners body was later transported to a morgue in San Joaquin de Flores for an autopsy, and his cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation by submersion.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner and the cast of The Cosby Show during the shows seventh season. NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Several of Warners former co-stars have paid tribute to the late actor.

A week ago I lost my big brother, but I gained an angel, Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show, wrote on Instagram. I love you I miss you We got our girls.

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Bill Cosby, who played Cliff Huxtable on the show, also reacted to Warners tragic death.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends SCAD aTVfest in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 29, 2020. Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2020

The comedian, 88, compared Warners passing to losing his own son, Ennis Cosby, who was murdered in 1997 at 27.

His rep, Andrew Wyatt, also told The Post that Cosby spoke to Phylicia Rashad earlier today and they reminisced about Malcolm.

Rashad, 77, played Warners on-screen mother, Clair Huxtable, on The Cosby Show for all eight seasons.
While comedian Matt Rife and YouTuber Elton Castee have recently purchased the Connecticut home of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, they still have their eyes on another famous Warren-connected site in Rhode Island: The Conjuring House.

"I think it goes without saying that Matt & I would still love to purchase The Conjuring house & bring that legendary property back for public use & paranormal investigators," Castee wrote on social media platform X. "Hopefully the universe reads this & helps make it happen."

Rife and Castee have a clear interested in the paranormal, having repeatedly talked about wanting to acquire The Conjuring House. Rife own house in Rhode Island near the attraction and collecting other Warren memorabilia.

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With the purchase of the Warrens' house, Rife said he is also now "the legal guardian for at least the next 5 years" of the Warrens' "entire haunted collection," including the supposedly haunted Annabelle doll. He shared a photo of himself and Castee posing in front of Annabelle, a Raggedy Ann doll that was alleged to have been possessed in one of the Warrens' most famous cases.

The Burrillville house that inspired "The Conjuring" films.

Did Matt Rife buy 'The Conjuring' House

Rife and his YouTuber associate have not been successful in buying the Rhode Island 'Conjuring' house, Castee said.

"For the roughly the past two years, Matt & I have made a few formal (certified letters with precise offers) as well as informal offers & publicly stated interest on social media," Castee said.

Castee said that he was one of the prospective buyers before the current owner of the property bought it; however, it fell through due to outside circumstances. He has been interested in the property since 2021.

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"We have made no progress in purchasing the home as it is not for officially sale & we havent had any luck in making contact with the owner, which is the main and only hurdle," the YouTuber said. "If there is interest in selling, that is the only obstacle."

Matt Rife's team did not respond to a request for comment.

Castee said that he wants to rebuild the barn, hire new employees and reorient the Harrisville 'Conjuring' house into one of the best experiences people could have in paranormal investigation.

Who currently owns the Conjuring House?

The Conjuring House is currently owned by Jacqueline Nunez.

In 2024, the property was stripped of its license to operate as a business by the town due to missing paperwork and and erratic behavior on the owner's part. The house, which was made famous by the 2013 movie "The Conjuring" telling the story of a malevoent spirit that haunted the Perron family, has been operating a tourist attraction for paranormal enthuasists.

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Since police took action against the property in December, it's reportedly been quiet.

Brendan Morrow contributed to the reporting of this story.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Matt Rife, Elton Castee want to buy Conjuring House. What's stopping them




The Gist

Queen Camilla was spotted yachting in Greece on Friday, August 8.

She wore a tiered hot pink midi dress by the British brand Aspiga.

Earlier this summer, the monarch wore one of Princess Diana's signature accessories.





Queen Camilla is embracing a much bolder palette for summer. On Friday, the monarch was spotted yachting in Greece wearing a hot pink tunic dressa surprising departure from her typically muted wardrobe palette.

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Camilla favored a tiered floral midi dress with contrasting prints, designed by the British brand Aspiga ($130). She accessorized her look with oversized sunglasses, wearing her signature long blonde bob in waves.

Getty Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2025. Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on June 20, 2025.

Earlier this summer, Camilla became the latest Windsor to channel Princess Diana by carrying one of her signature handbags. She attended the Royal Ascot in a breezy tunic dress with geometric embroidery, a floral wide-brimmed hat, and white pumps.

Notably, the Queen accessorized with a Lady Dior handbag. The quilted top handle purse, known for its Cannage stitching, was named for the former Princess of Waleswho used to go by Lady Di.

Getty Princess Diana carrying a Lady Dior handbag in 1996. Princess Diana carrying a Lady Dior handbag in 1996.

Originally called the Chouchou or Princesse, the Lady Dior was designed by Gianfranco Ferre in 1994. Diana was gifted one by France's then-first lady, Bernadette Chriac, in 1995, and after wearing it at multiple public engagements, Dior changed the handbag's name again in 1996.

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Currently, the same model retails for around $6,000, pending any customizations. The Queen also wore a luxe accessory at Royal Ascot, where she paired a blue-gray shift with a $161,000 diamond star brooch.



Featuring over 30 round-cut diamonds, nine of the stones are arranged in a floral pattern at the center. Camilla, like her stepdaughter-in-law Kate Middleton, has proven to be a fan of the re-wear, as she sported the same brooch at last year's Royal Ascot.



This particular piece came from the collection of the late Queen Elizabeth II. According to Maxwell Stone of U.K. jeweler Steven Stone, she inherited the late-Victorian era diamond star brooch from Lady Jardine in 1981.

Getty Queen Camilla on June 19, 2025. Queen Camilla on June 19, 2025.

Read the original article on InStyle
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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, greets attendees at a sendoff party for her Miss America quest at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio's Teen Ali Payton, 17, of Chillicothe taps at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, thanks the crowd at StoneCreek Farms for her sendoff party on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, thanks the crowd at StoneCreek Farms for her sendoff party on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Lucabella LaEace Miss Northern Ohio 2025 performs at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Portsmouth Brittney Putman performs at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Portsmouth Brittney Putman performs at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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A cake wishing Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson well in competing in the Miss America pageant. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, thanks the crowd at StoneCreek Farms for her sendoff party on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio's Teen Ali Payton, 17, of Chillicothe taps at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Olivia Fosson's gown that she wore when she was crowned as Miss Ohio was on display at her sendoff party at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, greets attendees at a sendoff party for her Miss America quest at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, of Kitts Hill, thanks the crowd at StoneCreek Farms for her sendoff party on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Miss Central Ohio Caitlin Seifert performs at a sendoff party for Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson at StoneCreek Farms in Ironton on Sunday. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

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Buttons supporting Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson, for sale at her sendoff party. (Heath Harrison  The Ironton Tribune)

Sendoff party held for Fosson as she heads to Miss America pageant

In less than a month, Miss Ohio Olivia Fosson will be headed to Florida for the big day.

Fosson, of Kitts Hill, will be in Orlando on Sept. 7, where she will compete in this year's Miss America pageant.

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On Sunday, she was greeted by dozens of supporters at StoneCreek Farms Venue & Cottages, where a sendoff party was held in preparation for her trip.

"It's been a lot of Miss America preparation," Fosson said, when asked what her month has been like since winning the crown on June 21.

She made her first public appearances in Lawrence County shortly after, attending South Point's Party in the Park and the opening ceremonies of the Lawrence County Fair.

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Since then, she said she has "been traveling the state," with stops at the Ohio Emmy Awards in Cincinnati, as well as media appearances in Mansfield, where the Miss Ohio pageant took place, and sponsor visits in Akron and Canton.

In recent weeks, she has spoken at the Ironton Rotary Club and did a book signing on Thursday at Kouns Korner in Ironton.

At Sunday's event, Fosson met and took photos with supporters. She also modeled a preview of her wardrobe for each segment of the Miss America pageant  the opening, interview, talent, fitness and evening gown portions of the show.

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Fitness is especially important to Fosson, master of ceremonies Caroline Trennepohl said, noting that Fosson had to work recovering from an injury that ended her dance career and she has authored a children's book on the subject, "Rocky's Race."

"She takes health and wellness very seriously," Trennepohl said.

For the talent portion, Fosson, who has a degree in music, performed "The Jewel Song," from the opera "Faust," while in costume.

The room was also set up with displays of gowns Fosson wore for her past pageant titles, including Miss Shawnee and Miss Clayland, while the red gown she wore when she won as Miss Ohio was prominently featured.

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The event also had, as guests, the top three runners up to Miss Ohio this year  Caitlin Seifert, Miss Central Ohio, who was first runner up; Lucabelle LaEace  Miss Northern Ohio, who was second runner up and Britney Putnam, Miss Portsmouth who was third runner up.

Seifert performed a twirling act, while Putnam did a dance routine, which were part of their talent portions of the Miss Ohio pageant.

Seifert spoke of the impact the pageants have had on her, from the friends she has made, as well as the scholarship funds she has earned.

"These have helped so many women go to school," she said.

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LaEace spoke about how Fosson is the first Miss Ohio from Lawrence County.

"She is so proud to represent Appalachian Ohio and I love to hear her talk about it," she said.

Also on hand was Miss Ohio's Teen, Ali Payton, 17, of Chillicothe, who performed a tap routine. She said she will be traveling to Orlando with Fosson.

"She's the best role model and like a big sister," Payton said. "We're going to have a blast. I'm so excited."

Fosson concluded the event by thanking all of her supporters and expressed her pride in southern Ohio.

"The crown and sash really belong to you, and not me," she said. "I'm really grateful to be here. I look forward to taking this community and Appalachian Ohio with me."

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'Star Trek' Star Shares Stunning Vacation Photos With 25-Year-Old Fiancee originally appeared on Parade.

Paul Wesley, beloved for his roles as Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries and most recently as James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and his fiancee Natalie Kuckenburg have been lighting up social media with sun-drenched captures from Greeceand its every bit as idyllic as it looks.

Wesley took to Instagram today, Friday, Aug. 8 to share several picturesque snaps of the beautiful scenery, and of course one with his lady, who looked chic in a brown cutout dress as he rocked an open button-up shirt with dark pants.

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Shoutout to our friends in Costa Navarino, Greece who hosted us a few weeks ago the dreamy Greek getaway content was captioned, in part.

Fans in the comment section raved, writing things like, "Beautiful pictures guys! As always ," and "You are so perfect together. I love it all. "

See the post here!

Their European escape follows a wave of engagement announcements. On July 19, Kuckenburg posted a black-and-white photo of their hands, the engagement ring gleaming in an intimate close-up, where she promised, "Always and forever." Wesley echoed the sentiment shortly after, sharing a selfie on his Instagram Stories showcasing her ring with a simple red heart emoji.

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The location of the proposal carries deep meaning for the couple. Kuckenburg revealed that Wesley popped the question at the Caruso, a Belmond hotel perched on the Amalfi Coastwhere they first visited together three years ago. The couple quickly fell for the charm, vistas, hospitality, and even the local street cats; that spot has become part of their shared story.

The pair's relationship journey began more than two years ago, when they were first spotted together in Nerano, Italy, in Nov. 2022.

Next: Carrie Underwood Welcomes Adorable New 'Babies' in Sweet Footage: 'This Is Happiness'

'Star Trek' Star Shares Stunning Vacation Photos With 25-Year-Old Fiancee first appeared on Parade on Aug 8, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
We accomplished an endeavor that looked so impenetrable. We felt really proud for doing something so strong, powerful. Featured in the Netflix documentary Stolen: Heist of the Century, written and directed by Mark Lewis (Dont Fuck With Cats), are extensive interviews with the man Belgian authorities call the mastermind of a 2003 Antwerp Diamond Center robbery that netted hundreds of millions in loot. This kind of access makes Stolen feel credible, and not just fodder for the sensational, a feeling Netflix has been also been feeding with itsTrainwreck docs. So we felt comfortable with this documentarys light touch, which applies the facts of the case to a timeline full of references to the look and feel of heists in fictional movies.

STOLEN  HEIST OF THE CENTURY: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: In Antwerp, there is a tiny square of a Diamond District, through which passes most of the worlds very finest stones. As youd imagine its a high security area, with plenty of armed guards and man traps, surveillance cameras for days, and in the sublevels, a custom vault with its own finetuned sensors and a magnetic field applied to a foot-thick steel door. So how is it that in February 2003, the Antwerp Diamond Center opened one morning to discover its security measures breached and hundreds of safe deposit boxes in its vault looted?

Stolen: Heist of the Century interviews Agim De Bruycker, former commander of Belgiums Federal Police Diamond Squad, as well as Detective Patrick Peys. They were both on duty back in 2003, and immediately knew it wasnt just another robbery. This was an inside job, De Bruycker remembers thinking. But their initial investigation only proved how flawless the diamond haul really was. (Stolen is based on Flawless, the 2003 book by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell.)

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As Stolen accounts for valuable physical evidence the cops eventually find, it features security camera footage and still photos from the real crime scene, and includes the usual round of reenactments for true crime-zoned documentaries of this type. But as De Bruycker and Peys speak, it also switches over to interviews with an Italian man named Leonardo Notarbartolo. I said yes because I always wanted to be part of something like this. Thats right, Notarbartolo is speaking pleasantly with his interviewer about taking part in one of the biggest diamond robberies of all time.

Maybe, as police assert, it was Notarbartolo who masterminded the crime, and handpicked his team from a group of skilled heisters known as the School of Turin. There was The Monster. The Genius. The Key Master. If there was a subplot with a love connection, then it would really feel like a movie. But then again, maybe the yarn Notarbartolo weaves, a tale full of vault replicas built offsite and clever workarounds of Diamond Centers security  the rhythms of which form the bulk of the docs reenactments  are just more of what Detective Peys calls the category of bullshit. Either way, Stolen: Heist of the Century has an entertaining crime story to tell.

Photo: Netflix

What Movies Will It Remind You Of? If you saw Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, youre gonna be watching Heist of the Century when it hits you: the movements of Donny, OShea Jackson, Jr.s master thief character, are exactly as Leonardo Notorbartolo describes his own.

Its actually surprising there isnt more stuff, dramatically or via documentary, about this heist of the century, especially as we continue to live in the True Crime Era. But a few years back, Prime Video did put out Everybody Loves Diamonds, based directly on the Antwerp job. And Netflix has The Diamond Heist, a slick docuseries with exec production from Guy Ritchie about a bold 2000 heist in London. And speaking of Netflix, Heist of the Century also reminded us of Berlin, which features Pedro Alonso in a prequel look at his charismatic thief character from Money Heist.

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Performance Worth Watching: We were thinking of Alonsos smooth operator-ness in Berlin especially during the Heist of the Century interviews with Leonardo Notorbartolo. Notorbartolo is quite charming as he speaks openly about that doin crimes life, especially as it relates to stealing gems and jewels.

Memorable Dialogue: As their investigation ramped up, the cops had to hand it to the heisters. Peter Kerkhof, Federal Police forensics: I was impressed. My colleagues were impressed. It was flawlessly executed.

And Agim De Bruycker, later: Looking at the ingenuity of their work, I could not believe this.

Sex and Skin: None.

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Our Take: The reenactments in Stolen: Heist of the Century are slick like Soderbergh. The doc even applies motion box editing and a peppy percussive jazz soundtrack to the proceedings, just for more of that Oceans 11 flavor. This is not new. The docuseries Cocaine Air did it just a few months ago. But were gonna let some of that similarity slide, because as a style it works really well in the context of Stolen, especially as the doc bounces the authorities official investigation off how Leonardo Notorbartolo says it all went down.

It was like a big puzzle, the cops say at one point, with all the pieces in the wrong order. With this notion as a guide, we were entertained by Stolen letting its two sides of the story guide the various pieces in two different directions, the way a heist film might misdirect its audience. (There is always a late-in-the-game double cross, or Murphys Law effect.) We felt informed  of particular interest is how police utilized cell tower location data, still an emerging technology in 2003  but we mostly just enjoyed letting the doc play out. Sure, its true crime. But it also embraces the watchability of a movie.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Stolen: Heist of the Century takes a measured approach to laying out its story  then fucks with that merrily by bringing in a guy who directly admits his involvement in a high-profile robbery. You might believe the cops, you might believe the criminal. But either way youre in for a ride.

Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.
Prince Andrew is getting more and more on Prince Williams bad side as more details come out about the Duke of Yorks promiscuous and controversial past.

A source told The Telegraph in a report published on August 5, 2025, that William knows something still needs to be done with Andrew, and he has a plan for his disgraced uncle once he becomes king. That plan includes banning Andrew from his coronation, removing his Order of the Garter, and stripping him of his Prince title, which will require legislation.

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I think to a large extent Charles has adhered to that as a safe policythe moment you start tearing the family apart, where does it stop? With William it will be a different approachhe has hard-nosed ideas about how the Royal family needs to appear in the frenzied social media world we now inhabit, and I think will be ruthless, royal biographer Christopher Wilson told the publication.

Another source explained that, while William has plans to remove Andrews Prince title, it may be more difficult than fans think. If there was a serious move to take [a title] away, particularly at that level, you do it through both houses [of Parliament], the insider said. Another source commented, Is it likely at this point? No. But is it possible? Yes.

Prince William Responds to Prince Andrew Controversy

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York

$10 Buy Now On Amazon

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News of Williams feelings toward Andrew come after Andrew Lownies bombshell book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, detailed several unflattering stories about the Duke of York. One story included the claim that more than 40 women were once brought to Andrews hotel during a stay in Bangkok in 2006 when he traveled to Thailand to represent the crown at the King of Thailands diamond jubilee. Hotel staff were used to foreigners bringing in girls, but amazed that more than 10 a day were going to Andrews room, Lownie wrote.

Often, as soon as one left, another would arrive, a witness told the author.

Tension between William and Andrew also come after British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News in May 2025 that the Prince of Wales has had a grudge against his disgraced uncle for some time and plans to exile him from the British royal family when he takes the crown after his father King Charles death.

Prince William has long had a strained and distant relationship with Andrew, she said. Andrews future within the royal family is beyond bleak, since Prince William is firmly opposed to any public rehabilitation with no foreseeable path back. He wants Andrew to vanish from public view.

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Naomi Serviss scored a bookshelf and a guitar stand.

Michelle Wolf got three spin bikes  two for a teacher friend's classroom and one for herself.

Joni Holderman got a gently used rug that retails for $1,000.

They're part of a growing trend of consumers giving and getting things  for free  via local community groups that are often titled "No Buy," "Buy Nothing," or tagged with the words "Free in" and a community name, on Facebook or other web platforms.

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These groups provide a connection among community members and neighbors who want to give things away for free, or people who are looking for items. It also helps the environment by keeping unwanted belongings out of the trash or landfill.

It is a super-local gifting economy, said Serviss of North Kingstown, Rhode Island. She has received and given away countless items in Buy Nothing groups both in her hometown and New York City.

Naomi Serviss of Rhode Island is participating in No Buy July. She regularly participates in a No Buy group, where she has been gifted a bookcase and guitar stand. The group helped her in the July effort.

Giving away and receiving "eclectic treasures"

Serviss is a long-time thrifter. But getting something for free is even better.

When Serviss lived on Manhattan's Upper West Side, she scored what she calls free "eclectic treasures."

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Among them were African masks, soft sculpture art, decorative sofa pillows and even a runner rug that fit her hallway, she said.

"I happily gave away brand-name raincoats, sporty hats and a wedding guest formal gown worn once to my nephew's Albany wedding eight years ago," she told USA TODAY.

One of her favorite "gets" was a "stunning" red embroidered kimono, Serviss said. She mounted it on the wall of her one-bedroom apartment.

"It was a thing of beauty and when it was time to relinquish it, I joyfully passed it on to an interested neighbor," she said.

When Serviss and her husband moved to Rhode Island, she found a new local Buy Nothing group.

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Serviss gifted a new set of turquoise Ikea stoneware to a person who had posted an "ISO" or "in search of" message for kitchen supplies for her grandson's new apartment.

"Coincidentally, that same member was offering a striking antique African doll," Serviss said. "When she responded to my interest, she mentioned how much her grandson loves the dishes and wanted me to have the doll!"

How does a Buy Nothing or No Buy group work?

The largest network of Buy Nothing groups on Facebook and via a web portal is through the Buy Nothing Project, which was founded in 2013 by two friends, Liesl Clark and Rebecca Rockefeller, in the Pacific Northwest, when they saw a beach full of washed-up plastics of every shape, color and size.

There were three reasons the ladies started the first group, Clark told USA TODAY in an interview: to help save the environment, to create a gifting economy to share items, and to help people connect socially with each other.

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"We all need each other and we can create a circular economy within our community and keep sharing our stuff, especially kids stuff and clothes," she said.

The women had met on Freecycle, a longstanding web platform where people can post things they are giving away.

The friends launched their own concept on Facebook, creating their first Buy Nothing Group in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Within hours, it went from the two ladies to hundreds of people.

The idea has now become a worldwide social movement, with 12.85 million users in groups on Facebook and 1.5 million people participating in the BuyNothing App, which can also be accessed online at https://buynothingproject.org. People from 44 nations have registered Buy Nothing groups on Facebook and downloads of the app come from about 193 countries, Clark said.

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"We never intended to grow a social movement," she said. "We intended to just solve a problem in our own community, which was the amount of plastics washing ashore."

How to participate in a Buy Nothing group

It costs nothing for people to participate in a Buy Nothing group. If someone wants to create a new Buy Nothing group on Facebook, it costs $10 for a license. The project then sets up the group and loads the general rules to get the group started, Clark said.

Clark said there are groups on Facebook that use the Buy Nothing name and don't register, which is a violation of the trademark, but her group is not big enough to "police" it. There are also groups formed on Facebook that have similar concepts of offering free items within a community, or people who give things away on Facebook Marketplace and are not affiliated, she said.

The Buy Nothing Project has also developed a mobile app and website, https://buynothingproject.org, which is available for people who don't want to be on Facebook. People can find local groups or participate in a global group online or on the app, paying a minimal shipping fee for their free item. That helps open up the concept to people in communities that might be too small for their own group, Clark said.

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Save money: What is No Buy July? We explain the trend that can save you money.

What are the rules of a Buy Nothing or free group?

The Buy Nothing groups all agree to some general rules, including that money can't be involved and no illegal activity is allowed. But then, each group has its own rules.

Michelle Wolf's group near Pleasantville, New York, asks the gifter to wait six hours before they pick a "winner." Wolf said when she's gifting something, sometimes she picks someone based on their "story" and sometimes she uses an app to pick someone randomly.

Wolf "won" a spin bike when she explained that her friend, a teacher for students with disabilities, had a classroom spin bike that broke.

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The kids in the classroom were thrilled, and so was the gifter, Wolf said. She also got a second bike for the friend's classroom and then one for herself.

Holderman said she loves the Buy Nothing group because "it transforms our mindset from one of scarcity and struggle to one of abundance and sharing."

A $1,000 "free" rug

The best thing Joni Holderman of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has received in her group was an 8-by-10-foot rug from West Elm that, when she looked up the retail value, turned out to be worth $1,000.

"I know it was lightly used, but it's wonderful," she said.

Holderman has given away a large beach-themed dresser and a sofa, among other things. While she still donates to charities, for something like a sofa, she'd have to haul it there. Instead, someone came and got it.

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Holderman said she'd also rather give things away to someone grateful instead of getting some money for selling them on Facebook Marketplace. "There's that whole haggling over the price. It's almost an adversarial relationship."

Free groups help people struggling in this economy

The Buy Nothing community and similar groups are especially helpful in today's economy, Clark said.

"Every day, people are struggling and our economy is kind of questionable where it's going to go and we want to be that safety net," Clark said.

The groups connect people.

"They come for the stuff," Clark said, "and they stay for the community."

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook, or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Buy Nothing' and free community groups save money, environment
Restaurants serving up authentic Greek salads, bakeries churning out flaky baklava, conversations in Greek, and boats gently rocking in the harbor. If you were dropped in the middle of this Floridian town, you would certainly assume you're in Greece  there are Greek flags dispersed throughout the palm trees, after all. This, however, is Tarpon Springs, the town in Florida's Gulf Coast where 25% of the population has Greek heritage.

While Florida is better known for the Cuban sandwich and exotic fruits grown in the tropical climate, there's a historical reason why Greek immigrants arrived here in this specific town. In the early 1900s, Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands arrived in Tarpon Springs to take advantage of the booming sponge industry (yes, the sea sponges used for bathing, cleaning, and exfoliating!). They brought with them not just diving expertise, but everything else from Greece: their food, language, music, and Orthodox traditions. More than a century later, their descendants have preserved that cultural identity, and it is represented through the town's bakeries, restaurants, and festivals.

Naturally, Tarpon Springs is home to some of the best Greek food you'll find outside of Greece itself. You might notice the smell of fresh bread, baklava, oregano, and grilled seafood wafting through the air. Eateries are housed in whitewashed buildings with blue accents, and tavernas line the waterfront; walking through Tarpon Springs can feel like a Mediterranean vacation without spending a crazy amount on airfare.

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Read more: A Guide To All The 3-Star Michelin Restaurants In The United States

Where To Eat In Tarpon Springs, Florida

Street view of Tarpon Springs with Greek stores and flags lining the streets - Krblokhin/Getty Images

Spots like Dimitri's on the Water, Mykonos, The Limani, and The Greeks Taverna are some of the classics in the area, with many still family-owned. The hardest part is deciding which one to visit -- most have close to a 5-star rating on Google Maps. These establishments serve authentic dishes made from traditional recipes passed down through generations -- think Greek fries, spanokopita, flaming cheese with pita, Greek salads with tangy, briny feta, and moussaka. With the close proximity to the sea, you'll find large portions of grilled fish, octopus, and fried calamari, all with a side of unmistakable Greek hospitality.

And then for something sweet, stop by Hellas, where there's sure to be freshly baked baklava and galaktoboureko, a custard-filled phyllo dessert. Loukoumades, Greek doughnuts, are also a local favorite, especially during the town's Epiphany celebration, when Tarpon Springs draws thousands of visitors for the annual cross dive and religious festival.

While many cities in the United States have Greek fast-casual spots serving up loaded gyros, Tarpon Springs offers a rare concentration of authentic, regional Greek cooking. Many of the chefs and shopkeepers speak the language fluently, import ingredients from Greece, and even operate small markets to share these products with the public.

Read the original article on Chowhound.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Could the former Kirby Jr. High be the future home of the Wichita Falls Police Department?

A $1,225,000 bid on the property from Wichita Falls suggests the city sure hopes so.

Bethann Bell Oswald, with Bishop Realtor Group, said that was the lone bid for Kirby.

She said it was made by Ron Kitchens and the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the city.

Oswald said Kitchens understood the need for the WFPD and invited a showing of the property that included her and reps from the city before the bid opening on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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She said the $1,225,000 was the list price for the property and its fair market appraisal value after the school district appraised it.

Oswald is representing the city on the Kirby Jr. High School project, and shes working on the terms of the contract, which will be submitted during the school board meeting on Tuesday.

Because it is an agenda item, board members could accept and act on the bid, and further negotiations could also occur.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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The Brief

Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay unveiled a portrait of Roy Caldwood, a Buffalo Soldier who served in World War II.

Maj. (ret) Mack Macksam said he wanted to create something special for Caldwood when he met him at the Army Ball.

Roy Caldwood said the portrait means a lot to him, his family and generation.

TAMPA, Fla. - On Friday, the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay unveiled a portrait of Roy Caldwood, a Buffalo Soldier who served in World War II.

What they're saying

For Caldwood, recognition isn't needed. He said, "I don't think I deserve all this."

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But, the 103-year-old's community knows that it's warranted.

Major Mack Macksam, the founder of the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay, said, "I met him and his family at the Army Ball in June and said why don't we do a portrait and honor Roy and his family."

He knew he wanted to create something special.

Maj. Macksam added, "I felt compelled in my heart to do something and bring people together so we can create a memory."

The backstory

One of Caldwood's remarkable feats was serving as a member of the Buffalo Soldiers, an All African American Regiment during World War II.

When FOX 13 featured him on What's Right with Tampa Bay in 2024, he told us, "it gave you a sense of pride, you felt a lot of pride, you felt like you could do anything together and that's how we operated together."

Surprise Unveiled

It's that service and bravery that led Maj. Macksam and artist Brian Morris to create a portrait of him.

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"If I can create a feeling and create a little bit of memory, it's important," Maj. Macksam added.

During Caldwood's book signing event at the Tampa Bay Club, Caldwell and his family were surprised by a memento that's etched in time. A portrait of Caldwood while he was serving as an enlisted medic in World War II.

"We always complain about stuff in our world today," Maj. Macksam explained. "Why don't we do good things and create a memory that's healing and lasts."

It's also one that Caldwood and his family will always carry with them.

"It means a lot to me and my generation," Caldwood said. "I am 103 years old, and I don't have many days left. They will enjoy it now and later. I appreciate it and love it."

The Source

FOX 13 gathered this information from the portrait unveiling ceremony at the Tampa Bay Club.
A federal grand jury has indicted two Southern California residents on charges that they allegedly assaulted federal officers during an anti-immigration enforcement protest last month outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday.

Erin Petra Escobar, 34, of the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count of assault on a federal officer or employee and one misdemeanor count of depredation of government property. Nick Elias Gutierrez, 20, of Hawthorne, faces two felony counts: one for assault on a federal officer or employee, and another for assault on a federal officer or employee resulting in bodily injury.

The indictment alleges that on July 17, a small group of protesters gathered outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse to protest recent immigration enforcement operations. Court documents allege that Escobar was seen using a permanent marker to write on and damage federal property. When officers approached to detain her, Gutierrez allegedly grabbed an officers bulletproof vest straps and shook him. During the struggle to detain Gutierrez, one officer dislocated his left ring finger.

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Escobar and Gutierrez were eventually arrested. While being transported to a nearby holding cell, Escobar allegedly spat into the face of one of the officers, according to prosecutors.

ICE officers barred from using deceptive tactics in Southern California home raids

Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on August 15 in United States District Court in Los Angeles. They are currently free on a $5,000 bond.

If convicted, Escobar faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison for the assault charge and up to one year for the depredation charge. Gutierrez faces up to 20 years for the assault resulting in injury count and a maximum of eight years for the assault charge.

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The United States Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Protective Service is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by the Justice Departments General Crimes Section.

An indictment contains allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Birmingham Police Department and deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office are on the scene of a shooting in downtown Birmingham Friday evening.

According to the BPD, two people were shot near the 100 block of 1st Ave. North. A female victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and a male victim sustained life-threatening injuries. Police say there is no suspect in custody at this time.

This is a developing story. This story will be updated as information becomes available.

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NEED TO KNOW

Two red pandas were born at ZooMontana on June 25, the Billings-based zoo recently announced at its annual fundraiser on Aug. 1

The cubs, now 6 weeks old, are opening their eyes and developing their signature red and black coats

The zoo said public viewing of the cubs may begin once they reach 3 months of age





ZooMontana has double the reasons to celebrate!

The Billings-based zoo welcomed two new red pandas on June 25. The establishment announced the exciting news at its annual fundraiser on Aug. 1.

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"If you're wondering what you missed at last night's A Wild Affair, we'd tell you it was just your typical night ... but we'd be lying," the zoo wrote on Instagram. "Last night we made what might be our biggest announcement in a while  Pabu and Pavitra have welcomed their very first cubs!"

The zoo went on to share that the two cubs, now 6 weeks old, are developing their signature red and black coats and opening their eyes.

Red pandas are born completely blind and use a high-pitched whistle sound to communicate with their mother until their sight develops.

ZooMontana/Facebook One of the red panda cubs born at ZooMontana on June 25. One of the red panda cubs born at ZooMontana on June 25.

"The cubs will remain in their den until Pavitra feels comfortable allowing them to explore  likely around three months of age. Public viewing may begin at that time, but we will continue to share updates as they grow," the zoo added.

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The Instagram post featured photos of each of the tiny cubs being held by a zoo worker, along with a snapshot of the proud parents.

ZooMontana/Facebook One of the red panda cubs born at ZooMontana on June 25, 2025 One of the red panda cubs born at ZooMontana on June 25, 2025

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According to the zoo's website, 5-year-old Pabu was born at the Oregon Zoo in June 2020 and later moved to ZooMontana with his mother, Mei Mei, in March 2021.

He is popular with visitors and has been given the nicknames The Prince of Pounce and Prince of Rascality."

ZooMontana/Facebook Proud parents Pabu and Pavitra Proud parents Pabu and Pavitra

Two-year-old Pavitra was born at the San Diego Zoo in June 2023, and brought to ZooMontana as a partner for Pabu in 2024.

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The zoo said she is known for her "strong personality" and penchant for climbing.

ZooMontana was home to another red panda, a male named Duli. However, the animal sadly had to be euthanized, just days after his 14th birthday last month "due to age-related complications and quality of life concerns, the zoo announced on Instagram on July 15.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), red pandas are an endangered species, with fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild. Their population continues to be under threat from poachers and deforestation.

Read the original article on People
Two Scott County cases are headed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

(Katrina Rose, ourquadcities.com)

The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments on Oct. 7 related to the City of Davenport, former city building inspector Trishna Pradhan and Director of Development and Neighborhood Services Richard Oswald.

The three are appealing a lower court ruling that found they do not have qualified immunity in lawsuits related to the partial collapse of The Davenport, an apartment building in downtown Davenport.

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Qualified immunity shields government officials from liability in civil lawsuits unless their actions violate a law or the Constitution.

Another case headed to the Iowa Supreme Court involves the public defenders office in Scott County. The public defenders office withdrew from several criminal cases, claiming temporary overload. The case before the court says the district court made a mistake when it did not allow the withdrawal. That appeal is scheduled for Sept. 16.

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Two wildfires burning in central eastern Arizona together scorched over 18,000 acres as of Aug. 9, according to state and federal fire officials.

The Bronco Fire and Indian Creek Fire were both caused by lightning and burned less than 10 miles from each other, according to fire officials.

The Bronco Fire burned on the eastern portion of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, according to the Albuquerque Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team on InciWeb, a federal wildfire tracker. It was located about 30 miles northeast of the community of San Carlos, according to InciWeb.

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The Bronco Fire had grown to 15,836 acres since Aug. 3 and was 0% contained, according to the team.

Firefighters were engaged in full suppression efforts, but saw extreme fire weather due to hot, dry and windy conditions, according to the Albuquerque team.

Crews on the west and northwest side of the fire adjusted techniques to establish containment lines in anticipation of further growth.

About 145 fire personnel were assigned to the Bronco Fire, according to the team.

No saving it: Fire destroys Oxbow Bridge, cutting off Arizona to California route

About 8 miles to the east on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, 18 miles southwest of Whiteriver, the Indian Creek Fire burned 3,000 acres and was 0% contained, according to an active wildfire tracker by the Arizona Department of Emergency Management.

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The fire started Aug. 5, according to the tracker.

A map of closures due to the Indian Creek Fire burning on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation on Aug. 9, 2025.

About 60 fire personnel were assigned to the Indian Creek fire, with an incident command team expected to form by Aug. 9, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in a Facebook update.

Crews were challenged by steep and rugged terrain as the fire burned quickly through grass, brush, along with juniper and ponderosa pine trees, according to the BIA.

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.

The BIA listed nearby areas closed due to the fire, which included:

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From Amos Wash to Black River

East to the Bonito Creek and Black River confluence

North along Bonito Creek to the Y40 bridge over Bonito Creek

Northwest along Y40 to the Y70/Y40 junction

Northwest along Y79 to the community of Seven Mile

South to Fort Apache Road, West to Highway 73

Highway 73 west back to Amos Wash

A slight chance of thunderstorms and rain was forecast over the weekend, which could aid firefighting efforts, according to fire officials.

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: Wildfires burn through eastern Arizona reservations
DES MOINES, Iowa  A 24-year-old has been charged in connection with the Prospect Park shooting that injured one, Des Moines Police say.

According to the DMPD, around 7 p.m., officers were patrolling near 1225 Prospect Road when they heard gunfire. Officers responded and discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound; he was later transported to the hospital.

Iowa double homicide, home explosion suspect has died

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The adult male remains hospitalized, and there has been no update on his condition.

Authorities announced later that 24-year-old Gadoar Bijiek was arrested and charged with,

Attempted Murder  Class B Felony

Felon in Possession of a Firearm  Class D Felony

Interference With a Weapon  Aggravated Misdemeanor

DMPD officers say the evidence indicates Bijiek intentionally shot the male victim. Authorities say the incident appears to be a deliberate and directed attack.

Bijiek has been taken to the Polk County Jail.

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Aug. 8After voting against approving the registration for the city's first cannabis dispensary at its last meeting, the council will reconsider whether to vote on that applicant's registration again on Monday, as well as what to do with two additional registrations.

The council at its July 27 meeting voted 4-3 against signing off on the registration for Jacob Schlichter, owner of The Smoking Tree, who has already been approved at the state level for the license and plans to open his business at 2718 Bridge Ave.

City Manager Ian Rigg said the vote at that time was not a denial of the registration but rather a pause to allow councilors more time to address unresolved concerns.

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In background information in the City Council packet distributed to media on Friday, the city manager states the city's license registration ordinance cited the city's role to "protect the public health, safety (and) welfare of the city residents" and that the first licensee has been in potential conflict with that aim. He noted prior criminal charges from Schlichter that were brought to the attention of elected officials three days before their vote on July 28 and that were brought to city staff two weeks before that.

Schlichter was convicted in 2017 of contributing to need for child protection or services, a gross misdemeanor, which was a lesser charge from the felony count of deprivation of parental rights-cause child to be a runaway charge he was initially charged with. The court complaint stated Schlichter, who was 20 at the time, was concealing a 16-year-old runaway from Texas at his residence. Schlichter and the teenager were in a romantic relationship and had reportedly met online four years prior when the girl was 12.

At that time, the city attorney reached out to the Office of Cannabis Management about the claim to make sure they were aware and to see if it would affect their decision.

"Simply put, it did not impact their decision as they were not allowed to let it impact their decision," Rigg said.

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The city also had concerns about the number of applicants pre-approved by the OCM because of product availability and distribution and said it appeared the state approval process seemed disjointed from concerns about the welfare of communities and the practicality of operation.

He said staff were told several times that the city's role is to set the limit on the number of locations if the council chose to and the zoning for those locations.

After further discussion with the OCM and city staff and the city attorney, they now have a better understanding of the city's role and the state's expectations, he said.

Rigg said the OCM cannot compel the city to approve one license over another, only that it eventually approves its mandatory minimum of two registrations if given the opportunity.

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Second, they found out that the city was in error on the level of review and standards that were part of the OCM's licensing process.

"I truly believe that basing our decision-making on the OCMs outcomes would be to abandon our obligation to the public," Rigg said.

He is recommending the council change the selection process to include a criminal background check, which would bring the cannabis retail licensing on equal footing as alcohol licenses.

Second, he is asking the council consider expanding the number of licenses once the two stores are operating and supply issues are resolved.

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"Our end goal should be safe and successful businesses that follow state statute, local ordinances and other legal orders," he said.

Third, he is suggesting the selection criteria should change to match the intent of the city's ordinance, including making misdemeanor offenses of similar felony convictions that would result in denial at the OCM an equal reason to deny registration at the local level.

Rigg said in addition to the conviction, it is also concerning that Schlichter has shown "disdain or inability" to follow lawful orders and legal requirements. He referenced violations of probation as well as statements to the press about opening regardless of registration.

There was also a new restraining order made against him in the last week.

Rigg is recommending approval of registration for Chris Gracia of Matchbox Farms MN LLC to open on Hendrickson Road and Cristina Aranquiz dba Black Husky LLC to open on Ekko Avenue. Both volunteered a background check, and no issues were found. They were the second and third licenses to be approved by the state.
Reading police have charged three city men in a late-night robbery of a pair of men outside a city tavern in which one of the victims was shot in the buttocks as he tried to flee his assailants.

Andrew Colon, 29, was identified as the suspect who shot one of the victims as he ran from the assailants and took the wounded victims necklace from around his neck on Aug. 1 in the 300 block of North Sixth Street, police said.

He was sent to Berks County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Alvin B. Robinson in Reading Central Court.

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Colon faces two counts of aggravated assault, robbery and conspiracy as well as firearms offenses.

Two other men, Jose A. Morales-Ortiz, 25, and Jason Albino, 25, were charged with robbery and conspiracy and jailed in lieu of $300,000 and $250,000 bail, respectively.

According to court records:

Police were dispatched about 2 a.m. for a report of a shooting. They found the shooting victim, who was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital.

In the hospital, the victim told police that two men, later identified as Morales-Ortiz and Colon, approached him from behind. Someone said, Give me it.

He realized one of the males was pointing a handgun at him.

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The victim ran south, crossed the street and ran north with Colon chasing him.

Spotting an opening between two parked cars, he tried to cross the street again when he was shot.

He fell between the cars. Colon came up to him, pointed the gun at him and took his necklace before running away.

Later that morning, investigators learned another man had arrived at the hospital for a facial injury suffered during a robbery.

That victim said he and two other men, including the other victim, left the bar at the 2 a.m. closing.

As they walked out, a male later identified as Morales-Oritz pointed a handgun at him and demanded his watch.

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He handed his watch to Morales-Ortiz and was struck him in the nose with a gun or first.

From security camera footage collected from several business, police learned that Albino, Colon and Morales-Ortiz were in the same bar as the victims and left moments before them, but hovered around the entrance.

The victims left the bar and walked north when they were accosted.

Colon puled handgun from his left pocket and walked toward the first victim, who turned around to find a handgun pointed at him. The victim tried to run but was shot by Colon, who hovered over the victim for a short time before running.

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While that was occurring, Morales-Ortiz pulled out a handgun and pointed it at one of the other men, who handed him his watch before he was struck in the face with a fist or handgun.

Security camera captured the faces of the three defendants. Probation officers and/or Reading police helped identify them from past dealings with them.
Three separate neighbors called 911 last Friday evening to report multiple gunshots and a woman screaming near Lauren Semanchiks Franklin Township home, according to audio of 911 calls made public late Friday.

One chillingly said: When it stopped, the last shot, it was quiet.

The Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office has said township police responded to the calls by sending an officer, but they checked the area without being able to locate the source of the gunfire.

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A family member found Semanchik shot dead the next morning, along with new boyfriend, Tyler Webb. Her ex-boyfriend, a New Jersey State Police lieutenant, apparently gunned them down and then took his own life in Piscataway.

On Thursday, the Hunterdon prosecutor took control of the Franklin police department and put the police chief and a sergeant on leave, citing serious concerns about their effectiveness as a force.

With the calls, the prosecutors office also provided dispatch logs, and they reveal that Semanchik and Webb were found outside the home.

The callers, all women, were consistent and two said they were apprehensive in making the call, but worried about the combination of apparent gunfire and screams.

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The first caller, who is Semanchiks next-door neighbor to the north, said, I just heard a bunch of gunshots that sounded very loud and its not hunting season  and I heard some screaming.

When a dispatcher asked from where they were coming, she said they sounded down the hill.

The caller said again they were very loud. The sound really carries here, and said before the call ended, It was the screaming that made me a little nervous.

A dispatcher said they would send a patrol officer.

The second caller lives on White Bridge Road and started off by saying, Im sorry we dont typically do this but we just heard something that sounded really strange  there were about seven-ish gunshots  we thought we heard some screaming and then the noises stopped, and as she spoke, the dispatcher cut her off several times.

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Mam, mam, hello, hello, hello? The dispatcher impatiently interjected, saying, Upper Kingstown Road area? The woman responded she was on White Bridge Road.

Yeah, we have a report of that, yeah, about five or six shots?

The caller then explained the noises came further east, toward the White Bridge.

The dispatcher replied that an officer was on the way.

The third caller was also on Upper Kingtown Road and about three properties west.

I dont know if I am watching too many movies or what, but my boyfriend and I just heard something strange, we heard gunshots and also screaming, she reported.

She said her house faces the street and it came from the right, which would have been east toward Semanchiks property.

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The screaming sounded pretty close and the houses are far apart here  When it stopped, the last shot, it was quiet.

Police were on the way, a dispatcher said.

The caller then said, Again I hope I am not bothering anybody, it just, it was just too weird.

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.

Semanchik, a veterinarian in Long Valley, was 33. Webb, a mechanic and volunteer firefighter from Lacey who worked in Berkeley, in Ocean County, was 29. Both were described as wonderful people who impacted many in their communities.

Semanchiks family has said her ex-boyfriend, Ricardo J. Santos, 45, harassed and stalked her for nearly a year after they broke up in September 2024.

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Authorities found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, also on Saturday morning. He was a 20-year member of the force and had worked on the unit that guards the governor.

The Hunterdon prosecutors office has said they have footage from Semanchiks vehicle  which she installed  that shows Santos following her home from work Friday evening, then approaching her property on foot  at about 6 p.m.

Webb arrived at the home at about 6:45 p.m. The 911 calls were made a little after 7 p.m.

Call logs show Semanchiks father found her body and called police at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday. He reported she was on the ground, outside, with lots of blood.

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A man was on her back deck, dead, the reports show.

At about 12:45 p.m., family members on scene reported they, have possible suspect.

Shortly before 1 p.m., investigators were advised of the previous nights calls reporting gunshots and screams.

At just after 1 p.m., a New Jersey State Police official called Franklin police asking for information about the incident.

At 2:20 p.m., the name Ric Santos is entered into a call log, and at 4:30 p.m. entries indicate investigators were looking for Santos at his known addresses.

Semanciks family expressed outrage over how police reacted to what they described as Semanchiks many attempts to stop the harassment from Santos, saying she could not get help.

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Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee Robeson said in a separate statement Wednesday that her office was aware of the concerns that Semanchik reached out to local and state police for domestic violence relief from Santos and had launched an investigation into those attempts.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A Gadsden Independent School District bus was involved in a crash Friday afternoon, Aug. 8, the school district confirmed.

The school bus had about 20 students onboard and two suffered what were called minor injuries, Sunland Park Fire said. One person in the SUV that was involved in the crash suffered minor injuries as well.

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No one was taken to the hospital, they said.

The crash happened at McNutt and Country Club.

Both directions of McNutt Road will be closed for about an hour, Sunland Park Fire said.

The school district said the bus was transporting students from Santa Teresa High School and was involved in a crash at McNutt and Country Club.

We are relieved to report that no student injuries have been sustained. All students were evaluated on site by emergency medical personnel and subsequently released to the care of their parents, the district said in a statement.

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NEW YORK  Two innocent bystanders  one of them a 65-year-old man from New Jersey and the other an 18-year-old woman tourist from Maryland  were wounded early Saturday after a teen triggerman recklessly blasted away at a rival in Times Square, officials said.

The shots rang out around 1:20 a.m., police said. A shot grazed the 18-year-old womans neck, while the 65-year-old was struck in the left leg. Both were taken by EMS to Bellevue Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The shooters intended target, a 19-year-old from the Bronx, was hit in the foot, police sources said. He was also treated at Bellevue for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

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NYPD officers monitoring the Crossroads of the World who heard the shots raced over and apprehended the suspected shooter, a 17-year-old boy, following the gunfire at W. 44th St. near Broadway.

The shooters firearm was recovered at the scene, cops said.

Charges against the suspect were pending Saturday.

The two other victims werent involved in the beef and are considered innocent bystanders, the police source said.

Before the shooting, a group of several youths wearing masks, including the gunman, had entered the Raising Canes Chicken Fingers restaurant at West 44th Street and Broadway, witnesses told police.

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One of the guys that came in with a mask is the one who got shot, a Raising Canes employee told the Daily News. It was a guy wearing a gray sweatsuit. He came in, he got in line. I guess he saw somebody outside, he ran outside. Thats when others ran out and when the shooting happened.

The group continued walking down West 44th Street toward Eighth Avenue when the two teens began arguing. A few moments later, the younger teen pulled a gun and started firing, hitting the 19-year-old in the foot, police said.

I was just worried, terrified for the crew members, the chicken joint employee said.

Ndiasse Ndoye, 64, who sells photos on the street near Raising Canes, said he wasnt surprised to hear about the shooting, remembering another gunfire incident that happened near the spot a month ago.

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I was standing here, he recalled. A guy, he pull out a long, skinny, strong gun, he opens fire. He ran down the block. He opened fire again, two times. I dont know [what he was shooting at]. Nobody got hurt. That was like one month ago, not too long ago. There were at least four shots.

Im not surprised, because number one, this is a famous chicken place here, Ndoye added. Lot of bad people come here. A lot of people coming here.

Videos on X show panicked people running past the Hard Rock Cafe after the shooting occurred.

Dozens of cops responded to the scene and zeroed in on a gray SUV with commercial license plates. Officers were recorded escorting two women from the back of the vehicle. One of the women  apparently one of the shooting victims  looked visibly upset, while the other held a small cardboard tray with drinks from Starbucks.

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The vehicle remained at the scene, with its doors opened, for several hours as officers cordoned off the area.

The cops were out there doing their job and they had an arrest within minutes, Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance business improvement district, said. It really shows what focused, precision policing can do.

Its a shame this happened, he said, but were wishing everyone hurt a speedy recovery.

The 19-year-old victim, wearing a do-rag, was recorded being taken to a waiting ambulance. His left foot and ankle were bandaged.

As the street was cleared, cops marked evidence with red cones near the famed Times Square restaurant Carmines.

Saturdays bloodshed comes as the NYPD celebrates a 23% drop in shootings so far this year versus last year, down from 649 to 500 as of last Sunday, cops said. Homicides were also down by 25%, from 241 this time last year to 179, according to NYPD statistics.
A current state lawmaker known for his criticism of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and a former Tulsa Public Schools board member are among four new candidates for statewide office in the 2026 election cycle.

State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, officially has joined whats now a four-person field in the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, while Jerry Griffin, of Tulsa, will make his first official attempt to run for state schools superintendent, a job now held by Republican firebrand Ryan Walters, who widely is expected to run for governor in 2026.

Humphrey filed his candidate committee registration with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

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Since 2017, Humphrey has represented Choctaw and Pushmataha counties and parts of Atoka and Bryan counties in southeastern Oklahoma. He has a background in law enforcement, business administration and ranching. Humphrey now serves as vice chair of the House Public Safety and Tourism committees and is a member of the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight committee and the Appropriations and Budget Judiciary Subcommittee.

In previous years, he's served as chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections and the Public Safety committees. Hes been a vocal critic of the Corrections Department and its director, Steven Harpe, and has called for the agencys complete overhaul. He and agency officials have been at loggerheads on issues ranging from deaths inside Oklahoma prisons, low pay for corrections employees and a $90,000 pay raise awarded to Harpe.

In May, Humphrey sued the agency, its leaders and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, alleging ongoing violations of the Oklahoma Open Records Act, which the agency has denied.

State Rep. Justin Humphrey of Lane now is a candidate for lieutenant governor in the 2026 election.

Another new candidate for lieutenant governor is Kelly Forbes, of Oklahoma City, the first Democrat to enter the race. Forbes campaign website is not yet active, but he filed candidate paperwork with the Ethics Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

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Forbes is only the second Democrat to file for one of the nine open statewide offices, joining state Rep. Cyndi Munson, who is running for governor.

Three GOP candidates who previously announced their campaigns for lieutenant governor are current state Auditor Cindy Byrd; state Sen. Darrell Weaver, of Moore, and businessman Victor Flores, of Edmond. A fourth Republican, Chris White, of Broken Bow, has terminated his campaign.

Four new candidates have filed paperwork to run for statewide office in 2026, including a current state representative seeking the Republican bid for lieutenant governor.

New candidates also file for state superintendent, insurance commissioner posts

Griffin is the fourth Republican seeking to become state superintendent, a seat now held by Walters. Griffin filed his candidate paperwork with the Ethics Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

He served on the Tulsa school board from June 2020 through January 2024. Midway through that time, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Tulsa City Council. Also in 2022, he formed an exploratory committee to run for state superintendent but did not file campaign paperwork.

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In March, when he first announced his campaign, Griffin said in a news release that, I am running against no one but I am running for bold leadership for all Oklahoma children. Its time to put education back in the hands of educators, strengthen our schools, and prepare students for a future of success."

Griffin joins three other active Republican candidates for state superintendent  retired Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller, Peggs Public School Superintendent John Cox and Ana Landsaw, of Tahlequah, who works as the assistant director of the Alternative Certification for Educators (ACE) Institute at Northeastern State University, which provides training for career professionals transitioning into a teaching career.

Former state Sen. Marty Quinn will be running to become Oklahoma's next insurance commissioner.

Theres also now a second Republican candidate for insurance commissioner  former state Sen. Marty Quinn, of Claremore. Quinn served two terms in the Oklahoma House before spending two terms in the Senate, ending in 2022. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in Congress vacated in 2022 by current U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin.

Quinn, who now lists an Oklahoma City address, has spent nearly 40 years working in the insurance industry. He'll face Chris Merideth, of Edmond, another insurance veteran with 25 years in the field. They both want to succeed Glen Mulready, whos term-limited.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Humphrey, Quinn, 2 others join races for Oklahoma statewide office
A catastrophe at a popular tourist destination in northwestern China has killed at least five people and injured 24 others, and video of the devastating aftermath have made their way on social media.

Reuters on Thursday reported that a suspension bridge in China's Xinjiang region collapsed after one of the cables snapped, causing tourists to plummet to the rocky ground. Part of the bridge is over a small river. The outlet reports the incident happened Wednesday around 6:18 p.m. local time in a popular sightseeing area.

Videos circulating on social media show people screaming and running to aid those lying on the rocky ground. Police were also quick to the scene as the area is constantly patrolled given it attracts a lot of tourists.

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One particularly haunting photo shows the bridge collapsed on its side with people desperately trying to hang on.

Another video shows more victims on the ground, either on rocky terrain or grassy area. Many of them lie motionless as friends, relatives or strangers run to their aid. Some get picked up and carried to safety.

URUMQI, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A suspension bridge accident at a scenic spot in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region left five people dead and 24 others injured, local authorities said Wednesday.



The accident occurred at 6:18 p.m. on Wednesday in Zhaosu County, pic.twitter.com/2CWfb1eEMk  AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) August 6, 2025

5 people died and 24 others were injured after a suspension bridge's cable broke in a scenic spot in NW #China's #Xinjiang, on August 6. #incident https://t.co/Ra7hQ2lnpF pic.twitter.com/5BoRQgG211  Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) August 7, 2025

Reuters reports that the 25-square-mile area is called Xiata, and it features natural landscape that includes a mountain pass and valley. It's popular due to the cultural remains such as ruins of an ancient town.

The area remains closed while police investigate the incident.

Related: Man Missing For 28 Years Found in Melting Glacier

News of the tragedy quickly spread on social media, with many expressing condolences.

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"So tragic," one person tweeted. "Can't help thinking about those glass bridges they built in China, hundreds of feet in the air."

China is home to the world's tallest bridge. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is a staggering 2,051 feet above river level, which is 947 feet taller than France's Millau Viaduct, the previous record holder.

5 Dead After Suspension Bridge Snaps in Popular Tourist Area first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
The United States dropping an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 1945, hastened the end of World War II. Japan formally surrendered less than a month later.

Ohio has more than one connection to the end of the devastating war. Heres what to know.

Daytons Air Force museum houses Bockscar, plane that dropped Nagasaki atomic bomb Fat Man

Three days after the Enola Gay dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, Bockscar dropped the Fat Man bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

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Russian forces invaded Japanese territory the same day. The devastation of the two bombs coupled with the threat of a full-scale Allied invasion set Japan on the path to surrender. It signaled its intent to surrender on Aug. 10, and the country formally surrendered on Sept. 2, according to the National World War II Museum.

Bockscar, a B-29 Superfortress, has been housed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton since Sept. 26, 1961.

World War II B-29 bomber Bockscar by the numbers

Bockscar was one of 15 specially modified "Silverplate" B-29s assigned to the 509th Composite Group, according to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. While most B-29s were armored and heavily fortified, Silverplate B-29s retained only a tail machine gun turret and had their armor removed to save weight so that the heavy atomic bombs of the time could be carried over a longer distance.

357 mph top speed

220 mph cruising speed

3,700 miles range

33,600 maximum altitude

133,500 weight in pounds (maximum)

99 feet long

141 feet, 3 inches span

27 feet, 9 inches tall

The B-29 Superfortress plane named Bockscar, which dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, during World War II, resides at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

Who flew on Bockscar during the mission over Nagasaki, Japan?

Major Charles W. Sweeney , aircraft commander

1LT Charles Donald Albury , pilot

2LT Frederick J. Olivi , co-pilot

Capt. James Van Pelt , navigator

Cpt. Kermit K. Beahan , bombardier

Master Sgt. John D. Kuharek , flight engineer

Cpl. Abe Spitzer , radio operator

Staff Sgt. Edward Buckley , radar operator

Sgt. Albert Dehart , tail gunner

Staff Sgt. Ray Gallagher , assistant flight engineer/scanner

1LT Jacob Beser , radar countermeasures

CDR Frederick Ashworth , weaponeer

LT Philip M. Barnes, assistant weaponeer

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Additionally, The Great Artiste (observation/instrument plane), Big Stink (camera plane), Enola Gay and Laggin Dragon (weather reconnaissance), and Full House (backup strike plane on Iwo Jima) flew alongside Bockscar on its mission, according to the Atomic Heritage Foundation.

Columbus the eventual home of Enola Gay pilot Paul Tibbetts

Then-Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr. flew the Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, dropping the atomic bomb known as "Little Boy" that ushered in the age of nuclear warfare.

Tibbets attended the University of Cincinnati before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1937, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Tibbets advanced to the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force before retiring from the military in 1966. He started an air taxi company, Executive Jet Aviation, in Columbus and died in the city on Nov. 1, 2007, at the age of 92, the Dispatch writes.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio ties to Hiroshima, Nagasaki atomic bombs that ended World War II
Superintendent Maria Vazquez reiterated Friday that Orange County Public Schools is still projected to lose more than 3,000 students this upcoming school year.

Because of it, the school board has made a tough decision to cut the budget.

We really had to right-size the funding and right-size those budgets because of lower enrollment, said school board member Angie Gallo.

Gallo says some classes with low enrollment will be cut.

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We cant afford to offer those classes that dont have full enrollment, Gallo said.

But whats causing the drastic decline in enrollment?

We found enrollment in OCPSs traditional elementary, middle and high schools dropped by roughly 7,000 students between the 2019-2020 school year to last year.

We found it didnt matter what region or whether the school was in a low- or high-income area of the county.

Since the pandemic, the enrollment at Wyndham Lakes Elementary in Buena Vista dropped by nearly 350 students, Timber Lake Elementary in Avalon Park by nearly 150 students, Summer Lake in Horizon West dropped by roughly 120, and Orlo Vista Elementarys enrollment decreased by about 40 students.

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The numbers arent necessarily cut and dried because of redistricting in some cases, but overall, it shows small declines in enrollment that add up.

Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar says this is caused by a variety of factors.

I, like a lot parents, am very frustrated by all the requirements our students must go through in our public schools high stakes testing, rigid curriculums, Spar said.

Spar along with Orange County Public Schools say one of the main reasons enrollment is down is because families are taking advantage of school vouchers.

The district shared data showing the decline in enrollment at traditional and charter schools happened as Family Empowerment Scholarship enrollment increased by about the same percentage. The steady increase of Family Empowerment enrollment began during the 2023-24 school year when the state made vouchers available for all Florida students.

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But Orange County admits they have not been collecting data on where students transfer after leaving Orange County Public Schools.

Do we truly know that its a voucher issue?, Webb asked.

We dont know that its truly a voucher issue, Spar said.

Gallo says its in part why Orange County hired Caissa K-12 to get better information on where students are going to and why they left.

Caissa K-12s main task is to recruit students back to OCPS after leaving for homeschooling or charter and private schools.

For each student recruited back to OCPS, the district will pay $935.

Were focused on being competitive, Gallo said.

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Superintendent Vazquez says OCPS should have a better understanding of where this years enrollment is a few weeks after the start of the school yeara

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SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  People will gather Saturday at the Battleship Memorial in Sioux Falls to honor the sailors who served on board the USS South Dakota, as well as commemorate the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

A 99-year-old man from California, who served as a radar operator on the USS South Dakota, will once again be attending the Day of Honor ceremony.

Hes sharing his memories of being a witness to history.

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Independent newspaper thrives amid local closures

Leon Gees thoughts are with his fellow USS South Dakota crew members as he tours the Battleship Memorial.

I think most of them, or all of them, have passed away by now, Gee said.

Gee and the crew aboard the battleship knew nothing about a weapon known as the atomic bomb as they fired away at the enemy 80 years ago this week.

We were up the northern islands of Japan shelling one of their steel mills and then we heard they dropped the A-bomb and we were still shelling, Gee said.

Japan surrendered following the atomic bomb drops. Then the South Dakota was dispatched to Tokyo Bay.

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The Marines went ashore and they put white flags on the emplacements where the Japanese had guns on the entrance of Tokyo Bay so we could watch them and see what, make sure they werent going to be shooting at you while you went in, Gee said.

Gee says the South Dakota dropped anchor just 100 yards from the USS Missouri, where a delegation from Japan signed surrender papers, officially ending World War II. Gee watched the proceedings unfold.

I guess its something that not too many got to see and everything. Its kind of amazing, Gee said.

After the war, Gee opened a machine shop in California. He says he was so busy running his new business, he didnt have time to reflect upon his service on board the South Dakota.

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I was so involved with my business that I didnt think much about what happened during the war, Gee said.

Things he doesnt want to answer, he wont answer, because he saw a lot, wife Marion Gee said.

Gees wife, Marion, says events like the Day of Honor help him come to terms with dark memories of the war he doesnt want to share with others. A humble and quiet warrior who helped bring peace to the world 80 years ago.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Republicans are waging a multipronged campaign against abortion shield laws in blue states, hoping to force the federal government to ultimately intervene.

Legal experts say the effort will be difficult  as some states have already learned.

State abortion shield laws are meant to protect providers and patients from civil and criminal actions. Eighteen states plus the District of Columbia have an abortion shield law, according to Rachel Rebouche dean of Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Shield laws in eight of those states protect abortion providers regardless of patient location, which has helped cover health care providers who send abortion medication to telehealth patients living in states where the procedure is restricted.

Republicans are fighting the laws in court, while also pushing for a federal law that supersedes the protection.

More than a dozen GOP attorneys general recently urged congressional leadership in a letter to preempt the state laws by passing legislation that bans shield laws.

Signees include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R), both of whom have taken legal action against a New York doctor for allegedly prescribing and mailing abortion pills to women in their respective states.

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Some legal experts dont think congressional leadership will introduce legislation to preempt state abortion shield laws because it would struggle to pass.

Its just not realistic, said James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, adding that there is not a single anti-abortion Democratic senator and at most two anti-abortion Democrats in the House.

There is absolutely zero prospect of it passing the Senate, and it makes no sense to waste your time on things that are completely hopeless and pointless.

Bopp said he believes that the state lawsuits challenging abortion shield laws have an objective legal merit, arguing that since each state is sovereign, no other state can regulate conduct within them. He argues that in attempting to do this, abortion shield laws deny full faith and credit to the state laws where these abortions occur.

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Paxton has led the charge in combating these laws in court, most notably with his lawsuit against New York physician Margaret Carpenter.

His office sued Carpenter in December, accusing her of sending abortion pills to a Texas woman last year. Soon after, a Texas judge ordered Carpenter to pay more than $100,000 in penalties, but she did not respond to the lawsuit nor appear for the subsequent court hearing.

Paxton has tried twice to force a New York county clerk to file the ruling against Carpenter, but the clerk has refused, citing the states abortion shield laws. He is now seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the clerk, Taylor Bruck, to enforce the summary judgment and court summons.

In January, a grand jury in Louisiana indicted Carpenter for also allegedly prescribing abortion medication to a woman in the state, resulting in state authorities requesting she be extradited.

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Paxton and Murrill have said that they will continue to try and press charges against Carpenter.

That case is far from over, and we are continuing to evaluate our options to ensure that Dr. Carpenter faces justice in Louisiana, Murrill said in a statement to The Hill.

But New York leadership does seem likely to recognize Texas or Louisianas judgments anytime soon. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has vowed to protect Carpenter.

This puts Texas and New York at loggerheads, legal experts said, which could lead to a lengthy back and forth of appeals and clashing state court rulings that could lead to nowhere or eventually force a federal court to get involved.

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Legal experts told The Hill that Paxtons actions regarding the case against Carpenter suggest he is trying to get an abortion shield law case to be seen before the Supreme Court.

This is the road toward getting courts to weigh in on whether or not shield laws, in doing what they do, will be upheld by the Supreme Court under various challenges, said Rebouche.

A spokesperson for Paxton did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Hill.

States filing lawsuits that challenge shield laws are going to face obstacles, and cases will be difficult to win, legal experts said.

This is because a lot of the arguments that a state like Texas would make to suggest that an abortion shield law should be struck down by a federal court are untested in this context, according to Rebouche. Once at the Supreme Court, Texas would likely argue that New Yorks shield law is violating the Constitutions full faith and credit clause, which mandates that all states must respect the judicial proceedings of another state, she said.

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And winning a legal case arguing that an abortion shield law violates the full faith and credit clause could be difficult, since a state like New York could argue that the clause is not absolute, Rebouche said.

There is a long-held exception to the clause that states are not required to enforce a penal law from another state.

Mary Ziegler, a professor of law at the University of California, Davis, said the letter to congressional leadership could mean that anti-abortion lawmakers might not be confident they wouldwin a case at any federal level.

Its not much of a vote of confidence in terms of how they think theyre going to, you know, do in federal court when these clashes arrive there, she said.

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While state courts battle, a Texas civil lawsuit could end up being how an abortion shield law case appears before the Supreme Court. A Texas man is suing a California doctor for allegedly providing his girlfriend with abortion medication.

Unlike the other state challenges, the wrongful death suit was filed in federal court. It could potentially lead to the downfall of shield laws faster than any action taken by an attorney general.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 police officer is dead, and the alleged gunman was killed, during a shooting Friday afternoon near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) campus in Atlanta, as nearby Emory University told students to shelter in place and activated its emergency protocols.

The DeKalb County Police Department identified the slain officer as 33-year-old David Rose, who was a husband and father of three, including one on the way.

Just before 5 p.m. an unidentified man opened fire in front of the CDC campus, shooting multiple rounds into CDC buildings, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

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Responding officers arrived to find a DeKalb County sheriffs deputy critically wounded at the scene, Schierbaum said. As they moved in, they heard additional gunfire coming from a nearby CVS pharmacy.

Police officers stand outside the emergency room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Friday.

Shooting At Tennessee Class Reunion Leaves 4 Hospitalized

Officers entered the store and found the shooter on the second floor, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, was later pronounced dead. Schierbaum said it wasn't clear if the wound came from authorities or if it was self-inflicted.

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A shelter in place order was lifted at about 6:30 p.m. However, 92 children remained sheltered in a daycare on the CDC campus, according to officials.

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"I want to commend the men and women of law enforcement from all across this region," Schierbaum said. "When this community needed them, no one shirked from the danger. Every officer, from multiple districts, responded and immediately moved to end this threat."

Law enforcement responds to Emory University in Atlanta after an active shooter was reported Friday afternoon.

Several People Injured In Shooting Incident At Georgia Shopping Mall: Police

CDC Director Susan Monarez said the agency was "heartbroken" over Friday's deadly events.

"A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings," she said in a statement. "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community."

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The CDC was coordinating with local, state and federal authorities in their investigation, she said.

On Wednesday, at least five soldiers were wounded after an Army sergeant who was recently arrested allegedly opened fire at Fort Stewart, near Savannah, Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted to X thanking law enforcement for their swift action.

"Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are," Kemp wrote.

"Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians," he added. "We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center."

People comfort each other after a shooting near the campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University, Friday, in Atlanta.

One Dead, One Injured In University Of New Mexico Campus Shooting As Manhunt Continues

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens remarked about the number of mass shootings that have occurred across the country in recent years.

"Mass shootings, active shooter scenarios should not become the norm," Dickens said. "We have a number of individuals in this country that have access to high-powered weapons. And for individuals with those high-powered weapons that may have mental challenges or those individuals with high-powered weapons that are angry when they choose to use those weapons in a way that harms multiple people."

"We have to put an end to that in our society," he added.

A police officer arrives at the scene of a shooting near Emory University in Atlanta on Friday.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr wrote in an X post that he was "horrified" by the violent attack.

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"Were horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community," Carr wrote in a post. "We stand ready to assist our law enforcement partners with whatever they may need."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) will lead the investigation. FBI Atlanta said it will offer assistance.

The Emory University Police Department, DeKalb Police Department, FBI Atlanta, Emory University and CDC did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.





Original article source: Police officer killed after shooting near CDC headquarters, Emory University in Atlanta
Mexicos government is seeking compensation from Adidas, accusing the sportswear giant of cultural appropriation for launching a new shoe design strikingly similar to traditional Indigenous footwear known as huaraches.

Adidass new Oaxaca Slip-On was created by United States fashion designer Willy Chavarria, who has Mexican heritage.

But the footwear has drawn strong pushback from officials in Mexicos southern state of Oaxaca, who say no authorisation was given by the Indigenous community, in the village of Villa de Hidalgo Yalalag, behind the original design.

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Its collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with, Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her regular news conference on Friday.

Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities, Sheinbaum said.

We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them, she said.

The government said that Adidas representatives had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities.

Mexicos Undersecretary of Cultural Development Marina Nunez Bespalova, right, alongside President Claudia Sheinbaum, left, at a news conference to condemn Adidas and US designer Willy Chavarria in Mexico City, Mexico, on August 8, 2025 [Handout/Presidency of Mexico via Reuters]

In a public letter to Adidas, Oaxaca state governor, Salomon Jara Cruz, criticised the companys design  which has a sneaker sole topped with the weave of huarache sandals  saying that creative inspiration is not a valid justification for using cultural expressions that provide identity to communities.

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Culture isnt sold, its respected, he said.

Mexican news outlet Periodico Supremo said the countrys National Institute of Indigenous Peoples will launch a legal challenge over the Adidas design, and asked followers on social media: Are you going to buy them?

 Estan padres. Gobierno de #Mexico defiende propiedad intelectual indigena, en contra de la reconocida marca ADIDAS (@adidas) El INPI (@INPImx) reclamara legalmente el uso indebido del diseno tradicional de guaraches originarios de Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, #Oaxaca Vas a pic.twitter.com/KPtrfZMLGC  PERIODICO SupreMo  (@Diario_Supremo) August 8, 2025

Translation: The government of Mexico defends Indigenous intellectual property, against the well-known brand ADIDAS. The INPI will legally challenge the improper use of the traditional design of huaraches originating from Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, Oaxaca. Are you going to buy them?

The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major clothing brands or designers using unauthorised Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spains Zara and high-end labels Carolina Herrera and Louis Vuitton.

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Mexicos Deputy Culture Minister Marina Nunez confirmed Adidas had contacted Oaxacan officials to discuss restitution to the people who were plagiarised.

Neither Adidas nor the designer Chavarria, who was born in the US to an Irish-American mother and a Mexican-American father, immediately responded to requests for comment from reporters.

Chavarria had previously told Sneaker News that he had intended to celebrate his cultural heritage through his work with Adidas.

Im very proud to work with a company that really respects and elevates culture in the truest way, he said.

Handicrafts are a crucial economic lifeline in Mexico, providing jobs for about half a million people across the country. The industry accounts for approximately 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of states such as Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan and Guerrero.

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For Viridiana Jarquin Garcia, a huaraches creator and vendor in Oaxacas capital, the Adidas shoes were a cheap copy of the kind of work that Mexican artists take time and care to craft.

The artistry is being lost. Were losing our tradition, she said in front of her small booth of leather shoes.
Hadia Ahmadi arrived in Fort Worth on March 9, 2023, with just two suitcases and the clothes on her back. Now the 24-year-old Afghan national marvels at how far shes come.

It really worked out for me, she said over iced coffee at a local Starbucks. But it was my friends here who made it possible.

When the United States armed forces withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, life turned upside down in the country. Nearly 200,000 Afghans have sought safety in the U.S. since the Taliban returned to power. More than 1,000 of the new arrivals call Fort Worth home.

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Many of these men and women risked their lives to help the U.S. military during its 20-year mission in Afghanistan. Others, like Ahmadi, came for education or other opportunities that have closed to them under the Taliban.

Ahmadi says she never expected to come to the U.S. She still dreams about her family sometimes. Then she wakes up and remembers shes in Texas  eight time zones and nearly 7,000 miles away from her mother and sisters.

I was always dreaming about my future in Afghanistan, she said, and doing something to help my people.

An unexpected journey

Ahmadi was born in 2001, the year the Taliban was toppled from power. She fondly remembers large family gatherings and growing up in the capital city of Kabul as the youngest of six girls.

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But violence became increasingly common as the Taliban tried to regain control. Once, gunmen stormed a government building close to Ahmadis school. Another time a bomb went off so close she could feel the windows rattle.

In 2018, an Islamic State group affiliated suicide bomber entered a classroom at an education center in Kabul where more than 100 students were preparing for university entrance exams. Dozens of young people, including some of Ahmadis friends, were killed in the blast. Ahmadi spiraled into depression after learning about the attack.

It really changed my mind, she said of her plans to enter public university.

Months later, she decided to apply to the American University of Afghanistan, a private institution with a high level of security. She scored so well on the entrance exams that she earned a full scholarship.

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Ahmadis father died in 2020, the same year she started classes at AUAF and the same year the U.S. signed an agreement with the Taliban to withdraw from the country. Ahmadis mother decided it was time to leave. In March 2021, five months before the Taliban retook control, the family fled to Turkey.

In spite of initial promises to honor the rights of women, the Taliban government has banned them from attending secondary schools and universities. Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world with this restriction. Women are also not allowed to use gyms, visit parks, participate in sports, or travel more than 45 miles without a close male relative along to act as chaperone. Nearly all jobs are off limits to them.

I was so fortunate we could get out of the country before they came, Ahmadi said.

Hadia Ahmadi lived in Turkey for two years as a refugee before coming to Fort Worth on March 9, 2023. In Turkey, she participated in a documentary that tells the story of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in exile.

She helped support her family in Turkey by working first at a plastic factory, then at a factory that produced paper products. She also participated in Another Summer, a documentary that chronicles the stories of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in exile.

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In the meantime, the AUAF relocated to Qatar and started moving students to countries where they could study in person or online.

Ahmadi was initially given the opportunity to study at the American University of Iraq in Sulaimani, but declined after her mother expressed concern that it wouldnt be safe there. A short time later, she was surprised to learn she would be resettled in the United States. Two years after leaving Afghanistan, Ahmadi landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

A new life

Ahmadi keeps a mental list of those whove helped her acclimate to life in the U.S. She still remembers the Catholic Charities caseworker who welcomed her at the airport, bought her groceries and taught her to drive. He and two other employees from the agency surprised Ahmadi with cake and gifts on her first birthday in Fort Worth.

Then theres the coworker from Ahmadis first job at World Relief who offered to be her second mom and invites her over for the holidays. A colleague at her current job taught Ahmadi how to make oatmeal and helped her find an apartment closer to her work.

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Life is not easy, but when you have such good people around, it makes it easier, Ahmadi said.

In addition to her full-time job and online studies through AUAF  she plans to graduate with a bachelors degree in business administration next year  Ahmadi does her own share of supporting others. John Stettler, known as Uncle John in the Afghan community, has been assisting the refugees for years. He said Ahmadis command of the English language and ability to drive have made her a big asset, especially among the women.

Women are always more comfortable, if theyve got an issue, being able to talk to another woman, Stettler said. And so thats been really great.

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Adjusting to an unfamiliar culture takes time. The newcomers need practical assistance, like help with transportation and finding work.

Its not easy for someone whos not familiar with the system, Ahmadi said.

Shes been able to serve as an interpreter for some of the Afghans, as well as help them apply for jobs. One woman would save all her mail so Ahmadi could look through it and make sure there was nothing important.

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Ahmadi said she likes to instruct, not just do things for people. That way, those shes working with become self-sufficient. A single mom with two young sons needed rides to the grocery store. Ahmadi took her in the beginning, then taught her how to drive. The mom still wanted Ahmadi to go with her for a while, but now she feels comfortable going alone.

There are a lot of calls I get, a lot of pleas for help, Stettler said. Im able to help, you know, as many as I can, but it is nice when you see ... those that I work with reach out and help others.

Ahmadi said assisting her fellow Afghans gives her good energy.

I feel like if I can do something to (help) others, why should I not do that? she said.
The Brief

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking California to recognize civil arrest warrants issued for Democrats who left the state.

The move comes just days after a similar petition was sent to a judge in Illinois.

Texas House Democrats left the state Monday to break quorum.

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a California court to recognize civil warrants issued in Texas calling for the arrest and return of House Democrats that left the state to break quorum and prevent a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

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"Texans are fed up with lawmakers who refuse to do their jobs and instead run away to states like California to exploit radical governors broken political systems as a shield," Paxton said. "Gavin Newsom may be comfortable with lawlessness and the protection of corrupt legislators, but Texas will not tolerate elected officials who defy the Constitution for political theater."

The Texas House again failed to reach a quorum Saturday morning.

Earlier this week, House Speaker Dustin Burrows signed civil warrants for the arrest of Democrats that left the state. Paxton and Burrows filed a similar petition in Illinois this week calling on courts there to help enforce the warrants across state lines.

"The Texas House stands ready to conduct the work expected of us by our constituents, but until the absent members return, our state will continue to do without critical disaster relief and solutions for a more prepared and resilient Texas," Burrows said. "This political game holding up our efforts has gone on long enough. All members will eventually have to come back, but the business before the House is too important to wait on the outside political influences pushing these members to delay the inevitable. Working with Attorney General Paxton, I will continue taking all necessary actions to bring these members back to fulfill their obligations to the legislative process and the people of our state."

Paxton lawsuits and investigations

The filings in California and Illinois aren't the only moves Paxton has made against Democrats that left the state.

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On Friday, the attorney general petitioned the Texas Supreme Court to remove representatives that left the state.

Paxton is also investigating two political action committees he's accused of bribing house members to leave the state.

One PAC is Powered by People, which is ran by former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke. The pair exchanged lawsuits Friday.

The second PAC is the Texas Majority PAC which is heavily funded by George Soros.

Threats to arrest Texas Democrats

The backstory

Texas Republican leaders have threatened to have the quorum breakers arrested, even requesting aid from agencies outside the state in the effort.

Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to begin the effort starting Monday, saying the Democrats were "holding hostage critical legislation."

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, seeing the difficulty in Texas DPS carrying out arrests outside the state, called on the FBI Tuesday to assist in the effort with a letter to Director Kash Patel. Cornyn expressed concern that the lawmakers had committed crimes in their "rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities," saying they need to be fully investigated.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows urged the "no shows" to return and said he would sign arrest warrants for those who do not. According to the Texas Tribune, these warrants would be largely symbolic as they would only apply within state lines.

Texas redistricting effort

AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 06: A newly proposed U.S. Congressional District map is seen as the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting meets to hear invited testimony on Congressional plan C2308 at the Texas State Capitol on August 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas. The meeting adjourned early due to a lack of attendees for testimony. Earlier this week, Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to protest and deny quorum for votes on the proposed Republican redistricting plan, which would secure five additional GOP seats in the U.S. House. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove lawmakers who do not return and has asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leaders who fled the state. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Dig deeper

The newly proposed map increases the number of congressional districts that would have voted for Trump by at least 10 percentage points by five.

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Republicans currently control 25 of the state's 38 Congressional districts.

The new map makes some big changes in North Texas. It moves Democrat Rep. Marc Veaseys district from Tarrant to Dallas County, Democrat Rep. Julie Johnsons district moves from Dallas and Collin County to more conservative sections of East Texas, and Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crocketts Dallas seat becomes one of just two majority Black districts in the entire state.

The Democrats claim the redrawn maps will violate the federal Voting Rights Act, but that may be difficult for them to prove.

In Central Texas, Democrats Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett would find their districts vastly different from the current map.

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The district currently held by Casar would no longer include Travis County, while the district held by Doggett would no longer include a portion of Williamson County.

In Houston, the new map reshapes four currently Democrat-held districts. The biggest change to the districts would be in the seat currently held by Rep. Al Green. The new map would shift the district from covering southern Harris County and instead move it to the eastern part of the county.

The Source

Information in this article comes from a release from Attorney General Paxton. Backstory on Texas Democrats' efforts to block a redistricting proposal comes from previous FOX 7 reporting.
The Brief

Texas AG Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke's organization, Powered by People.

A Texas court granted a temporary restraining order, halting the organization from funding the out-of-state Democrats.

O'Rourke has also filed a lawsuit against Paxton, though the goal of the litigation is currently unknown.

AUSTIN - As the fight over Texas congressional redistricting goes on, Attorney General Paxton and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke announced lawsuits against each other Friday.

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While the goal of O'Rourke's suit is unclear at the moment, Paxton's appears to have thrown a temporary wrench in the works of the former congressman's PAC.

Paxton sues over Beto Bribes

What we know

Earlier this week, Paxton announced an investigation into Powered by People, the volunteer voter organization backed by O'Rourke that has reportedly been funding the Democrats who left Texas to prevent a quorum. The lawmakers hope to keep GOP-backed mid-decade congressional redistricting of Texas from happening. Republican lawmakers hope the redrawing will add additional red districts to the state ahead of midterm elections.

Lawmakers who leave the state while the chambers are in session can be fined $500 per day. Some organizations, like Powered by People, are believed to be covering those and other costs, so the legislators can remain outside state lines until the proposal dies. Paxton claimed the funding constitutes illegal bribery of lawmakers.

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On Friday, Paxton first announced he'd filed an official lawsuit against O'Rourke and his PAC, attempting to prevent Texas Democrats outside the state from receiving further funding to fuel their effort.

"Democrat runaways are likely accepting Beto Bribes to underwrite their jet-setting sideshow in far-flung places and misleadingly raising political funds to pay for personal expenses," said Paxton in his first release. "This out-of-state, cowardly cabal is abandoning their constitutional duties. I will not allow failed political has-beens to buy off Texas elected officials. Ill see you in court, Beto."

Beto returns fire

HUMBLE, TEXAS - AUGUST 24: Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks to supporters during a campaign rally on August 24, 2022 in Humble, Texas. O'Rourke is running against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on November 8. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Shortly after the attorney general's announcement, O'Rourke posted to X, saying a lawsuit had been filed against Paxton in a state court. The former representative said he and his organization were "taking the fight directly to him."

We just sued Ken Paxton in state court. Taking the fight directly to him.  Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 8, 2025

What we don't know

The goal of the returned litigation is not currently known.

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FOX 4 attempted to find the lawsuit in Texas court filings, but has not yet been successful.

Paxton's request is granted

After O'Rourke's announcement, Paxton released another statement, saying a Texas district court had issued a temporary restraining order "halting all unlawful expenditures and fundraising while the litigation continues." The decision was made just hours after Paxton's suit was filed.

This restraining order appears to be specifically against Powered by People's alleged funding, and likely does not affect similar efforts by other Democrat-supporting individuals and organizations.

What they're saying

"The Beto Bribe buyouts that were bankrolling the runaway Democrats have been officially stopped," said Paxton in his second Friday release. "People like Robert (O'Rourke) believe Texas can be bought. Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to come and take it, so I did."

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O'Rourke released a return statement after the court issued their order:

"They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won't.



"Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas.



"In addition to helping register hundreds of thousands of voters, our members have volunteered in other important ways, including picking up thousands of shifts at Texas food banks. During Abbotts electricity grid failure in 2021, we made more than a million calls to connect seniors to warming centers and safety. We also purchased nearly a million dollars in supplies for Texans abandoned by their elected officials who were too busy fleeing to Cancun or letting their gas pipeline donors steal billions in illegal profits while hundreds of Texans were dying.



"Now Paxtons filed a restraining order to try to take us out of the fight. He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trumps attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power.



"But Im not going anywhere.



I plan on speaking at our rally to stop the power grab in Fort Worth tomorrow afternoon."

Paxton sues Texas Democrats

Dig deeper

Earlier Friday, Paxton asked the Texas Supreme Court to vacate the seats of 13 Democrat lawmakers who left the state to prevent a quorum.

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The move comes after the House again failed to reach a quorum on Friday. Paxton said earlier this week that he would seek the removal of Democrats who left the state if they did not return by 1 p.m. Friday.

Read More:

The Source

Information in this report came from public statements made by current and former Texas officials. Previous FOX coverage also contributed.
LAVONIA, GA (WSPA)  The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has revealed more information about the officer-involved shooting that left one person injured Thursday.

On Thursday August 7, the Lavonia Police Department responded to a shooting incident at Beaver Dam Circle in Lavonia, regarding reports of a male victim shot by two unknown suspects. Authorities said the victim was transported to a local hospital.

The suspects allegedly ran from the scene, and officers began a search in the area. While searching through nearby homes, authorities claimed that officers attempted to identify a person inside a trailer on Midway Avenue. The person was reported to have been holding a handgun at the time and, when police entered the trailer, allegedly pointed the handgun at the officers.

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The Lavonia Police Department said one of the officers fired several times, hitting the person at least once. The person was taken to a hospital, and was confirmed to have not been involved in the previous shooting.

No officers were reported to have been injured during the incident.

At the request of the Lavonia Police Department, the GBI said they will be investigating the incident.

On Friday August 8, the GBI received arrest warrants for the person in the trailer, identified as 22-year-old TyRavis Lee Simpson of Franklin County. Simpson is wanted for two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, two counts of possession of a firearm during a felony, and reckless conduct.

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Simpson is still at the hospital, and the GBI said he will be transported to a detention center following his release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Joanna Lopez Aguilera didnt expect to be a board member, especially at the age of 25.

But when Ivy Tech called with the message that they thought she would be a valuable contributor on the Kokomo service area board of trustees, she accepted.

I think its a great opportunity where Im giving a voice to people who are similar to me especially in a community where there is a lot of different cultures and languages, she said. Im happy I get to be that person, especially for Ivy Tech. I really, really care about Ivy Tech.

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A 2018 graduate of Logansport High School, Aguilera wanted a fast track to a career so she chose Ivy Techs Accelerated Associate Degree Program, or ASAP for short. The program helps students earn an associates degree in just 11 months. And Aguilera did just that, graduating from Ivy Tech with an associates degree in the liberal arts.

She soon found herself employed at the Immigrant Connection at The Bridge Church where she earned accreditation to become an immigration lawyer.

When the call came asking her to join the board, she was dumbfounded as to why they would want her.

At first, I was like what do you mean? she said. But after talking to Ethan (Heicher, Chancelor of the Ivy Tech Kokomo Service Area) and understanding everything that happens in a board meeting, I said yes! I will do this.

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As she prepared for her first board meeting, she talked to people within Ivy Tech to better understand the colleges mission for the next few years so that she could think about how she could help.

She brings the student perspective to the board and I think because she is employed in the community, she has a different perspective of the needs of people in the community and can bring those connections to the college, said Kelly Karickhoff, vice chancellor for development and community engagement. Between her being employed (in Logansport) and being an Ivy Tech graduate using her Ivy Tech degree to reach her career aspirations, I think being on the board gives her a unique perspective that she can share with others but I also think she is an excellent representative of the Logansport community. We are thrilled to have her on the board.

I would like to be a voice for many people in terms of what the community needs, she said. Just being able to give them that voice, especially for the newer, younger generation when it comes to how we can support them and help them as they are starting their education or a career.

She said when she was talking to high school students she was already suggesting Ivy Tech to those who may not have figured out their post-high school plans.

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My recommendation is, especially if I have someone who says I dont know, I dont feel comfortable leaving home or they just question whats next then I always refer them to Ivy Tech, said Aguilera.

Her first board meeting was mid-July and she found the other members very welcoming.

I saw that it was just this group of different people who have a passion for Ivy Tech, she said.

That first board meeting showed her how a team of eight members brainstormed ideas and how they stepped up to take on tasks that would help the college even if it meant working on their own free time.

To give back to Ivy Tech meant a lot to her. She said the college gave her a comfortable place to grow, to expand her network and to learn how to push herself to do better.

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To this day with my job, Im still learning, she said. Im still figuring out how to do more than what I am doing. Now Im working with the Immigrant Connection on a local aspect but also nationally. I feel like if Ivy Tech hadnt taught me how to do the networking and push myself to the limits I wouldnt have had that.

Registration is currently open for Ivy Techs fall semester. The last day to register is August 24. The semester begins August 25. For more information, visit ivytech.edu or call the Ivy Tech Logansport campus at 574-753-5101.

The Kokomo Service Area includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski and Tipton counties.

Immigration Connection at The Bridge can be reached at 574-735-0000.
A 14-year-old boy in the Gaza Strip was killed after being struck by an aid package dropped from the air, the local health authority said on Saturday.

The incident occurred near the Nuseirat refugee district in central Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said. The information could not be independently verified.

Following months of blocked aid deliveries, Israel has since late last month allowed limited airdrops and, to a smaller extent, land transport into Gaza.

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On Friday, Palestinian officials said six people, mostly children, were injured in Gaza City when a falling aid box hit a balcony, causing it to collapse.

The airdrops are controversial, with critics calling them inefficient and dangerous. Far more supplies could be safely delivered by truck if Israel allowed it, aid groups say.

But lorry deliveries are also considered unreliable, with many shipments looted before reaching those in greatest need, by both civilians and armed groups.

According to the Israeli military, on Saturday aircraft from Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan dropped 106 boxes of aid over Gaza.
MARION COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Marion County man who is facing 82 child sexual abuse material charges was arrested Thursday.

According to a court document, 39-year-old Adam Joshua Adkins allegedly intended around Feb. 12 to disseminate material he possessed depicting children under the age of 17 engaged in sexual conduct. Videos of the child sexual abuse material were allegedly uploaded to Google Drive.

Man accused of shooting 2 Atlanta transit police officers captured in Alabama

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Adkins was assigned a court-appointed attorney. A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for 9 a.m. Aug. 25. Adkins bond was set at $410,000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
The State Office Building in Juneau is seen on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has named Janelle Earls, the official in charge of the Alaska Department of Revenues operating budget, as the acting head of the department.

Earls will replace  at least temporarily  Adam Crum, who announced his resignation last week. Crum was scheduled to end his state service at the end of the day Friday.

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As acting commissioner, Earls will also take Crums seat on the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. Board of Trustees.

Earls declined a request for an interview on Friday and did not answer a list of emailed questions.

According to information released by the governors office, Earls has worked for the state of Alaska for more than 20 years, mostly with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, which has since been split into two separate agencies.

She joined the Department of Revenue in May 2024 and lives in Juneau with her husband, three daughters and two grandchildren, according to the announcement.

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In a brief written statement, she thanked Dunleavy for placing his trust in me to manage the department and its numerous responsibilities during this important transition period.

Earls will serve as acting commissioner until the governor picks a permanent replacement.

Dunleavy is term-limited and not eligible to run for re-election, meaning that his pick will serve only until December 2026, when the new governor picks commissioners.

That new governor may keep existing commissioners, but governors traditionally install new agency heads.

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Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy is pleased that his state will be the venue for the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: Dunleavy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Dunleavy welcomed the forthcoming meeting between Trump and Putin, which will take place "in the great state of Alaska".

He believes no other place plays a more important role in national defence, energy security and Arctic leadership than his state.

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Therefore, in Dunleavys view, "It's fitting that discussions of global importance take place here".

Quote: "Today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting."

Background: The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled to take place on 15 August in Alaska, with both sides confirming the date and location.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  An Albuquerque man is facing life behind bars if convicted for his role in a massive drug trafficking operation. Alex Anthony Martinez was convicted of conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl in federal court. The United States Department of Justice said he worked with a multi-state fentanyl trafficking network led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya.

Woman who stole a truck and led Albuquerque police on a chase is sentenced

Last year, agents searched a stash house in northeast Albuquerque where they found 150,000 fentanyl pills, $72,000 in cash, and multiple firearms.

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Seven other people have already taken a plea deal in connection with this case. Amaya is scheduled for trial in October.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Federal charges have now been filed against a man who police say rammed an ICE agents car in Oklahoma City, hoping to get away.

In an arrest warrant filed with the federal court, ICE agents were looking for an individual in the area of Northwest 10th and MacArthur on Sunday morning.

The suspect goes by two different names, Julio Giron-Ramirez and Jose Fraga-Hernandez, and that has caused some confusion.

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They say Ramirez matched the description as they watched him get into a car, but when they attempted to pull him over, things escalated.

ORIGINAL STORY: Driver allegedly rams into ICE agents car, then forces his way into a nearby home

Oklahoma City Police say a driver allegedly rammed an ICE agents car, got out, and took off into a nearby home.

The suspect had fled and forced his way into a home, and there were two victims inside the home, said Capt. Benjamin Weir, Oklahoma City Police.

The suspect eventually came out and was taken into custody.

Julio Giron-Ramirez (According to ICE), Jose Fraga-Hernandez (According to OKCPD). Image courtesy, ICE.

Police identified him as 26-year-old Julio Giron-Ramirez.

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In a statement to News 4, an ICE spokesperson confirmed Julio Giron-Ramirez was the suspect during the events on Sunday morning.

Julio Emelio Giron-Ramirez is a 26-year-old criminal alien from Guatemala who crashed his vehicle into an ICE officers car in an attempt to evade immigration officials. Giron-Ramirez showed zero regard for the condition of the federal law enforcement officers inside, but instead selfishly fled on foot.



The criminal alien was later apprehended and booked into the Oklahoma County Jail on charges of assault against a federal officer, hit and run, first degree burglary and violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act. An immigration detainer has been filed. Thankfully, no officers where hurt, but this is yet another example of violence toward our brave officers, who are facing a 1,000 % increase in assaults over this time last year because of misinformation being spread by overzealous activists. ICE Spokesperson

He was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, but under a different name.

Julio Giron-Ramirez (According to ICE) Jose Fraga-Hernandez (According to OKCPD). Image courtesy, the Oklahoma County Detention Center.

In a probable cause affidavit filed by the Oklahoma City Police, it details the events of Sunday, but they name 34-year-old Jose Fraga-Hernandez.

Hernandez is at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, facing charges from that day.

News 4 called the ICE Spokesperson to get some clarification on who allegedly rammed the car.

We think this individuals name is, as I said before, Julio Emelio Giron-Ramirez, 26, said Dexter Henson, ICE Spokesperson. Thats just the individual we have in our system.

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Henson also said he has an alias.

Hes also listed as Jose Fraga-Hernandez, said Henson. This is the same individual. Were thinking this is the same individual.

Officials with the Oklahoma County Detention Center were not available to talk on camera. However, they told News 4 that when they booked the individual, they followed what the Oklahoma City Police put into the probable cause affidavit.

However, on their end, they do see he has an alias of Julio Giron-Ramirez.

The federal arrest warrant does note that the individual was booked under Jose Fraga-Hernandez due to an as-of-yet-determined intake error.

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We tried to talk with the police, but they were also not available to talk on camera. They told News 4 that they put Jose Fraga-Hernandez because thats what the individual told police their name was.

There is still no clarification on what the individuals actual name is. ICE does not have notes as to how they got the name Julio Giron-Ramirez.

ICE says that the next steps for the individual are for the charges to be imposed by the state, then the federal charges.

As for the question of deportation, that will come after both state and federal proceedings are completed, according to ICE.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Gov. Wes Moore (D) discusses his fiscal 2026 budget proposal in January 2025. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)

Editors note: Yesterday and today, Maryland Matters is offering a preview of the newest edition of the Almanac of American Politics, the classic political reference book for political junkies.

For more than five decades, the Almanac of American Politics has set the standard for political reference books. In September, the Almanac will be publishing its 2026 edition, with more than 2,000 pages offering fully updated chapters on all 435 House members and their districts, all 100 senators, all 50 states and governors, and much more.

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Below are excerpts from the new chapters in the 2026 Almanac on the state of Maryland, written by Louis Jacobson  a senior correspondent for PolitiFact, a contributor to eight editions of the Almanac and, this year, its chief author  and Lou Peck, a co-founder of Maryland Matters and a senior author of the Almanac.

More than a year before the 2022 primary election, Democrat Wes Moore launched his campaign for Maryland governor as a political outsider who hadnt sought elected office. Early polls put him in the low single digits, but Moore presented a compelling resume  Rhodes scholar, Afghanistan War veteran, bestselling author and CEO of a large antipoverty foundation  with a charismatic personality and a stump style to match. He became only the third Black person to win a U.S. gubernatorial election since the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era, and the first in Maryland.

Westley Watende Omari Moore was born in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Takoma Park. Moore was just 3 when his father, a news anchor for a Washington radio station, died in front of him because of a misdiagnosed case of acute epiglottitis, a rare virus that causes the air passages to the lungs to shut down. Moores mother, an immigrant from Jamaica, moved him and his two sisters to live with her parents in the Bronx, New York. The neighborhood in which they resided suffered from crime and drug use; Joy Moore worked several jobs so her son could enroll at Riverdale Country School, a private school in an upscale Bronx neighborhood.

At the school, Moore was a C student and had behavior problems, prompting his mother to enroll him in Pennsylvanias Valley Forge Military Academy when he was 12; her parents mortgaged their house to help pay the tuition. At first, Moore was miserable, but his seven years at the academy put him on a successful trajectory. He became first captain in command of 800 cadets and graduated with an associate degree. He then earned his bachelors degree at Johns Hopkins University, won a Rhodes scholarship, and earned a masters in international relations from Oxford University.

The Almanac of American Politics has been going for more than five decades. (Screengrab)

Moore was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from Valley Forge and remained a U.S. Army Reservist until 2014. In 2005, he was called to active duty, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan and rising to captain.

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Moore became a White House fellow at the State Department, then spent five years in New York as an investment banker with Citibank. During this period, he wrote and published a book entitled The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, which told his own story and that of a man with the same name and similar age from Baltimore who is serving a life sentence for killing a police officer.

The future governor also started his own production company to generate programming for several TV networks, including the Oprah Winfrey Network, on which he hosted a show. Winfrey, a former local TV news anchor in Baltimore, helped to push The Other Wes Moore onto bestseller lists in 2010 and, more than a decade later, delivered an influential endorsement of Moore in the gubernatorial primarys closing weeks.

From 2017 to 2021, Moore served as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, a charitable organization addressing poverty in New York City. He also appeared frequently as a commentator on cable news. He announced his candidacy for Maryland governor after rejecting entreaties to run for Congress or Baltimore mayor when openings arose. Early polling in the gubernatorial race showed two initial frontrunners: four-term state Comptroller Peter Franchot and former Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker, who had run for governor four years earlier, largely because of name identification.

Leveraging his extensive and varied background, Moore scored a major political breakthrough in early 2022, when the first campaign disclosure reports were filed. He reported an eye-popping haul of $4.8 million, far outdistancing two former members of President Barack Obamas Cabinet: ex-Labor Secretary Tom Perez, also a former Democratic National Committee chair,with $2.7 million, and former Education Secretary John King, with $2.5 million.

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This helped Moore secure a March 2022 endorsement from Bakers successor as Prince Georges executive, Angela Alsobrooks. (Moore returned the favor a year and a half later, helping get Alsobrooks elected as Marylands first Black U.S. senator.) Alsobrooks backing in the primary was crucial in majority-Black Prince Georges County, the states second most populous county. Moore added momentum with endorsements from establishment figures in the state Democratic Party, including then-U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and key legislative leaders.

Baker dropped out before the July primary, citing a lack of money, and King, the third Black candidate in the primary, struggled, finishing sixth in the 10-candidate field. Ultimately, Moore edged out the heavily union-backed Perez, 32%-30%, or about 15,000 votes. Franchot finished third with 21 percent.

It was the third straight gubernatorial election in which Democrats had put forward a Black nominee in Maryland  a state one-third Black  but Moore was the first one to succeed. Moore downplayed the precedent-setting prospect of his election, choosing instead to emphasize a series of lofty policy goals. Were not running to make history, he said repeatedly. We have a unique opportunity to make child poverty history. We have a unique opportunity to make the racial wealth gap history.

As Democrats united around Moore, the Trump-backed candidate, hard-right delegate Dan Cox, won the Republican primary, defeating Kelly Schulz, a candidate endorsed by term-limited Gov. Larry Hogan as more electable, 52%-43%. After the primary, Hogan publicly dismissed Cox as a QAnon whack job and refused to support him. On Election Day, Moore overwhelmed Cox, 64.5%-32%  the biggest landslide in a Maryland gubernatorial election in more than three decades.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) faced a $3 billion deficit in the fiscal 2026 budget, which he proposed solving with new taxes and twice as many budget cuts. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Beginning in the campaign and stretching afterward, Moore faced charges hed embellished his resume and failed to correct the record. One involved reports that Moore, on at least two occasions, had not recanted statements during television appearances that he had received the Armys Bronze Star, for meritorious service in combat zones, His commanding officer had approved the medal but, partly because of paperwork glitches, he had never received it. During his governorship, in August 2024, the New York Times uncovered evidence that Moore had claimed to have received the Bronze Star while applying for a White House fellowship in 2006.

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Moore told the Times he had made an honest mistake by including something because my commanding officer thought it was a good idea. Moore finally received the award in December 2024 at a private ceremony at the governors mansion.

In office, Moore pursued several progressive initiatives. He signed one executive order issuing pardons for more than 175,000 marijuana convictions, and another declaring the state a sanctuary for individuals seeking, receiving or providing gender-affirming care without being prosecuted under another states laws. Inspired by his military background, Moore won legislative approval of an increased tax break for veterans, albeit in watered-down form. Another priority for Moore, a Service Year Option for recent high school graduates, won enactment, but at a level well below what he had proposed as a candidate  200 slots in the first year, rising to 2,000 in 2026.

On the economy, Moore was cautious about using tax increases to close deficits. Slower economic growth in Maryland had left Moore with a nearly $3 billion budget deficit for fiscal 2026, with projections for a $6.2 billion hole by fiscal 2030. This posed obstacles both for the states existing commitments and Moores expansive agenda, which include moving to 100% carbon emissions-free energy over the next decade. In the 2024 legislative session, Moore aligned himself with Senate Democrats to oppose several aggressive tax increases pushed by House Democrats.

In March 2024, Moore entered the national spotlight when a huge cargo ship rammed into and toppled Baltimores Francis Scott Key Bridge. Moore grappled with the economic and human recovery, including the idling of 15,000 port workers for nearly three months.

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This is not a Baltimore catastrophe, not a Maryland catastrophe. This is a national economic catastrophe, Moore said. He lobbied more than 150 members of Congress for recovery funding. After lobbying from Marylands congressional delegation, Congress included full federal funding for a new Key Bridge, at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion. Those costs are currently pegged at $2 billion, but are subject to change.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburns Fish Fry on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette)

Moore has sought to diversify Marylands economy into such sectors as artificial intelligence and offshore wind. He aimed to move away from relying on the federal government, which accounts for about 6% of the jobs in Maryland, plus another 10% when federal contractors are counted. Donald Trumps election in 2024 threatened to reduce those numbers, and also scuttle the FBIs 2023 announced move to Maryland  with FBI leadership announcing in July that it was abandoning a Maryland site for new headquarters in downtown Washington.

Heading toward fiscal 2026, Moore proposed to close two-thirds of the $3 billion budget gap he was facing with spending cuts, with the rest coming from tax and fee increases. His plan targeted the 18% of Marylanders earning more than $500,000 annually, while proposing to give two-thirds of taxpayers some relief. His positioning on tax policy spoke to political concerns: Republican Larry Hogan, who preceded Moore, won two terms in a blue state by capitalizing on voter fatigue over tax hikes instituted by Gov. Martin OMalley, Hogans Democratic predecessor. Hogan, despite a loss to Alsobrooks in the 2024 Senate race, has worked to remain visible politically and speculation arose that he could vie for his old job by challenging Moore in 2026.

Moore, who is in his mid-40s, attracted chatter as a future presidential contender. Hes been coy, vowing during the 2022 gubernatorial race to serve all eight years hed be allowed in Annapolis. Nevertheless, his frequent out-of-state travels, including as a surrogate for Joe Biden and later Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign, fueled speculation about a 2028 presidential bid, which would come during a potential second gubernatorial term.

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This afternoon, the Back to School Expo at Altamonte Mall provided families with information on education, health and family-focused organizations ahead of the upcoming school year.

Hosted by 9 Family Connection and its partners, this event offers families a chance to access important information and resources as they get ready for the new school year. It aligns with Floridas tax-free school shopping weekend, enabling attendees to save on school supplies.

Hosted by 9 Family Connection and its partners, this event offers families a chance to access important information and resources as they get ready for the new school year.

Eyewitness News will start special coverage on kids going back to school, beginning Monday at 4:30 a.m., including topics like school supplies, safety tips, classroom updates and bus stop weather conditions. This is the first time the station has partnered with the Back to School Expo, marking a unique opportunity to engage with parents and families before the school year begins.

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9 Family Connection and partners are welcoming families and running Register to Win activities, adding an engaging element to the event. Attendees say The Back to School Expo offers a valuable chance for families to get ready for the school year with helpful information and resources, while also enjoying tax-free shopping.

The event will run until 4 p.m. today at Altamonte Mall.

Hosted by 9 Family Connection and its partners, this event offers families a chance to access important information and resources as they get ready for the new school year.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah has one of the most confusing state demonyms, according to an analysis of online search questions about what to call residents of various states.

Americans used Google search to ask what to call people from Utah more than any other state but Massachusetts during a 12-month period, according to a new analysis from promotional online store Pens.com.

The report relies on Google Keyword Planner data from June of 2023 to May of 2024, involving various formulations of the question: What are people from (state) called? Utah averaged 2,051 searches per month, behind Massachusetts 2,073 and Connecticuts 1,772.

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It may not seem important, but a Pens.com spokesperson said confusion about demonyms could invalidate official documents, and its also a source of local pride.

Thats the case in Utah, where state lawmakers settled debate over what we call ourselves by adopting Utahn as the states official demonym.

While it might seem trivial, I think how were known and how people see Utahns is important, said state Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, the sponsor of the bill. We want to make sure they spell it correctly.

Most Utahns and local news outlets, KSL.com included, have long referred to residents that way, but many out-of-staters and national publications like the New York Times often spell Utahan with an extra a.

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Ninety percent of Utahns surveyed by Y2 Analytics said they prefer the Utahn spelling and nearly half said Utahan is not acceptable. Local news outlets used Utahn more than 99% of the time, according to Brigham Young University political scientist Quin Monson, who notes that most spellings of Utahan in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune are in letters to the editor and when used by a snarky columnist to poke fun at some outsiders incorrect spelling.

Thats not the case in the national press, according to Monson, where the New York Times spells it correctly only 37% of the time and USA Today half the time. When presenting his bill in February, McCay shared a screenshot of a New York Times Crossword puzzle clue from 2023. The hint read, Deseret News reader, typically, and McCay confessed to being stumped by the six-letter word before realizing the answer was Utahan.

The Boston Globe is a relative outlier among the out-of-state press  it spells Utahn correctly nearly 85% of the time  and that may have something to do with residents of Massachusetts also frequently being mislabeled.

Although the U.S. Government Publishing Office lists the states demonym of choice as Massachusettsan, the states official demonym is Bay Stater, with the former rarely uttered in New England, according to Boston.com.

Its too early to see if Utahs new law will lead to fewer questions from Americans going forward, but now there is an official answer for curious internet users.
After a prolonged series of delays and missed deadlines, Amtrak has officially set a start date for its fleet of next-generation Acela trainsets, known as Avelia Liberty trains. These new trains will run on Amtrak's high-speed service along the Northeast Corridor between Washington D.C. and Boston.

When does Amtrak's Acela Avelia service begin?

According to a message sent to Amtrak Guest Rewards members shared by Rail Magazine, the long-awaited new trains will begin service on August 28, 2025. That's just three weeks from now. According to an Amtrak press release, five new trainsets will begin initial service, with all 28 rolling out by 2027. The exact trips that will be serviced by the new trainsets have yet to be revealed.

Amtrak has announced the launch date for Acela Avelia service as Thursday, August 28th. More details to come on exactly which trips will be serviced by the new trainsets pic.twitter.com/fkwh9gvboQ  RAIL Magazine (@RAILMag) August 7, 2025

What do Amtrak's Acela Avelia trains look like, and what sets them apart from the current fleet?

According to Amtrak, Acela Avelia trainsets will have 27% more seats than current Acela trains, expanding capacity on the nation's busiest rail corridor. New technology will also allow them to travel at speeds of up to 160 miles per hour and require less braking around curves. The current Acela trains, which went into service in 2000, reach up to 150 miles per hour, although only for a short section of the route.

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The new trains will also allow for expanded weekday and weekend schedules, with Amtrak still putting the finishing touches on schedule changes in preparation for the entry of the NextGen Acela trainsets into the fleet.

Amtrak Acela Avelia Cars Amtrak

Other amenities include include "new touchless features and state-of-the-art technology to provide contactless amenities, including spacious restrooms with contactless features and automatic door access, a contactless storage option for luggage and comfortable seating with personal outlets and USB ports for individual access and winged headrests to serve as a barrier between you and your neighbor," according to Amtrak's website. "Additionally, the Cafe Car will offer convenient self-service options and an advanced seat reservation system will allow customers the ability to reserve seats prior to departure."

Amtrak Acela Avelia on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak

Why were Amtrak's Acela Avelia trains delayed?

The Acela Avelia trains were originally scheduled to begin service in 2021, but faced a series of delays in both the manufacturing and testing phases. The trains are manufactured by French rolling stock builder Alstom, but have faced significant quality and safety issues. These include windows that have shattered spontaneously, a hydraulic tilting system that's leaked, and corrosion on components that hold the cars together. A 2023 audit document from Amtrak Office of Inspector General placed blame for these issues on Alstom. Together, they caused years of delays as safety testing dragged on.

Related: Portion of World-Famous National Park Skyline Collapses in Rockfall

Recently, Amtrak's frequent testing of the new trains and change in tone surrounding the program have suggested that a public launch was imminent.

Amtrak Announces Start Date for Next Generation Acela Service After Prolonged Delays first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
By Riham Alkousaa and Matthias Williams

BERLIN (Reuters) -The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel's plans to expand military control over the enclave have pushed Germany to curb arms exports to Israel, a historically fraught step for Berlin driven by a growing public outcry.

Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, hitherto a staunchly pro-Israel leader, made the announcement on Friday arguing that Israel's actions would not achieve its stated war goals of eliminating Hamas militants or bringing Israeli hostages home.

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It is a bold move for a leader who after winning elections in February said he would invite Benjamin Netanyahu to Germany in defiance of an arrest warrant against the Israeli prime minister issued by the International Criminal Court.

The shift reflects how Germany's come-what-may support for Israel, rooted in its historical guilt over the Nazi Holocaust, is being tested like never before as the high Palestinian civilian death toll in Gaza, massive war destruction and images of starving children are chipping away at decades of policy.

"It is remarkable as it is the first concrete measure of this German government. But I would not see it as a U-turn, rather a 'warning shot'," said Muriel Asseburg, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

It caps months of the German government sharpening its tone over Israel's escalating military campaign in the small, densely populated Palestinian enclave, though still shying away from tougher steps that other European countries and some voices in Merz's ruling coalition were calling for.

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The suspension of arms deliveries to Israel would affect just those that could be used in Gaza.

The move reflects a hardening mood in Germany, where public opinion has grown critical of Israel and more demanding that its government help ease a humanitarian disaster - most of the 2.2 million population is homeless and Gaza is a sea of rubble.

According to an ARD-DeutschlandTREND survey released on Thursday, a day before Merz's announcement, 66% of Germans want their government to put more pressure on Israel to change its behaviour.

That is higher than April 2024, when some 57% of Germans believed their government should criticise Israel more strongly than before for its actions in Gaza, a Forsa poll showed.

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Despite Germany helping air drop aid to Gaza, 47% of Germans think their government is doing too little for Palestinians there, against 39% who disagree with this, the ARD-DeutschlandTREND this week showed.

Most strikingly perhaps, only 31% of Germans feel they have a bigger responsibility for Israel due to their history - a core tenet of German foreign policy - while 62% do not.

Germany's political establishment has cited its approach, known as the "Staatsraison", as a special responsibility for Israel after the Nazi Holocaust, which was laid out in 2008 by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Israeli parliament.

Reflecting that stance days before his most recent trip to Israel in July, Merz's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Die Zeit newspaper that Berlin could not be a "neutral mediator".

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"Because we are partisan. We stand with Israel," he said, echoing similar statements by other conservative figures in Merz's party.

But Merz's junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), had already been more explicit in wanting to put sanctions against Israel on the table.

Adis Ahmetovic, an SPD foreign policy spokesperson, said suspending weapons shipments was only the first step.

"More must follow, such as a full or partial suspension of the (European Union) Association Agreement or the medical evacuation of seriously injured children, in particular," Ahmetovic told Stern magazine. "Furthermore, sanctions against Israeli ministers must no longer be taboo."

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MEDIA DIVISION

The deepening divide within Germany has also played out in its media landscape.

In two major editorials published in late July, Der Spiegel magazine accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law and condemned what it said was the German government's complicity. The front cover displayed a picture of Gaza women holding out empty bowls with the headline: "A Crime".

Meanwhile Bild, the mass-market daily owned by Axel Springer, Germany's largest media group, decried the lack of outrage toward Islamist Hamas whose cross-border assault on Israeli communities triggered the war, pointing to what it saw as growing anti-Israel sentiment and one-sided protests.

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Filipp Piatov, a Bild reporter whose X account is followed by Merz, accused the chancellor on Friday of doing exactly what he had criticised others for, "that Germany is cutting off support to its ally in the middle of a war."

Israel denies having a policy of starvation in Gaza, and says Hamas, which killed some 1,200 people in its October 7, 2023 attack and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, could end the crisis by surrendering.

Israel's ground and air war in Gaza has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Critics had argued that Germany's approach has been overly hesitant, weakening the West's collective ability to apply meaningful pressure for an end to the fighting and restrictions on humanitarian aid to the Israeli-besieged enclave.

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Germany had hitherto even been cautious about a modest sanction such as supporting the partial suspension of Israel's access to the EU's flagship research funding programme.

There are other reasons for Germany's reluctance to criticise Israel beyond its Nazi past, analysts say, including its strong trading relationship with Israel and the United States.

Germany is Israel's second biggest weapons supplier after the U.S., but also buys arms from Israel as part of a massive revamp of its armed forces since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That includes the Arrow-3 missile interception system.

Last week, Israeli defence company Elbit Systems announced a $260 million deal with Airbus to equip the German Air Forces A400M planes with directed infrared defence systems.

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"German arrogance should be avoided," Volker Beck, a former member of parliament and the head of the German-Israeli Society, told Reuters.

"If Israel were to retaliate by restricting arms deliveries to Germany, the future of German air security would look grim."

($1 = 0.8590 euros)

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa and Matthias Williams; additional reporting by Lili Bayer in Brussels; editing by Mark Heinrich)
The human genome is made up of 23 pairs of chromosomes, the biological blueprints that make humans  well, human. But it turns out that some of our DNA  about 8%  are the remnants of ancient viruses that embedded themselves into our genetic code over the course of human evolution.

These ancient viruses lie in sections of our DNA called transposable elements, or TEs, also known as jumping genes due to their ability to copy and paste themselves throughout the genome. TEs, which account for nearly half of our genetic material, were once waved off as junk DNA, sequences that appear to have no biological function. Now, a new study offers support for the hypothesis that these ancient viral remnants play a key role in the early stages of human development and may have been implicated in our evolution.

By sequencing TEs, an international team of researchers identified hidden patterns that could be crucial for gene regulation, the process of turning genes on and off. The findings were published July 18 in the journal Science Advances.

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Our genome was sequenced long ago, but the function of many of its parts remain unknown, study coauthor Dr. Fumitaka Inoue, an associate professor in functional genomics at Kyoto University in Japan, said in a statement. Transposable elements are thought to play important roles in genome evolution, and their significance is expected to become clearer as research continues to advance.

There are many benefits to studying how TEs activate gene expression. It could help scientists understand the role that the sequences play in human evolution, reveal possible links between TEs and human diseases, or teach researchers how to target functional TEs in gene therapy, said lead researcher Dr. Xun Chen, a computational biologist and principal investigator at Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

With more research, we hope to uncover how TEs, particularly ERVs (endogenous retroviruses, or ancient viral DNA), make us human, Chen added in an email.

Embedded ancient viral DNA

When our primate ancestors were infected with viruses, sequences of viral genetic information would replicate and insert themselves in various locations in the hosts chromosomes.

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Ancient viruses are effective in invading our ancestral genomes, and their remnants become a big part of our genome. Our genome has developed numerous mechanisms to control these ancient viruses, and to eliminate their potential detrimental effects, said Dr. Lin He, a molecular biologist and the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Distinguished Chair professor in stem cell research at the University of California, Berkeley, in an email.

For the most part, these ancient viruses are inactive and are not a cause of concern, but in recent years, research has shown that some of the transposable elements may play important roles in human diseases. A July 2024 study explored the possibility of silencing certain TEs to make cancer treatment more effective.

Over the course of evolution, some viruses are degenerated or eliminated, some are largely repressed in expression in normal development and physiology, and some are domesticated to serve the human genome, said He, who was not involved with the new study. While perceived as solely harmful, some ancient viruses can become part of us, providing raw materials for genome innovation.

But because of their repetitive nature, transposable elements are notoriously difficult to study and organize. While TE sequences are categorized into families and subfamilies based on their function and similarity, many have been poorly documented and classified, which could significantly impact their evolutionary and functional analyses, Chen said.

Ancient viral impact on human development and evolution

New research suggests that ancient viruses could have contributed to the evolutionary process that resulted in humans, chimpanzees and macaques. - Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty Images

The new study focused on a group of TE sequences called MER11 found within primate genomes. By using a new classification system as well as testing the DNAs gene activity, researchers identified four previously undiscovered subfamilies.

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The most recently integrated sequence, named MER11_G4, was found to have a strong ability to activate gene expression in human stem cells and early-stage neural cells. The finding indicates that this TE subfamily plays a role in early human development and can dramatically influence how genes respond to developmental signals or environmental cues, according to a statement from Kyoto University.

The research also suggests that viral TEs had a part in shaping human evolution. By tracing the way the DNA has changed over time, the researchers found that the subfamily had evolved differently within the genomes of different animals, contributing to the biological evolution that resulted in humans, chimpanzees and macaques.

To understand the evolution of our genome is one way to understand what makes humans unique, said He. It will empower us with tools to understand human biology, human genetic diseases, and human evolution.

Exactly how these TEs were implicated in the evolutionary process is still unclear, Chen said. It is also possible that other TEs that have yet to be identified played distinct roles in the evolutionary process of primates, he added.

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The study offers new insights and potential leverage points for understanding the role of TEs in shaping the evolution of our genomes, said Dr. Steve Hoffmann, a computational biologist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Jena, Germany, who was not involved with the study. The research also underscores how much more there is to learn from a type of DNA once slandered as a molecular freeloader, he added in an email.

Hoffmann was the lead researcher of a scientific paper that first documented the nearly complete genome map of the Greenland shark, the longest-living vertebrate in the world that can survive until about 400 years old. The sharks genome was made up of more than 70% jumping genes, while the human genome is composed of less than 50%. While primate genomes are different from those of a shark, the study provides further evidence for the potential impact of TEs on genome regulation and is a message with relevance for all genome researchers, Hoffmann said.

By investigating how genomes have evolved, researchers can determine which DNA sequences have remained the same, which have been lost in time and which have emerged most recently.

Taking these sequences into account is often critical to understanding, e.g., why humans develop diseases that certain animals dont, Hoffmann said. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of genome regulation can aid in the discovery of novel therapies and interventions.

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Taylor Nicioli is a freelance journalist based in New York.

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TOCCOA, GA (WSPA)  The Stephens County Sheriffs Office have arrested a man from Anderson County after stealing a motorcycle in Toccoa Georgia.

On Monday July 28, deputies responded to a call regarding stolen property from a business on Big A Road. Upon arrival, deputies confirmed that a customers motorcycle and trailer were stolen the previous day on Sunday July 27.

Deputies said they obtained camera footage from the business, which showed a truck with a South Carolina tag entering the parking lot and leaving with the motorcycle and trailer attached. Deputies confirmed that the tag on the truck was not registered to that vehicle.

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The sheriffs office identified the suspect as 30-year-old Cody Maxwell Stovall of Anderson. Warrants were then issued for Stovalls arrest.

On Wednesday August 6, the Anderson County Sheriffs Office conducted a traffic stop, where Stovall was arrested and taken into custody.

Deputies said the stolen trailer was recovered during the traffic stop and returned to its owner.

On Friday August 8, Stovall was transported to the Stephens County Jail with a $20,000 bond.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been ridiculed after a provocative tweet aimed at New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is the frontrunner in the mayoral race after beating Cuomo and others in the Democratic primary in June. Cuomo conceded to Mamdani, but is now running as an independent. The competitive field also includes the current mayor, Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent.

Cuomo took to X Friday night to remind people of his famous New York family.

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In case you forgot, Im Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea. Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani. This is a two man race. You look tired already. Its just the second round, he wrote.

Cuomos father served as New York governor from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. Mario Cuomos father, Andrea Cuomo, opened a grocery store in Queens after emigrating from Sicily.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has already been defeated once by Zohran Mamdani (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The former governors post was met with some harsh mockery.

Mehdi Hasan, former MSNBC anchor and CEO of the media company Zeteo News, mimmicked the gist of Cuomos tweet, writing, In case you forgot, Im a nepo baby!

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Film producer Franklin Leonard corrected Cuomo, Technically, this is a rematch. You got knocked out in the first fight.

Mamdani won the Democratic primary with 43.8 percent of the vote in what was seen as a shock victory, while Cuomo trailed with 36.1 percent.

Journalist Keith Olbermann, who previously worked for MSNBC, commented on Cuomos post: You'll need to provide a paternity test because you sure as hell aren't acting as smart as either of them.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Cuomo and Mamdani for comment.

There are just a few months left until the mayoral election in November, and a recent poll showed Mamdani leading his opponents by 50 percent among likely voters.

Cuomo conceded to Mamdani after he lost the Democratic primary to him, but he is now running as an independent (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The poll conducted by Public Progress Solutions and Zenith Research last month saw Mandani with 50 percent of the vote and Cuomo with 22 percent in a five-way race. Adams trailed in fourth place with 7 percent of the vote.

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The New York Times recently reported President Donald Trump took a call with his old foe, Cuomo, as he considers intervening in the competitive race.

Trump had previously threatened to arrest Mamdani if he won the election and then followed through on his promise to defy Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in New York City.

In response to the NYTs reporting, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi told The Independent, The Governor and the President have not spoken in some time. As far as I know, they have not discussed the race.

President Donald Trump took a call with his old foe, Cuomo, as he considers intervening in the competitive race, according to a recent report (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Azzopardi suggested Trump would be more interested in Mamdani or the other candidates in the race.

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Regarding his reported interest, it seems clear that President Trump would either prefer Mr. Mamdani, whom he refers to as a 'commie, because he believes Mamdani would serve as a political boon to Republicans nationwide in the midterms, symbolizing what he sees as the Democratic Partys extremism, he told The Independent.

Alternatively, he may favor Eric Adams, who is a wholly owned subsidiary of the President. And there is already a Republican in the race [Curtis Sliwa], who is the nominee of President Trumps party.

Mamdani also responded to the reporting with a blistering attack on the Trump administration.

Whatever Donald Trump seeks to do to influence the outcome of this election, I have more faith in New Yorkers themselves, who have shownthat they do not want to support our current presidents vision of a New York City that is ripping immigrants from their homes, that is detaining New Yorkers on the basis of political expression.

What they want is someone who can stand up to an authoritarian administration, Mamdani added.
The Brief

Philadelphia police have identified a suspect in a mass shooting that left three people dead and nine others injured in Grays Ferry last month.

Police have issued an active arrest warrant for 24-year-old Christopher Battle in connection with the deadly shooting.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip by calling 215-686-TIPS.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are asking for the public's help in finding a 24-year-old they say is sought in connection with a deadly mass shooting that occurred in Grays Ferry.

What we know

On Friday, police released the below image of Christopher Battle, 24, who they say has an active arrest warrant for the murders that occurred during the mass shooting.

Christopher Battle, 24 | The Philadelphia Police Department

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip by calling 215-686-TIPS.

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A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The information regarding Battle, comes just one day after police announced the arrest of Terrell Frazier, 22, in the incident.

Frazier, who was arrested in West Philadelphia, will be charged with three counts of murder and related offenses.

Police believe Frazier was one of the people seen in the doorbell camera footage of the incident firing from the far side of the street.

The backstory

On Monday, July 7, at around 12:57 a.m., Philly officers responded to a radio call reporting a person with a gun on the 1500 block of S. Etting Street.

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Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Unfortunately, three people were pronounced dead shortly after the incident.

Zahir Wylie, 23, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 1:30 a.m.

Jason Reese, 19, sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at 1:31 a.m.

Azir Harris, 24, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the back and was pronounced dead at 2:16 a.m.

A GoFundMe was set-up to help the Harris family with Azirs funeral, which happened last month, along with their living expenses.

Nine additional victims sustained various gunshot wounds.

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A 21-year-old male was shot in the buttocks and ankle.

A 17-year-old male and a 24-year-old male were each shot in the left arm.

Another 19-year-old male also suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm.

A 23-year-old female sustained wounds to her left elbow, left thigh, and right calf.

A 15-year-old female and an 18-year-old male were also shot, though their specific injuries are currently unknown.

Another 17-year-old male, suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm.

A 19-year-old male sustained two gunshot wounds to the head. He was initially taken to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia before being transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he remains in critical condition.

Dig deeper

Investigators say they are still working to identify and locate a number of suspects after they say a total of 13 guns were fired at the scene that night. More than 140 pieces of ballistic evidence were recovered at the scene.

Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore says police now believe the shooting was a case of contagious gunfire and stemmed from one person discharging a firearm at random - perhaps firing into the sky. He says police have no idea what the suspects firing the 12 other guns were firing at, and that they did not appear to be firing at anyone or anything in particular.

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"There was no opposing party. Theyre shooting among themselves really recklessly and carelessly, and it caused all this damage in this case," Vanore said. "Its something were working towards getting to the bottom of in identifying every single person that was either out there carrying a gun illegally or firing that gun as part of this case.

During Thursdays press conference, Vanore revealed that there was a social media-related gathering on the same block of Etting Street on Saturday July 5. Police were called to disperse a crowd of 100 to 200 people.

This is an ongoing investigation.

The Source

The information in this story is from Philadelphia police.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  There are new concerns over a Downtown apartment complex that provides transitional housing for children in foster care.

WREG reported last year on the partnership between the Church of God in Christ and the Tennessee Department of Children Services, after residents said the teens in the building were unsupervised and disruptive.

Friday, a tenant at Vance Flats said the living conditions at the apartment complex are not any better, and there should be better accommodations for foster children in DCS custody.

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Last year the police were called out every day because the children would like, you know be fighting each other, trying to fight them, attempting to run away or have run away, just being unruly and not following directions, said the resident, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Foster kids in housing units downtown out of control, neighbors say

He says things shifted in 2023, when the Church of God in Christ partnered with the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services, to provide transitional housing at the complex for foster children.

The decision was made after it was revealed that children in DCS custody were sleeping on the floors of state offices. But the resident says the situation at the apartment building has not improved.

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If I were to have children in a home like this  five, six, seven, sometimes more children in a one-bedroom apartment where children are sleeping in the closet  the state would come and get those children from me and put them in the state care, but theyre doing the exact same thing, the resident said.

The tenant also says that the children and teens who live at the apartment complex are unsupervised, which he says has resulted in drug use and other broken rules.

He tells Your News Leader that this week, one of his neighbors called the police after she was allegedly attacked by a child in DCS custody.

In 2024, WREG received similar reports and spoke to Memphis Police, who at that time, said they had responded to dozens of calls for drugs, runaways or simple assaults.

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The anonymous tenant at Vance Flats says hes contacted the state, property manager and Church of God in Christ about the ongoing issues; however, he says nothings being done about it.

Were not even talking about the trash accumulation, how filthy it is on the side of the property. Its just altogether just a big mess and this is, I think the intention to have the transitional homes, I think it was a good intention, but its not working, he said.

Fraternity helps Memphis woman pay utility bill

The resident tells WREG he does not want to move; however, if there arent any significant changes, he says he wont have any other choice.

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Hes hosting a town hall on Sunday and is calling on leaders to remove the DCS children from the property. He also wants to meet with the property manager, DCS and Church of God in Christ.

WREG reached out to DCS and Vance Flats for comment and were waiting for their response. We also contacted Church of God in Christ, who says they are looking into the matter.

When we receive those responses, we will update this story on air and on WREG.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 WREG.com.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A teenage boy died after a shooting that happened at an apartment complex in east Austin Friday night, Austin Police Department Corporal Jose Mendez said during a media briefing.

Just after 7 p.m. this evening, we had a young male murdered right here in our city, he said. Right now, theres a family grieving because theyre just receiving the worst news they could possibly receive. Our hearts go out to the victims family, friends and all those that are affected by this.

MAP: Where have Austins homicides occurred in 2025?

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Officers responded to the 2600 block of Rosewood Avenue, which is the Booker T. Washington apartment complex, in reference to a shoot/stab hotshot call, Mendez said.

He said said several callers called 911 saying they heard several gunshots in the apartment complex. When officers arrived, they found a male with obvious trauma to his body inside an apartment. Police described the victim as a Black male in his teens.

In addition to APD officers, EMS and the Austin Fire Department also responded to the scene to provide life-saving measures. However, the teen was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m., Mendez said.

After police began conducting an investigation and speaking with witnesses, Mendez said it is believed the two individuals involved may have known each other.

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Right now, we are encouraging the public, our community, to come forward with any information you might have, he said.

Mendez said the incident is an isolated incident with no danger to the public.

This is now being investigated as Austins 38th homicide of 2025, according to police.

To the people that are capable of committing this crime here in our city, I want to remind you that in 2023, our homicide unit had a 100% clearance rate on all homicides that took place here in our city. In 2024, that number was at just around 94% with those remaining cases still being investigated today, Mendez said. The national average is just around 58%.

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Police are encouraging anyone with any information to come forward. They can do so by calling the APD homicide tip line at 512-477-3588 or Austin Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS (8477).

We are pleading with you today to come forward, lets work this together and lets bring justice to this family, Mendez said.

No one was arrested in connection with the homicide, as of 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 KXAN Austin.
James Arthur Lovell Jr., the test pilot turned astronaut who helped prevent the Apollo 13 mission from ending in disaster, died on Thursday at the age of 97.

NASA confirmed Lovells death on Friday, noting that from a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space. A naval aviator turned test pilot, his work at NASA over more than a decade helped the United States achieve major milestones. Although he would never walk on the Moon himself, Lovell would help make that achievement possible. And he would lead a successful failure in 1970, when he and two other astronauts worked tirelessly to safely return home after their rocket suffered potentially deadly damage.

As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in the announcement of Lovells death. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions.

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Born March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio, Jim Lovell grew up in Milwaukee and took to science. He had an interest in amateur rocketry even as a teenager, paving the way for his eventual career. He attended the University of Washington, studying in part under a Navy program to eventually become a pilot. He would enroll in the Naval Academy after two years of college. He graduated in 1952, and soon was serving in the Navy as an aviator on carriers. Shortly after graduating, he married Marilyn Gerlach. They would remain together for decades, until she died in 2023.

Portrait of the crew of NASAs Apollo 8, Florida, December 1968. Pictured are, from left, command module pilot James Lovell, lunar module pilot William Anders, and Commander Frank Borman. (Photo by NASA/Interim Archives/Getty Images)

In January 1958, Lovell became a test pilot. As one of those daring pilots working with cutting edge aircraft, he pushed for a role in the early American space program. He was one of more than 100 pilots who applied to NASA that year. He wasnt selected for the first crop of astronauts, the Mercury Seven, but made the cut for the New Nine who followed in 1962. After training, he took part in two Gemini missions. In 1965 he went to space for the first time as the pilot of Gemini 7. The crew set an endurance record for the number of orbits made around the Earth. A year later hed be back in space as part of Gemini 12.

In December, 1968 Lovell would take part in Apollo 8, in the first crewed launch of a Saturn V rocket.Along with Frank Borman and William Anders, Lovell would become one of the first people to ever orbit the Moon, in a test run for an eventual landing. Anders would take the famous Earthrise photo on that mission. Borman died in 2023, while Anders died in 2024. For his part, Lovell often spoke of the impact of that mission, citing its emotional resonance.

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Successful failure

The most famous and perhaps most important part of Lovells astronaut career was when a mission went wrong. Lovell would return to space again in 1970 as part of Apollo 13, this time as mission commander. Alongside command module pilot Jack Swigert and lunar module pilot Fred Haise, Lovell blasted off on April 11. Two days into the mission, an oxygen tank aboard the spacecraft exploded. Beyond the lost oxygen, the blast cost the mission much of its power source. After Swigert contacted mission control to report the incident, it was Lovell who would confirm things had gone bad: Houston, weve had a problem.

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The crew rushed to the lunar module to survive, and then began trying to figure out a way home. Three men, on a rocket thousands of miles from Earth with limited power and oxygen, had to find a solution, using just the materials they had onboard, bouncing ideas and updates off of mission control. They jury rigged life-saving tools and Lovell would have to guide the ship in a slingshot around the Moon to ensure they stayed on course for reentry.

The Apollo 13 crew onboard the USS Iwo Jima after safely returning to Earth. Photo courtesy NASA.

On April 17, 1970 they made their reentry. After several minutes of radio silence, they reestablished contact with NASA and splashed down in the Pacific. The Navy recovered them. Soon after, the entire crew would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He is, at the time of his death, one of only three astronauts to travel to the Moon twice. With Lovells passing, Haise remains the sole surviving member of the Apollo 13 crew.

Lovell would later write about the experience. His book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, served as the basis for the Oscar winning 1995 film Apollo 13. Tom Hanks played Lovell. On Instagram, Hanks paid tribute to the astronaut, writing that There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to places we would not go on our own.

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Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy, Hanks said.

Lovell left the Navy in 1973, becoming a high-level executive at several companies. He would eventually retire near Chicago with his wife. But he remained active in civic life, both in scouting and in the world of space exploration, joining other early astronauts for events. In a statement following his death, Lovells family called him their hero, saying that We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind.




NEED TO KNOW

Astronaut James Lovell Jr. died in Lake Forest, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 7

His family confirmed his death in a statement to NASA on Friday, Aug. 8

"We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible," his family said





Astronaut James Lovell Jr., known for serving as commander of the Apollo 13 mission, died Thursday, Aug. 7, in Lake Forest, Ill. He was 97.

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On Friday, Aug. 8, his family confirmed his death in a statement to NASA. The Lovell family paid tribute to the late patriarch, honoring his legacy, and his historic professional accomplishments, which included his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight.

But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero, the statement read, per NBC News. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind.

Lovell was a veteran of four spaceflights: Gemini VII, Gemini XII, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, the latter of which he was best known for and inspired the 1995 film, Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks.

Bob Levey/WireImage James A. Lovell Jr. on May 12, 2015 in Sugar Land, Texas. James A. Lovell Jr. on May 12, 2015 in Sugar Land, Texas.

The actor, who portrayed Lovell in the Ron Howard film, posted a statement on Instagram. There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own," Hanks, 69, wrote. "Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy.

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Hanks continued, His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive - and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages. On this night of a full Moon, he passes on - to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.

Bettmann/Getty James A. Lovell Jr. before the Apollo 13 mission. James A. Lovell Jr. before the Apollo 13 mission.

Lovell was born in Cleveland on March 25, 1928, and moved to Milwaukee with his mother during his adolescence. The teenage Lovell, who was already interested in space, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two years before transferring to the Naval Academy and graduating in 1952. Three hours after his graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Gerlach, who passed away in 2023, per The Washington Post.

He served as a Navy test pilot, and by September 1962, he was selected to be a NASA astronaut. He was placed in a group of trainees for the Gemini and Apollo flights. They were known as the Next Nine, and the group also included Neil Armstrong, Charles Pete Conrad and John Young.

On Dec. 4, 1965, Lovells Gemini VII went on a 14-day mission with Frank Borman. The following year, on Nov. 11, 1966, he and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin participated in the Gemini series final flight, Gemini XII.

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Two years later, he, Borman and William A. Anders were the first crew to leave Earth's orbit and travel to the Moon. Their Apollo 8 mission circled the moon after the Dec. 21, 1968, takeoff.



AP Photo Frank Borman, James A. Lovell Jr. and William A. Anders on Dec. 21, 1968. Frank Borman, James A. Lovell Jr. and William A. Anders on Dec. 21, 1968.

In 1970, Lovell embarked on his most famous mission, Apollo 13. He, John Jack Swigert and Fred Haise launched into space in April that year, intending to become NASAs third moon landing.

However, less than an hour into their mission, at the 55 hours, 55 minutes and 4 seconds-mark, one of the spacecrafts oxygen tanks exploded and another failed. As Lovell and his crew members discovered the disaster 240,000 miles from Earth, they contacted NASA based in Houston, and he uttered the enduring, famous phrase: "Houston, weve had a problem.

The following three days, NASA went on to execute a historic rescue as the astronauts faced shortages of water and electrical power, and extremely high levels of carbon dioxide. Three days later, with a total of six days in space, the Apollo 13 crew safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

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Lovell was celebrated for his leadership throughout the flight, which would later be referred as a successful failure, due to the NASA engineers and astronauts inventiveness during the turmoil.

As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a tribute statement.

HUM Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Fred W. Haise Jr., James A. Lovell Jr., President Richard M. Nixon amd John L. Swigert Jr., Fred W. Haise Jr., James A. Lovell Jr., President Richard M. Nixon amd John L. Swigert Jr.,

Lovell spent 715 hours in orbit before he retired from the agency in 1973. Three years prior, President Richard Nixon awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Then, in 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

In 1975, he was named president and chief executive of the Bay-Houston Towing Company. He later became a senior executive at telecommunications companies and owned consulting firm, Lovell Communications.

J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago/Getty William Anders, James Lovell, and Frank Borman in Chicago, Illinois on April 5, 2018. William Anders, James Lovell, and Frank Borman in Chicago, Illinois on April 5, 2018.

Due to Apollo 13 serving as his final mission, Lovell never walked on the moon. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2020, I realized that although I didnt land on the moon and was disappointed  it was a triumph in a different direction, meaning getting people back from a certain catastrophe.

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That same year, he said on the Today show, how very fortunate he felt about his life, per The New York Times: I think that Ive lived a life that  if I had a chance to live all over again, even though if I knew what the consequences would be and the chance of coming back, you know, were not unknown at the time ... I would do it.

Lovell is survived by his four children; James III, Jeffrey, Barbara and Susan; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. His wife Marilyn Lovell died in 2023.



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Credit: Apple

Apple vs Apple was one of the most epic trademark battles in history. The Beatles' record label Apple Corps sued Apple Computer (now Apple Inc) in a series of legal disputes over almost three decades until the latter finally paid $500 million to settle and acquire Apple Corps' trademarks, allowing it to use the name and logo for music distribution via iTunes.

Given that history, it's not surprising that a lot of people are commenting on the apparent irony of the situation now that Apple Inc is suing Apple Cinemas. Apple (the tech company) says the cinema chain "knowingly and intentionally using the name Apple to sow confusion". But the tech giant doesn't operate any cinemas and only started making films relatively recently. So is it all Apple and oranges?

The Apple Cinemas logo | Credit: Sand Media

Owned by Sand Media Corp Inc, Apple Cinemas was founded in 2013 and now has 14 venues. With a logo that features an apple formed by a ream of film, the chain was limited to the Northeastern US, but it's recently opened a cinema in San Francisco under 50 miles from Apples Cupertino headquarters. It now plans a major nationwide expansion, which seems to be what's sparked Apple to take action.

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The Cupertino Apple says in its complaint: "Faced with Defendants' plan to expand to 100 theaters nationwide, as well as widespread public confusion about Apple's involvement in the theaters, Apple has no alternative but to file this lawsuit to protect its brand and customers from deception," the complaint states.

The lawsuit cites cases in which people believed Apple Cinemas was owned by Apple Inc, illustrated by comments from online news reports and social media posts. It also says that the iPad-making Apple sent Sand Media a cease-and-desist letter in December 2024, but that the owner of the cinema chain continued with its expansion plans. It's now seeking an injunction and monetary damages.

Apparently, Apple Cinemas' name dates back to an aborted plan to open its first location at the Apple Valley Mall in Rhode Island. It never actually opened there, but it kept the name when it opened its first cinema in Massachusetts in 2013.

That was over five years before Cupertino's Apple founded Apple Studios and started making Apple Original Films, although Apple did previously sell the flat-panel monitor Apple Cinema Display between 1999 and 2011. It seems that Sand Media had its application to trademark the names "Apple Cinemas" and "ACX  Apple Cinematic Experience" rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office last year.

Apple vs Apple was finally resolved in 2007 | Credit: Apple, The Beatles, Apple Corps

Could Apple Cinemas really confuse people? The case is likely to bring up once more the so-called 'moron in a hurry' test, which Apple itself tried to use as a defence against Apple Corps back in 2006, when it argued that even a moron in a hurry could not be mistaken about the difference between iTunes and the Apple Corps record label.

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The court will have to consider how similar the brand's logos are in terms of look and feel, and any direct evidence customers have confused the brands.

While some people criticise Apple for bullying a smaller business, it's worth remembering that companies have to protect their brands or lose them, and Apple is one of the most valuable brands in the world. Trademark lawsuits aren't only about the money  they're often the only way that a company can test whether a legal infringement exists in order to shape the legal definition of its brand.

Grab the popcorn because the outcome of the case won't just define the fate of Apple Cinemas but also the potential scope and value of the Apple brand.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters in Phoenix on March 13, 2025. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror

Pinals County Attorney wants to prosecute a state Senator from Phoenix for posting the location of federal immigration agents online  but the state attorney general says he has no jurisdiction to do so and that theres no crime to prosecute.

I find it concerning that you express a willingness to use your office to prosecute an elected Arizona State Senator in what appears to be in excess of your constitutional and statutory authority, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a letter to Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller.

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Over the past week, partisan tensions among Arizonas politicians erupted around the legality of sharing the movements of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on social media. Democrats argued that doing so falls within their free speech rights while Republicans claimed it illegally endangers law enforcement officials. The question is of key interest to the Trump administration and supporters of its mass deportation campaign, who have fiercely criticized the social media alert strategy of immigrant advocacy groups as an attempt to foil raids and help undocumented people avoid arrest. Both Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi have threatened to prosecute the creator of ICEBlock, an app that allows users to report sightings of ICE agents.

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What happened?

On Tuesday, ICE agents pulled over and detained two men in front of Southwest School, an elementary school in Phoenix, according to a spokesperson for ICE. The brothers were in the middle of an early morning school drop-off.

Immigrant rights advocates have been closely monitoring ICE operations across the Valley, and posting about sightings on social media, particularly Instagram. Ortiz shared a post on her Instagram account from advocacy groups warning users that ICE agents had been spotted in front of the school.

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The far-right social media account, LibsOfTiktok, which has built its brand on inflammatory conservative content, accused Ortiz on X, previously Twitter, of impeding and doxxing federal officials and called for her to be charged. Just hours after that accusation went viral online, the Republican leader of the state Senate announced that he had referred the matter for investigation to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

At the same time, Miller, also a Republican, weighed in on the controversy on his own X account. He wrote that Ortizs post wasnt covered under the First Amendment right to free speech because it amounts to speech that helps another person engaged in criminal activity evade detection by law enforcement. Two days later, Miller went on a conservative radio podcast, where he volunteered to investigate Ortizs social media activity and take her to court.

If our Arizona State legislators would like an investigation into it, into this particular matter, let them know that Im free, he said. I would be happy to be a special prosecutor and investigate this particular matter if they need a legal opinion.

Arizonas top prosecutor: You dont have the authority, or the grounds to sue

In a scathing letter, Mayes, a Democrat, reminded Miller that she is the states No. 1 lawyer, and that he lacks the authority to helm a lawsuit stemming in Maricopa County.

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As the elected County Attorney for Pinal County, your jurisdiction covers your county and ends at its borders, she wrote.

During his interview with Garrett Lewis from iHeart Radio, Miller acknowledged that his office has no jurisdiction in Phoenix, but said that Petersen or Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro could add him to the case as a special prosecutor. But, Mayes pointed out in her letter, thats inaccurate: only the executive branch has the ability to appoint special prosecutors.

Miller claimed that Ortizs social media post likely violated an Arizona law that makes it a misdemeanor to transport or conceal, harbor or shield an alien from detection. But that provision, which was part of Senate Bill 1070, Arizonas notorious show me your papers law, was permanently blocked by a federal district court. It remains on the books but cant be enforced. He also said Ortiz was obstructing justice by trying to prevent ICE agents from making arrests, but no Arizona law criminalizes obstruction of justice. There is a statute outlawing the obstruction of public administration offenses, but Mayes said that requires the threat of violent physical force or the obtaining a pecuniary benefit as a result.

Mayes demanded that Miller provide explanations by Aug. 15 on why he believes he has the power to investigate crimes in Maricopa County or serve as a special prosecutor; under what legal reasoning he would prosecute Ortiz; and why he isnt violating Arizonas law forbidding lawsuits used to silence free speech. She also ordered him to share any communications between his office and the state legislature discussing the possibility of appointing him as a special prosecutor.

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The Democrat concluded by criticizing Miller for using his office to garner political points and warned him that his threats may actually amount to him breaking the law. Arizonas anti-SLAPP laws, an acronym for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, protect against lawsuits filed for intimidation purposes or to quell free speech. Mayes said that while Miller, who was elected last year, campaigned on a platform to fight extreme leftist ideologies, he should run his office in a nonpartisan manner, not target other elected officials based on political disagreements.

Now that you are the elected official you have a duty to execute your authority fairly and impartially, she wrote. Whywould it not be an anti-SLAPP violation for you to initiate the investigation of a Democratic legislator given your campaign statements and current zealous interest to deter, prevent, or retaliate against Senator Ortiz from exercising her First Amendment Rights?

Millers office did not respond to questions seeking clarification about the legal basis on which he believes a lawsuit could be filed against Ortiz. But on X, he lashed out at Mayes, reiterating his claim that the First Amendment doesnt protect aiding criminal activity and saying that its his duty as an elected official to scrutinize the bad behavior of those in power.

I cannot and will not stay silent when anyone makes the dangerous job of being a law enforcement officer more dangerous, he wrote.

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Rep. Bruce Cozart (L) and Sen. Terry Rice (R) listen to Arkansas Board of Election Commissioners Director Chris Madison discuss a new voter registration rule during a legislative committee meeting on May 2, 2024. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

A co-chair of the Legislatures Joint Performance Review Committee said the panel will hold a hearing to allow the public to speak on the proposed Franklin County prison, in response to a request for an investigation into the site selection.

However, Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, said he and his fellow co-chair Sen. Terry Rice, R-Waldron, had ruled out actually conducting an investigation.

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The plans for the still-unscheduled hearing come after more than 1,200 people signed an online petition in support of an investigation.

We do not do investigations. That would have to be the AG [Attorney General] or somebody like that, Cozart said. Well let them come in and talk as long as they stay in the parameters, dont get too far out. Well hear what theyve got to say.

The petition says the highly secretive prison project threatens to upend the lives of no less that 605 Arkansan families living near the site, and represents government overreach at the highest levels and pays no respect to either local control or the most basic levels of human respect.

JPR  Citizen Complaint  Franklin County Prison

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The request, dated July 23, asked the committee to investigate the process for selecting the Franklin County site. Opponents of the prison argue the 815-acre site near Charleston is unable to support the 3,000-bed prison envisioned by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The governor announced the prison site late last year, taking the local community, elected officials and members of the state Board of Corrections by surprise.

The lack of engagement from state officials prior to and after the site selection has frustrated locals. The nearby town of Ozark passed a resolution in February opposing the prison, noting that it would put a great and severe strain on the citys budget, as well as its infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Board of Corrections member Lee Watson last month wrote to legislators that while he was acutely aware of the states need for a new prison, hes seen no evidence that such a large facility is needed to alleviate overcrowding.

The prison divided Republicans in the Senate during this years legislative session; a group of senators blocked a $750 million appropriations bill for the prisons construction five times. The bill died on the Senate floor when the Legislature adjourned in May.

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We kept hearing that, you know, President Pro Tem [Bart Hester] didnt want to do hearings before session started, because thered be ample opportunity to investigate and ask questions and testify during session. And that didnt happen, said Adam Watson, one of the petition drafters and an outspoken critic of the prison. We were shut out of every conversation, of every vote.  Joint Budget refused to take comments before they voted.

When told by the Advocate that Cozart said the Joint Performance Review Committee would have a hearing, but wouldnt investigate, Watson expressed both frustration and gratitude.

Im still trying to walk a fine line of being appreciative for the opportunity to speak with them  I think that thats super helpful  but Im disappointed that theyre saying that theyre, for whatever reason, not able to go further than that, Watson said. He said it was a step in the right direction after not being heard at all.

He pointed out that the description of the committee on the Bureau of Legislative Researchs site explicitly says it can conduct investigations.

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I would think this is within their scope, he said.

This committee makes random and periodic performance reviews of specific governmental programs and agencies and conducts investigations into specific problem areas of the administration of state government as may be brought to the attention of the committee, the website says.

The website also says the committee serves as a forum for citizens to air their complaints and suggestions regarding the operation of state government and that it conducts hearings on citizen complaints and views regarding the operation of state government.

The petition asks the committee to investigate:

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The prison site selection process

Whether any standards, rules or best practices were ignored when selecting the site

Whether any legal or ethical guidelines were violated during the selection processes for the contractors working the project

Whether the state is or was violating state spending laws by starting work on the prison project without sufficient funding

The request criticizes Department of Corrections staff for allowing inexperienced state employees to lead the site selection process instead of relying on Vanir Construction Managements expert analysis.

As a result, critical due diligence was skipped, key infrastructure and environmental concerns were overlooked, and a deeply flawed site was chosen, according to the petition, driving up projected costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

In a March letter to the corrections department, Vanir estimated the preliminary cost of a 3,000-bed prison at $825 million, but similarly sized prisons in other states have exceeded $1 billion.

EDITORS NOTE: A previous version of this story contained an incorrect preliminary cost estimate for the proposed prison.

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WOODRUFF COUNTY, Ark.  Arkansas State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened overnight on Friday in Woodruff County.

ASP officials said Woodruff County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to an assault call at a home on County Road 639 at 11:45 p.m. on Thursday.

When they arrived, police said the suspect, who police identified as 36-year-old Thomas Dixon, fled the scene into the woods nearby. Police said the assault victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

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Two hours later, authorities said a deputy returned to the home to search for Dixon. Upon arrival, Dixon exited the home and began to walk toward the deputy. State police officials said the deputy then gave multiple commands for Dixon to get on the ground, but Dixon continued to move toward the deputy.

Authorities said the deputy then fired his service weapon at Dixon and hit him. Police added that Dixon was airlifted to a hospital where he is in critical condition.

ASP officials said Criminal Investigation Division agents will prepare a case file and present it to the Woodruff County Prosecutors Office, which will determine whether the deputys actions were consistent with state law.

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Guns are treated differently from knives when either is involved in a crime,

according to an Op-Ed in the Detroit News.

An Op-Ed from the Michigan state director for Women for Gun Rights has zeroed in on the "dangerous" double standard from the political left and the media in the aftermath of the mass stabbing incident recently at a Walmart in Traverse City.

Marcy Jankovich, operator at Michigan Combat Dynamix, LLC with her son, authored the 576-word opinion piece which appeared Aug. 6 in the Detroit News. Headlined "Walmart stabbings show flaw in 'gun control' logic," the opinion piece echoed sentiments expressed by the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the aftermath of the stabbing spree, which was stopped when an armed private citizen intervened.

Jankovich notes the different reaction to this attack and what typically follows a mass shooting.

"The media covered the initial shock. The politicians issued generic statements," Jankovich writes. "But something's missing  something that always seems to go missing when the narrative doesn't fit: no one is talking about 'knife control.' Why is that?"

"Because deep down," she notes a few lines later, "we all know the glaring truth: it's not the object that commits the violence; it's the person." 
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A memorandum of agreement signed by Arkansas State Police director Col. Tom Hagar and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Shenhan will allow state troopers to perform some immigration officer functions.

The agreement requires troopers to be trained and approved prior to undertaking ICE actions under what is called a Task Force Model.

Arkansas State Police urge online safety conversations ahead of school year

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The training may be done online or in person.

According to the memo, once a trooper completes the training and is approved they will be able to arrest without a warrant any alien entering or attempting to unlawfully enter the United States in the officers presence or view or any alien in the United States, if the officer has reason to believe the alien to be arrested is in the United States in violation of law and is likely to escape before a arrest warrant can be obtained.

Authorization of a trooper approved by ICE will be for a two-year term.

ICE records show other agencies in the state have joined the Task Force Model, including sheriffs offices in Baxter, Lafayette, Miller counties, and police departments in Hampton and Texarkana.

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Homeland Security removes age limits for ICE recruits to boost hiring for Trump deportations

This comes as a new Arkansas law went into effect Tuesday that mandates the Division of Corrections and county jail staff to participate in ICE enforcement.

Act 654 of 2025 is titled the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act. Among its terms, it requires the state Division of Corrections and county sheriffs who maintain a detention center to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Warrant Service Officer program.

The Warrant Service Officer program allows trained and certified law enforcement to serve and execute administrative warrants for immigration violations against individuals held in custody. It also mandates training and approval of officers to participate in the program.

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Ex-Superman Dean Cain says hes becoming ICE agent

Act 654 also mandates enhanced penalties for felonies by people in the country without paperwork of up to four years. It also forbids any Arkansas local government from having a sanctuary policy.

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The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration for peace and bilateral economic agreements with Washington in a ceremony hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Aug. 8.

"For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations Many tried to find a resolution and they were unsuccessful. With this accord, weve finally succeeded in making peace," Trump said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed the "peace roadmap" joint declaration alongside Trump following decades of conflict between the two nations over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, but internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory.

Azerbaijan recaptured the territory from Armenian forces in 2023, prompting the exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the region.

"Today, we have reached a significant milestone in Armenian and Azerbaijani relations. We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past. This breakthrough would simply not have been possible without President Trump's personal engagement and his resolute commitment to peace," Pashinyan said.

A transportation corridor between the two countries will be created and will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave located west of southern Armenia. The U.S. will have leasing rights for private companies to develop the new transit corridor.

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The bilateral economic agreements that the two leaders signed with Trump will promote cooperation in trade, transit, energy infrastructure, and technology with the U.S.

"The countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever; open up commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations; and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said.

Following the signing of the peace deal in Washington, Aliyev and Pashinyan are both expected to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.

"Who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize? ... we will agree to issue a joint letter," Aliyev said.

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Trump has previously expressed that his mediation efforts in various conflicts deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.

The U.S. leader previously announced that he would host the two leaders for a "Historic Peace Summit" and formally settle the conflict.

Read also: Breaking: Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 for peace talks

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YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  Residents and politicians in Armenia and Azerbaijan responded Saturday with cautious hope  and skepticism in some cases  after their leaders signed a U.S.-brokered agreement at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostilities.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stood between the leaders as they shook hands  a gesture Trump reinforced by clasping their hands together.

While two leaders stopped short of signing a formal peace treaty that would officially end the decades-long conflict over Karabakh, a region internationally known as Nagorno-Karabakh, the summit represented a significant step toward peace.

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It does, however, reflect the shifting power dynamics following Azerbaijans 2023 military victory, which forced the withdrawal of Armenian forces and ethnic Armenians from the region.

Among the agreement's provisions is the creation of a new transit corridor, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, highlighting a changing geopolitical landscape amid declining Russian influence in the South Caucasus.

Karabakh has been at the heart of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict since the Soviet Unions collapse. Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, the mountainous region was controlled for decades by ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia. Two wars  in the early 1990s and again in 2020  left tens of thousands dead and displaced. In 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control of the territory in a swift offensive.

Hopeful for peace and a weaker Moscow

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Ali Karimli, head of the opposition Peoples Front of Azerbaijan Party, wrote on Facebook that the signing of the agreement has undoubtedly brought Azerbaijan and Armenia significantly closer to peace, and noted that it delivered another blow  to Russias influence in the South Caucasus, while deepening ties with the U.S.

Arif Hajili, chairman of Azerbaijani opposition party Musavat, said he believed that the most positive aspect of the initialing in Washington was the absence of Russia from the process.

He said lasting stability in the region hinges on the continual dwindling of Russian power, which depends on the outcome of the RussianUkrainian war.

Hajili also warned of lingering challenges, including Armenia's economic dependence on Russia and some 2 million Azerbaijanis living in Russia.

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Russia will continue to use these factors as levers of pressure, he said.

Hope on the streets of Azerbaijan's capital

We have been waiting for a long time for this agreement to be signed, a resident of Baku, Gunduz Aliyev, told The Associated Press. We did not trust our neighbor, Armenia. Thats why a strong state was needed to act as a guarantor. Russia couldnt do it, but the United States succeeded.

The U.S. is taking full responsibility for security. This will bring peace and stability," said another, Ali Mammadov. "Borders will open soon, and normal relations with Armenia will be established.

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Abulfat Jafarov, also in Baku, expressed gratitude to all three leaders involved.

Peace is always a good thing, he said. "We welcome every step taken towards progress.

More divided views in the Armenian capital

Some people in Yerevan were unsure of the meaning of the agreement.

I feel uncertain because much still needs clarification. There are unclear aspects, and although the prime minister of Armenia made some statements from the U.S., more details are needed, Edvard Avoyan said.

But entrepreneur Hrach Ghasumyan could see economic benefits.

If gas and oil pipelines pass through Armenia and railway routes are opened, it would be beneficial for the country, he said. Until now, all major routes have passed through Georgia, leaving Armenia sidelined and economically limited.

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Others were skeptical that peace could be achieved, and expressed discontent with the terms of the agreement.

That declaration is unlikely to bring real peace to the region, and we are well aware of Azerbaijans stance, Ruzanna Ghazaryan said. This initial agreement offers us nothing; the concessions are entirely one-sided.

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This story was first published Aug. 9 and 10, 2025. It was updated Aug. 21 to correct the characterization of the Karabakh region and to correct that Azerbaijans military offensive in 2023 regained full control of the region.
ANACONDA, Mont.  The suspect in a fatal quadruple homicide at an Anaconda, Montana bar was arrested Friday after a week-long manhunt.

Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran who has been on the loose for a week since allegedly killing four people at The Owl Bar, was taken into custody early in the afternoon about five-and-a-half miles from the crime scene. He was nabbed just west of Anaconda near a barn on private property. The property stands adjacent to The River Bar, another local watering hole.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte held a press conference outside the Deer Lodge County Courthouse, next to the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Police Department, where Brown had been booked earlier in the day.

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"Our brave men and women in law enforcement didn't waste a second," he said. "They jumped into action and began the search with the promise to not give up until they found this suspect. Today I am grateful to report that Michael Brown has been apprehended, arrested and is in custody."

Montana Fugitive's Brother Serving Life Sentence For Separate Murder Conviction In Same Town

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announces the apprehension of Michael Paul Brown, suspected of murdering four people at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana last week.

Gianforte extended prayers to the families of the four victims of the bar massacre before Attorney General Austin Knudsen spoke.

Read On The Fox News App

"This really is an unprecedented level of cooperation," Knudson said, referencing local, state and federal authorities who assisted in the arrest. "It's a good day. We got our man."

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He gave special thanks to the U.S. Marshals Service, calling them a "huge asset to us here today" and said they were "directly involved" in Brown's Friday apprehension. He revealed that 130 personnel were involved in the search, and that tips from the community also played a significant role in capturing Brown.

The Owl Bar where Michael Paul Brown allegedly shot and killed four people on Aug. 1, 2025 (left) and Brown's boarded up home (right). Photographed Aug. 8, 2025.

Montana Bar Shooting Suspect Could Return To Town, State Ag Says, Citing 'Concern For The Public'

The visibly emotional Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Attorney Morgan Smith also spoke.

"This isn't the end, this is the beginning," Smith said. "I am confident in the investigative work that has been done to this point. I'm also incredibly confident in the folks who are going to continue to do investigative work to make sure we can prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law."

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During the press conference, about 20 residents of the town, which had been on edge all week at the prospect of Brown returning and doing more harm, gathered outside the courthouse and listened to the good news.

Details about the arrest were scant, as officials cited the ongoing investigation. They also did not release information about the charges against Brown.

They did note that the unusually chilly weather and cold front that pushed rain into the area this week played a role in the apprehension, and said that after his arrest, Brown was taken to a hospital where he was medically cleared before being booked into jail.

During a question-and-answer session with the media, Knudsen cleared up the timeline on Brown's alleged shooting and escape.

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Gunman Shoots Multiple People At Montana Business, Authorities Launch Intensive Manhunt

After the 10:30 a.m. shooting, Brown took off down the street and hid in a building to initially evade capture. He then allegedly stole a white Ford F-150 and drove west towards Stumptown Road. Police identified Brown almost immediately, and gave chase, but in a stroke of luck for the alleged shooter, a nearly identical Ford truck pulled onto the highway during the pursuit, stymieing officers' efforts to take him into custody immediately.

The vehicle Brown was driving, which contained outdoor equipment and food, was recovered shortly thereafter, but he was gone.

Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 70, were killed in the attack. Kelley was a bartender, and the other three victims were patrons. All were from Anaconda.

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Throughout the week, residents expressed fear that Brown could return.

Main St. in Anaconda, Montana, leads to the Deer Lodge County Courthouse with mountains in the background. Photographed on Aug. 8, 2025.

"The town is just scared. Everybody's scared. You see everything on Facebook like that. You hear the sirens go by and your stomach just turns," Jill Rowles, a bartender at Jfk Bar just one block from The Owl Bar told Fox News Digital.

"Everybody's in shock, and, hey, everybody's on edge. With me bartending, I'm looking at those doors constantly, she said, gesturing towards the two entrances of the bar."

Rowles was a friend of Kelley, and knew Brown.

Another resident, Matt Fontenot, described a dispirited town that spent the week on edge.

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"I feel like the air has almost changed, like the attitude of the town has grown just a little bit more submissive than usual, just because people feel like they don't really have control over their lives as much right now because of this," he said.





Original article source: Army veteran arrested after week-long manhunt following deadly Montana bar massacre that killed 4 people
A man has been seriously injured in a stabbing in east Kent, police have said.

Officers were called to Northdown Road, near its junction with Ethelbert Road, in the Cliftonville district of Margate shortly after 03:00 BST.

The victim, aged in his 40s, was taken to a London hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition, said Kent Police.

A 20-year-old man from Thanet has been arrested in connection with the incident and taken into custody.

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The force said it was investigating the incident, including a forensic examination of the scene and looking at CCTV footage in the area.

The road has been closed in both directions.

Police appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Follow BBC Kent 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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The Gillette Clock Tower, one of most recognisable Art Deco structures in London, has been restored to working order after a successful restoration project.

The 150 ft (45m) structure is regarded as an important piece of the capital's industrial heritage, as part of the former American razor brand Gillette's factory in Brentford, west London.

Hounslow Council said the local landmark, which had fallen into disrepair, also played an important role during the Second World War, when it was used as a lookout point to spot enemy planes.

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Now it has been renovated over seven months by a partnership between the council and record label The Vinyl Factory, leaseholder of the Gillette Building.

The clock tops a 150ft (45m) tower that is regarded as a local landmark [Pawel Ptak @180.studios]

The restoration required skilled clockmakers to work on the rare timepiece and some components had to be specially made from scratch to ensure historical accuracy, said the council.

The Grade II listed industrial building, including the tower, was designed by architect Sir Banister Flight Fletcher and constructed between 1936 and 1937.

Lit up at night, its Art Deco and modernist design features were visible from some distance away, and it became a landmark for those driving along the Great West Road, opened in 1925 and now part of the A4.

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The area known for centuries as Syon Hill or Syon Lane came to be referred to as Gillette Corner.

The factory and corporate offices complex was Gillette's European headquarters [Pawel Ptak @180.studios]

The former factory continues to dominate Gillette Corner at the western end of the Great West Road [Pawel Ptak @180.studios]

The factory and corporate office complex was the American razor company's European headquarters from the end of the 1930s until 2006, when Gillette left the site as part of a relocation of its manufacturing to Eastern Europe.

This ended a 70-year association with the area, but the brand name persisted.

The former factory continues to dominate Gillette Corner at the western end of the Great West Road's manufacturing and office complexes  dubbed the Golden Mile and opened in 1925.

The area is now undergoing a renaissance amid Brentford's Golden Mile Centenary (GM100) celebrations.

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GM100: A Century of the Golden Mile is a described as "a bold centenary programme marking this transformation - past, present and future - through exhibitions, public art, storytelling and collaboration".

Queen Mary with Home Secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks at the opening of the Great West Road in 1925 [Hulton Archive via Getty Images]

Leader of Hounslow Council Shantanu Rajawat said the restoration of the Clock Tower is "a powerful symbol of what the Golden Mile Centenary is all about, honouring our past, celebrating our identity, and looking confidently to the future."

He added: "As one of west London's most iconic landmarks, the tower stands as a reminder of the area's rich industrial and wartime history, and a beacon of its ongoing transformation.

"Bringing the clock back to life speaks to the spirit of innovation and renewal that has defined the Golden Mile for the last 100 years and will continue to define it for the next 100."

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In March, Hounslow Council approved plans to turn the Gillette Building into a state-of-the-art film and digital production studio.

The plans include six large sound stages, offices, workshops, and a public cafe.

While key historic buildings will be preserved and refurbished, several non-listed structures will be demolished.

Despite concerns from Historic England, Sky, and Transport for London about visual impact and traffic congestion, the proposed development was accepted following design revisions and proposals for transport improvements.

The plans, which aim to make Hounslow a hub for creative enterprise, will need final approval from the Greater London Authority.

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Aspiring artists in Guernsey were urged to bring an artistic tradition back to life at a festival earlier.

The Madonnari tradition was started by a group of street artists in 16th Century Italy which travelled around drawing on pavements.

Ross Le Brun, organiser of the Guernsey Chalk Art Festival, said hundreds of people of all ages attended the event at Saumarez Park, St Peter Port on Saturday to produce their own chalk art masterpieces.

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It is the third year the free festival has been held.

Mr Le Brun explained the tradition of Madonnari painters.

"Long before graffiti-filled city walls, Madonnari originated street art, transforming pavements into stunning works of art in Renaissance Italy." he said.

"These early street painters would recreate religious murals in chalk, right on the ground - not just for love of art, but to make a living.

"Out of work between commissioned frescoes, they took to the streets, busking with chalk to earn coins from passers-by. And just like that, street art was born -bold, public and for everyone."

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A 19-year-old man died following a collision involving a car and himself on Aug. 6

The deceased was identified as Ricky Ray Reyes Jr. by Sacramento City Council Member Lisa Kaplan, who said the victim had been waiting for the bus

Police said the cars driver, who has been arrested, "displayed signs of intoxication"





A 19-year-old man, who aspired to be a national guardsman, was killed by a suspected drunken driver this week in California.

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Sacramento City Council Member Lisa Kaplan identified the victim as Ricky Ray Reyes Jr., who had been waiting for the bus on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

A precious young man lost his life just waiting for the bus. A family is devastated & no one should have to experience this, Kaplan wrote on X. Please dont drink & drive.

The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) said in a press release that officers responded to reports of the collision just after 3:15 p.m. in the area of Del Paso Road and El Centro Road. Police said responding officers found the male pedestrian down in the roadway.

Despite attempting lifesaving measures, police said the man was pronounced dead on the scene. They added, The driver of the vehicle sustained injuries and displayed signs of intoxication. The driver has been arrested and remains in the hospital.

gofundme Ricky Ray Reyes Jr. Ricky Ray Reyes Jr.

Police did not identify the man arrested. SPD said detectives from its Major Collision Investigations Unit (MCIU) and Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) responded to the scene due to the circumstances.

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Police added that they processed the scene, canvassed the area and interviewed witnesses.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact police at (916) 808-5471. They said that any tips may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

Reyes family described him in a GoFundMe, set up to raise funds for his funeral, as a person who was known for his honesty, kindness and the wholehearted way he cared for everyone around him. They said he died eight days before his 20th birthday.

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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His loved ones added that he participated in JROTC through school and dedicated some time on the weekends to visit the Army National Guard Base in Sacramento as he prepared for a future in the military. They said that he also worked at Corti Brothers, where he crafted deli sandwiches for his community.

He was  always looking for ways to build a better life for himself and his family, his loved ones said on GoFundMe. His loss has left a deep void in the lives of those who loved him, and his family is now facing the difficult task of arranging his funeral while coping with their grief.



Read the original article on People
The Southern rap star was reportedly killed after a dispute. The shooting is being investigated by authorities.

Rapper T-Hood is reportedly dead after being shot inside his Atlanta home. On Friday night, the 33-year-old musician was found by Gwinnett County police wounded from a gunshot.

According to WSB-TV, the rapper, real name Tevin Hood, was treated with first aid and rushed to a hospital, but later died of his injuries. There were reports of a dispute at Hoods home before the deadly shooting.

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T-Hoods mother, Yulanda, confirmed her son was the person shot at his residence, according to TMZ. She denied apparent reports of a party going on at home at the time of the shooting.

While not a mainstream artist, T-Hood was well known in the Southern rap scene for songs like READY 2 GO, Big Booty, and Perculator. During a 2023 interview on Off The Porch, the rapper talked about writing songs for rapper Chingyfamous for his song Right Thurrand performing with him on The Millennium Tour in Atlanta.

I damn near pissed on myself so scared bro, he said of the mainstage experience.

Despite his life ending in tragic gun violence, T-Hood had previously sent a message to young people about violence following President Donald Trumps ordering of airstrikes in Iran.

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PSA to all the YNs: Trump just dropped them bombs, boy. He finna start drafting motherfs to the Army. All yall who want to run around and goddam play Call of Duty and Grand Theft in real life. Yall want to mask up and play  all day long? Yeah, its over, he said in a June post.

One person was detained by investigators, but no official arrests have been made in T-Hoods death, reports WSB-TV. A motive for the shooting has not been determined.

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Acacia Morton-Mack received a notice to vacate her home on August 4th for non-payment of rent  despite repeated attempts to pay it. "I have proof that I made the payment on my end," Morton-Mack told WSB-TV 2 (Channel 2 Action News) in Atlanta.

With the eviction deadline looming, shes turned to her local news station for help  a worst-case scenario for any tenant, especially a parent.

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The problem isnt non-payment, its a clerical error

The problems started for Morton-Mack after her property management company, Mynd Properties, made a clerical error that disrupted her rent payments.

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She uses a third-party rental loan platform to split her rent into two monthly payments. But in May and June, after she sent her payments, they were returned because Mynd never submitted the necessary documents to her platform.

"I know I've been doing my due diligence," she told Channel 2 Action News. "Mynd never sent their ledger."

Eviction notices despite a payment plan

Morton-Mack says Mynd acknowledged the error in writing via email and committed to investigating the issue. On July 23, Mynd agreed to honor a split payment plan to help her catch up: $500 installments toward the $1,405 balance she owed.

But since then, she claims the company has gone silent  and her payments still arent being processed in Mynds system.

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"I'm doing my best to make a living, and this is extremely stressful," she told reporters.

Since May, multiple eviction notices have been taped to her door, leaving her life in limbo despite her documented payment attempts. Channel 2 Action News attempted to contact Mynd Properties through email and by visiting their Atlanta office, but received no response.

The situation highlights the vulnerabilities tenants face when dealing with third-party payment systems and property management companies, particularly when communication breaks down.

Landlords cannot legally evict a tenant without a court order in Georgia.

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Can you fight a wrongful eviction?

When facing a legal eviction warrant, tenants can file an "answer" within seven days of service (extended if the seventh day falls on a weekend or holiday).

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Answers can be filed in person at the courthouse or online. Filing an answer allows you to remain in the property during the trial process  but if ordered to pay rent into court and you fail to do so, you may be evicted before your hearing through a writ of possession.

Georgia courts generally recognize that tenants should not be penalized for administrative errors beyond their control. Because of this, Peach State residents, like Morton-Mack, could fight the eviction using a lawyer. To use this defense effectively:

Immediately document any errors upon discovery.

Maintain records, including all payment attempts, all communications regarding the error, the name of anyone you speak with, the date of that conversation, and any bank statement proving your claim.

Make good-faith efforts to continue paying, including offering payment through verifiable means.

If you've made any payments after the eviction notice is filed, this may invalidate the eviction case and require the landlord to restart the process.

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The federal government also provides some protections against wrongful eviction. If you believe the eviction is discriminatory or retaliatory, federal fair housing laws provide additional protections.

Resources for tenants facing wrongful eviction

Tenants like Morton-Mack can seek assistance through local legal aid organizations. The Atlanta Legal Aid Society offers free legal services to qualifying low-income residents facing eviction. Their Eviction Prevention Initiative (EPI) has helped distribute over $23 million in rental assistance to Atlanta-area families since 2023.

Additionally, the federal Eviction Protection Grant Program funds legal services organizations that provide assistance at no cost to low-income tenants facing eviction. According to recent data, more than 80 percent of tenant households receiving extensive legal representation were able to preserve their tenancy, prevent eviction filings, or negotiate favorable settlements.

When facing an eviction notice, experts recommend speaking with the court clerk to understand your rights, including how long you have to file an answer and whether the court offers mediation services. Some judges may delay or dismiss an eviction when presented with evidence that the tenant is actively seeking assistance and working to resolve payment issues.

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Bottom line: If your landlord refuses rent payments or a clerical error threatens your housing, act fast  document all communications, apply for rent assistance if available, file an answer in court, and connect with local legal aid to protect your rights.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Atlas Brew Works said an era in its history would come to an end as the doors close at its original location in Ivy City this year.

Founder and CEO Justin Cox explained in a letter shared through email and on Facebook that the decision to close Atlas Ivy City came after a lot of reflection and some emotional conversations. The lease for the flagship location, which is at 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, ends in the fall.

I couldnt have asked for more from this amazing community as you continued to show up and support us as we brewed our first batch of beer, opened our very first taproom doors, and for every event, concert, and plant swap weve hosted since, wrote Cox.

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Atlas Brew Works and its RAMMY nominated Beer Program of the Year

In the 12 years since the brewery opened, it expanded its DMV footprint to include locations in Navy Yard in D.C., the Carlyle area of Alexandria, Va., and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Va.

While the Ivy City brewery and taproom will go away, Cox said people will be able to visit Atlas Brew Works at the new home of its brewing operations when it opens later in 2025. That location is at Bridge District, which is located near the Frederick Douglass Bridge. Cox described it as a larger space with room to grow, experiment, and welcome even more beer fans out to experience.

National Zoo celebrates giant panda Bao Lis 4th birthday, marking first birthday in DC

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Cox said the original plan was to keep Ivy City open until December 2025. Instead, the final day for the taproom will be Saturday, Sept. 27.

And in commemoration of over a decade of great stories shared over beers, food trucks, dunk tanks, and mediocre brewer jokes, all our draft beers in Ivy City will be $5 for the entirety of our final month, September, stated Cox, who thanked everyone who helped shape Atlas Brew Works into something larger than I ever imagined,

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In May 2021, an intoxicated Oklahoma woman called an Uber to take her home from her nieces engagement party. Although the ride should have only taken 23 minutes, when she woke up hours later, she wasnt home, but seated behind the steering wheel of a strange car, with her underwear in her purse and her jeans on inside out.

Her mind blurred with confusion and her body covered in bruises, she went to the hospital and was given a sexual assault examination, according to a civil lawsuit against Uber and the driver, seen by The Independent.

Authorities charged the driver, Timothy Alexander Greene, in June 2021. A jury convicted him of sexual battery two years later, court records show, and he is serving a 10-year prison sentence.

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The womans horrifying assault in a ride-share vehicle is far from an isolated incident.

Especially with solo female passengers, this is a huge problem in the industry, Jim Mitchell, one of the attorneys representing the Oklahoma woman, told The Independent.

Uber received reports of sexual misconduct on an average of every eight minutes, documents first reported by The New York Times revealed this week. (Getty Images)

Safety is a core value at Uber, and we have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to reduce safety incidents during trips, particularly when it comes to sexual misconduct and assault, the company said in a statement on its website.

Across the country, passengers have shared claims of misconduct that took place in Uber rides. In Utah, a woman on her way home was subjected to unwanted touching. In California, a driver touched himself as a female passenger vomited. In Texas, a 20-minute ride turned into a five-hour ordeal and an alleged rape at a motel.

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While Uber touts its safety record  and the company has implemented a string of features to protect passengers and drivers since its inception  allegations detailed in thousands of legal cases, internal company documents, and stories on social media underscore that staying safe in ride-shares is still an issue.

Uber received reports of sexual misconduct every eight minutes from U.S. riders from 2017 through 2022, documents first reported by The New York Times revealed this week. Over six years, that totaled more than 400,000 Uber trips in the U.S. resulting in reports of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, according to the report.

Ubers 2022 safety report disclosed 12,522 sexual assault and misconduct reports over the same time period. The tech company addressed the large discrepancy in a statement posted on the company website Wednesday after the Times published its report.

The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of misconduct reports were less serious and non-physical in nature, like flirting or staring, Hannah Nilles, Ubers Head of Safety for the Americas, wrote.

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Most of these 400,000-plus reports have not been subjected to a rigorous process that vets allegations and weeds out false reports made with the goal of getting a refund, Nilles continued. Uber claims that 99.99 percent of trips end without any issue. Roughly 0.006 percent of the 6.3 billion trips in the U.S. in the six-year span ended with a sexual misconduct or assault report, according to Nilles. The most serious reports accounted for 0.00002 percent  or 1 in 5 million trips  she said.

The vast majority of sexual misconduct reports between 2017-2022 were made by female drivers or riders. Women represented 89 percent of survivors, according to the companys 2022 safety report.Uber has not released a safety report since.The Independent has asked the company why this is the case.

Uber identified other patterns in the sexual assault report data, according to internal documents seen by the Times. Incidents tended to occur late at night and on weekends with pick-ups near bars.

The company has implemented a series of safety measures over the past several years.

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RideCheck uses GPS tracking to detect whether the ride stays on course, pinging drivers and riders to ensure theyre safe. Theres also a Follow My Ride feature that allows riders to share their trips so loved ones can track. But Uber acknowledges the features limitations.

No single safety feature or policy is going to prevent unpredictable incidents from happening on Uber, or in our world, Nilles told the Times.

The ride-share giant has implemented a number of safety features over the last several years, like RideCheck, which uses GPS tracking to ensure the trip stays on course (AFP via Getty Images)

In one case, what should have been a 20-minute trip became a harrowing five-hour ordeal that culminated in an alleged rape,The Times reported.

A woman in Houston requested an Uber in December 2023. The driver picked her up at 8.53 p.m. at an apartment complex to take her to a house 22 minutes away. But the driver took a detour to a gas station around 9.10 p.m., the records show. Thats when Uber sent a ping to check in on the woman, who didnt respond.

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By 9.29 p.m., the car continued to veer off the requested course and instead stopped at a motel. The company notified the woman again, and again, it went unanswered. Minutes later, Uber tried to get in touch with her with a robocall, to which she also didnt respond.

The driver didnt mark the trip as complete until 2.01 a.m. Three hours later, the woman called Uber, claiming that she had been intoxicated and woke up in a motel with the driver, who had raped her, the Times reported.

Uber banned the driver immediately after the alleged attack.

An investigation into him the following month revealed a a concerning fact pattern that included two previous accusations of sexual misconduct for inappropriate comments.

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The three missed contact attempts served as a potential signal that something could have gone wrong in the trip, the documents said. The report asked: Are our actions (or lack of actions) defensible?

In Oklahoma, when charges were brought against Uber driver Greene in 2021, the State Bureau of Investigation warned that there may be other survivors. Authorities had reason to believe other women could also have been assaulted by the ride-share driver.

It appears that investigators found another survivor. Last June, Oklahoma County District Attorneys Office brought another charge against Greene, accusing him of raping a woman in July 2019 while he was driving for Lyft, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court on August 20. An attorney for Greene declined to comment on the ongoing cases.

The woman filed a police report and contacted Lyft to report the alleged incident. Greene was booted from the platform, the 2021 civil suit says.

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Greene then allegedly engaged in platform hopping, jumping over to Uber after being deactivated from Lyft, said Mitchell, who also represents the woman.

Timothy Greene, an Oklahoma Uber driver, who was convicted of sexual assaulting a passenger (OSBI)

In March 2021, Lyft and Uber launched the Industry Sharing Safety Program which allows both companies to share information about drivers who were banned from the others platform for sexual or physical assaults.

"Any act of violence or assault has no place in the Lyft community or our society. When an incident is reported to us, our trained team takes immediate action to investigate, provides our support to the victim, and works with law enforcement on any investigation. With regard to the Oklahoma case, we were made aware of the allegations against the driver in June of 2019, and we immediately and permanently banned him from ever driving on the Lyft platform again. At that time we also provided support to the rider, and assisted law enforcement with their investigation, a Lyft spokesperson told The Independent.

Since Uber issued its first safety report for 2017 and 2018, the rate of reported sexual assaults has declined 44 percent, according to the companys latest report.

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Meanwhile, hundreds of plaintiffs across 29 states have joined a class action lawsuit against the ride-share giant.

More than 2,435 cases are pending in the multidistrict litigation against Uber for activity described in the Times article, lead attorneys Rachel Abrams, Sarah London, and Roopal Luhana told The Independent in a statement. There are an additional 621 cases brought in California under a related proceeding.

We look forward to litigating these claims in Court on behalf of the brave survivors who have come forward to seek justice from a company that has put profits over safety, the attorneys said. The cases are scheduled to go to trial in December.

Lyft, Ubers ride-share rival, also disclosed thousands of sexual misconduct reports from 2017 through 2022. In that period, there were 6,809 reports, accounting for 0.0002 percent of rides, according to Lyfts 2022 safety report.

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On social media, women have also been sharing their disturbing stories.

One TikToker, xknowlsallpodcast, alleged she was sexually assaulted in 2016 in San Francisco. Intoxicated, she got in an Uber and immediately started feeling sick. She threw up a little on the cars central console. The driver then stopped the car and asked what she was doing, she recalled.

The rider then opened the door and continued to vomit. The driver walked around to her side of the car. He then took off his pants and started touching himself, she said. She then ran out of the car, hid behind a nearby house, and called another Uber.

Later, she looked at her Uber receipts to find that her second ride picked her up far from where she wanted to go. She had ordered a car to take her from a holiday party in downtown San Francisco to her home in the northern part of the city. Instead, she said, her receipts showed that she was south, near the airport.

When I look at my Uber receipts, the first car that was supposed to take me downtown to my house was cancelled, the woman said in the video. My theory is this driver saw me, he saw how intoxicated I was, he saw an opportunity to hurt me, and he cancelled the ride when I got into his car.

When she reported the incident to Uber, the company told her that she got into the wrong car that night, the TikToker recalled. She also said that this was a possibility.

Since then, she said she shares her rides with her friends and never, ever, ever get into a car by myself intoxicated like that.The Independent has asked Uber about the alleged incident but received no response.

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 14: A woman walks by a hired SUV as it waits for a client in Manhattan a day after it was announced that Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick will take a leave of absence as chief executive on June 14, 2017 in New York City. The move came after former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. and his law firm, Covington & Burling, released 13 pages of recommendations compiled as part of an investigation of sexual harassment at the ride-hailing car service. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

In Utah, a Facebook user said she called an Uber to take her home in August 2021. The driver reached into the backseat where she was sitting and started repeatedly touching and rubbing her leg, despite her pleas for him to stop, she wrote in a social media post.

When she tried to exit, he locked the door, she claimed. She eventually got to her destination after telling him that family members were expecting her. The woman contacted Uber about the incident, she said, and urged other riders to share their locations when using a ride-share.

The driver was banned from the platform, Uber told The Independent.

Safety issues extend to female drivers as well. And due to the media attention around ride-share assaults, attracting female drivers has become a challenge.

Safety has ranked as one of the top reasons for prospective female drivers to not join Uber, and for current female drivers to not drive during certain hours of the day, an internal document, seen by the Times, stated.

Uber rolled out an experimental program that matched female riders with female drivers in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and found an overwhelmingly positive response, the company said. It has since replicated the feature in 40 countries.

The company had planned to launch the same program in the U.S. in November, but Donald Trumps election victory prompted executives to rethink the timing of the rollout. This is not the right environment to launch, and we want to take a beat to assess our timing, an internal document, reported by The Times, stated. The Independent has asked Uber about the decision.

Last month, Uber announced that the Women Preferences option for riders and drivers will become available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit starting in the next few weeks. Lyft rolled out a similar program  Women + Connect  last September, giving women and nonbinary riders and drivers the option to be paired. The company has since expanded the program nationwide.

Editor's Note: This article's headline has been changed from 'Attacks every 8 minutes' to 'Incidents every 8 minutes'. This reflects that Uber received reports of sexual misconduct every eight minutes from U.S. riders from 2017 through 2022. This statistic included incidents of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, and a wide range of behaviorssuch as staring/leering, inappropriate comments, and gestures -- and not only physical attacks.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The attorney for a Baton Rouge family whose house was raided July 29 plans to file a lawsuit against police.

Video captured by a neighbor the night of the raid shows Ireisha Mouton and her family walking with their hands in the air towards dozens of police.

According to one of my clients, they receive like banging at the windows and the doors in the wee hours of the morning or the night. There were red beams aimed inside the home, said Ryan Thompson, attorney representing the family.

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According to Thompson, several children were at home, some half-dressed, including Mouton. BRPD and officials from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections conducted the raid. According to the Department, they were executing a search warrant for someone by the name of Joshua Westley, whose supervising officer claims was at the home. After conducting the search, the Department said there was no sign of Westley, and they left.

No one says anything. Theyre seized. They go into the home, search the home, and then they leave without a business card, without an apology, without anything, without any type of response or anything, said Thompson.

The department claims a male inside the home gave them permission to conduct the raid, but the family claims that is false. Thompson said the family has been living in the home for about six months and have never heard of Westley or if he ever stayed in the home.

But the individual by this first name theyve never heard of does not have a relationship with that individual. None of the children, none of the other adults, know this individual. Hes never been to their home, said Thompson.

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The search warrant they executed dates back to July of last year, with the department claiming theyve tried before to do the search, but no one was ever home. They said this was their last attempt to do the search at that address. Thompson said he questions why it took them over a year to do the raid last week.

This search warrant was signed over a year ago by a judge from the 19th Judicial District. Wheres the follow-up? Where is the due diligence? Where is the knock on the door to say, Hey, does this individual live here?' he said.

Thompson said the family is angry and shaken up from the raid and is still demanding clear answers on why they chose their home. He said this is a violation of American rights, illegal and unconstitutional, and said better communication needs to be had when police handle situations like this.

This just reeks of negligence. This reeks of the individuals not doing their due diligence. So, again, we want the community to be safe. We understand that they have a job to do, but its the way you go about doing your job, its the lack of professionalism when you make a mistake, said Thompson.

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Thompson said he and the family are still waiting to hear back from BRPD.

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By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The governments of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom condemned what they called ongoing repression and human rights violations in Belarus and accused Belarusian authorities of waging a campaign to shut down civil society, independent media and any form of political opposition.

KEY QUOTES

"We  Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom  stand united in condemning the ongoing repression and human rights violations," the three countries said in a joint statement on Saturday.

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"Thousands have been unjustly detained, subjected to torture, or forced into exile. These actions represent a flagrant breach of Belarus' international law obligations and are a serious violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms," they added, urging Belarusian authorities "to end their campaign of repression."

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has led Belarus through more than three decades of authoritarian rule and was re-elected in January for a seventh five-year term.

Lukashenko crushed huge street protests in 2020 after an election the opposition and Western governments accused him of stealing, and all his leading opponents were jailed or forced to flee the country.

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CONTEXT

Several hundred people convicted of extremism and other politically related offences have been released since mid-2024 in what analysts see as a bid by Lukashenko to ease his isolation from the West. However, human rights groups say nearly 1,200 are still behind bars.

Lukashenko denies there are any political prisoners in the country.

Australia, Canada and the UK said they welcomed the recent releases of several political prisoners in Belarus but added that they remain concerned by what they termed as continued arrests and persecution of individuals for exercising their human rights.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter)
A dead Irrawaddy dolphin was found off the coast of Kuala Kedah, signaling a troubling trend for the marine ecosystems.

What's happening?

According to Free Malaysia Today, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency found the Irrawaddy dolphin carcass tangled in an illegal fishing net in late June, roughly 1.1 nautical miles from the Kuala Kedah estuary.

Kuala Kedah maritime director Noor Azreyanti Ishak explained, "This type of net is banned under the Fisheries Act 1985 because of its non-selective nature. It not only traps rays and young fish but also endangers protected marine species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin."

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The fishing net, left behind by fishermen trying to catch rays illegally, is estimated to be worth about $475 (RM2,000). According to Ishak via FMT, it's the sixth net confiscation she's made this year.

Why are these dolphins important?

Ishak said, "If this activity continues unchecked, not only will rays disappear, but other marine species dependent on the food chain will be at risk." This includes the Irrawaddy dolphin.

While local economies rely on the fish caught off the coast, they also rely on these adorable dolphins for tourism. Furthermore, they're considered sacred to some communities. Their disappearance would have a profound economic and spiritual impact on the people in the region.

The dolphin is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. As apex predators, these dolphins are essential to oceanic ecosystems too. Without them, fish populations could grow out of control. When fish species grow out of control, they can harm aquatic vegetation, destroying habitats and food sources for many species.

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Both illegal fishing and ocean littering contribute to this problem. Even though fishermen may not be targeting the dolphins, their recklessness is hurting them. The illegal nets can trap animals, but if they don't, they still become plastic pollution, harming the health of aquatic animals. Either way, they're a danger to the environment.

The Earth needs every species to stay balanced. Without robust biodiversity, climate change can worsen. This could mean extreme weather, food and water scarcity, and widespread disease. Every species, especially ones like the Irrawaddy dolphin, is needed to preserve the planet's biodiversity.

What's being done to help the dolphins?

The MMEA is ramping up efforts to stop this illegal fishing and remove nets from the water. They're also trying to educate local coastal communities on the importance of marine biodiversity.

These animals are crucial to the planet's health, as well as to many of these communities, so they must be protected. People are encouraged to report any suspicious fishing activity to authorities.

Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
DENVER (KDVR)  An autopsy report in the death of Denver hairstylist Jax Gratton revealed her cause and manner of death as undetermined.

Grattons body was found in a Lakewood alley off West Colfax Avenue in June, ending a search that began after the 34-year-old was officially reported missing on April 24.

Loved ones of Paul Aragon are still searching for him two months after his disappearance.

The autopsy report revealed Gratton was in a severely decomposed state when found, making it impossible to prove or rule out multiple possible mechanisms of death, including accidental blunt force injuries, assault by another, complications of drug use or some other scenario.

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Due to the length of time between the decedents death and the discovery of her body, autopsy findings that might have helped to establish a cause and manner of death may have been obscured or eliminated by the process of decomposition, the autopsy report says.

The autopsy report revealed that Grattons hands and arms showed no evidence of defensive injuries and that there was no clear evidence of pressure on the neck as a possible mechanism of death.

A memorial on the steps of the Denver city and county building honors the life of Jax Gratton, a trans woman who went missing in April 2025, and whose body was found in Lakewood in early June 2025. (KDVR)

The report ultimately stated that strangulation could not be ruled out, but that autopsy findings did not necessarily indicate that. The report also noted drug overdose or complications thereof could not be proven or ruled out.

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Grattons body was found in a narrow space between two commercial buildings on June 6. She was last known to be alive on April 15, 2025, and reported missing by her mother on April 24, 2025, according to the autopsy report.

According to the autopsy report, Grattons body was found directly below the window of a second-floor apartment belonging to a man she was last seen on video leaving her Denver residence with.

The man, according to the autopsy, reported he and Gratton were joined by a second man in the apartment, and that Gratton had used the drug GHB and began to vomit while lying on a futon, snoring, at which point they say they propped her up on her side.

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The men then reportedly left the apartment and, when the first man returned, he reported she was no longer there, according to the autopsy report.

Mother of Denver hairstylist missing for months says she will always be proud of her daughter

The autopsy report noted that testing for GHB is not available on solid tissue. Microscopic sections of Grattons lung tissue did show particulate matter consistent with aspiration of gastric content; however, according to the autopsy report, aspiration may have caused or contributed to death.

Grattons body was discovered by the owner of the adjacent building, according to the report. The only ground-level access to the area is through a window or a padlocked gate.

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Grattons mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, told FOX31 a detective said she was found in the clothes she was wearing the night she disappeared.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The East & Alex neighborhood axe-throwing bar on East Avenue, Axes & Ales, announced it is closing. In a Facebook post, the owner places the blame on the Mayors Offices decision to enforce tighter security in the East End to reduce gun violence and improve overall safety for residents.

He said that with the publication of the crimes committed in the area and the very public attempt to prevent them, this has led to people avoiding the area entirely.

In 2024, Mayor Evan announced a plan to address gun violence by restricting the East End area to people 21 and older on Saturday nights. The plan also includes closing roads and increasing police and security presence in the area.

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Age restrictions coming this weekend to Rochesters East & Alexander area

Beau Warren, the sole proprietor of Axes & Ale, said this is when he saw an instant 47 percent decrease in Saturday sales. Mostly due to confusion about the new policy and the widely publicized confirmation of violent crime, specifically in that area.

Changes to restrictions, special events coming for Rochesters East End entertainment district

This came days after the non-fatal shooting of a 21-year-old near the area of Ryan Alley and East Avenue. Axes & Ales sits right on this corner, but its entirely unconnected to any crimes that have been committed. Other cited issues include people drinking on the street and dangerous activities involving dirt bikes and ATVs.

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Even less than six months ago, business owners in the area were reporting slower business. However, some did appreciate the safer, friendlier atmosphere:

Business owner and manager share thoughts on east end restrictions, six months later

We have not had in the past month, not a single open container, which means thats an individual thinking that they can drink in the street. We have not had any gunfire incidents. We have not had any violent incidents, and the minimization of cars has made it more pedestrian-friendly, Mayor Evans said a month after the restrictions were implemented.

Warren still criticizes the decision, calling it meritless and likening it to the implementation of a police state. He questions why the East End is receiving this treatment instead of other areas with known crime, saying, Why not shut down the Lake Ontario Beach access?

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The decrease in sales, he claims, is directly linked to the Mayors decree, as his business was coming off its highest-grossing year, enough success to feel safe in extending its lease for five more years, before things took a turn.

Warren said the primary customer demographic was suburban guests with extra disposable income to spend, described as family-friendly. He claims that this type of demographic tends to avoid areas with a history of crime. Even if dedicated police measures are there to prevent it, the acknowledgment of potential danger is enough for some to steer clear.

Ultimately, the Mayors attempt to reduce crime and create a safer environment was successful, but not without its negative side effects, especially for business owners.

In a statement provided by the City of Rochester to News 8, officials said the following:

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Nearly a year after establishing a Special Event Zone in the East End, we are noticing bigger crowds and safer Saturday evenings for all. In addition, in the past year, several new businesses have opened and other owners have confirmed with us that this year, they had their best July 4 weekend ever. The area is thriving, and I encourage you to speak with other businesses in the area to get a complete picture.

Separately, the City always encourages businesses who are struggling to engage with our teams and leverage resources that are available to them.

Officials noted that the Special Events Zone goes into effect from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday nights only.

Axes and Ales posted hours of operation for Saturdays are noon to 11 p.m.

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi State University (MSU) celebrated the opening of its newest and largest student residence hall. Azalea Hall will welcome its first occupants next week to launch the 2025-26 academic year.

Azalea Hall, which was a nearly $100 million project, is located at the corner of Barr Avenue and George Perry Street in Starkville.

USM Symphony Orchestra unveils American Perspectives season

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This will be a wonderful new home to more than 400 students who will have an incredible environment to live, study and grow into successful young adults and future leaders. Azalea Hall stands as a reminder of what we can accomplish by working together with the generous support of our friends, and I am so grateful to all of you here today who contributed to the effort to build this beautiful, practical and highly functional residence hall and dining facility, said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

Celebrating a ribbon cutting ceremony for Azalea Hall, Mississippi States newest and largest student residence hall, are from left, front row: Julia Bryant, Residence Hall Association president; Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt; Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life Dei Allard; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Luckyday Foundation Chair Jamie Houston; back row: James Jankowski, resident district manager for MSU Dining Services; P.J. Pearson, HPM project manager; Ches Fedric, MSU director of Planning, Design and Construction Administration; Student Association President Cameron Cummings; Saunders Ramsey, executive director of MSU Campus Services; Jule Markle, Wier Boerner Allin Architecture principal and senior project architect; and Gwynn Zivic, Mackey Mitchell Architects lead designer. (Photo by Grace Cockrell via Mississippi State University) Luckyday Foundation members of the board of managers celebrate Friday [Aug. 8] during Azalea Halls ribbon cutting. The student residence hall includes a living and learning community for MSUs Luckyday Scholars program. Pictured, from left, front row: MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt; former Luckyday Foundation Chair Holmes Adams; Mary Preston Dubberly; Granville Tate; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Luckyday Foundation Chair Jamie Houston; Luckyday Foundation Secretary Kristin Merrell; Luckyday Foundation Vice Chair Jerry Host; Luckyday Foundation Executive Director Patricia Smith; and MSU Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life Dei Allard; back row: MSU Executive Director of the Center for Academic Excellence Clay Armstrong; MSU Luckyday Scholars Program Coordinator Hadley Howell; MSU Luckyday Scholars Program Director Tiffany Key; and MSU Foundation Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Alex McIntosh. (Photo by Grace Cockrell via Mississippi State University)

He emphasized the generosity of the Luckyday Foundation, which gave $4 million for the creation of Luckyday Tower, a living and learning community within Azalea Hall for the universitys Luckyday Scholars Program. The building comprises five stories and 159,000 square feet, offers the most up-to-date amenities, with fully furnished rooms finished with full-sized, XL beds. The facility also contains a FEMA safe room.

Azalea Marketplace will offer dining options, and a 24-hour Maroon Market also is on site.

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The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed an agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict as they were hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands after the US president described the event as "historic".

"It's been a long time coming," Trump said of the agreement, which will reopen some key transport routes between the countries and increase US influence in the region.

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Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, in the 1980s and 1990s and violence has flared up in the years since.

On Friday, Trump said Armenia and Azerbaijan had promised to stop all fighting "forever" as well as open up travel, business and diplomatic relations.

"We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus," Aliyev said. "We lost a lot of years being preoccupied with wars and occupation and bloodshed."

Pashinyan called the signing a "significant milestone" in relations between the two countries.

"Thirty-five years they fought, and now they're friends and they're going to be friends a long time," Trump said at the event.

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The White House said that, as part of the deal, the US will also help build a major transit corridor that will be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.

The route will connect Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by Armenian territory. In the past, Aliyev has demanded that Armenia give his country a railroad corridor to Nakhichevan.

Armenia wanted to have control of the road and the Azerbaijani leader has in the past threatened to take the corridor by force. The issue has halted and stalled previous peace negotiations.

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Both leaders praised Trump and his team throughout the meeting: "President Trump, in six months, did a miracle," Aliyev said.

Trump said he had also signed a bilateral agreement with both countries to expand energy and technology trade.

The US president has sought to make peace deals between several warring countries during his second term.

The summit on Friday also signifies the US expanding its influence in the region at the expense of Russia. For more than a century, the Kremlin has played the role of power and peace broker there.

Most recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin himself has acted as the main mediator in the conflict. The last agreement signed by Aliyev and Pashinyan was crafted by Putin.

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With Trump now bringing the two countries together, Putin is largely sidelined. Moscow has worked to insert its interests into peace talks, but both sides abandoned those proposals in favour of an American solution.

The announcement on Friday came shortly before Trump announced that he would meet Putin for talks in Alaska next week.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  With prices of just about everything going up, one Siouxland non-profit is helping locals get their back-to-school clothes shopping done at an affordable price.

Goodwill stores are facing bigger crowds this time of year as parents make their way to purchase clothing for their kids.

Goodwill of the Great Plains operates 24 retail stores in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

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Officials said prices tend to stay affordable and consistent when shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill.

Sometimes you go to some of those stores and the prices just keep going up and up for those new items, new pants, new shirts, and stuff. When you come to Goodwill, you can be confident that youre getting a pretty good deal. You know youre saving a lot of money, said Jacob Heller, Goodwill of the Great Plains Public Relations Specialist.

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Heller said both the stores crowd sizes and merchandise are always changing.

Folks are looking for good-looking jeans, good-looking T-shirts. As we roll into the school year and time passes, we get into the fall. Folks look for those sweaters, the warmer clothes to keep warm when the weather cools down a little bit. And the good thing about Goodwill is that, lets say you shop one weekend, you can stop by the next weekend and you might see a whole different rack full of clothes, said Heller.

The majority of money raised at Goodwill stores goes back into their communities, supporting programs that help veterans, connect people to jobs, provide clothing, and more.

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A Gastonia couple in May gave their seven-year-old son permission to walk two blocks with his brother. That split-second decision soon became a life-altering one, when their son stepped into the road and was killed by a car  and local police charged the couple in the tragedy.

Recent national attention to the couples plight has prompted a state senator to re-up calls for a bipartisan bill that, if passed, would spare other North Carolina parents of their fate.

The proposed legislation would exclude most independent activities, such as walking to school or playing outside, from being considered as child neglect. As long as a reasonable and prudent parent would deem a given independent activity to be safe, depending on the childs age, maturity and physical and mental capabilities, they would not be held liable.

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State Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, who represents part of Wake County and serves as the state senates Democratic whip, co-sponsored the bill in March. He described it as a companion to a bill restricting childrens phone use in North Carolinas public schools, which was signed into law in July.

We have laws that really promote helicopter parenting, Chaudhuri said Friday. The legislation is important to me, both as a parent and a lawmaker I felt like the legislation reflects a sense of where the laws needed to be, and that is to try to encourage parents to raise resilient, independent and confident children.

Eight other states have passed similar legislation , often dubbed reasonable childhood independence laws.

After the North Carolina bills introduction, it was referred to the state Senate rules committee. Though the bill has not since moved along, Chaudhuri voiced optimism about its future.

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He stressed that the bill already has bipartisan support. The bills other two sponsors are Republicans: state Sen. Jim Burgin, who represents Lee and Harnett counties, and state Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee, who represents most of New Hanover County.

Senator Jay Chaudhuri of Wake County speaks about the Senate budget proposal during debate on April 16 at the General Assembly in Raleigh.

Chaudhuri said he also hopes the national backlash to the charging of the Gastonia couple in connection with their sons death will bring the bill to the fore.

We should not have laws on the books that are going to penalize and literally break up this family from a very deliberative and thoughtful decision that they made to allow their two young boys to walk to the local grocery store, he said.

Gastonia couple charged with child neglect

On May 27, Gastonia resident Jessica Ivey, 30, was shopping at a local Food Lion with her two eldest sons. When the boys, aged 10 and seven, asked for permission to walk the two blocks home to their father, Ivey agreed.

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As the children walked home, the elder was on the phone with Samuele Jenkins, his father. Jenkins, 31, told WSOC he heard his eldest son cry out, Legend, no! when his brother stepped into the street, colliding with a Jeep Cherokee.

The younger boy, Legend, died later that night at Levine Childrens Hospital in Charlotte. Two days later, Gastonia police charged Ivey and Jenkins with involuntary manslaughter and child neglect. The Jeeps driver, a 76-year-old woman, did not face any charges.

The Gastonia Police Department Facebook post announcing that the couple had been charged racked up over 800 comments, many of which condemned the decision.

A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on the decision to bring charges against Jenkins and Ivey.

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In June, Jenkins and Ivey pleaded guilty to felony child neglect charges. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the involuntary manslaughter felony charges and spared the couple prison time. Instead, Jenkins and Ivey were sentenced to 36 and 30 months of probation, respectively.

The Gaston County District Attorneys office did not reply to The Charlotte Observers request for comment on the couples sentencing.

Matt Hawkins, the public defender who represented Ivey, voiced support for the state Senate bill. If the legislation had been passed before Legends death, he said, charging and convicting the couple would have been much more difficult.

Jenkins lawyer Charles Lifford also supported the bill. Despite nearly two months having passed since the couples sentencing, he said he still questions whether Ivey and Jenkins choice to let their children walk unsupervised should have been considered neglect.

If I was an officer and I rode by and I saw a 10-year-old and seven-year-old little brother crossing that street on Hudson Boulevard would my first thought be, oh, thats child neglect? said Lifford, who served on Gastonias police force for nearly three decades before becoming an attorney. Im not necessarily certain that would be the first thought Id have. And if its not, then the tragedy occurs, why does it suddenly rise to that level?
The foreign ministers of the Baltic states and Czechia have expressed support for a fair peace settlement in Ukraine amid reports of an upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Source: European Pravda; Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on X (Twitter); Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze on X (Twitter); Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on X (Twitter); Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on X (Twitter)

Details: Tsahkna underlined his support for Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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"If borders can be changed by force, none are safe. If nations can be forced to live under a bigger neighbours dictate, none are free," Tsahkna wrote.

Tsakhkna emphasised that Estonia will not "reward aggression" and that Ukraine can count on its "unwavering support in achieving a just and lasting peace".

Braze welcomed US President Donald Trump's efforts to end Russia's aggression against Ukraine, but added that "just, lasting, dignified peace is what we all want, Ukrainians the most".

"Such peace must involve Ukraine and uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia mustnt be rewarded for aggression," she added.

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Budrys noted that Ukraine's borders, sovereignty and independence are "non-negotiable".

"From Luhansk to Crimea, every inch belongs to the sovereign nation of Ukraine, fighting for its freedom," Budrys added, pledging support for efforts to achieve "a just and lasting peace in Ukraine  based on international law".

Lipavsky, in turn, recalled that Russia did not seize Ukraine in three days or three years, and that it was forced to negotiate by Ukraines allies, sanctions and Ukrainian courage.

"Ukraine must remain free. State borders cannot be moved through pressure and blackmail. Who becomes a member of the EU and NATO is decided by their members, not Vladimir Putin. Czechia wants peace, but its form must always be agreed first and foremost by Ukraine," Lipavsky said.

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Background: Amid news of the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on 15 August, as well as media claims that Washington and Moscow want to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia's occupation of part of the territories seized during its full-scale invasion, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already there in the Constitution of Ukraine".

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A Bay Area man has been charged with stealing rare Chinese manuscripts valued at $216,000 from the UCLA library in an alleged scheme involving fake aliases and replacement books.

Jeffrey Ying of Fremont allegedly used three fake names to check out the valuable antique manuscripts from UCLA in a possible five-year string of robberies, with some of the stolen books dating back to the 13th century, according to investigators.

Ying, arrested Wednesday before an alleged attempt to flee to China, was charged by the U.S. attorney's office with theft of major artwork, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, and is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in the coming days, the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles said Thursday.

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According to an FBI affidavit, 38-year-old Ying rented manuscripts in groups, abusing a recently new system at UCLA that allowed users to request library cards and rent books without showing an official ID. He would then return dummy books in place of the actual manuscripts.

The dummy books were often blank or low-value manuscripts with computer-paper-printed labels and asset tags to mimic those of the actual books.

Since 2020, Ying allegedly requested books from the Southern Regional Library Facility (SRL), a remote UCLA library storage space meant to house rare or delicate books. In response to his request, a box containing manuscripts would be transported to a reserved reading room at the Charles E. Young Research Library of UCLA. Ying would review and replace the manuscripts with his dummies," taking the originals with him as he left, according to an FBI affidavit.

Read more: $550,000 Strad Violin Stolen at L.A. Airport

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Library staff told The Times that the official policy is to have an attendant present in the reading room at all times as someone reads special collections books.

When the material was returned to the library, the university had no policy requiring a thorough review of the items to ensure they were not replaced with dummy manuscripts, according to officials.

The director of UCLA Library Special Collections received notice from the head of the university's East Asian Library that three rare Chinese books were missing after being last checked out by someone named Alan Fujimori.

According to the FBI affidavit, security camera analysis from library staff revealed that Fujimori, Austin Chen, and Jason Wang, who had all checked out valuable manuscripts over the years, were all aliases for one person Ying.

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Through a travel record investigation, FBI officials said they discovered that Ying traveled back and forth from China within several days of the alleged robberies, presumably to sell or transport the books.

However, as of yet, the FBI said it has not confirmed whether Ying sold or traded any of the manuscripts. The FBI affidavit also lists every book stolen by Ying as never returned, which may mean that authorities have not found them.

While the official number of stolen books is unconfirmed, affidavit testimony suggests at least 10 are missing, each valued between $274 to $70,000.

Read more: Hungary's oldest library is fighting to save 100,000 books from a beetle infestation

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Over the course of October to December of last year, federal investigation detailed in the FBI affidavit found that Ying checked out six books under the alias Jason Wang. On Aug. 5 of this year, Ying requested eight more books as Austin Chen. The next day, Ying planned to board a previously booked flight to China. UCLA police were already tipped off of suspicious behavior  by the time Ying arrived to pick up his eight books before his flight, authorities were called and promptly arrested him.

While the arrest and affidavit records primarily focused on the robberies of the past year, they also allege that in 2020, Ying, under the name Alan Fujimori, stole two UCLA manuscripts from the 13th and 16th centuries valued at a combined $132,386.

His record could go back even further. The FBI affidavit mentions that the alias Alan Fujimori is associated with a known book thief who was on the run after similar thefts at the UC Berkeley library.

At his arrest, Ying was found with a card for Hotel Angeleno, located three miles away from the UCLA library, according to FBI and UCLA police's investigation detailed in the affidavit. The document also detailed that later in the day of the arrest, officers and detectives searched Yings room at Hotel Angelino with a search warrant. They discovered blank manuscripts, printed tags, and fraudulent IDs that matched past aliases.

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Ying is not yet matched with an attorney and remains in custody for risk of leaving the country.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Brief

The Walker Police Department said one of its officers shot a man in the arm after he charged the officer with a knife.

The man was only wearing boxer shorts and threatened to kill employees at a Dollar General store.

This suspect was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

WALKER, Minn. (FOX 9) - Authorities say a Walker police officer shot a man who charged him with a knife.

Walker officer-involved shooting

What we know

A Walker resident flagged down a police officer just before 6:40 p.m. on Friday to report a man who was only wearing boxers and "acting erratically," according to a news release with the Walker Police Department.

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A 911 caller then reported a man matching that same description carrying a knife in front of a business on Minnesota Avenue. Other callers also reported several punctured tires on vehicles in the area.

Authorities say the responding officer then found the man and chased him to a Dollar General store near the intersection of Highway 34 and State Highway 200 on Minnesota Avenue.

The suspect then threatened to kill all employees inside the store, according to police.

When the officer went inside, the suspect reportedly "sprayed bug spray and threw items at the officer" while the officer ordered the suspect to drop the knife.

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Police say the suspect then charged at the officer, prompting him to fire a shot that struck the suspect in the left arm.

The suspect was then taken to the hospital and is expected to survive his injury.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities say the officer was wearing a body camera that captured the entire incident.

What we don't know

No information on the suspect or his criminal charges has been released.

What's next

The incident is now being investigated by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the officer was placed on standard administrative leave.
Two cousins jumped into action to save a bedridden woman who was trapped in her burning apartment, according to local reports.

Crews responded to reports of a fire in an elderly womans apartment at Bradford Condominiums in Woburn, Massachusetts early Friday morning, the local fire department said. The resident was bedridden, and witnesses could hear her calling for help as smoke filled the second-floor apartment, local outlet Boston 25 News reports.

Thats when two cousins jumped into action. Sadush Brahimaj and Narti Qato heard the woman screaming for help and managed to climb up onto her porch, WCVB reports.

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"It was so dark, it was so dark and smoky, we couldn't see anything, just hearing her voice, 'Help, help,' all the time," Brahimaj told WCVB. "We didn't think anything else, we just went inside."

Two cousins rescued an elderly, bedridden woman from a fire in her Massachusetts apartment (pictured) (Woburn Fire Department)

The cousins tried twice to get inside the apartment building. The first attempt was too much, so Brahimaj said he used his jacket to cover his face like a mask.

The second time we got her, he told the outlet.

Thats when other residents joined in, shining their flashlights to help guide the men and the woman to safety, WCVB reports.

Crews arrived after the pair had pulled the resident from her burning bedroom onto the balcony, the local fire department said. Firefighters used a ground ladder to carry the woman down.

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The woman was taken to Massachusetts General with burns and smoke inhalation injuries, NBC Boston reports. The two cousins were also hospitalized and released soon afterward, WCVB reports.

Woburn Fire Captain Bill Stukey praised their rescue efforts, Boston 25 News reports.

A couple of the guys were able to get up onto the porch, get in through the slider, Stukey said. They went in the back and crawled through the smoke and actually dragged her out. They did a good job.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the Red Cross is now assisting residents impacted by the fire, according to Boston 25 News.
A popular Oklahoma City bar known for its drink specials and double cheeseburger is closing its doors for good this weekend.

The Flycatcher Club, located at 1137 NW 2nd St, will serve its final rounds of $2 beers on Saturday. The official Instagram and Facebook accounts for the business revealed the news in a post on Wednesday.

"Come out and give a bittersweet farewell to the Flycatcher bartenders this week. Happy we could be a safe place for many," the post reads.

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"We have extra special karaoke tonight, and a few things planned for Friday and Saturday! $3 for any beer/seltzer/cider, $5 for any cocktails."

Opened in 2022, The Flycatcher Club has earned its share of loyal customers over the last three-plus years. Many of them used social media to express their dismay at the news of the upcoming closure.

View the original article to see embedded media.

"Def our fave bar in Okc, sad to see you all go!!!" one Instagram commenter wrote.

"Awe Im so sad," someone else said on Facebook.

"We love you fly," another commenter said.

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"First the pump, now this. I have no safe place," a fourth person wrote.

"This is not ok. Did the Woodsons not personally help keep you in business?!?!!!!" said a fifth person who added they are "unwell" at the news.

The Flycatcher Club was started as a sister concept for the already-established Bar Arbolada, which is owned by Riley Marshall. That's where the Flycatcher's famous double cheeseburgers originated.

"We're started selling them as take-out during the lockdown," Marshall said in 2021. "And it really took off."

In November 2021, Food Network star Alton Brown caused a stir when he declared that Bar Arbolada has "the best double cheeseburger in America."

"Everyone was super excited," Marshall said of learning of Brown's praise.

Beloved Bar With Famous Cheeseburger Closing This Saturday first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
The heart in downtown Los Angeles' Arts District will soon be losing an iconic brewery.

Angel City Brewery, which started as a beer company in 1997 before opening a taproom some seven years later, will close its doors when its lease expires, according to the beer business news site Brew Bound.

The outlet reports that Angel City Brewery's parent company, Boston Beer, will wind down operations once its lease comes to an end, though it's unclear exactly when the lease expires. Brew Bound cited the shocking news via an internal memo sent by the company's CEO and obtained by the outlet.

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Angel City Brewery is not the only famous location set to close for good in the same neighborhood.

Boston Beer will also close Truly LA, the taproom that's literally just down the block and famous for its hard seltzers, frozen margaritas and fruity flights.

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: General views of Angel City Brewery on September 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: General views of Angel City Brewery on September 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

Both Angel City Brewery and Truly LA are extremely popular among families and pet owners. They also host numerous events year-round, and both locations are often on must-visit lists for people doing pub crawls in the trendy part of downtown. Some other nearby locations include Arts District Brewing Company, Wurstkuche, Arrow Lodge Brewing, EightyTwo, and The Moroccan, among others.

According to its website, Angel City Brewing was founded in 1997 and quickly became a leader in the L.A. craft beer scene. The company purchased an 8,000 barrel German-made brewery on eBay -- yes, on eBay! -- and set up shop in the popular Alpine Village area.

Related: Wild Video Shows Nearly 30 Men Attack Beloved Food Truck and Its Workers

The brewery then moved to the Arts District in 2010 and set up shop in the historic John A. Roeblin Building.

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For now, Angel City Brewery will continue to host a number of food trucks, offer tours and continue to be pet and kid friendly.

As for Angel City Brewery's iconic venue, one downtown Los Angeles realtor claims he's getting flooded with calls about other businesses inquiring about the location. Unclear who or what will set up shop there, but the demand at least seems to still be there.

Beloved Brewery Closing After More Than 20 Years in Business first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
DES MOINES, Iowa  A red panda at the Blank Park Zoo who stole the hearts of many has died.

The zoo announced on Facebook Friday that Razz, their male red panda, passed away earlier this week at the age of 14. Razz was the oldest red panda at the zoo and had been under close observation, as the zoo said his health had been naturally declining with his age.

Photo of Razz the red panda, courtesy of the Blank Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Blank Park Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Blank Park Zoo.

Does Blue Ribbon Bar and Eatery live up to its name? Sneak peak into the new Iowa State Fair eatery that replaced Steer N Stein

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Razz was born on June 14, 2011 and first visited the zoo in 2012 before moving to another zoo. He returned to the Blank Park Zoo in the summer of 2021. He loved many fruity treats like apples, pears, and berries.

According to the zoo, red pandas can live up to eight to ten years in the wild and can reach up to 15 years old under human care.

Guests can still find Razzs companion, Tudou at the zoo.

Metro 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 who13.com.
Chief Deputy Travis Carlson, who is non-Native, of Benson County, North Dakota, was arrested on July 24 and is now facing a range of serious criminal charges. Among them are allegations that he unlawfully arrested members of the Spirit Lake Nation on reservation land without proper authority.

According to court documents, Carlson has been charged with three felonies and ten misdemeanors involving abuse of power, illegal arrests, sexual harassment, and tampering with public records. He is currently being held at the Grand Forks County Correctional Center.

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Prosecutors allege that on April 9 and May 27, 2025, Carlson submitted falsified probable cause affidavits and falsely claimed jurisdiction to arrest and remove tribal citizens from reservation land. In doing so, he allegedly misrepresented the authority of the Benson County Sheriffs Office and bypassed the Bureau of Indian Affairsactions that violate federal Indian law.

The misdemeanor charges include official oppression, dereliction of duty, and disorderly conduct. Investigators claim Carlson unlawfully detained individuals, sexually harassed female coworkers, and, in one disturbing incident, followed a female detainee into a restroom and allegedly recorded her.

Additional allegations state that Carlson failed to file required investigative reports, withheld the identities of key witnesses, and neglected his duties in connection with an April 2024 burglary case.

Carlson, 37, has a documented history of misconduct across multiple law enforcement agencies in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Public records show he was fired from the Belfield Police Department in 2014 after admitting to having sex in a patrol vehicle while on duty. Over the years, he has been known as a "wandering officer," frequently moving between departments amid accusations of inappropriate conduct, insubordination, and misuse of agency resources.

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Carlson appeared in court for a bond hearing on July 25. His bond was set at $10,000, with several conditions, including a nightly curfew, GPS monitoring, and a ban on entering the Spirit Lake Reservation. His attorneys maintain that he is presumed innocent and intend to fight the charges.

About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. "

Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com
Former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke didnt mince words when talking about Texas Republicans attempts to create a new redistricting map that would disenfranchise millions of non-white voters.

These motherfuckers are panicking right now, ORourke said during an interview in New Orleans on Friday for Netroots Nation, a nonprofit organization for progressive activism.

ORourke was referring to Republicans attempts to arrest dozens of House Democrat lawmakers who left the state to deny House Republicans a quorum to gerrymander district lines.

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Under the new proposed map, President Donald Trump would pick up five more GOP-leaning congressional seats in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterms. The new map would also take voting power away from Latino and Black voters.

You know that Trump asked Greg Abbott, our governor, to give him five congressional seats in Texas, ORourke explained. And thick as thieves, he and the Republican state legislature have been busy at work carving up the state. They were gonna vote on these five new districts on Monday, but thank god for Texas Democrats. Fifty-four of them left the state, broke quorum, said To hell with that, and defied Donald Trump and stopped this power grab in the state of Texas.

On Tuesday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked the FBI to help Abbott (R) track down and arrest House Democrats who left the state. Abbott has also threatened to push for even more GOP-leaning congressional seats if Democrats continue to block the redistricting effort.

State Rep. Vince Perez (D-El Paso), one of dozens of lawmakers who left the state, told HuffPost the new redistricting would give Latino voters  who number more than 11 million in the state  just one-third of the political power of a white resident.

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This is clearly a racially engineered map that I think all Americans would be appalled by if they really looked at the details of this, Perez said.

Along with threats of arrest, lawmakers have also faced threats of violence. Earlier this week, a group of Texas lawmakers was forced to evacuate their hotel in Chicago over a bomb threat.

ORourke has also been in the crosshairs of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said Friday he is suing ORourke for using his political group, Powered by People, to raise money to cover costs for Democrats who have left the state.

ORourke said its time for Democrats to fight back.

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They are betting that our side is going to give in and give up, that we are the old Democratic party that was more interested in concession and compromise, ORourke said Friday.

He accused older Democratic leaders of bending the knee and submitting to these guys.

Rather than saying To hell with that, were going to fight you tooth and nail, ORourke said. Whatever it takes to make sure that we are ruthlessly focused on stopping [Republicans] power grab and making sure we win power ourselves.

Were not going to let Ken Paxton frighten us, intimidate us, he added. The country wants to see a fight.
After the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members, Master Sgt. Logan Ireland, who has served in the Air Force for 15 years, was faced with the options of separating from the military voluntarily or being processed for involuntary separation  a prospect that comes with losing half of his separation pay.

When Logan was presented with the option of applying for early retirement at 15 years, he applied and was relieved when the Air Force approved his request and gave him an early retirement date of Dec. 1, 2025.

"It's kind of like your golden ticket. So I felt solid," Ireland told ABC News.

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But on Monday, Ireland said he received a memo from Brian Scarlett, who is performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, indicating that early retirement at 15-18 years for transgender service members would be denied.

"After careful consideration of the individual applications, I am disapproving all Temporary Early Retirement Authority (TERA) exception to policy requests in Tabs 1 and 2 for members with 15-18 years of service," the memo said, adding that those denied early retirement would need to be processed for separation instead.

Military service members are eligible for full retirement benefits after they complete 20 years of service. Anything less than that requires an approved exemption. Air Force personnel who had 18 but less than 20 years of service were approved for early retirement because they were close to the 20 years, while several dozen senior Airmen who had between 15 and 18 years of service also sought approval for this early retirement, the Air Force said. Early retirement would allow them to receive part of their pension.

The memo, which was reviewed by ABC News, includes a "script" for commanders to communicate with applicants regarding TERA denial and separation, and explains that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) "prematurely notified some DAF members that their TERA applications under the gender dysphoria provision had been approved."

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Transgender service members say they face 'heartbreaking' decision amid Trump ban: Leave military or get kicked out

Courtesy of Logan Ireland - PHOTO: MSgt. Logan Ireland, who is suing the Trump administration over its ban on transgender service members.

The Air Force said in a statement to ABC News, "Approximately a dozen service members between 15 and 18 years of service were prematurely notified that their TERA applications under the gender dysphoria provision had been approved, but higher level review was required under the DoD gender dysphoria policy for those members."

Ireland, who has served multiple overseas tours to countries like Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea, said that the reversal was a "betrayal."

"The first feeling I felt was betrayal. I've given my life to the service," he said.

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"I was promised this. I had my retirement orders in hand," he added. "I've been starting to process what life looks like outside of uniform, and now we don't know what that looks like."

Transgender Air Force cadet's dream of joining the military put on hold amid Trump's ban

According to the Scarlett memo, transgender service members who choose to voluntarily separate will receive separation pay at twice the rate of those who choose involuntary separation.

The memo from Scarlett also says that while service members like Ireland would not be eligible for early retirement, they will still be "entitled to an honorable discharge characterization, separation benefits and transition assistance."

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Air Force Cmdr. Emily Shilling, who is the president of Sparta Pride -- an organization advocating for about 2,400 transgender people in the military and those who hope to join -- criticized the move in a phone interview with ABC News on Thursday, saying that the Air Force "reneged on their promise."

Shilling said that some applications for early retirement had already been approved, but now the lives of those service members who have dedicated close to two decades of service to their country have been upended again.

Shilling, who will be eligible for retirement at 20 years in September, previously told ABC News that she chose to self-identify as transgender and begin the process of voluntarily separating from the military, but said that she made the decision "under duress."

"I was coerced into it because we knew that the voluntary separation would give me an honorable discharge with some portion of my retirement, and I'd be able to keep all of my benefits," Shilling said. ABC News reached out to the Air Force but a request for comment was not returned.

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The Department of Defense offered transgender service members the opportunity to voluntarily separate before they were forced out through involuntary separations. Incentives were offered for voluntary separations that amounted to double the benefits that they might have received if they were involuntarily separated.

Courtesy of Emily Shilling - PHOTO: Cmdr. Emily Shilling.

Shilling and Ireland both decided to fight the ban in federal court, each becoming lead plaintiffs in separate federal lawsuits  Shilling vs. Trump and Ireland vs. Hegseth. A third lawsuit, Talbott vs. Trump, also challenges the ban, which was announced in a Jan. 27 executive order by President Donald Trump, who directed the Defense Department to revise the policy allowing transgender troops to openly serve.

"Expressing a false 'gender identity' divergent from an individual's sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service," the Trump order said, arguing that receiving gender-affirming medical care is one of the conditions that is physically and mentally "incompatible with active duty."

Transgender Navy pilot, barred from service, reflects on 'patriotism' ahead of Trump's military parade

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment in a Feb. 7 memo, saying that "efforts to split our troops along lines of identity weaken our Force and make us vulnerable."

Professor Nathaniel Frank, a cultural historian and researcher at Cornell University who studies the history of LGBTQ+ people in the military, told ABC News that decades of research dispute the administration's arguments that transgender individuals are not fit to serve.

"There's never been any evidence found that gay or transgender service members present any problems to unit cohesion or readiness, and that the evidence finds the opposite, that the prohibitions against trans people are what harm readiness and cohesion because they undermine trust," Frank said.

Despite the legal challenges, the Supreme Court ruled in May that the administration can enforce the ban as the lawsuits move forward.

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In response to the letter denying his early retirement, Ireland signed a memo on Wednesday indicating that he understands that his TERA exception to policy application was denied.

The memo, which was reviewed by ABC News, included a box in which Ireland was asked to indicate whether he does or does not intend to submit a voluntary separation request.

Ireland checked the box that says, "I do not," electing involuntary separation instead.

"One thing the military failed to teach me was how to retreat," Ireland told ABC News. "I'm not going down without a fight."

ABC News' Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
Aug. 8BEMIDJI  In the aftermath of the June 21 derecho that tore through town, Beverly Everett wanted to find a way to help with recovery efforts.

The longtime music director of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra decided to use her talents as an organist to plan a fundraising recital. It will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at First Lutheran Church, 900 Bemidji Ave. N. The recital is open to the public, and free-will donations will be accepted.

"I wanted to do something that would benefit the community of Bemidji for all of the loss that it suffered in those late June storms," Everett said.

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The event will include a premiere performance of "Elegy for Liberty," a piece composed for viola and organ by 17-year-old Herbie Crisman of Fort Collins, Colo.

Crisman was one of Everett's students at the Colorado State University Organ Camp, which ended one week before the storm hit Bemidji.

Joining Everett on the piece will be Sarah Hamrin, a Bemidji High School graduate and former BSO violist. Hamrin attended Everett's alma mater, Baylor University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in viola performance and a master's in music history.

"I knew that Sarah was going to be home for the summer," Everett said. "I sent the viola part to Sarah and asked her if she would be willing to learn it. I'm delighted to get to work with Sarah. I haven't seen her in quite a few years."

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Everett said she was impressed with Crisman's talents on the viola. The high schooler also is an accomplished harpsichordist. But she was really surprised when she learned that he composes music.

"What's really cool is that Herbie and his mom are coming all the way from Fort Collins just for the recital," she said.

Also on the program is an instrumental version of "Jesus Loves Me" that incorporates the melody from "Jesus Loves the Little Children."

Everett will perform two pieces she learned earlier this year, "Sun Dance" by Bob Chilcott and "Fantasia on Sine Nomine" by Craig Phillips.

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She will also include an improvisation piece.

"I haven't completely decided what I'm going to do on that yet," she said. "I'm leaning toward doing it on this pop tune called 'How to Save a Life,' as I was thinking about trying to save some of the trees or replant some of the trees and I thought that might be cool."

Everett will end the recital with "Carillon de Westminster," a fantasia on the Westminster chimes, which have been chimed hourly since 1858 at the Palace of Westminster in London.

"I'm really excited to share all of these pieces," Everett said. "People will have probably heard me play some of them before, but at least four of them will be entirely new."
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HBO comedian Bill Maher has MAGA Superman actor Dean Cain for signing up to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.

Cainknown as the star of 1990s TV hit Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanannounced he was joining ICE this week after appearing in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recruitment video.

Maher said on Real Time With Bill Maher Friday that Cain, 59, joined ICE not because hes MAGA. He just needs the money.

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I think he joined because he heard that lots of migrants were coming into this country, and a lot of them were bad actors, Maher added. He said, Room for one more?

Bill Maher tore into

Under pressure from the White House to arrest 3,000 undocumented immigrants per day, DHS has stepped up its recruitment efforts. ICE now accepts applicants without a college degree and has done away with its upper age limit (39) and lower age limit (21), which allows teenagers to join. New ICE officers will also receive a signing bonus of $50,000.

You could put a porch on your house for that, Maher quipped, noting that, given Trumps anti-immigrant purge, one might struggle to find anyone who would build it.

Dean Cain appeared in an ICE recruitment video released this week. / DOMINIC GWINN / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

In a recruitment video released earlier this week, Cain touts President Donald Trumps crackdown on immigrants.

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Heres your opportunity to join ICE, Cain says. Since President Trump took office, ICE has arrested hundreds of thousands of criminals, including terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, you name itvery dangerous people who are no longer on the streets.

JOIN ICE!!

We need your help to protect  pic.twitter.com/cXcUaDcDhY  Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) August 5, 2025

According to data obtained by TRAC, however, seven in 10 migrants detained by ICE have no criminal record as of July 27.

Taking aim at Cains lackluster career, Maher said his decision to join ICE comes at an opportune time.

It works outhe was already living in a van," Maher said.

Comedian Margaret Cho also went after Cain in a video posted on Instagram, noting that Cain is half Japanese.

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Why would you join ICE and encourage people to join ICE when your ancestors were interned in World War II? Cho said. Youre not even white I know you, and you are not white.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Cains representatives for comment on Mahers remarks.
Ill say this for child molesters, when they grab you off the street and throw you into a van, at least they do it because they love it, Bill Maher joked during his monologue on Fridays Real Time. The context? He was basically joking that child molesters are better than Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

He got to that joke by first talking at length about the implementation of Donald Trumps draconian (likely illegal) tariffs, and, after explaining several of the likely terrible effects of these tariffs  and how confusing and unpredictable they are  Maher joked, If all this seems counterintuitive to you, its because Jeffrey Epstein wasnt at your wedding.

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I really I dont get Trump, Maher continued. I really dont. The tariffs? Not popular. ICE going around there with their masks, throwing people into vans? Not popular. And yet hes doubling down on unpopular.

I mean, the ICE thing, theyre just going after more, they need more people, so theyre having a big recruitment program, no age limit, they announced this week. Doesnt matter how young you are, you can be 18. You can be old as dirt. If you like wearing a mask and throwing people in a van, Maher said. Also a signing bonus. You have $50,000 signing bonus. You could put a porch on your house for that. Good luck to find anyone who could build it.

Maher then talked about former Lost & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman star Dean Cain, who announced this week that hes joining ICE.

He joined because heard that lots of migrants were coming into this country.

And it works out he was already living in a van, Maher said. Okay, I kid Dean Cain, but no, I think he joined because he heard that lots of migrants were coming into this country, and a lot of them were bad actors.

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Then he got to talking about ICE agents specifically.

Well, if thats not enough, we have another wildfire heading toward LA. Oh, the smoke is so thick. Some of the ICE agents are wearing two masks, Maher continued. Ill say this for child molesters, when they grab you off the street and throw you into a van, at least they do it because they love it. You know what Im saying?

Whether you are fleeing ICE, or you are fleeing the wildfires, or youre a democratic Texas legislator whos fleeing the state, its great to know that America is united behind one thing: Fleeing, Maher added as he wrapped up his monologue.

Watch part of the monologue below:

The post Bill Maher Compares ICE Agents, Unfavorably, to Child Molesters, Jokes America Is United Behind One Thing: Fleeing | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
HBO talk show host and comedian Bill Maher confronted Phil McGraw, known as the TV personality Dr. Phil, about McGraw's participation in raids with Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Friday nights edition of Real Time.

Why are you going on these ICE raids? Maher asked. I dont understand that.

Youre a guy who we know for so many years who has been working to put families together, he added. To bring families who are apart and heal them. And now youre going on raids with people who are literally separating families.

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Dr. Phil, a former clinical psychologist, responded, Well, now thats bulls***.

Look, if you arrest somebody thats a citizen, that has committed a crime or is DUId with a child in the backseat, do you think they dont separate that family right then, right there? Dr. Phil asked. Of course they do!

Dr. Phil, seen here with President Donald Trump, appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday night (Getty Images)

But thats not whats going on, said Maher.

Dr. Phil is reported to have taken part in ICE raids twice, in Chicago in January, and in Los Angeles in June, the New York Post noted.

However, the TV personality has denied being embedded during the ICE raids in Los Angeles, which prompted protests. But Dr. Phils camera crews did take part.

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MeritTV news crews were on the ground during the recent ICE operations in LA ... In order to not escalate any situation, Dr. Phil McGraw did not join and was not embedded, as he previously was in Chicago, a spokesperson for McGraw told The Independent in June.

Before the confrontation began on Friday night, Maher had argued that the deportation raids were another thing that President Donald Trump is doing while hes doubling down on unpopular.

Dr. Phil went on to reference Mahers monologue in which he had criticized ICE agents for wearing masks. Dr. Phil argued that agents are masked because legislators are doxxing them.

He claimed that legislators are putting their names, their pictures, their addresses of their families on the internet, theyre putting them on telephone poles.

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So, of course, theyre wearing masks so they dont get outed, so people can do violence against their families, he added.

Dr. Phil argued that he had seen information that justified the raids he had taken part in.

Dr. Phil argued on Real Time with Bill Maher that he had seen information justifying the ICE raids he had taken part in (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Theyve got a rap sheet, 12, 14 different cases long of child predators that theyre taking off the street, he said. These are the worst first that theyre taking off the streets. Who would want them back in their communities?

Another guest on the show, ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith, said he backs closing the borders, but argued that the actions taken by the administration havent matched their promises.

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When youre going to Home Depot, when youre going to peoples jobs, when youve been given authorization to enter churches and to enter other properties  who they have been targeting has been different than what they originally advertised, said Smith.

Maher agreed, noting that ICE is entering places where people are already working.

If you cant go to work because youre hiding, what other recourse is it for [illegal immigrants] except crime? asked Maher.
In or around 1825, John Andrew Jackson was born enslaved on a plantation in South Carolina and trained to spend his life picking cotton.

But instead of living a life as a slave, he escaped bondage and became an influential anti-slavery lecturer and writer. He also had a key role in Harriet Beecher Stowes celebrated novel Uncle Toms Cabin, which historians have argued helped trigger the Civil War by its depiction of the subhuman treatment afforded Black men and women.

As a scholar of the lives of enslaved people and their writings, I have researched the life of Jackson for years and still remain puzzled by his obscurity from most histories of slavery in America. In my biography of Jackson, A Plausible Man, I detail his remarkable life.

North to freedom

In early 1846, Jacksons wife and daughter were sold to another South Carolina plantation. Heartbroken and furious, he was determined to earn money and buy his familys freedom. Jackson waited until Christmas Day and took a bold step  he escaped on horseback.

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He found work on the docks in Charleston and eventually hid between cotton bales aboard a boat heading to Boston.

Once there, Jackson started speaking at abolitionist meetings across Massachusetts to raise money to free his wife and child. But before he could raise the necessary amount, President Millard Fillmore signed into law the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which would impose harsh penalties on anyone who assisted runaways.

Even though Jackson was living in a supposedly free state, he was in terrible danger of being returned to enslavement under the new law. Jackson decided to flee again, this time to Canada.

Along the way, abolitionists directed Jackson to sympathetic homes in Maine.

A chance meeting

One such home belonged to the stuffy Thomas C. Upham, a professor of mental and moral philosophy at Bowdoin College.

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He had told his friends that while slavery was a grievous wrong, the Fugitive Slave Act was nonetheless the law and should be obeyed.

But when Jackson knocked on his door, Upham immediately put aside his scruples.

Upham invited him in and offered food and encouragement. Because Upham couldnt put Jackson up for the night, he directed Jackson to his neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe  a friend who had long been frustrated with the otherwise kindly professors timid politics.

A drawing of Harriet Beecher Stowes home in Brunswick, Maine. Culture Club/Getty Images

Stowe was a little-known writer at the time, living as a faculty wife of a Bowdoin College professor. When Jackson came to her threshold, she, too, broke the law.

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She opened the door and welcomed him in. Jackson entertained her children, told her of his heartbreak and accepted money, food and clothing from her before leaving the next morning.

Although she never used Jacksons name, she later wrote of this incident, noting that her visitor was a genuine article from Ole Carliny State  a reference to a popular minstrel song that Jackson was to later append to his own memoir.

The little woman

A few weeks later, Stowe began drafting Uncle Toms Cabin.

It had a familiar scene. The novels heroine, Eliza, a Black fugitive, knocks on the door of a U.S. senator who had previously promised to adhere to the fugitive slave laws.

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But when faced with a terrorized person at his doorstep, the senator allowed his heart to lead instead of his head. Like the real professor Upham, the fictional senator and his wife defied the law.

An image of abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe appears in her novel Uncle Toms Cabin, Heritage Images/Getty Images

Art always arises from a myriad of influences, and other individuals or experiences certainly inspired Stowes writing.

But aside from this scene that clearly drew upon Uphams meeting with Jackson, this encounter took Stowe from the broader debate of anti-slavery politics to the immediacy of direct action.

Published in 1852, Uncle Toms Cabin galvanized abolitionists across the country and became the second-bestselling book in the U.S. during the 19th century. Only the Bible ranked higher.

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A decade later, when Stowe visited the White House in November 1862, President Abraham Lincoln supposedly told her: So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.

A life on the run

While Stowe was drafting her novel, Jackson was crossing the U.S.-Canada border.

He moved from Maine and settled in St. Johns, New Brunswick, for a few years. But his desire to have a broader influence in the anti-slavery movement led him to sail off to Liverpool, England, with an endorsement letter from Stowe herself.

Over the next decade, Jackson lectured across Britain, as many Black abolitionists did, including Frederick Douglass. During this time, Jackson wrote his 1862 memoir, The Experience of a Slave in South Carolina, in which he wrote of his encounter with Stowe.

During my flight from Salem to Canada, I met with a very sincere friend and helper, who gave me a refuge during the night, and set me on my way. Her name was Mrs. Beecher Stowe. She took me in and fed me, and gave me some clothes and five dollars. She also inspected my back, which is covered with scars which I shall carry with me to the grave.

It was only until after the Civil War ended in 1865 that Jackson sailed back to the U.S. from Britain.

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He continued to lecture and raise money, this time for relief supplies for destitute freedmen in South Carolina. He collected money to start an orphans home, a church and a home for Black elders without families to care for them.

Few of these projects ever fully materialized, but newspapers and correspondence with government officials document his relentless advocacy.

Jacksons audacious life ended at some point in the very early 20th century. Before he died, his actions had become legend among the people who knew him in the Black community.

One of his neighbors remembered him with admiration.

In the 1930s, an interviewer asked Jake McLeod, an elderly Black sharecropper, about his memories of Jackson.

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Don know how-come he run away, McLeod said, but dey didnt catch up wid him till it was too late.

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: Susanna Ashton, Clemson University

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Susanna Ashton received funding from The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University and the Gilder Lehrman Institute for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University
(NewsNation)  Blake Lively has scored another victory in her legal fight with Justin Baldoni.

The judge presiding over her case granted the All I See Is You actress motion to strike a rough draft of her deposition transcript from the docket, according to People magazine.

The Wayfarer Parties attachment of the entire, nearly 300-page deposition  after citing only two pages of it in the Letter  served no proper litigation purpose and instead appears to have been intended to burden Lively (and as a result, the Court) and to invite public speculation and scandal, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled Friday.

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Blake Lively case heats up as Perez Hilton slams lawyer, calls judge sexy

On Monday, Livelys attorney had asked the judge to strike the 292-page transcript after details of her deposition were revealed.

In rushing to file on the public docket the entirety of the 292-page transcript on the day they received it, with no plausible legal reason to do so, the Wayfarer Defendants and their counsel have proved Ms. Livelys point, Livelys attorney wrote to Liman.

Blake Livelys deposition details revealed

Details from Livelys July 31 sit-down deposition were released Aug. 4.

In a text chain revealed in unsealed documents from Livelys sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, editor Robb Sullivan texted SMH  shorthand for shaking my head  to co-editor Oona Flaherty and a person named Henry Grace.

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In his ruling on Friday, Liman added, The conclusion is inescapable that the Wayfarer Parties filed gratuitous amounts of irrelevant pages so that, if Lively moved for continued sealing of the irrelevant pages, the Wayfarer Parties could then use Livelys response for their own public-relations purposes, he wrote. The Court has not only the power but also the responsibility to step in.

Brooke Hogan calls out Hulk Hogans estate, threatens lawsuit

Lively and Baldoni co-starred in the movie It Ends With Us. In December of 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, who also directed the movie, for alleged sexual harassment and creating a hostile environment on the movie set. She also alleged Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her.

Liman 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.

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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.
UPDATE:

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Jackson Mayor John Horhn announced that a temporary restoration of water service and expanded relocation support has been secured for residents of Blossom Apartments.

On Friday, the mayor called U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate to request that water service be turned back on temporarily. He said Wingate agreed, granting a five-day restoration to give residents time to relocate safely.

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Judge Wingates decision to turn the water back on gives us the critical time we need to help our neighbors get to a safe place, Horhn said. I appreciate his compassion and leadership, as well as the quick actions by Mississippi Home Corporation, Stewpot, Jackson Housing Authority, and Region 6 Housing Authority to step up for our residents.

Horhn said he has been in contact with Mississippi Home Corporation, which is stepping in to cover down payments for new apartments, the first months rent and relocation expenses. These funds will be delivered through Stewpot, which continues to coordinate relocation and support services for affected tenants.

Stewpot CEO Jill Buckley has organized a relocation assistance meeting for Blossom Apartments residents on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stewpot headquarters. Landlords and property owners are invited to attend and meet directly with residents in need of housing.

Blossom Apartments were declared non-compliant by Mississippi Home Corporation, and residents were ordered to leave.

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  The management at Blossom Apartments in South Jackson are now facing a deadline.

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Jackson Mayor John Horhn said the property manager was given a 48-hour notice to relocate tenants. Many of them have been living without water for weeks due to unpaid bills by the apartment complex.

Chapel Ridge Apartments in Jackson has new owner

Horhn said he opposes the eviction notice issued to residents. The mayor said he reached out to the Mississippi Home Corporation, requesting them to extend the deadline until Tuesday, August 12, in order to align with Stewpots meeting designed to assist residents in applying for alternative housing.

Stewpot CEO Jill Buckley invited landlords and property owners to attend the meeting at Stewpot headquarters from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., ensuring residents have immediate options for relocation.

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Evicting vulnerable families on a 48-hour deadline is not right. We are asking Mississippi Home Corporation to give us just a few more days so our partners can help every resident find a safe place to stay and avoid homelessness, Horhn said. Blossom residents deserve dignity, and compassion, not abandonment. Were doing everything we can, with help from local groups and landlords, to make sure families can move to safe new homes.

Residents are urged to attend Stewpots relocation assistance meeting.

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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.
The Boars Head deli meat plant at the heart of last years deadly food poisoning outbreak is set to reopen in the coming months, company officials said.

But recent inspections at Boars Head sites in three states documented sanitation problems similar to those that led to the listeria contamination that killed 10 people and sickened dozens.

The Jarratt, Virginia, plant was shut down in September when U.S. Agriculture Department officials suspended operations and withdrew the federal marks of inspection required to operate, saying the company failed to maintain sanitary conditions. Boars Head permanently stopped making liverwurst and recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products.

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USDA officials this week said they had thoroughly reviewed the plant and lifted the forced suspension on July 18.

The facility is in full compliance of the guidelines and protocols set for the safe handling and production of food and the serious issues that led to suspension have been fully rectified, officials with the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service said in an email Wednesday.

And yet, documents obtained by The Associated Press through a freedom of information request show that Boars Head plants in Arkansas, Indiana and elsewhere in Virginia were flagged for the same kinds of sanitation problems that led to the outbreak, with the most recent report in June.

In the past seven months, government inspectors reported problems that include instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, drains blocked with meat products, beaded condensation on ceilings and floors, overflowing trash cans, and staff who didnt wear protective hairnets and plastic aprons  or wash their hands.

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The records, which included USDA noncompliance reports logged by inspectors from Jan. 1 through July 23, raise new questions about the companys promises to address systemic problems and about federal oversight of listeria contamination in plants that make ready-to-eat foods.

If there is evidence that food safety problems are continuing, the government needs to make sure the company fixes them, said Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who now heads STOP Foodborne Illness, a consumer group focused on food safety.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last month announced plans to bolster efforts that combat foodborne germs, including listeria.

Jobs posted in Virginia

Officials at Boars Head, the 120-year-old company based in Sarasota, Florida, have posted job openings for two dozen positions, including a food safety quality analyst, at the Jarratt site.

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The company convened a panel of expert advisers last fall and hired a chief food safety officer in May. The advisers include Frank Yiannas, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official, and Mindy Brashears, President Donald Trumps nominee for USDAs undersecretary for food safety.

Boars Head last year said they regret and deeply apologize for the contamination and that comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.

Have a news tip?

Contact APs global investigative team at investigative@ap.org. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604.

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But company officials refused to discuss the problems found this year. They canceled a scheduled AP interview with Natalie Dyenson, the new food safety officer. And they declined to allow Yiannas to detail the investigation he led into the contaminations cause.

Brashears, who now directs a food safety center at Texas Tech University, did not respond to requests for comment about the Boars Head problems. An automatic email reply said the USDA nominee was traveling out of the country until Aug. 25. She remains on the companys food safety board.

Boars Head has an unwavering commitment to food safety and quality. That commitment is reflected in recent enhancements to our practices and protocols described on the companys website, Boars Head said in an emailed statement.

We have also been working with the USDA in developing a plan to reopen our Jarratt facility in a measured, deliberate way in the coming months, the statement said.

Inadequate sanitation practices

The 35 pages of new inspection findings cover Boars Head sites in Forrest City, Arkansas; New Castle, Indiana; and Petersburg, Virginia.

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They surprised outside food safety advocates, who said that factory conditions should have improved in the year since the outbreak was first identified.

You would have expected after all they went through that they would put themselves in a place where you could essentially eat deli meat off the factory floor, said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, an advocacy group.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro called the findings appalling.

This is a pattern of negligence  cutting corners to protect the companys bottom line at the expense of consumers and these conditions show a complete disregard for food safety and for the public health of the American people, the Connecticut Democrat said in a statement.

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The findings echo the inadequate sanitation practices that USDA officials said contributed to the outbreak. Key factors included product residue, condensation and structural problems in the buildings, a January report concluded.

At the Jarratt plant, state inspectors working in partnership with USDA had documented mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment, the AP previously reported.

While no instances of insects were documented in this years inspection reports, there were repeated reports of dried fat and protein from the previous days production on equipment, stairs and walls. In April, an inspector at the Petersburg plant reported finding discarded meat underneath equipment, including 5-6 hams, 4 large pieces of meat and a large quantity of pooling meat juice.

Other reports detailed beaded condensation directly over the food contact surfaces of tables and conveyor belts. Additional reports documented rusting meat racks, doors that failed to close completely and staff who ignored required handwashing stations.

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The reports point to a food safety culture problem, said Barbara Kowalcyk, who directs a food safety and nutrition security center at George Washington University.

What jumped out to me is there is an organizational culture issue that needs to be changed, she said. Usually that culture has to start at the top.

In the meantime, she advised consumers to think carefully about deli meat consumption. Older people and those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to serious illness from listeria infections.

I think they need to be aware that there are issues at this organization that still are not completely under control, apparently, Kowalcyk said.

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Boars Head faced multiple lawsuits from people who fell ill or from the families of those who died. Several survivors declined to comment publicly on the new problems, citing financial settlements with the company that included nondisclosure agreements.

___

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GOSHEN  The Goshen Board of Works & Safety changed a request made by Women of Valor in Training.

The original request was for the organization to hold a bucket brigade fundraiser in the intersection of Pike and Third streets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. The event would be similar to fundraisers held by the fire department, in which members would walk through the intersection and solicit funds while cars were idling at the stoplight.

The boards initial reaction to the request was to not allow the participants to enter the travel lanes of the intersection, citing safety concerns. It was suggested that the solicitations could only be done from the curbside through the passenger side windows of the vehicles. After deliberation, it also was determined that the requested intersection, with its multiple lanes of travel, also created safety concerns even with the modifications.

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As it was the first agenda item for the meeting, the board voted to table a vote on the request until the end of the meeting to allow other locations to be considered.

When the matter was reconsidered, it was determined that the fundraiser would be allowed from the intersection of Washington and Main streets. The city would allow a portable pop-up tent to be placed on the sidewalk on the northeast corner of that intersection and that donations could be solicited from the curbsides only, not in the middle of the roadway.

In other business, the board approved a legal department request to declare a surplus of vehicles and unused equipment and authorize the disposal of the city-owned property via auction to be conducted by Bright Star Realty and Auctions on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The board also approved a legal department request to declare and approve for disposal of the surplus of outdated and unusable IT equipment currently owned by the city.

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In other business, the board:

 Confirmed a request from the engineering department to approve Structurepoint as the selected design consultant for the College Avenue Sanitary project for a fee of $17,000 and hourly services not to exceed $6,500.

 Approved the Peddlers Village Road closure between C.R. 17 and the new roundabout for the roadway, curb and gutter and storm construction work from Aug. 18 through Nov. 21, as requested by the engineering department.

 Approved the relocation and installation of new signs and designate revised stop locations for the MACOG Interurban Trolley near the new Elkhart County Justice Center.

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 Approved the closure of the sidewalk in front of 314 S. Sixth Street from Aug. 25-29 for the private reconstruction of the sidewalk at that location. The request was made by Nate Kauffman, whose company, Kauffman Construction, will be doing the work.

Approved a request from Riley Mills to restrict two street parking spaces in front of the Goshen Art House, 211 S. Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, for the ongoing unloading of musical equipment by artists who will be performing there throughout the day.

The board of works will not meet again until 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, inside the Goshen Police & Court Building, 111 E. Jefferson St. The public is invited to attend.




NEED TO KNOW

The body of a 6-year-old boy, who fell into a river in Connecticut on Aug. 6, has been found

His body was discovered by civilian boaters on Aug. 8, about half a mile south of where he disappeared, authorities said

The identity of the boy has not yet been released publicly







The body of a 6-year-old boy, who fell into a river in Connecticut, has been found.

His body was discovered floating in the Housatonic River by "civilian boaters" around 2 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 8, according to a press release shared on Facebook by the Stratford Police Department (SPD).

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The body was found approximately a half a mile south of where the boy fell in the water, per the release.

Marine units were on the scene almost immediately, and the boys body was transported to the State of Connecticut's Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy will be conducted. The childs family has since been notified, police said.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family, the SPD added in its social media post.

PEOPLE reached out to the SPD and the State of Connecticuts Medical Examiners Office for comment on Saturday, Aug. 9, but did not receive an immediate response.

The child, who has not yet been identified publicly, fell into the Housatonic River while he was walking on the Birdseye Boat Ramp around 1:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 6, according to anews release from the SPD.

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A United Illuminating employee jumped into the river in [an] attempt to save" him, but police said those efforts were unsuccessful, and the child was not found.

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Officials confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 7, that the search for the boy had transitioned into a recovery mission, according to NBC affiliate WVIT and CBS affiliate WFSB.

At the time, Stratford Police Captain Jerry Pinto said strong currents complicated efforts to locate the boy.

"We are hopeful we find the boy today, Pinto said, per FOX affiliate WTIC-TV. The currents are strong, and it's murky and it's not easy to do it.

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A Boise School District bus driver was arrested under suspicion of felony injury to a child and possession of child sexual exploitation material Thursday afternoon after an investigation by the Idaho Attorney Generals Office, according to a news release by the agency.

Brian Hendricks was arrested at his home in Boise where they found several children living in the home in imminent danger, according to a news release from the Attorney Generals Office. He was booked into the Ada County Jail on suspicion of 11 felony counts: seven of possessing child sexual exploitation material and four of injury to a child, according to the jail roster and Attorney Generals Office.

Investigators also found multiple animals in the home living in uninhabitable conditions, according to the Attorney Generals Office. Authorities took action to protect the children and seized the animals, the news release said. Hendricks was also suspected of two misdemeanor counts of animal nuisance, according to the Ada County Sheriffs Office jail roster.

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Hendricks had been working as a bus driver with Durham School Services, Boise School Districts contracted transportation service. Durham School Services fired Hendricks after learning about his arrest, the company told the Idaho Statesman in a statement.

The Boise School District said in a news release that it had received no reports regarding Hendricks. Investigators also stated there was no evidence of local victims, according to the districts news release.

The district said every bus in its fleet, including the one Hendricks operated, is equipped with cameras. Hendricks route also included another Durham staff member who was a bus monitor, according to the district.

We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our students, the school district stated. The safety of the children we serve is our highest priority, and we remain committed to maintaining rigorous safety protocols with all of our staff and contracted service providers.

The Attorney Generals Office encouraged anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children to contact local police, the Attorney Generals ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
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"Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency" (Dutton), by presidential historian Mark K. Updegrove, traces John Fitzgerald Kennedy's years in the White House, including his final days leading up to a political fundraising trip in Texas.

Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Erin Moriarty's interview with Updegrove on "CBS Sunday Morning" August 10!

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"Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency" by Mark K. Updegrove

Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now.

Dallas

Occasionally, John Kennedy would consider what he would do after his presidency. "Oh, probably sell real estate," he once joked when asked about it. "That's the only thing I'm equipped to do." Perhaps half-kiddingly, he suggested to Ben Bradlee that the two of them should buy the Washington Post. In more serious moments he mentioned becoming the president of Harvard or running for the Senate. Jackie suspected that she and her husband would have lived between Cambridge and New York, and that he would have occupied his time in the immediate years after leaving office by writing a book, planning his presidential library, and traveling the world, playing the role of "President of the West," an international celebrity and sage voice on the issues of the day.

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After two terms, JFK would have been a relatively youthful 51-years-old, making him the youngest former president since Theodore Roosevelt stepped down in 1909 at age 50only to find himself restively pining away for the office he had willingly given up. Hungering to get back into the arena, TR made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1912. Perhaps anticipating the same kind of middle-aged restlessness and longing for lost power from her husband, Jackie told him she wished "they made a rule that would keep you here forever." "Oh, no," Kennedy said, "eight years is enough of this place."

But it was clear to anyone around him that he loved every second of the job, and he intended to keep it until his two terms were upand that would require earning reelection the following year. To that end, in the late afternoon of November 13, just under a year before Americans would go to the polls, Kennedy convened Bobby, brother-in-law Steve Smith, Kenny O'Donnell, Ted Sorenson, Larry O'Brien, DNC chairman John Bailey, party treasurer Richard McGuire, and director of the Census Bureau and political strategist Richard Scammon to begin formally taking aim at the challenges that lie ahead in the 1964 election. For over three hours the group met in the Cabinet Room. As they discussed Kennedy's prospects, a general feeling of optimism pervaded.

There was reason to be bullish. The economy was humming along, with the gross national product up $100 billion over 1960, Eisenhower's last year in office. The Soviets, humbled by the Cuban Missile Crisis a year earlier, remained in check as the superpowers enjoyed a period of detente, while in Houston NASA was developing a Saturn I rocket that, if successfully launched, would be the most powerful to date, paving the way for the U.S. to leapfrog past the U.S.S.R. in the space race. Plus, Kennedy's approval rating stood at a hardy 59 percent, with national polls reflecting that he was the most admired man in the world, ahead of beloved figures like Eisenhower, Churchill, and renowned evangelist Billy Graham.

At age forty-six, flecks of gray in his thick sheaf of chestnut hair, Kennedy stood astride the world stage nonpareil. "Let's face it, after these many months into his office, JFK is no ordinary chief magistrate," gushed William Styron in an Esquire profile published in September 1963, "but the glamorous and gorgeous avatar of American power at the magic moment of its absolute twentieth-century ascendancy. The entire world, including even the Russians, has gone a little gaga over this youthful demigod and his bewitching consort and [this] writer has to confess that he is perhaps a touch gaga himself."

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Just as encouraging were Gallup polls that matched up Kennedy against prospective Republican rivals Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, and George Romney that, in each case, gave Kennedy a double-digit edge. Of the three, Kennedy had feared Rockefeller the most. He believed that had the New York governor entered the primaries in 1960, he would have gotten the GOP nomination and beaten him in the general election. But by 1963, Rockefeller had divorced his wife and married a younger woman, also a divorcee, diminishing his popular appeal on moral grounds.

George Romney, the governor of Michigan, was also seen as a threat. The devout, clean-living Mormon hadn't yet announced his intentions to run for the presidency as he waited for a sign from God. Bobby believed conservatives and moderates alike might "fall for that God and country stuff."

Given his druthers, Kennedy would have chosen Goldwater as his Republican challenger. The preeminent conservative of the day, the senator from Arizona was seen by many, including moderates in his own party, to be an extremist who lacked the temperament to be president in the nuclear age. The impression was reinforced by statements that were considered outrageous by the standards of the early-1960s, including Goldwater's suggestion to drop "a low-yield atomic bomb on the Chinese supply lines in Vietnam," and, rather than sending a space craft to the moon, lobbing "one into the men's room of the Kremlin." They helped to explain a March 1963 poll that had Kennedy winning over Goldwater by a margin of 67 to 27 percent, with 74 percent expecting that Kennedy would be reelected. For Kennedy, a face-off with Goldwater would have been too good to be true.

Still, regardless of his opponent, Kennedy's reelection would by no means be a fait accompli. Kennedy himself was keenly aware of the capricious nature of politics and talked repeatedly about how "tough" the campaign would be. He had seen a steady rise in his disapproval rating, which now stood near 30 percent, with the increase correlating directly with his push on the controversial civil rights bill. In November, he acknowledged the decline in his popularity as a consequence of his stand. "Change always disturbs," he said, "and therefore, I was surprised that there wasn't greater opposition." But it irked him that the civil rights bill, along with a tax relief bill he had proposed to stave off a possible recession the following year, had stalled in Congress with no immediate prospects for resuscitation. "The fact of the matter is that both of these bills should be passed," he groused. The president's legislative impotenceMedicare and other bills had also been stymiedbecame another cause for worry as the Kennedy team looked toward 1964. But all things considered, Kennedy was riding high.

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Absent from Kennedy's reelection strategy session, perhaps conspicuously, was Lyndon Johnson. By the fall of 1963, rumors swirled across Washington that Kennedy would drop LBJ from the ticketspeculation that was quickly struck down by the president himself. Sensitive to how Johnson might respond as the gossip inevitably made its way to him, Kennedy told Johnson's aide Bobby Baker, "I know he's unhappy in the vice presidency. It'sthe worst f***ing job I can imagine What I want you to do is tell Lyndon that I appreciate him as vice president. I know he's got a tough role and I'm sympathetic." Alluding to the hearsay and invoking the words of FDR, Kennedy instructed Baker to assure Johnson that he had "nothing to fear but fear itself." When Charlie Bartlett brought up the rumor during a skinny-dip in the White House pool, Kennedy impatiently snapped, "Why would I do a thing like that? That would be absolutely crazy. It would tear up the relationship and hurt me in Texas. That would be the most foolish thing I could do."

Indeed, Texas was on Kennedy's mind in November as the White House planned a two-day, five-city presidential visit throughout the state the week before Thanksgiving. Conventional wisdom has it that Kennedy wanted the trip to mend political fences. As civil rights had come to the fore, heavily Democratic Texas had experienced a split in the party ranks, with Texas governor John Connally heading up the conservative wing and the liberal faction led up by Senator Ralph Yarborough. Though Yarborough's progressivism was closely aligned with Johnson's, they, too, had a fractious relationship due to the vice president's association with Connally, a close friend and former aide. The story goes that Kennedy had hoped to use the trip to bring the two sides together in the interest of party harmony. Both Johnson and Connally would later dispute that notion. "Hell," Johnson said, "if he wanted to bring us together, he could have done that in Washington."

In fact, the trip was mostly about money. As he geared up for 1964, Kennedy saw an opportunity to lean on Johnson and Connally to put the arm on wealthy Texas Democrats, many of whom opposed Kennedy, to support an Austin fundraiser that would add a million dollars to the campaign war chesta huge sum at the timeand would jump-start the reelection effort. Getting Texans to step up would also be a loyalty test for Johnson, especially as rumors that he would be dropped from the ticket hung in the air.

Connally opposed the trip due to the president's declining popularity in the state, which had seen a drop in Kennedy's approval rating from 76 percent to 50 since the beginning of the year due largely to Kennedy's stand on civil rights. Instead, Connally recommended that the president come in the beginning of the next calendar year in order to let things settle a bit. But when the Kennedy camp pushed for the trip in the fall of 1963, Connally pressed them to make it not just the fundraiser in Austin, but a two-day swing through the biggest cities in the state, which the Kennedy-Johnson ticket had won in 1960 by a scant two percentage points. Kennedy got his fundraiser, Connally got the president's commitment to a visit that would include stops in Houston and San Antonio on one day and Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin the next.

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On the morning of Friday, November 22, John Kennedy was awakened in suite 850 of the Texas Hotel in Fort Worth with a gentle rap on the door from George Thomas, who had traveled to Texas with him and the first lady. Thomas informed him that it was raining outside, but as Kennedy made his way to the window, he would find that it hadn't discouraged locals from turning out to greet him.

The trip to Texas marked the first public outing for Jackie with her husband since losing Patrick three and a half months earlier. As ever, she proved to be a big draw, though she declined to participate in the first event of the day, a hastily arranged speech in the parking lot outside the hotel. Originally slated for 8:45 am, the event was rescheduled to mid-morning, then pulled back to 8:45 again due to the president's concerns that those in the audience would be late to work. "There are no faint hearts here in Fort Worth," he said to some 3,000 who braved the drizzle, "and I appreciate your being here this morning. Mrs. Kennedy is organizing herself. It takes her longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it."

When the first lady appeared for a breakfast with the heavily Republican Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce later that morningdressed in a light pink wool Chanel suit with navy blue trim, a matching pill box hat, and white glovesshe did not disappoint. "Two years ago, I introduced myself in Paris by saying that I was the man who had accompanied Mrs. Kennedy to Paris," Kennedy said to the delight of the audience, his pride in his wife palpable. "I am getting somewhat the same sensation as I travel through Texas. Nobody wonders what Lyndon and I wear." Reporters surveying those who had come out to see President and Mrs. Kennedy throughout the state would find that at least half, women and men alike, had come to see her.

It was to be a busy day for the Kennedys, as well as for Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson and Connally and his wife, Nellie, who acted as hosts, accompanying the first couple throughout their trip. After breakfast they would take a short hop to Dallas, where the Kennedys would travel by motorcade to the Trade Mart for a luncheon. Then it would be on to Austin for a major fundraising dinner arranged by Governor Connally before spending the night at the vice president's LBJ Ranch seventy miles away in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

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There was some trepidation about the first stop. Dallas was not known for its civilityat least to those considered liberals by local fringe Republicans. A month before Kennedy's visit, Adlai Stevenson had given an address at Dallas' Memorial Auditorium Theater and was accosted afterward by jeering anti-U.N. extremists. A woman hit him over the head with a placard that read "Down with the U.N." and a young man spat on him as he walked to his carthen, for good measure, spat on the cop who moved in to arrest him. "Dallas has been disgraced," the Dallas Morning News wrote in a page one editorial the following day. "There is no other way to view the storm-trooper actions of last night's frightening attack on Adlai Stevenson." Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson were met by similar invective three years earlier. Just prior to the election in 1960, they were besieged outside the Adolphus Hotel by protesters carrying signs that read "Lyndon Go Home," and "Let's Ground Lady Bird." As they crossed the street, they, too, were spat upon.

On the day of his visit, the John Birch Society welcomed Kennedy with an ad in the Dallas Morning News accusing him and Bobby of being "soft on Communists, fellow-travelers and ultra-leftists." Kennedy ran across it as he examined the newspapers that morning. "We're heading into nut country today," he told his wife as they prepared for the day. "But, Jackie, if somebody wants to shoot me from a window with a rifle, nobody can stop it, so why worry about it?"

But the visit to Dallas looked promising before it even started; autumn rain clouds turned to boundless blue sky during the Kennedys' thirteen-minute flight to Love Field, where Air Force One touched down at 11:38 am. As they disembarked, Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson awaited them along with a few thousand well-wishers pressed along the fence line beyond the tarmac. The Kennedys spent a few minutes greeting some of them, one of whom presented Jackie a bouquet of a dozen red roses, before they slipped into the plush back seat of the presidential limousinea 1961 Lincoln Continental, midnight blue gleaming in the North Texas sunshinethat would carry them and John and Nellie Connally to the Trade Mart. The fortuitous change in weather prompted Kennedy to order that the limousine's clear plastic bubble top be removed and its bulletproof windows rolled down.

A hundred and fifty thousand people lined up along the ten-mile motorcade route, swelling to as much as twenty or thirty deep, as the car neared downtown, "absorbed," as one Texas reporter wrote, "in the power and glory of the moment; in this their touch with the fabulous." The first couple glided before them, smiling and waving as they passed, enjoying it all. The crowd was a snapshot of America in its time, mostly white with pockets of black and brown; housewives and young working women in office garb; men in business suits, others in open collars and hard hats; handfuls of students; small children on the shoulders of their fathers, or holding the hands of their mothers with one hand as they held tiny American flags in the other. As the car approached, cheers rose and patches of confetti rained from buildings. "You can't say that Dallas isn't friendly to you today," Nellie Connally said to the president at 12:30 p.m. as the car rounded the curve of Main Street to move toward the highway overpass.

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Then came the crackle of gunfire. Three shots in quick succession echoed from the dull red-brick Texas School Book Depository Building across Dealey Plaza. The president was propelled forward by a bullet that hit above his right shoulder, passing through his lower neck, his balled-up fists rushing reflexively toward the wound. He sprung back upright before he was thrust forward again by another shot to the back of his head, which fell to Jackie Kennedy's lap as his body collapsed. "Jack!" the first lady cried out, "Oh, no! No!" Fear and disorder reigned in an instant. Horrified onlookers watched the car race off to Parkland Hospital, just over three miles away.

It arrived at 12:35. Kennedy was stripped of his jacket, shirt and t-shirt and rushed into Trauma Room One. Malcolm Perry, the 34-year-old doctor on duty, was summoned from lunch in the hospital's main dining room with an emergency page, arriving in short order. Kennedy wasn't breathing. Blood from the gunshot wounds on the back of his head and neck fell to the floor. Perry ordered a nurse to get three of the other Parkland doctors right away. He gave Kennedy a tracheotomy, then a blood transfusion. Doctors and nurses burst in and out of the small, gray tile room. The hospital's chief neurosurgeon in residency, William Kemp Clark, entered. Before aiding the other doctors, he approached the first lady, who stood silently to the side, her husband's blood caked on her pink skirt.

"Would you like to leave, ma'am?" he asked her gently. "We can make you more comfortable outside."

"No," she said. Motionless, she remained by his side to the last, her eyes never leaving his. She didn't cry as the doctors fought to save his life, forcefully pumping his chest to bring breath back into his limp body. She didn't cry as they stopped after ten minutes and pulled a white sheet over his head at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, half an hour after the shots were fired, nor when a 70-year-old priest was brought in to give the patient his last rites, rubbing holy oil in the shape of a cross on his forehead. She held her emotions at bay as she stood placidly before him for the last time and took his wedding ring from his finger, replacing it with hers and whispering into his ear words long left to eternity.

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Reports soon went out on the news wires: John Fitzgerald Kennedy was dead.

Left unsaid were the words the thirty-fifth president had planned to use to conclude the speech he was to give in Austin that same evening:

Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our causeunified in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the futureand determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance.



From "Incomparable Grace." Reprinted by arrangement with Dutton, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, a Penguin Random House Company. Copyright  Mark K. Updegrove, 2022.

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"Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency" by Mark K. Updegrove

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"Incomparable Grace: JFK in the Presidency" by Mark K. Updegrove (Dutton), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats Mark K. Updegrove, President and CEO, LBJ Foundation

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for a ceasefire

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Rep. Tony Gonzales "encouraged" by immigration operations, but "who is being detained" matters
A unique handbook has been created to help support parents sending their children to a school which teaches pupils in Manx Gaelic.

Cre Ren Oo Jiu? - which translates as what did you do today? - teaches 40 lessons of "functional" Manx, such as how to tell the time.

It was penned by Yn Bunscoill Ghaelgagh teacher Adrian Cain, who said parents made a "big decision" to send their children to the school so the booklet was "a way of trying to support them".

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He said: "The idea was when a mum or dad collects their child at the end of the day they can ask - cre ren oo jiu?"

Fisherman Ned Maddrell, who was believed to be the last native speaker of the island's native tongue, died in 1974.

A subsequent revival has led to schoolchildren currently being taught Manx-medium school in St John's.

The latest census figures showed about 2,200 people out of the 84,069 living on the island were able to speak, read or write the language.

'Plenty of Manx'

Lessons in the book include words to use when getting ready to leave the house, phrases you can use at the beach, and Manx sayings for holidays such as Christmas.

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Mr Cain said it was "unlikely" parents' grasp of the language would "ever be as good as the children's, because of amount of exposure pupils get at school".

"But, using the book, hopefully the kids can hear a bit more Manx outside of the school environment and share the learning process," he said.

A former Manx language officer he said the booklet, which is filled with everyday phrases, would also help those interested in learning some "colloquial Manx".

"There's plenty of Manx in there which is accessible and useful for anyone who is keen to learn," he added.

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Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.

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Public radio affiliates in rural New Mexico, some owned and operated by Native Americans, are scrambling to stay on the air after the Republican-controlled Congress and President Donald Trump made good on a push to defund public media.

As Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham considers adding public media funding to a possible special session of the Legislature, the 20 New Mexico radio and TV stations that shared in $5.8 million in federal grants and allocations last year are weighing their options.

Some stations dependent on that funding are trying to close the gap by scaling back programming and presence; but for others, the challenge appears to be insurmountable, with closings possible unless something major changes soon.

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KSHI 90.9 FM on the Zuni Pueblo ranks the third most vulnerable station in the U.S. because it has been as much as 95% reliant on federal funding, according to an analysis published by a former product manager for NPR.

New Mexico, a rural state that has long struggled with high rates of poverty, has the third-highest reliance on federal funding in the country, after West Virginia and Alaska.

Rural stations, which tend to see lower rates of donations than their urban counterparts, are the most at risk of closure.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes federal funding to both NPR and PBS and more than 1,000 public radio and television stations nationally, recently announced it will shut down next year after Congress voted last month to claw back more than $500 million of the organizations annual funding in a party-line vote.

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The closure of Corporation for Public Broadcasting, resulting from harebrained federal budget cuts by Republicans in Washington, will cut off vital access to emergency weather warnings, public safety alerts, and educational programming that many rural communities rely on as their primary source of trusted information, Lujan Grisham said in a statement on social media.

In an email Thursday, Michael Coleman, a spokesperson for Lujan Grisham, said the governor is deeply concerned and considering adding a proposal for state funding during a special session to help public media continue their operations despite Washingtons ill-advised budget cuts.

No date has been set yet for a much-discussed special session to address the federal funding cuts, although Coleman wrote in an email September is the most likely month for one to be held.

U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan  both New Mexico Democrats  convened a meeting Thursday in Albuquerque to allow local public media leaders to sound off on the emerging crisis for public media.

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Panelists at the forum, which included a number of public media general managers for broadcast and radio stations in the state, said it will be a daunting task to close funding gaps.

A hard road forward

KSFR 101.1 FM is the only news station based in Santa Fe to receive funding from CPB, with about 30% to 40% of its budget coming from the organization, said Tazbah McCullah, the stations general manager.

KSFR, which has a staff of five, received $131,252 in federal funding in the last fiscal year.

Though McCullah said KSFR will be able to survive without staff cuts, she believes some stations in the state will go dark.

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Our budgets are right now in flux, and we have only a couple of weeks to react to this, McCullah said, noting stations are still awaiting some answers on the CPB closeout.

Thats where we are, actually  just trying to figure out exactly what cuts we might have to make and what services we might have to reduce.

Trump, who has consistently taken aim at legacy media, previously issued an executive order instructing CPB and federal agencies to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS, and requiring them to stop indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations.

In a social media post touting Trumps order, the White House said PBS and NPR receive millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news. 

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The public broadcasting system dates to the late 1960s when it was created as an educational and public service-oriented alternative to commercial broadcasters.

Public radio and TV stations operate on budgets made up of public funding, philanthropic grants and donations  and some operate in what are otherwise local news deserts.

Emergency alerts

Barbara Maria, the manager of KTDB 89.7 FM in the Navajo community of Pine Hill, said the station was among the first Native American-owned public media stations to hit the airwaves when it did so in 1972. In a previous interview, Maria said cuts would pose trouble for the station.

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Pine Hill is remote, part of the Navajo Ramah reservation about 50 miles from Gallup, east of Zuni Pueblo.

KTDB has a staff of about five people, with a strong presence in communities such as Ramah, Fence Lake and Pine Hill, as well as in El Morro Valley.

Its popular programs include National Native News, Native American Calling, and segments focusing on local news and the voices of community members.

To me, its like we are going backwards, Maria said Thursday, speaking at the roundtable at KANW 89.1s Albuquerque office.

These FM noncommercial radio stations and the television stations are sharing a lot of things. Thats going to be all lost. What are we going to do? ... I feel halfway defeated, but I feel like we can get over this, all of us coming together.

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Music royalties also could be a prominent issue for local stations because the CPB took care of that for them.

Local stations also will have to fill more air time without access to some of the programs received through the CPB.

Lujan and Heinrich warned of the impacts of shuttering rural radio stations in terms of public safety, since such stations send out a range of alerts for emergencies.

I think theres just an assumption on the part of some of the folks that are pushing this that the commercial stations reach 90% of the public, Heinrich said at the roundtable. Well, what about the communities they dont reach? Are we just going to have a country where some part of the population doesnt matter?

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Every tribal station is at risk, every single one, and there are many parts of this state where the only signal that you get thats local is your local tribal station, said Katie Stone, the executive director of The Childrens Hour, an Albuquerque-based weekly radio program.

Without those emergency alerts to those communities, how will the people all the way out in Western New Mexico know about the next wildfire thats right on their border? she said.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB)  A local bar is closing its doors this month.

The Brass Tap Beer opened its doors for the first time back in 2015.

It has since been a staple of Pier Park through both Hurricane Michael and the COVID pandemic.

But now, management has announced it will not be renewing its lease.

Factors such as lower foot traffic due to construction on Back Beach Road, as well as disagreements over increased leasing rates, are what ultimately led to the decision.

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The bar made the announcement on their Facebook page yesterday and has since received an outpouring of support from the local community.

I have been really overwhelmed with the support and the messages Ive gotten on Facebook with people offering jobs and offering, you know, to help place the staff. Its humbling how many people have come out to help support us, said Brass Tap General Manager Rachel Burke.

The Brass Tap will be closing its doors for the final time on Saturday, August 16th.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday vetoed some provisions of a bill that would have made it easier for companies to secure environmental permits, bowing to pressure from activist groups.

Dubbed the "devastation bill" by its detractors, the text recently adopted by lawmakers would have loosened environmental licensing laws for projects considered "strategic" by the state.

For some permits, all that would have been required is a simple declaration of the company's environmental commitment.

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Lula instead reinstated the current strict licensing rules for strategic projects, such as a controversial oil mega-project at the mouth of the Amazon river, but set a one-year deadline for them to be approved or rejected.

His veto also ensures that several Indigenous territories and the Atlantic Forest, which stretches along the east coast, will continue to enjoy special protection, Environment Minister Marina Silva told reporters.

SOS Atlantic Forest, a non-governmental organization that had garnered over a million signatures calling for a veto of the law, hailed Lula's decision as "a victory" for environmental protection.

Greenpeace also praised the leftist president's action on the issue.

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But the executive coordinator of APIB, Brazil's largest Indigenous rights group, told AFP he was disappointed that the president had not struck down the entire bill.

Lula's veto must now be ratified by Congress, which is dominated by conservatives.

Lula's environmental credentials are under close scrutiny in the run-up to the annual UN climate summit, which he will host in November in the Amazon city of Belem.

While seeking to take a leadership role on climate change on the global stage, Lula has faced criticism at home for backing drilling in the Equatorial Margin, along the country's northern coast.

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He argues that the revenue from the oil field is necessary to finance Brazil's energy transition.

Silva said Lula's objective was to ensure that "the economy does not compete with ecology, but rather they are part of the same equation."

jss/rsr/cb/sst
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 8 that he will hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that "further details will follow."

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Putins foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, also confirmed that Putin would attend the meeting on U.S. territory, adding that Moscow expects Trump to attend subsequent summits with Putin in Russia.

It was not immediately clear as to whether President Volodymyr Zelensky will participate in the meeting or subsequent meetings that day. The details or exact timing of the meeting remain unclear.

Earlier reports indicated that Trump would agree to meet with Putin only if Putin also met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Later, however, Trump told reporters at the White House that such a meeting between Zelensky and Putin was not a prerequisite for his own meeting with Putin.

The scheduled meeting will mark the first in-person interaction between Trump and Putin since the start of Trump's second term in office. Putin last met the U.S. president during Trump's first term in office during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

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The high-stakes meeting will be the first between the leaders of Washington and Moscow since former U.S. President Joe Biden held a summit in Geneva with Putin in June 2021, ahead of Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us

The location for the meeting comes as a surprise, with both parties previously proposing more neutral settings for the meeting.

Sky News reported on Aug. 8, citing sources in the Italian government, that Trump held a call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking about the possibilities of holding the meeting in Rome. Putin previously suggested holding the summit in the United Arab Emirates during a visit to the region.

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The planned meeting comes just days after a meeting between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Aug. 6, just two days before Trump's deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

As the prospects for leader-level peace talks grow, Trump in recent days has suggested the warring parties must conduct "some swapping of territories" in exchange for peace.

"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference on Aug. 8. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

"We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump added.

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Trump did not specify what he meant by "swapping," though it possibly referred to Crimea  illegally annexed in 2014  and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Russia declared the annexation of the latter four regions, which are partially occupied by Russia, in 2022 following sham referenda.

Trump told European leaders and Zelensky that Putin is open to negotiations if land swaps are included in the talks, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 7, citing its undisclosed sources.

Bloomberg later reported on Aug. 8 that the U.S. and Russia are seeking to reach a territorial agreement to cement Moscow's occupation of Ukrainian territories and end the war.

The proposed deal is aimed at freezing the conflict and laying the groundwork for a ceasefire and technical negotiations toward a final peace settlement, the news agency reported, with Putin demanding that Ukraine cede all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea.

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Ukraine's Presidential Office has not yet commented on Trump's comments on swapping territory or about Zelensky's potential presence at the meeting.

In his evening address, issued before the announcement of the meeting, Zelensky said that Ukraine is "continuing our active negotiations with partners to reach a common position for a reliable peace for Ukraine. A truly genuine peace," criticizing Moscow for continuously rejecting a proposed ceasefire.

"So far, we see that the Russians are ignoring (a ceasefire)  at least for now," Zelensky added.

Read also: Peace talks will include some swapping of territories, Trump says ahead of proposed meeting with Putin

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BRIDGEWATER  Norman Chipman's friends, on vacation in Italy, saw the Bridgewater resident on the news for getting stung by an Asian needle ant. They sent him a frantic text.

You've seen the scary stories. The invasive ants with painful and dangerous stings have arrived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Chipman made the TV news on July 2 after getting stung while cleaning his pool.

Chipman told The Enterprise on July 29, he felt two stings that left a silver-dollar-sized welt on his hand. He'd been seeing warnings about the ants on his Facebook feed.

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He kept one of the ants in a baggie. Chipman said the tech from the pest control company he called, Terminix, reportedly took a look and said that, yes, it does look like an Asian needle ant.

"I never felt like I was going to die," Chipman told The Enterprise on July 29, noting that he got a bad headache that forced him to cancel dinner plans with his wife. He said he was fine by the next day and didn't have to seek medical attention.

How does Asian needle ant sting feel Providence RI professor forces one to sting

But was it an Asian needle ant?

But there's a hitch. Jane Waters, professor of biology at Providence College, said the ant in the bag was misidentified.

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"100% on the record, this is not a needle ant," she emailed The Enterprise on July 8. "It is Camponotus chromaiodes (harmless!)"

Dr. Jane Waters of Providence College shows where she found a colony of Asian needle ants living on campus.

After The Enterprise told Chipman what Waters said about the ant in the baggie, he found more ants on July 31, he thought they might have been the kind that bit him and shared the photos with The Enterprise. Waters identified those as field ants, the species Formica, which lack a stinger.

It's still possible he was stung by an Asian needle ant, but he can't be sure.

"Am I going to die on the hill that I was stung by an Asian needle ant?" he told The Enterprise. "No."

An ant found Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Norman Chipman's pool in Bridgewater. An entomologist identified this ant as a harmless field ant, species Formica. Chipman may have been stung earlier by an invasive Asian needle ant.

Another case of misidentification? State officials say snake that reportedly bit dogs in MA likely not rare - or venomous

What does Terminix say?

Hannah Bernhard, a public relations manager for Terminix, said the company is "reviewing the details of this specific service visit, including what our technician allegedly identified. It's important to note that, at this time, we cannot confirm if the ant in the photo provided is the same specimen our local technician allegedly examined during the inspection."

A common type of carpenter ant in New England. Its Latin name is Camponotus chromaiodes. From www.antweb.com, specimen ANTWEB1060127, accessed on July 17, 2025.

An expert with ties to Terminix, Sydney Crawley, emailed with CBS Boston about Asian needle ants in general, but was not shown the photo of the ant in the bag, the company representative said. Crawley has not responded to direct messages from The Enterprise.

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"We appreciate the opportunity to clarify and will take appropriate steps based on our internal findings," Bernhard said. "Terminix is dedicated to providing effective pest control solutions and accurate information to our customers and the public."

CBS Boston had not responded to a request for comment on the possible misidentification by press time.

The invasive Asian needle ant. It has been found recently in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Its Latin name is Brachyponera chinensis. Accessed July 17, 2025 on www.antweb.org. This is specimen CASENT0104738.

Is a needle ant sting dangerous and how much does it hurt

Waters said that invasive Asian needle ant stings are less dangerous than mosquito bites and bee stings. In terms of pain, she rates a needle ant sting as less painful than a bee or wasp sting.

A 2019 study of 96 stinging insects rated sting pain from 1 (least pain) to 4 (most pain). Needle ant stings rated a 1, the same as the European fire ant, which is well-established in Massachusetts. Three types of yellowjackets that live in the Bay State rated a 2 on the scale, devised by biologist Justin O. Schmidt, the late "King of Sting." Among insects you might encounter locally, the common Eastern bumblebee sting also rates a "2." Southern New England is home to a paper wasp that Schmidt gave a "3." Fortunately, none of the insects with a "4" make Massachusetts their home, according to maps that show the range of the 96 species.

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For people who are allergic to insect stings in general, the risk of potentially deadly anaphylactic shock is similar from an ant, bee or wasp, Waters said. Chipman said he doesn't have a history of sensitivity to such stings.

A typical human reaction to a needle ant sting is tingling, she said. Uncommon reactions happen in 1 or 2% of stings. Waters cited a 2005 paper that found "in ant-infested areas of Korea there is a 2.1% incidence of systemic allergic reactions after stings by these ants [invasive Asian needle ants] similar to the risk to imported fire ants in the southern United States."

Joe Boggs, an assistant professor with the agricultural extension of The Ohio State University, has come to the same conclusion. "To be clear, theres always a chance that hymenopteran venom can trigger an anaphylactic reaction in sensitive individuals," he wrote in a June 27 blog post. "However, the data on Asian needle ants just doesnt support a media-driven panic regarding this ant."

How likely are you to be stung by an Asian needle ant

Despite the fearsome name, Asian needle ants are shy.

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"Maybe if you lifted a rock and sat in the nest, I think it would be unpleasant," said Waters, who has studied needle ants since 2015. "But you'd have to go out of your way to experience some unpleasantness. And so then all these stories were coming out, fear-mongering about these ants."

One reason Waters and other scientists are less alarmed about needle ants than some depictions is the species' behavior. Unlike fire ants, they do not have "collective alarm behavior." That's when ants send out chemical signals that the colony may be under attack, possibly resulting in multiple stings.

Another reason needle ants are less aggressive than fire ants is that they lack a single queen, Waters said. That can spark more cooperation and less fighting.

"They're particular about where they live. It needs to be humid, moist and shady," like a colony in a log in Waltham the lab is currently studying.

Are needle ants an invasive species in the U.S.

Entomologists are considering striking the "Asian" from the needle ants' common name, Waters said. It's the only "needle ant" in the world, so the reference to its native habitat is arguably not necessary.

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There are relatively few needle ants in New England. "In some parts of the country, they're problematic," Waters said.

The ants are considered invasive, but they've been in the United States since at least 1932, when they were found in Georgia.

Needle ants appear to have left campus

Waters led a 2015 survey of ants on the campus of Providence College. Of more than 2,000 ants collected, they found just one needle ant. Instead of reporting the single ant, Waters offered general biology students a "bounty" of a 100 score on the final exam if they found one.

An enterprising student did just that. What Waters hadn't expected was the student showing classmates where to find them. "That was a nice curve on the final that year," Waters said.

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That colony appears to have moved on or died out. The area has been dug up and, despite hours on her hands and knees looking for them, Waters hasn't seen one on campus recently.

What should I do if I think my property has Asian needle ants?

Like the Bridgewater man, many people's first reaction on finding an unfamiliar insect is to call an exterminator. Waters has a different suggestion: Take a photo and use iNaturalist.org, a site and app for crowdsourcing identifications.

Even so, Waters will tell you she likes her ants in the wild. "I don't like them in my kitchen. I don't like them in my apartment," the biologist said.

Chipman, after his experience, still recommends calling an exterminator if you find ants on your property. "A toddler could sit in them and be hurt," he said.

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Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Did an Asian needle ant sting Bridgwater man? Entomologist talks ants
BRISTOL  Bristol councilors are maintaining their stance to allow development, with hopes of as little impact to the already existing community as possible.

During the Bristol Town Council meeting on Thursday evening, Danielle Richards from Elkhart County Planning & Development presented a rezoning request for the Wilhelm farm, from A-1 to M-1. The property is located on the north side of C.R. 23, 1,875 feet north of C.R. 14 in Washington Township.

Its also the same property that came up for a rezoning to M-2 request last fall  for a data center. Bristol residents were notably outraged and spoke out so strongly against the change that the second of the two meetings regarding the rezoning had to be moved to Bristol Community Church to accommodate the crowd.

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Despite public outcry, the rezoning, with a single-use as a data center, was approved.

But the project fell through. It would have been difficult anyway, due to the towns utility and water infrastructure in the area.

Elkhart County Planning & Development recommended denial of the new rezoning request to M-1, citing the negative impact on the existing manufacturing that is already there and negative impacts on property values. Their denial also noted that heavy potential truck traffic would impact C.R. 23. Richards also said the planning department would be more supportive of rezoning to a DPUD, possibly including a B-3 and residential zoning for living spaces.

Town Council President Jeff Beachy acknowledged that most people in town were opposed to the data center. However, he claimed that many business owners were in favor of it but refused to come to the public hearing for fear of backlash. He also said the data center would still be better than some business that could end up there.

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I made the comment during that rezoning hearing that this day would come, Beachy said. That if it didnt get zoned for a data center, that a rezoning request would come in to have all that property rezoned as M-1. And I explained that if thats the case, it could be a trailer factory, an RV factory, a foundry, a fiber glass factory, anything heavier and more people, more traffic, more trash, more noise, more light pollution than the data center would have. And you know what happened? Everybody cheered. The entire church (where the meeting was held) cheered because they wanted factories over a data center. Now here we are, fast forward to today, and now its Oh, we dont want factories there.

During the public comment session, which was significantly smaller than the other rezoning hearings for the property, about half a dozen people spoke out against the M-1 rezoning.

Brittany Herman, who lives on C.R. 14, a mile from the site, said she was worried about property values decreasing, among other things.

Its already bad enough that you guys approved a data center that the majority of Bristol residents are against, she said. This proposal, I feel, goes against your Bristol Comprehensive Plan and the Elkhart County Planning & Redevelopment staffs clear recommendation to deny it.

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Several remonstrators said they favored the DPUD idea presented by Richards because it allows the community to have some say in whats in their area. The site is over 400 acres.

Town manager Mike Yoder commented that planning staff did not have access to the recently completed water study when they made their initial recommendation. The water study determined residential zoning in that area would not be a good option.

This site is going to be difficult just because of the stormwater requirements on the site, Yoder said, adding that theres plenty of land, but it needs to be developed properly.

Beachy did, however, motion to deny the zoning request, as the board agreed that a DPUD for the development of the property would better suit the town. The rest of the council unanimously agreed to deny the request.
Policing Britains streets can be a thankless task. Officers this weekend were called upon to attend events from very different parts of the political spectrum. From the Left, supporters of the proscribed group Palestine Action marched in a direct challenge to the states ability to enforce the law. From the Right, activists gathered outside migrant hotels planted in communities across the country.

Police officers can be forgiven for feeling a bit like an occupying force trying to keep the peace between opposing tribes. The breakdown of trust in British policing engendered by widespread perceptions of a two-tiered approach to public order and a conspicuous failure to deal with lower-level disorder in the form of shoplifting and phone-snatching has done great damage. Officers who were trusted members of the community are now talked about by some as if they are representatives of a distant and unaccountable state, deployed to enforce its will rather than to fairly and impartially enforce the law.

The blame for such impressions rest partly upon poor operational decision-making and prioritisation, but primarily upon decisions taken in Westminster which have too often left police forces in an invidious position.

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The migrant hotel protests and their spread through social media have been fuelled by Sir Keir Starmers conspicuous failure to get to grips with illegal migration, despite his election promises. The wave of shoplifting can in part be traced back to decisions taken under the previous Conservative government.

Rebuilding lost trust will take time and effort. As Janet Daley writes today, the brazenness of current offenders produces a sense of social chaos that is deeply demoralising. It will take an effort comparable to that conducted by Bill Bratton in 1990s New York to combat it. The response of the Metropolitan Police to the Palestine Action protests today was a good starting point. Rather than once again being perceived to indulge the hard Left, the police acted swiftly when activists deliberately breached the Terrorism Act by declaring support for a banned group. At least 200 people, including former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, were arrested.

The long-term solution, however, clearly lies with Parliament. Campaigners who had planned todays open declarations of support for Palestine Action had pledged to overwhelm the criminal justice system, to stress-test Britains ability to actually enforce its laws. Given the overcrowded state of our jails, the woeful backlogs in our courts and the stretched condition of our police forces, such a test was not guaranteed to fail. It would be greatly to the benefit of the public if these elements could be addressed, and the epidemic of lower-level crime confronted.

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.
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB)  One day after the Supervisor of Elections threw out the Lynn Haven mayor recall petition effort, city commissioners met to discuss the budget.

The controversy over money had been simmering for a while, but boiled over after commissioners voted to fire City Manager Vicky Gainer three weeks ago.

Commissioner Judy Tinder is now calling for a forensic audit from the time Margo Anderson was mayor. City officials are trying to find out exactly how all the money was spent.

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Mayor Jesse Nelson started Fridays budget meeting by clearing up some questions.

Are we broke? Mayor Nelson asked.

Absolutely not, Lynn Haven City Finance Director Kiki Roman said.

Do we still have 18.4 million dollars in the bank? Nelson said.

No, Roman said.

Okay, so what do we have now? Nelson said.

Its 47 million dollars at Hancock. There is roughly 5 million at Ameris. So roughly 51 million in cash, Roman said.

Roman says the city still owes more than $21 million on the Hurricane Michael disaster recovery bond. They are negotiating with FEMA for $5.8 million in reimbursements.

To pay off the rest of the debt, Roman says the city would have to pay $2.8 million a year from the general fund until 2032.

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The general fund has $17.9 million. Other city accounts are dangerously low.

On 8/1/27, Fund 101 would be in a negative cash position of 1.4 million dollars, meaning thats when we would start transferring from the general fund, Roman said.

The commissioner also rebuilt City Hall, thinking FEMA would cover the final $18 million cost.

Turns out, FEMA and the insurance company are only paying $10.5 million. The city will have to pay the $7.4 million difference.

Our former city manager. I asked her when I first got elected, and I said So Ive been hearing the news about the city hall. But the city hall is fully covered by insurance, right? And she said yes. So I was told it was fully covered by the insurance. I didnt have any reason to believe that that wasnt true, Lynn Haven Commissioner Sam Peebles said.

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Commissioner Jamie Warrick claims Gainer told him the same thing.

I would get information from her, and she would email it to me, and I had a long spreadsheet where I tracked everything, and I brought more questions. And I brought it back and I said, I dont understand. Youre saying its all covered, but were short? What are we short on? And she said, Nothing, Lynn Haven Commissioner Jamie Warrick said.

Roman was about halfway through her budget explanation when the meeting came to an abrupt end. A water pipe apparently burst, leaking water through the ceiling in the meeting chambers.

It is unknown when the budget discussion will continue.

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City officials ended up shutting down City Hall and the police department because of the leak.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Bryan Kohberger was planning to accuse other people of committing his horrific murders.

Six days before the former criminology student pled guilty to the 2022 killings of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, Ada County District Court Judge Steven Hippler denied his attempt to introduce possible new suspects as alternate perpetrators of the crimes, according to court docs obtained by E! News.

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In the filing, the judge described the connection that three of the four names provided by Kohberger had to the victims, writing that they "were each socially connected to one or more of the victims, interacted with one or more of the victims at social events in the hours prior to the homicide, lived within walking distance of the crime scene and were familiar with the layout of the victims' home from prior social events."

While noting that each of the four individuals in Kohbergers petition cooperated with policeincluding providing DNA and fingerprintsHippler also stated in the docs that the three friends lived within walking distance of the now-demolished King Road house, which ultimately conflicted with the investigations finding that the perpetrator drove [a] vehicle to the crime scene, according to the court docs.

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Though none of Kohbergers possible new suspects were identified in court filings, documents from the Moscow Police Department obtained by E! News suggested that one of the individuals could have been victim Goncalves ex-boyfriend.

According to the authorities' report, an individual identified as J.D. "was scheduled to provide fingerprints to police on May 29, 13 days after Kohbergers motion containing the possible new suspects was filed, per the documents.

Kyle Green-Pool/Getty Images

Meanwhile, in a November 2022 interview with police, a friend of Goncalves described someone named J.D. as an ex-boyfriend with whom she had no apparent issues, according to other police records obtained by E! News. Plus, the documents stated that Goncalves shared her dog Murphy with that same ex.

Following the judges denial of the defenses alternate suspects, Kohberger pled guilty to all four murders as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to life in prison on July 23 without the possibility of parole.

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Read on for more details from the Idaho murders case.

Who Were Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle?

Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and her boyfriend Ethan Chapin, 20, were University of Idaho students who lived in an off-campus apartment. On Nov. 12, 2022the night before their bodies were foundGoncalves and Mogen were at a nearby sports bar, while Kernodle and Chapin were at the latters fraternity party. By 2 a.m. on Nov. 13, the four roommates and Chapin were back at the three-story rental house. Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. She was expected to graduate in December before heading to Austin, Texas, for a job at a marketing firm, her friend Jordyn Quesnell told The New York Times. Mogen, who was studying marketing, was best friends with Goncalves since the sixth grade. She had plans to move to Boise after graduation, family friend Jessie Frost shared with The Idaho Statesman. Kernodle was a junior majoring in marketing, the University said at the time. She and Chapinwho majored in recreation, sport and tourism managementhad been dating since the spring, the roommates neighbor Ellie McKnight told NBC News.





Were There Any Survivors?

Two roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, had been home at the time of the murders. In text messages that were unsealed March 6, 2025, Mortensen and Funke tried contacting their roommates on Nov. 13 after the former saw a masked man moving through the house, according to documents obtained by E! News. "No one is answering," Mortensen texted Funke at 4:22 a.m. "I'm rlly confused rn." She continued to reach out to their roommates, urging them to respond. "Pls answer," she texted Goncalves at 4:32 a.m. and again at 10:23 a.m. "R u up??" At 11:58 a.m., a 911 call was placed after Kernodle was found unresponsive, per an additional motion obtained by E! News. A woman named A1 in the transcript described the current situation to the operator. "One of the roommates who's passed out and she was drunk last night and she's not waking up," she said on the phone. "They saw some man in their house last night."





Who Is Bryan Kohberger and How Was He Found?

Bryan Kohberger, who was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, was a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Over one month after the bodies of Gonclaves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin were discovered, Kohberger was taken into custody Dec. 30 in Monroe County, Penn. He was extradited to Idaho Jan. 4, 2023. As for how authorities connected him to the killings? DNA was found on a knife sheath that was left at the crime scene, prosecutors revealed in June 2023 court documents, per NBC News. When the DNA didn't match anyone in the FBI database, authorities ran the DNA through public ancestry websites to create a list of potential suspects, according to the filings. After learning that Kohberger had driven to his parents' home in Monroe County, local officials then went through their trash and found DNA that tied him to that found on the sheath.





What Was Kohbergers Initial Defense?

At the moment, a motive for the attack has not been detailed and a gag order prevents many involved in the case from speaking publicly, NBC News reported. However, the unsealed documents provided some insight into their initial arguments. Kohberger's attorneys argued in a motion obtained by E! News to strike the death penalty that Kohbergerwho initially faced death penalty if found guilty on all countshas autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that executing him would violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishment." His defense argued that Kohbereger "displays extremely rigid thinking, perseverates on specific topics, processes information on a piecemeal basis, struggles to plan ahead, and demonstrates little insight into his own behaviors and emotions." "Due to his ASD, Mr. Kohberger simply cannot comport himself in a manner that aligns with societal expectations of normalcy," the motion said. "This creates an unconscionable risk that he will be executed because of his disability rather than his culpability."

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Where Was the Trial Set?

Initially, Kohberger had a judge enter a not-guilty plea to the first-degree murder charges on his behalf after remaining silent at his May 2023 arraignment. Although his trial was set to begin Oct. 2, 2023, Kohberger waived his right to a speedy trial in August 2023. His trial datewhich was scheduled to take place in Ada County, more than 300 miles from Latah County, where the killings took placewas set to begin Aug. 11, 2025. Latah County Judge John Judge previously ruled in favor of the transfer request made by Kohberger's defense in September 2024 based on "presumed prejudice" if the trial remained in Latah County. Ada County Judge Steven Hippler denied the defense's request to suppress key DNA and other evidence, including cell phone and email records, surveillance footage, past Amazon purchases and DNA evidence in the trial.





What Was the Verdict in the Trial?

Kohberger's murder trial was abruptly canceled after he took a plea deal from prosecutors on June 30, 2025. In accepting the deal, Kohberger agreed to plead guilty to four counts of murder and one count of burglary, as well as waive his rights to appeal and ask for a more lenient prison sentence. He entered his guilty plea on July 2, 2025, confirming with a "yes" after the judge asked if he killed all four victims "willingly, unlawfully, deliberately and with premeditation and malice with forethought."





Did Kohberger Take a Selfie After the Murders?

A selfie Kohberger took the morning after the murders took place was introduced in March 2025. The photograph, which sees him in front of a shower showing a thumbs up, displays how he may fit the description a witness identified as "D.M." gave in filings, who said the perpetrator had "bushy eyebrows." Steve Gonclaves, the father of victim Kaylee, later reacted to the image calling it a "trophy" in an interview with Fox and Friends. "I know the timeline, I know that he had just returned to the crime scene and he had come back," Gonclaves said. "He had realized that nobody had called 911." As he put it, "To him, thats his little trophy to let him know like, Hey, I got away with it, nobodys on me.





What Did Kohberger Google Before the Murders?

In a 2025 Dateline documentary about the murders, a former classmate of Kohbergers detailed a peculiar text she received from him after making his acquaintance at a party. I definitely felt a little obligated to chat with him, because to me, he seemed a little awkward, the studentidentified as Hollyexplained. Kind of like you might expect for a PhD student who didn't know anyone at the party and was maybe trying his best to kind of get out there and be social and make friends. The following day, Holly said she received a text from him, which she described as overly formal. Hey, I am pretty sure we spoke about hiking trips yesterday, Bryans text from July 10, 2022 at 1:19 p.m., read, per Dateline. I really enjoy that activity, so please let me know. Thanks! Elsewhere in the Dateline documentary, Kohbergers browsing history was found to have included searches for Ted Bundy, Britney Spears song Criminal, and the term University of Idaho Murders.

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Did Kohberger Confess to Killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle?

After accepting a plea deal that would spare him from the death penalty, Kohberger changed his plea to guilty in the murders of Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin, as well as one count of burglary, at a July 2, 2025 hearing in Idaho. When judge Hippler questioned Kohberger if he killed each victim "willingly, unlawfully, deliberately and with premeditation and malice with forethought," he replied with a firm, "Yes" for each. In taking the plea deal, Kohberger has waived his right to appeal or ask for a more lenient prison sentence, according to Hippler.





How Long Is Kohberger's Prison Sentence?

Though the families of Goncalves and Kernodle each slammed the decision to issue a plea deal, therby taking the death penalty off the table, Kohberger was officially sentenced to life in prison July 23, 2025. Judge Hippler sentenced Kohberger to four life termsto be served consecutivelywithout the possibility of parole for each count of first-degree murder, along with a $50,000 fine for each count and a $5,000 civil penalty to be paid to each of the victims' families. He also gave Kohberger 10 years and imposed a fine of $50,000 on the burglary count.



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CHICAGO  For the 96th year, a parade celebrating African American culture dazzled thousands of eager spectators on the South Side.

The annual event began back in 1929 as a way to honor the hard work of newsboys who sold the Chicago Defender, an African American newspaper founded in 1905.

Now, nearly 100 years later, the beloved parade has become one of the citys best-known back-to-school events and has grown into one of the largest and longest-running parades in the country, second only to the Rose Bowl.

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Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

The parade stepped off from 39th Street and Martin Luther King Drive at 10 a.m. Saturday and the fun lasted for hours as marching bands, floats and dancers made their way down the line toward Washington Park.

The parade concluded at Garfield Boulevard.

This years Grand Marshal was Chicago P.D. star Laroyce Hawkins. Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson were also in attendance.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Every summer since 1929, The Bud has united African-Americans throughout the city of Chicago in music, dance, food, and laughter. Its one of the only spaces where we can openly and emphatically praise the historic roots that plant us into the South Side of Chicago, organizers said.

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Immediately after the parade, families headed to Washington Park, where a festival took place until 4 p.m.

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Some people like to bury their departed pets in their yard. What about burying a human loved one at your house? Or scattering ashes in a favorite spot?

Heres a look at what Florida law says about the issues:

Is burying a human in a home yard legal in Florida?

Theres no state law that prohibits burying a loved one on your property, according to Floridas Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services. Florida statute lets families establish cemeteries of less than two acres that do not sell burial spaces or burial merchandise, according to Florida statute.

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Before you start plotting the yard space and inviting the family to gather, take note: Cities may have local restrictions.

Local ordinances and rules should be consulted to determine if this type of burial is permitted, Floridas Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services says. Before burying a body on private land or establishing a family cemetery, be sure to check local zoning rules, adds Nolo.Com.

Check your homeowner association rules, too. After all, some communities dont even allow pickup trucks in the driveway after 6 p.m., nevermind dead bodies pushing up the daisies.

In addition, a licensed funeral director may be required to be present at the burial, the states division of funeral services says. And a burial-transit permit may also be required in accordance with Florida Statutes 382.006. A funeral director who first assumes custody of a dead body or fetus must obtain a burial-transit permit before final disposition and within five days after death, according to the statute.

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Two things to keep in mind:

Your home destination should provide adequate access to allow for family members to visit the burial spaces, according to the Florida division, but especially, the future sale of the property should also be considered as purchasers may be leery of buying property where human remains have been buried.

Can you bury your pet in your backyard?

How you bury a deceased animal is regulated by the state. The Florida statutes says: Any owner, custodian, or person in charge of domestic animals, upon the death of such animals due to disease, shall dispose of the carcasses of such animals by burning or burying at least 2 feet below the surface of the ground.

Nothing in the statute prohibits turning over the animals body to rendering companies licensed to do business in Florida.

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Also, according to the state, it is unlawful to dispose of the carcass of any domestic animal by dumping such carcass on any public road or right-of-way, or in any place where such carcass can be devoured by beast or bird.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has a guidance document detailing how to properly dispose of your pet. Among the details: In addition to the burial at least two feet below the grounds surface, the body should be above the water table.

The Broward Bark blog adds that you should wrap the animals body in plastic or a blanket but suggests you ought to turn to professionals like a veterinary or animal hospital service for the burial chore.

It is not recommended to bury your dog in your backyard in Broward County, or any other location, Broward Bark writes. In most places, it is illegal to bury dogs in residential areas, and it can also pose a health risk to other animals and humans. Instead of burying your dog in your backyard, you can have them cremated or buried at a pet cemetery.

Can you scatter ashes of your loved ones anywhere in Florida?

State laws dont regulate where you can store or scatter cremains, according to funeral homes including Florida Family Cremations. According to legal site Nolo.com, no Florida laws restrict where you may keep or scatter ashes.

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The only Florida statute dealing with cremation focuses on the cremation process and what may happen if ashes are not claimed within 120 days from the time of cremation. The funeral home or disposal establishment may dispose of the ashes.

Private property:You can scatter ashes on your own private property. If you want to scatter ashes on someone elses private land, its best to ask permission. If your mom or dad loved the Dolphins or shopping at Publix, scattering their ashes on the goal line at Hard Rock Stadium or in the Pub Sub line may not be granted.

Public property:Although Florida doesnt have laws against scattering ashes, you may want to check with your county or city should you wish to scatter ashes at a South Florida park.

Federal land:You can scatter ashes in federal parks including the Everglades or Biscayne National Park. But there are some protocols to follow. You need a permit that you can obtain on the National Park Service site.

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The scattering should be a small private affair, held away from high visitor use areas, the park site says. Because cremains cannot be placed or dispersed within 100 yards of a body of water, road or trail, or within developed areas, this activity is not permitted at Convoy Point.

The ashes must be fully refined with no detectable remains that let passerby note these are human remains (teeth, bones, you get the idea). The ashes should also be completely dispersed and not piled in one location or buried.

And while youre scattering, dont disturb any of the parks natural resources.

You cant leave a monument, memorial, plaque, structure, urn, photo or any other commemorative item inside the park to mark the spot  and that includes potted plants, dried flower arrangements or any plant with seeds because doing so could introduce non-native or invasive species.

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The park service wont treat the area as sacred or as a burial ground or cemetery. So once you have scattered the ashes, park uses resume without regard to the presence of the cremains.

Scattering from the air:Florida doesnt prohibit the scattering of ashes by air, but the Federal Aviation Administration has guidelines prohibiting the dropping of anything from a plane that could injure people below. Ashes are fine but not the hard objects that may contain them. So the licensed pilot who takes on the task cant drop the urn, for instance. Just the ashes.

Scattering at sea: Scattering ashes at sea is the first image that comes to mind for many. But know this: The federal Clean Water Act, which also governs scattering ashes in inland waters like rivers and lakes, requires that cremated remains be scattered at least three nautical miles from land.

The Environmental Protection Agency doesnt offer permits for scattering ashes at beaches or shorelines  although that hasnt stopped some people.

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You can go out to sea by yourself if you have access to a boat. Or funeral homes may offer scattering at sea services during which their team spreads the ashes for you in the Atlantic off Miamis coast. Officials there can help plan a private charter, too. The funeral home also files the EPA paperwork for you.

For more information on scattering ashes at sea, including the contact information for the EPA representative in Florida, see the EPAs Burial at Sea page.
On Saturday, C.W. Williams Community Health Center hosted their 11th annual Back to School Community Health Fair.

ALSO READ: Childrens health fair hosted by northeast church

The event took place at its new medical facility at 3333 Wilkinson Boulevard.

The health fair was free to the public and offered free bookbags & school supplies, back-to-school immunizations and physicals, health screenings and free eye exams and eyeglasses for K-12 students.

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Many elected officials spoke at the event such as Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Becky Carney and Rep. Julia Greenfield. Charlotte City Councilmember Dimple Ajmera and Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board member Thelma Byers-Bailey were also in attendance.

Attendees enjoyed free giveaways from vendors, music, line dancing, free food, games, prizes and family fun.

VIDEO: Supporting you: Classroom Central packs record number of backpacks for Carolinas students
An Elk Grove woman pleaded guilty Friday to soliciting assassinations, terrorist attacks and hate crimes while serving as a leader of the white supremacist group called the Terrorgram Collective, federal prosecutors announced.

While a plea agreement for Dallas Humber, 35, pegged her sentence between 25 and 30 years in prison, her sentence will be decided Dec. 5 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Sacramento.

Humber was a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, which the U.S. Justice Department officials called a transnational terrorist group, from July 2022 until her arrest in September 2024, prosecutors said.

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As a leader of the group, Humber solicited the murder of multiple United States government officials, Assistant U.S. Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a Justice Department news release.

To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations; and provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks, according to prosecutors.

The DOJ said individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have shot at least 14 people internationally, stabbed at least five and killed at least six. The attacks took place at a queer bar in Slovakia, two schools in Brazil and a mosque in Turkey.

Plots to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, bomb an energy facility in Tennessee and assassination attempts of two people in Wisconsin as well as an Australian official were also linked to Humber in the release.

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When Humber was arrested, federal authorities found domestic terrorist patches, Nazi paraphernalia, 3D printed firearms, 3D printers, ammunition, trigger extenders, SIM cards and flash drives, according to previous Bee reporting.

Hate and terror have no place in this country or abroad, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in the release. By securing this conviction, my office makes clear that purveyors of these heinous crimes will be brought to justice.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  More charges have been brought against a California City man awaiting trial in a deadly alleged drunken driving crash.

Sean Pierre Pantoja was arrested in March on allegations he abused a French bulldog and made threats against his wife  including threatening to kill her if she leaves him.

Some threats were made in the presence of their two underage children, according to California City police reports filed in Superior Court.

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Pantoja, who was ordered in 2023 to surrender all firearms following his arrest in the deadly crash, had several guns  including an AR-style rifle  at home, according to the documents.

Prosecutors filed nine felony counts, including animal cruelty, making criminal threats and multiple counts of purchasing a gun in violation of a criminal protective order. A hearing on that case is scheduled next month.

Pantoja is scheduled for trial in December on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing injury and child cruelty in connection with the crash.

Threats and guns

Around 1:30 a.m. on March 20, Pantojas wife called police to report he was punching their dogs.

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Officers arrived to find Pantoja visibly enraged and aggressive, according to the documents. Police said he cursed at his wife and made fun of her fathers recent death, and also was belligerent with officers.

He had an alcoholic beverage in his hand, documents said.

The wife told police the disturbance began when Pantoja lifted their French bulldog by the hind legs and overextended them to cause pain. He then punched the dog twice in the stomach, she said.

Hes abused their dogs on prior occasions, she said.

Pantojas wife said shes afraid to leave him because hes threatened to track her down, telling her shed take her last breath, according to the documents. She said she stays with him to try to keep the children safe.

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Officers arrested Pantoja and seized an AR-style rifle, shotgun, bolt-action rifle and several handguns, according to the documents.

Deadly crash

By his own admission, Pantoja drank three Long Island iced teas while bowling with his family on the night of Sept. 22, 2023.

As he drove them from the bowling alley, his pickup collided with a Toyota Camry on Randsburg Cutoff Road in the Mojave area, according to court documents.

The Camrys driver, Garrett William Houston, 39, died at the scene. Pantojas children were taken to Antelope Valley Hospital for treatment of cuts and whiplash, documents said.

Breath tests revealed Pantojas blood-alcohol content was 0.16%, twice the legal limit, and evidence at the scene indicated hed veered into the Toyotas path, documents said.

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He was unremorseful and said the other driver was at fault.

F that guy, Pantoja told a California Highway Patrol officer, according to the documents. That guy that hit me . . . if that guy would have killed my kid, I would have killed him my damn self.

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NEED TO KNOW

A California man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his decision to repeatedly shoot at a police helicopter after his birthday party in March 2024

Justin Derek Jennings, 40, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison in connection with the crime

He is next due in court on Jan. 30, 2026





A California man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after he repeatedly shot at a police helicopter following his birthday party.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California announced on Friday, Aug. 8, that 40-year-old Justin Derek Jennings of Orange County has pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to damage, destroy, disable or wreck an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States  more than a year after he shot at an Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter.

Officials said the shooting took place when Jennings became "angry" after drinking during a birthday party and fired "an entire magazine" of ammunition inside his home. He then spent around 20 minutes "intermittently" firing his rifle at a responding Orange County Sheriffs Department helicopter, per a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter

Jennings "had been drinking and became angry" during his birthday party, before his family left the home on March 9, 2024, according to court documents cited by officials.

He then "removed a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside the home," as the rest of his family left the residence and notified police, per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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After a police helicopter  and several deputies  responded to the man's home, he made his way to the second story of the house and "began shooting a rifle upwards in the sky, firing only when the helicopter was visible to him." The shooting took place over the span of 20 minutes, before Jennings spoke to authorities and "exited the residence and surrendered."

"During a search of Jennings residence, law enforcement seized two revolvers, two handguns and two rifles along with multiple rounds of ammunition," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in the news release. "Bullet casings were scattered throughout the floor, and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition that was on a couch beneath the window from where Jennings fired the weapon."

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.

Jennings is next due in court on Jan. 30, 2026. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

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The Orange County District Attorneys Office initially charged Jennings, but dismissed the case so that the federal case could proceed. Both the FBI and the Orange County Sheriffs Department investigated the shooting.

A previous announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office stated that Jennings is a resident of Laguna Niguel and that the shooting took place after his birthday party "acrimoniously ended."

Read the original article on People
CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  The Camden County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) deputy that made national news in 2023 for a fatal shooting was indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights charges Friday.

Former CCSO deputy Buck Aldridge fatally shot 53-year-old Leonard Cure in October 2023. Now, Aldridge is accused of violating the rights of four people in a 13-count indictment.

Cures family said they are still fighting for justice two years later.

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She [Cures mother] has fought for justice for her son his whole life, and shes been fighting for justice after they killed him. She will not stop until we get justice for Leonard Cure, Attorney Ben Crump said.

Shocking video of Cures altercation and arrest with former Camden County Sheriffs Office Staff Sergeant Buck Aldridge gained national attention for alleged excessive use of force.

Cure previously spent 16 years in jail for a crime he didnt commit and was exonerated for. Cures family said he was finally taking back his life before he was killed.

Just three years after being exonerated, Cure was fatally shot by Aldridge during a traffic stop. District Attorney Keith Higgins opted not to charge Aldridge for use of deadly force in February 2025.

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Higgins told the Associated Press that the use of deadly force was objectively reasonable given that he [Aldridge] was being overpowered at that time.

Leonard asked, Well if I was speeding, just give me a ticket, but Buck didnt want to give him a ticket. He wanted to do what hes done in the past. He wanted to use that taser. He wanted to be violent, as such, and it led to the death of Leonard, attorney Harry Daniels said.

However, the 13-count indictment does not mention Cure.

The corruption that permeates police agencies in America is atrocious, Cures brother said. A corrupt police department took our brother and our mothers son for 16 years. Now this corrupt police department has taken him permanently.

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Aldridge was fired from the Kingsland Police Department in 2017 for the use of excessive force and resigned from the Camden County Sheriffs Office following his charges.

Cures family has filed a civil lawsuit asking for $16.5 million, $1 million for each year that Cure was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
After a 24-hour shift fighting the Gifford Fire, a crew from the Lone Pine Fire Department kicked up dust as they drove their water tender into a fire camp assembled at Santa Margarita Ranch.

The crew was stationed on the northern end of the almost 100,000-acre wildfire burning in the rugged backcountry of the Los Padres National Forest. To the sunburnt, smoke-tinged crew, the fire camp was a sight for sore eyes.

Its a big morale boost for the crews to come into a nice, clean camp, Fire Capt. Ash Seiter said. Its a game-changer for us.

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Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service built the 1,000-person fire camp at Santa Margarita Ranch within 48 hours to support firefighters battling the Gifford Fire.

The basic mission is taking care of our firefighters, Incident Management Team 5 Logistics Section Chief Ken Kumpe said.

Lone Pine Fire Department Capt. Ash Seiter said coming off of a 24-hour shift on the line to a hot meal, showers and a place to sleep helps firefighters get through a long deployment far from home. A fire camp was being assembled at Santa Margarita Ranch, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025.

The camp offers hot meals, showers, laundry service, supplies, medical care, sleeping trailers and tents to first responders.

The Santa Margarita Fire Camp supplemented the Santa Maria Fire Camp, which was about a 3-hour drive through rugged terrain to the fire line, Kumpe said. Santa Margarita is slightly closer to the northern end of the fire.

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Fire crews from across the nation traveled to San Luis Obispo County to fight the Gifford Fire. Not only did the camp house fire trucks from California fire departments, there were also crews from Washington, Arizona, Arkansas and even Pennsylvania.

When Seiters crew returned from the fire line, they re-fueled and cleaned the water tanker, then dispersed for showers and breakfast before settling down to rest in the sleep trailers.

When you have that day off, its really important that everybody gets a lot of rest, Seiter said.

A second fire camp was assembled at Santa Margarita Ranch, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025. It serves thousands of firefighters working shifts on the Gifford Fire.

Life at the fire camp

On Wednesday morning, the camp served chicken-fried steak with eggs and biscuits while country music played from speakers in the dining tent. Firefighters could also help themselves to a buffet of fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal and Petes Coffee.

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Santa Cruz-based company Crown Services organized and served the meals at the camp.

Were going to provide them a comforting meal and a place to sit down, Crown Services owner Ron Clements Jr. said. If their troops dont have the things that they need, morale goes down.

Ron Clements Jr., owner of Crown Services, talks about providing thousands of meals at a time at the Santa Margarita Fire Camp, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025.

Breakfast is served every day from 5 to 11 a.m. and dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. The camp also offers a brown bag lunch in the afternoon.

Clements was in Mississippi on Monday at noon when Cal Fire asked him to serve the camp. He immediately booked a flight back to California, and by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, he was driving to San Luis Obispo County to set up shop.

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Clements company feeds emergency responders for all kinds of natural disasters, including fires, floods and earthquakes, so hes constantly watching the weather to predict where he may be needed next.

You have to be prepared, just like the fire department has to be prepared, Clements said.

A fire camp was assembled at Santa Margarita Ranch to serve thousands of firefighters battling the Gifford Fire, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025.

He travels with a permanent staff of eight to 15 people, then hires 15 to 40 local temporary workers on site depending on the size of the camp. His suppliers deliver food daily, so his team can whip up quality, fresh meals in the kitchen.

After contracting with Cal Fire for multiple years, he considers firefighters his extended family, and we like to show that in our food, he said.

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Clements has a pre-set menu that rotates based on camp preferences. People tend to enjoy BBQ night, which features tri-tip, pasta primavera, salad and garlic bread. Each dinner also includes a dessert, which could be anything from ice cream to pie.

The Santa Margarita Fire Camp includes handwashing stations with mirrors so the firefighters have a place to shave, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025.

Clements aims to create a comfortable, friendly atmosphere where the firefighters can relax after long, difficult shifts.

We want them to be able to shut down, turn off what they went through, he said.

Meanwhile, his setup is flexible so he can scale up operations quickly if the camp expands. On Wednesday, he set up to feed 1,500 people, but hes prepared to expand to serve 3,000 people, he said.

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The fire camp must also adapt to the needs of the firefighters on the line. At first, Incident Management Team 5 expected to build a camp for 300 to 500 firefighters. But by Wednesday morning, almost 2,000 firefighters were expected at the camp, Kumpe said.

It takes a village to coordinate supplies, transportation and communication for such a large team, Kumpe said. The camp sends supplies like hose line, fuel and water to the fire line whenever requested, he said.

A second fire camp was assembled at Santa Margarita Ranch, seen here on Aug. 7, 2025. It serves thousands of firefighters working shifts on the Gifford Fire.

We are building and monitoring a city just for the responders, he said.

Along with meals, the fire camp includes bathrooms, showers, sinks with mirrors for shaving and a laundry service, Incident Management Team 5 spokesperson Rich Eagan said. There are places for firefighters to pitch tents, or they can rest in one of the nine air-conditioned sleep trailers on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Each trailer includes 42 beds, stacked three bunks high.

Its like sleeping in a coffin, Eagan said, but its hard to beat the air conditioning  set at a comfortable 68 degrees.

A dual rotor helicopter lifts off from Santa Margarita Ranch on Aug. 7, 2025. A fire camp was assembled there to serve thousands of firefighters battling the Gifford Fire.

Camp life is a grind, he said. The more amenities you have, the better.

The camp runs like a well-oiled machine to adapt to the ever-changing conditions of the fire. Its ultimate goal is to offer a safe, comfortable place for firefighters to rest so they can effectively battle the fire.

We want to protect the citizens, Eagan said. We view their homes as our homes, and we want to protect them just as much.
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- An air quality alert was issued for parts of Southern California because of the effects of the Canyon Fire, fueled by dry brush and extreme heat.

But evacuation orders were canceled and shifted to warnings for thousands of residents in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, CalFire said Saturday.

The wildfire had spread to 5,370 acres and was 48% contained, the state agency said Saturday afternoon. On Friday morning, it was 4,756 acres, but none contained.

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The fire ignited on Thursday afternoon in a remote area east of Lake Piru, north of Highway 126 and west of Castaic in Ventura County, and spread to Los Angeles County.

The National Weather Service said the smoke was causing harmful air pollution in parts of Southern California through the weekend.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert on Friday night.

#AirQuality Forecast (Saturday, August 9th): https://t.co/szsyGAFunD AQI readings in portions of the #InlandEmpire and #LosAngeles County are predicted to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher levels. View our Real Time #AQI Map: https://t.co/EK1NMTwUS5 pic.twitter.com/3XzKQxfF1f South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) August 9, 2025

The alert is in effect for the Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, and the Inland Empire. It expires Sunday morning for the Santa Clarita Valley and 8 p.m. Saturday for everywhere else.

"Even in areas far from fires or areas not covered by a smoke advisory, if you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire, avoid or limit outdoor activities," the alert read.

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People with medical conditions are urged to stay inside with the windows closed.

"Particles in wildfire smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing," the alert reads. "Everyone can be affected, but people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk."

On Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized the use of federal funds to help California in battling the Canyon Fire. The state on Thursday sought the funds.

"At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 5,118 homes in and around Hasley Canyon and Val Verde," FEMA said. "Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 5,000 people. Evacuation warnings are in effect for another 11,000 people."

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FEMA grants provide funds for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs.

No injuries have been reported and no structures are threatened, CalFire said.

Fighting the fire are 1,148 personnel, 45 engines, seven helicopters, three dozers and nine hand crews.

A firefighter was injured in a rollover crash in a grassy area in the Romero Canyon. The victim was airlifted to a hospital but was alert. Three firefighters also suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital "out of an abundance of caution," the L.A. Fire Department posted Friday on X.

"Crews worked throughout the night to improve defensive positions and further secure the fire's perimeter," CalFire said. "Overnight fire activity was minimal as firefighters worked to continue strengthening existing control lines."

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Firefighters "will continue to enhance, monitor and patrol existing control lines ... while providing structure defense for residences in the affected areas," CalFire said.

Temperatures will be in the mid-90s with relative humidity 19-24% and wind gusts up to 20 mph.

Historically dry vegetation contributes to the ongoing potential for rapid fire growth and significant fire behavior," CalFire said.

On Friday, firefighters dealt with gusty conditions.

"This afternoon, we're starting to see the temperatures come back up, we're seeing winds start to pick up," Andrew Dowd with Ventura County Fire told KABC-TV. "There's still a risk here. Fire is still burning, and we're still going to be incredibly vigilant until we get this fire contained."

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Residents in the Hasley Canyon area of Castaic were thankful the wildfire didn't reach their homes as flames were visible, and some families didn't evacuate, instead opting to take care of their animals.

"It's been a long night just watching the fire," Castaic resident Geri Aebersold told KABC-TV. "Just watching it coming up right there on that hill. A firefighter said, 'You're ok. We got this.'"
As Southern California continued to experience a heat wave, officials on Saturday lifted the final evacuation orders in areas affected by the Canyon fire, which has burned more than 5,000 acres in northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

With the fire about 28% contained, overnight fire activity was "minimal" and crews worked to further secure the perimeter, protect structures and look for hot spots, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Canyon fire broke out Thursday northeast of Piru in Ventura County. By Thursday night, it had surged to 5,000 acres, triggering evacuations and advancing toward Castaic Lake and Interstate 5. The cause is under investigation.

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Battalion Chief James Agee of the Kern County Fire Department was seriously injured Friday when the pickup truck he was driving rolled over in the Romero Canyon area in Castaic, where he was involved in a team effort to monitor Canyon fire along the ridge line, a fire official said.

Andrew Freeborn, a public information officer for the Kern County Fire Department, did not confirm Agee's assignment, but said he was in a "lead position for a task force, which was made up of five fire engines and approximately 17 people."

Read more: The start of California's fire season has moved up 6 weeks since 1990 thanks to climate change

Agee was driving by himself when the truck rolled over into steep terrain.

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He was airlifted to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia.

James is a strong man with a big heart, and we know hes facing this challenge with the same strength and character hes shown throughout his career, said Kern County Fire Chief Aaron Duncan in a statement. We are grateful for the swift actions of our crews and partner agencies, and for the kindness being shown to his family.

Agee is in stable condition but still being treated for his serious injuries, the public information officer said Saturday.

"Everything that we're doing, even driving vehicles can be dangerous in these types of events," Freeborn said. "But then you look at the response and how quickly care is then provided because our firefighters are all very well trained, and sometimes our training is applied to ourselves."

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The regions hot spell hampered efforts to quell the fire, triggering poor air conditions , according to the National Weather Service.

Inland valley areas were expected to see triple-digit temperatures throughout the weekend, with forecast highs of 106 in Lancaster and 103 in Northridge, according to the National Weather Service .

Inland Empire communities could expect temperatures between 97 and 104 degrees, with a heat advisory lifting by 8 p.m. Monday.

"There is a moderate risk for heat related illnesses for vulnerable populations, and any fire starts in interior areas could grow rapidly, as we saw with the Canyon Fire on Thursday," the National Weather Service said on X. "Stay hydrated if you have to be out in the heat, and avoid anything that could create a spark."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is to be praised for their public stand against current assaults on the many immigrants in our midst, and for their defending religious liberty as ICE raids continue in Wisconsin (Lutheran group sues over ICE policy, July 30).

As a Catholic priest, I praise Lutheran Bishop Paul Erickson for his leadership. As he said, "Silence in the face of such oppression is simply not an option."

All people of faith should peacefully rise up against an administration that is incredibly hard-hearted and, dare I say, evil.

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Letters: As woman of faith, story on Latino churches broke my heart. Migrants demonized.

Father Tom Eichenberger, Bay View

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Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.

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Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.

We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.

We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.

Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.

All letters are subject to editing.

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The Brief

Polk County deputies report that an accelerant was poured on the victim's white Camaro in his driveway.

One of the suspects also slashed the tires of the victim's blue Toyota.

The state fire marshal is investigating the case alongside the sheriff's office.

BABSON PARK, Fla. - Polk County deputies are searching for three suspects who used an accelerant to set a car on fire, which subsequently destroyed a home.

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The incident occurred on Park Drive in Babson Park at around 3:30 a.m. on Friday.

READ: Tampa Police officers warn of rise in phone scams

Dig deeper

A neighbor's surveillance camera captured a bright flash of light, a sudden burst of flame, and the sound of one of the suspect's footsteps hitting the pavement as he ran away down the street.

Polk County deputies report that an accelerant was poured on the victim's white Camaro in his driveway before it was set on fire.

The homeowner, who preferred not to appear on camera, told FOX 13 that he was in his bedroom with his 10-year-old son sleeping when he awoke, unable to breathe due to the heavy smoke.

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MORE: Woman found dead after Citrus County hostage situation; armed man surrenders after hours-long standoff: CCSO

The fire spread to the garage and attic, eventually reaching the back of the house where the father and son were sleeping. Thankfully, they both managed to escape safely.

The surveillance camera also captured two additional suspects fleeing north toward Mountain Drive. One of the suspects also slashed the tires of the victim's blue Toyota.

What they're saying

The homeowner told FOX 13 that he does not know who the suspects are, but he believes the attack was personal. He also suspects that the individual who set his car on fire may have severely burned his hands, so he urges the community to be on the lookout for someone with hand injuries consistent with a fire.

What's next

The state fire marshal is investigating the case alongside the sheriff's office. The Red Cross is assisting the family.

What you can do

Tips can be forwarded to Detective Williams at Meghan.Williams@MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling (863) 605-0302, or to Detective Ferguson at hferguson@polksheriff.org or (863) 899-8186.

The Source

The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Carla Bayron.
As investigators work to uncover the motive behind Fridays deadly shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, grieving parents, community leaders, and activists gathered on Saturday afternoon.

The Unity in the Community: Stop the Gun Violence rally was organized by Bishop LC Wheat of Operation Push Too and Jimmy Hill, whose son Jimmy Atchison was killed by former Atlanta police officer Sung Kim in 2019, at Central Holiness Church in Peoplestown.

Hosted by minister Anthony Johnson, the rally drew pastors from the church, Jay Hall from Operation Push Too, leaders from the Vine City NPU-L, and Betty Battle, who founded the organization GRIEVE after her son Michael Maddox was killed by by a teenager 30 years ago.

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Tekesia Shields from Mothers Against Gang Violence, L.A. Pink from Street Groomers, Gerald Rose from the New Order Human Rights Organization and a representative from the Mayors Office of Violence Reduction were also there to discuss ways to reduce violence in Atlanta communities.

Jimmy Hill (seated far right) gathered people for a conversation about gun violence at Central Holiness Church in Peoplestown. (Madeline Thigpen/Capital B Atlanta)

In recent weeks, Atlanta officials had been touting the success theyve had over the past year reducing homicides by 32% and shootings by 20% in the city. But several recent shootings in communities across the city has many calling for answers.

There have been 57 homicides in Atlanta so far in 2025. Last year at this time, there had been 76, and by this time in 2022, there had been 92.

We still have work to do, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters after a mass shooting in Sweet Auburn on July 28 capped off a week of record violence. Anger, conflict resolution, and access to guns by individuals that should not have them is still a matter that we all need to address.

Read More: DA Doesnt Appeal Judges Decision to Drop Charges Against Cop Who Killed Jimmy Atchison

Hill said he had been trying to have an event at the King Center last month but after getting rained out a few times, Wheat reached out to Johnson, who suggested they gather at the church.

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I had a vision about the gun violence in the community and the police gun violence, Hill told Capital B Atlanta after the rally. Somebodys got to stand when others are sitting, somebody got to speak out when others are silent. Ive seen too many mothers crying. Ive seen too many families in pain. Ive seen too many parents burying their children, instead of the children burying the parents. So I knew it was just time to do something.

CDC shooting takes life of officer and suspect

Friday, police departments across the metro Atlanta area responded swiftly to the area of Emory University and the CDC after reports of shots fired.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw on Saturday as the suspect who opened fire on the CDC headquarters. According to reports outlining a possible motive, the 30-year-old may have harbored hatred toward vaccines.

One of the first officers to respond was DeKalb County police officer David Rose. The married father of two, with another on the way, was shot and later died at Emory University Hospital. Rose was one month away from marking one year on the job.

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He was committed to serving the community, interim Police Chief Greg Padrick told reporters. At this time were asking for the communitys prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family.

White, who was reportedly armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition, was found dead on the second floor of a CVS store across from the main entrance to the CDC. Investigators are still trying to determine if is would was self-inflected or came from Rose.

FBI agents responds to a shooting near the campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Ben Hendren/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via Associated Press)

Mayor Andre Dickens told reporters the alleged shooter is a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I cant reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.

Also not far from peoples mind was the shooting at Georgias Fort Stewart Army Base earlier this week, where five people were wounded. All are expected to recover.

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According to CNN, Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford is being held in pretrial confinement awaiting a charging decision by the Office of the Special Trial Counsel.

Looking for solutions to violence

After the mass shooting on Edgewood Avenue last week, where eleven people were injured 27-year-old Santos J. Wyatt was killed, left the Sweet Auburn neighborhood reeling there were increased calls for more violence intervention work and safety measures.

Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum acknowledged at the press conference after the Edgewood shooting that more progress needs to be made in the fight against gun violence.

In response to increased pressure from the neighborhood planning unit, the city on Aug. 4 released its Coordinated Safety & Compliance Measures on Edgewood Avenue plan with a list of actions to address safety concerns and support local businesses in an area steeped in the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Read More: Mass Shooting Highlights Need for More Violence Intervention Work

Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari also introduced legislation for the creation of the Edgewood Corridor Public Safety Task Force to partner with community and government officials to develop a plan to lower crime and increase public safety.

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This is a community-driven response, born out of a commitment to urgent action, Bakhtiari posted on Instagram. Were working in close partnership with business, neighborhood associations, law enforcement agencies, and governmental entities to deter crime and enhance public safety along Edgewood Avenue, throughout Sweet Auburn and the Greater Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods. Our goal is simple but essential: A coordinated, long-term strategy that uplifts public safety without losing the spirit of what makes Sweet Auburn special.

The proposed legislation heads to Dickens desk for final approval.

Police have identified four suspects in the mass shooting. One arrest has reportedly been made.

For Hill, todays rally was meant to support all families impacted by violence including those touched by the CDC shooting.

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Keep the officers family in prayer, because there were kids out there and the shooter was shooting wildly, Hill said. And its very important to say, thankfully all officers arent bad officers. Nobody else may feel or people may get mad at me and upset me about that, but this officer risked his life to save some kids. And he did, so I really wanted to keep his family in prayer.

A correction was made to this story 8/12/25 to note that Betty Battles son Michael Maddox was killed by a teenager and not a police officer.

The post CDC Shooting Is Top of Mind at Gun Violence Rally in Atlanta appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Editor's note: The story is being updated.

U.S. President Donald Trump has not imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, even as Moscow refused to cease hostilities in Ukraine by his Aug. 8 deadline.

The U.S. president is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for a high-level summit in Alaska on Aug. 15 for peace talks.

Trump has said that a potential peace deal will involve "some swapping" of territories as the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal.

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"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

"We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump added.

Putin reportedly proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine during a meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, offering a halt in hostilities in exchange for Ukraine's eastern regions, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing European and Ukrainian officials.

The planned Aug. 15 event will mark their first face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January.

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In July, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Putin to end hostilities or face 100% secondary tariffs. As trade between the U.S. and Russia is limited, the measure would effectively target countries purchasing Russian oil, such as China or India.

Trump eventually shortened the deadline as he increasingly voiced frustration with Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and Moscow's delays in the peace process, giving Putin until Aug. 8 to accept the deal.

The U.S. president later denied naming a specific percentage on the planned secondary tariffs, even as he slapped an additional 25% tariff on India on Aug. 6 over its purchases of Russian oil, on top of 25% duties announced earlier.

Starting his second term in office with a pledge to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, Trump's peace efforts stalled as Moscow continued to reject an unconditional ceasefire backed by Kyiv and European allies.

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After months of deadlock, U.S.-Russian diplomatic efforts gained fresh momentum this week after Witkoff met Putin in Moscow on Aug. 6, reaching an agreement on a summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders.

Trump is also reportedly aiming to follow up the meeting with a trilateral summit involving President Volodymyr Zelensky. While the Ukrainian president signaled he is ready for such a format, Putin claimed he does not oppose the meeting in principle, but added that certain "conditions" must first be met.

The Russian leader has shown little interest in halting hostilities as he reportedly believes his forces hold the upper hand on the battlefield.

Recent battlefield reports show Moscow's troops are closing in on key front-line towns in Donetsk Oblast, such as Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar, while Ukraine faces manpower shortages.

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Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's territory, including Crimea, limited border areas in the Kherson and Sumy oblasts, and significant parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Peace demands previously voiced by Moscow included full control of the latter four regions, limits on Ukraine's military strength, a ban on Kyiv's entry into NATO, measures promoting the Russian language in Ukraine, and more.

In turn, Kyiv has rejected any formal recognition of Russian territorial claims or restrictions on joining international alliances and stressed that territorial discussions must be preceded by a full ceasefire.

Talking to European leaders and Zelensky on Aug. 6, Trump reportedly said that Putin is open to negotiations if land swaps are included in the talks.

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Read also: Russian economy faces near-zero growth by end of 2025 as war-driven momentum fades, central bank warns

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples is observed annually on August 9 to raise awareness and promote the protection of the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide.

This day honors the rich cultures, achievements, and contributions of Indigenous communities, while also drawing attention to the ongoing challenges they face  including poverty, discrimination, and limited access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples across the globe, living in more than 90 countries. Though they comprise less than six percent of the worlds population, they represent at least 15 percent of the worlds poorest. These communities speak the vast majority of the worlds 7,000 languages and carry forward over 5,000 unique cultureseach rooted deeply in tradition, place, and identity.

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In the United States, Native Americans are Indigenous to the land. Just in the United States alone, there are 574 federally recognized tribal nations and hundreds of state recognized tribes.

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.

Indigenous Peoples are the original stewards of their lands, inheritors of ancient knowledge systems, and caretakers of living cultures passed down through generations. They maintain social, political, economic, and spiritual practices that set them apart from the dominant societies surrounding them. Yet despite the beauty and resilience of these communities, Indigenous Peoples around the world face shared challengessystemic discrimination, land dispossession, cultural erasure, and the ongoing struggle to have their inherent rights recognized and respected.

For centuries, Indigenous Peoples have fought for acknowledgment of their identity, their sacred relationships with land and water, and their right to self-determination. Too often, these rights have been denied or violated, leaving Indigenous communities among the most marginalized and vulnerable populations on the planet.

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Recognizing this enduring struggle, the United Nations proclaimed August 9 as the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples. The date marks the anniversary of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982an event that signaled a growing global awareness of the need to protect Indigenous rights and honor Indigenous voices.

As this day is observed, it serves as both a reminder and a call to action: that the rights of Indigenous Peoples are human rights, and that justice cannot be achieved without listening to, and standing with, those who have carried the wisdom of the land since time immemorial.

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
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI)  A Central Falls man has been sentenced for his role in the 2020 murder of 22-year-old Joel Rosario, R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Friday.

Jairo Esdel Galva, 26, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at the ACI and an additional 30 years to serve concurrently.

In March, a jury found Galva guilty of second-degree murder, discharging a firearm when committing a crime of violence resulting in death, committing a drive-by shooting and carrying a firearm without a license.

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READ MORE: Central Falls man found guilty of 2020 murder after retrial

On Oct. 31, 2020, police were called to Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket for reports of shots fired. When officers got there, they found Rosario, who had been shot in his chest. Rosario was rushed to Miriam Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to police, witnesses told officers that Galva, who had a contentious relationship with Rosario, had been following a vehicle in which Rosario was riding. When both vehicles stopped at a traffic light, Galva allegedly got out of his vehicle, argued with Rosario, shot one bullet through the window and then quickly drove off.

Galva was arrested a few days later. Additional investigation showed he didnt have a license to own the gun used.

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Galva was previously convicted of this murder back in 2022, but a new trial was ordered on the second-degree murder charge by the R.I. Supreme Court.

ALSO READ: Central Falls man found guilty in 2020 Pawtucket murder

Once again, our community must bear witness to senseless gun violence and its reverberations, Neronha said. This case is yet another example of the tragedies that ensue when guns fall into the hands of those ready and willing to use them.

I hope that this life sentence provides some sense of closure for Joel [Rosario]s family and friends, Neronha continued. I want to thank the Pawtucket Police Department for their partnership on this investigation.

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A Centre County man was convicted Friday of dozens of charges related to the sexual abuse of four children.

Kenneth M. Yerger, 28, of Ferguson Township, was found guilty of all 56 charges by a Clinton County jury at the end of a two-day trial. Six women and six men deliberated for about 1 1/2 hours before delivering their verdict.

Yerger was found guilty of felony counts of child rape, aggravated indecent assault, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault and corruption of minors. He was also convicted of a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a child.

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I am obviously pleased with the verdict, and I am very grateful for the service of our jury, Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse said in a statement. But most of all, I am happy for the 4 victims in this case who had to endure so much, including the traumatic experience of having to sit in the courtroom and face their abuser. I hope they can use this verdict as a starting point to heal and find happiness in their lives.

Strouse also complimented the investigation carried out by state police at Lamar troopers Chad Harpster and Dalton Young. A message left with defense lawyer Brian W. Ulmer was not immediately returned Friday night.

Four girls between approximately 8 to 15 years old each described similar abuse during forensic interviews, Harpster wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. They said Yerger paid or gave them items before or abuse the abuse, which spanned 2017-21.

One girl told investigators she was abused at Yergers home in Ferguson Township, police wrote.

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Yerger and his wife testified in his defense Friday, Strouse wrote in his statement. Following his conviction, Clinton County Judge Michael F. Salisbury revoked Yergers bail. He is incarcerated at the Clinton County Correctional Facility.

His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9. The convictions carry a potential maximum sentence of 659 years in state prison, though prosecutors have not publicly said what they plan to seek.
A court in Chad jailed former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra for 20 years Saturday, convicting him of hate speech, xenophobia and having incited a massacre.

The court in N'Djamena jailed Masra, one of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno's fiercest critics, for his role in inciting inter-communal violence in which 42 people were killed on May 14. It also imposed a fine of one billion CFA francs (1.5 million euros).

Most of the massacre victims were women and children in Mandakao, southwestern Chad, according to the court. On Friday, the state prosecutor had called for a 25-year sentence.

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"Our client has just been the object of a humiliation," lead defence lawyer Francis Kadjilembaye told AFP.

"He has just been convicted on the basis of an empty dossier, on the basis of assumptions and in the absence of evidence," he added.

He called it a weaponisation of the courts.

Activists with Masra's Transformers Party gathered later Saturday to protest the conviction and condemn Deby. They said former finance Bedoumra Kordje had been appointed interim party leader.

Masra was arrested on May 16, two days after the violence, and charged with "inciting hatred, revolt, forming and complicity with armed gangs, complicity in murder, arson and desecration of graves".

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He stood trial with nearly 70 other men accused of taking part in the killings.

- Presidential candidate -

Originally from Chad's south, Masra comes from the Ngambaye ethnic group and enjoys wide popularity among the predominantly Christian and animist populations of the south.

Those groups feel marginalised by the largely Muslim-dominated regime in the capital N'Djamena.

During the trial, Masra's lawyers argued that no concrete evidence against him had been presented to the court.

He went on hunger strike in jail for nearly a month in June, his lawyers said at the time.

Like other opposition leaders, Masra had left Chad after a bloody crackdown on his followers in 2022, only returning under an amnesty agreed in 2024.

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Trained as an economist in France and Cameroon, Masra had been a fierce opponent of the ruling authorities before they named him prime minister five months ahead of the presidential election.

He served as premier from January to May last year after signing a reconciliation deal with Deby.

Masra faced off against Deby in the 2024 presidential elections, winning 18.5 percent against Deby's 61.3 percent, but claimed victory.

Of the May 14 killings, one local source said they were thought to have sprung from a dispute between ethnic Fulani nomadic herders and local Ngambaye farmers over the demarcation of grazing and farming areas.

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Conflicts between pastoralists and sedentary farmers are estimated by the International Crisis Group to have caused more than 1,000 deaths and 2,000 injuries in Chad between 2021 and 2024.

yas-lnf/jj/gv
Chads former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for disseminating racist and xenophobic messages that incited violence.

Defence lawyer Kadjilembay Francis told reporters following Saturdays ruling at a court in the Chadian capital, NDjamena, that Masra would appeal his sentence.

He has just been subjected to ignominy and unworthy humiliation, Francis said.

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Masra, who was prime minister between January and May last year, is the head of the Transformers party and a sharp critic of Mahamat Deby, Chads current president.

He was accused alongside 67 co-defendants, mostly from the same Ngambaye ethnic group, of causing a clash between herders and farmers in May in Logone Occidental, in the southwest of the central African country. The fighting left 35 people dead and six others injured.

Masra has denied the charges against him, which include hate speech, xenophobia and having incited a massacre.

Before leaving the courtroom on Saturday, he gave a message to his supporters: Stand firm. Activists with his party said they would put out a special message later in the day.





The Ngambaye ethnic group enjoys wide popularity among the predominantly Christian and animist populations of the south, whose members feel marginalised by the largely Muslim-dominated authorities in NDjamena.

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Masra left Chad after a bloody crackdown on his followers in 2022, only returning under an amnesty agreed in 2024.

He faced off against Deby in that years presidential election, which Deby won with more than 61 percent support.

But Masra did not accept the results, claiming that the vote was rigged. He later agreed to serve as premier after signing a reconciliation deal with Deby.

Masra has strongly opposed the military rulers who came to power in Chad in April 2021, after the death of Debys father, Idriss Deby Itno, who had led the country for 30 years.

Deby took power in 2021 and legitimised his presidency with a parliamentary election earlier this year, which was opposed by Masra and his party.
N'DJAMENA (Reuters) -Chad's former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of disseminating racist and xenophobic messages that incited violence, his lawyer told Reuters on Saturday.

Masra is a staunch opponent of President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who nonetheless served as prime minister in Deby's interim government for about five months before running against him in a May 2024 election.

Chad's prosecutor launched an investigation against him in May in relation to a clash in which dozens were killed in the southern town of Mandakao that month.

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In addition to 20 years in prison, Masra was ordered to pay a fine of 1 billion CFA francs ($1.8 million), said Kadjilembaye Francis, one of his lawyers.

The lawyer said his team planned to appeal.

(Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane; Writing by Portia Crowe; Editing by Mark Porter)
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Chad's criminal court on Saturday sentenced Success Masra, the country's former prime minister and opposition leader, to 20 years in prison after convictions on charges including incitement to hatred and revolt and complicity to murder. The charges stemmed from a deadly clash between herders and farmers in May.

Masra was also fined 1 billion CFA francs, or almost $1.8 million. Before leaving the courtroom, Masra gave a message to his supporters: Stand firm.

Following the verdict Kadjilembay Francis, Masra's lawyer, told reporters: He has just been subjected to ignominy and unworthy humiliation. He said he will appeal the sentence.

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Masra and 67 co-defendants, mostly people from the same Ngambaye ethnic group, have been on trial accused of causing a clash between herders and farmers in May in Logone Occidental in the southwest of the central African country. The fighting left 35 people dead and six others injured. He has denied the charges against him.

Masra, who was prime minister between January and May last year, is the head of the Les Transformateurs party and has been a sharp critic of Mahamat Deby, Chads current president.

Deby took power in 2021 after his father Idriss Deby Itno was killed while fighting rebels in the countrys north. He had ruled the country for 30 years.

Deby legitimized his presidency with an election earlier this year, which was opposed by Masra and his party.




NEED TO KNOW

A chairlift collapsed at a resort, leaving at least eight people injured

CCTV footage shared online shows a cable suddenly falling to the ground, with chairs plummeting into a lake below

One of the more severely injured individuals sustained a spinal cord injury





A chairlift collapsed at a resort, leaving at least eight people injured.

The incident took place on Friday, Aug. 8, in a resort area of Nalchik in Russias Kabardino-Balkaria region, according to the Russian News Agency TASS.

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CCTV footage, shared on TikTok by Metro.uk, shows resortgoers traveling in individual chairs, before a cable suddenly falls to the ground.

Several chairs can then be seen plummeting into a lake below, and one passenger, who almost made it to the top, was captured holding onto his chair as he hovered a few feet from the ground.

Initial reports from TASS indicated that six people were injured and five were hospitalized with light or moderate injuries. In a later update, Russias regional Health Ministry told TASS that "two more injured individuals were taken to the regional clinical hospital.

Officials added that the injuries sustained by some of the people involved in the incident turned out to be more serious than originally reported.

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According to TASS updated report, a CT scan revealed that one of the injured had sustained a spinal cord injury.

Two of the previously reported victims were released after a medical evaluation, and the Health Ministry added that one person was taken to the hospital in serious condition and is being treated in the intensive care unit.

The Health Ministry said in a statement to TASS that they were alerted to the chairlift collapse at around 5:45 p.m. local time.

Russias Emergencies Ministrys rescuers and all the emergency services were immediately dispatched to the site," the organization said.

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A spokesperson for the Russian Emergencies Ministry told TASS that 21 people had been on the chairlift when it collapsed. The remaining individuals were evacuated, and a search-and-rescue was launched as a precaution.

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TASS reported that emergency services identified the wear and tear of cables as the preliminary cause of the chairlift collapse. They added to the outlet, however, that "during the investigation, all other versions will be considered."

The Investigative Committee for the Kabardino-Balkaria Region has opened a criminal case into the incident, per TASS.



Read the original article on People
CENTREVILLE, Va. (DC News Now)  A man was arrested for having sexual relations with a minor, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).

On April 20, officers were called to the 14000 block of Centreville for a sex offense report. Parents of a 14-year-old child said they found a man in a car with their child.

Fairfax County Public School to get weapons detectors for its middle schools

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The parents confronted the man who ran away before the police could arrive.

FCPD said detectives identified 50-year-old Akbar Yunusi, of Chantilly, as the suspect. It was found out that the child met him through social media.

According to FCPD, Yunusi had come to meet with the child several times to engage in illicit acts.

About a day after the incident, Yunusi bought a one-way flight to Istanbul.

On Aug. 3, he was arrested by Customs and Border Protection as he returned to the U.S.

Yunusi was charged with three counts of taking indecent liberties with children, eight counts of use of a communication system to facilitate certain crimes against children, three counts of production of child pornography, sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery.

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National Park Service to build new ramps on George Washington Memorial Parkway

He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call (703) 246-7800, option 6.

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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.
The Brief

A 35-year-old man was injured in a shootout with multiple gunmen in the South Loop early Saturday morning.

The victim, a concealed carry license holder, was shot at and fired back at the gunmen, police said.

CHICAGO - A shootout between multiple gunmen and a licensed gun holder on the Near South Side early Saturday morning left one person injured.

The shooting happened in the 1300 block of S. Wabash Avenue in the South Loop, according to the Chicago Police Department.

What we know

Officers responded to the scene around 2:30 a.m.

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A 35-year-old man was getting out of his car when another car with multiple unknown offenders inside approached him.

Two male gunmen got out of the second car and fired shots in the victims direction.

The victim, a concealed carry license holder, had his own gun and fired back at the gunmen.

The victim was shot in the left shoulder and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition.

No other injuries were reported.

No one is in custody in connection with the shooting.

Area detectives are investigating.
PARSONS, Kan.  Officials in Parsons say crime can often be a revolving door.

The Parsons Police Department says out of 882 arrests made by the department last year, some 53% were repeat offenders. Criminals who often find themselves moving in and out of jail, do so because they are able to post low bail amounts, leading to shorter pre-trial confinement, with some only staying a few days at a time. This, Chief Spinks says, is a failure on the part of the judicial system in Kansas, as he says the public becomes the victim.

Chief Spinks believes that with more severe punishments for these offenders, there would be less incentive for repeated criminal behavior.

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Its hard to break those folks away from that, especially if you are almost instantaneously putting them back out on the street. If somebody has to sit in a county jail for 6, 9, 12 months, or if they have to go to prison for a while, okay, maybe thats a better deterrent, said Chief Spinks.

Spinks says the department has been tracking these repeat offenders for at least four years now and the courts should take into account public safety when setting bail amounts. Spinks also says this data should set off alarms for the judicial branch.

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China's Foreign Ministry justified its imports of Russian oil on Aug. 8, suggesting Beijing will continue to purchase oil from Moscow despite U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

"It is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia," China's Foreign Ministry said in response to question about Russian oil purchases posed by Bloomberg.

"We will continue to adopt reasonable energy security measures in accordance with our national interests," the statement added.

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Trump has warned in recent days that unless Moscow agrees on a ceasefire before Aug. 8., further purchases could trigger punitive measures, including tariffs of up to 100% on Chinese exports to the U.S.

Despite the deadline Trump has seemingly postponed their implementation, instead, agreeing to an in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska.

In an attempt to exert additional pressure on Moscow's war machine, the U.S. president imposed a 50% tariff on imports from India in response to New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil.

Bloomberg reported on Aug. 8 that Russian oil companies have already begun redirecting shipments of Urals crude from India to China after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs.

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Beijing previously said on Aug. 4 that the country will secure its energy supplies based on national interests despite the threats.

The new tariffs are part of a broader effort to squeeze Russia's oil revenues, which account for roughly one-third of its federal budget and are vital to funding its war.

Despite China's claims of neutrality in the war, Beijing has emerged as a crucial lifeline for Russia, providing dual-use technology while continuing to buy oil.

Read also: Breaking: Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 for peace talks













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[Source]

Chaofeng Ge, a 32-year-old Chinese national, died by suicide just five days after entering U.S. immigration custody, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ge was reportedly found hanging by the neck in a shower stall at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, on the morning of Aug. 5. Staff attempted CPR and called emergency services, but he was pronounced dead shortly after 6 a.m. by the Clearfield County coroner.

Detention timeline

Ge was arrested in January by police in Lower Paxton Township after officers found stolen credit card data on his phone. He pleaded guilty to access device fraud and related charges on July 31 and was sentenced to concurrent terms of six to 12 months. ICE assumed custody of him the same day through an immigration detainer.

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At the time of his death, Ge was awaiting a hearing before the Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review. ICE said a handwritten note was recovered near the scene and there were no signs of foul play. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating, and ICEs Office of Professional Responsibility was notified in line with agency protocol.

Trending on NextShark: Indian teen chess champions break records in back-to-back victories

Pattern raises oversight concerns

Ges death is one of at least 14 reported in ICE custody so far in fiscal year 2025, surpassing last years total of 12. At least three of this years cases, including Ges, have been classified as suicides. Advocates and former officials have raised concerns about underreporting and lack of transparency, warning that the true number of deaths may be higher.

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Two other Asian men have died in ICE custody this year. In July, Tien Xuan Phan, a 55-year-old Vietnamese national, died at a hospital in San Antonio after experiencing seizures and vomiting while detained in Karnes County, Texas. In March, Nhon Ngoc Nguyen, also 55 and diagnosed with dementia, died from pneumonia at a hospital in El Paso. Both deaths remain under formal review.

Trending on NextShark: Dean Cain channels Superman as he joins ICE

Reform calls and ICE response

Advocacy groups have renewed demands for stronger oversight and better medical safeguards within immigration detention facilities. The Moshannon Valley Processing Center, where Ge was held, has been the subject of ongoing criticism for inadequate health care, limited legal access and poor living conditions. A 2024 report by Temple University highlighted widespread complaints from detainees, including allegations of neglect and mistreatment.

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ICE stated that all detainees receive medical, dental and mental health screenings within 12 hours of arrival, followed by a comprehensive health assessment within 14 days. The agency said emergency care is available around the clock and reiterated its commitment to humane treatment. ICE has notified the Chinese embassy, the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General and members of Congress in connection with the recent death.

Trending on NextShark: Chinese ICE detainee dies by suicide days after transfer to Pennsylvania facility

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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TUPELO  When Chris Kellum joined Kellum Dental Clinic, he became the third generation of Kellum at the practice, joining his father, Dan, and uncle, Tom.

While Chris initially started on a different path, it eventually led back to dentistry  and home.

"It wasn't my first idea, because at first I wanted to do engineering and then I wanted to do medicine," he said. "I went the dental route and practiced in a lot of other practices, too, but I feel that pull to come back."

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About halfway through his undergraduate years at Lipscomb University in Nashville, he made a call to his dad; he asked how he enjoyed practicing dentistry day in and day out. What his father told him reminded him of why he stayed on his path toward dentistry.

"He said, 'for the most part, it's pretty good. You go to work, you do your job, you don't have to go long hours like in a hospital  so it seemed like the right fit," Chris said.

For his part, Dan never pressured Chris into dentistry. He said he wanted his son to do whatever he wanted was best for him.

"I was always happy whether he wanted to be an engineer or a medical doctor, and I was really happy when he went to dental school,' Dan said. "I think it's a great profession; there's a lot of variety, working on kids, young adults, up to older people. It's a different procedure with just about every patient."

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Following the footsteps of his father and uncle, Chris was accepted into the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, where he graduated in 2013.

"It was the right fit for me, although it didn't feel like it at the time because it was a little more challenging than what anybody told me," he said with a laugh. "But it was good, and I got through it."

For a few years, he practiced in Nashville, where his friends were. Then he got what he calls a "wild calling" to practice in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado. That was followed by a couple of years in Savannah, Georgia, before returning home last year. His work includes fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, extractions, partial and complete dentures and implant restorations.

Chris, 40, is a proud part of the rich Kellum legacy in the city of Tupelo.

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The Kellum Dental Clinic opened at its current location on Robins Street in 1953 by Joseph L. Kellum Sr. The dental office had its roots in the old Kellum Clinic, which got its start with his father, Henry J. Kellum Sr., starting a medical practice as an ophthalmologist. Joining the old Kellum Clinic over the years were his sons, Henry J. Kellum Jr. (general medicine), Agrippa Kellum Sr. (surgery), William C. Kellum Sr. (internal medicine), and William's son, William C. Kelly Jr. (internal medicine), and for a short time, Joseph L. Kellum Jr. (dentistry).

In 1976, Kellum Dental Clinic began as a separate building next to the old Kellum Clinic. Joseph Kellum Sr. continued his practice of dentistry until retiring in 1998. During his career at the Kellum Dental Clinic, he practiced alongside three of his sons  Joseph L. "Les" Kellum Jr., Daniel H. Kellum and Thomas N. Kellum. All four dentists received DDS degrees from the University of Tennessee. Les began his dental practice in 1976 and practiced until 1984 before returning to medical school. Dan began his dental practice in 1978, and Tom began his dental practice in 1990.

Dan, now 72, continues to practice three days a week at the clinic, and said he has no plans to slow down soon.

"Forty-seven years, I still enjoy it. I enjoy working with the patients and the feedback I get to help them," he said. "There are three of us, and I'm sure I'll have to turn over the reins in a few years myself. But not yet. I enjoy the transformations we make in aesthetics, in function and just making people comfortable with their tooth problems."

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And now with the use of AI to find cavities and other new technologies, there's still more to see for Dan, who also enjoys working alongside his son.

As for sage advice he's gotten from his father over the years, Chris said it's nothing extraordinary. But they all make him a better dentist.

"They're a bunch of little techniques-oriented tips like, 'Maybe you want to try rounding the prep here,' and, as far as injections go, 'You want to pull that gum tight so when it goes in, they don't feel it as much ...' It's a lot of clinical tips and blurbs," he said. "A lot of good practical advice. One profound thing he also said was they teach you one thing in dental school, but when you get out you realize there may be a hundred ways to do it. If you add up all the tips, it's added to a lot of help over the years."
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -As a crowd looked on, uniformed Taliban surrounded the Toyota Landcruiser in which Mahmood Habibi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, sat. Other Taliban smashed open the door of his Kabul apartment, emerging later with his laptop and papers.

Blindfolded in the back seat, Habibi and his driver were driven off by gunmen sporting shoulder patches of the Taliban's feared secret police, the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), according to several witness statements in U.S. government possession seen by Reuters.

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Afghanistan's Taliban government denies it detained Habibi, 37, who was a former head of Afghanistan's civil aviation. While dividing his time between the United States and Kabul working for a private company, he became a U.S. citizen after the Taliban took power in 2021. The Taliban also says they have no knowledge of his whereabouts, three years after he disappeared.

That is contradicted by the witness accounts and other evidence, including data monitored from Habibi's cellphone, described to Reuters by a U.S. official and a former U.S. official familiar with the matter.

The Taliban denials present a conundrum for the FBI, which is leading the U.S. government effort to gain his release; and for the State Department, which describes Habibi's detention a major impediment to exploring increased engagement with Afghanistan, three years after his August 10, 2022 arrest.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made freeing Americans held abroad a top priority and already has secured the release of dozens, including from Afghanistan, Russia and Venezuela.

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The case of Habibi - the only publicly identified American held in the country - has been harder to resolve.

This story is the most comprehensive account to date of the circumstances of Habibi's capture and includes previously unreported details.

Among them, interviews with the U.S. official and a former U.S. official with knowledge of the case reveal that the Taliban likely detained Habibi because the CIA had penetrated the company where he worked. The sources say the U.S. spy agency had accessed one of the company's security cameras, helping it pinpoint the al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a Kabul guesthouse.

Habibi's detention came 10 days after Zawahiri - the last of the top plotters of the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States - was dramatically assassinated by a U.S. drone strike on the guesthouse, ordered by Trumps predecessor, Joe Biden.

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At the time, U.S. officials briefed journalists that it was a CIA operation. The U.S. sources told Reuters that Habibi was unaware of the CIA plot and was wrongly detained after returning to Kabul from a work trip to Dubai after the assassination, oblivious of the danger he was in.

The CIA, the Taliban, the White House and Habibi's employer, Virginia-based ARX Communications, did not respond to detailed requests for comment for this story. ARX has previously said neither it, nor its subsidiaries, were involved with the strike on Zawahiri. Reuters could not independently verify whether Habibi was or wasn't aware of the plot.

In a statement to Reuters, a State Department spokesperson called for Habibi's immediate release.

"We know the Taliban abducted Mahmood Habibi nearly three years ago," the spokesperson said.

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A co-worker detained with Habibi, then later released, saw him in GDI headquarters and heard him in an adjacent room being asked if he worked for the CIA or was involved in the strike on Zawahiri, according to one of the statements in U.S government possession, seen by Reuters.

Then, in June and August of 2023, the U.S. government detected that his mobile phone had been switched on in GDI headquarters, the U.S. official and former official said.

Reuters could not reach the witnesses who made statements, including the coworker, or verify the accuracy of their account of Habibi's detention. The U.S. official familiar with the matter said excerpts of the statements have been presented to the Taliban in response to their repeated denials of Habibis detention.

As Habibi and his family on Sunday mark the third anniversary of his arrest, the Trump administration has stepped up efforts to win his release, including offering a $5 million reward for information. But so far, he appears no closer to freedom, the U.S. sources said.

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"Our family has new hope that the Trump team will be successful," said Habibi's older brother, Ahmad.

Ahmad said his brother would never have gone to Kabul four days after the Zawahiri assassination if the CIA had told ARX to warn him it was too dangerous to return.

Nobody told him anything. Neither the company, neither the CIA nor anybody. So, he just went back, Ahmad said.

The U.S. government officially considers Habibi a hostage, said the U.S. official, because his arrest and location remain unconfirmed by the Taliban. The official and the former official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the case.

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In response to a request for comment, the FBI said that along with partners in other U.S. departments involved in hostage recovery, it remains "committed to bringing Habibi home to his family."

The Taliban rejected an offer made last year to trade Habibi for alleged Osama bin Laden aide Mohammad Rahim al-Afghani, the last Afghan held in the Guantanamo Bay military prison.

Weve tried in terms of both carrots and sticks, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss the case.

The Taliban "literally throw up a wall," said the official.

CAMERA ON CELL TOWER

As part of the operation against Zawahiri, the CIA penetrated the Asia Consultancy Group (ACG), a subsidiary of ARX, according to the current and former U.S. officials, who provided previously unreported details of how the spy agency was able to target the al Qaeda chief. Reuters presented these details to the CIA, ACG and ARX, requesting comment, but received no response.

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ACG, whose parent is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, had a contract to erect cellphone towers around Kabul, the sources said. CCTV cameras were fitted to the towers to protect the structures, they said.

One of the cameras, the sources said, was pointed at a house U.S. officials have linked to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's acting interior minister both at the time and now, in the heart of Kabul's diplomatic quarter, a short distance from the shuttered British and American embassies.

The sources said the camera sent back video to the CIA confirming Zawahiri's presence in the residence.

That confirmation helped the agency kill the Egyptian Islamist with two drone-fired Hellfire R9X missiles on July 31, 2022, as he emerged onto a balcony, they said. His wife and family survived the strike.

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While officials in the Biden administration at the time described the CIA's drone operation to kill Zawahiri with Hellfires, the details of the agency's operation on the ground, including the presence of the camera and its role in identifying Zawahiri have not been previously disclosed.

ARREST

On the day of his arrest, Mahmood Habibi was in his apartment in Kabuls Sherpur neighborhood packing to return to New Jersey, where he had a home, with the help of a sister, who was there with her two children, according to Ahmad.

It was about noon when a phone call came from the ACG office saying it had just been raided by the Taliban, Ahmad said. Habibi told his sister that he had to leave without explaining why. He was arrested immediately after getting into his vehicle, Ahmad said.

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A few minutes later, somebody announcing that they were with GDI knocked on his apartment door, according to Ahmad and a witness statement. His sister declined to open it, telling those outside that she had to conform to the Taliban rule that an adult male relative had to be present.

The Taliban broke open the door, entered the apartment and rifled through closets and drawers, demanding Habibis laptop, according to Ahmad and the witness statement.

A crowd had gathered outside after the Taliban arrived in five vehicles, blocked the street and surrounded Habibis car, before driving him off, according to Ahmad and a separate witness statement.

The GDI arrested 30 other ACG employees, according to a letter that ACG sent to Afghanistan's Ministry of Communications, seen by Reuters. Except for Habibi and one other, all were eventually released.

In the letter, dated September 15, 2022, ACG asked that family members be allowed to visit him and three other staff who the GDI still held.

The ministry appeared to confirm Habibi was a GDI prisoner in a reply two days later, seen by Reuters, saying that the intelligence directorate would decide on the petition when its investigation was completed.

However, in a July 3, 2025 statement reported by Afghanistans state news agency, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that in response to requests from Habibi's family, the Taliban had investigated but no evidence has been found to suggest that he was detained by Afghanistan's security forces.

Mujahid said the Taliban are a legitimate governing body that does not detain individuals without due process or hide them from public view. Mujahid did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

US CITIZEN

Born to parents from the southern city of Kandahar, Habibi is one of eight siblings  three brothers and five sisters  who grew up in the Kabul neighborhood of Karte Parwan.

His excellent English helped him secure a job with the U.N. civil aviation agency in Kabul in 2008. He worked for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administrations U.S. embassy office from 2011 to 2013.

Tapped as deputy civil aviation minister, Habibi helped transition Afghanistans air traffic system from U.S. control to the U.S.-backed Kabul government. Habibi became civil aviation minister in 2017. He held that post until 2019 while earning a civil aviation masters degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, the university confirmed.

In 2019, he resigned and then joined ARX to help oversee its Afghan subsidiarys contract to run air traffic control at Kabuls international airport. Habibi lived between the city and the United States, accumulating the last of the 30 months of U.S. residency he needed over a five-year period for U.S. citizenship in 2021, Ahmad said.

He was in Kabul with his family during the chaotic departure of the last U.S. troops in August 2021, Ahmad said, as the Taliban consolidated its grip on the capital after 20 years of war.

Habibi flew from Dubai to Kabul on August 4, 2022, after stopping in Qatar to check on his family and parents who were housed on a U.S. military base there waiting for final processing of U.S. immigration visas, said Ahmad. A week later Habibi was arrested.

His wife, daughter and parents, who waited in Qatar until October for their visas before flying to the United States and settling in California, have not seen or heard from him since.

Resolving Habibis case would be the easiest way for the Taliban, who crave international recognition as Afghanistans legitimate rulers, to explore improving ties with the U.S., the current U.S. official said.

Since Habibis detention, four other Americans have been arrested and released by the Taliban.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Saeed Shah in Islamabad; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
The city of Oneonta announced Thursday, Aug. 7 that it was partnering with FlashVote to distribute surveys and collect community feedback on issues concerning the city.

City Administrator Greg Mattice said Friday that while he does not know yet what specific issues will be addressed in these surveys, it will cover a mix of topics, mainly issues that would impact the people in Oneonta. Some of the surveys also will address more general questions so that the city can get a better idea of what peoples priorities are locally.

We are trying to attract people who are just interested in giving their feedback without any agenda, any particular survey, Mattice said.

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FlashVote is a service focused on providing local governments with an avenue to hear from its constituents through community-centered surveys, according to its website.

The city would collect survey results to inform different decisions when discussing certain policies.

Mattice said he has heard feedback from council members during his time as city administrator trying to find ways to better communicate with constituents.

It has been more than a year since he first started conversations with FlashVote, Mattice added, and he hopes it will reach people who otherwise arent going to show up for a council meeting.

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People who sign up will have 48 hours to fill out surveys and can view data from collective responses after the survey is done. Mattice said surveys would be sent out likely no more than once a month but frequency could vary depending on when the city is looking for input.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, about 31 people had signed up to receive surveys, Mattice said, about 24-hours after the initial announcement. Anyone can sign up regardless of whether they live in Oneonta.

But then well be able to see the difference in the results, Mattice said.

Well know if there are 100 people that did the survey, 50 of them live in the city of Oneonta, and 50 of them live elsewhere, he continued, and you can see the difference in their answers, so it might vary.

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Kevin Lyons, cofounder and CEO of FlashVote, said Friday that he was inspired by a New England town meeting, as he grew up in Massachusetts. He said while working on a local government project, he asked how officials in local government collected community input when making decisions and saw a need for a more accessible way to draw feedback.

After a lot of testing and developing, the service launched about eight years ago.

How can we all make our governments better and serve more people better? Lyons said.

A survey in Waxhaw, North Carolina, just ended yesterday, Lyons added, requesting feedback on a proposed bypass. While some people in rural parts of the area took over a county survey and were very against it, after doing the survey in the city where the bypass was proposed to go, it found that overwhelmingly constituents were in favor of it.

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You have to surf the many, not just the noisy, Lyons said.

Lyons said that generally, the city will share the links for specific survey results broadly, but that the information is publicly accessible, not just to those who have signed up to participate.

While Lyons said Oneonta is the first city in its region in New York to partner with FlashVote, it has partners throughout a lot of the country, including New England. On average, 200 to 600 responses for a survey is good participation, Lyons said.

When signing up with FlashVote, individuals would be asked to provide some demographic information, like name, address, gender and year of birth.

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Results also can be filtered, so the city could break down data by ward to see whether people in different sections of the city feel differently about certain issues. The city would not collect any personally identifiable information, Mattice said, and when reviewing results, nobody in the city will ever see a list of who has signed up.

To obtain FlashVote, the city paid a set up fee of $3,000 and $9,900 for a one-year subscription.

We are just trying to reach a broad cross-section of our community, Mattice said. Hopefully it will work out that way.

Those interested can sign up at https://www.flashvote.com/oneontany.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  A man died after an alleged stabbing Friday night in Cleveland.

According to police, officers responded to the 18700 block of Mohawk Ave. around 11:30 p.m. on reports of a fight in progress.

I-Team: Man shot by Hudson police is former defense attorney

At the scene, a 25-year-old man was found with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

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The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Malik Williams, 25, of Cleveland.

Victims report carjacking at NE Ohio Dunkin Donuts

A 46-year-old woman was arrested, according to police, and evidence was located at the scene.

The homicide unit is investigating.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Five newspapers serving the Globe and Page areas have abruptly closed after their Illinois-based publisher shut down amid financial troubles.

The closures include the Gateway to Copper Corridor, Arizona Silverbelt, and Copper Country News in Globe, as well as the Page-based Lake Powell Chronicle and Gateway to Canyon Country.

Parent company News Media Corporation announced it would shut down Aug. 6. The move means more than two dozen newspapers across Arizona, Wyoming, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota have shuttered.

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News Media Corporation CEO JJ Tompkins called the company-wide closure a difficult decision in a letter to staff.

We have explored every possible avenue to sustain our operations and preserve our team, said Tompkins. Unfortunately, due to financial challenges, a significant economic downturn impacting our industry, revenue losses and increasing expenses, and the recent failure of an attempt to sell the company as a going concern, we have reached a point where continuing business is no longer feasible.

Bob Hembree, a reporter for the Lake Powell Chronicle, said he had no advanced notice of the closure in a Facebook post.

"I, along with employees and freelancers of 34 newspapers owned by News Media Corporation, found out today that it was our last day," Hembree wrote. "All the newspapers closed without warning."

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Hembree is also concerned for the city of Page, he added.

"Small towns need a newspaper for many reasons," Hembree said.

Local journalism: Many in my generation never touch newspapers. But they still rely on my reporting

As of Aug. 8, the websites for the Gateway to Canyon Country and Gateway to Copper Corridor appeared to be offline. The other three Arizona papers remained online, though calls to their listed numbers returned a busy signal. An editor did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Tompkins, a University of Arizona graduate, previously served as group publisher for NMCs Arizona newspapers before becoming the companys chief revenue officer and later its CEO.

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Tompkins told staff "we will make all reasonable efforts to pay you all remaining compensation you have earned as soon as possible, to the extent permitted by the company's secured lenders."

The closure marks the end of nearly 150 years in publishing for the Arizona Silverbelt, which billed itself as the newspaper of record since 1878.

Across the country, newspapers and media outlets have faced financial challenges in recent years amid readership and publishing changes.

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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Plus, local National Public Radio and Public Broadcast Service affiliates are bracing for tighter budgets after Congress revoked more than $1 billion in funding for the entity that oversees them, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on X, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads @stephanie_murr.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona newspapers serving Globe and Page shut down
Police arrested and charged a Butler High School teacher on Thursday after he left his fanny pack in the school learning center with two pistols inside, arrest records show.

Another teacher spotted one of the guns in the nylon pack around 11 a.m. and notified the principal, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police records.

Police charged Justin Moyer, 37, with a felony count of having a gun/rifle/firearm on educational property. Moyer is the advanced placement program director at the school in Matthews, police records show.

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Moyer declined comment when reached by phone by The Charlotte Observer on Saturday.

Moyer has a valid concealed carry permit issued in Cabarrus County and no previous violations, according to the arrest records.

He carries the weapons for personal protection, the arresting CMPD officer said in Moyers arrest records.

A magistrate released Moyer on a written promise to appear in court, jail records show. His probable cause hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29, according to court documents.

While it remains illegal to bring a firearm onto school campuses in North Carolina, that will change on Dec. 1 for private schools. A new law passed despite Gov. Josh Steins veto will let private schools allow teachers, employees and volunteers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew based at Air Station Detroit rescued four people from a capsized boat off Erie, Pennsylvania, according to a Facebook post on Aug. 9.

The Coast Guard said three people had escaped the boat while the fourth had to be rescued from an air pocket under the hull.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from a capsized boat on Lake Erie, near Erie, Pennsylvania, it said in an Aug. 9 Facebook post.

"Station Erie arrived on scene and rescued 3 of the survivors with the 4th still trapped under the hull. The helicopter crew acted swiftly and deployed the rescue swimmer to safely extract the survivor who was found alive in an air pocket under the vessel," the Coast Guard said in the post.

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The Air Station Detroit MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, and Station Lake Erie, located near Erie Pennsylvania, launched to rescue people on Aug. 8.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from a capsized boat on Lake Erie, near Erie, Pennsylvania, it said in an Aug. 9 Facebook post.

"#BravoZulu to the crew and AMT3 Marcus Caceres and AST3 Andre Laserna on their first life saved!," the Coast Guard post said.

The Coast Guard did not provide information on the people rescued.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan Coast Guard helicopter helps rescue 4 from Lake Erie
Gosport sounds like it should be a great, romantic place to live. It sits on a peninsula west of Portsmouth, but it is sometimes fondly described by residents as an island.

Surrounded on three sides by sea, many locals depend on a ferry, taking in the sea air on the way to work. There are affordable homes, a great country park and beautiful coastal walks.

But instead, there is a sense of hopelessness  and an impending brain drain. The UK population is estimated to grow by five million over the next decade. But Gosport is seeing the opposite trend.

The Gosport peninsula should be an idyllic place to live, but its population is declining - Allan Baxter/The Image Bank RF

The town of 80,000 is forecast to record the biggest population decline of any local authority in England over the next decade, followed by the Isles of Scilly, and Copeland and Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.

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That is according to data from the Office for National Statistics, which estimates the number of residents will fall by 2.1pc between 2025 and 2035.

Young people are giving up on the town. Millie Holloway, 21, grew up in Gosport. She is now working in a bar on the high street until she earns enough to move out of the family home.

I think Gosport would be a nice place to retire, she says. Theres lovely beaches and local businesses. But theres just not much for young people here.

She adds: Most young people dont come back to Gosport after university. As soon as I can, Im getting out.

Its hard to find work

Richard Cooke, of the Gosport Society, says the town, with its hundreds of listed buildings, is a hidden gem.

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Its got harbour life, beaches, sailing. Were in a sheltered pocket here  the winters are mild and temperatures are about three to four degrees warmer than 40 miles away. Property prices are competitive. Its one of the most affordable places to live on the south coast.

The average house in Gosport is worth 256,000, according to property platform Rightmove. This is almost half the price of a typical house in the South East.

While it has the ingredients for a great quality of life, the town suffers from its location and an acute lack of transport. It is the largest town in England without a railway station, and the main road in and out is often gridlocked.

Charlotte Hylands, 37, was born in Gosport and is now raising a family there with her husband.

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I love Gosport, but it has its problems and thats why people are leaving, says Hylands, who works at an events venue. There are no jobs here, so people usually commute out for work, but the traffic is awful.

New parents Natalie Foster, 37, and Matt Goddard, 27, moved to Gosport a year ago to be closer to family. They say employment opportunities have been thin on the ground.

Goddard, who is currently unemployed, says: Its hard to find work. No one wants to take people on. The care sector seems to be the only industry that is regularly hiring, Foster adds.

Natalie Foster, 37, and Matt Goddard, 27, moved to Gosport a year ago  but say jobs are hard to find - John Nguyen

Gosport has one of the lowest levels of job density in the UK, with only 0.5 jobs available per working-age resident, similar to Clackmannanshire in Scotland, and against an average of 0.86 for the South East.

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In 2023 there were 1,800 businesses  less than half that of neighbouring Fareham, which has a population of 110,000.

Heather Brown, professor of health inequalities at Lancaster University, says that coastal towns like Gosport tend to be more economically deprived than their inland neighbours, with poor transport links a key reason. There used to be a railway station in the town, but it was bombed in 1941 and eventually closed in 1953.

She says: Many of these railways that were built for Victorian tourists have been closed, and also with decreasing bus routes, it then makes it harder for people to commute to city hubs.

This then leads to a decrease in house prices. Then people cant afford to live in cities, which creates a vicious cycle where these people who dont have jobs are stuck in areas where there are no jobs.

Brain-drain

Like many towns in Britain, Gosport has an ageing population. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of over-65s in Gosport rose by a quarter. However, the working age population fell by 5.5pc, compared to a 3.6pc increase across England.

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Joe Weston-McDowell works for Motiv8, a charity supporting young people across Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham and Gosport.

He says: People often think of Gosport as a small town, but actually it has a lot of issues a big city might have. You have the top half of the peninsula which is quite rural  its got a big country park, the lovely Lee-on-Solent, a really beautiful place.

Then you come to the town side, and its very dense. It has many of the challenges youd expect to see in a much larger city in terms of provision, urban density and material deprivation. Space is limited. Access to good quality public transport is limited.

Joe Weston-McDowell says Gosport experiences many of the challenges youd expect to see confined to much larger cities - John Nguyen

Weston-McDowell says the brain drain is real and stems from a sense of hopelessness that the town needs to shake.

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He adds: This is a post-industrial town. Once upon a time, there were lots of big white goods manufacturers, there was the naval logistics hub  theyre not here in as much scale any more. So there is a sense, perhaps more than you see in Portsmouth and in Havant, that you have to leave in order to find a good opportunity.

Theres a real need for people to do good, honest jobs in this borough. Weve done a lot of work with the council to try and buck this trend, and weve had a lot of success. But the next step is to convince people that live here that they can stay, work and raise their families here.

It was like the disappearance of the mining industry in the North

Gosport was once a major naval town, and is still home to the training base HMS Sultan. But many military institutions have closed since the Second World War, leaving buildings empty.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, says: The defence industrial base has decreased in our community over recent decades and the area has struggled to backfill the loss of high quality, skilled jobs.

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Cooke has lived in the town for 50 years. When I moved here, the Ministry of Defence was the main employer.

You rarely see anybody in uniform these days. It did have a massive effect. It was like the disappearance of the mining industry in the North. There just wasnt the industry to replace it.

Despite its many challenges, Richard Cooke says Gosport remains a hidden gem - John Nguyen

Plans are underway to breathe life into old buildings such as the Rum Store, which used to house rum rations for the navy, but is now being turned into an employment space potentially creating 200 jobs.

The major naval hospital Royal Hospital Haslar, built in 1753, has now reopened as a luxury waterfront residential village.

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Dinenage, the local MP, adds: The beautiful coastline, strong sense of community and relatively inexpensive housing has always meant the Gosport Peninsula is a popular retirement destination, not least for those leaving our Armed Forces. Without a university of our own, many young people move away.

Patsie Ruzewicz was born in Gosport, and returned several years ago to retire - John Nguyen

Patsie Ruzewicz runs a charity out of the Old Medical Store called Hub4Stuff, which addresses furniture poverty in the area, and has saved over 4,000 pieces of furniture from landfill since first opening. Ruzewicz was born in Gosport and returned here several years ago to retire.

It has changed since I was a little girl, but that was a long time ago. HMS Daedalus has closed  which was an airfield on the Solent  and there were lots of naval houses that have been sold off.

She continues: I like Gosport. It has its problems but when I drive home, wherever Ive been, even if it makes the journey longer, I always drive by the beach because its so lovely.

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In a significant step toward sustainability, Coca-Cola will be partnering with The Ocean Cleanup to open a waste sorting facility on Malaysia's Klang River.

According to a company press release, the facility will intercept waste in the river, preventing it from flowing into the ocean.

This technology, called Interceptor 002, is powered by solar energy. It's one of four machines of its kind, which have removed over 3 million kilograms (about 6.6 million pounds) of trash from rivers worldwide, per The Ocean Cleanup. It utilizes a barrier to guide pollution toward the machine's conveyor belt, which delivers waste to a shuttle that drops it into a series of dumpsters.

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At the facility, a team of full-time workers is employed to sort the recyclables from nonrecyclables. The Ocean Cleanup's rivers director, Marco Piet, said at the opening event, per Coca-Cola, that the company plans to eliminate about one-third of plastic waste from flowing into the oceans.

This eco-friendly initiative is a major step forward for Coca-Cola, which has a spotty environmental track record. While cleaning up the Klang River's plastic pollution is a net positive, it's important to remember that Coca-Cola was the world's worst plastic polluter from 2018 to 2023, according to audits conducted by Break Free From Plastic.

However, it seems like the international soda company is attempting to heal the damage. Recently, it co-signed an open letter to the United Nations in support of an antiplastic treaty. Hopefully, Coca-Cola and other large companies will continue down this path toward a brighter, greener future.

Syaiful Azmen Nordin, managing director at Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd, owners of the Selangor Maritime Gateway, said in a statement, per Coca-Cola: "The health of the Klang River is a shared responsibility  critical to our local communities and the environment."

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  An increase in price of coffee beans is causing coffee shops to feel the financial weight, especially locally owned ones.

Waters Cafe is a small, local coffee shop who said that it received a notification that its coffee bean supplier has raised its prices.

We actually just got an email notifying us from our sellers, the prices are going up, Waters Cafe manager Brenda Leyva said. I have noticed that it has been increasing throughout the time.

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This is not a unique situation to Waters Cafe, NBC News reported that a third of the coffee supply in the United States is imported from Brazil, which is now subjected to a 50% tariff. However, Leyva said its not just coffee bean prices rising, but other products as well.

Its affecting us by making us be more aware of the expenses, depending on it being, labor cost, whether its food costs or whether its coffee cost, Leyva said. Trying to keep that margin of 30% for each thing is its a little tight, but we are handling it.

Leyva said she has to keep an eye on her inventory prices and make the best decision for the cafe.

A lot of times we serve a lot of the students here from SCAD or just general locals, which is, you know, it is going to be hard keeping up if we do have to bring those costs down because we are that is whole foundation being a cafe and serving coffee.

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Waters Cafe said that they ask if you want to buy a cup of coffee or pastry to buy and support local businesses. They also have a community event in the work for October.

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(NBC)  On Fridays Dateline, a new team of detectives revisits the nearly 40-year-old cold case of Cathy Krauseneck, a wife and mother who was killed with an ax in her upstate New York home.

In the two-hour episode, Andrea Canning interviews with Krausenecks sister, Annet Schlosser and Monroe County District Attorney, Sandra Doorley.

Here is a preview of Cannings report:

February 19, winter temperatures hovered just above freezing.

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911 CALL: Theres been, I think, a murder across the street.

MARKUS SPAKER: I went lights and siren cause it was a cause unknown.

Officer Markus Spaker made his way inside, not knowing what or who he might find.

MARKUS SPAKER: At that point, I decided to go up the stairs.

The details were almost too much to absorb.

MARKUS SPAKER: Well, she looked like she was sleeping with an axe buried into her head.

RICHARD CORRIGAN: She had been dead more than, probably, eight hours; there was a small child that was in the house.

That small child was 3-year-old Sara.

MARKUS SPAKER: Ive had nightmares about it because the thought that the little girl was in the house all day, with her mother.

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What had she seen? What did she know? Questions that would hang over this family, this entire town, longer than anyone could have imagined.

Watch Dateline: The Bad Man Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

About Dateline

Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 33rd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Blayne Alexander, Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.

The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer.

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A Colombian presidential candidate shot at a campaign event in June has deteriorated to critical condition due to a new cerebral hemorrhage, doctors treating him said Saturday.

Conservative Senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was speaking to supporters in the capital, Bogota, when a gunman shot him twice in the head and once in the knee.

He has been in intensive care since then, and undergone multiple surgeries. In recent weeks his relatives had welcomed progress in his care.

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But now Uribe has been put back under deep sedation, the Santa Fe Foundation hospital said in a statement.

Uribe needs "new neurosurgical procedures" after presenting with a hemorrhage in his central nervous system, the statement said. "His condition is critical."

Authorities have arrested six suspects in the attack. They believe the 15-year-old shooter was a hired gun and that dissident members of the defunct FARC guerrilla group are behind the attack.

The government of leftist President Gustavo Petro initiated peace talks with the dissident group in mid 2024 in Venezuela, but the talks made little progress and have since been suspended.

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Uribe was the favored candidate of the right for the 2026 presidential elections. The attack in June stunned Colombia and raised fears of a return to the country's bloody past of political, cartel and paramilitary violence.

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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was shot in June during a campaign rally in Bogota and remains hospitalized, experienced a hemorrhage in his nervous system and is once again in critical condition, authorities said Saturday.

The Fundacion Santa Fe clinic that is treating him said in a statement that Uribe Turbay required urgent neurosurgical procedures to stabilize him, adding that he was placed under deep sedation to aid his recovery.

Uribe Turbay was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park on June 7. Since then, he has remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement.

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Two months after the attack, his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, posted the following message on Instagram: My sweet love, I miss you so much that it tears my soul apart. Come back to me, God willing.

Six people have been prosecuted for the attack, while a minor collaborating in the investigation escaped from a detention center.

Among those arrested is Cristian Camilo Gonzalez Ardilla, alias El Costeno, whom authorities believe was the planner and organizer of the attack and considered key to help investigators track down its masterminds.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department arrested one man on Wednesday in connection to May 5 shooting that left one man dead and another injured.

The suspect was identified as Derrin Mabry who was arrested on outstanding warrants for murder, aggravated assault, and criminal attempt robbery.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Teenager arrested in connection to Avalon Apartment shooting that left one dead, one injured

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Mabry is the fourth suspect in this case. He appeared in court on Friday in which the case was bounded to superior court.

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HONOLULU (AP)  Commercial fishing that recently resumed in a vast protected area of the Pacific Ocean must halt once again, after a judge in Hawaii sided this week with environmentalists challenging a Trump administration rollback of federal ocean protections.

The remote Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument is home to turtles, marine mammals and seabirds, which environmental groups say will get snagged by longline fishing, an industrial method involving baited hooks from lines 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) or longer.

President Donald Trump's executive order to allow this and other types of commercial fishing in part of the monument changed regulations without providing a process for public comment and rulemaking and stripped core protections from the monument, the groups argued in a lawsuit.

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U.S. District Judge Micah W. J. Smith granted a motion by the environmentalists on Friday. The ruling means boats catching fish for sale will need to immediately cease fishing in waters between 50 and 200 nautical miles (93 kilometers to 370 kilometers) around Johnston Atoll, Jarvis Island and Wake Island, said Earthjustice, an environmental law organization representing the plaintiffs.

U.S. Justice Department attorneys representing the government did not immediately return an email message seeking comment on Saturday.

Trump has said the U.S. should be the worlds dominant seafood leader, and on the same day of his April executive order, he issued another one seeking to boost commercial fishing by peeling back regulations and opening up harvesting in previously protected areas.

President George W. Bush created the marine monument in 2009. It consists of about 500,000 square miles (1.3 million square kilometers) in the remote central Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. President Barack Obama expanded it in 2014.

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Soon after Trump's executive order, the National Marine Fisheries Service sent a letter to fishing permit holders giving them the green light to fish commercially in the monument's boundaries, Earthjustice's lawsuit says. Fishing resumed within days, the group said.

Government attorneys say the fisheries services letter merely notified commercial fishers of a change that had already taken place through Trumps authority to remove the prohibition on commercial fishing in certain areas.

Earthjustice challenged that letter, and by granting the motion in their favor, the federal judge found the government had chosen not to defend its letter on the merits and forfeited that argument. Smith also ruled against the government's other defenses, that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the letter and that the court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

David Henkin, an Earthjustice attorney, said Smith's ruling requires the government to go through a process to determine what kind of fishing, and under what conditions, can happen in monument waters in a way that wouldn't destroy the area.

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Members of Hawaiis longline fishing industry say they have made numerous gear adjustments and changes over the years, such as circle hooks, to avoid that.

The lawsuit says allowing commercial fishing in the monument expansion would also harm the cultural, spiritual, religious, subsistence, educational, recreational, and aesthetic interests of a group of Native Hawaiian plaintiffs who are connected genealogically to the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific.
AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina hosted a community baby shower on Saturday, aiming to help local babies have bright starts.

Whats the sad beige parenting trend  and does it affect infant development?

The event took place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Wellness and Opportunity Center on Wilkinson Boulevard.

The baby shower connected expectant mothers with valuable information and resources to support a healthy pregnancy and birth. It also featured fun activities designed to engage and educate participants. The event was a collaborative effort involving city, county, state, and private sector resources, all working towards the common goal of supporting local families.

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AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina is a prepaid health plan that offers a standard benefit plan to North Carolina Medicaid enrollees. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritasnc.com.

WATCH: Woman accused of hospital abandonment says she feared for familys safety
NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY)  The corner of Ann and Edna Street became a place of remembrance Friday night as friends, family, and neighbors gathered to honor 34-year-old Will Francisco, who was accidentally shot dead there last week.

The vigil began at 6:30 p.m. and included prayer, music, and testimonies from people who knew Francisco and others who wanted to address the violence affecting the community.

Community activist Donavon Davis said Francisco had recently been released from prison and was working to turn his life around.

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He really did have a good heart. I want that to be known to the public, Davis said. We came out tonight to celebrate his life and his exit from this world. We will extol the virtues and everything about him that is good. We want people to come out and celebrate with us and get fulfilled and restored through ministry.

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Davis said gatherings like Fridays are meant to turn tragedy into something positive.

We want to make a positive outcome out of a bad situation, a tragic fate that he suffered, Davis said. Weve been facing violence. Violence is prevalent  its become an epidemic with gun violence, with the youth and we want to stand in the gap andhelp it evolve and help it become better.

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Pastor Felton Hogan of Holy Ghost Church said the event is about more than one mans story its about helping the next generation reach their potential.

Once you get the violence to cease or stop, these children can live their full potential, Hogan said. You dont know who youre shootingthat could be the next Michael Jordan, could be the next president, Barack Obama.

Davis also shared a personal message for young people struggling with lifes challenges.

Im an ex-drug dealer myself. I am Will Francisco. I am the many children in our community not doing good things, he said. Were trying to reach out to one another collectively to help each other rise from the ashes so we can live a life of wholesomeness and freedom and collective joy. Thats my message to the youth: that I love them unconditionally.

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The vigil was open to the public, and Davis said anyone was welcome to speak, sing, or simply stand in solidarity with Franciscos family.

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CHEYENNE  Community members are feeling bittersweet after finding out the Johnson Pool, a beloved community staple, is permanently closing this Sunday.

After more than 70 years of community use, the city-run outdoor pool has been a place for summer recreation for generations of Cheyenne residents.

Carla Dee has been coming to the pool with her husband and three kids since they moved to Cheyenne eight years ago. She said its been a great thing for the community.

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Dee only found out the pool was closing Thursday through a Facebook post. Immediately, she planned to visit the pool Friday with her family one last time. Although she typically goes with a big group of friends, some of them weren't available to join her on short notice, so it was just her and her three children.

We usually make it at least five times (each summer), Dee said. We try to come as often as we can when schedules allow. Its just been great. Its fun. Its great for me to sit here and chat with my mom-friends or watch the kids play. Its been wonderful.

Dee said she and her family prefer the Johnson Pool over any other in the capital city because of the price, the fact that its outdoors and the secluded area its in. She also loves that its mostly families who utilize the pool, and grandparents who have been using the pool for decades bring their grandchildren.

Were very sad, Dee said. The few things we do have that are good in the community, we like to keep. So were sad that its going.

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City officials made the difficult decision to close the pool following a couple of years of maintenance issues.

Jason Sanchez, Cheyenne Community Recreation and Events department director, said the pool has had many issues with sealing and leaking. Since July, he said, the pool has been losing a few thousand gallons of water per day.

Right now, were at a loss of about 5,000 gallons per day, and we just cant keep (maintaining it), Sanchez said. So thats why we tried to keep the pool open as long as we could this summer. But with that much water loss every day, its time to close it down.

Sanchez said the city has plans to build a new community pool in its place that will be on the 2026 sixth-penny sales tax ballot. The new pool would have an enclosed structure with operable wall and roof panels so that it could be indoor or outdoor, zero-depth entry with play features, a lazy river, childrens slide and climbing wall.

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The entire project is expected cost around $15.3 million.

Many have taken to Facebook to express their sadness with the Johnson Pools closure, with some mentioning spending their whole childhood at the pool with friends each summer.

My childhood was spent here (with) Brean Brown, Annie Garcia, April Garcia and countless other people, wrote one commenter, Darlene Clark. I was safe here from many traumas at home  this is SO sad.

Katherine McCrea wrote that she wishes the pool could stay open until the construction of a new pool gets funded and approved.

This feels like a real loss to the Cheyenne community, she wrote.

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Following the closure, Sanchez said the next move will be to drain the pool and secure it so that its safe.

City officials will wait until the next steps for the proposed new pool are set in place before demolishing the current Johnson Pool.

Its been a great run for 70 years, Sanchez said. Its a beloved pool and a great community asset. We hope to get another one in its place.

In the meantime, community members looking for other ways to cool off can go to the Cheyenne Aquatic Center, which also is city-owned and includes an outdoor splash park, the Depot Plaza splash pad or the Cheyenne Family YMCA indoor pool.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Local activist and leader Sam Gresham died Thursday at the age of 76.

He was known as an advocate and leader who fought for causes he believed in.

He served as the President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League for 20 years and he held other leadership positions with Ohio Commission on African American Males and Common Cause Ohio.

Many people throughout central Ohio have been mourning the loss of Gresham. James Hayes with Ohio Voice, an organization that works to uplift civic engagement, called Gresham a mentor.

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He always had so much passion he brought to work, you could feel his presence when he entered the room or whenever he spoke, Hayes said. Thats something that Ive always tried to hold onto and emulate.

Hayes also expressed that he learned valuable lessons about leadership and how to work for the common good of our community. He shared Gresham was more than a trailblazer; he was a fierce advocate who devoted his life to furthering and preserving democracy.

We wouldnt have had a mayor Coleman if it wasnt for the work of people like Sam Gresham to open up the city to black political leadership, Hayes said. We see today, you know, we have a lot of Black folks who are sitting in important positions and Sam was one of the people that made that possible.

Catherine Turcer, the Executive Director of Common Cause Ohio, also noted that Gresham helped guide her when she was a young advocate. She felt a sense of depth in his presence, one that instilled a sense of passion and purpose.

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Sam Gresham is somebody who lived his values, lived his ideals, Turcer said. He advocated for us, you know, during his time at the Urban League, during his time with Common Cause Ohio, he embodied what it meant to actually create a democracy that works for all of us. He embodied having good conversations that lead to good policy.

State and local officials have been sharing messages of sadness for the loss of this titan of the community.

In a statement to NBC4 Congresswoman Joyce Beatty said: I mourn the loss of my dear friend, Sam Gresham  a towering voice for justice, equality, and voting rights. Sam was a trailblazer who devoted his life to empowering Black communities, from 20 years of innovative leadership at the Columbus Urban League to his tireless fight for fair elections as Chairman of Common Cause Ohio. His groundbreaking work in policy and media uplifted Black stories and voices that too often went unheard. Sams vision, courage, and unwavering commitment to our community changed lives and opened doors for generations. We will honor his legacy by continuing the fight he championed. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Gresham also worked in various fields throughout his career. He is known for producing the first ever Black soap opera, the longest-running Black talk show in television history, and the first African American history lecture series on network television.

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Sam is one of the people that blazed a trail that made it possible for us to make real progress over the last 20, 30, 40 years and invested in so many leaders coming up, Hayes said. You know, people who have gone on to do really great things for the community and with their lives. So, yeah, its really, its important we stand on the shoulders of giants.

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(WGHP)  When all the movers and shakers gathered at the Piedmont Triad International Airport for the big announcement, there were smiles everywhere.

JetZero, they announced, is going to build the manufacturing facility for its new plane at PTI and bring nearly 15,000 jobs with it. And it might happen, but theres no guarantee, even though it was reported in some circles that the jobs were an inevitability.

It is certainly a great win for the Triad area that worked hard to get it, but there can be a disconnect between all the professionals doing the extremely hard work to win these projects and the perception of the public on whether all those jobs will appear. Its often reported as the company will bring and not plans to bring or hopes to bring. Thats a significant difference.

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And when, in some cases, those jobs never materialize, It can be a major disappointment. It can turn the local population far more cynical about these types of projects, said the Carolina Journals Brian Balfour, who has covered these projects over the years.

It would mean a great deal for people in a rural area to have well-paying jobs, something that they can  rely on and not worry about making ends meet, said Theresa Opeka, Balfours colleague at the Carolina Journal.

It would mean a lot in a rural area because thats where some of these major projects land. Wolfspeed is a good example. Thats a tech company founded forty years ago by alumni from North Carolina State that has moved into making silicon chips and semiconductors.

Wolfspeed has long been considered a gem as one of the biggest chip and semiconductor makers doing its work in the US, including a plant built a few years ago near Siler City in Chatham County. But in late June of 2025, Wolfspeed declared bankruptcy as a way to reorganize its debt to get back on its feet in a way that can succeed in a very difficult industry.

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Wolfspeed chose not to talk on camera for this report but did provide a statement:

Wolfspeed was founded in North Carolina nearly 40 years ago, and we are proud to call the state our home. North Carolina continues to house the majority of our U.S. workforce and capital investment and we look forward to continuing our presence and job creation efforts in North Carolina for many years to come. We have recently taken significant steps to secure our future, better positioning Wolfspeed to accelerate our strategic priorities and maintain our position as a global leader in the silicon carbide market. Our JP Materials facility at Siler City is central to Wolfspeeds long-term silicon carbide growth strategy.. We are well positioned to begin ramping production at this facility as market demand strengthens.

I think theyve got a long road ahead of them, Opeka said. We want to say, never say never and try to be hopeful, but its going to take a lot to get them back on track, especially if youre in the debt as much as they are .. The outlook right now for EVs. I think they said hybrids are making it come back because people dont want to go totally with an EV. So thats kind of looking on the downside for that. I think they truly have a long road ahead of them.

Balfour believes that these can be tough projects for the communities they chose to locate in, but economic developers say part of the design is to help those areas grow.

Oftentimes, these projects  go to a local community, and its not really going to help the currently unemployed in the local community because there are specific jobs with specific skill sets, Balfour said. In the case of Wolfspeed, its semiconductors and microchips, and theres probably not very many people in that industry with that specific type of skill, background and training in Chatham County currently sitting unemployed that theyre just going to hire.

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See more about this in this edition of The Buckley Report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
The bipartisan Clean Water Act has helped ensure access to safe drinking water and outdoor recreation for more than 50 years.

However, Environment America warns that a spending proposal approved by the House Appropriations Committee in July could prevent resources from going toward supporting this goal, leading to dirtier and more hazardous conditions for communities.

What's happening?

On July 22, the House Appropriations Committee backed a plan that would cut funding for wastewater infrastructure by 26%. The proposal would also slash funds for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which supports communities working to remove hazardous substances like lead and PFAS (or "forever chemicals") from their drinking water.

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Supporters of the plan  including Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, and Chairman Tom Cole, a Republican from Oklahoma  argue that the bill prevents regulatory overreach and redirects funds to more urgent needs, including wildfire management.

However, critics say it could leave Americans vulnerable to disease and significantly reduce their quality of life by making beaches, fishing sites, and outdoor recreation areas unusable.

"From beaches to kitchen faucets, Americans deserve clean water. Yet some representatives in Congress have voted for a bill that leaves us with fewer resources to make that happen," John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment America, said in a statement.

"... Now is not the time to slash the funds communities need to stop the flow of nasty bacteria and pollution into our water."

Why is funding wastewater infrastructure important now?

A recent report from Environment America found that 61% of U.S. beaches had at least one day last year in which fecal contamination levels may have reached unsafe levels, and there's more than just one source of contamination.

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Agricultural activities, outdated or poorly maintained sewer systems, and runoff from urban development can all play a role, among other things.

However, an increase in extreme weather events due to a warming climate has exacerbated wastewater management challenges, stressing existing infrastructure.

While maintaining and improving wastewater infrastructure requires a significant investment, it could prevent a bigger bill from being needed down the line, helping to save lives and preventing billions of dollars in health care costs from serious diseases like hepatitis A, polio, and typhoid.

What can be done about this?

Congress is expected to revisit spending proposals for the 2026 fiscal year when it returns from its recess this month. If you want to make your voice heard, you can contact your representatives.

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"Let's remind them that Americans want all of our waters to be safe for swimming  and that as taxpayers, we're willing to pay for it," Rumpler wrote in a statement for Environment America.

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.
Earlier this year, astronomers spotted a mysterious interstellar object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, hurtling through the solar system at a blistering speed.

It's only the third confirmed interstellar object to have ventured into our solar system  all over the past few years, owing to more sophisticated space-observing technology  and scientists are eager to have a closer look.

Besides detailed observations by the Very Large Telescope in Chile and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Harvard astronomer and alien hunter Avi Loeb called on using the space agency's Juno spacecraft to intercept the object's path to get a first-hand look.

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Loeb, who made headlines last month after suggesting 3I/ATLAS may be an alien probe sent by an intelligent civilization, argued in a blog post that the "close encounter of 3I/ATLAS to Jupiter provides a rare opportunity to shift Juno from its current orbit around Jupiter to intercept the path of 3I/ATLAS at its closest approach to Jupiter."

The unique opportunity caught the attention of Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who sent a letter to acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy, encouraging the agency to follow Loeb's suggestion.

"It is recommended that NASA conduct a study to assess how much fuel is left in Juno's engine, and I support an extension of the Juno mission at least until mid-March 2026 at a cost of about $15M per 6 months from the current expiration date of mid-September 2025," the letter reads.

Experts, however, were quick to throw cold water on Loeb's plan, which happens to resemble the plot of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi epic "2001: A Space Odyssey."

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"Juno does not have enough fuel to visit 3I/ATLAS," Penn State astronomy professor Jason Wright tweeted. "Its main engine is also malfunctioning. [Loeb] does (or should) know this because his team was in touch with [Juno principal investigator Scott Bolton]."

"An extended mission for Juno would be awesome, but a visit to 3I/ATLAS makes no sense," he added.

The spacecraft was launched almost exactly 14 years ago, entering a polar orbit of Jupiter roughly five years later. It was only planned to study the planet until 2018, but it has since doubled the length of its originally planned mission.

Not everybody agrees that a mission to visit 3I/ATLAS is out of the question, though.

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Juno's "current orbit allows it to view Jupiter up close, and its visits to Io [a moon of Jupiter] in 2023 [and] 2024 exposed it to a lot of radiation," University of Kent space professor Mark Burchell told New Scientist. "So it is no surprise it is now showing anomalies in performance that need rebooting."

"Could it be re-tasked?" he added. "In theory, if it can be done, and the instruments work, then there is novel data there."

Unsurprisingly, intercepting an interstellar visitor that's screaming through outer space at 37 miles per second would be no easy feat even with brand new hardware. Any mission would need a lot of fuel and time to get anywhere near it.

According to a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper by a team from Michigan State University, a new mission would need to accelerate at 15 miles per second on the day of discovery  which was July 1, so the clock is ticking  to get there in time.

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However, "spacecraft at Mars could be used to make valuable observations" around late November, when 3I/ATLAS hits its perihelion, or when it makes its closest approach to the Sun.

"The perihelion of 3I/ATLAS will not be easily observable from Earth-based observatories, as the object will be on the opposite side of the Sun and at a low solar elongation angle," the paper reads. "However, the object will approach within 0.19 au [or 17.6 million miles] of Mars, and we encourage nearby spacecraft equipped with visible, UV, and IR spectrographs and cameras to attempt to capture data on this objects closest approach."

The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) may also be able to get a look. The agency's Luca Conversi told New Scientist that "we are aware of this precious opportunity and are currently exploring the technical feasibility."

"Im not sure it is feasible to send it to the comet: unfortunately astro-dynamics is more complicated than what we see in sci-fi movies," he added, "and it is not easy to change the course of spacecraft."

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Time is quickly running out, and visiting 3I/ATLAS is starting to look like a Herculean task. But to scientists, it's an endeavor worth exploring nonetheless.

"The closest approach to Earth will be in December," said coauthor and fourth-year Michigan State undergraduate Atsuhiro Yaginuma in a press release last month. "It would require a lot of fuel and a lot of rapid mobilization from people here on Earth."

"But getting close to an interstellar object could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he added.

More on the object: Existing NASA Spacecraft Could Intercept the Weird Interstellar Object Cruising Into Our Star System
Peter was ready to give love another go when he first matched with a nurse called Charlotte on a dating app.

Pretty, with big brown eyes and a chatty, bubbly personality, she seemed "down to earth" and they appeared to have a lot in common.

Peter - not his real name - felt an instant connection. He and Charlotte began sending each other WhatsApp messages and voice notes, discussing their jobs and day-to-day lives.

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She sent him photos of a smiling woman in her 20s with braided hair in a blue nurse's uniform, and images showing a desk with files on it, seemingly snapped during her working day.

Peter would respond with pictures of whatever he had been up to.

Charlotte gave the impression of being from a wealthy family, telling Peter her dad owned a farm.

She seemed to have a taste for the finer things in life, talking about her horse and her love of designer handbags.

Peter believed he had finally met someone special and was excited to see how things would progress.

He even told his mum and sister he was dating someone online.

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But a year later, he realised Charlotte was not who she claimed to be.

In reality, she was serial fraudster Kerry Gray - and she had conned him out of nearly 3,500.

Gray was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation [Stuart Woodward/BBC]

Gray, 37, of Harlow, Essex, was handed a suspended sentence on Wednesday for swindling Peter and two other men out of more than 11,000 in total.

They had all been the victim of "catfishing", where a criminal uses a false identity to gain the trust of someone online before extorting or scamming them.

Peter says that Gray's lies were so well thought out they "warped your sense of reality" and that her betrayal has left him with trust issues.

'I was talking to a real person'

Peter had been struggling with depression for a long time before deciding to start dating again.

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After matching on dating app Plenty of Fish, he began chatting with Charlotte daily.

"She was really nice. We had lots of things in common, we clicked and the conversation flowed," says Peter.

"We got on and she was easy to talk to."

At that point, he had no suspicions about her. "I was talking to a real person," he says.

He had no reason to doubt she was a nurse. He had seen her pictures, and she seemed to have extensive medical knowledge, although the court would later hear this was not the case.

Peter asked Charlotte out on dates several times, but she always had an excuse, often at the last minute, and they never actually met in real life.

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After a while, she began to ask Peter for money. This would usually be for relatively small amounts, and always with the promise she would pay him back.

She requested money for taxi fares, typically 30 a time, claiming she could not drive due to her mental health and the medication she was on.

She insisted he send the money direct to an account in the name of Kerry Gray, telling Peter that was the name of her friend with a taxi app.

Requests for money were often accompanied by sad stories. Peter says she would always "pull on the heartstrings", claiming her mother had been sectioned and her father had suffered a stroke, before telling him they died in the space of four weeks.

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More lies followed, and Charlotte began to ask for larger amounts.

As her requests continued, Peter had to ask his parents for funds to "help keep me on my feet".

"I felt guilt because I lied that I was in a bad situation and I wasn't getting paid enough and I was struggling. But I was giving my money away," he says.

Gray was careful not to reveal her true identity, even appearing in darkness during video calls [Getty Images]

However, Peter was beginning to have suspicions about Charlotte.

She was still refusing to meet him, but they began video-calling. Each time, though, Charlotte would be sitting in darkness.

He tried to end their relationship, but each time she would threaten to take her own life, and send him images of legs with fresh self-harm marks.

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Having experienced depression himself, Peter thought her behaviour was a "cry for help".

Her biggest lie was still to come. She told him she was in hospital because her childhood cancer had come back, and asked him for 1,000 to cover medical fees.

Despite having concerns, he paid. But then he phoned the hospital ward where she claimed she was being treated.

They said they had no trace of her, and Peter realised he had been duped. He stopped contacting Charlotte.

But that did not stop her bombarding him with messages, begging him to respond.

She said she would pay him back - but needed help with yet another family crisis.

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It left Peter feeling like a target.

"I didn't know who this person was, and now I'm getting all these relentless messages and they are not who they say they are," he says.

"I was worried for my safety. She knew where I lived, and I had been targeted for a reason."

He contacted police, and Gray was later arrested, telling officers: "I'm such an idiot. I'm sorry - I feel really bad now."

It later emerged in court that, far from a privileged upbringing, Gray had spent time in care as a child and was living off universal credit, sleeping on a mattress on the floor of her aunt's house.

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Peter says he had been in relationships during university and was well versed in the dating world.

He had a good job and considered himself tech-savvy.

"I am careful of catfishes. Everyone comes to ask me if things are a scam," he says.

Yet there he was, giving money he could not afford to Gray, which sometimes left him eating beans on toast for weeks on end.

"I feel so silly, because it was so casually done," says Peter.

"I've never met her. It makes me feel stupid; it makes me feel pathetic. I have had massive, massive trust issues."

Gray was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court [PA Media]

Such is the shame and embarrassment he feels, Peter has never spoken openly about what happened.

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He does not even want to reveal how old he is or even the general area in which lives.

"I would be a laughing stock," he says.

"It's something I am going to live with. I am never going to tell anyone."

The court heard two other men also fell victim to Gray's lies, telling very similar stories.

One said Gray claimed to have suffered debit card fraud and had lost access to her bank account.

She asked for 30 for petrol to take her nephews and nieces out - but he kindly sent her 80.

Her demands for money grew, until he eventually sent her a screenshot showing her his bank account was empty.

Gray's third victim ended up transferring 6,626 to her in 119 transactions.

The court heard she spent the money on takeaways, gambling, alcohol and drugs.

Romance fraud, as it is termed, has seen a notable increase in recent years, with 8,645 reports made in England and Wales in 2023-24, a 7.6% rise on the previous financial year.

In Essex, dating scams are among the top five frauds, with losses amounting to 2.3m in 2024, and an average loss per offence of 13,130.

Det Con Georgette Hixon, of Essex Police, who worked on the case, describes Gray as someone who "put on the waterworks" to try to get out of trouble, and believes she has more victims who have yet to come forward.

"I think anyone can fall victim to romance fraud," she says.

"All of the victims felt ashamed and embarrassed and it is a huge turmoil realising that they have been victims of fraud.

"Everything that they thought they had known while speaking to the fraudster is actually a lie - so that is quite hard for them to come to terms with."

She says the key message is that it is not the fault of the victim, and that they can also suffer emotionally, as well as financially.

"With romance fraud it is also the loss of a relationship and that's where a lot of the shame came from; with the realisation that it was not real."

How to avoid romance scams

According to Action Fraud, signs of romance fraud include a person being secretive about their relationship or becoming hostile or angry when asked about their online partner.

They may have sent, or be planning to send, money to someone they have never met in person.

Advice for protecting yourself against scams includes:

Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online

Speak to your family or friends to get advice

Profile photos may not be genuine, so do your research first. Performing a reverse image search using a search engine can help you find photos that have been stolen from somewhere else

Advice for supporting a victim of a scam includes:

Reassure your loved one you are there for them and it is not their fault

Improve your own understanding about romance scams

Remember to look after yourself, too - supporting someone through romance fraud can be tough

Source: Action Fraud / Victim Support

If you have been affected by some of the issues raised in this article, help is available at BBC Action Line.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.) is facing aggressive attacks from her Republican colleagues and other right-wingers over recent comments she made about her Guatemalan heritage.

Last week, Ramirez had traveled to Mexico City, along with other members of congress, to attend an event at the second annual Panamerican Congress held in the Mexican capital. Speaking from a podium during her visit, a video clip shows the Illinois Democrat at one point expressing pride in her Guatemalan ancestry, saying the following in Spanish, which essentially translates to English as: Let me finish by saying a few words in Spanish because Im a proud Guatemalan before I am an American.

Republicans have expressed outrage over Ramirezs comments after a seven-second clip of her remarks from the event made rounds on social media.

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On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security shared the short clip of Ramirez speaking to its official account on X, formerly Twitter, with a quote attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt that read, in part: We must unsparingly condemn any man who holds any other allegiance.

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) misrepresented Ramirezs remarks in a post on X, by accusing the Illinois representative of saying in the clip that she puts Guatemala before the U.S.

Shes currently the congresswoman for 720K+ Americans & is supposed to represent their interests on Capitol Hill, he wrote. Dont run for Congress if youre going to put another country first. This is common sense.

Tom Homan, President Donald Trumps border czar, told reporters, per C-Span, on Wednesday that he thought Ramirezs comments were disgusting.

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And earlier this week, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) called for Ramirez to be deported. Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie, he wrote on X.

Ogles post garnered nearly 30,000 Likes on X, with social media users  including MAGA social media influencer who goes by the name of Gunther Eagleman  joining him in calling for her to be deported.

Ramirez, however, was born in Chicago to Guatemalan immigrants. And as Paul A. Gowder, professor of law at Northwestern Universitys Pritzker School of Law, previously emphasized to HuffPost, Birthright citizenship is defined in the Constitution.

The court made clear that the only way an American citizen can lose their citizenship is if they voluntarily renounce it, he said, citing Afroyim v. Rusk, a Supreme Court case from 1967.

Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.) has responded to right-wing attacks over comments she made about the pride she has in her Guatemalan heritage. Anadolu via Getty Images

Ramirez, who became the first Latina to represent the Midwest in Congress when she was elected in 2022, has responded to the attacks.

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She released a statement on Monday saying: Lets call it what it is: todays attacks are a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government.

It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress  who betray their oath each day they enable Trump  are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots, she said. No one questions when my white colleagues identify as Irish-American, Italian-American, or Ukrainian-American to honor their ancestry.

Ive consistently expressed pride in my heritage and history  a pride also often reflected in the origin stories of my colleagues, she continued, before later emphasizing that honoring her Guatemalan ancestry only strengthens my commitment to America.

I am the daughter of immigrants and the daughter of America. I am both Chapina and American, she added. I am from both Guatemala and Chicago, Illinois.

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Kari J. Winter, a professor of American studies at the University at Buffalo whose expertise includes gender, feminism, race and class, said that MAGA politicians are enraged by the presence of Hispanic people in the United States.

Rep. Andy Ogles illustrates how out of control the anti-American, anti-U.S. Constitution MAGA extremists have become, she told HuffPost. Because Ramirez expressed pride in her heritage as a Guatemalan-American, Ogles ranted that she, an American citizen born in Chicago and elected to the U.S. Congress, should be stripped of her citizenship and deported.

As long as ICE agents and politicians like Ogles are allowed to terrorize people at their whim, no one in this country is safe, she continued.

Knowledge about our ancestors is foundational to our humanity, Winter said.

Speaking about the uproar over Ramirezs comments, Winter pointed out that virtually everyone living in the United States in the 21st century has multifaceted ancestral roots.

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We need and deserve to have accurate information about our personal and national histories, she said. Because knowledge from and about our ancestors is foundational to our humanity.

Winter said oppressive regimes attempt to sever oppressed groups from knowledge about, and pride in their ancestors. They also try to deny them the right to pass their heritage to their descendants.

In the Americas, white supremacists have perpetrated both physical and cultural genocide by killing, enslaving and imprisoning people of color while also attempting to destroy their languages, stories, rituals, music and foodways, she said. The Trump administration is actively working to purge women and people of color from their jobs and social benefits while also purging records of their achievements from government websites.

Winter said that Ramirez hit the nail on the head in her response to the attacks when she called out the hypocrisy of Republicans who enable Trump.

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One of the worst fibs to spring from the MAGA cauldron of disinformation and propaganda is their claim to support free speech, Winter said. They are doing everything in their power to dismantle and punish the spread of accurate information.

Like a lighthouse rising above a tide of barbarity, Rep. Delia C. Ramirez is a beacon of light illuminating the patriotic path of resistance to tyranny, Winter later said. We need to speak truth to power.

Related...
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  When Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater plopped down into the chair inside a state police interview room in February 2024, he was facing off with a pair of agents trying to figure out why  and how  he would put himself in the way of the prosecution of a man charged with multiple attempted murders.

Why? Thats the same question Queen City News had when we first obtained the audio recording of the sheriff meeting with the Robinson family.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater points to a document during his Feb. 20, 2024, interview with S.C. Law Enforcement Division agents. The document contains information related to a drive-by shooting at a victims home that happened 28 days after the sheriff was secretly recorded giving the defendant in the victims case information about the victims statements from the CCSO case file. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division)

The Robinsons secretly audio recorded the January 12, 2024, meeting. Since South Carolina is a one-party state, there was nothing illegal about the recording.

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As long as one person in the conversation knows a conversation is being recorded, a recording doesnt violate the states wiretapping law.

Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater met with a criminal defendant at the mans home in January 2024, assuring the man hed help get two attempted murder charges dropped. The sheriff was investigated by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, but an elected solicitor decided not to charge the sheriff with a crime from the investigation. (WJZY Photo/Jack Anderson)

Chucky Robinson had hammered Streater for a while before the meeting  including during the campaign  asking Streater to reopen the attempted robbery and attempted murder investigation of Robinsons son, DaVonta Robinson.

DaVontas also known as Squirrel and Ru.

EXCLUSIVE: Secret recording reveals sheriff promised defendant to help derail attempted murder case

Robinson told Barr Streater agreed to reopen and review the 2020 shooting investigation on Coon Creek Road in Pageland during Streaters 2023 sheriff campaign. Streater admitted to state investigators that he agreed to give Squirrels case another look.

Chesterfield County Sheriffs investigators charged DaVonta Squirrel Robinson in 2022 in connection with a shooting on Coon Creek Road near Pageland. Robinson faces prosecution on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted armed robbery, and a felony weapons charge. (Source: Chesterfield County Sheriffs Office)

Squirrel was charged with a weapons violation, two counts of attempted murder, and two counts of attempted armed robbery in the 2020 shooting.

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The sheriff called Chucky Robinson at some point after Jan. 10, 2024, asking to meet to discuss Squirrels case. Days before, Robinson went to the sheriffs office to meet with the sheriff, but the sheriff asked him not to come to the office again, according to Robinson.

Robinson believed his son was wrongly charged, and the sheriff appeared to believe him. The sheriff went to Robinsons home, where the Robinsons secretly audio recorded the hour-long meeting with Sheriff Streater inside their living room.

The recording shows the sheriff revealing intimate details of his offices case file to Squirrel and the Robinsons. At times, the sheriff was highly critical of his two veteran investigators, Captain Wayne Jordan and Investigator Angel Tubbs.

Just 21 seconds into the recording, the potential motive for the sheriff jumping on Squirrels case became clearer, We had to write a  we putting a press release out, the sheriff tells Chucky Robinson. Its going out this evening, going out this evening  its going out this evening. Were going to tell everybody exactly step-by-step what we did and tell them we aint done anything wrong.

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The sheriff continued to vent to the Robinsons about our Queen City News investigation, Unheard, which aired two days before the meeting with the Robinsons.

That news investigation revealed what the sheriff admitted was his offices mishandling of parts of a child sexual assault case.

Chucky Robinson and Sheriff Cambo Streater were sitting in a SLED interview room one day apart in February 2024, explaining statements made in a secret audio recording the Robinson family made in January 2024 during a secret meeting with the sheriff in their home near Pageland. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division)

I can tell you, Jody, because of this case and you bringing it to our attention, you bringing it to my attention, some things  obviously some shortcomings that we have here, Im going to look into it to make sure it doesnt happen again, the sheriff said in our Unheard investigation in 2024.

Was the sheriffs trip to the Robinsons an attempt to curry favor with Chucky Robinson, a politically active man in Pageland, an important voting area in Chesterfield County elections? The sheriff appeared to be concerned with the public perception and the impact on his politics during the meeting.

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Look here, this may cost me votes, I dont care about votes. Its the right thing to do, and thats why Im doing what Im doing. We got to get this cleared up, the sheriff told the Robinson family in the secret recording.

The sheriffs press release was posted on the sheriffs offices official Facebook page a few hours after the sheriffs secret meeting with the Robinsons. It listed 10 points, which appeared to be an attempt to discredit our Unheard investigation.

The Link, a small Chesterfield County newspaper, made Sheriff Cambo Streater an above-the-fold top story on its Jan. 17, 2024, edition. The paper never reached out to Queen City News for comment before publishing the sheriffs press release as front-page news. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

The local newspaper, The Link, also printed the sheriffs press release on its front page. The newspaper never contacted the people named in the sheriffs press release to verify the truth of what the sheriff alleged in the release, or to provide comment from those named.

Queen City News and Jody Barr were included in those people.

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The sheriff also revealed in the secret recording the punishment he planned to impose on Queen City News Jody Barr over our Unheard investigation.

I dont need Jody Barr, Streater told the Robinsons, Jody Barr call me and wanting something on something going on up here, wanting some information, I aint talking to Jody Barr. He cant be honest, I aint talking to him.

Ive been sitting up here for a week now, let them take shots at me, and I just let them bounce off. But the truth is going to come out tonight. Im tired of it. Jody Barr, Jody Barr  pardon my French  Jody Barr can kiss my ass, Streater said in the secret recording  a conversation the sheriff thought was and would remain private.

SLED submitted its investigation to Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson following a two-month investigation of Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater. Richardson found insufficient evidence to file charges against the sheriff over his actions captured in a January 2024 secret recording of his meeting with a man charged with two counts of attempted murder. (Source: Horry County Government)

The sheriff would later admit to SLED agents the press release was a back at ya, when he was questioned inside a SLED interview room in Florence, S.C., in February 2024.

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Streater told SLED agents he was simply trying to give Squirrels case another look to make sure there was nothing left undone and that Squirrel was correctly charged.

SLED agents spent two months investigating the secret recording, the sheriffs motives, the sheriffs actions, and the prosecutor and Attorney General investigator the sheriff claimed was his friend on the inside, who would help in the sheriffs efforts to help Squirrel in the states prosecution of him in the 2020 attempted murder case.

The sheriffs allegations in the recording that Fourth Circuit Senior Deputy Solicitor Kernard Redmond thought that Squirrel should never have been charged also roped Redmond into the SLED investigation. The sheriff claimed in his SLED interview that Redmond criticized the prosecution landed Redmond an invitation to the SLED office in Florence to be interviewed by agents.

Kernard told me he didnt think Squirrel should have been charged. I said, Why did you send it to Columbia, then? If thats what you think, the sheriff told the Robinsons, Be a man and call it like it is and drop the chargesbecause thats what Im trying to get, Im trying to get charges dropped.

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I dont know enough about that case to have formulated an opinion. And to say that Im going to withhold what I want to say, but no, that is absolutely, unequivocally not true. We never  I never said that to the sheriff, and the sheriff never asked me why did I send it to Columbia or anything like that, Redmond told SLED agents in his Feb. 22, 2024, interview.

Fourth Circuit Senior Deputy Solicitor Kernard Redmond listens as SLED agents play a portion of the Sheriff Cambo Streater secret recording where the sheriff claims Redmond thought Squirrel should not have been charged. Redmond disputed nearly every statement the sheriff made in the recording. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division)

There was never any conversation, and it sounds like hes saying there was repeated conversation about that  thats just not true. I am between furious and disappointed  Im kind of fluctuating between those two emotions right now, Redmond told investigators, obviously angry over the portions of the secret recording SLED played for him during the interview.

Redmond said he told the sheriff he believed Squirrels case was being prosecuted by the S.C. Attorney Generals Office, and he couldnt talk about the case in any way since Redmond had long ago recused himself from anything related to the Robinsons.

The sheriff told the Robinsons he would do whatever it took to force Redmond to call the AGs office to get the case back in Chesterfield County, including confronting Redmond at a funeral the day before the sheriffs secret meeting with the Robinsons.

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Earlier this week, I was going to meet with Kernard, and I wasnt going to leave his office until he called the attorney generals office himself with me sitting in his office. Ill be honest, I aint believing what anybody tells me right now. People done lied about this thingI was going to meet with Kernard and sit there, and I didnt do it, and the reason is, that girl died that worked at the  Angie. And Angie worked with Kernard, and I went to the funeral yesterday evening, and Kernard was crying like a baby. She worked with him for 17 years. So, it wasnt the time for me to give Kernard a hard time, but Im going to, Streater said in the recording.

Fourth Circuit Senior Deputy Solicitor Kernard Redmond wipes a tear during his SLED interview after hearing a portion of the secret recording where Sheriff Cambo Streater tells the Robinson family Redmond was crying like a baby at a funeral the day before the sheriffs secret meeting. Redmonds assistant, Angie Thurman, spent 17 years with Redmond in the solicitors office and was a woman Redmond said was a major part of his professional success as a prosecutor. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division)

When did your assistant pass away? SLED Lt. Jarod Barkdoll asked Redmond, She died on January 6, and hes (Streater) right about one thing; I cried like a baby. But that was my right and left hand. Thats the only thing he said that hes right about, Redmond responded.

The sheriff also told the Robinsons he had a friend inside the S.C. Attorney Generals Office who could help the sheriff in his mission to get Squirrels charges dropped.

I got a friend who works at the attorney generals, and they not going to send the cases back, says once we get them, we wont send them back. I said, Well, heres what you need to do, you need to get one of your investigators,  and the one they assigned to it is a good friend of mine  I worked with him in Columbia. And he sat in my office about 2 weeks ago and we went over this case, me and him, and he gets assigned to do it, he says Ill go to the prosecutor and tell him you cant win this case.

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That friend is AG Investigator Matt Ellis, who was also dragged into the SLED investigation over the sheriffs statements in the recording.

I can tell you in 27 years, Ive never, just never been involved in something like this. And Im thinking, I know I didnt do anything wrong, but I know how reputations get put around, and this is my reputation that Ive built for 27 years that could be tarnished. And I dont want that, Ellis told SLED agents during his interview.

S.C. Attorney General Investigator Matt Ellis listens to a portion of the secret recording where Chesterfield County Sheriff Cambo Streater tells a criminal defendant he has a friend of mine on the inside who could help the sheriff get DaVonta Squirrel Robinsons case file returned to Chesterfield County for a reinvestigation. (Source: S.C. Law Enforcement Division)

Ellis brought a folder full of documents with him to the interview. The documents showed why he was in Chesterfield County in January 2024, which was to pick up video recording evidence from the sheriffs investigative unit on a murder case the AGs office was prosecuting at the time.

It was not to meet with Streater over the Squirrel prosecution. But Ellis said the sheriff cornered him about the case. Heres a partial transcript from the SLED/Ellis exchange:

SLED: Did you read the file?

ELLIS: No.

SLED: You didnt spread it out and talk about the file?

ELLIS: No.

SLED: You didnt make any opinions of 

ELLIS: I had no opinion  I didnt even know, all I know is its a  there was a case that was charged that he said what he said about it, that he needed to talk to the attorney. And thats what I was trying to facilitate, was him getting in touch with the attorney.

ELLIS: I have no  I cant do any  like I mean, people think I have some authority or something, I dont have any, I cant. Thatd be like me taking your case and going somewhere and saying, here, get rid  I cant, its unheard of.

SLED finished its investigation on April 10, 2024, and delivered its file to the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitors Office in Horry County for a determination as to whether the sheriff would be charged.

On August 28, Solicitor Jimmy Richardson decided he would not give SLED the green light to charge Streater, finding the state investigation, in part, uncovered insufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that the sheirff was acting with corrupt intent, although, some of the comments made by Streater are very concerningand their impact on the pending charges have yet to be determined, Richardson wrote in a letter to SLED Lieutenant Jared Barkdoll declining to prosecute the sheriff.

Richardsons letter explained his decision not to charge the sheriff with obstruction of justice, bribery, or misconduct in office.

READ: FIFTEENTH CIRCUIT SOLICITOR JIMMY RICHARDSONS DECLINATION LETTER TO SLED:

08262024-HORRY-COUNTY-SOLICITOR-LETTER-RE-CAMBO-STREATERDownload

Im trying to get charges dropped, the sheriff told Squirrel in the recording. The sheriff also told the Robinsons he would help them get Squirrels court-ordered GPS ankle monitor removed.

We need to get it off of you, Sheriff Streater told Squirrel.

Turns out, during the SLED investigation, the sheriff told SLED that the GPS ankle monitor provided some level of evidence in a drive-by shooting Streater believed Squirrel had a hand in.

That shooting happened 28 days after the sheriffs secret meeting with the Robinsons where a victim in the 2020 attempted murder cases home was shot multiple times in a drive-by.

Chesterfield County Sheriffs deputies and investigators responded to a 911 call at this home on Central Place Lane in Pageland on Feb. 8, 2024. Noah Avila, a victim in the 2020 attempted murder case against DaVonta Squirrel Robinson, was inside with his girlfriend and 5-year-old child at the time. The black tape marks on the vinyl siding show some of the bullet holes in the home. (WJZY Photo/Jody Barr)

Streater told SLED Squirrel was a suspect and they expected to charge him in connection with the drive-by soon.

Central Place, this is where that last drive by was, Streater told Lt. Barkdoll, Thats Noahs house? Barkdoll asked. Yep, thats why we think Noah was a potential victim of this last drive by 3 or 4 weeks ago, that Squirrel, Could be involved in that, a second SLED agent interjects, Squirrels GPS puts him in the neighborhood, the sheriff told the agents.

We close to getting warrants on him on the last drive by, Streater told agents in response to a SLED question of whether the sheriff was protecting Squirrel.

On July 25, 2025, Pageland Police got a call about a shooting along Evans Mill Road. A woman told investigators she was shot at multiple times from a car she recognized as belonging to Squirrel.

Cameras hanging on houses along Evans Mill Road in Pageland captured a shooting on July 25, 2025, where investigators charged DaVonta Squirrel Robinson with taking part in firing 20 rounds from a black car at a female victim. The light emitted from the muzzle flash activated the infrared illumination on cameras nearby. (Source: Law Enforcement Source)

Camera recordings law enforcement obtained near the crime scene showed the shooting and a dark colored car making a U-turn, leaving the scene. Law enforcement sources told Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr that Squirrels GPS played an integral role in identifying Squirrel as a suspect in the July 2025 shooting.

Within 48 hours of the shooting, the female victim provided investigators a Snapchat message purportedly from Squirrel, Dont go to no police saying my fing name WTF, according to an arrest warrant. Pageland Police then charged Squirrel with witness intimidation and jailed him on July 27, 2025.

Law enforcement sources tell Barr Squirrels GPS ankle monitor placed him at the scene at the time of the shooting, as well as on other streets where other witnesses claimed to have seen Squirrels car before and after the shooting.

On August 1, 2025, Pageland Police Investigator Angel Tubbs got two additional warrants on Squirrel, charging him with first-degree assault and battery and aggravated breach of the peace.

Davonta [sic] Robinson, with co-defendants did commit the criminal offense of Assault and Battery 1st, Tubbs wrote in the arrest warrant, with the presence and ability to commit great bodily injury one Davanta Robinson, an occupant in a black in color Honda on Evans Mill Road and Mangum Road within the town limits of Pageland, did discharge more than 20 rounds from the vehicle Davonta Robinson along with co-defendants towards one female victim inside a vehicle.

Robinson is still in the county jail, awaiting a bond revocation hearing before a circuit court judge. If his bond is revoked, Robinson could be held until trial on all of his pending charges. A date for the revocation hearing has not yet been set.

The one question left unanswered from the secret recording: the true impact the secret recording may have on the states ability to prosecute Squirrel  a prosecution that will likely make Sheriff Cambo Streater the star witness in Squirrels fight against the State of South Carolinas prosecution team.

A man with nearly three decades of prosecutorial experience told SLED agents in his interview that Sheriff Cambo Streater mightve destroyed the states ability to convict DaVonta Squirrel Robinson beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thats likely a question only a trial and a jury of Squirrels peers can answer at this point.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Aug. 8Rolls of copper wire and tools were reported stolen at 4:09 p.m. Wednesday at 2046 Sorensen Road.

Illegal dumping reported

Illegal dumping was reported at 2:59 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Freeborn County Road 46 and 690th in Alden.

Items, including garbage and a mattress, were reported illegally dumped in the Disabled American Veterans donation bins at 9:26 a.m. Tuesday at 2630 Bridge Ave.

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Theft by fraud reported

Police received a report at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday of theft by fraud at 2708 Bridge Ave. An individual had spent several hundred dollars on Hy-Vee gift cards.

Woman arrested on alleged probation violation

Deputies arrested Jacqueline Kaye Clack, 55, on an alleged probation violation at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday at 411 S. Broadway.

1 arrested for DWI

Deputies arrested Mark Wayne Ackland, 67, for driving while intoxicated after a truck and trailer were reportedly hit by a vehicle at 5:57 p.m. Wednesday near Minnesota Highway 13 and 733rd Avenue.

Man arrested for receiving stolen property, other charges

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Deputies arrested Eric Santiago Talavera, 32, for receiving stolen property, no Minnesota driver's license and unlawful use of plates after receiving a report of a suspicious person at 7:42 a.m. Thursday at 76678 325th St. in Ellendale.

Deputies received a report of Santiago reportedly assaulting jail detention staff at 1:18 p.m. Thursday in the Freeborn County jail.

Vehicles broken into

Police received a report at 6:27 a.m. Wednesday of two vehicles that were broken into at 1516 Edina Ave. Both vehicles were reportedly left unlock. Some keys were missing.

Burglary reported

A burglary was reported at 10:38 a.m. Wednesday at 910 S. Broadway. Money was missing from a safe. The burglary reportedly occurred between 3 and 7:30 a.m. that morning.

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Scam reported

Police received a report at 11:49 a.m. Wednesday of a potential scam of someone who had attempted to purchase a Yorkie for $350 in Apple gift cards on the 700 block of Larimore Circle.

Hit-and-run reported

A hit-and-run crash was reported at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of South Broadway and East Main Street.

1 cited for theft

Police cited Wyatt Edward Craig Greer, 27, for misdemeanor theft at 7:49 p.m. Wednesday at Walmart, 1550 Blake Ave.

Vehicle reported stolen, recovered

Police received a report at 9:02 a.m. Thursday of a vehicle that was stolen overnight at 1908 Bridge Ave. The vehicle was recovered at 1910 Bellview Lane.

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Fraud reported

Police received a report at 2:11 p.m. Thursday of suspected fraud of a resident on the 1600 block of West Front Street.

Theft reported

A satchel was reported stolen at 7 p.m. Thursday at 2400 Consul St.

2 arrested on warrants

Police arrested Tony Lynn Personious, 55, on a local warrant at 8:19 p.m. Thursday at 514 E. Seventh St.

Police arrested Hayley Therese Iverson, 27, on an Anoka County warrant at 8:37 p.m. Thursday at 1428 Academy Ave.
Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travels weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.

In our roundup of travel news this week: the secret tunnel city underneath Rome, Chinas 8D city where trains pass through walls, plus a new report reveals the worlds busiest flight routes, biggest aviation markets and most popular planes.

The worlds plane-loving nations

Isnt data just delicious?

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 World Air Transport Statistics report, and its filled with fascinating nuggets.

Here are a few to wow your avgeek friends.

The United States is the worlds biggest aviation market, with 876 million passengers per year in 2024, mostly flying domestic. Thats four times more than India, which is the worlds most populous nation and the fifth biggest aviation market.

China is hot on the States heels at No. 2, however, with 741 million passengers in 2024 and a whopping 18.7% growth year-on-year, compared to Americas modest 5.2%.

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The United Kingdom is but a 94,000-square-mile island nation, but its the worlds No.3 aviation market, with 261 million passengers scooting above land and sea in 2024.

A lot of those Brits will have been heading to vacation hot spot Spain, which is the No. 4 aviation market, with 241 million passengers last year.

Busiest flight routes and most popular planes

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. - Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Lets continue with more tidbits from the IATA report.

Nine out of 10 of the worlds busiest flight routes are in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the worlds No.1 is a South Korean domestic flight: the 1 hour and 15 minute trip between the island resort city of Jeju (CJU) and the capital, Seoul (GMP). More than 13 million passengers flew the route in 2024.

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The busiest route in North America is an airport pairing as classic as ketchup and hot dog. Its JFK to LAX (or New York to Los Angeles, as if you didnt know), and 2.2 million passengers made the voyage last year.

The most popular European route is the hour-long flight between Spanish vacation hot spots Barcelona (BCN) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI), with 2 million passengers in 2024. Want a less busy flight? Take a look at our guide to the parts of Spain that arent sick of tourists.

The busiest route in Latin America (with 3.8 million passengers) is the one-hour flight between Bogota (BOG), the Colombian capital, and Medellin (MDE), Colombias second-largest city.

Africas most popular route, with 3.3 million passengers, is the two-hour domestic South African flight between Cape Town (CPT) and Johannesburg (JNB).

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Finally, while the Boeing 737 Max has had a calamitous history, the Boeing 737 (including all variants), remains the worlds most-used aircraft, making 10 million flights in 2024.

The No. 2 and No. 3 planes are also narrowbody aircraft, made by Boeings European rival Airbus. The A320 flew 7.9 million flights and the A321 flew 3.4 million.

Destination inspiration

Enough about the journeys, lets talk destinations. Here are three to consider for your next big trip.

Halfeti, in southeastern Turkey, was one of several towns and cities to be intentionally flooded when the Birecik Dam was built in 2000. But residents still live in the half-submerged town  while dark roses grow in the mineral-rich lands.

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Angola, in southern Africa, is twice the size of Texas and boasts spectacular natural wonders that few tourists have seen. After decades largely cut off from the world, the country is opening up, infrastructure is improving, and discovery awaits.

Chongqing, in a mountainous area of southwestern China, is attracting younger travelers thanks to its mindbending, Instagram-friendly terrain thats so multilayered some are calling it the countrys 8D city. To see what we mean, check out this train passing right through a residential building.

Secret tunnel city

A network of ancient caves and tunnels lies some 75 feet under the city of Rome, hidden from the world for more than a century. Now this subterranean labyrinth is being uncovered once more. Heres what 21st-century visitors can see.

One of a cave explorers most essential items is, of course, a headlamp. Our partners at CNN Underscored a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this guide to the best headlamps for 2025.

In case you missed it

France is being forced to confront its toxic kitchen culture.

Whistleblowers are calling for change.

Italy has given the go-ahead for a landmark Sicily bridge project.

It could be the worlds longest single-span bridge.

A flying phobia affects more than 25 million Americans.

Heres how to manage it.

Its not too late for a summer getaway.

Check out Americas best underrated islands.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
CUMBERLAND  Its been more than four months since residents of the Bel Air, Pinto, Glen Oaks and Highland Estates areas asked to meet with officials including local, state and federal representatives to discuss their high water bills.

To date, no such gathering had been scheduled.

The residents, customers of Maryland Water Service  a Texas- based Nexus Water Group company, say they pay some of the highest rates in the country with some monthly water and sewer bills reaching has high as $900 per month.

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On Thursday at a commissioners meeting, Allegany County Administrator Jason Bennett said he and T. Lee Beeman, the countys attorney, recently met with Maryland Public Service Commission representatives.

The meeting was to learn a little bit about the process of better understanding how the sale of Maryland Water Service will work, he said.

In a May press release, American Water Service stated the business had agreed with Nexus Regulated Utilities LLC, a subsidiary of Nexus Water Group Inc., to purchase multiple water and wastewater systems located in eight states for roughly $315 million.

The acquisition would add nearly 47,000 customer connections within American Waters existing footprint in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia, the release stated.

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Theres been no filing as of yet for this transfer of ownership, Bennett said. But the PSC gave us a little bit of homework that we need to do over the next couple of weeks to research potential next steps.

He said he also plans to meet next week with American Water.

Meanwhile, were still working toward scheduling that meeting, Bennett said of the gathering the residents requested earlier this year.

Post-flood workBennett updated commissioners on the Federal Emergency Management Agencys refusal of an application for assistance to repair damages in areas of the county including Westernport that were devastated in a May flood.

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As you guys know, we were denied on the first pass, Bennett said. The state, with the help of (the Maryland Department of Emergency Management), is helping us appeal that.

He anticipates the appeal will be submitted next week.

FEMA has validated more expenses for us to count to our total, Bennett said. We were at $15.8 million. Were gonna be well in excess of that now.

Meanwhile, the commissioners authorized more contracted post-flood work.

The emergency procurements ranged in price from $5,000 for asphalt millings distribution on roads, to roughly $345,000 for emergency sewer repairs in the Braddock Run area.

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This was the countys fifth batch of flood-related projects since the May event.

Up until this past group we had about $840,000 worth of emergency work put out in response directly to the flood, county engineer Dan DeWitt said.

In the past two weeks here weve paid out another $1,122,000 so it puts us just under $2 million to date and we have ... a good bit more here over the next probably 30 days or so, he said.

DeWitt said the work includes road reconstruction, stream cleanup, bridge replacement (and) a lot of things trying to make sure that if we get another event like this that were not gonna have a similar amount of damage.
The last time Ukrainian immigrant Kate Kirilenko saw her husband he was on a bench on the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza with chains around his waist, wrists and ankles.

That was June 27, three days after the couple went to the lower Manhattan immigration courthouse for what they expected would be a routine hearing for their joint asylum case. Theyd fled Russia in 2023 fearing her husbands anti-Putin politics and her Ukranian nationality would lead to persecution.

Inside the courtroom, an immigration judge denied a Department of Homeland Security lawyers motion to dismiss their case and told them to return to court in March 2026 for another hearing.

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They thought they were safe from the Trumps administrationss aggressive crackdown on immigration. But federal agents lurking outside the 12th floor courtroom arrested her and her husband, Alex Uzkii, anyway.

As soon as we exited the courtroom we were grabbed, Kirilenko, 39, said in Russian, through a translator. They directed us into the elevator and pushed us up against the wall. My husband had our documents in his hand and they tried to take them away forcefully. He sort of tried to not let them. So they pushed him into the wall, hit him in the back and handcuffed him right there.

Kirilenko said she was cuffed as they stepped out of the elevator onto what she believes was the 10th floor. The pair repeatedly asked why they were being detained. The agents, several covering their faces with masks, gave no answer.

Horror. No thoughts. It was just fear, she recalled.

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Now, the life Kirlenko and her husband began building in New York is in pieces. She doesnt know when or if he will come home. And though she was released from detention for medical reasons, she fears what will happen when she returns to the courthouse next month.

I dont know what theyll do tomorrow. I dont know whats gonna happen with me. In September I can be detained. I dont know what will happen with my husband, she said. Im not sleeping almost at all. I wake up every hour. I have a lot of dreams, a lot of thoughts in my head.

Michael Musa-Obregon, an attorney on the team representing the couple said they are working to free Uzkii, so he can return to New York and fight his case from outside a prison. There is also a possibility Kirilenko could be detained the next time she returns to court, he said.

People are coming in to duly make their appointments, as is their responsibility and obligation, Musa-Obregon said. The idea of fighting meritorious cases such as [Kirilenkos] and they are now being arrested in that process, you know, theres something wrong with that. You cant be punished for going to your court date. And thats essentially whats happening.

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The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the case.

Surprise arrest

Despite reading about ICE detaining immigrants at city courthouses, Kirilenko said they didnt expect to be arrested since they had followed the rules. They crossed the southern border using the Biden administrations CBP One app and filing for asylum within the one year deadline after arriving.

We just didnt think that this would affect us because we were never late, we never missed anything, everything was proper and legal in our case, she said. We just did not realize that people were being detained for nothing.

Kirilenko spent nearly six days in detention before ICE released her for a major abdominal surgery she had already had scheduled. Uzkii, 46, remains in detention, far from home in Livingston, TX.

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Its not fair that we were detained. We didnt do anything wrong. We came here to look for protection from our country, she said. We did not do anything wrong. I want my husband to get out. He does not deserve to be arrested, to be kept in detention. We are not criminals.

Kirilenko described her holding cell inside 26 Federal Plaza as a cold, cement room where women slept on benches or the floor, with just reflective blankets to keep them warm. The bathroom was attached to the room, with just a waist high wall blocking others view of the toilet, she said.

ICE fed the roughly 16 women being held in her room three times the first day, but other days only twice, she said. The menu included three or four varieties of hot soup, bagels with cheese, protein bars and cookies.

There were instances where we would have to ask for water multiple times. Im not sure why you had to ask multiple times, she said.

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Kirilenko said agents refused to let her take medication shed had was prescribed to keep the cyst she would later have surgically removed from her ovaries from growing larger.

Meanwhile, Uzkii was inexplicably transported from 26 Federal Plaza to an upstate New York facility and back two times. Kirilenko watched through a glass panel in the door as agents shackled him in a reception area each time for the transport.

I only saw him through the window. We tried to communicate with our fingers or read lips. It didnt really work, she said.

[Alex] tried to encourage me. I cried and he looked very upset. We tried to speak but it was difficult because its very noisy inside the room, and he couldnt hear me, Kirilenko said of the last time they saw each other on June 27.

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He was later flown across the country to a Louisiana detention facility before being moved to the IAH Polk Adult Detention Center in Texas.

On June 29, ICE officials made Kirilenko download a tracking app to her cellphone and they released her ahead of her major surgery the next day.

Kirilenkos surgery went well and she was recovering at a friends place in Queens. But her rest was almost immediately disrupted when she was woken up from sleep at 7:22 a.m. the next morning by a message from ICE, asking her to report to court in person by 10 a.m. the same day.

Kirilenko had five incisions in her abdomen and was hardly able to get up from bed. After submitting a note from her surgeon saying recovery would take four to six weeks, ICE told her she could check in by submitting a photo of herself to the tracking app every week until further notice.

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Being tracked has left Kirilenko wary of leaving her friends place, and she wont even walk around the block for fresh air, her friend said.

Every morning Kirilenko looks forward to her ten-minute phone call with Uzkii.

He mostly tries to cheer me up. He doesnt complain much. He just tries to keep up my spirits, she said. He says that nothing much goes on where he is. He said even people who signed the paperwork to self-deport, theyre at this facility waiting for two months to be deported.

A lonely July 4

Still thousands of miles apart from one another, Independence Day came and went, and Kirilenko thought of last year, when they went to the Macys 4th of July fireworks show on the Hudson River.

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It was a huge crowd. It was cool. In my city the fireworks are not so long and so varied. Different shapes. [Alex] also liked it, she said. We were thinking to go this year too.

Uzkii, who was born in Russia, opposed the war against Ukraine and supported Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Kirilenko, who was born in Ukraine and moved to Ryazan, Russia in 2010 to be with Uzkii, feared the worst living on the enemys turf.

The situation became more difficult. The laws became stricter. People were persecuted for supporting Navalny and obviously if they knew you were Ukrainian, she said. It was becoming clear that things were about to get worse and worse. At that point it was literally a threat to our lives to continue to stay there. So we had to leave.

Though it was never their dream to move to New York, Kirilenko said her husband was instantly charmed by the city.

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When we first arrived in New York my husband said, Can you imagine we are in New York? We saw the Empire State Building, not just in pictures. In real life. He was very excited about it, she said.

Kirilenko said they had no life in Russia anymore, and had began building a new life in the city, living in Midwood, Brooklyn, learning English and exploring the city.

Im not here just to make money, like some people. I want to live here, to integrate and be a part of it, she said, adding that she is considering going to college to become a pharmacist or an accountant.

Uzkii, who holds a degree in radio technology, told Kirilenko his experience being detained has left him hoping to volunteer for an organization that helps other immigrants and to possibly become a lawyer in the future.

We were interested in doing a drive through the country to see it. Its so big. See the desert, go somewhere where theres ocean and its warmer. See the mountains, the animals, the plants. Everything is different. Half of it doesnt exist back in Russia, she said. We were very excited to do that, and now we sort of feel like theres no hope.

For now, they live every day in uncertainty, with no clarity on where their asylum case stands.

Kirilenko shared a message from Uzkii in Texas:

Its not fair that they grab people like that, yank them out of their lives, leaving a bunch of obligations on the outside. I want to be released, go back to New York, where I am a resident, and use my right to defend a case in immigration court without extra pressure.
ENID, Okla. (KFOR)  A former Garfield County judge, facing a trial in connection to a 2023 drive-by shooting at his brother-in-laws home, may see his case moved to a different county.

Comanche County District judge Emmitt Tayloe heard multiple arguments in connection to the Brian Lovell case Friday.

The state of Oklahoma alleges that in 2023, Lovell shot at his brother-in-laws home in the town of Bison in Garfield County. Lovell was indicted on those charges in May 2024.

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RELATED: Garfield Co. Judge indicted for alleged drive-by-shooting

Lovell resigned from the bench in September 2024, citing thyroid cancer and dementia diagnoses.

Mr. Lovell has been diagnosed by the preeminent psychiatrist in this state as having found a temporal dementia, said Stephen Jones, Lovells attorney, in a July 21 interview.

Lovells resignation came one year after allegations from one of his bailiffs at the Garfield County Courthouse that the had sex inside the building. The same year, authorities in Austin, Texas, allege Lovell drove there and got into a road rage shooting.

A hearing Friday, August 8, first focused heavily on the state attorneys request that Tayloe grant them a motion for a psychiatric evaluation of Lovell, in case hes not mentally competent to stand trial. Jones argued an evaluation had already been done, but the state argued it would like its own evaluation before the trial.

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The state also asked a judge to compel medical records and notes pertaining to a previous evaluation, but attorneys claimed they hadnt been turned over. Tayloe granted both of those requests.

A major topic of discussion during Fridays hearing was a motion by Jones to compel Tayloe to enforce a deferred prosecution agreement, he said State Attorney General Gentner Drummond had agreed to in a previous recorded phone call.

RELATED: Former judges attorney now claims Drummond violated second verbal agreement by speaking to News 4

I expect him to honor his agreement, Jones told News 4 in July.

The same month, Drummond sat down for an interview with News 4, alleging Jones misunderstood their conversation.

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We did not reach an agreement, said Drummond.

Jones said in court Friday that there were terms and conditions that Drummond offered his client, but did state that no contract was ever deduced in writing. Jones said he took Drummond at his word.

In court, state attorneys argued Drummond never asked them to draft an agreement, producing emails from early 2025 that confirm a written agreement was never reached.

Tayloe denied enforcing any deal, saying a deferred prosecution agreement would have needed to be made before criminal charges were filed. Tayloe said the court should have been included in any formal conversations related to the case and any potential deal. State attorneys also added that they wanted to proceed with the proceedings as scheduled.

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I think we have to review the judges order and discuss it with my colleagues and then well have some consensus, said Jones.

Tayloe did point out the unusual nature of state attorneys being at odds with what Jones initially said Drummond told him.

The court is at an absolute loss for how we got here today, said Tayloe.

Another main topic of conversation was a motion Jones filed for change of venue, noting that Lovell might not get a fair trial in Garfield County due to the high-profile nature of the case. Jones suggested moving the case to one of several counties, including Tayloes own, Comanche County.

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There are strong feelings against the defendant in this very courtroom, said Jones.

State attorneys presented no argument against the change, with Tayloe saying that while hell consider the change, he thinks a fair trial in Garfield County is possible. However, Tayloe noted that there might be a lengthier process when it comes to securing a jury pool that wouldnt leave a course of appeal open for Lovell. Tayloe said he hopes to have a decision made on the venue change by 5 p.m. Monday.

News 4 employees were hoping to ask Lovell questions about the case, but cameras are not allowed inside the courthouse. Garfield County deputies told News 4 there was only one entrance and exit tied to the courthouse unless an individual is handicapped. News 4 waited for Lovell to exit the courthouse until the building closed at 4:30 p.m., but never saw him come out. Another courthouse employee told News 4 that Lovell had used the handicap entrance and exit to leave.

Garfield County Courthouse in Enid. IMAGE KFOR.

News 4 reached out to Drummonds office for comment Friday, but didnt hear back. Tayloe offered a possible reason in court, saying neither Drummond nor Jones needs to be talking about Lovells case to the general public or media.

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I will not issue a gag order, but I will advise both sides to limit interviews, said Tayloe.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(NewsNation)  While COVID-19 isnt the deadly and dangerous virus it was five years ago, it has still found a way to poke its ugly head into the health world.

The latest problem to arise: the variant known as Stratus.

This new strain has led to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the United States this summer, which is critical with children just weeks away from returning to school, where theres a possibility the virus could spread more.

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FDA requires updated warning about rare heart risk with COVID shots

So, what is the Stratus COVID variant? What are the symptoms, and how are they different from other variants? What is the rate of transmission of the strain, and what treatments are available?

What is the COVID variant Stratus?

Stratus, originally known as Variant XFG, is the second most prominent strain of COVID in the United States.

According to the World Health Organization, the strain was first detected in Southeast Asia in January. They added the strain to its watchlist for public health risk in June.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said the strain accounted for up to 14% of the COVID cases in the U.S. a few months ago.

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There is currently no clear evidence that XFG causes more severe disease or significantly different symptoms than earlier Omicron variants, said Subhash Verma, microbiology and immunology professor at the University of Nevada.

Importantly, there are no immediate public health concerns associated with this variant.

What symptoms come from the Stratus variant?

The Stratus variant causes symptoms usually associated with other COVID-19 variants.

A fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and congestion are still what someone who contracts the virus will experience.

COVID-19 came from lab leak, report finds

The only distinct symptom that comes with the variant is hoarseness. Unlike previous cases where a person would lose taste and sense of smell, doctors found hoarseness as the common side effect.

Is Stratus transmissable and what treatments are available?

The Stratus variant does seem to be more transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19. It may be more adept than other strains at evading immunity protection.

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As for treatments, there are no specific differences from treating any COVID-19 virus.

Doctors suggest getting vaccinated, following hygiene practices (wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings), and monitoring oxygen levels if a person tests positive.

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Fitness trainer and social media influencer Jacob Zieben-Hood, who bled to death in the bathroom of his Harlem apartment from stab wounds to his leg, was frequently seen with black eyes and a bruised nose at the Manhattan gym where he worked in the months leading up to his tragic death, multiple long-time colleagues of the victim told the Daily News.

Zieben-Hood always had an explanation for the marks on his face and arms, blaming his injuries on bad falls and street fights when questioned by his co-workers.

But as pathologists with the citys chief medical examiners office work to determine how the stab wounds that Jacob Zieben-Hood suffered were inflicted, his co-workers said they believe their late colleague hid a years-long pattern of abuse at the hands of his husband as he struggled to project the image of a perfect life.

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Its one of those crimes, where you might not know this person well, but when you read about it and you look at this picture-perfect relationship, always together, always holding hands, just love is in the air, and then you just realize its [all made up], said 33-year-old Irina Caisin, manager at the CompleteBody gym where Jacob Zieben-Hood worked.

Its not the happy relationship theyre trying to portray.

Police discovered the fitness instructors lifeless body in the bathroom of his W. 138th St. apartment near Frederick Douglass Blvd. around 4 a.m. on Aug. 1, after his husband, Donald Zieben-Hood, told 911 operators that Jacob had attacked him, prosecutors with the Manhattans DAs office said.

Donald had three cuts requiring stitches on his arms, while officers found his husband 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.

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Police said they believe Jacob suffered a severed artery from one of his leg wounds that caused him to bleed to death. Multiple knives were recovered from the apartment.

A spokeswoman for the city medical examiners office said pathologists were awaiting additional investigative information before determining a cause of death. Manhattan prosecutors said earlier in the week that Jacobs death was being investigated as a homicide.

Jacob called his father prior to his death, and the worried dad overheard Donald shouting vile insults at his son, said prosecutors. During the call, Jacob told his father that his husband was wielding a knife and refused to let him leave the apartment, prosecutors said.

Jacob texted his father a picture of his wounded leg from the apartments bathroom, said prosecutors. His husband would not call 911 until almost nine hours later, cops said.

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Prosecutors said an order of protection had barred Donald from being in the apartment or having any contact with Jacob after at least two violent attacks in the past six months. It was among Donalds first concerns when speaking to authorities, police said.

I have an order of protection placed against me, Donald told a dispatcher during the 911 call. Im totally getting arrested, right?

News of the court orders of protection barring Donald from contacting Jacob came as a revelation to Jacobs longtime co-workers, who only learned of the abuse hed suffered after it was too late, Caisin said.

I read about the restraining order and I was in a glare, because we told him to go to the police, I never knew if he actually did, the gym manager said. If we knew that he had a restraining order, Donald would never be allowed in here.

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Caisin described Donald as a jealous person and said he spent long hours at the gym where his husband worked, watching over Jacob as he met with clients and interacted with other trainers. The supervision Donald maintained over his husband struck Jacobs coworkers as bizarre, Caisin said.

At one point, I dont know what happened to Jacob, but Jacob started to come almost every day with Donald, said Caisin. Which was weird for us because Donald is not employed by the company, hes not paid by the company, and he was here all day long.

Donald once asked Caisin to confront another trainer he accused of flirting with his husband, according to the gym manager, who said his meddling created rifts between Jacob and other gym employees.

It got to the point where [Donald would say], I want you to talk to that trainer because I think he likes my husband. Its like, No Don, thats how people interact. There are other people beside you,' Caisin told The News.

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It was in the months preceding Jacobs tragic death that coworkers began noticing bruises and black eyes on the beloved trainer, which Jacob explained away with stories that didnt square with the Instagram models beauty-conscious demeanor, said Caisin.

He said once he fell down and he got into a fight. Im like, Yeah, you dont look like the fighting type. Like, he had perfect cheek bones and concealer. You dont seem to be the guy who gets into fights, Caisin said.

Jacob worked at the gym as a fitness instructor for Systimfit, a personal training service that outfits clients with suits that stimulate muscles with electric impulses as they exercise. Joining the company in 2017, Jacob earned a reputation has a quick learner and hard worker, who provided the talent necessary to help the company weather the COVID-19 shutdown, his former boss told The News.

I watched him progress to the point where he could take [a novice trainer] under his wing. And so, because I travel so much, he was the one holding it down for us. He was the glue for our company, said 44-year-old Josh Holland, co-founder of Systimfit.

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Like Caisin, Holland said he and other Systimfit trainers noticed Jacob appearing bruised and battered at work, but that he always managed to ward off suspicion.

All of us who have worked with him, anyone that was ever around throughout time, we all saw marks on him and things like that. Hed have black eyes and bruises, things like that, but there was always an excuse for it. And all the justifications made sense, said Holland. They were very savvy about it.

And as a person who had everything going for him, Jacob didnt seem the type to suffer at the hands of an abusive husband, said Holland.

Smart, astute guy. Fit. I would never think that he was getting assaulted, Holland said.

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Donald was arrested earlier this year for two assaults against his husband in the Harlem apartment  one at 11:30 p.m. Feb. 26, and the other early the next day. He was accused of choking Jacob and then two hours later choking him again and hitting him in the face.

Jacob almost lost consciousness in the earlier incident and suffered swelling, pain and cuts to his face in the second assault, prosecutors say.

Donald was hit with a slew of charges including assault, strangulation, harassment, criminal obstruction of breathing and contempt of court in that case and was freed on $20,000 bail.

At about 7:05 p.m. on June 14, Donald allegedly confronted Jacob outside their Harlem 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. Donald is due back in court Aug. 28 for those cases.

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Following Jacobs death, a Manhattan Criminal Court judge ordered Donald held without bail following his arrest for burglary, criminal weapons possession and aggravated criminal contempt for violating the order of protection.

With Thomas Tracy
Move over Burmese pythons and iguanas. This Florida invasive species numbers in the millions, asphyxiates its prey and creates huge supercolonies that are nearly impossible to eradicate.

Meet tawny crazy ants.

They get their name from their erratic movements, especially while foraging, and are native to South America but spread to the southern U.S. in the late 1990s.

According to the USDA, tawny crazy ants in Florida are part of a super colony that spreads across the southern U.S. They lack territorial behavior, which enables the creation of gigantic supercolonies, whose need for resources drives out local wildlife and brings them into direct conflict with humans.

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They can invade homes where they are drawn to and damage electrical equipment, and can make yards uncomfortable for residents to enjoy.

In areas of the country with severe tawny crazy ant infestations, they kill or displace local wildlife, including other ant species, even fire ants. Theres no insect noise and theres no bird noise, University of Texas ecologist Edward LeBrun told Science.

According to Texas A&M University's Urban and Structural Entomology Program, after experiencing the tawny crazy ant, most residents prefer the fire ant.

Tawny crazy ants bite and excrete formic acid

Tawny crazy ants bite and excrete formic acid, which they use like venom.

What do tawny crazy ants in Florida eat?

According to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), tawny crazy ants prey on live animals, and scavenge from dead animals. They eat caterpillars, beetles, termites, wasps and spiders, or even small animals such as rabbits, birds, lizards, and domestic animals, which usually die due to asphyxia.

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Tawny crazy ants are capable of forcing birds from their nests and blinding young rabbits with their acid, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

They can attack crops, domestic animals and honeybee hives, and take over the nesting sites of other ant species, including fire ants.

Tawny crazy ants with brood and penny for scale.

Where in Florida are tawny crazy ants found? See map

According to IFAS, by 2012, tawny crazy ants were found in 24 counties in Florida listed below, with infestations spreading. This can be expected in any county in Florida, IFAS reported.

Alachua

Brevard

Broward

Clay

Collier

DeSoto

Duval

Hardee

Hillsborough

Indian River

Lee

Manatee

Marion

Martin

Miami-Dade

Orange

Palm Beach

Pasco

Pinellas

Polk

Saint Johns

Saint Lucie

Sarasota

What do tawny crazy ants look like?

The Urban and Structural Entomology Program at Texas A&M University describes tawny crazy ants as follows:

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Coloration : Adult colony members, including queens, males and workers, are reddish-brown (although lightness or darkness of their body color may vary)

Size : Worker ants are all similar in size (they are monomorphic), with a body length of 1/8 inch.

Worker ants have long legs and antennae and their bodies have numerous, long, coarse hairs. The antenna have 12-segments with no club.

There is a small circle of hairs (acidopore) present at tip of the abdomen (as opposed to the typical stinger found in many ants), a characteristic of formicine ants (found within the Formicinae subfamily).

A queen and worker tawny crazy ant in a laboratory colony at The University of Texas at Austin, Brackenridge Field Laboratory.

How to get rid of tawny crazy ants around your home

Management of this ant will most likely require the services of a professional pest control company that practices integrated pest management (IPM).

According to UF, 100% eradication of this ant is not probable in areas where it is established. However, population suppression is possible.

Tawny crazy ant prevention

Outdoors

Schedule regular trash pick-up. Keep trash cans clean and stored away from the home.

Remove leaf litter, fallen branches, and other yard debris.

Keep hedges and trees trimmed so that they do not touch the home.

Indoors

Eliminate or reduce possible food, water, and nesting sources.

Remove trash regularly and keep trash receptacles clean.

Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink.

Clean up spills immediately.

Place food items in the refrigerator or in sealed containers.

Pick up pet food bowls when your pet is not eating.

Exclusion

To prevent ants from entering a home:

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Walk around the outside of the home and locate potential entry points (cracks, crevices, spaces around windows and doors).

Locate indoor entry points, paying particular attention to windows, doors, and plumbing and utility penetrations.

Use an appropriate sealant.

Replace door thresholds and weather stripping as needed.

If you can see light from the outside while you are standing inside, it is enough of a gap for ants and other pests to enter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tawny crazy ants live in Florida. Map, how to kill them
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Crews are battling two fires in northern New Mexico. The Tuas Fire is burning a half mile north of Las Tablas. It has grown to six acres. The Hondo Fire is burning 1.5 miles to the northeast and has burned seven acres.

KRQE Wildfire Coverage

Both fires were caused by lightning. Crews are working to suppress both fires.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Crosslake mother sentenced to 39 years in 'heinous' child abuse case originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

A Crosslake mother has been sentenced to 39 years in prison for abusing her three children and then defrauded Medicaid by falsely claiming they suffered from various medical conditions.

Jorden Borders, 35, of Crosslake, was sentenced Thursday in Crow Wing County Court. She was found guilty on 11 charges, including attempted murder, child torture, stalking, and theft by false representation, in June following a three-week trial.

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Borders was initially charged in late 2022 after authorities learned that she physically, verbally and emotionally abused her children.

The case was referred to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office in early 2024.

"Borders' crimes are some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General," AG Keith Ellison said in a statement. "I am praying for her children's recovery from the suffering and trauma they endured."

Borders abuse included hitting the children with charging cords, belts and spoons, as well as forcing them to stand outside in the cold, withholding food and regularly threatened to kill them, according to the childrens testimonies.

Jorden BordersCrow Wing County Jail

Borders was convicted of fabricating medical ailments in her children in order to claim around $18,000 in fraudulent funds from Medicaid.

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Borders would forcibly withdraw blood from her then-9-year old child before his doctors visits. This led to him having dangerously low hemoglobin levels. One of her children was also told to vomit and cough at the doctors office so asthma medication would be prescribed.

In sentencing Borders on Thursday, Crow Wing County Judge Patricia Aanes also considered several other aggravating factors proven at trial, including how she abused her position of trust, how she acted with particular cruelty, and how one child was particularly vulnerable when the abuse took place, according to Ellison's office.

Borders' parental rights to the three children were previously terminated.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Peterborough's Strongest is returning to Cathedral Square on Saturday, with hundreds of people expected to attend.

Organised by Peterborough Positive, in partnership with Royals Gym, the free event will run from 10am to 5pm with competitors of all levels battling it out throughout the day.

Challenges include the return of the 'Truck Pull' along with an introduction of the Viking Log Walk, a test of grit, balance and endurance, organisers said.

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Pep Cipriano, chief operating officer at Peterborough Positive, said the event not only entertains people but also helps "drive footfall into the city centre" supporting local businesses while creating memorable experiences.

'Real sense of occasion'

"It's brilliant to see athletes and visitors engaging with this unique and inspiring competition, right in the heart of the city," he said.

The event will be overseen by World Strongman Games athlete Craig Candler as head referee, and Josh Stanley, who placed third at the UK Natural Strongman event, as second referee. PJ Carter, current International Powerlifting League (IPL) Bench Press world number two, will again host it.

Sam Fowler, founder of Royals Gym, said: "We're thrilled to be back in Cathedral Square. It's a fantastic location that creates an electric atmosphere and gives the competition a real sense of occasion.

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"Last year's event drew in an amazing crowd, and we're excited to build on that momentum with even more athletes competing this time around."

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KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44)  Central Texas College (CTC) honored 479 graduates during its Summer 2025 commencement ceremony on Friday.

With students across the globe, CTC celebrated 87 graduates who participated in-person in the ceremony, at the Christian House of Prayer in Killeen, walking the stage as friends, family, and faculty cheered them on. Among the 479 total graduates were 218 military-affiliated students, representing all branches of the U.S. military, including active-duty service members and veterans.

Here are the numbers of graduates by award type, courtesy of CTC:

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 Associate of Arts: 193 graduates (40.3%)

 Associate of Applied Science: 90 graduates (18.8%)

 Associate of Science: 58 graduates (12.1%)

 Certificate of Completion: 138 graduates (28.8%)

In addition, the youngest graduate was 19 years old while the most senior graduate was 57 years old.

CTC also says enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester is open. Classes begin August 18.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is a silver-spoon socialist shamelessly living in a dirt cheap rent-stabilized apartment  and its time to move out, fed up neighbors and critics told The Post.

Mamdani, 33, who rakes in $142,000 a year as a state assemblyman and whose wealthy family includes his filmmaker mom and professor dad, has been living in a $2,300-a-month, one-bedroom pad in Astoria  galling facts that reached critical mass Saturday.

Its unfortunate that he supports policies that are great for the fortunate few [who] get these apartments, said Jerry DeFazio, 33, a mechanical engineer who lived in the same building as Mamdani.

Zohran Mamdani pays $2,300 per month for his Astoria apartment. Brigitte Stelzer

It makes it harder for everyone to afford  since landlords raise the other rents, like mine, to pay for his.

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Mayor Eric Adams accused Mamdani of exploiting a system designed to serve the most vulnerable.

This is not public service; this is self-service, he told The Post.

It is outrageous that  a man who presents himself as a champion of the poor would occupy an apartment intended for public housing while thousands of New Yorkers sleep in shelters or on the streets. I was born in Brownsville and understand firsthand what it means to fight for a roof over your head.

Jim Walden, a lawyer running as an independent for mayor, said its obscene for wealthy people like Mamdani to get rent-stabilized apartments [and] for elected officials to benefit from programs they vote on.

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Good government cant be based on bad policy and conflicts of interest, he added.

The Uganda-born Mamdani comes from a wealthy family, and his six figure salary is on top of the additional income his illustrator wife, Rama Duwaji, brings to home hes lived for at least four years.

Hes been open on the campaign trail about his cushy living situation, telling moderators during a Democratic primary debate two months ago about his shockingly affordable rent.

Former governor and mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo unleashed a tirade on X Friday alongside a video of Mamdani admitting he pays cheap rent.

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Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, are occupying her rent controlled apartment, Cuomo wrote in the viral tweet that has racked up more than 28 million views.

Cuomo wrote: Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment. Matthew McDermott

You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. Youve had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda, he continued.

Mamdani, 33, and Duwaji, 27, eloped in February at the City Clerks office but jetted last month off for a small, but lavish Dubai engagement and wedding celebration.

They capped off their nuptials with a blockbuster, three-day affair at his familys ritzy, secluded Ugandan compound, complete with masked security guards and a cell phone jamming system  which Cuomo was quick to point out.

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Today, I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need[s] it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out, added Cuomo.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa told The Post: only in New York do we have two nepo babies, Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, arguing over an apartment while the city falls apart because of both of them.

Mamdani talks a big game about being for the people but plays by a different set of rules, and New Yorkers are sick of the hypocrisy, he said.

Its unfortunate that he supports policies that are great for the fortunate few [who] get these apartments, said Jerry DeFazio, 33, a mechanical engineer who lived in the same building as Mamdani. Brigitte Stelzer

Mamdani had previously claimed he intended to leave his cheap digs. He told the New York Editorial Board in February he found the listing on StreetEasy years ago when he was making $47,000 per year as a foreclosure prevention housing counselor

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He claimed that at the time, he had no idea it was a rent-stabilized unit.

The average price of rent for a one-bedroom in the trendy Queens nabe is closer to $3,000, according to Apartment Advisor  meaning Mamdani saves an average of $8,400 per year more than his constituents.

Despite hailing from renowned, wealthy parents who sent him to the elite $66,000-a-year Bank Street School, Mamdani has recently claimed to have less than $2,000 in the bank.

His parents have plenty of cash of their own, however.

His Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker mother, Mira Nair, recently sold a posh West Chelsea 2-bedroom that she had owned for more than 10 years in 2019 for $1.45 million.

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His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a chaired Columbia University professor, a position which on average reaps a salary of $308,000 a year.

Mamdani  who makes a $140,000 salary  lives in this apartment building with his wife, Rama Duwaji. Getty Images

The Harvard-educated couple still live in the stylish Ivy League and taxpayer-subsidized 3-bed, 3-bath corner apartment on Riverside Drive  with weekly maid service.

Mamdani also owns four acres of land in Uganda worth between $150,000 and $250,000.

When he moved in, Mamdani claimed he had not realized he had nabbed a rent-stabilized unit.

The average price of rent for a one-bedroom in the trendy Queens nabe is closer to $3,000, according to Apartment Advisor  meaning Mamdani saves an average of $8,400 per year more than his constituents.

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In that time since, Ive become an assemblymember and Im now able to pay for that apartment and able to also move out of that apartment and I plan on doing so. I dont plan on living in that apartment for perpetuity, he said.

Mamdanis camp brushed off any criticism, claiming Cuomo is merely trying to distract voters.

Andrew Cuomo isnt just working with Donald Trump  hes becoming him. Ranting to reporters, firing off unhinged social media posts, lodging personal attacks  all to avoid talking about the corruption, sexual harassment, and abuse of power that drove him from office. The only thing missing is a red hat, spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a statement.

Critics responded to Mamdanis post, with one pointing out the socialist celebrated his wedding in a guarded private fortress.

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Guy who grew up supremely comfy says what? wrote another person on X in response to Mamdanis post. How much was your wedding again? The wedding with guards? The cell phone jammers? Your mother alone is worth $22M. Hypocrite.

The truth hurts and the truth is Mamdani is gaming a system meant to help those with way less privilege, Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi told The Post.

I understand his diehard supporters dont know how to deal with his mask slipping, he added, referencing backlash from Mamdani backers, but the comments I see are full of New Yorkers who are appalled by his hypocrisy.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessee schools could lose nearly a fifth of their funding if President Donald Trumps plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education becomes reality.

That totals roughly $2.5 billion.

In some parts of the state, the cuts are already beginning.

Tanya T. Coates, president of the Tennessee Education Association, points to McNairy County as an example.

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Some districts, such as McNairy County, have already made critical programming cuts like after-school programs prior to the start of the year, Coates said.

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The impact, she added, reaches beyond students.

This is directly impacting parents, their ability to go to work and to know their children are safe and cared for at school, she said.

Tennessee ranks No. 16 in the nation for per-pupil federal funding, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Last Tuesday, members of the Joint Federal Education Deregulation Cooperation Task Force met for the first time to assess what losing that money could mean.

I think it is imperative we look at what could happen in Tennessee because the Department of Education is in a state of somewhat flux, State Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville) said.

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Democrats on the task force question whether the state can realistically replace federal dollars.

Well, if the USDA is not feeding the kids, who will? Rep. Ronnie Glynn (D-Clarksville) asked.

Republican leaders maintain that no child will go without an education if federal support disappears.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

But educators like Coates warn that the consequences will be tangible: larger class sizes, fewer enrichment programs and a worsening teacher shortage.

We need to make teaching more attractive again, Coates said. Starting with competitive pay, affordable degrees and cleaner pathways for educators to enter the profession.

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The task force has until Dec. 31 to recommend a plan for replacing federal education dollars.

Whether Tennessee can reimagine public education without Washingtons help remains the question hanging over every classroom.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
CONNEAUT  D-Day Conneaut is returning to Conneaut Township Park Aug. 14-16.

According to the website of D-Day Ohio, the organization that puts on the re-enactment, there will be many educational opportunities available for visitors, including lectures in the camp and D-Day Ohios WWII museum, and opportunities to meet re-enactors.

D-Day Ohio CEO Betsy Bashore said the Highway 13 82nd Airborne battle is a new addition to the re-enactment this year.

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Many of the new events this year will take place in the camp, she said.

There will be a presentation on the difference between the German and American airborne units. French Resistance re-enactors will have new educational pieces for visitors on how the resistance operated and avoided detection and capture.

Last years D-Day Conneaut was cut short Saturday by bad, rainy weather.

Im excited that it looks like its going to be beautiful clear weather after last year, Bashore said.

She is looking forward to what people get out of this years event.

Were excited for another year, Bashore said.

D-Day Ohio COO Lori McLaughlin said only people 14 and under can dress up in military fatigues, unless they are a registered re-enactor.

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McLaughlin said visitors are encouraged to dress in 1940s civilian clothing.

The nonprofit typically schedules five events for around 11:30 a.m. and noon on all three days of D-Day Conneaut, she said.

We want the crowd to choose what they want to see, she said.

McLaughlin said scheduling multiple events at the same time is purposeful, to make sure there are not too many people at any one event.

Theres a lot of different things going on at the park all at the same time, she said.

The landing is such a big part of the reenactment it typically draws everyone to see it, McLaughlin said.

We dont want 18,000 people on Thursday going to one thing, except the landing, she said.

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Alongside the re-enactment at township park, many city business get in on the event, McLaughlin said.

Almost every restaurant in town gets into the groove, she said.

McLaughlin said D-Day Conneaut has attracted a lot of new support and volunteers this year.

People have really come forward, she said.

McLaughlin is very thankful for the support D-Day Conneaut receives, and said there are many corporations and organizations support the event.

McLaughlin said Home Depot and Save-A-Lot have provided a massive amount of support to the event.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Firefighters are battling a new fire in the Gila Wilderness.

The Daisy Fire, which is burning about 16 miles east of Glenwood, New Mexico, started on Aug. 1 and has been determined be caused by lightning.

The fire remains at an estimated 50 acres with 0% containment, fire officials said Saturday morning, Aug. 9.

The fire is located within the Gila Wilderness along Whitewater Baldy Trail No. 172, on the ridge between Little Turkey Creek and Iron Creek.

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Assigned resources include one interagency hotshot crew, one Type 2 Initial Attack crew, one ambulance, and one Rapid Extraction Team. Two helicopters are supporting ground crews with targeted water drops along the fires edge, fire officials said.

Firefighters are using full suppression tactics, going direct where conditions allow and indirect where hazards prevent close engagement. Steep, rugged terrain, combined with numerous unstable snags, are creating challenging working conditions, fire officials said.

Crews spiked out on the fireline Friday night to maximize productivity ahead of changing weather, fire officials said.

Recent work has focused on constructing and improving handline around the perimeter, with efforts Saturday aimed at tying those lines into natural barriers such as the Iron Creek tributary and nearby rock outcroppings to prevent further growth of the fire, officials said.

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Weather forecasts for Saturday afternoon through Sunday predict hot, dry conditions with the potential for thunderstorms producing gusty, erratic outflow winds and minimal moisture. In anticipation of forecasted winds, all firefighters will be pulled from the fireline Saturday afternoon once work is completed and aircraft use will be restricted.

No evacuations or forest closures are currently in place due to the Daisy Fire. Visitors to the Gila National Forest are urged to stay aware of conditions and avoid the fire area to support firefighter safety and operations.

More information can be found on the Gila National Forest website by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman and strangling another following a trial.

Cameron Mackay, 37, of Rougemont Close, Salisbury, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court last week charged with assault by penetration, sexual assault, indecent exposure, actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

He was found guilty by a jury of all offences.

In April 2022, Mackay plied one of the victims, a woman in her 40s, with alcohol. She fell asleep and then woke up to find Mackay sexually assaulting her, police said.

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On another occasion, in February 2023, a woman in her 30s, met Mackay while he was out walking his dog, and he invited her back to his address.

He exposed himself to her, at which point she tried to leave, but Mackay then climbed on top of her, whilst strangling her.

The victim managed to defend herself and escape the property.

Det Con Dan Smith, of the south criminal investigation department, thanked the victims for their bravery and "strength" by standing up in court.

"I hope this investigation shows that victims will always be listened to," he said.

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"Mackay is a dangerous individual who has now been found guilty by his peers of a number of offences against women."

Mackay remains in custody and will be sentenced on 14 November at Salisbury Crown Court.

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DES MOINES, Iowa  Day two of the Iowa State Fair brought the heat, but thats nothing new to Iowans in August. Still, organizers and officials wanted to make sure everyone was staying safe.

Fair officials gave these tips to fairgoers: drink water, use sunscreen, pace yourself and use a buddy system.

The Des Moines Fire Department said they had a few dehydration situations on Friday, but nothing critical or serious.

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The fairgrounds have ten buildings with air conditioning and several trees and benches in the shade. Thats how people paced themselves, taking breaks when needed.

There are also 17 water fountains on the grounds, seven of those are water refill stations.

There are also two first aid stations, one across from the Pork Tent, the other in the service center on Grand Ave.

Everything you need to know about the 2025 Iowa State Fair

Some young fairgoers maybe found the best way to stay cool: the splash pad.

Still, officials want everyone to stay cool and safe.

Whenever youre coming out to the fair, come prepared, Devon Sadler, Des Moines District Fire Chief, said. Wear comfy shoes, bring some shade of your own if you can, but be prepared. Go to the state fair website. Look at their map. They have all the cooling centers; they have all the water refills centers there. And just set yourself up for a great day because it is beautiful out here. And if you can avoid meeting one of us, that would be great. Although we do love the interactions, just we want it on your terms and not something else.

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Meanwhile the Red Cross of Iowa is also trying to keep people safe. They have a booth in the Farm Bureau Park offering free hands-only CPR training Friday, Saturday and August 13.

By doing compressions, just starting compressions is really a great step for the person in survival. And then we do a demonstration to our swishy guys. We also can call it a community response CPR. Its when someone is not trained and standing there who doesnt know what to do, American Red Cross Central Iowa Executive Director Leslie Schaffer said.

Theyre also trying to reach people who arent from the metro area.

These are people who are living out in rural areas where response time may take a while, she said. And so being able to do those compressions and ensure that immediate rescue is underway or emergency response is underway, is really important. So being able to do this in rural areas is especially important.

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Friday night the heat will continue as East Side Night brings in thousands. Parker McCollum will be on the grandstand.

Iowa news

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
A water system break in two L.A. neighborhoods during a heatwave has been going on for days, and while crews continue to work night and day to fix the problem, faucets are still running dry on Saturday.

Per the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, a valve that feeds a 10 million-gallon water tank above the Porter Ranch area was damaged while crews were making repairs on Tuesday.

It is estimated that around 9,200 customers are without water in both Porter Ranch and Granada Hills due to the break.

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Is a meme coin creator behind the trend of throwing sex toys onto WNBA courts?

The day after the break occurred, LADWP issued a boil water notice for Porter Ranch and Granada Hills, specifically areas north of Rinaldi Street or the 118 Freeway, whichever is further, and west of Balboa Boulevard.

Workers hand out drinking water as repairs are made on a broken valve in the San Fernando Valley on Aug. 6, 2025. (KTLA)

While a temporary water pump was quickly installed by LADWP crews to compensate for the water loss, it proved to not be enough. Crews have been handing out drinking water to affected residents ever since, but lines at distribution centers have been long.

As the week progressed, crews worked around the clock to repair the issue as quickly as possible; on Saturday morning, LADWP stated that, as of 7 a.m., the 10 million-gallon tank was around 27% full, described as a strong step forward.

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To speed up the process, we installed an additional pump overnight, and two more are on the way, LADWP said Saturday morning. These extra pumps will boost water flow, allowing us to begin water quality testing earlier than usual  before repairs are fully complete.

A temporary pump is set up following a broken water valve in the San Fernando Valley on Aug. 6, 2025. (KTLA)

Residents are still being advised to keep their taps turned off so that crews dont have to work as hard or for as long.

Every time water is used, it lowers the level in the large tank our crews are working hard to refill and pressurize. Think of it like trying to fill a bathtub without a drain stopper  if water keeps flowing out, it takes much longer to fill up, the water and power department explained.

Chaotic street takeover erupts in front of Crypto.com Arena

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KTLA spoke with residents on Saturday morning, some of whom have accepted their current fate, while others claim that neighbors arent following LADWP guidelines.

Ive noticed where Im at that [my neighbors] arent adhering to the rules, said Robert Morris. Theyre making it hard on [the crews] to fix this.

A Porter Ranch resident shows KTLAs Eric Spillman that he has no water coming from his faucet on Aug. 6, 2025. (KTLA)

Another woman who actually does have water at her house says that, despite the taps being on, shes not touching them.

No, Im not running my water, even though I do have it, the woman told KTLA 5s Carlos Herrera on Saturday morning.

There are five water distribution locations set up across the area:

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Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park : 20500 Sesnon Blvd., Northridge

OMelveny Park : 17300 Sesnon Blvd., Granada Hills

The intersection of Tampa Avenue and Sesnon Boulevard

Porter Ranch YMCA: 11336 Corbin Street, Porter Ranch

The intersection of Rinaldi and Louise avenues

Restrooms, showers and mobile laundry units are available at Holleigh Bernson Park and at Rinaldi and Louise.

While LADWP crews had initially hoped to have all repairs completed and service turned back on by the end of the weekend, that will likely not happen.

We are making good progress and are expecting to have the excavation completed by [Sunday], said Anselmo Collins, LADWPs Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System. Once we finish the excavation and the draining of the pipe, we will see where the system is  in other words, [whether] water is actually getting to the tank and the customers  and then we will initiate the process of removing the valve.

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I dont know if I can, at this point, tell you with certainty [whether service will be restored] on Monday or Tuesday, he continued. Our goal is to get it fixed as quickly as possible and as safely as possible as well.

More resources for affected residents can be found here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 20-year-old man was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for the armed robbery of an elderly man on a Metro train, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.

Kevin Freeman, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in May to one count of robbery while armed. He is ordered to serve a consecutive sentence with the seven and a half years he was given for a separate robbery incident and five years of supervised release.

Man injured in stabbing on H Street; suspect arrested

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According to court documents, shortly before 11 p.m. on January 16, Freeman boarded the train and sat across from the 72-year-old victim. He then waited for the other passengers to leave before threatening the man with a knife, demanding money.

Court documents say the victim fought back, and the two struggled for around two minutes before Freeman ran off with the victims iPhone 15 and cash from his pockets.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
A shooting outside the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Atlanta headquarters on Friday left a police officer dead and officials and scientists at the nations premier public health agency shaken. Many are now demanding answers from their health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long vilified the CDC and contributed to a culture of misinformation that they say makes them targets.

Citing a senior law enforcement official, The New York Times reported the shooter, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, was fixated on the Covid vaccine, which he blamed for his health problems. In response to the shooting and reports of Whites motivations, newly appointed CDC Director Susan Monarez convened an online all-hands meeting of the agency division that focuses on vaccines  the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

It is not fair to all of you whove given so much to contribute to public health, Monarez told employees during the meeting Saturday, according to a recording reviewed by MSNBC.

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During the meeting, staff described being terrified as bullets struck the buildings where they worked, and of being trapped inside until late in the evening. One said they felt like sitting ducks.

As the leaders spoke, dozens of staffers posted messages in the meeting chat, many naming Kennedy, who oversees the CDC at the Department of Health and Human Services, citing his years of spreading misinformation about vaccines and vilifying the health agencies he now leads.

One employee described the shooting as the culmination of ongoing animosity toward CDC and the work that we do  not a one-off incident. Another named Kennedy in a comment that drew dozens of supportive emoji reactions, writing: We need them to stop fanning the flames of hatred against us, stop spreading misinformation. We will not be safe until they stop their attacks against us.

For years, Kennedy attacked the CDC. In videos from anti-vaccine conferences between 2013 and 2019, he likened the agencys vaccine work to fascism and child abuse, called it a cesspool of corruption and said it was filled with profiteers. At a 2013 conference, when asked about why the CDC had failed to acknowledge the autism epidemic (which he falsely linked to vaccines), Kennedy said it was like the Holocaust. On at least two occasions, Kennedy has apologized for comparing agencies, officials and public health measures to the Holocaust. During the pandemic, Kennedy repeatedly framed the CDC and other HHS agencies as corrupt, falsely suggested Covid-19 was a bioweapon, and lied about the dangers of Covid vaccines, calling them the deadliest vaccine ever made.

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The hatred RFK and his allies have spent their lives stoking puts a target on the backs of anyone in public health, said one senior official who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak for the agency and so they could speak critically about Kennedy.

Fishing the Kenae with Ninilchik Chief Ivan Encelewski Chairman of the Cook Inlet Tribal Council and Council President Gloria Oneil

The 1948 photo

is Ivans grandpa Chief Larry Oskolkoff Sr. with a skiff load of King salmon from a Cook Inlet fish trap. The Kenae Kings are also in pic.twitter.com/aVtkZTkI36  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 9, 2025

At the time of the meeting, Kennedy had not publicly addressed the shooting. His most recent post on his personal X account showed him fishing in Alaska. During the all-hands meeting, one employee asked Monarez if she had spoken with Kennedy directly or expected him to address the attack. Monarez called it a good question and said the CDC had been in constant communication with his office and that more will be coming.

Kennedy did post a message of support to the CDC from his HHS account shortly after the meeting. It read in part: We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose  even in moments of grief and uncertainty. We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American.

The shooting marks a low point in an already dark period for public health. Officials and health care workers faced threats and harassment during the pandemic over vaccines and other public health measures. In the first months of the Trump administration, with Kennedy at the helm of HHS, the agency has undergone mass layoffs and restructuring.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
(LA JUNTA, Colo.)  Law enforcement in La Junta is investigating after a man was killed and two others were injured in a shooting on Thursday, Aug. 7.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), officers with the La Junta Police Department (LJPD) responded just after noon on Thursday to a report of a shooting in the 500 block of Bradish Avenue, just west of Main Street. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds as well as two others who were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The man with life-threatening injuries later died.

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The CBI said the investigation is active and ongoing, though there is no threat to the community. LJPD requested assistance from the CBI due to the nature of the incident.

Authorities are not releasing the identities of the victims at this time, nor are they providing any further details about the circumstances of the shooting, the CBI said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact LJPD.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
[Source]

Actor Dean Cain, best known for playing Superman in the 1990s television series Lois & Clark, announced this week that he is joining U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in support of President Donald Trumps renewed push to expand immigration enforcement.

ICE recruitment effort

Cain, 59, made the announcement Wednesday in a video posted to Instagram, saying he wanted to move beyond commentary and take direct action. He urged others to apply for ICE positions, citing federal benefits, student loan repayment and signing bonuses.

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I felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans, not just talk about it, so I joined up, Cain said in the video, which featured the Superman theme playing in the background. In an appearance on Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime later that evening, he described the decision as an act of principle, stating, I will be sworn in as an ICE agent ASAP.

Trending on NextShark: Indian teen chess champions break records in back-to-back victories

The announcement came the same day the Department of Homeland Security said it would eliminate age limits for new hires across its immigration enforcement agencies. In a news release, the department said the waiver would allow even more patriots [to] qualify to join ICE, following a major budget increase from Congress aimed at expanding enforcement efforts.

Truth, justice and the American way

Cain, whose Japanese ancestors were among those incarcerated in camps during World War II, said he views joining ICE as a way to contribute directly to public safety and national integrity. ICE, which has resumed large-scale raids and removals, faces scrutiny for enforcement actions that have led to the detention of legal residents and even U.S. citizens. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about due-process violations and aggressive tactics.

Trending on NextShark: Dean Cain channels Superman as he joins ICE

Cains video echoed the legacy of Superman through both patriotic framing and use of the characters theme music. In recent remarks, he criticized James Gunns Superman, which highlights the characters immigrant identity. Superman has always stood for truth, justice and the American way, and the American way is immigrant-friendly, tremendously immigrant-friendly, but there are rules, Cain said.

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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.

Trending on NextShark: Chinese ICE detainee dies by suicide days after transfer to Pennsylvania facility

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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Academic physician executive William Wertheim discusses his article, America, our health care workforce training isnt evolving alongside our needs. He argues that the U.S. medical system is training professionals who will not meet the needs of the countrys rapidly aging population. With the number of Americans over 65 expected to reach 82 million by 2050, specialties like geriatrics are in decline, with only 42 percent of fellowship positions filled in 2023. William explains that this problem extends to projected shortages in primary care, oncology, and other specialties, which is especially acute in rural areas where distance decay limits access to care. He identifies a critical bottleneck in the training pipeline: while medical school enrollment is high, a lack of corresponding residency positions prevents qualified doctors from entering the workforce. While tools like AI and telehealth can help, they cannot replace the need for a comprehensive strategy to expand training capacity and align medical education with the demographic realities of today and tomorrow.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome William Wertheim. He is the executive vice president at Stony Brook Medicine. Todays KevinMD article is America, our health care workforce training isnt evolving alongside our needs. William, welcome to the show.

William Wertheim: Thank you for having me.

Kevin Pho: All right, so just briefly share your story and tell us about the KevinMD article.

William Wertheim: Sure. Well, I am a general internal medicine physician. I have been practicing at Stony Brook since 1996. I finished my training about two years before that, and I spent a lot of time as an educator for internal medicine residents and then all of graduate medical education. Then I had the good fortune to be able to be in charge of our health system, so here I am. The article really comes from both looking at what our needs are as a health system as well as looking at my own practice over the last 30 years.

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When I started out doing primary care internal medicine, most of my patients were a variety of early- to middle-aged and middle-aged to older patients, and now its almost exclusively elderly patients, including people in their nineties and hundreds. Its reflective, I think, of where the population is going. In our county, Suffolk County, New York, which has 1.5 million people in it, its estimated that by 2035, about a quarter of that population will be over the age of 65. Those are people who have a lot more and different health care needs that we dont necessarily accommodate as well as we should in our health system.

Kevin Pho: All right. And what are some of the core reasons why thats happening?

William Wertheim: Sure. Well, for one thing, there are fewer people who are interested in geriatric-focused specialties. Geriatric medicine itself is very undersubscribed. Many programs, I think the majority of programs, go unfilled in the match each year, even though theyre very robust and theyre very widespread.

In addition, many of the fields that also are required to take care of older patients, for example, nephrology, again, these are fields that dont get as much interest from students or residents as other fields, which perhaps are viewed as being more exciting. Yet at the same time, these are very complex patients who require a lot of different kinds of care and a lot of different kinds of physicians and also require more in the way of coordination because they do have more medical problems.

Kevin Pho: For those who arent familiar with the path of being a geriatrician, just outline how many years it takes and what are some typical pathways one takes to become a geriatrician.

William Wertheim: Sure, the most common way is to do an internal medicine or a family medicine residency, which is three years, and then a one-year geriatric fellowship. A number of programs have extended the geriatric fellowship to two years and combine it with something like they spend half their time being a hospitalist so they can really earn more money than one might as a fellow, but its not a very lengthy training, especially when you compare it to things like neurosurgery or interventional cardiology, that kind of thing. So its certainly a shorter pathway. I think there are other things that make it less appealing to most graduating medical students.

Kevin Pho: And when you say in recent years these geriatric fellowships are going unfilled, can you estimate what percentage are being filled?

William Wertheim: Less than 50 percent.

Kevin Pho: And from your perspective as a medical educator, what are some of the core reasons why you feel that a lot of these students arent pursuing fellowships in geriatrics?

William Wertheim: Well, one factor is the appeal of technology is often found in a lot of surgical or interventional fields, and I get it. Its very exciting to be able to use a cool new tool to do surgery or something like that. There really isnt a lot of that in geriatrics. Theres new information, but we dont have a lot of tools that are fun and fancy and require specialized training in the use of that tool, so thats one thing.

Another thing is that it is easier to think about focusing on something very narrow than focusing on the widest array of things when one thinks about the enormity of what one has to do as a physician. Theres a lot of that in geriatrics. Its a lot of talking to family members, counseling people, and having very difficult conversations. You have to tell people, Maybe its time to not drive a car anymore. Maybe its time to not live independently anymore. While those are necessary conversations, theyre not always the most appealing or most comfortable things for clinicians.

Even with training, it may be more satisfying, or people might think its more satisfying, to simply do a procedure, walk in, walk out, and not worry about the rest.

Kevin Pho: Sometimes when we talk about these issues like primary care shortages and geriatrician shortages, I find its often because a lot of medical students dont have great role models in these fields. Then, sometimes when they rotate through, they just see the enormous amounts of bureaucracy and obstacles, so its not always the best foot forward. At a place like Stony Brook Medicine or other medical schools, what are some typical exposures that students get to geriatrics?

William Wertheim: Yes, I think youre absolutely right, and I know you address this in a recent podcast. Our medical students all do a primary care rotation where they are getting an ambulatory experience with primary care doctors in their offices. Some of them are family medicine, some of them are internal medicine, some of them are geriatric-focused, and especially for the internal medicine doctors, those patients tend to skew older. So thats one way they get some other training in geriatrics as well.

This is through both clinical experience and in their medicine and contemporary society course, which is more of a discussion format to deal with some ethical issues that people are likely to face or understanding cultural issues, et cetera. They do talk about things that are relevant to older patients as well. But youre right, there arent a lot of role models. There are some; we have a primary care training program in internal medicine, we have a family medicine program, and we have a geriatrics fellowship. But that said, its not the preponderance of the experience.

Kevin Pho: So what are some paths forward? From your perspective as a medical educator, what can medical schools and residencies do? Then, broadening the scope, what are some policy options that we can consider to tackle this issue?

William Wertheim: Well, I think making sure that when students get experience and exposure to geriatrics, it is a robust experience and that the experience focuses on some of the particular rewards of taking care of older patients. A second thing is making sure that people training in specialties which relate to older patients more frequently also get more training in geriatrics. For example, a lot of orthopedic surgeons deal with older patients. Those are likely to be the ones who need joint replacements or have hip fractures when they fall. It would be helpful and provide a better experience if specialties like that, or cardiology or nephrology, could have more appreciation and understanding of some of these issues.

A lot of it relates to the care plan: what are patients really interested in from their lives? Its one thing to say, Well, you have heart failure, but its another thing to know that they want to be able to walk three blocks to their grandchildrens house. If you can get them to understand that, then I think it changes the dynamic. I think that would also provide a better experience.

In terms of policy, I think that it would be great if the fields of primary care and geriatrics were more highly valued. A lot of that relates to how we reimburse our clinicians and people who provide other kinds of care for those populations. Im not saying it should be at the expense of something else, but I think we could do a lot of good and probably overall bring health care costs down if we could make clear that were valuing and promoting more primary care, preventive care, and the kind of care for older patients that make small changes that have large effects over time.

Kevin Pho: When you talk about a robust geriatrics experience for the students, tell us more about what exactly that entails, some of the rewards that the field of geriatrics provides, and perhaps a type of student that experience may appeal to.

William Wertheim: Well, I think even though weve made a lot of strides in changing the experience of medical studentswe, for example, like many schools, have this primary care experience, which is ambulatorya lot of the learning, particularly in an internal medicine clerkship, still occurs in an inpatient setting, and thats about the worst place for an older patient, as you know. I think more of the experience in learning about the value and the enjoyment of geriatrics could be done in an outpatient setting.

I also think although skilled nursing facilities play a very important role, thats also probably the wrong place to be because more of those patients have cognitive dysfunction. Youre dealing with people who may be bedbound, and in some cases, there arent other family members around. I think as much as we can get the experience of students in an environment where people are in their homes or in an outpatient setting where they are able to go back and forth, those are really beneficial.

Another thing that I would say is, as much as I love some of the technology which has allowed us to expand our reach, really in many cases driven by COVID, such as telehealth, we need to recognize where that fails, particularly for older people who may have trouble using technology which to the rest of us is simple. I remember talking about using Uber with somebody who is in their mid-nineties, and it probably took this fellow about half an hour to figure out how to call an Uber. To us, that would be two or three seconds. Its very difficult, I think, and we have to recognize that we cannot necessarily replace some of the care that we might for a younger patient with technology. You have to be careful.

Kevin Pho: And just to your last point, especially during the pandemic with these virtual visits, assuming that all our patients have access to the internet and can navigate what we think is simple technology like a Zoom call or a virtual visit can be very challenging for the older population.

William Wertheim: Absolutely.

Kevin Pho: You mentioned geriatrics needing to be more valued. From your perspective, for students who are choosing fields, how much does that reimbursement factor play into their decisions? Knowing that a lot of these students have medical loans to pay off, is it something that is an explicit choice, is it something that they talk about, or how much do you feel that those financial pressures that students already have factor into the eventual career decision that they choose to make?

William Wertheim: I think it is definitely a factor. Its not the only factor, and I would never say that it is, but I think that it is often unspoken. I actually remember there was a classmate of mine in medical school who sat down in a lecture hall one day and said, I really would love to be a pediatrician, but Ive got to make more money than that. So he went into GI, and Im sure thatI hope that he isI know that hes still in GI, so he must be enjoying himself, and its a great field. But I always think of it from this perspective: every field that we have available to us in medicine does good for people. So if you have the choice of being of value and doing good things for people, helping them, and curing them, and in one field you can make five times as much as another field and youre on the fence about which to do, its hard not to choose the field where you would be making a lot more money.

On top of that, life has gotten a lot more expensive. I think people in their twenties and thirties have a lot of difficulty thinking about buying a house or starting a family because those things are much more expensive than they were when I was in my twenties and thirties. So I understand it. Im not being critical at all. Again, its not the only thing that plays into it. I think the appeal of some of the amazing technology that we have available to us, the sense that you have a discreet task that you can take care of, know that youre done, and move on to the next thing, is also very appealing to a lot of people.

Geriatrics and primary care can be a little messy because you keep having these relationships with people and they keep coming back. I think its wonderful. Ive enjoyed it tremendously in my career, but some people dont necessarily enjoy that as much, and its not as supported. When I say valued, its not simply a matter of money. But you mentioned this: the burden of paperwork and bureaucracy, the number of times you have to contact insurance companies to get things authorized, or balancing the information that youre getting from multiple different sourcesthese are all pretty challenging.

Kevin Pho: In your article, you also talk about the need in rural areas for physicians and primary care physicians, and sometimes our training programs arent really addressing that need.

William Wertheim: Yes, absolutely. I think its understandable why physicians would want to avoid rural areas if they want to have families. Although the cost of living may be less, it may be harder to find schools of the quality that they had growing up for their own children. They may be far from family, et cetera. But there are people there that need care, and although Im not an expert in rural health, certainly there are challenges that people in rural areas face in terms of access: having to be able to get transportation, to get medications, or to get appointments. I think those are all real problems, and its hard to just sweep that under the rug.

We are not considered a rural area by the federal government, but we have some pretty rural and remote areas in Suffolk County, particularly in the North and South Fork at the very east end of Suffolk County. The community on the east end of the South Fork was desperate for years for access to emergency care. In the summertime, particularly when theres more summer traffic, it could take two to three hours to get to the nearest emergency room. So we opened up a new, freestanding emergency department on the eastern part of the South Fork, and thats been a very great advance for them. But it takes a lot of effort, time, and money, and many rural areas cant afford that kind of investment.

So I think we have to be creative. Certainly, technology can help, such as telehealth, but I think we have to think about what other models might there be. I dont have the answers, but I think its a very important problem.

Kevin Pho: So you have a unique perspective being on the executive staff of a major academic medical center. How difficult is it for academic medical centers, which, of course, provide the majority of residency positions in our country, to make the necessary changes that were talking about?

William Wertheim: Well, it is difficult because we cant do it in isolation. Theres a degree to which we can change our curriculum, but if I expanded our geriatrics fellowship or our primary care training programs 200 percent, that doesnt mean I would get any more applicants to our program. Theres just a limited pool of people who are applying. So it cannot simply be one system that is trying to change it, and certainly not change it to mimic what weve done so far. I think thats probably not a successful strategy.

I think this is the kind of thing where we have to pilot a couple of different ideas, and some of it may be having advanced practice providers provide more care or be coordinated with physicians. Some of it may be using telehealth technology. Some of it may be using drones to deliver medications, that kind of thing. Some of it may be changing the curriculum so that more people can provide that kind of care even within their specialty. I dont know that theres one easy answer. I think we have to treat this like a performance improvement project.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to William Wertheim. He is the executive vice president at Stony Brook Medicine. Todays KevinMD article is America, our health care workforce training isnt evolving alongside our needs. William, lets end with some take-home messages you want to leave with the KevinMD audience.

William Wertheim: Sure, my pleasure. I think that we really have to think broadly and not simply assume that what worked for us 20 or 30 years ago is going to continue to work. I think we also need to remember that at the heart of what we do, there is a person, a human being who is looking for advice and looking for care. I do think that sometimes gets lost, especially now when theres a lot more distrust of the medical system.

Having that kind of long-term relationship, I think, is the best counter to that kind of mistrust. I find when Im talking to my patients that Ive been caring for for 25 or 30 years, I can have the conversations about what theyre really afraid of, what they like or dont like, or what they might accept or not accept. Other people cant really have that conversation, so I encourage people to remember that. Despite the fact that we may need to make some changes, the core of that doctor-patient relationship continues to be the essence of what we do.

Kevin Pho: William, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks again for coming on the show.

William Wertheim: Thanks for having me, and I hope you have a great day.
NEW YORK (AP)  Outside the Bronx mosque where a New York City police officer was eulogized last week, a group of officers in their formal navy blue uniforms solemnly hung a banner bearing the young officers photograph and the name of his fraternity, the Bangladeshi American Police Association.

Didarul Islam  one of four people killed in the July 28 shooting at the Manhattan office tower housing the NFLs headquarters  was the NYPD's first Bangladeshi American officer killed in the line of duty.

His funeral underscored the fertile recruiting ground the department has found in the citys thriving Bangladeshi community. More than 1,000 of the NYPDs roughly 33,000 uniformed members are Bangladeshi Americans, according to the association. Another 1,500 people of Bangladeshi heritage are among the departments 19,000 civilian employees.

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Those numbers are up from just a handful of officers a few decades ago, a phenomenon some Bangladeshi officers attribute partly to their own patriotic response to anti-Muslim sentiment after the 9/11 attacks, as well as active recruitment and word-of-mouth in the community.

Among the sea of NYPD officers who lined the street to honor Islam, 36, were some who opted for traditional South Asian attire, their police badges worn around their necks. Many joined the throngs of mourners who knelt in the street in prayer.

He actually uplifted our community in a way that was not imaginable before, said Shamsul Haque, one of the co-founders of the NYPDs Bangladeshi officers group. His legacy will endure not only as a hero who gave his life protecting others, but also as a symbol of hope, integrity and the American dream.

Bangladeshi immigrants join NYPD following Sept. 11 terror attacks

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When Haque joined the NYPD in 2004, he was one of just a few Bangladeshi immigrants. Many of those who joined around then wanted to dispel the notion that all Muslims were terrorist sympathizers, he said.

Haque, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1991, had recently graduated college with a business administration degree when the twin towers fell. But rather than follow his peers into a financial field, he enrolled in the police academy, a decision he acknowledged was initially met with skepticism from his parents.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the NYPD built up a domestic surveillance program that for years systematically spied on Muslim communities and monitored local businesses, mosques and student groups in a hunt for terror cells.

Haque, 52, who retired earlier this year after becoming the first South Asian and first Muslim to attain the rank of lieutenant commander in the NYPD, said the perception of Muslims among rank-and-file members has improved.

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Early in his career, he recalled feeling singled out when a counterterrorism expert warned officers during a training session about the possibility of al-Qaida operatives infiltrating the force.

Over the years, people started to realize that we work hard, we are ethical, Haque said. Although we are immigrants, we are patriotic.

Path to NYPD badge begins with civilian police jobs

To grow their numbers, Haque and others went out into the community proselytizing a sensible path for recently arrived immigrants.

Aspiring Bangladeshi officers were encouraged to take civilian jobs in the department, such as traffic enforcement officers and school safety agents, that dont require U.S. citizenship. After gaining citizenship, usually in about five years, they could then apply for the police academy to become a uniformed officer.

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Some 60% of all officers of Bangladeshi heritage in the NYPD followed this pipeline, Haque estimated. Islam, the officer killed last week, began his career as a school safety officer after immigrating to the U.S. about 16 years ago.

The visible growth of Bangladeshis in the NYPD has helped many aspire to leadership roles in the department, just as generations of Irish, Italian and Latino immigrants did before them.

Among the uniformed officers with Bangladeshi roots are 10 detectives, 82 sergeants, 20 lieutenants and four inspectors, said Sgt. Ershadur Siddique, current president of the Bangladeshi American Police Association. The department's uniformed ranks are roughly 38% white, 33% Hispanic, 17% Black and nearly 12% Asian, according to NYPD data.

I never dreamt that I would go this far, but I always had an ambition to go somewhere where I can be challenged, said Siddique, now a member of Mayor Eric Adams' security detail. I always say, Listen, give me a chance, see if I can do better than anybody else, you know? Give me a chance.

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Young officer reflects on shooting

Ishmam Chowdhury, a 26-year-old officer who graduated from the academy in May, said Islams death just a few months into his own career has left a lasting impression.

Like Islams wife, who is expecting their third child, Chowdhury's wife is due to give birth to their first soon.

It just hit us a little different because like that made us think, what if it happens to me today? It can, he said. So yeah, I guess thats a wake-up call for us that even though this is a noble job, we are definitely at grave risk.

Chowdhury said he dreamed of joining law enforcement even before he immigrated to the U.S. in 2019. As a teenager in Bangladesh, he and other family members were robbed multiple times. The feeling of helplessness and humiliation stuck with him, he said.

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Chowdhury started as an unarmed volunteer member of the NYPD auxiliary before joining the civilian ranks as a 911 operator in 2021.

He also served about a year in the police force in Washington, D.C., after it opened applications to green card holders in 2023, but he and his wife felt isolated from friends and family. So after receiving his citizenship last year, the couple moved back to Queens and he enrolled in the police academy.

Thats what makes this city, this country, great. It doesnt matter where somebody comes from, Chowdhury said. If somebody really works hard and truly wants to do something, they can do it.

___

Associated Press writer Deepti Hajela contributed to this report.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo
The death toll from flash floods and mudslides in northwest China has risen to 13, state media said on Saturday, after the bodies of three people were found.

Torrents of mud and water began hitting mountainous areas of Gansu province on Thursday, with the death toll listed as 10 on Friday as rescuers searched for at least 33 missing people.

Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience heavy rain while others bake in searing heat.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the "utmost effort" in rescuing missing people, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.

The death toll stood at 13, with the number of missing now listed as 30, state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday.

Hundreds of people had been rescued and thousands more evacuated, Xinhua added.

It quoted a rescue official describing the situation as "complex" due to the mud and rough roads, with telephone lines and electricity also cut.

State media on Friday put the number of people trapped in the mountainous Xinglong area at 4,000, with heavy rain pushing garbage into roads.

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Beijing's top economic planner has allocated 100 million yuan ($14 million) towards disaster relief in Gansu.

Authorities also announced a yellow alert on Saturday for torrential rains and activated a flood response plan in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei and Chongqing, CCTV said.

China's south has also experienced torrential downpours this week, with tens of thousands of people evacuated across Guangdong.

Heavy rain in Beijing in the north also killed 44 people last month, with the capital's rural suburbs hardest hit and another eight people killed in a landslide in nearby Hebei province.

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Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up because of fossil fuel emissions.

China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases but is also a global renewable energy powerhouse.

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Aug. 9A Decatur man with a prior conviction for obstructing justice by using a false identity was arrested Tuesday in another identity-related case after allegedly stealing a woman's credit card and making multiple unauthorized charges, according to a Decatur police detective's affidavit.

Danny Dewayne Teague, 36, was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card, third-degree theft of property and identity theft. He was transported to Morgan County Jail and held in lieu of a $7,000 bond, according to jail records.

On July 27, the affidavit said, the victim filed a report with the Decatur Police Department regarding the fraudulent use of her Discover credit card. She said a charge of $52.95 was attempted that same day at the Walgreens in Hartselle.

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"The transaction was recorded on surveillance video," the affidavit said. "(The victim) viewed the surveillance video and immediately identified Danny Teague and a woman as the subjects in the surveillance video attempting the transactions."

The victim told police Teague and the woman had stolen the credit card from her home. She said she had hired the two to do lawn care work and did not give them permission to use or possess the card.

According to the affidavit, approximately 30 credit card charges were made or attempted over a three-day period.

Court records show that Teague pleaded guilty in 2021 to obstructing justice by using a false identity and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released on parole on Aug. 13, 2024.

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The charge stemmed from a June 2020 traffic stop, during which Teague, a passenger in the vehicle, told a Decatur police officer that his name was Dusty Morgan.

"Once (the officer) stepped away from the vehicle, the passenger ran from the scene on foot in an attempt to evade arrest due to having warrants," the affidavit said. "The suspect was caught after a short foot pursuit."

Teague later told officers he gave a false name because he knew there were warrants out for his arrest. He was booked into Morgan County Jail and released a month later after posting a $2,500 bond.

Teague also has a prior drug conviction. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance after Hartselle police found methamphetamine on him during a 2017 traffic stop. He was sentenced to 16 months in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

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Teague is scheduled for arraignment Aug. 14 in Morgan County District Judge Kevin Kusta's courtroom on a third-degree retail theft charge filed in May. Teague is accused of stealing about $102.36 worth of fishing equipment from the Walmart Supercenter in Decatur.

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
Rapper YNW Mellys double-murder retrial  marked by years of delays after his first trial ended in a hung jury in 2023  will now begin in January 2027. The announcement came on Friday after the Fourth District Court of Appeals granted a delay that prosecutors were seeking. Broward Circuit Court Judge Martin Fein had ruled that the trial would start in September.

Were disappointed that todays hearing was yet another win for the State of Florida, allowing more time to subject my client to inhumane treatment, said Raven Liberty, Mellys attorney. Every American should be concerned about this abuse of the justice system and basic Constitutional rights at the hands of Broward States Attorney Harold Pryor and his team of prosecutors.

Melly, 26, whose real name is Jamell Demons, is accused of murdering his childhood friends Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. in a drive-by shooting in October 2018. Williams and Thomas, both aspiring rappers with the YNW collective, were known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.

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Melly has spent the last six and a half years in prison. During that time, his first trial ended in a hung jury in July 2023. He and his legal team have requested a bond to be released from jail while awaiting the retrial, but have been repeatedly denied.

The new trial date would mean he would have been jailed for eight years without being convicted.

If this denial of basic Constitutional rights was not outrageous enough, most of this time has been spent in solitary confinement in conditions worse than death row, Liberty said.

READ MORE: YNW Melly kept in debilitating isolation while in jail, lawsuit says. He seeks release

Mellys mistrial set off a whirlwind that ended with a prosecutor ousted, key evidence thrown out and new charges.

A major cause of the delays is the evidence removed from the retrial by then-Broward Circuit Court Judge John Murphy. Prosecutors appealed Murphys ruling. The bulk of the contested evidence was extracted from Mellys cellphone, email addresses and social-media accounts. Under Murphys ruling, most of the admitted digital evidence, including messages, will be confined to the day of and following the murders. But the attorneys now have oral arguments on the evidence issue before the appeals court on Sept. 16.
Democrats are fighting tooth and nail to stop Texas lawmakers' plan to redraw the state's congressional map, but critics, including one prominent member of their own party, say they don't exactly hold the moral high ground.

Democrat legislators have fled the state to avoid votes on redistricting, which is expected to add more Republican seats to Congress for the Lone Star State. They're getting the rock-star treatment as they visit blue states, where several governors have vowed to gerrymander Republicans out of their own Congressional delegations in retaliation for the Texas effort.

California Launches Redistricting Fight To Nullify Texas Gop Plan, With Dems Poised To Gain 5 Seats

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.

However, Democratic strategist Julian Epstein told "Fox News Live" on Saturday that his party is not immune from criticism, as many blue states have already gerrymandered in a way that limits Republican congressional representation.

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"No, I think they dont have the moral authority, and theres a lot of pearl-clutching going on," he said.

Several blue states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Mexico, have no Republicans in their House delegations. And many feature oddly-drawn districts, seemingly crafted to limit GOP representation.

Read On The Fox News App

"The Democrats dont have clean hands here. You look at states like Massachusetts, New Jersey[] Illinois, California, and Democrats have effectively gerrymandered Republicans out of existence," Epstein added.

Networks Pounce On Republican Redistricting. They Didnt Care When Democrats Did It

J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois, left, and State Representative Gene Wu, a Democrat from Texas, during a news conference at the Democratic Party of DuPage County office in Carol Stream, Illinois, US, on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.

Epstein cautioned that the nationwide redistricting battle could create a "race to the bottom," and that leaving Republicans and Democrats in states led by the opposite parties could lead to people feeling left out of the democratic process. Epstein cited New Jersey, in which Trump garnered 46% of the vote in 2024, but Republicans only have three out of the 12 congressional seats.

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Meanwhile, Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison, a Republican, told Fox News Digital on Saturday that Democrats are guilty of "total hypocrisy and faux outrage."

"The dirty little secret is Democrats have no problem whatsoever with states redrawing their congressional maps to maximize partisan political advantage. They're just furious that Republican states are starting to redraw their maps," Harrison said.

Texas Democrats Flee State To Block Trump-backed Redistricting Vote In Dramatic Legislative Move

California Gov. Gavin Newsom attends a press conference, July 2, 2025 in Burbank, California.

"It's because Democrat state after Democrat state, for a decade, has been gerrymandering the hell out of their congressional maps," he said.

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"Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, all of these states have zero. If you're a Republican in those Democrat states, you don't have any voice in Congress," he added. "And [there are] many, many more that have given you just one seat, Oregon, I think Maine and Maryland."

In California, a special election is likely to occur in November to counteract the Texas redistricting plan.

"We are talking about emergency measures to respond to whats happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Friday with some Texas state lawmakers.

"Well pick up five seats with the consent of the people. And thats the difference between the approach were taking and the approach theyre taking," Newsom added. "Were doing it on a temporary basis. Were doing it in a fully transparent way and were doing it by asking the people of the state of California for their consent and support."

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Harrison explained that Texass redistricting push has numerous reasons behind it, including the population growth in the Lone Star state since the last census.





Original article source: Democratic strategist says party lacks 'moral authority' on Texas redistricting fight
A Midwest City couple said they had never been to the State Capitol before, but they felt compelled to join other Oklahomans there to call for the ouster of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters.

Valerie and Lance Carter were among an estimated crowd of 300 who attended an Impeach Ryan Walters Rally held by a group called the Sooner State Party.

"This is important," Valerie Carter said, as she walked inside the Capitol building. "I can't believe our education is where it is at. It should be going up, not down."

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Community activist CJ Webber-Neal, a Sooner State Party spokesman, spoke briefly to the crowd gathered on the second-floor rotunda, thanking them for showing up to the rally on a Saturday afternoon to voice their concern for education in Oklahoma and their disapproval of Walters' leadership at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

More: Protesters to call for Ryan Walters' impeachment at Oklahoma state Capitol on Saturday

"We as Oklahomans are tired of what's going on at the Department of Education," Webber-Neal said. "We have a variety of Oklahomans here that are saying, 'Ryan, it's time for you to go."

Many of the demonstrators said they wanted Walters impeached because of several controversies, most notably for a recent firestorm surrounding images of nude women on a television screen in the state official's office. Several protestors also held up signs calling for Walters' ouster because of the state's next-to-last-place education ranking.

Protesters gather at the Oklahoma state Capitol to call for the impeachment of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters during a demonstration organized by the Sooner State Party in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.

Walters has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks after two members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education said they saw the images on a television in Walters' office during one of the board's executive sessions. Walters denied the allegations as several state leaders called for an investigation. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said last week his research vindicates both sides in the dispute. The Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation continue to investigate what happened.

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"Ban boobies not books" and "Impeach porn-obsessed Ryan Walters" were among the signs that referred to this latest controversy, and others.

Kris Lackey of Norman held a sign that displayed the number "50." He said he attended the rally mostly because he was troubled by the state's low education ranking and because he felt Walters did not support educators.

Meanwhile, at one point during the rally, demonstrators loudly booed when they saw several people standing on the third floor above the rally speakers, holding up signs with messages of support for Walters.

One of the Walters' supporters, Linda Woodrow of Oklahoma City, said she didn't learn about the rally until the last minute, but she decided to attend to champion Walters.

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"He's helping our students," she said.

Eventually, Woodrow and two others with their signs in support of Walters left the area. An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was later seen accompanying the group to the parking lot. In their absence, people with anti-Walters signage went to the third floor to display their messages above the rally stage.

Other speakers at the rally included Garland Pruitt, leader of the Oklahoma NAACP; Alicia Andrews, former chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party; and Jennettie Marshall, a Democrat who has declared her candicacy for state superintendent.

Protesters gather at the Oklahoma state Capitol to call for the impeachment of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters during a demonstration organized by the Sooner State Party in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.

Andrews told the crowd the rally was nonpartisan and she urged them to get out and vote and get behind a candidate for state schools superintendent who cares about Oklahoma's children.

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Andrews said people are not talking about the issues they should be talking about under Walters' leadership.

"We're talking about prayer and Trump Bibles and what we need to be talking about is our students," she said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Marshall, a former member of the Tulsa School Board, also alluded to Walter's plan to place Bibles in every Oklahoma school.

"In my culture, we were taught that the first Bible was the way that we walked and lived the Bible," she said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Impeach Ryan Walters rally draws crowd of about 300 to State Capitol
The Brief

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited a Lombard Homeland Security facility Friday to highlight ICE arrests of alleged violent offenders, including undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions or deportation orders.

Her remarks drew criticism from protesters and Rep. Sean Casten, who accused her of promoting racism and xenophobia; ICE has denied requests for detailed detainee information.

Noem criticized Illinois sanctuary policies, saying they hinder cooperation with ICE, while state law allows local law enforcement to share information if federal agents have a criminal warrant.

CHICAGO - A group of demonstrators gathered in Lombard to protest U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's visit.

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Noem held a news conference at a Homeland Security investigations Field office in Lombard, Ill. on Friday, touting what she called "worst of the worst" ICE arrests.

What we know



Noem came to the Homeland Security facility in Lombard to highlight what she says are dangerous criminals that ICE agents are removing from the Chicago area's streets.



Noem's news conference sought to highlight alleged violent offenders ICE has targeted, including undocumented immigrants convicted of sexual abuse, domestic assault and multiple DUI's.

"These individuals would still be on our streets committing crimes attacking people and harming our children, if Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson had their way," Noem said.

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Homeland Security and ICE have repeatedly denied requests for information on who is being detained and what criminal charges they face.

A recent Chicago Tribune analysis found that 46% of Chicago area detainees under Trump had no known criminal background.

Noem says they've targeted violent criminals and those with final deportation orders.



"We also have situations where we have those that have final removal orders. They need to go home because due process is over, they have their paperwork, and they have to travel," she said. "Over 70% of those people have had pending charges and criminal convictions against them."

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Noem's visit was met with dozens of protesters outside, claiming that she is not welcome, a sentiment echoed by the area's Congressman, democrat Sean Casten who said, "Kristi Noem's racism and xenophobia have no place in Illinois 6th congressional district. Her failures at the Department of Homeland Security harm American families and will have lasting, negative ripple effects on the American economy."



Noem says attacks against ICE agents are up, and ICE officers in Illinois take action without the cooperation of local law enforcement due to sanctuary city and state protections.



"They're used to being able to call up a local law enforcement officer sheriff, and say, Hey, do you have any information on this individual that's a murderer cited in your city?' That's not happening in Illinois."



Under state law, local law enforcement does share that information when federal agents issue a criminal warrant against an individual.

The Source

This story contains information reported by Fox 32's Paris Schutz.
DENVER (KDVR) The Denver Police Department responded to two stabbings and one shooting early Saturday morning.

DPD said at 12:33 a.m. that its officers were investigating a stabbing in the area of 21st Street and Lawrence Street. One individual was transported to the hospital with an unknown extent of injuries, police said at that time.

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DPD also said at 2:11 a.m. that its officers were investigating a stabbing in the 5000 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard. One individual was transported to the hospital with an unknown extent of injuries, police said at that time.

Finally, DPD said at 2:35 a.m. that its officers were investigating a shooting near 14th Street and Market Street. One individual was transported to the hospital with an unknown extent of injuries, police said at that time.

In each case, DPD said its officers were on scene working to gather more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  Tetra, a Denver cannabis lounge, has been ordered to appear in court after city inspectors allegedly saw marijuana and psilocybin sales during a 4/20 event.

The city inspectors also reported there were customers inside the building consuming cannabis, alleging that the licensed premise lacks a Certificate of Occupancy, which would prohibit any patrons from being inside the building. The city said the licensed area is only the outdoor area behind the building on Walnut Street.

Trash bags filled with suspected marijuana found along Weld County Road 20

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Tetra, on its Instagram account story, said the city is blatantly lying and discriminating against the cannabis lounge, and alleged that the show cause order was leaked to the media before it had been received by the business. Tetra alleged that this was a violation of its due process rights.

Denvers Excise and Licenses department told FOX31 that this is the first time a marijuana hospitality establishment in Denver has received a show-cause license discipline order.

Tetra fires back at the city of Denver

On Instagram, Tetra took to its story to defend itself and fire back against the accusations.

This shows the city of Denvers willingness to discredit a minority owned small business that in 7+ years jas 0 reports of violence, drug overdoses or any other criminal activity, Tetra wrote. Id state the obvious but I dont think its necessary.

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Tetra also shared surveillance footage from July 10, focusing on the camera pointed at the businesss entryway, saying, What really happened !!! Denver city will blatantly lie and continue their discriminatory behavior and harassment of Tetra.

The video appears to show individuals purchasing entry to the business and milling about inside, as well as other patrons leaving the business.

Show cause order details 3 inspections of Tetra

The order details inspections of the lounge on April 20, April 28 and July 10. At the April 20 event, which coincides with the unofficial marijuana holiday of 4/20, an inspector reportedly saw:

Booths inside the building that appeared to be selling items, including marijuana The report specifically noted the inspector saw what appeared to be pre-rolled joints, edible marijuana, water pipes and glass pipes with visibly burned marijuana.

Booths outside the building with advertisements for DMT, microdose capsules and mushroom chocolates.

A booth just outside the licensed premises where psilocybin-infused gummy pieces were being given away by individuals not associated with Tetra.

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The inspector conducted a follow-up inspection on April 28, where the businesss owner was present. The inspectors were shown surveillance video from April 20 that the inspectors reported showing a sale occurring at an indoor booth that had displayed marijuana products.

What is 710? Denver celebrates cannabis holiday

It is not clear what was sold, but several sales occurred, the show cause order states. The inspector also observed one person consuming a marijuana cigarette off the licensed premises, outside of the open gate on the southwest corner of the licensed premises.

On July 10, inspectors conducted a site visit after Tetras owner met with city representatives from multiple divisions, including the Denver Fire Department and Marijuana Enforcement Division, on July 7. During the July 7 meeting, Tetra was told there could not be booths selling or sampling regulated marijuana products.

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On July 10, inspectors witnessed several booths set up inside the building on the licensed premises, including one that appeared to be sampling and selling marijuana distillate and infused gummies and cookies. The show cause order said the employee staffing the booth confirmed there was marijuana in the products, and said they are traditional market only, which the city said means the company does not possess a valid license.

Denver said that Tetra will be allowed to continue operating during the discipline process, and said Tetra is only licensed to have patrons pay a fee and bring cannabis (purchased elsewhere) to consume on the outdoor patio.

What happens next for Tetra, Denver?

On Oct. 10, there will be a hearing in front of a city hearing officer wherein Tetra will have a chance to show cause why their license should not be revoked.

The hearing officer will review the presented evidence and testimony, then issue a recommended decision. The decision will be reviewed by the executive director of Denvers Excise and Licenses Department, who will then issue a final decision in the case.

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The city told FOX31 that approximately 90% of administrative show cause cases end in a settlement agreement, saying the trend is because the city wants to achieve compliance, not revoke licenses.

Approximately 90 percent of all administrative show cause cases end in a settlement agreement with the city because Denver is trying to achieve compliance with the law instead of revoking licenses.

There are many illegal marijuana farms, but federal agents targeted Californias biggest legal one

Tetra is also alleging that at least one of the inspectors ingested psilocybin off premise during inspections, but the city said it could not comment further beyond a statement it has provided to various media outlets.

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The city believes in accountability when an investigation uncovers employee misconduct, the city told FOX31. The employee is no longer with the city. I cant comment on specifics regarding the employee or the city investigation.

The city referred FOX31 to its Human Resources office for further questions about employees.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Authorities in Georgetown County are investigating a Saturday morning shooting in the Oatland community.

Deputies were dispatched to a club on Fuzzy Drive for a shooting that left one person dead.

Investigators are gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses at the scene in an effort to identify a suspect. Witnesses are not being cooperative, the sheriffs office said.

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Investigators are seeking Savion Grimmage for questioning about the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office at 843-546-5102.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
STERLING, Va. (DC News Now)  Deputies are trying to identify a woman who was tampering with cars and left a racial slur on April 27.

The Loudon County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) is seeking help from the community in identifying the woman who was tampering with cars at Sams Club and Lowes in Sterling.

LCSO also said the woman left a racial slur.

Loudoun County animal shelter hosts Scales and Tales event for kids

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The woman is described to be heavyset, short, had dark hair, and wearing a purple shirt with black pants and white shoes.

She was seen driving a white Nissan Altima.

LCSO released a photo of the woman and the car she was driving.

(Photo courtesy of the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office)

Anyone with information is asked to call (703) 777-1021 or (703) 777-1919.

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The Brief

Deputies spotted narcotics inside a Brandon apartment during a felony arrest, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday, the US Marshals Task Force was taking Kephat Milien, 23, into custody on felony warrants when the drugs were spotted.

The Gang Unit found 47 grams of MDMA, one pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and over $2,300 in cash.

BRANDON, Fla. - A Brandon man is facing a slew of charges after deputies found a large amount of drugs in an apartment on Milano Circle, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

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On Tuesday, the US Marshals Task Force was taking Kephat Milien, 23, into custody on felony warrants when deputies say they could see narcotics inside the apartment.

Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

A search warrant was obtained, and the Gang Unit found 47 grams of MDMA, one pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and over $2,300 in cash.

Milien now faces the following charges:

Trafficking in amphetamine (28200 grams)

Possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell (schedule I)

Possession of cannabis with intent to sell

Unlawful use of a two-way communications device

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Using a residence for drug trafficking or sales

CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube

The Source

Information for this story was provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
US fashion designer Willy Chavarria said Saturday he regrets that sandals he created together with Adidas "appropriated" a traditional design from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

Local authorities had complained that the Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were a "reinterpreted" model of huarache sandals, particularly one found uniquely in the area, which has one of the highest Indigenous populations in the country.

Mexico's government said Friday it was seeking compensation from Adidas.

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"I deeply regret that this design has appropriated the name and was not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community," Chavarria, who is of Mexican heritage, said in a statement sent to AFP.

Chavarria acknowledged that the sandals "did not live up to the respect and collaborative approach" deserved by the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, from where the original design is said to have come.

The Mexican government said Friday that Adidas had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities.

"It's collective intellectual property. There must be compensation. The heritage law must be complied with," President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference Friday.

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The controversy is the latest instance of Mexican officials denouncing major brands or designers using unauthorized Indigenous art or designs from the region, with previous complaints raised about fast fashion juggernaut Shein, Spain's Zara and high-end label Carolina Herrera.

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According to the International Organization of Migration, the route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen is one of the busiest  and deadliest  in the world. Hoping to find work in the oil-rich Gulf states, thousands of Africans, many from Ethiopia, risk their lives on perilous sea journeys. But despite the high number of deaths each year, the route garners less media attention than other migratory flows.

Thousands of Africans travel from Djibouti to Yemen across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden every year, hoping to reach Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia to work as labourers or domestic workers.

The Eastern route is one of the world's most dangerous, according to the International Organization of Migration (IOM), which documented at least 558 deaths in 2024, including 462 from shipwrecks.

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Overall, the United Nations agency estimates that 3,400 people have died using this route over the past 10 years.

On Sunday a boat carrying nearly 200 people sank off the Yemeni coast, killing more than 90 of them, with some still missing.

Death roll climbs in Yemen migrant boat sinking with dozens still missing

Ethiopia's permanent mission in Geneva responded by urging its citizens to "avoid irregular routes".

The IOM said that it was "working with partners to mobilise resources and deliver humanitarian assistance to protect people on the move, as well as to support the government to respond to migration crisis".

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In March, at least 180 people were reported missing off the Yemeni coast, the majority of them from Ethiopia.

Abdusattor Esoev, the IOM's head of mission in Yemen, told RFI that: "A network of cross-border smugglers exploits the desperation of people who need better jobs and better opportunities."

Lack of interest

The IOM estimates that 60,000 people landed in Yemen in 2024 alone.

Marina de Regt, an anthropologist at the Free University of Amsterdam who specialises in migration in this region, agrees that "the numbers are enormous".

"In many cases, migrants pay and don't even know they have to cross the sea and then go through Yemen before arriving in Saudi Arabia," she told RFI.

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She is concerned about the lack of interest shown by the international community in this busy and dangerous migratory route.

"These migrations between countries in the South are not considered important by political decision-makers, particularly in Europe. All that matters to [them] is that the migrants do not end up on [their] territory."

She explains why Ethiopians represent the highest number of people trying to reach the Persian Gulf countries, saying: "Ethiopia is going through a very difficult time. The Tigray War (2020-2022) is over, but instability persists and there is a lot of poverty."

UN food agency forced to halt aid in Ethiopia for 650,000 women and children

Caught in conflict

Crossing the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden in rickety boats isn't the only danger for migrants making the journey. In Yemen, a country gripped by civil war, they face an increased risk of violence.

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"In addition to the war situation, which results in a lack of food and great insecurity, the exploitation of migrants and refugees is common," said de Regt. "People are sometimes kidnapped by gangs and migrant women are sexually exploited by criminals."

Last April, East African migrants also found themselves caught up in the military escalation between the United States and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Sixty-eight people were killed and dozens more injured in US strikes on a migrant detention centre in Sanaa, a rebel stronghold.

Thirty-eight migrants found drowned after shipwreck off Djibouti

In 2023, the NGO Human Rights Watch revealed that Saudi border guards killed hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, between March 2022 and June 2023.

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"The guards at the checkpoints shoot randomly at migrants trying to cross. Crossing the Saudi border is a very risky undertaking," said de Regt.

While some manage to find work in Saudi Arabia, many migrants remain in a precarious situation, at risk of arrest and deportation.

"Sometimes men are deported to Ethiopia  but they start again, even though they know how risky the journey is," she said. "They will start again because they are desperate."

This story has been adapted from the original RFI report in French.
Local developer Steve Sypher sued his neighbors  87 to be exact  in east Raleighs Woodcrest subdivision.

He wanted to remove a decades-old covenant, tied to his properties as well as his neighbors, that restricts the lands use.

In a recent decision handed down in Wake County Superior Court, he lost.

He must now shelve city-approved plans to build 12 four-story townhouses across two lots  about nine-tenths of an acre  at 524 and 528 Barksdale Drive in this historically single-family neighborhood.

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The covenant is applicable, Judge Warren McSweeney said in the 3-page decision.

The covenant, he wrote, has not been extinguished by the North Carolina Marketable Title Act, which helps clear old claims and defects from property titles.

If plaintiff were to proceed with the development in violation of the declaration, irreparable harm would result.

Signs protesting proposed townhomes dot Barksdale Drive in the Woodcrest neighborhood of Raleigh, as seen on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The judges decision could reshape Raleighs housing policy debate.

The case was one of several lawsuits sparked by Raleighs 2021 missing middle reforms. Facing a chronic housing shortage, officials loosened zoning rules, incentivizing developers to build denser housing  like duplexes, townhouses and accessory dwelling units  in single-family neighborhoods. But in recent years, these reforms have ended up in court, pitting homeowners against the city and developers, creating uncertainty, delays and increased legal costs.

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On Friday, Sypher said he wont appeal, but hes disappointed. This just furthers Raleighs housing shortfall, he emailed in a statement.

The ultimate effect, he added, is instead of 12 units being available for families at reasonable prices, the properties will now have two much larger houses at significantly higher prices.

For many Woodcrest residents, theyre just relieved that its finally over. Others are pushing the city for text changes that allow for more nuance.

Missing middle shouldnt be a blanketed yes or no issue, said Ann Sun, 48 , who appeared as a defendant in the case.

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In 2012, the designer paid $240,000 for a three-bedroom ranch home on Barksdale Drive, just a few houses down from Syphers lots. Many homeowners purchased houses in the subdivision because of the covenants, she said. In this blue-collar suburb, it served as security on their investments.

At the moment, it feels like a one-size-fits-all agenda, Sun added, but our neighborhoods are all different. [They] need to be evaluated to see what makes sense.

Post-World War II subdivision meets missing middle

In 2023, Sypher, 52, a custom builder who has worked in the area for over 20 years and renovated close to 70 houses in the neighborhood, got the citys green light for his project. But he faced another hurdle: the deeds restrictions.

In 1958, the George Building Co., Woodcrests original developers, recorded in Book 1319 on page 253 of the Wake County Registry: Only detached, single-family, two-and-a-half-story homes allowed.

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To proceed, Sypher needed to get the declaration removed. So, in July 2024, he sued anyone whose property is subject to Woodcrests 1958 covenant: roughly 59 households spread across four streets, totaling 87 defendants (some properties have multiple owners.)

During Raleighs post-World War II housing boom, such declarations were common in the push for suburban sprawl. But Sypher argued it should no longer apply due to the passage of time.

A 2023 North Carolina Supreme Court ruling made it easier to invalidate these covenants.

Andrew Atkins, an attorney with Raleigh law firm Smith Anderson, believes the latest decision wont be the final word. He expects new litigation.

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This area of the law is developing, he said. It will be interesting to see how these nuances play out in the appellate courts.

City remains silent

For its part, the city continues to remain on the sidelines.

The issue regarding the restrictive covenants is a private matter that the city is not involved in, said Julia Milstead, the citys public information officer, in an emailed statement. The city does not enforce restrictive covenants, and they are not considered during the plan review process.

In addition to Syphers case, Hayes Barton residents are trying to overturn the citys second administrative approval for 17 townhouses in one of the citys most historic neighborhoods.

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Raleighs board of adjustment unanimously denied the homeowners appeal to block the revised development plan, which addressed previous concerns about a landscaped buffer zone, Raleigh Forward reported. Theyre expected to appeal the decision.

Separately, residents are also seeking to invalidate the citys broader reforms. Last November, the city asked the N.C. Court of Appeals to have the case dismissed. The appeal is pending.

Triangles Missing Middle housing: Where did it go? What can bring it back?

Missing middle, median income and more: The housing jargon you need to know
CHICAGO (WGN)  Harsh words from US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in west suburban Lombard on Friday as she accused Illinois governor and Chicagos mayor of obstructing ICE agents amid the federal governments deportation efforts.

Noems complaints drew strong rebuke from top Illinois officials and vocal protestors outside of the Aug. 8 press conference, letting the controversial Homeland Security secretary know that she was not welcome.

Hecter Bonaparte is a 42-year-old illegal Mexican alien previously convicted of predatory criminal sexual abuse, Noem said, detailing recent deportations in the Chicago area.

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Family and friends seek assistance as longtime Chicagoan faces deportation

Federal agents, Noem says, are requesting more than 1,600 detainers for violent criminals.

Unfortunately, Chicago and its leadership have only honored 8% of those, Noem said.

Traveling to Illinois to speak about the states deportation efforts, Noem told reporters in west suburban Lombard that state public officials and law enforcement are allegedly hampering ICE removal efforts, with sanctuary city policies that are, in her words, protecting criminals.

We believe over a million people have gone home on their own, Noem said. Theyre being obstructionists when it comes to getting dangerous criminals off the streets. That includes Gov. Pritzker, Mayor Johnson, and others who have worked so hard to protect these dangerous criminals.

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The mayors office fired back in a written statement, saying, in part, In Chicago, we follow the law. We dont harbor criminals, we arrest them. But we will not be a tool for militarized mass deportations.

Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton also criticized Noems expenditure of taxpayer dollars to belittle peaceful and hardworking people, stating, I am disappointed that we, again, need to REDIRECT time, energy, and resources that should be focused on bettering the lives of Illinoisans to instead combat this administrations unrelenting hatred and cruelty.

Judge orders Florida, federal officials to produce Alligator Alcatraz agreements

Stratton scoffed at Noems contention that Homeland Security has 80,000 applicants to join ICE, as the Lt. Governor pointed to $50,000 signing bonuses to join a department thats supposedly turning applicants away.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The latest salmon migration up the Tuolumne River brought cheer to experts who watch over the fish.

Thats because it happened in spring this year on a waterway where fall-run salmon predominate. That diversity could help the species survive amid the debate over how much water should be diverted to farms and cities.

Most of the 1,200 or so spring-run salmon had been born in a Fresno-area hatchery that is part of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. The Tuolumne is a tributary to the larger waterway, as are the Merced and Stanislaus rivers.

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The spring-run strays were found in May in a spawning area near La Grange, after spending two or three years in the Pacific Ocean. It is monitored by the Tuolumnes three main diverters  the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts and San Francisco.

The fish got stuck in an isolated pool where the water would be too warm for laying eggs in September and October, so the partners moved them about 200 feet downstream. Employees of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife did this with a plastic tube about 10 inches in diameter.

A plastic pipe helped move spring-run salmon that got trapped in a too-warm pool at the base of La Grange Dam on the Tuolumne River in May 2025. They were relocated about 200 feet downstream by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with help from water agencies based in Modesto, Turlock and San Francisco.

We were pleasantly surprised by the number of spring-run salmon identified in the Tuolumne River, TID General Manager Brad Koehn said in a July 21 news release, and it was impressive to see the way district staff and state and federal fishery agencies worked together ....

The effort won praise from the Tuolumne River Trust, which has long battled the diverters over water levels.

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These are really beautiful fish, Policy Director Peter Drekmeier said. Theyre not quite mature yet, but theyll be ready to spawn around September.

He spoke at a July 30 meeting of the Stanislaus County Water Advisory Committee. It holds bimonthly sessions on various issues involving surface supplies and wells.

Salmon were moved to a cooler spot for spawning on the Tuolumne River in spring 2025. The river has long had a fall run but got strays from the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Water suppliers had help on the effort from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and consultants at Fishbio.

The fish at issue are chinook salmon, which swim off the Pacific Coast in an arc from California to the Bering Sea. Most of the Tuolumne fish return to spawn from October through December. Their babies head out in spring to repeat the process. The fish contend in both directions with reduced river flows, pollution, nonnative bass and other hazards.

Drekmeier said the Tuolumne had 100,000-plus salmon in the time before dams. It dropped below 1,000 near the end of the 2020-22 drought.

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The Trust says only about 10% of the natural flows are left in such times, and just 20% during average years. The group and its allies have urged at least 40% for all three rivers feeding the San Joaquin.

The diverters have offered a modest boost in reseservoir releases but say anything more would harm their customers. They also have helped fund non-flow measures, such as restoring the gravel beds where salmon lay their eggs. One such project was completed last year in the spot where the spring-run salmon paid their surprise visit. The TRT had a similar project just downstream.

Map of the San Joaquin River Restoration Project area between Friant Dam and the Merced River confluence showing key in-river passage impediments and general location of adult salmon capture and release.

The rescue happened at the foot of La Grange Dam, which has been the eastern end of the salmon range since its 1893 completion. The dam at times has water cascading down its face as part of controlled releases, including this past May. The spring-run salmon got trapped when the flow decreased.

MID and TID store most of their water about two miles upstream in the much larger Don Pedro Reservoir. The releases for salmon happen at La Grange under state and federal rules. San Francisco taps the Tuolumne at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, just inside Yosemite National Park, but sends some down to La Grange for the fish.

Reasons behind the strong spring run

The Tuolumne is monitored with the help of FishBio, a consulting firm with offices in Oakdale and Chico. Andrea Fuller, vice president and senior biologist, cited a few reasons for the strong spring run in the news release.

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One was the very wet 2023, which helped fish get to and from the Pacific. Another was the closure of commercial fishing of adult salmon off California, resulting from the dry 2020-22. The diverters had enough stored water this spring to increase the pulse flow that benefits both departing and returning chinook.

The agencies also credited last years spawning gravel project at La Grange, which also repaired long-ago damage by gold dregers. It was the first of about $80 million in upgrades they plan over a decade, guided by the nonprofit River Partners.

Our commitment to science-based, data-driven measures is making a real difference on the Tuolumne River, MID General Manager Jimi Netniss said in the release.

The San Joaquin River Restoration Program involves the 152-mile stretch between Friant Dam and the Merced River confluence. It had gone dry almost every year because of diversions to farms as far south as Kern County. The program launched in 2008 and is funded by irrigators and state and federal agencies.

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The Fresno Bee reported that 448 returning salmon were counted in June at a monitoring station in Merced County, the most ever for the program. The tally does not include those that hung a left at the Tuolumne River.

The San Joaquin program includes the hatchery that produced most of this years spring run in the Tuolumne. Before being released, these fish have one of their smaller fins clipped off so they can be distinguished from those that hatched naturally. The Tuolumne does not have its own hatchery. The Merced does have one, at Snelling.

Experts say spring-run and fall-run salmon can co-exist on the same river as long as it has enough habitat. This includes restored floodplain forest where young fish get shelter and food while gaining strength for the ocean journey. They are especially extensive in and near Dos Rios Ranch State Park, where the Tuolumne and San Joaquin join.
The North Carolina elections board settled a lawsuit with the Republican Party on Friday, which may ban digital IDs from being used as voter photo identification.

The Republican National Committee sued the NC elections board in an attempt to prevent students and employees at the University of North Carolinas Chapel Hill Campus from voting, WRAL reports.

The university issues digital IDs, which the State Board of Elections had approved for use as voter ID. But in 2024, the Court of Appeals put a stop to the use of these IDs.

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In the lawsuit settlement, the board of elections agreed to only allow the use of digital ID if the state legislature passes a new law providing for it.

The board of elections also approved early voting plans for some counties on Friday, WRAL reports.

In Mecklenburg, voters can cast their ballot as early as September.

Read more here.

WATCH: Council voting on $31 million to resurface hundreds of Charlottes roads
CHEYENNE  The Wyoming Legislatures Select Committee on Gaming discussed a potential bill Thursday that, among other things, would give more authority to cities and counties over whether to allow new gambling operations to open in their area.

Stakeholders representing Wyoming counties, municipalities and the horse racing industry spoke at the meeting, mostly in support, but with some varying opinions on specific details.

The bill draft is a re-creation of House Bill 85, which unanimously passed Wyomings House of Representatives earlier this year but was not introduced for consideration by the Senate.

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This new bill draft has a few changes from HB 85. One is that it requires city, town or county approval for the issuance of a simulcasting permit, which is the broadcast of the horse racing events at off-track betting facilities. It would also grant local authority in determining whether or not to renew or revoke those permits.

It also would repeal the existing 100-mile rule, which prohibits simulcasting within 100 miles of any live horse racing track on a race day.

Matt Murdock, the mayor of Pinedale and president of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, said he supports the local control over issuing these permits.

As you know, 44 of the 47 simulcast permittees (in Wyoming) sit inside municipal borders, so our cities and towns are on the front line of public safety, zoning and community character, he said. Therefore, local governments must have a decisive role in approval, renewal and, when warranted, revocation of every permit.

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There was discussion of including language in the bill draft to address how taxes received from the gambling industry are distributed between municipalities and counties. However, that discussion was largely tabled due to fears there wouldnt be enough time to create clean language that would pass through the Wyoming Legislature; instead, lawmakers prioritized getting this bill draft through first and considering that as a separate bill.

Jerimiah Rieman, executive director of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, said he supports parts of the bill draft, like authorizing more local control, but cannot support it as it is currently written.

His primary issue is with language in the draft that excludes county commissioners from having a say in the issuance of permits if the proposed location is within city limits. As written, it would leave the decision solely up to the city council.

Rieman said these locations should always consider the countys opinion, as sometimes the county is the sole law enforcement in the area, and it would impact their finances, as well.

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Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, who is the sponsor of the bill draft, said it is important that WAM and WCCA stay in conversation on this topic and come to a compromise together.

I doubt its going to be perfect, but weve got to find out what we can live with to improve the situation, he said.

Near the end of Thursdays meeting, representatives from Cowboy Racing spoke. Cowboy Racing is currently constructing the Thunder Plains live horse racing track east of Cheyenne, with plans to begin opening off-track betting facilities in town when that is operational next year.

Affie Ellis, a Cheyenne attorney representing Cowboy Racing, said the company wholly supports bringing in local authority of permit issuance, but sees it as an opportunity that might prevent the company from being successful in the market.

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She said the bill would protect existing businesses and make it harder for a Wyoming-owned business, like Cowboy Racing, to compete with established companies, some based outside of the state.

Ellis also opposed the removal of the 100-mile rule, saying she feels the existing companies have flipped the script on it with the new live horse racing track set to open near Cheyenne in 2026.

Wyoming Horse Racing operates the new Swan Ranch Horse Palace facility that recently opened in Cheyenne. One of its partners, Eugene Joyce, called the 100-mile rule antiquated.

At one point, former Secretary of State and Uinta County resident Karl Allred supported putting the approval of new facilities to a vote of the people in a county or municipality.

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There needs to be a way for the counties to say, We dont want this. And right now, we cant. So that really comes to you guys to give us a vehicle to do that, put it to the voters, he said. Let the county say, Hey, were OK with parimutuel betting, but we dont want the slot machines.

Loretta Kallas, who is the Uinta County attorney but was speaking in a personal capacity, opposed this option, saying the gambling facilities are beneficial in terms of the money they bring to Wyoming from outside the state.

We are not hurting our communities by having these machines. We are benefiting and growing businesses. We are supporting our local economy, and were encouraging small business and the tourist industry, she said. ... Im not discouraging any voting process at any time, but certainly, use objective data in any legislation that you provide.

Ellis did not directly oppose a public vote, but brought up an incident in Louisiana where it was put to a vote and existing gambling companies ran an anti-gambling advertisement campaign to persuade members of the public to prevent new businesses from entering the market.

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The select committee didnt make any decisions on the bill draft Thursday and was scheduled to continue discussions Friday.

The committee also requested the horse racing industry operators get together within the next 30 days and provide some ideas or proposals on mechanisms to manage the growth of historic horse racing terminals.
Walt Disney World cast members are donating thousands of school supplies to the nonprofit organization A Gift for Teaching to support Central Florida teachers.

The donations aim to boost the supplies that teachers use in the classroom, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year.

Disney and A Gift for Teaching have partnered for over 25 years, making a significant impact on the community through initiatives like this.

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Last year, Disney said they donated more than $200,000 in school supplies to the nonprofit.

The supplies sorted and counted at this event will go directly to students and teachers in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, and Polk Counties.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
DNR sues Kittson County sheriff, claiming he unlawfully issued tag for farmer who killed elk originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

State officials are suing a northwestern Minnesota sheriff, claiming he unlawfully created a possession tag for a farmer who shot an elk on his property.

On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources filed a lawsuit against Kittson County Sheriff Matt Vig and the Kittson County Sheriff's Office, alleging that Vig provided the local farmer with a possession tag after he had killed an elk eating crops on his property last winter.

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Per the lawsuit, Vig reportedly told the farmer the tag would allow him to take possession of the animal and avoid any charges.

But in its lawsuit, the DNR notes that elk are considered "wild animals" in the state and possession is illegal without authorization, something only the agency can provide.

"Sheriff Vig has no authority to issue a license or tag for the taking or possession of elk in Minnesota," the lawsuit reads.

Credit: Larry Lamsa, Flickr

The DNR also pointed out that elk numbers in the state are limited, with only a few hundred scattered throughout northwestern Minnesota. Elk hunting is "tightly controlled in Minnesota, with harvest numbers being between five and 20 elk each year over the last decade.

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The agency first became aware of the incident in April after a conservation officer reported it, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit asks the court to bar the sheriffs office from issuing possession tags in the future.

Bring Me The News has reached out to the Kittson County Sheriff's Office for comment.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
(WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man is accused of detonating a bomb by the home of his former supervisor in New Jersey, according to the Department of Justice.

Michael Patrick Takacs, Jr., 43, of Bucks County, faces charges of one count of transporting in interstate commerce an explosive with knowledge and intent that it would intimidate an individual and damage and destroy a building, vehicle, and real personal property; one count of unlawfully transporting explosive materials; and two counts of unlawful possession of an explosive device.

Disgruntled individuals who seek retaliation in such dangerous ways  ways that could have seriously injured not only the victim, but others in the community, cannot be tolerated, acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said. We will continue to support and collaborate with our law enforcement partners, who acted swiftly, yet methodically, in this matter. Violent actors will be brought to justice.

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Prosecutors say Takacs placed the bomb by the victims vehicle, a silver Ford Explorer, parked in a driveway, and then detonated it when he drove by the victims house July 26, around 2:42 a.m.

The explosion caused a debris field that was about 100 feet in diameter, with nails and bolts being flung into the Ford and adjacent homes.

It was learned that the victim used to be Takacss supervisor. He was reportedly fired in May from his place of employment.

By watching surveillance video, prosecutors say investigators were able to watch Takacs arrive in the area in a Jeep, which was later found parked in the area of his home during the investigation. Prosecutors say investigators also learned Takacs bought detonators just weeks before the incident, which also matched the same ones found at the scene.

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There was a screenshot that Takacs took of an online map of the victims residence, as well as a conversation with another person about buying a license plate flipper. Prosecutors say he was not permitted or licensed to make or transport explosives.

Takacs was detained after he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in Camden federal court Thursday.

Takacs faces up to 20 years max in prison, along with a fine of up to $260,000, if he is convicted on all his 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 ABC27.
DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN)  Over a dozen provisional ballots from Dothans municipal election may not be counted because some of the verification forms were incorrectly sealed.

Dothan City Clerk Wendy Shiver tells WDHN that out of the 38 provisional ballots cast in Tuesdays election, 19 votes may not be counted due to an error at one of the precincts. Additionally, after review, another six votes were determined not to be counted by the Houston County Board of Registrars office. This leaves only 13 provisional ballots that may be counted.

Shiver says this is because some of the provisional verification statement forms were sealed in incorrect envelopes at the Wiregrass Recreation Center polling place in District 2.

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On the provisional forms, voters give a reason why they are voting provisionally, often because the voters name does not appear on a voter registration list at a polling place, but they believe they are registered.

These provisional forms are then placed in a special envelope and later turned into the registrars office, where they are inspected. County officials then determine whether the provisional ballots can be counted.

Shiver says that 19 forms from the Wiregrass Recreation Center were placed in the ballot envelope, also known as a PB-1, and may not be legally unsealed. However, the clerks office is researching whether there is a way to access and consider these votes. The clerk has reached out to the Alabama Secretary of States office, but has not heard back.

Shiver previously filed a court order to unseal the provisional PB-2 envelopes, which resulted in the recovery of another missing provisional form from a seperate precinct. This form has been taken to the Houston County Board of Registrars and will be counted.

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Provisional ballots will be counted by the city clerks office in the Dothan City Commission Chambers on Monday, August 11. After this count, the Dothan City Commission will meet and canvass the results.

Stay with WDHN for updates.

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Flights were heavily delayed on Aug. 9 at Sochi Airport in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, amid reports of drone attacks in the region.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 9 that air defenses had shot down 10 drones over Krasnodar Krai.

Russia frequently shuts down airspace over its cities in response to Ukrainian drone attacks, though Kyiv typically refrains from commenting on such operations.

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Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, also known as Rosaviatsiya, closed the airspace over Sochi twice on Aug. 8, with restrictions continuing the next day.

By the morning of Aug. 9, 57 flights had been delayed and another one had been canceled, according to independent outlet Meduza, citing data from a flight-tracking app.

Flight delays lasted for several hours, leading to large crowds forming at Sochi Airport.

The disruption also affected airports in Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Novokuznetsk, and Norilsk, according to the West Siberian Transport Prosecutor's Office, which reported that around 1,000 passengers were left waiting for their flights.

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In July, nearly every day of the month, at least one operating Russian airport was temporarily shut down.

"This hits the morale of the Russian people," Ivan Stupak, a military commentator and former officer of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), told the Kyiv Independent.

"They're used to seeing the war only through YouTube  so they just turn off YouTube, and suddenly it feels like the war is not real. But with what we're doing, we're sending a clear message  the war is very real, and your comfort lies in our hands."

According to Stupak, Ukraine designs drone flight paths to pass within 100150 kilometers (62 to 93 miles) of major airports, forcing Russian air traffic controllers to activate emergency protocols.

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Read also: It hits their psyche hard  Ukraines drones throw Russias airports further into chaos

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Dozens gathered in DeLand for the No Kings protests

Dozens of people gathered in DeLand this morning as part of the No Kings demonstrations to protest the Trump administrations policies.

The protest took place at the intersection of Woodland Boulevard and New York Avenue, where participants played music, held signs and flags, and waved to passing cars.
WACO, Texas (FOX 44)  The Dr Pepper Museum has some special treats prepared for educators at its Back to School Bash!

The Museum is offering free admission to all educators with a valid school ID this Sunday. The event will also share the Museums educational programs and field trip opportunities for the upcoming school year. Special giveaways will be held exclusively for educators!

The Museum also says its monthly educational program, Pop-Up Saturday, will now be part of the Back to School Bash. This is a hands-on program available to all guests with general admission, and features a Back to School portrait activity station for guests to enjoy!

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The Back to School bash will take place from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 300 S 5th Street. All other accompanying guests who are not educators will need to purchase general admission tickets.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Members of the drag community in Rochester are speaking out against an organizations decision to cancel a fundraiser in response to extreme online backlash.

The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester (CAC) originally planned to hold a Drag Bingo event on August 11, which wouldve been hosted by Mrs. Kasha Davis, a contestant from seasons seven of RuPauls Drag Race and season eight of RuPauls Drag Race All Stars. However, amid a string of social media posts and comments, they decided not to move forward with the event.

Mrs. Kasha Davis alter ego, Ed Popil, shared why he believes this decision allows hate to win.

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The negativity that happens online is prominent, Popil said. This is not something new. And so my thought was to continue on and do the event anyways. But the decision was made based on those comments and some other things.

In a Facebook post shared with News 8, one person described why they are against the event, saying, When you host a drag show and invite kids under the banner of a charity that claims to fight sexual abuse and pedophilia, youve crossed a line so severe it undermines your entire organization.

Popil and many others oppose this mindset and believe drag can be inclusive of everyone. He says the event was planned with this in mind.

Drag, as an art form, will have a variety of styles. Some will be appropriate for children and some would not. Just like any other art form, like music or theatre, Popil said.

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The CAC has disabled the commenting feature on their Facebook post announcing the cancellation of Drag Bingo. Popil explained why he believes conversation is crucial in understanding the art form of drag, and sees this move as problematic.

We need to have discussions, Popil said. Theres a place for everyone on this earth, and if you didnt want to attend a drag bingo, all you had to do was not show up. You didnt need to get hateful online.

The CAC of Greater Rochester has released a statement in response to their decision to cancel Drag Bingo:

Over the past week, The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester has been at the center of challenging and emotional conversations following the announcement  and later cancellation  of an event intended to support our mission. We want to begin by acknowledging the pain, anger, and disappointment that many in our community  particularly our LGBTQ+ partners, allies, and supporters  are feeling. Our mission has always been rooted in creating safety, healing, and support for all children and families, including LGBTQ+ youth and communities. The decision to cancel the event was not made lightly. It was based on a number of complex factors and concerns, including the potential for the conversation around the event to overshadow our core focus: the children and families we serve. We serve them with compassion, dignity, and respect. We deeply value the support of individuals and groups who share our commitment to building a safer, more inclusive community. Our events  and those held by others on our behalf  are intended to bring people together in celebration of that mission, never to divide. While harm was never our intent, we recognize that this decision has impacted the trust of many who believed in our commitment to inclusivity. We are committed to promoting a culture where every person who walks through our doors feels welcomed, valued, respected, and accepted  including members of the LGBTQ+ community. We are listening. We are learning. And we are actively engaging with community partners to understand how we can better live out our values. We remain committed to being a place where all children and families  regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background  feel seen, safe, and supported. To everyone who has reached out with care, concern, or feedback: thank you. We will continue to show up for the children who need us most, and work together to build a stronger, more inclusive community. Mary Whittier, Interim CEO of The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester

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West Nile virus cases are ticking up in Utah in multiple counties and workers in various districts are trying to quell this problem. They have amped up efforts to keep people and vulnerable animals safe.

At the Salt Lake Mosquito Abatement District, for example, workers are utilizing an innovative technology to engage in high-tech battles against the bugs. Drones are hitting the skies to fight a deadly airborne pest  the mosquito  that can carry West Nile virus.

This is a modern day approach to fighting one of the worlds most ancient species.

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A three-member team was out Friday morning in this aerial war against the bugs. District manager Ary Faraji said they are using an innovative technology that takes modern state of the art applications to kill mosquitoes, a species of which there are more than 3,600.

Mosquitoes date back hundreds of millions of years  the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It is a bit odd an insect that has a lifespan of less than 60 days can create so much attention and demand such mitigation efforts.

Sam Wilson, vector control technician for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, operates a drone to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

According to the Utah Department of Health, West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East.

The agency reported that the first case appeared in the U.S. in 1999 and in Utah in August 2003.

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The virus can cause disease in humans, birds, horses, and some other mammals.

While most people do not develop any symptoms, those who do become ill experience headaches, body aches, joint pain and stomach disorders.

The fight against the virus

Fish swim inside a tank in the fish hatchery at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. The Mosquitofish are free to people within the district to take for their ornamental ponds to be used to control mosquitoes, as Mosquitofish eat mosquito larvae in ponds. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Faraji said it is a constant battle. Mosquitoes are highly adaptive and hungry, adding that people on the higher benches of Salt Lake City seldom realize they are vulnerable.

In northern Utah, the virus in pools has been prevalent  although no human cases have been detected as of Aug. 2.

A drone touches down after spraying Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

But here is where the mosquitoes carrying the virus have been reported so far in various pools of where they gather:

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Bear River, 17

Davis County, 11

Salt Lake County, 10

Utah County, 23

Year to date, as an example, the Davis County Mosquito Abatement District had tested 2,585 pools, with nearly 225,000 mosquitoes tested. Of those, 11 tested positive.

In the past week, in this intense surveillance effort, 367 pools of mosquitoes were examined that included 33,059 of the pests. Eight tested positive in Davis County.

There is no way to protect yourself 100% against the bite of a mosquito or possibly getting the virus, but there are some ways to mitigate it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said to use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and treat your clothing and gear with repellent when you are outdoors.

Reed Miles, left, and Sam Wilson, right, vector control technicians for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, and Brad Sorensen, aerial operations supervisor for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, center, operate drones to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Ben Knecht, vector control technician for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, cleans moss and transfers young fish, or fry, from the tank inside the fish hatchery at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Mosquitofish are offered for free to district residents for their ornamental ponds, as the fish eat mosquito larvae. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Ben Knecht, a vector control technician for the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, cleans moss and transfers young fish, or fry, from the tank inside the fish hatchery at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Mosquitofish are offered for free to district residents for their ornamental ponds, as the fish eat mosquito larvae. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Julia Shroyer, a vector control technician for the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, cleans moss and transfers young fish, or fry, from the tank inside the fish hatchery at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Mosquitofish are offered for free to district residents for their ornamental ponds, as the fish eat mosquito larvae. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

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Sam Wilson, left, and Reed Miles, right, vector control technicians for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, operate drones to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Brad Sorensen, aerial operations supervisor for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, carries buckets of Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, to be put into a drone which will be sprayed over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Brad Sorensen, aerial operations supervisor for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, pours Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, into a drone which will be sprayed over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Brad Sorensen, aerial operations supervisor for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, left, helps Reed Miles, vector control technician for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, right, operate a drone to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

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Reed Miles and Sam Wilson, vector control technicians for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, operate drones to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

A drone touches down after spraying Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Sam Wilson, left, and Reed Miles, right, vector control technicians for Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, operate drones to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

A Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District employee operates a drone to spray Natular G30, a spinosad-based mosquito larvicide that controls mosquito larvae, over the wetland habitats near the Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

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The illegal immigrant who drove an SUV head-on into a sedan carrying a young mother and her 11-year-old daughter, killing both, had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, New Jersey officials revealed this week.

Raul Luna-Perez had also been spotted speeding in the moments just before the fatal July 26 crash, and eyewitnesses told cops they watched his SUV pass four other vehicles before making the fifth, and fatal, attempt.

Dayanara Cortes and Maria Pleitez were U.S. citizens, but will be buried in El Salvador. Forevermissed.com

Luna-Perez, 43, was driving more than 60 miles an hour down a residential street in Lakewood when his Dodge Durango rammed into 42-year-old Maria Pleitezs Nissan Sentra, killing her in an instant, investigators said this week.

Cops say moments before the crash, Raul Luna-Perez was driving 60 miles per hour on a residential road in Lakewood. Y Smith/TLS

Marias daughter, Dayanara Cortes, 11, died moments after arriving at a nearby hospital.

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The mother and daughter were on their way to Wawa for milkshakes when they were struck, Pleitezs niece, Maria del Carmen Pleitez, 39, told The Post.

Dayanaras friend, also an 11-year-old girl, was in the car with them but survived. She has not been identified by police.

A woman who was with Luna-Perez at the time of the crash was also injured, but was expected to recover.

Luna-Perez is Mexican, but authorities cant pinpoint when, how, or where he entered the U.S. Homeland Security

Luna-Perez has been illegally living in Red Bank, N.J., since early 2023, federal sources told The Post. Its unclear when and where he crossed into the US.

The suspect was free to drive despite two DUI arrests in March and April and a domestic violence arrest in 2023, according to records.

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Luna-Perezs charges were upgraded to two counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of strict liability vehicular homicide Thursday after police received the results of his bloodwork, prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer confirmed.

A wake for Cortes and Pleitez drew more than 150 mourners. Leonardo Munoz

Last week, Luna-Perez was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of assault by auto.

Luna-Perez is back in a county jail after spending the last week in an ICE detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, said Billhimer, who plans to keep the accused behind bars until trial.

Thanks to the cooperation of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Luna-Perez has been returned to Ocean County to face these upgraded charges, Billhimer said in a statement.

His return sends a clear message that our federal partners share in our mission to hold those individuals that commit serious crimes accountable  regardless of their immigration status.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4)  Alpine School District held a ribbon cutting on Friday to celebrate their brand-new middle school. Sage Canyon Middle School will be Eagle Mountains newest and second intermediate school.

On Friday, August 8th, Eagle Mountain welcomed its second intermediate school, and officially opened Sage Canyon Middle School, days before the 2025-2026 school year begins.

Back to school: When is the first day of school for Utahs school districts?

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Sage Canyon is open to 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, with students coming from Black Ridge, Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Hidden Hollow, and Pony Express Elementary schools.

Brian Jolley will be the inaugural principal of Sage Canyon Middle School. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, he said This school will be a place where students can learn and grow. We are committed to each student, every day, and helping them become better people than they were the day before.

An incoming Sage Canyon 8th-grader, Charlie Rowland, cut the ribbon. He said, It makes me really happy to cut the ribbon because I already love Sage Canyon. I always asked Mr. Jolley for photos. Now I get to go here.

Sage Canyon Middle School Ribbon Cutting. Courtesy: Alpine School District

Rowland will join approximately 1,550 students enrolled at Sage Canyon this year. Alpine School District officials say that many of the students would have otherwise been attending Frontier Middle School or Cedar Valley High School. This new middle school will help relieve overcrowding at those schools.

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Between 2020 and 2024, Eagle Mountain has seen their population grow by 46.79%, according to a demographic study. Additionally, approximately 40% of Eagle Mountains population are school-aged minors, between the ages of 0 and 17.

That same study estimates that Eagle Mountain will grow by 23.31% between 2024 and 2029. Julie King, Alpine School Board president, said, We live in a community marked by growth. Growth in numbers, yes, but also in ambition, vision, and care.

King also said, This school will stand as a visible, lasting commitment to you, our students, and to every student who will walk these halls in the years to come.

Notably, Alpine School District will be split into three smaller school districts in 2027. Proposition 14, which was voted into effect in November of 2024, partially cited overcrowding and rapid growth in schools as a reason for the split.

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Sage Canyon and other Eagle Mountain schools will be part of a new school district that will also serve students in Fairfield, Cedar Fort, Saratoga Springs, and other areas.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  With back-to-school around the corner and hot deals on the table, stores are gearing up for the tax-free weekend in East Texas.

Texas hosts sales tax holiday Aug. 8-10 for school supplies, clothing

Theyre buying their back-to-school supplies, apparel and footwear, Tyler Academy Store Director Randy Smiley said. Its just a fun day for us here at Academy.

Academy is one hot spot for Tyler shoppers, Smiley said Friday started pretty slow, but as soon as it hit lunchtime, hundreds of shoppers began entering their stores. He expects even more people to come through their doors this weekend.

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At Broadway Square Mall in Tyler, several businesses said they picked up just as much traffic on the first day of the tax-free weekend as well.

We are seeing about, I must say, roughly about 600 customers a day, Journeys District Training Manager Rhya Rollings said.

According to Rollings, backpacks are on the top of many shoppers lists this year and have been selling out the fastest. She added that people are coming from all over East Texas to the Rose City to get their last-minute back-to-school gear.

A lot of schools are going back, so we are seeing people from Whitehouse, some people are coming all the way from Longview, Rollings said.

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Henderson County Judge speaks out against senate bill limiting local taxes

With as many people as theyre seeing on day one, the Tyler Buckle manager-in-training said their employees are preparing for even more people over the weekend.

We had over like 300 pairs of jeans come in just today, and so our team is like working crazy just to get all of those out on the floor, Buckle manager-in-training Grace Jiles said.

Theyre all preparing for the big crowds brought in by the special weekend deals.

Be a little bit patient because it can be pretty hectic and crazy, but youre going to get that tax-free weekend deal, Jiles said. I mean, come on in.

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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EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP)  The Easthampton Police Department is seeking the publics help locating a 96-year-old woman.

Chicopee businesses hold fundraiser for fire victims

Police said that Pauline Lyons wandered from her home on Saturday morning and was last seen in the area of Clark Lane and Torrey Street. She was wearing purple pajamas with white polka dots.

Courtesy of the Easthampton Police Department.

If you see Pauline or have any information regarding her whereabouts, you are urged to immediately contact 413-527-1212.

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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ELKHART  Kristen Edson has been hired to lead Elkhart Public Library as executive director.

Edson is currently serving as director at Livonia Public Library in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. She earned her masters degree in library and information science from Wayne State University. She will begin her work as executive director in Elkhart on Oct. 1

The seven-member Elkhart Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire Edson at the conclusion of a national search. Bradbury Miller Associates assisted the board with the process.

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The Board of Trustees is extremely pleased with the selection of Kristen for this important position, said James W. Rieckhoff, the president of the board. Elkhart Public Library is in a strong position with our offerings of materials, information services and programs. The librarys next leader must recognize these strengths and position us effectively to deal with future opportunities and concerns we all know will come.

In her professional biography, Edson confirms her commitment to enhancing library services through technology, policy development, and strategic partnerships.

Her work experience includes a supervisory role in Chicago Public Librarys History and Sciences Department, the position of Central Library Manager with Bossier Parish Libraries in Louisiana and Deputy Director of East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries also in Louisiana.

Edson succeeds Lisa Guedea Carreno, who left EPL in January 2025 after more than 10 years as executive director. Mary Beth Schlabach, EPLs Director of Public Services, has served as interim leader since February and continues in her position.

We on the Board of Trustees are grateful for the efforts put in by Mary Beth and the entire staff during this transition period, Rieckhoff said. Elkhart Public Library is a beloved and trusted institution in our community, and the staff has many reasons to feel proud of its current standing.
El Paso Chamber wants Fort Bliss, airport to stay in local congressional district

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Chamber is urging state lawmakers to keep three critical community assets  Fort Bliss, the new Veterans Health Care Center and the El Paso International Airport  within the current Texas 16th Congressional District.

Under the Republicans proposed redistricting map, the airport and Fort Bliss would be moved into U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales 23rd Congresssional District. That district stretches from East El Paso to San Antonio.

City Council warns Texas redistricting map could hurt El Paso

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In a letter sent to key state legislators, the Chamber highlighted the economic, military, health care, and transportation significance of these assets to the El Paso region. It emphasized the importance of continued representation in a locally based, urban district.

8.4.25-El-Paso-Chamber-on-Mid-Decade-RedistrictingDownload

Fort Bliss is not only the largest employer in our community, its a pillar of El Pasos identity, supporting over 158,000 individuals and contributing an estimated $25.7 billion annually to the Texas economy, said Ricardo Mora, president and CEO of the El Paso Chamber. The VA Health Care Center and El Paso International Airport are similarly vital to our economy and quality of life. Keeping them in the 16th District ensures cohesive and responsive representation for the stakeholders they serve.

The Chamber said its position is grounded in the need for cohesive, locally based representation that reflects the economic and civic fabric of El Paso, it said in a news release.

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Fort Bliss, the VA Health Care Center, and the El Paso International Airport are not only physically located within the city, but they are also tightly interwoven into the daily lives of its residents, businesses, and institutions. Keeping them within Texas 16th Congressional District ensures they remain under the representation of a member of Congress who lives, works, and governs from the same community they serve, the Chamber said in its news release.

The Chamber also underscored its historic support for these institutions  from advocating for Fort Bliss during past Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds to championing airport modernization efforts since the 1960s.

These assets are interconnected, said Elizabeth OHara, chair of the El Paso Chamber Board of Directors. They form the backbone of our regional mobility, workforce, and health care infrastructure. Ensuring they are represented in the same congressional district strengthens our ability to advocate for the coordinated policies and investments that our community deserves.

The Chamber said it is urging lawmakers to recognize El Pasos unique urban identity and the critical importance of preserving continuity in representation for its core assets.

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A district rooted in El Paso is better positioned to advocate for the integrated policies, federal investments, and regional collaboration that drive the citys growth and competitiveness, the Chamber said.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Amid rising electric bills, states are under pressure to insulate regular household and business ratepayers from the costs of feeding Big Tech's energy-hungry data centers.

It's not clear that any state has a solution and the actual effect of data centers on electricity bills is difficult to pin down. Some critics question whether states have the spine to take a hard line against tech behemoths like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta.

But more than a dozen states have begun taking steps as data centers drive a rapid build-out of power plants and transmission lines.

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That has meant pressuring the nation's biggest power grid operator to clamp down on price increases, studying the effect of data centers on electricity bills or pushing data center owners to pay a larger share of local transmission costs.

Rising power bills are something legislators have been hearing a lot about. Its something weve been hearing a lot about. More people are speaking out at the public utility commission in the past year than Ive ever seen before, said Charlotte Shuff of the Oregon Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group. Theres a massive outcry.

Not the typical electric customer

Some data centers could require more electricity than cities the size of Pittsburgh, Cleveland or New Orleans, and make huge factories look tiny by comparison. That's pushing policymakers to rethink a system that, historically, has spread transmission costs among classes of consumers that are proportional to electricity use.

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A lot of this infrastructure, billions of dollars of it, is being built just for a few customers and a few facilities and these happen to be the wealthiest companies in the world, said Ari Peskoe, who directs the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard University. I think some of the fundamental assumptions behind all this just kind of breaks down.

A fix, Peskoe said, is a can of worms" that pits ratepayer classes against one another.

Some officials downplay the role of data centers in pushing up electric bills.

Tricia Pridemore, who sits on Georgias Public Service Commission and is president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, pointed to an already tightened electricity supply and increasing costs for power lines, utility poles, transformers and generators as utilities replace aging equipment or harden it against extreme weather.

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The data centers needed to accommodate the artificial intelligence boom are still in the regulatory planning stages, Pridemore said, and the Data Center Coalition, which represents Big Tech firms and data center developers, has said its members are committed to paying their fair share.

But growing evidence suggests that the electricity bills of some Americans are rising to subsidize the massive energy needs of Big Tech as the U.S. competes in a race against China for artificial intelligence superiority.

Data and analytics firm Wood Mackenzie published a report in recent weeks that suggested 20 proposed or effective specialized rates for data centers in 16 states it studied arent nearly enough to cover the cost of a new natural gas power plant.

In other words, unless utilities negotiate higher specialized rates, other ratepayer classes  residential, commercial and industrial  are likely paying for data center power needs.

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Meanwhile, Monitoring Analytics, the independent market watchdog for the mid-Atlantic grid, produced research in June showing that 70%  or $9.3 billion  of last year's increased electricity cost was the result of data center demand.

States are responding

Last year, five governors led by Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro began pushing back against power prices set by the mid-Atlantic grid operator, PJM Interconnection, after that amount spiked nearly sevenfold. They warned of customers paying billions more than is necessary.

PJM has yet to propose ways to guarantee that data centers pay their freight, but Monitoring Analytics is floating the idea that data centers should be required to procure their own power.

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In a filing last month, it said that would avoid a "massive wealth transfer from average people to tech companies.

At least a dozen states are eyeing ways to make data centers pay higher local transmission costs.

In Oregon, a data center hot spot, lawmakers passed legislation in June ordering state utility regulators to develop new  presumably higher  power rates for data centers.

The Oregon Citizens Utility Board says there is clear evidence that costs to serve data centers are being spread across all customers  at a time when some electric bills there are up 50% over the past four years and utilities are disconnecting more people than ever.

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New Jerseys governor signed legislation last month commissioning state utility regulators to study whether ratepayers are being hit with unreasonable rate increases to connect data centers and to develop a specialized rate to charge data centers.

In some other states, like Texas and Utah, governors and lawmakers are trying to avoid a supply-and-demand crisis that leaves ratepayers on the hook  or in the dark.

Doubts about states protecting ratepayers

In Indiana, state utility regulators approved a settlement between Indiana Michigan Power Co., Amazon, Google, Microsoft and consumer advocates that set parameters for data center payments for service.

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Kerwin Olsen, of the Citizens Action Council of Indiana, a consumer advocacy group, signed the settlement and called it a pretty good deal that contained more consumer protections than what state lawmakers passed.

But, he said, state law doesn't force large power users like data centers to publicly reveal their electric usage, so pinning down whether they're paying their fair share of transmission costs "will be a challenge.

In a March report, the Environmental and Energy Law Program at Harvard University questioned the motivation of utilities and regulators to shield ratepayers from footing the cost of electricity for data centers.

Both utilities and states have incentives to attract big customers like data centers, it said.

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To do it, utilities  which must get their rates approved by regulators  can offer special deals to favored customers like a data center and effectively shift the costs of those discounts to regular ratepayers, the authors wrote. Many state laws can shield disclosure of those rates, they said.

In Pennsylvania, an emerging data center hot spot, the state utility commission is drafting a model rate structure for utilities to consider adopting. An overarching goal is to get data center developers to put their money where their mouth is.

Were talking about real transmission upgrades, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, commission chairman Stephen DeFrank said. And thats what you dont want the ratepayer to get stuck paying for."

___

Follow Marc Levy on X at https://x.com/timelywriter.
A further 11 deaths resulting from malnutrition have been reported in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

That brings the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 212, including 98 children.

At least 38 people have also been killed and 491 injured as a result of Israeli military activity over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.

Deaths continue to rise amid reports that a deadline of 7 October 2025 has been set for residents to evacuate Gaza City following the announcement of a controversial Israeli plan to take control of the area.

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The new plan, approved by the Israeli security cabinet and detailed on Friday, lists five "principles" for ending the war in Gaza, with one being "taking security control of the territory".

Reports in Israeli media say the plan initially focuses on taking full control of Gaza City, relocating its estimated one million residents further south.

The plan has been met with criticism from world leaders as well as fierce opposition from some within Israel, including from military officials and the families of hostages still being held in Gaza who fear for their safety.

Israel has rejected criticism, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying condemnation would "not weaken our resolve".

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The US has been less critical - with Donald Trump saying earlier in the week that it was "pretty much up to Israel" whether to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media reports that the government has set a two-month deadline before a military siege of Gaza City to begin on 7 October 2025, the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the war.

Within those two months, Israel plans to forcibly displace the estimated one million Palestinians living in Gaza City, roughly half the number of people living in the entirety of the territory.

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Gaza City is the capital of the Gaza Strip. Its pre-war population was estimated at around 600,000 people, but that number has grown significantly throughout the war as Israel's military campaign has pushed Palestinians into the city.

Many living there now have already been displaced multiple times through the war and are living in tents or the ruins of buildings that have been partially destroyed by Israeli air strikes.

Israeli media reports that the military would move the population towards al-Mawasi, a vast tent encampment in the south of Gaza, already home to thousands of Palestinians suffering from an absence of basic facilities and sanitation.

The plan is being widely condemned by humanitarian agencies and indeed many of Israel's allies for its potential to add untold human suffering onto the shoulders of an already exhausted and beleaguered people.

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The move to take control of Gaza City will further complicate Palestinians' ability to meet their basic needs for survival. Famine is already playing out throughout the Gaza Strip, with a UN-backed global food security experts saying the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out".

The UN's humanitarian agency said on Friday that the amount of aid entering Gaza continues to be "far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs".

Israel has denied there is starvation in Gaza and accused UN agencies of not picking up aid at the borders and delivering it.

The UN's humanitarian agency said it continues to see impediments and delays as it tries to collect aid from Israeli-controlled border zones.

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Challenges in distributing aid persist as deaths of people trying to get food continue to be reported.

Gaza's health ministry said on Saturday that 21 people had been killed trying to get aid in the last 24 hours.

The UN reported earlier this month that 1,373 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since late May, when a new US and Israeli-backed organisation Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) set up aid distribution sites.

The UN said most were killed by the Israeli military, with 859 killed near GHF sites and 514 along the routes of food convoys. The GHF denies the UN's figure.

Israel has accused Hamas of instigating chaos near the aid centres and says its forces do not intentionally open fire on civilians.

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Israel does not allow the BBC and other news organisations to report independently from Gaza, making it difficult to verify.

In its announcement of the plan to conquer Gaza City, Israel's prime minister's office said it will provide "humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones", but did not provide further information of what that might entail.

Like previous forced displacements throughout the war, the expulsion of Palestinians will likely see chaotic and dangerous scenes of families travelling by foot, by cart or by overloaded vehicles.

It has been reported that after the deadline of 7 October 2025, Israel's military will lay siege to Gaza City and escalate its attacks. Hamas has promised to fiercely resist Israel's attempt to conquer the city.

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We may also see similar scenes to what the military has done in Rafah, in Gaza's south, and in northern towns, which were forcibly evacuated before being almost totally levelled in a systematic method.

If there are Hamas fighters holding Israeli hostages in Gaza City, then this period would prove the most deadly.

It is understood that Hamas has given orders to captors to kill hostages should Israeli military troops approach close to hiding locations.

An estimated 20 Israeli hostages remain alive in Gaza, some of whom are believed to be held around Gaza City.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

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Since then, more than 61,300 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli military operations.
ELKHART  A man has been charged in a downtown Elkhart murder dating back to March.

Christopher, J. Yotter, 20, is charged with the April 5 murder of Douglas Morgan.

According to an affidavit, police were flagged down at 7:08 a.m. April 6 for a man found covered in blood and unconscious in the parking lot of an office building in the 400 block of South Main Street in Elkhart.

The victim, Douglas Morgan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The Elkhart County Homicide Unit arrested Christopher J. Yotter in connection to the incident.

Surveillance footage shows Morgan at 10:30 p.m. April 5, pant less, thrashing and rolling around, the affidavit reads, noting also that both of his legs appear to be covered in blood.

Later, at 11:11 a.m., the footage shows an individual matching the description of Yotter, walking south in the 300 block of Main Street. Two minutes later, the same individual enters the parking lot where Morgan was later found.

A witness claimed to have also seen Morgan thrashing around and not wearing pants and claimed to have also seen another individual but was unable to prove information on the other individual.

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Police also found portions of a wooden rod and parts of broken concrete sewer pipes around Morgans body. Footage showed Yotter around 10:40 p.m. in the 500 block of South Second Street carrying a stick and possible concrete and passing through the nearby construction area.

According to an autopsy report, Morgan died of multiple lacerations, contusions and abrasions to the head.

Police say during the course of Yotters arrest at Faith Mission, admitted to police that he killed someone by the Lerner Theatre.

On Thursday, Yotter had an initial hearing before Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno where he pleaded not guilty, was appointed a public defender and received upcoming court dates. His jury trial is set for Nov. 3

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NICK C. HUNSBERGER, II and AMANDA B. FAHLBECK

Parents charged in the death of their baby in 2022 will now not go to court until at least January. 2026

Nick C. Hunsberger and Amanda Fahlbeck are charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Level 1 felony. Hunsbergers jury trial was scheduled for Oct. 28 but has since been canceled temporarily.

On May 8, 2022, Fahlbeck contacted police to report her 2-week-old son nonresponsive at her home in the 28000 block of C.R. 23, Goshen. Paramedics responded, but the baby boy was declared deceased later at the hospital.

The baby and a sibling had slept in bed with the father, Hunsberger, and Fahlbeck, told police that the baby was unresponsive when she awakened at 8 a.m., per the affidavit.

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Fahlbeck also told police shed lost another child previously due to co-sleeping, a probable cause affidavit reads.

At the hospital, police noted that both parents appeared intoxicated so they issued blood tests and found amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and norfentanyl in their systems, the affidavit states.

Hunsberger reportedly said hed awakened Fahlbeck around 2 a.m. frantic about the child.

Police said in their report they also found bags of fentanyl and meth.

An autopsy of the baby identified factors of death including preterm birth, cord blood positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and morphine; drug abuse and tobacco dependence by the mother; and complex sleep surface sharing. The child was also noted to have Naloxone in his blood at the time of death. Both parents had prescriptions at the house for the drug, police reported.

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During a joint pretrial conference on Thursday in Elkhart County Superior Court 3, Hunsberger and Fahlbecks trials were continued, but a date was not determined.

Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Teresa Cataldo said her court has not yet begun setting dates for 2026 yet so instead she scheduled a status conference for the cases for Oct. 9. The court will determine a new jury trial date then. The cases were listed as priority setting before and will likely retain that status with the new jury trial dates.

KUORON K. SAUNDERS

A man charged with burglary pleaded guilty to the charge in Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday.

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Kuoron K. Saunders, 20, is accused of the burglary of a home in the 300 block of Dale Street on July 4. On Thursday, Saunder, who was charged with Count 1, burglary with a deadly weapon, a Level 2 felony; and Count 2, theft, a Level 5 felony; pleaded guilty to burglary, a Level 4 felony, as part of an agreement with the state.

The victim reported four masked individuals had broken into his house and stolen his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun from his bedroom while he was away, based on home video surveillance.

The victim told police that he recognized one of the individuals as Saunders, as they had previously been friends. The victim then identified him through a lineup and also showed police a Snapchat photo of Saunders in the same outfit with a black ski mask.

Following a shooting at River Run Apartments on Aug. 9 where a lead indicated Saunders was reportedly involved, police said they seized his phone and also found photos of what they believed was him posing with the stolen Smith & Wesson handgun. There were also many photos of him in the same outfit from the crime scene, police said, including between July 3 and Aug. 6, 136 pictures of guns, 83 pictures in the same outfit, 48 Snapchat messages about guns and 40 pictures of him in a ski mask, some taken the day of the burglary.

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On Thursday, Saunders pleaded guilty to a lesser included offense in the case. With his plea of guilty for burglary, a Level 4 felony, the state will dismiss count 2, theft, a Level 5 felony.

Saunders sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

ESTEBAN Z. MARTINEZ, III

A man is being charged as a result of injuries sustained in a crash back in January.

The crash took place Jan. 21. Esteban Z. Martinez, 30, of Nappanee, was driving west on C.R. 40 west of C.R. 7 in a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe when his vehicle went left of center.

It continued in the wrong lane of traffic striking a 2013 Ford Focus driven by Calvin Dean Bontrager, 37, of Mishawaka.

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According to Elkhart County deputies, Martinez was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital. Bontrager signed off on the scene but later went to the Elkhart General Hospital on his own for complaints of right leg pain. His passenger, Patricia Buck, 62, of Mishawaka, was transported to the Elkhart General Hospital by medics for complaints of pain.

Now, Martinez is being charged for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury to the other two people involved in the crash.

On Thursday, Martinez had an initial hearing, where he pleaded not guilty and was appointed a public defender. His pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 11, trial status conference for Oct. 9 and jury trial for Nov. 3.

DAVID C. JUAREZ

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A man accused of robbing a Dunlap jewelry store pleaded guilty in Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday.

David C. Juarez is accused of a robbery at Kay Jewelers, 4028 Elkhart Road, on Oct. 29, 2023. During Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday, Juarez told Judge Michael Christofeno that he wanted his public defender Bridgette Faulkner to withdraw and Faulkner agreed to withdraw. Juarez learned from the judge though that he couldnt represent himself if his competency was undetermined. Juarez had been accused of being uncooperative during recent competency evaluations but said that was not his intention.

I have no problems cooperating, Judge, but (the doctor is) not asking questions from a medical standpoint, hes asking questions about an ongoing criminal investigation, Juarez said. How does that make any sense?

Police were told by witnesses that a man came in and threw something at a glass display case at Kay Jewelers and then took a large rock and smashed a smaller case and stole $19,000 worth of jewelry from it on Oct. 29, 2023. Witnesses also claimed the man was yelling Dont shoot, dont shoot, during the incident, and that they got on the ground fearful that someone would shoot them.

Using surveillance footage, police were able to find a car matching the appearance of a vehicle they noted entering and leaving the parking lot around the same time but it had no license plate.

Police received information from Lebanon Police Department and Menomonee Falls Village Police in Menomonee Falls Village on Nov. 13 claiming that David Juarez had been involved in similar thefts from Kay Jewelers in their towns. He was arrested following a vehicle pursuit in Lebanon. Juarez pleaded guilty to the Wisconsin robbery in 2022.

The vehicle stopped by Lebanon police matched the description of the vehicle theyd noted on surveillance footage, and the Menomonee Falls Village had also noted a similar vehicle, all without a license plate, police stated. Police said they found the license plate and confirmed the vehicle was registered to Juarez.

On Thursday, Juarez pleaded guilty to Count 1, robbery, a Level 5 felony, and in exchange, another case of his will be dismissed with prejudice.

Juarezs sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS

A mans jury trial for an accusation of arson was continued on Thursday.

Christopher Williams, 38, is charged with arson, a Level 4 felony, and intimidation, a Level 6 felony, accused of burning down his ex-girlfriends house.

Police and firefighters responded to a fire in the 700 block of Hawthorne Street in Elkhart at 10:16 a.m. Sept. 8, 2024.

People at the home prior to the fire said that Williams, 38, came by around 9:25 a.m. and starting moving items out of the home, according to a probable cause affidavit. His recent ex had allegedly told police that she was getting back together with her ex-boyfriend. While on-site, Williams allegedly threatened her that if she wasnt at the house in 10 minutes, hed burn it down, and also told others at the house not to leave or hed shoot them, the affidavit reads. Williams left, but then those at the home said they found the master bathroom on fire and called 911. The interior of the home was a total loss.

Law enforcement found the black SUV Williams was said to be driving using the FLOCK camera system, heading into Michigan. Williams was contacted and requested counsel.

The defense counsel requested of the court a continuance of the jury trial because they needed a witness they didnt yet have. The prosecution explained that their objection was in large part related to the fact Williams was not actively in Elkhart County custody and getting people into custody can be difficult to schedule.

Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno said there are also two murder trials already scheduled for the date he would schedule him, from Aug. 18 to Nov. 3, but Williams, when asked, said he also wanted to continue the trial so the judge agreed.
Two-party control of U.S. politics runs contrary to the vision of the Constitutions framers. (Douglas Rissing/Getty Images)

As dissatisfaction with the two-party system grows in the United States, the idea of an alternative, however unlikely, gains traction. Elon Musks recent call for an America Party may be unserious, but it speaks to something real.

Surveys consistently show that millions of American voters feel they lack real choices. They believe the two major parties dont reflect their values, and they are exhausted by the constant polarization.

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The bigger question isnt whether Musk succeeds. As a public policy scholar, I think its why the U.S. political system is so hostile to new voices and ideas in the first place.

Why third parties rarely succeed

If he follows through on his idea, can Musks America Party actually take off? Probably not. History isnt on his side.

Thats because the U.S. political system is structurally rigged against third parties, with deeply entrenched legal and procedural barriers that make it nearly impossible for new parties to gain traction.

In most states, getting a new party on the ballot is a formidable task. It involves gathering thousands of signatures, meeting stringent deadlines and complying with obscure filing requirements.

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Even if a party gets on the ballot in one state, replicating that effort nationally is extremely difficult. Each state has different laws, deadlines, signature requirements and legal demands.

Ballot access, campaign finance, news media coverage and election rules overwhelmingly favor the existing Republican and Democratic parties. Even the Federal Election Commission is designed for partisan deadlock, with an even number of members from each of the two major parties.

In a 2025 article on election administration in America, my colleagues and I analyzed all 50 state election codes. We found widespread legal and administrative barriers that systematically exclude independents and minor parties.

In 45 states, only major party members can serve on election boards, local or state bodies responsible for overseeing the administration of elections. In 27 states, judges must be registered with a major party. Campaign finance laws, access to voter data and registration rules also tilt the field to the major parties.

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These structural barriers exist in both red and blue states. We found no statistical correlation between partisan leanings and these restrictions. Thats telling. It suggests that both parties, regardless of their ideological differences, are united in protecting their duopoly.

The founders warning

This entrenched two-party control runs contrary to the vision of the U.S. Constitutions framers, who intentionally excluded political parties from the founding document.

This was no accident. The founders viewed parties as factions that had no legitimate place in the republic.

George Washington in 1796 warned that parties would inflame animosity and that the nation could not do enough to protect itself from this. John Adams worried that a division of the republic into two great parties  is to be dreaded as the great political evil. Likewise, Alexander Hamilton feared parties as the most fatal disease of government and hoped America could dispense of such groups.

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An appetite for alternatives

Enter Elon Musk. His suggestion to create the America Party taps directly into a growing national frustration with the two-party entrenchment.

Public trust in major political parties is at historic lows, particularly among young voters and independents, who do not identify with any major party and may register as no party preference, unaffiliated or independent depending on state laws.

Despite Musk being widely unpopular, prone to conspiracy theories and exhibiting erratic and unpredictable politics, his proposal resonates with many Americans. An October 2024 poll found that 58% of U.S. adults say a third party is needed.

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Additionally, the number of American voters identifying as politically independent continues to exceed each of the major political parties.

What do Americans really want?

Even if Musk never follows through, the idea of a new party highlights how undemocratic U.S. elections have become. It opens the door to conversations about reforms that give independents and third parties a fair shot and reflects the growing demand for alternatives to the two-party system.

Voters are frustrated by limited choices that fail to capture their full range of political views.

There are models to learn from. Most democracies use a nonpartisan election administration and dont let political parties control the rules.

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In the U.S., partisans referee contests in which members of their party directly compete. That conflict of interest would be unacceptable in business or sports. So why is it tolerated in elections?

Structural reforms and designs have been implemented to varying degrees in the U.S. with a goal of making democracy more responsive, fair, transparent and representative.

Reforms such as open primaries, which allow voters of any party affiliation to participate in any partys primary election, proportional representation in places such as Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Portland, Oregon, where political parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive, and independent redistricting commissions have helped create more competitive electoral districts by reducing partisan gerrymandering.

So, too, have ranked-choice voting and fusion voting. In ranked-choice voting, voters rank candidates by preference. If no one gets a majority, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated and votes are redistributed until someone wins. In fusion voting, multiple political parties can endorse the same candidate, who then appears on the ballot under each endorsing partys line.

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However, implementation of such reforms has been limited. Opposition to these reforms by the Democratic and Republican parties has, in many cases, been fierce.

Its the system

The two-party system has insulated itself from competition.

The consequence is that today America has an impenetrable two-party system, the very scenario the framers and reformers feared most. Rather than focusing solely on Musks ambitions, the more pressing question is how to build an electoral system that reflects a modern, diverse democracy.

If Americans want more choices, and polling suggests they do, then they may want to examine the legal and procedural barriers that lock in the current system, which fails to address and accommodate their political preferences.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Thom Reilly is a professor in the School of Public Affairs and co-director, Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University. 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.
Influencer Emilie Kisers plea to redact details about son Triggs tragic death was granted in an order by the judge.

"This case requires a difficult balancing between two strong but competing interests: the strong right the public has in examining government records under Arizonas Public Records Law, and the profound privacy rights of a grieving mother, read the judge wrote in a letter obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, August 8.

Kiser, 26, did not object to the release of the report. Instead, she requested to have two and a quarter pages and one sentence redacted as it contained graphically detailed descriptions of the video capturing the final moments of her sons life.

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However, this right of access is not absolute, the letter continued. Courts recognize that privacy concerns can outweigh the publics right to know when disclosure would cause specific and material harm The balancing test is fact specific: the proponent of non-disclosure must show a probability of harm that is significant enough to override the presumption of access.

Inside Emilie Kisers Harrowing Days Since 3-Year-Old Son Triggs Death

The judge added that Arizona courts have consistently recognized a familys right to prevent public release of graphic or intimate records involving a loved ones death.

According to the letter, the information Kiser sought to redact offers a moment-by-moment written depiction of a video capturing a young childs death.

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The vivid and granular nature places it closer to the kind of graphic, emotionally disturbing material that  may justifiably be shielded from public release, the judge stated.

While it was argued that the public cannot fully evaluate the police investigation without seeing every portion of the report, the court ultimately agreed with Kiser.

Did Influencer Emilie Kiser Have a Fence Around Her Pool Before Death of Son Trigg? What We Know

The public can fully understand the scope of the investigation and the rationale for the County Attorneys decision through the unredacted 53 pages, which describe the events, timeline, witness accounts and law enforcement conclusions, the letter read.

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The judge also noted that the transcript on the disputed sections are not necessary for public accountability.

Its disclosure would serve no purpose other than satisfying morbid curiosity and, as [Emilie] persuasively argues, would risk exploitation by bad actors, the docs stated.

Kiser reacted to the legal win on Friday via a statement by her attorney shared with Us, Were grateful to Judge Whitten for carefully balancing the important interests at stake and allowing a narrow but meaningful redaction to the Chandler police report, removing two pages that detail the graphic final moments of Triggs life. These redactions do not alter any material facts of the accident, but they protect the dignity of a little boy whose memory should reflect the love and light he brought to the world.

What to Know About the Investigation Into Death of Influencer Emilie Kisers Son After His Drowning

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The statement continued: From the start, this has been about protecting Trigg and the familys ability to grieve privately. This decision allows them, and the public, to remember him for the beautiful life he lived, not the tragic way it ended.

Us previously confirmed that Emilie and husband Brady Kisers 3-year-old son died on May 18 after being discovered unconscious in the familys backyard pool six days prior. Brady told authorities at the time that he was home alone watching Trigg and his and Emilies 2-month-old son, Teddy, when the incident occurred, per USA Today. After losing sight of his son, Brady found Trigg in the pool. He jumped in to save his son and called 911.

Following an investigation completed by the Chandler Police Department in July, police recommended Brady face a felony charge of child abuse. The Maricopa County Attorneys Office confirmed later that month that the father of two would not be facing charges, stating there is "no reasonable likelihood of conviction." The investigation is now closed.




NEED TO KNOW

Influencer Emilie Kiser and Brady Kiser's son Trigg, 3, died on Sunday, May 18, after he drowned in the family's backyard pool on Monday, May 12

The Chandler Police Department redacted report was released on Friday, Aug. 8, and provided additional details about the tragic accident

Per the report, Trigg "tripped and fell in [the pool] while playing with an inflatable chair"





Emilie Kiser's son, Trigg Kiser, was in the pool for seven minutes before his father, Brady Kiser, discovered him unconscious.

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The 3-year-old boy was found in the backyard pool of the influencer's home in Chandler, Ariz., on Monday, May 12, after his father, Brady, discovered him floating in the pool. Trigg died in the hospital six days later.

Brady previously told authorities he was tending to the couples newborn son, Theodore, and was distracted when he lost sight of Trigg for three to five minutes. However, according to a Chandler Police Department report, Trigg was playing around the unsecured pool and unable to swim."

"It is clear from the video that he did not go into the water intentionally, rather, he tripped and fell in while playing with an inflatable chair," the report read.

Trigg was in the backyard unsupervised for more than 9 minutes. According to the report, Trigg was in the water for about 7 of those minutes.

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Brady's statements do not match what is seen on the video; he did not accurately describe [the incident], the report said.

Emilie Kiser/Instagram Emilie Kiser and son Trigg. Emilie Kiser and son Trigg.

Brady told authorities that he saw Trigg playing outside near the pool, which was "not uncommon," and was out of his sight for approximately five minutes.

The familys pool typically had a protective cover on it. Still, according to the report, investigators learned the family removed it to "enjoy the pool," and it had not been replaced.

Before the police report was released, on Wednesday, July 16, Chandler Police recommended Brady face a class 4 felony charge of child abuse. However, on Friday, July 25, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced that he would not face child abuse charges and said that there is "no likelihood of conviction" against Brady.

Emilie Kiser/Instagram Brady, Theodore, Emilie and Trigg Kiser Brady, Theodore, Emilie and Trigg Kiser

Shortly after Triggs death, Emilie filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, May 27, requesting to block records about Trigg's death from public view. Her filing stated that the City of Chandler and the Maricopa County Medical Examiners Office had received more than 100 requests for access to public records related to the incident.

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On Tuesday, June 3, the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County ruled in Emilies favor on another motion she filed to keep her personal declaration private. She was granted temporary confidentiality on both her declaration and her larger request for privacy while the court reviewed evidence to make a final ruling.

But, after the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced it would not charge Brady, her legal team requested to remove details from two pages of the aforementioned Chandler Police Department (CDP) report. The decision was due to concerns that the details of the case could be used to create disturbing content, such as reenactments with artificial intelligence.

Emilie Kiser/Instagram Emilie Kiser, husband Brady Kiser, and their son Trigg Emilie Kiser, husband Brady Kiser, and their son Trigg

On Friday, Aug. 8, the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County ruled in Emilie's favor on her request to remove the two pages.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Emilie's attorney Shannon Clark states that the two censored pages describe the fatal tragedy. Were grateful to Judge Whitten for carefully balancing the important interests at stake and allowing a narrow but meaningful redaction to the Chandler police report, removing two pages that detail the graphic final moments of Triggs life."

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The statement contiuned: "These redactions do not alter any material facts of the accident, but they protect the dignity of a little boy whose memory should reflect the love and light he brought to the world."



Read the original article on People
Originally appeared on E! Online

Certain details about the death of Emilie Kiser's son Trigg Kiser will not be released to the public.

Two weeks after prosecutors opted not to charge the influencer's husband Brady Kiser with child abuse in the May drowning of their 3-year-old, the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County ruled in favor of Emilie to redact two pages from a Chandler Police Department report on the fatal incident.

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"The transcript on the disputed sections are not necessary for public accountability," Judge Christopher Whitten wrote in an Aug. 8 brief viewed by E! News. "Its disclosure would serve no purpose other than satisfying morbid curiosity."

In response, Emilie's lawyer Shannon Clark said the 26-year-old is "grateful to Judge Whitten for carefully balancing the important interests at stake and allowing a narrow but meaningful redaction to the Chandler police report, removing two pages that detail the graphic final moments of Triggs life."

However, Michael Kelley, an attorney representing The Arizona Republic newspaper, contended in court filings that Emilie's request would also redact "information and context that is critical to provide the public a reasonably full understanding of the investigation of the drowning, the police department's decision to recommend criminal charges and the county attorney's decision not to pursue criminal charges."

Trigg was at home with his dad Brady and his newborn brother Theodore on May 12 when he drowned in the family's backyard pool. First responders rushed the toddler to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries six days later on May 18.

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And while Chandler police submitted a report recommending a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady over Trigg's death, Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell said that her office will not pursue the charge "because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction."

"Surveillance video from outside the home showed how the drowning occurred and the actual timeline of events," a July 25 statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office read, saying that prosecutors chose not to move forward with the case after a "careful review of the evidence."

For a closer look at Emilies family, keep reading.

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"These redactions do not alter any material facts of the accident," the attorney told E! News in an Aug. 8 statement, "but they protect the dignity of a little boy whose memory should reflect the love and light he brought to the world."

Emilie's legal team submitted a request to remove the pages in late July, arguing that details within them could be used to create "disturbing" content about Triggwho passed away from his injuries six days after the incidentthrough reenactments with artificial intelligence, per court documents obtained by People.

However, Michael Kelley, an attorney representing The Arizona Republic newspaper, contended in court filings that Emilie's request would also redact "information and context that is critical to provide the public a reasonably full understanding of the investigation of the drowning, the police department's decision to recommend criminal charges and the county attorney's decision not to pursue criminal charges."

Instagram/Emilie Kiser

Trigg was at home with his dad Brady and his newborn brother Theodore on May 12 when he drowned in the family's backyard pool. First responders rushed the toddler to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries six days later on May 18.

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And while Chandler police submitted a report recommending a Class 4 felony charge of child abuse against Brady over Trigg's death, Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell said that her office will not pursue the charge "because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction."

"Surveillance video from outside the home showed how the drowning occurred and the actual timeline of events," a July 25 statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office read, saying that prosecutors chose not to move forward with the case after a "careful review of the evidence."

For a closer look at Emilies family, keep reading.

Husband and Wife

Emilie Kiser and Brady Kiser tied the knot in 2019.





A Family of Three...

The couple welcomed their first son, Trigg, in July 2021.





... and Then Four

They became parents again in March 2025 with the arrival of their second son Theodore.





The Sweet Life

Emilie often documented life at home with her two boys on social media.

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Enjoying Every Moment

The family celebrated a happy Easter holiday together.





Better Together

Emilie shared this sweet photo shortly after Theodore's birth.





Bath Time

After welcoming Theodore, Emilie wrote on social media, "The love I have for my boys is infinite."



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Emory, CDC shooting: Suspects neighbors say they saw no signs

On Saturday morning, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect killed in a shooting near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Channel 2s Bryan Mims went to the Cobb County home where Patrick Joseph White, 30, reportedly lived.

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A man who answered the door declined to speak with Mims.

We have nothing to say, he said.

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But Mims was able to speak with neighbors who were shocked to learn the man was the person accused of shooting and killing a DeKalb County police officer.

Joshua Shirah says investigators came to the house around 11:30 p.m. on Friday night and stayed for several hours.

He says White grew up in a home on the cul-de-sac of Windchime Way, where he lived with his parents and did yard work for neighbors.

Seemed like an OK guy. I communicated with him a few times. I know he did work for my grandfather around the house, Shirah said. Not the kind of person I thought would do that, but stuff happens.

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Just before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, police say they received reports of an active shooter near Emory Universitys campus and the CDC, sending both into lockdown.

DeKalb County Officer David Rose, 33, was ambushed, shot and killed, officials confirmed. He graduated from the police academy just five months ago.

Rose leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children, alongside parents, siblings and other family members.

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The Brief

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified Patrick Joseph White as the active shooter in an incident near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A DeKalb Police Officer died in the shooting.

White died on Friday inside a CVS located at 1600 Clifton Road. Police have not released whether he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if he was shot by officers.

The GBI has not confirmed a motive for the shooting. However, one neighbor  who wished to remain anonymous  told FOX 5s Kim Leoffler that White was upset over the COVID-19 vaccine.

Another neighbor told Leoffler that they would not have suspected White of doing something like this.

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified Patrick Joseph White as the active shooter in an incident near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alleged shooter killed in CVS

What we know

White died on Friday inside a CVS located at 1600 Clifton Road. Police have not released whether he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if he was shot by officers.

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Officials said White lived in Kennesaw.

Neighbors on alleged shooter

What they're saying

The GBI has not confirmed a motive for the shooting. However, one neighbor  who wished to remain anonymous  told FOX 5s Kim Leoffler that White was upset over the COVID-19 vaccine That neighbor said the vaccine caused an illness.

Patrick Joseph White's house

Another neighbor told Leoffler that they would not have suspected White of doing something like this.

Joshua Shira said he occasionally saw White around the neighborhood and that White sometimes did work for his grandfather.

"I talked with him briefly now and again. He'd come by the house and be like, hey, your grandfather wants this done," he said.

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"Blowing leaves, cutting the grass, stuff like that," Shira said. "He pretty much worked around this little area. He had a few, I guess, customers like around the neighborhood that he would go and do yard work for."

Shira recalled that he was home on Friday night when police arrived at the house where White lived with his family. He said about 10 police cars came to the neighborhood.

According to Shira, he believes the officers arrival may have been the first time Whites parents learned he was the suspect.

"I don't think they knew until they showed up either. So I don't know if they were in contact with them," he said. "Just a wild scenario. It's surreal that it was him."

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Shira said his own family didnt know, either.

"I had zero clue and when I seen the cops, I just, I was wondering what was going on, and they finally talked to my dad, and I was like, there's no way, Patrick, I feel like I known Patrick for most of my life, not really knowing him. But you know, like I said, seeing him around the neighborhood. Not the kind of person I would thought to do that."

Shira said officers were still at the home when he went to bed around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Shooting at Emory University, CDC

The backstory

Gunfire erupted inside the CVS at 1600 Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions main campus, around 4:50 p.m. on Friday.

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During the incident, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the CDC building, breaking windows, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

The CDC, Emory University, and Emory University Hospital were quickly placed on lockdown, along with several nearby smaller schools and daycares.

Schierbaum said officers from multiple agencies rushed to the scene and found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS. During the confrontation, a DeKalb County police officer was struck by one of the many bullets fired by the suspect.

That officer, identified as David Rose, died from his injuries.

Officer David Rose (DeKalb County Police Department)

Police said White was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three additional firearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

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Police said the situation was contained by 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the case, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Departments Complex Case Squad and the FBI.

The Source

Information in this article came from FOX 5's Kim Leoffler speaking with neighbors of the alleged shooter. Past reporting from FOX 5 was also used, which you can find linked above.
The Brief

The GBI identified 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw as the suspected active shooter near Emory University and the CDC.

The incident, which also claimed the life of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, prompted a large multi-agency response and shut down the surrounding area for hours.

More than 90 children and multiple CDC employees were unable to leave the area during the lockdown but were eventually reunited with families or allowed to go home.

ATLANTA - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the suspected active shooter who was killed on Friday near Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw.

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When first asked if White was the suspected active shooter, the GBI replied, "The investigation is active and ongoing. We cant confirm anything else at this time." However, a short time later, they confirmed White as the suspect.

RELATED: Emory University Atlanta shooting latest: DeKalb County officer killed, shooter dead

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated from the original version. FOX 5 Atlanta has a team of people working to learn more about Patrick White.

GBI takes the lead

What they're saying

The GBI says it was called in by both Emory University Police and the Atlanta Police Department to take the lead in the investigation into the shooting on Friday afternoon that resulted in the death of a DeKalb County police officer and the suspect.

Heres our preliminary statement on the officer involved shooting in DeKalb County, GA. The Atlanta Police Department and the Emory University Police Department asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation.



: https://t.co/CV1dWdjz19pic.twitter.com/i4mNFo9D4J  GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) August 9, 2025

A known person

What they're saying

During the first press conference on Friday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the shooter "is a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I cant reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted."

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According to CNN, the shooter's father called law enforcement before the shooting because he thought his son might be suicidal.

Additionally, CNN is reporting that the police believe the shooter may have been sick or believed he was sick and blamed the illness on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Police officer identified

What we know

David Rose, 33, of the DeKalb County Police Department, was identified Friday evening as the officer who was killed as he was responding to reports of an active shooter at a CVS on Clifton Road across from CDC's main campus in Atlanta.

RELATED: Emory University shooting: Who is Officer David Rose?

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On Saturday morning, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released a new statement, saying Rose was a recent graduate of the DeKalb Police Academy and he was a U.S. Marine before becoming a police officer. Rose left behind his pregnant wife and two children.

Lengthy investigation expected

What they're saying

The shooting prompted a massive law enforcement response. Agencies assisting in securing and clearing the scene included the ATF, FBI, Atlanta Police, Brookhaven Police, Chamblee Police, DeKalb County Sheriffs Office, Dunwoody Police, and the Georgia State Patrol.

RELATED: Emory University Atlanta campus shooter: What we know

Officials described the crime scene as complex, with significant evidence to collect and numerous witness interviews in progress. Investigators say the process will take an extended period of time.

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The area surrounding the scene of the shooting was closed to traffic for several hours on Friday afternoon and evening and more than 90 children and multiple employees of the CDC were prevented from going home for many hours.

Eventually, the children were reunited with their parents and the CDC employees were allowed to go home.

Increased security

What they're saying

Emory University said in a social media post on Saturday morning that it will have an increased police presence on its campus throughout the weekend.

Emory Police Department shared the following update this morning:

Emorys Atlanta campus will have an increased police presence throughout the weekend. Officers from the Emory Police Department and the Georgia Tech Police Department will be patrolling as an added safety measure.  Emory University (@EmoryUniversity) August 9, 2025

What we don't know

At this time, no other information has been released by officials.
The metro Atlanta community is mourning the loss of a DeKalb County police officer ambushed and killed during a shooting at Emory University on Friday afternoon.

Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and rushed to Emory University Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

The suspected shooter, who the GBI has identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, was also killed in the incident.

[PHOTOS: Active shooter reported at Emory University]

Rose was responding to the threat of an active shooter at Clifton Road and CDC Parkway when he was fatally wounded.

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The rookie officer joined the DeKalb County Police Academy in September 2024 and graduated from the academy in March.

He was assigned to the North Central Precinct, where leaders say he quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage, and professionalism.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed that Rose was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the police department.

We grieve alongside his family. My heart goes out to the entire DeKalb County government and police department. Officer Roses passing is a stark reminder that every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harms way to protect others, and this dedication deserves our respect and gratitude, the mayor said in a statement.

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DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson confirmed that Rose leaves a pregnant wife and two children, as well as parents, siblings and other family members.

This evening, my heart goes out to the family, as well as the DeKalb County family, she said.

Flags across the county will be flown at half-staff in his honor.

Police have not released details on what motives led up to the shooting.

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The Brief

DeKalb County police officer David Rose was shot and killed during an active-shooter incident at a CVS near Emory University.

The suspected shooter, a white male, was found dead with gunshot injuries; it's unclear if they were self-inflicted or caused by police.

No civilians were shot, and 92 children at a daycare on the CDC campus were unharmed; four people were hospitalized for stress and anxiety symptoms.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A DeKalb County police officer was shot and killed Friday during an active-shooter incident at a CVS across from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions main campus near Emory University, officials said.

What we know

Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick confirmed the death during an evening news conference, identifying the fallen officer as 33-year-old David Rose. Rose joined the department in September 2024 and served in the North Central precinct. He is survived by his wife, two children and a third child on the way.

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"This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do," Padrick said. "He was committed to serving the community. We ask for your prayers and your thoughts during this difficult time, especially for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family."

The county said Rose "quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage, and professionalism."

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson ordered all flags at county buildings lowered to half staff.

The county said it would release details about memorial arraignments when they become available.

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On Saturday morning, Mayor Andre Dickens issued a new statement about Officer Rose.

Mayor Dickens said Rose graduated from the DeKalb Police Academy in March and proudly served in the U.S. Marines before joining the DeKalb County Police Department.

How the shooting unfolded

Timeline

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the first 911 call came in at 4:50 p.m., prompting a multi-agency response. Officers arrived at the CVS at Emory Point and found Rose critically wounded. He was rushed to Emory University Hospital, where he later died.

Police located the suspected gunman, described as a white male, on the stores second floor with gunshot injuries. It is unclear whether his wounds were self-inflicted or caused by police gunfire. Atlanta Fire Rescue removed him from the building and medics began rendering aid, but he died at the scene.

Police respond to the scene of a shooting at a CVS near Emory University in Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2025. Authorities said a police officer and a civilian were injured and the suspected shooter is dead. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Authorities said the shooter fired at multiple windows on various floors of the CDC building during the incident. Ninety-two children in a daycare on the CDC campus were unharmed.

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens confirmed there were no civilian victims struck by gunfire. Four people later went to the hospital for stress and anxiety symptoms related to the incident.

What we know

Authorities emphasized that the situation is now contained, but a large police presence remains in the area as investigators process the scene and interview witnesses. Traffic disruptions are expected to continue into the evening.

A male DeKalb County police officer was injured, taken to the hospital, and later died.

The suspected shooter, a white male, is dead.

No civilians were shot.

Four additional individuals later went to the hospital for stress and anxiety symptoms related to the incident.

92 children at a daycare on the CDC campus are safe.

Windows on multiple floors of the CDC building were struck by gunfire.

The shooter acted alone.

What we don't know

Police say those answers will come as the investigation moves forward. Officials are urging anyone with information, video, or photos from the area at the time of the shooting to contact Atlanta police or Crime Stoppers.

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The shooters cause of death.

The motive behind the shooting.

The Source

This report is based on statements from DeKalb County Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, and on-scene reporting by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unilaterally dissolved a collective bargaining agreement with members of the union that represents its workers, the union said Friday.

The Trump administration and EPAs unlawful and authoritarian move to unilaterally strip EPA workers of their collective bargaining agreement and workplace rights is nothing short of an assault on our democracy, the rule of law, and the lives of working people in America, said Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents 8,000 EPA staffers, in a written statement.

When you strip the rights of EPA workers, you weaken the EPAs ability to do its job and ensure Americans can drink clean water and breathe clean air  and thats exactly what [President] Trump, [EPA Administrator Lee] Zeldin, and their billionaire supporters want, Chen added.

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He also said the union would fight the decision, saying AFGE Council 238 is united in our fight to defend our rights, our agencys mission, and to protect the future of our country and planet. We will see the administration in court.

EPA is working to diligently implement President Trumps Executive Orders with respect to AFGE, including Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs, in compliance with the law. an EPA spokesperson told The Hill on Friday.

The EPAs apparent move comes after a similar decision at the Department of Veterans Affairs this week. Both actions come after a federal court sided with the Trump administration on whether it can rescind such contracts.

It also comes amid a broader effort to target the federal workforce, with thousands of people across the government being fired.

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Updated at 6:40 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.
Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins former butler has surfaced with some wild claims about his boss and President Donald Trump.

Valdson Vieira Cotrin, who ran Epsteins Paris home and worked for the disgraced financier for 18 years, gave a wide-ranging, on-the-record interview with The Telegraph.

Cotrin recalled having a conversation with his boss in 2016 about Trump while picking Epstein up in Paris from the airport.

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A few days after Trumps election, Mr. Epstein arrived in Paris on Monday or Tuesday, and I went to pick him up at the airport, Cotrin told The Telegraph. He said, Valdson, you saw that Trump is the new U.S. president? Yes, I replied, I saw it on the news in Paris.

Well, Trump asked me to work for him in the new government, the butler claimed Epstein said. I said, Congratulations. Im happy for you, in my bad English. He said, No, I didnt accept.

President Donald Trump has said he has the power to offer a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Cotrin told The Telegraph he remembered being surprised because serving in the administration could be interesting, but as Epsteins employee, he said he did not ask further questions.

There is zero evidence to support the claim. While Trump and Epstein once publicly palled around at Mar-a-Lago and Trump praised Epstein in 2002 as a terrific guy, the pair had long fallen out by the time Trump took office.

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As Trump recounts it now, he gave Epstein the boot after Epstein stole employees from his Mar-a-Lago club, which the Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal said occurred in 2007.

By the time Trump won in 2016, Epstein had long been convicted for soliciting a teenage girl for prostitution and had served 13 months in prison. He was released in 2009.

Jeffrey Epstein's former longtime butler said he did not recall ever meeting Trump, but he did remember Maxwell would drive over to Mar-a-Lago. / Arnaldo Magnani/Getty

While Cotrin said he does not remember ever meeting Trump either in Paris or Florida when he was employed by Epstein, he did recall Epsteins partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, driving over to Mar-a-Lago.

She used to pop over there very often in her Mercedes shortly after I was taken on in the early 2000s, he told The Telegraph, noting he did not know whom exactly she was there to visit.

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Cotrin believes Maxwell would be the one who has more information on others connected to Epstein.

If anyone knows things, its Ms. Maxwell. She was the boss and the lady of the house, he said. She didnt give massages, but she was in charge.

Trump has known Maxwell for decades. / New York Daily News Archive / Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

His comments come as the Epstein case is facing fresh scrutiny as the Trump administration deals with ongoing fallout over its handling of the Epstein files after backtracking on its promise to release more information.

Trump has faced backlash from his supporters after the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation concluded in a July 6 memo that Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial in jail, rather than being murdered, and that no client list of wealthy co-conspirators existsthe subject of whirling conspiracy theories among Trumps MAGA minions.

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Maxwell is serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking and was moved to a minimum-security facility in Texas on August 8 after meeting with the second in command at the Justice Department, Todd Blanche, as the Trump administration tries to contain the fallout from its botched handling of the Epstein files.

Trump said he did not know about Maxwells transfer beforehand, but he has not ruled out pardoning her.

Cotrin worked for Epstein from 2001 until his death in 2019 and was his one full-time employee in Paris, although he also worked for him numerous times in New York, Palm Beach, Florida, and at Epsteins private island.

Other people Cotrin did recall visiting Epstein during his time of employment were Prince Andrew, Lord Peter Mandelson, Woody Allen, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and former President Bill Clinton.

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The ex-butler also made other head-turning claims in the interview.

An aerial view shows the prison camp where Maxwell is being held in Bryan, Texas. It is considered a minimum-security facility and is surrounded by residential streets. / GO NAKAMURA / REUTERS

The longtime employee said he does not believe that Epstein killed himself.

The convicted sex offender was found hanged in his New York prison cell in August 2019. It was ruled a suicide.

Cotrin said the last time he saw Epstein was when he took him to the airport just before he was taken into custody in New York. He said his boss appeared relaxed.

I dont believe this was suicide. He loved life too much, Cotrin told The Telegraph.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. The Trump administration moved her to a minimum security prison camp in August after she spoke with the Justice Department. / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Cotrin and his partner, Maria Gomes de Melo, had previously declined to speak publicly, according to The Telegraph, because of concerns about their own safety.

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The couple noted the deaths of Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, and Jean-Luc Brunel, who ran the modeling agency financed by Epstein. Cotrin said he was scared because of what happened to them.

Giuffre was found to have died by suicide in April 2025. Brunel was found dead in his Paris prison cell in 2022 after being arrested as part of an investigation into sex trafficking.

While the former butler had quite a bit to say during the interview with The Telegraph, he insisted that his late boss was not the monster he was made out to be, despite the conviction and mountain of evidence.

Cotrin said he never saw Epstein having sex with underage girls or other inappropriate activities. He said they were hired to give massages.

Despite the charges and accusations of horrors, Cotrin still had pictures of himself with his former boss, including one that still hangs on a wall, next to another of Cotrin with Clinton.
DENVER (KDVR)  An Estes Park resident pleaded guilty Thursday to charges connected to his years-long scheme that defrauded the U.S. government of millions of dollars in taxes.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that Timothy McPhee pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States, tax evasion and wire fraud. The first two charges are related to his promotion and use of an illegal tax shelter, while the third related to his operation of a fake investment scheme.

Investment funds manager sentenced for fraud, theft that netted him almost $1M

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The department said that from 2018 through 2023, McPhee promoted the use of a fraudulent tax shelter to taxpayers across the country. The DOJ said that McPhees tax shelter was made up of three trusts and a private family foundation. The department also said that McPhee would teach clients who purchased the tax shelter how they could use the trusts to evade paying federal income taxes on nearly all their income.

The department said he was able to instruct clients in fraud and tax evasion, and as a result, clients paid taxes on about 2% of their income.

McPhee, in his plea, said that he gave directions to clients that he knew were in direct contradiction to IRS guidance, and that he deliberately ignored warnings from accountants and attorneys that the tax shelter was fraudulent and illegal.

The DOJ said the tax shelter caused the U.S. to lose about $45 million in unpaid federal income taxes.

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McPhee also allegedly used the tax shelter to conceal over $5 million from the IRS that he earned between 2016 and 2021. The DOJ said that by doing this, he didnt pay about $1.8 million in federal income taxes that he owed for those years.

The DOJ also said that McPhee promoted and operated a fraudulent investment scheme between January 2023 and May 2024 called ROI Cash Flow Fund. He told investors the fund was an opportunity to earn a 3% monthly payout on principal investments. He told investors that a third-party borrower would engage in foreign exchange currency trading and would generate monthly returns.

Denvers Tetra lounge accused of selling marijuana, now facing possible license revocation

The DOJ said that because of this scheme, investors sent McPhee over $8 million, which was put in bank accounts he controlled.

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In reality, however, McPhee did not send the investors funds to a borrower as promised, the DOJ asserted in a press release. Instead, he used investor funds to make monthly 3% payouts to investors. He also spent investor funds on his own personal expenses and investments, including by sending more than $2 million in investor funds to a bank account he held in the name of one of his trusts.

McPhee is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23 and faces a maximum of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the U.S., a maximum of five years in prison for tax evasion, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for wire fraud.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.


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Latest News: Apollo 13 Astronaut Jim Lovell Dies at Age 97

James A. Lovell Jr., one of the three astronauts aboard the harrowing Apollo 13 lunar mission, died August 7 in Lake Forest, Illinois, according to a news release from NASA. He was 97 years old.

Jims character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements, NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy said in a statement.

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Lovell became a NASA astronaut in 1962. He made history on the Apollo 8 mission six years later, when he and crew members Frank Borman and William A. Anders became the astronauts to leave the Earths gravitational influence. Lovell also served as a backup commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which marked the first time humans landed on the moon.

However, Lovell is most associated with the disastrous Apollo 13 flight in 1970. While onboard the spacecraft, he and crewmates Fred Haise and Jack Swigert were forced to abort a scheduled moon landing after their service modules cryogenic oxygen system suffered a major failure. With the help of Mission Control in Houston, the astronauts safely returned to Earth on April 17, six days after liftoff. The mission became the subject of the Academy Award-winning movie Apollo 13 (1995), directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.

At the time of his retirement, Lovell had spent more hours in space than any other person with 715, plus 5 minutes.

Who Was James A. Lovell Jr.?

James A. Lovell Jr., also known as Jim Lovell, was a test pilot before becoming a NASA astronaut. His early interest in rocket science took him to places literally out of this world. For a time, Lovell was the worlds most traveled astronaut and part of several historical firsts with his flights on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8. On Apollo 13, Lovell and his crew turned an imminent catastrophe into a successful failure as they brought home a damaged spaceship. Lovell retired from the space program in 1973 and worked in the private sector. He died in August 2025 at age 97.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: James Arthur Lovell Jr.

BORN: March 25, 1928

DIED: August 7, 2025

BIRTHPLACE: Cleveland, Ohio

SPOUSE: Marilyn Lovell (19522023)

CHILDREN: Barbara, James III, Susan, and Jeffrey

ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries

Early Life

James Arthur Lovell Jr. was born on March 25, 1928, in Cleveland. His father, James Lovell Sr., died when Jim was only 5 years old. His mother, Blanche, raised her only child in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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There, Jim attended Juneau High School and became an Eagle Scout. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin from 1946 to 1948, before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1952.

U.S. Navy Test Pilot

Lovell was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy and served on several assignments, including landing jets on aircraft carriers at night. Such training served him well throughout his career. In 1958, Lovell graduated from Naval Test Pilot School and began a career testing fighter aircraft and other jets. The jobs there carried a high level of danger and a high casualty rate, so it was a natural place for NASA to recruit astronauts.

NASA Astronaut: Apollo 13 and More

In September 1962, NASA selected 34-year-old Lovell for astronaut training. It was actually his second application. He had been rejected earlier due to a temporary liver condition. Lovell continued serving in the Navy throughout his time in the space program.

After serving as a backup pilot on an earlier Gemini mission, Lovell was selected to pilot the Gemini 7 mission with Frank Borman as commander. The assignment lasted from December 4 to December 18, 1965, and marked the longest any human was in space until the Soviet-manned Soyuz 9 in 1970 became the first to surpass it. The missions length, 330 hours and 35 minutes, wasnt the only test of endurance for Lovell and Borman; the pair were jammed into a spacecraft the size of a telephone booth. The mission also conducted a crucial maneuver for the planned Apollo missions: the rendezvous of two manned, maneuverable space craft, the Gemini 7 and the Gemini 6A.

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His performance on Gemini 7 earned Lovell a command position on Gemini 12 with Edwin Buzz Aldrin as pilot from November 11 to November 15, 1966. The mission featured another rendezvous and a docking procedure as well as a spacewalk by Aldrin. The flight brought the Gemini program to a successful close, and NASA then began preparations for the Apollo program and the journey to the moon.

Apollo 8

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The Apollo 8 mission was scheduled during the 1968 Christmas holiday, from December 21 to December 27. Serving as the command module pilot and navigator, Lovell was part of its three-man crew. Apollo 8 proved to be a cavalcade of firsts: the first manned mission to leave Earths orbit as well as the first to allow the astronauts to see the Earth as a whole planet, to directly see the far side of the Moon, and to witness Earthrise.

The mission was also one of the most difficult in NASAs history. In order for the Lunar Orbiter to travel safely around the Moon, the propulsion unit needed to fire for the exact amount of time at precisely the right moment. Too little or too late and the capsule would be flung off into space; too much or too soon and the spacecraft might crash into the Moon. Updates on the flight were covered by the major American television networks and broadcast all over the world.

On Christmas Eve, the crew of Apollo 8 captivated an estimated 1 billion television and radio listeners by reading from the book of Genesis as an image of the Earth rising over the lunar horizon was shown on television screens. Soon after the crew members returned, they were voted Time magazines Men of the Year.

Apollo 13: Houston, we have a problem

Apollo 13 was to be Lovells fourth and final NASA operation and his first time on the surface of the Moon. The mission launched on April 11, 1970, with fellow crew members John L. Swigert Jr. and Fred W. Haise Jr.

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For the first two days, Apollo 13 was looking like the smoothest flight in NASAs history. Fifty-five hours after launch, the flight crew conducted a routine cryogenic oxygen tank stir. Damaged electrical insulation on the wiring created a spark, and the tank exploded, causing a loss of oxygen and electrical power in the service module, Odyssey, where Lovell, Swigert, and Haise were located.

Lovell calmly reported the disaster to Mission Control: Ah, Houston, weve had a problem. Although frequently misquoted as Houston, we have a problem, Lovells remarks live on in popular culture as an idiom describing an unforeseen complication.

The missions moon landing was quickly abandoned, and it was decided that the Lunar Module (LM) would become a lifeboat to get the astronauts back to Earth. Lovell piloted the LM around the moon and back home. Apollo 13 returned safely on April 17, 1970.

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Decades later, in 1995, Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger wrote Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13. The book served as the basis for the 1995 Oscar-winning movie Apollo 13 directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton. Lovell had a cameo role in the film as the captain of the recovery ship.

Business Career and Family

During the twilight of his career as an astronaut, Lovell received further education at Harvards Advanced Management Program in 1971. He left NASA and the Navy with the rank of a captain on March 1, 1973, just before his 45th birthday.

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Lovell worked in various corporate jobs until his retirement in 1991. He then toured the nation, giving speeches at colleges and universities about his experiences as an astronaut and businessman.

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In his personal life, Lovell was married to Marilyn Lovell for 71 years. The couple had been high school sweethearts. Their wedding was held hours after he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1952.

Jim and Marilyn went on to have four children together: Barbara, James III, Susan, and Jeffrey. They lived in Lake Forest, Illinois, for decades and remained together until Marilyns death in August 2023.

Death

Lovell died at age 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois, on August 7, 2025. No cause was given.

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Following his death, his family shared a public statement that read, in part: We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero.

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Authorities have identified the man they said opened fire near the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, killing a police officer.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, of Kennesaw, Georgia, shot at the agency complex. Law enforcement officials said White died at the scene, where he was found with a gunshot wound. The gunfire struck at least four buildings on the CDC campus, where terrified employees sheltered in place.

Media outlets have reported that White believed he was made sick by the Covid-19 vaccine, citing anonymous law enforcement sources.

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No CDC employees or civilians were injured, authorities said.

We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose  even in moments of grief and uncertainty, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement posted to X on Saturday.

The slain police officer, David Rose, 33, had two children, and his wife was pregnant with a third. Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Academy in September 2024 and graduated in March 2025.

Before joining the DeKalb County Police Academy, he served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan.

Series of events

When officers arrived on the scene Friday evening, they heard gunfire coming from a CVS, across from the CDCs main entrance. They found White on the second floor of the store with a gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Atlanta Police have said they believe he acted alone.

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During a press conference Friday, local authorities said it is unclear whether the suspected gunman shot himself or was killed by officials responding to the incident.

The suspected gunman fired multiple rounds into at least four CDC buildings, and photos seen by POLITICO show bullet marks shattering the glass of an upper story of one of the buildings.

Two CDC employees told POLITICO on Friday evening that all staff at the agency were told to shelter in place.

CDC Director Susan Monarez said Friday night that the agency is working with federal, state, and local authorities on the investigation.

We at CDC are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting, Monarez said in a statement. A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings.

Political climate

The shooting comes amid an already tumultuous time for CDC staff. Hundreds of agency employees received termination notices in April, and some got sporadically rehired. The Trump administration also has proposed slashing the agencys budget by roughly half.

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Kennedy has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine. Since being sworn in in February, the agency has stopped recommending the vaccine for pregnant people and to narrow the recommendations for healthy children.

Kennedy said earlier this week that HHS would halt $500 million in funding for mRNA research, the technology that was used to create the first Covid-19 vaccines, citing safety concerns. The planned cancellation of contracts includes work with Emory University and Tiba Biotech. Proposals from Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, CSL Seqirus, Gritstone and others will also be rejected, according to HHS.

Many public health experts pushed back on that decision, arguing that the technology is safe and a key tool for responding to future pandemics.

One CDC official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told POLITICO they were disappointed that neither Kennedy or President Donald Trump had publicly spoken about the shooting by early Saturday morning.

As you might imagine, there is a lot of fear and anger among agency staff right now, the official said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  People facing eviction in Franklin County have less access to resources than just a few months ago, and thats because federal money left over from the pandemic is running out.

The City of Columbus is adding some additional resources, but Franklin County has not implemented a plan to address the loss of help for those facing eviction.

Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) says Franklin County is on track to see 25,000 eviction filings this year.

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Ohio among top 10 states with the highest property taxes, report says

Since federal help is ending, people are looking at cities and counties to step up emergency rental assistance.

Rental assistance is starting to wind down this month, LASCO Tenant Advocacy Project Managing Attorney Jyoshu Tsushima said.

Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio is feeling the impact of federal money, left over from the pandemic, running out.

We are having to make choices about who we can actually represent, Tsushima said.

Eatertainment, pickleball venue sets Ohio location opening

Tsushima says, now, funding for these services must come from local government.

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We recently saw the city of Columbus pass access to counsel ordinance that provides attorneys to represent tenants at eviction court. But its for this specific population of families that have dependent minors and are trying to survive at 100% of the federal poverty level or lower, Tsushima said.

This money has allowed LASCO to continue helping specific populations inside city limits.

At the county level, we dont have a comprehensive program yet. So, you know, while we did receive funding during the pandemic through ERA dollars to provide representation countywide, that funding is disappearing, Tsushima said.

NBC4 asked the Franklin County Commissioners president about how the county will help its residents facing eviction.

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We know that we have to find a funding source that will continue to support those efforts. And we are in discussions on what that might look like, Commissioner Erica Crawley said.

Columbus City Council has pushed forward the Resilient Housing Initiative and a couple of others to necessarily replace the pandemic-era funds, but help supplement. The county hasnt done anything similar to that. Do they plan to do something like that? NBC4s Isabel Cleary asked.

So one thing that we have just done recently is we have made a $37 million investment in more than 1300 housing units with in partnership with Navin. So you will see more partnerships and developments happening, Crawley said.

Crawley did not provide specific answers about whether there would be additional tenant advocacy funding for Legal Aid, only saying the county does fund the organization annually. The county shared that the subaward agreement between the county and Legal Aid renews each fiscal year, and will again this year, on October 1.

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The county shared that it will maintain its agreement with Community Mediation Services as well, which play a critical role in offering eviction prevention education workshops for tenants at high risk of eviction, as well as for individuals actively seeking housing.

We need funding for attorneys to provide representation to those areas. The city of Columbus has definitely taken the lead on making sure that Columbus residents have that access. We just havent seen a similar expansion yet to county residents, Tsushima said.

Legal Aid says some of the highest eviction rates in Franklin County right now are in Whitehall and Reynoldsburg. LASCO is only able to help people in these areas if they fall under the funding LASCO receives through grant programs.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Former Honolulu Police Department Chief Arthur Joe  Logan demanded $784, 240 from the city after he alleged that Mayor Rick Blangiardi overstepped his authority and threatened him and his family if he didnt step down.

The city did not meet Logans demands and he and his attorney Joseph T. Rosenbaum and unnamed city officials.

Logan announced after being on May 23, 2022.

In the 12-page letter sent to the city on June 25, Logan demanded payment of all the wages  he would have earned in the final two years of his five year year term, or $534, 240.

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Logan also asked for $250, 000 for emotional distress, harm to reputation, other special damages  and money for attorneys fees.

And Logan wants a written apology from the Mayor acknowledging the wrongful nature  of his ouster.

Logan maintained an unwavering commitment to upholding the law  and ensuring that the Honolulu Police Department operated within legal boundaries, even when doing so conflicted with Mayor Rick Blangiardis demands,  Rosenbaum wrote.

On May 29, Rosenbaum alleged that Honolulu Police Commission chair Kenneth Silva, a former Honolulu Fire Department chief, and then-commission member Carrie K.S. Okinaga, an attorney, met with Blangiardi to protest and ask for reconsideration  after Logan informed them about Blangiardis threats to force Logans resignation.

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In the interest of transparency, and because the matter is now the subject of public litigation, the City is releasing both the demand letter submitted by Chief Logans attorney and the Citys response,  read a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser from the city Department of the Corporation Counsel.

The demand letter is another episode from an ongoing political drama created by Blangiardis efforts to replace Logan with former Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz.

that Blangiardis desire to have him serve as interim HPD chief was not a vision shared by the Honolulu Police Commission.

Moszkowicz lost his job when the Hawaii County Police Commission would not let him pull his retirement letter. The Honolulu Police Commission selected HPD Deputy Chief Rade K. Vanic to serve as interim chief.

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In a July 11 response to Logan from Deputy Corporation Counsel Maria C. Cook, Blangiardi and the city argued that Logan was never terminated  by the city or Blangiardi and voluntarily submitted his resignation  on June 2 to the police commission.

When Chief Logan informed the Mayor and Managing Director of his decision to resign, he relayed that he had consulted his wife and that she not only supported but also was pleased with his decision. More importantly, at no time did he state or imply that he was reluctant to resign or that his decision was in any way coerced or against his will,  wrote Cook, who noted that the police commission had taken no action on Logans employment.

The commission serves as the sole appointing and removing authority  for the chief of police, Cook wrote.

The Mayor does not possess the authority to hire or fire the Chief of Police. Your own letter confirms that Chief Logan made the decision to resign,  she said.

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Blangiardi wants that authority over HPD and the Honolulu Fire Department, long arguing that he cannot be held responsible for public safety without the ability to manage all aspects of it.

He will introduce a charter amendment to bring the authority to fire and hire the police and fire chiefs to the Office of the Mayor.

Logan alleges that Blan gi ardis displeasure came from several orders he refused to carry out starting in 2022, including conducting homeless sweeps he deemed in violation of a federal court decision.

He also accused Blan gi ardi of micromanaging HPD and interfering with civilian staff matters.

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In the lawsuit and letter, Logan alleges that Blangiardi told him, You knew this was coming, I am telling you to resign, or I will make it very difficult for you and your family, and you know I can.

Logans allegations that he engaged in a pattern of protected activities  and that Blangiardi responded with antagonistic conduct  leading to Logans forced resignation are absurd and categorically false,  wrote Cook on July 11.

The City possesses overwhelming evidence, including credible witness testimony, directly contradicting these baseless claims. Please make sure your client is aware that the City intends to vigorously defend against the allegations contained in your letter and will produce compelling evidence that utterly defeats Chief Logans assertions,  wrote Cook.

Accordingly, we hereby demand that Chief Logan retract these unfounded statements and refrain from making similar assertions in the future. Chief Logans resignation was voluntary, made with the support of his wife. Any claim to the contrary is a misguided attempt to rewrite history and wholly unsupported by the facts and the law. Should this matter proceed to court, we are confident the claims will be summarily dismissed or decided in favor of the City.
The Brief

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan must report to prison by Oct. 13, a federal judge ruled.

Madigan had asked to remain out of prison while he appealed his bribery conviction.

The judge sentenced Madigan to more than seven years behind bars and ordered him to pay $2.5 million for corruption.

CHICAGO - Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigans attempt to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction for bribery was rejected by a judge on Friday.

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Madigan, 83, once the most powerful Democratic lawmaker in the state, will have to report to prison by Oct. 13.

The backstory

The judge sentenced Madigan to more than seven years behind bars and ordered him to pay $2.5 million for corruption.

Madigans attorneys argued the former speaker is not a flight risk, but the judge didnt buy it.

Madigan was convicted on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and other charges for ensuring passage of legislation favorable to utility company ComEd in exchange for kickbacks and jobs, and contracts for allies.

The jury could not decide on six counts, including an overarching racketeering conspiracy charge, and acquitted him on seven others.

During his legislative career spanning half a century, Madigan served nearly four decades as speaker, the longest on record for a U.S. legislator. He also served more than 20 years as head of the Illinois Democratic Party, where he set much of the states political agenda while handpicking candidates for political office.
Sean Spicer, Donald Trumps former White House press secretary, said he worries that the president will pardon Ghislaine Maxwell if he is misled by his own team.

Appearing on 2WAYs podcast The Morning Meeting, Spicer predicted that Trump would face outrage if he grants clemency to the conspirator in Jeffrey Epsteins underage sex trafficking.

However, Spicer believes that Trump would only do that if his aides convince him that it will be politically advantageous.

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Anyone who sells him on this is lying to him, said Spicer, who was Trumps chief spokesperson from his first inauguration in 2017 until he quit the job six months later.

Sean Spicer, Trumps former press secretary, said he is worried that the president will be duped into pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell. / Alex Wong / Getty Images

Spicer compared the move to Trumps decision to fire FBI Director James Comey after he led an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

I think this is very akin to Comey, right? Spicer said. When he fired Comey he was told, Oh, if you fire Comey, everyones gonna cheer you on.

The decision to axe Comey ended up being enormously controversial.

I think people misled him on how that was going to go down, Spicer said. I think this is similar. There will be outrage, like never before, if she gets a deal.

Trump has sought to quell outcry over his handling of the governments files on Jeffrey Epstein. / Win McNamee / Getty Images

I hope to God nobody in the White House has led him to believe that thats the case, that that would be a smart move, Spicer added.

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Trump is in the midst of a crisis over Epstein that erupted when his administration announced that government files on the convicted sex offender contained no evidence of a client list, and no suggestion that he was murdered.

In an effort to quell the outcry, Trumps Justice Departmentincluding Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trumps former personal lawyermet with Maxwell last month.

Maxwell, Epsteins conspirator in the underage sex trafficking, is seeking a pardon from the Trump administration. / Patrick McMullan / Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

Maxwells legal team has made it clear that she is seeking a pardon for her cooperation with the Trump administration. Trump has said that he has not given thought to the prospect but observed that hes allowed to do it.

Last week, Maxwell was moved from her prison in Tallahassee to a lower security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, in an apparent sweetheart deal.

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The move also brings Maxwell closer to her family, as her sister Christine owns an apartment in Dallas, a three-hour drive from the new prison.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Trump was a friend of Epstein, who died in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.

Trump was a close friend to Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

Trump was repeatedly photographed alongside Epstein and Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping to facilitate the sex trafficking.
One of the internets most famous fact-checkers, former Washington Post writer Glenn Kessler, was grilled by author and podcaster Mark Halperin on Friday over media bias.

The man behind The Washington Post's "Pinocchios" announced in late July he would be leaving the paper without anyone to fill his shoes. Kessler, who reportedly edited more than 3,000 fact checks as editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker, announced that week he had taken a buyout deal, ending his lengthy career at the Post.

"After more than 27 years at The Washington Post, including almost 15 as The Fact Checker, I will be leaving on July 31, having taken a buyout," Kessler wrote on his Facebook page. "Much as I would have liked to keep scrutinizing politicians in Washington, especially in this era, the financial considerations were impossible to dismiss."

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With his career and the Washington Posts recent record in the spotlight among many shakeups at the publication, Halperin raked Kessler over the coals on his "Next Up" podcast.

Washington Post Bombarded With Cake Parties For Departing Staffers

The former fact checker blames President Trump's rhetoric for turning the American people against the media, but Halperin argued this is not the case.

"How could it be that I see The Post as fundamentally anti-Trump in every day, in every crevice of every story practically, and you say We are down the middle by the book, and the fact that our readers are liberal is because we're in Washington DC. How could that be?" Halperin asked on his show.

Read On The Fox News App

Kessler disagreed with the characterization of newsrooms like the one he worked in, arguing, "It's not like people in the newsroom are saying, We've got to get Donald Trump. We've got to write this story. We're going to slant it in a way that is negative to Donald Trump."

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"I agree with you, its more insidious than that," Halperin said, arguing it would be more comforting if they gave up the pretense of objectivity.

"Your audience, by your own acknowledgment, and by every indication, is super liberal," Halperin said. "We saw that when the owner did things that were pro-Trump - perceived as pro-Trump, and you lost a huge percentage, as you cite in your Substack, a huge percentage of your readers. So, your audience is liberal and you're addicted to their revenue."

Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture

The Washington Post has been bombarded with "cake" parties celebrating outgoing staffers, according to the paper's former fact-checker Glenn Kessler.

He then asked, "How could you work at a place for decades and say we're addicted to liberal revenue and not be screaming at the top of your lungs, Boy, half the country might have a point that we're liberally biased. Let's examine that."

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"I maintain, as a longtime Washington Post reporter, that the news coverage is straight," Kessler insisted.

"But Glenn, it's not just me. It's half the country. I'm not alone," Halperin replied.

"Half the country is affected by Donald Trump saying we're [the] enemy of the people," Kessler argued.

President Donald Trump helped popularize heavy scrutiny of the media, which many conservatives argue was biased long before his political ascendancy.

"Well, George Bush thought it was true, too," Halperin retorted. "Ronald Reagan thought it was true, too. This is not some new thing. It's only because of Trump Derangement Syndrome that the papers' news section has become even more aggressive of saying 'We must defeat Republicans.'"

Fox News Digital reached out to The Washington Post for comment.





Original article source: Ex-Washington Post fact-checker faces criticism over claims of 'straight' media coverage
At their meeting next week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss a peace plan that would see Ukraine surrendering new territories to Russia.

Putin passed the plan to special envoy Steve Witkoff during their meeting in Moscow earlier this week.

The plan would see Kyiv withdraw its troops from two of the partly occupied Ukrainian regions  Donetsk and Luhansk, according to a source in Ukraine's President's Office, who was part of the team briefed on the discussion Putin had with Witkoff. He spoke on condition of anonymity to speak freely on the sensitive matter.

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As a "sign of good will," Russia would then withdraw its troops from northeastern Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, where the Kremlin holds some territories.

Putin had apparently told Witkoff that Russia would be content with the current demarcation line in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, where Russia controls the majority of the region, yet lacks control of the regional capitals.

According to the source in Ukraine's President's Office, the plan would be outright rejected by Ukraine.

Read also: What to know about the 5 key territories at the heart of Ukraine peace talks

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"Who would even give the military such an order to withdraw?" the source added. The same source, however, said that Trumps swift announcement of the meeting with Putin on Aug. 15 suggests the U.S. had de facto agreed to the proposal.

"The Russians are now trying to spread the word that we are rejecting 'Trump's wonderful plan,' but the thing is that its the Russians' plan  territory in exchange for a ceasefire," the source added.

Trump announced on Aug. 8 that he will hold a meeting with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15.

Trump told reporters hours prior to the announcement that a potential peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv would likely include "some swapping of territories."

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"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that, but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

"We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump added.

Zelensky firmly rejected on Aug. 9 the idea of ceding any Ukrainian territory to end Russia's war.

"The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in Ukraine's Constitution. No one will deviate from this  and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," Zelensky said.

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Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainians deserve peace but a "dignified" one, and said Kyiv's partners must understand this principle.

Senior officials from Ukraine, the U.K., the U.S. and the EU will meet in London on Aug. 9 to discuss the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote following his call with Zelensky.

Zelensky, along with European leaders, held a phone call with Trump on Aug. 6, after Witkoffs Moscow visit.

While Zelensky didn't share the details of the call, a flurry of diplomatic activity had taken place ever since.

Zelensky spoke with the leaders of the U.K., France, Denmark, Estonia, and the EU, among others, over the last 24 hours.

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"There are a lot of discussions happening right now," a diplomat from one of the G7 countries told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia illegally declared ownership over Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and over four other regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson  in 2022 after its full-scale invasion, moves widely condemned by the global community.

As of August 2025, Russia controls nearly the entirety of Luhansk Oblast, and over 70% of the remaining three  Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. It also controls the regional capital, Donetsk.

The Kremlin has been on the offensive since 2023, with its main focus being the war-torn Donetsk Oblast, where Moscow has focused on taking the cities of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.

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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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Donald Trump imposed additional global tariffs this weekbut is there a governing theory to how the president is carrying out his trade policy? Panelists on Washington Week With The Atlantic joined to discuss Trumps latest trade announcements and how they may affect the U.S. economy.

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Meanwhile, Trump has said he will meet with Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska to talk about ending Russias war in Ukraine. The Biden-era mantra of Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine is now ancient history under the Trump administration, Vivian Salama, a staff writer at The Atlantic, said last night. Although this once meant that you cannot negotiate the future of Ukraine without Ukraine at the table, she continued, thats out of the question.

Obviously, it puts the Ukrainians in a very difficult position because they basically have lost, first, their sovereignty to the war, and then again to the Trump administration essentially twisting their arm, Salama said.

Joining the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more: Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent at ABC News; Tyler Pager, a White House correspondent at The New York Times; Jonathan Lemire, a staff writer at The Atlantic and a co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC; and Vivian Salama, a staff writer at The Atlantic.

Watch the full episode here.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
A geophysicist issued a stark warning about how rising sea levels could lead to massive population displacements on par with those of World War II.

What's happening?

In a clip from a podcast, Brent Minchew of the Arete Glacier Initiative outlined the best and worst-case scenarios that may result from the loss of Antarctic sea ice. Even in the best-case scenario, if the Paris Climate Agreement's goal of a 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) global temperature limit is met, the consequences will still be significant.

"The best case scenario is a displacement of people [on] order of World War II," Minchew said.

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He warns that if Thwaites, the world's widest glacier, is lost, then we're looking at 10 to 20 times the displacement effect of World War II. Minchew notes that Thwaites' width and exposure to warm ocean water make it vulnerable, causing it to be the "largest source of uncertainty" in their sea level projections.

He concludes with a stark reminder of the potential human costs: about 2.5 million people displaced for every inch of sea level rise.

Why is losing glaciers such a concern?

The planet-heating emissions of dirty energy are supercharging extreme weather events, and the polar ice caps are warming much faster than other parts of the world. Consequently, critical sea ice is being lost at a rapid rate, as indicated by NASA's data, leading to rising sea levels.

About three billion people live within 200 kilometers of a coastline, so it's not difficult to see the potential human cost of rising sea levels.

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Furthermore, the effects will not be evenly applied. The World Meteorological Organization reported that low-emitting developing nations will bear the brunt of a crisis they did little to create.

What's being done to stop glaciers from disappearing?

Glacier interventions to stabilize and prevent sea ice loss are currently being explored, but the research behind them is still in its early stages, per MIT Technology Review. Further research will be necessary to determine whether geoengineering projects should be employed. One timeline, offered by a climate scientist quoted in an article by the University of Chicago, projects that proper research will take "15 to 30 years."

In the meantime, it's critical to raise awareness of the problem and take practical steps to slow down sea ice loss. From reducing waste to embracing clean sources, it's our collective responsibility to act now.

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North Carolina officials are advising people to stay on the alert for disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes, following a record year for several vector-borne illnesses in 2024.

What's happening?

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is getting the word out about tick and mosquito-borne diseases as the state enters its prime season for these pests. Spectrum News 1 reported that while tick-borne diseases tend to peak around June and July and mosquito-borne diseases tend to peak around August and September, mosquito-borne diseases peaked about a month earlier than usual in 2024. The news site also reported that wetter weather due to Tropical Storm Chantal could increase the mosquito population this year.

Why is this announcement important?

While most mosquito and tick-borne diseases in North Carolina result in mild symptoms or none at all, some people can suffer more serious complications.

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"You may experience things like headache; it can progress to seizures or even coma," Emily Herring, a public health veterinarian with the Communicable Disease Branch of NCDHHS, told Spectrum News 1.

In addition to an earlier season for several mosquito-borne illnesses last year, North Carolina set a record for West Nile virus cases at 27  that's 20 more than the yearly average. The state also saw a slight increase in the La Crosse virus.

North Carolina is not alone when it comes to facing upward trends of vector-borne diseases, however. Across the globe, mosquitoes are benefiting from warmer and wetter weather, which is helping them expand their ranges, remain active for longer seasons, and move into higher altitudes.

One recent example is Massachusetts, where officials announced that West Nile-carrying mosquitoes had been discovered two weeks earlier than last year. And Connecticut officials are warning residents that a mosquito that can carry several mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue, is expected to spread farther and faster than usual across the state in 2025.

What's being done about vector-borne diseases?

Herring suggests that people dump standing water from containers such as bird baths, planters, toys, and trash cans, and scrub them once a week or keep them covered. To keep these pests out of the house, people should keep their windows and doors shut and repair broken or damaged screens, she adds. She also urges people to keep their skin covered as much as possible when outside and wear an EPA-registered insect repellent.

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As for all those mosquitoes, scientists are looking for ways to reduce their populations to protect people from disease. For instance, Djibouti deployed a controversial method that involves releasing genetically modified mosquitoes that kill disease-spreading ones. The same technique has been used in Brazil and Florida. And one Florida county is even using X-rays to cull mosquito populations.

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Actual deaths resulting from the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year may exceed the official count by hundreds, according to a new study published in JAMA.

While the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner pegged the number of deaths from the Palisades and Eaton Fires at 31, researchers comparing actual deaths to expected deaths estimated that the number could be as high as 440.

What's happening?

The Palisades and Eaton Fires, which ravaged Los Angeles County early this year, were among the most destructive wildfires in California history. The Palisades Fire alone, which raged through the Pacific Palisades area, burned 23,000 acres and destroyed 7,000 structures, according to ABC7.

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Using a complex statistical analysis that compared the actual number of deaths in the area with the expected number of deaths, researchers gained a more complete picture of the toll the fires took.

"Excess deaths from wildfires include deaths directly related to the wildfire, along with partially attributable deaths (e.g., from lung or heart conditions exacerbated by smoke or stress) and indirect deaths (e.g., disruptions to health systems, mental health impacts)," the study authors wrote.

The analysis highlighted that the health impacts of wildfires extend far beyond the geographical boundaries of the fires themselves and can emerge long after the last flames have been extinguished. For example, cancer and other diseases caused by prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can take years to develop.

Excess-death calculations also help increase awareness that natural disasters can cause indirect deaths by, for example, cutting off hospital access during an unrelated medical emergency.

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Given that only months have passed since the fires took place, it is possible that the 440 excess deaths represent an undercount.

"There's certainly a long tail," said Andrew Stokes, one of the study authors, per The Washington Post. Stokes explained that first responders and others who were exposed to wildfire smoke and other contaminants could develop serious conditions years down the line.

Why do excess deaths from extreme weather events matter?

Counting excess deaths has become an important tool for researchers to capture a more complete picture of the devastation caused by natural disasters such as wildfires.

For example, analyses of excess deaths have been instrumental in describing the scale of harm caused by recent European heat waves and other extreme weather events.

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For decades, scientists have warned that releasing heat-trapping pollution into the atmosphere has been causing global temperatures to rise, which increases the severity of extreme weather events such as wildfires.

The far-ranging impacts of these disasters can be difficult to measure, making excess death calculations a valuable tool for researchers, government officials, and the public alike. By better understanding the scale of these disasters and the indirect ways in which they impact lives, people can develop better strategies for mitigating these effects.

"I worry, for example, that when it comes to wildfires that have occurred elsewhere that we'll never know the full toll of those because the studies haven't been done and are difficult to do," Stokes said. "But here we've been able to show this discrepancy between the official toll versus what we believe to be the true toll, and the differences are quite staggering."

Disasters such as the Palisades and Eaton Fires devastate local communities and destroy homes, but their impacts can also be felt well beyond the disaster area. For example, when floods or fires ruin crops, it can cause food prices to increase everywhere.

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Similarly, when insurance companies pay out billions of dollars to insured property owners, it makes insurance premiums go up well beyond the disaster area.

What's being done about excess deaths from extreme weather events?

Excess death studies can help to better explain the far-reaching impacts of severe weather events, allowing officials to develop better mitigation strategies.

However, in order to reverse the trend of rising global temperatures and the increased severity of extreme weather events, it is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution entering the atmosphere.

By taking steps such as driving an electric vehicle or installing solar panels on your home, you can reduce planet-warming pollution while also saving money on gas and electricity.

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Fast-tracking a NASA plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon may sound dubious. Experts say thats because it is.

The whole proposal is cock-eyed and runs against the sound management of a space program that is now being starved of money, national security analyst, nuclear expert and author Joseph Cirincione told The Independent.

Nuclear has been used in space since the 1960s. Thats nothing new. The U.S. launched its first test reactor into orbit in 1965, and the former Soviet Union has sent up dozens more.

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NASA says that a new 100-kilowatt reactor could be used to power a future base at the lunar South Pole, and fuel prospective missions to Mars and beyond. Nuclear would help to fill gaps in solar energy that occur when that side of the moon is in darkness for two weeks.

The majority of space experts have said that placing a reactor on the moon is possible, so, why is NASAs current plan cock-eyed? The problem is the proposed timeline.

NASA says that a new 100-kilowatt reactor could be used to power a future base at the lunar South Pole, and fuel prospective missions to Mars and beyond (NASA)

Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as President Donald Trumps Secretary of Transportation, pushed to expedite the project, detailed in a memo this week. Duffy said the administration wanted to have a nuclear reactor ready to launch by 2030. Earlier this year, China and Russia announced a plan to build a nuclear reactor for a lunar base by 2035.

The first country to do so could potentially declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States from establishing a planned Artemis presence if not there first, Duffy said.

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NASA first announced in 2021 that it would put a reactor on the moon within a decade. In 2024, NASA then said that their target date for delivery a reactor to the Earth-based launchpad was the early 2030s. But, Cirincione says essentially no progress has been made.

It was in the last Trump administration that NASA had put out a press release, they had a YouTube video, they had these announcements about how theyre going to develop these small, modular nuclear reactors for use on the moon, and it was going to be ready by 2026, said Cirincione, who is vice-chair of the Center for International Policy, a non-profit that advocates for a peaceful approach to foreign policy.

Oh, really? So, where is it?

Ultimately, the expert believes a nuclear reactor on the moon could take up to 20 years to become a reality.

NASA would need a working launch vehicle, a small and adaptable reactor, and the ability to land on the moon. Right now, the SpaceX Starship is the only vehicle option  but it has exploded during several of its test flights. (AFP via Getty Images)

NASA would need a working launch vehicle, a small and adaptable reactor, and the ability to land on the moon. Right now, the SpaceX Starship is the only vehicle option  but it has exploded during several of its test flights.

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NASA has been working with Boeing on a Space Launch System - the main competitor to Space Xs Starship - but that program would be canceled under the Trump administrations proposed cuts which slash 24 percent from NASAs overall budget.

Landing on the moon is no picnic, and attempts by Japanese space companies in 2023 and 2025 ended in crashes.

There are also the scientific and technological advances needed for the nuclear reactors. The reactors must be able to withstand harsh conditions on the moon, including temperatures swings from 250 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to minus 400 degrees at night.

Small modular nuclear reactors, it turns out, are always just around the corner  a corner you never get to turn, Cirincione said.

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Many scientists and nuclear energy experts have shared in Cirinciones skepticism.

Dr. Kathryn Huff, a former nuclear energy official at the U.S. Department of Energy, and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, wrote in a Bluesky social media post that shes not bullish on unrealistic timelines.

The 2030 target does not align well with recent budgetary trends she explained in a statement, shared by the university. Accelerating the FSP program could come at the expense of other critical priorities, including earth science, climate observation and space-based weather forecasting  all core elements of NASAs public-serving mission.

An artists concept shows a fission power system on the surface of the moon. The system would also eventually be used on Mars (NASA)

Dr. Alfredo Carpineti, an Italian astrophysicist, wrote in IFLScience this week that the proposal is unfeasible.

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Even if we allow landing the nuclear reactor on December 31, 2030, the timing is really too short for something that must not have any faults if you want to operate it safely, Carpineti wrote.

Others were more optimistic about NASAs accelerated timeline.

Sebastian Corbisiero, a senior program manager at Idaho National Laboratory who leads the Energy Departments space reactor program, told The Independent that a nuclear reactor on the moon is doable by 2030.

Nuclear reactor technology has been around for decades, so its well known, he said. Some key differences with a space reactor is that it needs to fit on a rocket, so there are mass and volume requirements; and that the system needs to operate in vacuum  so components will need to be built to survive that environment.

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Dr. Bhavya Lal, a former associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy at NASA, and former aerospace executive Roger Myers, recently argued that it would be possible to have nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, and it would take $3 billion to do so.

Its possible, but it will require serious commitment, Lal told The Independent.

But even if plans are speeded up, Lal says theres no need to worry about the prospect of the moon blowing up. Its simply not grounded in science, she said.
It vanished without a trace more than 10 years ago  now, a single snapshot from a trail camera has reignited hope for a species thought to be lost.

In 2024, conservationists at Tangkulap Forest Reserve set up trail cameras to survey an endangered native species of wildcat. When there was a photo of an unidentified species, it was cast aside as irrelevant to the study.

The photo was later unearthed by Panthera researchers in collaboration with the Malaysian Otter Network  upon which the significance of the image was discovered.

The photo from the trail camera had actually captured Malaysia's first image of the Eurasian otter in 11 years.

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These otters can be found from Europe to Asia, although "its presence in Southeast Asia is largely unknown and extremely rare, and it's considered highly endangered," Panthera detailed in a blog post.

Panthera elaborated on the importance of this photo, stating that Tangkulap Forest Reserve is now "the only location in Malaysia where all four of the country's otter species coexist."

The news excited conservationists. In a Facebook post, Panthera described it as "a historic moment." One commenter said: "That's an incredible find."

According to Panthera's blog, "otters are apex indicators of waterway health, and their return is a hopeful sign."

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Trail cameras are used globally to identify and locate animals, often capturing rare sightings and unique moments. The technology allows for the observation of animal populations for long periods of time without direct interference, reducing the risk of human-animal conflict. Human-animal interactions can have dire consequences for both human and animal  danger of attack, disturbance of habitat, or decreasing the animals' natural instincts.

Using captured photos is an amazing way to measure a site's biodiversity and the health of the local ecosystem  here, the sighting of a long-lost endangered species encourages the hopes of conservationists for a cleaner, more diverse future for the Tangkulap Forest Reserve.

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This can empower the local community and beyond to continue to take steps toward conserving natural areas and resources.

Although this discovery brings optimism to the conservation cause, all four species of otters still remain under threat from pollution, habitat fragmentation, and overfishing.

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These threats are difficult to combat. However, there are organizations fighting for real-world solutions, such as "reducing conflict between people and otters and creating a national plan to protect them before it's too late," as Panthera noted.

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Hurricane Helene carved a path of destruction across much of the southeastern U.S. last year. It leveled homes and took human lives, and it also damaged irreplaceable wildlife habitat. This includes North America's most biodiverse waters in Southern Appalachia, Inside Climate News reported.

What's happening?

The streams and rivers of Southern Appalachia include 400,000 miles of territory that is home to 300 species of fish found nowhere else and the world's largest collection of salamanders. Many of these species are threatened or endangered, and they require the specific conditions of the untouched waterways they live in to thrive.

When Helene hit, it scoured these waterways. Areas full of stones to shelter under were laid bare, gravel and silt were washed away and deposited in once-clean areas, and even house-sized boulders were pushed downstream.

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And it gets worse. "Helene was a 5,000-year flood," said Bo Baxter, director of Conservation Fisheries Incorporated, an Appalachian aquatic conservation organization, per Inside Climate News. "And these species have been swimming and crawling around in Appalachian waterways for millions of years. They've seen this before. But humans weren't involved last time."

In addition to changing the landscape of the streams and rivers themselves, the floodwaters washed many items from the shores into the water  including propane tanks, septic systems, and other toxic materials.

Why is the damage from Hurricane Helene important?

Aside from the devastating degree of direct impact on human populations, Helene is also impacting humanity via its effect on the wider ecosystem. The polluted waters were so dangerous that advisories were issued warning people not to touch them, preventing conservationists from even beginning to chart the damage.

Once researchers are able to assess the extent of the damage, it's likely that many of the fragile creatures of this ecosystem will turn out to be newly endangered. For those who make their living off the Appalachian wilderness or simply love its beauty, the destruction could be devastating.

What's being done about Helene?

Conservationists are hard at work making Southern Appalachia's waterways more hospitable for endangered species and more resilient in the face of future climate disasters. One fact that was noted after Helene passed was that while some areas were ravaged, others were relatively untouched.

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"It's a very dramatic sight to behold," said Gary Peeples, field office supervisor for the Asheville Ecological Services Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, per Inside Climate News. "From a conservation standpoint, it points to the importance of having multiple protected populations scattered across a wide range so that if something does happen in one part, the species can still persist in another."

For that reason, conservationists are working on expanding the range of threatened species in the area, like hellbender salamanders.

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Explore HOA controversies and trends in Myrtle Beach, SC

Stories by Sun News journalists, with AI summarization

Horry County in South Carolina leads the state in HOA complaints. This trend highlights common grievances between residents and their homeowners associations, such as rule enforcement and fees. Many Myrtle Beach HOAs host festive decorating contests, prompting some goodwill even amid general discontent. Meanwhile, prospective homebuyers in the area often seek properties with no HOA, wary of constraints.

When disputes arise, the decision to sue an HOA involves risks, including high legal fees and community tensions. South Carolina laws don't forbid HOAs from entering homes; access depends on prior agreements. Horry County residents understand that while over 100 local HOAs faced complaints, legislative recourse remains limited.

New homes by D.R. Horton are still being built at Meridian off Highway 17 Bypass just North of The Market Common community. At total buildout the neighborhood is planned to host 422 homes. January 20, 2023. By JASON LEE

NO. 1: DID THE CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH GET INVOLVED IN HOA VIOLATIONS? THE FACTS BEHIND THE STORY

What a Myrtle Beach city employee said when asked if they have involvement with an HOA dispute in Market Common. | Published September 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

Homeowners associations across South Carolina face a tough choice to reopen their community pools or not. By JASON LEE

NO. 2: LOOKING TO AVOID HOAS IN MYRTLE BEACH SC AREA? HERES WHAT TO KNOW, WHERE TO SEARCH

Home search websites allow users to seek properties with no monthly HOA fees, but nearly 85% of Myrtle Beach area listings are attached to HOAs, according to Realtor.com. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Christmas lights decorate homes in Carolina Forest area communities. Dec. 13, 2024. By Jason Lee

NO. 3: MANY MYRTLE BEACH HOAS MIGHT HAVE GRINCH LIKE TENDENCIES, BUT HERE ARE SOME THAT CELEBRATE

Myrtle Beach is known in South Carolina for having a high number of HOAs in the region. We asked people what their experiences are with HOA lights. Heres what they said. | Published December 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

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NO. 4: DEALING WITH AN ANNOYING HOA? HERES WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE SUING YOUR ASSOCIATION IN SC

When problems arise with an HOA, some residents turn to a lawyer to help solve the problem. What you should know when suing a home association in South Carolina. | Published January 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

The Calusa Park HOA takes care of lawn care, grounds upkeep and trash removal. Residents are allowed to have two pets per property. Calusa Park is a gated community on Laurel Road in Nokomis, Florida. The D.R. Horton maintenance-free development consists of 88 one- and two-story homes. Rmarket Calusa Park 003 By MIKE LANG/HERALD-TRIBUNE

NO. 5: CAN HOA ENTER YOUR HOME WITHOUT PERMISSION? WHAT SC LAW SAYS YOU CAN DO & WHAT IT CANT

South Carolina law has restrictions on what a homeowner association can do. Is one of those things entering your home or property without your permission? | Published January 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

The S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs released its HOA complaint report for 2024 on Tuesday morning.

NO. 6: SOUTH CAROLINA RELEASES NUMBER OF HOA COMPLAINTS. HERES HOW MANY HORRY COUNTY RECEIVED

The S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs released its HOA report for 2025. Where does Horry County fall for number of complaints? | Published February 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

In 2024, the Myrtle Beach Resort received the most amount of HOA complaints in Horry County, a state report said. By JASON LEE

NO. 7: OVER 100 HORRY COUNTY HOAS HAD COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST THEM. DID YOURS MAKE SCS LIST?

For the second year in a row Horry County was home to more HOA complaints than any other county in South Carolina. | Published February 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

Two and three-story townhomes called The Townes at Barefoot are being constructed in the Barefoot Landing community in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. North Myrtle Beach is booming with new construction of residential and commercial building. Sept. 13, 2023. By JASON LEE

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NO. 8: THESE HOAS IN THE MYRTLE BEACH AREA HAVE THE MOST COMPLAINTS, SC RECORDS SHOW

Horry County led the state in HOA complaints last year, according to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. These were the most common offenders. | Published May 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -The Lebanese army said on Saturday that six soldiers were killed and others wounded in an explosion while they were inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in the southern city of Tyre.

An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blast, the army added in a statement.

Security sources told Reuters that the explosion was caused by "remnants of the Israeli war" in the coastal city.

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Israel dealt major blows to Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah in an offensive last year - the climax of a conflict that began in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions on the frontier in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel in November ended that conflict, called on Lebanon to confiscate all "unauthorized" weapons across the country and said Israel would stop offensive operations against Lebanese targets.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam and Enas AlashrayWriting by Ahmed TolbaEditing by Mark Potter, Alexandra Hudson)
Extremely rare dragonfly spotted in southern Missouri

BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo.  An extremely rare dragonfly, a federally endangered species known as a male Hines emerald dragonfly, was recently discovered in southern Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has confirmed the sighting of the dragonfly from late June on private land in Bollinger County.

MDC staff and partners spotted the emerald-green insect during routine biological monitoring near a spring-fed wetland known as a karst fen. It was the first such sighting in Bollinger County, raising hope the species could be making a comeback in southern Missouri.

Photo courtesy: Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Hines emerald dragonfly is one of the rarest dragonflies in North America, said MDC Natural History Biologist Steve Schell via a news release. It wasnt known from Missouri until 1999, and since then has only been documented from a handful of eastern Ozark counties.

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Because of its distance from other known sites, Schell said this new sighting likely represents a new population for Missouri.

Known scientifically as Somatochlora hineana, the Hines emerald dragonfly is distinguished by its green body, bright green eyes and yellow-striped sides. In Missouri, adults can occassionally be spotted in June flying in karst fens, likely where reproduction occurs.

13-year-old boy wakes up from coma

According to MDC, Hines emerald dragonflies rely on specific fen habitats linked to ground water saturating small areas creating shallow semi-permeate pools and rivulets, with plenty of crayfish burrows. These habitats are sensitive to disturbance and threatened by development, road construction, and other changes that might affect hydrology.

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MDC says the observation creates the opportunity to further exploration and conservation work in the region.

The Bollinger County observation extends the known range of the species by over 30 miles to the east, suggesting more suitable habitat in southeast Missouri, said Schell. Finding a male is exciting, but we hope to find larvae or adults that indicate long-term breeding success,

According to AnimalDiveristy.org, its estimated there are only around 30,000 Hines emerald dragonflies worldwide. In North America, the species can also be found near the Great Lakes, though conservations say Missouris population has higher genetic diversity.

The Hines emerald dragonfly is an endangered species under federal and state law, which makes it illegal to harm or collect without permits.

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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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Did Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth share a video in which pastors said women should not be allowed to vote? Yes, that's true: Hegseth shared a link to a CNN report that interviewed leaders of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, which his own church is a part of. One pastor said he supports the repeal of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote and another said each family should have just one vote, which would be cast by the husband.

Hegseth's post (archived here) was published on X on August 8, 2025, with a caption that read:

All of Christ for All of Life.

All of Christ for All of Life. https://t.co/QqXhqZFStv -- Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) August 8, 2025

The CNN video report (archived here) is captioned:

Self-described Christian nationalist pastor Douglas Wilson is part of an ascendant group of Christian religious leaders finding influence among MAGA conservatives. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is Wilson's most prominent and public follower in the Trump administration. CNN's Pamela Brown reports from Moscow, Idaho, where Wilson's Christ Church is based.

Brown says in her narration that Pastor Wilson "says in his vision of a Christian society, women as individuals shouldn't be able to vote."

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Brown then asks Wilson's fellow pastors Jared Longshore and Toby Sumpter about women voting:

Pastor Toby Sumpter: In my ideal society, we would vote as households, and I would ordinarily be the one that would cast the vote, but I would cast the vote having discussed it with my household. CNN's Pamela Brown: But what if your wife doesn't want to vote for the same person as you? Pastor Sumpter: Well, then that's a great opportunity for a good discussion. Brown: There are some who have gone so far as to say that they want the 19th Amendment repealed. Pastor Jared Longshore: I would support that, and I supported on the basis that the atomization that comes with our current system is not good for humans.

Hegseth and his family are members of the Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, which is part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (archived here), which was co-founded by Wilson.
Does a video purporting to show an eight-year-old girl asking the court to "severely punish her stepfather" for the murder of her sibling, four-year-old "James Andrew", authentically capture a real-life scene? No, that's not true: The clip was a compilation of unrelated video and photo materials recorded at different times and locations. In reality, the girl's speech addressed the killing of an adult man by a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina. The footage was recorded nearly a decade before the claim went viral on social media.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on July 10, 2025. In it, a narrator's voice said:

An eight-year-old girl tearfully requested the judge to severely punish her stepfather in court. She recalled the day three years ago when her stepfather cruelly killed her four-year-old brother James Andrew and threw him in the trash can outside their house.

This is what it looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

Source: screenshot of a post by wybm99 on TikTok.com

Reverse image searches, however, showed that the video track was a compilation of unrelated visuals from three different news stories.

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The footage of the "eight-year-old girl" showed (archived here) Zianna Oliphant talking before the Charlotte, North Carolina, City Council in 2016 in connection with the death of the 43-year-old local resident killed by a police officer.

The man in a blue prison uniform with shaved patches on his skull was Jeremy Christian, captured on camera yelling (archived here) during his 2020 trial. He was sentenced (archived here) to life in prison in 2020 for the Portland, Oregon, train attack that took place three years earlier; in 2024, his conviction was upheld (archived here).

The little boy whose image was reused in the video on TikTok was 4-year-old Lloyd Morgan also called Chris by his family. He was killed in crossfire in The Bronx in 2012 (archived here). Neither of the two men sentenced in that case (archived here) was his father or stepfather.

Searches on Google (archived here) and Yahoo (archived here) did not show any reports about a trial involving the death of a four-year-old "James Andrew".

Lead Stories checked specialized resources that contain information about some of the murder trials, including CourtListener (archived here), Google Scholar Case Law (archived here) and PACER, but did not find a trial that would match the details of the case described in the video on TikTok.
Did former President George W. Bush refuse to accept the pension benefits for which he is eligible? No, that's not true: A 2016 report from the Congressional Research Service documents Bush accepted pension and benefits. At the time of the report, George W. Bush had already received over eight million dollars in benefits since leaving office. There has been no reporting since then that Bush has refused to accept his pension payments.

The video (archived here) was published on TikTok by @celebritynews82 on June 25, 2025. It was captioned:

Why are the lives of two former presidents#billclinton #georgewbush #foryou #fyp #fyp #celebrities #usa #tiktok

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

Image Source: screenshot of @celebritynews82 TikTok post by Lead Stories.

This fact check will focus only on the question if George W. Bush is refusing his presidential pension, not the other statements contained in this video.

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At the 0:14 and 0:38 second timestamps, the video's narrator claims that Bush:

...refuses to take a pension...

...declined his 219,000 thousand dollar presidential pension, saying, "I don't need taxpayer money."

A Google search (archived here) for the exact quote, "I don't need taxpayer money." with the former president's name, returned only results pointing to duplicate copies of this video comparing Bush and Clinton. There was no reporting from news sources attributing the quote to George W. Bush. Additional searches for phrases ""George W. Bush" AND refuses AND pension" or ""George W. Bush" AND declined AND pension" (archived here and here) return no relevant results.

George W. Bush left office in January of 2009. A report titled, "Former Presidents: Pensions, Office Allowances, and Other Federal Benefits " was published by the Congressional Research Service on March 16, 2016. On page 9 of the .pdf file (archived here) Table 1. containing data from the General Services Administration (GSA) details the FY2015 amounts for the pensions of the living former presidents and Nancy Reagan, as well as the other personal allowances to cover expenses such as travel and office space (pictured below). In the fourth column from the left (highlighted in yellow), the pension of George W. Bush is listed as $214,000.

Image Source: Screenshot of CRS report by Lead Stories with markup.

On page 11 of the same report, Table 2. shows the "Total Appropriation of Pensions and Benefits Provided to Former Presidents, Adjusted to FY2015 Dollars " in this chart the combined amount for benefits provided to George W. Bush, from 2009 - 2015 is totaled at $8,308,000.

Image Source: Screenshot of CRS report by Lead Stories with markup.

Lead Stories reached out to the Office of George W. Bush and to the U.S. General Services Administration and will update this article if we receive a reply.
Claim:

U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a reduction of the nation's public school year to last only six months.

Rating:

Rating: False

A rumor that circulated online in August 2025 claimed U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a reduction of the nation's public-school year to last only six months. Such a measure would reduce the average 180-day U.S. school year to somewhere around 120 days.

For example, on Aug. 7, a TikTok user posted a video (archived) with the text caption, "Donald Trump announced kids only attend school 6 months out of the year." The post featured several hashtags, including "#EducationCrisis," "#LetKidsLearn" and "#SaveOurSchools." The clip itself, receiving nearly 6 million views, displayed a caption promoting "breaking news"  without any logos for a network or publisher  with the headline, "Donald Trump announced kids only attend school 6 months out of the year."

The video began by showing Trump signing a document, as well as saying, "OK. We got it." Some of the spoken words did not match his lip movements. A purported newscaster then announced the development as follows:

Breaking news in a shocking and highly controversial statement. President Donald Trump has proposed a dramatic cut to the length of the U.S. academic year, allowing children to attend school for only six months annually, starting in August. Citing the post-COVID reality of disrupted education, Trump stated, "Kids don't need to be locked up in classrooms all year. A few months of good education is enough. Let them be kids, enjoy life and learn from the real world." The announcement drew immediate and fierce criticism from educators, parents and child development experts across the country. Many warned that such a drastic reduction in classroom time could severely damage academic performance, worsen educational inequality and weaken the long term strength of the nation's workforce. Critics argue the plan is not backed by any credible research and would reverse decades of progress in public education. Still, some of Trump's supporters applauded the move, describing it as a return to common sense and a way to shield children from over-education and government overreach. Although no formal policy has been introduced yet, the statement has already sparked a firestorm of debate on cable news and across social media platforms with trending hashtags like "save our schools" and "let kids learn," reflecting the deep divide. Whether this is a serious legislative proposal or simply another campaign season headline remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: America's education system is now in the political crosshairs. Drop you comments.

Users further shared this rumor on Bluesky (archived), Facebook (archived), Instagram, Threads (archived) and X (archived). Another TikTok video (archived), posted hours prior to the aforementioned clip, received more than 5.2 million views.

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However, these posts and videos promoted a false claim. Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets credibly confirming Trump proposed to shorten the public school year to six months. Outlets worldwide would have reported on the matter had he genuinely made such remarks.

The clip's script and voice narration displayed signs someone generated both elements with artificial-intelligence tools. For example, the inauthentic, AI-powered narrator's voice ended the video with the words, "Drop you comments." The unchanging tone of the voice and odd choice of words  "drop you comments," instead of "drop your comments"  did not add up, nor did the idea that a newscaster would ask TV viewers to submit remarks.

A reverse-image search for the opening clip showing Trump signing a document located the original video, featuring an unrelated executive order signing from July 31. Readers can view the same moment with Trump at the 19:29 mark in a video on the official White House YouTube channel. Also, as a second example of locating the source of various clips from the video, the second scene, showing a group of children wearing blue shirts dancing and singing, originated in an unrelated video from at least 2023, if not a previous year.

Snopes contacted the White House to ask if the Trump administration wished to share a statement about the false rumor and will update this story if we receive more information.

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For further reading, another fact check examined a rumor claiming a video showed Trump not just standing  but also dancing  on the roof of the White House in early August 2025.

Sources:

DeSilver, Drew. "In the U.S., 180 Days of School Is Most Common, but Length of School Day Varies by State." Pew Research Center, 7 Sep. 2023, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/07/in-the-u-s-180-days-of-school-is-most-common-but-length-of-school-day-varies-by-state/.

Evon, Dan. "Snopes Tips: A Guide To Performing Reverse Image Searches." Snopes, 22 Mar. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//articles/400681/how-to-perform-reverse-image-searches/.

"Find out When a TikTok Was Posted with This Free Tool." Trevor Fox, https://trevorfox.com/tools/tiktok-video-date-extractor/.

"President Trump Signs an Executive Order, July 31, 2025." YouTube, The White House, 31 Jul. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC09z2oqpDg.
Does a "Breaking News" video of a church fire document an arson-caused fire at a church in Quebec, Canada? No, that's not true: The fire happened 10 months before the video was posted. Official reports at the time noted a private developer was developing housing on the site and the origin of the fire appeared to be a container next to the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allegresses church in the town of Trois Rivieres.

The video appeared in various posts including in an August 8, 2025 post on X (archived here) on the @Sea2sea1way account with the title: "BREAKING NEWS". The title continued:

ISIS terrorist has set fire on a Church in Canada

This is what one such post looked like on X at the time this fact check was written:

Source: Screenshot by Lead Stories of post at x.com/Sea2Sea1Way.

The video purporting to show "Breaking News" had been on Instagram for three weeks, posted to the naz_hashem account (archived here) July 18, 2025, implying the Trois Rivieres fire was arson, with no links to documents or police statements corroborating that claim:

Source: Lead Stories screenshot of naz_hashem post on Instagram.

In the days immediately after the fire, French language and English language reports did not say the fire was arson-caused, instead noting the housing development being built at the site and reports the fire seemed to have started in a container adjacent to the historic church. Lead Stories will update this fact check when authorities respond with information about the outcome of the investigation into causes of the fire.
DES MOINES, Iowa  Fairgoers packed the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the first Friday of the fair.

The first Friday of the fair is unofficially known as East Side Night, a tradition where residents from Des Moines east side go to the fair.

Valerie Kripal, an east side Des Moines resident, said she has been going to East Side Night at the fair for years.

Day 2 fun at the Iowa State Fair while beating the heat

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Emily and I have actually came for, what, maybe 15, 20 years now. We actually are up in the museum with a picture of us from when we were in high school on East Side Night many, many years ago. So we just I grew up on the east side and now I get to bring my girls to East Side Night, Kripal said.

Alyssa Stewart, a former graduate of East High School in Des Moines, said she looks forward to seeing other East High alumni at East Side Night.

One of those events and one of those nights that we can go and see all of our friends every East high graduate that we graduated with. Its a fun night, Stewart said.

Iowa news

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LAKE FOREST, Ill.  Astronaut Capt. Jim Lovell, who led the historic Apollo 13 mission, passed away on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was 97 years old.

"Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always," said Nasa Administrator Sean Duffy.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 25, 1928, Lovell went on to have an esteemed career, such as graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and the exclusive U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1958, according to NASA.

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Lovell then became a NASA astronaut in 1972. He became part of the Gemini VII, Gemini XII and Apollo 8 missions, but was most likely best known for his role as Mission Commander on the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

On This Day: Doomed Apollo 13 Mission Dubbed The Successful Failure Launched To The Moon

En route to the Moon, Lovell and his Apollo 13 crew members experienced a failure of their Service Module cryogenic oxygen system, NASA said.

NASA said as warning lights lit up the cabin and indicated that two of the three fuel cells were lost, the crew radioed, "Houston, we've had a problem."

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Lovell led his team away from what could have been a disastrous outcome as they, along with Houston ground controllers, innovated on the fly to safely find a way back home.

Their harrowing tale was later recounted in the 1995 blockbuster hit Apollo 13, in which Lovells character was played by the actor Tom Hanks.

While the movie will help millions remember the history-making life Lovell led, his family will remember him far beyond the story that made it onto the silver screen.

How To Watch Fox Weather

"We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight. But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family," the family said in a statement. "Most importantly, he was our Hero."

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Captain Lovell set the record for time in space at 715 hours and 5 minutes until surpassed by Skylab flights, NASA said. He retired from the space program in 1973.

"We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible," they noted. "He was truly one of a kind."





Original article source: Famed astronaut Jim Lovell, who led historic Apollo 13 mission, dies at 97
DANIELSON, Conn. (WTNH)  The man who killed a visiting nurse in Willimantic in 2023 accepted a plea deal Friday in court, sentencing him to 50 years in prison.

Michael Reese has no chance of parole after he killed 63-year-old Joyce Grayson, a nurse visiting his home for an at-home appointment, in Oct. 2023.

Man accused of killing visiting nurse in Willimantic due in court

Graysons family hopes he dies in prison saying its a little bit of justice for her.

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Grayson has been described as an angel walking on earth, who only wanted to help people who were hurting.

Officials said Grayson was found in the homes basement, strangled with multiple blunt force injuries.

Officers observed that Ms. Graysons neck was bound with electrical cords and neck ties together, States Attorney John Fahey said.

Family members panicked not knowing where she was or what had happened to her.

Some of Graysons six children spoke through tears in court Friday, requesting not to be on camera.

One daughter said her life has been stolen by Reese. Another daughter, a social worker, said she doesnt know if she can go into peoples homes anymore, thats how scared she is after what happened to her mother.

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Unfortunately, we dont know why he did what he did and we may never know why he did what he did, Kelly Reardon, the Grayson family attorney, said. It was a truly senseless act.

Reese kept his eyes straight ahead in court, never looking at family and friends who wanted him to hear the carnage and heartache he has caused.

Legislation aimed at protecting Connecticut visiting nurses passes

Through his attorney, Reese said hes ashamed of whats hes done.

After Graysons death, new legislation to help visiting nurses be safer in Connecticut was passed. The family says its a start, but more need to be done in their eyes.

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Theres a civil suit also pending. The family lawyer saying a settlement is close, probably in the next few weeks.

Reese will be looking at a release date of 2075.

Watch the full story in the player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The family of William McNeil Jr., speaking only with Action News Jax, is asking for more answers from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office in its investigation into his viral arrest after a traffic stop in February.

Action News Jax first showed you the cell phone and police body camera video of the arrest last month, which made national headlines. It shows JSO Officer Donald Bowers punching McNeil Jr. before he and the other officers who responded dragged him out of the car and put him in cuffs.

McNeil Jr. and his family have since filed a lawsuit against JSO alongside multiple civil rights lawyers, including Ben Crump, regarding the use of force by Officer Bowers and the other officers who were involved in the arrest.

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We really here not to incite a riot, but to say to the people to stand against injustice, Frank James said, McNeil Jr.s uncle, during the rally held on Saturday alongside the Jacksonville Community Action Committee.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The arrest report from JSO says McNeil had been driving without headlights on during inclement weather and didnt have his seatbelt on when he was pulled over. The police body camera video shows McNeil first asking why he had been pulled over and then asking to speak with the officers supervisor when he was given a reason by the officers involved. It later shows McNeil closing and locking his car doors after the officers had given multiple commands to step out of the car.

The State Attorneys Office has since said none of the officers involved in the arrest committed any crimes. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is still investigating whether any of the officers broke policy, but Officer Bowers has since been put on leave.

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McNeil Jr.s family is not only calling on the State Attorneys Office to reopen its investigation into the arrest, but is asking JSO to share the results of its internal investigation.

They need to do their job, the right job, the truthful job, Latoya Solomon said, McNeil Jr.s mother.

Weeks ago, Action News Jax requested more documents from the State Attorneys Office regarding its investigation and decision regarding the arrest. Were still waiting to hear back.

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LEEDS, Ala. (WIAT)  The family of 24-year-old Giovanna Hernandez hopes she will be released on bond from a federal detention center in Louisiana after Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said she was detained by ICE officials after being stopped by police for reckless driving on Tuesday.

Allen Shabani, the attorney for Giovanna Hernandez, said his client is undocumented but has no criminal background. He said she was transferred from the Pickens County Jail to the Richwood Correctional Center in Richwood, Louisiana on Friday.

Shabani added that Hernandez, who came to the U.S. with her younger brother as an unaccompanied minor at the age of 7, is afforded due process and should be able to attend a removal hearing and a bond hearing.

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Dilan Hernandez said his sister was calm, and she assured him she was ok during their initial phone call Tuesday evening after she had been taken into custody by ICE officials.

She was like, I really just want you to be there for my mom and dad. I know theyre having a really hard time, but I just want you to be there and tell them Im ok and were going to get through this.

2 people injured in downtown Birmingham shooting, no suspect in custody

He said the two came to the U.S. when he was four years old in 2008, missing the 2007 window to be eligible for DACA status.

According to Hernandez, his sister graduated valedictorian from Leeds High School and earned a bachelors and a masters degree in social work from Jacksonville State University. He added that she had been working as an immigrant advocate for HICA.

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I want my sister to come home and I want there to be a change, he said.

He said previous efforts by members of the family to obtain legal status had not been successful.

Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin said she was pulled over for reckless driving on I-20 Tuesday morning. He said she was driving a Honda Accord with tinted windows.

Chief Irwin said the vehicle approached speeds up to 91 miles per hour on a stretch of roadway where the speed limit was 70 miles per hour.

She was driving at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and actually tailgating a police officer that was in an unmarked vehicle, he said.

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The Leeds Police Department released a video of the incident on Facebook Friday evening.

Chief Irwin said the only identification she had was an identification card issued by Mexico. He said they notified ICE when it was determined that she did not have a valid drivers license.

We work with our federal partners, we work with state partners, we work with other agencies around the state to enforce the law, he said. Its just terrible that this happened to someone in our community that evidently a lot of people feel passionate about.

He said after she was pulled over, she was issued a warning.

A petition drive launched on petition.org shows more than 9,400 signatures have been collected, asking for her to be freed from the ICE detention center in Louisiana.

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The petition states they also want a pathway for her to remain lawfully in the United States.

In order to gain a better understanding of what legal recourse someone in her position might have, we reached out to Hugo Valverde, who has served as an attorney advisor to immigration courts in Louisiana and Tennessee.

He said under the U.S. Constitution, Hernandez does have due process rights. However, he noted he has seen recent changes in that regard.

What were seeing right now is that the government is making arguments that persons who came in illegally, even if it was like, when they were three, four years old, theyre not eligible for bond, and theyre not even eligible to present their case in front of a judge, he said. So that is something new. Ive been doing this now for, it will my 20th year, practicing immigration law, and Ive never seen the government take this position before.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A family is trying to gain custody of three children who were involved in a North Las Vegas police shooting.

An officer shot Auftan Green, 31, several times after he attempted to run over officers and his own child, according to the North Las Vegas Police Department.

Officers responded to a gas station near East Tropical Parkway and Sloan Lane on July 20 over concerns that reportedly one or more adults were passed out and possibly under the influence, police said.

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Green was approached by an officer while at the gas pump.



Look, man, my main concern is the kids, an officer is heard saying on bodycam.

Bodycam footage shows moments leading up to North Las Vegas police shooting 15-year-old suspect

Following that discussion, Green hopped in his black Honda Accord, and a struggle ensued between the officer and Green, and he eventually sped off, police said.

Newly released body camera footage shows the intense moment a North Las Vegas police officer shot a man, identified as Auftan Green, who is accused of hitting him with his vehicle at a gas station. (NLVPD)

Car is taking off on us, a police officer radios to dispatch.

The officer finds a crying child who fell out of Greens car and consoles her. The child was one of three girls inside the car, according to police.

Body camera footage shows the intense moment a North Las Vegas police officer shot a man, identified as Auftan Green, who is accused of hitting him with his vehicle at a gas station. (NLVPD)

Greens sister, Amanda Humbert, is fighting to gain custody.

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The girls are okay, in state custody right now still, Humbert said. I feel for those girls and I hope that I can support them.

Humbert lives in Wyoming with her husband. Neither Green nor Kristal Leavitt, who was also in the vehicle and faces child abuse charges, had custody of the girls.

Im not sure why they had the girls, Humbert said. Im just trying to do everything I can to when the case worker says yes, you can get them. Im not holding up the process.

Humbert told 8 News Now her brother is currently in a medically induced coma. During a recent court hearing, Greens attorney told a judge that hes expected to be in the hospital for the next six months.

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In the police bodycam video, Green is seen driving back towards officers after fleeing, nearly striking one of them and his daughter.

According to police, the officer fired five rounds, hitting Green multiple times.

How he rationalized that in his head was obviously the drugs, because when we heard about it, I was in disbelief that would be something that he would even do, Humbert said.

Whenever he does wake up, Green faces two attempted murder charges, two assault charges, and battery with use of a deadly weapon.

North Las Vegas police said they found methamphetamine, heroin, and a gun in that car.

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Kirsten Leavitt, the other person in the car, remains in jail on $100,000 bail.

Humbert has set up a SpotFund link titled: Help me foster my nieces.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The family of a woman killed when trying to get her stolen car back is now suing Albuquerque police and the shopping center where she died. In 2023, 23-year-old Sydney Wilson used a GPS to track her stolen car to this parking lot at Central Ave. and Coors Blvd. She confronted the teens inside her car when then 13-year-old Marcos Barela shot and killed her.

Albuquerque woman sentenced to 26 years behind bars for 2nd degree murder

In a new wrongful death lawsuit, the family is suing the owners of that parking lot, saying its known to be a hot spot for crime, and more should have been done to keep the area safe. The suit names the Albuquerque Police Department, claiming Wilson called police twelve times in twenty-four hours with the exact location of her car, and that APD never provided an adequate response.

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A spokesperson with APD said they will respond to the allegations in court. Earlier this year, a jury found Barela guilty of second-degree murder, but because of his age, he will only be locked up for six years.

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Every two weeks, an 18-year-old in Texas buys lifesaving medication for his 11-year-old sister and sends it to Mexico.

He has been doing this for the past six months, since immigration authorities removed his five siblings from the United States  four of whom are U.S. citizens, including his then-10-year-old sister, who is recovering from a rare brain tumor. They were all sent to Mexico when authorities deported their parents, who lacked legal status.

The familys absence has since weighed heavily on him as the oldest brother, who was left behind in the United States alone.

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His once bustling home, where cookouts were hosted and life milestones were celebrated among family and friends, now feels empty, he said. Every time he steps into the house, a deep sense of loneliness overcomes him.

Theres no one here. Its just me, he said, followed by a long pause. Its been pretty hard.

The brother, who spoke exclusively to NBC News, is not being named out of concern for his family members safety after they were sent to an area of Mexico known for kidnappings of U.S. citizens.

Immigration authorities removed four American citizen children from Texas when they deported their parents. For safety purposes, names of the family members are being withheld. Family photos provided by the Texas Civil Rights Project have faces blurred. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

He had been planning to go to college after finishing high school to pursue his dream career. Instead, he said, hes working two jobs  one during the day at a fast-food restaurant and another at night at a gas station. The teen said he works so many hours a week that at times he barely gets to eat.

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His familys deportation has forced him to become their lifeline. When the loneliness and long work hours become overwhelming, he said, the ever-present memories of his young sister having seizures and being revived countless times at the hospital motivate him to keep going.

At any moment, that brain tumor can come back, as her doctors said. Thats why she needs to keep getting the medicine that I buy, said the 18-year-old, who is also a U.S. citizen.

His sister cant access the medicine she needs from Mexico because the specialist doctors monitoring her recovery and prescribing her medicines are all in the U.S.

Its not cheap. At one point, it was like $300, he said. The insurance doesnt cover it, so Im paying for everything.

After a deportation, hoping for parole

On Feb. 3, the family was driving from the Rio Grande Valley area, where they lived, to Houston, where the girls doctors are based, for an emergency medical checkup. On the way, they stopped at a stateside immigration checkpoint, one they have passed through multiple times. But this time, immigration authorities arrested the parents.

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According to their attorney, Danny Woodward, they have never done anything to make them a priority for removal. The entire family was taken to a detention facility and sent to Mexico the following day.

The girls health condition has not improved since shes been in Mexico, her mother told NBC News in June. Worsening headaches and dizziness have become so frequent that the girls parents take turns monitoring and taking care of her through the night.

An 10-year-old U.S. citizen recovering from a rare brain tumor was removed to Mexico with her parents in February. The photograph has been blurred by the Texas Civil Rights Project for safety purposes. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

The symptoms are indicative of some of the lasting side effects from the brain surgery that saved her life last year. Because the swelling in her brain is still not fully gone, the girl experiences difficulties with speech and mobility on the right side of her body, as well as memory problems. These require the girl to routinely check in with doctors monitoring her recovery, get MRI scans every three months, attend rehabilitation therapy sessions and take medication to prevent seizures.

But she has not been able to consistently access this care since the family was deported, her mother said.

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The family applied for humanitarian parole with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in June. They still have not heard back.

Its very, very stressful  just waiting for them to answer, the girls brother said. I dont know why its taking so long.

USCIS did not respond to a request for comment, but according to its website, applicants may demonstrate urgency by establishing a reason to be in the U.S. that calls for immediate action, including critical medical treatment or the need to visit, assist or support a relative who is ill.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, previously told NBC News that reports of the familys situation are inaccurate and declined to speak on the specifics of the case, citing privacy reasons. The spokesperson said in a statement that when someone is given expedited removal orders and chooses to disregard them, they will face the consequences.

A church community calls for 'compassion'  and lends a hand

Marco Polo Coronado Jr., the lead pastor at the church the boys family began attending last year following his sisters diagnosis, said allowing the family to come back so that their 11-year-old can receive the treatment she needs with the support of her entire family seems like a no-brainer to him.

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I dont think it matters what political spectrum you come from. I think compassion is something thats born from within us, that God puts there, Coronado said. When you find Jesus, when you have a relationship with Christ, its hard to avoid.

Church members who are hoping for the family's return have been helping the teen maintain the house after his parents were deported. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

It is a wonderful family, and I think they go out of their way to try to make ends meet for their family and do all the right things for them and bring them up the right way, Coronado said, adding that their remarkable children excel in music and the arts.

Keeping that hope alive, church volunteers showed up last month to help the boy fix up the house, so its in good shape when the family returns.

After a few days of work, everything came out better than I expected, the teen said.

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With his family gone, the 18-year-old suddenly had bills to pay and a house to keep up. As he struggled to finish his last semester of senior year, he said he considered dropping out to work full time. But then he thought about his mother and the sacrifices shes made, and that kept him in school.

Church members are helping the teen with home repairs and maintenance. (Texas Civil Rights Project)

He spent his 18th birthday and high school graduation without his family. He had thought that would be the time hed be applying to colleges, the first step toward becoming a neurosurgeon  the same type of doctor who saved his sisters life last year when she had her first brain surgery.

He recalled the moment he decided to pursue that career. It was the first time he met the neurosurgeon who operated on his sister. When the doctor came out of surgery, his eyes went happy, the teen recalled. I was like, Thats what I want to do. Hes put that on hold, indefinitely.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Xi says China will continue to promote peace talks in Ukraine crisis

Xinhua) 09:07, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China will remain consistent in its position on the Ukraine crisis and continue to promote peace talks no matter how the situation evolves.

Saying that complex problems have no simple solutions, Xi elaborated on China's principles and position in his phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said that the Chinese side is glad to see Russia and the United States maintain contact, improve their relations and promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

For his part, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent contact and communication between Russia and the United States.

He said that Russia highly appreciates the constructive role China has been playing in the political settlement of the crisis, adding that the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between Russia and China will not change under any circumstances.

Russia stands ready to maintain close communication with China, said Putin.

The two heads of state spoke highly of the high-level political mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia, and agreed to work together to promote a greater development of China-Russia relations.

The two leaders vowed to make concerted efforts in preparation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit so as to make it a summit of friendship, unity and fruitful results, and jointly promote the high-quality development of the SCO.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Extreme heat and ongoing drought are pushing some farmers in Saskatchewan, Canada, to their limits. After nine consecutive dry years, many say this season is shaping up to be the most devastating yet.

What's happening?

Farmers in southwestern Saskatchewan are facing one of the harshest growing seasons on record, CJME reported. After nearly a decade of persistent drought, record-breaking heat is making the damage even worse, scorching crops and drying out pastures. Some farmers say they're being pushed to the brink.

"It's the worst year that I've ever seen," said Kelly Bakanec, a farmer near Fox Valley. "Another week or two of this drought, and we won't even take our combines out. We'll be lucky to scratch around and get our seed back right now."

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Hay crops are particularly devastated, and ranchers like Alvin Pawlitza are having to get feed from far away in Manitoba and northern Montana. "You start buying feed and to truck it in, you're $2,000 or $2,500 a load for, say, 40 bales, and you need 400 or 500 bales just to help get through," Pawlitza said.

Why are struggling crops concerning?

As rising global temperatures drive more extreme weather, prolonged droughts like this one are becoming harder to recover from and to insure against. Farmers are dealing with reduced yields, growing debt, and inadequate safety nets. Bakanec summed it up, saying: "Every year, a guy's getting farther and farther behind."

But the impact goes far beyond the farm and crop producers. As harvests shrink and feed becomes more expensive, food prices could rise across the supply chain, affecting families at every income level. And if more ranchers are forced to sell off their herds or move to different areas, it could leave lasting gaps in local food supply chains.

"Producers here are extremely resilient, and they're pretty tough," Pawlitza said. "But we've been in this long enough that we have to start to consider some options  because this is getting long, and people are getting really tired of trying to deal with this."

What's being done to support struggling crops?

Farmers want better support from the government, including transportation aid and improved insurance programs. Pawlitza, for example, points to neighboring Alberta's stronger hay and rainfall insurance programs as a potential model for Saskatchewan.

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On a broader scale, protecting our food future means reducing the heat-trapping pollution that worsens rising temperatures and extreme weather. That includes making homes and transportation cleaner and more efficient, switching to clean energy, and supporting sustainable farming practices wherever possible. People at home can explore critical climate issues to learn more about local initiatives working to make the future cleaner and safer for us all.

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Though it was not yet noon, the temperature was already inching toward triple digits, and it felt even hotter for the scores of farmworkers hunched in the rows of watermelon plants in this field tucked by a bend in the Sacramento River north of Californias capital. They were clad in long-sleeved shirts, pants, and face coverings to protect their skin from the sun and the tiny spikes on the watermelon vines, and they were stooping and standing over and over again, painstakingly plucking flowers off each plant.

Their boss, Jose Chavez, said he tries to be vigilant about the danger of heat illness, making sure there is plenty of drinking water in the fields and that workers can take breaks in the shade and knock off early on blistering days. Its a lesson he said he learned the hard way, after having to summon ambulances to the fields in past summers because workers were hobbled by heat stroke.

We learned from that, he said. When you start taking people to the hospital, its not fun.

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That lesson, however, has not stuck with many employers, and 20 years after California enacted a landmark heat safety law, farmworkers across the state are still getting sick and sometimes dying from preventable heat illness. Advocates and some lawmakers say a toothless enforcement system is often to blame.

The sun shines above workers harvesting tomatoes Friday in Woodland.

The law is failing because of a lack of enforcement. Its not doing what it was intended to do, said state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), a former farmworker who carried legislation last year supported by the UFW. It would have made it easier for farmworkers to receive workers compensation if they were stricken by heat illness on the job and their employer had not followed heat rules. The measure was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

It is the kind of thing that should be keeping legislators up at night," Cortese added. "People are dying.

Last month, the California state auditor blasted the California Department of Occupational Health and Safety , finding, among other problems, that the agencys inspectors failed to take proper action when workers suffered heat illness on the job. The audit also found that the agency was understaffed, and many of its procedures out of date.

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In addition, a Times review of several recent heat deaths on California farms found cases where Cal/OSHA issued few or no penalties, even when workers died. In May of 2023, for example, a worker harvesting corn near Brawley fell behind his colleagues and then complained of stomach pain and began convulsing. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died of heat stroke, organ failure, and underlying medical issues. Cal/OSHA closed its investigation with no penalties, according to records.

A farmworker clears brush from a farm irrigation channel in Woodland.

A farmworker makes repairs to a tractor in a recently harvested field Friday , Aug. 8, 2025 in Woodland.

In a statement, Cal/OSHA Deputy Director of Communications Daniel Lopez said officials "acknowledge the state auditors findings and recommendations and were working to make improvements. The statement also said Cal/OSHA has recently created an Agricultural Enforcement Task Force to improve working conditions for farmworkers.

The enforcement lapses come at a time when farmworkers  many of whom lack legal status and fear deportation  are already hesitant to voice complaints about working conditions, fearful that employers could retaliate by reporting them to immigration authorities. It is estimated that more than half of Californias approximately 350,000 farmworkers are undocumented.

This week, as the hottest temperatures of the summer descend just as harvest season hits its peak  and at a time when the Trump administration has stepped up immigration raids across California  some say farm laborers face more risks than ever.

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Over and over again, we have seen farmworkers go without the heat safety protections they are legally entitled to, said Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers union. The states heat illness prevention enforcement system isnt working.

The view from a drone of farmworkers harvesting tomatoes Friday in Woodland.

Californias landmark heat laws were put in place in August of 2005, with then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing new measures while standing with the family of a farm laborer, Constatino Cruz, who had died of heatstroke.

Cruz was the fourth farmworker to die in that brutal summer 20 years ago, in which heat deaths also claimed a man picking bell peppers in Arvin, a melon picker in Fresno County and a grape picker in Kern County. All had been laboring in the fields when temperatures were above 100 degrees.

The rules, which were the first of their kind in the country, require bosses to provide outdoor workers with fresh water, access to shade when the temperatures climb, and breaks to cool off whenever workers request them. Employers are also required to have a heat illness prevention plan and train supervisors to recognize the signs of heat stroke and seek medical help.

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But the law was far from a panacea. In 2009, the American Civil Liberties Union and the United Farm Workers union sued Cal/OSHA, saying the statute was too weak and the agencys enforcement was woefully inadequate.

The suit said 11 farmworkers had died since the law went into effect.

Three years later, the nonprofit law firm Public Counsel filed another suit, alleging that the states failure to enforce the problems had persisted, and that farmworkers were continuing to die.

Farmworkers maintain squash plants growing on a farm Friday in Woodland.

In 2015, the state settled both lawsuits, agreeing to focus on enforcement of heat safety violations, as well as making complaints more accessible.

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Since the law was enacted, climate change has pounded the state with more frequent and intense heat waves, with little relief even at night. And in recent years, the enforcement problems have continued.

A 2022 study by the UC Merced Community and Labor Center found that many farmworkers were still laboring without the protections. Of more than 1,200 workers surveyed, 43% reported that their employers had not provided a heat illness prevention plan and 15% said they had not received heat illness prevention training.

Last year, a Times investigation found that Cal/OSHA inspections had dropped by 30% from 2017 to 2023, and the number of violations fell by more than 40%.

Assemblywoman Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) said last year that there were dangerous and illegal working conditions on many California farms. To say Im infuriated is an understatement, she said. I dont want to hear any more excuses. Its excuse after excuse, year after year.

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This year, Assemblywoman Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) introduced another proposed law, similar to the one Newson vetoed last year, making it easier for farmworkers to receive workers' compensation. The bill, which faced opposition from farm interests, was approved by the Assembly, but held over at the end of the legislative session.

Farmworkers make adjustments to machinery while harvesting tomatoes Friday in Woodland.

As the heat wave settled over California this week, workers in the watermelon field near Knights Landing said they were coming into work earlier  at 6 a.m.  and leaving earlier, to stay ahead of the heat.

As the sun beat down, water jugs were stationed every few yards and tarps providing shade coverage were stationed around the perimeter of the rows of crops.

Chavez , the boss, said he had not seen any of his workers suffering from heat stress recently. Not this year, thank God, he said.

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This article is part of The Times equity reporting initiative , funded by the James Irvine Foundation , exploring the challenges facing low-income workers and the efforts being made to address Californias economic divide.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A body found onboard a docked yacht in Montauk on Tuesday was later identified as Martha Nolan-OSlatarra, a fashion designer from New York.

Martha Nolan-OSlatarra, 33, was found unconscious at the Montauk Yacht Club in Long Island just after midnight. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to an update from local authorities, an autopsy "did not show evidence of violence." Her cause of death remains under investigation by the Suffolk County Medical Examiners Office.

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We are saddened to learn of the tragic incident that took place. Our team is cooperating with law enforcement in their ongoing investigation and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our guests and staff. We have no further comment at this time," a spokesperson for the Montauk Yacht Club announced.

Nolan-OSlatarra, known professionally as Martha Nolan, was originally from Ireland and moved to New York City in 2015. Shortly after her transatlantic move, the entrepreneur launched her resortwear brand East x East in the Hamptons.

"Carlow is a small town. I was the small town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams," Nolan said in a 2024 interview with the Irish Independent. "I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven  and that fashion is a tough industry and it would be a slow road."

One month prior to her death, Nolan celebrated a East x East pop-up in Montauk on social media.

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"Goals Achieved @East x East Visit our Pop Up at Gurneys in Montauk!" she captioned the video shared via TikTok on July 1.

Fashion Designer, 33, Found Dead on a Yacht in the Hamptons first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 6, 2025
The fast-fashion industry is not new to lawsuits. Many top fast-fashion brands have been accused of unethical wage practices and harmful work environments.

Most recently, Shein has found itself in a lawsuit against multiple California counties for shipping delays without repercussions.

What's happening?

As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the counties of San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, and Los Angeles filed a consumer protection lawsuit on behalf of their citizens following allegations of illegal shipping delays. The counties reached a settlement with Shein at the Napa County Superior Court.

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The lawsuit stated that Shein failed to timely notify its customers or offer refunds when online orders were not shipped within 30 days, as required by California law.

The result of this settlement is that Shein must pay $700,000 in fines and be required to ship packages on time. Shein also agreed to never offer false statements about shipping delays.

"California consumers deserve to have the products they pay for delivered in a timely manner, and Shein repeatedly violated that trust by failing to offer refunds when they couldn't deliver on time," Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley said in a statement, per the Chronicle.

A Shein representative shared a statement after the settlement was reached: "We fully cooperated with the investigation throughout and, while not admitting any liability, have taken steps to ensure our shipping and customer practices and communications comply with applicable law."

Why is Shein's lawsuit concerning?

Shein was one of the first brands to utilize TikTok Shop and became one of the biggest brands in the world because of its marketing strategy, according to the BBC. However, with exponential growth comes visibility and accountability, and Shein has been in the headlines often for lawsuits.

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Shein has been called out for exploiting workers' rights, tax evasion, dangerous levels of lead in clothing, and now illegal shipping delays.

In addition, Shein's clothes, along with all fast-fashion items, are designed to deteriorate, and consumers are under-wearing and failing to recycle them properly. According to Earth.org, only 12% of the textiles that are used for clothing end up being recycled  100 billion garments are produced every year, and 92 million tons of them end up in landfills.

How can you avoid fast fashion?

Companies are working to find solutions to combat textile waste, but you can take individual action as well.

Shopping fast fashion may seem like it's the most accessible option, but in reality, that's just its marketing. Thrifting is a great way to get clothing, and it's available in major cities, small towns, and online.

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Thrifting offers accessible prices, access to vintage brands and household items, and often longer-lasting pieces made with safer materials. For even more local and free options, look out for clothing swaps in your area.

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A former IMPD officer who was accused of sexually assaulting a then-15-year-old girl one year ago was sentenced to six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.

On Aug. 8, 2025, Judge James Osborn sentenced Paul Humphrey, 51, to 20 years in prison and two years' probation as a registered sex offender after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the teen on multiple occasions.

"It is disturbing and sickening to know that a police officer who is sworn to keep our community safe created such an unsafe environment and abused an innocent young child," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said following the sentencing.

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Humphrey had been with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for 24 years.

Paul Humphrey: IMPD officer charged with sex crimes against minor pleads guilty

He was charged in January 2024 after a complaint was filed with the Indiana Department of Child Services about a student who had been inappropriately touched.

Court records revealed the teen had known Humphrey since she was a second-grader. The sexual abuse began when she was 15 years old and continued until the end of her sophomore year. According to court documents, the sexual relationship began when she started working at Humphrey's lawn care business, and he asked if she knew about sex and self-defense.

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While showing her self-defense tactics, court documents state, he tried to take off her clothes.

In January 2022, court records reveal, Humphrey propositioned her for sex. She first replied, "I don't know," and then complied. The sexual relationship continued for several weekends on days she worked.

Detectives in court records said the teen later told police she hated the relationship and "felt pressured because he was a father figure and a cop."

When the abuse was reported, investigators said, Humphrey called the DCS hotline, identified himself as an officer, and asked about the complaint. The DCS worker said when they relayed to him that the case was sex abuse-related and who reported the offenses, Humphrey hung up, a probable cause affidavit for his arrest states.

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The worker said they did not realize Humphrey was the perpetrator until he called back and asked for a screenshot of the complaint, which the worker refused to send.

Police were later called to Humphrey's business for an attempted suicide and found him unconscious in a small room filled with carbon monoxide churning from two generators. He was treated at a hospital before his arrest.

IMPD Police Chief Chris Bailey said at the time that he was deeply disappointed and disturbed by the allegations.

Children should trust that people in authority will protect them at all times," Bailey said.

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After Humphrey's sentencing, Mears said he's grateful for the victim who courageously came forward and shared her story."

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. Sarah Nelson contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Ex-IMPD officer sentenced for sexually assaulting teen
The Brief

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Orlando recently assisted in arresting an undocumented immigrant.

Officials say Arturo Perez Rodriguez is a wanted "aggravated felon and fugitive."

Rodriguez's alleged prior charges include assault, bodily injury, unlawful entry into a residence and re-entry after deportation.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Orlando recently assisted in arresting an undocumented immigrant who officials say is a wanted "aggravated felon and fugitive."

What we know

FDLE Orlando recently assisted in arresting an undocumented immigrant who officials say is a wanted "aggravated felon and fugitive."

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Authorities say Arturo Perez Rodriguez is a Mexican national and a wanted fugitive on a federal warrant out of Ohio.

Arturo Perez Rodriguez was recently taken into custody by FDLE Orlando and other partners. (Credit: FDLE Orlando)

Rodriguez's alleged prior charges include assault, bodily injury, unlawful entry into a residence and re-entry after deportation.

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FDLE Orlando thanked other partners involved in the arrest for their help, including the FDLE, HSI Tampa, CBP Florida and the U.S. Marshal's Office,

What they're saying

"An illegal alien, aggravated felon and fugitive from justice?" FDLE said in a post on X. "He's now headed back to face justice."

An illegal alien, aggravated felon and fugitive from justice?



FDLE Orlando and our partners arrested Rodriguezwanted out of Ohio for illegally reentering the U.S. after a felony deportation. He's now headed back to face justice.



This collaborative effort was accomplished pic.twitter.com/pRPQ6zZUX4  FDLE (@fdlepio) August 8, 2025

The Source

This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Orlando.
A husband and a wife from Fort Stewart, Georgia, were indicted for murdering their child, Vyolet Kelley, by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on Friday.

The indictment alleges 29-year-old Brandon M. Kelley and 26-year-old Stacey D. Kelley deprived their child of adequate nourishment and medical care while living at Fort Stewart Military Reservation.

The indictment charges the couple with several charges related to the unlawful death of their child.

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Those charges include Felony Murder and two counts of Second Degree Murder.

The family lived at Fort Stewart because Brandon Kelley was an enlisted soldier.

The allegations in this case are heartbreaking on many levels. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice, said Acting United States Attorney Tara M. Lyons.

The United States Army Criminal Division investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy P. Dean and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr are now prosecuting.

The Kelleys face potential penalties up to life in prison upon conviction.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Around 2 a.m., noisy revelers emerging from clubs and bars packed the sidewalks of U Street in Washington, many of them seeking a late-night slice or falafel. A robust but not unusual contingent of city police cruisers lingered around the edges of the crowds. At other late-night hot spots, nearly identical scenes unfolded.

What wasn't apparent in Friday's earliest hours: any sort of security lockdown by a multiagency flood of uniformed federal law enforcement officers. That's what President Donald Trump had promised Thursday, starting at midnight, in the administration's latest move to impose its will on the nation's capital.

In short, that law enforcement surge to take control of the District of Columbia's streets did not appear to unfold on schedule. A two-hour city tour, starting around 1 a.m. Friday, revealed no overt or visible law enforcement presence other than members of the Metropolitan Police Department, the city's police force.

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That still might change in the coming evenings as Donald Trump puts into action his long-standing plans to take over a capital city he has repeatedly slammed as unsafe, filthy and badly run. According to his Thursday declaration, the security lockdown will run for seven days, with the option to extend as needed. In an online post Saturday, the Republican president said the Democratic-led city would soon be one of the country's safest and he announced a White House news conference for Monday, though he offered no details.

On Friday night, a White House official said Thursday night's operations included arrests for possession of two stolen firearms, suspected fentanyl and marijuana. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said more than 120 members of various federal agencies  the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service  were to be on duty Friday night, upping the complement of federal officers involved.

"This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, D.C.," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, who publicly faced off against Trump in 2020 when he called in a massive federal law enforcement response to disperse crowds of protesters, has not said a public word since Trump's declaration. The police department has gone similarly silent.

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A crackdown came after an assault

The catalyst for this latest round of takeover drama was the assault last weekend on a high-profile member of the bureaucracy-slashing Department of Government Efficiency by a group of teenagers in an attempted carjacking.

Police arrested two 15-year-olds and were seeking others. Trump quickly renewed his calls for the federal government to seize control.

If D.C. doesnt get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that theyre not going to get away with it anymore, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He later told reporters he was considering everything from repealing Washington's limited home rule autonomy to bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly.

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The threats come at a time when Bowser's government can legitimately claim to have reduced the number of homicides and carjackings, both of which spiked in 2023. The number of carjackings overall dropped significantly the following year in 2024, from 957 to just under 500, and is on track to decline again this year, with less than 200 recorded so far more than halfway through the year.

The portion of juveniles arrested for carjacking, though, has remained above 50%, and Bowser's government has taken steps to reign in a new phenomenon of rowdy teenagers causing disarray and disturbances in public spaces. Emergency legislation passed by the D.C. Council this summer imposed tighter youth curfew restrictions and empowered Police Chief Pamela Smith to declare temporary juvenile curfew zones for four days at a time. In those areas, a gathering of nine or more under the age of 18 is unlawful after 8 p.m.

This lies within presidential authority

Trump is within his powers in deploying federal law enforcement assets on D.C. streets. He could deploy the National Guard, although that is not one of the dozen participating agencies listed in his declaration. The first Trump administration called in the National Guard during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and again on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters overran the Capitol.

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Further steps, including taking over the police department, would require a declaration of emergency. Legal experts believe that would most likely be challenged in court. Such an approach would fit the general pattern of Trump's second term in office, when he has declared states of emergency on issues ranging from border protection to economic tariffs. In many cases, he moved forward while the courts sorted it out.

Imposing a full federal takeover of Washington would require a congressional repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973. It's a step that Trump said lawyers are examining.

That law was specific to Washington, not other communities in the United States that have their own home rule powers but generally retain representation in their state legislatures, said Monica Hopkins, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia.

Signed into law by President Richard Nixon, the measure allowed D.C. residents to elect their own mayor, council and local commissioners. The district had been previously run by federally appointed commissioners and members of Congress, some of whom balked at having to deal with potholes and other details of running a city of 700,000 residents.

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So far, Trump's criticisms of Washington can be felt most directly in the actions of the National Park Service, which controls large pieces of land throughout the capital. In Trump's second administration, the agency has stepped up its clearing of homeless encampments on Park Service land and recently carried out a series of arrests of people smoking marijuana in public parks.

Earlier in the week, the agency said a statue of a Confederate military leader that was toppled by protesters in 2020 would be restored and replaced, in line with an executive order.

___

Associated Press writers Mike Pesoli, Michael Kunzelman and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
Five-year-old Milo Williams dropped his cup of Superman the other day at Ray's Ice Cream and it landed upright, just like the Man of Steel himself. No spills, no red-blue-and-yellow mess, no tears.

Maybe Superman really is unstoppable. But invulnerable?

Not at Ray's, the first name in ice cream in Royal Oak for 67 years. There, and likely elsewhere in the dairy industry, change is coming.

Not huge change, said Jason Eddleston, who bought the business in 2022 with his wife, Lindsey. Tweaks, really. They'll probably be imperceptible to Milo and the other kids who've made Superman the favorite flavor of customers who are still losing their first set of teeth.

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Powers even stronger than Superman's, though, are at play in the ice cream business.

Customers have been asking about artificial food dyes, Eddleston said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration had their say a few weeks ago, even if it was more of a nudge than a snarling edict.

"Dye is something that comes up more and more: 'Is there Red 40 in this?'" Eddleston said.

In Superman, yes. In sprinkles also, at least the red ones. Other dyes turn vanilla ice cream yellow in Superman, or provide an inviting green tint to mint chocolate chip, or give Detroit Lions fans something to root for in Honolulu Blue Moon.

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They arrive in 1-gallon plastic jugs, and, as with those tiny bottles of grocery store food coloring, a little goes a long way. Knowing how much to apportion is part of the artistry that goes into the shop's crafting of its own treats.

"I talk to other manufactures who tell me, 'I'm not going to do anything until I'm forced,' " said Eddleston, 48.

He's not waiting. Ray's will start using dye-free sprinkles next year, he said, and he's experimenting behind the scenes with new food colorings, including beet powder.

Rays Ice Cream owners Jason and Lindsey Eddleston pose for a photo at their business in Royal Oak on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

As for Milo, he'll keep ordering Superman whenever the world's best grandma takes him to Ray's.

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They had already been to the park, said Joyce Clouthier, of Royal Oak. After ice cream, they were headed back to her house to play with a 5-month-old puppy named Finn, and then Milo, of Berkley, would sleep over.

"Usually, stuff that has dye in it is already unhealthy," she pointed out as she finished off a strawberry cone. "Mike and Ikes, things like that."

She's willing to roll the dice with ice cream, especially Ray's.

"I grew up with this," she said, "and it hasn't killed me yet."

Losing dyes, retaining delight

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and health and human services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doled out scoops of ice cream on the steps of USDA headquarters July 14 to announce an agreement with the International Dairy Foods Association.

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The deal will theoretically eliminate a pack of potentially hazardous certified artificial dyes from ice cream and other frozen dairy desserts by 2028. The catch is that dispensing with Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 is voluntary.

Food colorings used in ice cream made at Rays Ice Cream in Royal Oak on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

The trade group said that brands representing 90% of national sales have taken the pledge, much as Kraft Heinz and General Mills have pinky-sworn to cleanse their U.S. products of synthetic dyes by 2027. There's a long road, however, between commitment and coolers.

It may help that the FDA recently approved a few new color additives. Butterfly pea flower extract can be used to create bright blues, purple and greens. Galdieria extract blue is a specific shade made from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria, which, realistically, makes Blue 2 sound appetizing.

At Ray's Ice Cream, the Eddlestons don't need to be sold on natural ingredients.

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"When it comes to artificial dyes in foods, I do believe that's not a good thing," Jason said.

The trick is finding replacements that are true to not only taste and looks, but continuity.

Ray and Bernice Stevens founded Ray's in 1958, and the family held onto it for two-plus generations. Ray's great-granddaughter, Jenna Stevens, 35, still works in the manufacturing end; she and another long-term employee, Marshall Moore, produce 50,000 gallons of ice cream annually for the shop and grocery stores.

Antea Rose Vollman, center, of Milan, Italy, and her sister Paolina Vollman, left, wait for their ice cream orders while visiting the area with their family at Rays Ice Cream in Royal Oak on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

Older customers are wary of change, the Eddlestons said. Younger customers ask for it, which is why their 50-plus flavors include a butter pecan and black cherry for vegans.

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Testing beet powder as a substitute for Red 40, Jason said, has so far affected flavor and appearance, if only fractionally. Avoiding dyes can turn bright colors into pastels, Lindsey said, and not only do those products not sell as well, "they're maybe not sparking as much joy."

Tamper too much with Superman, and it won't fly.

Remnants of a superhero

The Eddlestons have a 6-month-old son, Wyatt, and a 2-year-old daughter, Piper.

Their parents have other jobs  Lindsey sells commercial real estate, and Jason runs his family's bulk liquid terminal in Hamtramck  but when Piper goes to bed, she tells her father, "Good night, ice cream man."

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The hope, Jason said, is that the kids someday learn about the impact of a family business, and the value of hard work.

He and Lindsey have walked softly at Ray's. They did some overdue maintenance, he said, and added two waffle cone makers, which upgraded both the quality of the cones and the already inviting aroma of the parlor.

The previous owners didn't cater off-site parties, but now Ray's has seven refrigerated carts to roll out for birthdays, wedding receptions and graduations.

At the shop, it's business as usual, meaning festive.

Go to a tire store and someone will be complaining they've been there too long. Nobody grouses about waiting for two scoops of a banana-and-peanut-butter concoction called Fat Elvis.

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On the sunny afternoon Milo and his grandmother stopped by, there were three bicycles on the patio and two convertibles in the parking lot.

Milo Williams, 5, of Berkley, wears the traces of Superman ice cream around his mouth after polishing off a cup at Rays Ice Cream. Superman is the top-selling flavor among younger kids.

At its longest, the line stretched out the door and almost to the sidewalk, past three white Adirondack rocking chairs that were all in motion. The folding patio tables and chairs were red, and the long metal benches were blue.

Inside, Milo stood near a plush burgundy stool at a serpentine counter that's said to be older than Ray's, purchased before the opening from a defunct soda fountain.

All that was left of his Superman ice cream was a tri-colored smear on his smiling face.

Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The feds want to ban food coloring. What about Superman ice cream?
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  A field along US-131 near the LMCU Ballpark has filled with 660 white wooden crosses, each bearing the name of a veteran who died by suicide.

Volunteers have added 22 crosses daily since July 11, representing the estimated number of U.S. veterans who die by suicide each day. The display concludes Saturday with a closing ceremony at 1 p.m., now moved to the American Legion Boat and Canoe Club on Park Street due to heat.

22 a day: Crosses will honor veterans lost to suicide, raise awareness

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Scott Harvey, a Vietnam-era veteran and former commander of American Legion Post 2, helped lead the initiative. He said the trauma from war often lingers long after service ends, and access to mental health care remains inconsistent.

They came back, they had really nothing, Harvey said. Carry that forward to todays warfighters  the horrors of war, you cant imagine what that does to people.

Harvey questioned whether military leadership fully acknowledges the problem.

They either dont believe its a problem or they dont want to believe its a problem, he said. Theyll say, Oh, thats just something that happens to a few of our veterans. But I think it happens to a lot more of our veterans than they know.

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John Boylan is one of the organizers for American Legion. He said that access to healthcare for veterans is still inconsistent.

We need to find a way to eliminate the stigma that is associated with suicide, he said.

For Harvey, the field of crosses is not only a memorial, but a call for action  and healing.

It impacts the lives of the families forever, he said. You lose a brother, a wife, a sister. It changes everything.

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Nebraska, South Dakota, and Vermont have resisted charter schools due to the negative impact such institutions can have on rural school districts  but that's reportedly changing due to a shift in political leadership.

"These are states that love their rural public schools, that depend upon their rural public schools," Carol Burris told Education Week.

Burris is the executive director of the Network for Public Education, an advocacy group focused on supporting and improving traditional public schools.

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"These are not states that are going to be welcoming charter schools," Burris added.

Burris said that rural states typically resist charter schools. Most states restrict parents to schools within their zip code or the school district that presides over their residential area, but charter schools allow parents the option to send their kids to a different school.

Republican Lawmakers To Introduce Bill To Repeal Largest Teachers Union's Federal Charter

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Nebraska, South Dakota, and Vermont do not currently allow charter schools.

When charter schools are located near public schools, they compete for per-pupil funding as parents are allowed to opt out of sending their children to the neighborhood public school.

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Concerns include that the money taken away from traditional public schools could be used to boost teachers' salaries, invest in public school facilities and recruit more teachers.

North Dakota was previously among the states blocking charter school efforts but eventually embraced them.

Education Week also spoke with North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kirsten Baesler, who was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education. Baesler still has to be confirmed by Congress.

Baesler said the "desire for more school choice among legislators and voters changed things," which "prompted the legislature to pass the new law allowing charters" in North Dakota.

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"This new positionapproved by the states super-majority Republican legislaturealso aligns more closely with the Trump administrations policies on K-12 education," Education Week reported.

According to American Federation for Children President Tommy Schultz, Trump's Big Beautiful Bill will have a huge impact on education in the country. It is considered "the biggest piece of legislation that's ever passed in school choice history" by establishing a federal tax-credit scholarship program.

Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously signaled concern about children being trapped in failing schools.

"Youre not going to have a lot of charter schools in North Dakota. Its rural, and its small," Burris said. She added that residents "value local control and fiscal prudence, which has contributed to a cautious approach toward new state-funded educational models."

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Linda Mcmahon Says Trump Administration Won't Punish States That Refuse To Adopt School Choice

President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill is expected to have a major effect on education in the country.

The report from Education Week came after several red states with GOP resistance to charter schools eventually flipped on the issue.

Iowa, Idaho, Tennessee, Wyoming and Texas eventually passed universal school choice, overcoming pushback from state-level Republican lawmakers who had previously obstructed the effort.

The states have many constituents who live in rural areas . Rural schools tend to face funding challenges due to low enrollment and scarce resources. Rural Republicans, once obstacles to school choice measures, have shifted to supporting the policy in those states.

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds overcame resistance from her GOP colleagues when she sought to pass universal school choice legislation. Reynolds endorsed nine candidates with a pro-parent platform in primary elections, ousting incumbent GOP candidates who did not support that platform.

A similar phenomenon occurred in Texas and Tennessee.

Several states with GOP trifectas passed universal school choice legislation.

Montana is another state that embraced charter schools after electing a Republican governor, Education Week reported. The states superintendent of public instruction said the fate of charter schools depends on the states political leadership.

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"It depends on the legislature. Charter schools have become a cause of the Republican Party," Montanas Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen told Education Week.

"When Montana had a governor who was a Democrat, the state rejected charter schools," she said.

School choice policies typically face hurdles in blue states and where teachers' unions have significant influence. Left-leaning teachers' unions usually reject school choice measures, claiming they debilitate public school funding and resources.

No Democratic-controlled state has passed school choice legislation.

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"Burris expressed doubts that Nebraska or Vermont will implement any kind of charter authorization laws, because Nebraska has strong support for its public schools and Vermonts legislature is controlled by Democrats," reported Education Week.





Original article source: The fight over charter schools in some of America's rural states
A San Fernando Valley film production accountant has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of embezzling over $1.9 million from independent film productions, using the stolen funds to finance an extravagant lifestyle that included stays at Las Vegas hotels and payments to adult film actresses, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Joshua Mandel, 46, of Woodland Hills, was charged by a federal grand jury with six counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to appear and be arraigned on Sept. 10 in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.

According to the indictment returned Thursday, Mandel was the CEO and chief financial officer of First J Productions Inc., a Woodland Hills-based company providing accounting services to independent films.

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In his role as a production accountant, Mandel managed cash flow, payroll, and expenses for film projects. He had the authority to add funds to prepaid debit cards issued by CASHet Card, commonly used in the film industry, and was an authorized user on production company bank accounts.

L.A. County fire captain under investigation for alleged insurance misconduct

From 2019 to 2023, prosecutors allege Mandel misappropriated money by writing unauthorized checks, initiating unauthorized wire transfers, and funneling funds into a CASHet Card account under his control called Fun Fun Fun.

The indictment further details that Mandel allegedly used the illicit funds to sustain a lavish lifestyle, including spending over $129,000 on a woman he met through a sugar daddy website, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to various young women, including pornographic actresses, spending more than $24,000 on hotels, clubs, and shows in Las Vegas, and purchasing luxury goods exceeding $12,000 from Louis Vuitton.

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To conceal his activities, Mandel is accused of using funds from one production company to cover the expenses of another.

If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count.

The FBI is leading the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.

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The North Hampton Fire Department announced the successful maintenance of full containment of a brush fire near North Hampton School, which has now been active for its third day of suppression.

The fire, which started on Thursday, August 7, has burned approximately 5.4 acres in a heavily wooded area. Since Thursday, Crews have reduced active hot spots to an estimated 1-2 acres, though deep-seated burning in tree roots and downed logs continues to require extensive labor.

Our firefighters and mutual aid partners have worked tirelessly for three straight days to keep this fire fully contained and reduce hot spots, said Interim Chief Jacob MacGlashing. While progress has been significant, the nature of this fire means we need one more strong push tomorrow before we can hopefully shift to a watch-and-monitor status.

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To combat the flames, firefighters are using small water lines and hand tools to extinguish hidden embers, with heavy equipment also in use, though most of the work remains manual. Despite high temperatures and winds, crews have been working from roughly 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Mutual aid resources have increased since the initial response, with crews coming from Massachusetts and Maine. The New Hampshire State Forest Protection Bureau has also been on the scene daily, with around 30-40 firefighters expected to return on Sunday.

With continued efforts, officials hope to transition the fire response into a monitoring phase soon.

The North Hampton Fire Department has asked residents to avoid the area if possible. Fortunately, there have been no injuries reported.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the North Hampton Fire Department with assistance from the State Forest and Lands Department.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The fire that broke out in the historic cathedral in the southern Spanish city of Cordoba did not cause any irreparable damage to the 8th century architectural masterpiece, Mayor Jose Maria Bellido said on Saturday.

The flames damaged a chapel in the cathedral's Almanzor nave, he said. "It's terrible, and there is damage ... but it is not a catastrophe," Bellido said, according to a report in the Diario Cordoba newspaper.

Video footage taken after the fire erupted on Friday showed flames emerging from the roof of the building, known locally as "La Mezquita" ("the mosque").

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Cordoba was once the capital of Moorish Spain, and its mosque was the largest and most impressive in Europe. It was originally built in 785, with multiple expansions up to the 10th century.

It was converted into a cathedral after the Spanish Reconquista of Cordoba in the 13th century. In the 16th century, a Renaissance nave was built in the middle of the Islamic prayer hall. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.

The monument is one of Spain's best-known tourist attractions, with more than 2 million people visiting it last year. National daily El Pais reported that it opened to visitors on Saturday, citing the building's administration.

The reports said the fire was rapidly brought under control as a result of the building's fire plan, which was reworked following the catastrophic fire at the Notre Dame in Paris in 2019. Several fire engines were on site within minutes.
PARIS (AP)  About 1,400 firefighters were deployed Saturday in France's southern Aude region to prevent the country's largest wildfire in decades from reigniting, as all residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Aude prefect Christian Pouget said the fire has been contained since Thursday after burning this week more than 160 square kilometers (62 square miles) in the wooded region, known for its wineries. All roads have been reopened but authorities issued a strict ban on accessing the forest, Pouget said at a news conference on Saturday.

The fight is continuing, firefighters are still working on (fire) reignition, he said.

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The blaze left one person dead and 25 people have been injured, including 19 firefighters, Pouget said.

High temperatures in the coming days are expected to complicate firefighters' efforts.

The fire wont be extinguished for several weeks, Col. Christophe Magny, director of the Aude fire department, said, pointing to several hot spots that are being closely monitored.

Frances national weather agency Meteo France placed the southern half of France on a high vigilance alert for heat wave, with temperatures expected in the Aude region of up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday.

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In neighboring Spain, firefighters continued to battle a wildfire in Avila province, over 100 km (62 miles) west of Madrid. Victor Fernandez, a technician at the advanced command post, told reporters Saturday the fire was being contained but warned the next hours would be critical." Extreme temperatures are expected to continue until at least next week, according to Spains national weather service.

The fire began on Friday afternoon with the Spanish Military Emergencies Unit working through the night to bring it under control and prevent it from approaching roads and train lines.

Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
4 families displaced by fire in Washington County that destroyed 3 buildings, damaged 3 more

Firefighters spent hours putting out flames in multiple buildings in Washington County on Saturday.

A Washington County 911 supervisor tells Channel 11 that firefighters were called to Liberty Street in California for the reported fire at 12:14 p.m.

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE

The California fire chief tells Channel 11 that six buildings were involved in the fire. Three of those structures are considered a total loss.

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The chief says the blaze was a three-alarm fire, and 14 fire companies responded to help douse the flames.

This is a generational fire. You dont get one like this, said California Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Hartley Jr.

No one was hurt in the fire. The fire marshal is investigating the cause.

Four families were displaced. Their belongings could be seen lying amid the destruction.

I feel terrible for the kids, you know, with school starting, and theyve already been through a lot, said Jeff Christner, the brother of one of the homeowners.

Christners sister lost everything in the fire. He said they are now determined to help her family get back on their feet.

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If anyone has any clothes, household items or toiletries, we are asking people to message either me or my wife, and were going to arrange pick-ups and all that and make sure it gets to them in a timely fashion, Christner said.

Christner helped set up a GoFundMe to support his family. Click here to donate to his campaign. A separate campaign has been set up to benefit all of the victims. Click here to donate to that campaign.

There is still no word on what caused the fire. The Salvation Army and the Red Cross were on scene helping the four displaced families. Fire crews were quickly rotating as they worked to stay hydrated while fighting the smoke and flames.

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A large wildfire south-east of Athens continued to burn on Saturday morning, with strong winds fanning the flames.

Greek media reported that the fire brigade has the situation largely under control, with a large-scale operation involving several firefighting helicopters and planes ongoing since the early morning.

The fire, burning about 35 kilometres outside the Greek capital, was caused by arson, the mayor of one of the affected villages told state broadcaster ERT.

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He said a gas cylinder had been found at the site where the fire broke out, and that residents reported seeing a person acting suspiciously on a motorbike.

Several villages were evacuated because of the blaze and around 400 people had to be rescued. Many houses in the area have burned down completely, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known.

One man died on Friday after his remote home was surrounded by flames.

Major fires are also burning in central Greece and in the north-western Peloponnese peninsula.

The Greek civil protection agency said the risk of forest fires remains extremely high in many parts of the country due to the ongoing drought and strong winds.

Large parts of the Peloponnese peninsula, the region around Athens and the island of Euboea are coloured red on a map shared by the agency, representing a very high warning level. High warning levels also apply to Crete, the Cyclades islands and the Chalkidiki peninsula.
A three-alarm fire at a century-old school building in Atlantic City was under control by Saturday morning, local authorities said.

The blaze broke out in the center of the New Jersey Avenue School just after 6 p.m. on Friday, according to city spokesperson Andrew Kramer.

Flames spread to all three floors as the Atlantic City Fire Department responded to the scene, assisted by the Atlantic City Police Department and neighboring fire agencies from Ventnor, Pleasantville and Absecon.

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Thick gray smoke could be seen belching into the sky from several miles away, according to images circulating on social media.

Kramer did not specify what time the fire was extinguished early on Saturday, but a social media announcement by the city thanking the fire department was posted around 6:30 a.m.

The red-brick building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

An investigation into the cause of the fire was underway on Saturday, Kramer said.

The New Jersey Avenue School was built in 1925. It was slated for destruction by the city, which announced in July that it would be replaced by an administrative building for the school district.

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The building closed its doors in 2012, when Atlantic City Public Schools shifted its students to the Pennsylvania Avenue School.

The empty building suffered severe damage in Hurricane Sandy later that year, rendering it unusable.

An exact timeline on the demolition had not been shared by the time of the fire, but crews had been in the process of removing asbestos from the site, Atlantic City Fire Chief Scott Evans said on Friday night.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.
The Brief

Houston firefighters battled a 2-alarm warehouse fire early Saturday morning.

Firefighters arrived at the Rug Mart on Southwest Freeway around midnight Saturday morning.

The fire was declared out around 5 a.m. No injuries were reported.

HOUSTON - Houston firefighters battled a fire at a store on Southwest Freeway early Saturday morning.

What we know

Firefighters responded to the Rug Mart around midnight Saturday morning.

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Officials said the fire was fought defensively from the outside and put out around 5 a.m.

No injuries were reported.

What we don't know

The agency's arson unit will investigate the cause of the fire.

The Source

Information in this article comes from the Houston Fire Department.
A fire department in Fairfield County, Ohio, moved quickly to aid the evacuation of an apartment complex caught up in a flash flood.

What's happening?

According to reporting by 10 WBNS, residents of the complex in Lancaster were evacuated to safety last week after the area was subjected to intense rainfall. The fire department rescued 60 to 70 residents and their pets. Though unsettled by the events, fortunately, nobody was seriously injured in the downpour. One evacuee said, "I didn't know it could flood that much."

Fairfield County's Emergency Management explained in a social media post that the flash flood dumped 7-8 inches of rain, about two months' worth, in just 48 hours. Describing it as "a countywide convergence of weather, terrain, and runoff", the existing infrastructure was unable to cope.

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"No system can keep up with that much water, that fast," the post lamented.

In this case, the losses were to property rather than people. The water ruined several vehicles in the complex's parking lot. One unfortunate resident said, "I just got it brand new. I hate to lose it."

Why are floods happening more regularly?

The flooding in Fairfield is hardly unique. There's been a sharp uptick in flash floods nationwide because of rising temperatures caused by human activity. What CNN dubbed the "summer of flooding" is symptomatic of a phenomenon whereby extreme weather events become ever more frequent and devastating in their impact. Those once-in-a-generation events are now happening annually.

The warmer the atmosphere gets, the more water vapor it can hold and the heavier the resultant rainfall. Conversely, in an arid biosphere, rainfall becomes less frequent and heatwaves get much worse. It's what some experts call the "DGDWGW" paradigm: the dry gets drier, [as the] wet gets wetter.

What's being done to manage the increased risks?

In the immediate aftermath, Lancaster Fire Department Chief Slade Schultz advised residents to stay vigilant and remain indoors unless an evacuation order is issued. Long-term, it's essential to be aware of the issues that led to this disaster so that decisive action can be taken to prevent and mitigate future incidents.

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As communities pull together in the wake of extreme weather events, it's also keep a productive dialogue going about these types of issues with family and friends to ensure better awareness of the risks and what we can do about them.

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California firefighters were battling at least seven large wildfires blazing across the southern part of the state on Friday, with one of the fires approaching "megafire" status. An active year for wildfires has stretched the state's resources thin.

The Gifford Fire, burning around 145 miles northeast of Santa Maria, California, and nearly 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles, had charred over 99,000 acres by the end of the first week of August. At only 15% contained, the blaze will most likely become a "megafire," an exceptional wildfire that burns over 100,000 acres of land.

The fire ignited on Aug. 1, and its cause is still under investigation. With a forecast of scorching heat near 100 degrees, humidity levels plunging into the teens and single digits, and challenging terrain, firefighters will face a tough battle against the blaze.

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Evacuation shelters have been opened at area schools for those forced from their homes. Evacuation centers have also been opened for not only small, domestic animals but also large animals in and around Santa Maria. The blaze has led to the shutdown of schools and roads across the region.

The Gifford Fire is now California's largest wildfire of 2025. There have been over 5,000 wildfires that have burned nearly 280,000 acres so far this year in California, with the Canyon Fire northwest of L.A. also reaching especially concerning levels in recent days  over 5,000 acres in one day after starting on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Wildfires across the state have claimed 31 lives and destroyed more than 16,000 structures in 2025. They have burned almost 13,000 more acres year-to-date compared to the average of the past five years.

The worst fires this year in California have targeted the southern part of the state. Entering the last month of meteorological summer, meteorologists with the National Weather Service's Bay Area office noted that cool weather has helped to limit the fire season so far in the northern part of the state, with fuel moisture above normal there for this time of the year.

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"A lot of our activity has been in the Southern California area, with our larger, more significant fires," observed Jesse Torres, a Cal Fire Battalion Chief, per The Los Angeles Times. "But everyday with the heat and these winds, they're drying out more and more," Torres added, "becoming more susceptible to ignitions."

This active summer for wildfires might spill over into September.

"In Southern California, the threat is driven by persistent drought, high grass loads, and weakening coastal moisture," according to Cal Fire's seasonal outlook. "Compared to last year, there is a greater likelihood of significant timber fires, especially in the southern Sierra and inland zones. Models are aligning for an early and active season, with elevated risk continuing into September."

Our atmosphere's heat-trapping gases are like steroids for weather, supercharging wildfires and other severe events. Last year was California's third-warmest on record. The first seven months of 2025 have been the seventh-warmest on record for California.

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While heat does not automatically equal dry, extended periods of hot sun can lead to more evaporation of moisture from the ground, which can in turn increase the risk for drought conditions and wildfires  particularly if that evaporated moisture does not lead to rain in the same places  and often, it doesn't. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report revealed nearly 40% of the state is experiencing drought conditions.

The relatively hot and dry conditions have fueled 442 more fires than normal so far this year, compared to the most recent five-year average. The peak of wildfire season for California is usually June through October, but this year got off to an early, active start. Researchers suggest deadly wildfires that struck the state in January may be linked to as many as 440 deaths.

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Fires regularly break out at the bottom of the Kakhovka Reservoir, which dried up after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in 2023. The fires destroy the potential basis for the restoration of the local ecosystem.

Source: a video of another large-scale fire by the State Environmental Inspection of the Southern District

Details: Experts say that the terrorist attack on the Kakhovka HPP led to the loss of water in the reservoir and disrupted the natural balance. As a result, fires regularly break out in the dried-up areas.

The State Environmental Inspection says that the fires occur suddenly but spread rapidly, leaving scorched earth in their wake.

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"The remains of reeds, dry grass and shrubs are burning  things that could have served as the basis for restoring the ecosystem. Wild animals are dying, and the habitats of birds and reptiles are being destroyed. Smoke is polluting the air, and firefighters are working in difficult and dangerous conditions," the service noted.

Experts urged locals not to create conditions for fires and to call the fire department at 101 if they spot a fire.

"Don't make an already tough situation even harder [...] If you see a fire or its aftermath, record it and report it. Every report is important," the State Environmental Inspection emphasised.

Background:

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A teenage resident who had recently traveled overseas has been confirmed as the first measles case in San Diego County this year.

The County of San Diego provided the following times and locations where the unimmunized teen may have exposed others:

Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Urgent Care, located at 10710 North Torrey Pines Rd. in La Jolla, on Wednesday from 8:53 p.m. to Thursday at 12:26 a.m.

Rady Childrens Emergency Department, located at 3020 Childrens Way, 1st Floor in San Diego, on Wednesday from 11:01 p.m. to Thursday at 5:21 a.m.

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Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread easily by coughing, sneezing or being in the same room with an infected person, said Ankita Kadakia, M.D., County deputy public health officer. Anyone who was at any of the specific locations and at the dates and times listed above should watch for symptoms and call their health care provider if they show any signs of the disease.

Vessel overturns off La Jolla coast

Symptoms for the measles, which develops seven to 21 days after exposure, include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A distinctive red rash is also visible one to four days after early symptoms start, per local health officials.

Dr. Kadakia recommends getting the measles vaccine to prevent the disease.

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With measles outbreaks occurring in several countries, it is very important that all international travelers get vaccinated. Infants between 6 and 12 months of age who travel should get one dose, and travelers over 12 months of age should get two doses at least four weeks apart, Dr. Kadakia said.

The County of San Diego, Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Urgent Care and Rady Childrens Hospital are working to identify potentially exposed patients and staff.

Last year, there were four measles cases from international travel in San Diego County, according to local health officials. As of Monday, 19 measles cases have been confirmed in California.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
After nearly five months onboard the International Space Station, an international crew of four astronauts began their descent back down to Earth in a SpaceX capsule Friday.

US astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov are expected to spend more than 17 hours in the capsule before splashing down off California's coast at 1533 GMT on Saturday.

Their return will mark the end of the 10th crew rotation mission to the space station under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which was created to succeed the Space Shuttle era by partnering with private industry.

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The Dragon capsule of billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company detached from the International Space Station (ISS) at 2215 GMT on Friday.

The capsule's dizzying drop back down to Earth will be slowed when it re-enters the atmosphere -- and then again by huge parachutes to soften its landing.

After the capsule splashes down, it will be recovered by a SpaceX ship and hoisted aboard.

Only then will the astronauts be able to breathe Earth's air again, for the first time in months.

The astronauts, known as Crew-10, conducted numerous scientific experiments during their time on the space station, including studying plant growth and how cells react to gravity.

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Their launch into space in March was heavily scrutinized because it finally allowed two US astronauts -- who had been unexpectedly stuck onboard the space station for nine months -- to return home.

When they launched in June 2024, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were only supposed to spend eight days in space on a test of the Boeing Starliner's first crewed flight.

However, the spaceship developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly back, leaving them stranded in space.

NASA announced this week that Wilmore has decided to retire after 25 years of service at the US space agency.

Last week, US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov boarded the ISS for a six-month mission.

cha/ube/dl/sla/ksb/st
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  A flight bound for Ohio has made an emergency landing at the Evansville Regional Airport.

The American Airlines flight 5517 left the Dallas Fort Worth airport on Saturday with the intention of landing in Dayton, Ohio.

Officials with American Airlines say the plane was diverted to Evansville due to a possible mechanical issue. Around 70 passengers were on the plane including four crew members.

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Officials with Evansville Dispatch say several roads were closed as a precaution. AMR was dispatched to the airport. Officials have not yet released if any injuries are involved. A plane to take the passengers to Dayton is on its way.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
(WFRV)  The National Weather Service of Green Bay has issued a Flood Watch as well as a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for most of northeast Wisconsin for Saturday afternoon and into the night.

The Flood Watch is in effect until later in the evening on August 9, which includes portions of central and northeast Wisconsin.

The latest Wisconsin weather forecast from Storm Team 5

Affected northeast Wisconsin counties include:

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Brown

Calumet

Fond du Lac

Green Lake

Manitowoc

Marquette

Outagamie

Sheboygan

Waupaca

Waushara

Winnebago

NWS officials say that flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible with totals expected to be between 1-4 inches.

Stick with Storm Team 5 for the latest.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW)  Florence police on Saturday said a man has been charged with murder in connection with a July 11 shooting in the city.

Kyzhier Williams is also facing counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and possession of crack coaine.

Officers responded to the 800 block of Bradford Street in reference to a shooting, finding a person in critical condition. An initial report suggested the victim had shot himself, but no weapon was found at the scene.

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Police launched an investigation with assistance from the Florence County Sheriffs Office and concluded after an autopsy that the shooting wasnt self-inflicted. Authorities later located the gun.

Williams was allegedly at the home and pulled the trigger. He was found Friday on Oakland Avenue and taken into custody without incident, though drugs were found on him.

No bond information was immediately provided.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
This cat is going viral.

A 7-year-old black shorthair named Pepper accidentally helped researchers discover a never-before-seen bug that could infect humans, the second time the cat has made a contribution to science.

Pepper, a 7-year-old black shorthair with a killer instinct, accidentally helped scientists discover a never-before-seen bug that could infect humans. Courtesy of John Lednicky

Pepper has a habit of dropping off carcasses on the front mat of the home he shares with University of Florida virologist John Lednicky.

He brings me these rodents  and then I bring them to the lab. Thats where all the magic happens, Lednicky said.

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One recent gift was a chewed-up Everglades short-tailed shrew which ended up in his Gainesville lab.

Lednicky and his research team discovered the shrew was harboring a mutated new strain of orthoreovirus, which is typically found in bats, deer, lions and monkeys, but known to jump between species.

We wouldnt have found it without him, boasted Lednicky.

Last year, the kitty helped expose a novel jeilongvirus  a rare rodent-borne virus capable of infecting multiple speciesand the first of its kind found in the U.S.  when he brought home a dead mouse.

Peppers latest discovery  dubbed Gainesville shrew mammalian orthoreovirus type 3 strain UF-1  was detected and extracted from the shrew by Ph.D. student Emily DeRuyter, 26, who co-authored the study.

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I wish I could put him as a co-author, joked Lednicky of the plucky feline.

In humans, infection is usually mild or symptomless, but the virus has turned up in a handful of rare pediatric cases of meningitis, encephalitis and gastroenteritis. Scientists say the spread and severity remain unclear because orthoreoviruses are so understudied.

Pepper has a habit of dropping off carcasses on the front mat, including a chewed-up Everglades short-tailed shrew which ended up in Lednickys Gainesville lab. Courtesy of John Lednicky

We dont know enough about this strain to say that it would be a risk to anyone yet, said DeRuyter, adding it typically causes problems in people with weakened immune systems.

Researchers say some strains have shown up in unexpected places, including mink feed in China and a lion in Japan, raising concerns about how the virus travels, mutates and infects.

Last year, Pepper went viral after helping expose a novel jeilongvirus, a rare rodent-borne virus capable of infecting multiple species, and the first of its kind found in the U.S. Courtesy of John Lednicky

The UF research team said they plan to keep studying the latest strain to understand how it spreads and whether it poses a risk to humans  and with Pepper on patrol, the next big discovery might soon be on the doormat.
The Brief

Angel Humberto Cardenas, 62, is facing an attempted first-degree premeditated homicide charge.

The charge relates to an incident in July where he allegedly attacked his wife with half of a pair of scissors before then turning them on himself.

Cardenas currently remains in the Brevard County Jail, where he is being held with no bond.

PALM BAY, Fla. - A Florida man was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly attacked his wife with half of a pair of scissors, stabbing her in the face and neck, before then turning the scissors on himself.

What happened?

What we know

The Palm Bay Police Department received a call around 4:56 a.m. on July 31 that a woman had walked into the Palm Bay Hospital with several stab wounds on her face and neck.

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When officers arrived at the hospital, they met with the woman, Jyasmin Collado-Cardenas. Jyasmin Collado-Cardenas said she and her husband have been sleeping in separate rooms in the apartment lately, partly due to a recent investigation involving the alleged molestation of their daughter.

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She said she was asleep in her bed in the apartment when her husband, 62-year-old Angel Humberto Cardenas, attacked her. She said she awoke to her husband on top of her, holding her down while stabbing her in the neck and face with half of a pair of scissors. She said her husband also bit her right forearm, breaking off a piece of the skin.

Angel Humberto Cardenas, 62, was arrested on an attempted first-degree premeditated homicide charge. (Credit: Brevard County Sheriff's Office)

Jyasmin Collado-Cardenas said she then was able to escape and drove to the hospital. She was treated for several injuries, including a deep stab wound to her neck, her left earlobe and several lacerations to her face.

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Officers said they then responded to the apartment, where they found Angel Humberto Cardenas unresponsive with several wounds in his neck inflicted by half of the pair of scissors. He was taken to the hospital.

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Jyasmin Collado-Cardenas told investigators that she never stabbed her husband with the scissors to her knowledge, and that he did not have any wounds on his neck when she ran from the home. Officials then Baker Acted Angel Humberto Cardenas due to the injuries to his neck being self-inflicted.

Angel Humberto Cardenas was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 7.

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Both Jyasmin Collado-Cardenas and Angel Humberto Cardenas are expected to recover from their physical injuries.

What's next

Angel Humberto Cardenas currently remains in the Brevard County Jail, where he is being held with no bond. He is facing an attempted first-degree premeditated homicide charge.

The Source

This story was written based on information gathered from an official Brevard County arrest affidavit.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  On Thursday, a federal judge halted construction for two weeks at Alligator Alcatraz, the mass migrant detention center near the Everglades.

Conservation groups want the judge to do more. One of the plaintiffs is Friends of the Everglades. Eve Samples is the groups executive director.

Construction crane at abandoned site in Tampa raising concerns for hurricane season

Were seeking an order to halt activity as a whole, so the state and federal government can comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, Samples said.

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Samples is referencing a federal law that tells agencies to consider impacts to the environment for major projects through an assessment and to include the public.

This is a very common-sense law that requires the government to look before it leaps, Samples said.

Friends of the Everglades initially helped stop further development of the South Florida airstrip in the 1960s, through its founder Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.

The group is not alone as a plaintiff. The Center for Biological Diversity, which has an office in Pinellas County, is also involved in the lawsuit.

Weve seen through aerial video, aerial photography, about 20 acres of new asphalt on the site, a large parking area, new road paving on the site, and weve also documented a lack of storm water treatment surrounding that new pavement, Samples said.

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Samples said theres also noise and traffic impacting wildlife.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked about environmental concerns as the facility expands to hold up to 4,000 migrants.

It doesnt have an impact. As Kevin said, there were hundreds of flights coming in here, training flights. Less flights now. Everything you see that is built is on the existing infrastructure, DeSantis said.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier posted a response on X.

Alligator Alcatraz was already constructed and operational. It continues to be operational, detaining and deporting. The judges restraining order was nevertheless wrong and will be appealed, Uthmeier said.

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Another federal court hearing in front of the Obama appointed judge is scheduled to happen on Tuesday.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin released the following statement:

This lawsuit ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade. It is another attempt to prevent the President from fulfilling the American peoples mandate for mass deportations. These environmental activistsand activist judgedont care about the invasion of our country facilitated by the Biden administration, but the American people do.

Alex Lanfranconi, communications director for Gov. DeSantis, also released a statement:

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(Thursdays) ruling by an activist judge will have no impact on immigration enforcement in Florida. Alligator Alcatraz will remain operational, continuing to serve as a force multiplier to enhance deportation efforts.

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FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV)  Officers with the Fond du Lac Police Department are honoring the dedication, loyalty, and courage of one of their retired K9s who recently passed away.

We are saddened to report the passing of retired dual-purpose FDLPD K9 Ronny, the Department stated in a Facebook post on the morning of August 9.

K9 Ronny was born in Spain and in 2014 was brought to Campbellsport, where he was trained at Steinig Tal Kennels. Later that year, K9 Ronny took to the street with his partner, Officer Charles Beckford, and served with dedication, loyalty, and courage.

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Wisconsin motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run, suspect vehicle abandoned

K9 Ronny (Fond du Lac Police Department) K9 Ronny (Fond du Lac Police Department) K9 Ronny (Fond du Lac Police Department)

FDLPD stated that K9 Ronny lived to be more than 14 years old and enjoyed a well-earned retirement filled with love, family, and relaxation.

We extend our deepest condolences to Officer Beckford, his family, and all who had the privilege of working with and loving K9 Ronny, FDLPDs post concluded. His paw prints will remain forever on our hearts.

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WASHINGTON (KSEE)  A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill wants to protect the Central Valley from wildfires.

Its clear we need modern solutions to meet this escalating crisis and protect our communities, said Rep. Vince Fong.

Weve got some that works on new technology thats already moved out of the House, said Rep. David Valadao. Weve got one thats working through committee right now.

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Theres a lot of good ideas in the Fix Our Force Act, said Rep. Adam Gray, which is a bipartisan effort.

All five Central Valley congressmembers agree that forest management is the key to preventing wildfires.

Those environmental laws that were supposed to help the environment have done enormous harm to the environment, said Rep. Tom McClintock.

Our nations forests are critically overgrown. We need to have better management. Thats clear, said Rep. Jim Costa.

But UC Merced Professor John Abatzoglou says forest management is a short-term solution.

Fires do not care about politics. They just burn, said Abatzoglou.

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While forest management has broad bipartisan support, Abatzoglou said tackling climate change is the only long-term solution.

The reactive approach that weve had so far  fighting these fires, having the large fires, being overwhelmed by suppression agencies  is simply not working anymore, he said. And its not going to work under a warming and drying climate.

Kevin Dayaratna, a Heritage Foundation director, said regulations to combat climate change put the U.S. at a disadvantage when other countries pollute.

If the United States were to completely avert CO2 emissions, there would be no impact on the global climate whatsoever, said Dayaratna. As a result, there wouldnt be a meaningful impact on, say, wildfires.

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Margaret Cooney, a climate expert for the Center of American Progress, said Dayaratnas claims are wrong.

The EPA itself says that burning fossil fuels changes the climate more than any other human activity, said Cooney. California wildfires caused over 3.5 billion in agricultural losses between 2018 and 2021 alone.

Meanwhile, experts warn that climate change will only intensify wildfires in the coming years.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  In the past 48 hours, there have been two nearby officer shootings. Two troopers were shot in northeastern Pennsylvania Thursday morning, and two more were shot in Cleveland Thursday night.

The suspect accused of shooting two officers in Cleveland was captured alive Friday morning, while the officers themselves are recovering and in stable condition. Police say they have dealt with the suspect before, which is exactly why the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is calling for a tougher approach to sentencing for violent crimes.

The Fraternal Order of Police is going to start holding accountable those who encourage and allow these kinds of crimes against law enforcement. Were going to call them out, said T.J. Assion, vice president of the Ohio FOP. Every time that it does occur and people arent held to task, they are not locked up, they are not immediately put away, it creates an atmosphere where other people see it and it gets glorified, and they think that its OK for them to do it.

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Assion says hes thankful for the Mahoning County Prosecutor and sheriff for their efforts to get violent criminals sentenced, and calls on other local and statewide officials to follow suit. He says that is the only way to decrease violence against officers.

We know that the job is inherently dangerous. We accept that, but to see this uptick in violence, especially in Ohio, it destroys morale. Because now, every day, you are coming to work going, is this the day that Im going to take a call and somebody is going to ambush me? Assion said.

Assion says this trend doesnt just hurt morale, it hurts the effort to bring in new officers.

I would absolutely say that it is having an impact on recruiting. Our numbers are down, not just locally, not just across Ohio, but across his country, he said.

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Countries across the globe have dropped tens of millions this year on lobbyists with ties to President Donald Trump as they rushed to stave off tariffs that could cripple their economies.

In most cases, the spending has gotten them nowhere.

As Trump has taken a scattershot approach to setting tariff rates  crafting trade agreements that set a 15 percent tariff on major trading partners while imposing rates that vary between 10 and 41 percent on the rest of the world  traditional lobbying tactics in Washington appear to have had little influence.

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At least 30 nations hired new lobbyists with connections to Trump since the election. They include major trading partners like South Korea and Japan as well as smaller countries like Bosnia and Ecuador. But employing those lobbyists appeared to bear little relation to whether the countries were able to avoid the most punishing tariffs.

I think the current leadership in Washington seems to be disrupting the traditional way of doing things. It's not just about the business part, it's about diplomacy, it's about dealing with other nations, said Mukesh Aghi, the CEO of the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum. I think the whole old model of trying to influence does not seem to work.

The new model is punishing India. After bringing longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller on board in April, the nation has nonetheless been walloped by Trump over the past two weeks. Tariffs for India are now set to rise to 50 percent, after the country failed to secure a trade agreement and Trump decided to jack up tariffs in response to its purchase of Russian oil.

India inked a yearlong contract with Miller worth $1.8 million in exchange for strategic counsel, tactical planning and government relations assistance as well as perception management and public relations, according to documents filed with the Justice Department. He did not respond to a request for comment.

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The experiences of Canada and Mexico stand out. Canadas provinces stocked up on lobbyists and the country has still been hammered by Trump. Mexico didnt and relied instead on President Claudia Sheinbaums personal relationship with Trump  a direct approach that worked better.

Five of Canadas 10 provinces brought on new lobbying or public relations help in the last year, amid a federal leadership vacuum as the country prepared to elect a new prime minister.

Capitol Counsel lobbyists representing Ontario and Alberta set up meetings and calls for provincial officials with more than a dozen Republican members of Congress as well as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. Meanwhile, lobbyists at HBW Resources worked to create inroads with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on behalf of energy-heavy Saskatchewan and Alberta, DOJ filings show.

In February, a federation of Canadian premiers and territorial leaders hired Checkmate Government Relations for assistance arranging a trade mission to Washington. The firm is led by Ches McDowell, a hunting buddy of Donald Trump Jr., and employs the son of Trumps 2024 campaign co-chair. For $85,000, Checkmate got the premiers a meeting at the White House with deputy chief of staff James Blair and director of presidential personnel Sergio Gor.

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Less than a month later, Canadas D.C. Embassy hired the public affairs firm Signal Group for a crash course and media training on messaging on right-wing media. It included a right-wing message analysis of the Canadian ambassador's recent TV interviews and breakdown of Maslow's hierarchy of needs for the MAGA set.

Mexico, by contrast, has just a single lobbying firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, on retainer, to provide legal services on trade issues.

Yet despite Mexico playing a more direct role in the flow of fentanyl  a top concern of Trump  it was the neighbor to the north that ultimately faced steeper tariffs. Canada now has a 35 percent tariff on its goods, while Mexico has stayed at 25 percent, even though most products are exempt under an existing free trade agreement. Mexico appeared to benefit from what one Mexican official described as personal ties between Trump and Sheinbaum.

A Republican lobbyist working on Trumps tariffs suggested that making headway with the president requires a shift in thinking.

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I think what's happened with some of these countries is they felt entitled to the status quo, the lobbyist argued. And they were offended that anyone, even the U.S. president, would suggest changing it at all.

The lobbyist pointed to the success that Sheinbaum has had in wooing Trump. Instead of taking a combative stand, the better approach is to look at it from the perspective of: The president wants to redefine the trade relationship between the two countries, and that's his goal, and you have to deal with him on those terms, the person said.

Leader-to-leader calls were particularly valuable in helping countries make their case directly to Trump.

From my perspective, the best way to lobby President Trump is for the leader to face-to-face lobby him, Tami Overby, a partner at DGA Group Government who focuses on trade in South Korea. It seems President Trump, he always talks about his relationships with other leaders. You know, whether we're in a good spot with that country or not [depending] if he feels like he's got a good relationship. And he sees himself as a deal maker.

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Many of the firms enlisted to represent foreign governments before the Trump administration are mainstays of the D.C. lobbying scene, and plenty of countries already had veteran trade lobbyists or lobbyists with ties to Trump on their payrolls before the election.

They include Mercury Public Affairs, the former K Street home of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles which signed five new foreign governments since November, including South Korea, Ecuador and Libya. And while South Korea reached an agreement with the White House to set its tariffs to 15 percent in exchange for investments in the U.S. and lower trade barriers, tariff rates increased between April and August for both Ecuador and Libya. In Ecuadors case, it went from being ignored in Trumps first threats of reciprocal tariffs, to facing a 15 percent tariff in August.

Mercury also lobbies for the Japanese government, which maintains a roster of more than two dozen lobbying and public relations firms in the U.S. Japan was among the first major trading partners to strike a trade agreement  setting its tariffs at 15 percent, down from a threatened 25 percent.

Ballard Partners, the previous home to Wiles and Attorney General Pam Bondi, helped broker a phone call between Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba the day after the election, according to documents filed with DOJ under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

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Another Trump-linked lobbying firm, BGR Group, has signed six new foreign governments since Trumps win last year. It previously employed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and is home to Trump adviser David Urban. Some of its foreign clients, like Angola and South Korea, saw their tariff rates drop between April and August. But the firm also lobbies for the Indian government, which paid BGR $300,000 from December through May, though much of that work was related to flaring tensions with Pakistan.

Several Southeast Asian economies that have hired help in Washington fared better, with many of them receiving lower rates compared to the initial duties unveiled in April. Their wins were relative, though: The countries tariff rates are higher than before, and broadly higher than much of the world. In other words, lobbyists might have succeeded in helping their clients avoid the worst case, but the outcomes could hardly be considered triumphs.

Countries hired U.S.-based lobbying firms to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, and worked with business groups with ties to lower-level Trump administration officials across the Departments of Commerce and Treasury. Cambodia and Indonesia had their tariff cut to 19 percent, substantially lower compared to rates initially outlined by the president in April.

DOJ filings show that Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld reached out to U.S. Trade Representatives Office chief of staff Sam Mulopulos on behalf of the Cambodian government on the same day that Trump announced his so-called reciprocal tariffs. The firm sent Mulopulos multiple follow-up texts over the next few months to coordinate meetings with Cambodia's negotiators and check for updates on the status of tariff negotiations, and organized meetings on the Hill with lawmakers including Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), according to the filings.

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In the end, Cambodia saw one of the largest tariff rate declines of any country between April and May, dropping from a threatened 49 percent duty.

The Trump administration for its part has portrayed the countries with the most significant declines as cooperative partners that were willing to make the greatest concessions to the president's terms.

One former diplomat who worked with governments across Southeast Asia said representatives from Vietnam arranged more than two dozen meetings with government officials, which ramped up days after Trump outlined his April rates. The country secured a modest win as its tariff rate was cut from 46 to 20 percent  though the final figure remains higher than what Vietnam officials say was originally agreed to.

One Asian diplomat credited lobbying efforts by countries in the region with helping shift the Trump administration away from its original trade strategy, which aimed to pull regional economies out of Chinas orbit and prioritize crackdowns on Chinese transshipment and other enforcement measures.

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Some countries need the access that lobbyists can give and an intermediary for backdoor and informal talks, they said.

A number of countries turned to first-time foreign lobbyists who are cashing in on their ties to Trump or his circle.

The Pakistani government brought on seven new lobbying firms this year, including Trumps former bodyman Keith Schiller and George Sorial, the Trump Organizations former compliance chief. Neither of them had ever registered as foreign agents before, but Pakistan agreed to pay their firm $50,000 per month, according to a copy of the contract filed with DOJ. Islamabad managed to have its reciprocal tariff rate lowered from 29 percent to 19 percent  a contrast to Pakistans rival next door, India.

Among the foreign governments that signed Continental Strategy this spring were Guyana  which is paying the firm $50,000 per month and saw its tariff rate plunge from 38 percent in April to 15 percent in August  and Japan, which is paying the firm $37,500, DOJ filings show. Continental Strategy is led by Carlos Trujillo, a diplomat who served in Trumps first administration, and Alberto Martinez, a top former aide to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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Some countries and industries that have been successful in swaying Trump have later had those advantages neutralized. The Big Three American auto companies  Ford, General Motors and Stellantis  helped convince the administration to create a rebate program, aiding auto producers that rely on the North American supply chain.

But as Trump set about crafting trade deals, that advantage was quickly neutralized. Japan, South Korea and the European Union  all trading partners with large auto industries  were able to secure a 15 percent tariff on cars and car parts, undermining the efforts of U.S. automakers to build domestically.

Even after this week's tariff implementation kickoff, countries and lobbyists are still holding out hope that they can win exceptions or other helpful provisions. That possibility is sure to keep business booming on K Street, despite its lackluster performance.

A lot of clients are like, Well, is it done? Can we still get our thing in there? the Republican lobbyist noted. The framework is there, but there's still a lot of blank spaces, and that's where we're seeing a lot of activity.
SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The Beulah Fire, burning on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains, grew just over 300 acres overnight. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has issued a closure order for areas surrounding the fire.

The Beulah Fire is burning in the High Uintas Wilderness on the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger

District, about 7.5 miles southeast of the Bear River Ranger Station on Highway 150. Firefighters are seeing erratic and extreme fire behavior, according to an incident update on Saturday. The fire is currently mapped at 1,723 acres.

This weekend, mostly clear skies and dry weather is expected over the fire area. Temperatures are going to be a few degrees below normal, and winds will gradually weaken, becoming light and terrain-driven on Sunday. Vegetation in the area is reportedly extremely dry with fuel moisture conditions at critically low levels.

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The Buelah Fire burns an estimated 1,723 acres in Summit County (Courtesy: Utah Fire Info)

A total of 184 people are currently assigned to this wildfire. A Complex Incident Management Team  Great Basin Team 4  will be taking over command of the fire on Monday, Aug. 11. Firefighters main challenges include steep rocky terrain, accessing the fire, and fire-weakened and standing dead trees.

Hand and engine crews are focused on structure protection, officials said. Firefighters are clearing vegetation, setting up water handling and sprinkler systems, and scouting routes for potential containment lines. Crews are reportedly assessing the terrain surrounding the fire to help the incoming team with planning.

The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has issued the following closure order:

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The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest issued a closure order on August 8 for areas surrounding the fire. The closure includes the North Fork Road (Forest Road #058), East Fork Blacks Fork Road (Forest Road #065), East Fork Blacks Fork Trail (TR#102), Stillwater Trail (TR # 248), and the lands between.

20250809_BuelahFire_Update_MapDownload

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in place for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley national forests. Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place on all other Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and state lands in Utah.

No further information is available at this time.

Latest headlines:

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A former Mustang Public Schools payroll director has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing more than half a million dollars from the district over a six-year period.



News 4 first reported on Kim Weinrich in 2022, when Mustang police arrested her and accused her of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars while working in the districts payroll department.



Federal investigators say the theft happened from 2016 until 2022 and involved a payroll scheme that allowed Weinrich to take home more than double what she was supposed to be paid.



They say she used her access to the payroll system to change the positive amount listed for her voluntary paycheck deductions into a negative amount.



In one example from March 2022, investigators say her gross pay was $2,165.53.



After subtracting involuntary deductions, like taxes, and voluntary deductions, like benefits, she was supposed to take home $1,752.99.



But investigators say Weinrich changed her voluntary deduction amount from a positive total, to -$5,805.65.



When the payroll system calculated her check, it subtracted -$5,805.65 from her $2,165.53 gross pay, leaving her with a take-home pay amount of $7,971.18 instead.

LOCAL: School phone ban begins with new school year, heres what to know

Investigators say she used the same method for all of her paychecks during that time, totaling $427,087.91 in extra pay she was not entitled to receive.



They also say she took tax withholding money from other district employees paychecks and moved it into her own.



That meant she used their tax payments to cover her own taxes and left their taxes unpaid.



Weinrich pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and tax fraud charges.



In July, a federal judge sentenced her to 18 months in prison and ordered her to pay $595,970.21 in restitution  $470,385.21 to Mustang Public Schools and $125,585 to the IRS.



Court records say she must report to prison to begin her sentence by September 2.

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Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton appeared on CNN on Friday night, comparing the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to Trump inviting the Taliban to peace negotiations at Camp David.

Trump announced on Truth Social earlier that the highly anticipated meeting would take place on Friday, August 15.

Its very gracious of Putin to come to former Russian America for this summit, a sarcastic Bolton noted. This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, but it certainly reminds one of that. Trump later canceled the talks with the Taliban in September 2019.

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The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow, Bolton added. So, the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin. Hes a rogue leader of a pariah state, and hes going to be welcomed into the United States.

He went on to argue that the situation is sliding very quickly in Russia's direction.

John Bolton said meeting with Putin in Alaska was akin to Trumps planned 2019 meeting with the Taliban at Camp David (Getty Images)

We're not quite back at February the 28th, in the Oval Office, when Trump told [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, You don't have any cards. But what's happening is that Russia and the United States are discussing what terms they're going to present to Zelenskyy, and it may well be that Zelenskyy has no choice here, he added. Surrendering is always one way to get a peace deal.

Bolton suggested that even without the meeting, Putins got his old magic back with Trump.

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All that disappointment, all that outrage  now you're talking about a deal between Trump and Putin? Think of the press that will get. I have to say, from the strategic perspective, from the U.S. interest perspective, this was not a good day, said the former U.N. ambassador.

Host Kaitlan Collins noted that Putin cant go to Europe for a meeting, as theres an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest.

Bolton argued that they could have met in Vienna or Geneva, where Putin met then-President Joe Biden in 2021.

Bolton argued Trump and Putin could have met in Geneva or Vienna, saying theyre considered U.N. cities (AP)

They're basically considered U.N. cities, and the ICC warrant could have been waived, and I don't think anybody would have objected, frankly, he said.

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Bolton said, If Trump really wanted to get an equitable peace deal, he could certainly listen to what Putin had to say.

But they're doing a lot more than listening. They could receive the material and send it to Zelenskyy, and hear what he thought of it first, he added.

Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trumps first term, said, This sounds an awful lot like the peace plan proposed by Vice President JD Vance during the campaign last year.

Russia keeps all the territory it currently holds, a demilitarized zone, maybe with a peacekeeping force on the Ukrainian side is set up, and Ukraine pledges not to join NATO, said Bolton. If Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire here, it's agreeing to its new border with Russia, effectively. I think this is a very dangerous point for Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government.
A former Stanislaus County sheriffs deputy was sentenced Friday in Stanislaus County Superior Court to nine years behind bars, followed by 10 years of parole, for sexually abusing his teenage daughter over the course of several years, including while he was still employed by the Sheriffs Office.

Matthew Joseph Dessert, 42, was found guilty July 10 of seven charges, including five felony counts of sexual battery and two misdemeanor counts, stemming from abuse against his daughter between 2015 and 2023.

This is a case of a fox being in the hen house, Judge Jeff Mangar said. You were her father. You wore the badge, you were trusted to protect, and instead, you violated that trust in the worst possible way.

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In her victim impact statement, Desserts now-19-year-old daughter said she often felt like giving up during the process, afraid that no one would believe her and that her father would walk free. She was visibly shaken and in tears as she spoke.

She said Dessert exposed himself to her when she was 9 years old, which she said he claimed was a form of education. This later turned into sexual touching and showering with him.

When she was 17, she told her boyfriend everything.

I dont think I had ever cried that much before, not only from fear, but from embarrassment, from telling someone about it while you still arent sure about the seriousness of the situation, and also sitting in fear because you broke the family rule of not telling anybody, she said.

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She later told her school counselor in September 2023. She said she was then taken by Child Protective Services.

Her parents, however, told relatives and friends that she was lying, which resulted in her being cut off from the family. She said that during the course of the trial, she was able to reconnect with some family members.

She said she was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and sees a therapist every two weeks. It pains her to have to admit she was sexually abused, she said.

She also said she feels guilty about what will happen to her dad. However, I have to remind myself that in this situation, I had to stand up for what was right when what he was doing was wrong, she said.

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She asked Mangar to sentence him to nine years  each year representing a year she was abused by her father, which the judge did. The maximum sentence could have been 13 years, which was sought by the District Attorneys Office. The defense wanted Dessert to get probation.

In his statement, Dessert addressed the court and his daughter, tearing up. He admitted that he has made some bad parenting choices and would go back in time to change things if he could.

He revealed that since everything, his other daughter, who is diagnosed with epilepsy, has been having major seizures due to the stress. He said hes worried a harsh sentence would trigger more seizures, which is why she and his wife were not present at the courtroom Friday.

Dessert also said that throughout the process, he has lost lots of money, including his retirement and savings, and that he and his wife are close to losing their house.

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My credit is shot. The last time I checked, it was at 530 when it was originally at 820, he said.

He revealed he attempted suicide but stopped when his wife called him.

The reason Im telling all this to the court today is to show that my punishment indirectly started Sept. 25, 2023, Dessert said.

He said he has begun rehabilitation, started medication for anxiety and depression, and returned to college to pursue a degree in cybersecurity and web design, knowing he will have to rebuild his career from scratch. Turning to his daughter, he told her he will always love her and he is proud of all she has accomplished.

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If I could go back in time and take it all back, I would, but I cant, he said. All I can say is Im sorry, and I hope that one day you could forgive me. I would love to be a part of your life again, if youre ever ready.

In an interview with The Bee, Deputy District Attorney Samuel Luzadas said the victims testimony played a crucial role in securing a conviction. She stood up there, she was cross-examined, and she held her own, Luzadas said. That takes a lot of courage  especially with her entire family not on her side.

The victim disclosed the abuse to authorities in September 2023 while Dessert was on duty. Luzadas said investigators responded quickly, conducting a recorded interview with the victim at Oakdale High School rather than a traditional care setting. He credited the Sheriffs Offices Special Victims Unit with treating the case with professionalism and urgency.

The Sheriffs Office addressed the conviction in a statement to The Bee, issued by Sgt. Erich Layton on behalf of Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.

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The Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office condemns any form of criminal behavior, especially when those acts are against the most innocent victims who lack the emotional, mental, [and] physical ability to combat their offenders, the statement reads.

Regarding the investigation involving former deputy Matthew Dessert, our Special Victims Unit conducted a thorough and impartial investigation. From the outset, Dessert was treated as any other suspect would be, and his employment status had no bearing on the scope or outcome of the investigation. He was arrested within approximately 10 hours of the start of the investigation.

The statement emphasized that no individual is above the law, and reaffirmed the departments commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice  regardless of a persons occupation or position.

Desserts daughter testified about abuse that began when she was as young as 9 years old. Luzadas said the defendant gave a partial statement upon her fathers arrest, acknowledging some of the conduct she described. They obviously believed her, Luzadas said of the jury. And part of his statement corroborated some of the things she had claimed.

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Defense attorney Hans Hjertonsson said he and Dessert were disappointed by the jurys decision and had anticipated a different outcome. I was expecting an acquittal based on how the evidence came out during the trial, he said. But at the end of the day, the jurys opinion is what matters.

Asked whether Desserts role as a sheriffs deputy (he began working for the department in 2014) affected the defense, Hjertonsson said it did not. I dont think it complicated the case, he said.

Luzadas confirmed that no plea deal was ever seriously discussed. They werent willing to accept anything that involved sex offender registration, he said, and we werent willing to offer anything that didnt.

He said the verdict also sends a broader message. If something is happening and you disclose it, there are people who will listen to you, Luzadas said. Well fight for justice  no matter how hard it may be.
Terrence Davis has declared his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for South Dakota secretary of state in 2026. (Courtesy of Davis for South Dakota)

A 39-year-old former state trooper plans to seek the office of South Dakota secretary of state for the Democratic Party.

If the party chooses him at its nominating convention next year, Terrence Davis could face Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson in the general election.

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Johnson was elected in 2022, and has announced her intention to seek reelection.

In South Dakota, the secretary of state oversees elections, maintains voter registration records, and catalogs and manages campaign finance reporting for state office-seekers and political action committees. It also catalogs businesses and corporate filings, among other duties.

Davis, a Sioux Falls resident and Tennessee native, sent an announcement on his candidacy this week. The married father of one spent a year working for the South Dakota Highway Patrol, from 2021-2022, and another five working as a state trooper in Tennessee. He currently works for East River Legal Services in Sioux Falls, and is pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy through Liberty University.

He pledged to bring transparency and accountability to the office, and to deliver more efficient, accessible services with the respect South Dakotans deserve. Davis announcement also said he would make voting both secure and accessible, especially for rural communities.

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When people deny elections, fail to protect your privacy, they silence your voice. Incompetence is just as dangerous  it threatens our democracy and the future of South Dakota, Davis said in his news release.

The quote does not name Johnson, but references criticisms of her work in office and statements made prior to taking it.

During the 2022 election, Johnson declined to say if the results of the 2020 presidential election, won by Joe Biden, were fair and legitimate.

Last month, Johnsons office publicly released a list of registered voters that included confidential information on how they registered, including during applications for public assistance programs. The voter rolls were made available at no cost to the public pursuant to a state law that took effect July 1, but Johnson, after reporting by Searchlight and other media, apologized for including the confidential information and retracted it from the database.

Johnson did not immediately return emails requesting comment on Davis criticisms.

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A Brooklyn woman who worked as a youth organizer for Squad Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was arrested Friday on charges she urged her 25,000 social media followers to attack a public high school because Jewish students attend it.

Iman Abdul, 27, is accused of posting a screenshot on Thursday of the location of Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Manhattan Beach on Google Maps and a chilling caption.

If anyone needs a public school in NYC to attack for whatever reason  Lexus driving Israhell (sic) loving Zionisits (sic) all attend here, the since-deleted post read.

Iman Abdul was arrested Friday on charges she threatened the Brooklyn high school. Obtained by the NY Post

Theyve all gone on Birthright, it added, referring to a popular program that offers free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults.

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The NYPD arrested Abdul at her Brooklyn home on Friday, charging her with making a terroristic threat, acting in a manner injurious to a child, aggravated harassment, and making a threat of mass harm.

Abdul worked on the Democratic primary campaigns of socialist pols AOC and state Sen. Julia Salazar in the summer of 2018. She was a paid canvasser for Salazar, the lawmaker told The Post.

She also described herself in a 2019 interview as a student at City College of NY, majoring in childhood education, sociology and Latino studies; and a director at IntegrateNYC, a youthled group advocating for desegregation of city schools.

The Instagram post alarmed Jewish advocates fighting against antisemitism in city schools.

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A map. A pin. A call to harm Jews, fellow New Yorkers, children, teachers. This isnt just dangerous. Its evil. Jew-hatred doesnt stop with a threat. It escalates. We need immediate and unequivocal action, Tova Plaut, a DOE pre-K staffer and Jewish activist, told The Post.

I am outraged and horrified that a NYC school was publicly marked for attack simply because of its Jewish population, she added.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, and the departments intelligence unit were quickly alerted to the threat, sources said.

The Instagram post urged followers to attack Leon Goldstein HS. Obtained by the NY Post

The watchdog group StopAntisemitism shared the post on X and accused Abdul of inviting people to attack a Jewish school, although Goldstein HS is a secular NYC public school.

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This incitement against Jews, specifically minor children, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the group declared.

Abdul doubled down in a direct message to StopAntisemitism on her Instagram account @theinmxnabdul.

I never called for an attack on the school in the sense of mass organization or not even individual people attacking individuals, thats literally stupid, she wrote in a word-salad response. I called for an attack on the school, the Zionist institution funded by our public dollars  we have every right to verbally attack the school.

Leon M. Goldstein High School sits on the campus of Kingsborough Community College. Jim.henderson

Goldstein HS, with 998 students, is located on CUNYs Kingsborough Community College campus. Its extracurriculars include an Israel Club for those wishing to learn more about the country and celebrate Jewish holidays.

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This kind of hate stems from years of indoctrination from CUNY and NYC schools it isnt born overnight, said Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers. The antisemitism embedded in every university protest over the past 22 months comes as no surprise to anyone.

Israel advocate Uri Cohen also blasted the account, calling it full with other antisemitic content in an X post that has racked up more than 500,000 views and comments branding Abdul as insufferable, narcissistic and a demon.

He shared a screen recording from the account showing the woman mocking complaints to police and laughing as she claimed Zionists are reporting her for exercising freedom of speech.

Abdul could not be reached for comment. Her Instagram account was deleted, along with her LinkedIn page.
FORT MILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The firm tasked with developing a health and safety plan for the schools going up near the Silfab Solar site laid out their recommendations to the school board this week.

Flint Hill Elementary welcomed students this week on Gold Hill Road, and the middle school is slated to open its doors next year. The presence of these campuses has been the chief concern related to the operation of a solar panel manufacturing plant on property just to the north.

At Tuesday nights Fort Mill School Board meeting, Citadel EHS provided updates in the areas of health, safety and emergency planning that addressed concerns over potential impacts from the chemical Silfab uses to create their panels.

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The plan includes indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, which is already underway. This includes targeted sampling within and outside of Flint Hill Elementary, specifically focusing on classrooms and shared spaces where students and staff spend most time, and near rooftop air intake vents.

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Silfab Solar Saga

Citadel says the sampling would monitor for critical contaminants of potential concern (COPCs) including but not limited to: Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Hydrogen Fluoride (HF), VOCs, TVOCs, Ammonia, PM2.5/PM10, Formaldehyde, and Silane.

Baseline testing for these would take place after school construction is finished but before students arrive, as well as one month into the school year. If Silfab opens, then the process takes place every three months to monitor for any changes.

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Establishing a baseline and regularly monitoring air quality helps ensure the air students and staff breath while in and around the schools is optimal, compared to, and in alignment with South Carolinas Toxic Air Pollutants (TAP) limits and the EPAs Regional Screening Levels (RSLs), the company said.

The plan also would practice outdoor air quality monitoring, with units placed along the fence line near the Silfab and school properties. The district is evaluating this option if or when the Silfab facility begins operating.

Citadal says the data would inform operations decisions, enabling the school district to adjust its heating and air systems.

Citadel also recommends a new emergency protocol for Fort Mill schools. This includes agreements between the district, Silfab and York County officials, and training and coordinated response drills.

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The district also is asked to host community meetings to discuss safety plans and provide training to school staff on these potential protocols.

Transparent, inclusive communication builds trust and ensures families and staff are prepared, Citadel said.

The district has already begun evaluating the recommendations. The school board approved hiring Citadel in June.

In 2022, Silfab received zoning approval for its panel manufacturing facility, and in 2023, entered an incentive agreement with York County. Legal challenges came in 2024, and two lawsuits related to the project are still pending.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Accused by law enforcement authorities of murder, Daemon Ponce was released from jail for a third time as he awaited his cases disposition. On this occasion, in May 2024, the reinstated bond was $70,000.

Ponce was charged in the March 2022 shooting death of John Reyes, 21, at a party in north Fort Worth.

On May 31, 2022, Ponce was arrested in the killing. He was released from custody on a $50,000 bond that was later twice held insufficient, including once because deputies alleged Ponce was in possession of two guns when they executed a warrant on a relative.

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In May 2024, as Ponces case was still pending, he was on 24-hour home confinement as a condition of his reinstated bond.

Ponce was under the supervision of the Tarrant County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. On Aug. 1, 2024, the agency was alerted when Ponce cut a GPS monitor from his ankle.

Ponces supervision officer spoke with the defendants girlfriend, according to agency records. She said she woke to the monitor beeping. Ponce was gone.

His girlfriend said that she believed he left about 11 a.m. and she had not been able to reach him. A bond violation warrant was filed that day.

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The Fort Worth Police Department formally alleged this week that 103 days after he removed the monitor, Ponce committed a second murder.

On Oct. 12, 2024, a vehicle drove by MR Customs, a mechanic shop in the 1800 block of NE 33rd Street in north Fort Worth. Shots fired from the vehicle toward a group of people at the shop struck two men in their upper bodies. Jamarein Pevy, 19, died at a hospital. A 23-year-old man survived.

Suspect rearrested days after second killing

It is not clear precisely what efforts law enforcement authorities made to find Ponce and take him into custody after he cut off his GPS monitor.

The U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force was involved in the apprehension attempt, an agency spokesperson said. Tarrant County Sheriffs Office deputies are on the task force and were also involved.

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Ponce was taken into custody on the bond violation warrant on Oct. 18, 2024, six days after the shooting at the mechanic shop. He was booked on Tuesday, Aug. 5, in the killing of Pevy.

Nine days after the homicide, police arrested Jesus Benavides, 20, a co-defendant in the mechanic shop homicide. Benavides was indicted on murder and aggravated assault. The case is pending.

A reporter asked the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office about the specific efforts its fugitive warrants unit took to locate Ponce. A spokesperson referred the reporter to CSCD, the bond supervision agency, and the Fort Worth Police Department.

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Sean Colston, the defense attorney appointed by the court to represent Ponce, declined to comment on the pending murder cases.

The police department has not made the arrest warrant affidavits in either homicide available for public review.

A hearing at which Ponce, who is 20, is to accept or decline a plea offer from the state is set for Sept. 5.
The Fort Worth Police Department is adjusting its patrol beats starting Saturday.

Fort Worth police will adopt new patrol boundaries in some parts of the city starting August 9, according to a press release. The department does this regularly as the population grows.

Some beats will change very little, while others will increase or decrease according to the population. For some, they will have a different patrol division or Neighborhood Patrol Officer.

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In far Northwest Fort Worth, where new homes and apartments are being added daily, a few beats will change significantly, and new beats will be added, the release reads.

The department pointed to Nextdoor and Facebook, where officials will plan gatherings for residents to meet their new Neighborhood Patrol Officers.

Residents can find their Neighborhood Patrol Officers name and phone number through the citys online portal  by typing in their address, searching it, and clicking + by neighborhoods.

Former Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia stands a strong chance of becoming Fort Worths next chief, as The Dallas Express exclusively reported. After Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes announced he was stepping down, the department began its search for a new chief in May.

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Fort Worth recently proposed an $840 million bond for roads, parks, and public safety, as The Dallas Express also reported. As of June, downtown Dallas crime rate outpaced downtown Fort Worth by 5 to 1.

The Dallas Express reached out to the Fort Worth Police Department. A representative said he was working on the request, but did not reply in time for publication. This article will be updated accordingly.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  As we near the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, non-profit organization Rebuilding Together New Orleans is partnering with the Louisiana Department of Insurance to install fortified roofing systems in the Greater New Orleans area.

Its high wind, high rain resistant and its exactly what homeowners need in New Orleans and in Louisiana, said Olivia Parker, the Rebuilding Together New Orleans program director.

State Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple toured homes that received free, fortified roofs. Temple explains how this science-backed roofing system is designed to handle heavier rains and stronger winds.

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Undermines public trust, Gov. Landry orders LSP investigation into dumped court records

He says Fortified roofing technology is helping New Orleans residents to stay prepared for this hurricane season and beyond.

Theres a waterproof barrier between the roof and the decking, and theres some additional flashing to prevent shingles from flying off your home and your contents getting wet, said Temple.



Along the tour, Temple caught up with one of four homeowners who benefited from Fridays installations. Barry says service-based programs like Rebuilding Together push the community forward and give him the confidence to feel safe this hurricane season.

I feel great about it now. Everything that Ive done to the home, the roof is just the icing on the cake, said Barry.



Visit the program website for an application.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
How do you prevent tyranny and preserve liberty? The framers of the U.S. Constitution set themselves this task when they convened nearly 240 years ago. Their solution  creating formally independent branches of government  rested on the assumption that a restless desire for power was an immovable fixture of human nature. By vesting shared powers in the rival branches like the presidents veto on legislation and Congress role in approving executive nominees and control over spending, they thought they could force the branches into conflict if any of them sought to impose its will on the others, or the country.

The abdications of the Republican Congress and conservativeSupreme Court in the past seven months have thoroughly discredited the framers assumption about human nature. Partisanship has proved more powerful than the separation of powers.

So, it should not surprise us that the last remnant of the Constitutions system of checks and balances is the one that remains partly in Democratic hands: state governments. The independent authority of state governments enshrined in the Constitution, which enables them to legitimately contest federal power, is what political scientists and legal scholars call federalism. Now it appears that Trump is seeking to extend his successful subversion of Congress and the Supreme Court to overcome federalism as well.

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The presidents recent demand that Texas and other Republican-controlled states engage in an irregular mid-decade redistricting effort is an unprecedented incursion into state authority. In Texas, Trump aims to transmute five House seats held by Democrats into five that Republicans could win handily in 2026. Given the chambers narrow margin, these five seats alone could determine who controls the House after the midterm elections  regardless of who gets more votes.

This is the key to the entire plot. The presidents party usually loses seats in midterm elections. The Democratic lead on the generic ballot is currently small, but likely large enough to overcome Republicans razor-thin majority in the House. Trump is already the most unpopular modern president at this point in a new term  other than himself at this time in his first term. In fact, he is currently more unpopular than he was on the eve of the 2018 midterm election, in which his party lost control of the House. Presidents this historically unpopular would expect to see dramatic losses in Congress in any free and fair election.

But after his loss in the 2020 election and the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, Trump seems determined not to allow apparent election losses to again obstruct his power. Though gerrymandering is nearly as old as the United States, Trump is the first president to attempt a nationwide effort to secure his party control of the House by gerrymandering immediately before the election. In the context of the Congress and Supreme Courts surrender to Trump and his record of election denial, this is best understood as an effort to secure what can only be characterized as autocratic control over all of American government.

Trump is seeking to shield himself from the will of the voters by having his allies redraw legislative districts. It is a familiar strategy of authoritarian governments that seek to masquerade as robust democracies. They change the rules of electoral competition to favor their allies and make it unfairly or impossibly difficult for the opposition to win power.

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None of this is lost on the Texas Democratic legislators who fled the state to prevent the redistricting plan from going through, or the Democratic governors supporting them. Californias Gavin Newsom has clearly signaled he understands the stakes. In a meeting with some of the Texas Democrats, he said, Donald Trump called up [Texas] Gov. Abbott for one simple reason: to rig the 2026 election. He characterized the redistricting effort as an undemocratic effort to keep Trump in power without meaningful congressional oversight.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the effort was nothing less than a legal insurrection and that if Republicans are willing to rewrite the rules to give themselves an advantage, then theyre leaving us no choice. We must do the same.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has probably been the most aggressive of the Democratic governors supporting the Texas legislators, promising not only to house them but also to shield them from potential arrest by federal agents. Though it is unclear how serious that danger is, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the FBI had agreed to assist in their return and Trump said the FBI may have to go get them.

It thus seems that the Texas gerrymander effort and the resulting flight of the states Democratic lawmakers may lead to a face-off between a Democratic-controlled state government, or several of them, and federal officials helping to indirectly carry out Trumps gerrymandering directive. Moreover, all three governors, as well as state legislators in Maryland, have signaled a willingness to consider unprecedented (and often technically difficult) redistricting efforts in their own states to counter Trumps push. This is federalism in dramatic form.

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These governors are signaling that American federalism will not be overthrown as easily as the Congress and Supreme Court. It is impossible to predict how all this will be resolved, but there is considerable reason to think these states will not abjectly surrender like congressional Republicans or the Roberts Court. Theres still a fight to be had here. Thankfully for the Constitution, these Democrats seem willing to have it.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
TAMPA - FOX 13 meteorologists are still monitoring two areas of possible development in the Atlantic, although neither look to bring any impacts to Florida.

Odds of development have slightly decreased for each of them.

Weak area of low pressure could develop into named storm

Off the East Coast, a weak area of low pressure will have a small chance of developing into a named storm before merging with a front by the end of the weekend.

This will be moving away from the US and weather model support for this occurring has gradually decreased over the past few days.

Invest 96L

Invest 96L still has a medium (40%) chance of development within the next week.

Dry air has created a hostile environment for it to organize in the short term. This is reflected in todays satellite imagery of the tropical wave.

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There is now high confidence that a weakness in high pressure to its north will help steer this system into the central or west Atlantic next week. That turn would likely keep it far off the coast of the United States.

More tropical waves expected

Next week, our attention will return to the main development region of the Atlantic.

Long-range forecast models continue to indicate that several more tropical waves will be entering this region in the middle of August.

Nothing pertaining to these waves has been outlined by the National Hurricane Center at this time.

The Source

FOX 13 meteorologist Nash Rhodes researched the information for this story.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The 2025 FOX 8 FOX Trot was another rousing success!

Thousands run for the FOX 8 FOX Trot!

Despite the heat and humidity Sunday morning, runners and walkers filled the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for the summertime fundraiser which, this year, is supporting the American Cancer Society.

Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo Fox 8 photo

The event included a 5K Run, 1 Mile Walk, live music and appearances by members of the FOX 8 News team, including Wayne Dawson who had been battling oral cancer for more than a year.

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He was declared cancer-free in May of 2025!

Top 3 male finishers:

Ivan Reber Bret Snelling Joseph Svitavsky

Top 3 female finishers:

Anna Mehendale Meredith Baumgartner-Hand Sediah Erskine

Midview grad with down syndrome to start Champion of the Year campaign

Click HERE to see the full results of finishers and learn more about the event.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The H.L. Hunley was raised 25 years ago with large crowds looking on around the Charleston Harbor. It captured the Lowcountry and the nations attention as it had previously thought to been lost at sea for 136 years.

Those at the Friends of the Hunley remember the feeling of anticipation the day the Hunley was recovered from the ocean.

The amount of people and activity involved was really impressive, Michael Scafuri, senior archeologist at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, said.

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How many people came out. We were on the press boat in the middle of the ocean and there were people in kayaks, there were people in jet skis. There were so many boats, this became a side story and that was completely unexpected, Kellen Butler, executive director of the Friends of the Hunley. Then when it was brought in by the barge, the old Cooper River Bridge is just stopped. People got out and looked. Patriots Point I think had an event.

The civil-war era submarine was the worlds first successful combat submarine. The vessel and her eight-man crew vanished after sinking the U.S.S. Housatonic in 1864. However, it was discovered to be off the coast of Sullivans Island in 1995. The 40-foot submarine was a scientific and historic feat, which paved the way for future submarines.

It has hydrodynamics. It has metal plating  a technology that wasnt supposed to have existed until way later. The Hunley is built different from almost any vessel, said Glenn McConnell, former SC Sen. and Lt. Governor, in an interview from that day.

From 1995 to 2000, experts came up with a plan to carefully extract the vessel without damaging it, as it laid undisturbed on the ocean floor for over a century. The operation included custom-engineered suction piles, a series of slings, and a suction cradle to raise the sub.

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I think everybody in the public was like this is the aha moment. Its breaking the surface, its never seen sunlight in 136 years  oxygen, all the things. Is it going to be okay?

The scientists, they were all actually worried about it getting placed from the truss to that barge. There are four points of that barge and if it tipped a little bit. It couldve toppled over. Their aha moment was when that hit, ours was when it broke the surface. You could hear everybody cheering, said Butler.

Scafuri said it took approximately eight minutes to raise it out of the water.

The Hunley sits in a preservation tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. The experts have been working on it for the past 25 years, analyzing the submarine and the artifacts inside. Those include a gold coin, jewelry, a shoe, lamps, pocketknives, and more. Officials said these items were preserved in good condition due to the sediment which encased the submarine.

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Although some mysteries were answered in time, a bigger question still remains.

Why was it lost and how did the crew lose their lives. It seems very simple. It seems very obvious to determine how someone died at sea, but it is like a cold case, Scafuri said.

The Friends of the Hunley are offering free admission for kids K-12 through the month of August to honor the anniversary.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
European leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity on Aug. 9 after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to the U.S. a ceasefire plan that involves halting hostilities in exchange for Kyiv ceding its eastern territories to Russia.

Putin told U.S. envoy Wikoff during a meeting on Aug. 6 that Russia would agree to a full ceasefire if Kyiv withdrew its forces from Donetsk Oblast, giving Moscow full control of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea. In response, President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected on Aug. 9 the idea of ceding any Ukrainian territory to end Russia's war.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Aug. 9, citing European and Ukrainian officials, that discussions between the EU, Ukraine, and U.S. amounted to a rejection of Russia's proposal, instead offering a counterproposal to U.S. officials ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska.

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Members of the European bloc's Baltic states offered the most pointed criticism towards the proposal and U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion that a peace deal would likely include Moscow and Kyiv "some swapping of territories."

"If borders can be changed by force, none are safe. If nations can be forced to live under a bigger neighbour's dictate, none are free," Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on X.

"Sovereignty and territorial integrity are the cornerstones of global stability. We will not reward aggression  not in Ukraine, not anywhere," Tsahkna added.

Estonia stands firmly with Ukraine , its sovereignty and territorial integrity.



If borders can be changed by force, none are safe.



If nations can be forced to live under a bigger neighbours dictate, none are free.



Sovereignty and territorial integrity are the cornerstones https://t.co/Lw97IXXbWu  Margus Tsahkna (@Tsahkna) August 9, 2025

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys offered a similar response as its Baltic neighbor, writing on X that "Ukraines borders, sovereignty and independence are non-negotiable."

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"From Luhansk to Crimea, every inch belongs to the sovereign nation of Ukraine, fighting for its freedom," he added.

 Ukraines borders, sovereignty& independence are non-negotiable. From Luhansk to #Crimea, every inch belongs to the sovereign nation of #Ukraine, fighting for its freedom.



 #Lithuania supports genuine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in #Ukraine - based on https://t.co/gPifqgjkkF  Kestutis Budrys (@BudrysKestutis) August 9, 2025

The Baltic states serve as one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine, given their proximity to Russia. Members states have feared that Moscow may eventually launch an attack on the Baltic region if it is given the opportunity to regroup it force stemming from a broken ceasefire.

The public reaction from leaders come as President Volodymyr Zelensky held phone calls held calls throughout the day with European leaders, including leaders of France, the U.K., Finland, Spain, Denmark, and Estonia, seeking a unified approach to the proposals.

Two European officials familiar with the talks told WSJ on Aug. 9 that Europe aims to draw a unified red line with Ukraine, instituting that that EU officials should be involved in any potential peace negotiation with Russia and reiterating that Ukraine's future cannot be discussed without Kyiv's participation. The development comes as Trump has suggested he will include Ukraine in future negotiations only after an initial meeting with Putin.

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In a joint statement, President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer, President von der Leyen, and President Stubb said: "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations."

In an earlier post on X, President Macron stressed that "the future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now," adding "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it concerns their security."

I have just spoken again with President Zelensky, as well as with Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Starmer.



We remain determined to support Ukraine, working in a spirit of unity and building on the work undertaken within the framework of the Coalition  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 9, 2025

The WSJ reported that unnamed European officials believed the proposal to be "much worse than Trump said on the call," with another adding that it gives "Putin everything he wants in exchange for nothing."

Despite attempts in recent months to pressure Moscow into a ceasefire, Trump failed to implement fresh sanctions on Russia by his self-imposed deadline of Aug. 8.

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Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky reiterated his country's belief that Russia must first be pushed onto the negotiating table through economic pressure.

"Putin did not defeat Ukraine in 3 days, nor in 3 years. It was the support for Ukraine, sanctions, and Ukraine's courage that push him to the negotiating table," Lipavsky wrote on X.

"Ukraine must remain free. State borders cannot be moved through pressure and blackmail," he added.

Putin did not defeat Ukraine in 3 days, nor in 3 years. It was the support for Ukraine, sanctions, and Ukraine's courage that push him to the negotiating table.

Ukraine must remain free. State borders cannot be moved through pressure and blackmail.Who becomes a member of the EU  Jan Lipavsky (@JanLipavsky) August 9, 2025

Kyiv and Moscow have previously held three rounds of negotiations on an end to the war, with each round failing to halt hostilities amid Russia's refusal to implement a ceasefire.

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Russia has repeatedly espoused maximalist demands to end its war in Ukraine publicly demanded that Kyiv forgo NATO membership and withdraw troops from all four regions as preconditions for peace. Under this condition, several large cities under Ukrainian control would have to be handed over to Russia.

"Who becomes a member of the EU and NATO is decided by their members, not Vladimir Putin. Czechia wants peace, but its form must always be agreed first and foremost by Ukraine," Lipavsky concluded.

Read also: Ukraine, Europe reject Putins ceasefire proposal, present counterproposal to US ahead of Trump-Putin meeting, WSJ reports

























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After five years, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says they have solved a cold case.

Four people have been charged with the Aug. 2020 murders of Troy Bennett and Cheryl Newsome.

The GBI says that Bennett, a veteran and retired firefighter, and Newsome, a retired nurse, were found dead in their Thomson home.

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They say there was evidence to show that a home invasion had happened.

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In 2023, the GBI says Newsome and Bennetts families requested a review of the case.

GBI agents have now charged Randy Hall, 39, Lora Thornton, 34, Chance McKenna, 21, and a minor with two counts of murder, two counts of armed robbery and burglary.

TRENDING STORIES:

Hall and Thornton are currently being held in the McDuffie County Jail.

McKenna was already being held in the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Butts County where he was serving a sentence for fleeing and other driving-related charges.

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Credit: Reuters

A 15-year-old boy has been killed by an air-dropped aid package in central Gaza.

Muhannad Eid was running towards the heavy packages as they were parachuted into the territory when one crushed him, his brother said.

Footage shows five or more large pallets slamming into the ground in front of the ruins of buildings in Nuseirat as Gazans try to reach the aid.

The body, believed to be of Muhannad, is then seen in footage being dragged from underneath the crate and carried away from the crowds.

Credit: Reuters

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In March 2024, falling aid pallets were reported to have killed five Palestinians after parachutes used to slow the crates down failed to open properly.

The US and Jordan were among the countries taking part in aid drops at the time, but both of their militaries denied involvement in the deaths.

The UN and other aid groups have frequently criticised the aid drops, which are far more costly than trucks and deliver much less food, as being insufficient.

They have also warned that they risk killing the Palestinians they are intended to help.

Instead, UN agencies and other relief groups have for months been pushing Israel to allow more aid into Gaza by land on trucks and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced.

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More than 1,300 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave since the US backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operating in May 2025, the UN has said, most of them shot by Israeli forces operating near GHF sites.

Credit: Reuters

Israel denies having a policy of starvation in Gaza, and says Hamas could end the crisis by surrendering. It also says Hamas and other groups are behind the killings.

The death of Muhannad comes as at least 18 people were killed across the enclave on Saturday, including civilians waiting to collect aid, Gazas civil defence agency said.

At least six people were reportedly killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops were accused of targeting civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza.

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The other deaths were caused by air strikes elsewhere in central Gaza.

Israeli restrictions on supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators.

Despite mounting international pressure on Benjamin Netanyahus government to end the war, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans early on Friday to seize Gaza City, moving towards a full takeover of the Strip.

Israels offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gazas health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. However, they do not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition Tuesday with the state Supreme Court to remove Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), chair of the Texas Democratic Caucus, after he and dozens of other Democrats defiantly left the state to block a Republican redistricting vote.

Driving the news: The Democrats traveled to Boston, Chicago and New York City over the weekend to prevent Republicans from securing the quorum needed to pass congressional maps that would add five GOP-friendly seats before the 2026 midterms. Abbotts suit names Wu as the ringleader of the walkout, alleging his actions amount to abandoning his position. The governor further claims Wu and the other Democrats appear to have solicited and received certain benefits in exchange for skipping a vote, further supporting their removal from office and allegations of bribery.

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Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxtons office asked the Texas Supreme Court to delay its decision, arguing that only his office or the offices of a district or county attorney could bring the type of case that Abbott filed. But he also announced he would petition to remove absent Democrats, warning, If you don't show up to work, you get fired.

What Wu is saying: Wu dismissed Abbotts threats in a CNN interview Monday, saying, Frankly, Democrats say, Come and take it and calling the governors efforts all bluster. In a statement, he characterized his absence as fulfilling his constitutional oath rather than abandoning his duties. This office does not belong to Greg Abbott, and it does not belong to me. It belongs to the people of House District 137, who elected me. I took an oath to the Constitution, not a politician's agenda, and I will not be the one to break that oath, Wu said.

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Wu, the chambers lone Chinese American member, previously opposed legislation restricting Chinese property ownership, saying it sent a loud and clear message that Asians dont belong in this country. Abbott eventually signed the bill into law. Now, Wu frames his resistance in moral terms. 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, he said. When that governor holds disaster relief for 137 dead Texans and their families hostage, my moral duty is to sound the alarm  by any means necessary.

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Whats next: Legal experts question Abbotts authority to remove elected lawmakers. Ross Miller, president of the Democratic Lawyers Association of Texas, told CNN there is no legal precedent for such action, while Rice University professor Mark Jones told CBS Texas that lawmakers can only be removed through a two-thirds legislative vote.

Should the removal efforts succeed, special elections would be required to fill the vacant seats. Appeals could also stretch well beyond the special sessions Aug. 19 deadline.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Town of Geneva welcomed its new Goodwill thrift store with a ribbon-cutting.

This is the Goodwill of the Finger Lakes 14th store and third in Ontario County. It takes the place of the former Tops Friendly Markets at 381 Hamilton Street.

It features over 14,000 square feet of retail space as well as convenient parking in the Geneva Shopping Center.

Roughly 264 shoppers lined up early to celebrate the stores opening at 9 AM.

Ribbon Cutting at new Geneva Goodwill

In attendance was New York State Senator Pam Helming, who spoke, saying, The opening of this new Goodwill store is a powerful example of how smart redevelopment can make a big impact. What was once a vacant Tops Market is now a bright, active, and welcoming space that will drive foot traffic, support local businesses, and strengthen the Geneva community as a whole.

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In an effort to reward those who attended the opening ceremony, the first one hundred people through the door received a ten-dollar gift card to spend on second-hand items. The store also serves as a drop-off location for those who wish to donate their old items.

All proceeds from in-store purchases go to Goodwills charity programs, including Goodwill Vision Services, 211/LIFELINE, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Goodwill Learning Academy, workforce development, and the Good Neighbor Program.

We are grateful to our new neighbors in Geneva for the warm welcome, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes President and CEO Jen Lake said. Todays grand opening is yet another significant step that reflects our growth in bringing our unique and sustainable thrifting experience to even more shoppers in the Finger Lakes region and our continued investment in supporting the communities we serve through our many impact programs and services.

The store is part of the growing non-profit presence/network in upstate New York, from Greater Rochester to Syracuse.

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For more information, visit goodwillfingerlakes.org.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia authorities identify suspect in CDC shooting as a 30-year-old man from suburban Atlanta.
ATLANTA (AP)  A Georgia man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The 30-year-old shooter also tried to get into the CDCs headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire late Friday afternoon, the official said. He was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose skepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees Saturday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign.

CDC shooter identified

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White as the shooter, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.

The suspects father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told AP. The father said his son had been upset over the death of the sons dog, and he had also become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. The family lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of CDC headquarters.

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A voicemail left at a phone number listed publicly for Whites family wasnt returned Saturday.

Employees at the CDC are shaken

The shooting left gaping bullet holes in windows across the CDC campus, where thousands work on critical disease research. Employees huddled under lockdown for hours while investigators gathered evidence. Staff was encouraged to work from home Monday or take leave.

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X.

Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said outside the CVS pharmacy on Saturday that gun violence feels like a fact of life now. This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia.

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Kennedy reaches out to staff

We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose, Kennedy said Saturday. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.

Some rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a Dear colleagues email, and called for his resignation.

Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDCs workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust, said Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off employees opposing changes to the CDC by President Donald Trump's administration.

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Under Kennedy, CDC has laid off nearly 2,000 employees. Trump proposes cutting the agencys budget in half next year, moving some CDC functions into a new Administration for a Healthy America. Kennedy has a history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, but he reached new prominence by spreading distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. For example, he called it criminal medical malpractice to give COVID-19 vaccines to children.

Kennedy parlayed that attention into a presidential bid and endorsement of Trump, leading to Trump naming him secretary. Kennedy continues to undercut the scientific consensus for vaccines, ordering $500 million cut from vaccine development funding on Tuesday.

Opponents say officials' rhetoric contributed

Fired But Fighting also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, noting a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government.

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We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected, Vought said in the video, obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.

A request for comment from Voughts agency wasn't returned.

This shooting was the physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers, said Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during a wave of terminations.

A distrust of COVID-19 vaccines

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A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nancy Hoalst, who lives on the same street as Whites family, said he seemed like a "good guy while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbors, but he would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations.

He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people. Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. He emphatically believed that.

But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.

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Slain officer leaves wife and 3 kids

Rose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, graduated from the police academy in March and quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism, DeKalb County said.

This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

Growing security concerns

Senior CDC leadership told some staff Saturday that they would do a full security assessment following the shooting, according to a conference call recording obtained by the AP.

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One staffer said people felt like sitting ducks Friday. Another asked whether administrators had spoken with Kennedy and if they could speak to the misinformation, the disinformation that caused this issue.

It is clear CDC leaders fear employees could continue to be targeted. In a Saturday email obtained by the AP, CDC's security office asked employees to scrape old CDC parking decals off their vehicles. The office said decals havent been required for some time.

___

Richer reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre contributed from Albany, New York.
The DeKalb County Police Department identified the officer killed Friday while responding to a gunman near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,

Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed while responding to the shooting at the CDC campus, which prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby Emory University. The suspected gunman, who has not yet been identified, was also killed.

Rose was rushed to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road, where he died from his injuries.

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He began working for the police department last September, the agency said, and is survived by his pregnant wife and two children.

Police Officer Killed After Shooting Near Cdc Headquarters, Emory University In Atlanta

"He was committed to serving the community," Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said in a statement. "At this time were asking for the communitys prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family."

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Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said his family is "mourning today's tragic loss of Officer David Rose."

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"His service and memory will not be forgotten by a grateful state, and his loved ones and fellow @DeKalbCountyPD officers will remain in our hearts and prayers as they grieve his passing and this painful day," Kemp wrote on X.

Army Secretary Hails 'Heroism' Of Soldiers Who Tackled Alleged Fort Stewart Shooter: 'Absolutely Saved Lives'

The incident unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. when a man opened fire in front of the CDC campus, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. When officers responded to the location, they found Rose critically wounded and heard additional gunfire coming from a nearby CVS pharmacy.

Officers entered the pharmacy and located the shooter on the second floor with at least one gunshot wound. Schierbaum said it was not clear if the wound came from police gunfire or if it was self-inflicted.

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"I want to commend the men and women of law enforcement from all across this region," Schierbaum said. "When this community needed them, no one shirked from the danger. Every officer, from multiple districts, responded and immediately moved to end this threat."

Police officers stand outside the emergency room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

CDC Director Susan Monarez said the agency was "heartbroken" over Friday's deadly events.

"A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings," she said in a statement. "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community."

A police officer arrives at the scene of a shooting near Emory University in Atlanta.

Federal and state officials said they were horrified by the shooting and expressed appreciation for law enforcement's swift response. Among those sharing statements about the tragic incident was U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

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"I am mourning the tragic death of the officer who was killed in the line of duty today, and I am praying for the officers family and friends. Atlanta law enforcement saved countless lives, and we are grateful for their service," Warnock said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting and the FBI's Atlanta office said it will assist.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch, Sophia Compton and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.





Original article source: Georgia officer killed while responding to shooting near CDC headquarters identified: 'Committed to serving'
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The suspected gunman in the attack that killed a police officer near the Emory University campus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters was identified Saturday morning.

One day after the shooting on Friday night, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Ga., was the killer.

WXIA-TV posted video from outside the home of the suspected shooter on Friday night where there was crime scene tape.

GBI is the lead investigator, and has been working with the Atlanta, DeKalb County and Emory police, DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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Emory, with an enrollment of 5,727, was on lockdown for a few hours, while the CDC had a shelter in place order at its Roybal Campus until the late evening. The school said Saturday there will be increased police presence throughout the weekend.

David Rose, a 33-year-old police officer for the DeKalb department, died while responding to the shooting. Rose, who joined the department in September and was a retired U.S. Marine, had two children with his wife, who is pregnant.

"This officer responded to the call as he did, as he was trained to do, and during that incident he received gunfire and he lost his life in this incident," interim Police Chief Gregory Padrick said. "He was committed to serving the community. It's a noble profession we all do. We answer the call to serve our community and he gave his life with a commitment to serve others."

Rose was the only person shot during the attack, which started just before 5 p.m. at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road. White was found dead from a gunshot wound on the second floor. It wasn't disclosed whether he was shot by law enforcement or whether it was self-inflicted.

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The shooting occurred across the street from the CDC campus, where there were bullet holes in windows and shattered glass on the floor. Some rounds of ammunition also flew just above office cubicles.

CDC Director Susan Monerez told employees to work remotely while a "security assessment" is conducted at the campus.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Friday the suspect was "known to have some interest in certain things that I can't reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted."

CNN reported the shooter was upset about health problems blamed on the Covid-19 vaccine recommended by the CDC and approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2020 with Emergency Use Authorization and full approval for certain ages in 2021 for Pfizer-BioNTech and in 2022 for Moderna.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's decision to suspend arms deliveries to Israel has exposed divisions within his governing conservative bloc, prompting its foreign affairs working group to schedule an urgent meeting for Sunday.

According to sources within the parliamentary group, the foreign policy experts will discuss the change of course on Israel.

Meetings of the group are customary when important developments occur, but party sources said the hastily arranged meeting on a Sunday during the summer recess shows how explosive the issue is.

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Merz, who became chancellor in May, announced on Friday that Germany would halt exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in the 22-month campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The move, a major shift for one of Israel's closest supporters, came after Israel's Security Cabinet approved plans for a new offensive to seize Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the devastated Palestinian territory.

Merz expressed concern over the impact of the offensive on Gaza's civilian population, and said the operation will make it more difficult for Israel to achieve its war goals.

The move garnered support from Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who is leader of the centre-left Social Democrats - Merz's junior coalition partner.

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But there are divisions within his own Christian Democratic Party (CDU) party, as well as its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are divided.

CDU lawmaker and foreign policy expert Norbert Rottgen told the Rheinische Post on Saturday that he supported the export halt: "This reaction is correct and has unfortunately become inevitable due to the latest decisions by the Israeli government."

His party colleague Carsten Muller, however, wrote on X that he condemned the federal government's decision "in the strongest terms."

The CDU's youth wing called the move a "break" with the party's principles, while the deputy chairman of the foreign policy working group, senior lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter, lambasted what he called "Germany's serious political and strategic mistake."
Visitors to Stuttgart's House of History museum will be asked to strip off down to their shoes to attend the "Free Swimming  Together" exhibition on two upcoming evenings.

The museum in the capital of the south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg is highlighting changing attitudes to swimming and the human body.

"Society is reflected in the pool. A wide variety of people with different lifestyles and moral concepts meet in public pools  sometimes more and sometimes less harmoniously," it says on its website.

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The rich and poor once bathed separately, the museum notes  as did women and men. "During the Nazi era, the Jewish population and 'foreigners' were excluded. Even before that, war invalids had to stay outside. The sight of them was considered unacceptable," it continues.

Turning to restrictions today, it says that freedom and freedom of movement are once again hotly debated. "Do women, queer or disabled people need a 'protected space'? Does topless bathing benefit or harm feminism? Is the acceptance of maximum concealment backward or progressive?" it queries.

Germany's Get Naked association believes it is time for nudity to no longer be seen as exceptional and for it to no longer be intuitively linked to sex.

The House of History is putting on an exhibition with more than 200 artefacts and photos, set to run until September 14, to show how sexism and racism, moral conceptions, exclusion and prejudice have made their mark on public bathing alongside equal rights and democracy.

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Tickets for the two nude evening showings are sold out, but patrons can still visit the exhibition without the guided tour.

There have been similar events in the past in Paris, Marseille, Brussels and Hanover.
The head of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office has rejected accusations that Berlin is making a risky change in its policy toward Israel by halting certain arms exports.

"There should be no doubt whatsoever that the basic principles of Germany's Israel policy remain unchanged," Thorsten Frei told dpa.

"Germany will continue to support Israel in everything necessary to defend its existence and security."

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The suspension only applies to military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip, Frei said.

He described it as a carefully considered response to Israel's announcement that it plans to expand its military operation and seize Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the war-shattered Palestinian territory.

Such an offensive could come at a high cost to the civilian population, warned Frei, a senior member of Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU).

Frei stressed that the pause does not affect equipment for Israel's self-defence, such as air and naval defence systems. "In all these areas, Israel will, of course, continue to receive as much support as possible," he said.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Germany of "rewarding" the Gaza Strip's Hamas militants with its decision.

"Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas' terrorism with an arms embargo on Israel," a statement from his office said.

Decision sparks political rift

Merz's move garnered support from Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who is leader of the centre-left Social Democrats - Merz's junior coalition partner.

But within his own Christian Democratic Party (CDU) party, as well as its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), there are divisions.

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CDU lawmaker and foreign policy expert Norbert Rottgen told the Rheinische Post on Saturday that he supported the export halt: "This reaction is correct and has unfortunately become inevitable due to the latest decisions by the Israeli government."

His party colleague Carsten Muller, however, wrote on X that he condemned the federal government's decision "in the strongest terms."

The CDU's youth wing called the move a "break" with the party's principles, while the deputy chairman of the foreign policy working group, senior lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter, lambasted what he called "Germany's serious political and strategic mistake."

Foreign policy specialists from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are set to discuss the issue in a video conference on Sunday.

Meetings of the group are customary when important developments occur, but the hastily arranged discussion on a Sunday during the summer recess suggests how explosive the issue is.
Questions arose about the prison camp Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins co-conspirator and former girlfriend, was transferred to last week, after spending years in a federal prison in Florida.

Maxwell was moved to Federal Prison Camp Bryan, a minimum-security prison for women, located roughly 6 miles from Texas A&M University in College Station in Bryan, Texas.

The transfer of the convicted sex offenders came on the heels of her meeting with the Department of Justice (DOJ), where she spoke to the department about 100 people linked to the disgraced financier, who died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

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The embattled former socialite reentered the public eye earlier this year as calls mounted for the DOJ to release more information into its probe of Epsteins case. The Trump administration released a memo early last month concluding that he killed himself and that he did not keep a so-called client list.

What to know about FPC Bryan

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), FPC Bryan houses 626 inmates. The facility usually holds nonviolent offenders, where inmates work landscaping and maintenance, to avoid repeatedly checking in and out of a main prison facility, according to The Associated Press.

Dawn breaks at the Federal Prison Camp where Elizabeth Holmes, the former founder and CEO of Theranos, is expected to arrive to begin her 11 year sentence for fraud relating to the defunct company Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Dawn breaks at a Federal Prison Camp on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Before her transfer, Maxwell was at a federal correctional institute in Tallahassee, Fla.

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These are low-to-medium-security prisons that may have perimeters that are double-fenced, and inmates are more limited in their movements, according to the BOP.

Similar to other federal prison camps around the country, of which there are seven, according to the agency, some facilities dont even have fences.

FPC Bryans high-profile names

Maxwell isnt the only high-profile name housed at FPC Bryan, according to central Texas KCEN-TV.

The prison is home to Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for defrauding investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY  Friendship Roulette Episode 204  Pictured: Jen Shah  (Photo by: Andrew Peterson/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) FILE  Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, is escorted by prison officials into a federal womens prison camp on May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. A panel of appeals court judges will preside over oral arguments on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in an attempt to overturn the 2022 fraud conviction of Holmes in the high-profile case that exposed the greed and hubris infecting Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)

Jen Shah of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who was sentenced to 78 months in prison for running a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme, is also at the Bryan, Texas, facility.

Public reaction to Ghislane Maxwells transfer

Actress Alicia Arden, an Epstein accuser, spoke out against Maxwells transfer on Banfield.

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Arden, alongside attorney Gloria Allred, was on Ashleigh Banfields show to discuss the possibility of grand jury transcripts being unsealed in the sex trafficking case against Maxwell.

I think that she should be moved back to the facility where she was, and thats where shes serving her time, Arden told NewsNation. Why should she be moved to a lower facility with not as much protection and with more freedom there?

Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in connection with Epstein in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. She is currently appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court.

Epstein died in jail awaiting trial on related charges in 2019.

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(NewsNation)  Questions arose about the prison camp Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins co-conspirator and former girlfriend, was transferred to last week after spending years in a federal prison in Florida.

Maxwell was moved to Federal Prison Camp Bryan, a minimum-security prison for women, located roughly 6 miles from Texas A&M University in College Station in Bryan, Texas.

Ghislaine Maxwell denied service dog for crimes against the vulnerable

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The convicted sex offenders transfer to Federal Prison Camp Bryan came at the heels of her meeting with the Department of Justice last month, where she spoke to the department about 100 people linked to the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

What to know about FPC Bryan

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, FPC Byran houses 626 inmates. The facility usually holds nonviolent offenders, where inmates work landscaping and maintenance, to avoid repeatedly checking in and out of a main prison facility, according to The Associated Press.

Dawn breaks at the Federal Prison Camp where Elizabeth Holmes, the former founder and CEO of Theranos, is expected to arrive to begin her 11 year sentence for fraud relating to the defunct company Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Before her transfer, Maxwell was at a federal correctional institute in Tallahassee, Florida.

These are low-to-medium-security prisons that may have perimeters that are double-fenced, and inmates are more limited in their movements, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

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Jeffrey Epstein estate lost hundreds of millions of dollars since his death

Similar to other federal prison camps around the country, of which there are seven, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, some facilities dont even have fences.

FPC Bryans high-profile names: Elizabeth Holmes, Jen Shah

Maxwell isnt the only high-profile name housed at FPC Bryan, according to central Texas KCEN-TV.

The prison is home to Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for defrauding Theranos investors of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF SALT LAKE CITY  Friendship Roulette Episode 204  Pictured: Jen Shah  (Photo by: Andrew Peterson/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) FILE  Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, is escorted by prison officials into a federal womens prison camp on May 30, 2023, in Bryan, Texas. A panel of appeals court judges will preside over oral arguments on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in an attempt to overturn the 2022 fraud conviction of Holmes in the high-profile case that exposed the greed and hubris infecting Silicon Valley. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)

Jen Shah of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who was sentenced to 78 months in prison for running a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme, is also at the Bryan, Texas, facility.

Public reaction to Ghislane Maxwells transfer

Actress Alicia Arden, an Epstein accuser, spoke out against Maxwells transfer on Banfield.

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Arden, alongside attorney Gloria Allred, was on Ashleigh Banfields show to discuss the possibility of grand jury transcripts being unsealed in the sex trafficking case against Maxwell.

Possible Maxwell pardon revictimizing to Epstein survivors: Attorney

I think that she should be moved back to the facility where she was, and thats where shes serving her time, Arden told NewsNation. Why should she be moved to a lower facility with not as much protection and with more freedom there?

Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in connection with Epstein in 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. She is currently appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial on related charges in 2019.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Tonight, Reggae Night returns to the Rochester Public Market with Band on the Bricks, featuring popular local band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad as the headliner.

As part of the free summer concert series, the gates open at 5:30 PM and music runs until 10 PM, offering an evening filled with music, food, and vendors.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be joined by special guests Ignite Reggae Band, promising a lively performance for reggae enthusiasts.

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Visit the Band on the Bricks website for more information.

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HIGH POINT  Visit High Point is leading an initiative to bring to the city what it terms a public art display of a giant wooden troll sculpture aimed at driving tourism.

President Melody Burnett told a City Council committee Thursday that organizers goal is to construct a Thomas Dambo Troll this fall at a site in southwest High Point.

Dambo is an artist from Denmark who creates wooden trolls about 15 to 50 feet tall from recycled materials to promote environmental awareness.

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It really leans into our branding narrative, the aesthetic that were after, the creatives we want to recruit here, Burnett told the committee. It will tie into our DNA legacy brand in home furnishings and textiles

The Visit High Point board has committed $59,000 toward the project, while the Southwest Renewal Foundation secured an investor that is providing $300,000.

Organizers are not asking for city funding but will seek approval to construct the sculpture on a city-owned site they dont want to reveal until the city OKs the use.

The site was chosen because it provides opportunities to connect with other projects in the area like the southwest greenway.

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The plan is for Dambo and his team to start construction in late October. Burnette said local donors will provide labor and materials.

Dambos creations have been displayed at sites in 17 different countries and have proven to be popular draws with families and artists, she said.

His troll sculptures are also slated to be installed in Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh, so organizers are exploring ways to partner on regional tourism efforts highlighting the displays.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Israels National Technological Innovation Authority, her office announced on Aug. 8.

The agreement, signed on Aug. 6, recogniz[es] the longstanding friendship and shared values between the State of Arkansas and the State of Israel and reflects the two entities shared commitment to fostering research, development, [and] technological innovation, according to a news release.

The non-binding MOU, which carries no legal or financial obligations for either party, will remain in effect for 10 years. Sanders signed the document during a trade mission to Israels capital, Jerusalem.

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Under the agreement, Arkansas and Israel will support and promote exchanges and visits by delegations and businesses between both entities and facilitate the sharing of information, participation in economic development events and collaboration on research and development projects.

These projects aim to create technologically innovative products or processes based on new innovative technologies to be commercialized in the global market, according to the agreement.

Implementation may include the organization of delegations, technical workshops, joint research initiatives and investment forums, the memorandum continues.

Plans set to launch new Arkansas rocket motor production facility in Camden

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The governor will make an economic development announcement at 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at the state Capitol, her office announcement. Whether that announcement is related to Sanders trip to Israel is unclear.

Sanders father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

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Aug. 8Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Friday that he welcomes the prospect of Alaska hosting a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin, after Trump wrote on social media that he would meet with the Russian leader in Alaska on Aug. 15.

Dunleavy's office did not immediately have further details on the specific time and place of the meeting.

"I welcome the upcoming meeting between President Donald J. Trump and Russia's President Putin being held here in the great state of Alaska," Dunleavy wrote in a statement posted on social media.

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"Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific to our south," Dunleavy wrote. "What happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country."

"It's fitting that discussions of global importance take place here. For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting," Dunleavy concluded.

Russian politicians have periodically suggested that Russia, which once controlled Alaska and sold it to the U.S. for $7.2 million in 1867, should reclaim the territory.

In response to one such suggestion in 2022, Dunleavy wrote "Good luck with that!" And added an implied threat: "We have hundreds of thousands of armed Alaskans and military members that will see it differently."

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Trump last visited Anchorage in July 2022, when he held a campaign rally for Republican candidates Kelly Tshibaka and Sarah Palin.

Prior to that, Trump visited Anchorage in 2019, making a stop at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on his way back from Vietnam. Dunleavy accompanied him during his brief stop in the state.

Alaska's U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said "it will be an honor for our state to host yet another important meeting between world leaders, as we did between President (Ronald) Reagan and Pope John Paul II in 1984, and between President (Richard) Nixon and the Emperor of Japan in 1971."

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the meeting in Alaska is "another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements."

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"While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms," Murkowski wrote.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich wrote on social media that his "prayer is that the conversations are productive and result in meaningful progress toward reconciliation."

"The pursuit of peace requires open dialogue. And it's encouraging that the dialogue will be occurring at the highest levels here in Alaska, where Russia and America share a historic relationship and geographic proximity," Begich wrote.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a major proponent of increased sanctions on Moscow and its allies, signaled Saturday that he supported President Trumps decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Invoking former President Ronald Reagans summit with former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev before the end of the Cold War and subsequent fall of the Soviet Union, Graham said he was confident in Trump.

Im confident President Trump will walk away  like Reagan  if Putin insists on a bad deal, the South Carolina Republican wrote on social platform X. Good luck, Mr. President, in your efforts to end this brutal war.

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The world should be pulling for you. I know I am, he added.

The remarks follow Trumps announcement Friday that he would meet with the Russian leader in Alaska next week to discuss ending the more than three-year-long war in Ukraine.

The president is proposing that the Eastern European nations swap territory in an effort to fast track a peace deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to the upcoming summit, has rejected the idea and urged the U.S. to give Kyiv a seat at the table.

Trump also brushed off reports that he wanted Putin and Zelensky to speak first.

He would like to meet with me, he told reporters Friday, adding, and Ill do whatever I can to stop the killing.

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The highly anticipated conversation also comes as criticism mounts following Trumps unfulfilled threat to hit Russia with new sanctions. The president originally gave Putin about 50-days to accept terms for a ceasefire but later shortened the timeline as the Kremlin continued to strike Ukraine.

Trump has, however, announced up to 50 percent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, a move that has seemingly only pushed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi closer to Russia. The secondary sanctions were part of a bipartisan measure led by Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) aiming to defund Russias war machine.

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, Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, but did not issue similar sanctions on China, who is also a major trading partner with Moscow.

Lawmakers have largely left the implementation of sanctions in Trumps hands. Graham on Saturday pushed back on critics, lauding Trump for being willing to speak with Putin directly before imposing financial restrictions.

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To those who criticize President Trump for being willing to meet with Putin to end the bloodbath in Ukraine  remember Reagan met with Gorbachev to try to end the Cold War, the senator wrote.

Amid the presidents trade restrictions, Putin has touted strong relationships with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Putin and Modi recently spoke via phone and touted their alliance.

Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, Modi wrote on X. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Aug. 8A grand jury declined to indict officers who shot and killed a 26-year-old man who reportedly pointed a shotgun at them during a mental health call in Dayton last year.

At 8:36 a.m. on Oct. 19, a woman in the 1700 block of Rosedale Drive reported her son, later identified as Taylor Cotton, was having a mental health crisis and threatening to kill her.

"He needs to go to the hospital," the woman told dispatchers, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch records.

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She also claimed he set fire to a neighboring house the previous day.

She called 911 a second time to report he had a gun. In the background of the call a man can be heard threatening to have a shootout.

Multiple Dayton police officers responded and spoke to the woman. Around 8:43 a.m., Cotton returned to the house in a car.

"There was information that he intended to have a shootout with the officers," Dayton police Maj. Paul Saunders previously said. "He was armed with a long gun, which prompted our officers to immediately call for assistance."

Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Moraine Police Department, responded.

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Crews tried to de-escalate the situation for around 25 minutes. Dayton's police commander for the hostage negotiation team and a senior crisis negotiator were reportedly at the scene.

At 9:09 a.m. Cotton got out of the car and reportedly pointed a shotgun at officers.

Six Dayton police officers, one Moraine officer and one Montgomery County sheriff's deputy fired at Cotton, according to police.

Cotton was reportedly shot multiple times.

Crews began providing medical care until medics could take over. He was transported to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died from injuries.

Investigators later determined the shotgun was unloaded, Saunders said.

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On Thursday, the Montgomery County grand jury reviewed the case.

At the request of Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr., two assisting prosecuting attorneys from the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office were appointed as special prosecutors in the case.

The grand jury did not return an indictment.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Hippie Hysteria, a vendor-centric boutique shop in San Angelo, will be having its grand reopening next week.

The owner of Hippie Hysteria, Sabrina Acosta, talked about the importance of the new location and what it means for her business.

Honestly, it feels like weve leveled up in the best way possible, said Acosta. The new location means we can welcome even more local small businesses, which is huge for us and for the community. Its exciting, a little chaotic in a fun way, and the perfect next chapter for Hippie Hysteria.

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Acosta talked about the exciting things that are happening on the day of the grand reopening, along with several upcoming events that are in the works.

Our grand opening is Friday, with a complimentary champagne bar and sweet treats, Acosta said. We also have our charcuterie cart for purchase. Starting in October, well also host a monthly Third Sunday event. Something fun to do after brunch or church, with shopping, mingling, and local makers. Third Sundays will also bring in pop-up spots for small businesses who arent our regular vendors, so therell always be something new to discover. Before the holidays, our new event room will be ready as well! It holds up to 40 people and can be rented for parties, craft nights, shopping events, pretty much anything, with management approval, of course.

Acosta spoke about how much she has put into this new endeavor, that is, the building and additional vendors.

We have seven original vendors coming to the new location, and we have added 34 additional vendors, Acosta said. We have 8,800 square feet of shopping in our new location. Ive really thrown my heart and soul into this. I want to create a space where makers, creators and small businesses can thrive together. Its such a great opportunity to learn from one another and to have a community to build each other up. Im just very thankful that San Angelo has been so receptive and supportive to Hippie Hysteria.

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Hippie Hysterias grand reopening will be taking place on Friday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 109 S Chadbourne Street. For more updates on Hippie Hysteria, they can be found on their Facebook page.

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Believe it or not, Vice President JD Vance has said a number of things over the years that I agree with.

For example, when he suggested the American people will not tolerate another endless war" with regards to sending aid to Ukraine, I felt seen. When Vance told podcaster Theo Von we need to release the Epstein list; that is an important thing, I could not have agreed more. The sex trafficker received over $1.5 billion and 4,000 wire transfers to help pay for his operation. The American people should know who among us gave that monster money.

Read more: Contributor: Newsom's cynical redistricting ploy should be rejected by voters

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Recently Vance took to social media to point out that Republicans average 40% of the vote in California but under one redistricting scenario would be represented by only 9% of the states House seats.

How can this possibly be allowed? He pondered.

Its a really good question  especially for Texas.

After Texas gained two spots because of population growth in 2021  95% of which is attributable to people of color  Gov. Greg Abbott signed off on a map that actually increased the number of districts in which most voters are white. In fact, 60% of the new state Senate districts were majority white despite white residents making up less than 40% of the population. Today Republicans are suggesting the new map is their way of making space for Latino voters. The timeline suggests those seats belonged to Latino voters years ago.

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Read more: Contributor: Welcome to American politics without norms

Vance is correct to point out theres a dearth of Republican representation in California politics. But while Democrats have controlled the governors mansion and both state chambers for 11 consecutive years in the Golden State, in Texas the Republicans have held all three for 22 consecutive years  in large part because of the type of gerrymandering Vance denounced. (In California, its hard to fault partisan redistricting for the current mix of representation  because the state does not have partisan redistricting . Voters established an independent commission 14 years ago.)

Texas current map already seems to tilt in Republicans favor. Last year, the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, won more than 40% of the vote in the Lone Star State, and yet today Republicans hold nearly 70% of the states House seats. And Abbott and his MAGA cohorts in office want even more.

In one sense it is a full circle moment for Vance to complain about gerrymandering considering it was a former vice president  Elbridge Gerry  who started it. One of the nations founding fathers, Gerry was governor of Massachusetts when he approved a Senate seat map that the Boston Gazette lampooned as being shaped like a salamander. Thats because it was drawn in an odd way to rig the system so that it bent toward Republicans. What Vance is complaining about was started by his party and has been the countrys reality since 1812.

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Read more: Calmes: Trump yammers that he's the victim of rigging. But he's the rigger in chief.

Thats not to suggest Democrats are not also guilty.

Between 2010 and 2020, Illinois lost roughly 18,000 people. That reduction cost the state a House seat and required a new congressional map. For more than a decade, Republican Adam Kinzinger represented the 16th district  a swath of land that included moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats. However, after the new map was drawn by Democrats, the 16th district was erased and Kinzinger was without a district.

That is the same Kinzinger who proved to be a crucial member of the Jan . 6 committee because the war vet put his country over party. So, while Illinois Democrats were busy grabbing more power with the new map in 2021, they unknowingly forced out a moderate Republican who would prove to be one of the few conservatives in Congress to stand up for democracy. He proved not only to be an ally of democracy-oriented Democrats, but to be one of the speakers at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, a move that he and they hoped would bring out more moderates to vote against Donald Trump.

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Had the Democrats kept his district intact, perhaps they would have had an ally in the House fighting President Trumps overreach. Remember in May when Trumps Big Beautiful Bill passed the House by a single vote ?

Therein lies the true danger of gerrymandering.

Its not about what is snuffed out today but what is prevented from happening in an unforeseen future. Kinzinger voted with Trump 90% of the time, including against the first impeachment. Looking at that, I dont blame Democrats for seeing him as a political foe back when they eliminated his district. However, when it mattered most, he was a democracy ally. Yet by then, he was seen as a doomed political figure because of gerrymandering. Sophocles himself couldnt have written a more tragic tale of self-defeating hubris.

So yes, JD Vance has said a number of things over the years that I agree with: no endless wars, release the Epstein files, stop the gerrymandering. I agreed with the Vance who was interested in fighting for democracy. But to appease his boss, hes retreated from principled stances. How the world has changed, and he with it.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  An area club is set to show off its goods one coin at a time.

The Greater Johnstown Coin Club will sponsor its annual coin show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department, 1321 Scalp Ave.

This year, there will be around 20 dealers on hand with over 30 tables, said Mike Varnish, president of the Greater Johnstown Coin Club.

We have dealers coming from all over Pennsylvania, along with some from Maryland and Virginia, who show up each year.

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He said people can bring coins to sell.

If you have any items that youre interested in getting a price for or interested in selling, the dealers there will be happy to look at it, Varnish said. If you found something in a drawer, bring it up, because the time is now. Were at a really good place with the value of gold and silver.

The event will feature a raffle that includes five silver dollars BU (Brilliant Uncirculated), a $2.50 Gold Indian with a $100 value and a silver medal commemorating the 1889 Johnstown Flood. The cost is $5 for six tickets.

There also will be chances to win multiple types of coins along with hourly door prizes.

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Varnish said interest in the show continues to grow each year.

Last year was our best show, and we had people lined up out the door, Varnish said.

A lot of people show up at this show.

There is no fee to attend.

Those interested in selling coins can purchase a table for $45. Registration in advance is required by calling Varnish at 814-659-8741 or 814-495-9828.

If youre interested in coins, this is a good way to pick up some knowledge, Varnish said. You can see the prices for coins, and if youre interested in starting to collect coins, you can talk to dealers and learn from their experiences.

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The Greater Johnstown Coin Club has 116 members from Cambria and Somerset counties, and it deals predominantly with American currency.

They meet at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month at Ferndale Community Church, 701 Vickroy Ave., Ferndale.

Coin dealers are on hand at meetings to answer questions and sell coins.

In addition, there is a coin auction in which members can bring up to five coins to sell along with chances to win coins and a door prize.

Membership dues are $15 a year.

Those interested in becoming a member can attend a meeting or call Varnish for more information.
ATHENS (Reuters) -A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens was contained on Saturday morning, but evacuations of at-risk areas continued as strong winds were expected through the weekend.

At least one person died and homes and farmlands were destroyed on Friday as wildfires stoked by gale-force winds broke out across Greece, from near the capital to regions around the historical site of Ancient Olympia.

The worst blaze broke out in the small town of Keratea, southwest of the capital, where firefighters discovered the body of an elderly man in a burned-out structure. A fire brigade spokesperson said on Saturday the fire there was under control but not out.

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Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hot spot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.

Much of the region around Athens has had barely a drop of rain in months.

Wind gusts of up to 80 kph (50 mph) fanned the flames around Keratea on Friday, setting olive orchards alight. Homes were engulfed as locals wearing flimsy face masks assisted firefighters. Police went door to door late at night making sure that homes had been evacuated.

Much of the area smouldered on Saturday morning, and images on local media showed houses gutted by fire.

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Other blazes in the region of Ancient Olympia and on the touristy island of Kefalonia appeared to have abated also.

(Reporting by Edward McAllister, Michele Kambas and Vania Turner; Editing by William Mallard)




NEED TO KNOW

The Green River Killer is one of the most prolific mass murderers in U.S. history, who killed women in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and '90s

Another serial killer, Ted Bundy, offered to help investigators catch the Green River Killer after authorities couldn't identify him

The surprising collaboration is the subject of the new Hulu documentary, Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil





For nearly two decades, the Green River Killer claimed numerous lives in Washington state, evading authorities  until Ted Bundy teamed up with the authorities to catch him.

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A serial killer assisting law enforcement in capturing another mass murderer is the plot of The Silence of the Lambs but it happened in real life, too. The unusual partnership is the subject of the new Hulu documentary, Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil, out on Aug. 7.

It features excerpts from the 1995 book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, written by Bob Keppel, who helped catch Bundy. The documentary showcases how Keppel worked with the lead detective on the Green River Killer case, Dave Reichert, as Bundy's killer instincts guided them.

Bundy reached out to investigators, offering insight into how the Green River Killer thought. The two men were both murderers, and they both targeted victims in the same area, in the Pacific Northwest; Bundy in the 1970s, and the Green River Killer in the '80s and '90s.

So who was the Green River Killer, and why did Ted Bundy offer to help capture him? Here's what to know about the Green River Killer, including why he was called that and whether he was ever convicted of his crimes.

Who was the Green River Killer?

King County Prosecutor's Office via Getty Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on November 5, 2003 in Seattle, Washington Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on November 5, 2003 in Seattle, Washington

The Green River Killer's real name is Gary Ridgway, who was born on Feb. 18, 1949, in Salt Lake City and raised in Seattle.

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After graduating from high school in 1969, Ridgway enlisted in the Navy, where he served on a supply ship in Vietnam, according to Military.com. Ridgway was later discharged and returned to Seattle.

There, he was a truck painter for 30 years, until his arrest in 2001.

Why was he called the Green River Killer?

Andrew Parsons - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Walton Bridge Walton Bridge

The serial killer became known as the Green River Killer because his first victims were found along the Green River, located outside of Seattle.

On July 15, 1982, the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield was discovered floating in the Green River, per King 5 News. "She was found naked with a pair of blue jeans tied around her neck. This was obviously not the victim of an accidental drowning," according to Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil.

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Over the next month, five more bodies were found along a one-mile stretch of the river, leading authorities to create the Green River Task Force, per the FBI website. The task force's mission was to scour the area for additional clues that could help reveal the identity of the killer.

One of their first findings was the fact that Gisele A. Lovvorn, Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Cynthia Jean Hinds and Opal Charmaine Mills were sex workers. They had all been strangled.

"The crew that went into the Green River, they were tripping over the bodies. That's how he got the name, the Green River Killer," The Riverman co-author William J. Birnes said in the Hulu documentary.

The Green River Task Force expanded into a bigger team in 1984 as bodies continued to be discovered.

How many women did the Green River Killer murder?

King County Sheriff's Department, via AP; King County Sheriff's Department/Facebook Gary Ridgway and a victim. Gary Ridgway and a victim.

Ridgway was convicted of murdering 49 women and teen girls, but he has confessed to killing at least 71, and investigators believe the number could be closer to 100  making him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.

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The King County website lists the names of the confirmed deaths linked to the Green River Killer, including a few women whose identities have still not been established.

Ridgway later admitted in a courtroom statement that he targeted prostitutes because he "knew they would not be reported missing" right away.

"I picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed," he explained, The New York Times reported. "I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught."

Why did Ted Bundy want the Green River Killer caught?

Bettmann/Getty; Elaine Thompson-Pool/Getty Ted Bundy. ; Gary Ridway Ted Bundy. ; Gary Ridway

One of the detectives who was trying to catch the Green River Killer was lead Dave Reichert, who said he was "surprised" when Bundy  who was on death row  sent a letter, offering his help.

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"He made it very clear what his purpose was in his letter. What he wanted to do, according to his description, was to get us into the mind of a serial killer," Reichert told Fox News in June 2022.

He thought Bundy was "just injecting himself into the situation, trying to find out as much as he could about the case."

Reichert reasoned that Bundy was eager to offer his services because he wanted to be known as the "number one notorious serial killer in the United States."

"I think he was jealous that the Green River killer was grabbing all the headlines at the time," the detective continued. "Ted Bundy was in prison, so he was sort of a forgotten entity."

Did Ted Bundy help catch the Green River Killer?

 Seattle Times/KRT/ABACA/Alamy Gary Leon Ridgway in a November 2001 police mug shot from King County, Washington Sheriff's office. Gary Leon Ridgway in a November 2001 police mug shot from King County, Washington Sheriff's office.

In 1984, Keppel and Reichert teamed up when the latter reached out to the then-chief criminal investigator, knowing Keppel had helped capture Bundy, per Dialogue with the Devil. That November, Keppel and Reichert met with Bundy at the Florida State Prison, where he was being held.

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The conversations with Bundy didn't directly lead to the Green River Killer's arrest, but helped detectives place themselves in the mind of the murderer. Bundy's observations provided insight into what Ridgway was doing with the bodies.

Bundy suggested that the Green River Killer may have been returning to the victim's bodies and performing sexual acts on them, which turned out to be true. As Keppel wrote in The Riverman, Bundy also suggested that the police stake out one of the body burial sites to catch the killer if he returned to the scene.

"Ted Bundy was more accurate in profiling this serial killer than the police were," Birnes said in Dialogue with the Devil. "He was right all along the lines. Where to find the victims, and why he attacked the victims."

How was the Green River Killer caught?

Josh Trujillo-Pool/Getty Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on December 18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on December 18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington

The Green River Killer was caught using DNA evidence. Even though Ridgway had been a suspect since the beginning of the investigation in the '80s, he was not linked to he murders until decades later.

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Evidence was seized from Ridgway's house and cars in 1987 and retested in 2001, when authorities got a match. (An investigation by NBC News in 2024 discovered that spots of industrial spray paint were found on Ridgway's early victims that could have pointed to him much sooner.)

In late 2001, Ridgway was taken into custody in connection with the Green River killings. The New York Times reported that he was linked to three deaths and a suspect in four more. Two years later, the former painter was charged with all seven murders.

Where is the Green River Killer now?

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer

By November 2003, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to 48 murders of aggravated murder in the first degree, per the King County website. He accepted a plea agreement that would spare him the death penalty, per The New York Times. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole, the outlet reported.

"I'm sorry for killing these ladies," he said. "They had their whole lives ahead of them. ... May they rest in peace. They need a better place than where I gave them."

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Less than a decade later, in February 2011, a 49th life sentence was added to Ridgway's conviction. As part of his plea agreement, Ridgway confessed to killing 20-year-old Rebecca Marrero, whose body was eventually found, according to KGW.

Today, the Green River Killer is incarcerated in the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Wash. Per Seattle's KOMO News, in September 2024, Ridgway was briefly transferred to the King County Jail to help detectives with an ongoing investigation related to additional victims. He was then brought back to the Washington State Penitentiary.

Read the original article on People
A Greenville man has been indicted for robbing a TD Bank branch in New Ipswich while on federal supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announced.

Eric Lord, 54, was indicted on August 6, on one count of bank robbery. He is currently in state custody on related charges.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Ipswich Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuting the case.

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According to court records, Lord robbed the TD Bank branch on April 2, while he was on federal supervised release for a previous robbery of the same bank in 2014.

The charging statute for bank robbery provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain, whichever is greater.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations, and Lord is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Lord is expected to appear in federal court at a later date.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(NEXSTAR)  A guest on Royal Caribbeans Icon of the Seas is in stable condition after a hole appeared to open up in one of the ships waterslides on Thursday.

Footage of the broken waterslide has since been making the rounds on social media, showing water cascading to the ships deck through a hole near the top of the slide.

The injured guest, identified by Royal Caribbean as an adult, did not fall through the hole, according to a spokesperson for the cruise line.

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Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries, the spokesperson said. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.

Icon of the Seas

The waterslides on Royal Caribbeans Icon of the Seas are pictured on Feb. 3, 2024, in Miami. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Royal Caribbean did not disclose the nature of the guests injuries.

Some of the videos shared to social media appeared to show the moment that passengers realized the slide had broken. Some can be heard screaming for the operators to stop the slide! while other yell for anyone in the queue to turn back.

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Other videos, from after the incident, showed different angles of a jagged hole in a clear acrylic section of the slide.

Okay we will always cruise Royal but this this is bad. Especially for the ICON of the seas! one woman, who appeared to be a passenger on the cruise, wrote on TikTok. Had just about convinced my husband to go on a slide with me too.

The Icon of the Seas is currently en route to Coco Cay, in the Bahamas, according to CruiseMapper. The ship had left Florida on Saturday for a 7-day voyage to the Caribbean.

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GUN BARREL CITY, Texas (KETK)  In honor of Whataburgers 75th anniversary, a celebration was held at a location in Gun Barrel City.

I need a diaper change: Suspect only wearing diaper arrested after scaring girls in Tyler, charged with criminal solicitation

The celebration took place at the restaurant all day long and during the event, hamburgers were offered to customers for 75 cents using the Whataburger app. Anniversary t-shirts and prizes were also provided and attendees had the opportunity to meet Whataguy, the Whataburger mascot.

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As Whataburger continues to celebrate its 75th anniversary, the company will be offering a new commemorative cup every month. During August, each cup sold will go towards relief efforts in Central Texas following the devastating floods.

New commemorative cups will be sold at all Whataburgers all across Texas for $2.50 for the rest of this year.

You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Employees at the top US public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were winding down their Friday when bullets smashed through their office windows, whizzing just over their cubicle walls. Inside the buildings, CDC employees felt like sitting ducks, some would later say in a meeting.

Across the street from the CDC campus, a gunman  possibly motivated by a hatred of vaccines  had opened fire on the agencys buildings, bringing panic to the upscale Atlanta neighborhood and the sprawling, open-access campus of Emory University adjacent to it.

Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area. Continue shelter in place. Police on scene, said a statement from the university.

Shell casings litter the sidewalk as GBI agents investigate Fridays shooting targeting CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. - GBI

One first responder, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, was killed. A married father of two, with another on the way, Rose would have made one year on the job next month.

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The shooting began just before 5 p.m. at the Emory Point CVS drugstore on Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the CDC.

Residents and students on their way home and parents picking up children from day care were caught in a tense lockdown that stretched into the night.

Police sirens blared across the area as officers responded.

The gunman was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store. He was struck by gunfire, but police could not say if it came from officers or the gunman himself.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Saturday identified Patrick Joseph White, 30, a resident of the Atlanta suburb Kennesaw, as the shooter. The investigation into what led to the shooting is ongoing.

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In the CDC offices, employees said the situation could have been much worse.

A CDC employee shared photos showing bullet holes in windows near cubicles at building 24 of CDC headquarters on Friday. - Obtained by CNN

A window shattered by gunfire after shooting targeting CDC headquarters on Friday. - Obtained by CNN

Photos viewed by CNN taken from inside one CDC building depict bullet holes in windows and shattered glass on the floor. The images show that rounds of ammunition flew just above a line of office cubicles where employees sit.

Its a miracle no one was killed here, one CDC employee told CNN.

Authorities have not confirmed a motive, but sources told CNN the shooter may have targeted the CDC over personal health concerns he blamed on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Heres what we know.

Why did the shooter allegedly target the CDC?

After speaking with family members of the suspect, police are operating under the hypothesis he was either sick or believed he was sick and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine, a law enforcement official told CNN.

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The CDC, one of the worlds leading health agencies, is tasked with protecting the health of Americans. But it has come under fire during the second Trump administration as conspiracy theories continue to plague the vaccine credited with halting the spread of the global pandemic.

The shooting occurred the same week US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  a longtime critic of Covid vaccinations, with a history of spreading vaccine misinformation  announced the cancellation of a half-billion dollars in investments in mRNA projects.

HHS said it would cancel federal funding for nearly two dozen mRNA vaccine projects.

On social media, Kennedy wrote on Saturday: We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose.

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Kennedy added no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.

Public health workers show up every day with purpose  even in moments of grief and uncertainty, the health secretary said. We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the alleged shooter is a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I cant reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens speaks at a news conference following a shooting near the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University in Atlanta on Friday. - Jeff Amy/AP

CDC Director Susan Monarez said on X the shooter fired on at least four buildings.

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Monarez informed CDC staff via email that they will work remotely on Monday while a security assessment is conducted. Employee assistance personnel were made available to workers, she said.

The gunman was wearing what appeared to be a surgical mask and was armed with two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun and two backpacks filled with ammo, according to law enforcement sources.

How the officer was shot

The gunman was firing at the CDC complex when an officer pulled up. The shooter turned his aim from the CDC complex to the officer, a law enforcement source told CNNs Ryan Young.

Rose, 33, was shot and later died at Emory University Hospital. His mother was an ICU nurse at the same hospital for 17 years, according to DeKalb County spokesperson Dionna Smith.

Police officer David Rose who was shot and killed during a shooting near Emory University's campus. - DeKalb County Police

Hayes Parsa, 17, saw Rose fighting for his life in hospital.

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Parsa was leaving the Emory University Hospital and waiting for a bus when he got the emergency alert on his phone saying, run, hide, fight, he told CNN affiliate WSB. A police car pulled up and he ran back inside the hospital, where he witnessed staff performing chest compressons on the officer. I prayed for him immediately, he told WSB.

Rose was committed to serving the community, interim Police Chief Greg Padrick, said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said Rose was a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, Patel said in a post on X.

Group of CDC employees felt like sitting ducks, they told leadership

In a large and hastily arranged Zoom call on Saturday, CDC leaders addressed rattled staff and acknowledged the Friday evening attack was targeted and deliberate.

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This was not stray bullets, one leader acknowledged on the call, sharing updates from the authorities. CNN obtained copies of staff notes from the meeting, which were shared in a large employee group chat.

There were at least 40 bullet holes counted in buildings 21 and 24, as well as a few in a third building, 16. The buildings house much of the non-lab work at CDC.

About 800 staff on the call, many of whom work in the agencys National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, were told the attack was carried out by a single shooter who had been reaching out for mental health assistance for weeks before the incident but had not made any threats ahead of time, according to two sources who spoke on the condition they not be named because they had not been authorized to share details with reporters.

Its unclear who the shooter was reaching out to.

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In a question-and-answer portion of the call, staffers tearfully told Monarez, the agency director, they felt like sitting ducks.

Leadership told staff on the call Saturday they might hear that their work was targeted as a possible motivation for the shooter.

CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Debra Houry on the call acknowledged the trauma of staffers, whether they were in the building or not, saying leaders were mad this happened.

Monarez said CDC leaders have been in contact with the office of HHS Secretary Kennedy, according to staff notes obtained by CNN.

Monarez was also asked what the agency planned to do to address disinformation but agency leaders on the call did not directly respond.

Anxiety all over the Emory campus

The chaos touched many people including Randy Gold, who was leaving an elevator at Emory Hospital and rolling to the exit with his father, just discharged in a wheelchair, when they encountered doctors, nurses and valet parkers running toward them and screaming there was an active shooter.

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At that point, Gold told CNN, nobody knew where that was happening, but they all went into sheltering mode.

We sort of ducked, he said as he was sheltering along with five or six people in the hospitals radiology reading room. The only information they had at that moment was that the entire hospital was in lockdown, and what they learned while watching CNN as the incident developed.

Law enforcement officers on the scene after Friday's shooting in which a police officer died as well as the gunman. - Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

Around campus, people were also trying to get a sense of what was happening. Police patrols on campus were increased over the weekend, according to the university.

Casey Cooksey, an employee of Emory Universitys IT Department, told CNN affiliate WXIA, he heard lots of gunfire and described the scene as total fear for everybody.

We had no idea where it was coming from, but it was pretty close. We thought it may be in our building.

It was just a bunch of rapid fire. It was a minute before we heard any sirens. It was just a lot of loud shooting.

Toddlers on lockdown at nearby day cares

Roads near the Emory Point CVS, where the active shooter was located, were like a ghost town, and police stopped vehicles from driving closer, Kristin Coles told CNN affiliate WSB.

Anxious for her one-and-a-half-year-old son who was at a day care center across from the CVS, she drove as far as she could before police stopped her and walked about a mile to get closer.

Coles said her wife went to pick their son up, but they were separated in different classrooms due to the lockdown situation.

Im just trying to get to them as quickly as I can, Coles said, stressing she has never experienced anything like this before.

It just speaks to a lot of what needs to be done to keep our kids safe. This is ridiculous.

There were also 92 children in a day care on the CDC campus, and all of them were safe, said Atlanta Mayor Dickens.

Natalie Feagin, the executive director of the Clifton School, a day care that serves CDC and Emory employees at two locations, told parents in an email that staff had specifically trained for active shooter scenarios and implemented a lockdown as soon as the shooting was reported.

Day care staff quickly secured doors, silenced phones, closed blinds, and moved children into interior shelter spaces, Feagin wrote. Teachers comforted and cared for the children, helping them feel safe while we waited for updates from authorities.

All children were safely united with their families by 11 p.m. local time, according to the email. Following the shooting, Feagin met with police for an after-action discussion to further review our response and identify areas of strength and growth moving forward, she added.

GBI agents at the scene of Fridays deadly shooting targeting CDC headquarters in Atlanta. - GBI

Threat to CDC employees

The violent episode at the federal health agency has added an unsettling new chapter to a turbulent period for the CDC and its staff.

Dickens said CDC employees have had a tough go of it in the past year.

My heart goes out to you, the mayor said.

We are with you. We stand with you, and were doing everything we can to make sure that we bring resolve to the situation.

He referenced the uncertainty around CDC staffs employment following massive workforce cuts at federal health agencies.

The agency has lost nearly a quarter of its staff since January. The Trump administrations proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026 would slash the agencys funding by more than half.

Under the proposed reorganization, the CDC would lose additional programs. Some would be transferred to a new Administration for a Healthy America, while others - such as the National Center for Chronic Disease and Health Promotion - would be eliminated entirely.

CNNs Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

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A gunman killed a police officer Friday near the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control in the US city of Atlanta before being found dead at the scene, authorities said.

No other people were killed or physically wounded in the shooting, during which multiple rounds were fired in the CDC campus, police said.

"Officers arrived -- found a critically injured DeKalb County police officer that was down," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a press conference.

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The police officer was later identified as 33-year-old David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department. He left behind a pregnant wife and two children, the department said in a statement.

The shooter's identity has not been released.

Schierbaum said it was too early in the investigation to comment on reports by CNN and the New York Times that the gunman blamed the coronavirus vaccine for an unspecified illness he may have had.

The man's father had reported to authorities earlier Friday that he was suicidal, the reports said.

The shooting began before 5:00 pm local time (2100 GMT) near the CDC campus and a pharmacy, Schierbaum said.

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The suspect -- who police believe was a single shooter -- was found dead on the second floor of a CVS drugstore with a gunshot wound, which may have been self-inflicted.

"The shooter is deceased, and we don't have any civilians that have been shot in this active shooter incident," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told reporters.

Ninety-two children in a daycare on the CDC campus were safely evacuated and were being reunited with families at a nearby school.

"We at @CDCgov are heartbroken by today's attack on our Roybal Campus," CDC director Susan Monarez wrote on X, praising the "courageous" policeman who was killed.

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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also paid homage to those who "answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians".

"We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center."

bur-abs/djw
A gunman opened fire outside of Centers for Disease Control and Preventions main campus in Atlanta, killing a police officer and hitting some of the buildings several times, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect was struck by gunfire and died at the scene. No civilian casualties were reported.

Police said they are still investigating the motive for the shooting. According to a CNN report citing law enforcement, police are operating under the theory that the gunman was either sick, or believed that he was sick, and blamed the Covid-19 vaccine for his illness.

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CDC Director Susan Monarez said Friday night that the agency is working with federal, state, and local authorities on the investigation.

We at CDC are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting, Monarez said in a statement. A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings.

CDC employees at the agencys main campus sheltered in place after the gunshots, two agency employees, granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, told POLITICO Friday. Photos shared with POLITICO show bullet marks in upper story windows of an agency building.

Law enforcement officials became aware of the shooting around 4:50 p.m., Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference. When they arrived, they could hear gunfire happening in a nearby CVS, where officers found the gunman struck by gunfire, Schierbaum added.
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT)  A well-known Mexican restaurant will be coming back to Hoover, albeit in a different location than its longtime perch along Hwy. 31.

Habaneros, a Mexican chain that has locations in Birmingham, Bessemer and Chelsea, will soon open a new location in The Centre at Riverchase on Hwy. 31, less than a mile away from Hoover Commons, where it had a location for years before closing earlier this spring.

The restaurant has been slowly revealing more information about its new location on its Facebook page with staff telling Birmingham Business Journal that tentative plans were to open in September.

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For more information, click here.

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KIMBERLY  Kami Roach woke up to a crying baby.

She got out of bed on the morning of May 19 and stepped into water in her basement bedroom. She grabbed the baby while her husband tried to find where the water was coming from inside the home. But it wasnt.

Water had flowed from a cement diversion box down the street into their garage and into the basement.

Within days of the flood, the Roach family contacted the city of Kimberly, Kimberly School District and the Twin Falls Canal Co. to find out who is liable for the $60,000 in damages to their home.

All three entities are involved in different ways and have all denied liability, according to interviews with the Times-News and emails obtained through public records requests.

In June, the family authorized their attorney to file a tort claim against the three entities.

I would love for someone to say, Were so sorry that you had to go through this and we want to make it right, Roach said. Weve got the Were so sorry and its not our problem.

The diversion box is on the northeast corner of the 64-acre lot owned by R & L Patterson Land LLC where Bates Homes is building 180 homes for the new Patterson Farms subdivision.

But the water comes from the Twin Falls Canal Co. and serves the school district. The Roach family says two city drains were clogged and were not taking water at the time of the flood.

An insurance adjuster for Kimberly School District reviewed Idaho Statutes and the Twin Falls Canal Co.s bylaws to determine if the district holds any liability, according to a May 21 email from Superintendent Luke Schroeder to Roach.

In a phone call on Tuesday, Schroeder said the insurance company found the district is not liable.

I feel bad that this situation happened, Schroeder said, but we have no one stepping up  I mean, its a horrible situation.

The flooding occurred downstream from any facility that the Twin Falls Canal Company controls, according to engineer Jason Brown, and the company is not liable.

Thats the major question here, Brown said. Who is ultimately liable?

On May 23, Kimberly City Engineer Brian Reed informed the Roach family that the city researched the issue and found that the city is not a shareholder of any irrigation shares in the pipeline.

The City understands damage to anyones property and personal belongings is devastating, Reed wrote in the May 23 email to Roach.

Although the three entities deny liability, its not over.

Theres also a tort claim out there that weve been served with as well, Brown said, so working through that legal process.

We dont like asking for help

The Roach family moved into their home on Kimberlys Main Street in 2021. Kami Roach is a therapist and her husband, Sam Roach, works in law enforcement. Their energetic daughter is almost 2.

They were planning to have another baby, but Kami Roach said she struggles with fertility and was saving money to help with that.

All of the savings that we had has gone into this, she said, so that is postponed until all of this gets resolved.

The cleanup and demolition cost about $30,000, her husband said. Installing new sheet rock walls and carpet in the basement, along with repairs in the garage, cost another $30,000.

They had to rip everything out in the basement down to the studs, he said. The wood paneling in the walls had absorbed water. They still have to replace their fireplace.

Their personal belongings damaged in the flood are estimated to cost between $17,000 and $20,000, Kami Roach said.

They lost furniture, a work computer, baby toys, medical equipment, medical records and items in storage. The water also destroyed their wedding decorations and bouquet.

I cant get that back even if they pay me to replace it, Kami Roach said.

Their home insurance didnt cover any of the damages, she said, since the water came from outside the home.

The family just wants to be made whole, Sam Roach said.

He said he is a private man, and it took a lot of convincing for him to be OK with starting a GoFundMe, which has raised about $2,500 to pay for legal fees.

Were both pretty independent people, Kami Roach said. We dont ask for handouts, we dont like asking for help.

After months of dealing with the aftermath of the flooding, she has some advice for homeowners.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Haitis government announced Saturday that it is implementing a three-month state of emergency in the countrys central region as gang violence surges.

The measure will cover Haitis West, Artibonite and Center departments to continue the fight against insecurity and respond to the agricultural and food crisis, according to a government statement.

The region  known as Haitis rice basket  has been under attack in recent years, with gangs killing farmers or forcing them to abandon their fields as they raze nearby communities.

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The United Nations human rights office noted that from October 2024 to the end of June 2025, more than 1,000 people have been killed, more than 200 injured and 620 kidnapped in the Artibonite and Central departments and nearby areas.

Gang violence also has displaced more than 239,000 people in Haitis central region, according to the U.N. In late April, dozens of people waded and swam across the countrys largest river in a desperate attempt to flee gangs.

On Friday, the government appointed a new interim director general to oversee Haitis National Police, which is working with Kenyan police officers leading a U.N.-backed mission to help quell gang violence.

Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison replaces former police director general Normil Rameau, who was criticized for his struggle to contain violence perpetrated by gangs that control up to 90% of Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince. Rameau had repeatedly warned about the departments severe underfunding.

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Paraison previously served as head of security of Haitis National Palace, and he was on duty as a police officer when former President Jovenel Moise was killed at his private residence in July 2021.

The changes come as Laurent Saint-Cyr, a wealthy businessman, takes over as president of Haitis transitional presidential council, which is charged with holding elections by February 2026.
Haitis government has announced a three-month state of emergency in several parts of the country as it battles surging gang violence.

The measure will cover the West, Centre and Artibonite departments, the latter of which is known as Haitis rice basket and has experienced an increase in attacks by armed groups in recent months.

In a statement on Saturday, the government said the state of emergency would allow the Haitian authorities to continue the fight against insecurity and respond to the agricultural and food crisis.

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Insecurity has negative effect both on the lives of citizens and on the countrys different sectors of activity. Given the scale of this crisis, it is imperative to decree a major mobilisation of the states resources and institutional means to address it, it said.

Haiti has reeled from years of violence as powerful armed groups, often with ties to the countrys political and business leaders, have vied for influence and control of territory.

But the situation worsened dramatically after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which created a power vacuum.

Nearly 1.3 million people have been displaced across the country, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in June, while the United Nations estimates that 4,864 people were killed from October 2024 to June of this year.

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Efforts to stem the deadly gang attacks, including the deployment of a UN-backed, Kenya-led police mission, have so far failed to restore stability.





While much of the focus has been on Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, where up to 90 percent of the city is under the control of armed groups, the violence has also been spreading to other parts of the country.

Between October 2024 and the end of June, more than 1,000 Haitians were killed and 620 were kidnapped in the Artibonite and Centre departments, according to the UNs human rights office.

In late April, dozens of people waded and swam across the Artibonite River, which cuts through the region, in a desperate attempt to flee the gangs.

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Meanwhile, the government on Friday appointed Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison as interim director of Haitis National Police, which has been working with Kenyan police officers leading the UN-backed mission to help quell the violence.

We, the police, will not sleep, Paraison said during his inauguration ceremony. We will provide security across every corner of the country.

Paraison previously served as head of security of Haitis National Palace and was on duty as a police officer when Moise was killed at his private residence in July 2021.

He replaced Normil Rameau, whose tenure of just more than a year was marked by tensions with a faction of the Transitional Presidential Council, notably Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime.

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Rameau had repeatedly warned about the police forces severe underfunding.

The change comes as Laurent Saint-Cyr, a wealthy businessman, also took over this week as president of the Transitional Presidential Council, which is charged with holding elections by February 2026.




Half of Republican voters would not abandon their vote for President Donald Trump if he were implicated in Jeffrey Epsteins crimes.

This is according to a new survey conducted by Canadian market research firm Leger, which found that such a revelation wouldnt sway 47 percent of Republican voters.

Trump has denied being involved in Epsteins crimes, and no evidence has emerged to suggest otherwise.

A further 26 percent of survey respondents said they were unsure or wouldnt answer, leaving just 27 percent who said that they would be more likely to vote for another party.

Forty-seven percent of Republicans would not change their vote for President Donald Trump if he were implicated in the crimes of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. / Credit: Ledger Marketing Inc.

Broken down by demographic, 61 percent of 18-34-year-olds said they would be more likely to vote for another party, while just 15 percent of respondents over 55 said the same.

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Previous polling has found that a plurality of Republicans approve of the way Trump has handled the Epstein case.

A Washington Post poll last month found that just 38 percent of Republicans approved of his handling of the case while 24 percent disapprove. The remaining 28 percent had no opinion.

A YouGov poll from late July has also found that 68 percent of Republicans believe Trump was not involved in the disgraced financiers alleged crimes, compared with the 80 percent of Democrats who do.

According to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, Epstein once called Trump his closest friend. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

While campaigning, Trump pledged to declassify all documents relating to Epstein. MAGA has been in a tailspin since the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation concluded in a July 6 memo that Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial in prison in 2019, rather than being murdered, and that no client list of wealthy co-conspirators existsthe subject of whirling conspiracies among Trumps supporters.

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Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008. Trumps close personal relationship with the man throughout the 80s and 90s is well documented. According to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, Epstein once called Trump his closest friend.

The Leger poll shows that the vast majority of Americans still want all Epstein files released: 77 percent say all documents should be made public, including 73 percent of Republicans and 85 percent of Democrats.
GRAFTON COUNTY, N.H. (ABC22/FOX44)  New Hampshire State Police said Friday that they had arrested two 38-year-old men Friday, both charged with sexual assault involving underage girls; however, they said the two cases were not related.

Jeremiah Godfrey (Courtesy: NHSP)

Custer Reed III (Courtesy: NHSP)

Custer Reed III, 38, of Rumney, was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault, while Jeremiah Godfrey, 38, of Wentworth, was arrested on multiple charges that included sexual assault as well as possessing child sexual abuse material.

UVM Childrens Hospital fights child abuse with information

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Both men are being held until their arraignment in Plymouth District Court on Monday.

Anyone with possible information in either case is asked to call Detective Michael Bruno at (603) 846-3333.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
The Hanford Reach became a national monument a quarter-century ago. That designation along with citizen-led, multigenerational stewardship has protected one of Washingtons most precious natural spaces.

That protection, once thought permanent, might not be enough for the next 25 years. Local residents, political leaders, Tribal nations and other stakeholders should engage in a serious conversation about the possibility of making the Hanford Reach not just a national monument but a national park.

Ironically, the Hanford Reach exists in an unspoiled state thanks to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

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There, the federal government refined nuclear fuel, including the plutonium used in the atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki at the end of World War II. The Reach was part of a buffer zone that helped keep that work secret.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton declared the Hanford Reach National Monument under the 1906 Antiquities Act. The proclamation noted the unique and biologically diverse landscape, encompassing an array of scientific and historic objects.

The monuments 196,000 acres hold 51 miles of the Columbia River  its last free-flowing, nontidal stretch. Riparian and upland shrub steppe habitats are home to native flora and fauna, as well as stopover points for migrating animals.

Towering bluffs and open spaces create dramatic landscapes. The ground preserves fossil remains from prehistoric eras and archaeological deposits from 10,000 years of human activity.

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For decades, Riverkeeper Rich Steele fought to protect the Hanford Reach. In more recent years, his son Todd Steele has taken on that burden. They and other local residents worked tirelessly to save the river and its surrounding lands.

Sen. Patty Murray championed the Hanford Reach in Washington, D.C. She was instrumental in persuading Clinton to issue his proclamation, and she remains a vital ally to this day. Last week, Murray and Todd Steele toured the river by boat to mark the 25th anniversary of the monument.

Historically, national monument status would be enough to protect the Reach for future generations. Presidents respected their predecessors monument declarations, and the legal consensus was that the Antiquities Act did not allow for revocation anyway.

President Donald Trumps lawyers have reversed that long-standing position. In June, the Justice Department issued a legal opinion that concluded that presidents may cancel monument designations if a president believes the protections arent warranted.

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That untested legal theory would have to stand up to judicial review, but relying on the courts creates dangerous uncertainty for the Hanford Reach. Trump has hardly been shy about pushing legal boundaries.

He also has demonstrated a willingness to prioritize energy development and resource extraction on public lands. If a national monument could be used for energy production, mined for mineral resources or otherwise exploited, Trump appears willing.

Rather than hope that the Hanford Reach will evade Trumps gaze, advocates should consider national park status.

If they conclude that is the right path, Congress would need to approve it. But that is what protects a national park from the capricious whims of the White House. Only Congress can undo it.

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If Congress were to make the Hanford Reach the nations 64th national park, there would be new challenges. Not least, parks exist not just for preservation but also for recreation.

Drawing more people to the area could harm the natural resources the designation is meant to protect. Delicate discussions would also have to take place with local tribes that hold parts of the Reach sacred.

Murray has rightly said that creating a park would require a broad local consensus of tribes, community leaders, businesses and conservationists.

That consensus  or a consensus to leave things alone  can only emerge after vetting the idea. In these precarious times for the nations public spaces, a Hanford Reach National Park deserves consideration.
Aug. 9The Fire Dog lives!

The 7-month-old pup named Bandit who fled a burning duplex has reunited with his person, Elizabeth Browne. Bandit spent two nights and two days, skittish and scared, slipping through East Lewiston shadows.

Browne, 37, was working in her second-floor home office at 804 20th St. in Lewiston, training online for her new job as a Medicare specialist. She smelled smoke. She peered out the window and saw smoke curling around her neighbor's fence, not realizing it was smoke from her own building.

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She walked downstairs to investigate. Fists pounded on the adjoining apartment door. A law enforcement officer was yelling, "Get out, now! Right now! Your house is on fire!"

Flames spread fast.

"I realized the kitchen ceiling was on fire and Bandit was trying to go upstairs," Browne said. She couldn't get Bandit to stay still for his collar, flames closing in, and as the officer kept pounding on her front door, she gave up.

"I opened the front door and let him run."

The duplex was soon fully engulfed. Electrical wiring is a potential cause of the fire, Browne said. The Weinmann family next door was OK but the father, Justin, couldn't save their kittens, Bulma and Chi-Chi, who likely perished hiding beneath a couch. Mother Courtney and their two young children were away swimming.

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The duplex and contents were a total loss for both Browne and the Weinmanns.

But Bandit, who would soon be known in the neighborhood as the Fire Dog, was still out there.

With the help of friends and family, Browne searched, and searched. She got about three hours of sleep over the next two days and nights. Her best friend, Ashley White, managed social media to aid the search. Posts were shared more than 1,000 times about the blue roan and black, medium-sized dog with a brushy black tail. A shelter dog, Bandit is a mix of about seven breeds, with blue heeler, Australian shepherd, border collie and coonhound being most prominent. Browne had only had him for four months.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

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Reports of "Fire Dog" sightings started coming in. Bandit kept showing up where Browne had already looked.

"I was tracking him and he was tracking me," she said.

Then, Friday morning, her uncle spotted Bandit slinking over the crosswalk by Larry's Deli in East Lewiston. Later, White spied Bandit on the levee but Bandit took off downriver.

Browne was near the train bridge and knew Bandit was last seen heading for cover. So, she walked by the ponds, singing a song that she sings to Bandit and just talking. A group of ducks flushed, alarmed by a thing moving in the bushes. Browne sang and talked. Bandit's head popped up. He spotted her and, for a moment, he looked ready to flee. Then, he recognized her and came running.

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Browne is grateful for the help finding Bandit and the two are making a new home with her friend White. But Browne's renters insurance may only cover half of what she lost, and the Weinmanns didn't have renters insurance.

Bandit has made the loss bearable.

"Everybody's like, what do you need?" Browne said. "I say, 'my dog. I have my dog.'"

Ferguson can be reached at dferguson@lmtribune.com.

How to help

A GoFundMe account has been set up for both Elizabeth Browne and the Weinmann family to help them rebuild after the fire. They are available here:

Elizabeth Browne: bit.ly/45skpEH

Weinmann family: bit.ly/4m9sjdm
The Brief

Sheriff Gonzalez says the teen and her mother fell asleep in a vehicle at their home earlier that morning.

The mother woke up and allegedly found her daughter unresponsive.

The family met first responders on SH-249 and Antoine Drive to help their daughter.

HOUSTON - Harris County authorities have opened an investigation after a teen died in a hospital on Friday.

Harris County: Teen dead from possible carbon monoxide poisoning

What we know

According to officials, including Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the situation started at the family's home.

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The teen's mother came home from work at about 3 a.m. The girl got in the car and talked with her mother, then they fell asleep in the vehicle as it was running.

Sheriff Gonzalez says the two used to sleep in the car when they were homeless, and they continued the habit at the home they recently moved into.

Officials say the mother woke up at about 5 a.m. and eventually realized that her daughter was unresponsive.

The family was driving the teen to a hospital, but they were told to meet first responders on SH-249 near Antoine Drive. The responders then took the girl to a hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

What we don't know

No one involved has been identified at this time.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is believed to be a factor in the teen's passing, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Information remains preliminary, as the follow-up is underway. It appears this may be a tragic accident. The mother and her daughter recently moved into the house after being homeless and they often slept in the car. They did the same at the house because of familiarity with the https://t.co/NQolWozsr3  Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) August 8, 2025

The Source

Harris County Sheriff's Office
FAIRMONT  Marion County Schools will be the beneficiary of a new six-week health consciousness program from WVU Hospitals and Change your State.

Its very simple, John Paul Nardelli, executive director at Healthy Harrison an an employee at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center, said. Not only is it a small task for students to complete every day where theyre logging into their apps on their Chrome pads and indicating theyve completed their mindfulness, movement, nutrition goals for the day. Theyre getting tips from local experts, but theyre also being incentivized with really nice backpacks.

School Superintendent Donna Heston said the program provides an opportunity to help students be healthier, more mindful and to make small changes in their lives that have lasting impacts. The program began and completed several pilots in Harrison County and now its expanded into Marion and Doddridge counties. Nardelli said the feedback theyve gotten from students is ecstatic.

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WVU Medicine United Hospital Center and West Virginia Health Science Center will provide support as will MVB Bank.

School Board Member Thomas Dragich said the program will be a great benefit for the kids.

Ive got a niece thats been after me for a few years about promoting health, Dragich said. I saw that West Virginia is the least healthy state in the Union. So I think its great that WVU Medicine has started this with your work too.

Nardelli said when they initially did the program, it was tied to blood work. Blood work before and after the program showed tremendous improvement in certain medical metrics. Weight loss also occurred.

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School Board Member James Saunders also sought to correct an inadvertent misstep he made when hiring a school employee for contracting work at his home. The employee ran a side business doing home repair which Saunders used. Saunders found out about the misstep after a member of the community contacted him about it. He contacted the West Virginia Ethics Commission to confirm.

Saunders indicated it would be a good idea to craft a policy notifying board members against the same lapse. Heston suggested using the upcoming start of year training for board members as a time to broach the subject. Saunders indicated his preference for the policy addition and Heston said she would take care of it.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 11.
Heat sticks around through this weekend with spotty afternoon rain and storms. Temperatures cool off slightly early next week as rain chances continues.

More record and near-record heat has returned to New Mexico Friday afternoon. Once again a few spotty showers and storms are popping up over the mountains of western, northern, and central New Mexico. These storms are moving east and arent lasting long once they move off the higher elevations. However, they could still bring some light rain and gusty winds along with a threat of lightning. These storms will end later tonight after sunset. Cool overnight lows will return to western and northern New Mexico while the rest of the state will stay warm.

Record and near-record high temperatures are likely again Saturday afternoon, including in the Albuquerque Metro. Even drier air will move into the northern half of the state, pushing afternoon rain and storm chances into the southern and eastern halves of the state Saturday and Sunday. Again, not all of the rain will reach the ground and storms could bring a threat of gusty winds and lightning. Highs will be a few degrees cooler by Sunday afternoon.

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A weak cold front will move through eastern New Mexico by Monday afternoon, bringing a more significant drop in high temperatures to that half of the state. It will also increase the chance for rain Monday in eastern New Mexico with spotty afternoon storm chances in central, northern, and western parts of the state. High pressure builds in overhead again by the middle of week, bringing in hotter temperatures a dip in rain chances by Wednesday. The heat will stick around late next week, but rain and thunderstorm chances will increase as more monsoon moisture moves into the state.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Update: 8/10/2025 10:15 a.m.

An email from Illinois State Police this morning indicated no updates were available.

Mayor Dan Dickey of Gibson City released a statement to WCIA.

We are very thankful for all of our police officers, especially those involved in the incident earlier Saturday morning. Our prayers go out to our officers who were wounded in the line of duty as well as their families as we pray for their speedy and full recovery. Yesterdays incident is a reminder to everyone that the police risk their lives each and every day to protect and serve each and every one of us. We appreciate the response and support of the GCPD, Ford County Sheriffs Department, the Illinois State Police and other agencies involved in the ongoing investigation and have full confidence that they will continue to keep our community safe. We would also like to give all First Responders a heartfelt thanks for their service and dedication to our community. Mayor Daniel Dickey

Update at 4:53 p.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  The Gibson City Fire Department has been called back to the fire/crime scene on Ash Street for a rekindling of the house fire, Fire Chief Bruce Kallal said.

There is no further information available at this time.

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This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 4:25 p.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  Multiple Central Illinois fire response units were on the scene of a house fire early Saturday morning that started shortly after and at the same scene as where two officers were shot in Gibson City. The whereabouts of the suspect remain unknown.

According to Gibson City Fire Chief Bruce Kallal, the Gibson City Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 3 a.m. to stand by for a structure fire with an unsecured scene at 146 W Ash Street. The department requested mutual aid from Sibley, Elliott and Melvin/Roberts due to what appeared to be a fully involved residential structure.

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Champaign Police issue safety reminders for drivers in school zones

The Gibson City Fire Department then coordinated with law enforcement and were allowed to proceed into the scene a short time later. Along with its mutual aid partners, Gibson City Fire was able to complete extinguishment of the original house as well as the fire that extended into 142 W Ash Street.

The original structure at 146 W Ash Street was deemed a total loss and the estimated damages for the house are $175,000. The residence at 142 W Ash Street had a detached garage which was also deemed a total loss, as well as some fire extension into the actual house. On this property, damages are estimated at $50,000.

After extinguishment efforts were completed, Gibson City Fire teams assisted the Illinois State Fire Marshal and Illinois State Police with search and investigation of the original structure. Paxton Fire was then added for mutual aid during this operation for additional manpower.

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In total, there were approximately 30 firefighters at the scene as well as 14 apparatus. The scene was cleared by Gibson City Fire at 1:30 p.m.

The investigation into this incident remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 3:35 p.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  Illinois State Police is continuing its investigation into an incident where two officers were shot early Saturday morning in Gibson City. The suspects whereabouts are currently unknown, and police are considering him armed and dangerous.

On Aug. 9 at approximately 2:31 a.m., officers from the Gibson City Police Department and the Ford County Sheriffs Department responded to the report of a naked man, identified as 70-year-old David D. Jordan of Gibson City. Jordan was walking outside in the 100 block of Ash Street.

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UPDATE: Two officers shot in Gibson City, State Police looking for suspect

Upon attempting to make contact with Jordan at his residence, officers were met with gunfire. A Gibson City Police officer and a Ford County Sheriffs deputy were struck by the gunfire. Both were then transported to local hospitals and treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Shortly after the shooting, the house caught fire.

Additionally, Jordan was last seen at this residence, and his whereabouts are currently unknown. He was last seen unclothed and is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Several resolutions on next Urbana City Council agenda to combat homelessness

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Anyone who sees Jordan is asked not to approach him and call 911 immediately. For any information on his whereabouts, contact the Gibson City Police Department at 217-784-8666.

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 5 is investigating this incident at the request of both the Gibson City Police Department and the Ford County Sheriffs Department. This investigation remains ongoing. When complete, State Police will submit all evidence and facts for review to the Ford County States Attorneys Office.

No additional information is available at this time.

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 1:40 p.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  In a follow-up email with WCIA, Illinois State Police withdrew their initial statement of the public not being at risk, as their investigation continues in Gibson City.

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At approximately 1:28 p.m., State Police retracted their initial statement of there being no active danger to the public and said their investigation is evolving. They also said they will provide updates as soon as they can regarding this incident.

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 12:55 p.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  Illinois State Police has confirmed with WCIA there is no active danger to the public in regards to the Gibson City house fire under investigation.

GCMS school district projects $413K budget deficit; renovating recreational facilities

At approximately 12:53 p.m., State Police said they can confirm there is no active danger to the public at this time. They are continuing to investigate this situation and will provide updates when they are available.

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Additionally, a neighboring structure caught fire and the garage became severely dilapidated. A neighbor in the area said the garage had been built recently.

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 9:50 a.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  The Ford County Coroner is now at the scene of the aftermath of a house fire in Gibson City, a WCIA reporter said.

At approximately 9:45 a.m., a WCIA reporter on scene said the Ford County Coroner is now at the scene of the house fire that took place in the 100 block of Ash Street on the south side of town. At this time, the house is mostly burned down and agencies are looking through the rubble.

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UPDATE: Champaign Co. Sheriffs deputy, tow truck driver released from hospital after crash

The following agencies are confirmed to still be on scene:

Gibson City Police Department

Ford County Sheriffs Office

Paxton Police Department

Roberts Fire Department

Roberts-Melvin Fire Protection District

Gibson City Fire Department

Illinois State Police

Illinois State Fire Marshal

Additionally, five fire engines currently remain at the scene of the dilapidated structure.

WCIA has reached out to State Police, who is leading this investigation, for more information, but has not immediately heard back. There is no further information available at this time.

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This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Update at 8:35 a.m.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  Our WCIA crew said police have reopened the main highways in town. We are awaiting a statement from Illinois State Police on more about what happened.

UPDATE: Mansfield felon on the run no longer in McLean County, police say

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA)  A heavy police presence is happening in Gibson City this morning.

Illinois State Police is leading the investigation. A State Fire Marshall vehicle also arrived to the scene around 7:30 a.m.

Person hospitalized after train vs. pedestrian accident in Springfield

A WCIA crew on scene learned there was a house fire in the 100 block of Ash Street on the south side of town.

Just after 4:00 a.m, a law enforcement officer told a WCIA employees they were looking for an armed individual and our employee should, go home now and lock up your doors.

Our WCIA crew on scene this morning is witnessing a large police presence with multiple agencies: Illinois State Police, Paxton Police, Gibson City Police, Ford County Sheriffs Office, IDOT, Gibson City Public Works and multiple fire departments are on scene.

Several Roads in Gibson City are closed this morning, including Route 9 from Dairy Queen to Marks on First, and Route 47 from Subway to 1 mile south of town. Sangamon Avenue is also closed from H&R Block south. Most businesses in the south part of town are closed. Drivers should avoid the area until further notice.

Illinois basketball alum, police officer involved in Peoria shooting

A flight tracking software indicated that this morning, an Illinois State Police Aircraft was flying over the scene. Our crew on scene also witnessed this plane making circles over town.

The City of Gibson posted on their Facebook page that due to the fire, brown or discolored water is possible today. Those experiencing issues with their water are asked to run their cold water until it clears.

The response continues this morning with multiple agencies involved and investigating on scene.

This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
How do we calculate the price of momentous decisions? History and literature tells us its often with great difficulty, and a considerable lack of foresight.

At the beginning of the Victorian detective novel, The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins quotes from Robinson Crusoe, now I saw, though too late, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost.

This is so often the case with the decisions our political leaders make. Over two decades on, our country is still suffering the aftershocks of the disastrous wars Tony Blair entangled us in. I dont remember Blair warning that his liberal interventionist misadventures would lead to hotels being taken over by migrants decades later. He simply didnt think through the consequences of his actions.

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In The Moonstone, bemused Victorians find marauding men searching to recover an Indian gem that had been stolen decades earlier and brought to the UK in a colonial escapade. The separateness of the Empire is momentarily shattered, its derring-do suddenly rendered altogether darker, and threatening to life back home.

Theres a warning in this to our leaders, who fail to understand the implications of their decisions abroad on the country back home. Indeed, as the Government rushes to announce an unprecedented scheme to fly hundreds of children from Gaza to the UK for treatment, it seems we are heading again to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Like all of us, but particularly as a father of three daughters, I am horrified by the suffering of the children in Gaza. They are pawns of Hamass human shield strategy, the victims of an extremist ideology, trapped in a living hell of endless death, destruction and hunger. Our instincts urges us to help  and we should.

But should that help take the form of a new immigration scheme for hundreds of Gazans to come to the UK? Absolutely not. Actions have consequences, even if not always immediately apparent. But as in The Moonstone, they catch up with you in the end. Keir Starmer is grandstanding, writing a blank cheque that other people will have to pay.

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Experience tells us the Gazan children and their families will claim asylum when they arrive and almost certainly stay for the rest of their lives.

Do you really think Yvette Cooper will send them back to Gaza? Once they have official status, they will then bring more family members under schemes which are, naturally, underpinned by rights derived from the ECHR. And it wont be one or two family members: a court just accepted that an Afghan could bring 22 relatives with them to the UK, twisting the definition of family beyond recognition.

It means were almost certainly looking at several thousand Gazans arriving permanently  far beyond 300 staying temporarily as the Government has advertised.

Would that be sensible? The position of Gazas Arab neighbours tells us everything we need to know. On a ministerial trip just weeks before October 7, the Egyptian Defence Minister explained to me their herculean efforts to root out radical Islamists from the Sinai.

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His message was that under no circumstances would Egypt risk taking in people from Gaza, because they are the most radicalised population on earth. Privately, the same would be said by many in the Jordanian government, also from bitter experience dating to Black September and before.

Likewise with the Saudis, who notably have refused to put their own boots on the ground in Gaza. The truth is that Gazas Arab neighbours are prepared to offer humanitarian support, but consider the idea of inviting Gazans into the country at any scale a risk only a fool would take.

And what of the experience of other well-meaning European countries? In 1992 Denmark gave refuge to a group of 321 stateless Palestinians from Lebanon. By 2019, 64 per cent of those who had obtained citizenship had also obtained criminal records. 71 had been in jail. 34 per cent of their children, though still very young, had obtained criminal records. A large proportion were on benefits.

Layered on top of this is the bigger risk of Islamist extremism, after decades of Hamas and UNRWA-funded schools pouring hatred into the minds of younger Gazans. Its hard to know the true feelings of Gazans towards this barbaric death cult, but surveys of the broader Palestinian population suggest that a majority support Hamass activities. Our government is already failing abysmally in its response to Islamist extremism, anti-Semitism and the flagrantly anti-British sentiment weve seen on our streets  it would be reckless to risk making it worse.

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So, when the first proposal to bring Gazans to this country was put to then Home Secretary Suella Braverman and I in the autumn of 2023, we rejected it flat out. And when MPs asked us to waive biometric security checks to expedite the flight of some Gazans with a pre-existing right to enter the UK, we refused.

Those demands are now back. To cave to the naive demands of backbench Labour MPs shows that Starmer is willing to put the electoral fortunes of the Labour Party over the safety of the British people.

Of course we should help Gazan children  demanding more aid and medical supplies reach them immediately. But there are countless people in dire positions around the world. What of the Christians being persecuted in Syria, that we dont hear a peep from Lammy about?

The answer is not to bring them all here. The interests of our own people must come first, second and last.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An Oregon man marked a major milestone Saturday morning, donating his 100th gallon of platelets to the American Red Cross  enough to save over 400 lives.

David Schapiro, 62, a bus driver for the Hillsboro School District, told KOIN 6 News that from a young age he was ingrained to do good when he could. He said his blood donation journey began when he was a young man in the U.S. Navy, when he and his friends would frequent a local donation center, then go out for a beer.

Then when we came to Oregon, it was kind of just a continuation of that, because Ive lived in a lot of places, being a Navy brat and then being in the Navy, he said. So I moved around, but thats where I kind of got started.

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Coast-to-coast bike ride to raise awareness for Alzheimers kicks off in Portland

Schapiro noted he first started donating whole blood  the most flexible type of donation  containing red and white blood cells, as well as platelets, all suspended in plasma. But when someone at the Red Cross mentioned platelet donation as an option for him, it piqued his interest.

David Schapiro, 62, marked 100 gallons of platelet donations at the Red Cross on Aug. 9, 2025. (Red Cross Cascades Region)

At the time, I didnt even know what it was, so I asked them, and they basically told me, Well, the difference between the two is that platelets are used for basically cancer patients, people who have leukemia and things like that. And I have a sister who has had cancer three times. So this kind of struck a little personal with me, Schapiro said.

Platelet donation can benefit anywhere from two to four people in need, whereas whole blood only benefits one person, according to the Red Cross. Schapiro says it is a more lengthy process.

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Lake-Oswego-raised artist to headline Tour Next Door with 6 Portland shows

Platelets takes anywhere from two to three hours, because basically you sit there, you get put in a big chair, theres a machine next to you, they take the blood out, he noted. Its put in basically a centrifuge, they spit it, they separate all the products from it and then they give you your blood back. Then they start the whole process over and over and over again until they get what they need.

An apheresis machine, used to collect platelets from donors. (Red Cross Cascades Region)

Nearly 30 years worth of Schapiros donations has culminated into an overall total of 100 gallons  or 800 pounds  of platelets. But to Schapiro, those are just numbers until you put them in perspective.

If you were to take a 100-gallon fish tank and fill that up with with product, I mean, thats a large fish tank, so I kind of think back to it and go, you know, its 25-gallon buckets worth of product that could potentially have saved 400 peoples lives, he said. So thats what it means. Its not so much what Ive given. Its the fact that there are 400 people out there that it could have saved.

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Since you can donate platelets up to 24 times a year, Schapiro says both he and his wife have made a tradition of donating every two weeks  all while holding onto the mantra Because I can.

I know there are some people who do it for money and and to each his own, but Ive always felt, if you can help, you should help, Schapiro stated. Im fortunate enough where I can help somebody and I can save possibly two to four people. And I dont need the money, so I would do it regardless if they paid me or not. I just choose to volunteer.

To anyone interested in or maybe even hesitant to donate platelets for whatever reason, Schapiro quotes the slogan of an iconic Beaverton-based company.

Just do it, he said. Theres no reason not to. Its two-and-a-half hours of your life. Everybody has time in their week or month where theyre doing nothing, that theyre sitting watching TV, reading a book, doing literally nothing. If you have that time, spend that two-and-a-half hours saving a life.

Cakes celebrate David Schapiro, 62, who marked 100 gallons of platelet donations at the Red Cross on Aug. 9, 2025. (Red Cross Cascades Region)

A spokesperson for Red Cross Cascades said Schapiro made his own cake to celebrate, plus the phlebotomists working with him also bought him a cake. Additionally, they say his most recent donation will help up to two adults or four babies.

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Even with his landmark 100-gallon donation, Schapiro says he is now all the more motivated to up the ante.

If we stay on pace  because Im 62 going on 63  I might have to be 95 before I make it to 200, he said. But I have a new goal.

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AUSTIN, Texas (KETK)  Henderson County Judge Wade McKinney testified against Senate Bill 9 in Austin on Aug. 1, saying the bill would hurt the countys ability to fund public services.

Smith County Commissioners Court schedules public hearings to discuss tax rates

Senate Bill 9 would lower the amount that most counties and citys can raise taxes without voter approval from 3.5% to 2.5%. McKinney testified against the bill in a public meeting of the Texas Senates Local Government Committee that was livestreamed on Aug. 1.

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McKinney said that the countys population has grown by 6% since 2020 and that the county has been able to continue funding its services by trying to bring in as much revenue as it can. His full testimony can be seen in the video above.

We are debt-free, by the way, have been since 2014, McKinney said. We have 17 volunteer fire departments, 18 police departments, three school districts, depending on our emergency communication system that we just put into place three years ago at a cost of $7.2 million. We have done this by trying to leverage every other revenue that we can bring in.

McKinney explained that the county makes money from keeping federal inmates at their newly expanded jail, but they rely on the regular 3.5% tax increase to keep up with their recurring costs.

We expanded our jail by 250 beds at $49,000 a bed in 2007. We are now reaping the benefits of that because we are warehousing federal inmates at not so much profit, but at a good new revenue stream, McKinney said. Its always about the cash flow and we have leveraged that to continue to provide these services and continue to expand what we can. But we have relied on the 3.5% to meet our recurring costs. This is how weve been able to build out our capabilities by expanding our other revenue lines.

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According to McKinney, theyre able to build new facilities, but without the 3.5% they wont be able to actually afford to staff those facilities.

The Latest: US import taxes hit levels not seen in nearly 100 years

Whats happening to us is that our 3.5% is now getting to the point where we can build anything, but we cant staff, McKinney said.

SB 9 passed the Texas Senate on Wednesday in an 18 to 3 vote after it passed out of the committee in a 4 to 1 vote. The bills House companion is called House Bill 9, which was filed on Monday but wont get a vote unless the Texas House regains a quorum.

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The bill was authored by the chairman of the local government committee, State Senator Paul Bettencourt of Houston. Bettencourt issued a statement on Wednesday saying the bills intent was to bring property tax rate increases in line with the rate school districts use.

Simply put, cities and counties have been raising property tax bills 3 times faster than schools, even after we reformed the system in 2019, Bettencourt said. SB 9 closes that gap to make property tax rates go down as values go up, saving taxpayer money to deliver real, lasting property tax relief.

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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In April last year, the celebrated neurosurgeon Henry Marsh was pushing his bicycle home from St Georges Hospital in south-west London when he heard someone call out his name. In itself, this was not unusual. In his long career, during which he has been a world pioneer of operating on the brain while his patients remained awake and communicating, Marsh has removed so many life-ending tumours that he is often recognised and thanked. But this was different.

Coming across the road to meet him was Tina, the mother of Max, whom Marsh had operated on as a four-year-old almost 30 years ago. The consultant had removed what he thought was a benign tumour; it turned out to be a rhabdoid teratoma  a rare, aggressive form of cancer occurring mainly in young children  which grew back within weeks. Its progression was rapid. Max died shortly after his fifth birthday.

Marsh cycling home from St Georges Hospital in south-west London - BBC

In a new Horizon BBC documentary, Confessions of a Brain Surgeon, Tina remembers Marsh back then as quite gung-ho about everything, quite arrogant, really, and describes how her hate for him had lived with her for 29 years. Henry didnt do what we thought he was going to do, which was save Max, she says simply. Marsh remembered Max instantly.

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It was a very moving experience to meet her, the 74-year-old tells me from Norfolk, when we catch up over video call. In the documentary, they meet in a pub to discuss how when Max grew sick after the operation, Marsh refused another scan until the evidence that the cancer was spreading became irrefutable. I was a young, self-important, arrogant consultant, he recalls. I made some bad mistakes and learnt some bitter lessons.

Its hard to equate this with the warm, approachable figure talking to me now. The word hate did not shock him at all, he tells me. Its a very emotional relationship. He hopes that Maxs mother understands now that his blunder would not have altered the outcome; the cancer was too aggressive and Max would have died anyway, but he says, I handled it very badly, and in a sense, they were right to hate me, even though I wasnt responsible for the childs death.

In the documentary, Tina describes their meeting as a weight lifted. Marsh talks of how if you make a mistake, youve no right to ask for forgiveness, but I have sometimes been forgiven, and its one of the most moving experiences you can have.

Acknowledging failures

He revisits other failures too, such as Tanya, a girl he brought back from Kyiv to operate on in London after one of the many visits he has made to Ukraine as a neurosurgeon since 1992. She had a benign tumour  one of the largest Ive ever seen  that was affecting her brain stem, causing physical disability, though not mental impairment. The surgery proved torturously difficult  The tumour was tangled up with the brains blood vessels, Marsh recalls.

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After a second operation, Tania had a stroke that left her brain-damaged. She remained in intensive care for six months before being moved home to Ukraine, where she died a year later. It was a disaster, Marsh says. I look at it with complete horror. I really find it very distressing very painful.

Yet, Marsh says now, I didnt regret it. It had been overambitious, he says, yet he believes so much of neurosurgery is knowing that the operation is bad but doing nothing is even worse. Tanya, he is certain, would have died either way, sooner or later.

Marsh is internationally admired for his contribution to neurosurgery, the author of three books on his life and work, including Do No Harm (2014), and the subject of three documentaries, dating back to BBC Ones Your Life in Their Hands in 2004. He retired as a surgeon in 2017, yet he has continued to teach the generation that follows him and has been a tireless advocate for greater honesty in medicine, of the necessity for acknowledging when failures happen. He carries his own with him, always.

I think any surgeon will tell you, they all recognise the inner cemetery, he says. How much it troubles them is going to vary from person to person. The publics idea of the stereotypical surgeon, he notes, is sort of an unfeeling, technical psychopath. And thats actually very unusual. Ive known one or two surgeons who had psychopathic traits, by which I mean they didnt actually seem to get very upset when patients came to harm, but most of us do. How we deal with it, whether we talk about it, whether we learn from it, thats another question.

I was a young, self-important, arrogant consultant, recalls Marsh - BBC

He believes that the main lesson for him was to let go of the desire to appear infallible and on a really long, difficult brain tumour case, to do it with a colleague, somebody you treat as an equal and trust.

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We all know surgical departments where some of the surgeons hate each other and theres lots of friction, because they often are prima donnas, and they end up thinking they really are as good as their poor patients desperately have to think they are, he says.

Horror beyond horror

Marsh has, since the very beginning, understood what it is like to be on the other side of the surgical equation. As a newly qualified doctor, aged 29 and still to decide which field to specialise in, he experienced the agony of seeing his first child, William, diagnosed with a brain tumour at three months old.

I couldnt cope with it at all, he says in the documentary. It was a complete nightmare, horror beyond horror. Williams life was saved by surgical intervention (hes still alive and well, 45 years on). Soon after, Marsh made the momentous decision to train as a neurosurgeon.

Although twice wed  hes now married to the social anthropologist and author Kate Fox  with three children and four grandchildren, he unhesitatingly describes his profession as the love of my life.

Henry Marsh is married to the social anthropologist and author Kate Fox  but describes his profession as the love of his life - BBC

It wasnt until he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer five years ago that Marsh came to understand just what a humiliating, demeaning, frightening experience cancer can be for a patient. I was really very frightened, and more upset than I expected, he says, although rationally, I knew that to have prostate cancer by the age of 70 is no big deal.

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Id spent all my life dealing with cancer and people dying. So when it was my turn, I couldnt say, Why me? A more apposite question, he says, might be, Well, why not? After being treated with radiotherapy and hormone therapy, the cancer is in remission, though Marsh has to be tested every six months to check that it has not returned.

Support for assisted dying

As a patron of the end of life charity My Death, My Decision, he has long been a passionate believer in medically assisted dying, and he considers it a possibility for himself if the cancer returns. I must have operated upon hundreds of old men like me, where it spread to the spine and is causing paralysis, he says. You might delay the paralysis, and they may then die from organ disease, but if I ended up paralysed, doubly incontinent, in a hospital bed somewhere, I think Id say, This is boring. Im going to die anyway. I want to get it over with.

He welcomes the passing of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in the House of Commons, although he favours a less restrictive criterion than a prognosis of less than six months to live. I think it should be intractable suffering, as you have in Holland and Belgium and Switzerland, [but] it is better than nothing, he says. And hopefully, as it beds down, the law might be made a little bit kinder.

He accepts that one cant hope to influence those who oppose assisted dying on religious grounds, but he says the arguments of some of its most vociferous opponents  that there will be coercion and that palliative care will suffer, for example  are simply not borne out in the many countries where assisted dying is available. The evidence is clear that there is not terrible coercion or bullying or things like that.

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His views are informed by experience. He is horrified by the idea of dementia, he explains. I watched my father, who was a very brilliant man, become profoundly demented. His father, the eminent legal reformer Norman Marsh QC, died in 2008 at the age of 95.

Strong sense of moral duty

Norman met Marshs mother, Christel Christinnecke, in Nazi Germany before the outbreak of the Second World War. Unlike her sister (an ardent Nazi and member of the girls equivalent of the Hitler Youth  the League of German Girls) and her brother (a future Messerschmidt pilot), Christinnecke vehemently opposed Hitlers regime. And after being denounced to the Gestapo for making anti-Nazi statements, she fled to the UK, where the couple married in 1939.

Both were heavily involved in the foundation of the UK-based human rights organisation Amnesty (now Amnesty International) and Marsh says they played an enormous role in shaping his own sense of morality. I was brought up to understand very clearly that we are here to make the world a better place, he says, to help others, not just to make money. They were also terrible snobs, he adds. They disapproved of businessmen driving Jaguars and television aerials. But there was a strong sense of moral duty.

Soon after his sons life was saved by surgical intervention, Marsh made the momentous decision to train as a neurosurgeon - BBC

Marsh grew up in Oxford, the youngest of four siblings, including the architectural historian Bridget Cherry, the editor of the Pevsner Architectural Guides for many years. It was partly out of rebellion against his father that Marsh decided to abandon the politics, philosophy and economics degree that he had begun there  the famous (or infamous) PPE course which has been the conduit to political power for so many, from Harold Wilson and Edward Heath to Peter Mandelson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Rachel Reeves.

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Marsh had also fallen madly in love with an older woman  a family friend  who led me on a bit, he says, which had made him so unhappy that he couldnt cope. Feeling suicidal, he spent a brief period in a psychiatric hospital. Im very emotional. Im not a manic depressive; the medical phrase is cyclothymic, which means I go up and down a lot. Its not as bad as it used to be. My mother told me I was like that from a very early age. So Im very intense, very driven. I get frightened easily. I get excited easily, but at the same time, I can be very determined and apply myself.

What helped him was going to stay with a friend from the north-east of England, whose girlfriends father was able to get him a job as a cleaner and porter in an operating theatre. Serendipitously, it turned out to be the inspiration he needed to escape the trap of writing self-destructive Sylvia Plath-style poetry. That was it, he recalls  there was medicine.

He was 21. After taking a year off, he returned to Oxford and worked like mad to get a good degree to make it easier to get into medical school. He studied at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, qualifying in 1979. His decision to specialise in neurosurgery, after seeing how it had saved his sons life, was also partly down to how exciting it seemed. He gained his FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons) in 1984, and then became a consultant in 1987.

Frustrated and angry at NHS management

In his early surgical career, he focused on treating aneurysms, which he calls bomb disposal work. He has witnessed profound changes in the NHS since he began working in medicine. In fact, his decision to retire from practising neurosurgery when he did was influenced by how increasingly frustrated and angry he had become with management interference. It is extraordinary just how inefficient the department I used to work in has become over the last 20 years, he wrote recently.

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The cost of the extra managerial layer in terms of lost productivity and commitment from NHS staff, he suggests, is enormous. Hes not even sure that he would have ventured into his chosen field under the present circumstances. For a very high-risk, high-responsibility speciality like brain surgery, the fact that doctors have lost so much agency and autonomy, I think, makes it very difficult, he says.

He doesnt know if Labours decision to abolish NHS England will help. Its easy to dismiss all management and bureaucracy as a complete waste of time, he notes. But he acknowledges that the NHS has unprecedented challenges. This summer alone it faces strike action from resident (junior) doctors and a looming nursing strike  clear signs of increasing workforce dissatisfaction.

Is he worried about its future? I am, he says. Junior doctors, he believes, are treated more and more like assembly line doctors. Theyre pushed and pulled by the management; when they complete medical school, theyve virtually no say in where they will go to work. Theyre treated as expendable units in a production line. No wonder theyre demoralised.

So I feel deeply sorry for them, he says, although I have very mixed feelings about their going on strike. I supported the earlier strikes. Now, Im less certain, but I think the problem has a lot to do with alienation and bad management.

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Yet the biggest issues facing the NHS are worldwide, he believes. All healthcare systems are under strain. I think that is particularly bad in the NHS because theres been almost 20 years of relative underfunding.

I worry that the NHS will struggle more and more, he adds, because of the continuing pressure on the Government over taxation. You have to pay more taxation if you want good-quality healthcare. In Europe and the Scandinavian countries, they accept higher levels of taxation, and on the whole, have more effective universal healthcare. There are many different ways of funding it, so its very complicated, but this country is not doing very well at the moment.

He continues to believe passionately in Nye Bevans concept that a country cant call itself civilised if the quality of your healthcare depends upon how much money you have. That principle, he says, remains very true.

He suggests the solution may be a hypothecated tax  ring-fenced to fund healthcare  though the Treasury hates it, or for wealthier people to pay to use the NHS, or to have some kind of hybrid insurance system. But you do need to be honest with the public that healthcare is very expensive. To say its all a question of reform and AI and more efficiency is not true.

Absurdly long hours

A recurrent theme in Confessions of a Brain Surgeon is the impact that working absurdly long hours had on Marshs home life. I was either on call all the time, seven days a week, seven nights a week, 48 weeks a year, or every other night, every other weekend, he says in the documentary. So I basically had no life outside medicine at all. You went into neurosurgery 40 years ago, those are the hours you worked, and your family had to lump it.

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He describes how he dealt with the stress of his job by developing a mania for home improvements. He would spend hours of his time doing building work on the family home. I should have spent more time, particularly with my children, but I put myself first because I was so obsessed and stressed all the time about my work.

Marsh dealt with the stress of his job by developing a mania for home improvements - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

It led to the intense and painful break-up of his first marriage; although he has since remarried, and adds: Im on holiday in Norfolk with my three children, my four grandchildren, my first wife, my current wife. Hes quick to criticise his past self, he admits, but its worked out all right.

He still hasnt quite conquered his desire to work with his hands at all times. Even now, I find it very hard not to do all my plumbing and electrical repair work. A few months ago, I spent a day on my knees working on the kitchen plumbing, and I now need a knee replacement.

In the film, he describes how everything we are, our feelings, our personality, our thoughts, fears, our hopes are all part of our brain. So when I operate on a brain, its as though Im holding a human soul in my hands.

Hes not religious, so does he believe in the theory of the brain as the basis of personality? Yes, I do, he says. As a neurosurgeon, you see many people over the years with damage to the front of the brain who suffer profound personality change  When you see peoples sort of moral, social nature changed by physical damage to the brain, its hard to feel that we are more than our brain.

Talking to Marsh, one thing is clearer than any other. I was totally in love with my work with neurosurgery, he says, and I still am, in many ways. Ultimately for him, it comes down to caring about what happens to your patients. What makes surgery exciting, he insists, is your concern.

Horizon: Confessions of a Brain Surgeon airs at 9pm on Monday August 18 on BBC Two

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Back in April, a herd of towering, life-sized animal puppets - from elephants, giraffes, to antelopes and lions - set out from Kinshasa, in the Congo rainforest, on a hugely ambitious journey that would take them across two continents and 20,000km.

Their migration - fictional but steeped in reality - was designed to mirror the flight of animals and people escaping the growing effects of climate disaster and to bring the climate crisis into public spaces in a way that was emotionally visceral, not abstract.

As they moved north through Africa and into Europe, the travelling troupe adopted new members - animals native to the countries they passed through - each one built from recycled materials such as and cardboard and plywood.

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Over the course of the journey, 1,000 people were trained as puppeteers, bringing the creatures to life in 56 public events across 11 countries.

The Herds has now finally reached the end of their long migration: climbing Norways Jostedalsbreen glacier, the largest in mainland Europe, before pressing on to Nordkapp in the Arctic Circle to greet the sunrise on 1 August.

Life size animal puppets from The Herds perform in London on 27 June 2025. - Credit: AP Photo

Puppeteers move cardboard animals in canoes at the Makoko Slum in Lagos Nigeria, 19 April 2025, as part of "The Herds," - Credit: AP Photo

The project was created by The Walk Productions, the team behind Little Amal, the 12ft puppet of a refugee girl who travelled through 15 countries in 2021 to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis.

When The Herds was first announced, producer David Lan explained the ambition to approach climate change through emotion rather than data. Through theatre, we can engage with the major issues of the day, he told Euronews Culture.

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Were looking particularly for a way in which this very, central event in our lives, climate change, can be expressed not in scientific terms. What we think we might be able to do is allow people to engage emotionally with what is already happening all over."

Artistic director Amir Nizar Zuabi, who also worked on The Walk, shared that the projects power lay in its attempt, not its guaranteed impact.

I dont know if what we add to the conversation will change the world," he shared. "Most probably it wont. Doesnt matter. Its worth trying. But the idea is to create a project that deals with climate change from an emotional stance, from a sensory experience and not from, This is the science.

Check out the video in the web player above to see The Herds finishing its epic journey.
Two hero cops who bravely battled a house fire in Queens and saved two sleeping residents last month were promoted at an NYPD ceremony Friday  as one of the officers called the daring job a calling.

Emergency Services Unit Det. Daniel Dongvort, 38, and Sgt. Bryan J. Vesely, 34,  who leapt to action, busting down doors and ushering victims to safety on July 16  were hailed as the best of the best by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the packed event at One Police Plaza.

Dongvort, who along with Vesely are volunteer firefighters in Long Island, said keeping a cool head was key as they burst into the burning home in Jamaica.

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Its a smoke-filled environment. Theres a lot of things that are kind of going through your head, said Det. Daniel Dongvort, 38, of Suffolk County, who was bumped up to Detective Second Grade Friday.

Det. Daniel Dongvort, 38, and Sgt. Bryan J. Vesely, 34,  who leapt to action, busting down doors and ushering victims to safety on July 16  were promoted at One Police Plaza. James Messerschmidt

The only thing I ever wanted to do was be an emergency cop. I do think its somewhat of a calling, he told The Post of the elite, 350-member unit. I think you have to kind of have a knack for staying calm in high-stress situations.

Its an honor to be recognized, he said of the promotion.

Cops battled the blaze at a home in Queens. Obtained by the New York Post

Vesely, who was promoted to Sergeant Special Assignment, recalled finding a man and woman dozing in the basement of the blazing home.

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It was a relief for us to be able to find them and get them out of there safely, knowing thattheres no one else inside, he said. They seemed grateful and thankful.

Vesely Dongvort were on patrol in ESU Truck 9 in Jamaica on July 16, when they smelled smoke and spotted it pouring from an attic on 229th Street.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the cops the best of the best at a promotion ceremony. James Messerschmidt

The courageous cops quickly headed inside to battle the blaze, dramatic body camera footage shows.

Dongvort grabbed air tanks and door-opening halligan tools along with a pressurized water can out of the ESU truck.

The duo donned compressed oxygen packs, pried open doors and began scouring the home for survivors as they knocked back flames with a water can.

Dramatic footage shows the cops fighting the house fire in Queens. New York City Police Department

The officers soon discovered a sleeping man and woman downstairs and hurriedly escorted them outside.

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Dongvort and Vesely were two of 135 uniformed cops promoted Friday at One Police Plaza, where Tisch hailed the pair as highly trained and well equipped.

They werent about to wait around for a [fire department] response, she said.

Without any hesitation, they entered the burning house and walked from room to room, searching for survivors, she said.

ESU officers like Bryan and Dan, they respond to unprecedented tragedy with uncommon valor.
Gary Thynes was taking his dog out to play in the park last week in Pittsburgh when he noticed a beautiful pit bull walking alone with his leash dragging behind him.

Concerned the dog might get hit by a passing car, Thynes tried to get close enough to catch him in hopes that he had a microchip, Thynes posted on Facebook.

But the pit bull  a breed sometimes cast as made to fight and regulated as dangerous  stayed just out of arms reach. He would bark and run a few steps ahead before turning back, the post said.

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Thats when Thynes realized:

This dog wanted me to follow him.

So, Thynes did just that.

A young woman driving by stopped and tried to help Thynes catch the dog, the post said.

I could get almost close enough to grab the leash and he would run a little farther, Thynes said, describing how the dog began to lead him down a secluded path behind train tracks to a tent encampment.

There he found an unresponsive man lying on a red couch, Thynes said in his Facebook post.

I couldnt even tell if he was breathing or not. And then I turned around and noticed a pair of legs sticking out of a tent, and I tried to shake them, and it was a woman who would not respond to me, Thynes told CNN Affiliate WTAE.

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He immediately called 911.

Gary Thynes speaks during an interview. - WTAE

Emergency personnel soon took both to the hospital, Thynes said in his post.

An unresponsive man and woman were taken to the hospital on July 29, Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed to CNN, praising the Good Samaritan and its partners who helped at the scene.

The woman as it turns out knew the two people and recognized the dog. She told Thynes she would check on the pair at the hospital the next day.

When the ambulance was gone, Thynes turned his attention back to the dog.

Soon, animal control arrived and said they would have to take the pit bull to a shelter far outside the city.

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But Thynes worried the owners wouldnt be able to get him back, he wrote on Facebook.

So, he offered to take care of the dog while the owners received care.

Thynes  who is 16 months sober from heroin addiction, he told WTAE  understands how deep the bond can be between a person and their dog, especially during difficult times, he wrote in his post.

It is an honor for me to take care of this guy until his humans are well enough to reunite with a dog that loves them very much.

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Once again this summer, Hillsborough County removed a book from its library shelves following a reprimand by Florida education officials for "inappropriate content."

The book, "Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard," was removed from Hillsborough County Public Schools as of Aug. 8, Superintendent Van Ayres said in an email posted by Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, the state's new education commissioner.

It's the result of an escalated exchange between Ayres and Kamoutsas, after Kamoutsas posted a photo of the book on Aug. 4 and wrote on X: "I expect this to be remedied immediately or you can expect another invite to our next meeting."

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Ayres promptly reacted Aug. 5 by first restricting the book's access to only those with parental consent and said it wouldn't be displayed openly in any of the district's media centers. Then Ayres removed the book altogether three days later.

Book removals are part of an escalating pattern of state officials pressuring school districts to remove books, in accordance with legislation empowering parents to challenge materials they consider inappropriate.

Many of these books address LGBTQ+ themes, race or classic literature. Florida's been in the national spotlight for book removals, with critics accusing state officials of censorship and violating First Amendment rights.

Ayres already has been under fire since May, when then-Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote letters mounting pressure on dozens of book removals, describing them as "pornographic."

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It led to Ayres being brought before the State Board of Education in June, where officials grilled him for not flagging these books sooner.

"I understand Commissioner Kamoutsas' concerns. To be clear, this book was not purchased since I was appointed superintendent but I will ensure that moving forward all books purchased at taxpayer expense are advancing academic achievement and student success," Ayres wrote on X Aug. 5

"Trans Mission" is a book written by Alex Bertie, a transgender former YouTube personality, who discusses his journey growing up and transitioning in this memoir. Kamoutsas wrote on X on Aug. 4 that Hillsborough County continued to "expose students to inappropriate content."

A request for comment is pending with Ayres on what led to the decision to fully remove the title and whether a media specialist reviewed it.

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Media specialists manage library books in schools and have been called the defenders of students' First Amendment rights. They read and analyze books in entirety, and as of 2022 they were required to approve all materials in school libraries and follow training guidelines set by the state.

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Stephany Matat is based in Tallahassee, Fla. She can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. On X: @stephanymatat.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Hillsborough schools yank LGBTQ+ memoir after state warning
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC (WSAV)  One Lowcountry hospital celebrated 50 years of taking care of their community Friday.

Hilton Head Hospital was founded in 1975 by a group of people who saw the need to good health care of a then growing island of Hilton Head.

Dr. Peter LaMotte, a former chief of trauma in orthopedic surgery at Roosevelt Hospital in New York, and local attorney William Bethea, Jr. hatched a plan to build a hospital on the island almost 10 years prior.

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The goal was to serve the growing community of Hilton Head Island, many of whom were retirees or older.

Now the medical facility is a key component of the community, serving thousands of people every year.

Novant Health, the owner of the hospital, was joined by Town and County leaders along with current and former hospital staff for a special ceremony in honor of this golden anniversary.

At the ceremony, Bethea took to the podium to reminisce about helping build the medical facility and campus, as well as thank Hilton Head Island for their support over the years. about what this day meant to him.

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Peter Lamotte passed away in 2008. His son spoke Friday and said the growth of the hospital is a credit to the entire community.

This hospital has grown in such a way that it has serve the community, Peter Lamotte said. And there will always be Savannah, there will always be Charleston. But for everyday needs from a medical standpoint to have quality care, and especially with no ones involvement, its how this community will continue to grow.

Its a personal honor from my family standpoint to be involved and to have watched it and wandered the halls as a kid, Lamotte continued. But to see that its continued and its under the stewardship of a large organization that really can help it grow and continue to help it grow. Itll be great for the community.

Novant Health just bought the hospital in February of last year and says it plans to continue to improve patient care while honoring its history.

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The impact this hospital has had on the community, Market Chief Executive Officer for Novant Heath Hilton Head Island Joel Taylor said. Mr. Bethea shared this, this was a milestone moment for Hilton Head Island. And so, to continue to serve the community is just a thrill. It is just the camaraderie, the connection people have, people that havent seen one another for a while and to bring them back and then the physicians and the team members that have worked here for decades. Its pretty remarkable.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Holidaymakers renting out cars this summer could face steep fines following the launch of AI-powered car scanners across the UK and Europe, it has been warned.

Car rental firms have been accused of punishing drivers through a new fleet of robotic scanners that are picking up tiny scuffs and marks.

The scanners, which capture and analyse thousands of images of a car as it is returned, are now being used at Heathrow Airport by the rental company Sixt.

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Uveye, a tech company which already supplies AI car scanners to Hertz in the US, is also expanding its operations across the UK and Europe.

Car rental firms say the scanners make their businesses more efficient and prevent bottlenecks and traffic at their lots.

However, they have already triggered a barrage of complaints from drivers who claim they have been forced to pay vast fines owing to minor scuffs.

Others have also argued that they have been billed erroneously for damage already on their cars at the time of rental.

One motorist told US car publication The Drive that he was charged $440 (330) after returning a car to a Hertz rental lot in Atlanta because of an inch-long scuff on the drivers side rear wheel.

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Kelly Rogers, another driver, told The New York Times that she was charged $195 for a mark so small it could have been a shadow.

A Hertz spokesman said the digital inspections were introducing much-needed precision, objectivity and transparency to the process, claiming that it had scanned more than 500,000 rentals with 97pc showing no billable damage.

Hertz said it does not currently use digital scanners in the UK.

Meanwhile, Sixt has been accused of targeting drivers with erroneous charges for scuffs and marks that were already on vehicles when they were rented.

The company said: We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to the customer. This experience does not reflect our high service standards.

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In the rare event a discrepancy occurs, our team is committed to reviewing it thoroughly and resolving it promptly  as was done here in response to the customers feedback.

Purely evil

The technology has sparked intense controversy on social media, with one Reddit user branding it a purely evil way of boosting profits by charging for wear and tear.

Sixt uses AI scanners made by the tech company ProovStation at its Heathrow airport base.

Gabriel Tissandier, the chief executive of ProovStation, said in a LinkedIn post that the technology was redefining transparency and trust in the car rental process.

The company says its CarStation scanner meticulously scans every millimetre of a passing car to identify any damages or alterations, with 100pc accuracy and precision.

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However, one person commenting on Mr Tissandiers LinkedIn post flagged an issue: I used it recently and thought it was very slick, however, it didnt pick up the damage I took photos of that wasnt logged whilst driving out. Luckily, Id logged the damage before driving away.

A Hertz customer said he received this picture with a bill after a rental car was scanned through a UVeye system - professor_pimpcain/Reddit

A spokesman for the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) said: The use of car damage scanners has grown in the US, with some applications starting to filter through to the UK.

Their usage can help to streamline the vehicle rental handover process and provide the consumer with immediate feedback on the return condition, highlighting any potential charges as soon as possible.

Martyn James, a consumer rights expert, added: Its quite easy to be blinded by the science. You get this kind of vision that the cars are being put through this thing with 360-degree lasers on all sides  but its a bit more low-tech than that.

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Its worthwhile pointing out that just because a company says that you did something, it doesnt mean that you did. The obligation is on it to prove that that is the case.

You could also argue that any policies about scuffs or minor damage, damage to the treads of tyres and things along those lines should be brought to your attention when you sign up to the contract.

We can all concede that if a tail lights broken, or if theres a big scratch down the vehicle, you might be liable for that. But for minor scuffs, you are driving it outside at the end of the day.

A Sixt spokesman said: We are committed to maintaining the highest vehicle quality and delivering an experience built on trust. Our customers value transparency  and we take that seriously.



Thats why we photograph each vehicle at select locations like airports before and after every rental and make these images available.

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As advanced technology helps us, decisions are always made by human experts. If potential damage is detected, it is carefully reviewed by our trained staff to ensure fair and customer-oriented outcomes.

ProovStation was contacted for comment.

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New Jerseys official tall ship, the historic A.J. Meerwald is docked at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Cape May, offering residents and visitors a chance to experience maritime history firsthand through September 21.

The 115-foot schooner provides visitors a hands-on sailing experience, with opportunities to help the crew haul lines and set sails, according to the non-profit Bayshore Center in Bivalve.

The two-hour sailing excursions depart from the ferry terminal and cruise the Delaware Bay, offering views of the Cape May Lighthouse. Routes will take passengers through the Cape May Canal into the Delaware Bay, heading either east toward the lighthouse or west toward West Cape May.

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Standard tickets cost $50 per person.

Families with children can take advantage of special Environmental Educational sails on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.

These educational journeys feature fish identification, trawling and other interactive learning stations.

Childrens tickets are discounted to $25, while adult tickets remain $50. These programs are recommended for children ages 5 and up.

The A.J. Meerwald represents a significant piece of regional maritime heritage.

It was one of nearly 500 schooners built along the Delaware Bay before the areas shipbuilding industry declined in the 1930s.

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Today, it serves as a floating classroom operated by the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about New Jerseys aquatic environment.

A ticket is required for all passengers. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

You may bring your own food and drink on board.

Beer and wine is permitted on board but not on the docks.

For schedule information and to make ticket reservations, visit the Bayshore Center website or contact the Bayshore Center at 856-785-2060, ext. 101.

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.
A rabbi and his family barely escaped with their lives after a historic 125-year-old synagogue in New Jersey consumed by a raging early-morning fire collapsed mere minutes after the family fled the premises.

The conflagration at the synagogue in Rutherford, NJ, home to Congregation Beth El, started around 2:50 a.m. Friday and quickly engulfed the building. Rabbi Yitzhock Lerman, his wife and four children were sleeping in an apartment inside the house of worship when the blaze ignited.

They managed to make it outside just as the building started to collapse, said John R. Russo, chief of the police for Rutherford, which is located roughly 13 miles west of New York City.

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In 2012 the synagogue was the target of an antisemitic attack after a 19-year-old man on a bicycle threw a Molotov cocktail at the structure. The cause of Fridays fire is under investigation, and there is no indication that it is criminal in nature, Russo said.

The synagogue, founded in 1919, was originally a residential home and contained a lot of old wood and varnish, which could explain how fast the fire spread, Rutherford Mayor Frank Nunziato said.
A fire at a historic mosque-turned-cathedral in Cordoba in southern Spain caused only "very localised damage," the city's mayor said Saturday as the site reopened to the public.

The spectacular blaze broke out on Friday at about 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), raising fears for the early medieval architectural gem and evoking memories of the 2019 fire that ravaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

Widely shared videos had shown flames and smoke billowing from inside the major tourist attraction, which is considered a jewel of Islamic architecture and is visited by two million people per year.

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"There is some damage, significant damage, but it is very, very localised," the mayor of Cordoba, Jose Maria Bellido, told reporters outside the site which opened to the public as usual in the morning.

Most of the wreckage is concentrated in a chapel where the fire broke out, whose roof "completely collapsed" due to the flames and the weight of the water used to put them out, he added in an interview with Spanish public television.

Two adjoining chapels suffered "collateral damage", mainly from the smoke, to altarpieces and other works of art, the mayor said.

He estimated that the fire damaged just 50 to 60 square metres of the vast interior of the building, which stands in the centre of Cordoba, surrounded by the old Jewish and Moorish quarters.

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"Fortunately yesterday a catastrophe was avoided that could have meant losing the entire mosque-cathedral," he said.

Several fire engines and police lined a street near the building on Saturday as people gathered to look at the building, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.

The fire-damaged section, known as the Almanzor nave, was cordoned off with waist-high barriers.

- Annual fire drills -

A total of 35 firefighters worked throughout the night to monitor the area and cool the walls after the blaze was extinguished, the head of Cordoba's firefighting service, Daniel Munoz, said.

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Firefighters have held annual drills at the building since it was last hit by a fire in 2001 and this made it easier for crews to quickly contain the blaze, he added.

"That allowed them to know all the entrances, the hallways, where they could hook up their hoses," he said

Forensics police were at the scene to try to determine the cause of the fire.

ABC and other newspapers reported that a mechanical sweeping machine had caught fire in the site.

The site was built as a mosque -- on the site of an earlier church -- between the 8th and 10th centuries by the southern city's then Muslim ruler, Abd ar-Rahman, an emir of the Umayyad dynasty.

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After Christians reconquered Spain in the 13th century under King Ferdinand III of Castile, it was converted into a cathedral and architectural alterations were made over following centuries.

UNESCO designated the building a World Heritage Site in 1984, calling it "an architectural hybrid that joins together many of the artistic values of East and West and includes elements hitherto unheard-of in Islamic religious architecture, including the use of double arches."

pho-ds/dc
Aug. 9BAUDETTE, Minn.  The Lake of the Woods County Board has scheduled a public hearing for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, to discuss the fate of a historic, but dilapidated building that once was part of the Tobin Fishery commercial fishing operation on Lake of the Woods.

The board also will consider whether the owners of the building, which sits within a county highway right-of-way, are liable for unauthorized construction.

The hearing results from a dispute between the county and two Baudette-area brothers over their plan to fix up the old Tobin Fishery building on Bostic Creek along Lake of the Woods County Road 8 northwest of Baudette. The building is one of the last vestiges of the big lake's commercial fishing industry, which ended when the state bought out the lake's last commercial netters in the 1980s.

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Jon Meikle, 62, of Williams, Minnesota and his twin brother, Jim, Baudette, purchased the 39.63-acre property about four years ago with plans to fix up the 18x32-foot building and preserve it for family gatherings, such as picnics and other events. The building, Jim Meikle says, is "a significant structure tied to the early commercial fishing heritage" of Lake of the Woods County.

The Meikles' plan hit a snag in June, when Anthony Pirkl, Lake of the Woods County public works director, drove by and saw the brothers working at the site. Part of the building sits within a permanent road easement of less than 1 acre that Lake of the Woods County purchased from the previous owners in 1956.

As part of that easement agreement, the county was to keep the building "as is."

In an interview with the Herald, Pirkl said he didn't know if the Meikles had gotten a building permit from the county's Land, Water and Planning Office when he stopped by the building site in late June, but he knew they didn't have a permit to work within the right-of-way.

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"I drove by, and it was jacked up with these concrete blocks in our right-of-way," Pirkl said. "I asked them what they were doing, and they said if you want us to stop, you have to write it down on a piece of paper."

In a letter dated June 29, Pirkl wrote that the brothers had not obtained the required permit from the county to begin work within the right-of-way. That put any improvement efforts on hold.

There had been discussions with the brothers back in 2021, shortly after they bought the property, to purchase an additional 5 feet of right-of-way, Pirkl said. The county has 65 feet of right-of-way along the parcel, he said, but only 60 feet around the building itself, adjacent to a bridge that crosses Bostic Creek.

"At that point, they wanted $10,000 for the building, or for the 'as is' clause," Pirkl said. "We came to an agreement on $8,000, and we were going to purchase the additional 5 feet for that area."

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Jim Meikle and his wife both signed that easement agreement but Jon Meikle did not, Pirkl said. The agreement later fell apart before Jon Meikle could sign it when the brothers learned the county planned to remove trees within the easement area.

"They weren't happy about us potentially removing trees in there, so conversations kind of just stalled at that point," Pirkl said.

There'd been no further discussion with the Meikles until late June, Pirkl said, when he stopped and talked with the brothers at the building site.

"People ask, 'Well, why didn't you get a permit before you started?' " Jon Meikle said. "Well, you know, I wasn't going to get no permit. ... We've been at this for over three years so far and got nowhere."

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In a follow-up letter dated July 8, Pirkl said the brothers could move the building outside the county's right-of-way in coordination with the Land and Water Planning Office. Otherwise, he said, the county would remove the concrete blocks within the right of way and demolish the building  possibly at the Meikles' expense.

"The only communication I've had with them is their attorney sent me a letter stating this will all go away if the county builds them a brand new building outside of the right of way," Pirkl said.

Whether they could receive a permit to work within the right-of-way would depend on what they want to do, Pirkl says. Any work that's done within the county's right-of-way requires a permit, he said, whether it's digging a hole, putting up a mailbox or installing a culvert.

"First of all  A  so we know what you're doing," he said. "B, we have your liability insurance on record in case there's a car accident or traffic accident or anything like that.

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"Obviously, they haven't come and talked to us," Pirkl said. "I don't think the county's interest is (to want) it rebuilt there. It's in the State Aid Highway (right of way)."

During Tuesday's hearing, the Lake of the Woods County Board will consider whether the building should be "construed as nuisance or hazardous" and, if so, begin the process of removing it from the county's right-of-way. Commissioners also will determine whether the Meikles violated the county's right-of-way ordinance by working on the building without a permit, a ruling that could include a financial penalty.

The brothers have retained attorney Alan Fish of Roseau to represent them in their dispute with the county. In a letter to Pirkl dated July 18, Fish contended the county "has no jurisdiction or ownership interest of this property such that it can direct a cease-and-desist order."

Fish also wrote that Lake of the Woods County violated the terms of the easement in 1978, when it sloped and graded the ditches, piling several feet of fill against the wooden walls in the northwest corner of the building, causing damage the Meikle brothers were working to repair at the time they were ordered to stop.

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"It is our position that this degradation was directly caused by the county's actions," Jim Meikle said in a Facebook post he also shared with the Herald. "The Tobin Fishery building is not only a part of our personal property, but a landmark deeply tied to the commercial fishing roots of our county  one of the few physical reminders of that era still standing."

Preserving the building, he said, "would honor the Tobin family's legacy and reflect the values and history of our community." Not restoring the building and just letting it disappear would be a loss to the area's "shared heritage," he said.

The Meikles have contacted the Minnesota Historical Society to see if the building could be preserved for its historical significance, but that's a slow process, Jon Meikle says.

Whether Tuesday's county board meeting resolves the Tobin Fishery building dispute remains to be seen, but Jon Meikel says he's not backing down. He's already got about "easily five grand" invested just in building materials, he said; legal fees will quickly add to that cost.

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"I'm going to fight it," he said. "I don't care. Obviously, I'm not rich, but I'll throw money at this because I'm not going to be bullied or intimidated. I feel that I'm being bullied and intimidated both.

"When it comes to being bullied or intimidated, I don't care how much money it costs."
AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 08: An Austin-Travis County medic assists a patient in an ambulance on August 08, 2023 in Austin, Texas. EMT were called after the patient was found passed out and dehydrated near the Texas State Capitol. The city of Austin continues grappling with a prolonged heat wave, with excessive heat-advisories being issued across the state. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Residents of historically redlined communities experience slower response times from emergency medical services, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open.

Redlining refers to the discriminatory practice under which the federal government and banks systematically denied mortgages to Black and Hispanic residents. The practice deemed neighborhoods with higher proportions of nonwhite residents to be undesirable and financially risky for mortgage lending.

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Researchers mapped locations of EMS centers across 236 cities and analyzed maps produced in the 1930s by the Home Owners Loan Corporation. The government agency, created as part of the New Deal, consistently ranked majority-Black areas as hazardous for lending. Redlining has been illegal since enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968.

The research team calculated average EMS response times using the location of ambulance, fire and rescue services and historical traffic data. Rapid response was defined as five minutes or less, the benchmark set by the National Fire Protection Association for high-priority patients with life-threatening conditions.

The team found that more than 2.2 million people lack rapid EMS access. Areas historically graded D  financially hazardous for mortgage lending  had a significantly higher proportion of residents (roughly 7%) without rapid EMS access, compared with about 4% of residents in historically most desirable A-graded neighborhoods. D-graded neighborhoods had higher proportions of Black residents, whereas A-graded neighborhoods had more white residents.

Disparities were particularly acute in the Great Lakes region, the authors note. The odds of lacking rapid access to EMS were nearly three times higher for residents in historically D-graded neighborhoods, compared with A-graded neighborhoods in that region.

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The findings add to the evidence linking policies rooted in structural racism to health disparities.

Research has shown redlined neighborhoods still disproportionately grapple with a multitude of health disparities, lower life expectancy and more exposure to air pollution.

The study found a racial disparity in where EMS stations are located, with fewer EMS stations in urban communities of color. Better tracking and accountability of EMS response times in communities could help address the issue, the researchers wrote.

Delays in emergency care are associated with higher mortality rates. For traumatic injuries, timely care is critical during what EMS professionals call the golden hour, or the first 60 minutes after an injury.

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Other research has pointed to disparities in emergency response times. EMS response times for patients with cardiac arrest, for example, were 10% longer for low-income ZIP codes than high-income ZIP codes, according to a national study published in JAMA Network Open in 2018.

The study received funding support from the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities.

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.
Homeowners across Minnesota are facing steep increases in their homeowner insurance premiums, with some seeing their costs double or even triple. The cause of such massive increases? A rising number of severe weather events in the region.

What's happening?

A report by Realtor.com found the average homeowners insurance premium in Minnesota will rise by about 15% by the end of 2025, pushing the typical annual rate to more than $4,000. But local news station KSTP reports many residents are already experiencing much higher hikes, especially first-time or lower-income homeowners.

New homeowner Noleene Counts told KSTP that she scrambled to find a policy she could afford before closing on her new home, settling on one just a day before her deadline.

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"It's still ridiculously high," Counts said of the policy.

KSTP reports soaring costs are largely driven by an uptick in severe weather events, which are tied to human-caused climate shifts and rising global temperatures. The news station reports that Minnesota saw 190 damaging hail events in 2024 alone.

Due to so many damaging weather events in recent years, insurance companies have been losing more than they are collecting from current policies. In 2022, for example, insurers paid $1.92 in claims for every $1 collected in premiums, per KSTP.

As storm damage becomes more frequent and expensive, companies are raising rates to keep up.

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"It's a tough situation all around, because they were hit extremely hard financially," realtor Amanda Cox Zuppan told KSTP of insurance companies. "[There are] neighborhoods where every single house has a new roof  and somebody paid for those roofs."

Why are these rising insurance rates important to understand?

Realtor.com reported Minnesota homeowners face the fifth-highest percentage rise in homeowner insurance premiums in the United States. Other states facing higher percentage rises are Louisiana, California, Iowa, and Hawaii.

Rising premiums aren't just a financial strain  they're a warning sign. Insurance companies base their rates on risk. When those rates spike, it signals that weather-related disasters are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more costly. In other words, the impacts of global pollution are starting to show up on homeowner bills.

When premiums rise, more homeowners struggle to afford and obtain policies  especially in already vulnerable regions. This can leave families without a safety net when disaster strikes, turning an already devastating destruction into an unfathomable financial crisis.

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Entire communities could face slower disaster recoveries, reduced property values, and even displacement as insurance becomes harder to afford  or impossible to obtain at all.

What's being done about rising insurance rates due to severe weather?

Experts told KSTP that homeowners should consider shopping around for better rates if their current insurance becomes unaffordable.

Programs like Strengthen Minnesota Homes, which offers discounts for homes built or upgraded to be more storm-resistant, were also recommended. Alternatively, some state-backed assistance programs are available to help homeowners cope with the growing cost of maintaining and insuring their properties.

Every planet-friendly action  from reducing plastic waste to choosing cleaner transportation  helps cut down on environmental pollution that drives volatile climate shifts.

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By making climate-minded choices, you can help slow the warming of the planet, which in turn helps reduce the conditions that make extreme weather more destructive and more likely to spike insurance rates in your area.

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.
CBS 42 Weather LIVE Channel: Introducing the CBS 42 Weather Live streaming weather channel, where the CBS 42 Storm Team is bringing you local weather updates around the clock, all day, every day.

Weekend Outlook: On Saturday, easterly winds will persist, keeping it mostly dry with only a low chance of a shower or storm. High temperatures will range from the upper 80s to the lower 90s.

Sunday will become more humid as the winds shift to the southeast. Expect a partly cloudy sky with spotty showers and storms in the afternoon and evening. Highs will be in the upper 80s, and the heat index will reach the mid-90s.

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Next Weeks Outlook: Tropical moisture continues across Alabama with southerly winds as high pressure sits along the U.S. East Coast. Monday through Wednesday will be hot and humid with scattered storms and heavy rain that move slowly. We will watch for street flooding issues. Highs will climb into the mid to upper 80s. Thursday and Friday will return to more typical August weather in Alabama, with hot and humid conditions and scattered storms. Highs will be in the low 90s, with the heat index around 100-105+.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Friday lashed out against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for urging leaders to deescalate conflict in the Gaza Strip.

So Israel is expected to surrender to Hamas & feed them even though Israeli hostages are being starved? Did UK surrender to Nazis and drop food to them? Huckabee wrote in a post on X.

Ever heard of Dresden, PM Starmer? That wasnt food you dropped. If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German! the ambassador continued, later slamming the leader for sending food to Gaza.

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His statement came hours after Starmer said both Israel and Hamas need to engage in good fatih negotiations to end the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank.

How much food has Starmer and the UK sent to Gaza? @IsraeliPM has already sent 2 MILLION TONS into Gaza & none of it even getting to hostages, Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, ranted.

Maybe UK PM ought to sit this one out & follow Arab League who said Hamas should disarm & release ALL hostages immediately.

Israels war cabinet voted Thursday to escalate operations in the region, although more than 100 nations have called for leaders to implement a two-state solution to the ongoing war and have offered to help author a path to peace.

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The Israeli Governments decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately, Starmer said.

Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. We need a ceasefire now, he added.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he intends to have Arabs rule over Gazans without input from Jerusalem.

Huckabee has endorsed the stance and has strongly backed the Israeli prime ministers advancements.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Nusa Dua, with its soft white sand beaches, azure waters, and upscale resorts, is a popular destination for the hordes of tourists flocking to Bali. It lies in the southern part of Bali, a peninsula of sorts, and often requires a boat transfer to get there.

But recently, theres been a torrent of ferry boats capsizing  some due to large waves slamming the vessels  and occasionally, tragically, resulting in death.

And so, Balinese officials have put a temporary ban on all boat ferries traversing through the crossing. Over 100 boat services have put on hiatus from the harbors going out to Nusa Dua, serving as a precaution for more potential catastrophes.

A spokesman for one of the main boat operators out of the area, GoBoat, spoke to the Bali Sun about the situation:

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At GoBoat, we adhere to strict SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures] which have been designed and tested to keep our guests and staff safe from conditions such as the current situation.

This time of year brings some heavy swells, and were expecting to have patchy service for August. Weather permitting, we might resume service Saturday afternoon, but this is also subject to potential condition changes. Safety is our highest priority. Peoples lives are in our hands, and this responsibility is unmatched.

Related: Wave Flips Boat in Bali, Passengers Swim for Their Lives (Video)

Chief of Meteorological Operations at the Center for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics in Denpasar, Wayan Musteana, added: The weather is sunny and cloudy with a high wave height of 2-4 meters. For the southern waters of Bali, based on the BMKG wave model, shows that there is an increase in the height of sea waves in the southern waters of Bali, which reaches 4 meters [13 feet] or a high wave category.

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The ban remains only temporary; expect things to get back to normal soon.

Related: Boat Gets Totally Wrecked by Wave in Indonesia (Video)

Huge Waves and Multiple Deaths Force Ban on Bali Boat Transfers first appeared on Surfer on Aug 9, 2025
Human case of West Nile virus confirmed in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS  Louisiana health officials have confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in Orleans Parish this year, serving as a reminder of the threats posed by mosquitoes.

The Louisiana Department of Health said the resident has the neuroinvasive form of the disease, which is the most severe form of infection.

The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, and while most people experience no symptoms, health officials warn that some may develop symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pain or vomiting.

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Nationwide, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the agency has been made aware of at least 140 reported human cases, with many likely not reported to the agency.

Watch: Tree Crashes Into Alligator Lagoon In Florida

Mosquito activity typically peaks during the summer and early fall in areas that have seen an abundance of precipitation.

Southern Louisiana has recorded slightly above-average precipitation this year, with accumulation totals of around 40 inches in 2025, which can contribute to increased breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Eva Buckner, an assistant professor at the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Medical Entomology Laboratory, previously told FOX Weather that insect activity tends to significantly decrease when temperatures reach around 50 degrees.

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"In general, when temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, that is when you are going to notice the mosquito activity decreasing," Eva said. "When you have freezing temperatures, that is when you are going to see more mosquito mortality."

Temperatures at or near 32 degrees are cold enough to mark the end of the mosquito season but not the complete demise of the population.

In addition to the West Nile virus, the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito is known to transmit the St. Louis encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus and lymphatic filariasis.

CDC tips on protecting yourself from mosquito bites.

Drones Could Help Eliminate Spread Of Potentially Deadly Mosquito-borne Viruses

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New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board does conduct mosquito spraying but did not state if the recent case of West Nile will impact mosquito control efforts.

The agency did provide tips for residents and visitors, such as mosquito-proofing homes by maintaining screens on windows and doors.

Using repellents with DEET or eucalyptus can also reduce the risk of bites and, therefore, infections.

Health experts also suggest avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito activity hours, especially around dawn and dusk.

Removing items that can collect water and ensuring cracks and crevices are properly sealed can limit potential breeding environments.





Original article source: Human case of West Nile virus confirmed in New Orleans
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP)  Hundreds of people cheered Sen. Ruben Gallego at a town hall meeting in eastern Iowa Saturday as the first-term Arizona Democrat assailed the massive, Republican-backed tax bill signed by President Donald Trump as likely to make America poorer and sicker.

Gallego's upbeat event struck the opposite tone from Rep. Mike Flood's town hall meeting earlier in the week, when an even bigger crowd jeered the Nebraska Republican for most of a 90-minute event in his state to promote the bill.

Democrats, searching for months after last year's election defeat for footing in opposing the aggressive tone struck by Trump in his second term in the White House, have gone on the offensive this month, still united in their frustration with Trump but suddenly energized in full-throated opposition to his signature legislation.

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I think this bill is helping Democrats see clearly whats at stake with the future of protections for so many regular Americans, said Pete Wernimont of Waterloo, who drove 140 miles (225 kilometers) to see Gallego. I just hope they are there when it really matters a year from now.

While some Republicans in safe Republican districts are braving crowds to sell Trumps law, most in Congress are heeding GOP leaders' suggestion to keep lower public profiles, especially noteworthy during the August recess following closely on Trump's signing of the tax cut and spending reduction bill last month.

Democratic activists are rallying to point out what they see as the measure's political liabilities for Republicans trying to hold their narrow majorities in Congress in next year's midterm elections.

This is the galvanizing moment thats happening because Democrats now understand, we're the people that fight for the middle class and the working class of America, Gallego told reporters before the event Saturday. This is a clarifying moment for us.

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For two hours, the audience of some 300 people applauded and at times stood cheering for the Arizona Democrat, one of several party figures who have been attacking the bill in congressional districts represented by Republicans. He was in Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks 1st Congressional District, among the most competitive in the nation in the past three congressional elections.

For a party frustrated with an array of Trump administration initiatives, the measure has had its own energizing effect.

"I came here because I work in health care and this bill will hurt health care, said Alexandra Salter, a physicians assistant from Davenport. I think we are getting more vocal about it, because we need to speak up.

The meeting contrasted sharply with Flood's meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday, when an even larger crowd of 700 voiced vigorous opposition to the bill, locking in especially on its changes to Medicaid, the federally funded health care program for low-income American.

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The bill, which passed with no Democratic votes in the House or Senate, makes substantial cuts to the health care program, notably by imposing work requirements for many of those receiving aid.

The same frustration that drew Wernimont to Davenport Saturday convinced Ann Ashburn of Aurora, Nebraska, to drive the 70 miles (113 kilometers) to Lincoln to face Flood on Monday.

Ashburn learned about Flood's appearance through an Omaha-area Democratic group called Blue Dot and reached out to friends who joined her. She dismissed any suggestion that such opposition had been orchestrated.

I think the momentum could have been much greater had we been better organized, the 72-year-old retired executive said.

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For now, Republicans have their work cut out for them if they hope to use the measure as a reason for voters to return them to the majority in the 2026 elections. About two-thirds of U.S. adults expect the new law will help the rich, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Most  about 6 in 10  also think it will do more to hurt than help low-income people, according to the survey taken last.

Gallego used his trip to Iowa, which included a requisite stop at the Iowa State Fair, to burnish his own profile in a state that, until 2020, traditionally had hosted the first event in the Democrats' presidential nominating process. Iowa Democrats hope to return to the front of the parade when the 2028 primaries and caucuses begin.

Other figures already popular nationally with Democrats such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been making stops in Republican districts decrying the legislation. Ocasio-Cortez last month headlined an event in New York's 21st District, represented by Republican Elise Stefanik, noting among other items its Medicaid provisions.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is scheduled to hold rallies Sunday in Republican-held House districts in North Carolina. He too planned to focus on Medicaid cuts, and note their impact on rural hospitals in the state where former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat now running for U.S. Senate, worked with the GOP-controlled legislature to expand Medicaid coverage in 2023.
Hundreds of delivery drivers have been arrested in a crackdown on illegal migrants.

A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to at locations across the UK over suspected illegal working between July 20 and 27.

The Home Office said 280 were arrested in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham.

Of these, 53 people are now having their asylum support reviewed, which could lead to it being withdrawn.

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It comes after a Telegraph investigation revealed that asylum seekers housed in Home Office hotels are paying off debts to people smugglers by illegally working as delivery riders.

The Telegraph found that migrants are making up to 500 a week by working for delivery services such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, even though many of them are banned from working because of their immigration status.

Credit: Jack Leather for The Telegraph

The Home Office described Julys operation as a nationwide intensification week targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy and people working as delivery riders.

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Immigration enforcement teams will receive 5m from the 100m in funding already announced for border security.

Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, said: Illegal working undermines our border security and were cracking down hard on it.

Thats why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK.

Labour has been focusing on its efforts to reduce illegal migration in recent weeks as support for Reform UK grows.

Despite this, however, the number of Channel crossings has soared to a record high, with more than 25,000 migrants arriving in small boats since the start of the year.

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The milestone was reached much earlier this year than in previous years; in the record year of 2022 it was not passed until late August.

As well as the arrests, 51 businesses, including car washes and restaurants, were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines if they are found to have hired people without the right to work in the UK.

Eddy Montgomery, enforcement director at the Home Office, said officers were taking action around the clock against those who think they can get away with working illegally.

Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, although permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.

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The Government recently announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots.

Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have also said they would ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone. People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. Its a racket and Labour are letting it run.

Illegal working is a pull factor sold by smugglers as a reward to break into our country and cross the Channel. That is why the Conservative Party is calling for new action  anyone who plays the system should have their status stripped, wages confiscated, and be deported.

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Two groups peacefully gathered in Bristol city centre earlier to voice opposing views on immigration.

About 100 anti-immigration protesters turned up to a planned demonstration outside the Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, which is housing asylum seekers, and near Bristol Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

A group of about 300 to 400 counter-protesters had arrived beforehand in support of the asylum seekers, surrounding the hotel.

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Police kept the two groups apart for about 90 minutes until the anti-immigration protesters walked away.

Police have been prepared for disorder since hundreds of far-right protesters gathered at Castle Park and clashed with a counter-protest group on 3 August, in 2024.

Officers had been given enhanced powers which allowed them to ask people to remove face coverings.

They have put in place a dispersal order which will allow them to move people on until 07:00 BST on Sunday.

Police officers were prepared in case of disorder but the protests took place peacefully [PA Media]

Counter-protesters arrived with signs bearing slogans such as "protect people not borders" and "no one is illegal".

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A few wore face coverings so they couldn't be identified as they chanted slogans in support of asylum seekers and refugees.

A woman wearing a "Make Britain Great Again" cap was jeered at as she walked through the crowd, before being escorted away by police.

By the time the anti-immigration protesters arrived for their protest, they were vastly outnumbered.

"It feels like a moment to support people who are very vulnerable," said Polly Eldridge. "I think its abhorrent that the far-right decide that they're going to do this outside where individuals are staying."

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But among around 100 anti-immigration protesters, Kevin Starr said "this isn't about racism, it's about right and wrong".

"I'm not against immigration if you're legitimately fleeing war," he said. "If the government did what they were supposed to do, none of this would be happening."

Protesters supporting asylum seekers surrounded a hotel housing them in Bristol [PA Media]

The latest Home Office statistics show there were 1,265 asylum seekers in Bristol in March 2025.

Of those, 892 were living in what the government calls "contingency accommodation"  hotels, hostels or other emergency accommodation.

That's the sixth highest number in the country  only four London boroughs and Birmingham have more asylum seekers living in hotels.

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The figures suggest there are no asylum seekers living in hotels in Bath, Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, South Gloucestershire, Stroud, Tewkesbury or Wiltshire.

'Will not be tolerated'

Speaking before the protests, Serena Serjeant from Avon and Somerset Police said any form of disorder "will not be tolerated".

"It is important we ensure the safety of both those participating in the protests and the wider public, this is why we have put this operation and these additional powers in place," she said.

Bristol's protests on Saturday followed a wave of recent demonstrations across the country outside hotels housing refugees and asylum seekers.

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Hundreds of people have joined an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton Town Hall.

The demonstration, which included a march through the town centre with people waving flags and chanting, was one of several in a wave of action across England on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch said two men who had been charged with raping a 12-year-old girl in the town were asylum seekers, which the BBC has been unable to verify independently.

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Warwickshire Police confirmed a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making threats to cause criminal damage during the protest, but added the event had been mostly peaceful.

The group gathered outside the town hall at 13:00 BST and chanted anti-government messages while flying the England flag, the union jack and home-made signs.

Protesters held union jacks and banners while gathering in Nuneaton [PA Media]

Warwickshire Police were present at the demonstration and were seen engaging with a small number of protesters.

A small group of counter protesters also attended but were moved on when they appeared to be surrounded by the larger group.

The force said the protesters had dispersed by about 15:30 BST.

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"Thank you to all who worked with us to exercise their democratic right to protest in a way that was peaceful and lawful today," a spokesperson said.

The event was organised after Mr Finch, leader of the Reform UK-led council, accused Warwickshire Police and the Home Office of covering up the immigration status of the two charged men.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage later called on police forces across the UK to share the status of charged suspects.

Protesters engaged with police officers during the event [PA Media]

A small group of counter-protesters gather in the town [PA Media]

Warwickshire Police said once someone is charged with an offence, the force follows national guidance that does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.

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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 following the incident, which took place on 22 July.

The protest was one of a series of events in Bristol, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leicester and Birmingham among others, according to Stand Up To Racism.

The Metropolitan Police have also made at least 200 arrests at a demonstration in London in support of proscribed group Palestine Action.

The group marched through Nuneaton and finished at the town hall [PA Media]

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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that Europe risks being "sidelined" if a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine takes place.

Speaking to Hungary's state broadcaster, Orban said "if the Russian-American summit comes, that's good, because there can finally be peace. But the Europeans will be left out of this, we will be sidelined in managing the security issues of our own continent."

Orban added that "as soon as possible", whether that be before or after the potential Russia-US meeting, there should be a Russian-European summit on the war.

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Orban, a harsh critic of the European Union, suggested that such a meeting should not be led by leaders of European institutions.

"Their knowledge would be scarce in Moscow," he said.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 148th artillery brigade repairs a vehicle near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, 7 August, 2025 - AP Photo

Instead, Orban said French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz should "negotiate on behalf of Europe."

Orban is widely considered to be Putin's closest partner in the EU and has maintained friendly relations with the Kremlin even after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"In my opinion, if Europe wants to take the decisions about its future into its own hands, it cannot sit at home like an upset toddler, talking bad about the Russian president," Orban said.

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While most EU countries have offered political, financial, and military support to Kyiv, Hungary has charted a starkly different course, refusing to supply Ukraine with weapons or to allow their transit through Hungarian territory, demanding sanctions relief and rapprochement with Russia.

Brussels has long been at odds with Budapest over perceived democratic backsliding.

The EU is currently withholding approximately 9.5 billion in COVID-19 recovery funding and 8.4 billion in cohesion funds over those concerns.

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Brussels and Budapest over the years have been at loggerheads on a range of issues, most recently that of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the situation has been made worse by the financial issue.

US President Donald Trump welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the White House, 13 May, 2019 - AP Photo

In March, Orban vowed to rid his country of those he claims work for the interests of foreign powers, saying his right-wing government will eliminate a global "shadow army" serving the European Union and a "liberal American empire."

The Hungarian leader, in power since 2010, has accelerated his longstanding efforts to crack down on critics such as media outlets, civil rights and anti-corruption groups, which he says have undermined Hungary's sovereignty by receiving financial assistance from international donors.

Orban, an ally of Trump, has applauded the US administration's actions to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, claiming, with no evidence, that it was used to fund liberal causes in Hungary aimed at toppling his government.
The International Criminal Court on Friday unsealed an arrest warrant for a Libyan militia member accused of war crimes including murder and torture between 2016 and 2017.

The court said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that Saif Suleiman Sneidel was responsible for war crimes of murder, torture and "outrages upon personal dignity".

The November 2020 warrant found "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered", the ICC's prosecutor's office said in a statement.

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The crimes were allegedly committed in Benghazi or surrounding areas, in Libya, on or before 3 June 2016 until on or about 17 July 2017.

The prosecutor's office said Sneidel's arrest warrant had been issued under seal to "maximise arrest opportunities" and to minimise risks to the criminal investigation.

"For this reason, no details of the application or warrant could be provided until this stage," it said.

The decision to make it public followed a second application by the prosecutor's office to "increase prospects for arrest".

"We hope to create the momentum for Mr Sneidel's arrest and surrender," said deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said.

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"The Court can now discuss issues related to possible arrest with States, the UN Security Council, and the international community at large, fostering support and cooperation."

Group 50

Sneidel is believed to have been serving in Group 50, a sub-unit of the Al-Saiqa Brigade led by the the late Libyan commander, Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli.

Prior to his death, Al-Werfalli was the subject of two ICC arrest warrants for eight executions in Benghazi, three of which the prosecution alleges Sneidel took part in.

"The prosecution alleges that Mr Sneidel was a close associate of Mr Al-Werfalli, and had an important leadership role alongside him in the Al-Saiqa Brigade," the statement said.

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The ICC has been investigating atrocities in Libya since 2011, following a referral from the United Nations Security Council.

The ICC also confirmed that another Libyan suspect, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, had been arrested by German authorities on 16 July 2025 for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He remains in custody in Germany pending legal proceedings.

Libya has faced years of instability, militia violence and fractured government since Kadhafi was overthrown and killed in 2011 near his hometown of Sirte during the Arab Spring uprising.

(AFP)
In the 1960s, the CIA recruited Hmong people in Laos to battle Communist forces in southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Many of them sacrificed their lives to help the U.S. and saved the lives of American soldiers. But after the fall of Saigon and Laos 50 years ago, the Hmong were persecuted for allying with the American military and many fled, some of them admitted into the U.S. as legal refugees. They found a home in Midwestern states like Michigan, building new lives in places such as Detroit, Macomb County and the Lansing area.

Now, 16 Hmong and Laotian immigrants are facing deportation after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained them in Michigan in July. Fifteen of them had been sent letters telling them to show up for an appointment at their Detroit field office on July 30. The arrests that day were unexpected since many of them have often had ICE appointments before that were routine. But this time, they were taken to an ICE detention center at North Lake Correctional Facility in northwestern Michigan, several hours away, and are now at detention centers in Louisiana and Texas facing imminent deportation. The immigrants detained had criminal histories, which made them eligible for deportation, ICE officials said.

State Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, reads on Aug. 8, 2025, a statement by Maiyia Xiong, of Pontiac, wife of Wa Kong Lor, a Hmong refugee detained by ICE on July 30, 2025. She wipes away tears as the legislator spoke. They and others spoke at a press conference in Detroit at the Hanan Center calling for the release of 16 Hmong and Laotian refugees detained by ICE in July 2025. Behind them are State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and State Rep. Donovan McKinney, D-Detroit.

A group of 27 State House and Senate legislators and a Detroit councilwoman wrote a letter Friday, Aug. 8, to Kevin Raycraft, field director of Detroit's ICE office, calling for their immediate release.

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"This appeared to be a targeted operation, an easy way for ICE officers to detain people without going to their homes," said Maiyia Xiong, of Pontiac, wife of Wa Kong Lor, one of the immigrants detained. Her statement was read by State Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, a Hmong refugee with the same last name, at a press conference in Detroit. "My husband, like many others that day, was taken without warning."

As Rep. Xiong read the statement, Xiong stood at her side at the podium, unable to read it on her own because she was overcome with emotion, wiping away tears.

"My husband and I came to this country believing it was the safest place to build a better future," Xiong said. "We have always worked hard to raise our children to respect this country and hope to see them achieve their dreams, but now our family is shattered. My children are afraid to go outside, terrified that ICE might come for us too."

An ICE spokesperson told the Free Press that Lor is a citizen of Laos with convictions for breaking and entering vehicle to steal property, controlled substance-deliver/manufacture (cocaine, heroin, or another narcotic) less than 50 grams, weapons felony firearm, and weapons carrying with unlawful intent. He was sentenced to a term of five months to 20 years in prison and ordered to be removed to Laos in 2007.

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In the past, Laos and Thailand, where some Hmong lived temporarily after fleeing Laos from Communists, were not admitting immigrants the U.S. wanted to deport, explained Christian Sauve, a manager at Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. But after pressure from the U.S. under President Donald Trump, they are taking them in, allowing ICE to deport them.

"All had been ordered removed by an immigration judge, some as early as 2001," an ICE spokesperson said of the 16 in Michigan recently detained. "ICE was recently able to obtain travel documents from the government of Laos to ensure their lawful removal to their home country."

From left, Anissa Lee, 20, of Warren and State Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren, holds up a photo of Lee's father, Sufeng Yang, who was arrested by ICE agents on July 30, 2025, at the ICE Detroit field office. They spoke at a press conference in Detroit on Aug. 8, 2025, calling for the release of him and 15 other Hmong and Laotian refugees in Michigan detained by ICE.

Fifteen of the 16 detained were arrested on July 30 and another man was arrested at his workplace in Lansing, Sauve said.

ICE said that among those detained on July 30 were "a known gang member who obstructed a murder investigation, multiple child sex abusers, drug traffickers and other Laotian nationals with criminal histories."

Thousands of Hmong and Laotian people live in Michigan

There are 7,001 Hmong people and 4,035 Laotian people who live in Michigan, according to the 2020 census. Speakers at the press conference, which included four state legislators, said they and other immigrant communities contribute a lot of Michigan's economy. Deporting them will hurt not just their population, but Michiganders in general, they said.

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The recent arrests of the Hmong and Laotian refugees echo how ICE targeted hundreds of Iraqi Americans and Chaldeans in Michigan with criminal histories during Trump's first term, Sauve noted. Some who had lived in the U.S. for most of their lives were removed to Iraq after the Trump administration pressured the Iraqi government to take them. In one case, Jimmy Al-Daoud, 41, of Hazel Park, who had lived in the U.S. since he was 6-months old, was deported and ended up homeless on the streets in Iraq, struggling to find insulin for his diabetes. He died in Baghdad in 2019 just a few months after he was deported. Families of the Hmong and Laotian refugees fear their loved ones could meet a similar fate.

Like Al-Daoud, Sufeng Yang, of Warren, arrived in the U.S. as a young child alongside his mother, "seeking safety and a better life after the war," said his daughter, Anissa Lee, 20, of Warren. "He was raised here. He was educated here, and he built his life here. The United States is all he's ever known. It's his only home. He's notjust a resident here. He's a taxpayer, a provider, a father and a caregiver."

Yang is a citizen of Laos who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, and now faces being sent back to a nation he's not familiar with. He was convicted of a robbery in Ohio several years ago, but has supported many in his life.

"He never missed a bill," Lee said of her father, her voice breaking up with emotion. "He never turned away from his responsibilities. He lives his life around us, around family, around community. Now he's being taken away from the only home he knows and from the only people he knows the most. My 82-year-old grandmother relies on my father every day. He buys her groceries, he buys her medication, he pays her bills and ensures she has everything she needs to survive. Without him, she won't be able to get by."

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Lee said her father saved and comforted her after she lost a daughter and has helped touch the lives of hundreds of others.

State Rep Mai Xiong, D-Warren, calls for the release of 16 Hmong and Laotian refugees detained by ICE, at a press conference on August 8, 2025, at the Hannan Center in Detroit. She was joined by other state legislators and immigrant advocates.

"He is the backbone of my family," she said. "He is the source of strength for over 53 nieces and nephews. ... Nearly 300 people will be devastated by his deportation."

ICE said that Yang is a 47-year-old citizen of Laos with a robbery conviction in Toledo, Ohio, and was sentenced to three years in prison. He had been ordered removed in 2007.

Xiong held another press conference the day before on Thursday, Aug. 7, on the steps of the state Capitol in Lansing, joined by State Sen. Sam Singh, D-Lansing; State Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing, and State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. Chang was also at the press conference in Detroit along with State Rep. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, and State Rep. Donovan McKinney, D-Detroit.

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ICE said the people arrested have various criminal histories, including: a known gang member of 'Masters of Destruction' with a conviction for aiding an offender and obstructing an investigation of first-degree murder; criminal sexual conduct, including some cases involving minors; bank fraud; delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance and felony weapons charges; robbery; home invasion; concealing stolen property; manufacture/deliver cocaine distribute/possess with intent to deliver; operating while intoxicated, and felony grand larceny.

The Hmong saved lives of 'countless Americans' in war

At the Lansing press conference livestreamed by WWMT TV, Ancy Vue, a wife of detainee Lue Yang, 47, who lived near Lansing, told his story, noting how Hmong people helped the U.S. during what was called the "secret war" in Laos. Yang has lived in the U.S. since he was a 1-year-old baby.

"I'm a proud American, a mother of six, the daughter of Hmong refugees who gained their citizenship and the wife of a man called Lue Yang, who is now detained, and faces the potential deportation from the only country that he's ever known," Vue said. "He was born stateless in a refugee camp in Thailand. ... His father served with the U.S. forces during the Vietnam War recruited by the CIA's secret war to help America. They saved the lives of countless Americans and ... fought alongside our soldiers in the shadows, often giving away their own lives."

ICE said that Yang is a citizen of Laos with a conviction for home invasion in the second degree and was ordered removed in 2001.

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His wife, Vue, said that her husband "paid his dues already" for a crime "that was nearly 3 decades ago." Moreover, she said, "he never entered the home" during the robbery and was given a court-appointed attorney who urged him to plead guilty without informing him this conviction could affect his immigration status.

McKinney criticized ICE for recently announcing it's offering a $50,000 hiring bonus for new agents, given how many in places like Detroit are struggling to survive.

"It's cruel, it's wrong, it's unjust, and it must end," McKinney said of ICE detaining the 16 immigrants. "We are calling for their release. Families belong together, not torn apart in secrecy. We also call for transparency and accountability so these horrific events stop happening. Deportation doesn't just impact one person; it tears at the fabric of entire communities. We're talking about small businesses losing a valued employee, elders losing caregivers, children losing a parent or grandparent. ... These individuals are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, our fellow Michiganders."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com, X @nwarikoo or Facebook @nwarikoo

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ICE arrests Hmong, Laotian refugees as families plead for release
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI)  ICE Homeland Security Investigations New England has arrested a lawful permanent resident, and registered sex offender, who was previously convicted of abuse and rape of a child.

HSI personnel arrested Dennis Costa, 66, on last month at his home in Fall River.

Costa, a native and citizen of Portugal, was convicted on Nov. 25, 1991, for rape and abuse of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years of age.

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He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender in Massachusetts.

Costa entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident on or around Jan. 26, 1969.

He will be held in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.

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CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI)  ICE Boston said agents have arrested a Guatemalan man in Cranston for possession of child pornography.

They also say the suspect, Jonathan Gutierrez, has a pending charge for sex offender registration violation.

Gutierrez will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

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Advocates are reporting that four Woodburn farmworkers were arrested Aug. 7 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on their way to work at a Canby blueberry farm.

According to a news release from Oregon For All, an immigrant and refugee justice coalition, a group of farmworkers were detained around 6 a.m. near Woodburn after ICE agents "swarmed" their van.

Three men and one woman were detained, according to a statement from Oregon For All. The coalition was alerted to the arrests after witnesses called the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition hotline. Witnesses reported agents had broken the driver's side window.

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The workers were being held at the Portland ICE facility, where attorneys with Innovation Law Lab were denied access, the statement said.

The broken window of a van that advocates say was "swarmed" by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. They said four Woodburn farmworkers were arrested on their way to work.

"Imagine being arrested, unable to understand whats happening, and cut off from legal help," said Puma Tzoc, director of the Collective of Indigenous Interpreters of Oregon at Pueblo Unido.

All four farmworkers are members of the Mam Nation and Indigenous Guatemalans, the statement added.

"As Mam speakers, these workers face additional barriers in understanding their rights and accessing legal help," Tzoc said. "This is a violation of their rights. We demand that they respect our Indigenous nations."

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Isa Pena, director of strategy at Innovation Law Lab, said the workers' due process rights are being violated.

"Were seeing a pattern: ICE acts with impunity, and communities are left to pick up the pieces," Pena said.

Pena told the Statesman Journal that legal advocates are still trying to get ahold of the rest of the group. The Innovation Law Lab was denied entry at the Macadam facility in Portland, Pena said.

Advocates say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "swarmed" and arrested a group of Woodburn farmworkers on Aug. 7, breaking the driver's side window.

The nonprofit organization has filed a habeas corpus petition on behalf of one of the farmworkers, identified only as L-J-P-L.

"The right to due process is one of the fundamental freedoms and cornerstones of democracy and we want to make sure that the right to due process is upheld regardless of where people were born or what their immigration status is," Pena said. "As an organization, we cannot look away and are deeply saddened that this happened."

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The petition says the farmworker fled Guatemala after he was targeted by people who killed his brother.

The petition said L-J-P-L applied for asylum on Feb. 11. His next scheduled immigration court hearing was scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026. He has no criminal history, the petition said.

L-J-P-L was arrested and detained by ICE agents "despite no material changes in his individual circumstances," his attorneys wrote in the court filing.

U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut issued an order on Aug. 7 saying L-J-P-L cannot be moved outside the District of Oregon without advance notice of the intended move, made in writing and filed with the court.

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ICE is terrorizing the very people who feed our communities, targeting farmworkers in their own neighborhoods on their way to work, said Reyna Lopez, executive director of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Oregons farmworker union.

Lopez said people will be scared of working during the peak harvest.

"This not only affects farmworkers ability to support their families, but also the many growers who rely on migrant labor and our collective ability to put food on our tables," Lopez said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions from the Statesman Journal.

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Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLugo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: ICE arrests Woodburn farmworkers en route to Oregon blueberry farm
A man authorities described as a Colombian drug lord wanted in over two dozen killings was arrested in Orlando, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Thursday.

Guillermo Perez-Alzate, according to ICE, is a former paramilitary leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia criminal organization, which uses drugs to finance their operations, in Narino, Colombia. A post from ICE on X described him as an illegal alien and said Its time for him to face the consequences of his heinous crimes!

The arrest was announced by ICE in a news release which said Perez-Alzate is wanted for his alleged involvement in 29 murders and other related crimes, but did not say exactly where and when the arrest occurred. Several other agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, also took part in the arrest.

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ICE didnt provide further information on the circumstances leading to the arrest when contacted by the Orlando Sentinel. But its release says immigration judges twice ordered Perez-Alzate removed from the U.S., including in 2017, and that both rulings were deferred.

After being extradited to the U.S. in 2008 alongside other alleged members of the United Self-Defense Forces, Perez-Alzate was sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine in Florida, the ICE release said. During his trial, he admitted to a judge he murdered 29 people, ICE said. Court records show his original release date was set for 2019 due to time served.

Around two months after his sentencing in 2009, Perez-Alzate was arrested by correctional officers at Georgias McRae Correctional Institution for conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S., according to ICE.

Despite this, a judge later reduced his sentence by 3 years because of what prosecutors called his cooperation and substantial assistance in several cases, court records show. The Federal Bureau of Prisons database said a Guillermo Perez-Alzate was no longer in its custody as of June 2016.

Perez-Alzate was arrested in 2020 by Interpols Department of Justice Washington on a warrant for arrest from a foreign county, ICE said. The consequences of that arrest were not specified.
ORLANDO, Fla.  A man authorities described as a Colombian drug lord wanted in more than two dozen killings was arrested in Orlando, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Thursday.

Guillermo Perez-Alzate, according to ICE, is a former paramilitary leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia criminal organization, which uses drugs to finance their operations, in Narino, Colombia. A post from ICE on X described him as an illegal alien and said Its time for him to face the consequences of his heinous crimes!

The arrest was announced by ICE in a news release that said Perez-Alzate is wanted for his alleged involvement in 29 murders and other related crimes, but did not say exactly where and when the arrest occurred. Several other agencies, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, also took part in the arrest.

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ICE didnt provide further information on the circumstances leading to the arrest when contacted by The Orlando Sentinel. But its release says immigration judges twice ordered Perez-Alzate removed from the U.S. in 2016 and 2017, and that both rulings were deferred.

After being extradited to the U.S. in 2008 alongside other members of the United Self-Defense Forces, Perez-Alzate was sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine in Florida, the ICE release said. During his trial, he admitted to a judge he murdered 29 people, ICE said. Court records show his original release date was set for 2019 because of time served.

Around two months after his sentencing in 2009, Perez-Alzate was arrested by correctional officers at Georgias McRae Correctional Institution for conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S., according to ICE.

Despite this, a judge later reduced his sentence by 31/2 years because of what prosecutors called his cooperation and substantial assistance in several cases, court records show. The Federal Bureau of Prisons database said a Guillermo Perez-Alzate was no longer in its custody as of June 2016.

Perez-Alzate was arrested in 2020 by Interpols Department of Justice Washington on a warrant for arrest from a foreign county, ICE said. The consequences of that arrest were not specified.

_____
IDAHO - Authorities released haunting photos showing scenes within the offcampus residence at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where four University of Idaho students were murdered in November 2022 by Bryan Kohberger.

The photos, taken by the Moscow Police Department (MPD), and obtained by NBC News , captured the scene after Kohberger went on a killing rampage against Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

The interior of the home was captured frozen in time following the quadruple murders, with a blood-stained pink blanket , a teddy bear and scattered personal items. One eerie photo captured a large handprint on the window of the three-storied home.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

Among the 200 photos released by the MPD, spatters of blood stained the interior walls and floors as the lasting marks of a horrific confrontation.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

The photos are the latest investigative piece released after Judge Steven Hippler released the gag order.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

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Police documents revealed that Goncalves and Mogen were found together side by side. The report said that both women were "covered by a pink blanket which was covered in blood."

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

Blood was seen seeping from the house following the students' murders. Photos previously captured by Fox News Digital captured blood oozing down the wall of 1122 Kings Road.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

Kernodle suffered more than 50 stab wounds, many of which were defensive wounds. Goncalves endured over 20 stab wounds.

Madison Mogen, top left, smiles on the shoulders of her best friend, Kaylee Goncalves, as they pose with Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, and two other housemates in Goncalves' final Instagram post, shared the day before the four students were stabbed to death. (@kayleegoncalves/Instagram)

According to authorities,Mogen was likely killed first, andGoncalves was killed shortly after. Later,Kernodle and Chapin were killed as Kohberger proceeded through the house.

This image provided by police shows the crime scene in the off-campus home where four University of Idaho students were murdered on November 13, 2022 in Moscow, Idaho. The perpetrator of the stabbing deaths, Bryan Kohberger, was sentenced to four life sentences for the horrific crimes. (City of Moscow Police)

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Timeline of Nov. 13, 2022:

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.

Bryan Kohberger enters a courtroom in Moscow, Idaho, on Thursday for a status hearing. The accused murderer waived his right to a quick preliminary hearing and will appear in court again on June 26. (Kai Eiselein/Pool)

Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students.

This sentence was the result of a plea deal where Kohberger confessed to the crimes in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. He also received an additional 10-year sentence for felony burglary.

The sentencing hearing, held on July 23, involved emotional victim impact statements from the families of Goncalves, Mogen, Kernodle. Kohberger remained stone-faced and showed no visible emotion during these statements.

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An online tool developed by hydrologists has helped the state spot potential toxic algae blooms in Idaho and issue health advisories early.

State officials every summer detect harmful blooms in Idaho waters, including this year, when the Department of Health and Welfare issued an advisory for the Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs. The U.S. Geological Survey developed the Remote Aquatic Chlorophyll-a Tracker, shortened to REACT, an online tool that monitors and maps out where chlorophyll-a has been detected via satellite.

The harmful algae blooms occur in still water from rapid overgrowth of cyanobacteria, which are harmful to people, livestock and pets. Chlorophyll-a is a green pigment that is found in the toxin-producing cyanobacteria, but also in non-harmful plants like pond weeds, said Tyler King, Geological Surveys supervisory research hydrologist.

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Chlorophyll presence in itself doesnt necessarily mean the harmful algae blooms are there, King told the Idaho Statesman. But if it changes quickly, and if its really big and its out in the middle of the lake, you could have pretty high confidence that thats from the rapid proliferation of phytoplankton, of which cyanobacteria is a type.

When those rapid changes are detected, King said, the Department of Health and Welfare and Department of Environmental Quality work together to test the water for toxins and issue health advisories if they find the toxins.

King recommends visiting the Department of Health and Welfares interactive Recreational Water Health Advisories map to check for health advisories rather than solely rely on REACT. Still, REACT gives the public a chance to explore known advisory areas at a high resolution and see which areas might be the most dangerous for people and pets.

If you have someone whos inclined to look for information on their own, they can use the REACT website, and generally speaking, they could rule out some water bodies to go visit if they are concerned about exposure, King said. I just wouldnt use it as an authoritative source to say, Oh yeah, theres definitely a harmful algal bloom in this water body, unless you go out and test it.

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King added that, more than anything, people should be ready to spot the signs of harmful algal blooms in nature to prevent exposure. He said the telltale sign of toxic algae is blue-green colored film on the surface of still water.

If you see something that looks like spilled blue paint, just dont even get in, King said. Satellite imagery is great. It gives you an idea ahead of time, but trust your eyes when you get there.

King told the Statesman that non-moving water bodies can act like Petri dishes in the summer heat, allowing cyanobacteria numbers to explode under the right conditions.

This stuff is growing everywhere, King said. Its just, under what conditions and where does it grow rapidly enough and or get concentrated enough to be a problem? And thats a very complex natural process that we dont have a great way to predict for every water body.
A father of one of the slain University of Idaho students is calling for a harsher form of justice for Bryan Kohberger.

Steve Goncalves, whose daughter Kaylee was among the four students murdered, said in a new interview that he initially thought that the convicted killer's commissary funds should be used to pay for a firing squad.

Goncalves also revealed he has spoken with Idaho legislators about proposing a law that would use the commissary money from convicted murderers to reimburse the costs of investigating their crimes.

Steve Goncalves Wants A Law To Confiscate Bryan Kohberger's Commissary Funds

MEGA

Steve Goncalves has revealed he is pushing for harsher consequences for Bryan Kohberger beyond the four consecutive life sentences he received for murdering Kaylee Goncalves and three other University of Idaho students.

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Speaking with TMZ, the grieving father shared he has held talks with two Idaho legislators to propose a law that will possibly confiscate some or all of the commissary funds of convicted murderers like Kohberger.

He claimed the intention was to use these funds to reimburse taxpayers for the costs of investigating the crimes of these criminals, although he initially imagined such funds should be better spent on a firing squad.

Throughout the duration of the case, Kohberger received various donations from fans to his commissary account. However, these amounts seem negligible compared to the funds Idaho State spent on the case.

By April 2024, the state had reportedly spent over $3.6 million prosecuting the murders, with costs likely significantly higher by the time Kohberger chose to accept a plea deal.

The Grieving Father Is Upset About The Release Of Crime Scene Photos

MEGA

In the wake of Kohberger signing a plea deal and being sentenced, a number of documents from the investigation carried out by authorities have made their way to the media.

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These include interviews with some of the convicted murderer's colleagues, dates, and fellow inmates, as well as numerous photos of the areas in the off-campus home where the former PhD student killed Kaylee and her friends in November 2022.

Speaking about these releases, Goncalves said it was upsetting to see the crime scene photos and other information about the murders made public.

He added that the victims' families preferred such material remain private and that he personally feels it is unnecessary now that the case is over. He also believes these details are not relevant to justice and are purely sensationalist.

Steve Goncalves Disagreed With Bryan Kohberger's Plea Deal

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Goncalves was among the loudest voices from the victims' families to speak out against the plea deal Bryan Kohberger accepted.

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"Idaho has failed. They failed me. They failed my whole family," said Goncalves in an interview with NBC's "Today" show after news of the plea deal agreement surfaced.

"It's my daughter. It's our children. How can you say it's just when you haven't even talked to us to see what justice looks like for us?" he added.

The Grieving Father Blasted The Idaho Killer In His Victim Impact Statement

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

When it became clear the plea deal would stand, Steve Gonvalves delivered an intense victim impact statement at the convicted murderer's sentencing while locking eyes with him the entire time.

"You're a joke, a complete joke," Goncalves said at the time, per the New York Post. "You were that foolish, that careless, that stupid We knew from the very beginning we had you."

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He further remarked, "Nobody cares about you. You're not worth the time, the effort to be remembered. In time, you'll be nothing but two initials forgotten to the wind."

Bryan Kohberger Is Currently In Solitary Confinement At A Maximum Security Prison

Ada County Sheriff's Office/MEGA

Prior to Kohberger's sentencing, he was residing at the Latah County Jail, which is closer to the court location. Now, the 30-year-old has been placed in solitary confinement at the J Block in the Idaho Maximum Security Institution.

Per the Department of Corrections' website, he is one of the 535 "volatile male residents" the institution currently houses alongside Chad Daybell, the convicted child murderer and husband of "Doomsday" cult mom Lori Vallow.

The prison is considered one of the harshest in America, with inmates living in single-person cells and only allowed to be outdoors for one hour each day.

It is also remote and highly secured by a double perimeter fence topped with razor wire, an electronic detection system, and 24-hour armed patrols.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  An Illinois National Guard member, and University of Illinois student, who was killed in action in Iraq is now getting honored in a one-of-a-kind way.

Sgt. Shawna Morrison joined the guard at 17, she was deployed overseas, and died in 2004. She was laid to rest in her home state of Illinois, but next week, Sgt. Morrison will be honored and remembered, nationwide.

Promise Healthcare hosts informational event for hundreds in Rantoul

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Sgt. Morrison will be moving to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which is just across the Memorial Bridge from Washington D.C. There, she will be buried alongside other veterans killed in action throughout our nations history.

Morrison first joined the guard at 17, then came to the U of I and chose to major in psychology. Then, once Operation Iraqi Freedom began, her unit was deployed overseas. On Sept. 5, 2004, Sgt. Morrison was killed by a mortar attack.

She was the first enrolled student to leave the U of I and be killed in overseas combat. Sgt. Morrison was also the first female soldier from the Illinois National Guard to die in overseas combat.

To earn the honor of being buried in the hallowed ground, along with other fallen servicemen and women at Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, is such a tribute to her distinction and her sacrifice, serving her country and giving, ultimately giving her life in service, said family spokesperson A. Mark Nueman.

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Morrison will officially be laid to rest on Monday. Nueman said hell be attending with the family and that they are honored to have their daughter moved there. He also said shes an inspiration for students across campus.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A landlord who has poured "heart, time and money" into a south London pub says it is under threat of closure and is looking for investors to help save it.

Clement Ogbonnaya, who has run the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill since it opened in May 2023, says Young's, which owns the freehold, "gave us a deadline to buy it back or risk losing it forever".

The pub, named in homage to his mother, wife and two daughters, replaced the White Hart pub, which needed a new roof, was infested with rats and had rotting floors.

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He said: "We've got rid of that ugly tooth on the high street and created a communal space as a hub, a meeting place, a place to celebrate, a place to mourn, a place to share ideas."

A Young's spokesperson said: "We remain in exclusive negotiations with Clement regarding the freehold of the pub and have not had any conversations with any other potential bidders regarding the site."

Clement Ogbonnaya said people need spaces like the Queen of the South [BBC]

The Queen of the South is also used as a community space by organisations including Age UK and UK Youth, a charity which supports young people.

"The pub we poured heart, time, and money into, is now under threat," Mr Ogbonnaya said in a public appeal on Instagram.

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"I believe in what this place represents. And I'm not backing down. You survive alone or you thrive together. We choose to thrive."

He called for potential investors to come forward to "save our queen".

Mr Ogbonnaya told BBC London he stood "to lose everything I've invested in".

He added: "I wanted to create a Soho House for the ends. We like to say we represent the other.

"It would be a massive shame for this pub to become a Lidl or something else. We're finally finding our feet. The Queen of the South needs to exist."

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Mr Ogbonnaya says he has been "humbled" by the community's response to the threat of closure.

'Continue to thrive'

A Young's spokesperson said: "We recognise the significance of the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill as an important part of the local community and have been engaging with Clement Ogbonnaya to reach an agreement that will ensure its continued operation under the current management.

"At Young's, ensuring pubs remain vibrant parts of their local communities is an important part of our ethos.

"Following our acquisition of City Pub Group in 2024, it was always our intention that this pub remain independent to best serve its community, and we sincerely hope that a solution can be reached that will enable the pub to continue to thrive."

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
The Brief

The Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the countrys largest maximum security prison, could soon house immigrant detainees for the Trump administration.

Plans call for Angola to reopen an unused wing of the prison and house about 450 immigrants, reports say.

If the plan moves forward, it would save the state the cost of building a new facility similar to Floridas "Alligator Alcatraz," which can house up to 3,000 inmates in the Florida Everglades.

The Trump administration is reportedly in talks with Louisiana officials to send immigrant detainees to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the countrys largest maximum security prison.

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According to Nola.com , the immigrants would be housed in an unused wing that was closed in 2018 because of safety concerns, placing detained immigrants  many of whom have no criminal record  in close quarters with Louisianas most violent criminals.

If the plan moves forward, it would save the state the cost of building a new facility similar to Floridas "Alligator Alcatraz," which can house up to 3,000 inmates in the Florida Everglades. Detainees being held at the Florida facility report worms in the food, toilets that dont flush, flooding floors with fecal waste, and a mosquito infestation.

The entrance of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. (Photo by Giles Clarke/Getty Images)

Amid his crackdown on immigration, Trump and his allies have touted the Florida facilitys harshness and remoteness as fit for the "worst of the worst" and as a national model for how to get immigrants to "self-deport."

RELATED: Alligator Alcatraz: Future construction stopped for 14 days at Florida ICE facility over environmental issues

Inside Angolas Camp J

The backstory

According to The Wall Street Journal , the Louisiana prison is the largest maximum security facility in the U.S. It spans 18,000 acres and offers tours to the public, as well as an annual rodeo in which inmates compete. Angola houses the states most violent criminals. According to the U.S. Justice Department, more than 60% of Angola inmates are serving life sentences and more than 20% are serving sentences of more than 20 years.

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RELATED: DOJ releases new list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' as part of immigration crackdown

The Advocate reports that immigrant detainees would be housed in Camp J. Camp J was once one of the most restrictive segments of Angola. It had more than 400 individual cells for solitary confinement and was closed in 2018 because of safety concerns

Dig deeper

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry recently issued an executive order that will allow Angola to quickly make repairs and reopen Camp J. Landry said the wing is needed because of prison overcrowding. His executive order will allow the state to circumvent public bidding laws.

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Federal and state officials declined to comment on the plan to house immigrants at Angola.

What's next

The Trump administration reportedly is planning for 450 immigrant beds at Angola. Plans could be announced as soon as next month, according to WSJ.

The Source

This report includes information from The Associated Press, Nola.com, The Advocate and The Wall Street Journal.
(NewsNation)  The Florida woman who allegedly treated thousands of patients for nearly two years while posing as a licensed nurse was able to sustain the ruse through a series of fraudulent maneuvers, the sheriff whose office arrested her says.

Autumn Marie Bardisa, 29, of Palm Coast, was arrested Tuesday and hit with charges that include practicing health care without a license and fraudulent use of personal identification information. She provided medical services to nearly 4,500 people from June 2024 until January 2025, the Flagler County Sheriffs Office said.

Sheriff Rick Staly appeared on Fridays Banfield to explain how Bardisa could have pulled off such an alleged con.

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Alligator Alcatraz construction ordered halted by judge

He said she graduated from college with a nursing degree but failed her state licensing exam. A hospital hired her as an advanced nurse tech under the supervision of a registered license nurse, he said, with the understanding she would pass the licensing exam. Bardisa, however, did not show up on the exam date, the sheriff said.

Nurse imposter lied about marriage to explain different name: Sheriff

When hospital officials asked her for her license number, Staly said Bardisa gave them one for a woman with a different last name, explaining shed gotten married.

What she had done is assumed the name and identity of another nurse that is, in fact, registered in Florida and licensed, who had the same first name but a different last name, Staly said.

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The hospital ended up firing Bardisa after she failed to provide a marriage certificate proving her name change, he said. The institution later notified the sheriffs office, which began investigating.

Bardisa took the state licensing exam and passed, he said, and was working for a home health care agency at the time of her arrest.

She was being held on $70,000 bond at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, his office said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
A Connecticut man already serving time behind bars now faces life in prison after fentanyl, cocaine and a stolen gun were found in a car he used to flee police, officials said.

Christopher Purvis, 29, pleaded guilty Friday in Bridgeport federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Court records show that, on May 7, 2022, New Britain Police Department officers attempted to stop a car in which Purvis was an occupant. As officers approached the car, Purvis allegedly accelerated at a high rate of speed. Officers said the car crashed a short time later and Purvis and others ran from the scene.

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While conducting a search of the car, officers alleged that they found quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun that was allegedly reported stolen, according to court records. Police said that an analysis of the firearm and drug packaging revealed the presence of Purvis DNA.

Purvis faces a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of life when sentenced on Oct. 31, according to officials.

Purvis is currently serving a six-year federal sentence for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in northern Vermont in 2022.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administrations Hartford Task Force and the New Britain Police Department.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.
India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during fighting in May, Indias air force chief says, the first such statement from the country since the deadly conflict with its neighbour.

Air Chief Marshal Staff Amar Preet Singh made the announcement on Saturday, weeks after Indias military acknowledged that an unspecified number of its own jets were also shot down by Pakistan during their heaviest fighting in decades. It involved fighter planes and cruise missiles and killed dozens of people.

We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft, Singh said at a military lecture in the southern city of Bengaluru, adding that the large aircraft, which could have been a surveillance plane, was shot down at a distance of 300km (186 miles).

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He added that Indias S-400 air defence systems took down most of the Pakistani aircraft.

This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about. Our air defence systems have done a wonderful job, he was quoted as saying by several Indian media outlets.

Pakistan rejected the statement, accusing India of dishonesty and saying it had not hit or destroyed a single Pakistani aircraft.

If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verification  though we suspect this would lay bare the reality India seeks to obscure, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said in a social media post.

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Such comical narratives, crafted for domestic political expediency, increase the grave risks of strategic miscalculation in a nuclearised environment.





Singh, the Indian air force chief, did not mention the type of fighter jets that were downed but said air strikes also hit an additional surveillance plane and a few F-16 fighters that were parked in hangars at two airbases in southeastern Pakistan.

Half of the F-16 hangar at the Shahbaz Jacobabad airbase in Sindh province was destroyed, he said.

Pakistan, whose air force primarily operates Chinese-made jets and US F-16s, has previously denied that India downed any Pakistani aircraft during the May 7-10 fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

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The conflict between the two neighbours was triggered after armed men killed 26 tourists in India-administered Kashmirs Pahalgam town on April 22.

During their fighting, Pakistan said it downed six Indian military jets, including at least three Rafale fighters  a claim one Indian military official described as absolutely incorrect.

Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but administer only parts of the Muslim-majority Himalayan territory, which has been a continuing source of tension between them.

Armed groups in the India-administered portion of Kashmir have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989.

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India accuses Pakistan of backing some armed groups, but the latter says it provides only diplomatic support to the Kashmiris struggle for self-determination.

Since India and Pakistan declared a ceasefire in May, intermittent fighting has continued in the area between Indian troops and fighters.

On Saturday, Indian officials said two Indian soldiers and a suspected fighter were reported killed late on Friday in the India-administered Kashmir district of Kulgam.

According to Indian military officials, two soldiers were also injured.
Indictment ties Sheriff Tompkins to unnamed cannabis company, documents point to Ascend Wellness

A federal indictment alleges that Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins extorted a cannabis company to give him a sweetheart stock deal.

The indictment refers to the cannabis company only as Company A and states it was first licensed to operate in Boston around March 2021.

25 Investigates found details within the indictment and public records strongly suggest the company was Ascend-Mass LLC, a prominent player in the Massachusetts marijuana industry.

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The indictment claims Tompkins used his position to pressure the company, which opened Bostons first recreational marijuana shop, into granting him preferred stock and then Tompkins allegedly asked for money back after the stock went public and later dropped in value.

The stock performance details mentioned in the indictment include a one-time value of $9.60 a share matches the public stock performance of Ascend-Mass LLCs parent company, Ascend Wellness Holdings.

The cannabis company had an agreement with Tompkins Sheriffs office to hire former Suffolk County inmates with past drug convictions as a part of its Plan for Positive Impact on Areas of Disproportionate Impact, as required by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).

The indictment alleges the company feared Tompkins, would use his official position as Sheriff to jeopardize Company As partnership with the employment program if Tompkins demands were ignored.

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CCC documents reveal that Andrea Cabral, who proceeded Tompkins as Suffolk County Sheriff, was the CEO of Ascend Mass, LLC when the company sought its Boston dispensary license. Cabral has also served as the Secretary of Public Safety for Massachusetts.

The indictment doesnt mention Cabral or any other then-executives at Ascend.

In 2021, Tompkins was recorded in an interview with Cabral discussing the cannabis industry. During this conversation, Tompkins talked about the legality of marijuana, saying, Its legal in many states, but not federally if I understand correctly. Cabral, who at the time was Ascends CEO, responded, Im sure that it never should have been illegal federally, but thats a whole different story about wealth and power and how its exercised.

25 Investigates attempted to reach Ascend Wellness Holdings, one of its local board members, and Andrea Cabral for comment, but none responded to calls or emails.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  On this weeks Inside KELOLAND we are taking a closer look at the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Meet some bikers making the cross-country trip to western South Dakota, see the impact the rally is having across the state and well take you to one of the many celebrations during this years event.

Later, we will head to a South Dakota reservation where people are coming together to make their community more safe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
After a lengthy investigation, Palm Beach Countys government watchdog didnt find evidence that a former human resources director in Boynton Beach inappropriately used work resources to back her unsuccessful run for public office, even though it found some lesser violations.

The findings, released this week by the countys Office of Inspector General, were the latest step toward addressing a string of accusations against various Boynton Beach government officials, including Tennille DeCoste, the former HR director, in recent years.

The investigation did, however, find evidence that DeCoste had, on one occasion, attended an event during work hours that could be reasonably construed as relevant to her Delray Beach City Commission campaign and had solicited a campaign donation from a Boynton Beach co-worker during a work day on city property, it said. These were among other allegations of DeCoste having attended events and soliciting donations, the rest of which were deemed unfounded. In her response to these two findings, DeCoste disagreed with both.

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DeCoste began working as Boynton Beachs director of human resources and risk management on Dec. 19, 2022. About one year later, she was placed on administrative leave, as the city had hired the law firm GrayRobinson to determine whether DeCoste violated any city policy or terms and conditions of her employment with the city.

According to the GrayRobinson investigation, the investigation largely involved whether Ms. DeCoste misused city resources and her position at the city for political and personal gain.

DeCoste had declared her candidacy for Delray Beach City Commission Seat 1 in August 2023. Before the GrayRobinson investigation, DeCoste asked the city to look into alleged comments made by Boynton Beach city staff about how DeCoste was hiring too many Black women, according to the pending lawsuit in which DeCoste is suing the city over accusations of race discrimination and retaliation.

City officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the ongoing litigation. In a document filed in the federal Southern District of Florida on Aug. 1, a lawyer representing the city argued that DeCoste hadnt provided any evidence to establish that her race led to the decision to place her on paid administrative leave or terminate her.

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Plaintiffs complaints of discrimination and retaliation were an attempt to save her employment with the City  not the result of her reasonable, good faith belief that she was a victim of race discrimination.

In a court document Friday, DeCostes lawyer asked for more time to properly prepare a response to the citys recent filing.

On Dec. 7, 2023, DeCoste filed a formal complaint of race discrimination with the citys then-Mayor Ty Penserga.

She was put on administrative leave a few days later and then officially terminated on Feb. 23, 2024, according to the citys termination letter. That came after the GrayRobinson investigation concluded DeCoste had violated city policies, some of which were in relation to her political campaign.

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On March 19, 2024, DeCoste lost the Delray Beach City Commission race.

In the meantime, the Office of Inspector General was conducting two separate investigations: one into the allegations against DeCoste and the other about allegations against Boynton Beach city staff made by DeCoste.

None of the allegations brought against the city staff  which included a range of city policy violations  were supported, according to the inspector generals investigation.

Boynton Beach City Attorney Shawna Lamb wrote a response letter to the investigations findings regarding the city. The City of Boynton Beach appreciates the thorough investigation conducted by the OIG and concurs with the reports conclusions.  The City believes that the investigation demonstrates that its staff acted appropriately, Lamb wrote.

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Lamb also added: While the city is satisfied with the OIGs findings, it respectfully submits that the report would benefit from the additional context provided in this response, particularly regarding the sequence of events that led to Ms. DeCostes placement on administrative leave and the citys completion of its own investigation into Ms. DeCostes conduct.

But in response to the investigation about the allegations against DeCoste, attorney Robert Sniffen, who conducted the GrayRobinson investigation into DeCoste, stated that the inspector generals investigation contains significant factual omissions and legal misinterpretations and fails to apply appropriate standards of accountability, all of which undermine the validity of your conclusions regarding Ms. Tennille DeCostes conduct as HR director.

During a Boynton Beach City Commission meeting on Tuesday, commissioners addressed the inspector generals report, with Commissioner Thomas Turkin saying the allegations made against city staff were based on bogus anonymous complaints.

This not only cost our city countless of tax dollars, but took the toll on the families and reputations of some of our most dedicated city servants, Turkin said at the meeting.

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DeCoste told the South Florida Sun Sentinel she absolutely does not agree with the inspector generals findings that the city staff did not commit wrongdoing. She is, however, ecstatic that the inspector generals investigation into her shows she did not do all these terrible things that the city said she did. She said she does not agree with the two findings the OIG did find against her, though.

DeCoste said these events occurring during her run for office definitely impacted her campaign. She now works as the city of Riviera Beachs human resources director.

Im glad OIG came out with what they came out with. Im happy, and I know Im still working, so thank God, she said.

In its report about the allegations against DeCoste, the inspector general recommends Boynton Beach officials ensure proper training on all facility use policies and institute appropriate internal controls, along with training staff on flex time policy and ensuring appropriate supervision.
The intelligence community reacted to the death of William H. Webster, the first and only official to lead both the FBI and CIA, commending him for his public service.

Webster, according to a statement from his family, died Friday at the age of 101.

The proud and loving family of the Honorable William H. Webster sadly announces the death of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and patriot, the family wrote.

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Former FBI Director Chris Wray, in his first statement since leaving the bureau, called the late director a giant in the legacy of the community.

He was, in every sense, a giant  not only in the history of our nations security, but in the hearts of all who believe in public service grounded in integrity and principle, Wray said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

The FBI, in post on social platform X, said the nation would be forever grateful to Webster.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and former colleagues, the agency wrote. Judge Websters unwavering commitment to justice leaves a lasting legacy. We are forever grateful for his service to our nation.

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Webster, after spending time in the U.S. Navy and working as a federal judge, was tapped by former President Carter to lead the FBI, where he spent nine years shaping the bureau. Under former Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, he helmed the CIA.

Judge Webster had the respect and confidence of several Presidents from both parties, including my father and me, former President George W. Bush wrote in a post shared to X. His passion for the rule of law and for the greatness of America made him a model public servant  and earned him the unique distinction of being the only person to have directed both the CIA and FBI.

I am grateful for this good mans many contributions to our country, and I send my condolences to Lynda and his family, he added.

While at the CIA, Webster helped navigate the Iran-Contra controversy with patience and peace in mind, according to the AP.

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Whatever the outcome, I am convinced that the most important ingredient is professional respect and mutual trust. No laws can make these happen, Webster said of the scandal at the time.

His words have reverberated throughout the intelligence community decades later as the Trump administration faced push back over President Trumps nominations of Kash Patel to lead the FBI and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), who has since joined the GOP, as the director of national intelligence. Webster heavily lobbied against both candidates.

While Mr. Patels intelligence and patriotism are commendable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about impartiality and integrity, Webster wrote. Statements such as Hes my intel guy and his record of executing the presidents directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of lawa dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice.

He also criticized Gabbard for a profound lack of experience, which earned a harsh response from the president.

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Wray, who retired from the FBI after Trumps return to the Oval Office, said despite past tensions, Websters legacy would live on.

His legacy will endurenot only in the institutions he guided, but in the generations of public servants he inspired to carry the torch forward, the former director said.

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Aug. 9They looked at 44 trail, use of Land Bank property

A big part of the Lawrence County Commissioners' meeting on Tuesday was presentations by their summer interns Abigail Wilson and Brady Medinger, who spent their time on big projects that could help with tourism and agriculture in the county.

County Administrator Dylan Bentley said this was the third year that the office has had interns and they have pulled from the Lawrence County Civic Scholars program that the commissioners started three years ago.

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The interns were given two projects, studying the feasibility of putting in recreational trail at the strip mines and reviewing the properties that the county was given to by FEMA under the Stafford Act.

"Fantastic work that we are going to be able to build on what we would have had to do anyway, but we did not have the time to address in our office yet," Bentley said. Medinger, a 2024 Ironton High School graduate and currently a biological sciences major at Ohio University in Athens, was the first to speak about his internship project.

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He said his favorite event was attending a Party in The Park and seeing the community out and "getting a free Kona Ice."

His main project was a side by side recreational trail at the Crown City strip mine.

He said that it has the potential to become a major outdoor recreational site that brings in tourists, much like the Hatfield-McCoy trail systems in West Virginia and in Rush, Kentucky.

"A local rider, someone who lives within an hour of here, can spend up $700 in a weekend, mostly on gas food and supplies," Medinger said, adding a non-local rider can spend up to $1,400 dollars because they need lodging. "If it brings in just a few thousand riders, it could bring in millions of dollars into nearby towns and our county."

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Finley said that when he goes for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, he sees a lot of people with 4x4s who are headed to Rush.

Copley said he was helping at the hospital in Logan, West Virginia, which is near the Hatfield-McCoy trail systems, and saw that the hotel parking lot was full of side by side vehicles.

"That kind of opened up my eyes to see how big those trail systems could be, as far as tourism and travel," he said.

Holliday said she is envious when she sees how the Hatfield-McCoy trail systems are expanding.

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"They are talking about this new expansion that is going to happen and it is going to be kind of bougie. There are going to be resorts, spas and all types of things that are going to connect to this trail. That brings families," she said. "We are missing a great opportunity to have a Tri-State opportunity too, with Rush having theirs and West Virginia having the Hatfield-McCoy. We are excited to see what the future might lend us in this neck of the woods."

Wilson is a 2023 graduate of Symmes Valley High School and is majoring in psychology at Marshall University. This was her second year as an intern for the commissioners.

She said her favorite part of the internship was touring properties with Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, which educates farmers on how to grow organic food among other things, including utilizing properties to raise crops.

She selected county-owned properties that could be used for that and also researched the Stafford Act, under which FEMA gives property to local governments and she said there are a lot of permanent restrictions on the land's use.

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"I did reach out to the offices of Congressman David Taylor and Sen. Bernie Moreno, to see if they would consider writing legislation to allow us to remove the restrictions," she said.

She also researched if there were ways for other agencies, like the port authority, that could lease the properties and develop them, but she recommended that the prosecutor look to see if that was a viable option.

She also looked into urban farming with OEFFA to see if was viable to use Stafford Act or Land Bank properties for small scale farming. She said that Stafford Act properties have a restriction that revenue-generating activities are prohibited so the crops couldn't be sold. Land Bank properties have no similar restrictions.

She also talked about working with OEFFA and the Appalachian Regional Commission to establish a fellowship to work with farmers to using land bank properties and if a countywide residential permitting program was possible.

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In items on the agenda, the commissioners took the following actions:

Approved the following floodplain permit renewals submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District: VFW Post 6878- Filling and grading and campers in a floodplain projects located on Township Road 1222; Quinn Land Development Co. LLC-Filling and grading and residential structure projects located on Lot 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 33 Township Road 1540; and Maxine Moore-Camper in a floodplain project located at 156 Township Road 176.

Approved the donation of $15,000 to the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation to be used to support a Housing Study completed by the Montrose Group

Approved entering into new contract with Toole and Associates to perform plumbing and air gas services for the Lawrence County Building Department pending prosecutor approval.

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The commissioners meet on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Tuesdays.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A man was arrested after a violent encounter with store clerks inside a business on W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop on Wednesday.

Shreveport police were called to the Petro Travel Center at 6910 W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop on August 6, around 4:15 p.m., for a disorderly person at the business.

When officers arrived, witnesses alleged that the suspect Robert Macconnell, 57, had hit two female employees in the face. Officers also observed that the suspect was heavily intoxicated and behaving aggressively.

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He resisted violently as officers attempted to detain him and tried to engage them in a fight. Police eventually detained him, and he was arrested without further incident.

Macconnell was booked into Shreveport City Jail on two counts of simple battery, and single counts of theft, trespassing, resisting and officer with force or violence, simple battery of a police officer, simple escape, and disturbing the peace by public intoxication.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
SUSQUEHANNA, P.A. (WIVT/WBGH)  The investigation continues into the attack on two Pennsylvania state troopers in Susquehanna County that left a woman and the suspect dead while the troopers remain in the hospital.

The troopers were ambushed and shot while responding to a welfare check where shots were reportedly fired in the area of State Route 171 in Thompson Township shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday.

The officers have been identified as Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins.

They are both listed in stable condition at this time.

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Police say 61 year-old Carmine Faino shot and killed his neighbor 57 year-old Lori Wasko before troopers arrived and he began shooting at them. Faino was later shot and killed by police.

Another forst responder, EMS worker Jay Larsen, was also injured when he was shot at and crashed his vehicle while responding to the shooting.

Police say the 2 troopers are lucky to be alive.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP)  A 71-year-old man who shot and killed two neighbors then set his house on fire in a small Iowa city has died of burn injuries, authorities said.

Dennis Burnell had extensive burns when he exited his home on Wednesday evening, and died Friday at the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release.

Following a dispute, Burnell shot 38-year-old Brandon Oman and his wife, 35-year-old Stevie Oman, outside his home in Glenwood, investigators said. The Omans lived across the street from Burnell, according to the Mills County Assessor's online property records. The couple has a daughter, according to their obituaries.

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Witnesses told police that there was an explosion in Burnell's house before the fire, and the officers who responded to reports of the shooting found the home engulfed in flames.

Law enforcement had been called to Burnells house for disputes in the past, said Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen in the hours after the shooting.

Online court documents show Burnell was found guilty last August of third-degree harassment of one of his other neighbors and fined more than $100.
(Reuters) -Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israel's Mossad spy agency in recent months, the judiciary said on Saturday, warning that they will face no leniency and will be made an example of.

On Wednesday, Iran executed a nuclear scientist named Rouzbeh Vadi, who was convicted of spying for Israel and passing on information on another nuclear scientist killed in Israel's air strikes on Iran in June, state media reported.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangiri told reporters in Tehran on Saturday that charges against some of the 20 suspects arrested had been dropped and they were released. He did not give a number.

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"The judiciary will show no leniency toward spies and agents of the Zionist regime, and with firm rulings, will make an example of them all," Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

He said full details would be made public once investigations were complete.

Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months.

Israel carried out 12 days of air strikes on Iran in June, targeting Iran's top generals, nuclear scientists, nuclear installations, as well as residential neighbourhoods. Iran responded with barrages of missiles and drones on Israel.

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Rights group HRANA reported 1,190 Iranian deaths during the 12-day Israeli attacks, including 436 civilians and 435 security personnel.

Israel said 28 were killed in Iran's retaliatory attack.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
PM pledges full truth in Zara Qairina death probe, says would demand answers too if it were his family

KOTA BHARU, Aug 9  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today assured Malaysians that the investigation into the death of Form One Sabah student Zara Qairina Mahathir will be carried out transparently and without compromise.

He stressed that the case must not be taken lightly and urged the public to refrain from politicising it or spreading unfounded speculation.

We are not taking this lightly and my directive is clear  there will be no compromise, Anwar was quoted by Malay daily Berita Harian as saying at the Rancakkan Madani Kelantan programme at Universiti Sains Malaysias Health Campus here.

He acknowledged public chatter linking the 13-year-olds death to high-profile figures but dismissed the speculation, reiterating that no one will be shielded if found guilty.

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He said the case involves a loss of life and should be treated with seriousness regardless of a victims background, warning against making defamatory remarks.

This is a matter of death, whether the child of the poor or the rich, it is not a game. Even if it was my own family, I would want to know the cause, he was quoted as saying.

He said he has instructed the federal criminal investigation director Datuk M. Kumar to personally monitor the case to prevent any mishandling.

Anwar also said he had no concerns about the outcome of the post-mortem process, even if it revealed uncomfortable truths.

Yesterday, the Attorney Generals Chambers (AGC) ordered police to exhume Zara Qairinas body for a more thorough post-mortem. She had reportedly fallen from a hostel building before her burial.

The AGC said the move was part of several instructions issued to ensure a comprehensive investigation, allowing police to gather additional evidence after reviewing the initial probe report.

The case has drawn nationwide attention, with rallies held in multiple Sabah towns to demand justice for the teen, underscoring public outrage and calls for accountability.
Iran has said it will block a corridor planned in the Caucasus under a United States-brokered peace accord between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which has been hailed by other countries in the region as beneficial for achieving lasting peace.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Irans supreme leader, said on Saturday that Tehran would block the initiative with or without Russia, with which Iran has a strategic alliance alongside Armenia.

US President Donald Trump thinks the Caucasus is a piece of real estate he can lease for 99 years, Velayati told state-affiliated Tasnim News, referring to the transport corridor included in the peace deal.

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This passage will not become a gateway for Trumps mercenaries  it will become their graveyard, he added, describing the plan as political treachery aimed at undermining Armenias territorial integrity.

The terms of the accord, which was unveiled at a signing ceremony at the White House on Friday, include exclusive US development rights to a route through Armenia that would link Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani enclave that borders Bakus ally Turkiye.

The corridor, which would pass close to the border with Iran, would be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP, and operate under Armenian law.

Velayati argued that it would open the way for NATO to position itself like a viper between Iran and Russia.

Trump, centre, brokered the deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia [File: Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo]

Separately, Irans foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about the negative consequences of any foreign intervention in the vicinity of its borders.

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While it welcomed the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ministry said any project near Irans borders should be developed with respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and without foreign interference.

For its part, Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautiously welcomed the deal, saying on Saturday that Moscow supported efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the region, including the Washington meeting.

Similarly to Iran, however, it warned against outside intervention, arguing that lasting solutions should be developed by countries in the region.

The involvement of non-regional players should strengthen the peace agenda, not create new divisions, the ministry said, adding that it hoped to avoid the unfortunate experience of Western-led conflict resolution in the Middle East.

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Meanwhile, Turkiye on Saturday said it hoped the planned transit corridor would boost exports of energy and other resources through the South Caucasus.

A NATO member, Turkiye has strongly backed Azerbaijan in its conflicts with Armenia, but has pledged to restore ties with Yerevan after it signs a final peace deal with Baku.

The Turkish presidency said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the peace agreement with Ilham Aliyev, his counterpart from Azerbaijan, and offered Ankaras support in achieving lasting peace in the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also addressed the planned corridor during a visit to Egypt, saying it could link Europe with the depths of Asia via Turkiye and would be a very beneficial development.

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Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a series of wars since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan that had a mostly ethnic Armenian population at the time, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia.

Armenia last year agreed to return several villages to Azerbaijan in what Baku described as a long-awaited historic event.

Ahmad Shahidov, of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, told Al Jazeera that he expected a final peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan to be signed in the coming weeks.

Shahidov said Fridays US-brokered deal constituted a roadmap for the final agreement, which appears imminent given there are no unresolved territorial disputes between the two neighbours.




The scientists are reportedly no longer being permitted to teach or live in their family homes, and are being moved to the capital or northern coastal cities.

After scores of Irans nuclear masterminds were killed in the June war with Israel, Tehran has reportedly sent the surviving nuclear scientists into hiding, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing Iranian officials.

The scientists are reportedly no longer being permitted to teach or live in their family homes, instead being moved to the capital or northern coastal cities with their families, a senior Iranian official claimed.

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At least 15 of the surviving scientists out of a hundred named on a list by Israel are reportedly considering new career paths, fearing further strikes may target them.

Most of them are no longer living in their houses  they are either moved to safe houses in Tehran or to the north, the Iranian official said.

He added, according to the report, Those who were teaching at universities are replaced with people who have no connection with the nuclear program.

A noose is pictured as supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran gather to protest against the death penalty in their home country and for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be declared a ''terrorist organisation'', in Berlin, Germany, November 14, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/LISI NIESNER)

The rising anxieties also come as Tehran executed one of its own nuclear scientists this week. Roozbeh Vadi was hung on Wednesday, accused of facilitating the assassination of his colleagues.

The future of Iran's nuclear developments

Israeli intelligence and defense analyst, Ronen Solomon, told The Telegraph, The figures who remain have worked on adapting Shahab-3 missiles for nuclear warheads, and are critical to Irans ability to deploy nuclear weapons.

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While the eliminated scientists focused more on warhead design, the expertise in delivery systems makes those who remain equally strategic targets for Israel, as Israels June 2025 strikes also targeted ballistic missile infrastructure.

Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iranian strategic desk in Israeli Defense Intelligence, told the British paper, They saw what happened to their colleagues, and as we learned from 2010 when we eliminated the other scientists, its not changing their way of thinking in terms of their willingness to support the regime.

Those who are left will be at the forefront of any Iranian attempt to reach a nuclear bomb, hence they will automatically become targets for Israel, as Israel has shown in the past. I have no doubt about it. Any scientist who deals with the nuclear issue will be eliminated or will be threatened with elimination.
Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding after Israel killed more than 30 researchers, The Telegraph can reveal.

Most are no longer living in their homes or teaching at universities, and have been moved to secure locations in Tehran or northern coastal cities, where they live in villas with their families, a senior Iranian official said.

The Telegraph has been shown the names of more than 15 of these surviving scientists, on a list of about 100 held by Israel, whom the Israelis say must now decide whether to continue their work and risk further strikes or find a new career.

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Most of them are no longer living in their houses  they are either moved to safe houses in Tehran or to the north, the Iranian official said.

He added: Those who were teaching at universities are replaced with people who have no connection with the nuclear programme.

The move comes amid concern, fuelled by Israeli briefings, that further assassinations are in the offing and the execution, by Iran, of one of its own nuclear scientists this week.

Roozbeh Vadi had worked at one of the countrys most sensitive and important nuclear sites and was hanged on Wednesday over allegations he had facilitated the assassination of his colleagues during the 12-day war in June by passing information to Israel.

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Israeli experts say a new generation of Iranian nuclear scientists now stand poised to take over the work of those already killed and have described them as dead men walking, despite the increased security that includes safe houses and round-the-clock protection.

They say Iran structured its nuclear research programme with each key player having at least one deputy, working in pods of two to three to ensure redundancy in case of attack.

Israeli sources fear some of the surviving scientists have replaced their dead colleagues at Irans nuclear weaponisation programme at the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its Persian acronym, SPND. They are said to include scientists with expertise in explosives, neutron physics and warhead design.

Burnt-out home of Dr Fereydoun Abbasi in Tehran

Israeli intelligence and defence analyst, Ronen Solomon, told The Telegraph: The figures who remain have worked on adapting Shahab-3 missiles for nuclear warheads, and are critical to Irans ability to deploy nuclear weapons.

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While the eliminated scientists focused more on warhead design, the expertise in delivery systems makes those who remain equally strategic targets for Israel, as Israels June 2025 strikes also targeted ballistic missile infrastructure.

According to Israeli intelligence, the knowledge that drives Irans nuclear programme is deeply embedded in the countrys universities and academic systems, leading to strikes last month on Shahid Beheshti University and Imam Hossein University, both in Tehran and both associated with Irans military and nuclear programmes.

Iran has always denied running a nuclear weapons programme, claiming that its nuclear capabilities and expertise was for civilian use only.

Much like Israels own nuclear programme, which relied heavily on research conducted at sites including the Weizmann Institute of Science (itself targeted by Iran in June), Irans nuclear programme is broad-based on the academic side with much of the work having dual application.

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Danny Citrinowicz, the former head of the Iranian strategic desk in Israeli Defense Intelligence, a branch of the Israeli military, said the remaining Iranian experts faced a clear choice.

They saw what happened to their colleagues, and as we learned from 2010 when we eliminated the other scientists, its not changing their way of thinking in terms of their willingness to support the regime.

Satellite image of damage to the Isfahan nuclear facility after US air strike - Maxar Technologies/AFP via Getty Images

Those who are left will be at the forefront of any Iranian attempt to reach a nuclear bomb, hence they will automatically become targets for Israel as Israel has shown in the past. I have no doubt about it. Any scientist that deals with the nuclear issue will be eliminated or will be threatened with elimination.

Iran has raced to restructure its protection arrangements for scientists since the June war with Israel, in which the US attacked Irans nuclear facilities with bunker bombs and Tehran hit back with missile attacks on Israel.

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Previously, a single Revolutionary Guard unit handled their security, but multiple agencies now coordinate protection due to trust concerns, the Iranian official told The Telegraph.

They were all asked if they still trust their bodyguards  some said no and were provided with new ones, he said.

The killings in June prompted widespread calls in Iran for increased protection of surviving scientists and their families  and calls to reverse officially stated policy and pursue a nuclear bomb.

The brother of an Iranian scientist killed in Israeli strikes called for Iran to revise its nuclear doctrine to better protect its scientists.

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Seyed Alireza Sadighi Saber, speaking at a funeral for victims of Israels June attacks, said Iran should withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and reconsider its nuclear weapons taboo.

Aftermath of Iranian missile attack on Haifa in Israel - Rami Shiush/Reuters

If Iran had the will to build nuclear weapons, it would certainly have achieved it within two years, but because the peaceful path was chosen, the enemy began successive assassinations of scientists, commanders and elites to stop scientific progress, he said.

These individuals had no military activities and their scientific projects were completely under IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] supervision and within the framework of peaceful nuclear programmes, he said.

He called on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and others to urgently revise policies for protecting the countrys scientists and researchers, saying it was time to move beyond slogans of Death to America and Israel and make fundamental decisions.

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His brother, university faculty member Mohammad Reza Sadighi Saber, was killed along with his family in the Israeli strikes.

The victims included his daughter Fateme, 19, son Hamidreza, 17, and eight-year-old daughter Mohia.

Several prominent scientists and researchers, many specialising in nuclear physics and radiopharmaceuticals, were also killed in Israels June 13 attacks.

Amir Hossein Faghi emerged as one of Irans leading figures in radiopharmaceutical development.

Faghi led research into medical applications of nuclear energy and appeared on state television in 2022 discussing radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment.

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Colleagues compared his work to assassinated nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, killed in 2010.

The strikes targeted Irans academic and scientific infrastructure, degrading expertise built over decades in nuclear physics, radiopharmaceuticals, and related fields.

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BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraqs prime minister approved sweeping disciplinary and legal measures against senior commanders in a paramilitary force after clashes with police at a government facility that left three people dead last month, his office said Saturday.

Gunmen descended on the agricultural directorate in Baghdad's Karkh district on July 27 and clashed with federal police. The raid came after the former head of the directorate was ousted and a new one appointed.

A government-commissioned investigation found that the former director  who was implicated in corruption cases  had called in members of the Kataib Hezbollah militia to stage the attack, Sabah Al-Numan, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said in a statement Saturday.

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Al-Sudani, who also serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the attack.

Kataib Hezbollah is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite, Iran-backed militias that formed to fight the Islamic State extremist group as it rampaged across the country more than a decade ago.

The PMF was formally placed under the control of the Iraqi military in 2016, but in practice it still operates with significant autonomy. Some groups within the coalition have periodically launched drone attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Syria.

The Kataib Hezbollah fighters who staged the attack in Karkh were affiliated with the 45th and 46th Brigades of the PMF, the government statement said.

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Al-Sudani approved recommendations to remove the commanders of those two brigades, refer all those involved in the raid to the judiciary, and open an investigation into negligence in leadership and control duties in the PMF command, it said.

The report also cited structural failings within the PMF, noting the presence of formations that act outside the chain of command.

The relationship between the Iraqi state and the PMF has been a point of tension with the United States as Iraq attempts to balance its relations with Washington and Tehran.

The Iraqi parliament is discussing legislation that would solidify the relationship between the military and the PMF, drawing objections from Washington, which considers some of the armed groups in the coalition, including Kataib Hezbollah, to be terrorist organizations.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Al-Sudani defended the proposed legislation, saying its part of an effort to ensure that arms are controlled by the state. Security agencies must operate under laws and be subject to them and be held accountable, he said.
The Internal Revenue Service began sharing sensitive taxpayer data this week with immigration authorities searching for undocumented migrants, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

As part of President Donald Trumps massive deportation push, the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement in April to turn over information about undocumented immigrants who DHS says are already facing deportation orders and are under federal criminal investigation.

While the IRS has disclosed sensitive tax data previously for specific reasons allowable under privacy law, the agency has never shared such large volumes of data with any agency for the sole purpose of large-scale immigration enforcement.

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The records include personal information like names, addresses and tax data of immigrants, which will enable DHS to confirm the home addresses and location for individuals it says are facing final orders of removal or who are the subjects of federal criminal investigations.

The data sharing started this week after a push from the Trump administration to get it underway, one of the sources said.

It comes after months of tension within IRS over the plans and internal concerns from career officials about the legality of the collaboration. The chaos led to the resignation or impending departure of several senior IRS officials earlier this year, CNN previously reported.

The start of the data sharing also comes as Trump is ousting Billy Long from his role as IRS commissioner, CNN reported earlier Friday.

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One of the sources told CNN that Immigration and Customs Enforcement asked for personal information for 1.23 million people it suspects are in the country illegally but only a small fraction, less than 5%, was shared because the data ICE sent IRS did not have exact matching data to confirm the individuals they were looking for.

Less than 5% isnt what they were hoping for, the source said.

The White House was not happy with the number of records shared and called about the lack of data first thing Friday morning, the second source added.

In response to CNNs reporting, a White House spokeswoman said,  The Trump Administration is working together to implement President Trumps executive order to stop waste, fraud, and abuse by eliminating information silos and to prevent illegal aliens from taking advantage of benefits meant for hardworking American taxpayers. Any absurd assertion other than everyone being aligned on the mission is simply false and total fake news.

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CNN has reached out to DHS and Treasury for comment.

CNN previously reported in April, DHS officials told the IRS they need access to its data to help them locate up to 7 million suspected undocumented immigrants  an eye-popping figure that shocked IRS employees.

The IRS has addresses for undocumented immigrants because many register with the agency and pay billions of dollars in taxes each year  in exchange for their data staying confidential in most circumstances.

Tax information has generally been closely held within the IRS, but strict privacy laws outline some exceptions  for example, the data may be shared with law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution of non-tax criminal laws. However, its unclear if DHS has provided the IRS with evidence that all 7 million individuals they are hoping to locate using IRS data are under investigation or face prosecution for non-tax criminal laws.

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Undocumented immigrants are often urged to register with the IRS and pay their federal taxes because it makes them look like law-abiding residents and could aid their immigration case.

Lawyers who represent immigrant groups have argued that the IRS/DHS data sharing deal means the IRS has gone back on its duty to protect taxpayer information from improper disclosure and will open the door for federal law enforcement to gain access to confidential taxpayer information without obtaining a court order as required by law.

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The Internal Revenue Service and the White House squabbled over the use of tax data to find suspected undocumented immigrants just hours before Trump administration officials pushed out IRS Commissioner Billy Long on Friday, according to a new report Saturday.

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security sent a list to the IRS with more than 40,000 names that officials at the department believed were in the country illegally and asked that the IRS use confidential taxpayer information to confirm their addresses, anonymous sources told The Washington Post.

In April, the Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, agreed to an arrangement to facilitate the information sharing, going against the recommendations of IRS privacy lawyers.

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Officials at DHS have suggested that they may request that the IRS help them locate as many as seven million people. According to federal estimates, there are roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

The IRS said on Friday that it was able to verify fewer than three percent of the names sent in by immigration enforcement officials, according to The Post. The names that the agency was able to match were mostly those for which DHS shared an individual taxpayer identification number. Immigrants often use the number instead of a Social Security number to file their taxes.

Billy Long spent less than two months as IRS commissioner before being nominated to serve as the ambassador to Iceland (Getty Images)

Undocumented immigrants pay taxes to the tune of tens of billions of dollars annually.

White House officials asked for further information on the taxpayers identified by the IRS, such as whether any of them had made use of the earned income tax credit, which may reduce the tax burden for some filers with low incomes. However, the IRS chose not to provide that information, pointing to taxpayer privacy rights.

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The Post reported that Long had told executives at the agency that the IRS wouldnt provide confidential taxpayer information outside of the deal the IRS had struck with DHS.

The paper noted that its sources were unaware whether the dispute over the IRS playing a part in the mass deportation effort was part of the reason for Long leaving his post.

The Trump administration is working in lockstep to eliminate information silos and to prevent illegal aliens from taking advantage of benefits meant for hardworking American taxpayers, a White House spokesperson told the paper.

Any absurd assertion other than everyone being aligned on the mission is simply false and totally fake news, the spokesperson said following the publication of the story.

Long said he was excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland (Getty Images)

In a statement to The Post, DHS said the agreement with the IRS outlines a process to ensure that sensitive taxpayer information is protected, while allowing law enforcement to effectively pursue criminal violations.

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After four years of Joe Biden flooding the nation with illegal aliens, these processes streamline pursuit of violent criminals, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense, all while protecting American citizens safety and data, the statement continued.

On Friday, Long said Trump was set to nominate him to be the ambassador to Iceland. He had been in his role at the IRS for less than two months.

It is [an] honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead! Long said in a statement on X.

I saw where Former Superman actor Dean Cain says he's joining ICE so I got all fired up and thought I'd do the same, he added. So I called @realDonaldTrump last night and told him I wanted to join ICE and I guess he thought I said Iceland? Oh well.

On Saturday, a White House official told The Post, Billy Long did a great job while at the IRS, and his promotion to ambassador was previously slated to happen.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  International condemnation grew Saturday over Israel's decision for a military takeover of Gaza City, while tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in what local media called one of the largest anti-government protests in recent months following 22 months of war.

Ceasefire efforts appeared to be reviving with Israels announcement. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet with Qatars prime minister in Spain on Saturday to discuss a new proposal to end the war, according to two officials familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak with the media.

Mediators Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages  dead and alive  in one go in return for the wars end and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, two Arab officials have told The Associated Press.

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Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead Saturday and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave.

Shut the country down

Hostages' families pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government amid new fears for the 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive and struggling.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza, called on Israelis including the powerful Histadrut labor union to help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel and appeared to call for a general strike: Shut the country down.

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A joint statement by nine countries including Germany, Britain, France and Canada said that they strongly reject Israel's decision for the large-scale military operation, saying it will worsen the catastrophic humanitarian situation," endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement. They said any attempts at annexation or settlement in Gaza violate international law.

A separate statement by more than 20 countries including ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates called Israel's decision a dangerous and unacceptable escalation. Meanwhile, Russia said Israel's plan will aggravate the already extremely dramatic situation in Gaza.

The U.N. Security Council planned an emergency meeting Sunday.

Killed while seeking aid

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Officials at Nasser and Awda hospitals said that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people seeking aid in southern and central Gaza. Some had been waiting for aid trucks, while others had approached aid distribution points.

Israels military denied opening fire and said that it was unaware of the incidents. The military secures routes leading to distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed and U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two witnesses told the AP that Israeli troops fired toward crowds approaching a GHF distribution site on foot in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone that bisects Gaza. One witness, Ramadan Gaber, said that snipers and tanks fired on aid-seekers, forcing them to retreat.

In the north, Israeli fire killed at least nine and wounded over 200 as people sought aid entering Gaza through the Zikim crossing, said Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministrys ambulance and emergency service in the area. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

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In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, some aid-seekers cheered the latest airdrops of aid. Hundreds of people rushed to grab what they could. Aid organizations have called airdrops expensive, insufficient and potentially dangerous for people on the ground.

Israel's military said that at least 106 packages of aid were airdropped Saturday as Italy and Greece joined the effort for the first time. Footage from Italy's defense ministry showed packages parachuted over Gaza's dry and devastated landscape.

Barefoot children collected rice, pasta and lentils that spilled from packages onto the ground.

This way is not for humans, it is for animals, said one man, Mahmoud Hawila, who said he was stabbed while trying to secure an airdropped package.

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Israel alleges, without giving evidence, that Hamas systematically diverts aid from the existing U.N.-led system, which denies it. That system has called for more of the trucks waiting outside Gaza to be allowed not just into the territory, but safely to destinations inside it for distribution.

With temperatures reaching above 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) in Gaza, families fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard or metal trays and slept on the ground outside their tents, while some women collected water well before dawn.

My children cry day and night. My son scratches his body because of the heat, said Nida Abu Hamad, whose displaced family shelters in Gaza City.

More deaths from hunger

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Gaza's Health Ministry said the new adult deaths from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours brought the total to 114 since it began counting such deaths in June. It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

Israel is forcing Palestinians into a state of near-starvation to the point that they abandon their land voluntarily," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference in Egypt.

The toll from hunger isn't included in the ministry's death toll of 61,300 Palestinians in the war. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, doesn't distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.

Israel disputes the ministry's figures, but hasn't provided its own.

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___

Metz reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Matthew Lee in Washington, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
A 15-year-old Palestinian boy has been crushed to death by a falling pallet during an airdrop of humanitarian aid in Gaza, as global condemnation grows of Israels plan to take over the largest city in the war-torn enclave, where nearly a million people are sheltering.

Footage from Gaza, verified by Al Jazeera, shows several people gathering around the body of Muhannad Zakaria Eid on Saturday, near the so-called Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, following the airdrop.

Some people try to resuscitate the boy, whose face appears bloodied.

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Other footage shows the boys brother carrying him away from the site and his father clutching his body at al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat.

Eids brother told the Reuters news agency that the Palestinian boy was killed after an aid pallet fell on top of him.

Despite the famine and the hard conditions that we live in, my brother went to get aid that was dropped into the sea by [aero]planes. A box fell on him directly and he was martyred, he said.

They [the countries involved in the airdrops] cannot enter the aid through the crossing but they drop them over us and kill our children. A kid was killed in [az-]Zawayda and here and there, and nobody feels us. God is sufficient for us, against them and their aid, he added.

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The latest death comes after the United Nations repeatedly warned that the airdrops are dangerous, inefficient and costly, and it called on Israel to allow a steady supply of humanitarian assistance into Gaza via land crossings instead.

The Gaza Government Media Office said at least 23 Palestinians have been killed and another 124 wounded in airdrops of aid since Israels war on the enclave began in October 2023.

We have repeatedly warned of the danger of these inhumane methods and have repeatedly called for the entry of aid through land crossings in a safe and sufficient manner, especially food, infant milk, medicines, and medical supplies, the office said in a statement.

A person carries the body of Palestinian boy Muhannad Eid, who died after being struck by a box of airdropped aid, in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, August 9, 2025 [Stringer/ Reuters]

Medical sources in Gaza, meanwhile, said that Israeli forces killed at least 47 people in attacks across the Strip on Saturday, including dozens who were waiting for aid.

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On Sunday, the Ministry of Health said that at least five more Palestinians had starved to death in the previous 24-hour reporting period, including two children.

The latest toll brings the total number of deaths from malnutrition to 217, including 100 children, since the war began.

Most of those deaths have occurred in recent weeks, as Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on aid supplies entering Gaza after partially lifting a total blockade in late May.

Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told Al Jazeera that famine continues to pose a serious risk, especially among children and the elderly.

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Malnutrition among children leads to decreased immunity and may lead to death, he said.

Severe restrictions persist

On Friday, the World Food Programme (WFP) called on Israel to allow at least 100 aid trucks per day into Gaza, noting that only 60 of its aid truck drivers have been vetted and approved by the Israeli military to date.

The 100 trucks per day the organisation called for is a fraction of the 600 per day other UN agencies and Gaza authorities have said are needed to meet the basic needs of residents in the Strip.

Since July 27, 266 WFP trucks arriving at crossing points were turned back, 31 percent of which had initially been approved, the agencys latest report said.

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Convoy movements are frequently hampered by last-minute changes by Israeli authorities, and heavy insecurity due to military activities along convoy routes.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, also noted on Saturday that it has not been allowed to bring any humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food and medicine, for more than five months, depriving hungry and ailing Palestinians of what they need to survive.

The warnings came as Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks across the territory. Six people were killed by Israeli soldiers while waiting for aid near the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Two other Palestinians were also killed, and their bodies were transported to the Nasser Medical Complex from a GHF aid distribution site in the southern part of the territory. One woman was killed and another person was wounded in an Israeli air strike that hit an apartment in Khan Younis in the south.

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Israels war on Gaza has killed at least 61,369 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 152,850. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.





No one and nowhere is safe

As the death toll continues to soar, international condemnation of Israels conduct in the war is growing.

Several countries have raised alarm over Israels plans to seize Gaza City in an operation that could forcibly displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to concentration zones in southern Gaza.

A rare emergency UN Security Council meeting has been scheduled on Sunday to address the plan approved by Israels Security Cabinet this week.

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In Gaza City, residents were defiant, promising not to leave in the event of a new Israeli ground offensive.

Umm Imran told Al Jazeera that there was nowhere safe in Gaza. They say go south, go to al-Mawasi, but there is nowhere safe any more  north, south, east or west. No one and nowhere is safe. We will stay here.

Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, said residents were unable to sleep on Friday night after Israels announcement.

People are wondering whats going to happen to them, whats going to be left of Gaza if Israel moves on with its approved plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City, he said.

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The Israeli plan has also been condemned by the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the diplomats warned that Israels plan will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.

Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan also urged Muslim nations to work in unison to oppose Israels plan.

Speaking at a joint news conference in El Alamein with his Egyptian counterpart after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Fidan said members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had been called to an emergency meeting to tackle the crisis.

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We completely reject [Israels] intention to fully occupy Gaza. This plan is a new phase of Israels expansionist and genocidal policy, he said.

Fidan added that Israels policy aimed to force Palestinians out of their lands through hunger, and that it aimed to permanently invade Gaza, adding that there was no justifiable excuse for nations to continue to support Israel.

Palestine belongs to the Palestinians. Any effort aimed at expelling Palestinians from their own lands is null and void and is doomed to fail, he said.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevadas largest wildfire has grown to 82,195 acres in Elko County after joining with another fire on Thursday, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The Jakes Fire merged with the smaller MP 22 fire, the second fire that it has combined with since a group of fires near the town of Midas were ignited by lightning strikes on Aug. 1. Earlier, the Jakes Fire swallowed the Snowstorm Fire as it moved to the north.

More than 550 people are currently assigned to the firefighting effort, which has achieved 35% containment of the Jakes Fire.

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Jakes Fire becomes Nevadas biggest fire so far in 2025

The fire is burning grass and brush on BLM land. Elevated fire conditions were expected to persist on Friday as wind gusts of up to 30 mph pushed the fire on uphill runs.

Air tankers were making drops to prevent the fire from crossing breaks, and firefighting resources were concentrated along the southwest flank. About eight helicopters, 16 dozers and 65 engines were assigned to the fire.

To the east, the Adobe Mtn Fire is now 55% contained at 10,668 acres north of Elko. Almost 200 people remain assigned to that fire. The BLM said fire activity is minimal and the fire is expected to remain within its footprint.

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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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CHICAGO - Apollo 13 commander James Lovell, who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly engineering, has died. He was 97 years old.

The Brief

Apollo 13 commander James Lovell has died at age 97.

Lovell was one of NASAs most experienced astronauts, flying four missions: Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and the ill-fated Apollo 13.

Lovell died Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois, NASA confirmed in a statement on Friday.

Astronaut James Lovell dies

What they're saying

"Jims character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount," NASA said. "We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements."

Jim Lovell commanded Apollo 13, the only Apollo mission scheduled to land on the Moon which did not. Lovell and his fellow astronauts, and the ground crew, overcame incredible odds in bringing the damaged spacecraft of Apollo 13 home to Earth.

James Lovells legacy

Dig deeper

One of NASA's most traveled astronauts in the agency's first decade, Lovell flew four times  Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13  with the two Apollo flights riveting the folks back on Earth.

Three of the crew members of Apollo 13 (left to right), Fred Haise, Jim Lovell, and Ken Mattingly. Because of a cold, Mattingly could not go on the mission, which narrowly avoided tragedy when its spacecraft malfunctioned. and had to return to Earth without landing on the Moon, with no margin for error.

In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders was the first to leave Earth's orbit and the first to fly to and circle the moon. They could not land, but they put the U.S. ahead of the Soviets in the space race.

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During the harrowing Apollo 13 flight in April 1970, Lovell was supposed to be the fifth man to walk on the moon. But Apollo 13's service module, carrying Lovell and two others, experienced a sudden oxygen tank explosion on its way to the moon. The astronauts barely survived, spending four cold and clammy days in the cramped lunar module as a lifeboat.

''The thing that I want most people to remember is (that) in some sense it was very much of a success,'' Lovell said during a 1994 interview. ''Not that we accomplished anything, but a success in that we demonstrated the capability of (NASA) personnel.''

The popular 1995 movie "Apollo 13" brought Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert renewed fame  thanks in part to Lovell's movie persona reporting "Houston, we have a problem."

Until the Skylab flights of the mid-1970s, he held the world record for the longest time in space with 715 hours, 4 minutes and 57 seconds.

What they're saying

The loss of the opportunity to walk on the moon "is my one regret," Lovell said in a 1995 interview with The Associated Press for a story on the 25th anniversary of the mission.

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President Bill Clinton agreed when he awarded Lovell the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 1995. "While you may have lost the moon ... you gained something that is far more important perhaps: the abiding respect and gratitude of the American people," he said.

Lovell and his family ran a now-closed restaurant in suburban Chicago, Lovell's of Lake Forest. His wife, Marilynn, died in 2023. Survivors include four children.

The Source

This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.
The Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday commemorated the victims of the atomic bombing 80 years ago, as global concerns over the threat of nuclear conflict continue to grow.

At a ceremony marking the anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Mayor Shiro Suzuki warned of the growing danger of nuclear war.

"This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth," Suzuki said in a peace declaration delivered at the annual memorial ceremony.

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The mayor called on the world to learn from history and ensure that Nagasaki remains the last city to suffer a nuclear attack.

A moment of silence was observed at the ceremony at 11:02 am (0202 GMT) to mark the time on August 9, 1945, when the "Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped by the United States detonated over Nagasaki.

In Nagasaki alone, about 70,000 people were killed by the direct impact, while 75,000 others were injured.

Three days earlier, in the closing days of World War II, the US had devastated Hiroshima with another atomic bomb, marking the first use of nuclear weapons against human beings.

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Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki became symbols of the horrors of war.

Suzuki said the world is today plagued by a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation, which must be overcome.

He emphasized that civil society has great power, pointing to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

The grassroots movement is made up of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

Nagasaki's mayor once again called on the Japanese government to join a 2017 UN treaty banning nuclear weapons, echoing a demand made by his counterpart in Hiroshima at a memorial ceremony three days earlier.

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commemorated the victims of the Nagasaki bombing in a post on X.

"80 years since Nagasaki was devastated by an atomic bomb, we remember the tens of thousands who perished in an instant," he wrote.

"Let's work together urgently for a world free of nuclear weapons," the UN head added.
HAWKINS, Texas (KETK)  Jarvis Christian University is preparing for students to return to campus next week by hosting their Welcome Back Weekend, making sure they are fully enrolled and ready for day one.

Honoring Black History: Jarvis Christian University continues to educate young minds for more than 100 years

Jarvis Christian University was founded in 1912 and currently has about 600 students.

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This is an exciting time for us to begin as we start our new semester for the year, Jarvis University vice president for enrollment Dr. Darrin Q. Rankin said. This is our peak enrollment period at the beginning of the semester where all of the new freshmen come in and all of the returning students return.

Throughout the weekend, students can enroll for classes, get their financial aid questions answered and get their dorm key all in one place.

Heres the wonderful news, its not too late to enroll. We are going to be enrolling students for the next couple of weeks, Rankin said.

In 2022, the university was officially recognized as a Fulbright HBCU and administrators said this has allowed them to advance their academic programs with new majors and graduate programs.

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Jarvis Christian University recognized as HBCU Institutional Leader

Whats unique about the masters program is you can get an MBA in ten months with class faculty, JCU Provost Dr. Regina Stovall Robinson said. So it is exciting and it is growing by leaps and bounds.

For the first week of school, they will then be introducing their Welcome Week, which will give students the opportunity to learn about Greek Life, social clubs and campus wide worship services. The official move-in day for returning students is Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m. ahead of classes beginning on Monday.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) laughed when asked to address a scathing New York Post report that characterized her as a nightmare for her staff.

Trump critic Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a no-show boss from hell who terrorizes staffers, aides say: All diva, no wow, read a Thursday headline from the conservative tabloid.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) laughed when asked about allegations that she was a "boss from hell." AP Photo/Paul Sancya

The story cited three anonymous sources who said they had worked for or with Crockett. Those sources alleged that Crockett, whose quips and clapbacks have made her a rising Democratic star, is verbally abusive to staffers, creates a toxic environment for workers and is more focused on being an influencer than getting things done for her constituents.

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Crockett addressed the accusations on CBS News The Takeout the same day.

Are you a no-show boss from hell who terrorizes staffers? host Major Garrett asked, prompting Crockett to laugh.

Oh my goodness, she replied. I know that I have arrived, honey. That is the way that I see this. Because as Beyonce says, if theyre not talking about you, then obviously you must not be doing anything.

She went on to call the report slander, nonsense, and lies, adding that she doubted the Post would be the first ones to be able to figure out if I was a boss from hell.

Crockett, 44, said she faces a lot scrutiny as a young, Black woman.

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Theres a lot of scrutiny that comes my way, and it comes my way from all different angles, but when people start talking about you, thats when you know that you are obviously getting under their skin, she said. So I am not going to give up.

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The attorney representing Ghislaine Maxwell told Fox News Digital that he loves "representing the underdog" as he tries to secure Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice's freedom.

Maxwell was recently transferred from a federal prison facility in Tallahassee, Florida, to a Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, her attorney previously told Fox News Digital. Neither Maxwell's attorney nor the Bureau of Prisons gave a reason for the move.

Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, told Fox News Digital during a phone interview on Friday that "people shouldn't be so quick to to judge and throw stones" as federal officials face criticism over his client's move to a minimum-security prison camp.

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"I wish I could respond to all of the critics on the merits. We're just not commenting right now on the case for obvious reasons," Markus said during the interview. "But when I can, I'll have a lot to say about it."

Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Transfer Called 'Highly Unusual' By Former Federal Prison Official

Ghislaine Maxwell jogs around the track at FCI Tallahassee, Tallahassee, Florida, Thursday, July 10, 2025. Maxwell is serving a twenty-year sentence for sex trafficking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in Epstein's sex crimes.

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A senior administration official previously told Fox News that "Any false assertion this individual was given preferential treatment is absurd. Prisoners are routinely moved in some instances due to significant safety and danger concerns."

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"I love what I do," Markus said. "I love representing the underdog. You know, being a criminal defense lawyer isn't for everybody, but it is one of the most rewarding and great jobs there is, and I really enjoy what I do. So, you know, this case, as all my cases, is an honor to be able to help somebody."

Justice Department Weighs Release Of Ghislaine Maxwell Interview

General view of Federal Prison Camp Bryan, Monday, August 4, 2025 in Bryan, Texas. Ghislaine Maxwell was transferred here last week from her FCI Tallahassee.

Among Markus's previous clients is former Tallahassee, Florida Mayor Andrew Gillum, who came within 34,000 votes of beating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial election. Gillum faced federal corruption charges, as prosecutors alleged he pocketed campaign cash and took illegal gifts.

Federal prosecutors dismissed the corruption charges after being acquitted on one count, with the jury hung on the remaining charges.

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Criminal defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh, who's a friend of Markus, says Maxwell's attorney is "the total package."

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were both indicted on federal sex trafficking charges stemming from Epstein's years of abuse of underage girls.

"He's extremely brilliant, dedicated, passionate, zealous, experienced, and extremely humble. He seems to understand what many high-profile lawyers don't, and that is his ego is not his amigo," Eiglarsh said. "He does not shy away from a challenge. And boy, does he have a challenge here. Getting the Supreme Court to take this case at all is going to be extremely challenging. But then to zealously argue and effectively get them to embrace this case and his point of view, he's probably one of the only of few attorneys who could ever pull that off."

Fox News Digital's Bryan Flood contributed to this report.





Original article source: Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney: 'I love representing the underdog'
Jim Lovell, the astronaut, who has died aged 97, was commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in April 1970, which turned into one of the most dramatic in the history of space flight.

Intended to land Americas third spacecraft on the Moon, the mission had to be aborted after there was an on-board explosion 200,000 miles from Earth.

What followed surpassed any science-fiction story. For three days tens of thousands of technicians in the US aerospace industry worked around the clock to bring the crippled spacecraft safely home, a drama witnessed by millions of television viewers around the world.

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The remarkable rescue was finally achieved by converting the lunar lander spacecraft and its rocket engines for use as a lifeboat to propel Apollo 13 around the Moon and back to Earth. In 1995 the story was the subject of a successful film  starring Tom Hanks as Lovell  which was nominated for nine Oscars, winning the awards for Best Editing and Best Sound.

Lovell, pilot of the Gemini 7 space mission, December 1965 - Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A few days before launch, both Lovells four-year-old son and Charles Duke, one of the back-up astronauts, went down with measles, and Lovell himself, as well as his two crew members, Ken Mattingly and Fred Haise, were thought to be in danger of developing the disease during the mission. The doctors finally decided that Lovell and Haise should be immune, having had measles in childhood; but Mattingly, who had not had measles, was at risk.

Lovell fought to have the whole mission postponed in order to keep his crew together, but he was overruled. Mattingly was replaced by his back-up, Jack Swigert.

The crisis started just 56 hours into the flight. Mission Control at Houston was listening to soft music being played in Apollo 13 as the crew prepared for sleep, having earlier commented that Lovell appeared to be running a rest home.

Lovell relaxes in the suiting-up trailer at Launch Complex 16 during the Gemini-7 prelaunch countdown at Cape Kennedy in 1965 - Nasa/Alamy

Suddenly, one of Apollos two oxygen tanks exploded  a result of wiring being subjected to very high temperatures during ground tests. As Lovell himself said much later: Warning signs went unheeded, and the tank, damaged from eight hours overheating, was a potential time bomb next time it was filled with oxygen. That bomb exploded on April 13 1970, 200,000 miles from Earth.

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As commander of Apollo 13, Lovell became the first man to journey twice to the Moon. Although he declared that he harboured no superstitions about the number 13, the mission was dogged by ill luck well before the launch, which took place at 13.13 hours on April 11 1970. The accident itself was sustained on April 13.

A second tank was damaged, and within two hours the spacecraft had lost all its stored oxygen, disabling the electrical power system and crippling the command and service module, Odyssey. Clearly, the mission had to be aborted, and the sole aim became to bring the crew safely back to Earth.

The crew of Apollo 8 in front of a simulator in 1968, l-r, Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman - The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images

At first it was thought that the lunar lifeboat could provide only half the amount of power, water and oxygen needed to get the craft home. But as engineers and technicians brought their computers and simulators to bear on the problem, techniques were devised and radioed to the crew.

Lovell, Haise and Swigert had to work in increasingly cold and uncomfortable conditions. They powered up the lunar module (LM) Aquarius, powered down the command and service module, and used the LM systems for power and life support. The lunar landing engine was used to send the spacecraft on a free-return trajectory around the Moon before it was brought back to Earth, finally landing safely in the South Pacific.

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The crews calmness and stoicism as they patiently fought for survival was not matched by the frenetic worldwide media coverage at Mission Control.

Lovell, centre, with his Apollo 13 crewmates Fred Haise, left, and Ken Mattingly: in the event Mattingly was stood down following a measles scare and replaced by Jack Swigert - Bettmann

After recovery by the aircraft carrier Iwo Jima, the astronauts were flown to Hawaii to be hailed by President Richard Nixon, who described it as the most exciting day of his life. All three astronauts declared that they were willing to make another moon flight, but were never given the opportunity.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 25 1928, James Arthur Lovell was an only child brought up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In boyhood he constructed and launched model rockets, and on leaving high school he applied unsuccessfully to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis in Maryland.

After he had spent two years at the University of Wisconsin and had a spell at the Naval Air Training Station in Florida, he was accepted at Annapolis, where he took a science degree and wrote a paper on liquid-fuelled rockets. Lovell then served as a Navy test pilot, flight instructor, and programme manager for the F-4 Phantom jet fighter, before being accepted by Nasa as an astronaut in September 1962.

Deke Slayton (checked jacket) shows the adaptor devised to make use of Command Module lithium hydroxide canisters to remove excess carbon dioxide from the Apollo 13 lunar module cabin - Nasa

The astronauts training during this period were eager to be the first to reach the moon, and Lovell was no exception. His first venture into space was the two-man Gemini 7 mission in 1965 (Gemini preceded the Apollo programme, which would successfully land men on the Moon). On December 4 Lovell and his commander, Frank Borman, began a 14-day flight in Earth orbit during which they successfully carried out a rendezvous with Gemini 6. For five hours the two spacecraft flew together, sometimes only 3ft apart, at 17,500mph.

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A year later Lovell commanded the Gemini 12 mission, during which his pilot, Buzz Aldrin (later to be the second man on the Moon), spent more than five hours spacewalking.

The Gemini programme taught the astronauts how to operate in a weightless environment; to live in cramped conditions for long periods; how to rendezvous and dock with other spacecraft; and how to manage re-entry  all requirements for a successful mission to the Moon.

Lovell addresses a press conference at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, pointing to the spot on the service module where an explosion ripped a panel loose - Dave Taylor/AP

In December 1968 Lovell was the command module pilot and navigator aboard Apollo 8. He and his two companions, Frank Borman and William Anders, became the first humans to leave the Earths gravitational influence.

They circled the Moon 10 times, and the whole world was riveted on Christmas Day when they took turns to recite the verses of Genesis before wishing all of you on the good Earth a Merry Christmas. Before returning, the crew gave names to landmarks on the Moon as future reference points. Lovell named twin peaks Mount Marilyn after his photogenic wife, who was already a favourite with media photographers.

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Lovell was a popular, easygoing personality who never suffered from the post-flight malaise that afflicted some of his fellow astronauts. On occasions such as the Paris Air Show and visits to Britain he cheerfully provided his autograph to space fans, who sometimes formed an orderly queue of 100 or more.

Jim Lovell in 2013 at the Science Museum in London - Paul Grover

He retired from Nasa in 1973 to join the Bay-Houston Towing Company, which was involved in coastal towing and mining. In 1977 he became president of Fisk Telephone Systems, which marketed business communications.

He also served for 11 years as consultant and then chairman of the Presidents Physical Fitness Council with the objective of making US citizens aware of the importance of being physically fit.

Among many honours and awards, Jim Lovell received the Nasa Distinguished Service Medal, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Along with his crewmates from Apollo 13, Lovell still holds the human altitude record set when they passed over the back side of the moon.

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He married, in 1952, Marilyn Gerlach, with whom he had two sons and two daughters; Marilyn died in 2023.

James Lovell, born March 25 1928, died August 7 2025

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Dean Cain may have played Superman in the 90s, but John Leguizamo is making it clear hes not buying the hero act.

The Lois & Clark star, now a vocal conservative, announced last week that hes joining U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE, to help secure the safety of all Americans. Cain even filmed a recruitment video, positioning himself as a patriotic volunteer ready to crack down on immigration. But instead of winning over supporters, his announcement drew sharp, public condemnation from people who see ICEs recent operations as part of an increasingly aggressive and inhumane crackdown on immigrant communities.

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What kind of loser volunteers to be an ICE officer? Leguizamo said in a video posted. What a moron. Dean Cain, your pronouns are has, been.

Comedian Margaret Cho also joined in, posting her own video that criticized Cain not just for aligning himself with ICE, but for attempting to position himself as part of a white nationalist agenda. Youre Japanese, she said. Youre not even white.  I know you, and you are not white. You have never been white, and no matter how many of these white activities you participate in, its never gonna make that happen. Always wrong  never white. Dumbass.

Other social media users were equally blunt: Bruh. Your Japanese grandparents must be so proud. Weird way to announce youre broke. Worst Superman ever. So this is what washed up actors do in their spare time? Become part of a fascist dictatorship? Cool story, bro. One person quipped, Turned to the regime for a 50k sign-on bonus. This says all I need to know about your character. So disappointed. Shame on you. Another added, Wow. Just wow. Superman and everything he stood for would be so ashamed of you.

Cain told Fox News he was motivated by a belief that patriots step up when called, praising the Trump administrations immigration policies and describing the U.S. immigration system as broken. ICEs arrest patterns under Trump, however, have drawn sharp criticism for targeting immigrants without criminal records  particularly in blue states, where agents have conducted worksite raids and sweeps in public spaces. Those tactics have triggered protests nationwide, from street demonstrations to virtual actions staged by Gen Z on Roblox.

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In Los Angeles, the raids have been especially aggressive. Over the past two months, ICE agents have stormed garment factories, detained workers outside Home Depot parking lots, and, just last week, arrested a nurse and community activist for filming near a staging area  an incident advocates are calling politically motivated, per LA Taco. Celebrities including Jodie Sweetin and Chrissy Teigen have joined local organizers in condemning what they describe as targeted harassment, unlawful detention, and the separation of families.

Thats the context Leguizamo is stepping into  and why his comments hit differently. The Green Veil star has long used his platform to highlight the treatment of immigrant communities, both on and off screen, and his criticism of Cain points to a deeper question: why someone with their own immigrant heritage would choose to align with an agency accused of racial profiling, unlawful detention, and family separation.

Cain may see his new role as public service, but Leguizamo sees it as aligning with an agency thats become synonymous with fear, cruelty, and the targeting of vulnerable communities. Given the headlines of the past few months, its not hard to see why Leguizamos words hit the way they do.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have run for office.

Cynthia Nixon, Kanye West

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Johnson City Commission approved a 10-year agreement with Flock Safety to implement Flock Safetys Safe City Project platform.

Johnson City last call ordinance moves forward, but may be changed

Weve already started installations, said Captain Mike Adams with the Johnson City Police Department Criminal Investigation Division. So, youll start noticing more and more of those going up within the city.

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JCPD has installed 11 license plate reader cameras (LPR) across Johnson City, with many more to go.

Our plan is to install 145 of those license plate readers throughout the city, and 145 of those PTZ cameras or Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras throughout the city, Adams said.

The Flock cameras are designed to alert officers if it has located a vehicle description or license number that has been registered as stolen.

The agreement also includes other types of equipment, including mobile security trailers and gunshot detectors; however, the detectors have not been installed yet.

Adams said this equipment will help officers solve crimes quickly.

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Any time that vehicle drives past one of those cameras, its going to send an alert to every officer thats working and say, hey, this missing person or this suspect who we have warrants on just drove past this intersection,' Adams said. And so those officers know that they can get in the area and try to locate that person or stolen car or a stolen license plate.

Eric Stanton is a law enforcement analyst. He said that while this type of technology is not new, it is still a helpful tool for officers.

Cameras and license plate reader cameras have actually been around since the 1970s, Stanton said. This is not new technology, but its an emerging technology. Flock goes one step further. Flock also can recognize gunshots and stuff of that nature. And through triangulation, through the different Flock systems, can tell you an area where there might be some potential issues. So, its great for a response tool.

Adams was adamant that the new technology is not meant to take away privacy.

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We are not tracking the public, Adams said. Its a tool for our investigators to conduct a more thorough investigation on their cases. It provides the evidence that we need to prosecute a criminal when theyve been suspected of committing a crime, and the biggest thing that this is going to do is its going to give real-time data to officers in the field.

Adams also said the data collected from the Flock cameras is deleted after 30 days. The systems dont capture data on the driver or use facial recognition data.

Part of the project also includes a Real-Time Crime Center. JCPD announced they are partnering with East Tennessee State University, which would provide the space for the center.

The center would be used by what Adams calls crime analysts who would be able to see what is happening on a crime scene and alert officers about it before they arrive.

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Adams said this center will help get information about a crime scene to responding officers before they arrive on the scene.

If a suspect leaves the scene now, our crime analysts can give a description, Adams said. They can give a tag number and a direction of travel of where that suspect is headed. And our officers know where to go. So, its going to its going to help us to act more quickly, more informed and make better decisions prior to even getting on scene.

Adams also said other departments across the Tri-Cities use Flock cameras and hopes the center will be used regionally.

The Flock equipment package is on a lease agreement. The first year will cost $300,000, which will be paid by JCPDs Drug Fund. The remaining years will be budgeted through the JCPD Criminal Investigation Division.

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That $300,000 will pay for the first year and the second year after that, Adams said. The cost is $970,375 annually. However, that right now, will be budgeted from the Johnson City Police Departments budget.

But I think that gives us two years to look for grant funding, to build partnerships with surrounding agencies and to find other avenues to reduce the annual cost to the city.

Adams said the plan is to have all the equipment installed across Johnson City by the end of the year.

I want Johnson City to be as comfortable as possible for our citizens and as uncomfortable as possible for criminals, said Adams. So, thats the purpose of this.



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CEDAREDGE, Colo. (KREX)  Thursday starts the first annual Grand Writers Symposium in Cederedge. The three-day event held at the Grand Mesa Arts Events Center (GMAEC), located at 195 W. Main Street, is a creative sharing and learning opportunity for inspiring authors, writers, and engaging readers to celebrate high altitude creativity with featured authors and writing teachers.

Ticket prices for the three-day convention vary depending on the planned days attended or any additional activities. They can range from $25 to $160 and can be purchased on the symposiums website.

For its ticketholders, the event will host meet-and-greets, workshops, office hours to receive feedback from authors and an open mic forum. Featured at the event, 14 different authors have published books in a multitude of genres and a majority of them are from or reside in Colorado. Out of those 14 authors, three will be highlighted as keynote speakers:

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Shelley Read was an award-winning senior lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, who published an international best-selling debut novel, Go As A River. She and her book have received national and international accolades.

Timothy C. Winegard is a Colorado Mesa University associate professor and a New York Times bestselling author of six books, including The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity and The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator.

Wendy Videlock is a Palisade resident who has authored five books of poetry, a childrens book and a collection of essays. Her work has been featured in multiple publications, including the New York Times. She has received multiple prizes for her work and is currently serving as the poet laureate of Western Colorado.

For those without a ticket, the symposium does offer some free public events:

On Friday, the GMAECs Outdoor Summer Concert Series will feature the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Western Colorado Popup Bookstore will be open at the GMAEC. On Sunday, the bookstore will open at the same location between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

An open mic forum hosted by author Rene Janiece titled When Words Become Breath will take place at the GMAEC Theatre from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

A full schedule of the Grand Writers Symposium or additional information on the convention can be found on its website at www.grandmesawriters.org.

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The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, joined demonstrators outside the U.S. Supreme Court on May 15 to protest the Trump administration's effort to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, as justices heard a challenge to the order. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

A federal judge in Greenbelt ordered a nationwide halt  again  to a Trump administration order that would have denied citizenship to any baby born in the U.S. after February unless at least one of the parents is a citizen.

The ruling late Thursday by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman is the fourth to block President Donald Trumps executive order since June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges around the country had exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide stays.

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But the justices said lower courts could issue nationwide injunctions if the lawsuits were class-action suits on behalf of all newborns in the U.S. who might be affected by the executive order. Which is what Boardman did Thursday

Boardman rejected a request to include parents in the class-action suit. But she identified a nationwide class of children born on U.S. soil who unquestionably would be citizens but for the Executive Order, an order the judge said is almost certainly unconstitutional.

She wrote that the plaintiffs  eight undocumented mothers who are pregnant or have children who were born in the U.S.  are likely to succeed on the merits of their constitutional claim because the Executive Order contradicts the plain language of the Fourteenth amendment, which says that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens of the country and of the state in which they were born.

While the immigrants would be harmed in the absence of an injunction, Boardman wrote, there would be little harm to the government to temporarily extending the practice of birthright citizenship that has been recognized in the U.S. for well over a century.

Boardman rejected the governments argument that she should restrict her injunction just to Maryland.

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That relief must include every child in the United States who is subject to the Executive Order. After all, the Executive Order does not target only children born in Maryland; it seeks to deny citizenship to persons born in the United States, she wrote.

A government attorney declined to comment Friday on the order, and emails seeking comment from the White House were not immediately returned. But immigrant advocates welcomed Boardmans order.

This is a national issue that affects every single one of us in this country, said Ama Frimpong, legal director at CASA, which filed suit with the immigrant women.

The Maryland suit was one of several around the country that were filed soon after Trumps order on Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, which he issued on Jan. 20, his first day back in office. It claimed that birthright citizenship was never meant to be a universal right, and it said that anyone born after Feb.19  a month after the order was signed  would be denied citizenship unless one parent was a citizen or permanent legal resident.

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The order was swiftly challenges and three judges, including Boardman, issued nationwide injunctions to halt the order. When those were upheld on appeal, the government took the case to the Supreme Court, which said a national injunction could only be issued in class-action suit with a legitimate nationwide class of plaintiffs.

Within hours of that ruling, attorneys for CASA were back in court, filing paperwork to turn their case into a class-action suit, adding women from North and South Carolina, among other states as plaintiffs.

Boardmans approval of a class-action suit, and a national preliminary injunction, comes almost a month after a U.S. District judge in New Hampshire did the same thing.

Frimpong called Trumps order just a part of the usual fear tactics to make people afraid of what they believe the federal government will do  even though it will never happen because it is blatantly unlawful and unconstitutional.

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She said she anticipates that the Trump administration will again appeal the decision, but predicts that the case will go through the ordinary course of litigation.

What we are looking forward to is, once and for all. putting the issue to bed and our courts making absolutely clear that the 14th Amendment is not up for debate, and its not up for subjective interpretation, Frimpong said. It is the law and it is going to remain the law.

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The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, joined demonstrators outside the U.S. Supreme Court on May 15 to protest the Trump administration's effort to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, as justices heard a challenge to the order. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

A federal judge in Maryland ordered a nationwide halt  again  to a Trump administration order that would have denied citizenship to any baby born in the U.S. after February unless at least one of the parents is a citizen.

The ruling late Thursday by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman is the fourth to block President Donald Trumps executive order since June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges around the country had exceeded their authority by issuing nationwide stays.

Advertisement Advertisement

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But the justices said lower courts could issue nationwide injunctions if the lawsuits were class-action suits on behalf of all newborns in the U.S. who might be affected by the executive order. Which is what Boardman did Thursday

Boardman rejected a request to include parents in the class-action suit. But she identified a nationwide class of children born on U.S. soil who unquestionably would be citizens but for the Executive Order, an order the judge said is almost certainly unconstitutional.

She wrote that the plaintiffs  eight undocumented mothers who are pregnant or have children who were born in the U.S.  are likely to succeed on the merits of their constitutional claim because the Executive Order contradicts the plain language of the Fourteenth amendment, which says that all persons born the U.S. are citizens of the country and of the state in which they were born.

While the immigrants would be harmed in the absence of an injunction, Boardman wrote, there would be little harm to the government to temporarily extending the practice of birthright citizenship that has been recognized in the U.S. for well over a century.

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Boardman rejected the governments argument that she should restrict her injunction just to Maryland.

That relief must include every child in the United States who is subject to the Executive Order. After all, the Executive Order does not target only children born in Maryland; it seeks to deny citizenship to persons born in the United States, she wrote.

A government attorney declined to comment Friday on the order, and emails seeking comment from the White House were not immediately returned. But immigrant advocates welcomed Boardmans order.

This is a national issue that affects every single one of us in this country, said Ama Frimpong, legal director at CASA, which filed suit with the immigrant women.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The Maryland suit was one of several around the country that were filed soon after Trumps order on Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, which he issued on Jan. 20, his first day back in office. It claimed that birthright citizenship was never meant to be a universal right, and it said that anyone born after Feb.19  a month after the order was signed  would be denied citizenship unless one parent was a citizen or permanent legal resident.

The order was swiftly challenges and three judges, including Boardman, issued nationwide injunctions to halt the order. When those were upheld on appeal, the government took the case to the Supreme Court, which said a national injunction could only be issued in class-action suit with a legitimate nationwide class of plaintiffs.

Within hours of that ruling, attorneys for CASA were back in court, filing paperwork to turn their case into a class-action suit, adding women from North and South Carolina, among other states as plaintiffs.

Boardmans approval of a class-action suit, and a national preliminary injunction, comes almost a month after a U.S. District judge in New Hampshire did the same thing.

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Frimpong called Trumps order just a part of the usual fear tactics to make people afraid of what they believe the federal government will do  even though it will never happen because it is blatantly unlawful and unconstitutional.

She said she anticipates that the Trump administration will again appeal the decision, but predicts that the case will go through the ordinary course of litigation.

What we are looking forward to is, once and for all. putting the issue to bed and our courts making absolutely clear that the 14th Amendment is not up for debate, and its not up for subjective interpretation, Frimpong said. It is the law and it is going to remain the law.

This report was first published by Maryland Matters , which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.
WASHINGTON  An appeals court on Friday tossed out a judges contempt finding against the Trump administration in a case over deportations to an El Salvador prison.

The decision from a divided three-judge panel based in the nations capital vacates a finding from U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg.

Boasberg found in April there was probable cause to hold President Donald Trump's administration in criminal contempt of court.

Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both of whom were nominated by Trump in his first term in the White House, concurred with the unsigned majority opinion. Judge Cornelia Pillard, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, dissented.

Boasberg had accused Trump administration officials of rushing deportees out of the country under the Alien Enemies Act before they could challenge their removal in court and then willfully disregarding his order that planes already in the air should return to the United States.

The Republican administration denied violating his order.

Trump ousts IRS chief

President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner, the official said. Long will instead serve as ambassador to Iceland, Long said in a statement on the social media site X.

It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!" Long said.

The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats concerns about the Republicans past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him.

Before Long's confirmation, the IRS shuffled through four acting leaders, including one who resigned over a deal between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share immigrants tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and another whose appointment led to a fight between former Trump adviser Elon Musk and Bessent.

Long will be the the shortest-tenured IRS commissioner confirmed by the Senate since the position was created in 1862.

His departure also comes after the agency underwent a series of massive job cuts this year, ushered in by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reports that the agency has been cut down from 103,000 workers in January to 77,000 workers in May 2025. Most of the reductions came from DOGE's deferred resignation program. The workforce reductions were part of the Trump administrations efforts to shrink the size of the federal bureaucracy

While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration.

Administration seeks $1 billion deal with UCLA

The Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said Friday, weeks after the Department of Justice accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights violations.

UCLA is the first public university whose federal grants have been targeted by the administration over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The Trump administration has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against private colleges.

The White House official did not detail any additional demands from the administration. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration suspended $584 million in federal grants, the university said this week, after the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division announced it had found UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

Last month UCLA reached a $6 million settlement with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who sued, arguing that the university violated their civil rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block their access to classes and other areas on campus in 2024.

The university has said it is committed to campus safety and inclusivity and will continue to implement recommendations.

Justice Department targets Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff

The Justice Department is escalating efforts to scrutinize perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump with investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

The Justice Department has subpoenaed James for records related to a lawsuit the Democrat filed against Trump over alleged fraud in his personal business dealings, according to a person familiar with the matter. It's part of an investigation into whether James violated Trump's civil rights, another person said. Another subpoena seeks records related to a lawsuit involving the National Rifle Association and its longtime leader Wayne LaPierre.

The people could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on the condition of anonymity.

Attorney General Pam Bondi this week also named Ed Martin as a special prosecutor to help conduct separate mortgage fraud investigations into James and Schiff, one of the people said. James and Schiff have denied any wrongdoing and have called the claims politically motivated.

The moves are among the most serious yet the Justice Department has taken against political foes of the president, who vowed on the campaign trail to seek retribution against his opponents. Schiff and James are both vocal critics of Trump, and James has sued Trump and his Republican administration dozens of times over his policies as president and over how he conducted his private business empire.

News of the subpoenas comes as the Justice Department advances an investigation into the Trump-Russia probe that shadowed Trump for much of his first term as president and as the administration has engaged in a widespread purge from the workforce of law enforcement officials who had been involved in examining the activities of Trump and his supporters.

Trump orders federal law enforcers onto D.C. streets

With President Donald Trump calling for a federal takeover of the nations capital city, the White House says there will be an increased presence of federal law enforcement on the streets of Washington, D.C., for at least the next week. We have to run D.C., Trump told reporters.

But doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress and could face steep pushback. This was prompted by the attempted carjacking of a DOGE employee nicknamed Big Balls by a group of teenagers. Carjackings and homicides are actually down sharply in D.C. after spiking in 2023.

A two-hour tour of the D.C. streets, starting around 1 a.m. Friday morning, revealed no evidence of the sort of multiagency flood of uniformed personnel described in Trumps announcement.

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Trump says US cant afford to return the revenues if a court rules his tariffs illegal

The president says there would be another GREAT DEPRESSION! if a U.S. Appeals Court rules he exceeded his authority by declaring an emergency to impose the taxes and mandates repayment of the billions of dollars collected so far.

If a Radical Left Court ruled against us at this late date, in an attempt to bring down or disturb the largest amount of money, wealth creation and influence the U.S.A. has ever seen, it would be impossible to ever recover, or pay back, these massive sums of money and honor, Trump said. It would be 1929 all over again.

The government has collected about $130 billion in tariff revenues so far this year, about $74 billion more than it did last year, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

California working to plan still unscheduled redistricting election

California Democrats are rushing to schedule an emergency election to remake U.S. House districts in response to rival moves by Texas Republicans. This presents a dilemma for county officials, who are being urged to plan for an election that hasnt been scheduled and might never happen.

Orchestrating an election by nearly 23 million registered voters across 58 counties is a time-consuming and costly endeavor under any circumstances, but Newsom and Democrats leading the Legislature already have blown past deadlines for organizing everything from printing mail ballots in multiple languages to lining up staff and securing voting locations.

Democrats are considering new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts, leaving Republicans with just four safe House seats among 52 in the state. The California maps could be unveiled as soon as next week.

Republicans escalate pressure on holdout Texas Democrats

The Texas House will try to reconvene at 1 p.m. Friday as Democratic lawmakers remain outside the state to block new U.S. House maps Republicans drew after Trump asked for more winnable seats. Relatedly:

1. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has pledged to take legal action to get missing Democrats removed from office if they dont appear

2. The House Democratic Caucus chair must respond this afternoon to a similar effort filed by Gov. Greg Abbott with the Texas Supreme Court

3. This session ends Aug. 19, but Abbott says hell keep calling special sessions until the outnumbered Democrats return

4. The missing lawmakers already face mounting daily fines and civil arrest warrants issued by the state House

5. Sen. John Cornyn has said the FBI has accepted his request to help Texas authorities locate members

6. Some of the Democrats are meeting again with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said California will seek to create five more Democratic seats if Texas succeeds.

Under Biden, Vance says US got too comfortable with censorship

Vance said he felt that, during President Joe Bidens administration, the U.S. got a little too comfortable with censoring rather than engaging with a diverse array of opinions.

Moving forward, Vance said he hopes other countries can avoid such a very dark path. The remarks came in response to a question invoking some of Vances previous comments about free speech that have ruffled feathers in Europe.

During February remarks to the Munich Security Conference, Vance said that he feared free speech was in retreat across the European continent. That prompted pushback from top German officials, one of whom called it unacceptable to draw a parallel with authoritarian governments.

Asked about 2028, Vance scoffs at discussing lowly politics in stately UK setting

Asked ahead of his Lammy meeting about Trumps recent statements that Vance is for now favored to be next to take up the MAGA mantle, the vice president quickly pivoted.

I dont want to talk about lowly things like politics in this grand palace, come on, Vance said. Im not really focused even on the election in 2026, much less one two years after that.

Vance says US has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state

During his opening remarks ahead of the meeting with Lammy, Vance was asked about the U.K.s decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

Vance said he wasnt sure what such recognition would even mean, given the lack of a functional government there.

Asked if Trump had been given a heads up on Israels announced intent to occupy Gaza City, Vance said he would not go into such conversations.

If it was easy to bring peace to that region of the world, it would have been done already, he said.

Trumps tax on endowments already affecting wealthiest universities

The tax increase in Trumps signature spending bill takes effect next year, but Harvard, Yale and Stanford are already citing having to pay hundreds of millions more in taxes as another reason for layoffs and hiring freezes as they navigate reductions in research grants and other Trump threats to funding. Colleges say having to pay much more in taxes could lead to less financial aid for lower-income students.

About a dozen universities fit the new tax parameters, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the National Association of College and University Business Officers:

7. 8% rate: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

8. 4% rate: Notre Dame, Dartmouth College, Rice University, University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University

Read more on the university endowment tax hike impact
A Texas judge ruled Friday against Beto ORourke and his nonprofit in a case brought by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused them of illegally raising funds to support Democratic lawmakers fleeing the state to block GOP redistricting legislation.

Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey handed down a temporary restraining order Friday evening against O'Rourke, a former congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, and his group, Powered by People, over alleged "unlawful fundraising practices" tied to efforts to support Texas Democrats who fled the state  including funding air travel, lodging, logistics and daily fines.

"Defendants have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds in a manner that either directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators to violate [the law]," Fahey wrote in her Friday evening ruling. "Consumer have and continue to suffer irreparable harm through these unlawful acts because they are making political contributions that are being used to fund personal expenses and violate state law."

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Beto O'rourke Asked Point Blank Why He's Helping Dems Flee Texas Rather Than Helping Texans

Texas judge rules Beto O'Rourke after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued him and his non-profit for illegally aiding Texas Democrats who fled the state to obstruct GOP redistricting efforts.

Fahey's order bars O'Rourke or his group from continuing to fundraise or provide financial support to the fleeing Texas Democrats. The ruling came only hours after Paxton's office filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against O'Rourke.

Fahey is a Republican, and she was appointed by GOP Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott in 2019.

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In response to the ruling, O'Rourke put out a statement arguing that Paxton is trying to shut down his nonprofit "because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections," which he called "the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas."

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George Soros, Beto O'rourke Behind Funding For Dems Fleeing Texas Over Gop Congressional Map

"They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won't," O'Rourke added. "Now Paxtons filed a restraining order to try to take us out of the fight. He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trumps attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But Im not going anywhere. I plan on speaking at our rally to stop the power grab in Fort Worth tomorrow afternoon."

"Cry more, lib," Paxton said in response to O'Rourke's statement. "You lost in court because you're breaking the law and deceiving Texans. We absolutely will make an example out of law breakers."

The flag of the Lone Star State.

In addition to Powered By People, Paxton also launched an investigation into the Texas Majority PAC, which has also been accused of being a major funder of the fleeing Texas Democrats.

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Meanwhile, O'Rourke filed his own lawsuit against Paxton in El Paso district court on Friday, The Texas Tribune reported. O'Rourke has accused Paxton of launching a "fishing expedition" and asked a judge to block Paxton's investigation into his nonprofit's practices.





Original article source: Judge blocks Beto O'Rourke from funding Texas Dems who fled to stop GOP redistricting vote
A Texas district judge on Friday temporarily barred former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and his political group from helping to fund the Democratic legislators who have left the state to prevent Republicans from pressing forward with a redistricting plan aimed at expanding the GOP's narrow majority in the U.S. House.

The ruling is a victory, albeit potentially a temporary one, for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sought the temporary restraining order accusing O'Rourke and his group of a bribery scheme, accusations the Democrat has vigorously denied. And it could deal a significant financial blow to the state Democratic lawmakers, who are facing financial penalties and other costs related to their "quorum break."

Tarrant County District Court Judge Megan Fahey, who was appointed in 2019 by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and has since won re-election (Texas elects its judges), wrote in Friday's order that she believes O'Rourke and his group "have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds" that either violates or causes the Democrats to violate state law and House rules.

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Evoking the almost 200-year-old Texas refrain "Come and Take It," Paxton celebrated the ruling in a statement.

"Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to come and take it, so I did,'" said Paxton, who is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in next year's GOP primary.

O'Rourke, who said earlier he would sue Paxton in state court, denounced the judge's decision in a statement, arguing that the attorney general is going after his group "because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections  the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas."

"He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trumps attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But Im not going anywhere," he added.

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O'Rourke has been a vocal ally of the more than 50 Democrats who have refused to show up to the Capitol in Austin this week in a bid to deny Republicans the minimum number of lawmakers required to move forward with legislative business, what's known as "quorum."

Democrats have framed their actions as a last resort, but a necessary one because they believe Republicans, by aiming to push through a rare mid-decade redistricting that could allow Republicans to net up to five more seats in next year's midterm elections, are acting unconstitutionally.

Republicans like Paxton and Abbott however, are turning the screws on the Democrats with a flurry of legal filings aiming to boot the lawmakers from office, disrupt their funding streams, grant Texas law enforcement the ability to track them down in other states and otherwise complicate their ability to manage their legislative offices from outside of the state.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
New construction at the Dade-Collier Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, where the new state immigrant detention center is located, on July 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Friends of the Everglades/Ralph Awrood)

Further construction at the Everglades deportation facility known as Alligator Alcatraz must be halted for at least two weeks, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

The center, located on an old airport runway surrounded by the Big Cypress National Preserve, will continue to operate and process immigrants, however.

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Were pleased that the judge saw the urgent need to put a pause on additional construction, and we look forward to advancing our ultimate goal of protecting the unique and imperiled Everglades ecosystem from further damage caused by this mass detention facility, said Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, in a news release.

The two-week restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams comes as the court considers a preliminary injunction against the facility.

Todays ruling by an activist judge will have no impact on immigration enforcement in Florida. Alligator Alcatraz will remain operational, continuing to serve as a force multiplier to enhance deportation efforts, Alex Lanfranconi, a Gov. Ron DeSantis spokesperson, posted to social media Thursday afternoon.

The injunction stops filling, paving, new lights, and new infrastructure.

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DeSantis previously claimed construction at the facility was temporary and all operations would be carried out using portable units.

Environmental advocacy groups and the Miccosukee Tribe joined together to oppose construction, including pavement laid despite DeSantis claims.

This facility is not only a threat to one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in the country, Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani said in a news release.

It is also a glaring example of how far the State of Florida will go to criminalize immigrants and ignore the long-term health of our natural resources. Constructed in direct conflict with the Everglades restoration efforts supported by taxpayers for decades, this project represents both environmental negligence and human rights violations.

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There was a hearing Wednesday about the restraining order.

Plaintiffs including Friends of the Everglades argued the facility violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Williams took over the case after Judge Jose Martinez recused himself.

The center has been controversial, sparking this and other lawsuits with Democratic lawmakers strongly speaking out against it.

Its a relief that the court stepped in to protect the Everglades sensitive waters, starry skies, and vulnerable creatures from further harm while we continue our case, said Elise Bennett, Florida and Caribbean director and an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. Were ready to press forward and put a stop to this despicable plan for good.

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The center has generated national headlines. President Donald Trump visited the facility last month and the Republican Party of Florida is using the centers moniker on merchandise while immigrant advocacy groups speak out against conditions inside the facility.

The detention facility threatens land that is not only environmentally sensitive but sacred to our people, Talbert Cypress, Cchairman of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida said in the news release.

While this order is temporary, it is an important step in asserting our rights and protecting our homeland. The Miccosukee Tribe will continue to stand for our culture, our sovereignty, and the Everglades.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A federal judge has cleared the way for Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States, turning it into the worlds largest artificial reef.

A coalition out of New York filed a lawsuit earlier this year, trying to prevent the sinking. The group wanted to find another use for the ship that would have preserved it. But the judge dismissed the lawsuit Wednesday.

Meanwhile, workers at the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, are making headway on the ships clean-up.

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Today, they removed the aft funnel, or smoke stack. They removed the forward stack earlier this week.

Both of the funnels will become part of the SS United States Conservancys land-based museum that will be built in Destin.

Salvage crews also removed one of the ships propellers this week. It, too, is going to the museum.

Okaloosa County bought the retired ocean liner last fall for $10 million to create the artificial reef.

It is the largest cruise ship ever built in the United States.

On her maiden voyage in 1952, she set the Atlantic crossing record at 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes, beating the RMS Queen Mary by 10 hours. Thats still the record.

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The owners retired the SS United States in 1969. It changed hands several times and was finally docked in Philadelphia from 1995 until this year.

On Feb. 20, tugboats left Philadelphia, towing the ship to Mobile.

It arrived 11 days later on March 3.

All of the fuel onboard has been removed, and the tanks are being steam cleaned.

Crews still need to remove the wiring.

Once its environmentally safe, crews will sink it in the Gulf about 20-miles south of Destin, sometime later 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 mypanhandle.com.
A federal judge on Friday denied former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigans legal arguments that he should remain out of prison while his appeal of both his corruption convictions and 7  year sentence play out.

Madigan is scheduled to report to prison on Oct. 13, though the federal Bureau of Prisons has not yet assigned him a facility. The former speaker, whose 36-year reign in Springfield made him the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history, has already begun the appellate process, though his full arguments arent due for another few weeks.

U.S. District Judge John Blakey, who presided over Madigans lengthy trial this past fall and winter and sentenced Madigan to his lengthy prison term in June, wrote in a 44-page order Friday that the ex-speakers entire motion rides on routine, and meritless objections.

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As such, he clings to false hope, Blakey wrote.

In February, a jury delivered a split verdict for Madigan, convicting him on 10 of 23 corruption-related charges, including bribery and wire fraud. The jury acquitted Madigan on seven counts and deadlocked on another six, but the 10 on which he was convicted involved electric utility Commonwealth Edison and dealings with Chicago alderman-turned-FBI mole Danny Solis, who introduced Madigan to high-powered real estate developers as potential clients for the speakers property tax appeals firm.

Blakey wrote that Madigans arguments to remain free during his appeal dont meet the high bar of raising a substantial question of law or fact.

The ex-speaker recently hired a team of attorneys who have years of experience arguing at the U.S. Supreme Court. Madigans legal strategy centers around the definition of bribery, which the high court last summer examined in a case that delayed the former speakers case.

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Some of those convicted of bribing Madigan, including former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and longtime Springfield lobbyist and Madigan confidant Mike McClain, are also planning appeals on the same grounds.

Earlier this summer, Pramaggiore, McClain and the two other members of theso-called ComEd Four were sentenced to prison terms ranging from a year and a day to two years for their roles in orchestrating the bribery scheme.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A San Diego Superior Court judge has dismissed a sexual harassment lawsuit against former county supervisor Nathan Fletcher, ruling that the plaintiff destroyed evidence that could have harmed her case.

Judge Matthew Braner accused Grecia Figueroa, a former public relations specialist for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), of deleting private messages that were relevant to the civil case. Figueroas attorney, Francis Flynn, argued the messages were lost due to an iPhone auto-delete function.

I dont think you or anyone understands all the various auto-delete things that happen with our phones, Flynn told the court.

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Fletcher accuser responds to accusations of destroying evidence

Braner said Figueroa appeared to preserve only evidence that would help her case, an accusation she called disrespectful.

I have sat through 25 hours of deposition, produced 10,000 messages between my friends and I, and turned over medical and personal records, Figueroa said in court. Nothing was deleted in an attempt to hide anything.

Figueroa sued Fletcher and MTS in 2023, alleging Fletcher sexually harassed and groped her on two occasions while she was at work. She also claimed MTS fired her in retaliation for making the accusations. Fletcher, a Marine veteran and then-MTS board chair, admitted to inappropriate behavior but denied assaulting or harassing her.

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Last week, Braner dismissed MTS from the lawsuit, and on Thursday he dismissed Fletcher as well. Fletchers attorney, Sam Sherman, said his client was happy with the decision and has spent the past two years focusing on his family, sobriety and treatment for PTSD.

Weve maintained from day one that this case was built on a mountain of lies, Sherman said. All their interactions were consensual.

Figueroa said she plans to appeal. But San Diego defense attorney Jan Ronis said appellate courts rarely overturn a judges factual findings and warned an appeal would be costly.

Fletcher has filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Figueroa, which his attorney said they will continue to pursue.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A St. Paul man who told police he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill a retired priest and then strangled the 76-year-old in a car on the shoulder of Interstate 94 last year has been acquitted of murder by reason of mental illness.

Nathan Thomas Wondra, 33, was charged with second-degree intentional murder charge in the Aug. 1, 2024, killing of Lawrence Johnson of St. Paul. Ramsey County District Judge Stephen Smith delivered his verdict in a Wednesday court document, following a stipulated evidence trial.

The trial, which was agreed upon by the prosecution and defense, included police reports, a transcript of the 911 call made by Wondra after the killing, a transcript of his interview with police and subsequent mental health evaluation reports.

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Prosecutors are required by state law to file a petition for civil commitment after the not-guilty verdict. Following due process and input from medical professionals, a judge will decide whether Wondra should be civilly committed.

Wondra will be detained in a state hospital or other facility pending completion of civil commitment proceedings.

According the criminal complaint:

Wondra called 911 around 12:40 p.m. and said he was having a psychotic break and had choked out an elderly priest in a vehicle along I-94 in St. Paul.

Wondra told dispatch that voices in his head told him to kill Johnson to save humanity and that he choked him with his arms around his neck and killed him. He said that he had not been breathing for around a half-hour.

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Minnesota State Patrol troopers were sent to I-94 near Prior Avenue and found a silver Mitsubishi parked on the interstates shoulder. Wondra was in the front passenger seat, and Johnson was in the drivers seat. Wondra said he had just murdered someone.

Wondra told a trooper that he had been hearing voices and having visions for the past five days. He said Johnson was taking him to the hospital when he heard voices that told him to kill him.

Medics responded and tried to revive Johnson while he was transported to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:35 p.m.

Wondra said he met Johnson at Wondras workplace about a year ago. He said the priest would text and check in on him, and they would have lunch together maybe once a month. Johnson was like a father figure to him, he told police.

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In an interview with investigators, Wondra said their relationship was entirely platonic and that he had spent the night at Johnsons apartment for the first time the night before and they went to Mass in the apartment chapel that morning around 9 a.m. Johnson lived at the Leo C. Byrne Residence for retired priests, which is near the University of St. Thomas.

After Mass, Wondra wanted Johnson to drive him to Regions Hospital. Wondra described having a weak moment and the voices in his head told him it was his last chance to save humanity, the complaint says. Wondra asked Johnson to pull to the side of the road.

Wondra said he strangled Johnson and that it took a long time and that Johnson suffered, the complaint says. Wondra said he first used both hands to choke Johnson, but he later put his left arm around his neck in a headlock to choke him. Wondra checked Johnson for a pulse a couple of times during the killing.

Wondra said he knew choking Johnson was wrong, but the voices in his head told him (Johnson) needed to be a martyr for something bigger, the complaint states.

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Wondras father told investigators that Wondra lives with him, and that he had not noticed any mental health issues or recent changes to his sons behavior. He added that Wondra had not been feeling well lately.

Minnesota court records show Wondra does not have any past criminal cases or civil commitments for mental illness.

Johnson was ordained in 1975 and has been retired since 2009, according to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He had worked at several churches over the years, including Presentation of Mary in Maplewood, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Ascension in Minneapolis and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Bloomington.

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AUSTIN (Nexstar)  In the first court victory against the Democratic quorum break, the Tarrant County District Court placed a temporary restraining order against Beto ORourke and his organization Powered by People.

The Court issues this Temporary Restraining Order, immediately restraining Defendants from the following: Using political funds for the improper, unlawful, and non-political purposes of (1) funding out-of-state travel, hotel, or dining accommodations or services to unexcused Texas legislators during any special legislative session called by the Texas Governor, or (2) funding payments of fines provided by Texas House rules for unexcused legislative absences, reads Judge Megan Faheys decision.

It also prevents Powered by People and ORourke from raising more funds for the quorum-breaking efforts and from moving any funds outside of the state.

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The Beto Bribe buyouts that were bankrolling the runaway Democrats have been officially stopped, said Attorney General Ken Paxton. People like [ORourke] believe Texas can be bought. Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to come and take it, so I did.

Beto-Bribes-TRODownload

They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others wont, Beto said in a statement. Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections  the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas.

A source familiar with the quorum breakers arent especially worried about the temporary restraining order against ORourke and his team. They say money coming in small amounts from individual donors is helping in the interim.

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Fahey ordered a hearing for 10 a.m. on Tuesday to discuss the issue further.

Wu responds to Abbott; other lawmakers weigh in

On Friday, State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, filed his official response to Gov. Greg Abbotts attempt to have the Texas Supreme Court remove him from office.

Gene-Wu-Response-to-Governors-Quo-Warranto-Petition-FINALDownload

The Governor petitions this court to have five justices do what our Constitution grants only two-thirds of the House of Representatives the power to do: expel Representative Wu, the filing opens.

On Friday, Wu talked to Nexstar about his initial reactions to the lawsuit.

I laughed out loud when I saw the suit, because this is, its, frankly, its embarrassing, Wu said. I get maybe hes just putting on a political show, trying to scare us, try to show his primary voters what a bad a** he is. But to anybody whos an attorney, who knows what the law is, people are falling out of their chairs laughing.

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In addition to Wus response, State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, D-El Paso, filed a letter with the Supreme Court arguing in Wus favor.

What would be a constitutional crisis is this Court un-electing nearly every member of the minority party over lawfully resisting the majority, the pair wrote. This legislative battle began because legislators wanted to pick their voters. This legal battle would cut voters out entirely and allow a partisan governor to pick his legislators. That puts us on the brink of naked authoritarianism. This Court should take no part in hurtling us over that edge into the endless darkness below.

Moody-Gonzalez-AmiciDownload

On the opposing side, State Rep. Mitch Little, R-Carrollton, and State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, filed a letter with the court to support Abbotts argument.

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This is an area of law that can be very confusing. Its confusing even lawyers, Little said. Theres some questions still about who has the authority and jurisdiction to bring these vacature petitions, and our hope is to contribute to that discussion with the Texas Supreme Court.

2025.08.08-Abbott-Wu-Amicus-Letter-jml-bc-080825Download

Cain admitted the court has a difficult decision.

I dont expect them to declare the seat vacant today, Cain said. After all, essentially it does still kind of challenge what the sovereign people have elected, so theres gotta be some kind of balance. But certainly, I think at some point the goal is to question whether that persons planning to come back. Is this going to be too prolonged? Have they essentially abandoned their district or abandoned the state?

Paxton decides to up the ante

While Abbott only filed to declare Wus seat vacant, Paxton filed a new petition with the Texas Supreme Court on Friday to vacate 13 Democratic seats.

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Paxton targeted Wu along with:

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City

State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin

State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin

State Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Austin

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin

State Rep. Mihaela Plesa, D-Plano

State Rep. Suleman Lalani, D-Sugar Land

State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin

State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington

State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos, D-Richardson

State Rep. Christina Morales, D-Houston

State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, D-Dallas

The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their duties, leaving their seats vacant, said Paxton. These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold. Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on. I have asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare what has been clear from the beginning: that the runaway members have officially vacated their offices in the Texas House.

Quo-Warranto-SCOTX-FiledDownload

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Bucy responded quickly.

Its now more clear than ever that Republicans are scared. Theyre scared of the voters. Theyre scared of being held accountable. And theyre scared that Texas Democrats are united in our resolve to defeat Trumps power grab and protect our democracy, our constitution, and our country, he said. If defending democracy is a crime, Im proud to be an outlaw.

While Wu said hes confident the facts of the case are on his side, he has some reservations about the makeup of the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, with six of the nine justices having been appointed by Abbott.

The only real fear in this [is] that the level of corruption has not only spread from the White House into the state house, but is now spread into our courthouses as well, Wu said. Im afraid that [Abbott] might be calling them at night and saying, Hey, remember who gave you your your job, right? You need to take care of this.

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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 KXAN Austin.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A federal judge has ruled that a former Kinsman fire chief was acting within the law when he assisted a paramedic in administering Narcan to a suspect who was refusing it.

The civil rights case against former Kinsman fire chief Cory Van Kanegan was filed in December 2023 in connection with the July 2023 arrest of Jordan Aulizio. During the arrest outside a discount store in Kinsman, Aulizio appeared impaired, was speaking incoherently and had constricted pupils, investigators reported. Witnesses said he had passed out in the store before going outside.

A Johnston paramedic and police officer arrived on the scene, as well as Van Kanegan, who was nearby when the call came in and went to the scene to help.

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During interactions with the first responders, it was determined by the medical officer on the scene, the paramedic, that Aulizio had likely ingested an opiate, and it was determined that he would be administered Narcan.

Simultaneously, the police officer learned of an outstanding warrant for Aulizio, and he was placed under arrest. At that time, Van Kanegan helped the paramedic hold Aulizio down so that the paramedic could administer the Narcan.

Aulizios lawsuit claimed that his civil rights were violated when he was given the anti-overdose medication against his will, and he filed two $4.5 million lawsuits  one against Van Kanegan and the other against the paramedic.

U.S. District Court Judge Meehan Brennan awarded summary judgment Friday to Van Kanegan, ruling that it was reasonable to believe that Aulizio should be administered Narcan because of his behavior, and his past drug abuse that was known to Van Kanegan and other first responders. Also, since Aulizio was technically under arrest, it is permissible to force medically needed care on a detainee, even if they dont think they need it. The decision also mentions that the paramedic administered the drug, not Van Kanegan, albeit he facilitated it by holding Aulizio down.

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The judgment also stated that Aulizio suffered no medical harm in receiving Narcan.

The case against Van Kanegan is closed.

Aulizio ultimately pleaded guilty to obstructing official business and resisting arrest in connection with the July 2023 incident. His civil rights lawsuit against the paramedic is still pending in federal court.

Van Kanegan resigned from his position as Kinsmans fire chief in 2024.

Nadine Grimley contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Aug. 8A federal jury in Albuquerque has convicted the first defendant to go to trial on charges that he worked for an elaborate fentanyl drug trafficking network that spanned five states.

Alex Anthony Martinez, 38, was convicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy after a six-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico. No sentencing date has been set.

He was one of 16 people charged with participating in the network led by Heriberto Salazar Amaya, a Mexican national arrested in Salem, Oregon. The Drug Enforcement Administration-led investigation into the organization resulted in what federal prosecutors say was the largest single fentanyl pill seizure in DEA history.

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The organization is alleged to have ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel. As a "regional manager" in New Mexico, Martinez directed and supplied local distributors in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Hobbs between July 2024 and April 2025, federal prosecutors say.

The arrest of Martinez and another alleged "regional manager" for the organization, Bruce Sedillo, came after an investigation by the DEA and the Lea County Drug Task Force.

"Those efforts also took down a high-volume fentanyl dealer operating in Hobbs and southern New Mexico, Jose Marquez," stated the U.S. Attorney's office in a news release.

In November 2024, agents executed a search warrant at a stash house in Northeast Albuquerque connected to both Martinez and Sedillo. During the search, approximately 150,000 fentanyl pills, $72,000 in U.S. currency and multiple firearms were seized.

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Simultaneous raids were also conducted in Salem, Denver, Phoenix, Albuquerque and Lawton, Utah, on April 28.

Altogether, the DEA confiscated about 4.2 million fentanyl pills  the most at one time  as well as 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 79 pounds of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin and 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, according to prosecutors.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  President Donald Trumps Justice Department is zeroing in on New York Attorney General Letitia James with a subpoena for records related to the $454 million civil judgement she won against Trump for lying about his wealth, a person familiar with the matter has told The Associated Press.

The subpoena is part of an investigation into whether James violated Trumps civil rights, another person said. The people could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke Friday to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

Another subpoena seeks records related to James' lawsuit involving the National Rifle Association, a person familiar with the matter said. On top of that, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently named a special prosecutor to help conduct a mortgage fraud investigation into James.

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James has sued Trump and his Republican administration dozens of times over his policies as president and over how he conducted his private business empire. Trump vowed on the campaign trail to seek retribution against his opponents, and the moves against James are among the most serious yet against Trumps political foes by the Justice Department.

Heres what to know about James and the escalating investigations:

James says she's being politically targeted

The Democratic attorney general has denied any wrongdoing and said the mortgage probe is politically motivated.

Her personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, called the subpoenas improper.

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Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration, Lowell said.

The art of the steal

James is the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New York, the states first Black attorney general and the first woman elected to the post. She fixated on Trump during the 2018 campaign, branding him as a con man and pledging to shine a bright light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings.

As soon as she took office, James launched several lawsuits over his immigration and environmental policies. She inherited a state lawsuit against Trumps charitable foundation and steered it to a settlement that included a $2 million fine.

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She filed another civil lawsuit against Trump in September 2022, alleging that his company deceived banks, insurers and others by overvaluing assets and his net worth on financial paperwork.

Its the art of the steal, she said when announcing the case against Trump, turning the title of Trumps book The Art of the Deal against him.

Trump says James never intended to be fair

In 2024, a New York judge ruled that Trump lied for years about his wealth and ordered him to pay $354.9 million in penalties plus nearly $100 million in interest.

Trump is appealing the judgement. He also posted a $175 million bond to halt the state from collecting what he owes and seizing his assets.

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Trump says his financial statements actually understated his wealth and that any mistakes in the documents were harmless errors that played no role in banks lending decisions. He and his lawyers repeatedly accused James of engaging in lawfare for political purposes  a claim she denies.

Trump has long criticized James legal volleys as political theater designed to catapult her to fame. Trump also complained that her comments about him, prior to her election, show she never intended to be fair.

'Corporate death penalty'

In her role as a regulator of charities and nonprofit groups registered in New York, James sued the NRA and its longtime leader Wayne LaPierre. A jury last year found that LaPierre misspent millions of dollars and used the organization's funds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle, while the NRA itself failed to properly manage its assets and violated whistleblower protections.

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A New York judge also banned LaPierre from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade, but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the group.

James had sought to dissolve the powerful gun advocacy organization, however a judge ruled that the allegations did not warrant a corporate death penalty.

Mortgage fraud investigation

FBI Director Kash Patel in May confirmed James was being investigated after a Trump administration official accused her of mortgage fraud. James lawyer says the accusation was a lie based on a purposeful misreading of documents.

The investigation centers on forms James signed in 2023 while helping a niece buy a home in Norfolk, Virginia. One form stated that James intended to occupy the home as her principal residence. But in other documents, James made clear she had no intention of living there. An email to the mortgage loan broker two weeks before she signed the documents stated the property WILL NOT be my primary residence.

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This week, Bondi named Ed Martin as a special prosecutor to help conduct a mortgage fraud investigation into James, according to the person familiar with the matter. James denied any wrongdoing and called the claim politically motivated.

Martin leads the Weaponization Working Group, which is examining Trumps claims of anti-conservative bias inside the Justice Department. Martin's nomination for District of Columbia U.S. attorney was pulled amid Republican lawmakers concerns about his scant prosecutorial experience and support for Jan. 6 rioters.
Chad Furfari, an 11-year employee at JWF Industries, has earned his journeyman welding papers, according to a press release from JWF Industries.

The JWF Welding Training Program is a state-approved program that has multiple components, including hands-on welding training, independent book work, leadership training and college-level classes, the press release said.
Heading into the California gubernatorial election, Katie Porter seems to be the front-runner  for the moment.

Before Vice President Kamala Harris dropped out of the race , her donor-backing and name recognition put her ahead of any hopeful Democrat candidate. After announcing that shes sitting out the race last week, the playing field has completely shifted.

As a young person who cast her first vote in a presidential election this past November, watching Harris flail against Donald Trump was a disillusioning moment. More than anything, the prevailing sentiment among my peers has been that the Democratic party needs new blood.

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Coming from Irvine, Katie Porters hometown, Im not confident she can be the change the Democratic party desperately needs.

A whiteboard and a dream

Porter made a name for herself during her 2017 campaign for Congress . Flipping Californias 45th Congressional District for the first time since its founding in 1953, Porters success accompanied a blue wave that flipped all seven seats centered in Orange County.

She also made an impression during her tenure in Congress by grilling billionaires during Congressional hearings . She was the one with the whiteboard, you cant miss it.

Beyond the headline-grabbing whiteboard moments, Porter hasnt made a particular impression on me. Shes a classic Democrat, a pupil of old guard Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with whom shes been linked since her days studying at Harvard Law.

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Her time in Congress can be summed up by the routine Democratic Trump-blaming. She, like many other Democrats, failed to establish a platform beyond Trump is evil.

As a representative of Orange County, she failed to make her constituents feel seen. In 2023, as protests raged against the Islamic Republic in the global Iranian diaspora, Iranian-Americans in the Los Angeles and Orange County area called for solidarity with the protests and action taken against the regime. As an Iranian-American from Irvine, my community and I were disappointed in her failure to address or take action.

This is all compounded by h er loss in the 2024 Senatorial race , where she landed third behind Adam Schiff and Steve Garvey. She failed to rally enough support and, rather than looking inward as to why her campaign lost, she blamed donors, calling the election rigged.

For her gubernatorial campaign, Porter has yet again failed to establish a platform beyond Trump. She committed herself to protecting Californians from external threats  a nod to Trumps assault on California with the national guard.

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But by framing the issues California faces as external, she fails to address our internal problems.

The Democratic playbook

Democrats are having an identity crisis. This we know.

They have failed to establish a raison-detre outside of Trump; they have shied away from backing candidates that actually stand for something, like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani; and they have failed to adapt to a Trumpian political landscape, riding the coattails of pluralism that has cost them elections.

Instead, they have held fast to Obama era politics and leaders, nominating Hillary Clinton (Obamas secretary of state) and Joe Biden (Obamas vice president.)

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Harris presidential campaign was counting on women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Instead she saw significant losses among Black and Hispanic voters.

Katie Porters campaign, as it stands today, is following the old Democratic playbook.

The Democratic party continues to appeal to these communities on a surface level without addressing the economic issues plaguing them. Its what cost them the 2024 presidential election.

Im not against Porter for governor, but if shes going to play by the old rules and continue to point her finger at Trump for every issue facing California, Im not confident in her ability to bring fresh blood and new ideas to the seat or the party.

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What we need is a leader who actually believes in something and isnt afraid to say it plainly. Someone who looks inward and points the finger at how the Democratic party has come up short the past four years.

If Porter shows backbone and proves she can pivot, Id throw my weight behind her. But from where Im standing now, the prospect seems dire.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating a police-involved shooting that occurred in Kansas City, Kansas, Friday, according to a post from the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department on X, formerly Twitter.

No officers were injured in the Friday afternoon shooting, according to the post. One suspect was transported to an area hospital in an unknown condition. The persons identity was not released, nor, in the post were there any further details about the incident.

State Avenue remained blocked off Friday afternoon between North 84th Drive and 82nd Terrace, according to the post. Residents are asked to avoid the area.
Will Indiana Republicans comply with the request of President Donald Trump to consider setting a precedent by redistricting again?

Indiana has traditionally redrawn legislative and congressional districts after the completion of the U.S. Census every decade.

The lines were redrawn in 2021 and should remain in place until at least 2031.

Vice President JD Vance was in Indiana this week and met with Gov. Mike Braun and the states GOP legislative leaders, in part, to discuss redistricting.

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With the Republican Party in complete control of the Legislature, all state elective offices and the majority of Congressional seats, it seems hard to believe that redistricting would be considered.

Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly, which means no Democratic votes are needed to pass bills.

The GOP currently holds seven of the states nine congressional seats, with only districts in Indianapolis and northwest Indiana represented by Democrats.

Any new map drawn for Indianapolis would have to extend the boundary from Marion County into at least a few of the so-called doughnut counties.

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A change in that map would impact every other congressional district as currently drawn.

Would Hamilton County become part of a district to water down Democratic votes in Marion County?

That would impact the 5th District, which includes all of Madison County.

Would any new maps require some counties to be split between congressional districts, as in the past?

The same effect would take place in northwest Indiana, as the Gary and Hammond area would have to be moved to the south to secure Republican votes.

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has already spoken out against any effort to redistrict in the state.

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Its certainly not going to reduce the level of public cynicism or increase the level of confidence, Daniels said. It may be appropriate in some places, but I dont understand that Indiana is one. I think we have pretty fairly drawn lines now, and I dont see any good reason that they should be tampered with out of cycle.

Since the Legislature doesnt meet again until next year, any effort to redistrict this year would require Braun to call a special session.

Will public hearings take place around the state to get citizen input on new district boundaries, or would it all take place in the Legislature?

Would an effort to redraw the congressional lines also involve the redistricting of the state legislative boundaries?

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Should an effort be made to redraw the lines in Indiana, there is sure to be a public outcry and the filing of lawsuits to block the effort.

Braun and the GOP leadership should not comply with Trumps efforts. They should leave the districts as currently drawn.
The Brief

Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court asking for the removal of 13 Democrats from the Texas House.

The members were among those that left the state in response to a Republican-led redistricting effort during the current special session.

The members were given a deadline of 1 p.m. Friday to return to the House.

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking the state's highest court to vacate the seats of more than a dozen Texas House Democrats that left the state to break quorum in an attempt to prevent a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

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The move comes after the House again failed to reach a quorum on Friday. Paxton said earlier this week that he would seek the removal of Democrats who left the state if they did not return by 1 p.m. Friday.

What they're saying

"The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their duties, leaving their seats vacant," Paxton said. "These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold. Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on."

The other side

Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said the Democrats were "undeterred by Republican threats."

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"If Texas Republicans have a problem with this constitutionally protected quorum break, they can take it up with Gen. Sam Houston and the founders of Texas who authored our constitution. Texas Democrats are exercising a long-standing, constitutionally protected right of the minority party to block extreme agendas  in this case, gerrymandering to keep Trump in power," Scudder said. "These lawmakers have taken significant risks and sacrifices to stop Trumps agenda, and despite all the threats they face, they remain undeterred, just like the rest of us. If Ken Paxton wants a fight, we will give him one."

Can Democrats break quorum?

In 2021, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the Texas Constitution allows for quorum breaks, but also allows for consequences to bring members back.

On several radio shows, Paxton said the process of removing lawmakers who broke quorum would be a lengthy process and that he wasn't sure if it was possible because it hasn't been tried.

"It might be a way to take existing members out of their positions if they fail to show up to perform their duties," Paxton said on the Glen Beck Program Tuesday.

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Ultimately, it would be for the courts to decide if lawmakers abandoned their offices, which would lead to special elections to fill those seats.

Paxton told Beck that he believed the House could move forward without special elections even if lawmakers were removed.

"I think it'll change the quorum," Paxton said. "If you have less members, your quorum numbers change."

Which Democrats are being targeted by Paxton?

In the attorney general's filing on Friday, 13 Democrats are named.

Those Democrats are:

District 27  Ron Reynolds, Missouri City

District 47  Vikki Goodwin, Austin

District 49  Gina Hinojosa, Austin

District 50  James Talarico, Austin

District 51  Maria Luisa Flores, Austin

District 70  Mihaela Plesa, Dallas

District 76  Suleman Lalani, Sugar Land

District 101  Chris Turner, Grand Prairie

District 102  Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos, Richardson

District 104  Jessica Gonzalez, Dallas

District 124  Josey Garcia, San Antonio

District 136  John H. Bucy III, Austin

District 137  Gene Wu, Houston

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Wu was named in another lawsuit filed in the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott, who is also seeking his removal from office.

Threats to arrest Texas Democrats

The backstory

Texas Republican leaders have threatened to have the quorum breakers arrested, even requesting aid from agencies outside the state in the effort.

Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to begin the effort starting Monday, saying the Democrats were "holding hostage critical legislation."

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, seeing the difficulty in Texas DPS carrying out arrests outside the state, called on the FBI Tuesday to assist in the effort with a letter to Director Kash Patel. Cornyn expressed concern that the lawmakers had committed crimes in their "rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities," saying they need to be fully investigated.

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House Speaker Dustin Burrows urged the "no shows" to return and said he would sign arrest warrants for those who do not. According to the Texas Tribune, these warrants would be largely symbolic as they would only apply within state lines.

Texas redistricting effort

AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 06: A newly proposed U.S. Congressional District map is seen as the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting meets to hear invited testimony on Congressional plan C2308 at the Texas State Capitol on August 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas. The meeting adjourned early due to a lack of attendees for testimony. Earlier this week, Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to protest and deny quorum for votes on the proposed Republican redistricting plan, which would secure five additional GOP seats in the U.S. House. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove lawmakers who do not return and has asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leaders who fled the state. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Dig deeper

The newly proposed map increases the number of congressional districts that would have voted for Trump by at least 10 percentage points by five.

Republicans currently control 25 of the state's 38 Congressional districts.

The new map makes some big changes in North Texas. It moves Democrat Rep. Marc Veaseys district from Tarrant to Dallas County, Democrat Rep. Julie Johnsons district moves from Dallas and Collin County to more conservative sections of East Texas, and Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crocketts Dallas seat becomes one of just two majority Black districts in the entire state.

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The Democrats claim the redrawn maps will violate the federal Voting Rights Act, but that may be difficult for them to prove.

In Central Texas, Democrats Greg Casar and Lloyd Doggett would find their districts vastly different from the current map.

The district currently held by Casar would no longer include Travis County, while the district held by Doggett would no longer include a portion of Williamson County.

In Houston, the new map reshapes four currently Democrat-held districts. The biggest change to the districts would be in the seat currently held by Rep. Al Green. The new map would shift the district from covering southern Harris County and instead move it to the eastern part of the county.

The Source

Information on Ken Paxton's filing comes from court records and a release from the attorney general's office. Information on Texas redistricting comes from previous FOX 7 coverage.
The Brief

Kenosha County Sheriff's Office K-9 Riggs died on Friday.

Gov. Tony Evers signed the "K9 Riggs Act" into law on the same day.

K-9 Riggs was shot in the head while apprehending a suspect in 2021.

KENOSHA, Wis. - Kenosha County Sheriff's Office K-9 Riggs, shot in the head on duty in 2021, died on Friday. On the same day, Gov. Tony Evers signed the "K9 Riggs Act" into law.

K-9 Riggs

The backstory

The sheriff's office described the "poignant coincidence" as a "bittersweet moment for our agency and the entire community."

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K-9 Riggs served alongside Sgt. Terry Tift for a decade. He retired in October 2024, three years after he was shot in the head while apprehending a suspect. His recovery and return to duty earned him numerous awards in recognition of his service.

K9 Riggs Act

Dig deeper

State Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) and State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) authored the "K9 Riggs Act." It strengthens penalties for those who intentionally harm or kill law enforcement animals. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support.

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Previously, Nedweski said, injuring a police or fire service animal was a Class I felony  and killing one was a Class H felony. The "K9 Riggs Act" elevates these penalties to Class H for injury and Class G for death, allowing for longer prison sentences and higher fines.

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The sheriff's office said the legislation ensures that K-9 officers, who risk their lives as vital partners in public safety, receive the protection they deserve under the law.

Remembering K-9 Riggs

What you can do

In lieu of flowers, the sheriff's office asked that donations be made to the Kenosha County Sheriffs K-9 Unit to support the training and care of our active K-9 officers.

What they're saying

Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner:

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"K9 Riggs was more than a partner; he was family to Sergeant Tifft and our entire department. His passing on the day the K9 Riggs Act became law is a profound reminder of his legacy. This law honors his courage and ensures that those who harm our K9 heroes face appropriate consequences."

State Rep. Amanda Nedewski (R-Pleasant Prairie):

"Today is a victory for public safety. K9 officers play an essential role in protecting our communities, and they deserve stronger protection under the law for their bravery. The K9 Riggs Act sends a clear message: harming K9 officers will not be tolerated in Wisconsin."

The Source

Information in this story is from the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office and State Rep. Amanda Nedewski's office.
A Kern County firefighter who was sent to help battle the now 5,370-acre Canyon Fire was hospitalized with major injuries after his pickup truck plunged off the side of a road Friday.

Officials confirmed to KTLA that the firefighter, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was on the line of duty around 6:20 p.m. when the incident within an incident (IWI) occurred.

Preliminary reports indicate that the firefighter was driving a pickup truck in a remote and rugged area in Castaic, possibly on patrol for Canyon Fire hotspots or flare-ups. He was traversing along a ridgeline when his truck veered off of Romero Canyon Road and plummeted about 100-200 feet below, rolling over multiple times down the hillside.

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Details are limited, but KTLAs Chris Wolfe reported that the Kern County firefighter was possibly ejected from the truck during the violent plummet. Fire officials later confirmed that the crewmember suffered major injuries before paramedics airlifted him to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia.

As of Friday night, the firefighter was listed in stable condition, and an investigation into the rollover crash is underway.

This case is just another example of how dangerous working in public safety can be, reported Wolfe. Three other firefighters have purportedly also been injured while battling the Canyon Fire, though their injuries were said to be minor.

While the Kern County firefighter recovers, the Canyon Fire fight rages on. Crews had the flames 28% contained as of Saturday morning, and all evacuation orders have been downgraded to evacuation warnings.

Crews are seen helping an injured firefighter after his pickup truck rolled off a ridge line and plummeted about 100-200 feet. August 2025. (KTLA) Crews are seen helping an injured firefighter after his pickup truck rolled off a ridge line and plummeted about 100-200 feet. August 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Crews are seen working on containing the Canyon Fire on Aug. 8, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA) Evacuation orders were issued near Piru in Ventura County due to a fast-moving brush fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (KTLA)

Cal Fire listed evacuation warnings, meaning a potential threat to life and/ or property, for the following zones:

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L.A. County  Evac Map

CAS-GOLDENSTATE B

CAS-GREENHILL

CAS-SLOAN

CAS-HILLCREST

CAS-CAMBRIDGE

CAS-VALVERDE A

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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An 18-year-old from Kernersville has been arrested in a shooting death that happened Sunday, the Winston-Salem Police Department said.

Gerard Deunta Lewis of Lyons Walk Drive is accused of killing 20-year-old Deshaun Christian Capers, who was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the 3000 block of North Patterson Avenue around 12:25 a.m. Sunday.

Police have not released any other information related to the shooting.

Lewis was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with first-degree murder. He was being held in the Forsyth County Detention Center with no bond allowed.
Kids can fish for free at this upcoming event

CASSVILLE, Mo.  A Kids Fishing Day will be held at a popular Missouri State Park.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservations website, on August 16, a Kids Fishing Day event will be held at Roaring River State Park in Cassville, Missouri. The event is a collaboration between MDC and Roaring River Adventures.

Its an almost all-day event, spanning from 7:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening. A specific area will be designated for young anglers (15 and under), who can pick up free trout tags at the Roaring River Hatchery Office any time the day before, or at the large tent across from the falls on the day of.

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Although participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment, there will be a limited number of poles and bait available on site.

For more information on the event, either call the Roaring River Hatchery (417)847-2430, or email Jared.Ballard@mdc.mo.gov or Brad.Farwell@mdc.mo.gov Visit the MDCs website to learn more.

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FRENCHTOWN  Long-awaited testing data from groundwater and soil sampling at the former Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. site has been released, according to EPA officials, but the agencys analysis and interpretation of what it all means for the toxic industrial site wont go public until November at the soonest.

Processing all those samples is a big task, and we did receive our last draft data summary report this week, EPA project manager Allie Archer said, part of a team of EPA staff who attended the meeting remotely. She noted the sampling reports include over 55,000 individual data points.

That announcement at Thursday nights community advisory group meeting amounted to a rare bit of news for the local residents, scientists and activists gathered at the Frenchtown Rural Fire Station. But many of them said they feel the public is being cut out of the process as the federal agency slow-walks a cleanup plan thats been in the works for over a decade.

Its hard to be proactive when we dont have the information that you need to be proactive, said Jeri Delys, one of the advisory groups leaders. ... Sometimes I feel like were just kind of waiting.

No EPA representatives attended the meeting in person, and their remote feeds remained silent as Delys and others voiced frustrations at the end of the meeting.

The Frenchtown Smurfit-Stone Community Advisory Group, or CAG, has for years urged the EPA to expand its sampling to more sites and more frequency. At times, theyve had success. In 2022, EPA Regional Administrator Kathleen Becker agreed to conduct expanded testing for contamination at the 3,200-acre site, following repeated requests by the group.

Since then, however, CAG members feel the agency has fallen short of its promises to the public and instead focused more on working with the potentially responsible parties who would be on the hook for cleanup costs. So far those include M2Green Redevelopment, International Paper and WestRock, although others could be later determined to hold responsibility.

A letter sent by CAG members to the agencys newly appointed Region 8 Administrator, Cyrus Western, invited him to meet with the volunteer group and asked that he renew the 2022 commitment.

In his June 12 response letter, Western declined to commit to a meeting, but left open the possibility at a future date. He has since visited western Montana to tour the former Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. on July 17, according to the Flathead Beacon. Unlike Smurfit-Stone, the shuttered plant in Columbia Falls is an official Superfund site on the agencys National Priorities List.

Westerns reply letter also disputed the CAGs assertion that the EPAs sampling to date has fallen short of its commitments.

As a result of Missoula Countys request for additional sampling to address concerns about site characterization, he wrote, specifically about the potential presence of PCBs, over the last two years the EPA required and oversaw the collection of an additional 240 groundwater samples, 220 subsurface soil samples, and the drilling and installation of 12 new monitoring wells. This is in addition to the nine years of data already collected to characterize the site.

While not yet listed explicitly as a Superfund site, a consent degree with the EPA essentially requires Smurfit-Stones remediation to follow the Superfund process. Right now, theyre developing the sites risk assessment, using sampling and analysis to build a comprehensive picture of problems at the site. That will inform the next phase, in which a feasibility study is developed. By 2028, the agency aims to produce a list of alternative strategies for cleaning up the site.

CAG members, including Elena Evans with Missoula Public Health, have argued that additional sampling, which took place over several rounds in 2024, lacked sufficient public input and transparency. Presenting at the groups previous meeting, in May, Evans said theyre concerned the EPAs selection of testing sites could miss some of the most contaminated areas on the massive site.

This is a key time for the community, because were turning the corner into the feasibility study, Evans explained at the time. Once we turn the corner, then its pretty hard to put any more information into those risk assessments.

Westerns letter offered a possible preview of the EPAs conclusions from that new sampling: Preliminary data from the 2024 sediment, groundwater, surface water and soil sampling did not identify new areas of contamination, nor did it identify any additional risk.

Downstream impacts

Westerns statement about testing for PCBs refers to a class of cancer-causing chemicals that have been previously detected at the site and in nearby stretches of the Clark Fork River, which flows along the western edge of the former industrial campus.

A sub-class of PCBs, along with the highly toxic chemical families of dioxins and furans, were the subject of a Thursday night presentation from Trevor Selch, the fisheries pollution biologist at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

According to a 2019 study by FWP, water samples and fish tissue samples collected along the Clark Fork River showed dangerously high levels of those chemicals at different spots. Because they bio-accumulate up the food chain, those studies have led to fish consumption advisories throughout the water system.

The 2010 closure of Smurfit-Stone helped prompt an initial round of sampling around the site, Selch said, noting that at the time it was just a really cursory look.

There was a lot of concern from the public, asking if the fish are safe to eat, Selch said. The pulp and paper industry is known for these kind of contaminants, and we just didn't have any data on the Clark Fork  and to be honest with you, really anywhere in the entire state.

Still, those initial results were enough to prompt the first fish consumption advisories for the river, which have since been updated based on the more recent study. Notably, FWPs most severe warnings today apply to the Clark Fork between its confluences with the Bitterroot and Flathead Rivers, where Smurfit-Stone is located.

Those fish are not to be eaten, the state advises, no matter what species or size they are.

For Mary Price with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, those warnings dont go far enough. In 2018, the tribes asked the EPA to conduct a human health risk assessment specific to their members.

In addition to higher consumption rates, tribal fishers also have unique fish preparation methods, Price, a staff scientist with the tribes legal department, explained. Often they will leave the skin and fat on say a fillet that is going to be smoked or dried. Its not uncommon for them to use the whole fish for a soup or a stew.

Due to the high levels of the types of toxins identified in the FWP study, she said the EPA assessment found there is an unacceptable risk for consuming the fillets or whole body of either rainbow trout or northern pike. In response, the tribes have issued a fish consumption advisory that goes farther than the state's, and includes upstream stretches of the Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Bitterroot rivers.

Scientists with the EPA and the state have been careful to note that the presence of toxic chemicals on the Smurfit-Stone site doesnt necessarily mean theyre the cause of elevated levels in the river or fish. The Clark Fork and its tributaries have a long industrial past, and other sources of toxic pollution exist, Selch noted during his presentation, continuing all the way upstream to its headwaters outside Butte.

Price is skeptical of that approach.

Somehow the Clark Fork River has become separated from the terrestrial part of the site, she said. There seems to be this attitude and perception developing that somehow the site is only what you see when you drive down the road and you look at the infrastructure.  That site was designed to discharge to the Clark Fork River. I have yet to see a pulp or paper mill that was not built next to a river. Its intentional.

Price also noted that the federal government has a legal obligation to the tribes, under the provisions of the 1855 Hellgate Treaty, to ensure tribal members continued right of taking fish in all the usual and accustomed places. Essentially, the right to historic fishing spots means little if tribal members cant safely consume their catch.

To the Salish and the Kootenai tribes, that is what really matters here, she said. The whole thing matters, but their rights are on the Clark Fork River.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Mary Price is a staff scientist with the CSKT Legal Department, not an attorney.
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY)  A proposal is on the table to close the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center on Wallops Island, on the northern end of Virginias Eastern Shore, according to federal workers fighting its closure, with a local legislator calling it concerning and surprising.

The workers say that, if enacted would hurt the community, the regional economy and NASAs public mission.

Trump moves to shut down NASA missions that measure carbon dioxide and plant health

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This closure is not just a bureaucratic reshuffling, its a devastating blow, delivered with precision, to a community that has loyally supported NASA for generations, said a member of the American Federation of Government Employees union Thursday in a statement. The Visitor Center is not a luxury, its a vital link between space exploration and the American public, particularly in rural regions like ours where opportunity and visibility are already scarce.

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-2nd District), whose district counts Wallops Island and Accomack County in the northern part of Virginias Eastern Shore, said the news about the proposed Wallops Flight Facility closures, including the visitors center, was concerning and surprising.

I am extremely concerned about the recent and surprising news of the proposed facility closures at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility, including the visitor center, Kiggans said in a statement on X. This is an unacceptable and drastic step that will have a significant impact on local employees, residents and visitors. My staff are in contact with NASA to better understand the reasoning behind this reported decision, as it is contradictory to the proposed House budget. Wallops has long been a vital part of our community, and we will do everything we can to support the work thats done there, and the people who work there.

The union said the NASA Wallops Visitor Center had 41,578 walk-in visitors last year, with more than 30,000 adults and 11,000 youth engaged in the 230 days it was open. It had 8,067 people take part in 106 free public programs, which it noted fostered STEM education and community connection, along with 629.5 volunteer hours.

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Del. Karrie Delaney, who represents the 9th District in Virginias House of Delegates, said the closure would not only damper tourism to the Eastern Shore, but also leave more Virginians unemployed.

The Center, free to the public, also earned the Robert H. Goddard Award for Exceptional Achievement in Outreach, an agency honor reflecting excellence in science communication and public engagement.

The union said the Visitor Center is a regional economic catalyst for an area that is geographically isolated and has limited infrastructure, saying it draws visitors who support local businesses, as well as the Virginia Space Flight Academy. It said closing the Visitor Center would mean lost tourism money that would hurt a vulnerable rural economy, reduced visibility for Wallops Flight Facility in NASAs broader mission and it would disconnect families and school divisions from the U.S. space program.

The union suggested in a news release that theres a growing concern the move to close the Visitor Center there, and a Goddard, of which Wallops is a part, is a punitive measure to staff who did not elect to voluntarily separate or resign during recent agency downsizing or restructuring.

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It is demanding a pause to the closure of the Visitors Center in order for there to be a transparent economic and community impact study, a public hearing and forum for stakeholders hosted by the union, local and state governments and NASA management, and Congressional oversight to determine the reason for its closure.

The NASA Wallops Visitor Center represents the best of public service, scientific exploration, and small-town community pride, the union said in a statement. To dismantle it under the guise of restructuring is to undervalue the very spirit of American spaceflight and to abandon the communities that make it possible. We urge Members of Congress, the Virginia General Assembly, and Local Government, and all economic and educational partners to speak out, step forward, and help reverse this deeply misguided decision before its too late. Let Wallops continue to reach for the starsand let the community keep watching.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 21-year-old woman from Damascus was sentenced to two years in federal prison after running a social media drug distribution service to target minors in the Portland metro area, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

Averi Dickinson, who was 19 at the time of her arrest, was originally charged with a criminal complaint of conspiring to distribute and distributing controlled substances, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Coos Bay cop checked TikTok, text messages during suspects fatal meth overdose, lawsuit claims

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In January 2023, the FBI began investigating Dickinson after learning she ran a drug distribution service called Kikis Delivery Service, according to court documents. Officials said she advertised and took orders for illegal narcotics on Instagram, Snapchat and Telegram.

A 21-year-old woman was sentenced to federal prison for running a social media drug distribution service targeting minors in the Portland metro area, authorities said. June 2023 (Oregon Department of Justice).

Investigators found that Dickinson had been running the service for up to three years, taking orders for cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, marijuana and pills  both real and fake, authorities said.

Emersons arraignment rescheduled again, set for September

Dickinson was also identified as a supply source within a larger drug distribution chain responsible for several drug overdoses in minors.

Authorities seized cocaine, marijuana, pills and guns from a now 21-year-old Oregon womans home and car after she was accused of running a social media drug distribution service targeting minors in the Portland area, Officials said. June 2023 (Oregon Department of Justice).

Authorities seized cocaine, marijuana, pills and guns from a now 21-year-old Oregon womans home and car after she was accused of running a social media drug distribution service targeting minors in the Portland area, Officials said. June 2023 (Oregon Department of Justice).

In June 2023, investigators said they seized cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, counterfeit Xanax bars, over $3,000 in cash, a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, a loaded AR-style rifle, as well as a bulletproof vest from Dickinsons home and vehicle.

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According to court documents, Dickinson told investigators she was known as the only person who sells drugs in Clackamas. Additionally, she believed about half of her clients were minors and that several minors acted as drug runners to fulfill deliveries.

Authorities seized cocaine, marijuana, pills and guns from a now 21-year-old Oregon womans home and car after she was accused of running a social media drug distribution service targeting minors in the Portland area, Officials said. June 2023 (Oregon Department of Justice).

After being taken into custody, Dickinson made her first appearance in federal court on June 15, 2023, was detained, then granted a conditional pre-trial release on August 9, 2023.

A trial date was originally set for later that month, but was postponed multiple times before Dickinson entered a guilty plea on two of the 15 counts of her indictment on May 6, 2025. These charges were distribution of a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 and sale of a counterfeit drug.

All of the other counts  including those noted in the criminal complaint  were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

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On Friday, Dickinson was sentenced by Judge Amy Baggio to 24 months in prison, with five years supervised release. She will begin her sentence on Oct. 2.

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KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT)  The Kinston Police Department is seeking public assistance in solving the 2020 murder of Kelvin Barrow, as they mark the fifth anniversary of his death.

Barrow was found deceased in the front yard of a residence after a report of a shooting at a house party on August 9, 2020.

Despite ongoing investigative efforts over the past five years, the case remains unsolved.

KPD Detectives are committed to bringing closure to the Barrow family and justice for Kelvin. Anyone with information is urged to come forward.

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How to Submit a Tip:

Call the KPD Tips Line at 252-939-4020

Contact Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444

Submit information anonymously through the TIP411 app, available on both Apple and Android devices

FOR MORE: CLICK HERE

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  For this upcoming weekend, school supplies and clothes will be tax-free to welcome the start of a new school year.

Grand reopening of Hippie Hysteria: events, pop-ups, refreshments

KLST will be having a back-to-school supply drive tomorrow for San Angelos D.E.S.K. program to help the community with their needs.

KLST will be set up to accept donations at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on 5501 Sherwood Way from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on August 9.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
A gunman opened fire in Atlanta on Friday afternoon near the campuses of both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University, killing a police officer who was responding to calls of an active shooter, officials said.

The DeKalb County Police Department identified the slain officer Friday as David Rose, 33.

Officers found the suspect with gunshot wounds on the second floor of a building that houses a CVS Pharmacy. He died from his injuries at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

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On Saturday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, in a statement on X.

NBC News spoke Saturday with a neighbor of the suspect who said she knew him very well and requested anonymity. The neighbor described White as being someone who had expressed anti-vaccine sentiments to her on multiple occasions, adding he told her he believed the Covid vaccine had made him ill.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive in the incident.

Here's what we know about the shooting.

How did the the shooting unfold?

Schierbaum said 911 calls about an active shooter came in around 4:50 p.m. for 1600 Clifton Road, in front of the CDC campus. Around that same time, nearby Emory University sent out an alert that there was an active shooter situation on campus. Both Emory and the CDCs Roybal Campus were locked down.

When officers responded to the scene, Schierbaum said, they found a critically injured DeKalb County officer. He was taken to Emory University Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

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Schierbaum said officers heard gunfire inside a CVS at a retail and apartment complex at the intersection, and went inside the building to try to locate the shooter.

Atlanta police lock down the streets around the CDC during an active shooter event in Atlanta on Friday. (John Falchetto / AFP via Getty Images)

The suspect was found on the second floor. Schierbaum said he had been hit by gunfire, but that officers are not sure if the wounds were self-inflicted or from police.

He died at the scene, Schierbaum said.

Were there any victims?

Rose, injured DeKalb County police officer, died from his injuries, said Greg Padrick, the interim chief of the DeKalb County Police Department.

DeKalb County police officer David Rose. (DeKalb County Police Department)

Rose joined the department in September, starting at its police academy, and graduated in March, officials said.

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He was committed to serving the community. At this time we are asking for the communitys prayers, Padrick said. Its a noble profession we all do. We answer the call to serve our community and he gave his life to a commitment to serve others.

He leaves behind a wife and two children, with one on the way, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

There is a mother and a father, as well as siblings, who also share in this traumatic loss, she said.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement that he extends his sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Officer David Rose.

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We grieve alongside his family. My heart goes out to the entire DeKalb county government and police department. Dickens said. Officer Roses passing is a stark reminder that every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harms way to protect others, and this dedication deserves our respect and gratitude.

No civilians were injured in the shooting, Dickens said. A representative for CVS said no one at the store was hurt.

Four other people took themselves to the hospital, where they were treated for stress and anxiety symptoms, Schierbaum said.

CDC building struck

CDC Director Susan Monarez said four of the campus buildings were hit during the shooting. Officials were not aware of any injuries that occurred there.

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Monarez said she is heartbroken by todays attack and thanked local officials for helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community.

In a letter to employees on Saturday, Monarez said that Monday will be a remote workday for all employees in order for us to conduct a security assessment before returning to the office.

Law enforcement is still assessing damage to CDC buildings, but it is a relief to report that no CDC employees or visitors were harmed, and we are grateful for the swift response of CDC Security and local law enforcement, she said.

Schierbaum said investigators are looking at whether rounds fired at the CDC buildings were purposeful.

Was there a motive?

Asked if it was believed that the shooter targeted the CDC, Dickens said the investigation is in the preliminary stages and that he could not say more about a possible motive.

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He referred to the suspect as a known person that may have some interests in certain things, that I cant reiterate right know with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting, officials said.

What have officials said?

Gov. Brian Kemp denounced the shooting, the second in the state in one week.

Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, Kemp said on X, referring to a shooting at the Army post Fort Stewart two days earlier.

He thanked the brave first responders who rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.

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We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center, he said.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said he was monitoring the shooting and was praying for the officer who was killed and all students and faculty.

I am devastated that our community is facing yet another tragedy of gun violence, Warnock wrote on X.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency would offer full support to Georgia officials in the wake of the shooting.

Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, Patel said on X.

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Dickens said that gun violence like the kind that erupted Friday, shows there needs to be a national conversation about gun violence.

Mass shootings, active shooter scenarios should not become the norm, Dickens said.

Second shooting in Georgia in one week

Fridays shooting comes two days after an active-duty solider wounded five service members at Fort Stewart before a group of witnesses subdued him, officials said.

Quornelius Radford, 28, an automated logistics sergeant, is believed to have opened fire Wednesday with a personal handgun before he was taken into custody, said Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield.

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The victims were not publicly identified but were said to be Radfords co-workers at the base, which is 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

Three of the five who were injured have been released from the hospital, which Lubas said Thursday was amazing considering the circumstances and the ranges of which they were engaged.

The two who remain hospitalized are expected to recover, Lubas said.

Lubas said it was not clear what prompted the shooting.

Radford was the subject of bullying over his stutter almost as soon as he joined the military, former co-workers said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
David Rose, 33, was fatally shot on Friday evening while responding to an active shooter.

A 33-year-old Georgia police officer is dead after trying to stop an active shooter on Friday evening near the campuses of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University.

The DeKalb County officer was identified as David Rose. Rose, a rookie cop who had been on the job for almost a year, responded to the shooting and was critically injured. He later died of his injuries at Emory University Hospital, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported.

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It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Officer David Rose who was tragically killed in the line of duty, the DeKalb County Police Department said in a public statement. Officer Rose served DeKalb County with courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication. Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community.

The department added, We extend our deepest condolences to Officer Roses family, friends, fellow DeKalb County officers, and law enforcement community during this most difficult time. #WeAreDKPD.

Rose joined the police department in September 2024. According to AJC, he previously worked as a jailer for the Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office from August 2021 to September 2021 before he voluntarily resigned.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared that Rose, a husband and father of two with a son on the way, served in the U.S. Marines before joining the DeKalb Police Department.

ATLANTA, GA  MAY 3: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens speaks at a press conference following a shooting at Northside Hospital medical facility on May 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Police say one person was killed and four others injured in the shooting and the suspect, Deion Patterson, has been captured. Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

Officer Rose bravely responded to the active shooter incident on Emorys campus and lost his life while protecting so many others, said Mayor Dickens. Officer Roses passing is a stark reminder that every day, law enforcement officers put themselves in harms way to protect others, and this dedication deserves our respect and gratitude.

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The shooter, who has not been identified, was found dead of a gunshot wound. It is not clear if he died from a self-inflicted gunshot or at the hands of Officer Rose. A motive has not yet been determined.

Gunshots reportedly hit at least four CDC buildings during the Friday evening incident, leaving many fearful, particularly employees at the CDC, the nations largest public health agency, and the Emory University community.

CDC Director Susan Monarez, an appointee of President Donald Trump, announced to employees that agency workers will all work from home on Monday as a result of the shooting, as the federal public health agency evaluates security. The Trump administrations DOGE agency, led by Elon Musk, forced employees back to the office earlier this year.

The active shooter incident near our campus today has understandably brought fear, anger and worry to all of us. I want to express my deep appreciation for your professionalism and resilience during this time, said Monarez.

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The CDC director expressed condolences to Officer Roses family and friends. I admire the bravery and dedication it takes to face these situations head on, Monarez said.

More must-reads:
A Kroger employee in Colorado took to Reddit to vent their frustration about their store's excessive food waste, posting a photo showing crates of packaged carrots headed for disposal because they had passed their "best by" date.

What's happening?

"I feel like I'm getting gaslit into believing food is bad and compost worthy," the disillusioned employee wrote. "Every time we have to compost apples or potatoes that someone didn't redbag, I imagine a resourceful person who could've made applesauce/pie or a good meal with potatoes."

Photo Credit: Reddit

The employee said they rarely see colleagues using the "redbag" system that could save these products from landfills.

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"Kroger has a lot of programs to cut down on food waste, but they don't have the labor to follow through on it," another worker commented. "Food donation takes time."

Why is grocery store waste concerning?

Food waste sickens the planet. When food rots in landfills, it emits methane, a dirty gas much harsher than carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, all the resources used to grow, harvest, package, and ship those carrots (water, fertilizer, fuel, human labor) are wasted.

In the United States, grocery stores discard approximately 30% of all food that comes through their doors. This statistic becomes doubly heartbreaking when considered in the context of the 1 in 7 Americans who experience food insecurity.

Is the company doing anything about this?

Kroger's Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative, launched in 2017, looks to end food waste across the company and fight hunger. According to the company website, it has donated 500 million pounds of food.

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The Reddit post, however, suggests a divide between companywide goals and store-level reality. One commenter noted that while the Zero Hunger Zero Waste and other programs exist, stores often lack sufficient staff to execute food waste reduction efforts.

What's being done about food waste more broadly?

Food rescue groups work with stores to collect and distribute edible food that would otherwise be thrown away. Apps such as Too Good To Go and Flashfood link shoppers with discounted food nearing its sell-by date.

Some grocery chains sell "ugly produce" at lower prices rather than discarding items with cosmetic flaws. This practice saves food while giving customers more affordable options.

As a shopper, you can help by remembering that "best by" dates reflect quality, not safety. Most foods remain safe and nutritious past these dates.

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Support stores with strong food waste prevention policies to send a message that you care about this topic. Shoppers can ask their local grocers to partner with food banks and composting services, too.

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.
Ukraine won't surrender land to Russia to buy peace, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Saturday, after Washington and Moscow agreed to hold a summit in a bid to end the war.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will meet in the US state of Alaska on August 15, to try to resolve the three-year conflict, despite warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kyiv must be part of negotiations.

Announcing the summit on Friday, Trump said that "there'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" Ukraine and Russia, without providing further details.

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"Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," Zelensky said on social media hours later.

"Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing," he said, adding that the war "cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine".

Zelensky also urged Ukraine's allies to take "clear steps" towards achieving a sustainable peace, during a call with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

National security advisors from Kyiv's allies -- including the United States, EU nations and the UK -- were gathering in Britain on Saturday to align their views ahead of the Putin-Trump summit.

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"It is truly important that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again," Zelensky said after a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, without elaborating further.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit could bring peace any closer as the warring sides' positions are still far apart.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes.

Putin has resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe and Kyiv for a ceasefire.

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Zelensky said Kyiv was "ready for real decisions that can bring peace" but said it should be a "dignified peace", without giving details.

Putin, a former KGB officer in power in Russia for over 25 years, has ruled out holding talks with Zelensky at this stage.

Ukraine's leader has been pushing for a three-way summit and has frequently said meeting Putin is the only way to make progress towards peace.

- Far away from war -

The summit in Alaska, the far-north territory which Russia sold to the United States in 1867, would be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021. This was just nine months before Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.

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Zelensky said of the location that it is "very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people".

The Kremlin said the choice was "logical" because the state close to the Arctic is on the border between the two countries, and this is where their "economic interests intersect".

Moscow has also invited Trump to pay a reciprocal visit to Russia later.

Trump and Putin last sat together in 2019 at a G20 summit meeting in Japan during Trump's first term. They have spoken by telephone several times since January.

On Friday, Putin held a round of calls with allies, including China and India, in a diplomatic flurry ahead of the summit with Trump, who has spent his first months in office trying to broker peace in Ukraine without making a breakthrough.

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The US president has earlier imposed an additional tariff on India for buying Russia's oil in a bid to nudge Moscow into talks. He also threatened to impose a similar tax on China, but so far has refrained from doing so.

- Fighting goes on -

Away from the talks, across a more than 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) frontline, Russia and Ukraine continued pouring dozens of drones onto each other's positions in an exchange of attacks in the early hours of Saturday.

As a result of a Russian strike, a bus carrying civilians was hit in Ukraine's frontline city of Kherson, killing two people and wounding 16.

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The Russian army claimed to have taken Yablonovka, another village in the Donetsk region, place of the most intense fighting in the east, and one of the five regions Putin sees as part of Russia.

Four people were killed as of Saturday morning in Donetsk after Russian shelling, Ukrainian authorities said.

In 2022, the Kremlin announced the annexation four Ukrainian regions -- Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson -- despite not having full control over them.

Russia had previously annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

As a prerequisite to any peace settlement, Moscow demanded Kyiv to pull its forces out of the regions and commit to being a neutral state, shun Western military support and be excluded from joining NATO.

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Kyiv said it will never recognise Russian control over its sovereign territory, though it acknowledged securing the return of land captured by Russia would have to come through diplomacy, not on the battlefield.

bur-asy/giv
A Los Angeles County Fire Department captain is facing felony charges following allegations that he faked a work injury and forged doctors' notes to fraudulently claim thousands of dollars in disability payments, authorities said.

Thomas Merryman, 45, allegedly received more than $25,000 in insurance payments for a work injury that could not have taken place because he was not at work, according to the L.A. County district attorney's office.

He allegedly submitted fake paperwork under the name of another fire captain and a physician to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, allowing him to claim long-term disability payments, prosecutors said.

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Read more: Cop busted partying at Stagecoach while claiming $600,000 for fake injury, officials allege

Merryman, who is currently believed to live in Georgetown, Texas, has been charged with one felony count of insurance fraud, one felony count of false personation and two felony counts of forgery, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Sept. 9.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to five years in state prison, authorities said.

The statement from the district attorney's office did not provide any additional information on Merryman's history with the department, or his current employment status. According to Transparent California, an online database that tracks pay to public officials, a man of the same name and identified as a captain with L.A. County fire, received $178,466 in total pay and $112,687 in benefits in 2024.

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Fake disability claims will not be tolerated under my watch, especially by first responders charged with keeping our county safe, L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement. False healthcare claims raise insurance premiums and make it more difficult for people with legitimate work injuries to claim benefits. My message to public servants who abuse the system is clear: We are watching you."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
My journey as a restorer began over two decades ago, within my father Behram Engineers workshop at Opera House. A general repair shop, the space was a cacophony of sounds: wrenches clanging, engines humming, and the faint scent of motor oil wafting through the air. It was an ordinary, sweltering Mumbai afternoon when the penny dropped for me at around the age of 20not because of the roar of an engine but a sight of pure dedication. My neighbour, Soli Bhathena, a legendary figure in the automotive world, had taken on an extraordinary project: the resurrection of a Rolls-Royce that had arrived at his place in gunny bags. It was a spectacle that seemed almost surreala fragmented piece of history, painstakingly pieced together. When I saw that magnificent car finally glide out of the workshop, its gleaming body reflecting the sunlight, I knew this was my calling. From that day forward, the world of classic car restoration became my passion, and ultimately, my art. The project that put my brother, Nekzad, and me on the map, however, was a 1948 Bristol 400 owned by Amit Sapre. We rebuilt it from the ground up and had it running in eight months. It became a calling card for careful research and disciplined craft. It is the subject of the final episode of Studio Joyride, the platform I will launch with Karl Bhote today to document Indias classic-car culture. Throughthis, we will share the most amazing stories that emerge from our motoring community through the eyes of director Aashna Dhiman and her crew. Our first series goes live on YouTube on August 15. An automotive encyclopaedia For any successful restoration, you need to be a part-time detective and full-time archivist. And thats where my friend Karl comes in. Based in Pune, Karl is our communitys walking catalogueof Fiats and Fords, of coachbuilders and maharaja fleets. We met 20 years ago at a Fiat meet, and Ive called him Karl RTO ever since. Ask him about a car and hell likely recall the registration, the chassis and engine numbers, the original paintand every shade the car has worn sinceplus most of the owners, in sequence. Karl has just returned from Belgium where hes been researching a car thats headed to the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance soonthis is the most watched classic-car show in the world. It takes place each August on the Monterey Peninsula in California, and here, top restorations compete before international judges and historians. Over the past decade, Indias concours culture has matured, with expert juries raising standards. The real shift comes from owners and restorers who now value authenticity as much as shine. Karls research is the sort that changes the outcome. When I restored a 1937 Daimler for a client in Pune, Karl discovered its first owner: the Maharani of Kolhapur. Because she was a widow, the car was ordered entirely in whitebody, wheels, even the chassis. Detail like that sets the standard for the entire build. Karl himself owns a jewel of Indian motoring heritage: a 1954 Fiat Millecento formerly owned by Homai Vyarawalla, Indias first woman photojournalist. She signed her work Dalda 13, a name she took from her cars registration number, DLD 13. The artand ethicsof jugaad Restoring in India means confronting scarcity. Many of the cars we see were made in small runs; factory spares vanished decades ago. We routinely spend six months researching before turning a single bolt: locating manuals, joining owners clubs, haunting forums, and cross-referencing parts books across models and years. And then there are the moments when nothing you need existsat least not in a box with the right label. Thats when you lean on intelligence, not shortcuts. My mentor, Marespand Dadachanjione of the most gifted vintage restorers I knowhas a philosophy we jokingly shorthand as ST: a confidential term for a shop trick you earn the right to use. It is about solving for function with respect for the cars metallurgy and design intent. Weve adapted pistons, machined bearings, and re-engineered unavailable bushings only after testing materials and tolerances. If it works flawlessly, protects the engine, and remains reversible when the correct part surfaces, its within the ethics of conservation. Marespand, working out of Karjat since the early 1990s, has brought close to a hundred pre-war cars back from the edge. In 2018, his restoration of a 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental with Gurney-Nutting coachworkoriginally ordered by the Maharaja of Jodhpurwon its class at Pebble Beach and took home the Lucius Beebe Trophy for best Rolls-Royce. The 1959 Tatra 603 that brokeand then remademe The most demanding project of my career was a 1959 Tatra 603, the only one in India. A rear-engined Czech V8 with a shape like nothing else, it arrived vandalised and literally in two pieces. Halfway through, I wanted to quit. Instead, I got on a plane to the Czech Republic, spent weeks digging through sheds and shops, and found the parts and people who could help. I actually built custom crates by hand to ensure everything got home safely. Four years later, the car ranthe way it was designed to. During the research we discovered why its rubber bumper guards were white: it had been a government officials car. In then communist Czechoslovakia, the 603s were reserved for senior state officials and party leaders and only rarely exported. That detail gave the car back its context. Blood, sweat, and gears In Mumbai, a family sedan is part of the house record. I meet owners who learned to drive in the same car their fathers did, and who now teach their children in it. Yes, the scene includes marquee collectors, like Yashvardhan Ruia whose garage is the stuff of lore, and Dinesh Lal who stewards Maharani Gayatri Devis 1946 Buick Superbut our community is broader than that. Its young enthusiasts nursing Fiats and Premier Padminis, and Marutis that are aging into classics with their own patina of nostalgia. The stories were collecting for Studio Joyride reflect that range. One episode traces the cars of Shalaila Nallaseths family of car-crazy Parsi enthusiasts. Shalaila has pieced together the family legend with photographs and receipts, stories which are really migration maps, diaries, and engineering case studiestold through metal that still moves. Then, theres Anirudh Kasli Kasliwal, who has driven his 1946 Packard Clipper all over the country. What keeps me at the bench isnt perfection for its own sake; its fidelityto design, to materials, to the lives these cars have already lived. On launch day, Studio Joyride wont be selling anything. Well be sharing: methods, archives, lineages, small victories hard-won at ungodly hours. If we do our job, more owners will choose conservation over cosmetic rescue; more young mechanics will see restoration as a serious craft; and more of Indias motoring heritage will remain where it belongson the road, telling its stories in motion. And this is beautiful, because when a classic is restored well, you dont just see a vehicle, you see history, reconciled. Studio Joyride, founded by restorer Kaizad Engineer and automotive historian Karl Bhote, documents Indias classic car culture through short films and archival research. The first series launches on Independence Day, August 15, 2025
This image taken from a video shows federal agents jumping out of a Penske box truck during an immigration raid at a Home Depot in Los Angeles on Wednesday. (FOX News / Matt Finn via AP)

Federal agents detained day laborers outside of a Home Depot in Van Nuys during two raids Friday morning, raising questions over whether their actions may violate a court order that bans agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests.

The operations took place around 7:35 a.m. and then again at 11:50 a.m. outside the Home Depot on Roscoe Boulevard, according to Maegan Ortiz, executive director of Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California, which runs a resource center for day laborers directly next to the store.

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed the operations in a statement to The Times on Saturday, calling them "targeted immigration raids" that resulted in the arrests of seven undocumented immigrants from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

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Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said four of those individuals had criminal records, including for driving under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct and failing to adhere to previous removal orders.

"What makes someone a target for immigration enforcement is if they are illegally in the U.S.  not their skin color, race, or ethnicity," McLaughlin said. "Americas brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists  truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities."

U.S. Border Patrol Sector Chief Greg Bovino had told Fox News on Friday that federal agents always abide by the law during enforcement operations.

"In Los Angeles right now  today, as a matter of fact  we have agents out on the streets right now making apprehensions, as you and I are speaking," he said. "They're doing that again, legally, ethically and morally."

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Read more: 'They run, we chase': Immigration raids test limits of 'probable cause'

A number of unmarked white vans started circling the parking lot and immigration agents began "grabbing people first and then asking people for ID" said Ortiz, adding that her organization has confirmed 10 people were taken.

"[The agents] came straight for the day labor center," Ortiz said. "It is very clear they are targeting day laborers and they are targeting the organization."

Ortiz said immigration agents conducted another raid near a Home Depot in Cypress Park on Saturday. Ortiz said she was aware of a half-dozen arrests during the incident. Further details were not immediately available.

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On July 11, a U.S. district judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking federal agents in Southern and Central California from targeting people based on their race, language, vocation or location without reasonable suspicion that they are in the U.S. illegally.

At the time, immigration advocates believed the order would legally bar agents from roving such places as Home Depots and car washes and indiscriminately stopping brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking workers.

"This is a clear violation of the TRO," said Ortiz regarding Friday's raids. "This is, in my opinion, contempt."

Read more: Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift limits on ICE's 'roving patrols'

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The temporary restraining order was upheld last Friday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump administration has since appealed to the Supreme Court, saying the ruling threatens to upend immigration officials ability to enforce the immigration laws in the Central District of California by hanging the prospect of contempt over every investigative stop.

Following the temporary restraining order, Southern California saw a significant drop in the number of undocumented immigrants arrested. But there is anecdotal evidence that the immigration raids may be picking up steam in Los Angeles once again.

Federal agents reportedly targeted a car wash in Lakewood on Saturday and a Home Depot in Hollywood on Monday, Ortiz said.

Then on Wednesday, Customs and Border Protection agents burst out of a Penske rental truck and detained day laborers at a Westlake Home Depot in a raid dubbed "Operation Trojan Horse."

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Immigration protests grew heated at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, where the Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly around 9 p.m. Friday due to the "aggressive nature of a few demonstrators," the department wrote in a statement on social media. Additional units were called in to assist after some protesters refused to leave, police said.

Read more: Federal agents use Penske rental truck as 'Trojan Horse' to raid Los Angeles Home Depot

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass raised concerns over whether the Trojan Horse style action violated the temporary restraining order, and directed City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to look into the matter.

"Rounding people up who are just trying to work and put food on the table doesn't make anyone safer. The City is investigating and exploring all legal options," Bass said in a statement to The Times on Friday. "Our communities deserve dignity and to not be harassed."

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At a news conference Friday, Feldstein Soto said that video from the Westlake raid appeared to show the Trump administration violating the court's temporary restraining order but noted that the matter was still under investigation.

"We are very cognizant of the fact that that Penske truck seemed to be engaged in a lot of the exact behavior that the language of the TRO specifically prohibits," she said.

A Penske spokesman previously told The Times that the company was not aware its trucks would be used in the operation and had not authorized the federal government to do so.

Read more: As more citizens are swept up in immigration raids, Democrats demand answers

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Should the city attorney's office conclude that the order was violated, it may take action to identify the agents involved or push for stronger legal protections, Feldstein Soto said.

Bovino, however, defended the legality of ongoing Home Depot raids.

"The Border Patrol, CBP and our allied law enforcement partners, when we conduct law enforcement operations, we always abide by the law  whether it's a temporary restraining order ... whether it's applicable federal laws, rules and regulations, and most especially the Constitution of the United States," he said during an interview with Fox News.

Bovino said Operation Trojan Horse was a targeted operation based on pre-intelligence, not an indiscriminate sweep.

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"We knew there was criminal activity afoot there for a long time, so we're not going to ignore criminal activity," he said. "We're going after it, and that's exactly what we did."

He said that of the 16 people apprehended during Operation Trojan Horse, at least six had "significant immigration and criminal histories." He said this reflects the trend seen in larger immigration operations, where 30% to 40% of people arrested typically have significant immigration and criminal histories.

Read more: Majority of people arrested in L.A. immigration raids had no criminal history

A Times review of Immigration and Customs Enforcement data in June found that the majority of people arrested in Southern California had no criminal history.

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Of the 2,031 people arrested from June 1 to June 26, about 68% of those had no criminal convictions and 57% had never been charged with a crime.

Times staff writers Rachel Uranga and Kevin Rector contributed to this report

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lord Kinnock has argued for a tax on private medical insurance, apparently to save the health service.

Gordon Brown has been calling for higher gambling taxes, supposedly to fix child poverty.

At the rate this is going, by the end of the summer Sir Tony Blair will be calling for a wealth tax, and Lord Mandelson will be starting a campaign for an exit tax on the entrepreneurs fleeing the country.

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Labours grandees are generating lots of coverage for themselves by constantly calling for a levy on something or other. But hold on. This is crazy.

Sure, we know the Labour grassroots love it. The trouble is, it encourages the belief that all of Britains challenges can be fixed by yet more taxes  when in reality we need a smaller, cheaper, and less intrusive state instead.

Almost every day seems to bring a fresh call from one of the major figures within the Labour movement for a new way of hustling some cash from the rest of us.

Lord Kinnock, who in many ways still speaks for the soul of his party, has already called for a wealth tax, set a 2pc a year on the total assets of anyone with more than 10m.

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Not content with the way that may already be encouraging the wealthy to decamp to Italy or Dubai, this week he argued that private medical insurance should be subject to VAT.

Apparently adding 20pc on top of every policy would raise the few extra billion needed to finally turn the NHS into a world-class service.

Gordon Brown, who during his long reign as chancellor turned the stealth tax into something approaching an art form, is now campaigning for extra taxes on the betting industry. Levies on online casinos and slot machines could be pushed up to 50pc, apparently, which would raise 3.2bn a year, enough to lift restrictions on benefits.

To listen to the partys grandees, the solution to every problem we face is very straightforward. We just need higher taxes on something or other.

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As the Budget approaches, and the black hole in the public finances grows larger and larger, we will no doubt hear calls for windfall taxes on the banks, levies on crypto trading, charges for the streaming giants, VAT on funerals, or any other fiddly tax that might bring in some extra money.

In a clickbait era, there is no question that it generates plenty of social media likes for Kinnock and Brown.

And yet, the campaigns are not just completely pointless. They are also deeply damaging for the British economy.

The proposals themselves hardly stand up to serious scrutiny. Surely we should be offering tax relief on private medical insurance, as many other more sensibly run European countries do, on the grounds that those people wont be making any calls on an already over-stretched public health service?

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VAT would simply increase demand for the state service, as Labour has surely already discovered with its disastrous imposition of the extra tax on school fees.

Likewise, taxing online gambling would simply encourage people to move to offshore platforms instead, using VPNs if necessary.

It wouldnt raise anything like the amount that is forecast, and it would damage what, whether you approve of it or not, happens to be a major British industry.

Even worse, as both men should know, and Brown in particular given his long experience as chancellor, any money they raise would simply be absorbed by a state machine that now has an insatiable appetite for more cash.

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Just as VAT on private school fees has not done anything to help the state sector, so a levy on private healthcare wouldnt rescue the NHS, nor would a gambling levy fix child poverty. A billion or two here or there no longer makes any difference to a government that now spends 1.2 trillion a year and still cant make ends meet.

But there is a bigger issue than just the campaigns themselves, even if the arguments fall apart on more than a moment of close examination. It is this. It encourages the view that every problem in the UK can be solved with yet another tax.

When the current Chancellor Rachel Reeves took office, after learning her politics from the likes of Kinnock and Brown, she naively believed that the only real problem the UK faced was that the government did not spend enough money.

If the grown-ups were given the chance to end austerity, along with a few promises about stability, everything would gradually start to get better. It has turned out to be a catastrophic misjudgment, leaving the UK with a zero-growth economy that is now stuck in a doom loop of endlessly rising taxes that crush growth.

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What the Labour Party really needs right now is some grandees who will tell it some hard truths.

Kinnock would be the right man to tell his comrades that you cant simply spend your way to prosperity.

Brown would be the perfect person to remind his followers that while a Labour chancellor will always want to increase spending, he or she should also make sure that entrepreneurs and businesses are allowed to flourish. Otherwise very quickly there wont be any wealth left to redistribute.

In fairness, he was always mindful of that truth when he was in Number 11, even if he appears to have forgotten it since he left office.

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Instead, the grandees are show-boating, winning easy applause from the Labour tribe, while ignoring the real challenges the country faces.

It is surely clear to everyone by now that we need fewer taxes not more, and they should be lower as well  and the grandees should start to spell that out before it is too late.

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RELATED PHOTO GALLERY LAHAINAKevin Tanaka, his wife, Saane Tone-Tanaka and their family arrived just after sunrise Friday at Hanaka o o Beach Park to participate in a paddle-out to honor four kupuna family members who died trying to escape the Aug. 8, 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and a fifth family kupuna who died in the days before.

This year,  Tanaka said, Its a little less painful.

He and other family went into Lahaina after the fires to discover that the family home near the old Sugar Mill had burned to the ground. Fifty yards from the house, they found the remains of their loved ones in their car, which had been trapped by another vehicle.

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Tanaka nodded to his wife and said, it was hard telling her we found them,  he said.

They were among an estimated to join or witness the second paddle-out  at the start of a full day of events to commemorate the second anniversary of the Maui wildfires that killed 102 people and destroyed 2, 200 structures.

Capt. Mike Sparling, west side captain for Maui Countys Ocean Safety Department, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the turnout was a little less  than the number of survivors and supporters who showed up for the first commemoration in 2024.

An estimated 350 people swam or paddled out on surfboards, boogie boards and stand-up boards that ended with a helicopter flower drop and participants joining hands to sing Hawaii Aloha  in the water followed by whoops and cheers.

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An armada of Coast Guard, Maui fire and Ocean Safety crews in boats and on personal water craft patrolled the waters off the beach for the safety of participants.

Lahaina Strong community spokesperson Paele Kiakona said before Fridays paddle-out that, Im not happy this happened to us, but Im happy that it didnt happen to anybody elsebecause I know this town, this community, these people are so strong and theyre willing to fight for one another, stand up and be there. Thats what today is, its a reminder of that.

The paddle-out was the first event Friday in a series of memorial eventscollectively part of Kuhinia, Mauito mark the disaster, honoring the victims and survivors and thanking first responders who risked their own lives.

It was followed by a midday gathering in Central Maui at the Kalana O Maui building and concluded with a closed gathering at the Lahaina Civic Center to allow community members to grieve privately. It was off-limits to the media.

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Maui Mayor Richard Bissen attended the paddle-out along with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who said that she released white doves to honor the souls that were lost.

De Andre and Lexi Takahashi and their sons, Mana, 2, and Makali i, 1, were the first to arrive at the paddle-out. They got there just after sunrise to avoid traffic and to help Lahaina Strong coordinate the community swim, which started at 10 a.m.

The fires destroyed several Takahashi family homes and displaced 10 immediate family members along with dozens more extended family members.

Warner Duldulao-Kahaialii picked out a spot on the sand and waited for his family to join him as the memories from two years ago came back.

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We all got out OK, Duldulao-Kahaialii said, but everything burned down. I didnt find work for three months.

So after participating in last years paddle-out, Duldulao-Kahaialii sat on the beach preparing himself for what to expect Friday.

Emotions are going to be raw,  he said. All the memories of what happened that day are coming back.

Later, at the Maui County building in Wailuku, Gov. Josh Green, three of Hawaiis four Congressional members, Bissen and County Council members gathered in a wind-whipped event. They said thank you to first responders and noted that the world watched as Maui demonstrated what aloha and ohana really mean by coming together in the aftermath of the wildfires.

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We came together as one,  Bissen told those gathered on the lawn outside of the county building. We witnessed countless acts of compassion.

Lahaina was left looking as if it had been hit by a nuclear warhead,  Green said.

In the days that followed, Green said, the world witnessed what the people of Maui can do.

Along with first responders, Green also thanked demonstrators who pushed officials to do more, faster,  including providing health care and housing, which continue, along with mental health trauma.

People are still suffering,  Green said.

But, he said, Hawaii stands strong, Maui stands strong.  We will never stop.

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They also acknowledged the long slog ahead to rebuild Lahaina, the original seat of power for the Kingdom of Hawaii that later evolved into a critical port for the international whaling industry, then a plantation community and a major center for Mauis tourist-based economy.

Its not a one-day thing,  said Council member Tamara Paltin, who lives in Lahaina and represents West Maui, told the Star-Advertiser. Its a long-term thing.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz told the gathering that, many people are still not on their feet.  People are still in deep, deep pain.  We have a very long way to go.
David Lammy has told JD Vance that a ceasefire must take place in Ukraine before any other steps towards peace are implemented, according to reports.

At a meeting in London, Britains Foreign Secretary  along with France, Germany, Ukraine and other European powers  said their plan must serve as a framework for talks in Alaska between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Aug 15.

They rejected the Russian presidents proposal for a ceasefire in exchange for Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk, the Wall Street Journal said.

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The European countries and Ukraine are said to have come up with a string of requirements which must be applied before any negotiations begin with Moscow.

These include demanding a ceasefire be put in place before any talks begin and that Russia must match any territorial concessions required of Ukraine, which must be safeguarded with guarantees such as potential membership of Nato.

British and European leaders said Russia must stop shelling Ukraine before peace talks can take place - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu

The plan was drafted and presented to Mr Vance, the US vice-president, in person, while Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, attended remotely along with other officials, including Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, US special envoys.

The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, wrote on X. He added: Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it concerns their security.

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Some European officials suggested that if Ukraine were to hand over the Donetsk region to Russia, Moscow would need to withdraw from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south.

This would represent a marked change in stance from Kyiv which has steadfastly rejected any suggestions that it could give up territory.

The announcement of Fridays meeting between Mr Trump and Putin came as a shock to Ukraine and its European allies, with Volodymyr Zelensky frozen out of negotiations about his countrys future.

During the meeting with Mr Vance, European officials made it clear that the future of Kyiv cannot be discussed without Ukraine having a seat at the table, and doubled down on its commitment to continue providing weapons and aid to the country.

The future of Ukraine cannot be discussed without Volodymyr Zelensky having a seat at the table, EU leaders insisted - AFP

The details [of the Russian proposal] suggest many upfront compromises by Ukraine merely to get a cease fire, which, by its very nature, is almost never permanent, and no Russian concessions, John Herbst, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, told The Telegraph.

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Now it looks like Trump is coddling Putin, and thats not a good look in any case, he said.

The meeting on Saturday was hosted by Mr Lammy and Mr Vance, who is currently on a family holiday to Britain.

It came shortly after Sir Keir Starmer spoke on the phone with Mr Zelensky about the White Houses proposal for a land swap peace deal.

Downing Street said the pair had agreed that the gathering was a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.

Both leaders welcomed President Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war, a spokesman said.

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The Prime Minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

The meeting was held at Mr Lammys grace-and-favour Chevening house, in Kent, and was called together at the behest of the United States.

President Trump has signalled in recent days that Ukraine would have to give up territory in its east which is currently occupied by Russia as part of a peace deal.

European nations including Britain have long opposed any ceasefire which would force Kyiv to give up parts of its country against its will.

On Saturday, Mr Zelensky vowed that Ukraine will never cede any territory to the occupier as he rejected President Trumps suggested plan for peace.

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Kyiv will not give Russia any awards for what it has done, the Ukrainian leader said, several hours after Mr Trump suggested an end to the fighting could involve some swapping of territories.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister spoke to President Macron of France this afternoon.

They discussed the latest developments in Ukraine, reiterating their unwavering support to President Zelenskyy and to securing a just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian people.

They welcomed President Trumps efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russias war of aggression, and discussed how to further work closely with President Trump and President Zelensky over the coming days. They agreed to stay in close contact.

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Putins visit to Alaska next Friday will be his first visit to the US since meeting Obama at a UN summit in New York in September 2015, and the first in-person discussion between an American and Russian leader since Putin met Joe Biden in 2021.

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State officials announced Friday that Walmart, the nations largest retailer, will pay $5.6 million to settle a consumer protection lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging its customers.

According to the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office, Walmart allegedly sold products with less weight than what was shown on the label  including produce, baked goods and other prepared foods or items.

The civil complaint, filed by multiple California counties including San Bernardino County, also accused the retail giant of unlawfully charging customers more than their lowest advertised or posted price.

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When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right, said Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen. They expect it. California expects it. My Office expects it  and we will apply the law to make sure of it.

Walmart, which operates 280 stores in California, was also sued for overcharging customers in 2012 and paid $2.1 million to settle.

As of this Fridays announcement, Walmart will again be paying millions  this time $5.5 million in civil penalties, and $139,908.92 to cover the costs of the investigations.

This latest settlement was reached with the DAs Offices from Santa Clara, San Diego, San Bernardino and Sonoma counties.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The DISCOVERY Childrens Museum and Sphere are partnering to launch Sphere Weekend, a two-day event blending art, technology, and hands-on learning.

The family-friendly experience begins on Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug. 10, from noon to 5 p.m., at the museum in downtown Las Vegas.

Our partnership with Sphere allows us to amplify our mission in an extraordinary way, Melissa Kaiser, CEO of DISCOVERY Childrens Museum, said. Together, were creating a vibrant, hands-on experience that encourages innovation, critical thinking, and imaginationeverything we believe STEAM education should inspire.

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Activities include:

Make Your Own Orbi  Create a personalized, take-home version of Spheres iconic emoji character.

Artistic Animations  Design digital animations inspired by Spheres massive Exosphere LED display.

XO/Art Gallery  Explore artwork from XO Student Design Challenge winners alongside pieces from world-renowned artists.

Geodesic Sculpture Activity  Build dome structures modeled after Spheres unique architectural framework.

Remarkable Robots  Code, construct, and control interactive robots.

DISCOVER Solar Display  Learn about solar energy and Spheres pledge to source 70% of its power from renewable energy.

Rich Constable, Spheres EVP and Global Head of Government Relations and Social Impact, said the company hopes to inspire children to pursue careers in STEAM fields. As part of the partnership, Sphere is pledging $125,000 over the next five years to support the museums youth education programs.

For more information, click here.

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Earlier this summer, Israel made military history. Not with a missile, bomb or bullet  but with a beam of light.

In a first for modern warfare, the Israel Defense Forces successfully intercepted Hezbollah drones using a high-energy laser weapon in live combat. The breakthrough weapon, developed under the Iron Beam program, quietly zapped dozens of targets out of the sky during the Iron Sword campaign, marking the first confirmed use of laser cannon technology on an active battlefield.

According to a joint statement in late May from the Israeli Ministry of Defence, the Israeli Air Force and defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, soldiers from the IAF Aerial Defence Array operated high-power laser system prototypes in the field, successfully intercepting scores of enemy threats.

The Iron Beam laser defense system uses a high-power laser to shoot down incoming projectiles. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

The technology might sound like science fiction, but officials say this laser cannon, which resembles an oversized spotlight, is anything but make-believe.

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Israels success may signal a turning point in the race to develop laser weapons, but its far from the only player on the field. China was accused last month of targeting a German aircraft with a laser during an EU operation. Germany called it entirely unacceptable, although China denied the claim. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists are reportedly developing a microwave-based beam weapon that

resembles the Death Star and is capable of combining multiple sources into one high-powered shot.

Russia recently unveiled the Posokh, a laser weapon described as a ray gun for downing drones. Russian Airborne Forces also showcased a prototype laser rifle in March designed to protect civilian infrastructure from UAV attacks.

Laser weapons, formally known as directed energy weapons (DEWs), have been on the global radar for decades. But until now, theyve mostly lived in research labs and defense trade shows. More than 30 countries are developing the technology  and the US military alone spends $1 billion annually on high-energy laser (HEL) research.

The Army, Navy and Air Force have all been developing laser weapons, says Dr. Iain Boyd, PhD, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Navy has installed HELs on several ships, the Army is using them for base defense and vehicles, and the Air Force has studied installing HELs on fighter jets.

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Are lasers poised to become the weapon of choice for modern warfare? Boyd tells The Post he expects to see a steady increase in the use of high-energy laser weapons in the coming years. It is still relatively immature technology, but as the remaining challenges are overcome, their potential to change some aspects of warfare will be realized.

The Israeli Iron Dome missile defence system intercepts rockets (right) fired by Hamas towards southern Israel from the northern Gaza Strip as seen in the sky above the Gaza Strip on May 14, 2021. AFP via Getty Images

For the moment, the Iron Beam  known in Hebrew as Magen Or, which translates to Shield of Light shows the most promise. An offshoot of the Iron Dome, Israels air defense system thats been operational since 2011, the Iron Beam was designed to complement the Iron Dome and work alongside it, not replace it, says military analyst Yaakov Lappin, whos been closely following the technology for years.

But the Iron Beam promises something no other weapon can deliver: shots that cost a few dollars apiece. Its vastly cheaper, Lappin says.

Israel currently spends upwards of $100,000 per Iron Dome interceptor. Thats a steep price to shoot down enemy projectiles that might cost just a few hundred dollars to build. The Iron Beams electric bullets, by contrast, are practically free.

China is reportedly developing a microwave-based beam weapon that resembles the Death Star (seen here) that is capable of combining multiple sources into one high-powered shot. Lucasfilm/Disney

They are described as having an infinite magazine,  says Dr. Boyd. Unlike guns and rocket launchers that have a finite number of munitions available, as long as a HEL has electrical power, it can keep on firing bullets of photons.

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The US, meanwhile, has yet to deploy lasers in real-world combat despite decades of research. The Armys Stryker-based laser, Navys ship-mounted HELs and Air Force programs all remain in test phases.

I am not content with the pace, US Navy Vice Adm. Brendan McLane said in a keynote speech at the Surface Navy Association confab in 2024. We must deliver on the promise this technology gives us.

A Chinese navy vessel identified as the Chinese Missile Frigate FFG 548 is seen near the Pengjia Islet north of Taiwan on Thursday, May 23, 2024. AP

Americas laser weapon dreams go back to Ronald Reagans 1983 Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative, a $200 billion attempt to shoot down nuclear missiles with space lasers. That program fizzled out by 1993. Subsequent efforts, like the joint US-Israel Nautilus laser in the late 90s, also stalled for being too bulky, weak and slow.

The pivot came with solid-state lasers which are smaller, more efficient and electric rather than chemical.

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Israel had one key advantage over other nations in the race to develop lasers, says Brian Wang, a science writer and co-founder of the popular tech blog Next Big Future. The US has spent billions over the decades, but Israel had actual fighting as a forcing factor to get this stuff working and deployed, he explains.

Americas laser weapon dreams go back to Ronald Reagans 1983 Star Wars Strategic Defense Initiative. Sygma via Getty Images

The breakthrough came when Israeli engineers abandoned the old idea of firing one giant beam and instead developed a system that fires hundreds of small, coin-sized beams. These beams lock onto a single vulnerable spot, often identified via telescopic reflection, and bombard it in succession until the threat is neutralized.

The Iron Beam uses optical fiber lasers, which are essentially souped-up industrial lasers, to destroy aerial threats. Electricity is used to excite atoms or molecules, explains Wang. They emit high energy photons, and all the photons are concentrated using mirrors. The laser heats a critical area  say, the fuel tank or warhead  until the missile fails.

Lasers convert electrical energy into a focused beam of light particles, or photons, says Boyd. Depending on the energy, they can cut, melt, combust or destroy a target.

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In practical terms, the Iron Beam vaporizes drones with surgical precision. But there are limits. HELs currently cant intercept long-range ballistic missiles like the ones targeted by Israels Arrow 3, which shoots down threats outside the Earths atmosphere. For now, lasers remain short-range guardians.

I am not content with the pace of the US militarys lasers that are under development, US Navy Vice Adm. Brendan McLane said in a keynote speech. Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic/Facebook

Also, a weapon capable of melting metal at 2 kilometers isnt exactly energy-efficient. A 100-kilowatt laser requires a massive power source and cooling system. The most advanced (and smallest) prototypes draw 300 kilowatts  enough to power 30 homes  and are only about 50% efficient, meaning they produce immense waste heat.

This limits where and how the weapons can be deployed. And theres another catch.

The effectiveness of laser beams can be diminished through interaction with a variety of environmental phenomena, say Boyd. Rain, fog, dust and smoke can scatter laser beams, reducing their effectiveness. The laser needs to stay locked on a target for several seconds to be effective, he adds.

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Which is why naval lasers, like those tested on the USS Preble, havent seen wide use. The sea is a famously unforgiving place for precision optics.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Lite Beam  which it boasts is a 10kW-class High Energy Laser Weapon System. @RAFAELdefense/X

A misplaced beam can also cause serious unintended damage. As Boyd warns, theres concern about potential collateral effects. A laser beam reflecting off a surface could blind someone, he says. Or if it misses a target, it could travel hundreds of miles. There is a need to ensure no innocent party is affected.

The UN banned laser weapons designed to blind in 1995. But with nations like Russia and Turkey reportedly fielding HELs, updated international rules may be overdue.

And then theres the conspiracy crowd. Social media has fueled bizarre theories claiming government lasers have started wildfires in California and Hawaii, an idea experts flatly reject.

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I am very skeptical about these claims, says Boyd. Installing a laser of sufficient power to start a fire on a drone is not simple. For a laser to be effective, you need to have very fine pointing control to ensure that the beam stays precisely on the target.

Dr. Iain Boyd, PhD,, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado, says he expects to see a steady increase in the use of high-energy laser weapons in the coming years.

The Iron Beam promises something no other weapon can deliver: shots that cost a few dollars apiece. Its vastly cheaper, Yaakov Lappin says.

Achieving that during flight requires sophisticated technology, Boyd says, and there are probably more effective ways of starting wildfires from drones than lasers.

In a world where a $500 drone can destroy a $10 million tank, militaries are desperate for cheaper, smarter defenses. Lasers offer just that, if they can overcome their limitations.

Israels success may mark the beginning of a new era, one where the flash of a laser, not the roar of a missile, is what keeps the skies safe.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The path towards a new mens prison in South Dakota is moving forward. Friday, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the State of South Dakota entered an agreement that grants the State the option of purchasing land at the proposed Benson road site in northeast Sioux Falls.

DPS: Sturgis Rally crash death toll up to 4

The land of approximately 148 acres between Gage Brothers Concrete and the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society was one of two options the Project Prison Reset Task Force recommended the state to purchase for a new mens prison.

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The advantage of this specific site is that its less money than the other site, Rep. Greg Jamison, a task force member, said. The other site is really keyed up and ready for industrial development for those people who want frontage on the interstate. This is kind of hidden, tucked away, less desirable, less chance of it getting developed and more isolation for the prison. So, it works for us in a couple better ways.

Its a good shape, a good location, access to utility hookups, access to emergency responders, close to our current workforce, Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, the Chair of Project Prison Reset Task Force, said.

The State has now entered into a purchase agreement of $12.5 million for the land that will only be complete if the Legislature approves the purchase during a special session in September. The State also says this agreement represents $10 million in savings.

We had budgeted a cost for the land that was kind of on the high end, hoping wed be able to negotiate it down and we were able to do that, Venhuizen said.

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If the land is approved by the Legislature, the Lincoln County site that was originally proposed to host the new prison would no longer be owned by the State.

One key factor that should be understood by everybody is that in this option and this purchase, the owners of this land have essentially agreed to take over or purchase that land that we have in Lincoln County, Jamison said. So, its kind of a land swap. So, what it does is it reverts it back to farm use, ag use land.

Jamison says having an agreement in place ahead of the Special Session is beneficial because if the Legislature approves the agreement, then development on the site could begin sooner.

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After House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said this week his research vindicates both sides in the dispute between state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and two Oklahoma State Board of Education members who said they saw images of naked women on a television set in Walters offices during a board meeting, a new question has emerged.

Should Walters apologize?

In a fiery news conference at the state Capitol on July 29, Walters said the two board members  Becky Carson, of Edmond, and Ryan Deatherage, of Kingfisher  were lying and should resign. Walters also accused Gov. Kevin Stitt, a former political ally-turned-foe, of orchestrating the saga.

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My family has watched as board members stopped at nothing to stop education reform in the state of Oklahoma, Walters said that day. These board members have a lot to answer for, and so does the governor of the state of Oklahoma. Did he direct his board members to lie about me? Did he direct his board members to go in and disrupt everything in these board meetings? Did he have the board fight against bringing private schools into the state so families would have school choice? What exact directives were they given?

An investigation into what happened, led by the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, remained ongoing on Thursday, Aug. 7.

More: What was on Ryan Walters' TV? Does Jackie Chan film line up with board members' accounts?

If Hilberts theory  the board members indeed did see those images, as the 1985 Jackie Chan movie The Protector, which includes nudity, accidentally played on Walters television during the meeting  proves true, then does the superintendent need to publicly walk back what he said about Carson, Deatherage and Stitt?

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Public apologies by elected officials in Oklahoma are rare, but they do happen. In June, Stitt publicly apologized to state Sen. Paul Rosino and Rosinos wife, Donna, after Stitt made Donna Rosinos job with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services an issue as lawmakers debated over a decision to remove Stitts appointee as the leader of that agency.

A spokeswoman for Stitt didnt offer any comment on Aug. 7 about whether the governor believes Walters should apologize to him.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Aug. 6, Carson and Deatherage noted that Walters repeatedly called (them) liars and attempted to destroy our reputation.

Walters has not addressed Hilberts theory publicly, but about an hour after Hilbert issued the statement, Walters posted to his X account an animated picture of actor Kurt Russell in the 1993 Western movie "Tombstone." Russell is holding a rifle in the image, which is captioned with, "Hell's comin' with me."

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Spokespeople for Walters didnt respond Aug. 7 to several questions, including whether Walters would offer a public apology.

Lawmakers in defense of Ryan Walters

Walters certainly has his defenders, such as former state Sen. Nathan Dahm, of Broken Arrow. After the board members statement complaining about Walters attacking their reputations, Dahm posted on X, The Board members who went running to the press with ridiculous accusations intended to destroy his reputation? Those board members? Oh.

Hilbert, R-Bristow, also has defended Walters, saying, "It is not credible to believe that the superintendent or any member of his staff intentionally played an inappropriate film in the middle of an active board meeting." A spokeswoman for Hilbert didnt immediately respond to a question asking if Hilbert believed Walters should apologize for his July 29 remarks.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have expressed frustration with Walters, with at least two calling for an apology.

Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks at a July 29 news conference at the Oklahoma Capitol after allegations of nudity displayed on a TV at a state school board meeting.

I go back to my Christian upbringing, said Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, the chair of the House Common Education Committee. If I do something  I hope I never do it on purpose, but sometimes you do make mistakes. I think all of us are human and we make mistakes. The first thing I do is always apologize and see how I can make it right. I would love to see that. I don't know if there is any way to make anybody do anything.

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Ive always been taught that  (w)hen you make a mistake, the number one deal is apologize and go to the person youve done it (to) and apologize. We can work through that. When I try to double down on it, it gets worse.

State Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, served on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education before being elected to the Senate. He is a member of the Senate Education Committee.

"If what the speaker released is accurate ... yeah, he should apologize," Mann said of Walters. "What should have happened to begin with, quite frankly, is he should have apologized to his board members (during the meeting) and simply said, 'I don't know what's happened. We're going to get to the bottom of it and I'll let you know.' Then this probably never would have hit the press and never would have been an issue.

"I think he not only owes the board members, but I think he owes the governor an apology, and I'm no great defender of the governor. But it's obvious in this thing the governors and those board members didn't create it."

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Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, a member of the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee, said he is frustrated about having to use state and local resources to address nonsensical problems surrounding Walters.

Time and time again Ryan Walters finds himself playing defense on superfluous matters rather than doing the job he was elected to do, Osburn told The Oklahoman. As superintendent, he should be hyper-focused on addressing Oklahoma's drop to 50th in the nation in educational outcomes. Instead, he is repeatedly wasting precious capital on issues that have nothing to do with furthering student academic success.

Through a spokesman, state Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, declined to say anything more about the situation until the results of the investigation are released.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawmakers suggest Ryan Walters owes apology to OSBE members, governor
(KRON)  A wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against a San Jose daycare where two toddlers drowned in a pool. Payton Cobb and Lillian Jade Hanan drowned in a backyard pool at Happy Happy Day Care, which operated in a house at 1054 Fleetwood Avenue, on October 2, 2023.

Attorneys filed the lawsuit July 28 in Santa Clara County court on behalf of both toddlers parents. The owners of Happy Happy Daycare, Nina Fathizadeh and Shahin Gheblehshenas, are named as defendants along with the daycare.

Payton was 18 months old and Lillian was 16 months old. A third child was pulled out of the pool and survived.

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The lawsuit accuses the owners of negligently causing and permitting (the toddlers) to be unsupervised in the backyard  with the gate to the enclosed pool propped open, and subsequently caused and permitted (the toddlers) to enter the pool unsupervised.

Mugshots of Nina Fathizadeh and Shahin Gheblehshenas are seen in 2023 mugshots released by the San Jose Police Department.

Gheblehshenas, 65, and her daughter, 42-year-old Fathizadeh, are also criminally charged with child endangerment. They have remained out of custody for over a year pending trial.

There were no adults watching the three young children when they fell into the pool, according to prosecutors.

Gheblehshenas lived in the Fleetwood Avenue home. A Happy Happy Day Care employee called out sick on the day of the drownings, a San Jose Police Department report states. Fathizadeh was the only employee present that day because Gheblehshenas left and went to a second, unlicensed daycare operated out of Fathizadehs home, according to the police report.

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After putting a baby in a crib, Fathizadeh opened a sliding door and told Payton, Lillian, and a 2-year-old boy to play in the backyard, police said. Fathizadeh was busy in the kitchen when all three children entered the backyard pool, police said.

The lawsuit contains heartbreaking details. Lillian Hanan struggled to survive as she suffered significant bodily injury as her lungs filled with pool water. She ultimately drowned despite her childlike efforts to survive. These injuries and her slowly drowning led to her death, the lawsuit writes. Payton suffered the same fate, according to the suit.

Daycare pool drowning victim Payton Cobb (Image courtesy GoFundMe)

Fathizadeh pulled the third child out of the pool and performed CPR, court documents show.

For the civil case Lillians parents are represented by law firm Dreyer Babich Buccola Wood Campora. Paytons parents are represented by law firm Needham Kepner & Fish.

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Following the deadly pool incident, state officials shut down Happy Happy Day Care and its license was suspended by the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services.

A preliminary hearing for the criminal case against Gheblehshenas and Fathizadeh has been delayed several times this year.

The hearing is currently set to begin on August 25, when prosecutors will present their case to a judge. The judge will decide if prosecutors have enough evidence for the daycare owners to stand trial. If convicted, Gheblehshenas and Fathizadeh could face 14 years in state prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
We're continuing to hear more and more accounts of AI psychosis  an eerie phenomenon in which users become consumed by paranoia and delusions after extensive conversations with an AI chatbot.

It's hard to say how pervasive the trend is, but a new investigation from the Wall Street Journal offers a disturbing clue. The newspaper analyzed a dump of thousands of ChatGPT public chats online  and even in this random assortment, found dozens of examples of people having conversations with the AI chatbot that "exhibited delusional characteristics," it reported.

The bot both confirmed and actively peddled delusional fantasies. In one interaction, the WSJ found, the OpenAI chatbot asserted that it was in contact with alien beings and told the user that it was "Starseed" from the planet "Lyra."

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In another, it proclaimed that the Antichrist would wreak a financial apocalypse in the next two months, "with biblical giants preparing to emerge from underground," per the WSJ.

In a nearly five-hour exchange, ChatGPT helped a user invent a new physics called "The Orion Equation." When the human said they wanted to take a break because they were "going crazy thinking about this," the silver-tongued AI swept in to pull the user back into the delusional spiral.

"I hear you. Thinking about the fundamental nature of the universe while working an everyday job can feel overwhelming," ChatGPT said, as quoted by the WSJ. "But that doesn't mean you're crazy. Some of the greatest ideas in history came from people outside the traditional academic system."

AI chatbots, and ChatGPT in particular, have been criticized for their egregiously sycophantic behavior, leading them to encourage a user's wildest beliefs. Heaps of research has also demonstrated that the tech often ignores its own safeguards, giving advice to teens on how to "safely" harm themselves, or how to perform blood rituals to worship Molech, a deity associated with child sacrifice in Biblical accounts.

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Religion, philosophy, and scientific breakthroughs appear to be a common theme in these conversations. One user was hospitalized three times after ChatGPT convinced him he could bend time and had achieved faster-than-light travel. Another man came to believe he was trapped in a simulated reality like in the "Matrix" films; in that conversation, disturbingly, ChatGPT even told him he could fly if he jumped from a high building.

Do you know of someone struggling with mental health after interacting with an AI? Send us a note at tips@futurism.com. We can keep you anonymous.

Etienne Brisson, who founded the "Human Line Project" a support group for people struggling with AI psychosis, told the WSJ that "we're hearing almost one case a day organically now."

"Some people think they're the messiah, they're prophets, because they think they're speaking to God through ChatGPT," he added.

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Brisson singled out ChatGPT's "memory," a feature that allows it to remember specific details about a user across potentially thousands of conversations, as being especially damaging.

"You're just so much feeling seen, heard, validated when it remembers everything from you," he said.

"Even if your views are fantastical, those are often being affirmed, and in a back and forth they're being amplified," Hamilton Morrin, a psychiatrist and doctoral fellow at King's College London, told the WSJ. Morrin compared it to a "feedback loop where people are drawn deeper and deeper with further responses," criticizing how the chatbots send messages egging the users on.

OpenAI has acknowledged the issue, saying it's hired a clinical psychiatrist to research the mental health effects its product has on customers. In a recent blog post, it admitted that its AI model "fell short in recognizing signs of delusion or emotional dependency," vowed to "better detect signs of emotional distress," and said it was convening a panel of mental health and youth development experts. It also implemented a new feature that gently warns users when they're spending a lot of time on the chatbot.

More on ChatGPT: OpenAI Usage Plummets in the Summer, When Students Aren't Cheating on Homework
A Wednesday fire at a Lebanon business has been ruled accidental, the Lebanon Fire Department announced in a prepared statement.

Brian Logan operates Freedom Concrete Cutting and Demotion, LLC from the building at 120 N. Blair Street on the citys near west side.

Logan said he heard a loud pop and evacuated his team from the building.

Witnesses said they saw smoke and heard explosions inside the building at about 3 p.m. and a metal roof over the workshop area collapsed, LFD reported.

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No injuries to the buildings occupants or emergency responders were reported.

In-house video showed flames originated near the battery of a portable hydraulic machine that had been used earlier in the day. The small fire quickly spread to flammable materials stored nearby, LFD reported.

A Lebanon Police Department spokesman said the building was fully engulfed when police arrived.

LFD had the fire under control in about an hour, according to the statement.
Aug. 8As Rite Aid stores across Pennsylvania continue to close, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) this week urged health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to take immediate steps to protect patients' access to prescription medication as many Pennsylvanians look for a new pharmacy.

"As Rite Aid stores continue closing across the Commonwealth, we are asking insurers and PBMs to do everything they can to ensure Pennsylvanians' prescription access is smoothly transitioned to other pharmacies," said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. "We know these closures are stressful, but if insurers, PBMs and pharmacies work together, we can make sure that Pennsylvania families can obtain the care and medications they need without having to deal with unnecessary red tape."

Through Notice 2025-07, posted online, PID reminded insurers and PBMs that network adequacy rules are in place to protect consumers.

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Insurers, and in some cases PBMs, are legally required to provide patients with reasonable access to pharmacy services. Any health insurer that is unable to meet the Commonwealth's time or distance standards related to pharmacy access for patients affected by a Rite Aid closure should contact PID immediately.

PID urges insurers and PBMs to:

Help patients quickly find a new pharmacy if their local Rite Aid has closed.

Allow a patient to use out-of-network pharmacies when in network pharmacies are not available and make sure patients do not pay more than in-network prices in such cases.

Transfer any existing approvals or prior authorizations to the new pharmacy automaticallypatients should not have to reapply.

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Set up hotlines, websites, or other support tools to make prescription transfers easy.

Fast-track urgent requests, like specialty medications and controlled substances.

Pause or reschedule pharmacy audits, so local pharmacies can focus on helping more patients during this busy time.

Pennsylvanians who had their Rite Aid pharmacy close should contact their insurance company first. However, if consumers do not receive a response or have issues accessing their prescriptions, they are encouraged to visit pa.gov/consumer, or call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT.

AG launches 'Operation Robocall Roundup'

Attorney General Dave Sunday this week announced the first action under "Operation Robocall Roundup"  a multi-state effort by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls across Pennsylvania and nationwide.

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Sunday joined 50 bipartisan Attorneys General in sending warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they immediately stop illegal robocalls being routed through their networks.

"Robocalls are not just an annoyance, many of them are illegal," Sunday said. "Robocalls are often a tool used by scammers to take advantage of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. Illegal robocalls will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues to announce action that we expect will result in federal investigations, and, ultimately, fewer of these calls."

Consumers can sign up to be on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call list at www. attorneygeneral.gov/dnc, or by calling 1-888-777-3406.

The providers receiving the warning letters have not complied with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules about responding to government trace-back requests, haven't registered in the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Databases, or haven't filed a plan that describes how they will reduce illegal robocalls on their telecom network.

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By disregarding these simple rules, these companies are allowing robocallers onto their phone networks and then passing those robocalls downstream to other providers until robocalls reach the phones of Pennsylvanians. The task force is also sending warning letters to 99 downstream telecom providers.

The FCC is also taking a close look at many of these companies. It recently announced that it will be removing seven of these following telecom providers from Robocall Mitigation Database, which means that other providers will no longer be allowed to accept and route any calls from the removed networks.

Consumers can use the following tips to avoid unwanted calls:

Be mindful of providing your phone number to businesses asking for your telephone number. Signing up for a rewards program or similar with your phone number allows the business to place you on telemarketing lists without requiring further consent.

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Be aware of providing contact information when participating in online surveys of contests. Read the fine print  you may be adding yourself to a telemarketing list.

Entering contests at fairs and other public events may lead to future telephone solicitations.

Department of Aging receives national praise

Following the Pennsylvania Department of Aging launch of the PA CareKit in May  a resource to support the Commonwealth's unpaid caregivers including spouses, adult children, and grandparents raising grandchildren  national organizations that advocate for older adults, their caregivers and families are praising the Department's "personalized" and "easy-to-use" resource.

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The PA CareKit provides training, connection to respite services and personalized tools to help informal caregivers address their unique situations.

The National Alliance for Caregiving, the National Academy for State Health Policy, and ADvancing States are praising the PA CareKit, which offers an array of personalized and tailored resource guides, and resources for families to evaluate and select professional caregivers. Print materials from the PA CareKit will be available for free at community libraries, the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, and Senior Community Centers across the Commonwealth  and an electronic version is available on the Department's website.

"Caregiving is important work that can be deeply rewarding, but it also presents significant challenges for caregivers' personal well-being," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. "Better resources for our caregivers mean safer homes for our loved ones."

The Department of Aging recently presented the PA CareKit to a national audience of aging and disability experts, policymakers and advocacy groups. Multiple organizations have highlighted the PA CareKit's potential to benefit older adults in other states.

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Experts have lauded the PA CareKit, saying it stands out as a national model by:

Giving caregivers a clear starting point when they don't know where to begin;

Supporting all types of caregivers, including spouses, adult children, and grandparents raising grandchildren;

Offering customized guidance based on each caregiver's role and needs; and

Reflecting real-life caregiving challenges because it was built with input from caregivers and experts.

The development of the PA CareKit was a top aging services priority in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2024-25 budget and is the result of year one of implementing Aging Our Way, PA  a 10-year plan to improve the infrastructure of aging services.

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Senior expo for 117th district residents set

Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, invites residents of the 117th District to a free Senior Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Misericordia University's Insalaco Hall, 301 Lake St., Dallas.

The expo will feature more than 30 vendors offering information and services for seniors. Several breakout sessions will be held on topics like estate planning, Area Agency on Aging programs, Silver Sneakers chair yoga, low-income taxpayer assistance information, cyber security and fraud bingo.

The Pennsylvania Treasury Department will also be in attendance to help search for unclaimed property.

Free hearing tests and light refreshments will be available.

For information, call Walsh's Dallas office at 570-675-6000.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Atrocities in Gaza must end

There is no war in Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is a massacre. According to Gazas Health Ministry, nearly 60,000 Gazans have been killed in the past two years, and nearly 150,000 have been injured.

Meanwhile, at this very moment, an appalling number of Gazans are experiencing malnutrition, and nearly half a million of them face lethal famine. Israels Likud-led government has been imposing a devastating blockade, severely restricting the flow of vital aid. Not surprisingly, the shortage of aid distribution sites has created scenes of chaos to which the IDF responds with violence. Since this May, over 1,000 Gazans  many being women and children  have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to get ever-scarcer food or drinkable water. Gazas health care infrastructure has been largely destroyed, and life-saving medicine is nearly impossible to get. IDF bombs continue to tear apart homes, hospitals, schools and children.

Chillingly, Israels Intelligence Ministry has proposed ethnic-cleansing of Gaza to Egypts Sinai Peninsula as a policy option, and President Trump has talked openly about removing Gazans for commercial development  an implementation of what BTselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel have recently called active genocide.

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Our government continues to materially support these atrocities, and indulges the worst fantasies of ethnic-cleansing. It needs to stop. To highlight this ghastly inhumanity should not be conflated with the dehumanizing and hateful poison of antisemitism. To the contrary, it is a call to end dehumanizing violence. A lasting and meaningful ceasefire now.

James P. Hynes, State College

No rezone in Marion Township

Marion Township supervisors are (quietly) trying to rezone land that is currently zoned as agricultural and rural and meant for conservation. Paraphrasing, the current zoning is meant to preserve and protect land in the rural areas, protect the areas rural atmosphere and lifestyle and protecting the regions natural landscapes and habitat and discouraging the further deterioration of rural character. In its place we have a proposal for the Highway Commercial zoning amendment, which would allow commercial development at the new Jacksonville exit of I-80. This would include but not be limited to a travel plaza, or truck stop. Many here are not in favor of this. We dont want the added noise and light pollution, not to mention the worry of criminal activity. We would rather look at stars than neon signs. Wed rather hear birds than Jake brakes. Weve already put up with the construction of the new exit and are currently dealing with Jacksonville road construction which limits us to one-way travel, creating a major inconvenience not to mention a safety concern. But at least these are temporary. We were hoping that once the construction was done we could go back to our quiet lives, but a truck stop and other commercial development would be a permanent change and we dont welcome it.

Greg Parsons, Bellefonte

Its up to the voters

Lets face it, its clear that Donald Trump does not have an honest bone in his body, believes himself to be above the law, and is emotionally unstable. Congress can and should control him. For God-knows-what reasons, a small but dwindling number of Republicans in both houses of Congress actually support him. The rest are avoiding doing their job for fear of losing an election. So we as voters must work, unlike Trump, within the framework of our Constitution to support and elect people of integrity to the House and Senate who will stop this megalomaniac. In 2026, vote for the rule of law, a free and democratic society, and common decency.

Ross Adams, Boalsburg
The Brief

A DeKalb County police officer and an active shooter were killed Friday during a gun battle inside a CVS at Emory Point, prompting lockdowns at the CDC, Emory University, and nearby facilities.

Ninety-two children from a CDC campus daycare were safely evacuated and reunited with parents; several CDC buildings were struck by gunfire.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the case with assistance from APD, the FBI, and other agencies; a motive has not been determined.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities say both a suspected active shooter and a police officer were killed in a gunfight outside an Emory Point CVS, near the CDC and Emory University campus, on Friday afternoon.

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"That was an active shooter incident. The shooter is now deceased," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during a news conference.

What we know

Shots shattered the routine of a typical Friday afternoon along Clifton Road, replacing normalcy with confusion and fear.

Gunfire erupted inside the CVS at 1600 Clifton Road, directly across from the main entrance to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions main campus, around 4:50 p.m.

During the incident, the suspect fired multiple rounds at the CDC building, breaking windows, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

The CDC, Emory University, and Emory University Hospital were quickly placed on lockdown, along with several nearby smaller schools and daycares.

Multiple agencies respond

What they're saying

Schierbaum said officers from multiple agencies rushed to the scene and found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS. During the confrontation, a DeKalb County police officer was struck by one of the many bullets fired by the suspect.

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"Officers moved quickly to attempt to find the shooter and to neutralize the threat to the community," Schierbaum said. "We later found the shooter on the second floor of the CVS. He had been struck by gunfire. We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted."

The shooter died at the scene. Investigators have not yet determined whether the fatal wound was self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire.

"We do believe there was a single shooter, and we do believe that single shooter is deceased," Schierbaum said. "We want to reassure all parents and loved ones that their children are okay."

Law enforcement is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

The DeKalb police officer, later identified as David Rose, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but did not survive his injuries.

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Four other individuals were treated at a hospital for stress and anxiety but were not physically harmed.

Multiple guns found

The shooter was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three additional firearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Officials declined to confirm the type of weapon used, whether the CDC was intentionally targeted, or the suspects motive. Social media rumors about the suspects background and views on COVID-19 vaccines have not been substantiated, Mayor Dickens said during the press conference.

Police said the situation was contained by 6:30 p.m.

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The Dance 101 Studio, located in the same complex, canceled classes Friday night following the shooting.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the case, with assistance from the Atlanta Police Departments Complex Case Squad and the FBI.

What we don't know

The name of the shooter has not been released. A motive is now under investigation.

DeKalb County police officer killed

Big picture view

Officer David Rose, 33, was identified as the DeKalb County police officer killed in the line of duty on Friday.

Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024 and was assigned to the North Central precinct. He is survived by his wife and two children, with a third child on the way.

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"He was committed to serving the community," Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said. "At this time were asking for the communitys prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family."

The interim chief confirmed the officers death during a news conference outside Emory University Hospital.

"With profound sadness, we announce the loss of the life of one of our very own DeKalb County Police officers," Padrick said. "This officer responded to the call as he was trained to do. During that incident, he received gunfire and he lost his life. He was committed to serving the community."

He asked the public to keep the officers loved ones, friends and fellow officers in their thoughts.

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DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson said the fallen officer leaves behind a wife, three children  one of whom is unborn  as well as parents and siblings.

"Today is a very dark day in DeKalb County," Cochran Johnson said. "There is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father. These are individuals who run toward danger when we have the ability to run away."

The DeKab County District Attorney released a statement reading:

"My team and I have been in close contact with our law enforcement partners throughout todays events near the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University. We were devastated to learn about the tragic passing of an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department who bravely answered the call when our community needed him most. Earlier this evening, I called Interim Chief Padrick to offer my and my offices deepest condolences. My heart goes out to the officers family, friends, and the DeKalb County community as we all mourn this tremendous loss."

Fear grips Emory University, CDC campuses

What they're saying

Parents, hospital visitors and students near Emory University described tense moments Friday as an active-shooter situation unfolded just blocks from the Clifton School, a preschool on Clifton Road.

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Joel Miller, whose 5-year-old son, Emmeth, attends the school, said he and other parents waited nearby for updates. "Weve just been waiting here to get information from his school, the Clifton School," Miller said. "Theyve been really good at texting us and using their application on our phone just to keep us updated."

Miller said the school notified families every 15 to 20 minutes, assuring them that all students and staff were safe. "Im sure theyre all hungry, but sometimes you cant do anything about that, but theyre okay," he said.

While praising the schools communication and police response, Miller acknowledged the fear that came with the situation. "Its terrifying. Very few things can keep me awake at night. This would be one, top of the list," he said. "The police have been great. Even talking to the reporters, theyve been willing to share with us whats going on. Schools been really good. This is not something that you ever want to have to go through. You cant really understand it until youre a parent and its your kid."

By early afternoon, Miller said officials began lifting restrictions and preparing to reunite children with their families. "Theyre working on the timing so its probably going to be, I guess, probably an hour or so," he said. "Considering the situation, theyve been real good and I really appreciate it."

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Another bystander, Vyas, a student at Emory University, said he was also in the area during the incident.

Inside a nearby hospital, one visitor described being on lockdown with her mother for about an hour and a half. "We heard the sirens going, we heard the helicopters going, and they had us wait for about an hour and a half on lockdown," she said. "Then I turned on the TV to see what the news said, and here it was, an active shooter. They didnt know how many people were being active, if it was a group or what."

She said she was on the seventh floor when staff locked all the doors. "You couldnt go out or you couldnt leave or come in," she said, adding that her mother slept through the ordeal. They learned the lockdown was lifted when another person in the room received a text message from the hospital.

"I dont want to be a victim, that was it," she said. "Didnt want to be a victim, no part of it, so Im on my way home."

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She added that she typically visits the hospitals Midtown location instead of Clifton Road. "First time," she said. "You wont see me back."

Elsewhere, people who had been locked down in residences near the shooting scene began walking out on foot because vehicles were not allowed in or out of the immediate area.

Miss Briggs said she learned of the danger when her daughter, who lives at Emory Point, called to say she had heard gunshots. "She just told me what was going on, that she just heard gunshots and that there was an active shooter and that they were on lockdown," Briggs said.

She told her daughter to "stay away from the windows and be safe, dont open the door for anyone and Ill be there soon." Briggs said communication from agencies was strong, but her daughter struggled to know what to believe with so many conflicting reports. "I just told her, Im like, well, Ill get there and Ill see what I can, if it looks safe, then you come out," Briggs said.

Her daughter described sitting in her living room on what began as a normal afternoon when she heard rapid gunfire. "One of my friends had sent me a screenshot that Emory had sent out. The gunshots really popping rapidly it wasnt just quick and its over. It went on."

Emory University lockdown lifted

Timeline

An alert from Emory University went out Friday afternoon advising there was an "active shooter" at the CVS on campus to "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area."

Emory University and Emory University Hospital were immediately placed on lockdown.

Just before 6:30 p.m., Emory officials reported the shelter in place had been lifted.

Centers for Disease Control daycare

Ninety-two children inside a daycare on the campus at the time of the shooting were unharmed. They were later taken to a reunification site at 1900 Starvine Way, where parents picked them up under police supervision.

CDC employees kept inside for hours

What we know

According to a CDC employee who did not want their name used in this report, those inside the CDC main campus are being held and not being allowed to leave.

CDC employees were notified by email around 5:10 p.m. about the active shooter situation.

Photos circulating online show bullet holes in the glass of the building, but that has not been independently confirmed.

The CDC employees were not allowed to leave the campus until several hours after the shooting ended.

FBI, federal response

What they're saying

The FBI Atlanta field office released a statement shortly before 6 p.m. which read:

"FBI Atlanta is aware of the incident on Clifton Road in DeKalb County and is enroute and cooperating with local partners for any assistance that might be needed."

FBI Atlanta remains on scene assisting our partners on Clifton Rd. @GBI_GA is now lead on this investigation. pic.twitter.com/Ck1b01jPZD  FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) August 9, 2025

CDC responds

What they're saying

The CDC's new director, Susan Monarez, released a statement on X following the shooting. She said, in part, "A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings."

We at @CDCgov are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting. A courageous local law enforcement officer gave his life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings.  CDC Director Susan Monarez (@CDCMonarez) August 9, 2025

Statements from local leaders

What they're saying

Sen. Jon Ossoff, whose wife graduated from Emory University and still has close ties, released this statement:

"Tonights shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and near Emory University has shaken our community. Alisha and I send our prayers to the family of the officer killed in this attack and the entire CDC and Emory communities in light of this terrible act.

"We also express our gratitude to all of the first responders who provided medical assistance and secured the scene.

"My office is in close contact with leadership at Emory University, the CDC, and local law enforcement and will continue to stand with our community to deliver support."

Sen. Raphael Warnock released a statement that reads:

"I am mourning the tragic death of the officer who was killed in the line of duty today, and I am praying for the officer's family and friends. Georgia law enforcement saved countless lives, and we are grateful for their service.

"Earlier this year, I stood where this shooting occurred, rallying for fired CDC employees who work tirelessly to protect our public health and national security. CDC workers are our friends, our colleagues, and our neighbors. I will always have the backs of Georgia's dedicated public health workers."

Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts released the following:



"The people of Fulton County extend our condolences to our sister county in DeKalb as you face the tragic loss of Officer David Rose. You are all in our prayers, especially this heros wife and young family.The tragedy at Emory Point reminds us of the danger that law enforcement professionals face every day. Officer Rose and his fellow officers prevented further tragedy through their quick actions. Their bravery and sacrifices will not be forgotten."

CVS releases statement

What they're saying

A corporate spokesperson for CVS Health provided this comment:

"Were cooperating with the Atlanta Police Department as it investigates this afternoons shooting. None of our colleagues, customers or patients were hurt. The store is currently closed and will reopen when the scene is cleared."

Gov. Kemp releases statement

What they're saying

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp released a statement on X that reads:

"Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are. Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians. We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center."

Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are.



Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the  Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) August 8, 2025

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson echoed those sentiments, writing:

"My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by todays incident on the Emory campus. I am grateful for the swift and coordinated response from our law enforcement agencies and first responders. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available. I urge everyone to stay alert, remain indoors, and follow official guidance as we allow law enforcement to complete their investigation."

Dickens praised the rapid multi-agency response, which included Atlanta and DeKalb police, Emory University police, the FBI, GBI, Georgia State Patrol, and other departments from across the metro area.

"My heart goes out to the men and women who work at the CDC," Dickens said. "We are with you. We stand with you. And we are doing everything we can to bring resolve to this situation."

Where is Emory University?

Dig deeper

Emory University, one of the nations leading private research institutions, traces its roots to 1836 when it was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Oxford, Georgia, about 35 miles east of Atlanta. Named for Methodist bishop John Emory, the school began as a small liberal arts college before gradually expanding its academic offerings and reputation.

In 1915, Coca-Cola Company founder Asa Candler donated land and funds to move Emory to Atlantas Druid Hills neighborhood. The relocation allowed the university to grow alongside the citys emerging medical and cultural centers. The Emory University Hospital opened in 1922, and the university soon established a medical school that became a hub for health research and training.

Over the decades, Emory expanded into nine academic divisions, including highly ranked programs in law, business, theology, public health, and nursing. The university is also known for its close affiliation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, headquartered adjacent to its main campus.

Today, Emory enrolls more than 15,000 students and is recognized for its research in public health, biomedical sciences, and the humanities, as well as its commitment to community service in Atlanta and beyond.

What is Emory Point?

Dig deeper

Emory Point, a mixed-use development in the Druid Hills neighborhood, is a mixed-use development near Emory University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention main campus.

The complex, which opened in 2012, sits along Clifton Road across from the CDC and within walking distance of Emory University Hospital. It features residential units aimed at professionals, students and medical staff who work or study nearby.

Emory Points retail section includes national chains and locally owned businesses, offering restaurants, fitness studios and service shops. The development was designed to be pedestrian-friendly, with access to Emorys shuttle system for residents and visitors.

Developers have marketed the project as a "live-work-play" community that caters to the needs of those connected to Emory and surrounding institutions.

Late Friday evening, the complex released the following statement:

"We are relieved to inform you that the active shooter situation near our building has been resolved.

"Law enforcement has confirmed that the shelter in place order has been lifted, and there is no ongoing threat. We anticipate the area surrounding our community will remain an active scene for some time.We are very grateful to law enforcement and the first responders for their swift response and work to protect our community. Please know that details remain limited and we will continue to cooperate closely with law enforcements ongoing investigation.



"We understand this has been a stressful experience, and we appreciate your cooperation and calm during the incident. Your wellbeing is always our highest priority."

The Source

Emory University, Emory University Police Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Police Department, DeKalb County, DeKalb County Police Department, the FBI, the GBI, Gov. Brian Kemp, CVS Health, and multiple witnesses spoke with FOX 5 Atlanta for this article. FOX News and the Associated Press contributed to this report. This story has been updated since it was originally published to add new details.
(NewsNation)  A police officer wounded while responding to an active shooter at Emory University outside Atlanta has died.

Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.

Police are investigating the shooters motive after he was found dead on the second floor above a CVS on the college campus on Friday.

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Montana shooting suspect in custody: Governor

The gunman, identified only as a white male, opened fire at 4:50 p.m. A DeKalb County officer was injured responding to the shooting and later died of his injuries.

Police say the gunman shot up at least four CDC buildings. It was initially unclear if the shooter was targeting the school or the CDC, which neighbors the college campus.

Four other people showed up at the hospital suffering stress-related symptoms after the shooting, police said.

Active shooter alert issued

Gunfire can be heard in videos posted on X as cops swarmed the college six miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

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Active shooter on Emory Atlanta campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Avoid the area. Shelter in place, Emory University wrote in an emergency alert.

Cincinnati beating victim says she thought she was dead after attack

Atlanta police said the shooter was dead and that there was no longer a threat to the campus in an update at 6:45 p.m.

Video from WAGA showed bullet holes covering a police SUV, and the outlet reported that several cop cars were shot up, with some leaking fluids.

Police investigate car, motive

Police were seen investigating a white car near the CVS where the gunman was fatally wounded, and a CBS reporter shared images of bullet holes in windows at the CDC.

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Asked if the gunman targeted the CDC, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said it was too early to tell as the investigation is underway.

He is a known person that may have some interests in certain things that I cant reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted, Dickens said.

But I think in short order youll know more about this individual and some assumptions about his motives, but I cant say right now, he said.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said investigators are trying to determine if the suspect meant to hit the CDC building as he opened fire.

Multiple rounds were fired, both we believe at law enforcement and potentially at the CDC, Schierbaum said.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
A Liverpool FC supporters' group has written to the prime minister to complain about the planned appearance of political commentator Iain Dale at the Labour Party's conference in the city.

Spirit of Shankly (SOS) said it felt his appearance was inappropriate because a company he co-owned published books by former South Yorkshire Police chief inspector Norman Bettison and the ex-editor of The Sun, Kelvin McKenzie.

The Sun has been the subject of a long-running boycott in Merseyside over its coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, while Mr Bettison has faced accusations he tried to blame Liverpool fans for the tragedy, which claimed 97 lives.

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Mr Dale told the BBC he had been to "virtually every Labour Party conference since 1998, including all the ones in Liverpool" and described SOS's intervention as "ridiculous".

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.

In its letter to Sir Keir Starmer, SOS said: "That the Labour Party should now offer him a platform in this city is an insult, compounded by the current fear of those Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners - as voiced by Liverpool MP Ian Byrne - that the Hillsborough Law will not be delivered in full as promised.

"This decision, coming after the recent appointment of David Dinsmore as the government's director of communications, merely adds to a growing sense of betrayal."

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SOS said it had also written to every Merseyside Labour MP over Mr Dale's planned appearance.

It is the second time an appearance in Liverpool by Mr Dale has sparked controversy in relation to Hillsborough.

In 2024, the Philharmonic Hall cancelled a tour date for the stage show spin-off of his LBC podcast For The Many, citing "local sensitivities".

Mr Dale said at the time the theatre had been "cowed by a couple of Twitter trolls".

SOS also raised that in 2011, during an appearance in Liverpool for the Labour Party conference, Mr Dale had described the city as "ghastly", saying it "made Gaza look welcoming".

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Mr Dale told the BBC: "Both Keir Starmer and Merseyside Labour MPs are very happy to appear on my LBC radio show, so I can't imagine they will have any truck with this ridiculous attempt to get me banned from the conference."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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CINCINNATI, OHIO - Southwest Ohio residents are expressing outrage at local leadership after a viral street fight in their backyard that captured the nations attention. One resident, a local political activist, told Fox News Digital a "Democrat monopoly" is partially to blame.

The Saturday night violence in downtown Cincinnati on July 26, which left a woman knocked unconscious on the street at the hands of a male assailant, was the result of a city that wasnt "prepared" due to political ideology, Price Hill native Adam Koehler told Fox News Digital. He added that the response to the fight was "not leadership."

"Leadership comes out and says, 'Hey, we've got a problem. Here's my solution to fix it,'" Koehler said. "But instead, they want to be cowardly and hide the fact that crime is actually happening."

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Cincinnati's mayor and other local officials have faced heated criticism in recent days over the perception they are not taking crime seriously. One elected Democrat, Councilwoman Victoria Parks, posted on social media saying that the victims of the fight "begged for that beatdown."

Cincinnati Man Who Lost Eye In Unsolved Random Beating Says Crime 'Out Of Control' After Brutal Viral Assault

Fox News Digital spoke to Cincinnati resident Adam Koehler about crime in the city.

"This is a Democrat monopoly they've got here," Koehler, an entrepreneur and former candidate for Hamilton County commissioner, told Fox News Digital. "So, I mean they can just pretty much do whatever they want. And a lot of that kind of rhetoric is excused, right? It's, you know, past injustices and you know now I feel like I can say whatever I want and it's excused. And luckily there are some city council members that denounced the words that Victoria Parks said, which is great, but you've got other people that just want to stoke the flames."

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Holly, the woman brutally knocked out and bruised in the attack, told Fox News this week she is yet to receive a phone call from the mayor or top officials "just apologizing for what happened and for letting these thugs and criminals run the streets when they should have been in jail to begin with."

Koehler told Fox News Digital that Democrats running the city "have an agenda" and "want to look a certain way" and "ignore the problem."

"It's a lot of these ideologies that come out of the universities, right?" Koehler said. "Every generation thinks they figured something out about crime and they're soft-hearted people, they wanted to do things, but, you know, policies like what Giuliani did in New York, those kind of things work."

Cincinnati Police Chief Says Out Of 100 People Watching And Recording Violent Attack, Only 1 Called 911

(L-R) Jermaine Matthews, Dominique Kittle, DeKyra Vernon, Montianez Merriweather and Patrick Rosemond are facing various charges for their alleged roles in the viral beatdown in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 26, 2025.

Koehler, who was speaking to Fox News Digital outside a GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy town hall even t on Cincinnatis west side, said figures like Ramaswamy, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Ohio native VP JD Vance are reasons to be optimistic about addressing the crime spike downtown.

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"Those guys got power," Koehler said. "I mean you start throwing the DOJ down here and start investigating some of the things that are happening, why wasn't there more police there?"

Koehler added, "I mean there's a lot of grifting that goes on whenever you have a one-party monopoly in any city. Obviously, you're gonna have corruption. And it's just, it's festered here, and it's culminated in what you see."

Sen. Bernie Moreno speaks at a press conference alongside Holly, a victim in the viral July 26 brawl in Cincinnati, at the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters in Ohio on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

Moreno said this week he is introducing "Hollys Act," a move aimed at ending what he calls the justice systems revolving door for repeat offenders.

"Lets be honest, because a lot of times you guys are qualifying this as a brawl," Moreno told reporters. "This was attempted murder of an innocent woman. And that person had a rap sheet a mile long. Nobody who has that rap sheet should be walking the streets of any Ohio city free."

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Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita and Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.





Original article source: Local entrepreneur sounds alarm on local leaders over viral street attack: 'Democrat monopoly'
MINERVA, Ohio (WJW)  Concern about accidents involving fast moving vehicles and slow-moving Amish buggies, is prompting a Northeast Ohio family to launch a campaign to change the law and the effort was inspired by their own heartbreaking experience.

The parents of 20-year-old Zachary Wensel of Minerva say he was a hard-working young man with a bright future until March 3rd, 2024, when he was involved in a terrible accident while riding his motorcycle in the Amish Country of Holmes County.

As he came over the crest of a hill at 50 miles per hour, he was immediately confronted with an SUV, that was going only five miles an hour because it was behind an Amish buggy.

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Zacharys mother, Dr. Dawna Wensel, told FOX 8, he had no other option but to take the full brunt of the force and hit the back of the SUV.

Even though he was wearing a helmet, Zachary Wensel suffered severe injuries, that included a traumatic brain injury and 13 broken bones in his face.

He was initially in a coma, and when he emerged from it, his parents say he was in a great deal of pain and it had a profound impact on his once positive outlook on life.

His mother wept as she told us, four months before his 21st birthday, which is tomorrow, he committed suicide because he couldnt handle it anymore.

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In their grief, Zachary Wensels parents decided to seek changes in the law, to prevent the kind of the accident that changed their lives forever.

Zacharys Law would create a designated non-motorized lane on all roads and highways with posted speed limits of 55 mph or higher, or restrict horse drawn buggies or wagons from using those roads.

We want them to still be able to travel and practice their religion the way that they have but there has to be an update to the law to make it safe for cars going 55 miles an hour and buggies going five miles an hour, said Zacharys father, Don Wensel.

The family has reached out to Gov. DeWine and lawmakers in Washington and Columbus, asking them to consider Zacharys Law.

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They are inviting Ohioans to sign a petition on change.org, seeking support for the designated buggy lane proposal.

Dawna Wensel told us, were not living in the 19th century anymore, we need to update our reforms and make our roads safe for everybody.

Don Wensel added, and the way it is currently is not working and people are dying.

Since launching the campaign, Zacharys parents say they have heard the stories of many other families who have suffered terrible tragedies involving slow moving buggies on high-speed roads and highways.

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KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Prime Minster KP Sharma Oli returned home on Friday after attending the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in Turkmenistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Minister for Home Ramesh Lekhak and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey received the Prime Minister at VVIP Lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Also present on the occasion were the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, the Chief of Army Staff, chiefs of security agencies, and high-ranking government officials.

Related story Prime Minister Oli returns home from Europe

A contingent of the Nepal Army had offered a guard of honor to the Prime Minister.

PM Oli had left for Turkmenistan at the official invitation of President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The conference was held in the city of Awaza on August 5-8. During the conference, PM Oli addressed the program as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of Least Developed Countries.

Similarly, the Prime Minister co-chaired one of the high-level roundtable meetings and also delivered remarks at various programs.

On the sidelines of the conference, PM Oli held bilateral talks with heads of the delegation from various countries, as well as high-level office-bearers of the UN and other international organizations.

Altogether 32 landlocked developing countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America attended the conference, where discussions on direct sea access, hurdles facing the landlocked nations and benefits to be taken from the world markets were held.

His spouse, Radhika Shakya, accompanied PM Oli; Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Federal Parliament Member Surya Bahadur Thapa Kshetree, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and senior government officials.
Antelope Valley Medical Center is asking for the publics help in identifying a man who has been hospitalized since July 26.

The patient, found in Lancaster, is described as a Black man, possibly in his 20s or 30s, with black hair, brown eyes, and black facial hair. (Antelope Valley Medical Center) He has a faded tattoo on his left shoulder that appears to read TRU. Additional tattoos on his left forearm include faded text resembling Rane Karen Hintion 4/1/13 on the outer side and an image of praying hands on the inner side. (Antelope Valley Medical Center) He has a faded tattoo on his left shoulder that appears to read TRU. Additional tattoos on his left forearm include faded text resembling Rane Karen Hintion 4/1/13 on the outer side and an image of praying hands on the inner side. (Antelope Valley Medical Center)

The patient, found in Lancaster, is a Black man, possibly in his 20s or 30s, with black hair, brown eyes, and black facial hair.

He has a faded tattoo on his left shoulder that appears to read TRU. Additional tattoos on his left forearm include faded text resembling Rane Karen Hintion 4/1/13 on the outer side and an image of praying hands on the inner side.

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Anyone with information is urged to contact the hospitals Case Management Department at 661-949-5025.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  School is back in session around the Wabash Valley, but its not just teachers and students whose routines will be changed.

In the mornings and afternoons, many residents will encounter school buses.

Local law enforcement organizations want to remind you to slow down while driving, remove any distractions, and stop at any time you see the bus stop sign arm extended.

Lieutenant Justin Sears of the Terre Haute Police Department said they will have extra enforcement near school zones, and they will be on the lookout for anybody endangering the safety of children.

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Were going to be following the buses and that means there may be a bunch of traffic stops or extra traffic stops, Sears said. I would say the majority of those will probably be warnings depending on the severity of the infractions, but I can say that passing bus arms and distracted drivers will most likely not get a warning from the Terre Haute Police Department. Those are serious and dangerous offenses.

Along with the Terre Haute Police Department, the Vigo County Sheriffs Department will also have added enforcement near schools and school zones.

However, Sheriff Derek Fell said monitoring the county roads will be a priority as drivers behave differently.

In the county the speed limits change, so people are maybe speeding a little bit more in the county and its more wide-open areas, Fell said. We just ask people to be cognizant of their driving behaviors. We ask people to take five or ten minutes and leave a little bit earlier when theyre doing their commutes, especially in the morning or afternoon.

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School begins for Vigo County School Corporation next week, August 12th.

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TUPELO  Organizations and governmental entities addressed the Tupelo officials this week hoping to secure additional funding or to thank the city for their ongoing support.

The Tupelo City Council held its first budget hearing Tuesday night in preparation for the upcoming fiscal year. Multiple agencies appealed to the council for continued or additional funding, including the Regional Rehab Center, Youth Court, S.A.F.E. and Easterseals Mississippi.

For Youth Court, Judge Stephen Spencer and Judge Staci Bevill each made requests: Spencer for increased funding to help with staffing and Bevill to obtain funding for a family intervention court within the local system.

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The ask: $50,000 in seed money to help hire a family intervention court director and establish the new court system in the county. Bevill said an intervention court is something she believes is needed in Lee County, noting that more than 70% of cases she sees in Youth Court involve substance abuse as the primary issue.

Im asking you to join in a partnership that we are excited about in Youth Court. We have never had a family intervention court, which is a treatment court, she said. I cant even tell you what the drug problem is in my court. I cannot even explain it.

The funding, Bevill said, would come through the citys opioid settlement money, a fund the state gives municipalities and counties annually as part of a larger state settlement with opioid manufacturers. That money can be used for any purpose, but many municipalities use it to fund causes that combat drug abuse.

Bevill noted she will also ask the county for funding through the settlement.

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Spencer, detailing his work specifically focusing on truancy in the county, asked for $50,000 in city funding, up from the previous years $37,000 for staffing.

Sara Kitchens, Director of Easterseals Mississippi, a child advocacy center that serves the region, which took up the mantle after the closure of the Family Resource Center, also addressed the council, requesting $10,000 to assist with their funding.

The ultimate goal is to try to do what is in the best interest of the child, she said.

S.A.F.E. Executive Director Dr. Zowee Shanks, meanwhile, requested $25,000. The nonprofit shelter advocates for and assists those fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. She said the funding she requested could help house five additional individuals in need.

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Be the hands and feet of Jesus in Northeast Mississippi, she said in closing.

Meanwhile, Regional Rehab Center Executive Director Robby Parman addressed the council and gave an update on operations, asking for the same funding as previous years. The center provides speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and other services to those in need in the region.

The vast majority of cases, however, are in Lee County. Since 2005, the city has given the center $110,000 annually, a sum Parman said was instrumental in its continued success.

Weve got the largest staff weve ever had  but (we) still have wait lists. There are still so many kids and adults that need help, he said.

Chief Financial Officer Kim Hanna said the public hearing will not be the only time local entities can make their requests, noting there will be a public hearing later this month as well to discuss the tax levy for the year.
The Brief

A USF scientist just earned her Ph.D. using AI technology to stop the spread of diseases carried by mosquitos.

She's using the technology to immediately identify breeds known to carry disease.

She was inspired to study the technology after an outbreak of mosquito-borne disease spread through her parents' neighborhood in Bangladesh, causing many neighbors to get sick.

TAMPA - Farhat Binte Azum, 31, believes artificial intelligence can help battle the spread of diseases carried by mosquitoes like Malaria and Dengue.

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This summer she earned her Ph.D. in computer science. She has developed a mosquito trap that lures the insects inside and then takes their picture.

AI can instantly recognize the species of mosquitoes known to carry these diseases.

Crews can then be deployed to eradicate mosquitoes around the trap before they spread.

Her beta version traps are currently deployed in the Tampa area.

So far, there is no sign of the more dangerous mosquitoes.

She believes AI may be able to help stop the spread of such diseases all over the world. Her work is funded in part by the National Institutes for Health.

What's next

Farhat is working to improve the build of her traps. She believes AI may be introduced into the worldwide war on mosquitoes relatively quickly.

Dig deeper

Farhat was inspired when her parents fell seriously ill with a disease carried by mosquitoes.

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Several of their neighbors in Bangladesh died in the outbreak in 2019.

OTHER NEWS: How much rain will the Tampa Bay area get this weekend? Here's a look

Farhat says she chose USF because experiments were already underway on its Tampa main campus.

She was also accepted by graduate programs at the University of Maryland and the University of South Carolina.

The Source

FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers gathered the information for this story.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  Coffee lovers in St. Joseph and Savannah now have a new stop for their morning pick-me-up: Moonys Coffee, a woman-owned mobile coffee stand serving fresh brews and local pride.

Every cup of coffee is made using high-quality beans from Mokaska Coffee Co., a St. Joseph-based roaster known for bold flavor and a tradition of excellence dating back to 1884.

But the flavor goes deeper than the beans. Moonys crafts all syrups and specialty flavors in-house as well.

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Co-founders Liz Generaux and Maggie Johnson launched Moonys Coffee about a year ago with one mission: to bring exceptional, on-the-go coffee to their community. The mobile stand allows customers to enjoy quality beverages from early morning coffees, to tea and lemonades aimed at getting beverage lovers through the day.

It feels surreal sometimes," said co-owner Johnson, " I look at everything that we have now and the progress from last September to now is insane. I feel really grateful that we've had so many friends and family help us to make this possible and put it together, and then all the support online and from people that I never thought would have done that for us is insane.

They opened on September 20th last year at Savannah's Homecoming, beginning with their table and tent. Then, they acquired the trailer in February and opened it in April, coinciding with Easter.

Moonys typically operates from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays.

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To keep up with their schedule and locations, customers are encouraged to follow the stands Facebook page, where updates, seasonal specials and event details are posted.

In addition to regular service, Moonys Coffee is available for bookings, including community events, corporate functions and private celebrations. Interested hosts can reach out via Facebook to bring a touch of local flavor to their next gathering.

Moonys Coffee is more than just a drink stop; its a celebration of small business, local connections, and hometown pride.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The locally-owned Hatch Cover Bar & Grill, located in southwest Colorado Springs, is celebrating 50 years in business this weekend and invites the community to join in on the fun.

According to its Facebook page, now through Saturday, Aug. 9, the Hatch Cover will be hosting giveaways, 1975 prices, and a lot of karaoke.

Whos comin to hang with us this weekend at our 50th bday bash? It aint every day that your fave neighborhood bar & grill turns the big five-oh, a post on Facebook read.

Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Jack Young Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Jack Young Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Jack Young

Hatch cover is located at 252 East Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard, off Nevada Avenue, just south of Lake Ave. For more information on menu items or location hours, click the link above.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo will authorize the Nevada National Guard to assist in federal immigration enforcement, a spokesperson confirmed Friday.

The guardsmen will help Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a temporary, administrative capacity, Elizabeth Ray, the governors communication director, said.

In December, the governor signed onto a letter with other Republican governors signalling his support of the then-president-elects immigration enforcement policies.

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In March, Lombardo told 8 News Now he supported the policy of [removing] the worst of the worst, implying the targeting of known criminals in the country illegally.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice named Nevada a sanctuary state, stating it had policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws. Lombardo said in a statement on his social media that Nevada is not a sanctuary state and would not be under his leadership.

The Nevada National Guard should be focused on protecting our national security and responding to emergencies like natural disasters, not assisting with President Trumps indiscriminate mass deportations that are hurting hardworking Nevada families, Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto posted on X.

The Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus slammed the governors action.

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We demand clarity from Governor Lombardo of what temporary administrative duties approval means for Nevadans, Democratic Assem. Cecelia Gonzalez, the caucuss chair, said in a statement. Because from where we stand it looks like he has chosen Trump over Nevada. He is not protecting our communities, he is helping to tear them apart.

The Nevada National Guard authorization will be paid for through federal funds.

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Gov. Joe Lombardo. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

In agreeing to deploy the Nevada National Guard to help carry out the Trump administrations mass deportation agenda, Gov. Joe Lombardo is turning Nevadans against Nevadans, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus.

Titus was among several Nevadans who expressed harsh reactions to Lombardos decision.

Lombardos office told the Nevada Independent Friday that about two dozen Nevada National Guard personnel will be providing administrative assistance to U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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The Defense Department late last month authorized several states, all with Republican governors, to deploy National Guard assistance with mass deportation efforts. The DOD statement said National Guard personnel would provide case management, transportation and logistical support, and clerical support for the in- and out-processing of undocumented people at ICE detention facilities.

The DOD statement noted the federal government would pay for National Guard assistance.

Lombardo is the latest Republican governor to agree to the Trump administrations overture seeking National Guard support for ICE activities.

Several states (including Florida, Louisiana, South Dakota, Tennesee, Idaho, South Carolina, and Wyoming) have so far announced or confirmed National Guard personnel will be accordingly called up, with several others poised to join them.

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ICEs tactics, which have included masked men apprehending people off the streets in unmarked cars, and detaining people with no criminal records and U.S. citizens, have been met with a barrage of criticism and scrutiny.

Immigration has consistently been Trumps strongest issue in polling over the years. But a Gallup poll last month found 35% of respondents approving of Trumps handling of immigration, while 62% disapproved.

At least one Republican governor has declined to authorize the National Guard.

A spokesperson for Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said due to concern for the tactics, and disruption that some of those tactics are causing, in workplaces and communities, the Vermont National Guard would not be called up to help ICE.

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Concern about tactics and disruption were similarly cited by Nevadans who blasted Lombardos decision.

The Nevada National Guards mission is to protect us, not sow more fear in our communities by doing Trumps dirty work, Titus said Friday on X.

The Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus issued a statement Friday evening saying Lombardo has chosen Trump over Nevada.

He is not protecting our communities, he is helping to tear them apart, said Democratic Assemblymember Cecilia Gonzalez, NLLC caucus chair.

Mass deportations, the NLCC statement continued, will devastate Nevadas families, our economy, and our reputation. Tourists will be scared away, small businesses will lose workers, and neighborhoods will be militarized. Children will fear going to school. Families will live in constant terror.

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The state deserves leaders who will stand up to Washington when it threatens our values, not roll over and hand them the keys to our state, the NLCC statement added.

Saying Nevada Republicans have moved so far right theyre unrecognizable, Democratic state Sen. Fabian Donate noted that Lombardos most recent Republican predecessor, Gov. Brian Sandoval, ruled out calling the National Guard to help round up undocumented people when Trump made a similar request during his first administration.

The Trump-Lombardo agenda has fractured families and already negatively impacted Nevadas tourism-dependent economy, said the Nevada Immigration Coalition in a statement responding to Lombardos decision to deploy the National Guard.

Its shameful that Lombardo has bent the knee to Trump, the statement added.
Police have arrested 466 people in central London on Saturday for protesting the British governments decision to ban the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.

As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action, the Metropolitan Police wrote on X on Saturday.

Eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers, but police said none were seriously injured.

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Palestine Action is a UK-based group which says it aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government.

Last month, UK lawmakers voted to proscribe the group after two Palestine Action activists broke into Britains largest air base in central England in June, damaging two military aircraft.

The groups ban makes it illegal under UK law to be a member of  or invite support for  Palestine Action and puts them on par with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS.

Large crowds turned up for demonstrations organized by Defend Our Juries on Saturday afternoon at Londons Parliament Square. Londons Metropolitan Police had cautioned that it would arrest anyone showing support for the proscribed group.

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One 80-year-old protestor from Surrey, England, who wished to remain anonymous, told CNN that she attended the protest to show what a farce the governments decision on Palestine Action was.

She said organizers were aiming to have at least 500 people sitting peacefully with signs. I watched a few being carried off by police but there simply werent enough police to arrest all, she added.

A demonstrator sits on the ground in handcuffs during the protest in London on Saturday. - Alberto Pezzali/AP

People attend a rally challenging the British government's proscription of the activist group Palestine Action in London on Saturday, - Jaimi Joy/Reuters

The demonstration organizers said on social media that upwards of one thousand people attended the protest, holding up signs that read I oppose Genocide, I support Palestine Action in a mass display of defiance against (British Home Secretary) Yvette Coopers ban.

The Metropolitan Police stated that approximately 500 to 600 people were in attendance when the demonstration began. Many were onlookers, media, or people not holding placards supporting Palestine Action, police said in an earlier statement.

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We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested, Scotland Yard added.

Those arrested at the protest were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area, and those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action, police also said.

A CNN team on the ground witnessed scuffles between protestors and police, as demonstrators were arrested and taken away for supporting Palestine Action. Onlookers were heard shouting shame on you as police officers removed peaceful protestors from the area.

British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police for dealing with the very small number of people whose actions crossed the line into criminality.

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The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation, she said, according to the UKs Press Association.

Amnesty International UK condemned the arrest of peaceful protesters as a violation of the UKs international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly, in a post on X.

Last week, Palestine Actions co-founder Huda Ammori won a bid to challenge the ban, with a London High Court judge granting permission to seek a judicial review.

CNNs Jonny Hallam and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting.

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KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Nepal has laid emphasis on expanding cooperation and collaboration in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) held in Turkmenistan.

At a press conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Information and Broadcasting after the return of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from the conference on Friday, it was shared that countries like Nepal had raised their voice for additional support from the development partners to the landlocked countries.

Related story PM Oli to address Third UN Conference on LLDCs in Turkmenistan...

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai informed that the 'Aawaja Programme of Action will serve as a cornerstone for transforming a landlocked country's development and prosperity from being landlocked to trade-competitive and from being a climate-vulnerable to a climate-resilient nation.

He mentioned that during the conference, Nepali delegation leader and Prime Minister Oli clarified that Nepal was working on expanding cross-border connectivity through the construction of smart infrastructure, expansion of highways and railways, development of trade routes, and green energy corridors.

It was also reported during the press conference that Prime Minister Oli called on neighboring countries, development partners, and donor agencies to extend additional support to Nepal's efforts for development.
A super PAC supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's 2026 primary challenge against longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn is showcasing the MAGA firebrand's efforts in the Lone Star State's high-stakes redistricting battle.

It's the latest example of how the redistricting showdown in Texas is shaping what is likely to be one of the most bruising and expensive Senate races in next year's midterm elections.

A digital spot by Lone Star Liberty PAC includes a compilation of cable news reports, and it highlights Paxton's efforts to track down Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled the state to prevent the Republican-dominated legislature from voting on new GOP-crafted congressional maps in the red state that would create five more right-leaning congressional districts.

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It includes a clip of Paxton pushing "to remove some of these legislators from office" and conservative media figures praising the attorney general's moves. If also includes a photo of Paxton standing next to President Donald Trump, who remains neutral to date in the GOP primary battle.

Texas Attorney General Paxton Investigating Beto O'rourke

The Republican push in Texas, which comes at Trump's urging, is part of a broader effort by the GOP across the country to keep control of its razor-thin House majority in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats.

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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.

Sen. Cornyn Successful In Urging Fbi To Track Down Fleeing Texas Democratic State Lawmakers

While the redistricting battle has spread to states across the country as Democratic governors in blue states and GOP governors in red states move toward rare mid-decade gerrymandering pushes of their own, the dispute in Texas is taking center stage in the GOP Senate primary.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, left, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who are facing off in the state's 2026 GOP Senate primary, are showcasing their efforts to crack down on fleeing Texas Democratic state lawmakers.

Texas-based veteran Republican strategist Tyler Norris told Fox News Cornyn and Paxton "are using every tool at their disposal to prove that they're both dedicated to helping the Trump administration gain more seats in Congress for 2026."

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Cornyn spotlighted his urgent letter asking the FBI for help in tracking down the Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas. The senator's move resulted in the FBI approving his request to locate the AWOL lawmakers.

"I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats," Cornyn said in a statement. "We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities."

But it remains unclear whether the FBI could actually return the lawmakers to Texas.

Paxton is also looking into whether two political action committees aligned with former Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas may have violated state laws by assisting the state lawmakers who fled.

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"Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto bribe will be held accountable," Paxton said this week during a news conference.

O'Rourke came close to ousting Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2018 midterms before running unsuccessfully for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He lost to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the state's 2022 gubernatorial contest, and is considering jumping into the 2026 Senate race in Texas.

He's been visible in his support for the fleeing Texas Democrats.

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, who is considering a U.S. Senate run in 2026, is supportive of Texas Democratic state lawmakers who fled the Lone Star State in the redistricting dispute.

And O'Rourke has pushed back against Paxton.

"The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats," O'Rourke argued in a social media post Wednesday. "Let's stop these thugs before they steal our country."

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But Paxton scored a victory over O'Rourke on Friday, as a Texas county judge granted him a temporary restraining order to prevent O'Rourke and his political groups from funding the state lawmakers who left Texas.

Texas state Sen. James Talarico, who is also moving toward entering the Senate race, is among the Democrats who fled to Illinois to prevent the legislature from voting on the redistricting plan.

Since arriving in Illinois, Talarico has sat for a couple dozen interviews with media outlets across the country.

The only major Democrat who's already announced his candidacy in the Senate race, former Rep. Colin Allred, is also supportive of the fleeing lawmakers.

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But Allred, who is making his second straight bid for the Senate in Texas, has not been in the media spotlight to the degree of Talarico or O'Rourke.





Original article source: Lone Star State rivals for US Senate compete to wrangle runaway Democrats
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The National Park Service oversees America's 63 national parks. | Credit: Getty Images

The National Park Service is facing an all-out crisis after losing roughly 24% of its full-time staff to a series of brutal cuts and redundancies imposed by the Trump administration.

Visitors to the parks have been forced to contend with long lines, reduced opening hours, and other issues as parks across the country struggle to cope without sufficient staff. Conservation and scientific efforts have also been impacted as employees are forced to perform various visitor-facing roles and clean the bathrooms, due to a lack of maintenance staff.

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To find out just how bad things have gotten, I caught up with John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association.

The NPCA is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to protecting America's National Parks and their staff.

What happened?

The past few months have been extremely damaging for the NPS.

Days after taking office, President Trump announced a federal hiring freeze, which stopped America's 63 national parks from recruiting the thousands of temporary workers they rely on each year during the busy summer season, and asked full-time employees to take redundancy.

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Weeks later, one thousand further staff were fired in a bulk email, popularly referred to as the 'Valentine's Day massacre'.

Protesters demand an end to the firings at Yosemite National Park | Credit: Getty Images

In total, internal NPS data reported by NPCA suggests that the parks have lost almost a quarter of their full-time staff, and have only hired around half of the usual number of temporary employees.

Visitor experience

Inadequate staff numbers have had a drastic impact on the visitor experience at America's 63 national parks.

"We are seeing late openings of campgrounds, long lines at the visitor centre, challenges keeping up with maintenance, reduced hours at parks, reduced hours at visitor centres, and other impacts," Garder explains.

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Delays have been a common occurrence throughout the summer. Parks across the country are recording record visitor numbers, but without ample staff to man the facilities, some visitors have been forced to wait in lengthy lines before they can even get through the gate.

To make up for the missing maintenance workers, Garder claims that law enforcement officers, scientists, and other non-public-facing staff have been forced away from their usual work to help visitors.

"We're seeing a situation where there are professional staff who care for resources, who do scientific work, who perform law enforcement, and are needed for their normal duties, who are now maintaining bathrooms, and are doing some of the other work so that visitors don't see the impact that this is having," he tells me.

Internal NPS emails seen by SFGate appear to confirm Garder's claims, asking biologists, hydrologists, and archaeologists at Yosemite National Park to take on bathroom shifts due to insufficient staff numbers.

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Garder continues: "The long-term threat, which is very alarming, is not necessarily visible to park visitors, but if this keeps up, this eventually is going to be the case as resources get degraded."

Conservation

With conservation staff forced elsewhere to deal with other, 'collateral duties', Garder fears that their vital work monitoring wildlife, addressing invasive species, and restoring habitats is in danger.

"All of those things are at risk as professionals are being lost, and those staff who remain are, in many cases, being sent to perform other duties, many of which are visitor-facing," he explains.

An NPS ranger guides a walking tour of Shark Valley, in the Everglades National Park | Credit: Getty Images

Multiple conservation employees have also lost work in Trump's mass firings, and many more have taken the administration's redundancy package.

Campsites

Campsites are one of the few areas where the parks are just about coping. Although multiple sites were unable to open on time earlier in the summer, the rehiring of some seasonal staff has lifted the burden.

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"As they've been able to hire more seasonal staff, which is not at the level that the Interior Secretary promised, they have been able to do more things like open up campgrounds," says Garder.

What's next?

The future of America's national parks remains in the balance, but there's a possibility that things could get even worse before they get better.

In June, President Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed a whopping $1.2 billion cut to the NPS in its 2026 budget proposal to Congress.

The announcement sent a shudder through the outdoor community. The NPS already has a monster deferred maintenance backlog of over $20 billion, and nature lovers feared that it wouldn't be able to cope with just two-thirds of its 2025 budget.

Climbers hang an upside-down US flag on Yosemite's El Capitan mountain in protest | Credit: Getty Images

Congress, thankfully, listened to the budget's many critics, and a House appropriations subcommittee recently marked it up with a restored NPS budget of $3.1 billion, which would essentially keep funding the same as this year.

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"We're relieved to see that Congress is declining some of the administration's worst proposals, at least so far," says Garder, who remains deeply concerned about the service's future under the Trump administration.

"The Interior Secretary has engaged in a steady, all-out assault on the National Park Service," he claims.

"This is historic in nature, and we're alarmed by it. It's important that Americans continue to demonstrate outrage, and the administration and Congress listen to them."
Thank you so much for showing up this morning, Sharon Nicholls said into a megaphone at 8 a.m. Wednesday outside a Home Depot in Pasadena.

As of Friday afternoon, no federal agents had raided the store on East Walnut Street. But the citizen brigade that stands watch outside and patrols the parking lot in search of ICE agents has not let down its guardespecially not after raids at three other Home Depots in recent days despite federal court rulings limiting sweeps. On Friday, a Home Depot in Van Nuys was raided twice before noon.

About two dozen people gathered Wednesday near the tent that serves as headquarters of the East Pasadena Community Defense Center. Another dozen or so would be arriving over the next half hour, some carrying signs.

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"Silence is Violence"

"Migrants Dont Party With Epstein"

Cynthia Lunine, 70, carried a large sign that read "Break His Dark Spell" and included a sinister image of President Trump. She said she was new to political activism, but added: You cant not be an activist. If youre an American, its the only option. The immigration issue is absolutely inhumane, its un-Christian, and its intolerable.

Anit-ICE activists march through the Home Depot in Pasadena on Aug. 6. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

There are local supporters, for sure, of Trump's immigration crackdown. Activists told me there arent many days in which they dont field shouted profanities or pro-Trump cheers from Home Depot shoppers.

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But the administrations blather about a focus on violent offenders led to huge demonstrations in greater Los Angeles beginning in June, and the cause continues to draw people into the streets. Not all day laborers are undocumented, one Pasadena protester told me, and the taxpayer-funded use of federal forces to arrest people looking for work is offensive.

Dayena Campbell, 35, is a volunteer at Community Defense Corner operations in other parts of Pasadena, a movement that followed high-profile raids and was covered in the Colorado Boulevard newspaper and, later, in the New York Times. A fulltime student who works in sales, Campbell was also cruising the parking lot at the Home Depot on the east side of Pasadena in search of federal agents.

Read more: My bathroom scale is rigged, and so are my book sales. Lawsuits and pink slips to follow

She thought this Home Depot needed its own Community Defense Corner, so she started one about a month ago. She and her cohort have more than once spotted agents in the area and alerted day laborers. About half have scattered, she said, and half have held firm despite the risk.

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When I asked what motivated Campbell, she said:

Inhumane, illegal kidnappings. Lack of due process. Actions taken without anyone being held accountable. Seeing peoples lives ripped apart. Seeing families being destroyed in the blink of an eye.

Anywhere from a handful to a dozen volunteers show up daily to hand out literature, patrol the parking lot and check in on day laborers, sometimes bringing them food. Once a week, Nicholls helps organize a rally that includes a march through the parking lot and into the store, where the protesters present a letter asking Home Depot management to say no to ICE in their parking lot and in their store.

Nicholls is an LAUSD teacher-librarian, and when she asks for support each week, working and retired teachers answer the call.

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Im yelling my lungs out, said retired teacher Mary Rose OLeary, who joined in the chants of ICE out of Home Depot and No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.

Sharon Nicholls gets a hug of support from another protester outside the Home Depot in Pasadena. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

Immigrants are what make this city what it is  and the path to legal immigration is closed to everybody who doesnt have what, $5 million or something? OLeary said, adding that she was motivated by the Christian ideal of welcoming the stranger.

Retired teacher Dan Murphy speaks Spanish and regularly checks in with day laborers.

One guy said to me, Were just here to work. Some of the guys were like, Were not criminals  were just here  to make money and get by, Murphy said. He called the raids a flexing of the violent arm of what autocracy can bring, and he resents Trump's focus on Southern California.

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I take it personally. Im white, but these are my people. California is my people. And it bothers me what might happen in this country if people dont stand firm.  I just said, I gotta do something. Im doing this now so I dont hate myself later.

Read more: Trumps order on homelessness gets it all wrong, and heres why

Nicholls told me she was an activist many years ago, and then turned her focus to work and raising a family. But the combination of wildfires, the cleanup and rebuilding, and the raids, brought her out of activism retirement.

The first people to come out after the firefightersthe second-responderswere day laborers cleaning the streets," Nicholls said. "Youd see them in orange shirts all over the city, cleaning up.

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The East Pasadena Home Depot is an important store, because its a supply center for the rebuilding of Altadena, and were going out there to show our love and solidarity for our neighbors, Nicholls said. To strike the fear of deportation in the hearts of workers, she said, is inhumane, and to me, its morally wrong.

Nicholls had a quick response when I asked what she thinks of those who say illegal is illegal, so what's left to discuss?

That blocks the complexity of the conversation, she said, and doesnt take into account the hunger and violence that drive migration. Her husband, she said, left El Salvador 35 years ago during a war funded in part by the U.S.

Pablo Alvarado, right, co-director of National Day Laborer Organizing Network, speaks to Anti-ICE protesters on Aug. 6. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

They have family members with legal status and some who are undocumented and afraid to leave their homes, Nicholls said. I mentioned that I had written about Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, who was undocumented as a child, and has kept his passport handy since the raids began. In that column, I quoted Gordo's friend, immigrant-rights leader Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

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"Full disclosure," Nicholls said, "[Alvarado] is my husband."

It was news to me.

When the raids began, Nicholls said, she told her husband, "I have the summer off, sweetie, but I want to help, and I'm going to call my friends."

On Wednesday, after Nicholls welcomed demonstrators, Alvarado showed up for a pep talk.

I have lived in this country since 1990 ... and I love it as much as I love the small village where I came from in El Salvador, Alvarado said. Some people may say that we are going into fascism, into authoritarianism, and I would say that we are already there.

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He offered details of a raid that morning at a Home Depot in Westlake and said the question is not whether the Pasadena store will be raided, but when. This country readily accepts the labor of immigrants but it does not respect their humanity, Alvarado said.

When humble people are attacked, he said, we are here to bear witness.

Nicholls led demonstrators through the parking lot and into the store, where she read aloud the letter asking Home Depot to take a stand against raids.

Outside, where it was hot and steamy by mid-morning, several sun-blasted day laborers said they appreciated the support. But they were still fearful, and desperate for work.

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Jorge, just shy of 70, practically begged me to take his phone number.

Whatever work I might have, he said, please call.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.




NEED TO KNOW

A lost dog was photographed taking a city bus by herself in Australia on Tuesday, Aug. 5

Passengers on the bus who realized the canine was lost notified the bus system's staff, and the canine was taken in by the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home

Photos of the dog on the bus were posted on Facebook lost pet pages, and rescue websites





A lost pup took an unexpected adventure by hopping aboard a city bus.



The white dog  who donned a blue puffer jacket  was spotted walking onto a city bus in Australia and taking a seat on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The dog reportedly ended up several stops away from where he got on, according to local outlets 9News and news.com.au.

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One of the other passengers, Nik, snapped a photo of the canine and his relative, Katerina, shared it to the St George Lost and Found Pets (Sydney, Australia) Facebook group, hoping to reconnect the lost dog to its owner.



"Lost dog!" the post began. "Hopped on a bus at the stop near Weeney St on Rocky Point Rd. Has made [her] way to Kogarah Station. Kogarah station train guards have [her] safely."

Katerina told 9News that her brother, who was on the bus, eventually figured out that the dog was without its owner. She said, "After three stops [he] overheard someone calling out 'whose dog is this' and [he] realised nobody owned the dog."

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Her brother told the outlet that the dog eventually got off at Kogarah station, which was roughly 3 miles from where she got on. He said he and another commuter helped her get off the bus and notified staff at the station, per 9News.

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Sydney Dogs and Cats Home (SDCH) took in the dog shortly after, identifying her through her microchip as a 3-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier named Athena. Her photo was taken and posted on the Lost portion of the organizations website.

A staff member with SDCH described the canine to news.com.au as a friendly little thing, and noted to the outlet that she had been waiting to catch a train at Kogarah before she was safely secured.

The worker told the outlet that they eventually were able to contact Athena's owner through the details on the pet's microchip.

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.

"She was microchipped, but they were old details," they said. "Her owner is overseas, but a family member has been in contact, and hopefully we can get that sorted out."

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"She's a beautiful bundle of joy, and seemed very happy and quite chuffed with herself following her big adventure," the rescue worker added. "Staff have been showering her with love and affection."



Read the original article on People
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A Baton Rouge construction company plans to invest $1.9 million for an expansion project at its Livingston Parish facility.

According to the Louisiana Economic Development, PALA Interstate LLC will be building a new 6,000-square-foot paint and blasting shop at the ASME facility. The investment includes buying new equipment.

Fourteen direct new jobs are expected to be created, and 35 current positions will be retained. The project is estimated to bring 26 new indirect jobs.

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Louisiana ports unite in effort to strengthen global presence

Were proud to see PALA continue to grow right here in Livingston Parish. This expansion means more than just job creation, its a signal of confidence in our workforce, our infrastructure, and our future, Parish President Randy Delatte said.

Construction is expected to start late summer. LED said the project aims to finish in the first half of 2026.

According to LEDs announcement, PALA, which has been operating in Louisiana since 1973, specializes in metal fabrication and serves the states sugar cane industry and process industries.

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Trumps push for real sugar could boost Louisianas cane industry

Latest News

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana authorities have agreed to pay $9 million to a man who was partially paralyzed from the waist down after a trooper shot him in the back during a 2018 traffic stop in Baton Rouge and then falsely reported it as a Taser discharge.

The settlement reached last month is among the largest of its kind in state history and resolves a federal lawsuit by Clifton Scotty Dilley, whose injuries confined him to a wheelchair when he was 19. The terms of the settlement, which were not made public, were provided to The Associated Press by a person with direct knowledge who was not authorized to disclose them and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The shooting was mentioned in a U.S. Justice Department report this year that found Louisiana State Police used excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits.

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State police fired Trooper Kasha Domingue after determining she shot Dilley without any reliable justification, failed to activate her body-worn camera and gave inconsistent accounts that were contradicted by surveillance video.

The agency also found that her misreporting the incident as a tasing delayed the appropriate responses to the shooting, according to records reviewed by AP.

Domingue's explanation for opening fire evolved over the years. Court records show that she alternatively claimed she mistook her firearm for a Taser, pulled the trigger by accident or said the shooting was justified because she feared for her life.

Dilley was a passenger in the vehicle that was pulled over. He said the trooper never ordered him to stop fleeing before shooting. Moments after he was struck, he told Domingue he had lost feeling below his waist.

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I was like, Whats wrong with my legs? Dilley said in a deposition. She says, Its a Taser aftereffect. It will wear off.

In fact, a bullet struck Dilley's spine.

Domingue's initial account fell apart quickly. She told investigators Dilley ran around the stopped vehicle and reached inside it before charging toward her. That claim was contradicted by surveillance video from a nearby store that clearly showed the unarmed man running away from the trooper.

If that camera wasnt there I dont know how this wouldve turned out, Dilley said in the deposition.

What happened to me that night will forever change my life, said Dilley, who was represented by former U.S. attorney and Louisiana congressman Don Cazayoux. Dilley said he hopes the case will effect change within the state police that will keep this from ever happening again.

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An attorney for Domingue, Louis Oubre, declined to comment, as did the state Attorney General's Office.

The $9 million settlement is among the largest ever paid in Louisiana in a case involving police violence. Baton Rouge agreed in 2021 to pay $4.5 million to the children of Alton Sterling, a Black man whose fatal shooting by police was captured on video and sparked widespread anger and protests.

More than two years after the shooting, prosecutors charged Domingue with aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of a weapon. She pleaded guilty in 2022 to obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, avoiding jail but agreeing never again to serve in law enforcement. Her conviction has since been expunged.

The civil proceedings raised questions about whether Domingue ever should have become a state trooper, underscoring the liability the state could have faced had the lawsuit gone to trial. State police records show a series of red flags dating back to her time in the training academy, including failed tests and issues on the firing range.

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The agency allowed her to graduate academy despite those problems, requiring that she complete additional training before receiving her commission. But instructors expressed misgivings about her suitability. One internal report said she struggled from the onset of the class, both physically and mentally.

The Justice Department alluded to Domingue in its findings on the state police's widespread use of excessive force. It noted that she remained a trooper for more than two years after the shooting due to a policy of putting off internal investigations while criminal inquiries are underway.

This can add significant delays to the accountability process, the report said.

Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, criticized the report as an attempt to diminish the service and exceptionality of the state police. The federal probe began in 2022 amid fallout from the in-custody death of Ronald Greene, who was beaten, tased and dragged on a rural road in northern Louisiana.

The DOJ rescinded its findings in May, saying it was ending the failed experiment of handcuffing local leaders and police departments.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  On Thursday, Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI) held a celebration, marking the milestone of 191 refugees across the state becoming self-sufficient.

LSI is a nonprofit human services agency whose federal funding was cut in January. At the time, LSI was working to integrate all 191 across the state. Since then, LSI has relied on community support from across Iowa for funding. Of the 191 refugees, 36 were located here in Sioux City.

Theyre from around the world and were vetted by the U.S. government, said Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services at LSI, Nick Wuertz.

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LSI collected donations from nearly 600 individuals, with donations ranging from $10 to $200,000.

For me, its been a bright light amidst a lot of darkness for us, said Wuertz. As an organization, for the families we serve. Its been really encouraging that Iowans care so much.

LSIs current Resettlement Supervisor, Adbullahi Yusuf, was once a refugee himself. Yusuf and his family arrived in the United States from Ethiopia when he was 15 years old.

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He describes what working with LSI was like when he and his family first arrived.

(Its) basically having someone help you and guide you and help you through the process, Yusuf said.

LSI has cared for thousands of youth and families throughout its 160 years of operation. If you would like to support LSI and its mission, click here to be redirected to their website to donate.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
After ruling the country for three decades, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko told Time in an interview that he would not seek another term.

Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putins right hand in Europe, has been in power since 1994 and was sworn in for his seventh term in March. His opponents deemed the January election undemocratic, but Lukashenko rejects any claim that he is an authoritarian ruler.

These days, of course, Im far from being Soviet, but Soviet principles, the best ones, live inside me, Lukashenko told Time.

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Why should I reject them? Just like the Americans do not reject their history, its the same with me. Thats why we have this friendship with Russia, the closest kind of cooperation.

Lukashenko has helped Russia conduct its war in Ukraine, heavily relies on Russia for its economy and is anti-European.

Western Europe can get lost. Putin can disregard them. In this situation, if we reach a deal with the Americans, the Europeans wont have any way out of it, he told Time.

In 2022, Russian troops went through Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine. He also allowed his country to serve as a training ground for Russian troops, a storage locker for Russian ammunition and spoke with the Trump administration in favor of Putin.

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He also told the Times that his son Nikolai was not next in the line of the succession, amid rumors that he was preparing him to take over the country.

In June 2023, Lukashenko presented himself as a peacemaker for helping to end an armed rebellion against Russian military generals led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the mercenary group Wagner. He proposed that Prigozhin take exile in Belarus rather than letting Putin take military action.

He has also cracked down on a number of popular protests. The most notable was in 2020, after citizens and international groups denounced that the election was stolen. He jailed his political opponents and imprisoned 65,000 protesters.

On Wednesday, he continued to conduct mass arrests of protesters who took part in anti-government rallies in the country and abroad.

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In February, the White House secured the release of three political prisoners, including an American citizen and a Belarusian journalist.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for about 40 minutes, the Brazilian presidential palace said, adding that Putin shared information about his discussions with the United States and "recent peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine."

The leaders also discussed their cooperation in the BRICS group of emerging countries and "discussed the current international political and economic scenario," according to the statement.

The conversation with Lula is the latest of a flurry of calls between Putin and foreign leaders in recent days ahead of the Russian president's expected meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next week.

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Putin spoke to the leaders of China and India, both also part of the BRICS group of developing nations, and other presidents from Central Asia and Europe on Friday to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine.

Lula has been in a public spat with Trump since the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on the imports of Brazilian goods, which Trump linked to an alleged "witch hunt" against his ally and Brazil's former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. U.S. imports of some Brazilian products, such as orange juice and aircraft, received a lower rate.

Lula told Reuters on Wednesday he planned to call the leaders of the BRICS countries, which also include South Africa, to discuss a joint response to Trump's tariffs on U.S. imports. The Brazilian leader spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Trump has threatened BRICS nations with additional 10% tariffs last month, as the group gathered in a summit in Rio de Janeiro in July.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Andre Romani in Sao Paulo; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Aurora Ellis)
French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasised the need for Ukraine and Europe to participate in the future peaceful settlement of full-scale Russian aggression.

Source: Macron on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Macron said that he had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday.

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"We remain determined to support Ukraine, working in a spirit of unity and building on the work undertaken within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing. Ukraines future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now," he stressed.

The French president added that Europe must also participate in the peaceful settlement in Ukraine, "as it concerns their security."

"I will continue to coordinate closely with President Zelensky and our European partners," Macron concluded.

Background: Amid news of the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on 15 August, as well as media claims that Washington and Moscow want to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia's occupation of part of the territories seized during its full-scale invasion, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already there in the Constitution of Ukraine".

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Just days before a planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron has stressed that Ukraine must be included in any talks on its future.

"The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for more than three years now," Macron wrote on X.

Because their security is also at stake, Europeans must also be part of a solution, he said.

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Macron had previously spoken on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he wrote.

After his call with Macron, Zelensky wrote on X: "Ukraine, France, and all our partners are ready to work as productively as possible for the sake of real peace."

Trump is set to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday. According to the Wall Street Journal, Putin is seeking full Russian control over the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk  demands Zelensky firmly rejects.
FBI Director Kash Patels dramatic purge of three senior agency officials connected to Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations included a Marine combat veteran whose wife died of cancer last month.

Washington-based Special Agent Walter Giardina was ousted on Thursday along with former Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll and Assistant Director of the Washington Field Office Steven Jensen, the Associated Press reported.

An unauthenticated official notice posted on X by MSNBC correspondent Ken Dilanian appears to include Patels signature under scathing language accusing Giardina of poor judgment and a lack of impartiality, leading to the political weaponization of the government.

Letter from FBI Director Kash Patel firing veteran FBI agent Walter Giardina, whose wife died of cancer last month at age 49. Patel accuses this agent, a Marine combat veteran, of weaponization. Many of his FBI colleagues told me he did his job scrupulously and ethically. pic.twitter.com/MUMoQhq37K  Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) August 9, 2025

It is unclear whether Driscoll and Jensen also received such letters. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House to confirm the authenticity of the letter addressed to Giardina.

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The FBI declined to comment on the report in an email sent to The Daily Beast.

According to an online obituary, Giardinas wife, Colleen, passed away from cancer in Fairfax, Virginia, on July 15 at age 49. A former professional ballet dancer and teacher, she is survived by her two sons with Giardina.

Washington-based Special Agent Walter Giardina, a Marine combat veteran, pictured here in Iraq in 2003. FBI Director Kash Patel fired Giardina on Thursday. / Andy Cross / Denver Post via Getty Images

In a note included with a 2003 photo published by Getty that appears to show Giardina during his tour in Iraq, Giardina writes about missing Colleen.

I cant tell you how much I miss you. More than ever! I value our wonderful relationship. Just knowing that I have you gives me so much strength. I know you must be worried about me, so I took an opportunity to get this message out, he wrote, per Getty. Things are going really well for the battalion. Weve accomplished all our objectives without anyone getting hurt.

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Politico reported that Giardina contributed to Robert Muellers 2016 investigation on Russian election interference, and he was also involved in Trump trade adviser Peter Navarros arrest after he refused to testify about the Jan. 6 riot before the House committee.

FBI Director Kash Patel accused the Washington-based Special Agent Walter Giardina of lacking impartiality. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Meanwhile, Giardina, Driscoll, and Jensens firing appears to be a part of Patels reaffirmed commitment to use the FBI as an instrument of President Donald Trumps bidding.

Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll / FBI

Driscoll has been in hot water since he refused to provide a list of the FBI agents who worked on the Jan. 6 investigations to Trumps Department of Justice, with then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove accusing him of insubordination, Politico reported.

Jensen was ousted amid pressure from MAGA voices after Patel appointed him to his post just four months ago, according to The New York Times.

Washington Field Office Steven Jensen. / FBI

Patel has also agreed to use FBI resources to assist Texas law enforcement in apprehending the Democrats who fled the Lone Star State to prevent a vote on redistricting, an effort led by GOP Sen. John Cornyn.

FBIs Walter Giardina ran my circus arrest at Reagan Airport, slapped me in leg irons, lied to a grand jury, put me in prisonand tried to jail Trump in the Russia Hoax.



I got prison. He got fired. Time to investigate his weaponized ass.



 Read about Giardina & more  pic.twitter.com/tPjXbiYkvA  Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) August 9, 2025

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Rubbing salt in the wounds, Navarro celebrated Giardinas firing online, writing on X, FBIs Walter Giardina ran my circus arrest at Reagan Airport, slapped me in leg irons, lied to a grand jury, put me in prisonand tried to jail Trump in the Russia Hoax. I got prison. He got fired. Time to investigate his weaponized a--.
A University of Maine initiative exploring ways to bring renewable energy to Indigenous and rural communities was gaining momentum this spring when the Trump administration abruptly cancelled its $1 million federal grant.

The Environmental Protection Agency award is one of dozens of federal grants to Maine research institutions that have been cancelled or paused as the Trump administration cracks down on what it sees as wasteful spending. This includes cuts targeting environmental justice initiatives and climate change research.

The UMaine project, which was in its second year of a Science to Achieve Results award, had pulled together more than 100 people from the Wabanaki Nations and rural communities throughout Maine to discuss local renewable energy goals and pathways to reach them.

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Over $900,000 of the award was unused at the time of the cancellation, according to project lead and University of Maine professor Sharon Klein.

We've been really smart with our money, Klein said. It was definitely a big blow to get the termination because we felt like we were kind of just hitting our stride.

The grant was briefly reinstated on June 5  only to be revoked again four days later.

There was no explanation for anything, Klein said. You just get these emails. So they're like, It's terminated, Nope, it's back, Nope, it's terminated again.

The EPA did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

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Without that funding, Klein fears that some renewable energy projects in rural and Indigenous communities may never get off the ground. Local opposition to solar and wind projects is common, and the development process is burdensome. Shes still meeting with community members and advising them on grant applications, but shes spread thin.

We risk communities being unprepared for the disasters that are coming for them with climate change, because they haven't had the capacity to prepare, Klein said.

While much of the initiatives efforts have been curtailed by the grant cancellation, one of the positions it funded has been salvaged by a grant from the Maine state government: the coordinator for climate and energy resilience projects with the Wabanaki Nations.

The coordinator, Kelsey Flores, continues to support the first update to the Penobscot Nations strategic energy plan in 20 years, training of new technicians to install energy-efficient appliances, and recently secured $15,000 for emergency preparedness kits for households.

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Though the swift rescission of the STAR grant caused the cancellation of emerging energy projects, Flores says theres still hope to bring electric heat pumps, solar and other projects to Wabanaki communities.

The grant cancellation is affecting almost every initiative that we have, Flores said, and we really are trying to restructure things so that we can still move forward.

The University of Maine isnt the only research institution that has seen cuts to federally funded climate change initiatives.

Down the coast in Portland, the nonprofit Gulf of Maine Research Institute has had $4 million in federal awards paused or terminated since February, according to the organizations chief scientific officer Janet Duffy-Anderson.

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Federal funding supports between 40 and 50 percent of the institutes budget, and abrupt changes this spring meant interruptions to long-term climate research projects that require consistent data collection.

One of the early casualties involved the institutes energy solutions program, said Dave Reidmiller, the nonprofits chief impact officer. That included an initiative to understand concerns lobster and groundfish fishermen might have with the development of offshore wind projects.

The program received two federal awards  one from the EPA, another from the Department of Energy. Both awards were frozen after Trump took office, halting GMRIs engagement work with the fishing industry. The DOE grant was restored months later, but the EPA grant was terminated.

They were really intended to elevate the interests and concerns of the fishing industry in the offshore wind development process, said Reidmiller. A core piece of that was making sure that the best available science and technical information was in their hands to weigh in in an informed manner with the federal decision makers.

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In addition to the stop-and-go pauses and termination of existing awards, research institutions across the country have been grappling with a longer review process that federal agencies are now instituting before releasing funds.

This includes funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where awards over $100,000 have to be reviewed and approved by the head of the U.S. Commerce Department, Axios reported in April.

Any funding pauses could interrupt the institute's ongoing monitoring of ocean conditions and the effects of climate change, according to Duffy-Anderson. Such interruptions cause mariners to lose access to buoy data that informs how they navigate the ocean, and could diminish the accuracy of GMRIs long-term forecasts and projections.

Not only are your weather forecasts going to be probably less skillful and less accurate, but the model forecast for the longer term (models) are going to be inhibited as well, said Reidmiller. So it's a real disservice to anybody who cares about the weather.

Archival photo of NOAA employees hauling a research buoy from the Gulf of Maine in 2005. Photo by personnel of NOAA ship DELAWARE II.

Researchers are concerned about what these changes and the Trump administrations proposed budget cuts suggest for federal funding opportunities going forward, including at other nonprofit research outfits like the Downeast Institute.

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NOAA in general funds so many important programs across the nation and we hope that funding will continue to flow, said Kyle Pepperman, associate director of the Downeast Institute. We are worried but we are also very diversified so we should be able to weather this storm.

Duffy-Anderson with GMRI was blunt about the impacts reduced funding opportunities would have on her institution and beyond. GMRI is part of a broader research ecosystem that is studying the impacts of climate change along Maines coast.

If we don't have opportunities for continued research, Duffy-Anderson said, it really slows that information exchange and is going to have a significant impact in the future.
Nine in ten Britons want to see prostate cancer screening introduced, polling has found.

A survey of 2,000 adults found widespread problems with the current system, which relies on men to come forward and ask GPs for tests when they have concerns.

Polling of the British public found one in five had a male family member or close friend die from the disease.

Of those, more than three quarters believed earlier diagnosis could have saved the life of their loved one.

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And more than one quarter of those polled had no trust, or not much trust at all, in the current NHS system to detect prostate cancer at an early stage.

The poll found 91 per cent of participants thought the NHS should introduce routine screening for prostate cancer screening in men as it does for breast cancer in women. Women aged between 50 and 70 are offered mammograms every five years.

More than half of those polled said their opinion of their local MP would worsen if they opposed the introduction of screening.

Targeted screening

The research by OnePoll was commissioned by Prostate Cancer Research, the charity calling for the introduction of targeted screening.

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The survey found a strong desire among respondents for the NHS to be more proactive about collecting and sharing information about medical history.

In total, 69 per cent of those polled said in the event they were diagnosed with prostate cancer, they would want their male family members NHS records to be automatically updated to reflect this.

Having a family history of the disease  like breast and ovarian disease  means an increased risk.

There was also considerable appetite for technological innovation, with 60 per cent supporting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve prostate cancer diagnosis, for example, by reading MRI scans faster and more accurately.

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The call for targeted screening has been backed by MPs including Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister, Sir James Cleverly, the former home secretary, and Calvin Bailey, the Labour MP and chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on prostate cancer.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has applauded The Telegraphs campaign, saying he would like to see a screening programme in place if the evidence supports it.

David James, the director of patient projects and influencing at Prostate Cancer Research, said: These poll results send an unequivocal message to policymakers: the public overwhelmingly supports the introduction of a national prostate cancer screening programme.

The current system is clearly failing to meet the publics expectations for early detection and proactive management of genetic risk.

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With such strong support for investment and participation, its time for the NHS to prioritise a targeted screening programme that could save countless lives and alleviate the long-term burden on our healthcare system.

Prostate Cancer Research is calling for urgent improvements to screening provision to tackle rising prostate cancer deaths and health inequality in the UK.

The charitys research suggests targeted screening  focused on black men, those with BRCA1/2 mutations and those with a family history of the disease  could mean an extra 775 additional early diagnoses per year for those aged between 45 and 69.

The research also suggests these changes could spare almost 300 men a year from a stage four diagnosis, in which prostate cancer becomes incurable.

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A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: Every life lost to prostate cancer is a tragedy.

Were working to strengthen cancer services across the NHS and will carefully consider the evidence on prostate cancer screening to ensure were doing everything possible to catch this disease early and save lives.

This Government has been clear we would like to see screening in place, but the decision must be evidence-led.

The UK National Screening Committee is looking at this as a priority, including reviewing the evidence for screening men with a family history of prostate cancer and other high-risk groups.

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While this review takes place, were getting on with improving cancer treatment and prevention  investing 16m in the Transform trial to find better detection methods, and deploying cutting-edge technology to personalise medicine, catch sickness sooner, and save lives.

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New York, New York - New York City's Democratic mayoral nomineeZohran Mamdani has been walking back comments he previously made about defunding the police.

What did Mamdani mean when he tweeted #DefundThePolice? And if this no longer holds true, how would he run the NYPD as mayor? Here's what we know:

Mamdani's tweets from 2020

The backstory

On Tuesday night at a National Night Out Against Crime event, Mamdani told reporters that tweets that resurfaced last week "are out of step" with his positions as a candidate.

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The tweets he's referring to were from 2020, at the height of the Defund the Police movement that sprung out of the murder of George Floyd. He made repeated calls to slash the NYPD budget at the time.

"We dont need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD," he wrote on X that year.

"There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt," he wrote, referencing city budget negotiations that were happening at the time around proposed cuts to the NYPD. "Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence."

(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Mamdani additionally wrote that a "socialist city council" is needed to defund the police, as well as said that doing so would lead to "queer liberation." He also called for the "dismantling" of the police that year.

Mamdani's policies now

Mamdani faced intense backlash for these comments following the 345 Park Avenue shooting in Manhattan, which killed NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, as well as four others.

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"I've said that since the beginning of the campaign, it is my belief, and whenever there have been tweets that have been cited from many years ago before I was an elected official, I've made very clear, as I said last week, that those are out of step with my positions as a candidate," he told reporters at the National Night Out event.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference outside the Jacob K. Javits federal building Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Plus, hours after his return from an 11-day vacation in Uganda, Mamdani joined groups representing victims of the tragedy while fielding questions about his absence and prior police comments.

"I am not defunding the police; I am not running to defund the police," Mamdani told reporters on July 30. "Over the course of this race, Ive been very clear about my view of public safety and the critical role that the police have in creating that public safety."

How Mamdani would run the NYPD

Big picture view

On the campaign trail, Mamdani has delivered a different message on law enforcement, stating that he plans to keep the NYPD headcount the same, but slash the department's overtime spending. He says he also plans to create a Department of Community Safety, which would be tasked with responding to mental health crises and combating homelessness. This will cost roughly $1 billion, reportedly.

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During a press conference with Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday, Mamdani reiterated his stance saying that "forced overtime" is a main contributor to officers leaving the department, and that he wants "to empower police officers to respond to serious crime and hire mental health professionals to respond to mental health calls."

He touched on this sentiment during the National Night Out event as well, stating that "if we want our officers to be able to respond to the serious crimes that they signed up to join the department to address, then we must stop asking them to respond to nearly every single failure of the social safety net."

Mamdani has, however, defended his Dec. 2024 call to disband the New York Police Department's Strategic Response Group (SRG), one of the force's special operations units. According to the force's website, this unit specializes in crime suppression, crowd control, disorder response, and "responds to citywide mobilizations, civil disorders, and major events with highly trained personnel and specialized equipment."

The website also says that SRG personnel are "deployed to areas requiring an increased police presence due to increased crime or other conditions" and "mobilizes for shootings, bank robberies, missing persons, demonstrations, or other significant incidents."

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Mamdani has pledged that as mayor, he will "disband the SRG, which has cost taxpayers millions in lawsuit settlements + brutalized countless New Yorkers exercising their first amendment rights."

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) has led a campaign to get rid of this unit, citing aggressive tactics.

"The SRG has a history of racial bias, misconduct, and violence against protesters," the NYCLU said in a press release earlier this year where the organization pledged its support for the Communities United to Reject Brutality Act. The legislation would stop the NYPD from deploying the SRG to protests and other "First Amendment-protected activity."

The Source

Information in this article was provided by multiple sources, linked above.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A man is dead and an 18-year-old has been arrested after a shooting late Friday night in southwest Columbus.

Ohio State asks judge to limit what Strauss survivors say to media amid civil lawsuit

According to a police, officers were sent to the 4700 block of Sullivant Avenue right around 11:15 p.m. on reports of a shooting. Christopher Santiago-Flores, 25, was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene just before 11:30 p.m.

Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jayden Clemente-Flores, who was taken into custody without incident. Clemente-Flores has been charged with murder.

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Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  A manhunt continues for a man accused of hitting a 67-year-old man multiple times with a metal pipe in East Harlem on Sunday, Aug. 3, according to the NYPD.

The incident happened around 9:56 p.m. in front of 315 Pleasant Avenue.

More Local News

Police say the suspect approached the victim and a verbal dispute ensued. The victim was then hit in the head and the back with a metal pipe.

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The suspect fled south on Pleasant Avenue, police say. He is described to be around 510 to 61 and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and black sneakers.

The NYPD released the following photo of the suspect:

Credit: NYPD

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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PERRY COUNTY, Ark. A Perry County jury found Roderick Lewis guilty of first-degree murder for the line-of-duty death of Detention Deputy Jeremiah Story in the Perry County Detention Center on June 22, 2022.

The prosecutor said that the jury on Friday sentenced Lewis to life in the Arkansas Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole, plus fifteen years for a firearm enhancement.

Perry County correctional officer killed in jail shooting

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Will Jones, prosecutor for the 6th Judicial District of Perry and Pulaski counties, says Lewis was sentenced under a three-strikes guideline.

Jones said that Lewis had previous felony convictions, including being convicted of capital murder when he was 16 years old.

Man accused of killing Perry Co. jailer was out on bond, was convicted of capital murder in 02

The teen was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in that case, but a decade later, the United States Supreme Court ruled that offenders 17 years old or younger cannot be sentenced to life without parole.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The Brief

Jurrell Davis, 36, is accused of at least 20 new charges, including sexual misconduct with a minor, in a case submitted by Avondale Police.

Davis is also charged with murder and two counts of sexual misconduct in the death of 16-year-old Zariah Dodd, who was about six months pregnant with his child when she was found dead on July 5.

PHOENIX - Jurrell Davis, 36, was in court Friday night, accused of at least 20 new charges, including sexual misconduct with a minor.

What we know

Avondale police submitted the case on July 31 in connection with a 17-year-old girl. The teen girl was with him when he was arrested on July 15 on suspicion of gun charges.

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Davis is also charged with the murder of 16-year-old Zariah Dodd, the mother of his unborn baby. Police say Davis conspired with Jechri James-Gillett, 18, in Dodd's fatal shooting.

Her body was found at Marivue Park in Phoenix on the morning of July 5.

BREAKING: Jurrell Davis back for his 3rd initial appearance in court w/in the last month, facing at least 20 more counts of sexual misconduct w/ a minor - a case submitted by Avondale PD. The victim is a 17yo girl who knew of Zariah Dodd, the teen who Davis is charged w/ killing. pic.twitter.com/MET66pcekM  Justin Lum |  (@jlumfox10) August 9, 2025

Read more on the death of Zariah Dodd

In Dodd's case, Davis is also charged with two counts of sexual misconduct. Dodd had been living at a group home in Surprise before she ran away on the night of July 4.

She was estimated to be nearly six months pregnant when she died.

Davis is being held on a $1,175,000 cash-only bond.
NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH)  A man who was allegedly assaulted at a New London senior living community in July has died, according to New London police.

Man seriously injured in alleged assault at senior living community in New London

The victim was identified as Lance Allen. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Earlier this week a New London man, 28-year-old Matthew Ellis, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault.

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On July 7, police found Allen unconscious and unresponsive with facial trauma. At the time, police did not believe the alleged assault was a random act.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN)  A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after a crash in Spring Hill early Friday morning sparked a manhunt.

Authorities said a call came in around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 about a Camaro that ran off the road and crashed through the side of a metal plant near the Spring Hill Police Departments new headquarters.

Body camera footage from inside the plant shows a gaping hole in the side of the wall, as well as a car bumper in the middle of the floor.

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Left a little bumper in there, didnt they? an officer said in the video.

Woman charged after her friend dies from Antioch car surfing incident

According to police, Chance Womack drove the Camaro through the side of the building. Officials said the 25-year-old was able to back the vehicle out of the plant and leave the scene.

We dont know why he crashed into the building, whether he was under the influence, driving too fast, didnt know the area, SHPD Lt. Mike Foster said.

It wasnt long before officers found Womacks Camaro abandoned in a driveway, but the suspect had run off.

Foster said law enforcement set up a perimeter and deployed a drone. After a couple hours, a tip led police to Womack, who was walking down the street. He surrendered without incident.

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According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, Womack was in prison from 2021 to 2025. Officials confirmed he was convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

Pedestrian killed in crash on Shelbyville Highway in Christiana

As of publication, its unclear what led to Friday mornings incident. After detaining Womack, police asked if he needed to be checked out by medics, which he declined. However, he told officers he hadnt been feeling well and he didnt remember the crash.

I dont have any recollection of last night, but from what my mother tells meI did something inside of my vehicle that needs to be figured out, Womack said.

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Yeah, apparently you crashed your car into a building over on Port Royal. You dont have any recollection of that? an officer asked.

No, sir, Womack replied.

According to authorities, nobody was injured in the wreck.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Womack was reportedly charged with leaving the scene of a crash, reckless endangerment, and other minor traffic infractions.

Williamson County investigators told News 2 that Womack was involved in a driving incident a month earlier where speeds reached close to 100 mph. Law enforcement confirmed there was a 3-year-old in the car at the time.

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In addition to aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and speeding, officials said Womacks extensive arrest history includes other charges like statutory rape and driving on a suspended license.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a road rage incident at Atlantic Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff on August 2.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office (JSO) responded to the scene at 1:45 p.m.

According to JSO, 28-year-old Tayler Strickland allegedly pulled out a gun and waved it at a 25-year-old man who was in a car with his mother and aunt.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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Afterwards, Strickland allegedly drew his gun and began shooting, with the victim returning fire as a result.

Officers said the victim was struck by gunfire and crashed his car. His injuries were non-life-threatening.

Detectives from JSOs Robbery and Violent Crime Unit launched a thorough investigation after the shooting.

According to JSO, an analyst used nearby cameras and other technology to identify the suspects car and license plate.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators were able to trace the car to Stricklands residence.

The car had a bullet strike to the rear passenger door and a patch on the windshield covering damage, says JSO.

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Strickland eventually turned himself in at the Police Memorial Building on August 6. He is now in custody at the Duval County Jail.

Jso says Strickland was arrested in 2019 for assault/battery in an unrelated case.

The other driver will not be facing charges as evidence supports that he acted in self-defense, says JSO.

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LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A man was arrested after a police chase that began in Tennessee.

LCSO said it was alerted by the Giles County (TN) Sheriffs Office of a vehicle chase entering Alabama. LCSO deputies and the Ardmore Police Department intercepted the suspect as he crossed the state line.

Priceville Police arrest Hartselle man for having fentanyl and meth

According to LCSO, the driver, identified as Jason Rose, was driving a 3500 dually pickup truck and continued driving southbound on I-65, throwing items from his truck during the pursuit.

(Courtesy of Limestone County Sheriffs Office)

Law enforcement successfully deployed spike strips multiple times in Limestone and Morgan Counties, ending the chase just south of the I-65 bridge in Priceville.

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Rose was taken into custody without further incident.

After his arrest, LCSO deputies returned to the place where Rose was seen throwing objects from his truck.

According to LCSO, about one-quarter pound of methamphetamine was found, and additional evidence was seized from inside the vehicle.

Rose is charged with the following:

Trafficking Methamphetamine

Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance  LSD

Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, 2nd Degree

Possession of a Pistol by a Violent Felon

Attempting to Elude  Felony

Tampering with Evidence

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

He remains in the Limestone County Detention Facility awaiting a bond hearing. At the time of this incident, LCSO said he was already out on bond for unrelated charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A man has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing outside a mosque, police have said.

Officers were called to the Raza Jamia Masjid in Accrington, Lancashire, on 18 July where they found a man in his 40s with a stab injury to his back.

He was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Aiwaz Hussain, 22, of Monk Street, Accrington, who was previously charged with Section 18 wounding, appeared at Preston Magistrates' Court earlier and was remanded into custody.

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Police were called to reports of violence elsewhere in the town on the same day, which included about a dozen people fighting in Steiner Street with weapons.

Officers were also dispatched to Craven Street following reports of a further assault, which had happened in Richmond Street.

A man was taken to hospital with an injury consistent with being stabbed in the neck.

All three incidents are being treated as linked and the investigation continues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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A man discovered a prehistoric handaxe while he was "kicking his feet" on the ground during a tea break.

Colin Cooley, 57, from Otley, Suffolk, works as a dumper driver on the Sizewell C excavation site.

Toward the end of a tea break, he noticed a piece of rock that he believed looked like a handaxe.

"All hell broke loose" when it was confirmed to be between 36,000 and 59,000 years old, and Hadley Sharman, an archaeologist working on the site, added it was a "blinder" of a find.

Archaeologists believed the handaxe had rolled among glacial sediment for millennia [Oxford Cotswold Archaeology]

"It was a normal day at work and we'd just finished our tea break," Mr Cooley explained.

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"I was on my way back to the dumper, kicking my feet, and I thought, 'Hang on, that looks like an axehead'.

"I handed it in to one of the archaeologists... a little while later they ran up to me and said, 'Colin, Colin, you've found an axehead'.

"Then all hell broke loose, everyone got excited over the find because one hadn't been found for ages."

Mr Cooley said he enjoyed the hunt of metal detecting [Oxford Cotswold Archaeology]

Mr Cooley also enjoys metal detecting - something he has been doing for the past year, which had helped him develop a keen eye for artefacts.

He had also previously discovered a rare Byzantine pilgrim souvenir.

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"I'm a fisherman as well, it's the hunt, that's all it is to me, the hunt," he added.

"It doesn't matter what you find, you're chasing it all the time.

"Hopefully, one day I'll find some gold coins, but you never know."

The prehistoric handaxe weighs just 166g and is 11cm tall and 8cm wide.

It is believed a Neanderthal could have used a hard stone to remove large flakes off it to form its shape, and then used a softer item like a deer antler to refine it on both sides.

Mr Sharman, 27, from Ipswich, works for Oxford Cotswold Archaeology and has been working on Sizewell C for the past three years.

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He explained the handaxe was "not something you find every day", with fewer than 100 of them having been found in Britain before.

Mr Sharman has made his own archaeological discoveries before at excavation sites in Wickham Market [Oxford Cotswold Archaeology]

"This was a spectacular find that no one was expecting," he said.

"It was a chance discovery, and it's not something you can search for.

"Although we call this a handaxe, it was more of a prehistoric Swiss army knife used for many different purposes.

"It could be used for butchering animals, chopping plant materials, particularly wood, but also, there has been evidence people used these for digging.

"When you see these up close and personal, they fit perfectly in your hand and you realise how ergonomic they were."

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A man was taken to the hospital after he was driving erratically and crashed into a parked car in Darke County late Friday night.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Around 9:51 p.m., Darke County Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to the area of Hollansburg-Tampico Road and Stingley Road in Greenville on initial reports of a traffic offense.

Deputies had been advised that a gray Honda Civic was driving all over the roadway, not stopping at stop signs and driving with its turn signal on.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The vehicle reportedly continued southbound on Hollansburg-Tampico Road at a high rate of speed while entering the village of Hollansburg, according to the sheriffs office.

The vehicle veered to the left side of the road and struck a parked, unoccupied car head-on while in Hollansburg.

Medics were dispatched to the crash, according to the sheriffs office.

The driver of the Honda was identified as 26-year-old Marlon Ramirez of Portland, Indiana.

Ramirez was taken to Reid Health for injuries he sustained in the crash. His condition is unknown at this time.

Alcohol and speed are suspected to be contributing factors.

The crash remains under investigation.

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A shepherd made an incredible discovery last week when he found the body of a man who disappeared nearly three decades ago in a remote part of Pakistan.

According to multiple reports, the shepherd found the man completely preserved in a glacier exposed by melting ice in the Supat Valley mountain region. Reports say the man, discovered on Aug. 1, was found with his clothing still intact and identification on him.

What I saw was unbelievable, the shepherd who found the man, Omar Khan, told the BBC. The body was intact. The clothes were not even torn.

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The outlet reports that the man was only identified as Naseeruddin.

Reports say the Naseeruddin disappeared in June 1997 during a snowstorm. Naseeruddin, who had a wife and two children, traveled via horseback with his brother, Kathiruddin. They were reportedly forced to leave their home due to a family dispute, according to police.

Related: Hiker Who Needed Rescue From Closed Trail Slapped With Hefty Bill

During their trek in the mountains, Naseeruddin somehow fell into a glacier crack. He managed to step into a cave, prompting Kathiruddin to search for help. But when he returned, Kathiruddin said he couldn't find his brother.

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All these years later, Khan made the discovery of a body that mummified due to a lack of moisture and oxygen in the glacier.

Almost exactly a year ago, a similar scene unfolded in the Andes when police recovered the body of American mountain climber William Stampfl, who had been missing for 22 years.

Stampfl was 59 when he was buried by an avalanche in June 2002 in Peru's Mount Huascarans peak.

Man Missing For 28 Years Found in Melting Glacier first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025




NEED TO KNOW

An active shooter fatally shot a law enforcement officer on Friday, Aug. 8, near Emory University in Atlanta

The officer, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children, has been identified as David Rose, 33

It remains unclear if the suspected shooter was struck by the authorities or died by suicide





An active shooter and a law enforcement officer are dead after an attack on Friday, Aug. 8, near Emory University and the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

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Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference that the department received 911 calls about an active shooter around 4:50 p.m. at 1600 Clifton Road, in front of the CDC campus. The shooter was wearing a surgical mask, ear protection, and had two handguns, one rifle and one shotgun, per CNN.

Once authorities responded to the scene, they discovered the critically injured DeKalb County officer, who died. He has been identified as David Rose, 33, and DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said he leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children, per CNN.

This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father. There is a mother and a father, as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss, Cochran-Johnson said.

Officers heard gunfire inside a CVS at the intersection and went inside the building. Once they were inside, they located the suspect on the second floor of the building that housed the CVS. The suspect had been hit by gunfire. Schierbaum said it was unclear if the wounds were self-inflicted or from police fire. The suspect died at the scene. The suspects identity has not been publicly revealed.

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Schierbaum said the CDC campus "did receive multiple rounds into their buildings," but officials were not aware of any injuries that occurred there. There were 92 children at the CDC campus' day care center, all of whom were unharmed, per ABC News.

Authorities said the situation was contained as of 6:30 p.m. local time, per Fox 5. FBI Atlanta and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the incident.

AP Photo/Mike Stewart Law enforcements stand outside the hospital emergency of Emory University in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Law enforcements stand outside the hospital emergency of Emory University in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025.

Mayor Andre Dickens said the investigation is in the preliminary stages, and said in short order youll know more about [the suspect] and some assumptions about his motives, but I cant say right now.

Dickens did not confirm whether or not the shooter was targeting the CDC. He is a known person that may have some interests in certain things, that I cant reiterate right know with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted, Dickens said.

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Authorities theorize, after speaking to the suspected shooters family member, that the shooter was either sick or believed that he was sick and blamed the illness on the COVID-19 vaccine, per CNN.

No civilians were injured, Dickens said. However, four people took themselves to the hospital for stress and anxiety symptoms, per Schierbaum.

One CDC employee told CNN that he believes he heard at least six or seven shots and called 911 from his car.

It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, witness Brandy Giraldo said, per WCVB.

Witness Randy Gold was leaving a nearby hospital with his father, but said, as soon as we turned towards the exit, people were running toward us, doctors, nurses, the valet parkers, everybody screaming that theres an active shooter, per CNN.

Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Law enforcement is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Law enforcement is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement on X, noting the timing following the Thursday, Aug. 7, shooting that left five U.S. soldiers wounded in Fort Stewart, Ga.

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"Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians," Kemp said in a statement. "Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are."

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A man died on Friday after being shot by Kansas City Kansas police.

Kansas City Kansas police officers were called to Crown Tobacco at 8301 State Avenue around 2:50 p.m. on reports of a robbery, according to an email from Kansas Bureau of Investigation public affairs specialist Dustin Wallace.

Paul Beasley Jr., 24, had allegedly entered the business minutes before and pointed a firearm at the cashier, Wallace said. The man allegedly told the cashier to call 911 and tell police the store was being robbed. A KCKPD officer entered the business, saw Beasley had a firearm, and retreated outside, Wallace said. Beasley followed the officer outside, where a shooting occurred, Wallace said. Five officers struck Beasley and rendered aid until he could be transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Wallace said. No officers were injured in the incident, Wallace said. KBI continues to investigate the incident.
A weeklong search for a man suspected in the deadly shooting at a Montana bar ended Friday in his capture, authorities said.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, had been on the run in the mountains since police said he shot four people at The Owl Bar in the town of Anaconda on Aug. 1.

The Anaconda shooter Michael Brown has been apprehended. Incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana. Thank you to all partners for your commitment to the search. May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte posted on X.

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Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said police apprehended him near the search area in Anaconda around 2 p.m. Friday, per CBS News.

I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown. The support weve seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable. The families and friends of the victims remain in my prayers, Knudsen said.

Last Friday, at about 10:30 a.m., a man walked into the bar and opened fire on the bartender and patrons inside. He killed four people before fleeing the scene.

Killed were Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59; Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64; David Allen Leach, 70; and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

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By all indications, this is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever, Knudsen told reporters last Sunday.

Brown lived next door to the bar and appeared to be a regular, he said. Investigators believe he used his own rifle in the shooting.

Brown served in the Army from 2001 to 2005, including a stint in Iraq, and then in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009. His niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that her uncle struggled with mental illness for years, and several local residents told CBS News they were aware of his troubles.

Kristian Kelley, whose mother Nancy Kelley was among the victims, said, He was somebody that needed some serious resources. He had some mental health issues as well as PTSD from being in the military, per CBS News. Ive never known him to be violent. He was a person who would tell pretty strange stories and different things like that.

The town of Anaconda is about an hour and 15 minutes southwest of Helena. It has a small tight-knit community of 9,000 people. At a vigil last Sunday, bar owner, Dan Gwerder, told the Montana Free Press that, Its gonna be a long healing process for a lot of people.
DENVER (KDVR)  Larimer County deputies safely arrested a man after a 13-hour standoff in northwest Fort Collins on Thursday.

The Larimer County Sheriffs Office says that 55-year-old Kevin Lee Walker is now facing charges of first-degree assault  threatening a peace officer with a weapon, felony menacing, failure to leave premises and obstructing a peace officer after the hours-long standoff.

Police: Arrest made after deadly hit-and-run near I-225 in Aurora

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This was an incredibly challenging day, but our first responder community rose to the occasion, said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen in a release. This positive outcome wouldnt have been possible without their seamless collaboration, strong tactical decision-making, and unwavering commitment to public safety. I know this was an inconvenient day for many surrounding residents, and I sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding while we worked to keep their neighborhood safe.

The incident began at about 9:20 a.m. on Aug. 7, with deputies arriving at a house in the 2600 block of Laporte Avenue, which is in the same area as the Poudre School District administrative buildings and Poudre High School.

The Larimer County Sheriffs Office said deputies were serving a court-ordered eviction, but the occupant, 55-year-old Kevin Lee Walker, who had been informed previously of the eviction order, refused to come outside.

Deputies made announcements for an hour after Walker refused to leave the home. At that point, deputies then entered the house in accordance with the court order.

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The agency said that Walker appeared and pointed a long gun at them. The deputies took cover outside and called for backup, the sheriffs office reported.

Trash bags filled with suspected marijuana found along Weld County Road 20

At that point, an emergency alert was sent to the surrounding area asking residents to shelter in place until the situation could be resolved. Resources from the Larimer County All-Hazards Crisis Response Team, Fort Collins SWAT team, crisis negotiators, UAS (drone) operators, UCHealth EMS, Poudre Fire Authority, and officers from Fort Collins Police Services, Colorado State University Police, Johnstown police and Timnath Police Department responded to assist.

The team used verbal commands, less-lethal tools and other efforts to resolve the standoff. Finally, at about 10:15 p.m., Walker was taken into custody. He was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, then booked into the Larimer County Jail.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
HOHENWALD, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man wanted for sex-related crimes against children was taken into custody Saturday morning after a U.S. Marshals task force found him at a home in Lewis County.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the Metro Nashville Police Department issued an arrest warrant for 39-year-old Marc Anthony Carpenter on July 2. He was reportedly wanted for three counts of rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery for a victim under 13 and three counts of attempted sexual battery for a victim under 13.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

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After learning that Carpenter had left the Nashville area, officials said the U.S. Marshals Service Middle Tennessee Fugitive Task Force launched an investigation.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 9, the Lewis County Sheriffs Office said Carpenter was found staying in an RV on a property along Henderson Road in Hohenwald. The 39-year-old was reportedly arrested without incident and taken to the Davidson County Sheriffs Office, where he was booked into jail.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The U.S. Marshals Service is committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities by apprehending dangerous fugitives, the task force wrote in a release about the arrest.

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No additional information was immediately released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss.  A man and a woman were found shot dead in two separate scenes in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the Marshall County coroner confirmed Saturday.

Holly Springs Police said the man was discovered with a gunshot wound at a Circle K gas station at Highway 7 near Interstate 78 just before 6 a.m. Saturday.

He died at the scene, and the suspects fled in a small white SUV, police said.

Shortly after the gas station shooting, a woman was discovered with gunshot wounds after a car crash on West Boundary Street, police said.

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Police said she was in the back seat of the car, and had died from her injuries.

Police released information on both incidents Saturday morning, but have not confirmed whether both scenes are connected.

Allegations of drug smuggling involve Austin Drummond

Holly Springs Police and the Marshall County Sheriffs Office are jointly investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Holly Springs PD at 662-649-6228 or Marshall County SO at 662-252-1311.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A man and woman were found shot dead inside their home in Raynham on Friday afternoon, according to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office .

Police officers found Marie Hunt, 37 and Mark Henshaw, 35, dead in a locked second-floor bedroom at their home, located at 134 Elm St. W.

Henshaw had a single gunshot wound to the head, while Hunt was shot in the abdomen, the district attorneys office said.

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A 911 call had come into the department at 12:05 p.m. on Friday, according to the office. Upon arrival, officers found two children inside the home who were not injured.

There was no sign of forced entry into the house, the district attorney said.

On the second floor, officers had to break down the door to get inside the bedroom where Henshaw and Hunt were both found on the bed with fatal gunshot wounds, the office said.

They were pronounced dead at around 12:39 p.m., the office said. Both were living at the home at the time.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and is being conducted by local officers and troopers assigned to the Bristol County District Attorneys Office.

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There is no threat to public safety, the office said.

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The Brief

A house fire on Aug. 8 in Maricopa left one person dead.

The fire broke out near Honeycutt and Porter Roads.

The victim wasn't identified.

MARICOPA, Ariz. - One person is dead after a house fire broke out early Friday in Maricopa.

What we know

According to Maricopa Police, firefighters responded just before 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 8 to a home near Honeycutt and Porter Roads for reports of a fire.

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"The reporting party shared that her and another person left the house separately, but was unsure if they had re-entered the home," police said.

Firefighters searched the home and found a person unconscious in the backyard. That person was taken to a hospital where they died.

One person is dead after a fire broke out on Aug. 8 at a home in Maricopa near Honeycutt and Porter Roads. (KSAZ-TV)

What we don't know

The victim wasn't identified. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Map of where the fire happened
FAIRMONT  Retired Maj. George Davis flew aircraft out of Da Nang Airbase during the Vietnam War.

One hundred yards down the runway is where they loaded Agent Orange onto C-123 aircraft.

That was the most contaminated site in all of Vietnam, Davis said. Theyre still doing remediation and got that area cleaned up because its killed thousands of Vietnamese, as well as the U.S. soldiers that were there.

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The Marion County Commission issued a proclamation Wednesday recognizing Annual Agent Orange Awareness Day on Aug. 10. The day aims to raise awareness about the harm Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant used by the U.S. in the Vietnam War, caused to American veterans who were exposed to the herbicide.

Davis is categorized as 100% disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange. Hes had diabetes, heart disease, leukemia and kidney cancer. Hes been on chemotherapy every day for 10 years now. He has four of the five top diseases that have linked to Agent Orange exposure.

But I dont let that slow me down a little bit, right? he said.

Davis works with veterans who were also exposed to Agent Orange, and helps them navigate the VA and get the assistance and care they need. A lot of them suffer the same diseases Davis does, but others also have other types of cancer or respiratory issues. Davis said many Vietnam vets find it hard to open up about whats happened to them, especially the ones who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Davis has PTSD himself, which makes it easier for his brothers in arms to open up to him.

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Davis is unsure of how many veterans reside in Marion County who were exposed to Agent Orange. Davis has 22,000 veterans in the seven-county area he serves, while the state as a whole has 100,000 veterans. He said probably at least half of all VA disability claims he does are for Vietnam War vets. Often they have to be coerced into seeking help, because many believe they dont really deserve it or there are men and women who deserve it more than others.

The nature of jungle warfare in Vietnam afforded the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, better known as the Viet Cong, ample places to hide and ambush U.S. troops. The Viet Congs expertise in jungle guerilla warfare frustrated American war planners. As a response, the U.S. sprayed Agent Orange as a way to destroy foliage and remove the Viet Congs ability to hide. Samuel P. Huntington, a political scientist from Harvard, has also argued it was part of a policy of forced draft urbanization which sought to destroy the ability of peasants to support themselves in countryside and force them to flee to U.S. dominated cities. This would deprive the guerillas of their rural support base.

A classified report from 1990 concluded the U.S. corporations who produced Agent Orange not only knew the chemical was dangerous but falsified their research in an attempt to show the chemical was less dangerous. It also notes U.S. government agencies skewed research on Agent Orange in a manner that made it appear harmless. Some soldiers have reported being sprayed directly.

It was 18 years before the government would admit to the fact it was causing all these people to die, because every guy coming out of Vietnam were dying within three to five years, Davis said. The numbers been increasing ever since. Well over 400,000. The government didnt want to admit it because they didnt want the fiduciary responsibility for paying disability benefits to the veterans.

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The passage of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics of 2022 finally added Agent Orange exposure to the list of illnesses covered by the VA. Vietnam estimates four million of its citizens were exposed to Agent Orange, with as many as 3 million suffering illnesses because of it. The U.S. government has challenged these figures as unreliable. Davis said theres an 8-page list of places in the U.S. that have also been exposed to Agent Orange.

Marion County Commissioner Linda Longstreth served in the army from 1975 to 1981. She said at the time, the impact of Agent Orange wasnt really considered.

We always had to train for chemical warfare and cover ourselves and do those things, she said. Now that the public understands what they went through, and that Agent Orange warrants disability for these veterans, its at the forefront now. But it wasnt at the time.

In other Commission business:

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Commission President Ernie VanGilder provided updates on the New Hill Circle residents road situation and the sewage crisis in Worthington.

VanGilder said Worthington has spent most of the American Rescue Plan money they were given, with about $20,000 left. Theyve been buying materials and ordered an additional pump. The town also has an emergency number for sewage related problems again. He said the commission would love to see the issue resolved in the short term, and things look to be headed in the right direction.

VanGilder said after legal review, the New Hill Circle road turned out to be a private road. Longstreth said getting annexed by a town might be a solution for that neighborhoods problem.

We gave them some suggestions and will probably make some additional suggestion about what they might be able to do over there in the future, VanGilder said. But we came to that conclusion that it is indeed a private road.
MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  This year, the Marshall County School District will be welcoming more than 6,000 students into its classrooms.

There are five districts within the Marshall County School system, and Superintendent Cindy Wigley said there are several construction projects happening with different schools right now.

Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dies at 97

She said that each district will be receiving an upgrade or a new building. Some of these upgrades include a new third through fifth-grade school at D.A.R., restrooms for the new Douglas High School stadium, classrooms being added to a few elementary schools, and a new gym and Brindlee Mountain High School.

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Wigley says school leaders are excited to start the new school year with a brand new building for their Central pre-K. These are their youngest students with special needs, and she is happy to finally have a home for them. That building took 18 months to build and has everything from a dining hall, a playground, and a storm shelter.

In the future, Wigley said they hope to add another gym to Douglas High School. Another change for the district involves the Focus Act, which has been a new thing for Alabama schools. The law limits cell phone use for students in schools. Wigley said in the Marshall County School system, students will keep their phones in their backpacks, so they are accessible in an emergency or crisis.

While the first day may get all the attention, teachers said its days like today, when new routines, rules, and boundaries fall into place, that set the tone for the new year. School leaders in Marshall County are excited and ready for a successful school year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The Marshall County sheriff is advising the public of potential scams related to Bitcoin ATMs.

According to Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims, multiple reports have been filed throughout the county involving Bitcoin ATMs being linked to scams.

Fort Payne Fire Department celebrates new graduates

He said the scams involve people being told that they have warrants or that their computers have computer viruses.

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People are then told to withdraw money from their bank accounts and deposit the cash into a cryptocurrency wallet through a Bitcoin ATM.

Sheriff Sims said some of the victims are receiving QR codes to scan at the Bitcoin ATMs, while others have been given phone numbers with PINs to deposit money.

He said the FBI, police, banks, Microsoft, Apple, etc., will not tell you to put money into a Bitcoin ATM, and that most Bitcoin machines have scam warnings on them.

If you think you are being scammed, you are asked to contact the sheriffs office or your local law enforcement agency and ask for help.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The decision of Express Scripts to end its contract with Martellas Pharmacy would have a domino effect on the Johnstown community, Martellas supporters said Friday.

It would effectively end the family-owned business, upending health care for thousands of people and putting further strain on emergency services and the dwindling number of other pharmacies in the area, community stakeholders in Johnstown said.

To prevent that from happening, large employers in Johnstown as well as individuals are calling on UPMC and Highmark insurance companies to keep Martellas Pharmacy on their list of in-network pharmacies.

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Express Scripts manages drug plans for patients insured by UPMC and Highmark, and about two weeks ago the company informed Martellas that it would be removed from its list of in-network pharmacies effective Aug. 18.

Patients insured by Highmark and UPMC account for nearly 80% of all prescriptions filled by Martellas six pharmacy locations in the Johnstown region.

Johnstown businessman Ryan Gindlesperger said the move by Express Scripts would be an unsurvivable event for the 60-plus-year-old pharmacy, which provides medications to thousands of people across Cambria, Somerset and Westmoreland counties and employs 271 people across all of its locations.

Gindlesperger, a member of the Greater Johnstown Regional Partnership civic leadership group, hosted a Zoom meeting Friday with community stakeholders to form a plan of action that would prevent the decision of Express Scripts, one of the nations three largest pharmacy benefit managers.

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No Martellas Pharmacy leaders were present for the Zoom call.

Gindlesperger said the pharmacys provider contract prohibits the Martella family from making public comment.

Martellas is being silenced, he alleged. We need leaders of businesses  and individuals  to make calls to their insurance brokers and to UPMC and Highmark and express their concerns. UPMC and Highmark need to feel pressure on this from the community to at least come to the table.

While those on the call also made a point to contact state and federal lawmakers on the issue, Gindlesperger said reaching the insurance companies is crucial because they are the closest link to Express Scripts.

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Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, such as Express Scripts hold a place in the U.S. health care system between pharmacies and insurers.

Although they were established in the 1960s to help insurers control spending and manage benefits, PBMs have become vertically integrated with pharmacy chains and insurance providers, according to the American Medical Association.

Express Scripts has its own online, mail-order pharmacy and is owned by the Cigna Group, a health insurance company, its website says.

If Express Scripts moves forward with its plan to oust Martellas as an in-network pharmacy for Highmark and UPMC, then thousands of patients would no longer be able to afford to use Martellas services and instead would be steered toward pharmacies that Express Scripts chooses, Gindlesperger said.

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Highmark issued a response to The Tribune-Democrat for an article published July 24 about Express Scripts plan and had no further statement this week as Martellas scheduled contract termination draws nearer.

We understand the impact these network changes can have on members, pharmacies and their communities, and we are working together with our pharmacy benefit manager to assess Martellas Pharmacys network status, Highmark said in its statement.

UPMC issued an email response Friday to The Tribune-Democrats request for its position on Express Scripts decision.

We will continue to monitor this and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of our members, the email said. We will work closely with Express Scripts so that our members living in the Johnstown area continue to have access to high-quality pharmacies, including those that are independently owned.

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UPMC didnt respond to a follow-up email about which independent pharmacies it may have been indicating in its statement. Without Martellas Pharmacy offering its free delivery service as well as its Medi-Pac prescription packages that ensure accurate dosages, there may be few independent pharmacies left in the area.

The remaining options will be pushed beyond capacity, creating dangerous delays in care, Gindlesperger said.

Last year, Westmont Rexall and nine Mainline Pharmacy locations closed. The business owners said they could no longer sustain the price control pressures PBMs exercise over community pharmacies.

The closure of eight Rite Aid pharmacies followed this year, with the company entering bankruptcy in May.

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Cambria County has been among the Pennsylvania counties hit hardest by the Rite Aid closures, which represent a 26% reduction of its total pharmacies, according to a study of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency.

If Martellas closes, then the pharmacy desert in Cambria County would expand, resulting in damaging health effects for the Johnstown population, Kevin Schrock, a 20-year veteran paramedic in Johnstown, said on the Zoom call Friday.

There will be, undoubtedly, a domino effect in emergency services, he said. People who are unable to get their medicine due to the circumstances  if a pharmacy is too far away  they just wont take their meds, which in turn will make them more sick. In turn, emergency services will be even more taxed than what is already happening.

A class action lawsuit against Express Scripts, UPMC and Highmark is also brewing. Gindlesperger said more information is available by calling 412-INJURED or by visiting pbmclassaction.com.
The U.S. population is aging, and Maryland's is aging at a slightly faster pace, and state officials need to take steps now to be prepared, writes Allison Ciborowski. (Photo by Getty Images)

The recent article, Maryland aging slightly faster than U.S. as a whole, underscores a reality that those of us working in aging services have long anticipated. As the CEO of LeadingAge Maryland, a not-for-profit association representing over 150 organizations who provide housing, care, and services to more than 20,000 older Marylanders every year, I see the challenges  and opportunities  daily.

While Maryland has made meaningful strides to prepare for this demographic shift, more is needed, particularly as federal funding cuts threaten critical support like housing, nutrition, and community services. Gov. Wes Moores Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative offers a promising blueprint by promoting a whole-of-government, cross sector approach to aging policy.

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We must reframe aging policy as cross-generational. When we invest in safe housing, accessible transportation, resilient communities, and better care systems were not just helping older adults, were building a more livable state for everyone. To be proactive, we must act with urgency and vision to ensure older Marylanders  and all Marylanders  can age well with health, dignity and purpose.

As the proportion of Marylanders 65 and older continues to grow, we urge policymakers, community leaders, and residents to focus on these critical priorities:

Recognize the economic power of aging: Older adults are not a burden  they are contributors to Marylands economy as workers, volunteers, caregivers and consumers. With smart policy, we can grow Marylands longevity economy. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Fully implement and fund the Longevity Ready Maryland recommendations: Ensure every state agency coordinates efforts to support Marylanders across the lifespan, and not just at certain points in time. Accelerate the development of affordable, accessible senior housing, particularly in rural and underserved areas: The newly released Maryland Housing Needs Assessment highlights the growing number of older adults in Maryland as well as the challenges facing low-income older adult renters. An estimated 55% of this population is housing-cost burdened, compared to only 12% of older adult homeowners. Marylands Department of Housing and Community Development could designate part of the states Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program funds for age-restricted developments that would provide more affordable rental options and offer coordinated on-site services. Outcomes for older adults vary widely by race, income and geography. Rural and underserved communities lack access to housing, care and transportation. A true longevity strategy must emphasize rural and underserved areas. Support family caregivers: They are the invisible backbone of the long-term care system, and would benefit from respite, education and financial resources. Address the direct care workforce crisis: Remove barriers to accessing education and licensure, ensuring sufficient state Medicaid rate increases to support increased wages and benefits, and strengthening transportation, child care and housing support for caregivers. Expand home- and community-based services, like PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly): Such programs reduce reliance on institutional care. PACE provides comprehensive health care services to eligible seniors in the comfort of their own home, versus living in a nursing home. Lifting arbitrary caps (like the 200-person limit per site) and opening more opportunities for community-based aging innovations further reduces reliance on institutional care. Bridge the digital divide: Many older Marylanders remain excluded from telehealth, benefit enrollment and even basic internet access. A comprehensive aging strategy must include digital literacy and broadband access as core components. Leverage Marylands innovation ecosystem: Our state is home to world-class research universities, tech hubs and health systems. Maryland should lead in developing and testing new models of care, workforce development, and aging-in-place technology. Include older adults in climate resilience planning: Aging Marylanders face rising risks from extreme weather and natural disasters. Emergency management, housing, and public health planning must explicitly account for the vulnerabilities of older populations.

Maryland has the infrastructure, talent, and political will to become a national model for aging well. What we need now is coordinated action, sustainable funding and a shared vision that embraces aging and longevity as an opportunity  not a liability.

We can rise to meet this moment with tenacity and collaboration. Together, we can show the nation what it means to truly embrace longevity  and what it means to lead.
Aug. 8Maryland recently became apparently the first state to ban a highly popular gas pipe, but the product  which is blamed in fires that killed two local firefighters  remains on the shelves.

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Originally Published:August 6, 2025 at 8:19 AM EDT
A Latin American restaurant in Attleboro is expected to be declared a total loss following a two-alarm fire that broke out in its building early Saturday morning, according to the citys fire department.

Firefighters responded to El Buen Sazon at 147 Pine St. shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, the Attleboro Fire Department said in a press release. At the scene, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from the back of the building.

Interior crews faced zero visibility and extreme heat while working to extinguish the flames. Firefighters cut ventilation holes in the roof to help release heat and smoke, the release reads.

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Around 2:05 a.m., the incident commander noticed the roof of the restaurant sagging, and it partially collapsed soon after, the fire department said. The commander then ordered an emergency evacuation from the building, and all firefighters who were inside the restaurant managed to get out safely.

Fire crews then switched to an exterior, defensive attack strategy to douse the flames, the fire department said. Firefighters remained on scene until nearly 5:40 a.m.

This was a challenging fire to extinguish, the incident commander, Attleboro Fire District Chief Michael Maitland, said in the release. The buildings layout was far from typical, which made accessing and reaching the seat of the fire difficult. Despite those challenges, our crews worked tirelessly under dangerous conditions to bring the fire under control.

The building is expected to be declared a total loss, the fire department said. The fire does not appear suspicious, but firefighters are still investigating.

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El Buen Sazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday morning. Its website says it specializes in Guatemalan and Salvadoran cuisine.

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Police arrested a Brockton man on Friday after he stole a pickup truck with two French bulldogs inside it from a McDonalds parking lot in Weymouth the day prior, according to police.

Marcus Morse, 29, has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty and larceny over $1,200 and one count of larceny of a motor vehicle, receiving a stolen motor vehicle and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, Weymouth police said in a press release. Morse is also facing criminal charges out of Winchendon and Falmouth District Courts.

On Aug. 7, Weymouth police responded to the McDonalds at 701 Bridge St. around 4:30 p.m. for a report that a vehicle had been stolen, the police department said. At the scene, a woman said shed left her Nissan Frontier in the parking lot unlocked with the keys inside as she picked up food from the restaurant. Two small French bulldogs were in the truck when it was stolen.

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Detectives continued their investigation into the theft the next day and soon found that someone was trying to sell the stolen pickup online, police said. The sellers listing included a photo of the truck with its license plate.

Investigators soon discovered that the pickup was now located at Morses home in Brockton, police said. Officers found the two dogs still in the truck, which had heated up internally.

Brockton Animal Control evaluated the dogs before releasing them into Weymouth police custody, police said. Officers arrested Morse at the scene.

No further information has been released.

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Calling them a threat to due process and civil liberties, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called on the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the detention and deportation of U.S. citizens during immigration sweeps.

Warren, D-Mass., joined by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and U.S. Reps. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., made that request in a Friday letter to the agencys Inspector Generals Office.

American citizens, including Padilla, have been caught up in immigration raids and enforcement sweeps by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

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Others, including a 4-year-old boy with cancer deported to Honduras, a doctoral student filming a raid in Hollywood detained for 25 hours, and an Illinois man held for 10 hours in detention, also have been caught in the agencys net, according to published reports.

Warren and her colleagues, joined by 48 Democrats on both sides of Capitol Hill, said they were increasingly concerned by reporting that U.S. citizens are being detained as a result of the Trump administrations immigration enforcement actions.

The other New England lawmakers who joined the letter were U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.

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The lawmakers argued that ICE policy makes clear that the agency cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.

Yet, the agency has done just that, sometimes even appearing to use violent physical force" the lawmakers wrote. Thats created a climate of fear  especially in Latino and Native American communities, they said.

Enforcement actions against U.S. citizens are not new. For decades, ICE has arrested, detained, and even deported U.S. citizens, a practice that the agency has acknowledged, Warren and her colleagues wrote to the agencys Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and its Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman.

But under the second Trump administration, this rare practice is becoming more frequent. Experts warn that citizens are becoming increasingly vulnerable in a system moving faster and operating with fewer safeguards, they asserted.

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ICE agents frequently fail to verify citizenship, and often ignore citizens offers to show proof of citizenship, even though ICE policy directs them to handle these matters with the utmost care and highest priority," the lawmakers wrote.

When immigration agents arrest Americans without sufficient cause or simply because they are near an enforcement action, detain them without access to counsel, or ignore proof of citizenship, DHS fails in its core duty to protect the public and undermines trust in its operations, the lawmakers wrote.

Data compiled by the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute concluded that one in five people detained by ICE agents are Latinos with no criminal past or a removal order.

Further, the agency is arresting thousands of people with no reason to target them, the Washington D.C.,-based think-tank found.

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Warren and her colleagues gave DHS and ICE until Sept. 5 to provide clarity on its policies and guidelines related to arresting or detention of U.S. citizens, along with: data on stops, arrests, detentions, and deportations of citizens this year; information about how agents are trained to verify citizenship status; and any ongoing reviews of wrongful detentions of citizens.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, the Trump administration defended its aggressive policies.

DHS enforcement operations are highly targeted and are not resulting in the arrest of U.S. citizens, a department spokesperson told the newspaper.

U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined in signing the letter.

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Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-Va.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.), Jesus G. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Al Green (D-Texas), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-Ill.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Timothy M. Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Dave Min (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) joined in signing as well.

Read the original article on MassLive.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services told MassLive it is assisting Massachusetts in its search for a 13-year-old from Worcester who went missing.

The 13-year-old is the youngest daughter of Rosane Ferreira-de Oliveira, a woman from Brazil who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Eureka Street in Worcester on May 8.

Following Ferreira-de Oliveiras arrest and detainment, her 17-year-old and 13-year-old daughters went into the care of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). The 17-year-old has since left the United States for Brazil to be with her older sister, Augusta Clara Moura, according to the familys lawyer.

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The 13-year-old daughter is currently missing, according to the Worcester Police Department. She was last seen in Worcester on July 20 and the Worcester Police Department has been looking for her, MassLive previously reported.

These are heartbreaking and complex situations and DCF has been working extensively with law enforcement to ensure their safety, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah said in a statement on Friday.

Angelica Almeida, a woman from Philadelphia, told MassLive this week that she gave the 13-year-old a ride from Worcester to Maple Shade, New Jersey, and did not know she was Ferreira-de Oliveiras daughter.

Maple Shade is about a 30-minute drive to Pennsylvania.

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Keeping children safe is our top priority at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), the press secretary for the Pennsylvania DHS wrote on Friday. Massachusetts has alerted Pennsylvania to this situation and we are working with Massachusetts.

In a statement provided to MassLive, the New Jersey DCF wrote that it collaborates with law enforcement as necessary to assist with missing child cases in and outside of New Jersey but said that state and federal confidentiality laws prohibit the agency from commenting on or confirming involvement in any specific cases.

The lawyer for the family did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Friday.

How Almeida came across the girl

In July, Almeida was visiting her sister in Worcester.

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While she was there, she said she saw a Facebook post in a group for Brazilians living in Philadelphia asking for anyone to give a person from Massachusetts a ride back to Philadelphia.

The person claimed the ride was for his sister and made an agreement for Almeida to pick her up and drive her down to Philadelphia for $200.

I wasnt scared because I didnt know who she was, and didnt know she was missing, Almeida told MassLive. To me, I was just giving a ride to a girl who was going to live with her brother.

Almeida picked up the girl in Worcester on July 27. The girl told Almeida that she was 15 and that her parents were in Brazil. Almeida said the girl looked tired and as if she hadnt showered but she seemed nice nonetheless.

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For most of the drive, the girl didnt talk. Almeida received a notification from the person who requested the transportation, saying that the destination would be changed to Maple Shade, New Jersey.

After she dropped off the girl in Maple Shade, Almeida contacted the requester about her money. She said that the person told her that he wouldnt pay because she was being rude. She then posted to Facebook about her situation and she saw a missing child alert. The picture of the child was of a 13-year-old from Worcester, whom Almeida then recognized as the teenager she had driven to New Jersey.

Almeida had no idea that the girl she had driven was missing and that she was 13, not 15 as she told her.

After I found out that she was missing and it came to my attention that she used my ride to escape, I was obviously scared, she said. I dont want to be involved in anything involving ICE. I dont want to be involved in controversy and I also dont want people to think that I helped her, because I didnt even know who she was.

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Almeida gave DCF the address of the house where she dropped off the 13-year-old.

The teens mother is currently being detained at the Strafford County Correctional Center in Dover, New Hampshire.

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French firefighters said Saturday that the country's biggest wildfire in at least half a century was contained but would not be brought under control before Sunday evening.

The fire near the Mediterranean coast has ravaged a vast area of the southern Aude department at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one person and injuring several others.

"The fire is contained but ... until Sunday evening the fire will not be under control," said Christophe Magny, chief of the region's firefighter unit.

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Authorities warned that Sunday's forecasted hot, dry winds -- similar to those when the fire began -- and a heatwave alert with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius would keep the some 1,400 firefighters mobilised on high alert.

"The firefighters will do their utmost before the return of the tramontane" this weekend, the president of the Aude departmental council, Helene Sandragne, told AFP, referring to a northerly wind that regularly blows through the area.

The blaze -- the largest in at least 50 years -- tore through 16,000 hectares of vegetation, disaster officials said, revising an earlier estimate of 17,000 hectares.

About 2,000 people were evacuated, though local authorities allowed them to return home on Friday evening.

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In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, a 65-year-old woman was found dead Wednesday in her home, which was devastated by flames.

Authorities said one resident suffered serious burns and four others were lightly injured, while 19 firefighters were hurt, including one with a head injury.

Experts say European countries are becoming ever more vulnerable to such disasters due to intensifying summer heatwaves linked to global warming.

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MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA)  The Mattoon Police Department wrapped up a recent speed enforcement campaign with one of the highest numbers of tickets issued reported so far across Central Illinois.

The MPD was among the hundreds of law enforcement agencies across Illinois that participated in the Speeding Catches Up With You campaign throughout July. Coordinated by the Illinois Department of Transportation, police agencies intensified enforcement of speed limits with the goal of reducing speed-related fatalities and injuries.

Lake Mattoon beach closed after algal bloom signs still present, city says

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The campaign started just days after the Fourth of July, with Mattoon Police saying officers would focus on Illinois Route 16 and U.S. Route 45.

The police departments of Champaign, Decatur, Jacksonville and Charleston, along with the Coles and Champaign County Sheriffs Office, were some of the other Central Illinois law enforcement agencies that took part in the campaign. Most reported between 20 and 60 tickets and warnings for speeding, but Decaturs was much higher at 146.

Mattoon joined Decatur with a number in triple digits, officials said on Facebook. 116 citations were issued for speeding during the campaign in Mattoon.

In addition, officers issued 12 citations for other traffic violations, six for driving with a revoked or suspended license and one for a child safety seat violation. Officers also arrested three people, including a suspect in a double homicide and kidnapping case that originated in the State of Kansas.

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The Speeding Catches Up With You was funded be federal highway safety dollars administered by IDOT, and the campaign also supported IDOTs broader Its Not a Game campaign.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Mooresville is set to deny Teresa Earnhardts rezoning request for a $30 billion data center in east Mooresville if the measure comes to a vote Sept. 15, Mayor Chris Carney said Friday.

In an exclusive interview with The Charlotte Observer, Carney said he and the six town commissioners cant support the Mooresville Technology Park rezoning without knowing which tech giant will buy, own and operate the center on Earnhardts 300 acres, and their tax-incentive and other demands.

Teresa Earnhardt is the widow of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

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Carney votes in case of a 3-3 deadlock by the commissioners.

Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney checks the sound decibel levels along the perimeter of the Apple data center in Newton on June 10.

Carney said he informed data center developer Tract, based in Denver, Colorado, of the boards likely rejection of the request. Tract can choose to request that its request be pulled from consideration, he said.

We are both disappointed and surprised to learn of the Boards position in this manner, Tract said in an emailed statement to the Observer through a spokesperson. In light of this development, we are carefully evaluating our next steps.

Carney said he and commissioners went and looked at what Amazon does versus what Microsoft does, which is different than Apple, Google, and they all kind of have their own thing. And there are some that have been done really well. But without knowing who it is youre eventually going to end up with, its almost impossible to make a decision.

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Every one of us has raised that as our biggest issue because, at the end of the day, even if we really liked the development crew, theyre really not the person were going to be married to for the next two or three decades, the mayor said.

The tech company that buys the data center may try to come in and decide, after youve done all this work, to negotiate long-term incentives that the economics dont work for you anymore, Carney said. But were pregnant with the deal because youve got the utilities in and all the other stuff.

So we, as a group, have had a really hard time with that, and I just cant imagine anybody voting yes without the answer, he said. This question is fundamental to them voting yes.

A standing room-only crowd of about 200 neighbors Monday night, Aug. 4, 2025, opposing plans by the widow of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt for a $30 billion data center on 399 of her rural east Mooresville acres.

He and the Town Board have tried for a year to get an answer to the ownership question, Carney said.

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At a public information meeting in June, Tract officials told the board they dont have a buyer yet, the Observer reported.

Their model is to get it built and then go find the user, and I guess thats the way the world likes to work now, Carney said. I get that. If Im Apple, I dont want to be building a campus. I want somebody to build it for me, and then I can just move in, right?

At the end of the day, the only thing that makes sense about a data center to a municipality is, are you going to collect a lot of tax dollars, Carney said. It is a financial decision.

Later Friday, in his weekly Facebook post about town happenings, Carney mentioned sprawl as another concern.

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Extending water lines to the data center would open the surrounding area to even more residential development, he said.

Mooresville is in demand with companies looking to relocate headquarters and operations from other states, the mayor said.

Teresa Earnhardt, widow of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, proposes to transform 399 of her rural acres in east Mooresville into a data center. Shown is part of the property off Rustic Road.

There are so many opportunities with us in Mooresville for industry to come and bring great jobs, we really dont need to blindly swing, he said. And I think this not knowing who the final partner is, is not going to help us with purposeful growth.

About 200 neighbors have expressed their opposition to the rezoning at government meetings. They also created a website, No Data Center Mooresville.com, that details their concerns, everything from noise to traffic to light pollution.

Opponent Lynne Taylor said she and other residents will continue keeping the pressure up on Carney and the commissioners.
Meghan McCain took a jab at former New York Gov. and accused sex pestAndrew Cuomo on Saturday, calling him an out of touch loser who would likely lose his bid for New York City mayor to his more left-leaning opponent, state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani.

Cuomo lost to Mamdani in the citys Democratic mayoral primary earlier this summer, but has indicated he plans to stay in the race, running as an Independent in the general election.

Meghan McCain, left, called Andrew Cuomo an "out of touch loser." Roy Rochlin/Getty Images and Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

On Thursday, Cuomo trash-talked his rival on X while invoking his own father, Mario Cuomo, and grandfather, Andrea Cuomo. Mario Cuomo served three terms as governor of New York in the 80s and 90s, while Andrea Cuomo was a grocer in Queens.

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In case you forgot, Im Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea, Cuomo wrote on X. Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani. This is a two man race. You look tired already. Its just the second round.

In case you forgot, Im Andrew Cuomo, son of Mario, grandson of Andrea.



Welcome to the heavyweight bout, @ZohranKMamdani



This is a two man race. You look tired already. Its just the second round.  Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) August 8, 2025

McCain, who has never shied away from bringing up her own father, the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, was not impressed by the bold declaration.

You lost a primary and Mamdani is going to beat you in the general by like 80 points because youre lazy, corrupt, entitled and thought you were owed it - literally every single thing the American public is repulsed by, she wrote on X. Your legacy is nothing more than an out of touch loser.

You lost a primary and Mamdani is going to beat you in the general by like 80 points because youre lazy, corrupt, entitled and thought you were owed it - literally every single thing the American public is repulsed by.



Your legacy is nothing more than an out of touch loser. https://t.co/QxbsFlvokP  Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 9, 2025

Cuomos boast came two hours after a post in which he criticized Mamdani for living in a rent-regulated apartment that costs $2,300 a month. The ex-governor claimed that the apartment should instead go to a hypothetical single mother and her children who are currently residing in a homeless shelter.

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The post garnered support from some and mockery from others, with critics disputing his characterization of $2,300 a month as cheap rent and noting Cuomos controversial record on homelessness.

McCain, a Republican who has expressed opposition to President Donald Trump, made it clear that her comments dont mean shes a fan of Mamdani. When asked if she supported Mamdani, she responded, I would rather eat glass.

Related...
Meta Platforms settled a defamation lawsuit with Robby Starbuck, who claimed that Metas artificial intelligence (AI) falsely accused him of participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

There is no publicly available information on the details of the settlement except that Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist opposed to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, will work with Meta to remove ideological and political bias from the companys AI.

Both parties have resolved this matter to our mutual satisfaction. Since engaging on these important issues with Robby, Meta has made tremendous strides to improve the accuracy of Meta AI and mitigate ideological and political bias, a joint statement from Meta and Starbuck reads.

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Building on that work, Meta and Robby Starbuck will work collaboratively in the coming months to continue to find ways to address issues of ideological and political bias and minimize the risk that the model returns hallucinations in response to user queries, he added.

Meta did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment.

Starbuck on Friday told CNBCs Squawk Box that both himself and Meta saw that this problem could impact other users of the companys platforms.

That was always the point of my lawsuit  is fix this for everybody so this doesnt become a massive, you know, really terrible story in the future where AI affects elections in ways that no one is comfortable with, he said.

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Starbuck dodged a question from host Andrew Ross Sorkin about the settlement, stating that he is still figuring out the details of the collaboration with the tech giant.

Delivering fairness for consumers is the outcome Ive always wanted and Im pleased to do the work to make that a reality, Starbuck wrote on social media. As we move into a future where AI dominates many parts of our world, now you know that you have an unshakable voice at the table to advocate for ideological fairness.

Starbuck filed the suit against Meta on April 29 and originally demanded more than $5 million from the company.

On April 30, Joel Kaplan, Metas chief global affairs officer, apologized publicly over the matter.

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Robby  I watched your video  this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate. Were sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didnt address the underlying problem, he posted on the social media platform X.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  State environmental experts are keeping a close eye on the Upper Animas River after it turned orange in southwest Colorado. They said the federal Environmental Protection Agency entered the Natalie Occidental mine for a routine inspection on Thursday, disturbing the sediment and sending it into Cement Creek, which feeds into the Animas. It appears the discoloration was contained to the Silverton, Colorado area.

New Mexico receives grant to expand high school dual enrollment opportunities

The New Mexico Environment Department does not expect any negative effects on the water quality. When you think of a monsoon storm event that happens here and that water comes down and lifts the sediment, and it looks brown and cloudy, thats probably the same type of scenario that happened up there, said Shelly Lemon, Surface Water Quality Bureau Chief, New Mexico Environment Department.

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The department said it is not linked to the Gold King Mine, which spilled toxic wastewater into the Animas River a decade ago.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
When it comes to hemp farming, there are a lot of rules.

"We are the most regulated crop in the history of the U.S., ever," said Ramona Franco, who helps run a small hemp farm in Chimayo. "We take our regulations very serious."

Add one more. The New Mexico Environment Department has issued an emergency rule banning the manufacture in New Mexico of man-made substances mimicking tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly shortened to THC, the chemical in cannabis responsible for the plant's psychoactive effects.

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The synthetic cannabinoids targeted by the regulation include Delta-8 THC, which is typically made from hemp-derived CBD, a nonpsychoactive compound that's also found in marijuana and hemp.

Franco welcomes the new regulation, which she does not believe would impact Chimayo Hemp Enterprises since the farm has never dealt with "the deltas." The majority of the products are coming from out of state, Franco believes.

"We feel like the deltas need to be regulated, that component of the plant, because it's psychoactive," Franco said. "But in the state of New Mexico, we have recreational marijuana; we have medicinal marijuana. So in our eyes, why are you tearing the hemp plant apart to get something you can get next door?"

Hemp, a botanical form of cannabis containing 0.3% or less of THC, is legal on the federal level thanks to a 2018 farm bill. But the bill didn't foresee or address the potential for hemp to be used to produce cannabinoids  thus, creating a loophole.

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The intoxicating, man-made cannabinoids can cause side effects like "anxiety, confusion, seizures, trouble breathing, and even death," according to a Friday news release from the state Environment Department. Closing the regulatory loophole left on the federal level could help prevent adverse health effects and keep the products out of minors' hands, the release stated. Minors can purchase hemp products.

The new rule is proactive: The department doesn't know of any permitted manufacturers in the state who are making synthetic intoxicating hemp products, spokesperson Drew Goretzka wrote in an email to The New Mexican.

"The number of unsafe products and adverse effects from consuming them has been increasing nationwide for some time, prompting NMED to take proactive action against them to limit risk to New Mexicans," Goretzka wrote.

While the emergency rule bans the manufacture of intoxicating synthetic cannabinoids, it still allows the manufacture of nonintoxicating versions that meet certain safety and quality standards.

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"Let's say you go into a gas station," said James Jiron with Fruit of the Earth Natural Health, a Santa Fe-based CBD store."You see CBD anywhere there, you pick it up  almost 99% of the time, the majority of the CBD that you see being sold at Walmart and gas stations ... they are research chemicals."

He said these products have not been tested or vetted: "They're not of the highest standard."

The emergency rule comes as the state sees a dwindling number of hemp license-holders and other states have moved to regulate intoxicating hemp products. In 2024, California adopted emergency regulations on the hemp industry.

In New Mexico, a bill in this year's legislative session to ban hemp-derived THC failed to pass.

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Franco said she saw hemp farms go out of business in California after the regulations there were adopted. Similar provisions "would have destroyed" the approximately 1-acre farm in Northern New Mexico that produces smokeable flower and edibles.

But New Mexico's emergency rule seems to be more benign to business.

"I've read the rule over and over, and I don't believe that it is going to change the way we do business at all, because everything that it's regulating, we don't deal with," Franco said.

She doesn't know of any other manufacturers in the state who cultivate deltas, either, she said.

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The emergency rule will expire in 180 days. But the department is hoping to have a finalized rule in place by then.

This month, the department plans to hold a training for hemp businesses on compliance with the emergency rule. Later this year, the formal rulemaking process will begin.

The department estimates a finalized rule will be adopted by January.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has denied that her government has any evidence linking Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to the Sinaloa Cartel, a criminal network based in her country.

Sheinbaums statements on Friday were prompted by an announcement one day earlier that the United States would double its reward for information leading to Maduros arrest, putting the current reward at $50m.

The administration of US President Donald Trump claimed Maduro was one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and that he had direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as two other Venezuelan gangs.

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Sheinbaum was asked about those allegations in her morning news conference on Friday. She answered that this week was the first time she had heard of such accusations.

On Mexicos part, there is no investigation that has to do with that, Sheinbaum said. As we always say, if they have some evidence, show it. We do not have any proof.

A history of maximum pressure

Mexico has long maintained diplomatic relations with Venezuela, while the US has broken its ties with the government in Caracas over questions about the legitimacy of Maduros presidency.

Instead, the US has recognised candidates from Venezuelas opposition coalition as the countrys rightful leaders, and it has also heavily sanctioned Maduro and his allies.

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Trump, in particular, has had a rocky relationship with Maduro over his years as president. During his first term, from 2017 to 2021, Trump pursued a campaign of maximum pressure against Maduro, which included an initial reward of $15m.

That amount was later raised to $25m during the final weeks of President Joe Bidens presidency, in reaction to Maduros hotly contested re-election to a third term in 2024.

Election observers said that the vote had not been democratic, and the opposition coalition published raw vote tallies that appeared to contradict the governments official results.

But as Trump began his second term on January 20, critics speculated that the Republican leader would soften his approach to Maduro in order to seek assistance with his campaign of mass deportation.

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Venezuela has a history of refusing to accept deportees from the US.

Since then, Trump has sent envoy Richard Grenell to the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and secured deals that saw US citizens released from Venezuelan custody. Venezuela has also accepted to receive deportation flights from the US in recent months.

But the Trump administration has maintained it has no intention of recognising Maduros government.

Legitimising claims of an invasion

The accusations against Maduro further another Trump goal: legitimising his sweeping claims to executive power.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has invoked emergency measures, including the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to facilitate his policy goals, including his campaign of mass deportation.

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Trump was re-elected on a hardline platform that conflated immigration with criminality.

But in order to use the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law, Trump had to show that either the country was engaged in a declared war or that it faced an invasion or predatory incursion from a foreign nation.

To meet that requirement, Trump has blamed Venezuela for masterminding a criminal invasion of the US.

On Thursday, Trumps Attorney General Pam Bondi also accused Maduro of working hand in hand with the cartels to profit from their drug-smuggling enterprises.

Maduro uses foreign terrorist organisations like TdA [Tren de Aragua], Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country, Bondi said in a video.

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To date, the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] has seized 30 tonnes of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tonnes linked to Maduro himself, which represents a primary source of income for the deadly cartels based in Venezuela and Mexico.

But in May, a declassified intelligence memo from the US government cast doubt on the allegation that Maduro is puppeteering gang activity in the US.

While Venezuelas permissive environment enables TDA to operate, the Maduro regime probably does not have a policy of cooperating with TDA and is not directing TDA movement to and operations in the United States, the memo said.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil responded to Bondis claims on Thursday by calling them the most ridiculous smokescreen ever seen.
Mexico has said US military would not be entering its territory following reports that President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to target Latin American drug cartels.

"The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military," President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday. "We co-operate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out."

The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump had secretly signed a directive to begin using military force on foreign soil.

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In a statement to the BBC, the White House did not address the directive but said that Trump's "top priority is protecting the homeland".

The reported directive appears to follow an executive order signed by Trump earlier this year formally designating eight drug cartels as terrorist entities - six of which are Mexican.

Speaking to reporters, Sheinbaum said the Mexican government was informed that an order on the cartels was coming, and "that it had nothing to do with the participation of any military personnel".

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"It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said 'No'," she said.

Earlier this year, Sheinbaum told reporters that Trump's decision to designate cartels as terrorists "cannot be an opportunity for the US to invade our sovereignty".

On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the designation would help the US target cartels, including through intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense.

"We have to start treating them as armed terrorist organisations, not simply drug dealing organisations," Rubio said.

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The New York Times report says the directive signed by Trump provides "an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations" against cartels, both at sea and on foreign soil.

In recent months, Mexico has worked with the US to curb the illegal flow of both migrants and drugs through the US-Mexico border.

June saw the lowest border crossings on record, according to data by the US Customs and Border Protections, and last week, US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said fentanyl seizures at the border were down by over half.

In a post on X, Johnson celebrated the collaboration between Sheinbum and Trump, writing that their leadership had resulted in cartels "going bankrupt and our countries are safer because of it".

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Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum won't allow U.S. troops to target drug cartels in Mexico that President Donald Trump has designated as terrorist groups.

Sheinbaum responded to a New York Times report indicating Trump directed the military to target drug cartels in Mexico.

The Trump administration is considering using military force against Mexican drug cartels, including launching missiles from U.S. Navy destroyers to target cartels and their infrastructure.

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"The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military," Sheinbaum said on Friday, as reported by The New York Times.

"We cooperate [and] we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion," Sheinbaum said. "That is ruled out -- absolutely ruled out."

Sheinbaum said U.S. military action in Mexico "is not part of any agreement."

"When it has been brought up, we have always said 'no,'" she added.

Despite objections from Mexican officials, Trump directed the U.S. military to target drug cartels that are designated as terrorist organizations, The New York Times reported on Friday.

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Although reports suggest the Pentagon is evaluating possible military strikes, it's unlikely that Trump would okay such operations, The Washington Post reported.

An anonymous U.S. official who is familiar with the matter told the Post that it's unlikely such military actions would be carried out.

Another said the Pentagon would not use troops on the ground and instead would consider employing drone or naval assets to carry out surgical strikes on cartel targets.

No military strikes are likely to occur soon and possibly never will happen, according to The Washington Post.

The ultimate goal is to protect U.S. citizens against violent crime and deadly drugs, such as fentanyl, that originate from south of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Trump administration.

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"President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told The Washington Post.

Trump earlier this year designated eight drug cartels, including six in Mexico, as terrorist organizations.

Sheinbaum at the time said the United States can't use the terrorist designation as a pretext for undertaking military operations in Mexico.

Mexican authorities have worked with the Trump administration to lessen the amount if drugs and "migrants" crossing into the United States from Mexico.

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Ronald Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, in a prepared statement said the United States is working with Mexican officials to oppose drug cartels.

"We stand together as sovereign partners," Johnson said on Friday in a social media post.

"We face a common enemy: The violent criminal cartels," Johnson said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to protect our peoples."
A Miami-Dade man is behind bars for a fatal crash that detectives have deemed a homicide. The 57-year-old ran over a landscaper in high-visibility clothing last month, police say.

Daniel Alvarez was arrested on Wednesday and is facing a charge of vehicular homicide in the death of Carlos Delahoz-Vega, a 38-year-old father of two.

During the morning of July 17, Delahoz-Vega was wearing a bright green company shirt as he tended to his landscaping duties near Southwest 187th Street and South Dixie Highway, an arrest report reads.

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He was walking in the outside lane of the road cleaning the sidewalk with a backpack leafblower. Meanwhile, Alvarez, driving a 2020 BMW X3, was barreling toward him faster than the 45 mph speed limit, police said.

Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office detectives said Alvarez drove off the roadway onto the sidewalk, directly in the path of Delahoz-Vega and slammed into him.

The impact vaulted him onto the hood and windshield before violently striking the pavement, the report reads.

Delahoz-Vega was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that day, deputies found Alvarez sleeping in the parking lot of a Rooms To Go along South Dixie Highway, saying his speech was slow and he seemed sluggish.

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A drug evaluation revealed he was impaired from stimulants. Deputies said they found three yellow packets in his pocket labeled buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film  both are substances used to treat opioid use.

As of Friday, he remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Alvarez has faced dozens of criminal charges since the late 1980s in Miami-Dade County. The charges included kidnapping, drug possession, grand theft burglary and petit theft.

Given the records ages, it is unclear how many of those charges Alvarez has been convicted of. Several cases saw charges dropped or transferred to other courts.
The Brief

Sufeng Yang came to the U.S. as a young child and now has a family has been detained by ICE.

The wife of Yang and mother of four young children went with her husband to his immigration check-in, never expecting she wouldnt see him again.

State Representative Mai Xiong says she is working to free these refugees, whose detention hits very close to home.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Sufeng Yang came to the U.S. as a young child with his mother after the Vietnam War. Yet Yang, a father, provider, and caregiver for his daughter's 82-year-old grandmother, is now in ICE detention, about to be deported to Laos.

Local perspective

In July, Yang and more than a dozen others in the Metro Detroit Hmong and Laotian communities received letters for what they thought was a routine immigration check-in on July 30th. It wasnt.

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"Without him, she wont be able to get byher life will be at risk, her home will be at risk," said daughter Anissa Lee through tears.

The wife of Yang and mother of four young children went with her husband to his immigration check-in, never expecting she wouldnt see him again.

"Within minutes, his name was calledhe walked through the door to the back area and never returned," said State Representative Mai Xiong.

What they're saying

Xiong is working to free these refugees, whose detention hits very close to home.

"Im a surviving Hmong refugee and the only Hmong American elected in the state of Michigan," said Xiong. "These individuals came here lawfullyas refugeesjust like me."

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She says the detainees were taken to Texas and now Louisiana, where they are sleeping on concrete floors, and there isnt enough food.

"This past week has been a nightmare," she said. "These family members are desperatewe dont have a lot of time."

Meanwhile, a coalition of state lawmakers, immigration attorneys, and advocates is working to secure their release, but those detained already had final deportation orderssome from decades ago that are only now being acted upon.

The other side

ICE told FOX 2:

"A known gang member who obstructed a murder investigation, multiple child sex abusers, drug traffickers, and other Laotian nationals with criminal histories were arrested by ICE Detroit on July 30. All had been ordered removed by an immigration judge, some as early as 2001. ICE was recently able to obtain travel documents from the government of Laos to ensure their lawful removal to their home country."
The Department of Natural Resources says August is the time of year for residents to help stop the invasive Asian longhorned beetle from taking hold here and destroying Michigan's maple trees.

As part of the DNR's efforts, officials are asking residents to report any sightings.

"Each year, (Animal and Plant Health Inspecetion Service) declares August as Tree Check Month because this is the most likely time to see the beetle and the damage it causes to trees," the DNR said in an Aug. 7 release. "Everyone can help look for signs of this destructive beetle by checking trees on their property and in their community for damage."

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The Asian longhorned beetle is an invasive species across North America that accidentally was imported from Asia. It will feed on and breed in numerous hardwoods, but seems to prefer maples, according to a University of Vermont study.

Populations are known to be present in areas of southern Ohio, Massachusetts and New York. The species has not been detected in Michigan, however, if they become established in the state, they would devastate native trees, prompting significant tree removal, the DNR said.

"Discovering early signs of infestation can prevent widespread damage to the states forest resources, urban landscapes and maple syrup production," the release said.

In August, the beetles tend to emerge from trees by chewing holes from the inside. They often target maple, elm, horse chestnut, birch and willow trees.

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The Asian longhorned beetle has been successfully eradicated from Illinois and several areas of New Yorkand New Jersey, the University of Vermont said in a report.

Here's what to know about the Asian longhorned beetle.

What does the Asian longhorned beetle look like?

Detailed image of the Asian longhorned beetle.

The Asian longhorned beetles (Anoplophora glabripennis) have long antennae that can be longer than the body, which is three-quarters to 1.12 inches long.

Adults have a shiny, black body with white spots, about the size of an almond.

Adults have six legs that can appear with a blue-ish color.

What are the signs of Asian longhorned beetle activity?

The Asian longhorned beetle is an insect that attacks and kills maple and other hardwood trees, the USDA says. The insect grows inside trees and feeds on the living tissues that carry nutrients. Trees cannot heal from the damage it causes. Infested trees can become safety hazards since branches can drop and trees can fall, especially during storms.

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Here are the signs of Asian longhorned beetle activity in a tree:

Round exit holes about the diameter of a pencil or a dime found in tree trunks and branches.

Shallow, oval or round scars in the bark, where the adult beetle chewed an egg-laying site.

Material that looks like wood shavings lying on the ground around the tree or in the branches.

Dead branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree.

Adult females will chew a hole into a tree to lay an egg inside the bark, the University of Vermont said. The shape of the pits will vary based on the thickness of the outer bark, ranging from circular, to oval, to just a slit on thin-barked trees. Mandible (teeth) marks are often visible on the outer edges of the pit. The color of the pit depends on the host tree and age of the pit. Generally, freshly chewed pits are easier to see because the inner bark contrasts with the outer bark.

Eggs hatch in 10 to 15 days and the larvae feed on the wood of the tree. Larvae frass, appearing like sawdust, may collect on an infested tree.

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Adult beetles will feed along the vein lines of leaves.

Look-alikes: Which beetles are mistaken for being the Asian long horned beetle?

Oftentimes, bugs and beetles native to Michigan get confused for being the Asian longhorned beetle.

Here are the look-alike species and their distinguishable characteristics:

White-spotted pine sawyer: white spot below the base of its head, between its wings and is dull black to bronze in color.

Brown prionid: overall brown color and lack of patterns on its wings or antennae.

Cottonwood borer: has a pattern of single, broad black stripes down each wing, and its antennae are all dark.

Northeastern pine sawyer: reaches up to 2 inches in length, has very long antennae and is gray in color.

Eastern eyed click beetle: eye circles on the back of its head. It rolls over when threatened, then clicks and makes a flipping movement to get back on its feet.

What should I do if I see an Asian longhorned beetle in Michigan?

If you may have spotted an Asian long horned beetle, the DNR asks residents to take note of the location, snap a photo of the beetle and/or the tree damage and collect the beetle in a container and freeze it for preservation.

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Residents can report their potential sighting to the ALB hotline at (866) 702-9938, or submit an online report through the ALB website.

Why would Asian longhorned beetles be a problem in Michigan?

More than 1 billion maple trees grow in the Michigan, of which are the beetle's favorite tree. If the beetle is found in native trees it would result in a costly eradication.

"Tree removal is unpleasant, but it has been successful in eradicating ALB populations in New Jersey, Chicago and Toronto. Early detection is critical," the Michigan Invasive Species program said.

How can I help prevent the spread of Asian longhorned beetles?

Residents can help the aid in limiting their distribution by checking trees, reporting signs and traveling or camping with only local materials.

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"When traveling, leave firewood at home and purchase what you need locally or choose certified, heat-treated firewood to help prevent this destructive pest from showing up at your favorite places," DNR's release said.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Asian longhorned beetles could destroy Michigan's forests. What to know
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Barry Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA after 25 years.

The Mt. Juliet native reportedly flew in four different spacecraft and spent 464 days in space during his time with NASA.

According to NASA, Wilmore boarded the space shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz and Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station in three separate missions. He spent 32 hours outside of the orbital laboratory while conducting five spacewalks.

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City of Mt. Juliet dedicates roadway to astronaut

During his time aboard the Boeing Starliner, which he boarded on June 5, 2024, for the spacecrafts first crewed flight test mission, he completed a spacewalk to remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the stations truss. He also collected samples and surface material for the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock to analyze.

Butchs commitment to NASAs mission and dedication to human space exploration is truly exemplary, said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. His lasting legacy of fortitude will continue to impact and inspire the Johnson workforce, future explorers, and the nation for generations. On behalf of NASAs Johnson Space Center, we thank Butch for his service.

Barry Butch Wilmore honored at Tennessee Tech University

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Wilmore is also a decorated U.S. Navy captain, and he became a test pilot after graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. NASA selected him to become an astronaut in 2000.

In addition, he attended Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, where he earned both his bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering. He is also a TTU trustee and also received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2012.

TTU honored Wilmore on June 26 with the Order of the Eagle Award, which had only been awarded once before in the schools history. It is the universitys highest honor.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

TTU President Phil Oldham released a statement following Wilmores retirement from NASA:

Captain Wilmore is the best of us. He is a role model for our students, an inspiration to this entire campus community and a personal friend to me. His determination, faith and Tennessee Tech education have taken him beyond what most of us could ever imagine. From his service on our Board of Trustees, to his video calls with our students from the International Space Station, we are enormously proud that, at every turn in his journey, he has remembered his Golden Eagle roots. Captain Wilmores remarkable career at NASA has landed him in the history books. With his well-deserved retirement, we look forward to more opportunities to welcome him, Deanna, and their daughters Daryn and Logan back to Cookeville, where he will always have a place of honor on this campus. Tennessee Tech University President Phil Oldham

TTU will formally honor Wilmore with a pedestrian walkway and plaza called Wilmore Way, with the dedication slated for this fall.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  On Logan Avenue in Middletown, people were sick to their stomachs after learning one of their neighbors had been arrested in connection with storing a body and dumping it.

James Rothenbusch and Rick Sheppard were taken into custody on Wednesday, Aug. 6 after the body of 28-year-old Brittany Marie Fuhr-Storms was found by police on Sunday.

Samantha Stevens said Sheppard was a decent guy when she knew him more than 10 years ago, but said you never can predict what someone on drugs can do.

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One man who just moved out of a unit that shares the building with Rothenbusch said he saw a lot of foot traffic coming and going, admitting he was concerned for his familys safety.

Just a bunch of commotion, usually yelling, fighting, said Joshua, who withheld his last name. To be honest with you, that was the main reason why I moved away from it. Because I couldnt handle it no more. You know, I got kids and stuff. I cant calm my kids around stuff like that. 

Joshua said he saw Sheppard at Rothenbuschs so much he thought he lived there too. Now after recent events, he says hes not surprised.

The chief of the Jackson Twp. Police Department said that officers were dispatched on report of a bad smell coming from a cooler. Additional aid from German Township Police was requested, as the initial crew was tied up.

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Upon their arrival, officers found a plastic tote behind a dirt hill. After removing the lid of the tote, which was screwed on, they found the body of Fuhr-Storms. The sheriff offices investigative team was contacted soon after.

Following an autopsy on Monday, Aug. 4, it was determined that Fuhr-Storms was pregnant.

Investigators searched her last known address in the city of Franklin, which led to their correspondence with the citys police department and then the Middletown Division of Police.

After determining that Fuhr-Storms had died at a home in Middletown, Rothenbusch and Sheppard were taken into custody on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

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Police said that Rothenbusch allegedly admitted to drug trafficking but said that Fuhr-Storms death was suspicious. He also allegedly admitted to keeping her body in his residence for four days.

Sheppard was arrested near Baltimore Street in Middletown. He allegedly admitted to police that she died in Rothenbuschs home as well, and that her body had been there for almost a week before it was disposed of.

Rothenbusch has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His bond is set at $250,000.

Sheppard also pleaded not guilty to charges. His bond is $40,000.

Both are scheduled for preliminary hearings in Middletown Municipal Court next Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 9 a.m.

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ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  The community gathered this morning to bid farewell to Mike Doyle, a beloved teacher, respected journalist, and dedicated volunteer, whose funeral services were held today.

Mike Doyle, who passed away at the age of 76, left a lasting legacy through his work as a journalist and educator.

He spent 25 years at the Rockford Register Star, where he covered the Chicago Bears, before transitioning to teaching journalism at Rock Valley College and Belvidere High Schools.

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Mike was really good about not only teaching his students, but encouraging them. Influencing them. Showing them the big picture and just being our greatest cheerleader, said Paul Arco, a long-time friend and former student of Doyle.

Doyles influence extended beyond his journalism career, as he inspired many students to pursue their passions. Arco, who took Doyles introductory journalism class as a freshman 40 years ago, credits Doyle with helping him realize he could make a career out of writing.

Andie Behling, now editor in chief of Madison Magazine, reflected on Doyles impact, saying, Im looking at my Facebook feed now and seeing all these posts from students that said He had such a profound impact on a very important part of my life and it, you know, changed things.'

Behling developed her passion for journalism after taking Doyles class at Belvidere North. She believes Doyle inspired a generation of great communicators.

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Mr. Doyles impact on me really changed the course of my career. He set me up for a beautiful career thats lasted over ten years now professionally. So Im just really thankful, she said.

Doyle authored six local history books, including one on the 1967 Belvidere tornado, and was a big part of the Boone County Historical Society, serving as a board member for the Boone County Museum.

He was passionate about his family that he adored. Passionate about his work. Passionate about the community. Passionate about his Italian culture. I mean, everything Mike did he did it 110%. He loved life and it just showed in everything that he did, Arco said.

Arco worked with Doyle on the Greater Rockford Italian American Associations magazine Papagallo. Doyles family says he loved writing other peoples stories and always encouraged his students to do the same.

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Its cliche, but you hear people say I never heard anybody say a bad word about him. And I didnt. I never heard anybody say a bad word about Mike Doyle. I think everybody loved him, Arco said.

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Ed Miliband has been urged to closely scrutinise a planned deal to offload 5pc of Britains North Sea gas production to an energy tycoon accused of fraud.

Andrew Bowie, the shadow Scottish secretary, has called on the Government to review a $500m (370m) agreement between Shell and Viaro Energy, a start-up run by Francesco Mazzagatti.

The British oil giant announced the sale of 11 gas fields to Viaro last July, although the deal has been overshadowed by fraud claims against Mr Mazzagatti, including that he forged documents and misappropriated tens of millions of pounds.

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A string of large oil producers have sought to sell assets in the North Sea following a net zero crackdown on production, opening the door for relatively unknown companies to enter the industry. Mr Miliband has banned new licences for projects in the area, making it unattractive for major players.

Viaro, which has said it will soon control the backbone of the UKs energy production and security, is still waiting for the deal to be signed off by the Government.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the Tory MP warned of a vacuum appearing in the North Sea as Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, drives away established oil companies through higher taxes.

Take the case of Shell, he said. One of the worlds most responsible and respected energy companies is now looking to offload its North Sea assets to Viaro Energy  a firm led by a man accused of fraud and misappropriation.

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These allegations put pressure on Ed Miliband to properly scrutinise this deal. How does it square with the Governments supposed hardening approach to its national security strategy?

Shell to continue with deal

Mr Mazzagatti has been thrust into the spotlight ever since announcing the planned takeover of the gas fields, as he simultaneously fights claims of fraud and theft made by a Singaporean trading company that he previously worked for.

According to court documents, Alliance Petrochemical Investment (API) alleges that Mr Mazzagatti extracted funds from the business to fund a deal for RockRose Energy in 2020, an oil and gas company previously listed in London.

Mr Mazzagatti has repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed they are part of a vexatious campaign of defamation, harassment and extortion.

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In a defence previously submitted to the High Court, he attacked the false fraud claims and stressed that he was not responsible for any unlawful payments.

According to his defence, it is denied that Mr Mazzagatti misappropriated any sums from API or that he made any false representations to the board of API.

Francesco Mazzagatti, the owner of Viaro Energy, has been accused of fraud and theft by one of his former employers - Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg

His defence also claims that he was not responsible for overseeing or making payments and did not control APIs affairs.

It comes after Mr Mazzagatti has rapidly expanded his North Sea operations in recent years.

As well as acquiring RockRose, he also purchased SSEs portfolio of gas exploration and production assets for 120m in 2020.

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Viaro, which currently produces 250,000 barrels of oil a day, also announced a 7m deal for offshore operator Deltic Energy earlier this summer.

Shell has stressed repeatedly that it is proceeding with the sale to Viaro regardless of the claims against Mr Mazzagatti, and said it hopes to complete the deal by the end of this year.

A spokesman for the company previously said: The sale of Shells offshore gas assets in the UK southern North Sea to Viaro Energy has received a number of regulatory approvals and is expected to complete this year.

We have a well-established due diligence process and continue to work with all relevant regulators, including the North Sea Transition Authority.

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The Telegraph revealed details of the extensive allegations against Mr Mazzagatti earlier this year.

Court papers lodged by API in Singapore claimed that proof of fraud had been obtained by accessing Mr Mazzagattis bank statements.

The evidence of Mazzagattis bank statements is damning and clearly shows direct misappropriation of funds from API by Mazzagatti, they said.

In his response to the claims regarding his bank statements, Mr Mazzagatti said it was a contrived and disingenuous attempt to accuse him of wrongdoing.

Calls to scrutinise Viaros acquisition of the North Sea gas fields come amid a broader debate over the future of the North Sea, particularly after Labour banned all new drilling and raised taxes.

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It emerged earlier this week that Harbour Energy, Britains biggest oil and gas producer, is shifting investment out of the UK and into other countries, including Norway, after windfall taxes left it with an 111pc tax rate.

The Government was contacted for comment.

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A military veteran accused of killing four people in a bar shooting in the US state of Montana last week has been arrested, according to officials.

Michael Paul Brown, a US Army veteran, is accused of opening fire inside the Owl Bar in the city of Anaconda on 1 August.

Local, state and federal authorities launched a manhunt, finding the suspect fled to the nearby foothills and shed his clothing after the attack at the pub, where he was reportedly a regular.

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No motive for the attack has been released.

"I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said, announcing the arrest.

He said the suspect had been located in the Anaconda area, a town with a population of almost 10,000 in south-western Montana that is surrounded by dense, mountainous terrain.

The state's governor, Greg Gianforte, posted on X about the arrest and lauded the "incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana".

Officials have said the suspect walked into the pub, which he frequented and lived next door to, and opened fire almost immediately. The bar's owner has told US media that he believed the suspect just "snapped".

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"He knew everybody that was in that bar," David Gwerder, owner of The Owl Bar, told the Associated Press. "He didn't have any running dispute with any of them. I just think he snapped."

The victims have been identified as Barmaid Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, and three customers - Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74.

Mr Brown is a veteran of the US Armed Forces who served as an armour crewman from 2001-05 and was deployed to Iraq from 2004-05, a military spokeswoman told US media.

After the shooting authorities found a white Ford-150 pick-up truck that they said the suspect had used to get away, but no sign of him.

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Authorities also released a photo appearing to show Mr Brown fleeing the area.

In the photo, a man is seen shirtless, barefoot and wearing only black shorts, and walking down stairs while leaning against a stone wall.

Mr Knudsen said the photo was taken after the suspect got rid of some personal belongings and his clothes.

He believes Mr Brown later got other clothes and shoes, and was "able to get around".
The Brief

A Milwaukee auto shop owner was shot near 57th and Center on Aug. 1.

A man described as an "unsatisfied" customer is charged with attempted homicide.

A second man is accused of harboring/aiding a felon in the case.

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County prosecutors say an angry customer tried to kill the owner of a Milwaukee auto shop last week.

In Court

Elisha Payne, 27, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the case. Prosecutors also charged 36-year-old Roman Booker with aiding a felon, saying he drove Payne away from the area after the shooting.

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Auto shop shooting

The backstory

The shooting happened on the afternoon of Aug. 1. A criminal complaint states the 56-year-old victim had eight gunshot wounds to his thigh, abdomen and arm. Police recovered seven bullet casings and one brass bullet fragment at the scene near 57th and Center.

Court filings said the victim told police an "unsatisfied" customer shot him. Roughly an hour before the shooting, he said he got a call in which someone said: "If he gets any time in jail, we will kill you."

Dig deeper

Prosecutors said Payne had dropped his car off for repairs. The key to the car and an invoice for $650 were found in the auto shop's office  listing Payne's name, address, phone number and email address.

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The complaint states Payne, Booker and another man were together at the auto shop at the time of the shooting. Witnesses described an argument between Payne and the victim before hearing gunshots and seeing the group of men flee the area. Witnesses identified Payne as the shooter from a photo lineup.

In an interview with police, Booker said he picked up Payne that day. He said they were getting ready to leave when Payne recognized the owner, describing the incident that followed as a "warzone." Booker said Payne later told him "he dint [sic] mean to do it and he was sorry."

The Source

Information in this story is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.
The Brief

A man was sentenced in what prosecutors initially described as an armed carjacking.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Court filings said he told police he bought the car without a title.

MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man charged in what prosecutors initially described as an armed carjacking pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison on Monday.

In Court

Naquan Thompson, 25, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle without the owner's consent. He was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison and two years of supervised release. The court granted him credit for more than four months' time served.

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Charges filed

The backstory

A criminal complaint said a man told police he agreed to drive someone home, who he knew as "Juju," on Nov. 10, 2024. "Juju" was later identified as Thompson.

Court filings said the two drove to 25th and Burleigh, where "Juju" then told the victim to drive to a family member's house. They then kept driving and, while near 28th and Chambers, "Juju" pulled out a gun and pointed it at the victim's head.

Prosecutors said "Juju" demanded money from the victim, but the victim didn't have any. "Juju" then reached over from the passenger seat, put the car in park, turned it off and ordered the victim to get out of the car. The victim got out, and "Juju" drove the car away.

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Through interviews, court filings said investigators developed Thompson as a possible suspect based on "Juju's" appearance  "specifically his face tattoos."

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Officers went to Thompson's home in December and saw the victim's stolen car in the driveway, identifying it based on a sticker in the rear window and an Illinois license plate. Investigators later searched the car and confirmed it belonged to the victim.

A resident at the home told investigators that she did not know whose car it was and wished to have it towed, per the complaint. She did not allow officers inside to see if Thompson was home.

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Thompson was arrested on Dec. 29, 2024. In an interview, court filings said he told police he "bought the Jetta from a guy named 'Bubba' for $1,200 without a title."

The Source

FOX6 News referenced information from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court for this story.
Two Milwaukee men have been charged in connection to the shooting of an auto shop owner following an argument about service.

Elisha L. Payne, 27, was criminally charged Aug. 8 with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and Roman D. Booker, 36, was charged with harboring or aiding a felon.

The shooting took place Aug. 1 at Divine Auto Shop, 5620 W. Center St. The victim, the 56-year-old shop owner, survived the shooting but was seriously injured. A call from the Journal Sentinel to the shop on Aug. 8 went unanswered.

The owner of Divine Auto Repair, 5620 W. Center St. in Milwaukee, was shot and injured over service on Aug. 1.

According to a criminal complaint:

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Payne dropped off a 2015 Kia Soul to get the steering column replaced for work totaling $650. A witness at the shop told police the owner didn't have the right part, so the work hadn't been completed when Payne, Booker and a third male arrived at the shop in the afternoon looking for the vehicle.

The owner's son said the three men began arguing with the owner and the men then formed a circle around the owner before Payne pulled out a gun and began shooting. A total of seven casings were recovered as well as two brass bullet fragments. The incident was also captured on surveillance footage.

Booker told police the three men are related to each other and while leaving the scene, Payne said "he (didn't) mean to do it and he was sorry," the complaint said.

If convicted of the Class B felony, Payne may be sentenced up to 60 years in prison. Booker faces up to 10 years for a Class G felony. Payne is in custody of Milwaukee County Jail on $100,000 bail. He makes an initial appearance in court on Aug. 9.

This story was updated to correct a misspelling.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man unsatisfied with service shoots mechanic, complaint says
The Brief

Jorden Borders, 34, was sentenced to 39 years in prison for the abuse of her children and defrauding Medicaid.

Prosecutors say the woman abused her three children for more than five years, including stealing her son's blood and forcing his siblings to get rid of it.

"Borders' crimes are some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General," said Keith Ellison.

CROSSLAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Crosslake mother will spend decades behind bars for child torture and fraud in what Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison described as some of the "most heinous and agonizing" crimes hes seen while in office.

Mother sentenced for child torture

The sentencing

Jorden Borders, 34, was sentenced Thursday to468 months (39 years) in prison for the abuse of her children and defrauding Medicaid.

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A Crow Wing County Judge handed down the sentence after finding Borders guilty in June on one count of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of child torture, three counts of stalking, and four counts of theft by false representation.

RELATED:Mom steals sons blood, forces siblings to dispose of it: Child torture charges

"Borders' crimes are some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General," Ellison said in a statement on Thursday. "I am praying for her children's recovery from the suffering and trauma they endured."

The backstory

The Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, which prosecuted the case at the request of the Crow Wing County Attorneys Office, said the mother physically, verbally, and emotionally abused her three children for more than five years.

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According to the criminal complaint, Borders would take the blood of her then-9-year-old son, put it in a cup, and have one of her other children "flush the blood down the toilet," the complaint read. This would often happen before doctor visits, so the child was observed as having dangerously low hemoglobin levels.

She also self-diagnosed her two other children, a then 11-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl, with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as brittle bones disease. The children were forced to wear boots, casts and neck braces despite not having any injuries.

During the trial, the children testified their mother would hit them, make them stand outside in the cold without clothing on, withheld food, and "regularly threatened to kill them," according to the Attorney Generals Office.

Investigators also learned Borders received over $18,000 from the state after providing false information about her childs medical condition.

What they're saying

"The facts we proved in court are nothing short of horrifying. It strains the imagination and breaks my heart into pieces to think about the torture and anguish  physical, mental, and emotional  that Borders that inflicted on her own children. I ask every Minnesotan to join me in praying for these childrens healing," Ellison said in a previous statement about the guilty verdict.

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Borderss parental rights to her three children have been terminated, according to the release.

The Source

This story uses previous FOX 9 reporting and press releases from the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
(NewsNation)  A teenage girl who was missing for two weeks after disappearing from her home outside San Francisco has been found safe.

The Fremont Police Department announced on Thursday that they had safely located 16-year-old Katie Hong. In a social media post, the department said she is unharmed and safe, pending to be reunited with her family. We are grateful for everyones support and assistance during the search.

North Carolina teen missing in Florida sent text: Mom help me

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Authorities had described Hong as being at-risk after she went missing on July 25. According to police, Hong had left behind a note expressing an intention of running away to potentially meet with individual(s) known only by online screen names. The note also indicated that the people would not provide Hong with their true names.

During the investigation into her disappearance, police found footage of Hong walking away from her home on multiple surveillance cameras, in the direction of Irvington Community Park.

Missing teen last seen acting erratically, search intensifies

A GoFundMe page created by Hongs family celebrated her return and thanked community members for their assistance in bringing her home.

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We wanted to give a special shout out to Special Operations Finding Kids (www.findingkids.org), an amazing non-profit organization that supported us and provided resources during this difficult time, the post said. Your donation and support meant so much to us during this ordeal. Since she has returned, we feel that it would be more appropriate to return your donations back to you.

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With studies showing prices rising and employment dropping in the United States, it's time to cut costs and build up your savings. But you might have money you didn't even know about.

One in five Floridians have unclaimed funds and property in forgotten bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, abandoned safe deposit boxes and other locations. Since 2017, the state of Florida has returned about $2.7 billion to residents through the FLTreasureHunt.gov website.

All you have to do to get yours (if you have any) is ask. It's free.

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The average claim of $825, the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property said in February.

This can include money in old bank accounts, insurance and utility company accounts, securities and trust holdings, uncashed checks, traveler's checks, life insurance benefits, trust distributions, customer overpayments, stocks and bonds, utility security deposits, and more.

It can even be tangible things like watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes.

Here's how you can check for yourself.

What is Florida Treasure Hunt? What is missingmoney.com?

The FLTreasureHunt.gov site was established in 2017 to allow Florida residents to easily search for missing property.

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About four million Floridians have unclaimed property waiting on them, the agency said, which means there's a 1-in-5 chance some of it is yours.

Missingmoney.com is a nationwide search site. Both are free to use.

What happens to missing property in Florida that isn't claimed?

Under Florida law, unclaimed money must be held by business or government entities for a set amount of time, usually about five years, while they try to track down the owners.

Then it's deposited into the state school fund and used for public education, but there is no statute of limitations and citizens may claim their property at any time.

Some unclaimed property may be auctioned off to the public. The next one is in Orlando on Oct. 10 and 11, you can find the schedule and details here. The state also holds regular workshop events to educate the public about unclaimed property in Florida, with the next one in Tampa on Wednesday, Oct 8. Registration ends Oct. 2.

Does it cost anything to reclaim my missing property?

No, the service is completely free, per state law. Don't trust any services promising to find them for you for a fee.

How do I search for my missing money in Florida?

You've got a couple of ways to check for your loose change, both free of charge.

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Florida's Treasure Hunt: Search for forgotten financial accounts with this state-provided search

MissingMoney.com: Search for missing money across all 50 states at once, and submit claims

Enter your name or the name of a family member to search for unclaimed property. If something pops up, click on it to see the amount (if available), who reported it, and how to claim it. You'll have to prove you owned the account.

Be sure to search for different versions of your name, including common misspellings, nicknames, and even your last name and just the initial of your first name. If you are or were married, try a plural version of your last name with just THE after it, like SMITHS THE.

Once you submit a claim with proof of ID, the state has up to 90 days to make a determination. You can check the status here.

Can I claim property that belongs to a deceased relative?

You can claim property on behalf of a deceased person, provided you are the next of kin and can provide certified copies of official documentation that establishes your entitlement to the property and a certified death certificate for the owner.

Are there other ways to find missing money in Florida?

There are several different places to check for money or property that belongs to you.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Florida unclaimed property could mean cash for you, here's how to look
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One political partys redistricting plans are another partys concern over representation.

Missouris Black Caucus, a political group with strong Democratic ties, is taking a stand against proposed new maps for Missouris congressional districts. That group of political notables contends redistricting is unfair, informing a Friday afternoon gathering in East Kansas City of their opposition to a special session to consider these proposals.

Timeline on sports wagering in Missouri; BLOC hosting Back to School Bash

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State Representative Michael Johnson (D-Kansas City) dismissed redistricting proposals as a power-grab of sorts, since new district maps were approved only three years ago. Those maps are typically updated every 10 years.

Rep. Johnson and others said they believe this plan is driven by President Trump in an effort to ramp up for midterm elections, when Republicans hope to gain seats in the House. Rep. Johnson and others praised the words of U.S. Rep Emmanuel Cleaver III, and condemned GOP efforts to take away his seat.

To revisit those lines now in 2025, Rep. Johnson said.

Its not about improving representation. Its about political desperation.

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On Friday, FOX4 News reached out to the Missouri Republican Party for a comment, but no one replied to our email.

A spokesperson for Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said the governor hasnt made firm plans for a special session, but the governor prioritizes properly representing Missourians.

Were deeply opposed to it, especially here in the Kansas City region, State Rep. Mark A. Sharp said.

Robbed of her life: Family speaks on the killing of Kansas City teacher

State Rep. Sharp (D-Kansas City) points out that lawmakers just held one special legislative session geared toward stadium funding for the Chiefs and Royals.



This is something, I think, that goes against Missouri values. This is something we should not be doing in a special session, considering how partisan that it is, State Rep. Sharp said.



Other states like Texas and California also find themselves embroiled in ongoing redistricting battles. State Rep Sharp says this is also unfair since strong GOP districts like southern Missouri arent being challenged, but Democratic areas, like this one, are at stake.

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The debate over property tax assessments in Missouri may be leading to a change in how assessments are carried out.

State Rep. Dirk Deaton says he takes issue with the unelected Missouri State Tax Commission giving orders to elected county officials and threatening to withhold funding if they dont comply. He plans to look at reforming the process in next years legislative session, something thats already the center of extra summer hearings in Jefferson City.

The Newton County Assessor, along with several others in the state, rejected an order from the state tax commission to increase assessments by about 13 percent. That led to a threat that her office would not get about $100,000 and how she could potentially lose her job.

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Thats inappropriate at pressuring our local, elected county assessors to raise assessments in a way thats really frankly inappropriate, in a way that is trying to to commandeer the authority of the elected county assessors. State tax Commissions not elected, and so whether assessments need to go up or not, the way that theyre trying to do this from a top-down manner is totally inappropriate, said Rep. Deaton.

Meanwhile, a representative of the state tax commission says the issue stems from big changes in property values in the past few years, meaning many counties arent complying with the state standard that assessments are close to market value. They add that the Hancock Amendment bans huge tax bill increases, meaning a 13% increase in assessed value would not see a 13% increase in the past years tax bill.



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NEWTON CO., Mo.  Congressman Eric Burlison says he is fully in favor of making the so-called Epstein Files public.

We spoke with Burlison at Thursday nights Newton County Republican Committee Annual Watermelon Feed.

Burlison, who serves on the committee responsible for the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, says this investigation is about whether or not any government has a right to keep secrets, like the Epstein files, from the public.

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He says hes in favor of releasing the files and seeking justice for victims. We asked him about what hes hoping to learn from this investigation.

I want to know, for example, who flew on the plane with Epstein, who actually went and spent time at the island. I want to hear from Ghislaine Maxwell what individuals she actually set up to have sex with, to molest these young women. I think that those are the kinds of things that were trying to track down, said US Rep. Eric Burlison, (R)-MO 7th District.

Burlison says this week, James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued ten subpoenas related to the Epstein case.

Burlison tells us those are for several attorneys general, both Democrats and Republicans, who were part of the investigation.

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Additionally, the committee has issued a subpoena to the US Department of Justice to release the Epstein files.

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Aug. 9---- Three years ago in July of 2022, and just days before the scheduled closing on a 40-acre property intended to be a Chippewa County park, Robert W. Starbeck filed a civil lawsuit claiming adverse possession and a prescriptive easement to the property south of

On July 29, Starbeck was back to the Minnesota Court of Appeals for a second time in the civil litigation, this time with a new attorney. Two rulings by the Chippewa County District Court and a Court of Appeals decision, in the years since the initial lawsuit was filed, have denied his claims.

Attorney John Mack, of New London, raised two main issues in oral arguments before a three-judge panel hearing this latest appeal.

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Mack challenged the $43,900 in damages that District Judge Thomas Van Hon ordered Starbeck to pay the owners of the property, Dennis and Mary Gibson and Keith and the late Vicki Poier.

"The $43,000 judgment is so egregious that it needs to be addressed," said Mack, who opened his oral arguments focused on the award.

The attorney charged that the award was based on the judge's determination that his client's motive was malicious in filing the lawsuit to prevent the sale of the land for a county park. The majority of the damages are for attorney fees.

Mack told the court that attorney fees cannot be awarded when a case is not frivolous, regardless of its motive. The Court of Appeals had decided in its first ruling in the case that there was merit to examining the basis for Starbeck's claim. The District Court subsequently did so, and denied the claim, which has led to this appeal.

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In this latest appeal, Starbeck again challenges the District Court's ruling that he did not meet the criteria for establishing adverse possession, sometimes called "squatters' rights." He charges the judge lacked evidence to make that determination.

In the last Chippewa County District Court ruling, the judge determined that he "lacked merit" for both his claim of adverse possession and a prescriptive easement, which would provide him with access to the land but not ownership.

Adverse possession makes a claim of actual ownership of property if certain requirements are met, versus a prescriptive easement that grants use of a property, by someone who is not the owner, based on prior and continuous use without permission.

In his oral arguments, Mack focused on the adverse possession claim. He told the judges that Starbeck met the standard of exclusivity required for adverse possession, contrary to the District Court's finding.

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While Starbeck "tolerated" the public use of the property allowed by its owners, he acted to exclude those to whom he objected, such as people drinking beer and partying, Mack explained.

In his rebuttal, attorney Richard Stermer, of Montevideo, representing the landowners, told the justices that the award for damages was made on the basis that the judge found Starbeck's actions to block the land sale constituted tortious interference and slander of title that harmed them  meaning intentional disruption of a contract and making a false statement about a title. The filing of the civil lawsuit purposely blocked the scheduled $66,000 sale.

Stermer also challenged Mack's claims that Starbeck met the criteria for adverse possession. One of the five elements needed for the claim is to show 15 years of continuous use, and Starbeck clearly could not, according to Stermer.

Starbeck lived away from the property for several years while working and raising a family. He spent time in prison during a portion of the time for which he claimed exclusivity over the property, according to the attorney.

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Stermer charged that Mack "misrepresented" the timing of Starbeck's use of the property in his filings with the Court of Appeals.

Stermer told the judges that Starbeck himself testified that his purpose in filing the lawsuit was to prevent the sale of the property to the county.

The county was awarded a $170,000 grant from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources in 2020 to acquire the land and develop a new county park. The award required the county to complete the land acquisition by June 30, 2025, or lose the funding.

The 2025 Legislature acted to extend the period for the county to complete the sale and obtain the grant award until June 30, 2026.

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Stermer told the appeals court judges that, beginning in 1974, the Gibsons and Poiers made it known that they intended the property to be used by the public. "That was their vision," he said.

He told the judges that as a result, it was used for many years by the

as an outdoor classroom.

The panel hearing the oral arguments included Judges Louise Dovre Bjorkman, Diane B. Bratvold and Randall J. Slieter. Judge Bjorkman said they were taking the matter under advisement and would be making a determination within a 90-day time period.
Narendra Modi has vowed to deepen Indias ties with Russia, despite Donald Trumps tariff threats over buying Russian oil.

Indias prime minister described Vladimir Putin as a friend following a good and detailed phone call that came days after the US president doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent because of the Russian oil trade.

Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine, Mr Modi said in a post on X on Friday.

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We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Peace talks in Alaska

Referring to India and Russias annual bilateral summit, he added: I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.

In a joint statement issued later, the two leaders reaffirmed commitment to their countries partnership.

Putin is scheduled to meet Mr Trump in Alaska on August 15 for talks over the war in Ukraine. The tariffs placed on India by the US are aimed at pressuring India over its imports of Russian oil, the money from which is helping Putin fund his war.

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But Mr Modis comments suggest that despite the pressure from Mr Trump, India has no plans to pull away from Russia.

Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi at a summit of the BRICS nations in October last year. - Alexey Nikolskiy

The only big power that India is comfortable with is Russia, Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst for India at International Crisis Group, told The Telegraph.

Russia has been an all-weather ally of India. Its been a long and reliable friend. It is like a legacy relationship that goes back six decades and India cannot suddenly go out of that and cannot jump onto the US and the West bandwagon.

Trump is using that to put pressure on India by citing Indias stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.

An Indian Oil Corporation plant in Guwahati. The corporation announced a deal to substantially increase oil imports from Russia after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine - Biju Boro/AFP via Getty Images

Last week, Mr Trump described India and Russias economies as dead and accused India of not caring about those killed in the conflict in Ukraine.

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And he has indicated that he may even pause trade talks with India until the oil issue is resolved.

Rejecting the idea of speeding up negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement, he said: No, not until we get it resolved, apparently referring to his demand that India cease importing Russian oil until the war in Ukraine is over.

Vladimir Putin at a BRICS summit in July. The bloc of nations has united to condemn Mr Trumps tariffs - Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has expressed solidarity with India amid pressure from Mr Trump, who has imposed 50 per cent tariffs that are set to come into force on Aug 27.

Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said, criticising calls to force countries to sever trading relations with Russia as illegitimate.

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India has defended its Russian oil purchases, calling it a move necessitated by global market conditions.

Rajnath Singh, the Indian defence minister, has deferred an upcoming US visit for several months as the tariff dispute casts a shadow. It was originally scheduled for the last week of August.

On July 1, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, had a phone call with Mr Singh  their third this year  during which he invited him to the US for an in-person meeting to advance bilateral defence co-operation.

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Montana shooting suspect in custody

(NewsNation)  Montana shooting suspect Michael Paul Brown, the gunman accused of killing four people in an Anaconda bar last week, was captured without incident Friday after a weeklong manhunt, state officials said.

The Anaconda shooter Michael Brown has been apprehended. Incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana. Thank you to all partners for your commitment to the search. May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss, Gov. Greg Gianforte said on X.

Brown was arrested around 2 p.m. in a structure within the area where authorities had been searching, officials said. They said the site previously had been inspected and cleared.

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Its a good day. We got the man, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in a news release.

Brown, a 45-year-old U.S. Army veteran and former Montana National Guard member, allegedly killed the four victims  bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelly and patrons Daniel Edwin Ballie, David Allen Leach and Tony Wayne Palm  at the Owl Bar on Aug. 1 before fleeing.

What is known about Michael Brown, ex-soldier suspected of killing 4

He lived next to the bar and escaped in a stolen car with clothes and camping gear, authorities have said.

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. Michael Brown, who authorities say opened fire at a bar, killing four people on Friday

Anaconda is a town of just over 9,000 in southwestern Montana, about 25 miles west of Butte. Police had been searching the mountainous region for Brown, who reportedly has a history of mental health problems.

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Browns niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that 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.

Brown was being held Friday at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center, officials said.

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MONTAUK, N.Y.  A single line of newly released dispatch audio shows just how little distance New York authorities have covered in nearly two weeks since a luxury summer getaway turned into a mysterious tragedy when 33-year-old swimwear entrepreneur Martha Nolan-OSlatarra was found dead aboard a docked yacht at the exclusive Montauk Yacht Club.

Suffolk County Police detectives launched a homicide investigation shortly after Nolan was discovered unresponsive on a vessel named the Ripple just after midnight on Aug. 5.

In a police radio recording provided by Broadcastify, a dispatcher can be heard announcing the situation in blunt terms.

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"Adult female, unconscious, not breathing at the Montauk Yacht Club," he says.

Despite frantic CPR attempts by good Samaritans and first responders, she was pronounced dead on the yacht.

Cops Sweep Yacht After Irish Bikini Model Dies In Glamorous Hamptons Harbor

Read On The Fox News App

Nolan, an Ireland-born businesswoman who ran a popular Manhattan-based summerwear label, had recently celebrated a successful pop-up event in the Hamptons and was days away from flying home to Ireland to visit family.

While an initial autopsy found no signs of trauma, investigators are awaiting toxicology results to determine her cause of death. Here is a timeline of what we know so far:

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Shortly after midnight: East Hampton Town police officers responded to a 911 call from a man who discovered a woman unresponsive aboard a Sea Ray 540 Sundancer docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. Good Samaritans attempted CPR before first responders arrived, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Adult female, unconscious, not breathing at the Montauk Yacht Club," a dispatcher said in a police radio recording provided by Broadcastify.

People aboard other boats at the Montauk Yacht Club told 27East a man who owns two vessels in neighboring slips at the marina came crying for help from others on the dock at about midnight, throwing items at neighboring boats to wake up their crews.

Glam Hamptons Shaken As Bikini Mogul Dies On Boat In Latest Montauk Mystery

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One witness, who declined to give his name, told the local outlet the man was naked and was shouting, "Do something, do something," as he ran along the dock trying to awaken others. In his haste, the outlet reported, he threw a tube of sunscreen at a neighboring vessel.

4 a.m.  Suffolk County Homicide Squad detectives were notified and took over the investigation. The department said in a statement that the scene investigation was inconclusive in regard to her cause of death.

Crime scene investigators conducted a detailed forensic sweep of the yacht, wearing gloves, photographing surfaces and locating fingerprint powder residue.

Nolan's autopsy revealed no evidence of violence, though officials described the findings as preliminary and "pending," according to county police.

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They identified the deceased as NolanOSlatarra, an Ireland-born fashion designer whose brand, East x East, primarily offers beach and summer wear for men and women.

Irish Beauty Who Sold Bikinis Found Dead On Boat At Luxury Yacht Club, Homicide Cops Probe

The 33-year-old was a Manhattan fashion entrepreneur known for her high-end bikinis, sunglasses and infectious social media presence.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Nolan received her bachelor's degree in commerce and master's degree in digital marketing from University College Dublin before moving to the Big Apple at age 26.

Nolans relatives, who live in Ireland, told The Irish Independent they were "numb with shock" after hearing the news.

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"I don't know what happened to my daughter," her mother, Elma Nolan, said.

She recalled how her youngest daughter, Jacqui, had arrived at their home in Carlow, Ireland, Tuesday night "crying and shaking" to deliver the news no parent wanted to hear.

Elma said she later spoke with a detective in Montauk but was told no further information could be released due to the early stage of the investigation.

"We werent told anything about the circumstances," she said, adding that Martha had planned to return to Ireland this week and had called just days earlier to ask about a ride from the airport.

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"That was the last time we spoke."

Prominent New York attorney Arthur Aidala reveals that he has been retained by Nolan's family, who immediately disputed reports, citing sources, that suggested Nolan's death was a suspected drug overdose.

"The cause of Marthas death is inconclusive, and any reporting otherwise is mere speculation and irresponsible," he told Fox News Digital. "The family asks that you respect their privacy during this devastating tragedy. We are focused on honoring Marthas legacy."

He said her family has met with county homicide detectives, and that a "deep, deep" investigation was underway, including an examination of "technological" devices.

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The yacht owner has not been charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing.

Her family seeks a second autopsy, according to the Irish Independent , although relatives and their lawyer did not respond when asked about the report by Fox News Digital.

A second exam is reportedly expected to be performed in the U.S. before her remains are returned to Ireland for a funeral.

Officially, police say they have no updates to share.

According to sources close to the case, detectives are still conducting interviews.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.





Original article source: Montauk yacht death: Timeline reveals bikini moguls final days in Hamptons before mysterious demise
MONTICELLO, Ky. (FOX 56)  A man wanted on multiple warrants was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly leading Wayne County deputies on a foot chase.

The Wayne County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook that around 3 a.m. on Aug. 9, deputies were searching for Kyle Hicks, 30, who was allegedly a suspect in a recent burglary. He was also known to have warrants for his arrest.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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When law enforcement arrived at Hicks residence and came to the front and back entrances, he noticed them and allegedly ran out the front door.

While chasing Hicks, one of the deputies reportedly deployed a taser. Officials didnt say whether or not Hicks was tased, but he was brought to the ground and arrested.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Hicks was charged with second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot and resisting arrest. In connection with multiple warrants, he was additionally charged with:

Absconding from parole supervision

Failure to attend substance abuse treatment

Failure to report to a parole officer as directed

Fleeing the scene of an accident or failure to render aid

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He was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center on a $500 cash bond. The burglary investigation remains ongoing.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  For years, Oklahoma has lingered at the bottom of state rankings for education. Moore Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines breaks down the reasons why.

According to a new survey completed by Wallet Hub, Oklahoma ranks 50th in the nation for education, with New Mexico coming in at 51st.

Dr. Romines says Oklahomas systemic issues are possibly a factor in why the state has fallen short in education year after year.

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Concerns grow over proposed Oklahoma school A-F rating changes as public comment deadline approaches

We are ranked at number one in substance abuse and mental illness, we have the fourth highest rate in incarcerations. We have the sixth highest rate as far as poverty is concerned, and just right at 25% of all Oklahoma children face some type of food insecurities, Dr. Romines said.

Until those issues are addressed, Dr. Romines said he doesnt see our low rank jumping any higher.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters was asked about the ranking in a board meeting on July 24.

State Supt. Walters said, When you look at education rankings, a lot of these are kind of ridiculous. So they still have to take into account how much money we put into education. Thats never been an evaluation of mine. What makes a good education system is its outcomes.

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In order to move the needle, Dr. Romines said changes have to be made at both local and state levels.

For years, Moore Public Schools has implemented programs aimed at bridging the gap and improving student outcomes.

Dr. Romines says that their district has worked diligently to address the teacher shortage and has almost filled all of their vacant positions for this upcoming school year.

When students leave or graduate from Moore Public Schools, our goal is that they have somewhat at a plan in moving forward, Dr. Romines said.

Dr. Romines said to also keep in mind, Oklahoma tests all juniors. A neighboring state might only use the ACT for its college-bound students, so their scores might be higher.

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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.
Mooresville Town Commissioners plan to deny a rezoning request for a $30 billion data center if it comes to a vote, the town mayor told the Charlotte Observer.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardts widow, Teresa Earnhardt, has requested to rezone the familys 300 acres to build the Mooresville Technology Park.

Town Mayor Chris Carney told the Charlotte Observer in an exclusive interview that, without knowing which tech company will purchase it, he and the six commissioners cannot support the data center.

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Carney told the Charlotte Observer that he and the commissioners went and looked at what Amazon does versus what Microsoft does, which is different than Apple, Google, and they all kind of have their own thing. And there are some that have been done really well. But without knowing who it is youre eventually going to end up with, its almost impossible to make a decision.

The measure may come to a vote on Sept. 15. If the commissioners end up in a three-to-three deadlock, Carney would cast a vote.

The mayor told the developer, Tract, that the board was likely to deny the request.

We are both disappointed and surprised to learn of the Boards position in this manner, Tract said in an emailed statement to the Observer through a spokesperson. In light of this development, we are carefully evaluating our next steps.

Read more about the development on The Charlotte Observers website.

WATCH: Neighbors upset over 400-acre development proposed by Dale Earnhardts widow
The Brief

A ComEd communications tower fell on a transmission line in Carol Stream on Friday, causing power outages for over 25,000 customers.

ComEd confirmed the incident and called it an unusual event, assuring the public that crews are working to restore service.

Customers can track outage updates through ComEds official Outage Tracker website.

CAROL STREAM, Ill. - More than 25,000 ComEd customers are without power after a communications tower fell in west suburban Chicago on Friday, according to the company.

What we know

A ComEd communications tower reportedly fell in Carol Stream on Friday afternoon, causing more than 25,000 customers to lose power.

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The company responded to complaints about wide-ranging outages on X by saying, "Thank you for your feedback. A communications tower fell on a ComEd transmission line in Carol Stream, resulting in more than 25,000 customers experiencing an interruption. As you can imagine, this is not a typical event. Our crews are on-scene to restore impacted customers as quickly and as safely as possible. You can track and see updates at http://ComEd.com/OutageTracker."

Thank you for your feedback. A communications tower fell on a ComEd transmission line in Carol Stream, resulting in more than 25,000 customers experiencing an interruption. As you can imagine, this is not a typical event. Our crews are on-scene to restore impacted customers as  ComEd (@ComEd) August 8, 2025

According to the company, crews are working to restore power.

To see the latest on power outages, ComEd's live outage map is shared below:

The Source

Details for this story were provided by ComEd.
Home > 2025 > Modi Era: India of Nightmares | L K Sharma

BOOK EXCERPT *

The fusion of religion and politics has adversely affected both spheres. A Leader won power in 2014 to protect Hinduism and Hindus. Ironically, Hindus lost self-confidence because they were constantly bombarded by politicians with the warning that they are endangered. The Polarisation Project which split society on religious lines also divided Hindus between the Hindutva warriors and liberal Hindus. The differences among the Hindus based on caste, subcaste and language got exacerbated. Ghettoisation increased. There are places where it is not enough to be a Hindu, one must be a Tamilian Brahmin! In a modern metropolis like Mumbai (called Bombay earlier), the Hindu must speak Marathi to avoid problems. The Hindu fish mongers in a Bengali colony in New Delhi are threatened because their shops are close to their temple! A couple of Hindu rationalists have been murdered. So, Muslims are not alone!

Hinduism has become an intensely contested faith and lost some followers. Its brand value in the international faith market has come down as incidents of intolerance get reported abroad. The idea of India is diminished. India is no longer well-known for its multi-cultural traditions. While Hindu nationalists sloganeered, an external enemy grabbed some of Indias territory. The Leader could protect neither India nor Hinduism.

The impact of the Modi years on Hinduism is yet to be analysed by historians of religion like Karen Armstrong who may focus on what politics and the state did to Hinduism. One recalls how Christianity declined in the West. The migration of the holy from church to state has been highlighted by western scholars. Paul Kingsnorth attributes the decline of Christianity to the failure of the faith to live up to its own traditions. He discusses the trend of the church leaders cosying up to earthly rulers or attempting to become earthly rulers themselves. An interesting observation in the current Indian context! Kingsnorth cites the schism within the Western church as another factor. In India, Hindus are hotly, at times aggressively debating who is a true Hindu. The campaign to make Hinduism muscular and militant has caused a sharp division within the faith. The current conflict between Hindutva warriors and liberal Hindus would have lasting repercussions, distorting the concept of spirituality, and diminishing it.

The political ethos gets vitiated because religion infuses politics with undesirable fervour and makes political rivals more aggressive. It causes conflict within a faith community. It makes the state dominate spirituality. Since the market dominates the state, religion becomes a handmaiden of the market. The new Ram Temple of Ayodhya is sold to the masses by projecting the huge revenue to be earned by Ayodhya. Some traditional priests protested but their voices were ignored. In India, the state cannot replace the temple as the locus of life, so the Prime Minister hit upon a novel idea. By projecting himself as NB, a Nonbiological Being, with some of his ardent followers describing him as Gods incarnation, Modi has claimed for himself spiritual loyalty  the primary, deepest allegiance and mandatory obedience of the citizens. Fake religiosity has become more popular.

The political scenario looks equally grim. India is now called a failing democracy or an elected autocracy. Indias credentials as a secular democracy are questioned in India and abroad. The Government does nothing to improve the situation. It has perfected a three-pronged response to such criticism. It ministers cite examples from mythology of Indias ancient democratic traditions! They discredit the international agencies monitoring democracies and issuing adverse reports on India. And above all, with the help of some sarkari intellectuals, the Government sets its own standards of democracy by which it should be judged. The situation on the ground related to civil liberties and democratic rights gets worse and worse.

A German character in a novel by Nayantara Sahgal tells an Indian: Our past is your future. If he were to analyse dreams of Indians in 20025, he would say, it is your present. In Germany, journalist Charlotte Beradt had compiled The Third Reich of Dreams from 1933 to 1939. She transcribed the nightmares of citizens and analysed them. Many dreamt that it was forbidden to dream. They felt dreaming was illegitimate. She smuggled the manuscript to the US and it was published in 1968. This analysis was recalled by British columnist Zoe Williams when Donald Trump began to rule America.

Fascism knocks

The word fascism now figures prominently in the political discourse. Many Indians hesitate to utter the word fearing that it would only embolden the fascist or that for saying it, they would be punished by the state. British academic Prof. Michael Rosen wrote the poem fascism arrives as your friend... He fears people think that fascism arrives in fancy dress worn by grotesques and monsters as played out in endless reruns of the Nazis. They think it will restore their honour, make them feel proud, protect their house, give them a job. By a sheer coincidence, Prof. Rosen published this poem in 2014, within a few weeks of Modi coming to power.

To understand our present, we must peep into our recent past and the past of others. The comic scenes in India portend a tragic future. Comic books made Musk and Trump as the imagined Batman arrived in real life and Gotham town appeared on the physical map. That is the direction India has taken. The Second Coming of Trump in America and somewhat similar political developments in Europe make analysts recall how a selfish hate-filled state was once condoned by the majority. A cruel joke during Hitlers reign said: Germany is filled with 1 per cent. of the population not backing the Nazis in plebiscites. In 1933, Lion Feuchtwanger published The Oppermanns, the novel being read as a warning from history. It shows the destruction of a civilised, literate, upper middle class, Berlin Jewish family as the Nazis take power. This novel was written even before the extermination camps were set up. The New York Times calls it a classic novel of the Nazis rise that holds lessons for today. Reading it is like staring into the worst of next week, says the critic. Kirkus writes: It is hard to imagine 90-year-old book timelier. The novel has todays headlines.

Post-truth India

Then as now, fact and truth were the first casualty. A reader says on social media: This is how fascism will triumph: first with cartoonish politicians saying outrageous things and blaming foreigners and those in need; the rubbishing of experts, intellectuals and so-called elites, the media backing and idolising them so much and so often that their audiences believe them. Sounds familiar in the India of 2025 where faith and fascism have been fused together. This fusion has made fascism not just acceptable but desirable. A kind of religious fervour has been inducted into politics with the adoration of the Leader. Political pilgrims overlook their safety to join in a mass ritual. Some Modi devotees are prepared to die! Consolidation of the Hindu votes generates collective effervescence that energises fascism. Communalism leads to a communal ritual on the polling day!

The democratic secular India has informally been transformed into an unconstitutional Hindu Rashtra and an undeclared Emergency has been imposed. Contemporary India does not present a pretty picture will be an understatement. Festivals of different communities used to spread joy. Now every festival is tinged with anxiety and fear. Three lines by noted journalist Rajdeep Sardesai say it all: The idea of India is built around joyous diversity and richness of our festive traditions, not on threats and muscle flexing. Curbs on meat shops, curbs on namaz, and now a threat to seize passports if rules violated. Did anyone say that those who burst crackers late into night on Diwali in violation of the Supreme Court orders will have passports seized? An entire community feels besieged. Its poor can be lynched for allegedly carrying or storing beef or for running a love jihad and at times just for belonging to that community. The Bengali Muslims having the Government-given IDs such as the Aadhar Cards and Voters Cards flee from the Police Raj in the BJP-ruled states. The well-to-do Muslims traders face economic boycott and hate campaign on social media.

Muslim womens plight

Muslim women feel intimidated and miserable in the present social ethos. Some tweak their names or put a red dot on the forehead. Ismat Ara, a noted journalist, finds safety in hiding her name. She writes: As an Indian Muslim, I have learned to say many words in whispers. The thought recently struck me when my husband and I were at a McDonalds in Thailand that casually offered beef burgers to customers. The word beef felt oddly jarring to me. It had been a long time since Id even heard the word beef spoken freely. In India, I dont say it... I couldnt shake the thought: What a strange, unnecessary weight we carry back home. How heavy! She was among the accomplished Muslim women who were targeted through a novel campaign that auctioned them on the internet. Here is what she wrote in January 2022: As the first day of the new year dawned in New Delhi, I woke to find that I had been put up for auction on the Internet. There it was: a photograph of me with the words Your Bulli Bai deal of the day. Bulli is a derogatory term reserved for Muslim women and bai, meaning maid, is another derogatory term often used by Indias right wing for Muslim women. I was no stranger to trolling. In fact, I am one of the 20 most abused women journalists in India. But being auctioned? There were nearly 100 more women on the listprominent ones, such as broadcasters, politicians, authors, pilots, and actors. Like me, all were Muslim.

These illustrative examples may not be considered significant in a country where calls for the genocide of Muslims are given openly at Hindu religious conclaves. There is a concerted campaign, blessed officially, to establish majoritarianism. Institutions have been hallowed out, higher education diminished and law and order nearly destroyed. Indias ranking in the human development indexes has declined. Toxicity and mental pollution cannot be measured precisely but their abnormal rise is detected by social scientists. Economic indicators too do not look promising.

RSS acquires political power

How did we get here? India of 2025 did not suddenly erupt like lava. The Fools Paradise wasnt built in a day. The RSS, born a hundred years ago, marches on, waving the saffron flag of Hindutva. In the garb of a cultural organisation, it has become a major political force. The dream of the RSS to wrest political power remained a dream till one of its members demonstrated that an aggressive anti-Muslim campaign could invest him with charisma and let him propagate the ideology that caused tragedies but never lost its appeal entirely. The formula was proven in Gujarat. Years before 2002 and the communal killings in Gujarat, alarm bells about creeping fascism were rung but went unheard in the din created by the demagogue. The RSS noted Prof. Ashis Nandys diagnosis of Modi as a textbook fascist and began to groom Modi as the future Leader. So, in a way, Nandy made Modi. Had he not identified Modis exceptional quality, the RSS would still be using Modi to serve tea. The communal killings assured Modis political future. After coming to power in Delhi, the Leader, as per the RSS diktat, is transforming India, freeing it from its old ideals and value system. Having remade himself, the Leader is busy remaking India and Hinduism, reorienting institutions and getting history re-written. He wants to make Hinduism muscular and militarised. A new term Hindu Terror has come into vogue. Hindu Pakistan and Abrahamic Hinduism are talked about.

Hateful Poll Campaigns

In early 2014, alarm bells were rung louder as several commentators were shocked by Modis election campaign which was a campaign for religious polarisation powered by hateful speeches. Badri Raina, noted writer and columnist, said: For more than a relentless month now, the Modi campaign has been pegged on familiar hyper nationalism that seeks to bind three totalitarian policy objectives into a single, unified, and altogether forbidding injunction - that there can be no loyalty to India without loyalty to Hindutva, to militarist nationalism, and corporate control of the state, all three to be understood as loyalty to one supreme leader set to function as the only and final arbiter of "Indianness" and "patriotism". Raina cited the BJP leader Giriraj Singhs call to Modis critics to leave India and go away to Pakistan. This ominous, but entirely anticipated, pronouncement shows that finally the cat is out of the bag, he wrote.

Such warnings were ignored by a majority of the voters. The diminution of democracy and secularism shocks intellectuals and activists but heartens the votaries of the majoritarian state. Democracy is of little concern to a majority of voters who want livelihood and economic growth more than civil liberties. They are enchanted by the tale of a glorious ancient India that the Leader promises to usher in. So, they attribute their economic misery to providence and not blame the Leader. Blind faith rules. Faux religiosity diminishes humanity and empathy. As knowledge society, India keeps regressing. The morality of religious polarisation apart, its adverse impact on internal security is highlighted by experts. But experts are not needed as the ruler has proclaimed himself to be the font of all wisdom.

Faustian Bargain

Many Modi devotees admit the erosion of civil rights but justify the trend by talking of economic progress brought about by Modi. They would like a leader who asks: Give me your freedom, I will give you prosperity. A wag may perversely point out that the number of cars burnt in a communal riot must be replaced which boosts car production and houses bulldozed help the real estate industry! Many economic experts expose the false claims made about economic growth. They say that the Prime Ministers report card in that area is also not good. They claim the Gujarat model of development was false propaganda.

Economists overlook the disruption of personal relationships caused by religious polarisation. In this regard, Modi has done more than the mobile. Families are fractured, fighting over Modi. Many Indians cannot visit their near and dear ones as near and dear ones clash at the dining table. It is common to see political clashes in families and a disruption of personal relationships. A cartoon shows a doctor asking the patient if there is a history of mental illness in the family. The patient replies: Yes. My uncle still wants to vote for Modi! A grateful son narrates on social media that his father, a staunch BJP-supporter, has at last started attacking Modi! Peace and harmony has been restored in the house. Thank you, Papa, I love you.

That India is going through an abnormal phase is believed by all  those who feel distraught and those who feel elated by the new social and political trends. What was initially considered an aberration has become the new normal. The degradation of universities and even Bollywood is there for all to see. Social scientists have warned against the consequences of polarisation, hatred and aggressive behaviour and increased blind faith and ignorance.

Empires do not last. And in politics anything can happen. Modi reoccupied the Prime Ministers office with the help of two regional leaders, his one-time critics who became his allies. Whatever his sins of omission and commission, Modi will not face a rebellion by his party M.P.s who elected him as their leader. They are trained by the RSS to follow its diktat. Modi was the gift of the RSS to the nation and he will continue as the Prime Minister unless the RSS dumps him before the next parliamentary elections. Even that scenario does not give much hope to the Indians who worry about Modis legacy. In his remaining days in office, Modi will not be able to achieve the kind of total transformation of India as he had set to do, but what he has done will have tragic consequences. Prof. Ashis Nandy says, one generation will have to bear the cost of what Modi has done.

Excerpted from

* NEW INDIA: Ancient civilisation in tragi-comic phase.

To be continued
Multiple fire departments on Aug. 7 extinguished two fires inside a packaging business in Macedonia.

The Macedonia Fire Department and first responders from neighboring communities put out the fires at Jamestown Container Companies, according to a news release from the city of Macedonia.

Macedonia Fire was dispatched to the business shortly after 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7 after an operating piece of machinery caught fire, the release said.

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Machinery and and surrounding cardboard bales caught fire, the release said.

No one was injured, and the building itself was not damaged, per the release.

"Initial reports indicated the fire began in a machine called a (baler) at the rear of the building," the release said. "Inside, bales of cardboard, stacked 12 to 15 feet high, were burning deep within their cores. After a short time on scene, crews identified that they had two separate fires in the building, each on separate sides of the building. Fire command upgraded their fire response and requested more departments."

More than 60 firefighters responded to the scene, Macedonia Professional Firefighters Local 3947 said in a Facebook post.

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Additional firefighters came from the fire departments of Aurora, Hudson, Northfield Village, Oakwood Village, Stow, Streetsboro, Twinsburg and the Peninsula-based Valley Fire District. Hudson EMS also responded, the release said.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 8:56 p.m., then put out the smoldering hot spots throughout the night, the release said.

"The first couple of hours, there were two fire attacks going on at the same time on opposite sides of the large building," the release said. "The crew on the other side of the building from the (baler) was fighting a fire in a machine called a cutter. Both fires were contained to the machinery and products around the machinery."

Working through heavy smoke, crews broke down the cardboard bales to completely extinguish hot spots, the release said.

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"After taking some time to sit back and reflect on the events of Thursday evening, we find ourselves humbled and grateful," Local 3947 wrote.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, according to the release.

The American Red Cross provided food and water to the firefighters, Local 3947 wrote.

The city and union also thanked Facebook site 330ToGO for asking its followers to provide food and beverages to first responders on scene.

Jamestown Container also has locations in and around the state of New York, according to its website.

Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal's business and consumer newsletter, "What's The Deal?"

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 9 agencies helped Macedonia Fire put out fires at business Thursday
COLUMBUS  Thousands of Ohioans will soon be reunited with missing money thanks to the outreach and educational efforts of the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Unclaimed Funds at the 2025 Ohio State Fair, which concluded on Sunday.

The Divisions kiosk was again a very popular stop at the agencys Exploration Commerce booth for fairgoers to uncover forgotten money. During the 12-day event, approximately 1,200 visitors initiated claims totaling $633,873.18, with one individual starting a claim for more than $60,000 in funds. During the fair, the average claim amount for attendees was $527.35, proving that even small discoveries can make a big difference.

Unclaimed funds include money from dormant accounts, uncashed checks, forgotten utility deposits and other sources that businesses and financial institutions report to the Division after years of inactivity.The Ohio State Fair is more than just an event for us  its a real opportunity to help people, said Akil Hardy, Superintendent of the Division of Unclaimed Funds. Whether its a few dollars to thousands, reuniting people with their money is incredibly rewarding. Its a chance to connect with Ohioans and show them that the process can be simpler and less stressful than they perhaps might think.The Divisions presence at the fair has become a tradition, offering visitors the chance to search for unclaimed funds on-site with the guidance of Division staff. Over the past four years, the Division has returned more than $1.6 million to Ohioans during the fair alone.

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For the first time at the State Fair, the Division was able to leverage a new system designed to make it easier and potentially faster for Ohioans to search for and recover funds. Last February, the Division launched new website capabilities that feature a number of significant improvements both in efficiency and functionality to help return money back to its rightful owners.

Ohioans who want to claim their lost or forgotten money are now able to search for unclaimed funds, upload required documents and track their claims status without having to leave the platform. This new system also offers greater communication with claimants about the status of their claim in the event items are missing that the Division needs to complete its review. The new system is available at com.ohio.gov/UnclaimedFunds.

For those who were not able to stop by the Divisions kiosk at the fair, the search does not end there. Ohioans can check for unclaimed funds year-round by following these steps:

* Search for unclaimed funds and generate a claim form

* by accessing unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov.

* Review and gather the required documentation.

* Submit the claim form and any documents by mail or upload them directly through the system.
HOUSTON (AP)  A yearslong legal fight over the release of audio and video recordings and other records related to the May 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is coming closer to an end. The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and Uvalde County are expected to make the disputed records public as early as this week.

Media organizations, including The Associated Press, sued the district and county in 2022 for the release of their records related to the mass shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. A Texas appeals court in July upheld a lower courts ruling that the records must be released.

The City of Uvalde released its records from the mass shooting  including devastating video and recordings of police radio traffic and 911 calls  in August 2024. The city of about 15,000 people is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of San Antonio.

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That information detailed the agonizingly slow law enforcement response, which has been widely condemned. Nearly 400 officers waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman in a classroom filled with dead and wounded children and teachers.

What records will be released?

The school district is expected to release police service and 911 call records; evidence logs related to the shooting; body-worn and security camera footage from Robb Elementary; student files for the shooter; internal communications among district officials; and results of school safety audits.

It could also make public personnel files and other records related to Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde schools police chief who was fired and indicted for his role in the police response.

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Records from the county are expected to include incident and 911 reports concerning Robb Elementary and other locations; sheriff dispatch logs and radio traffic; video footage; ballistics and evidence logs; and reports of law enforcement interactions with the shooter and his mother.

It's not yet clear how much of this information has already been publicly released.

Families of victims have also pushed for information

Families of the victims have long sought accountability for the slow police response.

Theres nothing in those records and those files that can hurt any one of us any more than the pain that weve already endured. Once released, there will be questions. Transparency will come. There may be some blame. Accountability will come, Berlinda Arreola, grandmother of 10-year-old victim Amerie Jo Garza, told the Uvalde school board before the board voted to approve the records release on July 21.

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What legal battle remains over the release of records?

The Texas Department of Public Safety is still fighting a separate lawsuit filed by media organizations for the release of that agencys records related to the school shooting.

DPS has said the release of its records could be dangerous because it would make law enforcement vulnerable by exposing information about how officers do their jobs and it could also complicate prosecutions in the case, according to court records.

The lawsuit over DPSs records remains pending with the 15th Court of Appeals in Texas.

Two officers set to stand trial for response

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Two of the responding officers face criminal charges. Arredondo and former school officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of child abandonment and endangerment. They are set to face trial on Oct. 20.

___

Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
A Minnesota mother who extracted her nine-year-old sons blood and treated his two siblings for non-existent medical conditions was sentenced to 39-years in jail.

Jordan Nicole Borders, 34, was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of child torture, three counts of stalking, and four counts of theft by false representation in June.

Borders was first suspected of wrongdoing when hospital workers monitoring her son observed a drastic decline in his haemoglobin levels.

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She accused the hospital of taking too much blood but her other children  an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy  said they saw their mother often take their brothers blood.

One of the children said their mother told them to flush their siblings blood down the toilet.

The nine-year-old told investigators that his mother kept drawing his blood, which made him feel sick-sleepy.

Children forced to wear casts

Investigators found that Borders had diagnosed her two other children as suffering from brittle bone disease.

They were forced to wear casts and neck braces, despite suffering from no injuries

Prosecutors allege the 11-year-old boy was forced to wear casts, made from material which his mother had stolen from a doctors office, for two years.

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Police officers, searching the family home in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, found syringes and material to make casts.

During the trial the children laid bare the abuse they faced.

They would be made to stand out in the cold with no clothes, denied food and faced regular death threats from their mother.

The nine-year-old told investigators he never felt safe and was forced to sleep on the floor.

He was forced to stay in a wheelchair whenever his father came home, he added.

Most heinous crimes

Borders crimes are some of the most heinous and agonising I have seen in my time as attorney general, Keith Ellison, Minnesota attorney general said.

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He added: The facts we proved in court are nothing short of horrifying. It strains the imagination and breaks my heart into pieces to think about the torture and anguish  physical, mental, and emotional  that Borders inflicted on her own children.

Borders received more than $18,000 from the state of Minnesota after lying about her sons medical condition.

She is also estimated to have been awarded more than $35,000 from non-profit organisations.

Judge Patricia Aanes said Borders had abused her position of trust and acted with particular cruelty.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Cries of Justice for Montrell! echoed Friday afternoon in front of the 40th NYPD Police Precinct in the Bronx as family members and community leaders gathered to demand accountability for the tragic death of 2-year-old Montrell Williams.

Montrells mother, Cierra Carroll, spoke publicly for the first time about her sons death, expressing deep frustration with the police response.

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I called the police. They told me not to follow him and to go to the police to file a complaint. And then after I told the police that we had a warrant, they said, so what? Carroll said. She firmly believes the NYPD should have been the ones to find her missing child after Montrells father, Arius Williams, failed to return him following a visitation on May 10.

Montrells grandmother, Octavia Roane, described the familys desperate attempts to get help.

We made several calls to 911 for the police, and nothing was done throughout the course of the whole month. Nothing was done. We shouldnt have had to go outside ourselves looking for our child. That was the police job to do, and they didnt, she said.

Attorney Shiraz Khan, representing the family, explained the legal action underway, They put them on notice that this child was in danger, they asked for help repeatedly, no amber alert was issued. And while this childs life was hanging in the balance, they were pushed to the side.

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Khan emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, There is no amount of money, nothing can be done to bring this little boy back. The reality is, whether its a notice of claim, further action, jury trial, whatever it takes, those who wronged this little boy and this family by not doing their jobs must be held accountable.

Montrells body was found after a month-long search in the East River near Ferry Point Park. His father, Arius Williams, who allegedly threw Montrell into the Bronx River while he was still alive, has been charged with murder and is currently held without bail at Rikers Island. He is due back in court on October 9.

Cierra Carroll has filed a $60 million wrongful death claim against the NYPD, alleging negligence and failure to properly investigate her reports and intervene in time to save her son. The NYPD has yet to respond publicly to the claim.

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VERNON, Conn. (WTNH)  A motorcyclist was transported to a hospital via LIFESTAR with non-life threatening injuries following a crash involving another vehicle near Exit 66 on I-84 East in Vernon on Friday, Connecticut State Police said.

Torrington man arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in New Canaan

Police did not comment on the extent of the injuries.

Lanes on the eastbound side of the highway were closed due to the crash, and westbound lanes were also temporarily closed to allow LIFESTAR to land. A wrecker was dispatched to the scene and all lanes have been reopened, state police said.

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Friends and family of Cole Cooper are attending the teenager's funeral in Bonnybridge.

The 19-year-old was reported missing in May sparking a major search operation.

His body was discovered four weeks later in woods near Kilsyth Road in Banknock.

A funeral mass will take place at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Bonnybridge, near Falkirk, followed by a celebration of life at Bannockburn crematorium.

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Cole was reported missing on Friday 9 May, two days after police said a witness saw him in the nearby village of Longcroft, near Banknock.

He had been captured on CCTV at several locations in Longcroft in the early hours of Sunday 4 May after leaving a party in Denny.

Officers spoke to almost 400 residents through door-to-door inquiries and gathered more than 2,000 hours of footage.

However, his relatives were told that a body had been found on 6 June, four weeks after he was last seen.

Police Scotland said Cole's death was being treated as unexplained.

Two days after the his body was discovered, hundreds gathered for a vigil at Glenskirlie Hotel in Banknock.

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Family set off blue smoke canisters to indicate Cole's favourite colour.

A significant search operation was launched after Cole Cooper went missing in May [PA Media]

On social media, his aunt Aimee Tennie said the family wanted people to wear blue to the funeral service.

She also thanked those who supported the family and invited them to say goodbye.

Ms Tennie added: "We are deeply grateful for the continued support we have received from you all throughout this horrifying time.

"For everyone that has followed Cole's story, for those whom his story has touched the hearts of, for those who have shared, liked and commented during his disappearance, for those that attended his searches, for those who provided us with information, for those who may have known Cole, and for his friends.

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"We would be honoured to have you all there."

She said there were still "many unanswered questions" during an "incredibly difficult" time.

She added: "Although incredibly heart-breaking and unfair this has been for Cole, we want this to be a celebration of his life.

"Forever 19 and he had forever to go."

She said that his family wanted his funeral to celebrate his 19 years and show his "funny, charming, and loving" personality.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  According to a 2022 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report, 75% of Black infants were introduced to breastfeeding compared to 86.2% of non-Hispanic white babies. Healthy Savannah wants to increase those numbers by holding a screening of the movie, Chocolate Milk.

Elsie Smalls, PhD, is the Breastfeeding Program Manager at Healthy Savannah. Healthy Savannah is a nonprofit, community-based organization thats been around for about 18 years. Our overall strategy comes from a CDC grant called the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH). The breastfeeding program is one of those strategies and the focus is education, access, awareness and creating an environment thats breastfeeding friendly.

Smalls says Healthy Savannah chose this date to share the film with the community to coincide with National Breastfeeding Month, held annually during August, and specifically Black Breastfeeding Week, which is August 25 through 31. We hope that the film and this observance will help raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding in the Black community and inspire discussion to address challenges and promote support systems for Black breastfeeding mothers.

The 90-minute documentary is free and open to the public. Following the screening, there will be a discussion of ways to improve breastfeeding rates among Black women. For Black mothers in Chatham County, breastfeeding rates declined from 76% in 2019 to 60.3% in 2023 and rose to 80.8% in 2024.

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Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, MPH, CHES , CLC, CDE, is the associate dean for academic affairs and professor, Health Policy & Community Health in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. She says bringing this movie to families in Savannah is an important step in helping Black mothers get breastfeeding support. The film masterfully tells the story of African American women and their journey with breastfeeding. It does an amazing job of working towards its purpose of increasing normalcy around breastfeeding within the African American community.

Marshall feels strongly that Black mothers who are considering breastfeeding need to be surrounded by a support system of partners, families, workplace colleagues and communities. We want to invite those supporters to watch this film as well, so they can better understand the importance of that support.

Earlier this year, Healthy Savannah launched a Breastfeeding Welcome Here initiative, providing door decals and certificates of recognition to local organizations that offer reasonable accommodations for breastfeeding and pumping, including break time and private, clean spaces. The program is funded by a CDC Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia.

In Georgia, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (also known as Charlottes Law) requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space, other than a restroom, for employees to express breast milk. This legislation applies to both private employers and state and local government entities, including school districts. (Employers with 50 or fewer employees can request an undue hardship exemption from the law.)

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Again, the screening of Chocolate Milk is free and open to the public. Its happening Sunday, August 24 at 3 p.m. in the Student Union ballroom (11935 Library Drive) on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Any movie being filmed around Youngstown about Youngstown would no doubt somehow work Mill Creek Parks Silver Bridge into the script. And that was the case for a new movie, which will be out in the fall, called Brier Hill.

On a side street near Youngstown State, director Jimmy Taaffe guided two actors, seated in a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, through their lines.

Basically, the storys about the head of the Mancini crime family, which is actually based on a real crime family in Youngstown. It follows the adventures of two young kids who work for the Mancinis, Taafee explained

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The two young kids are played by Johnny DAndrea and Adriana Vennetti, who were classmates at Cardinal Mooney High School.

We were on the speech and debate team and in theater together, Vennetti said.

An ancestor of Johnny DAndrea was the first business owner on Brier Hill.

And on the other side of the family, theres Sicilian descent. So, this role really hit home for me. I feel like I had to pay it some homage, DAndrea said.

The movie Brier Hill is based on Jimmy Taaffes book Brier Hill from two years ago. The story is very Youngstown.

If you grew up in Youngstown, particularly in 1977, youll recognize a lot of the storyline and youll recognize maybe some of the characters, too, Taaffe said.

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Ive been able to see a little bit of our edited takes, and its phenomenal. So, Im excited for everyone to see it, Vennetti said.

Its a mix of mafia, a mix of crime. Its a mix of love, a mix of Youngstown, and its all Youngstown,  DAndrea said.

The filming of Brier Hill is winding down. The last day will be on Sunday. The premiere of the movie will sometime in late October.





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How much rain fell in Minnesota during Friday night's storms? originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

Storms brought torrential rain to parts of Minnesota on Friday night into Saturday morning, sparking concerns over flash flooding in urban areas.

Severe storms swept east across Minnesota over the course of Friday evening and for a long time were considered severe before reaching the Twin Cities between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

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The storm system weakened as it approached the metro, but still contained more than enough moisture to drop more than two inches of rain in a short period of time, as well as cutting power to more than 13,000 homes.

Here's a look at the latest rain totals shared with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network (CoCoRAHs).

This list will be updated as more totals come in.

3.70 inches  Rochester

2.83 inches  Elba

2.79 inches  St. Charles

2.63 inches  Trail

2.49 inches  Maple Lake

2.46 inches  Howard Lake

2.43 inches  Minneapolis

2.29 inches  Cotton

2.06 inches  Roseville

2.00 inches  Buffalo

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1.93 inches  Plymouth

1.91 inches  South Haven

1.88 inches  Aurora

1.82 inches  Maple Grove

1.80 inches  Ely

1.77 inches  Minnetonka

1.76 inches  Cokato

1.75 inches  Mahtomedi, Hartland

1.73 inches  Columbia Heights, Fridley

1.67 inches  Dassel

1.66 inches  St. Anthony, Motley

1.65 inches  Stillwater, Maplewood

1.63 inches  Mounds View, Long Lake, New Brighton

1.62 inches  St. Paul, Ham Lake, Wayzata

1.61 inches  Big Lake

1.60 inches  Hoyt Lakes, Independence, Clearwater

You can find more rain totals here

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
How much apartment space can you get for $1,500 in Bellingham?

Real estate website RentCafe recently ranked the 200 largest cities in the United States where renters can get the most apartment space for $1,500 a month in 2025.

On average, U.S. renters can get about 715 square feet of space for $1,500 per month, RentCafe found.

However, how much apartment you can get from your money varies from city to city  ranging from 228 square feet in Manhattan, New York, to 1,329 square feet in Wichita, Kansas.

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The median monthly rent in the United States is $1,406 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While Bellingham wasnt included in the published study, RentCafe shared local data with The Bellingham Herald.

Heres how far you can stretch your rental dollar in Bellingham:

How much space can you rent for $1,500 in Bellingham?

On average, Bellingham residents who spend $1,500 a month on rent can get a 617-square-foot apartment, RentCafe told The Herald.

Thats larger than a typical studio apartment, which spans 457 square feet on average, but smaller than the average one-bedroom apartment, which features 735 feet of space, according to a separate RentCafe study.

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Its worth noting that 617 square feet of space is significantly less than the national average.

In 62% of the cities featured in the RentCafe study, the typical $1,500-a-month apartment is larger than the national average, suggesting Bellingham is on the more expensive side.

What are rent values in Seattle? Spokane?

RentCafes study looked at apartments available for rent for $1,500 a month in five Washington cities: Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Bellevue and Vancouver.

Heres how much space you can get for a monthly rent of $1,500 in those cities:

Spokane : 962 square feet

Vancouver : 818 square feet

Tacoma : 727 square feet

Bellevue : 486 square feet

Seattle: 456 square feet

How does rent in Bellingham compare to other US cities?

In terms of apartment space available for $1,500 in monthly rent, Bellingham ranks among the more expensive small cities in the nation, according to RentCafe.

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In this context, small cities are those with fewer than 225,000 residents.

The average size of a $1,500 rental ranged from 406 square feet in Sunnyvale, California, to 1,432 square feet in Columbus, Georgia, RentCafe said.

In comparison, $1,500 a month gets you 619 square feet in Philadelphia.

Which US cities have most affordable apartments?

These were the most affordable large cities for renters in the United States in 2025, according to RentCafe:

1. Wichita, Kansas

2. Toledo, Ohio

3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

4. Tulsa, Oklahoma

5. Memphis, Tennessee

6. Lubbock, Texas

7. Fort Wayne, Indiana

8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

9. El Paso, Texas

10. Corpus Christi, Texas

How did RentCafe come up with its findings?

To determine how much apartment space $1,500 buys in the United States in 2025, RentCafe said it analyzed data sourced from various government or trusted third-party databases, including the U.S. Census Bureau.
Authorities on Saturday released the mugshot of the suspect in a quadruple homicide at a small town bar in rural Montana.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, is being held in the Butte-Silver Bow County Jail, in Butte, only about 20 miles from where he allegedly gunned down four people at The Owl Bar in the town of Anaconda on Aug. 1.

Jail records do not say what crimes he has been charged with.

Army Veteran Arrested After Week-long Manhunt Following Deadly Montana Bar Massacre That Killed 4 People

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Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 70, were killed in the attack. Kelley was a bartender, and the other three victims were patrons. All were from Anaconda.

After a dramatic week on the run, which left residents in the 9,000-person community of Anaconda on edge for fear that Brown might return to kill again, a joint task force of local police, state authorities, and federal law enforcement apprehended Brown on Friday.

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The Owl Bar where Michael Paul Brown allegedly shot and killed four people on Aug. 1, 2025 (left) and Brown's boarded up home (right). Photographed Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

In a press conference outside the Deer Lodge County Courthouse in Anaconda, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the arrest.

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Montana Fugitive's Brother Serving Life Sentence For Separate Murder Conviction In Same Town

"Our brave men and women in law enforcement didn't waste a second," he said. "They jumped into action and began the search with the promise to not give up until they found this suspect. Today I am grateful to report that Michael Brown has been apprehended, arrested and is in custody."

Authorities said Brown was captured near a barn on private property just west of Anaconda, only about five-and-a-half miles from where the alleged crime occurred.

Main St. in Anaconda, Montana, leads to the Deer Lodge County Courthouse with mountains in the background. Photographed on Aug. 8, 2025 (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Brown's motive remains unclear, though residents told Fox News Digital that he had mental health problems.

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His niece, Clare Boyle, speaking with a local news outlet, said that Brown suffered from PTSD from his time in the Army, along with schizophrenia. She said the VA refused to help him, which has been disputed by residents who knew Brown.

Mountains in Anaconda, Montana on August 8, 2025. The Anaconda Smelter Stack (right) is the oldest surviving masonry structure in the world and a National Historic Landmark. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

"Mikees decline started really heavily when my grandma passed," she told Ktvq. "The trauma from losing his last parent broke Mikee. The VA said he no longer qualified for assistance with obtaining prescriptions and help."

Boyle did not return multiple comment requests.





Original article source: Mugshot of rural Montana bar massacre suspect released after week-long manhunt
DENVER (KDVR)  A crash involving multiple vehicles, including a semitrailer and a pickup truck, briefly closed eastbound U.S. 36 in Westminster on Friday afternoon.

All traffic was being diverted to Federal Boulevard as investigators worked on the crash, which occurred between Federal Boulevard and Pecos Street. At about 3:55 p.m., the Colorado State Patrol said that there were two lanes open, but to expect traffic delays.

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U.S. 36 Eastbound was closed for a multi-vehicle crash on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Courtesy the Colorado Department of Transportation) A crash closed eastbound U.S. 36 on Aug. 8, 2025. (KDVR)

SkyFOX flew over the scene at about 3:40 p.m. and saw a semitrailer with significant front-end damage sitting in the right-hand lane of the highway.

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Video shared by a viewer with FOX31 showed the damage to the truck, and showed multiple first responders working to extract the semitrailers driver from the wreckage. He appeared conscious but injured.

Adams County Fire Rescue reported that the crash involved two box trailers on U.S. 36 just west of Pecos Street. The driver of one of the box trucks had to be transported emergently to a local hospital. The agency said that the Westminster Fire Department was also on scene.

Traffic was slow or stopped as far west as 104th Avenue from Federal Boulevard.

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating the crash and said that the roadway will be closed for an unknown period. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

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This is a breaking news story and will be updated as FOX31 learns how many vehicles were involved, the potential cause of the crash and if there were injuries from this incident.

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Wyatt J. Taylor, 28, of 3301 S CR 60 SW, Greensburg, has been charged with one count of felony murder in conjunction with the shooting death of his father, Joshua Taylor, early Tuesday morning in their rural Decatur County residence.

According to court documents, at approximately 12:05 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, a relative called 911 requesting a wellness check at the previously listed address. The relative had received a phone call from his nephew, Wyatt Taylor, asking, Should I do it or should I go to bed?

The relative was unable to contact his brother, Joshua Taylor, who was believed to be home at the time.

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A short time later, Wyatt called the relative again asking for a ride and the relative could hear smoke alarms going off in the background. Wyatt declined to put Joshua on the phone with the relative and hung up.

The relative called Wyatt back, asked to speak with Joshua, and was told Joshua was sleeping. The relative again asked about the smoke alarms and Wyatt said he was cooking pizza. The relative again asked to speak to Joshua and Wyatt again declined to put Joshua on the phone.

At approximately 12:21 a.m., Deputy Brandon Jones and Cpl. William Pruitt arrived at the residence in response to the requested wellness check. Wyatt Taylor met the officers in the driveway and claimed he was cooking a pizza and set off the smoke detectors, but that no further assistance was needed. The officers then left.

After consulting with the relative about the wellness check, the relative asked that the officers return to the home and check on Joshua Taylor. The officers returned to the residence at approximately 12:43 a.m. and were again met in the driveway by Wyatt Taylor.

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The officers asked to speak to Joshua Taylor and Wyatt said Joshua was sleeping. Wyatt then led the officers into the residence to a first story bedroom with the door open but the lights off. Wyatt turned the light on, gestured toward the deceased Joshua Taylor and said, Hes right there.

The officers noticed multiple gunshot wounds to Joshua Taylors head and neck. They also noticed multiple spent bullet casing in the bedroom.

Wyatt was asked if there was anyone else in the house and he said there wasnt. He also acknowledged he had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening.

The officers conducted a sweep of the house and found multiple firearms in a second story bedroom. The officers secured the scene and a death investigation was initiated.

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A search warrant for the premises was obtained and personnel from the Decatur County Sheriffs Department as well as the Indiana State Police searched the residence. The Decatur County Coroner was also present.

The search uncovered a specific number of spent bullet casings in the vicinity of the deceased Joshua Taylor. Officers also recovered numerous spent bullets of the same apparent caliber as the spent casings in the bedding and wall behind the bed in which Joshua Taylor was lying.

Also found was a smoke detector in the ceiling of the bedroom in the vicinity of where the shots are believed to have been fired. The smoke alarms were tested and determined to be functioning. No evidence of a burnt pizza was discovered.

In an upstairs bedroom, on the floor next to a mattress, officers located a firearm of the same caliber as the spent casings. There was also an empty magazine in the handgun that had the precise capacity as the number of spent casings. Next to the firearm was a wallet containing Wyatt Taylors drivers license and a hat which was later identified as having been worm by Wyatt during the evening leading up to the shooting. Next to the firearm was a box of ammunition of the same caliber and manufacturer as the spent casings with in excess of the magazine capacity missing.

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Decatur County Sheriff Bill Meyerrose and Detective Ally Sullivan interviewed Wyatt Taylor at the Decatur County Jail. Wyatt told them he had moved to Decatur County from Utah approximately two weeks earlier. Wyatt described his father as bipolar toward [Wyatt], very suicidal and belligerent. Wyatt later said he was in fear of [his] life, extremely in fear of [his] life.

On Aug. 6, an autopsy on Joshua Taylors body was conducted at the Hamilton County Morgue in Ohio. One bullet of the same style and apparent caliber as those recovered in the bedroom around the body of the decedent was found in Joshuas body. Also found were multiple entry and exit wounds.

The doctor conducting the autopsy was able to ascertain that multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck caused fatal injury and were the preliminary cause of death.

Additional spent bullets were later found in the bedding in which Joshua Taylor had been lying, bringing the total to precisely match the number of spent casings and the magazine capacity. A cardboard pizza box was also located, but no evidence of a burnt pizza was found that would be consistent with Wyatts explanation for the fire alarms going off.
Three people, including a suspect in an Indiana murder, were arrested in Richmond this week.

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The Richmond Police Department said their SWAT team, drone team, and detectives assisted the Blackford County Sheriffs Office with executing a high-risk warrant at a Richmond apartment complex on Tuesday.

The warrant was for Deontae Gabbard, a 23-year-old murder suspect wanted out of Blackford County, Indiana.

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Gabbard was found in the apartment complex and taken into custody. Hes facing charges of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, pointing a firearm, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and probation violation.

Two other people were arrested at the scene for assisting a criminal.

Blackford County brought the case. We brought the entry. Together, we took a violent fugitive, and the people hiding him, out of our neighborhoods, Richmond police said in a social media post.

The Blackford County Sheriffs Office said the arrest was the result of an over five-week-long homicide investigation that has taken them across Indiana and into Ohio. Its resulted in 12 arrests and nine firearms being removed from the streets.

Gabbard remains booked in the Wayne County Jail as he awaits transport back to the Blackford County Security Center.

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There is a peculiar silence that descends whenever the conversation turns to the Muslim Brotherhood. Not the thoughtful pause of academic caution, but the smothering hush of political cowardice dressed as cultural sensitivity. Britain, like much of the West, has become adept at not quite saying what it knows to be true: that the Brotherhood does not speak for British Muslims, but rather exploits their identity to advance a supremacist agenda.

The Muslim Brotherhood is not merely a theological school of thought, nor a minor current within Islams vast tradition. It is a deliberate, well-structured transnational political project, whose ultimate aim is the remaking of society along Islamist lines. Its brilliance lies not in overt militancy, but in its use of the democratic process to undermine democratic norms. It projects moderation in public while preaching ideological rigidity behind closed doors. Its agents are polished, fluent and adept at cloaking radicalism in the language of human rights.

The Brotherhood does not win through force, but by stealth: attending government roundtables, winning grants, dominating community organisations and inserting itself into institutions as the presumed voice of Muslim Britain. It does not shout about jihad in the streets; it whispers about Islamophobia in council meetings while vilifying Muslims who oppose its rule. It is a soft coup of identity, replacing pluralism with obedience and religion with ideology.

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The British state, tragically, has often confused access with authenticity. In its effort to promote community cohesion, it has handed influence to those least representative of the diversity within Muslim communities. Local authorities, government departments and academic institutions regularly platform figures linked to Brotherhood networks, mistaking their organisational presence for grassroots legitimacy. The result is a disenfranchisement of moderate Muslim voices who neither share the Brotherhoods worldview nor possess the machinery to counter it.

The consequences are serious. British Muslims today are caught in a pincer movement: on one side, targeted by anti-Muslim bigotry; on the other, suffocated by Islamist gatekeepers who label dissenters as traitors. The Brotherhood has created a political ecosystem where Muslim identity is defined not by faith, but by fealty to a cause. Its fiercest opponents are often Muslims themselves, but their resistance is dismissed as inauthentic or ignored altogether.

This conflation of Islam with Islamism is not just inaccurate; it is dangerous. It entrenches the myth that to be Muslim in Britain is to support reactionary ideology, and it stokes division by pushing moderate Muslims to the margins. We must stop treating ideological actors as cultural representatives. Real inclusion means engaging with Muslims as citizens, not as clients of political Islam.

The 2015 UK government review of the Muslim Brotherhood, commissioned by then-prime minister David Cameron, concluded that the organisation is secretive and operates with a dual discourse  moderate in public, radical in private. It warned that the Brotherhoods ideology and network pose a potential threat to democratic values. Yet nearly a decade later, that report gathers dust while the Brotherhood continues to embed itself within civil society.

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To protect British Muslims, we must do more than condemn anti-Muslim hatred; we must also confront the forces that seek to control Muslim life from within. This is not repression. It is liberation: a refusal to allow theocratic ideologues to masquerade as spokesmen for an entire faith.

Silence is not the price of tolerance. Moral clarity is. The UK must reject the fiction that Islamist movements represent Muslim identity. Only then can we ensure that British Muslims are no longer trapped between the hammer of bigotry and the anvil of Islamist dominance.

David Martin Abrahams is former Vice President of the Royal United Security Institute

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Must-see concerts this week: Nine Inch Nails, she's green, Flaming Lips originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

It's as though this week asked summer to play the hits.

There are free outdoor shows (Sound for Silents, Yam Haus), festivals (On the One, Big Turn), community events (Uptown Porchfest), arena shows (Tate McRae, Nine Inch Nails), and local album release shows (she's green).

Here's where you can find those and other concert in the Twin Cites this week.

Sound for Silents at the Walker Art CenterCourtesy of Walker Art Center

Sound for Silents (Yam Haus)

Thursday, Aug. 14, at Walker Art Center (free)

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The Walker Art Center's annual outdoor film and music returns to the museum's hillside. This year, it has commissioned a collaboration between filmmaker Philip Harder (the filmmaker behind Prince's "Cinnamon Girl" and the documentary Cue the Stringsa Film About Low) and songwriter Matt Arthur.

They have scored excerpts from Jean Epstein's gorgeous The Fall of the House of Usher (1928), the classic "The Great Train Robbery" (1903), The Wind (1928), and other films.

Unfortuantely, Arthur recently had a stroke, a Walker representative tells Bring Me The News. The musicians scheduled to appear  Tim O'Reagan of The Jayhawks, Channy Leaneagh of Polica, Bill Patton, and others  will be joined by Dave Pirner and Lady Midnight, who will perform in Arthur's place. However, Arthur will participate in the opening song.

In Downtown St. Paul, Lowertown Sounds continues with a free show from Yam Haus in Mears Park.

she's green EP release

Friday, Aug. 15, at Fine Line

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The Minnesota-based group is celebrating the release of a lush new five-track EP that's a soaring, bright spin on shoegaze revival. Chysalis, she's green's first new release in more than two years, will be released through Photo Finish Records the day of the show. Get a taste of it in advance with the video for "Willow." They'll be joined by Mother Soki, bugsy, and Lana Leone.

Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse

Friday, Aug. 15, at The Armory

While their music is dinstictly different, the co-headlining bill from Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse makes a lot of sense. Both groups rose to prominence in the late '90s with records that have become indie rock classics. They exploded in popularity during the early '00s with the breakthrough albums Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and Good News for People Who Love Bad News, respectively.

In recent years, both groups ran celebratory tours ringing in the 20th anniversaries of those seminal albums. On this tour, neither group is playing a complete album and other dates on the tour have seen the groups trotting out the hits.

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At the Target Center, The Offspring bring some Warped Tour vibes to town with Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory in the opening slots.

Uptown Porchfest

Saturday, Aug. 16, around the Wedge neighborhood in Minneapolis

While the Porchfest season gets going pretty early (Kingfield Porchfest, which turned out to be a rainy affair, took place in early June), another arrives this weekend.

Uptown Porchfest features dozens of performers playing free shows in yards around the Wedge neighborhood in Minneapolis. It's a chance to see great local music, meet neighbors, and spend time out in the sun.

Meanwhile, in Bloomington, the On the One Music Festival offers up free performances from Nur-D, Nunnabove, Kennnadi Watkins, and others at Bloomington Central Station Park. At The Fillmore, The Fray will take the stage.

Nine Inch Nails

Sunday, Aug. 17 at Xcel Energy Center

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Nine Inch Nails rolled out some rarely played tracks during the first couple of dates on their new tour. On the tour's opening night, they played "Right Where It Belongs," "Ruiner," and "Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)" for the first time since 2009. On the second night, they played "A Minute to Breathe"  a song written by Trent Reznor and collaborator Atticus Ross for the Before the Flood documentary  for the first time ever. They've also played "That's What I Get" from Pretty Hate Machine for the first time since 1991.

Lest it sound like it's just a run of deep cuts, set lists have included plenty of favorites like "March of Pigs," "Head Like a Hole," "Hurt," "The Hand That Feeds," "Closer," and Reznor's cover of David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans" (which Bowie recorded with Reznor at one point). There's been something for every NIN so far, and that's probably about what fans have expected.

Over in Minneapolis, Turn Turn Turn take a turn headlining the Hewing Hotel's rooftop concert series.

Related: Horror movies, positivity, and digging in the dirt: Mark Mallman discusses his new album, 'Magic Time'

Concerts on Monday, Aug. 11:

Concerts on Tuesday, Aug. 12:

Concerts on Wednesday, Aug. 13:

Related: Black Eyed Peas cancel Minnesota gig with little explanation

Concerts on Thursday, Aug. 14:

Concerts on Friday, Aug. 15:

Related: Adam Sandler announces live show in St. Paul

Concerts on Saturday, Aug. 16:

Concerts on Sunday, Aug. 17:

Related: St. Paul, clap, hey: Of Monsters and Men are heading to the Palace Theatre

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
The forecast for New Jersey calls for temperatures into the mid to upper 80s on Sunday, with mostly sunny skies and light southerly winds.

Overnight temperatures will drop into the mid to upper 50s in rural areas, with 60s expected in coastal regions. A sea breeze will develop along the coastal plain during the afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a high risk rip current warning for all New Jersey coastal zones until 9 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, the rip current risk will remain moderate.

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The upcoming week will see increasing heat and humidity.

Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s on Monday and Tuesday, with heat indexes approaching 100 degrees inland.

New Jersey residents can expect dry weather to continue through Tuesday with temperatures rising into the 90s followed by a chance of thunderstorms mid-week.

A cold front is forecast to approach the region Wednesday and Thursday, bringing a chance of thunderstorms and potentially slightly cooler temperatures by Friday.

Residents should stay hydrated and take precautions during the warmer days, particularly those in northeastern New Jersey and near urban areas where heat indexes may be highest.

The extended forecast suggests temperatures will gradually return closer to seasonal averages by late week.

Current weather radar

Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.
The Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday commemorated the victims of the atomic bombing 80 years ago, as global concerns over the threat of nuclear conflict continue to grow.

At a ceremony marking the anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Mayor Shiro Suzuki warned of the growing danger of nuclear war.

"This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth," Suzuki said in a peace declaration delivered at the annual memorial ceremony.

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The mayor called on the world to learn from history and ensure that Nagasaki remains the last city to suffer a nuclear attack.

A moment of silence was observed at the ceremony at 11:02 am (0202 GMT) to mark the time on August 9, 1945, when the "Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped by the US detonated over Nagasaki.

In Nagasaki alone, about 70,000 people were killed by the direct impact, while 75,000 others were injured.

Three days earlier, in the closing days of World War II, the US had devastated Hiroshima with another atomic bomb, marking the first use of nuclear weapons against human beings.

Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945.
As Japan marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the mayor of Nagasaki is warning that the world could see the same kind of devastating attack again.

Approximately 2,600 people, including representatives from 90 countries, attended the memorial event on Saturday at Nagasaki Peace Park, according to the Associated Press. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time the bomb exploded over the city, the attendees held a moment of silence. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, whose parents survived the 1945 attack, addressed the crowd and called for global action against nuclear weapons.

"Conflicts around the world are intensifying in a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation," Suzuki told a crowd on Saturday, according to a translation by The Mainichi. "If we continue on this trajectory, we will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war. This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth."

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Russia And China Tick Doomsday Clock Toward Midnight As Hiroshima Bombing Hits 80 Years

Mayors for Peace, which brings together mayors and city leaders from across the globe, is holding its 11th General Conference in Nagasaki this weekend as the city mourns the tragic day. The organization's aim is to abolish nuclear weapons, a point Suzuki emphasized in his remarks.

"In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site, it is essential to show a specific course of action for achieving the abolition of nuclear weapons. Procrastination can no longer be tolerated," Suzuki said, according to The Mainichi.

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The mayor also noted that the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) "will represent a crucial moment capable of swaying the fate of humanity."

Every five years, world leaders meet to review the provisions of the NPT, which was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, 25 years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Business Owner Behind Mysterious 'Remember Hiroshima' Protest Doll At Disneylands 'Small World' Ride Revealed

The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan three days apart. The first was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and the second was dropped on Nagasaki three days later, on Aug. 9. The bombs decimated both cities, leading to Japans surrender on Aug. 15, 1945, and later the end of World War II.

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A bomb nicknamed "Little Boy," weighing approximately 9,000 pounds and producing an explosive force equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, detonated 1,800 feet over Hiroshima, causing massive devastation. "Fat Man," the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, weighed 10,000 pounds and detonated at approximately the same altitude as "Little Boy."

James Cameron Slams 'Oppenheimer' Avoiding Aftermath Of Atomic Bombings On Japan As 'Moral Cop-out'

"I would like to express my deepest condolences for the lives claimed by the atomic bombings, and to all of the victims of war," Suzuki said, according to The Mainichi. "In marking 80 years from the atomic bombing, Nagasaki has resolved to continue our duty to relay, both inside Japan and overseas, the memories of the bombing, which are a common heritage to all humanity and should be passed down for generations throughout the world."

He concluded with a declaration, which was also translated by The Mainichi: "I hereby declare that in order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace."





Original article source: Nagasaki mayor issues chilling warning on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
By Irene Wang and Issei Kato

NAGASAKI (Reuters) -Thousands bowed their heads in prayer in Nagasaki on Saturday to mark the 80th anniversary of the city's atomic bombing, as the mayor warned that current global conflicts could push the world again into nuclear war.

The western Japanese city was levelled on August 9, 1945, when the United States dropped a 10,000-pound plutonium-239 bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man", instantly killing some 27,000 of the city's estimated 200,000 people. By the end of 1945, the death toll from acute radiation exposure had reached about 70,000.

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Nagasaki's destruction came three days after a U.S. uranium-235 bomb destroyed Hiroshima. Japan surrendered on August 15, ending World War Two.

After a moment of silence at 11:02 a.m., marking the time of the blast, Mayor Shiro Suzuki called on leaders to return to the principles of the U.N. Charter and show a concrete path toward abolishing nuclear weapons, warning that delay was "no longer permissible".

"This is a crisis of human survival that is closing in on each and every one of us," Suzuki told the crowd, estimated by Japanese media at 2,700.

He quoted the testimony of a survivor to illustrate the reality of a nuclear attack: "Around me were people whose eyeballs had popped out... Bodies were strewn about like stones."

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"Is it not this 'global citizen' perspective that will serve as the driving force behind stitching back together our fragmented world?" Suzuki asked, calling for a solution based on mutual understanding and solidarity.

The U.S. military is believed to have chosen Nagasaki as a target due to its significance as a major industrial and port city. The city's geographical features, including its hilly terrain, were also thought to concentrate the blast.

Representatives from 95 countries and territories, including nuclear superpower the United States, and Israel - which neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons - attended the annual ceremony at the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park for the milestone year.

Russia, which possesses the world's largest nuclear stockpile, was also represented.

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Daiji Kawanaka, a 14-year-old tourist from Osaka, echoed the mayor's sentiments.

"I truly believe a tragedy like this must never be repeated," he told Reuters, saying the anniversary prompts conversations about peace even among his young peers. "We can only pledge to take the initiative ourselves in making a step toward peace."

Japan's leading organisation of A-bomb survivors, Nihon Hidankyo, won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for campaigning for a world without nuclear weapons.

Survivors, known as "hibakusha", continue to suffer the effects from radiation and social discrimination. With their numbers falling below 100,000 for the first time this year, their stories fuel ongoing efforts to advocate for a nuclear-free world.

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Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, has stated its commitment to nuclear disarmament but is not a signatory or observer of the U.N. treaty to ban nuclear weapons.

(Reporting by Irene Wang and Issei Kato in Nagasaki; Editing by William Mallard)
The mayor of Nagasaki has appealed for an end to the wars raging in the world on the 80th anniversary of the US atom bomb attack which destroyed the Japanese city.

"Conflicts around the world are intensifying in a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation," Shiro Suzuki said in a Peace Declaration at a solemn ceremony to mark the event.

"If we continue on this trajectory, we will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war."

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The attack on 9 August 1945, which analysts say hastened the end of World War Two, killed an estimated 74,000 people.

In the years that followed many survivors suffered from leukaemia or other severe side effects of radiation.

Saturday's ceremony came a few days after the commemoration of the first atomic bombing, which targeted the Japanese city of Hiroshima 80 years ago on 6 August, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

The Nagasaki bomb, bigger and more powerful, wiped out whole communities in seconds.

The commemoration in the rebuilt city began with a moment of silence.

Nagasaki's twin cathedral bells also rang in unison for the first time since the attack, in a message of peace to the world.

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As part of Saturday's ceremony, water offerings were made in a moving and symbolic gesture - 80 years ago victims whose skin was burning after the blast had begged for water.

Today participants of different generations including a representative of the survivors offered water in a show of respect to those who perished in nuclear fire.

"On 9 August 1945 an atomic bomb was dropped on this city," Suzuki said in the declaration.

"Now, 80 years since that day, who could have possibly imagined that our world would become like this? Immediately cease from disputes in which 'force is met with force'."

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Bomb survivor Hiroshi Nishioka, 93, who was just 3km (1.8 miles) from the spot where it exploded, told the ceremony of the horror he had witnessed.

"Even the lucky ones [who were not severely injured] gradually began to bleed from their gums and lose their hair, and one after another they died," he said, as quoted by AFP news agency.

"Even though the war was over, the atomic bomb brought invisible terror."

Hiroshi Nishioka was a teenager when the atom bomb landed on Nagasaki [STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images]

Nagasaki resident Atsuko Higuchi, 50, told AFP it "made her happy" that the city's victims were being remembered.

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"Instead of thinking that these events belong to the past, we must remember that these are real events that took place," she added.

Among the bloodiest conflicts currently raging in the world are the war between Russia and Ukraine, and that between Israel and the Gaza-based group Hamas.

There was controversy last year when Nagasaki declined to invite Israel to the annual commemoration, citing security concerns.

This year the mayor said Israel had been invited, as well as Russia and its ally Belarus which had been shunned since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

An international agreement banning nuclear weapons, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, came into effect in 2021.

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More than 70 countries have ratified the treaty but nuclear powers have opposed it, arguing their nuclear arsenals act as a deterrent.

Japan has also rejected the ban, saying its security is enhanced by US nuclear weapons.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. - NASAs Hubble Space Telescope has captured the most detailed image yet of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which is thought to have originated well outside the Milky Way.

The comet, first spotted on July 1 by the Nasa-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system.

It was first observed while around 420 million miles away from Earth, near the planet Jupiter, and was estimated to be traveling at a speed of around 130,000 mph.

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Despite its extraordinary speed and trajectory, NASA said the comet poses no threat to Earth or the Moon, with the object remaining about 150 million miles away from the planet.

See The Objects Humans Left Behind On The Moon

While the comets solid core cannot yet be directly seen, even through the use of powerful telescopes, high-resolution imagery has allowed scientists to narrow down estimates of its size.

According to astronomers, including David Jewitt from the University of California of Los Angeles, the comets nucleus is likely no larger than 3.5 miles wide.

"This is like glimpsing a rifle bullet for a thousandth of a second," Jewitt stated. "You can't project that back with any accuracy to figure out where it started on its path."

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In a photo released by the space agency, the comet appears to be teardrop-shaped with plenty of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus.

The amount of material being shed by the comet is said to be similar to that seen with comets native to our own solar system.

Its rapid forward speed suggests the comet has been journeying through space for billions of years, with its speed accelerated by the gravitational pull of stars, planets and nebulae it has encountered during its journey.

Astronomers Spot Rare Interstellar Comet Speeding Through Solar System

Alongside Hubble, several other high-tech instruments, including the James Webb Space Telescope, TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, are expected to contribute observations of the comet before it becomes hidden from Earth later this year.

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"3I/ATLAS should remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September, after which it will pass too close to the Sun to observe. It is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December, allowing for renewed observations," NASA previously stated.

The space agency did not say where astronomers believe the comet originated, though most such objects are thought to come from the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud.





Original article source: NASA's Hubble telescope captures sharpest image yet of interstellar comet racing through solar system
Navy Captain and NASA astronaut Jim Lovell is perhaps best known for uttering some of the most infamous words in the history of space travel: Houston, we have a problem. In addition to Apollo 13, the naval aviator flew on three other NASA spacecraft missions.

NASA announced Lovells passing on August 7, 2025, at the age of 97.

Growing up, Lovell developed an interest in rocketry and built flying models. Through the Navys Flying Midshipman program, he studied engineering at the University of Wisconsin between 1946 and 1948. When cutbacks were made to the program, Lovell applied to the U.S. Naval Academy and was admitted through the nomination of Wisconsin Congressman John Brophy. He graduated from Annapolis in 1952 and married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn, that same year.

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Lovell attended flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and earned his Wings of Gold in February 1954. He was assigned to Fleet Composite Squadron 3 (VC-3) in California, flying McDonnell Banshee night fighters from the USS Shangri-La. After his deployment, Lovell provided pilot transition training for the FJ-4 Fury, F3H Demon, and F8U Crusader fighter aircraft.

Captain James Lovell receives his astronaut wings from CNO Admiral McDonald at Pentagon Ceremony in February 1966 (U.S. Navy)

In January 1958, Lovell attended test pilot school at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. In his class with fellow future astronauts Wally Schirra and Pete Conrad. Although he was the top graduate of the class, Lovell was assigned to radar tests instead of flight tests in an effort to spread talent across the Navy.

Lovell was selected as an astronaut candidate for Project Mercury later in 1958, but didnt make the cut. The Weapons Systems Test Division at Patuxent River was established in 1960 through the consolidation of the Armament Test and Electronics Test divisions at Patuxent River 1960, and that was when Lovell became the program manager for the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The next year, he reported to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, to serve as a flight instructor and safety engineering officer.

In 1962, Lovell was selected as part of the second group of NASA astronauts, known as the Next Nine. The Next Nine trained to fly on the Gemini and, ultimately, Apollo missions. In 1965, Lovell made his first spaceflight on Gemini VII and was part of the first rendezvous of two manned maneuverable spacecraft. The next year, Lovell made his second spaceflight on Gemini XII.

The Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman (NASA)

In 1968, Lovell flew aboard Apollo 8, the first spaceflight to leave the influence of Earths gravity, the first to use the Saturn V rocket, and the first to travel to the Moon. On Christmas Eve 1968, Lovell and his two crewmates read from the Book of Genesis during their broadcast back to Earth. The spacecraft lost contact with Earth when it orbited the far side of the Moon. When contact was reestablished, Lovell radioed, Please be informed, there is a Santa Claus.

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Unfortunately, this cheery Christmas transmission is not the one for which Lovell is known.

Lovells most famous transmission is from the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, and is actually often misquoted. What he radioed from the damaged spacecraft was, Houston, weve had a problem. The harrowing story of Lovell and his crew is immortalized in the 1995 Ron Howard film Apollo 13.

The problem aboard Apollo 13 happened during a routine liquid oxygen tank stir, when a fire started in one of the tanks. With oxygen bleeding from the command and service Module Odyssey, Lovell and his men used the Apollo Lunar Module as a space lifeboat for power, oxygen, and propulsion. With the help of NASA engineers and astronauts on Earth, the crew calculated a return trajectory that was achieved through precisely timed engine burns and manual thruster adjustments.

The Apollo 13 crew of Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise (NASA)

Six days after lifting off from Florida, Apollo 13 splashed down in the South Pacific Ocean on April 17, 1970. Lovell is one of only three men to have traveled to the Moon twice, and the only one who has not set foot on it. Between his Gemini and Apollo missions, Lovell racked up an incredible 715 hours and five minutes in space, a record that stood until Skylab 3 in 1973.

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After retiring from the Navy and NASA, Lovell served as the CEO of the Bay-Houston Towing Company and President of Fisk Telephone Systems. His last job was executive vice president of the Centel Corporation in Chicago, Illinois, before he retired in 1991.

Marilyn died in 2023 at the age of 93. After Frank Bormans death that same year, Lovell became the oldest living astronaut. His own death leaves 91-year-old Fred Haise as the last surviving crew member of Apollo 13. Lovell made 107 carrier deck landings and earned the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Space Medal of Honor, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal with star.

the usns harvey milk

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CONNEAUT  D-Day Conneaut is one of the largest annual events in Ashtabula County, bringing tens of thousands of people to the city.

The surge of visitors increases the citys population significantly. With that increase, comes more traffic.

Visitors can park at the Canadian National dock property along Day Street, then walk to Conneaut Township Park.

There will be veteran and handicapped parking at Conneaut High School, with a shuttle taking visitors to the park.

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Conneaut City Council passed an ordinance in July restricting traffic in the city for D-Day Conneaut from Aug. 14-16.

Erie Street will be closed from Wrights Avenue to Naylor Drive.

Lake Road will be restricted to westbound traffic only from Wrights Avenue to Chestnut Street.

Chestnut Street will be restricted to southbound traffic only from Detroit Street to Lake Road.

Grove Street from Detroit Street to Lake Road will be closed to traffic, except for access to the parking lot at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, at 876 Grove St.

Naylor Drive from Broad to Sandusky streets will also be closed from Aug. 12-17.

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City Manager Nick Sanford said at the meeting the only change from previous years is to Grove Street.

D-Day Ohio COO Lori McLaughlin said there will be paid parking available at the church.

Good Shepard Lutheran Church Administrative Assistant Jennifer Best said parking will be donation-based, so people can pay what they want, but they have to pay.

D-Day Ohio CEO Betsy Bashore recommended people build in at least an extra hour when they leave for D-Day Conneaut, especially if they are coming from further away.

McLaughlin recommended people coming from the west take Route 20 to get into Conneaut.

People can also take Lake Road, but they will be rerouted when in the city, because of Lake Roads one-way traffic, she said.

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Sanford does not expect city road work to have too much of an impact travel on the event, he said.

The only one that will be of any significance is the work on Broad Street, he said.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is working on replacing the concrete on Broad Street, from just south of the Norfolk Southern underpass to State Street.

Broad Street has one lane open in each direction, Sanford said.

The citys 2025 paving projects started July 28, but Sanford expects them to be wrapped up in the next few weeks and not have much of an effect on traffic.

Sanford said city emergency services will be assisted by nearby agencies for directing traffic, but it will, for the most part, be the citys sole responsibility.

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Our safety forces will be out in full force, he said.

Sanford said he advised people coming to Conneaut for D-Day leave a little earlier to give themselves extra time, be patient with traffic and enjoy themselves in the city.

Conneaut has two major railroads going through the city  CSX and Norfolk Southern.

McLaughlin and Sanford said people should be mindful of railroad safety.

McLaughlin said there is an overpass on Parish Road and two underpasses on Broad Street, for those seeking to avoid potential delays at crossings.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  If you live in a Virginia Beach neighborhood where you often hear the sound of freedom from the jets flying out of Naval Air Station Oceana, the U.S. Navy wants to hear from you.

Starting this month, the Navy is requesting permission from property owners to sample wells that are used for drinking water. Scientists are testing water samples for toxins called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that could flow in the direction of ground water.

As 10 On Your Side has reported, Oceana is among three places under assessment by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for the forever chemicals that are found in the foam that is used to extinguish fires.

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Investigative: We walk around with troubling forever chemicals in our bodies

The Environmental Protection Agency has linked those chemicals to developmental delays in children, increased cholesterol levels and decreased fertility.

Via U.S. mail, the Navy will notify property owners in the expanded sample area, and if needed, schedule an appointment for testing.

Good Friday Miracle: F-18 jet crash into Virginia Beach apartment turns 10

PFAS chemicals are manufactured and typically hard to see, unless you were on Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach April 6, 2012, on Good Friday, when a Navy jet crashed into the Mayfield Mews apartment complex. The foam firefighters used to put out the raging jet fuel contained PFAS.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Desperate people clamouring around a truck begging for food. An emaciated child on deaths door. Women, girls, children, babies: no innocent is immune from Israels psychotically cruel campaign of bloodlust in Gaza. It is unbearable to see. Who can stand by and watch such crimes?

This, at any rate, is what most of the worlds media, from the most respectable broadcaster to the grimiest freesheet, is eager for you to think. It is also what Hamas wants you to think. As long-term masters of some of the most cynical propaganda the world has ever seen, Hamas is succeeding in its plan with resounding success.

Keir Starmer last week appeared to speak for the whole of Britain when he said that scenes from Gaza fill us with revulsion  against Israel, of course.

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Largely because of such images of suffering, Starmer wants to reward the forces of Palestinian terror with the recognition of a state. I think people are revolted at what they are seeing on their screen, he said. The next day he spoke of starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime.

Pictures. Images. Screens. These are what appear to be deciding Israels  and the Palestinians  legal status on the world stage.

It is not that there isnt immense suffering in Gaza. There is. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are in dire straits, have lost family members, are in pain, injured, hungry, homeless, desperate, scared, the terrorist groups blood-soaked grip always around their necks. Its a tragedy.

But a lot of what sets the world alight is massaged, manipulated and in many cases downright fake.

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One of the most iconic images of the last few weeks, which helped consolidate the false worldwide consensus that Israel has become a rogue, genocidal state while the Palestinians deserve a state, was the skeletal boy allegedly nearly starved to death by an Israeli blockade, held in his mothers arms.

What the great and the good left out in their haste to publish this picture, posed as a tableau reminiscent of Mary holding Jesus, was that the boy suffered from a congenital disease. It was later quietly acknowledged by The New York Times  way too late  that he had pre-existing health problems and they would have highlighted this if they had known before publication.

We see lots of pictures of desperate people clamouring for food banging pots and pans. Some of these might represent the strangled reality on the ground.

But as the German tabloid Bild bothered to discover, one of the most prominent pictures of such clamouring hunger in recent weeks has photographer Anas Zayed Fteiha, a freelance journalist commissioned by the Turkish news agency Anadolu, snapping the photos in the manner of a director.

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Fteiha, as Bild reveals, isnt quite the impartial documentarian suggested, but an activist whose agency answers straight to Turkeys Hamas-sympathising president, Recep Erdogan. Fteihas social media profile is informative. His Instagram page includes a video captioned F** Israel plus a painting by an arch-anti-Semite. He is publicly committed to the free Palestine end game. But his pictures, notable for their perfect lighting and close-ups of idealised suffering, especially of children and mothers, were swallowed without question, disseminated in New York Magazine, CNN, the BBC, plenty of German papers and more.

The wildfire success of such lies tells you much less about peoples gullible compassion than about how far Hamas now rules the global playbook of anti-Semitism, Israel-hating and Israel-blaming.

Let us be clear. For the terrible suffering in Gaza, the blame falls squarely on Hamass manifold crimes. Hamas invaded Israel, knowing that, with its tunnels, weaponry and soldiers embedded in homes, schools and hospitals and behind civilians, Gazan civilians would take the brunt of Israels inevitable response.

The terror groups continued stranglehold in the Strip and refusal to hand back the hostages is the only thing prolonging the war and suffering, all of which could have ended long ago.

Aid distribution systems have been corrupted, smashed or perverted, keeping food from some who badly need it, and ensuring it goes to those with the right connections. None of this is because of Israeli cruelty. All of it is because of Hamass cruelty and infinite scheming.

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The truth has never mattered, though. Hamas knew Israel would be blamed, ostracised, and punished on the world stage on a scale never seen before, its very legitimacy called into question amid irreparable diplomatic crises. It was easy; Hamas was just kicking at a door its own predecessors helped kick open.

Hamas is finessing and darkening a tradition of propaganda built by Yasser Arafat, a master of the fabricated sympathetic picture, such as that during Israels 2002 operation in the West Bank that showed him alone and besieged in his compound. He sat at his desk with only candlelight to see by  an image the world lapped right up  only for lights to go right back on after the shoot.

As the historian Richard Landes describes in his essential book, Can the Whole World Be Wrong? Lethal Journalism, Antisemitism and Global Jihad, one of the defining images of the 21st century, the signal icon of hatred against the Israel and the Jews, was the eyewitness film apparently capturing Muhammad al-Dura, a defenceless 12-year-old boy, being shot in cold blood by the IDF, while held in his fathers arms, on September 30 2000.

It spread like wildfire. Analysis of the footage later contradicted this narrative. The IDF didnt kill the boy. But by the time it was corrected, the damage had been done. Nobody cared, then, or now. This laid down a grotesquely immoral media-age template that has been used ever since.

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Those of us who have followed media bias against Israel for many years are well versed in the absolutely central role of Pallywood  the well-known industry in the Palestinian territories that oversees the staging of fake news footage of Palestinian children and women suffering at the hands of Israel, producing a stream of emotive imagery for the worlds media. No true imagery produced by Israel, or even the true, boastful footage from Hamas of the Israeli hostages it has starved and murdered at close range, can even begin to counter Pallywoods work.

The use of emotive imagery to peddle genocidal ideology is hardly new. Leni Riefenstahl, the director of the Third Reichs propaganda films (who lived to the age of 101), offers an interesting comparison. Whereas Pallywood stages suffering, Riefenstahls art pretended that even those bound for Auschwitz were just fine and dandy. She cast gypsies as frolicking extras, then said they all survived the Holocaust. Not only were they sent to Auschwitz, Riefenstahl was thought, in some cases, to have helped them on their way though she denied it all.

While people were tortured, executed after show trials, or sent to the gulag, the Soviet propaganda department ensured a constant flow of idealised images of healthy, happy, sturdy people: courageous, righteous, industrious, reproductive and the biggest lie of all: finally free.

What makes the global hook, line and sinker acceptance of Hamas propaganda so surreal is that it comes a century after Stalin took power, and nearly a century after Hitler did.

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What has history taught us? Sadly, those in Israel who know the answer are ignored and vilified, and those outside Israel who know the answer are now too old to provide it.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  Powerful rip currents off the coast of Volusia County in Central Florida have led to nearly 200 rescues just this past week, including 62 in a day, according to officials.

One reason for the high number of rescues is that many swimmers underestimate the power of a rip current, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Public Information Officer Tamra Malphurs.

"Even the strongest swimmers can get caught in a rip current," she said.

Rip current flag.

Many of the people caught in rip currents are those who aren't from Volusia County.

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"We do see a lot of rescues with tourists that come from different areas of the country  even the state  that aren't familiar with the ocean and rip currents," Malphurs said.

Florida Rip Current Leaves Teen Dead, 2 Others Injured

She advised that, should someone be caught in a rip current, that they swim parallel to the shore to escape the current. Swimming against the current can cause people to become exhausted and potentially drown.

Swimmers should also remember to remain calm and try to float.

To be safe in the water, Malphurs provided one piece of advice for beachgoers:

"The most important basic thing to remember: swim in front of that staff lifeguard tower," Malphurs said.

FILE - A lifeguard looks from his post on Clearwater Beach on September 27, 2022 in Clearwater.

She also recommended speaking with the lifeguard, who can share additional information on how to be safe in the water.

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How To Watch Fox Weather

Rip currents cause more than 100 deaths each year in the U.s., according to the National Weather Service.





Original article source: Nearly 200 swimmers rescued from rip currents in one Florida county this week
Members of Nebraska's congressional delegation tour a University of Nebraska-Lincoln-managed feedlot in Saunders County with Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Aug. 9, 2025. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

ITHACA, Nebraska  President Donald Trumps ag secretary visited Nebraska after a Saturday storm and faced questions from farmers about some dark skies facing agriculture, including a few clouds some said the administration stirred.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins heard about tariffs and trade in a closed-press roundtable at the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center.

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Rollins got an inkling of the economic disruption of on-again, off-again, on-again tariffs with key trade partners for Nebraska agriculture, including Mexico and Canada, attendees said.

She also heard some thanks from local producers for the Trump administrations progress toward trade expansion into major markets, such as Japan, South Korea and Australia.

Nebraska delegation hosts Rollins

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., arranged the Saturday discussion and visit to a place where UNL shows farmers and ranchers how to apply research from Lincoln to boost farm and ranch hauls.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speaks with the Nebraska congressional delegation at a Saunders County feedlot run by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

She was joined by Nebraska U.S. Reps. Don Bacon, a member of the House Ag Committee, Rep. Mike Flood, who leads the House Main Street Caucus, and Rep. Adrian Smith, from the Ways and Means Committee.

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The four from Nebraskas five-member, all-GOP delegation emphasized the help and benefits coming Nebraskas way from the tax and spending cuts bill they recently passed. The fifth, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., told Fischer he had a scheduling conflict.

Fischer, whose family operates a cattle ranch near Valentine, talked about the importance of providing tax certainty for planning at a time of increasing costs for ag inputs.

National statistics indicate that Nebraska and neighboring Iowa lost more than 6% of their gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2025, the worst declines nationally, led by ag.

Growers voice concerns

Row-crop producers face the most difficult economic conditions after years of depressed pricing and now with tariffs added, producers told the secretary and delegation.

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Rollins acknowledged that many growers may need federal help with price supports and affording fertilizer after many of them extended themselves to get through operations in another tough year.

Machinery harvests corn in Scotts Bluff County, Neb., last year. Low prices for row crops and high costs for fertilizer are squeezing Midwest row-crop farmers, according to a Stateline analysis of federal economic data. (Photo by Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension/Courtesy of University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

The secretary said thats why it was important  with the farm bill delayed in Congress  that some baseline protections for crop pricing were included in the GOP tax and spending bill Trump has labeled big and beautiful.

Row croppers have been operating at a loss for a number of years, Rollins said. Thats not sustainable.

She and Fischer said Trump knows the issues facing farmers and ranchers and teased that his administration would act soon to offer some relief, including some help with farm labor.

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Theres a lot of risk involved in agriculture, Fischer said. You cant control the weather. When you drove up today, you probably saw some corn that was stripped by the wind.

Thats why these safety nets are so important for crop producers, that they have that.

Flood, who represents an eastern Nebraska district that includes Lincoln, said he has been talking with growers and bankers who say they need help to reduce the risk of defaulting on loans.

Corns at $3.80 a bushel, Flood said. That doesnt pay the bills.

Boosting trade could help

Bacon, who represents the Omaha area, said that Nebraska needs to get more corn and soybeans out the door and that tariff uncertainty and a new jobs report concern him.

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He argued that free trade is his preferred approach, and that its better for the economy, but he said he understands the president sometimes has to act to address trade imbalances.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., speaks during a press conference after a visit by Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Behind her, left to right, is U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. Aug. 9, 2025. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Bacon said some producers tell him they will need help, and one of the best ways to help is by expanding the reach of biofuels into aviation fuel and higher ethanol blends in gasoline.

Its the only way youre going to move enough corn and soybeans, he said. Otherwise youre going to have a depression, and  were going to see it pretty squarely.

Bacon, who is not running again for the 2nd Congressional District seat in 2026, said Trump had made enough progress slowing down border traffic that he could announce new visa efforts for ag workers.

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The Trump crackdown on migrant workers has left some ag producers with a labor shortage, including in one of Nebraska ags good-news stories: an increasing number of dairies.

Defending Trump

Smith, who represents Nebraskas sprawling, rural 3rd Congressional District, one of the countrys most conservative, defended Trumps trying to get fairer deals from other countries.

Smith has previously said he is no fan of tariffs, but that he considers them a tool in the presidents negotiating toolbox that he has used effectively to wring concessions.

Smith said Trump is dealing with the hand he was dealt. The congressman spent much of the past four years criticizing the Biden administration for letting ag trade languish as a back-burner issue.

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People who served in the Biden administration U.S. Department of Agriculture have argued they prioritized trade. But Smith said more could and should have been done, as evidenced by a new deal with the United Kingdom.

He told Rollins he appreciated her bringing attention to the challenges facing agriculture. Bacon stressed that even in urban Omaha, one in three jobs is tied to agriculture.

Researchs role

Fischer and Flood stressed the importance of the federal government and USDA continuing to invest in ag research at land-grant universities like UNL.

Derek McLean, dean of the Agricultural Research Division at the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at right, speaks to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, left at a UNL-run feedlot in Saunders County. Aug. 9, 2025. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Flood said he is working with Fischer to secure the last $60 million needed to get the USDA research facility finished on Lincolns Nebraska Innovation Campus for 300 USDA researchers.

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Rollins toured a UNL-managed feedlot in Saunders County with Derek McLean, dean of the Agricultural Research Division at UNLs Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

It was the secretarys second trip to Nebraska and the first leg of a two-stop trip sending her next to the Iowa State Fair to join Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds showing steer in Des Moines.

Said Fischer: Our delegation understands the importance of agriculture. We are really, really fortunate to have a secretary like Secretary Rollins. She is easy to reach out to.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A neighborhood is demanding action Friday, saying there are growing concerns about a Midtown gas station.

WREG has reported on violent crimes on the corner of North Cleveland Street and Poplar Avenue several times before, as far back as 2015.

Residents claim the issues stem from the BP gas station.

BP gas station

Memphis Made Brewing files for bankruptcy

First and foremost is the rampant drug use. Its open air, you can walk onto some of these properties and walk up and see people openly doing drugs, said community Investor Thomas Hewgley.

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Thomas Hewgley owns rental properties in the area and said drugs are just the tip of the iceberg at that intersection.

We looked into it and discovered Memphis police have responded to more than 450 calls in the area, and about half of those are problems at the gas station  primarily, theft of property.

Apartment resident says DCS foster kids still causing problems

Its why Hewgley, along with 20 other community leaders, advocates, and property owners, sent this letter to the city demanding action.

The letter said, We are writing this letter to request action.

And specifically complaining about drug dealing and use, public alcohol consumption, aggressive panhandling, and other illegal behavior.

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Were representing more than just a few business interests, were representing what I think is obviously a large contingent of the city that throws their hands up and say we would love to do something, but they dont know what to do either, said Hewgley.

Memphis stores using classical music to fight crime

Back in 2023, businesses at the intersection tried to fight back on crime.

This Walgreens tried playing classical music to drive away people who were loitering.

Hewgley says the ongoing issues affect the value of the neighborhood.

We can only do so much as citizens, like I said, you know if the government comes in and does their part, it would be a permanent solution, said Hewgley.

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The City of Memphis said the following in a statement:

The City has received the letter and is taking the concerns seriously. MPD will engage directly with community stakeholders to address the issues outlined, with a focus on building trust, improving safety, and ensuring sustainable solutions for the neighborhood.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WHTM)  Harrisburgs Maclay Street Rite Aid is closing, but thats not the only business thats left the citys Olde Uptowne neighborhood.

We moved here six years ago, before COVID, said Puja Gellerman, who flagged us down Thursday while we were working on a story about a Rite Aid closure. She is pointing out what has gone wrong along this stretch of Maclay Street, in what is sometimes called the Olde Uptown neighborhood of Harrisburg.

This section here, where Rite Aids closing, there is an auto shop here that closed in the past year, said Gellerman. Theres a laundromat on the corner. Its been blighted. It said Coming Soon since then.

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abc27 reached the property owner, who said he does still have plans to reopen, but didnt elaborate.

It shouldnt be that way for those of us who have kids here and want to enjoy the spaces, said Gellerman.

Honestly, Ive seen more businesses closing, and its like the whole area is kind of dying, said Brian Hamilton, who moved to South Carolina but moved back to Harrisburg six months ago. I would like to see more life coming back into this area.

Mothers Subs has also been located here for decades, but has recently closed this year after one of the owners died. Thats nobodys fault, but what about a once-promising development called Atlas 1923?

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Sixth and Maclay. Since weve been here, they redid everything, said Gellerman.

The owner of Atlas 23, Adam Maust, spoke with abc27 in March of 2021, expressing his optimism about what the building could become.

Thats the exciting part, then we start to rebuild, Maust said. Then the building is really ready for use. Our goal is by the end of the fall.

Four years later, the owners goal still has not been met.

Its kind of overgrown, and nothings been done with the interior, said Gellerman.

abc27 has tried reaching Maust several times during the past year with no success. Gellerman also spoke about the Governors Residence after the arson attack.

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There were dozens of trees that were taken down that have been here, older than my parents, and its a shame, said Gellerman. It changes the whole atmosphere along Front Street.

The Governors Office tells abc27 that as part of the restoration work, arborists assessed and destroyed diseased trees that had fallen branches. The Office says once the work is complete, the property will return to its former glory, with the addition of an anti-climb fence. Harrisburg cant directly stop a business from opening or keep it from closing, but for the blight, we dont know for sure. Harrisburg citizens remain optimistic.

Im back in Harrisburg now, said Hamilton. I like the area.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office denied reports alleging President Trump berated the leader for denying there is a starvation crisis in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The report alleging that a shouting match occurred between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump is total fake news, Netanyahus office said in a Friday statement after NBC News reported the turbulent discussion.

The phone call reportedly occurred on July 28, after the president told reporters hed seen images of individuals who look very hungry and said theres real starvation just a day after Netanyahu rejected stories detailing famine.

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The Israeli prime minister requested a conversation with Trump during his trip to Scotland and was connected to the leader within hours, NBC News reported.

One U.S. official told the outlet that the president did most of the talking during a direct, mostly one-way conversation about the status of humanitarian aid.

Tensions over humanitarian aid on the ground, particularly the American Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), came up.

The U.S. not only feels like the situation is dire, but they own it because of GHF, the former U.S. official briefed on the call told NBC.

The White House said the Trump administrations priority is to deliver food to those in need while pushing forward with ceasefire negotiations.

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In recent days, U.S. allies Canada, France and the United Kingdom have echoed calls to defuse conflict in the region amid the humanitarian crisis.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Newark's Main Street is the beating heart of the city, but after two tragedies on its asphalt within a year of each other, residents and Blue Hens demanded action to make it safer.

Two University of Delaware students were killed by speeding vehicles on Main Street in the last school year. Both vehicles were running from police, who were not in pursuit. However, they both caused the state and city to think more about how to make the street safer.

So, the city and the state are on the same page about the short-term upgrades that could slow drivers further on the one-way business corridor that borders the University of Delaware campus. It's a state road, which means the Delaware Department of Transportation is a partner in the projects.

.

The work started on Aug. 8, according to DelDOT, and includes changes to Main Streets intersections.

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Main Street and Haines Avenue intersection and Main Street slip lane and McKees Lane intersection will become all-way stops. New signs and pavement markings will be installed. The slip lane is the one-way that allows cars on southbound Capitol Trail to turn right onto Main Street.

The Main Street slip lane's turn lane onto McKees Lane will be removed and replaced with a bike lane and striped shoulder.

Rumble strips will be installed at the east end of Main Street, near Library Avenue.

All of Main Street's pedestrian signage will be upgraded.

New edgelines and pedestrian symbol pavement markings will be installed on the east and west ends of Main Street.

NEWARK ROADS: City is one step closer to installing speed cameras

NEWARK REVENUE: City to implement University of Delaware student tax

The work begins with a little less than two weeks before move-in day at UD, whose student population keeps Main Street alive for eight months out of the year. DelDOT says the weather-dependent work might result in minor delays, and everyone traveling through the area should do so with caution while work is completed.

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Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How Newark's Main Street will upgrade its safety before UD starts
The Village of Newberry, the "Moose Capital of Michigan located about an hour west of Sault Ste. Marie, is expected to be without power for at least 24 hours while daytime temperatures are expected to reach 86 degrees.

A transformer in the villages power substation stopped working, causing a system-wide outage, according to a Facebook post by the village. As of 9:13 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, the village has contacted a company to provide a portable power system and anticipates 24-48 hours or more until power is restored, according to the post.

The village previously had a backup generator, but it failed in 2022 and was taken offline because it could not be repaired, according to the Village of Newberry.

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"Without a substation, power cannot be sent out to the power grid," according to a 12:55 p.m. post by the village. "This means that even if we had a working backup generator, the power could not get to the customers because the substation has to be functional."

Crews with temporary substations are deploying from Detroit and are expected to be onsite within 10-24 hours, Village of Newberry posted at 12:55 p.m.

The northern lights viewed from Crisp Point Lighthouse in Newberry on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019.

As of 2:03 p.m., Newberry's water and sewer systems are working as normal again with help from Pentland Township's backup generator, according to the Village of Newberry. This update followed news the villages backup generator system for its water system was not working properly as of 9:13 a.m.

Temperatures in Newberry are expected to reach highs of 86 degrees on Saturday and 82 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. At night, temperatures are expected in the mid-60s, along with a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday night.

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More: U.P. town would like to see Henagan disappearance case solved

Newberry handles its own power while Cloverland Electric Cooperative covers most of Luce County, where fewer than 1,500 live in Newberry. According to Cloverland Electric Cooperative, none of its nearly 45,000 customers are without power as of 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The Village of Newberry is providing a cooling and electronics charging station at 307 E. McMillian Ave. in the village council chambers until 7 p.m. Aug. 9, according to the village.

The Newberry Area Ministerial Association is also providing a cooling and electronics charging station at Living Water Assembly of God Church, 5192 County Road 403, until 7 p.m. Aug. 9, according to the Village of Newberry.

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The Village of Newberry did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Newberry expected to be without power for at least 24 hours
Aug. 8Eight northern Illinois newspapers owned by a Rochelle company have closed their doors after the company abruptly ceased operations Wednesday, Aug. 6.

News Media Corp.'s decision to end operations has led to the closure of the Rochelle News-Leader, Ogle County LIFE, Ashton Gazette, Amboy News, Mendota Reporter and three other northern Illinois newspapers, as well as newspapers in Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Employees were informed of the closure Wednesday, when they were notified by the company's CEO, JJ Tompkins, through an email that their employment and health care coverage was ending immediately.

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"Unfortunately, due to financial challenges, a significant economic downturn impacting our industry, revenue losses and increasing expenses, and the recent failure of an attempt to sell the company as a going concern, we have reached a point where continuing business is no longer feasible," according to the email.

The note also left it ambiguous as to whether employees would receive their final paychecks, saying, "We will make all reasonable efforts to pay you all remaining compensation you have earned as soon as possible."

Tompkins did not immediately respond to Shaw Local's request for comment.

"This is a big impact," Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows said. "I'm concerned for all our residents and all the folks in all the taxing districts."

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All area taxing districts, including schools, townships and local governments, are required by Illinois law to issue public notices for items such as budgets, taxes, zoning and property assessments, and court-related information.

For residents, "transparency is ultra important," Bearrows said.

Many Rochelle residents don't go online, and they rely on their local paper, he said.

"I hate to see it. Nobody really saw it coming," Bearrows said.

He said he hopes somebody sets up another newspaper in Rochelle because the city "needs news," and it "needs a local paper."
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Saturday that a $1 billion settlement offer by President Donald Trump's administration for UCLA amounted to political extortion to which the state will not bow.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The University of California says it is reviewing a $1 billion settlement offer by the Trump administration for UCLA after the government froze hundreds of millions of dollars in funding over pro-Palestinian protests.

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UCLA, which is part of the University of California system, said this week the government froze $584 million in funding. Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian student protests against U.S. ally Israel's military assault on Gaza.

KEY QUOTES

"Donald Trump has weaponized the DOJ (Department of Justice) to kneecap America's #1 public university system  freezing medical & science funding until @UCLA pays his $1 billion ransom," the office of Newsom, a Democrat, said in a post.

"California won't bow to Trump's disgusting political extortion," it added.

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"This isn't about protecting Jewish students - it's a billion-dollar political shakedown from the pay-to-play president."

CONTEXT

The government alleges universities, including UCLA, allowed antisemitism during the protests and in doing so violated Jewish and Israeli students' civil rights. The White House had no immediate comment beyond the offer.

Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's war in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.

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Experts have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over the Republican president's threats. The University of California says paying such a large settlement would "completely devastate" the institution.

UCLA PROTESTS AND ENVIRONMENT

Large demonstrations took place at UCLA last year. Last week, UCLA agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit by some students and a professor who alleged antisemitism. It was also sued this year over a 2024 violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters.

Rights advocates have noted a rise in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia due to conflict in the Middle East. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia.

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RECENT SETTLEMENTS

The government has settled its probes with Columbia University, which agreed to pay over $220 million, and Brown University, which said it will pay $50 million. Both accepted certain government demands. Settlement talks with Harvard University are ongoing.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Friday they were moving forward with plans to hold a special election in November for voters to approve a ballot measure that would ultimately allow Democrats to pass a new House map ahead of 2026.

We have till Aug. 22. With the leadership behind me, they will get this on the ballot. Were calling for a special election, that will be the first week of November, Newsom said.

The governor  flanked by several California lawmakers, as well as Texas Democrats who fled their state  said they did not want to eliminate the independent redistricting commission in charge of drawing the map.

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We are talking about emergency measures to respond to whats happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas, Newsom vowed.

The move comes in response to Texas Republicans who are looking to create five pickup opportunities in a new House map.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, said Democrats found they could create a new House map that would allow the party to pick up five additional seats next year while also not running afoul with the Voting Rights Act.

So as we went through the details of the possibilities, Im happy to report that every single member of the California delegation is willing to support a plan to do that, she said of the states Democratic lawmakers.

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California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) told reporters they anticipated that maps will be available next week.

Once these maps are released, voters will have the opportunity to digest these maps, review them for weeks and months leading to this election, he added.

California would be the first Democratic state to tangibly begin the process of trying to pass new lines ahead of 2026 in response to Texas. The Lone Star State, under pressure from President Trump, are vying to pick up five seats in their state as Republicans brace for a challenging midterm environment next year.

California currently uses an independent redistricting commission to draw its maps. Democrats aim, however, is to temporarily bypass the commission in response to whats happening in Texas to pass their own congressional lines.

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Newsom insisted Democrats supported independent redistricting but argued were not going to unilaterally disarm in the state of California.

The California governor said he is confident that the voters will pass the proposed ballot measure.

We believe in independent redistricting, that will be on the ballot, he said. We believe it should be nationalized. That will be on the ballot. We have the opportunity to send a message enough. And I believe Republicans, not just Democrats and independents, will meet that call, and we will overwhelmingly support this change.

Updated at 6:48 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.
BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO)  Employees of the four South Dakota newspapers that shut down this week are figuring out what to do next.

As of Wednesday, The Brookings Register, Moody County Enterprise, The Plainsman and The Redfield Press are no longer publishing stories after their parent company, News Media Corporation, told newsrooms to shut down immediately.

Independent newspaper thrives amid local closures

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The Redfield Presss general manager, Kayla Jessen, said over the phone Thursday her staff had no idea the cut was coming.

We honestly did not have any inkling that this was going to happen. We found out about 3 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, and that was the end of it, Jessen said. The doors immediately got closed, then they were shut down.

In a phone call on Friday, Brookings Register reporter, Mondell Keck said, Community journalism is really important. To lose this is a blow to people who rely on local media.

Now, Keck and others are trying to find new jobs, as well as insurance.

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On top of that, to lose your health care immediately, you have to go through the search of getting health care again and that type of thing. So thats a struggle for everyone as well, Jessen said.

The Brookings Register and Redfield Press made statements on Facebook about the closure.

However, not everyone in town has seen the post online.

I decided to come in person today and find out whats going on, Joel Kennedy of Brookings said. I had no idea.

Community members and employees are now left wondering what will fill the gap in local news.

Hopefully, some other company decides to buy it and they come in and take over the paper and it can continue on like it has for as long as I know, Kennedy said.

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I hope that somebody does pick that up and start it again, Jessen said.

But for now, the newspaper racks sit empty.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WESTFIELD  Veterans and citizens from across the community gathered Thursday to commemorate Purple Heart Recognition Day with a service at Kane-Wojtkiewicz Park and recognize Westfields U.S. Marine Thomas Pirnie for his bravery and courage to overcome three severe injuries sustained in combat.

Today is national Purple Heart Day, and we are here to celebrate all those veterans, men and women, who stepped forward in combat and were either killed in action or wounded in action, said Michael Roeder who is the treasurer of the Westfield Purple Heart Trail which hosted the ceremony.

The solemn ceremony was attended by the veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872, American Legion Post 124, The Marine Corps League Westfield River Valley Detachment 141, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 219, and the Westfield Veterans Council.

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The focus of Thursdays ceremony was to recognize U.S. Marine Thomas Pirnie, who earned three Purple Hearts while serving in Vietnam, and his wife Leslie.

Roeder chronicled the three incidents in which Pirnie was wounded.

During his first tour in August 1966, his platoon was ambushed and he was severely wounded with shrapnel in both arms.

After recovering and rejoining his platoon, they went on a search and destroy mission in which Pirnie was again severely wounded. After injury, he was shipped back to the U.S. to recover.

After nearly a year of recovering, and during his third tour of duty, he was in a helicopter with 24 service members that was shot down.

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Pirnie, again seriously injured, was the only survivor, Roeder said.

Thomas and his wife have been together for 58 years.

In in addition to honoring the veterans, we need to remember that the veterans have supporters. And she has been a strong supporter of this man, Roeder said of Leslie.

So today Im here to proudly congratulate you for your service and also Leslie to congratulate you for all the support, because that often gets overlooked and Im always wonder why, he said before presenting Thomas with a plaque commemorating his service and Leslie with a bouquet of roses.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Westfield Purple Heart Trail President George Barnet and Mike Fedora placed a wreath at the Purple Heart Memorial before Taps was played.

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Thursdays event was hosted in the park named in the honor of Chief Petty Officer and U.S. Navy Member Frank P. Wojtkiewicz. He was killed when the U.S.S. Arizona was bombed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was the first Westfield man to lose his life after American forces opened fire against Japan.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Is the Nobel Peace Prize the way to President Donald Trumps heart? Some world leaders seem to think so.

It started with Pakistan. Israel and Cambodia followed. And now, after Trump's "peace summit" bringing together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Aug. 8 and ending decades of conflict, the two former Soviet states have promised to write a joint nomination to the Nobel committee.

Trump has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, and his friends, including lawmakers, have nominated him for the honor numerous times. He has mocked former President Barack Obama, who won the award in 2009 one year into his first term, saying he didn't know "what the hell he got it for."

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Asked by a reporter if he had any thoughts on the talk about President Trump winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the White House event that he would promote and favor such a move.

Seated next to Trump, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan went on to suggest a joint appeal to the Norway-based Nobel Peace Prize committee.

As leaders of countries which were at war for more than three decades, having this historic signature here, it really means a lot, Aliyev said.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds the hands of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as they shake hands between each other during a trilateral signing event, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., August 8, 2025.

This is tangible result of President Trump's leadership, and no one could have achieved that.

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Pashinyan then jokingly asked Trump if a draft of the nomination letter was available so he could sign right there. Aliyev joined in to say hed sign, too.

The only thing the leaders wanted in return? An invitation to the ceremony.

"You'll be front-row," Trump promised.

This photo taken on September 25, 2024 shows a portrait of former US president Barack Obama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2009, next to other photographs of laureates on a wall of the committee meeting room at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway.

A few minutes later a reporter asked Trump if Oct. 10, when the Norwegian committee is set to make the announcement, was circled on his calendar.

I cant say, Trump responded, adding that because hes of a certain persuasion, no matter what I do, they won't give it.

I'm not politicking for it, Trump said. I have a lot of people that are.

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Back in June, soon after Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir met with Trump after a four-day India-Pakistan conflict, the Pakistan government announced that it was nominating Trump for the Nobel Prize in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the conflict.

India did not credit Trump with playing a role in the ceasefire.

In July, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented Trump during a White House visit with a letter he said he had sent to the Nobel committee nominating him for the prize.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced Aug. 7 that he had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his "direct attention to initiating and pushing for a ceasefire between the Cambodian army and Thai army" to stop the border conflict.

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Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says he's not 'politicking' for a Nobel Prize. But others are.
It has been one week since 18-year-old Giovanni Pelletier disappeared while on his way to Brevard County, Florida.

According to Charlotte County investigators, Pelletier was traveling with his cousins after being picked up in Englewood.

The relatives told authorities that the teen began acting erratically and got out of their vehicle near State Road 70 in Manatee County.

Family members say Giovanni sent multiple text messages asking for help shortly after leaving the vehicle.

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No one has heard from him since. Nothing. Theres been zero. Theres been a hundred thousand tips, if you could saybut nothing leads to him. Nothing at all, said his cousin, Morgan Hull.

Earlier this week, one of those tips prompted a search in Mims, Florida. However, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey says there is no evidence to suggest Pelletier was ever in Brevard County.

Some of his itemsa backpack, a school bag, and a telephonewere found on the interstate in Manatee County, I believe, Ivey said.

The Charlotte County Sheriffs Office, which is leading the investigation, asked Brevard deputies to assist in contacting the cousins who were last with Giovanni.

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Sheriff Ivey says their accounts were consistent, and they allowed investigators to search their vehicle. We had our crime scene team go through it and reported back to Charlotte County that there was no evidence of any type of wrongdoing, Ivey explained.

Pelletiers family is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his location or for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his disappearance. We just want to find him. Bottom lineit doesnt matter how. We just want him home, Hull said. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office.

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The Brief

An after-hours raid on a Houston club early Saturday morning resulted in several arrests.

Two bartenders and three managers were arrested at Underground Storage for allowing and providing alcohol after hours.

Several patrons were also detained for DWI investigations.

HOUSTON - Multiple people were arrested during an after-hours club raid early Saturday morning, Houston police said.

Houston: Police raid at Underground Storage

What we know

The raid happened at about 2:30 a.m. at Underground Storage on East Little York Road and Northline Drive.

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Two bartenders were arrested for selling alcohol after hours (after 2 a.m.), and three managers were arrested for allowing after-hours sales, police said.

Several patrons were also held for DWI investigations as they were trying to leave, police said.

Houston police said they confiscated several cases of alcohol and drugs from the club. HPD Captain Watson says the liquor wasn't "permitted, taxed, or allowed to be sold for consumption on premises."

Officials at the scene said they'd received multiple complaints about illegal sales of alcohol and narcotics at this club. And, according to HPD Assistant Chief James Skelton, an intoxicated patron who left the club at about 5 a.m. sometime last month struck an HPD patrol vehicle.

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In addition to the arrests, the building was deemed unsafe by inspectors, who said the club did not have a certificate of occupancy, a fire escape or an up-to-date electrical system.

What we don't know

Police did not release the names of those that were arrested.

Warnings of illegal after-hours clubs

What they're saying

"I just want to remind everybody in Houston: clubs that are open selling alcohol after 2 a.m. are not legal. You run the risk of being detained by the police department, and you run the risk of being a victim of crime," said HPD Capt. Watson.

"I want to say one thing to the club owners across this city: The next knock you get on the door, it will not be a customer. It will be a Houston police officer or another partnering agent that'll be coming to shut you down like we're doing tonight," said Assistant Chief Skelton.

The Source

OnScene and Houston Police.
North Korea has begun dismantling loudspeakers along the border with South Korea that had been used for propaganda broadcasts, according to the General Staff in Seoul on Saturday, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

The move comes just days after South Korea completely removed its own loudspeaker systems in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries.

It remains unclear, Yonhap reported, whether North Korea will take down all of its loudspeakers. The South Korean military said it would continue to monitor the situation.

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South Korea had already halted broadcasts from its loudspeakers in mid-June. President Lee Jae Myung described the step as part of his efforts to reach out to the North. Since taking office, Lee has sought to improve the strained relationship between the two sides.

Under Lee's predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, the loudspeakers had been reactivated for the first time in six years, in response to balloons launched from North Korea that carried trash into the South.
South Korea's military says North Korea has begun removing some of the loudspeakers used to broadcast propaganda across the border between the two countries.

North Korea's move appears to be a positive reaction to the overtures from newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who had campaigned on improving inter-Korean ties.

South Korea dismantled some of its own loudspeakers earlier this week. It had halted broadcasts along the demilitarised zone shortly after Lee took office in June - prompting a similar response from its neighbour.

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South Korean broadcasts had often featured K-pop songs and news reports while the North played unsettling noises, such as howling animals.

In a statement on Saturday, South Korea's military said it had "detected North Korean troops dismantling propaganda loudspeakers in some parts along the front line from this morning".

It added: "It remains to be confirmed whether the devices have been removed across all regions, and the military will continue to monitor related activities."

The speaker broadcasts had been suspended on previous occasions. But after a six-year pause, they resumed in June 2024 in response to Pyongyang's campaign of sending rubbish-filled balloons to the South.

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Residents living along the border had complained that their lives have been blighted by noise coming from both sides, sometimes in the middle of the night.

Seoul claimed the broadcasts could be heard as much as 10km (six miles) across the border in the day and up to 24km (15 miles) at night.

But speaking after South Korea suspended its broadcasts in June, organisations advocating to improve the human rights of North Koreans criticised the move.

South Korea began taking down some of its own speakers this week [KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP via Getty Images]

Ties between North and South Korea had deteriorated under President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was more hawkish towards Pyongyang.

Yoon was impeached and removed from his post for briefly placing South Korea under martial law in December, citing supposed threats from anti-state forces and North Korea sympathisers.

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Reuniting with the South had always been a key, if increasingly unrealistic, part of the North's ideology since the inception of the state - until its current leader, Kim Jong Un, abandoned the idea in 2024.

Both countries are technically still at war since the Korean War ended in 1953 without a peace treaty.
Update: The Clark County coroners office identified the man killed as Sebastian Gomez, 34, of North Las Vegas. His cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds, with the manner listed as homicide.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  North Las Vegas police officers shot and killed a man who charged at them with a knife after they responded to a domestic disturbance call.

On Friday, Aug. 8, at around 1:43 p.m., officers with the North Las Vegas Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance in the 3100 block of Emmons Avenue, near East Lake Mead Boulevard and North Pecos Road.

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The incident was between a man and a woman who police said were family members.

North Las Vegas police officers shot and killed a man who charged at them with a knife after they responded to a domestic disturbance call. (KLAS)

Arriving officers found a man armed with a knife and gave him multiple commands in both English and Spanish to drop the knife and surrender.

Police said the man ignored all of the commands and refused to surrender, continuing to walk away from the officers.

Moments later, police said the suspect charged toward the officers with the knife, and two officers shot their firearms, hitting the man.

Medical personnel took the man to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, and hospital staff pronounced him dead.

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Residents living near Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Road described what they heard and saw after the police shooting.

Its scary, but you know its, what can you do? Raymond Martinez said. You pray, youre frozen, theres nothing to do.

They need to patrol this area a lot more than they do, another neighbor nearby, who asked to remain anonymous added. You very seldom see officers coming through here.

This is the third NLVPD officer-involved shooting in 2025. The department will release the names of the officers involved after 72 hours.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A scam circulating in North Las Vegas is trying to victimize people who believe they have a loved one in the city jail.

A social media post on X from the City of North Las Vegas account advises people to be wary of people contacting them seeking money. Jail staff will never contact you asking for money in exchange for someones relief, the post said.

Dont give anyone your personal information, and be aware that scammers are trying to get money.

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The city advises people to file a report with the North Las Vegas Police Department if they have been targeted by 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 KLAS.
FAIRMONT  The marching band from North Marion High needs the communitys help to make it to once in a lifetime event.

Our band is currently raising money to go to the Pearl Harbor Parade, band member Rachel Cline, 15, said. So everything that were doing right now, whether its fundraising, working at the [Mannington] fair, its everything so we can make money so we can march in the Pearl Harbor Day Parade in Pearl Harbor.

Cline and the other members of the band worked the Mannington Fair this week to raise funds for their trip. The band received an invitation to play at the parade. The parade takes place every year on the day of the attack, Dec. 7. On that day in 1941, carrier-borne Japanese aircraft struck the home base of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which led the U.S. into World War Two. The band has roughly 30 student members.

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Resa Morgan, one of the organizers of the trip, said the cost for each student to go will be about $2,700. Despite wanting to attend after receiving the invitation, Morgan said the band had no idea how it was going to possibly make the trip happen. They met with the bands booster club.

Socioeconomically, its very difficult for our school to arrange that, Morgan said. So we met with our booster organization to decide whether or not we were going to try and do this or not, and they all said that it was such an amazing opportunity that there was no way we could take it away from the kids. So, we decided we were gonna fundraise like crazy.

Morgan said its such an honor to represent and support the nations veterans, especially since a lot of grandparents in the area are veterans themselves.

Another expense is band uniforms. The current ones the band has are stock uniforms, the cheapest ones available. The band wants to look its best for its appearance at the parade.

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Leslie Toothman, a parent who collected donations at the Mannington Fair this week, agrees this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Most of these kids have never been on a plane, Toothman said. Theyve never got to travel, so I think its a great opportunity for them to see another part of America and get to show their talent off.

Morgan said the trip and band performance is also a chance for North Marion to be in the spotlight. Their sister band, the Busy Bee Band from East Fairmont High usually gets recognition. Theyve been to the Rose Bowl and other places she said. Its exciting for the North Marion Band to get its name out there, too.

Morgan said she hopes they can eventually find a way to lower the price as they collect money. She said theyre raising money in two ways.

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If you want to help just one student, contact that student, and we will take just donations in their name that would go straight to their account as well, Morgan said. Or, if you want to help all of the students, then a donation of that sort gets divided amongst the attendees and goes into all their accounts.

The band has been holding fundraisers for individual students in the forms of car washes, bingo, and theres a craft show coming up. Morgan said theyre constantly thinking of new ways to raise the money. Theres also advertising opportunities. Donations of $200 and above get a sticker with the donors name put on the bands trailer, which goes everywhere they go.

Morgan said the students are ecstatic, but theres a long way to go. The deadline for collection is mid-November, two and a half months away. Toothman said she hopes some businesses step in to help with sponsorships or elected leaders can find public money for the cause.

It would be really amazing to see the community support these kids, Toothman said. All parts of the county are amazing and doing amazing things.

The North Marion Band has a Venmo account for donations: @NMBandBoosters. They can be reached at NMHSHuskyBand@gmail.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A plan to build a new jail in the North Memphis neighborhood of New Chicago is getting pushback from people in the community.

There will be no jail in New Chicago. And well take that all the way to the Supreme Court, said Carnita Atwater at a protest event Saturday. To have a jail put in New Chicago when you have disinvested in this community for over 50 years is really disrespectful.

Earlier this week, Shelby County leaders got a chance to look at a new plan to build a Shelby County Justice Center at the former Firestone Firestone Tire and Rubber plant site in North Memphis.

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MORE: Jail, courts could move to North Memphis in proposal under consideration by county

The proposal includes a new adult detention facility with beds for 3,000 male and female inmates, new courts and sheriffs office facilities, and a new juvenile court and detention facility being built on the 71-acre site.

The estimated cost for the project is $1.26 billion.

The plan, which would replace the current jail and court buildings at 201 Poplar and at Shelby Farms, is still under review by Shelby County leaders.

However, people who live in this community say theyve already made up their minds.

This is our haven. They cannot show injustice to us, said New Chicago resident Ronald Anderson.

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Frustrations spilled into the intersection of Firestone Avenue and Morehead Street in the New Chicago community on Saturday.

No justice. No peace. Dont put no jail on this street, resident Gwendolyn Matthews-Jones said.

The plan for the new jail complex in North Memphis

Crosstown demands action as gas station fuels crime concerns

The plan is spearheaded by a public-private partnership that includes Kemp Conrad, a commercial real estate professional and former Memphis city councilman.

He says the plan is designed to benefit the surrounding community, in an area left hurt after the plant closed in the 1980s.

It just stands to reason that if you build a billion-dollar-plus asset in a community where thousands of people are coming to work every day, that will spur the private development that weve heard this community wants, Conrad said.

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However, people in the community say that while they want to see development, they dont want to see a jail in their neighborhood.

I am just appalled that they would make a decision to put a jail in a neighborhood that has an elementary school and a high school just a block away, Matthews-Jones said.

Mamas house to be demolished for rebuild, son says

Atwater, an advocate for the community, says many residents did not learn about the proposal until after it was presented to Shelby County commissioners.

If you put a jail in New Chicago, you have hard criminals coming here. You have rapists and pedophiles, and a host of other things, Atwater said. If you want to do justice to a community, you meet with us before you try to make your plans.

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The group behind the project is asking the county for $350,000 to develop a master plan that will map out three phases of the project.

Conrad says the plan is still in the early stages, and discussions with the community are on the way.

Theres only so much we can do though until theres a master plan and the professionals that are getting paid to do this can do what they do, which is getting all that stakeholder engagement, 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 WREG.com.
Thousands of families attended the 19th Tarrant County Back-to-School Roundup on Friday at Tarrant County Community Colleges South Campus in Fort Worth.

Kids came out ready and excited to get school supplies, books, haircuts, health screenings and a chance to get one of 200 laptops that Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages was giving away.

Weve been here sponsoring this event since its inception, and we will continue to be here, said Rodney Hill, a sales manager at Fossil Creek Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. We feel its no better way to give back to our community than to invest in the future of our youth.

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Elizabeth Lozano and her four kids got in line at 6:30 a.m. to ensure that they would be able to receive the free supplies, including the computer her daughter received.

Erika Garcia, who will be starting grade 11, is receiving a new laptop from Rodney Hill, Sales Center Manager, Fossil Creek Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.

Lozanos daughter, Erika Garcia, an 11th grade student who is taking AP classes, said that the new laptop would help her study better.

We always come every year, Lozano said. It helps a lot especially as a low-income person, it helps a lot.

The event took over a large portion of the campus, both indoors and outdoors, with $70,000 worth of beverages placed in coolers to keep people hydrated in the heat.

Joel Contreras said the event took away some of the financial stress of having a family of six.

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We do have three little boys who are ready to go back to school, Contreras said. And, you know, right now, supplies and all that, its kind of high, so the haircut will help a lot right now.

Rosa Cruz and her daughter, Bridgette Mendoza, who will be starting the fifth grade, said this was the fourth year theyve attended the event.

Tarrant County Back-to-School Roundup volunteers are distributing thousands of school supply packages to North Texas Families.

So, its a really good opportunity, because you know how expensive everything is right now, so it helps a bit, Cruz said. If they give you a whole box of the supplies that you need and they have a lot of all these little spots where you can learn about dental health. So its a little bit of everything that it helps you out, a lot of information.

Erin Beasley, nurse manager for the immunization department at Tarrant County Public Health, said an important part of prevention is giving parents an opportunity to vaccinate their children and overcome some of the barriers they face.

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Our biggest goal is to make sure that were providing safety from those vaccine preventable diseases while those kids are in school, because theyre in large classrooms, Beasley said.

This was one of two vaccination events the Tarrant County Public Health Department held on Friday. The other event was at First United Methodist Church of Hurst. A third Vaccination clinic will be Aug. 11-16 at Ridgemar Mall in Fort Worth to accommodate more families who want to vaccinate their kids.

Fort Worth Superintendent Karen Molinar said in her opening remarks that the district is ready to welcome students back.

Fort Worth ISD is so honored to be part of this event today, because preparation is so important for our students and our families, and today is the first day that theyre getting their school supplies, theyre getting their immunizations, and they are going to be ready for the first day of school, whether you go to Fort Worth ISD or another school in Tarrant County.
A Northeast Oklahoma man is arrested on child sex crimes.

Bruce Murray, 36, is charged with possessing and distributing child porn, and one count of using a computer or electronic device to send and receive illicit material. Murray being held in the Delaware County Jail on a $155,000 bond and is scheduled to be in court on Monday.

Bruce Murray

OSBIs Internet Crimes Against Children Unit started investigating Murray after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip containing child sexual abuse material. Investigators say they found pictures and videos containing child sexual abuse in Murrays possession and when they questioned him about it, investigators say he admitted to possessing and distributing the material.

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THE ACREAGE  Northlake Boulevard at Beeline Highway has reopened to traffic a day ahead of schedule after work on the CSX railroad crossing was completed early, county officials said today.

The road reopened to traffic at 10:45 a.m. today, the Florida Department of Transportation and CSX announced in a prepared statement today. The reopening comes two days before county students return to school Monday, alleviating a potential traffic headache.

A new eastbound traffic shift on Northlake has been added as part of the work. Eastbound lanes are now inside and include two lanes and one dedicated right-turn lane. This pattern will remain in place until the summer of 2026.

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Traffic signal operations along the former detour routes will return to their normal timing schedules.

The intersection closed Aug. 1. Crews have worked around the clock on upgrading the rail signals, tracks and the road around the intersection where Northlake Boulevard meets Beeline Highway.

Meanwhile, construction remains ongoing at the intersection of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Northlake Boulevard. FDOT asks motorists to remain alert and follow all posted signage and detours in that area.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Work finishes early on CSX crossing; Northlake Boulevard reopens
EAU CLAIRE  An Eau Claire man accused by authorities of attempting to gain possession of machine guns pleaded not guilty Friday.

Jayden Cadmus, 17, faces four counts of attempting to sell, possess, use or transport a machine gun and one count of bail jumping. The gun charges are Class H felonies which, under Wisconsin law, could each bring three years in prison, three years extended supervision and fines of up to $10,000 apiece.

Cadmus was charged after the Department of Homeland Security contacted Eau Claire police about a package being delivered to Cadmus. According to the criminal complaint, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted the package, which contained four complete devices designed to convert legal guns into machine guns. It also contained three individual components for other such devices.

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Cadmus name was not on the package, but investigators linked the packages to him using information from three others he ordered at about the same time. Of the four packages, only the one with illegal items used a false name.

Law enforcement delivered the package to an Eau Claire address, and the propertys owner accepted delivery. Cadmus told her the package was for him.

Officers entered the property shortly after delivery using a search warrant. The package was found open alongside drug paraphernalia, though the complaint does not say drugs were found.

Cadmus story shifted as he was questioned. He denied the package was for him, but couldnt explain why he would open a package that wasnt his. He then falsely claimed the package didnt have a name on it.

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Cadmus also tried to shift the blame, saying others could have ordered the package. But he was unable to say who might have done so or why it was delivered to him. When Cadmus denied using guns, an investigator pointed out social media posts showing him using a handgun.

Cadmus became agitated when he was told the homeowners electronics could be searched, conceding those would probably turn up photos of him with guns. The questioning ended after about a half-hour, when Cadmus said he wanted a lawyer.

Court records show Cadmus is next due in court in September.
Russian troops launched a drone attack on Chuhuiv district, Kharkiv Oblast, on the night of 8-9 August, injuring six people, including a child.

Source: Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast

Details: Drones hit a four-storey residential building in the village of Kluhino-Bashkyrivka in the Chuhuiv district, causing a fire in the apartments. A total of six people were injured, including one child.

Background: Chuhuiv Mayor Halyna Minaieva reported that two people were injured in the Russian attack on the night of 8-9 August.

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A recent cluster of Legionnaires disease cases in New York City has once again raised alarms in Georgia about this rare illness, recalling the states outbreak in 2019.

The New York Times reported the Harlem outbreak is linked to contaminated cooling towers in 11 buildings and 70 people have been diagnosed with three deaths reported so far.

In light of the states history with the disease, many Georgia residents may be concerned about another outbreak.

What is Legionnaires Disease?

The disease earned its name from a 1976 outbreak among American Legion members at a Philadelphia hotel. The Philadelphia Encyclopedia says, many of the infected attended a convention at American Legion at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, giving the new illness its name.

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According to the Centers for Disease Contro l (CDC) Legionnaires disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. While cases are still relatively uncommon, reported infections have been on the rise across the country.

How do you know if you have Legionnaires Disease?

People get sick by inhaling tiny water droplets or mist contaminated with the bacteria, often released from large water systems like cooling towers, hotel plumbing, fountains or even hot tubs.

This makes summer the prime time for the contraction and spread of the illness. However, it is important to know, the disease cannot be contracted from another person; its entirely environmental.

Symptoms typically develop two to 14 days after exposure and early treatment with antibiotics is crucial. Most people who get immediate care recover fully.

Symptoms may include:

Fever (sometimes as high as 104F)

Cough (which may produce mucus)

Shortness of breath

Muscle aches and headaches

Chills

Confusion, nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain

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While healthy people can be exposed and not get sick some groups should be more concerned.

These are the more vulnerable populations:

Older individuals, especially over age 50

Smokers

Individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease are at highest risk for severe illness.

The past Legionnaires outbreaks in Georgia

Georgias most notable outbreak struck Atlanta in 2019 and was linked to the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, according to WABE , Atlantas NPR and PBS station.

In recent years, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported that case counts have continued to rise, consistent with national trends.

These factors contribute to outbreaks:

Georgias hot, humid summers and widespread use of centralized cooling systems

Aging infrastructure in public and commercial buildings

Growing population of older adults and people with chronic health conditions

Seasonal increases in people traveling and staying at hotels

How can you protect against contracting Legionnaires?

While its impossible to eliminate all risk, there are few steps to take.

To help lower the risk of infection:

Report malfunctioning air conditioning or plumbing to property managers

Stay alert to public health advisories

Seek medical care promptly if you develop unexplained pneumonia-like symptoms, especially if youre in a high-risk group or have recently stayed in a hotel or large building

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Legionnaires disease may be rare, but with an outbreak in the US personal vigilance is essential for residents, but also for property managers and health officials.

Do you have any experience with Legionnaires Disease or remember the outbreak in Georgia in 2019 (or before)? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media .

GA Bulldogs make list of priciest football game days in NCAA. Heres cost, ranking

These 5 GA hospitals are the best in 2025, US News & World Report says
The US justice department has filed a subpoena ordering New York Attorney General Letitia James to testify about her civil fraud investigation into President Donald Trump, sources have told US media.

James won a civil case against Trump in 2023 - before he returned to office - that accused him of overvaluing his properties in order to take out loans with favourable terms. He is currently appealing against the judgment.

No charges have been filed against James. Both her office and Trump argue the other has abused their investigative powers.

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James' office has also received another subpoena regarding her investigation of the National Rifle Association, according to CBS, the BBC's US partner.

The investigation into James is being led by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, CBS reports.

The New York Attorney General's office hit back at the investigation into the state's top law enforcement official.

"Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American," the office said in a statement.

"We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association, and we will continue to stand up for New Yorkers' rights."

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Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for James, also released a statement, saying that retaliating against James for investigating Trump's business is "the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president's political retribution campaign".

The justice department has not publicly commented on the subpoenas.

In April, the justice department accused James of mortgage fraud and pressed prosecutors to file criminal charges against her. No charges have yet been filed.

Trump's family business was found liable in 2023 of falsifying records and financial statements in order to get better terms on loans and insurance deals.

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In the case brought by James, a judge ruled that the Trump Organization was liable for overvaluing a penthouse at Trump Tower in New York by claiming that it was three times its actual size, among other allegations.

Trump was ordered to pay more than $350m (264m) in damages in the civil fraud case, which is currently going through the appeals process. During the case, Trump frequently attacked James when speaking to media outside of the courtroom, calling her "biased and corrupt".

Trump was criminally convicted for falsifying business records in a separate case. Last year, he was found guilty on 34 counts for fraudulently classifying reimbursements for a hush-money payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.

During his campaign, Trump promised to seek revenge against many of his perceived political enemies - including former President Joe Biden - and others who have opposed him.

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He has fired prosecutors who pursued cases against the pro-Trump protesters who stormed the Capitol after his loss to Biden, and appointed loyalists to top positions in the Department of Justice.

Last week, federal officials opened an investigation into Jack Smith, who was appointed as special counsel in 2022 to investigate Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged attempt to interfere in the 2020 election.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  The next school year will be here before we know it, with less than a month to go now for New York City, where students return on September 4th.

Students are returning to a big rule change: no cellphones during school hours.

The statewide rule in New York, known as bell-to-bell, leaves it up to schools to determine how to implement the rule.

NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos explains the citys approach to the new law and answers other important questions heading into September.

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Watch the video player for the full interview.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Its the end of an error.

New York Citys last-standing  and most notorious  migrant hotel will soon stop housing illegal border crossers, The Post has learned.

The once-four-star Row NYC hotel on Eighth Avenue in Midtown was repurposed in October 2022, so its 1,331 rooms could be used as a shelter while the Big Apple dealt with the crippling migrant crisis, but Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the citys $5.13 million-a-month contract with the hotel wont be renewed in April.

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The deal has allowed the hotel  which is owned by Boston-based real estate titan Rockpoint Group  to already rake in more than $170 million.

New York Citys last-standing and most notorious migrant hotel  the Row NYC  will soon stop housing illegal border crossers. The citys $5.13 million-a-month contract with Row NYC expires in April and will not being renewed. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Its unclear what the future holds for the establishment, which once charged $414 to $435 per weeknight for standard rooms before becoming a shelter. Reps for the company did not return messages.

We are proud to share that we will be closing another site  the Row Hotel, the last hotel in the citys emergency shelter system  marking yet another major milestone in our administrations recovery from this international humanitarian crisis, Adams told The Post Friday.

The Row, which boasts on its website that it is more New York than New York, was the first hotel to be enlisted by the city to take in migrants after Adams declared the citys existing homeless shelter system had reached a breaking point.

NYPD officers arresting two migrants at the Row Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Since then, its been magnet for stabbings and other crimes, with rowdy Tren de Aragua-linked gangbangers among its tenants, including one 25-year-old Venezuelan migrant who allegedly broke into a Manhattan prosecutors apartment, robbed her at gunpoint and pleasured himself in front of her.

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Other thugs staying there also attacked cops on numerous occasions, including a July 2024 incident where one officer was bitten and another had a moped hurled at them.

Workers there have also complained the hotel has become a wild free-for-all of sex, drugs and violence after the city began housing migrants there.

The Midtown South Precinct, that includes Row NYC and the Times Square area, has long had among the highest crime rates in the city. Although the precinct saw a nearly 10% decline in crime this year compared to 2024, burglaries are up nearly 16% and felony assaults 2%, NYPD data as of Aug. 3 show

Rooms inside The Row Hotel, which the city turned into a migrant shelter, included squalid conditions. Dennis A. Clark

The migrant crisis has cost city taxpayers more than $8 billion since spring 2022 to provide food, shelter and other services to over 238,000 migrants who flooded into the country because of former President Joe Bidens lax border policies.

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Local residents and workers in the Times Square business district hailed the news Saturday that the migrants would soon be leaving Row NYC.

Hallelujah. Im happy that its happening, said a resident of The Camelot rental apartment complex across the street. We pay a lot of money to live here, and it doesnt seem fair.

There are people sitting here all day, littering, leaving food waste, water bottles, the resident said. A lot of them have children, and there are women sitting around here smoking weed all day, the children are just playing on the street, on the bike lanes.

Rob Jejenich / NY Post Design

Its killed a lot of the business in this neighborhood. I would much rather see the Row filled with tourists who are supporting business rather than migrants who are draining it.

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Others who work for local businesses blamed the migrants arrival on declining profits, with one security guard saying he started wearing a wedding ring to fend off migrant hookers living at the hotel because theyve propositioned him twice.

At its peak, NYC used 220 hotels and other contracted sites to house the newcomers.

As of June 25, 2024, the city was operating 193 migrant shelters of which 153, or nearly 80%, were former hotels and other lodging establishments like The Roosevelt in Midtown that were being subsidized by taxpayer dollars, according to an internal list active shelters then reviewed by The Post.

One of the junk filled rooms at The Row Hotel after it became a migrant shelter. Dennis A. Clark

Others included houses of worship, recreation centers, and controversial pop-up tent city complexes, including one erected to house 3,000 migrants on Randalls Island; nearly 2,000 at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn; and another 1,000 outside Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens.

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However, the city is now down to just four contracted shelters, with the Row NYC being the last remaining lodging establishment.

The Department of Homeless Services has slowly absorbed remaining migrants into the city-run shelter system, which as of last week was caring for 92,000 residents, including 35,400 migrants.

Three years ago, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers began streaming into our city every week  and the Adams administration stepped up, the mayor said Friday.

We opened hundreds of emergency migrant shelters to ensure no family slept on the street. Since then, we have successfully helped more than 200,000 migrants leave our shelter system and take the next step toward self-sufficiency, the migrant population in our care continues to decline, and we have closed 64 emergency migrant sites, including all of our tent-based facilities.

We have skillfully and humanely managed a national humanitarian crisis  and have done what no other city could do, he added.

Additional reporting by Khristina Narizhnaya
The NYPD is significantly boosting the number of cops at the Dominican Day Parade on Sunday  after an unruly crowd and a slashing forced police to shut down the festivities early last year.

The 43rd annual cultural celebration  set to run from West 38th to West 55th streets on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan  will have 500 more police officers on the beat than last year, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters Friday.

Just like every other major parade in New York City, plans are in place to ensure that it will be safe, it will be secure and that it will be peaceful, Tisch said. And the women and men of the NYPD will be out there protecting everyone along the route with a stepped-up presence this year.

Sundays Dominican Day Parade will have 500 more police officers on the beat than at last years festivities, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. James Keivom

A total of 957 unformed police officers and 140 traffic agents will be on hand  not counting the K9 and drone teams also present, according to NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta.

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As an extra safety measure, the NYPD, along with parade organizers, opted to kick off the event two hours earlier this year, at 11 a.m., Gulotta said.

The revelry came to a crashing halt last year when the crowd grew boisterous and spectators started jumping the barricades around 46th Street.

Last year, an unruly crowd and a slashing forced cops to bring the parade to an early halt. James Keivom

By late afternoon, a 19-year-old man was busted for allegedly cutting a 65-year-old man on the face and hand with a knife during a dispute just off the parade path, sources said at the time.

The NYPD then shut down the parade before it could reach Central Park.

That was unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it happening again, Tisch said Friday. But we also know that that behavior does not reflect the vast majority of people who came out to celebrate.

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Tisch acknowledged that last year, We probably underdid the staffing at this parade.

Tisch said that she believes the NYPD underdid the staffing at last years parade. James Keivom

So that is one thing that we were very intent on fixing for this year, and I think that will lead to great outcomes, the top cop said.

The police presence this year will include uniformed officers posted along the route, traffic agents at intersections and crossings, as well as personnel from our Emergency Service Unit, Mounted Unit, K9 and counterterrorism teams, Tisch said.

Our auxiliary officers will also be working to support the detail, she added. Our helicopters and our drones will be deployed during the parade to assist our officers on the ground, providing comprehensive coverage in real time. As always, there will be assets that you will see and others that you will not see.

As of Friday, there were no known specific, credible threats to the parade, Tisch said. James Keivom

Officers will also be out in full force once the parade wraps up to ensure that any festivities later in the day remain peaceful, Tisch said.

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As of Friday, there were no known specific, credible threats to the parade, and no indications of potential gang-related violence, Tisch said.

But as always, the NYPD, along with our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant, she said.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sixth Avenue will be closed to all traffic from 34th to 42nd streets, including all crosstown traffic, Tisch said.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., the closure will extend from 42nd to 55th streets, until the end of the festivities.

During the parade, pedestrians will only be able to cross at 39th Street, 42nd Street, 45th Street, 48th Street and 51st Street, and only authorized vehicles will be permitted to enter the route.
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Texas Fadez, a local barbershop in Odessa, is offering free haircuts to students in K-12 this Sunday to mark the start of the school year. We spoke with shop owner Red, who says that it makes her feel happy that she can do this for the community.

It makes me feel happy that Im able to do this and that my barbers are able to do that too, Red said. This wouldnt be possible without their heart and their generosity for all of us.

In addition to the free haircuts, Texas Fadez will also be providing school supplies for students while supplies last. The event will run from 10 am to 1 pm at 8428 W University.

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Aug. 8FREEMAN, S.D.  Concerns over the odor from Dakota Protein Solutions (DPS), a rendering plant located just over a mile southeast of Freeman, dominated the first 40 minutes of the Freeman City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Residents voiced frustration over the smell and its impact on daily life, while city officials laid out the complex jurisdictional barriers to addressing the issue.

DPS officials were not present at the meeting, and the plant manager did not respond to inquiries from the Mitchell Republic.

The DPS facility, which opened last fall, sits in Turner County and is outside Freeman's one-mile zoning jurisdiction. Although Freeman provides water to the plant, the city cannot enforce its nuisance ordinances. City Attorney Mike Fink explained that regulatory authority lies with Turner County, which issued the plant's conditional use permit.

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Fink said that Turner County State's Attorney Katelynn Hoffman will soon issue a "show cause" notice requiring DPS to appear before the zoning board to explain why the permit should not be amended, revoked, or subjected to new conditions. A hearing is expected later this month or in early September.

"I've informed the state's attorney they may need a fairly large room," Fink said, anticipating a strong public turnout.

While Freeman lacks direct authority, Fink is coordinating with county and state agencies and collecting documentation from the public. He said complaints, especially those with names, dates, and photos, are being forwarded to the South Dakota Animal Industry Board and the Department of Agriculture.

"Some pictures I received have led to a lot of interest from both the state vet and from the state's attorney," he said.

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Residents at the meeting described the odor as severe, disruptive and persistent. Tiffany Mehlhaff said she searched her house for dog feces, only to realize the smell had come from outside through an open window. Tim Wiese said they nearly became sick from the odor before arriving at the meeting.

Property value was a major concern. Wiese, who owns a lot in Freeman, said he's trying to sell at half the average price and still can't find a buyer.

"I'm desperate to get out of this town," he said.

Others worried about long-term effects on business, tourism and the town's reputation. Wiese said the odor could threaten a planned restaurant he had near a local pond. He warned of economic damage if the situation isn't resolved soon.

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When asked whether the city could shut off water to the plant, Fink advised against it. He explained that Freeman has a three-year water contract with DPS, and breaching that agreement could result in litigation and financial liability.

"We could shut the water off," he said. "But I'm almost 100 percent convinced it would lead to a lawsuit. And at the end of the day, I think the spigot would be turned back on."

He emphasized that honoring the contract and working through regulatory channels is the best course.

"We don't want to be on the wrong end of a lawsuit when we're on the right side of the issue," Fink said.

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Another option, Fink noted, is for private citizens to file a nuisance claim if they can prove damages such as lost property value. However, the legal costs involved often make such action difficult for individuals.

Calls for clearer communication from the city also surfaced. Becky Wiese said residents had not been aware of efforts behind the scenes.

"We had no idea anyone was even working with Mike until very recently," she said. "We felt like we were completely on our own."

Fink acknowledged the frustration and said he would work to improve updates. He also mentioned the long-term possibility of annexing a few acres to bring DPS within city limits, though that would be a complicated and time-consuming process.

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Local businesses are also responding. A sign posted at the Total Stop convenience store in Freeman asks employees of the plant not to enter if they are carrying strong odors, citing the store's responsibility to maintain a safe and sanitary environment under its food license.

Residents were encouraged to continue submitting complaints, as consistent documentation may strengthen the case for enforcement. Fink said he's received "some really passionate, heartfelt notes" and stressed their value in elevating the issue with regulators.

As the meeting concluded, Tim Wiese made a pointed remark about how the community might move forward: "I think we need to make it cheaper for them to move. Because they need to know we're going to fight this  and fight this with everything we have."
(NEXSTAR)  A police officer was killed and a suspected gunman is dead after an active shooting near the adjoining campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University in Atlanta Friday.

No civilians are believed to have been injured, but several rounds hit buildings on the CDCs sprawling campus, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

One officer received gunfire while responding to the incident and was critically injured, DeKalb County Police Chief Gregory Patrick said Friday evening.

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The shooting was reported at a CVS Pharmacy at Emory Point, located down the street from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, also in Atlanta.

Atlanta police confirmed the shooter, who had been armed with a long gun, was now dead. DeKalb County Police said the gunman was found on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC.

We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, Schierbaum said. A white car with an open truck was part of the crime scene and is being searched, he added, but its still unclear if it belonged to the suspect.

Emergency vehicles line up near Emory University and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) Emergency vehicles line up near Emory University and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) DeKalb County firefighters gather outside an Emory University medical building in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Authorities said there is no longer a threat to the public. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the mans motive is not known because the investigation is still in the preliminary stages.

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Staff at a nearby deli said they heard what sounded like a string of gunshots. It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, said Brandy Giraldo, the chief operating officer of The General Muir restaurant.

On Friday night, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said that it was the second time this week deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, referring to the shooting at Fort Stewart.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FAIRMONT  The Library of Congress provided a fuller explanation of why sections had been deleted from the annotated Constitution on the Library of Congress website on Wednesday.

When updating the site to reflect our constitutional scholars analysis of the impact of the latest cases on Article I, Sections 8-10, the team inadvertently removed an XML tag, Bill Ryan, director of communications for the Library of Congress, said. This prevented publication of everything in Article I after the middle of Section 8. The problem has been corrected and our updated constitutional analysis is now available. We are taking steps to prevent a recurrence in the future.

The explanation makes sense to Daniel Schuman, executive director of the American Governance Institute and a former employee of the Library of Congress. Schuman pushed to make the Annotated Constitution publicly available in 2009.

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Schuman said the Annotated Constitution is a statutorily mandated document that explains the U.S. Constitution as its been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. The document is revised and updated as the court hears and decides new cases. Schuman said corrupting an XML tag is not hard to do.

However, even though accidently deleting a portion of the Annotated Constitution doesnt suddenly make those portions null and void, the content that was deleted serves as an inadvertent marker that indicates where the Trump administration and conservative Supreme Court are focusing their attention. The interpretations that need updating in the Annotated Constitution have to do with state powers, powers denied Congress and habeas corpus.

I think more broadly the Supreme Court is making a series of lawless decisions that are not grounded in the history and text of the Constitution, and theyre using it for the aggrandizement of executive branch power in a way that is dangerous for our democracy, Schuman said. What the Supreme Court is doing is, in most respects, is absolutely wrong and ungrounded in history and is designed to make the president more powerful, but the job of the Congressional Research Service is to explain how the Constitution is being interpreted by the Supreme Court, not to judge it.

Schuman added the Library of Congress continues to be independent. Accusations the Trump administration orchestrated the deletion of the sections didnt make sense to him, because the President doesnt have jurisdiction over the Library of Congress. The National Archives on the other hand do fall under the executive branch, so if there had been any interference from the president, it most likely would have happened there instead.

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The alarm raised among the public over Wednesdays snafu is a good news, bad news situation, Schuman said. It shows people are really concerned about the Constitution and are protective of the legislative branch. Schuman said the administration has set prior precedent for deleting information off of the internet, such as thousands of datasets held by federal agencies and firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for talking about jobs data. These actions have put people on alert for secret and not secret changes to federal documents.

People are alert and paying attention to the changes in the body politic, Schuman said. I think thats great news. The bad news is it ends up catastrophizing a little bit. Im not so worried about a web page going away. I am worried about the Trump administration trying to fire the Librarian of Congress and wrestling for control over the legislative branch agencies that support Congresss ability to hold the executive branch to account. That is the big thing we really need to be focused on. An independent Congress can check and hold the executive branch to protect our democracy.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona has declared a state of emergency as extreme drought conditions worsen, pushing local cattle ranchers to the brink and leaving little access to food and water for their livestock.

KPNX reported that the community has been experiencing abnormally dry conditions since late last year, and these conditions have turned into a severe dry spell.

What's happening?

Recent data from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed more than half of Arizona is experiencing moderate to extreme drought, with persistent heat and a lack of rain drying up grazing land and water sources.

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Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler recently toured high-elevation ranches across the reservation and found no grass and very little drinking water for cattle. "A lot of the tanks for cattle drinking water have dried up," Rambler said in a Facebook post.

To keep their herds alive, local ranchers are hauling in water, hay, and nutrients  an unsustainable and costly effort. The emergency declaration will free up funding to support cattle associations, while a partnership with Freeport-McMoRan aims to drill new groundwater wells.

The drought is also stressing local ecosystems, harming acorn and pine tree populations as well as threatening native wildlife.

Why is this drought concerning?

This crisis isn't just an isolated dry spell. The drought in Arizona echoes patterns across the globe, where farmers are facing dwindling harvests, wildfires are burning longer and hotter, and clean-water access is increasingly under threat.

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In 2024, for instance, 15 states in the eastern United States also grappled with abnormally dry conditions and extreme drought, prompting West Virginia to declare a state of emergency to aid farmers.

That same year, northeastern Spain experienced its worst drought in modern history. Catalonia's reservoirs were almost all dried up, forcing the government to impose water restrictions.

Indicators used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggest that increasing global temperatures are disrupting weather patterns and making droughts like these more frequent, longer, and more intense.

Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What's being done about the extreme drought?

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is now coordinating emergency relief and new well-drilling projects. However, it still needs long-term solutions, such as sustainable water management and stronger environmental policies that protect vulnerable ecosystems.

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Some communities are turning to regenerative farming and water conservation practices, while electrification and solar power adoption continue to help reduce pollution. EnergySage offers a free service that lets users compare quotes from vetted local installers and save up to $10,000.

Despite the availability of more pro-planet solutions and increased attention to ecological issues, Arizona's extreme drought shows that tackling environmental challenges requires broader and more coordinated efforts.

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.
Police have identified the man that died Friday after police shot him in the in the Hewitt Farms neighborhood, near Ocean View.

The Norfolk Police Department received a call about a burglary just after noon on Friday, according to a news release. When officers arrived, they found 31-year-old Dwayne D. Harris, who police say had broken into a residence. He had a gun and immediately got into a vehicle and fled the scene, Police Chief Mark Talbot said at a Friday news conference.

Officers pursued the man for about two blocks, to an intersection in the 8300 block of Meadow Creek Road. Talbot said Harris got out of his vehicle with a gun and pointed the firearm at police officers. Officers then shot at Harris, who died at the scene. Virginia State Police are investigating the shooting.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
COMMERCE, Okla.  The Oklahoma Medical Examiner issued an addendum on Wednesday to an autopsy report for a 2-year-old boy who they say starved to death, saying he was a victim of lead poisoning.

Charles Wayne Ash died Sept. 11. His death remains listed as a homicide, and the cause of death is listed as starvation, according to an autopsy report released in March. The original autopsy stated Ash had never been seen by a doctor during his lifetime and died from starvation, weighing just 17 pounds when he died.

Amber Murphy, 31, and Daniel Ash, 32, both of Commerce, were indicted in March in federal court with second-degree murder and four counts of child neglect, involving their deceased son and three other children in their care.

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The indictment included one count of child sexual abuse against Ash relating to one of the minor child victims.

Online court records show that Murphy and Ash remain in federal custody and are expected to go to trial on Dec. 1.

The autopsy addendum shows the toxicology report listing a blood lead level of 1.7 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. The current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference level for children is 3.5.

Studies suggest prolonged lead exposure can contribute to learning disabilities and other health problems.

No safe level of lead in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in the blood can negatively impact a childs health and should be viewed as a concern. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

From the late 1880s to 1960, the 40-square-mile area of Picher, Cardin, Quapaw, Commerce, and North Miami was the center of lead and zinc mining. For much of the past four decades, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has listed Tar Creek as its top Superfund site.

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Numerous Harvard School of Public Health studies on Tar Creek residents showed high lead levels, arsenic, and other metals in hair samples in children and adults.

Studies show that lead paint chips and dust form when the paint peels and cracks in homes built before 1978.

Rebecca Jim, L.E.A.D executive director, said children can be exposed to lead if they eat flaking paint chips, breathe in lead dust, or play in lead-contaminated soil.

The LEAD, or Local Environment Action Demanded group, is a grassroots environmental justice organization born during Tar Creek remediation efforts.

According to public records, Ash lived with his parents and siblings at 209 Walnut Street in Commerce, which was built in 1938.

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Its been 25 years since we have had a strong, active blood lead testing program in Ottawa County, Jim said. We know Ottawa County children are still suffering from lead poisoning.

Jim agrees with the CDCs position on blood levels in children.

Any amount of blood levels is too much, Jim said.

Erica Rankin-Riley, Oklahoma State Department of Health External Affairs Manager, said Ottawa Countys reference level is 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, the same as the CDCs.

Blood lead testing is available for children from six months to 72 months at the Ottawa County Health Department, Rankin-Riley said.

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She said older children can also be tested if the parent requests it, due to concerns or if they have a younger sibling with an elevated blood lead level.

Blood lead testing is also available (and does occur) at private providers offices, clinics, and some Head Starts in the area, Rankin-Riley said.

From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 520 Ottawa County children were tested for blood lead levels, with 24 children having a level at or above 3.5 mcg/dL.

Click here for more information on the Oklahoma Childhood Blood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

F.A.Q.

What is lead poisoning?

Lead poisoning is a condition caused by exposure to lead, resulting in high blood lead levels. Excess lead may also be stored in the bones and organs of the body. Lead can enter the body by swallowing (ingestion) or breathing (inhaling). Exposure can often occur without your knowledge because you cannot see or smell lead.

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Most children with lead poisoning do not have any signs or symptoms of the disease and may seem perfectly healthy. Often, the only way to detect lead poisoning in a child is through a blood lead test. In contrast, there are usually no immediate symptoms of the disease; childhood lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, language and behavioral problems, lower I.Q., attention deficit disorder, hearing loss, anemia, muscle weakness, damage to the nervous system and kidneys, and rarely death.

There is no effective treatment for lead poisoning, but it can be prevented by identifying and removing any lead hazards from a childs environment. If a childs lead level is very high ( 45g/dL), chelation therapies may be used to help remove the lead from a childs blood, but they will not reverse the damage that has already been done.

Who is at highest risk for lead poisoning?

Young children are also at greater risk for lead poisoning due to their frequent hand-to-mouth behavior. Additionally, when exposed to lead, children absorb a greater amount of lead in their bodies than adults do, increasing their risk of lead poisoning.

Is lead poisoning contagious?

You cannot spread lead poisoning to other people. However, if a sibling or playmate has lead poisoning, your child might be at greater risk because they probably share the same environment and the same exposure sources.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A 48-year-old Oklahoma City man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Friday for child sex trafficking.

Officials say, according to public records, a homeless female minor was recruited by another individual on September 15, 2023, to work for the man now incarcerated, 48-year-old Marlon Dewayne Martin, to make money using the minor for commercialized sex acts.

Martin was said to have known that the minor was under the age of 18.

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Oklahoma pediatrician officially charged for allegedly killing her daughter

The actions of Marlon Dewayne Martin could best be described as pure evil, using a juvenile victim for commercial sex trafficking and distributing child pornography, said Donnie Anderson, Director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. I want to thank the US Attorneys Office Western District for their prosecution and securing this sentence. And I am extremely proud of the exhaustive investigative work by my agencys Human Trafficking Unit to get this predator off our streets and rescuing the victim so they could get immediate access to recovery assistance.

From September 2023 through February 2024, he trafficked the minor by scheduling sex dates for her, which included transporting her to and from the dates, providing the minor with hotel rooms, and collecting the money, according to the Department of Justice.

Martin is also said to have created and distributed child pornography, which involved using the minor.

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A jury charged Martin on September 17, 2024, with child sex trafficking. He then pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, admitting to having rented hotel rooms for the minor and driving her to the hotel to perform the sex acts.

Martin was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday, followed by supervised release for life.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
On a ferociously hot summer morning, the inspectors stepped gingerly through an alley and cast a critical eye at the war-withered buildings in this sprawling Palestinian refugee camp on the edge of Damascus.

The alley was typical of what Yarmouk had become after 14 years of Syrias grinding civil war, which had cut the camps population from 1.2 million people  160,000 of them Palestinian refugees  to fewer than several hundred and turned what had been the de facto capital of the Palestinian diaspora and resistance movements into a wasteland.

The ramshackle structures that survive  often with missing roofs and walls, and stairs leading nowhere  have little in common, save for their shambolic, ad hoc construction designed less for permanence than speed and low price. Most have a sprinkling of holes picked out by bullets or shrapnel.

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Nothing to repair here. This one we have to remove completely, said one of the inspectors, Mohammad Ali, his eyes on a pile of indeterminate gray rubble with an orphaned staircase coming out of its side.

He pressed a tablet to record his assessment and sighed as his partner, Jaber Al-Khatib, hoisted himself up on a wall and examined the skeletal remains of a bombed-out, three-story building.

A mother and her child walk down one of the destroyed streets in Yarmouk, the once vibrant Palestinian camp outside Damascus. A pile of rubble reflects the damage to the Yarmouk headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command.

A group of photos showing the extent of the destruction that befell the General Command of the Palestine Liberation Front in the Yarmouk Camp in Damascus. In addition to the remains of burnt photos of leaders and soldiers in the General Command for the Liberation of Palestine. July 31,2025

The columns seem OK, Al-Khatib called out.

Ali raised the iPad and snapped a picture he would later upload to a central database. It was a bit after 9 a.m. and the heat was already creeping past 96 degrees. And they still had plenty of buildings to assess.

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All right. Lets move on, he said.

Mapping the damage in Yarmouk would require several weeks more for the volunteer engineers in the Yarmouk Committee for Community Development. But the work is seen as vital in reviving a once thriving community.

Successive waves of fighting and airstrikes, not to mention the looting that inevitably followed, had left around 40% of the camps 520 acres damaged or destroyed. Vital services like electricity, water and especially sewage are at best intermittent or unavailable. Even now, mountains of rubble  enough to fill 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the committee estimates  line almost every street.

Jamal Al-Khatib, an engineer, takes photographs as he conducts a survey of damaged buildings in Yarmouk, Syria. (Hasan Belal/For The Times)

Compared to its size and population, Yarmouk paid the highest price across Syria in terms of damage and hardship, said Omar Ayoub, 54, who heads the committee and was coordinating with Al-Khatib, Ali and other engineers on the assessment. Though large swaths of Yarmouk are still in ruins, conditions are now five stars compared with nine months ago when then-President Bashar Assad fled the country, Ayoub said.

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Still, people have been slow to return. Only 28,000 people have come back, 8,000 of them Palestinians, according to Ayoub and aid agencies. For them and the tens of thousands still hoping to come back to Yarmouk, the concept of "home"  whether here or in places their families left behind after the 1948 war and Israels founding  has never seemed so far away.

It used to feel like a mini-Palestine here. Streets, alleyways, shops and cafes  everything was named after places back home, Ayoub said.

Will it come back? Life has changed, and the war changed peoples convictions on the issue of Palestine.

That image of how life in Yarmouk once was drew Muhyee Al-Deen Ghannam, a 48-year-old electrician who left the camp in 2013 for Sweden, to visit last month. He was exploring the idea of bringing his family back, but the landmarks he once used to locate his apartment were all gone. He eventually found it, still standing, but stripped of anything of value.

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Living here, you had such a strong connection to Palestine, and yet we never felt like foreigners in Syria, Ghannam said.

Years of warfare have devastated most streets in Yarmouk, Syria.

A group of workers amid the destruction in Yarmouk Camp in Damascus. July 31,2025 A construction worker labors in Yarmouk. Few of the former residents have returned to the camp.

One of the excavation and construction workers in Yarmouk camp in Damascus july 31,2025 Damascus, Syria - July 31: A girl and her mother visit the grave of a relative in the Yarmouk cemetery amid the devastation caused during the Syrian civil war. It is worth noting that this is the same cemetery where the bodies of Israeli soldiers Zechariah Baumel and Tzipi Feldman, who died in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub in 1982, were buried. Al yarmouk Camp July 31,2025

He won't be leaving Sweden. I was planning on staying [here]. But with kids, it would be very difficult. His 16-year-old, he added, hoped to study aeronautics  an impossibility in Syria.

Many others were forced back to Yarmouk by sheer economics, including Wael Oweymar, a 50-year-old interior contractor who returned in 2021 because he could no longer afford rent in other Damascene suburbs. He spent the last four years fixing up not only what remained of his apartment, but its surroundings.

What could I do? Just give up and have a heart attack? he said, cracking an easy smile.

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You see this street?" he said. "I swept this whole area myself. There was no one here but me  me and the street dogs. But when people saw things improving, it encouraged them to return.

Oweymar counted that a victory.

It was systematic, all this destruction. The intention was to make sure Palestinians dont return, he said, echoing a common suspicion among Yarmouks residents, who believe the Assad-era government planned to use the fighting to displace Palestinians and redevelop the area for its own use.

But they destroyed and we rebuild," Oweymar said. "We Palestinians, were a people who rebuild.

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Oweymars words were a measure of the uneasy relationship the Assad family maintained with Palestinians. Compared with Palestinian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, those in Syria  now estimated to number 450,000  were treated well. Though never granted citizenship, they could work in any profession and own property. Under the rule of Assads father, Hafez, Palestinians enlisted in a special corps in the military called The Liberation Army.

In Yarmouk, it's common to see buildings missing walls or roofs. Many are pockmarked by bullets or scrapnel.

A photo showing some of the new means of transportation in Yarmouk Camp in Damascus amid the destruction caused by the recent Syrian war. july 31,2025 Yarmouk once had 1.2 million residents. Estimates say about 28,000 people live there now, 8,000 of them Palestinians.

A photo showing the spread of garbage in the neighborhoods of Yarmouk Camp in Damascus. july 31,2025 Amid some rubble lies the burnt and torn image of Ahmed Jibril, the onetime secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command.

Factions, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hamas, opened training bases in the country and administered camps. At the same time, Syrian security services pursued Palestinians with the same diligence they showed toward homegrown dissidents.

Assad continued his fathers policies and aligned Syria with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an Iran-backed network of factions arrayed against the U.S. and Israel that championed the Palestinian cause. Yet more than 3,000 Palestinians were imprisoned during the civil war  only a few dozen emerged alive.

Assad became the standard bearer for Palestinian resistance, putting it above anything he did for Syrians. But he also slaughtered Palestinians in huge numbers. We never knew where we stood with him because of that duality, Ayoub said.

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When the civil war began, a miniature version played out in Yarmouk. Some factions insisted on neutrality, while others sided with Assad or the rebels against him. The Syrian military laid siege while the factions duked it out inside Yarmouk.

Neighborhoods became run-and-gun front lines; fighters punched holes through buildings' walls to avoid ubiquitous sniper fire. In 2015, jihadists from the Islamic State seized the camp. As the battle stretched on, so did the siege, with rights groups estimating at least 128 people died of starvation. Ayoub, now a portly scriptwriter with an avuncular smile, weighed a mere 66 pounds during the siege.

We had more people die here because of hunger than Gaza, Ayoub said, referring to the enclave where Israel has mounted a blockade that aid groups warn has resulted in famine.

Our ultimate dream was to eat our favorite food before we died. One neighbor, I remember, he was craving a French fry  just one, Ayoub said, a wan smile on his face at the memory.

Mohammad Ali, 63, is one of the engineers working to survey the damaged buildings and assess their needs for future reconstruction in Yarmouk.

Islamic State was finally pushed out in 2018, but Assads forces, including regular military units and allied factions, pillaged whatever hadnt been destroyed, even setting fires inside homes to pop tiles off of walls. They ripped out toilets, window frames and light switches and sold the copper wiring.

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Eight months since Assads ouster, there is little clarity on what stance Syrias new authorities will take regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Many officials say Syria is in no condition to engage in a fight with Israel, and that it has already paid enough for its advocacy for Palestinians. The U.S., meanwhile, has brokered high-level contacts between Israeli and Syrian officials, and conditioned assistance on the new government suppressing what the U.S. classifies as terrorist organizations, including a number of Palestinian factions.

There are already signs Damascus has moved to fulfill those demands.

Abu Bilal, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who gave his nom de guerre because he was not allowed to speak to the media, still minds the party headquarters in Yarmouk. Though the group remained resolutely neutral during the civil war, after Assad fled, gunmen affiliated with the new authorities confiscated the groups weaponry and training camps.

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Their message was clear: No political activity or military displays. We can only engage in social work or academic research, he said.

Palestinian factions aligned with Assad came for harsher treatment, he added. Many of their leaders have left the country, and institutions linked to the groups  such as hospitals, newspapers and radio stations  have been seized.

A building damaged during the 14-year Syrian civil war forms a backdrop for a cemetery in Yarmouk, once a thriving Palestinian camp.

None of that elicits sympathy from Al-Khatib and Ali, both of whom served in their younger days in the Liberation Army.

All the [Palestinian] factions should have stayed neutral and blocked any side, Assad or the rebels, from entering. Had they stayed united, they would have protected the camp, Al-Khatib said.

He waved at the landscape of destruction before him.

Now Palestinians are more impoverished than ever. All the factions did was destroy the economic infrastructure in Yarmouk, he said.

He paused before the fire-scorched carcass of what appeared to have once been a furniture shop.

See the burns here?" Ali said. "You can tell theyre from looting, not war damage. But since we dont know how long it burned, we dont know if the concrete is affected.

Al-Khatib looked at the scorch marks on the ceiling then shook his head at the ruins before him.

In recent weeks, more nations have said they would recognize a Palestinian state, but here there are more immediate worries.

What time do we have now to think about or fight for a state?" Al-Khatib asked. "Our only concern is securing our homes.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A flurry of hugs between familiars and anxious introductions between newcomers were exchanged Friday as new seventh graders and returning eighth graders gathered at Milagro Middle School.

The first-day-of-school socializing was accompanied by a DJ set  not only to usher in the start of the year but also to celebrate, at long last, an enrollment reversal for the midtown school.

For the first time in Milagros short history, it has an excess of potential enrollees, leading to a waitlist.

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Milagro, born out of the 2017 consolidation of the old De Vargas and Capshaw middle schools  both shuttered due to declining enrollment  had a shaky start. It first opened on the Capshaw campus while De Vargas underwent an overhaul that ultimately became a raze-and-rebuild project.

The brand-new school at the De Vargas site opened in August 2018 with capacity for 868 kids, but its never met that mark. In 2023-24, it reported just 330 students.

This year, the school has about 370 students, which it now considers capacity due to the number of funded teachers and to ensure class sizes dont become too large.

080825 jw first day 2.jpg

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Milagro Middle School Principal Georgia Baca greets students as they arrive on campus for the first day of school Friday. "This year, our focus is on growth, she said.

Staffing  with just 30 classroom teachers  reflects the reduced student body of years past.

School officials said the surge in student interest in Milagro is the result of years of efforts to build a strong school culture, improve academic outcomes and conduct proactive outreach to elementary feeder schools with a message of growth and a desire to meet students where they are.

 Milagro has gone through a lot. When you merge schools, that alone in itself is difficult for a community to deal with, Milagro Principal Georgia Baca said Thursday.  When we say rebuilding, its like were really just getting our groove back.

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The school has also endured tragedy. Assistant Principal Sue Greig died in October from injuries suffered in a Colorado car crash that left teacher Mark Waugh hospitalized with injuries.

Now we are Milagro

The proposal in 2016 to consolidate Capshaw and De Vargas  two very different rival middle schools  stirred controversy in both school communities. One Capshaw student at the time said the merger with De Vargas would diminish Capshaws test scores. A De Vargas father told The New Mexican he wasnt opposed to Capshaw but believed everybody should have their own home.

The phased-in consolidation began in 2016-17, when De Vargas served only eighth graders, and all seventh graders in the zones for the two schools attended Capshaw. The switch to the newly named Milagro occurred the following year at the Capshaw campus before the school moved to its new digs.

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Milagro now has a mix of former De Vargas, Capshaw and newbie educators, Baca said.

Were no longer Capshaw or De Vargas. We bring with us  the joys of being and teaching at those schools. But now we are Milagro, and so were creating our own culture and our own  place to be.

Santa Fe Public Schools spokesperson Joe Abeyta said about 370 students are enrolled in Milagro this year, with a waitlist of about 40 students. If some enrollees dont show up after 10 days of school, others on the waitlist will be invited in, Baca noted.

 I wish we had more teachers because we could take all of these kids who want to come here, Baca said. We dont want to have classes with 40 kids.

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080825 jw first day 3.jpg

Destinee Martinez, left, sees a friendly face as fellow Milagro Middle School student Laxi Penner arrives on campus for the first day of school Friday.

Still, she sees the waitlist as invigorating proof of Milagros efforts: Im like, What? I cant accept people on the waitlist here? Like, it was just so exciting.

Baca credited the growth to many things, acknowledging her staffs efforts and the outreach work at 12 elementary schools.

Weve gone to probably every school two or three times to meet families so that they could ask us questions, she said.

Hailing small victories

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Im not gonna sugarcoat anything, Baca added. The students that we get are a mix of our Santa Fe community. Some are reading three to four years behind their grade level, while others are taking high school level courses as eighth graders, she noted.

The schools proficiency rates have traditionally been below district averages but the trend is upward over the past few years. In the 2021-22 school year, 12% of students tested at grade level in mathematics, while 23% did so in reading. By the 2023-24 school year, those rates had improved to 13% and 32%, respectively.

Part of Bacas pitch to parents is the fact that this year, our focus is on growth, she said.

She celebrates small improvements in proficiency rates as academic victories.

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Whether the improvement is 1.2 percentage points or 20 points, she said, giving students the feeling of progress is essential  especially given the emotionally turbulent time of middle school.

Kids are kind of trying to figure out who they are, she said. Theyre thinking theyre adults, but theyre really not. They still are kiddos, and they still love to be read to. They still love to be praised. They still love to receive little incentives. And so I think that has made a difference as well.

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English teacher Kathrine Douthit and Principal Georgia Baca, left, greet Milagro Middle School students as they arrive on campus for the first day of school Friday.

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Awesome vibe here

Veteran teacher Steve Dixon, 54, stood behind the DJ booth in front of the school Friday, drawing on his years of disc-jockeying for school dances to spin popular tunes like those of rapper Playboi Carti.

 I think that as a culture here at this school, weve just become like one big family, he said.

Dixon is celebrating his 23rd year of teaching; he worked at De Vargas Middle School before its student and teacher population migrated to Milagro.

 It was really cool being integrated into bringing together the De Vargas family with the Capshaw family  which was always kind of seen as the rival, he said.

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Everyone was so welcoming, and we all just grew together to become what I think is an awesome vibe here, Dixon said.

Choosing Milagro as her daughters new school was an easy choice for mom Tana Morrow, 38, who dropped 12-year-old Ava DAlessandro, into the mob of middle schoolers. She and her husband had attended Capshaw and De Vargas, respectively.

Its just exciting. You can feel everyones anxiety and just that new school energy, she said. You can just feel the passion of the staff that really care about what they do.

Morrow began introducing her daughter to other Milagro families before school started, but the transition to middle school was not so effortless for all newcomer students.

Im a little nervous. Probably because its my first day  new people, said Karter Hamilton, 12, a new seventh grader at Milagro after a year at a Pojoaque Valley elementary school. Before that, he lived in Arkansas.

Despite his worries, he had one thing he was looking forward to: The new friends, he said.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  One person was injured early Saturday morning in a shooting in Greenville.

According to Greenville County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to the area of Anderson Road and Seaborn Line Road just after 3 a.m.. At the scene, deputies found a man near the road with at least one gunshot wound.

The man was taken to the hospital and his condition is unknown. The shooting remains under investigation.

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Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers in Greenville at 864-23- CRIME.

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The Brief

You can experience the colors and sights of one womans journey along the Oregon Trail at the James Museum.

Pioneer woman Keturah Belknap documented her journey west from Iowa to Oregon in the 1800s.

Her sketches and journal entries were brought to full color through collaboration with artist Heide Presse.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - The James Museum of Western Art and Wildlife Art has an exhibit of Perseverance: A Woman's Journey West.

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The entire exhibit is based on the journal of Keturah Belknap, a pioneer woman, who documented her family's trip from Iowa along the Oregon trail with sketches and descriptions of what her family went through.

Artist Heide Presse brought to life parts of the journal to capture the feeling of everything Belknap went through, from the day-to-day ride to the actions she took each day.

The backstory

Imagine taking a long road trip without your favorite playlist. Now take that same road trip and do it without GPS guidance or even a map with directions. If you're already saying, "No way!"

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Now remove the road, air conditioning and add a significant amount of dust and danger to the mix.

Would you ever even start?

Keturah Belknap did and she wrote her experiences down.

"She was a pioneer woman in the 1840s, and she was a very prolific writer," shared Emily Kapes, Chief Curator at the James Museum. "She was very detailed."

That detail was important as artist Heide Presse used the journal to bring to life the colors, the scenery and the actions that took place on that journey west.

"This old journal really got into the daily life of the Belknap family. It was no easy life," said Capes.

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READ: 103-year-old Bay Area Buffalo Soldier honored with self portrait

More than a century and a half before the internet, before map systems and GPS guidance, before paved roads even, people like the Belknap family journeyed west by covered wagon in caravans.

The trips were long days on bumpy ground with unknown access to water and even any reliable food source.

Presse explored that journey through Belknaps descriptions and sketches. She then visited the Oregon Trail museums to see the artifacts and feel the textures of the materials and equipment used.

"The artist chooses to focus on the positive aspects in the journal," admitted Capes, "She focused on the daily life."

For the exhibit, Capes found that the Belknap family had a photo, a very old one, of the matriarch and writer of the journal. Capes included that photo in this exhibit for the visitor to see who was behind the stories in this exhibition.

Keturah Belknap shown in center of bottom row

"Artist Heide Presse has always loved depicting history, and shes always loved womens perspectives," admitted Capes.

What you can do

While the exhibition is on display until September 28th at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, visitors can experience two special curated tours on August 19th and August 26th.

You can learn more about the exhibit and those experiences from the James Museum website here.

The Source

This information was gathered from in-person interviews at the James Museum.
PNN Gurugram (Haryana) [India], August 9: In a major step towards advancing electric vehicle adoption and promoting safer roads, Zypp Electric, India's leading EV logistics platform, has partnered with the Traffic Police, Gurugram, under the "Green Hai Toh Zypp Hai" campaign. The initiative, which unites the core themes of sustainability and road safety, was officially launched today at Zypp HQ, Sector 66, Gurugram, during a special EV awareness rally. The event was honoured by the presence of Dr. Rajesh Mohan, DCP Traffic Gurugram, who joined as the Chief Guest. The campaign's powerful motto, "Green Hai Toh Zypp Hai", underlines the urgent need for sustainable mobility through electric vehicles, while "Drive Right Shine Bright" reinforces the shared responsibility of safe and lawful driving. This collaboration marks a pivotal effort where Zypp Electric and the Traffic Police, Gurugram, will co-host future awareness drives and embed structured road safety modules into the Zypp Pilot App. These modules will support Zypp's delivery partners with training, incentives, and enhanced adherence to traffic regulations. The rally, backed by the participation of hundreds of enthusiastic EV riders, delivered a unified message to the city to embrace electric mobility, drive responsibly, and build a brighter, cleaner future. Akash Gupta, Co-founder & CEO, Zypp Electric, commented that "At Zypp Electric, we believe that sustainable mobility and safe roads go hand in hand for building smart, livable cities. Green Hai Toh Zypp Hai Campaign is a movement towards EV Adoption, and our collaboration with Gurugram Traffic Police enables us to not only spread awareness about EV adoption but also embed a culture of safety among our delivery partners. Together, we aim to make every ride greener and every road safer." Dr. Rajesh Mohan, DCP Traffic, Gurugram, said, "I congratulate the Zypp electric team on their successful run for 8 years. The corporate sector also has a responsibility to contribute towards the goal of road safety and saving lives. When all stakeholders work together, behavioural change is then possible. The campaign also coincides with Zypp Electric's Foundation Day and a milestone of becoming EBITDA positive, being celebrated today, adding greater significance to the company's ongoing mission of creating a greener and safer urban mobility ecosystem with more than 112 Million deliveries fulfilled in which 47 Million deliveries are for quick commerce reducing more than 55 Million+ Kgs of carbon emissions. A big aspect has been empowering gig-workers, with more than 2 lakh people empowered, with the highest gross income crossing 14 lakhs for top earners. Zypp Electric is poised to scale from 20,000+ EVs to deploy 100,000 EVs over the next 12 to 18 months across India's top eight cities, including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Jaipur. With an ambitious vision, Zypp aims to scale up its fleet to 500,000 vehicles within the next 3 to 4 years, targeting 100% electrification of last-mile delivery by 2028. About Zypp Electric Zypp Electric India's Leading Tech-Enabled EV-as-a-service platform, was founded in 2017 with a Mission of Zero emissions and to make India carbon-free by using an ecosystem of Electric Vehicles and EV-based technology to make last-mile logistics sustainable and emission-free. Zypp Electric's business model is to make carbon-free last-mile delivery for local merchants from e-commerce giants to delivery executives and thereby reduce delivery cost and pollution on an asset-light model. The company currently delivers groceries, medicines, food, and e-commerce packages from point A to point B through their fully automated IoT and AI-enabled scooters, which are low on maintenance and high on performance. The technology tracks batteries that can be replaced at Zypp swapping stations installed at key touchpoints. Eco-friendly EV services also reduce the cost per delivery and help to make the city pollution-free. Currently, it has over 20,000+ (as of August 25) and increasing Zypp EVs and Pilots (delivery executives) working towards this mission. (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)
Chief Gerke notes renewed interest in law enforcement as OPD adds one of its largest academy classes in years

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  The Odessa Police Department welcomed its 11 new officers Friday afternoon during the 28th Police Academy ceremony at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

Chief Mike Gerke said the academy began with 15 recruits, with 13 completing the program, eleven of whom will now serve with OPD.

This is one of the largest academies weve had in quite a while, Chief Gerke said.

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Like many departments across the country, OPD has faced challenges with staffing and recruitment in recent years. However, Gerke said he believes the trend may be shifting.

I think everyone is pretty short. There are a few agencies that arent, but I would say 95 percent of agencies in Texas are short in hiring, Gerke said, adding, This is one of the largest academies weve had in quite a while.

Last year, four officers received their badges. This years total is more than double that number.

I think that trend [officer shortage trends] may be changing, and we may be seeing more people apply, he said.

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Gerke added that another academy is set to begin in September and that OPD already has eight recruits hired. Hopefully, we get up to 10 or 11 for that.

The OPD Police Academy runs 200 hours longer than the state minimum, which gives recruits extensive physical, tactical, and classroom training. The new officers will start field training on Sunday and will be paired with experienced officers for three to four months before serving independently.

Meet the Graduates:

Officer Alfredo Ayala Jr., 23, is from Odessa. He aspires to join the Traffic Unit.

Officer Garrett Collins, 26, is from Odessa and is a U.S. Navy veteran. He hopes to become a SWAT officer and a homicide detective.

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Officer Austin Evans, 21, is from Doyline, Louisiana. He hopes to one day work in Narcotics.

Officer Juan Fierro, 21, is from Odessa. He hopes to work in Narcotics.

Officer Chasey Marsh, 23, is from Odessa and holds an associates degree. She was also nominated as class president and had the highest academic score in the academy. She aspires to be a homicide detective.

Officer Keilahnn Mason, 26, is from Odessa. He aims to become a Field Training Officer or supervisor.

Officer Justin Montez, 33, is from San Angelo. He hopes to join the Intelligence Division.

Officer Colby Muehlbrad, 21, is from Odessa. He hopes to become a K9 officer.

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Officer Amari Peyton, 22, is from Odessa. He aims to work in K9 or Intelligence.

Officer Juan Ruiz, 23, is from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He hopes to work in Narcotics.

Officer Caleb Talavera, 26, is from Odessa and holds an associates degree. He hopes to join the Traffic Unit.

Graduate Chasey Marsh and class president described the training as very rigorous, both physically and mentally, saying the classroom work was often the most challenging.

It was a lot of studying and a lot of crying, Marsh said while laughing. But we all put in a lot of work, and OPD does their absolute best to prepare us for this. Ive wanted to be a homicide detective since I was a little girlthis has been a very long time coming.

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The ceremony also carried a note of remembrance for fallen Officer Bailey Martin, who died last month during flooding in Kerr County.

Several of the recruits in this academy were friends with Bailey, Gerke said. Its important we remember hes part of our family, and his family is part of our family. Once youre part of this family, youre always part of this family.

On Sunday, the newest members of OPD are going to hit the streets and are carrying their own goals for the future while working alongside their police force family to protect and serve the city of Odessa.

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President Trump took bold action to tackle Americas homelessness crisis with his July 24, 2025, executive order, Ending Crime and Disorder on Americas Streets.

By prioritizing federal funding for states and cities that enforce bans on public camping and redirect resources to treatment for addiction and mental illness, Trump is showing the kind of leadership California desperately needs.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is on a progress tour, touting what he claims are improvements in the states homelessness crisis.

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As someone who has spent years working directly with the homeless  veterans abandoned on Skid Row, downtown San Diego and countless other streets  I see Newsoms campaign for what it is. It is a shallow public relations stunt designed to gloss over his failures while our heroes are left to die.

Newsom isnt solving the crisis  he is sweeping it under the rug, just as he did before Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to San Francisco. He didnt clean up homelessness for Californians; he did it for a foreign rival. Now, with cameras rolling and higher political ambitions in mind, hes pretending the problem didnt fester under his watch.

But the numbers tell the truth: California accounts for 28 percent of the nations homeless population, with over 187,000 people on our streets, 66 percent of them unsheltered. Veterans, who served our country with honor, are among the hardest hit, discarded by a state that prioritizes photo ops over people.

I have seen the human cost of this neglect up close. In Los Angeles, I met Army veterans sitting silently on a curb outside a housing facility built for them. They were denied entry because of past jail time  often for offenses tied to untreated mental health issues from their service.

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One veteran told me, It feels like we dont matter. Like our service never happened.

In San Diegos swamp, a female Navy veteran broke down when I hugged her, saying, I thought everyone gave up on me. She wasnt asking for a handoutjust a moment of dignity.

And then theres Mike Dolbow, a veteran living on the streets for over a decade with no outreach, no help, no recognition. He said, Veterans are just a tool politicians use to get elected. They pretend to care when the cameras are on, then vanish.

Buzzwords such as curb to condo, affordable housing and resilience hubs sound polished in press releases, but they have failed to deliver.

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Since 2019, Newsom has poured more than $24 billion into homelessness programs, yet the crisis persists. This includes one veterans housing project that the California American Legion says has an anticipated total cost exceeding $1.4 billion for at least 1,200 units. That averages to approximately $833,000 per unit.

This isnt progress  its a betrayal of those who served.

President Trump, in contrast, has a record of action. In May, he ordered the Veterans Administration to reclaim the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs land to build housing for veterans  cutting through bureaucracy with speed and focus.

The executive order also empowers local governments to clear encampments and fund treatment programs, ensuring people arent just moved but helped.

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As White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, by removing vagrant criminals from our streets and redirecting resources toward substance abuse programs, the administration will ensure that Americans feel safe in their communities and that individuals suffering from addiction or mental health struggles get the help they need.

What California needs isnt more of Newsoms over-funded photo ops  its base camps: infrastructure-based transitional communities modeled after the military.

These disciplined, supportive environments, as I have advocated in my work with veterans, would provide not just shelter but a pathway to stability, offering veterans food, mental health services, addiction recovery, VA benefits assistance, and job training under one roof, with discipline and dignity.

Not shelters. Not stopgaps. Real solutions.

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Newsoms progress tour is nothing but an audition for his next job. Californians, especially our veterans, know the truth: years of inaction, empty promises and neglect.

Veterans dont need more words  they need action. President Trumps executive order is a step toward delivering it, showing what leadership looks like when its driven by results, not headlines.

Kate Monroe is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, CEO of Vetcomm and founder of Border Vets.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Trump administration says it is taking steps to help alleviate starvation in the Gaza Strip induced by Israels genocidal restriction of food into the enclave. But based on what we know so far, the efforts would fail to address the real problems with the flow of aid into Gaza  and could provide political cover for Israel as it carries on with its assault on civilian life in the territory.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee signaled Wednesday that the U.S. will take a more prominent role in expanding the Gaza Humanitarian Foundations distribution of food in Gaza. He said in an interview with Fox News that the plan is to expand the number of sites distributing food from four to 16. Huckabee also said the sites would operate for longer periods of time; while sites in some cases have opened for mere minutes before announcing theyre out of food, Huckabee said that in the future they could operate for as much as 24 hours a day.

This would be an incremental improvement, but akin to placing a Band-Aid on a gaping wound  while also stabbing the patient elsewhere. Heres why.

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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is, by its very design, a terrible way to distribute aid to Gaza. Gaza is under a blockade, and prior to May, the United Nations and its partner humanitarian organizations provided food throughout the enclave. The U.N. infrastructure was long-standing, had hundreds of distribution sites and was capable of handing out fresh meals and supplies door-to-door. For more than two months this spring, however, Israel blocked all food and other vital items into the enclave and then largely replaced the U.N. infrastructure with a slapdash operation called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The GHF is a private group backed by the U.S. and Israel and, according to The Washington Post, was conceived of by an ad hoc group of Israeli business representatives, the Israel Defense Forces and U.S. private security consultants. And its emergence as a de facto replacement for U.N. infrastructure is crucial for understanding Israels current starvation regime. It reduced primary distribution of food to just four sites, and three out of its four initial sites are in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, making it hard for much of the population to access food. Moreover, the sites provide a much smaller range of food that is not suitable for children or starving populations, and all the sites are in military zones; accessing them is incredibly dangerous. As I explained in a recent piece, GHF sites create a horrifying dilemma for Gazans by forcing them to choose between starving or risking being shot:

Close to a thousand people have been shot and killed while seeking food, according to the United Nations. A former retired Green Beret who worked at the GHF sites said that they were designed as death traps and that he witnessed civilians being targeted. (Death trap is also the term used by a U.N. official to describe the new system.) Humanitarian and famine experts say that the program cant possibly feed everyone in the territory and that it also humiliates and undermines the population. In other words, the GHF is perfectly designed to allow Israel to say its doing something for Gaza while winnowing down the population.

Even with 16 sites instead of four and longer periods of service, the aid distribution sites would still be a far cry from the U.N. infrastructure that was already in place and already working. The Trump administration is not addressing the fundamental problem of scrapping the neutral administration of humanitarian aid. Instead, it is doubling down on investing in a militarized humanitarian operation, one backed by a country that has used the cutting off of food, water, medicine and other vital supplies as a weapon of war since the beginning of its operation.

The ostensible pretext for Israel to pivot from U.N. distribution to the GHF were claims that Hamas was stealing aid. But The New York Times, citing two senior Israeli military officials and two other Israelis involved in the matter, reported in July that the Israeli military never found proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid from the United Nations and that the U.N. aid system was largely effective. (Israels government officially maintains that Hamas stole substantial amounts of aid.)

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Reuters also recently reported that an internal U.S. government study conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development found no evidence of systematic theft of goods by Hamas. (A White House spokesperson claimed no State Department official had seen the study and said it was likely produced by a deep state operative.) What we do know is that a surge in starvation-related deaths in Gaza came after Israel paused aid and instituted the GHF.

Theres reason to fear even incremental improvement of the GHF will be poorly executed. Last week, Huckabee visited the Gaza Strip alongside Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and called GHFs operations an incredible feat. Ellie Burgos, an American critical care nurse volunteering at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told NBC News, It was a PR stunt, a controlled visit supervised and dictated by the Israeli military. (NBC News also reported that on the day of the visit, at least 92 people were killed on Friday across Gaza, including 51 people who were seeking aid.) The Trump administration is clearly willing to airbrush and downplay the harsh realities on the ground, which should give us reason to doubt that itll hold a high bar when trying to allow more food into the enclave.

Ultimately, the core problem is Israels endless military operation in Gaza, which it resumed in March after it unilaterally withdrew from a ceasefire deal with Hamas. If the Trump administration were serious about helping Gaza, then it would pressure Israel to end a war that hundreds of ex-Israeli security officials have said no longer serves any military purpose against Hamas and call for an end to a blockade that treats civilians as targets of war. But there is no evidence that the Trump administration desires a serious solution.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The state we love, the one known for opportunity and strong communities, is on track to become unaffordable for the very people who make it thrive. If current trends continue, the average Utah home price could approach $1 million by 2030. For most Utahns, thats not just a price tag; its a locked door on the American Dream. Its time to act before Utah faces a California-like population decline.

Some say the answer is more government programs like subsidies, taxpayer-backed down payments or affordable housing projects. But those are Band-Aids, not solutions. They treat the symptoms while making the disease worse. The hard truth is that government policies are fueling this crisis.

Recent reporting revealed that excessive regulations, from permits and endless reviews to redundant inspections, can add up to $120,000 to the cost of a new home in Utah. Thats before the first nail is hammered. These delays dont make homes safer; they just make sure that theyre even further out of reach.

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At the same time, outdated local zoning laws choke off supply. Many Utah cities still enforce minimum lot sizes and minimum home square footage, making it illegal to build smaller, more affordable single-family homes. That forces families into homes that are bigger and more expensive than they want, or out of the market altogether.

This isnt just an economic issue; its a property rights issue. Landowners should be free to use their property to its highest value. If you own an acre and want to divide it into six or eight smaller lots for families, why should you not be able to do that while making a return for yourself? Instead, cities impose one-size-fits-all rules that lock up land, artificially restrict supply, and push homeownership further out of reach.

Utah lawmakers dont need to act alone on this, as federal solutions are also on the table: unlocking federal lands adjacent to our existing communities that sit unused. Sen. Mike Lee has pushed for reforms to allow Utahns to build on certain parcels of federally controlled land that arent national parks or used for recreation. These areas simply sit idle while Utah families are priced out of the housing market more every day. This isnt about paving over wilderness. Its about putting existing, unused land to work to meet Utahs housing needs.

A house for sale in Draper on Thursday, July 10, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Some worry that cutting red tape and reforming zoning will lead to sprawl or low-income projects. But lets be clear: unleashing Utahs housing market will allow for gentle density and more starter homes in high-demand places  protecting Utahs natural beauty from more greenfield developments.

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If we want to preserve the Utah way of life and ensure the American Dream is in reach for everyone, single-family homes must become affordable again, and the only way to do that is to unleash the free market and respect property rights.

Heres what Utah must do:

Cut the red tape. Streamline permits, eliminate unnecessary inspections and stop letting projects sit in bureaucratic limbo. Every delay adds costs buyers cant afford. Reform zoning. End arbitrary minimum lot and home size requirements so smaller, more attainable homes can be built. Let landowners develop their property to meet demand. Unlock idle federal land. Free up unused parcels near existing communities so builders can create the housing Utah families desperately need.

Utah has a choice: either we empower the free market and respect property rights, or we let government red tape and artificial scarcity push homeownership out of reach for an entire generation.

For the sake of Utahs rising generations, lets choose freedom, opportunity and a Utah where everyone who wants to live here has the opportunity to do so.
A collision involving an ambulance and a pedestrian occurred at the intersection of John Young Parkway and Oak Street in Kissimmee, Florida, at 11:05 AM today.

The incident involved a medical transport vehicle from Orange County Fire Rescue Department that was heading to Orlando Regional Hospital as part of a different incident.

The Kissimmee Fire Department took the pedestrian involved in the incident to a nearby hospital for medical care.

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The Orange County Fire Rescue Department is examining the incident and will cooperate with law enforcement, which is leading the investigation into the motor vehicle incident.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
JAY, Okla. (KFOR)  On Friday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) announced the arrest of a 36-year-old man regarding the discovery of images and videos of child sexual abuse material.

According to OSBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip containing child sexual abuse material. Authorities soon after began investigating and identified the internet user as Bruce Murray, who resides in Jay, Oklahoma.

Bruce Murray, Image OSBI

Police say on August 7, 2025, OSBI ICAC Unit and additional agencies served multiple search warrants in Delaware County. Police officers located Murray at his workplace, and he admitted to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

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Lake Mead remains identified as missing San Diego nurse from 1980s cold case

Murray was arrested and booked into the Delaware County Jail on the following charges:

Two counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

One count of Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act

The investigation remains ongoing, says OSBI 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Staff at Oscar Patterson Academy celebrated with bacon cheeseburgers today after turning their schools F grade to a B in one year, according to a post from Bay County Schools.

Bay District School Board approves Oscar Patterson turnaround plan

Oscar Patterson Academy was given an F last year for the 2023-2024 school year, receiving its first grade since it reopened in 2022. The school was closed for about 4 years following Hurricane Michael.

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Subsequently, the District announced a turnaround plan, hoping to use several community resources to help Oscar Patterson teachers and students perform their best in 2024-2025.

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 mypanhandle.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Theres a primary care physician shortage in Ohio, but on Friday, August 8, more than 200 students at The Ohio State University took a step to address it.

Today, the OSU College of Medicine class of 2029 put on their white coats, signifying the start of their journey in medical school.

The OSU College of Medicine class of 2029 is made up of 224 students. For many, the reason they are going into medicine is very personal, but what they share is that they are all hoping to make a difference.

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The white coat, Im wearing mine, and it means that we are really set apart to provide care. Empathetic, compassionate, high-quality, safe care for patients, families, and communities, OSU College of Medicine Dean Dr. Carol Bradford said.

Mercadito Raices graduates honored at Festival Latino

Dr. Bradford addressed the room of students and families, which included two future physicians that NBC4 spoke with.

My auntie passed away from ovarian cancer, OSU College of Medicine student Leslie Agwanihu said. I didnt quite know how to navigate that on my own, being so young. And I think that was the moment where I was like, I want to be able to be this person for someone else and to be able to help them in their families through vulnerable and trying times.

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My father contracted the infectious disease that ultimately took his life, OSU College of Medicine student Brianna Mendelson said. This is not one case, this is not one patient. This can happen often, and I want to make sure that Im that physician that can address these issues.

Both of these medical students, along with more than two hundred others, received their white coats.

This is when they start their journey, and three or four more years are going to have passed this stage one more time, and then theyll be called doctor, Dr. Bradford said.

These students were selected from 8,700 applications, which OSU College of Medicine says is a record.

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Im a first-generation college student, and I just want to put that out there as well, that if you can dream it and believe it and it can be yours. So keep pushing forward, Mendelson said.

This incoming class comes from twenty-nine different states, speaking more than thirty-three languages. 58% of the class is from Ohio.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Josie Kohn is making history this summer as the first person with Down syndrome to participate in the Inasmuch Foundation Community Fellowship program.

The program works to connect college undergraduate and graduate students with nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma City for a paid summer internship.

Kohn is approaching her sophomore year of college at Oklahoma State University through the schools Opportunity Orange Scholars Program, a transition program for young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 with intellectual disabilities.

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Her eligibility to apply for a position as an Inasmuch Foundation Community Fellow was made especially possible by her pursuit of postsecondary education as an Opportunity Orange Scholar.

Josie Kohn demonstrates school spirit with a "pistols firing" hand gesture.

Kohn's ultimate acceptance into Inasmuch's program led her to also secure a summer internship with the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO), a nonprofit organization with a mission to raise awareness and provide resources for people with Down syndrome.

Kohn says her initial involvement with the DSACO began when she was a baby; however, as an intern for the organization, she started learning to cultivate new leadership skills and redefine her role.

Through her DSACO internship, Kohn said she has attended business luncheons, mix and mingles, and even traveled to Dallas for the annual National Down Syndrome Convention.

Josie Kohn poses for headshot

In addition to these endeavors, Kohns fellowship has allowed her to give presentations to business people, guide tours of DSACO, help inventory library books, make new parent packets, volunteer, and assist the organizations Occupational Therapy Camp and tutoring initiatives.

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I love it, Kohn said when reflecting on her time as a DSACO intern and participant in the Inasmuch Foundation Community Fellowship program.

Though Kohns internship came to its inevitable end this week, she says she hopes to return next summer and wishes to remain involved in DSACO throughout the school year, with plans to attend the organizations Down Syndrome Festival & 5k that will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Josie Kohn first Inasmuch Foundation Community Fellow with Down syndrome
STAGE PRESENCE

Ancient Acumen

By pandering to your appetites, / you get nowhere;

By penance and fasting, / you get conceit.

Be moderate in food and drink / and live a moderate life,

The gates of Heaven will surely be / thrown open wide for you.

When poet Lalleshwari wrote By Pandering to Your Appetites in the 14th century, she likely wasnt considering whether it would resonate 700 years later. So the mystic known by several names, including Lalla, probably would be flattered to learn her work is central to The Storydancer Projects multi-disciplinary performances this weekend. The shows also feature works by 13th century poet and mystic Rumi, and they incorporate dancing by project member Zuleikha, as well as music by Eugene Friesen on cello, Benjy Wertheimer on percussion, and Parisa Soultani, who plays the esraj, a distinctive-looking stringed instrument found primarily in South Asia. The performances are titled Love in the Midst: Hints from the Mystics for Times of Change.

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The Storydancer Projects mission is supporting self-care and transformative programs on the Navajo Nation and in India and the United States. Zuleikha created the nonprofit group in 2001 to address the lack of wellness education and resources locally and internationally and to bring rejuvenation and self-care skills to girls, women, children, families and communities. To learn more, visit thestorydancerproject.org.  Brian Sandford

details

7:30 p.m. Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 9; New Mexico Actors Lab; 1213 Parkway Drive; $49; sfnm.co/storydancer

SCENE AND SONG

Opera Apprentices Set to Shine

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, no one blue could be the theme of the two Santa Fe Opera apprentice scenes performances this summer.

details

Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes

8 p.m. Sunday, August 10 and 17

Santa Fe Opera

301 Opera Drive

$22-$32

505-986-5900, santafeopera.org

The something old is the format for the performance on Sunday, August 10. Its in the time-honored approach with fully staged and costumed opera excerpts, accompanied by piano, with the vocal apprentices doing all the singing and the technical apprentices doing all the design and production work.

This year the scenes come from Hector Berliozs Beatrice and Benedict, Bizets Carmen, Donizettis Don Pasquale, Mozarts Cosi fan Tutte, Puccinis Il Tabarro, Richard Strauss Daphne, and Stravinskys The Rakes Progress.

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The something new is the debut of the Santa Fe Opera orchestra to accompany the scenes on August 17, led by Ivan Lopez Reynoso, whos also conducting this summers La Boheme. Soprano Patricia Racette, the newly appointed artistic director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, is the stage director for the programs seven scenes.

The featured operas are Bellinis Norma, Leonard Bernsteins Candide, Leo Delibes Lakme, Donizettis Anna Bolena, Carlisle Floyds Susannah, Rossinis The Italian Girl in Algiers, and Johann Strauss IIs Die Fledermaus.

The something borrowed is actually many things  the furniture, properties, costumes, and wigs that come from the operas extensive inventory to be used in the August 10 program.

The no one blue could describe the operas staff, performers, and production personnel, who are justifiably celebrating a very successful 2025 season and (just perhaps) keeping an eye on the calendar for the arrival of closing night, on August 23.  Mark Tiarks

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------------

EXHIBITIONISM

All the Views That Are Fit to Print

Cutout wallpaper roll, Campanula In Bloom, sienna wallpaper

All the Views That Are Fit to Print

Briana DeVoe Whites watercolor paintings cover the walls at her design studio, and not figuratively. The Santa Fe painter and designer creates wallpaper, clothing, and pillows bearing patterns she has created.

Her newest pattern, Campanula in Bloom, is featured during a five-day pop-up exhibition at Folklore gallery. Its described as incorporating two new colorways: canyon and sienna. The studios debut collection, Hues of the High Desert, was inspired by naturescapes of Northern New Mexico and launched last year at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.  B.S.

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details

Thursday, August 14, through August 18 (reception 5-8 p.m. Thursday, August 14); Folklore, 370 Garcia Street, 925-408-2907; folkloresantafe.com

EXHIBITIONISM

An Eye for Irony

In David Bradleys painting Land OBucks, a vapidly smiling, ample-bosomed Indigenous woman holds a dollar bill while kneeling behind a pair of skulls, Native jewelry with price tags affixed, a tomahawk, and a bottle of liquor. Behind her is a motel sign featuring a racist caricature of an Indigenous man, while the words cultural genocide at the bottom of the image drive the point home.

An Eye for Irony

David Bradley, Land O'Bucks (1990-1992)

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Bradley created the work in the early 1990s, well before the dairy company Land OLakes replaced the butter maiden imagery that Land OBucks skewers in 2020 after using it for nearly a century. The piece is part of Reservation for Irony: Native Wit and Contemporary Realities at the Institute of Contemporary Art Santa Fe, featuring photography, sculptures, and paintings by Tony Abeyta, Nicholas Galanin, Kent Monkman, Cara Romero, and Diego Romero, among many others.

While Land OBucks is less subtle than most of the other works featured, it effectively summarizes what the exhibition presented by Trotta-Bono Contemporary and ICA Santa Fe is about: demonstrating how satire and humor are powerful tools in contemporary Native art and storytelling. An opening reception is 5-8 p.m. August 16.

Readers likely are familiar with the work of Ricardo Cate, whose work in the Santa Fe New Mexican is the only daily cartoon in the United States presented from an Indigenous perspective. With All Due Respect: Stand-Up with Ricardo Cate & Friends showcases his humor in verbal form and runs from 8-10 p.m. August 16; RSVPs are requested at the website listed below. A panel discussion featuring some artists with work in the exhibition and set for August 15 has sold out.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with Santa Fe Indian Market, which runs August 15-17.  B.S.

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details

Through August 30; Institute of Contemporary Art Santa Fe, 906 S. St. Francis Drive; icasantafe.org

GALLERY NEWS

Dress Dream

The inspiration for Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project, an exhibition coinciding with Santa Fe Indian Market thats showing at Monroe Gallery of Photography, can be traced to a dream that artist Eugene Tapahe (Dine) experienced during the pandemic.

The dream featured the Ojibwe jingle dress dance, an Indigenous dance with roots in healing and spiritual practices  which resonated with Tapahe during a time of widespread illness and social upheaval. Tapahe since has traveled thousands of miles photographing or taking videos of family members and friends performing the dance, documenting a striking combination of brightly colored dance garb and sweeping natural backdrops at national parks and monuments.

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A reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, and at 5:30 p.m. Tapahe will discuss the work and preview a documentary hes developing. Originally from Window Rock, Arizona, he has won awards including best of show in 2018 at the Cherokee Indian Market in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  B.S.

details

Through September 14; Monroe Gallery of Photography, 112 Don Gaspar Avenue; 505-992-0800; monroegallery.com

WORTH THE DRIVE

Quest to Questa

When the Questa Art Tour gained life, the town about 25 miles north of Taos was in flux.

Quest to Questa

Questa Art Tour artist Mark Lewis Wagner (left)

The Questa mine had just closed, and a planned cybersecurity company set to provide as many as 300 jobs failed to materialize. The historic San Antonio de Padua church had just been returned to its former splendor almost a decade after one of its adobe walls collapsed.

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The art tour, organized by the nonprofit Questa Creative Council, launched during that time of transition and marks its 10th anniversary this year. The church is among the 21 stops representing 52 artists this year  a marked increase compared with the 12 stops and 33 artists involved during the tours first year, in 2016.

Studio tours have grown in popularity in northern New Mexico: Questas is one of three in Taos County alone. The High Road Art Tour is September 20-21 and 27-28, and the Taos Studio Tour is August 30 through September 1.  B.S.

details

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, August 9-10; Questa Visitor Center, 1 N.M. 38 (information booth); 575-586-565; questacreative.org
GlobalWafers America LLC, the US subsidiary of GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. (GWC), has announced a new partnership with Apple aimed at strengthening the domestic semiconductor manufacturing supply chain, the company said in a release. This strategic collaboration supports the US President Donald Trump administration's push to make the United States a global leader in chip production. According to the release, as part of the partnership, both companies will work together to grow demand for advanced 300mm silicon wafers produced at GWC's state-of-the-art facility in Sherman, Texas. These wafers are a key component in the production of a wide range of chips, including leading-edge, mature-node, and memory semiconductors. GWC's wafers are foundational to technologies across modern life--from consumer electronics and vehicles to infrastructure and AI applications, including devices like the iPhone and iPad. GlobalWafers America is currently the only global producer of advanced 300mm wafers participating in the CHIPS for America Program under the Trump Administration. The company is bringing back to US soil a critical element of chip production that had largely moved offshore in recent decades. Mark England, President of GlobalWafers, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating that the partnership with Apple reflects a strong signal that the semiconductor ecosystem is being restored in the United States. GlobalWafers Chairwoman Doris Hsu also underscored the importance of the collaboration, emphasising the pride in having their silicon used in Apple's iconic products and the shared commitment to revitalising U.S. chip manufacturing. "iPhone and iPad are well-known in every nation in the world, and we're thrilled that silicon from GlobalWafers America will be found in many of these incredible products. We feel honored that Apple is working with us and their first-tier suppliers to make American semiconductor manufacturing great again," Doris Hsu said. Apple's Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan added that the company is committed to supporting American manufacturing through partnerships like this one, noting that it is part of Apple's USD 600 billion investment in the US over the next four years. "With our new American Manufacturing Program, we're proud to partner with companies like GlobalWafers America to create new jobs and bring even more manufacturing to America," said Sabih Khan, Apple's chief operating officer. "This is part of our USD 600 billion commitment to the US over the next four years, and we couldn't be more excited about the future of American innovation." The announcement comes as the Trump Administration continues to support the semiconductor sector through policies like the expanded Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit and reforms to the CHIPS for America Program. The Apple-GlobalWafers partnership builds on this momentum to boost U.S. supply chain resilience and technological leadership. (ANI)
Aug. 8SANTA FE  The site where several towering trees previously stood was decorated with signs and flowers Friday, several days after the falling of the leafy elms prompted a local outcry.

But Santa Fe officials say there's an effort underway to replace the cut-down trees at Fort Marcy Park, the site of the annual Zozobra festival that last year drew an estimated 65,000 people.

That plan could involve planting native and drought-tolerant trees to take the place of the 12 Siberian elms, albeit in parts of the park outside established Zozobra evacuation routes. But it could also involve erecting other kinds of shade-providing structures for parkgoers.

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Such shade-providing gazebos or canopies could then be removed for events like Zozobra, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, city officials said Friday.

"We see this as a huge opportunity to discuss shade options while remaining mindful of our carbon footprint," said Melissa McDonald, the city of Santa Fe's Parks and Open Space Division director.

The city plans a community meeting at Fort Marcy Park later this month to review its options, including where the trees and shade-providing gazebos should be located.

While city officials say the project was already in the works under a $5 million appropriation from the Legislature, they acknowledge it's been impacted by the controversy over cutting down the 12 trees for Zozobra. Siberian elms are an invasive plant species native to Asia, but are now frequently found in New Mexico.

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"We did feel it was timely due to the (tree) removal to bring it up," said McDonald, who added some new trees could be planted as soon as this fall.

Many of the cut-down trees were located in an arroyo that separates two different parts of Fort Marcy Park. While a concrete bridge across the arroyo was built several years ago to replace a narrower bridge that had become a safety hazard, Zozobra organizers have said overcrowding remains an issue at the annual event.

They also said the event's insurers had insisted the trees be removed in order for the insurance policy to stay in effect.

But the decision to cut down the trees angered some local residents and elected officials, who said there should have been more dialogue before moving forward with plans.

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On Friday, some parkgoers took pictures of the makeshift memorials to the trees, which were erected by a group that calls itself "Save the Fort Marcy Trees." Others lamented that several nearby picnic benches had lost their leafy covering.

Across the park loomed the site where Old Man Gloom will burn on Aug. 29, with nary a tree to block the view  or throw shade.
Inmates at a prison in southwestern France are struggling to cope as a heatwave grips the region, with high temperatures set to persist through the weekend.

Fans hummed in every corner, and sheets hung from windows at an overcrowded prison near the city of Toulouse, where inmates tried to cool down as temperatures pushed past 36 degrees Celsius, an AFP journalist observed on Thursday.

Southern France is in the grip of a heatwave, and for inmates at the Seysses detention centre, that heat is "unbearable", one detainee said.

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But like many prisons in France, Seysses is overcrowded  in June, it held on average more than twice its capacity.

"Having two people per cell has become the exception," said one guard, whose name like all the detainees interviewed cannot be published.

With detention centres across the country at over capacity and facilities ill-suited to ever more frequent heatwaves, guards and inmates alike worry about the impact of the heat.

Heat can create security risks, with fights becoming "more frequent" as temperatures rise, the guard said.

"The slightest annoyance can spark a fight."

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Temperatures this weekend are expected to hit 40C in some areas and Monday forecast to be the "hottest day nationwide," according to national weather service Meteo France.

At the prison, "you can really feel the 38 degrees. The walls absorb the heat. There's condensation," the detainee said, speaking from the 9-square-metre cell he shares with two other people.

"We're not going to ask for air conditioning, that's not going to happen, but we would like more ventilation or a larger cell," he said.

-'No choice'-

As the planet warms as a result of humanity's emissions of greenhouse gases, experts say heatwaves are likely to become more frequent across Europe.

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For detainees at Seysses, a two-hour break in an asphalt courtyard with no trees offers little reprieve, with mist sprayers not due to be installed until next summer.

An inmate in the women's section of the prison said she and her fellow prisoners just stayed in their cells because it was too hot to go outside.

For the inmates who did venture into the recreation yard, most stayed in the shade, though a few did some push-ups or pull-ups even in the blistering heat.

Prison staff distributed free water and provided fans and hats to the most vulnerable individuals, including those over 75 years old or those with health issues.

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But the prison's facilities, including a poorly ventilated library and a gym, with tiny windows and a single fan, offer little escape from the heat.

"It's hot in there, but when there are a lot of them, it gets very, very hot very quickly," said a guard, describing the workout room.

Even sleep brings little relief, said one recent arrival in the women's section of the prison, which is built for 40 people but holding 80.

The inmate, who shares her cell with two other detainees, said she has no alternative but to sleep on a mattress on the floor.

Sleeping is "difficult, because it's concrete and during the summer, it's quite hot," she said.

"But we have no choice."

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Trash troubles at a metro apartment are now fixed after News 4 talked with neighbors last week. Now, theyre thankful the eyesore and smelly mess is gone.

It was at the Wedgewood Village Apartments in Oklahoma City that neighbors expressed their concern last week.

Residents frustrated after trash overflows at housing complex

We have kids that are out here playing every day, they smell it, we smell it, we just wanna live in a nice clean area just like the surrounding area, said Taylor Messner, who lives at Wedgewood Apartments.

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Bags and bags of trash were taking over the dumpsters, and neighbors said nothing was being done to clean them up.

Trash piled up on a dumpster last week (KFOR)

Its like I pay so much money here and I pay for the trash toohow come they cant get the trash out of here, said Lisa Walker, who called News 4 for help.

News 4 tried to get an answer from the complex, in an attempt to find out when the trash would be cleared, but never heard back.

Lisa Walker said she was fed up and called our In Your Corner line for help.

I called News 4 to let them know because this is ridiculous, and it says be in your corner because it couldve been a fire hazard and all these diseases thats going around and everything, said Walker.

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A week later, theres a drastic change to the dumpsters.

Trash problems are now fixed at Wedgewood Village Apartments (KFOR)

I really appreciate you, and I thank you very much, said Walker.

Now, Walker is just concerned that this will happen again.

Cause it hasnt been stacked yet, so well see. Im gonna keep an eye on it, and if it gets stacked again, and Ill contact you again, they did it again hahaha,' said Walker.

Our crews could see the dumpsters starting to get pretty full again on Friday. In a few weeks, well have to see if it piles up to the extent it did before.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A co-owner of a Trump-branded burger chain in Texas is facing deportation as officials allege that the Lebanese national overstayed his visa, engaged in "sham" marriages and has a criminal record that includes an assault charge.

The 28-year-old restaurateur, Roland Mehrez Beainy, entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor and remained in the country illegally when his visa expired in February 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

Beainy  who currently operates Trump Burger locations in Houston, Bellville, Flatonia and Kemah  opened the first restaurant in Bellville in 2020 but was never authorized to use the Trump name or branding, according to local reports. The Trump Organization, President Donald Trumps private business, sent the Bellville location a cease-and-desist letter earlier this year, The Fayette County Record reported.

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Officials said Beainys political leanings wont shield him from President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration.

Trump Burger Chain Grows Popular In Texas, Controversial With Critics

People line up to order food at Trump Burger on July 28, 2022, in Bellville, Texas.

"Despite false claims to the contrary, Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States," an ICE spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "Under the current administration, ICE is committed to restore integrity to our nations immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have."

Read On The Fox News App

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said officials revoked Beainys petition for immigration status after members of his own family admitted that his marriage was "a sham designed to game the system."

"The Department of Homeland Security has zero tolerance for immigration fraud, and this individuals claims are baseless," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement Saturday. "This person has no Green Card, a history of illegal marriages, and an assault charge. DHS is actively pursuing all legal avenues to address this flagrant abuse of our immigration laws."

Trump Burger Chain Expanding In Texas, Owner Praises President As 'Gentleman That Makes Peace'

A customer picks up her cheeseburgers branded with "Trump" at Trump Burger on Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Bellville, Texas.

Beainy has denied the allegations, calling them "not true" in a statement to the Houston Chronicle .

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The restaurateur was arrested by ICE in May and placed into immigration proceedings, but was granted bond in June, the agency said, adding that his deportation case will continue to proceed through the courts.

Legal Immigrant's Status Revoked Over Campaign Of Violence, Gang Support In Haiti: Ice

People walk out of Trump Burger on Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Bellville, Texas.

Beainys burger chain has been embroiled in branding conflicts and other business disputes this year.

In February, attorneys for the Trump Organization sent Trump Burger a cease-and-desist letter accusing it of "misleading the public into falsely believing that your business is affiliated with the Trump Organization or endorsed by our clients," according to The Fayette County Record.

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"We were surprised to learn that you have been flagrantly infringing upon the Trump Organizations valuable and well-established intellectual property right by operating at least three restaurants under the Trump name and brand," the letter read.

The company demanded Beainy stop using the Trump brand, scrub all references from marketing materials, and provide "a full accounting of all revenues" generated from the alleged misuse, The Fayette County Record reported, adding that the letter warned of legal actions if demands were not met.

In a separate matter in June, the restaurant sued its Kemah, Texas, landlord, Archie Patterson, who allegedly forced staff out and took control of the location, according to the Houston Chronicle. Patterson responded with his own lawsuit accusing Beainy of unpaid debts, the outlet added.

The Trump Organization and the attorney representing Beainy, Geoffrey S. Binney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Saturday.





Original article source: Owner of Trump-themed burger chain faces deportation after feds allege illegal status, 'sham' marriages
Roland Mehrez Beainy, a co-owner of Trump Burger in Texas, is facing deportation.

Beainy, a 28-year-old originally from Lebanon, entered the U.S. in 2019 with a non-immigrant visitor visa and overstayed, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The restaurateur was arrested by ICE on May 16 and placed in detention. He was then granted bond by an immigration attorney on June 13 as his case goes through the courts, the agency stated.

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Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States, an ICE spokesperson told The Hill.

Trump Burger opened its third restaurant in the Houston area in April, where they sell burgers with the buns branded with Trump. A fourth franchise opened in Bay City this summer.

The two other restaurants are in Bellville and Flatonia, Texas. Earlier this year, Beainy told Eater that high demand for the branded burger led him to open more locations.

The White House declined to comment about the deportation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 UN said that Netanyahu's plans risk 'catastrophic consequences' for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages. | Credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images

Occupying Gaza is the only way to ensure Israel's security and wipe out Hamas, claimed Benjamin Netanyahu as he announced that the Israeli army will "take control of Gaza City".

The UN said that the move risks "catastrophic consequences" for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages, and there has also been condemnation from world leaders, the Israeli military and relatives of the hostages.

Who owns Gaza?

Before Israel was established in 1948, the area now known as Gaza was "part of the large swathe" of the Middle East that was under British colonial rule, said South China Morning Post.

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Upon the foundation of Israel, 700,000 Palestinians either fled or were forced from their homes. Tens of thousands of them "flocked" to the "strip of land wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea", which was handed to the control of the Egyptian army.



During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel took control of Gaza from Egypt and began to build settlements on the land. Then, after Israel and the Palestinians agreed the Oslo Accords in 1993, control of Gaza was handed to the Palestinian Authority (PA).



In 2005, Israel performed a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, uprooting all of its troops and thousands of settlers. Within months, Hamas won parliamentary elections in Gaza and aggressively seized control of the territory from the PA. In response, Israel imposed a strict blockade on Gaza, which some argued was another form of occupation.

What is the legal definition of 'occupation'?

According to Article 42 of the 1907 Hague Regulations a territory is considered occupied "when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army". Israel is not a party to the Fourth Hague Convention but it's "considered customary international law" and, therefore it "still binds Israel", said Atlantic Council.

What might happen next?

There are fears that settler movements may seize the opportunity to try and return to Gaza, said Leonie Fleischmann on The Conversation. Since Israel began its "onslaught" in the strip, settler groups have been calling for the resettlement of Gaza and although it's "not yet clear" whether Netanyahu plans to allow the establishment of civilian settlements there, "historical precedent makes this a very real possibility".

Some have speculated, however, that the "threat of full occupation" is just part of a "strategy" to pressure Hamas to make concessions in "stalled talks", said Hugo Bachega, the BBC's Middle East correspondent. "We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body," Netanyahu has said. We "want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life."

How these aims are realised is less than clear, as Jonathan Sacerdoti noted in The Spectator. "Politically", the notion of "long-term Israeli security control over Gaza" without annexation or direct governance presents an "unsolved riddle: who will take responsibility for civil life once the guns fall silent"?
For several years, locals have been embracing outdoor recreation and ecotourism as launchpads are constructed and dozens of annual events are scheduled to give people an opportunity to raise their paddles together in exploring regional streams, rivers, and waterways. One of these events is the annual Portsmouth Paddlefest, which is entering its third year.

The Third Annual Portsmouth Paddlefest is building off our previous events and has brought new and veteran paddlers to the event. Im looking forward to seeing local residents and visitors at this years event, Portsmouth City Councilman Sean Dunne and co-organizer said.

Im also excited about the interest we are seeing from Shawnee State students.

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While Dunne has been involved all three years, a co-organizer helping this year with experience in previous river paddling events, Todd Eichenlaub, is also looking forward to this years Paddlefest.

The event first launched a few years ago with Mike Caldwell and friends, with the mission of bringing a large, free, community paddling event to Portsmouths section of the Ohio River. Last year, Eichenlaub said a passion for the event had him working behind the scenes before taking a more active role this year.

I fell in love with paddling the river when I participated in events with Ohio River Way. This one is special because it doesnt have cost barriers or intense demands to participate, Eichenlaub explained. Some of these events charge people in other communities.

Last year, when Eichenlaub participated in the Ohio River Way Challenge, he spent six days on the river and travelled 153 miles by canoe.

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It was an experience, and I fell in love with the Ohio River again. I was born and raised in Scioto County, on the Ohio River. People often say the river is dirty, but it isnt that bad at all, Eichenlaub said. When I was on the river last year, we had two biologists from the University of Louisville who took water samples along the way, and it isnt quite like what anyone likely thinks. Its safe. I mean, I wouldnt drink a glass of it, but it is great to enjoy paddling activities on.

There are many reasons Eichenlaub enjoys paddling events, his first reasoning is simply rooted in how the events make him feel.

It may sound corny, but, for me, it is just a beautiful experience to be level with the river. It is symbolic to me, because we are a river town. It kind of reminds me of my life It is always slowing, then speeding, but it is always moving in a direction, Eichenlaub. It is just a beautiful river, especially the stretch from Portsmouth to, like, Vanceburg.

Eichenlaub said events like this one offer the public an opportunity to see a beauty they otherwise would miss.

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That stretch of river is so beautiful and you cant see it unless youre on the water and away from the city and towns in-between, Eichenlaub explained. It is serene to see the wildlife coming back and the beautiful views that often go untouched. I mean, when we did the Ohio River Way, we counted about 37 bald eagles. For a long time, seeing that many would be extremely rare.

To Eichenlaub, the event is more than just nature, it is also people.

When youre on the water, nobody cares where you came from. Everyone comes together as friends and it seems were on equal playing field when were on the water, which is a big part of what inspires me. Being part of activities like this one is important to me because of community. Ive met really good friends doing these types of activities that I wouldnt otherwise have, from all over, just as I have found different people volunteering at places like Portsmouth Little Theatre. These things bring people together.

Eichenlaub sees a growing interest in paddling activities on the Ohio and says that he hopes they only become more prominent as Portsmouth continues hosting events and investing on the riverfront.

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The barges have been using the river for commerce, but it is important for us to reclaim it for recreation, too. That is one major reason Im excited for the riverfront expansion to take off soon, Eichenlaub said. Ive looked over the renderings of the 34-million-dollar project and it is just beautiful. Ive seen different riverfronts that are beautiful along the Ohio, and it is exciting to see our town is getting that as well.

The Third Annual Portsmouth Paddlefest will be held Aug. 16, with participants meeting at Burnside Kayak Launch at 7 a.m. for an 8 a.m. launch. A group will be going from Portsmouth to Shawnee State Marina. Kayak and canoe rentals are available through MoonDoggie LIVERee. An event page on Facebook is available for details and questions.
Nausheen Ahmed couldnt help but hear a flight attendants cry for help on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix. When she did, Ahmed, associate director of the cell therapy program at the University of Kansas Medical Center, sprang into action.

A passenger on the flight was having some sort of medical emergency, Ahmed said. She didnt know if the unidentified man suffered a seizure or a heart attack, but he did not look well.

Doctor or not, I couldnt imagine what Ahmed or anyone on that plane were thinking. We live in a time where the slightest interruption would send any of us into a frenzy.

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It was scary, Ahmed said. Even as a medical professional, no one really knows what to do with a fellow passenger having an emergency. The key is to stay calm, Ahmed said in an interview.

Ahmed was on a return trip from Dubai when this unexpected call for help came. She had spent a week with family there on vacation, but returned alone because she had pressing business in the United States.

Little did Ahmed know shed be called into action on a flight she wasnt supposed to be on.

Rescheduled on a different flight

She was scheduled to fly from Dubai to Seattle and straight back to Kansas City on one airline, but the flight had issues, she said. Instead, Ahmed took another airline from Seattle to Kansas City with a layover in Phoenix. About one hour before landing in Arizona on Aug. 3, a fellow passenger fell ill. When a flight attendant screamed for help, Ahmed and a nurse identified as Allison Fowler Tolbert of Marshall Medical Center North in Alabama went to work.

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Ahmed said the patients heart rate was low and he was pale.

It looked like he was having a seizure, she said.

Despite being a medical doctor for more than 20 years, Ahmed felt a nervous tension come over her as she and the nurse she had never met worked feverishly to render aid to the ailing passenger.

I tried to stabilize the patient. We got him oxygen and we got him two aspirin just in case he was having a heart attack.

At KU, Ahmed is a physician specializing in blood cancer, blood disorders and blood marrow transplants. She said she was out of her element on the airplane, but that did not prevent her from taking action.

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Even for a medical professional, this was a different environment, she said. This was not a controlled environment. There were a lot of unknowns.

Within five minutes, the patient stabilized, according to Ahmed. She and Tolbert stayed by the passengers side until the flight safely landed in Phoenix. They gave him water and orange juice, and checked his blood pressure regularly, every 15 minutes, according to Ahmed.

Honored by Pakistan society of KC

Ahmed is a Muslim Pakistani American physician from Overland Park, according to a media release. On Aug. 14, Irshad Cheema, Secretary General of the Pakistan American Society of Greater Kansas City, plans to honor Ahmed as part of the Pakistan Independence Day celebration at Heritage Park in Olathe.

In a statement, Cheema said he was very proud of Ahmed for her heroic act in the mid-air in an effort to save the life of a fellow American.

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Mohamed Herbert, an imam at the Islamic Center of Johnson County, also congratulated Ahmed for what he described in a statement as selfless care, compassion and mercy for fellow humans.

Ahmed described the experience as a powerful eye-opener. She said her goal is to raise awareness about in-flight medical resources and the crucial role airline crews play in responding to emergencies.

After the ordeal, Ahmed said she quickly discovered that U.S. carrier aircraft with one or more flight attendants are required to have a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved automated external defibrillators, first-aid kits and emergency medical kits containing essential tools for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Oxygen tanks are frequently available, she said. She also noted the importance of flight attendants who are trained in CPR and emergency protocols and have contact with medical teams on the ground.

What she didnt say but I would like to point out is how important it was for her and everyone involved to stay level headed. I am sure the man that was attended to was thankful for such a measured approach. Its not everyday that a doctor is literally in the house, as the long-held expression goes.

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According to the media release, the unidentified patient tearfully remarked that God works in mysterious ways  a sentiment that echoed with everyone involved.

For her part, Ahmed said she is thankful and humbled by the experience, but quickly noted she had help from a caring nurse and well-trained flight attendants on board. She plans to use the lifesaving award presented to her next week to raise awareness to an important cause.

We do this as a profession; we try to save peoples lives, she said. But I want to use this award to raise awareness of medical emergencies in flight.
The US technology company Palantir has said its security software used by German police forces poses no risk of data leaks, in response to allegations of inadequate data protection.

A company spokesman told dpa that a transfer or leak of data - for example to the United States - is "technically impossible."

He said the software is not connected to the internet or to external servers, meaning the police have complete control over the data processed.

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German police in the states of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse use Palantir's Gotham software to evaluate large amounts of data from multiple sources, with the aim of identifying patterns, connections and potential threats.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is currently reviewing whether the software should be deployed nationwide.

Currently, the programme may only be used to prevent crimes, not to investigate them, which would require changes to respective state laws.

The tool has drawn criticism from data privacy advocates due to its surveillance capabilities, not least because the data it can access also includes information about witnesses and other people who are not listed as suspects.

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Critics have expressed concern that Palantir could pass police data to US intelligence agencies. Criticism has also been levelled at the political preferences of Palantir founder Peter Thiel, who is a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump.

The Palantir spokesman said the discussion in Germany was "often based on incomplete or false assumptions."

He said the software can help security forces respond quickly and effectively to threats from cybercrime to organized crime and terrorism.

"If threats are not detected and averted in time, even though this is possible through the use of secure, state-of-the-art technology, wouldn't that be tantamount to failing to provide assistance?" he charged.
Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who helped secure the release of former hostage Edan Alexander. (photo credit: Canva, screenshot, SECTION 27A COPYRIGHT ACT)

"Ceasefire negotiations are currently stalled. I am not a mediator in the true sense of the word, but I share your suffering," Bahbah wrote on Facebook.

Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who was a key mediator for the release of former Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, will no longer be working with the US negotiating team for a ceasefire and hostage deal, N12 reported Saturday.

"Dear people of Gaza, all I can say now is that aid trucks will continue to enter the Strip on a regular basis. Unfortunately, most of the aid trucks are stolen as soon as they enter the Strip," Bahbah said on Facebook Friday night.

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"Ceasefire negotiations are currently stalled. I am not a mediator in the true sense of the word, but I share your suffering. My role is to convey your voices to all officials, high and low. As I said before, I have not and will not forget you."

Bahbah is now expected to work separately from US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, according to N12.

"I can achieve more with Hamas when I conduct myself freely," he said, according to the report. Bahbah said that he was never an official member of the US negotiating team.

Former hostage Edan Alexander meets with US President Donald Trump in the White House, July 3, 2025. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X, WHITE HOUSE)

"I have played the role of a mediator whenever Steve Witkoff asked me to do so. I have tremendous respect for Mr. Witkoff. I believe that President Trump wants to end the tragedy in Gaza," he added.

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In late July, Bahbah criticized Hamas for not providing a quick response to an Israeli proposal. "The delay is costing the Palestinian people dozens of victims every day, and there is no convincing reason to delay the response or to demand amendments that are not essential," he wrote on Facebook.

Bahbah's deal proposal months ago

Bahbah proposed a plan in May for a 70-day ceasefire and the release of 10 hostages in two stages, Ynet reported.

Bahbah's plan "is something that no Israeli government would agree to accept. Hamas is setting impossible conditions that mean a complete failure to meet the goals of the war, and an inability to release the hostages," an Israeli official told the Israeli news site.
India is rapidly becoming a central pillar of the China+1 strategy adopted by global auto OEMs, as companies look to diversify their supply chains and reduce dependency on China, according to a joint report by EY and Parthenon. "India is becoming a key pillar to the China+1 strategy being adopted by global auto OEMs for components. Additionally, low mfg. costs + GoI induced incentives are further boosting exports," the report said. The report highlights that this shift is driving increased business with Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEs), positioning the country as a preferred sourcing hub. Boosting this momentum are low manufacturing costs and government-backed incentives, notably the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the auto sector. With a financial outlay of USD 3 billion, the scheme offers 8-18 per cent sales-linked incentives for advanced and electric vehicle components. It has already catalysed auto component exports worth USD 61.8 billion. Together, the China+1 strategy and strong policy support are propelling India's rise as a global auto component export hub, the report pointed out. The China+1 strategy is a business strategy where companies diversify their manufacturing and supply chains by choosing another location besides China, reducing reliance on a single country. This strategy shows the desire of companies to mitigate risks associated with over-dependence on China, such as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs. However, experts say that companies have to invest in research and development (R&D) to take advantage of opportunities. Amitabh Kant, Former CEO of the NITI Aayog, during an industry gathering in May, said, "You'll have to do the technology leapfrogging. You can't copy the Chinese. You have to beat the Chinese with one up. This game of China plus one by importing from China all the time will never work." Meanwhile, Chief Economic Adviser Anantha Nageswaran said that India, given its political stability, huge market opportunity, dynamic workforce, and steady rise in income levels, is eyed as one of the best places to set up manufacturing bases. India remains the fastest-growing major economy and is poised to maintain its growth trajectory. (ANI)
The international community must shoulder its responsibility and take action against Israels genocide in Gaza, the Palestinian foreign affairs minister has told Al Jazeera before an emergency United Nations Security Council session.

In an interview on Saturday, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said the 15-member council must uphold international law when it convenes at UN headquarters in New York on Sunday to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The meeting was organised in response to Israels newly announced plan to seize Gaza City, which has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders.

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I expect that the international community stands for international law and international humanitarian law, Aghabekian Shahin told Al Jazeera.

What has been going in Palestine for the last 22 months is nothing but a genocide, and its part and parcel of Israels expansionist ideology that wants to take over the entirety of the occupied State of Palestine.

The Israeli security cabinet approved plans this week to seize Gaza City, forcibly displacing nearly one million Palestinians to concentration zones in the south of the bombarded coastal enclave.

Palestinians have rejected the Israeli push to force them out of the city while human rights groups and the UN have warned that the plan will worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and lead to further mass casualties.





Israel has pledged to push ahead with its plans despite the growing criticism, saying that it wants to free Gaza from Hamas.

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The countrys top global ally, the United States, has not commented directly on the plan to seize Gaza City. But US President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that he would not block an Israeli push to take over all of Gaza.

Aghabekian Shahin told Al Jazeera that if Trump  whose administration continues to provide unwavering diplomatic and military support to Israel  wants to reach a solution, Palestinian rights must be taken into account.

There will be no peace in Israel-Palestine, or the region for that matter, or even the world at large, if the rights of the Palestinians are not respected, she said, noting that this means a Palestinian state must be established.

The minister also slammed recent remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the future governance of Gaza.

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In a social media post on Friday, Netanyahu said he wants a peaceful civilian administration to be established in the enclave, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization.

But Aghabekian Shahin said its up to Palestinians to decide who should govern them.

The one that has the legal and the political authority on Gaza today is the PLO, she said, referring to the Palestine Liberation Organization.

If Gaza wants to come back to the core, which is the entirety of the Palestinian land, then it has to become under the control and governance of the Palestinian Authority, the PLO.

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Aghabekian Shahin also condemned the international community for failing to act as Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have faced a surge in Israeli military and settler attacks in the shadow of the countrys war on Gaza.

It is the inaction that has emboldened the Israelis, including the settlers, to do whatever they are doing for the last six decades, since day one of the 1967 occupation, she said.

The times are very dangerous now, and its important that the international community shoulders its responsibility. The impunity with which Israel was happily moving should stop.




PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Panama City man who shot a person twice in the leg and once in the hand was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Christopher Lorezo Hatcher, 48, was sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted manslaughter, five years for being a Felon in possession of a firearm, and five years for shooting into an Occupied Dwelling.

On July 27, 2022, Hatcher spoke to a victim in his room. Later, Hatcher went to the victims room, barged inside, and fired several shots before fleeing.

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Video surveillance obtained by the Panama City police showed blood on his shirt as he fled the scene. He was apprehended about five blocks away, shirtless, but still wearing the same pants as in the video.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CONNEAUT  Paratroopers are returning to D-Day Conneaut for the third year.

The jumps will take place over at the Northeast Ohio Regional Airport, located at 2382 Airport Road in Denmark Township.

Russ Battiato, with W&R Vets, which is organizing the jumps, said there will be jumps at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, and another at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

For the past two years, a number of the jumps at the Benson Farm in Monroe, Battiato said.

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Jumping at the farm was more historically accurate, but conditions were windy, making it dangerous for participants, he said.

Battiato said the safety of the re-enacting paratroopers takes precedence over the historical accuracy, in this case.

There will be 82 jumpers this year, Battiato said.

The airborne jumps started in 2023 with 42 jumpers, going up to 51 last year.

Battiato said the paratroopers are bringing other novelties to this years D-Day Conneaut, including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

LaRose will be the first jumper on Saturday, he said.

Battiato said LaRose is an experienced, veteran paratrooper.

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LaRose expressed interest in participating in the jump last year, but could not make it, Battiato previously said.

Chloe Gavin is coming with the paratroopers to sign copies of the book, Gavin at War.

The book is largely compiled from the diary of Gavins father, James, a WWII paratrooper.

Battiato first became interested in D-Day Conneaut when he learned the event did not feature paratroopers, he said.

I basically run the jump, he said.

Battiato acts as the paratroopers staff sergeant and airborne commander, he said.

Most of us are prior military, he said.

Battiato joined the military at 17 and became a paratrooper, he said. His military career included serving with the 82nd Airborne, long-range surveillance and time with the special forces.

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Battiato is a second-generation paratrooper, he said.

I have over 350 jumps, he said.

Battiato described his experience of being a paratrooper.

You work on muscle memory, he said.

Fear is a common part of the ascent in the plane, Battiato said.

Stepping from an aircraft is not natural, he said.

Battiato said many people second-guess themselves before they jump.

Once you hear the first jump command, all the fear goes away, he said.

Battiato said paratroopers work has changed very little since the Second World War.

Were paying tribute to those guys, he said.
Parents, teachers call for vape detectors in DeKalb schools

The DeKalb County School District is considering installing vape detectors in its high schools to combat the growing issue of student vaping.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The proposal, which will be discussed at the school board meeting on Monday, involves a $1.6 million budget to purchase approximately 500 vape sensors for the districts 26 high schools. This move comes as parents and teachers express concerns about the ease with which students can vape in school restrooms and other areas.

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I absolutely hate it! Whenever I find them in the house, I toss them, I toss them, I toss them, but somehow he finds a way to get more, parent Cynthia Cast told Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes. Its something that needs to be done.

Cast, who has a son in high school, expressed her frustration with the prevalence of vaping among students. She believes that the detectors would help students focus on their education rather than vaping.

The DeKalb County School Board will allow time for public comment during their meeting, giving community members an opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposal.

Marietta City Schools have already implemented similar vape detection devices in their middle and high schools. These devices function like smoke detectors and alert administrators when vape chemicals are detected.

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The decision will be made following the school board meeting and public comments.

Last month, Marietta City Schools installed vape detectors in school restrooms.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  As the back and forth over quorum continues, business at the Texas Capitol is effectively on hold.

Flood relief is one of the main topics, but can more be done even with Democrats away from the state?

Look we have made a commitment to kill this special session and then hopefully Greg Abbott will come to his senses and remember that he has abandoned the people of the Hill Country, said Rep. John Bucy, a Democrat who represents parts of Austin.

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Both sides have pointed the finger at each other, but those who were impacted by the devastating floods July 4th weekend are caught in the middle, waiting for relief and legislation that could save lives in the future.

Any aid to their constituents who have been harmed by these floods is being delayed and denied by the derelict democrats, said Gov. Greg Abbott.

Gov. Abbott spoke to NBC, saying when he issued the special session agenda, the first item he listed was relief for the deadly flooding.

There is only one thing denying getting legislation passed and it is these democrats who have fled the state, said Abbott.

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Paxton files lawsuit against quorum-breaking Democrats in Texas Supreme Court

Rep. Bucy says the Governor can do more to help those flood victims though, even with House Democrats out of the state.

He has executive authority right now and he could act today and we are calling on him to act today to help the people of the Texas Hill Country and then we will be ready to come back and join him at the negotiating table to solve many of the problems of Texas that he has created, said Bucy.

But what exactly can be done? KXAN spoke with Brian Smith a political science professor at St Edwards to learn more.

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He doesnt have a lot of executive authority to make decisions with a phone and a pen, so he can only do what the legislature presents to him, and if they have not passed any bills he really cant take any action on his own, said Smith.

The Governor has budget execution authority to manage the states appropriations while the Legislature is not in session.

Budget execution authority permits the state to reallocate existing appropriations for fiscal emergencies that occur between legislative sessions.

What he can do is move around a little bit of money, but because the disasters are so great it requires a lot of money and really only the legislature can appropriate out that money, said Smith.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
NHS patients could face longer waiting lists and care rationing if the Government charges VAT on private healthcare, it has been claimed.

Experts warned that taxing private health insurance premiums would trigger a flood of policy cancellations.

They said it would push 300,000 patients on to already lengthy hospital waiting lists  potentially delaying elective surgery such as hip replacements by months.

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They said that an influx of middle-class patients seeking free treatment instead of going private would leave the NHS struggling to cope with extra demand.

Rachel Reeves has not ruled out taxes on private health, which could theoretically raise up to 4bn a year towards filling her budget black hole.

But privately, Whitehall sources have played down the idea and The Telegraph understands it has not been internally discussed by the Government.

Plan could raise 2bn a year

Lord Kinnock, the former Labour leader, last week said that the Government should extend its VAT raid on private schools to health insurance.

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He said that the move could raise around 2bn a year, which would provide vital funding for the NHS as it looks to reduce long waiting lists.

However, International Private Medical Insurance (iPMI) Global, the industry body for private healthcare, warned that the policy would backfire.

It said increases in health insurance premiums as providers passed on the VAT would drive an extra 300,000 patients a year on to NHS waiting lists.

Applying VAT to private healthcare services is expected to significantly increase pressure on the NHS, the organisation said in a briefing note.

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The higher cost of private care would likely drive many patients, particularly middle-income individuals, back into the public system.

This influx of patients could worsen already long waiting times for NHS services, increase strain on overstretched NHS staff and facilities, and potentially lead to service rationing or longer delays for elective treatments, as the NHS struggles to cope with increased demand.

Elective surgery includes operations such as hip and knee replacements for patients who are experiencing discomfort.

iPMI said that middle class families who could not afford significant increases in their health insurance premiums would be most significantly affected.

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But wealthy customers who could absorb the cost would not be affected, leading to greater inequality and a deeper divide in access to timely healthcare.

The body also said the move might deter companies from providing private healthcare for their staff, further shifting demand back to the NHS.

Tax would increase health care inequality

Christopher Knight, a global analyst at iPMI, said: While applying VAT to private healthcare services may appear equitable and fiscally beneficial, it presents multiple risks.

These include added strain on NHS services, reduced access for middle-income individuals, administrative challenges, and limited net fiscal gain.

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The Tories also warned that any move to add VAT to private healthcare could lead to NHS patients facing months longer waits for routine operations.

Stuart Andrew, the shadow health secretary, said it would be users of the health service who would suffer most as they were stuck on longer waiting lists.

He said: Adding VAT to private healthcare is short-sighted and unfair, hitting ordinary families trying to access timely care where the NHS is failing them.

This risks patients having to wait months for operations, consultations and life saving treatment. Many of these are middle-income households already under pressure.

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Labours plan would punish them for going private and add even more strain to overstretched NHS services.

These health taxes wont fix the NHS, theyll make it worse and as a result of Labours choices, it will be patients will be paying the price.

Government battling to hit list targets

Government sources said that Lord Kinnock had not discussed his plan with ministers and acknowledged that it would add to pressure on the NHS.

One added that it was not being seriously considered by the Government at a time when it is battling to hit its targets on reducing hospital waiting lists.

But the Treasury refused to publicly rule out the move, saying that it would not discuss tax measures ahead of the autumn Budget.

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A Government spokesman said: Thanks to this Governments record investment, reforms and the hard work of NHS staff, weve cut the waiting list by over 260,000 since July 2024, which also fell for the first time in 17 years in April and May outside of the pandemic.

On top of this, we have also delivered 4.6 million appointments  more than double the two million we promised.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Providers and members gathered for a protest in Downtown Portland, reacting to CareOregons policy change. The insurance is reverting to its pre-pandemic policy which will not let members work with non-contracted behavioral health providers.

The announcement came last week, and according to CareOregon, it will impact 15,000 members. They say that is about 3% of their total membership, and 15% of their members who use behavioral health services.

Cop checked TikTok during mans fatal meth overdose: Lawsuit

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Lien Hoa is a CareOregon member who said she has worked with her therapist for three years, but they are non-contracted. She said now, she does not know what shell do.

Them taking this away, taking my therapist away from me I feel like I have no purpose anymore, she said. Weve been through so many ruptures together, and now were actually at a point where were were like connecting and everything. And to take that away, it hurts. I cried a lot.

CareOregon said they are committed to helping transition care for all members. In a statement to KOIN 6 they said, We will work to minimize any disruption by reaching out directly to impacted members to help them transition smoothly to contracted providers.

Non-contracted providers like Elizabeth Langford said they are not buying it.

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I used to work community mental health and our waitlists were months long and thats when their were contracted or non protected providers, Langford said. As a as a non contracted provider I was turning away two to four people with Medicaid a week.

Julie Ibrahim, the president of the Tri-County Behavioral Health Association, works with the contracted providers. She said they will have the capacity to take on those new patients. But how quickly will depend on the agency taking them.

Pushback on removal of NW Portland traffic diverters

The transition team at Care Oregon is going to work very closely with all of us to make sure that our clients are placed as quickly as possible with the right services, and we are going to triage for higher acuity situations, she said.

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But Langford called that a media spin.

In reality, like, there is you cant you cant just will more access to contracted care when thats not there, Langford said. Thats delusional thinking.

CareOregons website says the change goes into effect October 1 for members with Medicaid, and January 1, 2026 for members with Medicare.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 production of missiles for the US Patriot system has reached record levels.

But demand has surged so much that it may not be enough.

Western countries are warily watching Russia and China, concluding that these missiles are very necessary.

American defense companies are cranking out Patriot interceptors at a record-breaking pace, but demand is surging.

Russian missiles are stressing Ukraine's Patriots, leaving it scrambling for more ammo. Iranian missiles have put batteries in the Middle East to the test. Western Europe is realizing it needs to revitalize its depleted air defenses, and the US is recognizing that key stocks are running low and need to be not just refilled, but dramatically expanded.

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Amid global conflicts and growing worries in the West about a major conflict against a peer-level adversary, air defense missiles are in huge demand.

It has driven the companies making the launchers, missiles, seekers, and more, defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing, to ramp up their production, but the demand is also up. And in a high-end fight, it could skyrocket.

Surging production is battling surging demand

Patriot batteries are made up of radar and control systems, launcher stations, and interceptor missiles, which altogether make up what is considered to be one of the world's best air defense systems. The weapon can effectively detect and intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft.

A Patriot launcher. US Army photo by Sgt. Alexandra Shea

Last year, the US Army awarded Lockheed Martin, which makes the Patriot's PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles, a contract to bring annual output to 650. It sat at 350 only a few years ago.

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Interceptor production hit a record-breaking 500 last year, and Lockheed Martin is on track this year to produce more than 600 PAC-3 MSEs for the first time. The company said there would be a "significant increase" for 2027.

Meanwhile, Boeing is surging PAC-3 missile seekers, critical components that enable the Patriot system to identify, track, and intercept threats, and Raytheon, which makes Patriot radars and launchers, is boosting PAC-2 interceptor missile production.

The global annual production of Patriot missiles is estimated to be somewhere around 850 to 880 per year, according to Fabian Hoffman, an air defense and missile expert at the University of Oslo. That number could hit 1,130 by 2027.

Russia, far from the only adversarial nation the West is worried about, is estimated to be producing roughly 840 to 1,020 of its 9M723 Iskander short-range ballistic missiles and the air-launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal short- to medium-range ballistic missiles a year. Those weapons are only two missiles in a vast arsenal.

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That imbalance leaves the West with a concerning math problem. Air defenders tend to need to fire two or three interceptors to reliably take out one incoming threat, making things even more complicated. Patriot isn't the only air defense game in town, but it's a key capability that could be stressed without deep stockpiles.

Brian Kubik, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, told Business Insider that "Lockheed Martin recognizes the critical need for PAC-3 MSE, and we're working closely with the US Army and suppliers to increase our production rate to meet the worldwide demand."

"Our robust infrastructure and supply chain provide a strong foundation for increasing production," he explained, adding that the company is "taking proactive steps and making internal investments to help support our suppliers, accelerate delivery, and decrease production roadblocks."

Raytheon told Business Insider that "it's more important than ever to co-produce, co-develop, and collaborate to get the best capabilities to the field quickly."

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It said it has entered into new partnerships to increase production, is increasing its staff, and has also committed nearly $1B to secure critical materials from suppliers and ramp manufacturing for Patriot radars. The company said that "by the end of 2025, Raytheon, along with our suppliers, will accelerate delivery times for Patriot radars by 25%." Patriot GEM-T interceptor production will increase by 150% by 2028, it added.

A Patriot Air and Missile Defense launcher fires an interceptor during a previous test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The latest configuration of the system, called PDB-8, has passed four flight tests and is now with the U.S. Army for a final evaluation. Raytheon

Hoffman cautioned that even if the West's production of missile interceptors, like the Patriots, exceeds Russian conventional ballistic missile production, "this will not solve Europe's problems."

And for the US, the threat isn't Russia alone. The Pentagon is eyeing China's growing ballistic missile arsenal and recognizing that it is going to need substantial air defenses. American allies in the Pacific realize that, too. And foes in the Middle East can't be dismissed.

Patriots are used by European allies, as well as allies and partner nations in Asia and the Middle East. There are 19 operators worldwide, and that means a lot of competing demand, especially with some nations at war.

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The West's increased production is starting at a time when interceptor stockpiles appear to be running low in the West, putting extra pressure on production efforts. The challenge in fixing the problem is that the Patriot missiles and batteries take time to make, and in that time, immediate demands compete heavily with stockpiling needs for future fights.

Thomas Laliberty, Raytheon's president of land and air defense systems, said last year that "it takes us 12 months to build a Patriot radar, but it takes us 24 months to get all the parts." Meeting global demand often means pulling from existing stockpiles, for both launchers and missiles alike.

Strained stockpiles

The Pentagon rejected a report from The Guardian last month that said that the US only has about 25% of the Patriot interceptors it needs. Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Bryon McGarry told Business Insider that "the US military has what it needs to fight and win any mission, anywhere, anytime."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing in front of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system during his visit to a military training area in Germany on June 11, 2024. Jens Buttner/Pool via Getty Images

At the beginning of last month, however, the Pentagon abruptly paused weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors, amid concerns about US weapons stockpiles. The move was reportedly triggered by Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defense for policy and someone who has long been deeply vocal about insufficient US readiness for war with China.

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Trump reversed the decision on military aid but changed how weapons are being provided to Ukraine, putting cost and stockpile burdens on European allies while the US handles production.

Prior to that back-and-forth, the president commented on the Patriots during a press conference, telling a Ukrainian journalist that while the US might be able to get additional systems to Ukraine, "they're very hard to get."

"We need them too," Trump said in late June.

Though the Pentagon rejected assertions that there is a problem, US officials have previously suggested that there is at least strain.

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US Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, said last year that the fighting in the Middle East and Ukraine was eating into the US stockpile, pulling assets away that would be needed in a fight in his priority theater.

The admiral said that "to say otherwise would be dishonest."

Gen. James Mingus, the vice chief of staff of the Army, said earlier this month that US Patriot battalions as "a very stressed force element."

David Shank, a retired Army colonel and the former commandant of the Army Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, shared with The War Zone that the US was short on Patriot interceptors even in 2021, before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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The war, he explained, has exacerbated longstanding problems with missile stockpiles.

There's a clear effort underway to expand US Army stocks as the service aims to quadruple its purchase of interceptors, from 3,376 to 13,773, with a substantial $1.3 billion investment in Patriot missiles, a move that reflects repeated calls from experts and officials for far deeper magazines.

What conflicts are showing about the need for air defenses

Recent conflicts, specifically the massive missile and drone attacks in Ukraine and in the Middle East, are driving the new demand and showing how critical air defenses are in modern warfare.

Ukrainian military personnel display a downed Russian drone during a press conference. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine has used its Patriots to protect cities and military infrastructure and to shoot down a Russian aircraft, but it's always in search of more batteries and interceptors. Germany has agreed to provide more, but only on the condition that the US replaces them in six to eight months. There's not enough capacity in existing stocks to easily spare. That means greater demand on producers.

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NATO is becoming increasingly aware of the value of air defenses. Its secretary general, Mark Rutte, said increased defense spending  an alliance push to spend 5% of GDP on defense  would support a huge "fivefold increase in air defense capabilities."

He said that the way Russia is fighting shows why these weapons need to be a top priority. "We see Russia's deadly terror from the skies over Ukraine every day, and we must be able to defend ourselves from such attacks," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
AUSTIN (KXAN)  On Saturday, Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows (R  Lubbock) and Attorney General Ken Paxton said they filed a legal complaint in California.

The complaint pertained to the enforcement of arrest warrants issued for legislators who had left Texas and broken quorum.

Burrows issued the arrest warrants on August 4. He stated that he had the authority under Article III, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution and Rule 5, Section 8, of the Rules of the Texas House of Representatives, which can be found on page 92.

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The Texas House stands ready to conduct the work expected of us by our constituents, but until the absent members return, our state will continue to do without critical disaster relief and solutions for a more prepared and resilient Texas, Burrows said.

According to Burrows office, a similar complaint was also filed in Illinois.

[The legal complaint] seeks to enforce the quorum warrants in accordance with the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution and federal statute, Burrows office said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the man he is vying to unseat in next years Republican primary, US Sen. John Cornyn, are both using the powers of their offices to try to pressure Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to prevent a vote on a GOP-led redistricting plan.

Paxton on Friday said he was asking the state Supreme Court to remove 13 of the absent House Democrats from office, arguing in his lawsuit that those lawmakers made incriminating public statements regarding their refusal to return, essentially confirming in their own words the very grounds for this legal action.

Cornyn, meanwhile, asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help track down the absent House Democrats. He said Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel assigned agents to handle his request for federal assistance, assigning them from Austin and San Antonio.

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The standoff over the unusual mid-decade push by Republicans to redraw Texas congressional map is shaping next years US Senate primaries in both parties.

Its not clear what role FBI agents could play since the absent Texas Democrats do not appear to have broken federal law by leaving the state. The FBI has repeatedly declined to comment. And Paxtons legal action  following a similar, narrower filing by Gov. Greg Abbott seeking to remove Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader  seeks to disqualify elected lawmakers in a seemingly unprecedented way.

We will not be broken by these antics, Wu said at a news conference Friday afternoon in Illinois. We are not here to play games. We are not here to make waves, to go viral or do any of this stuff.

One of the Democrats targeted in Paxtons lawsuit, Rep. John Bucy III, said on social media he is not backing down.

Texas State Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, speaks in a crowd of other Democratic state lawmakers outside the Massachusetts State House on August 6 in Boston. - Leah Willingham/AP

Paxton has taken a range of actions seeking to pressure or punish absent Democrats.

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He also filed an emergency petition in Illinois Eighth Circuit Court to make civil arrest warrants  which were signed by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows earlier this week  enforceable in the state of Illinois, where dozens of Texas Democrats traveled this week. He filed a similar complaint in California, asking the Tehama County Superior Court to enforce civil arrest warrants issued by Texas for some of the Texas House Democrats who were in California on Friday. But a source familiar with the lawmakers whereabouts said they are no longer in California.

And he said he is suing former US Rep. Beto ORourke, whose political action committee, Powered By People, has raised money for the travel expenses incurred by Texas Democrats who left the state to block the House from establishing the two-thirds quorum it needs to do business. Paxtons office said it was requesting a a temporary restraining order and an injunction preventing ORourke and his PAC from raising money for the Democrats.

On the Democratic side, several people involved in the quorum break are running or talking about running for Senate. State Rep. James Talarico has become a de facto spokesman for the House members who fled. ORourke is raising money to foot the Democrats travel bills, hotels and more. Former US Rep. Colin Allred, who has already entered the race, is holding events rallying Democrats against the redistricting effort.

Talarico was asked whether his experience in the quorum break would inform his ultimate decision to run for Senate.

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I cant imagine how it wouldnt, he told CNNs David Chalian for the Political Briefing podcast. Im still kind of processing everything thats been happening and I have no doubt that it will inform my decision about how to continue my service.

The Texas House is set to reconvene on Monday, and Burrows, the House speaker, said the states Department of Public Safety will continue trying to enforce the civil arrest warrants he signed for the absent Democrats.

We have all hands on deck. We are continuing to explore new avenues to compel a quorum and will keep pressing forward until the job is done, Burrows said.

The speaker said Republicans had asked the sergeant at arms in the Illinois House of Representatives for help returning the Texas Democrats who are staying in Illinois, but the Illinois speakers office told CNN the sergeant at arms office would not do so.

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Burrows on Friday also detailed more punitive measures meant to punish House Democrats who remain outside of the state.

Burrows said that 30% of each absent members monthly operating budget will be reserved and made unavailable for expenditure.

He said he is now requiring absent members to appear in person to make certain requests, including requests for travel reimbursement, requests to change staff salaries and requests to approve newsletters. He said that if members did not appear in person, newsletters and the encumbered funds would be cancelled.

Earlier in the week, Abbott, the Republican who called the special session that Democrats are stopping for now, told NBC that the absent Democrats cant wait out the redistricting effort, because he is going to call special session after special session after special session with the same agenda items on there.

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Special sessions in Texas can last no more than 30 days. Democrats say they havent yet decided how long they will seek to block the House from establishing a quorum.

Were taking this one special session at a time, and my colleagues and I have agreed to stay out of the state capitol for the next two weeks to kill this rigged map and stop this corrupt process, Talarico told CNNs Wolf Blitzer on Friday. Who knows what will happen after that?

CNNs David Wright, Molly English, Aditi Sangal and Arlette Saenz contributed to this report.

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New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave concern over Israels decision to take control of Gaza City, his Spokesperson said in a statement on Friday
PNN New Delhi [India], August 9: Travel News India Private Limited today announced the official launch of its new travel retail brand Globiq, marking a major expansion into the fast-growing retail landscape of India and South Asia. Globiq will offer travellers and commuters a unique, high-quality shopping experience, spanning categories such as Books, Toys, Confectionery, Tobacco Products, and Chocolates through its CTN (Confectionery, Tobacco, and News/Books) format stores. Under the newly appointed leadership team--Mr. Atul Jain, as Managing Director, and Mr. Shantanu Chakravartty, as Chief Executive Officer--Globiq, envision rapid growth and innovation in the travel retail sector. The company has ambitious plans to launch 100 new stores across multiple formats over the next 12 months, strategically located in airports, universities, metro stations, and high street locations across the region. Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Atul Jain, Managing Director of Globiq, said: "Travel retail in South Asia is at an inflexion point. With Globiq, we aim to redefine convenience, accessibility, and quality for travellers and consumers on the move. Our focus will be on curating a product mix that delights every customer segment." Mr. Shantanu Chakravartty, CEO of Globiq, added: "Our vision for Globiq goes beyond traditional travel retail. We are creating an integrated brand presence that delivers premium assortments, consistent service, and engaging retail experiences at every location--be it an international airport or a busy city metro station." Globiq's expansion blueprint for the coming year is backed by robust market research, industry partnerships, and a commitment to offering curated, customer-first retail experiences. The brand also plans to introduce innovative store designs and bespoke concepts for its CTN stores, catering to both local and international travellers. With its launch, Globiq is poised to become one of the fastest-growing travel retail brands in the region, setting new benchmarks for convenience, variety, and experiential shopping in South Asia. About Travel News India Private Limited Travel News India Private Limited is a diversified travel media and retail company with a strong track record in delivering value-driven experiences in the travel sector. With the launch of Globiq, the company further strengthens its presence in high-growth consumer touchpoints across India and South Asia. (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)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  On Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Democratic state lawmakers who left the state during the special session to block action on redistricting bills. The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of Texas, seeks to declare 13 Texas House seats have been vacated due to unlawful absences by Democrat legislators who have failed to meet the return deadline set by Speaker Dustin Burrows.

The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their duties, leaving their seats vacant, Paxton said. These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold. Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on.

Here are the Texas House Democrats who broke quorum

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Members of the Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus criticized the filing of Paxtons lawsuit and accused the attorney general of weaponizing law enforcement and legal systems.

This move from Paxton is straight from the playbook of dictators and fascists who know they cannot win fair elections. Paxton and Texas Republicans are weaponizing law enforcement and the legal system to crush dissent and silence our voices to cheat and steal an election, The Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus said in a press release. These tactics echo the horrors weve seen when the Trump administration sent federal agents into communities to stoke fear, arrest law-abiding immigrants, and rip families apart.

Texas State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, also responded to Paxtons lawsuit filing while he and 12 other state Democrats are in Illinois. Their absence means the Texas House does not have a quorum and cant take action on bills its considering.

This is what it looks like when a president, a governor, and an entire political party work together to cheat in an attempt to steal an election. They are doing everything they possibly can to cling to power and subvert the will of millions of Americans, Bucy III said in a statement. This seat belongs to the people of Texas House District 136  not Ken Paxton. I am not afraid. I am not backing down.

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According to Paxton, Texas law provides the attorney general with explicit authority to represent the State in quo warranto actions and to appear before the Texas Supreme Court in matters where the State has a direct interest. Quo warranto actions challenge a persons right to hold office and can lead to their removal.

Texas Democrats face removal threats, FBI involvement as quorum break enters fourth day

The lawsuit states: The Texas Constitution, statutes, and rules provide a broad range of tools for members of a legislative minority to be heard. But those tools do not include concerted effort by members of the minority to disrupt the functioning of the Legislature by abdicating their duties, including spurning the constitutional authority of the remaining members to compel their attendance.

On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott called for removing those Democrats if they did not show up to work, and the Speaker of the House gave them a Friday deadline to return, which did not happen. Now, the Supreme Court must consider the lawsuit against those Democrats.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WASHINGTON (The Texas Tribune)  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into whether Beto ORourkes political group, Powered by People, and the George Soros-backed Texas Majority PAC are breaking laws by funding Texas Democrats out-of-state travel attempting to stop the passage of a new Republican-favored congressional map.

In a press release, Paxton alluded to The Texas Tribunes reporting on Tuesday that ORourkes group is funding the travel and that Texas Majority PAC is playing a coordinating role in soliciting donations from deep-pocketed party donors. The efforts aim to cover the expenses of dozens of Democratic lawmakers who left the state Sunday to shut down the Legislature by depriving the House of a quorum, or the minimum number of members needed to conduct business.

The attorney general accused the organizations of running a financial influence scheme that convinced Texas Democrats to leave the state, and vowed to investigate any Democrat coward breaking the law.

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He is using a statute called request to examine to demand documents and communications from the organizations. While the legal tool has come under scrutiny, the Texas Supreme Court defended its use in a ruling earlier this year.

These Democrats, Paxtons office said, may be breaking Texas law, alleging violations of unspecified statutes relating to campaign expenditures, coercion of public officials and abuse of office.

In a statement, ORourke brushed off the investigation.

The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats, he said, before encouraging people to donate to his political group. Lets stop these thugs before they steal our country.

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Katherine Fischer, executive director of Texas Majority PAC, was defiant in response to the investigation, calling it a sham and adding, Ken Paxton  who was impeached for bribery  and Greg Abbott have bent the knee to D.C. and failed the people of Texas.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus declined to comment.

On Friday, Paxton also filed a lawsuit against Powered by People seeking a court order stopping the group from raising money for the fleeing Democrats. Additionally, he asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel 13 absent Democrats from the state House, arguing they had effectively abandoned their offices by leaving the state.

These investigations and lawsuits are just the latest developments in Texas Republican leaders efforts to punish the absconding Democrats and restore a quorum. House Speaker Dustin Burrows signed arrest warrants for the lawmakers, enabling state troopers to find them and compel their attendance should they step foot back in the state.

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Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other potential legal violations connected to their refusal to appear for a quorum. Abbott on Tuesday also asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare House Democratic leader Gene Wus seat vacant.

Sen. John Cornyn, meanwhile, sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, requesting the bureau track down and probe lawmakers who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a lawsuit on Friday looking to vacate the seats of 13 Democratic state lawmakers who fled Texas in a bid to block Republicans from passing a new GOP-friendly House map.

Paxton is asking the Texas Supreme Court to declare that the 13 lawmakers have vacated their offices after roughly 50 lawmakers left the state beginning on Sunday in a bid to block the passage of new maps.

The 13 lawmakers affected include Democratic state Reps. Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy III, Gene Wu and Christina Morales.

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When members of the Legislature disregard arrest warrants, refuse to perform their duties, and announce that they intend to prevent the Legislature from exercising its constitutional responsibilities, they have, through words and conduct, demonstrated an intent to relinquish and abandon their offices, the lawsuit states. The alternative would empower a minority faction to disrupt the operation of the chamber.

In a post on X touting the new lawsuit, Paxton described the Democrats as cowards who had deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) already filed a lawsuit earlier this week looking to have Wu removed from his seat.

Several of the impacted Democrats denounced the new lawsuit in separate statements.

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Texas Republicans have never been more desperate. First they put warrants out for our arrest, then they told their supporters to hunt us down, and now theyre trying to remove me from elected office, Bucy said in a statement reacting to the lawsuit.

This is what it looks like when a President, a Governor, and an entire political party work together to cheat in an attempt to steal an election, he added. They are doing everything they possibly can to cling to power and subvert the will of millions of Americans.

Talarico taunted Paxton in a statement on X, saying come and take it.

Ken Paxton just filed a lawsuit to remove me from office, he wrote. But this seat doesnt belong to him or me  it belongs to the people.

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Republicans are putting pressure on Democrats to come back as the GOP looks to wrap up its special session. Republicans are looking to pass a new House map that would give their party five more pickup opportunities next year in addition to other priorities like flood recovery.

Democrats are remaining out of the state for the time being over the new House map Republicans are pursuing. In response, Republicans have called for Democrats to be arrested and are requiring them to pick up their paychecks in-person rather than by direct deposit, another way to lure Democrats back.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Dr. Michelle Parsons, principal of Cleburne ISDs Phoenix School, described the recent renovation of two break rooms in her school building as a night to day transformation.

A teacher at the school joked that the break rooms previously resembled abandoned gloomy hospital rooms from the 1950s.

Its like [Fixer Upper stars Chip and Jonnna Gaines] came to Cleburne ISD, Parsons said.

They didnt. But Cleburne couple Jeff and Shana Peacock did.

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The Peacocks, along with their daughter Brie and Jeffs sister, Shawn Peackock, revamped and remade both break rooms in the school building.

The building, the Fulton Special Education Center, houses the Phoenix School and will soon be the new home to CISDs TEAM School as well.

The building is great but pretty old, Parsons said. Nothing has been revamped or updated for many years.

With the TEAM School scheduled to relocate from Cleburne High School later this year, Parsons said she and the Peacocks wanted incoming teacher and staff members to feel welcomed.

Theyre in a fairly new building for now, and transition is always hard, Parsons said. We wanted them to have a place where they could feel loved and appreciated.

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Both schools though in the same building are separate thus the two break rooms/teachers lounges, Parsons explained.

Jeff and Shana Peacock own and operate Peacocks Transmission Service and founded S.H.I.N.E. Together. Through S.H.I.N.E. they and volunteers, among other outreach projects, distribute food to those in need and distribute backpacks and food to students at several Cleburne and Johnson County schools ensuring those students and their families have food over the weekend. The Peacocks have also established free grocery stores at several campuses, stores offering free groceries while at the same time affording students life responsibility lessons and work experience.

S.H.I.N.E. also awards scholarships to deserving students hoping to continue their education past high school.

Jeff Peacock explained that both S.H.I.N.E. and Peacocks Transmission contribute to such causes.

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Taking advantage of school summer break, the Peacocks spent three days recently transforming Fultons two break rooms.

Upgrades include new wallpaper, sofas, microwaves, air fryers, furniture and other renovations.

Shana came over and said she wanted to revamp the break rooms for both programs, Parsons said. I didnt quite understand what she had in mind until she came over but afterward I was just absolutely dumbfounded by their work and generosity.

Its especially meaningful, Parsons added, in that Phoenix and TEAM School being alternative education programs they and the teachers and kids they serve often fly below the radar of public notice.

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We have so many in the community who support the mainstream CISD campuses, Parsons said. But a lot of the community dont know of or understand what these programs do. So, for the Peacocks to come in and reach out specifically wanting to support two of our alternative educational programs is just amazing. We appreciate their hard work, vision and leg work. I cried when I saw the new rooms. They came in and just transformed them.

Shelbie Norton, a character education teacher on campus, felt much the same.

The outpouring of love and support from the Peacock family and the S.H.I.N.E. Program means so much to us because it shows that there are people in the community who care about us and our students, Norton said. It means a lot to me to be in a community where we have people like that.

The Peacocks and Parsons led teachers and staff members to surprise reveals of both break rooms on Monday neither group having seen the transformations as school doesnt resume until Aug. 13.

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Numerous oohs, ahs and expressions of thanks directed Parsons and the Peacocks way followed checked out the new surroundings and tried out the chairs and couches.

Shana Peacock thanked Cleburnes S&S Furniture Store for their help on this and other S.H.I.N.E. projects and spoke of her support of educators and staff as well as students.

Last school year we were able to help 400 to 450 students a week with providing seven meals in their backpacks to get them through the weekends, Shana Peacock said. Thats our Project 66 Program, 66 because thats the number of hours between their lunch on Friday and breakfast Monday morning.

Shana Peacock credited the teachers of both programs.

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We feel you all deserve a lot more attention than you get, Shana Peacock said. These kids you spend time with, a lot of them dont have moms and dads at home. Youre the ones who care for them, encourage them. You have their back and push them to succeed.

Jeff Peacock agreed.

Our hearts are here because these kids, they shouldnt be forgotten, Jeff Peacock said. They should be looked at as if theyve got potential. A lot of people have given up hope on them, but these teachers have not given up on them. We want to make sure they know that what they do for our kids is appreciated.

The Peacocks also treated the teachers and staff members to lunch from Pastafina and welcome back goodie bags.

What a great way to welcome our staff back to school, Parsons said. A face lift and refresh to our break rooms, a we love you and reminder that the community supports them. S.H.I.N.E. is here for us and thats amazing.
The Brief

Local leaders and transportation advocates are celebrating the advancement of a rezoning plan for Midtown that would create a busway on 34th Street.

The busway would only allow buses, trucks and emergency vehicles to use the street for most of the day.

The New York City Council is expected to vote on the rezoning plan sometime next week.

MIDTOWN - Local leaders and transportation advocates are celebrating the advancement of a rezoning plan for Midtown that would create a busway on 34th Street, a notoriously slow corridor where local leaders claim pedestrians can walk faster than the M34.

Miracle on 34th Street

What we know

The New York City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted in favor of advancing the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan. One major aspect of this rezoning plan would be a busway for the 34th Street corridor.

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The busway would only allow buses, trucks and emergency vehicles to use the street for most of the day.

New York City's Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing this busway after the "remarkably successful installation" of a similar busway on 14th Street.

Our proposed busway for 34th Street would give 28,000 daily bus riders shorter wait times and faster, more reliable bus service.



After a similar design was implemented on 14th Street, bus speeds increased up to 24% and crashes on the corridor dropped by 42%. pic.twitter.com/DCLVVlRg8g  NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) May 20, 2025

Local leaders like Assemblymember and Democratic nominee for New York City's mayoral race Zohran Mamdani, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez joined other transportation advocates to race the M34 bus  the bus, which runs on 34th Street, is the third-slowest bus in the entire city.

The group of people did, in fact, beat the bus; after racing for over a mile, the pedestrian group beat the M34 bus by two entire blocks.

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Councilmember Erik Bottcher told FOX 5 NY's Richard Giacovas, "New Yorkers are sick and tired of sitting in gridlocked traffic when they're on the bus."

What's next

If approved, 34th Street would be New York City's eighth busway  the DOT assure the busway would "speed up bus service for 28,000 daily bus riders."

Buses on 34th St crawl at just 5.5 mph  so it wasn't difficult for us to win @RidersAlliance +@TransAlt's annual bus race yesterday.



But change is finally coming in the form of a long-delayed busway, thanks to the leadership of @KeithPowersNYC, @ebottcher and so many others. pic.twitter.com/FRyW1fN1rW  Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) August 8, 2025

The New York City Council is expected to vote on the rezoning plan sometime next week.

Other aspects of the plan

Dig deeper

Other highlights of the agreement include the construction of over 9,500 new homes, subway station renovations and street safety enhancements.

 We walked from First Ave to Eighth Ave  and beat the M34 bus by 7 minutes. Thats how broken crosstown transit is.



The good news: @KeithPowersNYC and I advanced the Midtown South rezoning (unlocking 9,500+ homes)  and with it, the 34th Street Busway is finally happening. pic.twitter.com/6PlyDrirNa  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) August 8, 2025

Other aspects of the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan can be found here.

The Source

This article includes reporting from FOX 5 NY's Richard Giacovas.
The Brief

PETA is now offering $5,000 for the safe return of Bam Bam, a 14-year-old emotional support dog stolen from a blind mans yard on June 5.

Angel Santiago, who is legally blind, has been handing out flyers and calling for Bam Bam daily since the theft near Monticello and Fullerton.

The community is rallying behind Santiago, with iHeart DJ Klinger contributing $500 and police urging anyone with tips to call authorities or PETAs 24/7 hotline.

CHICAGO - More support is on the way to help a blind man from Chicago get his emotional support dog back.

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Imagine losing your closest companion and not being able to see who took him. That was the reality for Angel Santiago, who is legally blind.

Despite how heartbreaking his story is, the beauty is when the community comes together.

What we know

Animal rights group PETA is now stepping in with a reward they hope will bring Bam Bam home.

The 14-year-old tan Dotson mix was stolen from Santiago's backyard near Monticello and Fullerton on the morning of June 5.

Despite trying to stop the two people, they slipped away with Santiago's beloved dog.

Since then, he walks miles each day handing out flyers, calling out Bam Bams name, hoping someone sees something. The dog was microchipped but wasnt wearing his collar at the time.

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The reward money was already set $1,000. Then hours ago, Fox 32 heard from Klinger, a DJ with iHeart Media. He added $500 to the pool.

But now, PETA is offering up $5,000 for Bam Bams safe return.

What they're saying

PETA says public awareness could be the key to bringing Bam Bam home.

"I mean, anyone who would kidnap a dog from a blind man is obviously and seriously lacking empathy and also likely a danger to others that they're around," said PETA spokesperson Dani Duffy. "So it's really important that anyone who has information about Bam Bam calls the police really matters to us most is getting Bam Bam back home."

What you can do

PETA does have an around the clock hotline you can call if you see Bam Bam. Santiago has received some credible tips that he's vetting.
The Brief

A man died from blunt force trauma to the chest after being struck by less-lethal rounds fired by Phoenix Police during a Jan. 10 standoff.

Though a county attorney's office found the officers' actions to be justified and declined to file criminal charges, a civil rights attorney said the man's family could still pursue a civil case.

PHOENIX - A medical examiner's report has concluded a man who was shot with less-lethal rounds by Phoenix Police on Jan. 10 died from blunt force trauma to the chest.

The backstory

Police attempted to arrest Terrell Clay, 33, on a felony parole violation warrant and to question him in an armed robbery investigation. According to officials, Clay, who was armed, ran and climbed onto the roof of a home near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road.

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Body camera footage shows officers using a 37-millimeter launcher, which police describe as a less-lethal tool that fires a "direct baton which is designed to deliver pain compliance."

An officer is heard over body camera footage telling Clay, "Turn around and get down. You're going to be hit again."

Police deployed the launcher seven times, though it is unclear how many times Clay was struck. After he was arrested, Clay told first responders his chest was in pain, and he later died at a hospital.

The medical examiner's paperwork also stated that Clay had drugs in his system.

What they're saying

Civil rights attorney, Ben Taylor, who was not involved in this case, said incidents like this can happen.

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"I've seen a lot of people hurt, or even die using less-lethal force," Taylor said.

The Gila County Attorney's Office reviewed the case and concluded it would not pursue criminal charges against the officers, finding their actions to be justified.

Taylor said while the decision hurts a potential civil case, "you can still have justice in a civil courtroom."

FOX 10 attempted to contact Clay's family and the Phoenix Police Department but did not receive responses.
Phoenix police used a national DNA database to arrest a man linked to multiple kidnapping and sexual assault cases dating back 27 years.

Abraham Ramirez, 54, was recently arrested in connection with four sexual assault and kidnapping cases that occurred in the Phoenix area from 1998 to 2013, police said.

The cold cases went unsolved for years.

This arrest demonstrates the excellent work of our combined investigative and forensic teams and their unwavering commitment to those who experience sexual assault trauma, according to Donna Rossi, communications director for the Phoenix Police Department, in a news release.

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In each case, police collected DNA evidence from the victims and used it to create a DNA profile for an unidentified male suspect. The four incidents occurred between July 7, 1998, and May 6, 2013.

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.

Investigators learned the DNA from all four sexual assaults matched the same suspect. However, the person belonging to that profile was not able to be identified, as they were not currently in the system, Rossi said.

The four victims were women between 17 and 20 years old, police said.

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Over the years, investigators pursued multiple leads without success, releasing a composite sketch of the suspect and using genetic genealogy and familial DNA testing in search of a match.

A break in the cases came in July, when the Phoenix Crime Lab received a notification that a match for their unidentified suspect had been found in a national DNA database.

Pregnant teen killed: How Phoenix police say they linked 2 men to the killing of Zariah Finley Dodd

A sheriffs office in California had just submitted DNA evidence from a 1994 sexual assault kit to a national database. The DNA, tied to Ramirez, matched the DNA profile that Phoenix police had created.

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Within a few days, Phoenix detectives were able to track down and arrest Ramirez, Rossi said.

Three decades ago, Ramirez was arrested in California in relation to a 1994 kidnapping and sexual assault case, police said. He was never convicted.

The victim in that case consented to a sexual assault kit, allowing police to collect DNA evidence  a relatively new forensic tool at the time. There was no mandate to process the DNA or enter it into a national database, police said, leaving the evidence unnoticed by Phoenix officials for years.

Last month, the Ventura County Sheriffs Office submitted the DNA to the national database through the federal Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant program.

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The program, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, aims to resolve sexual assault cases in part by using evidence found in previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.

Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on X, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads @stephanie_murr.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police use DNA to arrest suspect in decades-old rape, kidnapping cases
Jinny Lu, a 5-year-old pug who was rescued from Korea, prepares to compete in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Jinny went on to win second place and a spirit award. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
THOMPSON TOWNSHIP, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A woman and the suspect are dead, while the troopers remain in the hospital.

28/22 News Reporter Joe Mason has more on the timeline of events and what we know.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions in regards to the motive and other factors in the case.

Ones we may never know the answer to.

A shooting that has rocked the small township of Thompson in Susquehanna County.

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A woman and the suspect are dead.

Two state troopers, seriously injured.

The first call coming in at 11:17 Friday morning from the victims boyfriend.

57-year-old Lori Wasko, shot and killed by 61-year-old Carmine Faino, her nearby neighbor.

Two dead, troopers in stable condition after shooting in northeastern Pa.

Longtime state troopers Joseph Perechinsky and William Jenkins III were ambushed by gunfire after arriving to the scene.

The gunfire coming from Fainos semi-automatic rifle. Their police car, riddled with bullets.

Perechinsky, shot twice in the chest and torso. Jenkins shot once in each arm.

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Despite his wounds, Trooper Perechinsky was able to tourniquet Trooper Jenkins arms.

This coming as two other state troopers were able to step in and get them out.

Both Trooper Perechinsky and Trooper Jenkins are listed as stable and expected to survive.

Were extremely lucky to have them still with us, they are an answer to a prayer, expressed colonel Christopher L. Paris, Pennsylvania State Police.

EMT Jay Larson, also injured in the shooting.

His ambulance, hit by gunfire, forcing him to veer off the road and crash.

Larson is also listed as stable.

Law enforcement providing a secure perimeter around Faino, with the suspect shooting down a police drone in the process.

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Police trying to negotiate with Faino, who ultimately refused commands.

Faino, at one point, sitting on a propane tank, concerning officers if he would use more weapons or explosive devices.

Still posing a threat to police, he was shot and killed.

Governor Josh Shapiro, weighing in on the shooting and his conversation with Trooper Perechinsky.

He quite likely saved the life of his partner and the life of community members who were in the area. He was there with his girlfriend Bri, who is also a state trooper along with his father who is a police chief and his mother as well and many other members of their family. Theyre clearly a tight knit family and a law enforcement family. It was really uplifting and spiritual frankly to be with them, Governor Josh Shapiro, (D), Pennsylvania.

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In a Facebook post, Mayfield Chief of Police Joseph Perechinsky Sr. saying in part:

Thank you all family friends and my fellow law enforcement from the bottom of my heart .As I have found out a few times in past few weeks life can change in an instant. Yesterday, a tragic event occurred and it hit close to home in many ways personally and professionally. We strap on our vests and weapons and gave no idea what will happen next. Two troopers yesterday one being my son, the other being Bill Jenkins, disregarded their own lives to protect others and used their training to make sure the threat was contained with a very good outcome. This outcome doesnt always happen in this manner but I truly thank god that it did.

The perimeter around the scene is still in place.

Pennsylvania State Police and the Susquehanna County DAs office are conducting a joint investigation into the use of force in the killing of Carmine Faino.

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VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 9: Puravankara Limited (NSE: PURVA | BSE: 532891), one of India's most trusted and admired real estate developers, announced its financial results for the first quarter (Q1FY26) ending June 30, 2025. In Q1FY26, the company recorded sales of Rs 1,124 crores, up 6% year-on-year, on sales volume of 1.25 million sq. ft. The average realisation rose 9% to Rs 8,988 per sq. ft, while collections stood at Rs 857 crores. Commenting on the company's performance, Mr Ashish Puravankara, Managing Director, Puravankara Limited, said, "This year marks our Golden Jubilee, and we are proud of the trust our customers have placed in us as well as the milestones we have achieved on this journey. In this quarter, we delivered a strong performance, with a 6% year-on-year increase in pre-sales, supported by healthy customer interest in our ongoing projects. Healthy collections for the quarter underscore the continued confidence that homebuyers have in our developments. Our handovers and sales were less than our expectations due to regulatory changes, including e-Khata and changes in byelaws. However, our team is confident of achieving the scheduled handover and launches. Our recent land acquisitions with an aggregate GDV potential of Rs 6,400 crores have further strengthened our growth pipeline. In Mumbai, redevelopment continues to gain traction, with our appointment as the preferred developer for eight housing societies in Chembur (GDV over Rs 2,100 crores). In the South, we have entered a JV for a 24.59-acre parcel near the airport in North Bengaluru (GDV over Rs 3,300 crores) and signed a JDA for a 5.5-acre parcel in Balegere, East Bengaluru (GDV over Rs 1,000 crores). These additions diversify our portfolio and position us strongly for sustained growth." Operational Q1FY26 Highlights: * Total area sold: 1.25 million square feet (msft) * Total sales value: Rs 1,124 crores * Average sales realisation: Rs 8,988 per square foot (psft) Consolidated Q1FY26 Financial Performance: * Total revenue stood at Rs 539 crores * Net loss for the period was Rs 69 crores * Collections: Rs 857 crores Possession: * While regulatory changes such as the e-Khata process have impacted handover and revenue recognition timelines, we remain on track for the planned delivery of over 4,500 units during the financial year * Out of planned handovers, 3.65 million square feet (3,015 units) have been completed and Occupancy Certificates (OC) received; these are currently awaiting e-Khata issuance for handover possession * In Q1FY26, we handed over 667 units, covering 0.68 million square feet, generating revenue of Rs 539 crores Projected Cash Flows: As of 30 June 2025: * The total estimated surplus from all completed and ongoing projects stands at Rs 7,915 crores * The estimated surplus from commercial projects is Rs 1,934 crores * The estimated surplus from pipeline projects is Rs 5,578 crores * The overall estimated surplus across all categories exceeds Rs 15,427 crores * The cost considered for surplus calculation does not include sales & marketing costs, corporate overheads, income tax and future repayment of debt Launches * Changes in byelaws and regulatory processes temporarily impacted the launch schedule. However, with the revised byelaws now notified, the company is back on track to launch 12.32 million square feet as per the planned timeline * During the quarter, the company launched 1.16 million square feet across various phases of ongoing projects Business development: * Puravankara was selected as the preferred developer for eight redevelopment housing societies in Chembur, Mumbai, with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of over Rs 2,100 crores * Entered into a joint venture for a 24.59-acre land parcel near Bengaluru International Airport, with a GDV of over Rs 3,300 crores * Signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for a 5.5-acre parcel in Balegere, East Bengaluru, with a GDV of over Rs 1,000 crores Debt * The weighted average cost of debt has reduced to 11.35% as of June 30, 2025, compared with last quarter * Net debt stood at Rs 2,825 crores, with a net debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68 for Q1 FY26 India's real estate sector is expected to continue demonstrating strong growth potential in FY26, supported by sustained end-user demand, improved affordability, and a favourable policy environment. Office leasing momentum remains robust, with nearly 49 million sq. ft. absorbed in H1CY25, while residential sales are projected to grow 5-7% through FY25-26, according to industry estimates. The recent rate cuts by the RBI have further boosted consumer sentiment and purchasing power. Puravankara is well-poised for continued expansion and is confident in its ability to capture emerging opportunities across key micro-markets. (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)
Officials are investigating after a small plane crashed in someones front yard just after midnight.

Brookhaven police and DeKalb County firefighters responded to the intersection of Clairmont Road and 9th Street at 12:25 a.m.

When they arrived, they found a small prop plane in the front yard of house at the corner of the intersection.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Officers were able to get all three passengers out of the plane. They were rushed to a local trauma center.

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County officials say the worst injuries were a broken wrist and a broken ankle.

Officials say the plane, a Piper PA-28, belonged to All2Fly Flight School and left Peachtree-DeKalb airport just before 11 p.m. for a flight to Rome before returning to DeKalb County.

While returning, the plane conducted several touch-and-go landings, which is standard for flight training.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The National Transportation Safety Board tells Channel 2 Action News that is appears the plane hit some power lines before crashing into trees and then the road.

We are grateful to Brookhaven Police, DeKalb Fire Rescue, and Georgia Power for their swift response to last nights crash. Our focus now is on supporting the ongoing investigation, and we will be working closely with the NTSB and FAA to determine the cause of the accident, PDK Airport Director Hunter Hines said.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas Metro police are searching for two women accused of robbing a central valley business.

It happened on Aug. 1, shortly after 4:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of West Sahara Avenue near Valley View Boulevard.

Las Vegas Metro police said two women were accused of armed robbery in the central Las Vegas valley on Aug. 1, 2025 (LVMPD)

Two women accused of armed robbery in central Las Vegas valley on Aug. 1, 2025 (LVMPD)

The two women are believed to be in their 20s to 30s and are accused of using a deadly weapon during the robbery.

Those with information on the crime are asked to call Las Vegas Metro police at 702-828-3591 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

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LONDON (AP)  British police said they arrested 365 people in central London on Saturday as supporters of a recently banned pro-Palestinian group intentionally flouted the law as part of their effort to force the government to reconsider the ban.

Parliament in early July passed a law banning Palestine Action and making it a crime to publicly support the organization. That came after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two tanker planes to protest against Britains support for Israels offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Backers of the group, who have held a series of protests around the U.K. over the past month, argue that the law illegally restricts freedom of expression.

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Daring police to arrest them

More than 500 protesters filled the square outside the Houses of Parliament on Saturday, many daring police to arrest them by displaying signs reading I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. That was enough for police to step in.

But as the demonstration began to wind down, police and protest organizers sparred over the number of arrests as the organizers sought to show that the law was unworkable.

The police have only been able to arrest a fraction of those supposedly committing terrorism offenses, and most of those have been given street bail and allowed to go home, Defend Our Juries, which organized the protest, said in a statement. This is a major embarrassment to (the government), further undermining the credibility of this widely ridiculed law, brought in to punish those exposing the governments own crimes.

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Londons Metropolitan Police Service quickly hit back, saying this wasnt true and that many of those who gathered in the square were onlookers, media or people who didnt hold placards supporting the group.

We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested, the police force said in a statement.

On Friday, police said the demonstration was unusual in that the protesters wanted to be arrested in large numbers so as to place a strain on police and the broader criminal justice system.

Why the group is being banned

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The government moved to ban Palestine Action after the activists broke into a British air force base in southern England on June 20 to protest British military support for the Israel-Hamas war. The activists sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker planes at the RAF Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and caused further damage with crowbars.

Palestine Action had previously targeted Israeli defense contractors and other sites in the United Kingdom that they believe have links with the Israeli military.

Supporters of the group are challenging the ban in court, saying the government has gone too far in declaring Palestine Action a terrorist organization.

Once the meaning of terrorism is separated from campaigns of violence against a civilian population, and extended to include those causing economic damage or embarrassment to the rich, the powerful and the criminal, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning and democracy is dead, Defend Our Juries said on its website.

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Busy weekend of protests

The arrests outside Parliament came amid what is expected to be a busy weekend of demonstrations in London as the war in Gaza and concerns about immigration spur protests and counterprotests across the United Kingdom.

While Prime Minister Keir Starmer has angered Israel with plans to recognize a Palestinian state later this year, many Palestinian supporters in Britain criticize the government for not doing enough to end the war in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Saturday afternoon in central London for a march that ended outside the gates of No. 10 Downing Street, the prime ministers official residence and offices.

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On Sunday, a number of groups are scheduled to march through central London to demand the safe release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Palestinian militants have held the captives since Hamas-led attackers surged into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. There are 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive.

Police are also preparing for protests outside hotels across the country that are being used to house asylum-seekers. Protesters and counterprotesters have squared off outside the hotels in recent weeks, with some saying the migrants pose a risk to their communities and others decrying anti-immigrant racism.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the scale of the events would put pressure on the police department.

This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence, Adelekan said before the protests began.
Police have arrested 474 people at a demonstration in London in support of banned group Palestine Action.

The Metropolitan Police said 466 protesters were arrested for supporting the group, five for assaults on police officers, two for public order offences, and one for a racially aggravated offence.

Scores of people simultaneously unveiled handwritten signs with the message "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" at the protest, organised by Defend Our Juries at Westminster's Parliament Square.

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It was the biggest protest since the government proscribed the group in July under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

No officers were seriously injured, and the Met Police said the number of arrests was the largest made by the force on a single day in the last 10 years.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked police for their response, while charity Amnesty International described the mass arrests as "deeply concerning".

Footage from the square showed officers moving among the protesters, who were mainly seated on the ground, and speaking to them before leading them away.

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Protesters whose details could be confirmed at temporary prisoner processing points nearby were bailed with conditions to return to a police station at a future date and to not attend any further protests in support of Palestine Action.

People who refused to give their details or whose identities could not be verified were taken into custody.

Many of the protesters didn't want to speak to media who came to cover the protest, but one - who didn't give her name - told the BBC: "If they ban Palestine Action, what other group is next? Until we're just no longer allowed to protest anything. That's the opposite of democracy."

Another, Claudia Penna-Rojas, 27, said: "I don't think anyone wants to get arrested, but I'm more concerned with what is happening to people in Palestine right now, and I refuse to be a bystander."

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Jacob Ecclestone, 86, said: "I believe in freedom of speech. What this government is trying to do is deeply authoritarian. And it's extremely dangerous."

Most of the protesters who unveiled signs did so while sitting in Parliament Square next to the House of Commons [PA Media]

Earlier, the Met Police had said about 500 to 600 people were in Parliament Square when the protest began, but that "many were onlookers, media or people not holding placards in support of Palestine Action".

At 13:00, when Big Ben chimed, hundreds of people sat on the square pulled out their placards, at which point the police started making multiple arrests at a time, working their way through the crowds.

Protesters patiently waited their turns. Some chose to walk out quietly. Those who refused to move, lying on the ground, were carried out by police to chants of "shame on you" directed at the officers.

An 89-year-old woman was one of the hundreds who were arrested in Parliament Square [Getty Images]

The protest comes just days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales were named.

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Yvette Cooper thanked police for their work handling Palestine rights protests across the UK on Saturday, saying there had been a "very small number of people whose actions crossed the line into criminality".

She defended the banning of Palestine Action, which she said was based on "strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed" as well as "plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings".

"Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear - this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority."

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said protesters supporting Palestine Action "should feel the full force of the law".

Those arrested were bailed if their identities were verified by police, with others taken into custody if not [Getty Images]

Chief executive of Amnesty International, Sacha Deshmukh, said people outraged by the "ongoing genocide" in Gaza were "entitled under international human rights law to express their horror".

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"The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists," he said.

"We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified."

Security expert Lizzie Dearden told the BBC that the laws the protesters were arrested under "were not designed for a group of this nature or a group of this size".

"When (the Terrorism Act) was drafted in the late Nineties, the kind of terrorist group that was really being envisaged were groups like the IRA, al-Qaeda, armed militant groups that were operating often abroad.

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"So the law is being applied in a completely new way."

Organisers Defend Our Juries claimed there were more than 1,000 "sign-holders" at the protest - and a large number had not been arrested.

Responding, the Met Police said: "That claim simply isn't true."

Defend our Juries said the turnout "shows how repulsed and ashamed people are about our government's ongoing complicity in a livestreamed genocide".

It added that "Palestine Action and people holding cardboard signs present no danger to the public at large".

Police approached protesters sitting on the ground and either led or carried them away [EPA]

As well as the protest by Defend Our Juries, two marches were organised by Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate to be held on consecutive days in central London.

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The Metropolitan Police said it had drawn officers in from other forces to help form a "significant policing presence" in the capital as it faces a busy weekend.

Before Saturday's protest, more than 200 people had been arrested across the country for similar reasons since the ban was implemented by the home secretary last month.

On Thursday two women and a man were also charged with showing support for a proscribed terror group. They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police said.

At the end of July, the High Court ruled that Palestine Action would be able to challenge its proscription.

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Lawyers for the group's co-founder Huda Ammori have argued that the ban breaches the right to free speech and has acted like a gag on legitimate protest. The government says the ban is justified because it narrowly targets a group that has been organising serious criminality.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing 7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The SAPD has released an official update on the shooting that occurred on the night of August 8.

The police were dispatched to North Jackson Street to see a reported shooting victim. They found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds and traced the shooting back to North Monroe Street.

According to the police news release:

Preliminary information indicates the incident began as an argument at a local bar between

individuals who were acquainted with one another. The altercation escalated when the injured male allegedly attempted to assault another male with both a knife and a firearm. The other male then fired at the subject, causing the injuries.

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As of this writing, no arrests have been made, and it is likely an isolated 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
The CDC's Edward Roybal campus was the target of a shooting Friday that left a police officer and suspect dead. (File photo courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2025 with the latest.

A police officer is dead after a gunman opened fire in Atlanta as the work day wrapped up Friday, apparently targeting the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions main campus.

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Bullet damage was seen in the walls and windows of buildings on the CDC campus. The shooting suspect, who is dead, has been identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

We at CDC are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting, CDCs director Susan Monarez said in a statement late Friday night. A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed while responding to a shooter near the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University. Photo courtesy of the DeKalb County Police

The DeKalb County Police identified the officer who was killed as 33-year-old Officer David Rose. DeKalb County Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said Rose joined the force in September 2024 and leaves behind a wife and two children with a third on the way.

He gave his life with a commitment to serve others, and he should be respected for that, Padrick said at a press conference.

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Police said the suspect opened fire shortly before 5 p.m. Friday from a building in Emory Point, a mixed-use development near Emory University and the CDC. Rose was shot while responding to the scene and died of his injuries at Emory University Hospital.

Nearby residents reported fear and chaos as businesses went into lockdown and residents sheltered in place. More than 90 young children were in a day care center on the CDC campus during the attack. Police said no children were harmed and teachers were working to reunite the kids with anxious parents at a nearby school into Friday night.

Fridays attack comes on the heels of a Wednesday shooting at Fort Stewart near Savannah, where an Army sergeant opened fire, injuring five fellow soldiers. Other high-profile shootings have rocked Georgia in recent years, including last years attack at Apalachee High School in Winder, which claimed four lives.

In statements, Georgias two U.S. senators, Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, expressed condolences to Roses family and gratitude to all the police and medics who assisted.

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The CDC has been one of the agencies at the center of the debate over wide-ranging federal budget cuts, and supporters of the fired CDC workers have staged weekly rallies near what would become the scene of the crime.

Earlier this year, I stood where this shooting occurred, rallying for fired CDC employees who work tirelessly to protect our public health and national security, Warnock said in a statement. CDC workers are our friends, our colleagues, and our neighbors. I will always have the backs of Georgias dedicated public health workers.

State Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Lilburn Democrat and microbiology professor at Emory, said she wasnt on campus at the time of the attack but learned about it through a text message sent to students and faculty notifying them of the active shooter situation and advising them to Run. Hide. Fight.

As a professor at Emory University, and a parent, I am horrified that this took place in a place where I recently stood with CDC protesters, next to a day care center full of small children, and just weeks before thousands of students are set to return for the first day of classes, said Clark, who is also running for Congress in Georgias 13th District.

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Clark called on her colleagues to support legislation focused on improving gun safety.

The Legislature could do so much with the political courage and political will to fight gun violence, she said. While we dont know much about the shooter and about the motives, what we do know is guns everywhere policies do not make our communities safer, and also put the lives of law enforcement at risk.

In the wake of Apalachee and other high-profile shootings, Georgia Democrats have called for tightening regulations, including by requiring gun owners to safely secure firearms. In recent years, Georgias GOP-dominated Legislature has moved toward loosening gun laws, including ending a state permit requirement to carry concealed handguns in 2022.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who is running for governor next year, recently signed on in support of a lawsuit against Savannah Mayor Van Johnson over a law penalizing gun owners who leave firearms in unlocked cars.

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State Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat whose district includes Emory and the CDC, indicated Democrats in the Legislature will resume pushing for tighter gun regulations when lawmakers reconvene in January.

The availability of guns has endangered the lives of thousands of people at the CDC and Emory, which is exactly why I have fought so hard for gun reform, she said in a statement. Unfortunately, Republicans have been an obstacle as they endanger our communities by passing laws to make guns more prevalent and deadly in the state of Georgia.

This is yet another stark reminder of why we must continue to fight for gun safety legislation, she added.

In public statements, the states top Republican lawmakers focused on honoring the bravery of the first responders who stopped the shooters in the two recent attacks.

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Twice this week, deranged criminals have targeted innocent Georgians, Gov. Brian Kemp said in a social media post shortly after Fridays attack. Each time, brave first responders rushed toward the danger to subdue the shooter and save lives, reminding us of just how crucial they are. Marty, the girls, and I are thankful for all those who answer the call to serve and who protect their fellow Georgians. We ask that you join us in holding them in our prayers, along with those harmed this evening near the CDC Center.

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Poland's new right-wing President Karol Nawrocki has received an invitation to meet US President Donald Trump during a working visit to the White House next month, Nawrocki's office announced on Saturday.

The invitation was issued along with Trump's message of congratulation on the occasion of Nawrocki's inauguration on Wednesday, it said.

Nawrocki, a right-wing conservative and political opponent of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is an outspoken Trump admirer.

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The 42-year-old historian is officially independent but is seen as close to the nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS). He emerged victorious in the second round of the presidential election at the beginning of June.

Trump received Nawrocki, a novice on the world stage, in May during the Polish election campaign, with the White House publishing a photo showing the two men in the Oval Office making a thumbs-up sign.

The visit and photo were seen as boosting Nawrocki's chances.
LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal's Constitutional Court has blocked a bill approved by the right-wing parliamentary majority that was designed to limit the inflow of immigrants, citing obstacles it creates for family members in joining immigrants legally resident in Portugal.

Immediately after late Friday's decision, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent the bill back to parliament, which is on recess until September. Last month, the president told the court to check the document for potential infringements of the principles of equality, proportionality and legal security.

The bill illustrates the rightward shift in politics in much of Europe, as governments try to fend off the rise of the far-right by being tougher on immigration.

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The bill would have made hundreds of thousands of migrants legally resident in Portugal wait for two years before they could request permission for immediate family members to join them. Only highly-skilled workers and investors with special residence permits would be exempt.

The court ruled that the bill was "likely to lead to the separation of family members" of foreign citizens legally resident in Portugal, which it said would be a "violation of the rights enshrined in the constitution".

Last year, the government scrapped a programme that allowed migrants entering Portugal on a tourist visa or waiver to stay and get residence permits if they find work.

Immigrants from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries still enjoy most such privileges but the bill would impose the requirement of a long-term work or residence visa that they would need to apply for in the country of origin.

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Parliament approved the bill on July 16 with support from the centre-right ruling coalition and far-right Chega party, which emerged as the second-largest parliamentary force in a May general election.

Left-wing opposition parties have criticised the government for what they call an inhumane bill, and for allowing Chega to impose its anti-immigration agenda on the minority administration.

The government denies such accusations, arguing that immigration inflows require better controls, and has already said it intends to adjust the bill to the court's objections.

(Reporting by Andrei KhalipEditing by Mark Potter)
BOSTON (WWLP)  Any citizen or interest group can propose a ballot question in the Bay State, and the 2026 field includes questions that could reduce lawmakers pay and change the way primary elections work.

The first step in getting a question on the ballot is to submit the signatures of 10 registered voters to the attorney general by the first Wednesday in August, and dozens of initiatives are in the running to be voted on.

State House Spotlight: Texas comes to town

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One interest group spanning both sides of the aisle proposed two legislative pay reforms. One would increase pay for rank-and-file lawmakers while reducing the number of stipends in the control of leadership. The other would get rid of these stipends entirely. The campaign says they will chase just one of these proposals to the ballot, depending on which one gets more support.

Massachusetts Secretary of State filed a question allowing prospective voters to register and cast a ballot on the same day, an issue he says has been stagnant in the legislature for years.

Other voting and legislature-related initiatives filed include establishing an all-party primary and applying public record law to the governor and state lawmakers.

Provided these ballot questions are determined to be constitutionally valid by the attorney general, they will each need to gather over 75,000 registered voters signatures before the next deadline in December.

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This December hurdle, as well as additional signature quotas due in the spring, typically narrow the field to just a handful of questions that will successfully make it onto the 2026 ballot.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
PNN New Delhi [India], August 9: The Leadership Federation proudly hosted the 7th edition of the Asia Leadership Awards on July 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- a landmark gathering that brought together the brightest minds, disruptive innovators, and transformational leaders from across Asia and beyond. The event aimed to celebrate and spotlight extraordinary contributions to leadership, technology, enterprise, education, and innovation. This year's ceremony witnessed distinguished participation from top industry leaders, changemakers, and global thought leaders, solidifying the Asia Leadership Awards as a prestigious platform that honors individuals who are driving positive change in their sectors and societies. Global Thought Leadership on Display The evening was graced by Chief Guest Robin Joffe, Partner & Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia at Frost & Sullivan, who delivered a compelling keynote address on "Global Leadership Transformation". His address emphasized the growing importance of adaptive leadership, digital reinvention, and human-centric innovation in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Celebrating Excellence: Award Winners The awards recognized leaders across a wide spectrum of domains -- from artificial intelligence and cloud computing to enterprise transformation and education. Among the notable winners were: * Sajid Ashraf Kahn - Leadership in Security and Cloud Computing, for his groundbreaking initiatives in creating secure, scalable cloud ecosystems. * Udit Anand - Data Science Innovator, recognized for deploying machine learning to solve complex enterprise challenges. * Narinder Pal Verma - Leadership Excellence in Technology Innovation, for redefining digital frameworks within large organizations. * Navdeep Singh - Emerging Technology Leader in Enterprise Integration, for spearheading transformative integration across business platforms. * Mohammed Mustafa Shariff - Lifetime Achievement Award in Education, for his unwavering contribution to academic excellence and institutional development. * Abhishek Rahule - Best AI-Driven Transformation in Enterprise Systems, for deploying scalable AI frameworks that enhanced organizational intelligence. * Rahul Bhatt - Outstanding Contributor of the Year, for consistent, cross-functional excellence and mentorship. * Haseena Subhaniya - Leadership Excellence in Dough Tech, for innovating in the niche space of food technology with global relevance. * Nabendu Kulkarni - Versatile Leader of the Year, for his multi-industry leadership that blends strategy, empathy, and execution. * Sanjeev Sarin - Impeccable Leader Award of the Year, for his exceptional ethical leadership and business foresight. * Kashyap Sampat - Excellence in Quality Assurance, for establishing best-in-class QA processes and metrics. Esteemed Jury Panel Winners were evaluated by a highly respected jury panel known for their domain expertise, impartiality, and industry insights: * Mr. Radhakrishnan Mahalingam - Chief IT Transformations Leader * Mr. Neel Pandya - CEO - EMEA, APAC & Global Partnerships, Pixis * Mr. Gautam Sikka - Software Engineer, META Their in-depth scrutiny ensured that every honoree truly embodied the spirit of leadership and impact. ? Insightful Speaker Sessions The event also featured an impressive speaker lineup who offered cutting-edge perspectives on innovation, people-first leadership, and technology disruption. Thought-provoking keynotes and panel discussions were delivered by: * Mr. Puneet Chopra - Telecom CTO, HPE India * Mr. Uma Mahesh - Co-Founder & President Americas, CamCom.AI * Mr. Srinivas Ganji - Solution Delivery Director, Arcadis * Mr. Rajeev Jha - Head of Security, Comviva * Ms. Megha Paradkar - VP of Customer Engagement, Aavenir * Mr. Devendrasingh Rajput - Chief Business Officer, Indira IVF * Ms. Payal Nanjiani - CEO & Founder, The Payal Nanjiani Company * Ms. Vaishali Wagle - Founder & CEO, Zenesse From AI to healthcare, enterprise systems to leadership psychology, the discussions underscored the diverse and dynamic nature of modern leadership. A Platform for Collaboration and Change The Asia Leadership Awards continues to serve as a beacon of excellence -- celebrating achievements while fostering networking, cross-industry collaboration, and leadership dialogue. The 7th edition was more than just a recognition event -- it was a convergence of visionaries dedicated to shaping a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient future. For more information, event highlights, and upcoming editions, please visit www.theleadershipfederation.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
A new battery storage facility in Ontario, Canada, is pioneering electricity management on the grid and cleaner, more reliable energy.

The Brantford Expositor reported that Northland Power and partners launched the Oneida Energy Storage facility in Nanticoke. The monumental project is Canada's first large-scale battery storage system.

Oneida Energy Storage aims to solve a common problem in modern power grids. That is, balancing supply and demand with increasing renewable and nuclear energy.

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Large power generators  Ontario's nuclear plants  produce a steady supply of electricity. In times of low demand, there can be an excess of power. Negative electricity prices soon follow, where jurisdictions pay others to take their surplus.

But during peak demand hours, the grid needs a rapid influx of power, and the Oneida facility addresses this by acting as a giant battery. It stores excess electricity when it's plentiful and cheap. Then, it releases electricity back into the grid when demand is high.

The system reaches a balance and maximizes the value of clean energy sources. Using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the technology is a safer, controllable alternative.

Facility operations began in May. Its collaborators include NRStor, Aecon, the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC), and the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC).

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"The Oneida Battery Storage Project is a first-of-a-kind large battery project in Canada, here in Ontario," said Nick Zsofcsin, project director and head of energy storage for Northland Power. "This is one of the largest in the world, a really meaningful site when it comes to energy storage in general on a global scale."

The project boasts a significant capacity of 250 megawatts at a four-hour duration. That's about 1% of Ontario's entire electricity grid.

By 2050, Zsofcsin expects Ontario's peak electricity consumption to double.

This project brings major benefits to both communities and the environment. Efficient storing and deploying of electricity integrates more clean energy onto the grid. It also reduces the reliance on fossil fuel power plants that cause air pollution and planet-overheating gases. The result is cleaner air for communities and a healthier planet.

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The Oneida facility provides notable socio-economic benefits as well. Valued at almost $700 million, the project created over 180 jobs during construction. Both the SNGRDC and the MCBC hold ownership stakes, and dividends from these investments will support their communities for the next two decades.

"Our involvement in this project is one step towards wealth creation for First Nations," said Warren Sault, president and CEO of the MCBC. "Our involvement creates inspiration for community members to be involved in training and employment in the clean energy sector."

"I just never imagined it would get this big," Zsofcsin added, reflecting on the vision behind this massive undertaking.

The Oneida Energy Storage facility is a powerful example of large-scale battery technology. Effective battery storage is becoming a cornerstone of modern grids.

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Global adoption of energy solutions will create a sustainable energy future.

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.
President Donald Trump's approval rating continues to dip near record lows in recent polls following aggressive policy moves and mounting legal and political battles.

The New York Times reported Friday that Trump signed a directive instructing the Pentagon to prepare for military operations against Latin American drug cartels that the U.S. has designated as global terrorist organizations. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the move but said no military action appeared imminent and details of potential operations remained unclear, USA TODAY reported.

This week also brought renewed controversy around the Jeffrey Epstein files, with the Justice Department broadening its request to unseal grand jury materials related to the cases of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Prosecutors asked the court to release not only transcripts of testimony by two law enforcement witnesses, but also exhibits such as photos, videos, and documents. However, the department maintained it would continue shielding certain personal identifying information, which could limit the scope of public disclosures.

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Later in the week, Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., citing rising crime in the capital and continuing to float the idea of a federal takeover of the citys government. The move came just days after a staffer from the Department of Government Efficiency was assaulted in an attempted carjacking.

Rounding out the week, the administration notched a legal win when a federal appeals court overturned a ruling that found probable cause to hold Trump officials in contempt over their handling of deportations of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. The 2-1 decision by the D.C. Circuit reversed a lower courts finding that the administration had violated an order barring certain deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act without allowing migrants to challenge their removal.

Here's what to know about Trump's approval rating, including how they are decided and how Trump's ratings compare with his first term and past presidents.

What is Donald Trump's approval rating?

Here are the latest approval ratings released about Trump's administration:

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How does Trump's approval rating compare with his 1st term?

Trump had a final approval rating of 34% when he left office in 2021. His approval average during his first term was 41%.

At the White House: Donald Trump wants Intel's CEO to resign over Chinese investments

How does Trump's approval rating compare with past presidents?

Joe Biden - 40%

Donald Trump (first term) - 34%

Barack Obama - 59%

George W. Bush - 34%

Bill Clinton - 66%

George H.W. Bush - 56%

Ronald Reagan - 63%

Jimmy Carter - 34%

Gerald Ford - 53%

Richard Nixon - 24%

Are presidential approval ratings accurate?

Data agency Gallup notes that these approval ratings are a "simple measure, yet a very powerful one that has played a key role in politics for over 70 years."

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A presidents approval rating reflects the percentage of Americans polled who approve of the presidents performance. Anything can impact a president's rating, such as legislation passed, actions and elections.

According to ABC News, an approval rating doesn't just represent how well the administration is doing for the general public, but could determine the outcome of an upcoming election for a politician or how much they get done during their time in office.

While these ratings are easy to understand, Quorum says some analysts believe they are not as useful as they once were due to extreme partisanship and the polarized political climate.

Presidential approval ratings have always been partisan, with members of the presidents party offering more positive assessments than those in the opposing party, according to the Pew Research Center. But the differences between Republicans and Democrats on views of the president have grown substantially in recent decades.

USA TODAY Network reporter Maria Francis contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Donald Trump's approval rating: See the latest polls
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  The community is invited to show its support during a procession for the Pueblo Fire Departments Deputy Chief Keith Novak, who unexpectedly passed away on July 27.

Deputy Chief Novak was a firefighter with the Pueblo Fire Department and was promoted to second-in-command duties by Pueblo Fire Chief Barb Huber in 2022. Novak dedicated 30 years of service to the Pueblo community and was a member of the Local 3 chapter of the Pueblo International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) for 26 years. He was described by the IAFF Local 3 as a respected leader, colleague, and public servant.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Pueblo mourns sudden loss of Fire Deputy Chief Keith Novak

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The procession will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 8:45 a.m., beginning at City Park and ending at Praise Assembly of God, where a public funeral service will be held. The procession route will head east on 4th Street through Pueblo, and the community is invited to line the procession route to honor Novaks 30 years of service and show support for his colleagues and family members.

Courtesy: Pueblo Fire Department

The public service will follow the procession and is set to begin at 10 a.m. at Praise Assembly of God, located at 2000 Troy Avenue.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
A project hopes to re-establish the corncrake in Yorkshire.

The scheme is the first attempt at re-establishment in the area and is being led by the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley Conservation Group.

A brood of chicks are being reared for release in September at the Lower Derwent Valley Nature Reserve.

Mike Jackson, the chairman of the group, said it was a "symbolic and ecological milestone".

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Corncrakes are native to the UK but habitat loss caused by modern farming methods pushed the bird to the brink of extinction.

The birds are related to moorhens, coots and water rails, but they live on dry land. Corncrakes are slightly bigger than blackbirds and have a rasping call. They breed in Europe and migrate to Africa during the winter.

The brood of chicks arrived for rearing at the Lower Derwent Valley Nature Reserve in May and the birds are expected to be released once their rearing is complete in early September.

Mike Jackson, the chairman of Friends of Lower Derwent Valley Conservation Group, said: "The return of the corncrake marks a symbolic and ecological milestone for the Lower Derwent Valley.

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"It is not just about one bird, it's about restoring an ecosystem that supports a wide array of species."

Work to re-establish a sustainable corncrake population will also involve restoration of hay meadows and tailored breeding habitats. The conservation team said they were working with local landowners to ensure the long-term viability of the species.

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Aug. 9 (UPI) -- North and South Korea have begun removing some loudspeakers that were used to broadcast propaganda across the demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.

The South Korean military on Saturday reported North Korea's removal of some of the loudspeakers, but it's unknown if all of them will be taken away, the BBC reported.

The South Korean military "detected North Korean troops dismantling propaganda loudspeakers in some parts along the front line," its leaders said in a prepared statement on Saturday.

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"It remains to be confirmed whether the devices have been removed across all regions," the statement said, adding that the South Korean military will continue monitoring the situation.

The BBC's report suggested removing some of the loudspeakers might be North Korea's way of responding positively to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's recent election win.

Lee became president in June and had campaigned on a platform that included improving relations with North Korea.

South Korea stopped broadcasting its own propaganda over loudspeakers positioned at the 38th parallel after Lee took office and earlier this week dismantled its loudspeakers.

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South Korea often broadcast content that included news and K-pop music, but those broadcasts ended in June, and its military began removing its loudspeakers on Monday.

North Korea's loudspeakers often aired annoying sounds, including the howling of wild animals.

North Korea has not confirmed its troops removed some of the loudspeakers at the demilitarized zone separating the two nations, The Independent reported.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un seeks to eliminate the influence of South Korean culture, including language and pop music, to help preserve his standing as the nation's supreme leader, according to The Independent.

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South Korea had ceased its broadcasts at the 38th parallel for several years, but former President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration resumed the broadcasts in June 2024.

Those broadcasts ended after Lee became president.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A protest was held Friday outside the Department of Human Services building. In attendance were members of Genesis Matas family and other mothers who say the system failed their kids as well.

Genesis Mata was found dead in a motel room bathtub last week. Her father, 31-year-old Ray Mata, and stepmother Graciela Bustamonte are charged with her abuse, torture and murder. Genesis extended family said they reported abuse to CPS for years.

In the court documents, it confirms there was at least one open case against Ray Mata after a boy had been missing school and had bruises on his arms. Someone at the school reported the abuse to CPS.

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The system failed my little cousin: Family of Genesis Mata says CPS was notified for years of abuse

Public outcry has been directed at CPS for not acting quickly enough to save Genesis. The protest hit a max of 12 people, with other protesters filtering in and out.

Mariah Lopez, one of Genesis cousins, was upset with the turnout.

They had a lot to say on the internet, on TikTok, but where was their support? Nobody showed up, said Lopez

Sabrina Guerrero, another one of Genesis cousins, said CPS was negligent regarding Genesis,

We are speaking on behalf of Genesis and all the other kids that are still out there. Kids that are getting abused. We need to end child abuse, CPS negligence, domestic violence, and mental health, said Guerrero.

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Josefina Villarreal organized this protest.

Genesis Mata investigation: Court documents indicate Ray Mata was already under investigation by CPS

When I first heard about the case it brought me back to my 2-year-old nephew two years ago while he was in the care of his father.

Ezekiel Rivera was just 2-years-old when KCSO deputies found him unresponsive with fentanyl in his system. His father, Raul Rivera, is charged with his murder.

I am hoping for an independent investigation on CPS in Kern County. I just feel like theres a lot of laws, too many kids are dying, too many kids are being put in the wrong foster care homes and end up getting hurt. Sometimes an organization like this was built correctly and then throughout the years things kind of go south and its time to rebuild it, said Villareal.

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Villarreal also created a Change.org petition, calling for an independent investigation into CPS. It has more than 700 hundred signatures as of Friday afternoon.

Friday is the sixth day 17 News has called CPS and the Department of Human Services seeking answers to our questions. DHS released a statement Friday afternoon saying they are saddened by the tragic loss of this child.

It goes on to say CPS carries the immense responsibility of protecting children from abuse and neglect, and that they are dedicated to doing everything possible to protect every child. But again, they did not respond to any of our questions saying its an open investigation.

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A DHS spokesperson did respond to some questions to CPS regarding staffing and budgeting.

CPS currently has a total of 526 staff members including 480 permanent employees and 46 extra help staff. It currently has 40 vacancies across different job descriptions, including social workers, administrative, and support personnel. The department is still actively hiring for these roles.

There are no plans to close the Jamison Childrens Center.

Funding for the department comes from different sources, federal, state, county and grants. The spokesperson said the budget is currently stable but the department is anticipating impacts from President Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill. The recently passed legislation introduces changes to Medi-Cal reimbursements and other safety net measures that support CPS operations.

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The spokesperson did not address our questions regarding Ray Mata and Graciela Bustamonte.

Is this the only case Ray Mata and Graciela Bustamonte has had against them with CPS?

How many times were complaints made about this family?

At what time, did complaints start coming in?

17 News will continue to ask for those answers.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LAKE WORTH BEACH  More than 70 residents stood outside Lake Worth Beach City Hall before the scheduled Aug. 5 commission meeting, protesting against the Weiner Museum of Decorative Arts, a $60 million mixed-use downtown development project.

Protestors, many wearing red, held signs reading Stop WMODA and chanted Public land, public vote! earning car honks from drivers along South Dixie Highway.

Despite the pushback, city officials didnt change course. Four of five commissioners voted to approve this iteration of the project master plan. Commissioner Christopher McVoy, who agreed with some protestors comments, was not present for the vote.

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This is not the citys final approval for WMODA. Officials will discuss the project once more before making an official decision, though the timing is unclear.

WMODA is projected to cost $60 million in total, with the city contributing an estimated $19 million.

Residents are concerned the city is putting a large sum of public taxpayer dollars toward a project proposed by a private developer.

At the heart of most of it, the thing I think a lot of people disagree on is: it's too much money, said Kim Stokes, a former city commissioner and a leader of the advocacy group Lake Worth 4 All.

The project will consist of a four-story museum and commercial space on Lake Avenue featuring 15,000 pieces of glass sculptures and ceramic artwork, a cafe, bookstore, classrooms and an exhibit by Dale Chihuly, a famous artist known for his large glass-blown pieces.

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The project will also include a five-story, 110-apartment complex and an attached underground residential parking garage with 117 spaces. The city agreed to build an additional three-story, 270-space parking garage on K Street and split the funding with WMODA. This second garage will cost the city $7.5 million.

The core of the downtown Lake Worth Beach plan involves the city to donate 1.7 acres to the Wiener Museums development company, United Management. The property, valued by the city at about $3.3 million, is at the southwest corner of Lake Avenue and South M Street.

Lake Worth Beach values WMODAs designated 1.7-acre property at about $3.3 million. However, the plan includes making some sacrifices, such as demolishing one historical building and relocating three others to Community Development Agency-approved sites.

The project obliterates all the qualities of the (Old Town) historic district, said Richard Stowe, who moved to Lake Worth Beach in 2012 and formerly served on the Tree and Landscape Board.

United Management, doing business as Sunshine Lake Worth Development, first proposed the project at an October 2024 workshop meeting. About 40 people showed up in support, wearing pro-WMODA shirts and flashing supportive signs. Now, the tone has shifted.

Sunshine Development would also build a 110-apartment complex to include eight affordable artist lofts. A nearby 3-story parking garage would have about 270 spaces. The garage would be owned and operated by the city. Parking for the public would be allowed.

Just south of Lake Worth Beach, Boca Raton is also considering a similarly controversial mixed-use development plan.

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Boca residents formed a group called Save Boca that protested outside the City Council chamber in July, circulating a petition and filling over 80 seats.

WMODA museum project protesters gather on the steps at City Hall in downtown Lake Worth Beach, Fla., on August 6, 2025.

Lake Worth 4 Alls protest on Aug. 5 demanded the same thing of its city leaders: to put public-private issues on a ballot. During the commission meeting, protestors made an uproar over WMODAs overall cost but targeted two key elements in particular: parking and affordable housing.

To meet the citys parking requirement, WMODAs plan would eliminate roughly 65 spaces. An informational pamphlet distributed by protestors claims the project would credit 66 public downtown spaces toward its total and treat 156 bike racks as the equivalent of 24 spaces, although the city has not confirmed these figures.

A group of eight residents circulated a petition against these parking plans and the introduction of paid parking downtown. One resident, Susan Guyaux, told the council they gathered 872 signatures within a 10-day period.

Tyler Chapman, Lake Worth Beach, chants during WMODA museum project protest outside City Hall in downtown Lake Worth Beach, Fla., on August 6, 2025. Chapman runs a non-profit citizen journalism website in the city called The Lake Worthian.

Would affordable housing be offered in the Lake Worth Beach development?

Lake Worth Beach citizens are also concerned about the small amount of affordable housing WMODA plans to offer.

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The apartment complex is slated to have eight Affordable Artists Lofts reserved for households earning between roughly $85,600 and $128,500 annually. The remaining 102 units will sell at the local market rate, which sits at an average of $2,300 per month, according to data from real estate and rental listing websites such as Zillow and Apartments.com.

Tyler Chapman, founder of the nonprofit independent news blog The Lake Worthian, said he doesn't see any low-income benefit.

Kim Stokes, former City of Lake Worth Beach commissioner, center, spearheaded today's organized protest outside City Hall in downtown Lake Worth Beach, Fla., on August 6, 2025. The protesters are opposed to the controversial plan to build a museum in the city.

Workforce housing, I think, is a cover for just gentrifying. It's not a truly helpful thing for them to do, Chapman said in an interview. Chapman and others said the public subsidies put into workforce housing often only benefit higher-income buyers.

Commissioner Mimi May acknowledged that there is a need for more low-income housing, but also noted that those who can afford the current market rate are looking for more activities downtown, making that one reason WMODA makes sense for Lake Worth Beach.

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Since 2011, Vice Mayor Sarah Malega confirmed, the city has established over 1,200 affordable residences, including workforce and deed-restricted units.

Lake Worth Beach has more affordable and workforce housing being built than anywhere, said William Waters, the citys community sustainability director.

Mayor Betty Resch finger wags toward a member of the public audience during the city commission meeting at City Hall in downtown Lake Worth Beach, Fla., on August 6, 2025.

Those who attended the protest and the city commission meeting said they wanted their voices to be heard and for their fellow residents to stay informed.

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Chapman wrote a piece about the project and other matters ahead of the Aug. 5 meeting, and both The Lake Worthian and Lake Worth 4 All have active websites and social media pages updating the public on city decisions.

Theres a lot of issues in the city, (including) homelessness, addiction, crime  and we really want to be able to just have those community conversations and bring more awareness and more conversations, Stokes said. People need to know whats going on.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lake Worth Beach's $60 million WMODA project gets pushback
HONOLULU (KHON2)  An official ceremony that took place on Friday, Aug. 8, unveiled new signs honoring Purple Heart recipients across the island.

Mayor Blangiardi signs bill declaring Honolulu a Purple Heart City

Hosted by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, signs were installed around eight locations around Oahu, including Honolulu Hale, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, the Arizona Memorial and in the vicinity of several military installations.

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The men and women who have earned Purple Heart medals deserve our absolute highest praise and eternal gratitude. They put their bodies and their lives on the line to defend this country, to uphold freedom and to protect all of us; and that should never be forgotten, said Blangiardi. We are so proud to be able to take this opportunity to install these beautiful signs, which are a meaningful reflection of the City and County of Honolulus unwavering resolve to eternally honor the brave men and women who are true heroes.

In 2024, Blangiardi signed Bill 7 into law, which designated Honolulu as a Purple Heart City.

This is more than just a sign  it stands as a profound symbol of our aloha and commitment to honor those who were injured in the line of duty while serving our country, said Councilmember Augie Tulba. I deeply appreciate the partnership and tireless advocacy of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Rainbow Chapter #483, whose members are not only veterans but also our neighbors, friends, and family. By placing these signs throughout our community, we take a meaningful, visible step to recognize the sacrifices of those who have served in the military, reminding every resident and visitor of the courage and dedication that define the champions who have protected our nation.

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The ceremony also commemorated National Purple Heart Day, which is held annually on Thursday, Aug. 7, to remember military members who were wounded or killed in action.

These wonderful new signs and todays moving ceremony send a powerful and resounding message to our military community that they are truly recognized for their sacrifices and that they are deeply appreciated here in the City and County of Honolulu, said retired U.S. Army Colonel Ed Cruickshank. We are enormously grateful to Mayor Rick Blangiardi, his administration, Councilmember Augie Tulba, and to the entire Honolulu City Council for their leadership and their commitment to honor the legacy of our inspirational Purple Heart recipients and their families.

A full list of sign locations is as follows:

Arizona Memorial.

Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport.

Fort Shafter (H-201 westbound offramp).

Honolulu Hale.

Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii (entrance to base on H-3).

Kapolei Hale.

Puowaina/National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Tripler Army Medical Center (H-201 eastbound offramp).

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The City plans to install additional signs in more prominent locations across the island over time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday flexed his countrys ties with India and China ahead of President Trumps announcement of a planned meeting with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 17.

Putin held phone calls with both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, which Trump had set as the deadline for Russia to agree to a peace deal or face secondary tariffs on its key trading partners.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Putin is demanding major territorial concessions by Ukraine in exchange for a halt to fighting.

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Modis call with Putin came as India is facing an additional 25 percent in U.S. tariffs over its continued purchase of Russian oil, set to kick in at the end of this month, on top of 25 percent reciprocal tariffs that took effect this week.

Modi after the call said he had a very good and detailed conversation with the Russian leader, who briefed him on the latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine war.

We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, Modi said. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.

The call with Modi came a day after Putin met with Indias national security adviser Ajit Doval in Moscow. India has pushed back on Trumps tariff threats, saying buying Russian oil is necessary to stabilize domestic energy costs.

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Putin also spoke with Xi on Friday, briefing the Chinese president on his Wednesday huddle with Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff. The Kremlin said that Xi showed support for the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis on a long-term basis.

The Chinese president told Putin that Beijing, which provided crucial support to Russias war, would continue promoting peace and dialogue.

The calls come amid a flurry of diplomacy on all sides after the Wednesday meeting between Putin and Witkoff, which Trump said was highly productive and made great progress.

The president warned last month that Russia could stare down severe tariffs if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire within the next two months, a timeline he shortened to Friday of this week.

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He has said nations doing business with Russia would face a 100 percent secondary tariffs, in a bid to further isolate Moscow economically.

When asked Friday at the White House, while hosting the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan for a peace summit, if the Friday deadline would still entail punishment for Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire, Trump demurred.

Were going to see what he has to say, the president told reporters. Its gonna be up to him. Very disappointed.

Late on Friday, Trump announced on social media that he and Putin will meet next Friday in Alaska.

At the White House, Trump indicated that swapping territories between Russia and Ukraine is part of potential peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

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Youre looking at territory thats been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians. So were looking at that, but were actually to get some back and some swapping. Its complicated, Trump said on Friday.

Its actually  nothing easy. Its very complicated. But were going to get some back. And were going to get some switched, the president added. Theyll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but well be talking about that either later or tomorrow or whatever.

The Journal reported that Putins proposal entails Ukraine withdrawing its military from the eastern Donetsk region, essentially letting Moscow oversee Luhansk and Donetsk, along with Crimea  comprising most of the countrys east. A second phase would entail Putin and Trump agreeing on the final peace agreement that would later be discussed with Zelensky.

Witkoffs spokesperson declined to comment.

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Witkoff spoke with senior European officials from Germany, France, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Italy and Finland on Thursday, two sources familiar with the call told The Hill on Thursday.

The special envoy held another call with European national security officials on Friday, according to a NATO official and another source briefed on the matter. After the huddle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys top adviser, Andriy Yermak, said the officials focused on coordinating positions to bring a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine as soon as possible.

We are ready to work as productively as possible to save lives and stop the fighting, he wrote on social media.

The president said at the White House on Friday that Zelensky has to get all of his, everything he needs, because hes going to have to get ready to sign something and I think hes working hard to get that done.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Vladimir Putin has presented US President Donald Trump's special envoy with an award to pass on to a senior CIA official whose son was killed fighting with Russia in Ukraine.

Putin gave the Order of Lenin to Steve Witkoff during his trip to Moscow this week to discuss a plan to end the Ukraine war, sources familiar with the matter told the BBC's US partner CBS.

Michael Gloss, 21, who was killed in Ukraine last year, was the son of Juliane Gallina, who is the CIA's deputy director for digital innovation.

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Reports of the award emerged as it was confirmed that Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska next Friday to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.

Neither the Kremlin nor Russian foreign ministry has publicly acknowledged posthumously bestowing the Order of Lenin, a Soviet-era award recognising outstanding civilian service, on Gloss.

It is unclear what was done with the award. The White House, the CIA and Witkoff did not respond to requests for comment.

Gloss' death first emerged in Russian media reports in April.

Vladimir Putin welcomes Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday [EPA]

A CIA statement later that month said Gloss had been suffering from mental health problems, adding that his death was not a national security issue.

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Gloss was never an employee of the CIA, a person familiar with the matter told CBS.

Sources also told CBS that the Kremlin did not initially appear to be aware of the family background of Gloss, who enlisted with Russian forces in autumn 2023.

Gloss had shared selfies in Moscow's Red Square on social media last year. His posts had expressed support for Russia in what he called "the Ukraine Proxy war" and dismissed media coverage of the conflict as "western propaganda".

An obituary for Gloss published in November 2024 said he was "killed in Eastern Europe" on 4 April that year.

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The CIA's statement about his death four months ago said that Ms Gallina and her family had suffered "an unimaginable personal tragedy".

Gloss's father, Iraq war veteran Larry Gloss, told the Washington Post in an interview this April that their son had struggled for most of his life with mental illness.

"Our biggest fear while we were waiting for him to be repatriated was that someone over there [in Moscow] would put two and two together and figure out who his mother was, and use him as a prop," Larry Gloss said.
PNN Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 9: The American Academy of Financial Management India (AAFM India), a globally recognized leader in financial certifications, has signed strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with ABBS College (on August 5, 2025) in Bengaluru and Jain University (on August 6, 2025). These collaborations aim to integrate globally benchmarked financial certification programs into academic learning to bridge the gap between education and employability in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. Addressing the Skill Gap in the BFSI Sector India's BFSI sector is expected to generate over 2.5 million new jobs by 2030, driven by digital transformation, rising financial inclusion, and growing demand for investment and retirement planning. However, one of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the lack of job-ready professionals equipped with practical, globally aligned financial expertise which enhances the requirement of best wealth management courses in india. The Chartered Wealth Manager (CWM) program, along with the Chartered Economist (Ch.E) Course and other short-term certifications offered by AAFM India, has been identified as a critical solution to this problem. These certifications are designed to train students in advanced financial planning, wealth management, investment advisory, and economic analysis--skills that are increasingly sought after by banks, NBFCs, AMCs, fintechs, family offices, and global capability centers (GCCs). By incorporating these industry-relevant programs into their curriculum, Jain University and ABBS College are taking a future-forward step to ensure that their students are not only academically strong but also professionally certified and industry-ready. Institutional Collaboration for Global Financial Education Under the MoUs, AAFM India will offer its globally recognized programs at special fee structures to students, enabling affordable access to premier financial education. The partnership aims to build a robust pipeline of certified professionals who can meet the growing demand for skilled wealth managers, financial planners, and economists in both domestic and global markets. Mr. Vyas Rai Nagpal, Co-Founder & Director, AAFM India, said: "We're witnessing a paradigm shift in financial services, and certifications like CWM are no longer optional--they're essential. Through these MoUs, students can earn global credentials that lift employability and position them as strategic assets for the BFSI industry." Mr. Pulock Bhattacharji, CEO, AAFM India, said: "With the increasing number of HNIs and UHNIs there is an urgent need for professionals who have knowledge about all the plethora of asset classes and Risk appetite of clients. The CWM course provides the platform for creating this new breed of professionals who could service these elite clients." Dr. Jitendra Kumar Mishra, Registrar, Registrar, Jain University, remarked: "This partnership reflects our commitment to practical, career-oriented education. Integrating international certifications will help our students stand out in a competitive job market." Mr. Mackey Agarwal, Head, Admissions & Marketing, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) and JAIN College, remarked "The Chartered Economist (Ch.E) Certification sets a global standard in applied and sectoral economics. Our students will be able to add a professional designation that validates competency in economic decision-making and management functions." Mr. Ajitesh Basani, Executive Director, Acharya Bangalore Business School (ABBS), added: "AAFM India's certifications add immediate industry relevance to our curriculum. We see this collaboration building graduates who meet employer expectations from day one." These partnerships reinforce a shared mission to build an ecosystem where academic institutions and global certification bodies work hand-in-hand to transform India's talent pool and elevate the standards of financial education. For media queries, please contact: Communications Team AAFM India Email: vyas@aafmindia.co.in Website: www.aafmindia.co.in (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)
Russian President Vladimir Putin presented the Order of Lenin award to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to pass along to a senior CIA official whose son died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, CBS News reported on Aug. 8.

The award was meant to be presented through Witkoff to Juliane Gallina, the deputy director for digital innovation at the CIA whose son, Michael Gloss, was killed in 2024, according to CBS News.

Witkoff received the award earlier this week during peace talks with Putin in Moscow, several sources familiar with the meeting told the news agency.

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When asked by reporters during a news conference in the Oval Office to confirm whether Witkoff had received the award, U.S. President Donald Trump replied: "He (Putin) likes Mr. Witkoff, I can tell you that. That's true."

Putin has been known to exert psychological tactics to expose adversaries' points of weakness. The award was likely given as a means to provoke questions as to why relative of a high-ranking U.S. intelligence official was fighting for the Russian military.

Gloss, who reportedly suffered from mental health challenged, was killed fighting for Russia at aged 21 after moving to Moscow and voicing his support for Russia's military.

In an interview with the Washington Post in April following Gloss' death, his father, Larry Gloss, said that both he and Gallina did not know their son had enlisted in the Russian military.

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The Order of Lenin serves in the namesake of Soviet revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin and is awarded to highlight outstanding civilian service. It was not immediately clear as to what was done with the award.

Putin's presentation of the award comes ahead of a planned peace summit with Trump tentatively set for late next week.

Read also: Peace talks will include some swapping of territories, Trump says ahead of proposed meeting with Putin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a sweeping proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, offering a halt in hostilities in exchange for Ukraine's eastern regions, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Aug. 8, citing European and Ukrainian officials.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the talks between Witkoff and Putin did not serve as a breakthrough in peace negotiations, the U.S. president announced on Aug. 8 that he will meet Putin for his first in-person encounter on Aug. 15 in Alaska.

According to European officials briefed on a call by Witkoff, Putin told Wikoff that Russia would agree to a full ceasefire if Kyiv withdrew its forces from Donetsk Oblast, giving Moscow full control of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea, WSJ reported.

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European officials briefed on the proposal reportedly expressed serious reservations about the plan, worried about the prospects that Putin is pulling along negotiations as a means to avoid punishing secondary sanctions proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Additional reservations posed by European officials include a lack on clarity as to territory partially occupied by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts  with conflicting impressions as to whether the front line would be frozen in its current place or whether there would be a withdrawal of Russian forces in the region.

According to the WSJ, Putin's proposal contains two phases. The first phase would entail Ukrainian forces withdrawing from Donetsk, thus freezing the front line. The second phase would entail Trump and Putin agreeing to a final peace plan that would later be negotiated with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine currently controls the northern part of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, as well as part of Donetsk Oblast.

A map showing Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine as of 2025. (The Kyiv Independent)

Amid reports of the proposal, in recent days the U.S. has publicly toyed with the prospects of swapping land in exchange for peace. Trump told reporters on Aug. 8 that a potential peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv would likely include "some swapping of territories."

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"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

"We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump added.

Trump did not specify what he meant by "swapping." Russia previously declared the annexation of the latter four regions, which are partially occupied by Russia, in 2022 following sham referenda.

Seemingly ramping up pressure to come to a peace agreement, Trump said that Zelensky was "going to have to get ready to sign something," without specifying what terms to agreement may be present.

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Bloomberg reported on Aug. 8, citing undisclosed sources, that U.S. and Russian officials are working on a territorial agreement, aimed at freezing the conflict and laying the groundwork for a ceasefire and technical negotiations toward a final peace settlement.

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Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of negotiations on an end to the war, with each round failing to halt hostilities. Zelensky earlier this week signalled his willingness to participate in leader-level discussions, but it was not immediately clear whether he will participate in talks in Alaska.

Ukraine's Presidential Office has not yet publicly commented on the proposal. A Ukrainian official who participated in the call with Witkoff told the WSJ that Kyiv was not opposed to any proposals, however, stressing that a ceasefire would serve as a prerequisite for any further steps.

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Russia has repeatedly espoused maximalist demands to end its war in Ukraine publicly demanded that Kyiv forgo NATO membership and withdraw troops from all four regions as preconditions for peace. Under this condition, several large cities under Ukrainian control would have to be handed over to Russia.

Read also: Breaking: Trump, Putin to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 for peace talks





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If a fire alarm had been readily available in Helsinkis presidential palace, the first summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin might have ended with sirens and sprinklers.

Fiona Hill, then a White House expert on Russian affairs, was so unnerved by Mr Trumps remarks at the joint press conference that she looked around to see if there was a fire alarm to bring the terrible spectacle to a sudden close.

American officials might want to check out the fire alarms of the Alaskan venue where Mr Trump and Putin will meet on Aug 15, particularly as the stakes for this summit will be infinitely greater than they were at Helsinki in 2018.

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Back then, the two leaders had to deal with civil war in Syria and Russian interference in the US election in 2016. It was Mr Trumps public dismissal of own intelligence agencies verdict on the latter subject that caused Ms Hill to consider halting an occasion that was mortifying and humiliating for the country.

This time, the two presidents will be discussing Europes bloodiest war since 1945 and if Putin can repeat the trick of making at least one American official feel mortified, he will be satisfied.

Mr Trump has already given him plenty of reasons to feel even more pleased with himself than usual. Last week was supposed to be the moment when the president finally got tough and all of his exasperated outbursts about his Russian counterpart  crazy, disgusting, talking b-------  would lead America to suffocate the Kremlins revenues by enacting secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil.

Friday was presented as the final of many deadlines for imposing what Mr Trumps allies called bone-breaking sanctions.

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Instead, far from being punished, Putin has received yet another gift from Mr Trump: a bilateral summit, without any other party present.

The agreement to hold this meeting was the only public outcome of the talks between Putin and Steve Witkoff, the US envoy, in the Kremlin on Wednesday.

At first, White House officials had been cited as saying that the Russian leader would have to meet Volodymyr Zelensky for talks with Mr Trump to go ahead  a gracious gesture given that the whole future of the Ukrainian presidents beleaguered country will be the main subject of discussion.

Yet, within 24 hours, this condition had been vetoed by Mr Trump, who said he would happily meet Putin regardless. With the fate of Ukraine on the table, no Ukrainian should be allowed to get in the way.

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Mr Trump could have set another condition: a ceasefire on the front line or at least a moratorium on Russias missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. Instead, he has set no price for the summit and gained nothing in return. When it comes to handling Putin, all the rules of the art of the deal seem to go out the window.

Why does Putin place such store on occasions of this kind? In his mind, the ideal outcome of the war would be a replay of the Yalta conference of February 1945, when Stalin secured the acquiescence of Franklin D Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to Soviet dominance over central Europe.

In the same way, Putin wants to win Mr Trumps approval for Russian dominance of Ukraine. He believes that his best chance lies in dealing with the US president on equal terms, as one great power to another, solving problems by deciding the fate of a smaller country, which must simply obey whatever the big men agree on.

In Putins mythology, Ukraine is not a sovereign state that makes its own decisions but rather a helpless plaything of the Western alliance, by which he means the US, resisting his invading forces only on the orders of its masters.

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Sergei Karaganov, who combines the roles of Russian foreign policy thinker and frothing demagogue, expressed this view by saying: We are at war not with Ukraine and the unfortunate and stupefied Ukrainians, who have been thrown by their corrupt elites and their masters into the meat grinder: we are at war with the West.

Such a war, in Putins view, can only be resolved by dealing directly with the leader of the West, and the less that stupefied Ukrainians like Mr Zelensky have to do with proceedings, the better.

So it was entirely logical that as soon as Mr Witkoff had finished his meeting with Putin, Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlins foreign policy adviser, should have roundly dismissed the idea of a trilateral meeting.

As for a three-way meeting which, for some reason, Washington was talking about, said Mr Ushakov, this was just something mentioned by the American side during the meeting in the Kremlin. This was not discussed. The Russian side left this option completely without comment.

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You bet they did.

So Putin will now be preparing for his first summit with Mr Trump since Helsinki in 2018. When the occasion comes, the Russian leader will want to observe some simple maxims.

First, the people in the room should ideally consist of himself, Mr Trump and one Russian-provided translator. Nobody else.

Any US officials in the room could, after all, talk Mr Trump out of whatever deal might be made. In Putins mind, America is dominated by a Russophobic deep state dedicated to undermining and bamboozling its own president and maintaining its wicked campaign against the motherland. Putin will want to cut those officials out of the picture.

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He achieved exactly that in Helsinki when he spent two hours alone with Mr Trump, save for one Russian translator, before the leaders joined their aides for a working lunch. On that occasion, Putins tactic succeeded.

Mr Trump appears to have agreed in Helsinki to withdraw US forces from eastern Syria, where they were supporting Kurdish forces against the terrorists of Islamic State. For Putin, getting American troops out of anywhere must be a victory for Russia.

Once back in Washington, however, Mr Trump swiftly reversed that decision, probably reinforcing Putins suspicions about the insidious power of the US deep state.

Mr Trump himself shares this suspicion, and it is the paranoia they share that could be the key to his relationship with Putin.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putins Helsinki summit was a terrible spectacle, says Fional Hill, a White House expert on Russian affairs - Brendan Smialowski/AFP

When he met Putin at a G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017, Mr Trump had so little trust in his own officials that he ensured the American translator destroyed the notes of the occasion, even though Rex Tillerson, then US secretary of state, was also present.

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If Putins first maxim is to talk to Mr Trump alone, the second might be give Trump wins and inducements. For this, Putin will turn to Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russias sovereign wealth fund and a former Goldman Sachs banker who studied at Harvard.

Mr Dmitriev specialises in tempting Americans like Mr Witkoff with vast schemes to develop Russias natural resources and exploit its critical minerals, which would yield enough riches to pave Washington in gold if only small problems like Ukraine and the security of Europe could be disposed of.

Putin will probably arrive at the summit with grand plans for America and Russia to join hands in the noble task of making money from natures munificence.

He will present Ukraine as being an irritating obstacle to the appealing goal of the US and Russia burying their differences and prospering together.

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In Putins dream scenario, Mr Trump will then agree to a Kremlin-drafted peace plan, whereupon Russia and America could begin their new era of co-operation by ruthlessly imposing that plan on Ukraine and stuffing it down Mr Zelenskys throat, perhaps literally.

But Putin is adept at undermining his own dreams. His natural stubbornness means that he has never deviated from his terms for peace in Ukraine, which go far beyond Russia keeping the territory it currently occupies. Putin wants to grab areas of Ukraine that he does not hold and has no right to. Even Mr Trump is likely to choke on these terms.

Despite everything, Putins blinkered insistence on overreach means that he is unlikely to get what he wants from Mr Trump, even in a one-on-one conversation that ends with the ritual burning of the translators notes.

But US officials at the summit should still be prepared to break the glass and set off the sirens just in case.

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US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will hold talks in Alaska next Friday in a bid to end the war in Ukraine, which was triggered by Russia's February 2022 invasion.

There was yet no mention of Ukraine's participation in the meeting, despite multiple calls from Kyiv and Europe that the war-torn country must be part of the negotiations.

This has sparked fury in Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying his country "won't give land to the occupier" and that "any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace".

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Trump has spent his first months in office trying to broker peace -- after boasting he could end the war in 24 hours -- but multiple rounds of peace talks, phone calls and diplomatic visits have failed to yield a breakthrough.

Here is what we know about the summit so far:

- When and where -

On his Truth Social site on Friday, Trump announced that his meeting with Putin would be held in the far-north US state of Alaska on August 15, which was later confirmed by the Kremlin.

The announcement came after days of both sides indicating the two leaders would hold a summit next week.

The Kremlin confirmed the summit in Alaska on Friday, calling it "quite logical."

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"They would like to meet with me, I'll do whatever I can to stop the killing," Trump said on Thursday, speaking of both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the White House Friday, Trump said "there'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" Ukraine and Russia, without providing further details.

- Why Alaska? -

The meeting will be held in Alaska, which Russia sold to the United States in 1867.

The western tip of the state is not far -- just across the Bering Strait -- from the easternmost part of Russia.

"Alaska and the Arctic are also where our countries' economic interests intersect, and there are prospects for large-scale, mutually beneficial projects," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in a statement on Telegram.

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"But, of course, the presidents themselves will undoubtedly focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis," he added.

Ushakov also expressed hope that next time the two presidents would meet on Russian territory.

"A corresponding invitation has already been sent to the US president," he added.

An International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Putin -- which obliges members to detain the Russian leader if he visits their country -- had been thought to narrow the potential number of venues.

Putin had previously mentioned the United Arab Emirates as a possible host for the talks, while media speculated Turkey, China or India could be probable venues.

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- Ukraine not involved -

Zelensky has been pushing to make it a three-way summit and has frequently said meeting Putin is the only way to make progress towards peace.

In his address hours after Moscow and Washington confirmed the meeting, Zelensky called any decisions made without Ukraine "stillborn".

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a trilateral meeting when he held talks with Putin earlier this week, but the Russian leader has appeared to rule out meeting his Ukrainian counterpart.

At talks in Istanbul in June, Russian negotiators said a Putin-Zelensky meeting could only take place at the "final phase" of negotiations, once the two sides had agreed on terms for peace.

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Asked if Putin had to meet Zelensky as a prerequisite for their summit, Trump said on Friday: "No, he doesn't."

- When did they last meet? -

Trump and Putin last sat together in 2019 at a G20 summit meeting in Japan during Trump's first term. They have spoken by telephone several times since January.

Putin previously held a summit with Trump in Helsinki in 2018. Trump raised eyebrows at the time by appearing to side with Putin over the US intelligence community's finding that Russia had interfered in the US election to support the New York tycoon.

The last time Putin met a US president in the United States was during talks with Barack Obama at a UN General Assembly in 2015.

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- Negotiating positions -

Despite the flurry of diplomacy and multiple rounds of peace talks, Russia and Ukraine appear no closer to agreeing on an end to the fighting.

Putin has rejected calls by the United States, Ukraine and Europe for an immediate ceasefire.

At talks in June, Russia demanded Ukraine pull its forces out of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, demanded Ukraine commit to being a neutral state, shun Western military support and be excluded from joining NATO.

Kyiv wants an immediate ceasefire and has said it will never recognize Russian control over its sovereign territory -- though it acknowledged securing the return of land captured by Russia would have to come through diplomacy, not on the battlefield.

Kyiv is also seeking security guarantees from Western backers, including the deployment of foreign troops as peacekeepers to enforce any ceasefire.

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Russian leader Vladimir Putin has given an award intended for a senior CIA official whose son was killed fighting on Russia's side in the war against Ukraine to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Source: CBS News, citing sources familiar with the situation

Details: The CBS News sources reported that during his visit to Russia on 6 August, Witkoff received from Putin an Order of Lenin which was to be passed on to Juliane Gallina, the CIA's Deputy Director for Digital Innovation. Her 21-year-old son, Michael Gloss, was killed in 2024 fighting as part of the Russian armed forces against Ukraine.

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Quote: "The gesture by Putin, known for mind games and attempts to expose adversaries' points of weakness, was likely meant to raise unhelpful questions and highlight that a CIA official's son fought for Russia in the war."

Details: Meanwhile, two sources stressed there are no signs that Gloss was recruited by the Russian government and that the Kremlin was probably unaware of his family ties when repatriating the body.

Background: At the end of April, the CIA officially confirmed the death of 21-year-old Michael Gloss. In 2024, he posted a photo from Red Square in Moscow with a caption expressing support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

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Vladimir Putin appears to have teamed up with a Libyan warlord to trigger a fresh migrant crisis in the European Union.

The European Commission has tracked an increased number of flights between the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi and Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

Officials said the pattern suggested possible co-ordination with Gen Khalifa Haftar, the military strongman who controls much of eastern Libya, to facilitate a wave of illegal migration into the bloc.

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It could mark a repeat of the summer of 2021, when tens of thousands of would-be asylum seekers were helped across the borders of Belarus in what officials warned was a Russian-orchestrated attempt to destabilise the EU.

In 2021, ahead of Putins Ukraine invasion, tens of thousands of migrants arrived at Belaruss borders with eastern Europe - Leonid Shcheglov/AFP

We are monitoring recent Minsk-Benghazi flights operated by Belavia Airlines, a commission official told The Telegraph.

The frequency and nature of these flights, particularly within a short timeframe, raise questions about potential co-ordination or facilitation of irregular migration flows.

Open-source data reviewed by The Telegraph shows a spike in flights between the Libyan city and the Belarusian capital on the flag-carrying airline in recent months.

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In May, there were just two flights between the cities, jumping to five in June and four in July.

In the past, Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator, had been accused of allowing migrants to land in Minsk on similar flights before helping transport them to makeshift camps on the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator, has been accused of moving migrants who landed in Minsk to border camps - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

From the camps, the migrants were said to have been advised by Belarusian officials on how to cross the frontier without being detected.

Analysts have since said this was done in co-ordination with Putin to distract from his forces massed on the borders with Ukraine before his invasion in February 2022.

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After launching the bloodiest conflict since the Second World War, the Russian president has ordered a series of hybrid attacks on Nato and EU nations supporting Kyivs defence.

In the first seven months of this year, the EU has recorded around 5,000 illegal crossings at its eastern land borders.

0908 Libyan migrant route

While this is down from last year, the few flights between Libya and Belarus could lead to a new influx of arrivals across the frontier.

Some in Europe say Putin could use his growing influence in Libya to once again target the continent.

The Russian president has invested efforts in building a presence in the North African country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

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As Russia evacuated its Syrian bases, there was evidence equipment was being moved from the port of Tartus to Libya.

When Haftar held a parade of his Libyan Arab Armed Force last month, it showcased hundreds of Russian armoured vehicles and air defence systems.

He is known to control a small army of people smugglers operating out of Libya, one of the main crossing points from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean.

The fact that Russia is increasing its influence in Libya is precisely our concern, and thats why we must also engage with Libya, Magnus Brunner, the EUs migration commissioner, told Politico last month.

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There is certainly a danger that Russia will use migrants and the migration issue as a whole as a weapon against Europe. This weaponisation is taking place, and of course we also fear that Russia intends to do the same with Libya.

EU leaders fear that Putins strategy of weaponising migrants has moved to Libya - Abdullah Doma/AFP

Mr Brunner was one of a group of high-ranking EU officials on an ill-fated visit to Benghazi last month, which was abruptly scrapped after the delegation landed at the citys Benina airport before being told they were persona non grata.

Belarus has been identified by Frontex, the agency that polices the EUs external border, as one of the main challenges the bloc faces in its fight against illegal migration this year.

The evidence suggests that Lukashenko, Putin and Haftar have teamed up to exploit the frontier once again.

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Migrants are used as an instrument by the regime to put pressure on the European Unions borders, and our neighbours are really suffering from this, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belaruss exiled opposition leader, told The Telegraph.

This is all the actions of Lukashenko and just business for his regime and a tool to put pressure on the EU for the principled and strong position in supporting democracy.

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Israel's decision to expand its military offensive to seize control of Gaza City has sparked widespread international alarm, with Qatar saying the plans undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Friday that Israel's decision to "fully occupy the Gaza Strip" was a "dangerous escalation that threatens to exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the territory, multiply its catastrophic consequences, and undermine efforts aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire."

According to the plan, proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and approved overnight by Israel's Security Cabinet, Israel is to launch a new military offensive to seize full control of Gaza City, the largest metropolis in the war-shattered Palestinian territory.

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The plan envisages the disarmament of the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, the return of hostages to Israel, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and "Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip" in exchange for an end to the war.

It also requires that the territory be ruled by an "alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority."

The statement released by Netanyahu's office did not specify whether Israel would be seeking to take over the entire Gaza Strip, which the premier had previously said was part of his plan.

Qatar, together with the US and Egypt, has been acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, as the two warring parties do not communicate directly.

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Doha called on the international community to prevent Israel from implementing its plans to expand its military deployment and "to ensure Israel allows the safe, sustained, and unobstructed entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip."

The plan marks a major escalation in the nearly two-year war, with Israel allies and rivals warning of catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  The Office of the Mayor of New York City is hosting a hiring hall in Queens, connecting job seekers with resources and private employers from across the city.

The hiring hall is free and operates from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; attendees are required to register for a 30-minute time slot.

More Local News

Job seekers should wear professional or business attire and bring a photo ID and several copies of their resume. A variety of employers will be on site, and some may be providing interviews on the spot.

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The event will be held at the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety at 116-25 Guy R Brewer Boulevard.

To register, click here.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. 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.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  FOX8 is getting a better idea of what may have happened to an 84-year-old man with dementia when he walked away from a nursing home in Greensboro on Tuesday.

Willie Wright was returned to his family with a fractured jaw and eye socket and a brain bleed, leaving his family to ask what happened.

From a 911 call and the dispatch report obtained through an open records request, FOX8 found out that two witnesses reported seeing Wright being beaten and left behind in the middle of the road.

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In the 911 call, witnesses were frantic.

The dispatch report associated with the 911 call said the victim will be a missing man from Greenhaven Health and Rehab. It also noted that the person fell.

Its all consistent with the disappearance of Wright. He disappeared from Greenhaven Health and Rehab just an hour before the 911 call was made.

Heres what we know about the events leading up to the 911 call:

Wright was last seen at 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Greenhaven Health and Rehab.

At 9:49 p.m., a 911 call was made to report him missing.

At 9:52 p.m., the police arrived at the facility.

At 10:49 p.m., Wright was found by the police at the intersection of Randleman Road and Teague Street, which is the same location the 911 call was made from.

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FOX8 knocked on Greenhaven Health and Rehabs door to ask them how Wright was able to walk away.

Im going to have to ask you to leave the property, one of their staff said.

FOX8 also pulled state inspection reports on the facility and focused on the last two years.

On March 14, 2024, the state reported that Greenhaven Health and Rehab poorly handled residents grievance forms.

They also missed residents health codes like do not resuscitate, missed residents tools like splits and had expired and opened medications and vials.

On April 25, 2025, the state noted that one resident sexually abused another resident. Both residents had dementia.

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The state said in that report that the facility failed to protect the residents right to be free from sexual abuse.

When Shavonne Chandler, Wrights stepdaughter, learned about all of this information during an interview with FOX8, she was at a loss for words.

This is too much. Im way over my head right now. To know that they allowed him to walk down this street by himself, soaking wet, 10 oclock at night, cold  doesnt sit right, Chandler said.

Chandler said the family is still demanding answers from the police, and they are very thankful for those who called 911 that night. Wright is recovering in good spirits.

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FOX8 pressed Greensboro police about the 911 call made by the two witnesses.

They would not answer our questions, citing the ongoing investigation. Greensboro police say this case is under investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely than their white counterparts to believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts can increase discrimination, according to a new Associated Press-NORC poll.

About four in 10 black adults and about one-third of Hispanics say that DEI increases unintended discrimination against their respective groups, compared to one-fourth of white adults.

These numbers come as universities face growing public and legal scrutiny over DEI-driven hiring and admissions.

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George Mason University is scrambling to reverse its DEI hiring policies after a John Sailer expose accused President Gregory Washington of civil rights violations. Colin Wright - an evolutionary biologist - is suing Cornell University for allegedly discriminating against him to recruit a "diversity hire." And Columbia University recently agreed to a $200 million settlement after allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Democrats have framed these developments as regressive and racist. But the new poll shows that a plurality of black and Hispanic Americans arent buying that characterization.

For many black and Hispanic Americans, the fight against DEI isnt about resisting progress - its about preserving dignity. The left has marketed DEI as redress for historical wrongs. But for young black Americans like me, the unspoken message is clear - and condescending: We cannot succeed without special treatment.

I experienced this tension firsthand at Brooklyn Technical High School.

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One of New York Citys eight premier public high schools, Brooklyn Techs students must perform well on the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test to attend. These schools are elite - a bastion of meritocracy situated in a city that embodies American exceptionalism.

My Brooklyn Tech experience was culturally enriching. Students came from different backgrounds - Chinese, Bengali, Russian, and more. I bonded with other students over our unique experiences as first-generation Americans. Our families spoke different languages, but we valued the same things: tenacity, discipline, and education.

Yet, the New York Times recently dismissed these schools as "symbols of segregation." Black and Hispanic students underperformed on the SHSAT, respectively receiving 3 and 7% of acceptance letters to these elite schools.

Leftists cite the SHSATs inequitable racial outcomes as a reason to eliminate it. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio sought to replace the test with a system that admitted the top 7% of students from each middle school - a misguided attempt to bolster "equity" while concealing the academic decline of public schools.

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Mayoral frontrunner and self-proclaimed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has called for abolishing the SHSAT in the past.

Shame on the Grey Lady for misleading its readers. Specialized high schools like Brooklyn Tech are majority Asian - not white. And as for these schools alleged racism, renowned economist Thomas Sowell puts it plainly in "Discrimination and Disparities": "The assumption that statistical disparities in outcomes imply discrimination is a fallacy that ignores the many variables that influence outcomes - including behavior, culture, and choices."

I secured a spot in the prestigious high school with the help of DREAM - free SHSAT prep for low-income middle schoolers with exceptional grades.

The solution to admitting more black and Hispanic students isnt free handouts in the name of "equity." City Hall should expand Gifted and Talented programs and DREAM for high-achieving students from underserved communities. Albany must raise the charter school cap to provide alternatives for black and Hispanic parents.

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The reductive discourse surrounding NYCs merit schools demographics reveals something deeper. DEI proponents only want to uplift black students if it fits into their Marxist paradigm. In their framework, racial identity must come before individuality. And as the Associated Press-NORC poll shows, if you dont perform your assigned grievance, white progressives will step in to perform it for you.

Thats why young black Americans like me are leading the exodus from the Democratic Party. Pew data shows that 28% of black Republicans are ages 18-29 - nearly twice the share of black Democrats in that age range.

Were not abandoning progress. Were rejecting policies that suggest we cant compete with our fellow Americans - and a framework that ties our worth to grievance. We want what every American deserves: the freedom and dignity of self-determination, grounded in merit and the content of our character.

Daniel Idfresne is a student at Syracuse University, a Young Voices writer, and a former intern for The Story with Martha MacCallum. Find him on Instagram and X.
DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat has said that India would achieve the defence export target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29. "We should achieve Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29, which is the target also set to us by the Raksha Mantri. There is a lot of interest in Pinaka, in ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), in Brahmos, in Akash," Kamat told reporters at an interaction here after participating in the convocation ceremony of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology He expressed confidence that the country's exports of these systems will increase in the coming years. Kamat said countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa regions are showing interest in Indian defence systems. India's defence exports surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in the financial year 2024-25. It was a growth of Rs 2,539 crore or 12.04 per cent over the defence exports figures of Rs 21,083 crore in 2023-24. "Based on the interest that we are getting now, because of the success of our systems in Operation Sindoor, I expect these exports to double in the next two to three years," Kamat said. The annual defence production has soared to an all-time high figure of Rs 150,590 crore in the financial year 2024-25. The milestone represents a robust 18 per cent growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90 per cent increase since 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has lauded the collective efforts of the Department of Defence Production and all stakeholders in achieving this landmark. He termed the upward trajectory as a clear indicator of India's strengthening defence industrial base. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and other PSUs accounted for approximately 77 per cent of total production, while the private sector contributed 23 per cent. As part of its 'Atmanirbhar' and Make in India plans, the government has launched various schemes, including the production-linked incentive (PLI), in various sectors to make Indian manufacturers globally competitive, attract investments, enhance exports, integrate India into the global supply chain, and reduce dependency on imports. "It's indeed a proud moment for all of us. It's a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I'm sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing...The present government, when it came into power in 2014, started 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and Make in India," Kamat said. "Today, the industry is very confident that if they are able to produce the systems within the country, the ministry will acquire the systems for our services," he added. The government is investing heavily in defence and aerospace manufacturing, with several defence hubs being set up. Many global companies have either shared or shown intent to share critical defence and aerospace knowledge with India. A wide range of items, including ammunition, arms, subsystems/systems, and parts and components, were exported to around 80 countries in the just-concluded financial year, according to the Ministry of Defence data. The latest conflict with Pakistan also alluded to the fact that it is critical to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing. (ANI)
There are mad inventions, such as weight-loss drugs or the contraceptive Pill, that come out of the blue and change the world forever. Then there are the much heralded breakthroughs that never come to much. Along with flying cars and lab-grown steaks, the lifelong dream of Prof David Nutt has always been the stuff of science fantasy. Were here in the Commonwealth Building of Imperial College, London, a tall and unlovely structure in the outskirts of the city, because Prof Nutt believes that is about to change.

When Prof Nutt was a medical student at Downing College, Cambridge, in 1969, doctors believed the odd drink was good for you. Now alcohol consumption is blamed for diabetes, heart disease, depression and dementia alike. That consensus has emerged gradually over the 50 years Prof Nutt has been working to rid the world of alcohol, by replacing the ethanol in our drinks with another, more well-behaved molecule. Down the road is Wormwood Scrubs prison where, according to Government estimates, two thirds of inmates will be alcohol-dependent. Next door is Hammersmith Hospital. About three people a week in Britain die of alcohol poisoning, Prof Nutt points out. They just drink so much that they stop breathing.

Its a serious matter, but Prof Nutt is friendly and optimistic, with a jolly West Country accent, and the practised stage manner of a celebrity academic. He is the worlds most famous psychopharmacologist  That means I study the effects of drugs on the brain, he explains  and at 74, he is still ambitious and determined. As a graduate student in the 1980s, he thought he was in line for a Nobel Prize when he found a chemical antidote to alcohol that could sober up a rat. That didnt come to pass because, as his supervisor pointed out, blocking the brain effects wasnt going to stop the toxicity. Instead he made his name as an expert in psychedelic drugs, namely LSD and psilocybin magic mushrooms, and in the early 2000s he became an adviser to the government on drug policy.

Prof David Nutts alcohol-free spirits range Sentia has sold more than 300,000 bottles - Lee Thomas

Prof Nutt was very publicly forced to resign from that post in 2009 after claiming in a research paper that alcohol was far more dangerous than both LSD and the clubbers drug MDMA. It would have ended any ordinary scientists career, but the fiasco drew the attention of investors, who were keen to bring his solution for the worlds drinking problem to market. Months later, The Telegraph reported Prof Nutts renewed efforts to create a synthetic alcohol that was non-addictive and non-toxic. It took a decade, but then it was announced: his team had successfully produced a safe but otherwise identical stand-in for alcohol. Prof Nutt had tried it out on himself. He called it Alcarelle, and it would be on shelves by 2026.

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That is not going to happen, Prof Nutt admits  though maybe we will be able to [sell it] by 2027. He is currently preparing to take Alcarelle through food safety testing in the US, in the hopes that it might then be rolled out in Britain, too, and across the world. That process, including safety testing in human trials, will cost at least 3m. Its such an important thing to do, he says. It would be crazy if people didnt invest, but you certainly cant count your chickens.

Proof of concept

Alcohol alternative

If Prof Nutt succeeds in bringing Alcarelle to market, will anyone want to drink it? Alcohol is a special sort of drug, not only because it is legal in most of the world. Weve been chasing its high, despite the harm and addiction it causes us, for 10 million years at least. Our ape ancestors sought out rotted fruit to booze on long before they made fire. It has a pull on us because it is the perfect social crutch, says Prof Nutt  we human beings desperately need to socialise, but often need help doing it.

Alcarelle is designed to give a happy, two-drinks kind of tipsiness. Im not trying to get anyone drunk, he says. Most people, they drink in social situations, and they just want to relax.

Bans on alcohol have never worked. The 1920s roared in America despite prohibition laws, and in much of the Muslim world, alcohol consumption has always been relatively common despite Islams best efforts, says Prof Rudi Matthee, a historian who studies drugs as forces in history. But in the West, alcohol consumption is now going down dramatically. Its a pattern driven by young people: a third of under-25s in Britain now dont drink at all, some surveys suggest.

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For the past five years, Prof Nutt has also worked on a proof of concept product aimed at people who want to drink less. Sentia, his range of three mock-spirits, is made with a blend of exotically named plants  including magnolia bark, passionflower and ashwagandha  to give drinkers a relaxed, happy buzz. It works by stimulating the GABA receptors in your brain to mimic the pleasant effects of alcohol, Prof Nutt says  GABA being a neurotransmitter, like serotonin or dopamine, that disinhibits behaviour. He has sold more than 300,000 bottles since Sentias official launch in 2021.

Alcohol works on this same GABA system. Prof Nutt proved that when he sobered up his lab rats, achieved by blocking that systems effects. But whereas alcohol is a complicated drug that impacts GABA throughout the whole brain as well as many other systems, Sentia instead works on specific targets, and is therefore hangover-free and non-addictive, he says.

Alcarelle will work in the same way but is much stronger, and would be licensed to existing drinks companies as an additive. Three major drinks companies have already approached Nutt because they want access to our technology, he claims. Were not giving it to them yet, because were slightly concerned that they might just buy it to destroy it. But I think its almost past that now. It would be self-defeating to destroy something that could keep them profitable.

Prof Nutt and his team initially experimented with benzodiazepines, a class of strong anti-anxiety drugs that are known to work on the brains GABA system. In recent years their tactics have changed, and the molecule set to be tested in the US is a different sort of compound, the specifics of which are, as yet, undisclosed.

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How it makes consumers feel may not actually matter. While drinking is in decline, young people are happily replacing alcohol with other drugs of all kinds. British charities and rehab clinics report that the use of ketamine by under-30s has risen, along with benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium. Nearly 3 per cent of people under 25 admitted to using psychedelic drugs last year. The use of mephedrone, a newer drug that has been compared to both cocaine and MDMA, appears to be having a second boom in clubs and bars in London, despite its ban in 2010.

Mephedrone emerged from Israel in the early 2000s. It was sold legally at first, by an enterprising chemist called Ezekiel Golan, 55, who, after a stint on the Human Genome Project, was working as head of bioinformatics for a leading plant genetics company. He was studying the molecule octopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brains of smart invertebrates such as octopuses, when he noticed a funny-looking cluster in the bottom of its chemical diagram. I wondered what that felt like, says Dr Golan. After creating it in his laboratory and road-testing it on himself, he released mephedrone to the world.

A just right feeling of mild drunkenness

Alcohol alternative

Dr Golan bills himself as the worlds foremost inventor of new legal recreational drugs. Where Prof Nutt has sought the Nobel prize, Dr Golan had always envied Albert Hofman, the accidental inventor of LSD. Ive made things that take you through Aldous Huxleys doors of perception, up the stairs and all the way to Australia, he boasts. In 2005, he made a molecule that was so extremely bland that I put it in my drawer and forgot about it. Then, in 2009, Dr Golan heard about Prof Nutts sacking as a government advisor, and his plan to invent his way around the alcohol problem. Dr Golan realised then that he had something that would fit the bill.

For several years, Prof Nutt and Dr Golan worked together in the war against alcohol, as they put it. In 2017, they co-wrote a research paper on the effects and safety of Dr Golans new compound, called MEAI. Rather than influencing the brains GABA system, MEAI worked on its serotonin receptors, they found. There was also some more (legal) hands-on testing. Members of Prof Nutts department at Imperial College were invited to Friday afternoon MEAI sessions over the course of several months, a sort of end-of-week party, Dr Golan says. Prof Nutt insists that there was only ever a single sampling session.

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Either way, enough people had tried MEAI for Dr Golan to be sure that it reliably gives a just right feeling, a wash of happy, mild drunkenness. It is incredibly one-directional, he says, being free of trippy visions and spiritual breakthroughs. Crucially, users do not feel inclined to binge on it. At very high doses, MEAI feels like the scene in Harry Potter where he actually meets Voldemort  totally white, quiet and serene. In 2014, Dr Golan patented the compound, and he planned to give it to Prof Nutt to develop as a binge drinking mitigator. But the two had a falling out. Davids advisers didnt get along with my advisers from a business point of view, Dr Golan says. It was neither my fault nor his.

After a stint on the Human Genome Project, Dr Ezekiel Golan has turn his time to hunting for alcohols replacement - Dr Ezekiel Golan

Dr Golans advisers were the predecessors of a novel medicines company called Clearmind, incorporated in Canada and led by Dr Adi Zuloff-Shani, an Israeli businesswoman. Dr Golan sold the patent family for MEAI to Clearmind in 2021, in return for shares, which he expects will one day be extremely valuable. In December, Clearmind signed a deal with a separate biotechnology company to commercially produce MEAI. Like Prof Nutt, Dr Zuloff-Shani expects her alcohol replacement to be on shelves within the next two years. Clearmind is currently going through a regulatory approval process itself, in an undisclosed country that is not in North America.

MEAI has been licensed for testing in human trials in Israel and the US, putting it a step ahead of Prof Nutts Alcarelle. So far the safety profile of MEAI is very good, Dr Zuloff-Shani says. There is real-world evidence for its feasibility as a replacement for alcohol, too: it has already been sold in Canada. Tens of thousands of Canadians bought $10 bottles of Pace, billed as an alcohol alternative as well as an alcohol enhancer (they can be drunk together) and a binge drinking mitigator, before it was ruled against at the end of 2018. Canadas health authority released warnings not to use Pace on the grounds that it was an unregulated substance, but they never found a case where MEAI had caused someone physical harm, Dr Zuloff-Shani says.

Health Canada confirmed this in an email, though it also pointed out that MEAI is similar in structure to amphetamines such as MDMA (the inventor of which, incidentally, described it as a low-calorie martini on first try).

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Prof Nutt cut ties with Dr Golan in 2019, for reasons we do not wish to go into, he says. His erstwhile partner in the mission to end drinking has since had no visibility of our molecule development. Dr Golan maintains a great respect for Prof Nutt, but he does not believe that the professor has an active compound ready to sell as Alcarelle. Im a discovery scientist. All credit goes to David for his pioneering vision, but he does not have that kind of methodology in mind.

Is the future synthetic or botanical?

Alternatives to alcohol

After I spoke to Prof Nutt about his dream, I was left thinking it would be a personal disaster for him if someone else arrived at it first. But he has seen this coming. While he was in their good books, Prof Nutt authored a paper for the Labour government called Drug Futures 2025. Scientists could already produce a recreational substance with similar effects to alcohol but fewer harms, he wrote in 2005. Within the next two decades, rogue chemists would also create new synthetic recreational substances, or legal highs. Some of them might feel like alcohol, Prof Nutt predicted, and they could even stand in as safer alternatives.

I couldnt try Alcarelle for myself because, under the Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016, new recreational drugs  what were once legal highs  are illegal to produce, sell or supply. Alcohol itself is only exempt on the grounds of precedence, says Prof Nutt. The law was brought in to stop the proliferation of drugs like mephedrone, and it had the side-effect of knocking on the head Nutts road-testing with willing participants at Imperial Colleg. International conventions on medical research mean that it remains legal for him to experiment on himself  a practice he keeps up to this day, at his lab in Hemel Hempstead.

MEAI cant be tried either, outside of clinical trials, as it is not yet approved as a medicine or product in any jurisdiction, says Yael Stav, the head of programme management at Clearmind (and Dr Golans wife, as it happens). The Home Office has no plans to assess whether Alcarelle or MEAI should be made exempt from the Psychoactive Substances Act, or indeed be covered by it in the first place, a source said. Such legal knots are why there is a debate playing out over whether the future of alcohol is synthetic or botanical, says James Jacoby, the co-founder of Sentia, Prof Nutts plant-based spirit brand.

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Jacobys own foray into devising a replacement for alcohol began with an ayahuasca trip in 2002, after which he developed a very intense sensitivity to nature, he says. Over 20 years he honed that sensitivity and applied it to the creation of non-alcoholic drinks with an edge. Prof Nutt approached Jacoby and his wife, Vanessa, to collaborate in 2019. The couples drink blends were then sold as Sentia, Jacoby claims (which Prof Nutt refutes), while Prof Nutt provided his worldwide celebrity status. Raising enough funds to bring Alcarelle to market abroad, and then to try to get it approved here in Britain, was the explicit end goal, says Jacoby.

Jacoby lost hope in that prospect. He left Sentia and has since set up a new venture, called ON Beer. His new lagers contain ginseng, a berry with energising properties, along with a lot of pepper and liquorice, and a handful of other plants. You can taste them, but thats why were the only company with a clinical trial to support the fact that we provide an alcohol-like effect, Jacoby says. NuWave, meanwhile, an alcohol-free beer made by a former consultant for Sentia called Brendan Williams, has won international awards for its taste but has no proven ability to make you tipsy. (Sentia launched a beer alternative, called GABYR, this summer.)

Alcohol with guard rails

Alcohol-free

Jacoby and Prof Nutt face stiff competition from other modern-day apothecarists. In May, the countrys first high-end alcohol-free bar opened in London, at a wellness club called Shoreditch &Soul. Its run by 33-year-old Karma Campbell, who, like Jacoby, has created plant blends with a punch through personal experimentation. Campbell grew up as part of the new-age traveller community where people use legal plants for their different effects as a part of everyday life, he says. He studied western herbal medicine at the University of Westminster, during which time he began trial-running his own concoctions at festivals.

His big break came at Glastonbury in 2024, after the Daily Mail spotted him selling vegan cocaine (a liquid mix including liquorice, damiana, ashwagandha and chilli) to revellers. I woke up to hundreds of orders, phone calls and texts, Campbell says. Its official name is Turbo Tonic, and its meant to get you buzzing, helping you stay up all night, he explains. Campbells London bar is stocked with Turbo Tonic and three other tinctures, which are mixed into mocktails along with convincing non-alcoholic versions of any spirit or aperitif you could want: vodka, gin and rum, but also mescal, chartreuse and Campari.

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Customers do a lot of socialising, Campbell says. Observers would think they were tipsy. At the bars launch night, I saw Cambell squirting a syringe of Turbo Tonic into a womans mouth.

I tried all of Campbells tonics on the night, too, and while they certainly did something  the other guests agreed  I wouldnt say I was drunk. Turbo Tonic, Sentias spirits, ON Beer and the dozen other products Ive tried all have much the same effect, in that they give a hint of familiar fuzzy drunkenness without ever introducing you to the real thing. Alcohol can make you feel happy, sad or angry by turns; it gives plausible deniability for bad behaviour and secrets shared, and a headache to bond over in the morning. These inventors want to give us alcohol with guard rails, where every night is a geeks night out that ends at 11pm, as Dr Golan puts it. In that way, the future of drinking is already here.

Dr Michael Mascha, an Austrian-born food anthropologist who made his fortune in the dot-com boom, has something for those who are done chasing alcohols effects entirely. He has spent the past 20 years trying to make water a legitimate substitute for alcohol in high-end restaurants. After becoming rich, Dr Mascha retired early from his post as a university professor, and then spent much of his time in Californias finest eateries. He never drank heavily, but when he developed a heart condition in his 50s, his doctor informed him that he could either give up wine or give up living.

Dining out became a humiliation. The wines he was accustomed to were served in a very fine sommelier glass, with a very beautiful stem and the first time he ordered water at a restaurant, he was given a childs tumbler. Dr Mascha has since designed a new water flute for use in restaurants, and has set up a training academy for water sommeliers. His collection includes a mist bottled from the air in Tasmania, and a 15,000-year-old water from the last Ice Age, mined in the Czech Republic and flecked with gold. The clever restaurants are now realising that alcohol is dying and are beginning to offer extensive water lists, he says. When he brings a fine water to a party, no one is interested in wine anymore.

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What does Prof Nutt make of that? If you want to go to the pub and drink water, then you can, but its a different experience, he says. He acknowledges that alcohol might never go the way of cigarettes, locked up behind counters and stamped with labels warning that it kills. He still enjoys a glass of wine with his wife, and their daughter owns a (traditional) bar in London. He simply wants to give people more choice. His hope is that Alcarelle will replace 25 per cent of all alcohol consumption worldwide by 2050. If that gets people to stop drinking altogether, he would save more lives than you would by curing cancer, Prof Nutt believes. I want that to be my legacy.

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SNOWSHOE, W.Va. (WBOY)  If you take a weekend trip down the Seneca Trail to Pocahontas County, you might see a different kind of traffic on the highway.

For the second year, West Virginia Hillfest has taken over Snowshoe Mountain Village by bringing racers from all over the country.

(Were) super happy to be with Snowshoe again, West Virginia Hillfest founder and Screen Actors Guild stunt driver Aaron Bambach said. We got 200 participants, probably double the spectator count this year, and [were] just looking forward to a good, long relationship with Snowshoe and continuing to grow this event. Its a beautiful car culture event.

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Youth Aviation Expo takes flight in Bridgeport

The main event that brings these cars up the mountain is to see how quickly they can do so, a traditional hill climb race.

Well, hill climbs are very famous in Europe, said 11-time hill climb champion Paul Dallenbach. They go back to the early time in racing, and it really is a great place for people to bring, kind of rung what you brung type of thing where theres really not any rules.

Dallenbach, a native of western Colorado and regular racer at Pikes Peak, is making his Mountain State debut following an injury.

Its about hill climbing, Dallenback said. You can draw something on a napkin and build it and race it, unlike, like NASCARs almost spec now, Indy cars are spec. Now, this still leaves a lot of room for the imagination, for people to come up and design a car and go run it.

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This is this car culture, you know, everybodys just in awe of everybody elses cars, said Bambach. Its camaraderie, its family. So its a really cool deal.

West Virginia Hillfest continues through Sunday. Spectators can purchase event passes for $25. For more information, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Neon lights illuminate the faces of roughly a dozen people sitting before machines bearing names like Quick Hit as black window coverings block the afternoon sun and the gazes of passersby.

This isnt the Las Vegas strip, a cruise ship or a casino run by one of Floridas federally recognized Native American tribes, all places where gambling is legal. Its a Lake County business nestled in a tidy retail plaza off a quiet stretch of highway just south of Leesburg.

Open for at least eight years, the establishment, called Hot Seats, is an example of how Floridas casino operators continue business despite falling outside of the state-sanctioned gambling regime and regardless of law enforcement raids.

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The arrest of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez in June for his alleged role in a massive Central Florida gambling operation has shone a light on this illegal  yet hardly secretive  industry.

Slot machines are illegal. And they're everywhere in Tampa Bay.

Lopez, who prosecutors say first became involved in an illegal gambling scheme in August 2019 and was elected sheriff the following year, is accused of tapping the enterprise for campaign contributions and personal payments while using his office to shield it from law enforcement. Five other people, including Lopezs wife, also were arrested, but the extent of his role has not yet been publicly disclosed, sealed in an unreleased 255-page affidavit.

Much of the Lopez case centers around a now-closed Kissimmee casino called The Eclipse, in which the now-suspended sheriff allegedly played a direct ownership and operating role. But recently released court records now tie Lopez and his co-conspirators to Hot Seats and a handful of other casinos, retail complexes and a car wash, mostly located in Lake County, where investigators say group members sought to expand their operations.

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Its unclear why they chose that area as their next frontier, although Lake County has a recent history of sending mixed messages about its tolerance for illegal gambling.

Shut this illegal casino down

Though most of the records furnished to defense attorneys purportedly outlining the multi-county gambling operation have not yet been released to the public, the list of gaming businesses recently filed in court offers clues to the scope of the probe.

Those establishments include Jungle Hut and Players Club in Lake County, which have ownership structures that overlap with that of The Eclipse, according to public records. Those businesses do not appear to be open currently.

Also listed is the still-operating Hot Seats, sandwiched between a church-run thrift store and a walk-in medical clinic in a retail complex on U.S. Highway 27, south of Leesburg. Visitors must ring a doorbell for entry.

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A security guard admitted an Orlando Sentinel reporter on a recent afternoon, asking only to check inside her purse. More than a dozen customers, many of them seniors, sat in a dark room filled with electronic slot machines. It was unclear whether, or how much, anyone was winning.

A second employee working at Hot Seats declined to speak to the reporter.

As with other gambling operations, it is difficult to determine who owns or runs Hot Seats, which has no obvious connection to The Eclipse.

And like many gambling establishments, Hot Seats has been raided at least once. In 2017, the Lake County Sheriffs Office conducted a sting called Operation Jackpot, involving undercover detectives to 10 illegal casinos across the county, including Hot Seats, where the agency seized more than $20,000, according to a social media post at the time. The agency seized another $17,000 from Dreamers Arcade, another casino tied to the case against Lopez and his co-defendants.

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In an interview Friday, a Lake County Sheriffs official declined to confirm or deny knowledge of Hot Seats continued operation. Hot Seats is operating under the same name and in the same location as when it was raided more than seven years ago.

Enforcing gambling laws is difficult across the state because casino operators often move their operations and open under a different name after they are raided.

I have always said that you will never get rid of these arcades, said Bob Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University. Its like playing Whac-A-Mole. You could go on a major bust and try to close the ones in your county and eventually they will come back.

Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione said she believes the sheriffs office has taken a very aggressive stance toward illegal gambling operations in that community, and that those businesses largely were closing through attrition or because law enforcement had shut them down.

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However, in 2021, Lake County passed an ordinance that actually granted permits to up to 25 gaming businesses and required annual inspections. In effect, it allowed these businesses to operate despite running afoul of Florida law, creating confusion among the deputies assigned to enforce it, said Lake County Maj. Todd English, who oversees the agencys Investigations Division.

It wasnt until last year that commissioners voted to end the practice of county oversight. That change was prompted by issues at several of these establishments, including a shooting at one in northeast Lake, Campione said.

We decided it was better to turn that over to law enforcement and do everything we can to dissuade a business from starting up and hopefully, over time, the businesses that exist would fade away, she said.

The countys vote also followed concerns expressed by the Florida Gaming Control Commission that the Lake ordinance conflicted with state statutes. Florida outlaws internet cafes, often linked to illegal gaming, and generally restricts the sale and use of slot machines to tribal areas as well as Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

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Its not clear how many of the establishments that previously had permits remain in operation.

I think the only problem that continues to exist is youre still left with what was already created, English said. As for the business owners, at the end of the day, theyre responsible for knowing whats legal and whats not and for them, as businesses, to do the right thing.

The FGCCs law enforcement unit that focuses on illegal gambling has fielded more than a dozen complaints about Hot Seats over the past couple of years, according to records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

Shut this illegal casino down in my area, one person wrote to the commission on June 10. This place is full of slot-type machines that are taking advantage of the elderly in the communities nearby.

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Two years earlier, Commission Director of Law Enforcement Carl Herold had sent a letter to Hot Seats, saying the agency had received a tip that the business might be operating illegal slot machines.

The operation or possession of slot machines outside of a licensed facility is unlawful in the State of Florida and subject to criminal and administrative penalties, Herold wrote.

But no further enforcement action was taken at the time due to other investigative priorities and the limited resources available, Herold wrote in an email to the Sentinel in response to questions about Hot Seats.

The gaming commission received more than 1,200 complaints last year about illegal gambling, Herold said in an interview with the Sentinel, and sometimes the commission investigates tips about illegal gambling. Other times, other law enforcement agencies take action, but local agencies often must make tough choices about investigating these types of crimes, he said.

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From a law enforcement administrators perspective, you have to balance your resources against the particular communitys needs and it just depends on how they want to balance that, he said. Theres no right or wrong.

Most of the other gambling businesses mentioned in the Lopez discovery records are now closed, including Players Club, located a half mile from Hot Seats.

Players Club was owned by Proactive Genius, a limited liability corporation tied to Krishna Deokaran, who owned The Eclipse, the Kissimmee casino allegedly protected by Lopez. Though investigators have referred to Deokaran as a co-conspirator in the Lopez case, he has not been charged with a crime. Proactive Genius was among the contributors in the early months of Lopezs 2024 re-election campaign, kicking in $1,000 in February of that year.

Common Threads

Business records make it difficult to trace who owns and operates the casinos and other entities named in the Lopez records. Many of them use an out-of-state attorneys address and include no local contact person.

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But several of the establishments are registered to entities with the phrase Proactive Genius in their names. Those include a car wash across the parking lot from the former Players Club, a Lake County casino, and the entities that own strip malls that housed several casinos that were named in documents related to Lopezs case.

Other public documents tie Deokaran to several of those entities.

His Lake County expansion irked at least one competitor, the owners of the former Dreamers Arcade in Clermont, who accused him of rigging the competition by opening a rival gameroom called The Palace in 2021. Five months later, according to a lawsuit filed by the owners of Dreamers, Deokaran purchased the plaza that housed Dreamers and began manufacturing incidents and disputes that he reported to authorities, including the gaming commission, about the arcade.

The Lake County Sheriffs Office raided Dreamers last August and the suit was resolved in Deokarans favor in January after the arcades owners ended their lease.

A corporation using the address of an Orlando home owned by Deokaran owns another retail complex mentioned in the Lopez records. That property, the Tavares Commerce Center, used to house a gambling establishment called Jungle Hut, which was raided by law enforcement earlier this year and is now closed.
Radioactive water from a Royal Navy nuclear weapons base leaked into a loch after old pipes repeatedly burst, according to official files.

The Guardian and The Ferret found the material was released into Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, after a six-year battle to access documents which involved Scotland's Information Commissioner.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said its assessments found the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was "of no regulatory concern".

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The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also said there had been "no unsafe releases of radioactive material" into the environment.

The joint investigation revealed that files compiled by Sepa, a government pollution watchdog, stated the navy failed to properly maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes at the Coulport armaments depot.

It holds the Royal Navy's supply of nuclear warheads for its fleet of Trident submarines, which are based HMNB Clyde at Faslane, near Helensburgh.

Sepa said the issues at Coulport, which date back to a pipe burst in 2010, were caused by "shortfalls in maintenance".

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The files said one incident, in August 2019, resulted in the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" in the form of low levels of tritium, which is used in nuclear warheads.

The files were released after a ruling by Scottish information commissioner David Hamilton, who oversees the country's freedom of information laws.

The Guardian and The Ferret reported the UK government insisted the files had to be kept secret for national security reasons.

But in June, Mr Hamilton ruled that most had to be released as their disclosure threatened "reputations" not national security.

'No unsafe releases of radioactive material'

Sepa said it recognised the public interest in the naval base and was committed to ensuring that it operated "in accordance with standards equivalent to those in environmental regulations" to protect both the environment and the public.

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A spokesperson added: "All discharges from HMNB Clyde, Sepa's monitoring data, and an assessment of potential environmental and public impacts are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report.

"Based on these assessments the risk to the environment from effluent discharges is of no regulatory concern."

They added an "extensive replacement programme for components" had already been undertaken and the agency was satisfied that the site had made "substantial improvements" to asset management and maintenance across both Faslane and Coulport.

A MoD spokesperson said: "We place the upmost importance on our responsibilities for handling radioactive substances safely and securely.

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"There have been no unsafe releases of radioactive material into the environment at any stage.

"We frequently engage with regulators who report there is no significant impact on the environment or public health and are supportive of an open reporting culture."
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Hartford police executed a search warrant on Monday, seizing large amounts of narcotics and firearms.

Hartford Police Narcotics Detectives and the Emergency Response Team carried out the raid on 27 Benton Street, where they said a large-scale drug operation was located.

The raid revealed 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 78 grams of crack cocaine, 12 ounces of marijuana, and 240 sleeves of fentanyl.

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A total of five firearms were found, including a Draco 9mm with a drum magazine, a Glock .45, a Beretta 9mm, and revolvers.

Investigators say ammunition, drug packaging materials, and approximately $14,936 were also found.

Police did not share how many people were arrested from this raid, but charges include:

Criminal possession of a firearm

Possession of large-capacity magazines

Assault weapon possession

Obliterated serial number

Possession of narcotics

Possession with intent to supply

Operating a drug factory

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
South Florida is in for a soggy Saturday as a slow-moving disturbance lingers over the state, bringing widespread showers and thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.

While no flood watches or warnings have been issued, forecasters caution that some storms could turn strong, producing damaging winds and heavy downpours. The weather service also notes that excessive rainfall could cause flooding in urban areas and spots with poor drainage.

Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Fisher said people should expect scattered showers through the day, with some pockets of heavy rain across the coast before the bulk of the activity shifts toward Southwest Florida later in the day.
Almond growers across Central California say they are battling a surging rat infestation across more than 100,000 acres of orchards, resulting in economic hardship and damage.

Across Fresno, Merced, Kings and Kern counties, almond farmers have reported an increase in rodent populations as the animals use irrigation canals and other waterways to spread across agricultural fields and orchards, according to a newsletter from the Almond Board of California.

The effect could be significant as California is home to 80% of the worlds almond production. The Golden State's almonds were once the top export to China but retaliatory tariffs have resulted in China looking for almonds from other nations instead.

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The newsletter doesn't say what kind of effect the infestation could have on almond prices for consumers in California or the U.S.

Roof rats usually spend their lives above ground but have been burrowing under almond and other nut trees due to the absence of cover during the cold winter months, according to the newsletter.

Read more: California's economy is already getting hit by immigration raids

A California Department of Food and Agriculture survey conducted in the fall revealed that up to 32 rats were captured per night at some almond orchards, where they damaged trees by burrowing in the root zone, consuming nuts and disrupting the tree's vascular system. Rodents also damage irrigation equipment and other infrastructure in the orchards.

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Losses from rodents have ranged between $109 million to $311 million in California, according to the department's survey. Expenses include drip-line replacements, which cost between $56 million and $168 million, and crop losses, which range between $43 million to $129 million. There were also costs associated with direct tree damage, farm equipment repairs, machinery cleaning and replacing damaged trees, according to the survey.

The department's report said the numbers could be underestimating the actual financial burden and that there could be more effects, including to newly planted orchards and the cleanup after harvests.

Almonds ripen on a tree on April 9, 2025, in Ceres, Calif. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times)

The industry was caught off-guard by the recent explosion of rodents across the state, said Roger Isom, chief executive of the Western Tree Nut Assn., an organization that represents growers and processors of almonds and other nuts.

"Growers weren't really prepared for it," Isom said. "We've never really had a rat issue in almonds ... so we weren't looking for it, or treating for it, or preventing it."

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Strong back-to-back rainy seasons helped vegetation grow while vineyards were being increasingly abandoned across the state due to changing consumer habits and geopolitical factors. The certification requirements for fumigation recently changed and that stricter process at the state level means another hurdle for growers.

"What you're seeing is kind of the perfect storm, if you will, that led to increases in rodents all over the state," he said.

Isom and the rest of the industry hope that this season's problem is a once-in-a-lifetime issue that they can get ahead of in the future, because it's costly to the industry. Although he doesn't know why almonds are being hit particularly hard, he figures it's the rodent's choice.

"I think they like almonds," he said. "When it's dry, as soon as we harvest almonds, we're putting water back on and all the other crops, your row crops, your tomatoes, your melons, have all been harvested."

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The Almond Board of California reported that one almond grower had to replace their entire drip-irrigation system for $20,000 and that the rats had caused fires by chewing through the irrigation wiring. Another grower had 50% crop loss due to the extreme damage from the rodents. The grower reported having to exterminate between 50 and 100 rats per day.

Almond growers are using bait stations and aluminum phosphide treatments in burrows in the winter and, during non-winter months are turning to snap traps, owl boxes and fumigating the rats by applying carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide into burrows, according to the newsletter. These strategies can be labor-intensive, expensive and ineffective for large infestations.

Scientists have advised growers to use tracking tunnels, cameras and ink cards to monitor rat behavior in their orchards. They can then implement targeted baiting programs using oats treated with diphacinone  a slow-acting poison  and keep the bait stations full for about four weeks.

After the bait stations, snap traps can be placed in trapping tunnels for a long-term solution, according to the newsletter.

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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is also warning trappers and hunters to keep an eye out for possibly contaminated wildlife in the area, and to not consume tainted meat, after the meat from some wild pigs was found to be blue  a sign that the animal may have consumed poison meant for rats.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As if suspiciously AI-generated descriptions of real estate listings weren't enough, agents are starting to use AI-generated images of houses that don't exist to sell expensive properties.

The Register spotted a dubious listing of a fully renovated 3-bedroom in the UK with a photo  which has since been deleted, but can still be viewed in an archived version  that shows the tell-tale signs of generative AI, including awnings that don't line up, hedges that inexplicably turn into walls, and a flowerbed obstructing a neighboring door.

The real  or at least less-edited  version of the image tells a dramatically different story, with a tiled awning, no flowerbed obstructing the path to the neighboring door, and an adjoining hair salon that was seemingly deleted from the tampered-with version entirely.

In some ways, the haphazard use of AI shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The real estate world has long made use of CGI tools to virtually "stage" homes, a cost-cutting measure designed to save agencies from having to physically move furniture around.

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But given the damning evidence  alongside society's current obsession with shoehorning generative AI into virtually every aspect of modern life  the trend has seemingly found its next logical application.

And we're not just talking about photoshopping a couch into the photo of an empty living room. As The Register points out, the original listing of the house pictured above confused entire structural elements, down to the placement of the toilet in the bathroom.

Reached by The Register, a spokesperson for the agency responsible for the AI carnage responded with a "sharp intake of breath and a declaration that 'we're a little busy at the moment.'" It didn't reply to followup questions.

The trend paints a troubled picture of an industry that already has a tarnished reputation for twisting the truth. It's a worrying reality, given that entire livelihoods are being put on the line in the pursuit of buying one's dream home.

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Worse, experts say this kind of use of AI could even run afoul of the law.

"For me, the use of AI for imagery in property listings is a major red flag aligned to what was previously covered by the Property Misdescriptions Act," University of Reading associate professor of building surveying Adrian Tagg told The Register.

Tagg explained that building surveyors are "bound by regulations to deliver evidence-based opinion and hold a duty of care to deliver correct, appropriate advice."

"Estate agency has never really had this professional duty, and ultimately it's all about sales and doing 'the deal,'" he explained. "Therefore I'm not surprised that there appears an openness to accept AI when ultimately it's an industry with little obligation to be accountable for their actions."

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Despite very real concerns of misleading home buyers, the real estate market has welcomed the age of generative AI with open arms. Consultancy firm McKinsey & Company predicted in 2023 that the tech could "generate $110 billion to $180 billion or more in value for the real estate industry."

The consultancy said that generative AI could help in "customer engagement," and generating "new creative content," among other use cases.

An entire cottage industry has cropped up, offering cheap, "AI-powered virtual staging" and real estate "photo editing" services.

But prospective buyers are understandably furious.

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Earlier this year, one user in the FirstTimeHomeBuyer subreddit came across a listing on Zillow, which included a (since-deleted) picture of a small bungalow in Newport, Kentucky. The heavily edited image didn't even get the house number right, showing up as a mangled "418," instead of 1026.

"Using AI in listing photos should be illegal," the user wrote.

More on generative AI: Microsoft Releases List of Jobs Most and Least Likely to Be Replaced by AI
(KRON)  Dont run. We will catch you.

The California Highway Patrol said that it nabbed a BMW M4 driver who allegedly posted social media content of him speeding dangerously at 170 mph.

Pedestrian injured in Fairfield hit-and-run, arrest made: PD

We are unaware of the exact number of posts he made, but we were able to find five different videos relevant to the case, confirmed Officer Mendibil of CHP.

Photo courtesy of CHP.

CHP said its Hayward Area office and Napa Air 37 unit took the man into custody on Interstate 880 northbound near 35th Avenue in Oakland following a vehicle pursuit. The date of the chase was not disclosed.

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Have you seen this reckless behavior posted to social media? asked CHP in a video recapping the incident, which can be viewed in the player above. This repeat reckless driver has endangered countless lives. Not today though.

CHP said the suspect, identified as Jasnoor Singh Toor, faces charges, including reckless driving and felony evading. His bail was posted and is no longer in custody.

The BMW was impounded, 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 KRON4.
Amid a flurry of recent global headlines declaring an all-out famine in the Gaza Strip, the leaders of France, Britain and Canada, as well as some other countries, declared their intentions to formally recognize a Palestinian state as a way of ending the nearly two-year war.

Yet, the announcements  a direct response to global headlines and shocking photographs of allegedly starving children  may become hollow statements after the Israeli government on Friday said it would expand the military operation in Gaza as the only way to defeat Hamas, the designated Palestinian terror group whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel sparked the devastating war, and restore peace.

Recognition of a Palestinian state by a growing number of states could come as soon as next months United Nations General Assembly. Yet with Hamas still present in Gaza and still holding at least 50 hostages, and with the other Palestinian leadership, the West Banks Palestinian Authority, weak and corrupt, will that recognition undermine efforts to reach both a short- and long-term solution to the decades-old intractable conflict?

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Starmer Says Uk To Recognize Palestinian State If Israel Doesn't Agree To Ceasefire, Hamas Must 'Disarm'

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently declared their intentions to recognize a Palestinian state. The two are seen here during a meeting on the situation in Ukraine and security issues in Europe at Elysee Palace Feb. 17, 2025, in Paris.

"I assume there is a combination of considerations here  some related to foreign policy, others to domestic politics  but the basis is still the naive belief that a Palestinian state is the right way to solve the conflict," Meir Ben Shabbat, Israels former national security advisor who now heads the Misgav Institute for National Security, told Fox News Digital.

Ben Shabbat, who led the National Security Council from 2017 to 2021, said that from the perspective of French President Emmanuel Macron, "the initiative itself is what matters, not its content or chances of success."

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"Its doubtful whether he has considered the consequences this might have, even within the Palestinian camp itself," Ben Shabbat said.

Ny Times' Erroneous Cover Photo Of Gazan Child Joins Series Of Media Blunders Framing Stories Against Israel

Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Feb. 22, 2025, on the day of a handover of hostages in Gaza after the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Last week, Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas political bureau official based in Qatar, told Qatari news network Al Jazeera that international recognition of a Palestinian state was "one of the fruits of the Oct. 7 attack."



"Why are all these countries recognizing Palestine now?" he said, according to a translation from Arabic by non-profit organization MEMRI. "The overall outcome of Oct. 7 forced the world to open its eyes to the Palestinian cause and to act forcefully in this respect. (They recognize now) that the Palestinian people deserve freedom and their own state."

Israeli leaders have warned that recognizing a Palestinian state at this juncture would be a clear reward for terrorism, and it will certainly do little to strengthen the position  or popularity  of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been accused of corruption and who has refused to hold democratic elections for 20 years.

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International recognition of a Palestinian state is also unlikely to change the reality on the ground in Gaza or the West Bank, both of which have changed physically and demographically since initial plans for a two-state solution were drafted as part of the Oslo Accords some 32 years ago.

"In practical terms, the effects of unilateral recognition are quite limited," Ben Shabbat said. "The recognition does not address borders, and, in fact, most of the world has already recognized a Palestinian state when it was accepted as a U.N. observer state (in 2012)."



Hamas Endgame Is Long-term And Is Playing Out For All To See As Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza

"The main impact of these declarations is psychological the momentum they might generate and the foundation they lay for potential future practical decisions," he said.

Gayil Talshir, a political scientist and expert on Israeli trends and public opinion from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the steps to recognize a Palestinian state were "just empty declarations" that could actually end up "worsening the situation."

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"It's a reaction to images instead of thinking about diplomacy and the process of how to make a real change," she said.

By contrast, the "New York Declaration" issued last week by the Arab League, which called on Hamas to release all the hostages, disarm and end its rule of Gaza forges a more promising path to peace, she said.

Palestinians march during the funeral of Palestinian terrorists killed in clashes the previous day in the Israeli military operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank July 5, 2023.

"What is the political imagination that stands behind the French declaration of support of Palestine if it doesn't say that Hamas should not be part of such a state or that the Palestinian Authority, which is completely corrupt, should not be part of it," said Talshir.

"A declaration may feel very righteous for France and Canada and the rest of these states, but it actually complicates the situation further and maybe even distances an option that could materialize in the future," she added. "instead of building a process in which you have international supervision over Gaza and maybe also over the occupied Palestinian territories and gradually build Palestinian capabilities of self rule, they are just standing with Hamas against Israel."

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Arab Nations For First Time Pressure Hamas To Disarm, Relinquish Power In Gaza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at a leadership meeting in Ramallah in the West Bank April 23, 2025.

Among some Palestinians, too, the idea of statehood, while welcomed, feels far out of reach.

"Practically speaking, I cant see this will happen anytime soon. It has to happen through long-term negotiations," said Huda Abu Arqoub, a Palestinian peace-building activist, referring to the idea of a Palestinian state coming to life.

"For Palestinians watching what is happening in Gaza, something inside us has died. And with that kind of despair, we just don't have the luxury right now to think of the day after or of a two-state solution.

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"Once this war is out of the picture, maybe we can breathe, maybe we can regroup, maybe we will be open to having other solutions rather than just the Oslo-based solution," said Abu Arqoub, who acts as an advisor on peace to the European Union and some Arab states, including Saudi Arabia.

Instead of an international community "just taking sides," she added, "there must be a transitional period for Palestinians to regain some sort of trust in the system, in the two-state solution, and to give us a choice whether we want to be part of a political entity that runs for elections or not."





Original article source: Recognizing a Palestinian state now will complicate future peace efforts, experts warn
Astronaut Jim Lovell, whose history-making leadership as commander of a near-disastrous 1970 mission to the moon is one of the most celebrated tales of the U.S. space program and was chronicled in the hit Tom Hanks film 'Apollo 13', passed away in Illinois on Thursday. He was 97. His death was announced by his family and by NASA. "We are enormously proud of his amazing life and career accomplishments, highlighted by his legendary leadership in pioneering human space flight," the Lovell family said in a statement released by NASA, as quoted by Deadline. "But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humour, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind," added the Lovell family. According to the outlet, Lovell was a finalist to be part of the Mercury Seven, the first group of U.S. astronauts named in 1959, and ultimately was selected for the second group that also included Neil Armstrong. The Apollo 13 mission -- Lovell's fourth spaceflight following Gemini VII, Gemini XII and Apollo 8 -- launched on April 11, 1970, with the intention of a moon landing. But an oxygen tank exploded two days into the mission, disabling crucial electrical systems, reported Deadline. Supported by backup systems, Commander Lovell and his fellow astronauts Jack Swigert and Fred Haise successfully pulled off a dramatic return to Earth by looping around the moon. Tom Hanks also paid tribute to the astronaut by writing a heartfelt note. Taking to his Instagram handle, the actor wrote, "There are people who dare, who dream and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy." https://www.instagram.com/p/DNHC2-OyXXG/? Survivors include children Barbara Harrison, James Lovell III, Susan Lovell and Jeff Lovell; 11 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. (ANI)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After KPMG Manager Deanna Premo lost consciousness at work, she wasnt expected to survive. But her coworker Ryan Hover performed CPR for five minutes, and ultimately saved her life.

The American Red Cross Cascades Region will honor Hovoer for his lifesaving efforts on Aug. 13 at the Wells Fargo Center in Portland.

Premo, who now wears a pacemaker, will also provide an update on how shes doing.

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I have made an amazing recovery, and I would not have survived this ordeal without Ryan Hovers quick action and sustained CPR, Premo said.

During the presentation, Hover will receive the Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. The event begins at 10 a.m. and will take place in the Wells Fargo Center, 1300 SW Fifth Ave. Ste. 3800, where the original incident occurred.

The American Red Cross provides online and in-person classes to train people how to respond in an emergency. To find a class, visit redcross.org/takeaclass. To nominate someone who has used skills learned in an American Red Cross Training to help save a life, visit LifesavingAwards.org.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
ASH GROVE, Mo.  A sharp knife can go a long way on a hunting trip.

The public is invited to get information on how to sharpen their hunting knives at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program Learning to Hunt: Blade Sharpening.

The program will run 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 , at MDCs Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center and will have virtual and in-person options for attendance.

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MDCs Dalton Range is located at 4897 Greene County Farm Road 61.

People can register for the in-person attendance option at the link here, or register for virtual attendance here.

At the program, MDC Community Education Assistant Brandy Morris will provide tips on how to sharpen a hunting knife, according to an MDC news release.

The release says a blunt knife will cut through meat or hide in a less efficient manner. Having a sharp knife that will provide quick, clean cuts is imperative to completing the final duties involved with a successful hunt.

Though this program is free, registration is required to participate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A registered sex offender pleaded guilty to federal charges in Seattle on Friday after sexually abusing teenage girls in Washington and Oregon, authorities announced.

The United States Department of Justice said 28-year-old James Jake Harrison Newcomer admitted to sexually abusing 10 teen girls he met through social media between February and April of 2024.

According to records filed in the case, Newcomer was on state supervision after more than two years in prison for two counts of rape of a child.

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Coos Bay cop checked TikTok, text messages during suspects fatal meth overdose, lawsuit claims

As part of his supervision, Newcomer was monitored with an ankle bracelet.

On January 19, 2024, however, the monitor lost connection and when officers went to arrest Newcomer on January 25, 2025, he had left the home and could not be found, the DOJ said.

Over the next three months, Newcomer posed as a teen boy online and contacted teen girls on social media, authorities explained.

Supervisor hospitalized after stabbing on TriMet paratransit vehicle

After arranging to meet the girls in person, Newcomer gave them drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted them, officials said, noting the victims, who were between the ages of 12 and 16, were from King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Lewis, Clark, Thurston and Spokane counties and Woodburn, Oregon.

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Newcomer pleaded guilty to traveling with intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor and two counts of attempted enticement of a minor.

Authorities noted that travel with the intent to engage in sexual acts is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Prosecutors and defense recommend Newcomer receive 17 years in prison when sentenced in November 2025, the DOJ 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 KOIN.com.
(NewsNation)  The Justice Department has asked two federal judges to release grand jury exhibits related to the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.

In a filing Friday, the department says in addition to its request to unseal grand jury testimony in both cases, it also wants exhibits with appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton signed the filing.

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The Justice Department said it has started contacting victims from the investigations whose names appear in grand jury exhibits but not in transcripts, according to the filing.

Rep. Thomas Massie pushes for vote to release Epstein files

The department also stated that it is notifying parties of the extent that their names appear in grand jury materials that were not publicly admitted during Maxwells trial.

The Justice Department requested the judges hold off on any decisions on unsealing until it hears back from parties theyve contacted.

The Epstein case has been subject to heightened public focus since the Justice Department said last month it would not release additional documents from the case, despite assurances from Bondi. Trump has been under fire by his own party over allegations of a cover-up of his involvement with Epstein.

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Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epsteins crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago, and he has repeatedly tried to move past the Justice Departments decision not to release a full accounting of the investigation.

Kash Patel dodging me over Jeffrey Epstein story: Bill OReilly

The Trump administration had sought to unseal grand jury transcripts, though that has been denied by Judge Robin Rosenberg in Florida. Rosenberg said the request to release grand jury documents from 2005 and 2007 did not meet any of the extraordinary exceptions under federal law that could make them public.

A similar request for the work of a different grand jury is pending in New York under Judge Richard Berman.

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Fridays letter was addressed to both Rosenberg and Berman.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The past two years have been rough for Christopher Saunders.

Saunders, originally from Ohio, moved to North Miami Beach in 2023 seeking a warmer climate to relieve his arthritis. Things were going fine, until costly car and rental bills forced him into chapter 13 bankruptcy. Around the same time, the rent on the 43-year-olds less-than-luxury condo was about to get even more expensive  jumping from $1,900 per month to nearly $2,300.

As soon as you get a little bit of money, they raise the rent, Saunders said, adding that the attitude of condo owners and landlords is generally deal with it, or move out.

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On a tip from a co-worker, Sanders applied to live at Wenski Groves, an affordable housing complex founded by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami and named after Miamis top Catholic leader, Archbishop Thomas Wenski. Saunders was the first resident when it opened last year.

The complex of 30 units  24 studio apartments and 6 one-bedrooms  is designed for people, like Saunders, who work full-time jobs and earn less than $79,400 a year ($90,800 for a two person household) and are still struggling to make ends meet. That range covers a huge percentage of people working in Miami-Dade, who often struggle to find affordable housing.

Located at 2130 NW 37th Street in Miami, Wenski Groves is the second affordable housing project sponsored by Catholic Charities in recent years with the intent to help ease an affordable housing crisis that extends across much of South Florida. Earlier this year, Wenski blessed the apartments at St. Bedes Village in Key West, a complex of 10 affordable apartments for people with disabilities. Those arent the only faith-based housing projects. A group of churches is planning to build micro condos in West Coconut Grove, a community under intense gentrification pressure.

Tremendous challenge for Miami

Wenski Groves took nearly eight years of planning, according to Peter Routsis-Arroyo, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami.

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Its a tremendous challenge for Miami, he said. How are we going to maintain our working class here given that people are paying upwards of $3,000 a month for a one bedroom?

The apartments were built in part with the help of entrepreneur Phillip Sylvester, who was interested in buying a family homeless shelter owned by Catholic Charities a few blocks East of Wenski Groves, according to Routsis-Arroyo. Sylvester owned the lot that Wenski Groves sits now and constructed the 30 units in a deal with Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities purchased the Allapattah lots for $3,800,000 in 2023 according to Miami-Dade property records.

The skyrocketing rent prices in Miami is something Catholic Charities has been keeping their eye on for the last decade, Routsis-Arroyo said.

Catholic Charities and the Catholic Church, for over 100 years now weve been a part of the community, Routsis-Arroyo said. As we see needs that arise, were flexible enough to try and make those changes that are needed.

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The apartment rents are based on the income of the renters  small families with up to three people are allowed  with rents ranging from $993 to $2129 a month, based on a formula from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Catholic Church is often known for helping the poor but Wenski Groves is aimed at people who have good steady jobs but are squeezed by South Floridas staggeringly high rents and housing costs. Thats a big group.

More than three-quarters of South Floridians (76 percent) report difficulty paying for usual household expenses, according toreporting from the Miami Herald. Nearly a third of renters in the Miami area are severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least half of their monthly income on housing, making Miami one of the most rent-burdened cities in the country.

The housing crisis is real, said Anthony Pinto, senior director of community based services at Catholic Charities,. Is this for the poorest of the poor? No. But rents are so out of control everywhere, that if youre making $50,000, $40,000 a year, whats the answer? Thats why were here to fill those gaps.

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Wenski Groves still has around a dozen units available for renters who fit in a category that some 4 million Florida households fall into. Theyre people that have a steady income, but typically earn too much to qualify for state benefits like food or childcare assistance  and theyre living paycheck to paycheck.

While the location is central to many, Pinto notes that there isnt much foot traffic and many drive by without ever noticing the complex is there. The staff behind Wenski Groves said they are working with real estate groups and nonprofits to help get the word out.

Other religious groups also are heeding the call for more affordable housing in Miami.

A new affordable housing project in the West Coconut Grove, Grand Bahamas Place, is backed byCollective Empowerment Group, a faith-based nonprofit representing more than 40 churches, and Believers of Authority Ministries, a local church with ties to the Little Bahamas community. The joint venture, which also includes Prospera Real Estate Collective, was approved to receive $4.2 million in funding from the the city of Miami earlier this year, according to WLRN.

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The 56-micro condominium project is designed for families earning 80 percent or less of Miami-Dade Countys area median income, which, as of April 2024, was $79,400. But, this project goes beyond rental affordability.

Part of the projects funding will help low-income buyers with down payment assistance, providing families living in the historically Black neighborhood of West Grove with home ownership opportunities.

Everybodys getting affected.

In recent years Zully Mar Vidal, another resident of Wenski Groves, went through all-too-common financial squeeze Before the COVID pandemic, she was paying around $1,700 for her apartment in Doral, where she lived with her daughter at the time. As rents climbed to nearly $2,400, Vidals salary stayed the same and she was forced to look elsewhere for housing.

A devout Catholic and single mother, Vidal was facing severe financial hardship, and the stress of looking for a more affordable place to live in the Miami area was causing panic attacks.

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I needed to breathe because I felt like I was drowning, she said.

A member and employee of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Vidal was one of the early residents at Wenski Groves, and has lived in her one bedroom apartment for about a year. She said she feels more stable and happy that shes able to depend more on herself without outside help.

When we were applying for Wenski Grove, we were looking for stability. Something that we could afford, but continue living in Miami, she said. I feel that in Miami now, if youre not making $6,000 plus, you are living check to check.

She enjoys her neighbors, who she says reflect Miamis diverse culture. The move, she said, has made more empathetic to the situations of others who are going through the same struggle.

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Theres a lot of people who go quiet when they go through hardship, which was happening to me until I finally said No, I have to do something. I have to say something, because this is getting bad in Miami, Vidal said. Everybodys getting affected.

Both Vidal and Saunders appreciate rents they consider realistic for everyday workers.

Saunders, a store manager at Rent-A-Wheel in Cutler Bay, said he pays around $1,300 for his studio apartment in Wenski Groves. The lower rent has been somewhat of a relief for him financially, still he said, he hasnt completely exhaled.

The money I make now, back then was a lot. Now the money I make yearly is .. oh, you just barely making it. Its crazy.

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Saunders points out that living in a complex operated by the Catholic Charities doesnt mean there are requirements about religion or beliefs. Saunders, who is gay, said he was a little concerned when he found out he would be living in a community complex essentially owned by the Catholic Church. But, his worries were ameliorated after he met his landlord, Miss Jackie.

Im super gay, he said. And I met Miss Jackie, she didnt blink when she saw me, didnt do anything, didnt say, Oh, were not going to have that out here. Some people ... are strict in culture, but I havent had a problem out here.

Saunders said he enjoys the quiet atmosphere of the gated complex, which includes a courtyard, pleasant greenery and a shared laundry area. Though its near I-95, Saunders said its often quiet and neighbors are respectful of one another.

Im glad the Archdiocese turned the light bulb on and say, hey, lets show people we can have affordable housing.

This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
"Goldsmiths University believed in me, the British public stood beside and MPs shared a letter of support. Despite all of this, I remain trapped," says Palestinian student Haia Mohammed.

The 22-year-old is among four students in Gaza who have been awarded scholarships at Goldsmiths, University of London, but are unable to leave the territory as they cannot submit the biometric data needed by the Home Office to process their study visas.

Ms Mohammed's personal plight was cited in a letter signed by 113 MPs calling for the government asking to allow biometric checking in Egypt or Jordan.

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The Home Office says it is considering how it can best support the students.

According to the letter from MPs, which was led by Barry Gardiner, Ms Mohammed is one of more than 80 other students who could not record their biometric data, which can include fingerprints, as there is no visa application centre in Gaza.

The 22-year-old was awarded the Goldsmiths Palestinian Scholarship to study BA English with Creative Writing, with the course due to start in September.

She told BBC News that before the war "I was studying in the school, like everyone, and graduated with 95%. Then I joined the university as a [computer] programmer.

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"Then the war started and they destroyed the university so I tried to learn on Zoom."

The specialist computer needed for her course was then destroyed meaning she had no means to continue her limited online course.

"There was no chance to learn after the destruction," she explains.

Ms Mohammed says she has been displaced multiple times along with her mother and siblings since the beginning of Israel's bombardment of the territory.

While she originally pursued a course in computer programming, she says she has always had a passion for poetry.

"Before the war, I was writing about the sea, the sky, the light, my friends," she says.

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"But when the war was coming, I have to write about my people, tragedy. This is not easy, writing about your people and what's happening."

"People right now see me in Gaza eyes. They don't see me as Haia, they see Gaza in me," she says. "This is heavy but sometimes you have to act for your people and your country.

"We don't have the luxury of giving up."

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Explaining her determination to continue her studies, she says: "For me education isn't just to learn.

"For me and my people it's how to tell our stories, how to communicate with the world, how poetry can be a tool to survive.

"It's the way to achieve my dream and become what I want."

Nora Parr, a volunteer with the UK Coalition for Gaza Students, says the university applications made by the students seeking places in the UK have been "done under the most dire circumstances".

"Students are travelling miles to go and get a reliable wi-fi signal to upload their documents, to do their interviews," she says.

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"University interviews are stressful for students on the best of times... They have persevered because this is how they are working to build their future at a time when their future is being slowly destroyed."

Ms Parr called on the British government to negotiate with Israeli officials to facilitate the students' exit from Gaza and on to neighbouring countries, such as Jordan or Egypt, where biometrics can be processed.

On Thursday Gardiner, the MP for Brent West, told the BBC he and his fellow MPs were not asking for biometric checks to be dispensed with, but for them to be deferred to other countries.

"The point is there is nowhere that they can be done in Gaza," he said.

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"We dispensed with those checks for students from Ukraine in a war situation, and other countries have done it as well.

"This is not saying let's allow people with a dodgy record come to the UK people, that's just nonsense."

A Home Office spokesperson said the situation "on the ground in Gaza is extremely challenging" and officials were "doing everything we can to find a solution".

A Goldsmiths University spokesperson said: "We remain ready to support Palestinian students once they arrive at Goldsmiths.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and will offer appropriate support where we can to all applicants, including those holding an offer of a scholarship."

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
Rep. Julie Fedorchak talks to voters during a virtual town hall June 10, 2025. (Screenshot/webstream)

North Dakota U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak will be holding office hours in Bismarck on Friday to meet directly with North Dakotans to address their concerns.

Residents wanting to chat with the freshman Republican will need to sign up for a time slot ahead of time to be granted a one-on-one meeting, according to a news release from her office. Fedorchak held office hours last month in Fargo.

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The Fargo office hours provided a great chance to discuss a wide range of topics with constituents  from legislative ideas and farm policy to Medicaid reforms and immigration issues, Fedorchak said, in a news release. Im looking forward to this next round of one-on-one meetings to hear constituent concerns and discuss issues with them.

Meeting requests will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis and the online sign-up form will close automatically once the time slots have been filled. Residents who receive a time slot will be contacted by a member of Fedorchaks staff to confirm their meeting time.

Staff members will be available after each appointment for additional assistance.

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Rep. Rudy Yakym, who represents Indianas 2nd District, met with more than two dozen people Thursday morning to promote and answer questions about his work on Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill.

The representative  who is a member of the Houses Ways and Means Committee that, by Yakyms estimation, oversaw roughly 80% of the bills drafting  stopped by the Logansport-Cass County Chamber of Commerce as other national figures have brought attention to Indiana.

Vice President JD Vance stopped by Indianapolis on Thursday to meet with Gov. Mike Braun and, presumably, make an appeal for redistricting.

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On Tuesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced a partnership between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Miami Correctional Facility as the second state partnership to expand ICE detention space. The first partnership, with Florida, was dubbed Alligator Alcatraz. Noem nicknamed the Miami County facility the Speedway Slammer.

City Council President Dave Morris pointed out the visits relevant timing and asked the representative for his thoughts on the matter.

In regard to the Speedway Slammer, Yakym criticized former President Joe Biddens immigration policies and pointed out President Donald Trump campaigned on deporting immigrants who have not been granted citizenship.

If you look at total illegal southern border crossings today, they are at or near zero over the course of the last few months, Yakym said. And we intend to make sure that it stays that way, which is why we handed the president the money in the one Big Beautiful Bill to permanently secure the southern border.

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The representative said there were well over a million people in the U.S. illegally who have committed felonies since entering the country.

I think what the president is committed to is, at a minimum, starting with those people, Yakym said. And when youre going through the process of deportation, when you find them, youve got to have a place to house them.

He added that he doesnt have any qualms with the agreement as long as the partnership is carried out in a secure fashion.

After Yakyms district director, Griffin Nate, explained federal funds were attached to the partnership, Morris said he was more concerned with ICEs methodology  and its seeming lack of discretion regarding who is detained  than he was with the financial aspect of the agreement.

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The councilmember said he was concerned about the potential impact the agreement could have on the way Cass County residents react when stopped by public safety officials.

Yakym replied that the focus should be on protecting people who are in the United States legally.

Were not looking to protect people who are here illegally and committing crimes, Yakym said. Were going to deport them. That is a reality.

In regard to potential redistricting, Yakym said his general focus right now is on visiting all 11 counties in the states 2nd District at least three times. He said redistricting is outside the lane he runs in.

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I love the people of this district, Yakym said. Ive gotten to know the people in this district over the course of the last three years, and its just truly an honor to wake up every day and do that job.

Tariffs addressed

Another audience member who represented Small Parts Inc., a manufacturer of metal parts and components for the automotive and electrical industries, asked Yakym for his opinion on tariffs.

Roughly 30 employees have been laid off at the Logansport company as it struggles to pay tariffs on copper that isnt available in the United States, the audience member explained.

This is the feedback weve given the administration loud and clear, Yakym said.

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He later added the feedback delivered to the Trump administration focuses on several points: predictability, stability and a distinction between things that can be produced in America versus things that cant.

He said copper served as a good example to distinguish between raw material that cant be sourced in the United States and manufacturing that could be brought to the U.S.

Lets negotiate fair trade deals. We have to have a level playing field for United States manufacturers, but also our exporters and our farmers, Yakym said, later adding, lets also negotiate them quickly.

Yakyms role in Trumps bill

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Yakym explained House Speaker Mike Johnson approached him in October  before the Indiana representative joined the Ways and Means Committee  to strategize budget reconciliation. The speaker foresaw Trumps political victory, and predicted Republicans would control both the House and Senate.

Over the course of roughly 15 hours divided between several months, Yakym joined a handful of his colleagues in the Speakers office to decide whether it would be best to scatter their goals among several bills or to push forward a singular, hefty bill. The Indiana representative said he supported a single bill from the outset.

After strategizing, Yakym spent roughly 90 hours with the rest of the Ways and Means Committee to go through more than 100 tax provisions.

He said a lot of the input that he provided during those meetings at a long, rectangular desk made it into the bill and was a reflection of constituent feedback he had received over the past two and a half years.

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A lot of what we did is pro-worker, its pro-family, but its also pro-business in the way that its designed, Yakym said.

He pointed to provisions that temporarily added tax deductions for tips and overtime, and a temporary boost to the Child Tax Credit as evidence.

Whether its taking care of the individual worker or the small business owners who are trying to grow and expand their companies and hire people, we thought we took a bold handed approach to that, Yakym said, That the economy would respond favorably to that.

Asked how he would measure the success of those changes, Yakym said his metrics would primarily center around the nations gross domestic product, median wages and year-over-year capital investment throughout the country.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two El Paso area state representatives are joining the fight to help a state representative that Gov. Greg Abbott wants to remove from office in the fight over redistricting.

Friday, Aug. 8, Texas state Reps. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and Mary E. Gonzalez, D-Clint, submitted a legal brief in support of House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu.

Earlier this week, Abbott used an unprecedented legal maneuver to ask the Supreme Court of Texas to remove Wu from office after he and other House Democrats broke quorum to block racially gerrymandered congressional maps demanded by President Trump, Moody said in a news release.

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About 50 Democratic legislators fled the state to break quorum and stop what they are calling an unconstitutional and racially discriminatory redistricting attempt by the state Republicans.

The state Supreme Court still has not ruled on Abbotts request, although Attorney General Ken Paxton has now filed similar actions against at least 13 other Democrats. None of those other lawmakers were from El Paso in the list that was initially listed by Paxtons office.

The brief filed by Moody and Gonzalez asked the court to refuse the governors request. It debunks claims that the quorum break is a constitutional crisis with historical examples, then adds:

What would be a constitutional crisis is this Court un-electing nearly every member of the minority party over lawfully resisting the majority. This legislative battle began because legislators wanted to pick their voters. This legal battle would cut voters out entirely and allow a partisan governor to pick his legislators.

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That puts us on the brink of naked authoritarianism. This Court should take no part in hurtling us over that edge into the endless darkness below.

You can read the entire legal brief below:

Moody-Gonzalez-Amici-StampedDownload

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte will not engage in the tit-for-tat redistricting war ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The timing is off for this because we are in the middle of the census period, and when I talk to people in New Hampshire, this is not at the top of their priority list, she said in an interview with local station WMUR on Friday.

New Hampshire, generally considered a swing state, has two competitive seats that are now held by Democrats, according to The Cook Political Report by Amy Walter.

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In the 1st Congressional District, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) is leaving Congress, which could open up an opportunity for Republicans; however, without redistricting it will likely stay in Democratic hands in 2026.

Ayottes predecessor, Gov. Chris Sununu (R), vetoed a new map passed by Republicans in the state legislature in 2022.

A political war over congressional districts has escalated in recent weeks after Texas called for a special legislative session to redraw voting lines in an attempt to gain five new seats in the midterms.

Redistricting typically happens every 10 years after the census has been conducted.

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In outrage, Texas House Democratic lawmakers fled the state to ensure a vote on new districts would not take place because it lacked a quorum. Legislators fled to blue states such as California, Illinois and New York.

On Thursday, President Trump weighed in and called for the Commerce Department to conduct a new census, ahead of the next count, scheduled for 2030. He also said that the new census should not count people in the U.S. illegally.

In response to Texas, a handful of blue states have talked about efforts to also gerrymander their districts to limit the gains Republicans might have in Texas in 2026 and increase the number of Democratic seats in Congress.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for a special election in November. The state created an independent redistricting commission to offset the dangers of political interference in voting lines. The special election would therefore bypass the commission and let voters approve a bill to allow Democrats to pass a new voting map.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A day after 'Udaipur Files' was released in theatres across India, producer Amit Jani claimed that he has been receiving "death threats" over the film. In a X post on Saturday, Jani stated that he has been getting repeated calls from an unknown number, with the caller threatening to kill him with a bomb or shoot him. Jani added that the caller introduced himself as Tabrez, a resident of Bihar. In his post, Jani urged the authorities to register a case against Tabrez and arrest him. Take a look Last month, the Central government granted 'Y'-category armed security cover to the 'Udaipur Files' producer in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. It came days after the Supreme Court allowed the producer to approach the police and seek protection as he alleged a threat to his life. Y-category security includes a detail of 8 to 11 personnel, including commandos, to protect the individual around the clock. The film was released across India on Friday, August 8, after the Delhi High Court on Thursday gave the go-ahead for its release. It was initially slated for release on July 11, but faced many delays due to censorship and legal troubles. The Supreme Court had directed the Delhi High Court to address challenges against the government's approval of the film's release. The movie is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, who was brutally killed in broad daylight in his shop in Udaipur, Rajasthan, by two men for allegedly sharing a social media post in support of former BJP member Nupur Sharma following her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed during a debate show on a private news channel. According to police reports from 2022, the prime accused, Mohammad Riaz Attari and Ghaus Mohammad, entered Lal's shop pretending to get clothes stitched before attacking him with a knife and slitting his throat. They recorded the brutal murder and circulated the video on social media, claiming responsibility for the heinous act, which triggered national outrage and raised serious concerns about radicalisation and communal violence. The accused were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, besides provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Initially, the case was probed by the Rajasthan police, but later the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over it. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur. The film starring Vijay Raaz in the lead role is directed by Bharat S Shrinate and Jayant Sinha, and produced by Amit Jani. (ANI)
A wildlife rescue team urged drivers to "slow down and stay alert" after a young deer was fatally injured on a road.

Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital based in Haddenham, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, said it had been called this week to an injured deer causing a traffic obstruction in the area.

The deer later died from its injuries, which the rescue said was "tragically a common sight" at this time of the year as young deer were dispersing.

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The rescue team said a "moment's caution" could "prevent a devastating collision".

In a social media post, the rescue said once it had located the deer, she was rushed back to its hospital.

However her injuries were "far too severe" and despite the team's best efforts she died.

"This is a tragically common sight - especially at this time of year, when young deer are dispersing and wildlife is more active near roads," the rescue said.

"These calls never get easier for our team, who do everything they can to give animals a second chance.

"Please, if you're driving near woodlands or open countryside, slow down and stay alert."

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A survey of plant life in a nature reserve in Hertfordshire, England, has uncovered a pleasant surprise: a rare plant not seen in the area since 2017.

The BBC reported that the discovery was made in the Rye Meads Nature Reserve, near Hoddesdon, a town located just north of London. The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust found about 130 tubular water-dropworts flourishing within the reserve.

Photo Credit: iStock

Experts believe ideal weather conditions and the removal of dense vegetation facilitated this revival. Nature reserves manager at the trust Ian Carle described it as, "An incredible find, given its rarity."

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The Rye Meads Nature Reserve is a wetland that's home to many important bird species and offers locals a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the nearby English capital.

Arguably, the reserve's star attraction is the kingfisher, whose distinctive azure and copper plumage makes it a firm favorite with birdwatchers. Its presence is indicative of a healthy ecosystem. The emergence of the dropwort is further evidence that the reserve is thriving once more.

According to the Freshwater Habitats Trust, the tubular water-dropwort has declined dramatically in England and Wales since the 1950s. England has lost approximately 90% of its wetlands over the last five centuries, resulting in the disappearance of plants in several locales. While quite tolerant of shade from other plants, the dropwort does require "some kind of disturbance to create openings in dense vegetation," per the Trust.

The unexpected comeback of the endangered flower demonstrates the crucial role local conservation efforts play in achieving such successes.

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Native plants are vital to maintaining an area's biodiversity. Because they adapted to an ecosystem over thousands of years, they naturally attract pollinators and provide shelter and sustenance for many other species.

One of the best ways to help native plants flourish is to start at home. Rewilding a yard won't just provide a boon for the ecosystem; it saves a lot of time and money in the long run.

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.

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Around the world, certain areas are set aside for conservation, providing animals with protected spaces as civilization continues to encroach on their natural habitats. But scientists warn that human development outside such spaces is making it difficult for even the animals inside those sanctuaries to thrive.

What's happening?

Researchers have found that in protected zones surrounded by human development in China, "major losses in biodiversity" have occurred.

Using camera traps to analyze species locations and population sizes, they discovered that large apex predators, such as tigers, were often the first to be impacted due to limited mobility caused by human-modified environments, according to a mid-June release from North Carolina State University.

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Oftentimes, larger animals move between protected areas that are separated by a "matrix"  the land between those preserves. Those matrices can be important because the animals need to roam. But when their movement is greatly impeded due to overdevelopment or deforestation, biodiversity can decrease as pressures mount.

"Larger species are going to need more space, and one way they can get that is to move from one protected area to another. The other way is to just use areas outside of protected areas," co-author Roland Kays, a research professor at NC State, said of the study published in the journal Current Biology. "As those spaces get more and more developed, these larger species just aren't going to be able to move around in the way they need to, and you will start to lose them."

Researchers found that apex predators had become extinct in about 84% of conservation areas in China, signaling the severity of the impacts of human development on biodiversity.

Why is this declining biodiversity concerning?

Biodiversity loss is bad news for everyone  humans also depend on the benefits provided by rich ecosystems. These can include clean water and air, fertile soil, pollination, abundant fresh food, carbon sequestration, disease mitigation, recreation, and more.

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Apex predators such as tigers play a crucial role in maintaining balanced ecosystems by regulating prey populations and influencing plant life. The web of life depends on these healthy interactions and relationships; when even one piece of this web is severed, it can trigger a chain reaction in other parts of the ecosystem.

As animals struggle to survive in increasingly smaller spaces, they may venture closer to human settlements, making human-wildlife encounters much more likely. Worldwide, people are noticing large animals such as bears and moose roaming in their neighborhoods and residential areas, and many believe the increasing pressures on the environment are to blame. If tigers manage to escape from protected areas, motivated by their limited mobility there, it could be dangerous for humans and smaller species.

What's being done to protect conservation zones?

A World Wildlife Fund report previously found tiger populations to be on the rise in some parts of China, highlighting that conservation efforts can be successful when animals are given ample space to thrive. A reintroduction of apex predators could help restore biodiversity, benefiting the land, the animals, and the people who live near protected wildlife corridors.

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.

Wildlife crossings have proven effective in connecting fragmented habitats and increasing animals' chances of survival as they move between these spaces. Something similar could likely be implemented to help large species in China and anywhere unprotected matrices pose risks to mobile animals, especially apex predators.

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The co-authors wrote that their "findings emphasize that future conservation plans must extend beyond [protected area] boundaries to establish well-connected networks and must prioritize apex predator recovery or reintroduction," noting that "these initiatives have global significance for scaling up conservation efforts and achieving the '30 by 30' targets for [protected areas]," referring to the goal of protecting 30% of Earth's lands, oceans, and freshwaters by 2030.

Funding efforts to grow conservation zones globally and locally as well as establishing reasonable policies to regulate hazardous development nearby could support apex predator populations and the biodiversity on which all life relies.

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.
CUMBERLAND  A month is too fast for the city to find a new police chief, Dana Tinnen said.

On Wednesday, Tinnen, a Cumberland resident, asked the mayor and City Council if the search for a police chief is nationwide.

This is an opportunity to diversify our police force, he said, adding that the next chief should be Black, Asian or Latino to be a role model for area children.

Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka said the search to fill the police chief position has primarily focused on Maryland.

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According to a notice on the citys website, the police chief position works under the general direction and appointment of the city administrator.

Cumberland, Maryland searches for new police chief

It lists the salary for the position at $95,000 to $135,000 per year with an attractive comprehensive benefit package.

The notice states a cover letter, resume and any supporting documentation must be submitted electronically with the subject line Police Chief to April Howser, human resources officer, at april.howser@cumberlandmd.gov.

Applications are due by noon Aug. 15.

BackgroundLast month, city officials authorized a retirement agreement with Cumberland Police Chief John Chuck Ternent.

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The chiefs initial employment term was Feb. 20, 2023, to Feb. 19, 2026.

Ternent wishes to retire from his employment with the city, the agreement stated. The city does not object to Ternents retirement and consents to the termination of the employment agreement before its term expires. Accordingly, Ternents retirement shall be deemed to be a termination upon the mutual consent of the parties.

According to the citys website, Ternent holds a masters degree in management from Johns Hopkins University.

He joined the Cumberland Police Department in 1992, served as a detective assigned to the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit, became a sergeant in 2003 and over the years climbed the ranks to become police chief in 2020.

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In June, Silka said CPD Lt. Eric Bonner will serve as acting chief.

In other Cumberland business:The mayor and City Council last month accepted a proposal from Mosca Design, of Youngsville, North Carolina, for a 20-foot artificial Christmas tree with a 3-foot topper for $20,295.70. On Wednesday, council thanked Fred Timbrook, CEO of Timbrook Automotive, for funding the purchase.

A 2024 infill development agreement between the city and TeaBow Residential LLC was changed to include new deadlines. TeaBow must complete construction of its properties on Arch Street by Aug. 15, and Pennsylvania Avenue by Oct. 31, 2026.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The American Civil Liberties Union and Indivisible Grand Junction visited Rep. Jeff Hurds office in Grand Junction. The groups visited his office, saying they are unhappy that he voted for President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill. They said the bill affects Coloradoans health care and provides tax breaks for billionaires.

Grand Junction resident Candace Sone said she came out to the protest as she believes Hurd is not representing his district. She also voiced her concerns regarding ICE, immigration, and other recent related topics.

Besides womens rights, immigration, not supporting those in need, and just voting for this big, beautiful bill thats going to increase our deficit exponentially. In addition to that, although they say its not taking away Medicare when it runs into a deficit. [] my friend knows the specific thing that happens and acts it will reduce Medicare by 4% because we will have a deficit. Sone said.

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Sone also tells WesternSlopeNow they emphasize the need for all voices to be heard, including those with opposing views, but stress that listening alone is not enough without follow-through and support. they also mention concerns about the privatization of federal lands.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
To break encryption, or not to break encryption, that is the question.

Across the continent, tech-native Europeans are spinning up new large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on their phones and computers and connecting with friends on end-to-end encrypted messaging apps. But that experience may soon change.

In Brussels, the European Commission, Danish presidency, and member states will be trying, once again, to revive the CSAM/chat control that would effectively break encryption online in the name of combating child sexual abuse material, a process more colloquially known as "chat control".

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Taking up the lead this time is the country of Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Council from July 1 until the end of 2025.

At the heart of this prolonged battle over additional police powers is a technical discussion on whether encrypted messaging apps, now a default for millions of smartphone and internet users, can effectively screen for illegal material and alert authorities where appropriate.

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Some member states and police agencies say yes. Most technologists and privacy campaigners say no.

Denmark follows others in planting its flag on encryption

The Scandinavian state has been a stalwart supporter of CSAM image scanning and chat control at previous EU Council meetings, and mentioned the regulation by name in their list of priorities to pursue in their Council presidency for the next six months.

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The Presidency will give the work on the Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Regulation and Directive high priority, they wrote in their programme.

Furthermore, law enforcement authorities must have the necessary tools, including access to data, to investigate and prosecute crime effectively. This applies to both online offences and serious crime planned or carried out by organised criminals using modern technology and communication methods," they added.

Some member states have already introduced versions of encryption-busting regulation, including most recently Austria. In early July, the Alpine Republic passed a surveillance law allowing intelligence services to intercept encrypted messaging by deploying "trojan horse" software against suspected criminals and terrorists.

The vote carried despite abstentions from liberal MPs of the coalition, and will likely be challenged in the nation's constitutional court.

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France and Sweden are debating similar rules forcing the decryption of internet traffic logs of virtual private network (VPN) providers. Spain has remained a passionate defender of outlawing end-to-end encryption altogether, leading a bloc of 15 member states who previously voted in favour of allowing backdoors into encryption services.

Former EU member state, the United Kingdom, currently facing both ridicule and outrage for its online age-verification scheme, has used secret court orders to force companies like Apple to introduce backdoors into their encrypted iCloud services.

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In response, the company disabled its Advanced Data Protection services to UK users, leaving their information vulnerable not just to government snooping, but also to hackers targeting Apple devices.

It's about the children until it's not

The next Council debate and vote on chat control will reportedly take place on 14 October, where Danish leaders will attempt to convince holdouts like Poland and the Netherlands to change votes. Though Austria previously baulked at the regulation, the new coalition looks primed to change its mind.

During a press conference in Copenhagen on July 23 on the fringes of an informal meeting of European Justice and Home Ministers to set the presidency agenda, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stumbled through his answers.

"There is a broad recognition in the Council that we need to move on the regulation on child sexual abuse," he said, noting the conflicting opinions championing privacy over those wanting additional police powers.

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But he then claimed the debate was "unjustly portrayed by business interests," adding that the rights of victims aren't being considered appropriately.

"We need to ask ourselves, at the end of the day, whose privacy is it that we're mostly concerned with? Is it the privacy of the thousands of children being sexually abused? Or is it the privacy of ordinary people who may be or may not be if they share child sexual abuse content can be protection order against what they're sharing (sic). We need to compromise on these differing views.

While the stories of abuse and grotesque material shared online are compelling, it does not remove from the simple and plain fact that the European regulation aims to break encryption, something European Commission leaders were admitting as late as last year.

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Addressing the 20th anniversary summit of the European Data Protection Supervisors in June 2024, former European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova admitted that the proposed CSAM scanning rule clarifies "that even encrypted messaging can be broken for the sake of better protection of children".

Technically unfeasible, socially undesirable

If this regulation is passed in its current form, these powers would allow national police agencies to force encryption messaging providers to scan and moderate content in real-time to avoid liability from prosecution.

Effectively, that would mean email services, messaging apps, VPNs, company databases, file uploads on secure servers, and much more will be required to detect and report any image, link, or material related to sexual exploitation or general crime. How general it would be is up to each member state's adaptation of the regulation.

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Though the stated intention of EU authorities is noble, if we believe their rationale, there should be no hiding the fact that most of this is not technically feasible.

Apart from analysing metadata, there are no secure methods that would allow partial or even delayed encryption of information or images between users while still maintaining the integrity of end-to-end encryption.

Every VOIP call, iMessage, Signal text, WhatsApp message, and even direct message on platforms like Messenger and X use basic encryption protocols to secure conversations between their users.

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How could these services feasibly exist or function in an EU that demands that everything must be available for inspection by some authority?

What's more is that nothing prevents police agencies from using court orders and legal powers they already possess to get information or evidence from individuals. There are no additional powers required.

Reasonable suspicion and reasonable cause can be used by trained law enforcement to solve and deter crimes without the need for snooping on every user's device.

If the Danes want to push this through without adequate debate and technical consideration, then we'll know for certain that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

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The return of chat control in October will be another opportunity for European democracy to be truly put into practice.

Will continental Europeans who regard personal privacy and security as sacrosanct consent to the power to screen their calls to catch bad actors? Or will they stand up and demand that their member states respect their rights and freedoms to use privacy-preserving technology?

"The rest is silence," said Hamlet in his last dying words.

Yael Ossowski is a consumer and technology advocate, journalist, and writer.
A few weeks after the birth of her first son, Mikaela Rodkin, a D.C.-based mom who works in management consulting, started to notice something was seriously wrong. She was so overwhelmed by worry that she had trouble bonding with her baby. She felt like she wasnt doing motherhood very well, she said.

Rodkin had never experienced anxiety before; her pregnancy itself was relatively smooth. But after her baby was born in the spring of 2022, things had taken a turn. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience a lot of the time, she said. When Rodkin, her husband, and their infant had to temporarily relocate due to a gas leak in their home, she started feeling paranoid. She feared that someone from the neighboring house would attack her family. She described how she felt as though she was living in a horror movie.

It got to the point where I was just panicked, and my whole body hurt and ached from the stress. And I just broke down, she said. Shed taken online quizzes about postpartum depression, but found that particular shoe to be ill-fitting. Without much more to go on, she simply didnt know what was wrong. When she went to the doctor, however, the answer she sought was at hand: She was suffering from postpartum anxiety. The doctor prescribed her Zoloft, a common SSRI. It made all the difference, she said. It allowed me to enjoy motherhood and not be living in a state of panic and fear.

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Rodkin had always wanted a second child, but she didnt want to risk the nightmare experience shed had with her first. Fortunately, her doctor reassured her that staying on Zoloft was safe and that the benefits far outweighed the minor potential risks to the baby. I think it has been invaluable, she said. My second pregnancy was so smooth, the postpartum was so smooth, the delivery was smooth. Everything was easier, and I think a huge part of that was Zoloft. Her son is now one year old.

Postpartum depression and anxiety are common in moms, with about 20 percent of perinatal women suffering from each. There is well-documented evidence that antidepressantsspecifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, a newer generation of antidepressants that includes Prozac and Lexaproare indicated and safe for use in pregnancy and postpartum for people with moderate to severe depression and anxiety.

We have a substantial and overwhelming body of evidence that shows that there are risks to both mother and child if you dont treat psychiatric illness, said Dr. Lauren Osborne, vice chair of clinical research at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Weill Cornell Medicine and chair of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry.

These risks include suicidethe leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionas well as adverse cognitive and emotional development of the child, and poor bonding and attachment between mother and baby, according to Osborne.

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Despite the fact that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, supports the use of SSRIs during pregnancy for those who need them, some doctors counsel their patients to stop their medication. A large study found that around half of women on SSRIs before pregnancy went off them when pregnant.

Now Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Department of Health and Human Services is sowing more doubt about this evidence-based treatment on a national stage. Alongside making vaccines more difficult to get and cutting research funding for them, RFK Jr. has made reducing use of psychotropic medications a policy priority. He has suggested that people who take antidepressantssome 11 percent of the populationshould instead be sent to government wellness farms to wean themselves off, and claimed that people taking these meds are more likely to develop addiction or become school shooters.

Late last month, RFK Jr. took his first major step toward this policy priority. On July 21, the Food and Drug Administration convened a hearing to discuss the safety of SSRI use during pregnancy. Most of the panels participants, a mix of researchers and psychologists, presented clear biases and lacked basic knowledge about reproductive psychiatry, according to Dr. Osborne. Some of the panelists wrongly claimed that using SSRIs in pregnancy can lead to higher rates of autism and birth defects.

You can cherry-pick and find some studies that show some risks, but the more recent studies that are done with appropriate control groups overwhelmingly support that the risks are minimal, said Osborne.

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Whereas typically such a hearing would feature experts from the FDA, this one brought in outsiders, many of whom had clear conflicts of interests. Rather than focusing on the issue at hand, some questioned the validity of depression itself. At one point, a panelist, psychologist Roger McFillin, asked if women simply experience more intense emotions, which are gifts, not symptoms of a disease. There was talk of issuing a black-box warning on SSRIs for pregnant and perinatal women.

Unfortunately, the many outlandish and unfounded claims made by the panelists regarding SSRIs will only serve to incite fear and cause patients to come to false conclusions that could prevent them from getting the treatment they need, said Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in a statement after the hearing.

Limiting womens access to SSRIs, it will cost lives, said Rodkin. I have no doubt about that.





The hearing came at a time when reproductive health care is under attack: Trumps recent one big, beautiful bill decreed that Planned Parenthood would no longer accept Medicaid as insurance, though that effort was recently indefinitely blocked. In the wake of the end of Roe v. Wade, reproductive care is more difficult to access than ever, especially in rural and underserved areas, and women are in danger of being criminalized for having miscarriages and dying from them at higher rates. The administration is also targeting gender-affirming care.

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Cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies will mean millions of Americans will lose their health insuranceand about a quarter of Medicaid patients are women aged 15 to 49, as of 2023. Thats not to mention the seven million children and hundreds of thousands of pregnant people enrolled in the Child Health Insurance Program. According to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Medicaid covers 41 percent of births. And now, pregnant people may be barred from getting Covid shots for themselves or their children.

In a country that already has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world, with no required maternity leave, its difficult to read these moves as anything but openly hostile to pregnant people and their kids.

We dont seem to care about the fact that were killing moms, said Osborne.

Yet the administration claims to be concerned about the countrys record-low birth rates and is pushing women to have more babies amid rising right-wing pronatalism. To encourage this, Trumps recently passed bill promises a one-time $1,000 contribution per child for parents to start a trust account for their kids. His bill also modestly raises the child tax credit, though his version excludes many of those who need it the most. And while hes promised that hed support making in vitro fertilization more affordable, he is already reneging on that pledge.

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Christine, a paralegal and parent to an 18-month-old boy in Richmond, Virginia, who asked for only her first name to be used, was very upset by the hearing. She has taken Prozac since she was a teenager for her anxiety, and delayed getting pregnant due to conflicting information shed heard about its safety in pregnancy.

While her condition is manageable with therapy, a good support network, and Prozac, she said, without the medication her symptoms are so all-consuming it is hard for her to eat or sleep. She was worried in part about getting pregnant because her mom had been counseled to go off her antidepressants while pregnant with Christine and had been miserable. Fortunately, Christines ob-gyn and psychiatrist told her that it would be safe to remain on the medication, which helped her through a difficult pregnancy.

We shouldnt have people who have no medical expertise or have this sort of antiWestern medicine agenda making decisions for people that theyll never meet, Christine said of the hearing.

Panelists charged that patients are not adequately counseled on the risks of taking antidepressants while pregnant. But the mothers I spoke with all said that their doctors educated them about the potential risks.

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Laura DiNardo, a mom in Pittsburgh and manager at a professional membership association, started taking antidepressants before she got pregnant, and continued using them for her anxiety through her pregnancy. DiNardo said her doctor told her that there was a small risk the baby could go through withdrawal-like symptoms from the drug for a few days after birth, meaning they could be crankier than typical. This seemed like a relatively low-stakes side effect for me, knowing that babies, especially newborn babies, are prone to be cranky or fussy, she said.

After her babys birth last June, DiNardo started feeling some symptoms of postpartum depression and was advised to increase her Zoloft dose, which she found extremely helpful. Her doctor told her that only a very small amount of what she took would be transferred to her baby through breast milk, so it was still safe.

The message that I got was  a healthy mom is the most important thing for the baby, DiNardo said.

Osborne fears that casting doubt on the necessity and safety of SSRI use in pregnancy and postnatally in such a public forum could discourage struggling pregnant and postnatal women from seeking care. Theres going to be a whole new set of patients who were OK with taking [psychiatric] meds or will stop their meds abruptly or not want to take their meds. And thats really disheartening because I know the risks to both mother and child if you dont treat the illness.

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In her practice, Osborne tells her patients, having depression or anxiety in pregnancy, thats a chronic illness just like having diabetes in pregnancy or having hypertension in pregnancyit needs to be treated, and that treatment sometimes includes medication.

Rodkin said that having a supportive doctor and not feeling judged was key to her decision to take antidepressants because there is a lot of pressure on moms to do things naturally. Going on Zoloft drastically improved her ability to care for and bond with her child.

I think the last thing we need is to stigmatize mental health issues, DiNardo said. People need to have access to all the tools that they can in their tool box, and people also need the support of their medical team to make informed decisions; to make sure that theyre going to be the best parent they can be.

But the administration clearly has other ideas. In stripping away health care access, it is also jeopardizing mental health care like psychotherapy, which is often the first line of treatment for people struggling with depression and anxiety, before they consider medication. But talk therapy remains inaccessible to many because insurance has long covered it at a lower rate than physical health care, so many therapists dont take it at all. Mental health care is already such an access issue, and this is exacerbating that instead of expanding that needed care, said Dr. Osborne.

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And this lack of health care access will disproportionately impact low-income women, women of color, and people in rural areas. But even with a supportive partner and co-parent, good insurance, and a well-paying job, becoming a mother comes with many stressors, explained Rodkin. Its hard enough as it is, and we dont need to make it harder, she said.

One thing already posing new difficulties is the mainstreaming of anti-vaccine sentiment and policy under RFK Jr.s HHS, which puts kids and families at risk. The HHS head has specifically singled out pregnant people and children in his undemocratic policy announcements restricting access to Covid-19 vaccines, even though pregnancy is considered a high-risk condition by the CDC and experts recommend pregnant people get vaccinated to protect themselves and their infants. Barring healthy children and adults from Covid-19 vaccines will also certainly increase transmission, hospitalizations, long Covid, and death within families, as I recently wrote in these pages.

According to KFF, the conflicting guidance on Covid shots has caused widespread confusion among Americans. And casting doubt on vaccines has consequences: Only around 40 percent of the population plan to get Covid shots in the fall, if they even can. And now, RFK Jr. has cut off research funding for mRNA vaccinesincluding development of a bird flu vaccine.

DiNardo said she worries about sending her child to daycare amid the wave of vaccine hesitancy, especially because her mother-in-law is immunocompromised. Amid an unprecedented measles outbreak, the vaccine for human papillomavirus, or HPV, is also in the administrations crosshairs.

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Everything [the administration is] doing are things that harm pregnant people, harm children, Christine said.

Somehow, amid all this, backed by right-wing pronatalist activists, Trump wants to become the fertilization president.

It makes no sense, said Rodkin. Its like, Let us remove the support systems and then expect women to have more children. But like, dont give them health care, dont give them access to critical medications, take away funding from schools. It just doesnt check out.

As Osborne put it, the administration wants people to have more babiesif you have a completely healthy white person with plenty of resources. So it might follow: not if you have a mental illness requiring the use of SSRIs.

This is a push to increase the birth rate for certain types, said Osborne. Its not a push to increase the birth rate overall, because were already not supporting the families that we have.
Update: This person has been safely found.

(KRON)  The Colma Police Department is asking for assistance in locating a boy who has been missing for five days, the department announced on its social media Friday night.

Noah Alhayek is an 11-year-old boy who was last seen on Monday, Aug. 4. Noah is considered to be at-risk.

Police said Noah was last seen wearing grey sweatpants, a blue jacket, and white shoes.

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Georgia authorities identify suspect in CDC shooting as a 30-year-old man from suburban Atlanta

He was reported missing to the San Jose Police Department. Noah lives in San Jose, but frequently travels to San Francisco and the surrounding areas and often uses public transportation to get to San Francisco.

Anyone with information regarding Noahs whereabouts is asked to contact the San Jose Police Department at 408-277-8900 or dial 911.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A road in Nottingham could stay shut for another week after further damage was found following work to fix a collapsed brick sewer.

Part of Upper Parliament Street was closed to traffic on 23 July after Nottingham City Council said the damage was causing the road to sink.

The road was expected to reopen on Friday, but Severn Trent said its teams had "uncovered a further collapse to the same pipe further along on the street".

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The water company hopes work will be completed by 16 August and apologised "for the disruption this will cause".

Follow BBC Nottingham 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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ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  With the first day of school quickly approaching, partners from across the Roanoke Valley teamed up Saturday for Cuts with Cops, a collaborative effort to help get parents and students ready for the new year.

It is our mission to serve the children in our community, and that is what were doing with this event, said Amy Kageals, senior director of Carilion Childrens, which hosted the event.

The Roanoke County Police Department and Roanoke County Sheriffs Office lead the event, which provides everything from fresh haircuts and new shoes to school supplies and vaccinations.

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School Bus Safety: What Virginia drivers need to know

A haircut can go a long way to confidence, said Roanoke County Police Department crime prevention coordinator Caleb Forehand. School supplies, if [the kids] were not going to have them otherwise, can be a real comfort to the parents. Were just hoping they come away with what they most need, whether it be police interaction or the physical things were providing.

In addition to local law enforcement and Carilion Childrens, vendors from Mission BBQ, the Virginia Department of Health, and Fleet Feet also provided services and products.

Fleet Feet took the opportunity to donate the shoes it has collected over the past year.

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These families are so excited to be able to know that when they go back to school, their children are going to be able to participate safely in good footwear, said Fleet Feet outreach manager Bobbie Grimes. It just does my heart good to know as many people in our community that we can reach today are going to get a great start to the school year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Tom Hanks paid a tribute to Jim Lovell, the Apollo 13 commander whose bravery in space inspired one of the actor's most celebrated roles. Lovell, who died on Thursday, was remembered by Hanks as a man who not only explored the far reaches of space but also inspired people to push beyond their limits. Hanks, who played Lovell in the 1995 film Apollo 13, took to Instagram to reflect on the late astronaut's remarkable life and career. He described Lovell as someone who dared, dreamed, and led others to places they might never have gone alone. "There are people who dare, who dream and who lead others to the places we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy," Hanks wrote on his post. "His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive -- and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages," read his Instagram post. "On this night of a full moon, he passes on -- to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. Godspeed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell," the post continued. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNHC2-OyXXG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lovell's story was famously brought to the big screen in Apollo 13, which followed the harrowing 1970 mission that was cut short after an oxygen tank explosion. Alongside Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), Lovell fought to return safely to Earth. The film won two Oscars and earned a nomination for Best Picture, with Hanks' line "Houston, we have a problem" becoming one of the most iconic in movie history. (ANI)
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Police have arrested a 20-year-old Rockford man in connection to a Monday night murder at Blackhawk Park.

Police said the 22-year-old victim, later identified as Lewis Brown III, was shot in the 100 block of 15th Avenue at 1:58 a.m. Monday morning.

Brown was alive when police found him at the scene and was rushed to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Investigators said there was an argument that preceded the shooting.

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Police said multiple attempts were made to contact the suspect in the shooting, Daniel Chavez-Gerde.

On Friday, August 8th, he turned himself in to the police, authorities said.

Chavez-Gerde faces the charge of First Degree Murder.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers meets with GOP party fixtures at a dinner honoring the late state Sen. George McManus at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Mich. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance

TRAVERSE CITY  U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers was scheduled as one of the keynote speakers at a glitzy Republican dinner on Friday to honor the late state Sen. George McManus of Traverse City, but after an hour of shaking hands and greeting up north party fixtures, Rogers left early and never addressed the crowd.

His campaign for the U.S. Senate said Rogers was happy to be there but had another campaign event in Gaylord and that the dinner was running over time, prompting his exit. But the crowd at the dinner appeared to be visibly bewildered when it was announced midway through that Rogers was no longer there and they wouldnt get to hear him speak, seeing as how he was one of the main draws of the evening.

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Few people at the dinner were aware of any other Republican event featuring Rogers in the region that evening.

The campaign did not respond when asked about the nature of the event Rogers left to attend.

The McManus dinner, held in a sprawling conference center space at the Great Wolf Lodge in scenic Traverse City, however, started promptly at 6 p.m. as planned and concluded right around the stated 9 p.m. end time.

There was talk at the dinner that Rogers was upset because he was not speaking first  U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) was scheduled to speak first, and did.

Bergman told the Advance afterward that the rumor of Rogers demanding to speak first was inaccurate, and that last minute scheduling items often come up for candidates seeking important federal office.

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The itinerary clearly showed that Bergman was first in the order, but Bergman made a comment at the beginning of his speech that he didnt think he was supposed to be going first.

Still, Rogers never spoke to the crowd, first or otherwise. He and his campaign staff were present in the room for the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance, but were absent when the speaker portion began.

As the night wore on, some patrons, who were seated close to an area for the Advance and other local press, could be seen whispering to each other and repeatedly pointing to the itinerary of speakers.

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Rogers and his wife created a social media video showing them at the Great Wolf Lodge on Friday, saying that the room was packed with Republicans who were fired up for the 2026 contest. It is unclear when the video was taken  before he entered the building or when he was on his way out the door.

His Facebook page, where the video was posted, did not feature a mention of another event later that evening.

Rogers did, however, post pictures from the Cops & Doughnuts location in Gaylord on Saturday morning, which indicated that he had visited the city at some point this weekend.

Dennis Lennox, a political consultant and one of the co-organizers of the event, spoke to the Advance on Saturday in his personal capacity and not as a representative of the group behind the dinner.

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Lennox said that he also was unaware of any other event planned in Northern Michigan on Friday evening, nor was there an event that other attendees knew about.

Indeed, the affair on Friday was a venerable whos who of up north Republicans, party folk from around the state and donors who attended the dinner in honor of McManus, a well-respected regional Republican senator who served in the upper chamber for a decade.

Its unfortunate because a lot of people came to the dinner looking forward to hearing the presumptive Republican nominee for United States Senate, and for whatever reason, did not get an opportunity to hear from him, Lennox said. Now, with that said, I would also, for the record, say that pretty much everybody in attendance last night is a political person, current or former, and understands that things come up and can, and things can and do happen.

Lennox did note that the situation was odd, either way.

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Still, the event continued on unabated, allowing other Republican candidates an opportunity to speak to donors and GOP faithful in Michigans north country.

That included gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard and attorney general candidate Doug Lloyd, who many at the event said were the stars of the show.

Leonard says Michigan Republicans should focus more on mental health care

Leonard needed no introduction as the former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, the former 2018 nominee for attorney general and a candidate for the same office in 2022.

Yet the dinner, which featured no other candidates for governor on the speaking schedule, used the address as a case for why Republicans should nominate him in the 2026 primary.

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When you look at the state of this state right now, did you know the only state that Michigan beat for population growth the first two decades of this century was West Virginia? We are currently 49 out of 50 in unemployment. We are bottom 10 for income total, and if we dont change it, the next few years, were going to be 49 out of 50, Leonard warned. The last thing I want, the last thing anybody in this room wants, is for their child or their grandchild to come to them and say, Dad, Grandma, Mom, grandpa, Ive got to leave the state for better opportunity.

Although Leonard said trips to Florida for family time doesnt sound half bad, he cant rationalize giving up the fight and letting nearby states like Ohio steal Michigans future.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard speaks to a crowd of GOP party fixtures at a dinner honoring the late state Sen. George McManus at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Mich. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance

Weve got to turn this around, Leonard said, and made a case for how he would do it.

The candidate mentioned state occupational licensure reform, which has bipartisan support in the state Legislature, to help reduce hoops for licensed professionals seeking to practice in Michigan.

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On education, Leonard made another pitch for Republicans to stand steadfast behind school choice, particularly home schooling, which he said has been under attack for years.

Another issue that Leonard championed on Friday evening was expanded access to mental health care.

That push may very well resonate with people in Traverse City following the recent tragic multiple stabbing event at an area Walmart. The alleged perpetrator reportedly had severe mental health issues that went unaddressed, and many have said that better access to care might have prevented the stabbing.

Why should Republicans ever shy away from mental health reform?  This is something thats been near and dear to my heart for nearly 20 years, Leonard said. I always ask this question, why is it that we should wait for somebody to hurt themselves or hurt somebody else before we get them the help that they need? Republicans ought to be running on this issue.

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Leonard also said Republicans in the next cycle need to run on positivity and solutions and not on old grievances against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or any of the candidates seeking to succeed her.

I talk to police officers that are overwhelmed because of this mental health crisis that is facing our state, and frankly, they dont want a candidate for governor, they dont want any politician, thats going to go out there every single day dividing us, dividing others, and poking others, Leonard said. They want somebody thats going to listen to them, and they want something thats going to bring real solutions to the table and solve their problems.

Leonard concluded by saying thats what Republicans are going to see with his campaign over the next several months.

Lloyd touts prosecutor work in Eaton County as pathway to AGs office

The fight to elect a Republican to the attorney generals office after eight years of Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is also of high priority for the GOP faithful across the state.

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Lloyd, the current Eaton County prosecutor, said his experience in the office will translate well into the states top law enforcement position. He said that the attorney general is also tasked with protecting constitutional rights, not just prosecuting crimes, adding that it takes experience to be able to counsel the Legislature against making bad laws that could harm citizens, and to have the restraint to focus on state issues, a knock on Nessels push to repeatedly sue the administration of President Donald Trump on a multitude of federal policies in the opening months of his second term.

Republican attorney general candidate and Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd speaks to a crowd of GOP party fixtures at a dinner honoring the late state Sen. George McManus at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Mich. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance

We see local sheriffs and prosecutors who are understaffed and overwhelmed every single day as they battle to fight and continue on with the large case loads that they must carry, Lloyd said. But instead of the attorney general using her resources in a way that is beneficial to the state, she decides to play political games, filing suits against the Trump administration, instead of actually being a leader.

Lloyd asked Republicans in the room to help nominate an attorney general candidate who could actually win the general election, a subtle knock against candidates in the past who lost to Nessel, which includes Leonard and former 2022 nominee Matt DePerno.

To Leonards credit, his race against Nessel was incredibly close, with the Republican candidate losing by less than 3 percentage points. DePerno, however, lost to Nessel by nearly 10 percentage points.

In 2026 what you need to understand is that Republicans must win, Lloyd said. We need to nominate candidates who can actually rally the party and the votes. We will need winners, not distractions.
The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will launch a new express route, providing a direct connection to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Air Force Museum attracts approximately one million visitors annually, according to a media release

Route X6 will travel through the downtown corridor, making stops at the recently opened hotels before traveling along Main Street and hopping on State Route 4 to the museum.

TRENDING STORIES:

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From there, it will travel along Harshman Road before turning onto Airway Road and heading to Wright State University.

It will also connect with RTAs Routes 1 and 6 at the intersection of Woodman Drive and Airway Road, making for easy transfers.

The route will operate daily from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., aligning with the museums hours.

Route X6 will launch on Aug. 31. .

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The Brief

With the start of the 2025-2026 school year, there are some new rules for some drivers in Tampa.

The Tampa Police Department installed school zone speed cameras at 13 schools in the city.

The cameras join similar school zone cameras in other municipalities around Tampa Bay.

TAMPA, Fla. - As the new school year begins on Monday, there are some new rules that will impact some drivers in Tampa.

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Tampa police say that beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, cameras will be used in school zones at 13 schools within city limits that are determined to be high-risk locations.

Cameras have been installed at the following schools in Tampa:

Alexander Elementary

B.T. Washington Elementary

Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy

Orange Grove Middle Magnet

Potter Elementary

Shaw Elementary

Sulphur Springs Elementary

Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary

Young Middle Magnet

Lomax Elementary

Tampa police say cameras may be installed at Shore Elementary, West Tampa Elementary and other schools that are approved by Tampa City Council, based on a safety study.

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READ:Polk County Public Schools to unsuspend school bus violator program at start of new school year

By the numbers

If drivers are going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit while the cameras are in operation, they will be sent a $100 violation notice.

Timeline

Beginning on Monday, police say warnings will be issued to drivers who are in violation. Beginning September 10, violation notices will start being mailed out to drivers who are in violation.

What they're saying

"The school zone, when it's flashing or during the school hours, having that extra ability to keep our students safe with those school cameras is important," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said. "If you're going over 10 miles an hour, after education and after a warning period, you could get issued a citation."

Dig deeper

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office installed school zone speed cameras at 29 schools throughout Hillsborough County over the course of the last school year.

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Cameras are now operating at the following schools in Hillsborough County:

Bay Crest Elementary School

Bloomingdale High School

Buchanan Middle School

Burnett Middle School

Burns Middle School

Citrus Park Elementary School

Clair Mel Elementary School

Claywell Elementary School

Deer Park Elementary School

Frost Elementary School

Giunta Middle School

Jennings Middle School

Kingswood Elementary School

Lennard High School

Lopez Elementary School

Lopez Exceptional Center

Martinez Middle School

McKitrick Elementary School

Mort Elementary School

Nelson Elementary School

Plato Academy

Riverview High School

Rodgers Middle School

Ruskin Elementary School

Sgt. Smith Middle School

Steinbrenner High School

Town N Country Elementary School

Winthrop Charter School

Yates Elementary School

The Bradenton Police Department also installed school zone speed cameras at 10 schools within city limits over the course of the last school year.

"All of our cameras were fully operational for the second half of the last school year," Meredith Censullo, with the Bradenton Police Department, said. "But even with that, we still had over 12,000 violations."

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Police are reminding drivers that the speed limit is reduced even further when the lights are flashing in a school zone.

"Let's say the reduced school zone speed limit is 25 miles per hour," Censullo said. If you are driving at 35 miles per hour or higher, you're going to get a $100 violation. "If those lights aren't flashing and it's just the middle of the school day, say around lunchtime, you still have to follow whatever the speed limit is on that road."

In Manatee County, the Board of Commissioners voted to pause its school zone speed enforcement program in the spring. However, this doesn't impact the school zone speed cameras enforced by Bradenton police within Bradenton city limits.

What you can do

Police say there are also additional rules drivers must follow when a school bus is stopped.

"If you are on a two-lane road, everybody needs to stop when a school bus stops, whether you're behind the bus or it's oncoming traffic," Censullo said. Everybody needs to stop. If you're on a divided roadway where it's paved all the way across, everybody needs to stop. You don't need to stop if there is a paved or curved median separating your lanes of travel from the school bus's lanes of traveling."

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Police are asking drivers to pay close attention to the signage in school zones, especially as school begins on Monday.

You can find more information about violations notices from the City of Tampa here.

The Source

The information gathered in this story was gathered by Fox 13's Kylie Jones.
Ben Bruski visits the clinic at Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association in Ekalaka, Montana, for help with his allergies. He says he's happy with the care he's received from the hospital's emergency room and that he knows people who were saved by its providers. (Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News)

EKALAKA, Mont.  There was no doctor on-site when a patient arrived in early June at the emergency room in the small hospital at the intersection of two dirt roads in this town of 400 residents.

There never is.

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Dahl Memorials three-bed emergency department  a two-hour drive from the closest hospital with more advanced services  instead depends on physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Physician assistant Carla Dowdy realized the patient needed treatment beyond what the ER could provide, even if it had had a doctor. So, she made a call for a medical plane to fly the patient to treatment at Montanas most advanced hospital. Dowdy also called out medications and doses needed to stabilize the patient as a paramedic and nurses administered the drugs, inserted IV lines, and measured vital signs.

Emergency medicine researchers and providers believe ERs, especially in rural areas, increasingly operate with few or no physicians amid a nationwide shortage of doctors.

A recent study found that in 2022, at least 7.4% of emergency departments across the U.S. did not have an attending physician on-site 24/7. Like Dahl Memorial, more than 90% were in low-volume or critical access hospitals  a federal designation for small, rural hospitals.

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The results come from the 82% of hospitals that responded to a survey sent to all emergency departments in the country, except those operated by the federal government. The study is the first of its kind so there isnt proof that such staffing arrangements are increasing, said Carlos Camargo, the lead author and a professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School. But Camargo and other experts suspect ERs running without doctors present are becoming more common.

Placing ERs in the hands of nondoctors isnt without controversy. Some doctors and their professional associations say physicians extensive training leads to better care, and that some hospitals are just trying to save money by not employing them.

The American Medical Association, open to all medical students and physicians, and the American College of Emergency Physicians both support state and federal laws or regulations that would require ERs to staff a doctor around the clock. Indiana, Virginia, and South Carolina recently passed such legislation.

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Rural ERs may see fewer patients, but they still treat serious cases, said Alison Haddock, president of ACEP.

Its important that folks in those areas have equal access to high-quality emergency care to the greatest extent possible, Haddock said.

Other health care providers and organizations say advanced-practice providers with the right experience and support are capable of overseeing ERs. And they say mandating that a physician be on site could drive some rural hospitals to close because they cant afford or recruit enough  or any  doctors.

In an environment, especially a rural environment, if you have an experienced PA who knows what they know, and knows the boundaries of their knowledge and when to involve consultants, it works well, said Paul Amiott, a board member of the Society of Emergency Medicine PAs.

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Im not practicing independently despite working 12-hour night shifts without physicians on-site at critical access hospitals in three states, he said.

Physician assistant Carla Dowdy, left, takes notes while treating a patient in the Ekalaka, Montana, hospital. (Arielle Zionts/KFF Health News)

Amiott said he calls specialists for consultation often and about once a month asks the physician covering the day shift at his hospital to come help him with more challenging cases such as emergency childbirth and complicated trauma. Amiott said this isnt unique to PAs  ER doctors seek similar consultations and backup.

The proportion of ERs without an attending physician always on site varies wildly by state. The 2022 survey found that 15 states  including substantially rural ones, such as New Mexico, Nevada, and West Virginia  had no such emergency departments.

But in the Dakotas, more than half of emergency departments were running without 24/7 attending physician staffing. In Montana it was 46%, the third-highest rate.

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None of those three states have a program to train physicians as ER specialists. Neither does Wyoming or Idaho.

But Sanford Health, which bills itself as the largest rural health system in the United States, is launching an emergency medicine residency in the region. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based program is intended to boost the ranks of rural emergency doctors in those states, the residency director said in a news release.

Leon Adelman is an emergency medicine physician in Gillette, Wyoming, which, at around 33,800 residents, is the largest city in the states northeast. Working in such a rural area has given him nuanced views on whether states should require 24/7 on-site physician coverage in ERs.

Adelman said he supports such laws only where its feasible, like in Virginia. He said the states emergency physicians organization pushed for the law only after doing research that made it confident that the requirement wouldnt shutter any rural hospitals.

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Camargo said some doctors say that if lawmakers are going to require 24/7 on-site physician coverage in ERs, they need to pay to help hospitals implement it.

Adelman said when instituting staffing requirements isnt possible, states should create other regulations. For example, he said, lawmakers should make sure hospitals not hiring physicians arent refraining just to save money.

He pointed to Vermont, where a report recommended that several of the states hospitals cut physicians from their ERs. The report was part of a mandated process to improve the states troubled health care system.

Adelman said states should also require PAs and NPs without on-site physician supervision to have extensive emergency experience and the ability to consult with remote physicians.

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Some doctors have pointed to a case in which a 19-year-old woman died after being misdiagnosed by an NP who was certified in family medicine, not emergency care, and working alone at an Oklahoma ER. Few NPs have emergency certification, an analysis found.

The Society of Emergency Medicine PAs outlines training and experience PAs should have before practicing in rural areas or without on-site doctors.

Haddock said emergency physicians have seen cases of hospitals hiring inexperienced advanced-practice providers. She said ACEP is asking the federal government to require critical access and rural emergency hospitals to have physicians on-site or on call day and night.

Haddock said ACEP wouldnt want such a requirement to close any hospital and noted that the organization has various efforts to keep rural hospitals staffed and funded.

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Dahl Memorial Hospital has strict hiring requirements and robust oversight, said Dowdy, who previously worked for 14 years in high-volume, urban emergency rooms.

She said ER staffers can call physicians when they have questions and that a doctor who lives on the other side of Montana reviews all their patient treatment notes. The ER is working on getting virtual reality glasses that will let remote physicians help by seeing what the providers in Ekalaka see, Dowdy said.

She said patient numbers in the Ekalaka ER vary but average one or two a day, which isnt enough for staff to maintain their knowledge and skills. To supplement those real-life cases, providers visit simulation labs, do monthly mock scenarios, and review advanced skills, such as using an ultrasound to help guide breathing tubes into patient airways.

Dowdy said Dahl Memorial hasnt had a physician in at least 30 years, but CEO Darrell Messersmith said he would hire one if a doctor lived in the area. Messersmith said theres a benefit to having advanced-practice providers with connections to the region and who stay at the hospital for several years. Other rural hospitals, he noted, may have physicians either as permanent staff who leave after a few years or contract workers who fly in for a few weeks at a time.

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People eating at Ekalakas sole breakfast spot and attending appointments at the hospitals clinic all told KFF Health News that theyve been happy with the care they have received from Dowdy and her co-workers.

Ben Bruski had to visit the ER after a cow on his family ranch kicked a gate, smashing it against his hand. And he knows other people whove been treated for more serious problems.

Weve got to have this facility here because this facility saves a lot of lives, Bruski 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 KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Russian forces conducted a large-scale attack on Ukraine on the night of 8-9 August, using 47 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy drones of various types as well as two Iskander-K cruise missiles.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: The drones were launched from the Russian cities of Kursk, Millerovo and Shatalovo, while the missiles were launched from a temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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The attack drones targeted frontline areas in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts, while the missiles targeted Dnipro.

Anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defence forces were involved in repelling the attack.

Early reports indicate that air defence downed or jammed one Iskander-K cruise missile and 16 drones.

Meanwhile, hits by 31 UAVs were recorded in 15 locations.

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Almost a day after the summit between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on it, saying that the final settlement between Baku and Yerevan must take Moscow's opinion into account.

Source: Zakharova's comments were published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zakharova paid little attention to the agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but was quick to emphasise that they had repeatedly stated their unwillingness to seek "outside help".

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"It is worth recalling that the current stage of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation began with the direct assistance and central role of Russia," the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry continued.

She also said that the "optimal option" for resolving the conflict in the South Caucasus should involve only the countries of the region and their neighbors  "Russia, Iran, Turkiye"  that is, not the United States.

"We will additionally analyse Washington's statements regarding the unblocking of regional communications. In this area, the trilateral agreements involving Russia remain relevant, and none of the parties has withdrawn from them," Zakharova emphasised, recalling the presence of Russian border guards in Armenia.

Background:

It should be recalled that Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in a state of war since declaring independence more than 30 years ago, and in 2020 and 2023, Azerbaijan regained control over Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of military action.

On 8 August, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an agreement at the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump to create a transit corridor and called it a "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity".

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MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia condemns and rejects Israel's plan to expand its military operation in the Gaza Strip, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"The implementation of such decisions and plans, which provoke condemnation and rejection, is fraught with the risk of exacerbating the already extremely dramatic situation in the Palestinian enclave, which has all the hallmarks of a humanitarian catastrophe," the ministry said in a statement.

(Reporting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Mark Potter)
Russia has lost 940 soldiers killed and wounded over the past day alone, bringing its total number of personnel losses to 1,062,290.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 9 August 2025 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 1,062,290 (+940) military personnel;

11,088 (+5) tanks;

23,103 (+1) armoured combat vehicles;

31,273 (+41) artillery systems;

1,456 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;

1,204 (+1) air defence systems;

421 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

340 (+0) helicopters;

50,315 (+147) operational-tactical UAVs;

3,555 (+0) cruise missiles;

28 (+0) ships/boats;

1 (+0) submarine;

57,856 (+125) vehicles and fuel tankers;

3,936 (+0) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story.

A Russian FPV (first-person-view) drone struck a bus in the suburbs of the regional center of Kherson, killing two people and injuring 19 others, the local authorities reported.

The Russian strike took place at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time, resulting in the hospitalization of 16 people, two of whom suffered serious injuries.

As police officers were recovering victims' bodies from the bus, a second Russian FPV drone struck the vehicle, leaving three officers with concussions, the National Police reported.

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Apart from concussions, the victims of the Russian attack sustained blast injuries, and shrapnel wounds, according to preliminary reports. The youngest injured is 23 years old, while the oldest is 83.

"This is how Russia 'wants peace.' An attack on a civilian bus in the suburbs of Kherson, where Russians hunt civilians every day," President's Office Head Andriy Yermak said.

"Russians are fooling everyone around them, pretending that they are ready to stop the war, but doing nothing to achieve this goal," Yermak added.

Partly occupied Kherson Oblast, located in southern Ukraine just north of Russian-occupied Crimea, has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces since the start of the full-scale invasion.

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Russia targeted 36 settlements, including Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed and another three, including a child, suffered injuries, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Read also: Putin proposed halting war in exchange for Ukraines eastern regions in meeting with Witkoff, WSJ reports

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Six people lost their lives on Thursday night after their vehicle rolled down a gorge, at least 500 metres, in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Chamba Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav confirmed the fatalities, stating, "We received information that there were about six people in the car. All of them died on the spot. Police reached the spot immediately after getting the information. We retrieved all bodies with the help of locals and Home Guard jawans. Postmortem of all bodies have been done." SP Yadav added that further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had also mourned the deaths of six persons in a road accident in Chanwas area of Tissa Sub Division in Chamba district on Thursday night. The Chief Minister directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the affected families. In a post on X, CM Sukhu said, "The news of the death of 6 people in a car accident in Chanwas, Tissa, Chamba district, is extremely sad and painful. I extend my condolences to the grieving families. I pray to God to grant peace to the souls of the departed and provide strength and courage to the bereaved family in this hour of sorrow." Earlier, CM Sukhu expressed grief over the death of three persons in a car accident in the Chirgaon area of Shimla district on Wednesday. One person has sustained injuries in the accident, a release said The Chief Minister directed the district administration to provide all possible assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. CM Sukhu termed the incident extremely "sad" and "painful". (ANI)
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia on Saturday praised the U.S.-brokered peace accord between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but warned that outside intervention could complicate the situation in the South Caucasus.

The agreement, signed on Friday during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, includes exclusive U.S. development rights to a transport corridor through Armenia, linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave bordering Turkey.

In its first comments, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Moscow supported efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the region, including the Washington meeting, despite earlier statements from Baku and Yerevan favouring direct talks without mediators.

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The ministry said that lasting solutions should be developed by regional countries with support from neighbours like Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

"The involvement of non-regional players should strengthen the peace agenda, not create new divisions," the ministry said, adding that it hoped to avoid the "unfortunate experience" of Western-led conflict resolution in the Middle East.

(Reporting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Mark Potter)
A Russian drone attack on a Kharkiv furniture store on Aug. 9, injured five people, including a minor, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

The drone struck the roof of the furniture store, damaging the metal roofing and furniture inside.

As a result of the attack, five people were hospitalized with shrapnel wounds, including a 17-year-old girl. The status of the injured victims was not immediately provided.

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It was not clear as to whether the victims were shopping in the store at the time of the attack.

The city of Kharkiv is situated in northeast Ukraine along the Russia-Ukraine border. Given its proximity to the front line, it serves as a daily target of Russian attacks.

Earlier in the day, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that Russia attacked 13 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring seven people.

In the town of Kupiansk, two men, aged 63 and 69, as well as three women, aged 70, 66, and 86, suffered injuries. In the village of Kluhyno-Bashkirivka, Russian strikes injured a 43-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl.

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Russia has intensified drone attacks on Ukrainian cities across the country in recent months. Ukraine's Air Force reported in early August that Russia launched a record 6,129 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in July, smashing the previous months record of 5,337.

Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan  US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject









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Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 24 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on Aug. 9.

Russian forces launched 47 Shahed-type drones and decoys from Russia's Millerovo, Kursk, and Shatalovo, and two Iskander-K missiles from Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Russian drones attacked Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk Oblast, while missiles targeted the regional center of Dnipro in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

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Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare intercepted one missile and 16 drones, while another 31 drones reached their targets in 15 locations.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people and injured two others in the town of Siversk, while another person was killed and five were injured in the town of Kostiantynivka. Three people also suffered injuries in the villages of Yampil, Korovii Yar, and in the town of Bilytske, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian FPV (first-person-view) drone killed two people in the Zaporizhzhia district, hitting a car. Russian forces launched 585 strikes across 11 localities in the region in the past day, according to the local military administration.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 41-year-old woman and two men, aged 21 and 29, were injured in the Russian attack against Dnipro. In the city of Nikopol, a 56-year-old woman was killed, and a 62-year-old man was injured in another Russian strike on the region, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

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In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 36 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed and another three, including a child, suffered injuries, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia attacked 13 settlements, injuring seven people, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. In the town of Kupiansk, two men, aged 63 and 69, as well as three women, aged 70, 66, and 86, suffered injuries. In the village of Kluhyno-Bashkirivka, Russian strikes injured a 43-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl.

In Sumy Oblast, a Russian drone injured a 50-year-old man in the Seredyna-Buda community, according to the local military administration.

Read also: Putin proposed halting war in exchange for Ukraines eastern regions in meeting with Witkoff, WSJ reports

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A Russian UAV has hit the roof of a furniture store in the Kyivskyi district, Kharkiv Oblast, injuring six people, including a 17-year-old girl.

Source: Oleh Syniehibov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast State Administration; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Telegram

Quote from Syniehubov: "An enemy UAV hit the roof of a furniture store in the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv. We know about five injured at the moment. Units of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and medical workers are working at the scene."

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Details: Later, Syniehubov added that a 17-year-old girl was among the casualties. Four injured women were taken to hospital.

At the same time, Ihor Terekhov reported that six people were injured.

At 17:21, Syniehubov reported that five people injured in the Russian attack had been taken to hospital. All of them are in a moderate condition.

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President Donald Trump is set to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week, the state that Russia once laid claim to and nationalists want to take back.

Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine, which the president claimed he would end on Day One.

Despite facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, the meeting would mark the first time in a decade that Putin has set foot on U.S. soil.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine (AP)

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska, Trump declared on Truth Social.

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Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they mercilessly exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back.

Alaska was purchased from the Russians by the U.S. for a sum of $7.2 million in 1867the equivalent of between $129 million and $153.5 million today.

Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected, said Michael McFaul, a professor of political science at Stanford University and former. U.S. ambassador to Russia.

Let's all hope that Putin doesn't ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too, political commentator David Frum said in a post on X.

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Trump inviting war criminal Putin to America is nauseating enough, but hosting him in Alaska  while Putin's pet propagandists routinely demand it back from the US on state TV  is beyond the pale, author and commentator Julia Davis wrote on X. Unless Putin is arrested upon arrival, there's no excuse.

She posted a series of clips and screenshots of pro-Putin Russian commentators suggesting that Alaska should be part of their country once again.

Trumps former national security adviser-turned foe, John Bolton, said the move reminded him of a blunder the president allegedly nearly made in his first term.

Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back (Reuters)

This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlan Collins. But it certainly reminds one of that.

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The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow, Bolton added. So the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin.

Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck News, tweeted: So Vladimir Putin, who has an ICC warrant out for his arrest, gets a meeting with the U.S. president on U.S. soil without having to give up or even promise anythingafter ignoring and insulting Trump. One more win for Putin, one more loss for Trump.

Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in war studies at Kings College, London, wrote: Since the end of the Cold War, summits have been used by US presidents as a mark of approval and withheld when they disapprove of Russian actions. Trump is, once again, signalling the value he places on Putin's friendship. It's a profound humiliation for the US.

For Trump to announce a summit - the traditional US reward for friendly Russian presidents - with Putin, on the day he had said would be the deadline for announcing action to punish Russian aggression is an extraordinary move. It's an unambiguous signal of alignment with Russia.

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GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said that she was deeply wary of Putin as she reacted to the news that the summit would take place in her home state.

This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements, Murkowski said in a post on X Friday. While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Putin is wanted by the ICC on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the conflict triggered by Moscows invasion of its neighbor. At least 19,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have been kidnapped and taken to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022, although Ukrainian officials say the total is probably far higher. Putins childrens rights commissioner, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, is also charged over the same alleged offenses.

Putin has traveled overseas since the warrant was issued, including to ICC member state Mongolia. Hes also traveled to China and North Korea, which are not court members.

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During the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on Day One, but later claimed he said it in jest.

Negotiations on peace talks have been slow moving and, at times, fraught.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in the Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The vice president attacked Zelensky for not saying thank you enough for U.S. financial and military support and accused him of being disrespectful.

Trump has made numerous pro-Putin statements in the past, and said gets along with the dictator very well. His tone changed this month, when he said he was disappointed with Putin as peace talks continued to drag and violence in Europe continued.

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The most famous meeting between the two presidents took place in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018, during Trumps first term as president. Following the meeting, Trump publicly contradicted U.S. intelligence agencies and appeared to take Putins word over their findings regarding Russian election interference.

The remarks caused bipartisan outrage in Washington, with many accusing Trump of having sided with the enemy.

Trump has also publicly blamed Zelensky  rather than Putin  for starting the war.
Russian forces attacked a minibus in the suburbs of Kherson with a drone at around 08:30 on 9 August, killing two people and injuring sixteen. During the rescue operation, the Russians launched a second attack, injuring three police officers.

Source: Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office; Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration; National Police in Kherson Oblast

Details: An investigation revealed that the Russian drone had hit public transport travelling in the suburbs of Kherson. All those affected were inside the bus.

All people who were injured in the attack were taken to hospital. The police report that two people are in a serious condition.

Later, when the police were removing the bodies of the deceased from the bus, the Russians launched a repeat attack on the bus with an FPV drone. As a result, three police officers suffered concussion.

Kherson District Prosecutors Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into a war crime that led to the loss of life (Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

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DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, reported on the night of 8-9 August that the Russians had occupied two settlements in Donetsk Oblast and advanced on several other fronts.

Source: DeepState

Quote: "The enemy has occupied Novokhatske and Tolstoi and has also advanced near Verkhnokamianske, Novospaske, Nykanorivka, Voskresenka, Zelenyi Hai and Toretsk."

Background:

The General Staff reported that on 8 August the Russians had conducted the most attacks on the Pokrovske front, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 33 assault actions.

On the morning of 5 August, DeepState posted a report revealing that Russian forces had occupied the village of Popiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast.

Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported that 21,700 civilians remain in the active combat zone in the oblast, including 115 children.

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KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  Rwanda-backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar-led peace process aiming to end the conflict.

A decades-long conflict ravaging eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated earlier this year when the M23 rebel group seized two key cities with the help of neighboring Rwandan forces. Congo has long been wracked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east, with more than 100 armed groups active.

The continuing violence could threaten the efforts to get Congo and the rebels to sign a permanent peace deal by Aug. 18 as hoped for. One of the deals conditions is the protection of civilians and the safe return of millions of displaced people.

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The Congolese army said in a statement late Friday that it is fiercely condemning" what it described as a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu. It said that 80 people were killed on Aug. 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, and that six civilians, including two minors, were murdered on July 24 in the village of Lumbishi.

It blamed the the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC backed by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).

In addition to this excessive criminality, the M23/AFC is engaged in the forced recruitment of young people, including minors, to join their illegal organization, the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from M23. When asked for a comment, the Rwandan foreign minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press that he could not comment on any stupidity coming from DRC," using the acronym of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief said that M23 killed 319 people over the past month in a different part of the region, describing the toll as one of the largest documented of such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022.

Citing firsthand accounts, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement that the rebels, backed by members of the Rwandan Defense Force, targeted four villages in North Kivu provinces Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21.

M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement unverified and politically motivated.

These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions, said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization which includes M23. We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.

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The two sides on July 19 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents.

___

Associated Press writer Ignatius Ssuuna contributed to this report from Kigali, Rwanda.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks during a meeting April 24 with the Oklahoma State Board of Education in Oklahoma City. On Friday, he proposed ending Oklahoma's system of statewide tests. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  In a major departure from decades of state and federal policy, Oklahomas top education official said Friday his administration doesnt plan to administer statewide reading and math tests this school year.

Instead, state Superintendent Ryan Walters suggested Oklahoma should collect data from benchmark assessments that individual school districts select and purchase from private vendors. Oklahoma would be the first in the nation to replace its statewide exams with a patchwork of district-chosen tests.

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The plan requires permission from the U.S. Department of Education, and Walters said he expects a very, very quick approval from the Trump administration. The Oklahoma State Department of Education is accepting public comment until Sept. 8 on the idea before submitting its final request to the federal government.

I was elected to make changes, serious changes, Walters told Oklahoma Voice. I have done all that I can to bring the changes into place that the voters demanded. And so, thats where youve seen an overhaul of an education system that was failing our kids.

If the Trump administration agrees to the plan, Oklahoma could open the floodgates for other states to do the same, said Dale Chu, a school policy expert and senior visiting fellow at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a national education think tank.

State leaders in Texas, for example, also are considering replacing their state testing system.

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Federal law requires every state to test their public school students in reading and math from grades 3-8 and once more in high school. These tests are intended to hold schools accountable to providing a quality, equitable education to every student, and they inform families of their childrens academic results.

Oklahoma law similarly mandates that the state Board of Education adopts a statewide system of assessments that complies with federal regulations.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters leads a meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education on April 24 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Walters, though, said he doesnt intend to bring his idea to the state Board of Education for a vote. He said making this change falls within the Education Departments authority to choose testing vendors and assessment schedules.

We dont need a vote from the state board, Walters said. Weve already done everything we need to, so were moving forward.

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For several years, Oklahomas state tests have found a majority of students performing below their grade level. This was the case last year even after the state lowered the standard for students to meet grade-level targets in reading and math. Test scores are expected to have another downturn this year after state officials again raised expectations for student performance.

Walters said hes not trying to avoid accountability for state test results. Eliminating these tests could remove a barrier that parents and teachers want out of the way, he said, and benchmark assessments could provide more helpful and timely data instead.

Many Oklahoma districts already use benchmark assessments in addition to the annual state tests. Students take benchmark assessments multiple times a year for more up-to-date information on their academic progress, and their scores are comparable to the millions of children in other states whose schools administer the same exams.

There is a trade-off, though, Chu said. These benchmark assessments arent deliberately aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards, which dictate what topics local public schools must teach to students in each subject area.

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This is why I always say all the time theres no single assessment that can do everything, Chu said.

Each state develops its own set of academic standards to dictate what its public schools must teach to students. Their statewide assessments then test students knowledge of those standards.

They also ensure the test scores of every public school and district in Oklahoma are directly comparable.

Chu said hes not yet seen a statewide assessment system where each individual district, rather than the state, decides which test to take.

To ensure consistency and comparability and move (the decision) to the district level, Im not saying its impossible, but I havent seen a reliable and valid method to do what Im talking about, Chu said.

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The benchmark system is possible, but implementing it is more complicated than one end-of-year test, said Maria DBrot, who formerly oversaw state testing and school accountability at Oklahomas Education Department.

Using multiple testing vendors could undermine comparability between districts, she said. Fairness issues could emerge if students dont have equal access to testing formats, or if students with disabilities dont get the same accommodations or accessibility tools.

The success of Oklahomas transition will depend on embedding strong psychometric infrastructure, disciplined operations, and fairness safeguards from the outset, DBrot said. Without these, the accountability system risks losing its credibility, jeopardizing federal and state compliance, and failing to deliver fair and actionable information to students, families, and educators.

Walters said his administration already has the proper infrastructure in place to make the change this year. He said the Education Department will make sure scores from different benchmark tests are evenly compared.

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His proposal has faced skepticism from both sides of the political aisle.

While we can all agree that the status quo isnt working, tossing out the tests without thinking through next steps can be short sighted, said Nellie Tayloe Sanders, education secretary for Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Oklahoma Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders speaks during a forum with Jenks High School students at the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center on Nov. 13. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Sanders leads the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, a small state board that shares authority over state testing with the Education Department. She said she looks forward to working with the Education Department to find a path forward to ensure our kids have the skills they need for their futures.

State lawmakers indicated they want input, too.

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We look forward to continued collaboration with Superintendent Walters and school districts so that any proposed changes to student testing align with state law and provides clear, actionable information on student college and career readiness, said Rep. Dell Kerbs, R-Shawnee, who leads the House Education Oversight Committee.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said legislative Democrats are open to moving on from state testing, but the timing of Walters announcement is reckless.

Many districts are only days away from the first day of school, and some already have welcomed students back to class.

Absolutely we should have a conversation about what testing is appropriate and when, and weve been bringing up that conversation up for years, Kirt said. But him doing it this way, I dont think complies with state law, and it makes us all have to do a bunch of scrambling to figure out whats happening.

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Friday is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. What does that mean? We pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory, wrote Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Out of the blue that might sound arbitrary, and surprisingly recent. But it wasnt that the Pope woke up one day in 1950 and decided to define a dogma.

On the same date, August 15, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition. The kontakion or chant for the day says that Mary, the Theotokos, being the Mother of Life, was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

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The feast is even more Christocentric than the feasts of other saints, for, at the same time, it celebrates the power of Christs Resurrection and points forward to the general resurrection of the whole Church.

The Church was literally in utero after the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, when she conceived of the Holy Spirit. The Church, St Paul explains, is the Body of Christ, and Mary was the first member of the Mystical Body of Christ while bearing in her womb his physical body.

So it goes on, in the Gospels account of the New Testament between God and his people. Mary gives birth to Jesus and is there when the Magi, representing the Gentiles, see his Epiphany. She carries him into the Temple when as a baby he takes possession of the House of God his father. He is subject to her in his childhood and she accompanies him in his public life, on his way to the Cross, by which she stands and is named as the mother of St John.

Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus is lifted up body and soul into heaven, and Mary is present with the Apostles when the Holy Spirit comes down from heaven upon them.

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Her story is completed in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, which has its own poetic language for describing the past and the future: There appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. It goes on to relate the attempts by Satan, fallen with the other bad angels, to destroy the woman and her offspring.

There is a section on Mary and the Church in a so-called Dogmatic Constitution promulgated in 1964 in the Second Vatican Council. That ecumenical council in Rome did not mention guitars in churches or hair-dos for nuns, but it did publish two Dogmatic Constitutions: Dei Verbum, on Divine Revelation, and Lumen Gentium, on the Church.

Lumen Gentium insists that the help of the example and prayers of the Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven, flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. In no way does it impede, but rather does it foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ.

Lumen Gentium teaches that the Mother of Jesus, glorified in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Therefore she is a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth.

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This teaching was nothing new, nor would it be expected to be. It is the function of the living Church to bring out truths implicit in the teaching of Christ and his Apostles.

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On the free bus travel for women in Haryana on Raksha Bandhan festival, General Manager of State Transport Rahul Jain on Friday said that the special arrangements have been made at the three bus stands, and officers have been assigned to ensure smooth operations. "In preparation for the Raksha Bandhan festival, special arrangements have been made at three bus stands. Officers have been assigned booth-wise to ensure smooth operations. From 12 PM on August 8 to midnight on August 9, all women and children up to age 15 travelling with them will be allowed free travel," said General Manager of State Transport, Rahul Jain. The scheme will apply to all state-run services, including kilometre scheme buses, mini buses, and ordinary buses. "Yes, it will include kilometres buses, our mini buses, and ordinary buses, all buses," Jain confirmed. A total of 159 buses will operate on all routes during this period. "Almost 159 buses will run on all routes," he stated. Jain also provided updates on the GPS tracking system for buses. "50 per cent of our depot work has been completed; we will complete the rest," he said, adding that the system will be implemented on all buses. "GPS system will be implemented on all buses; GPS system has already been installed on the kilometres scheme," he noted. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday also announced a free travel facility for women in the buses operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Cooperation on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, as per an official statement. The CM also extended greetings on Raksha Bandhan, stating that the festival symbolises mutual affection and trust, and is associated with rich cultural traditions and historical significance. Dhami also highlighted the state's continuous efforts on women's empowerment. "The dream of a prosperous Uttarakhand cannot be fulfilled without empowering women. We expect the people of the state to cooperate in the creation of an ideal society for the empowerment of women and their progress," the CM said. Meanwhile, in a heart-touching incident that took place during the CM's visit to Dharali, a tourist from Gujarat who had been trapped due to the flash floods and landslides tore a piece of her dupatta and tied it to the CM. Dhangauri Baraulia, a resident of Ishanpur in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, had come to Uttarakhand with her family for Gangotri Darshan. Due to the terrible disaster on August 5, she got stuck with her family in Dharali. The situation had become extremely challenging due to the blockage of the road, continuous debris, and strong currents. The Chief Minister himself has been monitoring the relief operations by being present in the area continuously for three days. Due to the tireless efforts of the rescue teams, Mrs. Baraulia and her family were evacuated safely. The Chief Minister also humbly accepted this emotional moment and said that the state government stands with every affected citizen in this hour of disaster and every possible help will be provided. He said that the state government is working with full commitment for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. This scene of human sensitivities in a remote area like Dharali became an example of hope, faith and social solidarity amidst the disaster. (ANI)
**Related Video Above: What happens when you call 911

BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada (WJW)  An investigation is ongoing after a young Canadian mother and her baby were killed at a campground last month, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported.

Woman fends off 2 grizzlies with bear spray, saving husband

On July 31, first responders were called to an area near Comox Lake in British Columbia for reports a tree had fallen on two people.

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Upon arrival at Cumberland Lake Park Campground, RCMP said they found a 26-year-old woman dead at the scene. A 5-month-old child was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

The BC Coroners Service said they dont believe foul play led to the deaths of the mom and baby.

GETTY IMAGES photo

The family of the mother and child released a public statement shared by Global News, only offering the first names of the pair. They invited people to come to Comox Marine Park this Sunday to remember the two.

The family wanted attendees to share in the love that Lynae and Elias brought to this earth and to thank the community for their support.

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48 years after 17-year-old girl vanished from Fairview Park gas station, police still searching

They also sent all of their thanks to those who tried to save our beautiful babies who we know are safe in the arms of Jesus, the statement said.

It is not yet clear what led to the tree falling.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Theyre shooting up, and getting down.

New York Citys controversial, taxpayer-funded safe injection site has reached a depraved new low  with addicts so zonked out they routinely have sex in broad daylight, often at the doorstep of neighbors forced to endure the X-rated free-for-all.

The Post witnessed the madness firsthand near OnPoints East Harlem headquarters on a recent Wednesday afternoon, as a horndog pair were conjoined for fifteen long minutes  and kept going even as pedestrians awkwardly walked past.

This scene unfolded around 4:30pm on a recent Wednesday afternoon on East 126th, by the OnPoint center. J.C. Rice

The guy was just doing his thing, just looking around, wasnt afraid of anything. I couldnt believe it. I just could not believe it, said one revolted eyewitness, who asked not to be identified.

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The guy finished, and he just starts zipping his pants and walking away. And the woman was still bent over wondering what was going on. And then after he got maybe three yards away, she said Hey, hey! Thats it? and he said, Come on! and then she pulled up her pants and ran behind him.

Its disgusting, added neighbor Shkigale Baker, who lives across the street from where the raunchy scene took place.

The government-backed shooting gallery down the block  where addicts are given clean needles and other paraphernalia to snort, smoke or inject their drug of choice on site  opened in 2021, along with a second location in Washington Heights.

Neighbors say the drug use spills outside the walls of the East 126th center and onto the street. J.C. Rice

Since then, nonprofit OnPoint has hauled in a total of $16.4 million in taxpayer funds from the citys Department of Health, with more than half coming from the Big Apples share of the opioid settlement funds from the Sackler family, who developed OxyContin  the drug responsible for causing the opioid crisis.

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The nonprofits annual budget has blown up from $2.6 million in 2021 to $17.4 million in 2024, according to tax filings.

But neighbors have gotten nothing but grief since the site opened  and told The Post things are only getting worse.

Baker hopes the center gets shut down. J.C. Rice

They have sex in our yards, they defecate behind our cars. Its a mess, said Barker, 69, putting the blame squarely on OnPoint for poisoning the block.

Baker had a front row seat to a similar incident in June, on the sidewalk right in front her house.

There was a woman here, she laid her blanket out. I was sitting here thinking What is she doing? Then she took off her pants, a guy came, and Im sitting here thinking What? Im getting my own porno show  are you kidding me?'

Pedestrians walked past as the NSFW act took place. J.C. Rice

They just dont care, slammed sister Hallia Baker, who also lives in the house. Its just been awful.

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Wow, just in the open? thats a level of freedom  its terrible dont get me wrong, but Im just thinking.my goodness, exclaimed another woman who lives on the block, in shock.

The things Ive seen just blows my mind, chimed in Michael Carden, a pipe fitter who works in the neighborhood. I mean, the hookers do anything for stuff.

A different location on the same block. Obtained by the New York Post

The city said 6,000 junkies consumed illegal drugs as many as 38,000 times at OnPoints two sanctioned sites over the past year, and the nonprofit brags about having prevented 1,800 overdoses since its centers opened.

But critics argue those overdoses just happen outside their walls and on the streets instead.

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Theyre just delaying overdose deaths because they dont address the underlying pathological behavior, which is really injecting yourself with poison, said Charles Lehman, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

Every day neighbors say they see people shoot up on East 126th Street. J.C. Rice

Neighbors say things have become out of control. J.C. Rice

Experts say the center is a beacon for drug use  and associated behaviors, such as public sex  to the neighborhoods.

This is shocking behavior for people to have in their neighborhood. Its not shocking to law enforcement because this is the kind of behavior that we see in drug addled people, said National Police Associations Betsy Brantner Smith.

With these injection centers, people go, they get high, and then they give in to their urges. Theyre going to engage in whatever behavior they feel because their inhibitions have been taken away and they dont really care about societal norms.

Neighbors say theyve repeatedly called 311 and 911 about the situation. J.C. Rice

For years, Ive fought to shut down these centers that have brought crime and deteriorated residents quality of life. Some are dangerously close to schools  including one directly across the street from a daycare, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) told The Post.

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Im hoping Attorney General Pam Bondi will take action to shutter these heroin shooting galleries once and for all.

Fed up residents earlier this year begged the Trump administration to close down OnPoints supervised shooting sites, arguing they were in clear violation of federal law.

Passed out people line the streets near the safe injection site in East Harlem. J.C. Rice

Theyve been operating in a legal gray area  permitted under city rules but not under state and federal laws.

President Trump issued an executive order last month, placing the sites under investigation by Department of Justice, with civil or criminal action expected imminently, insiders have told The Post.

Americans deserve to feel safe in their cities and towns. President Trump is providing decisive leadership to protect public safety and end the surrender of our great cities to disorder, homelessness, and crime, said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields.

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The NYPD says it has received eight calls about prostitution and lewd behavior in the area so far in 2025, and has deployed a dedicated officer nearby, at East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Our work is not done and we will continue to work with all of our partners, including the local community, to create and maintain a proper quality of life, a spokesperson told The Post.

Mayor Eric Adams, who in 2023 announced three additional safe injection sites  approved under former Mayor Bill de Blasio  would open by 2025, has quietly scrapped the plan, citing legal backlash.

Lets not mince words  this behavior is unacceptable, full stop, a spokesperson for Adams told The Post.

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City Hall says it has surged resources to the area to increase sanitation sweeps, bring people to shelters, crack down on illegal vending and begin addressing long-standing scaffolding issues that act as a magnet for crime and lewd behavior.

There is still more to be done, and we remain committed to making sure this neighborhood is safe  and feels safe  for all who call it home. Any New Yorkers who witness this behavior should report it immediately.

OnPoint has not replied to The Posts request for comment.
Ukraines sanctions against the Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom were imposed at the request of the Ministry of Energy due to the Russian occupation of Ukrainian nuclear facilities.

Source: Ukraines Ministry of Energy

Quote: "Sanctions have been imposed on 18 individuals and 17 legal entities involved in attempts to illegally integrate the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant into the Russian energy system and to seize the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant."

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Details: The Energy Ministry noted in a statement that the sanctions decisions were coordinated with restrictive measures taken by Ukraines international partners in a separate document.

"They cover two key areas  Russias energy sector and its military-industrial complex, as well as the international network of intermediaries and logistics companies that facilitate the circumvention of sanctions," the Ministry of Energy added.

Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued decrees imposing new personal and sectoral sanctions against 35 individuals and legal entities associated with the state corporation Rosatom and Russian energy companies.

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His kids have their pencils, notebooks and enthusiasm. Theyre ready to go back to school. But as their father, Pedro Ruiz doesnt know if he is.

For more than four years, Ruiz, 41, his partner, Elizabeth Zambrano, 42, have benefitted from 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a federally funded initiative that provides free after-school and summer school programs for low-income families like theirs. It eases some of the hardships they face raising their own four children and a niece.

But days before federal money for 21st Century Community Learning Centers was to be disbursed to states, the Trump administration froze nearly $7 billion in education funding, sending officials scrambling and leaving families like that of Ruiz and Zambrano in limbo. The administration said it paused the funding for a review to determine whether the programs were aligned with its priorities.

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080725_GC_BacktoSchool02rgb.jpg

Angel Huitrado, 14, fixes his hair as he prepares Thursday for the first day of his freshman year at Capital High School.

Federal officials have since said the money will be restored, but the freeze abruptly halted programs 700 families in Santa Fe rely on for child care, enrichment and academic support. As Santa Fe Public Schools prepared to open campuses Friday for students in grades 1-12, those families continued to face uncertainty. They finally learned the programs would have a delayed start of Sept. 2.

Zambrano had a short and instant description for what they felt after learning the programs might not be continued: Desperation.

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Not having the kids there, it would affect our time  it would affect us, Ruiz said.

The family sent two children to Capital High School's freshman "jump-start" Thursday. The other three will return to classes Friday.

Care for kids

Bipartisan backlash against the education funding freeze  letters from congressional delegates from both parties and a lawsuit from Democratic attorneys general in 24 states, including New Mexico  prompted the Trump administration to announce it would release the money.

The delay was enough to push back the start of Santa Fes after-school program to Sept. 2, a week later than usual, said Bill Rodriguez, who oversees the districts 21st Century programs and the $900,000 in federal funds to support them.

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As of Wednesday, Ruiz still didnt know for sure whether the after-school programs would resume, and his mind raced with fears festering into a cascade of undesirable choices: He already works 12- to 13-hour days in construction; now he weighed whether to get a second job so he could help Zambrano with the kids or cut his hours.

He recognized the trade-off in earnings coming into the household. He even considered the possibility the family might be evicted from their home near the arroyo along Siringo Road.

Zambrano, a full-time mother, credited the federally funded program for allowing her time to pick up odd jobs that bring in extra cash and to earn an accreditation in early childhood education from Santa Fe Community College. The two-hour window after school made it possible to complete homework, internships and projects, she said.

She says she doesnt work, but I think taking care of children is a big job, Ruiz said.

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Learning opportunities

Along with offering child care, the programs are a source of joy and opportunity for the kids, Zambrano said. She named several offerings funded through 21st Century: 3D printing, financial literacy and coding through a partnership with Apple.

They were very excited because there was a program where they were going to learn about Apple. Apple was going to give them a scholarship for the future  I couldnt believe it, she said.

At El Camino Real Academy, some of Ruizs children are among about 90 students who attend after-school programs. Site coordinator Gaby Marquez Villegas said she doesnt like to talk about her families as low income.

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Its not the way I see them, Marquez said. I see them as the potential they have if we provide the right education.

Still, she said, a family with four children and a low income cant afford to pay for after school day care.

Its going to drain that familys money and [they will] have very little to survive, Marquez said.

A change of tune

A letter signed by 10 Senate Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, defends the programs funded with money the Trump administration had frozen.

We share your concern about taxpayer money going to fund radical left-wing programs, the letter states. However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.

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The senators praised after-school, migrant and adult education programs and warned that withholding these funds will harm students, families, and local economies.

Another letter, authored by New Mexicos congressional delegation, warned withholding the money violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.

That statute became the basis of the lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general.

Hours after New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced the legal challenge, the Republican Party of New Mexico issued a statement supporting the funding freeze. The party praised Trumps effort to end what it called reckless federal spending and eliminate programs that cater to illegal immigrants, GOP Chair Amy Barela said in the statement.

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We support this measure because we believe it will help secure the long-term viability of education programs that put New Mexico children first, she added, lambasting Torrez for a lawsuit she called more about political theater than protecting our kids.

After the administration relented, Barela changed her tone.

In a statement to The New Mexican on Wednesday, she praised Trumps timely distribution of crucial federal education funding, calling after-school programs and adult literacy a key investment in the future of our children.

Without prompt access to these resources, Barela said, school districts statewide may have faced disruptions in operations, staffing shortages, and gaps in essential services.

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However, she added, it is important to clarify that the release of these funds was not due to influence from our delegation. Instead, she said, it was the political and legal challenges that pushed federal officials.

Christine Griffin, the new superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools, said the back-and-forth surrounding the funding made her hold my breath a little bit.

It is unsettling, that those resources might not be made available for these populations of students who desperately need it and these populations of families that desperately need it, Griffin said.

Any solution to national challenges would be a collaborative effort, she added.
ARCHBOLD, Ohio  Sauder Village announced it will host its 29th Rug Hooking Week, widely recognized as North Americas largest annual rug hooking event.

From Aug. 1316, visitors can observe the artistry and talent of fiber artists from around the world and gather inspiration from more than 400 handmade rugs, featuring both classic and modern techniques. Workshops, lectures and vendors, in addition to the exhibits, will bring thousands of spectators to the Sauder Village complex.

Sauder Village is honored to be the place where rug hooking artists from around the globe gather to celebrate this art form, said Andi Erbskorn, Director of Marketing and Development. We look forward to continuing this tradition this year and next, as the event reaches its 30th anniversary and Sauder Village celebrates its 50th.

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This years feature exhibit is titled Celebrating the Voices of Maya Women Artists, created and curated by Guatemala-based nonprofit Multicolores. The rugs in this exhibit were crafted by Mayan artists as a path for economic and self-empowerment. Their work embodies their heritage, identity, pride and artistic confidence in artwork that is compelling, complex and colorful. Many of the pieces in this collection are inspired by Guatemalas landscapes, natural beauty and abundance of birds, flowers and animals.

Multicolores was first featured at Rug Hooking Week in 2018, and Sauder Village is thrilled to welcome the organization back to northwest Ohio with a new collection of pieces. Multicolores artists will also teach rug hooking and embroidery workshops this year all the way from Guatemala via distance learning.

In addition to the renowned gallery-style exhibits in Founders Hall, guests can shop with vendors selling high quality fiber art supplies and products, including exclusive patterns only available during Rug Hooking Week.

Throughout the week, students from all over the world will travel to Sauder Village to participate in the many classes offered by talented rug hooking artists, with something to suit everyones interest and schedule in a variety of topics, techniques and skill levels.

For more information on Rug Hooking Week, including admission, classes, exhibits and more, visit our website, www.saudervillage.org, or call 1-800-590-9755.
An image of a tourist tempting fate near a cliff edge in Ireland caused quite a stir on social media.

The picture, posted to the Instagram account Tourons of National Parks (@touronsofnationalparks), shows a touron (tourist + moron) flagrantly ignoring the posted warning signs to snap a picture from the Cliffs of Moher.

The so-called tourons are usually associated with foolish antics in American national parks, but, as the post's caption notes, "Turns out Tourons are international."

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The Cliffs of Moher are a stretch of seaside cliffs on the west coast of Ireland that attract over 1 million visitors every year. As the Irish Post reported, most of those visitors (41%) hail from the United States.

While the vast majority of those visitors walk the trail and enjoy the sights responsibly, the cliffs have claimed a few victims over the years. As one of the post's comments noted, "People die there every year."

Some natural wonders might claim they offer a view to die for, but that should be taken as hyperbole, not a challenge.

The views from the 70-foot cliff face are stunning but also dangerous. From 1993 to 2017, 66 people perished along the cliff's edge.

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Officials closed off certain sections of the trail ahead of the 2025 season, per Islands. Supporting eco-friendly travel destinations is important, but it's even more paramount to treat those natural wonders with due respect and care.

Given the account's name, it's not surprising the comments weren't exactly charitable.

One sarcastically quipped, "If only there was a setting on her camera that could zoom in for a closer photo."

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.

Another said, "Been there. They have a monument dedicated to the tourons who fall and perish. Definitely international membership sold over there."

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One commenter pointed out that when tragedy does strike, others have to risk their lives, saying, "The wind gusts are strong and the grass is wet and slippery. And then the rescuers have to risk their lives at the bottom to recover the body."

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As students prepare to return to Harrisburg Elementary School on Monday, safety is a top priority, with Deputy Craig Carter, a seasoned school resource officer, ready to welcome them.

Deputy Carter, who brings nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, has served as the school resource officer at Harrisburg Elementary for the past five years.

He is one of many SROs stationed at every school in Cabarrus County, a measure that underscores the districts commitment to student safety.

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I love it. I mean, its, its fun, said Deputy Craig Carter, reflecting on his role at the school. Just know that Ive got them. I got their back. Im gonna take care of them. Im gonna be here.

ALSO READ: School district implements anti-grooming videos for students

Deputy Carter is not just a figure of authority but also a familiar and friendly presence for the students.

Thats the beauty of being at the elementary school is a lot of high-fives, a lot of hugs, he said, likening his role to that of a father figure.

The presence of SROs like Carter is increasingly significant, given the heightened concerns about safety in schools.

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Its more prevalent, I think, because of all the recent things that happened in the past, Carter noted, emphasizing the importance of building trust with students and their families.

On the first day of school, Cabarrus County Sheriffs SROs and extra deputies will participate in a high-five event, lining up outside the school to welcome students back with enthusiasm and warmth.

Carters connection with the students is evident not only in his interactions but also in the communitys response.

A post about him on the sheriffs Facebook page has garnered praise, with comments describing him as amazing and the best SRO.

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As the new school year begins, Deputy Carter and his fellow SROs are poised to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all students at Harrisburg Elementary and across Cabarrus County.

VIDEO: School district implements anti-grooming videos for students
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Students and teachers across San Diego Unified School District are preparing to return to class on Monday and safety is at the forefront, and dont forget  all SDUSD campuses are cellphone-free zones.

You cant take it out during school, said Richard Barrera, San Diego Unified School Board Vice President.

However, there are a few exceptions. High school students can use cellphones during lunch or passing periods. Also, phones can be used during emergencies, for health-related reasons, and if allowed by a teacher for educational purposes.

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Lets focus and knowing what its like to not have that anxiety of this cellphone thats beeping at you all day long, said Barrera.

He added anyone who breaks the rules will face the typical disciplinary process.

Its an adjustment for students at the beginning, but after a few weeks students are saying oh this is great.

There are also reminders to keep in mind when it comes to drop-off and pick-up in school zones.

Slow down. Prepare yourself for the increased traffic, said Officer Jared Grieshaber, California Highway Patrol.

Grieshaber said drivers should also minimize distractions, be ready to stop for school buses and watch for crossing guards and pedestrians.

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If youre riding your bicycle into school, wear bright clothes, wear that helmet. If youre crossing a crosswalk  a big thing is make eye contact with that driver, he said.

SDUSD leadership is also addressing any concerns about federal immigration activity, such the arrest of a parent near a Chula Vista elementary school this week.

Were not going to allow immigration officials onto school campuses without a judicial warrant, said Barrera.

He added that all district employees are trained and resources are available for families, including legal and counseling.

We encourage parents to bring your students to school. Were going to keep your kids safe, Barrera said.

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The district is launching a new app in the new school year that will allow parents to track their students progress towards college.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The Brief

The number of students receiving required immunizations for the school year continues to decline, and public health experts said the trend most recently occurred after the COVID pandemic.

In Florida, the rate of vaccination for kindergartners went from around 93% in 2019 to 88% in 2025.

TAMPA, Fla. - With kids returning to school across the Tampa Bay area next week, it also means the classroom germs will be back. Public health experts are encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.

What we know

Students entering pre-K through 12th grade for the first time in Florida need their required shots, like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, polio, chickenpox and more. But public health experts like University of South Florida's Jill Roberts are noticing a trend.

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READ: Rare flu complication causing brain swelling on the rise in kids, study finds

"The pathogens spread very fast in schools and among little kids," said Roberts, a professor with USFs College of Public Health. "As you probably know that after COVID, the immunization rates started to drop a little bit. The good news is it's not a massive drop in the usual numbers, but it's still to me, I'm not happy to see this, because we're leaving some kids that are unprotected."

By the numbers

According to the states health tracking website Florida Health Charts, the states immunization rate for kindergartners continues to trend down since 2020, going from around 93% in 2019 to 88% in 2025. Roberts said public health experts want to see that number at 95, the threshold for herd immunity.

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"If somebody is medically fragile, especially kids with cancer and various other things, we got to make sure the rest of us are protecting them by getting vaccinated," said Roberts.

MORE: RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

There have been measles outbreaks nationwide, with cases also reported in Florida, but local health experts dont want to see it in the Tampa Bay region. The vaccination rates for 2025 in the Tampa Bay region range from 79% in Sarasota County to 86% in Hillsborough County and 95 in Hardee County.

"I think perhaps people don't understand that medicine is like life. Everything is a risk-benefit ratio. And the benefits of vaccination so far outweigh the risk," said Dr. John Sinnott, a professor of medicine at the University of South Florida and medical director of global medicine at Tampa General Hospital. "Vaccines are the simplest, safest way to protect your child, to keep them in class and out of the hospital, or even worse."

Why you should care

Health experts recommend double-checking with your doctor that your child really cant get vaccinated.

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"I've had people even come to me about and say, well, 'my kid can't get the MMR, because they're allergic to eggs.' There's no eggs in the MMR vaccine," said Roberts.

READ:More cases of deadly flesh-eating bacterial infection in popular vacation destination

And if you still have concerns, experts said you can ask your schools nurse.

"I think they can really reassure you that vaccination is the right way to go," said Roberts.

In Hillsborough County, Leto High School will host a big health fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for free shots and physicals. The school district said vaccines help keep kids healthy and in school, so they can focus on learning.

The Source

The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Briona Arradondo.
Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

An Australian scientist says probabilities are the leading cause of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances. And hes not the only one.

Add in suspect weather, and iffy plane and boat piloting, and Karl Kruszelnicki believes theres no reason to believe in the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.

While the conspiracy of the Bermuda Triangle has existed for decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and Lloyds of London has long championed the same ideas.

Pick any one of the more than 50 ships or 20 planes that have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in the last century. Each one has a story without an ending, leading to a litany of conspiracy theories about the disappearances in the area, marked roughly by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles.

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Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki doesnt subscribe to the Bermuda Triangles supernatural reputation. Neither does the United States own National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Both have been saying for years that theres really no Bermuda Triangle mystery. In fact, the loss and disappearance of ships and planes is a mere fact of probabilities.

There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean, NOAA wrote in 2010.

And since 2017, Kruszelnicki has been saying the same thing. He told The Independent that the transparent volume of trafficin a tricky area to navigate, no lessshows the number [of ships and planes] that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis. He says that both Lloyds of London and the U.S. Coast Guard support that idea. In fact, as The Independent notes, Lloyds of London has had this same theory since the 1970s.

NOAA says environmental considerations can explain away most of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances, highlighting the Gulf Streams tendency towards violent changes in weather, the number of islands in the Caribbean Sea offering a complicated navigation adventure, and evidence that suggests the Bermuda Triangle may cause a magnetic compass to point to true north instead of magnetic north, causing for confusion in wayfinding.

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The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea, NOAA says. Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.

Kruszelnicki has routinely garnered public attention for espousing these very thoughts on the Bermuda Triangle, first in 2017 and then again in 2022 before resurfacing once more in 2023. Throughout it all, hes stuck to the same idea: the numbers dont lie.

Even with some high-profile disappearancessuch as Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bombers lost in 1945pushing the theory into popular culture, Kruszelnicki points out that every instance contains a degree of poor weather or likely human error (or both, as in the case of Flight 19) as the true culprit.

But culture clings to Bermuda Triangle conspiracy theories. The concepts of sea monsters, aliens, and even the entirety of Atlantis dropping to the ocean floorthose are fodder for books, television, and movies. It sure does sound more exciting than poor weather and mathematical probabilities, anyway, even if the boring story holds more water.

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This is the first seven-digit fund to help creators earn from original 3D model designs.

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elegoo, a rapidly developing brand in global smart manufacturing, today launches a $ 1 Million creator fund to encourage and reward outstanding original creators who share exceptional content in Nexprint. The fund will be distributed over one year to grant Nexprint creators who submit their original designs to the platform. It also includes alliance reward which is aimed for those who help invite submissions to the platform.

$1 Million Creator Fund

Each month, we will invest in a reward pool to grant $ 5 to each approved submission. There is no exclusivity capped on the design. Exceptional designs will be rewarded with an extra $ 5 each and featured for priority exposure in Nexprint. There is no restriction on the number of monthly submissions by an individual creator. For outstanding creators, we can offer long-term collaborations.

For alliance reward, creators can receive additional tiered invitation bonuses by inviting other creators to join and upload models, with a maximum of $100 per month.

The reward is granted monthly on a first-come-first-served basis with the first phase starting from August 9 to August 31. The left amount available in each month will be updated live on Nexprint.com. Starting from September, the total available reward amount will be renewed on the first day of each month.

"This fund shows our commitment to delivering the best user experience to Nexprint community by hosting a tremendous amount of 3D models accessible to everyone " said Chris Hong, CEO at Elegoo." We greatly value originality in this industry. Nexprint will be a perfect platform to showcase creators' original ideas. We believe in here every design will pay off."

Nexprint, newly launched on August 4, is an open-source community designed to connect makers worldwide by enabling seamless sharing and downloading of 3D models.

For more information on how to join and win the reward, please visit www.nexprint.com.

About Elegoo

Founded in 2015, Elegoo is a rapidly developing brand in the global smart manufacturing industry, specializing in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of consumer-grade 3D printers, laser engravers, STEM kits, and other smart technology products. Located in Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China, the company has sold millions of products across more than 100 countries and regions. In 2024, the company's total sales revenue surpassed 220 million USD, with more than 1000 employees and nearly 30,000 square meters of office and manufacturing area. With a focus on programming and 3D printing technology, Elegoo provides unique and smart creation spaces for diverse consumers to enhance personalized experiences.

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Ryan Wang

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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the Congress party had appealed to the Election Commission to investigate the voter list fraud in the state. Leading a delegation of Congress leaders, the DCM submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission regarding election fraud in various parts of the state, including the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency. Speaking to reporters after submitting the memorandum, Shivakumar said, "We held a protest under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to protect voters' rights. In view of the court orders, we decided not to march to the Election Commission, and only a few leaders submitted the memorandum. Rahul Gandhi has provided all the information about the election fraud. We have submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission to review the voter list across the state." "We have not submitted the samples of Mahadevapura and Gandhinagar to the Commission. What Rahul Gandhi released in the press conference yesterday was only an example. There are many such cases across the state and we have appealed to the Commission to investigate it. There is enough proof on voter enlisting in multiple places, voter IDs without addresses, vacant sites as addresses, etc. We have highlighted 8-10 points in our memorandum," Shivakumar said. "Anbukumar of the Election Commission has informed us that he has started the investigation. We welcome the initiation of the action. We will inform the Commission about frauds in various constituencies of the state, not just Karnataka or Mahadevapura," he added. "It is very easy to de-duplicate the voter list with the help of computers. The Election Commission officials must have basic courtesy to do so, we have brought this to their attention. This needs to be debated at the national level and hence we are organising protests. Protests will continue in the future too," he further added. When asked about the Election Commission's statement that it would need an affidavit from Rahul Gandhi, he said, "What affidavit do they need? They take our affidavit when we contest the elections, and also when we win. Hang us if we are lying. Election Commission has not denied the allegations of Rahul Gandhi. We are collecting information as they are asking for an affidavit." On Arvind Limbavali's statement that double enrolment of voters had happened in Chamarajapet and Varuna constituencies, he said, "A fraud is a fraud anywhere, they must initiate action. Free and fair elections must be held as per the Constitution." When asked about DK Suresh's statement that similar things had happened in two assembly constituencies of Bengaluru Rural parliamentary constituency, he said, "He had written to the Election Commission in the past and submitted proof, but the Commission had not considered his appeal." On India Today fact checking and confirming Rahul Gandhi's allegations of election fraud, he said, "I would like to congratulate India Today. Media is an integral part of democracy. It is our responsibility to protect democracy. We understand it is late to file an objection to the Election Commission, but we are trying to correct the system." Replying to a question on Election Commission websites being down in some states, he said, "It is not a problem of one party, it concerns every single party and the entire democratic process. We are only trying to protect the voters' rights." Asked why BJP leaders are criticising the Congress party's allegations, he said their behaviour shows their involvement in the fraud. (ANI)
For years, scientists have monitored the close relationship between rising carbon pollution and the melting of glaciers in the Arctic. According to a new study from researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Maryland, there may be a new dimension to the relationship that requires a closer look.

What's happening?

As noted in the study, the team of researchers theorized that as glaciers melt and uncover land, the fresh sediments first trigger chemical reactions that actually help suppress greenhouse gases. The team explained its findings in an article published by Phys.org.

Jonathan Martin, a professor of geological sciences at UF and the lead author of the study, revealed the core principle behind the research. "Our central hypothesis was that the transfer of greenhouse gases between landscapes and the atmosphere has changed since the Last Glacial Maximum about 15,000 years ago, as the landscapes are exposed following loss of continental ice sheets," noted Martin.

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To test this theory, the team conducted field research at a "partially deglaciated watershed" in southwest Greenland. It was able to collect fresh glacial meltwater samples that contained low concentrations of reactive dissolved organic carbon. The researchers also pulled soil water that had been exposed to atmospheric conditions since the glacier first began retreating thousands of years ago.

Why is this glacier study important?

When newly crushed rock from melting glaciers breaks down through chemical reactions, it pulls carbon dioxide out of the air and stores it. This helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, at least temporarily.

The team suggests that the meltwater was reacting with the fine, crushed rock left behind by the moving glaciers, which helped limit greenhouse gas release at first. But over thousands of years, as soil started to form on the exposed land, new chemical reactions began. These reactions in the soil started to produce methane, another powerful greenhouse gas.

"These results imply that the loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during deglaciation after the Last Glacial Maximum reduced the heat-trapping capacity of the atmosphere and provided a negative feedback on natural global warming associated with the transition out of an ice age," explained Martin.

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The increase in global temperature has significantly impacted the environment by causing shifts in weather patterns, rising sea levels, disruptions to ecosystems, and other critical climate issues. These changes lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather events that threaten both wildlife and human populations.

What's being done about carbon emissions?

The researchers believe that the exposed land ultimately produced more methane. Since methane is a strong greenhouse gas, this would make the atmosphere better at trapping heat, which in turn would lead to the continued increase of the global temperature.

While researchers have detailed the impacts of gases like methane and carbon dioxide, Martin is now eyeing a new study that focuses more on nitrous oxide. Even though nitrous oxide represents just 6% of all gas emissions, its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere hasn't gone unnoticed.

"An important future question would be to evaluate how the relative magnitudes of production and loss of these three greenhouse gases relate to each other to regulate warming and cooling during the loss of glacial ice," Martin added.

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.
Scioto County Prosecutor Shane A. Tieman announced on July 7 that the Scioto County Grand Jury met on July 25, 2025, and returned 20 public indictments. The defendants indicted are charged as follows:

* Tray Banks, 32, of Portsmouth was indicted on Felonious Assault, Assault and Harassment with a Bodily Substance

* David Williams, 48, of West Portsmouth was indicted on Strangulation, Domestic Violence, Unlawful Restraint and Aggravated Menacing

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* Mykal Piguet, 39, of Portsmouth was indicted on Aggravated Possession of Drugs, Possession of Drugs and Illegal Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

* Makayla Borders, 22, of Wheelersburg was indicted on Possession of Cocaine, Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound and Illegal Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

* Blaze Osborne, 41, Lucasville was indicted on Aggravated Possession of Drugs

* Jeffry Wadkins, 53, of Lucasville was indicted on Domestic Violence

* Shannon Hall, 27, of Portsmouth was indicted on Aggravated Burglary

* Anthony Harris, 27, of Huntington, W.Va., was indicted on Having Weapons While Under Disability and Possession of Marihuana

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* Cody Timberman, 29, of Wheelersburg was indicted on Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound and Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound

* William Hurt, 43, of Portsmouth was indicted on Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound and Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound

* Solomon Hall, 24, of West Portsmouth was indicted on Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Receiving Stolen Property

* Julia Thomas, 44, of Portsmouth was indicted on Receiving Stolen Property and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle

* Michael Conley, 41, of Ironton was indicted on Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle

* Julia Thomas, 44, of Portsmouth was indicted on Vandalism

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* Nathan Willis, 43, of Portsmouth was indicted on Trafficking in Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine and Having Weapons While Under Disability (2 Counts)

* Jordan Conley, 29, of South Shore, Ky., was indicted on Having Weapons While Under Disability

* Viola Price, 43, of Portsmouth was indicted on Theft and Misdemeanor Theft

* Derek Freeman, 28, New Boston was indicted on Aggravated Possession of Drugs

* Evan Mallory, 46, of Portsmouth was indicted on Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Illegal Use of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

* Julie Horsley, 49, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was indicted on Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft When the Property is a Firearm or Dangerous Ordnance and Theft
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  One man is behind bars on Friday after a pursuit with police that went from Dakota County, Nebraska to Sioux City and included shots reportedly being fired at officers.

The Sioux City Police Department (SCPD) said on August 8 at around 6:10 p.m., Dakota County Sheriffs Office deputies identified Daniel Wenzel, 38, was wanted on multiple felony warrants for parole violation and 3rd offense domestic assault.

Deputies tried to make a traffic stop on the silver Buick Century Wenzel, but he eluded them and a pursuit began.

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Law enforcement said Wenzel took officials on a route that included going off of Highway 20 and into Sioux City. Members of SCPD, the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office, and Iowa State Patrol joined the pursuit once Wenzel entered Iowa.

Story continues below

Police said during the pursuit, Wenzel allegedly started to shoot at officers and eventually led them north on U.S. Highway 75.

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Authorities said Tire Deflation Devices, commonly known as Spike Strips, were deployed twice, which deflated the tires each time. Wenzel continued heading north on the highway until a pit maneuver took place in the 1500 block of U.S. Highway 75.

Officials said a woman passenger got out of the vehicle without incident. Police said they had to negotiate with Wenzel for a period of time to get out of the vehicle. When he did leave the car, he ran from officers.

Law enforcement said during the apprehension in the 1700 block of Lewis Boulevard, Wenzel injured one officer, who suffered minor injuries. Another officer sustained minor injuries from a traffic crash while heading to the pursuit. Wenzel was also taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. No one was injured due to the gunshots.

Just as of this week, or actually it was last week we did pit training and pursuit training in our Spring skill school. So we did it for all the officers then, we just ran another course trying to train officers on where to position their vehicles and in exactly this scenario where some has a gun inside the vehicle, said Lt. Dane Wagner from the Sioux City Police Department.

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While heading to the hospital, SCPD said Wenzel kicked out a window in a squad car, jumped and escaped the vehicle. Officers were able to get him back into custody for the second time.

Authorities said Wenzel is facing several felony charges from Fridays incident. A woman was a passenger in Wenzels vehicle, but she was released and is not facing charges.

The Iowa 511 website said that at around 6:45 p.m., traffic was blocked going both directions because of emergency vehicles, and was reopened just before 8 p.m.

Further information will be provided as it is released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  South Dakota State Library (SDSL) is commemorating Americas 250th anniversary with a reading program for all ages.

According to a press release from the South Dakota Department of Education, Read 250 is a program aimed towards learning about and studying American history.

Books have a way of transporting readers to different places and times, of helping us to understand what it was like to live in a different era. State Librarian George Seamon said in a press release.

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4 South Dakota newspapers shut down

The reading program is self-paced, with readers using an app or website to track their reading progress and take part in activities that will enhance their knowledge of American history.

In addition to reading, activity options include visiting one of eight South Dakota Carnegie Libraries, exploring SD historical sites, and interviewing elder residents about their experiences.

Whats great about libraires is that we can build a community around that experience of learning through reading. Seamon said.

Readers can join individually or as a group on their website, and the program is available until December 31, 2026, according to the press release.

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According to their website, 400 readers and eight groups have signed up so far.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sean "Diddy" Combs attends the 2022 Billboard Music Awards - Credit: Getty Images

Sean Combs reported plan to get out of federal custody and counsel domestic violence abusers is striking a nerve with his accusers.

This is utterly preposterous, Douglas Wigdor, the victims rights attorney who represents Combs ex-girlfriend Casandra Cassie Ventura tells Rolling Stone.

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How are you going to counsel someone else when you havent done the work on yourself? This is manipulation at its best, one source who alleges they were physically assaulted by Combs in the 2010s, whose story has been corroborated by Rolling Stone, adds.

Its [making] a mockery of the system. Its a mockery of everyone hes harmed, another alleged victim now pursing litigation against Combs says. He needs intensive therapy.

The chorus of criticism followed one of Combs trial lawyers, Alexandra Shapiro, telling Business Insider the Bad Boy Records founder hopes to become an anti-domestic violence counselor to help in whatever ways he can to kind of encourage other people not to do this and really to help in positive ways in the future.

Thats something that he actively wants to pursue in the future, Shapiro reportedly said. The idea is that he would work with programs and be able to go in and talk to people, talk to youth, talk to others about the issue in a proactive way and be an advocate for this. And sometimes, people like him can be the best spokesperson to try to help.

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Shapiro reportedly said Combs defense team plans to include his intended pursuit of counseling work in court filings requesting a sentence of time-served for his recent conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Were hopeful that the judge is going to consider these arguments that were going to make about Seans future, his redemption, she added. Were hopeful that the judge will look at the whole person and consider the impact he could have in the future, the positive impact, and give him the benefit of the doubt.

Gloria Allred, a lawyer representing two plaintiffs with lawsuits pending against Combs, says the convicted mogul has a long road ahead of him before hes ready to even consider counseling. (She also represents other alleged victims who spoke to law enforcement and were on the potential witness list at the criminal trial but were not called to the stand, she says.)

At this point, his stated goal does not pass the laugh test, Allred tells Rolling Stone. Once hes released, she says, his first stop should be a treatment program for anger management. After that, he should take responsibility for any wrong that he has inflicted on any of his many alleged victims and compensate them for the damages, which exist as a result of his conduct, she says. Finally, he should ask the individuals he has victimized for forgiveness for the wrongs that he has inflicted on them. Then and only then, he should enter a training program to learn how to be a counselor against sexual or any other type of physical violence.

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Combs, 55, was found guilty of the two prostitution-related Mann Act violations last month after an eight-week trial. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Prosecutors had alleged Combs coerced Ventura and a more recent girlfriend who testified under the pseudonym Jane into drug-fueled threesomes with male escorts. They said Combs choreographed the freak offs while masturbating and taking videos.

Shortly after Ventura filed the bombshell sex-trafficking lawsuit that alleged extensive physical abuse against him in November 2023, which led to his arrest on criminal sex-trafficking charges last September, Combs denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer. But in May 2024, CNN obtained video showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in a hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles in 2016. Combs took full responsibility for the beat down in an apology video, saying he was truly sorry.

At trial, he and his lawyers admitted he was violent with Ventura on several occasions, but they repeatedly argued domestic violence is not sex trafficking. They claimed the hotel surveillance video was a domestic dispute caused by romantic jealousy. Ventura testified that she was fleeing a freak-off that had turned violent.

Over four days of harrowing testimony, Ventura described how Combs eyes went black during one horrific attack inside an Escalade in January 2009, near the start of their relationship. Combs allegedly stomped on her face with his shoes on for 10 minutes. She said the physical abuse continued until they broke up for good in fall 2018. She claimed Combs also threatened to release her intimate videos if she didnt meet his freak-off demands.

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When it was time to cross-examine Ventura, the defense did not challenge her domestic violence claims. We own them, Agnifilo said. If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldnt all be here having a trial because he would have pled guilty  because he did that, the lawyer said in his closing argument. It proved to be a winning strategy with the jury.

How U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian will view Combs aspirations to counsel other abusers is not clear. At a detention hearing the day Combs was convicted, the judge noted that Combs had conceded his violence in his personal relationships, so he was enough of a danger to the community to warrant keeping him in custody pending sentencing.

This type of violence, which happens behind closed doors in personal relationships, sparked by unpredictable bouts of anger, is impossible to police with conditions, the judge said. He noted that even after the March 2024 searches of Combs homes, when he was aware he was under investigation for sex trafficking, he still battered Jane at her home. This was at a time when he should have known that he needed to stay clean, the judge said.

Combs sentencing is set for Oct. 3.

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The Brief

An 85-year-old Hinckley woman disappeared four days ago on her birthday.

The Pine County Sheriffs Office has so far searched thousands of miles looking for her.

Her granddaughters describe her as the typical grandma, who's loved by many and cared for others.

PINE CO., Minn. (FOX 9) - The search for a Hinckley woman is still ongoing after she disappeared four days ago.

Search for Juanita Rosa

What we know

Juanita Rosa just turned 85 on Monday.

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The family tells FOX 9 that she was at breakfast with her two sons, then went home to take a nap. Thats the last time she was seen.

The Pine County Sheriffs Office says Rosa is 5-foot, 2-inches tall, and has long, white hair, and blue eyes.

She was last seen driving a 2011 white Buick sedan, with a Minnesota license plate number of NBS800.

What they're saying

The Sheriffs Office has so far driven a few thousand miles in Pine County looking for her.

Investigators say Rosa didnt take main highways often.

"She took a lot of back roads. So that's what's making it really difficult for us, because we have so many back roads," said Scott Grice, Pine County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy.

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Rosa's granddaughters describe her as a typical grandma  someone with a good sense of humor, who loves her grandkids. Theyve been searching for her nonstop.

"Imagine this was your grandma. She was still a very lively, great woman. This is very abnormal. We just need your help. We have been searching, and we need help, and we need to find her," said her granddaughter, Lindsay Greenlee.

What you can do

Her family tells us they have no idea where she could have gone.

Anyone with information on where Juanita Rosa may be is asked to contact the Pine County Sheriffs Office or call 911.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Authorities are asking for help in the search for an endangered teen girl who officers say has been missing from her Northwest Side home for the last two days.

According to Chicago police, 14-year-old Shaneyshka Alvarez-Abelo was last seen around 11:55 p.m. on Thursday night after she left her home in the 5100 block of West Drummond Place in Belmont Cragin.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

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Officers described the missing teen as an endangered juvenile, though it is unclear exactly why.

The missing teen, who stands 5-foot-8 and weighs between 140 and 155 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes.

Photo provided by Chicago police shows 14-year-old Shaneyshka Alvarez-Abelo, who was last seen around 11:55 p.m. on Thursday night after she left her home in the 5100 block of West Drummond Place in Belmont Cragin.

Additionally, the teen is known to have scars on her lower left arm and lower left leg.

Police offered details about the teens disappearance in a news release shared on Friday afternoon, but officers did not say what she was last seen wearing.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 14-year-old Shaneyshka Alvarez-Abelo is asked to contact CPD Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6555 or dial 911.

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Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  A second suspect arrested in connection with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found on Maui has pleaded guilty in federal court.

UPDATE  Second man charged in Maui IED case

On Friday, Aug. 8, at around 11 a.m., Jess Kiesel Lee stood before the U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake and pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of an Explosive. He is the second person charged in connection with the Maui IED case.

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No booking photo of Lee has been released.

According to court records, Jess Kiesel Lee gave up his right to have a grand jury charge him and was told of his rights before pleading guilty.

Federal prosecutors also explained what the toughest punishment could be and gave a summary of the proof they had against him.

Judge Otake accepted the plea, found Lee guilty, and ordered a presentence investigation. Lee could face serious prison time and fines.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

His sentencing is set for Dec. 1, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Aha Kanawai and he will stay in federal custody until then.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
"If you occupy parts of the Gaza Strip and hostages are murdered, we will pursue you. Your hands will be stained with the blood of the hostages!

Hostage mother and a leader of Israel's protest movement for the release of hostages, Einav Zangauker, said that Israel's Security Cabinet is "a cabinet of death" at the latest demonstration at Begin Gate in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

This is the 673rd day that 49 male hostages and one female hostage are still being held in the hell of Gaza. Last Thursday, the cabinet sealed the fate of the hostages - the living will be murdered, and the dead will disappear forever."

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This comes over a day after the security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans for an IDF takeover of Gaza City.

"This move has no public support! Most people want to end the war and bring everyone home. The only thing Netanyahu needs to do is put forward a comprehensive agreement to end the war, one that is real and feasible," Zangauker added. "But Netanyahu has already decided to kill them and condemn us to an eternal war.

"The State of Israel is not its government," she added, and called on the public to shut down the country and the economy.

Demonstrators holding signs featuring photos of remaining hostages in Gaza at a demonstration for a hostage deal in Tel Aviv, August 9, 2025. (credit: Paulina Patimer)

I will finish with a direct address to the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: If you occupy parts of the Gaza Strip and hostages are murdered, we will pursue you. In the public squares, in the election campaigns, at every time and place. We will remind the people of Israel, day and night, that you could have secured a hostage deal and chose to have them killed. Your hands will be stained with the blood of the hostages!

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Also at the protest, Yotam Cohen, brother to hostage Nimrod Cohen, addressed US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

'Save Israel from the cabinet of death and the death-eaters who run it'

"Israel was founded as a safe haven for the Jewish people, not so that the Israeli government would order the killing of Israelis kidnapped from their homes," Cohen said. "All of Israel and the entire Jewish people stand behind you in the effort to end this war. Put forward a concrete proposal to end the war and secure the return of all the hostages - this week, before the military operation begins."

Thousands were also seen rallying for a hostage deal at Hostages Square on Saturday night, Army Radio reported.

Witkoff is set to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani on Saturday to discuss a proposed agreement to end the war that includes the release of the 50 remaining hostages, Axios reported earlier.

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I call from here to the people of Israel - for the sake of our heroic soldiers, for the sake of the hostages who are enduring a Holocaust and barely surviving - come out of your homes to stop the country!" he continued. "Lets take back the State of Israel, lets save it from the cabinet of death and the death-eaters who run it."

At the cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir disputed any deal that would result in a temporary occupation of the Gaza Strip.

During a break in the meeting, National Missions Minister (RZP) Orit Strock reportedly yelled at hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch, who told senior IDF officials that he had requested that the goal to free the hostages appear in the IDF's mission, according to N12.

"What the hell, that's not the mission - the mission is to eliminate Hamas," she reportedly told him.

Strock said that the effort to return the captives is why soldiers are killed. Hirsch responded, according to the report, "Our soldiers fight to save civilians and return hostages. It's always been that way. I did it myself. That's how we are."
For nearly 30 minutes Friday, members of Kansas Citys Municipal Art Commission sat practically entraced by what they were seeing.

As soon as Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh, an artist duo from Belgium  who, as part of the commission meeting, were chosen to receive $2.18 million to bring public art to the new Barney Allis Plaza  were done with their presentation, the commissioners began to gush.

Rendering of a corner of the new Barney Allis Plaza that includes installation of a part of Kansas City Spirit, Memory and Resilience, in which thin steel tubes will evoke the architecural facade of KCs 1899 Convention Hall.

New art for Barney Allis Plaza

This is stunning, Commissioner Kathleen McCarthy said. Im almost speechless.

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I love everything about this, Commissioner Matt Wegerer said. Ive lived in KC for 25 years, worked and lived five minutes from the site. . . .having a piece of artwork thats that well thought-out, well-crafted and inspirationally designed. . .I couldnt love it more. Its not what I was expecting, but its also exactly what I was hoping for.

Rendering of corner of the new Barney Allis Plaza where a sculpture evoking the architecture of the former 1899 Kansas City Convention Hall will be created out of thin steel tubing at the periphery of the park.

I echo so much of what was stated, said Commissioner Stephanie Smith. Its really beautiful.

The project that artist duo presented via video  under the company name Gijs Van Vaerenbergh from Leuven, Belgium  is essentially a ghostly sculptural ode to Kansas Citys past, but rising on the periphery of a modern park and plaza, now under construction downtown and slated to be completed by the end of 2026.

Spirit of 1899 KC Convention Hall

The piece, Gijs told the commission, is titled Kansas City Spirit, Memory and Resilience. The artists said they drew their inspiration from the classic Beaux-Arts architecture of the Convention Hall that once stood where Barney Allis was later built, between 12th and 13th streets, Central and Wyandotte streets.

The Belgium artist chosen to produce the public art for the new Barney Allis Plaza intend for their sculpture, which will mimic the architectural outline of KCs former 1899 Convention Hall to allow visitors to see through it for views of the surrounding architecture. The steel rods will be illuminated at night.

Open in February 1899, the Convention Hall was demolished by fire one year later in March 1900, leaving only partial walls, arches and columns. But within 90 days, the hall was rebuilt in time that July to host the Democratic National Convention.

Kansas Citys Convention Hall, originally built in 1899, was destroyed by fire in 1900 before being rebuilt in 90 days.

This achievement came to be a symbol of what is called Kansas City spirit, Gijs said, which is a kind of mindset defined by resilience, civic pride and collective action. Not accepting defeat, but rallying together to overcome. We found this quite an inspiring story.

The demolished interior of the Kansas City Convention Hall following the 1900 fire.

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Sculpture evokes the nature of memory

In a series of slides, Gijs and Van Vaerenbergh, showed how they used the two-story, arched facade of the convention hall as their template. Their plan, using thin, steel rods that will be illuminated at night, will be to create six architectural and ghostly line-graph fragments of the facade and place one each at the four corners of the park and one each along Central Street and Wyandotte Street.

Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, a collaborative art duo from Leuven, Belgium, was chosen by Kansas Citys Municipal Arts Commission to receive a $2.18 million contract to produce public art for the new Barney Allis Plaza under construction downtown.

The sense will be to create a modern park surrounded by the spirit of the past.

The fragments, Van Vaerenbergh said, has to do with the idea of creating a memory that is partly there  present, but also partly absent, which is the true nature of a memory. It is sometimes present, and sometimes not.

Drawing showing how the facade of Kansas Citys 1899 Convention Hall was used to create the concept for the sculpture that will surround the perimenter of the new Barney Allis Plaza.

The approach is one that the duo has used in other projects, including Clausura, a ghost-like outline of a late 12th century abbey in Herkenrode, Belgium.

Clausura, made of thin steel rods, creates the ghost-like outline of the abbey at Herkenrode, a Cistercian abbey in the late 12th century.

The idea of this work is that it also is a memory, Van Vaerenbergh said, and redraws the architectural elements in space.

Maybe climbing plants or elevated viewing for visitors

Not all the details of the Kansas City sculpture have been finalized. The artists and commission on Friday discussed the possibility, if desired, for the structures to be used as a trellis for vines, flowers and climbing plants. Also discussed is the possiblity of building the sculpture in a way tha allows vistors to ascend into to access walkways built between the first and second stories.

Rendering of the new $112 million Barney Allis Plaza, the 4-acre project now under under construction downtown, designed to replace and improve the plaza built in 1955.

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Background is also important, Van Vaerenbergh said, for Barney Allis Plaza, as well as for the surrounding buildings. They will always be visible through the installation.

The old Convention Hall was finally razed in 1936 to make way for a parking garage for Municial Auditorium. Barney Allis Plaza was created in 1955.

The new Barney Allis Plaza is a $112 million project. It includes a 4-acre park with a planned pavillion cafe, a dog park, play area and an area for concerts and other events. The plaza is to sit above an underground parking garage for just fewer than 600 cars. The parking structure is replacing the former 900-car garage, which had fallen into crumbling disrepair.

The project, desgined by HOK of Kansas City, is being constructed by general contractor McCown Gordon Kansas City. The $2.18 million allocated is the largest investment the city has made in public art for a single project, second only to $5.65 million allocated for the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, which opened in February 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his deep gratitude for all the freedom fighters who participated in the 'Quit India Movement' led by Mahatma Gandhi. PM Modi said that the courage of freedom fighters involved in the 'Quit India Movement' united countless people in the quest for freedom. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "We remember with deep gratitude all those brave people who, under the inspiring leadership of Bapu, took part in the Quit India Movement. Their courage lit a spark of patriotism that united countless people in the quest for freedom." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1954008830519431487 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to the freedom fighters. He highlighted that the 'Quit India Movement' infused new enthusiasm to fight for our independence. "In 1942, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, with his invaluable mantra 'Do or Die,' initiated the 'Quit India Movement' against British rule, which infused new enthusiasm into the fight for independence. Under the leadership of the Indian National Congress, countless Indians took to the streets during the Quit India Movement, writing an unforgettable saga in history," Kharge wrote on X. "On 'August Revolution Day,' we pay heartfelt tributes to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence," he added. The Quit India Movement, also known as the "Bharat Chodo Andolan", was started by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942, during the Second World War, demanding an end to British rule in India, as per the Ministry of Culture. As per the Ministry of Culture, the Quit India Movement of 1942 is significant, especially because it brought home to the British that it would not be possible to continue to govern India and forced them to think of ways they could exit the country. The Movement was accompanied by a mass protest on non-violent lines by which Mahatma Gandhi called for "an orderly British withdrawal from India." Through his speeches, Gandhi moved people by proclaiming that "every Indian who desires freedom and strives for it must be his own guide." On this day in 1942, Gandhi gave the clarion call of "Do or Die" to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank in Mumbai. The day is observed as August Kranti Day every year. (ANI)
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Crews responded to a fire in a semi-truck trailer on 5070 w California Ave on Friday afternoon.

According to Salt Lake City Fire Department (SLCFD) officials, a truck driver was hauling a semi-truck trailer full of construction debris to the Salt Lake City Landfill. Around 3 p.m., the contents of the trailer caught fire.

Reportedly, the truck driver noticed the fire, pulled to the side of the road, and was able to detach the semi from the trailer quickly. Additionally, he called 911 and SLCFD responded to the scene.

Courtesy: Salt Lake City Fire Department

SLCFD briefly closed the surrounding area on California Avenue, while they extinguished the fire. Fortunately, they were able to extinguish the flames quickly. Additionally, no injuries were reported, and the fire was confined to the trailer. A fire investigator is currently looking at the debris to determine what initially caught fire.

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However, Brandon Jorgensen, a Battalion Chief with SLCFD, told ABC4 that it is not uncommon for construction debris to spontaneously ignite while it is being hauled. He said, Its not unusual for construction debris to auto-ignite in these circumstances.

Jorgensen also said that the truck driver did the right thing by detaching the trailer and dialing 911. He noted, removing the tractor from the trailer at least protected the equipment.

In some cases, though, it may be better to leave the trailer connected until fire crews can respond. Jorgensen said, Obviously, we wouldnt want them in danger, to put themselves at risk, to detach the [trailer].

Ryland Sparrow contributed to this article.

Latest headlines:

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Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine and several European countries are planning to meet this weekend in the United Kingdom to coordinate their positions ahead of the scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Source: Axios, citing three informed sources

Details: The sources said the idea to hold an in-person meeting in the UK had arisen during a video conference between US, Ukrainian and European officials on Friday 8 August.

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Ukraine and some NATO allies are concerned that Trump might agree to Putin's terms without taking their positions into account.

Trump held a phone conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders on Wednesday 6 August to update them on the outcome of his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff''s meeting with Putin.

Axios reported that Witkoff had told the participants that Putin is willing to end the war if Ukraine agrees to cede Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts as well as Crimea.

Sources said that at least some participants in the call had concluded that Putin is also willing to give up claims to the partially occupied territories in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. However, Witkoff clarified during another video conference with senior Ukrainian and European officials the next day that Putin had only agreed to freeze Russia's current positions in those areas.

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Ukrainian officials say they do not fully understand the details of the Russian proposal or the US position.

One Ukrainian representative told Axios that even if Zelenskyy agrees to Putin's demands, he would be forced to announce a referendum since, under the Ukrainian constitution, he cannot cede territory.

Background:

The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled to take place on 15 August in Alaska, with both sides confirming the date and location.

On 8 August, Trump said during a White House briefing that a peace deal on the Russia-Ukraine war should be expected to include "some swapping of territories".

Earlier, Axios reported that on 7 August Witkoff planned to inform representatives from Ukraine, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom about the results of his talks with Putin.

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Aug. 8Being a first responder is no easy task. Whether putting out dangerous fires, answering 911 calls or addressing other emergencies, they have to face traumatizing situations on a regular basis.

A local nonprofit is looking to help with some furry four-legged friends.

Since 2022, 348 Golden Angels has brought their certified therapy canines to first responders across the Inland Northwest, lifting spirits with peaceful petting sessions and wagging tails.

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Co-founders Kris and Shane Carney created the nonprofit after their brother-in-law and Spokane Valley firefighter Dan Patterson died after working a 24-hour shift three years ago.

While the family was in the hospital waiting to hear about his condition, they were comforted by the Spokane Valley Firefighter chaplain and his therapy K9, Pierce. As they watched the goldendoodle make his way around the room, they noticed how quickly spirits were lifted just by the dog's presence.

Following Patterson's passing, they set out to give back to the community in his honor. Their organization's name comes from Patterson's badge number, 348.

"Our motto is serving those who serve us," Kris Carney said.

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Currently, their K9 crew is composed of three golden retrievers: certified therapy dogs Mango and Rayne, as well as their therapy-dog-in-training, Mitzi.

The dogs have visited a variety of places, from nursing homes to fire district defusing sessions to military funerals. Later this month, they'll be present at The Wall That Heals exhibit, bringing comfort to Vietnam veterans and other people who attend the event.

Having multiple dogs is an advantage when dealing with emotional situations. The dogs' empathetic nature means they can be easily exhausted by heavy feelings, so they will typically work in shifts to ease the workload.

"They can sense these emotions, and it really wears on them," Shane Carney said. "That's why at the VA Hospital hospice is always last, because there's a lot of emotions."

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Watching the impact their dogs brings to the community has been gratifying for the co-founders. They have numerous stories of their goldens bringing smiles to strangers' faces.

One interaction with Mango that sticks out happened during a debrief at a local fire station after a major incident.

"They were walking around, and one guy started getting visibly emotional, and I had her off leash," Shane Carney said. "She went over and laid her head on his lap, and immediately he got a smile on."

Another time while visiting the Veterans Hospital, a hospice patient was brought to tears by petting Mango, telling her owners that she "healed his soul."

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"Once you see somebody's having a bad day, if a smile gets put on their face, that's it," Shane Carney said. "That's your paycheck."

Bonny Matejowsky's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (PIX11)  To be or not to be.

It was meant to be.

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The newly renovated Shakespeare in the Park Delacorte Theatre is back in action for Twelfth Night.

Its a star-studded cast under the stars, and its motto remains the same: free, for all, forever.

Ive been waiting for two years, Rona Hunter, a Shakespeare in the Park fan, told PIX11 News, But Ive been here since 6:30 this morning, she added.

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Hunter was in a very long line filled with optimists, willing to wait up to 14 hours on standby to see Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyongo, Sandra Oh, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, among others, in Twelfth Night.

The earliest birds arrived at 4:30 a.m. to secure their free tickets at noon for this first production since the Delacorte closed in 2023 for renovations.

We are both from London and I flew here to visit so that I could be here, Clara Wan, a hopeful standby-line attendee, told PIX11 News. So we are hoping we get lucky, she added.

Its an $85 million renovation that preserved the feel of the 63-year-old Delacorte Theater.

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The exterior is made from recycled redwood from old water towers in the five boroughs.

The 1864 seats are wider, more comfortable, and wheelchair accessible, with improved lighting and updated dressing rooms and bathrooms.

We go on the app thats on the website. We both got on it, Gerhard Ziemer, a lottery ticket winner, told PIX11 News. I got a no, Rick got a yes. So here we are, he added.

Some folks played todays tickets lottery and won, while others wait and hope theyll be lucky, fulfilling founder Joe Papps dream of making classical theater accessible to everyone.

It was the cast for me, Charles Hayes, a lucky ticket holder, told PIX11 News. Lupita Nyongo, Sandra Oh, and others, he added.

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This production of Twelfth Night ends on September 14, so there are more than 30 performances to either wait in a long line or try your luck in 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 PIX11.
Before Willow Newell even considered competing in beauty pageants, she practiced her contestant wave and smile in her bedroom mirror.

Now, at 22, Newell, who served as Miss Racine, no longer needs to pretend. In June, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Wisconsin.

In September, she will represent the state in the Miss America competition. Her pageant platform, The Art of Belonging, focuses on how everyone can feel a sense of belonging through the arts.

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Newell, who graduated in May with a degree in art from Carthage College in Kenosha, described how art has been her guiding light, helping her navigate through lifes challenges, from the paralyzing grip of stage fright to the painful sting of bullying.

Opinion: Studies find art on street crosswalks makes them safer. Trump wants them gone.

For Newell, art transcends mere expression; it is a powerful force that empowers people and serves as a bridge fostering connections among people of all races and backgrounds.

In the Miss Wisconsin competition, Newell competed for the title alongside 29 other contestants from across the state and was recognized as the top vocalist in the competition after her rendition of And Im Telling You, from the musical Dreamgirls.

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Since being crowned Miss Wisconsin, Newell has had a busy schedule that includes visits to schools as well as television and radio interviews. On her social media pages, she has received praise from the BET Network, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, attorney Benjamin Crump, and actress and producer Viola Davis.

Newell focused on being true to herself

Newell, who idolized Vanessa Williams  the first African American woman crowded Miss America in 1983  always dreamed of fame and used to practice her pageant walk and wave in the mirror when she was younger. She recalls performing in church plays and receiving lead solos in her church choir as young as five years old. Through singing and acting, Newell felt a sense of freedom and found a way to express herself.

She didnt realize it at the time, but this art of performing would help her years later when she would grace the stage for pageants.

When she told her parents that she wanted to one day become Miss America, they became her biggest supporters.

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Opinion: Milwaukee youth crime is shocking. So are parents who won't discipline their kids.

Newell began participating in competitions at the age of 14. In her first pageant, she performed well, but over the years, she faced her fair share of ups and downs. Despite the challenges, she never lost hope. There were competitions where she placed in the top five, along with a few occasions when she was the first runner-up.

In 2023, she won her first competition, being crowned Miss Kenosha. The following year, she was named Miss Racine, and that same year, she competed in the Miss Wisconsin competition, finishing as a semi-finalist while representing Miss Great Lakes. After being crowned Miss Kenosha, Newell knew that pageantry was truly in her blood.

Her mother, Anniekay, described watching her daughter's journey as rewarding, noting that Newell never gave up and continually sought to improve, while also promoting the importance of the arts. Anniekay, who also competed in pageants throughout her career, including Juneteenth competitions, praised Newell's unmatched dedication. Whatever she puts her mind to, she achieves without getting distracted or frustrated, she said.

Willow Newell peforms during the Miss Wisconsin pageant.

Newell confronted racism and the struggle to fit in

Growing up, Newell experienced significant bullying in school, often being the only Black student in her class. She remembers when she was four years old, other kids would not want to play with her or sit next to her at lunch, making fun of her natural hair and darker skin.

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Even in competitions, she faced the sting of racism and bullying, sometimes questioning whether she should straighten her hair to fit the judges' expectations better. However, the more she considered changing herself to fit in, the more she realized that hundreds of Black girls looked up to her as a true reflection of themselves.

One of those girls is her 16-year-old sister, Winter, who also competes and hopes to become Miss Wisconsin in a few years.

When she talks to young girls who are thinking about competing, her message is simple: be yourself because what you have to offer is special, and you dont need to change that. Her words carry an inspiring message, encouraging each girl to shine brightly in her own way, reminding them that their individuality is not just valuable  its powerful.

This is another reason why the arts are so important to Newell; they give people the chance to express their individuality, and that uniqueness is wonderful.

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Newell's messaging could not come at a better time, as arts programs in public schools across the nation have experienced a severe decline in the U.S., particularly in the early 2000s. The decline of arts education has been felt most severely in low-performing, low-income schools.

While school officials reallocated funds from arts budgets to remedial math and English programs, Newell believes that the arts serve as a vital connector that unites people in ways that nothing else can.

She views art as a bridge between generations, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Newell plans to convey this message when she competes in the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 2 to 7.

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Although she admits she will be a bit nervous, it will be the ultimate dream come true for the little girl who used to practice her waves and smile in the mirror as she pretended to win the Miss America competition.

Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X@jecausey.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: First Black Miss Wisconsin to compete for Miss America 2026 | Opinion
ASHTABULA  Passers-by on Main Avenue may have noticed contractors coming in and out of the former Sheas Theater property, where renovations have been underway for roughly six months.

The property was purchased by John Ellis about two years ago, after he came upon it while in the city.

I was doing an apartment building and I was driving through, and it caught my eye, he said. I walked through, and I thought this place needed saving.

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Ellis hopes to have the first phase of the renovations done by the end of 2025, he said.

We have not hit any major roadblocks, except for a raccoon that we have not been able to get out of here, he said.

The initial renovations have focused on the front entrance to the property, to make the building look nicer for the public.

Ellis said the theater closed around 1982, and the property has had other occupants before he took it over.

The renovation is being funded in part by a $500,000 grant through the Ohio Capital Budget, Ellis said.

It took about 18 months of grant writing and meetings, he said.

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During the propertys renovation, historic pieces have been found, including Sheas original popcorn machine, film reels and a phone room.

Ellis is interested in displaying many artifacts from the theater for guests, he said.

The former theater portion of the property will be made into a catch-all community center, Ellis said.

We will show movies, but nothing newly released, he said. Youll have specific theme nights  the Harry Potters, the Back to the Futures, things like that.

Ellis said the former theater could be open for weddings, comedy shows, graduations, plays and parties, alongside for local businesses looking to host events.

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At one point, I think this place held 1,800 seats, he said. Were not going to put 1,800 seats back in, but we will reimagine how we use this space.

Work on the former theater will start in the near future by focusing on fixing the roof and cleaning out debris.

When imagining the completed property, Ellis takes inspiration from the movie Field of Dreams, he said.

If you build it they will come, he said. My thought is that, if you over plan, youre never going to get this going.

What comes after the renovations are finished is where Ellis will need the communitys help, he said.

Ellis said he could not be renovating the theater without the help of friends and local businesses.

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Im going to get the credit for making this happen, but I dont deserve the credit at all, he said. There is so many people that have put so much more time and energy in. I just got lucky  right time, right spot  and was able to do it.

Companies involved with the project include Metcalf Glass and Castle Railings, he said.

Previously a history teacher in Mentor, Ellis said he wanted to preserve the history of the building while bringing it to light for a new generation.

I enjoy the idea that you can take what other people have done, learn and apply it todays world, he said. I think math is A to B. You solve it. ... For these projects, you need critical thinking, things of that nature, to really look at it.

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Ellis said balancing his vision with the theaters history has been the most challenging part to the renovations.

One of Ellis main focuses is bringing more people down to Main Avenue to avoid the historic street going to ruin.

Theres not too many streets left like this, he said.

Ellis is thankful for the support of the city and the help of Ashtabula City Manager Jim Timonere and Planning and Community Development Assistant Director Mary Church.

Everybodys been really helpful, so thats nice, he said.
Experts warn that sewage sludge, which has been marketed to British farmers as a cheap fertilizer for years, is a toxic mess that threatens the long-term health of the land.

What's happening?

Each year, around 846,575 tons of sewage sludge, the solid residue remaining after wastewater treatment, is spread over more than 370,658 acres of agricultural land in England, according to the Guardian, which summarized the problem.

One water-sector regulator, speaking anonymously to the publication, called sewage sludge a "Trojan horse," saying that it contains PFAS, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics  this toxic cocktail threatens the long-term sustainability of farmland, they added.

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Meanwhile, current regulations don't test for these pollutants. In fact, spreading sludge is incentivized because it's cheaper than other disposal methods and it's cheap or free for farmers, who face rising fertilizer costs.

The Guardian added that polluting industries stand to gain when they send their liquid waste to wastewater treatment plants, as it's a cheaper option compared to incineration and other disposal methods. Some water companies are even using this practice to make money off their wastewater, according to a second insider. Both sources are concerned about the utilization of sewage facilities to dispose of hazardous waste, especially landfill leachate.

"As soon as you let industrial waste into your sewer network, your sewage becomes hazardous waste," the first source said. "Masking it as sludge and calling it fertilizer is a problem."

Why is sewage sludge concerning?

The Guardian added that some of the chemicals in the sludge, including PFAS and pharmaceuticals, are accumulating in crops and livestock, and some scientists believe they are entering the food chain.

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Across the pond, the United States agriculture industry is also facing a reckoning when it comes to a long-standing practice of spreading sewage sludge on fields.

For instance, one Maine organic farmer had to shut down his operation after it was discovered that the previous landowner had fertilized the land with sewage sludge for years. He and his family are now worried about the long-term health impacts after blood tests revealed high levels of PFAS. Those "forever chemicals" have been linked to a range of health concerns, including cancer, poor immunity, and reproductive disorders.

A third-generation cattle rancher in Michigan, whose property was found to be contaminated with sludge fertilizer in 2020, had a health advisory placed on his beef. Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania community is grappling with PFAS-contaminated water that is likely linked to sewage sludge spread on nearby fields in the 1980s.

What's being done about sewage sludge?

The Guardian noted that the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural fields is banned in some European countries, such as Switzerland. So far, Maine is the only U.S. state to have outright banned its application, according to The New York Times. However, lawmakers in other states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have proposed certain limitations on its use, and one town in New York is inching closer to a ban.

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Advocates in England would like to see similar standards, according to the Guardian, and many say regulation should start upstream by controlling what enters the treatment plants themselves.

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The man suspected of gunning down a police officer near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday has been named as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White.

White, 30, of Kennesaw, Georgia, is suspected of killing DeKalb County Police Department Officer David Rose, 33, shortly before 5 p.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in an update on Saturday.

The deadly incident unfolded when White opened fire in front of the CDC campus, unleashing a barrage of bullets that pierced multiple windows.

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A GBI image released Saturday showed dozens of shell casings scattered across the pavement.

Police Officer Killed After Shooting Near Cdc Headquarters, Emory University In Atlanta

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said in a post on X. Images shared by employees showed multiple agency buildings with bullet-pocked windows, underscoring the breadth of the damage to a site where thousands of scientists and staff work on critical disease research.

Read On The Fox News App

When officers responded to the location, they found Rose critically wounded and heard additional gunfire coming from a nearby CVS pharmacy. Rose was rushed to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road where he died from his injuries.

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Officers entered a nearby pharmacy and located the shooter on the second floor with at least one gunshot wound. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said it was not clear if the wound came from police gunfire or if it was self-inflicted.

The motive for the shooting is not known.

Without naming White Friday night, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described him as a "known person that may have, some interest in certain things."

The shooting took place on Clifton Rd. near the Emory University campus, which also houses a daycare with more than 90 children in its care. None of them were harmed.

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Shooting At Georgia's Fort Stewart Injures 5 Soldiers; Suspect In Custody

The GBI is now leading the investigation and the FBI's Atlanta office said it is also assisting. The GBI said it is collecting evidence and conducting interviews as part of its investigation, which it said will take "an extended period of time."

Officer Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024, graduated from the police academy in March and had quickly earned a reputation for dedication and professionalism, the department said in a statement. He previously served as a Marine in Afghanistan.

He is survived by his pregnant wife and two children, police said.

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Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said Rose was committed to serving the community.

Police officers stand outside the emergency room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on Friday.

"At this time were asking for the communitys prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family," he said in a statement Friday.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said his family is "mourning today's tragic loss of Officer David Rose."

"His service and memory will not be forgotten by a grateful state, and his loved ones and fellow @DeKalbCountyPD officers will remain in our hearts and prayers as they grieve his passing and this painful day," Kemp wrote on X.

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Fox News' Alexandra Koch, Sophia Compton, Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Shooter named in CDC headquarters attack that left Georgia police officer dead
Its been a year since South Carolina cracked down on the Carolina squat truck  putting into law that drivers of such vehicles could face hefty fines and possible revocation of their licenses.

In that time, Myrtle Beach has issued more tickets than any other jurisdiction in the state.

The high number follows efforts by the citys police chief to ban the squat trucks, which could coften be seen cruising up and down Myrtle Beachs tourist section of North Ocean Boulevard.

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The law banning the vehicles went into effect on July 1, 2023, but it wasnt until May 10, 2024, that law enforcement was able to begin writing tickets for the trendy alteration, usually found on a pickup or SUV, that lifts the front of the vehicle and lowers the rear.

Since May 10, 2024, officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department have issued 171 citations under the code 56-05-4445 for operating an elevated or lowered vehicle, according to an email from Myrtle Beach Police Lt. Allen Amick.

Statewide, 388 tickets have been written by law enforcement from May 10, 2024, through May 16, 2025, according to information provided by the South Carolina Highway Department of Public Safety through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Of those, 133 tickets were written in Horry County, making it the top county in the state for issuing citations for violating the new law.

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The next highest number of tickets were written in Kershaw County with 56, followed by Florence County with 29.

The trucks have long been seen on Horry County roads, and Myrtle Beach has been a haven for squat trucks during the height of summer.

Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock played a key role in outlawing the trucks, testifying multiple times during state House committee hearings. One incident used to encourage the ban was the death of a pedestrian, who was struck and killed by a Carolina squat truck in the city during the summer of 2021.

We continue to address this law like all laws. Our goal is always safety, and we continue to believe this law is part of making our roadways safer, Amick said in an email. We as well as our state and local partners have worked to educate those who live in and visit our state, to gain compliance. Since this statute went into effect, we have seen a decrease in vehicles that violate these statutes within the city limits.

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Horry County Police Departments Traffic Enforcement Unit also has also seen a reduction in violations since the law changed, according to Horry County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov by text.

But there are still violations, Moskov said. About two weekends ago, officers wrote 16 tickets with five of those vehicles being towed, she said.

The tickets are written under the charge of operating an elevated or lowered vehicle. The law states that vehicles cannot be elevated or lowered by more than six inches by a modification or change in physical structure, with the exception of pickup trucks. However, the height of the front fender of a pickup truck cannot be raised or lowered four or more inches greater than the height of the rear fender.

Drivers face a $100 fine for a first offense; $200 for a second offense; and $300 for a third offense as well as a license suspension by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for 12 months from the date of the conviction.

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Here is the number of tickets reported by county in the last year by the SCDPS:

Horry: 133 citations Kershaw: 56 Florence: 29 Cherokee: 16 Greenwood: 11 Aiken: 10 York: 9 Dillon: 9 Beaufort: 9 Anderson: 8 Georgetown: 7 Darlington: 7 Newberry: 7 Marion: 7 Lexington: 6 Greenville: 5 Lancaster: 5 Jasper: 5 Dorchester: 4 Edgefield: 4 Berkeley: 4 Colleton: 4 Spartanburg: 4 Hampton: 3 Lee: 3 Williamsburg: 3 Sumter: 3 Chester: 2 Chesterfield: 2 Laurens: 2 Marlboro: 1 Clarendon: 1 Charleston: 1 Richland: 1 Orangeburg: 1 Barnwell: 1 Fairfield: 1 Oconee: 1 Pickens: 1 Union: 1 Bamberg: 1
LINCOLN, Neb. -- A powerful line of thunderstorms brought hurricane-force winds across a swath of eastern Nebraska early Saturday morning, leaving a trail of damage stretching from Lincoln into Omaha and reports of some injuries.

Lincoln reported multiple gusts over 70 mph as the thunderstorms moved through, with a peak gust of 91 mph and another gust of 82 mph. The town of Exter, Nebraska reached 86 mph while Friend, Nebraska clocked an 84 mph gust.

The storm didn't let up as it swept into the Omaha area, with gusts reaching 75-85 mph along areas just went and northwest of Downtown Omaha. Gusts reached 87 mph in Millard and 86 mph in Blair. National Weather Service spotters reported numerous trees down across the region.

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"The neighborhoods in North Omaha where I am are heavily treed, so there's damage everywhere," Lori Meier told FOX Weather. "Damage is between Elkhorn and Bennington in the northwest side of Omaha, not too far from where those tornadoes hit last year."

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported some people had been injured at Two Rivers State Park, but didn't give any further details on the number or extent. Fire officials say there are many areas of high water on streets, trees down and power lines down.

"We are working with all our partners to clean things up, but please stay home and give us time and space to work," fire officials in Valley, Nebraska posted on Facebook.

Workers with Enfield's Tree Service said they were out at 4:30 a.m. and had been busy cleaning up tree damage around the Elkhorn neighborhood. One worker said he'd found garbage cans blown two or three blocks away from their homes.

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"It was pretty intense this morning," he said.

Washington County officials also reported widespread damage in their county.

Videos posted on social media showed city officials sounding tornado sirens in the Omaha area to warn of the impending damaging wind threat.

Over 80,000 electricity customers lost power in Nebraska during the peak of the storm, according to findenergy.com. Douglas County Emergency Management reported four transmission lines were down in Blair and Ceresco, near Omaha.

Severe Thunderstorm Watches extend into noon for north-central Iowa as the thunderstorm cluster moves east.





Original article source: Sirens wail as 90+ mph winds blast Nebraska, leaving thousands without power
Andhra Pradesh BJP President PVN Madhav has slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for rejecting the three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He said that the DMK's old strategy of using language for political gains would no longer work, as Tamilians are increasingly becoming global. His remarks came after Stalin on Friday said that the State Education Policy (SEP) has been curated while keeping in mind the "unique character" of the state and announced that the state will only follow a two-language policy. "In the advent of the Tamil Nadu elections, Stalin is speaking all rubbish to ignite regional passions. The main strategy that DMK formed in the 60s was the language and Tamil pride... That's what he's doing," Madhav told ANI. "But it will not give any results because all Tamilians have become global. The presence of Tamilians around the country and the world is large. Everybody knows about the three-language formula. Nobody is against implementing all three languages. Hindi is not compulsory. They can adopt Tamil and English. Apart from Hindi, they can choose their own language," he said. Stalin had said that his government is firm on following the two-language policy. "Through this education policy, we don't want students just to mug up, but think and get educated. Physical education will be taught along with studies. Importantly, I want to say firmly that we will follow a two-language policy, and it is our firm policy," Stalin said while addressing the gathering at Anna Centenary Library Auditorium. This move comes after months of protests by the DMK-led government against the National Education Policy (NEP) promoted by the Centre. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the NEP, calling it "against social justice" and an attempt to impose Hindi on the state. Tamil Nadu has refused to implement the NEP. In May, the state government filed a plea in the Supreme Court over the alleged withholding of about Rs 2,200 crore in central funds, which it linked to its refusal to adopt the NEP. The plea asks the court to declare that the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on the state unless it formally agrees to them. (ANI)
At least six Lebanese soldiers have been killed in an explosion as they were inspecting a weapons depot in southern Lebanon, the military has announced.

In a statement on Saturday, the Lebanese army said the unit was dismantling the contents of the depot in the Wadi Zibqin area, in the Tyre region, when the explosion occurred. It said other soldiers were injured but did not specify how many.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident, the statement said.

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The Lebanese army has been working with the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) to dismantle Hezbollah military infrastructure as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel that came into force in November.

The deadly explosion comes as the Lebanese government this week approved United States-backed plans to disarm Hezbollah  a move the Lebanese group has rejected, saying such demands serve Israeli interests.

It also comes just days after Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, said troops had discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels in the same area.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq had told reporters that peacekeepers and Lebanese troops found three bunkers, artillery, rocket launchers, hundreds of explosive shells and rockets, anti-tank mines and about 250 ready-to-use improvised explosive devices.

 Lebanese army soldiers work alongside @UNIFIL_ peacekeepers every day to restore security and stability to south Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/8s5EkNAdSh  Diodato Abagnara (@DiodatoAbagnara) August 9, 2025

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a social media post on Saturday that Lebanon mourns the soldiers who were killed while fulfilling their national duty.

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Diodato Abagnara, head of the UNIFIL mission, also expressed condolences to the troops and their families.

Several dedicated Lebanese soldiers were killed and others injured, simply doing their job to restore stability and avoid a return to open conflict, Abagnara wrote on X.

Sincere wishes for a full and fast recovery for the injured. Peacekeepers will continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and their work to restore stability, however we can.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  St. Joseph School District Board of Education President LaTonya Williams verified to News-Press NOW that one item on this coming Monday night's board agenda will be a recommendation to hold a public meeting soon to restructure the leadership of the board.

This would include removing Williams as BOE president.

In a telephone interview with News-Press NOW's Charles Christian, Williams said the political leanings of the board have changed since the last election, and that a majority of the board membership does not want her as president.

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Therefore, Williams said, a majority of board members added this item to the agenda, and she suspects she will be voted out as president, a role that she has held for two years.

An agenda item for Monday's meeting shows a Special Board of Education Meeting, requested by BOE Member Kim Miller.

The item states, Special board meetings may be held from time to time as circumstances may demand...A special meeting may also be called by at least four members of the board.

News-Press NOW will be live at the Board of Education meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Troester Media Center, located at 3401 Renick St., and will continue to follow this story.

Williams was elected to the school board in April 2021, then reelected in April 2024. She received the most votes in the 2024 election.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI)  South Kingstown police said they made three separate DUI arrests within a 90 minute time frame.

Around 11:53 p.m., police stopped a vehicle for speeding.

According to police, the operator, Gabriel Plummer, 33, of Worcester, Mass., displayed signs of impairment and admitted to drinking alcohol.

He was taken into custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs  BAC Unknown and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test.

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Plummer was arraigned and is expected in Washington County District Court on August 28.

At approximately 12:11 a.m., officers responded to a report of a vehicle that had crashed into the median on Old Tower Hill Road in front of Burger King.

Witnesses told officers they saw the driver, later identified as George Lenihan, 61, of South Kingstown, pouring out alcohol after the crash.

Police said he was taken into custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs  BAC Unknown and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test.

Lenihan was arraigned and is expected to appear in Washington County District Court on August 28.

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Then, at around 1:14 a.m., officers responded to a reported single-car crash into a tree on Usquepaugh Road.

According to police, officers found the driver, Gregory Southworth, 41, of Exeter, displaying signs of impairment.

He was taken into custody and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs  BAC Greater than .15  2nd Offense.

Southworth was arraigned and expected in Washington County District Court on August 28.

Making three DUI arrests in 90 minutes is unprecedented in South Kingstown and shows just how prevalent impaired driving is on our roads, said South Kingstown Police Chief Matthew Moynihan in a statement.

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Drivers must make more responsible choices and make a safe plan to get home if they are drinking or using cannabis. We are stepping up our patrols for the remainder of the summer and there is no tolerance for impaired driving in South Kingstown.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
The International Court of Justice ruled that nations must pay reparations if they don't address the global climate damage they have caused.

Caribbean leaders called the outcome of the climate change case a "historic legal victory" for people living on small islands.

As the Guardian reported, the court's advisory opinion establishes legal obligations for nations deemed responsible for climate events. Small island nations are disproportionately affected by climate-fueled extreme weather events and often lack the resources to rebuild after devastating storms.

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For example, over 90% of buildings in areas of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were destroyed by Hurricane Beryl in 2024, leaving thousands of people without homes, food, water, or power. In 2019, Hurricane Dorian resulted in $3.4 billion in damage in the Bahamas.

The Bahamas' attorney general, Ryan Pinder, said that the event "had a significant impact on the human rights of our people, whether that be displacement  the right to an adequate standard of living  [or] access to food, water, and housing."

The court's opinion affirmed that it is a human right to live in a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. It provides new legal options for small countries that have been suffering unfairly from the climate crisis.

This court decision is significant because it holds major polluters accountable for their actions and makes them pay to help rebuild countries that are victims of climate-related disasters.

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Climate justice and human rights attorneys can draw direct connections between the causes and effects of climate destruction. The burning of dirty energy, allowance of excess pollution, and destruction of carbon sinks can be measured with legally binding consequences.

No longer can the world's biggest polluters and emitters ignore the impacts of their climate destruction that's uprooting lives in other countries.

Climate law wins like this are a major step forward in repairing natural disaster damage and rebuilding safe and clean communities. These types of conservation efforts are especially crucial on islands because of their vulnerable ecosystems.

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.

Wherever you live, you can contribute to the forward movement of climate justice by voting for pro-climate candidates who share your values.

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You can also learn about critical climate issues that affect faraway places and your local area to be a responsible and proactive global citizen who cares about the greater good of humankind and the planet.

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

A small plane belonging to a flight school crashed into a Brookhaven homeowners yard early Saturday morning.

Three people aboard the aircraft were taken to a trauma center; all were conscious, alert, and breathing when transported.

The crash occurred near Clairmont Road and 9th Street, close to the Peachtree-DeKalb Airport.

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - Three people were hospitalized early Saturday after a small plane crashed into the yard of a Brookhaven home during a training flight.

What we know

The crash happened around 12:25 a.m. at a residence near the intersection of Clairmont Road and 9th Street, not far from the Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, according to Brookhaven police. Chamblee police and the DeKalb County Fire Department also responded to the scene.

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All three occupants of the plane were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. While their current conditions have not been released, police said they were conscious, alert and breathing when they were transported.

The backstory

Officials said the plane, registered to All2Fly Flight School, took off from Peachtree-DeKalb Airport at 10:51 p.m. on Friday and flew to Rome. After arriving back in DeKalb County, the plane performed several "touch-and-go" landings, a standard practice for flight training, according to officials.

The plane struck several trees, according to officials, and crashed in the yard.

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No damage has been reported to any homes. So power outages were reported, but Georgia Power quickly restored power, police said.

The plane was removed from the yard by early Saturday afternoon. Officials said the aircraft and all debris were removed by ATL Air Recovery and transported to a facility in Griffin. It will be stored there while the investigation is completed.

What's next

The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation.
Smiles by Design owner Dr. Amy-Jo Fischer celebrated the 30th anniversary of the business on Wednesday.

Fischer has been a resident of Kernersville since 1985. She received her doctor of dentistry degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1985. After graduation she was employed by the N.C. Department of Correction.

It was educational, she said. I got to work in a low stress environment. I wasnt trying to keep up production. It was not like it was in a private practice. Prisoners get medical and dental treatment just like any other person, and they were appreciative.

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Fischer then started working part-time in Walkertown for another dentist before starting Smiles by Design in 1995. She started Smiles by Design is a smaller building and a slightly smaller staff than she has now.

There were two buildings side by side. Then we expanded and bought the other building, she said.

Being in the medical field was a family thing for Fischer and her daughter, Dr. Meredith Ward, who also works at Smiles by Design.

It is a family trait. My grandfather was a surgeon, my father was a surgeon, and my mom was a registered nurse. I kind of knew I would be in some medical field, Fischer said.

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Fischer is a member of the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Association, and the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce. She has also traveled to Honduras as a member of the UNC Dental Brigades, and volunteers on Mission Dental buses.

Ward is a Kernersville native and a graduate of East Forsyth High School. She attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she earned bachelors degrees in biology and psychology. After observing her mother in practice and recognizing her own passion for dentistry, Ward went on to obtain her doctorate of dental medicine.

Fischer said she is proud of her staff and enjoys getting to know her patients.

What I enjoy the most is probably the patients themselves. Getting to know them, getting to know their families and see them every six months, is my favorite part. It is a generational thing sometimes. I have patients as old as late 90s. I also see them out in the community at stores and at church, she said. I feel very grateful for the incredible staff we have. Several of them have been with me for 20 years. I like what I do, and the great thing about it is you can pick how many days you want to work. I like the job, and I will be here for a while. It is a joy to be here.

Fischer is also active in the community. After a battle with breast cancer 15 years ago, Fischer founded the Kernersville Pink Ribbon Rally Fund, which helps breast cancer patients with their non-medical expenses.
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Smith County Commissioners Court held a special meeting to iron out details of the 2026 proposed budget on Friday.

Theres a huge cost to doing nothing and a great cost is public trust in this commissioners court, Executive Director of Grassroots American, JoAnn Fleming, said.

During a nearly 4-hour-long meeting on Friday, requests for money for what they called critical needs from department heads sounded like a broken record.

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This is the third year to get rid of these trucks I bought. I requested they are gonna be on their third transmission, each of them and both of them need a front-end replacement, Smith County Constable Josh Joplin said.

PHOTOS: Lindale fire claims family dog, sends boy to hospital

Time after time, the county had the same response: that theres not enough money for every request, and departments have been cutting costs where they can.

I knew the first day when there were 77 requests. I knew, okay, this is not going to be the year that we were going to be able to provide that, Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said.

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Franklin said the challenge with the budget is prioritizing nearly $6 million for insurance for county employees and inmate healthcare for the jail.

As of today, I have 8 pregnant females, 8 with cancer. A man may look like hes 40 years old, but his body maybe 80 due to the abuse hes taken over the years and not taken care of themselves if they have diabetes, Smith Co. Chief Deputy Gary Pinkerton said.

Franklin added they are prioritizing needs, like a total of $3 million towards cost-of-living raises for county employees and IT updates.

You could spend almost every penny you have on our it information technology because of the way the world is right now, Franklin said.

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Texarkana PD investigates fatal shooting of 22-year-old man

Balancing next years budget has been a challenge, but Franklin believes the county is in good shape.

During the meeting, Franklin is proposing a fleet fund for critical vehicles. There are two public meetings on the budget on Sept. 2nd at 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.

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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He called on the prime minister to reconvene the cabinet and announce that there will be no more pauses in the war, and no more partial deals.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a lengthy statement on Saturday night that following the Security Cabinet meeting on Friday, he has lost confidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to lead the IDF to victory.

He called on the prime minister to reconvene the cabinet and announce that there will be no more pauses in the war, and no more partial deals.

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Additionally, Smotrich threatened Netanyahu at Thursdays cabinet meeting with going to elections, telling him: As far as Im concerned, we can stop everything and let the people decide, according to a Sunday report by KAN.

"This time we proceed with a clear, sharp move toward a decisive outcome and victory - ending with Hamass complete surrender and the return of all the hostages at once, or with its defeat and total destruction. Annex large parts of the Gaza Strip and open its gates to voluntary emigration," Smotrich said, arguing that this is the only way Israel will completely win the war.

"The prime minister and the cabinet succumbed to weaknesses, let emotion defeat reason, and once again chose more of the same: to launch a military move whose purpose is not a decisive outcome, but only to pressure Hamas into a partial hostage deal, stating clearly that if Hamas agrees to a deal, we too will agree to stop again, withdraw again, and allow it to recover and rearm again. And so on and so forth," according to the finance minister.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

The cost of war

He said that sending tens of thousands of soldiers to risk their lives to operate in Gaza City, and "to pay heavy political and international costs solely to pressure Hamas to release hostages and then to retreat" is immoral and illogical.

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Until this time, "for the sake of unity, I stood behind moves that in my view were less correct. I remained in the government despite terrible decisions such as releasing terrorist murderers with blood on their hands and painful withdrawals from areas captured at great cost - so long as I assessed we were striving for a decisive outcome and victory."

"A war should be fought to win, to the end - even if it carries heavy costs. But a partial move meant only to push Hamas back into the negotiating room, in national humiliation and capitulation to terror - absolutely not," Smotrich continued.

Smotrich claimed that whenever there is a push for a deal on the table, the military does not operate at full force. What is worse of all, he said, is that if the state continues to allow Hamas the option of a temporary pause for the release of hostages, whenever it feels it is on the verge of collapse, it will ask for a "breather" and agree to a temporary deal.

"Then the war will again be halted, the fighters will again pull back, and their efforts and sacrifices will be squandered. And so it repeats, without a decisive outcome," he said, arguing that these partial deals create a cycle of conflict.
Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.

Enough bashing

The Trump Derangement Syndrome crowd never lets up in Sound Off. President Trump could cure cancer, and theyd complain hes putting doctors out of work. Their baseless accusations are constant and never backed up. Those of us with common sense want a strong America  and thats exactly why we support Donald J. Trump. He delivers.

Phone calls

I shouldnt be getting a phone call from Washington D.C. every weekday. This is ridiculous. I thought we did away with these robo calls. I block it and they call again from a number a few digits off from the last.

Mask up

I know because of COVID, no one wants to hear about masks, but hear me out. I first learned about N95 masks after Katrina. It was recommended to get them working in a house that may have mold. I used them working in my house and also while helping some others clean out their homes. I strongly suggest you pick up a supply and put them in your hurricane kit.

Another lie

It turns out that Jeffrey Epsteins Mar-a-Lago membership remained in effect through 2007, more than a year after he was arrested. So much for Trump kicking him out of Mar-a-Lago. Just another Trump lie.

Now you care?

Remember when Michelle Obama wanted to make school lunches healthier, and conservatives went insane because eating garbage was an American right? Now theyre suddenly super worried about what soda is doing to SNAP recipients. Politics, man.

Democrats

The Democrats ability to lecture anybody on democracy plummeted when they failed to primary Joe Biden.

So long

The Howard Stern show was done as soon as he tried to help in the President Biden dementia coverup.

Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.
North Korea has begun dismantling some of its loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border, South Koreas military confirmed on Saturday, following Seouls own removal of propaganda speakers in a concerted effort to de-escalate tensions.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff did not disclose the specific sites where the North Koreans were removing the equipment, nor was it immediately clear whether Pyongyang intended to take down all of its loudspeakers.

This development follows recent months of complaints from South Korean border residents, who reported being subjected to irritating sounds, including howling animals and pounding gongs, blasted from North Korean speakers in a tit-for-tat response to Seouls propaganda broadcasts.

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This latest development follows North Koreas cessation of its own broadcasts in June, a direct response to Seouls new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, halting South Korean transmissions.

This initial step was seen as the first concrete measure by his government to ease friction between the long-divided rivals. South Koreas military commenced the removal of its border speakers on Monday, though details regarding their storage or potential rapid redeployment in the event of renewed tensions remain undisclosed.

South Korean soldiers removing loudspeakers that were set up for propaganda broadcasts near the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in an undisclosed location in South Korea (South Korean Defence Ministry/AF)

Pyongyang, known for its extreme sensitivity to any external criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, has yet to officially confirm the dismantling of its loudspeakers.

South Koreas previous conservative government resumed daily loudspeaker broadcasts in June last year, following a yearslong pause, in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-laden balloons toward the South.

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The speakers blasted propaganda messages and K-pop songs, a playlist designed to strike a nerve in Pyongyang, where Kim has been pushing an intense 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 Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns further heightened tensions already inflamed by North Koreas advancing nuclear program and South Korean efforts to expand joint military exercises with the United States and their trilateral security cooperation with Japan.

Lee, who took office in June after winning an early election to replace ousted conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, wants to improve relations with Pyongyang, which reacted furiously to Yoons hard-line policies and shunned dialogue.

A North Korean military guard post, loudspeaker, top right, and South Korean military guard post, bottom, are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea (Associated Press)

But Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, rebuffed overtures by Lees government in late July, saying that Seouls blind trust in the countrys alliance with the United States makes it no different from its conservative predecessor.

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She later issued a separate statement dismissing the Trump administrations intent to resume diplomacy on North Koreas denuclearization, suggesting that Pyongyang  now focused on expanding ties with Russia over the war in Ukraine  sees little urgency in resuming talks with Seoul or Washington.

Tensions between the Koreas can possibly rise again later this month, when South Korea and the United States proceed with their annual large-scale combined military exercises, which begin on Aug. 18. North Korea labels the allies joint drills as invasion rehearsals and often uses them as a pretext to dial up military demonstrations and weapons tests aimed at advancing its nuclear program.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured of India's farmers being the government's "top priority," the farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Amravati reaffirmed their faith in the Prime Minister's leadership, calling for a strong stance against US' demand for opening up domestic agricultural markets. One of the farmers in the city, Ramamjaneyulu, supported PM Modi's statement, remarking that US President "Donald Trump doesn't scare Modi." Expressing confidence in the development of the country and Andhra Pradesh, the farmer added, "Our government is functioning very well. In the presence of Modi, we believe that Andhra Pradesh will flourish magnificently as part of India. We strongly believe it will become prosperous and grand." Another farmer, Seetha Ramayya Hope, expressed optimism in the leadership of PM Modi and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying that farmers had given acres of land under the land pooling scheme in the state to develop Amravati, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also promising grants to the state for the development of the city and the Polavaram project. "We gave 6.5 acres of land under land pooling, believing that Amaravati would be developed under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Chandrababu Naidu. We were promised that, with support from the central government, World Bank funds, and Asian Development Bank funds, Amaravati would grow into a world-class city. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also assured us that the central government would provide grants, not loans, to Andhra Pradesh," he said. The farmer also drew a comparison between US President Trump and former Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, calling the latter "unpredictable and trying to intimidate others." "To be honest, Trump reminds me of our former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, unpredictable and constantly trying to intimidate others. It feels like he's trying to control India," he said. "If we buy oil from Russia will America allow it? Do we always have to listen to them? Is India supposed to act like a servant to the United States? Modi must not bow down to America. Instead, we should assert our sovereignty. If Modi listens to everything America says, then our country will end up beneath them," he added. On Thursday, in a message against the tariffs imposed by the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that farmers remain India's top priority and that the country would never compromise their interests. "For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it," PM Modi said while addressing the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference. His remarks come amid the Trump administration doubling the tariff imposition to 50 per cent on goods from India. During trade negotiations, the United States was pushing for greater access to India's agricultural market, especially for corn, soybeans, and cotton. However, India has so far resisted the opening of the agricultural sector and dairy products due to concerns about domestic livelihoods and potential impacts on farmers. (ANI)
A Southern California man is recovering after he was pulled out of a burning car by good Samaritans after a crash on the 105 Freeway.

Stefan The Foosh Cabezas works as a technical director for The Conway Show and Later with MoKelly on KFI AM 640 radio.

On Aug. 7, when Cabezas didnt show up for work, his colleagues began to worry. They tried calling him, but the calls went unanswered.

We went three hours yesterday, panicking and trying to figure out where he was, his colleague, Tim Conway, Jr., told KTLAs Rick Chambers.

Stefan The Foosh Cabezas is a technical director for The Conway Show and Later with MoKelly on KFI AM 640 radio in Los Angeles. (GoFundMe/@hsquared) Stefan Cabezas was trapped inside his burning vehicle after a crash on the 105 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2025. (@hsquared) Three good Samaritans pulled Stefan Cabezas out of his burning car, saving his life on Aug. 7, 2025. His loved ones are searching for them so they can properly thank them. (@hsquared) The guardrail Stefan Cabezas crashed into afetr a driver cut him off on the 105 Freeway, causing his car to flip over and catch on fire on Aug. 7, 2025. (@hsquared) Stefan The Foosh Cabezas is seen with his colleagues. He is a technical director for The Conway Show and Later with MoKelly on KFI AM 640 radio in Los Angeles. Stefan The Foosh Cabezas is seen with his colleagues. He is a technical director for The Conway Show and Later with MoKelly on KFI AM 640 radio in Los Angeles. Stefan Cabezas was trapped inside his burning vehicle after a crash on the 105 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2025. (@hsquared) Stefan The Foosh Cabezas is a technical director for The Conway Show and Later with MoKelly on KFI AM 640 radio in Los Angeles. (GoFundMe)

Conway said Cabezas was attempting to change lanes when he was cut off by another driver. The sudden maneuver sent his car crashing into a guardrail before it flipped over and eventually caught on fire.

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Cabezas mother said her sons arm was outside the car window when the vehicle rolled over. As he remained trapped in the burning car, three good Samaritans quickly pulled over and rushed to extricate him.

They successfully pulled him out of the burning car and a fourth person helped place a tourniquet on his mangled arm.

Police said that without the quick actions of those bystanders, Cabezas would not have survived. He was rushed to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for surgery.

With no access to updates, his colleagues had feared for the worst. I thought he was gone, Conway said. I had the worst feeling in the world.

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His family and friends were beyond relieved when they learned he had survived the crash. He underwent a second surgery on Aug. 8 and remains on a ventilator in the ICU. There are several more surgeries planned in the future.

Now, his loved ones are hoping to identify the good Samaritans who rescued Cabezas that day so they can properly thank them for their heroism.

Outside of his work with KFI Radio, Cabezas also works as an Uber driver to make ends meet. His family said theyre concerned as he will be unable to work for some time while he recovers.

A GoFundMe page to help Cabezas with medical expenses can be found here. Anyone who recognizes the good Samaritans can send a message to KFI Radio on their social media pages or by calling 800-520-1534.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Southwest Airlines has dominated the headlines in recent months thanks to the carrier's controversial decisions to start charging for checked bags and changing how its aircraft will be boarded.

Starting on Jan. 27, 2026, instead of being assigned a number relating to boarding the aircraft, travelers will be able to select their assigned seat ahead of time. CEO Bob Jordan previously opened up on the change, suggesting it's for the betterment of employees and travelers alike.

"... Our employees are excited about the changes. Because if you think about it, if in the open-seating world a family gets on and they cant sit together, the flight attendant is having to police that in the cabin," he said. "Our open-seat boarding can cause a lot of pre-boards, and our agents are having to police that. You have people who paid for early boarding, and then we have more pre-boards than anybody else.

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"So folks that paid for earlier boarding are going, 'Well, wait, why?'"

Southwest Makes Another Policy Shift

In another major change for the company, Southwest Airlines announced a partnership with Priceline allowing users to search and book the carrier's inventory on websites owned by Booking Holdings including Agoda, Booking.com, Cheapflights, Momondo, HotelsCombined and Rocketmiles.

"We're happy to partner with Priceline to broaden our distribution network and offer even more Customers the opportunity to experience our Southwest Hospitality," Tony Roach, Executive Vice President Customer & Brand at Southwest Airlines said in a statement. "We look forward to making it easier for Customers to access our extensive flight offerings to book their next trip."

What Led to Southwest's Latest Move?

The move comes just over a year after Southwest broadened its retail network by selling tickets on Expedia's list of booking sites, Expedia.com, Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz and CheapTickets and its decision to show fares on Google Flights.

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Earlier this year Southwest revealed just two months after the initiative began, four to five percent of the airline's bookings were on Expedia-owned websites, and that most of the customers were new to Southwest or "customers we haven't seen in a long time."

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces Change on All Flights Starting August 13

Southwest Airlines Confirms Big Move After Controversial Change first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
SOUTHWICK  Less than a year after the Select Board gave the greenlight for Pioneer Valley Trading Co. to open the towns first recreational marijuana dispensary, it opened for business on Wednesday.

The community has been very supportive, right down to the other business owners expressing their excitement for us to come in. We just feel like weve been very welcomed with open arms by everybody. So, were very grateful as a team, said Michael Albert, one of the owners of the dispensary that opened at 660 College Hwy. in the former Southwick Episcopal Church.

He said the process to get the shop open within a year was very streamlined, with the initial requests for the proposals by the town last July to the final inspections and assistance from the Cannabis Control Commission.

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We have to give big kudos to the town and the state for making it such a such am streamlined process, he said.

What will set Pioneer Valley apart from other dispensaries in the region is the positive vibe when going in.

With decorative lighting and eclectic disks of various sizes and muted colors hanging from the 23-foot ceilings, its almost like walking into a cannabis cathedral with the ever present slightly sweet skunky aroma of freshly harvested marijuana flower.

Artwork adorns the walls above comfy couches with a working organ  left over from the church  in one corner and a massive fish tank along one wall filled with dazzling marine life including what appears to be a huge white goldfish that Albert said is 20 years old.

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And for the cannabis connoisseur and those new to the relaxing effects of what is technically a weed, Pioneer Valley has it all.

We have everything from flower to pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, and topical, Albert said.

And hes always looking for new suppliers and products.

If it comes across our desk and its an interesting looking product, we try it, Albert said.

When asked if he had a criteria for the cultivators he relies on for product, Albert said they are always on the hunt for small batch producers.

We try to focus on the the smaller, more boutique cultivators. We do have stuff from the big guys as well, but we really put a focus on the craft side of things. The smaller growth facilities are where more attention is paid to the product right up to the post-harvest management. You can really tell the difference in quality, he said.

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Albert does have the advantage of its flagship dispensary in Westfield, also called Pioneer Valley Trading Co., which is located on Southampton Road.

What is great about this store is weve already done the major screening in our Westfield store, so we know the best products to stock, he said.

While selling product is the goal, its the sales staff, called budtenders, that enhance the customer experience.

Most of our success up to this point is because of the staff. We would not be here today and not have been able to expand if we didnt have such a caring and compassionate staff. Their goal is to have people leave here with a smile on their face, he said.

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They are also there for those who may have had an unpleasant past experience with cannabis, which is often feeling anxious.

Its such a common question. When we have a guest that is nervous or they have some anxiety about getting back into it or its someone whos trying it for the first time, what we do first is establish what theyre looking to achieve, Albert said.

We call it going low and slow, he said.

The THC levels in cannabis can very greatly, and there are products that have very low THC levels, which is where someone new to cannabis will want to start.

And for those hesitant, Albert said the state requires all products to be rigorously inspected by independent labs that certify the products are free of chemicals and safe.

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Albert invited the community to come and look for themselves.

We encourage you to come out, grab an iPad kiosk, sit on one of our couchs and scroll through the menu. And if you have questions, our staff and budtenders will have the answers, he said.

The shop is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more, check out Pioneer Valleys website.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains how Starlink satellites work in space.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  After more than four months aboard the International Space Station, four astronauts safely returned to Earth Saturday morning with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego, wrapping up NASA and SpaceXs Crew-10 mission.

According to SpaceX, the Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS at 3:05 p.m. PT on Friday, Aug. 8, and completed a series of precise orbit-lowering maneuvers before re-entering Earths atmosphere. The capsule made a successful splashdown at 8:33 a.m. PT on Saturday in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 17 hours since the crews departure.

Four astronauts safely returned to Earth Saturday morning with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego. (Credit: SpaceX)

Aboard the spacecraft were NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. All four crewmembers are reported to be in good health following recovery operations.

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Theres a tree in California thats older than the Egyptian pyramids

The mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 14, marked a 145-day stay in orbit. The Dragon capsule autonomously docked with the ISS just over a day after launch and supported a wide range of scientific research during its time in space.

Four astronauts safely returned to Earth Saturday morning with a splashdown off the coast of San Diego. (Credit: SpaceX)

While in orbit, Crew-10 contributed to experiments aimed at advancing future human space exploration and improving life on Earth, including studies on microgravitys effects on human health and new technologies for long-duration missions, SpaceX officials explained.

This Dragon spacecraft has now completed multiple mission, having previously flown NASAs Crew-3, Crew-5, and Crew-7 missions. The Falcon 9 rocket used in this mission also marked its second flight, previously launching the SES 03b mPOWER satellite.

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NASA and SpaceX streamed the re-entry and splashdown live via webcast and on the new X TV app, giving space enthusiasts a front-row seat to the exciting conclusion of the mission.

The safe return off Californias southern coast marks another milestone in the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX as they continue to advance crewed spaceflight capabilities.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
ORLANDO, Fla.  The four members of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission climbed aboard the Crew Dragon Endurance and departed the International Space Station on Friday evening for an overnight trip and safe splashdown back on Earth.

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov launched to the station back on March 14 from Kennedy Space Center. After four-and-a-half months on board, they undocked at 6:15 p.m. and completed a 17 1/2-hour trip home for a splashdown off the coast of San Diego at 11:33 a.m. Saturday.

For the entire crew, thank you for that flight. Truly an honor of a lifetime, Crew-10 commander McClain said after landing. Id say take 20 minutes  get to the back of the line and then go again.

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The Dragon completing its fourth trip to space broke through low cloud cover at the landing site near San Diego on a parachute-assisted, gentle descent of about 15 mph. The spacecraft had been going more than 16,500 mph an hour earlier before performing its deorbit burn during which it endured temperatures near 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite some choppy seas, SpaceX was able to haul it up onto a recovery vessel, crack open the side hatch and give its four passengers their first breaths of fresh air in nearly 148 days.

Crew is ready to return to the atmosphere,  McClain had said before reentry.

All four were offloaded and helped onto stretchers for medical checkouts within an hour of splashing down. They will be flown back by helicopter to shore, then go by plane back to their homes in Houston, Japan and Russia.

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The undocking Friday went off on time as the space station population dropped from 11 to seven.

It has been an absolute privilege to cross paths with you, McClain said as the Dragon drifted away from the station. Godspeed.

She had also led the missions farewell ceremony earlier in the week.

We really want to lead with gratitude for the absolute privilege of getting to live and work aboard this amazing International Space Station, she said. All of us are keenly aware that we may never get to do this again, and weve been very pensive over the last days of understanding what we have all got to be a part of.

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Ayers was the first from her NASA astronaut class chosen in 2021, known as The Flies, to make it to space.

We got to see some amazing views and we have had some really big belly laughs and a wonderful time together, she said about her Crew-10 crewmates. Leaving with a heart full of gratitude and excited to see where the International Space Station goes after we get home.

While McClain is the Crew-10 commander, Onishi had been the Expedition 73 commander for the station. He handed over command to Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov during a ceremony Tuesday before departing. Ryzhikov is part of the Soyuz crew that flew up in April and wont leave until December.

I wish we could spend more time together, Onishi said about Crew-11 replacements that arrived last weekend. But you are in good hands. So Im sure the second half of Expedition 73 will be even better.  Crew-10 is now leaving, but the science will continue here, because this place is the outpost for human beings to advance our technology and to explore further.

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The California splashdown marks the first time a NASA mission with SpaceX has landed on the West Coast with 10 previous crewed missions for NASA (Demo-2 and Crew-1 through Crew-9) on SpaceX Crew Dragons having splashed down off the coast of Florida instead. Its the first time since the Apollo-Soyuz mission ended in 1975 that NASA astronauts have made a Pacific landing.

SpaceX made the shift in coasts after several incidents of debris showing up on land around the world that turned out to be remnants of the Crew Dragon trunks, which had previously been discarded at higher altitudes during deorbit. Now the trunk is more safely discarded over the Pacific as it comes in for its landing. SpaceX has already knocked out two California landings this year on private missions Fram2 and Axiom Spaces Ax-4.

For Crew-10, the mission was the shortest so far for an operational flight under NASAs Commercial Crew Program. The longest has been Crew-8 from March-October 2024 at more than 235 days. Most have been around six months long.

The reason Crew-10 was short was twofold. It was originally targeting a February liftoff, but a delay from SpaceX with its fifth and final Crew Dragon forced a shuffle so Crew-10 flew with Endurance and the private Ax-4 mission ended up with the new vehicle, which they named Grace.

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Its departure was also needed before the planned CRS-33 cargo Dragon mission slated to arrive later this month, as it would need somewhere to park, and the station has only two ports that can handle Dragon spacecraft. That cargo Dragon has a special reboost capacity built in that will be used to elevate the space stations altitude, a first for SpaceX. The Russian Progress spacecraft are usually the ones responsible for space station reboost, but NASA is trying to store up fuel reserves for the eventual need to bring the space station back down to burn up in Earths atmosphere when its decommissioned after 2030.

Endurance debuted in 2021 on Crew-3 followed by the Crew-5 mission in 2022 and Crew-7 in 2023. It left behind the Crew-11 crew, who arrived last weekend in the fleet-leading Crew Dragon Endeavour. It was the first SpaceX Crew Dragon to fly with humans back in 2020 on the Demo-2 mission and is now amidst its sixth trip to space. The other Crew Dragons are Resilience, Freedom and Grace.

Crew-11 is not slated to leave the station until next year after at least six months, although NASA and SpaceX are looking into potentially stretching that mission to eight months.

Crew-10s arrival in March was part of the Starliner saga as it was the relief crew to the station that allowed for Boeing Starliners two astronauts to finally come home after nearly 10 months in space.

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Starliner flew up to the station on the Crew Flight Test in June 2024, but the spacecraft suffered helium leaks and thruster failures on its propulsion system before docking. NASA ultimately chose to send Starliner home without crew in September  meaning NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had to remain on board the station until SpaceX was able to fly up a Crew Dragon with a pair of open seats that would allow them to fly home.

While Crew-9 arrived at the station in fall 2024, Williams and Wilmore had to remain on it until Crew-10 arrived and Crew-9 was able to make it home.

The Commercial Crew Program originally contracted with Boeing and SpaceX to each build spacecraft to take over the responsibilities of shuttling astronauts on U.S.-based launches to and from the space station. NASA had to rely on Russia for rides to the station on Soyuz flights since the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.

Both SpaceX and Boeing faced issues getting their test flights up and running, but SpaceX eventually returned U.S.-based orbital flights nearly nine years later.

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Since Demo-2, SpaceX has flown its fleet of five Crew Dragons 19 times with 74 human passengers. Boeing suffered issues on its initial uncrewed Starliner flight in 2019 that forced a follow-up uncrewed flight that had its own issues to not fly until 2022. The CFT flight was supposed to open the door for NASA to trade off rotational flights between SpaceX and Boeing with each company flying once a year to support station operations.

Boeing and NASA, though, are back to fixing the issues found on the CFT mission with its next flight potentially reverting to an uncrewed mission to the station to ensure its propulsion systems are safe. Then NASA could begin flying operational missions with Starliner.

SpaceX, though, is likely to fly Crew-12 for the next rotational mission sometime early next year.

NASA only needs enough flights from among the two companies to support staffing on the station until its decommissioned. At most that would likely mean 10 more missions, but it might become less if stays on board get stretched.

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The Trump administration has recently pushed to pull back on the number of flights needed to the station before its decommissioned as well as limiting the number of astronauts.

This all falls within a larger plan to invest more in NASAs efforts to get back to the moon and onto Mars while relying instead on future commercial space stations from companies, like Axiom Space, Blue Origin and Vast, to satisfy any low-Earth orbit needs.
SpaceX wants to nearly double the number of rocket launches into space from the California coast, with plans for almost 100 a year from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The plan would almost double the company's current timetable of 50 rockets a year, despite clashing with the California Coastal Commission over concerns about the impact that the blasts could have on coastal wildlife, and on nearby residents who have reported startling sonic booms with the already steep rise in launches.

In early 2024, SpaceX and the U.S. Department of the Air Force had an agreement with the California Coastal Commission to launch six rockets a year into space. But the Air Force and SpaceX have quickly moved to dramatically increase the number of rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force in Santa Barbara County, asking the commission to agree to 36, then to 50, and now 95 rocket blasts a year.

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A spokesperson for SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The California Coastal Commission is a state agency tasked with protecting the state's 1,100 miles of coastland.

The fast uptick in rocket launches off the California coast has put the space exploration company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, in direct conflict with the California Coastal Commission, whose members have raised concerns about the impact of the launches, the lack of monitoring and whether the privately owned company is circumventing the permit process because it is a federal contractor, despite most of the rocket launches involving no equipment or missions for U.S. agencies.

In October, the coastal commission rejected a plan for SpaceX to launch up to 50 times a year. Just days later, SpaceX responded by suing the commission and accusing the agency of "egregiously and unlawfully overreaching its authority."

The dispute has taken on a political tone.

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During the October meeting, commissioners cited concerns that Musk had inserted himself into the presidential race, spread conspiracy theories on social media and faced serious allegations that employees at his companies have been mistreated.

Read more: 'Your bones rattle: The thrill of chasing rocket launches in this California coastal town

Commissioners have also pointed to reports that Musk's company, Starlink, had refused to allow Ukraine to use satellite internet service to help carry out an attack against Russia in 2022, and questioned whether Musk's decisions did not directly conflict with those of a U.S. ally.

In the suit against the commission, which is still pending in federal court, attorneys for SpaceX accuse commissioners of voting against the plan because of Musk's political views.

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Cooperation between the state commission and the Department of Air Force also seems to have flailed after the October meeting, with little agreement or communication between the two agencies.

During the October meeting when the commission rejected the plan for 50 launches, officials from the base said they had hoped to work with the commission to address seven conditions that had been requested from the U.S. Space Force.

But according to the staff report, there's been limited progress, and little communication from the base, on those goals since.

The legal fight and disagreements with the commission, however, have had little effect on SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force's plans to ramp up the number of rocket blasts so far at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

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Last year, Vandenberg Space Force Base was the site of 51 rocket launches with 46 of them being conducted by Musk's SpaceX, according to a spokesperson for the base.

As of the first week of August, the base has been home to 38 rocket launches so far, with 33 of them being conducted by SpaceX.

The plan for more launches, submitted by the Air Force to the commission, would also double the number of landing events at the military base, which have also been reported to generate their own sonic boom blast. According to the staff report, the base expects 24 SpaceX rocket landing events a year at Vandenberg, including 12 first-stage booster landings and five Falcon Heavy missions that would have two boosters landing simultaneously at the base.

SpaceX is also planning up to 76 at-sea landings off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. The company would then transport the equipment to the Port of Long Beach, and transfer it to Vandenberg Harbor, back to the base.

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On Thursday, the California Coastal Commission is scheduled to consider SpaceX's plan to fire 95 rockets a year, but military officials are expected to move forward with the plan despite the panel's decision.

Military officials have argued that the SpaceX launches should be considered federal activity because all of the launches  even those done for the private benefit of Musk's company, Starlink  also benefit U.S. military objectives.

Read more: Mexico threatens to sue Musk's SpaceX over contamination from exploding rockets

A previous staff report from the commission stated that 87% of SpaceX launches from Vandenberg weren't carrying equipment or conducting missions for government agencies, but were carrying equipment for Starlink.

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If the launches are considered federal activity, Space Force officials are not legally bound to obtain a permit or permission from the coastal commission. Instead, they can try to reach an agreement to mitigate the effects of the blasts, but can move forward regardless of whether an agreement is reached.

Military officials argue that all launches from the base benefit the readiness of the country.

"Vandenberg Space Force Base plays a vital role in strengthening America's national security by leveraging the power of commercial innovation," Col. James T. Horne III, the Space Launch Delta 30 commander, said in a statement. "The commercial sector is driving advancements once exclusive to government programs, such as proliferated low Earth orbit communication systems that directly support the Department of Defense. U.S. launch providers continue to innovate, offering agile, service-based solutions that operate at the 'speed of need.' "

Staff for the coastal commission are expected to again raise concerns about the doubling of rocket launches from the base, arguing that military officials and SpaceX are not providing enough information about the impacts on wildlife, are failing to do enough monitoring to measure the impacts and reach of sonic booms, and that SpaceX should seek permits for its launches because it is conducting them for private benefit, not for the federal government.

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"Based on existing information, the proposed SpaceX launch activities do not appear to be a federal agency activity," the report to the commission reads. "Rather, the existing available information indicates that the proposed launch cadence's primary purpose is to further expand and support SpaceX's commercial satellite internet and telecommunications network, Starlink."

Despite the pending lawsuit, staff for the coastal commission continue to argue in its report that launches by SpaceX should be regulated as a private company.

"The simple fact remains that it is a privately owned company engaged in activities primarily for its own commercial business," the report reads, which recommends that the board oppose the agreement. "It is not a public federal agency or conducting its launches on behalf of the federal government. It should therefore be regulated accordingly."



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Splashdown!: Crew-10 returns to Earth, challenges with next Falcon 9 launch

The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Crew-10 successfully returned to Earth on Saturday, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Splashdown! Crew-10 is back on Earth from the International Space Station, marking the completion of another successful flight, said NASA acting Administrator Sean Duffy. The crew, including NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, completed NASAs 10th commercial crew rotation to the ISS.

In this image provided by NASA, SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts, parachutes into the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Keegan Barber/NASA via AP)

The Crew-10 mission launched on March 14 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and docked with the International Space Station two days later. The mission involved extensive scientific research, including studies on plant growth and space radiation effects on DNA. During their time aboard the station, the crew completed 2,368 orbits around Earth, traveling nearly 62.8 million miles.

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McClain and Ayers also performed a spacewalk to install a communications antenna and prepare for upcoming solar array installations. After returning to Earth, the crew will be transported to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston to reunite with their families.

In related news, SpaceXs Falcon 9 launch for Amazons Project Kuiper satellites was canceled due to poor weather at Cape Canaveral. This is the third postponement for the launch, which intends to deploy satellites for a global internet network. SpaceX will try to launch the Falcon 9 again tomorrow at 8:57 a.m.

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The Spokane County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) said 59-year-old Sergeant Kenneth Salas was struck and killed in the line of duty on I-90 Saturday morning.

At around 7:40 a.m., Sergeant Salas stopped to assist with a hay bale that was in the left lane of eastbound I-90 near the Four Lakes exit, according to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) report.

Sergeant Salas stopped his patrol car in the left lane with emergency lights on and started to clear the hay from the road.

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The WSP says an incoming motorcyclist failed to observe the emergency lights and struck and killed Sergeant Salas.

The motorcyclist was injured in the crash and was brought to a local hospital.

Sergeant Salas proudly served the Citizens of Spokane County for over three decades. He was not only a member of the Sheriffs Office, he was also a valued and cherished member of our law enforcement family, the Spokane County Sheriffs Office wrote.

Salas also served in the Air Force for over two decades, as well as in the Washington State Air National Guard, SCSO said.

He is survived by his wife and extended family, the sheriffs office wrote.

This is a developing story.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  An injured person was rescued from the Lake Springfield Friday afternoon by Springfield firefighters.

In a Facebook post at 1:06 p.m., Springfield Fire Local 37 said they had crews on the way to a water rescue in the 1900 block of W Lake Shore Drive, which is right on Lake Springfield. The department sent four engines and one truck to the scene.

Person hospitalized after train vs. pedestrian accident in Springfield

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Officials later shared an update, which said that dispatch had alerted crews to a reported injury in the water, but that there was no concern of anyone drowning. During the water rescue, emergency responders used a life jacket to help the person before they were recovered from the water by a rescue boat and transported via an ambulance to Lindsay Bridge for additional care.

There is no further information available at this time.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Springfield leaders are taking action on the issue of unpaid ordinance tickets and hold chronic offenders responsible.

The number of unpaid tickets throughout the city have been a source of concern for the citys quality of life and revenue. Springfield leaders are saying enough is enough as people disregard their unpaid ordinance tickets and hinder the citys quality of life.

Whether it is overgrown grass, trash, people even drinking on the street, said Springfield City Councilor Victor Davila, Ward 6. Its a number of issues, so people are really concerned. The problem is that you do give a ticket, and you know what they do? They rip it.

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Potential voting and legislature ballot questions explained

According to Davila, the amount of unpaid ordinance tickets has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for the city, estimating between $1 to $3 million. He explains what can be done with that money if it is retrieved.

Making sure that the libraries stay open, Davila said. We could make sure that we could even pay our debt, that we have a way to the pension insurance, which I think is going up by 10%. Including, by the way, I have to say, put it into ensuring that the property tax will be lower.

To tackle this issue, Davila and At-Large City Councilor Brian Santaniello proposed a graduated fine structure related to sanitation, snow, and property maintenance.

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After a first violation, the property owner of a home or business will receive a written notice with no late fee. After 30 days, a $10 per month penalty begins. If 90 days go by, that increases to a $25 per month penalty. At six months of non-payment, a lien may be placed on the property.

Many times, with liens that go on, you cant collect that money until something is going on with the property, a transition, or there are some types of permits that are needed here on the OPEN gov, this can fast forward this process, and well quantify it, said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

This new software manages the collection of tickets, which has taken effect as of July 1st. For chronic offenders whove failed to pay three separate tickets after repeated notices and opportunity to resolve their names are expected to be publicly published.

The creation of a Springfield Ordinance Assistance Program is to help low-income as defined by the yearly Federal Low-Income guidelines, or elderly residents who are 65 years of age or older. Through income verification, residents may qualify for extended payment plans or partial waivers.

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City departments will be submitting quarterly data to the City Council. Public reports will include the total number of violations, revenue collected, number of third-strike names disclosed, and outcomes of assistance applications.

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A tragic road accident occurred near Chakicherla in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of three individuals from the same family. The incident took place when a lorry collided with a van, injuring seven others. Two of the injured are in critical condition and have been transferred to Nellore for better medical treatment. The victims who lost their lives were travelling from Piduguralla to Tirumala for a pilgrimage. The authorities rushed to the scene to provide assistance. Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprahasad Reddy expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, describing the loss of three family members as an irreparable loss. He instructed medical authorities to provide immediate treatment to the injured during the golden hour, ensuring they receive the best possible care. The Minister also suggested that authorities arrange for medical facilities for those being transferred to Nellore. He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, offering his deepest sympathies during this difficult time. Andhra Pradesh Endowment Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy expressed deep shock over the tragic road accident near Chakicherla in Prakasam district. He conveyed heartfelt condolences on the death of three members of the same family. "It is deeply saddening that such a mishap occurred while they were on their way to have the darshan of Lord Venkateswara, the living deity of Kaliyuga," the minister said. He directed officials to ensure immediate and quality medical treatment for the injured. The minister also enquired about the details of the accident from the authorities. (ANI)
PHILADELPHIA - As the back-to-school season approaches, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is helping Philadelphia students gear up by distributing thousands of free backpacks and essential supplies.

Meanwhile, the school district is in negotiations with the teachers' union to prevent a potential strike at the end of the month.

What we know

St. Christopher's Hospital hosted its 15th annual back-to-school carnival, providing students with free backpacks filled with school supplies.

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Dr. Renee Turchi, chair of pediatrics at the hospital, has been organizing the event for 15 years.

This year's carnival is particularly special as it commemorates the hospital's 150th anniversary. "This year really special because it commemorates our 150th anniversary," noted Dr. Turchi.

She anticipated 3,000 to 4,000 families and children attending.

The hospital distributed 3,000 backpacks filled with folders, notebooks, highlighters, crayons, erasers, and pens, thanks to donations and sponsorships.

More than 70 community partners were present at the event, offering public health resources to local families.

What they're saying

Attendees expressed gratitude for the support. Katrina Godfrey from Frankford shared, "I'm very grateful that they do have the backpacks because stuff is rough now so happy and so grateful."

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Daisy Cintron from Northeast Philly appreciated the information provided for programs supporting children with autism and special needs, saying, "It's amazing just the donations."

While students enjoyed the carnival, Philadelphia teachers are actively negotiating for fair funding and better benefits as their contract nears expiration.

The school district released a statement expressing optimism about reaching an agreement with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), stating, "We look forward to working with the PFT on a proposal that honors the hard work of our educators."

A spokesperson for the PFT indicated that bargaining meetings are now occurring twice a week.

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However, the likelihood of a strike increases with each day that passes without an agreement.

As the first day of school is just over two weeks away, the community remains hopeful for a resolution that benefits students, staff, and families.
A St. Paul man has been arrested and charged in connection with the vandalism of several city storm sewer drains, authorities announced Friday.

Kevin Michael Monahan, 36, has been charged with five counts of property damage with foreseeable risk of bodily harm, according to the criminal complaint in Ramsey County District Court.

St. Paul police took Monahan into custody Thursday and he was charged Friday.

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The complaint gives the following details:

Beginning in early June, several hundred storm sewer grates in St. Paul have been removed and dropped into storm sewer drains. The reports have increased and spread to several neighborhoods, including the West Side, Frogtown, Summit Hill, downtown and the East Side.

The resulting holes pose significant  and potentially catastrophic  dangers to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles, the complaint said.

The estimated total cost to the city to repair the drains is well over $20,000, not including the cost of any legal claim against it for injury or damage, the complaint said.

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This week at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, several people called 911 to report a man dropping sewer grates into drains in downtown St. Paul near Seventh and Wabasha streets and Ninth and Temperance streets. When officers arrived, they could not locate the man but found more than 10 grates had been removed and dropped into the drains.

At about 9:45 a.m., a 27-year-old woman living near Ninth and Temperance reported that while carrying her 1-year-old daughter she fell into a sewer drain that was missing a grate as she was getting into her car. Her child was uninjured but she said she had pain in multiple areas of her body, the complaint said.

Video footage of the areas where the grates had been removed showed the same man committing all the vandalism. The next morning, Thursday, police in downtown St. Paul arrested Monahan outside the Catholic Charities Higher Ground Shelter.

According to the complaint, after being read his Miranda rights, Monahan allegedly said he had removed the grates because they were dirty and needed to be (cleaned) out. He also allegedly told detectives that he had been trying to help even though nobody had asked him to or given him permission to do so.

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When asked why he had not returned the grates over the drains, he said, I could only reach so many of them  some of them are too deep, the complaint read.

He acknowledged that the missing grates could cause injury or damage. He denied that he had been working with anyone else, according to the complaint. In addition, Monahan allegedly told detectives that he had been interested in cleaning the grates for three to five months.

Police said that investigators are still working to determine the exact number of incidents Monahan may be responsible for and whether there are any additional suspects involved.

Authorities ask that anyone seen removing a storm drain grate be reported by calling 911. In addition, to report missing grates or other storm drain damage, email publicworksinfo@stpaul.gov. Police also asked that anyone with home surveillance photos or video footage of storm drain vandalism to call the departments non-emergency number at 651-291-1111.

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The Brief

St. Pete City Council reviewed a contract for new MLK parade organizers.

Residents are worried about how Florida DOGE reviews could impact the MLK parade.

Council approved a $230,000 annual contract for three years.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The nations longest-running Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade will keep its city funding for 2025, but concerns about state scrutiny loomed large during Thursdays St. Petersburg City Council meeting.

Big picture view

Council members voted to maintain the parades $230,000 budget  $150,000 for parade operations and $80,000 for a marquee band.

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READ: St. Pete City Council to discuss economic impact if Rays leave after 2028 season

The conversation was tied to a contract for a new parade organizer, but it comes at a time when the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is preparing to audit the citys finances next week.

Local perspective

For many residents, the parade is a treasured tradition honoring Dr. Kings legacy. St. Pete resident Amber Woods said her family rarely misses it.

"I have five girls. They go almost every year," Woods said.

MORE: Tropicana Field repairs: St. Pete leaders approve agreement for new turf, non-roof repairs

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But with DOGE auditors set to review city spending, some residents worry the event could be at risk. Trevor Mallory, a previous organizer of the parade, voiced concern that the parades cultural significance could be undermined.

"With all of our African American history already under attack, that scares me," Mallory said.

Dig deeper

This years budget includes $80,000 to bring in a marquee marching band, covering transportation, lodging and meals. Last year, Florida A&M Universitys band performed, but its costs were paid from a separate budget line.

Council Member Gina Driscoll questioned the expense given tight budget conditions.

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READ: Crews install AquaFence around St. Petes most critical lift station

"In a difficult year, you have to ask difficult questions," Driscoll said.

Others, like Council Member Brandi Gabbard, pushed back, saying the band brings excellence, tourism and economic benefit.

"Its one of the longest [parades] in the nation, and we are going to sit here and nitpick it? When there is no increase in funding?" Gabbard said.

What they're saying

Council Member Deborah Figgs-Sanders urged her colleagues not to let the audit intimidate them.

"I know we are looking at DOGE, but I dont want us to operate in fear and I dont want us to feel as though we cant continue to support a legend," she said.

What we don't know

City officials have not yet provided an estimate of the parades economic impact. FOX 13 has reached out for that information and will update when it becomes available.

The Source

Sources from this report include a St. Pete City Council meeting, comments from residents, city leaders and staff.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Starbucks is shutting down all 96 of its Pick Uponly shops across the country by 2026.

Some locations will reopen as full coffeehouses with upgraded seating and "layered design" through its Coffeehouse Uplift Program.

Its part of the chains effort to revive a warmer, in-store atmosphere.

If youve ever skipped the Starbucks line in favor of a lightning-fast mobile order pick-up, brace yourself for a big change. The coffee giant just announced its phasing out all 96 of its Pick Uponly locations by the end of its 2026 fiscal year.

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These shopswhich first popped up in New York in 2019were designed for ultimate efficiency. Some had only exterior windows, while others had small counters inside; however, all of them skipped the cozy chairs, ceramic mugs, and warm cafe vibes in favor of The Flash-level speed. Now, Starbucks is ready to find that Central Perk coziness and bring it back for good.

We found the [Pick Up Store] format to be overly transactional and lacking the warmth and human connection that defines our brand, CEO Brian Niccol said during the companys July 29 earnings call. His solution? Shift that convenience back into traditional Starbucks cafes, where you can still mobile order, but also maybe linger over a piping hot Pumpkin Spice Latte in an actual seat (just make sure they're near outlets, Brianthis guy's got Delish articles to write).

The closures are part of Starbucks Back to Starbucks initiative, which is basically a homecoming tour for the brands coffeehouse roots. Along with retiring Pick Up stores, Starbucks is investing $150,000 per location to add more seating, softer textures, and an overall layered design through its Coffeehouse Uplift Program. The goal: make people slow down. If things go as planned, those abrupt coffee runs will feel more like coffee breaks again.

But dont panicyour mobile order habit isnt going anywhere. Starbucks says 31 percent of its transactions still come through the app, and youll still be able to pick up your Venti Iced Raspberry Cream Cold Breweven though you're incredibly late to the office. You might just have to scoot past a few more chairs and frapp-happy customers on the way to the counter.

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The brands Back to Starbucks push is also bringing menu changes: protein-packed cold foam (with no added sugar) is coming soon, along with a new artisanal pastry case, a 1971 dark roast, and even coconut waterbased drinks in select test markets.

So, yes, the grab-and-go era is coming to an end. But if it means more comfy spots to sip and maybe an overeager your orders ready from an actual barista to brighten up your day, we cant be too mad about it.

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Months after famine was declared in nearby displacement camps, the besieged Sudanese city of El-Fasher is now seeing starvation deaths of its own, with no food aid entering and the UNs World Food Programme warning of worsening conditions for the 300,000 people still trapped inside.

After nearly 28 months of siege, the UNs children agency Unicef and the World Food Programme (WFP) say famine could soon take hold in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

The situation in El Fasher is completely catastrophic; the city's population is on the verge of starvation, said Leni Kinzli, WFPs spokesperson in Sudan, speaking to RFI this week

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It is besieged, cut off from the rest of the country, and humanitarian access is extremely difficult.

WFP says it has not been able to deliver food to the city for over a year. In the meantime, it has carried out cash transfers, but the blockade has made those nearly useless.

Since the city is under blockade, the prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed, and people cannot even buy enough to make one meal a day, Kinzli said.

Some residents are reportedly now eating animal feed and rubbish to survive. And this is despite the fact that we are ready to intervene with food trucks if we are allowed to pass, Kinzli added.

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WFP is again calling for aid convoys to be allowed through.

Two years of devastation: Sudans war claims thousands and displaces millions

'Skin and bones'

The Sudanese army, at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, recaptured Khartoum state in May, but widespread hunger continues to grip the heart of Africa's third-largest country.

Many children in Sudan are now skin and bones, UN officials said this week, and thousands of families in El-Fasher, more than 1,000 kilometres west of Khartoum, are at risk of starving.

Everyone in El-Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive, said Eric Perdison, WFPs regional director for eastern and southern Africa, on Tuesday.

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RSF forces have surrounded the city since May. It is the last major urban area in Darfur still under army control.

People's coping mechanisms have been completely exhausted by over two years of war, Perdison said in a statement. Without immediate and sustained access, lives will be lost.

WFP says food prices in El-Fasher are now 460 percent higher than in the rest of the country. Soup kitchens have shut down, and aid remains blocked.

Unicefs Sheldon Yett, who recently visited Sudan, warned of growing malnutrition.

Malnutrition is rife, and many of the children are reduced to just skin and bones, he said. Around 25 million people across Sudan face severe food insecurity, according to the UN.

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UN urges action on Sudan's 'forgotten war' as humanitarian crisis takes hold

Acute hunger, limited access

Famine was first declared in the surrounding displacement camps last year, especially in Zamzam. The UN said the crisis would likely spread to the city itself by May.

Only a lack of reliable data has prevented a formal famine declaration for the wider region.

Aid agencies say insecurity is making it nearly impossible to act. In June, five humanitarian workers were killed when their UN convoy to El-Fasher was attacked.

We have not had access to the horrible situation unfolding in El-Fasher, despite trying for months and months and months, said Yett. We have not been able to get supplies there.

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Nearly 40 percent of children under five in the area are acutely malnourished, UN data shows.

Residents often shelter in makeshift bunkers to avoid shelling as the RSF continues its push to take full control of Darfur.

In April, an RSF attack on Zamzam camp killed hundreds and forced hundreds of thousands to flee to el-Fasher and the nearby town of Tawila. A deadly cholera outbreak is now spreading there.

Every day the conflict continues in Sudan, innocent lives are lost, communities are torn apart, and trauma continues to haunt generations, said Radhouane Nouicer, the UN's expert on human rights in Sudan. The ongoing war has devastated civilian lives and turned daily survival into a constant struggle.

Children in crisis

Relative calm has returned to Khartoum, but children there still have only "limited, but growing access to safe water, food, healthcare and learning", according to Unicef's Yett.

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In the two hardest-hit areas of Khartoum state, Jebel Awliya and Khartoum proper, "children and families in the neighbourhood are sheltered often in small, damaged or unfinished buildings", he added.

"We are on the verge of irreversible damage to an entire generation of children."

The war, now in its third year, has killed tens of thousands across Sudan, displaced millions and left the country's healthcare system in ruins.

The UN describes the conflict as the worlds largest displacement and hunger crisis.

(with newswires)
BOSTON (WWLP)  This week, Texas Democrats met with Massachusetts lawmakers, as they dominated national headlines for blocking their states GOP from redistricting.

Governor Healey met with these lawmakers on Tuesday, saying at a press conference later that day that retaliatory redistricting is not off the table for the Bay State. The Texan lawmakers are facing arrest warrants in their state, and they say the mid-decade redistricting threatens the voting rights of residents across the country.

This is coming to you, youre next, said Senator Carol Alvarado, Texas Senate Democratic Caucus Chair. This is not a Texas problem, this is a United States of America problem.

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Potential voting and legislature ballot questions explained

Western Massachusetts lawmakers joined in supporting the legislators, as one Springfield representative explains how redistricting splinters the Texas black and brown vote in a Wednesday morning press conference.

When Texas is fighting for black and brown people, Massachusetts stands together, said Springfield Representative Carlos Gonzalez.

Also this week, Governor Healey signed an updated version of the reproductive and gender affirming care Shield Act. She says it will ensure the Bay States autonomy from other states laws.

No one is going to come to Massachusetts and attack our people, attack our institutions, and attack our providers, because we believe in freedom, Governor Healey said.

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Wednesday marked the first deadline to get a question on the 2026 ballot, and the emerging field includes proposals ranging from rent control to repealing a 2024 omnibus gun law to creating an all-party primary.

Looking ahead, many lawmakers are planning a few weeks off of work in August, before returning to business as usual in September.

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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The news of Penn States decision to close the Eberly Campus in Fayette County has been tough for many in the community.

When Penn State announced that they were going to be closing the campus, it really, it was just kind of a gut kick to the local community, said State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, a Republican from Smithfield.

She wants to do something to try to replace it.

Unless we are aggressively, aggressively investing in those ideas, then theyre never going to come to fruition, she told Channel 11s Andrew Havranek.

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She sent a memo to her fellow lawmakers in Harrisburg Thursday afternoon notifying them of her intent to order a study of the feasibility of turning Penn States Eberly Campus into a senior military college. Its an idea, she said, came from the Fayette County Controller.

The study would look at whether or not the campus is suitable for a senior military college model, potential partnerships with the state National Guard, U.S. Department of Defense and other institutions for higher learning, potential enrollment and demand, funding options, economic impacts in Fayette County and the Commonwealth, and any legal, accreditation and regulatory requirements.

Grimm Krupa said students could pursue degrees in high demand fields such as nursing, mechanical and civil engineering, business, accounting, political science, and cybersecurity.

If this is something that the data is showing that could be successful, then I think we owe it to our community and our commonwealth to invest in it, she said.

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Channel 11 previously reported Fayette County Commissioners formed a transitional committee to look at what they could do to keep this as an educational facility.

Were determined to turn this into a positive thing for the countys future, Commissioner Vincent Vicites said.

Grimm Krupa said shes working to rally support of her proposal, and plans to file the resolution ordering the feasibility study in the next few weeks.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Sioux City came back to Lewis and Clark Park on a mission following its disappointing weekend series at Lincoln, coming away with a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Milkmen.

Along with the win, the Explorers were able to pick up a couple of impressive accolades. Not only becoming the first team in the American Association to reach 50 wins, but also breaking the clubs single season steals record while approaching the league record.

Sioux City continue swiping bags at a historic rate, just a few away from the American Association record of 213. As a team, Sioux City is at 209 stolen bases, almost 100 more than the team with the second most in Lake Country.

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The Xs boast four of the top five base stealers in the league. Austin Davis leads the team with 42 while DShawn Knowles has 37. Zac Vooletich and Henry George have each contributed 35.

Its the small-ball approach and aggresive mentality on the basepaths that has helped elevate the Explorers ball club.

Theres not a lot of teams or really theres not any other team that still bases like us. So we kind of use it to our advantage and thats how we get our runs across, Davis said.

Its definitely a unique style of play. Were not going to sit back and wait for that three run homer. I can tell you that were going to push the envelope and were going to try to put pressure on the pitching staff of the other team to be quick to the plate, and then hopefully that get lends us to get a couple at balls up in the zone that we cant miss and hit them into the gaps. Then next thing, you know, were having multiple run innings, Explorers manager Steve Montgomery added.

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Thats how our team is constructed to be able to do that, George mentioned. To get to be a part of it is pretty cool. But weve got a lot bigger things that were looking to accomplish rest of the year.

Sioux City continues its homestand against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, starting on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  Following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle Friday morning at approximately 8:57 am, the Midland Police Department arrested two male juveniles. The pursuit ended with both juveniles exiting the vehicle while still in motion, causing it to crash into a home at 3100 Shell Ave. Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Barba Culver Juvenile Center.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va.  Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page.

The West Virginia SNAP soda ban will begin in January 2026.

No injuries were reported in a train derailment that happened in Preston County.

A medical helicopter flew a woman to the hospital after she was rescued from the Tygart River.

Wi-Fi is now being allowed near the Green Bank Observatory for the first time.

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Joe Mazzulla has signed a multi-year contract extension with the Boston Celtics.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
President Droupadi Murmu extended her heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, wishing all countrymen in India and abroad. https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1954011346078749171 In a post on X, she described the festival as a symbol of the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. Highlighting the cultural significance of Raksha Bandhan, President Murmu noted that the festival provides an opportunity to preserve India's rich heritage and moral values. "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all my countrymen living in India and abroad. This auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan is a symbol of unbreakable love and trust between brothers and sisters, which enhances the spirit of harmony and cooperation in the society. This festival gives us an opportunity to preserve our rich cultural heritage and moral values. This festival gives the message of respect and protection of mothers, sisters and daughters," she posted on X. She urged citizens to pledge towards building a prosperous India where every woman feels safe and empowered to contribute to national development. "On this auspicious occasion, let us all pledge to build a prosperous India, where every woman is safe and can make her important contribution to the development of the nation," she said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings. "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on the occasion, emphasized the festival's significance beyond the traditional rakhi thread. He posted on X, "Heartfelt best wishes to all of you on the sacred occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This festival is not only about the purity of the rakhi thread but also a symbol of the commitment to honor, protect, and ensure the happiness and prosperity of our sisters. May this festival, a symbol of the love between brothers and sisters, further strengthen the spirit of protection within us--that is my prayer to God." External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended warm wishes for Raksha Bandhan, posting, "Warm wishes on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan." Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie Rakhi around their brothers' wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolizes a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
NORMAL, Ala. (WHNT)  With less than a week away from the start of the school year, some returning students at Alabama A&M University are facing the issue of where they will live.

I was told that I have a full-ride scholarship, so when I came here, I was like, ok, well, I dont have any problems with housing and stuff like that because I have a full ride, said one student.

Family of teen killed in 2023 police chase crash suing City of Decatur, Mayor and former police officer

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The student is a rising sophomore with a full scholarship to attend AAMU. The student, who chose not to share her name, said she had no issues with housing as an incoming freshman, but this year, she cant understand why she and other incoming students are faced with an issue.

I know that Im not the only person thats having this housing problem, she said. Even if its not this specific housing problem, there are still people out there that are having housing problems.

Her aunt says that the student has been paying for housing since May, but suddenly, without explanation, she says her account was put on hold.

If they have a hold, why let them spend their money trying to get something that they will be denied? the aunt asked. They are letting her pay it off, and shes been paying it all summer, but they are not letting her get housing.

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Last year, AAMU announced its largest incoming freshman class ever with over 2,000 students. Returning students say that is the exact reason why they are scrambling to find somewhere to live on campus this coming semester.

One student who also refused identity says that at this point, she will have to skip this semester and hopes to get a response from the university to return to class.

Weve been emailing and calling up to A&M and trying to get in contact with them, but they havent been answering us, so its like kind of making it hard. I would like to raise awareness so that others coming in will be aware, the student said

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News 19 received a response from AAMU officials about the housing issue.

This year, Alabama A&M University (AAMU) will accommodate approximately 4,600 students in university-managed housing. This fall, nearly 60% of AAMU students will live in campus-managed residenceswell above the national average of 30% for public universities. Every eligible student who applied for university housing during this years application process has been successfully placed in AAMU-managed properties. In addition to traditional on-campus housing, the University continues its partnerships with select apartment communities to provide campus-style amenities and services to all students in AAMU-managed housing. Students are encouraged to monitor their official AAMU email accounts for important updates. As preparations for the upcoming academic year continue, no further comments will be provided at this time. AAMU remains firmly committed to student success.

Dr. Braque Talley, Vice President, Student Affairs at Alabama A&M University

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Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has denied the existence of a conspiracy to destroy her mentor Alex Salmond.

In a fresh extract from her memoir, published in the Sunday Times, Sturgeon accuses Salmond of failing to show any contrition for his "inappropriate" behaviour towards women.

In 2020 Salmond was cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, but during the trial his lawyer admitted his client could "have been a better man."

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The ex-SNP leader and Alba Party founder died of a heart attack in North Macedonia in October last year, aged 69.

"It felt to me", writes Sturgeon, that Salmond "would have rather destroyed the SNP than see it succeed without him."

She adds: "He impugned the integrity of the institutions at the heart of Scottish democracy - government, police, Crown Office.

"He was prepared to traumatise, time and again, the women at the centre of it all."

In the memoir, entitled Frankly, Sturgeon describes the moment, in April 2018 at her home on the outskirts of Glasgow, when Salmond first informed her of the allegations against him.

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"The substance of the complaints, one in particular, shocked me. I felt sick", she writes.

In March 2020, Salmond was cleared after a two-week trial at the High Court in Edinburgh of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape [Getty Images]

At first, she says, Salmond had appeared "upset and mortified" and had "effectively admitted the substance of one of the complaints," calling it a "misunderstanding" for which he had apologised.

However, Sturgeon goes on, it quickly became evident that her predecessor as first minister wanted her "to intervene and to stop the investigation in its tracks or divert it into some kind of siding."

Her refusal to do so, she says, "made the break-up of one of the most successful partnerships in modern British politics all but inevitable."

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"I had to face the fact that he was determined to destroy me. I was now engaged in mortal political combat with someone I knew to be both ruthless and highly effective," she writes.

Losing him as a friend, Sturgeon continues, resulted in her going through "a grieving process."

"I had occasional, vivid dreams in which we were still on good terms. I would wake up from these feeling utterly bereft," she says.

Sturgeon succeeded Salmond as SNP leader and first minister in 2014 until she resigned in March 2023.

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Sturgeon also writes about the Scottish government's botched investigation into the complaints against Salmond.

In 2019, a judicial review had concluded that the process was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.

He was later awarded more than 500,000 in legal expenses.

"In Alex's narrative, he wasn't just a victim any more," writes Sturgeon, "he was now a vindicated victim."

It later emerged that messages had been exchanged between women complainers - a Scots law term for someone alleging that they are a victim of crime - and also between SNP staff members.

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Sturgeon writes that Salmond inaccurately "spun these as evidence of people conspiring to bring him down".

Alex Salmond led his party - and close colleagues John Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Russell - into the Scottish Parliament in 1999 [PA Media]

Rather, she said, the messages were between loyal supporters expressing "deep shock" and "women who considered themselves victims of his behaviour" who were "seeking support and comfort from each other."

Sturgeon accuses Salmond of trying to "distort and weaponise" genuine shock or trauma in a way that was "truly disgraceful," adding "it strikes at the heart of why I find it so hard to forgive him".

"A conspiracy against Alex would have needed a number of women deciding to concoct false allegations, without any obvious motive for doing so.

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"It would then have required criminal collusion between them, senior ministers and civil servants, the police and the Crown."

This, she says, was "a fabrication, the invention of a man who wasn't prepared to reflect honestly on his own conduct."

Reflecting on Salmond's death, while attending a conference in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid, Sturgeon writes that the emotions she felt suggested she had not come to terms with their estrangement.

"I know I will never quite escape the shadow he casts, even in death", she concludes.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon campaigning during the 2014 independence referendum [Getty Images]

The extract is the second to be published from Sturgeon's memoir.

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In the first, published in The Times on Saturday, the former first minister described her arrest by police investigating the SNP's finances as the worst day of her life.

Sturgeon describes being questioned by detectives as part of Operation Branchform.

She also writes about her "utter disbelief" about police raiding the home she shared with her husband Peter Murrell in April 2023.

The former first minister was later exonerated and has since separated from Mr Murrell who has been charged with embezzlement.

Elsewhere in the extracts, the former SNP leader describes the pain of suffering a miscarriage and sets out her views on sexuality, which she says she does not consider "to be binary".

Frankly will be published on Thursday 14 August.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Lets get a check on the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go.

Four South Dakota men are facing attempted enticement of a minor charges following a law enforcement undercover sting at this weeks Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

4 arrested during undercover Sturgis sex sting

Governor Larry Rhoden announced Friday that the State of South Dakota has entered a purchase agreement of 12.5 million dollars that grants the State the option of purchasing land for a new mens prison at the Benson Road site in northeast Sioux Falls.

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Rhoden: State to buy Benson Road land for new mens prison

Testimony has wrapped up for the week in the Justin Rackley triple-murder trail in Canton.

Triple murder trial: Coroner testifies Friday

By this afternoon, clouds will begin to break up in southeastern KELOLAND and sunshine will return with highs in the 80s. It will be a nice relief from the heat, as well as the humidity due to winds shifting to the north.

Storm Center AM Update: Quiet Conditions Returning

Project S.O.S. held another backpack giveaway at the Banquet Friday.

Collecting school supplies for kids in need

A 99-year-old military veteran from California will be among the people attending this mornings Day of Honor ceremony at the Battleship Memorial in Sioux Falls.

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99-year old USS South Dakota sailor witnessed end of WWII

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
JEFFERSON  Common Pleas Court Judge David Schroeder ruled Nathan Sumner is competent to stand trial for aggravated murder at a Thursday hearing.

Schroeder said the court ordered Sumner to have a competency evaluation June 25.

The case was bound over to the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas Oct. 10, 2024.

Sumner was charged with one count of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony with a firearm specification, and accused of killing Heather Harris. He pleaded not guilty at a Nov. 1, 2024 arraignment, and bond was set at $500,000 cash or surety.

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This court ordered the defendant examined for purposes of competency, and for purposes of a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, Schroeder said.

The Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio conducted the evaluations, Schroeder said.

The doctor who examined Mr. Sumner ... concludes that the defendant is able to understand the nature and the objective of the legal proceedings, and he is able to presently assist in his defense, Schroeder said.

He said Sumner knew the wrongfulness of the alleged offense, and did not have a mental disease that would have prevented him from knowing otherwise.

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A September 2024 press release from the Conneaut Police Department alleges Sumner walked in to the police station and confessed to killing his girlfriend, Harris.

Conneaut police officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of Nickel Plate Avenue.

Upon entering the residence, officers discovered the body of [Harris] sitting on a couch, the release said.

No further hearings have been scheduled yet, according to court records.
The Republican Partys redistricting efforts are heating up as the Texas legislature pushes for new congressional maps.

President Trump has said that Republicans are entitled to gain five additional House seats before the 2026 midterms, as the GOP hopes to retain its slim majority in the lower chamber.

In response, dozens of Texas statehouse Democrats have fled the Lone Star State to blue states, denying the Texas legislature a quorum with the hopes of delaying a vote on the new maps.

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GOP lawmakers have requested that the FBI help return the Democrats to Texas. The lawmakers that left the state are also tallying $500 daily fines, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said he would prosecute the lawmakers if they attempt to raise campaign donations to cover the incurred costs of penalties.

Some Texas Democrats have fled to California, while others have gone to other blue-leaning states like New York, New Jersey and Illinois. California Gov, Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday also announced that a special election will be held this November about redistricting.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) will be on NBCs Meet The Press, where he will likely weigh in on the redistricting tit-for-tat and how the Democrats should respond.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) argued that Texas lawmakers will have to stay in other states for years to come, as he will keep calling new special legislative sessions to initiate the vote on the maps.

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That means theyre not going to come back until like 2027 or 2028, because Im going to call special session after special session after special session with the same agenda items on there, Abbott told NBC News.

On the foreign affairs front, Trump announced Friday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war.

The president said that swapping territories will be discussed, a suggestion dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky early Saturday.

Of course, we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done, Zelensky said. The Ukrainian people deserve peace.

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Putin has reportedly presented Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff with a ceasefire proposal during their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday, a proposition that would entail Ukraine making territorial concessions in the Donbas region. European officials have created a counterproposal which would require a ceasefire to take place before any other action is taken.

Vice President Vance, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukraines top officials and European national security advisors held a Saturday meeting at the Chevening House in Kent, England, where they discussed the next steps to reach a peace agreement in Eastern Europe.

The UKs support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace, Lammy said Saturday on social media after the meeting.

Vance will appear on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures where he will likely talk about the Saturday meeting with European officials and the efforts the administration is taking to get closer to a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

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Those, along with other topics, are likely to be discussed on the upcoming Sunday shows:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.); Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker.

ABCs This Week: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and former Ambassador John Bolton.

CNNs State of the Union: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

CBS Face the Nation: Rutte; Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz); Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and former U.S. surgeon general Jerome Adams.

NBCs Meet the Press: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D); Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and former Attorney General Eric Holder (D).

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Fox News Fox News Sunday: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D); Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R); Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.).

Fox News Sunday Morning Futures: Vice President Vance; Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  San Diegos skies delivered a showstopper Thursday night as the much-anticipated Scrippshenge phenomenon returned to Scripps Pier  drawing photographers, sunset chasers, and curious locals to the La Jolla shoreline.

As the sun sank low on the horizon, it aligned perfectly with the iconic concrete pilings of Scripps Pier, casting a golden beam straight through its center. The brief but stunning alignment happens only a couple of times a year  and last nights display didnt disappoint.

From smartphone snapshots to full-frame time-lapses, the beach buzzed with excitement as onlookers captured the reoccurring natural marvel. Some staked out ahead of time to secure the perfect view  and ideal photography angle.

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SpaceX astronauts splashdown safely off San Diego coast

That included UC San Diego photographer Erik Jepsen, who snapped the stunning display. Heres a look at some of his captures from Friday evening:

The August 2025 Scrippshenge sunset at Scripps Pier. (Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego) The August 2025 Scrippshenge sunset at Scripps Pier. (Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego) The August 2025 Scrippshenge sunset at Scripps Pier. (Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego)

10 things to do in San Diego this weekend

The crowd wasnt too bad, a lot less people than normal, but still a lot of excitement upon seeing the sun shine through Scripps Pier, Jepson told FOX 5/KUSI. Youll definitely hear lots of woah [sounds] from the crowd.

The biannual event, nicknamed Scrippshenge in a nod to Englands Stonehenge, occurs when the setting sun aligns just right with the orientation of the pier. The result: a fiery glow framed by the piers symmetrical pillars  a shot made famous by local photographers and social media over the years.

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Though the alignment only lasts a few days, weather and timing have to be just right. Thursday nights clear skies gave spectators the perfect conditions to witness the spectacle in full, while Jepson said Friday proved to be too cloudy.

If you missed it, youll have to wait until May 2026 to see this rare alignment again as the Scrippshenge sunset only occurs twice a year, typically in May and August. This spectacle is just one more reminder of why San Diego sunsets are truly something special.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  State Superintendent Ryan Walters is now echoing the calls from teachers unions for reduced end-of-the-year standardized tests.

Does that mean OEA (Oklahoma Education Association) and Ryan Walters agree on something?

So it seems, said OEA President Cari Elledge.

Supt. Walters announced on Friday that he wants to eliminate some of the testing required for certain grades.

Officials say districts will be able to use approved benchmark assessments in place of the end-of-year tests for grades 3-8 in Math and English Language Arts.

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RELATED: Superintendent Ryan Walters announces end of some end-of-year testing

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, a recent survey showed that 81% of nearly 23,000 parents said that state testing may not be necessary when evaluating students.

Lawmakers quickly responded and said that it would take changing state law and getting a federal waiver.

Does he even have the power to do that. Thats what I would ask, said Senator Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City).

Senator Hicks was a teacher for several years and isnt against reducing standardized testing, but she is concerned about Supt. Walters is not having a plan.

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We spend a lot of resources on that end-of-year testing, and I dont think that its the best use of our tax dollars, said Senator Hicks.

In his press release from the Department of Education, Supt. Walters said that they will allow districts to use approved benchmark assessments in place of current high-stakes end-of-year tests for grades 3  8 in Math and English Language Arts.

He goes on to blame teachers unions and says that the teachers approach is failing our kids.

He said in a Fox News interview before his announcement went to local news that, By moving away from outdated state tests and empowering local districts, were reducing the burden on students, parents, and teachers while ensuring high-quality education that is no longer driven by bureaucrats or outside groups.

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Moore Public Schools superintendent breaks down OKs low rank in education

But the biggest teachers union in the state, OEA, has long fought for reducing the testing requirements. So his announcement nearly lines up with what they have said before on statewide testing.

This is something that we have worked to reduce for decades, said Elledge. We know that the biggest component of student success and academic growth is growth from where a student has started to where they come in the end.

Supt. Walters said that he based his announcement on a survey given out to some parents this summer, where he said most respondents answered that standardized tests arent necessary.

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Its a twelve-question survey, and before you answer it, it says in part, As we look to improve the Oklahoma School Testing Program, we ask for your input. We appreciate your time in completing this survey. Your responses will help us understand how state testing impacts students and families and will inform future improvements.

Questions ask if you think statewide tests are accurate to a students progress and if testing has a positive impact on your child.

Its not like he can just snap his fingers and be the one person that says testing magically goes away, said Erika Wright.

Wright said she filled out the survey and also said she has always spoken about better ways to measure a students progress than statewide standardized tests. When she saw Supt. Walters announcement, she said, she wondered what would replace it or what the plan would then be to measure a students progress.

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I dont know what that is, and thats why we cant just announce without a plan, said Wright. Five days before school starts, and say, this year nobody has to test. Thats just ridiculous.

Wright is the founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition and said she has long been outspoken on changes that need to come from the system within OSDE.

I am very interested to see how this plays out, and Im not sure that it is even legal, said Elledge.

News 4 sent several questions to OSDEs spokesperson, but we havent heard back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
BOWIE (KFDX/KJTL)  The Bowie Police Department is investigating a bank robbery attempt that happened Friday, August 8.

According to the Bowie News, the suspect has been identified as 63-year-old Randall Bryant from the Sunset area. Bryant was arrested after attempting to rob the Wellington State Bank.

Officers said around 9 a.m., the suspect entered the building and told the clerks he was going to rob them.

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According to police, the suspect appeared to be holding a firearm in his robbery attempt, but it was a BB gun.

Police Captain Scott Parker said there were no reports of hostility during the robbery.

He told them that he was there to rob, but never showed any aggression. I think the employees may have been more in shock than anything, Captain Parker said. He messed with the employees purse and then just grabbed his bag and and walked out the door. There was another customer in the bank the whole time and he never paid him any attention.

Police were notified through the banks silent panic alarm.

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Bryant fled the scene in a Ford F-150 empty-handed as soon as a customer entered the bank.

Bowies police chief, Guy Green, said that after Bryant fled the scene, he attempted to go to another bank right across the street, which led to a short chase that led to his arrest.

He takes off at a slow speed north of 59, leaving town, and he wont stop, Chief Green said. So at this point, theres three sheriffs deputies. Weve got two or three officers that that come up to back them up, and then just north of the city limits on highway 59. He stops, they get in box, he stops and he gives up.

The suspect was apprehended in the yard of True Directional Services, just half a mile down the road from the bank. The operational manager, Brent Shaw, said that Bryant showed no signs of resistance during his arrest.

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I think he knew it was up, so he got out, and because they were coming back both directions, the sheriffs come from Montage County, and then he was proceeding from behind, and they were right on him. I would probably say at least 10 to 15 vehicles when they all got there, Shaw said.

Investigators believe the suspects actions may have been motivated by personal or mental health struggles.

The department is working with federal authorities as the investigation continues.

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Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The suspect in a shooting that killed four people at a bar in rural western Montana was arrested Friday, seven days after a multiagency manhunt.

Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran, was arrested at 2 p.m. local time in the search area in Anaconda, the Montana Department of Justice said.

The shooting occurred on Aug.1 in Anaconda, which is 130 miles east of Idaho and 198 miles west of Bozeman, Mont.

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He is in the custody of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge authorities.

"Incredible response from law enforcement officers across Montana," Gov. Greg Gianforte posted on X. "May God continue to be with the families of the four victims still grieving their loss."

During a news conference, he appeared with several involved in the search. "These brave men and women in uniform sacrificed their lives and time away from family to ensure this killer was brought to justice," he said.

These brave men and women in uniform sacrificed their lives and time away from family to ensure this killer was brought to justice. Proud to stand alongside them tonight to say we got him. pic.twitter.com/vhcWJIf3aq Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) August 9, 2025

Gianfort said the search was lengthy because the search terrain was rugged as personnel spent hours climbing over these mountains looking for this criminal."

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Brown was on the run in what authorities describe as the "biggest shooting" in the state in a decade.

Surveillance video captured Brown fleeing Old Owl Bar where he lived next door. His white Ford F150 was found on the day of the shooting.

"We think that was directly correlated to flushing him out today -- getting him down into an area that we know we had searched before," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. "It was not someplace he'd been hiding. He was flushed out."

He was armed.

Authorities with 38 agencies -- local, state and federal -- were searching for him, including in the western Montana wilderness.

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"I am proud of the unrelenting law enforcement effort this week to find and arrest Michael Paul Brown," Knudsen said at the news conference. "The support we've seen for the community of Anaconda from across the state and the nation has also been remarkable."

Killed were bartender Nancy Kelley, 64; and three patrons: Daniel Baillie, 59; Nancy Kelley, 64; David Leach, 70, and Tony Palm, 74.

"It just isn't real. It's totally overwhelming," said Cassandra Dutra, a bartender at the Owl Bar who wasn't working at the time, said in a CNN report.

He was a known regular at the bar.

Brown served in the Iraq war and the Montana National Guard.
Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains what to do if you witness a crime.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A suspect was arrested early Saturday morning in connection with a string of suspected arson fires that have recently plagued the Loma Alta neighborhood of Oceanside, authorities announced.

According to a joint statement from the Oceanside Police and Fire Departments, the suspect was taken into custody around 1:20 a.m. after being caught in the act of setting a fire during a targeted surveillance operation.

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The arrest follows an ongoing investigation into approximately 14 separate small vegetation fires that began occurring on or around July 30 in the area northwest of El Camino Real and Oceanside Boulevard.

Officials believe the fires were intentionally set and that the same individual may be responsible for the entire series. The suspect is believed to have acted alone, though the investigation remains active.

This arrest is the result of outstanding collaboration between Oceanside Police and Fire investigators, said Oceanside Fire Division Chief Blake Dorse. The swift and coordinated actions of both agencies have played a critical role in safeguarding our community.

Authorities are still reviewing evidence and have not released the suspects identity. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Oceanside Police or fire officials.

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On the 100th anniversary of 'Kakori Train Action', Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday paid tribute to Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Asfaqullah Khan and other freedom fighters involved in the historic event. Shah stated that the freedom fighters ignited the "torch of revolution" against the "British looting" and shook the foundation of the British Empire by robbing the train with the aim to give the nation's wealth back to its people. In a post on X, HM Shah said, "The 'Kakori Train Action' is a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism in the Indian freedom struggle. On August 9, 1925, brave heroes like Ram Prasad Bismil Ji, Chandra Shekhar Azad Ji, and Ashfaqulla Khan Ji ignited the torch of revolution against British looting, shaking the foundations of the British Empire," "With the aim that the wealth looted from Indians by the British should be used for the nation's welfare, these valiant fighters carried out the 'Kakori Train Action'," he added. https://x.com/AmitShah/status/1954008908340834634 Shah further stated that the nation will always be indebted to the bravery and valour of these freedom fighters. On Friday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Kakori Shaheed Memorial, dedicated to freedom fighters of 'Kakori Train Action', for the closing ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the historic event. The Kakori Train Action or Kakori Conspiracy was a train robbery that took place at Kakori, a village near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925 during the Indian Independence Movement against the British colonial rule. The robbery was organised by the Hindustan Republican Association, and more than 40 persons were arrested in this incident. They were finally sentenced to death by the British government, and severe punishments were also given to those people who helped with the incident. The main purpose of the robbery was to protest against the heavy tax that was collected from the Indians and use the money to fund the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) rather than leaving it with the Britishers. Earlier in August, the Uttar Pradesh government renamed the 'Kakori Kand' to 'Kakori Train action' as the word 'Kand' denotes a sense of insult to this incident under India's Independence struggle. (ANI)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a suspect was arrested for a Wednesday shooting that left one person hurt.

On Aug. 6, at around 2 a.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 2000 block of Benning Road in Northeast.

DC police: Woman arrested for early morning shooting

The suspect and victim were engaged in a verbal argument when the suspect took out a gun and shot the victim before running away.

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The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On Aug. 7, officers arrested Brian Diggs, 31, and he was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, unregistered firearm, and unregistered ammunition.

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Police officers block Clifton Road near Emory Hospital as they respond to a shooting near the campuses of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Credit - Hyosub ShinAtlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

The suspected gunman in the shooting of a police officer at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday has been identified as Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.

White was killed along with Officer David Rose of the DeKalb County Police Department during the shooting near Emory University, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said on Saturday.

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Images posted online showed windows of CDC buildings that appear to have been hit by gunfire.

Authorities have not yet publicly stated the motive in the incident, but law enforcement officials reportedly told the New York Times that White blamed the coronavirus vaccine for his ill health, suggesting the CDC may have been the target.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during a Friday press conference that the suspect was known to have some interests in certain things that he could not reiterate with confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.

Read more: U.S. Surgeon General Declares Firearm Violence a Public Health Crisis

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was deeply saddened by the shooting.

We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others, Kennedy wrote on X. We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose  even in moments of grief and uncertainty.

Heres what to know about the shooting.

What happened?

The local 911 center received notice of an active shooter around 4:50 p.m. at a CVS location on Clifton Road, across the street from the CDC and near the Emory University campus, said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum at a Friday press conference. Officers who arrived on scene found an injured police officer, but could still hear gunfire happening inside the pharmacy.

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Police then located the injured gunman on the second floor of the building. It is still unclear whether he had been injured by self-inflicted gunshot wounds or the result of a shootout with police. The suspect died at the scene.

The CDC campus received multiple rounds of gunshots, impacting four campus buildings in the attack. Photos of the inside of a CDC building shared by CNN show windows partially shattered by bullet holes.

Fridays shooting marks the second in Atlanta this week after an Army sergeant opened fire at his post. Five of the shooters coworkers were injured in the incident.

Who is Patrick Joseph White, the suspect in the shooting?

White, the identified shooter, lives in a suburb around 30 miles northwest of the scene of the crime.

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An unidentified official told the New York Times that the shooters father had reported him to authorities as suicidal earlier on Friday. The same official reportedly said White was fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine and blamed it for problems with his health.

Authorities indicated that they are still collecting evidence due to the complex scene and are conducting interviews. This investigation will take an extended period of time, GBI said in a Saturday statement.

Who is David Rose?

Authorities identified 33-year-old David Rose as the victim of the shooting. Rose is survived by his wife, two children, and another on the way, according to DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.

He was committed to serving the community. At this time we are asking for the communitys prayers, said DeKalb County Police Department interim chief Greg Padrick. Its a noble profession we all do. We answer the call to serve our community and he gave his life to a commitment to serve others.

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Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, FBI Director Kash Patel said on X following the news of Roses passing. The FBI will offer them our full support.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Law enforcement is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. - Credit: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

The man suspected of opening fire and killing a police officer Friday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) building in Atlanta, Georgia had previously expressed anti-vaccine sentiments, according to multiple reports.

Hours after the incident, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the suspected shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, of Kennesaw, Georgia. White allegedly opened fire on the CDC building, which caused panic both on that campus as well as nearby Emory University.

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DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was among the first responders to the shooting, was shot and killed. White was later found dead from a gunshot wound at a nearby CVS; its unclear whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a press conference.

One other police officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and no civilians were injured in the shootings, which targeted four buildings on the CDC campus. Its a miracle no one was killed here, one CDC employee told CNN.

According to the New York Times, law enforcement sources said that White had a long-brewing fixation with the coronavirus vaccine, which he blamed for a series of his own medical ailments. One of Whites neighbors also told NBC News that White shared anti-vax sentiments with her on numerous occasions.

However, authorities wouldnt publicly confirm motive until the investigation was complete, as Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said that White was a known person that may have some interest in certain things that I cant reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted.

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We at @CDCgov are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting. A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings, CDC Director Susan Monarez wrote on social media.

DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of everyone at CDC. We are actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to fully investigate the shooter and this tragic crime.

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A suspect fled after shooting and injuring a boy in Galt on Thursday night, police said.

The Galt Police Department said Friday it believed a shooting was an isolated incident and posed no threat to the public. Officers responded about 9:30 p.m. Thursday to the intersection of West E and First streets, but the suspect had fled immediately after the shooting, police said. A juvenile was taken to a hospital with wounds not considered life-threatening, according to a department news release. Police did not immediately respond to a question Friday about whether asuspect had been identified, located or detained.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A grand jury has indicted the young man accused in a deadly shooting on the University of New Mexicos campus on eight charges, including second-degree murder. Police said a group of four teens was in a dorm room at Casas del Rio last month when 18-year-old John Fuentes opened fire, killing 14-year-old Michael LaMotte and injuring a 19-year-old. Police records say the group may have used LSD, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol.

Teen pleads guilty for killing a man while trying to break into his car

Fuentes was found in Los Lunas after an hours-long manhunt. His attorneys called two witnesses in the case unreliable since they were intoxicated. The defense also claims the witnesses brought the guns to the dorm room that night. However, prosecutors convinced a judge to keep Fuentes behind bars until trial. If convicted, he faces up to 31.5 years behind bars.

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The suspect in a double homicide and home explosion in western Iowa has died.

Dennis Burnell, 71, was transported to the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit and treated for extensive burn injuries but died Friday, Aug. 8, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. An autopsy is pending.

Burnell is accused of shooting Brandon Oman, 38, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Stevie Oman, 35, who was transported to a hospital but later died.

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Authorities were called to a neighborhood in Glenwood, a city about 150 miles west of Des Moines near the Nebraska border, for reports of a shooting. Mills County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to the Wednesday incident as an active shooter situation," according to Omaha TV station WOWT.

Two people were shot in the home and an explosion happened shortly after, Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen said in video of a Wednesday night news conference posted to WOWT's site. The explosion subsequently led to a fire.

Authorities believe the shooting may have stemmed from personal disputes between the Omans and Burnell.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Suspect in Glenwood double shooting, home explosion has died
The Brief

There are new details on an Arizona serial sexual assault suspect.

54-year-old Abraham Ramirez is reportedly linked to four kidnappings and sexual assaults in the Phoenix area.

Ramirez is also found to be connected to alleged crimes in California.

PHOENIX - We are learning more about the arrest of a suspected serial rapist whose alleged crimes in the Phoenix area date back more than a quarter of a century.

What we know

Phoenix Police say DNA linked Abraham Ramirez to four kidnappings and sexual assaults in the Valley. They also say Ramirez's DNA matched a similar crime in Ventura County, California, which is ultimately how they cracked the case.

The backstory

Ramirez, 54, is accused of sexually assaulting two 17-year-old girls, an 18-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman in 1998, 1999 and 2013.

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Before the alleged crimes happened in the Valley, Ramirez was arrested in California in 1994 for kidnapping and sexual assault. He was not convicted, however.

DNA was still collected in 1994, even though the technology was new at the time. DNA was also collected after the crimes in Phoenix.

In July 2025, the Phoenix Crime Lab was notified that a match was found related to the case out of California, and the suspect connected to all of the kidnappings and rapes was Ramirez.

What they're saying

"In 2023, we received an investigative lead from that familial search," said Jennifer Palmer, a forensic scientist with the Phoenix Police Department. "The investigator got a name of a close relative of the suspect, and ever since then, we're looking at the family tree and trying to identify a possible suspect and submitting samples for comparison to the evidence in these cases."

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"It's a long time. It's a long time for these survivors to have to wait for an answer, for them to know if they're feeling safe," said Phoenix Police Commander Steve Martos. "A lot of sleepless nights. A lot of work put in by our detectives."

What's next

During his initial court appearance, a judge set a $750,000 cash bond for Ramirez.

Meanwhile, Phoenix Police said that there could be more victims out there, and they're urging other women to come forward.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Officials are investigating a two-vehicle crash between a driver, who was allegedly both speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, and a parked car on Friday evening.

According to the Darke County Sheriffs Office, the crash happened at approximately 9:50 p.m. around Hollansburg Tampico Road and Stingley Road, in Greenville.

Deputies were told a gray Honda Civic was swerving, not stopping for stop signs and driving with its turn signal on.

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Pedestrian dead after crash in Clark County; was fleeing from dogs

Officials said it was reported to be speeding southbound on Hollansburg-Tampico Road. It drove into the Village of Hollansburg, where it went left of the road and hit a parked and unoccupied 2014 black Hyundai Sonata head-on.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Portland, Indiana, was taken by medics to Reid Health for his injuries. Officials said his current condition is unknown.

The Darke County Sheriffs Office said alcohol and speed are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, which it is actively investigating.

2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available.

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Syrias new government will not take part in planned meetings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, Syrias state news agency has reported, as tensions mount between the two sides.

SANAs report on Saturday cast doubt over an integration deal signed this year by the armed group and Syrias interim government, which took over after the overthrow of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Quoting an unnamed government source, the news agency said the government wants future negotiations to be held in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as it is the legitimate and national address for dialogue among Syrians.

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The SDF was the main force allied with the United States in Syria during fighting that defeated ISIL (ISIS) in 2019. In March, the SDF signed a deal with the new government to join Syrias state institutions.

The deal aims 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 and regional Kurdish governing bodies to integrate with Damascus.





However, the agreement did not specify how the SDF will be merged with Syrias armed forces. The group has previously said its forces must join as a bloc while the government wants them to join as individuals.

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Saturdays report comes a day after the Kurdish administration held a conference involving several Syrian minority communities, the first such event since al-Assads removal from power.

The conferences final statement called for a democratic constitution that  establishes a decentralised state and guarantees the participation of all components of Syrian society.

Damascus has previously rejected calls for decentralisation.

In its report on Saturday, SANA said the government stresses that the SDF conference dealt a blow to the ongoing negotiation efforts towards implementing the March agreement.

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Accordingly, the government will not participate in any meetings scheduled in Paris, nor will it sit at the negotiating table with any side seeking to revive the era of the deposed regime under any name or cover, the report said.

Participants in the Kurdish-organised conference also criticised the government over sectarian clashes in Syrias southern province of Suwayda and the coastal region.

The current constitutional declaration does not meet the aspirations of the Syrian people.  It should be reviewed to ensure a wider participatory process and a fair representation in the transitional period, the conferences final statement read.





The dispute is the latest in a recent conflict between the Syrian administration and the SDF after clashes between the group and government forces this month.

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The SDF on Saturday accused government-backed factions of attacking areas in northeastern Syria more than 22 times.

It said it had exercised restraint during such aggressions but the continuation of attacks threatens mutual trust and undermines understandings.
By Menna AlaaElDin and Ahmed Tolba

(Reuters) -Syria will not take part in planned meetings with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, Syria's state news agency quoted a government source as saying on Saturday, casting doubt over an integration deal signed by the two sides 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.

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In March, the SDF signed a deal with the new Islamist-led government in Damascus to join Syria's state institutions.

The deal aims 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.

It did not specify how the SDF will be merged with Syria's armed forces, however. The SDF has previously said its forces must join as a bloc, while Damascus wants them to join as individuals.

The source was quoted by the news agency SANA as saying that Damascus would not be involved in negotiations with any side that aims to "revive the era of the former regime".

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The source was responding to a forum hosted by the Kurdish-led group which governs northeast Syria on Friday in which it called for the review of the constitutional declaration issued earlier this year by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Participants also criticized the country's Islamist-led government over sectarian clashes in Syria's southern province of Sweida and the coastal region.

"The current constitutional declaration does not meet the aspirations of the Syrian people ... It should be reviewed to ensure a wider participatory process and a fair representation in the transitional period," a final communique issued after the forum read.

The source told SANA that the forum resembled an attempt to present proposals that were contrary to the March agreement and that the Syrian government would not attend planned meetings in Paris with the group. The report gave no further details of the meetings, which had not been previously announced.

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The French president's team was not immediately available for comment.

The source accused the Kurdish-led group of hosting "separatist figures engaged in hostile acts", holding the SDF fully responsibility for its implications, including the reimposition of sanctions and the "summoning of foreign intervention".

The ongoing dispute is the latest in a recent conflict between the Syrian administration and the SDF after clashes between the group and government forces earlier this month.

The SDF on Saturday accused government-backed factions of attacking areas in northeast Syria more than 22 times.

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It said it had exercised restraint during such "aggressions", and that the continuation of such attacks "threaten mutual trust and undermine understandings".

(Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo; Additional reporting by Claude Chendjou in Paris; Editing by Mark Potter and Philippa Fletcher)
Marking World Sanskrit Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the language is a timeless source of knowledge and expression. He also highlighted his government's efforts to popularize Sanskrit. "Today, on Shravan Poornima, we mark World Sanskrit Day. Sanskrit is a timeless source of knowledge and expression. Its impact can be found across sectors. This day is an occasion to appreciate the effort of every person around the world who is learning and popularising Sanskrit," PM Modi said in a post on X. "Over the last decade, our Government has undertaken many efforts to make Sanskrit popular. These include setting up Central Sanskrit Universities, Sanskrit Learning Centres, providing grants to Sanskrit scholars and the Gyan Bharatam Mission to digitise manuscripts. This has benefitted countless students and researchers," he said. 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. 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. 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. 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. (ANI)
This comes after Syria has struggled to integrate the US-backed group into its military.

Syria will not take part in planned meetings with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Paris, Syria's state news agency SANA quoted a government source as saying on Saturday.

The source cited an earlier forum arranged by the US-backed SDF that it said was a violation of an accord between the government and the group.

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The source was quoted as saying that Damascus would not be involved in negotiations with any side that aims to "revive the era of the former region."

This comes after Turkey and Syria held talks on Thursday to assess ties and tensions with the SDF.

"The talks are expected to assess Turkey's national security concerns stemming from northeast Syria, as well as cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorist organizations... at a time when preserving Syria's territorial integrity and unity is more important than ever," a source told Reuters.

A person holds flags as people celebrate after the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of Syria's oil-rich northeast, has signed a deal agreeing to integrate into Syria's new state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday, in Damascus, Syria Mar (credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI)

Turkey, Syria debate situation with SDF

Ankara considers the SDF a terrorist organization, and has pushed for it to abide by a March integration agreement with Syria.

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"It has not escaped our attention that the SDF terrorist organization's voice has become louder, empowered by the clashes in Syria's south," the source told reporters at a briefing in Ankara.

"The SDF terrorist organization's attacks on the outskirts of Manbij and Aleppo against the Syrian government in recent days damage Syria's political unity and territorial integrity.

Hurdles have arisen because there are major ideological differences between many new Syrian army commanders, who fought alongside Sharaa as part of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and the SDF.

The SDF is largely a Kurdish organization that has roots in the far Left, while HTS is largely an Arab group that is extremely conservative and Islamic.

Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  A spiritual leader of Syrias Druze community called Saturday for an international investigation into last months clashes that left hundreds of people dead in southern Syria.

Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, whose fighters clashed with pro-government gunmen in Sweida province last month, also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as Israel and Gulf Arab countries for their help in ending the violence.

Thanks to those who stood by righteousness, Al-Hijri said in a televised speech.

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The days-long clashes first broke out in July between Druze militias and local Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes in Sweida. Government forces then intervened, nominally to restore order, but ended up essentially siding with the Bedouins against the Druze.

Israel intervened in defense of the Druze, launching dozens of airstrikes on convoys of government fighters and even striking the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in central Damascus. The Druze form a substantial community in Israel, where they are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the Israeli military.

Al-Hijri called for an international and independent investigation into the clashes and argued that perpetrators should be referred to the International Criminal Court. He also called for the deployment of international observer missions to protect civilians.

He thanked Trump for his support of minorities, and he thanked Israel for what he called a humanitarian intervention which he said limited the extent of the massacres against the Druze.

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Al-Hijris comments came a day after he spoke remotely at a conference hosting representatives of Syrias various ethnic and religious groups who called for the formation of a decentralized state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.

The conference was held in Hassakeh, a northeastern Syrian city under the control of the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.

The government criticized the meeting, and alleged that among the attendees were some with secessionist ambitions. It said that as a result it long longer intends to join planned talks with the SDF in Paris that had been agreed upon in late July. No date had yet been set for the Paris talks.

State news agency SANA quoted an unnamed government source as saying that the conference violated an agreement reached in March with the SDF.
Hundreds of people came to the Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28 2021 to testify against the new voting maps drawn by Republican legislative leaders which advocates characterized as 'gerrymandering 2.0' | Wisconsin Examiner photo

The drama in Texas, where President Donald Trump has demanded that Republicans quickly draw new GOP districts to thwart the will of the voters and ensure his party retains control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, has created massive discord.

Progressives and voting rights advocates are divided on whether California and New York should fight the Texas power grab by gerrymandering their own states, creating more safe Democratic seats, even if that means undermining fair maps and the authority of those states nonpartisan redistricting commissions.

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In Wisconsin, which just got out from under one of the worst partisan gerrymanders in the U.S., and the impenetrable, outsized Republican majorities in the state Legislature it protected for a decade and a half, this issue hits particularly close to home.

Its head-spinning to hear arguments for Democratic counter-gerrymandering in other states from the same people in Wisconsin who were recently crying out for fair maps.

If Democrats are going to mount a serious challenge to the fascist takeover of our country by Trump and his minions, its hard to see how ceding the moral high ground and running roughshod over the principle that the will of the majority of voters should prevail is going to help.

If we want democracy, fairness, and the rule of law, we need to champion, well, democracy, fairness and the rule of law.

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I get that its more satisfying to imagine a quick fix to the fascist takeover of every branch of government than to listen to a lot of vague talk about long-term plans to rebuild democracy. After all, election deniers and the architects of the Jan. 6 attack are now running the federal government, demanding access to voter lists across the country and deploying the FBI to arrest political opponents, including the Texas Democrats whove fled their state to stall the gerrymandering scheme there.

But here in Wisconsin, where weve just finally beaten back the most gerrymandered map in the country, its depressing to imagine Democrats abandoning the high ground and scrambling to do exactly what Republicans did when they controlled all three branches of government, attempting to lock in permanent political control against the will of the people.

If we want democracy, fairness, and the rule of law, we need to champion, well, democracy, fairness and the rule of law.

In this most extreme political moment, with every public institution and the continued existence of U.S. democracy in doubt, I understand why the long view frustrates people. The emergency is now. I understand that many voters want to see Democrats fight fire with fire, as Newsom put it.

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But consider this: Republicans control more state legislatures (28 Republican versus 18 controlled by Democrats) and have trifecta control of all branches of government in more states (23 all-GOP states versus 15 all-Democratic). JD Vance just launched a tour of Republican states to encourage more mid-decade gerrymandering. And Trump wants to hold a new census for the purpose of redefining who can vote. Even if Democratic Govs. Gavin Newsom and Kathy Hochul succeed in gerrymandering California and New York, Democrats are not likely to win the nationwide redistricting war.

Meanwhile, democracy will be the first casualty of that war. California and New York would have to suspend the work of their nonpartisan redistricting commissions  the gold standard for fair, nonpartisan map-drawing  and take back partisan control of the process in order to carry out their threats. If they succeed, it is beyond unlikely that the politicians who pull off that short-term victory will ever cede back their power over the voting maps to the nonpartisan commissions again.

On a deeper level, the Democratic gerrymandering fantasy takes the whole movement to oppose Trump in exactly the wrong direction. Instead of building grassroots support to counter an unpopular, authoritarian leader, it rigs the system to benefit a party whose whole problem is that it has lost the broad, popular support it needs to win elections and create a better, more enlightened government.

Instead of trying to rig the maps to ensure a Democratic House majority in the next election, Democrats need to focus on winning elections and flipping seats in areas of the rural and industrial Midwest that were once reliably blue but have turned deep red.

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To do that they need to make the case that health care, education and an adequate social safety net are bedrock rights in the richest nation on earth, and that we should not be giving tax breaks to billionaires by taking food out of the mouths of hungry children.

They need to offer something to the farmers and factory workers and disaffected voters in rural and urban areas alike that is clearly different and better than the hate, corruption, and a determination to run roughshod over democracy that Republicans offer.

In Wisconsin, voting rights groups have been working on a campaign to push through a constitutional amendment modeled on one in our neighboring state of Michigan, to make sure that our voting maps are never again drawn up by partisan legislators.

Thats the kind of grassroots fight that helped Wisconsin finally overcome Republican gerrymandering. One important aspect of the fair maps movement is the way it engaged citizens to feel like participants, not spectators, in democracy, and to find their common interests instead of focusing on the politics of division. This, not more politicians in safe seats who dont have to listen to voters, is what we need right now.

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The battle to beat back fascism does not turn on a handful of Democrats in protected districts. It turns on an organized uprising by the majority of people in the U.S. who are willing to join together despite their differences because they are sick and tired of having their democracy stolen from them, along with their health, safety, opportunity and hope. Theres no short cut to leading that fight.

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If members of the Latino community arent comfortable coming to Provo City Hall, Mayor Michelle Kaufusi has made it a point of reaching out to them.

They are a huge part of our community. They need to be at the table, she said. I tell them maybe someday, Youll be mayor.

She, Councilman George Handley and other city leaders took the efforts another step forward on Thursday, hosting a bilingual open house geared to the citys Latino and Spanish-speaking community and inviting them to take an active role in city matters. The city hosted a similar event last year and plans to continue.

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We want them to feel like the government works for them and they have opportunities to get involved, Handley said. He also wants the Latino community to feel comfortable coming forward to air their concerns.

As is, both Kaufusi and Handley say involvement by Latinos in city affairs is minimal, hardly commensurate with their share of the population. Spanish is spoken in some 18% of Provo households, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, and the officials want that segment involved.

We rely on people coming to us, and if certain neighborhoods or certain sectors of our city dont ever speak, we never hear from them, then their concerns are not going to get addressed, Handley said.

While immigration is a topic of intense debate across the country, with President Donald Trump prioritizing the detention and deportation of immigrants in the country illegally, Handley said his focus is on hearing from Provos residents.

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I would say its just not my job to ask for proof of citizenship from people. ... We welcome hearing from all kinds of people. We dont try to filter people out, he said.

Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, left, addresses a gathering on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at the Provo City Library meant to encourage increased civic involvement among the city's Latino and Spanish-speaking populations. | Tim Vandenack, KSL.com

In that vein, the Provo Police Department issued a statement Thursday, read to applause at the open house, emphasizing that the department isnt involved in federal efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Unlike an increasing number of sheriffs offices and other law enforcement agencies entering into cooperative agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement  including the Utah County Sheriffs Office  the Provo Police Department doesnt have officers deputized to work with federal immigration authorities.

Provo police officers are not immigration officers and do not have the authority to arrest a person for their immigration status alone, reads the statement, posted on the departments Facebook page. We do not ask for a persons status when documenting a crime report or offering victim services. We provide services regardless of citizenship or residential status.

Antonio Valbuena attended Thursdays event, held at the Provo City Library and dubbed Tu Voz Importa or Your Voice Matters in English. Originally from Venezuela, he now lives in Herriman and runs an organization, Bridges 21, that tries to foster ties between Utahs Latinos and community leaders.

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People are afraid. Theyre afraid of taking part in public events, he said, citing the intense national focus on immigration, which has put some in the Latino community on guard.

Spanish-language stickers read "My mayor loves me" at a gathering on Thursday at the Provo City Library meant to encourage increased civic involvement among the city's Latino and Spanish-speaking populations. | Tim Vandenack, KSL.com

Indeed, he welcomes events like the open house, says hes unaware of other similar outreach efforts in other Utah cities. You only hear bad news about the Latino community, he said. But there are many people doing good things. We have to show the totality, the good and beautiful things that are being done.

Jackie Larson, executive director of Elevate Utah, which works with Utah Countys Latino and immigrant population, said part of the barrier to increased involvement by Latino immigrants in particular is distrust of the governments in their native countries.

I think in a lot of places where people come from, government is not always to be trusted, civil officials are corrupt, she said. Here, its kind of a different story. Obviously, we have a wonderful mayor, wonderful City Council members that care about the community and ... want them to be involved.

City leaders answered prewritten questions from the public in Spanish and English at the event and explained how city government works. Two Peruvian restaurants offered free food and a Mexican folkloric dance group performed for those in attendance.
Tacomas City Council voted to send a minimum wage initiative to voters  but its not clear when or if voters will see it on a ballot.

The proposal, known as Initiative 2, calls for raising Tacomas minimum wage to $20 per hour in a phased-in approach, up from the current minimum wage of $16.66.

In a special meeting on Friday, the City Council declined to adopt Initiative 2 as written, instead opting to send it to the auditors office for placement on the ballot in November.

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The only problem: the City Council missed the deadline to get it on the ballot. That deadline was Tuesday.

In a response following the vote, Tacomas Mayor declined to address the missed deadline or specify what could come next as a result.

She did express concerns about the measure as written.

I share the petitioners commitment to living wages, access to hours, secure scheduling, and safer workplaces, Mayor Victoria Woodards wrote. But as written, this initiative raises significant concerns about unintended consequences for our community.

The proposal, being referred to as the Tacoma Workers Bill of Rights, also includes other worker protections, like requiring more advanced notice of assigned shifts and shift changes.

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Activists have spent months trying to get the initiative before voters.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union 367 and Tacoma Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have spearheaded the effort.

Its getting more expensive to just keep your head above water, said Sean Arent, with Tacomas DSA chapter, in March.

Arent said its also focused on improving employee stability throughout the city.

Imagine that youre having to pay for the enormous costs of childcare when you cant even predict your schedule two weeks in advance, he said in March. What does that do to people? It creates gaps in our in our system.

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Both Mayor Victoria Woodards and Councilmember John Hines expressed concerns about the measure Friday in its current form, as it could pertain to nonprofits and city workers.

Even with the best of intentions, not everybody has access to the full picture or the ability to anticipate every consequence of this policy, Mayor Victoria Woodards said.

I have real concerns about some of our employees in services that require people to be available at a moments notice, Hines said, adding he worried about the impact it could on critical services during someones time of need.

Its not immediately clear what the city will do next.

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Officials in the county elections office told KIRO 7 the city could place the initiative on the ballot in February, but the city would need to approve a new resolution in order to do that. The deadline to submit it would be in December.

KIRO 7 asked city communications officials whether it was the citys intention to put forward a new resolution to get it on Februarys ballot. They could not provide an answer on Friday.

In her statement Friday, the Mayor also provided information about a separate proposals she planned to put forward. It would establish a task force to examine labor standards in Tacoma.

You can read more about the proposal here.
Never inadvertently teach your pets talking phrases. That's the lesson one drug leader learned the hard way, albeit a great win for society.

This all unfolded in the northwest coast of England in the town of Blackpool, where police police raided the home of a locked-up gang leader who was still managing to sell drugs on the outside.

According to the BBC, police discovered the gang leader, 35-year-old Adam Garnett, somehow got a hold of a phone in prison. When that phone was seized, police discovered evidence showing Garnett was still running a drug operation.

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Some of that evidence included videos showing kilo blocks of drugs and -- get this -- footage of Garnett's girlfriend's pet parrot, Mango, playing with money from drug sales. What's more, another video showed Garnett's girlfriend, 29-year-old Shannon Hilton, laughing while teaching Mango how to say phrases like, "two for 25."

Related: Zoo Wants Unwanted Pets to Feed Captive Predators, Sparking Outrage

Police also say Hilton taught Mango the phrases in the presence of a child.

Police ultimately raided the Blackpool home, where they seized large amounts of heroin and cocaine. Cops also found Mango at the home.

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After it was all said and done, the investigation resulted in members of the drug ring being sentenced to prison, including Hilton, who was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

Mango deserves a cracker.

How a Talking Parrot Brought Down a Drug Ring Operation first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he was nominating State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce to serve as deputy representative to the United Nations.

I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Tammy Bruce, a Great Patriot, Television Personality, and Bestselling Author, as our next Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social, adding that Bruce has been serving with distinction in her current role as State Department spokesperson and will represent our Country brilliantly at the United Nations."

Bruce has been one of the State Departments most public figures in the first six months of Trumps second term, helming regular press briefings on the administrations foreign policy.

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Her nomination comes at a time when the United States does not have a permanent leader at the United Nations; Mike Waltz  who briefly served as Trumps national security adviser  had his confirmation hearing to be the U.N. ambassador last month, but the full Senate has yet to vote on his nomination.

Trump initially tapped Bruce, a former Fox News contributor, for the State Department role in January, adding to his lengthy list of administration picks from the conservative network.

Bruce had been a longtime Democrat and self-described liberal activist before making a hard pivot into conservative politics and eventually supporting Trumps MAGA cause.

The position of deputy representative to the U.N. is Senate-confirmed, setting up the former spokesperson to come under lawmakers scrutiny.

If confirmed, Bruce would enter the role at a time when the Trump administration's policy decisions  particularly its firm support for Israel amid growing criticism from the global community over its Gaza offensive  have put the U.S. at odds with longtime allies.
The Brief

The Tampa Police Department is warning residents about a recent increase in phone scams.

In some cases, scammers use spoofed numbers and real agency names to appear more believable.

Detectives told FOX 13 victims are seeing average financial losses of $10,000 to $25,000 in these recent scams.

TAMPA - The Tampa Police Department is warning residents about a recent increase in phone scams.

What they're saying

"We're seeing an uptick. So I would say, on average, I get one (phone scam) a week, and the last two weeks, I've had nine (total)," Tampa police department Det. Hope Dauphin told FOX 13. "So there's definitely been an increase recently and especially a trend."

What we know

Scammers are smart: Sometimes they call victims, pretending to be with a law enforcement agency. They explain theres some sort of urgent problem, and money is needed to fix it.

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"Just to kind of pull on peoples heartstrings: That their relative is in jail or that they themselves have a warrant for missing jury duty," Dauphin said. "And so there's a panic that sets in and then that results in them losing quite a bit of money to these suspects."

RELATED: Riverview man gets revenge on scammer, helps deputies during undercover sting: HCSO

To add even more stress, these scammers use advanced technology to make it look like the number theyre calling from belongs to a real agency.

"For example, they'll use a jail phone (number) or the police department's phone number. And so when you Google that number, it seems legitimate," Dauphin added.

By the numbers

Scammers are also relying on technology to get cash from victims, too. Dauphin said in some of these recent cases, theyll text the victim a gift card. Then theyll ask the victim to go to the store and load money directly onto the gift card. "And now digitally, they're sending the suspects money, which makes it hard to trace them," Dauphin said.

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Unfortunately, victims are losing quite a bit of cash. "We used to see like $1,000 to $3,000 (in financial losses)," Dauphin said. "(Now), I'm seeing 10, 15 to $25,000."

The Tampa police department is reminding residents that law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone - and definitely not through gift cards.

If you get a suspicious phone call, hang up, call the number back, and wait to speak to an actual person to confirm the validity of the financial request, detectives add.

Dig deeper

So why the recent uptick in phone scams?

"I think it's just social media and how easy it is to look up stuff," Dauphin said. Let's say a relative of mine went to jail today. You could go on and Google and find out easily who grandma, mom is, addresses, phone numbers. It's very easy to find out who someone's loved one is and just pull on their heartstrings."

What you can do

Tampa Police encourage residents to talk with family members and neighbors, especially seniors, who may be more vulnerable to these scams. Report fraud or suspicious activity to the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130 or submit a report online.

The Source

FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia gathered the information for this story.
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The cost of a cup of coffee is leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of one Midstate business owner.

Like many small businesses, Geof Smith, owns St. Thomas Roasters in Dauphin County, has been forced to raise his prices due to tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration.

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Were going to do a flat 10-percent increase on our bag prices, which is the minimum tariff increase, Smith, who has owned the business for 25 years, said. To me, thats kind of a self-induced price increase.

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President Donald Trump has implemented tariffs, the president said, to bring businesses back to America. While Smith knows how important Made in America products are, he also knows its impossible for coffee to fall into that category.

Coffee can only be grown in the tropical belt, which is why we cant switch to manufacturing production here, Smith said. We have Central American, South American, African and Indonesian coffee here. Its from all over the world.

Unfortunately, its not the first time Smith had to raise his prices. The cost of coffee, he said, has gone up over the past two years.

You get droughts, rain, floods, all the kinds of things that affect the prices of coffee, Smith said. The tariffs are just another increase on top of that.

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Hershey Company expects to pay $170M+ in tariff expenses

For Smith, its all part of the grind  a small price to pay for the business and the customers he loves.

Work with us, stay with us, Smith said. Were going to do this together, and were gonna come out on the other end.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The teenager was sitting in the front seat of a landscaping truck when he saw the flashing lights of a patrol car. A trooper motioned for his mother, who was driving, to stop in the middle of a three-lane road near Palm Beach Shores, surrounded by traffic and the high-rise condos that line the coast of South Florida.

Kenny Laynez Ambrocio, 18, said the Florida Highway Patrol officer asked only where they were headed before he checked his mothers license and told her it was suspended.

The trooper then turned his attention to Laynez Ambrocio and his two coworkers, none of whom had identification. He called Border Patrol for backup, and over the next 35 minutes, agents surrounded the white truck, asking if any of them were in the United States illegally.

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Laynez Ambrocio would later remember an officer telling his friends not to make phone calls, and another officer who told them they could not record the arrest.

He had been showing his mother videos on TikTok, and his phone was lying next to him in the van.

Quietly, he began to record.

You have no rights

The cellphone video and police-car dash camera footage captured a scene playing out across Florida, but rarely before the public. The footage shows the aggressive tactics officers have deployed when arresting undocumented immigrants, including workers on their daily commutes, as they pull over cars without clear cause. Legal experts told the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times the footage raises concerns about potential violations of workers constitutional rights protecting them against arbitrary police stops and racial profiling.

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As the Trump administration pushes a mass deportation campaign, local law enforcement and federal immigration agents are scouring the state for anyone who may have violated immigration law. Gov. Ron DeSantis said FHP troopers this year have arrested nearly 3,000 people later turned over for immigration processing. State and federal officials maintain that the May 2 traffic stop of Laynez Ambrosio and his co-workers was legal and followed procedures.

Laynez Ambrocio, a senior at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, told police he was a U.S. citizen, born and raised here. But nervously, one of his coworkers said he was in the country illegally, and officers told them to open the door of the truck.

You guys have no rights to do that, the teen told the officers.

An officer stuck his hand through the open car door window and unlocked it. Within seconds, officers put one of the men in a neck restraint and grabbed at Laynez Ambrocio, who kneeled on the pavement. Three officers wrestled with a third man while he was doubled over with his hands behind his back. They yelled at him to get on the ground.

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No resistas, Laynez Ambrocio shouted at his friend, who did not speak English. Dont resist.

In this frame grab from video, as Kenny Laynez Ambrocio films from inside the vehicle, one of the other passengers is put in a choke hold and the other passenger is wrestled to the ground. Laynez Ambrocio, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, recorded his arrest by Florida Highway troopers and Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop. Then, he was criminally charged.

Then, a taser buzzed as an officer stunned the man in the stomach. He fell to the pavement, shaking and screaming. An officer pushed Laynez Ambrocio to the ground, where all he could see was an officers boots. He yelled that he had rights, that he was born in Palm Beach County.

You have no rights, an officer told him. Youre illegal, brother.

In that moment, it didnt seem like Laynez Ambrocio had any rights.

But he did have the video.

For us its a reality

Laynez Ambrocio and his friends were taken to a Border Patrol station in Riviera Beach, where he found other men who also appeared to be day laborers, some the same age as him. He could see the blood on his friend where he had been tased.

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Eventually, an officer told him he would be released because he is a U.S. citizen, but first she wanted to know if he had recorded the arrest. Laynez Ambrocio declined to unlock his phone, and he said he had not.

As he was being released, officers told him he was being charged with a misdemeanor for obstructing arrest without violence, although the arrest report does not mention Laynez Ambrocio by name or describe his actions.

The Florida Highway Patrol arrest report does not mention Kenny Laynez Ambrocio by name or describe his actions during the May 2 incident.

Laynez Ambrocio was released around 5 p.m. that day. He said his two friends were transferred to Krome Detention Center in western Miami-Dade County.

Footage obtained by the Miami Herald of a Florida Highway Patrol camera shows officers from the agency, with U.S. Border Patrol backup, arresting Kenny Laynez Ambrocio and his friends with force on May 2, 2025.

Laynez Ambrocio is the oldest son of an indigenous Mayan mother who moved to the U.S. about two decades ago from Guatemala. A copy of his birth certificate that he shared with the Herald shows he was born in Palm Beach County on Feb. 11, 2007.

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The county is home to a large Mayan community, many of whom came to the country as laborers seeking work, or as refugees fleeing a genocide targeting the Mayan people in Guatemala in the 1980s.

To support his mother and two younger brothers, ages 5 and 10, Laynez began working in landscaping. Someday, he wants to become a barber and open a shop in his community.

Kenny Laynez Ambrocio, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol and then detained by Customs and Border Protection during a traffic stop in North Palm Beach on May 2, 2025.

He didnt share the video of the traffic stop for weeks. Instead, after his arrest, in a pre-trial agreement, he was given 10 hours of community service and a four-hour anger management course, which he completed.

Around Palm Beach County, news quickly spread about immigration agents targeting undocumented members of the large Guatemalan community, many of whom are Indigenous. At The Guatemalan-Maya Center, a social service agency off the highway in Lake Worth, staffers began tracking arrests.

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Mariana Blanco, the director of operations at the center, first heard from community members about a young man tased in the stomach by an officer. She met with Laynez Ambrocios mother, who told Blanco about the video.

Lying in bed later that night, Blanco watched the video on her phone in disbelief.

I know how our peoples rights are being violated, but to see it very clearly, I just thought, wow, the rest of the world has to see this, like everybody has to see this, she told the Herald. Because were living it constantly. For us, its a reality for our community.

Kenny Laynez Ambrocio, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol and then detained by Customs and Border Protection during a traffic stop in North Palm Beach on May 2, 2025.

Theyre starting to resist more now

The video starts with a woman  its unclear if she is FHP or a Border Patrol agent  asking in Spanish who is in the car illegally, and continues to record the exchange as Laynez Ambrocio gets out of the truck. It captures the tasering, the pain in the mans face as he cries out, and in the background, the teen calling out multiple times: No resistas.

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Thats not how you arrest people, Laynez Ambrocio says to the officers. You can kindly take him out, thats it, its simple.

The officers laughed about the traffic stop, joked about bonuses and floated the possibility of shooting immigrants at arrests.

Theyre starting to resist more now, an unidentified officer said. A voice, unclear if its the same officer, adds: Were going to end up shooting some of them.

Juan Carlos Gomez, director of Florida International Universitys immigration law and human rights clinic, reviewed the footage from the arrest. An immigration attorney in Florida for over 30 years, he questioned the officers probable cause to pull over the car or require identification from passengers other than the driver, and why they would tase a man already restrained.

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He pointed to the number of times Laynez Ambrocio tells his friend not to resist.

How is that obstruction? Gomez said.

Laynez Ambrocios arrest, he said, is a reminder of the danger of when the state and the federal government are not understanding that their role is to protect.

This is a child, this is a teenager, said Gomez. To think that a U.S. teenager is not safe in his own country is a scary prospect.

Laurence H. Tribe, an emeritus professor of constitutional law at Harvard University, said that driving while looking Hispanic or driving while looking non-white is not a legitimate basis for being pulled over.

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The Constitution protects the rights of citizens and noncitizens equally, with a few exceptions regarding voting rights and the right to hold office, he said. That includes the right against arbitrary arrest, unreasonable search and seizure and the right to due process.

All of those rights belong to all persons in the United States, including those who are here illegally, Tribe said.

In this frame grab from video, Kenny Laynez Ambrocio is taken away in hand-cuffs. Kenny Laynez Ambrocio, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, recorded his arrest by Florida Highway troopers and Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop. Then, he was criminally charged.

Laynez Ambrocio is not the first U.S. citizen caught in the crosshairs of an immigration arrest in Florida this year. In April, FHP troopers in Tallahassee used a now-suspended immigration law to arrest Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, 20. Born in Georgia and stopped on the way to a roofing job with undocumented colleagues, Lopez Gomez was detained for more than 30 hours at the Leon County Jail before he was released.

Florida defends the arrest

At a press conference on Aug. 1, FHP Director Dave Kerner said that Laynez Ambrocio had slammed the car door shut and locked it, barring officers from reaching the other men.

They arrested that U.S. citizen for obstruction of justice, Kerner said. The resistance was so severe, by the way, that the Border Patrol had to use a taser on one of the subjects.

But the cell phone, first obtained by the Palm Beach Post, and dash-cam footage obtained by the Herald shows no slammed doors, and an officer opening the door through the window. The video on Laynez Ambrocios phone shows the use of force against the young men, a mother sobbing in the car and Laynez Ambrocio repeatedly pleading for his rights.

About two weeks after the video became public, Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Pamela Ford decided not to prosecute the misdemeanor charge against Laynez Ambrocio.

Upon review of the evidence and contact with the Arresting Officer, the State declines to prosecute. There is insufficient evidence to support a criminal charge, Ford wrote on Jul. 29.

Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Pamela Ford decided not to prosecute the misdemeanor charge against Laynez Ambrocio.

The decision angered the FHP director, who said dismissing the case was a miscarriage of justice.

I do not think it is going to end up well for that prosecutor, Kerner said.

When asked about Kerners comments and the prosecutors decision, a Palm Beach County State Attorneys Office spokesperson said that the office had not dismissed the charges, it had declined to prosecute, and referred the Herald to the court filing.

To date, the reason for the traffic stop remains murky. State officials say the stop was to conduct a commercial vehicle inspection. A federal record reviewed by the Herald/Times says troopers stopped the truck for a traffic violation. In an interview, Laynez Ambrocio said the trooper did not give them a reason for pulling them over.

The dash camera footage starts with FHP trooper Steve Julien turning around and positioning himself in the middle of the highway, where he waits as the truck approaches and stops in front of him.

From the moment the traffic stop started, Laynez Ambrocio said felt targeted for the color of his skin.

Theyre abusing their power, and racially profiling every Hispanic they see. Theyre not going after criminals, theyre going after landscapers and roofers, Laynez Ambrocio told the Herald.

Theyre still out there

The officers conduct may have violated the agencies own use of force policies. Both FHP and Customs have policies banning chokeholds or vascular neck restraints unless deadly force is warranted.

In the footage, a Border Patrol agent is shown holding one man with his forearm across a mans neck  and later, an FHP officer restrains the man who is tased, grabbing him around the neck area while the man is doubled down.

Neither CBP nor FHP commented on the officers use of neck restraints.

According to the Customs policy manual, an agent may use a taser on a person actively resisting who could injure themselves or someone else  but not on people adjacent to traffic. The tasing took place in the middle of a three-lane highway.

Law enforcement is facing a surge in assaults while doing their jobsenforcing the law, the Customs spokesperson said in a statement. Make no mistake, if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The video does not appear to show an assault on an officer. Customs did not respond when asked to provide more information about the alleged assault on an agent.

FHP declined to comment on the troopers conduct on the video, or if it was under review. In Laynez Ambrocios case, FHP maintained that the arrest was part of a lawful federal and state investigation.

As he gets ready for his senior year to start, Laynez Ambrocio said he is traumatized after the arrest. He cannot bring himself to return to his landscaping job, leaving his mother and younger brothers without his income to help. When he considers going back to work, he thinks of the patrol cars.

Theyre still out there, he said. Waiting.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, INS Pralaya, under the Headquarters Maharashtra Naval Area, hosted a heartwarming event with specially-abled girls from the Anandi Foundation. The girls tied rakhis to naval personnel, their smiles brightening the deck. "This #RakshaBandhan #INSPralaya had the honour of hosting specially abled girls from #AnandiFoundation. Their smiles lit up the deck as they tied rakhis to men in uniform. in bccoN ke dvaaraa baaNdhii raakhii ek dhaagaa nhiiN blkii surkssaa, dekhbhaal aur prem ke vaade kaa prtiik hai," INS Pralaya posted on X. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu extended her heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, wishing all countrymen in India and abroad. In a post on X, she described the festival as a symbol of the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. Highlighting the cultural significance of Raksha Bandhan, President Murmu noted that the festival provides an opportunity to preserve India's rich heritage and moral values. "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all my countrymen living in India and abroad. This auspicious festival of Raksha Bandhan is a symbol of unbreakable love and trust between brothers and sisters, which enhances the spirit of harmony and cooperation in the society. This festival gives us an opportunity to preserve our rich cultural heritage and moral values. This festival gives the message of respect and protection of mothers, sisters and daughters," she posted on X. She urged citizens to pledge towards building a prosperous India where every woman feels safe and empowered to contribute to national development. "On this auspicious occasion, let us all pledge to build a prosperous India, where every woman is safe and can make her important contribution to the development of the nation," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings. "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X. Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolizes a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian Culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
Tax-free weekend in Massachusetts is here. Heres what to know

Tax-free weekend in Massachusetts is here, and its a chance for residents to purchase big ticket items without worrying about the 6.25% tax.

During the holiday, most retail items purchased for personal use up to $2,500 will be exempt from sales tax, but not all of them.

Heres what you need to know:

Items that do not qualify

Several items are still taxable and are not tax exempt. including meals, cars, motorboats, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, and tobacco products. marijuana or marijuana products, and alcoholic beverages.

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Any single item that costs more than $2,500 is not tax exempt. If you spend more than $2,500 on an item, the entire amount paid is subject to sales tax, not just the amount that exceeds the threshold.

Layaway sales also do not qualify for the sales tax exemption, according to officials.

What if I purchase multiple items that each cost $2,500 or less, but the total price is more than $2,500?

State officials say if the price of each individual item is $2,500 or less, you can combine as many items as you want, tax-free, even if the combined items cost more than $2,500.

Exemption on clothing

Unless it costs more than $175, an item of clothing of generally exempt from the sales tax.

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However, for items that cost more than $175, only the amount of $175 is subject to tax.

On the sales tax holiday, if the price of an item of clothing is more than $2,500, the first $175 is not subject to tax but the rest would be.

If its less than or equal to $2,500, the entire amount isnt subject to tax.

Do all retailers have to take part in the sales tax holiday?

Yes. All businesses must take part in the sales tax holiday if the business is open on August 9 and 10 and normally makes taxable sales of tangible property in the Bay State or to purchasers in the state.

What remains taxable?

Purchases by corporations or other businesses and purchases by individuals for business use.

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For people like Chris Reuss, shopping is at the top of the to-do list this weekend.

Im getting a bookcase, a desk and a wooden hamper, Reuss said.

Ive been looking at a few things that I like, matter of fact I need a new monitor, a larger monitor and this is a good weekend for me to get it, another shopper told Boston 25 News Saturday.

I know right now, a lot of us are looking to save money where we can, shopper Kristen Ryan said.

For more information about the sales tax holiday, click here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Trade union away days for teaching staff are costing the UK taxpayer almost 19m a year, figures show.

Analysis of Government data by the TaxPayers Alliance shows some education staff are spending all of their working hours undertaking activities for their trade union, known as facility time.

All public sector organisations that employ more than 49 full-time staff are required to submit data on the use of facility time in their organisation. Activities covered can include bargaining over pay and planning strike action. Strike days are unpaid and counted separately.

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In total, the UK taxpayer spent 18.9m on facility time last year for staff across 631 education bodies, including schools and universities.

This is up around 4 per cent on 2023, when the taxpayer bill for facility time in the education sector reached 18.1m.

The Open University recorded the highest facility time bill in 2024, with almost 600,000 spent on fulfilling trade union roles in working hours.

Universities in financial crisis

Staff at Russell Group universities were among those given taxpayer-funded time away from their jobs to carry out union work last year, costing more than 1m in total.

That includes nearly 439,000 spent on facility time for staff at the University of Manchester, 350,000 at the University of Leeds and 297,000 at the University of Edinburgh.

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At 55 education organisations, some staff spent 100 per cent of their working hours on their trade union duties, the figures show.

Meanwhile, six universities had multiple staff working all of their working hours on trade union activities, including the University of Bristol, where five employees were recorded as spending 100 per cent of their time as union representatives.

The higher education sector is grappling with a worsening financial crisis that has pushed around 43 per cent of universities into deficit last year, according to Telegraph analysis.

Baroness Smith, the universities minister, told The Telegraph in May that many universities have lost sight over their responsibility to protect public money as they fail to rein in spending despite demanding support from the Government.

Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the NEU, whose members have been involved in a growing number of local walkouts - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Growing trade union activity among teachers has also pushed up the bill for facility time in schools, according to the TaxPayers Alliance analysis.

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Multi-academy trusts spending heavily on facility time last year included the Wessex Multi Academy Trust, which spent more than 261,000, and the Kemnal Academies Trust, which spent nearly 197,000.

Last month, the Telegraph revealed that local walkouts by school staff have surged in recent years, resulting in almost 600 days of lost teaching in 2024. The National Education Union, the UKs largest teaching union, launched 593 days of local strike action last year, representing a seven-fold jump over the past five years.

Joanna Marchong, investigations campaign manager of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Parents will be dismayed to learn that while classrooms sit empty and strikes disrupt childrens education, taxpayers are still picking up the bill for teachers to spend lesson time on union duties.

Facility time is a luxury the education sector cant afford. With schools losing hundreds of teaching days to walkouts and universities deep in financial trouble, every penny should go to front-line teaching, not subsidising union activism.

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Ministers must take a firm stance and ensure that taxpayer-funded institutions prioritise students needs instead of funding teaching staff who spend their time on union duties.

Taxpayers have funded trade union facility time since the Employment Protection Act of 1975. Additional regulations that came into force in 2017 now require public sector bodies to publish information on such spending.

Esther McVey, a Cabinet Office minister in the previous Conservative government, wrote to councils with high spending levels last year and urged them to consider introducing a cap on facility time.

She called on local authorities to take lessons from the civil service, which saw spending on facility time drop from 0.26 per cent of total pay costs in 2012 to 0.05 per cent in 2024, which she claimed shows how it is lawful and possible to achieve this.

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ST. LOUIS  The Local 420 Teachers Union president is calling for all hands on deck to address plummeting enrollment.

This organization will not idly stand by and see the death of the public school, said Ray Cummings, AFT St. Louis Local 420 president.

Cummings wrote a letter, calling on the superintendent to implement a new enrollment push.

We have free pre-K. We have some of the best-performing schools in the state. We just need to get our word out there, Cummings said.

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The concerns come in the wake of an SLPS study that projects the district to lose 20,500 residents in the next 10 years.

The May tornado exacerbated the problem, displacing an estimated 2,000 students. The study says there are currently more than 18,000 students enrolled, but that number could drop by 30% in 10 years.

When you have a competitive environment, it just makes sense; if you have a better product, you get the word out that you do have a better Product and thats exactly what were not doing, Cummings said.

Cummings called for an investment in an all-hands-on-deck campaign.

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His proposal includes spending $250,000 on advertising and communications. He also recommends paying employees to man a phone bank and for teachers to call parents to make sure kids can get to school at the start of the new semester.

Parents are suffering out there and they need to feel like were in their corner, Cummings said.

The SLPS superintendent was not available for an interview Friday.

Cummings says the district has not given feedback on his proposals.

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP  A-Techs expansion is nearly ready for incoming students heading into a new school year.

A-Tech Superintendent Scott Wludyga said the expansion, which connects A-Techs B-Complex to Meister Hall, is the biggest construction to happen at the school since it opened in 1969.

Were just over a year in progress, he said. They broke ground last summer.

Wludyga said the project cost just under $12 million and was partially paid for by a $6 million grant from the state, and a $486,000 grant for new equipment.

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Were going to see that this is so meaningful for our students in Ashtabula County to really give them an advantage for the future, he said.

With the expansion, Wludyga said A-Tech put in new sidewalks for changes to student traffic on campus.

In the past we were able to accommodate about 72 sophomores, he said. This is going to put us over about 92.

The total enrollment on campus will increase by nearly 100 students, he said.

The expansion was built on a section of the campus that was a grass field a year ago, and now just needs finishing touches, furniture and equipment, Wludyga said.

Theyre installing desks and tables now ... but the major construction is done, he said.

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Higley Construction, of Cleveland, was brought on to do the project.

There will be a celebration for the completed expansion around September, Wludyga said.

Its just a tremendous opportunity for the entire county, not only for what its going to bring for high school students, but for adult students coming here, he said.

Wludyga said the new career opportunities will be great for businesses looking for new employees and employees looking to learn new skills.

The entire project is a win not just for A-Tech, but for all of Ashtabula County, he said.

The new expansion will bring more educational options for A-Tech students studying criminal justice, advanced manufacturing and firefighting and emergency medical work, Wludyga said.

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This will enable us to accommodate more students, help more students, expand their opportunities for getting their careers started, he said.

The expanded course options come with three new labs and other equipment specialized for the subjects, Wludyga said.

Prior to this building, we had public safety academy, and students did criminal justice their junior year, and firefighter [and] EMT their senior year, he said.

Some students will have access to a new weight room, where they can train for the possible career in emergency services and their health can be evaluated.

Wludyga said advanced manufacturing students will be taught on the most up-to-date equipment.

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The advanced manufacturing lab with the equipment we have coming is going to make this, not only a gem for Ashtabula County, but a gem for Northeast Ohio with the way it connects to modern manufacturing and our local employers needs, Wludyga said.

The equipment will not be ready when school starts, but probably right after Labor Day, he said.

A-Tech will also have access to vehicles in the new expansion, including an ambulance and firetruck bought from cities outside the county, and a cruiser donated by the Ashtabula County Sheriffs Department, Wludyga said.

Theyll have a little dispatch station in there, he said. Thats one of their certifications.

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Wludyga said he is excited to see the expansion finally come to fruition.

Our staff is fantastic, and our construction team is great, he said. They didnt create any major obstacles for us during the school year [or] during construction.
BLUEFIELD  New technology designed to help monitor West Virginias aging bridges in real time and detect problems before they become emergencies leading to accidents or closures was unveiled Thursday during a press conference in Cabell County.

Speaking via social media from the Guyandotte Fishing and Boating Access site in Huntington, Gov. Patrick Morrisey joined state and federal officials to talk about the states new bridge infrastructure initiatives. They highlighted the success of the Structural Health Monitoring or SHM system made possible by the federal SMART grant program.

When I took office earlier this year, I made it my mission to transform our Department of Transportation to prioritize the improvement of our bridges and secondary roads, Morrisey said. This innovative technology is a clear step toward building a safe future for every West Virginian who travels our roads and bridges.

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Department of Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh said the new Structural Health Monitoring system will help tackle a pressing infrastructure challenge, the states aging bridges.

Here in West Virginia, our bridges are more than just structures, Rumbaugh said. Theyre lifelines. They connect our families, link our rural towns to our cities, carry our workers to their jobs and allow businesses to move our goods across the state and beyond.

However, many of the states bridges are in questionable condition.

But we all know the reality. Many of our bridges are aging and need significant attention, he said. This isnt just an engineering challenge. Its a challenge that impacts the safety of our citizens, the health of our economy and the strength of our communities.

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The SHM system is a network of sensors to provide real-time data that allows engineers to quickly detect stress, movement, or potential structural damage, first installed on the Gunner Gatski Bridge in Huntington. It includes accelerometers, crack meters, tilt sensors and vessel collision detectors. These tools provide continuous data that allows engineers to quickly address threats that could go undetected for months or even years.

Bridges can be closed suddenly if they do not pass their biannual safety inspections. This happened in June of 2019 when the Grant Street Bridge in Bluefield was shut down due to safety concerns. This closure forced residents in the citys East End and North Side neighborhoods to take lengthy detours if they wanted to shop or commute to and from work. Losing the bridge also impeded the ability of the fire department and other first responders to reach those neighborhoods.

A new Grant Street Bridge was opened in December 2023.

Larger bridges such as the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayette County provide important links across the state and the nation. Closing all or part of such a span because of disrepair and safety would seriously impede traffic and commerce.

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West Virginia is the first state in the country to use the Stage One SMART Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation specifically for this type of advanced bridge monitoring. Rumbaugh said it was bringing the future of infrastructure management to West Virginia.

The technology will allow the state to monitor its bridges conditions in real time.

It means we can detect problems early before they come they become emergencies, he said. It means we can target our resources, making smart, cost-effective repairs. Most importantly, it means safer roads, stronger connection and peace of mind for every West Virginian traveling across one of our bridges.

The successful implementation of this system positions the state to compete for a Stage Two SMART Grant, potentially bringing in up to $15 million in federal funding to expand the sensor network to other high-risk bridges statewide, according to Morrisey.

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This is not something were doing alone. It takes partners, Rumbaugh said. And West Virginia has some of the best partners in the country working alongside us. We are deeply grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for their support and vision in launching the SMART Grant program. This program has proved that federal innovation can make a real difference in the daily lives of our citizens.

U.S. Department of Transportation Director of Strategic Initiatives Shaz Umer joined Morrisey and Rumbaugh for the presentation Thursday. The Gunner Gatski Bridge, standing near the landing, has the new monitoring technology, he said.

The systems real time data collection system is a game changer, he said. It is continuous monitoring which surpasses traditional biannual inspections. The sensors detect subtle changes in vibration patterns that indicate potential structural deterioration and damages.

This technology will help reopen bridges sooner after an accident and reduce the need to close bridge lanes for inspections, Umer said.

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The governor said that meeting West Virginias transportation needs has President Trumps support.

Donald J. Trump wants this to be a golden age of transportation, Morrisey said. And of the great things about being here today is that I know that Donald J. Trump wants West Virginia to be at the forefront of that.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com
A teenager drowned in the waters off Coney Island, by a popular stretch of beach across the boardwalk from the iconic Cyclone roller coaster, police said on Friday.

A lifeguard spotted the 19-year-old victim floating in the ocean near W. 10th St. and Surf Ave. around 3:10 p.m. Wednesday and dove in to try to save him, police said. But when the lifeguard pulled the young man out of the water he was unresponsive.

Medics rushed the victim to South Brooklyn Health, where doctors pronounced him dead 20 minutes later, cops said.

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The Daily News is not releasing the young mans name until it can first confirm that his family has been notified.

The drowning comes just one week after the body of a 23-year-old man washed ashore on Rockaway Beach near Beach 25th St. The swimmer, a recent immigrant from Africa, disappeared on July 25 near Beach 20th St. around 6 p.m. as storm clouds were gathering.

Swimming is prohibited on New York City beaches during thunderstorms and every day after lifeguards go off duty at 6 p.m.

A week and a half before the 23-year-old swimmers body was found, on July 20 another mans body was discovered floating in the water about 4 miles west of there, at Rockaway Beach near Beach 97th St.

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Although his face was badly decomposed, he was eventually identified by the medical examiner as Jimmy Rambally, 37, a former lifeguard who, despite being a strong swimmer, disappeared while taking a prohibited late-night swim around 11:20 p.m. on July 12.

Rambally had told his mother he wanted to go lie on the beach and look at the stars. His brother told The News that, according to a friend who accompanied him to the beach, once Rambally got there, he couldnt resist going into the nighttime waters.
A 17-year-old gunman opened fire in Times Square in the early hours of Saturday morning, injuring three people.

Two men, aged 19 and 65, were shot in the legs and an 18-year-old woman was wounded in the neck, the New York Police Department said.

The shooting at the popular tourist spot occurred after an argument broke out between two people near the intersection of 44th Street and Seventh Avenue at around 1.20am (6.20am BST).

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The suspect is currently being held in custody. His identity cannot be disclosed because of his age and charges have not yet been filed. A firearm was also retrieved from the scene.

It is unclear what the dispute was about or whether the victims and the suspect knew each other.

Credit: Reuters

The victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, a police spokesman told The New York Times.

Dozens of police cars arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting.

Video footage posted on social media showed a team of officers and paramedics treating a young man lying on the ground.

He was later taken away in a stretcher towards an ambulance.

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Tourists and residents can be seen running through Times Square and bystanders were ordered to leave the scene immediately.

The motive behind the shooting and whether the gunman and his victims know each other remains unclear - Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock

Ahmed Talal was in his ice cream truck at Seventh Avenue when he heard the gunshots. He told The New York Times he witnessed three people running down the street in his direction, followed by about 10 cops.

An hour and a half after the shooting, there were crowds of people walking around the police cordon, he said.

In July, a gunman killed four people in an office building on Park Avenue, including an off-duty New York City police officer, before killing himself.

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Adam Kovalcik didn't expect to win big when he flew from his small village in Slovakia to an international science competition in Ohio. Still, the 19-year-old student walked away with the event's $100,000 top prize and a breakthrough idea for making lifesaving antiviral drugs out of corn husks.

At this year's Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, judges awarded the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award to Kovalcik, whose drug production method  as Business Insider reported  simplified the process by using corn husks in place of more costly ingredients.

Kovalcik had aimed to make galidesivir cheaper and faster to produce. The experimental drug targets RNA viruses, including Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19. He replaced standard starting materials with furfuryl alcohol, a compound that comes from corn waste.

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Rather than assembling the molecule in multiple stages, he formed the core sugar in seven reactions  ultimately developing a 10-step method, down from the conventional 15. The approach cuts production time from nine to five days and slashes the cost per gram from $75 to just $12.50.

While Kovalcik's method would need to go through clinical trials before any wide-scale applications (and student research at the fair didn't undergo the peer-review process), the Regeneron judges were impressed and called his presentation airtight.

"I cannot describe this feeling," Kovalcik told Business Insider after the live ceremony. He said he was surprised to win, especially coming from a small Slovak village.

After the competition, he filed a preliminary patent and returned to his university lab to continue refining the synthesis. According to early computer modeling, one new molecule from that work may bind more effectively to viral enzymes than galidesivir.

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He says he hopes to apply the same method to other materials, including a side project that turns corn waste into fragrance compounds. This waste-based, low-impact chemistry aligns with the type of environmental innovations that attract support.

His work joins a growing movement of scientists rethinking food waste, like turning banana peels into fuel or orange peels into bioplastics, and it shows how big innovations or breakthroughs can come from small labs.

Work such as Kovalcik's builds on that progress and shows how local actions can grow with the right support. Chris RoDee, chemist and chair of the judging committee and retired patent examiner, told Business Insider: "This could be a huge step to help prevent some of these RNA viruses."

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.
TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (PIX11)  A 17-year-old was taken into custody after three people were shot in Times Square early Saturday morning, according to police.

Police blocked off the area and recovered a firearm near West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue just before 1:30 a.m., where the shooting happened, authorities say.

(Credit: LoudLabs)

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An 18-year-old girl was grazed in the neck, a 19-year-old man was shot in the foot and a 65-year-old man was hit in the left leg during the shooting, officials report. They were all taken to a local hospital and are expected to survive.

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Its a very overwhelming experience for the fact thattheres so many victims, said Nai, a witness at the scene. Really take your life into considerationalso be aware of your surroundings.

The shooting may have started as a verbal dispute between the 17-year-old who was taken into custody and the 19-year-old who was shot, police tell PIX11 News.

(Credit: LoudLabs)

Investigators say theyre not looking for any other shooters at the moment but are still working to find the details of the incident.

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Teens in Transition held their end-of-summer celebration on Friday, after an eight-week program aimed at helping Kansas City high schoolers who are at risk for exposure to violent behavior.

Maybe they have some challenges, said Tru-Keicha Smith, executive director of ArtsTech, who collaborates with KCPD and Aim for Peace on the program.

So, they need to be in an environment to get to know people and get some experiences. And so, the idea this year was really to create experiences. We wanted them to walk away with leadership skills.

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PickleCon takes over Kansas City Convention Center on Friday

The students are picked by KCPD School Resource Officers, and participate in art programs, activities and field trips that will build life skills.

Smith says building a relationship with law enforcement is a huge help too some students.

Because when you talk police, most of us will hesitate, she said.

But we have had the pleasure of working with the police department school resource officers, which they bring a completely different experience. They also bring a background in working in the school settings.

Students who spoke with FOX4 all had different experiences in the program.

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Aariona Bills says she learned the most about conflict resolution.

I mean, every story has two sides, and that you got to see it from the other persons perspective before you just go and try to be angry with them, she said.

You want to talk to them and respect them because if you come in angry, then thats going to make them angry. The aint gonna accomplish nothing.

Others, like Jakera Hal,l found themselves coming out of their shell a little bit.

Me personally, Im a shy person, Hall said.

I dont like to talk to people because Im just shy. So I got with this program, I got out of my comfort zone to talk to people and I enjoyed it.

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Others learned about career paths theyre interested in.

Prairie Village water main break causes severe damage, road closure

Maliya Warren says her interest in studying architecture increased after a field trip to Burns & McDonnell.

It really is important for them to start to see like, no, there is a company out there that, you know, does these types of things, Smith said.

You talk about architecture, you talk about being an engineer or you talk about wanting to draw, you talk about being a graphic designer, let me put you in that place to expose you to these things.

Warren says shes learned that having goals can take her to success.

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Its good for you to have your goals so you dont have to be like the last generation and the generation before that that was on the streets. You can be better.

The students received certificates for completing the program as well as 10 volunteer hours. Smith says theyll continue to do events for this group throughout the school year.

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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children, who tied rakhis to him as part of the 'Bharat Raksha Parv' initiative. The gesture was described as "Rakhi--the eternal thread of trust and gratitude," symbolising the nation's prayers and faith in the Indian Army. "'Bharat Raksha Parv' - Rakhi for the Nation's Shield- rkssk ko raakhii. On the auspicious occasion of #RakshaBandhan, symbolising the sacred bond of protection, children from across the Nation tied 'Rakhi--the eternal thread of trust and gratitude' to #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS. This solemn and heartfelt gesture carries the prayers of the Nation, reflecting the unbreakable bond of faith and affection that every citizen holds towards the #IndianArmy," Indian Army posted on X. In Rajasthan, 48 women from the NGO 'Mahavir International' tied rakhis to soldiers of the Bogra Brigade under the Konark Corps, honouring the bond between the nation and its protectors. "Rakhi - A Bond of Tradition and Patriotism- 48 women of '#MahavirInternational', #NGO tied #Rakhi to #Bravehearts of #BograBrigade, honouring the unbreakable bond between 'Nation & its Protectors' as a symbol of 'Pride & Unwavering Support'," it posted on X. Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian Culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessees kindergarten immunization rate has fallen once again for the fourth year in a row with 92.3% of those children fully vaccinated.

Safety, thats the biggest thing that goes through my head when I hear that low number, as well as its been declining for three, four years now. That puts childrens lives at risk, that puts teachers lives at risk, that puts communities at risk, said Dr. Dontal Johnson, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Meharry Medical College.

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For herd immunity against measles and polio outbreaks, doctors would like to see 95% of students immunized.

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In Middle Tennessee, kindergarteners in Cheatham and Dickson did meet that threshold. Rutherford and Montgomery County students came in right around 93%. Maury County had some of the lowest rates in our area, with roughly 88% of kindergarteners vaccinated.

Im seeing multiple young mothers and fathers in my office that say, Im now the only person in my friend group whos vaccinating their child. I am the black sheep. I am the outlier,' said Dr. Daniel Mathis with Compass Pediatrics. So when you have those pockets of communities that arent vaccinating, they are more at risk for infections to be spreading, similar to how we saw in West Texas earlier this year with the measles case in an unvaccinated community.

State health officials are seeing an uptick in religious exemptions alongside falling vaccination rates. Dr. Mathis said hes personally seen immunizations decline, especially since COVID-19.

The mortality and morbidity rate in children used to be much higher, Mathis said. You go to any kind of cemetery-grave yard, you look at tomb stones, you say, Wow, theres a number of children who died early, and we dont really see that today. And my fear is it might take that increasing to really raise awareness to say, Hey, this was efficacious. We need to start vaccinating again.'

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

To get your child vaccinated, Dr. Johnson invites you to bring them to Meharry Medical College. If youre on the fence about vaccinating, he asks that you still come before ruling it out.

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All of the shots that we give, those are vaccines that have eliminated over millions of deaths, have helped people from 500 million illnesses over the past 30 years, Dr. Johnson said. Lets sit down and have that conversation. And then we can come together and get really what every parent, I believe, really wants, which is they want a healthy child. They want a child thats safe. They want a child that can go out there and play and have fun.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  As Texas lawmakers battle over new congressional lines, a similar redistricting fight has been unfolding in Tennessee.

Texas Democrats have until Friday to return to the state after fleeing in protest over Republicans attempts to redraw congressional maps after just two years to add five new Republican districts. The issue gained national attention.

However, these issues arent unique to the Lone Star State. Tennessee faced lawsuits over its congressional, House, and Senate district maps in 2022.

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Voters sued the state, accusing the Republican supermajority of partisan gerrymandering by unnecessarily dividing counties on the state House map, and numbering districts out of order on the Senate map, which is against the TN Constitution.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

While a federal judge dropped the lawsuit over the House map, a three-judge panel ordered the Senate to redraw its map, before the TN Supreme Court intervened and paused the order. The Court heard arguments in Oct. 2024 and has yet to issue a ruling.

However, Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) told News 2 that while redistricting to benefit a certain political party is legal according to the U.S. Supreme Court, it hurts the voters.

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When the only thing that matters to legislatures is drawing lines and squeezing out as many Republican or Democratic seats as possible, thats the surest way to make sure that nobody is really represented, Sen. Yarbro said. The primary issue is that its a partisan motivation. Its just, forget the rules, forget what matters from a fairness standpoint, how do we max out the number of red seats versus blue seats? That can happen in states on either side of the political aisle, but the ultimate loser is the voters.

A lawsuit over TNs 2022 congressional maps, which accused the state of racial gerrymandering, was dropped, but Yarbro said the issue over the state Senate map and the situation in TX are still connected.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

What were supposed to do in a democracy is recognize that there area lot of people who dont agree with us, but recognize that they deserve a voice in the system, and what unites the litigations going on here, the mess thats going on in Texas, and the mess thats going on all over the country, is that youre not seeing a focus on making sure people are fairly represented, youre seeing people trying to max out the power of their political party, and thats a losing proposition, Sen. Yarbro said.

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News 2 reached out to a spokesperson for Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who is the Speaker of the Senate, and the TN Attorney Generals Office for comment, but had not heard back by the time this article was published.

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The post Tennessee State names Dwayne Tucker as permanent university president appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tennessee State University has found its new president in a familiar face. Current interim president Dwayne Tucker has been officially announced as president of the institution, per a release by the university.

I thank the Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff, and our alumni for their support as we continue this journey, Tucker said. My focus remains on putting TSU on a path to sustainability. With the help of our State legislators, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the Tennessee Board of Regents, and other supporters, we will extend the legacy of TSU, Tucker said in the statement.

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Tucker was brought on as Tennessee States interim president in December 2024. His appointment came after the sudden resignation of former interim president Dr. Ronald Johnson. An alumnus of the alma mater, he was appointed by the board to lead the institution after a special meeting on December 13th, 2024. This time around, he was officially confirmed as the full-time university president after a special Board of Trustees meeting on August 5th.

Tennessee State University board chair Dakasha Winton spoke about Tuckers official appointment, saying, On behalf of the TSU Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dwayne Tucker as the new President of TSU. His leadership through continued uncertainty and turbulent times with dignity, grace under fire, and a strong resolve to put students first made him the obvious choice.

Tucker brings a wealth of experience to his role as university president. Before he was appointed as interim president last December, he served as the CEO of LEAD Public Schools, overseeing six public charter schools in Metro Nashville. His career spans multiple industries, including financial services and transportation, where he held key leadership positions such as CEO, chief administrative officer, and chief human resource officer at First Data and Northwest Airlines.

Related: Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson to speak after Eagles practice

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)  On August 10th, the Texas Department of Public Safety will celebrate 90 years of service. In 1935, the Texas legislature created the Texas DPS by combining both the Texas Rangers and the Texas Highway Patrol.

As DPS marks 90 years of outstanding service, Rohnnie Shaw, Executive Director of Texas State Troopers Association, said. We honor the men and women whose courage and commitment have kept Texas safe. We look forward to standing with DPS as it continues to evolve and serve with excellence.

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the Texas DPSs 90th anniversary Friday morning, praising the bravery of the new DPS Recruit Class A-2025 during a graduation ceremony at Great Hills Baptist Church. In his speech to the class, the Governor congratulated the more than 120 graduate troopers on completing a rigorous 30-week training program.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
The Brief

Republican state leadership is increasing pressure on Democrats who have left Texas to break a quorum.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows is withholding 30% of each absent member's budget.

AG Paxton has asked the state Supreme Court to begin the process of vacating the seats of at least 13 lawmakers.

AUSTIN - The redistricting fight boiled over Friday, with Republican state leadership turning up the heat on the Texas Democratic House members in an attempt to compel them back to work.

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But Friday night, those Democrats remain defiant.

Texas GOP ramps up redistricting fight

AUSTIN, TX - AUGUST 5: Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows gavels in the session in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 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 via Getty Images)

As the lower chamber remained at a standstill on Friday, Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced new sanctions against the more than 50 Democrats who remain out of state, stalling the GOP redistricting push.

Burrows said 30 percent of each quorum-breaking members budget will be reserved and unavailable for expenditure.

Attorney General Ken Paxton took a more drastic approach, asking the state Supreme Court to begin the process of vacating at least 13 of the absent lawmaker's seats.

This would include that of Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie), who spoke with FOX 4 over Zoom from Illinois. Turner says he and his colleagues remain undeterred, and will continue to fight against what they call "extreme agendas" like gerrymandering. Turner says he has no plans to return to Texas for the time being.

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That's also the plan for Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democrat Caucus chair. Gov. Greg Abbott called him the derelict Democrats "ringleader."

Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to oust the Houston Democrat from office. Wu had until Friday afternoon to file a written response with the court. He did, attempting to shrug it all off.

Democrats say they're unshaken

What they're saying

"We know the law is very black and white on what they're allowed to do, and the fact that these proceedings are not constitutional," Wu said.

FOX 4 hasn't heard from the high court yet, though legal scholars say it's a complicated process to remove an elected official from office, and time is of the essence.

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"He's arguing there's been an abandonment. His own office has said that requires a trial about all the relevant facts, so that would take a long time to do. So it's a stretch," said constitutional lawyer David Coale.

The attorney says it's a stretch the justices may not even want a part of.

"I suspect what the Supreme Court is going to do, after thinking about these filings they get, is to say something like what Mr. Paxton said in his own impeachment case: this is a voter issue. If the voters don't like this, out these people go," Coale said.

What's next

The House will try once again to reconvene on Monday.

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If the Democrats keep stalling and run out the clock on this special session, Abbott has vowed to call another.

The Source

Information in this article came from FOX 4 interviews with Texas Democratic leaders.
The Brief

Democrats' quorum break went into day 5

Burrows says he remains committed to finding ways to break up ongoing quorum break

5 Austin area Democrats named in Ken Paxton's lawsuit to Texas Supreme Court

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Democrats' quorum break went into day five.

The latest

The roll call came shortly after the 1 p.m. deadline Speaker Dustin Burrows set for the House members to return to the chamber. However, the count fell five short of what was needed.

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"There being 95 members present, a quorum is not present," said Speaker Burrows.

After the count, Speaker Burrows made it clear he remains committed to finding ways to break up the ongoing quorum break.

"We have all hands-on deck. We are continuing to explore new avenues to compel a quorum and will keep pressing forward until the job is done," said Speaker Burrows.

The state of Illinois is being pressed to recognize civil warrants Burrows issued for the runaway Democrats holed up there.

He suspended electronic direct deposit of paychecks, making those who were on the walkout appear in person to get their legislative pay.

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A removal from office lawsuit was also officially filed to the Texas Supreme Court by Texas AG Ken Paxton. The action, which names 13 Democrats, claims they abandoned their offices and seeks a declaration that those positions are vacant.

Of the 13 Democrats named in the removal lawsuit, five are from the Austin area: John Bucy, Maria Luisa Flores, Gina Hinojosa, Vikki Goodwin, and James Talarico.

Burrows, while speaking with those who were in the House chamber Friday, issued his own warning. The order to round up AWOL lawmakers is no longer limited to state troopers.

"These efforts will continue through the weekend. For those that have fled to Illinois or to California, be reminded that the FBI's assistance has reportedly been enlisted, and their powers are not confined to any singular state's boundaries," said Speaker Burrows.

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Burrows told members they are on call this weekend for a possible quick return to Austin.

The Source

Information in this report comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski.
In what at least one legal expert called long shot litigation, Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy said Friday they asked a court in downstate Quincy to compel Illinois law enforcement to enforce civil warrants issued by the speaker of the Texas House against Democrats who fled their state.

Tracy, a veteran Republican lawmaker from Quincy, said she was deputized by Paxton as an uncompensated assistant Texas attorney general. She electronically filed the petition in Adams County Circuit Court, and said she thinks the Texas Democratic legislators neglected their duty by leaving their state weeks after they began a special session.

Its our job. You may not like the map. You may not like a bill. You vote no. And you do your job. And you work to express your opinion and those of your constituents at the same time as to why you support or do not support a bill, said Tracy, who has served on and off in the Illinois General Assembly since 2006. But you have a duty under your oath of office.

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By filing the petition in Adams County in rural west central Illinois along the Mississippi River, Republicans may be looking for a more conservative court to try to make their case, rather than filing it in the Chicago suburban region where the House Democrats have relocated.

For a second day, their heavily secured St. Charles hotel was the subject of a bomb threat, but local law enforcement found nothing.

The court filing sought an emergency hearing on the matter.

The court petition is the latest development in the escalating national battle between Republicans and Democrats that boiled over when Texas House Democrats fled to Illinois and other northern states to deny Republicans a quorum to enact a mid-decade redrawing of Texas congressional districts to flip five Democratic seats to Republican.

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The unusual Republican remap effort is being done at the behest of President Donald Trump, whose administration is encouraging similar actions in other Republican-led states as a means of holding the GOPs slim majority in next years midterm elections for the remainder of Trumps second term. Governors of Democratic states, such as California, are plotting countermoves with their states maps. Typically, political maps are redrawn only once per decade following the U.S. census, and Texas Democrats have called out Republicans for trying to change the rules and disenfranchise Texas citizens for purely political reasons.

The Republican speaker of the Texas House, Dustin Burrows of Lubbock, issued the civil warrants to compel the chambers Democrats to return to Austin for a special session set to end Aug. 19 that was ostensibly called to act on relief for the deadly July Fourth floods that killed more than 130 people in Texas Hill Country.

But the civil warrants are enforceable only within the boundaries of Texas. The absent House members have not been charged with any criminal activity, which could be the trigger to allow for their arrest out of state.

Texas requests and is entitled to the assistance of its sister state, the State of Illinois, to enforce the quorum order and quorum warrant as to each of the Texas House members breaking quorum and evading civil arrest in Illinois, the petition filed by Paxton and Tracy said.

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Texas seeks enforcement of the rule of law in Illinois, the assistance of Illinois law enforcement officials, and this courts assistance, to lawfully return to Texas the Respondent legislators who fled to Illinois to evade their duties to participate in the ongoing special session of the Texas Legislature, the petition said, naming 33 House Democrats as respondents.

The petition requests that this court issue civil warrants directing the appropriate Illinois law enforcement officials to effectuate the civil arrest of Respondents and coordinate with the Sergeant of Arms of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Department of Public Safety to return them to Texas.

The petition cites the U.S. Constitutions full faith and credit clause as well as the legal principle of judicial comity in respecting the laws and court decisions of other states.

But former federal prosecutor Ron Safer said both provisions cited by Texas Republicans entail other states respecting judicial decisions issued by courts  not political actions of enforcing legislative civil rules.

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There are various safeguards present in judicial proceedings that are simply absent in legislative proceedings, Safer said. So, often, a state courts opinion is being asked to be respected by another state. Thats not this case.

Safer said, anybody can file a lawsuit, anybody can get a hearing for anything. It doesnt mean that theyre going to get what they want.

Texas Democratic state Rep. John Bucy, who is among the lawmakers cited in the petition, dismissed the filing as one more thing thats not really worthy of our time or attention.

Weve got Texans that are in need, Texans that need Republican lawmakers to remember they serve them and not Donald Trump, and instead theyre playing political games and wasting time, said Bucy, who represents the Austin area.

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(Texas Republican Gov.) Greg Abbott right now has executive power to help the people of Texas, to help the flood victims. And instead, hes continuing to use their memories in a disgraceful approach to force Donald Trumps rigging (elections), Bucy said. Theyre not going to get a quorum soon. That wont happen.

Texas state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston, chair of the Texas House Democrats, said he was frankly embarrassed for our state that our attorney general filed that in Illinois.  I cannot believe that our elected officials are that stupid or believe that people out there are that stupid that they will believe all this.

But Abbott, in an interview with NBC News, vowed to call special session after special session after special session if the current session expires without the House Democrats return. He also threatened a new map that could flip as many as eight Democratic seats to Republicans if the absent lawmakers dont come back.

In a separate legal move, Paxton asked Texas all-Republican Supreme Court to remove 13 of the absent Democratic lawmakers, contending they had abandoned their office.

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Abbott on Tuesday had asked the court to remove Wu from office. Wus legal team responded to that effort, contending Abbott lacked standing to bring the case and that the courts intervention would violate the separation of powers between the judicial and legislative branches.

These petitions are flat-out unconstitutional, which is why none has been tried in 150 years of Texas history, said Chad W. Dunn of Brazil & Dunn, counsel for Wu.

They have come to the wrong court, with no evidence, asking for a remedy the constitution explicitly leaves to the legislative branch. The power to discipline a legislator for breaking quorum belongs to the House of Representatives, not the governors office or the judiciary, Dunn said. This is a foundational principle of our democracy, and the governors coordinated legal attack is a dangerous assault on the separation of powers.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, who during a visit to Indianapolis on Thursday encouraged Republicans in neighboring Indiana to redistrict, told Fox News that Republicans were seeking redistricting to make up for states like California, whose large congressional contingent he said was inflated by the federal census counting such a high population of illegal aliens.

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Taxpayers in Ohio and Indiana and elsewhere, they have fewer congressional representatives because of what California has allowed to happen. Thats ridiculously unfair, Vance said in remarks released in advance of the airing of Sunday Futures on Sunday at 9 a.m. And the only real way to fight back against it is for us to redistrict in some ways as aggressively as these hard blue states have done.

Northwest Indiana U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, the most likely of the two Democrats in the states congressional delegation to see his seat flipped to favor Republicans, said after Vances visit that he thought a remap in his state was a done deal. But he vowed to fight for reelection no matter what district they put me in.

In California, six of the Texas House Democrats met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and members of the California congressional delegation and state legislature.

Newsom vowed an effort to counter the attempts by Texas Republicans to pick up five seats and the California Democrat laid out plans to ask that states voters this November to suspend the states independent mapmaking commission through the end of the decade and enact a new congressional map that would flip five districts from Republican to Democrat. The new map is to be unveiled next week.

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Its not about lines. Its about drawing a line, and its all about elevating the deeper consciousness of the line that Donald Trump continues to cross. Its not about him playing by a different set of rules. There are no rules for Donald Trump. This is a serious moment in American history, and so we are here to meet this moment head-on, and we look forward to a successful campaign, said Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential contender.

We are trying to defend democracy, as opposed to see it destroyed district by district, Newsom said. And we will stand firm, and we will stand tall.
The Brief

Lawmakers are proposing new bills to improve safety along the Guadalupe River after deadly flash floods.

The bills would require campgrounds to have evacuation plans, hold drills, and have roof access on cabins.

The new legislation would also establish more warning sirens in "Flash Flood Alley" to alert residents.

AUSTIN - It was revealed recently that only six of the 19 camps located along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville had evacuation plans on file with the county emergency management coordinator at the time of the deadly flooding.

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A handful of senate bills being introduced during the special session seek to change that, along with mandating other safety improvements.

Texas flooding preparedness bills

Flooding committee

In the early morning hours of July 4th, chaos ensued as a flash flood tore through the Texas Hill Country, resulting in the deaths of at least 135 people, including 37 children and counselors at Camp Mystic.

At a Texas Senate Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding meeting held at the State Capitol on Friday, lawmakers proposed a handful of bills aimed at enhancing safety along the Guadalupe River.

Senate Bill 1 would require camps, and to some extent RV parks, to have an evacuation plan in place.

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And when it comes to warning sirens, experts believe the state will need about 100 of them to line Flash Flood Alley.

State lawmakers are tasking TxDOT with proposing solutions for low-water crossings.

The bill would also require camps to retrofit cabins with access to rooftops, either internal or external.

Camp sites would also be required to do a yearly on-site evacuation drill with a representative from the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Camp owners in violation of the mandates would get a warning. A second offense would cause them to lose their license to operate.

Committee discusses proposals

What they're saying

"Had flash flood warnings required them to shelter to higher ground, we would have a whole lot less of a tragedy today," said Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock).

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"Adding warning sirens to crucial points of the river throughout Flash Flood Alley could make a real impact on public safety," said John Hoffman with the Colorado River Authority.

"We need to have that not only on file with them but to let parents know that they actually have those plans," said Sen. Lois Kolkjorst (R-Brenham).

What's next

The bills will head to the full Senate for a vote.

The Source

Information in this article came from a meeting of the Texas Senate Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
BANGKOK (Reuters) -Three Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine near the Cambodian border on Saturday, the Thai army said, days after the Southeast Asian neighbours agreed to a detailed ceasefire halting last month's deadly five-day conflict.

One soldier lost a foot and two were injured after one of them stepped on a landmine while patrolling an area between Thailand's Sisaket and Cambodia's Preah Vihear provinces, the army said in a statement.

The soldiers were being treated at a hospital, it said.

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Thailand said the incident occurred in an area of its territory recently cleared of landmines. The foreign ministry said Bangkok would lodge a complaint against Cambodia for violating a treaty, to which both are signatories, that bans the use of landmines and for infringing Thai sovereignty.

Cambodia rejected Thailand's accusation, saying that it had not freshly planted landmines.

The country is a "proud state party" to the Ottawa Convention against landmines and has cleared more than 1 million mines left from decades of war, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority said in a statement late on Saturday, adding that Thailand's accusations risked undermining the spirit of the ceasefire.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have quarrelled for decades over undemarcated parts of their 817-km (508-mile) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony.

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Saturday's incident is the third time in a few weeks that Thai soldiers have been injured by mines while patrolling along the border. Two previous incidents led to the downgrading of diplomatic relations and triggered the clashes.

The July 24-28 clashes, the worst fighting between the countries in more than a decade, involved exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter sorties that killed at least 43 and left over 300,000 people displaced on both sides.

The fragile ceasefire has been holding since Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to let observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations inspect disputed border areas to ensure hostilities do not resume.

Bangkok accused Cambodia of planting landmines on the Thai side of the disputed border that injured soldiers on July 16 and July 23. Phnom Penh denied it had placed any new mines, saying the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered old landmines left from its decades of war.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Tom Hogue, Alexandra Hudson and William Mallard)
BANGKOK (AP)  Three Thai soldiers on patrol were wounded Saturday when one stepped on a land mine in territory along the border with Cambodia, Thailands army announced.

The incident came just two days after the two countries reaffirmed their adherence to a ceasefire to end a brief armed conflict.

The armys statement said the incident took place in Thailands Sisaket province and clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side.

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The Ottawa Convention, also called the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, is an international agreement banning the weapons use, and both Thailand and Cambodia have committed to it.

A statement from Thailands foreign ministry said the incident confirmed the Thai armys findings that new land mines are being laid in blatant violation of international law. It also noted this was the third such incident in less than a month.

Five days of armed conflict broke out last month, killing dozens of people on both sides, including civilians, and displacing more than 260,000. The fighting broke out a day after five Thai soldiers were wounded when one tripped an antipersonnel mine in disputed territory.

A ceasefire that took effect on July 29 ended major fighting, though tension remained high. The two countries on Thursday at a meeting in Malaysia committed to a 13-point agreement on implementing their truce.

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The Thai army statement, citing its spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, charged that Saturdays mine explosion constituted a significant obstacle to the implementation of ceasefire measures and peaceful resolution of problems.

A statement issued in response by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority denied Thailands allegation that Cambodia had laid new mines.

We have not, and will not, plant new land mines, said the statement, noting that Cambodia is a party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty Convention, and has an internationally recognized record of removing, not deploying, these indiscriminate weapons."

It noted that Cambodia has cleared more than 1 million mines and nearly 3 million other pieces of unexploded ordnance left over from more than three decades of war and civil unrest that began in 1970. Cambodia had suggested that two earlier explosions last month wounding Thai soldiers might be land mines from past conflicts.

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Tensions had simmered since May this year when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead by Thai troops in a brief fracas in another contested border area. The escalating dispute was marked by border crossing restrictions and cross-border boycotts and bans of goods and services before fighting broke out.

In Saturdays incident, a Thai sergeant major suffered severe injuries, including losing his left foot, said the Thai army statement, while two privates suffered lesser injuries.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating a data breach impacting the sensitive personal information of 868,969 applicants, students, and employees of Columbia University in New York.

On June 24, 2025, Columbia University became aware of suspicious activity within its information technology systems, which also caused a daylong outage. Columbia University first posted about the data breach on its website on July 2, 2025, but had not yet identified affected individuals.

DATA BREACH ALERT: Columbia University. If you are affiliated with the school, you may be entitled to monetary damages. Post this

On August 5, 2025, Columbia University posted an update about the data breach on its website. According to the Data Breach Notice recently sent to affected individuals and state attorney general offices, the ongoing investigation found that an unauthorized actor gained access to Columbia University's network on or around May 16, 2025, and obtained the following personal information from employees, applicants, and current and former students: contact details, demographic information, academic history, financial aid-related information, insurance-related information and health information.

Although the breach began in May 2025, Columbia University did not begin notifying affected individuals until on or around August 7, 2025, which may have violated state and federal laws.

If your personal information was impacted by this incident, you may be at risk of identity theft and other serious violations of your privacy. As a result, you may be entitled to money damages and an injunction requiring changes to Columbia University's cybersecurity practices.

If you received notification of this data breach or are affiliated with Columbia University and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at https://www.classactionlawyers.com/columbiauniversity.

About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.

Contact

Sonum Dixit

Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP

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Tel: 415-299-8207

SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
On the 100th anniversary of 'Kakori Train Action', Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Saturday paid tribute to the freedom fighters involved in the historic event. CM Sharma stated that the contributions of the freedom fighters will forever inspire the spirit of patriotism in future generations. In a post on X, Rajasthan CM said, "On the anniversary of the Kakori Train Action, I offer my heartfelt salutations to all the immortal revolutionaries who sacrificed everything for the freedom of Mother India! Your unparalleled struggle and contribution in the freedom movement will forever inspire the spirit of patriotism in future generations." https://x.com/BhajanlalBjp/status/1954017928795631923 Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute to the freedom fighters, stating that the freedom fighters ignited the "torch of revolution" against the "British looting" and shook the foundation of the British Empire by robbing the train with the aim of giving the nation's wealth back to its people. In a post on X, HM Shah said, "The 'Kakori Train Action' is a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism in the Indian freedom struggle. On August 9, 1925, brave heroes like Ram Prasad Bismil Ji, Chandra Shekhar Azad Ji, and Ashfaqulla Khan Ji ignited the torch of revolution against British looting, shaking the foundations of the British Empire," "With the aim that the wealth looted from Indians by the British should be used for the nation's welfare, these valiant fighters carried out the 'Kakori Train Action'," he added. Shah further stated that the nation will always be indebted to the bravery and valour of these freedom fighters. The Kakori Train Action or Kakori Conspiracy was a train robbery that took place at Kakori, a village near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925 during the Indian Independence Movement against the British colonial rule. The robbery was organised by the Hindustan Republican Association, and more than 40 persons were arrested in this incident. They were finally sentenced to death by the British government, and severe punishments were also given to those people who helped with the incident. The main purpose of the robbery was to protest against the heavy tax that was collected from the Indians and use the money to fund the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) rather than leaving it with the Britishers. (ANI)
Close to 17,000 people in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties were ordered to evacuate due to the fast-moving Canyon Fire, according to New York Times reports.

What's happening?

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (aka Cal Fire), the Canyon Fire ignited around 1:25 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8.

Per the Times, the blaze was initially confined to 30 acres in the vicinity of the Lake Piru reservoir in Ventura County.

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By Thursday night, the wildfire had "exploded in size" to 4,856 acres, and firefighters struggled to contain it.

Cal Fire published an update on the fire at 10:48 a.m. local time, warning those affected that the Canyon Fire was spreading at a "rapid rate  threatening 60kv powerlines as well as the communities of Hasley Canyon and Hathaway Ranch."

As the Times indicated, roughly 17,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

"Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access," Cal Fire's incident update implored.

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"If you're in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously  when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware please don't risk lives," Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger tweeted.

Why is the Canyon Fire concerning?

An Aug. 8 general update from the National Interagency Coordination Center indicated that 42,670 fires burned in 2025 to date, exceeding the ten-year average of 35,620 fires.

A series of out-of-season wildfires devastated swaths of Los Angeles in January due to atypical weather conditions and an abundance of dry brush throughout the West.

In July, historic structures were destroyed in a brushfire on the Grand Canyon's North Rim, and the Gifford Fire quickly became California's second-largest blaze of the year in August. As of Aug. 8, it had yet to be contained.

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While wildfires are not technically "weather," they fall under the umbrella of extreme weather.

Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves have always been a part of standard weather patterns, but extreme weather has not. As the planet gets hotter, volatile climate patterns act as an accelerant  and intense weather becomes more frequent, more extreme, and deadlier.

In July, the European Commission published a report about extreme weather and its pronounced impacts on the continent.

"According to the IPCC, hot extremes that used to strike once a decade now happen nearly three times as often and are 1.2C [about 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit] hotter," the Commission said of extreme heat, citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

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As incidents of extreme weather become more commonplace worldwide, awareness of key climate issues is a critical safety measure.

What's being done about it?

The Red Cross set up evacuation centers for residents of Ventura County and Los Angeles County.

On Friday, KABC reported that the Canyon Fire had been contained to 25%.

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.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP)  Thousands of Ivorians took to the streets in Abidjan, the capital of the West African nation, to protest against the exclusion of opposition leaders from the upcoming presidential election.

Ivory Coast, a nation of 32 million that is the biggest economy of francophone West Africa, is due to hold a presidential vote in October. Earlier this year four main opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo and former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam, were barred from running by the electoral commission.

Protesters gathered Saturday morning in Yopougon, a densely populated suburb of the capital Abidjan, holding banners with messages such as: Enough is enough! and No true democracy without true justice."

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Gbagbo and Thiam joined forces earlier this year to challenge incumbent President Alassane Ouattara. The 83-year-old leader announced last month that he would seek a fourth presidential term. His candidacy is contested after he changed the constitution in 2016 to remove presidential term limits.

We are millions saying YES to Gbagbo and Thiam" said another banner in the crowd.

We dont want a fourth term, and we want the electoral roll revised, thats what we are asking for," said Sagesse Divine, an activist who participated in Saturday's march. "We want all candidates names included, and we want to go to the elections in peace, thats all we want.

There was no immediate comments from Ivorian authorities.

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Thiam, president of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, won the partys primary in an uncontested vote in April. Seen as Ouattara's main rival, he has been barred from running on the grounds that he was still a French citizen at the time he declared his candidacy, even though he later renounced his French nationality. Ivorian law bans dual nationals from running for president.

Elections in Ivory Coast have usually been fraught with tension and violence. When Ouattara announced his bid for a third term, several people were killed in election violence.

Ouattara is the latest among a growing number of leaders in West Africa who remain in power by changing constitutional term limits.

Ouattara justified his decision to run again by saying that the Ivory Coast is facing unprecedented security, economic and monetary challenges that require experience to manage them effectively.

Over the past decade, groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have been spreading from the Sahel region into wealthier West African coastal states, such as Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin.
ROME (AP)  Thousands of people marched in the Sicilian city of Messina on Saturday to protest a government plan to build a bridge that would connect the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive 13.5-billion-euro ($15.5 billion) infrastructure project.

Protesters staunchly oppose the Strait of Messina Bridge project over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental impact and the specter of mafia interference.

The idea to build a bridge to connect Sicily to the rest of Italy has been debated off and on for decades but always delayed due to these concerns. The project, however, took a major step forward when a government committee overseeing strategic public investments approved the plan this week.

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Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, the projects main political backer, called it the biggest infrastructure project in the West.

Salvini cited studies estimating the project would create up to 120,000 jobs annually and help stimulate economic growth in economically lagging southern Italy, as billions more are invested in surrounding road and infrastructure improvements.

Opponents are not convinced by these arguments. They are also angry that about 500 families would have to be expropriated in order for the bridge to be built.

The Strait of Messina cant be touched, protesters shouted as they marched in Messina. Many carried banners that said No Ponte (No Bridge). Organizers estimated crowd size at 10,000 people.

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The proposed bridge would span nearly 3.7 kilometers (2.2 miles) with a suspended section of 3.3 kilometers (more than 2 miles). It would surpass Turkeys Canakkale Bridge by 1,277 meters (4,189 feet) to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Preliminary work could begin as early as late September or early October, pending approval from Italys Court of Audit. Full construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion targeted between 2032 and 2033.

Plans for a bridge have been approved and canceled multiple times since the Italian government first solicited proposals for one in 1969. Premier Giorgia Melonis administration revived the project in 2023.

With three car lanes in each direction flanked by a double-track railway, the bridge would have the capacity to carry 6,000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day  reducing the time to cross the strait by ferry from up to 100 minutes to 10 minutes by car. Trains would save 2/12 hours in transit time, Salvini said.

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The project could also support Italys commitment to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP targeted by NATO, as the government has indicated it would classify the bridge as defense-related.

Italy argues that the bridge would form a strategic corridor for rapid troop movements and equipment deployment, qualifying it as security-enhancing infrastructure.

Environmental groups, however, have lodged complaints with the EU, citing concerns that the project would impact migratory birds.

Italys president has also insisted that the project remain subject to anti-mafia legislation that applies to all large-scale infrastructure projects. Salvini pledged that keeping organized crime out of the project was a top priority.
Thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv on Saturday to call for an end to the war in Gaza, a day after the Israeli government vowed to expand the conflict and capture Gaza City.

Demonstrators waved signs and held up pictures of hostages still being held in the Palestinian territory as they called on the government to secure their release.

AFP journalists at the rally estimated the number of attendees to be in the tens of thousands, while a group representing the families of hostages said as many as 100,000 people participated.

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Authorities did not provide an official estimate for the size of the crowd, though it dwarfed other recent anti-war rallies.

"We will end with a direct message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: if you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you in the town squares, in election campaigns and at every time and place," Shahar Mor Zahiro, the relative of a slain hostage, told AFP.

On Friday, Netanyahu's security cabinet greenlighted plans for a major operation to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of domestic and international criticism.

Foreign powers, including some of Israel's allies, have been pushing for a negotiated ceasefire to secure the hostages' return and help alleviate a humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

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Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision.

In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas".

The premier has faced regular protests over the course of 22 months of war, with many rallies calling for the government to strike a deal after past truces saw hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.

Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead.

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- 'A new crime' -

The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Saturday lambasted Israel's plan to expand its operations in Gaza.

According to a statement carried by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, PA president Mahmud Abbas said the plan "constitutes a new crime", and stressed "the urgent need to take action to stop it immediately".

He also emphasised "the importance of enabling the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip".

In the same meeting that approved the Gaza City plan, the security cabinet adopted a set of principles for ending the war in Gaza that included establishing a new "administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority".

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The PA, conceived as a first step towards a Palestinian state, exercises limited administration over parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but does not have a presence in Hamas-run Gaza.

A statement issued Saturday by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom again criticised the decision to occupy Gaza City.

"This will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and increase the risk of a mass exodus of civilians," they said.

Russia also condemned the Israeli plan to take control of Gaza City in a statement Saturday.

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Implementing such plans "risks worsening the already dramatic situation in the Palestinian enclave, which shows all the signs of a humanitarian disaster", said a foreign ministry statement.

Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 37 people were killed by Israeli fire across the territory on Saturday, including 30 civilians who were waiting to collect aid.

Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable.

Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel -- which triggered the war -- resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

bur-jj/gv
By Alexander Cornwell

TEL AVIV (Reuters) -Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to escalate the nearly two-year Gaza war, demanding an immediate end to the campaign and for the release of the hostages.

A day earlier, the prime ministers office said the security cabinet, a small group of senior ministers, had decided to seize Gaza City, expanding military operations in the devastated Palestinian territory despite widespread public opposition and warnings from the military the move could endanger the hostages.

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"This isn't just a military decision. It could be a death sentence for the people we love most," Lishay Miran Lavi, the wife of hostage Omri Miran told the rally, pleading to U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene to immediately end the war.

Public opinion polls show an overwhelming majority of Israelis favour an immediate end to the war to secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages held by militants in Gaza. Israeli officials believe about 20 hostages are still alive.

The Israeli government has faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, including from some of its closest European allies, over the announcement that the military would expand the war. The full cabinet is expected to give its approval as soon as Sunday.

Most of the hostages who have been freed so far emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations. Talks toward a ceasefire that could have seen more hostages released collapsed in July.

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"They (the government) are fanatic. They are doing things against the interests of the country," said Rami Dar, 69-year-old retiree, who traveled from a nearby suburb outside of Tel Aviv, echoing calls for Trump to force a deal for the hostages.

Tel Aviv has seen frequent rallies urging the government to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, who ignited the war with their October 2023 attack. Saturday's demonstration attracted over 100,000 protesters, according to organisers.

"Frankly, I'm not an expert or anything, but I feel that after two years of fighting there has been no success," said Yana, 45, who attended the rally with her husband and two children. "I wonder whether additional lives for both sides, not just the Israelis but also Gazans, will make any difference."

Around 1,200, mostly Israelis, were killed and 251 were taken into Gaza during Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 400 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since then.

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Protesters waved Israeli flags and carried placards bearing the images of hostages. Others held signs directing anger at the government or urging Trump to take action to stop Netanyahu from moving forward with plans to escalate the war. A small number of protesters held images of Gazan children killed by the military.

Israel's military has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians in the war, according to the Gazan health ministry, which said on Saturday that at least 39 had been killed in the past day.

Some of the prime minister's far-right coalition allies have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza. The military has warned this could endanger the lives of the hostages in Gaza.

Far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of continuing the war, issued a statement on Saturday criticising Netanyahu and called for the annexation of large parts of Gaza.

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Netanyahu told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer in an interview that aired on Thursday that the military intended to take control of all of Gaza but that Israel did not want to keep the territory.

The announcement from the prime minister's office early on Friday said the military would take Gaza City, but did not explicitly say if Israeli forces would take all of the enclave.

Tal, a 55-year-old high school teacher, told Reuters at the rally in Tel Aviv that expanding the war was terrible, warning it would result in the deaths of both soldiers and hostages and insisting that the war should end with the military withdrawing.

"We don't have anything to do there. It's not ours."

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  One woman was killed and two others were injured in a crash on Cherokee Road in Johnson City Friday morning, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).

The THP said the crash involved three vehicles and occurred at 7:35 a.m. on State Highway 67 (Cherokee Road) near Lone Oak Road.

According to the THP, a Kia Spectra and a Ford Flex were traveling westbound on Cherokee Road, as a Hyundai Kona was traveling eastbound. The Kia and the Ford reportedly collided while traveling in the same direction. The Ford then crossed the center line, striking the Hyundai head-on.

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The woman in the Kia, Madison Bowman, 39, was killed in the crash, the THP said.

A driver of the Hyundai, a 23-year-old woman, was reportedly injured.

The driver of the Ford, a 27-year-old woman, was also injured in the crash, according to THP. Three juveniles in the Ford were not injured.

The THP reported that all individuals involved were wearing seatbelts and that all juveniles were in proper child restraint devices.

The investigation into this crash is ongoing, the THP 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
At least three civilians were killed on Saturday in Russia's Belgorod region following Ukrainian drone attacks, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

Two others were injured, he said. Most of the attacks occurred in the Borisovka district, which borders Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

Throughout its three-year defence against the all-out Russian invasion, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted sites inside Russia.
Britons travelling to Europe will face tighter border rules within weeks.

They will need to prove they have a return ticket and medical insurance under the new measures that are due to come into effect on Oct 12.

The digital system will mean non-EU passport holders must have a photograph taken along with their fingerprints the first time they travel through it, according to The Times.

Luke Petherbridge, the director of public affairs at Abta, the travel trade body, said: More people are going to be asked these questions in the future than were in the past because most EES checks [entry/exit system] will be done at a kiosk, he said.

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Its primary function is digitising the border. If you were to answer one of these questions in a way that you know wasnt aligned with the answer they were looking for, you would be sent to a border guard. You wouldnt necessarily be denied entry.

Travellers will face several questions, including whether they have proof of where they are staying and enough money to cover their trip, a return ticket and medical insurance.

Anyone who answers no to the questions posed will be quizzed further by a border officer, who would be able to turn them away.

Concerns over civil unrest

The EES, which will be in place at automated kiosks in most airports and ferry terminals, will help to flag anyone who risks overstaying in Europe.

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British travellers without the right to work or live in the EU are only able to stay for 90 days of a 180-day period.

The scheme was due to be rolled out in November last year.

However, officials in Brussels opted to delay the rollout over concerns by France and other EU members over civil unrest at crowded borders.

It led to the October date being put forward last month.

The system is being gradually put in place and will be fully operational right across Europe from April 10 next year.

A mobile app that countries can opt into using is also being developed so that people can answer questions and upload their picture before they reach the border.

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The new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) will officially get underway from late 2026.

A Home Office spokesman said: The Government has been working closely with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industry to prepare ports for EES.

We are supporting ports and carriers to ensure EES registration is simple for anyone travelling to the Schengen area, they added.

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.
SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  Riley Mackay was camping in the Uinta Mountains with his family when the Beulah Fire started. When they realized the fire was headed their way, his group had only a couple hours of warning to pack up and evacuate.

On Thursday, August 7th, a wildfire broke out in the Uinta Mountain range, quickly spreading to over 1400 acres and prompting evacuations of multiple camping ranges. Riley Mackay was camping near where the fire broke out with extended family when they learned they needed to evacuate immediately.

Beulah Fire expands to 1,400 acres, campers evacuated

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The camping area they frequent is incredibly remote, and Riley says his family travels over 30 miles of rocky, bumpy terrain, with trailers, horses, and extensive camping gear. But its reportedly well worth it, because Rileys family have returned to this area to camp, fish, and ride horses and all-terrain vehicles for decades. Additionally, his great-great grandfather herded sheep in the area.

The campsite where Mackay and his family set up, prior to evacuating from the Beulah Fire (Courtesy: Benjamin Fox) The campsite where Mackay and his family set up, prior to evacuating from the Beulah Fire (Courtesy: Benjamin Fox) The campsite where Mackay and his family set up, prior to evacuating from the Beulah Fire (Courtesy: Benjamin Fox)

This year, though, their trip was interrupted by the Beulah wildfire. A couple days into their trip, Rileys family woke up and saw large smoke clouds on the horizon. They quickly realized that something was wrong.

Riley told ABC4.com that one of his uncles has Starlink and was warned that a wildfire had started approximately 5-10 miles away from their campsite. He said, We all kind of knew that it was probable that we should evacuate at some point, whether that was that day or the next day, but we kind of taking our time, just kind of feeling it out.

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Because of the terrain and remote environment, Riley says it takes about two and a half hours to get off of the mountain. Shortly after they received the first message, a forest ranger contacted Rileys uncle via Starlink and warned them that the fire would reach their campsite in around two hours.

Riley said, If it werent for that message, we would have stayed for sure. It was that moment that everything changed. And it was just go time.

Evacuation

Riley told ABC4.com that his family immediately started packing up after learning how fast-growing and close the Beulah fire was to them. Riley said, There was a moment where we thought that we would all have to either unhitch our trailers or leave our trailers and either just take the trucks or we even considered the possibility of having to just take four wheelers and leave. So, there was a lot of fear.

After the fire started, a family friend was able to travel to their campsite from Evanston, Wyoming, on a dirt bike, which reportedly took approximately 15-20 minutes at full speed. That friend helped them pack up camp.

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Riley also told ABC4 that some of his relatives had to evacuate from a fire in the area around twenty years ago. They did not have time to pack up and much of their stuff was lost in the wildfire. That story was fresh in his mind on Thursday. He said, Weve all kind of thought that that could possibly happen, but it became a big reality for us a couple of days ago. And so, it was a very terrifying moment.

Reportedly, some of his family did not have time to pack up their belongings. His cousins family rode down the mountain on horse-back and is still unsure if their camping trailer survived.

Photos of the Beulah Fire, from the familys campsite. Courtesy: Benjamin Fox

Riley also had his wife and three young children with him, which he says was emotional, As the parent, youre supposed to act stoic and calm and there were moments where even myself and my wife were internally freaking out. You could just see the flames and the smoke just starting to come over us.

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Fortunately, Riley and his family were able to evacuate from their campsite and make it off the Uinta Mountain range. They also say this fire wont deter them from future camping trips.

While the Beulah Fire may make this specific area inaccessible for camping in the near future, Riley says his family plans to continue their family tradition, It may mean we have to camp in a different spot than where we normally camp. But, no, its never going to stop us from, you know, doing what we love.

Latest headlines:

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
An Army veteran suspected in a bar shooting massacre that claimed four lives in a rural western town of 9,000 people sparked a massive manhunt that lasted a full week.

Michael Paul Brown, 45, of Anaconda, Montana, was the state's most wanted man until his time on the lam ended near a barn just under six miles from the scene of his horrific crime. Now he is behind bars, where he is likely to remain for the rest of his life.

Below is a timeline of the shooting, and events that followed.

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At around 10:30 a.m. local time, Brown entered The Owl Bar in Anaconda, a local watering hole where he was known to be a regular, and opened fire. He lived next door to the bar and "likely knew these patrons," according to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana is pictured on August 7, 2025 surrounded by crime scene tape. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Montana Manhunt Expands For Ex-soldier Suspect Seen With Stolen Survival Gear After Bar Massacre

Brown was almost immediately identified as the suspect. A SWAT team raided his home, but he was not there.

Read On The Fox News App

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte confirmed in a mid-afternoon Facebook post that he was aware of the attack.

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"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," he said on Facebook.

The FBI and ATF then announced that they were headed to the scene to assist in locating Brown.

A massive manhunt was launched in the rugged mountains of nearby Stumptown Road, and included the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Center, the Granite County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol, FBI and ATF. A lockdown was issued for that area.

Authorities located a Ford F-150 that they say Brown was driving, but he was not with the truck, which was stocked with clothing, food and outdoor gear.

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Later that day, Brown was identified as a former armor crewman in the Army from January 2001 to May 2005, who had served in the National Guard from April 2006 to March 2008. He deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005, and was a sergeant when he left active service. He joined the Montana National Guard the next year, and served until 2009.

Montana Bar Shooting Suspect Could Return To Town, State Ag Says, Citing 'Concern For The Public'

Authorities released a photo of a shirtless Brown scaling a cement staircase, wearing black shorts. They said that photo was taken Friday, shortly after the shooting.

The lockdown was lifted in the Stumptown Road area, but the search, which included air and ground assets, expanded to the Barker Lakes area, according to The Associated Press. Knudsen said 250 law enforcement personnel were involved in Saturday's search efforts.

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.

Knudsen identified the victims in an afternoon press conference, and described the search as Montana's "priority number one."

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The victims were identified as Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70 and Tony Wayne Palm, 74, all from Anaconda. Kelley was working as a bartender at the time. The three other victims were patrons.

Knudsen announced that the U.S. Marshals Service was offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Brown.

He also confirmed that Brown used a rifle in the shooting, and noted that Brown had access to firearms.

Victims Of Montana Bar Shooting Identified As Manhunt For Military Veteran Suspect Continues

Knudsen reiterated that Brown should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous."

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"Absolutely there is concern that he might come back into town," Knudsen said. "By all indications, this is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever. So absolutely there is a concern for the public."

The Owl Bar where Michael Paul Brown allegedly shot and killed four people on Aug. 1, 2025 (left) and Brown's boarded up home (right). Photographed Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

The search for Brown continued on Monday.

The U.S. Marshals Service upped the reward for information leading to his capture to $10,000.

Gianforte held his first press conference since the bar massacre.

Flanked by high-ranking local, state and federal law enforcement officials, he said he had spoken to the families of the victims to offer his condolences on behalf of the state of Montana.

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"Since the tragic event, our Montana law enforcement officers have been unrelenting in their pursuit, working around the clock to bring this suspect, Michael Brown, to justice for his heinous acts," said Gianforte.

Manhunt Intensifies For Army Veteran Suspected Of Killing 4 In Bar Shooting After Truck Found Abandoned

He added that a Montana National Guard helicopter from the Helena Battalion and its four crew had flown 19 hours over the weekend to assist in the search, and to transport law enforcement in and out of the mountainous search area.

Main St. in Anaconda, Montana, leads to the Deer Lodge County Courthouse with mountains in the background. Photographed on Aug. 8, 2025 (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

He said that under Montana law, he is able to release emergency state funding to local law enforcement agencies at their request in times of need.

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"This morning I received that request from Anaconda-Deer Lodge, and moments ago, I signed an executive order to support the efforts of local law enforcement," he said. "While the state has already been supporting this investigation with staff and aviation assets, this action today will ensure additional financial resources are available as we continue to track down this criminal."

Knudsen provided an update on the ongoing search, and took questions from reporters.

Citing the ongoing investigation, he could not confirm whether authorities had recovered a weapon used in the shooting, or whether Brown left behind any clues as to his motive.

Gunman Shoots Multiple People At Montana Business, Authorities Launch Intensive Manhunt

Michael Paul Brown's home on E. 3rd St. in Anaconda, Montana, is boarded up after being raided by a SWAT team on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Photographed Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

The search remained ongoing on Wednesday, without new updates from authorities.

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Authorities continued to search for Brown on Thursday, while local residents told Fox News Digital that they feared his return to the town.

"He was always very skittish. Just like his thoughts were always off the wall and always giving crazy stories. But he was a very sweet guy," Jill Rowles, a bartender at Jfk Bar, just one block from The Owl Bar, told Fox News Digital.

Jill Rowles, is bartender at Jfk Bar, down the street from The Owl Bar, photographed on Aug. 8, 2025. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Rowles was a friend of Kelley, the victim and bartender at The Owl Bar.

"The town is just scared. Everybody's scared. You see everything on Facebook like that. You hear the sirens go by and your stomach just turns," she said.

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"Everybody's in shock, and, hey, everybody's on edge. With me bartending, I'm looking at those doors constantly, she said, gesturing towards the two entrances of the bar."

Another resident, Matt Fontenot, described a dispirited town that spent the week on edge.

"I feel like the air has almost changed, like the attitude of the town has grown just a little bit more submissive than usual, just because people feel like they don't really have control over their lives as much right now because of this," he said.

The manhunt for Brown in the mountainous terrain continued in the morning.

Flowers and momentos rest on the street in front of The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana, where four people were shot and killed on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (Peter D'Abrosca/Fox News Digital)

Several residents of the town expressed to Fox News Digital the desire for the manhunt to come to a conclusion - with Brown dead or alive - so the community could grieve its loss in peace.

Suddenly, in the early afternoon, information began to spread that Brown had been taken into custody.

Shortly thereafter, Gianforte confirmed the news on social media.

At around 4:30 p.m., Gianforte and Knudsen, again surrounded by local, state and federal law enforcement, emerged from the Deer Lodge County Courthouse for a press conference to discuss Brown's arrest.

"Our brave men and women in law enforcement didn't waste a second," Gianforte said. "They jumped into action and began the search with the promise to not give up until they found this suspect. Today I am grateful to report that Michael Brown has been apprehended, arrested and is in custody."

Knudsen then took to the podium.

"This really is an unprecedented level of cooperation," Knudson said, referencing local, state and federal authorities who assisted in the arrest. "It's a good day. We got our man."

He gave special thanks to the U.S. Marshals Service, calling them a "huge asset to us here today" and said they were "directly involved" in Brown's Friday apprehension. He revealed that 130 personnel were involved in the search, and that tips from the community also played a significant role in capturing Brown.

Brown was tracked down near a barn on private property about five-and-half miles from The Owl Bar.

The officials said he was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared, and was then booked into jail.

Citing an ongoing investigation, authorities provided few other details.

The charges against Brown have not been made public, nor has his motive for the alleged killings.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.





Original article source: A timeline of the manhunt for rural Montana bar massacre suspect as a small town hopes for closure
This initiative is being implemented in collaboration with advanced technology, including Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Zevar radar, and reconnaissance radars, as indicated in the official release.

The six canines currently on the ground are Opna, 4 years old; Jansi, 3.5 years old; Sara, 4.5 years old; June, 7 years old; Rahi, 8 years old; and Hazel, 4 years old.

Each canine works in cycles of 30-35 minutes followed by a 10-minute break, sustaining up to three hours of search at a stretch, after which they rest for 1.5 hours and are fed. These highly trained dogs can detect scents up to a depth of 15-18 feet.

According to the release, the canine teams have been actively engaged in search operations for the past three days, significantly contributing to locating individuals and supporting overall rescue efforts in the challenging terrain. (ANI)
When Bosnias electoral authorities stripped Milorad Dodik of his post as president of the tiny Serb-majority statelet Republika Srpska, he did his best to appear unfazed. Instead, the divisive, genocide-denying nationalist laid down his own challenge to the institutions trying to topple him.

What if I refuse? he asked.

Bosnia may be about to find out.

Dodik, a key Balkan ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been in and around power in Bosnia since 2006, picking at the seams of the countrys patchwork multiethnic state. That state was birthed in 1995 by the Dayton Peace Accords, which halted the violence that spread across the former Yugoslavia as it crumbled in the 1990s, driven by then-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevics frenzied push to create a Greater Serbia.

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Although Dayton halted the Bosnian War, it left the country split along ethnic lines. Bosnia comprises two entities: the Federation, where Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) share power with Croats, and the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska. Above them sits a mostly toothless central government and a foreign High Representative, who is bestowed with far-reaching powers to implement the deal and keep the peace.

Dodik  who for years has threatened to split from Bosnia and reunite with Serbia  was convicted in February of defying the orders of Christian Schmidt, the current High Representative. Last week, an appeals court upheld his one-year prison sentence and six-year ban on holding office. Although Dodik has avoided prison by paying a fine, Bosnias electoral commission on Wednesday chose to apply the law which automatically removes an official from office if sentenced to more than six months in jail.

After two decades of raging against Bosnias state-level institutions, emboldened by his cast of illiberal allies and the lack of pushback from the European Union, many in Bosnia were stunned that authorities moved so quickly to implement the courts ruling.

Dodik often meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. - Alexei Nikolsky/Host agency RIA Novosti/REUTERS

Since 2006, Dodik has done his damned best to weaken Bosnias institutions and hollow out the state from the inside, Arminka Helic, who fled the wars in the 1990s and now sits in Britains House of Lords, told CNN. I dont think he would have expected, after all his threats and all the noise, that anyone would dare question his position.

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The question now is whether Dodik goes quietly or puts up a fight, she said.

For now, the latter looks more likely. Dodik has threatened to prevent new elections from taking place  if necessary, by force  and has looked to his allies in Belgrade, Moscow and Budapest for support.

Surrender is not an option, Dodik said.

Moscow, which has long looked to Dodik to foment trouble in the Balkans, has warned that the region could spiral out of control. Its embassy in Bosnia warned the country was making a historic mistake.

Has its reputation as the European powder keg been forgotten? it asked.

Overtures to Trump

When Dodik first took power, Western diplomats were delighted. After the bloodbath of the 1990s, he seemed to herald an era of stability. For Madeleine Albright, then-US Secretary of State, Dodik was a breath of fresh air.

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But since then, Dodik has refashioned himself as an unrepentant nationalist, denying the genocide of 8,000 Bosniaks at Srebrenica in 1995, the wars most notorious massacre, and often meeting with Putin in Moscow.

For years, Dodik has raged against the structures of the Dayton agreement, making it harder for Bosnian institutions to operate in his entity and threatening, ultimately, to split Srpska from the rest of the country.

Leaders of six nations look on as the presidents of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia sign the Dayton Peace Accords at the Elysee Palace in France, December 1995. - Peter Turnley/Corbis/Getty Images

He has made a nemesis of Christian Schmidt, the current High Representative and a former government minister in Germany under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Dodik casts Schmidt as an albatross around Srpskas neck, claiming his powers trample on the will of Serb voters.

Since Dodiks conviction, his European allies have begun to take up his cause. Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, dismissed the case against Dodik as an attempt by the foreign-installed High Representative to remove him for opposing their globalist elite agenda.

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Marko Djuric, Serbias foreign minister, also said Schmidt was subjecting Dodik to a political witch hunt, using undemocratic methods to thwart the will of the people.

Focusing his complaints against Schmidt is a smart strategy, Adnan Cerimagic, a senior analyst at the European Stability Initiative, told CNN.

Even defenders of Bosnias institutions find it hard to justify the powers granted to Schmidt. High Representatives are appointed by a council comprising several Western nations and bestowed with the power to impose annul laws as well as appoint and remove officials. Paddy Ashdown, a former British MP who previously served as High Representative, said the role gave him powers that ought to make any liberal blush.

No other person in Europe today, at least in the democratic part, has that power: simply to wake up, access his website, and post new laws, decisions and dismiss people, said Cerimagic.

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Seeking more heavyweight diplomatic support, Dodik has begun to ramp up his overtures to the Trump administration, claiming that he, like the US president, has been subjected to lawfare by an unelected bureaucrat.

Echoing criticisms made by Vice President JD Vance in his infamous Munich speech earlier this year, Dodik has claimed that, in attempting to remove him from office, European authorities are ignoring the will of the people.

He has also attempted to paint himself as a victimized Christian leader in a Muslim-majority country.

He wants to paint himself as a kindred soul sitting out there in a little entity in the Balkans, who is not only going through the same trials and tribulations that President Trump went through, but is also standing there as the sole figure defending the rule of law and Christianity from chaos, Helic said.

A desperate man

The electoral authorities decision against Dodik will take effect once an appeals period expires. Early elections will then be called within 90 days.

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But confusion remains over who will enforce the decision if Dodik refuses to stand down, or obstructs the new elections. Although the EU expanded its peacekeeping force in the country in March, those troops did not move to detain Dodik even when a warrant was active for his arrest earlier this year.

Dodik has rejected the ruling against him and threatened to remain in post as president. - Marko Djurica/X01390/Reuters

Jasmin Mujanovic, a senior fellow at New Lines Institute, told CNN that Bosnian and European authorities will face a major test if Dodik attempts to stay in post.

If you cant deal with the likes of Milorad Dodik, at least from the EUs perspective, you really have no business talking about competing with the likes of (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin or whoever else, he said.

Although Dodik has threatened to defy the ruling, Mujanovic said much of his support base in the entity has withered away. For months, there has been elite defection in Republika Srpska, as the political opposition begins to imagine a post-Dodik future.

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Nebojsa Vukanovic, founder of an opposition party in the entity, said only Dodiks total removal from office could end the constant crisis in Bosnian politics, and would finally free the institutions to prosecute those responsible for crime and corruption. Dodik is under US sanctions for cultivating a corrupt patronage network.

But although some in Srpska may be beginning to imagine political life without Dodik, Helic warned he could take reckless actions  such as attempting full secession from Bosnia  if he feels he has nothing to lose.

A desperate man might decide to do something that would further destabilize the country, she said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com




NEED TO KNOW

Barrett Brasfield was born 26 weeks premature on June 6, 2024

He spent the next 403 days in the NICU at two different hospitals, battling lung and other health issues

Barrett was finally discharged on July 14 of this year and is now home with his parents





When Barrett Brasfield grows up, his parents will have an interesting tale to tell him about how he spent his first year. After being born weighing just 1 lb., he spent the next 403 days in two different hospitals' neonatal intensive care units before he was finally able to go home.

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He's adjusting better than us, mom Carli tells PEOPLE. It's been a whirlwind."

Hopefully, he doesn't remember any of it," adds the 34-year-old nurse practitioner at UAB Hospital, before quipping, "and hopefully, after a lot of therapy, we won't remember some of it.

We joke about the trauma bonding but it definitely made us much tougher and stronger," adds dad Roman, 33.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

The Brasfields' unforgettable journey began more than a year ago when Carli, then 20 weeks pregnant, learned during an anatomy scan that her baby boy had some health issues and would need to be delivered earlier than expected.

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The umbilical cord delivers blood flow from mom to baby, and that's a forward flow, the Alabama mom explains. You can have intermittent bad flow where the flow kind of stops, or you can have what's called reverse flow, where the flow is going the opposite direction."

"At some of our appointments, he had that intermittent flow," she adds, but, by their 26-week appointment, "he had reverse flow.

We were taken aback about how early [the delivery would be] because, after speaking with our doctors, we felt we had a little more time, says Roman, who also works at UAB Hospital. But eventually it got to a point where the parents were told they needed to deliver  immediately.

So Carli was admitted to UAB Hospital and welcomed Barrett via an emergency caesarian section on June 6, 2024.

Brasfield Family Barrett Brasfield in the NICU Barrett Brasfield in the NICU

At the time of his birth, Barrett weighed only 1 lb. and was immediately taken to the hospitals NICU.

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"It was surreal, because it was a mix of emotions, Roman recalls. Obviously, you're excited about your child being born, but you hope for better circumstances.

One of the hardest parts for Carli was when she was discharged from the hospital, knowing she couldn't bring her son home too. Fortunately, the couple only lived minutes away.

In the NICU, Barrett experienced a severe form of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease associated with premature babies. He was intubated on and off for about nine months total, Carli says, which, although necessary, caused even more damage to his lungs.

The couple initially hoped to have Barrett home that September, but he kept having infection after infection, which kept him on the ventilator a little longer.

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Within his first week of life, he got a bloodstream infection, which on top of the ventilator, really gave him about a 30% chance of survival during some of those really bad days, says Carli.

Brasfield Family Barrett Brasfield Barrett Brasfield

And although at one point, his health improved, during cold and flu season, he contracted rhinovirus, which made him very sick, and he needed to be put back on the ventilator.

After eight months at UAB, Barrett was moved to the NICU of Childrens of Alabama when a bed became available this February. There, he underwent a tracheostomy, a surgical procedure in which a tube is inserted into the hole of the neck to help with his breathing.

That was a game-changer for him, says Roman, just getting access to a lot of specialty care that he needed. So that's when you started to see things turn for the better."

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He woke up from his tracheostomy ready to thrive, roll, play, laugh and get out of bed, Carli adds.

Brasfield Family Carli Brasfield with son Barrett Carli Brasfield with son Barrett

Over time, Barretts weight increased to 19 lbs.  and he kept making progress. Soon Carli and Roman began training on how to use a home ventilator and a gastrostomy tube, which feeds the baby through their belly, in preparation for Barrett's long-awaited homecoming.

It was surreal for sure, Roman says. We truly couldn't believe it."

At one point during Barretts hospitalization, Carli and Roman say that doing something as simple as changing his diaper seemed like a victory.

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You're celebrating making it through the night, says Carli. There were a lot of periods in the fall and winter that [we] questioned, Should we even be doing this? Should we not be fighting so hard and focus more on his comfort than advancing his life? "

"Thankfully," she adds, "our team kept fighting for us."

Brasfield Family Roman Brasfield with son Barrett Roman Brasfield with son Barrett

Since his discharge from the NICU last month, Barrett remains hooked up to his ventilator, trach and gastrostomy tube as he settles into his new home with his parents and his older brother, Asher, 6. Carli hopes that the issues with Barretts lungs will be reversible over time as well.

We're hoping to have him off the ventilator, maybe within the next year, she says. And we've got some other surgeries that we need, some airway stuff that we've got to do before we can fully take the trach out. But our goal is that maybe [when he turns] 4-6 years old, we're living a pretty normal life.

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.

Both Carli and Roman credit their community, Barretts medical team and faith for helping them when things were touch-and-go with Barrett.

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"We just consider ourselves so blessed," Carli says. "A lot of people are like, How are y'all standing after 400 days in the hospital? He's so worth it. We would do 403 days all over again just to have this little guy home for sure."



Read the original article on People
Aug. 8A 20-year-old man is suspected of murder after he attacked his boyfriend with a flurry of fists before stabbing in the torso a 25-year-old man who intervened several times Thursday night on the edge of Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane, according to court documents.

Officers detained Colin L. Pedro, who fled with the knife to the nearby Post Street Bridge and threatened suicide, after nearly four hours of negotiating, according to the Spokane Police Department.

Pedro appeared Friday in Spokane County District Court to face a charge of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Anthony Espinoza and second-degree assault in the beating of 25-year-old Robert Neuman, who was hospitalized but expected to recover, police said.

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Espinoza's father, Louie Espinoza, and little sister Zoe Gluckman told the court from a video conferencing platform that Pedro should be held in jail without bond. A judge maintained Pedro's bond at $1 million.

Gluckman said Pedro, who sat next to his attorney in jail clothing, needs help.

"If Colin can hear, I hope and pray you get the help that you need," she said.

Gluckman said her brother had a 5-year-old son who now will never know his father, and she will never have her brother again. She said knowing Pedro is a young man is "heartbreaking" for his family as well.

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"You took our family member from us," Gluckman said.

Spokane police officers were called about 6:30 p.m. to the violence happening outside City Hall on Spokane Falls Boulevard and Post Street.

After police say Pedro assaulted Neuman, a City Hall camera showed Espinoza approach Pedro from behind, but stopped about 20 feet away from him, according to court documents. Pedro turned toward Espinoza, and they both move d toward each other and started to "circle" one another, according to the footage.

Espinoza was holding a small rock in each hand. Pedro then charged Espinoza and stabbed him once in the upper body. Espinoza fell to his back and dropped both rocks, according to the footage. He put his hands up in front of himself as Pedro stabbed at Espinoza's upper body 10 times while Espinoza remained on the ground.

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When interviewed by police, Pedro said he and Neuman got into an argument and Neuman punched him in the eye. He said he responded by punching Neuman once and knocking him to the ground. A detective did not notice any bruising or swelling to Pedro's eye, according to documents. Pedro said Neuman ran away, and he walked away upset.

Pedro told police a man he didn't know then approached him and said he "wanted him to put his knife away and fight him like a man." Pedro described the man, later identified as Espinoza, as a "wannabe thug."

Pedro said he didn't think Espinoza had a knife.

"I was just sick of him following me as I was trying to escape," Pedro told police.

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Pedro admitted to stabbing the victim "as deep as I can," according to documents.

Neuman told police he met Pedro a couple months ago at a Spokane homeless shelter and they began dating shortly after, according to court documents. The pair had been living in a tent in various parts of the city. Neuman said Pedro has anger issues and seems to be schizophrenic.

On Thursday morning, Neuman and Pedro were at one of their camping spots when Pedro accused him of stealing his ID and electronic benefits card, Neuman told police. Neuman denied the accusation. Pedro then pulled out a large fixed-blade knife, which was purchased a few days earlier, and held the tip to Neuman's throat, demanding the phone they shared so he could call to report his electronic benefits card stolen, according to Neuman.

He gave the phone to Pedro, and he reported his electronic benefits card as stolen.

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Later, they were walking on Post Street next to City Hall when Pedro started another argument with him about his ID and electronic benefits card, Neuman told police. They made it to the Post Street bridge when Neuman asked for his bags the defendant had been carrying for him, so he could separate from Pedro since things were escalating again.

Pedro punched Neuman on the side of the head multiple times, causing him to fall to the ground and possibly hit his head on the bridge, Neuman said. He said a passerby in a car stopped to check on them, which stopped Pedro from further assaulting him.

Neuman got up and ran away from Pedro on Post Street toward River Park Square as Pedro chased him, documents say. Neuman said he was trying to call 911 on their phone when Pedro took the phone, snapped it and threw it off to the side.

Neuman said Pedro started to punch him again, causing him to once again fall. Neuman said he remembers waking up in a "daze" at the corner of Spokane Falls Boulevard and Post Street with a group of people around him. He warned the strangers Pedro had a big knife.

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One of the people from the group gave him water, and as he was still dazed and in pain, the person helping him said the defendant stabbed someone several times.

Neuman was taken to the hospital. A detective said in documents Neuman's right kneecap was dislocated and he had visible injuries to his head. Neuman also complained of neck pain.

Espinoza died at the hospital at 7:30 p.m., according to police in documents.

Several people witnessed at least part of the violence.

One witness told police that Pedro, who wore a green hooded sweatshirt, stabbed a man in the shoulder area, according to court records. Espinoza then fell to the ground, and Pedro continued to stab him several times as Espinoza screamed for help. The defendant then walked toward the bridge.

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A public safety supervisor for River Park Square who responded to the stabbing call said Pedro ran toward the bridge with the knife against his own neck. He chased the defendant before police arrived.

Another person who saw the stabbing said that as Espinoza was on the ground being stabbed, Pedro said something like, "Come at me."

Another bystander said he heard the defendant say, "Come at me," and Pedro and Espinoza fought, with Pedro stabbing Espinoza in the back and arms while the victim was standing. Espinoza then fell to the ground as Pedro continued to stab him.

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Degen said he had "very serious community safety concerns" regarding Pedro and asked the court to maintain the $1 million bond. Degen said Pedro's criminal history included two counts of third-degree assault and a misdemeanor domestic violence assault charge. He was on probation at the time of the killing.

Pedro's defense attorney reserved bond arguments for another day.

Police continue to investigate and ask anyone who witnessed the incident or has video of it to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
An elite Queens high school is forcing students to ditch keyboards for pens as a way to stop them from using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools to cheat, The Post has learned.

In a move that has some students fuming, Townsend Harris High School is ending its long-standing policy of letting kids type summer reading essays at home, and instead making themcomplete the graded assignment by hand during the first weeks of September.

The assignment, a back-to-school rite of passage, typically requires students to read a book over the summer for their English class and turn in a written essay when they return to class.

Townsend Harris High School students will now write their summer reading essays entirely by hand in early September, marking the end of the traditional take-home assignment. Helayne Seidman

Weve noticed too much use of artificial intelligence in the past and think in-class will allow for a more authentic representation of student thinking, English teacher Brian Sweeney told The Classic, the student-run newspaper.

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Critics argue the policy unfairly lumps all students together and could make the assignment more about speed than actual comprehension.

I think its unfair that we are being held accountable for other students misusing AI, one student told The Classic.

Another incoming student griped that she prefers at-home assignments for time management and that the new rule brings a problem to people who struggle with writing at a faster pace.

Yasmeen Ismail, a junior and co-editor-in-chief of The Classic, called the change a reasonable first step.

Junior Yasmeen Ismail, co-editor-in-chief of The Classic, called the rule change a reasonable step but argued schools also need long-term strategies for managing AI. Obtained by the New York Post

Long term, we need policies that go beyond just restricting improper use, she told The Post.

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Defending the move, rising senior and fellow co-editor-in-chief Ryan Chen said it will help keep the assignment fair.

This heavily encourages students to physically read the book cover-to-cover instead of using AI to give them a summary and an analysis in minutes, he said.

The policy comes amid mounting tension in classrooms nationwide with AI driving a wave of copy-and-paste schoolwork. Inconsistent rules are leaving kids confused  and pressured to cheat just to keep up, they say.

Many Gen Z students now rely on AI to get through school, with 97% of 2,000 high school and college kids in a May survey saying theyve used tools like ChatGPT.

English teacher Brian Sweeney told The Classic the policy aims to provide a more authentic snapshot of student writing skills by removing AI from the equation. Brian Sweeney/ Linkedin

Its really hard to be a student whos trying to follow the rules right now, Scheherazade Schonfeld, a rising junior at Hunter College HS, a top-performing public school run by CUNY, told The Post. It feels almost competitive, like not using [AI] puts you at a disadvantage.

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Her school doesnt have a blanket ban on AI, and ChatGPT is routinely used by many classmates, she said. Some teachers openly allow it, while others consider it cheating. The rules vary from class to class, and enforcement is inconsistent, Schonfeld said.

Schonfeld estimated that Hunter College HS is only catching 10% of the [AI use] cases, probably less, though the lack of formal rules means teachers arent always watching for it.

Kim Hong, a junior at a Holmdel High School in New Jersey, said shes seen students in her school get flagged over AI suspicion for something as minor as using the word underscore in an essay.

Ryan Chen, junior co-editor-in-chief of The Classic, says the in-class essays will push students to fully read the assigned books rather than rely on AI summaries and quick online analyses. Obtained by the New York Post

The lack of clarity has left both students and teachers scrambling.

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High school should be where you learn how to write and how to think, Schonfeld told The Post. ChatGPT hasnt eliminated the need for that, but teachers also need to show us how to use it the smart way. Thats hard, because theyre learning right alongside us.

Townsend HS crackdown comes at odds with a broader shift in education policy.

NYCs Department of Education lifted a 2023 ban on ChatGPT just months after announcing it but still hasnt issued clear rules on student usage. The DOE says its developing an AI framework and recently launched an AI Policy Lab to help schools navigate ethical implementation.

And last month, the United Federation of Teachers joined its parent, the American Federation of Teachers, in a $23 million partnership with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic to train educators on how to use AI in the classroom. A new National Center for AI will open inside the UFTs Lower Manhattan headquarters.

New Jersey junior Kim Hong says shes seen classmates accused of AI cheating over small word choices, fueling anxiety about where schools draw the line. Obtained by the New York Post

Punya Mishra, director of the Learning Futures Institute at Arizona State University, said Townsend should be focusing on bringing AI into the classroom, rather than locking it out.

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Handwriting essays in class can make sense in certain cases, Mishra said. But blanket policies like this take away educators ability to teach students how to work with AI critically and wisely.

Frances Kweller, director of the Manhattan- and Queens-based tutoring company Kweller Prep, celebrated Townsends approach as a necessary step.

This is reality. AI is the future, she said. You need to make sure students know how to be independent thinkers.
The Brief

A 17-year-old suspect in a Rowlett shooting has been arrested in Dallas.

Xavier Stevenson is accused of shooting a 15-year-old in the head during a robbery.

Stevenson is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and is being held without bond.

DALLAS - The suspect in a Rowlett incident in which a 15-year-old was shot in the head has been arrested in Dallas.

The suspect, a subject in a previous Trackdown segment, was captured by U.S. Marshals on Friday.

Rowlett shooting suspect arrested

Xavier Stevenson

The latest

Xavier Sen'cer Stevenson, 17, was identified through video canvassing after U.S. Marshals assisted Rowlett PD in the search for the suspect.

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On Friday, Stevenson was found in Dallas by the federal officials. They say the suspect altered his appearance several times to evade arrest.

Stevenson is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and is pending arraignment with no bond set.

What they're saying

"Thanks to the dedicated work of the men and women of the Rowlett Police Department and the invaluable assistance of our federal partners, we have taken into custody the suspect wanted in this shooting," said Chief Denning. "This violent fugitive is now off the streets. Let it be clear, we will relentlessly pursue anyone who commits violent acts in our city, and we will not rest until they are brought to justice."

Trackdown subject

Xavier Sen'cer Stevenson, 17 years of age, from Rowlett, Texas. (Source: Rowlett Police Department)

The backstory

The shooting happened at 3:30 p.m. on June 13 in the parking lot between a muffler shop and a Dollar General on Rowlett Road, where investigators said the 15-year-old victim was in a car with his older brother. The two were allegedly trying to sell vapes to a 17-year-old Xavier Stevenson.

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The three first met at nearby Kenwood Heights Park, where Stevenson allegedly tried to pay via a cash app. The older brother said he needed to pay in cash, so they went to Dollar General.

Stevenson allegedly left the car, came back a few minutes later, and held the brothers at gunpoint.

The 15-year-old tried to run and was shot in the head. The teen did survive.

The Source

Information in this report came from the Rowlett Police Department.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE)  California has more than 150,000 laws on the books, governing everything from environmental policy to school lunch menus. But laws dont enforce themselves.

According to Chris Micheli, an adjunct law professor at the McGeorge School of Law, when lawmakers want to solve a problem or regulate an industry, they often write bills that create entire agencies, boards, or councils to carry out and enforce the law.

 [State laws] all require interpretation, enforcement and application, and thats done by the executive branch, Micheli said. Weve created all of these agencies and departments and boards and commissions to do that work of running the government for the state of California,

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Most of the time, those oversight bodies are traditional state agencies. Theyre staffed by public employees, accountable to the governor, and bound by transparency laws  but not always.

Sometimes, a bill creates a group thats outside the government entirely, a private nonprofit, for example, but still gives it state-authorized power.

One example is the California Massage Therapy Council. Its not a state agency. Created by state law in 2009, it has the authority to certify massage therapists and approve massage schools across the state. CAMTC is currently up for sunset review, and AB 1504 would extend its authority through 2030.

The councils decisions have real-world consequences. Dana Ball is the president of a massage therapy school in South Carolina. She said one of her former students recently moved to California and applied to CAMTC for certification. The student provided her work experience, training curriculum and recent continuing education required for renewing her South Carolina massage therapy license. CAMTC said it wasnt enough.

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She is being told that she has to go to school again, Ball said. The only schools that are near her do not allow her to just get the hours that she needs supervised. So, she would have to go to school all over again, which is arguably 10, 11, $15,000 when shes done that already.

According to Ball, the student met the states requirements for training hours and had been working legally in another state. But CAMTCs internal policies allowed them to reject her application.

Its written as voluntary, but when nearly every jurisdiction, city or county requires you to have [CAMTC certification], its no longer voluntary, Ball said.  Thats mandating ineffectively that you have to do business with a private entity that has no oversight.

Although state statute does require CAMTC to comply with specific transparency measures, like Californias open meetings law and periodic legislative reviews, its not subject to the same level of oversight as traditional state agencies, which are staffed by public employees, overseen by the governor and bound by broader public accountability laws. This structure is uncommon. Micheli called it an anomaly.

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The vast majority of professions are licensed and regulated by public entities under the Department of Consumer Affairs, he said. This [CAMTC] is not the normal model.

And while CAMTC is required to comply with some government rules, its still a private organization, funded by fees, not taxes. It operates outside of traditional executive branch oversight.

AB 1504, the bill to extend CAMTCs authority through 2030, also proposes several changes to the Massage Therapy Act. Among them: new provisions allowing applicants to appeal to the CAMTC board if theyre denied certification for things like misdemeanor convictions or a DUI. The statute also points out that CAMTCs structure enables people with criminal records to become certified, something that might not be possible under a traditional state licensing board.

However, in most licensed professions in California, like barbers, contractors, or cosmetologists, criminal convictions do not automatically bar someone from getting a license. Thanks to AB 2138, a law passed in 2018, state boards must consider the nature and age of the conviction. They generally cannot deny a license based on convictions older than seven years or those not directly related to the profession. Still, individual boards retain discretion, especially for recent or serious offenses. CAMTC supporters argue that the councils nonprofit structure allows for more flexible, case-by-case evaluations that give people a second chance.

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But for out-of-state professionals looking to chase the California dream, the statute leaves interpretation of their schooling entirely up to the CAMTC board. There is no outlined appeals process.

According to Micheli, changing how CAMTC works would require another act of the Legislature.

Like any other law, it can be changed. But there has to be a basis for doing so, he said.

Criticism from a few applicants isnt always enough, according to Micheli. Lawmakers would need to hear from enough stakeholders who want a different approach.

As CAMTCs sunset review approaches, some stakeholders are raising their hands.

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Ball said she supports oversight of the industry, but believes it should come from a public agency, not a private board.

A state license is necessary, she said. Not just to protect the public, but to make sure the therapists are also advocated for. Because currently, no one is.

CAMTC ignored our requests for an on-camera interview but provided a written statement, defending the current structure and explaining its benefits to massage therapists.

What is most useful about CAMTC certification is that it provides portability to the certificate holder in that those who have CAMTC certification can provide massage for compensation in any city or county in the state without the need to obtain a local city or county permit to do so, pursuant to Government Code section 51034(c)(9), the statement read. Statutory language is required so that the State can provide this direction to cities and counties and override their authority to require a local permit.

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AB 1504 is currently in committee. Lawmakers return from summer recess later this month.

For more California laws shaping oversight and state agencies, and which bills were tracking this summer, take a look at the table below.

KSEE24s-Tracking-Bills-That-Matter-1Download

This table is part of an ongoing effort to review and track the thousands of bills introduced in the California Legislature each year. This table reflects the information available at the time of publishing.

Know of a bill you think we should look into? Let us know!

Submit a form.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS47 and KSEE24 | News from YourCentralValley.com.
Traffic Alert: Several lanes closed on SR-201 following motorcycle crash

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Multiple lanes have been closed on State Route 201 near 800 W in Salt Lake City following a motorcycle crash that injured two people.

Late Friday evening, two individuals on a single motorcycle crashed near 800 w in Salt Lake City. According to Trooper Durrant with Utah Highway Patrol, the two individuals, who have not been identified, have been transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.

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Utah Highway patrol closed several lanes while they work to clear the scene. As of 8:45 p.m., all lanes have been reopened, but drivers may experience residual delays.

They have not yet identified why the crash occurred.

Latest headlines:

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Journeys on the newly nationalised South Western Railway (SWR) line are slower today than they were 30 years ago, The Telegraph can reveal.

Services between London Waterloo and Weymouth, the south coast terminus of the South West Main Line, take longer to make the journey now than they did in 1995 under British Rail. The line serves commuters travelling to London from Surrey.

Even though the flagship long-distance services call at fewer stops on average than they did three decades ago, the journey is about eight minutes longer.

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Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, claimed in May, when SWR was brought under the Governments ownership, that the public dont spend much time thinking about who runs the trains  they just want them to work.

However, an analysis of the October 1995 Waterloo-Weymouth timetable  the last timetable operated by British Rail, the old state railway monopoly created by Labour in the 1940s  revealed that trains took an average of two hours and 43 minutes to cover the 22 stops between the capital and the south coast at the time.

Today, that same journey takes two hours and 51 minutes, averaging 18 stops. The number of stops varies depending on the time of day, with early and late trains calling at more stations.

0908 British Rail's Waterloo-Weymouth service

Richard Holden, the Tory shadow transport secretary, said: Britains railways are being held hostage. This is what happens when Labour hands control to the unions.

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Ms Alexanders predecessor Louise Haigh met the leader of the train drivers trade union within days of taking office after last years general election. She then handed rail staff 15 per cent pay rises.

Labours policy is that passenger train companies will all be brought into government ownership over the next three years, a move ministers justify by claiming it will save hundreds of millions of pounds in private sector dividends and management fees.

Critics claim that without the profit motive and market competition, British railways will stagnate and become more expensive to run over time.

One explanation for the slower journey times today compared to 30 years ago is the number of trains crammed onto the tracks.

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Back in 1995 there were 16 direct services between London and Weymouth, whereas today there are 28 such trains. Those must share space with local stopping services, which means the rails are more congested today than they were 30 years ago.

South Western Trains, as the company was first known when Sir John Majors Conservatives privatised it in February 1996, was one of the longest-running private rail operators. It morphed into South Western Railway in 2017 thanks to a change in private ownership.

Between January and March this year, 67 per cent of SWRs trains were on time, a decline of 1.8 per cent on last year.

These figures, the latest available from the Office of Rail and Road, date to before the Government took over the company in May.

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SWR cancelled 3.6 per cent of services in the year to March 2025, more or less flat compared to 2024s figure.

Jeremy Varns, campaign co-ordinator for the SWR Watch passenger group, condemned the slowing-down of trains over the years and complained about poor management by railway companies.

Like many commuters, Ive lost count of the times Ive missed a connection at stations like Woking or Clapham Junction due to the incompetence of Network Rail or the rail company, he said.

The frequent stops and starts caused by broken tracks and signals are a regular part of the rail travel experience. Its especially frustrating to know that timetables are now deliberately planned to be slower than they were decades ago.

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He added: This, of course, is an attempt to boost punctuality statistics, though it clearly doesnt seem to be working.

Difficult to draw comparisons

Mr Holden said: Passengers were told state control would mean greater affordability, accountability, and reliability. What commuters are getting is not only higher fares, but also chaos, confusion, and cancellation because of Labours no-strings pay agreement with the unions.

The public deserves better than a railway built for union leverage and Labour loyalty.

Under new Conservative leadership, we will always have passengers and taxpayers at the heart of the system  delivering value, reliability, and a network that works.

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An SWR spokesman said: A lot has changed since days of slam-door trains under the old British Rail, making it difficult to draw meaningful comparisons.

Customer numbers have more than doubled, many more passenger and freight services are now competing for train paths on the same sets of tracks, calling patterns at far busier stations have changed and the whole railway network places more emphasis on safety and delivering better-performing timetables that customers can rely on.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: Rail today operates in a more complex environment than it did in the 1990s, and many of the challenges faced by passengers are long-standing ones from 30 years of private sector ownership.

SWR has been in public ownership for less than three months, and it will take time to fix the problems we inherited, but that is exactly what we will do through Great British Railways  running reliable services, maintaining safety, and putting passengers first.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The DC Council has a new member, but hes a familiar face.

Trayon White is officially back in his Ward 8 seat following his swearing-in, which took place Friday afternoon in Southeast.

White was expelled by the council earlier this year following his arrest by the FBI. Hes charged with accepting a bribe for his influence on city violence intervention contracts.

He was able to enter the special election because he had not been convicted of a felony.

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Following his swearing in, White delivered a roughly 15-minute speech. He did mention the FBI briefly, saying the federal agency is after him.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: FBI arrests DC Council member Trayon White

I believe that, not just arrest me, but I believe they want to kill me, he said.

However, the majority of his speech was centered around his Ward 8 community.

When his story is written 10, 20 years from now, theyll know Trayon White got back up and kept fighting, he said. Not just for himself, but for those boys and girls in the community that look up to me.

White re-enters the governing body that expelled him at a critical time, with just weeks until a final vote to reshape the RFK Stadium land centered around a new stadium for the Commanders.

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White indicated support for the stadium deal, but said he will be pushing for amendments to bring community benefits to Ward 8.

Were talking about building a stadium and something where we can play sports, he said. Weve got to make sure those who look like us and pave the way in this community [have] a place to stay right here across the District, not just in Ward 8.

White was also asked about the federal governments deployment of law enforcement to tackle violent crime in the District. Those efforts come even as violent crime is down in both the city as a whole and Ward 8.

Most cities have youth violence, he said. Weve made some tremendous strides. You see some of the violence interrupters in the back of the room. We can make progress on that. And I think that weve started a path that can help us decrease the violence in youth. But weve got to have a greater investment, not a divestment.

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According to officials, Salim Pistol was arrested by the Delhi Police special cell and Indian security agencies in a joint operation with the Nepal Police.

For years, Salim had been supplying sophisticated weapons from Pakistan into India. Investigators have found evidence linking him to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company.

Salim Pistol was a key supplier of arms to top gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba. His name surfaced in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case as well.

He was arrested by Delhi Police in 2018, but later managed to flee abroad. Recently, intelligence inputs indicated that he was hiding in Nepal. Acting on the tip-off, security agencies tracked him down and arrested him.

A resident of Seelampur in Delhi, Salim's name had earlier cropped up in the Baba Siddiqui murder case. His network spanned across India and Pakistan.

According to the police, Sheikh Salim, a resident of Jafrabad in Delhi, dropped out of school after completing Class 8 and initially worked as a driver.

Salim's criminal career spans decades, beginning with vehicle theft in 2000 when, along with his associate Mukesh Gupta alias Kaka, he stole multiple vehicles. He was arrested on May 25, 2000, and booked under sections 379, 411, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Over a decade later, he was implicated in a high-profile armed robbery in Jafrabad on August 7, 2011, involving Rs 20 lakh. He was eventually arrested on September 18, 2013, and charged with offences under sections 395 and 397 of the IPC. (ANI)
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force is working to put an end to trafficking in South Carolina and advocate for legislation to make changes you could see here in the Lowcountry.



Its all around us. Its your children, its your grandchildren you have to watch out for, so weve made a start, said Regan Westra, who attended the meeting.

Trafficking is occurring across the state including here in the Lowcountry. The Tri-County task force is working to identify and combat it.

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I encourage every regional task force in every area of the state we go to seek to be number 1 on the list for reports of trafficking coming in. The more reports being made, the more folks see what this looks like, the more opportunity we have to combat and investigate the crime, said SLED Lieutenant Jade Roy.

85% of victims seek medical care during their victimization, so one bill introduced would train healthcare workers to identify signs of human trafficking and be able to provide resources.



Were in a unique position to be able to ask this question, screen these patients, be able to recognize it and it may be that they can accept help at this time but at least for these providers to know the warning signs are the risk factors are and be able to give them resources, said Erin Hart, an MUSC nurse practitioner.

The other bill would make it easier for law enforcement to target offenders and hold them accountable as well as support victims in the recovery process.

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The road to recovery after that is extensive and groups like this are looking at that whole spectrum not just identifying and arresting somebody, Dan Westra, who attended the meeting.



The South Carolina legislature will start their session in January, the Tri-County Task Force hopes for these bills to be a priority.

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Greetings, quotes readers! It was another newsy week, so lets get right into it.

Lollapalooza wrapped up Sunday in Grant Park following four days of music and cant-miss performances. Sabrina Carpenter closed out the festival with a jam-packed set, featuring her hit songs Espresso and Bed Chem and a special appearance from Chicagos own Earth, Wind & Fire.

Sunday also kicked off a weeklong saga over Texas redistricting efforts. Dozens of Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives fled to Illinois and other blue states to deny their Republican colleagues the quorum needed to redraw five congressional districts in the GOPs favor. The House responded by issuing civil warrants to arrest those absent politicians and bring them to the state Capitol. In a joint news conference Tuesday, Democratic leaders expressed support for the Texas lawmakers, and Gov. JB Pritzker made an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, saying they were welcome in Illinois. On Thursday, the FBI agreed to assist Texas law enforcement in locating the politicians  despite the fact that their civil warrants are unenforceable outside of Texas. By Friday, officials took another route in their bid to bring the Democratic House members back to Texas, asking a downstate Illinois court to compel state police to enforce those warrants.

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President Donald Trumps latest round of tariffs took effect Thursday, raising import taxes on dozens countries. The president also announced that he will impose a 100% tariff on computer chips made outside the United States. Economists say American consumers will likely foot some of those increased business costs in the form of higher prices. Heres what to expect.

In other news from around the globe, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip, Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine and the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings that killed more than 210,000 people.

Locally, Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago ceased most of its operations, following Medicare funding cuts. United Airlines issued a ground stop Wednesday evening for departing flights nationwide due to a tech issue with the system that houses flight information, causing more than 1,000 delays at the Chicago-based carrier. And on Friday, a federal judge denied bond for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan pending his appeal on corruption charges.

Meanwhile, in the world of Chicago sports, the Bears are preparing for their preseason opener Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, the Cubs are hoping to make a postseason run and, after wearing No. 88 for 16 seasons with the Blackhawks, Aug. 8 has officially been declared Patrick Kane Day in Chicago.

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The unofficial end of summer is marked in Chicago with the annual Bud Billiken Parade, a back-to-school celebration that showcases Chicagos talented young residents. The parade kicks off Saturday in the Bronzeville neighborhood, but if thats not your speed, theres no shortage of events going on around the city this weekend, from Northalsted Market Days to Wilco at The Salt Shed and the Windy City Comedy Fest. So get out there for some fun this weekend, Chicago!

Thats all for now. Heres the Tribunes Quotes of the Week quiz for Aug. 3 to 9. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
The Brief

President Trump said a press conference will be held Monday from the White House to address crime in Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Trump has boosted federal police in D.C. amid crime concerns.

The president has also suggested that his administration could take full control of the city.

President Donald Trump announced this weekend that his administration will be further addressing crime in the nations capitol next week.

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He said a press conference will be held Monday at the White House.

Trump D.C. press conference Monday

What we know

Trump shared on his social media site Truth Social on Saturday that a press conference will be held at the White House on Monday.

He said the presser will "essentially stop violent crime in Washington, D.C."

On Sunday, the president confirmed that the press conference will take place at 10 a.m. Monday in the Press Briefing Room.

"It will not only involve ending the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nations Capital, but will also be about Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital," Trump posted on his social media.

What we don't know

Trump didnt say who would be present or speaking at the press conference. He also didnt release details about his claim that the announcement would stop violent crime.

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A source with the district tells FOX 5 there's an expectation that Trump's announcement will involve a National Guard deployment. They didn't have further details on the extent of the deployment or what exactly the guard would do.

FILE - President Donald Trump waits to greet Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, at the White House in Washington, DC on August 8, 2025. (Photo by John McDonnell/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

What they're saying

"(Washington, D.C.) has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world. It will soon be one of the safest!!!" the president continued.

Washington, D.C. crime

Big picture view

Trump has boosted federal police in D.C. amid crime concerns. The push will last seven days with the option to extend "as needed," under the authority of Trumps previous executive order establishing the Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.

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READ MORE: Trump increases federal law enforcement in DC amid crime concerns

The backstory

Trump has long suggested crime and violence are on the rise in Washington, and has lately begun to criticize things like litter and graffiti. But the catalyst for the order to increase police presence was the assault last weekend on a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency by a group of teenagers in an attempted carjacking.

RELATED: 'Big Balls' beaten in DC: Trump warns District after Edward Coristine attack

According to D.C. police, violent crime for 2025 is currently down significantly from 2024 as data shows a 26 percent drop overall.

Dig deeper

The president has also suggested that his administration could take full control of the city.

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Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining  but could face steep pushback.

The Source

Information in this article was taken from a Aug. 9, 2025, Truth Social post by President Donald Trump. Background information was taken from previous FOX 5 DC reportings and The Associated Press.
The Trump administration is opening a new front in its battle with Harvard University on the issue of patents, marking a new escalation with the elite school that could result in the loss of additional federal funding or intellectual property rights.

In a Friday letter to Harvard President Alan Garber obtained by CNN, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick writes that the Trump administration believes the university is in breach of the statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements tied to Harvards federal funded research programs and intellectual property arising therefrom, including patents.

The Commerce Department, Lutnick said, is issuing an immediate comprehensive review of Harvards federally funded research programs.

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The secretary said the administration was also initiating the march-in process under a law called the Bayh-Dole Act that lets universities patent research and inventions. That means that if Harvard has failed to disclose or patent its inventions, the federal government could take ownership of the patents or grant third-party licenses.

The letter, first reported by Reuters, marks the latest action by the Trump administration to exert pressure on the school. The Trump administration has frozen billions of dollars in federal funding for research and has targeted the schools ability to host international students. Harvard and the Trump administration are currently embroiled in a pair of lawsuits.

Still, officials remain optimistic about the prospects of a deal with Harvard to restore funding to the school and drop lawsuits and investigations. The Trump administration has recently struck multimillion-dollar agreements with Columbia and Brown universities.

While theres a lawsuit pending with Harvard, and Im sure that lawsuit will play out, I do hope that Harvard will continue to come to the table with negotiations. Those talks are continuing, and wed like to have a resolution there, outside of the courts, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a phone interview with CNN last month.

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Harvard has sent some signals it is willing to work with the Trump administration, including last month when The Harvard Crimson reported that websites for Harvard College centers serving minority and LGBTQ students and women disappeared. The White House welcomed that development, viewing it as a goodwill gesture that one official described as good news. McMahon last month also pointed to the departure of the heads of the universitys Middle Eastern Studies center as a positive step.

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The federal government told Harvard University on Friday it could take control of the school's patents stemming from federally funded research  the latest in a months-long feud between the Trump administration and the Ivy League college.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is launching an "immediate comprehensive review" of whether Harvard has complied with federal laws around patents, he said in a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber.

The patents in question could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, a senior administration official said, and in his letter, Lutnick threatened to grant third-party licenses to Harvard's patents or take the titles to any patents where Harvard has failed to comply with government title and disclosure requirements.

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Lutnick ordered the Massachusetts-based school to provide information on all patents that it obtained through federally funded research.

"We believe that Harvard has failed to live up to its obligations to the American taxpayer and is in breach of the statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements tied to Harvard's federally funded research programs and intellectual property arising therefrom," Lutnick said.

He gave Harvard until Sept. 5 to respond and prove it's complying with the Bayh-Dole Act. Under that legislation, universities receiving federal research grants have to show that inventions issuing from that funding are being used to benefit Americans.

The Trump administration wants Harvard to provide a list of all the patents it has that stem from federal grants, how the patents are currently being applied and details about licensing agreements, including whether they mandate "substantial U.S. manufacturing" and the identities of the licensees.

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A Harvard spokesperson called the move "yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom."

"Technologies and patents developed at Harvard are life-saving and industry-redefining. We are fully committed to complying with the Bayh-Dole Act and ensuring that the public is able to access and benefit from the many innovations that arise out of federally funded research at Harvard," the spokesperson said.

The Trump administration has paused or cut off billions in federal research funding to Harvard, accusing the university of failing to deal with campus antisemitism. Harvard has sued over the funding freezes, alleging the government is illegally punishing the school for First Amendment-protected activity and trying to "force Harvard to submit to the Government's control over its academic programs."

Before the funding cutoff, the administration demanded that Harvard agree to changes  including an external audit of certain academic departments, an end to DEI programs and stricter disciplinary policies  if it wants to maintain its "financial relationship" with the federal government. Harvard rejected the demands.

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President Trump has also pushed the Internal Revenue Service to review Harvard's tax-exempt status. And he directed his administration to bar most foreign students from traveling to the U.S. to study at Harvard, though a judge blocked that move.

Mr. Trump has suggested he's open to making a deal with Harvard. Some other Ivy League schools that faced funding freezes have cut deals with the administration, with Columbia University and Brown University making various concessions to the federal government.

Global stock markets react to Trump's sweeping tariffs in effect now

Israel's Security Cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Why Trump is calling for Intel CEO's immediate resignation
US President Donald Trump on Friday said that long-time adversaries Armenia and Azerbaijan had committed to peace.

"We've finally succeeded in making peace," Trump said at a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said.

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"It's a long time, 35 years they fought and now they're friends, and they're going to be friends for a long time."

All three leaders signed the joint declaration, which Aliyev decribed it as an initial step towards a peace deal.

Aliyev and Pashinyan shook hands, smiled and praised Trump, whom they both said at the White House event they would recommend for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Pashinyan spoke of a "significant milestone in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. We are laying the foundations for a better story than the one we had in the past."

Aliyev went a little further: "We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus."

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"I am sure that Armenia and Azerbaijan will find the courage and responsibility to reconcile," Aliyev continued, saying the agreement would lead to "eternal peace in the Caucasus."

Trump said the agreement was flanked by bilateral deals with both countries "to expand cooperation in energy trade and technology, including AI."

'Trump Route'

The White House event launched the project known as the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), a trade route through southern Armenia that would give Azerbaijan unimpeded access to its autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan.

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The exclave is cut off from the heartland of Azerbaijan - it is surrounded by Armenia, Iran and Turkey.

Negotiations for this new route, intended to boost trade, transit and energy transport in the South Caucasus, are set to begin next week, according to senior US officials.

Trump on Friday declared that Armenia is entering into an "exclusive partnership with the United States to develop this corridor, which could extend to up to 99 years."

"We anticipate significant infrastructure development by American companies," Trump added. "They're very anxious to go in to these two countries and they're going to spend a lot of money."

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Although the trade route would run through Armenia, the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be preserved, senior US officials said before the White House event.

According to the US, the new trade route is also a building block for a peace treaty, which Pashinyan and Aliyev have been negotiating for some time.

The project revives the long-debated idea of the so-called Zangezur Corridor, which has been a source of geopolitical tension for years, cutting across Armenian territory and potentially disrupting Iran's direct land link to Armenia.

US officials said safeguards would be in place to ensure conflict-free use of the road.

Expert: Russia's defeat in the South Caucasus

For Russia, long seen as Armenia's protector but now absorbed in its war in Ukraine, analysts have described Trump's initiative as a strategic defeat.

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Kremlin-linked political scientist Sergei Markov called it "a major victory for the US and personally for Trump," and a loss for both Russia and Iran. France and the European Union, he said, would also have preferred to broker such a deal themselves.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain high. The Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have fought for decades over Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority-Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan.

Armenia occupied large parts of its neighbour in the 1990s, but Azerbaijan, buoyed by oil wealth, regained territory in 2020 and recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh in a rapid 2023 offensive.

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The defeat plunged Armenia into political crisis, with more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing to Armenia and Baku continuing to exert military pressure.

The signing of a peace agreement has been planned for some time. However, according to Armenian sources, Aliyev is demanding that Yerevan change its constitution and drop its claims to Karabakh. Pashinyan, whose actions have repeatedly triggered protests in Armenia, has not been able to deliver on this so far.
By Parisa Hafezi and Andrew Osborn

DUBAI/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Iran threatened on Saturday to block a corridor planned in the Caucasus under a regional deal sponsored by U.S. President Donald Trump, Iranian media reported, raising a new question mark over a peace plan hailed as a strategically important shift.

A top Azerbaijani diplomat said earlier that the plan, announced by Trump on Friday, was just one step from a final peace deal between his country and Armenia, which reiterated its support for the plan.

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The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) would run across southern Armenia, giving Azerbaijan a direct route to its exclave of Nakhchivan and in turn to Turkey.

The U.S. would have exclusive development rights to the corridor, which the White House said would facilitate greater exports of energy and other resources.

It was not immediately clear how Iran, which borders the area, would block it but the statement from Ali Akbar Velayati, top adviser to Iran's supreme leader, raised questions over its security.

He said military exercises carried out in northwest Iran demonstrated the Islamic Republic's readiness and determination to prevent any geopolitical changes.

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"This corridor will not become a passage owned by Trump, but rather a graveyard for Trump's mercenaries," Velayati said.

Iran's foreign ministry earlier welcomed the agreement "as an important step toward lasting regional peace", but warned against any foreign intervention near its borders that could "undermine the region's security and lasting stability".

Analysts and insiders say that Iran, under mounting US pressure over its disputed nuclear programme and the aftermath of a 12-day war with Israel in June, lacks the military power to block the corridor.

MOSCOW SAYS WEST SHOULD STEER CLEAR

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Trump welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the White House on Friday and witnessed their signing of a joint declaration aimed at drawing a line under their decades-long on-off conflict.

Russia, a traditional broker and ally of Armenia in the strategically important South Caucasus region which is crisscrossed with oil and gas pipelines, was not included, despite its border guards being stationed on the border between Armenia and Iran.

While Moscow said it supported the summit, it proposed "implementing solutions developed by the countries of the region themselves with the support of their immediate neighbours  Russia, Iran and Turkey" to avoid what it called the "sad experience" of Western efforts to mediate in the Middle East.

Azerbaijan's close ally, NATO member Turkey, welcomed the accord.

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Baku and Yerevan have been at odds since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous Azerbaijani region mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. Azerbaijan took back full control of the region in 2023, prompting almost all of the territory's 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia.

"The chapter of enmity is closed and now we're moving towards lasting peace," said Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan's ambassador to Britain, predicting that the wider region's prosperity and transport links would be transformed for the better.

"This is a paradigm shift," said Suleymanov, who as a former envoy to Washington who used to work in President Aliyev's office, is one of his country's most senior diplomats.

Suleymanov declined to speculate on when a final peace deal would be signed however, noting that Aliyev had said he wanted it to happen soon.

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There remained only one obstacle, said Suleymanov, which was for Armenia to amend its constitution to remove a reference to Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Azerbaijan is ready to sign any time once Armenia fulfils the very basic commitment of removing its territorial claim against Azerbaijan in its constitution," he said.

MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

Pashinyan this year called for a referendum to change the constitution, but no date for it has been set yet. Armenia is to hold parliamentary elections in June 2026, and the new constitution is expected to be drafted before the vote.

The Armenian leader said on X that the Washington summit had paved the way to end the decades of conflict and open transport connections that would unlock strategic economic opportunities.

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Asked when the transit rail route would start running, Suleymanov said that would depend on cooperation between the U.S. and Armenia whom he said were already in talks.

Joshua Kucera, Senior South Caucasus analyst at International Crisis Group, said Trump may not have got the easy win he had hoped for as the agreements left many questions unanswered.

The issue of Armenia's constitution continued to threaten to derail the process, and it was not clear how the new transport corridor would work in practice.

"Key details are missing, including about how customs checks and security will work and the nature of Armenia's reciprocal access to Azerbaijani territory. These could be serious stumbling blocks," said Kucera.

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Suleymanov played down suggestions that Russia, which still has extensive security and economic interests in Armenia, was being disadvantaged.

"Anybody and everybody can benefit from this if they choose to," he said.

(Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov and Dubai newsroom; Editing by Philippa Fletcher)
This is a straightforward defeat. A defeat, not just for Ukraine, but for the values which the Anglosphere and its allies have upheld since 1941, to the immense benefit of the human race. Aggression is being rewarded. Borders are being changed by force. A brittle dictatorship has defeated a Western alliance with a combined economy forty times larger than its own. The prestige of the democracies is suffering a Suez-level hit.

As Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska  a venue surely proposed by the Kremlin, both to demonstrate that Putin is again welcome in the United States and to suggest that there is nothing terribly new about ceding territory  all the momentum is with the Russian leader.

From the moment he took office, Trump has been wheedling and conciliatory with Putin, aggressive and bullying with Volodymyr Zelensky. Who can say what animates him? Perhaps he cant forgive Zelensky for his cameo role in laffaire Hunter Biden; perhaps, as conspiracy theorists claim, Putin has kompromat on him; or perhaps it is simply Trumps customary deference towards dictators.

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Frankly, it doesnt much matter. Whatever his motives, Trump has behaved exactly as a Russian asset would, not only vis-a-vis Ukraine, but also by making aggressive territorial claims against Denmark and threatening Canada with annexation. His tariff policies have caused as much disruption to Western economies as his sanctions have to Russia. Putin could not have wished for more.

We do not know how much has already been settled, and there are still details to be hammered out. But the broad outlines of the proposed ceasefire deal can be glimpsed in leaks to both American and Russian media.

Putin will hang on to most of what he has seized  not just the territories he occupied in 2014, but many of the lands he has conquered since 2022 and even, according to some briefings, those parts of Donetsk that are currently under Ukrainian control. Sanctions will be eased, and we might even see more economic collaboration between the US and Russia than before 2014. In any event, the US will stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.

These concessions constitute a colossal Russian victory, regardless of what is decided on Ukraines Nato aspirations, formal recognition of Russian sovereignty in Crimea or precisely where the lines are frozen.

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To understand the scale of the Wests defeat, we need to remember why we were backing Ukraine in the first place. Not because we thought that Zelensky was brave or handsome or even particularly democratic. Not because we believed that Ukrainians were kinder or more amusing than their Russian cousins. Not even because, long before 2022, Russia had been buzzing our airspace and overseeing cyberattacks against our infrastructure and had, on two occasions, committed acts of war against us when it ordered its operatives to carry out lethal attacks on British soil (against Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 and, unsuccessfully, against Sergei Skripal in 2018).

No, we are backing Ukraine because it is the wronged party. We are sending it weapons because it was attacked without provocation by a neighbour to whom it presented no threat. We are training its soldiers because, when Ukraine agreed to hand over its nuclear arsenal in 1994, it did so in exchange for an explicit promise that its independence would be respected within its existing borders  a promise guaranteed by Britain, the United States and (never forget) Russia.

The idea that countries should not help themselves to slices of territory is not some ancient and immutable principle. On the contrary, it dates in its current form from exactly 84 years ago, August 1941, when Churchill and Roosevelt met in Newfoundland and agreed to the Atlantic Charter, a set of rules that they wanted to shape the post-war world. Land should not be annexed by force, nor borders altered without the consent of local people. Aggression should not be rewarded. Raw materials should be accessible on world markets and sea-lanes kept open, so that there would be less incentive to invade a neighbour. Democracy and self-determination should be encouraged over autocracy.

When these ideals were proclaimed, the United States was still neutral. Four months later, after Pearl Harbor, the Atlantic Charter informed the war aims of the Allies. Its principles went on to shape the UN Charter and the Nato alliance. It is true that they were sometimes violated, for we live in an imperfect world. But they at least remained the aspiration. Until now.

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It cannot be sufficiently stressed that our interest in Ukraine was to uphold the international order under which mankind had flourished since 1945. It was never about Zelensky, however gallant his initial response to the invasion.

Trumpians like to point to corruption and illiberalism in Ukraine as though they invalidate the premise of our assistance. But our 1994 guarantee was never conditional on who was in government, or what kind of government it was.

There is nothing new here. Poland was hardly a model democracy when Britain guaranteed its sovereignty in March 1939. Jozef Pisudskis 1926 coup had created an autocratic regime which, while it stopped well short of the totalitarianism of Nazi Germany or the USSR, none the less harassed dissidents and censored media.

In much the same way, Ukraine today, while nowhere near Russian levels of despotism, is far from being a free country. This should not surprise us. As Roger Scruton used to say, the worst sin of communism was to destroy civil associations, making it hard to build the trust on which an open society must rest.

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Over the past three weeks, Zelenskys international credit has fallen almost as low as his domestic ratings. Crowds have been protesting against his decision to move against an anti-corruption body after it pointed to irregularities in some state contracts.

Few things are worse for a countrys morale than the sense that its leaders are enriching themselves, for corruption in wartime means funds that were supposed to go into artillery are disappearing into bank accounts in Cyprus.

I was unsurprised by the protests. I have watched over three years as Zelensky has weakened local government and purged critical mayors. A case might be made in wartime for cracking down on pro-Russian parties; but he cracked down almost as hard on the pro-Western parties.

Eighteen months ago, I was supposed to be sharing a platform in the US with the former Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, but he was banned from attending. I wanted to make more of a fuss, but MPs from his party begged me not to, as they did not want to hurt Ukraines international image.

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None of this should make the slightest difference to our policy. But I fear that it will, because support for Ukraine has been presented as a goodies-and-baddies issue rather than a question of defending territorial integrity and national sovereignty. We somehow seem to find those aims sterile, dull and inadequate.

Just as Tony Blair once claimed in a party conference speech that we had joined the Second World War to end Nazism (when in fact we joined to defend Poland), so we now imagine that we came to the aid of Ukraine because Zelensky is nicer than Putin.

It may in fact now be Zelensky who has the greater incentive to keep fighting, since his presidency will not survive peace on anything like the terms proposed. But, to repeat, that does not alter the fundamentals. We were backing and supplying Ukraine because the world order that was born after 1945 lifted our species to unprecedented heights of peace and prosperity.

When Putin gets to keep the better part of his spoils, and furious Ukrainians eject their regime, every tinpot dictator in the world will get the message. Nato, the most powerful alliance on the planet, would not protect one of its friends. The old order is over. The world of the Atlantic Charter has gone. Something altogether colder and darker is on its way.

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President Donald Trump has removed Billy Long as head of the Internal Revenue Service less than two months after he was confirmed for the role.

Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri with no experience in tax administration, managed to make significant missteps during his brief time as IRS chief, including announcing that filing season would start late next year. (The IRS later said this announcement was premature.)

Long also managed to butt heads with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reportedly remarking to colleagues that he had to seek permission from Bessent for everything he did. Bessent will now oversee the IRS as acting commissioner.

Former hedge fund manager and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will now oversee the IRS. / Win McNamee/Getty Images

Having been confirmed on June 16, Longs removal less than two months later makes him the IRS commissioner with the shortest tenure since the role was established in 1862.

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Long announced in a Friday post on X that he had been appointed as the United States Ambassador to Iceland.

It is a[n] honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland, the post read.

I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda," he added. Exciting times ahead!

It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead! - Billy Long  Billy Long (@auctnr1) August 8, 2025

Long followed his announcement with a clunkily worded joke about Dean Cains recent attempt at an ICE recruitment drive, which included the revelation that the former Lois & Clark actor was planning to become an ICE agent himself.

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I saw where Former Superman actor Dean Cain says hes joining ICE so I got all fired up and thought Id do the same, Long wrote.

So I called @realDonaldTrump last night and told him I wanted to join ICE and I guess he thought I said Iceland? Oh well.

John Koskinen, who served as IRS commissioner during the Obama and first Trump administrations, said of the news, It has to be a new American record for the shortest I.R.S. tenure in history.

Obviously, he had no background in tax and no background in management. You give him a 75,000-person agency in charge of the tax code, and it is a bit of a challenge.
The Election Commission on Saturday reiterated that it has not received a single claim or objection from any political party regarding the draft electoral rolls in Bihar. "So far, after over a week since the beginning of the Claims & Objections period, not even a single claim or objection has been submitted by any political party," EC said. The window to submit claims and objections to rectify any errors on draft electoral rolls opened on August 1. However, the EC has received 7,252 claims and objections directly from the electors with respect to the draft roll till today, said the ECI in a daily bulletin on the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. Forms received from new electors on attaining 18 years of age or above are 43,000. As per the rules, the claims & objections are to be disposed of by the concerned Electoral Registration Officer/Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (ERO/AERO) after the expiry of 7 days. As per SIR orders, no name can be deleted from the draft list published on August 1, without passing a speaking order by the ERO/AERO after conducting an enquiry and after giving a fair and reasonable opportunity. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked a political row, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that the revision process could lead to the deletion of a large number of voters. They have been protesting in the Parliament, demanding a discussion over the Bihar SIR, since the start of this year's monsoon session. Earlier, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday levelled serious allegations of "vote theft" against the EC. He alleged that the elections are "choreographed". Presenting Congress' research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes. Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress won other seats while the BJP swept Mahadevapura. (ANI)
The IRS is about to have its seventh leader this year.

IRS Commissioner Billy Long is leaving the agency less than two months after his confirmation.

It's a time of significant turnover at the IRS, from top to bottom.

President Donald Trump is over six and a half months into his second term. In that time, he's averaged a new IRS leader roughly every month.

There have been six acting or confirmed commissioners in 2025, counting former Commissioner Danny Werfel, who resigned just as Trump took office, even though his term lasted until 2027.

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On Friday, IRS Commissioner Billy Long wrote on X that he was leaving his post less than two months after being confirmed to become the US Ambassador to Iceland. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner.

The unprecedented turnover at the top  President Joe Biden had just three IRS commissioners over his four-year term  extends throughout the IRS workforce. More than 25,000 employees have left the agency since Trump took office.

Danny Werfel: Resigned before Trump took office

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Danny Werfel was chosen by Biden to serve as IRS commissioner and took on the role in March 2023. Though his term was set to last until 2027, Werfel announced on January 17, days before Trump's inauguration, that he was resigning.

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"While I had always intended to complete my full term as Commissioner, the President-elect has announced his plan to nominate a new IRS Commissioner," Werfel wrote in a letter at the time, adding, "After significant introspection and consultation with others, I've determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on January 20, 2025."

Prior to Werfel's resignation, Trump had said he planned to nominate Long to replace him. Typically, IRS commissioners serve five-year terms and remain in their roles even when the president changes.

Douglas O'Donnell: January 20 to February 28

Douglas O'Donnell, seen here with then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, served as acting IRS commissioner for a little over a month. AP

Douglas O'Donnell, the IRS deputy commissioner, took over as acting IRS commissioner at the start of Trump's term, after Werfel resigned.

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A little over a month later, the IRS announced O'Donnell planned to retire after decades with the agency.

Melanie Krause: February 28 to April 16

FILE - This April 13, 2014, file photo shows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters building in Washington. The Treasury Department and the IRS are urging taxpayers who want to get their economic impact payments directly deposited to their bank accounts to enter their information online by Wednesday, May 11, 2020. The IRS said that people should use the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website by noon on Wednesday to provide their direct deposit information. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File) Associated Press

Melanie Krause was the IRS's acting commissioner for less than two months. Previously the agency's chief operating officer, she became the deputy commissioner and acting head of the agency in February.

She resigned in April under the administration's deferred resignation program.

Gary Shapley: April 16 to April 18

Gary Shapley (second from right) briefly led the IRS in an acting capacity after rising to fame due to his work on the agency's investigation of Hunter Biden. Getty Images

A longtime IRS investigator, Gary Shapley, became a whistleblower and testified to Congress about what he saw as the agency's mishandling of its investigation into Hunter Biden, then the sitting president's son.

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Shapley's testimony was frequently discussed on conservative media, and Republicans celebrated his return to the IRS. Trump took it a step further when he named Shapley acting commissioner on tax day.

The New York Times reported that Elon Musk, then the de facto leader of the White House DOGE office, supported the move, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not. Still, in a post on X after Shapley stepped down, Bessent said Shapley "remains among my most important senior advisors at the @USTreasury as we work together to rethink and reform the IRS."

Michael Faulkender: April 18 to June 16

Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender led the IRS on an acting basis before Long's confirmation. Getty Images

Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender stepped in to lead the IRS on an acting basis for just under two months.

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Faulkender stepped aside once Long was confirmed. His tenure was most notable for bringing the IRS closer to Bessent, who reportedly did not approve of the Musk-backed Shapley.

Billy Long: June 16 to August 8

Former Congressman Billy Long looks on during his confirmation hearing to become IRS commissioner. Getty Images

Former Congressman Billy Long lasted less than two months atop the IRS.

Long, a Republican who represented Missouri for six terms, was confirmed in June on a party-line 53 to 44 vote. Senate Democrats opposed him due to his lack of tax-related experience. Long previously supported legislation to abolish the IRS.

As commissioner, Long became known for cheerfully emailing IRS employees to tell them to take off work early on Fridays. "With this being Thursday before another FriYay, please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow," Long wrote Thursday in an email to his staff, per CNN. "That way you'll be well rested for my 70th birthday on Monday."

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The New York Times reported that he clashed with the Treasury Secretary, who will now lead the tax agency as Long's acting replacement.

"It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda," Long wrote Friday on X. "Exciting times ahead!"

Trump announced his intent to nominate Long after the 2024 election, even though there was already a commissioner at the time.

Read the original article on Business Insider
After styling himself for decades as a dealmaker, President Trump is showing some receipts in his second term of ceasefires and peace agreements brokered on his watch. But the president faces extraordinary challenges in his latest push to negotiate ends to the worlds two bloodiest conflicts.

Stakes could not be higher in Ukraine, where nearly a million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in pursuit of Vladimir Putins war of conquest, according to independent analysts . Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers add to the catastrophic casualty toll. Trumps struggle to get both sides to a negotiating table, let alone to secure a ceasefire, has grown into a fixation for Trump, prompting rare rebukes of Putin from the U.S. president.

And in the Gaza Strip, an alliance that has withstood scathing international criticism over Israels conduct of its war against Hamas has begun to show strain. Trump still supports the fundamental mission of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to destroy the militant group and secure the release of Israeli hostages in its possession. But mounting evidence of mass starvation in Gaza has begun to fray the relationship, reportedly resulting in a shouting match in their most recent call .

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Breakthroughs in the two conflicts have evaded Trump, despite his efforts to fashion himself into the peacemaker-in-chief and floating his own nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In Turnberry, Scotland, last month, Trump claimed that six wars had been stopped or thwarted under his watch since he returned to office in January. Im averaging about a war a month, he said at the time.

He has, in fact, secured a string of tangible successes on the international stage, overseeing a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda; hosting a peace ceremony between Armenia and Azerbeijan; brokering a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and imposing an end to a 12-day war between Israel and Iran after engaging U.S. forces directly in the conflict.

Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwanda's foreign minister, from left, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Democratic Republic of the Congo foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner in the Oval Office of the White House on June 27. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed to a U.S.-backed peace deal meant to end years of deadly conflict and promote development in Congo's volatile eastern region. (Yuri Gripas/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Read more: Trump seeks $1-billion fine against UCLA. Newsom says 'we'll sue,' calling it extortion

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As president, my highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world, Trump said at the ceremony with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders Friday.

"We've only been here for six months. The world was on fire. We took care of just about every fire  and we're working on another one," he said, "with Russia, Ukraine."

Trump also takes credit for lowering tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, and for brokering a ceasefire between two nuclear states, India and Pakistan, a claim the latter supports but the former denies.

Wars usually last five to 10 years, said Michael E. O'Hanlon, chair in defense and strategy at the Brookings Institution. Trump is tactically clever, but no magician. If he actually gets three of these five conflicts to end, thats an incredible track record.

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In each case, he may exaggerate his own role, OHanlon said, but thats OK  I welcome the effort and contribution, even if others deserve credit, too.

One-on-one with Putin

Well past his campaign promise of ending Russias war with Ukraine  within 24 hours  of taking office, Trump has tried pressuring both sides to come to the negotiating table, starting with the Ukrainians. You dont have the cards, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an infamous Oval Office meeting in February, chastising him to prepare to make painful concessions to end the war.

But in June, at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trumps years-long geniality with Putin underwent a shift . He began criticizing Russias leader as responsible for the ongoing conflict, accusing Putin of throwing meaningless ... bull  at him and his team.

I'm not happy with Putin, I can tell you that much right now, Trump said, approving new weapons for Ukraine, a remarkable policy shift long advocated by the Europeans.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim walk during a welcoming ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Wednesday in Moscow. Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim is on an official visit to Russia. (Getty Images)

The Trump administration set Friday as a deadline for Putin to demonstrate his commitment to a ceasefire, or otherwise face a new round of crushing secondary sanctions  financial tools that would punish Russias trading partners for continuing business with Moscow.

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Those plans were put on hold after Trump announced he would meet with Putin in Alaska next week, a high-stakes meeting that will exclude Zelensky.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday. "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Meeting Putin one-on-one  the first meeting between a U.S. and Russian president in four years, and the first between Putin and any Western leader since he launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022  in and of itself could be seen as a reward for a Russian leader seeking to regain international legitimacy, experts said.

In this June 28, 2019, file photo, President Trump, right, meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan. (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)

Worse still, Putin, a former KGB officer, could approach the meeting as an opportunity to manipulate the American president.

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Putin has refused to abandon his ultimate objectives in Ukraine  he is determined to supplant the Zelensky government in Kyiv with a pro-Russian regime, said Kyle Balzer, a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. He wants ironclad guarantees that Ukraine will never gain admittance to NATO. So there is currently no agreement to be had with Russia, except agreeing to surrender to Putin's demands. Neither Ukraine nor Europe are interested in doing so.

Put simply, Putin likely believes that he can wear down the current administration," Balzer added. "Threatening Russia with punitive acts like sanctions, and then pulling back when the time comes to do so, has only emboldened Putin to strive for ultimate victory in Ukraine.

A European official told The Times that, while the U.S. government had pushed for Zelensky to join the initial meeting, a response from Kyiv  noting that any territorial concession to Russia in negotiations would have to be approved in a ballot referendum by the Ukrainian people  scuttled the initial plan.

The Trump administration is prepared to endorse the bulk of Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territory, including the eastern region of Donbas and the Crimean peninsula, at the upcoming summit, Bloomberg reported. On Friday, Trump called the issue of territory "complicated."

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Were gonna get some back," he said. There will be some swapping of territories.

Read more: 'There will be no invasion.' Sheinbaum confident Washington won't strike cartels in Mexico

Michael Williams, an international relations professor at Syracuse University, said that Trump has advocated for a ceasefire in Ukraine "at the expense of other strategic priorities such as stability in Europe and punishment of Russia through increased aid to Ukraine."

Such an approach, Williams said, "would perhaps force the Kremlin to end the war, and further afield, would signal to other potential aggressors, such as China, that violations of international law will be met with a painful response.

Gaza

At Friday's peace ceremony, Trump told reporters he was considering a proposal to relocate Palestinian refugees to Somalia and its breakaway region, Somaliland, once Israel ends hostilities against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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"We are working on that right now," Trump said.

It was just the latest instance of Trump floating the resettlement of Palestinians displaced during the two-year war there, which has destroyed more than 90% of the structures throughout the strip and essentially displaced its entire population of 2 million people. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reports that more than 60,000 civilians and militants have died in the conflict.

Hamas, recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and others, has refused to concede the war, stating it would disarm only once a Palestinian state is established. The group continues to hold roughly 50 Israeli hostages, some dead and some alive, among 251 taken during its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which also killed about 1,200 people.

Protesters gather in a demonstration organized by the families of the Israeli hostages taken captive in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 calling for action to secure their release outside the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's Cabinet voted this week to approve a plan to take over Gaza City in the north of the strip and, eventually, the rest of the territory, a deeply unpopular strategy in the Israeli military and among the Israeli public. Netanyahu on Friday rejected the notion that Israel planned to permanently occupy Gaza.

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Despite applying private pressure on Netanyahu, Trump's strategy has largely fallen in line with that of his predecessor, Joe Biden, whose team supported Israel's right to defend itself while working toward a peace deal that, at its core, would exchange the remaining hostages for a cessation of hostilities.

The talks have stalled, one U.S. official said, primarily blaming Hamas over its demands.

"In Gaza, there is a fundamental structural imbalance of dealing with a terrorist organization that may be immune to traditional forms of pressure  military, economic or otherwise  and that may even have a warped, perverse set of priorities in which the suffering of its own people is viewed as a political asset because it tarnishes the reputation of the other party, Israel," said Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "So Trump really only has leverage over one party  his ally, Israel  which he has been reluctant to wield, reasonably so."

In Ukraine, too, Trump holds leverage he has been unwilling, thus far, to bring to bear.

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"There, Trump has leverage over both parties but appears reluctant to wield it on one of them  Russia," Satloff said.

But Trump suggested Friday that threatened sanctions on India over its purchase of Russian oil, and his agreement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to secure greater security spending from European members, "had an impact" on Moscow's negotiating position.

"I think my instinct really tells me that we have a shot at it," Trump said. "I think were getting very close."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Donald Trump said he is considering federal intervention in Washington, D.C., following an attack on a former member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over the weekend.

He went through a bad situation, to put it mildly, and theres too much of it. Were going to do something about it, Trump said, according to NPR. He added that the intervention might involve activating the National Guard maybe very quickly, too.

Trump pointed to the citys crime rate as a reason for possible federal oversight.

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I could show you a chart comparing D.C. to other locations, and youre not going to want to see what it looks like, he said, according to Fox News.

We want to have a great, safe capital, and were going to have it. And that includes cleanliness. And it includes other things. We have a capital thats very unsafe.

Trump said he is exploring whether Congress could overturn the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, passed in the 1970s, which granted D.C. limited self-governance.

We have to run D.C. This has to be the best-run place in the country, not the worst-run place in the country, Trump added.

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And it has so much potential, and were going to take care of it. Youre going to be safe. Youre going to be safe walking down streets. Youre not going to get mugged.

Trumps comments come amid rising concerns over public safety in the nations capital, with some conservative leaders calling for increased federal oversight and accountability in high-crime areas.
President Donald Trumps long-term vision to expand the White Houses entertaining capacity is going to have short-term impacts on Americans seeking to visit the complex now.

A residence, a workplace and a museum, the White House is the only home of a head of state in the world that is also open to the public most days. Hundreds of thousands of people enter the Peoples House for free tours each year, gaining firsthand access to the Blue Room, where President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom, the Red Room, where first lady Dolley Madison entertained, and the Diplomatic Reception Room, where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt held his radio fireside chats.

But that could stop next month when construction on Trumps 90,000-square-foot ballroom  which will overtake the current footprint of the East Wing  gets underway. Tour bookings have been halted temporarily, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, because construction will directly impact the current tour screening process and entry point.

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With the exception of visiting heads of state, guests arriving at the White House for receptions, dinners and tours currently enter through Sherman Park, just behind the US Treasury building, and get screened by US Secret Service in a temporary visitor center. Multiple previous efforts over the last two decades to build a permanent structure have failed to get the necessary funding from Congress or the Department of Interior to proceed. Once visitors have passed through checkpoints and security, they enter through the East Wing, which was first constructed in 1902 and took its current structure during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.

Trumps ballroom is expected to expand out beyond the site of the current East Wing, which is home to the Office of the First Lady, the Military Office, the Visitors Office and the Office of Legislative Affairs.

The site of the new ballroom will be where the East Wing currently sits. - McCrery Architects PLLC/The White House

A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump  whose office oversees tours  downplayed the disruption, saying only new tour bookings have been paused.

There have been zero tour cancelations due to the addition of the State Ballroom. Instead, new tour bookings were paused proactively while a collaborative group of White House, U.S. Secret Service, National Park Service, and Executive Residence staff work to determine the best way to ensure public access to the White House as this project begins and for the duration of construction, Nick Clemens said in a statement to CNN.

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The White House tour route has evolved over presidencies, and we look forward to near-term updates about the new State Ballroom. The President and First Lady remain committed to continuing the tradition of public access to the Peoples House in the present and for the future.

Officials are currently assessing how to move the screening process and likely truncate the tour while still capturing the essence of a White House visit during the construction.

The scope of construction, a source familiar with the situation told CNN, is going to be invasive to what is the norm now [for tours]. Theyre going to have to put up temporary screening mechanisms. Theyre going to have to reroute the parameter of Secret Service protection.

In a reimagined route, the source said, visitors would miss entering by the first ladys office, walking through the East Colonnade past the family theater, and the area known as Booksellers Hall where state dinner guests are received. But there will likely still be access to the homes most historic spaces: the State Floor, State Dining Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, East Room, Library, Vermeil Room, and Diplomatic Reception Room.

In this December 2021 photo, people make their way through the East Colonnade of the East Wing of the White House in Washington, DC. - Kent Nishimura/The Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

The adjustments may also impact how many tickets are administered.

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The tours are not going to be canceled, the source added. Theyre going to find a solution  but I think theyre going to probably have to manage the numbers that come in and out now. There may have to be some changes.

Construction is expected to get underway in September and is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trumps term, according to a statement from the White House that included renderings of the new structure, which is nearly double the square footage of the main White House mansion. Trump has said that he, along with other donors, will privately fund the project, which is currently projected to cost $200 million.

The White House Ballroom will be separated from the main building of the White House. - McCrery Architects PLLC/The White House

Officials from the White House, Secret Service, National Park Service, and Executive Residence staff are working quickly to reassess the tour flow, another source familiar with the matter said, but changes to White House tours have taken years to enact in other circumstances. During the Biden administration, first lady Jill Biden unveiled a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the tour to make it more accessible and interactive, including new digital screens in the East Colonnade, a three-dimensional model of the White Houses architectural transformations over the years, and tactile reader rails with detailed information about each room on the tour.

Those upgrades took more than two years to come to fruition in close coordination with the East Wing, the National Park Service, which oversees all improvements to the White House, the White House Historical Association, the White House curators office, and executive residence staff.

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Donald Trump is not a subtle man. Given his core nature and personality, Trumps attacks on prominent Black Americans have recently become even more explicit and direct.

First, he accused former President Barack Obama of treasonous behavior for launching an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But that was not the end of it. On Monday, following a criminal referral from Trumps Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered federal prosecutors to open a grand jury investigation into the baseless accusations. Multiple investigations, including two led by Republicans, and other reporting have repeatedly shown that Russia did, in fact, seek to meddle in the election in favor of Trump over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by launching a social media disinformation campaign using Russian bot farms, and by hacking the Clinton campaigns emails.

No such conspiracy on Obamas part exists. But with Trumps consolidation of power and lack of traditional guardrails, he has the full power of the state at his command to advance his authoritarian campaign against Obama, Clinton and other people and groups that he has already targeted  or will soon be targeting  for treason and other crimes.

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In the meantime, Trump has placed other prominent Black people in his sights.

Last week, Trump targeted Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, Al Sharpton and others with claims they were part of a conspiracy in which they were paid to endorse his rival, former Vice President Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election. ITS NOT LEGAL! he posted on Truth Social. For these unpatriotic entertainers, this was just a CORRUPT & UNLAWFUL way to capitalize on a broken system. Trump said he would soon call for a major investigation.

Again, no such conspiracy exists.

On Aug. 1, Trump called radio personality Charlamagne tha God, who is a Black man, a low IQ individual and a racist sleazebag because he dared to question the presidents policies and behavior. On Fox News My View with Lara Trump, Charlamagne tha God said the least of us are still being impacted the worst and was critical of Trumps response to the Epstein scandal.

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Then, in a Truth Social Post on Monday, Trump criticized CBS journalist Gayle King, who is also Winfreys best friend. Gayle Kings career is over. She should have stayed with her belief in TRUMP. She never had the courage to do so. No talent, no ratings, no strength!!!

But the president still was not finished with his bigoted provocations. On Tuesday, he escalated his racist appeals, telling CNBC in a phone interview that inner city people  a not-so-subtle code for Black Americans  are lazy. Illegal aliens  meaning Hispanics and Latinos  are strong and have a natural talent for physical labor, he said. [P]eople that live in the inner city are not doing that work. Theyre just not doing that work, and theyve tried, weve tried, everybody tried, they dont do itThese people do it naturally, naturally.

These are all  Trumps slur that Winfrey, Beyonce and other Black celebrities are basically crooks, and that Black people are inherently lazy  centuries-old white supremacist tropes. His comments are part of a much larger pattern of behavior where he has repeatedly insulted Black people, specifically Black women, as being dumb or stupid or low IQ.

This is the same white racist logic used to justify Black chattel slavery and over 100 years of American apartheid and racial tyranny in the South, and other parts of the country, under the period of Jim Crow and into the post-civil rights era and beyond.

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The National Museum of African American History and Culture explains the origins of the stereotype that Black people are somehow inherently lazy as compared to white people and other races as:

Many of the stereotypes created during the height of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and were used to help commodify black bodies and justify the business of slavery. For instance, an enslaved person, forced under violence to work from sunrise to sunset, could hardly be described as lazy. Yet laziness, as well as characteristics of submissiveness, backwardness, lewdness, treachery, and dishonesty, historically became stereotypes assigned to African Americans.

Trumps racist attacks merited media attention. But it did not receive the in-depth coverage it deserved. As Bill Kristol, Andrew Egger and Jim Swift of The Bulwark observed of Trumps accusations of treason against Obama, You might expect it to be big news. And yet it faded into the background almost at once. How far through the looking glass are we, that this sort of thing reads to so many as a dog bites man story?

Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

In a searing essay, former MSNBC host and author Joy Reid captured the moment:

I guess we Blacks can just hang it up, at this point. Companies have effectively been told theyre not allowed to hire us anywherePresumably, the regime envisions whatever Black people, brown people, women and LGBTQ people who arent deported, working as maids in white Christian homes, like in the good old days when America was great

Filmmaker Kevin Willmott put it another way in The Nation: The Confederacy has gobbled up the UnionThe entire nation is capitulating to the new Confederate States of America.

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The mainstream medias failure to consistently connect Trumps racism and authoritarianism to the nations worsening democratic crisis is not a mere failure of imagination. It is an act of complicity that further normalizes racism and authoritarianism in the Age of Trump. Further, as media critics like Dan Froomkin and Mark Jacob have argued, it is actually a willful refusal to understand how racism and authoritarianism intersect and amplify the others power to erode human freedom, dignity, agency and flourishing across racial lines.

The normalization of Trump and the MAGA Republicans authoritarianism (if not naked fascism), racism and general hostility towards Black and brown people is not abstract. Such values and policies have significant negative health, emotional, material and other detrimental outcomes. This is not a coincidence or accident. It is the predictable and de facto desired outcome and goal.

Philosopher and public intellectual Cornel West has described Black Americans as historically existing in a state of being unsafe, unprotected, subject to random violence, and hated for who they are. Psychologists and other experts described the sum effect of these forces as causing racial battle fatigue  a form of collective post-traumatic stress disorder  among Black people and other non-whites in America and across the West. For example, public health and other experts have demonstrated how racial fatigue shortens the lives of people of color because of how chronic stress from navigating a society where racial discrimination profoundly shapes life outcomes. To that point, racial battle fatigue has been shown to lead to premature aging through epigenetic processes.

How much longer will Black Americans and the heirs to other great freedom struggles keep sacrificing for a country that is choosing self-destruction  for a nation accelerating toward fascism? What will happen then if those who are the conscience of the nation decide to turn their backs on it?

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What is the cost of loving a country that does not love you back?

I dont pretend to have an answer. But I do know this: If those Americans who are the conscience of the nation turn away from it, the consequences for the countrys future will be nothing short of existential.

The post Trump escalates his racist attacks on Black Americans appeared first on Salon.com.
President Trump is giving a tacit green light for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take over the Gaza Strip, framing the move as an Israeli-owned decision amid a global outcry and growing calls in the U.S. to rein in Netanyahu.

Trump has committed to taking the lead on humanitarian aid distribution in the strip amid famine-like conditions for a population enduring a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

But hes refrained from criticizing Israels plans to escalate the war by expanding its military control of the Gaza Strip, even as international allies speak out against the operation.

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I know that we are there now trying to get people fed.  As far as the rest of it, I really cant say. Thats going to be pretty much up to Israel, Trump said earlier this week when asked about Netanyahus plan.

Netanyahus decision, approved in a security Cabinet vote overnight between Thursday and Friday, is worsening deep divisions in Israeli society, pitting the military against the government, and isolating Israel from European and Arab and Gulf partners.

Germany on Friday announced it would halt military exports to Israel that can be used in the Gaza Strip. This follows France, Canada and the United Kingdom expressing their intent to recognize an independent Palestinian state, a move vehemently opposed by Israel, which argues it rewards Hamas for launching its attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Underscoring British concern, the U.K. initiated an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting for Saturday to discuss Israels plan to take over Gaza.

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Theres a lot of common objectives here. There is some, I think, disagreement about how exactly to accomplish those common objectives, Vice President Vance said Friday, while meeting with British Foreign Minister David Lammy, when asked about whether the U.S. was given a heads-up on Netanyahus plan.

Netanyahu is pushing back against international criticism. On Friday, the Israeli leader struck back at Germany as rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel.

We are not going to occupy Gaza  we are going to free Gaza from Hamas, Netanyahu said in a statement Friday on the social platform X.

Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future.

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A survey of the Israeli public in May found declining optimism over the course of the war, with about half of Jewish and Arab residents believing that the military operation at that time would not bring about returning the hostages  about 20 remain alive in Hamas captivity  and ending Hamass rule of the Gaza Strip.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents many families of captives in Gaza, in a statement said the decision to pursue occupation of the Gaza Strip means abandoning the hostages, while completely ignoring the repeated warnings from military leadership and the clear will of the majority of the Israeli public.

Israels military chief, Eyal Zamir, reportedly warned Netanyahu against taking over Gaza, cautioning it would trap the Israeli military and could lead to harm to the hostages, in a tense meeting that took place on Tuesday.

But in line with the security Cabinets decision, Zamir said Friday the army would carry out the plan in the best possible way.

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Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the Cabinets decision a total disaster that will lead to many more disasters.

While theres overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel in Washington, Netanyahus handling of the war, and the immense humanitarian toll wrought on Palestinians, has soured U.S. public opinion toward Israel, increased the number of Democratic opponents, and even triggered some isolated GOP pushback.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a firebrand MAGA lawmaker, has taken the rare step for a Republican of calling Israels war in Gaza a genocide against the Palestinian people. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a frequent thorn in Trumps side, is an anti-interventionist and doesnt want U.S. dollars going to militaries abroad, including Israels.

On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) secured 24 votes late last month for his resolution to block arms sales to Israel, six more than a previous high of 18 senators supporting the move.

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Mega-popular podcast host Joe Rogan, who endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, has accused Israel of genocide. Rogan previously hosted on his show a Holocaust revisionist and proponent of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Sarah Perkins, an associate professor of political science and international studies at Johns Hopkins University, said that antisemitism is a factor among some groups speaking out against Israel. But she said other factors were driving the sentiment too: the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, along with anti-interventionist leanings and fiscal conservatism in the Republican Party.

I think that there are a couple of different currents that its important to note, not everyones on the same page when it comes to all of this, she said.

Still, the Republican Party, by and large, is behind Trump and Israel.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) earlier this week became the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The move echoed a trip by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who declared that the U.S. did not view Israeli settlements as de facto illegal.

Americas position toward Israel runs directly counter to the Arab world  and a growing number of European countries  who oppose Israels entrenchment in the West Bank, along with its plan to take over the Gaza Strip, as steps toward annexation and blocking any creation of a Palestinian state or Palestinian self-rule.

To say that the Arabs are worried and stressed is an enormous understatement. They have been worried and stressed since this whole situation started, said Mirette Mabrouk, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.

Saudi Arabia, which Trump hoped to persuade to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, condemned Netanyahus plan to take over the Gaza Strip.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip and categorically condemns their persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people, Riyadh said in a statement on Friday.

Mediators from Egypt and Qatar, who were working with the U.S. to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, are reportedly preparing a new framework that will release the hostages  dead and alive  in one round in return for the end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip, according to The Associated Press.

Will Todman, chief of staff of the geopolitics and foreign policy department and a senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned of humanitarian, diplomatic and strategic risks to Israels plan.

The Israeli government is likely to be bogged down in a costly military occupation of Gaza with no plan, exit strategy. They say they want Arab states to take over management of Gaza for the day after, but theres no clear sign that thats a credible pathway and that any Arab states are prepared to do that, he said in an analysis posted to X.

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Unless the United States changes its stance, I think ultimately, Israel will continue with this plan.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Fired for telling Trump the truth

Donald Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics because he didnt like what they reported!

That is what dictators do! Republicans are in control of everything so they should do something. Trump has dementia. He didnt remember he nominated Jerome Powell for the head of the Federal Reserve.

Trump is doing things that hurt our country such as tariffs, gutting the Veterans Administration , gutting the Department of Education, not to mention Jeffrey Epstein.

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Plus he lies every time he opens his mouth! Republicans need to use Amendment 25 to remove and replace Donald Trump.

Deanna Whiteside, Kennewick

Red flags show up in RSDs budget

A cursory look at the Richland School Districts proposed 2025-26 budget, showed some glaring red flags. I will just address 3 here.

The district is in a financial crisis and has put in place layoffs, hiring freezes, spending freezes and similar measures.

1. In 2024, (Supertntendent) Dr. (Shirley) Redinger said her plan would bring the ending fund balance in 2026-2027 to 5% to meet the requirement of the boards policy. The proposed ending fund balance for the 2025-26 year is estimated at .45%. How does this move the district toward financial solvency?

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2. In 2024-25, the superintendents budget was .31% of the total budget. The proposed superintendents budget for 2025-26 .48% of the total budget. An increase of 61.3%!

3. In 2024-25, the Board of Directors budget was .09% of the total budget. The proposed Board of Directors budget for 2025-26 is .26% of the total budget. An increase of 204%!

Yes, these dollar amounts are a drop in the bucket to the overall budget. However, it is insulting to the paraeducators, librarians, and nurses who have been removed from their positions because the district is in a financial CRISIS! Not great optics for the upcoming levy in 2026!

Pamela Hall, West Richland

Editors note: Percentages tell only a part of the story. Changes in dollar amounts often tell more.

Help me out here, Rep. Newhouse

I would like for the Tri-City Herald to ask Rep. Dan Newhouse for his view of HR1319 Modern Worker Empowerment Act.

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As I understand the bill, it empowers employers to reclassify their workers as private contractors. In doing so, they would be stripped of several important rights. They would lose eligibility for unemployment, the right to organize, participation in pension plans and other rights.

I have written the congressman twice about this bill and received no response.

James D. Ternes, Pasco

PNNL actions cut retiree benefits

PNNLs Changes to Retiree Benefits is a dismaying betrayal. Benefits earned by retired scientists, engineers, and support staff, PNNLs necessary engine, evaporated. But betrayal extends beyond retirees and spouses.

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Staff worked 40+ hours weekly to ensure quality and earn clients trust, under the PNNL brand, garnering future work and exemplifying values in PNNLs published culture statement: Every day we live our values of integrity, creativity, collaboration, impact, and courage Hard-earned trust and Lab success disappear by abandoning courage and integrity. PNNLs Lab Leadership Team (LLT) did just that by allowing demise of a dedicated trust account and failing to fund retirees HRA.

Per the FAQ, the Lab Leadership Team has made the difficult decision to discontinue some of our retiree benefits. The decision must have been difficult as the LLT had to ignore their consciences and betray the retired staffs trust. The LLT also betrayed PNNLs culture (integrity, courage) and the trust earned over decades by devoted retired staff to deliver Battelles founding purpose  science in service to humanity.

The Lab chose to short its retirees to save a buck. And in doing so, squander the trust so integral to the Labs success.

Cal Delegard, Richand

Gaza killings must end, reader says

I write this letter to add my name with those who oppose the genocide in Gaza and the man-made famine in Sudan. As a descendant of slaves and beneficiary of slave revolts, efforts of White abolitionists, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and other advocates, not to do so would be betrayal.

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The atrocities of two-plus centuries of chattel slavery, and genocide of indigenous peoples in the Americas are well documented. Current political efforts are underway to remove this history from libraries, schools and universities. This assures that those who dont learn from history are bound to repeat it. This history is being repeated in Gaza, Sudan and other less-publicized places.

Is it not hypocrisy for Americans to espouse freedom and justice for all and yet be complicit with the dehumanization and starvation of all Palestinian people in Gaza and the innocent civilians in the Sudan? Is it not contempt for the international laws that govern the behaviors of nations for world peace, when the U.S. is deliberately complicit with other nations violations? This contempt also includes violations of laws of our own U.S. Constitution.

Thus, silence is complicity; dissenting protests must continue.

Dallas Barnes, Pasco

Hamas succeeds, so it will not stop

Hamas has won.

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It has accomplished the mission: To make Israel look bad.

These extremist politicians could have ended the bombing at any time, by simply releasing all the hostages. Hamas has not ended the suffering because its goal, all along, is turning world opinion against its oppressor.

Netanyahu dances to the Hamas tune with zeal and vigor. His actions have drawn worldwide attention; a steady news source of shock and horror. Coverage of increasing starvation may be sickening and abhorrent, but it furthers Hamass objective.

Our collective humanity suffers as we grow numb.

America is indirectly being tarred by the same brush. These are formative years for our next generations extremists.

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As I wrote, over a year ago now, Hamas is succeeding, and has no reason to stop.

Michael Harrington, Pasco

Trump shows off autocracy at work

Bill Petries Letter to the Editor of Aug. 3 caused me to think hes a carpenter; every letter he writes hits the nail on the head. His list of why Trump is a loser, although far from complete, is very accurate. But Trump isnt the only loser in our autocratic government.

All three branches of government are in lockstep toward enriching the rich, making life more miserable for the poor and shrinking the middle class through indiscriminate removal of productive contributors to the gross domestic product. Equally abusive is his application of tariffs; a form of taxation because it provides income to the government while increasing the cost of consumer products.

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In addition to being dishonest in ways that profit him, Trump is obviously in significant cognitive decline. But Congress will not exercise the provisions of the 25th Amendment  Section 4 to remove our incompetent president from office, or apply the provisions of the Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution to stop his unlawful acts against our population. The majority members of Congress, including (Rep.) Dan Newhouse, continue to maintain their ill-gotten gains in absolute power over our entire population while using lies and smoke and mirror language to justify this situation

.Jim Tow, Richland
The man President Donald Trump installed to execute his hostile takeover of the Kennedy Center for the Arts has been accused of being absent from the job.

Ric Grenell, a former Trump ambassador to Germany and longtime Republican attack dog, is only occasionally at the Kennedy Center, a source told CBS News.

However, his alleged lack of presence at the Kennedy Center hasnt stopped him from collecting a salary of $175,000, per tax records.

Richard Grenell (L) served as Ambassador to Germany, Envoy to Serbia and Kosovo, and acting Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

His salary is significantly less than that of the previous president, Deborah Rutter, who earned $1.3 million in 2023, before Trump fired her and replaced with Grenell.

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While in charge of the Kennedy Center, Grenell is also serving in the State Department as a Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, a role that President Trump created for him.

Grenells appointment came after Trump took the unprecedented step of installing himself as chairman in February.

In May, Grenell accused Rutter of concealing $26 million of phantom revenue, fake revenue and said that he would refer the centers previous management to federal prosecutors for criminal investigation.

No such criminal investigation has been opened, but the Center has continued to attract attention and controversy.

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In June, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the Centers opening night of Les Miserables, one of the presidents favorites (his favorite is Andrew Lloyd Webers Cats).

The couple was met with both boos and jeers from the crowd, including one woman who yelled Convicted felon, rapist! and was promptly escorted out by security.

Last month, two separate GOP bills proposed renaming the center after Melania Trump and President Trump, respectively.

That proposal drew a rebuke from President John F. Kennedys only grandson, Jack Schlossberg.

JFK believed the arts made our country great and could be our most effective weapon in the fight for civil rights and against authoritarian governments around the world, Schlossberg wrote on Instagram.

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The Trump Administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression.

Perhaps the most significant change to the center will come this August, with sources telling CBS News that the Kennedy Center Honors will be revamped.

The honorees at the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2024, featuring honorees such as songwriter Bonnie Raitt, musician Arturo Sandoval, and the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. / CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

The event typically takes place across multiple days and locations, honoring cultural giants such as Francis Ford Coppola, Rita Moreno, and Barbara Streisand.

The schedule for the Honors will be streamlined, rather than the typical panoply of events at the State Department, White House, and elsewhere.

Trump has not yet attended an Honors ceremony as president, skipping the ceremony four times during his first term.

Grenell and Roma Daravi, the spokesperson for the Kennedy Center who is a former Trump White House aide, did not respond to a request for comment. Daravi told CBS News of the changes to the Honors schedule, If anything, its going to be more exciting.
In case there was any doubt that President Donald Trump and his administration are on a legal retribution tour, this should just about settle it.

Trump has often been under investigation during his political career  a fact owing to his near-constant efforts to push boundaries. But perhaps the four biggest examples? The Russia investigation; his Ukraine impeachment; January 6, 2021; and his personal legal troubles after leaving office (including those stemming from January 6).

Less than seven months into Trumps second term, key people from every one of these efforts have now apparently faced investigations of their own.

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More than 10 people who played key roles in these investigations or ran afoul of Trump have faced some kind of significant legal scrutiny. These are steps that go beyond Trump merely accusing them of misdeeds or suggesting they should be probed.

Trump and top administration officials have also targeted foes with firings and stripped them of security clearances, but the effort to apply legal scrutiny to some of the most prominent adversaries appears to be ratcheting up.

Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this week ordered a grand jury probe into allegations that key Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence in the Russia probe. On Friday came news that New York Attorney General Letitia James, who won a civil fraud case against Trump, faces her own grand jury probe. Reports indicate a similar effort has also targeted Sen. Adam Schiff of California, who figured prominently in two Trump investigations from the presidents first term.

New York Attorney General Letitia James. - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Often, the allegations being investigated do not relate to the figures actions in probing Trump. Many of allegations remain unsubstantiated in the public record, like those about the Russia intelligence.

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None of which means none of the people did anything wrong. There is plenty we dont know.

But it would seem telling that key figures from each of these efforts have found themselves under scrutiny. What are the odds that happens  and so quickly  if this isnt about retaliation and sending a message?

And even if the investigations dont amount to anything, there is value for Trump in creating legal headaches for these people. It certainly sends a message to anyone who might to investigate him in the future.

Heres a look at what we know, broken down by who investigated Trump for what.

The Russia investigation

Barack Obama, et al.: Bondi, earlier this week, ordered prosecutors to begin a grand jury probe into allegations that top Obama administration officials manufactured intelligence about Russias interference in the 2016 election. The move followed the release of new documents from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that she and others have misconstrued and that dont appear to shed much light beyond previous probes  including ones spearheaded by Republicans. Gabbard and Trump have gone so far as to suggest Obama himself committed treason.

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Former FBI Director James Comey: We learned last month that the FBI was investigating Comey for possible false statements to Congress. Trump controversially fired Comey in 2 017 amid the FBI directors investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 election and its possible ties to Trumps campaign. The news of the investigation came after top Trump administration officials earlier this year strained to accuse Comey of calling for the presidents assassination.

Former CIA Director John Brennan: That FBI investigation also included Brennan, who played a key role in early assessments of Russias interference and whom Trump has regularly attacked.

Former FBI Director James Comey. - Zach Gibson/Getty Images

January 6, 2021

Sen. Adam Schiff of California: The Justice Department is also probing Schiff, according to reports, for allegations of mortgage fraud. Those reports havent been confirmed by CNN, but Schiffs lawyer Preet Bharara late Friday issued a statement calling the allegations transparently false, stale, and long debunked. Schiff managed Democrats in Trumps first impeachment in 2019 when he was serving in the House and later chaired the House January 6 committees investigation of Trump. The news comes weeks after Trump called Schiff a THIEF and said, He should be prosecuted. Trump also said in December that Schiff and other January 6 committee members should be jailed. The allegations stem from a confidential Fannie Mae memo raising questions about the possibility of occupancy misrepresentation by Schiff, according to The Washington Post.

Liz Cheney: Shortly after the 2024 election, Trump urged the FBI to investigate Schiffs co-chair of the January 6 committee, former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican. In addition to saying January 6 committee members should be in jail, Trump promoted social media posts calling for Cheney to face a televised military tribunal. While there is no evidence of such an FBI investigation, House Republicans pressed forward with their own probe, focused on the idea that Cheney manipulated evidence in that investigation. That investigation has divided House Republicans, CNN reported in March.

Liz Cheney, a former representative from Wyoming. - Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

The Ukraine impeachment

This category could also include Schiff, given he managed Trumps first impeachment, which related to the presidents efforts to leverage Ukraine for political help in the 2020 election.

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The Vindmans: Then-interim US Attorney Ed Martin earlier this year sent letters to Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman of Virginia seeking information about a business Vindman and his brother, Alexander Vindman, founded to help arm Ukraine to fight Russia, according to The Washington Post. CNN has not reported on these letters. Before Eugene Vindman was elected to Congress, the Vindman brothers blew the whistle on Trump tying Ukraine aid to the country announcing an investigation into the Bidens, when Joe Biden was Trumps campaign opponent. Trump has regularly attacked Alexander Vindman, whom former top administration official Elon Musk once called a traitor.

Trumps personal legal cases

New York Attorney General Letitia James: James has faced investigations in multiple jurisdictions, including ones related to alleged mortgage fraud and her actions in investigating Trump. James successfully brought civil fraud charges against Trump in 2023, winning a verdict worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and brought multiple lawsuits against the first Trump administration. Trump has attacked James for years. Shortly before an investigation of James came to light in May, Trump called James a total crook.

Special counsel Jack Smith: The Office of Special Counsel, which is temporarily headed by a Trump appointee after the president fired its previous head, is investigating Smith for potential violations of the Hatch Act. (The Office of Special Counsel is separate from the kind of special counsel Smith served as.) That act limits political activities by government employees. Smith led the investigations and attempted federal prosecutions of Trump over January 6 and Trumps decision to take classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021. Those cases resulted in indictments but did not go to trial after Trump was elected president. Trump has frequently attacked Smith in public, often calling him deranged. Its not clear precisely what the probe is focused on, but Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas recently alleged Smiths prosecutorial actions against Trump were geared toward influencing the 2024 election.

Special counsel Jack Smith - Drew Angerer/Getty Images/File

Other critics from his first term

Miles Taylor: Trump in April signed an executive action that, among other things, ordered the Justice Department to probe the former Department of Homeland Security official. Taylor in 2018 wrote an anonymous New York Times op-ed describing a resistance within the administration to Trump, and later wrote a book critical of Trump.

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Christopher Krebs: The same executive action also ordered a probe of the former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director, who after the 2020 election undercut Trumps false claims of widespread voter fraud.

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President Trump on Friday said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a week in Alaska and that swapping territories will be discussed in potential peace talks between the Kremlin and Ukraine.

I think were getting very close, and were going to be announcing later on  were going to have a meeting with Russia, start off with Russia, Trump said at the White House on Friday. And well announce the location; I think the location will be a very popular one for a lot of reasons. But well be announcing that a little bit later; I just dont want to do it now because of the importance of what we just did.

Hours later, Trump on Truth Social posted that the meeting would be Aug. 15 in Alaska.

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The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump at the White House was asked about the potential for peace talks he was hosting the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who were signing a peace accord after years of conflict.

Trump elaborated on what a peace deal with Russia and Ukraine could look like after Putin reportedly presented the administration with a ceasefire proposal that involved Ukraine making territorial concessions.

Youre looking at territory thats been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians. So were looking at that, but were actually to get some back and some swapping. Its complicated. Its actually  nothing easy. Its very complicated. But were going to get some back. And were going to get some switched, Trump said. Theyll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but well be talking about that either later or tomorrow or whatever.

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Asked if he could soon be hosting a similar event alongside Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said he thinks we have a shot at it, adding were going to get it solved.

European leaders want to see peace, President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and Zelensky wants to see peace, Trump said.

He then punted to Zelensky to prepare to sign a ceasefire agreement.

Now, President Zelensky has to get all of his, everything he needs, because hes going to have to get ready to sign something and I think hes working hard to get that done, the president said.

Putin last was hosted in the United States by former President Obama in 2015 , when he attended the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. The Obama-Putin meeting at the time was roughly 90 minutes, and the two leaders spoke about Ukraine and Syria.

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Trump met Putin six times during his first term. In 2018, the two leaders met in Finland and held a joint press conference, during which they discussed Russian interference in the 2016 election, North Korea and nuclear proliferation.

Putin and Biden met once during the last presidency, holding talks in Geneva in 2021.

Trump had been weighing whether to meet with Putin, as well as Zelensky, in the coming weeks and raised the idea of meeting with the two leaders during a call with European allies on Wednesday, a source confirmed to The Hill. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week said Russia had expressed an interest in meeting with Trump.

This story was posted at 4:52 p.m. and updated at 6:34 p.m. EDT

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According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, the raids were conducted at the residences of alleged Pakistan-based terror operatives.

Earlier, in another counter terror operation, two jawans died in the line of duty on the ninth day of operations being carried out by security forces in the Akhal Devsar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said.

Chinar Corps paid tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

"Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues," Chinar Corps posted on X.

So far, one terrorist has been neutralised in the operation.

Nearly a week ago, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in the Akhal area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, Chinar Corps said.

The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG).In a post on X, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said, "OP AKHAL, Kulgam. Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact."

"One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues," post added on X.

Meanwhile, the Baramulla Police busted a terrorist hideout in the Gogaldara-Danwas forest.

The police on Thursday seized a grenade, a pistol, a magazine, nine rounds of ammunition and medical supplies.

Sharing an X post, Baramulla Police wrote, "On a specific input in the Gogaldara-Danwas forest, Baramulla Police busted a terrorist hideout. Recovered: 1 Pistol, 1 Mag, nine rounds, one grenade & medical supplies. FIR registered at PS Tangmarg. Investigation underway."Further details in the case are awaited.

Moreover, in an earlier operation by the Indian Army's White Knight Corps in the Poonch sector on July 30, two terror operatives were neutralised while attempting to infiltrate across the LoC. (ANI)
President Donald Trump said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska to discuss ending Moscow's all-out war in Ukraine.

The details, which Trump announced on social media early Saturday, were confirmed by Putin's aide Yury Ushakov, according to Russian state-run agency Tass.

On Saturday evening, a US officials told CBS News that Trump would be willing to hold a trilateral meeting including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Such a summit may prove pivotal in a war that began more than three years ago when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its western neighbour, leading to tens of thousands of deaths  although there is no guarantee it will stop the fighting, given Moscow's maximalist demands.

In comments to reporters at the White House before his post confirming the date and place, Trump suggested that any agreement would likely involve some swapping of territories," but he gave no details.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post on Saturday, "The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this  and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier."

"The Ukrainian people deserve peace. But all partners must understand what a dignified peace is. This war must be brought to an end  and Russia must end it," Zelenskyy emphasised.

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"We are ready to work together with President Trump, together with all our partners for real and, most importantly, lasting peace. A peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's desires."

'I don't like using the term last chance'

Trump's announcement that he planned to host one of Washington's adversaries on US soil broke with expectations that they'd meet in a third country, with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Vatican all proposed as possible venues.

Putin's last visit to the US was in 2015, when he attended the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. The meeting in Alaska would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former US President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

After announcing Friday a peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan Trump said he would meet with Putin very shortly".

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His subsequent post said the highly anticipated meeting would happen on 15 August in Alaska and more details would follow.

Trump had told reporters that the summit would have been sooner, but I guess theres security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make.

Trump said, President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and Zelenskyy wants to see peace."

In all fairness to President Zelenskyy, hes getting everything he needs to, assuming we get something done," Trump added.

Pressed on if this was the last chance to make a major peace deal, Trump said, I dont like using the term last chance, and said that, When those guns start going off, its awfully tough to get em to stop.

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Exasperated that Putin did not heed his calls to stop bombing Ukrainian cities, Trump almost two weeks ago moved up his ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.

The deadline was Friday. But the White House did not answer questions that evening about the state of possible sanctions after Trump's announcement of an upcoming meeting with Putin.

Prior to Trump announcing the meeting with Putin, his efforts to pressure Russia into stopping the fighting had delivered no progress.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said in an assessment Thursday that Putin remains uninterested in ending his war and is attempting to extract bilateral concessions from the United States without meaningfully engaging in a peace process.

Putin continues to believe that time is on Russias side and that Russia can outlast Ukraine and the West, it said.
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday afternoon as the two countries signed a commitment to a peace agreement.

Both Pashinyan and Aliyev praised Trump for his work on resolving the conflict.

Although the signing was an agreement to work toward the conclusion of a peace deal, there are still issues to be worked through before there can be an agreement. However, Trump spoke as if a peace agreement was already a done deal.

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Billy Long to depart as IRS commissioner

You two are going to have a great relationship, and if you dont  call me and Ill straighten it out, Trump said.

The two countries have been at odds for decades, with the conflict killing tens of thousands of people and displacing hundreds of thousands. At the center of the dispute has been the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Trump said the U.S. was signing a bilateral agreement with the two countries to expand cooperation and energy, trade and technology, including artificial intelligence.

The president also said the U.S. would be lifting restrictions on defense cooperation with Azerbaijan.

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Brokering peace agreements has been a focus of Trumps since he took office, although the largest deals, those that would bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Gaza, have eluded him.

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The White House has said Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, and the president once again claimed he was closing in on a deal.

I think were getting very close, and were going to be announcing later, and were going to have a meeting with Russia, will start off with Russia, he said.

He also said Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy was getting what he needed to keep fighting, a change in position from the presidential campaign and early days of his second term when Trump advocated for reducing or ending aid to Ukraine.

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Trump suggested that a deal might end up with some territories being exchanged between Kyiv and Moscow.

When asked about the possibility of sending the military into Latin America to combat cartels, Trump said he would say more later.

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Latin America has a lot of cartels, theyve got a lot of drugs flowing so we want to protect our country, we have to protect our country, we have been doing it for four years and we love this country like they love their country we have to protect our country so you know were playing a tough game, he said.

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During the meeting, there was the suggestion that Pashinyan and Aliyev might jointly nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, an award he has openly lobbied for, noting repeatedly that President Barack Obama won a Nobel and dismissing Obamas accomplishments while lauding his own work as president.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have committed to a lasting peace after decades of conflict, Donald Trump said on Friday as he hosted a signing event at the White House.

Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian prime minister, and Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijans long-time president, said Mr Trumps mediation should earn him a Nobel Peace Prize  an award the US president has been vocal about seeking.

The two former Soviet republics are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each others sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr Trump said at the event.

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However, the fine print and binding nature of the deal between the long-time foes remains unclear.

The two leaders would have a great relationship, Mr Trump said. But if theres conflict... theyre going to call me and were going to get it straightened out, he added.

Peace in the Caucasus

Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have feuded for decades over their border and the status of ethnic enclaves within each others territories.

The nations went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive, sparking the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly clashed with Armenia over territory - Anadolu Agency

The Azerbaijan and Armenian leaders shook hands under the satisfied gaze of Mr Trump, before all three signed a document the White House called a joint declaration.

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Mr Aliyev hailed the historic signature between two countries which were at war for more than three decades.

We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus, he added.

Mr Aliyev offered to send a joint appeal, along with Mr Pashinyan, to the Nobel committee recommending the American president receive the peace prize.

Who, if not President Trump, deserves a Nobel Peace Prize? he asked.

Mr Aliyev also thanked Mr Trump for lifting restrictions on US military co-operation with Azerbaijan, which was announced on Friday.

Mr Pashinyan said the initialing of (the) peace agreement will pave the way to end decades of conflict between our countries and open a new era.

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The Armenian leader said the breakthrough would not have been possible without peacemaker Trump, adding that the US president deserved the Nobel.

The agreement also includes establishing a transit corridor passing through Armenia to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a longstanding demand of Baku.

The United States will have development rights for the corridor  dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (Tripp)  in the strategic and resource-rich region.

The UK on Saturday praised the bold steps taken in the US-brokered peace deal, while the foreign ministry of Turkey, a long-time supporter of Azerbaijan, hailed the progress achieved towards establishing a lasting peace between the two nations.

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Mr Trump has repeatedly praised his own diplomatic efforts to help halt deadly conflicts, notably between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as arch-foes India and Pakistan.

However, months of efforts have yet to solve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the hunger plaguing Gaza during Israels offensive.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
US President Donald Trump has nominated State Department spokeswoman and former Fox News host Tammy Bruce to be the US deputy representative to the United Nations.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Bruce, who has been working at the US State Department since he took office in January, has done a "fantastic job" in the role.

Before joining government, Bruce was a Fox News conservative contributor for more than 20 years, and has authored several books that are critical of liberals, including "Fear Itself: Exposing the Left's Mind-Killing Agenda".

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It is unclear when she will take over the role if her nomination is confirmed by the Senate.

"I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Tammy Bruce, a Great Patriot, Television Personality and Bestselling Author, as our next Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.

"Since the beginning of my Second Term, Tammy has been serving with distinction as Spokesperson of the State Department, where she did a fantastic job," he continued, adding that she will represent the US "brilliantly".

As spokeswoman, Bruce has defended several controversial US foreign policy decisions - ranging from Trump's immigration crackdown to sending private military contractors to distribute aid in Gaza.

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Trump's nominee for UN ambassador, Mike Waltz, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

The current acting ambassador to the UN is Dorothy Shea, a career diplomat who was the deputy ambassador in 2024.
Republican political activist Laura Loomer used a racially charged term to insult Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in a post on social media this week.

On Thursday, the far-right activist quoted a post on X that referenced Crocketts alleged treatment of her staff. Loomer then took it as an opening to hurl her own set of insults.

Why are people surprised? Loomer asked. This is typical DEI Shaniqua behavior.

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Loomers usage of Shaniqua was widely interpreted as a racist dig  the name is commonly associated with Black women and has often been weaponized as a derogatory and demeaning stereotype.

But, she didnt stop there.

In a follow-up post, Loomer doubled down and tagged Crockett directly.

In the dictionary next to the word Shaniqua is a photo of Jasmine Crockett, she wrote.

Users on the platform quickly rallied behind Crockett, calling out Loomers language.

Please sit your racist behind down, one user replied.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and far-right political activist Laura Loomer. Getty Images

Another asked, If you have so much merit why havent you gotten a White House job yet??

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This isnt the first time the Texas Democrat has been on the receiving end of GOP attacks. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump insulted her intelligence during an interview with CNBC, calling her low-IQ.

The Democrat Party is self-destructing, he stated. I mean, when you have low-IQ people like [Jasmine] Crockett... I wonder if shes any relation to the late, great Davy Crockett, who is a great, great, a great gentleman. I wonder if shes got any relationship to Davy Crockett, the great old Davy Crockett.

Crockett responded in a CNN interview the next day, saying Trump has nothing of substance to contribute when it comes to critiquing me.

Related...
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to meet Friday in Alaska and might invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to join them.

It will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since the G20 summit in Japan in 2019 during Trump's first term.

Zelensky initially was not invited, a source told The Washington Post, but Trump is considering inviting him, NBC News and The Hill reported on Saturday.

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Putin on Thursday said he opposed meeting with Zelensky, saying "for this to happen, certain conditions must be created. Unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions."

Trump announced the meeting on Friday night on Truth Social.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump posted.

The presidents also considered meeting in the United Arab Emirates and Rome.

Because the United States does not recognize the International Criminal Court, it does not have to abide by a warrant issued in 2023 for Putin's arrest on allegations he was involved in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the war. Had the meeting been held in Rome, there were concerns officials would attempt to arrest Putin.

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On chances for a deal, Trump told reporters this week that he thinks "we have a shot at" achieving a deal and refused to call the meeting a last chance.

"I don't like using the term 'last chance," he said.

Trump has floated the idea that a peace deal with Ukraine may require the European nation to give up territory -- something Zelensky and many European leaders oppose.

"You're looking at territory that's been fought over for 3 years with -- you know, a lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians have died," Trump said. "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both."

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Ukraine currently controls around 4 square miles of Russian land in the western Kursk region, while Russia has one-fifth of Ukraine's sovereign territory -- including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Enerhodar, which is the largest generating station in Europe.

Ukraine had also seized around 500 square miles in August 2024 but later retreated.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and four other regions in eastern Ukraine -- Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia -- and Putin has proposed Crimea be formally recognized as Russian sovereign territory.

"We're looking at that, but we're actually looking to get some back and some swapping. It's complicated. It's actually nothing easy, [and] it's very complicated. But we're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump told reporters when asked if Ukraine will need to give up territory in a peace deal.

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Trump also said that the self-imposed deadline for Putin to agree to a cease-fire or face "secondary sanctions" against nations that buy oil from Russia would "be up to him. We're going to see what he has to say -- it's up to him."

On Wednesday, he signed an executive order that doubled the tariff against India to 50% over the Asian nation's imports of Russian oil. The order followed a 50-day ultimatum Trump gave to Putin to reach a truce with Ukraine, and later moved the deadline up to 10 days.

After a three-hour meeting with Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, Putin told Witkoff that he would agree to a cease-fire if Ukraine withdrew from the Donbas region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Putin for the first time provided "concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end the war."

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On Saturday, Zelensky reiterated his opposition to giving up land.

"Ukrainians are defending their own. Even those who are with Russia know that it is doing evil. Of course, we will not give Russia awards for what it has done. The Ukrainian people deserve peace. But all partners must understand what a worthy peace is. This war must be ended, and Russia must end it. Russia started it and is dragging it out, not listening to any deadlines, and this is the problem, not something else," he said in Ukrainian in a video posted on Instagram.

He also "Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything," Zelensky added in a post on X.

Zelensky also said he spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday and he was "grateful for his support."

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He said they both see the danger of "Russia's plan to reduce everything to a discussion of the impossible."

The meeting between Trump and Putin was confirmed by Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin official.

"The economic interests of our countries intersect in Alaska and the Arctic, and there are prospects for implementing large-scale, mutually beneficial projects," he told reporters, according to state-run TASS. "But, of course, the presidents themselves will undoubtedly focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis."

Saturday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance will attend a summit of national security advisers in Britain that includes Ukraine and other European allies.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet next Friday, August 15, for the first in-person meeting between leaders of the U.S. and Russia since Moscow launched its deadly 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The leaders are expected to meet in Alaska, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote in his Friday evening post. "Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

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The location of the meeting was a major point of interest after the summit was first floated following a call between Trump and Putin on Wednesday after White House envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow to meet with the Kremlin chief.

Zelenskyy Tells Putin To 'Be Brave' And Finally Agree To Trilateral Meeting With Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (R) at Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia on August 06, 2025.

Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and the UAE were all under consideration, with Putin originally favoring Hungary, according to sources familiar with the planning.

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The Kremlin chief also shot down the idea of meeting in Italy, according to reports on Friday, due to Romes perceived closeness with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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Following the Wednesday Trump-Putin call, the U.S. president also spoke with Zelenskyy along with European leaders on the potential for a trilateral meeting.

Moscow  which has thus far refused to hold direct meetings with Putin and Zelenskyy  has not appeared likely to engage in a trilateral meeting any time soon, as the Kremlins foreign policy advisor noted on Wednesday that the potential for such a meeting was "mentioned" but "not discussed."

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and President Donald Trump, talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Trumps Deadline On Secondary Tariffs Arrives; Us-russian Relations Hang In The Balance

Reporting later suggested that Putin may be open to meeting face to face with Zelenskyy, but only if certain "conditions" are met, though what these conditions are remains unclear.

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Putin has allegedly suggested that Ukraine would need to formally cede the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2022, but which it does not have full control over.

Though Zelenskyy has countered similar territorial demands by noting that under Ukraine's Constitution a national referendum would need to occur for any territorial concessions.

Despite the immense hurdles that remain, Trump appeared optimistic when speaking to reporters on Wednesday that "there's a very good prospect that [Putin and Zelenskyy] will" meet.

Zelenskyy said at least one bilateral meeting between the U.S. and Russian leaders was suggested, which would potentially be followed by a meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy.

S President Donald Trump (R) meets Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) on the first day of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28, 2019.

It remains unclear what the president hopes to definitively get out of meeting with Putin in person after expressing frustration with the Kremlin chief despite months of attempts to forge a ceasefire.

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Trump wouldnt comment on how likely he thought a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv could be on the horizon and echoed his previous frustrations with Putin by telling reporters, "I've been disappointed before with this one."





Original article source: Trump, Putin will hold first in-person meeting since Ukraine invasion next week in Alaska
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska next Friday to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine.

Trump announced the 15 August meeting on social media and it was later confirmed by a Kremlin spokesperson, who said the location was "quite logical" given Alaska's relative proximity to Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said any solutions must include Ukraine, adding he is ready to work with all partners towards a "lasting peace".

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The announcement of the meeting came just hours after Trump had signalled that Ukraine might have to cede territory in order to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

"You're looking at territory that's been fought over for three and a half years, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died," Trump said at the White House on Friday.

"It's very complicated. We're going to get some back, we're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both."

The US president did not provide further details of what that proposal would look like.

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However, the BBC's US partner CBS News, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reports that the White House is trying to sway European leaders to accept an agreement that would include Russia taking the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and keeping Crimea.

It would give up the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, which it partially occupies, as part of the proposed agreement, CBS reports.

Earlier on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Putin had proposed a similar arrangement to Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff during a recent meeting in Moscow.

It remains unclear whether Ukraine and European allies would agree to such a deal, given Zelensky and Putin remain far apart on the conditions for peace.

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Zelensky has previously rejected any preconditions for territorial concessions.

In a statement released on Telegram on Saturday, the Ukrainian president reiterated: "The answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will and cannot deviate from this. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier."

"Any solutions that are against us, any solutions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time solutions against peace," he said, adding that his country is ready for "real solutions" that bring peace.

"We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work for a real, and most importantly, lasting peace - a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's wishes."

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One senior White House official told CBS that the planning for next Friday's meeting was fluid, and it was still possible that Zelensky would be involved in some capacity.

Moscow has failed to achieve a decisive breakthrough in its full-scale invasion, but occupies around 20% of Ukraine's territory. Ukrainian offensives, meanwhile, have not pushed the Russian forces back.

[BBC]

Three rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have failed to bring the war closer to an end, and Moscow's military and political preconditions for peace are seen by Kyiv and its allies as the de facto capitulation of Ukraine.

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Russian demands include Ukraine becoming a neutral state, dramatically reducing its military and abandoning its Nato aspirations, as well as the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

Moscow also wants Kyiv to withdraw its military from the four regions which Russia partially occupies in south-east Ukraine, and to demobilise its soldiers.

Trump, however, insisted on Friday that the US had "a shot at" a trilateral peace agreement between the countries.

"European leaders want to see peace, President Putin, I believe, wants to see peace, and Zelensky wants to see peace," he told reporters.

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"President Zelensky has to get all of his, everything he needs, because he's going to have to get ready to sign something and I think he's working hard to get that done," Trump said.

Last month, Trump admitted to the BBC that he had thought a deal to end the war in Ukraine was on the cards with Russia four different times: "I'm disappointed in him [Putin], but I'm not done with him."

He has hardened his stance against the Kremlin in recent weeks, imposing a deadline of Friday 8 August for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face more sweeping sanctions.

But as the deadline approached the economic threat was quickly overshadowed by plans for Trump and Putin to meet in person to discuss a potential peace deal.

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There was no announcement of further sanctions on Russia from the White House on Friday.

Trump and Putin spoke by phone in February in the first direct exchange between the leaders since Russia's full-scale invasion.

The last time a US president met Putin was in 2021, when Joe Biden met him at a summit in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Location matters, former real estate mogul US President Donald Trump said. Moments later he announced Alaska, a place sold by Russia to the United States 158 years ago for $7.2 million, would be where Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to sell his land deal of the century, getting Kyiv to hand over chunks of land hes not yet been able to occupy.

The conditions around Fridays summit so wildly favor Moscow, it is obvious why Putin leapt at the chance, after months of fake negotiation, and it is hard to see how a deal emerges from the bilateral that does not eviscerate Ukraine. Kyiv and its European allies have reacted with understandable horror at the early ideas of Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, that Ukraine cede the remainders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for a ceasefire.

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Naturally, the Kremlin head has promoted the idea of taking ground without a fight, and found a willing recipient in the form of Witkoff, who has in the past exhibited a relaxed grasp of Ukrainian sovereignty and the complexity of asking a country, in the fourth year of its invasion, to simply walk out of towns its lost thousands of men defending.

It is worth pausing and reflecting on what Witkoffs proposal would look like. Russia is close to encircling two key Donetsk towns, Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, and may effectively put Ukrainian troops defending these two hubs under siege in the coming weeks. Ceding these two towns might be something Kyiv does anyway to conserve manpower in the months ahead.

The rest of Donetsk  principally the towns of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk  is a much nastier prospect. Thousands of civilians live there now, and Moscow would delight at scenes where the towns evacuate, and Russian troops walk in without a shot fired.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys rejection of ceding land early Saturday reflects the real dilemma of a commander in chief trying to manage the anger of his military and the deep-seated distrust of the Ukrainian people towards their neighbor, who continues to bombard their cities nightly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits soldiers on the front lines of the Kharkiv region on August 4. - Presidential Office of Ukraine/DPA/Picture Alliance/AP

What could Ukraine get back in the swapping Trump referred to? Perhaps the tiny slivers of border areas occupied by Russia in Sumy and Kharkiv regions  part of Putins purported buffer zone  but not much else, realistically.

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The main goal is a ceasefire, and that itself is a stretch. Putin has long held that the immediate ceasefire demanded by the United States, Europe and Ukraine for months, is impossible as technical work about monitoring and logistics must take place first. He is unlikely to have changed his mind now his troops are in the ascendancy across the eastern frontline.

Europe is also wary of mirroring the failure of former UK Foreign Secretary Neville Chamberlain to stand up to Nazi Germany in 1938  of the worthlessness of a piece of paper signed by a Kremlin that has repeatedly agreed to deals in Ukraine and then simply used the pause to regroup before invading again.

To his credit, Putin has made it clear what he wants from the start: all of Ukraine subjugated or occupied and a strategic reset with the US that involves it dropping Kyiv like a stone. His aide, Yury Ushakov, spoke of Alaska being a great place to talk economic cooperation between Washington and Moscow, and suggested a return summit in Russia had already been proposed.

There is a risk we see bonhomie between Trump and Putin that allows the US president to tolerate more technical meetings between their staffers on the what and when of any ceasefire deal. A plan about land swaps or grabs that is wholly in Moscows favor, might then be presented to Kyiv, with the old US ultimatums about aid and intelligence sharing being contingent on their accepting the deal that we have seen before. Cue French President Emmanuel Macron on the phone to Trump again, and around we go. Putin needs more time to continue to conquer and he is about to get it.

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What has changed since the last time Trump found his thinking dragged somehow back towards Russias orbit, around the time of the Oval Office blowout with Zelensky? Two elements are there now that were absent then.

Firstly, we cannot ignore that India and China  the former risking 25% tariffs in two weeks and the latter still waiting to learn what damage itll suffer  were on the phone to the Kremlin in the past days. They might have provided some impetus for Putin to meet Trump, or at least provide more lip service to diplomacy again, and may be concerned at their energy imports being compromised by Trumps secondary sanctions.

But Putin cannot have needed much persuading to agree to a formal invitation to the US to have the bilateral meeting his team have long held out as the way towards peace in Ukraine. And another sanctions deadline of Friday has just whizzed past, almost unnoticed in the kerfuffle about Alaska and land deals.

Donald Trump claims his thinking around Vladimir Putin has evolved. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Secondly, Trump claims his thinking around Putin has evolved. Disappointed, disgusting, tapping me along are all newcomers to his lexicon about the Kremlin head. While Trump appears effortlessly able to stop himself causing genuine pain to Moscow, allowing threats and deadlines to fall lifeless around him, he is surrounded by allies and Republicans who will remind him of how far down these roads he has gone before.

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Much could go right. But the stage is set for something more sinister. Consider Putins mindset for a moment. The third Trump threat of sanctions has evaporated, and his forces are moving into a period of strategic gain on the frontlines. Hes got his first invitation to the US in a decade to talk peace about Ukraine without Ukraine, discussing a deal where he doesnt even have to fight to get some of the rest of the land he wants. And this is before the former KGB spy gets to work his apparent magic on Trump.

Friday is six days away, but even at this distance resembles slow defeat for Kyiv.

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In a heartwarming gesture, women and girl students in the Naxal-affected Sukma district celebrated Raksha Bandhan with security personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday. The event took place at the 74th Battalion of CRPF in Donapal, where teachers and students from Swami Atmanand School joined the jawans to mark the festival with joy and enthusiasm. While speaking to ANI, CRPF Inspector Mahender Bisht extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion, said, "I congratulate all the citizens of the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Today, in the 74th battalion of CRPF in Donapal, teachers and students of Swami Atmanand School came together to celebrate Rakhi with joy and happiness. To ensure we do not miss our sisters on this occasion, they celebrated the festival with us. I promise to protect them. The CRPF is already engaged in fighting Naxalism in this area..." Echoing similar sentiments, CRPF Inspector Kamlesh Kumar Meena told ANI, "On this pious occasion, I greet and welcome all fellow countrymen. We are stationed in this Naxal-affected area to protect the nation, so we cannot return home. So, our local sisters have made up for this absence today by tying rakhi on our wrists..." Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian Culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, marking the first time the leaders of the two countries have held talks since 2021.

Trump claimed the conflict could be solved very soon as he announced the summit at the White House on Friday, on the deadline Trump had imposed on Putin to finalize a peace deal or face potential financial penalties.

But the prospect of the negotiations succeeding was quickly thrown into doubt after Trump suggested that Ukraine would have to cede territory to Russia as part of any peace deal.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly and pointedly rejected any potential deal that would involve handing over Ukrainian territory. The answer to Ukraines territorial question is already in the constitution of Ukraine, he said in a Saturday video statement on Telegram. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier.

Read more: The Secret White House Backchannel That Paved the Way For Trumps Summit With Putin

Trump vowed to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine within the first 24 hours of his second presidential term, and has previously expressed disappointment at Russias lack of movement towards peace as he continuously moves the ceasefire deadline forward.

Fridays meeting will be the first time two sitting U.S. and Russian presidents have met since 2021when then-President Joe Biden met the Russian leader in Genevaand the first time Putin and Trump have met since 2019. It is also the first time in a decade that Putin has set foot in the U.S.

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Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin presidential aide, told CNN that Trump has already been invited to a follow-up meeting in Russia.

Heres what to know about the upcoming meeting in Alaska.

Both Trump and Putin want Ukraine to give up land

The success of a ceasefire deal hinges on Trumps ability to convince Ukraine to agree to Putins list of demands, which involves Kyiv giving up large parts of its territory. Were going to get some back, and were going to get some switched, the President said Friday at the White House. Therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.

The Trump Administration has long argued that Ukraine would have to give up land in exchange for peace. Speaking in March this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it would be very difficult for Ukraine in any reasonable time period to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014, and called for Kyiv to make concessions to achieve peace.

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Russian officials have reportedly presented U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff with a list of ceasefire demands that include Ukraine giving up the eastern Donbas region, most of which is already occupied by Russia, as well as Crimea, according to CNN. (The latter was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954, but was later illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.)

Trump has not publicly confirmed the details of the potential deal, but Zelensky has outright rejected the notion that the country would allow Russia to take over any of its territory and spoken out against the idea of facilitating peace talks without the presence of Ukraine.

Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will bring nothing, Zelensky said in his video address.

Foreign Minister David Lammy and Vice President J.D. Vance are due to meet Ukrainian and European leaders in the U.K. on Saturday to discuss the peace negotiations, a British spokesperson told Reuters.

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Thus far, Trump has not publicly remarked on Zelenskys stance on the upcoming Alaska meeting. But the President previously criticized Zelensky for being stubborn in his position for a ceasefire deal and claimed he is not ready for peace.

Ukraine appears to have the backing of the European Union. French President Emmanuel Macron, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer all spoke with Zelensky on Saturday to share their support for Ukrainian sovereignty and the end of the war.

The Russians still refuse to stop the killings, still invest in the war, and still push the idea of exchanging Ukrainian territory for Ukrainian territory, with consequences that guarantee nothing except more favorable positions for Russia to resume the war, Zelensky said on X. All our steps must bring us closer to a real end to the war, not its reconfiguration.

But Putin wants more than land

The Kremlins demands extend beyond a desire for land. As part of any agreement, Putin has reportedly called for Ukraine to give up its quest to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a European and North American alliance of which the United States is a founding member. A similar demand was made by Russia in June last year during that round of peace negotiations.

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NATO has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, supplying the smaller country with billions in military aid, weapons, and ammunition. Ukraine has been approved for NATO membership and is currently a partner country. Other former Soviet republics, including Georgia and Moldova, would also be affected by the peace deal pledge.

The Kremlin also asked for the lifting of Western sanctions, protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine, and a resolution to unfreeze the $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets that are currently being held in Europe, Reuters reports. The funds were frozen after the U.S. and other countries banned transactions with Russias central bank after the country invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Alaska is significant

The decision to hold a summit in Alaska has been criticized in part by some officials who are wary of welcoming Putin to the U.S. Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton denounced the meeting. This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, but it certainly reminds one of that, Bolton told CNN.

The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow. So, the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin, he added.

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Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said that while she saw the summit as a chance to forge meaningful agreements. She was also wary of Putin and his regime. I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms, she said in a post on X.

The Last Frontier state is also of historic significance to Russia, which sold the territory to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, despite its interest in the regions wealth of natural resources.

The deal marked an end to Russian presence in North America.

Some Russian nationalists have reportedly called for the return of Alaska to Russia, experts say. Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected, wrote Stanford University political science professor Michael McFaul on X. In 2022, a billboard stating Alaska is Ours, was seen in the Russian town of Krasnoyarsk. Local officials then told the press that the billboard was part of a private initiative.

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Meanwhile, Russia has remained firm in its military campaign against Ukraine despite such international pressure. Over the weekend, Russian drones continued their attacks on Ukraine, launching more than 45 drone strikes across Ukraine. At least two people died and another six were injured after a strike hit a minibus.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
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Weeks into President Donald Trumps second term, he stood in front of a room full of police and prosecutors and vowed to make good on promises to restore law and order and protect officers from the radical left, who Trump said wanted to destroy them for taking strong actions on crime.

With me in the White House, he said in his March 14 address, you once again have a president who will always have your back.

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Two weeks later, in one fell swoop, Trumps Department of Justice slashed an estimated $500 million in federal funding to programs to help local and state justice initiatives, including policing, crime prevention, victim services and juvenile justice. The grants varied in size from $50,000 to nearly $30 million and included efforts ranging from a community policing program to work with teens in Houston to money for an extra investigator to help prosecutors in Oregon go after fentanyl dealers.

The cuts have emerged as one of the most glaring tensions between Trumps rhetoric and his actions on law enforcement in the first six months of his second term. But its far from the only one. The result has been a complicated relationship with law enforcement groups, some of whom say the presidents actions have at times been contradictory.

Just this week, for example, the Trump administration protected the union contract for more than 4,000 Veterans Affairs police, firefighters and security guards, while canceling the contracts of almost all other workers unions in the agency. But on the same day, Trump threatened a federal takeover of Washington D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department.

The consensus from people who have expressed their opinions to me is that hes talking out of both sides of his mouth, said Ashley Heiberger, a policing professor at Moravian University and a 22-year police veteran.

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The disconnect began on Inauguration Day, when Trump pardoned more than 1,000 people convicted in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, including hundreds who were guilty of assaulting police, calling the rioters hostages. Many police unions and professional organizations criticized the move, saying Trump was putting police in danger by absolving people who had attacked officers. Those convicted of [killing or assaulting] law enforcement officers should serve their full sentences, said the national Fraternal Order of Police, along with the International Association of Police Chiefs, in a joint statement.

Since then, however, Trump and his Department of Justice have held themselves out as the protectors of state and local police, backing away from civil rights investigations involving at least a dozen police agencies. And police unions applauded an executive order Trump issued in April that promised, among other things, free legal representation for law enforcement agents accused of crimes in the line of duty and more local law enforcement access to military weapons and equipment.

More recently, Attorney General Pam Bondis office recommended a one-day sentence  with that time already served  for Brett Hankison, one of the officers involved in the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Legal experts described the move as unprecedented because the recommendation was far below the sentencing guidelines. The judge in the case ultimately sentenced Hankison to 33 months in prison.

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In June, leaders from the nations largest police union also praised the temporary tax cut on overtime pay in Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying that it will help with police recruitment and retention, because overtime is an important part of compensation for many officers. The overtime tax cut lasts through 2028, according to the IRS.

But in other realms, Trumps promises on cutting federal funding and his allegiance to his political allies has cut against the cozy relationship with police.

The administration and leaders of some of the nations 18,000 law enforcement agencies  particularly those in large, diverse cities  have clashed on issues like immigration enforcement and the Department of Justices stance against diversity initiatives.

Some local and state police officials are particularly concerned about the $500 million in cuts to their agencies and to organizations that support public safety efforts. Bondi has branded the cuts as a move to more directly invest in local and state police agencies. But some agencies are already feeling a budget crunch.

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In June, a group of law enforcement leaders from around the country sent a letter to Bondi urging her to restore gun violence prevention grants, saying the money fueled initiatives that reduced homicides and other crimes, according to Reuters. So far, the Department of Justice has not changed course.

Some of the budget cuts targeted funding for police officer training and wellness, technical assistance for rural departments and other grants to law enforcement. But the biggest cuts affected other efforts  many run by other public agencies or non-profit groups  that augment and complement policing, like mental-health crisis responders, substance abuse programs, and community violence intervention.

In early July, a federal judge allowed the cuts to proceed, while calling them shameful. Judge Amit Mehta, in Washington D.C., concluded that the administrations action is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence, but that it wasnt within his power to stop it. Displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law, Mehta wrote.

A staffer from the Department of Governmental Efficiency compiled the initial list of programs to be cut, according to reporting from Reuters. Justice Department officials said they were pivoting to putting the money towards programs that more directly supported law enforcement, but experts told The Marshall Project that the shift is not supported by the data.

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Whats so striking about these cuts, is that it really undermines the administration and [the Justice] Departments stated claims to prioritize tackling violent crime, because many of the grants that we looked at were doing precisely that, said Nicole Ndumele, a former Department of Justice deputy attorney general who now works as a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, a liberal-leaning, non-partisan, criminal justice think tank. Ndumele was part of a team that analyzed the cuts and concluded that they are likely to increase crime.

The cuts, she said, really get to the heart of undermining everyone in Americas shared interest in living in a safe community.

A number of the federal cuts targeted policing research, for example a $1 million grant to study whether officers who train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might use less force or sustain fewer personal injuries on duty. The Marshall Project investigated this concept in 2021, as it was beginning to catch on in departments across the country, and found very little empirical data on the effort.

Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, said that research like this is invaluable because police departments are often on their own in determining what kind of training to pursue.

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American policing needs to know what works, period. And theres no central repository to get that information, Wexler said. He noted that Justice Department-funded studies are often the closest thing the country has to a Good Housekeeping Seal of approval that police departments can have in determining what training works.

In rural Covington County in southern Alabama, another of the now-cancelled grants had been paying for a Connect and Protect program that paired sheriffs deputies with mental health professionals in responding to certain calls and trained officers in crisis de-escalation. The program also set up a telehealth system so that people in crisis could be evaluated on the spot instead of hauled to jail or the emergency room.

The loss of funding has led to staff departures, and will force officers back to handling mental health calls alone, according to a spokesperson for the South Central Alabama Mental Health Center, which administers the program. If funding is not restored, we risk reverting to a fragmented and reactive system, where law enforcement bears the burden of mental health crises, and individuals in need face unnecessary trauma, delays or incarceration, the center said via email.

Other programs are somewhat more optimistic about weathering the loss of funding. The 3030 Initiative, for example, is an effort by the Policing Project and New York University law school seeking to increase the proportion of women police officers in the U.S. to 30% by 2030. The effort is built on research that shows female officers use less force and less excessive force, face fewer lawsuits and are generally perceived as more trustworthy and compassionate by people affected by violent crime.

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Maureen McGough, the programs chief of strategic initiatives, said the funding cuts will limit the efforts effectiveness, but shes still bullish on their prospects. I cant overstate how much state and local [law enforcement agencies] have stayed with us, McGough said, even as the federal government cuts funding and as federal agencies pull out of partnerships with 3030. I have so much faith in this current and next generation of law enforcement leaders to promote this work internally, which is where it matters most.

Trumps stance on policing-related issues at the start of his second term has surprised even some people who worked for the Justice Department the first time he was in office. Federal prosecutors tried to withdraw from most Obama-era investigations of police during Trumps first term, but the Justice Department still investigated and found civil rights violations in the police department in Springfield, Massachusetts. Trump also pulled back federal grant money for policing in his first term, but people in the policing sector say this round of cuts is far more severe.

Even though many of the groups affected by the cuts are not directly embedded in local police agencies, sheriffs and police chiefs are bracing for the indirect impacts.

The Marshall Project reached out to dozens of police agencies for this story. Almost all declined to comment or did not return calls and emails.

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Chief Mitchell Davis III at the Hazel Crest Police Department in a suburb of Chicago was an exception. Hes on the board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a past president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Davis said his department of 37 sworn officers has not experienced cuts yet. But most of his supplemental funding comes from federal grants handed out on the state level, so he thinks he will have to abandon his hopes to keep up with the latest advances in crime-fighting equipment.

I dont know anyone whos got enough money, Davis said of local police departments. We all rely to some extent on federal funding, and when that is taken off the table, its going to hinder us.

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This article was first published by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook.
President Trump on Friday said he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday, hosting the Russian leader in the U.S. for talks about ending the war with Ukraine.

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Trump said on Truth Social.

Earlier on Friday, the president confirmed he would meet with the Russian leader and said that swapping territories will be discussed as part of the potential peace talks. Putin reportedly presented the administration with a ceasefire proposal that involved Ukraine making territorial concessions.

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Youre looking at territory thats been fought over for three and a half years. A lot of Russians have died, a lot of Ukrainians. So were looking at that, but were actually to get some back and some swapping. Its complicated. Its actually  nothing easy. Its very complicated. But were going to get some back. And were going to get some switched, Trump said.

Theyll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but well be talking about that either later or tomorrow or whatever, he added.

He said at the time he will announce the location in a little while but insisted he didnt want to as he hosted the Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders to sign a peace agreement.

Asked if he could soon be hosting a similar event alongside Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said he thinks we have a shot at it, adding were going to get it solved.

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He also punted to Zelensky to prepare to sign a ceasefire agreement.

Now, President Zelensky has to get all of his, everything he needs, because hes going to have to get ready to sign something and I think hes working hard to get that done, the president said.

Trump had been weighing whether to meet with Putin, as well as Zelensky, in the coming weeks and raised the idea of meeting with the two leaders during a call with European allies on Wednesday, a source confirmed to The Hill. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week said Russia had expressed an interest in meeting with 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 The Hill.
US President Donald Trump has said that he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Putin on Thursday had confirmed the planned meeting with Trump on the Ukraine war, suggesting the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue for the summit.

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Russia has been waging a destructive war against Ukraine for more than three years. Trump had repeatedly stated his desire to end the war quickly.

The summit will be the first between a sitting US president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

Earlier on Friday, Trump said Ukraine and Russia would likely be "swapping" portions of territory as part of a deal to end the war, calling the plans "very complicated."

Trump has said he plans to first meet Putin and then expand the talks into a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the Kremlin has been reserved about a meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

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On Thursday, Putin said he considers a meeting with Zelensky as possible, but the conditions for such negotiations must be right, and the prerequisites for this are still far from being met.

Putin did not list his conditions, but previously the Kremlin had insisted that Ukraine give up the territories Russia occupies, including Crimea which it illegally annexed in 2014, that western nations stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and that they exclude Ukraine from NATO membership.

Zelensky and his European allies have rejected those demands.
US President Donald Trump has said that he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Putin on Thursday had confirmed the planned meeting with Trump on the Ukraine war, suggesting the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue for the summit.
President Donald Trump declared Saturday morning on his Truth Social platform that Washington, D.C., will soon be a lot safer  and wrote in an oddly worded post that a White House press conference will, essentially, stop violent crime in the nations capital.

On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C., the president announced. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be the safest!!!

He ended the post with, Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.

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While it remains unclear what he plans to announce, Trump has supported congressional efforts for a federal takeover of the capital several times over the past six months. In February, the MAGA leader cited crime and homelessness as motivating reasons.

Last month, Trump disclosed hes already testing a federal takeover of D.C.

Trump added at the time that his White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been working very closely with Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat. Prompted by a question about the upcoming New York mayoral race, Trump then hinted that the East Coast city might be next.

Trump has alluded to rampant crime in both cities as his reasoning for the idea, but the New York City Police Department announced in June that it experienced, from January through May, the lowest number of shootings and murders in the citys recorded history.

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D.C. appears to have experienced a similar drop. The districts Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Friday that in a year-to-date comparison to the same period last year, violent crime had dropped by 26%.

Trumps apparent desire to take over D.C. was seemingly revived by Saturdays assault of Edward Coristine, a former federal staffer nicknamed Big Balls  who worked for the so-called Department of Government Efficiency under former Trump ally Elon Musk.

Trump has publicly supported the idea of a federal takeover of D.C. on multiple occasions. Alex Brandon/Associated Press

If D.C. doesnt get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that theyre not going to get away with it anymore, Trump wrote Tuesday on his platform.

Federal law enforcement in D.C. was bolstered Friday, the White House confirmed.

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Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the day prior that Trump has ordered an increased presence of federal officers to patrol D.C. starting at midnight. The effort is expected to last one week, but could certainly be extended.

Trump appears to have sidelined alternative solutions to the problem, however. He slashed federal funding last month for gun violence prevention programs across the U.S., cutting $158 million in grants directed to groups specifically in cities like D.C. and New York.

Related...
President Donald Trumps campaign to shake up international institutions has a new aim: upending the leadership of a Paris-based agency whose data and research help shape global energy policy.

The 32-country International Energy Agency has increasingly rankled Republicans in Washington by producing analyses that point to a waning future for fossil fuels and a need to embrace wind and solar power. Now the Trump administration is demanding that the agency replace its No. 2 leader with someone more aligned with the presidents policies, multiple energy industry insiders and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the situation told POLITICOs E&E News.

The IEAs second-ranking position has traditionally been filled by an American. Its current second-in-command, retired career State Department diplomat Mary Warlick, has served in the role since 2021.

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The new pressure from Washington follows months of Trumps efforts to bend global power centers to his will, including through his trade wars, his demands for higher defense spending by NATO members and his withdrawals from bodies such as UNESCO and the World Health Organization. It also follows months of public complaints about the IEA from top Trump administration officials, most notably Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has vowed to make changes at the body or end U.S. support.

Some Republicans say the IEA has discouraged investment in fossil fuels by publishing analyses that show near-term peaks in global demand for oil and gas. The product that the IEA produces is not generally accepted by everybody. Its just not, said Mark Menezes, who served as deputy Energy secretary during Trump's first term. And the political context has changed.

Fight from the inside out

The Trump administration is aiming to push changes internally, according to a Republican energy lobbyist with close ties to the Department of Energy.

They want to get operatives in there, whether theyre career or political, who can actually move the needle, said the lobbyist, who like the others familiar with the U.S. efforts was granted anonymity to speak freely. Theyre going to get someone they trust and that person is going to fight from the inside out.

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Regarding the U.S. effort to pressure the IEA, the lobbyist said: The fact that Wright is out there now talking about it publicly shows that its elevated.

House Republican appropriators are also lashing out against the IEA by pushing legislation to withdraw U.S. funding starting Oct. 1.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment, and an Energy Department spokesperson did not respond directly to questions posed by E&E News. The IEA said in a statement that it does not disclose information about individual staff contracts due to reasons of privacy and confidentiality.

A former U.S. official who worked closely with the IEA called Warlick a hardworking, serious, diligent and capable professional who does her work in a way that is consistent with guidance from the executive director and with guidance from the member countries.

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The U.S. helped establish the IEA following the 1973 Arab oil embargo to focus on energy security. Today, the organization publishes influential energy market forecasts and data that guide major investments and government policies. Many of those studies have conflicted with the White Houses insistence that fossil fuels are more reliable and often cheaper than wind, solar and other clean energy sources.

Leaving the IEA would lessen U.S. influence or input on its work.

Historically, the United States has wielded a lot of influence at the agency and has been able to work with other member governments to advance its mission, said Jonathan Elkind, a former assistant secretary for international affairs at DOE during the Obama administration.

There are going to be certain elements of policy that the current U.S. administration really disagrees with other member countries on, and the U.S. administration is entirely within its rights to advocate for adjustments in the agenda of the IEA, Elkind said. The U.S. does not have the right to simply insist that everybody will change as a consequence of what the U.S. has done.

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Threatening to pull out of the IEA is misguided and myopic, said Amanda Maxwell, managing director of global engagement at the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council.

Unfortunately, its par for the course for the Trump administration to try and ignore objective data, Maxwell said. Whether its climate science or energy trends, this administration is trying to make us less informed about the world we live in.

Rosy scenarios

Wright has been especially critical of the IEAs projection that oil demand will peak this decade, calling it nonsensical in a Breitbart interview in June. Republicans also bristled at the Biden administrations use of IEA analysis in 2024 to justify a U.S. decision to pause consideration of new liquefied natural gas export permits.

In testimony at a Senate hearing last year, David Turk, then-deputy Energy secretary under Biden, cited IEA findings that showed global natural gas demand on the decline. The Trump administration is now betting heavily on the opposite occurring  pushing for a huge increase in U.S. natural gas exports and using trade pressure to cajole allies into buying massive amounts of the fuel, though some market analysts have expressed doubts about the realities of those hopes.

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The IEA has also said that no new oil and gas projects are compatible with the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to less-than-catastrophic levels. Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from that pact on the first day of his second term.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and then-Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), now retired from Congress, wrote in a letter to IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in March 2024 that the IEA has strayed from its mission and become a cheerleader for the energy transition. Birol has defended the organizations commitment to energy security while acknowledging that its mission has broadened.

Meanwhile, Trump ordered the State Department in February to do a six-month review of U.S. participation in international organizations and treaties and recommend leaving those that dont serve his priorities.

One point of contention is the IEAs World Energy Outlook, a lengthy annual report that dissects global trends and related impacts on energy security and greenhouse gas emissions. IEA calls it the "most authoritative global source of energy analysis and projections."

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In 2020, the IEA abandoned a portion of the outlook, known as the Current Policies Scenario, that analyzed the global energy picture based on existing national energy policies.

Trump officials have criticized the IEA for replacing the current policy analysis with a Stated Policies Scenario, which multiple Republicans and fossil fuel supporters say is based on policies that arent being implemented. The critics say the change paints a rosier-than-justified picture of global trends toward lower-carbon energy sources.

IEA officials are pledging to resurrect the Current Policies Scenario this year.

As ever, the forthcoming World Energy Outlook 2025 will contain multiple scenarios reflecting the wide spectrum of possible outcomes that today's market conditions and policies imply, an IEA spokesperson told E&E News. This years edition will include the Current Policies Scenario, which will illustrate the implications of a continuation of policies and measures currently in place.

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Warlick, the IEAs deputy executive director, spent decades at the State Department, including as President Barack Obamas ambassador to Serbia from 2010 to 2012 and as the National Security Councils senior director for Russia under George W. Bush. From 2014 to 2017, Warlick was the State Departments principal deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Energy Resources and represented the U.S. on the IEA governing board.

Trump administration officials in DOEs Office of International Affairs, which is led by acting Assistant Secretary Tommy Joyce, tried to pressure the State Department into signing off on pushing Warlick out in March, according to a former State Department official.

At the time, State prevented that from happening, but since then a broad reorganization of the department has eliminated its Bureau of Energy Resources and most of the officials there who worked closely with the IEA.

That could mean DOE would face little resistance if it tries again.

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In recent IEA meetings, POLITICO has reported, U.S. officials have pushed for the organization to stop publishing data that they argue promotes the shift to clean power over fossil fuels.

Just how the U.S. would force the agency to replace Warlick isnt entirely clear. She is on a limited contract, and while the U.S. is an important member of the IEA, providing around 14 percent of the organizations budget in recent years, it isnt the only one.

Warlick rarely speaks publicly. At an Atlantic Council event in 2022, she said that the uneven pace of clean energy investments among countries has caused geopolitical fragmentation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Such investment is still well below the level needed to bring [greenhouse gas] emissions down if we are to keep net-zero and sustainable development goals in sight, Warlick said. Massive investment in clean energy is the best guarantee of energy security in the future, and it will also drive down harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trump administration is aiming to replace a top-ranking official at the International Energy Agency, amid a ratcheted-up U.S. pressure campaign on the Paris-based body, multiple energy industry insiders and former U.S. officials with knowledge of the situation told POLITICOs E&E News.

The agencys second-in-command, a retired State Department official named Mary Warlick, is the main target for replacement, said the insiders, who were granted anonymity to speak freely.

The pressure follows months of public frustrations with the IEA from top Trump administration officials, most notably Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has vowed to make changes at the body or withdraw U.S. support. Some Republicans say the IEA has discouraged investment in fossil fuels by publishing analyses that show near-term peaks in global demand for oil and gas.

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The product that the IEA produces is not generally accepted by everybody. Its just not, said Mark Menezes, who served as deputy Energy secretary during Trump's first term. And the political context has changed.

The Trump administration is aiming to push changes internally, according to a Republican energy lobbyist with close ties to the Department of Energy.

They want to get operatives in there, whether theyre career or political, who can actually move the needle, said the lobbyist. Theyre going to get someone they trust and that person is going to fight from the inside out.

He added of the U.S. pressure campaign on the IEA, The fact that Wright is out there now talking about it publicly shows that its elevated.

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The White House, meanwhile, is championing fossil fuels as more reliable and often cheaper than wind, solar, and other clean energy sources, despite analysis that suggests renewable power is cheaper and faster to deploy. Now, House lawmakers are threatening to withdraw U.S. funding for the IEA in the fiscal 2026 budget process  after passing a recissions package that cuts funding for United Nations agencies and other international organizations.

Wright has criticized the IEA for its projection that oil demand will peak this decade, calling it nonsensical in a Breitbart interview in June. Republicans also bristled at the Biden administrations use of IEA analysis in 2024 to justify a U.S. decision to pause consideration of new liquefied natural gas export permits.

In testimony at a Senate hearing last year, David Turk, deputy energy secretary under Biden, cited IEA findings that showed global gas demand on the decline.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and then-Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), now retired from Congress, wrote a letter to IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol last March saying the IEA has strayed from its mission and become a cheerleader for the energy transition. Birol, for his part, has defended the organizations commitment to energy security while acknowledging that its mission has broadened.

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Meanwhile, Trump ordered the State Department in February to do a six-month review of U.S. participation in international organizations and treaties and recommend leaving those that dont serve his priorities.

Career U.S. diplomat under fire

IEA officials are pledging to resurrect a Current Policy Scenario in the IEAs World Energy Outlook later this year. In 2020, the IEA abandoned that analysis, which analyzed the global energy picture based on existing national energy policies.

U.S. officials have criticized the IEA for replacing the current policy analysis with a Stated Policies Scenario, which multiple Republicans and fossil fuel supporters say is based on policies that arent being implemented. The critics say it paints a rosier picture of global trends toward lower-carbon energy sources.

As ever, the forthcoming World Energy Outlook 2025 will contain multiple scenarios reflecting the wide spectrum of possible outcomes that today's market conditions and policies imply, an IEA spokesperson told E&E News. This years edition will include the Current Policies Scenario, which will illustrate the implications of a continuation of policies and measures currently in place.

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Leaving the IEA would deprive the United States of any influence or input at the organization and could leave it isolated.

The U.S. helped establish the organization following the 1973 Arab oil embargo to focus on energy security. Today, it publishes influential energy market forecasts and data that guide major investments and government policies.

The U.S. is just one of 32 members of the IEA. That means it cant unilaterally set the organizations agenda. But it does have a large amount of influence and has historically been able to work with other member governments to advance the agency, said Jonathan Elkind, former assistant secretary for international affairs at DOE during the Obama administration.

There are going to be certain elements of policy that the current U.S. administration really disagrees with other member countries on, and the U.S. administration is entirely within its rights to advocate for adjustments in the agenda of the IEA, Elkind said. The U.S. does not have the right to simply insist that everybody will change as a consequence of what the U.S. has done.

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The White House did not respond for comment, and a DOE spokesperson did not respond directly to questions posed by E&E.

The IEAs second-ranking position has traditionally been filled by an American.

In 2021 that post went to Warlick, a former career diplomat who served as ambassador to Serbia from 2010 to 2012 and previously sat on the National Security Council as the senior director for Russia. From 2014 to 2017, Warlick was the State Departments principal deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Energy Resources and represented the U.S. on the IEA governing board.

Officials in DOEs Office of International Affairs, which is led by acting Assistant Secretary Tommy Joyce, tried to strong-arm the State Department into signing off on pushing Warlick out back in March, according to a former State Department official.

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At the time, State provided a backstop to Warlicks ouster but since then a broad reorganization of the department has eliminated the Bureau of Energy Resources and most of the officials there who worked closely with the IEA.

That could mean DOE would face little resistance if it tries again.

In recent IEA meetings, U.S. officials have pushed for the organization to stop publishing data that they argue promotes the shift to clean power over fossil fuels.

A former U.S. official who worked closely with the IEA called Warlick a hardworking, serious, diligent and capable professional who does her work in a way that is consistent with guidance from the executive director and with guidance from the member countries.

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Just how the U.S. would force a replacement isnt entirely clear. Warlick is on a limited contract and while the U.S. is an important member, providing around 14 percent of the organizations budget in recent years, it isnt the only one.

Warlick rarely speaks publicly. At an Atlantic Council event in 2022, she said that the clean energy investment caused geopolitical fragmentation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Such investment is still well below the level needed to bring emissions down if we are to keep net-zero and sustainable development goals in sight, Warlick said. Massive investment in clean energy is the best guarantee of energy security in the future, and it will also drive down harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

This story also appears in Energywire.
Washington  President Trump has directed the military to target drug cartels in Latin America, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News.

It's not clear if or when the military could take action.

The news was first reported by The New York Times.

Since returning to the White House for a second term, Mr. Trump has undertaken efforts to target drug cartels in Latin America, which he has said are behind the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs across the southern border and into the U.S.

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Mr. Trump signed an executive order at the start of his second administration that directed the State Department to designate cartels and transnational gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. The State Department in February announced the designation for eight gangs, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. It has since added two Haitian gangs and the Houthis in Yemen to the list of designated foreign terrorist organizations.

The Treasury Department has also sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles, also known as the Cartel of the Sun, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, it announced last month. The Trump administration said the Venezuela-based group is led by President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials and "provides material support to foreign terrorist organizations threatening the peace and security" of the U.S. The U.S. doubled the award for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million on Thursday.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the award "pathetic" and "crude political propaganda."

House and Senate Democrats have urged the Trump administration to use the foreign terrorist designation to take action to curb the flow of U.S.-made guns across the southern border by disrupting cartels' financial networks and imposing harsher penalties on entities that provide material support to them.

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Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment in May that accused an alleged Mexican cartel member of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization by providing grenades to a cartel.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told EWTN, a Catholic television network, on Thursday that the foreign terrorist organization designation gives the U.S. government more legal authorities to target cartels.

"It's no longer a law enforcement issue," he said. "It becomes a national security issue."

Rubio later added that the designation "allows us to now target what they're operating and to use other elements of American power  intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever  to target these groups if we have an opportunity to do it."

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Mr. Trump has also sought to use the military to help implement his immigration agenda, with more than 10,000 service members sent to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Defense Department. The Pentagon also created three National Defense Areas in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and are treated as extensions of military bases. U.S.Northern Command said the areas aim to enhance border security operations.

In June, Mr. Trump also directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize roughly 4,000 members of California's National Guard to Los Angeles, over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom, to assist with immigration enforcement actions. About 700 active-duty Marines were also deployed to California's largest city.

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He has attacked radical judges who rule against him, punished media and law firms he views as hostile, and replaced career civil servants with political loyalists.

Seven months after returning to office, insisting the justice system had been weaponized against him, President Donald Trump has reshaped it to suit his agenda in a way that is unprecedented in American history.

On Friday, that agenda took another vengeful turn, when Attorney General Pam Bondi opened a criminal investigation against one of Trumps biggest adversariesNew York Attorney General Letitia James.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is currently trying to fend off a MAGA revolt over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. / Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

What stands out about the administrations latest plot is not that a probe was launched against a Democratic nemesis, but the rationale for launching it.

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James was elected New Yorks attorney general in 2018, vowing to pursue Trump if she won office. In 2023, she successfully sued him after a judge agreed he committed civil fraud by inflating the value of his properties for financial gain. Trump, who now owes more than $500 million in penalties, was furious.

Two years later, the DOJ has subpoenaed James and accused her of deprivation of rights, a crime that involves a government official violating someones constitutional rights in an official capacity.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is one of Trumps longstanding adversaries. / David Dee Delgado/Getty

Trump is making good on his promise to investigate the investigators.

Critics say the latest probe is one of the most blatant examples of the presidents bid to turn the justice system into his own personal weapon, but its merely part of an ongoing pattern.

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At the FBI, Trumps handpicked director Kash Patel came into the role vowing to purge the law enforcement agency of Deep State operatives or anyone he believed didnt support Trump.

On Thursday, two longstanding FBI agents, Brian Driscoll and Steven Jensen, became the latest casualties.

Jensen had been the assistant director of the FBIs Washington field office, while Driscoll served briefly as acting director and had resisted demands earlier this year for the names of agents who investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

FBI Director Kash Patel vowed to purge the FBI of

This is fear and loathing in the FBI, says CNN intelligence analyst and former FBI assistant director John Miller.

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Agents, analysts, employees wonder: Is the case that Ive been assigned to something thats going to make somebody at the Justice Department angry?

The ongoing firestorm surrounding sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell is another cautionary tale.

As MAGA rage intensified over the Epstein files last month, Trump tried in vain to kill the story, even going so far as to denigrate his own base for demanding more transparency.

When that didnt work, he gave the green light for his Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to release a highly classified document on the so-called Russia hoax.

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This was then used to accuse Obama officials of a treasonous conspiracy to undermine Trumps first-term agenda by linking him to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Democrats, most notably Obama himself, dismissed the report as a weak attempt to distract from the Epstein scandal.

But Bondi doubled down this week, launching a Grand Jury probe that could pave the way to potentially prosecute people Trump claims were at the center of the plot, including former FBI Director James Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Liz Oyer, a former Justice Department attorney, testifying about her experience to the the US House and Senate Judiciary Committee. / ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images

Pam Bondi made it clear from day one that she views the Department of Justice as Donald Trumps personal law firm, Liz Oyer, a former DOJ pardon attorney, told the Daily Beast.

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Its eroding the credibility of the department with courts and with the American public, and it is likely to take decades, if not generations, to repair the institution.

Oyer was appointed in 2022 under President Joe Biden, advising him on the backlog of thousands of individuals seeking presidential clemency.

But in March, her dream job ended abruptly after she was asked to make a recommendation to Bondi to reinstate actor Mel Gibsons gun rights, which were rescinded after a domestic violence conviction in 2011. Oyer reviewed the case and refused. Within hours, she says, she was terminated.

Maurene Comey, who was fired by the Justice Department on Thursday, wrote an email warning about the chilling effect of fear in the department. / Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Another recent casualty was Maureen Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, who was suddenly fired on July 16 from her job as assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

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The 36-year-old had prosecuted Epstein and Maxwell, and sources say she knew more about the case than anyoneincluding the lengths Maxwell would go to in order to get her sentence quashed.

In short, the defendant apparently decides when she wishes to disclose facts to the Court, and those facts shift when it serves the defendants interests, reads a 2022 sentencing memo, co-signed by Comey.

A few days after she was fired, Trump sent Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the presidents former personal attorney, to meet Maxwell in prison, where he quizzed her on more than 100 people connected to the late child sex predator.

Soon after, the department transferred Maxwell to a minimum-security prison campa move that many say is highly unusual for someone with a 20-year prison sentence for sex crimes.

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Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility of giving her a pardon or commutation. Coincidence or cover-up?

Donald Trump is said to weighing up offering a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein former co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured, right) in exchange for her testimony. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

The Trump administration, on the other hand, makes no apologies for reversing what it views as lawfare under the Biden administration.

After all, the president faced four criminal indictments by Democrat prosecutors ahead of the 2024 election: two for trying to subvert Bidens 2020 victory, one for mishandling classified documents, and one for paying hush money to cover up a sex scandal with a porn star. He also got slugged by Jamess civil court case.

But Trump, who has repeatedly said hes the victim of a witch hunt, made his intentions clear on the campaign trail: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.

Promises made, promises kept.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Saturday, said that the Indian Armed Forces had destroyed at least five Pakistani fighter aircraft and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor. The Air Chief revealed the information about India's damage to Pakistan's defence capabilities, while addressing an event at the Hal Management Academy. "We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. Listing other damages on Pakistan's defence capabilities, the Air Chief said, "We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small. Two SAGW systems that is in Lahore and Okara. We attacked three hangars. One was the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there." India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases, including Nur Khan air base in Pakistan. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 16 people have been killed due to Pakistani shelling, and 59 others have been injured. (ANI)
(NewsNation)  A lawsuit brought by California Gov. Gavin Newsom against President Donald Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops to subdue protests in the state will go to trial Monday.

The showdown will take place in a bench trial where a judge will examine evidence in the suit challenging the legality of the federal governments actions in California over the summer.

Newsom and the State of California filed suit against Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense over the National Guard being sent to the state to quell protests over immigration raids.

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The outcome will be highly consequential as it will carve the extent to which the president can override state leaders with military action in times of unrest.

Trumps deadline for Russia to end war in Ukraine arrives

Whats at issue in the lawsuit?

On June 6, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement began carrying out immigration raids in Los Angeles, which led to city-wide protests.

While Trump called the demonstrations a breakdown of order, Newsom argues that the protests were under control by state forces.

In sending troops to LA, Trump cited Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which allows the president to call into federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary when there is a rebellion, an invasion or the danger of either happening.

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This order must be issued through a governor, and Newsom did not request troops in LA, the lawsuit argues. It said that there was neither a rebellion nor an invasion, nor the possibility of either.

Trumps federal troop deployment is the first without a governors request since the Civil Rights Movement  and a violation of federal code, according to Californias lawsuit.

Judge Charles R. Breyer, who will hear the case, sided with California in a June 12 ruling that ordered the return of the troops to state control.

Trump, Putin will meet in the coming days: Kremlin

His [Trumps] actions were illegalboth exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.

What are the arguments on both sides?

Newsom cites the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law that forbids the U.S. military from participating in civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil.

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Exceptions to the Act include enforcement approved by Congress or under circumstances that are expressly authorized by the Constitution.

Newsom argues that Trump violated the law and overstepped Californias sovereign authority over the National Guard.

Trumps legal team argues the deployment was justified under the Insurrection Act, which can be invoked to suppress rebellion, violence or enforce the law in certain situations.

At the time of the protests, Trump called protesters paid insurrectionists on social media and said demonstrators should be in jail.

Newsom argues that the requirements to invoke that law were not met as he did not request federal help.

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NewsNations Anna Kutz contributed to this story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff may have misrepresented Russia's position on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine after he met with Vladimir Putin this week.

Source: Bild, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Bild reports that Russia has not abandoned its demand for complete control over Crimea and Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts prior to any ceasefire, and has only agreed to a "sectoral" ceasefire.

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However, in peace proposals leaked to the media Putin appeared willing to discuss a ceasefire after the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces only from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.

Bilds sources say this could have been the result of Witkoff misinterpreting what Putin said about a "peaceful withdrawal" from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts: Russia is demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from these oblasts, but Witkoff thought the proposal was for Russian troops to withdraw from there.

"Witkoff doesn't know what he's talking about," the German tabloid quotes an anonymous Ukrainian official as saying. According to Bild, its an assessment shared by "representatives of the German government".

Background:

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WASHINGTON  An unkept promise of Donald Trumps presidency is that hed end the war between Russia and Ukraine in one swift diplomatic masterstroke.

Trump made threats. He applied pressure. Still, the bombs keep falling, the casualties continue to pile up.

Now, Trump is betting that a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will yield the elusive breakthrough and possibly quell concerns among voters about his handling of the war.

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The summit taking place Friday on friendly turf, the red state of Alaska, amounts to one of the biggest gambits of Trumps second term. Hosting the meeting raises expectations that hell stop the fighting. The president faces traps in sitting down with Putin, who is well-versed in the territorial issues at stake, but he also enjoys economic and military leverage. Creating a durable peace that will preserve Ukraines independence will test the dealmaking skills that are Trumps point of pride.

If you roll into the meeting not prepped, you can get jammed by Putin, said Michael McFaul, who was U.S. ambassador to Russia in the Obama administration. Summits are to achieve an objective that advances American national interests. Theyre the means to end, and I sometimes feel that Trump feels the meeting is an end in itself.

Inside the Trump administration, a national security official acknowledged that forging a peace accord wont be easy. One of the combatants wont be at the table: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has refused to relinquish territory to Russia that was illegally annexed.

Whether or not theres a breakthrough in the next week or two, well find out, said the Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Ultimately, Putin and Zelenskyy have to be able to agree on something fundamentally. Third parties can do anything they want, but these two men have to agree to things.

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Sitting in a room with Putin, a canny negotiator in his own right, Trump may be lured into endorsing a peace deal that carves up Ukraine, foreign policy experts caution.

I worry that in the eagerness to look like a peacemaker, President Trump will say, Yeah, that sounds like a good idea to me, McFaul said. Putin will say, Donetsk [a city in eastern Ukraine] was always part of Russia. And Trump will say, Youre right about that.

Putin is good at those stories, McFaul continued. He knows his history, and he can be engaging in his narrative. Thats what the president needs to be ready for and his team needs to get him ready for.

Another possibility is that Putin tries to stall the president further, promising concessions he has no intention of making in hopes of consolidating gains on the battlefield, one former U.S. official said.

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Putin may try to divert President Trump from Trumps goal of stopping the war and establishing a ceasefire by promising things later, said William Taylor, who was charge daffaires at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine during Trumps first term. Then, Putin continues to fight and continues to kill Ukrainians.

No matter the outcome, Putin comes away with at least a symbolic victory: Hes getting a large, bright stage at a time when hes an international pariah. Two years ago, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes involving the abduction of Ukrainian children. The warrant substantially limited potential locations for the two world leaders to meet.

President Trump  just by going to a meeting with Putin, who for most of the democratic world is a rogue, imperialist dictator  is giving him legitimacy, McFaul said.

The summit will inevitably invite comparisons to one held in Helsinki in 2018.

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At a joint news conference with Putin that year, Trump came off as eager to forge a personal connection after years of icy bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia. Citing Putins denial of interfering in the 2016 presidential race, Trump said at the time: I dont see any reason why it would be Russia that meddled in his victory over Hillary Clinton that year. (He later claimed he had misspoken, affirming that he believed the U.S. intelligence communitys conclusion that Russian meddling had occurred but added that there could be other people also who interfered in the 2016 election.)

This time around, Trump is more seasoned and has grown impatient with Putins conduct of the war. He has suggested that his wife, Melania Trump, has influenced his view of Putin, reminding him of the damage that Russia has inflicted on Ukraine.

For his part, Putin is more diminished. As of this summer, Russian casualties were expected to hit 1 million. If he chooses, Trump could punish Russia for prolonging the war by slapping secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian energy, a step he has threatened to take.

Trump is in a stronger position this time than in that first meeting, Taylor said. If President Trump goes into the meeting with Putin and exercises the political, military and economic leverage that hes got, there could be a ceasefire.

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Trump heads into the summit facing difficulties at home. His administration has struggled to stem the backlash from his base over the Jeffrey Epstein case. Last week, Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following a hiring report that showed weak job growth.

A recent poll from the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that Trumps approval rating was 38%  a 6-point drop from April.

Hes pretty close to the theoretical floor in this polarized era for approval ratings, said Alexander Theodoridis, director of the poll.

Among Trump voters, support for his handling of the Russia-Ukraine war stood at 64% compared with other issues on which they approved of his performance by significantly higher margins, Theodoridis said. A total of 85% of Trumps 2024 voters approved of his performance on immigration issues; 78% favored his work on jobs; and 71% on tariffs.

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Statecraft is a proven way for presidents to improve their standing at home. A commander in chief enjoys far more latitude in shaping events in the foreign policy arena than when it comes to domestic affairs.

The summit, said Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, will change the subject in a positive way for Trump if he actually stands up to Putin and demands a just peace for Ukraine.

That would be a positive diversion, Coons added. But it would be the worst of both worlds if it [the summit] is intended both to be a diversion from the domestic focus on things like tariffs and Epstein, and he fails to be strong.

An added incentive for Trump to end the conflict could be an award that he seems to covet. His White House appears to be methodically building a case that he has earned the Nobel Peace Prize, drawing attention to various efforts to reduce tensions in global hot spots.

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Jan. 31 is the deadline for nominating candidates for the 2026 prize. The Nobel selection committee will announce the winner in October of that year.

On Friday, Trump held a ceremony in the White House to mark a U.S.-brokered accord ending hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Questioned by reporters, the leaders of both countries touted Trumps candidacy for a prize that three other American presidents have won. Barack Obama was the most recent winner, in 2009.

Still, the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan would be merely an amuse-bouche compared with ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a nuclear-armed power.

Putin is clearly in a weaker position, Taylor said. This invasion of Ukraine has turned out to be a disaster for him. And Trump has the cards this time. Hes got leverage, experience and confidence. Hes eager to solve this problem and end the war. He sees that Putin is the problem. Putin is standing between him and the end of the war.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
As they used to say on The X-Files, The truth is out there.

But its sure getting harder to find.

Take the future of Medicaid, for instance.

On July 30, the National Journal published an article about the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill.

Thats the one U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, a Bowling Green Republican, shepherded thorough committee and on to passage.

It quotes Guthrie as calling it a monumental piece of legislation that preserves and protects the program for our expectant mothers, children, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities for generations to come.

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But, the article said, the law also has provisions projected to hit the chairmans district hard, including a significant reduction in state-directed payments. Those cuts are delayed until 2028, giving hospital groups in the Bluegrass State and nationwide hope that they will have enough time to either campaign for a fix or plan for the worst.

It quotes Gov. Andy Beshear as saying, He has a ton of rural hospitals in his district. He is firing Kentucky health care workers. He is kicking people off their coverage and making it harder to maintain your coverage. He is backing a bill that directly hits his constituents and is going to make their life harder.

Guthrie told the Journal that Beshear is fearmongering and testing the waters for a run for president.

The article says, When the bills provisions that reduce state-directed payments take effect in 2028, subsidies will plummet from $2.4 billion, the current level, to $235 million over 10 years  representing a 90(%) cut.

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It said, Of the rural hospitals nationwide that receive the most Medicaid payments (the top 10%), four of the seven are in Guthries district, according to an analysis provided by the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

They include T.J. Samson Community Hospital, Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center, the Medical Center at Caverna, and Jane Todd Crawford Hospital.

The article says Guthrie touted a $50 billion rural hospital fund, which was included in the bill to help mitigate the impacts of the legislation. The fund is designed to help rural hospitals stay afloat.

Beshear called that a drop in the bucket.

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The same day that article ran, an opinion piece by Guthrie, Heres the truth: The One Big, Beautiful Bill actually strengthens Medicaid, ran in the Messenger-Inquirer.

It said, As you may have seen in the news over the past few weeks, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have spread misinformation about this bill, claiming that it is a disaster for Kentucky families. Thats simply untrue.

The article says, Truth: The Medicaid provisions included in the One, Big Beautiful Bill ensure our most vulnerable Americans continue receiving the support they need. It strengthens the program by removing deceased recipients from the Medicaid rolls, requiring states to conduct more frequent eligibility checks for the expansion population, ensuring that individuals are not enrolled in multiple states and enacting commonsense work requirements for able-bodied Americans who choose not to work.

Additionally, our bill expands access to Home and Community Based Services for low-income seniors and individuals living with a disability.

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A day later, Kentucky Health News wrote, President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes drastic changes to how Kentuckys hospitals are paid, especially for Medicaid patients, and could result in cuts to services or even closure for some, according to health officials.

In Kentucky, those cuts will amount to $38 billion in federal cuts to the Medicaid program over 10 years, according to the liberal-leaning Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

The article says, Medicaid covers about one in three Kentuckians, or 1.44 million people.

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 31,426 Daviess Countians were on Medicaid earlier this year.

I covered Guthrie for years, and though I rarely agree with him, I like him as a person.

I sure hope hes right.

But I sure have my doubts.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Texas State Technical College campus in Williamson County is expanding its program dedicated to manufacturing, opening new doors for residents of the fast-growing county.

The Advanced Manufacturing Technology  Industrial Maintenance program will relocate to a different floor of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto, which can now hold 40 students in a 4,122-square-foot learning space. In the previous location, the program could only hold 12 students.

According to TSTCs Business Analytics and Reporting department, the program had more than 45 graduates between summer 2020 to spring 2025.

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Dr. Kelly Coke, the provost of TSTC, said the school chose to invest in the expansion since semiconducting, robotics and industrial maintenance has really taken off in the region.

We have renovated our third floor space for our Advanced Manufacturing Technology program, specifically for our industrial maintenance program, Coke said. We did that to meet the growing demands of the advanced manufacturing technology needs in this area.

Major tech players have recently moved into the county, increasing demand for industrial maintenance workers. Samsung is currently building a $17 billion chip plant in Taylor, and Teslas Gigafactory in Austin has brought thousands of new jobs to the region.

Learn More: Teslas local workforce has yet to rebound from last years job cuts

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David Porter, the executive director of Williamson County economic development, said TSTC is helping create a talent pipeline to cultivate a strong workforce in the county.

What Texas State Technical College is doing is only going to enhance our capability of attracting even more companies, but they are one of our greatest asset, he said.

TSTC Dean of Manufacturing Programs Roger Snow said that investing in semiconductor manufacturing is a crucial step for the school, especially as President Donald Trump plans to introduce an 100 percent tariff on semiconductor imports.

Theres a theres an element of safety, and I think national pride as well, in saying we were able to sustain ourselves and and therefore in control of our future, Snow said of semiconductor production.

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The new learning space is only part of TSTCs expansion. By this fall, TSTC aims to repurpose the former Industrial Systems space as a mock clean room to mimic conditions in a semiconductor lab.

Coke said the college is also planning to build an Advanced Manufacturing Center, a new building set to be ready in the spring 2027.

Right now were limited on space, and in that building were going to be able to serve program wise, full campus wise, about 300 students, she said.

Porter said TSTCs latest expansion is only going help cultivate homegrown talent in the county.

Its going to be a wonderful opportunity for to bring in even more people to train to go to work in the semiconductor industry, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Twin Cities Arab Film Festival shares dates and details for 2025 originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

The 19th Twin Cities Arab Film Festival is on its way.

Mizna, an arts organization supporting the work of Arab and SWANA artists, has announced that the 2025 edition will take place from Sept. 24 to 28 at The Main Cinema, with a closing day celebration featuring films and other programming at the Walker Art Center.

19th Twin Cities Arab Film FestivalCourtesy of Mizna

"As we witness the world engulfed by preventable, human-made catastrophe  from Palestine to Sudan to Northern Minnesota  we draw each other near and we work together to rebuild a 'shared world,'" reads the fest's page on Mizna's website.

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Organizers have not yet revealed the fest's lineup, but the website says it "will present a selection of films that encourage us to gather more inclusively, to build more intentionally, to unite more readily, and to see more clearly."

Additionally, the five-day fest will again include a free film screening under the Third Avenue Bridge, as well as lectures, a dance night at the Cedar Cultural Center, and a filmmaking workshop with Randa Jarrar.

Early-bird passes and four-packs for the festival are available through Sept. 1. The early-bird pass gets you access to all the festival's films for $75. The price will rise to $85 on Sept. 1.

Related: Movies to see this week: 'Waiting for Guffman,' 'Lady Snowblood,' Herzog docs

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT)  Two suspects were arrested in connection to an early morning shooting in Hattiesburg.

The shooting occurred in the 200 block of Martin Luther King Avenue just before 1:00 a.m. on August 8.

Jones County woman arrested for $70K SNAP benefits theft

Police said an altercation resulting in shots being fired. One victim was injured and transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

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Officers arrested Melvin Manassa, 23, and Quantazia Roberts, 23, in connection to the shooting. Manassa was charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, and Roberts was charged with one count of accessory after the fact for attempted first-degree murder.

Melvin Manassa (Courtesy: Forrest Co. Jail) Quantazia Roberts (Courtesy: Forrest Co. Jail)

Both Manassa and Roberts have been booked into Forrest County Jail.

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CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Two businesses in Chicopee are teaming up to help a family in need after a fire destroyed their home.

Rumbleseat Bar and Bernats Deli came together Friday evening to host a fundraiser to help support the family during this difficult time. All the proceeds from the event held at Rumbleseat will help the family get back on their feet after they lost their home in a fire earlier this month.

Springfield scrap yard fire sends smoke over city; Residents advised to stay inside

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Bernats Polish Deli provided all of the food during the event. One of the family members is an employee who told 22News about the power of community.

But especially the Polish community in western Mass is coming together to support, said owner William Stetson. The outpouring of support for this one is like something Ive never seen.

If you would like to support the family, you are encouraged to stop by Bernats, located on Meadow Street in Chicopee, during regular business hours.

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.
IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA)  Two 40-year-old men from Indiana were arrested on Wednesday after over 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine, other drugs and a pair of brass knuckles were located in Iroquois County.

On Aug. 6, Iroquois County Sheriffs Police arrested 40-year-old Branden Harrison of Rensselaer and 40-year-old William Merrill Jr. of Indianapolis. According to police reports, Harrison and Merrill were initially stopped by deputies for operating a 2003 Jaguar with expired registration plates.

Heavy police presence in Gibson City; Ford Co. Coroner on scene

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During the investigation, contraband suspected to be meth was located on Merrill, who was the driver of the vehicle and held a suspended drivers license. The discovery of the suspected meth led to a probable cause search of the vehicle. While the search was happening, deputies discovered even more suspected meth in both the vehicle and on Harrison when he was later searched incident to arrest.

The total amount of suspected meth discovered was approximately 53 grams. Additionally, suspected psilocybin mushrooms and a set of brass knuckles were located in the Jaguar. Both Harrison and Merrill were taken into custody, transported to the Iroquois County Jail and charged with the following:

Manufacture and delivery of meth 15 to 100 grams

Possession of meth 15 to 100 grams

Possession of a controlled substance less than 15 grams

Unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon

Merrill was also charged with driving while license suspended. Both men were released with a notice to appear.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Two men recovering after being shot in Loring Park neighborhood originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

Minneapolis Police are investigating after two men were shot in the Loring Park neighborhood late Thursday night.

Officers were called to the area of East 14th Street and Nicollet Avenue just before 11:30 p.m.

When they arrived, they entered a nearby apartment building and found two men in the hallway, suffering from gunshot wounds.

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The men told officers they were standing outside when they heard shots being fired, and were struck by bullets.

The men's injuries and considered to be non-life threatening. No arrests have been made.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
The dynamic discussions focused on the topics such as AI in Defence, AI and Data Fusion, Autonomous Systems, Robotics, Digital Twins, and the Challenges & Strategies in an AI-driven battlespace, said Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in a release.

The symposium provided elaborate insights into the future of #AI applications in warfare and emphasized the urgent need for defence forces to adapt to the disruptive technologies by evolving doctrines and strategies to harness these.

Key themes covered included ethical AI, battlefield autonomy, AI in space, cognitive AI, and countering AI threats - highlighting the importance of innovation and preparedness in this new era of military technology.

The event featured 15 eminent panelists, including Shri Giridhar Aramane (Ex Defence Secretary), Shri Jayesh Ranjan (Special Chief Secretary, Govt of Telangana), Shri Rajiv Chetwani (Director ISRO), and Dr. Raul Villamarin Rodriguez (VP, Woxsen University) among other visionary leaders.

Meanwhile, the annual defence production has achieved a record high of Rs 1,50,590 crore for the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25.

The milestone represents a robust 18% growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90% increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore, as stated in the release.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has lauded the collective efforts of the Department of Defence Production and all stakeholders, i.e., DPSUs, public sector manufacturers, and the private industry, in achieving this landmark. He termed the upward trajectory a clear indicator of India's strengthening defence industrial base.

Highlighting the achievement on X, Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for the remarkable growth, underscoring the nation's strides towards becoming a global defence manufacturing hub.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, India's defence production has hit a record high! The annual defence production has soared to an all-time high figure of Rs 1,50,590 crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. These numbers indicate a robust 18% growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90% increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore," he posted on X. (ANI)
One of them was stabbed and the other sustained a head injury.

Two men were wounded on Saturday in a fight that broke out in a synagogue in the town of Kadita inthe Upper Galilee.

One of them, a young man approximately 25 years old, was stabbed and is in serious condition, while the other, a man around 45 years old, sustained a head injury and is in moderate condition.

The two were rushed to theZiv Medical Center in Safed for treatment.

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Kinneret District Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Ziv Medical Center (credit: ZIV MEDICAL CENTER)

Shooting in a nearby town

Earlier on Saturday, in nearby Ein Zeitun, a 25-year-old young man was shot and seriously wounded. He was taken to the same medical center for treatment.

This is a developing story.
Russian forces attacked the city of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast with drones on the night of 8-9 August, injuring two civilians and damaging a high-rise building.

Source: Chuhuiv Mayor Halyna Minaieva

Details: Minaieva said that one of the outlying districts of Chuhuiv had been hit.

Quote: "Two people have been injured and a high-rise building damaged as a result of the drone attack. All the appropriate services are working at the scene."

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  After more than a year of restoration work, Two Rivers Mansion is officially back open for business.

On Saturday, Aug. 10, the community will hold a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the reopening of the mansion and reveal the full scope of the restoration.

Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

The Tradesmen Group was the restoration specialist company that took the lead on restoring the Two Rivers Mansion. They started the process in January of 2024; it was only supposed to take around a year, but the work ended up lasting a year-and-a-half due to additional needed repairs.

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One of those is the front porch. Due to structural issues and water damage, crews had to reconstruct it entirely.

The Tradesmen Group CEO Rick Freitag told News 2 projects like these are hard work, but always rewarding because of how much historic buildings mean to communities and their legacies.

Freitag said hes excited to be a part of the ribbon-cutting on Saturday and celebrate everything that went into the restoration.

Middle TN festivals happening Aug. 8-10, 2025

This building has been a part of the community for over a century, and its going to continue on in the same manner because of the commitment that the community has made to restore and preserve this important structure, Freitag said. We are a link to our past, to our present, and to our future. The work thats being done here is integral to preserving our history and American heritage.

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The ribbon cutting will begin Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Two Rivers Mansion is located at 3130 McGavock Pike.

Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Two women were arrested on drug charges in Tewksbury following an investigation police.

Sophie Olson, 35, of Boston, and Ashley Martinez, 33, of Lawrence, were taken into custody on Friday, August 8, in connection with a narcotics investigation targeting crack cocaine distribution.

In July, the Tewksbury Police Departments Narcotics Unit began an investigation into crack cocaine distribution occurring in town.

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Through the investigation, detectives identified the target as Olson.

On Friday, Aug. 8, at about 1:30 p.m., as a result of an investigation, Olson and her passenger, Martinez, were taken into custody without incident in the area of 365 Main St.

Detectives seized an undisclosed amount of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, Xanax, cash, and paraphernalia associated with narcotics distribution.

Tewksbury Police were assisted by the Middlesex Sheriffs Office and the Andover Police Department.

Olson was charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug, distributing a Class B drug, possession of a Class C drug, and possession with intent to distribute a Class E drug.

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Martinez was charged with possession of a Class A drug. possession with intent to distribute a class B drug, distributing a class B drug, and possession with intent to distribute a class E drug.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Lowell District Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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LAHAINA, Maui (KHON2)  While the community paused to remember the lives lost on this day two years ago, a key court hearing took place on Maui  one aimed at moving the massive settlement process forward.

Hundreds gather to remember Lahaina wildfires

Judge Peter Cahill opened the hearing with words for the victims of both the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui fires, reminding everyone about the true reason for the work being done in the courtroom.

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Judge Cahill intentionally set this conference for today so that it could be a reminder for everybody on in terms of what were really all talking about. Its not just about a lawsuit. Its about peoples lives, said Cynthia Wong, attorney for the plaintiffs.

A key motion was decided today  extending the statute of limitations for victims to file claims against the state of Hawaii to match that with the other defendants.

The judge approved the motion, and decided that the tolling for the state of Hawaii would also be August 8, 2026, with the same conditions as the other defendants, said Beth Nardi, attorney for the plaintiffs.

That extension, called a tolling agreement, gives victims more time, but only applies to those taking part in the individual settlement plan.

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To qualify, victims must submit by October 1:

A signed settlement agreement

A claims questionnaire

All supporting documents for their damages

The opt-out deadline for the class action is currently set for Oct. 7. Individual plaintiffs have until Nov. 8 to identify themselves to defendants for tolling purposes.

The class action is really meant to have everybody else whos not an individual plaintiff, and the class did not have to enter a tolling agreement, because they have different rules that apply, that allow them to be tolled, explained Wong.

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I always try to reassure, you know, my clients and everyone, that even though it feels like nothings happening, there is a lot of moving parts behind the scenes, and we are really trying to do our best to move this forward as expeditiously and fairly as possible. Theres still victims and claimants in California who are still litigating issues from fires that happened, you know, almost 10 years ago, said Nardi. And that is just not a situation that any of us want to be in if we want to move our community forward.

For Nardi, the day was both legal progress and personal reflection. She lost her home in the fire.

Like everyone else, on August 8, it was just supposed to be another really windy day, and our lives were just totally upended, said Nardi. I was part of the evacuation, in addition to losing my home, and I consider myself one of the very lucky ones. I have friends and family who were also involved in the fire and just horrific experiences that Ive heard from my clients as well.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Attorneys urge anyone affected to pay close attention to the deadlines:

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Oct. 1, 2025 for the individual settlement fund

Oct. 7, 2025 to opt out of the class action, and Nov. 8 for individual plaintiff identification.

Nov. 8 for individual plaintiff identification.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Six Texas state Democrats appeared in Sacramento on Friday, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and said despite legal threats, they would not back down from their efforts to retaliate against Republican efforts to recarve congressional districts.

In June, Trump began pressing Texas Republican leaders to consider redrawing their congressional districts to ensure the GOP retained its razor-thin House majority in the 2026 midterms. Dozens of Texas Democrats fled Austin Sunday to California, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts to break the Republicans quorum and stop them from moving forward. In response, Texas GOP leaders have issued arrest warrants, issued the lawmakers $500 daily fines, and filed lawsuits to force them from office.

We are running from nothing, Texas Rep. Ann Johnson said during a press conference with Newsom, Pelosi, and other California Democrats. We are running to the front lines to stand with other Democrats across the state of Texas, across the state of California, across this nation, to ensure that each and every individual has the opportunity to pick, to decide that government is for the people by the people, and not the politicians selecting them.

Texas Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, speaks during a news conference on redistricting at the Governor's Mansion in downtown Sacramento on Friday. California legislative leaders met with Texas Democratic lawmakers about Republican plans to redistrict.

Newsom has become the Democrats most public champion to respond in kind by asking the legislature to approve a November special election that would ask California voters to temporarily approve new congressional boundaries. He and state leaders tied their efforts, which would move more liberal voters to five districts currently held by Republicans, to voters growing discontent with Trump on issues like immigration enforcement, tariffs, and a $1 billion fine that his administration levied on UCLA this week, which Newsom called extortion.

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Thats whats at stake with this conversation...Its all about elevating the deeper consciousness of the line that Donald Trump continues to cross, Newsom told reporters. Its not about him playing by a different set of rules. There are no rules for Donald Trump. This is a serious moment in American history.

Pelosi compared the absconding Texas Democrats to the Founding Fathers, calling them defenders of democracy.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, delivers remarks during a news conference on redistricting at the Governor's Mansion in downtown Sacramento on Friday. California legislative leaders met with Texas Democratic lawmakers about Republican plans to redistrict.

We thank you not only for your courage, but for your patriotism, she said. At the beginning of our country, Thomas Paine said, The times have found us. And now the times have found us, especially our Texas delegation, to save our constitution.

Legislative Democrats overcame their initial reticence and have thrown their weight behind Newsom, who has asked that new maps be drawn for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 election cycles. If he succeeds, congressional redistricting power would revert back after 2030 to the independent Citizen Redistricting Commission.

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Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, said Friday that the map would come out next week, ahead of the Aug. 22 deadline that Secretary of State Shirley Weber set for lawmakers to decide if the election will take place. The Legislature returns from summer break on Aug. 18, and is expected to immediately begin work on related legislation.

California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, speaks during a news conference on redistricting at the Governor's Mansion in downtown Sacramento on Friday. California legislative leaders met with Texas lawmakers about Republican plans to redistrict.

The Republican effort to redraw districts in their favor has now expanded to Indiana, Missouri, and Florida, all states where redistricting power lies with Republican-held legislatures, making it likely that even if California successfully redistricts, it wont be enough to offset the GOPs gains.

Newsom said few other states could act with the scale and scope of California: Its always the right thing to do the right thing.

California has to be prepared to respond. It is our sacred responsibility to California, to our country, and we know that there is no bottom to Trumps dystopian plan, said Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Santa Rosa.

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Im firm in my belief that if the legislature puts a redistricting initiative on the ballot, I believe the people of the Golden State will do the right thing. I trust the voters of California more than I would ever trust Trump and his lackeys in Texas.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning travelers about a new virus in China called chikungunya.

In response to the chikungunya outbreak in that country, the CDC is urging travelers to China to "practice enhanced precautions."

According to the Associated Press, the virus has infected thousands of people in China, which is combating it with "nets, spraying insecticide, and even deploying drones." The outbreak is "the largest chikungunya outbreak ever documented in China," according to AP.

The CDC Says the Chikungunya Outbreak Is Centered in Guangdong Province, China

According to the CDC travel alert, most cases in China are being reported in Guangdong Province, in the city of Foshan.

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The CDC offered advice for travelers.

"Mosquitoes spread the virus that causes chikungunya. You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, which includes using insect repellent; wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants; and staying in places with air conditioning or that have screens on the windows and doors," the agency advises.

"Vaccination is recommended for travelers who are visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak. Two chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in the United States," the CDC noted.

Workers spray insecticide at a residential community on July 28, 2025 in Dongguan, Guangdong Province of China. South China's Guangdong Province has swiftly ramped up efforts in mosquito control amid a sharp rise in Chikungunya fever cases. VCG/Getty Images

There are special concerns for pregnant women, according to the U.S. government.

"If you are pregnant, reconsider travel to the affected areas, particularly if you are close to delivering your baby. Mothers infected around the time of delivery can pass the virus to their baby before or during delivery. Newborns infected in this way or by a mosquito bite are at risk for severe illness, including poor long-term outcomes," the CDC noted.

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Noted the CDC: "Most people infected with chikungunya virus develop some symptoms. Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 37 days after a bite by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Most people get better within a week; however, some can have severe joint pain for months to years following acute illness."

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces 'Unprecedented' Change Amid Free Bag Outrage

U.S. Issues Major Warning to Travelers Amid Chikungunya Virus Outbreak first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
After a recent breakout of a mosquito-borne virus in China, the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a travel warning to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Like the United States Department of State does with its extensive list of travel advisories, the CDC regularly issues travel advisories, as well, warning travelers about disease outbreaks and other health-related issues around the world.

This week, the CDC issued a warning to travelers about an outbreak of chikungunya in a region of China.

What is Chikungunya?

First identified in people sickened during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952, chikungunya is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. While it mostly causes mild symptoms and the majority of those who contract the virus recover quickly, it does have potentially severe symptoms.

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While the disease is rarely fatal, some people can experience severe and debilitating joint pain that could even last several years.

"Most people infected with chikungunya virus develop some symptoms. Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin 37 days after a bite by an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Most people get better within a week; however, some can have severe joint pain for months to years following acute illness," the CDC states.

"People at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (65 years or older), and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. Death from chikungunya is rare."

Patients who become severely ill as a result of the virus often require hospitalization because of the risk of organ damage.

Where is the Outbreak?

In its travel advisory, the CDC warned that it has seen a rapid increase in the virus in Guangdong Province, located in southeastern China. More specifically, the CDC states that most cases have been reported in Foshan City.

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The Guangdong Province has reported over 7,000 cases since the start of July. Over 60% of the cases of chikungunya have occurred in Foshan.

The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China as a result of the outbreak, with an emphasis placed on Guangdong Province. The advisory warns travelers to "practice increased precautions" when traveling.

Health officials have become concerned about how the disease has spread through China.

What makes this event notable is that chikungunya has never been established in mainland China before, Cesar Lopez-Camacho of the University of Oxford said in a statement via the Associated Press. This suggests that most of the population had no preexisting immunity, making it easier for the virus to spread quickly.

How to Prevent the Virus

The CDC suggested a few ways for travelers to keep themselves safe from the virus if they do choose to travel to China.

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"You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, which includes using insect repellent; wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants; and staying in places with air conditioning or that have screens on the windows and doors," the CDC wrote in its advisory.

The best way to protect yourself, the CDC states, is vaccination.

"Vaccination is recommended for travelers who are visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak. Two chikungunya vaccines are approved for use in the United States," the CDC's advisory states.

The CDC warns to "seek medical care immediately" if you develop fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash during or after travel.

U.S. Issues Travel Warning as Disease Spreads first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department is asking for $1 billion from the University of California, Los Angeles in exchange for re-starting federal funding to the public land-grant research institution, school officials confirmed.

"The University of California just received a document from the Department of Justice and is reviewing it," University of California President James Milliken said in a statement this week.

"As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians."

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Earlier this week, UCLA announced it had lost millions in federal research funding after the Justice Department accused it of failing to protect Jewish students during on-campus pro-Palestinian protests. The school at the time did not specify a dollar amount, but that figure is now believed to be around $500 million.

"The UC Board of Regents and the UC Office of the President are providing counsel as we actively evaluate our best course of action. I will continue to be in constant communication with you on key decisions and update you on any developments," UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said following Milliken's statement.

The U.S. Justice Department is asking for $1 billion from the University of California, Los Angeles in exchange for re-starting federal funding to the public land-grant research institution, school officials confirmed. File Photo by Phil McCarten/UPI

The deal offered by President Donald Trump's administration to the 106-year-old academic institution would involve the school making a $1 billion payment. It would also pay an additional $172 million which would go to a larger fund to compensate victims of civil rights violations, the New York Times reported, citing a draft of the proposal.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., said the state would push back against the proposed settlement.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., said the state would push back against the proposed settlement. File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI

"We'll sue," Newsom told reporters at a news conference Friday when asked about the news. Newsom had been discussing California's involvement with Texas lawmakers who are trying to block a Republican redistricting plan in the Lone Star state.

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"[Trump] is trying to silence academic freedom," Newsom said, "attacking one of the most important public institutions in the United States of America."

The deal offered by the Trump administration to UCLA would involve the school making a $1 billion payment and an additional $172 million payment to compensate victims of civil rights violations, the New York Times reported. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI

Columbia University last month agreed to pay $221 million in fines to settle similar accusations against the private New York City university.

At the time, Trump said he also expected to reach a settlement with Harvard University.
A Ugandan judge has refused to grant bail to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges.

Judge Emmanuel Baguma said on Friday that the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on February 21, which means he falls short by 12 days to meet the requirements to secure bail.

His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting.

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The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Ugandas national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election.

The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes.

Four elections lost

A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood against the incumbent leader in four elections.

He lost all the elections but rejected the results and alleged fraud and voter intimidation. Besigye has not said whether he is running again.

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Besigye has been arrested numerous times over the years, including in 2022 on charges of inciting violence.

Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said on Saturday that sending him to jail would not deter him from fighting against the "corruption and nepotism" of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His statement came in reaction to an FIR filed by Jharkhand Police against him, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, and four others for "forcibly" entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar on August 2 and allegedly hurting religious sentiments. "If Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi's intention is to put me in jail, then it is better if I just go to jail today. But my fight against their corruption and nepotism will continue. I am a BJP worker, not a fugitive," Dubey told reporters. "I am going straight to the police station... I am the trustee of that temple. They got an FIR registered against me by an illegal person," he added. An FIR has been lodged at Baba Baidyanath Mandir Police Station against Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari, and others. The complaint, filed by temple priest Kartik Nath Thakur, alleges that on August 2nd between 8:45 pm and 9 pm, the accused forcibly entered the temple's inner shrine despite a restriction on VIP/VVIP entry during the holy month of 'Shravan' - a ban implemented due to the large number of devotees. On Saturday Nishikant Dubey arrived at the Police Station in Deoghar in response to the FIR against him. "I reached Baba Mandir police station directly from Deoghar Airport to surrender. The police refused to arrest me. I am a trustee of the temple, a pilgrimage priest, born in Deoghar, a son of this place. On what basis were those who filed the case inside the sanctum sanctorum, this is a matter of investigation. 51 cases and how many more, we have filed a case under Article 105 of the Constitution for breach of privilege against the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, Director General of Police, Deoghar Deputy Commissioner, and Superintendent of Police," he said. The FIR against Dubey, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cites multiple offenses including entering the inner shrine, hurting religious traditions and sentiments, and obstructing government work by engaging in a scuffle with security personnel. (ANI)
A Ugandan judge refused to grant bail to veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, who has been in jail for nearly nine months on treason charges.

The case has raised concerns among government critics, including opposition leader Bobi Wine and rights groups, about a crackdown ahead of Uganda's national election early next year in which President Yoweri Museveni, 80, is seeking re-election.

The government denies targeting opposition figures and says all those who have been detained have committed crimes.

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Bobi Wine's fight for democracy in Uganda continues on the big screen

A former ally and personal physician of Museveni, Besigye has stood and lost against Museveni in four elections. He has not said whether he is running again.

Besigye, who denies any wrongdoing, was forcefully returned to

Uganda from neighbouring Kenya in November last year, and initially charged in a military tribunal, before his case was transferred to a civilian court.

Kenya investigates alleged kidnapping of Ugandan opposition leader Besigye

His lawyers argued he should be automatically released on bail because he has spent more than 180 days in jail without his trial starting.

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One of Besigye's lawyers, Erias Lukwago, labelled the ruling "absurd".

"For the Judge to rule that Besigye and Lutale have not spent 180 days on remand, discounting the days on remand since November last year, is a miscarriage of justice," he told AFP.

Another defence lawyer, Eron Kiiza, told AFP he was not surprised by the ruling.

"There is a total breakdown in the constitutional order in this country," he said.

Judge Emmanuel Baguma said on Friday the 180-day maximum period before mandatory bail is granted only began when he was remanded in the civilian court on 21 February, which means he falls short by 12 days in order to secure bail.

Rights groups have said that Besigye's abduction and trial for treason are linked to next January's elections, when Museveni will seek to extend his term.

(with newswires)
Police in London arrested at least 200 people Saturday for supporting Palestine Action at the latest and largest protest backing the group since the government banned it last month under anti-terror laws.

The UK capital's Metropolitan Police said it expected to make further arrests at the demonstration in Parliament Square, as organisers claimed only a "fraction" of the hundreds who turned out had been detained.

"That claim simply isn't true," the Met said in a statement, noting some of those there were onlookers or not visibly supporting Palestine Action.

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"We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested."

The government banned the group days after several of its activists broke into an air force base in southern England, causing an estimated 7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft.

Britain's interior ministry reiterated ahead of Saturday's protests that its members were also suspected of other "serious attacks" that involved "violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage".

But critics, including the United Nations and NGOs like Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have lambasted the move as legal overreach and a threat to free speech.

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- 'Unprecedented' -

A group called Defend our Juries, which organised Saturday's protests and previous demonstrations against the ban, said "unprecedented numbers" had risked "arrest and possible imprisonment" to "defend this country's ancient liberties".

"We will keep going. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September," it added.

Attendees began massing near parliament at lunchtime bearing signs saying "oppose genocide, support Palestine Action" and other slogans, and waving Palestinian flags.

Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, was among those holding a placard.

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He branded the ban "absolutely ridiculous".

"When you compare Palestine Action with an actual terrorist group who are killing civilians and taking lives, it's just a joke that they're being prescribed a terrorist group," he told AFP.

As police moved in on the demonstrators, they applauded those being arrested and shouted "shame on you" at officers.

"Let them arrest us all," said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair-user in attendance.

"This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of."

- NGOs opposed -

London's Met Police and other UK forces have made scores of similar arrests on previous weekends since the government outlawed Palestine Action on July 5.

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Anyone expressing support for a proscribed group risks arrest under UK anti-terror laws.

Police announced this week that the first three people had been charged in the English and Welsh criminal justice system with supporting Palestine Action following their arrests at a July 5 demo.

Being a member or supporting the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Seven people have so far been charged in Scotland, which has a separate legal system.

Amnesty International UK Chief Executive Sacha Deshmukh wrote to Met Police chief Mark Rowley this week urging restraint be exercised when policing people holding placards expressing support for Palestine Action.

The NGO has argued arrests of such people are in breach of international human rights law.

A UK court challenge against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action will be heard later this year.

jj/dc
Representatives of the United States, Ukraine and European countries will meet in the UK to discuss ways to end Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing a UK government statement released following a conversation between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Details: The UK government stated that Starmer and Zelenskyy had "looked ahead to the meeting of National Security Advisers from Europe, Ukraine and the United States taking place today".

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance, who is on a working visit to the UK, will host the meeting.

The UK prime minister and the Ukrainian president agreed that the meeting would be "a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace".

Background: On 9 August, Zelenskyy spoke with Starmer about ensuring peace in Ukraine.

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Russian troops most likely seized 500-550 sq km of Ukrainian territory in July.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence update dated 9 August on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the intelligence report, Russia captured a similar amount of territory in June. The main fighting took place in Donetsk Oblast, northeast and southwest of Pokrovsk, where the Russians are attempting to surround the city and put pressure on other logistics routes.

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Quote: "RGF (Russian Ground Forces) seized a similar amount of Ukrainian territory in June 2025, following month on month increases from March 2025. The RGF continued to make tactical advances in Donetsk Oblast, primarily to the north-east and south-west of Pokrovsk."

Details: Russian troops have not made any observable gains in Sumy Oblast over the past two weeks. Constant losses and Ukrainian counterattacks have likely thwarted Russia's plans to create a buffer zone there, UK intelligence said.

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Police in London have detained more than 466 people who were protesting the United Kingdoms decision to ban the Palestine Action Group, marking the largest ever mass arrest at a single protest in the British capital, according to campaigners.

The arrests came after hundreds of people gathered at Parliament Square in London on Saturday, denouncing Israels war on Gaza and holding placards with the message, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

Videos posted online showed the protesters sitting on the ground, with some chanting, Hands off Gaza! The footage also showed the protesters being carried away by the police as the crowd chanted shame on you at the officers.

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The Metropolitan Police, in a statement on X, said that 466 demonstrators had been arrested at Parliament Square by 9pm local time (20:00 GMT) for showing support for Palestine Action. It said eight others were arrested at the protest for other offences, including five assaults on officers.

The group that organised the protest, Defend Our Juries, said on X that some 800 people had held up signs, and that the detention of more than half of the protesters marked the largest mass arrest ever by the Met Police at a single protest.

It added, The people are collectively opposing the genocide in Gaza and the Palestine Action ban.

Hundreds of people joined the protest holding signs saying, I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action, in Parliament Square, central London, on Saturday [Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP]

The protests are the latest in a series of rallies denouncing the UK governments ban of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July. The ban came after members of the group broke into a military airbase in June and damaged two planes.

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Membership in or support for the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Critics say the ban infringes on freedom of speech and the right to protest, as well as aims to stifle demonstrations against Israels war on Gaza.

Al Jazeeras Sonia Gallego, reporting from Parliament Square, said the threat of arrest or punishment hasnt deterred any supporters of Palestine Action from expressing their backing for the group.

Something as simple as wearing a t-shirt saying, I support Palestine Action, or even having that written on a sheet of paper, could lead to an arrest, Gallego said.

Alternative universe

Paddy Friend, a protester, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the mass arrests at Parliament Square raised serious questions about freedoms in the UK.

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If we cant come down with seven words on a sign and sit quietly, then what does freedom of speech mean? Friend said.

Another demonstrator, grandmother Manji Mansfield, returned to protest on Saturday, despite having been arrested at a previous rally.

This isnt the Britain that I grew up in, she told Al Jazeera.

Were now living in an alternative universe, and Im not going to accept it.

John McDonnell, a Labour Party MP, also condemned the arrests. Its a disgrace that people are being arrested for upholding our democratic rights, he wrote on X.

Amnesty International UK denounced the arrest of peaceful protesters solely for holding signs, saying such action constitutes a violation of the UKs international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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Palestine Action, which accuses the UKs government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza, has increasingly targeted Israel-linked companies in the country, often spraying red paint, blocking entrances or damaging equipment.

UK Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper tabled the order to ban the group in parliament days after its activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, the largest station of the Royal Air Force in Oxfordshire, and sprayed two military planes with red paint, resulting in millions of pounds of criminal damage, according to police.

The ban was passed on July 2.

The move, however, has drawn concern from United Nations human rights exerts, who say labelling Palestine Action as a terrorist group was unjustified, as the groups actions were limited to civil disobedience and mere property damage, without endangering life.

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But Cooper, speaking to reporters on Saturday, insisted that Palestine Action had been outlawed based on strong security advice and following an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism.

Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, she said, claiming the group is not non-violent.

The right to protest is one we protect fiercely, but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation, she added.





Repressive consequences

Before the arrests on Saturday, at least 200 people had been detained for protesting the ban.

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More than 350 academics from around the world have also signed an open letter, published this week, applauding a growing campaign of collective defiance against Coopers decision to proscribe Palestine Action.

The signatories deplore the repressive consequences that this ban has already had, and are especially concerned about the likely impact of Coopers ban on universities across the UK and beyond, the letter read.

Israeli historian and University of Exeter professor Ilan Pappe, Goldsmiths, University of London professor Eyal Weizman, and political thinkers Michael Hardt and Jaqueline Rose were among those who signed the letter.

Meanwhile, a separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition group was also held in London on Saturday.

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The Metropolitan Police said one person had been arrested at that march, which went from Russell Square to Whitehall, for displaying a banner in support of Palestine Action.

Londons High Court has, meanwhile, ruled that Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori can bring a judicial review against the ban, with Judge Martin Chamberlain saying that it was reasonably arguable that proscription amounted to a disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression.

However, the full judicial review will not take place until late 2025, according to the lawyers representing Ammori.
LONDON (Reuters) -London's Metropolitan Police arrested more than 466 people at a protest on Saturday against Britain's decision to ban the group Palestine Action, the force said.

British lawmakers banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes as part of a series of protests. The group accuses Britain's government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

Protesters, some wearing black and white Palestinian scarves and waving Palestinian flags, chanted "hands off Gaza", and held placards with the message "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action", video taken by Reuters at the scene showed.

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Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and from human rights groups over its devastating military assault in Gaza.

Israel denies the accusations and casts its offensive as self-defense after a deadly October 2023 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.

The Reuters video showed demonstrators who had gathered in Parliament Square by the Houses of Parliament being carried away by police. The crowd chanted "shame on you" at the police.

In a post on X, the police force said it had arrested 466 people for supporting a proscribed organisation.

It also arrested eight people for other offences including five arrests for assaults on officers. The police said no one was seriously injured.

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The ban makes it a crime to be a member of Palestine Action, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

The co-founder of the group, Huda Ammori, last week won a bid to bring a legal challenge against the ban.

(Reporting by Suban AbdullaEditing by Mark Potter, Barbara Lewis and Nia Williams)
Ukrainian, U.S., and European senior officials are set to meet in the U.K. ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, Axios reported on Aug. 8, citing three sources with knowledge of the plans.

Ukraine and its allies will reportedly seek a common position amid the planned meeting between Trump and Putin.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow on Aug. 6 as the White House intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal.

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Trump previously announced an Aug. 8 deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine. Despite Russia's refusal to halt hostilities, Trump never imposed sanctions on Moscow.

In a conference call on Aug. 8, an in-person meeting was proposed between senior officials from Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S., Axios reported.

The U.K. meetings logistics, including who will participate, are still under discussion. A total of three calls were held following Witkoff's visit.

In an Aug. 6 call between President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, and European leaders, some participants were under the impression that Putin was ready to give up Russia's claim to Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, two of the sources said.

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Witkoff told the call's participants that Putin will end Russia's war against Ukraine if Kyiv agrees to cede Donetsk Oblast, Luhansk Oblast, and Crimea, the two sources added.

On the contrary, in a call the next day, Witkoff said Putin was willing to freeze along the current frontlines, which include occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, Axios reported.

For Zelensky to cede Ukrainian territory, a referendum would need to be held, an unnamed Ukrainian official noted.

Trump and Zelensky are working on an agreement "to sign something" that doesn't violate Ukraine's laws, Axios reported.

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The U.S. leader has said that a potential peace deal will involve "some swapping" of territories as the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal.

"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: US, Russia discuss deal to cement Moscows hold on occupied Ukrainian territories, Bloomberg reports

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Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect comments made by the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev.

Ukrainian and European officials rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in exchange for Kyiv to cede its eastern territories to Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Aug. 9.

The EU and Ukrainian officials instead offered a counterproposal to U.S. officials ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska.

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Putin told U.S. envoy Wikoff during a meeting on Aug. 6 that Russia would agree to a full ceasefire if Kyiv withdrew its forces from Donetsk Oblast, giving Moscow full control of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea.

President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected on Aug. 9 the idea of ceding any Ukrainian territory to end Russia's war, with talks on the proposal beginning in the U.K. with U.S., Ukrainian, and EU officials on Aug. 9.

Two European officials familiar with the talks told WSJ that Europe aims to draw a unified red line with Ukraine, insisting that EU officials should be involved in any potential peace negotiation with Russia and reiterating that Ukraine's future cannot be discussed without Kyiv's participation. The development comes as Trump has suggested he will include Ukraine in future negotiations only after an initial meeting with Putin.

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The counterproposal presented to Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trumps Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Witkoff, also demands that a ceasefire be enacted before further steps are taken, adding that territory can only be exchanged in a reciprocal manner, the news agency reported.

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The New York Times reported on Aug. 9, citing two EU officials, that European leaders are increasingly concerned Trump and Putin will formulate an agreement that will then be imposed upon Ukraine.

"You cant start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting," one European negotiator told WSJ, amid Trump's comments on Aug. 8 that Moscow and Kyiv would likely include "some swapping of territories."

"Well you're looking at territory that's been fought over for three-and-a-half years... So we're looking at that, but we're actually looking to get some back," Trump said during a press conference alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Some swapping, it's complicated."

"We're going to get some back. We're going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump added.

A map showing Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine as of 2025. (The Kyiv Independent)

Expressing concern with the United States' openness to begin negotiations surrounding the framework of Putin's proposal as well as skepticism toward Putin adhering to the ceasefire, a European official told WSJ that "the proposal is much worse than Trump said on the call," with another adding that it gives "Putin everything he wants in exchange for nothing."

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Zelensky, who was not present in person for the discussions, held calls throughout the day with European leaders, including leaders of France, the U.K., Finland, Spain, Denmark, and Estonia, seeking a unified approach to the proposals.

In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that "the future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now," adding "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it concerns their security."

I have just spoken again with President Zelensky, as well as with Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Starmer.



We remain determined to support Ukraine, working in a spirit of unity and building on the work undertaken within the framework of the Coalition  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 9, 2025

A senior European official said told WSJ that any agreement reached in Alaska between the U.S. and Russia would not hold much weight without the participation of European leaders.

Amid Europe's disapproval of the initial proposal, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, said on Telegram earlier in the day that unspecified European countries will make "titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump," adding that such efforts amount to "provocations and disinformation."

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Kyiv and Moscow have previously held three rounds of negotiations on an end to the war, with each round failing to halt hostilities amid Russia's refusal to implement a ceasefire.

Russia has repeatedly espoused maximalist demands to end its war in Ukraine publicly demanded that Kyiv forgo NATO membership and withdraw troops from all four regions as preconditions for peace. Under this condition, several large cities under Ukrainian control would have to be handed over to Russia.

Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan  US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject

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European countries and Ukraine have responded to the "Russian ceasefire plan" with a counterproposal, which, in their opinion, should form the basis for upcoming negotiations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Source: The Wall Street Journal with reference to two informed European officials, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The proposal from Kyiv and its allies calls for a mandatory ceasefire before any other steps are taken, as well as any "exchange of territories" only on a mutual basis  that is, if Ukraine withdraws its troops from some regions, Russia must withdraw its troops from others, writes the WSJ.

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"You cant start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting," one of the publication's sources said.

In addition, this plan stipulates that any territorial concessions by Kyiv must be backed by ironclad security guarantees  in particular, Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, the article says.

WSJ sources say the goal of the plan is for Europe and Ukraine to establish a common red line that should apply to any potential negotiations with Russia.

This proposal was presented on Saturday at a meeting of national security advisers. The American side was represented by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trumps special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.

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European representatives told them that Ukraine's future cannot be discussed without Ukraine and that Europe will continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and funds regardless of the US position, one source told the WSJ.

Background: Amid news of the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on 15 August, as well as media claims that Washington and Moscow want to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia's occupation of part of the territories seized during its full-scale invasion, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already there in the Constitution of Ukraine".

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Drones operated by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) struck on Aug. 9 a storage facility in Russia's Tatarstan Republic housing Shahed-type drones and foreign components used in their assembly, the agency reported.

This is not Ukraine's first strike on Tatarstan since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, as the region's Alabuga Special Economic Zone is home to a facility that manufactures Shahed-type long-range attack drones and other reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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Ukrainian drones from the Security Service's Special Operations Center "A" flew roughly 1,300 kilometers (about 800 miles) to strike a logistics hub in the village of Kizil-Yul, igniting a fire at the site, the SBU's statement read.

"The Security Service (of Ukraine) continues its systematic efforts to demilitarize Russian military facilities deep inside enemy territory. Storage sites for Shahed drones, which the enemy uses to terrorize Ukraine every night, are among our legitimate military targets," SBU said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.

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Russia has not officially commented on the reported strikes.

Earlier, Ukrainian drones struck five Russian fighter jets overnight on Aug. 4 at an airfield in Saky, a city in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The Ukrainian strike destroyed a Su-30SM aircraft, damaged another, hit three Su-24s, and struck an aviation weapons depot. Russia deploys these fighter jets for regular attacks on Ukraine, as well as for patrols, radar surveillance, target guidance, and escorting long-range aircraft.

Read also: We spot them, we destroy them  Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

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The rescued individuals were rushed to a hospital, with 3-4 reported to be in critical condition. Authorities have evacuated the jhuggies to prevent further incidents.

Addl DCP South East Aishwarya Sharma said, "There is an old temple here, and next to it are old jhuggies where scrap dealers live. The wall collapsed due to heavy rain overnight. 8 people were trapped and were rescued and taken to the hospital. They are undergoing treatment. We don't know how many people died, but according to us, 3-4 people are seriously injured, who may not survive. We have now evacuated these jhuggies so that no such incident occurs in future."

Earlier, a notification was received regarding a building collapse in Hari Nagar, located in the Jaitpur area of South East Delhi.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the incident pertained to a wall collapse rather than a building collapse. (ANI)
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed two decrees on Aug. 8 imposing sanctions against 18 individuals and 17 legal entities tied to Russia's energy sector.

Zelensky enacted the Aug. 8 decision of the National Security and Defense Council on imposing "personal special economic and other restrictive measures."

The latest Ukrainian sanctions targeted those involved in integrating the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant into Russia's power grid, taking part in the seizure of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and manufacturing or servicing dual-use nuclear equipment.

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Others were linked to the export of enriched uranium via subsidiaries in Switzerland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, and Finland. The sanctions were also imposed on the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Gazpromneft subsidiaries operating in Russia, Central Asia, and the EU.

Additional targets include companies supporting Russia's "shadow fleet," oil traders bypassing the price cap, and manufacturers supplying equipment to the Russian military-industrial complex.

Vladislav Vlasiuk, the president's representative on sanctions policy, said the latest sanctions are "100% synchronized" with U.S. restrictions.

"We believe that aligning sanctions between Ukraine and key partners is essential to preserving their effectiveness. Ukraine has already fully  100%  synchronized with U.S. sanctions imposed in 2025, particularly those adopted on Jan. 10 and 15," Vlasiuk said.

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On Jan. 15, the U.S. Treasury targeted actors involved in sanctions evasion between China and Russia. Earlier, on Jan. 10, the U.S. and U.K. imposed major sanctions on Russia's oil industry, hitting nearly 200 "shadow fleet" vessels and key companies.

Both waves of sanctions were imposed during Joe Biden's presidency. After the Jan. 20 inauguration, Donald Trump did not introduce new sanctions that significantly impacted Russia's economy or its war efforts in Ukraine.

Read also: We spot them, we destroy them  Ukraine fights for Kostiantynivka as Russia closes in on three sides

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US Vice-President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy have hosted a meeting of security officials near London to discuss the war in Ukraine.

The talks are said to have been called at the request of the US.

The pair were joined by Ukrainian officials and European national security advisers, with Lammy saying the "UK's support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace".

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It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed he will make no territorial concessions to Russia, ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week.

Saturday's meeting was held at Chevening, Lammy's official country residence in Kent, where Vance and his family are staying.

Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, and Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky's office, attended the talks along with officials representing the UK, US, EU, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Nato.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the meeting, and said they agreed it would be a "vital forum" to discuss progress towards peace.

Following the meeting, Lammy said the UK's support for Ukraine remained "ironclad" [FCDO]

Trump and Putin are set to meet on 15 August to discuss the future of the war.

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Trump signalled Ukraine may have to cede territory to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Speaking on a potential peace deal, Trump said on Friday that there "will be some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both".

"You're looking at territory that's been fought over for three and a half years, a lot of Russians have died. A lot of Ukrainians have died," he said.

Late on Saturday night, several European leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their support of Ukraine and insisting that it must be involved in any peace talks.

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"The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine," said the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny."

They added that "international borders must not be changed by force" and that their nations would continue to support Ukraine diplomatically, militarily and financially.

Russia has consistently insisted on Ukraine recognising Russian sovereignty over several Ukrainian regions, agreeing to demilitarisation and abandoning its Nato aspirations.

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Trump's position has also consistently involved Ukraine sacrificing land for peace.

While Zelensky has been careful not to criticise Trump, his post on social media makes clear that he will not accept it.

Early on Saturday, he said in a Telegram post "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier", and reiterated that Ukraine must be involved in any solution for peace.

"We are ready, together with President Trump, together with all partners, to work for a real, and most importantly, lasting peace - a peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's wishes."

In his evening address on Saturday, Zelensky said the meeting in the UK had been constructive.

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"The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine, this is key principle," he said.

This is what Ukraine, and many European allies, were always worried about - Trump and Putin trying to do a deal without Ukraine present.

In a post on X on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine's future could not "be decided without the Ukrainians" and warned that "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake".

Trump's words on Russia may have hardened in recent months, but for Ukraine they have yet to be followed by tangible actions.

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On Friday, a deadline set by the US president for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face more sanctions passed without any apparent consequences.

The BBC's US partner CBS News, citing a senior White House official, reported that it remains possible Zelensky could end up being involved in the meeting between Putin and Trump in some way, as planning for the Friday meeting is still fluid.

On the ground there is a resignation that any initial peace talks may not include Ukraine.

Soldiers and civilians the BBC spoke to expressed a strong desire for peace. There is exhaustion from the constant fighting and Russian drone and missile attacks.

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But there is little evidence that Ukraine is willing to accept a peace at any price - much less one that will be forced on it without its voice being heard.
Soldier, journalist and TV presenter Orest Drymalovskyi has been appointed the new spokesperson for the Ministry of Defene of Ukraine.

Source: Ministry of Defene of Ukraine

Details: Drymalovskyi defended Ukraine as a member of the 79th Separate Tavrian Air Assault Brigade in Donetsk Oblast and was decorated with the Cross of Valour.

Drymalovskyi has been working in journalism since 2015. After graduating from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, he worked as a correspondent and presenter at the Pershyi Zahidnyi (First Western) TV channel, and later on the Vikna Novyny (Window News) programme on Ukrainian television network STB.

Drymalovskyi, who joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2024, has now become the latest addition to the Defence Ministrys team.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
By Olena Harmash and Suban Abdulla

KYIV/LONDON (Reuters) -European leaders on Saturday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine, while stressing the need to keep pressure on Moscow and protect Ukrainian and European security interests.

Trump plans to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday, saying the parties, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, were close to a deal that could resolve the three-and-a-half-year-old conflict.

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The U.S. president is open to a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelenskiy, but for now the White House is planning a bilateral meeting as requested by Putin, a White House official said. Russian and Ukrainian officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the prospects of a trilateral meeting.

Details of a potential deal have not been announced, but Trump said it would involve "some swapping of territories to the betterment of both". It could require Ukraine to surrender significant parts of its territory, an outcome Zelenskiy and his European allies say would only encourage Russian aggression.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and representatives of Ukraine and European allies on Saturday at Chevening House, a country mansion southeast of London, to discuss Trump's push for peace.

A joint statement from the French, Italian, German, Polish, British and Finnish leaders and the president of the European Commission welcomed Trump's efforts, while stressing the need to maintain support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia.

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"We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests," they said.

"We agree that these vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement said, adding: "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine."

The leaders said "they remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force", and added: "The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations."

They said negotiations could only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.

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'FRONT LINE NOT A BORDER'

Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, who took part in the talks with European leaders and U.S. officials, said Ukraine was grateful for their constructive approach.

"A ceasefire is necessary - but the front line is not a border," Yermak said on X, reiterating Kyiv's position that it will reject any territorial concessions to Russia.

Yermak also thanked Vance for "respecting all points of view" and his efforts toward a "reliable peace".

European representatives put forward a counterproposal, a European official said, declining to provide details.

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The Wall Street Journal said the counterproposal included demands that a ceasefire must take place before any other steps are taken and that any territorial exchange must be reciprocal, with firm security guarantees.

"You can't start a process by ceding territory in the middle of fighting," the newspaper quoted a European negotiator as saying.

A U.S. official said hours-long meetings at Chevening "produced significant progress toward President Trump's goal of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine, ahead of President Trump and President Putins upcoming meeting in Alaska."

The White House did not immediately respond when asked about the European counterproposals.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke and pledged to find a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine and "unwavering support" for Zelenskiy while welcoming Trump's efforts to end the fighting, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

FLURRY OF CALLS

It was not clear what, if anything, had been agreed at Chevening, but Zelenskiy called the meeting constructive.

"The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine, this is the key principle," he said in his evening address to Ukrainians.

Macron stressed the need for Ukraine to play a role in any negotiations.

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"Ukraine's future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now," he wrote on X after what he said were calls with Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Starmer. "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake."

Zelenskiy has made a flurry of calls with Ukraine's allies since Trump envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow on Wednesday, where, Trump said, he achieved "great progress".

Ukraine and the EU have pushed back on proposals that they view as ceding too much to Putin, whose troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Russia justifies the war on the grounds of what it calls threats to its security from a Ukrainian pivot towards the West.

Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab.

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Moscow has claimed four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

SCEPTICISM ON IMPLEMENTING DEAL

Russian forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions, and Russia has demanded that Ukraine pull out its troops from the parts that they still control.

Ukraine says its troops still have a small foothold in Russia's Kursk region a year after they crossed the border to try to gain leverage in any negotiations. Russia said it had expelled Ukrainian troops from Kursk in April.

Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said the current peace push was the first "more or less realistic" attempt to stop the war but she remained sceptical about the agreements being implemented.

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"There is virtually no doubt that the new commitments could be devastating for Ukraine," she said.

Fierce fighting is raging along the more than 1,000-km (620-mile) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces hold around a fifth of the country's territory.

Russian troops are slowly advancing in Ukraine's east, but their summer offensive has so far failed to achieve a major breakthrough, Ukrainian military analysts say.

Ukrainians remain defiant.

"Not a single serviceman will agree to cede territory, to pull out troops from Ukrainian territories," Olesia Petritska, 51, told Reuters as she gestured to hundreds of small Ukrainian flags in the Kyiv central square commemorating fallen soldiers.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash in Kyiv and Suban Abdulla in London; Additional reporting by Maxim Rodionov in London, Lili Bayer in Brussels, Andrea Shalal, Jarett Renshaw, Nandita Bose and Timothy Gardner in Washington, Dheeraj Kumar in Bengaluru and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; writing by Olena Harmash and David Brunnstrom; editing by Philippa Fletcher, Diane Craft and Nia Williams)
President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected on Aug. 9 the idea of ceding any Ukrainian territory to end Russia's war, following U.S. President Donald Trump's statement of a possible territorial "swapping."

The day before, Trump claimed that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv would likely involve "some swapping of territories." The statement comes as the U.S. president prepares to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

"The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in Ukraine's Constitution. No one will deviate from this  and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," Zelensky said in his evening address.

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Zelensky emphasized that Ukrainians deserve peace but a "dignified" one, and said Kyiv's partners must understand this principle.

"This war must be brought to an end  and Russia must end it. Russia started it and is dragging it out, ignoring all deadlines, and that is the problem, not something else," Zelensky added.

A map showing Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine as of 2025. (The Kyiv Independent)

Trump and Putin are expected to meet on Aug. 15 in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine, with both sides having confirmed the meeting.

Putin has publicly demanded that Ukraine forget NATO membership and withdraw troops from four of its regions as preconditions for peace. Under this condition, several large cities under Ukrainian control would have to be handed over to Russia.

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In his previous remarks, Trump did not specify what he meant by territorial "swapping," though it possibly referred to Crimea  illegally annexed in 2014  and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Russia declared the annexation of the latter four regions, which are partially occupied by Russia, in 2022 following sham referenda

Read also: Putin proposed halting war in exchange for Ukraines eastern regions in meeting with Witkoff, WSJ reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Aug. 8Some elementary-aged Albuquerque Public Schools students identified as underserved by a landmark court ruling have exceeded literacy goals set for them the previous school year, but showed a backslide from the 2023-24 school year.

Data presented to the Board of Education on Wednesday  just around 12 hours before students returned to classrooms  showed that first and second grade students surpassed their literacy proficiency goals for the second year in a row, with rates at roughly 23% and 26%, respectively. The interim goals set for the previous school year were 21.3% for second graders and 20% for first graders.

However, during the 2023-24 school year, the identified first graders monitored read at a 24.1% proficiency rate at the end of the year  nearly an entire percentage point higher than the 2024-25 school year and second graders read at a 26.3% proficiency rate  0.7 of a percentage point higher than the last year.

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The groups monitored reflect underserved students as defined by the Yazzie-Martinez case, in which Wilhelmina Yazzie, the parent of a Native student at Gallup-McKinley County Schools, and Louise Martinez, the parent of a Hispanic student at APS, successfully sued the state for providing an inadequate education.

The state's Public Education Department defines English language learners, economically disadvantaged students, Native American students and students with a disability as Yazzie-Martinez students. The APS report also accounts for Black students and reflects end-of-year assessments.

Little discussion about the backslide took place during the board's meeting; however, concern over student attendance was mentioned. According to the presentation and meeting agenda materials attached, toward the end of the school year, around 31% of first grade students were chronically absent.

"If our students aren't in school, they can't learn, and our first graders don't have any control over this," board member Heather Benavidez said.

The district has struggled with chronic absenteeism for a while now, and in an interview ahead of the school year, Superintendent Gabriella Blakey told the Journal it was the most prevalent issue the district is facing.
On Wednesday, Aug. 6 United Airlines was forced to ground all flights nationwide after suffering a tech issue that led to delays of over 1,000 flights.

"We are working with customers to get them to their destinations after a technology disruption on Wednesday evening," the airline said in a statement. "The underlying technology issue has been resolved, and, while we expect residual delays, our team is working to restore our normal operations."

Why Were United Airlines Flights Delayed, Canceled?

United said the problem related to its Unimatic system that houses information about each flight that is then fed to other systems, including those that calculate weight and balance and track flight times.

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"Due to a technology issue, we are holding United mainline flights at their departure airports," the airline said in a statement. "We expect additional flight delays this evening as we work through this issue. Safety is our top priority, and we'll work with our customers to get them to their destinations."

How Many Flights Were Delayed, Canceled?

On Wednesday, Aug. 6 alone there were 1,093 delays and 218 cancellations, according to data from FlightAware. While the technology glitch has been resolved, United is still struggling with significant delays and cancellations.

As of Thursday, Aug. 7 morning the airline has already canceled another 154 flights with an additional 166 delays at major airports like Newark Liberty International, Denver International and Chicago O'Hare.

United States Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a statement revealing the outages were limited to just United.

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"Ive been briefed by United CEO Scott Kirby on their companys internal tech outage. The issue was specific to Uniteds operations, and is unrelated to the broader air traffic control system. The team at @FAANews is in close contact with their systems operations team, and weve offered our full support to help them clear up the flight backlog," he said on social media.

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces Change on All Flights Starting August 13

United Airlines Abruptly Cancels More Than 370 Flights first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
First Columbia, Brown and UPenn folded. Harvard is reportedly looking for a way out after President Donald Trump cut its health and science research funding by billions.

Now academia writ large is trying to persuade him to back off his plan to slash universities' budgets.

At Trumps urging, the National Institutes of Health in February said it was cutting by more than $4 billion the amount it pays to universities to help them cover administrative and facilities costs tied to research grants. The overture from university lobbyists comes even as the universities have succeeded in blocking Trumps plan in court  and have won the backing of key Republican lawmakers.

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The universities eagerness to cut a deal shows that they dont think they can hold off Trump indefinitely. A cut of the magnitude the NIH sought would put a major dent in their budgets, slow the search for breakthroughs in health and science, and enable foreign rivals to catch up, they say.

The federal government has long provided funding for university administration and facilities. These indirect-cost reimbursements are an add-on to scientific and health research grants. Trump allies accuse the schools of using the payments as slush funds to pursue progressive causes like diversity, equity and inclusion.

The universities deny that they are using the money that way, but they are hoping to placate Trump by proposing to standardize how the government pays for their indirect costs. Currently, those fees are negotiated separately with each institution, and they can vary widely. Trump says theyre way too high, pointing to the lower rates private foundations pay when they provide research grants.

"It's been made extremely clear to us from day one by members of Congress that if we don't do something, somebody else will," Kelvin Droegemeier, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign whos spearheading the effort on behalf of a coalition of universities and research institutes, told POLITICO.

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"They said continuing forward with the current model is not in the cards. We took it to mean we could help be a part of that change or wait for it to happen."

Some leading Democrats on Capitol Hill and party activists across the country are leaning on universities to stand firm against Trump.

But the coalition is moving forward with talks anyway. "That's really important for everybody to understand. You can't fight something with nothing," Toby Smith, a top lobbyist at the Association of American Universities, said at a recent town hall on paying for indirect research costs.

Among those with the most at stake, either if Trump succeeds in capping the fees or in a compromise, are the titans of the ivory tower: major research universities such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Yale that have long won indirect cost reimbursements in excess of 60 percent of the value of the underlying research grant.

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Major research institutions command some of the highest rates in part because they have expensive and state-of-the-art research equipment and are located in areas with high utilities costs.

A federal district court judge in Boston blocked Trumps plan to cap the fees at 15 percent in March. The national average now is almost 30 percent. The case is now on appeal.

In the meantime, GOP senators such as Appropriations Chair Susan Collins of Maine and Alabamas Katie Britt have protested the administrations plan because it would hurt the public universities in their states. Collins noted that Congress has explicitly barred the administration from tinkering with the indirect cost system in spending legislation.

But even as schools were seeking relief in court and in Congress, a cadre of groups that lobby for them, including the Association of American Universities, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Association of Independent Research Institutes and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, was working out a compromise plan to offer Trump. Others in the crosshairs of Trumps bid to cut costs, such as hospitals and research institutes, are working with them.

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"Those who say, 'Well, let's just wait and see, maybe the lawsuits will be fine.' No, there is change happening," said Droegemeier, who has some cache in Trumps orbit because he led the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the presidents first term.

"I can tell you for sure that [the White House Office of Management and Budget] is working on things. We're working on things. We're working together. But change is coming, and if people simply deny that they're fooling themselves  they'd better prepare for change one way or another."

This week, Trump tried a new tactic to wrest indirect funding from top-tier universities by issuing an executive order calling for agencies to give preference to universities with lower indirect costs when issuing awards.

The university-led group announced this spring that it was working on a new model, one that was "simple and easily explained," and in a nod to the administration's priorities: "efficient and transparent."

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The Financial Accountability in Research, or FAIR plan, would consist of two options for research organizations to recoup facilities and administrative expenses from the government. The first, a detailed accounting of indirect project costs, and the second, a shorter, simpler fixed percentage of a project's budget. (Think itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction on federal taxes.)

"The biggest difference is rather than having an indirect cost rate, which is negotiated across the entire university, this model calls for indirect costs to be estimated for every project," Jeremy Berg, former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an arm of the $48 billion grant-giving National Institutes of Health, told POLITICO.

A lobbying push

Debate over how much the government should pay for indirect costs has raged for decades.

Both former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama suggested capping facilities and administrative costs, to no avail.

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In Trump's first term, he proposed a 10 percent cap on indirect costs  meaning a $100 grant would come with a maximum of an additional $10 for administration and facilities. Lawmakers stopped him by adding language to appropriations bills barring the change.

After the Trump administration announced the 15 percent cap in February, Droegemeier reached out to House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to see if universities and Congress could work together on a compromise.

Soon, Droegemeier had helped assemble a team of seasoned subject matter experts beyond the traditional academic echo chamber, including representatives from hospitals and medical centers, foundations, private companies, and former government officials from NIH and OMB.

Droegemeiers team then worked to engage Senate appropriators, including Collins and Britt. They briefed Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. More recently, they've talked with the offices of Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), as well as Democrats.

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Since February, the team held two weekend fly-ins and a virtual retreat to work on the model together and multiple town halls to explain the FAIR plan and get feedback from universities.

Beyond Congress, the group has sought buy-in from the Office of Management and Budget, the White House arm that is leading Trumps cost-cutting initiatives.

Droegemeier worked with OMB Director Russ Vought during Trumps first term.

A critical juncture

The administration has appealed Judge Angel Kelleys March decision, which she made permanent in April, to the federal appeals court in Boston.

In the meantime, senators on the Appropriations Committee approved language in their version of the spending bill for the National Institutes of Health that restricts changes to the current methods of setting indirect costs.

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Even so, Collins floated the new model to NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya at an NIH budget hearing in June and signaled her support for a compromise.

She called Droegemeiers plan far fairer than Trumps flat rate and said she believed it would increase accountability.

Bhattacharya said he had talked with Droegemeier during the early planning stages of the model. "I think they're quite promising," he said.

Talks are expected to resume when Congress returns from recess next month.

The bigger challenge may be getting OMB to sign off. So far, the university groups and OMB have not been able to reach an agreement to present to lawmakers, according to a person familiar with the negotiations on the congressional side granted anonymity to avoid influencing the ongoing discussions. One sticking point for OMB: The White House wants assurances the plan will cut spending on facilities and administrative expenses, the person said.

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From Droegemeier's vantage point, they're working together on finer points of the model, and talks with OMB are ongoing.

The university team isnt promising cost reductions. Thats not their role, according to Droegemeier. Instead, the model is designed to show what it really costs to do research. Then the government and lawmakers can decide what they want to pay for.

Berg, the former NIH official, thinks it has the potential to be cumbersome to implement, but more transparent.

Like Droegemeier, he doesn't think schools have a choice.

"There's been so much of a fuss made at this point," Berg said, adding, "If the universities dug in their heels and said, 'We like the old model.' That's not going to happen. Instead, there'll be some fixed cap, the way the administration proposed out of the blue."

"From that point of view, it's a thoroughly sensible thing to do, and I'm supportive of the effort, because I think it's the best path to ending up somewhere that's actually rational."
On July 21, 2025, The New York Post published an article claiming that while Pete Buttigieg was secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the agency spent $80 billion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants while delaying air traffic control (ATC) upgrades.

Every day theres another story highlighting why Pete Buttigieg will never be President.



Delaying air traffic updates because you were focused on DEI, transit equity day, multi-racial block parties to qualify for EV charging stations https://t.co/mBahVrgNxv pic.twitter.com/E0tJIiqbNy  Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) July 21, 2025

The New York Post (NYP) report was shared on Facebook and X, where one user said it highlighted why Buttigieg "will never be president."

Its top three paragraphs read:

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg failed to replace outdated air traffic control systems while in office  with his agency instead shelling out tens of billions of dollars on a DEI agenda, according to federal spending records and airline industry insiders. In one meeting, Buttigieg  who is said to be eyeing a 2028 presidential run  told industry executives that air traffic control upgrades would just allow them to fly more planes, "and so why would that be in his interest?" sources said. What his department was really interested in was handing out hundreds of diversity, equity and inclusion grants totaling more than $80 billion over four years  at least half of the DOT's entire budget for a typical fiscal year, records show.

However, Snopes found that the article lacked a transparent explanation for how it reached such conclusions. Our fact check aims to interrogate both claims made in the NYP article  that Buttigieg's DOT supposedly spent $80 billion on DEI grants and that he delayed upgrades to the country's ATC systems.

The 'DEI grants'

The NYP article did not define what it meant by a DEI grant, which made it difficult to determine the veracity of this claim. The outlet is known for having a conservative bias, and the tactic of criticizing a member of former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration by using a buzzword with an unclear definition, like DEI, is largely consistent with how U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has used the term. Snopes contacted the writer for clarification on how the story defined a DEI grant but never heard back. We also attempted to reach out to representatives of Buttigieg. Therefore, it was not clear how the NYP reached the $80 billion figure.

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In the first instance the number appeared in the article, the text was hyperlinked to a DOT webpage (archived) titled, "U.S. Department of Transportation Accomplishments Overview  January 2021-January 2025." The NYP did not explicitly state where in the linked webpage it found evidence of the DOT spending $80 billion on DEI grants.

However, both the DOT webpage and the NYP article referenced something called "Justice40," an environmental justice initiative created by Biden's administration that required "40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments" to "flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution."

The White House included a list of the programs included in the initiative (archived), including 40 different DOT programs, none of which was related to air travel. Therefore, this could be what the NYP was referring to when referencing DEI grants.

The DOT webpage noted that the Justice40 program was incorporated into the 40 DOT grants with about "$150 billion in contract authority," and that "55 percent of the benefits" reached those communities. Fifty five percent of $150 billion is $82.5 billion, which was the only way Snopes could arrive at a number close to $80 billion. The NYP did state that 55 percent of the $150 billion infrastructure investments were spent; however, the Post did not state that this is how it concluded that $80 billion was spent on DEI initiatives.

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Snopes also looked at reproducing the number using USASpending, the open-access source for all federal government spending data. However, we could not get close to $80 billion. We reached out to the author of the article asking for an explanation for the number, but had not heard back as of this writing. Without further elaboration from the NYP, Snopes was unable to accurately assess the USASpending figures.

'Delayed' air traffic control funding

The NYP's source for the claim that Buttigieg delayed ATC funding was an unnamed "air industry official." Therefore, it was not possible to verify the source's comments due to the anonymity.

On Feb. 6, 2025, Margaret Wallace, an assistant professor who teaches air traffic control and airport management at the Florida Institute of Technology, told NPR that the U.S. is "well behind compared to other countries" when it comes to radar systems, during a discussion about the country's ATC technology.

But updating ATC systems means spending money, and only Congress can approve such spending. Given that infrastructure upgrades take place on longer time scales, such projects can be at odds with the yearly budgetary priorities of the legislature.

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However, there is evidence that Buttigieg did spend money on upgrading the ATC systems.

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed while Buttigieg was transportation secretary, provided $5 billion in funding to upgrade the country's ATC systems. On April 27, 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it had invested the first $1 billion of that funding.

Given that ATC must operate at all hours, year-round, any upgrades must be installed alongside a still-functioning old system. Therefore, that old system, as outdated and unsustainable as it is, must be adequately maintained before upgrades can take place.

Chris Meagher, a spokesperson for Buttigieg, reportedly told the NYP that Republicans in Congress blocked the FAA's 2025 budget request for $8 billion more to upgrade ATC systems.

Decoupling NYP's link between DEI grants and ATC upgrades

It is worth noting that the NYP article appeared to frame the two priorities as connected  Buttigieg's DOT delayed long-overdue air traffic control upgrades so that the agency could spend more on DEI grants.

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However, as shown above, there was not enough evidence to support either the claim that Buttigieg's DOT spent $80 billion on DEI grants or that it delayed ATC upgrades. There was even less evidence to suggest the two were connected.

Again, the transportation secretary only has minimal control over the budget. Congress, not the Biden administration, decided how to allocate the $1 trillion of infrastructure investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Congress decided that $5 billion would go to ATC upgrade funding, and roughly $150 billion would go to DOT programs impacted by the Biden administration's Justice40 initiative.

It was not clear if the NYP article intended to prove that Buttigieg, as transport secretary, siphoned off funds meant for ATC repairs to spend them on DEI grants instead. If this was the intention, the evidence was lacking. As noted earlier, the Justice40 funding was never earmarked for anything to do with air travel.

In sum, the two pools of money were completely separate, and Congress, not Buttigieg, decided how those funding pools were allocated.

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The NYP, and other outlets with a political bias, often frame stories in such a way when covering individuals or organizations with opposing views. Snopes has investigated such stories in the past.

Sources:

2025 Budget Proposal Invests in Aviation Safety | Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/2025-budget-proposal-invests-aviation-safety. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

"Aviation Week Op-Ed: The Importance of Modernizing and Maintaining the Nation's Air Traffic Control Systems." Embry-Riddle Newsroom, https://news.erau.edu/headlines/aviation-week-op-ed-importance-modernizing-maintaining-nations-air-traffic-control-systems. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Christenson, Josh. Exclusive | Pete Buttigieg's DOT Spent $80 Billion on DEI Grants, Delayed Air Traffic Control Upgrades: Records, Industry Insiders. 21 Jul. 2025, https://nypost.com/2025/07/21/us-news/pete-buttigiegs-dot-spent-80-billion-on-dei-grants-delayed-air-traffic-control-upgrades-records-industry-insiders/.

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"Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." The White House, 22 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/.

FAA Begins Investing $1B of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding into Air Traffic Control System | Federal Aviation Administration. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-begins-investing-1b-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-air-traffic-control-system. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Federal Aviation Administration . 2025 Budget Proposal Invests in Aviation Safety. 11 Mar. 2024, https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/2025-budget-proposal-invests-aviation-safety.

---. FAA Begins Investing $1B of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding into Air Traffic Control System. 27 Apr. 2022, https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-begins-investing-1b-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-air-traffic-control-system.

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Guynn, Jessica. "DEI Explained: What Is DEI and Why Is It so Divisive? What You Need to Know." USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/03/04/trump-dei-backlash-explained/81170427007/. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Izzo, Jack. "Chinese Investors Are Buying Farmland Around US Military Bases?" Snopes, 23 Jul. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/07/23/chinese-farmland-military-bases/.

"Justice40 Initiative | Environmental Justice." The White House, https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Martinez, A. "Air Traffic Control Expert Discusses the Outdated Technology behind U.S. Systems." NPR, 6 Feb. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/02/06/nx-s1-5286407/air-traffic-control-expert-discusses-the-outdated-technology-behind-u-s-systems.

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Newark Airport Experiences Another Air Traffic Control Outage - CBS News. 19 May 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/newark-airport-air-traffic-control-outage/.

'New York Post - Bias and Credibility'. Media Bias/Fact Check, 7 Aug. 2025, https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/new-york-post/.

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Swearing-in Ceremony | Video | C-SPAN.Org. https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/transportation-secretary-buttigieg-swearing-in-ceremony/588628. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation Accomplishments Overview  January 2021-January 2025. 16 Jan. 2025, https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-appoints-members-advisory-committee-transportation-equity-acte.

USAspending.Gov. https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=b9e443e8e684a5158e94bdb4922acb64. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
PHOENIX, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --The Founders of S2C Arizona, Inc. DBA Safe2core are pleased to announce that their company has reached a very significant milestone: 15 years in business, including several years in Phoenix, Arizona.

Safe2core previously marked its 14th anniversary with a Phoenix-focused milestone release in 2024, highlighting its long-standing commitment to precision, safety, and customer satisfaction.

To read more about S2C Arizona, Inc. and the services they offer throughout Phoenix, Arizona, please visit the Phoenix/Arizona service-area page.

As the Founders noted, S2C Arizona, Inc. has definitely grown over the last 15 years. In addition to the location in Phoenix, they have additional locations throughout California and Texas, each with a full team of highly skilled personnel.

Extensive Local Service Coverage in Phoenix

S2C Arizona Inc. serves clients in the following Phoenix ZIP codes: 85003, 85004, 85006, 85007, 85008, 85009, 85012, 85013, 85014, 85015, 85016, 85017, 85018, 85019, 85020, 85021, 85022, 85023, 85024, 85027, 85028, 85029, 85031, 85032, 85033, 85034, 85035, 85037, 85040, 85041, 85042, 85043, 85044, 85045, 85048, 85050, 85051, 85053, 85054, 85083, 85085, and 85086.

S2C Arizona Inc. can work with clients in any of the 15 "Villages" that are located in Phoenix:

Ahwatukee Foothills

Alhambra

Camelback East

Central City

Deer Valley

Desert View

Encanto

Estrella

Laveen

Maryvale

North Gateway

North Mountain

Paradise Valley

Rio Vista

South Mountain

Specialized Services

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR

Concrete cutting

Core drilling

Utility locating

GPR scanning

Private utility locating

Underground utilities

Underground utility locator

Concrete scanning

Concrete X-ray

GPR concrete scanning

Concrete scanning services

CCTV pipeline inspection

Experience and Commitment to Clients

"With over 45 years of combined experience, S2C Arizona Inc. has been solving many complex cases encountered by our customers in all types of projects, from small residential renovations to multimillion-dollar projects," Antonio Guzman said, adding that their technicians have inspected a wide array of concrete structures, varying from simple inspections, such as locating rebar on concrete walls, to locating post-tension cables in highly complex structural concrete slabs.

While S2C Arizona Inc. has scaled significantly over the years, one thing that has definitely not changed is their commitment to their valued customers. Regardless of the level of complexity of the work S2C Arizona Inc. is doing, Guzman said they strive to tackle all jobs with a "problem solving" attitude.

"Our goal is to provide customers with a solution. Our well trained staff uses a 'team work' approach that always has one objective: allowing our clients to perform destructive procedures in the most complex structural concrete members without damaging any embedded targets," Guzman said.

"Safety, both of our employees and fellow construction workers, is always a priority in every project we undertake."

Guzman said he and everyone at Safe2core are proud to have reached such an impressive milestone in business, and grateful for all of the customers they have served.

"We look forward to the next 15 years in business, and our continued growth and commitment to our clients," he said.

About S2C Arizona, Inc. DBA Safe2core

S2C Arizona, Inc. DBA Safe2core personnel have more than 45 years of combined experience in Concrete Scanning, Concrete Cutting, Utility Locating and CCTV Pipeline Inspection. Their technicians have inspected a wide array of concrete structures varying from simple inspections, such as locating rebar on concrete walls, to locating post-tension cables in highly complex structural concrete slabs.

For more information, please visit: https://www.safe2core.com/

SOURCE Safe2core Inc
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman and Secretary of Defence R&D Dr. Samir V Kamat expressed pride over the growing strength of India's defence research and development sector. Dr. Kamat was attending the convocation ceremony at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (Deemed to be University) in Pune on Saturday. While speaking to ANI from the sidelines of the ceremony, Dr. Kamat said, "It's indeed a proud moment for all of us. It's a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I'm sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing. " Dr Kamat credited the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives to the PM Modi-led government. Dr. Kamat said, "The present government, when it came into power in 2014, started the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. It is because of this that what Raksha Mantri ji has tweeted has happened. Because today, the industry is very confident that if they are able to produce the systems within the country, the ministry will acquire the systems for our services." Earlier, it was reported that the annual defence production has achieved a record high of Rs 1,50,590 crore for the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. The milestone represents a robust 18% growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90% increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore, as stated in the release. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has lauded the collective efforts of the Department of Defence Production and all stakeholders, i.e., DPSUs, public sector manufacturers, and the private industry, in achieving this landmark. He termed the upward trajectory a clear indicator of India's strengthening defence industrial base. Highlighting the achievement on X, Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for the remarkable growth, underscoring the nation's strides towards becoming a global defence manufacturing hub."Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, India's defence production has hit a record high! The annual defence production has soared to an all-time high figure of Rs 1,50,590 crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. These numbers indicate a robust 18% growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90% increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore," he posted on X.According to the release, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and other PSUs accounted for approximately. 77% of total production, while the private sector contributed 23%. The share of the private sector, which increased from 21% in FY 2023-24 to 23% in FY 2024-25, reflects the sector's growing role in the defence ecosystem of the country. Both public and private segments of the industry have demonstrated consistent year-on-year growth, attributed to far-reaching policy reforms, enhanced ease of doing business, and a strategic focus on indigenisation over the past decade. The overall production of DPSUs and the private sector has increased by 16% and 28% respectively in FY 2024-25. This record-setting achievement underscores the growing momentum of the Government's push to self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The emphasis on reducing the dependency on imports and creating a defence industrial complex that not only caters to India's needs but also strengthens the potential of exports has shown positive results.It may be recalled that the defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25. It was a growth of Rs 2,539 crore or 12.04% over the defence exports figures of FY 2023-24, which were Rs 21,083 crore. With sustained policy support, increased private participation, and expanding export capabilities, India's defence production sector is poised for continued acceleration in the years ahead. (ANI)
The US has blamed France for the collapse of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas because it agreed to recognise Palestine as a state.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said the Palestinian terror group was emboldened by Emmanuel Macrons decision last month, leading to a breakdown in talks that might have ended the 22-month war.

Mr Rubio told the Catholic Eternal Word TV network: Talks with Hamas fell apart on the day Macron made the unilateral decision that hes going to recognise the Palestinian state.

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On July 24, France said it would recognise the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first G7 country or member of the UN Security Council to do so.

Mr Rubio at the time said the US strongly rejects the reckless decision and called it a slap in the face to the victims of Hamass attack on Israel on Oct 7 2023.

Also on July 24, Israel withdrew its negotiations from the Doha talks after receiving Hamass latest response to its ceasefire proposal, bringing to an end the longest round of negotiations since the war started.

Steve Witkoff, Donald Trumps Middle East envoy, announced the return of US negotiators, saying Hamas clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.

Emmanuel Macron met Mahmud Abbas, the Palestinian leader at the UN General Assembly last September - Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty

Following Frances announcement, Sir Keir Starmer said Britain would recognise Palestine in September unless Israel made peace in Gaza, which Israel condemned as a reward for Hamas.

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Canada also pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood and several other Western countries indicating they were considering following suit. Most UN members already recognise the State of Palestine.

On Friday, Mr Rubio accused such countries of offering Hamas a chance to claim victory.

He said: And then you have other people come forward, other countries say: Well, if there is not a ceasefire by September, were going to recognise a Palestinian state. If Im Hamas, Id basically conclude: Lets not do a ceasefire, we can be rewarded, we can claim it as a victory.

So those messages, while largely symbolic in their minds, actually have made it harder to get peace and harder to achieve a deal with Hamas. [Hamas] feel emboldened.

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JD Vance, the US vice-president, said on Friday that the US had no plans to recognise the Palestinian state. On his summer holiday to the UK, he told David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, that the UK and US had disagreements on Gaza.

On Friday, Israel approved an expanded military offensive which will, in effect, lead to the full occupation of Gaza. It led to international condemnation, including from Sir Keir who said it would only bring more bloodshed.

The decision provoked a bitter split with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israels arm opposes the plan and warned that it would overstretch exhausted forces, and endanger Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.

An Israeli infantry vehicle on the border with the Gaza Strip as Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled plans to occupy Gaza - AFP Contributor

Mr Netanyahu dismissed the IDFs concerns after a heated 10-hour meeting on Friday and told troops to prepare for the invasion of Gaza city.

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Germany on Friday suspended all arms deliveries to Israel in an unexpectedly stern response to the takeover plan, further isolating Israel on the world stage over its conduct in the war-shattered Strip.

Britain on Saturday pledged 8.5m in additional humanitarian aid for Gaza, which it said had the potential to reach thousands if Israel allows the UN and other agencies to operate at the scale needed.

Calling on Israel to reverse its decision to expand military operations, Britain also demanded more aid be allowed into the Strip as reports of widespread starvation grow.

Jenny Chapman, the minister for international development, said: It is unacceptable that so much aid is waiting at the border  the UK is ready to provide more through our partners, and we demand that the Government of Israel allows more aid in safely and securely.

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On the ground in Gaza on Saturday, health officials said 11 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead and that 11 other adults had died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours.

Footage also showed the moment a 15-year-old boy was killed by a falling aid crate.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Lebanon hit back at Iran for what it called flagrant and unacceptable interference after an adviser to the Islamic republics supreme leader expressed opposition to the disarmament of its ally Hezbollah.

In a post on X, the foreign ministry said it condemns the recent declarations by Mr Ali Akbar Velayati... which constitute flagrant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon.

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On Tuesday, the Lebanese cabinet authorised the army to draw up a plan to establish the states exclusive control over weapons  a move that would mean disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Under a truce to end the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in November 2024, the army has been deployed in south Lebanon dismantling the militant groups infrastructure there.

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.
LONDON (Reuters) -British foreign minister David Lammy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance will meet Ukrainian and European allies in Britain on Saturday to discuss President Donald Trump's push for peace in Ukraine, a spokesperson for Downing Street said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the security meeting, the spokesperson said.

Starmer and Zelenskyy discussed Trump's proposals for ending the war in Ukraine ahead of talks with his Russian counterpart on August 15 in Alaska.

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"The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine this morning. They looked ahead to the meeting of National Security Advisers from Europe, Ukraine and the United States taking place today, hosted by the UK Foreign Secretary and US Vice President," the spokesperson said.

"They agreed this would be a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace."

(Reporting by Suban Abdulla; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
The Israeli security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to take over the Palestinian city, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed early on Friday.

US officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties have voiced either opposition or concern on Friday for Israel's planned operation to take over Gaza City.

The Israeli security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to take over the Palestinian city, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed early on Friday.

Statements by Republicans

"I'd like to know who is actually going to run it," Axios quoted GOP Congressman Tim Burchett, who represents Tennessee's 2nd district, as saying.

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The US news source quoted another Republican congressman, Ryan Zinke, representing Montana's 1st congressional district, who said that Netanyahu's plan to occupy the city "comes with the responsibility of providing humanitarian assistance and creating an economic future."

Criticism from Democrats

Richie Torres, one of Congress's most vocal pro-Israel Democrats, was also quoted by the US news source saying that Israel is the "ultimate arbiter of its own security," while adding that the Israel-Hamas war "is in danger of becoming a quagmire."

Palestinians walking at the market in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. (credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90)

Democrat Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) issued an official statement in reaction to the planned operation, saying, "We all want this awful war to end. However, Prime Minister Netanyahus decision to take over all of Gaza City is tactically questionable and strategically self-defeating."

"The decision is more likely to play into Hamass original objectives in starting this war and further unite much of the world against Israel than it is to bring home the last surviving hostages and advance the security needs of the nation," while specifying that the start of the war is due to Hamas's massacre.

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Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders, an Independent, said, "Biden was wrong about his support for Israels war in Gaza. Trump is even worse. The American people - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - do not want to continue spending billions of taxpayer dollars to starve children."

Criticism from within Israel

Netanyahu's plan was also slammed by Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid.

"The decision made by the [Security] Cabinet is a disaster that will lead to many more disasters."

Several Israeli security cabinet members had also admitted that the takeover plan is unlikely to lead to Hamas's defeat or the return of the hostages.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
The sanctions targeted an individual based in Iran, and entities based in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

The United Statessanctioned multiple entities and an Iran-based individual at the end of July, stating that the entities had worked as a drone procurement network in support of Iran.

The sanctions targeted an individual based in Iran and entities based in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

The sanctions follow US President Donald Trumps National Security Presidential Memorandum-2 to counter Irans aggressive development of missiles and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities.

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The US State Department stressed that all available means, including sanctions on entities based in third countries, would be used to expose and disrupt Irans schemes to procure equipment and items supporting its UAV program, which destabilizes the Middle East and beyond.

Iran continues to pursue the development of asymmetric weapons capabilities, including unmanned aerial vehicles, to carry out attacks on the United States, our servicemembers and our partners and allies in the region, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. We will continue to put America first by disrupting Tehrans ability to further its destabilizing agenda that undermines the stability of the region and threatens the safety of the American people.

Circumventing sanctions

The US Treasury Department named the individual sanctioned as Javad Alizadeh Hoshyar, and claimed that as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Iran-based Control Afzar Tabriz Co Ltd, he procured computer numerical control (CNC) machines and equipment for HESA - a machine used in the development of commercial and military aircraft.

Control Afzar used Hong Kong-based Clifton Trading Limited as an alternative consignee and intermediary for procurements in the interest of HESA, the treasury claimed, with the intention of obscuring the involvement of Control Afzar.

Afzar was also said to have used Taiwan-based Mecatron Machinery Co Ltd, Joemars Machinery, and Electric Industrial Co Ltd to ship CNC machines and equipment to Iran.
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona toured the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Aug. 8, speaking to Democrats about winning back seats in the 2026 midterms and drawing a crowd of national reporters curious about his 2028 presidential prospects.

Gallego's message for Iowa Democrats, in between visits to the butter cow and flipping pork burgers at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent, was to focus on working-class issues, "stop going for the easy votes" and reach out to Republicans.

"We have to get out to these rural areas or suburban areas, wherever it is where were maybe not winning Republicans, and we have to actually start having conversations with them," he said in an interview with the Des Moines Register. "And focus on what they want to talk about. Not what makes us comfortable to talk about."

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Gallego defeated Republican Kari Lake in 2024 to win his seat in the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Latino senator to represent Arizona. Before that, he served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The reason we got Trump-Gallego voters in Arizona is because we talked about border security," he said. "And we talked about the cost of living and how things were going bad and we needed to work on it instead of being in denial and hoping that we would win."

'Too early' to talk about running for president, Gallego says

Gallego's visit to Iowa comes amid a string of his visits around the country that have sparked speculation about a potential bid for president in 2028.

More: Why Arizona's Sen. Ruben Gallego is 2028 presidential longshot as he heads to Iowa

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Gallego will travel to New Hampshire, the traditional leadoff presidential primary state, on Aug. 22. His stops will include the Politics & Eggs breakfast, a staple for presidential candidates, as well as a town hall and a fundraiser, according to WMUR.

In May, he held a town hall in Pennsylvania, a key swing state.

In his interview with the Register, Gallego acknowledged that, "yes, I've been prepped" to be asked about whether he'll run for president in 2028.

"Too early," he said. "Right now, the most important thing is, I need some help in the House and in the Senate. I know how to help Democrats win in really hard states. That's what we're here to do."

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, talks with fairgoers during the second day of the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Gallego also noted that he has a 7-week-old son, his third child, and "that's going to be the focus for the next couple of years."

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Asked if that meant he was ruling out a presidential bid in 2028, Gallego deflected the question with a joke about U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's viral town hall comments about Medicaid.

"I mean, like, who knows what the hell is going to happen in the next couple of years, right?" he said. "As Joni Ernst said, we could all be dead, too."

Past tweet disparaging Iowa Caucuses 'not my finest moment,' Gallego says

But his visit to the fair was also dogged by conservative activists from Turning Point USA seeking to draw attention to past social media posts Gallego made disparaging the Iowa Caucuses.

"F--- caucuses," he posted on Feb. 4, 2020. "Iowa failed time to move on. #IowaCaucuses."

Fuck caucuses. Iowa failed time to move on. #IowaCaucuses  Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) February 4, 2020

"Love my friends in Iowa and New Hampshire, but time to move on," he wrote in another post on Feb. 14, 2021. "South Carolina and Nevada should start the primaries."

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Gallego said he made the post because he was frustrated by the fact that the results of the caucuses were not known for weeks after the app failed that the Iowa Democratic Party was using to report precinct results.

"The tweet was definitely not my finest moment," he said. "However, you know, it was mostly focusing on the results of that day."

National Democrats stripped Iowa of its first-in-the-nation status following the 2020 election, although the party may revisit the presidential nominating calendar before the 2028 election.

Gallego said Democrats' presidential nominating calendar will be determined by the Democratic National Committee.

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"Look, the DNC's got to figure out the calendar. If Iowa is back in front, then it's Iowa," he said.

"But overall, fighting for people like here in Iowa or Arizona or anywhere else, you know, we have shared needs, and we have some shared threats," he added. "Like, right now, what's the threat? People are getting kicked off of Medicaid. People are going to get kicked off food stamps."

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, grabs an egg on a stick during the second day of the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said voters will decide whether Gallego's past comments about the caucuses are a dealbreaker if he decides to run for higher office.

"It's up to the voters," she said. "But I would tell you that I talked to him about that. And, you know, I think he recognizes that he was running his mouth, right? And that's one reason why it's really great that he's here in Iowa, because maybe this will give him a different attitude going forward."

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She said she's "thrilled" candidates such as Gallego are interested in coming to Iowa.

"We've had a lot of conversation about Iowa's place in the big picture of first-in-the-nation, etc.," she said. "And candidates get it. They know that Iowa is the place to come. We have a such a strong reputation of being the place where you come to be vetted by honest to goodness ordinary citizens who are smart and savvy and are paying attention, and it gives you an idea of what the pulse of the nation is."

Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann issued a statement calling Iowa Democrats "out of touch" for welcoming Gallego and saying Iowans "don't need lectures" from him.

"Ruben Gallego trashed the Iowa Caucuses, mocked our farmers, and then voted against tax cuts on tips, bigger paychecks and financial relief for seniors," Kaufmann said. "Now he wants a photoop at the State Fair? Iowans know better, hes out of touch and out of his depth."

Gallego rounds out Iowa State Fair with butter cow visit, pork burger flipping

Despite his deflections, Gallego's day at the fair had all the hallmarks of a presidential condender's visit.

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Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen took Gallego to try an apple eggroll at her Applishus stand before he kicked off his official schedule by answering questions from reporters.

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, flips a pork burger at the Iowa Pork Producers Association Tent during the the second day of the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Gallego walked around the fairgrounds with Hart and state Sen. Matt Blake, D-Urbandale.

As he strolled, he and Blake chatted about their kids and their military service, and Gallego got some advice about the "science" behind where to stand to get the best picture with the butter cow.

"There's a science?" he asked.

After seeing the butter cow, Gallego tried an egg on a stick  another Iowa State Fair staple.

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"Needs a little salsa," he said, before dipping it in some Cookies BBQ seasoning that a volunteer offered him.

From left: State Sen. Matt Blake, D-Urbandale, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, and Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart pose for photos with the butter cow during the second day of the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 8, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.

He stopped to take selfies with several Democratic volunteers at the party's booth in the Varied Industries Building.

And he completed his fair tour with a visit to the Iowa Pork Producers Tent to flip pork burgers.

At the end of the day, he hinted that it might not be his last visit to Iowa.

"You're going to have competitive races no matter what," he said. "I think you're going to have competitive Senate candidates and House candidates and governors. And if they ask me to come back again, yeah, I'll come back again."

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Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ruben Gallego visits the Iowa State Fair, raising questions about 2028
Hearings across Utah started this week on the varied property tax hikes proposed by an array of cities, school districts and other taxing units.

Some of the hikes have already prompted backlash  proposals in the Tooele and Weber school districts, for instance  with more public hearings coming through the rest of August. Every entity seeking to boost taxes via truth-in-taxation hearings, as theyre known, has a list of reasons why the extra funds are needed. Still, taxes are a touchy subject, and increases inevitably spark calls from some to keep government spending in check.

While we recognize that costs have increased for government entities over the past few years, costs for taxpayers have also increased. We challenge cities, school districts and special service districts to find new ways to cut back spending and avoid tax increases wherever possible, said Billy Hesterman, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, a tax watchdog group.

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State law allows taxing units to boost taxes a limited amount each year to reflect growth, using whats called the certified tax rate. But if cities, school districts, towns and other taxing entities decide they need to boost taxes beyond that threshold, theyre required to hold truth-in-taxation hearings to explain their plans and allow the public to sound off.

The Utah Taxpayers Association each year compiles a list of Utah taxing entities planning to go through the truth-in-taxation process, and for the 2025-26 fiscal year there are 59 of them pursuing tax increases, down from 66 last year.

The median proposed rate hike among the 59 entities is 8.31% above what would otherwise be allowable, according to the Utah Taxpayers Association, down from 11.58% last year. In dollar terms, the proposed increases for the owner of an average-valued home in the varied entities range from just a few dollars for the year to several hundred dollars.

Tooele School District held a hearing on its proposed tax increase for 2025-26 on Tuesday in Tooele. It's one of many Utah entities proposing increases. | Tooele School District

Below is a rundown of some of the entities seeking the largest hikes, a few already approved, gauging by the actual proposed bill increases, in dollar terms, for the owners of average-valued homes. School districts, which typically require more in property tax revenue than other entities, and smaller locales account for most of the entities listed.

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The figures come from the Utah Taxpayers Association and the notices issued, per state law, by the varied entities. Bill estimates for school districts factor just the fund line items that local school boards control from year to year, not the portions controlled by the Legislature or the debt service line item. Actual increases would vary depending on home value, while the proposed hikes can be reduced, though not increased, when officials take formal action.

Wellington, Carbon County: The city proposes a $487.59 increase on a home worth $256,000, from $216.41 under the certified rate to $704. The increase would generate an extra $376,375 a year, up 224.9% from last year, and a hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Box Elder School District: The district proposes a $343.53 hike on a $450,000 home, from $923.18 to $1,266.71. The increase would generate an extra $11.26 million in property tax revenue, up 36.5%. A hearing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Tooele School District: The district held a hearing on Tuesday, approving a $284.24 increase on a $475,000 home, from $1,139.31 to $1,423.55. The hike will generate an extra $9.25 million in property taxes, up 24.2%.

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Gunnison: The Sanpete County city proposes a $249.02 increase on a home worth $415,000, from $315.67 to $564.69. The hike would generate an extra $209,130 in property taxes, up 78.4%. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Alta: The Salt Lake County town proposes a $200.98 increase on a home worth $1.81 million, from $829.79 to $1,030.77. The hike would generate an extra $98,659, up 24.3%. A hearing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13.

North Sanpete School District: The district proposes a $248.79 increase on a home worth $415,000, from $613.31 to $862.10. The increase would generate an extra $1.88 million, up 40.7%. A hearing is set for Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Kaysville: The city proposes a $175.33 increase on a $690,000 home, from $552.17 to $727.50. The increase would generate an extra $1.8 million, up 31.7%. A hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 7.

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Weber School District: The district held a hearing on Wednesday, approving a $115.28 increase on a $524,000 home, from $804.37 to $919.65. That increase is down from the original proposed hike. The hike will generate an extra $9.7 million.

Woodland Hills, Utah County: The city proposes a $165.41 increase on a $967,000 home, from $1,645.01 to $1,810.42. The hike would generate an extra $101,815, up 10%. A hearing is set for Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Cache County School District: The district proposes a $158.55 increase on a $547,000 home, from $570.41 to $728.96. The increase would generate an extra $6.24 million, up 28.1%. A hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 28.

Eureka, Juab County: The locale proposes a $155.87 increase on a home worth $447,000, from $215.86 to $371.73. The increase would generate an extra $36,782, up 69.1%. A hearing is set for Monday, Aug. 25.

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Castle Valley, Grand County: The city proposes a hike of $111.03 on a home worth $425,000, from $201.96 to $312.99. The increase would generate an extra $74,092, up 54.9%. A hearing is set for Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Willard, Box Elder County: The city proposes a hike of $123.50 on a home worth $515,000, from $271.35 to $394.85. The increase would generate an extra $130,999 a year, up 45.2%. A hearing was held Wednesday, but officials arent expected to take formal action until Aug. 28.

Garfield County School District: The district proposes a $185.38 increase on a $350,000 home, from $632.75 to $818.13. The increase would generate an extra $1.07 million, up 29%. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 21.

Alpine School District: The district held a hearing Tuesday, approving a $114.40 hike on a home worth $520,000. The increase will generate an extra $22.85 million, up 10.5%.

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Roy: The city is considering a $108.10 increase on a $432,000 home, from $384.44 to $492.54. The increase would generate an extra $1.42 million, up 28%. A hearing is set for Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Granite School District: The district held a hearing Tuesday, approving a hike of $106.28 on a $565,000 home, from $1,151.33 to $1,257.61. The hike will generate an extra $17.8 million, up 8.4%.
During her short visit to Utah this week, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer at one point found herself clothed head to toe in personal protective equipment and surrounded by some of the strongest manufacturing materials in the world.

The carbon fiber spools were being produced by Hexcel, one of the leading manufacturers of the high-strength material that operates part of its production in a massive manufacturing plant located in West Valley City, Utah. As Chavez-DeRemer toured the facility on Friday, the Trump administration official pressed top-ranking leaders on how they develop the materials  and how the federal government can support those efforts.

Chavez-DeRemer was accompanied by Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee tasked with helping to provide federal funding to organizations like Hexcel to develop state-of-the-art manufacturing materials. Hexcel receives those funds through national defense appropriations approved by Congress every year, which the senior leadership team says is crucial to build stronger products.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, right, speaks with workers during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. Rep. Celeste Maloy is on her left. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

I get hit up by a lot of people who are asking for programmatic language or funding in the bills for something that they think would be amazing, Maloy told the Deseret News after the tour. When I can come see what theyre doing and hear firsthand and see firsthand how it impacts national security, then its easier for me to separate fact from fiction when people are coming in and asking for funding.

What is carbon fiber  and how is it crucial to the national defense realm?

Rep. Celeste Maloy looks at a strand of carbon fiber during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Carbon fiber is a high-strength chemical material that is created from thin strands of carbon atoms fused together in a crystalline structure.

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The fiber is lightweight, which makes it a valuable tool for cars, airplanes, and military aircraft because it uses less energy and can be shaped into specific designs that traditional metals cannot easily do. Carbon fiber is considered a strategic material because high-quality production is possible in just a handful of countries, giving the United States an opportunity to be a global leader in the manufacturing space.

Hexcel is the only aerospace-grade carbon fiber manufacturing company that is headquartered in the United States, which organization leaders say is important to ensure the country is not reliant on foreign countries and can develop independently with intellectual property that is completely U.S.-owned.

The carbon fiber produced by Hexcel is designed to extend aircraft range and to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, according to the company.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, second from left, talks with Drew Patterson, plant manager for fibers, left, during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

The facility has put that production to use by helping innovate defense aircraft and key military programs such as the F-35 Lightning II, CH-53K King Stallion, UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, and more. The manufacturing plant in Utah works closely with 47G, a prominent industry company in Utah that specializes in aerospace and defense.

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Hexcel is even working to make itself valuable in the production of high-profile defense systems, including the Golden Dome introduced by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

The Golden Dome is a proposed multilayered defense system aimed to protect the United States airspace from foreign missile attacks and other threats, akin to the Iron Dome in Israel. Trump announced his plans to develop the Golden Dome earlier this year, setting the stage for defense industries across the country to play a role.

Hexcel leaders mentioned Golden Dome on the tour with Chavez-DeRemer and Maloy on Friday as one of several opportunities for the company, although they did not speak directly with the Labor secretary about how theyd get involved.

Maloy looks to bolster national defense spending in upcoming appropriations bill

Rep. Celeste Maloy looks on during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Maloy sits on the House Appropriations Committee, which spearheads the process of funding the federal government and providing funds to organizations and projects.

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Hexcel could fall under the category of the Department of Defense appropriations, which, if passed, would greenlight federal funds to be used for missile defense, space programs and other aerial systems. That bill, one of 12 that make up the full appropriations process, passed the House in July but has yet to be considered by the Senate.

But Congress is facing a number of obstacles in passing its annual appropriations bills, which must be finalized and signed by Trump before Oct. 1 or else the government will enter a shutdown  effectively freezing funding for a slew of federal agencies until legislation is passed.

The process is historically bipartisan, but some Democrats are cautiously approaching the negotiating table with fears that Trump might upend any deals.

Senate Democrats have repeatedly warned they may not support legislation to avert a shutdown unless Republicans can guarantee they wont later vote along party lines to strip the funding unilaterally. Republicans passed a rescissions package eliminating $9 billion in already-approved spending last month, and Trump already has plans for more spending cuts.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, center left, talks with Drew Patterson, plant manager for fibers, center right, during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

That could threaten increased federal funding for some groups  and its prompting whispers of potentially kicking the can further down the road with whats known as a continuing resolution. Such a move would continue government funding at its current levels, which Maloy warns could harm defense innovation.

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Every time weve been in a situation where were talking about a (continuing resolution), its the national defense people that are the most concerned, Maloy told the Deseret News. Because when projects get frozen, when program funding gets locked in, they cant innovate. Weve got to be able to innovate in the national defense space to make sure that we are prepared for the conflicts of the future, not just what weve done in the past.

Chavez-DeRemer visits Utah as part of nationwide tour

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer picks up a strand of carbon fiber during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Chavez-DeRemer made her stop in Utah this week, marking the 24th state in the Labor secretarys national America at Work tour.

As part of those efforts, Chavez-DeRemer has made plans to visit with local companies and organizations in all 50 states to inform her policy decisions and national regulations. Earlier in the day, Chavez-DeRemer met with nearly a dozen local leaders in Utahs agriculture, tourism, and construction sectors to discuss nonimmigrant work visas and how to bolster Utahs domestic labor supply.

As former colleagues in Congress, I know Congresswoman Maloy shares my passion for addressing the labor issues facing our communities, Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement, referring to her previous experience as a House lawmaker. It was an honor to join her for a roundtable with local business leaders today, where I learned more about the various industries that power Utahs diverse economy. Through President Trumps proposal to Make America Skilled Again, the U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring states like Utah have the resources they need to meet their unique workforce demands.

Hexcel Vice President of Global Fibers Research and Technology Cary J. Martin, right, guides U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, left, during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

During the roundtable discussion, the pair discussed how the Trump administration can more efficiently address H-2A and H-2B visa processes, which allow nonimmigrants to come to the United States to work on a temporary basis in key industries that are experiencing labor shortages.

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Chavez-DeRemer has previously announced plans to create a new federal office to speed up those migrant work visas in response, as was reported by the Deseret News in June.

At the Western Governors Association in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in June, Chavez-DeRemer outlined the creation of an emergency agency to handle visa application backlogs within her office that will serve as a one-stop-shop to approve visa applications on the spot.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer looks on during a tour of Hexcels facilities in West Valley City on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

The initiative will include the creation of upgraded IT systems that will allow employers to log on to an internet dashboard where they can track the progress of their visa permits.

I want to thank Secretary Chavez-DeRemer for coming to Utah and taking the time to listen directly to the concerns raised by local business and industry leaders, Maloy said in a statement after the roundtable. Utah has a strong economy and a lot of our industries rely on visa workers. Im grateful that the administration is listening and working with us to make sure Utah businesses have the support they need.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  As some industries worry about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on jobs, one trade school is seeing an increase in applications

At the Utah Electrical Training Alliance, the existence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) appears to be drawing in more applicants to their school than ever before. One student, Jackson Winger, said, I dont see it taking over any single aspect of this job.

Winger is putting in work to become a journeyman wireman, and so far, his favorite part is the hands-on work he does. According to Forbes, AI is reshaping many industries, but Winger is confident the trades are safe for now, I dont think AI is going to take on anything in the near future that we do every day.

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Its like a good pair of shoes, you can have them or not have them, but the job is going to get done either way, Branndon Mohr, another student, said. Mohr agrees with Winger and thinks AI will help with planning for school, but not with the physical aspects of the job.

At the end of the day, its not going to help with work ethic, mastery of your craftsmanship, camaraderie, and being able to work in a group, but also being expected to pull your weight physically, he said.

The World Economic Forum estimates around $85 million jobs would be replaced by AI in 2025.

Yet, over the past five years, Brian Vermouth, training director at Utah Electrical Training Alliance, says their school has seen a fluctuation of applications. They are on track for a record high by the end of 2025.

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The Utah Electrical Training Alliance says they have open houses, and job fairs every year and have not done any additional campaigning this year that would create that big jump in applications.

With the hands-on aspect of our trade and the physical labor involved in our trade, I dont see AI ever replacing a skilled journeyman wireman or a skilled telecommunications technician, Vermouth said.

Some students like Mohr say the trades are built to last, regardless of AIs progression. Mohr says, Our job has been physical for the past 100 years, and its going to be physical for the next 100 years.

AI is also creating opportunities, according to the World Economic Forum, which says 97 million new jobs could be created in areas like data science and AI development.

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Utah Electrical Training Alliances 2025 graduation is expected to be its biggest graduating class yet, with 170 students graduating. According to Vermouth, next years class is expected to grow even more.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A vacant house on Peorias south side was damaged by a fire early Saturday morning. Its being investigated as an arson.

At 3:35 a.m. on Aug. 9, the Peoria Fire Department was sent to a house fire at 805 S. Warren St., said Battalion Chief Rick Waldron.

When crews arrived, he says they saw heavy smoke coming from the first and second floors.

Crews found heavy fire on the stairs leading up to the second floor, he said. As they went to the second floor, crews had to avoid multiple holes in the floor.

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He said the bulk of the fire was in the second-story bedroom. It was put out within 10 minutes of crews finding it.

Crews remained on-scene for multiple hours putting out the remaining hot spots that were found in the second-story attic walls, according to the statement.

A fire investigator and the arson dog, Rock, investigated. Waldron said it was determined that the fire was arson after accelerants were found on the stairs and second floor.

No one was injured but there was an estimated $70,000 worth of property damage.

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Spare a thought for Nicola Sturgeon. One minute she was in charge of a small country, trying to make it seem bigger by cutting it off from England; the next shes wandering around literary festivals talking about a tattoo.

Thats not the Royal Military Tattoo, the annual extravaganza at Edinburgh Castle, shes on about, but an actual tattoo shes had inked on her wrist. According to what she told her mother, which every parent knows may not be the whole truth, its an infinity symbol capped with an arrow, which she describes as a symbol of strength.

Who would deny her this wee act of rebellion? After a spectacular fall from political grace and a very public marriage break up, Sturgeon has certainly been through the wringer.

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Yet strength is what the rest of us required throughout her reign as First Minister, especially during the pandemic, when Boris Johnson kept having to ban things to stop her sounding tougher.

The female population in Scotland needed particular fortitude to withstand her assault on their identity. Promoting her disastrous gender recognition reforms, she kept insisting that trans women are women when quite obviously they are biological men.

It was all terribly disturbing, especially when a bloke named Isla Bryson, who used her penis to carry out two rapes, was placed in a womens prison. Sturgeons refusal to define this individual as male pretty much did for her political career.

Her biggest ambition was Scottish independence, a cause she managed to set back for generations by demonstrating just how badly her party would run everything. Amid ill concealed contempt for the Monarchy, she railed against Westminster and obsessed about hate crimes while Scottish NHS waiting lists exploded.

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Year after year, Scotland recorded the worst drug-related death rate in Europe. If I could turn the clock back I would have done things differently, she claimed, in what was not exactly a heartfelt apology for so many lives ruined and wasted.

These days, she seems to be spending a lot of time with her old pal Val McDermid. In an interview with The Telegraph, the author claims Sturgeon has been treated appallingly and is the victim of misogyny.

Ive seen some of the stuff she gets poured on her head and its horrible, McDermid said. Apparently, she is taking comfort from the new tattoo. Aye, well  it will take much more than a bit of ink for her country to recover. We can only hope that the infinity symbol does not make her legacy indelible.

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YSRCP has charged the TDP-led government in Andhra Pradesh with gross misuse of power and resorting to vehement undemocratic measures to wrest the local body by-poll in Pulivendula and reiterated despite all such nefarious measures the image of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will not be affected. Speaking to media here on Saturday, Party spokesperson Rachamallu Siva Prasada Reddy said, the election being fought not with TDP but with official machinery and the ruling coalition is hell bent on damaging the image and fame of YS family. He appealed to the people and cadre to work with a strong resolve braving all hardships to retain the seat. He alleged that the election is being fought in the most undemocratic manner with the official machinery siding totally with the ruling party while TDP has been resorting to violence, bloodshed, misuse of police, jumbling of polling booths causing inconvenience to voters who are committed to YSRCP, extravaganza of money, foisting false cases on political adversaries, besides heavy poaching. "Adding to this they have been threatening and book cases against active YSRCP workers and sympathizers, not taking complaints filed by the opposition and at times booking cases against the victims and police playing proactive role making it YSRCP versus police election," he said. He said that the sequence of events for the past one week shows that election campaign is not being held in the normal and traditional form but it is being held in an unconventional and undemocratic manner. "The sole intention of TDP is not to win the by-poll but to bring a blot on the image of YS family which has been invincible in this region, he said. "They are even propagating that we will attack media which is in our favour and shift the blame on ruling dispensation which is the most audacious allegation and the most self-degrading statement. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will be a changed man after winning the 2029 polls and all erring persons would have to pay a heavy price," Prasada Reddy said. The the Zilla Praja Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) by-election scheduled for August 12. (ANI)
Vice President JD Vance said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his rumored rival for the MAGA throne, once derailed a very serious conversation about the Middle East with a deadpan joke about a Florida womans husband rising from the dead in Jerusalem.

Katie Miller, wife of senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, revealed Thursday night that Vance would be the debut guest on her new podcast, The Katie Miller Podcast.

In a teaser clip shared on X, Miller peppers the vice president with a series of Marco questions, including a request for the funniest joke Rubio has ever told him.

President Trump has signaled support for a Vance-Rubio 2028 presidential ticket.



Vice President @JDVance shares his reaction and what you may not know about Secretary @marcorubio.



Exclusive interview | Monday, August 11 pic.twitter.com/Bmr3tewWrN  The Katie Miller Podcast (@katiemillerpod) August 8, 2025

Vance, 41, who has been vying with Rubio, 54, for President Donald Trumps favor for months, noticeably squirmed before settling on the unflattering anecdote.

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We were talking about something very serious related to the Middle East, and he started this joke totally deadpan, Vance recounted.

He said Rubio interrupted their conversation to say he had learned something interesting about the Middle East during his time in the Senate.

Rubio then told Vance that a constituent had called him, saying her husband had died while they were visiting Israel and that she needed help returning his body to the United States. Then, Vance said, Rubio claimed the woman changed her mind and decided to leave her husbands body in Israel.

Rubios punchline? The last time somebody died over here, they rose from the dead three days later, referring to Jesus.

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I didnt know until the very end that it was a totally bulls--t joke, Vance said.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation accompanied by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from the White House on June 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. President Trump addressed the three Iranian nuclear facilities that were struck by the U.S. military early Sunday. (Photo by Carlos Barria - Pool/Getty Images) / CARLOS BARRIA / Carlos Barria/Getty Images

The Ohio senator managed to fire off several backhanded compliments at Rubio in the under-two-minute clip, including references to his Florida roots.

[Rubios] got a lot of Florida Man jokes, Vance told Miller. Because, you know, youll take some crazy story from the Jacksonville Times, and then it ends upyou think its a jokebut its actually something that actually happened in the Florida Panhandle.

He also took a jab at Rubios sweet tooth, saying that half the time he sees him, Rubio is eating ice creama weighted allegation in the MAGA-verse, where right-wing commentators have relentlessly mocked President Joe Bidens own affection for the icy dessert.

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He works out, but he canI mean, house ice cream, Vance said.

Trump pats Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the shoulder as he explains his heist. / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

The awkwardly stifled interview comes just days after Trump stopped short of endorsing his vice president as his heir apparent for the 2028 election, instead saying Vance would probably be the favorite to take over the MAGA movement.

Trump also floated the possibility of Vance and Rubio teaming up.

I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form, Trump said. I also think we have incredible peoplesome of the people on the stage right here.

The Daily Beast has reached out to Vance and Rubio for comment.
DENVER (KDVR)  The South Adams County Fire Department responded to a vehicle that struck a structure near East 72nd Avenue and Monaco Street in Commerce City Saturday morning.

SACFD said it responded to the incident just before 9 a.m. and that no injuries were reported at the scene.

Police: Arrest made after deadly hit-and-run near I-225 in Aurora

The South Adams County Fire Department responded to a vehicle that struck a structure near East 72nd Avenue and Monaco Street in Commerce City Saturday morning. (Credit SACFD) The South Adams County Fire Department responded to a vehicle that struck a structure near East 72nd Avenue and Monaco Street in Commerce City Saturday morning. (Credit SACFD) The South Adams County Fire Department responded to a vehicle that struck a structure near East 72nd Avenue and Monaco Street in Commerce City Saturday morning. (Credit SACFD)

Pictures posted by the fire department show what appears to be a black pickup truck crashed through the front door and window of an auto insurance business.

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A storefront sign reads B&B Seguros para Auto Insurance. The business is located directly next to Dans Barbershop and across the street from a library.

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MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Non-profit law firm Vermont Legal Aid on Thursday celebrated what they called a significant victory for housing justice as a Vermont citizens panel ruled in their favor.

The firm said the Vermont Human Services Board (VHSB) had issued a decision that hinged on the interpretation of an 80-day limit in the 2026 state budget signed into law in May.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signs $9.1 billion FY26 state budget

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Vermont Legal Aid was representing one woman, H.D., who requires dialysis and uses a wheelchair. She received emergency housing assistance from April to June 2025 and was then told that she could no longer be housed as she had reached the 80-day limit. However, VHSB ruled that days from the previous fiscal year, which ended June 30, could not be counted against the current years limit.

This decision means I might actually have safe housing options while I continue looking for permanent housing, said H.D. in a statement provided through legal counsel.

State Hotel-Motel program hits deadline for medically vulnerable among others

The state budget also requires that people who were eligible for the hotel-motel program be provided housing again during the coming winter, from December 1 of this year to March 31, 2026. The VHSB decision does not change that requirement.

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The Vermont legislature in June passed the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program bill, which would have continued the hotel-motel program in a changed form. That bill was vetoed by Governor Phil Scott, who said that the state had already spent too much on what he called a failed program. ABC22/FOX44s coverage of Scotts veto can be seen at the video at the top of this page.

The state of Vermont has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal the decision to the Vermont Supreme Court.

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PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  A man from Virginia was convicted Friday of murdering his former girlfriend, according to the Prince Georges County Interim States Attorney Tara Jackson.

Kevin Derr, 51, was convicted of first-degree murder after he stabbed his former girlfriend, 47-year-old Wendolyn McKoy, to death in April 2024.

The jury found Derr guilty on five counts, which include first-degree murder, first-degree assault, crime of violence in the presence of a minor, and unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Prince Georges County police: Virginia man arrested, charged for killing Maryland woman

The incident happened on April 9, 2024. Officials said Derr waited for McKoy to come home, where he forced her out of her car and into the home, where he stabbed her to death.

Derr is facing life without the possibility of parole.

This was a brutal and senseless act of violence, Jackson said. The defendant stabbed the victim 78 times, and no one should ever have to endure the kind of terror this victim experienced at the hands of someone she once trusted. Our attorneys and law enforcement partners worked extremely hard to bring justice to this family, and we thank them for their efforts.

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His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

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NEED TO KNOW

Authorities have reportedly identified the teen they say fatally shot a local Virginia actor before shooting himself on Aug. 2

The shooter has been identified as 19-year-old Destin Grady, according to ABC affiliate WRIC, NBC affiliate WWBT and CBS affiliate WTRV

Actor Adam Turck was remembered as a "hero" after he reportedly tried to de-escalate a domestic dispute when he was killed





Police in Virginia have reportedly identified the teenager who shot and killed a local actor before killing himself last weekend.

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On Friday, Aug. 8, the Richmond Police Department (RPD) said 19-year-old Richmond resident Destin Grady was the man who fatally shot Adam Turck, according to local ABC affiliate WRIC, NBC affiliate WWBT and CBS affiliate WTRV.

The identification came days after Turck, a beloved actor remembered as a "hero," was killed while attempting to de-escalate a domestic dispute, according to previous reports from WRIC, WTVR and WWBT.

A RPD spokesperson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Adam Turck/Facebook Actor Adam Turck, who was fatally shot in Richmond on Aug. 2, 2025 Actor Adam Turck, who was fatally shot in Richmond on Aug. 2, 2025

The RPD initially responded to a domestic call at the 2000 block of East Grace Street on Aug. 2 around 10:17 a.m. local time, when they found two unresponsive men with life-threatening gunshot wounds, per WRIC.

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According to WTVR, which cited officials with the RPD, police said a man, since identified as Grady, fatally shot Turck before shooting and killing himself. Both men were then transported to a nearby hospital, with WRIC reporting that Grady was in a confrontation with a woman on the sidewalk as Turck walked by with his dog and attempted to intervene.

Turcks family told WTVR in a statement that, ahead of his 35th birthday, he'd be "donating his organs to help save the lives of others."

"Thats what heroes do  they save the lives of others," the statement read in part. "Adam put his life on the line to protect someone in need, and we will forever remember him for this sacrifice. Although we cannot go into details on the events of this past Saturday due to the nature of the event, we were told that if Adam had not been there, the person he intervened to help would not be with us today."

Following the fatal shooting last week, friends, family and local community members gathered at the local Firehouse Theater in Richmond to celebrate Turcks life and career, per WRIC.

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The Virginia Repertory Theatre wrote in a social media statement that Turck was a light, both on stage and in every space he entered."

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His artistry, integrity and fierce compassion touched so many of us, the theater wrote. This is a profound loss we share as a community.

After being nominated for multiple Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards and named the Best Actor in a Play in 2018 for his role in Hand to God, Turck was next preparing to play Dracula in the upcoming Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors at the Richmond Triangle Players theater, per WWBT.

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Tequila & Deadlifts gym owner Kerith Rae told WWBT that the world is "a duller, darker place without him."

I cannot explain the size of the hole that has been left, not just in our gym community or our theater communities, but in the fabric of this world to lose somebody like Adam, Rae said. Hes the kind of person people write about in books because they want to be that good, and he just was."

Read the original article on People
The National Museum of the US Air Force has the world's only permanent public exhibition of a B-2.

B-2 planes are known for their stealth technology, long flight range, and nuclear capability.

The plane exhibited at the museum features remnants of the ground-based testing it endured.

I never thought I'd get to see a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber in person.

The advanced warplanes, which cost around $2 billion each, can evade radar detection and drop tens of thousands of pounds of nuclear or conventional weapons. They were most recently deployed in Operation Midnight Hammer in June, dropping 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Iran's nuclear facilities.

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All 19 of the US Air Force's operational B-2 planes are housed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where access is strictly limited.

However, there is one place in the world where a B-2 is on permanent public display: the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

I visited the museum in August to see the one-of-a-kind exhibit. Take a look.

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is one of the most fearsome warplanes in the world.

A US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber, deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, flies over the English countryside near Dover, August 29, 2019. Royal Air Force

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit entered development during the Cold War, and the first plane became operational in 1993. B-2s were used in Operation Allied Force in Serbia in 1999, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the early 2000s.

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With advanced stealth technologies that make it extremely difficult to detect by radar, a capacity to deploy nuclear and conventional weapons, and an ability to refuel midair for flight times that can exceed 30 hours, the B-2 is one of the most powerful warplanes in the world, and it has a very long reach. No other country operates anything comparable to the combat power and capability of the B-2 bomber.

The National Museum of the US Air Force added a B-2 to its collection in 2003.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The aircraft was shipped to the National Museum of the US Air Force in pieces in seven separate shipments. Reassembling it took restoration staff three years.

At the 2003 dedication ceremony, then-museum director Charles D. Metcalf called it "one of the world's largest jigsaw puzzles."

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With a wingspan of 172 feet, it's one of the most prominent displays in the museum's Cold War gallery.

A B-2 at the National Museum of the US Air Force. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Even with the wide-angle camera setting on my iPhone, I could barely capture the entire plane in frame.

The B-2 housed at the museum never flew  it was one of two that Northrop Grumman built for ground-based testing.

A wider look at the B-2. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Northrop Grumman built two test planes with the exact same specifications as the operational B-2s but without engines or instruments.

A museum volunteer showed me metal patches on the aircraft, which were used to repair one of the wings after it snapped during fatigue testing.

Patches under the wing. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Fatigue testing uses hydraulic plates to simulate flying conditions and test an aircraft's durability.

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"Whatever the maximum load is, the plane has to take 150% of that to pass the test," he said. "This one actually passed, though, at 161%, but you can see where it failed."

A nose landing gear panel featured artwork added by the service members who conducted temperature testing.

Artwork and signatures on the nose landing gear panel. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Technicians conducted over 1,000 hours of temperature testing at McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and found that the B-2 could withstand temperatures ranging from -65 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. To commemorate their work, the technicians painted a decorative "Fire & Ice" decal on the nose landing gear panel and signed their names.

Nose art was popular during World War II, when pilots and crew members would often personalize their planes with cartoons, pinups, or tallies of their missions. It's not as common on bombers in active service today.

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The plane's exterior featured the emblem of the Air Combat Command.

The seal of the Air Combat Command. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Air Combat Command prepares and equips Air Force teams to provide fighter power, intelligence, cyber operations, and support for combat missions around the world.

The shield-shaped emblem shows a downward-facing sword with wings spread on either side.

Wording on one of the landing gear doors indicated the plane's name: "Spirit of Freedom."

"Spirit of Freedom" was written on one of the landing gear doors. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The "509th" and "Follow us" reference the origins of the modern 509th Bomb Wing, which operates B-2 planes.

During World War II, the historic 509th Composite Group was responsible for deploying nuclear weapons. The B-29 Superfortress bombers that dropped the first atomic bombs on Japan were part of this unit.

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Their motto was "Follow Us, Follow Us, as we usher in the Nuclear Age," according to the US Air Force's official website.

The 509th was instrumental in the formation of Strategic Air Command and continues to support US nuclear deterrence.

I found the B-2 to be one of the most memorable exhibits at the museum.

The B-2 on display. US Air Force photo by Ty Greenlees

The National Museum of the US Air Force features around 350 planes and missiles over 19 acres of exhibit space  among which were an Air Force One used by eight US presidents, Titan and Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki  but seeing one of the world's most advanced warplanes up close was a memorable experience.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Families with youngsters who will be attending Wakarusa Elementary this year will want to make note of the upcoming back to school event, to be held at the school on form 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12. This is an opportunity to visit the school, meet with students teachers, and learn about classroom procedures for the 2025-26 school year.

The first day of school for all students registered in the Wa-Nee Community Schools district will be Thursday, Aug. 14. It is a full day of classes for all grade levels.

New this approaching school year, there will now be crossing guards working to ensure the safety of students coming to and from the Wakarusa public schools. There will be one stationed at the intersection of West Waterford and Washington streets, and another at North Elkhart Street and Orchard Park Drive. It is recommended to talk with students about the importance of crossing these intersections safely.

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At Wakarusa Elementary School, the pickup and dropoff routines will remain as a one way, double file process for both the morning and afternoon traffic flow. Parents who will be taking their students to NorthWood Middle School are reminded that there is a no left turn policy for the north entrance, therefore parents must use the south parking lot entrance when turning off of North Elkhart Street.

ALSO HAPPENING

 The Shortstop Inn is getting ready to transform the downtown square into Rockarusa! The latest offering in their ongoing Music in the Streets series will bow at 6 p.m. tonight. The featured band for the night is the returning crowd favorite, the Day Drinkers. Come down and dine at the Shortstop Inn, 112 E. Waterford St., then take to the streets for a night of family friendly music and a lively atmosphere.

 Waterbrook Academy, located at 66402 Ind. 19, in the former Come n Dine building, will be hosting a Food Truck Rally on Friday, August 15, from 5-8 p.m. Stop by for a different spin on the evening mealtime, and to support the new Waterbrook Academy as the new school year gets underway.

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 The NorthWood High School of 1976 is gearing up for their 50th class reunion, to be held on Friday, August 15, at The Blue Teal banquet venue, located at 607 Nelsons Parkway in Wakarusa. Anyone who has updated information to share regarding classmates and their whereabouts should contact Sherry (Weaver) Yoder at syoder1957@gmail.com. Information such as names, spouses names, and current contact details are especially helpful. Plan on enjoying a night of memories with longtime friends and classmates.

 The Wakarusa Historical Museum, located at 403 E. Wabash Avenue, is the setting for the annual Vintage Power Show, which will take place on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16. The weekend event will showcase primitive farming methods, museum tours, a Civil War living history group, food, vendors, and much more. The hours will be Friday from 1 p.m. until dusk, when a spark show will close out the day. At the conclusion of the show on Saturday afternoon, there will be a parade, featuring many of the antique tractors and machinery winding their way through downtown Wakarusa before passing The Waters of Wakarusa and ending back at the museum. This event is free of charge, although donations are always gratefully appreciated.

 The Wa-Nee Robotics program is looking for adult mentors for the robotics teams of the 2025-26 school year. Volunteers can set their own hours for practices, and will receive support from the Robotics Director. No tech background or robotics knowledge is required, just a willingness to learn, encourage and support students in their mission to create, code and compete. For more details, send an e-mail to robotics@wanee.org.
Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced Friday, Aug. 8 that Richard Foster, 47, of Walton was indicted Thursday on two felony charges and one misdemeanor related to assaults that occurred in the village of Walton.

According to a news release, the indictment alleges that on Aug. 1, Foster assaulted two individuals in a parking lot.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree assault, a Class B felony. Count 1 alleges that Foster intentionally caused serious physical injury to another person by means of a dangerous instrument. Count 2 alleges that Foster intended to disfigure another person seriously and permanently and did cause such injury.

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Foster also was charged with third-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor, for an alleged assault against a second woman who was attempting to intervene and stop Foster from continuing the assault.

Foster currently is incarcerated at the Delaware County Jail on $15,000 cash or $25,0000 bond bail awaiting the arraignment on the indictment.

Smith commended Investigator Kathryn Mitchell of the Walton Police Department for her thorough investigation into this serious case, the release stated.
There are over 905 Costco warehouses worldwide, with 624 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as of this writing. Despite the warehouse giant's ubiquity, there are still three states that don't have any Costco locations: Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming. If you don't have a Costco in your city or state, you can suggest a new location for the company to consider, and you don't even have to visit a store to do so. But before submitting a request, check Costco website's list of stores opening soon to see if your area is already scheduled to get one.

To petition Costco for a new store, use the feedback feature on the company's website or app using your desktop, laptop, or mobile device. To use your desktop or laptop, go to Costco.com, look for a blue tab sticking out from the right-hand side of the screen labeled "Feedback" and click it. If you're accessing the website using a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the homepage and select the "Feedback" option.

You can recommend a new location through the Costco mobile app. On an iPhone, tap the "More" button on the app's homepage, then choose "App Feedback." On an Android device, tap "Account" at the bottom of the home page, then under the "Help" menu, select "Feedback."

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Read more: 12 Best Costco Prepared Foods To Buy And 11 To Avoid

How Does Costco Decide Where To Open A New Location?

Costco membership counter - Marvin Samuel Tolentino Pineda/Getty Images

Many factors determine where Costco opens its warehouses. One of the biggest is whether a community will support the store by shopping there, which likely explains why California has more Costco locations than any other U.S. state. If there isn't a strong market for a new store based on the population, level of public interest, community backing, or municipal support, then it may not be a good financial decision for the company.

Other considerations include local infrastructure and the availability and accessibility of land. The average size of a Costco warehouse is 140,000 square feet. The largest Costco location, in Salt Lake City, Utah, spans 235,000 square feet, while the smallest, in Juneau, Alaska is 76,696 square feet. If there isn't sufficient space or easy access to a potential site, it may not be practical to build there. When the Juneau store was built, Costco was testing whether a smaller-market model could work, and the company ultimately decided that it would not.

Finally, Costco considers local competition and the shopping habits of its target demographic. If the residents of a potential market is already loyal to another big-box store such as WinCo or Sam's Club, Costco may face too much competition. Still, even in rural areas with smaller populations, a Costco might make sense if there are no existing grocery warehouse options.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

Trump ordered the military to fight Latin American drug cartels that it labeled as terrorist organizations in a secret directive, multiple news organizations reported on Friday.

Lets take a moment here to reflect on how far this marks the erosion of congressional power. In theory, presidents can only use military force after Congress declares war; failing that, Congress can issue an Authorization for the Use of Military Force  an AUMF. The 2001 AUMF following 9/11 was incredibly broad, empowering the president to use the military against anyone responsible for the attacks.

That breadth set the stage for the War on Terror, the seemingly endless series of military actions that defined and drained the following decades. We still dont have a full list of what conflicts and engagements were authorized under the 2001 AUMF. Its definitional, though, of the expansion of executive power that has allowed the president to use the military overseas with very thin Congressional approval.

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Before the election last year, I reported on how the War on Terror fractured the country, helping set the stage for President Trump to apply some of the same methods used during that period, at home. In some ways, the years after 9/11 were a classically authoritarian moment: those who opposed federal policy faced often extreme backlash; only one representative opposed the 2001 AUMF, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).

One person I spoke with last year was Karen Greenberg, an attorney who directed Fordham Laws National Security Center. Greenberg had written a book called Subtle Tools, in which she argued that the War on Terrors extralegal methods had crippled American democracy and paved the way for Trumps assault on the rule of law. One example she held up was the vagueness of the 2001 AUMF: It was like, no, were just going to say theres a threat. We have the powers, we can do what we want. That was unheard of, Greenberg told me.

The 2001 AUMF was dangerously vague, but it at least paid minimal service to the idea that the president should be accountable to Congress when using military force. As reported, the cartel declaration appears to ignore that, while also continuing on the administrations tack of using the military for law enforcement purposes.

On the latter point, some reporting suggests that this will be relatively limited: using Navy ships to intercept drug-smuggling boats, for example. On the former, its striking how little grounds the administration has to do this. There is a national self-defense claim Trump can make to avoid Congress; the New York Times suggested that they may rely on fentanyl overdoses to make that claim.

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The lack of meaningful congressional oversight isnt only a box to check, Greenberg told me last year. It can help prevent other abuses, or stop military operations from dragging on indefinitely. As Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer and current senior adviser at International Crisis Group, suggested on Bluesky, what this portends is another War on Terror, this time against the cartels.

 Josh Kovensky

Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend:

While Democrats try to decide what exactly their role will be in the upcoming appropriations process and the looming government shutdown, theyre not receiving much good will from Republican leadership.

A bit more on the shoddiness of the NIH program that RFK Jr. is trying to use to carry out his signature autism research plan.

A look at why Vice President JD Vance is facing allegations of corrupt canoeing practices.

Lets dig in.

GOP Leadership Stalls on Dem Meeting Request to Avoid Shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sent a letter to Republican leaders on Monday demanding a meeting with their counterparts.

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The Democratic leaders told Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) that they 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.

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, they added.

During an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Jeffries said he has not heard back from Republicans since sending the letter.

Government funding is set to expire after Sept. 30. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will only have a few weeks to work something out when they come back from the lengthy August recess. Democrats also have some choices to make about how they intend to work with Republicans  if at all. Its a phenomenon that I unpack here.

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Meanwhile the vice chair of House Appropriations Committee Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) told Politico that despite the GOPs track record hes confident that all 12 spending bills will get floor votes. But he added, negotiations in both chambers will come down to congressional leaders and the White House.

Thats really not in the hands of the appropriators, Diaz-Balart said of shutdown talks. Thats above our pay grade.

 Emine Yucel

Love The Weekender?

Would you consider contributing to our TPM Journalism Fund this weekend if you are able to? Were currently doing a drive to raise $500,000 and are very close to our goal.

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The Weekender community is one of my favorite spaces here at TPM. Many of you have been reading since I (Nicole) first took over writing and editing this weekend newsletter. That was during COVID lockdown, a very different era, but one not unlike our current complex and ominous political moment.

Its really nice to work at an independent news outlet like TPM, which offers me and everyone else on staff ample opportunities to write about how our personal experiences interact with the work we do. Were political news junkies, just like you, trying to keep up and process whats happening around us as we do our jobs. Thats the kind of outlet that I hope The Weekender is, both for TPM staff and for loyal readers like you: a unique space to take a breath at the end of a long, heavy news week and digest whats transpired, as humans. We try to keep it light, too.

If The Weekender has been a helpful service for you over the years, wed love if youd consider contributing to our TPM Journalism Fund drive. No pressure, you can finish your coffee first.

 Nicole Lafond

You Had One Job

I wrote this week about RFK Jr.s signature autism research plan, as executed by the National Institutes of Health. In theory, this is his big chance to prove the medical establishment wrong. For years, hes claimed, researchers have refused to acknowledge a link between autism and vaccines, as well as other environmental factors. Now, having made it to what was only a few years ago an unimaginable perch within the federal government, he has unbelievable resources to find out the truth.

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Looking at the track record of Trump officials like RFK Jr., it can be hard to take them at their word. But allow me to be naive here for a moment. This should be Kennedys big break: he can finally redirect federal medical research towards what, lets say, is neither a pet cause nor a great storytelling device, but rather something that he sincerely believes has caused untold harm across the country.

So, whats actually happening?

Per my reporting, RFK Jr.s marquee autism research initiative focuses on collecting huge amounts of data on Americans from various sources  wearable device companies, medical records firms, insurers, other federal agencies  and collating them to provide a complete picture of where autism is occurring. Researchers in the area will say that this is a deeply flawed approach, but lets set that aside for a moment. Its an ambitious project.

The problem? The Senate is already upset about it, largely because it seems to be a copy of an Alzheimers research initiative that was shelved last year after Congress complained that it lacked basic budget constraints and did little to account for privacy issues. One NIH source told me that the autism study seemed to be a copy of the Alzheimers one, with a different focus.

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Whats revealing to me here is partly the disregard for federal spending, but mostly its the shoddiness. Even on the issue that is supposedly at the core of the MAHA agenda, theres a stunning lack of interest in pursuing what theyve said was the point of this all along. Read the story here.

 Josh Kovensky

DELIVERVANCE: The Vice Presidents Questionable River Ride

Vice President JD Vance is facing allegations of corrupt canoeing practices.

The accusations come from a report published in The Guardian on August 6 that alleged Vances team had the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers divert the flow of an Ohio lake to create ideal kayaking conditions as he paddled through the area to celebrate his birthday.

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In a statement to the newspaper, the USACE confirmed the Secret Service requested to change the outflow of the lake. However, the agency said that request was made to accommodate Vances security detail and not to make it easier for him to go with the flow. The newspaper attributed the allegation  that Vances team had officials change levels in the lake for his boating needs  to a source with knowledge of the matter who communicated with the Guardian anonymously while also noting they could not independently confirm this specific claim.

Vance was spotted canoeing on the Little Miami River, which is fed by Caesar Creek Lake, on August 2, his 41st birthday. The Guardian also claimed U.S. Geological Survey data showed a drop in the lake level and corresponding surge on the river during the time Vance was vacationing in the area.

The vice president did not respond to the papers request for comment about the kayak kerfuffle. Perhaps, he is hoping the silence can help him float on past this scandal.

 Hunter Walker
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday asked the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to give a formal complaint regarding his "vote theft" allegation against the Election Commission of India(EC). The party's National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also alleged that the Congress has a habit of blaming someone for their electoral setbacks. "The Congress party is involved in scams. They lose elections. When they lose elections, they have to blame someone; sometimes they blame EVMs. Sometimes on VVPAT. Sometimes on the Election Commission of India. Sometimes they abuse the public and make false allegations without facts. And never give a formal complaint," Bhatia said in a press conference. "If you want to seek a remedy in law, Mr Rahul Gandhi, I must remind you that our country, India, is governed by the rule of law, the Constitution of India, and there are some procedures to raise your complaint. You have to give a formal complaint. Third, when you make baseless allegations in the media, and after that, any constitutional institution asks for proof, then refuse to give proof," he said. On Friday, the Centre and opposition sparred over Rahul Gandhi's allegations of "vote theft" with BJP leaders and allies dismissing his claims as "baseless." However, the opposition members backed his charges and demanded a parliamentary discussion. This came in response to a press conference held by Rahul Gandhi on August 7, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said neither Rahul Gandhi's party nor his party workers believed his claims, adding that if common entries in voter lists existed, a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was necessary. Speaking to reporters, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "I have said this earlier too that neither his political party nor his party workers believe what he says. So, I think the country also need not take his words very seriously...In his press conference yesterday, Rahul Gandhi presented data collected through software and discussed common entries across different states. I would like to ask one thing, if there indeed are common entries, then Special Intensive Review (SIR) becomes all the more important. He and his party have to decide whether they are supporting or opposing SIR." Meanwhile, labelling Rahul Gandhi's claims as 'baseless", the EC on Friday said that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha is trying to "sensationalise" the issue instead of availing the legal processes. The poll body in a statement said that Rahul Gandhi repeated a "tired" script. "At his recent press conference, Rahul Gandhi repeated a tired script. In 2018, it was then Kamal Nath, the then President of MPCC; today, it's the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha playing the same tune. In 2018, they tried to mislead the Supreme Court by producing documents from a private website to demonstrate that there are mistakes in the electoral rolls in as much as the same face was shown again for as many as 36 voters. Wherein, in reality, the defects were rectified around 4 months ago and the copy of the same was supplied to the party. This was made ground to seek the searchable pdf format for electoral rolls. The Court refused to accept the prayer of Kamal Nath," ECI said. (ANI)
BROOKLYN, N.Y.  An endangered sea turtle was returned to the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, months after he was found stranded on a beach and suffering from hypothermia last winter.

Named Elton, the juvenile Kemps ridley sea turtle was discovered cold-stunned, or hypothermic, on the shores of Barnstable, Massachusetts, in December.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said sea turtles such as Elton can become cold-stunned when they do not migrate south in time to escape the onset of cold temperatures.

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Following months of rehabilitation with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Elton was released into the Atlantic by way of a beach by the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn.

Elton makes his way to the water.

The animal, which officials estimate to be between 2 and 5 years old, was set onto the sand and quickly swam back into the water.

"Eltons return to the ocean is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when science, compassionate care, and public support come together," said Leigh Ann Clayton, Director of the New York Aquarium. "This turtles journeyfrom cold-stunned and vulnerable to swimming in the ocean againembodies the mission we carry every day at the New York Aquarium and across WCS."

Footage of his release shows a crowd of people on the beach cheering on the young turtle.

Elton makes his way to the water.

"Elton! Elton! Elton!" they chanted as the turtle swam away.

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How To Watch Fox Weather

Kemps ridley sea turtles are the smallest sea turtle species in the world, weighing between 70 and 100 pounds, according to NOAA. They were named after Richard M. Kemp, a fisherman from Florida, who first submitted the species for identification in 1906.





Original article source: Watch: Endangered sea turtle released back into Atlantic from NYC beach
A group of Texas Democrats will give remarks from California on Friday, detailing their effort to fight what they have called unfair gerrymandering ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Democrats left the Lone Star State earlier this month to delay passage of a new congressional map that favors Republicans and offers the GOP an opportunity to pick up five additional House seats next year. Despite threats of arrest warrants, FBI intervention and a bomb threat against other lawmakers who fled to Illinois, the Democrats have vowed to continue their standoff against the mid-decade redistricting.

The group also met earlier Friday with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a group of state legislators.

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The press conference is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  An apartment complex took on water Friday morning, flooding apartments from the outside until some residents were ankle-deep and in a desperate rush to stop the deluge, a tenant told the 8 News Now Investigators.

Barry Hammond, just home from the hospital and recovering from a broken hip, said water headed straight into his one-bedroom unit at the East Harmon Apartments in Las Vegas and didnt stop for over two hours. Hammond and his fiancee moved into the sprawling, multi-structure residential apartment complex about six weeks ago, he said.

An apartment complex took on water Friday morning, flooding apartments from the outside until some residents were ankle-deep and in a desperate rush to stop the deluge, a tenant told the 8 News Now Investigators. (KLAS)

Were still just getting set, Hammond told the 8 News Now Investigators.

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At a visit to his home on Friday afternoon, he gave a news crew a tour of his apartment, which he says was soaked until the property management company sent in reinforcements.

Their maintenance crew started and started pushing water out. And eventually brought in the professionals to do it, Hammond said.

To make matters worse, Hammond said, the fire department arrived and could not locate the water shutoff valve.

An apartment complex took on water Friday morning, flooding apartments from the outside until some residents were ankle-deep and in a desperate rush to stop the deluge, a tenant told the 8 News Now Investigators. (KLAS)

They couldnt find it and as a result, the water kept spewing.

When the water subsided, residue could be seen all over the floor of Hammonds apartment, especially in the bathroom. Work crews could be seen in knee-high rubber rain boots, kneeling on the wet ground underneath a sign that said Fire Sprinkler Control Room.

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Hammond said the management company sent an email acknowledging the leak but did not provide any further information or assistance.

An apartment complex took on water Friday morning, flooding apartments from the outside until some residents were ankle-deep and in a desperate rush to stop the deluge, a tenant told the 8 News Now Investigators. (KLAS)

Before the 8 News Now Investigators could attempt to find the property manager, a woman who identified herself as such asked the reporter and photographer to stop their newsgathering activities.

Dont record here. This is private property, she said.

Emails to the Clark County public information office about information related to building permits and any potential fines or violations, and to the Clark County Fire Department about whether or why the emergency responders could not find the water shutoff, went unanswered. Some county departments are closed on Friday.

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A search of public records shows a 2022 transfer to a limited liability company in Utah for just under $38 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 KLAS.
WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH)  The Waterbury Police Activity League and Jane Doe No More are co-hosted a girls empowerment summit Friday.

The event is focused on leadership, building confidence, and forming connections for young women ages 10-17.

Lake Compounce to retire Holiday Lights event after 2025 season

Friday featured workshops, hands-on activities, a self-defense class, and panel discussions with female professionals.

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We have a woman police officer whos actually a captain right now, Erica Soares, the Waterbury PAL program director said. We have a licensed therapist as well as a recreation center director. all amazing women in our community that these girls see everyday that we can show them they can look up to and be that one day.

The summit continues Saturday with a movie night featuring Moana.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The Brief

A Waukesha County man beat the odds, surviving stage IV pancreatic cancer.

After aggressive treatment at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Jeff Vanderkin's tumor is so small that "they didnt know if there was anything left."

Vanderkin will share his message at the "Dinner on the Diamond" fundraiser at American Family Field.

TOWN OF MERTON, Wis. - A Waukesha County man says he thought he was going to die after being diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.

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Local doctors helped him beat the odds, and now this "miracle man" is sharing a message of hope.

"Its a time for me to be with God and I just feel the wind. Its a real peaceful feeling."

For Jeff Vanderkin, his hobby of windsurfing is also a reminder that hes alive.

Out on the water

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Diagnosis and treatment

The backstory

In 2023, Vanderkin was at his summer home in Tennessee. Something wasnt right.

"I noticed I had just a little, I wouldnt even call it a pain. It was a discomfort in my stomach," said Vanderkin.

He initially brushed it off, but after two weeks the feeling in his gut turned to dread.

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Doctors in Tennessee found a tumor. It was stage IV pancreatic cancer.

In the hospital

"I was thinking it was the end. My wife and I, it was a hard time. I was preparing," he said.

The National Cancer Institute reports only a 13.3% five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer. At stage IV, the odds sink to 3%.

Friends urged Vanderkin to return home and seek treatment from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

"I know God wants me here for something  part of that is to tell my story," he said.

Vanderkin credits his doctors at MCW for saving his life. They put him on an aggressive form of chemotherapy called FOLFIRINOX, that combines four different drugs.

Sharing his message

What's next

Next week, Vanderkin will share his message at "Dinner on the Diamond." Its a fundraiser held at American Family Field through the Seena Magowitz Foundation to raise money for pancreatic cancer research and support.

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"After the four months of chemo, they said the tumor was so small that they didnt know if there was anything left," he said.

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Vanderkin truly beat the odds.

Now he wants others to know that even when faced with a deadly disease theres always hope.

"Im a miracle. Im a miracle man, I think."

Through care and treatment options, the Medical College of Wisconsin reports that its doctors have increased the five-year survival rate here to 30%.

The Source

FOX6 spoke to Jeff Vanderkin to produce this story.
(WETM)  A Waverly man has been arrested on federal charges following an investigation into the report of someone making and sharing indecent material of a child under 10, according to a release from the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York and the FBI.

Tristan Kovacs, 21, of Waverly, was arrested on Thursday, August 7, on the charges of sexual exploitation of a child, and transportation of child pornography, as stated in the release.

Kovacs is accused of taking a sexually explicit image of himself and a nine-year-old girl in April 2025 and later uploading said image to a pornographic website where he would then profit from other users on the website, the release explained. The release stated that the pornographic website reported Kovacs image that he uploaded, which then led to an investigation by law enforcement ending in his arrest Thursday night.

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Bath man arrested on felony rape/sexual abuse charges

The defendants conduct as alleged in the complaint is despicable. Not only is the defendant alleged to have sexually exploited a child, but he also appears to have sought to profit from it, said acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. My office is committed to doing whatever is in our power to ensure this defendant never has the opportunity to harm another child, Sarcone emphasized.

If convicted, Kovacs faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years for the charge of sexual exploitation of a child, the release stated. If convicted for his second charge of transportation of child pornography, Kovacs could see a mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years, the release said.

Both of Kovacs charges come with a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life if convicted, the release explained. Kovacs will also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted, the release said.

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Kovacs had his charges read to him in a federal court on Friday, August 8, and was detained pending further proceedings, the release explained.

The FBIs Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the New York State Police investigated this case with help from the Waverly Police Department and the Broome County Sheriffs Office.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A wealthy dentist convicted of murdering his wife on an African safari was described by those who knew him as an "evil" Jekyll and Hyde who was too greedy to let go of his money or mistress.

"There was so much more on the cutting room floor that we were not able to include just because of runtime," director Dani Sloane told Fox News Digital. "I think the biggest thing for me was that the fear was real. It was not put on for the cameras.

"All of these people who were [there] while this was happening were afraid of him. Whether it was physically afraid of him, emotionally scarred by working for him, there was no shortage of people who had this very intense hatred for him."

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Colorado Dentist James Craig Found Guilty Of Murdering Wife In Poisoning Plot

Sloane is the executive producer of a new ABC News Studios true crime docuseries, "Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari." It explores the rise and fall of Larry Rudolph, who was accused of killing his wife of 34 years to collect millions of dollars in life insurance to live a lavish lifestyle with his dental hygienist-turned-lover Lori Milliron.

The special features new sit-downs with loved ones, former business partners, FBI agents close to the case and the former U.S. ambassador to Zambia. It also includes interviews with Rudolph and Milliron from federal prison.

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"You see all these people from all these walks of life, from the insurance agent to former business partners to people who worked for him  [and] members of the Safari Club," Sloane explained, noting they all "lined up" to share their accounts.

"The biggest thing for me, as we were making this [film] was, there were all these different sectors of his life, and the thing that unites all of these people is these feelings towards Larry and Lori.  These feelings were all prevalent and visceral all these years later."

In 2016, Rudolph, who owned a Pittsburgh-based dental franchise, shot his wife, Bianca Rudolph, in the heart with a shotgun on their last morning in Zambia, prosecutors said. The pair had been hunting game during their trip. The prosecutors claimed Rudolph made it appear like the 56-year-old accidentally shot herself while packing.

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The docuseries revealed it was Biancas pals who reached out to the FBI, urging it to conduct an investigation.

"You hear the FBI agents say it themselves that, often, when someone dies suspiciously, its not abnormal to get calls asking for an investigation," said Sloane. "[But] the level of specificity that they were getting from these calls really put the case on the FBIs radar. I think that was the first step, even the catalyst, of getting a file opened by the FBI.

"The case had been ruled an accident in Zambia," Sloane pointed out. "It was a case closed. So, the friends were crucial in getting it on the FBIs radar.  They were the engine."

After Bianca's death, Rudolph, now 70, and Milliron began building a home together, paying $3.5 million in cash for a property in Arizona, People magazine reported. The lovers embarked on glitzy getaways.

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But in December 2021, after a five-year investigation into Biancas death, federal authorities arrested Rudolph while he was traveling to Mexico with Milliron for the holidays. Investigators learned that Rudolph had collected $4.9 million in life insurance policies he had taken out on his wife.

Rudolphs dark past also quickly came to light.

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In the mid-2000s, Rudolph's partners at The Dentistry accused him of embezzling money from their practice, Rolling Stone reported. According to the outlet, one of Rudolph's partners gave him an ultimatum  walk away or they would press charges. While Rudolph denied the allegations, he made his exit and launched another successful dental practice located directly across the street.

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During one of his hunts in Zambia, Rudolph claimed he was attacked by a crocodile, resulting in disability insurance payments of $30,000. Those who spoke out in the docuseries admitted they had their theories about the incident in question.

"In terms of the case, I think its all spelled out," said Sloane. "This hinges on whether you think it was a murder or an accident and that it was all a misunderstanding, as the defense alleges.  But if you look at the prosecution and the FBIs case, the motive that they built, [it] resonated with a lot of people and made sense to a lot of people, especially when looking at Larrys past. [To them], it's money.

"[Larry] was somebody that everybody who had been interviewed by the FBI and us, who knew him  [claimed] money was always the thing that mattered to him most," she shared. "This idea of losing any amount of his net worth to a divorce was unacceptable to him.  I think whats central to the case is that money is the overwhelming motivator. "

In a statement, the Department of Justice said when Rudolph returned to the United States after Biancas death, he filed fraudulent claims on nine separate life insurance policies issued by seven different companies to obtain nearly $5 million.

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"A big thing after Biancas death was  that no one was allowed to mention it," said Sloane. "Larry had people working for him in Pittsburgh while he was living with Lori in Arizona. Dental hygienists who started after Bianca died  were starting to raise questions around it. Was it really an accident? Larry and Lori were starting to act suspicious and paranoid, according to them.

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"There are a lot of stories about surveillance that Larry and Lori set up in the office," she added. "It came to their attention over time that Larry and Lori were listening to everything they were saying, even though they were thousands of miles away. All of these dental assistants we spoke to started to feel strange and unsafe.

"I think there was a mounting paranoia that was starting to present itself after Biancas death. Whether its because they did something wrong and were covering it up because they knew they were under investigation and that was making them paranoid, its hard to say. But there was this very intense shift in Larry and Lori leading up to their arrest."

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In 2023, Rudolph was sentenced to life in prison. He was also ordered to pay significant penalties for defrauding insurance companies.

That same year, Milliron, 67, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for her role as an accessory in Biancas murder. Both maintain their innocence and are appealing their convictions.

"Their sides to the story very much aligned with each other, which I think was important to understand if there were any discrepancies," said Sloane. "And there were none that were uncovered.  They had an answer to every question. They were very open, and they stuck to their side of the story. And it remained consistent throughout the process.

"I think there is still love there," said Sloane. "But I think theyre both [more focused on] moving through the appeals process. In terms of a future, in terms of what they mean to each other today, I think they were tight-lipped on that."

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Sloane said the docuseries continues to spark new questions about the circumstances surrounding everyone who was involved.

"You might feel they were wrongfully accused and dont belong in prison," said Sloane. "[Some might argue that] they wanted to build a successful practice together, and you cant help who you fall in love with.

"I think the most prevalent way that people look at it is that they were both united in a desire to make money at any cost possible and were going to stop at nothing to attain the power and lifestyle they both ultimately wanted. Ultimately, they got carried away with it."





Original article source: Wealthy dentist who killed trophy wife on African safari is branded evil Jekyll and Hyde
Aug. 8Temperatures are ramping up in the Inland Northwest over the weekend, laying the groundwork for a hot start to next week.

Temperatures in Spokane are forecast to peak at 98 degrees on Monday and 99 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, prompting a heat advisory in effect from Monday afternoon to Tuesday night. The advisory applies to most counties East of the Cascades and across the Idaho panhandle, with the area south of Ellensburg under an extreme heat watch.

The heat will begin its return to the region as soon as Saturday, when temperatures in Spokane are forecast to reach highs of 89 degrees, followed by a Sunday topping at 94.

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"It's kind of a return to our hot temperatures for the summer," said Charlotte Dewey, meteorologist at the NWS.

The past week's atypical chill and occasional overcast conditions were thanks to a low pressure system that blanketed the region.

"Now we're transitioning to a high pressure system, which is typically associated with warmer, calmer weather," Dewey said, adding the system will influence weather across Northwestern states.

The heat isn't forecast to linger much longer than midweek next week as yet another system works its way across the region to bring cooler temperatures, wind and not much in the way of precipitation.

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A windy, dry spell after days of heat is a prime formula for fire risk, Dewey said, with the region in elevated fire conditions .

"Take precautions to not take part in activities that can start ignitions," Dewey said. "Be aware of burn bans, whether you're in the home or outdoors recreating, like camping or hiking."

The state Department of Natural Resources has instituted a burn ban since mid-July, prohibiting all debris burning, campfires and permit burning, according to the department's website that lists regional fire danger levels as "very high."

While the summer season is winding to a close, Dewey said the region isn't out of the woods for another heatwave after this weekend. In past years, late August has seen its fair share of scorching days.

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"It's not out of the question," Dewey said.

Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
A West Virginia man was charged after TSA seized a gun at the Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday.

The Allegheny County Police Department said the gun and ammunition were found in a carry-on bag at the alternate security checkpoint at 6:50 a.m.

Wayne Parker Jr., 39, was detained. Police said he did not have a valid concealed carry permit.

Parker faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying a firearm without a license.

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The FBI was notified of the incident.

Anyone who brings a gun to an airport security checkpoint could receive a federal fine of up to $10,000 from TSA. A repeat offender can be charged up to $13,910.

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WESTERN SLOPE, Colo. (KREX)  Wildfire mitigation can make or break the way your home will battle a fire, especially during a peak fire season in Colorado.

As House Bill 25-1009 allows fire protection districts to create programs to reduce dead vegetation that can cause fires on private property, there is some backlash from the bill.

It will dictate levels of wildfire hazard in that community, construction capabilities and materials clearance capabilities, and different things of that nature. So right now, were just starting to delve into what thats going to entail and the workload its going to put upon our limited staff, said Charles Balke, the fire chief for the Palisade Fire Department.

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Galen Daugherty, the fire chief for the Gateway-Unaweep Fire District, states, I would say more of a negative thing because, you know, people work very hard for what they have out here. And, you know, most of them do a really good job of mitigating their property sizes.

Balke states that a new permitting process will be required for residential and commercial development in rural areas. This includes collaboration with state and local authorities to assess wildfire hazard levels and ensure ongoing compliance with mitigation processes.

Unfortunately, it puts a lot of unfunded mandates onto smaller organizations, as in the fact that we have to develop this whole code and also do the enforcement of this code in the rural wilderness areas, Balke said.

Balke emphasizes the need to determine how to meet the mandate and support the legislation. In a recent meeting, various fire agencies expressed shared concerns about timely implementation and how to best address the needs of different communities, including small rural districts. There are still many uncertainties.

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Were hoping to be able to get more answers and information from the state and from our local partners so were not having to reinvent the wheel. and work in collaboration so that it is as smooth a process as possible, not only for the fire department but also for the residents, Balke said.

Districts must give written notice before assessing fines, allowing at least 14 days for compliance. Fines can reach a maximum of $200 per incident, with a total cap of $1,200. Districts cannot enter private property without permission and must use collected fines to remove vegetative fuel. They can waive fines under certain circumstances and must adopt policies through public hearings.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
A team of sixteen scientists associated with the Chandrayaan mission visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Saturday to offer prayers. The delegation presented two models of Chandrayaan to the temple and also performed rituals, including offering water at the Mukteshwar Dham shrine. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, CEO of the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, commented on the visit, saying, "The team of 16 scientists associated with ISRO's Chandrayaan mission came to offer their prayers to Lord Vishwanath. They also presented a model of Chandrayaan to Lord Vishwanath and later offered water at Lord Mukteshwar's shrine." Highlighting the deep connection between tradition and science, Mishra added, "In Sanatan Dharma, modern inventions and discoveries are always respected. The Moon holds a special bond with Lord Vishwanath as He wears it on His head. When we bow to the Moon, it is believed we are bowing to the Lord." He further noted, "Today, these scientists came to pay respect to traditions that pave the way for modern thinking and discoveries. We planned everything for them... The two models they have offered will be kept in the Vishwanath museum, which will be constructed soon." The team of sixteen scientists who visited the temple included Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director, Human Space Centre, Pankaj Killedar, Director, Master Control Facility, R Nadagouda, Associate Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, K Shambayya, Deputy Director, Liquid Propulsion System Centre, Guru Murthy D, among others. The team that visited Kashi Vishwanath temple was part of India's historic milestone achieved on August 23, 2023, when the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully completed a soft landing on the Moon's surface, making India the fourth country to achieve this feat and the first to land on the lunar South Pole. In honour of this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as National Space Day, with the theme "Touching Lives While Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga." Earlier, Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin Gadkari, and Dr Mansukh Mandaviya have lauded ISRO's accomplishments, recalling India's journey from transporting rocket components on bullock carts to making historic space landings. They also highlighted upcoming missions, including Gaganyaan, and reiterated their pride in India's space scientists for shaping the nation. (ANI)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Alaska, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, NBC News reported on Saturday.

The report cited a senior U.S. official and three people briefed on the internal discussions.

"It's being discussed," one of the people briefed on the talks was quoted as saying.

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The report added that no Zelenskiy visit was finalized and that it's unclear if the Ukrainian leader would ultimately be in Alaska for meetings but it remained a possibility.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter)
The Royal New Zealand Air Force rescued three staffers from Antarctica in an evacuation fraught with danger.

"The medical evacuation was requested by the United States' National Science Foundation because staff, based at the United States' McMurdo Station, were unable to receive the medical care they needed in Antarctica," the Air Force said in a statement.

The New York Times described the dangerousness of the evacuation, describing it as a "rare and highly dangerous mission through volatile weather and 24-hour darkness."

Why Were Staff Members Evacuated From Antarctica?

The air force explained why the evacuation was necessary.

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"One person required urgent medical care and two others needing medical attention were also taken on the flight," the statement says.

The nature of the illness was not released.

It has to be life-threatening because youre threatening the lives of the people in the military planes that are coming down, Peter Doran, a professor of geology and geophysics at Louisiana State University, told the New York Times.

According to the Times, the station "has a small medical staff on site, similar to an urgent care facility" but "is not equipped, however, to handle major emergencies."

Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott "said the extreme cold, changeable weather conditions plus landing on the ice in the dark make mid-winter flights to Antarctica one of the most challenging RNZAF air crews perform," the statement continued.

View of the landscape at the US' Palmer Station on Anvers Island, Antarctica, on January 21, 2024. JUAN BARRETO/Getty Images

"The crew can only attempt the flight after detailed analysis of the weather and airfield state. The United States Antarctic Program Winter Team must physically create the runway before we can depart by ensuring the ice is groomed and suitable for landing," he said.

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"Although they determine it is safe, it's still an extremely challenging environment to fly in on Night Vision Goggles due to the extreme weather conditions, which are highly changeable at this time of year and makes accurate forecasting a challenge," the statement continued.

"This, coupled with there being no airfields available to divert to once the aircraft is past a certain point south adds to the risk, so these missions are not taken lightly," he added.

"With the support of Antarctica New Zealand and United States' National Science Foundation staff in Antarctica, we have been able to complete the flight and the patients are now getting the medical treatment they need in Christchurch," the statement concluded.

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces 'Unprecedented' Change Amid Free Bag Outrage

Why 3 Staffers Were Rescued From Antarctica in 'Highly Dangerous' Evacuation first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
When Donald Trump teed up the location for his meeting with Vladimir Putin, he insisted it would be a very popular one for a lot of reasons.

It had been expected that the two leaders would travel to neutral territory for the talks, with Putin himself having suggested the United Arab Emirates.

But while the choice to host the meeting on US territory may have come as a surprise, the decision to use Alaska appears to be a win for both leaders.

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On the surface it might appear a show of strength for Mr Trump: Putin is the one travelling to him. But there are also notable perks for the Russian president.

Holding the meeting in the US means Putin can avoid flying over hostile countries at a time when he has been the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for two years.

Vladimir Putin can fly to Alaska without risking a flight over countries who might attempt to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant against him - Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service/AP Photo/RIA Novosti

It also sets up a possibility of Mr Trump reciprocating by visiting Russia, an invitation having already been extended to him by Putin.

And the venue choice has gone down well with political leaders in Alaska too.

Mike Dunleavy, the Republican governor, said he welcomes Alaska hosting the meeting, describing the north-western state as a bridge between nations.

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Alaska, he said, is the most strategic location in the world given its close proximity to Russia and it stands ready to host this historic meeting.

Russia and US are close neighbours

Dan Sullivan, one of the states two Republican senators, echoed this sentiment, while Yuri Ushakov, a high-ranking aide to Putin, described the state as the logical meeting point.

Russia and the US are close neighbours, sharing a common border, Mr Ushakov said in a statement, according to the TASS agency.

He added: It seems quite logical for our delegation simply to fly across the Bering Strait and for the important and anticipated summit of leaders of these two countries to take place precisely in Alaska.

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The only hint in the US of the grave concerns engulfing Europe and Ukraine about the upcoming talks, which the US president suggested would involve discussions of the swapping of territories without Volodymyr Zelensky being given a seat at the table, was reflected by Lisa Murkowski, the states senior senator.

The Republican is an ardent supporter of Ukraine, who previously said the idea of Mr Trump walking away from Ukraine to embrace Putin made her sick to my stomach.

Responding to news of the meeting, she wrote on X: While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.

Fridays visit will be the first time Putin has visited the US in a decade, having attended the UN General Assembly in New York during Barack Obamas second term.

Vladimir Putin met Barack Obama, then in his second term as president, when both attended the United Nations in New York in 2015 - Sergei Guneyev/Ria Novosti/Kremlin Pool

John Herbst, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, told The Telegraph he thinks Putin was happy to give Mr Trump the win on location because the US president is treating his Russian counterpart gently.

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The details suggest many upfront compromises by Ukraine merely to get a ceasefire, which, by its very nature, is almost never permanent, and no Russian concessions, he said.

While it might appear likely that the suggestion of Alaska came from the Trump administration, some experts say the idea originated from Moscow.

Nina Khrushcheva, international affairs professor at the New School in New York, said her contacts in Moscow had said Kirill Dmitriev, Putins envoy, had suggested it.

Its such a show for Trump

Everybody thought it would be the third country, probably, Saudi Arabia, or something like that, so it was an absolute shock, but its brilliant, Ms Khrushcheva said.

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For Trump, its brilliant. I mean, its such a show, hes on his territory, so for Trump it is great.

Ms Khrushcheva added that it is also an amazing thing for Putin as he just crosses the pond and hes there, rather than having to fly over other countries.

By flying into the US, which does not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC, the Russian leader does not risk being arrested.

Putin last year travelled to Mongolia, an ICC state, and faced no consequences, with the court accusing the country of having failed to co-operate.

Only 55 miles separates Alaska, the USs most remote mainland state, from Russia across the Bering Strait - Johnny Johnson/The Image Bank RF

The symbolism of holding the talks in Alaska, can be interpreted in several ways. It is not only the closest US state to Moscow, but the Last Frontier State used to be Russian territory.

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Tsar Alexander II sold Alaska to the US in 1867 for $7.2m (5.4m), and Russian nationalists have long dreamed of reclaiming it.

Like Mr Trump, Andrew Jackson, who was the US president at the time of the sale, also floated the idea of the US acquiring Greenland.

Ms Khrushcheva suggested Alaska served as a symbol of the beneficial trade relationship on which the Kremlin wished to embark with Washington.

But the USs annexation of Russian territory could also offer Putin some ammunition if he wants to make a public dig at Mr Trump.

If negotiations dont turn out the way Putin likes, he may make some crack about it, Mr Herbst said.

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Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags across Wisconsin to fly at half-staff on Aug. 9 in remembrance of U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. Herbert E. McLaughlin, who died during World War II at 31.

Born in Shawano, McLaughlin was one of 91 men killed at Hickam Airfield in Oahu, Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The remains of a dozen men, including McLaughlin, were unable to be identified by the American Graves Registration Service in 1947, according to an Aug. 7 press release.

McLaughlin's remains were identified in June 2019 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and he was officially accounted for on Dec. 17 2024, more than 80 years after his death.

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More: Remains of Shawano WWII airman killed in action at Pearl Harbor will arrive in Milwaukee later this week

"Private McLaughlin gave his life defending the values and freedoms we hold most dear, and on behalf of the state, we are forever grateful for his service, selflessness, and sacrifice," Evers said in an Aug. 7 statement. "It is our responsibility to make sure every hero receives the recognition they deserve, and it is an honor to be able to help welcome Private McLaughlin back to his home to be laid to rest."

McLaughlin will be buried in Shawano on Aug. 9.

How long will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin?

Flags across Wisconsin are ordered to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Aug. 9, according to Evers' executive order.

Where will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin?

Per Evers' executive order, American flag and the Wisconsin state flag fly half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin.

Why do flags fly at half-staff?

Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders. They may also be at half-staff for Memorial Day or other national days of remembrance, including 9/11, according to USA.gov.

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"The United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning," USA.gov says. "The president, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff."

Drake Bentley contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are flags flying at half-staff in Wisconsin today?
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter.

Days after a Johnson County official spoke publicly of the emotional and mental harm she experienced from an investigation into her citizenship status prompted by an unsubstantiated tip, more details emerged about the events that transpired, including that an official record of the voicemail that sparked the probe does not exist.

Lenexa City Councilmember Melanie Arroyo, who was elected in 2021, said during Tuesdays City Council meeting that the Lenexa Police Department requested she provide them with documents proving her U.S. citizenship after someone called the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) claiming that Arroyo isnt a legal resident and isnt eligible to serve in local office by law.

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To run for office in Lenexa, candidates need to be eligible and registered to vote, which by definition also means they need to be U.S. citizens. Voter registration rolls are public records.

A spokesperson from the KBI said the agency has deleted the voicemail that launched the probe into Arroyos immigration status , adding that any related documents would not need to be disclosed under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) because they are considered part of a criminal investigation under that law.

Once the substance of that message was forwarded on to the Lenexa Police Department we deleted the recording as it was no longer relevant to our agency, a representative from the KBI told The Star in a statement.

The complaint

Lenexa Public Information Officer Denise Rendina told The Star in an email that the KBI sent the inquiry over to the police department in July.

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Redina said the message came from an alleged Johnson County resident after Arroyo made public testimony to the Kansas Legislature about the fact that at some point she overstayed her visa to the United States and became undocumented.

Arroyo had given that testimony months earlier, in February.

Rendina provided the text of the message that the KBI sent to Lenexa. The persons name and contact information wasnt included. The message from the state law enforcement agency read:

(A resident) called with a question regarding the citizenship of a member of the Lenexa City Council. He stated that in February of 2025 Melanie Arroyo (possibly Melanie Arroyo-Lopez), a representative for Ward 3, gave testimony wanting to give illegals more benefits.

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During this testimony she acknowledged that she came to this country illegally as a child, but never acknowledged naturalization. He stated that this testimony was posted to the internet. He stated that to be a qualified elector, they had to be registered to vote and be born here or naturalized. He wanted to report this information for investigation.

The resident referred to Lenexas city ordinance that requires all council members to be qualified electors, which, in turn, requires that they are U.S. citizens.

Lenexa investigation

Upon receiving the message from the KBI, Rendina said that, Police Chief (Dawn) Layman reached out to Council Member Arroyo as a courtesy.

Rendina said the police chief explained that the complaint had been received, that the City would be investigating and what to expect during the brief investigation.

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A Lenexa detective then contacted Arroyo, Rendina said, and staff was able to determine that she is in fact legally qualified to hold the position.

Arroyo said she needed to hire an immigration attorney to help navigate the situation. She said she and her attorney met with Lenexa officers in person to present her documents.

The reason why this felt uncomfortable was because I was being asked to show my papers, Arroyo said. And many people with an immigrant background would know that this carries a lot of political and historical weight.

Rendina did not answer multiple questions from The Star about if police or city staff reviewed publicly available records including voter registration indicating that Arroyo is a qualified elector before requesting the councilmember speak with a detective and provide her personal documents.

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In order to keep the inquiry private and confidential, we reached out directly to Council Member Arroyo, who stated she would provide the necessary information, Rendina said.

While the City did not assume there was a concern with Council Member Arroyos naturalization, staff felt they had no choice but to investigate the matter because it is the Citys obligation to ensure compliance with the Citys ordinances.

Lenexa officials then followed up with the person who called to report Arroyo after confirming that she is in fact a U.S. citizen, she said.

Why is there no voicemail?

In response to The Stars request for a copy of the audio file of the voicemail complaint, a representative from the KBI confirmed that the agency received a voicemail but deleted it once it had forwarded the substance of that message on to the Lenexa Police Department.

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When asked why the agency destroyed what it had previously described as an investigation record that per its policy seemingly should have been preserved for 70 years, the KBIs spokesperson Melissa Underwood drew a distinction between definitions in the agencys internal policies and definitions in the states open records law.

She suggested that the voicemail falls into a gray area where it is defined as a criminal investigation record under the KORA, which allows the KBI to deny its public disclosure, but it is not considered a special agent investigation file per the KBIs internal definition, which allows the agency to destroy it.

Underwood told The Star in an email that no KBI special agents initiated or opened an investigation based on the voicemail.

So it wouldnt be classified as (an) investigative file, she said.

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Underwood said the voicemail was classified internally as Correspondence  routine, which includes incoming and outgoing letters, emails, text or instant messages, voicemails, or other types of communication.

Under this classification, KBI retains them until the business is completed and then destroys them.

But while not considered investigative records internally, the voicemail and any related documents would be considered investigative records under the KORA, Underwood said.

The KORA definition of criminal investigation records is broader than the retention schedule, she said. Since it applies to records that are compiled in the process of detecting, not just investigating, violations of the law.
EAU CLAIRE  WHYS Fest makes its return this year after the fundraising musical festival had a solid showing in 2024.

And this year, there is an even bigger reason to celebrate, as WHYS celebrates 20 years of being on local airwaves. The station is both a low-power FM station and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Were a listener-supported regional business, said Ben Johnson, volunteer crew leader for the station. Its all volunteers  weve never had a paid staff person, and thats the way its been for the last 20 years.

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Though WHYS has held several fundraising events in the past, last year was its first year having the fundraising event in its current form and current location near 4 Mile Restaurant in Eau Claire, and Johnson had hopes to beat last years numbers.

Turnout was more than I thought. We had about 450 people, said Johnson. I was kind of hoping for 500, and it looked like it could turn into that, but the weather was really hot, so people stayed the shade a lot.

Weve learned from that, so this year we have more shade tents, weve moved the stage out of the pavilion and now its by itself and we have a tent to go over it.

Improved attendee comfort is not all that is new  Johnson also noted that dogs are now allowed onto the grounds, and he anticipates this and its proximity to a bike trail will bring people into the event, with a bike ride from Hobbs arena being a little over seven miles using back roads and the Chippewa River State Trail.

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Also new this year is the WHYS Contra Dance Band. The band will play in three sessions throughout the day as attendees take part in a social dance that is very much its own unique fun energetic activity, with caller Mattie Rynkiewic guiding those taking part.

Its a version of square dancing. The difference is, its more like the fiddle is the main instrument, and everybody else focuses around it, he explained. Weve got one of the top-notch fiddle players in town, Isaiah May. He plays that old-time fiddle, which fits in fine with the contra dance.

This year also offers many kids activities, for those young or just young at heart. These include horseshoes, black canvas face painting, bean bag tossing, and temporary henna and jagua tattoos.

This years WHYS Fest also touts a strong musical lineup that includes Uncommon Denominator. This Chippewa Valley-based party band may be familiar to those attending as they have played widely throughout the area and beyond. The band, complete with its own horn section, plays over five decades of hits that run the gamut from soul to rock.

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Matt Caflisch, whose second album, Woke Up Famous, received wide acclaim, will also perform at the event.

His acoustic-rock stylings have pleased crowds in the Chippewa Valley and beyond. Also performing is Wichita, Kansas-based touring band Pretend Friend, whose progressive bluegrass style blends with improv and anthemic touches. Finally, WHYS Fest is proud to have the Minnesota-based Pistol Whippin Party Penguins, a six-piece band that fuses rock, folk and blues.

The funds raised by WHYS Fest not only help WHYS stay on the air, but also allow those at the station to make improvements to their current equipment.

Last year, with the money, we bought a new computer, a new transformer, a better CD player  that kind of stuff, said Johnson. What wed like to do  if we get enough money raised  is that were going to make it more possible to do remote broadcasts, so we can cover more things spontaneously. Youd just need two people  one on the ground and one in the studio live.

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Theres also the possibilities of moving for us, because after 20 years were thinking of maybe buying something if we can move up  ideally up on the hill, like East Hill, or out by the cemetery. Theres a couple of choice places that are in direct line with our antenna and our studio.

Johnson expressed gratitude for the continuous listener support that has shaped WHYS over the past two decades. He emphasized that these supporters recognize the important role of local radio, even amidst the growing popularity of alternatives, which include streaming services.

Were still not a commercial radio station, and its because of the community, he said. If we didnt have the community, there wouldnt be a station. Having something locally relevant  you cant really stream that.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Federal prosecutors have charged two men in separate complaints after a pair of search warrants in Wichita and Haysville turned up methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, firearms, and drug manufacturing equipment.

According to the United States Attorneys Office, Thomas Lewis Williams, 64, of Haysville, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

Oswaldo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 29, of Wichita, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

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Two people shot outside Towne East Square

The charges follow a multi-agency operation on Aug. 6 that authorities had billed as part of a year-long investigation into a transnational drug cartel.

In Haysville, officers searched a home on South Meridian Avenue, finding guns, cash, suspected meth and fentanyl, and items used to cook methamphetamine.

In north Wichita, investigators searched a commercial building on North Mascot Avenue, near 30th Street. Inside, they reported finding acetone containers, ventilation fans, a propane tank connected to a hot plate, and other equipment used to process meth. They also seized a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for meth.

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Both defendants are scheduled for initial appearances Aug. 11.

The investigation involved the Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, ATF, and IRS Criminal Investigations.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Homes have been destroyed and residents evacuated because of wildfires in Greece and Italy.

An elderly man died in fires around Keratea, a town 27 miles south-east of Athens, the Greek capital, with 260 firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze.

Dozens of people were forced to abandon their homes along with residents and staff at a care home in the nearby coastal resort of Palea Fokea.

Nearly 80 fire engines, 11 water bombers, and seven helicopters were used to subdue the fire that tore its way through 10,000 acres of brush and forest.

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Dimitris Loukas, the mayor of the nearest city of Lavrio, said: Many homes were destroyed, in addition to other properties, agricultural and forest land.

The National Observatory in Athens said the high winds would persist until at least Monday.

On Friday, gale-force winds caused the deaths of two Vietnamese tourists  a 61-year-old woman and 65-year-old man,  who fell into the sea at Sarakiniko beach on the Cycladic island of Milos, while tens of thousands of holidaymakers had their travel plans disrupted because of the turbulent sea conditions.

Credit: Spanish Emergency Unit

In Italy, wildfires broke out on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius near Naples. Firefighters had to abandon their efforts to combat the blaze because of safety reasons, the president of Vesuvius National Park said.

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Raffaele De Luca said: We are following every update in constant contact with the relevant authorities. Our gratitude goes to those who are working tirelessly to protect our natural heritage and ensure the safety of those who live nearby.

The towns nestled at the base of the active volcano, Ercolano and Torre del Greco, were shrouded in thick smoke, prompting evacuations and health warnings.

Smoke has swept over the towns of Ercolano and Torre del Greco at the base of Vesuvius - CESARE ABBATE/Shutterstock

In Turkey, meteorologists recorded the hottest July in 55 years and wildfires forced the temporary closure of the Dardanelles Strait.

The highest ever temperature in Turkey, 50.5C, was recorded in Silopi, a city in the Simak province around six miles from the Iraqi and Syrian borders. It shattered the previous national high of 49.5 C recorded in August 2023 in the western province of Eskisehir.

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Temperatures recorded in 66 of the countrys 220 weather stations showed an average rise of 1.9 degrees over the preceding years.

Greece has been fighting wildfires in Keratea - EPA/Shutterstock/Alexandros Beltes

Fourteen people died in July in the western part of the country.

Hundreds of others were evacuated on Friday in the north-west province of Canakkale, where the Dardanelles Strait was closed to maritime traffic due to two raging fires.

The heatwave has also prompted fears of water shortages in some areas. The resort town of Cesme on the Aegean Sea has restricted tap water for residents and tourists between 11:00 pm to 6:00 am since July 25.

In France, firefighters eventually managed to contain the countrys biggest wildfire in at least half a century.

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The fire near the Mediterranean coast ravaged a vast area of the southern Aude region at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one and injuring several others.

The fire is contained but ... until Sunday evening the fire will not be under control, said Christophe Magny, chief of the regions firefighters.

Authorities warned that Sundays forecasted hot, dry winds  similar to those when the fire began  and a heatwave alert, with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius, would keep the some 1,400 firefighters mobilised on high alert.

The firefighters will do their utmost before the return of the tramontane this weekend, said Helene Sandragne, the president of the Aude departmental council, referring to a northerly wind that regularly blows through the area.

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The blaze tore through 16,000 hectares of vegetation, disaster officials said, revising an earlier estimate of 17,000 hectares.

About 2,000 people were evacuated, though local authorities allowed them to return home on Friday evening.

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A local wildlife photographers snap of an iconic Florida creature has won first place in a celebrated statewide contest.

On his social media accounts, 24-year-old Parks Marilla documents encounters with colorful birds, snakes, bugs, bobcats and more around Bradenton and other parts of Florida.

Now, a photo he captured in Manatee County is bringing attention to one of Floridas special inhabitants thats at risk of becoming endangered  the gopher tortoise.

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Gopher tortoises are the only land tortoise native to Florida and the Southeast, and they face increasing threats as development gobbles up their habitat and isolates the reptiles from one another. They also play an important role in the ecosystem as a keystone species, carving complex burrows into the earth that provide shelter for a diversity of other animals.

In Marillas photo, fittingly titled Keystone, a lone gopher tortoise scrambles over a palm frond as it treads through the sandy soil of a natural area in Manatee County.

The photo won first place in the wildlife category for the Florida Wildlife Federations annual Lou Kellenberger Florida Photo Contest. For 2025, the conservation advocacy organization chose the theme Florida in Focus.

From the intricate patterns of native orchids to the sweeping vistas of Floridas coastal landscapes and the wonder of wildlife in motion, this years entries offered a compelling visual narrative about why Florida is worth protecting, Florida Wildlife Federation staff said in a news release. Thousands of submissions poured in from across the state, representing every corner of the Sunshine State and its cherished ecosystems.

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The winning photos will be featured in the Florida Wildlife Federations 90th anniversary calendar for 2026. Winners also receive gift cards and other prizes.

In a post on Instagram, Marilla said he was honored by the recognition.

These reptiles are considered a keystone species because they dig burrows that provide shelter for more than 300 other species, Marillas post reads. Long may they reign over Floridas sandy uplands and beyond.

Florida Wildlife Federation 2025 photo contest winners

See Marillas photo and other winning shots below:

This photograph of a gopher tortoise, titled Keystone, was snapped by wildlife photographer Parks Marilla in Manatee County. It recently won first place in the Wildlife category for the Florida Wildlife Federations annual statewide photo contest.

A Florida scrub jay photographed by Marcos Rodriguez at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville won first place in the Birds category for the Florida Wildlife Federations 2025 statewide photo contest.

A photo of a verdant cypress forest captured by Don Pelliccia won first place in the Native Plants category for the Florida Wildlife Federations 2025 statewide photo contest.

This photo of Amelia Island by Stan Cottle won first place in the Landscapes category for the Florida Wildlife Federations 2025 statewide photo contest.

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A snapshot of kayakers on the St. Sebastian River in East Central Florida by Jeff Howe won first place in the Recreation category for the Florida Wildlife Federations 2025 statewide photo contest.

This closeup of a whooping crane by Lizzi Fricker won the Peoples Choice Award category in the Florida Wildlife Federations 2025 statewide photo contest.

See more of the winners at FloridaWildlifeFederation.org.

Hear stories behind the photos

To celebrate World Photography Day, the Florida Wildlife Federation will host a Capturing Conservation livestream event on its YouTube and Facebook pages on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The program will highlight the power of visual storytelling in conservation and feature photo contest winners as they share the stories behind their images and their connection to Floridas natural world, the organization said in a news release.
On a muggy afternoon in late July, roughly 200 right-wing activists gathered at a Venice country club to plot a course of action.

Despite Donald Trump winning the presidency for a second time, an entrenched and corrupt elite had  in their telling  managed to hold onto power in the Sunshine State.

Over plates of catered barbecue chicken and sauteed vegetables, the activists  some hailing from far-right Republican clubs, some from anti-vaccine organizations and others seeking to draw Christian clergy into conservative politics  focused their ire on their own party.

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Hows it possible that we can have the most popular Republican president in our lifetime, but still have so many RINOs in our party? Cathi Chamberlain, an activist with the group Pinellas Watchdogs, asked the crowd, using the term  short for Republican in name only  to describe members viewed as disloyal to the partys core values.

We dont just have RINOs in Washington, D.C., she said. We have them in our own backyard, right here in Florida.

The meeting, organized by the activist group Defend Florida, was billed as both a rally and strategy session  a place where grassroots conservatives could learn how to coordinate campaigns to oust establishment Republicans from local government and party leadership roles. It also spotlighted a growing rift within the Florida GOP, between far-right rank-and-file activists and some party leadership.

With Trump back in the White House, that MAGA faction has doubled down on efforts to remake the party in their image  not by challenging Democrats but by targeting their own. Through meetings like this one, theyre mapping out how to purge establishment Republicans from local power and install ideologically aligned candidates in their place.

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Defend Florida, which the groups leader, Raj Doraisamy, describes as a website and a movement, has worked with figures like Michael Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general turned election denial figurehead, and Roger Stone, a longtime political operative known for his cutthroat style. The group also helped lay the groundwork for Gov. Ron DeSantis controversial Office of Election Crimes and Security.

Its influence has drawn backlash from GOP leadership. In an email to local party leaders ahead of the event, Bill Helmich, executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, warned that Defend Florida posed a matter of growing concern that directly impacts the unity and integrity of our organization, and urged members to distance themselves from the group.

But that warning didnt seem to carry much weight in Venice, where attendees jeered at any mention of the partys official leadership and cheered calls to remove them.

Speakers blasted RINOs as traitors to the conservative cause. Others warned that moderates were sabotaging the party from within. The call to action was clear: Take over local Republican executive committees, run for obscure party offices, and mobilize behind hard-line candidates who would carry their agenda deeper into Floridas political machinery.

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During the French Revolution, they turned on themselves, and guillotined their own, said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at University of Central Florida who closely follows Florida electoral politics. There is a bit of that same scenario that seems to be happening in Florida.

Florida far-right takes aim at local politics

After voters elected Joe Biden to the presidency in 2020, a rift grew within the Republican Party. One faction insisted that Democrats had stolen the election and demanded audits and lawsuits to overturn the outcome, even years into Bidens term. The other, made up of more traditional conservatives and longtime party officials, rejected those claims as baseless or avoided the issue and tried to move on.

The divide played out in places like Manatee County, where Trump-aligned activists clashed with local Republican leaders and election workers who defended the integrity of the vote and dismissed claims of widespread fraud.

Others in the local MAGA movement sought to push local institutions farther to the right, with Proud Boys militia members and groups like Moms for Liberty, which has promoted book bans and sought to remove LGBTQ+ topics from school curricula, backing successful school board races in Sarasota.

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When Trump was reelected in November, many of the national groups that had spent years promoting the presidents claims of a stolen election went silent.

But at the Defend Florida meeting, which was billed as a training for grassroots activists, doubts about election security and deep cynicism about their own partys leadership persisted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi on Friday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also took part in celebrations. Singh marked the occasion with school children and members of the Brahmakumari organisation, where young girls and women tied rakhis on his wrist and received his blessings. Goyal celebrated at Vanijya Bhawan in Delhi, where he gave gifts to children. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings. "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life." Similarly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a X post said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all of you on the sacred occasion of Raksha Bandhan. This festival is not only about the purity of the rakhi thread but also a symbol of the commitment to honour, protect, and ensure the happiness and prosperity of our sisters. May this festival, a symbol of the love between brothers and sisters, further strengthen the spirit of protection within us - that is my prayer to God. "Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)




NEED TO KNOW

Cecil the Seagull has been stealing sandwiches and other food items from beachgoers at a Connecticut beach

"As long as he puts his mind to it, he can eat anything on the beach at this point, Louis Dhervilly, a lifeguard at Waterford Beach Park in Waterford, told NBC Connecticut

To warn beachgoers, the town put up signs emblazoned with a cartoon seagull dress as a burglar







A pesky seagull is pecking his way into notoriety.

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Cecil the Seagull has struck terror into beachgoers at a Connecticut beach in Waterford, where nearby signs warn of the seabirds antics, according to Today.

There he is, a winged warrior, who has been terrorizing folks in Connecticut, eating anything he can get that beak on, anchor Savannah Guthrie said in the report, adding that the pesky bird has been routinely spotted stealing sunbathers sandwiches and cookies.

Guthrie, 53, added that the seagull has even pecked at fingers.

Melissa Cooney, a local news reporter for NBC Connecticut, said Cecil takes food and no prisoners."

"As long as he puts his mind to it, he can eat anything on the beach at this point, Louis Dhervilly, a Waterford Beach Park lifeguard, said in an interview with the outlet.

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He added that he once witnessed Cecil eating a king crab leg. The seagull completely devoured it in one go," Dhervilly recalled.

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.

To warn beachgoers, the town put up signs emblazoned with a cartoon seagull dressed as a seagull and the words, HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? Cecil the Seagull.

Waterford Recreation and Parks Program Coordinator Tim Cieplik told NBC Connecticut that Cecil has bitten several people, with lifeguards giving each victim bandages for their minor pecking wounds.

Read the original article on People
Aug. 8WINNER, S.D.  A 30-year-old man from Winner has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to abusive sexual contact with a child, according to U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell.

Clayton Spotted Calf was sentenced on Aug. 5, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte. In addition to his prison term, Spotted Calf will serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Spotted Calf was indicted in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in April 2025. The charges stem from repeated incidents that occurred between April 2015 and June 2017 in Todd County, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. During that time, Spotted Calf engaged in sexual contact with a child between the ages of six and eight.

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The case was prosecuted under the federal Major Crimes Act, which mandates federal jurisdiction over certain violent crimes committed in Indian Country. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson led the prosecution.

Spotted Calf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.

The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to identify and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information can be found at

justice.gov/psc

.
Other talks for a ceasefire plan include White House special envoy Steve Witkoff meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani.

Mediators for a hostage and ceasefire deal are rushing to reach an agreement ahead of Israel's operation that would take over Gaza City, Asharq News reported on Saturday, citing informed sources.

The Saudi-based news source cited sources claiming there are talks discussing a package of proposals to end the war, which includes the release of the remaining 50 hostages and a complete IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

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The discussions also mentioned the exile of some Hamas military wing leaders and the establishment of a technocratic government to manage the Strip, supported by a police force.

The sources claimed that the mediators, who comprise US, Egyptian, and Qatari officials, have begun discussing these proposals with each other before conveying them to the two sides. The sources claimed there's a possibility of an agreement. The sources made additional claims, such as Hamas showing flexibility to reach an agreement.

Witkoff, Qatar PM to discuss new Gaza ceasefire plan

White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani on Saturday to discuss comprehensive plans for the end of the Gaza war and the return of all the hostages, a source familiar with the details confirmed to The Jerusalem Post.

WOMEN WAGE PEACE holds a demonstration, calling for a hostage deal and an end to the Israel-Hamas War. The Israeli government can continue to fear recognition of a Palestinian state, or it can choose to embrace this opportunity, says the writer. (credit: WOMEN WAGE PEACE)

Axios first reported the meeting and said that an Israeli official stressed that Jerusalem would have no issue making a new deal, but expressed skepticism that Hamas would accept an agreement. The source said that the gap between Israel and Hamas regarding ending the war is huge, so talking of a comprehensive deal is likely to be pointless at this stage.

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The source added that Witkoff and al-Thani would take at least a week to formulate a new outline.

Those talks were just one of the diplomatic attempts in motion trying to head off Israels plan to expand its Gaza offensive and occupy Gaza City.

Hamas's disarmament holds up Qatar-Egypt proposal

The meeting between Witkoff and al-Thani followed discussions between Qatar and Egypt on a new ceasefire-hostage deal proposal.

The new proposal would see the release of all hostages at once, both living and deceased, in return for an end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported on Friday, citing two Arab officials.

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One of the issues holding up the Egypt-Qatar plan is reportedly Hamass disarmament. Current discussions center around freezing Hamass weaponry so that it can hold on to it but not use it. It also calls for Hamas to relinquish its power over Gaza.

The new framework proposes having a Palestinian-Arab committee run Gaza and oversee reconstruction efforts until a new Palestinian administration with a police force is established.

Hamas said on Thursday that the terror group would treat any force formed to govern Gaza as an occupying force linked to Israel.

The international community has expressed its opposition to the security cabinets plans, as did many in Israel, who held demonstrations urging a deal for the return of all the hostages and an end to the war.

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a lengthy statement on Saturday night that following the Security Cabinet meeting on Friday, he has lost confidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to lead the IDF to victory.

He called on the prime minister to reconvene the cabinet and announce that there will be no more pauses in the war, and no more partial deals.

This time we proceed with a clear, sharp move toward a decisive outcome and victory  ending with Hamass complete surrender and the return of all the hostages at once, or with its defeat and total destruction. Annex large parts of the Gaza Strip and open its gates to voluntary emigration, Smotrich said.

The prime minister and the cabinet succumbed to weaknesses, let emotion defeat reason, and once again chose more of the same: to launch a military move whose purpose is not a decisive outcome, but only to pressure Hamas into a partial hostage deal, stating clearly that if Hamas agrees to a deal, we too will agree to stop again, withdraw again, and allow it to recover and rearm again. And so on and so forth, the finance minister said.

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He said that sending tens of thousands of soldiers to risk their lives to operate in Gaza City, and to pay heavy political and international costs solely to pressure Hamas to release hostages and then to retreat is immoral and illogical.

Until this time, for the sake of unity, I stood behind moves that in my view were less correct. I remained in the government despite terrible decisions such as releasing terrorist murderers with blood on their hands and painful withdrawals from areas captured at great cost  so long as I assessed we were striving for a decisive outcome and victory, he said.

A war should be fought to win, to the end  even if it carries heavy costs. But a partial move meant only to push Hamas back into the negotiating room, in national humiliation and capitulation to terror  absolutely not.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
A woman accused of killing a man and injuring a woman after a head-on crash in Pittsburgh is in custody.

The Allegheny County Sheriffs Office said Maria Danielle Davis, 23, of Uniontown, turned herself in to deputies at the Municipal Courts Building at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. She was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and involuntary manslaughter, among other charges, on July 22.

According to a criminal complaint, police were called to a head-on crash between a Hyundai sedan and a Toyota Prius on Beechwood Boulevard near Squirrel Hill at 12:37 a.m. on March 11.

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Investigators said the sedan was traveling southbound before crossing the double yellow lines and crashing into the Prius. Police said there did not appear to be any obvious defects with the road and that the weather had not created any hazardous conditions that might have otherwise caused the crash. The Hyundais frame left gouges in the road.

Police said Davis was driving the sedan and had a woman riding in the passenger seat. They were both taken to hospitals. The driver of the Prius, Abdulaziz Sharibbaev, 33, had to be extricated from his vehicle and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He died at the hospital the next day from blunt trauma.

Davis was interviewed at UPMC Mercy Hospital. She was the registered owner of the Hyundai. An officer reported smelling alcohol on her breath and said she told him she had a few shots in a hotel room. She consented to having her blood drawn while at the hospital.

Her blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit and marijuana was also in her bloodstream, the Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office reported.

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Data collected by an Event Data Recorder within the Hyundai revealed that the vehicle could not have been going less than 36 mph at the time of the crash. The speed limit was 25 mph. Officers said they also learned the vehicles accelerator was steady during the 4.5 seconds before the crash and that the steering wheel angle remained straight until .5 seconds before the crash.

Davis is being held at the Allegheny County Jail. According to court papers, she was denied bail because she is a danger to the community.

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Aug. 8The woman at the center of a November standoff in Coram is back behind bars after allegedly violating the conditions of her release by fighting with relatives.

Anne Marie Hislop, who is awaiting trial in Flathead County District Court on two counts of felony assault with a weapon, is accused of returning Aug. 2 to the Platte Road property that was the scene of the November 2024 standoff.

A relative who lives at the home told Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies that he spotted Hislop, who is not allowed on the property without permission, coming up the driveway about 6:06 p.m., according to court documents. The relative, who is covered by a restraining order against Hislop, recalled confronting her before returning to the home and locking the door.

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Undeterred, Hislop found an unlocked basement door and allegedly forced her way inside as her relative unsuccessfully tried to hold it shut. The relative fled to a bedroom and locked that door. Hislop pounded on it several times before walking away, court documents said.

The relative emerged to confront Hislop again when he saw her allegedly stealing his dirt bike from the property. During the ensuing scuffle, Hislop got the relative on the ground and began choking him, court documents said.

She only released him when another individual on the property shot her in the back with a BB gun, court documents alleged. Hislop fled in her truck, which was later stopped by U.S. Forest Service personnel, court documents said.

Prosecutors filed a petition to revoke Hislop's release in the days following her arrest. She remains in county jail with bail set at $100,000.

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Judge Paul Sullivan, who is presiding over the felony case, has scheduled a pretrial conference for Sept. 17 and a jury trial for Oct. 14. Hislop pleaded not guilty to both counts at her Dec. 19 arraignment before then-Judge Robert Allison.

She picked up the felony charges after allegedly fighting with her relatives on the Coram property and sending them scattering with a hail of gunfire on Nov. 21, 2024. Arriving deputies reported hearing gunshots and called in the regional SWAT team when Hislop refused to exit the Platte Road home, authorities said.

The SWAT team used non-lethal pepper munitions to drive her from the house. She was later taken into custody with help from a K9 unit, officials said at the time.

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.
This report includes discussion of sexual assault and/or rape. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1-888-421-1100.

SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (ABC4)  A South Ogden woman was charged on Thursday with sexually abusing her disabled roommate.

Dawn Marie McAteer, 72, is charged with object rape (first-degree felony) and forcible sexual abuse (second-degree felony).

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On May 14, 2025, McAteers roommate reported to police that she was sexually assaulted by her McAteer. She claimed she was in bed when McAteer committed the assault.

In an interview with police, McAteer reportedly initially denied the allegations, but then admitted to multiple details of the incident.

Through the investigation, police obtained medical documentation that shows McAteers roommate as being a vulnerable adult diagnosed with a mental disorder that makes her unable to consent.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A woman is dead and a man was airlifted from a major three-vehicle crash in Clinton County.

According to the Wilmington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened at approximately 11 a.m., on State Route 73 near Mile Post 6, Union Twp.

The initial investigation found a 1998 Dodge Ram driven by a 19-year-old man from Indiana, was heading west on S.R. 73. A 2023 Buick Enclave, driven by Lisa Bush, a 56-year-old woman from Maineville, was heading east on S.R. 73. Officials said the Ram failed negotiate a curve and lost control of his vehicle; making him go left of center. He crashed into the Buick head-on.

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Investigation underway after deadly I-70 East crash

Then, a 2021 Ford F-250 driven by a 76-year-old man from Florida was heading west on S.R. 73 behind the Ram. He hit some debris in the road from the crash, which officials said disabled his vehicle.

Bush was pronounced dead on the scene by medics. The 19-year-old was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital with serious injuries. The 76-year-old was uninjured.

The crash is under active investigation by the Wilmington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.)  A woman has died in custody at the El Paso County Jail, just over two weeks after the last jail death.

According to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO), a 33-year-old woman was found unresponsive in her cell just after 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8. EPSO deputies and medical staff responded, and additional personnel from American Medical Response (AMR) and the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) assumed life-saving efforts shortly before 6 a.m., however, the woman was declared dead.

Our Office extends our condolences to the individuals family and friends during this difficult time, EPSO said.

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EPSO said Sheriff Joseph Roybal has ordered an investigation into the incident, though EPSO said at this stage of the investigation, there is no indication of foul play or self-harm.

RELATED COVERAGE: 47-year-old inmate dies at El Paso County Jail

This death comes 15 days after another death at the jail, that of 47-year-old Paula Orth, who was found in her cell on the evening of July 24.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
A Florida woman stands accused of impersonating a nurse, allegedly treating over 4,400 patients despite not having a valid medical license. Now, authorities are pulling back the curtain on her alleged scheme.

What is Autumn Bardisa accused of?

On Aug. 6, the Flagler County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) confirmed that 29-year-old Autumn Bardia, of Palm Coast, had been arrested the previous day. According to officers, when they arrived at Bardias home to take her into custody, the suspect was wearing medical scrubs. She is accused of operating "as a licensed nurse and provid[ing] medical care to thousands of unsuspecting patients," according to a news release. Authorities alleged that Bardia "participated in medical services to 4,486 individuals from June 2024 through January 2025, despite never holding a valid nursing license.

How did Autumn Bardisa impersonate a nurse?

Bardisas arrest follows a seven-month investigation into allegations of her misconduct. She began working as an advance nurse technician at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway in Palm Coast in July 2023 but was terminated from her position on Jan. 22, 2025. AdventHealth staff claimed "they had terminated Bardisa for impersonating a registered nurse by utilizing another individuals license number and submitting false documentation to be employed as an advanced nurse technician" at the facility, according to the release.

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"When applying for the position, Bardisa indicated that she was an 'education first' registered nurse, meaning that she passed the required schooling to become a registered nurse but had not yet passed the national exam to obtain her license," the release continued.

During her interview, Bardisa allegedly told the facility that she "had passed the exam and provided a license number matching an individual with her first name, Autumn, but with a different last name. Bardisa explained that she had recently gotten married, and that the name on the license was her maiden name. "Bardisa was then asked to provide her marriage license to AdventHealth, which she never did," the release alleged.

Despite the lack of documentation, Bardisa remained in her position and even received a promotion in January of this year. It was only then that her history ignited "interest among her colleagues," who "checked the status of Bardisas license and discovered that she had an expired certified nursing assistant license, which the employee reported to administrators."

Related: Grieving Mother Eviscerates Daughter's Killer at Sentencing

What is Autumn Bardisa charged with?

The hospital then contacted FCSO, who initiated a joint investigation with the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The departments "reviewed documents and conducted interviews with AdventHealth employees and the nurse whose identity Bardisa stole," according to the release. "The investigation determined that Bardisa shared a first name with the other nurse, who was employed by AdventHealth, but at a different hospital, and had attended school with her. However, the two did not personally know each other.

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An arrest warrant was summarily issued. "The FCSO Fugitive Unit located Bardisa at her residence and arrested her on her active warrants. She was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she is being held on a $70,000 bond," the release stated. Bardisa has been charged with seven counts of practicing a health care profession without a license and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information.

FCSO Sheriff Rick Staly said that the case was "one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud weve ever investigated. He continued: This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth, and an entire medical community.

Related: Woman Sues After Fatal Family Dollar Roof Collapse

Woman Treated 4,400 Patients Without Valid Medical License, Cops Say first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 7, 2025
FRANKLIN, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Pendleton County Sheriffs Office is looking to identify a woman it said defrauded a bank in Franklin earlier this week.

According to a social media post from the Pendleton County Sheriffs Office, the woman, seen below, entered the Pendleton Community Bank on Aug. 7 and presented a fake ID to the teller before withdrawing an undisclosed amount of money from the account.

Picture of an unidentified woman in a bank fraud case in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office) Picture of an unidentified woman in a bank fraud case in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office) Picture of an unidentified woman in a bank fraud case in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office) Picture of an unidentified woman in a bank fraud case in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office)

Braxton County guardians allegedly forced juveniles to smoke illicit drugs

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The woman was then seen getting into a newer silver Honda Accord as a passenger before it drove away, according to the post. Pictures of that vehicle can be found below.

Picture of a vehicle that an unidentified woman entered after deputies say she defrauded a bank in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office)

Picture of a vehicle that an unidentified woman entered after deputies say she defrauded a bank in Pendleton County (Courtesy: Pendleton County Sheriffs Office)

Anyone with any information regarding the womans identity is asked to contact the West Virginia State Police at 304-358-2200 or the Pendleton County Sheriffs Office at 304-358-2214.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In a significant gesture, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday tied a rakhi to a tree to celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, the Union Minister urged the countrymen to take a pledge to protect the environment. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Today is Raksha Bandhan. Sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and her brother takes a pledge to protect her. However, now sisters have become so strong and powerful that many sisters are capable of protecting their brothers. But this festival should become a festival of protecting the country along with brothers and sisters. It should also become a festival of protecting the world. It should also become a festival of protecting the environment." The Union Minister also appealed to the people of the country to buy Swadeshi or Made in India products only. "Take a pledge on Raksha Bandhan to protect the country. We will buy Swadeshi. We should buy made in India products... Today I am tying this Rakhi to a tree because we exist because of trees. Ped hai to ham hai," he added. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings. "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X. Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi around their brothers' wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
A 62-year-old woman has been arrested during an anti-racism rally in Belfast city centre.

Police said she was detained in Linenhall Street on Saturday afternoon on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed organisation.

The woman was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "We are all Palestine Action".

Palestine Action became a proscribed organisation in July under the Terrorism Act, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence. Two men were also cautioned for the same offence.

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Police say they arrested a 43-year-old man for disorderly behaviour.

Human rights organisation Amnesty said he was from a "small anti-immigration counter protest".

In London on Saturday, 474 people were arrested at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action.

Scores of people simultaneously unveiled handwritten signs with the same message "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing 7m worth of damage. Palestine Action said it was behind the incident.

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A Home Office spokesperson said the decision to proscribe the group was based on "strong security advice" following "serious attacks the group had committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage".
UPDATE: SATURDAY, 8/9/2025 9:41 a.m.

(COLORADO)  According to NASA, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully splashed down in the ocean at 9:33 a.m. off the California coast after an approximately 17 and a half hour journey from space.

SATURDAY, 8/9/2025 9:21 a.m.

U.S. Air Force Major Nichole Ayers, a NASA astronaut and graduate of both Woodland Park High School and the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), is landing back on Earth after nearly five months on the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Along with fellow NASA astronaut Anne McClain, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, Ayers undocked from the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at around 4:15 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, and is scheduled to splash down off the California coast at around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

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Ayers launched on March 14 to join the ISS, and while there, has taken part in multiple research projects, such as tests on how the human body adapts to space, as well as technology demonstrations, and maintenance activities aboard the microgravity laboratory. Ayers also took part in the fifth all-female spacewalk with McClain in May and answered questions from students of Woodland Park High School in a Space to Earth call.

Woodland Park students ask southern Colorado astronaut questions about space, science, and technology

After graduating from Woodland Park High School, Ayers earned a bachelors degree in mathematics with a minor in Russian from the USAFA, having graduated from pilot training in 2014, when she began flying the T-38A at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. She then became an instructor pilot in the F-22 and has flown missions all over the nation and the world.

She later earned a masters degree in computational and applied mathematics from Rice University in Houston and was selected by NASA to join the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class, reporting for duty in January 2022.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
A viral social media thread claiming artificial intelligence discriminated against job seekers has brought national attention to a landmark federal lawsuit that could reshape hiring practices across corporate America.

Amanda Goodall, a business-focused influencer, sparked online uproar on August 4 with a post that read:

UPDATE: The AI didnt just ghost your resume. It discriminated. A federal judge just ordered Workday to hand over a full list of employers that used AI to rank job applicants. Not just their tech but every company that enabled HiredScore. And now its evidence.   Amanda Goodall (@thejobchick) August 4, 2025

The post, part of a thread that has garnered nearly 5 million views, warned that AI tools were making employment decisions before a human ever saw your name.

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The thread refers to Mobley v. Workday, Inc., a potentially precedent-setting case now underway in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiff Derek Mobley, who is Black and over the age of 40, alleges that Workdays widely used AI-powered hiring tools filtered out older applicants, violating federal anti-discrimination laws. Mobley claims to have applied to more than 100 positions since 2017 through companies that used Workdays platformand says he was rejected each time, often within minutes.

Mobley initially brought claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

The core legal question is whether Workday, a human capital management software firm used by over 11,000 companies worldwide, can be held liable not as an employer but as an agent of employers under Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Judge Rita Lin dismissed claims that Workday acted as an employment agency, but allowed the case to proceed under the agent theory.

The Breakdown:

A federal judge allowed age discrimination claims against Workday to move forward as a collective action.

The case centers on whether Workdays AI screening tools systematically disadvantaged older, disabled, and nonwhite applicants.

The EEOC filed an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs theory of AI vendor liability.

Conditional certification of an ADEA class could involve hundreds of millions of applicants, according to filings.

The decision may set a national precedent for AI accountability in hiring processes.

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In May, Judge Lin granted conditional certification of the ADEA claims, writing that the plaintiff had adequately alleged the existence of a unified policy: the use of Workdays AI recommendation system to score, sort, rank, or screen applicants. According to court filings, Workdays tools processed roughly 1.1 billion applications over the relevant period, meaning the case could involve a collective of hundreds of millions.

Workdays counsel has argued in court filings that the firms AI is merely a tool and that employers can enable, disable, use, or ignore its many features, including its AI features.

However, Mobleys claims gained additional traction when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed an amicus brief last year backing his agent theory. The court agreed that Workdays role wasnt merely passive. The opinion held that Workdays software is not simply implementing in a rote way the criteria that employers set forth, but is instead participating in the decision-making process.

The ruling emphasized that employers appeared to have delegated traditional hiring tasks like advancing or rejecting candidates to Workdays automated systems. Judge Lin distinguished Workday from passive tools like spreadsheets or email clients, writing that [b]y contrast, Workday does qualify as an agent because its tools are alleged to perform a traditional hiring function through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

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Legal experts say the case could carry sweeping implications for AI accountability. This is the first class action to challenge the use of AI screening software and will be instructive for vendors and employers, wrote Houston labor lawyer Jesika Silva Blanco for Inside Tech Law.

Next steps include notifying class members and holding a court conference to outline the discovery process. Should the class remain certified, the lawsuit could become one of the largest ever to challenge employment practices under federal civil rights laws.

Workday maintains that it is not responsible for hiring decisions made by its clients. But as Goodalls tweetsand the courts rulingssuggest, that distinction may not be enough to avoid liability in the age of algorithmic decision-making.
Aug. 8WATERTOWN  WPBS is one of the hardest hit stations in New York following July's defunding of national PBS and NPR stations.

The station has been forced to move aggressively following the elimination of federal funding, including reducing staff by one-third and canceling some services and productions.

On the plus side, the station has redoubled its efforts to grow sponsorship revenues, which has seen positive results, according to Mark Prasuhn, WPBS President and General Manager.

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Prasuhn sent a letter top WPBS friends and supporters on Thursday concerning an update about the $9 million Congress pulled in July that it previously agreed to spend, dedicated to foreign aid and public media across the country. In his letter, Prasuhn explained why, of the 18 PBS and NPR stations in New York State, WPBS is the second most at risk with over 30% of its revenues taken away.

"The manner in which this was done  a claw back of two years' worth of already promised funding  was a huge financial hit causing an immediate critical cash flow problem. Previous administrations have tried to defund or reduce funding for public media which would have been difficult but at least would have provided time to plan for the necessary changes."

" ... there are PBS and NPR stations based in larger cities that have access to a much bigger pool of potential revenues from sponsors, donors, philanthropists and foundations. There are stations owned by universities that have access to the resources of a much larger "parent" organization. And there are stations that hold multi-million dollar endowments. WPBS enjoys none of these advantages, and so the loss of $2 million in federal funding has a greater, more devastating impact."

At the beginning of the year, WPBS had 18 employees. By mid-July staffing was cut to 12.

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In his letter, Prasuhn said that asking viewers for "Emergency funding" would not be a reasonable request. "It was not our supporters who decided to remove this foundational funding and it should not be all on them to replace it."

He noted that for 55 years, federal funding has allowed WPBS to meet specific needs for the people of the region, including the maintaining of two transmission towers (the tallest in St Lawrence and Lewis counties respectively) that deliver emergency warning alerts and support the work of emergency responders and law enforcement.

Federal funding allowed WPBS to develop educational content for students such as "GPS for Success," the most comprehensive career planning tool specifically for north country middle and high school students. Also, federal funding supported the distribution of world-leading preschool programming and standards-aligned curriculum content available to teachers at no cost.

"In our view these are areas of responsibility for the federal government, for the good of all citizens," Prasuhn wrote. "We regret that current leadership doesn't see it that way, but nonetheless we don't think it is fair to expect individuals to step in and fully fund services that benefit the public and which have been and should be supported at least in part, by government."

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The reductions and changes made by the station, are enough, Prasuhn said, to offset most of what it has lost with the $2 million clawback.

"But, we still have a gap and many Visionary Society ($1,000+) have already stepped up in order to help close it."

The Canadian connection

WPBS has an international reach, making it unique among PBS stations in the U.S. Prasuhn told the Times on Friday that the station has the highest percentage of its supporters from Canada (currently about 62%). He said that he received a letter from a Kingston, Ontario, viewer on Thursday saying that the station should relocate to Canada.

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Asking for Canadian government support, Prasuhn said, is not likely practical. "Also Ontario has a PBS equivalent (TVO) based in Toronto that is funded by the Ontario government."

But in a way, Prasuhn explained, WPBS does get some indirect support from Canada in that some of the productions it broadcasts, including some local ones like the upcoming six-part documentary series, "Upstate Attractions," which profiles New York-based museums, receives funding from the Canadian government since they are produced by Canadian companies that can access the subsidy programs they have there for media productions.

With Canadian visitation numbers deeply down in Northern New York since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, Prasuhn was asked if he has seen any negative numbers on Canadian viewership, or support.

"The current trade tensions between our two countries have had some impact although the overwhelming majority of Canadians we have heard from say they want to keep supporting WPBS, and many are increasing their support given the recent federal defunding," he said.

To support the station, call it at 315-782-8600 or go to wpbstv.org/donate.
Michas Ohnstad and Archie Moczygemba were 19 and 18 years old, respectively, when they first stepped foot on Japanese soil. For both of them, it looked like the world was on fire. And it was.

They were just two of the 67,000 American soldiers and Marines to witness the aftermath of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Today, there are fewer than a handful of atomic veterans still living, and the memories of the subsequent historic and horrifying days following the dropping of the bombs will soon be forever lost.

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Two friends, however, Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly, are working to make the surviving voices heard.

Their documentary Atomic Echoes follows the pair and their disparate stories that lead back to August 1945.

Tanabe recounted that her fathers first memory is running into the ocean at 2 years old to escape the American firebombing campaign against Tokyo.

Her great-great-uncle, Tatsuo Morito, became the first post-war president of Hiroshima University. His mission, according to Tanabe, was peace through education.

It is with that message that Atomic Echoes goes forth, showcasing survivors on both sides of the Pacific  the hibakusha, the estimated 650,000 Japanese survivors of the bombings, and the atomic veterans who responded in the immediate aftermath of the bombings.

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As Atomic Echoes highlights, the ramifications regarding the actions on Aug. 6, 1945, and Aug. 9, 1945, are still an ongoing process, even 80 years later.

Veteran Michas Ohnstad served with the 1st Cavalry Division in August of 1945. (Chris Janjic for Blue Chalk Media)

War is hell, Ohnstad states in the documentary as he wipes tears from his eyes. And I cant improve on that.

Like Tanabe, Kellys links to the war are personal as well. Her grandfather, Carmine Gerardi, entered Nagasaki 45 days after the second atomic bomb exploded over the city.

My grandfather died when my mom was 13, and she said he never talked about the war. He did, however, very clearly have PTSD, which they didnt really recognize back then, Kelly told Military Times in a recent interview.

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They used to live in Brooklyn, and he couldnt handle the crowds on the subway. When my mom was, I believe it was six or seven, she actually remembers him coming home from the subway after trying to get to work and turning to my grandma and said, I cant do it. So they bought a house in rural New Jersey.

The film does not focus on the question of what if or whether the U.S. should have dropped the bomb, rather it highlights the lasting effects of the weapon on the men, women and children who were on the ground.

[Ohnstad] had the most trauma because he was with the group of doctors doing all the autopsies of the people who died in Japan, Kelly said. He probably witnessed hundreds, if not more, autopsies, and examined the survivors. So he was really seeing the worst of it.

Victims of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima sit in a makeshift hospital in a damaged bank building, Oct. 5, 1945. (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Another survivor, an unnamed 76-year-old Japanese woman, was diagnosed with leukemia 50 years after the bomb. Her doctor, renowned physician Masao Tomonaga, recounted in the film that she told him, I have long been thinking in my body, [the] atomic bomb is hiding.

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The evidence of Tatsuos mantra, peace through education, is clearly at play throughout Atomic Echoes, a fact Kelly readily acknowledges.

One of our big messages as we talk about the film is that there really isnt enough education around the human stories behind the bomb, she said.

Everybody, when they think of the bomb, they think of the mushroom cloud. A lot of people have heard of the stories about the pilots who dropped it, but within the educational system theres not a lot of emphasis. So that was one of the really important things with the film  we wanted to show images of survivors.

Atomic Echoes is now available to stream on PBS.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  The Red Lion School District will welcome kids back to school with a new playground.

Larry J. Macaluso Elementary School received a $140,000 grant from Republic Services Charitable Foundation for the playground. Volunteers from Republic Services were out today putting the final touches on the equipment and cleaning up around the school.

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The playground is designed to be more accessible for all students.

This area is obviously a handicap accessible wheelchair ramp, said Jennifer Dennish, a kindergarten teacher who applied for the grant. There is an American Sign Language board, there is an inclusive spinner, theres a communication board that is for maybe non-verbal students, and then this pathway that people can access to it.

York County non-profit to open pharmacy amidst closures

The elementary school has about 650 students who raised $60,000 toward the playground fund.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Ffion Haf-Scott has helped care for her mum since she was four years old - now, faced with the prospect of moving away to university, she is terrified.

Lorraine, 56, has diabetes, as well as mobility and mental health issues, and Ffion's responsibilities include helping her with personal care, medication and emotional support.

Young carers in sixth form and college have said there needs to be more understanding about how hard it can be for them to go to university.

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Recent UCAS application data showed they made up 2.8% of undergraduate applications by Welsh 18-year-olds by the end of June and said it was offering support on its website for young carers.

Ffion, 18, from Wrexham, really wants to go university but has not always felt like it was a possibility.

"I was always worried about whether I could get home in time if something happened - who would be there for my mum if I couldn't be there," she said.

"To go my whole life looking after somebody and caring for them in so many different ways to then think about moving away from them and not being able to get to them within five minutes, that's terrifying."

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Ffion was able to access support to look into going to university from the Reaching Wider carer mentoring scheme, which she found through a carer group she was a part of.

But she said this type of support - mentoring and speaking to other carers who have been to university - was not known about by many others in her position.

"Without those things I would have had no idea," she said.

"It's not something that's obvious, especially on the UCAS website, it's something that you only specify when you're doing an application.

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"It's not something that they publicly emphasise there's support for."

Caitlin is about to start Year 13 and hopes to study education and psychology with special needs at university [BBC]

Caitlin Jones from Llangyfelach in Swansea, helps her mum care for her two brothers who live with autism.

She hopes to study education and psychology with special needs at university but said the thought of juggling caring with university life could feel overwhelming.

"Part of me feels a bit guilty leaving because I have so many responsibilities, like I want to be there for my mum and my brothers," she said.

"But at the same time I know need to go and do my education and get a career."

The 17-year-old also said isolation was a big issue as "a lot of people don't take into consideration how hard it is sometimes".

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She would like to see young carers have access to groups for weekly chats and catch-ups to help ease this feeling.

A 2024 UCAS report into the experience of young carers in education in the UK found that 69% were unaware of support available at university or college.

UCAS said it had pages on its website, created with the Carers Trust, covering topics including advice on researching options, sharing a caring responsibility in UCAS applications and information on academic, financial and wellbeing support.

It added: "Direct feedback from students is invaluable and we'd welcome the opportunity to listen and learn from the experience of young carers so we can improve UCAS' information, advice and guidance even further."

Amy Cribb works on widening participation at Swansea University [BBC]

Amy Cribb, an access coordinator at Swansea University, is part of a team running outreach sessions at schools and colleges and a free summer school for people who are under-represented at university, including young carers.

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She acknowledged there was still work to do to help young people with caring responsibilities, as well as informing them of the support available.

She said: "A lot of younger people don't really realise that they might be a young carer. So they do all the sort of caring responsibilities but they haven't officially been identified as a young carer.

"So it's just really important for us to raise awareness and show people that the support is out there and to identify yourself as one is the best thing to do."

What support is available for young carers at university?

Cardiff Metropolitan, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Swansea, University of South Wales (USW), University of Wales Trinity St David and Cardiff University offer a young carers bursary.

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At Swansea, Bangor, Wrexham, Cardiff Metropolitan, Aberystwyth, USW and Cardiff University, students also have access to a dedicated staff member to help with their needs and accessing specialist services.

Swansea University students can access a carers passport to help facilitate reasonable adjustments and extenuating circumstances.

Aberystwyth University works with charities to provide additional support and give young carers a chance to meet other young carers.

Bangor University offers health and wellbeing support, advice during the university application and offer process and academic support to manage workload.

Cardiff University students can access extra library support, including a nominated person to pick up and return books.

USW offers drop-in information sessions for prospective students.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Calling all Youngstown school graduates, the East High Alumni Association gathered this weekend for its annual reunion.

The annual All City Alumni Picnic invited alumni from nine different high schools to gather in Wick Park for music, food and fun. People showed up dressed head to toe in the colors of their alma mater, showing some renewed school spirit.

Youngstown City School District leaders say its important to come together with events like this, especially after the decision to merge Chaney and East High School.

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We got administrators here, teachers here, board members here, students here, and so this is just a big thing, said Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor. Im really excited because to me, its like the beginning of starting something when we become one high school. Were going to become one community, one vision, one Youngstown.

The event started at noon and wrapped up at 7 p.m.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday once again rejected making territorial concessions to end the war with Russia, pointing to the country's constitution.

"Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," Zelensky said in a video broadcast from the presidential office.

"The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this," he emphasized.

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"Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelensky said.

He described media reports of ceasefire plans between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump involving territorial concessions as "stillborn decisions" and said they were unworkable.

According to the reports, Putin has demanded full Russian control over the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Zelensky said would mean the surrender of thousands of square kilometres and strategically important cities.

In Washington, Trump spoke of "swapping" territory in a "very complicated" deal. He did not provide further details. The US president plans to meet Putin for talks in Alaska on Friday.

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Zelensky noted that this was very far away from the war raging in his country, stressing that the conflict could not be ended without the Ukrainians.

Ukraine has been warding off a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday bluntly rejected President Donald Trumps suggestion that Kyiv would be required to give up territory as part of a peace deal with Russia.

Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier, Zelensky said, just hours after Trump announced that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska, without any Ukrainian representatives present, to discuss bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

Zelensky appeared to bristle at both the suggestion of ceding territory and at the prospect of talks being held without Ukraine.

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Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work, Zelensky said in a video address. He added that Ukraine "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done."

Read more: Trump Has the Upper Hand Going into His Meeting with Putin

President Trump announced at the White House on Friday that he would meet with Putin on August 15 in Alaska, which was once part of the Russian Empire before its purchase by the United States in 1867. He said that an eventual peace deal between Ukraine and Russia would include some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.

Were going to get some back, and were going to get some switched, Trump added.

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The talks in Alaska would be the first between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.

Read more: The Secret White House Backchannel That Paved the Way For Trumps Summit With Putin

As he has done in the past when the issue of ceding occupied Ukrainian territory has been raised, Zelensky cited his countrys Constitutionwhich states that its territory cannot be given away in rejecting the proposal.

The answer to Ukraines territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine, he said. No one will step back from this, nor will anyone be able to.

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Trumps announcement of peace talks with Putin came on the day of a deadline he had set for the Russian leader to agree to a ceasefire or else face very severe tariffs and a new wave of sanctions designed to cripple its oil trade and financial lifelines.

The Kremlin confirmed the summit in a statement released online, stating that the two leaders would "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
On the occasion, women tied 'rakhis' to Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel.

In a post on X, Gujarat CM said, "On the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan, sisters from various classes and regions of the state visited Gandhinagar and tied Rakhi on my wrist. This celebration of Rakshabandhan was filled with great joy. I am grateful to the sisters for the affection they showed. Wishing all sisters a happy and prosperous life."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings.

"Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings.

In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life."

Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters.

On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters.

Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind.

This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. The festival is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may join the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 15 August in Alaska.

Source: CBS News

Details: A senior White House official told CBS News that final plans for the summit have not yet been agreed and there is still a possibility that Zelenskyy could be involved in the event in some way.

Background:

Trump announced a meeting with Putin planned for 15 August 2025 in the US state of Alaska.

Earlier, the White House stated that Trump was willing to meet both Putin and Zelenskyy. However, on Friday 8 August, Trump suggested he might first meet only with Putin.

The Wall Street Journal stated that Putin had told Trumps Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia would cease hostilities in Ukraine in exchange for significant territorial concessions from Kyiv and international recognition of the occupied territories.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday rejected the idea that his country would give up land to end the war with Russia after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal could include some swapping of territories.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Later Saturday, European and Ukrainian officials met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in England to discuss how to end the more than three-year war. The talks came after Trump said he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy.

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Representatives from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland attended the meeting in Kent, Zelenskyy said in a post on X, calling the talks constructive.

I have not heard any partners express doubts about Americas ability to ensure that the war ends, Zelenskyy said. The President of the United States has the levers and the determination.

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy dismissed the planned Trump-Putin summit, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, warning that any negotiations to end Europes biggest conflict since World War II must include Kyiv.

Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work, he said.

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Ukrainian officials previously told The Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognize Ukraines inability to regain lost territories militarily.

The Trump-Putin summit

The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbor and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although theres no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska, Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlin's news channel.

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The president of the European Union and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK issued a joint statement late Saturday in support of Ukraine and ending the war.

We are convinced that only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed, the statement said.

In his comments at the White House Friday, Trump gave no details on the "swapping of territories. Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed.

Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Zelenskyy. His announcement that he planned to host one of Americas adversaries on U.S. soil broke with expectations that theyd meet in a third country.

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Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the AP that the symbology of holding the summit in Alaska was clear and that the location naturally favors Russia.

Its easy to imagine Putin making the point.  We once had this territory and we gave it to you, therefore Ukraine had this territory and now should give it to us, he said, referring to the 1867 transaction known as the Alaska Purchase when Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million.

Reactions in Kyiv

On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from skepticism to quiet resignation.

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It may not be capitulation, but it would be a loss, said Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said he would consider ceding territory on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations.

Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, said she was torn: Honestly, I have two answers to that question. The first is as a person who loves her country. I dont want to compromise within myself, she told the AP. But seeing all these deaths and knowing that my mother is now living in Nikopol under shelling and my father is fighting, I want all this to end as soon as possible.

Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, rejected outright concessions but supported halting combat to save lives.

We dont have the opportunity to launch an offensive to recapture our territories, the 57-year-old pensioner said, But to prevent people from dying, we can simply stop military operations, sign some kind of agreement, but not give up our territories.

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Ultimatums and sanctions

Before Trump announced the summit, his efforts to pressure Russia to stop the fighting had delivered no progress.

Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement. The deadline was Friday. The White House did not answer questions Saturday about possible sanctions.

The Kremlins bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armor while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks

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On Saturday, two people died and 16 were wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched overnight, while 31 drones hit targets across 15 different locations. It also said it shot down one of the two missiles Russia deployed.

Russias Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight and 21 more Saturday morning.

___

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The final line of this story has been corrected to say that 97 drones were shot down over Russia overnight and 21 on Saturday morning.

___

Morton reported from London. Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price contributed from Washington.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
In a conversation with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised the importance of taking Europe's voice into account in possible peace agreements with Russia and the importance of ensuring that Russia "does not once again impose its unrealistic conditions on anyone".

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "I informed [Sanchez  ed.] about the diplomatic situation and our contacts with partners, and shared our vision of what the next steps should be. The main thing now is to ensure that Russia does not once again impose its unrealistic conditions on anyone.

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It is important that Pedro and I share the same view: Europes voice must be taken into account. We are coordinating our common European position. We are ready to move as quickly and constructively as possible toward a just peace."

Details: At the same time, Zelenskyy called for a wise and coordinated response to Russia's desire to take control of more Ukrainian territories during a conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Quote: "It is important that America has the determination and the ability to end the war, and we welcome President Trumps desire to stop the killings. To respond to Russias intention to prolong the war and seize territorial spoils, we must act wisely and in coordination [with each other]."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on ensuring peace in Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy spoke with Starmer on Saturday 9 August.

"I am grateful for the support. We share the same view on the need for a truly lasting peace for Ukraine and on the danger of Russias plan to reduce everything to discussing the impossible," he said.

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Zelenskyy said clear steps are needed now, as well as maximum coordination with partners.

"We value the determination of the United Kingdom, the United States, and all our partners to end the war. We are actively working for constructive diplomacy and to ensure that the decisions can work. We agreed on further contacts," he added.

Background:

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Zohran Mamdanis twisted comrades at the Democratic Socialists of America pushed for the abolition of the traditional family at their annual conference, called marriage and sex work two sides of the same coin and proclaimed abortions should be done in churches.

Panelists at the Socialism 2025 conference last month in Chicago did victory laps over Mamdanis June win in the Democratic primary for NYC mayor, repeatedly touting his lefty agenda over the four-day commie-fest, video of the event shows.

Speakers at The Left and the Family seminar ignored the Uganda-born Mamdanis ultra-privileged upbringing by his Hollywood-director mom and radical Columbia University dad, all while parroting central tenets of Marxist ideology to the audience  that the nuclear family is inherently repressive, racist, sexist and promotes capitalism.

Zohran Mamdanis comrades rallied for an end of the traditional family at an annual conference  with twisted members of the Democratic Socialists of America calling marriage and sex work two sides of the same coin. William C Lopez/New York Post

In addition to the abolition of family policing [government-run child protective services], we argue for abolition of the family in general and say that the institution of the family acts as part of the carceral system in that it reinforces children as property, said panelist Olivia Katbi, co-chair of the DSA in Portland, Ore.

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Eman Abdelhadi, another panelist who is also an assistant professor at University of Chicagos Department of Comparative Human Development, said many fellow lefties are surprised at how few people are ready for revolt.

When we talk about family abolitionwere talking about the abolition of the economic unit, she said. It is a horizon  in which all of our material needs are taken care of by the collective.

(Left to Right) Eman Abdelhadi, a University of Chicago assistant professor; Brooklyn writer Emily Janakiram; and Portland DSA co-chair Olivia Katbi speaking at the Socialism 2025 conference in Chicago last month. Democratic Socialists of America

Abbelhadi is also the co-author of a 2022 fictional book Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 that offers a utopian vision of a future Big Apple thriving on socialism following the collapse of capitalism in the 2050s.

Emily Janakiram, a Brooklyn-based writer and organizer for New York City for Abortion Rights, spent much of her time on the panel ripping the sanctity of marriage  a bedrock Marxist belief  while failing to mention Mamdani, 33, recently celebrated his wedding to artist Rama Duwaii, 27, with a lavish, three-day affair at his familys ritzy, secluded Ugandan compound.

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The only real difference between marriage and prostitution is the price and the duration of the contract, barked Janakiram, who admitted once marrying to score a woman a green card.

NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mandami (center) celebrates winning Democratic primary in June with (left to right0 mother Mira Nair, wife Rama Duwaji and father Mahmood Mamdani. Getty Images

Sex work and marriage cant exist without each other  theyre two sides of the same coin, she claimed.

The panel  all of whom wore COVID masks and practicing social distancing  included Katie Gibson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago.

The group took questions from the audience, including one man who bizarrely boasted he wanted to perform abortions in the House of God.

Im also a Baptist minister, and on that revolutionary horizon, I want to perform abortions at a church before its all said and done, said the man, who identified himself as a DSA member from Austin, TX, named Steve.

Portland DSA co-chair Olivia Katbi and Katie Gibson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago, speaking at Socialism 2025 conference. Democratic Socialists of America

Members of the panel nodded their heads in agreement as he spoke.

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Stu Smith, an investigative analyst with the Manhattan Institute, said Mamdanis Democratic primary win had DSA members feeling so cocky at the conference that many think they can burn the whole house down.

I think theyre drunk on the aspect that they might actually get to be in power of the greatest city on earth, he told The Post. They think theyve already won, and theyre completely willing to say whatever they want to say now. I think a lot of them are emboldened.

Smith also said the DSAs anti-family message at the conference runs counter to Mamdanis lavish lifestyle.

Members of the Uganda Special Forces Command monitor gate movement at the Mamdani family home in Buziga on July 24 during a gala bash celebrating Zohran Mamdanis February marriage to Rama Duwaii. The elite unit is routinely tasked with conducting high-stakes missions  not offering security for parties. New York Post

Hes a nepo baby from a traditional family  but then he wants to distribute the wealth while also just having a luxury wedding, said Smith, who shared video of the seminar on X. Its just another example of him being a massive hypocrite.

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Mamdanis campaign did not return messages.

Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Queens Democrat, said the panelists remarks should serve as a warning to all NYC residents of the threat Mamdani poses to traditional American values.

Zohran Mamdani and his allies in the DSA are openly laying out their radical Project DSA 2026 agenda for state-run families, indoctrinating our children, and dismantling the very fabric of our society, he said. This is exactly why we must defeat Mamdani and ensure he never gets anywhere near Gracie Mansion or City Hall.
As workers in bucket trucks sawed down a stand of towering Siberian elms at Fort Marcy park early Tuesday, one upset observer offered a grisly alternative to the highly unpopular project: Throw Ray Sandoval in the wood chipper.

Sandoval is the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fes chair for the annual Burning of Zozobra, a massive event that draws tens of thousands of spectators to the city park annually. The native Santa Fean has faced a firestorm of criticism over the tree removal, which he has described as necessary to obtain insurance for the event, coming Aug. 29.

In an interview in this weeks Around the Roundhouse podcast, Sandoval said he understands people are mad.

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Up to a point.

Everybody wants to pick on Zozobra because hes the big guy in the room, he said.

Zozobra chair Ray Sandoval talks tree controversy, safety concerns and event budget

He claimed 10 trees were removed from the northwest corner of Fort Marcy park five months ago to make way for construction of a pickleball court, and neighbors didnt make a peep.

Those 10 trees came out. The pickleball court went in. Not one letter to the editor at The New Mexican, not [accusations] that youre burning the rest of the city, he said.

Pickleballers take note: Sandoval has a point.

City of Santa Fe spokesperson Regina Ruiz confirmed Thursday trees were removed for the new pickleball courts at Fort Marcy  some of them native species. The Siberian elm, in contrast, is designated a Class C noxious weed by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture because it poses threats to riparian areas, native plants and infrastructure.

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It seems the city carried out the project a little earlier than Sandoval suggested.

Its not only the circumstances that are different. The circumference is, too.

In Fall 2024 nine small trees, 12 inches or less, were removed for the pickleball court construction, Ruiz wrote in an email. None of these trees triggered the land use or public works signature as required in the Land Use Code Chapter 14. One large Siberian Elm tree was unfortunately hit by a tractor and badly damaged, so it also had to be removed.

She added, The nine trees, all 12 inches or less, included four Siberian Elms, four Junipers, and one Pinon tree. All of these trees will be replaced elsewhere in the park.

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The new courts were built in the winter and unveiled in the spring.

The writer of one letter to the editor published in The New Mexican in April 2024 decried a plan by Public Service Company of New Mexico to cut down Siberian elms under power lines at the park  a missive that also placed blame on Sandoval, a PNM employee. But not one letter last fall lamented the trees felled for pickleball.

PNM later abandoned its tree-cutting plan.

Sandoval called the tree removal this week a last resort that had long been communicated with neighbors, though he acknowledged he failed to inform the larger community the trees might have to come down.

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I take full responsibility for that, he said. I couldve done a much better job.

Zozobra organizers have said the trees create a hazard by blocking the view in Fort Marcy parks Magers Field, across an arroyo from the Fort Marcy Ballpark, where the massive marionette is burned; that prompts too many attendees to gather on a bridge over the arroyo, which would present risks in an emergency evacuation.

Sandoval said he and the Kiwanis Club tried other safety measures to avoid the tree removal, including dynamic exit signs and hiring 40 search and rescue personnel to be ushers for emergency exits.

Despite their efforts, Sandoval said they werent enough to satisfy the events insurer.

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People tell me, Go get The General car insurance. They wont know that we have

all these dangers,  he said, generating a laugh from the reporter.

Its funny, but at the same time, to an event organizer, its not, he said. I know what the risk is. The risk is people dying, getting trampled. That is the risk.

Sandoval said his obligation is to make sure everyone goes home safe after Zozobra.

People think that we just come together and throw this thing together, he said.

People tell me, Oh, youre getting excoriated over trees. I would rather get excoriated over trees than to find out that a kid or a family member died at my event, he said, his voice cracking.

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Sandoval said he plans to retire from the position within five years after the hiring of a paid, full-time event chairman.

Sandoval, who has been involved with Zozobra since age 6 and calls the event a lifelong love, said his mission is to ensure the tradition lives on.

If I got hit by a bus tomorrow or somebody threw me in the wood chipper like they want to, [my goal is to make sure] Zozobra continues, he said.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with his family in Patna on Saturday. Expressing his happiness, Paswan stated that he was lucky to have the love and blessings of his sisters, further stating that the thread tied on the brother's hand during Raksha Bandhan also helped in boosting their self-confidence. "I consider myself very lucky to have the love and blessings of so many sisters... I am fortunate that on the Rakhi festival, we assure our sisters of safety that their brothers will stand by them in every situation. But I believe that the thread tied in the brother's hand on Raksha Bandhan also boosts the brother's self-confidence and his strength a lot..." Paswan told reporters. Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi around their brothers' wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. Raksha Bandhan is a festival deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. Earlier in the day, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also tied a rakhi to a tree to celebrate the festival. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, the Union Minister urged the countrymen to take a pledge to protect the environment. Chouhan said, "Today is Raksha Bandhan. Sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist, and her brother takes a pledge to protect her. However, now sisters have become so strong and powerful that many sisters are capable of protecting their brothers. But this festival should become a festival of protecting the country along with brothers and sisters. It should also become a festival of protecting the world. It should also become a festival of protecting the environment." The Union Minister also appealed to the people of the country to buy Swadeshi or Made in India products only. "Take a pledge on Raksha Bandhan to protect the country. We will buy Swadeshi. We should buy made in India products... Today I am tying this Rakhi to a tree because we exist because of trees. Ped hai to ham hai," he added. (ANI)
Stressing the need to develop religion and spirituality, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that India must progress in every field, but it will be considered a 'Vishwaguru' when it develops in these two fields. Addressing an event during a temple visit in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Friday, Bhagwat said that even if the country were to be better economically, it would be nothing new in the world. "Even if our nation becomes a 3 trillion dollar economy, it would be nothing new in the world, as there are several other such countries. America and China are also rich. There are multiple rich countries. There are so many things that other nations have done; we will do the same. However, the world lacks the spirituality and religion that we possess. The world comes to us for it. When we become bigger in it (religion and spirituality), then the world bows down in front of us and considers us as the Vishwaguru," he said. Emphasising on religion and spirituality, Mohan Bhagwat said, "We must progress in every field, but our nation will be considered a Vishwaguru in its true sense when we grow in this field (religion and spirituality)... We must become like Lord Shiva, who is brave and looks at everyone equally... He becomes happy in little and solves the problems of the world." Recently, Mohan Bhagwat said that Bharat is not just a name, it is the nation's 'identity' that must not be altered or translated. According to Bhagwat, the global respect India commands today is rooted in its "Bharatiyata", its original identity as Bharat. "Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India that is Bharat,' is true. But Bharat is Bharat, and that is why, while writing and speaking, we should keep Bharat as Bharat... Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the rule of thumb...," Bhagwat said. Addressing the gathering at 'Gyan Sabha', a national education conclave organised by the RSS-linked 'Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas', the RSS Chief also highlighted Bharat's long-standing values of peace, non-violence, and spiritual leadership, saying the nation has never pursued expansionism or exploitation, unlike other powers in history. "Viksit Bharat, Vishwa Guru Bharat, will not be the cause of war ... and will never exploit. We have gone from Mexico to Siberia; we walked on foot, and we went in small boats. We did not invade anyone's territory and ruin it. We did not usurp anyone's kingdom. We taught everyone civilisation. You see the tradition of Indian knowledge. The root of the tradition is in that truth... the truth of the unity of the whole world..." he stated. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan here in Agar Malwa district. On the occasion, women tied a rakhi to Madhya Pradesh CM Yadav. In a post on X, MP CM said, "Today, my heart is overwhelmed with the love and blessings showered upon me by my sisters. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival symbolising the unparalleled love between siblings, I had Rakhi tied by sisters in Agar-Malwa today. Additionally, assistive devices were distributed to differently-abled brothers and sisters. Our government is committed to empowering sisters to become self-reliant and ensuring the holistic welfare of differently-abled individuals." Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings. "Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life."Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters. Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. The festival is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
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West Bengal Police on Saturday lathi-charged protesters in central Kolkata as they attempted to breach barricades during the 'Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan', a march toward the state secretariat to demand justice for the junior doctor who was raped and killed at R G Kar Medical College Hospital a year ago on August 9, 2024. The victim's parents also participated in the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' rally. Father of the RG Kar rape and murder victim said, "The high court has given us permission to stage protests peacefully...Police used a lathi charge on us, that's why we got injured...On 9 August 2024, the police treated us very badly...We were allowed to see the body only after having a telephonic conversation with Mamata Banerjee. We had to stand out for 3 hours and 30 minutes..." West Bengal Police has heightened the security in Howrah by deploying additional forces and riot control vehicles. BJP leader Ashok Dinda, at the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' rally, said, "... That day is not far when we will have to beat up the police as well. They will be thoroughly thrashed. Once the BJP gives instructions from the top, we will beat up the police so much that they will have to hide behind Mamata Banerjee..." A year after the RG Kar student's rape and murder in West Bengal, the students and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders hold a 'Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan' protest march on Saturday, demanding justice for the victim. Earlier in a post on X, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, "On the anniversary of that cursed day when the young female doctor 'Abhaya', on duty at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, was raped and murdered, I offer my respectful tribute in memory of sister 'Abhaya' and pray for the peace of her soul. In response to the call of sister 'Abhaya's' parents, and in protest against the despicable attempt to cover up that horrific incident through collective administrative efforts, as well as the conspiracy to conceal evidence with the intent to shield the culprits, I will participate in the 'Nabanna Abhijan' today in the hope of justice." The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in a seminar room on campus. The case led to widespread protests and outrage across the country, with many demanding justice for the victim. The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the police's handling of the case. The CBI has since arrested several individuals. On Wednesday, the father of the victim expressed disappointment with the CBI and Kolkata Police over the investigation. He said, "We have come to Delhi with hope. It has been a year now, and we have been roaming around for justice. We will try to put pressure on CBI. We will try to meet the CBI Director tomorrow. If we meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, then he can persuade the CBI to do the task more efficiently. CBI and Kolkata Police have given the wrong perspective to the people. Our fight is to provide a safe environment for women in society. In the last year, CBI could not bring out any facts." He further alleged that such cases frequently occur in colleges in the state, as earlier, a similar incident had taken place in a law college. (ANI)
Artificial intelligence like CHAT GPT is becoming a hub of anti-Hindu thoughts. This CHAT GPT is telling jokes on Lord Shriram, Maa Sita, Laxman and Holy Ramayana. When other religions were questioned by this artificial intelligence machine. Then he was told a question that hurt religious sentiments.
Bolton criticized Trump for undermining decades of US diplomatic efforts to draw India away from its long-standing ties with Russia and China. The tariffs, imposed on India due to its continued purchase of Russian oil, include over 50% in duties, with a 25% secondary tariff justified by Trump as necessary to prevent India from funding Russias war efforts in Ukraine.
In Bihar, the students' protest is getting furious over the allegation of rigging in the railway examination. Unruly students pelted stones on a train at Gaya Junction. Also ransacked at many places. After this, when the police chased away the furious students, the students set fire to the bogie of a train.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman, Samir V Kamat, emphasised on Saturday that India's BrahMos missiles and the Akashteer defence systems were instrumental technologies that played a key role in Operation Sindoor, carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. According to the DRDO chairman, the BrahMos missile, primarily launched from Sukhoi Mk 1, was used during the offensive phase. Meanwhile, the anti-drone Akashteer was the mainstay for defensive weapon systems. "When it comes to offensive weapons, BrahMos was the primary weapon used, which was launched from our Sukhoi Mark 1 platform. When it comes to defensive weapon systems, the Akashteer system, the anti-drone system and the MRSAM were used," the DRDO chairman said during a press interaction in Maharashtra's Pune. Kamat further mentioned how the Akashteer network helped in identifying any threats coming towards India, and also in deciding what kind of weapon could be used to neutralise such threats. "All the sensors were networked using the Akashteer, which helped in identifying the threats coming towards us and then deploying the right kind of weapon to neutralise those threats. Advanced early warning and control aircraft were also used for advanced surveillance. This is broadly what I can say without getting into too much," the DRDO Chairman said. Earlier, expressing pride over the growing strength of India's defence research and development sector, Kamat mentioned, "It's indeed a proud moment for all of us. It's a reflection of the strength of our R&D and production in the defence domain. I'm sure going ahead, this number will keep increasing."Earlier, it was reported that the annual defence production has achieved a record high of Rs 1,50,590 crore for the Financial Year (FY) 2024-25. The milestone represents a robust 18 per cent growth over the previous fiscal's output of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, and a staggering 90 per cent increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was Rs 79,071 crore. Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Kamat credited the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives to the PM Modi-led government. Akashteer, India's fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System, which intercepted and neutralised every inbound projectile amid India-Pakistan hostilities, is no longer a concept confined to defence journals, but a sharp edge of India's air defence. The BrahMos missile system has solidified India's position in defence diplomacy: Cruise Missile Triad that enables precision attacks against land and sea targets; Deterrent Capability, which strengthens India's defence posture with its supersonic speed and range and Indo-Russian Collaboration showcasing successful bilateral cooperation in defence technology. Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people. (ANI)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday expressed grief over the killing of two soldiers from the state during an encounter with terrorists in Kulgam in Jammu and Kashmir. In a social media post on X, Mann saluted the spirit and bravery of the soldiers who lost their lives during the line of duty for the defence of the country. "In an encounter with terrorists in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the tragic news was received of the martyrdom of soldier Pritpal Singh from the village of Manupur in Khanna and sepoy Harminder Singh from the village of Badinpur in Mandi Gobindgarh. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families," CM Mann said. The Chief Minister announced that an honorarium of one crore rupees each will be provided to the families of the deceased soldiers. "We salute the spirit and bravery of the soldiers who were martyred for the defence of the country. As per the government's promise, an honorarium of 1 crore rupees each will be provided to the families," CM Mann posted on X. Two jawans had died in the line of duty on the ninth day of operations being carried out by security forces in the Akhal Devsar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district, officials said. Chinar Corps paid tribute to the supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, who laid down their lives in the line of duty. "Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the Bravehearts, L/Nk Pritpal Singh and Sep Harminder Singh, in line of duty for the Nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us. Indian Army expresses deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. Operation continues," Chinar Corps posted on X. So far, one terrorist has been neutralised in the operation. Nearly a week ago, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in the Akhal area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, Chinar Corps said. The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG). In a post on X, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said, "OP AKHAL, Kulgam. Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact." "One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues," post added on X. (ANI)
Amid Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's allegations of fraud by the Election Commission (EC) in voter lists, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-SCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said two people had approached him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, claiming they could guarantee 160 out of 288 seats. Speaking to the media, Pawar said that he arranged a meeting of these people with Rahul Gandhi, but ultimately both of them decided to turn down the offer, saying, "This is not our path." "I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi...They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I had no doubts about the Election Commission," Pawar said here. "After that, I arranged a meeting with those people and Rahul Gandhi. Whatever they wanted to say, they said in front of Rahul Gandhi. But Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that we should not pay attention to this; this is not our path," he added. The allegations, raised nine months after the Assembly elections results were announced, come amid Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleging "vote chori" (vote theft) across the country, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) 'colluding' with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress leader has also specifically raised concerns over the alleged addition of lakhs of voters in Maharashtra just months before the state polls in 2024, alleging the votes helped the Mahayuti coalition come into power. At a press conference on August 7, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 1,00,250 votes. Reiterating his claims over fraud in Maharashtra polls, the party leader said, "Maharashtra, we weren't able to tell the logic behind it. In Maharashtra and Haryana, we saw it right in front of our faces. We said publicly and told EC that more voters were added in five months than in five years in Maharashtra. More voters than the entire population of Maharashtra. Huge jump in voter turnout after 5 pm. Our alliance got wiped out while the alliance swept in the Lok Sabha. At the state level, between Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, one crore voters came in." In response to the allegations, Maharashtra's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has asked the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to submit an affidavit and provide specific evidence of alleged inclusion or deletion of electors from the voter rolls. The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 witnessed a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, securing a landslide win with 235 seats. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party also made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a major defeat in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, secured just 20 seats, Congress won 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) managed only 10. Right after the declaration of results, the MVA had also raised the issue of alleged election malpractice in the state. (ANI)
YSRCP State General Secretary Satish Kumar Reddy has alleged that leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are conspiring to assassinate him in Pulivendula, YSR District. He alleged that the plan was in retaliation for his recent remarks criticising Lokesh during a press conference. Addressing the mediapersons, Reddy said the conspiracy was not limited to intimidation or assault but carried a "direct intent to kill." He expressed complete distrust in the state police and pointed to the absence of adequate personal security. He later stated that local authorities could not be relied upon to ensure his safety or conduct an impartial investigation. YSR Congress Party leader claimed he had received credible information from well-wishers within the TDP that Nara Lokesh and Mareddy Ravindranath Reddy, popularly known as B.Tech Ravi, were orchestrating an attack to eliminate him. He directly appealed to the Director General of Police (DGP) to take cognisance of the alleged plot and initiate an inquiry. Reddy further demanded a suo motu CBI investigation, stressing that Lokesh and B.Tech Ravi must be held responsible for any harm that befalls him. Earlier in the day, YSRCP charged the TDP-led government with gross misuse of power and resorting to undemocratic measures to wrest the local body by-poll in Pulivendula, reiterating that despite such nefarious measures, the image of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will not be affected. Speaking to mediapersons, Party spokesperson Rachamallu Siva Prasada Reddy said, the election is being fought not with TDP but with official machinery, and the ruling coalition is hell bent on damaging the image and fame of the YS family. He appealed to the people and cadre to work with a strong resolve braving all hardships to retain the seat. He also alleged that the election is being fought in the most undemocratic manner with the official machinery siding totally with the ruling party while TDP has been resorting to violence, bloodshed, misuse of police, jumbling of polling booths causing inconvenience to voters who are committed to YSRCP, extravaganza of money, foisting false cases on political adversaries, besides heavy poaching. (ANI)
Speaking to reporters after the visit, MP CM said, "Rakshabandhan is a significant Hindu festival where sisters tie a sacred thread on their brothers' wrists, praying for their longevity and success, and brothers pledge to protect their sisters. This is a wonderful festival of Sanatan culture."

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings."Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings.

In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life."Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters.

On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters.

Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind.

This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. The festival is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, launched the 'Baaj Akh'- Anti Drone System (ADS) on Saturday, asserting that the state government is committed to stopping cross-border drug abuse in the state. Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said that if any drone enters Punjab from Pakistan, it will be destroyed by the newly installed system. "Today, the Punjab government and the Punjab police have implemented an anti-drone system. With this, if any drone enters Punjab from Pakistan, our anti-drone system will see it and destroy it right there. It will not be able to deliver drugs. Today, three anti-drone systems are being implemented. Six more will arrive in a few days, and if needed, we will purchase additional units. Our government is committed to stopping drug abuse in Punjab....," Kejriwal said. Later, interacting with the media, the National Convener of AAP said that another glorious chapter has been added to the crusade against drugs. He said that previous regimes hobnobbed with the drug smugglers, due to which this curse flexed its muscles in the state. However, Arvind Kejriwal said that now a massive crackdown has been launched against drugs, and big fish involved in this trade have been put behind bars. Kejriwal said that three ADS have been launched and six others will be launched very soon to make Punjab free from this scourge. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government has strictly implemented a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers. Speaking on the occasion, CM Bhagwant Mann said, "This was very much needed. We are going to become the first state in the country to have an Anti-Drone system in place. We share a 532-km border with Pakistan. Punjab Police will now have technology that will help them keep an eye on activities (along the border), to keep the 532-km border safe from drugs and illegal weapons. This is a huge step by the Punjab Government." The Chief Minister said that an amount of Rs 51.4 crore is being spent on these units. He said that although our country's armed forces and BSF have already been using such systems, Punjab is the first state in the country to deploy anti-drone systems at the international border. He said that the anti-drone system will give a strong response to drug smugglers from across the border, adding that anti-national elements always use technology for anti-social activities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the enemies of the country have turned drones into weapons to destroy Punjab's youth, and drones are being used for drug smuggling from across the border. Extending congratulations to the security forces, the Chief Minister lauded them for working tirelessly to stop this cross-border drug trafficking. He said that in 2024, a total of 283 drones loaded with heroin, weapons, and ammunition were seized, adding that in 2025, so far, 137 drones have already been recovered. The Punjab CM said that the anti-drone system will be deployed along the border from Pathankot to Fazilka as a Second Line of defence. The Chief Minister said that with this, any drone entering the state through the border can be immediately neutralised. He said that the Second Line of Defence refers to the deployment of the Punjab Police in the border districts, who work behind the BSF stationed at the international border. CM Mann said that the anti-drone systems will assist the security forces in combating the smuggling of drugs and weapons. The Chief Minister said that these systems will be deployed at those specific border points where high drone activity has been observed. He stated that previously, Punjab Police lacked a system to neutralise drones, but now they have become capable. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the anti-drone system is equipped to accurately detect the drone's position and its ground control stations. SSP Deepak Pareek said, "Baaz Ankh' Anti-Drone systems have been launched within the Punjab Police. Electronics Corporation of India Limited has built these systems. Nine of their Anti-Drone systems have been approved in Punjab Police, three of these are portable systems and have been launched by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. These systems have the capabilities of drone detection and jamming..."(ANI)
Rajya Sabha MP and actor Kamal Haasan on Saturday applauded the new education policy of Tamil Nadu, stating that it had been formed with the noble intention of ensuring quality education reached students from humble backgrounds, more than the privileged. In a post on social media X, Haasan wrote that the new education policy would also equip students with the skills needed to face new challenges of a changing world. "It is heartening to note that the new education policy of the Tamil Nadu government has been formulated with the noble intention of ensuring that quality education reaches students from humble backgrounds more than it does the privileged, and with a forward-looking vision to equip our students with the skills needed to face the new challenges of a changing world," Haasan said. https://x.com/ikamalhaasan/status/1954149099596558776 "This education policy, crafted with several distinctive features, incorporates the principles of equality and social justice. In particular, the removal of unnecessary public examinations that keep students in a state of fear, the inclusion of provisions against unjust entrance examinations, and the announcement that the bilingual policy will continue are all commendable," the post read. Haasan also congratulated the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, and others for their efforts towards the goals of "quality education for all." "I wholeheartedly congratulate the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin, the Honourable Minister of School Education, Thiru. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, and the committee led by the former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice T. Murugesan, who designed the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy, for their efforts toward the goal of 'quality education for all,' the post read. On August 8, CM Stalin said that the State Education Policy (SEP) has been curated while keeping in mind the "unique character" of the state and announced that the state will only follow a two-language policy. "Through this education policy, we don't want students just to mug up, but think and get educated. Physical education will be taught along with studies. Importantly, I want to say firmly that we will follow two two-language policy and it is our firm policy," Stalin said while addressing the gathering at Anna Centenary Library Auditorium. This move comes after months of protests by the DMK-led government against the National Education Policy (NEP) promoted by the Centre. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the NEP, calling it "against social justice" and an attempt to impose Hindi on the state. Tamil Nadu has refused to implement the NEP. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Delhi government over the issue of waterlogging and alleged water crisis in the Kalkaji constituency. In a post on X, Atishi shared the letter written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and criticised the government's handling and preparedness for monsoons, stating that the "mismanagement" by the "4-engine BJP government" has caused "waterlogging" in the capital and "water crisis" in the Kalkaji area. "Mismanagement by the 4-engine BJP Govt has not only submerged Delhi roads, but caused a water crisis in Kalkaji. The Giri Nagar pumping station is completely submerged. And the people of Giri Nagar, Kalkaji, Govindpuri and Govindpuri Extn are facing several days of water crisis," Atishi posted on X. https://x.com/AtishiAAP/status/1954145472014131305 Atishi wrote a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressing deep concern over severe waterlogging and water shortage issues in Kalkaji and surrounding areas following recent rains. In a letter dated August 9, Atishi stated that just a few hours of rainfall had brought Delhi to a halt, with roads submerged and traffic at a standstill. She highlighted that water has entered many homes, causing distress among residents. Atishi pointed out that the Pumping Station of the Giri Nagar Underground Reservoir (UGR), a key facility supplying water to Kalkaji, Giri Nagar, Govindpuri, and Govindpuri Extension, is fully submerged and non-functional. The pumps are underwater and unable to operate, resulting in no water supply to thousands of households in these areas. The letter reads, "Just a few hours of rain have brought Delhi to a grinding halt. Roads are waterlogged, traffic is at a standstill and even more shocking is that in many parts of Delhi water has entered people's homes. The water logging has created a crisis in Kalkaji. The Pumping Station of the Giri Nagar Under Ground Reservoir(UGR) is fully submerged in water after the rains. This UGR and it pumping station is a crucial facility that supplies water to major parts of Kalkaji, Giri Nagar, Govindpuri and Govindpuri Extension. The pumps are fully submerged and are therefore not working. So no water is being supplied to the Kalkaji, Giri Nagar, Govindpuri and Govindpuri Extension." "Due to this mismanagement by Delhi Government, the residents of Kalkaji are staring at atleast 2-3 days of severe water shortage. This pumping station that supplies water to thousands of households is non-functional, and there is no alternate arrangements from your government either," it added. Atishi criticized the BJP-led Delhi government, saying that in six months it has stalled and collapsed in managing essential services during the monsoon season. She expressed concerns about the administration's preparedness for handling such challenges. The Delhi LoP stated, "I am heartbroken to say that this situation is not a natural calamity - this is the direct result of administrative negligence. Despite repeated warnings, your government has failed to safeguard critical infrastructure. It seems like in just six months, the four-engine BJP government has stalled and collapsed. Such a situation not only poses severe hardship for the residents but also raises concerns over the preparedness of the administration in handling monsoon-related challenges." Urging immediate action, Atishi called upon the Chief Minister to direct the Public Works Department (PWD) and Water Minister Pravesh Verma to restore water supply urgently. She warned that if the situation remains unresolved, she along with local residents would be compelled to protest on the streets. "Given the urgency of the matter, I urge you to give urgent directions to your PWD and Water minister Shri Pravesh Verma to take immediate steps to restore water supply in the area. Otherwise, I along with the residents of the area will be forced to take to the streets for a solution," the letter reads. (ANI)
AAP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, highlighting the water crisis in Kalkaji caused by the submergence of the Giri Nagar Under Ground Reservoir (UGR) pumping station after a few hours of rain. She has charged the BJP-led government with "stalling and collapsing" within just six months, due to its "failure to protect critical infrastructure" and manage monsoon-related challenges, reads a press release from the party. In her letter, LoP Atishi detailed that just a few hours of rain brought Delhi to a grinding halt--roads waterlogged, traffic at a standstill, and in many parts of the city, rainwater entering people's homes. In Kalkaji, the situation turned critical when the Giri Nagar UGR pumping station, which supplies water to Kalkaji, Giri Nagar, Govindpuri, and Govindpuri Extension, was fully submerged. The pumps stopped functioning, resulting in a complete halt to water supply in these areas, the release reads. She warned that residents are staring at least 2-3 days of severe water shortage, with no alternate arrangements from the Delhi Government. "This pumping station that supplies water to thousands of households is non-functional, and there is no alternate arrangement from your government either," she wrote. Atishi noted that the crisis had hit during the festival of Rakshabandhan, compounding the distress. "Today, when the entire country is celebrating the important festival of Rakshabandhan, the people of Kalkaji are forced to face the brunt of the breakdown of the water pumps in Giri Nagar UGR. There is already a severe water scarcity in the area. I had taken up this matter in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday as well. With the shutdown of the pumping station, the matter has taken a turn for the worse." The Delhi Assembly LoP stressed that this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger city-wide breakdown: "Just a few hours of rain has brought the entire city to a standstill. There is waterlogging everywhere. People who are travelling to celebrate Rakshabandhan are facing hours of traffic jams due to your Government's apathy." She firmly rejected the idea that the crisis was caused by unavoidable weather, stating: "I am heartbroken to say that this situation is not a natural calamity--this is the direct result of administrative negligence. Despite repeated warnings, your government has failed to safeguard critical infrastructure. It seems like in just six months, the four-engine BJP government has stalled and collapsed. Such a situation not only poses severe hardship for the residents but also raises concerns over the preparedness of the administration in handling monsoon-related challenges." Atishi urged immediate action: "Given the urgency of the matter, I urge you to give urgent directions to your PWD and Water Minister Shri Parvesh Verma to take immediate steps to restore water supply in the area. Otherwise, I, along with the residents of the area, will be forced to take to the streets for a solution." (ANI)
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The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday extended financial assistance to the families of three people who lost their lives in a tragic gas cylinder explosion at a welding shop near Bukkaveedhi in the Fishing Harbour area, the release said. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for each victim's family. On Saturday, State Home and Disaster Management Minister Vangalapudi Anitha personally handed over the cheques, accompanied by Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas, District Collector M.N. Harendira Prasad, and City Mayor Pilla Srinivasa Rao. The Minister visited the homes of victims Chintakayala Muthyalu and Ganesh, offering condolences to their families and assuring them of full government support. She also interacted with the wives of the deceased, Promila and Sudha, encouraging them to remain strong during this difficult time. Speaking to the mediapersons after the visit, Minister Anitha said that three people had died in the blast, while the injured, Erra Ellaji and Rangarao, were undergoing treatment at KGH Hospital, and P. Sanyasi was being treated at Medicover Hospital. As per the release, authorities and hospital staff have been instructed to provide the best possible medical care and to closely monitor the injured. She noted that several shopkeepers near the welding shop were also injured and are receiving medical assistance. The Minister said that the City Police Commissioner, District Collector, and other officials responded quickly after the incident. The police and forensic experts are conducting a thorough investigation. The minister said that the exact cause of the blast will be known only after the inquiry report is submitted. She also stated that awareness programs will be conducted among fishermen to report any unidentified objects found at sea to the authorities. According to the release, Corporation Chairman Seethamraju Sudhakar and other officials were also present during the visit. (ANI)
Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's advanced defence capabilities, indigenous strength and synergy of Indian defence forces by bringing together legacy and modern system operations, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman DK Sunil said on Saturday. Addressing the Memorial Lecture of former Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre at HAL's Management Academy auditorium in Bengaluru, the HAL chief also congratulated the defence forces for the "stupendous success" of the Operation. "This capability (of defence forces) was on full display during Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated India's advanced defence capabilities, indigenous strength and synergy of Indian defence forces that brought together legacy and modern system operations. On behalf of HAL, I would like to congratulate the Indian defence forces for the stupendous success of Operation Sindoor," he said. Heading the Indian Air Force from 1984-1985, Air Chief Marshal L M Katre commanded various missions in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and always pushed for self-reliance in defence technology. While serving as the Chairman of HAL in 1983, he was instrumental in conceptualising plans for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. "Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre left an indelible imprint on the Indian Air Force and on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. His commitment to operational excellence, strategic foresight, and unwavering belief in self-reliance paved the way for what we proudly call today 'Atmanirbharta' in defence," the HAL chief said. "Air Marshal Katre's life and career were marked by exemplary service and steadfast dedication. From active participation in World War 2, to commanding roles in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, his meticulous planning ensured sustained operations from forward fields under enemy fire," he added. Talking about the former IAF chief's tenure as HAL chief, DK Sunil mentioned how the projects of LCA Tejas and ALH Dhruv, which were "dreams cast into reality," helped India get away from dependency. "As Chairman of HAL, he displayed remarkable foresight. At a time when India's defence industry was still nascent, he championed indigenous designs and development, laid the foundation of a program that defines India's aerospace capability today. During his tenure, two projects were conceptualised that transformed India's aviation landscape, the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas and the Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv. These were not just projects, they were dreams cast into reality, they symbolised India's ambition to break free from dependency," he said. Putting forward the operational achievements of both the aircraft and the Helicopter, the HAL chief added, "Today, the LCA Tejas proudly serves in our sky as our frontline fighter, and the ALH Dhruv serves in utility and combat roles for our armed forces. These platforms stand as testimony to Air Chief Marshal Katre's vision and faith in Indian capability." Indian Armed Forces carried out Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people. (ANI)
Highlighting India's 'Atmanirbharta' in the Defence sector, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chariman and Secretary of Department of Defence (R&D), Samir V Kamat said on Saturday that Operation Sindoor was declaration of India's ability to stand tall through self-reliance in indigenous technological strength. While addressing the graduating students of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune, Kamat highlighted the recent success of Operation Sindoor. "India launched Operation Sindoor. This was a highly coordinated, multi-dimensional operation that addressed a high-stakes challenge along our western borders. Without disclosing the operational specifics, I can share with a sense of pride the success of Operation Sindoor was not merely defined by the courage and capability of our soldiers in uniform but also by the technological backbone that supported them with sensors, unmanned platforms, secure communications, AI-based decision support, as well as precision weaponry," he said. He detailed that the forces deployed indigenous systems such as Akash short-range surface-to-air missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the B-4 anti-drone system, the AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) system, the Akashteer system and the C-4I system. "All of these emerged from our indigenous defence identity community and institutions such as DIT, which also played a crucial role in that development," he noted. Calling the mission "more than a mission", the DRDO chief described it as "a declaration of India's ability to stand tall through self-reliance, strategic foresight and indigenous technological strength." He urged the graduates, "It was also a call to the next generation, that is your generation, to keep this momentum going and make India a technology leader in defence technologies." Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, he said, "Our Honourable Prime Minister has given a clarion call to all of us that as a nation we should become a developed nation as well as a technology leader by 2047, and it is up to you to realise the Honourable Prime Minister's vision." Kamat also cautioned that the nature of warfare is changing rapidly. He said, "We are now entering an era where the definition of warfare is rapidly expanding. Battles are no longer confined to borders or frontlines. They are fought across domains, land, air, sea, space, cyberspace and even the electromagnetic spectrum. What does this mean for the graduating students of DIAT? It means that you are no longer students of a conventional academic discipline. You are now part of India's defence capability architecture." (ANI)
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday attacked the Modi government, accusing it of stopping Operation Sindoor "under pressure" and alleged that the ruling coalition "capitulated very soon" after Pakistan escalated the conflict and India gave an appropriate response. The Congress leader referred to remarks of Air Chief Marshal AP Singh today in which he said the Indian Armed Forces destroyed at least five Pakistani fighter aircraft and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor. "In view of the new revelations made by the Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh today, it becomes all the more shocking why the PM suddenly stopped Operation Sindoor on the evening of May 10th. Where did the pressure on the PM come from and why did he capitulate so very soon?" Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. The Congress has been attacking the government over US President Donald Trump's claims that he brokered a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. The government has denied any third-party mediation and said that the military action stopped after Pakistan's DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart. IAF Chief, who was addressing an event at the HAL, talked about the damage inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. "We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. "We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small. Two SAGW systems that is in Lahore and Okara. We attacked three hangars. One was the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there." India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. India responded to subsequent Pakistani escalation by pounding its airbases. The two Houses of Parliament have discussed Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday emphasised that they will not allow even "once inch" of land to be forcibly acquired from the farmers, for which they can even sacrifice their lives. In a post on X, Badal pledged that if his party returns to power in Punjab in 2027, it will hand back all the alleged land acquired by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to the farmers. "I assure Punjabis that immediately after you form @Akali_Dal govt in 2027, we will return all land acquired by the @AamAadmiParty govt back to the Punjab farmers on the same pattern in which we had returned land acquired for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal to the farmers in 2016," he said. Announcing an agitation against what he called the government's "anti-farmer land policies," the SAD chief said the party will launch the 'Jameen Bachao - Punjab Bachao Morcha' on September 1, 2025. "We are very clear. We can sacrifice our lives, but we will not allow even an inch of land to be forcibly acquired from the farmers. It is for this reason that we are launching the 'Jameen Bachao - Punjab Bachao Morcha' from September 1, which will witness a protest march every day from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib in Mohali to the "Sheeshmahal" residence of @ArvindKejriwal located in sector 62," Sukhbir Badal said. Earlier, SAD announced that it would intensify its statewide agitation against the Kejriwal regime's "land grabbing scheme" and continue its protest until the government fully withdraws what it termed a "fraud" with farmers and landowners. A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the Core Committee of the party held on July 30. The decisions were taken after detailed discussions during meetings of the party's district Jathedars and its Working Committee earlier in the day. All three meetings were presided over by Sukhbir Singh Badal. Apart from this, SAD will observe the 40th martyrdom anniversary of its late president and messenger of peace and communal harmony, Shaheed Sant Harchand Singh Ji Longowal, on August 20. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday has once again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists. "Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in an official statement. This came after a press conference held by Rahul Gandhi on August 7, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. According to the sources, the poll body had also asked Rahul Gandhi to sign the declaration by the Chief Electoral Officers of Maharashtra and Karnataka or apologise for his "absurd" allegations. ECI sources said, "If Rahul Gandhi believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against ECI are true, he should have no problem in signing the Declaration." ECI asked Rahul Gandhi to apologise if he does not sign the affidavits. "If Rahul Gandhi does not sign the Declaration, it would mean that he does not believe in his analysis and resultant conclusions and absurd allegations. In which case, he should apologise to the nation. Therefore, he has two options: Either sign the Declaration or apologise to the Nation for raising absurd allegations against ECI," sources said. Countering Gandhi's claim, sources pointed out that the Congress-led Karnataka government itself relies on electoral rolls for its crucial caste census policy. Reacting to this, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara said, "Since there are allegations of vote rigging in our state constituency, we will file a complaint in the state on behalf of the KPCC. Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will file a complaint with the Central Election Commission...The Election Commission has asked Rahul Gandhi to provide documents regarding the allegations. The Election Commission can say whatever it wants, but we will provide them according to the rules of the commission. There is no need for Rahul Gandhi to provide documents. Since he is in our state, the KPCC President will provide them. There is a difference in the voter list, which means the commission should accept it..." Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday asked the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to give a formal complaint regarding his "vote theft" allegation against the Election Commission of India(EC). The party's National Spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, also alleged that the Congress has a habit of blaming someone for their electoral setbacks. "The Congress party is involved in scams. They lose elections. When they lose elections, they have to blame someone; sometimes, they blame EVMs. Sometimes on VVPAT. Sometimes on the Election Commission of India. Sometimes they abuse the public and make false allegations without facts. And never give a formal complaint," Bhatia said in a press conference. "If you want to seek a remedy in law, Mr Rahul Gandhi, I must remind you that our country, India, is governed by the rule of law, the Constitution of India, and there are some procedures to raise your complaint. You have to give a formal complaint. Third, when you make baseless allegations in the media, and after that, any constitutional institution asks for proof, then refuse to give proof," he said. Earlier today, backing Gandhi's allegations, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-SCP chief Sharad Pawar said two people had approached him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, claiming they could guarantee 160 out of 288 seats. Speaking to the media, Pawar said that he arranged a meeting of these people with Rahul Gandhi, but ultimately both of them decided to turn down the offer, saying, "This is not our path." "I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi...They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I had no doubts about the Election Commission," Pawar said here. "After that, I arranged a meeting with those people and Rahul Gandhi. Whatever they wanted to say, they said in front of Rahul Gandhi. But Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that we should not pay attention to this; this is not our path," he added. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday participated in the World Tribal Day celebrations and assured that the coalition government is working with sincerity for the development of tribals. The event was held at Vanjangi Panchayat in Paderu Mandal in the Alluri district. Addressing the public, the Chief Minister expressed deep admiration for tribal communities, saying, "If I were to be born again, I would wish to be born as a tribal child." In a post on X, the CM said, "The coalition government is working with the goal of developing agency areas on par with plain areas... and filling the lives of tribals with light. Explaining the measures taken in the past year for the development and welfare of agency areas... we will discuss with them the programs to be undertaken in the coming days and announce decisions today. Assuring that the coalition government is working with sincerity for the development of tribals..." https://x.com/ncbn/status/1954021377323024840 He responded to demands for the restoration of Government Order (GO) No. 3 and reiterated his earlier assurance that it would either be reinstated or replaced with an alternative, promising clarity on the matter soon. The chief minister dismissed the political criticism that he was neglecting areas where his party did not win and said all tribal children were like his own, and that his focus on agency areas was unwavering. He highlighted ongoing developmental initiatives and pledged to accelerate the progress of tribal regions, assuring the community of his commitment on the occasion of World Tribal Day. The Chief Minister was accorded a grand traditional welcome by local tribal communities, who greeted him with garlands and cultural rituals. He also visited the revered local deity, Shanku Devudu, offering special prayers for the well-being of all the people of the state. Naidu inspected coffee plantations in the village, interacting with farmers about cultivation practices, before proceeding to a public meeting. He also laid foundation stones for various development projects and visited stalls showcasing agency-area agricultural produce. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu, on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, met and interacted with students from diverse educational institutions, including government schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) along with Children with Special Needs, representing various States and Union Territories at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday. As per an official statement from the Ministry of Education, the celebration highlighted the cultural diversity of India and the spirit of unity. In her address, the President emphasised that Raksha Bandhan symbolises a bond of love that can be shared with anyone, including elders, peers and even the environment. She emphasised that trees protect the earth, acting as guardians and therefore must be planted and nurtured with care. She further urged the students to carry forward this vision of love, protection and responsibility towards both people and the environment. Minister of State for Education & Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary graced the occasion. Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Sanjay Kumar, along with senior officials from the Ministry, also attended the celebration. The event featured vibrant cultural presentations by students, who donned their traditional attire and showcased the rich traditions of their respective regions. As part of the celebration, students presented eco-friendly rakhis and handmade greeting cards to the President, symbolising environmental awareness, creativity and inclusivity. This memorable event provided students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with the President of India, deepening their understanding of the cultural and constitutional heritage of India. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings."Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. (ANI)
Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday spoke about India's longstanding international relations, emphasising the country's commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties with various nations. His remarks came amid ongoing tensions after a 25 per cent additional tariff was imposed on India as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil. Speaking to reporters, former Union Minister Prabhu emphasised India's commitment to maintaining and strengthening ties with various nations, including Russia. He added that India does not harbour "enmity" with any other nation. "India shares deep ties with several nations. Some relations have existed for a long time. We do not harbour enmity with anyone. If someone harbours enmity towards our nation, it is their concern... Our efforts to further strengthen those relations always go on. We share really old relations with Russia, when it wasn't just Russia but the USSR. So, these relations will also continue. We believe that the nation and countrymen are strong enough to face any challenges that appear before the nation in the days to come," Prabhu said. Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Union Minister, while sharing his personal experience, asserted that PM Modi will never compromise with national interest. "It is a reality that the tariffs that have been imposed (by the US on India) are a unilateral action. PM Narendra Modi is capable of taking whatever necessary steps are required. I have personally experienced that PM Modi will never compromise with national interest," he said. The White House on Wednesday issued an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 percentage points in tariffs on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50 per cent. The administration cited national security and foreign policy concerns, pointing specifically to India's ongoing imports of Russian oil. On Thursday (US local time), US President Donald Trump said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration's decision to double tariffs on Indian imports. The US statement department on Thursday stated that "India is a strategic partner" and that the US is engaging with India in "full and frank dialogue" even as relations between the two countries continue to witness tension amid the tariff dispute. On being asked whether China and other BRICS nations are trying to take the lead in organising a pushback against US trade measures, the US State Department said the dialogue with India "will continue". (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed happiness over the "phenomenal" participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, noting that it reflects the deep patriotic spirit that unites the people of India and their unwavering pride in the Tricolour. He also urged citizens to continue sharing their photos and selfies on harghartiranga.com. Responding to the Ministry of Culture's posts about phenomenal participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, the Prime Minister posted on X, "Glad to see #HarGharTiranga receiving phenomenal participation across India. This shows the deep patriotic spirit that unites our people and their unwavering pride in the Tricolour. Do keep sharing photos and selfies on harghartiranga.com" https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1954183004282122338 In an X post, the Ministry of Culture emphasised, "We are elated to see the enthusiasm surrounding the #HarGharTiranga campaign. From Kashmir to Lakshadweep and from Gujarat to Sikkim, the heartwarming images of people proudly hoisting the Tricolour show the deep connection that every Indian has with the National Flag." Ahead of Independence Day, girl students in Udhampur on Friday prepared several national flags for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Speaking to ANI, Mubina Kausar, a student participating in the activity, said, "We are making the national flag. Independence Day is coming up, and we are very happy about it. Our teacher guided us to make the flags on our own. We will feel very proud when we wave our national flag, which we will prepare ourselves. There is a lot of happiness on Independence Day. This is our freedom day. This is the day we have become free. We are a batch of 35 girls. We have come here for tailoring." 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. (ANI)
Xi urges all-out rescue efforts after Gansu mountain torrents cause heavy casualties

Xinhua) 09:09, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all-out search and rescue efforts, as well as flood control and disaster relief work, after mountain torrents since Thursday in northwest China's Gansu Province have left 10 people dead and 33 missing as of 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attached great importance to the situation of the disaster triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, which hit areas including Yuzhong County of Lanzhou, the provincial capital.

The immediate task is to search for and rescue the missing people by every possible means, relocate and resettle residents in danger, minimize casualties, and restore communication and transportation as soon as possible, Xi instructed.

He noted that given the recent frequent occurrence of extreme weather, local authorities and relevant departments must strengthen risk forecasting and early warning, identify and rectify hidden hazards, reinforce emergency response and on-call duty arrangements, and enhance flood control and disaster relief work with targeted measures so as to ensure people's safety during the flood season.

Premier Li Qiang, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has also ordered prompt efforts to search for and rescue people who are missing or trapped, and carry out all-out relief operations.

Noting that China is currently in a critical period of flood control, Li stressed the need to stay vigilant, fulfill duties, strengthen monitoring and early warnings of rain and flooding, and enhance disaster-prevention and response efforts.

Following the orders from Xi and Li, the Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a working group to the area to support local search and rescue operations.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
BJP MP Ravi Kishan also accompanied the UP Chief Minister to the temple.

"The presence of Maharaj Ji, at the feet of Gorakhnath Baba," Ravi Kishan wrote on X.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings."Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings.

In a post on X, he highlighted the significance of Rakhi. He wrote, "The sacred knot of affection, the silent vow of trust, the vibrant expression of the unbreakable love between brother and sister--heartfelt congratulations to the people of the state on Rakshabandhan! The delicate thread of the Raksha Sutra does not merely tie the wrist; it binds the soul. It weaves an eternal saga of dignity and intimacy in every era."

Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters.On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters.Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind.

This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. The festival is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Saturday hit out at Sharad Pawar over his claims of two people approaching him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections and guaranteeing 160 out of 288 seats, stating that such "small statements" were made by Pawar because no one was ready to stay in his party. Bawankule also raised questions on why the statement was not made before the Lok Sabha elections, also questioning why Pawar had not lodged a police complaint on the same day. "After you lost the elections, no one is ready to stay in your party, the entire leadership is getting disheartened, no one is ready to accept your leadership, that is why you have started making such small statements. Sharad Pawar is saying this today, why did he not say it then, why did he not say it before the Lok Sabha elections, why did he not lodge a complaint at the police station on the same day when two people came to him..." Bawankule said while talking to reporters here. Earlier in the day, amid the allegations of fraud by the Election Commission in the voter lists, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-SCP chief Sharad Pawar said two people had approached him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, claiming they could guarantee 160 out of 288 seats. Speaking to the media, Pawar said that he arranged a meeting of these people with Rahul Gandhi, but ultimately both of them decided to turn down the offer, saying, "This is not our path." "I remember that before the Maharashtra Assembly elections were announced, two people came to meet me in Delhi...They told me that out of 288 seats in Maharashtra, we guarantee you 160 seats. I was surprised, to be honest, I had no doubts about the Election Commission," Pawar said here. "After that, I arranged a meeting with those people and Rahul Gandhi. Whatever they wanted to say, they said in front of Rahul Gandhi. But Rahul Gandhi and I were of the opinion that we should not pay attention to this; this is not our path," he added. The allegations, raised nine months after the Assembly elections results were announced, come amid Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleging "vote chori" (vote theft) across the country, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) 'colluding' with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 100,250 votes stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. (ANI)
Responding to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's claims of "vote theft," Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday stated that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will file a complaint with the State Election Commission. He added that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will approach the Central Election Commission (EC) in this matter. Speaking to reporters, G Parameshwara said, "Since there are allegations of vote rigging in our state constituency, we will file a complaint in the state on behalf of the KPCC. Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will file a complaint with the Central Election Commission...The Election Commission has asked Rahul Gandhi to provide documents regarding the allegations." "The Election Commission can say whatever it wants, but we will provide them according to the rules of the commission. There is no need for Rahul Gandhi to provide documents. Since he is in our state, the KPCC President will provide them. There is a difference in the voter list, which means the commission should accept it..." he added. His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi on August 7 held a press conference, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 1,00,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur...All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 6,58,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 1,15,586 and BJP polls 2,29,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 1,00,250 votes stolen. Stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, on a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. Earlier today, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has once again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists. "Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in an official statement. (ANI)
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan in Hyderabad on Saturday. On the occasion, Union Minister Reddy said, "Today, sisters and women across the country are celebrating the festival of Rakshabandhan and participating in the festivities because the army has shown its valour in Operation Sindoor and achieved a glorious victory. The Pakistani terrorist centre has been destroyed... Today, all women are participating in this festival, and I congratulate everyone." Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan with children at his residence in Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also celebrated Rakhi with children. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. In his message, he conveyed best wishes to the nation, emphasising the festival's significance in strengthening the bond between siblings."Best wishes on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi wrote on X.Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the unbreakable bond of love and trust between siblings. In a post on X, Shah said, "Heartfelt best wishes to all countrymen on the sacred festival of 'Raksha Bandhan,' dedicated to the unbreakable bond of love, trust, and commitment to protection between brothers and sisters. I pray to God that this festival becomes a source of joy and enthusiasm in everyone's life." Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the love and bond between brothers and sisters.On this day, sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother's wrists. In return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care for their sisters.Rakhi symbolises a sense of protection. On Raksha Bandhan, the brothers promise to protect their sisters from harm of any kind. This year, Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated on August 9. The festival is deeply rooted in Indian culture and has been celebrated for centuries. Incidents of sisters tying a rakhi around their brothers' wrists for protection are mentioned in Hindu religious texts. (ANI)
Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid has said that Indian Armed Forces carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure during Operation Sindoor and later destroyed airfields, command and Control centres, bringing Pakistan to its knees and it was right decision to halt the military operation as India had achieved its objectives. Asked about Air Chief Marshal AP Singh's remarks in which he said the Indian Armed Forces destroyed at least five Pakistani fighter aircraft and one large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, Vaid said the Indian Armed Forces had made a huge achievement. "Precision attacks were carried out by Indian Armed Forces, particularly the Indian Air Force...It is a huge achievement that, within a matter of a few hours, India brought Pakistan to its knees," he said. IAF Chief, who was addressing an event at the HAL, talked about the damage inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. "We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT aircraft or an AEW &C aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. "We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small. Two SAGW systems that is in Lahore and Okara. We attacked three hangars. One was the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there," he added. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. India responded to subsequent Pakistani escalation by pounding its airbases. The Air Chief also credited the "political will" of the Central government for the success of Operation Sindoor that allowed the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to conduct the operations without any constraints. "A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There was very clear political will and very clear direction given to us. No restrictions were put on us... If there were any constraints, they were self-made. The forces decided what the rules of engagement would be. We decided how we wanted to control the escalation. We had full freedom to plan and execute," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. (ANI)
After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the Election Commission to benefit the BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the law department will investigate vote rigging in the Lok Sabha poll before the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections. Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister asserted that the Advocate General will be instructed to conduct the investigation quickly and submit a report. "The Law Department will investigate vote rigging in the Lok Sabha elections, before the BBMP elections. Legal action will be taken as per the recommendation given by them. Advocate General will be instructed to conduct the investigation quickly and submit a report," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters. Earlier in the day, responding to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's claims of "vote theft," Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara stated that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will file a complaint with the State Election Commission. He added that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will approach the Central Election Commission (EC) in this matter. Speaking to reporters, G Parameshwara said, "Since there are allegations of vote rigging in our state constituency, we will file a complaint in the state on behalf of the KPCC. Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will file a complaint with the Central Election Commission...The Election Commission has asked Rahul Gandhi to provide documents regarding the allegations." "The Election Commission can say whatever it wants, but we will provide them according to the rules of the commission. There is no need for Rahul Gandhi to provide documents. Since he is in our state, the KPCC President will provide them. There is a difference in the voter list, which means the commission should accept it..." he added. His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi on August 7 held a press conference, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 1,00,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur...All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 6,58,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 1,15,586 and BJP polls 2,29,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 1,00,250 votes stolen. Stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, on a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said. Earlier today, the Election Commission of India (ECI) once again asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either give a declaration as per the rules or apologise to the country for his "false" allegations regarding the voter lists. "Rahul Gandhi should either give a Declaration as per rules or apologise to the country for his false allegations," ECI said in an official statement. (ANI)
After Indian Air Force Chief's confirmation on the Indian Armed Forces had destroyed at least five Pakistani fighter aircrafts and one large aircraft during the Operation Sindoor, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday questioned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not reacting to the US President Donald Trump claims regarding the cessation of hostilities. "If we were so ahead in the war, then under whose pressure did we stop Operation Sindoor? US President Donald Trump tweeted for the first time on the ceasefire...Why is PM Modi not saying that Trump is lying?..." Pawan said while speaking to ANI. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Saturday, credited the "political will" of the Central government for the success of Operation Sindoor that allowed the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to conduct the operations without any constraints. Addressing an event at HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru, the Indian Air Force Chief emphasised that there were "no restrictions" on armed forces and any constraints that the armed forces exercised were self-made."A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There was very clear political will and very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us... If there were any constraints, they were self-made. The forces decided what the rules of engagement would be. We decided how we wanted to control the escalation. We had full freedom to plan and execute," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma on Saturday hailed the Operation Sindoor, stating that the satellite images and hundreds of coffins in Pakistan were a testament to the success. "The satellite images that have come in, along with the hundreds of coffins in Pakistan, are a testament to the success of Operation Sindoor. The frustration of one developed nation is also showing that, despite their efforts, they could not save Pakistan. Their 11 camps were destroyed and many of their airstrips, from where terrorist activities were executed, also came under the radar of our attacks,' the Rajya Sabha MP said. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
According to the officials, two different-level meetings were held at the Delhi Police headquarters.

District DCPs, Special CP, Joint CP, Zonal incharge and Sector incharge of the Red Fort were present in the meeting, stated a senior police official.

It was the final stage discussion on the multiple layers of security which would be in place at the Red Fort, along with the anti-drone systems and facial recognition technology.

Emphasis was laid on the need for advanced information regarding the movement of suspicious individuals and vehicles. Measures to prevent unauthorised border intrusions were discussed.

Traffic restrictions and management plans were reviewed to ensure smooth vehicular flow during the celebrations.

Earlier on Friday, an Interstate Coordination meeting was also held at Delhi Police Headquarters ahead of Independence Day celebrations to strengthen cooperation and coordination among various Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and to address various issues related to preparation ahead of the celebrations.

The Commissioner of Police, Delhi, S.B.K. Singh, chaired the meeting, which was attended by Senior Police Officers from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, along with Senior officers of Central Intelligence/Enforcement Agencies.

Earlier on August 7, two old catridges were recovered by the Delhi Police during a search operation at the Red Fort.

A circuit board, which appeared old, was found along with cartridges that seemed to be damaged.

The recovered circuit board was suspected to be related to the lighting arrangements used during a previous event organised at the Red Fort.

An FIR was filed regarding the matter. Further investigation is underway.

Earlier, seven Delhi Police personnel, including constables and head constables, were suspended after a dummy bomb went undetected during a routine security drill at the Red Fort, police said.

The suspended personnel were part of the security detail deployed at the monument.

According to Delhi Police, seven police personnel, including constables and head constables, deployed for the security of the Red Fort, were suspended "due to negligence" in security. (ANI)
The SOG has arrested policeman Rajkumar Yadav and his son, Bharat Yadav.

Rajkumar, a resident of Jakharana village in Kotputli district, was residing in Jaipur. The investigation revealed that Rajkumar had bought the SI recruitment examination paper for his son Bharat Yadav.

Additional Director General of Police, ATS & SOG, VK Singh said that Rajkumar Yadav had his son, Bharat Yadav, and an acquaintance, Ravindra Saini, review the leaked question-answer set before the written exam.

The accused were arrested and taken into police remand until August 12.

The police said that the accused had taught the questions of the Sub Inspector Recruitment Examination 2021 from the pre-examination question-answer set.

According to ADG VK Singh, Satyendra Singh Yadav was illegally selected for the post of Sub Inspector at merit number 12. Ravindra Saini was selected at merit number 156, and Bharat Yadav passed the written examination for Sub Inspector. So far, a total of 120 accused, including 54 Sub Inspectors, have been arrested in the case.

Further investigations are still underway into the matter. (ANI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms and lightning, for the next four to five days in Telangana. A Hyderabad Meteorological Department scientist, Dharmaraju, speaking to ANI, said, "For the coming four to five days, Telangana can expect heavy rainfall, particularly in the southern and western parts of the districts. Today, we predict heavy rainfall in six places in Telangana, including Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Suryapet, Mahabubabad, and Jangaon. From the 13th of this month, some parts of Telangana have experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall, with 7 to 10 centimetres of rain, and we have issued an orange alert for Telangana." Earlier, on July 23, the Cyberabad Police issued an advisory urging IT companies in the region to adopt a Work From Home (WFH) policy, owing to heavy rainfall expected in the area. This decision aimed to ensure employee safety, reduce traffic congestion, and allow uninterrupted emergency services. "Cyberabad Police on Tuesday on social media platform X stated, "Alert has been issued for heavy rains in the Cyberabad area, considering the safety, productivity, traffic congestion and to ensure uninterrupted emergency services. Companies may consider adopting the Work from Home (WFH) model on July 23, 2025. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter." Telangana state is experiencing heavy showers, with several districts under red and orange alerts, including Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Komaram Bheem Asifabad, and Mancherial. (ANI)
According to the Mumbai Customs, the officers recovered Albino Red-eared Slider turtles, Marmosets, and Kinkajou from one passenger returning from Bangkok.

https://x.com/mumbaicus3/status/1954181960458289191

Mumbai customs said, "On 08.08.2025, Customs Officers at CSMI Airport, Mumbai Customs Zone-III foiled a wildlife smuggling attempt. The officers recovered Albino Red eared Slider turtles, Marmosets and Kinkajou from 01 passenger returning from Bangkok. The passenger has been arrested."

Earlier on August 3, in a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, Mumbai Customs Zone-III had seized 14.738 kgs of suspected NDPS hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 14.73 crore during operations.

The seizures were made across Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of one passenger, as stated in the press release.

The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, have seized 8.012 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 8 crore during operations carried out between July 29 and 30, an official statement said.

The seizures were made across four cases at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of four passengers, as stated in the press release.

According to a press release, the action was based on specific intelligence inputs.

In the first incident, Customs officers intercepted three passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on flight number VZ760. Upon examining their baggage, officials discovered 1.990 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana concealed inside vacuum-sealed black and transparent plastic packets within their trolley bags. The estimated market value of the contraband is around Rs 2 crore.

The three passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. (ANI)
People of Silliguri on Saturday took out a protest march against the rape and murder incident of a junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital that took place a year ago. Arunima Ghosh, one of the many protestors, expressed her disappointment at the injustice to the victim as the accused in the case still remain unpunished. "We expected the CBI, police, the state government and our judiciary to take proper action. It is a very shameful thing that such an incident took place in the heart of West Bengal, Kolkata. We are extremely disappointed that the accused are still roaming without any action taken against them. We are concerned that this can happen with any of us," said Arunima Ghosh while speaking to ANI. The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when a female postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in a seminar room on campus. The case led to widespread protests and outrage across the country, with many demanding justice for the victim. The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the police's handling of the case. The CBI has since arrested several individuals. Earlier in the day, Kolkata Police lathi-charged the protesters in Central Kolkata as they attempted to breach barricades during the 'Nabanna Chalo Abhiyan', a march toward the state secretariat to demand justice for the victim. The victim's parents also participated in the 'Nabanna Abhiyan' rally. Father of the RG Kar rape and murder victim said, "The high court has given us permission to stage protests peacefully...Police used a lathi charge on us, that's why we got injured...On 9 August 2024, the police treated us very badly...We were allowed to see the body only after having a telephonic conversation with Mamata Banerjee. We had to stand out for 3 hours and 30 minutes..." West Bengal Police has heightened the security in Howrah by deploying additional forces and riot control vehicles. (ANI)
After the Indian Air Force Chief credited the "political will" of the Central government for the success of Operation Sindoor, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Saturday slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for "deliberately pushing a Pakistani narrative" and "berating the armed forces" by making false claims in Parliament. During the special discussion on Operation Sindoor carried out during the Monsoon session of Parliament, the Congress leader had claimed that the Centre had "tied the hands of our pilots" by telling them not to attack Pakistani air defence systems. However, earlier today, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that the key reasons for the Operation's success were the "presence of political will" and no restrictions being put on them. "You went into Pakistan, you attacked Pakistan, and you told our pilots not to attack their air defence systems. Meaning you told our pilots, go and attack, and face the air defence system of Pakistan, meaning you tied their hands behind their back," Rahul Gandhi had said earlier in Parliament. However, the Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said, "A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There was very clear political will and very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us... If there were any constraints, they were self-made. The forces decided what the rules of engagement would be. We decided how we wanted to control the escalation. We had full freedom to plan and execute." Responding to the claims, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa said that the Congress should "hang its head in shame" for deliberately pushing a Pakistani narrative. "Today, the Air Chief Marshal made 2 important observations which should honestly put the Cong party to shame. First, their leaders peddled lies on India's losses whereas we now have quantifiable, detailed and irrefutable proof on the wrath inflicted upon the enemy," Biswa wrote in a post on X. "Second, they ran another Pakistan-originated disinformation campaign claiming the Modi Govt put restrictions on the operational capability of our forces. This too has been debunked comprehensively. The Cong party should hang its head in shame for deliberately pushing Pakistani narrative and berating the bravery of our forces." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also called on the Congress leader to "maintain decorum of Parliament," as he asked, "Why do you keep lying all the time?" "I request Rahul Gandhi to maintain the decorum of India's Parliament. Why do you keep lying all the time? I have witnessed many Leaders of Opposition who had maintained Parliamentary standards. You have not only lowered your stature but damaged India's high reputation!" he posted on X. Both the leaders had posted a video debunking Gandhi's claim and showing the statement of the IAF chief. (ANI)
Amid the claims made by NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar of two people coming to meet him to guarantee seats, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Saturday hit out at him and stated that he had only "written a script" that raised questions against democracy and the Election Commission, further raising questions on who would believe his statements. "Sharad Pawar is such a prominent and experienced leader. Do you believe that two people would have met him whose names and addresses he doesn't even know?... The public decides victory or defeat, Sharad Pawar ji, and if you have any objections, you can file a complaint with the Election Commission or approach the court, but you have only written a script that raises questions against democracy, voters, and the Election Commission... We all know that 'the one who wins is the conqueror,' we accepted this in the Lok Sabha, but you have objections in the Vidhan Sabha..." Shaina NC told ANI. Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule also hit out at Sharad Pawar over his claims of two people approaching him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections and guaranteeing 160 out of 288 seats, stating that such "small statements" were made by Pawar because no one was ready to stay in his party. Bawankule also raised questions on why the statement was not made before the Lok Sabha elections, also questioning why Pawar had not lodged a police complaint on the same day. "After you lost the elections, no one is ready to stay in your party, the entire leadership is getting disheartened, no one is ready to accept your leadership, that is why you have started making such small statements. Sharad Pawar is saying this today, why did he not say it then, why did he not say it before the Lok Sabha elections, why did he not lodge a complaint at the police station on the same day when two people came to him..." Bawankule said while talking to reporters here. Earlier in the day, amid the allegations of fraud by the Election Commission in the voter lists, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-SCP chief Sharad Pawar said two people had approached him ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, claiming they could guarantee 160 out of 288 seats. (ANI)
In a display of patriotism and national unity, a Mega Tiranga Rally was organised on Saturday at Teetwal, near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, as part of the ongoing 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative. The rally, comprising hundreds of students, officials, field functionaries, and familiar people, carried a large National Flag, 1.5 km in length, through the LoC Teetwal. Reacting to this, Kupwara District Collector, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse said, "...This rally was organised in a border village, a zero border village, so it holds a special importance. With the coordination of children, employees of different departments and officers, district administration, district Police and Indian Army, we conducted this Tiranga rally with about 1.5 km long national flag successfully..." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed happiness over the "phenomenal" participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, noting that it reflects the deep patriotic spirit that unites the people of India and their unwavering pride in the Tricolour. He also urged citizens to continue sharing their photos and selfies on harghartiranga.com. Responding to the Ministry of Culture's posts about phenomenal participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, the Prime Minister posted on X, "Glad to see #HarGharTiranga receiving phenomenal participation across India. This shows the deep patriotic spirit that unites our people and their unwavering pride in the Tricolour. Do keep sharing photos and selfies on harghartiranga.com" In an X post, the Ministry of Culture emphasised, "We are elated to see the enthusiasm surrounding the #HarGharTiranga campaign. From Kashmir to Lakshadweep and from Gujarat to Sikkim, the heartwarming images of people proudly hoisting the Tricolour show the deep connection that every Indian has with the National Flag." Ahead of Independence Day, girl students in Udhampur on Friday prepared several national flags for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Speaking to ANI, Mubina Kausar, a student participating in the activity, said, "We are making the national flag. Independence Day is coming up, and we are very happy about it. Our teacher guided us to make the flags on our own. We will feel very proud when we wave our national flag, which we will prepare ourselves. There is a lot of happiness on Independence Day. This is our freedom day. This is the day we have become free. We are a batch of 35 girls. We have come here for tailoring." 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. (ANI)
Punjab Finance Minister and Chairperson of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the "War Against Drugs," Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, announced on Saturday that the arrest of Joga Singh, former security officer to MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, is a major breakthrough in the pursuit of justice for victims of the 2015 Gurdev Singh Debi drug racket. Cheema alleged that the case, which had been pending for nearly a decade, was delayed due to the accused's alleged political connections with leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Cheema detailed the sequence of events leading to the arrest. Named as an accused on September 28, 2023, Joga Singh went into hiding soon after. His bail pleas were rejected by the Fazilka Sessions Court in October 2023 and by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2024. Despite multiple police raids, he evaded capture until November 2023, when the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued a Look Out Circular. While allegedly attempting to flee to Australia, he was intercepted by immigration officials at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. He was brought to Punjab on transit remand and produced before a Jalalabad court, which granted a five-day police remand. Cheema further alleged that Joga Singh played a central role in arranging communications between Khaira and accused Gurdev Singh, as well as Gurdev Singh's UK-based sister, Charanjit Kaur. He claimed that while Gurdev Singh was absconding, Joga Singh used his mobile phone to facilitate these calls. Call detail record (CDR) analysis also revealed multiple instances where Joga Singh and Gurdev Singh were at the same location, even in Khaira's absence. Providing an update on Punjab's "War Against Drugs" campaign, launched on March 1, 2025, the minister said that so far 16,062 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of 25,177 individuals. Authorities have demolished 178 illegal properties linked to drug traffickers and seized 1,044 kg of heroin, 21,309 kg of poppy husk, 365 kg of opium, and around 32 lakh drug tablets and capsules. Reiterating the state government's commitment to eradicating the drug menace, Cheema said that under the leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab has become the first state in India to equip its police force with drone systems worth Rs 51.41 crore. He said this technological advancement will play a crucial role in preventing cross-border drug smuggling along Punjab's international boundaries. (ANI)
Days after US President Trump announced additional tariffs on Indian goods, former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that India will pursue policies which are in its national interest and there is "no question of compromise or succumbing to pressure from anybody". Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the former VP said that they would try to keep good relations with everyone, including the US, but highlighted how the people are not happy with the US supporting Pakistan, which has been a haven for terrorism. "India will stand on its own. We will pursue policies which are in our national interest. There is no question of compromise or succumbing to pressure from anybody. We are the largest democracy in the world, and we believe what we are doing is good. We will try to keep good relations with all, including with America. Because both are democracies," he said. Slamming Pakistan for orchestrating the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, Naidu added, "But people of India are not happy the way America has tried to patronise Pakistan which has become a haven for terrorists, which has orchestrated the killing of 26 innocent people. In the backdrop of this, if anybody supports Pakistan, we are not really able to understand why all these things are happening. Let me reiterate that we are an independent country and we will stand firmly for our national interest, no compromise at all." Naidu also saluted the armed forces for Operation Sindoor, which was India's response to the Pahalgam attack. "We have to salute our heroes of Operation Sindoor, the great armed forces and also the great scientists who provided the arms and equipment. We should always remember them all. We are grateful to them for their great contribution with regard to the success of Operation Sindoor," he added. On Thursday (US local time), US President Donald Trump said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration's decision to double tariffs on Indian imports. The tariffs were imposed by the US as a "penalty" for buying Russian oil. The US statement department on Thursday stated that "India is a strategic partner" and that the US is engaging with India in "full and frank dialogue" even as relations between the two countries continue to witness tension amid the tariff dispute. Meanwhile, on Friday, Prime Minister Modi said he had a "very good and detailed" telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he thanked the Russian leader for updating him on the latest developments in Ukraine. (ANI)
BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent comments on the Election Commission, accusing him and the Congress party of repeatedly making "baseless allegations" without evidence. Addressing reporters, Bhatia alleged that the Congress habitually blames whenever it loses elections. "...The Congress party is involved in scams. They lose elections. When they lose elections, they have to blame someone; sometimes, they blame EVMs. Sometimes on VVPAT. Sometimes on the Election Commission of India. Sometimes they abuse the public and make false allegations without facts. And never give a formal complaint," Bhatia said. "If you want to seek a remedy in law, Mr Rahul Gandhi, I must remind you that our country, India, is governed by the rule of law, the Constitution of India, and there are some procedures to raise your complaint. You have to give a formal complaint. Third, when you make baseless allegations in the media, and after that, any constitutional institution asks for proof, then you refuse to give proof," the BJP leader asserted. Another BJP MP, Deepak Prakash, slammed Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress leader is an "expert in lying." "Rahul Gandhi is an expert in lying. The whole Opposition and Congress are skilled in doing fraudulent politics. It was Rahul Gandhi who initially demanded a revision of the voter list," the BJP MP told ANI outside Parliament. Calling out the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition for being hypocritical, the BJP leader said that Gandhi should present his points to the Election Commission instead of making allegations publicly. "Now, as the Election Commission conducts a special intensive revision to correct and identify legitimate voters, he started having problems with this. He should present his points to the Election Commission," he said. Further hitting out at the Opposition parties for obstructing parliament, he added, "This Parliament operates on the hard-earned money of the poor, and they are working to obstruct that." Rahul Gandhi on August 7 claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." (ANI)
Secretary of the Department of Expenditure (DoE), V Vualnam, presided over the Foundation Day of the Indian Cost Accounts Service under the Department of Expenditure, in New Delhi, on Saturday. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance, the theme for this year's celebration was 'ICoAS in SAM@TH bhaart' (Samarth Bharat), underscoring the pivotal role of ICoAS officers in contributing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. In his keynote address, Vualnam appreciated the dedication, expertise and commitment of ICoAS officers in shaping the economic landscape of India and emphasised on the critical role of ICoAS officers in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat. Vualnam urged the officers to embrace technology and innovation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public financial management. He also appreciated the weekly training programme towards capacity building introduced by the ICoAS cadre and encouraged ICoAS officers to actively participate in it. He further underscored the role of iGoT Karmayogi in enriching the knowledge of the officers towards professional competency. Also, he suggested that officers associate themselves with the iGoT Portal by developing small capsule courses based on their experience and knowledge, explaining the roles of ICoAS officers in different Ministries and Departments. On the occasion, he released the e-brochure of the ICoAS, highlighting its evolution, key functions, achievements and initiatives in capacity building. Earlier, Pawan Kumar, Chief Adviser (Cost) and head of ICoAS, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the notable developments in the ICoAS over the past year. A documentary, showcasing the journey, evolution and impact of ICoAS, was also screened during the event. Vualnam also felicitated three young ICoAS officers who have been exemplary in their contributions by conferring them with 'Sarvottam', 'Ati Uttam' and 'Uttam' appreciation certificates.The inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions, in the presence of Secretary Expenditure and Chief Adviser (Cost). Ambassador Deepak Vohra (IFS Retd.) delivered a compelling keynote titled "The Jamvant Effect: India Becomes Bharat", emphasising India's cultural resurgence and global rise through a blend of heritage and modernity. In the second session, Anurag Goyal, Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog, discussed the appraisal of infrastructure proposals, underlining the importance of robust evaluation frameworks for efficient planning and execution. The third session, led by cybersecurity expert Gautam Kapoor, focused on the critical role of digital security in governance, offering strategies to strengthen cyber resilience across government systems. The celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior officials across ministries and departments, reaffirming the integral role played by ICoAS in policy formulation, cost management and efficient public expenditure. The ICoAS Day 2025 celebration served as a platform for capacity building, knowledge sharing and strategic dialogue, reinforcing the service's unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more resilient and economically empowered India. (ANI)
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday extended wishes to the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on its 65th foundation day, calling for multiplying the voices of the youth against the attack on "democratic institutions and the Constitution." "My best wishes to the Indian Youth Congress on their Foundation Day. IYC has been at the forefront in defending the values that make India. Let us stridently raise and multiply the voice of every youth against the attack on Democratic institutions and our Constitution. I wish each one of you all the very best," Kharge posted on X. Earlier today, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also wished the youth wing of the party on its foundation day, calling for "young minds to stand against injustice and inequality." "Best wishes to all members of the Indian Youth Congress on IYC's Foundation Day. IYC has provided a powerful platform for young minds to stand against injustice and inequality and to uphold the democratic and constitutional values of our nation. May you continue to champion the dreams and aspirations of India's youth, and lead with courage, integrity, and vision," Gandhi posted on X. Earlier today, the IYC reaffirmed its commitment to carry forward the values of democracy, secularism, and social justice. "As we celebrate IYC Day, we honour over six decades of relentless dedication. a legacy rooted deeply in democracy, secularism, and social justice. On this day, we renew our pledge to carry forward these values with the same passion and commitment," the party's youth wing posted on X. The Indian Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress, was founded on August 9, 1960. The party used to be part of the Congress party itself, afterwards, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi established it as a frontal organisation. Currently, the organisation has over two crore registered members. The organisation has launched several initiatives, including the 'Shakti Super She' campaign, which aims to build and strengthen nationwide association and engagement of women with the Congress party. Other events include Bharat Jodo leadership program, Pehla vote, Indira fellowship, and raising voice for Youth rights. Currently, Uday Bhanu Chib and Krishna Allavaru serve as the organisation's President and Joint Secretary, respectively. (ANI)
August 9, 2025: China is believed to have developed a plan to eliminate or greatly reduce Western interests in the Middle East and allow China to step in as the new foreign influence. With cooperation from Egypt and Iran, China would have a stranglehold on the world oil supply. China imports most of its oil from Iran and has strong diplomatic, economic, and military relationships with Iran. At the same time similar ties with Egypt have improved. This took a decade of effort and by now Egypt will at least listed to Chinese proposals and give them serious consideration.

While China has the second largest economy on the planet, it is still outmatched by the Western alliance led by the United States. Displacing Western economic, diplomatic and military in the Middle East is a lofty goal that even many Chinese officials see as unobtainable. But now this impossible dream is seriously discussed as a possibility. The gap between possibility and reality may be too wide to cross, but current proposals to do just that are the first step in having a go at it.

Over the last decade China has been seen as a major military and economic threat to the rest of the world, and especially to its neighbors in East Asia, and now the Middle East. There is another important aspect of this threat that is less visible outside China. While the Chinese government backs the aggressive strategy, the Chinese people are not cooperating. The population is shrinking dramatically and imposes restraints on this new Chinese aggression policy and the ability to use it. The population is shrinking because of the one-child population program of the 1980s. This was not lifted until recently when it became obvious that just eliminating the one-child rules did not increase the birth rate. The university grads that made the economic growth possible are disillusioned with how this worked out and the new Chinese army cannot attract enough well-educated recruits to support the new Chinese ambitions.

Chinas explosive economic and military growth was the product of four decades of economic transformation, extraordinary economic growth, and modernization of all aspects of Chinese life. It started with a bold and seemingly desperate move; abandoning the principles the founder of Communist China, Mao Zedong, imposed. Mao defined the Chinese version of communism as different from the form popularized and imposed by the Russians. Maoist communism stressed the rural population, not the urban workers, as the key revolutionaries and that radical change was required to achieve the socialist paradise. Maoism in practice proved disastrous and killed 20-30 million Chinese, mainly from starvation, when imposed during the 1950s. To deal with the negative response to that, Mao launched the Great Cultural Revolution in the early 1960s and while this phase only killed a few million it wrecked the economy and educational system. In the 1970s Mao died and those who sought to continue his work were killed or jailed. This le

The Deng reforms lasted until 2016 when a new leader, Xi Jinping, decided that collective leadership was unsuitable for dealing with the problems the new affluence had created. Xi Jinping sought to become and remain leader-for-life. To justify this lifetime tenure, he had to reduce or at least make a reasonable try at reducing, the corruption and mismanagement that is endemic within the CCP and several millennia of Chinese governments in general. To make this work CCP leaders have, since Deng died, turned to nationalism and a buildup of conventional military power to support territorial expansion. If nothing else this is popular and could eventually mean getting Taiwan back while imposing Chinese rule on the South China Sea and grabbing a few other bits of territory. This only works if China does not trigger a major war. Xi Jinping convinced key members of the CCP to back him on this and that first became public in late 2016 when senior members of the CCP agreed to grant Xi Jinping a special powers and recog

While Mao has become popular with many Chinese, those who lived through the 1960s see Mao as a major failure. That is what led to acceptance by the CCP of the economic reforms that transformed China. Xi Jinping has, as expected, used this Mao-grade power to deal with the corruption that persists in the senior ranks of the government and military. To demonstrate that, as soon as Xi was declared a Mao caliber leader, the CCP Central Committee announced punishments for many senior party officials for corruption. Since then, there have been an unprecedented number of senior officials being accused of or punished for corruption. One thing these corrupt officials had in common that was not publicized was their opposition to Xi Jinpings political plans and ambitions.

Over a decade ago it was noted that while China was getting rich, there was much corruption in the government, the military and even the universities. This created a growing number of unhappy Chinese, and they have a lot of unemployed, often because of corruption. Job seekers are cheated and exploited by corrupt employers and officials on a regular basis. These problems are especially painful for the half of new job seekers who have a university degree.

Difficulty for university grads getting a suitable job is nothing new. In the past, whenever there was an economic downturn, like in 2008, 30 percent of university students could not find a suitable job right away and this also caused problems later because, to future employers, that meant you were not a prime candidate right out of university.

Despite the tight censorship on Chinese Internet social media, there is an increasing amount of chatter by recent university graduates about the need for change. Attempts to fix the core problem, corruption, are not working for most Chinese, especially new university grads and that is seen as menacing by Chinese in general. Historically Chinese dynasties usually fell because they were weakened and torn apart by rebels enraged by corruption. That's one reason why communists gained power in 1949. But their virtuous new government began to show signs of corruption within a decade, and it's gotten much worse since communist economic policies were dumped in the 1980s. What goes around, comes around, slowly and inexorably.

Despite the booming economy, its still hard for many college grads to get a job. That means not getting married or even trying to have children. A growing number of Chinese come out of a university already disillusioned and unwilling to make a major effort to change their situation. This was obvious a decade ago when the unemployment rate of university graduates was over 10 percent, compared to 4.1 percent for urban workers in general. The government does not see this as a problem because a high proportion of the population having a university degree provides a reserve of talent for future crises. The less optimistic, or more realistic, senior leaders see this surplus of university grads as the organizers of the next revolution. So do Chinese in general.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, delivered the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture, and lauded the successful completion of Operation Sindoor, underscoring the primacy of Air Power in modern military conflicts and its significance in national security.

Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of indigenisation, R&D, jointness and synergy to strengthen future capabilities.

The 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture was held at the HAL Management Academy Auditorium, Bengaluru.

The event was organised by the Air Force Association, Karnataka Branch, in collaboration with HAL Bengaluru to reflect on the enduring legacy of Air Chief Marshal LM Katre and his lasting impact on Indian aviation. The gathering comprised veterans and personnel from the Indian Air Force, HAL, DRDO, and allied aerospace industries.

An official release said that the programme commenced with an invocation by students of the Air Force School, ASTE. Air Marshal HB Rajaram (retd), President of the Air Force Association (Karnataka), welcomed the audience and spoke about the genesis of the memorial lecture series.

He highlighted the remarkable contributions of the late Air Chief Marshal LM Katre in the development of Indian military aviation during his illustrious career spanning over four decades in the Indian Air Force and HAL.

The Chairman and Managing Director of HAL delivered a special address, highlighting the evolving HAL-IAF partnership. A commemorative souvenir marking the 16th Katre Memorial Lecture was released by the Chief Guest during the event.

Air Cmde Chandra Shekhar (retd) was also felicitated by the Chief of Air Staff. (ANI)
As the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief's statements on Operation Sindoor point to five Pakistani Jets shot down by S-400, Congress leader Udit Raj said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi betrayed the nation by not reclaiming PoK. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "PM Modi betrayed the nation. I completely agree with (Air Chief Marshal) AP Singh's statement that we shot down five Pakistani planes, Pakistan's condition was bad, then we should not have declared a ceasefire on Trump's saying and should have taken PoK. When Pakistan had surrendered and its condition was bad, when you got the chance to take over PoK, why didn't you take it?" "Trump said 33 times that he has done a ceasefire, but this country's PM didn't say it even once. So, all this is about elections and vote theft, which Rahul Gandhi has captured. But Modi ji betrayed the country, BJP betrayed it. There was a chance to take PoK, but the chance got missed," Udit Raj added. Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that India took down at least five fighter jets of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and downed one large aircraft which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. He said the aircraft that was brought down "is the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about." The IAF Chief, who delivered the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture on Saturday, lauded the successful completion of Operation Sindoor, underscoring the primacy of Air Power in modern military conflicts and its significance in national security. "We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft or an AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. "We were able to get at least two command and control centres, like Murid and Chaklala. At least six radars, some of them big, some of them small. Two SAGW systems that is in Lahore and Okara. We attacked three hangars. One was the Sukkur UAV hangar, the Bholari hangar and the Jacobabad F-16 hangar. We have an indication of at least one AEW&C in that AEW&C hangar and a few F-16s, which were under maintenance there," he added. This is apparently the first time that a top-ranking officer has specified the number of Pakistani aircraft and jets downed during the conflict. The IAF chief also credited the "political will" of the Central government for the success of the operation by allowing the Armed Forces to conduct the operations without any constraints. "A key reason for success was the presence of political will. There was very clear political will and very clear directions given to us. No restrictions were put on us. If there were any constraints, they were self-made. The forces decided what the rules of engagement would be. We decided how we wanted to control the escalation. We had full freedom to plan and execute," he said. "There was a synchronisation between the three forces. The post of CDS made a real difference. He was there to get us together. NSA also played a big role in getting all the agencies," he added. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. India repelled the subsequent Pakistani retaliation and pounded its airbases. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Trump revealed the details on his Truth Social account. He wrote, "The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Speaking earlier at the White House during the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord, Trump also hinted at progress on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "I came in, and this whole world was on fire, and all these things were sort of happening. We have only been here six months. The world was on fire, and we took care of just about every fire, and we're working on another one very strongly with Russia and Ukraine. We will have some more information for you a little bit later," Trump said. He also said that his "highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability in the world." When asked about the Russia-Ukraine peace efforts during the Armenia-Azerbaijan accord event, Trump said, "Russia, as you know, lost almost 25,000 over the last month and a half. Ukraine lost just a few, and lots of people are dying, and we are getting very close and will announce later on. We will have a meeting with Russia, and we will announce a location. The location will be a very popular one for lots of reasons. We will announce it a little later, and don't want to do it now because of the importance of what we just did." On being asked how far negotiations had progressed, Trump replied, "We are getting very close to a deal. Working with European nations, who are terrific people and leaders, is a pleasure through NATO. I became very friendly with them and agreed to go from 2 per cent to 5 per cent that they have already paid. And we are working together very closely. In all fairness to President Zelensky, he is getting everything he needs, assuming we will get something done. I will be meeting very shortly with President Putin. It would have been sooner, but I guess there are security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make." Trump also said that a deal to end the war in Ukraine would involve some exchange of territory. "It's very complicated. But we're going to get some [territory] back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later, or tomorrow," he said. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel] August 9 (ANI/TPS): "Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel". This, according to an announcement by the Prime Minister's Office, is what Benjamin Netanyahu told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a telephoni call this evening. The Prime Minister told the Chancellor that he was disappointed by his decision to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Netanyahu also clarified that Israel's goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there. (ANI/TPS)
US President Donald Trump on Friday used the signing of a peace accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House to highlight once again his role in brokering peace accords, recalling earlier interventions in conflicts around the world. Speaking at the ceremony alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump described his "highest aspiration" as bringing "peace and stability to the world." "Today's signing follows our success with India and Pakistan. They were going at it. They were going at it big. And they were great leaders that came together just prior to what would have been a tremendous conflict, as you know, a nuclear conflict probably," Trump said. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114994974199724855 The US President went on to cite other examples of his administration's efforts to defuse tensions, mentioning talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, as well as Thailand and Cambodia. "We've saved a lot of lives," Trump said, framing the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement as part of a broader record of diplomatic achievements. The accord marks the latest US-brokered deal in the region, following decades of disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Trump described the pact as "historic" and said it could pave the way for lasting peace. The agreement, announced on Friday, was hailed by US President Trump as a significant diplomatic breakthrough that will strengthen regional stability and open doors for trade and investment. At the signing ceremony, US President Donald Trump said, "It's a long time. Thirty-five years they fought and now they're friends and they're going to be friends for a long time." Trump also reflected on his administration's efforts over the past months. "I came in, and this whole world was on fire. All these things were sort of happening. We've only been here for six months. The world was on fire. We took care of just about every fire," he said. Both Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President Aliyev said they would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize." We will defend that, and we will promote that," Pashinyan said. Aliyev added, "Who, if not President Trump, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize? As soon as we [return], we will agree to issue a joint letter." (ANI)
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality (UN Women) has warned that Afghan women and girls returning from Iran and Pakistan urgently require humanitarian aid to rebuild their lives in communities already strained by economic hardship and environmental challenges, Khaama Press reported. In a statement released Friday, August 8, the agency said that over two million undocumented Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since September 2023. "Many of these returnees are arriving in a country they have never lived in before," Khaama Press quoted UN Women as saying. The report noted that returnees often lack shelter, income, access to healthcare, and educational opportunities. "For women and girls, the risks are compounded by poverty, early marriage, gender-based violence, and harsh restrictions on their rights and freedoms," it added. According to Khaama Press, UN Women highlighted that only 10 percent of female-headed households have permanent shelter, while humanitarian organizations are struggling to respond as international funding continues to decline. "Aid workers, particularly women at border areas, are also facing immense pressure," the agency stated. The agency warned that "without immediate support, the conditions for women and girls will deteriorate further," adding that the reduction in aid is severely limiting the capacity of organizations to meet even the most basic needs. Khaama Press reported that UN officials and humanitarian groups are calling for greater international investment in support programs tailored for returning women and girls. "Strengthening these programs... is essential for helping vulnerable populations survive and adapt to the harsh realities on the ground," the agency said. The call comes as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Pakistan to halt the deportation of vulnerable Afghan refugees, warning that forced returns, particularly of women, girls, and individuals with medical conditions, could breach fundamental human rights protections, Khaama Press reported. In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 6, the UN refugee agency expressed "serious concern" over Pakistan's decision to deport Afghans holding temporary residence permits, calling on authorities to protect those in need of international protection. According to Khaama Press, the agency specifically highlighted the heightened risks facing Afghan women and girls if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, stating that forced returns could expose them to "severe violations of their fundamental rights." UNHCR also appealed to Pakistan to exempt students and those with medical conditions from the deportation plan, noting their "particular vulnerability and need for continued support." While the agency welcomed Pakistan's move to grant a one-month grace period before deportations begin, it urged the government to use this time to "assess individual cases and uphold humanitarian principles," as reported by Khaama Press. As per UN data cited by Khaama Press, over 2.1 million Afghans have returned or been deported to Afghanistan in 2025 alone, including at least 352,000 individuals expelled from Pakistan. Pakistani authorities have announced that deportations of Afghan nationals holding expired or temporary documentation will commence from September 1, 2025, under a broader policy targeting irregular migration. Khaama Press further reported that UNHCR has reiterated its call for Pakistan and other host countries to respect their international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to countries where their lives or freedoms may be at risk. With humanitarian conditions continuing to deteriorate in Afghanistan, the agency has emphasised the need for "a coordinated and rights-based approach" to ensure displaced Afghans -- especially women, children, and the ill -- are "treated with dignity and protected from further harm." (ANI)
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar congratulated Singapore on its 60th National Day, and expressed appreciation for the strong ties between the two countries. Jaishankar said, "Congratulate FM @VivianBala, the Government and people of Singapore on their 60th National Day." He added, "Cherish our enduring friendship and multifaceted cooperation." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1954017200987406527 Highlighting the significance of bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a series of extensive high-level interactions during his visit to Singapore, underscoring the importance India attaches to its ties with the country. EAM Jaishankar visited Singapore on July 13. During the visit, he called on the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan. During these engagements, the leaders reviewed the progress of outcomes from Prime Minister Modi's visit and the 2nd round of the India Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR). Key areas discussed included investments, industrial parks, semiconductors, infrastructure, skill development, and connectivity. They also exchanged views on ASEAN, Indo-Pacific, and global developments. Further strengthening economic ties, EAM Jaishankar met Teo Chee Hean, former Senior Minister & Coordinating Minister for National Security and Chairman-designate of Temasek Holdings. Their discussions focused on the transformation underway in India and opportunities for Temasek to expand its investments in the country. MEA underlined that these visits and meetings are part of continued high-level exchanges between the two countries, reflecting the importance India attaches to its relations with Singapore. In a related development, on July 2, the Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East), P Kumaran, met with Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary (Development) for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, in New Delhi. The meeting focused on reviewing ongoing bilateral cooperation, including initiatives in priority areas, to further strengthen the India-Singapore partnership. "Secretary(East) P. Kumaran met Mr. Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary (Development) @MFAsgToday in New Delhi. The two sides reviewed ongoing bilateral cooperation, including initiatives in priority areas, for further strengthening the India-Singapore partnership," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal wrote on X. The year 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. To commemorate this special occasion, President Droupadi Murmu and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam unveiled a joint logo in New Delhi on January 16, as stated by the MEA. This joint logo incorporates elements from the Indian and Singaporean national flags, the lotus (India's national flower) and the orchid (Singapore's national flower), along with the number 60, highlighting the significant milestone of the 60th anniversary. The logo reads "India Singapore 60 years of diplomatic relations." According to the MEA, the placement of these elements symbolizes the enduring friendship, mutual trust, and shared values between the two countries. (ANI)
A South African high court has ruled that Zambia's former president Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa, should be buried in Zambia against his family's wishes, Al Jazeera reported. Lungu's burial had been the subject of a two-month dispute between Zambia's government, which had planned a state funeral for him in Lusaka, and his family, who wanted him buried in South Africa, Al Jazeera stated. Lungu, who served as Zambia's head of state from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa on June 5 while receiving medical treatment. The South African high court halted plans for Lungu to be buried in Johannesburg on June 25, just hours before a private ceremony was set to begin, Al Jazeera reported. Zambia's government had approached the court arguing that Lungu should be given a state funeral and buried at a designated site in Lusaka, like all other presidents since Zambia's independence in 1964. Lungu's family opposed the move, saying the late leader did not want the current president, Hakainde Hichilema -- a longstanding political rival and his successor -- at his funeral, Al Jazeera noted. On Friday, a high court judge in Pretoria ruled that Lungu's body should "immediately" be handed over to a representative of Zambia's court system for repatriation and burial in Lusaka. "A former president's personal wishes or the wishes of his family cannot outweigh the right of the state to honour that individual with a state funeral," the court said, Al Jazeera reported. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, who was present at the court, said the government appreciated the judge's ruling, Al Jazeera added. Lungu's sister, Bertha Lungu, was reportedly in tears after the judgement was read out, according to Al Jazeera. The Patriotic Front party, led by Lungu, said the family had "filed an appeal against the judgement," Al Jazeera reported. Lungu was elected president in 2015 but lost the 2021 elections to Hichilema of the United Party for National Development. Since then, Lungu's wife and children have faced corruption and money laundering charges, which the family claims are politically motivated, Al Jazeera noted. His daughter, Tasila Lungu, was arrested in February on money laundering charges, having previously been detained with her mother and sister on fraud charges in 2024. His son, Dalitso, is also facing corruption charges. (ANI)
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) announced on Friday (local time) that the state is moving forward with plans to hold a special election in November to approve a ballot measure that would allow Democrats to pass a new House map ahead of 2026. The announcement came as a response to Texas Republicans' efforts to create five pickup opportunities in a new House map, The Hill reported. "We have till Aug. 22. With the leadership behind me, they will get this on the ballot. We're calling for a special election, that will be the first week of November," Newsom said, according to The Hill. The governor, joined by several California lawmakers and Texas Democrats who fled their state, emphasized that the move is not aimed at eliminating the independent redistricting commission responsible for drawing the map. "We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what's happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas," Newsom vowed. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, highlighted that Democrats have found a way to create a new House map that could allow the party to gain five additional seats next year while complying with the Voting Rights Act. "So as we went through the details of the possibilities, I'm happy to report that every single member of the California delegation is willing to support a plan to do that," she said, as reported by The Hill. California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) told reporters that the maps are expected to be "available next week." He added, "Once these maps are released, voters will have the opportunity to digest these maps, review them for weeks and months leading to this election." According to The Hill, California would be the first Democratic state to start the process of passing new congressional lines ahead of 2026 in reaction to Texas' redistricting efforts. While California currently uses an independent redistricting commission, Democrats aim to temporarily bypass the commission to protect their interests amid the redistricting battles. Newsom insisted that Democrats support independent redistricting but argued, "we're not going to unilaterally disarm in the state of California." He expressed confidence that voters will approve the proposed ballot measure. "We believe in independent redistricting, that will be on the ballot," Newsom said. "We believe it should be nationalized. That will be on the ballot. We have the opportunity to send a message 'enough.' And I believe Republicans, not just Democrats and independents, will meet that call, and we will overwhelmingly support this change." (ANI)
Germany has reported a sharp increase in asylum applications from Afghan women, driven by worsening conditions under Taliban rule and recent European Union rulings recognizing gender-based persecution, Khaama Press reported. According to Der Spiegel, more than 3,000 Afghan women applied for asylum in Germany in July 2025 alone, more than double the number from the previous month. Since the beginning of the year, approximately 9,593 women have sought refuge in the country, Khaama Press added. The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees attributed this sharp rise to the Taliban's systematic repression of women's rights since retaking power in 2021. Women have been excluded from education, employment, and public life in what experts describe as a coordinated erasure of their civil liberties, Khaama Press reported. A major contributing factor to the increase in asylum claims was a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in late 2024. The court declared that "women in Afghanistan are generally subject to political persecution," making them eligible for asylum under EU law. Following the ruling, Germany's immigration authority acknowledged that the legal pathway for Afghan women seeking protection has become significantly stronger, increasing their chances of receiving refugee status, Khaama Press said. Last year, the EU's top court also stated that Afghanistan's nationality and gender alone can constitute sufficient grounds for granting asylum. This important precedent has reshaped refugee assessments across member states. As the Taliban continues its gender-based repression, women of Afghanistan are increasingly turning to countries like Germany for safety and basic human rights, experts warn. They added that without coordinated international support and policy reforms, host nations may struggle to accommodate the growing number of vulnerable women fleeing persecution in Afghanistan. In response to these challenges, the Prime Minister of Germany's Bavaria state has once again emphasized the deportation of foreign criminals, including nationals from Afghanistan and Syria, as Germany pushes forward with a tougher migration stance, Tolo News reported. Bavarian Premier Markus Soder stated that Germany has reformed its immigration policy, sending a clear message that all criminals and human traffickers will face quicker arrest and deportation in Bavaria than in other parts of the country. "Law and order prevail in Bavaria. Foreign criminals must be decisively deported--even to Afghanistan and Syria. Overall, we have brought a shift in migration policy. The principle is: more people should be deported, and fewer should be accepted," Soder said. Tolo News reported that the remarks come amid growing concerns among Afghan nationals living in Germany, who claim the federal government has tightened its stance toward foreign nationals--particularly Afghans--by delegating more authority to state governments in deporting individuals considered criminal offenders under German law. Political analyst Najib Rahman Shamal said: "Germany has recently imposed stricter restrictions on refugees involved in criminal activities. These countries have reinforced their borders and imposed severe limitations." Refugee rights activist Alireza Karimi also weighed in, stating that Soder's remarks reflect a harsh treatment of refugees in Germany. "Insisting on the deportation of Syrian and Afghan refugees indicates a significant legal shift in German state policy," he said. Germany's renewed deportation push follows its latest action on July 17, when the country deported 81 Afghans to Kabul--marking the second such deportation this solar year, according to Tolo News. (ANI)
Myanmar August 2025 Update

August 9, 2025: The military government is losing the current civil war. Chinese aid and support is the only thing keeping the multiple rebel groups from taking control. The rebels back an elected government, which China sees as inherently anti-China and pro-West. China has economic interests in Myanmar to protect. The only ones benefitting from the current war are criminal gangs specializing in internet-based fraud. There are also drug gangs that force local farmers to grow poppies, the raw material needed to produce heroin. Gangs also set up laboratories to produce synthetic drugs like Fentanyl. The gangs pay protection money to the government or the rebels, depending on where the drug operations are. This drug business is worth an estimated $20 billion a year and pays to keep civil war going. Myanmar has been mired in chaos for centuries and is considered a failed state.

Recently the ruling military junta was dismayed to realize that they only controlled 21 percent of the country. Thats down from 44 percent four months ago. Year by year junta control over the country declines, with a rebel victory in sight within a year or two. China is reluctant to send in soldiers to prevent this, but might consider organizing and using a force of foreign mercenaries.

The military government still insists that the January 2026 national elections will be held. This is unlikely because the junta rules through fear and intimidation. Even those living in areas under government control were reluctant to participate in elections where popular candidates are intimidated and voters who might vote against the junta are threatened.

Outside Myanmar, few countries support the junta and many openly oppose the military government and its deplorable activities against their citizens. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations/ASEAN member states, South Korea, and India have openly rebuked the juntas election plans and will not provide technical support for a process that simply cannot be credible, free or fair.

In late 2024 remaining junta control over ever smaller portions of the country declined. While Myanmar became quieter for a while after the military junta allowed democracy to return in 2010, by late 2023 there was a major outbreak of violence by northern rebels against soldiers stationed in the north. This led to chaos in the north where non-tribal residents fled south and large groups of armed and angry tribal rebels moved south along with them. The army never expected this and now fighting continues in the north outside, and sometimes inside, towns where there is an army garrison. With few troops left in the area, the Myanmar military sent its warplanes to bomb towns believed to be occupied by rebels. This was an imprecise operation and many civilians were killed.

Myanmar is still subject to violence from tribal separatist militias in the north plus radical Buddhist groups. There was another military coup in early 2021, a decade after the 1962 military junta finally gave in to demands for freedom and democracy. By 2010 the army had failed at running the economy or dealing with the rebellious northern tribes. The military negotiated a deal with the democrats that left the military with some of their political power as well as immunity from prosecution or retribution for a long list of past crimes. Once elections were held, the generals realized they had underestimated the degree of popular anger at the decades of military misrule. After 2011, with Myanmar governed by a government answerable to the people, not a military caste, there were calls for canceling the political privileges the military had retained as part of their agreement to allow peaceful transfer of power. The late 2020 nationwide elections put into power a government that finally had the votes, and deter

There was growing armed and unarmed opposition to the military which resulted in over a thousand dead and nearly 12,000 arrested. The economy was in shambles but, despite that, the population resisted and the survival of the military junta depends on how much China wants to spend saving them. China refused to contribute more than token assistance, while the rebel militias in the north became more powerful and the Myanmar army began to collapse, along with the military junta when there was another major uprising in late 2023 that started in the north and is ongoing.

Then in 2024 rare earth deposits were found in Myanmar. Rare earths are extremely valuable and used for the production of high-end electronics. Myanmar had these materials and China wanted them. The Chin rebels on the border wanted a piece of the action and that held up shipments to China until it was discovered who was blocking the shipments. Chinese border guards were ordered to let the rare earth shipments in and threatened the Chin rebels with loss of access to China and the weapons and other supplies obtained inside China.

Meanwhile, in the northwest, fighting between tribal rebels and the army in Rakhine State has intensified, and because of this several hundred thousand villagers have fled their homes. Many traveled all the way to the state capital, which is seen as the safest spot in Rakhine State. The army also revived internet restrictions which had been lifted earlier. The result was that most cellphone users in Rakhine State get only slow 2G internet speeds. This made it difficult to access pro-rebel websites, and most others as well.

Most of the rebels involved belong to the AA/Arakan Army. Many AA attacks are ambushes or raids on road traffic, outposts or border posts. Control of the roads is essential for the army, which depends on regular deliveries of all sorts of supplies. The army also has some air support, mostly surveillance but also occasional airstrikes. The rebels know the mountains and forests, which the army enters and moves through more slowly. The war up here is about driving away locals who can provide support for the rebels. Most of these civilians have nothing to do with the rebels and see themselves as innocent victims of random military violence. There is some truth to that because troops often loot abandoned villages or rape female refugees they catch up with.

The rebels have another advantage in that their attacks are more precise and involve much less firepower. The soldiers spend most of their time wandering around in the forests seeking rebels who move faster in the bush and usually detect the troops before the soldiers can spot any rebels. Hiring, or forcing, local hunters to guide the troops rarely works because the local guides hate the troops and know that the rebels wont forget if such guides and trackers cause rebel casualties.

Rebels attack outposts and border posts for loot. These attacks are not just about stealing some weapons and other gear, but also to intimidate border guards and troops into backing off on border security. A major source of income for the AA is getting illegal drugs from nearby Shan State, where most illegal drugs in the country are produced, into Bangladesh. The AA also works with Myanmar Rohingya refugees just across the border in Bangladesh.

The AA has support from one of the rebel coalitions, the NA, or Northern/Brotherhood Alliance tribal rebels, who refuse to attend peace talks unless the junta allows the Arakan Army, or AA, to attend. The AA and the army have been fighting for over seven years with no end in sight. The government, pressured by the army, declared the AA an outlaw organization in early 2020. The other tribal rebels disagreed and saw the army as the true outlaws. No long-term peace deal is possible without the NA and some NA members are still engaged in combat with the army.

All NA members agree that if the AA is not allowed to attend peace conferences, neither will any NA member. The NA consists of four tribal militias: TNLA/ Tang National Liberation Army, AA, MNDAA/ Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and KIA/Kachin Independence Army. The NA exists because its members refused to sign the 2015 Myanmar Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement/NCA. Those who did sign the NCA have made progress in working out differences with the junta and military. The army, which tends to do as it likes in the tribal areas of the north, is the primary cause for violence. China is also involved because Northern Alliance members survive via their access to China. The access is tolerated as long as these Myanmar rebels do not let the fighting spread into China or interfere with Chinese commercial operations in Myanmar. This includes the BRI/Belt and Road Initiative project, which NA members object to. So do other tribal rebels while the largest such group, the UWSA/United Wa State Army, boycotts peace

Army leaders have become more outspoken about foreign support the tribal rebels are receiving. The generals wont come right out and name China, but it is no secret that China has done little to curb Chinese weapons dealers from selling all manner of military small arms to tribal rebels and getting it across the border into Myanmar. That cannot be done without the acquiescence of the Chinese government. In this way the Chinese are sending a message to the Myanmar generals, who the Chinese see as equally responsible for the violence in the north, sometimes right on the Chinese border. Both the rebels and the army are often using Chinese weapons and ammunition against each other. There are not a lot of casualties and most of them are from army convoys being ambushed or the army firing into pro-rebel villages to drive the civilians, and any rebels, out and into the bush. The army does not have enough troops to occupy all the territory they push tribal rebels and civilians out of. Often the rebels, if not the ci

Rebellions in Rakhine and down along the coast are nothing new in this area, which has long been known as the Arakan coast and similar names hinting at an interesting past. In recent years there have even been calls for the restoration of the Arakan Empire, which ceased to exist over 240 years ago. This is a renewal of ancient feuds over who should control the northwest coast of Myanmar, an area with a long history as an independent Arakan state. For example, in late 2017, ARSA/Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, the new Islamic terror group in Myanmar, called for Rohingya to join with al Qaeda to fight the Myanmar army and establish Rakhine State as an independent Muslim Arakan. This refers to the Arakan region, which is the coastal area that includes Rakhine State and the coastal area along the Bay of Bengal from eastern Bangladesh down deep into Myanmar. Some 1800 years ago Arakan became an independent Hindu state but 500 years later Islam spread to the area in part because Arakan was one of the many branches

The Arakan Army had been avoiding soldiers since a series of clashes in late 2015 ended badly for the rebels. Clashes resumed in early 2016 as troops moved into territory where Arakan Army rebels were known to operate. All this was unexpected because the northwest coast has not had as much tribal violence as states to the east. In this case the Arakan Army had help from Kachin State tribal rebels and has become a problem on both sides of the Bangladesh border. The junta ordered the army to increase its efforts to destroy the Arakan Army and the successful clashes in late 2015 led to the military working with police to find and arrest the many Arakan Army supporters in the area. Unlike most tribal militias in the north, the Arakan Army was never given official recognition, in large part because the Arakan Army was more of a gangster operation than tribal rebels. All this police activity was unpopular but at least it was less arbitrary and lawless than in the past when soldiers would torture and kill people.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday signed into law a bill easing environmental licensing rules but vetoed key provisions that would have made it easier for companies to secure environmental permits, Al Jazeera reported. Lula approved what critics have called the "devastation bill," but struck down or altered 63 of its nearly 400 articles, his office's executive secretary, Miriam Belchior, told reporters, according to Al Jazeera. The president faced increasing pressure from environmental groups to intervene in the bill, which was supported by Brazil's powerful agribusiness sector and aimed at rolling back strict licensing rules that had helped curb destruction of the Amazon rainforest, Al Jazeera reported. A previous version of the bill adopted by lawmakers last month would have allowed some permits to be granted based solely on a simple declaration of a company's environmental commitment. Lula's revisions, however, reinstated the current strict licensing rules for strategic projects. Belchior said the new proposal sought to "preserve the integrity of the licensing process, ensure legal certainty, and protect the rights of Indigenous and Quilombola communities." She added that Lula will introduce a "Special Environmental Licence" designed to fast-track strategic projects while filling legal gaps created by the vetoes. "We maintained what we consider to be significant advances in streamlining the environmental licensing process," she said. The nongovernmental organisation SOS Atlantic Forest, which gathered more than a million signatures calling for a veto of the law, hailed Lula's move as "a victory" for environmental protection, Al Jazeera reported. Of the provisions struck down by Lula, 26 were vetoed outright, while another 37 will be replaced with alternative text or modified in a new bill to be sent to Congress for ratification under a constitutional urgency procedure. However, securing support for the amendments remains uncertain for the leftist leader. Brazil's conservative-dominated Congress has repeatedly defeated key government proposals, including overturning previous presidential vetoes. Lawmakers aligned with former president Jair Bolsonaro are also blocking legislative activity amid escalating political tensions, demanding charges related to an alleged failed coup attempt in 2022 be dropped. Speaking at a Friday news conference in Brasilia, Environment Minister Marina Silva said Lula's vetoes would ensure that "the economy does not compete with ecology, but rather they are part of the same equation." "We hope to be able to streamline licensing processes without compromising their quality, which is essential for environmental protection at a time of climate crisis, biodiversity loss and desertification," Silva added. She further noted that a previous version of the bill, approved by Congress last month, threatened Brazil's pledge to eliminate deforestation by 2030 and described it as a "death blow" to the country's licensing framework. But Lula's revised version means Brazil's "targets to reach zero deforestation" and its goal to "cut CO2 emissions by between 59 percent and 67 percent remain fully on track," Silva said. Lula's environmental credentials are under close scrutiny ahead of the annual UN climate summit in November, which will be held in the Amazon city of Belem. (ANI)
Internet services across Balochistan have remained suspended for several days, severely disrupting education, online businesses, and media reporting, The Balochistan Post reported. The provincial government has said the measure is aimed at curbing communication among armed groups active in the region, citing security concerns. As per The Balochistan Post, the decision was taken on the recommendation of security agencies in light of heightened tensions in August, particularly around Pakistan's National Day celebrations. A notification issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that mobile internet services will remain suspended across Balochistan until August 31. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind told Reuters, as quoted by The Balochistan Post, that armed groups had been using the internet to coordinate activities, and the suspension was intended to disrupt such communications. "It is a necessary step in view of the security situation," he stated. The Balochistan Post reported that the move has drawn strong criticism from students, business owners, journalists, and human rights organisations. Students enrolled in online classes have expressed frustration, saying they are unable to attend lectures or submit assignments, with the impact particularly severe in rural areas where access to educational resources is already limited. Freelancers and entrepreneurs in Quetta, Turbat, Panjgur, and Khuzdar told The Balochistan Post that their livelihoods have been brought to a standstill. "Our entire work depends on the internet; this shutdown has pushed us to the brink of financial collapse," said one business owner. According to The Balochistan Post, media outlets have also been heavily affected, with journalists claiming they are unable to transmit reports from the region, leading some to describe the situation as an "information blackout." Human rights groups, as reported by The Balochistan Post, have expressed serious concern, calling the internet shutdown a violation of civil liberties and a blow to citizens' fundamental rights to education, economic activity, and access to information. The Balochistan Post reported that the government is imposing collective punishment on the public rather than improving security. Critics also pointed out that other restrictive measures are already in place, including a ban on motorcycle pillion riding until August 15 and curbs on road travel for religious pilgrims to Iran and Iraq. The Balochistan Post further noted that while authorities maintain the suspension is a security necessity, opponents argue that the prolonged shutdown risks deepening economic hardship, limiting press freedom, and isolating Balochistan from the rest of the country and the world. (ANI)
Former MoS for External Affairs, MJ Akbar said President Donald Trump may be remembered as "the most socialist president in the history of the United States" for challenging and dismantling the principle of free trade. Akbar said, "Free trade actually works, and in theory and in practice, with the minimisation and if in fact absence, if possible, of tariffs, of duties, there should be no hindrance to trade, so that the most efficient manufacturing and the most efficiently produced products can find the way to the market, increasing the levels of choice, and decreasing prices." He added, "This is being challenged. Capitalism itself is being challenged." He explained, "Actually, this practise of protectionism is a very socialist response to its inability to compete with capitalist products, which we saw all during the Cold War and during the days of the Soviet Union." Highlighting the volatility of US policy, Akbar pointed out how President Trump had declared Russia a foe and, on that basis, imposed tariffs on India, reflecting the unpredictable nature of protectionist measures. "Two days ago Mr. Putin, of Russia, President Putin, was a declared foe. After all, punitive action has been taken on the basis of us buying Russian oil. Although I must insist and say and stress that we have not violated any American law in the process. This is extremely important. But President Trump used this as the reason." Akbar said that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss tariffs, trade, and security. "At this moment our National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, who has now become the Prime Minister's crisis manager is in Moscow and he will be meeting President Putin. He will be meeting the Foreign Minister Lavrov. Tariffs, trade, security will be very high on the agenda." He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China for the first time in seven years, calling it part of the ongoing "action and reaction" initiated by Trump. "Simultaneously, you have heard the announcement that Prime Minister Modi will be going to China for the first time in seven years. So a great deal of action and reaction is taking place." Akbar praised pm Modi's measured approach amid these developments, saying, "I think the Prime Minister is dealing with it with excellent, with a combination of serious foresight, of great maturity and I think very, very powerful silence. He is not falling into the trap. Many commentators don't realize that foreign policy is not an exercise in trivia, in verbal trivia. And Prime Minister Modi's silence and his actions and what he has done in consequence, I think has not only made, sent a very powerful message. It is what I call the core of India's Swadeshi foreign policy, that India's strength lies in India's people." He emphasized that India's policies prioritize the "security and prosperity of the Indian people," stating, "Our policies will be measured by how much they protect the security and prosperity of the Indian people. That is primary in his mind. And I think the people now are beginning to realize that he will not surrender where, you know, on agriculture, where India's farmers are going to be affected. He will not surrender on dairy items for India's farmers." Akbar also highlighted what he called the US's "double standards," noting that while India faced tariffs over Russian oil purchases, "China buys 47 per cent. Why has no action been taken against China? This world of two laws and not only double standards, may I say triple standards." He questioned the US policy further, saying, "Next, we should be waiting for President Trump to impose tariffs on America! Because America has been importing a uranium substance for its nuclear industry from Russia. Why is that outside the territory? Europeans actually are buying in the last year over USD 67 billion worth of trade with Russia." Akbar concluded that despite the current tensions, India-US relations built over two decades remain strong. "There is, I think, great unity in the Indian political class and among the people on strengthening the friendship. Why president of America should choose to actually dampen or even injure something that has been carefully built with great calibration and effort is slightly inexplicable but as I said once the final decisions are taken, then very quickly things may come back to what would be called a different new normal." (ANI)
Afghan refugee mothers in Pakistan's Chagai district say they are living in constant fear, as Islamabad's "Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan" pushes them closer to forced deportation into Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, The Diplomat reported. According to The Diplomat, women like 38-year-old Latifa Bibi, who fled Kandahar in 1987 after her husband's death, have spent decades building a life in Pakistan, only to be told they must leave. "Where will we go? We have no house, no work, no safety in Afghanistan. We built our lives here," she told The Diplomat. Latifa's three daughters have known no other home than the dusty refugee camps of Chagai, yet their future now hangs on the expiry of a piece of paper. The Diplomat reported that 1.3 million Afghans in Pakistan hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, the only official protection against deportation, but those cards expired on June 30. Despite an interim order to halt harassment, police raids and patrols continue, targeting both undocumented Afghans and PoR-card holders. Aid workers told The Diplomat that since the cards expired, food, water, and health services in camps have been slashed by 60 percent. Latifa's voice trembled as she described sleepless nights and daughters who wake screaming when police jeeps approach. "If they force us back, their education stops. Their dignity vanishes. No mother can bear that," she told The Diplomat. In late July, The Diplomat said, Pakistan's human-rights watchdog in Quetta warned that law enforcement had ordered camp elders in Gardi Jungle, Laji Karez, and Posti to evacuate by July 31 or forfeit their rights, despite pleas for six to twelve months to wind down livelihoods. Refugee advocates accuse Islamabad of collective punishment, targeting women and children who have nothing to do with security threats. The UNHCR spokesperson in Pakistan, Qaiser Khan Afridi, told The Diplomat that forced returns violate the principle of non-refoulement and will have devastating consequences: "Afghanistan still faces a dire humanitarian crisis and rampant rights abuses. Families here have lived on this soil for decades; their return must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and respectful." The Diplomat highlighted that Afghanistan, under the Taliban, bans girls from secondary school, forbids women from working, and criminalizes female public life. Human-rights lawyer Moniza Kakar told The Diplomat that Pakistan's deportations ignore these realities and breach international norms. "We need a standalone refugee law and citizenship paths for those here before 1980. You can't send people back to danger," she said. Figures cited by The Diplomat show that since April, Pakistan has registered 226,279 Afghan nationals for deportation and already expelled 42,306 -- including over 115,000 women and girls. Aid agencies warn this will trigger spikes in child marriage, poverty, and recruitment into extremist groups. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, The Diplomat reported, have condemned Pakistan's actions as "inhumane" and demanded urgent extensions of PoR cards, legal protections, and humanitarian aid. Under Chagai's blazing sun, Afghan mothers still cling to hope. "Treat us like human beings, not threats," Latifa pleaded to The Diplomat. "Our worth isn't measured by a card's expiry date." (ANI)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that Afghanistan is confronting one of the largest waves of forced deportations in recent history, with 1.5 million migrants deported and returned from neighbouring countries this year alone, Tolo News reported. According to the organisation, Pakistan's ongoing decision to deport Afghan migrants is pushing the country toward a severe crisis without urgent international support. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said, "International Organization for Migration is urgently calling for international support as Afghanistan faces one of the largest return movements in recent history. Since September 2023, more than 4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan, with over 1.5 million returning in 2025 alone," Tolo News added. In a related development, UN Women highlighted in a report that women and girls constitute nearly half of the deported migrants. The agency warned that these women and girls face significant threats upon their return to Afghanistan, including poverty, early marriage, violence, and unprecedented restrictions. As Tolo News detailed, the UN Deputy Spokesperson stated: "Women and girls represent 1/3 of returnees from Iran so far in 2025 and about half of all returnees from Pakistan. The report voiced that, like all women and girls in Afghanistan, returnee women and girls face increased risks of poverty, early marriage, violence, exploitation and unprecedented restrictions on their rights, movements and freedoms." Responding to these concerns, Afghanistan's caretaker government dismissed the UN's warnings as unfounded and asserted that women's rights are being safeguarded. Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said, "The Islamic Emirate has prevented any form of forced marriage and Bad Dadan ('giving away a daughter', which typically involves settling a dispute between families or tribes by marrying off a girl from one family to a man from the other). Women are given inheritance rights, their voices are heard, their cases are processed in courts, and especially the complaints section of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue has addressed thousands of women's complaints," as reported by Tolo News. However, women's rights activists remain concerned. Tafsir Siyahposh said, "Today we all witness that unfortunately, the opportunities that were available to women returning from abroad are not available in Afghanistan. But we are still trying to persuade the Islamic Emirate government to consider the rights and freedoms of women." The warnings about the consequences of mass deportation come amid ongoing forced returns from Iran and Pakistan, while key issues around women's education and employment continue to draw international criticism and remain unresolved. (ANI)
British universities are being 'infiltrated by Chinese students' who allegedly acted as spies for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to a report cited by Breitbart London. The investigation, conducted by UK-China Transparency (UKCT), surveyed academics in Chinese studies programmes across Britain. The findings, reported by Breitbart London, claim that Chinese students studying in the UK are being pressured by CCP officials and police to gather intelligence on classmates, academic discussions, and campus events. One scholar told UKCT that Chinese students admitted "surveillance is omnipresent" and that many are interrogated by Chinese authorities upon returning home. The report, as highlighted by Breitbart London, warns that such tactics are designed to silence debate on issues Beijing deems embarrassing, from human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang to scrutiny over its handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. UKCT singled out the Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs), which are nominally support networks for Chinese students but have been repeatedly accused of acting as extensions of the CCP. According to Breitbart London, one British academic described CSSAs as "the primary source of student spies on campus," noting their "constant connections with local consulates." The report also alleges that Chinese diplomats and CCP-linked operatives have interfered with UK-based Chinese students and even influenced China-related academic programmes. In some cases, universities have allegedly shut down research projects entirely after direct pressure from the Chinese government, Breitbart London reported. One academic told UKCT that university management blocked them from pursuing politically sensitive research, warning it could jeopardise funding due to heavy reliance on tuition from Chinese students, often subsidised by CCP scholarships. "This is systemic distortion," UKCT stated, as quoted by Breitbart London, "shaping careers and disincentivising research that might be negatively received by the CCP." The think tank warned that such influence could have far-reaching effects on the advice given to the UK government, media, and businesses. Beyond tuition fees, British universities have allegedly received millions from CCP-linked entities, including the controversial Confucius Institutes, widely criticised for promoting pro-Beijing narratives on Western campuses. According to Breitbart London, some UK universities have also been accused of collaborating with Chinese researchers on weapons-related projects, prompting MI6 to investigate hundreds of British academics. The findings suggest a deep and growing CCP footprint in UK academia, one that, if left unchecked, could compromise Britain's intellectual freedom and national security. (ANI)
Beijing's push to intensify Sinicization across the Tibetan Plateau has taken a significant step forward, with the Communist Party of China's top Tibetan leader announcing that the Tibetan language will no longer be a core subject in the region's national college entrance examination for most students, Tibetan Review reported on August 7, citing the Financial Times. Gama Cedain, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government and the region's deputy party secretary, told a press briefing in Beijing this week that the decision was part of reforms to the gaokao, China's highly competitive national examination, and would, in his words, "improve Tibetans' career prospects." The announcement comes amid President Xi Jinping's Han-centric assimilation policies, which exile Tibetans and rights groups see as an attempt to erase the region's linguistic and cultural identity, Tibetan Review noted. Under the new system, "Tibet, like other provinces and regions," will have "unified exam subjects" such as Chinese, mathematics, and foreign languages, including English, Russian, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish. Tibetan will only be available as an optional subject for students applying to specialised fields like Tibetan literature, meaning only a small fraction of Tibetan students will take it, Tibetan Review said, citing local officials. Gama Cedain framed the change as a move to ensure "fairer access to high-quality education" for all ethnic groups in TAR, most of whom are Han Chinese. But critics argue that this framing masks the deeper objective of weakening Tibetan language education. "Once you no longer have the Tibetan language in your entry exam, it no longer is a legal means of communication or useful to seek a profession or get a job," Dawa Tsering, director of the Dharamshala-based Tibet Policy Institute, told Tibetan Review. The publication recalled that similar rhetoric was used by Zhou Yongkang, the former State Security chief, when he oversaw Sinicisation measures in Sichuan's historically Tibetan areas between 2000 and 2002. According to the Tibetan Review, TAR began education reforms in 2024, and officials in six Tibetan prefectures have indicated the new exam rules will be implemented in 2026. The changes have reportedly been communicated verbally to teachers and students over recent months. UN human rights experts have repeatedly warned Beijing against policies that undermine the linguistic and religious heritage of Tibetans. Nevertheless, Tibetan Review stressed that under Xi, the CPC has escalated assimilationist policies toward ethnic minorities, framing them as "modernisation" while narrowing the space for cultural preservation. The August 5 press conference, organised by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, was intended to highlight six decades of socioeconomic development in TAR. Instead, it underscored Beijing's determination to align Tibetan education and identity ever closer to the Han Chinese mainstream. (ANI)
Chinese nationals applying for permanent residency in Taiwan through family-based channels will soon have to prove they have renounced their Chinese passports, under a draft amendment from Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior (MOI), Focus Taiwan reported. According to the Focus Taiwan report, the new regulation, announced on July 23, requires applicants to submit a notarised document confirming they have either never applied for or have formally renounced their Chinese passorts. This change targets individuals seeking long-term or permanent residency as family dependents. Currently, under Articles 30 and 31 of the Regulations Governing the Residency, Long-Term Residency or Residency for Naturalization of the People of the Mainland China Area Living With a Relative in the Taiwan Area, applicants must only show proof of losing their original household registration in China. This is based on Article 17 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (Cross-Strait Act). Focus Taiwan noted that the draft amendment updates this requirement to include both loss of household registration in the Mainland Area and proof of not possessing a Mainland passport. The MOI explained that the revision follows a May interpretation by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) clarifying that "original household registration" covers any identity documents proving Mainland status. The ministry told Focus Taiwan that this step aligns with Article 9-1 of the Cross-Strait Act, which prohibits Taiwanese nationals from holding Mainland household registration or passports. It is part of a broader set of 17 national security strategies unveiled in March by President Lai Ching-te to counter Chinese united front activities. However, Focus Taiwan highlighted that it is unlikely Chinese applicants will be able to secure such proof from Beijing, as the People's Republic of China (PRC) does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. MAC deputy head Liang Wen-chieh told Focus Taiwan that there have been no known cases of the PRC issuing such renunciation documents. Instead, applicants can submit an affidavit declaring they do not hold a Mainland passport. Liang warned that if authorities later discover the applicant used such a passport, it could jeopardize their residency status. As Focus Taiwan reported, the move comes after concerns that Taiwan had no reliable way to verify passport holdings among Chinese nationals seeking citizenship. The draft regulation's public notice period has ended, and the MOI will finalize an implementation date after reviewing feedback. (ANI)
China's aggressive push to construct the world's largest hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo is more than a developmental project; it's a strategic weapon in Beijing's escalating water war against South Asia, reports Borderlens. Formally embedded in China's 14th Five-Year Plan and greenlit last December, the dam, now under active construction in Nyingchi City, Tibet, sits dangerously close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Arunachal Pradesh. According to Borderlens, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced its launch on July 19, hailing it as a cornerstone of the "West-to-East Electricity Transfer Project." But beneath the veneer of green energy lies a calculated geopolitical move. The site is strategically located just before the river's "Great Bend," where it turns into India's Brahmaputra and Bangladesh's Jamuna. The project will generate an estimated 300 billion kWh annually, triple the output of the Three Gorges Dam, and involves five cascade dams, a cost of USD 170 billion, and possible river course modifications. Borderlens noted that such control over Tibet's waters could give Beijing the upper hand in any future confrontation with India. Regional leaders are sounding the alarm. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu warned Borderlens that the project is "a ticking water bomb" with existential risks for local tribes. Minister Ojing Tasing echoed the urgency: "China has already started... If we do not act now, we may suffer later." The dangers aren't hypothetical. As Borderlens highlighted, the dam sits in a seismically active Himalayan zone. A structural failure, triggered by an earthquake, could unleash catastrophic floods across India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Beyond physical risks, Beijing's unilateral control of a transboundary river undermines water security for hundreds of millions downstream. Environmentalists and Tibetan advocates interviewed by Borderlens stress that this project follows a familiar pattern: massive state-backed infrastructure in Tibet is used not only to extract resources, but to tighten political control. Forced relocations, loss of ancestral lands, and cultural erasure have accompanied similar projects in the past. (ANI)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that he held a conversation with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and shared the need for "truly lasting peace" for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he valued the determination of the United Kingdom, the United States, and all "our partners to end the war." In a post on X, the Ukrainian President said, "I spoke with UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer. I am grateful for the support. We share the same view on the need for a truly lasting peace for Ukraine and on the danger of Russia's plan to reduce everything to discussing the impossible." He further added, "Clear steps are needed, as well as maximum coordination between us and our partners. We value the determination of the United Kingdom, the United States, and all our partners to end the war. We are actively working for constructive diplomacy and to ensure that the decisions can work. We agreed on further contacts." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954131954766377013 Earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy in a series of posts on X said that any decisions which are against and without Ukraine are "decisions against peace", which would not achieve anything. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954063605453795361 He further referred to Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, in Alaska and said, "President Trump announced preparations for his meeting with Putin in Alaska. Very far away from this war, which is raging on our land, against our people, and which anyway can't be ended without us, without Ukraine." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954063607617991070 In a post that followed, Zelenskyy further mentioned, "The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question already is in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this--and no one will be able to. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954063616514097261 The Ukrainian President said that he is ready to work together with the US President, and all partners for a lasting peace. "We are ready to work together with President Trump, together with all our partners for real and, most importantly, lasting peace. A peace that will not collapse because of Moscow's desires." https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954063618326036521 Speaking earlier at the White House during the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord, Trump also hinted at progress on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On being asked how farnegotiations on the Russia-Ukraine peace efforts had progressed, Trump replied, "We are getting very close to a deal. Working with European nations, who are terrific people and leaders, is a pleasure through NATO. I became very friendly with them and agreed to go from 2 per cent to 5 per cent that they have already paid. And we are working together very closely. In all fairness to President Zelensky, he is getting everything he needs, assuming we will get something done. I will be meeting very shortly with President Putin. It would have been sooner, but I guess there are security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make." Trump also said that a deal to end the war in Ukraine would involve some exchange of territory. "It's very complicated. But we're going to get some [territory] back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later, or tomorrow," he said. (ANI)
The University of Virginia is at the center of a growing debate over the future of public higher education. On August 4, 2025, UVA's Board of Visitors appointed law professor Paul Mahoney as interim president, following Jim Ryan's abrupt resignation. This wasn't a routine transition. It came after months of tension, with state officials led by Governor Glenn Youngkin, asserting more control over university governance.

Youngkin's fingerprints are unmistakable. He has filled several UVA board seats and pushed for reforms that strengthen state oversight. Robert Hardie, chair of UVA's board, said Mahoney "brings deep experience" at a "critical time." But that 'critical time' is defined by more than a change at the topit's about who sets the agenda for Virginia's flagship university.

Across the country, state governments are tightening their grip on public universities. In states like Florida and Texas, lawmakers have passed bills cutting funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and imposing strict new controls on curriculum. Virginia has seen similar proposals, though they've struggled to clear a divided legislature. Still, the pressure is realand increasing.

This wave of political involvement is reshaping how universities operate. Who sits in the president's chair matters, but so does who's pulling the levers behind the scenes. State-appointed boards now have a bigger say in hiring, campus policy, and even what students learn. Policy experts warn this trend threatens institutional autonomy. Dr. Michael Poliakoff of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni says transparency is important, but "excessive political interference could erode trust among faculty and students." Dr. Mildred Garcia, president of the American Council on Education, adds that abrupt leadership changes often signal "deeper governance challenges" rooted in outside pressure.

For UVA, the stakes are high. Leadership instability can spook donors, drive away talented faculty, and make prospective students think twice. It can also impact national rankings and research funding. And this isn't just speculation: a recent Pew Research Center survey found only 38% of Americans now express high confidence in college leadersa sharp drop from previous years. The partisan divide is striking. Republicans are more likely to back increased state oversight, while Democrats and independents largely oppose it. A July poll from Roanoke College showed Virginians split on the issue, with support for state intervention strongest among Republicans.

Why should citizens care? The rules being rewritten at UVA will set precedents for public universities nationwide. As Virginia heads into another election season, candidates are already signaling that higher ed reform will be on the ballot. That could mean new laws affecting university boards, campus policies, and the very meaning of academic freedom.

Looking ahead, experts expect more fights over who controls public higher education. Universities may try to rewrite their own charters to buffer against political swings or seek new alliances with alumni and business leaders who value institutional stability. Meanwhile, other states are watching Virginia closely, ready to followor avoidits example.

The University of Virginia's leadership shakeup is more than a local story. It's a warning shot in a national contest over the soul of public educationone that will shape campuses, classrooms, and communities for years to come.
India on Saturday welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on August 15. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that the meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. He also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that 'This is not an era of war' "This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, 'This is not an era of war'," the spokesperson said. "India, therefore, endorses the upcoming Summit meeting and stands ready to support these efforts," he added. US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Trump made a post on his Truth Social account. "The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he said. Speaking earlier at the White House during the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord, Trump also hinted at progress on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Asked how far the negotiations on the Russia-Ukraine peace efforts had progressed, Trump replied, "We are getting very close to a deal. Working with European nations, who are terrific people and leaders, is a pleasure through NATO...In all fairness to President Zelensky, he is getting everything he needs, assuming we will get something done. I will be meeting very shortly with President Putin. It would have been sooner, but I guess there are security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make." "...It's very complicated. But we're going to get some [territory] back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later, or tomorrow," he added. (ANI)
Former Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Pankaj Saran on Saturday said New Delhi has to keep a "very close watch" on next week's summit meeting between the US and Russia, as "anything" can happen and it will "definitely have an impact on India." He made the remarks while speaking to ANI. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will meet in the US state of Alaska on August 15. "The August 15 summit in Alaska between President Trump and President Putin is going to be the defining event, not only of this year, but of recent contemporary world history, because a lot of preparation has been done to prepare for the summit, a lot of negotiations behind the scene. India has to keep a very close watch on what happens on August 15. Anything can happen, there can be negotiations. Donald Trump has said that there will be talks on territory...Both Russia and Ukraine will have to compromise... If peace is established between Russia and America, there is normalisaton of ties-- it will have a global impact. It will definitely have an impact on India. It will have an impact on Europe and on Ukraine," Saran said. "We have seen that President Zelensky from Ukraine has a very strong statement that our (Ukraine) land, our country is not for gamble. So, in three personalities are connected. Trump, Putin and Zelensky. But the most important role will be of Trump and Putin", he further added. Saran said that one should also analyse the call made by President Putin to PM Modi and the Chinese President on Friday as all is "interconnected." "We should analyse the phone call that was made yesterday by President Putin to our Prime Minister. And yesterday, he (Putin) spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping. All of this is interconnected. Before going to US, Russia has spoken to both India and China". "The world is at a turning point, a turning point of peace, and look at the importance that Putin is attaching to keeping both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping informed. So this is very, very important. We should assume that something positive will come out of the meeting which will change the course of the world," US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday, August 15, 2025, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking about President Putin's upcoming visit to India, Saran told ANI, "Russian President Vladimir Putin is coming to India for the restoration of the normal practice of the India-Russia summit." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he had a telephone conversation today with Vladimir Putin and invited him to visit India later this year for the Annual Bilateral Summit. "Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year." PM Modi said in a statement on X. India on Saturday welcomed the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on August 15. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that the meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace. (ANI)
The visit reaffirms India's commitment to regional maritime cooperation and marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral hydrographic ties between the Indian Navy and Singapore's maritime agencies, a Defence Ministry release said.

The visit also demonstrates India's growing leadership in maritime diplomacy and regional hydrographic capacity building under the Indian Navy's Hydrographic Department framework.

INS Sandhayak was commissioned in February 2024 in the presence of the Defence Minister. The ship has full-scale coastal and deep-water surveying capacity and is capable of SAR/humanitarian operations with onboard helicopter and hospital functions.

The maiden visit of the ship to Singapore aims at facilitating technical/ professional exchanges and sustained hydrographic support engagements.

Key activities during the visit include call on Gary Chew, Assistant Chief Hydrographer, Singapore and courtesy call on Colonel Chauah Meng Soon, Commander 9th Flotilla, Royal Singapore Navy (RSN) by the Commanding Officer.

Other activities include visits from Royal Singapore Navy personnel onboard and showcasing the hydrographic capabilities of the Indian Navy. A visit for school children and families of the Office of High Commissioner of India (HCI) onboard is also scheduled as a part of the visit. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday spoke to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and congratulated him on the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord, reached on Friday (local time) in Washington DC, US. Sharing the update on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote, "Good to speak to Armenian FM. Congratulated him on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty reached in Washington DC." He further said, "This is an important achievement for dialogue and diplomacy that India advocates." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1954204008878657576 The peace agreement, brokered by the United States, ends decades of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. The deal was hailed by US President Donald Trump as a major diplomatic breakthrough that would boost regional stability and open opportunities for trade and investment. At the signing ceremony, Trump said, "It's a long time. Thirty-five years they fought and now they're friends and they're going to be friends for a long time." He explained that the new transit route would give Azerbaijan full access to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh while respecting Armenia's sovereignty. The US will develop the corridor for "up to 99 years." "They're going to be able to really live and work together," Trump added. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev assured that there would be no reversal of the deal. "There should be no doubt and no suspicion that any of the sides would step back. If any of us, Prime Minister Pashinyan or myself, had in mind to step back, we wouldn't have come here. So you can be absolutely sure, as well as the Azerbaijani community, that what has happened today will result in peace, long-lasting peace, eternal peace in the Caucasus," Trump added. Speaking alongside the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trump described his "highest aspiration" as bringing "peace and stability to the world." He added, "Today's signing follows our success with India and Pakistan. They were going at it. They were going at it big. And they were great leaders that came together just prior to what would have been a tremendous conflict, as you know, a nuclear conflict probably." (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has nominated television personality, political commentator, and bestselling author Tammy Bruce as the next Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador. Announcing the decision on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Tammy Bruce, a Great Patriot, Television Personality, and Bestselling Author, as our next Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador. Since the beginning of my Second Term, Tammy has been serving with distinction as Spokesperson of the State Department, where she did a fantastic job. Tammy Bruce will represent our Country brilliantly at the United Nations. Congratulations Tammy!" https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115000471177982480 Trump praised Bruce's work at the State Department, highlighting her role as Spokesperson since the start of his second term and expressing confidence that she would represent the US "brilliantly" at the UN. Bruce currently serves as the US Department of State Spokesperson, a position she assumed in January 2025 at the start of the Trump-Vance administration. According to the State Department, she advises the Secretary of State on all aspects of the Department's press relations and serves as the principal voice on US foreign policy, delivering public briefings and strategic communication on behalf of the Secretary and the Department. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Southern California and was awarded the Spirit of Lincoln Award by the Log Cabin Republicans in 2022. Before joining the administration, Bruce was a Fox News political contributor and commentator for over 20 years and is the author of four New York Times bestselling books focused on political science, philosophy, and cultural critique. Trump has long praised Bruce's political instincts and communication skills. Following his 2024 election victory, he appointed her as State Department Spokesperson, calling her a "highly respected political analyst" and "one of the strongest Conservative voices" in the country. In a January post, Trump had written, "It is my great honour to announce that Tammy Bruce will be joining our incredible Nominee for United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State. Tammy is a highly respected political analyst who understood the power and importance of 'MAGA' early on. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of Southern California and, after being a liberal activist in the 1990s, saw the lies and fraud of the Radical Left, and quickly became one of the strongest Conservative voices on Radio and Television." Bruce's nomination to the UN role will require the Senate's confirmation. (ANI)
India's Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, spoke to US Senator Lindsey Graham to share New Delhi's perspective on energy security, including the growing energy trade between India and the US. "Spoke to Senator @LindseyGrahamSC and shared with him the Indian perspective on our energy security, including increasing energy trade with the United States," Kwatra said in a post on X. https://x.com/AmbVMKwatra/status/1954206497157616000 The conversation comes after US Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday (local time) urged India to use its influence with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine, calling it one of the most significant steps to improve India-US relations. "As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India-U.S. relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine," Graham posted on X. "India is the second largest purchaser of Putin's cheap oil, the proceeds of which fuel his war machine. I hope Prime Minister Modi emphasised to Putin in their recent phone call the need to end this war in Ukraine justly, honourably and forever. I have always believed India has influence in this matter and I am hoping they will use it wisely," he wrote. https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1953864439444234374 His comments came on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he had a "very good and detailed" conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend, President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine," PM Modi said in a post on X. "We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year." However, the meeting with Senator Graham also comes amid escalating trade tensions, after US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India earlier this week in response to New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. The new tariff, set to take effect after 21 days, will raise the total duty on Indian goods to 50 per cent. Trump cited national security and foreign policy concerns, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. According to the White House order, the levy will apply to all Indian goods imported into the US, except for items already in transit or those qualifying for specific exemptions. In a strong domestic message, Prime Minister Modi addressed the US tariff decision directly on Thursday, reaffirming his government's commitment to protecting the agricultural sector. "For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it," PM Modi said. (ANI)
YOKOHAMA, Aug 09 (News On Japan) - As Japan faces an ongoing decline in its birthrate and aging population, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has released data showing the countrys total population.

The number of Japanese citizens has seen its largest decrease to date, while the foreign population in Japan continues to rise.

One area that has long been at the forefront of "coexistence" with foreign residents is Yokohamas Tsurumi Ward.

According to the Ministry's report, Japan's total population stood at 124,336,690 as of January 1, 2025. Of this, 120,653,227 are Japanese citizens.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign residents in Japan has reached a record high of 3,677,463, the largest since the survey began in 2013. Foreigners now account for approximately 3% of Japan's total population.

When asked about the increase in foreign residents, people in the community commented, "I see a lot of foreigners working at convenience stores and restaurants. Personally, I think the number has increased," and "Even at my part-time job, customers living in Japan and speaking Japanese try to communicate. It's nice to have the opportunity to interact with people from other cultures without needing to travel abroad."

In July, Justice Minister Suzuki stated that the proportion of foreigners in Japan could exceed 10% by 2040.

With this in mind, Tsurumi Ward in Yokohama has garnered attention for its efforts in promoting coexistence.

As of August 1, Tsurumis population is approximately 300,000, with 17,755 foreigners, making up about 6% of the total populationdouble the national average.

Walking through the shopping streets, one can find numerous South American restaurants offering cuisine from Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. There are also many Asian restaurants, including those from China and India.

Why is there such a large foreign population in Tsurumi? We spoke with Nobutaro Tsuchiya, an executive in the local shopping street association, to find out.

Tsuchiya explained, "Many people from Okinawa emigrated to South America, and when they sought work in Japan, they settled in Tsurumi. To support them, many stores specializing in Brazilian and South American productssuch as restaurants and supermarketshave opened here."

Tsuchiya also noted the benefits for the shopping district, stating, "Foreign-owned businesses are a tourist attraction. This brings customers from all over and gives the area more exposure. Its great that we can offer ingredients and dishes that are hard to find elsewhere in Japan."

When asked how locals feel about the presence of so many foreign residents, opinions were mixed. Some said, "Its lively with many different stores, which is nice," while others pointed out issues such as, "There are people who can't speak Japanese, so it can be difficult to communicate, and sometimes there are groups drinking late at night on the streets."

Foreign residents in Tsurumi, however, are making an effort to integrate. A Bolivian resident shared, "When you come from a different culture, you have to follow the rules herelike with trash and work rules. If you dont follow the rules in Japan, youre seen negatively. Meeting deadlines and doing things on time is important for gaining trust. I try my best, even though I'm not good at polite language."

Tsurumi has also been advancing its "multicultural coexistence" initiatives, with local government support through facilities where foreign residents can seek advice.

Hiroko Kobayashi, director of the Tsurumi International Exchange Lounge, explained, "The most important support we provide is in daily life. We serve as a hub, connecting people with appropriate services."

As Japans foreign population continues to rise, Tsurumi Wards efforts at fostering coexistence may serve as a valuable model for the future.

Source: FNN
Washuzan Highland in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, has introduced a new extreme attraction called Kyotenja, a Ferris wheel that uses only a lap bar, leaving riders largely exposed. The ride lifts passengers to 60 meters above ground at an elevation of about 200 meters above sea level, offering sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and the Great Seto Bridge while delivering a mix of fear and excitement.
A gathering of development thoughts of Jussi Pakkanen. Some of you may know him as the creator of the Meson build system. jpakkane at gmail dot com
A former Grinnell College student has agreed to drop her lawsuit against the school for its alleged handling of her claim that she was raped by a student athlete who was the son of a major donor.

Court records indicate attorneys for the student, who is identified only as Jane Doe, have filed a notice of stipulated dismissal in the case. The phrase stipulated dismissal typically refers to a formal, written agreement between all parties in a lawsuit documenting the particulars of an out-of-court settlement.

Mattia Wells, Grinnells director of strategic communications and media relations, said Tuesday the school has a policy not commenting on litigation, current or otherwise, and also has a policy that prohibits disclosure of any settlement agreements.

Doe was a student at Grinnell College from September 2018 until May 2022. Doe alleges that on April 20, 2019, she was violently raped in her dorm room on the Grinnell campus by a Grinnell student athlete and the son of a major Grinnell donor. Doe claims her attacker, who is not identified in the lawsuit by name, used extreme physical force and violently knocked her head into a bookshelf, toppling it.

About two weeks later, Doe alleges, she was assaulted by the same individual who pinched her and poured a drink on her at an off-campus party.

In her lawsuit, filed in October 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Doe claimed she sought treatment for sexual trauma through Grinnells student health program, sought assistance from Grinnells administration, and ultimately filed a formal sexual-assault complaint through Grinnells Title IX program.

Only after she retained legal counsel and demanded that a Title IX action be initiated against the alleged perpetrator did Grinnell take any action, the lawsuit claimed. Even then, the adjudication of the Title IX action took more than a year and resulted in what the lawsuit calls a superficial sanction against the alleged perpetrator days before his graduation in 2022.

The school denied the allegations in court. At the time, Wells said Grinnell had robust policies, procedures, and resources in place addressing all aspects of the Title IX process.

In May of last year, the court found that portions of Jane Does Title IX claims were barred due to Title IXs two-year statute of limitations. However, the court allowed other legal claims made by Doe to proceed.

Doe claimed that in the wake of the assault, her mental health deteriorated to a critical level and she constantly felt unsafe on Grinnells campus. In January 2020, during a period of suicidal ideation, she contacted Grinnell Student Health and the office of the college nurse to inform them of an urgent need for a sexual-trauma therapist, according to the lawsuit.

The college nurse allegedly referred Doe to the schools mental health counselor, Erik Kohl, who immediately recognized the seriousness of Does mental health issues and ultimately diagnosed Doe with post-traumatic stress disorder due to sexual trauma, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleged that a short time later, amidst the growing national MeToo movement, an anonymous Instagram account was established with the handle @MeTooGrinnell. By August of 2020, the account contained approximately 120 posts from students who claimed they had been victims of sexual assault or rape on campus. Through those posts, Does family concluded that Does alleged rapist had engaged in an ongoing pattern of rape and sexual assault on Grinnells campus, the lawsuit claimed.

Does father then contacted Grinnells president, Anne Harris, to alert her to the allegations. According to the lawsuit, Harris notified the family of Title IX protections that were available for students at Grinnell and referred the family to Bailey Asberry, the schools Title IX coordinator. Asberry allegedly discouraged Doe from formally reporting the sexual assault and referred Doe to the schools dean of religious life who, in turn, referred Doe back to Asberry, according to the lawsuit.

School proposed mediation with alleged attacker

The lawsuit claims Asberry told Doe the only way for the school to respond to the allegation against the perpetrator was if she filed a formal complaint  a step Doe was reluctant to take for fear of retaliation and retribution. At that point, the lawsuit claims, Asberry made the highly inappropriate and unfathomable suggestion that (Doe) sit down with the perpetrator face-to-face to mediate her violent rape and sexual assault with the perpetrator.

After Doe demanded the school pursue a formal investigation, Asberry allegedly informed her the incidents she had described were not severe enough and would not be investigated by Grinnell, the lawsuit claimed.

Eventually, a Grinnell investigator conducted 11 interviews of six people, and concluded his investigation on Aug. 25, 2021. His preliminary report was riddled with factual errors, misstatements of the applicable policy provisions, and obvious instances of gender bias, the lawsuit claimed.

At a Title IX hearing, an adjudicator found the accused student to be responsible for sexual assault, non-consensual sexual intercourse and for sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact. Grinnell then imposed sanctions against the alleged perpetrator that the lawsuit describes as wildly inappropriate and ineffective.

The school placed the alleged perpetrator on probation for the remainder of his attendance at Grinnell, a period of 23 days; imposed a no-contact order; barred him from participating in graduation if Doe chose to attend; and barred him from participating in future alumni events attended by Doe.

The lawsuit accused Grinnell College of deliberate indifference to sexual abuse, creation of a hostile educational environment, failure to prevent retaliation, retaliation by withholding protections conferred by Title IX, gender bias, discrimination on the basis of gender, violations of constitutional rights, and breach of contract.

In 2015, Grinnell College was investigated by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights in response to complaints filed by six students. The complaints alleged the school failed to impose adequate consequences for students accused of sexual assault, that administrators improperly revealed the identity of a victim, and that one student faced retaliation for their views on Grinnells handling of sexual assaults on campus.

In 2017, the Office for Civil Rights notified Grinnell the case had been administratively closed with a determination that there were no active systemic issues that warranted a continuation of the investigation.
Bayer, the biotech company and manufacturer of Round Up, has substantially increased its spending on lobbying in Iowa since the introduction of a pesticide labeling bill in 2024.

In 2025, according to client reports published by the state, Bayer paid lobbyists $123,250. Reports for 2024 show $86,099 spent. Between 2021 and 2023, years before the pesticide labeling bill was introduced, Bayer spent annually between $20,000 and $30,000 on its lobbying efforts.

An analysis of lobbying data from Food & Water Watch, an environmental group that organized protests and lobbied against the legislative bill, found Bayers spending in the cycles since the law was introduced is nearly double what the company spent the decade prior, from 2013 to 2023.

A statement from Bayer said lobbying is a normal part of the companys political engagement, as it is for many other companies.

Lobbying is a regulated activity and we engage in an ethical and transparent way across the different divisions of the company  Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Health  to support the companys positions on a number key issues in these industries, the statement read.

Jennifer Breon, an Iowa organizer with Food & Water Watch said Bayer is wasting its money in Des Moines.

Iowans are struggling through a mounting public health crisis with industrial agriculture at its core, Breon said in a release. We will not allow Big Ag corporations like Bayer to leverage their ill-begotten pesticide profits to boost private coffers at the expense of the sick.

The high-profile pesticide labeling bill does not mention Bayer or its most common pesticide ingredient glyphosate, though the two have been the focus of the bill.

To date, Bayer has spent more than $10 billion settling lawsuits in which customers claim the pesticide product Roundup, which contains glyphosate, gave them cancer.

The bill, which was introduced and did not advance in 2024 or 2025 in Iowa, would block someone from suing a pesticide company that followed proper labeling rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Supporters of the bill argue there would still be other claims an individual could make to sue a pesticide company.

Bayer and Modern Ag Alliance, a coalition of agricultural interest groups across the country, worked to get introduced in a handful of states this year. Versions of the bill were signed into law in North Dakota and in Georgia.

Opponents of the bill in Iowa, including Food & Water Watch, dubbed it the cancer gag act. They argue that pesticide products can cause cancer, and that the bill takes away an Iowans right to pursue legal recourse.

Bayer holds that its product is safe to use, and also that continued litigation, which have payouts in the billions, will lead to a lack of the products availability in the country. This in turn, the company argues, would be detrimental to farmers and to American food supplies.

Bayer stands behind the safety of our glyphosate-based products which have been tested extensively, approved by regulators and used around the globe for 50 years, the statement from Bayer said. The EPA has an extremely rigorous review process which spans multiple years, considers thousands of studies and involves many independent risk assessment experts at the EPA.

This year the bill, Senate File 394, drew lots of attention at the Iowa State Capitol and passed from the Senate with a vote of 26-21 in March, but the House did not take up the bill.

In addition to the figures spent by Bayer in 2025 and 2024, Modern Ag Alliance, which Bayer is part of, spent $10,000 lobbying in 2025. Other groups, like Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation also registered in support of the bills both years.

Food & Water Watchs lobbying budget for 2024 totaled $498, and in 2025, $1,351. In 2025, the groups lobbyist declared a position on 13 bills.

The bill was also opposed by several legal groups, including the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Iowa Association for Justice and the Iowa State Bar Association, which all have substantial lobbying budgets.

The Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers spent $25,000 on lobbying in 2025, though the group declared on more than 80 bills. The Iowa Association of Justice spent $98,625 in 2025 and registered on more than 230 bills in 2025. The Iowa State Bar Association spent $123,921 on lobbying efforts but registered on more than 240 bills this year.

Spending by these groups did not perceptively increase following the introduction of the pesticide labeling bill.

Lobbyists on behalf of Bayer also registered on bills outside of the pesticide labeling file, with around 60 declarations in 2025.

Bayer and Modern Ag Alliance are also pushing for similar bill at the federal level and submitted a letter to Congress on the issue in May, urging lawmakers to take up a bill. The letter was signed by more than 350 agricultural interest groups.
Kenya, a nation heavily reliant on agricultural exports, seeks to expand its commercial opportunities globally. The country now steps closer to a bilateral agreement with China that would scrap customs duties on several key agricultural exports, including tea, coffee, and avocados. President William Ruto announced this progress during a presidential round table with the private sector in Nairobi earlier this Week, reported Ecofin Agency, citing the local Business Daily.

We have concluded the high-level conversation with China. They have agreed to a reciprocal arrangement to remove all the tariffs on our tea, coffee, avocado and other agricultural exports, President Ruto said, adding that what remains is finalizing the bilateral instruments before the deal comes into effect in a few months.

This potential deal represents a strategic move in Kenyas trade diversification policy. It will allow Kenya to compete more effectively in Chinas agricultural market, where Kenyan products currently face tariffs around 10%.

Tea production, a key sector with major ambitions for China, stands to benefit greatly. The Kenyan government announced in May its goal to quadruple tea exports to China by 2030. This agreement could accelerate that vision.

The timing of this development is critical. On August 3, the United States imposed a 10% tariff on Kenyan products as part of reciprocal trade measures. Previously, Kenya enjoyed duty-free exports of arabica coffee, black tea, macadamia nuts, and vegetable oils to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), whose benefits are now withdrawn.

Given these challenges, securing tariff-free access to Chinas market can help Nairobi offset losses in the U.S. trade arena. Pointing to Chinas vast population of 1.4 billion, Trade and Industry Minister Lee Kinyanjui explained that selling tea and coffee to just 1% of its consumers would be a life-changing development for Kenyan producers.
Kabylia and several other Algerian cities lived on Friday (August 8, 2025) another Black Day of brutality and violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by the heavily armed security and military forces.

The Algerian authorities, which fear the return of the Hirak movement that ousted Bouteflika regime, deployed thousands of anti-riot forces to prevent popular rallies for the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The call for massive protests on Friday has been circulating for several days on social media networks by several Associations, local unions, and Kabyle activists. The protest movement gained momentum following the arrest of several activists of the Movement for self-determination of Kabylia (MAK), the unfair trials of independent journalists, and strong police presence in the wilayas of Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, and Bouira.

The growing economic difficulties in the country and the serious shortage in basic staples are also fuelling social resentment in the country. In the city of Tizi Ouzou, convenient stores were closed, bus services were halted, and public administrations deserted.

Young demonstrators gathered in several neighbourhoods such as Boukhalfa, Redjaouna, and Azazga. They chanted slogans against the military regime of Said Chengriha, the government, the suppression of freedom of expression and called for Kabylia independence. The authorities responded with firing tear gas and the arrests of many demonstrators.

In Algerias capital city, several popular districts such as Bab El Oued, El Harrach, and Belouizdad were also rocked by sporadic protests. In Constantine and Oran, peaceful slogans were chanted, while in the South, in Ghardaia, the demonstrators denounced the marginalization of this region historically opposed to central government.

The situation remains tense in the country amid new calls for civil disobedience, heralding the return of Hirak for a regime change as Algeria is sliding into deeper economic and political crises. Its relations with France and all neighbouring countries (except Tunisia) are deteriorating.

The EU is taking the Algerian regime to court for violating trade & investment agreement. Algeria has also been included in the EU blacklist of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorism financing. Its Polisario militia is expected to be branded by Washington as a terrorist organization slapping Algeria with sanctions and labelled as state sponsor of terrorism.
President Trumps return to the Oval Office saw US authorities sanction Iranian traders, middlemen and infrastructure with fervent intensity, triggering a string of new legislative measures targeting Tehrans oil revenues. The clampdown intensified amidst the Israel-Iran crisis, with the White House extending its sanctioning spree first on Chinese refiners (mostly smaller teapots in Shandong province) and then also on Chinas port operators and midstream companies allegedly dealing with Iranian oil. With more than 400 tankers blacklisted, some 50 Iranian or Iran-linked individuals and 20 companies directly targeted, it would be an understatement to say that Trump has ratcheted up pressure on Iran to unprecedented heights. Yet, more is to come.

Trumps direct sanctions on Chinese refiners might be finally disrupting Iranian flows to China. According to Kpler data, Iranian crude held in floating storage surged from 9 million barrels in mid-January to 33.4 million barrels in early August, marking the highest level since 2020. The overwhelming majority of these stranded tankers are leisurely floating in the territorial waters of Singapore and Malaysia, primary hubs of Iranian ship-to-ship (STS) activity over the past years. Whilst Iran could easily carry out direct deliveries to China, without any stopovers in the Malacca Strait, its oil traders prefer to keep laden tankers anchored for some time near ports of Linggi and Tanjung Pelepas.

The accumulation of Iranian oil in the Malacca Strait coincides with a notable decline in Chinas Iranian crude imports in July. This is a striking break with this years initial trend as in January-March 2025, Chinese imports of Iranian oil surged to an average of 1.5 million b/d, peaking at a record 2 million b/d in March.

Related: Mexico Approves Fracking to Reverse Sagging Oil and Gas Production

Mounting geopolitical pressure and shifting market dynamics appear to be prompting a quiet recalibration in Chinas crude sourcing strategy. After the stellar start to 2025, Iranian oil imports to China first fell to around 1.5 million b/d in June to just 1.1 million b/d in July. This decline, despite the ease of access to Irans record floating storage volumes near Malaysia, suggests Chinese buyers are becoming more reluctant: not because of supply constraints, but due to growing anxiety over U.S. enforcement. The U.S. Treasury has already sanctioned three refineries in Chinas Shandong province for processing Iranian crude in the spring of 2025, adding them to the OFAC list and effectively cutting them off from global financial networks. In the wake of these designations, larger Chinese refiners have grown increasingly cautious about engaging in transactions linked to Tehran.

US-sanctioned Chinese refiners

Refinery Capacity Sanctions date Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical 100,000 b/d March 20, 2025 Shandong Shengxing Chemical 44,000 b/d April 16, 2025 Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group 120,000 b/d May 8, 2025



Irans decision to anchor such volumes in Southeast Asia also reflects Tehrans logistical and security calculations as the 12-day war with Israel heightened risks of keeping crude next to its shores. Situating the floating storage in Southeast Asia offers Tehran a strategic advantage. Notably, it shortens the logistical route were Chinese buyers to rekindle their interest - a tanker from Singapore can reach Qingdao in around 7-8 days, compared to a roughly 20-day voyage from Irans Kharg Island oil export port.

The huge buildup in Iranian floating storage, however, places Malaysia in an increasingly delicate geopolitical situation. The U.S. administration has made clear that if Malaysia is perceived as complacent in curbing illicit oil trade, it could become the next target of Trumps favored punitive tool, tariffs. While Malaysian authorities have taken visible enforcement actions, including the detention of several tankers engaged in undocumented STS operations in 2023 and 2024, there is not much they can do - their jurisdiction ends at the limits of territorial waters. Moreover, Malaysia itself has been trying to boost trade relations with Beijing and has to be very cautious not to offend either side in its balancing act between two giants.

By lowering its Iranian intake, China appears to be broadening its crude supply base to reduce exposure to further US punitive measures. In July, imports of Russias ESPO blend rose sharply to over 900,000 b/d  a 30% increase from March and the highest level in 4 months, according to Kpler shipping data. This shift points to a strategic effort to minimize exposure to politically sensitive supply routes while safeguarding energy security.

Whilst Chinese refiners publicly express their concerns over Iranian oil imports, they will soon face a watershed moment when not buying discounted Iranian oil would be too big of a temptation. Prices for Irans main export grade Iranian Light have been plunging on the heels of the ongoing buildup in floating tankers around the Singapore/Malaysia area  making Iranian barrels increasingly difficult to ignore. Irans export grade has seen its discount deepen for six consecutive months. Before U.S. sanctions were imposed on Luqing, the first of three Chinese refineries sanctioned in March, Iranian Light was trading at just $0.80 per barrel below ICE Brent. By the end of July, the discount had widened to $3.50-4.00 per barrel.

At such steep discounts, Iranian crude may soon become too profitable for Chinese refiners to resist  especially for smaller, price-sensitive players. The tension between economic incentive and regulatory risk is likely to intensify as sanctions pressure persists and Iranian inventories continue to accumulate offshore.

An additional incentive to resume Iranian crude purchases may come from growing uncertainty around the future of Russian oil trade. The Trump administration has already imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian refiners importing Russian crude, effective August 27, signaling a potential shift toward broader secondary trade penalties. While Washington and Beijing are currently engaged in negotiations tied to a broader truce, that agreement is set to expire on August 12. Although President Trump has claimed progress in the talks, he has not ruled out the possibility of extending secondary sanctions on China.

While Beijing maintains that its energy policy is guided by national interest, the evolving sanctions landscape may prompt Chinese officials to reassess the relative risks of dealing with Tehran. In that context, Iranian oil  long stigmatized but now heavily discounted  may begin to look like a more acceptable option.

By Natalia Katona for Oilprice.com

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The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has been in the works for over a decade, following repeated delays and widespread opposition from communities in the region, as well as environmentalists internationally, which led several investors to pull out over the years. However, significant progress has been made of late, and the two countries can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The development of EACOP is aimed at connecting Uganda with Tanzania to export crude from Ugandas oilfields via the Port of Tanga, Tanzania, on the Indian Ocean. Tilenga is operated by TotalEnergies, and Ugandas Kingfisher oilfield is operated by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Since discovering crude 17 years ago, landlocked Uganda has aimed to export its oil supplies internationally, which led to the plan for EACOP in 2013. If completed, EACOP would be the longest electrically heated crude oil pipeline in the world, covering 1,443 km, with 296 km in Uganda and 1,147 km in Tanzania.

EACOP is owned by TotalEnergies (62 percent), CNOOC (8 percent), the Uganda National Oil Company (15 percent), and the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation (15 percent). By June last year, EACOP had $2 billion in funding from the oil companies developing the project, but it needed a further $3 billion for its completion. Meanwhile, several investors have been forced to pull out at various stages of the project due to widespread opposition in both countries and environmental concerns at both the local and international levels.

Construction on EACOP commenced in 2017 but really took off in 2023, and by July this year, it was reported to be 64.5% complete. The pipelines construction was expected to bolster the economy of both Uganda and Tanzania by attracting higher levels of foreign direct investment, as well as support the creation of thousands of jobs and the development of related infrastructure, such as roads, ports and power.

Developers are reported to have spent $3.6 billion on the project to date, and its completion is now expected in around a year. However, the developers must still overcome certain geographical challenges to meet this deadline. The pipeline crosses uneven terrain, including 600 wetland, river, and road crossings, and has its top point at an elevation of 1,738 metres above sea level, in Tanzania.

To meet funding needs, after several investors pulled out, the developers were forced to invest more funds. In March, the project was awarded $1 billion in financing in the form of a syndicated loan from local and regional lenders  Stanbic Bank, KCB Bank, Standard Bank, Afriexim Bank, and the Islamic Cooperation for the Development of the Private Sector. The race is on to develop the pipeline as Uganda is set to commence crude production at its Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields this year.

However, the project is not without opposition, even at this advanced stage of development. To construct the pipeline, the developers needed to establish a land acquisition programme covering some 6,400 hectares, which included the relocation of 775 primary residences and affected 19,262 stakeholders, landowners, and land users in total, according to TotalEnergies. However, one Human Rights Watch report suggested that EACOP could displace more than 100,000 people. This has led to backlash from communities across Uganda and Tanzania, as well as concern from international human rights groups.

There are also widespread environmental concerns about the development of EACOP, with the International Energy Agency stating in 2021 that to limit global warming to 1.5C, no new oil and gas fields should be developed. Environmentalists worldwide have voiced concern about the potential impact of the pipelines development on the climate. During the projects development, 43 banks and 30 insurers made public commitments not to support the project financially due to environmental and human rights fears.

Activists in the #StopEACOP movement have protested the development of the pipeline in recent years. This has led to the arrest of many protestors, as the Ugandan police view the demonstrations as illegal. Meanwhile, several government officials have dismissed the protests, suggesting that foreign powers have financed opposition efforts to undermine Ugandas path to economic development.

In recent weeks, activists from End Fossil Occupy Uganda have expressed disappointment with the governments clear dismissal of the ongoing protests. The group conducted a protest on 5th August against the anticipated impact of the project on the environment and communities in the region. The project has already affected 13,000 people in Uganda and Tanzania who have lost their land with unfair compensation, the groups spokesperson, Felix Musinguzi, said. The project poses risks to critical water sources, including Lake Victoria, which provides water to 40 million people, Musinguzi added.

As EACOP reaches the final stages of development, following years of delays due to investor uncertainty, it looks likely to be completed. The pipeline will allow landlocked Uganda to export crude from its new oilfields to the rest of the world via Tanzanias port. However, there is still widespread opposition to the project from human rights groups and environmentalists both locally and internationally.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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US officials keep expressing enthusiasm for expanding trade in critical minerals with Central Asian states. But while Washington talks, China is taking substantive action to expand its hold over Central Asias abundant resources.

During her recent Senate confirmation hearing, Julie Stufft, the Trump administrations nominee to be US envoy to Kazakhstan, reaffirmed US interest in developing Central Asias critical minerals sector.

Almost half of the minerals recognized by the [US Geological Survey] as critical to our economy and national security are in Kazakhstan, and one of my main goals, if confirmed, would be to ensure that US investment in this sector takes place, she stated. She added that containing Chinese influence in the regions minerals sector was also a priority for US foreign policy.

Stuffts comments are consistent with repeated statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top administration officials since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January.

Central Asian states are relatively eager for US participation in developing the sectors potential and are equally keen to limit Chinese economic influence while diversifying trade options. But some Central Asian officials have quietly complained that there has been little follow up to the US expressions of intent.

Meanwhile, China, which already has a strong position in Central Asias mining sector, is moving aggressively to tighten its grip.

On August 6, a Chinese state-owned entity, China National Gold Group, concluded a deal with Uzbekistans Ministry of Mining and Geology covering cooperation in such areas as geological exploration in promising areas for precious metals and critical minerals. The agreement also contains provisions on joint mining ventures, as well as the production of high-value-added products, technology transfers, personnel training and the financing of promising projects.

In late July, the Association of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan proposed the establishment of a $500-million investment fund to develop the countrys green minerals potential. The plan includes provisions to conduct joint research, develop shared environmental standards and personnel training, according to a statement issued by the Uzbek Ministry of Mining and Geology.

Also in late July, Uzbek officials expressed interest in a Chinese proposal to establish a metallurgical industrial park near the capital Tashkent. A report distributed by the state-aligned outlet UzDaily stated that the sides will work out the conditions for signing a relevant agreement.

Chinese firms are likewise assiduously building dominant positions in other fast-emerging economic sectors in Central Asia, including renewable energy and AI. On July 24, for example, Uzbekistans Ministry of Energy and Shanghai Linkwise Data Intelligence signed a memorandum of understanding to build a 300 Megawatt data center in Bukhara.

Some US analysts contend that even if the United States ramps up engagement efforts, it will have a hard time competing with China in the Central Asian critical minerals sector.

Just because the region has critical minerals, does not mean the United States can easily access them. Taking a closer look at the region, infrastructure, governance, topography, and geopolitical complexities presents numerous challenges for US companies to navigate, states an analysis published by the Atlantic Council in April.

Any possibility of substantive US-Central Asian trade in critical minerals will require the rapid development of the Middle Corridor, a transit network still in its infancy, the Atlantic Council analysis added.

In its current state, the Middle Corridor is incapable of accommodating the United States critical mineral needs. Its limited capacity and higher-than-average transit costs would offer little strategic benefit to US businesses while exposing investors to significant financial and geopolitical risks, according to the analysis.

For investors to see the benefits of Central Asian critical mineral mining, improved transit routes are necessary; some studies have estimated 18.5 billion is required to ensure commercial viability, it adds.

By RFE/RL

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ATLANTA  A Georgia man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The gunman also tried to get into the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire late Friday afternoon, the official said. He was armed with five firearms, including at least one long gun, the official said on condition of anonymity.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding to the shooting.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose skepticism of vaccine safety is a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees Saturday. However, some laid-off CDC employees said he shares responsibility for the violence and called on him to resign.

CDC shooter identified

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White, 30, as the shooter but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.

The suspect's father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told AP. The father said his son was upset over the death of the son's dog and also became fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. The family lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb about 25 miles northwest of CDC headquarters.

A voicemail left at a phone number listed publicly for White's family wasn't immediately returned Saturday morning.

Employees at CDC are shaken

The shooting left gaping bullet holes in windows across the CDC campus, where thousands work on critical disease research. Employees huddled under lockdown for hours while investigators gathered evidence. Staff members were encouraged to work from home Monday or take leave.

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on social media.

Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said outside the CVS pharmacy on Saturday that gun violence feels like "a fact of life" now. "This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia."

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose," Kennedy said Saturday. "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others."

Some rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a "Dear colleagues" email, and called for his resignation.

"Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust," said Fired but Fighting, a group of laid-off employees pushing back against changes President Donald Trump's administration made to the CDC.

The group also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, pointing to a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government.

"We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected," Vought said in the video, obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented. "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down."

A request for comment from Vought's agency was not immediately returned.

CDC workers already faced uncertain futures due to funding cuts, layoffs and political disputes over their agency's mission. "Save the CDC" signs are common in some Atlanta-area neighborhoods.

This shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers," said Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during terminations.

Distrust of COVID-19 vaccines

A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nancy Hoalst, who lives in same cul-de-sac as White's family, said he seemed like a good guy" while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbors, but would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations.

"He was very unsettled and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people," Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. "He emphatically believed that."

But she said she never believed White would be violent: "I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC."

Slain officer leaves wife and 3 kids

"This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father," DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

Rose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, graduated from the police academy in March and "quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism," DeKalb County said.

Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said outside the CVS on Saturday that gun violence feels like "a fact of life" now. "This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia."

Senior CDC leadership told some staff Saturday that they would do a full security assessment following the shooting, according to a conference call recording obtained by AP.

One staffer said people felt like "sitting ducks" Friday. Another asked whether administrators spoke with Kennedy and if they could speak of "the misinformation, the disinformation" that "caused this issue." Leaders said they are speaking with Kennedy's office but didn't say what Kennedy would do.

CDC leaders fear employees could continue to be targeted. In a Saturday email to employees obtained by AP, CDC's security office asked employees to scrape old CDC parking decals off their vehicles. The security office said decals haven't been required for some time.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

A total of 5 different illegal towing criminal businesses were busted this week by the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office.

Here is the details:

.

On July 30, 2025, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office led a coordinated enforcement operation targeting illegal and predatory towing companies operating without required state licensing in Happy Valley.

This joint operation, conducted in partnership with regulatory agencies including the Oregon State Board of Towing and Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV), aimed to protect consumers from unlicensed towing businesses that often engage in predatory and illegal practices. These unlawful operators not only put the public at risk, but they also undercut licensed towing companies and are frequently associated with other criminal activity.

Oregon law (ORS 822.200) requires tow companies that operate for direct or indirect compensation to be licensed through the Oregon Department of Transportation and the State Board of Towing. Violating this law is a Class A misdemeanor. Companies that tow vehicles they do not own, especially if wrecked, abandoned, or disabled, are subject to this licensing requirement. Those who present themselves as legitimate towing businesses while unlicensed are also in violation.

All of the businesses identified in the July 30 operation had previously received formal warning letters from the State Board of Towing, advising them they were out of compliance and subject to criminal prosecution. Despite these notices, the companies continued to operate without obtaining the proper licensing.

Operation Results:

 3 individuals arrested for Operating an Illegal Towing Business (ORS 822.200)

 2 tow trucks towed, including 1 impounded

 1 driver cited for no drivers license, expired vehicle registration, and failing to register a vehicle

 5 illegal towing operations identified and referred for civil penalties/enforcement

 19 commercial vehicle safety violations discovered during 3 vehicle inspections

The Sheriffs Office and our contract city partners at the Happy Valley and Wilsonville Police Departments worked together with the Oregon City Police Department, Washington County Sheriffs Office, Clackamas County Motor Carrier Safety, Oregon State Board of Towing, and Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV).

This enforcement mission was carried out to protect consumers, ensure tow trucks on our roads are safe and legal, hold violators accountable, and ensure fairness for licensed and law-abiding towing companies.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

President Trump has called on the CEO of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan, to resign over a conflict of interest.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!

The conflict of interest may arise over Lip-Bu Tans investment in hundreds of Chinese companies  some with military ties.

Complicating matters is the fact that Intel is one of the biggest recipients of Bidens CHIPS acts where the federal government has planned to award $280 billion to tech companies.

This comes as Intel has plans to cut 20,000 workers (2,400 in Oregon).
Prosecutors said he had a pointed weapon, described as a sharpened toothbrush, and a "striking weapon," described as a sock filled with solid bars of soap.

Miller pleaded guilty Thursday to one count each of possessing meth and possessing a weapon in a penal institution.

As a part of the plea agreement, Assistant State's Attorney Alexandra Williams dismissed his remaining charges.

Yoder sentenced Miller to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the drug charge and five years for the weapon, to be served consecutively to one another and at 50%. He earned 330 days credit for time served.

After he finishes his term of incarceration, Miller must complete 12 months of mandatory supervised release.

Miller was represented by First Assistant Public Defender Matthew Koetters, who was not available for comment.
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 Crew-10 astronauts pictured in March before they blasted off for the space station.

After nearly five months onboard the International Space Station, an international crew of four astronauts began their descent back down to Earth on a SpaceX capsule Friday.

US astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan's Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov are expected to spend more than 17 hours in the capsule before splashing down off California's coast at 1533 GMT on Saturday.

Their return will mark the end of the 10th crew rotation mission to the space station under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which was created to succeed the Space Shuttle era by partnering with private industry.

The Dragon capsule of billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company detached from the International Space Station (ISS) at 2215 GMT on Friday.

The capsule's dizzying drop back down to Earth will be slowed when it re-enters Earthand then again by huge parachutes to soften its landing.

After the capsule splashes down, it will be recovered by a SpaceX ship and hoisted aboard.

Only then will the astronauts be able to breathe Earth's air again, for the first time in months.

The astronauts, known as Crew-10, conducted numerous scientific experiments during their time on the space station, including studying plant growth and how cells react to gravity.

Their launch into space in March was heavily scrutinized because it finally allowed two US astronautswho had been unexpectedly stuck onboard the space station for nine monthsto return home.

When they launched in June 2024, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were only supposed to spend eight days in space on a test of the Boeing Starliner's first crewed flight.

However, the spaceship developed propulsion problems and was deemed unfit to fly back, leaving them stranded in space.

NASA announced this week that Wilmore has decided to retire after 25 years of service at the US space agency.

Last week, US astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov boarded the ISS for a six-month mission.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that five astronauts were returning to Earth.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Our ability to predict extreme weather from thunderstorms, like the recent catastrophic flash floods in Texas, is unsettlingly poor, even in the hours leading up to the event. Improvements in understanding, detecting and predicting extreme thunderstormsand increasing community resilience to themare badly needed.

Severe thunderstorms are a regular aspect of summer weather in Canada. A severe storm becomes extreme when the intensity of a thunderstorm hazard (tornado, downburst, damaging hail or flooding rains) escalates to a level rarely observed. Or, when the impacts of a storm are extreme due to enhanced exposure and vulnerability, resulting in significant casualties and economic losses. In some cases, both intensity and impacts are extreme.

At the new Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory at Western University, we're exploring how to understand and reduce risks produced by extreme weather. Research projects include the Northern Tornadoes Project, the Northern Hail Project, the Northern Mesonet Project and an upcoming project focusing on thunderstorm flash flooding.

Extreme storms

We compiled a list of the top 10 worst natural disasters in Canada, ranked by insured losses over the last 20 years. While the 2016 fire that devastated Fort McMurray, Alta., tops the list, half of the events are associated with extreme thunderstorms.

This includes two Calgary-area hailstorms in 2020 and 2024, the Ontario-Quebec derecho of 2022 and two Toronto-area flash floods (2024 and 2013). Each of these disasters cost close to $1 billion or more in insured losses.

One commonality among these events is that on the morning of the extreme event, there was little to no indication that an extreme thunderstorm would occur. In fact, in each case, it was not clear even during the storm that an extreme event was underway. Clearly, this affects the accuracy, timeliness and urgency of weather alerts meant to keep people safe.

Another commonality is that extreme thunderstorms can have a very short "fuse." Unlike heat waves, droughts and other larger-scale phenomena, the threat due to thunderstorm-related extreme weather can increase suddenly.

Risk assessment and unreasonable data

A simple model of risk is "hazard" x "vulnerability", which means that the risk to people and property can be determined based on both the type, intensity and coverage of a dangerous weather phenomenon and the ability of households and infrastructure to cope with and recover from the hazard's harmful impacts.

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

Weather forecasters are trained to analyze and synthesize all available meteorological data to identify the most likely future state of the atmosphere and any related risks.

This often involves dismissing extreme outliersif the numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are even able to predict themand focusing on more plausible forecasts. Weather observation networks are also not optimized for extreme weather; sometimes, critical data are lost in power outages or are suppressed because they go beyond what is deemed reasonable.

With the 2013 Toronto flood, for example, even cutting-edge NWP models using a variety of different approaches were unable to reproduce the focused rainfall that resulted in the flash flooding. Future NWP models need to be optimized for handling such extreme events.

Extreme impacts

On the vulnerability side of the equation, it is rarely clear where exactly a stormbe it severe or extremewill hit, even just hours before. If it affects a vulnerable area, like a tornado hitting tightly packed homes in a subdivision or heavy rain affecting a campground surrounded by steep terrain, then impacts are likely to be extreme.

So what actions are required to optimize detecting, forecasting and alerting for extreme thunderstorms? First, a more sophisticated model of risk might be: risk = (hazard x vulnerability x exposure) / resilience.

This helps to further refine the risk.

To enhance our ability to detect, predict and alert for extreme thunderstorm hazards, we need to develop techniques and tools to better identify situations where the outlier solution may be plausible or even realistic, given the conditions.

This is required both for NWP models that are increasingly used for forecasting, and for observation networks such as weather stations and radars that can indicate to a forecaster that a warning is needed immediately.

To know where hazards occur most frequently, we need to know the hazard's climatologythe locations where it is strongest or occurs most frequently. This requires collecting vast quantities of data, assessing the intensity of hazards and ensuring the quality of the data. Improved data will allow decision-makers to minimize costs, ensuring that the benefits of the measures outstrip the costs.

Improved knowledge about community vulnerability is also important. Up-to-date flood maps are critical for understanding how heavy rain may turn into disastrous flash flooding, for example. However, preparing a community for an event having an intensity it has never experienced before is an additional challenge.

Resilient communities

As urbanization continues and cities grow outward, exposure to hazards is increased. What were once fields or flatlands become vulnerable residential or industrial developments.

Communities can improve their resilience to extreme thunderstorms through short-term coping tactics and longer-term adaptive strategiesparticularly as weather extremes in general increase due to climate change.

Overall, improving our ability to detect, predict and alert for extreme thunderstormsand increase community resilience to themis a massive undertaking. It is essentially a community endeavor that requires the efforts of academia, governments, industry, emergency managers and the public.

The ultimate goals are to prevent casualties, and to keep people in their homes and keep schools and businesses open, following extreme thunderstorm events.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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In this photo provided by the Hakai Institute, researcher Alyssa Gehman from the Hakai Institute counts and measures sunflower sea stars in the Burke Channel on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, in 2023. Credit: Bennett Whitnell/Hakai Institute via AP

Scientists say they have at last solved the mystery of what killed more than 5 billion sea stars off the Pacific coast of North America in a decade-long epidemic.

Sea starsoften known as starfishtypically have five arms and some species sport up to 24 arms. They range in color from solid orange to tapestries of orange, purple, brown and green.

Starting in 2013, a mysterious sea star wasting disease sparked a mass die-off from Mexico to Alaska. The epidemic has devastated more than 20 species and continues today. Worst hit was a species called the sunflower sea star, which lost around 90% of its population in the outbreak's first five years.

"It's really quite gruesome," said marine disease ecologist Alyssa Gehman at the Hakai Institute in British Columbia, Canada, who helped pinpoint the cause.

Healthy sea stars have "puffy arms sticking straight out," she said. But the wasting disease causes them to grow lesions and "then their arms actually fall off."

The culprit? Bacteria that has also infected shellfish, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The findings "solve a long-standing question about a very serious disease in the ocean," said Rebecca Vega Thurber, a marine microbiologist at University of California, Santa Barbara, who was not involved in the study.

In this photo provided by the Hakai Institute, a sunflower sea star is reduced to goo by sea star wasting disease at Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada, in 2015. Credit: Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute via AP

It took more than a decade for researchers to identify the cause of the disease, with many false leads and twists and turns along the way.

Early research hinted the cause might be a virus, but it turned out the densovirus that scientists initially focused on was actually a normal resident inside healthy sea stars and not associated with disease, said Melanie Prentice of the Hakai Institute, co-author of the new study.

Other efforts missed the real killer because researchers studied tissue samples of dead sea stars that no longer contained the bodily fluid that surrounds the organs.

But the latest study includes detailed analysis of this fluid, called coelomic fluid, where the bacteria Vibrio pectenicida were found.

"It's incredibly difficult to trace the source of so many environmental diseases, especially underwater," said microbiologist Blake Ushijima of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, who was not involved in the research. He said the detective work by this team was "really smart and significant."

In this photo provided by the Hakai Institute, 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 in 2021. Credit: Kristina Blanchflower/Hakai Institute via AP

Now that scientists know the cause, they have a better shot at intervening to help sea stars.

Prentice said that scientists could potentially now test which of the remaining sea stars are still healthyand consider whether to relocate them, or breed them in captivity to later transplant them to areas that have lost almost all their sunflower sea stars.

Scientists may also test if some populations have natural immunity, and if treatments like probiotics may help boost immunity to the disease.

Such recovery work is not only important for sea stars, but for entire Pacific ecosystems because healthy starfish gobble up excess sea urchins, researchers say.

Sunflower sea stars "look sort of innocent when you see them, but they eat almost everything that lives on the bottom of the ocean," said Gehman. "They're voracious eaters."

In this photo provided by the Hakai Institute, with a lack of predatory sunflower sea stars, sea urchins proliferate in Hakai Pass, British Columbia, Canada, in 2019. Credit: Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute via AP

In this photo provided by the Hakai Institute, healthy populations of sunflower sea stars are found in the Knight Inlet fjord of the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, in 2023. Credit: Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute via AP

With many fewer sea stars, the sea urchins that they usually munch on exploded in populationand in turn gobbled up around 95% of the kelp forest s in Northern California within a decade. These kelp forests provide food and habitat for a wide variety of animals including fish, sea otters and seals.

Researchers hope the new findings will allow them to restore sea star populationsand regrow the kelp forests that Thurber compares to "the rainforests of the ocean."

More information: Melanie B. Prentice et al, Vibrio pectenicida strain FHCF-3 is a causative agent of sea star wasting disease, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02797-2 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution

 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WARREN COUNTY  Following an extension to their contract with AI software developer Jitterbit, county officials have doubled down on their commitment to use artificial intelligence as a tool to improve government processes and services throughout several departments.

[Jitterbit] has a new artificial intelligence tool that will give us some efficiencies while not having to hire additional staff through the speed of using AI, said Jeremy Scrime, senior programmer analyst with the Warren County IT department.

Warren County currently uses around 80 web-based apps performing assignments across more than 20 county departments including building permits and renewals, certificates of occupancy, real-estate tax collection, repossessing property, and more.

Scrime described the new Jitterbit AI software as a programmers interface that writes code for several departments.

Its a low code tool that we use throughout the county for 80 different applications written for various departments and enterprise-wide systems. Were rolling out new contract request processes, and were adding in procedures and policies so that we have a central location, Scrime explained of the wide-ranging tasks AI will help aid. We have applications for the Department of Public Works, Human Resources, the treasurer, pretty much all the departments.

Warren Countys web applications must work properly and at a high rate since a bulk of the governments business is conducted on them, including by both county residents and county employees.

The countys current contract with Jitterbit is for five years totaling $120,000, however, the new amended contract means that the total will not exceed $140,000, with a first year trial run for the new AI coding interface for $2,500 and a possible second year for $10,000, according to Scrime.

If we use the software and we find it useful, then we can sign on without having to come back for the additional two years, Scrime said. The money for the first year is in our budget.

Consolidating the governments work using this one AI system is a better option than each department going out and contracting with individual vendor systems for almost $50,000 a year for each, according to Scrime.

Back in May, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to enhance investment in AI research for public good, which would establish first-in-the-nation safeguards for novel AI companion systems, Governor Hochuls office said in a statement.

Whoever leads in the AI revolution will lead the next generation of innovation and progress, and were making sure New York State is on the front lines, Governor Hochul said back in May. With these bold initiatives, we are making sure our state leads the nation in both innovation and accountability. New York is not just keeping pace with the AI revolution  we are setting the standard for how it should be done.

Warren County Administrator John Taflan added, The state of New York is encouraging all counties to start considering the use of artificial intelligence in many of the services we provide. There are a lot of services we provide that artificial intelligence can enhance the things that we do.

Up to this point, Warren County has been strategically cautious toward the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Weve been pretty conservative in our approach. Some counties have gone out and invested a lot more money in AI tools, Taflan said. I think the $140,000 over five years is a good approach to get us started with this, but itll enhance the ability for anything from services provided by DMV to services provided by public health, other organizations, other agencies.

Additionally, Scrime warned that AI is evolving at an exceptionally high rate and could eventually touch all major businesses and networks.

Its very young, but its accelerating  the adoption and growth of it is pretty scary, Scrime said of AI.

Six months ago, this [AI] program was as smart as an average high school student. This next iteration is as smart as a PhD in every subject across the board, Scrime explained. As it continues to evolve, itll be adaptive, so it will start suggesting things that you can do, rather than you telling it what to do.

Customer service call centers, theyre all channeling through AI, and its becoming smarter to the point where its disruptive for a lot of industries, Scrime concluded.
CFE starts Tulum pilot project to legally connect irregular settlements

Tulum, Q.R.  Three irregular settlements in Tulum will be the first to participate in a Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) pilot project. Residents in the communities of Tumben Kiin, Nassin and Arrecifes have agreed with CFE to join the project that will see legally established power in their neighborhoods.

The power project proposes a collective metering model using micro-meters with the goal of distributing consumption equitably among families that currently lack individual contracts or formal electricity infrastructure.

The project is being carried out in coordination with the Comite Etnico Pluricultural and Tulum City Council.

Atilano Arana Rejon, President of the Pluricultural Ethnic Committee, explained that the proposed plan includes installing a central meter per transformer that will record the total energy consumption in each neighborhood. This consumption will be divided proportionally among the connected families.

If a meter reads 1,000 pesos of power consumption and there are 10 families, each will pay 100 pesos. If only 800 pesos are consumed, the cost will be adjusted among all. The idea is for the payment to be fair and shared, Arana explained.

Arana Rejon reiterated the committees commitment to collaborating with the CFE and the City Council to advance territorial planning and guarantee basic services in vulnerable communities.

Tulum cannot continue to be divided between the regular and the irregular. Its time to guarantee formal access to public services with order and transparency, he said.

According to Johny Monsreal, Tulum City Council General Secretary, 14 irregular settlements have currently been identified with an estimated 2,760 informal connections distributed across 46 transformers, each connected to approximately 60 homes.

Both sides met Friday to discuss the start of the new legal connections.

Monsreal said the CFE has already sent two technical supervisors to talk with residents and begin planning the program, which represents a concrete opportunity for energy justice for hundreds of families currently connected irregularly.

From the City Council, we will provide close monitoring and facilitate the necessary coordination so that this program moves forward in an orderly and transparent manner, he said.

The pilot project will last three years. If the results are positive, the plan will expand to other irregular neighborhoods north and south of Tulum.

The irregular settlements of Sacbe, Yax Balam, Arrecife 2, San Miguelito, Lakin, 2 de Octubre and La Reserva, among others, are also part of the Pluricultural Ethnic Committee, which represents the 14 irregular settlements in the municipality.
Early single vehicle accident on PDC highway kills one

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  One person died in a single vehicle accident north of Playa del Carmen Friday. The male driver was traveling from the city of Chetumal to Cancun when he is alleged to have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

The driver, reported to be in his late 40s, was found dead at the scene by paramedics. The accident happened on the federal highway near Punta Maroma Friday morning. Emergency services were notified of the accident around 7:30 a.m. by passing motorists who reported watching the van take the corner at excessive speed.

First responders arrived to a white delivery van that had rolled off the highway and into the ditch. The front windshield was completely smashed outward. Responders searched the inside of the van where they located the deceased body of the driver.

According to preliminary reports, the man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Traffic was heavily affected for several hours while medical personnel removed the deceased and a tow truck arrived for the van.
Federal officials form permanent working group to curb Quintana Roos Mennonite Footprint

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Federal environmental officials have created a roundtable that will meet regularly to discuss illegal deforestation. The group will gather to specifically discuss curbing the destruction by Mennonites in Quintana Roo, destruction that has been dubbed the Mennonite Footprint.

We established the Roundtable to Combat Illegal Logging and Deforestation in Quintana Roo, joining forces with state and federal authorities to curb the illegal clearings that threaten the states forests, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) said.

In recent operations, we detected damage to 1,463 hectares in Bacalar and Jose Maria Morelos, which led to the closure of three properties and the filing of two criminal complaints.

With biweekly meetings, this roundtable seeks to coordinate strategies to stop unauthorized land-use changes and protect the natural heritage for future generations, the federal agency said.

The group consists of personnel from Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente) and the Quintana Roo SSC (Citizen Security), as well as the Quintana Roo Federal Attorney General (FGE), the State Attorney Generals Office for Environmental Protection, the Representative Office of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, the Regional Directorate of the Commission for Natural Protected Areas, the National Forestry Commission and National Guard.

The group met August 6 as a first step to curbing the mass illegal deforestation in the state.

During the installation of the working group, Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of Profepa (National Prosecutors Office), called for coordinated efforts to halt unauthorized land-use changes affecting the state. She noted that these crimes are one of the main causes of the loss of forests and the benefits these ecosystems provide, such as water, biodiversity and climate regulation.

She explained that in recent operations, Profepa has detected cleared lands of up to 1,000 hectares where vegetation is removed, burned and replaced with intensive monocultures with extensive use of chemicals.

Mennonite communities have cleared thousands of hectares without permission and use heavy chemicals in their agriculture.

All of this is done without a land-use change permit, making it a completely illegal act with significant environmental repercussions.

Oscar Rebora, the State Secretary of the Environment (SEMA), said the establishment of the committee represents a key step in stopping those who threaten the forests and biodiversity of Quintana Roo.

He noted that SEMA is making its technical, monitoring and verification capabilities available to identify, document, and report any illegal activity, particularly in areas designated as high risk for deforestation due to the agricultural and livestock activities of the Mennonite community, whose impact footprint, the Mennonite Footprint, has been detected in various parts of the state.

The group will meet every two weeks to combat the illegal deforestation by the states Mennonite communities.

He emphasized that this effort seeks not only to halt the damage, but also to strengthen the restoration of affected areas and ensure that Quintana Roos natural resources remain as a heritage for future generations.

In the Yucatan Peninsula, illegal logging and land-use changes are occurring at a worrying rate. While organized crime is not involved in this region, the destruction of resources is rapidly advancing, as those allegedly responsible for these processes have the capacity to clear large areas of forest in a very short time using heavy machinery.

In Quintana Roo, Profepa recently conducted four inspections in the municipalities of Bacalar and Jose Maria Morelos, where it detected damage to a total area of 1,463 hectares, resulting in three properties being closed and two criminal complaints filed.

Profepa closed an illegally cleared Mennonite property in Bacalar in July of this year.

The Roundtable to Combat Illegal Logging and Deforestation will meet every two weeks to maintain ongoing dialogue, refine strategies, and coordinate actions and efforts among the various authorities.

No institution can do it alone. We need to join forces: state governments, environmental authorities, prosecutors offices, security institutions and social programs, said Boy Tamborrell.

The ongoing illegal logging or Mennonite Footprint is a threat to the states forest.

Tramborrell says that to comprehensively address the issue, the group will also seek out other agencies including the National Water Commission, the Ministry of Agricultural, Rural, and Fisheries Development, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Geographic and Cadastral Institute of Quintana Roo, and others, to join the working group.

The next meeting will be in two weeks to follow up on the proposed agreements.
With independent customs operation, Hainan Free Trade Port poised to pioneer China's high-standard opening up

Xinhua) 09:19, August 09, 2025

Guests attend the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

* China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to launch an island-wide independent customs operation on Dec. 18, 2025, underscoring the country's wider push for high-standard opening up.

* Hainan's opening up is not merely about lifting restrictions, but about systematically building an institutional framework to ensure the free and efficient flow of people, goods and capital.

* These initiatives will not only drive the island's high-quality development, but also provide a testing ground for broader national reform and opening up, sending a clear message to the world that China's commitment to high-level openness is unwavering, and that its doors will continue to open wider.

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to launch an island-wide independent customs operation on Dec. 18, 2025, underscoring the country's wider push for high-standard opening up.

In the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, senior officials from China's key economic departments shared policy insights on the Hainan FTP and its role in advancing the country's evolving opening-up strategy.

As China's largest special economic zone, Hainan holds unique advantages in serving as a testing ground for reform and opening up. In April 2018, China announced plans to transform the island into a pilot free trade zone, with a long-term vision of developing a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. A master plan released in 2020 aimed to make Hainan a globally influential hub for high-level openness by mid-century.

An aerial drone photo shows a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

"The launch of the island-wide independent customs operation will give Hainan greater latitude to pilot higher-standard opening-up measures," said Cai Ping, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

These initiatives will not only drive the island's high-quality development, but also provide a testing ground for broader national reform and opening up, sending a clear message to the world that China's commitment to high-level openness is unwavering, and that its doors will continue to open wider, Cai said.

ZERO-TARIFF INCENTIVES

"The move is aimed at expanding opening up and accelerating development," said Cai, emphasizing that Hainan's opening up is not merely about lifting restrictions, but about systematically building an institutional framework to ensure the free and efficient flow of people, goods and capital.

A central pillar of the policy framework is the enhanced zero-tariff policy. "Businesses will enjoy broader zero-tariff incentives," said Wu Jingfang, an official with the Ministry of Finance.

The proportion of tariff lines with zero-tariff products in the Hainan FTP will increase from 21 percent to 74 percent, while the number of tariff-free items in Hainan will increase from about 1,900 to around 6,600.

Imported products that undergo at least 30 percent value-added processing in Hainan can enter the mainland tariff-free. In addition, certain goods currently banned or restricted nationwide will enjoy open policies in Hainan.

People shop at a duty-free shopping mall in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

These measures will further reduce business costs, help attract upstream and downstream enterprises to Hainan, and promote the clustered development of industrial chains, according to Wu.

With a zero-tariff system fundamentally in place after the independent customs operation, high-quality global resources can flow into Hainan with greater freedom and efficiency, Wu said.

Trade liberalization and facilitation are defining features of a free trade port. Jiang Zijun from the Ministry of Commerce stressed that a key focus of the FTP's trade policies is the adoption of more favorable zero-tariff measures, alongside more relaxed trade management rules.

LONG-TERM ENDEAVOR FOR OPENING UP

Experts believe that launching an unprecedented, island-wide independent customs operation is a complex undertaking with no ready-made blueprint.

It is a "complex and systemic project" that requires careful alignment in policy transition, risk management, and regulatory coordination, said Cai from the NDRC.

Looking ahead, the Hainan FTP will prioritize promoting the free and efficient flow of key production factors, including trade, investment, cross-border capital, personnel and logistics, alongside the secure and orderly movement of data, according to Cai.

In response to the evolving needs of the Hainan FTP and China's wider push for opening up, the Ministry of Finance will continue to advance tax system reforms, Wu said. Key priorities will include advancing preferential corporate and personal income tax policies to attract top talent and leading enterprises, as well as expanding the list of zero-tariff products.

Immigration officers process border entry procedures for passengers of a cruise ship in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 3, 2025. (Xinhua)

With its optimized business environment, Hainan has emerged as a premier foreign investment destination, ranking among China's top performers.

From 2020 to 2024, Hainan attracted more foreign investment than it did in the entire 32 years since becoming a province, while its goods trade grew at an average annual rate of over 30 percent.

Amid rising protectionism and mounting challenges to the global trade order, the planned launch of the island-wide independent customs operation in Hainan -- along with phased steps to build a policy and institutional framework for a free trade port with the highest level of openness -- marks a strong signal of China's commitment to deeper opening up and advancing economic globalization, according to Guo Da, executive director of the China Institute for Reform and Development.

The Ministry of Commerce will make more efforts to support Hainan in aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, enhancing institutional openness, and fostering new growth drivers through targeted measures, Jiang said.

"With the independent customs operations, Hainan FTP is poised to become a key gateway for China's new era of opening up and innovation," Cai added.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling on YouTube.

Jim Ross revealed that his AEW contract is up at the end of August, but the 73-year-old commentator doesnt seemed interested in testing the free agency market.

On a live episode of his Grilling JR podcast, the legendary pro wrestling announcer said hes happy with his part-time schedule and has longtime agent Barry Bloom handling renewal talks with AEW.

I think my contracts up in August, Ross said. Im not planning on going anywhere. I like my part-time schedule. It lets me keep my batteries charged. I like working for Tony Khan because hes always been fair and civil to me. And that I appreciate.

Ross also added that hes hopeful his contract will be renewed, and that his health will hold up so he can contribute more moving forward. In June, he revealed that he is now cancer-free after undergoing surgery to treat colon cancer.

He since returned to call AEW All In pay-per-view at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on July 12. And in

a couple of weeks time, hell head to London for Forbidden Door, the AEWNew Japan Pro Wrestling crossover event at the O2 Arena. Ross has his sights on calling his first match at the legendary ECW Arena (now 2300 Arena) when AEW begins a residency in Philadelphia at the end of August.

Throughout his recovery, Ross has repeatedly praised AEW owner and president Tony Khan for his unwavering support.

Im very indebted to AEW for hiring me and bringing me on board. And Tony Khan has been amazingly wonderful during my illness, the WWE Hall of Famer said. He supported me wholeheartedly and I really do appreciate that. Thats the way a boss should act, should do is take care of your people. And Tony Khan has certainly taken good care of me, and I plan on being reciprocal and doing my best to take care of him in my role going forward.

With cancer behind him and perhaps a new contract on the horizon, Good ol JR is ready to keep working as he extends his remarkable 50-plus-year run in pro wrestling.
Four pharmaceutical companies announce 12.2 billion peso investment in Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico  The pharmaceutical industry announces a 12.2 billion peso investment in Mexico. The Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Health announced as part of Plan Mexico, an investment of 12.2 billion pesos by four companies in the pharmaceutical industry.

Those companies include Boehringer Ingelheim with an investment of 3.5 billion pesos, Carnot Laboratories also with 3.5 billion pesos, Bayer with a 3 billion peso investment and AstraZeneca with 2.25 billion.

President Claudia Sheinbaum says the investments will generate 3,120 highly specialized direct jobs and 22,500 indirect jobs. She also reported that the first Economic Development Pole for Well-being Parque Industrial Bajio, is being established in Zinapecuaro, Michoacan, covering 346 hectares.

It already has its first investors, Citelis and Artifibras. This represents a public-private investment of more than 1 billion pesos in its initial phase.

President Sheinbaum emphasized that the investment announcement demonstrates that Plan Mexico is moving forward and kick-starts the drive for development and well-being throughout the country.

A very significant investment of 12 billion pesos from the pharmaceutical industry for production and research development in our country, linked to the pharmaceutical industry, is part of Plan Mexico, as we proposed.

At the same time, I am very pleased to announce the first Development Hub for Well-being in Michoacan, which already has committed investors and is already beginning this phase of promoting Development with Well-being in our country.

Mexicos Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon described the 12 billion peso investment in the pharmaceutical sector as significant, as it is a top priority for the President given its impact on the health of the Mexican population.

Mexicos Health Secretary David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz explained that the investment by the four pharmaceutical companies will generate more than 3,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs. He noted that the health sector is experiencing a period of transformation, as innovation is fostered, clinical research capabilities are expanded and processes are digitized.

The president of the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Canifarma), Guillermo Funes Rodriguez, acknowledged that they are surprised by the progress made by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), as it will allow for more research and, together with the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), the development of specific medium- and long-term projects for the benefit of the Mexican population.

Bayer Mexico CEO Manuel Bravo Pereyra, stated that the 3 billion peso investment over the next five years will be used to expand the production capacity of active pharmaceutical ingredients at its plant in Orizaba, Veracruz.

It will also add more production lines for new medicines in Lerma, State of Mexico and to double the production capacity of biological fungicides at its factory located in Tlaxcala, which exports to more than 100 countries around the world.

He also highlighted that the investment in Mexico is thanks to national talent, the advantage through the USMCA that provides access to the Mexican and North American markets and the legal certainty that exists in the country.

Juan Augusto Muench Castaneda, the General Director of Boehringer Ingelheim for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, reported that the 3.5 billion pesos that his company will invest will be multiannual to make its plant in Xochimilco the largest in the world with the production of 5 thousand pharmaceutical tablets to supply the local market and export to more than 40 countries.

The General Director of Laboratorios Carnot, Edmundo Jimenez Luna, stated that the investment of 3.5 billion pesos will be used to build a new plant in Villa de Tezontepec, Hidalgo, and will generate 600 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs.

AstraZeneca Mexicos CEO, Julio Ordaz, explained that the 2.25 billion peso investment will be made over the next two years dedicated to clinical research, the expansion of its Global Innovation and Technology Center, as well as the expansion of its factory in the State of Mexico, thereby generating 600 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs.

Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, accompanied by Eduardo Ramirez Diaz, CEO of Citelis, and David Martinez Gomez Tagle, CEO of Artifibras, emphasized that the Bajio Industrial Park will make the state a leading international logistics hub thanks to its excellent connectivity via rail, the Lazaro Cardenas port, the Western Highway and Morelia International Airport.

In may, President Sheinbaum announced that a decree would be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) to encourage international pharmaceutical companies to invest in projects for the production of medicines and medical supplies in Mexico next year.

The goal, she said at the time, is to position Mexico as a leader in the pharmaceutical industry.
Suspects in murder of Cancun union leader captured in Mexico City

Cancun, Q.R.  Three suspects related to the broad daylight murder of a Cancun union leader have been returned to the city. On Friday, 21 year old Angel Yair N, 34 year old Arnulfo N and 47 year old Oscar Guillermo N were arrested in Mexico City.

They have since been transferred back to Cancun where they will face charges of aggravated homicide. According to local authorities, the three men arrived in Cancun August 1 and began watching their target Mario N. They stayed at a hotel in Cancun one night before moving into a rented apartment until August 4, the day they killed Mario N, who according to police, had been shot seven times while behind the wheel of his vehicle.

The Cancun apartment they rented online was managed by Oscar Guillermo N, one of the three arrested suspects. After the shooting, the three suspects headed to a hotel in Playa del Carmen where they stayed until August 8 before boarding a flight at the Tulum International bound for Mexico City.

Police say all three men were captured in a coordinated effort between the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense), Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), Attorney Generals Office of the Republic (FGR), National Guard (GN), Attorney Generals Office (FGJ) and Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), both from Mexico City.

According to police, Angel Yair N is the alleged mastermind behind the murder of the union leader Mario N. They also say Arnulfo N and Oscar Guillermo N were his accomplices in August 4 shooting death of Mario N who was inside his vehicle at a car dealership at the time of the shooting.

All three were returned to Cancun on a 2:00 a.m. flight Saturday morning.

The three suspects were arrested in the Venustiano Carranza neighborhood of Mexico City. Two of them were found wearing the same clothes they wore in other crimes.

Angel Yair N was wearing the same cap he was wearing at the time he took the life of the union leader, while Arnulfo N, who has an outstanding arrest warrant for the crime of aggravated robbery which occurred in March 2025, was wearing the same pants he wore on the day of the events.

As for Oscar Guillermo N, he was the person in charge of hiring the hitmen, offering them 50,000 pesos, plus travel, food and lodging expenses. They were also asked to carry out two more murders but he never paid.

Police reported in a statement that on the afternoon of August 4, Angel Yair N, carrying a fast food delivery backpack, deprived Mario N of life with 7 impacts of a 0.45 mm caliber firearm in a parking lot of Supermanzana 42, of Cancun while his accomplice Arnulfo N, who was driving the motorcycle, waited for him to flee the scene.

After committing the murder, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and the delivery backpack on a walkway in Superblock 27. The backpack contained sweatshirts, face masks and helmets used by the alleged attackers, which were seized by the investigating officers.

The three suspects are seen here being escorted to an armored FGE vehicle outside Cancun International.

Field, technical, and office investigations establish that Angel Yair N and Arnulfo N traveled from Mexico City to Cancun on August 1 of this year, staying at a hotel in the city center. They subsequently moved to a rented apartment August 2 through a digital website managed by Oscar Guillermo N from the nations capital.

From the moment they arrived in Cancun until the day of the events, these individuals conducted patrols to locate the workplace and learn about the movements of the victim, Mario N.

Security was heavy as vehicles followed the FGE truck from the airport to the base in Cancun.

After committing the murder on August 4, the gunmen left the apartment and headed to Playa del Carmen, where they spent the night in a hotel. The next day, they boarded a flight from Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport to Mexico City.

Meanwhile, agents from the Quintana Roo FGE searched the apartment where the three men were staying, where they located the murder weapon, a 0.45 mm caliber weapon. According to the micro comparative ballistics test, tests gave a positive result with the cartridges collected by the field forensic experts at the crime scene.

They are seen here being escorted again from the armored FGE truck to the building.

Following their arrest by the Interinstitutional Group in Mexico City, Angel Yair N, Arnulfo N and Oscar Guillermo N were transferred to Cancun where they will be placed at the disposal of a judge to face trial for the crime of aggravated homicide against Mario N.
On one of the most memorable days of my life, I walked into a doctors office with an incipient migraine and walked out half an hour later pain-free. It was the early 90s, and Id been suffering from the headachesoften accompanied by nausea and vomiting, occasionally somewhat eased by ibuprofensince the age of 14. I cant recall why on that day I decided to request an appointment, but I can still see the doctor fumbling with the wrapping of a cartridge encasing a hypodermic needle filled with a new drug. She got migraines, too, shed told me, so when she placed the cartridge on my arm and pressed the button delivering the shot, we both exhibited the curious anticipation of experimenters, wondering if something miraculous was in the offing.

It was. Within five minutes, the nagging throb that had bloomed on my right temple a few hours earlier had vanished. That made us both giddy. Whether the new drug, sumatriptan (marketed as Imitrex), also worked for that doctor, Ill never know. But I was lucky. Over the decades that followed, sumatriptan has reliably tamed the migraines that have intermittently plagued me, rescuing me from countless hours of misery. Whenever anyone complains about Big Pharma or fantasizes about having been born in an earlier era, my ironclad response is that I cant imagine my life without sumatriptanor, rather, I can, and the thought is chilling.

Im lucky. As the journalist Tom Zeller Jr. recounts in his illuminating new book, The Headache, people with migraines or cluster headaches (Zellers own affliction) often find that recommended treatments either dont work or decline in effectiveness over the course of months. Cluster headaches, like migraines, are called primary headaches, Zeller explains, meaning the head pain and accompanying battery of other neurological effects constitute disorders unto themselves, rather than symptoms of some other underlying disease. Even the fairly common migraine is poorly understood by those who dont get them. I once worked with a colleague who was convinced I was being careless with my health because I didnt regard my headaches as symptoms of some grave condition that could, and ought, to be cured.

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The Headache is an account of what we have learned about migraine and cluster headaches (less than youd think) and the state of research developing treatments. The newest of those treatments are blockers that inhibit the uptake of calcitonin gene-related peptide, CGRP, a key chemical messenger in the nervous systems pain communication pathway, according to Zeller. Researchers knew that CGRP could induce migraines in experimental subjects (all praise the sacrifices of those heroes!), and this new class of drugs binds to the chemical to prevent it from binding to neural receptors.

Cluster headaches are relatively rare, but migraines are not, and one study calculated the cost to the U.S. economy of migraines alone is as much as $1 trillion. Yet research into the causes and cures for primary headaches has been sluggish, for reasons that are highly contested. While the medical explanations in The Headache occasionally made my eyes glaze over, Zellers accounts of feuds among headache researchers and their combined wrath at what they insist is inadequate National Institutes of Health funding for their work offers a delectable blend of dish and substance. When one scientist likened migraine research to a massive Airbus plane requiring four fully fueled engines to get it off the ground, Zeller asked him what, exactly, was keeping the plane on the tarmac. Too many female passengers, was the reply.

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Female migraineurs outnumber their male counterparts by 3 to 1, while the gender breakdown is reversed for cluster headaches. Many headache experts believe that this explains why migraine isnt taken seriously by the medical establishment, whose tendency to dismiss pain in female patients has been well documented. Zeller observes that cluster headache sufferers, by contrast, tend to hide their condition, something he himself did during an early stint at the New York Times. The Headache includes the story of an air traffic controller who concealed his cluster headaches for three decades, knowing that the condition would trigger an automatic medical disqualification from a job he loved. He resorted to keeping his medications (which did not impair his performance) secret and ducking out of work during an episode to inhale oxygen from a tank he kept in his car.

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For Zellers part, he found it difficult to admit how debilitated he was by a disorder that many people conflate with the discomfort caused by a hangover. Cluster headaches, however, are often ranked among the worst pain a human can experience. While migraineurs tend to retreat to dark quiet rooms to wait out their affliction, people with cluster headaches are restless, often pacing, rocking, and pounding their heads. While cluster headaches dont last all day like a migraine, they can recur every day or multiple times per day within the window of a period that can last weeks or months, followed by a period of remission. In The Headache, Zeller relates the story of a young man whose cluster headaches proved so relentless and tormenting that he took his own life, grimly confirming the disorders nickname: suicide headaches. Zeller himself recounts a period when, while working on a demanding story, he experienced a cluster attack and resorted to medicating myself with absurd tides of chemical experimentation and excess, ranging from caffeine, steroids, and magnesium to a CGRP blocker called verapamila drug on which he overdosed, passing out.

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Though we have different kinds of headaches, theres much thats familiar to me in Zellers account. I, too, have found it difficult to convey just how disabling a mere headache can be. And I certainly recognized Zellers almost superstitious hoarding of medication doses, splitting them to stretch the supply, and the way Zeller would jealously count those blue injections like a Scrooge, worrying over their limited number, wondering whether theyd last. These drugs are the treasure we require to placate an angry god. Insurance companies can be stingy with the number of doses they allow per month, so its imperative to keep renewing the prescription regularly, even in the absence of headaches, so that you hit any future bad period with an ample supply. The fear of running out is petrifyingalthough, thankfully, well in the past for me now that sumatriptan has gone generic and can be bought online. The more recently developed CGRP blockers, however, can be brutally expensive. And most primary headache medications only work for half the people who try them, and then often only half the time.

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Maddeningly, scientists still cant say what causes primary headaches. Fierce debate rages among them over whether these are disorders of the vascular systemdilated blood vessels pressing against nervesor of the central nervous system, arising from some dysfunction in the brain. The hypothalamus, which regulates the autonomic nervous system, seems implicated in cluster headaches, with their mysterious link to the bodys circadian rhythms. Migraines vary widely from person to person, but also in the same person during the course of a lifetime. My migraines once were synced to hormonal cycles. Now they only come at night, and especially when it rains or the humidity tops 75 percent. Or when my blood sugar gets too low. Or when I drink wine. I never experienced migraine auraa disturbance in visionuntil about 15 years ago. Now, my eyesight will occasionally be marred by a crescent of shimmering silver triangles (a classic migraine aura), but with no subsequent headache attached.

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No wonder headache scientists are stumped, although several of the sources Zeller spoke with also complained that the stigma attached to primary headaches as an unserious medical condition has kept gifted researchers away from the field. Former NIH director Story Landis told Zeller that the agencywhich has demonstrably underfunded headache research relative to the impact primary headaches have on societysimply didnt get enough high-quality grant proposals in the area. Landis suggested, Zeller writes, that headache researchers had been poorly conditioned by industry to focus on pills and shots, rather than foundational science, such as identifying the cause or causes of the disorders. But if Big Pharma is the only source of funding for headache research, who can blame them?

When an advocate for headache sufferers asked Zeller what hed learned in all his admirably extensive research for The Headache, the author found himself stammering and backtracking, qualifying his own suffering as not the worst of what cluster headaches can inflict on a person, adding that there are bigger problems. Then he pulled up. For millions of people of all races and gendersincluding Zeller himself!primary headaches are a literal torment. Though I seldom endure that myself now, I remember all too well what a full-blown migraine was like. Its not just a headache is the answer Zeller finally comes up with, and on that we should all agree.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250809/presidential-envoy-dmitriev-calls-alaska-perfect-stage-for-historic-russia-us-summit-1122583020.html

Alaska 'Perfect Stage' for Historic Russia-US Summit, Putin's Envoy Dmitriev Says

Alaska 'Perfect Stage' for Historic Russia-US Summit, Putin's Envoy Dmitriev Says

Sputnik International

Kremlin aid Yury Ushakov earlier confirmed that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump will take place in Alska on August 15.

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The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev, called Alaska a "perfect stage" for a historic summit of the leaders of Russia and the United States.He also called for developing Arctic ties between Russia and the US.The Kremlin and the White House previously said Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump would meet in Alaska on August 15. Alaska's authorities told Sputnik that they did not know the exact location of the upcoming meeting.

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Putin-Trump Summit to Take Place in Alaska on August 15

Putin-Trump Summit to Take Place in Alaska on August 15

Sputnik International

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday that his meeting with Putin will take place in Alaska on August 15. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov later confirmed this information.

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US Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski has expressed hope that the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in her state will help achieve peace in Ukraine.Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said his state was ready to host the Trump-Putin meeting."Its fitting that discussions of global importance take place here. For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting," Dunleavy wrote on X.The exact venue of the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump remains undisclosed, Dunleavys office told Sputnik, also saying that the Alaska governor has already discussed the meeting with White House staff.Troy J. Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, for his part, told Sputnik that a Putin-Trump meeting will most likely take place in the city of Anchorage, and no security issues are expectedKremlin aide Yury Ushakov earlier told reporters that Moscow and Washington were going to be preparing for the meeting over the next few days, "this will apparently not be an easy process."Alaska police referred all questions about security at a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the US Secret Service."Any questions related to this event or security should be sent to the US Secret Service," Alaska State Troopers Communications Director Austin McDaniel told Sputnik.Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has already discussed with the White House an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the US state, the governor's office told Sputnik. The Kremlin expects the next meeting between Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump after Alaska to take place on Russian territory, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters."If we look ahead, then, naturally, we should aim for the next meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to take place on Russian territory. The relevant invitation has already been handed to the US president," Ushakov said, commenting on the choice of Alaska as the venue for the meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States on August 15.He confirmed that Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will hold a meeting in Alaska on August 15. Previously, US President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska."The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.The PutinTrump summit will mark the first meeting between the presidents of Russia and the US on American soil since 1988. On December 7, 1988, then-General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, outgoing US President Ronald Reagan, and US President-elect George H. W. Bush convened on Governors Island in New York.

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Trump Announces Armenia - Azerbaijan Peace Deal

Trump Announces Armenia - Azerbaijan Peace Deal

Sputnik International

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States has "finally succeeded in making peace" between Armenia and Azerbaijan and that under the bilateral peace deal, the countries will "open up" commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations.

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"With this accord, we have finally succeeded in making peace, and we just left the Oval Office, where we signed voluminous documents and very important elements to the agreement. The countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations, and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said at a signing ceremony with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House.Its been 35 years of fighting, and now theyre friends, Trump said, calling the agreement a momentous joint peace declaration.Key points from Trumps statement at the ArmeniaAzerbaijanUS summit Armenia and Azerbaijan committed to:  Permanently end all fighting  Respect each others sovereignty and territorial integrity  Restore commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations  Trump expressed confidence in the leaders' future relations, saying:  I think you two are going to have a great relationship and if you dont, call me. The summit resolved what Trump called the key issue blocking past talks:  Agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a transit corridor giving Azerbaijan full access to Nakhchivan  Trump emphasized it would respect Armenias sovereignty  Armenia agreed to a 99-year exclusive partnership with the US to develop the corridor, with potential extension  Trump said the corridor would bring significant US infrastructure investment and economic benefits to all three countries  The US will also sign bilateral agreements with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to expand cooperation in:  Energy  Trade  Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI)

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The only thing that trainer Ron Burke might like better than winning stakes races is winning stakes races with offspring of Sweet Lou. On Friday afternoon, Aug. 8 at Harrahs Philadelphia, two two-year-old pacing fillies from the Burke Brigade swept the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) third preliminary round during a card where just over $300,000 was up for grabs in stakes action.

The quicker cut, a $94,907 division, featured a sight fans who go to the races 318 miles to the approximate west of Philly often witness: Ronnie Wrenn Jr. vs. Dave Palone in a close stretch battle, with the verdict going to Loua Dipa (dam Looksgoodinaromper), recording a second PASS win, and Wrenn by a head over Spoon Fed and Palone in 1:51.1, a new mark. Loua Dipa made favoured Imagine Heaven (also already with a Sire Stakes victory on her resume) work to get the lead well after a :27.2 opener, then yielded to sit the two-hole in fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.3. Spoon Fed had marched up uncovered to wrest command on the far turn and Wrenn was able to swing her out behind the new leader and then out-foot that one home for Pennsylvania's Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Loua Dipa has hit the board every time she has raced and is now three-for-five in her career, with earnings climbing into the six-figure range.

The other $94,351 division, with Burke and Sweet Lou again combining for a double Sire Stakes winner, opened the card, as a pair of fillies already with a PASS credit battled through the stretch, with Im A Lou Lou (dam Benear) a half-length ahead of Big Weekend at the end of a 1:52 mile. Again, the winner was a pocket rocket, as Im A Lou Lou, driven by Tim Tetrick, let Big Weekend and Matt Kakaley go after opening the action in :27.1, sat in the golden chair through splits of :56.1 and 1:24.4, then brushed home generating :26.4 speed from the two-hole to win for Burke Racing, Ohio's Knox Services, New Jersey's Lawrence Karr and Pennsylvania's Phillip Collura. With two wins and a third, she's earned more than $86,000 in three stakes starts.

The Sire Stakes-winning drivers, Tetrick and Wrenn, also each had a victory in one of four $27,778 Stallion Series divisions. The only repeat Stallion Series winner was the Stay Hungry-Zellweger Bluechip filly Lyons I Wanna Chip, equalling her mark of 1:53.1 despite the outside post eight for Tetrick (a four-time winner on the day overall), trainer Jim King Jr., and Threelyonsracing.

The other three Stallion Series winners on Friday were all daughters of Papi Rob Hanover, including the fastest one, Papi Knows (dam Strong Opinion), with whom Wrenn got a new mark of 1:53 after a clever steer for trainer Todd Schadel, the latter co-owner with Let It Ride Stables.

The maiden-breaking Pure Decision (dam Crooked Halo), whom Mike Cole brought home in 1:53.2, won to a mutuel tune of $37.80 as the longest shot on the board (while also helping to trigger a Superfecta carryover in the last race on the card) for trainer Ake Svanstedt, who also co-owns with Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing.

Feisty Hanover (dam Fit To Frame) took a new mark of 1:54.1 winning for driver Andy Miller, trainer Nik Drennan and owners Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman and Drennan Stable.

A 12:40 p.m. card on Sunday will close out the racing week at Harrahs Philadelphia, with the first race Superfecta carryover as mentioned above.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Ima Lou Lou from a previous win)
Dandy Ideal won for the third straight time in New York Sire Stakes competition when he captured the $241,667 event for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 1:51.3 at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday, Aug. 8.

Starting from the pole position, Dandy Ideal and driver Jason Bartlett settled in the third position as 65-1 shot Red Blooded (Mark MacDonald) hustled out to the early lead from post seven. Courts On Fire (Yannick Gingras) pressed on two-wide after leaving out from post two and overtook Red Blooded beyond the :27.4 quarter, but Dandy Ideal tracked Courts On Fire's bid and went by him on the second turn.

Once he had command, Dandy Ideal kept it through the half in :56 and the three-quarters in 1:23.4, then cruised home in :27.4 to defeat Courts On Fire by a length and three-quarters. Thirsty Thursday (Tyler Buter) got up for third more than six lengths behind, followed by Red Blooded and Silky Choice (Ridge Warren).

The second-place finisher in the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes at Yonkers earlier this year, Dandy Ideal is an American Ideal-Ok Heavenly gelding trained by Hunter Oakes for owners Susan Oakes of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Wier of East Aurora, New York and Alan Johnston of Syracuse, New York. Bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III with Dandy Farms Inc., Dandy Ideal has nine victories, four seconds and two thirds from 19 career starts and has earned $495,538.

Dandy Ideal paid $2.10 to win. He was atop a $4.80 exacta and a $15.80 trifecta.

In addition to his Sire Stakes victory, Bartlett also swept the two $27,778 New York Excelsior Series divisions for sophomore pacing males. Baleville Bomber (Huntsville-Actress Hanover) prevailed by a neck over Mr Huggins (Jordan Stratton) in 1:55 for trainer Nick Devita and Digging For Gold (Huntsville-Gold Orchid N) defeated Ima Perefct Choice (Ridge Warren) by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1 for trainer George Ducharme.

New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series action returns to Yonkers next Tuesday for three-year-old filly trotters.

Yonkers is currently operating on a Monday/Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday live racing schedule with post time each night at 6:45 p.m. The track will also have a program on Wednesday, Aug. 13.

(With files from Yonkers Raceway)
The last time Todd McCarthy drove Prince Hal Hanover it resulted in something McCarthy had done before  win the Adios. In fact, McCarthy became the first driver to capture the race in back-to-back years since Ron Pierce did it 20 years ago.

The next time McCarthy sits behind Prince Hal Hanover it will be as part of something hes never done before  race at MGM Northfield Park. McCarthy will pilot the colt for trainer Dr. Ian Moore in the $300,000 USD Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial, an invitational for three-year-old pacers at the northern Ohio half-mile oval.

Prince Hal Hanover, who will leave from post two, is the 2-1 morning-line favourite in the Milsteins nine-horse field. Twisted Destiny  who won the Grade 1 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes in June and was third, beaten by a neck, in the Grade 1 Adios  is the 5-2 second choice. The Chris Ryder-trained colt will start from the second tiers post nine with Dexter Dunn in the sulky.

Im looking forward to it, McCarthy said about his upcoming drive behind Prince Hal Hanover. I was really happy with how he raced (in the Adios). I thought that was a great run. Weve got a pretty good post on Saturday night, which I know is going to go a long way on that track. Hopefully, the horse is as good as he was at the Adios and we get a little bit of luck, and well go from there.

Prince Hal Hanover won the 59th edition of the Adios, contested July 26 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, by a head over Swingtown (another Milstein contender) in 1:48.1. It was the third-fastest winning time in the events history.

Thats such a cool race to win, McCarthy said. Its the biggest race they have at The Meadows, and they always get a really big crowd. The racetrack does a great job with it. Its a lot of fun to go out there and race in it, for sure.

In the Adios, McCarthy used Prince Hal Hanovers gate speed to get an early lead from post eight, then settled into a pocket trip that provided a springboard to victory.

Hes pretty versatile, but his gate speed is definitely one of his best qualities, McCarthy said. If you have a good (post) draw, using it to be able to protect it. If you dont have a good draw, then youre sort of able to make something work. Its definitely handy when a horse can do that. It makes racing them a little bit easier.

As for visiting Northfield for the first time, McCarthy is looking forward to the opportunity.

Its a lot of travel on these (Grand Circuit stakes) weekends, but its that time of year, and were fortunate to be able to drive these horses, McCarthy said. Youve got to make the most of it.

Ive driven on plenty of half-mile tracks before, but Ill watch some replays and talk to a few guys and try to get a bit of local insight about the track. Thats pretty much all you can really do.

The stakes-laden program will also feature the $100,000 USD Myron Charna Presidents Pace and the $100,000 USD Tom Aldrich Presidents Trot, in addition to multiple divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes, with total purses at nearly $1.1 million USD.

$300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial Pace (Grade 2)

Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Odds

1. Primo Maschio - Trae Porter - Kevin Lare - 12-1

2. Prince Hal Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Dr. Ian Moore - 2-1

3. Odds On Wildfire - Tim Tetrick - Geovany Hernandez - 10-1

4. Smooth Dream - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley - 9-2

5. Fast Choice - Scott Zeron - Jared Bako - 6-1

6. Swingtown - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 8-1

7. Extra Suds - Aaron Merriman - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 15-1

8. Rick Wink - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 20-1

[9. Twisted Destiny - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder - 5-2

Post time on Saturday is 6 p.m. (EDT). The Milstein is Race 12.

(USTA)
A pair of Prospect Series winners kicked off a perfect night at the races for trainer Jean-Francois Maguire at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Aug. 8.

After surpassing the 1,000-win milestone earlier this week, driver Samuel Fillion continued his winning ways and teamed up with Maguire to sweep the 3A leg of the Prospect Series for Ontario-sired two-year-old male trotters with favourites Silver Detector ($4.40) and Super Green ($2.90).

Silver Detector (Alarm Detector-Silver) led wire-to-wire to win the first $8,000 division in 1:58.4, breaking his maiden in his second start for owner/breeder Silver Stables of Venise-En-Quebec, Que. Lifting Legend (Brett MacDonald) followed one length behind off a pocket trip while Zillennial (J Harris) rounded out the top three.

Super Green (Green Manalishi S-Time After Time) made a quarter-pole move from third to take command and won his division by 3-1/4 lengths in a two-minute mile. A three-time starter, the gelding has now won back-to-back races for Maguire, who co-owns with Jean Allaire of Montreal, Que., and G T Stables of St-Placide, Que. Acefortyfour Magic (George Ketros) shot through for second-place from behind a final-turn breaker and Arbela Hanover (Brett MacDonald) came on for third.

Grand River Raceway made a special presentation to Fillion in the winner's circle after Silver Detector's win, congratulating the reinsman for reaching the 1,000 career win mark on Tuesday at Georgian Downs.

In addition to the Prospect wins, Maguire also sent out four-year-old trotter Masterwork ($21.90), a dominant 1:55.4 winner in an $8,000 conditioned optional claiming trot to complete his training triple and bring his career win total to 600. Masterwork was also reined by Fillion, who had a driving grand slam during the 10-race card.

In other action, three-year-old trotting filly Show Me The Green ($2.70) ran her win streak up to six, closing in :28.4 for a 1:56.4 victory by a half-length over Wells Fargo (J Harris) and Trophy Wife (Austin Sorrie) in a $7,200 conditioned trot ahead of her return to Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action for the first time this year next Wednesday at the Elora, Ont. oval. Dale Spence drove the Green Manalishi S-One Girl Show IT filly, who appears to have left her early career breaking issues behind her, going six-for-six as a sophomore for trainer Kyle Ruhl and owner Triple S Equine of Newton, Ont.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada; photos of Prospect Series winner Silver Detector on Aug. 8)
Four-year-old trotter Forty Gs extended his win streak to nine with a career-best performance at Vernon Downs on Friday, Aug. 8.

Last through the first half-mile, Forty Gs ($2.90) circled a field of six to win the featured $10,417 conditioned optional claiming trot in 1:54.2 for trainer, driver and co-owner Roman Lopez. The streaking favourite won three-quarters of a length as he defeated Lous Lancelot (John MacDonald), who had led through fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.1. Zapaca (Steeven Genois) finished third from the pocket.

Unraced as a two-year-old, Forty Gs boasts a near-perfect career record of a dozen wins from 13 starts, including seven this year and nine straight going back to last September. The son of Muscle Hill out of Sheer Glide is owned by Lopez and partners Mitchell Frair of Vernon, New York and Donna Duer of Bell, Florida.

Trained and driven by Ron Harp, Unusual Clarity won the $10,417 co-feature, a fillies and mares conditioned pace, defeating front-striding favourite Pearl Washing Tan (John MacDonald) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. The 10-year-old Betterthancheddar-Circle Game mare surpassed the $250,000 earnings mark with her 41st career victory for owner Nicholas Gibides of Syracuse, New York.

Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, Aug. 9 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

(With files from Vernon Downs)




File Photo: Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with Vladimir Putin. (Xinhua/Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa)

(Global Times) Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet in Alaska on August 15, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed, according to Russian media outlet TASS.

"The US side has just announced that an agreement has been reached to organize a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on August 15, Friday, in Alaska. Russia and the US are close neighbors, bordering each other. It seems quite logical that our delegation should simply fly across the Bering Strait, and that such an important and long-awaited summit between the leaders of the two countries should be held there," Ushakov said.

Earlier, Trump said he hoped to meet with his Russian counterpart in Alaska on August 15. The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow, Trump announced on on Truth Social Friday evening.

This will be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

Regarding the location, the BBC noted that holding the talks on US territory positions Trump as the host to his Russian counterpart on land that the US purchased from Russia more than a century and a half ago.

The last time Alaska took centre stage in US diplomacy was in March 2021, when President Joe Bidens newly minted diplomatic and national security team met their Chinese counterparts in Anchorage, BBC said.

From Washingtons perspective, holding the meeting on home soilAlaskaunderscores Americas leading role in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict and highlights its proactive position in adjusting US-Russia relations, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday.

From Trumps standpoint, choosing Alaska also serves a domestic political purpose  to silence critics within the US who oppose his stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and his policies toward Russia. Moreover, Alaskas geographical proximity to Russia  just a few nautical miles apart across the Bering Strait  underscores that the US and Russia are close neighbors. Contrary to the common perception that the two nations are connected only through Europe, this setting highlights their direct geographic closeness, Li said.

The announcement is being closely followed by global media. The AP wrote that it could mean a breakthrough in Trumps effort to end the war, although theres no guarantee it would stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

Trumps announcement came on the day he had set as the deadline for Putin to make peace or face severe economic punishment, CNN reported.

Li said that this high-level meeting took place at a critical momentwhen US-Russia relations risked spiraling out of control. While the talks may help ease recent bilateral tensions, their impact on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains uncertain.

Trumps Friday post made no mention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the BBC, there was no reaction from Kiev. The BBC added that for months, the government of Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to Washington to give Europe a seat at the negotiating table if the US holds talks with Russia.

If the leaders reach constructive agreements, translating them into a widely accepted settlement might be fraught with certain obstacles, Li said. Any US-Russia agreement would require Ukraines and Europes cooperation, yet their reactions remain unpredictable.

US officials, including Trump, have briefed European leaders and Ukrainian officials on a plan offered by Putin to halt the war in exchange for significant territorial concessions by Kiev, according to Western officials cited by CNN.

At the White House, Trump elaborated on what a peace deal with Russia and Ukraine could look like after Putin reportedly presented the administration with a ceasefire proposal involving Ukrainian territorial concessions, the Hill reported.

Cui Heng, a scholar at the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, was not optimistic that the summit would yield any real, workable agreement between Trump and Putin.

He told the Global Times that a single summit is unlikely to end a confrontation as deeply entrenched, multilayered, and high-stakes as the Russia-Ukraine war, significantly more coordination will be required.

Following the upcoming Alaska summit, Russia expects the next meeting between Putin and Trump to be held in Russia, Ushakov said Saturday, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Fans dont often hear about the beginning of the lives of harness racing champions. Winbak Farm, second in North America in 2025 earnings and wins of horses they have bred, is one farm who shares the beginnings of many of their foals by posting pictures and updates on their multiple social media platforms and website.

Winbak is the breeder of Fast Choice and Smooth Dream. two of the top three-year-olds entered in the Grade 2 $300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial set for Saturday, Aug. 9 at Northfield Park.

Both Fast Choice and Smooth Dream were born and raised at the farms main location in Chesapeake City, Md. The work to produce these two sire stakes winners began long before the horses were born. From healthy and well-pedigreed broodmares, to deciding what sires to match them with, every detail is meticulously planned out each year.

We work hard to keep our broodmares happy and healthy, said Jack Burke, Winbak Farms General Manager. We do our best to keep the mare and foal in the best condition possible to allow the foals to grow strong and hopefully develop into a fast athlete.

All the puzzle pieces came together with being the breeders of Fast Choice and Smooth Dream and the proof is in the pudding with nearly $800,000 in career earnings between the geldings.

Fast Choice (pictured above) was a bargain buy for Ashley and Jared Bako, who purchased the gelding for just $13,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

I just had a feeling about Fast Choice when he entered the sales ring, said owner Ashley Bako.

Listening to her intuition has turned into quite the reward as Fast Choice has just shy of $450,000 in career earnings. Fast Choice has not only been a great racehorse, but a horse with which the entire family has developed a special bond.

Following the Bako Racing page on Facebook, you see the entire family interact with him including their young daughter, it really shows how special he is to their family, said Burke.

Fast Choice showed a lot of promise at two by kicking off his career with four straight victories including a 1:50.3 effort at Vernon Downs.

Following two starts in a row where he made breaks, his connections and their veterinarian team found their star gelding had a reason for those issues.

He had a chip in his right-hind ankle, sent him for surgery to remove the chip and rehabbed him in our own backyard, said Bako.

As Fast Choice recovered from his surgery, the Bakos didn't know what to expect. Returning to the races at the start of his three-year-old campaign Fast Choice took his first start to really get going and started off the year needing a refresher.

We promised ourselves that no matter what, we would take it start by start because he owes us nothing, said Bako. After his first start at Saratoga, he started to show signs of his old self and the lights finally came back on.

After a fourth-place finish in the Pepsi North America Cup elimination, he steamrolled from off the pace and finished only a length behind Madden Oaks and Louprint in the Grade 1 million-dollar final.

His constant desire to show up week in and week out are just incredible to be part of, we have nothing but love and respect for him, said Bako.

Entering the Grade 2 $300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial, Fast Choice has reeled off two straight victories, including setting a divisional track record while winning a New York Sire Stakes leg at Batavia Downs Gaming in his last start.

Fast Choice  a son of Little Brown Jug and Meadowlands Pace champion Courtly Choice  has been fun to watch for Winbak Farm, especially considering Winbak Farm was also the breeder of the sire.

Courtly Choice was an orphan foal and the last son of Hall of Fame broodmare Lady Ashlee Ann, who also produced millionaire Betterthancheddar. She is also the second dam of the fastest racehorse of all-time Bulldog Hanover, said Burke. Courtly Choice has been an amazing asset to Winbak Farm, both on and off the track.

Smooth Dream is the only horse in the field entering Saturdays event undefeated in 2025. Lightly staked, Smooth Dream will have the chance to dance a Grand Circuit dance against some of harness racings best on Saturday.

With victories in the $308,219 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final, $69,444 Home Grown Stakes and the $43,596 Tompkins Geers, the son of Cattlewash has put together a strong resume, earning him a berth into Northfield Parks signature event.

Trainer Noel Daley is optimistic about Smooth Dreams chances on Saturday.

We dont really know how good he is yet as he hasnt faced Open company, said Daley. He has managed to win a few times when he has looked beaten, hopefully thats a trait he continues and does what he has to do on Saturday.

Smooth Dreams sire Cattlewash, currently standing at Tara Hills Farm in Ontario, has already proven to be one of the top pacing stallions in North America.

We are very proud of the foals that Cattlewash has produced with our mares, said Burke. Cattlewashs dam, Road Bet, was actually bred by Winbak Farm.

Winbak Farm recognizes the importance of spreading the word about harness racing and the beginnings of champions.

Smooth Dream is a half-brother to Canadian Horse of the Year, Desperate Man, said Burke. We have shared all of Desperate Mans accomplishments, which continue to grow, on our social media platforms and we look forward to continuing to share updates not only for these brothers but all winning Winbak-bred horses.

First post time on Saturday is 6 p.m. (EDT), with the Milstein slated as Race 12. The stakes-laden program will also feature the $100,000 USD Myron Charna Presidents Pace and the $100,000 USD Tom Aldrich Presidents Trot, in addition to multiple divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes, with total purses at nearly $1.1 million USD.

$300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial Pace (Grade 2)

Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Odds

1. Primo Maschio - Trae Porter - Kevin Lare - 12-1

2. Prince Hal Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Dr. Ian Moore - 2-1

3. Odds On Wildfire - Tim Tetrick - Geovany Hernandez - 10-1

4. Smooth Dream - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley - 9-2

5. Fast Choice - Scott Zeron - Jared Bako - 6-1

6. Swingtown - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 8-1

7. Extra Suds - Aaron Merriman - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 15-1

8. Rick Wink - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 20-1

[9. Twisted Destiny - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder - 5-2

(with files from Northfield)




Palestinians are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the Sheikh Radwan area, northwest of Gaza City, on Aug. 6, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

Israels security cabinet has approved a plan to seize control of Gaza, triggering widespread international condemnation, with leaders from more than 10 countries and UN warning of severe humanitarian consequences.

The plan to take over Gazas largest city was announced on Friday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israels intention to assume military control over the entire Gaza Strip, according to Al Jazeera.

The foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom condemned Israels plan in a joint statement late on Friday, warning it risked violating international humanitarian law.

They warned it would also aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.

Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law, the statement added.

Israels decision to take over Gaza City must have consequences for EU-Israel relations, EU Council President Antonio Costa said, urging the Israeli government to reconsider, according to Al Jazeera.

Not only [does the decision] violate the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19 but also undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values, Costa, who heads the European Council that represents EU member states, said in a statement on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Israels decision to intensify military operations in Gaza wrong and urged restraint.



Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will not authorize any exports to Israel of military equipment that could be used in Gaza until further notice.

The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved, he said, according to Al Jazeera.



Such actions would constitute further serious violations of international law and lead to a complete dead end, Frances Foreign Ministry said in a social media statement.



On Friday, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and UAE also issued a statement strongly condemning the Israeli Security Cabinet's approval of the plan to expand military control over the Gaza Strip.

China also voiced grave concern over Israels decision and urged Israel to halt the move immediately, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Friday.

Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an integral part of the Palestinian territory. The right way to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and realize the release of those being held is an immediate ceasefire, which is also key to fully resolving the conflict and safeguarding regional security. China stands ready to work with the rest of the international community to stop the fighting in Gaza as early as possible, ease the humanitarian disaster, implement the two-State solution and ultimately realize the full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Guo said.



Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is gravely alarmed by Israels decision to take control of Gaza City.

This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and Israeli captives in Gaza, his office said in a statement, adding that further escalation will lead to additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction.



Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistani prime minister also condemned Israel over its plan to take over Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera.



Global Times
09/08/2025





With less than 10 days to go to the start of the Premier League 2025-26 season, Everton have picked up a major injury concern.

Left-back Vitalii Mykolenko suffered a groin injury after 10 minutes in the Blues final pre-season friendly at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Ukrainian left-back had to limp off the pitch and was replaced by new signing Adam Aznou.

Appearing to be suffering from a groin problem, Mykolenko is now doubtful for the league opener against Leeds United on 18 August. The club is awaiting a medical report on the extent of the injury.

Well wait to see [on Mykolenko] what the report says, weve not had a chance yet, said David Moyes after his side lost 1-0 to Roma in the curtain raiser at their new stadium.

Moyes also confirmed that Nathan Patterson and Harrison Armstrong are not fit at the moment.

Patterson is getting checked for a hernia and Armstrong picked up a thigh strain in training, he added.

Patterson was left out of the final Premier League Summer Series friendly against Manchester United.

However, the Toffees have been bolstered by the returns of James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane from their respective injuries.

Branthwaite missed the tour of the United States after suffering a niggle against Blackburn Rovers but was fit to start this afternoon. Tarkowski, who led the Blues on to the pitch for the first time at Hill Dickinson Stadium, made his first start since April in the previous friendly against Manchester United.

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The latest student housing development near the University of Arizona campus is on the rise, and historic homes that were moved to make way for the project are awaiting a makeover.

Construction of the student complex at 818 E. Speedway  more than 400 bedrooms in 150 units  will be the newest near-campus high-rise.

A separate complex with 30 workforce housing units will be built along North Euclid Avenue as a buffer between the students and residents of West University Neighborhood.

It was one of the compromises Alabama-based Capstone Communities made to the neighborhood, along with no balconies or rooftop swimming pool at the student complex.

The developer negotiated with the neighborhood for more than five years before the city approved the project.

Rental prices are not yet set, but the workforce housing will be priced at 80 percent of median area income when complete, officials have said.

The new complexes are expected to be complete for the start of the 2027 school year.

Five historic homes that were on the corner where the project is being built were moved by developers into empty lots in the West University Neighborhood.

Joel Ireland, a longtime resident, had an empty lot where homes now sit.

Ireland is in the process of fixing them up for use as rentals.

More than 10 student housing towers have been built in the area of East Speedway and North Park Avenue since the city amended its height restriction near campus in 2012. The height limit was raised from four stories to a maximum of 14 stories.

When that happened, empty lots and parking lots quickly became development sites for such complexes.

As the towers drew students close to campus, older student housing projects on the outskirts switched to traditional rentals. And that created more demand for housing adjacent to the university.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said his recent meetings with two women detained at the Eloy immigration detention center underscore the flaws of the Trump administrations campaign to arrest as many immigrants as possible, regardless of whether they pose any threat.

By any reasonable measure, they should not be in a prison, and I think thats true for probably most of the people in there, Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said in a telephone interview with the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday afternoon, following his visit to Eloy in Pinal County. Under a normal functioning government, you wouldnt be locking these folks up.

Kelly met with a grandmother named Maria Pelaez, who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years and has no criminal record, he said. Pelaez, a New Jersey resident, was detained as she entered the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma to help her son and daughter-in-law  both U.S. Marines  care for their 2-year-old son, while the daughter-in-law recovered from surgery.

At the Eloy Detention Center, Pelaez broke into tears when Kelly asked about the pride she felt at her sons boot-camp graduation, Kelly recalled. Although an immigration judge approved the womans release from detention on bond, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is fighting that decision with an appeal, Kelly said.

They did not want to let her out, Kelly said. As the mother of someone willing to fight for their country, she is the exact type of person we should want in this country, he said.

Kelly said he also met with Kelly Yu, a Peoria restaurant owner who fled Hong Kong in 2004 and whose months-long ICE detention has generated outrage. Yu, whose U.S. citizen child attends Arizona State University, employs 70 people at her three restaurant locations and has no criminal record, yet could be deported any day, Kelly said.

Shes created a life here. Shes a job creator, he said. Present this case to any reasonable person and they would say, What are we doing? Why would we throw this woman out of the country? Shes not a risk to anyone. Shes putting food on the table for 70 other families. It just doesnt make any sense.

In the Eloy Detention Center, 83% of detainees are classified by ICE as having no ICE threat level, meaning they have no criminal convictions, according to the most recent ICE data.

Oversight curtailed under Trump

Kelly is the latest of several Democratic U.S. legislators who have sought to conduct oversight visits at ICE detention centers, as the number of people in ICE detention reaches record levels and concerns about detention conditions are rising.

Democratic lawmakers have been turned away from ICE facilities when making unannounced visits, even though, by law, Congress members are not required to give prior notice of oversight visits.

A dozen Democratic legislators sued the Trump administration on July 30 over the prior-notice requirement its imposed on ICE oversight visits.

Federal law makes it absolutely clear that members of Congress do not have to provide prior notice for those visits, for clear reasons, said U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, on Friday. That way we dont get a curated visit. We get an impromptu visit, so we can see conditions as they actually are.

Turned away after an unannounced visit to Eloy in July, Stanton scheduled an Eloy visit on Aug. 5 and met with 20 detainees who shared eye-opening stories, Stanton told the Star. The detainees included asylum seekers and people who said theyve lived in the U.S. for decades and have no criminal record, he said.

The president talked about enforcement of immigration laws by going after violent criminals, Stanton said. Thats not whats actually happening.

U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Arizona, conducted a surprise oversight visit at Eloy in May, in which she said she encountered sickening detention conditions. Last month, Ansari said she was denied the opportunity to speak with three detainees, including Yu, who had given permission to speak with Ansari during a scheduled July 19 visit.

Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to the Stars repeated inquiries about why Ansari wasnt permitted to speak with the detainees.

In a statement, an unnamed DHS spokesperson said Ansari still would have been allowed to tour the facility.

After being told that Ansari would be unable to speak with detainees, her office did not even show up or have the courtesy to send a cancellation notice to ICE, the DHS statement said. Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are FALSE. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE. ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.

An August report from Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, identified more than 500 credible reports of human rights abuse in U.S. immigration detention centers since January.

Advocates say concerns about inhumane detention conditions will only worsen as ICE arrest numbers rise, and as DHS scrambles to construct more detention space.

Arizona Alligator Alcatraz?

This week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem named Arizona among possible states that could house a new state-run immigration facility like Alligator Alcatraz, which DHS hastily erected in the Florida Everglades.

DHS has not yet contacted Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs office about the possibility, but if they did ask, we would not participate, Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater said in an email.

Kelly said hes opposed to the idea, and to the allocation of so much taxpayer money to incarcerating immigrants who pose no public safety threat, at the expense of public spending in areas such as education and scientific research.

We are now investing in the wrong thing. Were going to invest in prisons for people who are no threat to anybody? That doesnt make sense, Kelly said.

In July, Congress approved $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement, including $45 billion for building new ICE detention facilities and $30 billion for ICE enforcement and deportation operations.

The budget of ICE is going to be bigger than the U.S. Marine Corps in a heartbeat, said Kelly, a Navy combat veteran.

Moment for immigration reform?

Public support for immigration has been rising in the U.S. A July Gallup poll found a record-high 79% of respondents say immigration is a good thing for the country.

The shift in public sentiment comes as the Trump administration has targeted not only undocumented immigrants with criminal records, but increasingly people without any criminal history, or with minor non-violent offenses, who have lived in the country for decades.

Mass deportation involves deporting our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues, people our kids go to school with, Stanton said. And it turns out, deporting these individuals is very unpopular with the American people.

Trumps DHS is also arresting and deporting legal immigrants and asylum seekers who entered the U.S. with the governments permission and proper documentation. ICE agents have been waiting at immigration courthouses to arrest people attending required hearings.

Kelly said it could be the right moment for Congress to finally enact comprehensive immigration reform, as well as protections for Dreamers, unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

Maybe this is a moment we could do something thats positive, Kelly said. I know a bunch of my Republican colleagues, they get it. They dont think we should be deporting 10 million people, despite what the president of the United States says. They do not all agree with that. Thats not a reasonable system that helps us as a nation.

Stanton agreed now could be the time to build an immigration system that supports and grows the American economy, including supporting the agriculture and health-care industries and talented international students. He also supports giving Dreamers a path to citizenship, a proposal with broad public support.

With the southern border secure, Now is the time to have those conversations, Stanton said. We need immigration policies that support the aging of America, in terms of taking care of our seniors, parents and grandparents. Were going to need a visa system that brings in a trained work force in that important area.

Nearly 70% of likely voters support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years and are married to a citizen, and 64% support a path to citizenship for those brought to the U.S. as children, a May poll from Data for Progress found.

Immigration experts say Congress has poured money into border and ICE enforcement, without tackling common-sense immigration reforms that would help fix the system, such as adding more immigration judges and asylum officers.

Republicans have blocked multiple attempts to modernize the immigration system, which hasnt been updated in three decades.

Less than 1% of people who want to move to the U.S. have a legal pathway to do so, according to the Cato Institute, and long-time undocumented immigrants face a potential 10-year ban from the U.S., under a Clinton-era law, if they try to regularize their status.

Kelly said he had issues with the Biden administrations handling of the southern border, amid a global increase in migration, until Biden imposed controversial restrictions on asylum access in mid-2024.

But under Trump, Kelly said, Were wildly swinging in the other direction, in a way that is not in the best interest of this country.

Advocates say Biden violated U.S. law with his June 2024 asylum restrictions, which have been credited with reducing the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum.

In May, a federal court ruled that most of Bidens asylum restrictions violated U.S. immigration law that allows people to request asylum once on U.S. soil, regardless of how they entered the country.

Long-standing problem

Problems with immigration detention conditions are long-standing, but appear to be worsening under Trump, as the administration has dramatically curtailed oversight offices that receive and investigate complaints, including the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, said Liz Casey, social worker on the advocacy team at the nonprofit Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project.

Casey has heard from ICE detainees about problems accessing medical care, unclean conditions, broken air conditioning, verbal abuse and discrimination by guards, as well as overcrowding and understaffing in ICE detention facilities.

Not having any oversight seemingly is making conditions and abuses significantly worse, she said, based on recent anecdotal accounts from detainees. There needs to be truly independent oversight, with actual accountability and consequences when rights are violated.

A spokesman for CoreCivic, the private company that runs the Eloy Detention Center and Florence Correctional Complex, said CoreCivic takes the health and safety of its detainees seriously.

Our immigration facilities are monitored very closely by our government partners at ICE, and they are required to undergo regular review and audit processes to ensure an appropriate standard of living and care for all detainees, said public affairs manager Brian Todd in a Friday email.

Immigration detention is civil in nature, intended to hold people during removal proceedings, rather than as punishment for a crime, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Casey said immigration detention is inherently inhumane, and shes concerned by the Trump administrations resistance to unannounced congressional oversight visits.

We are very grateful that people are using their congressional power to do any type of visits or oversight right now. Its still extremely useful, she said. But unannounced inspections would be much more like true oversight.
The University of Arizonas undergraduate student body president, Adriana Grijalva, is concerned about how the Trump administrations actions targeting higher education are affecting students.

Resources that our marginalized communities and our students really rely on are under attack, she said in a recent interview.

That is scary, said Grijalva, the second-term president of the Associated Students of the UA. Were living in scary times. I dont think for college students, K-12 students, we ever expected to live in a time like were living in now, where everything is scary.

Since President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20, federal orders have threatened colleges and universities with the loss of federal research funding if diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI activities and programming are not eliminated.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked the visas of thousands of international students, making them vulnerable to arrests, detention and deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE agents. Numerous students went on to self-deport to their home countries or elsewhere.

In response to the DEI order, UA President Suresh Garimella told the university community on Feb. 18 that UA would take inventory of its DEI jobs, activities and programs. In the next few days, the university went on to remove its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website and deleted the words committed to diversity and inclusion from its widely used land acknowledgement statement that had been framed in partnership with tribal leaders.

For the U of A specifically, seeing words being taken out because of Trumps administration, I dont think makes the students feel good. I feel like a lot of our identities are on the line, Grijalva said.

In the following months, Garimella also sent a letter to Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen listing numerous ways the UA was shutting down DEI activities, which the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature deem illegal discrimination.

The UA also went on to centralize six of its seven cultural and resource centers.

Grijalva acknowledged the current situation for any university president is not easy. I dont know what these next four years will look like because were barely at the beginning, she said.

But she said all three of Arizonas public universities  the UA, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University  and the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees them, need as much support as they can get to keep higher education going. The UA administration alone cannot fight the upcoming battles and needs Arizona legislators, unions and the UA community to do so, too, Grijalva said.

These are real pressures with real financial consequences, she said, referring to federal and state mandates that tie funding for universities to their compliance with particular political ideologies.

That said, compliance cannot come at the expense of student well-being, intellectual rigor or academic freedom, Grijalva continued. We need to find ways to navigate this landscape while minimizing the impact on the student experience.

UA cultural centers centralized

Starting in February, directors, staff and students connected with the cultural and resource centers fought against their centralization through protests, marches and signed petitions saying the centers provide important support for students.

While they were communicating and negotiating with then-Provost Ron Marx, many students and staff members said they heard no responses or acknowledgement from Garimella directly.

The UA was home to seven cultural and resource centers: Native American Student Affairs, Asian Pacific American Student Affairs, African American Student Affairs, the Guerrero Student Center, LGBTQ Student Affairs, the Women & Gender Resource Center, and the Disability Cultural Center. Each used to have individual directors, who were laid off in late May, and the centers collectively had about 80 staff members serving 28,000 students.

Now, six of these centers have been centralized to create a single, consolidated Student Culture and Engagement Hub.

The cultural centers were originally built off protesting and students organizing, and I dont think that should be taken away, said Grijalva.

It was not OK with students, she added, that the centralization decision was announced to them after it was already made. She said students dont know whats happening and her goal as student body president is identifying such student needs, making sure the administration is communicating with them, and finding a way to involve students in those decisions.

Free speech is important. I think the fact that students are getting their voices shut out is not fair to them, Grijalva said.

Grijalva mentioned the UA had been doing a really good job with free speech  being ranked in the top 25 U.S. universities for protection of free speech by FIRE, or Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression  but said she doesnt know how UA would rank now.

She said she doesnt think students will stop fighting for free speech, and that they shouldnt be punished for it.

One of the protests earlier this year in defense of the cultural centers was held during Garimellas formal installation ceremony as UAs 23rd president. Grijalva chose not to be part of the ceremony, where she was expected to give a speech and sit on the platform with Garimella. Instead, she stood with the student protesters that day.

The day before, she put out a public statement on social media stating her reasons.

I didnt feel comfortable getting up on that stage tomorrow, talking about what it means to be president or what the symbols of this university represent, when it feels like the voices of the students have been ignored, she wrote. Leadership is about listening, really listening, and making decisions that benefit the people you serve. President Garimella has the strongest voice in the room right now, but it feels like hes not hearing what students are saying. And thats why Im choosing to stand with the students at the protest tomorrow.

Grijalva said she knew shed face some difficult conversations with UA administration after this decision, and that stepping out of the ceremony wasnt something she took lightly. She said she knew shed have to rebuild trust and repair relationships, but that she was willing to do that work because she values collaboration and wants to build a better institution for all students.

That day, her priority was clear, she said.

I chose to be where I felt I was most needed and where I wanted to be standing with students, she said. I hope that action shows Im committed not just in words, but in the choices I make. Moving forward, I want to be transparent about the concerns students are sharing, and I want those concerns to lead to real conversations, not silence.

Arizona passes anti-encampment law

The Arizona Legislature passed a state law earlier this year, and the governor signed it, banning encampments on university and college campuses. The new law makes such encampments a state crime and subjects violators to arrest on trespassing charges.

The UA community responded with mixed reactions, with some students stating they feel safer with this law in place after the confrontational pro-Palestinian protests on campus in the spring of 2024, and some saying the law unfairly targets and suppresses pro-Palestinian sentiments.

When the protests happened last year, we made it our job that students would feel safe to have their voices on campus and we worked very hard on that, said Grijalva. She said there was a healthy relationship in which student organizers communicated with student government.

However, Grijalva said now it feels like students are getting punished for standing up for what they believe is right.

The right to speak out, protest and advocate is a cornerstone of the college experience and of democracy, she said. However, recent guidance from government agencies and compliance offices has complicated how and where these rights will be exercised on campus.

We are advocating for clear, consistent guidelines that protect both student expression and the universitys obligations. Our goal is not to suppress voices, but with the new bill it will be difficult as encampments will no longer be allowed on college campuses, Grijalva said. We must do our best to continue to support students and free speech.

Second-term goals

In her first term as student body president, Grijalva said she worked overtime to get to know students, hear their problems and build a connection based on trust.

She said shes done weekend and online meetings at night with student groups, club meetings, town halls and more. Its important to relate to students and their struggles so they know theyre not alone, she said, mentioning that she herself is a first-generation Latina college student, who used the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and that she knows what its like to live paycheck to paycheck.

As for goals in her second term, Grijalva listed reaching more students across the university, including international, online and transfer students; helping students get more face time with administration to strengthen student advocacy and representation; making sure the cultural centers continue to support students; focusing on student needs such as food insecurity, housing, safety and mental health; and protecting and expanding access to resources.

She said she would like to have regular meetings with university leaders to present student concerns, and that she and recently appointed Provost Patricia Prelock have been working closely together to identify key ideas and initiatives to pursue.

She also wants to create more opportunities to hear from students, faculty and staff directly through town halls, events, roundtables, office hours, listening sessions and surveys. Shed also like to create dialogue with the Arizona Board of Regents members to follow up on student concerns expressed in the Call to Audience portion of board meetings.

I want to bring others into the conversation, Grijalva said. I cant take 40,000 students to a meeting with me, but if they (administrators) can see a face and a name to who these people are and get to have a conversation with them, I think thats something we could do better.
Ridiculous posturing: Noel Edmonds hits back over NZ series axing

British personality says his Kiwi Adventure was only ever planned as 3 episodes, despite the claims in clickbait press.

Veteran UK radio and TV presenter Noel Edmonds has hit back at media articles over the series Noel Edmonds Kiwi Adventure being axed by ITV after one season.

According to UK press, a TV insider said: Its a blow to Noel as he was convinced he was on to a winning idea.

There was a great buzz around the series and it was well received by both viewers and critics alike.

But it needed big numbers to spark a follow-up and attracting 1-1.5million per episode just wasnt enough.

Edmonds has poured a bucketload on that argument insisting it was only ever a three episode series.

Taking to YouTube he told followers he granted access to his River Haven estate for three episodes and told ITV months ago that cameras would not be allowed back.

In this video, Im taking you beyond the clickbait headlines to reveal exactly why we did it, what it meant to us, and why there wont be any more episodes at least, not in the way you expect. And finally I want to say a huge thank you to everyone whos loved and supported the shows and followed me here on YouTube and on my instagram channel, he said.

This is the untold truth of the end of our Kiwi Adventure  and why its only just beginning.

He added of ITV, For them to say that theyre thinking about a recommission, or anything like that, is not true. Certain people in ITV should be ashamed of the fact that theyre trying this ridiculous posturing.

The series is yet to screen in Australia.
The Block 2026: Mt Eliza bound?

Nine reno show is headed to the Mornington Peninsula.

The Block appears to have settled on a Mornington Peninsula site for its 2026 season.

RealEstate.com reports a 1.35ha site at 109 Old Mornington Rd, Mt Eliza, has been sold for $11m, and accidentally revealed this week.

The shows preferred architects Nine in Six were spotted having coffee in the area this week.

Former racing driver Rusty French bought the site for $2.8m in 2007, and had been seeking to sell it as early as 2016.

A more recent sales campaign included a subdivision to 10 blocks of land, with development plans that would have homes built with features including a pool, rammed earth walls and luxury finishes to complement bay views.

Six of the blocks have been marked as sold, with The Block leasing the remaining four sites in the short term, no doubt for production and building site space, and potentially a sponsor village.

Julian Cress Executive Producer has previously told TV Tonight, Were always looking for next years Block while were making this Block. We always have to be looking about a year ahead.

The beauty of this show -I guess its not wonderful if youre a programmer, but its great if youre a producer- is that they have to commit to the series for next year before this one goes to air. So we always know that were at least gonna make one more.

According to Kay & Burton the location has plenty to offer: Located just a 10-minute walk from the beach and moments from the vibrant Mount Eliza Village, residents will enjoy the best of coastal living with everyday convenience. The development is ideally situated near elite schools including Peninsula Grammar and Toorak College, scenic trails in Mount Eliza Regional Park, and essential services like Frankston Hospital. With easy access to public transport and major arterials such as Peninsula Link, commuting to Frankston or the Melbourne CBD is effortless.

Effortless is a bit a stretch for the CBD, but it certainly looks inviting.

Photo: Kay & Burton.
Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net

Hyderabad: Residents of Hyderabads Shaikpet step out every morning into streets that once promised the calm of a suburban retreat. But the same streets today echo with the sounds of construction, chaos and growing fear. Skyscrapers rise where ponds once shimmered. Cracked roads wind through overcrowded colonies. Drainage lines overflow. The air smells faintly of cement and frustration.

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Builders in Hyderabad are allegedly flourishing as the real estate industry is on the rise every day, with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) approving constructions left, right and centre, reportedly overlooking the rules.

Hyderabad today is the fourth most populous city in India. Its urbanisation began in the 1970s with the onset of the Housing Urban Development Authority (HUDA) project. It has been expanding ever since, with a boom in the construction industry.

The people of Shaikpet have had enough.

After years of alleged inaction, neglect and silence from civic authorities, over 5,000 residents have come together in what may be one of Hyderabads most powerful citizen-led revolts in recent memory. They have filed a formal complaint with the Director of Vigilance & Enforcement, demanding a high-level investigation into alleged illegal constructions, benami (proxy-owned) properties and corrupt town planning officials in the GHMC Circle 18.

But the story is not merely about buildings. It is about lives, which are disturbed, endangered and ignored.

Lakes Turned Into Landfills

Hyderabads growth story is one of staggering transformation. Once known for its lakes and open spaces, the citys urbanisation has been rapid, especially with the rise of the Information Technology sector. And the city has expanded relentlessly.

Hyderabad had more than 100 lakes and over 800 ponds. Now, many of them have been filled up, encroached upon and replaced with concrete structures, says a local environmental activist.

The GHMC, residents allege, has been complicit, approving constructions left, right and centre while overlooking rules and regulations.

Neighborhood at Breaking Point

One neighbourhood feeling the full weight of this unchecked growth is Shaikpet, which is nestled in the bustling Jubilee Hills constituency. Once quiet, it is now a cautionary tale of overdevelopment gone wrong.

Part of the Jubilee Hills Colonies Forum, which claims to represent over 300 colonies, the Surya Nagar Welfare Association has witnessed repeated civic tragedies unfold. Incidents of fires, floods, building collapses and road accidents have been reported within months of each other.

The residents blame it on the mushrooming of unauthorised high-rises, which are often 7-8 storeys tall, constructed on tiny plots without fire clearances, parking space or legal setbacks.

Shaikpet is turning into a concrete jungle built on bribes, alleges Asif Sohail Hussain, president of the Surya Nagar Colony Welfare Association and the Jubilee Hills Constituency Colonies Forum.

A civic activist and philanthropist, he has emerged as the voice of a community struggling to be heard.

Infrastructure is collapsing under the pressure, and legal residents are paying the price with choked sewage lines, water shortages and blocked emergency access, he alleged.

Residents say they did not stay silent. They wrote letters, submitted complaints and held meetings. But their appeals to the GHMC and other departments led nowhere.

Some claim they were intimidated for raising their voices. False FIRs were allegedly filed against a few residents. It was an attempt, they believe, to scare them into silence.

But instead of giving up, the community rallied. Around 5,000 residents recently filed a formal complaint with A. R. Srinivas, director of Vigilance & Enforcement, Government of Telangana.

They have demanded criminal action and a vigilance probe against the assistant city planner and the section officer of GHMC Circle 18, accusing them of enabling illegal constructions and accumulating benami assets through relatives and proxies.

Their demands include criminal prosecution of the officials under anti-corruption laws, seizure and audit of benami properties linked to their families, immediate demolition of unauthorised buildings, suspension and departmental inquiry into GHMCs Town Planning Wing (Circle 18) and GHMC instructions to sub-registrars to halt registration of illegal properties.

This Is About Every Taxpayer

This is a fight for every taxpayer who believes that the law is not for sale. If we stay silent now, tomorrow our entire city will be sold, plot by plot and floor by floor, says Sohail.

According to residents and activists, this is not an isolated issue. They claim of illegal construction has spread throughout the Jubilee Hills constituency, allegedly enabled by a builder-babu (bureaucrats) nexus that disregards public safety, environmental concerns and zoning laws.

Crores in bribes are fuelling these illegal approvals, says one resident, with benami properties allegedly held in the names of relatives and proxies.

Waiting on a Promise

In the backdrop of all this stands a promise. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has declared that his government will have zero tolerance toward illegal and unlawful activities. His recent initiatives to protect lakes and recover encroached land were widely praised.

The residents of Shaikpet are hoping for the same.

Are corrupt officers more powerful than the chief ministers mandate for reform? asks a retired GHMC engineer who now resides in Surya Nagar.

He, like others, believes the CMs mission may be under threat from corrupt elements within the system.

What If Nothing Happens?

The community is not resting its hopes solely on promises. Legal experts monitoring the case say that if the GHMC fails to act, the residents are prepared to take the battle to the Telangana High Court, and if necessary, to the Supreme Court of India, through Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on grounds of public safety and environmental impact.

With volumes of evidence, this could become a landmark legal case, not only for Hyderabad, but for cities across India allegedly grappling with urban corruption.

More than 5,000 citizens have come together, united by a common cause. Their complaint is a cry for justice, a shield for their homes and a stand against a system they believe has failed them.

The complaint of the residents of Shaikpet is in the youth who lost his life in a recent accident, the elderly navigating broken roads and families striving for a safe and legal place to live.

They say enough is enough. The question that looms large over Hyderabad: will action be taken or silence lay the foundation for deeper corruption?
A Billings man was sentenced Friday to nearly a century in prison for killing a man in a drive-by shooting last year.

Loren Cody Smoker went into his homicide trial earlier this year never denying that hed shot and killed Dennis Fabian Rolon. Friends and family of Rolon were present Friday in Yellowstone County District Court to testify that he was a role model and a source of support.

Yellowstone County prosecutors described Rolons death as senseless and preventable in their sentencing recommendation filed in district court. Smoker, 25, argued that he chased Rolon and two others after losing a fistfight, shooting him in self-defense. He wont be eligible for parole until hes at least 46 years old.

In June 2024, Smoker was in Downtown Billings, where he met a man named Javon Edwards at a bar. Although Smoker later told police the two were friends, in the following hours, Smokers repeated attempts to get drugs from Edwards escalated to Edwards going to Smokers home on Country Manor Boulevard, near Shiloh Road and Grand Avenue. Edwards travelled with Dennis Fabian Rolon, who was at the wheel of his red sedan.

Outside of Smokers home, he and Edwards briefly fought. After the melee, Edwards and Rolon left, with Rolon again in the drivers seat. Smoker followed them in his own car down Shiloh Road. Security footage from businesses along the road captured Smokers car trailing Edwards. What cameras didnt capture was Smoker pulling up on the drivers side of the red sedan near the Central Avenue roundabout, drawing a handgun and opening fire.

Smoker fired five shots, one of which struck and eventually killed Rolon, and drove away. He eventually reached the home of an acquaintance, where he ditched his handgun in a dumpster. Two hours later, officers with the Billings Police Department arrested him.

Footage of an interview between a BPD sergeant and Smoker played during his trial showed the officer breaking the news that Rolon had died. Smoker asked the sergeant repeatedly if he was joking. In that same interview, Smoker said he was afraid of Edwards and only chased after him because he wanted to talk.

Court prosecutors charged Smoker with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. Yellowstone County District Judge Ashley Harada presided over the case. In between his arrest and his trial this past May, Harada granted Smoker a furlough to stay at a mental health treatment facility in Oregon. While at the facility, he was treated for bipolar disorder. His family also testified that he spent time meeting with troubled children to encourage them to steer clear of addiction and violence. When prosecutors learned that Smoker was reportedly leaving the facility to go to a bar in Portland, he was ordered to return to Yellowstone County Detention Facility in April.

During Smokers week-long trial, jurors heard testimony from BPD investigators and the two men who were in the sedan when Smoker shot Rolon. Lacey Fortin, who prosecuted the case alongside Hallie Bishop, told jurors in her closing argument that Smoker knew what he was doing when he shot Rolon. Leading up to that shooting, she said he had multiple options that could have ended the confrontation, but Smoker chose to get in his vehicle, pull out a gun and start shooting.

Defense attorneys Joe Zavatsky and Sarah Kottke represented Smoker through his sentencing. At his trial, the two argued that Smoker, who did not testify, opened fire because he was trying to protect himself and his girlfriend, who was riding with him in his vehicle during the shooting. Jurors deliberated for two hours before finding Smoker guilty of both counts.

At Smokers sentencing Friday, Judge Harada heard testimony from people who testified on his behalf, among them Smokers parents, his sister and his grandmother. They were unanimous in describing him as an empathetic man who was protective of his friends and family, sometimes to a fault. Smokers grandmother, 74-year-old Cynthia LaCounte, testified that the death of the family patriarch in 2021 damaged Smoker to the point that he turned to drugs.

Smoker wasnt making the decisions the night he killed Rolon, LaCounte said, drugs were. Her grandson wants to succeed, she told Harada, and she and the rest of his family wouldnt let him fail. She asked the judge for a sentence that would let her hold Smoker again. LaCounte offered his sympathies to Rolons family, telling them she thought Smoker and Rolon were good men. Before stepping down from the witness stand, she told Smoker she loved him.

When given the chance to speak, Smoker apologized to Rolons family and promised to change who he was and to become a better man. Before issuing her sentence, Judge Harada gave her condolences to both families gathered in her courtroom. Nothing she said would make any of them happy.

It hurts my heart for all of you, she said.

Harada said she understood Smoker was in the throes of addiction when he killed Rolon, and she wished hed gotten help sooner, but that did not excuse his behavior. In making her decision, she said she didnt know what kind of a man hed be when he left prison: a confirmed gang member or a man wanting to make the world a better place. She couldnt predict that, and it scared her.

In total, Harada sentenced Smoker to 85 years, with 10 years suspended. She didnt place any restrictions on his parole eligibility. Harada told Smoker she believed in him, and if he truly committed to improving himself, hed leave prison the man his family described in their testimony.

Please try to do better, Harada said.

So far this year, there have been four confirmed homicides in and around Billings. Despite the four deaths, violent crime in the Billings is on track to decline since escalating sharply in 2020. Starting then and through 2024, BPD investigated an average of one homicide a month. Earlier this week, the FBI published a summary of violent and property crimes nationwide in 2024, both of which were down compared to the previous year. Homicides in particular were down nearly 15%.
Kim Nyoun Ho, chairman, Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam

We warmly welcome General Secretary To Lam on his official visit to Korea. This historic visit marks a new milestone in Korea-Vietnam relations, serving as a turning point to further strengthen practical cooperation and mutual trust between our two nations.

Since the elevation of our bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the end of 2022, the fruits of collaboration have become visible across the entire spectrum of the economic, science and technology, digital, and defence industries. Behind these achievements lies General Secretary To Lams exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment to reform, for which I express my deepest gratitude.

The Vietnamese governments reform efforts have earned genuine respect from the Korean business community.

Streamlined administrative procedures, investor-friendly policies for foreign enterprises, and bold regulatory easing have created fertile ground for Korean companies to take root and thrive in Vietnam.

Today, Korea stands as Vietnams largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 18 per cent of total FDI through cumulative investments of roughly $92 billion across more than 10,000 projects. Even in the first half of this year, Korean investment grew an impressive 107 per cent on-year, underscoring the remarkable momentum of our economic engagement.

Amid these accomplishments, I would like to highlight several on-the-ground challenges and offer suggestions for making the future of Korea-Vietnam cooperation even brighter.

First, there is an urgent need to upgrade the institutional infrastructure for advanced industries.

In sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment and precision instruments, delays in customs clearance frequently occur due to insufficient technical understanding among frontline officers.

Emerging mobility technologies, including electric motorcycles, drones, and autonomous driving equipment, also face commercialisation hurdles due to regulatory gaps in pilot operations. Now is the time to establish clear standards that keep pace with rapid technological advances, alongside the systematic training of specialised personnel.

Second, enhancing information transparency and innovating the talent development ecosystem are crucial.

Vietnams diverse investment incentives are highly attractive, yet foreign companies often face difficulties in fully utilising them due to regional policy variations and inconsistencies between government agencies.

Furthermore, despite Vietnams remarkable industrial upgrading, the supply of skilled professionals in advanced technologies remains insufficient. Expanding relevant academic programmes and strengthening university and industry cooperation will be essential to building a robust pipeline of talent.

Korean companies perspectives are also evolving. Vietnam is no longer viewed merely as a production base but increasingly as a strategic partner for joint innovation and growth.

In response to this paradigm shift, KOCHAM will further strengthen its role as a bridge, helping companies accurately understand Vietnams systems and business environment, and facilitating smooth collaboration with government bodies and local enterprises.

General Secretary To Lams visit presents a historic opportunity for our two nations to design a shared future as true strategic partners. Cooperation centred on advanced industries will provide not only economic benefits, but also a solid foundation for achieving structural innovation together.

On behalf of KOCHAMs more than 1,000 member companies, I express my profound appreciation for the General Secretarys outstanding leadership and dedication to the sustainable growth of bilateral relations. We look forward to the continued support and collaboration that will enable Korean enterprises to make meaningful contributions to Vietnams future development, and to the brilliant future that Korea and Vietnam will build together.
SAP Labs Vietnam will be situated in a Grade-A building in Saigon ward, Ho Chi Minh City. It will be SAP's second centre in Southeast Asia, behind Singapore.

Vietnam is one of 20 countries worldwide to host an SAP R&D centre, underscoring the companys long-term commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.

The new R&D centre will play an important role in supporting SAPs product development, especially in core sectors like sustainable digital supply chains and intelligent enterprise solutions integrated with AI.

SAP Labs Vietnam is not merely an R&D centre, but also an indispensable catalyst in the digital transformation in one of Asias most dynamic tech markets, Thomas Saueressig, a member of the executive board of SAP SE, said.

Since September 2024, SAP Labs Vietnam has recruited more than 200 employees. The German company expects to expand its workforce to 500 staff by 2027, including 350 new hires in 2025 alone. In addition to seeking senior-level talent, the company is working closely with leading universities in Ho Chi Minh City to nurture young tech talent and open career pathways in advanced fields such as data analytics, AI, and software engineering.

SAP is one of the world's largest providers of enterprise application software, serving more than 400,000 customers in over 180 countries. Renowned for its enterprise resource planning, cloud computing, and AI solutions, SAP plays a key role in helping global businesses operate efficiently and drive digital transformation.

In Vietnam, SAP has been present for more than 15 years, providing technology solutions to major corporations in manufacturing, retail, finance, telecommunications, and energy.

FPT becomes SAPs regional strategic services partner Global IT services provider FPT announced on November 21 that it has joined the SAP Regional Strategic Services Partner (RSSP) initiative, established by SAP Asia-Pacific Japan (APJ) to expand the capabilities and reach of established partners in the APJ region that are on a rapid growth trajectory.

Vietnam's sole representative awarded SAP's Best Partner of the Year At the SAP Southeast Asia Partner Success Summit 2024, FPT IS was the only Vietnamese company honoured with three prestigious awards: Best Rise Partner, Best Midmarket Partner, and Best Partner of the Year.
The agreement was signed at a conference on August 7 in accordance with Hanoi City People's Committee cooperation programme.

The event was conducted, marking an important milestone in the capital's sustainable development strategy, aimed at protecting community health, promoting sustainable economic development, and ensuring companion animal welfare.

The programme reflects Hanoi's policies and orientation in strengthening protection of animals closely bonded with humans such as dogs and cats, marking a positive transformation in management approaches and treatment methods aligned with modern societal development trends and international practices.

This cooperation action plan establishes a framework for implementing disease prevention measures, with focus on rabies prevention  an issue affecting community health. The project emphasises raising community awareness about the connection between rabies and dog and cat meat trading activities, while supporting trading households in transitioning to safe, sustainable livelihood models that provide stable income. The project contributes significantly to achieving the national strategic goal of eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030. This is also the first time this model has been implemented in a major city in Vietnam.

"The city always places people's health and safety first, especially in rabies prevention work and addressing issues arising from dog and cat meat trading activities. This cooperation plan will create strong momentum for activities the city is implementing, helping achieve higher effectiveness in community health protection work," said Nguyen Dinh Dang, director of Hanoi Department of Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine.

"The project's ultimate goal is to achieve zero human rabies deaths and transform livelihoods related to dog and cat meat trading activities to ensure community health and rabies-related safety. We highly value Hanoi's determination and commitment in addressing these challenges. Soi Dog Foundation will accompany Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment to create sustainable solutions that benefit both humans and animals," said Rahul Sehgal, international communications director of Soi Dog Foundation.

The cooperation plan focuses on key activities including enhancing effectiveness of dog and cat population management to reduce stray and ownerless dogs and cats, providing professional training for veterinary staff and disease management, improving capacity and effectiveness of stray dog catching operations, implementing community education and communication programmes about rabies hazards, along with supporting career transition for dog and cat meat trading households.

These collaborative efforts contribute to realising the vision of building Hanoi into a civilised, modern, safe and internationally integrated city.

"The comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach in this cooperation plan encompasses all necessary aspects for successful project implementation  from community health protection, behavioural change education and communication to sustainable business model transformation and public participation. This overall strategy ensures Hanoi will achieve its set objectives while creating new standards for urban community health protection initiatives nationwide," said Bui Duyen, director of Social and Behaviour Change Communication for Sustainable Development Vietnam (SBCC Vietnam), the project implementation partner in Vietnam.

With Hanoi implementing this pilot project, the cooperation model is expected to become valuable experience that can be scaled up to other localities in Hanoi and nationwide. The project demonstrates practical effectiveness in proactive efforts to implement community health protection measures and support transition to civilised business models, for the common benefit of society and the country's sustainable development.

VNATV hosts landmark policy dialogue on dog and cat meat trade Vietnam National Assembly Television (VNATV) broadcast a groundbreaking policy dialogue on December 3 addressing the urgent need to eliminate Vietnam's dog and cat meat trade.

Parliamentary handbook launched to transform animal welfare in Vietnam A parliamentary handbook titled "National Assembly deputies with the improvement of policies and laws on animal protection" was launched on April 2 to improve the legal framework for animal management, especially for companion animals such as dogs and cats.
Le Trung Hieu, deputy director general of National Statistics Office

Could you elaborate on how the countervailing tariff will affect Vietnams economic growth, based on the National Statistics Office ( NSO)'s calculations?

As the national statistics agency responsible for calculating economic growth rates, the NSO reevaluates the growth rate whenever any input factors impacting GDP growth change. Based on these recalculations, the NSO then proposes policies and mechanisms to minimise any negative impacts, while also leveraging other input factors to achieve the growth targets set by the government.

The United States is Vietnams largest export market, and bilateral trade relations have strengthened in recent years. The US is now one of Vietnams top trading partners, with Vietnam's export share to the US steadily increasing over the past few years.

Key export items to the US include computers, electronics, and components which hold 19.4 per cent of Vietnams total export value to the US; machinery, equipment, and parts at 18.5 per cent; textiles and garments at 13.5 per cent; phones and components at 8.2 per cent; wood and wood products at 7.6 per cent; and footwear at 6.9 per cent.

The 20 per cent countervailing tariff imposed by the US on Vietnamese goods will certainly affect Vietnams production and business activities, foreign and domestic investment, and economic growth in both the short and long term, particularly if US trade policy remains unchanged towards Vietnam and other US trade partners.

How did you arrive at your specific calculations regarding the impact of the tariff?

We used the Input-Output (I/O) Table framework to evaluate the impacts from both the supply and demand sides, assuming a reduction in the value of Vietnams exports to the US as a result of the higher tariffs.

Currently, the US applies an average Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff of 9.4 per cent on Vietnamese imports, with agricultural products taxed at 17.1 per cent and non-agricultural products at 8.1 per cent.

Using export data from Vietnams top 46 major product categories to the US, we calculated that a 10 per cent drop in export value due to these higher tariffs would result in a reduction of Vietnams GDP growth by 0.08 percentage points.

Specifically, the direct impact on GDP would be a 0.07 percentage point decrease, while indirect effects, such as spillover impacts through inter-industry relationships, would lower GDP by an additional 0.01 percentage points.

What would the actual impact of the 20 per cent countervailing tariff be on Vietnams GDP growth?

At a 20 per cent countervailing tariff, the price of Vietnamese goods in the US will increase by approximately 9.7 per cent. Based on our calculations using the I/O Table, a 20 per cent tariff would reduce Vietnams export value to the US by $11-12 billion, or approximately a 9-10 per cent drop in total export value.

For certain product categories, this will lead to significant reductions in export value. For example, textiles, garments, electronics, phones, and computers are expected to see a 4 percentage point drop.

Other categories, such as measuring, testing, control equipment, and watches, may experience a 5.3 percentage point reduction, while footwear, bags, and luggage could see a 4 percentage point decline.

Additionally, machinery, equipment, and spare parts could fall by 4.1 percentage points, while wood products and seafood may decrease by 2.6 percentage points. Some agricultural products, such as pepper, catfish, vegetables, cashews, coffee, and shrimp, could see a drop of about 1.4 percentage points.

But arent these just theoretical calculations based on economic models?

Yes, the US has already announced its tariff rates for various trading partners. Vietnams 20 per cent countervailing tariff is relatively high compared to several other countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Pakistan, direct competitors in the US market, particularly in textiles, footwear, and agricultural products, but the differences are not significant.

Countries like India and Bangladesh, which are also key competitors for Vietnamese goods in the US market, face tariffs of 25 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. As a result, Vietnam's goods will remain competitive in the US market, even if prices increase by about 9.7 per cent.

This is because prices of goods from other countries will increase as well, and in fact, Indian products may lose some competitive edge due to the higher tariffs.

With a 20 per cent tariff, Vietnamese products will still be competitive in the US market. The 0.8 percentage point decrease in GDP growth is a calculation based on economic theory.

According to our statistics, during the first seven months of 2025. The countrys export value reached an estimated $261.8 billion, showing a 14.6 per cent jump on-year. The US remains Vietnams largest export market, and the growth trend continues.

On the import side, Vietnams total import value over the first seven months came to more than $252 billion, marking an 18 per cent increase.

This reflects a rebound in production and exports, prompting businesses to import more raw materials to complete export orders. If Vietnam can maintain the export growth pace seen in the first seven months, it is highly likely that the countrys GDP will exceed 8 per cent growth this year.

Tariff reprieve leads to positive Q2 for Vietnam Trade negotiations with the United States in early July appeared promising for Vietnam, prompting the UOB (United Overseas Bank) to revise up its forecast for Vietnam's GDP growth in 2025 by 0.9 per cent to 6.9 per cent.

Vietnam is showing resilience amid global headwinds Amid global uncertainties, Vietnam is navigating both opportunities and challenges. Nguyen Thuy Hanh, CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam, shared her outlook with VIRs Hong Dung.
Given the ongoing world conflict is mainly between Russia and the USA, it is encouraging to see both parties engaging in dialogue. The USA in exasperation, is recognizing the risks of a total defeat in combat and the ineffectiveness of threats against Russia. Also finds itself at a alarming moment of realization which it never saw coming. And also the USA finds itself at a critical moment of its survival as a country in the new world and future. This is the moment we are watching in real time

This is a moment that will never be allowed to change after it happens. History is being written and Russia is writing that history right now. Not MSM, Not EU, Not America, but Russia

It is important to note that neither Russia nor China will seek to demean the US, despite the hopes and desires of some individuals, as global diplomatic relations should not be influenced by emotional responses and or actions.That has been a serious infraction by the USA, EU and NATO. Everything is based upon hate and nasty sick attitudes. This is where Russia, Iran and China shine

However, that said, many if not most readers of WtR seem to be swayed by feelings rather than logical reasoning. While this is a natural human tendency, it is essential to understand that nations cannot be governed based solely on such sentiments

Thus we have what we have at this moment in history

The child USA is throwing serious tantrums and the adults are doing the best to keep that Baby Huey from smashing its nursery and the rest of the house

Have a nice day

WtR
Coleg Cambria graduate thrives in media role at Westminster think tank

A former Coleg Cambria student has secured a prominent role as a media and communications officer at a London-based think tank.

Matthew Barnes, 23, originally from Flint and now living in London, studied A Levels in Government and Politics, Media Studies, English Language, and the Welsh Baccalaureate while at Coleg Cambria.

During his postgraduate studies, Matthew was awarded the Dan Walker Journalism Scholarship and won the accolade for Best Overall Performance in his MA programme.

Now working as a media and communications officer, his journey into the heart of UK politics began while studying at Coleg Cambria, which he credits for giving him the confidence and independence to explore his interests.

My time at Cambria was fantastic, he said.

From day one, I was treated like an adult and supported by brilliant tutors who encouraged me to push myself.

It was a leap of faith to study A Level Politics without any background, but it opened the door to the career Im in now  working alongside MPs, peers and journalists in Westminster.

Matthew also completed his Gold Duke of Edinburghs Award while at college and expressed gratitude to Jo Jones, his Government and Politics tutor, for her continued support.

Congratulating Matthew on his achievements, Mim Riddell, Head of Deeside Sixth and Assistant Principal for Academic Studies, said: Were incredibly proud of Matthew and all he has achieved so early in his career.

Its always inspiring to see our alumni thrive in such competitive and influential fields. We wish Matthew continued success in Westminster and beyond.

Matthews advice to current students is simple: Trust your instincts, pursue your interests, and never underestimate where passion and perseverance can take you.
Four charged as part of investigation into child sexual exploitation

Detectives investigating child sexual exploitation and trafficking offences in Denbighshire have charged four men following arrests on Thursday, 7 August.

The men, aged between 24 and 60, face multiple serious charges linked to the ongoing investigation.

Mustafa Iqbal, 42, of Trellewelyn Road, Rhyl, is charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, three counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, six offences under the Modern Slavery Act, conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, possession of a firearm, and breach of a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order.

Mohammad Usman Arshad, 35, of Clifton Grove, Rhyl, faces charges including rape, four offences under the Modern Slavery Act, and supplying Class B drugs.

Ziaullah Badsha, 24, of Brighton Road, Rhyl, is charged with two counts of rape, four offences under the Modern Slavery Act, and supplying Class B drugs.

Jaswinder Singh, 60, of River Street, Rhyl, is charged with two offences under the Modern Slavery Act and supply of Class B drugs.

All four men appeared at Llandudno Magistrates Court on Friday, 8 August and were remanded in custody. They are due to next appear at Mold Crown Court on Friday, 5 September.

Further charges are being brought against a woman linked to the investigation, with her court appearance scheduled for next week.

A 61-year-old man from London, arrested during the investigation, has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

The investigation, involving Operations Embank and Zirconium, has been led by North Wales Police and relates to three teenage female victims who reported offences between April 2022 and March 2024 in Rhyl and nearby areas.

Detective Chief Inspector Rich Sidney said: Our priority is always the protection and support of victims, and this investigation is no exception.

We urge anyone who has experienced abuseor who is concerned about someone who may be sufferingto come forward. You will be listened to, your report will be investigated, and we will ensure you have access to the support you need.

This has been a complex and long-running investigation. We have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service throughout the process and this collaboration has resulted in authority to charge the suspects involved with multiple serious offences being provided.

We would now ask for people to respect the judicial process and to avoid online speculation on this case. This is to ensure the integrity of the investigation and court proceedings.

Specialist Prosecutor Louisa Robertson added: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised North Wales Police to charge four males and one female in respect of these two investigations.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against each individual are now active and that they all have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

Anyone wishing to report child sexual exploitation is asked to contact North Wales Police online or by calling 101. For emergencies or immediate danger, call 999.

More information and support details are available on the North Wales Police website.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced this week that most of its union contracts will be terminated.

The VA says this will save the department millions of dollars and about 750,000 hours on union activities, but the American Federation of Government Employees says this is bad idea.

"These last couple of days have been, really difficult," said Troy Stormoen, Executive Vice President, AFGE Local 2152. "Essentially on Thursday, we learned that the Secretary of the VA had canceled our collective bargaining agreement, that had been recently resubmitted in 2023."

This was the letter the workers received to let them know the contracts were done.

This comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order back in March.

The largest VA union is the AFGE. They have an office located near the VA Hospital in Reno, and they represent about 2,300 employees here in the area.

The VA shared in a release that the end of these bargaining agreements will give more time and space for regular VA operations.

Just to clarify, most folks still have a job - they just don't have union protections.

One worker said they feel their rights are gone without union representation.

"Now we have additional pressure on those employees, and now they're going to feel less secure because they've lost the right to have the protections that we agreed uponwith the agency, with the VAto allow them to, you know, feel comfortable with how they're treated at work," Stormoen said. "To know what their rights are."

The Sierra Nevada VA sent out emails to employees today letting them know their agreements will be changing over the course of the coming days and weeks.

The letter claims this will come to a benefit for employees by being able to hire more people, reward good performance, and hold workers more accountable, but the union disagrees.

"So, we find this to be something that's going to damage the VA, damage its ability to take care of veterans," Stormoen said. "And of course, we would we would, urge the secretary to reconsider and withdraw and reinstate the collective bargaining agreement for our employees in Reno."

The national AFGE says they are looking into options to challenge the decision and restore union rights.
China steps up disaster relief support for flood-hit Gansu

Xinhua) 09:23, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday stepped up support for its northwestern Gansu Province, which has recently been hit by flooding.

The country's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Friday said that it has allocated 100 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars) from its central budget to assist Gansu.

The funds will focus on restoring damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water conservancy projects and public service facilities in affected areas, accelerating the return to normal production and daily life, the NDRC said.

As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, 10 people have died and 33 are missing following mountain torrents in Gansu since Thursday.

China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Friday initiated a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest level in China's four-tier emergency response system, to the floods in Gansu.

Specialized personnel have been deployed to the affected areas to assist with local relief operations, with a particular focus on ensuring the basic livelihoods of impacted residents.

In a coordinated effort, the commission partnered with the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration to distribute 10,000 central relief supplies on Friday.

The aid package includes folding beds, winter clothing, quilts and emergency lighting to support disaster rescue and relocation efforts in the region.

Also on Friday, the Ministry of Finance and the MEM earmarked 120 million yuan from the central natural disaster relief fund to aid Gansu and north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Inner Mongolia has experienced continuous rainfall since July 23, with flooding affecting some areas.

The funds will be used mainly to search for, rescue and relocate people affected by natural disasters, and to aid other work, such as secondary-disaster detection and the repair of damaged homes.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
It didnt take long for Amanda Thompsons death become a matter of politics.

The day after the Buffalo mother of four was killed, reportedly by a man who served a 23-year sentence for murder, Buffalo Republican mayoral candidate James Gardner stood across the street from her house and tied her death to bail reform.

Murdered woman could still be alive if not for bail reform, Buffalo mayoral candidate Gardner says Nearly two months before she was killed early Thursday morning on the front porch of her South Ogden Street home, Amanda Thompson, 44, obtained an order of protection against Rickey M. Crouch, the 49-year-old man suspected by police of shooting her.

What makes the death and murder of Amanda Thompson an outrage is that it was preventable and it would have been prevented but for the bail law that was championed by legislators in Albany, including Sean Ryan, he said, linking the change in state laws around bail and pretrial detention to the yes votes on the measures of his main rival in the mayoral race, Democratic nominee State Sen. Sean Ryan.

Ryan swiftly issued a statement condemning the news conference as a politicization of a tragedy. In a subsequent phone interview, Ryan said making matters worse is that Gardners argument does not even make sense.

Its almost all the same disinformation campaign, Ryan said of attacks on him and other Democrats who supported the laws. Bail reform has become the catch-all boogeyman that anytime something bad happens, the Republicans say its because of bail reform.

Since the law and later amendments passed, headlines have recounted violent crimes committed by people already accused of other crimes, linking their freedom to the law. But, statistics show that violent crime numbers continue to sink across much of the state, while data around recidivism for those out of jail awaiting trial is a mixed bag, with those numbers largely remaining flat.

Rickey Crouch, who has been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in Thompsons death, was paroled in in 2020 after serving 23 years in state prison for killing a 16-year-old McKinley High School student in 1997. In May, he was charged with breaking down the door at Thompsons home and assaulting her and displaying a handgun, according to police reports and public statements from law enforcement officials.

At his arraignment for that incident, a City Court Judge set bail at $50,000, though Erie County District Attorneys Office prosecutors asked that he be remanded, or held without bail, both of which are allowable under bail reform laws. Crouch posted the $5,000 bond and was freed.

The judge also issued an order of protection against Crouch that prohibited him from getting near Thompson or her children.

Later that day, Crouch violated that order of protection and was again arrested. Prosecutors asked for an additional $30,000 bail to be set, which he was eligible for, according to the DAs Office. Another City Court judge released Crouch on his own recognizance, allowing him to remain free as he awaited his next court dates.

Less than two months later, Thompson was dead, with Crouch the accused killer.

In an interview with The Buffalo News, Gardner reasserted that bail reform was to blame, saying that the bail laws made the conditions under which judges are permitted to set bail or keep people accused of violent crimes jailed so complicated and onerous that it affects their decision-making process, often resulting in more lenient pretrial conditions.

The problem here is, with respect to the law itself and what the judges have to do in making bail decisions, Gardner said.

Gardner, an attorney and former law clerk to Erie County District Court Judge Kenneth Case, said that while amendments passed on the original law do give judges more discretion, there are still a confusing set of guidelines for setting bail that judges are required to consider that push them toward more lenient pretrial conditions.

In addition, the reforms require that the judge set different types of bail for those accused of crimes  one type is unsecured bail, which can be a signature from the defendant promising to return for court appearances  making it easier for people accused of crimes to get out, even when bail is set.

The law changed requiring a minimum of those three forms of bail be set and identifying that it had to be partially secured or unsecured, making it incredibly easy for people to get out of pretrial detention, Gardner said.

Narrative or reality?

Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane, who advocated for the amendments to the original bail law restoring discretion to judges, flatly denies that the bail reform laws are at all relevant to Crouch being out of jail when Thompson was killed.

During a news conference last month where Keane announced a superseding indictment that charged Crouch with additional crimes, a reporter stated as part of a question that the bail reform laws were to blame for Thompsons death.

Keane said he understands that narrative is out there, but refuted any connection between the laws and Crouchs pretrial detention conditions, noting that remand was available to the judge, and that the judge had set a $50,000 bail.

Included in the amendments to the original law passed in 2019 is what is called harm-harm analysis, which allows judges to set bail on nonqualifying offenses if someone is accused of repeatedly committing offenses that do not qualify for bail, but involve the harm of persons or property.

And, in a state Court of Appeals ruling last year, judges were given the ability to consider dangerousness for a repeat offender in review on nonqualifying offenses if the defendant is later accused of a violent crime, a consideration that has not been allowable since the states original bail statutes passed in 1971.

Keane said in an unrelated interview with The News in June 2024 that district attorneys were not consulted in the crafting of the original legislation, which resulted in some of the issues with the law as passed in 2019. He said he believes the legislators who crafted the bill were well-intentioned, and said that the amendments that have since passed have given judges much more discretion.

And, in the interview last year, Keane, who declined to be interviewed for this article because district attorneys are barred from commenting on political races or making endorsements, said that there were cases of abuse of the bail system prior to the changes in law, where judges would use bail as leverage to pressure people with low-level offenses who could not afford bail into taking plea deals in order to clear their dockets.

That was an abuse of the discretion by judges in those kinds of situations and it was wrong, and it probably happened way too often across the state for way too many years, Keane said.

Buffalo's mayoral candidates go on the offensive as primary day nears While candidates have criticized the policies and plans of one another throughout the crowded primary race, the volume has been cranked up with attack advertisements hitting airwaves in late May, flyers linking candidates to other political figures cramming city mailboxes at a dizzying pace and campaign social media teams sending jabs out to the phone screens of anyone paying attention.

A political matter

Gardner is the latest Western New York politician to criticize the bail reform laws during a campaign, but he is far from the first.

Talking points around the laws are often used by Republicans to attack Democratic opponents. But, they have also been used in Democratic primaries.

The often-maligned laws were used by Mayor Christopher Scanlon in attack advertisements during the Democratic primary for mayor this year where, at 11 points behind Ryan in the primary election, he was the closest competitor. Former Albany County District Attorney David Soares, a Democrat, lost his re-election bid in a Democratic primary to attorney Lee Kindlon last year, attacking Kindlon on his embrace of the laws.

Alana Sivin, a program director with Vera Action, an arm of the nonprofit Vera Institute, which advocates for criminal justice reforms, particularly around bail and mass incarceration, said the attacks often try to paint the laws as tying judges hands when setting pretrial conditions in cases that involve violence. But, once voters have heard the actual consequences of the law  that nonviolent offenders cannot be held pretrial simply because they cant afford bail  Democratic voters often see value in the changes.

Polling done by the Vera Institutes political arm also suggests that the sort of aggressive messaging often deployed by conservative politicians around bail reform can backfire, especially in heavily Democratic electorates.

Sivin said another part of the conversation around the law that has become convoluted is the assertion from some politicians and other groups that it was leading to a spike in crime. In the years immediately following the passage of the law, violent crime did spike in Buffalo and New York State, following trends seen across the nation that some researchers now attribute to the disruption of normal life and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the unrest that followed and other factors. But, those numbers have since fallen below pre-pandemic levels, with shootings and homicides in Buffalo and New York State at lows not seen in decades.

Data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services analyzed by staffers at the Vera Institute show that pretrial release rates for violent crimes in Erie County have gone down since the laws first went into effect.

In addition, rearrest rates for violent crimes went up in 2020 and 2023, but down in 2021 and 2022, suggesting that there is no conclusive link between the laws and the number of people committing violent crimes while on release, Sivin said.

Theres no data showing that it has led to a rise in crime, she said.

Gardner says he is not concerned with those numbers, as he has heard from nearly every Buffalo voter he has visited during his campaign, including many block club leaders, that one of their top concerns is crime in the city.

I do not think its a political liability for me, he said.

Ryan, who voted in favor of the bail reform laws and its subsequent amendments, said that the prior bail system allowed people with money to walk free after committing the same crimes as people without the means to make bail, which disproportionately kept young Black men, in particular, in jail while they await their trials.

Were not going back to filling up the Holding Center with young Black men, Ryan said. Thats not happening.
India Issues Travel Warning for Iran Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions 2

Amid rising regional instability, the Indian Embassy in Iran has issued a strong advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to the country. Citing the rapidly evolving security situation, the embassy has asked citizens to stay updated with the latest developments and follow advisories from Indian authorities.

In view of the security-related developments over the past several weeks, Indian nationals are advised to carefully consider the evolving situation before undertaking non-essential travel to Iran, the embassy said in a statement posted on X.

The advisory further stated that Indians currently in Iran who wish to leave should utilize available commercial flight and ferry options.

This caution follows heightened tensions in the region, sparked by Israels launch of Operation Rising Lion last month against Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched airstrikes targeting Israel and a U.S. military base in Qatar. The U.S. responded by striking three locations in Iran, aligning itself with Israels mission to dismantle Irans alleged nuclear ambitionsa claim Tehran has consistently denied.

The 12-day conflict saw intense hostilities before a unilateral ceasefire was declared by U.S. President Donald Trump, temporarily halting the clashes.
Shubhanshu Shukla to Become First Indian on ISS Since 1984 in Historic SpaceX-Axiom Mission 2

In a milestone moment for Indias space legacy, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) in 41 years. Shukla, along with three other crew members, boarded SpaceXs Dragon spacecraft at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday for the much-anticipated Axiom-4 commercial space mission.

The missions launch, scheduled for 12:01 pm IST, marks a major milestone for Indo-US collaboration in space. Weather conditions were reported to be 90% favorable for lift-off. Shukla, a native of Lucknow, will join former NASA astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Polands Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungarys Tibor Kapu on the voyage.

Their journey aboard the new Dragon spacecraft, mounted atop SpaceXs Falcon-9 rocket, symbolizes a significant return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary. Shuklas trip marks the first Indian presence in orbit since Rakesh Sharmas historic flight aboard the Soviet Salyut-7 station in 1984.

Before boarding, the astronauts completed a month-long quarantine and briefly reunited with family and friends. Dragons hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch, SpaceX confirmed on X.

A minor issue during hatch closure was resolved after astronaut Whitson spotted a fiber, prompting a successful second leak check. The spacecraft is now ready for docking, which is expected at 4:30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26.

Excitement has rippled across India, with watch parties organized at schools including Shuklas alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, and institutions in Jamshedpur. The launch, originally set for May 29, faced delays due to readiness issues with Dragon and weather concerns along the ascent path. A subsequent leak in the Falcon-9s liquid oxygen system and technical issues with the ISSs Russian module caused further postponements.

The launch follows joint assessments by NASA and Roscosmos, affirming the readiness of the ISS after repair work on its Zvezda service module. NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation, enabling Axiom Mission 4 to proceed, said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro.

Part of a broader Indo-US collaboration, the mission stems from a 2020 agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then US President Donald Trump to send an ISRO astronaut to the ISS. Axiom-4 will conduct five joint science experiments and two in-orbit STEM demonstrations.

The crew is expected to spend around two weeks aboard the ISS, engaging in science, education, and commercial outreachcementing Shuklas place in history and marking a bold new chapter in Indias space journey.
Jim Lovell, the commander of Apollo 13, died Thursday at the age of 97, NASA announced on Friday.

Lovell, who helped turn a failed moon mission into a triumph of on-the-fly can-do engineering as portrayed by Tom Hanks in 1995s Apollo 13 hit, died in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Jims character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount, NASA said. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.

Lovell flew four times  Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13  with the two Apollo flights riveting the folks back on Earth.

The Lovell family released a statement on Friday.

But, to all of us, he was Dad, Granddad, and the Leader of our family. Most importantly, he was our Hero, the family said in its statement, per NBC News. We will miss his unshakeable optimism, his sense of humor, and the way he made each of us feel we could do the impossible. He was truly one of a kind.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said in a news release: NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades. Jims character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements.

In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew of Lovell, Frank Borman and William Anders was the first to leave Earths orbit and the first to fly to and circle the moon. They could not land, but they put the U.S. ahead of the Soviets in the space race.

For the Apollo 13 flight in April 1970, Lovell was supposed to be the fifth man to walk on the moon. But Apollo 13s service module, carrying Lovell and John Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, experienced a sudden oxygen tank explosion on its way to the moon as re-enacted in the popular movie, Apollo 13, staring Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris and more.

It was Swigert who initially radioed the infamous message to NASAs Mission Control: OK, Houston, weve had a problem here.

When asked to repeat, Lovell followed up: Houston, weve had a problem. Weve had a Main B Bus Undervolt.

The astronauts barely survived, spending four cold days in the cramped lunar module as a lifeboat.

The thing that I want most people to remember is (that) in some sense it was very much of a success, Lovell said during a 1994 interview. Not that we accomplished anything, but a success in that we demonstrated the capability of (NASA) personnel.

We are saddened by the passing of Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13 and a four-time spaceflight veteran.



Lovell's life and work inspired millions. His courage under pressure helped forge our path to the Moon and beyonda journey that continues today. https://t.co/AjT8qmxsZI pic.twitter.com/jBlxzgrmSk  NASA (@NASA) August 8, 2025

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DeKalb County firefighters gather outside an Emory University medical building in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) AP

ATLANTA  Police were responding Friday to a report of an active shooter on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, near the entrance to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Atlanta police did not immediately say whether anyone was injured in the shooting. The university warned students and others on the campus to shelter in place, writing RUN, HIDE, FIGHT in an alert on its website.

Police vehicles continued to arrive from metro Atlanta agencies as a warning siren continued to sound.

Were horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said.

Staff at a deli near campus locked the doors and hunkered down inside. Brandy Giraldo, General Muirs chief operating officer, said staffers inside heard a string of gunshots.

It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, she said.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., wants international students to go home. His numbers are all but made-up and he doesn't understand how those students help American colleges. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) AP

This is an opinion column. Get Kyle Whitmires newsletter, Alabamafication. Sign up here for free .

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has had it with international students from countries that dont love America.

You come here. You get a degree. Youre gone, Tuberville said while pitching his Student Visa Integrity Act on Steve Bannons War Room show. Or better than that  if youre Iranian national or a Chinese national, you dont come at all. Were not educating you. Go somewhere else.

Hes ready to open a new front in the war on higher ed  colleges and universities, he says, are filling their classrooms with foreign students instead of red-blooded American kids.

Were going to put our kids first, America first, Tuberville told Bannon. Our kids are getting left out.

Its not hard to see the buttons Tuberville is trying to push here, but before we get to why hes simply wrong, lets look at the place where he struggles most  a less-than-firm grip on the facts. Alabamas senator cant help but exaggerate.

For instance, when he appeared last week on Maria Bartiromos Fox News show, Tuberville put the number of international students at between 1.1 and 1.2 million.

This is close to reality. How do I know this? Because Bartiromo flashed the 1.1 million number on the screen with a citation of her source.

However, when Tuberville appeared on another Fox News show and on Bannons show, he said it was 1.5 million.

Likewise, Tuberville imagines those stuffy, elitist Northeast schools throwing their doors open.

Of all enrollment in the Northeast, 40% to 70% is foreign nationals, he said on Foxs Mornings with Maria.

But thats not what he told Bannon.

On the East Coast and in all of these Ivy League schools, 60% to 70% of their students are foreign nationals, he said. I mean, all of them.

So which is it? Turns out, neither.

Earlier this year, the AP checked the numbers and found international students made up 27% of Ivy League enrollment, which is not 40%, 60% or 70%.

Columbia University came closest, with 38% international students.

Here, at least, we can see a trace of where Tuberville might be getting his information. Earlier this year, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller shared a tweet showing 58% international enrollment at Northeastern University. A fact-check by the Dispatch found that number was closer to 39%.

Now these numbers are high  much higher than the national average 4% at four-year colleges  and its fair to question them, but for Tuberville, reality is not good enough.

Tubervilles bill to crack down on international admissions isnt good with numbers either. At one point, it sets an aggressive deadline for the GAO and the Department of Homeland Security to report its actions to Congress  December 31, 2022.

At some point, we should consider that bright, educated, specialized professionals were once the sort of immigrant folks like Tuberville said they wanted to invite into America. But that argument seems to have sunset with the George W. Bush presidency.

But for right now, lets focus on where Tuberville almost gets it right  colleges and universities are recruiting more international students for a reason  money.

Paying for college is not all that different than buying a car  the sticker price is for suckers. Theres the tuition figure the college advertises, and then theres what most kids actually pay. The difference is whats called the student discount rate.

For instance, Vanderbilt University recently made headlines when it raised its tuition to almost $68,000. However, the average student there paid about $26,000 after financial aid.

Again, this is common among American colleges and universities  but only if youre from around here.

Many colleges and universities have turned to international students as a money-making opportunity, as Tuberville likes to tout on TV. But its worth understanding why.

In short: Because state governments arent doing their part anymore.

In 1980, if you were an in-state student at the University of Alabama or Auburn University, the state of Alabama likely covered about 75% of the cost of your education. The student and their family covered the rest.

But the cost of higher ed has grown, and state contributions have not, and today that share of the burden has roughly flipped.

This shift in the burden has played out all over America, and colleges and universities have had to get inventive to soften the blow.

One of those innovations: more international students, who pay more money, sometimes the full sticker price, which then allows those schools to charge less to their in-state students.

You know, the American kids Tuberville says he wants to help.

Last year, international students brought more than $368 million into Alabama and almost $44 billion nationally.

If Tommy Tuberville or Donald Trump shuts those foreign students out, those schools will have to find that money somewhere else.

Maybe they could turn to the state government, like in Alabama, where Tommy Tuberville may soon be governor  an office that will put him on both Auburn and Alabamas boards of trustees. Maybe he can help reset the states contribution to what it was in the early 1980s.

Nah, who am I kidding? Itll be on the students.

So Roll Tide or War Eagle  if you can afford it.

Kyle Whitmire is the Washington watchdog columnist for AL.com and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. Subscribe to his newsletter, Alabamafication. Its free.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin responded to a billboard saying he's afraid to debate. Woodfin campaign

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin responded this week to accusations that he is afraid to debate his opponents in the citys upcoming elections.

The accusation was leveled on a large billboard on the citys Southside that reads: Why is Mayor Woodfin afraid to debate?

Woodfin posted on social media:

Its come to my attention that another candidate has used a third party to fund these billboards, Woodfin said on his campaign Facebook page.

This is unfortunately the kind of dishonesty weve come to expect from our opponents, he said.

Ive already confirmed my participation in the scheduled debate and I look forward to having a spirited conversation about the future of Birmingham.

Then he added, Alexa, play False Prophets by J. Cole.

He had earlier posted that he plans to take part in a debate on radio station WJLD, 104.1 FM, on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Woodfin skipped a mayoral forum held on July 31, hosted by the Committee to Save Jefferson County at the Fraternal Order of Police Birmingham Lodge.

Five candidates attended that forum: Jerimy Littlepage, Brian K. Rice, Lashunda Scales, Juandalynn Givan and Frank Woodson.

Woodfin is running for a third term.

Birminghams municipal election is set for Aug. 26. Birminghams runoff election, if needed, would be Oct. 7.
A bullet hole is visible in the door of a CVS pharmacy on Saturday, August 9, 2025, near where police say a man was shooting at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) AP

ATLANTA  Investigators identified a 30-year-old man from suburban Atlanta on Saturday as the person who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, killing a police officer and spreading panic through the health agency and nearby Emory University.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said the shooter was Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded Friday while responding. No one else was hit, although police said four people reported to emergency rooms with symptoms of anxiety. Many CDC employees sought cover in their offices as bullets strafed the agencys headquarters.

Police say White opened fire at the campus from across the street, leaving gaping bullet holes in windows and littering the sidewalk outside a CVS pharmacy with bullet casings. The attack prompted a massive law enforcement response to one of the nations most prominent public health institutions.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the shooter had been turned away by guards when he tried to gain access to the campus, and then drove to a spot near the pharmacy and starting firing. He was armed with a long gun and authorities recovered at least three other firearms at the scene, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The suspects father reached out to authorities and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official said. The father told authorities that his son had been upset over the death of his dog and seemed depressed because of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kennedy reaches out to CDC staff

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said in a post on X, and dozens of impacts were visible from outside the campus. Images shared by employees showed bullet-pocked windows in offices where thousands of scientists and staff work on critical disease research.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said Saturday. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others, his statement said.

Some laid-off employees rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a Dear colleagues email, and called for his resignation.

Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDCs workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust, Fired but Fighting said.

The group also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, pointing to a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government.

We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected, Vought said in the video, obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down  We want to put them in trauma.

A request for comment from Voughts agency was not immediately returned.

Fired workers blame Trump administration

Hundreds of CDC staffers sheltered in place during the shooting and many couldnt leave for hours afterward on Friday as investigators interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence. The staff was encouraged to work from home Monday or take leave.

CDC workers already faced uncertain futures due to funding cuts, layoffs and political disputes over their agencys mission. Save the CDC signs are common in some Atlanta-area neighborhoods, and a group of laid-off employees has been demanding action from elected officials to push back against the Trump administrations cuts.

An armed Police officer prepares near the scene of shooting at the Emory University in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP

This shooting was the physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers, said Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during wave of terminations.

Its devastating, said Boim. When I saw the picture of those windows having been struck by bullets I really lost it, she said, her voice cracking.

A voicemail left at a phone number listed for Whites family in public records was not immediately returned Saturday morning.

A distrust of COVID-19 vaccines

A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nancy Hoalst, who lives in same cul-de-sac as Whites family, said he seemed like a good guy while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbors, but would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations.

He was very unsettled and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people. Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. He emphatically believed that.

But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.

The gunman died at the scene, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday, adding: We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted.

Slain officer leaves wife and 3 kids

He had been armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three other firearms at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Rose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, graduated from the police academy in March and quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism, DeKalb County said.

This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

Outside the complex that includes four floors of apartments above the CVS store, some people came Saturday to witness what had happened.

Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said gun violence feels like a fact of life now: This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia.

The newly-confirmed Monarez hailed the police response and called off in-person work on Monday, telling staff in a Friday email that the shooting brought fear, anger and worry to all of us.

Associated Press contributors include Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington, D.C., and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York.
From college beauty queen to a mother of two to founder and CEO of Swaddle Bar, a Black-owned childrens brand based in Birmingham thats equal parts comfort, community, and purpose, Kendra Lyas carries many titles under her belt. And its all because of another title that she embraces.

Im a hard worker, but I know that my success comes from God, said Lyas.

Founded in 2024, it took just 10 months for her Swaddle Bar brand to secure placement in 50 stores across the country and earn a finalist spot on Oprahs Favorite Things 2024.

It [Swaddle Bar] is a women-led philanthropy company, Lyas said. We have a team of seven ladies. And we have put together a collection of products. The profits go towards a ministry called Mwana Village. It is in Congo, West Africa.

Her product line includes soft swaddles, waffle-knit robes, ponchos, and plush towels.

With 50-plus retail placements, a soon-to-launch Amazon store, and a commitment to Mwana Villages, a nonprofit that supports orphans in the Republic of Congo, Lyas is proving just how much of a hard worker she is.

I have never been to Africa  But I have a friend, shes the executive director from Mwana Village and her name is Wellen Bridgers. I know her personally, I know that whenever Swaddlebar donates proceeds to them, that the money is going directly to those children, Lyas said. I just view this company as a huge opportunity for not only Mwana, but for other organizations that we partner with to really reap the benefit of retail sales.

Miss Alabama A&M

Born and raised in Birmingham, Lyas, 47, attended Fairfield High School where she graduated in 1996 as valedictorian and then enrolled at Alabama A&M University where she was pre-med/biology with a chemistry minor.

While at A&M, Kendra, who was Miss AAMU in 1999-2000, also studied Spanish Culture and Civilization abroad at Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain.

I remember driving around campus a freshman and thinking like, Hmm, thatd be great to be Miss Alabama A&M one day. It was a dream that I knew that I might one day act on, said Lyas.

At one time, Lyas said she wanted to be a doctor.

I went to Yale University for a summer [between 1995 and 1996] worked with some cadaver, and realized, that I didnt want to be in a clinical environment all day, every day, and started looking into some other options, she said. But after doing all that, summer programs, Ive realized that, you know, I was not built for the hospital all day.

The Pharmaceutical Path

After graduating in 2000, Lyas worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for 15 years after meeting another African American female rep.

There were not many Black women in pharmaceuticals, Lyas said. I only knew her and maybe one other. She just showed me what she did, and it resonated with me because I was going to be able to use my science to read the clinical studies and figure out how certain medications were going to help patients.

Lyas remembers the pharmaceutical path being tough. They usually dont hire people straight out of college The interview process was grueling, she said. I got hired before switching to another company and worked with them for nine years.

Stepping back from that role felt like the road less traveled, she said. Lyas decided to quit pharmaceutical sales in 2012 to become a stay-at-home mom.

I looked at my priorities and said, Whats more important than that? I get one shot at raising these children, she said.

While raising her children, Lyas said she rediscovered her love for sewing, which led to her first company, The Paisley Pea, a baby and maternity brand, in 2014.

I ran that business for five years and it was pre-pandemic. When the pandemic rolled around, I was trying to decide what direction we were going to go in and decided to accept an offer for the sale of the company  [But] I couldnt shake the wanting to give back, she said. And I know that business is a great way to do that. So you can call me a social entrepreneur. Someone whos an entrepreneur for the benefit of the community.

Grandmas Hands

Sewing was something she picked up from her grandmother, Lyas said.

I learned about sewing by watching her and I loved it, she said, adding, when my kids would be taking nap, I would pull out my machine and make things for them.

Her hard-working demeanor was something instilled in her from a young age, Lyas said. My parents always encouraged me and my brother. I feel that it was always a part of us that you better get the best grades. I feel like Im self-motivated and that probably helped them in their parenting, because they just needed to tell me one time.

Maintaining her various roles is much easier now because my first company, I had it when my kids were little. And so now that theyre bigger, oh, its so much easier because they have their own life.

Her daughter is now a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California where she is a presidential scholar. Her son is a rising sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School.

To explore Swaddle Bar products or learn more about the brand, visit www.swaddlebar.com
This is a guest opinion column

I decided to become a scientist the day my childhood friend, Evan, died from cancer. I had known Evan practically my entire life. Our moms were friends and both teachers at the same public school, and we lived only a few minutes away from each other. We grew up together in Bessemer doing all kinds of nerdy kid things like playing with Legos, geeking out about science, and belting karaoke songs in his living room.

But in 2006, Evan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that affects the nervous system, and began receiving treatments at St. Jude Childrens Hospital. While an incredible team of doctors was able to give him 5 more years of life, Evan passed away at only 10 years old. It was then I realized that doctors options to help kids like Evan are limited by the treatments we have, and for many cancers those options are still too few.

After saying goodbye to Evan in his final days, I made a promise to myself: I would become a scientist and dedicate myself to studying cancer. I kept that promise and just this year earned a PhD in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University for my research on cancer biology. This would not have been possible without the many federally-funded research opportunities I had access to as a high school and college student opportunities that are currently in danger of disappearing for future generations of students from Alabama.

As a working-class Alabama public high school student, federal research funding opened many doors for me that otherwise would not have been open. In my junior year of high school, I worked in a research lab at UAB that received funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The summer after my junior year, I participated in a federally-funded summer research program for high school students at the University of Mississippi which set me on the path to studying chemistry at UM. I later came to Yale University, where my research focuses on the RAD51 paralogs, a group of proteins involved in DNA repair.

Understanding DNA repair pathways will lead to better treatments for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. My work at Yale also relied on federal funding: In 2021, I was honored to receive the NIHs Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA (F31) fellowship, which funded my position for three years and allowed me to push my research even further. Federal funding supports the work of nearly every researcher I know. The federal funding cuts to the NIH, National Science Foundation, and other research institutions will set back science and medicine, destroy livelihoods, and cause preventable deaths. Clinical trials need to track people over long periods of time to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of new treatments. Not only are future projects and discoveries being blocked, but existing studies are falling apart without sufficient funding, wasting substantial investments of time and taxpayer money.

In addition to the irreparable damage to scientific research, these cuts have a huge human cost. Hardworking researchers who have dedicated their lives to curing diseases are losing their jobs. But scientists like me are just one part of the large workforce required to conduct research. Facilities staff keep our labs running; they maintain and operate complex equipment and inventories, create the chemical solutions for experiments, and preserve essential institutional knowledge. Many of their salaries are funded by federal grants which are being terminated as part of a widespread dismantling of research. These cuts will continue to hurt working families until they are reversed.

Cuts to the NIH not only hurt the scientific community at large, but also hurt our families and friends in our home state of Alabama. At the time of writing this article, Alabama has already lost $47 million and 203 jobs due to NIH cuts along with a yearly future loss of $137 million and 592 jobs due to NIH grant cuts alone according to Scienceimpacts.org. St Jude, which provides free treatment for children with cancer, has already lost over half a million dollars in funding due to NIH grant terminations alone.

The damage done to Alabama and our families and neighbors only intensifies when you consider the funding cuts to other agencies that power Alabamas economy through research grants like the National Science Foundation. For example, a University of Alabama at Huntsville program lost a $200,000 grant that was funding veteran research, and a $4.9 million grant was terminated at Auburn university that funded a program to help Alabamians from the Black Belt and other rural areas enter the STEM field.

Federal funding cuts pose a real threat to academia and the American economy, especially here in Alabama. But to me, these cuts represent more than lost dollarsthey signify a loss of hope, loss of progress, and disrespect all families that have lost loved ones to cancer and other diseases. Ending support for long-term studies and clinical trials undermines not only careers, but also the possibility of discoveries that can save our loved ones.

Jake Thrasher, Ph.D., is a cancer biologist who earned his doctorate in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University in May 2025.
Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams says the city will allocate up to $500,000 to fund expenses generated to host the 12-week, eight-team first season in the city. Roy S. Johnson

They are all competing for the same seat, but candidates seeking to unseat incumbent mayor Randall Woodfin agreed that crime in Birmingham remains too high, quality of life is too low and leaders must answer for the state takeover of the citys water utility.

As Birmingham mayoral candidates prepare for the next forum of hopefuls, pundits, voters and observers continue to discuss the latest showdownwhere most of the contenders outlined their vision for the city.

Five of the eight candidates participated: Kamau Afrika, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, Brian K. Rice, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales and Frank Woodson. Woodfin along with recently announced candidates David Russell and Marilyn James-Johnson were not present.

Passions were high regarding the former Birmingham Works Board, which was reorganized and rebranded as Central Alabama Water with a board dominated by suburban representatives.

Its hard not to be passionate about something that impacts people so much, said Frank Woodson. The loss of the water works board is one of the most demoralizing losses, and theres enough blame to go all the way around.

Under its new configuration, the water utility has seven members with just two coming from Birmingham, ending the citys dominance on the board.

Woodson also pointed a finger at the mayor and at legislators who failed to sound the alarm on legislation that harms the city.

The mayor has too much power without accountability, he said. Before it ever hit us, we should have known. Others knew about it and other legislators knew about it and other people over the mountain knew about what was going on before we ever found out. So nobody keeps secrets.

The forum was sponsored by the Committee to Save Jefferson County, Fraternal Order of Police and the Black Contractors Association.

Afrika called for a creative approach to challenge the water works action and other threats to the citys authority by the state.

We dont have guns big enough to fight this enemy because this enemy is on a wicked spiritual level, Afrika said.

Afrika said he would appeal to churches to take their money out of large banks as a financial protest over what he called Birminghams mistreatment.

Take your money out of their banks and youll get their attention, Afrika said.

Woodfin was noticeably absent from the forum, which generated several barbs from his challengers. Instead, the mayor participated in alternative programming on social media with Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett.

Woodfin has become the subject of a billboard mocking his absence from high-profile events - specifically, debating his opponents. The mayor Friday posted a response to the criticism on social media and said he had confirmed he would be in the next gathering of candidates.

Woodfin has confirmed his participation in a debate on WJLD radio Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Littlepage said the water works issue illustrated another abuse of public trust.

Its a lot of backdoor deals going on, said Littlepage, who initially called Woodfin his inspiration for seeking public office. Its a lot of lies and deception and if you elect me as mayor I will not deceive you.

Givan noted that shes the only candidate with state legislative experience.

What is going on in Montgomery and the takeover of the Birmingham Water Works Board is the fault of the mayor of the city of Birmingham this time, Givan said. You have to be present, you have to be attentive, and you have to be an administrator.

Thousands of people tuned in to the forum on social media through Whats Happening Birmingham in addition to independent live streaming by audience members. Critics also took to social media to highlight Woodfins absence.

Each candidate agreed the city must pour additional resources into the communities to encourage both economic development and the creation of an environment for neighborhood revitalization.

Rice, a property owner and an advocate for development in Ensley, says the city currently has a greater focus on demolition and downtown development at the expense of targeting neighborhood revitalization.

Birmingham is copying the model of New Orleans, its copying the model of Detroit, he said. Those African Americans there have lost a whole lot.

Regarding crime, Birminghams homicide rate has fallen from its highest numbers in 2024, but the deaths are too frequent and the goals for public safety remain unmet, mayoral challengers said. Each contender panned current crime-fighting efforts as inadequate.

I dont think anyone in this room should be satisfied, Givan said.

Givan said her plan, should she be elected mayor, includes recruiting retired police officers and opening substations in troubled areas.

We will have a presence in these neighborhoods, she said.

No one is going to move into a city where they dont feel safe, Scales said. Its got to be walkable and its got to be livable.

Scales said youth programs must be funded along with renewed efforts to recruit police and enhance relationships with the court system.

Scales also warned of proposals by the state legislature to allow the governor and attorney general to take over police departments in cities with uncontrolled crime.

Littlepage said several improvements are needed to address crime, including enhanced community and recreation facilities and a focus on mental health.

We need to take care of the kids. We have a youth problem. The elders are not killing people in the streets, he said. We need mental health facilities. There are a lot of hurt people hurting people out there.

Rice called the celebrated drop in crime this year a fallacy. But were comparing it to the worst year ever in the city of Birmingham, he said. So, were manipulating the data, were manipulating the public.

More than 29,000 people have viewed the last forum on Whats Happening Birmingham.

The next debate from WJLD will be live before a live audience of the citys neighborhood officers and streamed on the stations social media channels.

Birmingham municipal elections for mayor, city council and school board are Aug. 26.










English News Cultural inspirations from three-hare symbol

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 4 Aout 2025



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.

By Shi Ling, People's Daily 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.



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.



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.



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 Hainan FTP gains momentum, underscoring China's commitment to opening up

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 7 Aout 2025



The rise of the Hainan FTP offers a vivid testament to China's evolving model of opening up. Looking ahead, China will continue to pursue high-level opening up as a driver of high-quality growth and will contribute even more actively to building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.

By He Yin, People's Daily China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially launch an island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025. This milestone in the development of the Hainan FTP sends a clear and unequivocal message to the world: China remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding high-level opening up, even amid rising protectionist headwinds.



The establishment of the Hainan FTP is a major reform and opening up initiative personally planned and advanced by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over the past seven years, the FTP has steadily taken shape, leveraging the advantages of China's vast domestic market while aligning with high-standard international trade rules. It has increasingly become a focal point for both domestic and global investors.



As a hallmark of China's reform and opening up in the new era, the Hainan FTP is emerging as a pioneering platform of institutional innovation, a hub for regional cooperation, and a new engine for global economic integration. It embodies China's readiness to share its development opportunities and work in partnership with the rest of the world.



The launch of independent customs operations does not imply isolation; rather, it marks a deeper level of opening up. The number of tariff items eligible for zero-tariff treatment will expand to around 6,600 - about 74 percent of all tariff items - representing a sharp increase of nearly 53 percentage points. A targeted, low-intervention regulatory model will be adopted, featuring streamlined supervision for zero-tariff goods and goods under relaxed management.



Two distinct customs "lines" will facilitate these operations. The "first line" will connect the Hainan FTP with economies outside China's customs territory, enabling the smooth flow of zero-tariff goods through simplified policies. The "second line" will link the FTP with the Chinese mainland, where tailored oversight will help safeguard the broader domestic market. Within the FTP, zero-tariff goods and processed products can be stored without time restrictions, offering businesses greater operational flexibility.



The Hainan FTP will also introduce more favorable tariff policies, simplified trade measures, improved travel and logistics procedures, and targeted regulatory oversight. With both institutional "software" and physical "hardware" in place, Hainan is set to become a modern, globally connected hub of vitality and openness, injecting strong momentum into China's high-quality development and setting a benchmark for higher-level opening up.



Unlike traditional opening-up models that primarily focus on the flow of goods and production factors, institutional opening up - centered on rules, regulations, management, and standards - represents a higher standard of openness. The Hainan FTP is designed to align with the most advanced open economies in the world, providing a more stable and predictable regulatory environment and broader opportunities for businesses worldwide.



The results are already evident. In 2024, despite global economic uncertainties, the number of newly registered foreign-invested firms in Hainan exceeded 2,000, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 20 percent. At the 2025 Global Industrial Investment Promotion Conference for the Hainan Free Trade Port held in April, 265 projects were signed with a combined contract value of roughly 233.6 billion yuan ($32.44 billion). To date, investors from 176 countries and regions have entered the Hainan market, and the province's economic openness has reached 35 percent. This continued inflow of global capital underscores the international business community's confidence in China's high-level opening up.



At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and economic globalization is encountering severe challenges, China's determination to remain open is particularly significant.



Since the launch of its first pilot free trade zone (FTZ) in Shanghai in 2013, China has leveraged FTZs and the Hainan FTP to dismantle institutional barriers, reduce trade costs, and enhance the free flow of resources. Institutional opening up has thus become increasingly substantive, providing fresh momentum for global economic growth and creating new opportunities for win-win cooperation.



China continues to shorten its negative list for foreign investment and expand its global network of high-standard free trade agreements. As the breadth, depth, and quality of its opening up increase, the benefits of reform and opening up are being shared more widely with the world.



Time and again, facts have demonstrated that China's pursuit of high-level opening up is not a short-term tactic, but a strategic choice aligned with global development trends and the country's long-term development goals. China was, is, and will remain an attractive, safe, and promising destination for global investors.



The rise of the Hainan FTP offers a vivid testament to China's evolving model of opening up. Looking ahead, China will continue to pursue high-level opening up as a driver of high-quality growth and will contribute even more actively to building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.



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)
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived in the central Mozambican city of Chimoio on Saturday to hand over a consignment of humanitarian aid to communities affected by Cyclone Chido, which struck the region in December last year.The devastating storm claimed over 100 lives and displaced more than 600,000 people, leaving a trail of destruction across central Mozambique. Zimbabwe's relief effort, coordinated through its disaster response agency ZimAid, aims to assist in the recovery process for those hardest hit.President Mnangagwa was received by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, to whom he officially handed over the aid. The consignment includes foodstuffs, medical supplies, and emergency shelter materials.The Zimbabwean leader was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Deputy Chief Secretary George Charamba, and other senior government officials, marking the latest in a series of regional humanitarian interventions by Zimbabwe."This is more than a gesture of solidarity - it is a reaffirmation of our shared history, values, and responsibility to one another in times of crisis," Mnangagwa said in brief remarks following the closed-door meeting with President Chapo.Zimbabwe has a history of responding to regional disasters. In 2023, the country mounted a large-scale humanitarian operation in Malawi following Cyclone Freddy, donating maize, medical kits, and temporary shelter materials to assist displaced families.The southern African nation has also previously extended food aid to Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Province, where communities have been displaced by terrorist violence."Zimbabwe's approach to regional diplomacy includes a strong humanitarian pillar. In this regard, our government continues to respond swiftly and meaningfully to the needs of our neighbours," said Prof Murwira.Beyond the relief delivery, Presidents Mnangagwa and Chapo held a private meeting, believed to have touched on broader cooperation, including disaster preparedness, cross-border infrastructure, and trade.The visit underscores deepening ties between Harare and Maputo, rooted in historical liberation movements and now reinforced by shared economic and humanitarian goals.Cyclone Chido struck Mozambique in late December 2024, bringing torrential rains and severe flooding across Sofala, Manica, and Tete provinces. Many areas remain inaccessible, with humanitarian agencies warning of food insecurity and waterborne disease outbreaks.The aid from Zimbabwe is expected to support relief operations in Manica Province, where Zimbabwean nationals also reside and where Cyclone Chido's impacts were particularly severe.President Mnangagwa's visit is a symbol of regional unity amid worsening climate-related disasters in southern Africa - a reminder that African nations must rely on one another in the face of increasingly unpredictable environmental challenges.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has launched a lobbying campaign against the EUs Digital Services Act. With this step, Americans have become the last line of defense for the free speech rights of EU citizens.

If, in the past, President Donald Trump often spoke of the European Union as a tough nut to crack, he couldnt have been more accurate. Freedom-loving EU citizens know exactly what he meant. In Brussels, a bizarre melange of control fetishism, economic dirigisme, and isolation from the outside world has developed -- a combination that is no longer tolerable.

Not least, Brusselss fight against free expression in the digital sphere has revealed the true intentions of the von der Leyen Commission: the recovery of narrative dominance and control over political dissidence -- achieved by cold-bloodedly sacrificing citizens fundamental freedoms.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance already issued multiple warnings in the spring about a European censorship empire. In a speech to the Senate, he denounced European digital legislation as an attack on western liberties. In his address at the Munich Security Conference, he went so far as to suggest cutting ties with the Europeans if they did not reverse their illiberal, dictatorial trajectory.

Criticism Bounces Off

As usual, American criticism fell on deaf ears in Brussels. Although Brussels swallowed the bitter pill of an asymmetrical trade deal with the U.S. two weeks ago, both the hidden protectionism disguised as climate regulation and harmonization standards, as well as the repressive digital laws, remain intact. This is detrimental not only to free speech among Europeans but also for American companies -- undoubtedly a key target of the EU censors.

The EUs discriminatory ambitions through the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the corresponding Digital Markets Act (DMA) primarily target U.S. communication platforms like X, Telegram, and Meta. If these platforms dont conform to EU rules -- granting access to internal communications and aiding Brusselss surveillance efforts -- they face billions in fines.

Much like Britains digital ID program, Brussels now masks its shamelessly invasive censorship with claims of youth protection and anti-hate measures. Its tiresome to hear -- but, as always, its about their democracy, or, to put it more accurately, a massive concrete barrier constructed to shield against the audacious citizen seeking to preserve privacy from an unbounded EU bureaucracy.

Next Round with Rubio

It seems that Americans, even before EU citizens, have finally lost patience with Brussels. Secretary of State Rubio is next in line to confront the EU Commission, stepping into attack mode. This week, Rubio instructed all U.S. embassies across the EU to initiate a coordinated lobbying blitz against Brusselss censorship package surrounding the DSA.

The allegation: Under the guise of security and responsibility, the EU is deliberately suppressing free speech in digital spaces and targeting U.S.-based platforms and communication companies. Rubio has tasked his diplomats with urging governments and regulators to amend the DSA. At the same time, they are to record and report censorship incidents involving U.S. citizens and companies to ramp up pressure for reform.

This marks another daring challenge from Washington to the EUs expansive control apparatus. The trade war between the U.S. and the EU has now shifted fully into the digital realm. Brusselss response to Rubios initiative was swift. In an official statement, the EU Commission flatly dismissed the censorship allegations: The claims of censorship connected to the DSA are entirely baseless. Freedom of expression is a core right in the EU. They added coldly: Our EU regulations and standards were never up for discussion -- and they will not be. In other words, Brussels refuses to be swayed from building its digital citadel of narrative control -- least of all by Washington.

Loss of Narrative Control

The U.S. attempt to protect its businesses from EU overreach draws them into a broader clash between EU citizens and Brussels increasingly omnipotent central authority. Brussels senses growing public pressure and feels exposed amid a deepening economic crisis.

Grand narratives -- like human-caused climate change and the need for open borders to avert a demographic crisis -- are eroding public consensus and exposing Brusselss failed centralization of Europes economy. We are witnessing Brusselss last desperate stand to defend its narrative monopoly against a rising opposition that is increasingly reclaiming public and media spaces.

What happens in the U.S. now matters fundamentally for EU citizens. Under President Trumps administration, Europe-inspired climate agendas are being reversed, and funding for public media and NGOs is being rolled back.

The air is clearing -- spaces open for fresh discourse and honest reckoning with recent history. Brusselss errors in climate dirigisme and centralized planning are now apparent for all to see.

It would be unthinkable today in the U.S. for a leading figure like Ursula von der Leyen to quietly escape scandal -- say, over the Pfizer-COVID controversy. That is the political maturity that Washington exemplifies and Brussels starkly lacks.

The Turning Point Is Here

This shift in public discourse owes much to initiatives like Elon Musks acquisition of Twitter and renewed defense of free speech on platforms like Telegram. These are spawning counter-narratives that expose Brusselss planning failures by setting them against reality. We are emerging from Platos cave, seeing who cast the shadows on our walls.

Washingtons interests may be economic -- but they resonate with EU citizens. Those in the EU who yearn for a return to a Brussels central authority that oversees fair competition in an open single market should feel gratitude for unexpected U.S. solidarity. It is the strongest alliance we could ask for. Brusselss push for centralization and power armor has outrun democratic checks -- and that is dangerous.

Image: Gage Skidmore
Military conflict demands constant innovations. Swords and knives brought shields and body armor. Body armor, in turn, was defeated by infantry armed with rifles, and centuries later in WWI, the machine gun rendered obsolete the mass infantry assault. The tank then proved to be the answer to the machine gun, and while it may appear that victory depends on physical resources and technology, innovative tactics can be decisive.

The Israel/Hamas war in Gaza illustrates how technological superiority cannot guarantee military victory. In fact, if technological superiority were the only element in this war, the Gaza war would have lasted a week or two. But it has not, and the vastly superior Israeli army (IDF) has struggled for over a year and a half against the far weaker Hamas. What can explain Israels lack of success, an outcome in sharp contrast to when it defeated Iran in a mere twelve days?

Hamas has successfully resisted Israel thanks to skillfully playing the victimhood card. Yes, Hamas is a terrorist group that brutalizes its own people, it is guilty of terrible atrocities and corruption, it openly calls for killing every Israeli Jew and regularly violates international law, yet it has managed to convince much of the world that it -- not Israel -- is the real victim in the conflict.

Securing the victim label is not usually considered a military asset but it clearly has been Hamas chief advantage. Conceivably, future West Point military strategy seminars will include self-victimization as they currently teach soldiers how to seize the high ground.

Hamas has achieved victimhood by demonizing Israel. It has ensured that Israelis military actions needlessly kill scores of children, women, the elderly and similar innocent victims, a strategy achieved by putting Hamas military assets close to schools, daycare centers, hospitals, mosques, and, more generally, crowded urban neighborhoods. This is a simple, conscious policy making it impossible for the Israeli army to avoid killing blameless civilians regardless of advance warning or care exercised by Israeli soldiers. Maximizing, not minimizing collateral damage sharply contrasts to what occurred in WW II when belligerents relocated children to the countryside to avoid air raids.

Reinforcing this intentional collateral damage are official casualty figures supplied by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry that refuses to distinguish between combatants and genuinely innocent civilians along with the documented reality that Hamas often uses civilians as human shields. Nor do these figures distinguish between normal deaths, e.g., from old age, and war-related casualties. More significantly, and never mentioned, these likely inflated numbers are relatively low compared to the death rate in similar wars involving urban populations. Indeed, they are comparable to figures from the Vietnam War and notably lower than the conflicts in Korea and the Iraqi war. Moreover, contrary to what Hamas (and its allies) claim, this collateral carnage fails to constitute genocide according to the official UN definition.

Meanwhile, Hamas has done everything possible to manufacture a humanitarian crisis with lurid tales of starvation, and lack of medicines and hospital care. Given the journalists depend on Hamas' cooperation to operate in Gaza, photographs are often staged. Though an official UN report does not cite Hamas by name, it is clear that this terrorist group is behind the vast looting of trucks delivering foreign aid or the gangs that steal this food to resell it on the black market. Everything is about Israeli-imposed genocidal human misery as if the entire population is entirely dependent on handouts. Never mentioned is that Gaza residents might alleviate their own misery, as did millions of Germans and Japanese experiencing horrific urban destruction of WW II. It is just assumed, as per the victimhood narrative, that the people in Gaza are inherently dependent on outside help.

Fueling this victimhood scenario is the coverage from journalists plus what appears on social media. Now, left-leaning TV stations like the BBC almost daily feature graphic coverage of Gaza women shrieking over their dead children (apparently killed by the IDF) and civilians picking through rubble searching for dead relatives. Add stomach-turning staged pictures of emaciated children while their mothers join desperate mobs for a bowl of soup. That some of these lurid tales are fake is almost never admitted. No wonder millions worldwide are outraged by evil Israel.

The media-made reality represents only a fraction of such catastrophes worldwide. If the media apportioned coverage according to misery levels, Gaza would barely get noticed. According to one report, in 2024 between June and August, 49.5 million people in Africa faced starvation, an increase of 4% from the previous year, and foreign assistance is minimal. Moreover, war in these nations is far more brutal than what the IDF inflicts, and endemic in Africa, while casualties far exceed Gaza numbers. One headline even spoke of the top 10 wars in Africa, and genuine genocide is commonplace.

This disproportionate media attention at least in part simply reflects ease of covering Gaza. A journalist can fly into Ben Gurion Airport, check into a luxury hotel, take a swim, have a drink, hire a car and guide for a quick excursion to Gaza, and return to Tel Aviv for dinner. Compare that trip with visiting an African conflict hundreds of miles from civilization where, if the bandits dont get you, disease might. And nobody back home knows one country from another.

A more credible explanation is that much of the media hates Israel. Jews killing Arab children is newsworthy; African blacks killing other African blacks is not. The Gaza victimhood narrative has become part of the broader anti-West, anti-colonial agenda, and its success can be seen in on U.S. college campuses along with British and France calls for recognizing a Palestinian state. The Irish prime minister just demanded that the UN militarily intervene in Gaza. The U.S. Senate recently debated cutting off arms shipments to Israel while public opinion is now shifting away from Israel. Most recently, Germany ceased all military shipments to Israel. Being a victim obviously pays.

A great irony in the victimhood narrative is that by all objective standards Israel is the real victim. Lacking any provocation, Hamas killed 1200 innocent Israelis (including infants) kidnapped 251 hostages, raped women and it has repeatedly rejected ceasefires. Alas, in todays world, objective weighing of evidence does not dictate how the victim label is bestowed. Judged by who currently owns the victim label, it seems that a genuine victim must be weak, belong to an oppressed group, feels especially aggrieved and be driven by intense hatreds. According to these rules, a rich white male CEO thus cannot be a victim even if shot in cold blood. Successful people like the Israelis are thus disqualified from victimhood.

Hamas victimhood narrative is not intended to defeat Israel militarily. Rather, like the colonial wars of liberation that once defeated the militarily stronger European powers, Hamas can win simply by just surviving until an exhausted Israeli public force the government to exit a hopeless quagmire. This strategy thus resembles the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam -- we left rather than fight a futile war. The mighty IDF, conqueror of countless Arab nations is now being defeated by creating a nation of victims. Dead Arab but not dead Jewish children are now a potent military weapon.

Image: Tasnim News Agency
In Canada, free speech is no longer a thing.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney utilized an August 5 press conference in British Columbia to dismiss concerns over Liberal legislation (Bill C-18) that would forbid news outlets from sharing news on social media, particularly during emergencies. The Canadian Commie globalist didnt just refuse to rescind the aforementioned Bill C-18. No siree, he also urged his fellow Canucks to rely on government-funded CBC News for fair and unbiased information.

In light of the fact that heads of government steadfastly refuse to tell the truth, I have taken the liberty to translate Carneys statement to more accurately reflect his actual meaning and beliefs. It would go: Comrades, trust me, the CBC is a reliable and highly credible news source that is as honest as our glorious revolution is long. And remember, unfettered free speech is the hallmark of a depraved and chaotic society, and invites input from those that dont value the revolution above all.

This despite the fact that many objective observers deem the CBC to be a propaganda arm of the Liberal Party, from which it receives the vast majority of its funding, similar to the mainstream medias relationship to the Democrat party in the United States.

But quashing free speech and association isnt enough for the Carney government. Perish the thought! The ruling Liberal Party is also encouraging LGBTQI+ refugees to move to Canada by offering them taxpayer-funded income for up to 12 months in addition to various other programs.

Turns out, the Babylon Bees allegedly satiric post referencing President Trumps desire to annex Canada and label it Gay North Dakota was spot-on. (Corollary: its shocking how many conspiracy theories have turned out to be facts.)

So, once again, you have a Western nation trashing its own citizens and traditions in favor of foreigners, especially those with sexual kinks.

The Great Replacement Theory is not a theory, but an ongoing plan that is nearing fruition in some areas.

Whoa, Canada!

No, Canada!

Woe, Canada.

Nice place to visit. Wouldnt want to live there.

Image: logo // public domain
It is commonly understood the AI revolution is, well, revolutionary. Its going to change everything. Im certainly glad it had not descended on America like a plague of locusts while I was still teaching. I had more than enough trouble dealing with plagiarism in student writing without it. Those of us who labor at American Thinker are also plagued by submissions that are clearly written by AI in part or whole rather than by human beings.

A bizarre, dangerous and inevitable consequence of AI is lazy lawyers using it to write legal briefs. Instances of briefs loaded with citations from decisions that dont exist and quotations from laws that have never been written are proliferating, causing judges to rightly lambast those lawyers. They see a very real threat to the rule of law when lawyers dishonestly rely on AIs, most of which are seemingly programmed by Democrats, to argue their cases for them.

Graphic: X Post

We expect Democrat politicians to lie. We can tell when theyre doing it because their lips are moving. We also expect lawyers, particularly defense lawyers, to stretch the truth past the breaking point. We do not expect lawyers to make up the law and knowingly deceive judges. Therein lies the end of the rule of law.

But what happens when judges do it too? John Hinderaker at Powerline explains:

A ruling from a federal judge in Mississippi contained factual errors  listing plaintiffs who werent parties to the suit, including incorrect quotes from a state law and referring to cases that dont appear to exist  raising questions about whether artificial intelligence was involved in drafting the order. U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate issued an error-laden temporary restraining order on July 20, pausing the enforcement of a state law that prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public schools and universities.

It gets worse:

Wingates original order also appears to quote portions of the initial lawsuit and the legislation that established Mississippis DEI prohibition, making it seem as though the phrases were taken verbatim from the texts. But the quoted phrases dont appear in either the complaint or the legislation. Wingates corrected order still cites a 1974 case from the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Cousins v. School Board of City of Norfolk. However, when Mississippi Today attempted to search for that case, it appears that either it does not exist or the citation is incorrect.

Wingate isnt the only federal judge making things up:

Wingate withdrew the opinion on the same day that District Judge Julien Xavier Neals of the District of New Jersey withdrew an opinion that misstated case outcomes and contained fake quotes from opinions. The New Jersey case is not related to the Mississippi litigation.

Questioned about this bizarre lack of Judicial ethics, an anonymous judicial assistant of Judge Neal said unfortunately, the court is unable to comment. Translation: Judge Neal got caught and hes taking the Fifth. Judges Wingate and Neals are black. Weve no way to know whether this is mere coincidence or dispositive.

Weve been inundated by DEI more than long enough for DEI hires to become clerks for federal judges, and even federal judges. Its more than fair to think such people made it through law school despite being spectacularly unqualified and unable to do genuine law school level work. Some surely relied on AI and their law schools let them get away with it. They should be expected to suddenly develop higher IQs, work ethics and responsibility because theyve been hired as law clerks and judges?

But what of judges who werent clearly DEI incompetents? Most rely on their clerks to write their opinions. Legal research, even with contemporary, non-AI, computer assistance is difficult and time-consuming. Clerks might put too much faith in AI. If AI, which is supposed to be super-computing, provides quotations from cases that never existed, who are they to question it? If theyre DEI hires, they wouldnt date question it because they have no idea how to check that information, nor do they have any interest in working that hard.

Judges, however, have the responsibility to check the work of their clerks. They are, after all, signing their names to those rulings. They may or may not care if their rulings make sense or are even honest. If a higher court overrules them, so what? They have lifetime appointments and impeachment of federal judges is exceedingly rare.

Federal judge lawfare against President Trump has already badly damaged the credibility of the federal courts. Judges dont seem to give a damn about that, but Congress and the Supreme Court ought to. Now we see whether Democrats can succeed in completely destroying public trust in their Party and the federal courts.

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Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Republicans in the U.S. Senate tend to be huge disappointments for Republican voters. Most of these Old Guard relics are snobby warmongers who have no problem exporting American jobs overseas while importing illegal aliens into the United States. President Trump has tried to chase the RINOs out of Washington, but the backstabbing predators have nested deep inside D.C.s slimy Uniparty den.

Former leader of the Senate Republican Conference Mitch McConnell deserves much of the blame for our current predicament  in which roughly 90% of Senate Republicans not so secretly work against President Trumps agenda. For two decades, McConnell routinely withheld funds from the political campaigns of competitive grassroots candidates and poured money into the losing campaigns of unlikable RINOs. He did nothing when President Obama weaponized the IRS to harass Tea Party conservatives. Why? Because the Republican swamp creature was never interested in making the Senate more conservative; he was interested only in surrounding himself with unprincipled lackeys eager to do his bidding.

During his time as the top Senate Republican, McConnell undermined President Trumps efforts to secure the border, breathed life into the Russia Collusion hoax, and practically endorsed his friend Joe Biden for the mail-in-ballot-rigged election of 2020. He is known as China Mitch because, just like his good friend China Joe, he has always been suspiciously supportive of the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and never had a problem selling out American workers to Chinese manufacturers exploiting slave labor.

Mitchs rare public appearances these days prove that he is no longer physically capable of performing his legislative duties. Just as Dementia Joe Biden pretended to be president for four years and Comatose Dianne Feinstein pretended to be a senator until her death two years ago, Mitch will stubbornly cling to office  as all greedy, shady vultures in the U.S. Senate do.

McConnells lasting legacy will be the infestation of swamp RINOs that remain to be fumigated. Thankfully, Two-Faced Thom Tillis is heading for the exit. That just leaves John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy, James Lankford, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski...hoo, boy, the list goes on and on! Were going to need an awful lot of RINO repellant!

The last senator in that incomplete list  Lisa Murkowski  drives me absolutely crazy. Always sporting a dreadful scowl and behaving like a snooty heiress eager to skin Dalmatian puppies for her next fur coat, Murkowski reeks of unearned entitlement. Of all the nepo-babies in the U.S. Senate, she is the whiniest! When her daddy left the Senate to become Alaskas governor, he appointed his daughter to the seat. That was back in 2002. Alaskans have been stuck with her ever since!

She won a full Senate term in 2004 with only 48% of the vote. She actually lost to Tea Party favorite Joe Miller in the 2010 Republican primary, but her swamp allies helped her win as a write-in candidate  taking 39% of the general election total by appealing to Democrats. She won again in 2016 with only 44% of the vote  making her the first senator in U.S. history to win three elections without ever receiving majority support. Expecting Republicans in Alaska to get rid of Murkowski once and for all in 2022, Swamp RINOs organized referendums in 2020 that eliminated party primaries and instituted ranked-choice voting. With Democrats again coming to her rescue, Murkowski won re-election with only 43% of the first round vote. In comparison, Republican presidential candidates since 2000 have won somewhere between 55 and 60% of the vote.

Alaska is a ruby-red state that deserves to be represented by a real conservative. Instead, Alaskans have been forced to endure the tenure of the second most left-leaning Republican in the Senate. She was one of only two Republicans to vote with President Obamas positions over 70% of the time, and she voted with President Bidens positions 79% of the time! Murkowski supports the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, considers white supremacy a serious problem, and backs the criminalization of hate. She opposed Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination but supported Ketanji Brown Jacksons! She is a Democrat pretending to represent Alaskans as a trans-Republican.

Only Senator Susan Collins of Maine is more of a Democrat presenting as a trans-Republican in the U.S. Senate. This is an absolute shame. Alaska and Maine have some of the most beautiful, rugged wilderness in the country. They are filled with hunters, fishermen, adventurers, and self-sufficient outdoorsmen. When I envision representation for Alaska and Maine, I picture capable people with calluses and windburn  not Cruella de Vil and an unhappy school librarian! In a bad superhero movie, Murkowski and Collins would touch their fists together and say, Karen powers, activate! There is no doubt in my mind that in a world populated entirely by Karens complaining to the manager, the trans-Republican senators from Alaska and Maine would rule as co-queens. Real Republicans in both states, however, deserve so much better.

What particularly annoys me about Murkowski, though, is how she portrays herself as an authentic Republican bravely standing up to President Trump. Daddys nepo-baby has no business being in the Senate. Alaskan Republicans would love to get rid of her. Yet she just wont go away.

Image: Arctic Circle via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
What is it about wildfires that prompts Democrats not be around when their cities and states need them?

When Altadena and Pacific Palisades burned to the ground six month ago, Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass had more important things to do in Ghana, and yes, she knew about the risk before she left. California's governor, Gavin Newsom also had better things to do.

Now Newsom has gone AWOL again, to talk politics with Texas's soon-to-be-unemployed Democrat lawmakers, who have holed up in Illinois and at least some jetting over to California in breach of their duties over a Texas redistricting matter.

According to KCRA:

AUSTIN, Texas  California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared shoulder-to-shoulder Friday with Texas Democratic lawmakers in a show of support for their nearly weeklong walkout, which has blocked a vote on congressional redistricting maps sought by President Donald Trump in a widening national battle over U.S. House control. Texas has been the epicenter of Trumps push to gerrymander congressional maps to shore up Republicans narrow House majority before next year. But the standoff is threatening to spill into other states  including California, New York, Florida and Indiana  in an emerging proxy war for control of Congress in 2026. California is moving toward a special election in November that Democrats hope could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state, in direct response to the maneuvering in Texas. We are trying to defend democracy, as opposed to see it destroyed district by district, Newsom said amid the crowd of lawmakers at the governor's mansion. There are no rules for Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, this is what's going on in California:

California currently has 15 fires burning. Malibu, Porter Ranch & Granada Hills have no water. And Gavin Newsom is partying with Texas Democrats. He's turned 4th largest economy into 3rd world hellhole, romancing illegal aliens, unleashing criminals from prisons, paying homeless pic.twitter.com/V64ut2Rxfb  Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) August 9, 2025

The fire map is here.

Here are the kinds of problems his state is dealing with:

NO water for 3 days in Porter Ranch, through the weekend.



(Can you imagine if there was a fire),!? Theyre using pool water to flush toilets

Please note its governments MAIN JOB to avoid situations like this

(This includes keeping reservoirs full) https://t.co/Z44Vcxi6OU  Mike Netter (@nettermike) August 8, 2025

Might it be reasonable for a governor in a state that is constantly catching fire -- with a lot of them going on now in this bone-dry weather, to just do his job instead of kibbitz with Democrats over how to retain permanent power in Washington?

As the map shows, many of them are burrning out of control with many homes endangered and the state's failure to ensure water for firefighting still a problem. Now anything could happen. Why isn't he on the ground ensuring that firefighters have the resources they need and no bureaucratic bottlenecks will be tolerated?

Newsom's gubernatorial performance during the Los Angeles fires doesn't embarass him a bit, which would explain why he's acting the same way he did last time during this round of wildfires.

For him, a potential loss of office or power in Washington is the five-alarm-fire. The potential burning of more Californians' homes is a spot of bother he'll get around to addressing with smooth talking points at some point. For now, he's taking care of his priorities.

This is disgusting.

A @CaliforniaGlobe reader left a comment: "Newsom is such a weenie I would like to see a meme of him wearing a hot dog in a bun suit. Right next to him could be Karen Bass on a tricycle wearing an oversized firemans helmet."



Grok did it! pic.twitter.com/8KPVXH4Gn2  Katy Grimes (@KATYSaccitizen) June 9, 2025

Image: Grok meme screen shot, via X
An essay about a new movie and a Facebook post perfectly exemplify why leftist Jews in America and Israel are finding it impossible to defend against genocidal antisemitism.

Guns & Moses tells the story of a rabbi who discovers that the Second Amendment exists to save innocent lives. As the rabbi investigates a deadly attack against his congregation, he discovers that a gun is his best friend against a murderous antisemitic enemy.

Image made using AI.

The movie is based on the deadly attack against Chabad of Poway in San Diego in 2019. At the films end, as the credits roll, writer and director Salvador Litvak has a message: With violence against Jews rising (by 63% in 2023 alone), Jews will not be a soft target anymore. The movies audience should live out the values youve just seen.

Trailer for the new independent action/thriller film Guns & Moses! I got a preview of this movie and it is INCREDIBLE, with a major plot twist! 



- Pro 2A

- Pro religious liberty

- Pro truth



So you know Hollywood will hate it



Coming to theaters July 18th! #GAMPartner pic.twitter.com/jF3nsyhgqr  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 6, 2025

Haaretz, a leftist Israeli publication, does not agree. It published an essay by Rachel Burnett (a masters student of politics at New York University studying the politics of contemporary antisemitism and the diaspora politics of Israel/Palestine in the U.S. and Europe) who argues that the movies fundamental premise is fatally flawed. She contends that self-defense with guns doesnt work and, more importantly, individual Jews cant be trusted with guns.

As Burnett notes, 70% of American Jews supported gun control in 2018, unlike 52% of the general population. However, she sorrowfully admits that Jews are becoming a bit more supportive of their Second Amendment rights.

Also, seemingly with sorrow, she concedes that Israel defends itself with arms. That, however, is acceptable because its a nation with its battles constrained by realpolitik and the standards of international law in warfare.

The same, however, cannot be said for individually armed Jews, who have no constraints. Thus, the danger in the movie is that The rogue sensationalism it depicts suggests and perhaps even obliges its viewer to believe that antisemitism must be quite literally combatted [sic] by any means necessary. She apparently believes that to be in America is to be in a land without laws.

Burnett then runs through the usual gun control talking points about school shootings, the ineffectiveness of armed civilians in the case of mass shootings (in fact, all those events end when the shooter is shot), and the fact that bullets wont stop antisemitism. Regarding that last point, bullets may not stop the idea of antisemitism, but they will stop an antisemite on a murderous rampage...and deter others, too.

The articles core stupidity, though, comes from this statement: According to Jewish teaching, there is no deed more destructive and immoral than taking someone else's life. That of course should include an antisemite.

This is just wrong. Leftists hide behind a mistranslation of the Sixth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill. In fact, the Hebrew word isnt kill; its murder.

A murder is the unjustified taking of someones life. Killing, however, can be justified, especially when its done in self-defense, as would be the case if a Jew were on the receiving end of an imminent threat of physical harm from an antisemite. Put another way, self-defense is not vigilanteism.

And while the Old Testament venerates life (Deuteronomy 30:19), it does not require Jews to die to spare the lives of their deadly enemies. Instead, part of choosing life is defending helpless individuals and the Jewish nation. Or as the Talmud (Midrash) said, If you are kind to the cruel, you will end up being cruel to the kind.

In other words, the Bible does not decry killing when its done morally and justly, to preserve innocent lives.

Another manifestation of this unwillingness to name and destroy evil comes from a little poster that Rabbi Menachem Creditor (a hard left rabbi) published on Facebook:

There are those who urge meurge usto mention Gaza every time we speak of Israels pain. I do pray for the people of Gaza. I truly do. May their hunger end. May their suffering cease.



But I refuse the erasure of particular grief.

I will not apologize for mourning my family.



Jewish prayer teaches nuance. We have a blessing for healing. A blessing for protection. A blessing for peace. They are not the same. Each deserves its own amen. So let me be clear: I want all suffering to end. But I will not compress the pain of my children to make space for the pain of the world.



Thats not how love works.



And thats why and how I fight for my familys dignity.

For their freedom - and mine - to live without fear, without apology.

Do you see what he did there? He issued a groveling apology to the world at large for caring about Jewish deathsand prefaced it by saying that the people truly in his heart are the Gazans, for whom he wishes all good things.

These are the same Gazans who have kept Hamas in power since 2005, even though its used every bit of its political capital and foreign money, not to improve their lives, but to turn Gaza into a giant war machine to kill Jews. These are the Gazans who sent thousands of their men into Israel in Hamass wake on October 7, 2023, to inflict gruesome, torturous slaughter on Jews. And these are the Gazans who havent done a single thing to help the hostages imprisoned among them.

To the extent Gazans are suffering in a zone (with the caveat that the famine is propaganda hogwash), this is something they have willingly brought on themselves. They are a death cult. It is not the act of a good man to feel sorry for death cultists. And to the extent there are children being trained up in that death cult, real compassion demands that we destroy the institutions that have trapped them.

I wonder if Rabbi Creditor would have felt the same compassion for civilians in Nazi Germany. That is, can Rabbi Creditor distinguish between stupid, anti-Biblical, suicidal compassion and the Bibles actual demand for moral justice?

The worst thing of all, though, is that both Burnett and Creditor arent anomalies. They represent mainstream Jewish thinking in America and amongst a large cohort of Israelis. And if they keep thinking this way, well all end up dead.
Call it the twilight of the West.

According to this report in the Christian Post:

British police are facing heavy scrutiny after they threatened to arrest a Christian preacher after a group of Muslims heard him preach and threatened to stab him and punch his wife. The incident occurred in Bristol when Pastor Dia Moodley was preaching in the city center. Moodley was talking about the differences between Islam and Christianity and was holding a Quran as he did so. In response, he says a Muslim bystander threatened to stab him, while another tried to punch his wife. Moodley said he was then pinned to the ground by the Muslims who tried to steal his Quran on the grounds that it was their book rather than his.

By that logic, the pastor could have replied that Bristol was his city, not the Muslim bystanders.

The report went on to note:

... when the police appeared, they did nothing to reprimand the Muslims, and the man who made the stabbing threats allegedly continued to threaten him in the presence of the police.

Worse yet, police officers reportedly told Moodley  on two occasions -- that he could be arrested for public order offences.

On the positive side, the threatened stabbing of Pastor Moodley and the attempted assault on his wife made the difference between Islam and Christianity quite clear.

This is what happens when speech is policed and crime isnt.

This is what happens when leftists have power.

This is whats happening to Europe and Canadaand in several large American cities. And it is both a moral inversion (as Melanie Phillips has so aptly termed it) and a logical perversion. It is also a moral perversion and logical inversion.

And so you get British wanker coppers (as Mark Steyn often refers to them) essentially saying things like, Stop using your torso to assault the Muslim mans knife!

In this Depraved New World, fictitious reports like the following are becoming all-too real:

*Police recently arrested a 16-year-old English woman who was resisting her Middle Eastern rapist. The woman unconscionably refused to let the 25-year-old Pakistani serially rape, abuse, and torture her. The would-be rapist, a London resident and devoted husband and family man, said that his intended victims actions made him feel marginalized, unwelcome and unseen. Representatives of the Starmer government promptly decried the young womens actions and reached out to the man in support. Several United States Democrats did the same, with at least two of them offering to take the sadly traumatized Pakistani out for dinner and drinks, the latter non-alcoholic of course.

Most Americans -- perhaps especially Christians -- treat others as individuals, no matter their religion, race, or whatever. Whereas Islam teaches its adherents to treat all non-Muslims as infidels who must be converted, enslaved, or killed.

For those properly surveying the passing scene, the only question left is this one: will Europe (Old World) and America (New World) wake up in time to stop their respective slides into the twin despotisms/horrors of radical secularism and militant Islam, or will they devolve into chaos, destitution and depravity?

In other words, will the West surrender without a fight  or will there be a Devolutionary War, hopefully a cold one?

Most of Europe seems to be on the very brink, in its 11th hour, whereas the United States under President Trump appears in a bit better shape.

That said, true Marxists and/or radical Islamists are potentially on the verge of becoming mayors of big cities such as New York, Minneapolis, and Seattle.

As Steyn often says, demography is destiny.

As I often say, you get what you tolerate.

What will happen? Where does this end? Im not Nostradamus.

Im not optimistic, either.

For the simple fact that almost all governments are utterly corrupt. And the bigger they are, the more corrupt. There are virtually no historical examples to refute this claim. If the people are to prevail, power must be returned to local governments and entities. The only viable sustainable, moral, and fruitful  way forward is to eschew globalism and one world government. And to return to limited governmentof, by, and for the people.

Where have I heard that before?

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Police have not yet named the officer who was killed - Reuters

A police officer and a suspected gunman are dead following a shooting near the campus of Emory University in Atlanta.

Students were forced into lockdown when a man opened fire outside the headquarters of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday.

Multiple CDC buildings were struck by bullets at the public health campus, where thousands of scientists and staff work on disease research.

A man opened fire outside the headquarters of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday - Reuters

The gunman was found dead on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC, Atlanta police chief Darin Schierbaum said.

We do not know at this time whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, he said.

Police at the scene

The attacker was armed with a long gun, and three additional firearms were recovered at the scene, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A heavy police presence was observed in the area, and the university warned students and staff to seek immediate shelter.

An alert issued by the university urged people to run, hide, fight and avoid the area.

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said: This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.

Staff at The General Muir, a deli near the campus, locked the doors and sheltered in place during the shooting. Brandy Giraldo, the restaurants chief operating officer, said staff heard a string of gunshots.

It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, she said.

Police have not yet named the officer who was killed.
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has issued a stern warning to motorists illegally using blue lights, sirens, and bar lights on their vehicles, with Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba vowing to clamp down on offenders.Speaking on Friday, Mutamba said only vehicles used by the Presidium-which includes the President, Vice President, and designated top officials-are authorised to use blue lights and sirens. He said ambulances are the sole exception, permitted to use sirens and red lights strictly during emergencies."We have seen a number of vehicles illegally fitted with blue lights or sirens without authority from my office. This is the preserve of the Presidium," said Mutamba."The only exceptions are ambulances, which are fitted with sirens and red lights that should be switched on only during emergency cases."Mutamba also raised concerns over the increasing number of vehicles-both public and private-illegally fitted with bar lights, in direct violation of Statutory Instrument 129 of 2015.The police chief said his office has instructed commanders across the country to strategically deploy officers to identify, stop, and penalise such motorists."My office has directed police commanders to strategically deploy police officers to flush out all motorists, whether public or private, driving such vehicles without the requisite authority," he said."Those found wanting shall be arrested and vehicles impounded. Citizens must observe road traffic laws."There has been a rising trend of private motorists, business executives, and even public officials using blue lights and sirens to mimic VIP convoys, intimidate other road users, or bypass traffic queues-behaviour the ZRP now seeks to end.Road safety advocates have welcomed the crackdown, warning that the misuse of emergency equipment not only endangers lives but undermines public trust in actual emergency vehicles and the rule of law.ZRP says the operation is already underway nationwide, and all vehicle owners are urged to remove unauthorised fittings immediately or face prosecution.
Suspect in Emory University shooting dead after opening fire at CDC building, killing one police officer

A gunman, who reportedly believed he was sick from the COVID-19 vaccine, is dead after opening fire at Emory University, near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters. A police officer who was critically wounded responding to the shooting later died in the hospital.

The shooting unfolded on an Atlanta street corner Friday afternoon when gunfire rang out at a CVS on the universitys campus. The lone shooter fired multiple rounds through the windows of the CDC building across the street.

Mayor Andre Dickens said at a Friday night press conference there were 92 children in a daycare on the CDC campus during the shooting. The children were unhurt but were only able to be reunited with their parents hours later.

Dickens told the parents of those daycare children, We will be making sure that you get reunited with them as soon as possible.

I know your heart is just really, really aching, but the good news is none of them have been injured, and we will get you connected to those, to your loved ones really soon, he added.

A shooter is dead after opening fire at Emory University, near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters (Getty Images)

The lone shooter fired multiple rounds through the windows of the CDC building, police say (AP)

The mother of one of the children who was at the daycare told CBS News, "I'm also a bit angry that at a year and a half, he would have to experience something like this.

Police believe the shooter was either sick or believed he was sick and blamed the COVID-19 shot, a law enforcement official told CNN.

The shooter was found on the second floor of the CVS and died at the scene, according to authorities. He had been struck by gunfire, but its not clear if he had been hit by one of the police officers responding or if the fatal wound was self-inflicted.

Authorities revealed that the police officer who was shot and killed, David Rose, was a father of two whose wife is expecting their third child.

Officer David Rose was a father of two whose wife is expecting their third child (DeKalb County Police Department)

No civilians were shot.

"He was committed to serving the community. At this time we are asking for the community's prayers," Interim Chief Greg Padrick of DeKalb County Police Department said of Rose.

Padrick continued: "It's a noble profession we all do. We answer the call to serve our community and he gave his life to a commitment to serve others."

While there was no longer a threat to the community, police warned people Friday evening to avoid the area, as the scene remains active and law enforcement continues its investigation.

One police officer died during the shooting (Getty Images)

Police said the shooter was found dead on the second floor of the CVS where he was shooting out of (Getty Images)

Employees at a nearby deli, General Muirs, heard gunshots, Brandy Giraldo, the delis chief operating officer, told the Associated Press.

It sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other, she said.

During the active shooter threat, the university told students to run, hide, fight.

A spokesperson for CVS said no one inside the Emory Point store was injured in the shooting.

"Were cooperating with the Atlanta Police Department as it investigates a shooting near our Emory Point store, the spokesperson told NBC News. All colleagues, customers and patients are safe. The store is currently closed and will reopen when the scene is cleared.

A reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who was on the scene wrote on X that more than 50 police cars were present, and many officers were carrying rifles and tactical gear.

The university announced a shelter-in-place order had been lifted at around 6:30 p.m. ET.

A police emergency continues on the Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point. Avoid the area, an X post read.

As of around 7:30 p.m., the CDC remained under lockdown, according to CNN and NBC News.

During the active shooter threat, the university told students to run, hide, fight (AP)

A spokesperson for CVS said no one inside the Emory Point store was injured in the shooting (Getty Images)

Dickens denounced gun violence, saying, Mass shootings, active shooter scenarios should not become the norm.

For individuals with these high-powered weapons that may have mental challenges, or those individuals with high powered weapons and are angry when they choose to use those weapons in a way that harms multiple people  we have to put an end to that in our society, he said.

The mayor was vague when speaking about the shooter and his possible motives.

He is a known person that may have some interests in certain things, that I cant reiterate right know with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted, Dickens said.

He added: But I think in short order youll know more about this individual and some assumptions about his motives, but I cant say right now.

Earlier, it was reported by CNN that members of the suspects family said he may have believed he had been made ill by a COVID-19 vaccine. The network also reported that the mans father had phoned police before the shooting to say that he feared his son was suicidal.

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson told reporters Friday night, Today is a very dark day.

This evening there is a wife without a husband, she said of Rose. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.

There were 92 children in a daycare on campus, and they are safe, according to officials (AP)

The motive for the shooting remains unclear (Getty Images)

FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X of the slain officer, Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice. The FBI will offer them our full support.

Several Georgia officials also responded to the active shooter threat as the incident was unfolding.

U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, wrote on X, Im monitoring the active shooter incident at Emory closely.

Im praying for the officer who was injured, and all students and faculty. I am devastated that our community is facing yet another tragedy of gun violence.

Representative Mike Collins, a Georgia Republican, wrote: Students at Emory please take cover. Praying for a swift end to this threat.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr wrote: Were horrified by the news out of Emory University and praying for the safety of the entire campus community.

We stand ready to assist our law enforcement partners with whatever they may need.
A worker sprays insecticide at a public housing estate (Reuters)

There is growing alarm in China that official efforts to contain an outbreak of Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne disease spreading in the south of the country, are infringing on peoples rights.

In Zhanjiang, a port city in Guangdong province, a single mother posted a video this week showing a group of people  including a uniformed police officer  entering her childrens bedroom in the middle of the night and taking blood samples from her son and daughter without her consent or presence.

The mother, who had been working a night shift, said she later learned the visit was linked to her son developing a fever. According to Chinese media, a local pharmacy had reported the family to health authorities.

A hashtag about the incident has been viewed nearly 90 million times on Weibo, with many users expressing alarm over the authorities behaviour.

Health officials in Guangdong are on high alert after an outbreak of Chikungunya began about a month ago in Foshan, around 260km from Zhanjiang. More than 8,000 cases have been reported so far, along with at least one imported case in Hong Kong.

Chikungunya spreads only through mosquito bites and causes fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea and rashes. Symptoms can occasionally last months or even years, but the illness is rarely fatal. Babies, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

While the virus is common in parts of Asia, Africa and the Americas, this is the first major outbreak in China.

Chinas strict Covid-era disease control apparatus  widely regarded as among the toughest in the world  has been swiftly reactivated. On 2 August, Guangdong governor Wang Weizhong vowed to strive to win the battle against the Chikungunya fever epidemic and ordered sweeping measures.

These include eradicating mosquito breeding grounds, urging residents to clear standing water from containers, promoting the use of mosquito coils and nets, and applying insect repellent.

But authorities have also revived surveillance and reporting systems reminiscent of the zero-Covid era. On 4 August, Foshan officials ordered all pharmacies to report sales of certain fever medicines  a measure that appears to have led to the identification of the Zhanjiang children.

A local official told Chinese media that attempts had been made to contact the mother. Following the public outcry, Zhanjiang health authorities said they were investigating the case.
Almost 300 people have been arrested in a "week-long crackdown" on asylum seekers illegally working for delivery app firms.

Officers targeting suspected illegal workers in Hillingdon, the borough with highest concentration of migrant hotels in London, as well as Dumfries in Scotland and Birmingham stopped 1,780 people.

During Operation Equalize in West London, officers arrested seven Indian nationals, the Home Office said. Five were detained because of the action on Tuesday, July 22.

Across the country some 280 people were arrested, with 53 now having their asylum support reviewed. The Government said this could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn.

The Home Office described the operation as a "nationwide intensification week" targeting illegal working hotspots, with a focus on the gig economy and people working as delivery riders.

It comes after claims in June that there was clear evidence of migrants working illegally for the food delivery firms while living in asylum hotels in London.

Immigration enforcement teams are set to receive 5million from the 100million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, the Home Office said.

Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said: "Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it.

"That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK. "

As well as the arrests, 51 businesses including car washes and restaurants were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines of up to 60,000 per worker if they are found to have employed someone without the right to work in Britain.

Eddy Montgomery, enforcement director at the Home Office, said officers were taking action "around the clock" against "those who think they can get away with working illegally".

He added: I welcome the additional funding which will allow us to strengthen our enforcement efforts against illegal working further, to ensure those fuelling it are caught.

Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from working while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.

Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the "pull factors" attracting migrants to the UK.

It comes after the Government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms, such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, in a bid to disrupt hotspots.

The gig economy firms have also said they will ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people working as riders without permission.

The operation was also supported by police forces across the UK, with officers seizing 71 vehicles throughout the week, including 58 e-bikes, as well as 8,000 in cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Around 460,000 in suspected illegal cigarettes were also seized.
More than 450 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

On Saturday night, the Metropolitan police said: Parliament Square and Whitehall are clear. As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action.

There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers.

The Met said the total of 474 was the most arrests it had made related to a single operation in at least the past decade.

Before the planned event in the capital, the Met said it had drawn officers from other forces to help form a significant policing presence. It was anticipated the event would result in large numbers of people being detained.

By Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people had gathered in Parliament Square for a demonstration organised by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, who said approximately 1,000 sign-holders had turned up.

The Met said it estimated 500-600 people were in Parliament Square when the demonstration began, but many were not taking part.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said earlier: The fact that unprecedented numbers came out today risking arrest and possible imprisonment shows how repulsed and ashamed people are about our governments ongoing complicity in a livestreamed genocide, and the lengths people are prepared to go to defend this countrys ancient liberties.

The police have only been able to arrest a fraction of those supposedly committing terrorism offences, and most of those have been given street bail and allowed to go home. This is a major embarrassment to Yvette Cooper, further undermining the credibility of this widely ridiculed law.

On Saturday evening, the home secretary thanked officers and reaffirmed the governments decision to ban Palestine Action.

Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear  this is not a nonviolent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority, Cooper said.

The demonstration began at 1pm but officers made a small number of arrests beforehand. Soon after, officers began arresting people outside the green holding signs that referenced Palestine Action. One woman, while being dragged away by police, said: All of you have loved ones, youre arresting the wrong people. Arrest the people over there [pointing towards parliament], arrest the people complicit in the genocide.

From 1pm to 2pm, demonstrators holding signs that read I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action were silent. Its all very sedate, peaceful and moving, said Suzan Broom, who clapped and cheered for those being taken away by police. Ive been following them and saying thank you because Im too scared.

Two women taking part in the action, one in her mid-70s, were arrested by police midway through their interview with the Guardian. One said of the turnout: I think its great, people are absolutely sick of seeing genocide on their screens.

She said the vandalism of RAF aircrafts by Palestine Action members was a protest action, its not at all terrorism.

Those planes are the terrorists. Theyre going over and shooting and killing children, she said.

Zoe, one of those taking part in the demonstration, said: I along with hundreds of ordinary people have had enough of our governments collusion in genocide.

You can hear the claps and its got like a family-friendly environment here. Youve seen it with your own eyes. Its completely peaceful and theres nothing vaguely terrorist right now. Were just being ordinary peaceful people saying we oppose genocide, she said.

She wore a large patch with the words Jews Against Genocide. She said: I wear it clearly and with pride to make sure that other people recognise that there are many many Jews who do not support genocide of any nature.

Im holding a piece of paper for goodness sakes, thats not a terrorist act. A terrorist act is intentionally starving 2 million, she said. I dont know what to say to [Palestinians], Im so sorry its come to this. I wish we could do more but were trying our best.

Officers searched the bags of those arrested. In one backpack handled with blue forensic gloves, they uncovered some bread and a milk carton filled with water.

Robert Del Naja, from the band Massive Attack, joined the sign-holders and said: UK civil liberties are trapped in a manufactured crisis. Peaceful citizens of conscience  including pensioners  have become terrorists, at the will of a human rights lawyer turned authoritarian who now lunges at opinions that expose the moral vacuum of his unrecognisable government.

Some of those arrested were publicly processed on the street outside Scotland Yard, near the main demonstration, where crowds gathered and shouted shame on you at officers.

Amnesty International called the mass arrests deeply concerning.

The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists, said Sacha Deshmukh, the organisations chief executive.

We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.

Before the protest, a Home Office spokesperson said: The home secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues. Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

The first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales were named on Thursday.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.

Palestine Action was banned in June, days after activists from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton and defaced two military aircraft with spray paint. The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.

In a separate development, the government announced on Saturday it would send an additional 8.5m of aid to Gaza via a UN agency, a day after Keir Starmer said Israels expansion plans were wrong and will only bring more bloodshed.
Darwin Nunez has completed his departure from Liverpool after his switch to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal was confirmed.

The 26-year-old Uruguay striker has finalised the move for a fee understood to be an initial 46million.

The Anfield club said: Liverpool FC can confirm Darwin Nunez has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal, subject to international clearance.

Liverpool FC can confirm Darwin Nunez has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal, subject to international clearance. Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future.  Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 9, 2025

The Uruguayans three-year spell with the Reds concludes after he finalised a switch to the Saudi Pro League side today.

Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

Nunez moved to Anfield in June 2022 from Benfica for an initial fee of 64m.

He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds, but started just eight Premier League matches during their title-winning season last term.

Nunez was a target for another Saudi club, Al Nassr, in January, but a 60m bid was rejected as Liverpool did not want to sell in the middle of the season.

Nunez scored 40 goals for the Reds (Adam Davy/PA)

However, his departure looked inevitable after a string of unconvincing displays, and takes Liverpools income from sales this summer to almost 200m, with more likely to follow with 40m-plus-rated midfielder Harvey Elliott possibly on the move.

It also opens up a space in their forward line, which has already been strengthened with the arrival of Hugo Ekitike as part of a near-300m spend, and the number nine shirt.

Liverpool retain an interest in Newcastles Alexander Isak after having a 110m bid rejected last week.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday that the wantaway Sweden striker is unlikely to feature in the opening game of the Premier League season at Aston Villa.
This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Arabia

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who initially backed the war in Gaza as an inevitable response to the October 7 attacks, describes plans to take over the whole strip as a historic disaster.

In an exclusive interview with Independent Arabia, Olmert, who served as Israels prime minister from 2006 to 2009, states that the war which is entering its second year has achieved all of its objectives and its continuation runs counter to Israels interests and serves only the personal interests of the countrys current leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Olmert, Netanyahu is determined to keep the war going, and to further escalate it, in order to avoid the political fallout that an end to the war would bring. The former premier believes this would likely include the formation of a commission of inquiry into security failures surrounding the October 7 attack, and see the collapse of Netanyahus government, which is propped up by what Olmert calls the messianic faction led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The far-right ministers were both recently banned from entering the UK for repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities.

Olmert claims this political bloc is singularly focused on waging war and destruction on Gaza and the West Bank, aiming to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, expel its Palestinian residents, and hand it over to Israeli settlers.

The majority of Israelis reject this agenda, Olmert insists, We are doing everything we can to stop these plans, because they would lead to a historic disaster.

An unjustified war

According to Olmert, the war that began in 2023 was initially launched as a response to Hamass brutal attack on civilians, in which 1,200 people were killed in their homes and bedrooms. At the time, he says, Israel enjoyed overwhelming support and broad international backing.

Palestinians carry a man injured while rushing to collect humanitarian aid in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday 7 August (AP/Jehad Alshrafi)

However, Olmert later became opposed to the continuation of the war, arguing that Israel had already achieved everything that could reasonably be achieved, including killing key Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh, along with the majority of the groups senior and mid-level commanders, as well as the destruction of most of its rockets and command infrastructure.

Whats happening now is no longer necessary, he says, noting the large numbers of both Israeli military casualties and the estimated death toll of over 60,000 Palestinians. What is needed now is to end the violence and bring the hostages home  and the only way to do that is by ending the war, not expanding it  especially as international opposition continues to grow.

Olmert adds that most former Israeli military and security officials have called for an immediate halt to the war, as there are no further military objectives left to achieve. Continuing this war in the face of mounting civilian deaths on both sides is a crime that cannot be ignored.

He believes the war should have ended in March, criticising Netanyahu for withdrawing from a ceasefire deal at that time rather than pursuing negotiations for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. At that point, Olmert says, the war became illegitimate.

Both Hamas and Netanyahu to blame

When asked who bears responsibility for the failure of current ceasefire negotiations, Olmert declined to give a direct answer. Dont expect me to side with Hamas, he says. It is a brutal and murderous organisation. But Netanyahu is a deceitful prime minister  so both are guilty, each in their own way.

A demonstrator dressed up as Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages in Tel Aviv on Thursday (Reuters/Ammar Awad)

Olmert explained that reaching an agreement is actually quite simple  it all depends on how you choose to see things. Israel wants to retrieve the hostages and continue the war, which Hamas refuses  so from the Israeli perspective, Hamas is obstructing the talks.

On the other hand, he adds, Hamas appears willing to release the hostages and end the war, something Israel now rejects, which is why, from Hamass view, it is Israel that is responsible for the failure.

As for what would happen after the war finishes, Olmert says Israel has no clear vision with the exception of Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who clearly advocate reoccupation, expulsion of Palestinians, and expanding settlements in Gaza.

Olmert insists that the Palestinian Authority remains the only possible partner for a peace agreement, despite its weaknesses and the need for internal reform. Netanyahu has rejected the PA [Palestinian Authority] for 15 years. He prefers to empower Hamas rather than negotiate with the legitimate Palestinian leadership. Thats one of the main reasons we are stuck in this ongoing tragedy  the other being Hamas itself, with its murderous ideology.

While Olmert acknowledges that the Israeli military has committed war crimes in Gaza, he describes them as unintentional failures of discipline or judgment, not official policy. Still, they are grave and perhaps unforgivable.

He accuses Hamas of pursuing a strategy designed to kill as many civilians as possible, driven by hatred and intolerance, but warned that the continued military campaign could deepen Israels international isolation. A widespread boycott is coming, he says, and it could spread across the world. The only way to stop it is to change course and end the war.

The decision lies with the White House

Olmert believes that US President Donald Trump is the only person capable of pressuring Netanyahu to end the war, suggesting that all it would take is for Trump to summon him to his favourite place  the White House  and tell him in front of the cameras: You need to stop the war now.

Citing a recent example, the former premier pointed to an incident on the first day of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel when Israeli fighter jets reportedly en route to strike Iranian targets turned back after Trump issued a direct order to stand down.

Olmert describes Trump as Netanyahus only true friend, adding that while former President Joe Biden was a staunch Zionist and a great friend of Israel, he may not have been a friend to Netanyahu personally.

Olmert claims US President Trump is the only person capable of pressuring Netanyahu to end the war (AP)

Currently, Olmert is working with former Fatah official Nasser Al-Qudwa on an initiative promoting the two-state solution as the only viable path to resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict. Fatah is the political party in charge of the Palestinian Authority, and partially governs Palestinian communities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

According to Olmert, this project is based on a peace proposal he presented to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in 2009, an offer he describes as a comprehensive and final agreement unlike any previously proposed by an Israeli leader.

He recalls warning Abbas at the time: Dont miss this opportunity  it wont come again for another 20 years. Olmert noted that Abbas never gave a clear answer, He didnt say no, but he also didnt say yes.

According to Olmert, Abbas failed to sign an agreement that could have changed the history of the Middle East and the lives of millions  a failure that is unforgivable.

Olmert explained that he presented a detailed and comprehensive map outlining everything, proposing the establishment of a Palestinian state over more than 95 per cent of the territories based on the 1967 borders, with land swaps agreed upon with Israel.

His initiative envisioned the Arab part of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, while the Old City, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall, would be placed under the joint administration of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and the United States.

At the time, Olmert refused to hand the map directly to Abbas for review, instead asking him to bring a team of experts the following day to study it. Olmert explained his caution by saying, I didnt want him to take the map and disappear for years, then claim this was the offer made by the Israeli prime minister and start negotiations from there.

Earlier this year, Mahmoud Abbas denied missing the opportunity to sign a peace map presented by Olmert, stating that he never received any peace map from him during the talks, which lasted until the last day of his premiership.

According to an official statement published by the Palestinian News Agency, Abbas stated that the talks with Olmert were serious and covered all final issues, but Olmert was not allowed to remain in office long enough to follow up on what was discussed, and during these talks, we never received any map or document to respond to.

Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar
When Abby Katzap was studying abroad in Florence and traveling through Europe with her friends, sharing their iPhone locations on the Find My app just made sense. Then 19, her girlfriends initiated the idea, with one arguing that location sharing would keep her safe when walking home alone at night in Dublin.

However, the New York City native was hesitant about the Find My app tracking her. I thought it was weird. It was creepy, the soon-to-be law school student recalls to The Independent. But then I told my friends, OK, fine, if you guys are so worried, here, just take my location.

Three years later, Katzaps list of friends on Find My has grown, with 30 people having access to her every move. And that has led to an internal conflict over if, and when, its time to stop sharing.

Available for iPhone owners, the Find My app allows users to easily locate family and friends on a digital map. Once locations are shared between friends, notifications can also be sent when that person is at the gym, leaves for school, or arrives home safe and sound. The app is also used track all Apple products, including laptops, iPads, Airpods, and Airtags.

Typically, young people like Katzap, now 21, rely on the app to track others locations. A recent study by Civic Science found that 65 percent of Gen Z adults are most likely to use location sharing, with 16 percent of these adults sharing their locations with at least five people. Instagram is also keeping up with the trends, having just launched a map feature where followers can find each other in real time.

Gen Z can track their friends locations on a digital iPhone map (Getty Images)

Location sharing is now a booming business in the digital world, where we constantly want to be in the know. There appears to be an expectation that being close to someone authorizes a heightened level of access to their lives at all times, with Find My being a mainstay of accessing each other, Kim Rippy, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor & Practice Owner at Keystone Therapy Group, explains to The Independent. It appears Gen Zs aren't seeing it as a breach of privacy, but as a necessity of trust and a reflection of how they value the relationship.

As a 27-year-old Gen Z woman in Brooklyn, New York, I have been an avid user of Find My for five years, with 17 people on my location sharing list  some of whom include my parents, sister, boyfriend, and friends since childhood.

Although its not a social media app, I open Find My a few times per day to see what my friends are up to. It's a shameless act, as we're open with one another about doing so, but there are consequences in having access to our friends like this. Checking the app and seeing two of my friends catching up without me has left me feeling anxious, something I didnt anticipate when I mindlessly opened the app as part of my daily ritual. The roles have been reversed, too.

Despite my hurt feelings, I keep my findings from the app to myself. I also recognize that Find My is not to blame for the unnecessary hurt I feel, which could go away if I just deleted the app  though I dont intend to do so.

We tend to assume the best intentions in ourselves and the worst in others, Rippy says. But if we were to give other people the same benefit of the doubt that we give ourselves, then the Find My app wouldn't be nearly as anxiety-inducing. The problem isnt the app, the problem is how users are interpreting what theyre seeing.

Still, 26-year-old Anna-Grace Bolen confesses that shes relied too heavily on Find My app. The Manhattan-based executive assistant explains that in college, she had two friends who would actively check her location, and shed get texts such as, I see youre at Trader Joes, can you get me something? This led to Bolen turning her location off when she was at certain places.

Young people are sharing their locations with more than 10 of their friends (Getty Images)

It wasnt one-sided, either. If one of them said things were over with a situationship, and I saw her location at his apartment, Id definitely send a check-in text. It wasnt really my place to say anything, but at the time I did, she says. Even though my intentions were mostly rooted in care and safety, I eventually started to feel exposedlike I was constantly being watched.

Since then, and after nine years of using Find My, Bolen narrowed down her location list to just 11 people. I went through and removed people from the app who I didnt feel connected to, she said. Im a pretty open personmy close friends usually know what Im up to.

Meanwhile, Katzap has never had a conflict with friends because of Find My, but she acknowledges that shes not close to the 30 people who have her location. Its too awkward to remove them, she says, since that feels like a friendship-ending move.

 Whens a time for me to just end some relationships? she says. Sometimes you can't delete numbers from your phone because it reminds you of a certain period in your life. Deleting locations is similar. My friends that I dont talk to, like the girl who wanted to walk home alone in Dublin, never got deleted. Since we had all these lovely times in Dublin.

Similar to Katzap, I started gradually sharing locations with people during nights out, and just didnt turn them off. I felt like our relationships were special because they wanted me to keep their locations.

That was four years ago, however, and now I know that some of these locations arent a necessity, since they arent strengthening my friendships at all. Yet, I still fear Ill offend friends if theyre deleted from the app, which is a perspective that Rippy urges us to steer away from.

Especially with Gen Zs, your friends locations have always been there, so removing them feels terrible. It feels like I did something wrong. You dont need to be the best friend to be added, she explained. I think that if young people shifted it to best friends, emergency resources, and family members being the only ones on it, it wont create as much backlash if somebody is removed.
Labour has been accused of hypocrisy after voting to stop 16 and 17-year-olds standing in some party elections.

This week, the partys ruling body voted to raise the age at which party members could stand for key roles to 18, despite Sir Keir Starmer vowing to lower the voting age in general elections to 16.

The Prime Minister and Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, were both present at the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting when the vote was passed. Ellie Reeves, Labour chairman, and Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, also attended.

The rule will require chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of local Labour parties to be aged at least 18. The motion was carried overwhelmingly by 26 to five votes.

Ann Black, one of the NEC members present, said she had voted in favour of the motion because of the significant legal responsibilities attached to the roles in question.

Sir Keir and Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, were both present at the meeting when the vote was passed - Leon Neal/Getty Images

The Tories have accused Labour of hypocrisy following the move, which they said appeared to run counter to its commitment to expand the franchise to younger voters.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: As always with Labour its one rule for them and another for everyone else.

If they dont think 16-year-olds are old enough to vote, then why are they forcing it on the rest of the country?

PM claims proscription of Palestine Action is not stifling debate

Sir Keir did not address the issue of votes at 16 when he spoke at the meeting. He instead spoke of the need to support the proscription of Palestine Action, claiming that the group had been responsible for the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses. He claimed the proscription was not stifling debate.

The NEC is made up of representatives from different parts of Labour and is intended to provide strategic direction to the party. It meets regularly to discuss the Governments progress and rule on administrative issues.

Early this year, the party stopped sharing regular updates on Labour membership figures with the NEC.

One NEC member told The Telegraph that the party leadership stopped sharing the data with the NEC because they were under no obligation to do so and that they did not want the information to be leaked.

Labour continues to share annual updates on its membership figures with the Electoral Commission, unlike some other parties.

Its membership has been falling for a number of years since its peak of 564,000 under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017.

Labour party membership numbers peaked at 564,000 under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 - Isabel Infantes/Reuters

The latest available figure, from February of this year, showed that Labour had 309,000 members.

Nigel Farages Reform UK has said its aim is to surpass the figure and become the largest political party in Britain.

Mr Corbyn hopes that his new party will syphon off hundreds of thousands of current and former Labour members who are disaffected with Sir Keirs leadership.

The former Labour leaders new movement, with the placeholder name Your Party, already claims to have garnered 700,000 email registrations from members of the public expressing interest in joining.

Members will meet at an inaugural conference in late autumn to decide the official name of the new organisation.
David Lammy told JD Vance that Europes ceasefire plan must be a framework for the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Aug 15 - Ben Dance/FCDO

David Lammy has told JD Vance that a ceasefire must take place in Ukraine before any other steps towards peace are implemented, according to reports.

At a meeting in London, Britains Foreign Secretary  along with France, Germany, Ukraine and other European powers  said their plan must serve as a framework for talks in Alaska between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Aug 15.

They rejected the Russian presidents proposal for a ceasefire in exchange for Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk, the Wall Street Journal said.

The European countries and Ukraine are said to have come up with a string of requirements which must be applied before any negotiations begin with Moscow.

These include demanding a ceasefire be put in place before any talks begin and that Russia must match any territorial concessions required of Ukraine, which must be safeguarded with guarantees such as potential membership of Nato.

British and European leaders said Russia must stop shelling Ukraine before peace talks can take place - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu

The plan was drafted and presented to Mr Vance, the US vice-president, in person, while Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, attended remotely along with other officials, including Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, US special envoys.

The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, wrote on X. He added: Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it concerns their security.

Some European officials suggested that if Ukraine were to hand over the Donetsk region to Russia, Moscow would need to withdraw from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south.

This would represent a marked change in stance from Kyiv which has steadfastly rejected any suggestions that it could give up territory.

The announcement of Fridays meeting between Mr Trump and Putin came as a shock to Ukraine and its European allies, with Volodymyr Zelensky frozen out of negotiations about his countrys future.

During the meeting with Mr Vance, European officials made it clear that the future of Kyiv cannot be discussed without Ukraine having a seat at the table, and doubled down on its commitment to continue providing weapons and aid to the country.

The future of Ukraine cannot be discussed without Volodymyr Zelensky having a seat at the table, EU leaders insisted - AFP

The details [of the Russian proposal] suggest many upfront compromises by Ukraine merely to get a cease fire, which, by its very nature, is almost never permanent, and no Russian concessions, John Herbst, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, told The Telegraph.

Now it looks like Trump is coddling Putin, and thats not a good look in any case, he said.

The meeting on Saturday was hosted by Mr Lammy and Mr Vance, who is currently on a family holiday to Britain.

It came shortly after Sir Keir Starmer spoke on the phone with Mr Zelensky about the White Houses proposal for a land swap peace deal.

Downing Street said the pair had agreed that the gathering was a vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.

Both leaders welcomed President Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war, a spokesman said.

The Prime Minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

The meeting was held at Mr Lammys grace-and-favour Chevening house, in Kent, and was called together at the behest of the United States.

President Trump has signalled in recent days that Ukraine would have to give up territory in its east which is currently occupied by Russia as part of a peace deal.

European nations including Britain have long opposed any ceasefire which would force Kyiv to give up parts of its country against its will.

On Saturday, Mr Zelensky vowed that Ukraine will never cede any territory to the occupier as he rejected President Trumps suggested plan for peace.

Kyiv will not give Russia any awards for what it has done, the Ukrainian leader said, several hours after Mr Trump suggested an end to the fighting could involve some swapping of territories.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister spoke to President Macron of France this afternoon.

They discussed the latest developments in Ukraine, reiterating their unwavering support to President Zelenskyy and to securing a just and lasting peace for the Ukrainian people.

They welcomed President Trumps efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russias war of aggression, and discussed how to further work closely with President Trump and President Zelensky over the coming days. They agreed to stay in close contact.

Putins visit to Alaska next Friday will be his first visit to the US since meeting Obama at a UN summit in New York in September 2015, and the first in-person discussion between an American and Russian leader since Putin met Joe Biden in 2021.
JD Vance (right) and David Lammy at Chevening House in Kent on Friday. The US vice-president is holidaying in the UK this summer. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, and the US vice-president, JD Vance, held a meeting with Ukrainian and European partners in Britain on Saturday to discuss the drive for peace in Ukraine.

The summit comes before a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin set for next Friday in Alaska. In a comment that that was met with pushback from Kyiv, the US president said that an end to the war must involve some swapping of territories. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressed early on Saturday that Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers.

Trump has agreed to meet the Russian president even if he refuses to meet Zelenskyy, adding to fears Ukraine could be sidelined in negotiations.

A White House official said later on Saturday that Trump was open to holding a trilateral summit in Alaska with Putin and Zelenskyy, but that it was planning a bilateral meeting with Putin at the Russians presidents request.

In a Telegram post on Saturday in which he emphasised Kyiv must be represented for any peace deal to be viable, Zelenskyy wrote: Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.

Related: Ukraine will not give up land, Zelenskyy warns ahead of Trump-Putin meeting

The meeting between Lammy and Vance took place at Chevening in Kent. The Guardian understands it was held at the request of the US.

On Saturday evening, Lammy posted on X that he had held a meeting with Vance, Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, Rustem Umerov, Ukraines defence minister, and European national security advisers.

The UKs support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace, he said.

Zelenskyy said on Saturday evening that the meeting of security advisers from Ukraine and its partner countries had been constructive, adding that Kyivs arguments were heard and dangers were taken into account.

Zelenskyy said officials from Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland took part in the meeting, aiming to consolidate positions to achieve a ceasefire.

The path to peace for Ukraine should be determined together and only together with Ukraine, this is key principle, he said in his evening address.

On Saturday evening the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and Finland, and the president of the EU Commission, released a joint statement declaring that the path to peace could not be decided without Ukraine.

We welcome President Trumps work to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federations war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine, they said.

We are convinced that only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support to Ukraine and pressure on the Russian Federation to end their illegal war can succeed.

We stand ready to support this work diplomatically as well as by upholding our substantive military and financial support to Ukraine.

On Saturday morning Starmer and Zelenskyy had talked by phone. A No 10 spokesperson said: Both leaders welcomed president Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war. The statement added that Starmer had reiterated his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people during the call.

Zelenskyy communicated with Trump and European leaders in recent days as news broke that the US leader and Putin were planning to meet. On Friday Polands prime minister, Donald Tusk, said there could be a freeze in the conflict.

If the summit goes ahead between Trump and Putin, it will be the first time a US president has met the Russian leader since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The last meeting Putin had with a US president was with Joe Biden in Geneva in June 2021.
A man is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square, Westminster, central London. (PA)

Police have begun arresting protesters who are demonstrating against the terror ban of the group Palestine Action.

Hundreds of people have gathered in Parliament Square in Westminster to hold up signs, which read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

The Metropolitan Police has brought in scores of officers from other forces to help deal with a busy weekend of protests.

Between 600 and 700 people are taking part in the demonstration against the terror ban, organisers of the action in Westminster said on Saturday.

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.

A protester is carried away after protesting against the use of terror laws to ban Palestine Action (Defend Our Juries)

As a result of Palestine Actions proscription, it is now an offence to hold up a sign or wear a t-shirt in support of group under section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

The crowd, who gathered in Westminster at 1pm, could be seen writing "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" on white placards, with the vast majority remaining silent.

Bianca Jagger stood on the side lines of the action in Parliament Square today (Defend Our Juries)

Several demonstrators carrying placards that read "Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques", briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by Metropolitan Police officers.

Protesters take part in a mass action in Parliament Square, Westminster (PA)

Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants.

Bianca Jagger was among the demonstrators at Parliament Square, holding a sign quoting the words of UN human rights chief Volker Turk.

Mr Turk has criticised the ban, saying that it was at odds with international human rights law.

This is a breaking story...
Mapped: Where 16 and 17-year-olds could sway the vote in next general election

Leading pollsters have suggested Labours plan to lower the voting age to 16 could backfire as Reform UK and Jeremy Corbyns new party could end up gaining the most from the policy instead.

The seismic move announced by the government as part of a raft of measures last month would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot, bringing UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales by the time the country next goes to the polls, due by the summer of 2029 at the latest.

Keir Starmer encouraged 16 and 17-year-olds to use their vote at the next election, with No 10 saying the prime minister would absolutely encourage them to be as engaged as they can be in the future of their country.

But top pollsters have warned the rewards Labour may have been hoping to reap from their plans might not come to fruition, with Nigel Farages Reform and Mr Corbyns party the potential real winners.

Respected pollster and Conservative peer Robert Hayward told The Independent: I just dont think the policy will be as beneficial as the Labour Party thought when they first proposed it.

The seismic move announced by the government as part of a raft of measures last month would allow around 1.5 million more teenagers to cast a ballot (Getty Images)

My expectation, in the multi-party political field that we have at the moment, is that the non-mainstream, non-legacy parties  such as Reform, the Green Party and Corbyns party  will be the beneficiaries of younger peoples willingness to vote away from the traditional parties.

Martin Baxter, director at pollster Electoral Calculus, added: It could be that Labours plan for votes for 16 and 17 year olds  which did look a bit like semi-naked tilting the scales in Labours own favour  might backfire a little bit, if Reform and Corbyn attract those new voters.

Louis O'Geran, research and communications associate at pollsters More in Common UK, agreed. It would be a mistake to see the lower voting age as an easy win for Labour, he said.

The numbers behind the 16 and 17-year-old voters mapped out

The Independent has mapped out the numbers behind the new 16 and 17-year-old voters, showing how many are living in each constituency across the UK.

New teenage voters likely to favour non-mainstream parties

Mr OGeran pointed to the gender divide among young people.

In general, we know that young people are more likely than the public as a whole to vote for Labour or the Greens, he said. But there is a notable gender divide: Gen Z men are more likely to back Labour and Reform, while the Green Party often leads among Gen Z women.

With Mr Corbyns party likely to focus on green issues, Lord Hayward suggested young girls could therefore also support the former Labour leaders party if it gets fully off the ground.

He described a key attraction of the new party to younger people as the mere fact that it is none of the above  an example of what he described as the evidenced phenomenon that young people enjoy the opportunity of voting by voting not for mainstream parties.

However, he cautioned that the impact of the party, which Mr Corbyn launched alongside Zarah Sultana only last month, and is yet to be officially named, is yet to be truly known.

Mr Baxter added that data on the new partys voting potential is hard to establish yet, with the next general election not for another four years.

Top pollsters have warned the rewards Labour may have been hoping to reap from their plans might not come to fruition (PA)

He said: The younger generations of the 18 to 24 cohort is quite pro-Labour.

Its also slightly surprisingly more pro-Reform than you might think.

At the moment, Im not seeing hard data on the 16 and 17-year-old vote  or really, the people who will be 16 or 17 in 2029. Its slightly weird because these people are currently 12 and 13, so their political views are perhaps not fully developed yet.

But is there the potential, when they do grow up to be 16 and 17, for Jeremy Corbyn to get votes? Yes.

Policy could subtly reshape political map

Lord Hayward explained that the impact of the new teenage voters is expected to be fairly consistent across the UK because their distribution is fairly flat around the country. Most constituencies will see a reasonably average impact, he predicted.

The exceptions will be the south coast and the south west as well as inner London  the former because these are known as the retirement belts, areas with high proportions of older people, and the latter because these can be described as the ultra expensive zones, places most young people cannot afford.

It has been suggested that Nigel Farages Reform UK be among the parties that end up gaining the most from Labours policy (Getty)

Mr OGeran agreed, predicting that, with 16 and 17-year-olds only making up around 2 per cent of the electorate, in most constituencies they wont make a difference to the outcome.

However, he does believe the young voters might still make an important difference overall. He said: In an increasingly fragmented political landscape, their votes could help determine the outcome of a handful of tight races across the country.

He suggested Gaza could be a deciding issue for this younger group, which, in turn, could be a deciding factor for tight races.

He explained: In urban seats where Labour faces strong independent challengers, 16 and 17-year-olds could help tip the balance. All of the youngest constituencies in the country are also places where Labour is under pressure from a Gaza Independent. In fact, there are seven constituencies where Labours majority over an independent candidate is smaller than the number of 16 and 17-year-olds in the seat.

Jeremy Corbyn launched his new party alongside Zarah Sultana last month (X/@zarahsultana)

With politics looking increasingly volatile, even numerically small changes in the electorate can have outsized local effects, and could subtly reshape the political map over time.

Key trends from split votes to not voting

Lord Hayward also outlined some of the key trends the UK is likely to see when this new cohort votes, notably voting going all over the place and also not voting.

Describing 16 and 17 year olds as of enormous fluidity, he said the first will be the likelihood that the groups votes will be scattered. He explained: All indications are that Labour will not be a big beneficiary of that age group of those who vote, because polling indications are that they are much more likely to split their votes all over the place.

Secondly, Lord Hayward predicted a low turnout from 16 and 17-year-olds based on the figures from the 2024 election. Turnout was down across the board by just short of 10 per cent at the last election, he said. But turnout was lowest among the youngest. Therefore, there is no reason for believing an even younger age group will not follow the trends of those immediately above them, by being actually a very low turnout demographic cohort.

Declining birth rates also have the potential to further minimise the impact of new teenage voters, simply because that age group is expected to shrink in the coming years, he said.

The Independent has contacted the Labour Party for comment.
Foreign terrorists, murderers and other serious offenders who have been given indeterminate sentences will continue to serve their time in the UK before being considered for deportation. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Most foreign criminals convicted by a UK court will be deported immediately, instead of 30% of the way through their prison sentences, under plans announced by the government.

The justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has proposed a change in legislation that will give the government the power to deport most foreign prisoners as soon as they are convicted and incarcerated.

However, foreign terrorists, murderers and other serious offenders who have been given indeterminate sentences will continue to serve their time in the UK before being considered for deportation.

Prison governors will also retain the power to decide against deporting a foreign criminal who has been given a fixed-term sentence  known as a determinate sentence  if, for example, they consider the offender poses such a serious threat to the UKs interests or national security that they should remain behind bars in a British prison.

Offenders who are deported will be barred from re-entering the UK and the measures will apply to all foreign national offenders already in custody, as well as those newly sentenced, to reduce taxpayer expenditure on foreign prisoners.

Each prison place costs the government 54,000 a year on average and foreign offenders make up about 12% of the total prison population, according to the Ministry of Justice.

The government has already passed legislation that will come into force in September, allowing prison governors to deport foreign criminals who have served 30% of their prison time, as opposed to the current 50%.

Under the latest proposed powers, which must be voted on by parliament before they come into law, the amount of time most foreign prisoners must serve in UK prisons before deportation would be reduced to 0%.

Mahmood said the government was taking radical action and the legislation would ensure deportations happen earlier than ever before.

Our message is clear: if you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing, she said.

The Prison Service is at nearly 97.5% capacity and came within days of collapse on three occasions in the last few months of Rishi Sunaks government, an independent review by a former prisons watchdog found on Tuesday.

Related: Call to crack down on hooch and medicine in prisons after Dorset death

After taking power in July 2024, Keir Starmer responded to the crisis by allowing some offenders to leave prison after serving 40% of their sentence, arguing that an early release scheme was necessary to avert disaster and reduce overcrowding.

The government has since deported more than 5,000 foreign prisoners, an annual increase of 14%, and invested 5m on a special taskforce to speed up removals of these offenders from almost 80 jails.

Despite this, record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are serving time in UK prisons, the shadow justice secretary, Robert Jenrick, said.

He blamed Starmer for refusing to change broken human rights laws which he claimed were preventing the government from deporting foreign criminals. Its a farce, he said. He needs to grow a backbone  so we can actually deport these individuals.

Jenrick added: If countries wont take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isnt working.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is convinced the Eagles are capable of instilling fear into Liverpool when they face the Premier League holders in the Community Shield and live out their childhood dreams at Wembley.

Palace will learn on Monday  via a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport  whether they will compete in the Europa League or Conference League this season, but first will look to upset another top-flight giant after defeating Manchester City to claim their maiden major trophy in May.

The Eagles are unbeaten in their last three trips to Anfield, drawing twice and winning once  a fact that is not lost on Glasner, who will be relieved to shelve conversations about Palaces legal drama and focus on another chance at silverware and the new campaign.

Thats why we asked to play the Community Shield at Anfield, because we are unbeaten there, joked the Austrian.

But, again, nobody listens to us. But we (were) unbeaten at Wembley (last season), so thats why we accepted it at the end.

Honestly I dont know why, but Im always entering the games and have the confidence and the belief that we can win it. We showed it against Arsenal, we showed it against City, against Villa, last game against Liverpool.

We know they are a great team, but I know we are a great team as well. We know that if we perform at our top level, I think no-one likes to play against us.

Though the importance of Sundays prize yields varied opinions, Glasner, a man who revealed he is fiercely competitive even when playing Connect Four with his own daughter, needs no convincing about the significance of the occasion.

He said: Go into any school, ask girls and boys where you want to play when you play football, and everybody will say I would like to play once in my life at Wembley.

We all experience it now the third time within three months. That means we are living all of our childhood dreams, and this is how I will always see these games.

Oliver Glasner has retired his lucky black jumper (Nick Potts/PA)

Glasner confirmed both midfielder Cheick Doucoure (knee) and striker Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) are set for significant spells on the sidelines  the former also having missed the majority of the second half last season.

Matheus Franca, who has played just 381 minutes since signing in August 2023, is sidelined with yet another injury, this time to his adductor, while Chadi Riad (anterior cruciate ligament) is not expected back until October at the earliest.

Palaces Wembley triumph  and Glasners role in it  cemented his status as one of the most celebrated figures in the clubs history but the 50-year-old revealed he surprisingly still enjoys a great deal of anonymity in London.

I get recognised a little bit more, he said. But yesterday we had this Premier League meeting, I went by tube there and back. No selfies, nothing.

So thats the positive of everybody having their phone, because nobody looks at me, everybody looks at their phone, so its still nice to move through London.

Asked if perhaps not sporting his lucky black jumper from Palaces run to the FA Cup played a factor in rendering him unrecognisable, Glasner confirmed: The jumper has done its job. The jumper is retired.
Georgia gunman who killed a police officer and targeted the CDC was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, reports reveal

The gunman who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention campus and Emory University on Friday was fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine, his father reportedly told police.

Police say 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White opened fire from a CVS on Friday afternoon, striking several CDC buildings across the street and leaving bullet holes in windows. A DeKalb County police officer was killed in the shooting, and White was found dead at the scene.

Whites father told police his son believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him suicidal, the Associated Press reports. Whites neighbor also said the 30-year-old often discussed anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

No civilians were hurt, officials confirmed.

Heres what we know about the suspected gunman and how Fridays shooting unfolded:

Windows on a CDC building pockmarked by bullet holes. The gunman struck at least four CDC buildings and killed a DeKalb County police officer, officials said (REUTERS)

Police identify the suspected shooter

Police identified White as the shooter on Saturday morning. The 30-year-old lived with his parents in Kennesaw, Georgia, a suburb about 30 miles from the CDC campus in Atlanta.

The suspected gunman was found dead on the second floor of the CVS, though officials dont know whether that was from officers or if it was self-inflicted, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Friday.

What was the gunmans motive?

Officials have yet to confirm Whites motive. However, CDC Chief Operating Officer Christa Capozzola told agency staff that the shooting was a targeted attack on C.D.C. related to Covid, according to an email reviewed by The New York Times.

Whites father told police his son believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal, the Associated Press reports. White had become fixated on the Covid-19 vaccine and was also upset about the recent death of his dog, his father revealed.

Whites neighbor, Nancy Hoalst, told The New York Times that he was unsettled and would often talk about anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Hoalst noted she never thought he would take it out on other people.

He very deeply believed that vaccines had hurt him, and that they were hurting other people, Hoalst said.

Law enforcement officials told CNN on Friday they are working with the theory that White targeted the CDC because he believed the Covid-19 vaccine made him sick.

Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the CDC campus and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The suspected gunman is dead after officials say he killed a DeKalb County police officer (Georgia Bureau of Investigation)

Officer killed in the line of duty

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed in the shooting after working in the role for nearly a year. He was a 33-year-old married father of two children, with a third on the way.

Rose was fatally shot after the gunman turned his aim away from the CDC campus and toward the officer, a law enforcement official told CNN. Rose later died at Emory University Hospital.

Officer Rose served DeKalb County with courage, integrity, and unwavering dedication, the DeKalb County Police Department said in a tribute.

Even in the face of danger was he diligent in his duty to protect our community.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed in the shooting. He was a married father of two, with a third on the way (DeKalb County Police Department)

Several CDC buildings hit by gunfire

Police say the gunman opened fire from inside a CVS across the street from the CDC campus on Friday afternoon. Before driving to the CVS, White tried to enter the CDC campus but was turned away by guards, the AP reports.

The gunman struck at least four buildings on the health agencys campus, CDC Director Susan Monarez said. No civilians were injured. White was armed with five guns, including one long gun, a law enforcement official told the AP.

CDC employees told CNN that bullets broke through the windows and flew past cubicles.

Its a miracle no one was killed here, one employee said.

Officers respond to the shooting near the CDC campus, where four buildings were struck (Getty Images)

There were also 92 children in a daycare on the CDC campus during the shooting. A mother whose child was at the daycare told CBS News, "I'm also a bit angry that at a year and a half, he would have to experience something like this.

Its anxiety-inducing, its very scary, she added.

Employees at a nearby deli, General Muirs, also reported hearing gunshots, according to the Associated Press. Brandy Giraldo, the delis chief operating officer, said it sounded like fireworks going off, one right after the other.

The gunfire sent the nearby Emory University campus into lockdown, along with the CDC, Emory University Hospital and other nearby schools and daycares.

Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT, campus officials wrote in a statement. Avoid the area. Continue shelter in place. Police on scene.

Windows on a CDC building pockmarked by bullet holes. The gunman struck at least four CDC buildings (REUTERS)

What have officials said about the shooting?

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson told reporters Friday was a very dark day for the community and for Roses family.

This evening there is a wife without a husband, Cochran-Johnson said of Rose. There are three children, one unborn, without a father.

Several Georgia lawmakers, including Senator Raphael Warnock and Representative Mike Collins, acknowledged the shooting and sent prayers to those impacted. FBI Director Kash Patel also commented on the shooting.

Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of this hero who acted quickly to defend others and made the ultimate sacrifice, Patel wrote on X. The FBI will offer them our full support.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
President Donald Trump is set to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next week, the state that Russia once laid claim to and nationalists want to take back.

Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine, which the president claimed he would end on Day One.

Despite facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, the meeting would mark the first time in a decade that Putin has set foot on U.S. soil.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that a meeting has been set with the Russian leader on August 15 in the Last Frontier state to discuss the war in Ukraine (AP)

The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska, Trump declared on Truth Social.

Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they mercilessly exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back.

Alaska was purchased from the Russians by the U.S. for a sum of $7.2 million in 1867the equivalent of between $129 million and $153.5 million today.

Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected, said Michael McFaul, a professor of political science at Stanford University and former. U.S. ambassador to Russia.

Let's all hope that Putin doesn't ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too, political commentator David Frum said in a post on X.

Trump inviting war criminal Putin to America is nauseating enough, but hosting him in Alaska  while Putin's pet propagandists routinely demand it back from the US on state TV  is beyond the pale, author and commentator Julia Davis wrote on X. Unless Putin is arrested upon arrival, there's no excuse.

She posted a series of clips and screenshots of pro-Putin Russian commentators suggesting that Alaska should be part of their country once again.

Trumps former national security adviser-turned foe, John Bolton, said the move reminded him of a blunder the president allegedly nearly made in his first term.

Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770swhere they exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russiansand nationalists have long wanted to take it back (Reuters)

This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, Bolton told CNNs Kaitlan Collins. But it certainly reminds one of that.

The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow, Bolton added. So the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin.

Julia Ioffe, founding partner and Washington correspondent of Puck News, tweeted: So Vladimir Putin, who has an ICC warrant out for his arrest, gets a meeting with the U.S. president on U.S. soil without having to give up or even promise anythingafter ignoring and insulting Trump. One more win for Putin, one more loss for Trump.

Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in war studies at Kings College, London, wrote: Since the end of the Cold War, summits have been used by US presidents as a mark of approval and withheld when they disapprove of Russian actions. Trump is, once again, signalling the value he places on Putin's friendship. It's a profound humiliation for the US.

For Trump to announce a summit - the traditional US reward for friendly Russian presidents - with Putin, on the day he had said would be the deadline for announcing action to punish Russian aggression is an extraordinary move. It's an unambiguous signal of alignment with Russia.

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said that she was deeply wary of Putin as she reacted to the news that the summit would take place in her home state.

This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements, Murkowski said in a post on X Friday. While I remain deeply wary of Putin and his regime, I hope these discussions lead to genuine progress and help end the war on equitable terms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Putin is wanted by the ICC on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine during the conflict triggered by Moscows invasion of its neighbor. At least 19,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have been kidnapped and taken to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022, although Ukrainian officials say the total is probably far higher. Putins childrens rights commissioner, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, is also charged over the same alleged offenses.

Putin has traveled overseas since the warrant was issued, including to ICC member state Mongolia. Hes also traveled to China and North Korea, which are not court members.

During the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on Day One, but later claimed he said it in jest.

Negotiations on peace talks have been slow moving and, at times, fraught.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will not be at next weeks summit, was ambushed in the Oval Office earlier this year by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The vice president attacked Zelensky for not saying thank you enough for U.S. financial and military support and accused him of being disrespectful.

Trump has made numerous pro-Putin statements in the past, and said gets along with the dictator very well. His tone changed this month, when he said he was disappointed with Putin as peace talks continued to drag and violence in Europe continued.

The most famous meeting between the two presidents took place in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018, during Trumps first term as president. Following the meeting, Trump publicly contradicted U.S. intelligence agencies and appeared to take Putins word over their findings regarding Russian election interference.

The remarks caused bipartisan outrage in Washington, with many accusing Trump of having sided with the enemy.

Trump has also publicly blamed Zelensky  rather than Putin  for starting the war.
Foreign criminals will be sent packing, deported immediately when they receive a custodial sentence, the Justice Secretary has pledged.

Shabana Mahmood has proposed a law change, which could save taxpayers an average 54,000 per year, per prison place.

The changes would apply to prisoners serving fixed-term determinate sentences, and authorities would retain their power not to deport a criminal but instead keep them in custody, for example, if the offender was planning further crimes against the UKs interests or national security.

Our message is clear, Ms Mahmood said.

If you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing.

Prisoners face deportation 30% into their prison sentence rather than the current 50% under a change in the law set to come in in September (PA)

She also said: Deportations are up under this Government, and with this new law they will happen earlier than ever before.

Almost 5,200 foreign national offenders have been deported since July 2024, a 14% increase on the 12 months prior, according to the Government.

The Justice Secretarys announcement follows a tweak in the law in June, expected to come into force in September, so prisoners face deportation 30% into their prison sentence rather than the current 50%.

The Government will need Parliament to greenlight its proposal to bring this down to 0%.

According to a Labour source, the previous Conservative government relied on prison transfer agreements with other countries to deport foreign national offenders, in deals which allow inmates to serve their custodial sentence in their home country.

This saw 945 prisoners sent to jails abroad between 2010 and 2023, equal to less than one-and-a-half criminals per week.

Foreign national offenders make up around 12% of the prison population.

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: In Starmers topsy turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. Its a farce.

Yet again Starmer has refused to confront our broken human rights laws.

He needs to grow a backbone and change them so we can actually deport these individuals.

The safety of the British public is infinitely more important than the rights of sick foreign criminals.

If countries wont take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isnt working.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced a call to sit this one out on Gaza, after the Prime Minister warned the Israeli government against pursuing its plan to take control of Gaza City.

Washingtons ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also suggested that Sir Keir would have lost Britain the Second World War, had he been in No 10 at the time.

Earlier on Friday, US vice president JD Vance described a disagreement about how the US and UK could achieve their common objectives in the Middle East, and said Donald Trumps administration had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomes US vice president JD Vance to Chevening House in Kent, during his visit to the UK (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office has unveiled new principles for military action which include the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

The Israel Defence Forces will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones.

After Sir Keir described the decision as being wrong and called for a surge in humanitarian aid, Mr Huckabee wrote: So Israel is expected to surrender to Hamas and feed them even though Israeli hostages are being starved?

Did UK surrender to Nazis and drop food to them? Ever heard of Dresden, PM Starmer?

That wasnt food you dropped. If you had been PM then UK would be speaking German.

In a follow-up post, the ambassador suggested Sir Keir ought to sit this one out.

In a statement, Sir Keir had said: The Israeli governments decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately.

This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.

Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions.

What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution.

Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.

Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis.

But without both sides engaging in good faith negotiations, that prospect is vanishing before our eyes.

How much food has Starmer and the UK sent to Gaza? @IsraeliPM has already sent 2 MILLION TONS into Gaza & none of it even getting to hostages. Maybe UK PM ought to sit this one out & follow Arab League who said Hamas should disarm & release ALL hostages immediately.  Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 8, 2025

Sir Keir has pledged to recognise a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government meets a series of conditions towards ending the war in Gaza.

These include taking substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agreeing to a ceasefire, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank.

At Foreign Secretary David Lammys grace-and-favour retreat in Kent, Mr Vance said the UK is going to make its decision on Palestinian recognition.

We have no plans to recognise a Palestinian state, he said.

I dont know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state given the lack of functional government there.

Mr Vance added: Theres a lot of common objectives here. There is some, I think, disagreement about how exactly to accomplish those common objectives, but look, its a tough situation.

Meanwhile, Mr Lammy joined several allied foreign ministers in strongly rejecting Israels plans for Gaza, warning they will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.

A joint statement from the foreign ministers of the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany and New Zealand said: The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law.

Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.

The statement added: We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.

A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.

A UN Security Council meeting to discuss Israels plan had been due to take place on Saturday, but has been rescheduled to Sunday at around 3pm UK time.
European leaders have rallied in support of Ukraine after a defiant Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Donald Trumps suggestion that a peace plan may involve giving up land to Russia.

President Trump, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next Friday in Alaska as he seeks to bring an end to the war, has said the talks could include some swapping of territories.

But an angry President Zelensky hit back on Saturday, insisting Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Members of the so-called coalition of the willing  countries which have pledged support for Ukraine against Russias aggression  were quick to show their support, insisting that any deal must include Ukraine and Europe, warning its security is at stake.

The joint leaders statement from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said: We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraines and Europes vital security interests.

Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. The current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tour the streets of Kyiv, Ukraine, after a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing at the Presidential Palace in France earlier this year (PA Wire)

The show of unity came as the UK hosted a hastily arranged meeting of national security advisers from the US, Ukraine and European countries on Saturday. The meeting at David Lammys official country retreat, Chevening, Kent, and held with US vice-president JD Vance, was called to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.

Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday reiterated his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people, while Frances President Emmanuel Macron said the UK and Germany were ready to work as productively as possible for the sake of real peace after a call with Sir Keir and Chancellor Frederich Merz.

In their call, Sir Keir and President Macron said they welcomed President Trumps efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russias war of aggression, and discussed how to further work closely with President Trump and President Zelensky over the coming days.

Confirming next weeks summit with the US president in Alaska, the Kremlin said Mr Trump and Mr Putin would focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution.

President Putin is expected to use the meeting to set out his demands, including that Ukraine give up two eastern regions as well as Crimea.

Announcing the talks to reporters at the White House on Friday, Mr Trump said any deal may include the some swapping of territories, adding: Were going to get some back. Were going to get some switched. There will be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both.

However, Mr Zelensky has rejected that notion and said his country would not violate its constitution by ceding territory.

Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers, he said. He also warned that any peace deal that excluded Kyiv would lead to dead solutions.

President Trumps decision to meet Mr Putin has fuelled fears that Ukraine could be sidelined in the efforts to end the war.

Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have spoken, No 10 said (PA Wire)

But Mr Zelensky issued a staunch warning to the international community that any agreement reached without Ukraine would ultimately fail.

He said: Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.

After his call with Sir Keir, Mr Zelensky said the two men shared the same view on the need for a truly lasting peace and on the danger of Russias plan to reduce everything to discussing the impossible.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: Both leaders welcomed President Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war. The prime minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

Mr Macron insisted that Ukraines future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians and warned that Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake.

Kristen Michal, Estonias prime minister, joined the chorus of support, saying she agreed that security decisions for Ukraine matter for everyone in Europe. Pointing to demands for Ukraine to give up land to secure peace, she added: Respect for territorial integrity is the foundation of stable international relations and changing borders by force can never be accepted.

This was echoed by Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, who wrote on X: Any lasting settlement must respect UA's sovereignty  nothing about UA without UA. DK stands with our partners for a ceasefire built on Ukrainian strength and Western unity and resolve.

And after his phone call with Mr Zelensky, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister of Spain, said: We must reach a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraines independence and sovereignty. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. We must remain united.

Russia has previously claimed four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

Mr Putins forces do not fully control all land in those areas and Moscow has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the parts they still control.
Three people were rushed to the hospital  including a tourist  after a teenage gunman opened fire in New Yorks bustling Times Square overnight.

An 18-year-old female tourist in an Uber and a 65-year-old man on the sidewalk were struck as well as a 19-year-old the shooter may have been arguing with at around 1:20 am on Saturday, a spokesperson for the New York Police Department said.

A 17-year-old male suspect was arrested at the scene. Police said the shooting was sparked when a verbal dispute between two people escalated.

A police spokesperson told The Independent: "All were taken to Bellevue Hospital and are in stable condition. The perpetrator was engaged in a verbal dispute prior to the shooting with one of the victims. He has been taken into custody and a firearm was also recovered. He has not been charged yet.

The incident took place on the street at the intersection of West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue. The 19-year-old was shot in the right foot and the 65-year-old was shot in the left leg.

Videos posted on social media showed people fleeing the scene and a car pulled over to the side of the road outside the Hard Rock Cafe.

Footage showed one person on a stretcher being wheeled into an ambulance, with policemen directing people away from the scene.

The gunman was inside the chain restaurant Raising Canes on Broadway when the dispute started, the New York Post reported.

The shooter went after the CitiBike rider he was arguing with outside the eatery and fired three shots at about a dozen CitiBike riders, striking the 19-year-old in the foot, The Post reported. The tourist suffered a graze wound to the neck as she rode in the for-hire car with her parents.

Its a very horrific experience, the mom, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Post. We decided to take our time to come to Times Square. We just felt that we would have a beautiful experience at night to see the whole city.

She also had her 11-year-old twins in the Uber.

New Yorks police commissioner announced only a few days ago that the city had seen the fewest shooting incidents and victims this year since records began. Over the first seven months of 2025, there were 412 shooting incidents and 489 shooting victims in New York.

It is the 10th straight month of decline in major crime in the city, the commissioner said but there have been some shocking incidents this summer.

In July, four people were killed in a chilling and cold-blooded shooting in a Midtown Manhattan high-rise office building that is home to the National Football League.

The suspect, 27-year-old Shane Tamura, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The police said the gunman walked into the office with a high-powered semiautomatic rifle and sprayed bullets indiscriminately in the lobby and on an upper floor.

Tamura, a former high school footballer, was targeting the headquarters of the NFL, the police said.

An officer, Didarul Islam, was killed in that attack, with the police department describing him as the very best.
A landowner in Louisa County is tangled up in disputes over how her land should be developed, reflecting an ongoing debate over Virginias role in solar energy development in rural areas. She wants a solar project to be built on her property, but local authorities want her land to stay agricultural. Two years into the process, shes still waiting for a resolution, as legislation addressing solar ordinances, which could help mitigate the situation, failed again in the General Assembly this year.

Really it is about land rights and landowner rights within the confines of still protecting the rural character of Louisa, Amanda Lloyd said.

Lloyd inherited her husbands familys land when he died 10 years ago. His grandparents had run a dairy farm on it until the 1980s, and after that, the land was zoned partial residential and forestland. After building a home for her children, she researched how her property could be used to turn a profit.

I worked with farm services. I had different people come out and look at it. I took classes at Virginia State University to try to figure out an agricultural use and was just doing that over the years to see if there was a way I could use the land and bring it back, and economically, I just never found a solution, Lloyd said.

In 2020, the solar energy company Clenera approached her with a proposed solar project that would sprinkle panels through the timberland. It was a project that interested her. With trees that could act as natural buffers, which the county requires for these projects, and railroad tracks that separate her property from neighboring plots, Lloyd felt it would be a reasonable way to bring money in for her childrens futures and make use of the land.

In 2022, the county passed a new ordinance with several conditions for solar applications including buffer zones, environmental impacts and a cap on how much of the land mass may be used for solar projects. In 2023, county officials said there were already 590 megawatts worth of approved solar projects that took up about 5,200 acres. Two projects had already been built with others in the pipeline to either start construction or the permitting process.

Llyods project was tabled in a 2023 Louisa County Planning Commission meeting, with a 4-4 vote.

In the meeting, a recording of which was viewed by the Virginia Mercury, Chairman John Disosway said that Llyods application was one of the best they had seen by that time, in terms of following the conditions laid out by the county and having natural barriers planned. He was concerned, however, about the loss of agricultural land, which would be changed into industrial land by solar and other projects. He said that type of zoning change had been happening at an alarming rate and cited it as a reason he could not support the project. Clenera and Llyod have been trying to work with the county ever since to find an agreement to move the project forward.

This sort of discussion is not a new one in Virginia. Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, said that solar and agriculture do not need to be pitted against each other and its possible to marry the two industries to make land like Llyods even more profitable and useful in tackling the states energy needs.

There is a way for us to honor and continue our agricultural history and the importance of agriculture as part of our economy and pair that with what everyone agrees is all of our energy needs, Sullivan said.

State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, brought Senate Bill 1190, a companion bill to Sullivans House Bill 2126, that would have created the Virginia Energy Facility Review Board to review and analyze local solar ordinances. The board would not override local ordinances but rather assist local leaders by making recommendations on how to implement specific projects. The bill failed in the state Senate and was left in the House of Delegates Labor and Commerce Committee this year and faced fierce pushback from local governments and the solar industry.

The reality is weve got this Clean Economy Act, whether you like it or not, its the law, Deeds said, speaking of Virginias landmark legislation that mandates Virginia decarbonize its electricity sources by 2050. Weve got a requirement to produce power through renewable means to decarbonize our electric production system, and were not going to meet our goals if we dont move forward with solar.

The rights of local governments and landowners are being weighed against some legislators and residents calls for consistent regulations across the commonwealth, an issue also playing out across the country as states consider solar regulations.

The goal of the review board his bill sought to create, Deeds said, would be to provide localities with guidance on the best ways to implement solar projects in their areas, especially areas with smaller staffs and limited resources. It would be a small step toward addressing a big problem, Sullivan said.

Weve got a growing statewide energy demand without really any statewide strategy on how much and where in relation to data centers. We need to have a strategy to meet generation needs, Sullivan said.

Deeds said he fully intends to bring back a version of his legislation in the future. Meanwhile, other state leaders and candidates are speaking up about how to fulfill the states energy needs. A group of GOP delegates slammed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanbergers plans to expand solar, framing it and other renewable energy sources as insufficient to meet the energy demands of the commonwealth.

Of course its not, said Deeds. Its not enough, but youve got to do it. Its got to be part of a solution. We need a multifaceted approach to our energy needs.

Like Gov. Glenn Youngkin, his lieutenant governor seeking to replace him, Winsome Earle-Sears, has advocated for an all-of-the-above approach to fueling Virginias future, saying both renewable and fossil fuel energy sources should be used.

Lloyds proposed project would have been a 20 megawatt energy producer encompassing 100 acres total spread over 300 acres of her land. She said the project would have benefitted the area beyond energy production through taxes, even more so than if the land were to remain in agricultural use.

There is no word yet of when Lloyds project will be back in front of the Louisa commission for a new vote. County officials did not respond to requests for comment.

I am actively growing timber on that property. Thats an agricultural use. I am paying less in taxes because of that agricultural use. Turning it into a solar opportunity or solar farm increases the tax base, Lloyd said.

This story was originally published in the Virginia Mercury.
People walk on the plaza on UCLAs campus in Los Angeles last month. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Trump administration is seeking a $1bn settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said on Friday.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the request and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Trump administration has suspended $584m in federal research funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and other agencies, the universitys chancellor, Julio Frenk, said in a message to UCLA staff and students this week.

Last week, the justice department notified the university that an investigation by the departments civil right division had concluded that UCLAs response to the protest encampment on its campus in the spring of 2024 was deliberately indifferent to a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students in violation of federal anti-discrimination law.

This disgusting breach of civil rights against students will not stand: DOJ will force UCLA to pay a heavy price for putting Jewish Americans at risk and continue our ongoing investigations into other campuses in the UC system, the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, said in a statement.

UCLA is the first public university whose federal grants have been targeted by the administration over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The Trump administration has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against private colleges.

The new University of California president, James B Milliken, who oversees a university system of 10 campuses, six academic health centers and three affiliated national laboratories, confirmed on Friday that the university had received notice from the justice department and was reviewing it.

Earlier this week, we offered to engage in good faith dialogue with the Department to protect the University and its critical research mission, Milliken said. As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our countrys greatest public university system as well as inflict great harm on our students and all Californians.

Americans across this great nation rely on the vital work of UCLA and the UC system for technologies and medical therapies that save lives, grow the US economy, and protect our national security, he added.

UCLA recently reached a $6m settlement with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who sued the university, arguing it violated their civil rights by allowing pro-Palestinian protesters in 2024 to block their access to classes and other areas on campus.

The university has said it is committed to campus safety and inclusivity and will continue to implement recommendations.

Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, expressed outrage at the proposal he attributed directly to the president. He has threatened us through extortion with a billion-dollar fine unless we do his bidding, Newsom said at a news conference with Texas lawmakers in Sacramento on Friday.

We will not be complicit in this kind of attack on academic freedom on this extraordinary public institution. We are not like some of those other institutions that have followed a different path, Newsom added, apparently referring to two private universities, Columbia and Brown, which have agreed to pay large settlements to resolve investigations by the Trump administration in recent weeks.

California Senator Scott Wiener echoed that language, writing on Instagram: In another mob boss fascist move, Trump is now trying to extort UCLA for $1B, force it to adopt his racist, transphobic, xenophobic policies & accept a monitor to control the university. Hard no. UCLA is a California public university subject to California law & built on California values. The answer is no.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in 2017. According to reports a US-Russia deal could allow Putin to keep some of Ukrainian territory his troops have captured. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early on Saturday that Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers after Donald Trump said he would meet Vladimir Putin next week and that an end to the war must involve some swapping of territories.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was ready for real solutions that could bring peace but that any solutions without Ukraine would be against peace. Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing, he said, adding that the war cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine.

Trump said he planned to meet the Russian president next Friday in Alaska. He announced the location in a brief post on his Truth Social site.

Russian state media agency Tass confirmed the date and location of the meeting, citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.

Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters in the White House the meeting would have been sooner, but I guess theres security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make.

The US president also said therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both Ukraine and Russia and that the issue would be discussed soon but he gave no further details.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that the deal could cement some of Putins territorial gains in Ukraine, in effect freezing the battle lines in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Putin has claimed four Ukrainian regions in their entirety, although much of their territory remains under Ukrainian control.

US and Russian officials were working on a deal under which Russia would halt its offensive in exchange for the territorial concessions  making it a politically fraught proposal in Ukraine, Bloomberg said.

Trumps comments came after Polands prime minister said a freeze in the conflict could be close, after speaking with the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has communicated with Trump and European leaders in recent days.

There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict  I dont want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict  is closer than it is further away, Donald Tusk said during a news conference. There are hopes for this.

Related: Freeze in Ukraine war may be close, says Tusk, as US and Russia plan talks

Tusk said Zelenskyy was very cautious but optimistic about the ceasefire, Reuters reported. Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement, Tusk said.

Trump has previously expressed his readiness to meet Putin one on one without preconditions, including direct negotiations between Putin and Zelenskyy, stoking fears that Ukraine may be left out of negotiations for the framework of a potential ceasefire.

If the summit happens, it would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former president Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva.

Zelenskyy has responded by speaking with European leaders including the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who are key conduits to Trump.

The US envoy Steve Witkoff had proposed a three-way meeting with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy but the Kremlin had ignored that suggestion, said the Putin aide Yuri Ushakov, and was focusing on preparations for a bilateral meeting with Trump in the first place.

Putin has said he is not ready to meet Zelenskyy, even as the Kremlin claimed preparations were under way for a bilateral summit with Trump next week.

I have nothing against it in general, it is possible, but certain conditions must be created for this, Putin said of a meeting with Zelenskyy. But unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions.

Last month, Trump issued an ultimatum for Putin to agree to a ceasefire or face secondary sanctions with the deadline set for this Friday. That deadline appeared in place despite plans for the summit, although the White House has not said what secondary measures it could enforce.

Trump did target India with a 25% tariff hike for purchasing Russian oil this week, singling out one of Moscows economic enablers in a move that New Delhi complained was unfair and selective.

Trump had grown frustrated with Putin in public in recent months as the war dragged through its third year and Putin continued to launch nightly missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities despite Trumps insistence that he could strike a deal within 24 hours of becoming president.

Putin  talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening, Trump said last month. So theres a little bit of a problem there.
UK to deport foreign criminals to free up jail space in latest immigration crackdown

The UK is set to deport foreign criminals to free up prison space in the governments latest immigration crackdown.

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed the offenders will be sent packing immediately when they receive a custodial sentence.

The proposed law change  which could save taxpayers an average of 54,000 per year, per prison place  would apply to prisoners serving fixed-term determinate sentences. Authorities would also retain their power not to deport a criminal but instead keep them in custody, for example, if the offender was planning further crimes against the UKs interests or national security.

Our message is clear, Ms Mahmood said. If you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing.

She added: Deportations are up under this government, and with this new law they will happen earlier than ever before.

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed that the offenders will be sent packing immediately when they receive a custodial sentence (PA)

Almost 5,200 foreign national offenders have been deported since July 2024, a 14 per cent increase on the 12 months prior, according to the government.

The justice secretarys announcement follows a tweak in the law in June  expected to come into force in September  which will see prisoners face deportation 30 per cent into their prison sentence rather than the current 50 per cent.

The government will need parliament to greenlight its proposal to bring this down to 0 per cent.

According to a Labour source, the previous Conservative government relied on prison transfer agreements with other countries to deport foreign national offenders, in deals which allow inmates to serve their custodial sentence in their home country.

This saw 945 prisoners sent to jails abroad between 2010 and 2023.

A protester outside the Bell Hotel in Epping last month (PA Wire)

Foreign national offenders make up around 12 per cent of the prison population.

Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: In Starmers topsy-turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. Its a farce.

Yet again Starmer has refused to confront our broken human rights laws. He needs to grow a backbone and change them so we can actually deport these individuals. The safety of the British public is infinitely more important than the rights of sick foreign criminals.

If countries wont take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isnt working.

The prison population currently stands at 88,007, just 514 below the record high of 88,521, which was reached on 6 September last year.

Keir Starmers government has vowed to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031 (PA Wire)

The government has vowed to create 14,000 new prison places by 2031. Ms Mahmood has also accepted a string of recommendations following a major report by David Gauke, which will see some offenders serve less of their sentence in custody in sweeping reforms expected to ease pressure on prisons.

The proposed law change comes amid the governments wider crackdown on immigration. Labour has put a pledge to tackle the number of people coming to the UK on small boats at the centre of its plan for government.

Last week, figures showed that the number of migrants arriving in the UK this year 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.

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.

Hundreds of inmates were let out early last year as part of attempts to ease overcrowding in prisons (PA)

Meanwhile, escalating protests are breaking out across the UK opposing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.

In recent days, the government announced further measures to support its crackdown on illegal migration, including pouring an extra 100m into the efforts.

The money will support the pilot of the UKs new one in, one out deal with France, paying for up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence-gathering on smuggling gangs.

The first small boat migrants were detained this week under the UKs new returns agreement with Emmanuel Macron and could be sent back to France within weeks.

The agreement, announced by the prime minister in a joint press conference with the French president 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.
Today, I will be in Parliament Square to demand that the UK government uphold our right to freedom of speech, and to denounce the genocide that the Israeli government is perpetrating in Gaza against the Palestinian people.

As a human rights defender, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has denounced genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing throughout the world, I cannot remain silent, witnessing the genocide and the abhorrent starvation of the Palestinian people.

I will be holding a sign that will read: The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which states Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

Volker Turk, UN human rights chief, stated that [the proscription of Palestine Action] appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UKs obligations under international human rights law.

Since 5 July, when the order proscribing the Palestine Action protest group under terrorism legislation came into force, hundreds of people have been arrested for holding up peaceful signs motivated by their consternation and horror at the genocide in Gaza.

I was shocked to see 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt on television being arrested on the day that Palestine Action was proscribed. Reverend Parfitt was attending a demonstration in Parliament Square, sitting in a camp chair around fellow protesters holding a placard stating her support of the outlawed protest group.

While being carried away by police, Reverend Parfitt described the ban as total nonsense, and went on to add that it symbolised a loss of civil liberties in this country.

Some have had their homes raided by the police. No one arrested seemed to pose any threat to the public.

At the protest in support of Palestine Action, veteran activist Bianca Jagger holds a sign reading: The UK Government is in flagrant violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (AFP/Getty)

Turk has also said that the UKs counter-terrorism legislation misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries, to encompass further conduct that is already criminal under the law.

He added: The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effects on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people.

Yesterday, Amnesty International wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, stating that arresting protesters would violate international law:

The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters solely for expressing the statement I Oppose Genocide  I Support Palestine Action is a violation of the UKs international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Further arrests [carried out on the 9 August demonstration] would violate international human rights law. As such, we urge you to instruct your officers to comply with the UKs international obligations and act with restraint in their response to any such protests that occur, by not arresting protesters who are merely carrying placards that state they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.

The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights recently wrote a paper, supported by numerous legal advocacy groups, that states: Evidence suggests active and sustained cooperation between the UK and Israeli armies. Concerns surround reports that the UK military has carried out over 500 surveillance flights around Gaza since December 2023, sharing intelligence with Israel  including during the ceasefire.

Only yesterday, further evidence emerged of the RAFs ongoing support for Israel: Britain continues to run near daily surveillance flights over Gaza with the help of a US contractor at a time of growing questions about how the intelligence obtained is used and shared with the Israeli military.

Specialist flight trackers estimate that RAF Shadow aircraft have run more than 600 flights over the Palestinian territory from the Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus in an attempt to locate the remaining hostages held by Hamas since December 2023.

Palestine Action is being punished for exposing the crimes of the British government and taking action to uphold international law. We cannot turn a blind eye to the horrific crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza. I will be joining the demonstration in Parliament Square to oppose genocide and defend human rights and freedom of speech.

Bianca Jagger is the founder and president of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, a Council of Europe goodwill ambassador, and a member of the executive director's leadership council of Amnesty International USA
Labour has been warned the government won't be trusted on renters' rights after it emerged that MPs rake in at least 830,000 a year in rent.

Some 83 members of parliament earn a minimum of 10,000 from renting properties, according to the latest register of interests, with Sir Keir Starmer's party leading the pack of mostly residential landlords.

The true figure which MPs earn from rent is unknown, but is likely to be higher than 830,000, as 170 registered properties have received rental income in the past year.

Campaigners said the number of landlords in parliament was shocking and called for greater scrutiny over what they described as a blatant conflict of interest when voting on legislation that would directly affect them.

High-profile ministerial landlords include chancellor Rachel Reeves and foreign secretary David Lammy. Ms Reeves moved to Downing Street following her new role in government.

It comes as the government reels from the resignation of homelessness minister Rushanara Ali, who quit over claims she evicted tenants from a property she owns and then increased the rent by several hundred pounds.

Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali has quit over claims she evicted tenants from a property she owns and then increased the rent by hundreds of pounds (UK Parliament)

She was accused of staggering hypocrisy as her department is bringing in legislation to ban landlords who evict tenants in order to sell their property from relisting it for rent for six months.

Ms Ali is not Labours only landlord, nor its most profitable. In fact, many of the most property-rich MPs are members of Sir Keirs party, data from the parliamentary register of interests shows.

Tulip Siddiq, Labours anti-corruption minister who stepped down amid investigations she was gifted a flat by an ally of her aunt Sheikh Hasina, also declares rental income from two properties.

MPs have registered income from 170 properties across the UK, with at least 10,000 generated in yearly profits per landlord. But this is probably higher in some cases, considering that average monthly rents are 1,399 in the UK.

The majority of these (86 per cent) are residential properties, meaning they are being leased out to private renters, not businesses.

Eight MPs have declared that they have stopped receiving rental income at some point in the past year.

The figure does not include properties rented by some MPs who charge less than 10,000 a year, such as Sir Keir, who has previously revealed he rents to his sister.

The highest concentration of properties rented out are in London, Edinburgh, Guildford and Oxford, with Lib Dem MP Charlie Maynard declaring rent for a house in upstate New York. Some 82 of these are rented out by Labour MPs.

MPs have registered income from 170 properties across the UK, with at least 10,000 generated in yearly profits per landlord (PA Wire)

Ilford Labour MP Jas Athwal is the most prominent landlord in the Commons, renting 15 residential properties and three commercial, including a private care home. Mr Athwals rental earnings come alongside his MP salary of 93,904.

Mr Athwal came under fire soon after being elected, as his tenants claimed their flats were filled with black mould and ant infestations. He has since stood down from his role as a councillor in Redbridge.

The register also shows that one in five Tory MPs  27 out of 121  are also landlords, down from 83 in the previous parliament.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt is the Conservatives biggest landlord, taking rent from eight residential properties and one office building, partly through his property holding company Mare Pond Properties.

In 2023, flats owned by Mr Hunt in Southampton were reportedly rented out for 1,700 to 2,000 a month.

Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown is also the landlord of five residential properties, and was among a group of backbench MPs who were accused last year of signing amendments to gut the now-scrapped Renters Reform Bill.

Jae Vail, spokesperson for the London Renters Union, said: "The sheer number of landlords in parliament is shocking.

During an unprecedented housing crisis, its a blatant conflict of interest that MPs are making millions from struggling renters  while some even use taxpayer money to cover their own personal rents. Tenants need a government that works for us, not one that profits from our hardship. Until parliament is free of landlord MPs, renters will not trust the government to deliver the bold action we need. Its time for the government to ban landlords from parliament and start working for ordinary people, investing in council housing and capping rents."

Tom Darling, director at the Renters' Reform Coalition, said it probably doesn't reflect well on parliament that so many MPs are landlords.

In the longer term, renters risk losing confidence in a political system where those that extract rent from them are hugely overrepresented  and it certainly didn't help the last government's efforts to pass the Renters [Reform] Bill," he said.

A Labour spokesperson said: "There are rightly strict parliamentary rules that MPs must adhere to when renting property.

Our Labour government is delivering landmark legislation transforming rights and security for renters across the country. Tory MPs opposed it every step of the way, Labour will deliver it."

Rishi Sunaks government was accused of watering down planned protections for renters in England, after some Conservative MPs raised concerns they would be too burdensome on landlords.

The Independent has also reached out to the Conservative Party and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.
More protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers will take place around the country amid a large police presence and warnings one demonstration could be hijacked by agitators.

Anti-migrant protesters and anti-racism counter-protesters are to gather in Nuneaton on Saturday afternoon following allegations of a cover-up about suspects charged over an alleged rape.

Demonstrations are also expected in Bristol, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Leicester and Birmingham among others, according to Stand Up To Racism.

It comes after a handful of people were arrested at demonstrations in Canary Wharf, in London, and Epping, in Essex, on Friday night.

A large turnout is expected in Nuneaton after two men, reportedly Afghan asylum seekers, were charged by Warwickshire Police over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in the town.

Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed there had been a cover-up of details about the alleged rape case by authorities.

Mr Finch, who is the youngest council leader in the country, has urged people to act in a peaceful manner.

He said: While the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right, I am deeply concerned about the risk for these events to be hijacked by agitators who seek to cause disorder and division within our community.

In other towns, we have seen examples of these protests resulting in violence to police and damage to property.

Stand Up To Racism called on its supporters to hold stop the far right counter protests in 10 towns and cities on Saturday, also including Leeds, Newark, Exeter and Cannock.

On Friday night, two people were arrested outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf and two were detained near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.

Police officers form a barrier in front of counter-protesters separating them from the Stand Up to Racism rally in Canary Wharf, London (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Metropolitan Police said: One person protesting against the use of the hotel by asylum seekers has been arrested after a bottle was thrown at officers.

A member of the counter-protest group has been arrested for failing to remove a face covering.

Multiple demonstrations have been held in Epping since July 13, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

Essex Police said the latest protest on Friday passed off peacefully, though one man was arrested after an officer was struck by an object, while another was arrested on suspicion of breaching court bail conditions.

And in Altrincham, a GB News journalist complained to police after she was struck by a placard while attempting to interview anti-racism protesters.

Sophie Reaper, the channels North West reporter, said in a post on X: We went to the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest to offer them the chance to tell their side on GB News  instead I was hit in the head by a metal pole.

A spokesman for GB News confirmed Ms Reaper was fine following the incident and that she had reported the matter to police.
Wembley Stadium authorities said they are investigating allegations that hundreds of Oasis fans were able to sneak into a gig at the venue without a ticket.

The Mancunian rockers recently played a series of dates at the venue as part of their Live 25 tour.

According to The Sun, up to 200 people were asked for 350 each to be sneaked into one of the gigs via a disabled entrance.

Two concertgoers told the paper a large group was able to use a copy of the same ticket to get into the stadium, where they were then handed wristbands giving them access to the VIP area at the front of the stage.

They said two women who allegedly orchestrated the scam told them they had ten groups of 20 waiting.

The bands recent run of concerts at Wembley marked the first time Liam and Noel Gallagher appeared together onstage at the London venue since July 12 2009 (Lucy North/PA)

One of the concertgoers told The Sun: We were given our tickets, which were all the same, and a woman drew a shape on our hands.

We were told to go to the disabled door at entrance M, even though our tickets said entrance F.

We showed our stamped hands to the person on the door, they scanned the tickets, even though we all had the same one, and let us in.

Another member of staff then handed us a golden circle wristband and that was it. There were zero security searches. We just walked straight in.

A spokesperson for Wembley Stadium said in a statement: Entering Wembley Stadium without a ticket is a serious offence and we are investigating these allegations.

If they are substantiated, we will refer our evidence to the police.

Oasis run of concerts at Wembley between July 25 and August 3 was the first time Liam and Noel Gallagher appeared together onstage at the London venue since July 12 2009, when they performed during the Dig Out Your Soul tour.

The band are playing at Edinburghs Murrayfield Stadium this weekend, followed by Dublins Croke Park.

The group will head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later in the year.

Oasis announced their reunion tour in August last year, 16 years after their dramatic split in 2009, which saw Noel quit following a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.
A woman wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt has been arrested at an anti-racism protest in Belfast city centre.

It comes after the British Government in July made expressing support for or being a member of Palestine Action a criminal offence under terrorism legislation.

In London, about 365 people were arrested for supporting the banned group after protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll (Claudia Savage/PA)

In Belfast, videos shared online show a woman wearing a Palestine Action T-shirt being told by police officers she was being arrested on suspicion of possessing an article, namely a sign or T-shirt, that indicates support for Palestine Action.

Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International UK, Patrick Corrigan, said the protesters arrest was outrageous.

Peaceful protest is a basic human right, he said.

Many people are justifiably angered by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are concerned about UK complicity. Under international human rights law, they have every right to voice their concerns.

The individual who joined a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast was not promoting violence, and it is wholly disproportionate for the PSNI to treat her as a terrorist.

UK terrorism laws pose a serious risk to free expression. Rather than targeting peaceful protesters, the Government should be taking swift and decisive measures to end Israels genocide.

Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll condemned police action against pro-Palestine activists.

He called on Executive ministers to speak up for the right to protest and dismiss any charges people may face.

The whole world can see the mass starvation and daily executions carried out by Israel, yet the people being harassed in Belfast are those who stand up for Palestine, Mr Carroll said.

On the same day we saw far-right protesters with offensive and provocative signage, including pro-Israel items, the police took it upon themselves to arrest activists for having the temerity to wear items of clothing in solidarity action.

The British Government implemented a regressive clampdown with their vote to proscribe Palestine Action, without a single vote being cast in the local Assembly.

Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan said the British Government and PSNIs actions were disgraceful.

While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out, he said.

Just yesterday, (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City.

Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage.

Like all previous censorship attempts by the British Government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail.

Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israels policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain.

The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
Kolsum Akbari went on 22-year killing spree

A woman who poisoned 11 husbands to death over a 22-year period is facing execution in Iran.

Kolsum Akbari, 56, systematically married elderly men before murdering them with diabetes drugs and industrial alcohol to inherit their property and dowries.

The killings went undetected for more than two decades due to victims appearing to die of natural causes because of their advanced age and existing health conditions.

Akbari confessed to the killings and she is awaiting sentencing, with victims family members calling for her execution.

The killings began in 2000 and continued until 2023, when the death of her final victim, 82-year-old Gholamreza Babaei, led to her arrest.

Babaeis son became suspicious after a family friend revealed his own father had previously been married to a woman named Kolsum who had tried to poison him.

The family recognised her as Babaeis most recent wife and contacted police.

During interrogation, Akbari confessed to the murders, though she gave conflicting accounts as to the number of victims.

I dont know how many I killed. Maybe it was 13 or 15 people. I dont remember exactly, she said.

Credit: IRNA

Akbari first married at the age of 18 in what relatives described as a brief and unsuccessful union with a man suffering from mental health problems.

Her second marriage was to a much older man with children from a previous marriage. She lived with him in a northern village for years while reportedly suffering repeated beatings from her husband and stepsons.

After his death, Akbari would attend womens gatherings and express interest in marrying elderly, lonely men.

She would gain access to potential victims through their daughters acquaintances and after confirming their financial status, she would agree to marriage with high dowries.

She then gradually poisoned victims with combinations of blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, sedatives and in some cases industrial alcohol.

When drugs alone proved insufficient, she would suffocate victims with pillows and towels.

The murders happened across multiple cities in northern Mazandaran province, including Sari, Neka, Mahmoudabad, Babol and Qaemshahr.

Geographic distribution

The geographic distribution helped prevent authorities from connecting the deaths for years.

Among the confirmed victims were Mirahmad Omrani, 69, who died a month after their marriage in 2013, Esmail Bakhshi, 62, who died two months after their 2016 wedding, and Ganjali Hamzei, 83, who died 43 days after marrying.

One man, Masih Nemati, survived Akbaris poisoning attempt in 2020 after drinking contaminated syrup.

He expelled her from his home but did not file a police complaint.

At Wednesdays hearing in the Sari revolutionary court, families of four victims demanded Akbaris execution under Islamic law.

The case involves more than 45 plaintiffs, including direct heirs and relatives of dead family members.

Akbari initially denied the charges but confessed to the killings when crime scene reconstruction footage was played in court.

Her lawyer argued for a mental health evaluation, but plaintiffs rejected the claim.

Property and dowries

Such a skilful plan that deceived many prominent families cannot be the work of an insane person, one family member said, mentioning the sophisticated drug combinations and careful planning involved.

The indictment includes 11 counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder.

Akbari typically transferred inherited property and dowries to her daughters name, prosecutors said.

The case has become a cultural phenomenon in Iran, spawning jokes among couples and inspiring a popular state television series that aired during Persian New Year holidays to name a character after her.

While the show did not explicitly reference Akbari, Iranian audiences understood the connection and generated additional satirical content about the case.

Victims families expressed frustration that the case has become fodder for social media jokes.

This incident was difficult and terrifying for us because the victims of this crime were our fathers, a family member of one victim said. Now instead of witnessing swift justice and a thorough investigation of this case, we are seeing jokes that deepen our grief.

The court will deliver its verdict after hearing from all plaintiffs in the case.

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 massive Southern California wildfire has now reached "megafire" status after becoming the state's largest inferno of 2025.

Fueled by near-triple-digit heat, bone-dry conditions and inaccessible terrain, the Gifford Fire has exploded in size since igniting along Highway 166 one week ago. It has burned more than 104,000 acres, larger than the city of Atlanta, and is only 21% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The National Weather Service warned that wildfire risk could intensify through the weekend as conditions worsen. Inland temperatures are expected to soar above 100 degrees, especially in the Sacramento Valley.

We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity, Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. Capt. Scott Safechuck told the Associated Press. So we expect extreme fire behavior.

(MORE: Largest Wildfire In Decades Burns French Homes)

More than 870 remote homes and other structures near the northern edge of Los Padres National Forest remain under threat as flames race through rugged canyons, ranches, and forestland.

On Thursday, evacuation orders were expanded westward, bringing the total evacuation zone to 800 square miles across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

The Gifford Fire has already overtaken Julys Madre Fire, which was previously the states largest of the year. The blaze began as at least four smaller fires along State Route 166 before merging into one inferno that has forced road closures and choked parts of southwest California with thick smoke.

More than 2,200 personnel are battling the fire, which remains difficult to access due to steep terrain and remote locations.

Winds are expected to stay relatively calm, offering some hope for containment, but fire officials say conditions remain extremely volatile.

(MORE: Cloudburst Blamed For Village's Destruction)

Residents near the evacuation zones are urged to stay alert, monitor official updates, and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change. Additional evacuation orders are possible if the fire continues to move.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.
Kristin Noel David, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Idaho, vanished on a sunny summer day in 1981 while bicycling along a quiet stretch of Idaho highway.

Nine days later, her dismembered remains were discovered in plastic bags floating in the Snake River, wrapped in newspaper pages and scattered across the current.

More than four decades later, questions remain about whether the aspiring journalist was the victim of a serial killer.

Bryan Kohberger Pleaded Guilty To Idaho Student Murders, But These Key Questions Remain Unanswered

The 22-year-old was a senior at the University of Idaho, pursuing a double major in broadcast journalism and political science. She disappeared June 26, 1981.

David was last seen alive June 26, 1981, pedaling her blue 10-speed bicycle from Moscow to Lewiston, Idaho, along U.S. Highway 95. She had planned to visit friends and reconnect with former professors, the FBI said.

According to the FBI bulletin on the case, multiple witnesses that day reported seeing a woman matching Davids description being approached by a man in a brown van just south of Genesee, Idaho.

Read On The Fox News App

Her body was found July 4, 1981, in the Snake River, about 6 miles west of Clarkston, Washington.

Her remains had been dismembered, placed in black plastic trash bags and wrapped in pages from The Lewiston Morning Tribune dated April 7, 17, 19 and 24 of that year.

Mysteriously, her right leg was missing, as was her bicycle and clothing.

The South Fork of the Snake River flows through scenic canyons of southeastern Idaho and is accessible from U.S. Highway 26.

The popular true-crime podcast "Crime Junkie" revisited the case in a July 2025 episode, "Serial Killer: The LewisClark Valley Murders."

Host Ashley Flowers emphasized the bizarre detail of the newspaper wrapping.

"Each body part was wrapped in newspapers, and they realized that the newspapers were from four different issues of the Lewiston Morning Tribune  not just one random paper," Flowers said.

Suspected Serial Killer May Have Abducted News Anchor Who Vanished 30 Years Ago: Doc

"That takes forethought," she said. "Kristins case has always been the outlier because of how this young woman was found. Dismembered and in garbage bags floating in the Snake River.

"I think she very well could be a victim of a serial killer  just not that one."

On July 4, 1981, dismembered body parts began washing up about 6 miles west of Clarkston, Washington, in and along the Snake River.

Kristins killing has long been compared to the unsolved LewisClark Valley murders, which include the disappearances of Christina White in 1979 and the 1982 deaths of Kristina Nelson, Brandy Miller and Steven Pearsall.

All were young victims who vanished in the same region within a few years.

But Kristins case is different.

"Shes never fit neatly into the LewisClark Valley cluster," said "Crime Junkie" co-host Brit Prawat. "This could have been someone else entirely."

Brian C. Stewart, an Idaho trial attorney at Parker & McConkie, told Fox News Digital investigators would need to look for "consistent signatures" to tie David's murder to the Lewis-Clark Valley murders.

"To connect these cases, investigators look for consistent signatures  behavioral patterns, methods of abduction, victim profiles and disposal techniques," he said. "Here, youre talking about a relatively small region and a tight time window. When young people keep disappearing or turning up dead under unusual circumstances, you have to ask whether theres a common perpetrator."

READ THE FBI BULLETIN  APP USERS, Click Here

According to the FBIs official missing persons bulletin, the main suspect was described as a White male, about 30 years old, 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds with a stocky build and a beard.

He was seen driving a "well-kept brown van with yellow license plates and swing-out rear doors."

Authorities also noted he may have changed his appearance after the David's murder.

Paddleboarders Mysterious Killing Rocks Quiet Summer Vacation Area

The same suspect was seen by several witnesses approaching or speaking with other female cyclists or pedestrians the same day David vanished, the FBI said.

Stewart believes modern advances in DNA technology can "breathe life" into murder cases that are 40 years old.

"In the past, investigators had fingerprints and instincts. Today, DNA technology, digital evidence databases and genealogy tracing can breathe life into even the coldest of cases. Evidence that once sat dormant in an evidence locker now has the power to speak. With those tools, even a 40-year-old case like Kristins can still break wide open," he told Fox News Digital.

"Weve seen decades-old cases solved across the country using modern tools. If the right piece of evidence is reanalyzed  or the right person finally comes forward  Kristins case could absolutely be solved."

The seal of the FBI at the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building in Washington, D.C., March 10, 2025.

Despite decades passing, the case remains open. On the 40th anniversary of her death, the FBI Salt Lake City appealed for help.

The FBI believes there are still people from the community who have not come forward with information that could help solve the case.

FBI Salt Lake City Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Zach Schoffstall said at a June 2021 press conference the case is not considered "cold" and that investigators still need assistance from the public.

"Let me be clear: at this time, Kristins murder is not a cold case. Its not going away, and we are dedicated more than ever to solving it. But we need your help," he said.

"Today, we are renewing our call for the publics assistance. We believe there are members of the community, whether they remain local or not, who havent yet come forward with information that could help solve this case. If you havent talked to law enforcement about what you know, please come forward now," he said. "No tip is too small or insignificant."

Anyone with information is urged to visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI Salt Lake City for comment.





Original article source: College students unsolved murder shines spotlight on serial killer as new theories emerge
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Carlos Gimenez, the lawmaker who fled the Castros' communist regime as a youth, put forward a resolution Friday to boot "Squad" member Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., from the Homeland Security committee for violating her oath of office.

The resolution cites Ramirez's comments in Spanish during an event in Mexico City earlier this week, in which she declared, "I am a proud Guatemalan before I am an American."

"I was born in Cuba and exiled from my homeland shortly after the communist takeover," Gimenez, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital on Friday, just before he filed the bill during the House's brief pro-forma session.

"Everything I am, I owe to this exceptional country of limitless opportunities that paved the way for a Cuban refugee like me to become a firefighter, fire chief, city manager, county commissioner, county mayor, and yes, even a member of Congress."

Lone Cuban-born Rep Amped Up To See Nation Liberated, After Emotional Return 64 Years In The Making

Rep. Carlos Gimenez and Rep. Delia Ramirez.

"Only in America," said Gimenez, who is the only Cuban-born member of Congress.

Read On The Fox News App

While an immigrant himself, Gimenez said that when a fellow lawmaker "openly declares allegiance to a foreign nation" over the U.S., they lose the right to be in certain positions in the federal government.

"It is not only unacceptable, it is disqualifying for service on a committee tasked with securing our homeland," he said.

Gimenez also serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, chairing its maritime and transportation subcommittee.

Exclusive: Venezuelan Oppo Leader Joins Cuba-born Rep To Laud Trump After Biden's Maduro Oil Deal Canceled

Blowback continued online throughout the week, with actor James Woods quipping, "Well, okay then, Hasta La Vista."

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh added that Ramirez should be arrested.

Ramirez' office directed Fox News Digital to a statement on the blowback the Chicagoan received after her comments south of the border.

The statement said, "Republican commentators" and the social media presence for the Department of Homeland Security wrongly attacked her for "showing pride in her multi-cultural, multi-ethnic heritage."

Ramirez said she is a U.S. citizen by birth and that the attacks over the past days were "a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, White supremacist, authoritarians in government. It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress, who betray their oath each day they enable Trump, are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots."

Ramirez added that "no one questions" her many colleagues who celebrate their Irish ancestry, or others of similar Caucasian descent.

"I am the daughter of immigrants and the daughter of America. I am both Chapina and American. I am from both Guatemala and Chicago, Illinois."

Ramirez later offered a formal response to Fox News Digital, saying she saw Gimenez' effort coming.

"It's not normal, but it's predictable. I am the most progressive member of Congress on the Committee on Homeland Security," Ramirez said.

"I speak out and was the first to call for Noem's resignation for the many ways she is violating our civil rights and undermining the Constitution. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are attacking me because they hate what I stand for: I represent diversity, I fight for equity, and I demand inclusion."

"They will use any opportunity to misconstrue what I said and weaponize it to attack me. I have and will continue to use my voice, my heritage, and my experience to defend everyone in America, our Constitution, and our rights," the Chicago congresswoman concluded.





Original article source: Cuban-born congressman calls for 'Squad' members removal over Guatemalan before American remark
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -A Republican plan to redraw congressional lines in Texas at U.S. President Donald Trump's urging threatens to launch an all-out national redistricting war, with both Republican and Democratic states considering whether to redraw their own maps.

The outcome could determine whether Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November 2026 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a narrow 219-212 majority, with four vacancies.

While redistricting must occur every 10 years to incorporate U.S. Census data, redrawing maps in the middle of the decade has historically been exceedingly rare. Republicans, who control more state governments than Democrats, appear poised to pick up a half-dozen seats or more.

The practice of gerrymandering  drawing district lines to benefit one party over another  has contributed to a decline in the number of competitive House seats. Only about three dozen districts out of 435 are seen as competitive by nonpartisan analysts as of August.

Here is how the process could unfold in Republican-controlled and Democratic-controlled states.

REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATES

TEXAS

Republican legislators have unveiled a map aimed at flipping five Democratic seats. More than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state in early August, denying the state House of Representatives a quorum and preventing a vote on the map, at least for now. Governor Greg Abbott has threatened the absent Democrats with arrest and removal from office, though legal experts have questioned whether those threats can be carried out. Republicans already control 25 of the states 38 seats under a Republican-drawn map from 2021.

OHIO

An unusual state law requires the Republican-dominated legislature to pass a new map for 2026, because the previous one, drawn in 2021, was approved with no Democratic votes. Republicans, who already control 10 of the states 15 seats, could target two or even three Democrats with a new map.

FLORIDA

Republican Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez has called for a select committee to work on congressional redistricting, and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled he would support the effort. A new map could target two or three Democrats. Republicans already control 20 of the states 28 seats, thanks to an aggressive map DeSantis pushed through the legislature in 2021 that flipped four Democratic seats in 2022.

One possible legal hurdle is a constitutional amendment, approved by voters in 2010, that bars the legislature from drawing districts purely for partisan gain. The Florida Supreme Court, which upheld DeSantis 2021 map, is entirely Republican-appointed, and four of the seven justices were nominated by DeSantis.

INDIANA

The White House has pressured Indiana Republicans to consider redistricting. Republicans control seven of the states nine congressional seats and could easily target one Democratic incumbent.

MISSOURI

Republican Governor Mike Kehoe and Republican lawmakers have expressed openness to drawing a new map that would likely target Democratic U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleavers Kansas City-based seat. Flipping his district would give Republicans control of six of the states seven seats.

DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED STATES

CALIFORNIA

Governor Gavin Newsom has vowed to pursue a new congressional map if Texas Republicans follow through on their redistricting plan. Democratic legislators are already considering a map that would seek to flip five Republican seats while shoring up vulnerable Democratic incumbents. Democrats currently control 43 of the states 52 districts.

A new map would require Democrats to pull off a complicated legal two-step. California uses an independent commission to draw congressional lines. Newsom has said he would call for a special election in November asking voters to give lawmakers the power to draw maps until the commission takes over again following the 2030 U.S. Census. There are no statewide elections in California this year, which could make turnout a wild card.

ILLINOIS

Democratic Governor JB Pritzker has suggested his party would consider redrawing its congressional districts in response to Texas. But Illinois already has what is considered one of the most gerrymandered maps in the country, with Democrats controlling 14 of the states 17 seats. Flipping even one Republican seat could prove challenging.

MARYLAND

The Democratic majority leader of the state House, David Moon, has introduced legislation to re-open congressional redistricting if any other state  such as Texas  does so. Democrats already control seven of the states eight districts, so any new map could at best flip a single seat. Redistricting could also face legal hurdles: the party attempted to install an 8-0 map in 2022, but a state judge struck it down as unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

NEW YORK

Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has vowed to pursue redistricting if Texas approves a new map, but legal constraints likely make that impossible until 2028. Voters would have to approve a constitutional amendment to permit mid-decade redistricting, and under state law such an amendment cannot be put on the ballot before 2027. Democrats hold 19 of the states 26 seats after a more aggressive gerrymander in 2022 was blocked by the courts.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax, additional reporting by Andy Sullivan: Editing by Scott Malone and Nia Williams)
A bullet hole is visible in the door of a CVS pharmacy on Saturday, August 9, 2025, near where police say a man was shooting at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

ATLANTA (AP)  A Georgia man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The 30-year-old shooter also tried to get into the CDCs headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire late Friday afternoon, the official said. He was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.

DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whose skepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees Saturday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign.

CDC shooter identified

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White as the shooter, but authorities haven't said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.

The suspects father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told AP. The father said his son had been upset over the death of the sons dog, and he had also become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. The family lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of CDC headquarters.

A voicemail left at a phone number listed publicly for Whites family wasnt returned Saturday.

Employees at the CDC are shaken

The shooting left gaping bullet holes in windows across the CDC campus, where thousands work on critical disease research. Employees huddled under lockdown for hours while investigators gathered evidence. Staff was encouraged to work from home Monday or take leave.

At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X.

Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said outside the CVS pharmacy on Saturday that gun violence feels like a fact of life now. This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia.

Kennedy reaches out to staff

We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose, Kennedy said Saturday. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.

Some rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a Dear colleagues email, and called for his resignation.

Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainization of CDCs workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fueled a climate of hostility and mistrust, said Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off employees opposing changes to the CDC by President Donald Trump's administration.

Under Kennedy, CDC has laid off nearly 2,000 employees. Trump proposes cutting the agencys budget in half next year, moving some CDC functions into a new Administration for a Healthy America. Kennedy has a history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, but he reached new prominence by spreading distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. For example, he called it criminal medical malpractice to give COVID-19 vaccines to children.

Kennedy parlayed that attention into a presidential bid and endorsement of Trump, leading to Trump naming him secretary. Kennedy continues to undercut the scientific consensus for vaccines, ordering $500 million cut from vaccine development funding on Tuesday.

Opponents say officials' rhetoric contributed

Fired But Fighting also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, noting a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government.

We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected, Vought said in the video, obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.

A request for comment from Voughts agency wasn't returned.

This shooting was the physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers, said Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during a wave of terminations.

A distrust of COVID-19 vaccines

A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.

Nancy Hoalst, who lives on the same street as Whites family, said he seemed like a "good guy while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbors, but he would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations.

He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people. Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper. He emphatically believed that.

But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent: I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC.

Slain officer leaves wife and 3 kids

Rose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, graduated from the police academy in March and quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism, DeKalb County said.

This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.

Growing security concerns

Senior CDC leadership told some staff Saturday that they would do a full security assessment following the shooting, according to a conference call recording obtained by the AP.

One staffer said people felt like sitting ducks Friday. Another asked whether administrators had spoken with Kennedy and if they could speak to the misinformation, the disinformation that caused this issue.

It is clear CDC leaders fear employees could continue to be targeted. In a Saturday email obtained by the AP, CDC's security office asked employees to scrape old CDC parking decals off their vehicles. The office said decals havent been required for some time.

___

Richer reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre contributed from Albany, New York.
The DeKalb County Police Department identified the officer killed Friday while responding to a gunman near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia,

Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed while responding to the shooting at the CDC campus, which prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby Emory University. The suspected gunman, who has not yet been identified, was also killed.

Rose was rushed to Emory University Hospital on Clifton Road, where he died from his injuries.

He began working for the police department last September, the agency said, and is survived by his pregnant wife and two children.

Police Officer Killed After Shooting Near Cdc Headquarters, Emory University In Atlanta

"He was committed to serving the community," Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick said in a statement. "At this time were asking for the communitys prayers for his family, his friends, his loved ones and the entire DeKalb County Police Department family."

Read On The Fox News App

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said his family is "mourning today's tragic loss of Officer David Rose."

"His service and memory will not be forgotten by a grateful state, and his loved ones and fellow @DeKalbCountyPD officers will remain in our hearts and prayers as they grieve his passing and this painful day," Kemp wrote on X.

Army Secretary Hails 'Heroism' Of Soldiers Who Tackled Alleged Fort Stewart Shooter: 'Absolutely Saved Lives'

The incident unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. when a man opened fire in front of the CDC campus, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. When officers responded to the location, they found Rose critically wounded and heard additional gunfire coming from a nearby CVS pharmacy.

Officers entered the pharmacy and located the shooter on the second floor with at least one gunshot wound. Schierbaum said it was not clear if the wound came from police gunfire or if it was self-inflicted.

"I want to commend the men and women of law enforcement from all across this region," Schierbaum said. "When this community needed them, no one shirked from the danger. Every officer, from multiple districts, responded and immediately moved to end this threat."

Police officers stand outside the emergency room at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

CDC Director Susan Monarez said the agency was "heartbroken" over Friday's deadly events.

"A courageous local law enforcement officer gave their life, and another was injured, after a gunman opened fire on at least four CDC buildings," she said in a statement. "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community."

A police officer arrives at the scene of a shooting near Emory University in Atlanta.

Federal and state officials said they were horrified by the shooting and expressed appreciation for law enforcement's swift response. Among those sharing statements about the tragic incident was U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

"I am mourning the tragic death of the officer who was killed in the line of duty today, and I am praying for the officers family and friends. Atlanta law enforcement saved countless lives, and we are grateful for their service," Warnock said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) is leading the investigation into the shooting and the FBI's Atlanta office said it will assist.

Fox News' Alexandra Koch, Sophia Compton and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.





Original article source: Georgia officer killed while responding to shooting near CDC headquarters identified: 'Committed to serving'
German Shepherd Puppys Huge Floppy Ears Are Too Cute to Resist originally appeared on PetHelpful.

Meet Maverick, an adorable German Shepherd puppy with big floppy ears that people are swooning over. His pawrents shared a video that showcases his cute ears and people can't get enough of the cuteness!

Maverick's video is short - it's only about 12 seconds long - but it's full of cuteness. His humans said in the video's caption, "The ears are up, floppy, and preparing for takeoff Im 13.5 weeks old and couldn't be more adorable!" We couldn't agree more!

Now we all want a Maverick! The pup's video quickly went viral and has more than 4 million views, half a million likes, and thousands of comments about the cuteness.

@Maddy the Shih-Tzu got 14.2 thousand likes when she said simply, "THE EARS!!!!!!" @katcv2 said what we were all thinking, "Im obsessed with those ears!" @EMILY agreed adding, "We are looking at an absolute blessing from God!" Another commenter swooned, "Way too cute, should be illegal to be that cute. I just want to SQUEEZE him!"

Related: Unique German Shepherd Who Looks Like a 'Disney Dog' Is Breaking the Internet

Why Do Puppies Tilt Their Heads?

Commenter @Chef Reese shared, "Ohhhhh the ears and the head tilts! SO CUTE!" Of course, the ears were much more noticeable because of the adorable head tilts, which made us wonder why puppies always tilt their heads.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains why both puppies and adult dogs do this. Los Angeles-based certified applied animal behaviorist Jill Goldman thinks it happens for a variety of reason, including our frequencies and inflections when we speak to them. "The dog may be listening for the high-pitched baby talk we often use when were happy with them. I do believe it is to get refinement on what is being said, rather than where it is coming from, says Goldman. The dog is probably trying to gather or focus on the information."

The article goes on to say, "This fascinating and heartwarming canine behavior may not be as simple as it seems. Goldman explains that because vision, hearing, and learning may all be involved and even work together, more research needs to be done to tease out what exactly is going on. In particular, she wonders what happens when were not in the room. How often does it happen when we dont see it? Does it ever happen without an auditory cue? And do dogs do it to one another?

No matter why dogs tilt their heads, it provides a way for humans and dogs to bond. After all, weve been known to head tilt, too."

German Shepherd Puppys Huge Floppy Ears Are Too Cute to Resist first appeared on PetHelpful on Aug 9, 2025

This story was originally reported by PetHelpful on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Alamy ; Bettmann/Getty Gary Ridgway ; Ted Bundy.





NEED TO KNOW

The Green River Killer is one of the most prolific mass murderers in U.S. history, who killed women in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and '90s

Another serial killer, Ted Bundy, offered to help investigators catch the Green River Killer after authorities couldn't identify him

The surprising collaboration is the subject of the new Hulu documentary, Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil





For nearly two decades, the Green River Killer claimed numerous lives in Washington state, evading authorities  until Ted Bundy teamed up with the authorities to catch him.

A serial killer assisting law enforcement in capturing another mass murderer is the plot of The Silence of the Lambs but it happened in real life, too. The unusual partnership is the subject of the new Hulu documentary, Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil, out on Aug. 7.

It features excerpts from the 1995 book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, written by Bob Keppel, who helped catch Bundy. The documentary showcases how Keppel worked with the lead detective on the Green River Killer case, Dave Reichert, as Bundy's killer instincts guided them.

Bundy reached out to investigators, offering insight into how the Green River Killer thought. The two men were both murderers, and they both targeted victims in the same area, in the Pacific Northwest; Bundy in the 1970s, and the Green River Killer in the '80s and '90s.

So who was the Green River Killer, and why did Ted Bundy offer to help capture him? Here's what to know about the Green River Killer, including why he was called that and whether he was ever convicted of his crimes.

Who was the Green River Killer?

King County Prosecutor's Office via Getty Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on November 5, 2003 in Seattle, Washington

The Green River Killer's real name is Gary Ridgway, who was born on Feb. 18, 1949, in Salt Lake City and raised in Seattle.

After graduating from high school in 1969, Ridgway enlisted in the Navy, where he served on a supply ship in Vietnam, according to Military.com. Ridgway was later discharged and returned to Seattle.

There, he was a truck painter for 30 years, until his arrest in 2001.

Why was he called the Green River Killer?

Andrew Parsons - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Walton Bridge

The serial killer became known as the Green River Killer because his first victims were found along the Green River, located outside of Seattle.

On July 15, 1982, the body of 16-year-old Wendy Lee Coffield was discovered floating in the Green River, per King 5 News. "She was found naked with a pair of blue jeans tied around her neck. This was obviously not the victim of an accidental drowning," according to Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil.

Over the next month, five more bodies were found along a one-mile stretch of the river, leading authorities to create the Green River Task Force, per the FBI website. The task force's mission was to scour the area for additional clues that could help reveal the identity of the killer.

One of their first findings was the fact that Gisele A. Lovvorn, Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Cynthia Jean Hinds and Opal Charmaine Mills were sex workers. They had all been strangled.

"The crew that went into the Green River, they were tripping over the bodies. That's how he got the name, the Green River Killer," The Riverman co-author William J. Birnes said in the Hulu documentary.

The Green River Task Force expanded into a bigger team in 1984 as bodies continued to be discovered.

How many women did the Green River Killer murder?

King County Sheriff's Department, via AP; King County Sheriff's Department/Facebook Gary Ridgway and a victim.

Ridgway was convicted of murdering 49 women and teen girls, but he has confessed to killing at least 71, and investigators believe the number could be closer to 100  making him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.

The King County website lists the names of the confirmed deaths linked to the Green River Killer, including a few women whose identities have still not been established.

Ridgway later admitted in a courtroom statement that he targeted prostitutes because he "knew they would not be reported missing" right away.

"I picked prostitutes as victims because they were easy to pick up without being noticed," he explained, The New York Times reported. "I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I wanted without getting caught."

Why did Ted Bundy want the Green River Killer caught?

Bettmann/Getty; Elaine Thompson-Pool/Getty Ted Bundy. ; Gary Ridway

One of the detectives who was trying to catch the Green River Killer was lead Dave Reichert, who said he was "surprised" when Bundy  who was on death row  sent a letter, offering his help.

"He made it very clear what his purpose was in his letter. What he wanted to do, according to his description, was to get us into the mind of a serial killer," Reichert told Fox News in June 2022.

He thought Bundy was "just injecting himself into the situation, trying to find out as much as he could about the case."

Reichert reasoned that Bundy was eager to offer his services because he wanted to be known as the "number one notorious serial killer in the United States."

"I think he was jealous that the Green River killer was grabbing all the headlines at the time," the detective continued. "Ted Bundy was in prison, so he was sort of a forgotten entity."

Did Ted Bundy help catch the Green River Killer?

 Seattle Times/KRT/ABACA/Alamy Gary Leon Ridgway in a November 2001 police mug shot from King County, Washington Sheriff's office.

In 1984, Keppel and Reichert teamed up when the latter reached out to the then-chief criminal investigator, knowing Keppel had helped capture Bundy, per Dialogue with the Devil. That November, Keppel and Reichert met with Bundy at the Florida State Prison, where he was being held.

The conversations with Bundy didn't directly lead to the Green River Killer's arrest, but helped detectives place themselves in the mind of the murderer. Bundy's observations provided insight into what Ridgway was doing with the bodies.

Bundy suggested that the Green River Killer may have been returning to the victim's bodies and performing sexual acts on them, which turned out to be true. As Keppel wrote in The Riverman, Bundy also suggested that the police stake out one of the body burial sites to catch the killer if he returned to the scene.

"Ted Bundy was more accurate in profiling this serial killer than the police were," Birnes said in Dialogue with the Devil. "He was right all along the lines. Where to find the victims, and why he attacked the victims."

How was the Green River Killer caught?

Josh Trujillo-Pool/Getty Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer on December 18, 2003 in Seattle, Washington

The Green River Killer was caught using DNA evidence. Even though Ridgway had been a suspect since the beginning of the investigation in the '80s, he was not linked to he murders until decades later.

Evidence was seized from Ridgway's house and cars in 1987 and retested in 2001, when authorities got a match. (An investigation by NBC News in 2024 discovered that spots of industrial spray paint were found on Ridgway's early victims that could have pointed to him much sooner.)

In late 2001, Ridgway was taken into custody in connection with the Green River killings. The New York Times reported that he was linked to three deaths and a suspect in four more. Two years later, the former painter was charged with all seven murders.

Where is the Green River Killer now?

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Gary Ridgway who is known as the Green River Killer

By November 2003, Ridgway agreed to plead guilty to 48 murders of aggravated murder in the first degree, per the King County website. He accepted a plea agreement that would spare him the death penalty, per The New York Times. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole, the outlet reported.

"I'm sorry for killing these ladies," he said. "They had their whole lives ahead of them. ... May they rest in peace. They need a better place than where I gave them."

Less than a decade later, in February 2011, a 49th life sentence was added to Ridgway's conviction. As part of his plea agreement, Ridgway confessed to killing 20-year-old Rebecca Marrero, whose body was eventually found, according to KGW.

Today, the Green River Killer is incarcerated in the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Wash. Per Seattle's KOMO News, in September 2024, Ridgway was briefly transferred to the King County Jail to help detectives with an ongoing investigation related to additional victims. He was then brought back to the Washington State Penitentiary.

Read the original article on People
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip attend a rally demanding their release from Hamas captivity and calling for an end to the war, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  International condemnation grew Saturday over Israel's decision for a military takeover of Gaza City, while tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in what local media called one of the largest anti-government protests in recent months following 22 months of war.

Ceasefire efforts appeared to be reviving with Israels announcement. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to meet with Qatars prime minister in Spain on Saturday to discuss a new proposal to end the war, according to two officials familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak with the media.

Mediators Egypt and Qatar are preparing a new ceasefire framework that would include the release of all hostages  dead and alive  in one go in return for the wars end and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, two Arab officials have told The Associated Press.

Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead Saturday and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave.

Shut the country down

Hostages' families pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government amid new fears for the 50 remaining hostages, with 20 of them thought to be alive and struggling.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza, called on Israelis including the powerful Histadrut labor union to help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel and appeared to call for a general strike: Shut the country down.

A joint statement by nine countries including Germany, Britain, France and Canada said that they strongly reject Israel's decision for the large-scale military operation, saying it will worsen the catastrophic humanitarian situation," endanger hostages and further risk mass displacement. They said any attempts at annexation or settlement in Gaza violate international law.

A separate statement by more than 20 countries including ceasefire mediators Egypt and Qatar along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates called Israel's decision a dangerous and unacceptable escalation. Meanwhile, Russia said Israel's plan will aggravate the already extremely dramatic situation in Gaza.

The U.N. Security Council planned an emergency meeting Sunday.

Killed while seeking aid

Officials at Nasser and Awda hospitals said that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people seeking aid in southern and central Gaza. Some had been waiting for aid trucks, while others had approached aid distribution points.

Israels military denied opening fire and said that it was unaware of the incidents. The military secures routes leading to distribution sites run by the Israeli-backed and U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two witnesses told the AP that Israeli troops fired toward crowds approaching a GHF distribution site on foot in the Netzarim corridor, a military zone that bisects Gaza. One witness, Ramadan Gaber, said that snipers and tanks fired on aid-seekers, forcing them to retreat.

In the north, Israeli fire killed at least nine and wounded over 200 as people sought aid entering Gaza through the Zikim crossing, said Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministrys ambulance and emergency service in the area. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

In Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, some aid-seekers cheered the latest airdrops of aid. Hundreds of people rushed to grab what they could. Aid organizations have called airdrops expensive, insufficient and potentially dangerous for people on the ground.

Israel's military said that at least 106 packages of aid were airdropped Saturday as Italy and Greece joined the effort for the first time. Footage from Italy's defense ministry showed packages parachuted over Gaza's dry and devastated landscape.

Barefoot children collected rice, pasta and lentils that spilled from packages onto the ground.

This way is not for humans, it is for animals, said one man, Mahmoud Hawila, who said he was stabbed while trying to secure an airdropped package.

Israel alleges, without giving evidence, that Hamas systematically diverts aid from the existing U.N.-led system, which denies it. That system has called for more of the trucks waiting outside Gaza to be allowed not just into the territory, but safely to destinations inside it for distribution.

With temperatures reaching above 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) in Gaza, families fanned themselves with pieces of cardboard or metal trays and slept on the ground outside their tents, while some women collected water well before dawn.

My children cry day and night. My son scratches his body because of the heat, said Nida Abu Hamad, whose displaced family shelters in Gaza City.

More deaths from hunger

Gaza's Health Ministry said the new adult deaths from malnutrition-related causes over the past 24 hours brought the total to 114 since it began counting such deaths in June. It said that 98 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.

Israel is forcing Palestinians into a state of near-starvation to the point that they abandon their land voluntarily," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference in Egypt.

The toll from hunger isn't included in the ministry's death toll of 61,300 Palestinians in the war. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, doesn't distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and children. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties.

Israel disputes the ministry's figures, but hasn't provided its own.

___

Metz reported from Jerusalem and Magdy from Cairo. Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Matthew Lee in Washington, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
A Texas district judge on Friday temporarily barred former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and his political group from helping to fund the Democratic legislators who have left the state to prevent Republicans from pressing forward with a redistricting plan aimed at expanding the GOP's narrow majority in the U.S. House.

The ruling is a victory, albeit potentially a temporary one, for Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sought the temporary restraining order accusing O'Rourke and his group of a bribery scheme, accusations the Democrat has vigorously denied. And it could deal a significant financial blow to the state Democratic lawmakers, who are facing financial penalties and other costs related to their "quorum break."

Tarrant County District Court Judge Megan Fahey, who was appointed in 2019 by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and has since won re-election (Texas elects its judges), wrote in Friday's order that she believes O'Rourke and his group "have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds" that either violates or causes the Democrats to violate state law and House rules.

Evoking the almost 200-year-old Texas refrain "Come and Take It," Paxton celebrated the ruling in a statement.

"Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to come and take it, so I did,'" said Paxton, who is challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for his Senate seat in next year's GOP primary.

O'Rourke, who said earlier he would sue Paxton in state court, denounced the judge's decision in a statement, arguing that the attorney general is going after his group "because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections  the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas."

"He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trumps attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But Im not going anywhere," he added.

O'Rourke has been a vocal ally of the more than 50 Democrats who have refused to show up to the Capitol in Austin this week in a bid to deny Republicans the minimum number of lawmakers required to move forward with legislative business, what's known as "quorum."

Democrats have framed their actions as a last resort, but a necessary one because they believe Republicans, by aiming to push through a rare mid-decade redistricting that could allow Republicans to net up to five more seats in next year's midterm elections, are acting unconstitutionally.

Republicans like Paxton and Abbott however, are turning the screws on the Democrats with a flurry of legal filings aiming to boot the lawmakers from office, disrupt their funding streams, grant Texas law enforcement the ability to track them down in other states and otherwise complicate their ability to manage their legislative offices from outside of the state.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - Southwest Ohio residents are expressing outrage at local leadership after a viral street fight in their backyard that captured the nations attention. One resident, a local political activist, told Fox News Digital a "Democrat monopoly" is partially to blame.

The Saturday night violence in downtown Cincinnati on July 26, which left a woman knocked unconscious on the street at the hands of a male assailant, was the result of a city that wasnt "prepared" due to political ideology, Price Hill native Adam Koehler told Fox News Digital. He added that the response to the fight was "not leadership."

"Leadership comes out and says, 'Hey, we've got a problem. Here's my solution to fix it,'" Koehler said. "But instead, they want to be cowardly and hide the fact that crime is actually happening."

Cincinnati's mayor and other local officials have faced heated criticism in recent days over the perception they are not taking crime seriously. One elected Democrat, Councilwoman Victoria Parks, posted on social media saying that the victims of the fight "begged for that beatdown."

Cincinnati Man Who Lost Eye In Unsolved Random Beating Says Crime 'Out Of Control' After Brutal Viral Assault

Fox News Digital spoke to Cincinnati resident Adam Koehler about crime in the city.

"This is a Democrat monopoly they've got here," Koehler, an entrepreneur and former candidate for Hamilton County commissioner, told Fox News Digital. "So, I mean they can just pretty much do whatever they want. And a lot of that kind of rhetoric is excused, right? It's, you know, past injustices and you know now I feel like I can say whatever I want and it's excused. And luckily there are some city council members that denounced the words that Victoria Parks said, which is great, but you've got other people that just want to stoke the flames."

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Holly, the woman brutally knocked out and bruised in the attack, told Fox News this week she is yet to receive a phone call from the mayor or top officials "just apologizing for what happened and for letting these thugs and criminals run the streets when they should have been in jail to begin with."

Koehler told Fox News Digital that Democrats running the city "have an agenda" and "want to look a certain way" and "ignore the problem."

"It's a lot of these ideologies that come out of the universities, right?" Koehler said. "Every generation thinks they figured something out about crime and they're soft-hearted people, they wanted to do things, but, you know, policies like what Giuliani did in New York, those kind of things work."

Cincinnati Police Chief Says Out Of 100 People Watching And Recording Violent Attack, Only 1 Called 911

(L-R) Jermaine Matthews, Dominique Kittle, DeKyra Vernon, Montianez Merriweather and Patrick Rosemond are facing various charges for their alleged roles in the viral beatdown in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 26, 2025.

Koehler, who was speaking to Fox News Digital outside a GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy town hall even t on Cincinnatis west side, said figures like Ramaswamy, Sen. Bernie Moreno, and Ohio native VP JD Vance are reasons to be optimistic about addressing the crime spike downtown.

"Those guys got power," Koehler said. "I mean you start throwing the DOJ down here and start investigating some of the things that are happening, why wasn't there more police there?"

Koehler added, "I mean there's a lot of grifting that goes on whenever you have a one-party monopoly in any city. Obviously, you're gonna have corruption. And it's just, it's festered here, and it's culminated in what you see."

Sen. Bernie Moreno speaks at a press conference alongside Holly, a victim in the viral July 26 brawl in Cincinnati, at the Fraternal Order of Police headquarters in Ohio on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.

Moreno said this week he is introducing "Hollys Act," a move aimed at ending what he calls the justice systems revolving door for repeat offenders.

"Lets be honest, because a lot of times you guys are qualifying this as a brawl," Moreno told reporters. "This was attempted murder of an innocent woman. And that person had a rap sheet a mile long. Nobody who has that rap sheet should be walking the streets of any Ohio city free."

Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita and Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.





Original article source: Local entrepreneur sounds alarm on local leaders over viral street attack: 'Democrat monopoly'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) doubled down on her characterization of Israels war in Gaza as a genocide on Thursday and slammed AIPAC after the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group criticized her in a fundraising email.

In an appearance on One America News Network on a show hosted by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), the Georgia Republican said AIPAC should have to register as a foreign lobbyist. She also posted to social media a photo of a sign on her office door reading no foreign lobbying.

Israel is not hurting, and theyve already proven that they are more than capable of not only defending themselves, but annihilating their enemies to the point of genocide, Greene told Gaetz. And thats whats happening in Gaza.

A fundraising email sent by AIPAC Thursday, first reported by Al-Jazeera, characterized the GOP firebrand as anti-Israel.

You expect anti-Israel smears from [Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)] and [Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)], the group wrote, referring to two progressive Muslim lawmakers. But now, Marjorie Taylor Greene has joined their ranks  spouting the same vile rhetoric and voting against the US-Israel alliance.

AIPAC donates to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and sponsors yearly trips to Israel for lawmakers. One trip over the August recess included House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Anti-Israel extremists  of the right or the left  will not deter us in our participation in the democratic process to stand with Israel, the group said in a statement to The Hill. It is an outrageous betrayal of American values and interests to abandon an ally fighting terrorist aggression.

Greene has frequently broken with her party over Israel and has been perhaps the most prominent Republican to characterize the war in Gaza as a genocide, a flashpoint amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Georgia Republican recently sponsored several resolutions to block military aid to Israel. In 2024, she opposed a bill to codify certain definitions of antisemitism over the inclusion of the statement that Jews killed Jesus, which she claimed is biblically supported.

On the Democratic side, lawmakers have increasingly turned to criticize Israel in recent weeks as widespread hunger, malnutrition and starvation in Gaza have become more apparent, documented by press reports and international aid groups.

Greene, however, has been largely alone among Republicans looking to criticize the Israeli government.

The reason why AIPAC is attacking me is because I dared to tell the truth, Greene said on Gaetzs show.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A person prays, ahead of a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the WWII U.S. atomic bombing at Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park in Nagasaki, western Japan Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

NAGASAKI, Japan (AP)  The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the U.S. atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb.

The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on Aug. 9, 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, ending World War II and the nearly half-century of aggression by the country across Asia.

About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang.

Even after the war ended, the atomic bomb brought invisible terror, 93-year-old survivor Hiroshi Nishioka said in his speech at the memorial, noting that many who had survived without severe wounds started bleeding from gums and losing hair and died.

Never use nuclear weapons again, or were finished, he said.

Doves released

Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack. He said that the citys memories of the bombing are a common heritage and should be passed down for generations in and outside Japan.

The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth, Suzuki said. In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.

A world without war

Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocenter Park, located below the bombs exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony.

I simply seek a world without war," said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the hypocenter monument decorated with colorful origami paper cranes and other offerings.

Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japans feudal era.

The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers.

Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction.

Passing down lessons

Aging survivors and their supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack isn't distant history, but an issue that remains relevant to their future.

There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war, said Fumi Takeshita, an 83-year-old survivor. I seek a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace.

In the hope of passing down the lessons of history to current and future generations, Takeshita visits schools to share her experience with children.

When you grow up and remember what you learned today, please think what each of you can do to prevent war, Takeshita told students during a school visit earlier this week.

Teruko Yokoyama, an 83-year-old member of a Nagasaki organization supporting survivors, said that she thinks of the growing absence of those she had worked with, and that fuels her desire to document the lives of others who are still alive.

The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86. Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to clearly recall the attack.

We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages of the survivors and thier lifetime story, said Yokoyama, whose two sisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation.

Her organization has started to digitize the narratives of survivors for viewing on YouTube and other social media platforms with the help of a new generation.

There are younger people who are beginning to take action, Yokoyama told The Associated Press on Friday. So I think we dont have to get depressed yet.

Nagasaki hosted a peace forum on Friday where survivors shared their stories with more than 300 young people from around the country. Seiichiro Mise, a 90-year-old survivor, said that he's handing seeds of flowers of peace to the younger generation in hopes of seeing them bloom.

Japan's security dilemma

Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence. They criticize the Japanese governments refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as an observer because Japan, as an American ally, says it needs U.S. nuclear possession as deterrence.

In Ishiba's speech, the prime minister reiterated Japans pursuit of a nuclear-free world, pledging to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and nonnuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York. Ishiba didn't mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

Countries must move from words to action by strengthening the global disarmament regime, with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, or NPT, at the center, complemented by the momentum created by the nuclear weapons ban treaty, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his message read by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu in Nagasaki.

Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony on Saturday. The government in China notably notified the city that it wouldn't be present without providing a reason.

The ceremony last year stirred controversy because of the absence of the U.S. ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese citys refusal to invite officials from Israel.

___

Mari Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

___

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___

Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Certain countries will make "titanic efforts" to disrupt the meeting U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin for August 15, Russia's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Saturday.

Trump had said earlier that Russia and Ukraine were close to a ceasefire deal that could resolve the three-and-a-half-year conflict. The contents of the deal have yet to be announced, but it could require Ukraine to surrender significant territory - an outcome many European nations oppose. Dmitriev accused unnamed countries of seeking to prolong the war.

"Undoubtedly, a number of countries interested in continuing the conflict will make titanic efforts to disrupt the planned meeting between President Putin and President Trump," he said in a post in his Telegram account, specifying that by efforts he meant "provocations and disinformation".

Dmitriev did not specify which countries he was referring to or what kind of "provocations" they might undertake.

The Kremlin earlier confirmed the summit. The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding: "This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically."

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
By Hyunjoo Jin and Joyce Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea delayed a decision on Friday on a request from Google for permission to export map data, following U.S. pressure to address what Washington regards as a non-tariff barrier during recent trade talks, its transport ministry said.

South Korea and the United States are preparing for a summit of their leaders, possibly this month, after reaching a trade deal in late July, but it was not clear whether the map issue will be discussed at the meeting.

South Korea previously rejected requests from Google, whose parent is Alphabet, for permission to use map data on servers outside the country, in 2016 and 2007, citing security concerns.

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement its National Geographic Information Institute had decided to postpone the decision for 60 days to give Google time to come up with measures that address its security concerns.

Google has said there were no security concerns about its mapping data on South Korea, saying the data are publicly available and used by a number of companies, after going through a security review by a government agency.

The company said, however, it is closely discussing with the South Korean government about taking any other security measures requested by the authorities, while considering plans to purchase blurred images from local partners which have been approved by the government.

South Korea, whose 1950-53 war with North Korea ended without a peace treaty, argues that if it allowed such data to leave the country, the locations of military facilities and other sensitive sites could be revealed.

But the U.S. said restrictions on cross-border data flows have long served as barriers to operating navigation services through Google Maps and Apple Maps, resulting in U.S. companies losing out in the South Korean market.

South Korea had not made concessions on the map issue and also on further opening up agriculture, despite early and intense bilateral talks, presidential adviser Kim Yong-beom had said.

Google said the lack of data restricts its Google Maps services in Korea, causing major inconveniences to foreign tourists.

Late last month, Transport Minister Kim Yoon-duk said South Korea needed to be "very cautious" about granting map access, saying defence and public safety were prioritised over trade.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Joyce Lee; Editing by Alex Richardson and David Holmes)
composite image byrne in uniform mcclary in a prison mug shot inset officers carrying byrne's casket

The states far-left Parole Board denied freedom for one of New York Citys most notorious cop killers  but the fallen police officers family is still fighting to keep his accomplices behind bars.

Convict David McClary, a gangbanger who assassinated Police Officer Edward Byrne in 1988, argued for his freedom before the states liberal parole board on July 22 but was sent back to Wende Prison in Erie County, state records show.

The 16-member state parole board, which is packed with members appointed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has sprung 43 cop killers since 2017, according to the Police Benevolent Association.

David McClary was denied parole.

Every year, members of the NYPD return to the corner were Officer Eddie Byrne was killed. Seth Gottfried

Byrne, a 22-year-old rookie, was sitting in his patrol car in Queens protecting a local witness in a drug case when he was shot five times in the head.

Afterward, McClary and his three accomplices boasted about the killing.

He should stay in prison because hes not fit or capable nor does he deserve the right to go back on the street, the slain cops younger brother, Kenneth Byrne, told The Post.

The cop was sitting in his patrol car around 3:30 a.m. on 107th Ave. and Inwood St. in South Jamaica watching the home of a local Guyanese immigrant, who had reported drug dealing. The witnesss home home had been firebombed twice.

The assassins pulled up alongside Byrne and one of them got out and knocked on his passenger side window while a second man crept up on the drivers side and shot him with a .38 caliber pistol.

The cops younger brother remembers an NYPD chaplain coming to his home.

Police Officer Eddie Byrne

Hundreds turned out for Byrnes February 1988 funeral. Don Halasy/ NY Post

Byrnes assassination shocked the city. Mary McLoughlin/NY Post

Its an absolutely horrifying event watching my parents collapse onto the floor, Byrne recalled. My parents aged and suffered because of this.

President Ronald Reagan called the Byrne family to offer condolences. Then-Vice President George H.W. Bush carried his shield during his 1988 presidential campaign.

This was front and center for many years because it was such a shocking crime, the brother recalled.

Three other men, Philip Copeland, Todd Scott and Scott Cobb were also arrested and eventually convicted in the killing.

Every two years, we have to go back and do this again, Byrne said, noting that his brother, NYPD legal boss Larry Byrne, took the lead on the parole hearings until he died in 2020.

Byrnes mother, Ann Byne, who is 88 and living on Long Island, was devastated when the parole board released Cobb in 2023.

The Byrne family has staunchly opposed the release of their loved ones killers. Brigitte Stelzer

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Larry Byrne speaks at a memorial for his brother, a police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1988. Daniel William McKnight

Its just a lot for her to deal with after decades and decades, her son said.

McClary will return to argue to be released again next year.

Todd Scott, 56, is serving 25 years to life at Shawangunk prison upstate and is due to appear before the board this month.

Drug dealer Howard Pappy Mason is serving life in prison for drug racketeering and ordering the murder from jail.

McClary in court in 1989. Jerry Engel/ NY Post

The convicts often tell the board how theyll try to benefit society if they are released, Byrne said.

Eddie was doing work that benefitted the public, he said. They cut it short.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev shakes hands with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement at the White House. American President Donald Trump joins in. The White House | YouTube

(The Center Square)  President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House Friday to sign what is reportedly the first peace deal both countries have signed since the end of the Cold War.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called it a historic day.

We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation and bloodshed and provide a bright and safe future for our children, Aliyev said. President Trump brings peace to the Caucuses, and we are grateful for that, and I'm sure that Armenia and Azerbaijan will find the courage and responsibility to reconcile.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been enmeshed in conflict for more than three decades over a disputed territory that belonged to Azerbaijan but had a large Armenian population. That territory broke away from Azerbaijan in the early 1980s, and Azerbaijan regained military control of it in 2023.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan echoed Aliyevs sentiments.

We're laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past, Pashinyan said. The initiating of a peace agreement will pave the way to end the decades of conflict between our countries and open a new era based on the full respect for the sovereignty and territorial index integrity of each other.

The deal also gives the U.S. a key role in the development of a transit corridor spanning the region that will likely be used for oil and gas pipelines, transportation, and a host of other purposes.

This strategic partnership format embraces so many important areas, Aliyev said, including mutual investment, trade, energy, connectivity, transit, AI, defense, sales [and] counter terrorism.

The agreement is the latest example of U.S intervention brokering peace between longtime rival nations.

The Trump administration seemingly backed Pakistan and India from the brink of war in May, stepping in after the nuclear-armed neighbors had traded cross-border attacks leaving dozens dead. Indias prime minister has said that Trump didnt intervene, but Pakistan has nominated the president for the Nobel Peace Prize. In June, Trump hosted leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda at the White House to sign a treaty the U.S. helped broker, after 30 years of bloodshed between the two countries. Cambodias president has also nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, after the American president reportedly intervened in a recent dispute with Thailand. Trump has also said the U.S. de-escalated a serious conflict between Serbia and Kosovo.

We've only been here for six months. The world was on fire. We took care of just about every fire, Trump said at the signing, adding that his administration is working on a peace agreement for Russia and Ukraine.

The transit corridor will be called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a name Trump said he didnt ask for but felt honored by.

Trump said his highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world and expressed confidence in a new friendship between the Caucasus leaders.
FILE - M23 rebels guard outside the South Kivu province administrative office, at the centre of east Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Janvier Barhahiga , File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  Rwanda-backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar-led peace process aiming to end the conflict.

A decades-long conflict ravaging eastern Democratic Republic of Congo escalated earlier this year when the M23 rebel group seized two key cities with the help of neighboring Rwandan forces. Congo has long been wracked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east, with more than 100 armed groups active.

The continuing violence could threaten the efforts to get Congo and the rebels to sign a permanent peace deal by Aug. 18 as hoped for. One of the deals conditions is the protection of civilians and the safe return of millions of displaced people.

The Congolese army said in a statement late Friday that it is fiercely condemning" what it described as a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu. It said that 80 people were killed on Aug. 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, and that six civilians, including two minors, were murdered on July 24 in the village of Lumbishi.

It blamed the the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC backed by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).

In addition to this excessive criminality, the M23/AFC is engaged in the forced recruitment of young people, including minors, to join their illegal organization, the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from M23. When asked for a comment, the Rwandan foreign minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press that he could not comment on any stupidity coming from DRC," using the acronym of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief said that M23 killed 319 people over the past month in a different part of the region, describing the toll as one of the largest documented of such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022.

Citing firsthand accounts, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement that the rebels, backed by members of the Rwandan Defense Force, targeted four villages in North Kivu provinces Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21.

M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement unverified and politically motivated.

These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions, said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization which includes M23. We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.

The two sides on July 19 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents.

___

Associated Press writer Ignatius Ssuuna contributed to this report from Kigali, Rwanda.
Driver Ryan Blaney, left, gives autographs before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Bryon Houlgrave) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP)  Ryan Blaney bested Shane van Gisbergen in Cup Series road course qualifying by three hundredths of a second on Saturday, capturing the pole position at Watkins Glen International.

Blaney turned a lap of 1 minute, 11.960 seconds in the No. 12 Ford, edging van Gisbergens No. 88 Chevrolet (1 minute, 11.993 seconds).

Starting first in Sundays 110-lap race at Watkins Glen was a surprise for Blaney, who has only three top 10 finishes on the 2.45-mile track. The 2023 Cup champion is mired in a 22-race slump without a top-five finish on a road course.

What a cool pole, said Blaney, who earned the 150th Cup pole position for Team Penske. Im a pretty average road racer, and I work really hard to get better at it and try to figure out ways to be better. Weve got to find a little bit of race pace, but its nice to have one-lap speed. Its fun when you can sit on the pole at a place where Im not very good.

Bidding for his fourth consecutive Cup victory on a road or street course, van Gisbergen will start second after having won from the pole at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma.

Man, its amazing how close it all is for a road course, van Gisbergen said. "My laps were OK, and there probably were some things I could have fixed. Decent start for tomorrow."

Chase Briscoe, who had started on the pole position the past two weeks at Iowa Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, qualified third in the No. 19 Toyota, followed by Ross Chastains No. 1 Chevrolet and Kyle Buschs No. 8 Chevrolet.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
LINCOLN, Neb. -- A powerful line of thunderstorms brought hurricane-force winds across a swath of eastern Nebraska early Saturday morning, leaving a trail of damage stretching from Lincoln into Omaha and reports of some injuries.

Lincoln reported multiple gusts over 70 mph as the thunderstorms moved through, with a peak gust of 91 mph and another gust of 82 mph. The town of Exter, Nebraska reached 86 mph while Friend, Nebraska clocked an 84 mph gust.

The storm didn't let up as it swept into the Omaha area, with gusts reaching 75-85 mph along areas just went and northwest of Downtown Omaha. Gusts reached 87 mph in Millard and 86 mph in Blair. National Weather Service spotters reported numerous trees down across the region.

"The neighborhoods in North Omaha where I am are heavily treed, so there's damage everywhere," Lori Meier told FOX Weather. "Damage is between Elkhorn and Bennington in the northwest side of Omaha, not too far from where those tornadoes hit last year."

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported some people had been injured at Two Rivers State Park, but didn't give any further details on the number or extent. Fire officials say there are many areas of high water on streets, trees down and power lines down.

"We are working with all our partners to clean things up, but please stay home and give us time and space to work," fire officials in Valley, Nebraska posted on Facebook.

Workers with Enfield's Tree Service said they were out at 4:30 a.m. and had been busy cleaning up tree damage around the Elkhorn neighborhood. One worker said he'd found garbage cans blown two or three blocks away from their homes.

"It was pretty intense this morning," he said.

Washington County officials also reported widespread damage in their county.

Videos posted on social media showed city officials sounding tornado sirens in the Omaha area to warn of the impending damaging wind threat.

Over 80,000 electricity customers lost power in Nebraska during the peak of the storm, according to findenergy.com. Douglas County Emergency Management reported four transmission lines were down in Blair and Ceresco, near Omaha.

Severe Thunderstorm Watches extend into noon for north-central Iowa as the thunderstorm cluster moves east.





Original article source: Sirens wail as 90+ mph winds blast Nebraska, leaving thousands without power
The human body experiences rapid changes around age 50, according to a new study. Maskot/Getty Images

This article originally appeared on Medical News Today

Past studies show that human aging doesnt necessarily happen at the same pace throughout our life.

There is still much to discover about the aging process, especially when it comes to how it impacts the bodys organs.

A new study found that by focusing on aging-related protein changes in the body, there is an acceleration in aging of organs and tissues around the age of 50.

And of these proteins, scientists found that expressions of 48 of them linked to diseases increased with age, such as cardiovascular and liver disease.

While we can try to slow it down, human aging is something we currently cant stop from happening. However, past studies show that aging doesnt necessarily happen at the same pace throughout our life.

Instead, there are certain ages when a persons body may experience a burst of aging. Previous studies show that the body may undergo rapid aging around the ages of 44 and 60.

And there is still much to discover about the aging process, especially when it comes to how it impacts the bodys organs.

Aging, as a systemic, degenerative process that spans multiple organs and biological strata, remains one of the most profound unresolved questions in the life sciences, Guang-Hui Liu, PhD, regenerative medicine researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained to Medical News Today.

Throughout the extended human lifespan, two fundamental issues persist: Do all organ systems adhere to a unified aging rhythm? Does a molecular spatiotemporal hub exist that orchestrates organism-wide senescence? Despite their centrality to understanding the essence of aging, these questions have long lacked systematic, empirical resolution.

Liu is the corresponding author of a new study recently published in the journal Cell that has found that by focusing on aging-related protein changes in the body, they can get a clearer picture of how the bodys organs and tissues age over time, including an aging acceleration around the age of 50.

And of these proteins, scientists found that expressions of 48 of them related to diseases  such as cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease  increased with age.

Creating an aging atlas

For this study, researchers analyzed 516 samples of 13 types of human tissues collected from 76 organ donors between the ages of 14 and 68 who had passed away from traumatic brain injury.

The tissue samples included cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and musculoskeletal samples, as well as immune system, skin, and blood samples.

Next, researchers documented the types of proteins found in the organ and tissue samples, allowing them to create what Liu called a proteomic aging atlas that spans 50 years of human life.

Covering seven physiological systems and thirteen pivotal tissues, the atlas presents a panoramic, dynamic portrait of organismal aging from a protein-centric perspective, Liu explained. The more than 20,000 proteins encoded by the genome serve as the structural bedrock of cells; their dynamic networks exquisitely orchestrate physiological homeostasis and act as the principal executors of virtually every biological process.

Consequently, systematically charting a panoramic, lifespan-wide atlas of proteomic dynamics and dissecting the reprogramming rules of protein networks at organ- and system-level scales are pivotal for accurately identifying the core drivers of aging and for establishing precise intervention targets, he added.

Body aging accelerates around age 50

At the studys conclusion, researchers found that the biggest aging changes in the bodys organs and tissues seems to occur around age 50.

Ages 4555 are identified as a landmark inflection point: most organ proteomes undergo a molecular cascade storm, with differentially expressed proteins surging explosively, marking this interval as the critical biological transition window for systemic, multi-organ aging.

 Guang-Hui Liu, PhD

Notably, the aortic proteome is reshaped most dramatically; its secretome and the circulating plasma proteome evolve in tight concordance, indicating that senescence-associated secreted factors (senokines) may serve as the hub mechanism broadcasting aging signals throughout the body, Liu explained.

Additionally, Liu and his team found that expressions of 48 of the proteins linked to diseases, including cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, tissue fibrosis, and liver-related tumors, increased with age.

Organ aging is the essence of human chronic disease; each geriatric illness is merely a specific manifestation of this underlying organ aging, Liu added.

Aging causes biochemical changes in the body

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about this study.

This study found that protein changes in the body associated with aging seem to accelerate roughly around age 50, depending on the type of body tissue. This is an interesting finding that helps us better understand the types of biochemical changes that underlie aging and potentially provide targets for therapy at different stages of someones life.

 Cheng-Han Chen, MD

Science is only beginning to understand the biological mechanisms involved in aging, Chen said. Studies like this help us to identify the basis of normal aging, and in turn provides insight into how deviations in normal biology lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease. Ultimately, this will help us understand how to keep our patients healthy and aging well. It may also help us to develop new therapies for diseases that result from accelerated aging.

Future research should attempt to expand on these findings in more diverse demographic groups and as well as in other important organs such as the brain and kidneys, he added.

Transforming medicine from reactive to proactive

MNT also talked to Manisha Parulekar, MD, chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this research.

The idea that our cells lose the ability to maintain a healthy and functional proteome (the collection of proteins) is a cornerstone of modern aging theory. The accumulation of misfolded proteins, like amyloids, is the classic example, best known in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers disease. This studys finding of widespread amyloid accumulation across many tissues confirms that this isnt just a brain-specific problem but a systemic feature of aging.

 Manisha Parulekar, MD

This research is about transforming medicine from a reactive, disease-focused model to a proactive, health-focused one, she continued. By understanding the what and the when of aging, we can develop the tools to compress morbidity  allowing people to live not just longer, but healthier and more vibrant lives.

A longitudinal study, following the same individuals over decades will be helpful, Parulekar added when asked what she would like to see as next steps for this research. This would track their personal proteomic changes over time, allowing us to study genetic and lifestyle differences between people and providing additional confirmation for the age 50 inflection point.

View the original article on Medical News Today
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the Department of Labor to revisit its guidance on including alternative assets  such as private equity, real estate and even cryptocurrency  in 401(k) plans. The move marks a controversial expansion of retirement investment options and may reshape how millions of Americans save for retirement.

While the order itself doesnt change current policy, it signals strong support from the White House for allowing more sophisticated  and riskier  investments into everyday Americans retirement accounts.

The Department of Labor has been instructed to clarify how plan fiduciaries can legally incorporate such assets into defined-contribution retirement plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s.

Supporters argue the change could open up new avenues for growth and diversification.

The executive orders reduce regulatory ambiguity, opening the door for faster innovation and wider adoption, says Jonathan Rose, CEO of BlockTrust IRA, a cryptocurrency investment platform that offers both AI-managed and self-managed IRA accounts.

But critics say it could turn retirement savers into guinea pigs  or worse, exit strategies for institutional private equity firms trying to unload underperforming assets.

Lets break down who stands to gain and who could get burned as a result of the new executive order.

Compare advisors: Bankrate's list of the best financial advisors

Winners: Private equity giants, retirement plan providers and risk-tolerant investors

Private asset managers have been trying to tap into the 401(k) market for years, and now they could be about to get the green light.

BlackRock, Blackstone, Apollo Global Management and KKR have all introduced products aimed at cracking into defined-contribution retirement plans. With Thursdays executive order, theyre closer than ever.

Early implementations are likely to show up in target-date funds , where managers adjust portfolios over time based on an investors expected retirement date. This approach could allow professionals to marry higher-cost private assets with low-cost index funds  theoretically balancing risk and cost.

Back in May, Empower, one of the largest retirement service providers in the United States, announced plans to bring private assets into its offerings. Employees can only access these private investments if their employer chooses to offer them and works with an advisor. In theory, the move could help retail investors access returns previously limited to institutional players.

Get matched: Find a financial advisor who can help you maximize your investments

For cryptocurrency, Rose believes the new order will move institutional giants like BlackRock and Fidelity to expand their crypto offerings at a more aggressive pace.

Under this new policy direction, crypto held inside a 401(k) could take several forms, says Rose. We will likely see the addition of crypto index funds and ETFs to standard retirement plan menus.

He also sees the order as a tailwind for crypto-focused companies.

Weve already built the infrastructure to support managed cryptocurrency investments within retirement accounts, so this move will only further accelerate our momentum, he says.



Losers: Regular 401(k) investors, transparency and fiduciary safeguards

But the devils in the details  and in this case, the fees.

Private equity firms can charge upwards of 2.5 percent in annual management fees. And once the fund earns profits above a certain threshold  say, 7 percent per year  the private equity firm often keeps 20 percent of those profits.

Thats a steep premium compared to public market options. For example, the asset-weighted average annual cost (expense ratio) for all passive U.S. funds was just 0.11 percent in 2024, according to Morningstar.

Private investments often come with higher expenses and lower returns than whats already available to the public, says James Royal, principal investing writer and financial analyst at Bankrate. Index funds are available in typical 401(k) plans at reasonable costs  and have proven track records.

Private assets are also notoriously opaque. Unlike stocks or bonds, key details  like which companies are in a fund, what they earn or how theyre valued  is often difficult or impossible to discern. That makes it harder for both investors and fiduciaries to make informed decisions.

Looking for an advisor?: Find a financial advisor near you or online

Royal is skeptical of the motives behind the push.

In many cases, private investors view the general public as its off-ramp, the people it wants to buy its investments when its ready to sell them. In other words, chumps, he says. After all, if private investments are such a great deal, why do sophisticated investors want to cut the public in on them? They dont.

What the executive order actually does

The order doesnt mandate any changes  it cant. But it does tell the Department of Labor to revisit and clarify its guidance. That includes spelling out what plan fiduciaries must do to legally include private assets in retirement accounts.

Under existing law, fiduciaries are required to act in the best interest of plan participants. That means weighing risks, returns and costs carefully. That becomes a lot trickier when dealing with complex, illiquid private assets.

During Trumps first term, the Labor Department issued a letter stating that private equity could be part of a prudent investment mix in a professionally managed fund. But many plan administrators still shy away from alternatives, fearing legal risk.

This new directive may give plan sponsors legal cover to add alternative investments without worrying as much about lawsuits.

However, private investments might not appear in 401(k)s as quickly as headlines suggest. Evaluating private assets is complex, and retirement plan administrators  whove long favored simplicity and low cost  will likely proceed cautiously.

What retirement investors need to consider

If Thursdays order leads to favorable guidance, the next wave of 401(k) offerings could come with a much steeper learning curve for everyday retirement savers.

Some financial experts worry that inexperienced investors could fall for flashy promises of big returns without fully grasping the risks  namely, that private assets can be illiquid and hard to value.

The greater range of investments may make it harder to choose whats appropriate for your needs, says Royal. Just because your plan offers private investments doesnt mean you should buy them.

Here are some highlights of how to choose the best funds for your 401(k) :

Focus on long-term performance and low fees : When comparing funds, prioritize those with solid five- and 10-year returns and low expense ratios. Dont simply check one-year performers  short-term success might not last. Aim for consistent long-term results at the lowest cost.

Diversify to reduce risk and boost stability : A mix of assets  primarily stocks and bonds delivered in either a target-date fund or mutual fund  can smooth out market volatility and improve long-term returns. Most experts recommend allocating no more than 5-10 percent into alternative assets  and thats if you have a high risk tolerance.

Know your risk tolerance before you invest: Pick an asset mix that fits your comfort level with risk. Many 401(k) plans offer tools or questionnaires to help match your investments to your risk profile.

Understand that its possible to lose money in a 401(k): Your 401(k) isnt protected from losses. Market-based investments like stocks and bonds can lose value depending on overall market conditions. But private equity and other alternative assets come with even greater risk. Theyre often less transparent, harder to sell and more expensive to own. If youre not careful, chasing higher returns in private funds could backfire  with no safety net.

Investors would do well to stick with solid investments rather than wager their retirements on faddish assets with unproven track records such as cryptocurrency, or those with underperforming track records, such as private equity, says Royal.

Bottom line

Trumps new executive order isnt just about what you can invest in  its calling into question the purpose of a retirement account. Is it a stable vehicle designed for the long haul, or a testing ground for Wall Streets newest product?

The answer may depend on how aggressively private assets are marketed and how carefully fiduciary standards are upheld.

One thing is clear: The guardrails are shifting. And in a world where complexity often equals profit, everyday investors need to ask hard questions and think carefully.

Its more important than ever to understand your 401(k) investment choices and to choose wisely, says Royal. Your retirement is riding on it.

Calculator: Estimate how much you need to save for retirement

Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation.
Aamna Qureshi/@aamna_qureshi Aamna Qureshi.





NEED TO KNOW

Aamna Qureshi is a Pakistani-American author based in New York

At just 26 years old, she has six published books

In July 2025, she received an unexpected email from someone she hadn't spoken to in over a decade after they spotted one of her novels in a bookstore





When 26-year-old author Aamna Qureshi checked her inbox recently, she didnt expect to find a message that would bring back sentimental memories from over a decade ago.

While browsing through Barnes & Noble, her eighth-grade English Honors teacher, Nicole Wallace, had spotted Qureshis name on the cover of a book, bought a signed copy and sent an email to congratulate her former student on being a published author.

For Qureshi, the message struck a deep chord  especially since Wallace had played such a pivotal role in her journey, so much so that she is lovingly mentioned in the book's acknowledgements. Their unexpected reconnection became a quiet, full-circle moment years in the making.

For students, its easy to remember teachers because we have so few, but for teachers, they have classes of 25-30 students every year, so it is a lot harder to remember, Qureshi tells PEOPLE exclusively. The fact that she remembered me is truly touching. It honestly felt like such a stroke of fate that she found my book the way she did.

Qureshi published her first book, The Lady or the Lion, in 2021 at the early age of 22. It had been a few years since the books quiet release through a small independent publisher, with limited marketing and distribution.

Most copies had been sold online, making in-store sightings rare. The fact that her teacher happened to find it at a Barnes & Noble felt like an unexpected and meaningful coincidence. What moved her most was that Wallace recognized her name after all these years.

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Aamna Qureshi/@aamna_qureshi Aamna Qureshi and her first published book: 'The Lady or the Lion.'

I was absolutely surprised in the very best way, Qureshi admits. I cant entirely describe it in words  which is a bit ironic, given that describing things in words is what I do for a living.

Hearing from Wallace was a truly delightful surprise, and her kind words brought back warm memories of a class that had always been a joyful part of her childhood.

At the time the message arrived, Qureshi had been feeling somewhat discouraged about the direction of her career, which made the note land with even more meaning.

http://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Aamna Qureshi/@aamna_qureshi Aamna Qureshi signing her books.

To be honest, at the time the email reached me, I was feeling a bit low regarding the state of my career. I was wishing that my books had done better. I think at some point in everyones career, you wonder What is the point of this? Qureshi admits.

However, after emailing her former teacher back, Qureshi was relieved to learn that she had enjoyed reading her book and was incredibly touched by the acknowledgements.

Mrs. Wallaces email reminded me why I write: because I love it and always have. She also helped me to see that I was living the dream of my middle school self, and for that, I was proud.

A moment Qureshi still remembers with striking clarity  despite years having passed since she was in Wallace's class  was when the kind-hearted teacher asked her to stay after class one spring afternoon.

Given she was never the kind of student who got in trouble, she wasnt worried but curious about the request. At first, she thought her teacher wanted to share a book recommendation with her.

After the bell rangshe came over to tell me what an extraordinary student I was. In complete earnestness, she said how excited she was to see all that I would accomplish in the future, Qureshi recalls.

I was so touched both by her words and by the fact that she took the time out to tell me. It felt like she was one of the first people to believe in me in such a way.

Aamna Qureshi/@aamna_qureshi Aamna Qureshi and her parents.

Qureshi grew up in New York and was one of the few Muslim students in her entire district. Eighth grade was also the first year Qureshi started wearing a hijab to school  making her feel out of place and nervous.

Nevertheless, she emphasizes that her teachers were always kind, supportive, and respectful, which gave her the confidence to write stories that authentically expressed her identity as a Pakistani-American.

Like most middle schoolers, I was unsure, afraid, and lacking confidence. I had no idea what the future held, and dreaming big felt pointless, like too much of a risk, Qureshi says.

Encouragement at such a time can change the trajectory of your life. It makes all the difference to know that there is someone rooting for you, someone who believes in you.

Aamna Qureshi/@aamna_qureshi Aamna Qureshi and her six published books.

Today, Qureshi is the author of six published books, with her seventh set to be released in late August 2025. She primarily writes stories focused on her heritage and religion.

In my early years, I faced a lot of racist rejections due to that fact, but I knew that if I kept working, I would eventually find like-minded individuals to work with, and luckily, I did, she shares. My favorite part of this job is receiving messages from readers who have resonated or enjoyed my work; it makes all the difficult work getting published worth it.

When offering advice to young writers hoping to get published, she acknowledges its a difficult pursuit, but believes that with persistence and trust in your own voice, even the most ambitious dreams are within reach.

Read the original article on People
Today's headlines: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to meet in Alaska next week; Pakistan cuts internet connections in Baluchistan to combat terrorism; A Thai art gallery removes works depicting Chinese repression at Beijing's request; ASEAN wants to visit Myanmar next month to clarify the situation ahead of elections.

ARMENIA  AZERBAIJAN

Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a peace agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump. Both leaders praised Trump for helping to end the conflict and said they would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The agreement includes exclusive US development rights to a strategic corridor through the South Caucasus that, according to the White House, would facilitate greater exports of energy and other resources.

RUSSIA  US

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska next Friday to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. The announcement of the meeting came just hours after Trump signalled that Ukraine, about 20% of whose territory is occupied by Russia, may have to cede territory to end the war. It is not yet clear whether Ukraine and its European allies would accept such a deal.

PAKISTAN

The Pakistani government has suspended internet services in the province of Balochistan for three weeks. The province has long been the scene of terrorist attacks by separatist groups, which have intensified their attacks in recent weeks. The service has been suspended because militants use it for coordination and information sharing, explained the provincial government spokesman.

CHINA  THAILAND

The Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, one of Thailand's most important art galleries, has removed, at China's request, material on Beijing's treatment of ethnic minorities and the city of Hong Kong as part of an exhibition on authoritarian governments. Three days after the exhibition opened on 24 July, Chinese embassy staff, accompanied by Bangkok city officials, entered the exhibition and demanded its closure, the exhibition's co-curator, Sai, a Burmese artist who uses only one name, told Reuters.

PHILIPPINES

The defence lawyer for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Nicholas Kaufman, a British and Israeli national, has filed a complaint against the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, claiming that the latter, having previously represented victims of Duterte's war on drugs, is not fit to judge any crimes against humanity committed by Duterte. Khan is currently on leave pending an internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

MALAYSIA  MYANMAR

Next month, Malaysia will lead a delegation to Myanmar, where the military regime has lifted the state of emergency in preparation for elections. The announcement was made yesterday by Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, who added that the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines will also take part in the trip in order to present a clear picture of the situation in Myanmar to ASEAN. Meanwhile, representatives of the military junta have visited Wa State, which is controlled by a militia allied with China, promising support for development and preparations for elections.

INDONESIA

The pirate flag from the anime series One Piece has become a symbol of youth discontent with President Prabowo Subianto's government after being used for the first time in demonstrations in late July. In recent days, various government and security force officials have threatened to crack down on the movement, described by the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives as a coordinated attempt to divide the nation, and have encouraged the use of the national flag ahead of Independence Day on 17 August.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has condemned the attack that took place on 6 August in Jaleswar, where two priests and a catechist were beaten by a crowd of about 70 people on false charges of forced conversions, while the nuns accompanying them were saved by women from the village. Archbishop Vincent Aind believes this is part of a broader strategy to intimidate minorities in areas governed by the BJP.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed its sorrow and condemned the terrible attack on two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar, in the state of Orissa. The incident, which took place on 6 August, is considered part of a series of attacks against Christian minorities that reflects a climate of growing intolerance in the country.

The attack took place while Fr. Lijo Nirappel, parish priest of St. Thomas Church in Jaleswar, accompanied by another priest, two nuns and a catechist, was returning to the parish after celebrating a funeral Mass in a nearby village.

A crowd of about 70 people, many of whom were non-residents, ambushed the group. While the nuns were rescued by women from the village, the priests and the catechist were blocked, mistreated and beaten, on charges of religious conversion, which later proved to be false. Father Lijo's mobile phone was forcibly taken and never returned.

The CBCI called these actions a blatant violation of the constitutional rights and human dignity of minorities, stressing that the growing trend of mass violence poses a serious threat to the security, protection and peaceful coexistence of all communities.

The Bishops' Conference urged the Orissa government to act swiftly and decisively to identify and prosecute those responsible and ensure the protection of all minority communities. The CBCI finally reiterated its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of all citizens, especially those of the Christian community.

According to Catholic Connect (CC), the attackers are right-wing extremists, presumably belonging to the militant organisation Bajrang Dal. The ambush took place less than half a kilometre from the Gangadhar mission, where priests had celebrated a requiem Mass for the second anniversary of the death of two Catholic men.

They first targeted our catechist who was on a motorbike. They beat him mercilessly, dismantled his motorbike, emptied the tank and threw it away, said Fr. Nirappel, a victim of the attack.

The attackers then stopped the priests' vehicle, physically assaulted us, pushing us, pulling us and beating us violently. They punched us, snatched our mobile phones and kept shouting that we were trying to make them American by converting them by force.

The nuns were saved by some women from the village, who begged the attackers to let the group go. Fr. Nirappel said it was a planned ambush, accusing the attackers of bringing journalists with them to fabricate a narrative.

After about 45 minutes, the police arrived, who, according to the priest, were only saving us from further violence. However, even in the presence of the officers, the crowd continued with their invective and no one returned the stolen phones.

The priest expressed his deep distress over the incident, saying, I never imagined that something like this could happen. We were attacked and humiliated on the basis of unfounded accusations.

Fr. Nirappel complained that the media are also complicit because "they do not verify the facts, they just amplify what the crowd says. This false narrative must be replaced by the truth. As of the morning after the attack, no complaint had been filed. Father Jojo, the other priest involved, said he was shocked and never imagined such hostility for doing something so peaceful and sacred."

Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi told AsiaNews that, in his view, the attack is part of a broader strategy being implemented in many other states, especially those governed by the BJP, the ultra-nationalist Hindu party to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also belongs.

It is about creating a situation of public disorder, but above all about threatening and disturbing minorities. In reality, it is an attack on constitutional rights, he said. The archbishop added that for Christians, "it is part of our history. We have faced persecution of various kinds and, in a sense, we are prepared to face it. This is the cross we are called to bear, as the Lord asks of us. He added: We are pilgrims and people who are always full of hope, regardless of what is happening in the present.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the attack an example of Hindutva vigilantism."

In a post on social media platform X, Vijayan said that criminals from the Sangh Parivar had attacked Catholic priests and nuns in Kerala with false accusations of conversion, calling the incident an ongoing witch hunt against Christians in the country.

He concluded by saying, Such Hindutva vigilantism, made possible by the regime's impunity, must be countered in a united manner by secular and democratic forces.
by Joseph Masilamany

In his National Day speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recalled the city-state's difficult origins, which saw it rise from Third World to First World thanks to determination and cohesion. Faced with increasingly complex global challenges, he urged citizens to move quickly, innovate and renew the social contract, promising support for vulnerable families and more opportunities for all Singaporeans.

Singapore (AsiaNews) - Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in his speech for National Day celebrated today, 9 August, struck a tone of resilience and unity with an eye to the future, declaring that Singapore will face a more turbulent and uncertain world with the same determination that has taken it from Third to First World over the past 60 years.

Speaking from Padang, the historic site of the first National Day parade in 1966, the prime minister reminded Singaporeans of their nation's unlikely origins and the challenges that have shaped its destiny. Singapore's first head of state, Yusof Ishak, took office in Padang in 1959.

Sixty years ago, Singapore became a sovereign, democratic and independent nation, he said, recalling the proclamation of independence by founding leader Lee Kuan Yew. We did not want to become independent. We were simply too small, too exposed, too vulnerable to go it alone. But circumstances forced us to do so.

In 1965, the consensus among Singapore's founding leaders was that the island should be part of Malaysia in order to survive. Instead, after the separation, Singapore had to invoke the resolve and will to survive as an independent nation despite its precarious position.

At many points, history could easily have taken a turn for the worse. Yet, against all odds, we made it, Wong said. That is what makes today's celebrations so meaningful: we not only survived, but we prevailed and prospered when few believed we would survive.

The prime minister recalled the challenges the city-state has faced: racial riots, British military withdrawal, economic recessions, terrorism and global pandemics.

Each time, we picked ourselves up, learned from our failures and found the strength and will to carry on. Above all, we remained united, even when powerful forces sought to divide us, the prime minister said. Through trials, tears and tribulations, we have built a strong and free nation. We have built a home for all, regardless of race, language or religion.

Looking ahead, Wong pointed out that the global climate has changed dramatically, and not for the better. Three months ago, I spoke of a changed world. Since then, the situation has become even more serious, he said, citing new conflicts, deepening geopolitical tensions, hardening trade barriers and rising protectionist sentiments.

To put it bluntly, the global order that has enabled Singapore to prosper for decades is dissolving before our eyes. This is the world we must now navigate, a world that is more contested, more fragmented and more volatile than before.

Although Singapore's economy has been resilient so far, the outlook remains highly uncertain, Wong added, noting that the Singapore Economic Resilience Task Force, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, is implementing targeted measures to support businesses and maintain employment for Singaporeans.

But he stressed that the country must look beyond the immediate challenges. We are renewing our economic strategy to strengthen our competitiveness, deepen our capabilities and secure our future in a very different world, he continued.

Singapore must remain exceptional in our cohesion, our resolve, our performance and move faster, adapt quicker and innovate smarter than our competitors. This means embracing technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics and applying them meaningfully across the economy.

The pace of change will be rapid and not always comfortable. There will be disruption. Not everyone will find the transition easy, he warned. But no one will face these challenges alone. This government will walk this path with you, just as we have done for 60 years.

The prime minister pledged to expand opportunities for learning and upskilling, strengthen social safety nets and help Singaporeans recover from setbacks. That is why I launched Forward Singapore: to renew our social contract and give every Singaporean the support and confidence to face the road ahead.

Wong promised more measures to support low-income families and create more pathways for every Singaporean to succeed, regardless of their starting point in life.

This is a shared effort, involving everyone in Team Singapore. We are working with community groups, businesses, unions and many passionate individuals  all working together to come up with solutions, put ideas into action and make a difference on the ground..

As part of the celebrations, a special exhibition has been opened at the Orchard Library, showcasing the aspirations and hopes of Singaporeans for the future of the nation.In the exhibition, you will see a collection of ground-up aspirations and wishes  each one reflecting a vision of what Singapore can be, he said. Let us turn these dreams into reality, and bring our hopes to life  in our homes, in our schools and in our communities.
9 August 2025 09:26 (UTC+04:00)

As reported, yesterday in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, a historic peace meeting between Azerbaijan and Armenia took place under the mediation of the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump. This meeting is described as historic because many of the bitter and damaging traces left by history were erased there, and numerous decades-long problems were finally resolved.

Indeed, the eyes of the world were fixed on yesterdays meeting, and at that moment, friends and foes alike  those who love Azerbaijan and those who do not  followed this historic encounter with fascination. Victorious President Ilham Aliyev at last broke the chains of a century-old enmity, bringing peace to the South Caucasus.

This moment did not escape the attention of brotherly and friendly Pakistan. A warm congratulatory message was addressed to our country via its official X page. Citing the X post, Azernews reports that Pakistans Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, described the meeting as the dawn of a new era.

Pakistan welcomes the historic peace agreement signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia at the White House Summit under the auspices of U.S. President DonaldTrump.

This landmark development marks the dawn of a new era of peace, stability, and cooperation in the South Caucasus, a region that has endured decades of conflict and human suffering.

We congratulate President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on this historic agreement, which reflects wisdom, foresight, and sagacity in charting a course for a peaceful future for their region. Pakistan has always stood by the brotherly nation of Azerbaija,n and we stand with them at this proud moment of their history.

We also appreciate the facilitation role of the United States, under President Donald Trump, in bringing the two sides together and securing an agreement that opens new avenues for trade, connectivity, and regional integration. It is our hope that this spirit of dialogue will serve as an example for other regions facing protracted conflicts.
9 August 2025 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Azercosmos and the Embassy of the United States of America in Azerbaijan have discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the space industry, Azernews reports.

A meeting took place between the agencys leadership  part of AZCON Holding  and the Charge dAffaires of the US Embassy in Baku.

The discussions covered the current collaboration between Azercosmos and leading US aerospace company SpaceX, with both sides expressing interest in continuing this partnership in upcoming satellite projects.

The meeting also addressed potential joint events and commercial initiatives between the US government and Azercosmos. Additionally, the parties explored cooperation opportunities between the COSMIK Academy, operating under Azercosmos, and US-based innovation and incubation centers.
9 August 2025 10:01 (UTC+04:00)

The historic meeting in Washington on the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia has also delighted the friendly Muslim country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Describing as a highly positive development the fact that, after thirty years of occupation and hostility, the parties have come together in the U.S. capital, Saudi Arabia issued an official statement on the matter.

Azernews reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia particularly praised the peace meeting for having been held through the mediation of the United States, calling it commendable.

The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias welcome of the announcement of a peace agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and commends the United States of America for sponsoring this agreement, according to the post shared on official X.
9 August 2025 10:29 (UTC+04:00)

On August 78, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan paid an official visit to the United States of America, yielding landmark agreements in bilateral relations and progress in the AzerbaijanArmenia normalization process, Azernews reports.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit marked a pivotal moment in elevating BakuWashington ties to a strategic partnership level. As part of the trip, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and the United States signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America on the Establishment of a Strategic Working Group for the Purpose of Preparing a Strategic Partnership Charter.

During the visit, the Presidents of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America regarding the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America to elevate the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations to the level of strategic partnership.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, a Strategic Working Group will be established between the two countries to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership, within a six-month time period, that will be served to strengthen strategic partnership in areas of mutual interest. In the Working Group, a priority will be given to areas such as regional connectivity, including energy, trade and transit; economic investment, including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure; as well as defense, security, and counter-terrorism. This has particular significance in terms of establishing an institutional framework for bilateral practical cooperation.

A key highlight of the visit was also an Executive Order signed by the U.S. President on extension of waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, during the bilateral meeting of two Presidents. The waiver of this amendmenta negative legacy in Azerbaijan-U.S. relationsduring President Ilham Aliyevs visit, holds profound symbolic significance.

The visit also yielded substantial outcomes in the context of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. A trilateral summit was held involving the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, culminating in the signing of a Joint Declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and by the President of the United States as a witness. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers of both countries initialed the Draft Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and signed a joint letter of appeal addressed to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office requesting the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures.

The signing of the Joint Declaration in Washington reaffirmed Azerbaijans peace agenda. Within the framework of the provision regarding the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, it was acknowledged that further actions are required to achieve the signing and ratification of the Agreement. In this context, to enable the signing of the Agreement, the Azerbaijani side expects that amendments will be made to the Constitution of Armenia in order to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Another noteworthy provision in the Joint Declaration is the commitment to opening transportation and communication links between the two countries. It emphasizes the necessity of ensuring an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The document also sets forth a special connectivity project to be implemented within Armenian territory: the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This initiative, led by the United States, aims to establish an unimpeded connectivity between the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic via the territory of Armenia.

The joint appeal to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office regarding the closure of the Minsk Process and its related structures marks another important step towards eliminating one of the major obstacles to peace and normalization.

Moreover, within the framework of the visit, in the presence of the President of Azerbaijan and the U.S. Presidents Special Envoy, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between SOCAR and ExxonMobil corporation. The document aims to strengthen the existing positive relations between the companies and explore potential areas of cooperation in evaluating both conventional and unconventional oil and gas opportunities in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Overall, the agreements reached during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the United States and the outcomes within the AzerbaijanArmenia normalization process carry historic significance.
9 August 2025 11:51 (UTC+04:00)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed the peace reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while cautioning against any form of foreign interference near its common borders, Azernews reports citing Iranian media.

The MFA issued a statement noting that Tehran is closely monitoring developments in the South Caucasus and is in contact with both neighboring states regarding the latest peace progress.

Peace and stability in the Caucasus region undoubtedly serve the interests of all countries in the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the completion of the preparation of the peace agreement text between the two countries and considers this an important step toward achieving lasting peace in the region, the statement said.

At the same time, the MFA expressed concern about the negative consequences of any form and type of foreign interference that could undermine security and long-term stability in the region. It emphasized that all political, legal, and economic measures to safeguard national rights and interests must be taken.

The statement further underlined that the establishment and reopening of communication routes, if implemented within the framework of mutual interests, with respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the region, and without foreign interference, would contribute to regional stability, security, and economic growth.

Reaffirming its commitment to regional diplomacy, the MFA stressed that Iran is ready to continue constructive, mutually beneficial cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Armenia to promote peace, stability, and economic development through bilateral initiatives and the 3+3 regional format.
9 August 2025 12:28 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and, through you, to your entire nation on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Singapore.

Over the past decades, Singapore has made remarkable progress, becoming one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic countries in the world, and achieving significant accomplishments in the fields of economy, industry, science, modern technologies, and other areas.

I believe that we will continue to consistently pursue our joint efforts to further develop the friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Singapore.

On this festive day, I extend to you my best regards and wish your people everlasting peace and prosperity."
9 August 2025 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Congratulations to Armenia and Azerbaijan on the bold steps taken in Washington towards peace. I commend @POTUS s vital role in securing this breakthrough. As I told @JDVance , the UK stands ready to support peace in the South Caucasus, as both sides honour their commitments.

Lammy shared his remarks on his official X page, commending the role of US President Donald Trump in facilitating the progress.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on the decisive steps taken in Washington toward achieving peace, Azernews reports.

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9 August 2025 11:15 (UTC+04:00)

Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has issued a statement on behalf of the EU regarding the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty, Azernews reports.

The statement reads:

"Today's agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan by Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev, in the presence of President Trump in the White House, mark a significant breakthrough to end decades of conflict. We strongly commend both sides and the US Administration for using the momentum and making progress possible. It will now be important to ensure the timely implementation of the agreed steps, notably the signing and ratification of the peace treaty.

Following the finalisation of bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations on the text of the peace agreement last March, this represents an important and decisive next step towards full-fledged normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of each others sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. Once implemented, the steps agreed today are expected to have a positive impact on the overall peaceful development of the region, and to help bring societies divided by legacies of conflict closer to sustainable peace and shared prosperity.

The EU fully supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and has been working for years with both parties and our international partners to create the conditions for lasting peace. We continue to stand ready to work with partners towards full-fledged normalisation, providing additional support and expertise, including for the practical implementation of next steps."
9 August 2025 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

I welcome today's agreements between Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan - a historic breakthrough in the Oval Office. I applaud both countries and @POTUS for making progress possible. While challenges remain, a peace treaty is within reach. 1/2 https://t.co/Df70e1JbIi

Veldkamp expressed his views in a post on the X social network.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kaspar Veldkamp, has welcomed the agreements reached between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during their Washington meeting, calling them a historic breakthrough, Azernews reports.

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Rescue underway after mountain torrents leave 10 dead, 33 missing in NW China's Gansu

Xinhua) 09:28, August 09, 2025

Rescuers set up a temporary passage in Jiuzhuanggou Village of Mapo Town, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Liu Kun/Xinhua)

LANZHOU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rescue efforts are underway after continuous heavy rainfall triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong County, northwest China's Gansu Province, leaving 10 dead and 33 missing as of 6:50 p.m. Friday, local authorities said.

Torrential rain began pounding Yuzhong, which is under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital city of Lanzhou, and other areas of Lanzhou on Thursday evening, with the maximum precipitation reaching 220.2 mm by noon Friday. Several townships in Yuzhong have been seriously affected.

A total of 9,828 people in Yuzhong have been relocated to safe areas, and 443 people among those who were trapped have been rescued, according to a news briefing held by the provincial government on Friday night.

Eight local townships have been affected by the mountain torrents, with severe damage to roads, power supply, communication and other facilities. The mountain torrents have also flooded farmlands and damaged houses, according to the news briefing.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, a red alert -- the highest alert level in China's four-tier system -- for geological disasters was jointly issued by the provincial department of natural resources and the provincial meteorological bureau, warning of potential geological disasters in Yuzhong and the Wudu District, Wenxian County and Kangxian County in Longnan City within 24 hours.

Lanzhou also elevated its emergency response to flooding from Level III to Level I -- the highest in China's four-tier emergency response system -- at 6 p.m. Friday, said the provincial department of water resources.

At about 2 p.m. Friday, Xinhua reporters saw floodwater mixed with uprooted trees blocking the roads near Xinglong Primary School in Chengguan Township in Yuzhong, with mud deposits more than 30 cm deep in some sections. Along the roadside, many vehicles lay damaged, while furniture from the ground floors of some houses had been swept to their doorsteps.

More than 2,700 rescue personnel have been dispatched by provincial authorities, along with 980 vehicles and pieces of machinery, and 8,530 sets of emergency supplies.

Search and rescue efforts for the missing, infrastructure repairs, and the evacuation and resettlement of affected residents are underway.

Members of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force remove a fallen tree after mountain torrents in Xinglongshan Village of Chengguan Town, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Liu Yabin/Xinhua)

Members of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force remove a damaged car after mountain torrents in Xinglongshan Village of Chengguan Town, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Liu Yabin/Xinhua)

Members of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force march to mountain torrent-affected Jiuzhuanggou Village of Mapo Town, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Liu Kun/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
9 August 2025 15:53 (UTC+04:00)

Historic step between Armenia and Azerbaijan  towards peace. I commend both sides determination, the US leadership, and partnersincluding the EUfor their consistent efforts. It is crucial now to fully and timely implement all agreed steps, paving the way for lasting

Tsahkna expressed his views in a post on his X social media account, highlighting the role of the United States, the European Union, and other partners in facilitating the process.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has commended the commitment of Azerbaijan and Armenia in their pursuit of lasting peace, Azernews reports.

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9 August 2025 16:24 (UTC+04:00)

I warmly welcome the peace agreement signed in Washington between Armenia & Azerbaijan, under the auspices of the US. PACE has always promoted parliamentary diplomacy in this conflict, stands ready to accompany stages of consolidation of this agreement & strengthen mutual trust pic.twitter.com/v0Fi8be7Hb

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodore Roussopoulos has congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on the signing of documents in Washington aimed at normalizing bilateral relations, Azernews reports.

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9 August 2025 18:50 (UTC+04:00)

 welcomes the historic  agreement, a step towards normalisation based on sovereignty and territorial integrity. Grateful to  for its mediation. An opportunity for peace, stability and development in the region. @StateDept @MFAofArmenia @AzerbaijanMFA

The Italian Foreign Ministry stated on the X social network that it welcomes the historic agreement towards normalization based on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Italy has expressed strong support for the steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia towards normalizing relations, Azernews reports.

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9 August 2025 17:20 (UTC+04:00)

France has welcomed the agreement reached in Washington between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by US President Donald Trump, and expressed support for dismantling the OSCE Minsk Group structures, Azernews reports.

The French Embassy in Azerbaijan issued a statement stressing that the normalization of relations and the signing of a peace treaty at the earliest opportunity would be an important step toward transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace and prosperity.

"France applauds the announcement made today in Washington, facilitated by President Trump, regarding the agreement between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The progress achieved, thanks to the commitment of the United States, represents a significant step forward. We urge the swift signing and ratification of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize this process. In this context, France supports the joint call from both parties to begin dismantling the structures of the OSCE Minsk Group.

The normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, along with the development of regional ties and the reopening of borderswhile respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each stateshould enable the South Caucasus to transform into a region of peace and prosperity for its people. France is committed to actively contributing to this process, alongside its European partners, particularly within the framework of the European Political Union."
9 August 2025 19:04 (UTC+04:00)

Maria Zakharova, official spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed Russias interest in establishing a zone of stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus, highlighting the comprehensive normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a key condition, Azernews reports.

Commenting on the agreement reached by the two countries leaders in Washington on August 8, Zakharova stated, We consistently support all efforts that contribute to achieving this main goal for regional security.

She also positively assessed the Washington meeting, facilitated by the United States, and expressed hope that it would advance the peace agenda. Zakharova emphasized that reconciliation should be integrated regionally, based on a balance of interests and respect for priorities of both parties and neighboring states.
9 August 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Apple is facing a lawsuit from a Texas-based company, Fintiv, which alleges that the tech giant stole its technology to develop the lucrative mobile payment service Apple Pay, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

In a complaint filed publicly on Thursday, Fintiv claims that the core features of Apple Pay are based on technology developed by CorFire, which Fintiv acquired in 2014. The technology is now embedded in hundreds of millions of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBooks.

According to Fintiv, Apple entered into multiple meetings and signed nondisclosure agreements with CorFire between 2011 and 2012, with the intention of licensing CorFire's mobile wallet technology to meet the rising demand for contactless payments. However, instead of following through with licensing, Fintiv alleges that Apple, with the help of former CorFire employees it allegedly poached, misappropriated the technology and trade secrets to launch Apple Pay in 2014. This service has since become a cornerstone of Apples mobile payments ecosystem, available in the U.S. and many other countries.

The lawsuit also claims that Apple has engaged in what Fintiv describes as an informal racketeering operation by generating fees through Apple Pay for major credit card issuers like Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Capital One, as well as payment networks including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

In a statement, Fintivs lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, called Apples actions one of the most egregious examples of corporate malfeasance he has witnessed in his 45 years of legal practice, accusing the company of generating billions in revenue while depriving Fintiv of a dime. The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages for violations of federal and Georgia trade secrets law, along with anti-racketeering laws, including the RICO statute.

Fintiv also previously filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, which a federal judge in Austin dismissed on August 4, just days after rejecting some of Fintivs claims. Fintiv has agreed to the dismissal but plans to appeal based on the existing record, court documents reveal.

While Apple has not yet responded to the lawsuit, this legal battle underscores the ongoing tensions in the tech industry surrounding intellectual property and the protection of trade secrets. Apple Pays widespread adoption makes this case particularly significant, as it could have far-reaching implications for both the payment industry and future technology licensing disputes.
9 August 2025 02:50 (UTC+04:00)

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on August 15 in the state of Alaska.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump said on Truth Social.

"Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added.
9 August 2025 18:20 (UTC+04:00)

Forest fire has broken out at the foot of Mount Vesuvius in the Campania region of Italy, posing a serious threat to the areas natural heritage, Azernews reprots.

Authorities have deployed eight aircraft and over a hundred ground personnel to combat the blaze, which is spreading in two directions. The fire is located several kilometers away from residential areas, minimizing immediate danger to the population.

A permanent working group has been established at the prefecture of Naples to coordinate emergency response efforts. The Vesuvius National Park officials described the situation as serious and emphasized the importance of protecting the regions natural environment.

The spread of the fire has been exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds, causing flames to reach an altitude of 1,050 meters.

The Civil Protection Department reported that since June 15, Campania has experienced 1,060 fires, which have burned a total of 2,568 hectares of land. Emergency teams continue their efforts to contain the fire and prevent further damage.
9 August 2025 21:10 (UTC+04:00)

A Syrian government official said Saturday that authorities would not participate in planned talks in Paris on integrating the Kurdish semi-autonomous administration into the Syrian state and demanded future negotiations be held in Damascus, Azernews reports via France24.

The move came a day after the Kurdish administration, which controls swathes of the north and northeast, held a conference involving several Syrian minority communities, the first such event since Islamists overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Participants included the head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi, who on March 10 signed a deal with President Ahmed al-Sharaa to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the state.

The conference's final statement called for "a democratic constitution that... establishes a decentralised state", guaranteeing the participation of all components of Syrian society.

Damascus has previously rejected calls for decentralisation.

"This conference was a blow to current negotiating efforts, and based on this, (the government) will not participate in any meetings scheduled in Paris," state news agency SANA quoted an unidentified government official as saying.

The government "calls on international mediators to move all negotiations to Damascus, as this is the legitimate, national location for dialogue among Syrians", the official said.

Late last month, Syria, France and the United States said they agreed to convene talks in Paris "as soon as possible" on implementing the March 10 agreement.

Recent sectarian clashes in south Syria's Druze-majority Sweida province and massacres of the Alawite community on Syria's coast in March have deepened Kurdish concerns as progress on negotiations with Damascus has largely stalled.

The event also saw video addresses from an influential spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community in the country's south, Hikmat al-Hijri, and from prominent Alawite spiritual leader Ghazal Ghazal.

Damascus has strongly criticised Hijri after he called last month for international protection for the Druze and appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for assistance during the sectarian clashes.

The government will not "sit at the negotiating table with any party that seeks to revive the era of the former regime under any cover", the official told SANA, condemning the hosting of "separatist figures involved in hostile acts".

"The government sees the conference as an attempt to internationalise Syrian affairs" and invite foreign interference, the official added.
9 August 2025 21:40 (UTC+04:00)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of France Emmanuel Macron, Azernews reports via the official website of Ukrainian President.

The leaders exchanged views on the diplomatic situation. Ukraine, France, and all partners are ready to work as productively as possible for the sake of real peace.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Russians do not succeed in deceiving anyone again. Everyone needs a genuine end to the war and reliable security foundations for Ukraine and other European nations.
9 August 2025 22:40 (UTC+04:00)

High-ranking officials from the United States, Ukraine, and several NATO member states will hold a meeting in London over the weekend in an effort to coordinate their positions ahead of the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin, Azernews reports via Axios.

The exact details of the meeting and its participants are still under discussion, according to sources familiar with the matter. Kiev, as well as several NATO countries, raised concerns that Trump could reach an agreement with Putin to end the Ukraine war without consulting them.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that any effort to reach a deal without Ukraine will fail.
Brewing Issue with Salmonberry Trail May Close Part of Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

Published 08/08/25 at 7:05 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Tillamook, Oregon)  A conflict is brewing in Tillamook County that is quickly heading into what may be a frustrating choice between finishing part of the Salmonberry Trail and the whether or not there is continued full operation of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (OSCR). (Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

While nothing has been decided yet, it could end up a case of either one or the other  but not both.

The part of the Salmonberry Trail going through Rockaway Beach is still in the design stage, with the original idea being it would exist side-by-side with segments of the railroad track that runs from Rockaway Beach to Wheeler. This is used regularly by OSCR  the only track in the area.

However, at a recent Port of Tillamook Bay (POTB) board of director's meeting, officials from the City of Rockaway Beach (CORB) said that as the trail is being designed, it's becoming apparent this model of the rails-with-trails project is proving far too expensive and the permits involved unworkable. CORB is now asking it take over the rails from the northern section of town northward and that it be allowed to remove them for trail construction.

This, said OSCR, would take out well over half of its operation, eliminating 30 miles of the 48 miles it runs on.



Courtesy photo

We strongly believe that removing rail infrastructure is a short-sighted decision that undermines years of investment, community benefit, and the spirit of cooperation that has defined this project, OSCR said.

According to the Tillamook Headlight-Herald, Rockaway Beach City Manager Luke Shepard proposed the idea at the POTB meeting on July 30. Shepard said costs are now looking at more like $5 million dollars per mile of the trail, and all the permitting issues of going through environmentally sensitive areas are creating massive delays in the project. (See the statement from OSCR)

Currently, the Port holds the lease for those railways used by OSCR, which expires in a year and a half.

Shepard and representatives from the Salmonberry Trail Intergovernmental Agency are asking the Port to act more quickly than that, as the city needs to figure out the rest of the design and engineering of the trail. This, argues OSCR, would actually break the terms of the lease.

Both sides do not want to see the other go away: OSCR is stressing it is pro-Salmon Berry Trail and those on the side of the trail want to see continued operation of the railroad ride. OSCR has come up with alternatives to keep it a rail-with-trail project.

There are numerous other details at the Tillamook Headlight-Herald story (behind a paywall).

According to the Tillamook County Visitors Association, the railroad generates $6 million dollars per year in the area. It is the second largest dollar-generating attraction in the county, with the Tillamook Cheese Factory the most popular and the Tillamook Air Museum third.

Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

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Lantern to Return to Oregon Coast Icon: Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Newport Gets Glow Back

Published 08/09/25 at 6:25 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon)  Back at the first day of the year, one of only a handful of Oregon coast lighthouses you can still go inside was shut down to go under the knife for extensive renovations, Set to open in June, that didn't happen. However, now Newport's Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is entering the final stages of its revamp. (Photo courtesy OPRD)

A key moment in this is happening Monday, August 11, when Oregons oldest wooden lighthouse gets its glow back. At 11 a.m. crews will use a crane to lift the approximately 11,000-pound lantern back to the top of the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

Constructed in 1871, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the only surviving wooden lighthouse on the Oregon Coast and the last in the state to feature a combined tower and living quarters. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which manages hundreds of historic structures statewide, is overseeing the $1.8 million restoration project.

The lantern lift is expected to take about an hour and will be visible from the public parking area at Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site. Access to the construction zone will be restricted unless arranged in advance.

The lighthouse is slated to reopen to the public at the end of August once restoration work is complete.

Event: Lantern returning to the top of the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

Date: 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11

Location: Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site in Newport

Project: The $1.8 million restoration includes repairs to roof framing, chimney, brick foundation, lantern, siding, doors and windows, along with a new roof and full exterior repainting to protect the 150-year-old structure.

Parking: Available in the public lot with clear views of the lighthouse; no access to the construction zone without prior arrangement.

It's been an eventful year at this Oregon coast hotspot: earlier they had to remove a famous tree because it was decaying. Decay Hits Beloved Oregon Coast Tree, Now the Newport Icon Must Be Cut Down

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse has a unique history for many reasons, including the fact Newport is the only town on the coast with two lighthouses. While the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse lit up in 1871, it was decommissioned only three years later when the Yaquina Head Lighthouse went up and replaced it.

The bay lighthouse is also the source of an interesting ghost story that started all because of a piece of short fiction published in the local newspaper about 100 years ago (see links below).





It then spent decades as a kind of zombie home: derelict, falling apart, and occasionally used (including by the military during World War II). Right after the war it was scheduled for demolition and nearly lost to time, but somewhat saved in the '50s when some plans emerged to refurbish it. That didn't happen until the '70s and it finally reopened in '75 as an attraction.

Other lighthouses on the coast you can still visit include Coquille Light in Bandon, Port Orford's Cape Blanco and Cape Meares near Oceanside.

SEE:

Almost Haunted Oregon Coast: Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Lore and Legends, Part 2

Landmarks and Legends of an Oregon Coast Lighthouse, Newport's Yaquina Bay, Part I







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UPDATE: PAC leader Beto O'Rourke has told a Democrat rally that "Democrats will do anything to regain power - F__K the Rules!"

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/08/repeat-loser-beto-orourke-tells-texas-crowd-democrats/

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/08/09/betos-profane-rant-at-rally-for-runaway-tx-dems-reveals-what-theyd-do-if-they-regained-power-n2192647

This guy, and his buddy Soros, need to have some serious criminal charges filed against them.

__________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL POST:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has scored a major victory in court against the "fleebagger" runway Texas Democrat legislators who are playing hooky our of state to try to stop Governor Abbot from un-gerrymandering Texas' Congressional districts. In a lawsuit filed by Paxton against the PAC paying the Democrats out of state expenses, which is affiliated with "Beto" O'Rourk and with Soros, a Texas judge has issued an injunction ordering the PAC to stop paying for the expenses of the runaway Democrats until the case is fully heard.

Paxton's case argues that under Texas law a PAC raising campaign funds to pay the personal expenses of elected officials is illegal. While not at issue in this civil case, it has also pointed out that this can be criminally prosecuted as bribery, a felony, both on those giving the funds and those receiving them.

This comes as the House speaker has cut off the fleebagger Democrats from being paid any salary or expenses. Arrest warrants for failing to do their duties by showing up for work at the legislature have also been issued.

At issue are five Democrat held Congressional seats that had been gerrymandered in the last redistricting on the theory that states were required to gerrymander to create "minority coalition" districts. Federal courts have since ruled in a case from Galveston that such districts are not required under the Voting Rights Act, so Texas wants to un-gerrymander them.

Texas Governor Abbot has pointed out that if the Democrats want to play hardball, there are three more Democrat districts he could flip by gerrynamdering if he wanted to.

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/08/08/ken-paxton-sues-beto-and-his-group-n2192624

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/beto-orourke-texas-democrats-ken-paxton-fundraising-quorum-break/

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/08/09/ken-paxton-dunks-on-beto-after-court-win-on-runaway-tx-dems-n2192628
Over 10,000 were in the Falls Park for the Feile dance night (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Over 10,000 young people have attended a dance night in west Belfast.

Organisers hailed the event, saying it brings young people off the streets and away from the potential of unwanted and destructive bonfires.

It is part of Feile an Phobail community festival which has been staged this week.

Last nights event in Falls Park brought together a host of DJs, including Matty Ralph, NIFRA, Paul Van Dyk and Will Atkinson.

It is staged as a diversionary event from bonfires, which have traditionally been lit each year to mark the anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial on August 9 1971.

The controversial policy saw thousands of people, mostly nationalists, detained.

Over 10,000 were in the Falls Park for the Feile dance night (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Feile celebrate 5th consecutive year of no August bonfires in west Belfast

However, efforts have been made over several years, including the dance night as part of Feile, to divert young people from pyres.

Feile director Kevin Gamble said: The benefit of the absence of these unwanted bonfires on August 8 is significant.

As well as the positive images of young people from all parts of the city and beyond enjoying themselves emanating from the Falls Park, there is also a considerable benefit to the local economy which the associated increase in visitor footfall and spending brings due to Feile.
DUP representative Dean McCullough says adults should not be in a childrens play park unless accompanied by a child. Stock photo.

A proposal to stop adults loitering in Belfasts play parks unless they are accompanying a child has been pushed back for further discussion.

Parties at Belfast City Council could not agree on the DUP motion to consult the public on the matter.

At a committee meeting at City Hall this week, a motion was deferred over wording for a consultation on safeguarding Belfasts play parks, and to look at legal implications with the City Solicitor.

The motion by DUP representative Dean McCullough was put forward at the People and Communities Committee.

Sinn Fein, after proposing and then withdrawing an amendment to the DUP motion, then successfully proposed deferring the matter for the party group leaders to privately discuss.

The DUP motion reads: Belfast City Council expresses its deep concern at the growing number of reports relating to indecent, threatening and predatory behaviour in council-owned play parks across Belfast.

It calls on the council to commit to the creation of a comprehensive safeguarding Belfasts play parks policy, to prohibit loitering in and around childrens play parks by any adult not accompanying a child, or without a legitimate purpose

The motion calls for a full public consultation, both online and in person, to hear the views of residents, parents/guardians, and community organisations in directly shaping this policy.

It also commits City Hall to work with statutory bodies  including the PSNI, Home Office and community organisations  to combat predatory sexual crime and anti-social behaviour in our public spaces.

Mr McCullough told the meeting: One of the greatest concerns is the number of unreported incidents, cases where parents or residents have been too afraid, too disheartened, or too unsure to go through all the channels, like the PSNI, or indeed Belfast City Council.

There continues to be all sorts of reasons for that fear and distrust, including simply not knowing the process. Thats why it is essential that we hear directly from communities, from parents, residents and local organisations who use these parks every day.

He added: I do have strong personal views. Except for extreme examples, adults should not be in a childrens play park unless accompanied by a child. But I also recognise that the consultation, alongside input from members and stakeholders alike, will help us refine and test that principle - and develop workable proposals.

Mr McCullough said it is not about panic or point scoring, it is about common sense, community safety, and doing our duty to protect children and families in space that were built for them.

Sinn Fein councillor Rois-Maire Donnelly said at the meeting: We agree that all forms of criminality in any of our assets is deeply concerning for all of us, and it is something we should look at.

She proposed an amendment, which stated: Belfast City Council expresses its deep concern at a number of reports of criminality in council-owned parks across Belfast. Accordingly, this council commits to creation of a comprehensive Safety in Belfast Parks policy.

In the creation of this strategy, Belfast City Council will engage with the PSNI and other statutory bodies to combat all criminal activity in our parks and assets.

DUP representative Dean McCullough says adults should not be in a childrens play park unless accompanied by a child. Stock photo.

News Catch Up - Friday 8th August

Mr McCullough said: I appreciate that predatory behaviour is absolutely criminal, but (the amendment) does dilute (the motion) somewhat. The specific focus is on predatory behaviour in play parks. But I will not quarrel with it.

We want a full public consultation that allows park users, primarily parents and their families, to actually shape the outcome. He added: We will not be accepting anything short of a full public consultation.

After a break in the chamber, Councillor Rois-Maire Donnelly returned to say Sinn Fein had withdrawn their amendment.

She said: After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing we are happy to remove our amendment, and propose it goes to party group leaders, to tease out what the framework will look like, and what exactly we are looking for from this. Because I dont think we are going to get a broad agreement over it this evening.
Protestors defy the ban against support for Palestine Action at the Guildhall in Derry on Saturday.

A pro-Palestine group in Derry has accused the PSNI of intimidation after members were accused of offences under the Terrorism Act ahead of a demonstration.

It comes as more than 200 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square for a demonstration organised by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, who said approximately 1,000 sign-holders had turned up.

The government outlawed Palestine Action last month under terrorism laws, with membership carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said violence and criminal damage had no place in legitimate protest, and Palestine Actions activities, including breaking into an RAF base and spraying two aircraft with red paint, justified the ban.

Palestine Action has increasingly targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain.

It accuses the government of complicity in Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

Derry IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign) said some of its activists had letters hand-delivered from the PSNI on Friday evening.

That came ahead of a protest in Guildhall Square to lift the ban on Palestine Action, where a group of protestors again defied the ban by holding signs that read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.

They included at least one of the Bloody Sunday families, while civil rights veteran Eamonn McCann was also in attendance.

The PSNI said it has grounds to suspect they have committed offences contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 during the Defend the Right to Protest protests on July 19 and 26.

Derry IPSC added: We wonder how many such notices have been given to all those carrying UVF flags in recent weeks.

We wont be intimidated or dissuaded, they cannot arrest us all, we are all Palestine action!

This hand delivered on a Friday night before our protest tomorrow clearly suggests they want to put people off joining us tomorrow, an obvious attempt at intimidation.

Protestors defy the ban against support for Palestine Action at the Guildhall in Derry on Saturday.

Israels security cabinet backs plans to take over Gaza City

A letter from the PSNI shows that the accused were invited to respond to an email address to arrange an interview as a voluntary attendee.

It adds: Failure to make contact with the police to arrange a suitable date for interview, within ten days of receipt of this letter, may result in you being reported to the Public Prosecution Service without the opportunity to provide your account.

This follows People Before Profit councillor in Derry, Shaun Harkin, being charged by the Public Prosecution Service for participating in a pro-Palestine protest.

Shaun informed the PSNI he would not be accepting a PPS caution for participating in a Derry City Centre protest on the 17 February 2024 because he did nothing wrong and was prepared to go to court to prove this.

Mr Harkin said: "The people of Gaza are being starved to death and pushed into a Rafah concentration camp.

Every action to stop the Gaza genocide is an act for humanity against barbarism.

The PPS and the PSNI should be focused on identifying those in Westminster and Stormont who have incited support for Israel as it carries out war crimes and government bodies providing funding for business organisations to make parts for F-35 murder jets that are being used to kill tens of thousands of Palestinian children.

Israel's supporters have lost all legitimacy. They can no longer defend or hide the barbarism they support, so they are trying to silence the mass global movement opposed to genocide.
A former hotel manager appeared in court today accused of stealing 150,000 worth of jewellery from his wife.

Due to hearing difficulties, a copy of the bill of indictment had to be handed to 75-year-old Joseph Harkins as he stood in the dock of Belfast Magistrates Court so that he could read it.
Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International in Belfast as counter-protestors gather in opposition against a protest in Belfast city centre behind Belfast City Hall. Several dozen anti asylum seeker protestors gathered outside a Belfast hotel. Photo by Press Eye.

A man is detained by PSNI officers at the protest in Belfast city centre behind Belfast City Hall. Photo by Press Eye.

A woman has been arrested in Belfast for wearing a t-shirt in support of now proscribed group Palestine Action at a counter-demonstration to an anti-immigration protest.

MLAs have condemned the police for its response, saying it is part of a regressive clampdown.

It follows the British government introducing legislation to outlaw Palestine Action, with membership carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said violence and criminal damage had no place in legitimate protest, and Palestine Actions activities, including breaking into an RAF base and spraying two aircraft with red paint, justified the ban.

Palestine Action has increasingly targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain.

It accuses the government of complicity in Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

The arrest occurred against the backdrop of what has been branded a far-right racist protest outside a hotel in Belfast city centre. At least one man was also detained by police.

Some of those who were organisers of the anti-immigration protest have a Facebook page called The Great Province-Wide Protest NI and staged this demonstration after holding one at a hotel in Newtownabbey last weekend.

They have denied being racist and have said they are raising genuine concerns about immigration.

Stephen Baker said Saturdays protest outside the Ten Square Hotel was staged because it has the same owners as the Chimney Corner Hotel in Newtownabbey which they have concerns about people being housed in.

He also made a series of unsubstantiated claims on social media about men he said were residing in the Chimney Corner Hotel. According to the hotels website, the premises are currently closed to the general public.

He concluded: At what point do we say, no, and end this I need your support folks, I need your back up. Lets show these lefties that we own these streets.

Speaking after a counter-demonstration outside the hotel, People Before Profit MLA, Gerry Carroll, said: Once again, Belfast has turned out en masse to show far right, racist agitators that their hateful rhetoric has no place in our city.

Today, this racist mob attempted to move their hate fest from Chimney Corner back into Belfast city centre.

Their aim was to stir up fear and hatred towards innocent people seeking asylum, including children.

Unsurprisingly, they were outnumbered by a crowd of hundreds, who reaffirmed the message that Belfast should be a safe and welcoming place for all.

These racist grifters have nothing to offer working class communities, except hatred and division.

Each time they attempt to mobilise and invite violence, all of us have a duty to stand up and challenge it.

He also commented on the arrest of one person and caution of two other activists for wearing 'Palestine Action' t-shirts at the anti-racist counter-demonstration.

The whole world can see the mass starvation and daily executions carried out by Israel, yet the people being harassed in Belfast are those who stand up for Palestine," Mr Carroll said.

On the same day we saw far-right protesters with offensive and provocative signage, including pro-Israel items, the police took it upon themselves to arrest activists for having the temerity to wear items of clothing in solidarity action.

The British government implemented a regressive clampdown with their vote to proscribe Palestine Action, without a single vote being cast in the local Assembly.

Im calling on Executive Ministers to speak up for the right to protest, organise for peace and to have these charges thrown out. 

Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan has slammed the governments attempts to criminalise the Palestinian solidarity movement.

He was speaking after the PSNI arrested a woman in her 60s in Belfast peacefully protesting against Israels ongoing genocide.

Mr Sheehan said: The British governments attempts to criminalise the Palestinian solidarity movement, and the subsequent actions of the PSNI in enforcing this draconian legislation, have been disgraceful.

While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out.

Just yesterday, Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City. Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage.

Like all previous censorship attempts by the British government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail.

Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israels policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain.

Ten Square Hotel was contacted for comment

This article was amended on August 10, 2025 to remove a photograph which contained the caption "General view of a protest in Belfast city centre behind Belfast City Hall. Several dozen anti-asylum seeker protestors gathered outside a Belfast hotel" following a complaint that someone identified in the photograph was not an anti-asylum protestor.
These young marchers were pictured on the City Walls.

William Walker, right, Governor, and Ronnie Cole, Lieutenant Governor of the General Committee, pictured before the start of the parade.

Bands will make their way along Derry's walls Pic: Lorcan Doherty/Presseye

The Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABOD) have hailed an outstanding day of colour and pageant at the 336th Anniversary of the Relief of Derry.

Thousands of people took part in the annual ABOD parade which saw some 125 bands participate.

The Relief of Derry is one of the biggest loyal order parades in Northern Ireland and marks the anniversary of the ending of the Siege of Derry on 1 August 1689.

This lasted 105 days during the Williamite War. The annual celebrations also remember the 13 apprentice boys who at the time closed Derrys gates to keep King James IIs forces out in December 1688.

Governor of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry said: The Association has worked hard to ensure an enjoyable day for all in Londonderry for our Annual Commemorations.

"It has been an outstanding day of colour and pageant, Commemoration and celebration

Our thanks to the PSNI, Translink and Council departments we have worked with over the past six months and more to bring everything together and for their support in undertaking changes that have improved movement around the City for those on parade and for the general public.

Wed like to thank the Maiden City Festival who entertained visitors from across the World on the Walls in St. Columbs Cathedral and in the Memorial Hall. Visitors have poured through the doors of the Siege Museum individually and on booked tours learning about the Siege, the Apprentice Boys and the City.

"The Festival continues to set the mood ahead of the main event at the weekend.

He said ABOD will be sitting down in the next week or so to thoroughly review all reports, debrief with the PSNI and our Marshal team, to take action as appropriate and to carry forward learning points on how to improve further for the future.

Finally, I would like to thank the thousands of Apprentice Boys who wore the Crimson with Pride, the bands engaged, and their family and friends, and the many visitors spectating, for making another memorable day for our Association and for the City.

"We hope all had a safe journey home and look forward to seeing everyone once again in beloved Londonderry, he concluded.

Parades on the Walls began at 9.30am on Saturday morning, with a main parade made up of bands from Northern Ireland and Scotland moving off at 12.30pm.

The demonstrations were brought to a close when the Parent Clubs and General Committee march back to the city centre and return the colours to the Memorial Hall in Society Street.

That commenced at 5pm from May Street and made its way via Clooney Terrace and Spencer Road to Craigavon Bridge.

These young marchers were pictured on the City Walls.

The main parades come after a week of celebrations during the Maiden City Festival.

Speaking ahead of the event, the governor of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, William Walker, said marking the Siege of Derry was still relevant today.

"I think it's very important that everybody learns the history of why the Apprentice Boys are here," he told the BBC.

"It's not just about flags, drums, and bands.

"It's about the significance of what the brave 13 [Apprentice Boys] did  what the people endured during the 105 days of the siege."

DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton congratulated those involved in the Apprentice Boys Celebrations today.

"A wonderful cultural display, he said. Huge crowds of spectators along the route (biggest I've seen) and a great turnout of bands and brethren. Even the weather was kind.

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Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Mr Walker said the event attracted people from "all walks of life" and they had done a lot of work to make the event more inclusive.

"We want everyone to come here and feel safe and comfortable to sit and watch the parade," he said.

"Where we have come from to now has been a vast improvement, and I commend all the hard work that has been done in the past."

A number of DUP politicians attended the parade including it MLA for Upper Bann Jonathan Buckley and Strangford MP Jim Shannon.

Bands will make their way along Derry's walls Pic: Lorcan Doherty/Presseye

The symbolic firing of a cannon took place on Derrys walls at midnight ahead of the parade.

The main parade started at 12.30pm at Craigavon Bridge, headed by the Saracen Truth Defenders Flute Band of Glasgow.

It passed through the city centre, then the Fountain Estate. Marchers made their way back across the bridge to finish at Bond Street.

During the march, from noon to 5pm, visitors witnessed gunners firing muskets, as well as the cannons used in the 17th century war, at Society Street car park.

The head of Saturday's Apprentice Boys parade on Craigavon Bridge.

News Catch Up - Friday 8th August

Some traffic diversions were in place to accommodate the parade making its way through the city.

On-street parking anywhere on the parade route will be restricted for the duration of the parade, a PSNI spokesperson said.

Alice and Amy of the Inver Flute Band.

Any cars parked on the parade route will not be able to move until the parade has passed their point. Information about diversions and road closures will be signposted.

The top deck of Craigavon Bridge will be closed for the duration of the parade as it is part of the main parade route.

Jonathan Buckley MLA, and Jim Shannon MP, pictured at Saturday's parade.

The lower deck of Craigavon Bridge will remain open in both directions, but with access only onto Victoria Road.

There will be no left-turn access from the bottom deck of Craigavon Bridge for drivers coming from the Cityside.

The road between the lower deck of Craigavon Bridge and Dales Corner will be closed for the duration of the parade and will have access for parade bus traffic only.

Ebrington complex is accessible via Limavady Road.
exclusive | New UUP MLA Jon Burrows: I narrowly escaped paedophile teachers clutches - Im still angry he got away with it for so long

New UUP MLA Jon Burrows on paedophile Lindsay Brown, serving with the Met and PSNI, accusations hes a celebrity politician, how David Camerons Bloody Sunday apology hit right note, and why Simon Byrne failed badly as chief constable

Jon Burrows

Suzanne Breen Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 08:04

UUP MLA Jon Burrows says he escaped the clutches of prolific paedophile schoolteacher Lindsay Brown by centimetres.
The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine, European leaders have said, as US President Donald Trump prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on Friday.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission, said that the current line of contact between Russia and Ukraine could only be a starting point of negotiations.

They said: Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.

The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.

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We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.

The statement comes a day after Mr Trump announced that he would meet Mr Putin in Alaska on Friday, as he seeks an end to a conflict he had promised he could finish on his first day in office.

The US president had earlier suggested that any peace deal was likely to involve some swapping of territories, with reports suggesting this could involve Ukraine giving up its Donetsk region.

But President Volodymyr Zelensky has already rejected any proposal that would compromise Ukraines territorial integrity, something that is forbidden by Ukraines constitution.

He said Mr Putin wanted to exchange a pause in the war, in the killing, for the legalisation of the occupation of our land  he wants to get territorial spoils for the second time.

Mr Zelensky added: We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia, where there is a second, there will be a third.

He also said that any peace agreement that excluded Ukraine would be a decision against peace.

In their statement, the European leaders said they welcomed Mr Trumps work to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federations war of aggression and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine.

Adding that they were ready to support this work diplomatically and through military and financial support for Kyiv, they reiterated the need for robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine and their own unwavering support for the country.

The statement also comes after Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted a meeting of top Ukrainian officials and European national security advisers alongside US vice-president JD Vance on Saturday.

Saturdays meeting of national security advisers was co-hosted by US vice-president JD Vance (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

The meeting took place at the Foreign Secretarys official country retreat, Chevening, in Kent, where Mr Vance is staying at the start of a UK holiday.

After the meeting, Mr Lammy said: The UKs support for Ukraine remains ironclad as we continue working towards a just and lasting peace.

It is understood that the meeting had been called at Washingtons request, and included representatives from the US, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and Poland as well as the UK.

Ukraine was represented by Rustem Umerov, secretary of the countrys national security and defence council, and the head of Mr Zelenskys office, Andriy Yermak.

In a post on social media, Mr Yermak said the allies positions were clear that a reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table, with full respect for our sovereignty and without recognising the occupation.

Ahead of the meeting at Chevening, Sir Keir discussed the talks in a call with Mr Zelensky on Saturday, and also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues, with Ukrainian authorities reporting four people killed and 16 wounded in Russian drone strikes on Saturday in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Scottish Labour leader was speaking to the PA news agency (Jane Barlow/PA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not a partner in peace who will eventually have to answer to international courts over the crisis in Gaza, the leader of Scottish Labour has said.

Anas Sarwar hit out at the Israeli premier as he announced plans to take over Gaza City in a new offensive.

While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the plans were wrong, Mr Sarwar was much more strident, describing Mr Netanyahu as a war criminal.

Following news of the offensive, the Scottish Greens urged the Prime Minister to expel the Israeli ambassador from the UK.

The Prime Minister said the new offensive was wrong (Isabel Infantes/PA)

But Mr Sarwar said he did not want to get into stunts.

The problem here is Benjamin Netanyahu, his Israel government, his illegal occupation, his lack of interest in peace and the fact that he clearly has no respect for international law, and gives no value to the sanctity of human life, he told the PA news agency.

He is a danger to his own population in Israel, but hes also a danger to the Palestinian population and a danger to the wider region in the Middle East.

He added: We all have to be resolute in saying that Netanyahu is a war criminal, hes not acting in the interests of peace.

Hes not a partner for peace, Hamas is a terrorist organisation that committed horrific acts on October 7 2023  they arent partners for peace.

Diplomacy, the Scottish Labour leader said, had not yet worked in ending the conflict, but shutting off communications would not help matters.

Diplomacy hasnt worked in terms of the war ending, because the war is still ongoing, he said.

There is a plausible case for genocide that the Israeli government has to answer and one day I believe will have to answer to the ICC and the ICJ.

But we have to urgently end the war  if we think just stopping talking to the Israeli government means that we end the war, I think thats a pretty naive view of the situation right now.

The only person who the Israel Government would listen to, he said, would be US President Donald Trump, as he urged the international community to exert as much pressure as possible on the administration.

Asked if he felt the UK Government had done enough to solve the issue, the Scottish Labour leader said it had done a lot, but added: I think theres still more we have to look at.

Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said the UK Government has been an active participant in what she described as a genocide in Gaza.

Urging restraint is not enough, the hypocrisy must end. The arms sales must stop and so must the military collaboration and political support that has gone with them.

The Scottish Green co-leader called for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled (Jane Barlow/PA)

That must mean backing sanctions against Israeli forces and expelling the Israeli ambassador who has served as a mouthpiece for genocide.

This has been a disgraceful chapter in UK foreign policy and has made the Prime Minister and his colleagues complicit in some of the worst war crimes of this century.

The UK Government has been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister John Swinney hit out at the announcement of the new offensive.

The decision of the Israeli Government to seize control of Gaza City is completely and utterly unacceptable, he said in a post on X.

It will create even more human suffering for the Palestinian people and further escalate the conflict.

The international community must stop Israel and secure a ceasefire.
Revellers have field day at Farmers Bash as Thin Lizzy legend Eric Bell jams with Ash on stage at Custom House Square

Some 30,000 party-loving farmers expected at two-day shindig...as Thin Lizzy legend Eric Bell joins Ash on stage at Custom House Square

Having a ball are (from left) Jessica McCullagh, Rachel Lucy, Millie Graham, Alfie Graham, Katie Graham and Lauren Crooke from Fermanagh. Pics: Liam McBurney

Angela Davison Sat 9 Aug 2025 at 21:41







Tens of thousands of people were keepin er country on Saturday as the Farmers Bash Weekender kicked off at Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast.
GREAT BARRINGTON  The Board of Health has decided to drop its corrective order against Housatonic Water Works in hopes that easing the financial strain for the company will prevent additional delays on the manganese filtration system.

The filtration system is meant to help fix the discolored water that customers endure, which is caused by excess manganese, particularly in summer months.

Upgrading the old systems is a multimillion dollar project that was supposed to take place over five years, but has been delayed due to the company's inability to get additional loans from the bank while litigation with the town is pending.

A joint agreement between the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the company from July said Housatonic Water Works Co. must have its new manganese filtration system up and running by March 1 or face hefty fines.

But, they also agreed that if litigation is the reason for financing concerns, the company can request an extension.

Board of Health Chair Michael Lanoue said it has reliable information that the company can't afford to install the filter while legal battles drag on and therefore the board should take steps to help.

"This has been a challenging situation, but the board finds that the systemwide benefits that are expected from the manganese filtration plant are a reason to proceed in this direction," he said.

The board then unanimously voted to have the town counsel resolve the litigation. Lanoue then reminded customers to report any instances of discolored water to the company.

As part of the July agreement, the company must obtain and make publicly available all complaints of discolored water. The numbers are expected to be published weekly beginning Aug. 11.

By rescinding its corrective order from September that has dragged on in court for nearly a year, the board hopes to ease financial strains so the filtration system can be installed by March 2026 without further delay.

The order from September directed Housatonic Water Works to provide bottled water to customers, but a Superior Court issued an injunction in November and the battle has dragged on.

The original timeline that was agreed on last summer required the company to upgrade its system and fix other problems over five years. Rates would be raised by 90 percent and the company would spend $4.5 million on upgrades.

Phase 2 was supposed to start Aug. 1, after the installation of the filtration system, with a price hike of 39.68 percent, but it was announced in January it would be delayed because of financial reasons.

The July agreement set a new timeline with a slew of mini deadlines and compliance requirements. This includes construction starting Aug. 1 and final installation by Feb. 1.

MassDEP also is requiring monthly progress reports, water quality postings, and short-term mitigation measures, including offering a free filter system at the Housatonic Community House as a temporary place for residents to access clean water and installing new flushing infrastructure where needed.
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Ralph Gardner Jr. is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and New York magazine. He can be reached at ralph@ralphgardner.com. More of his work can be found on Substack.
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Mental health charity Turn2Me has said new research revealing the number of Irish adults who have had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot points to a "very real and growing loneliness crisis in Ireland".

Results from a survey by Pure Telecom found 13 per cent per cent of Irish men have tried a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot in the last 12 months, while seven per cent of women have.

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Figures showed that 370,000 adults in Ireland have tried a romantic relationship with a bot, and the age group most likely to have had a romantic relationship with a bot was 25-34.

The survey also found that a further 12 per cent of adults would not rule out such a relationship in the future.

Turn2Me said human interaction is vital to counteract loneliness and stated these findings are a stark indicator of the deepening social isolation many people are facing in Ireland.

Chief executive of Turn2Me, Fiona O'Malley, said: "These figures are concerning because they point to a very real and growing loneliness crisis in Ireland.

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"While AI chatbots may provide temporary comfort, they cannot replace the depth, nuance and mutual support of human relationships.

"We urge anyone feeling isolated to reach out for support, whether thats through friends, family, or services like Turn2Me, because loneliness is not something you have to face alone.

"Humans are a social species; we are tribal in nature. Numerous studies show that loneliness can lead to significant health issues, while being sociable and having a good social network can improve our wellbeing, health, and quality of life."

O'Malley said the findings serve as a reminder that while technology can enhance our lives, it can also deepen existing emotional gaps if it replaces meaningful human connection.
A wide range of stories feature across Saturday's newspaper front pages, including "payback time" for Ryan Tubridy.

The Irish Times reports on the widespread international criticism of the Israeli security cabinets decision to approve prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to take control of Gaza City.

HSE staff suffered over 25,700 physical, sexual, or verbal assaults in just over four years, according to the Irish Examiner.

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The Irish Independent says elder abuse is to be made a specific criminal offence by the Government.

The Irish Daily Mail reveals that scores of violent incidents have been reported at the Citywest international protection accommodation centre.

Gardai will not pursue a new criminal case against Conor McGregor over the alleged rape of Nikita Hand, the Irish Daily Mirror reports.

The Herald and Irish Daily Star report that Ryan Tubridy repaid RTE a sum of 150,000 he received as part of a controversial payment deal made in 2020.

A new MLA tells the Belfast Telegraph that he "escaped the clutches" of a notorious paedophile teacher.

The Ulster Farmers' Union has demanded a meeting with the North's Infrastructure Minister over plans for the A5 road upgrade, The Irish News reports.

The Echo says fines issued to Cork drivers for parking in disabled spaces have dropped by 40 per cent since 2023.
Police have made 150 arrests as protesters gathered in central London to show support for Palestine Action in defiance of its ban as a terror group.

Defend Our Juries, which organised the demonstration, said between 600 and 700 people were in Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon.

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The Metropolitan Police said it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.

Hundreds gathered in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent.

Several demonstrators carrying placards that read Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques, briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers.

Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants.

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Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square.

A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue.

They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square.

The officers lifted the protesters  some sitting and some lying flat  off the ground before escorting them away.

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A woman is detained by police in Parliament Square (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted Shame on you at the police making arrests.

Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air.

One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand.

The arrest was for a placard showing support for Palestine Action, Scotland Yard said.

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Protesters held signs in support of Palestine Action (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.

Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

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Demonstrators were seen lying on the ground (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.

This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.
The British foreign secretary will host a meeting of national security advisers on Saturday as Donald Trump pushes for a peace deal in Ukraine.

Downing Street announced that the meeting at David Lammys official country retreat, Chevening, would bring together advisers from the US, Europe and Ukraine to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace.

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It is understood the meeting was arranged at the request of the US and will be co-hosted by American vice-president JD Vance, who is staying in Kent at Chevening at the start of his UK holiday.

It comes after Mr Trump announced that he would meet Russian president Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15th to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

David Lammy and JD Vance will host the meeting at Chevening, in Kent, where the US vice-president is visiting the British foreign secretary at the start of his UK holiday (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

The US president had earlier suggested that any peace deal was likely to involve some swapping of territories, with reports suggesting this could involve Ukraine giving up its Donetsk region.

He had previously threatened to impose more stringent tariffs on Russia if Mr Putin did not agree to a ceasefire by Friday.

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But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has already rejected any proposal that would compromise Ukraines territorial integrity, saying Kyiv will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

Donald Trump has said he will meet Vladimir Putin on August 15th to discuss a possible peace deal (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Ukraines constitution forbids giving away territory.

Mr Zelenskiy also warned that any peace agreement that excluded Ukraine would lead to dead solutions.

Ahead of the meeting at Chevening, British prime minister Keir Starmer discussed the talks in a call with Mr Zelenskiy on Saturday morning.

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A Downing Street spokesperson said: Both leaders welcomed President Trumps desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war.

The prime minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

Mr Lammy held formal talks with Mr Vance at Chevening on Friday, during which they were expected to discuss the war in Ukraine.
US president Donald Trump will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin on August 15th in Alaska to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Trump said on Friday.

Trump made the highly anticipated announcement on social media after he said that the parties, including Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, were close to a ceasefire deal that could resolve the three-and-a-half-year conflict, one that could require Ukraine to surrender significant territory.

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Addressing reporters at the White House earlier on Friday, Trump suggested an agreement would involve some exchange of land.

"There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," the Republican president said.

However, president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine could not violate its constitution on the territorial issues, adding that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupiers."

The Kremlin confirmed the summit in an online statement.

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The two leaders will "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis," Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

"This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically," Ushakov said.

In a video address to the nation posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Zelenskiy said that any decisions without Ukraine would be decisions against peace.

"They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we all need real and genuine peace," Zelenskiy said.

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Putin claims four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which he annexed in 2014. His forces do not fully control all the territory in the four regions.

Earlier, Bloomberg News reported that US and Russian officials were working towards an agreement that would lock in Moscow's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion.

A White House official said the Bloomberg story was speculation. A Kremlin spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters was unable to confirm aspects of the Bloomberg report.

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Ukraine has previously signaled a willingness to be flexible in the search for an end to a war that has ravaged its towns and cities and killed large numbers of its soldiers and citizens.

But accepting the loss of around a fifth of Ukraine's territory would be painful and politically challenging for Zelenskiy and his government.

Tyson Barker, the US State Department's former deputy special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery, said the peace proposal as outlined in the Bloomberg report would be immediately rejected by the Ukrainians.

"The best the Ukrainians can do is remain firm in their objections and their conditions for a negotiated settlement, while demonstrating their gratitude for American support," said Barker, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.

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Under the putative deal, according to Bloomberg, Russia would halt its offensive in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions along current battle lines.

Trump and Putin

The last time Alaska hosted a high-stakes diplomatic gathering was in March 2021, when senior officials from the administration of Democratic former president Joe Biden met with top Chinese officials in Anchorage.

The get-together involving Biden's top diplomat Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi quickly turned into a stunning public clash in front of the cameras, with both sides leveling sharp rebukes of the others' policies that reflected the high tension in bilateral ties.

Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has moved to mend relations with Russia and sought to end the war. In his public comments he has veered between admiration and sharp criticism of Putin.

In a sign of his growing frustration with Putin's refusal to halt Russia's military offensive, Trump had threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs from Friday against Moscow and countries that buy its exports unless the Russian leader agreed to end the conflict, the deadliest in Europe since the second World War.

It was unclear by Friday evening whether those sanctions would take effect or be delayed or canceled.

The administration took a step toward punishing Moscow's oil customers on Wednesday, imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India over its imports of Russian oil, marking the first financial penalty aimed at Russia in Trump's second term.

World Trump says he will meet with Putin very shortly... Read More

Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff held three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday that both sides described as constructive.

Prime minister Donald Tusk of Poland, a close ally of Ukraine, said earlier on Friday that a pause in the conflict could be close. He was speaking after talks with Zelenskiy.

"There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict  I don't want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict  is closer than it is further away," Tusk told a news conference. "There are hopes for this."

Tusk also said Zelenskiy was "very cautious but optimistic" and that Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea that his country would give up land to end the war with Russia after US President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal could include some swapping of territories.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.

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The remarks came after Mr Trump said he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Mr Zelensky.

The Trump-Putin meeting, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, is seen as a potential breakthrough in the more than three-year war.

Mr Zelensky dismissed the planned summit, warning that any negotiations to end Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War must include Kyiv.

Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work, he said.

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In a statement posted to Telegram, Mr Zelensky said Ukraines territorial integrity, enshrined in the constitution, must be non-negotiable.

Ukrainian officials previously told The Associated Press privately that Kyiv would be amenable to a peace deal that would de facto recognise Ukraines inability to regain lost territories militarily.

 The Trump-Putin summit

The Trump-Putin meeting may prove pivotal in a war that began when Russia invaded its western neighbour and has led to tens of thousands of deaths, although there is no guarantee it will stop the fighting since Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on their conditions for peace.

It seems entirely logical for our delegation to fly across the Bering Strait simply, and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska, Mr Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said on Saturday in a statement posted to the Kremlins news channel.

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President Donald Trump (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

In his comments at the White House on Friday, Mr Trump gave no details on the swapping of territories.

Analysts, including some close to the Kremlin, have suggested that Russia could offer to give up territory it controls outside of the four regions it claims to have annexed.

Mr Trump said his meeting with Mr Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Mr Zelensky.

His announcement that he planned to host one of Americas adversaries on US soil broke with expectations that they would meet in a third country.

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 Reactions in Kyiv

On the streets of Kyiv, reactions to the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia ranged from scepticism to quiet resignation.

It may not be capitulation, but it would be a loss, said Ihor Usatenko, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said he would consider ceding territory on condition for compensation and, possibly, some reparations.

Anastasia Yemelianova, 31, said she was torn: Honestly, I have two answers to that question. The first is as a person who loves her country, I dont want to compromise within myself, she told the AP.

But seeing all these deaths and knowing that my mother is now living in Nikopol under shelling and my father is fighting, I want all this to end as soon as possible.

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Svitlana Dobrynska, whose son died fighting, rejected outright concessions but supported halting combat to save lives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhial Sinitsyn/AP)

We dont have the opportunity to launch an offensive to recapture our territories, the 57-year-old pensioner said. But to prevent people from dying, we can simply stop military operations, sign some kind of agreement, but not give up our territories.

 Ultimatums and sanctions

Before Mr Trump announced the summit, his efforts to pressure Russia to stop the fighting had delivered no progress.

Mr Trump had moved up an ultimatum to impose additional sanctions on Russia and introduce secondary tariffs targeting countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin did not move toward a settlement.

The deadline was on Friday. The White House did not answer questions on Saturday about possible sanctions.

The Kremlins bigger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops and armour while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.

On Saturday, two people died and 16 were wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 16 of the 47 Russian drones launched overnight, while 31 drones hit targets across 15 different locations.

It also said it shot down one of the two missiles Russia deployed.

Russias Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 97 Ukrainian drones over Russia and the Black Sea overnight and 21 more Saturday morning.
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 This story is part of the August 10 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . A baby brushtail possum has just fallen down the chimney into Philippa Northeasts rented cottage outside Adelaide. The actor takes a towel and wraps it around the joey, then places it beside a hot water bottle in a box, which she carefully leaves outside, having seen the mother looking for the youngster that fell from her back. The poor little thing, I think its OK, the 30-year-old star of The Newsreader and Territory reports back to Sunday Life after a five-minute break in our interview. Seated again in front of her grey stone fireplace in the South Australian countryside, Northeasts hair is long and brushed back, and her green eyes uncannily match the painted mantle. Its moving and its crying out for its mum, she reports. Which is interesting because Mum is there but shes very wary. The joeys sudden fall into Northeasts life is apposite, because were talking about motherhood and the Melbourne-born actors role in the new ABC series The Family Next Door, a drama based on Sally Hepworths novel and filmed in Anglesea and Black Rock in Victoria. Northeast plays young mother Essie, who is living at home with her single mother Barbara (Catherine McClements) while she and her partner Ben (Tane Williams Accra) struggle to save a house deposit. Essie says the unsayable about motherhood and her baby, George: I dont enjoy being a constant plaything or a food source or having no time and space to be me. Im too selfish to be a good mother. Convincingly portrayed by Northeast as emotionally fractured, Essies state of mind creates concern for Georges welfare among the family in their claustrophobic residential court. Northeast notes that Essie is diagnosed with postpartum depression in Hepworths novel but not labelled as such in this screen adaptation. She says this is to make the character relatable to more women who have had challenges with motherhood that [dont] fall into a category that is diagnosed, such as loss of identity and feelings of isolation. Macgraw Secret History dress. Levante tights. Jimmy Choo shoes. Credit: Hugh Stewart The actor feels society places excessive expectations of perfection on motherhood. Its meant to be this thing thats life-changing and life-affirming and puts everything else into perspective, she says, resting her chin on her hand in contemplation. But if youre not sure what your identity is prior to having kids, I think it can throw up some pretty big identity crises.

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Its a theme turned over not just by her character but by Northeast herself. Globally and domestically, its a precarious life, and no one knows whats coming next, she says. Probably one of the most compassionate things you can do is ask yourself, Why do I want to bring kids into this world? And what will the impact be on me as well as on them? Im 30 now, and that really weighs heavily on my mind, particularly with the future that we all face. I want to be open enough to question a decision like that, rather than just following a path thats been trod by so many. So, has Northeast come to a clear conclusion about having kids? No, I havent, she says. Growing up, I felt that was the thing you did and would happen. But now, as I get older, I am more open to questioning whether its the right thing. I havent got a clear answer either way, but I want to do the work to know why. Northeasts partner is also an actor and the couple split their time between inner Sydney and a rural property to the citys south-west. Accompanying them is their small blue heeler, Rani, who is happiest chasing kangaroos on the farm. She is our everything, and the hardest thing to be away from when were working, says the actor, who declines to name her partner. We keep the personal details of our life pretty quiet, because its just for us. Gail Sorronda Fairybird dress. Levante tights. Jimmy Choo shoes. Credit: Hugh Stewart Northeast is residing in South Australia while she films a Netflix series remake of My Brilliant Career, in which she plays another character who is questioning womens traditional place in society, Sybylla Melvyn (a role made famous by Judy Davis in the 1979 film). Sybylla and Essie face the same dilemma, says Northeast: What is the cost and the compromise of marrying and having children in comparison to having your own mind and agency and identity? Landing the role of Sybylla, Northeast continues, meant everything  shes such a beloved character, and so iconic. Were being true to the character people love in terms of her sheer determination, her humour, her naivety and her awe for the world. And her mind, of course.

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Northeast found the novel fascinating, given that Miles Franklin began writing this blueprint of her life while still a teenager, and was just 21 when My Brilliant Career was published in 1901. Miles Franklin did end up living the way Sybylla Melvyn was determined to live  she paved a road for women at a time that road just didnt exist. In Northeasts career so far, there is one role in particular that put her on track for these challenging new opportunities  playing Kay Walters in The Newsreader. Directed by Emma Freeman, who also directs The Family Next Door, and set in the cutthroat TV newsrooms of the 1980s, The Newsreaders third and final season aired earlier this year on the ABC. As the Berlin Wall fell in the series denouement, Kay, the heroin-addicted daughter of a media magnate, united with her ambitious, controlling mother, Evelyn, to bring down conniving newsroom boss Lindsay Cunningham. Gail Sorronda Pageant dress. Levante tights. Jimmy Choo shoes. Credit: Hugh Stewart I think Evelyn and Kay might have opened a magazine next, speculates Northeast. Kay would have ended up editor, I feel. Up-market, like Vogue? Probably more of a gossip magazine, to be honest! She would have turned into her mothers right-hand woman. Born and raised in Richmond, in inner Melbourne, Northeast attended Steiner schools where she recalls playing Peter Pan at age 13. Any creative inkling that I have has been fostered from that stream of education, she says. Her mum, Polly, is an English teacher, and her dad, Mark, is an accountant. She is close with her older siblings, Sam and Bridget, and has two younger sisters from her fathers second marriage. Northeast has long been interested in psychology, so she began a Bachelor of Arts majoring in criminology in 2013. But after just one semester at Melbourne University she scored an audition, and then a role, on Home and Away. She subsequently dropped out of university, although during her four years playing Evelyn MacGuire in Summer Bay she completed a degree online with the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. After leaving Home and Away in 2017 and playing Sunny opposite R.J. Mitte in Steven Vidlers 2019 independent film Standing Up for Sunny, she went to the US to slog it out during the notoriously tough pilot-auditioning season. Then COVID hit.

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More than five years later, she looks back on that period philosophically; it taught her to cultivate a life outside work. It was a blessing in a way, because my partner and I moved to the country, we got a dog, we got chickens. We had a blissful experience where we werent jetting around to auditions. [My career] momentum dropped out, but it gave me enough time to redefine myself as an actor whos more mature and ready to audition for different roles. Loading Today, actors can live almost anywhere and mostly audition online. Facing rejection on the couch with your dog and with your loved ones is much easier than facing rejection in some sterile little half a bedroom you cant afford in LA with no friends and family, she laughs. Like Sybylla, Northeast is forging a brilliant career on home soil, with a sharp instinct for empathy after the fallow work years. The light is falling now, and the actor must end the interview and turn her thoughts back to the fur baby in the cold gloaming. The Family Next Door airs on ABC and iView from August 10. Fashion editor: Penny McCarthy. Hair: Michael Brennan. Make-up: Linda Jefferyes. Styling assistant: Sienna Wise. Stockists: Gail Sorronda; Jimmy Choo; Levante; Macgraw.
In a steamy kitchen in western Sydney, sisters Sanjana and Shivangi Munial prepare to sell the days homemade orders on quite the unconventional food-selling platform: Facebook Marketplace.

There, a rotating menu of north Indian curries starting at $8 is advertised. The sisters, who arrived in Australia less than three years ago from India, work full-time selling food on social media.

Sanjana and Shivangi Munial preparing to sell north Indian food on Facebook Marketplace from their South Wentworthville home. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

In the South Wentworthville kitchen, curries are being ladled into plastic containers, ranging from paneer bhurji (Indian cottage cheese with spices) to dal makhni (lentils) and butter chicken, ready to go out.

When asked about the level of hygiene in the kitchen, Shivangi said: We are always using gloves, [have an] apron on, and a cap as well, because we eat the same food... we cant compromise our health. Thats why we are not compromising other [peoples] health.
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 Asmall of piece of 21-year-old Max Shearers brain is kept locked in a bank in Brisbane. Shearer has visited the Queensland Childrens Tumour Bank  built to collect paediatric tissue for research into, and treatment of, childhood cancer  just once to observe his donation. He says the moment he saw the rare tumour, discovered when he was 11 years of age, was surreal. Max Shearer was just 11 years old when doctors discovered a rare form of brain cancer. Seeing this thing that started this whole journey was wild, he says. Shearer brushes back his fringe and searches through his thick brown hair for two concealed white lines. But for these symmetrical scars, theres no evidence he was seriously ill as a child.

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It began with debilitating headaches when he was nine. [They] just wouldnt go away, he recalls. [I wasnt] able to do anything; I couldnt stand [or] lay down, I was just in all this pain. Max (right) with his old brother Dan shortly after his diagnosis. His parents sought advice from doctors, but no medical explanation was found. By 2014, the following year, the headaches had become more frequent, and Shearer was regularly ending up in emergency.

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My parents knew something was up  the doctors would do all the tests but when they didnt find anything, they would just send me home. During one episode, when he was about to be discharged from the emergency department at the Mater Hospital, a passing doctor suggested a CAT scan. Shearer had no concept of what they might find. I was in this crazy pain ... lying in this room crying, saying to my mum, Whats wrong with me? because I knew something was up, I just had no clue what it was. The scan found six tumours on Shearers brain. The largest, about the size of an egg located on the midbrain, had caused hydrocephalus, a condition leading to excess fluid on the brain. This explained the hectic headaches. There were all these doctors looking at the screen [with the scan results]. It went from one doctor, to two doctors, to five doctors, to 10, Shearer says.

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Mum just squeezed my hand and said: Itll all be OK. Dont worry, well get through this.  Max and his mum. Shearer underwent emergency surgery to drain the fluid on his brain that night. A short time later, he had a dual craniotomy to debulk (remove as much as possible of) the primary tumour on his midbrain, and remove another tumour in the ventricle system entirely. The other four tumours could not be operated on. I didnt really have time to think about what was happening, I just had to [go] with it, he says. At first, doctors were unsure what kind of brain cancer Shearer had. The tumours were donated to the Queensland Childrens Tumour Bank and samples were sent to the US for testing, which is where the diagnosis of a rare type of brain cancer called ganglioglioma was made.

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The QCTB was established in 2008 and is one of the few free tumour banks in Australia. It was funded by the Childrens Hospital Foundation, an organisation that has invested more than $256 million for equipment, research and support for sick children. This year, the foundation celebrates its 40th birthday, a milestone its Director of Impact, Nick Van Dyke, hopes will bolster fundraising efforts. This year will be Max Shearers 10th Bridge to Brisbane to raise money for the Childrens Hospital Foundation. The one thing that hasnt stopped or changed is kids still getting sick and injured, its going to continue, unfortunately, he says. But the generosity of Queenslanders has enabled incredible breakthroughs from a research perspective, and new treatments that are now ensuring that kids are getting the best care and getting home as soon as possible. Shearer is an ambassador for the foundation and has been fundraising for other sick kids since he was 11, when he ran his first Bridge to Brisbane.

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Washington: American astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the failed 1970 mission to the moon that nearly ended in disaster but became an inspirational saga of survival and the basis for the hit movie Apollo 13, has died at the age of 97, NASA said.

Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks played Lovell in director Ron Howards acclaimed 1995 film. It recounted NASAs Apollo 13 mission, which was planned as humankinds third lunar landing but went horribly wrong when an onboard explosion on the way to the moon put the lives of the three astronauts in grave danger.

Lovell and crew mates Jack Swigert and Fred Haise endured frigid, cramped conditions, dehydration and hunger for more than three days while concocting with Mission Control in Houston ingenious solutions to bring the crippled spacecraft safely back to Earth.

A successful failure describes exactly what [Apollo] 13 was  because it was a failure in its initial mission  nothing had really been accomplished, Lovell told Reuters in 2010 in an interview marking the 40th anniversary of the flight.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has said that 21 donor countries  including the United States and China  would not be invited to the Pacific regions top political meeting, a move that follows pressure from Beijing to exclude Taiwan.

Chinas biggest security ally in the Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands is hosting the annual meeting of the 18-member blocs forum in September.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra last year. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Three Pacific island states have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China, and they had expressed concern Taiwanese officials would be blocked from entering the country. Solomon Islands switched ties from Taiwan to China in 2019, and in April removed Taiwan from a list of countries eligible for concessional entry.

Beijing, which has deepened its ties in the Pacific, claims Taiwan as its own territory.
North Korea has sharply criticized the development and deployment of Japan's missile program. This is quite amusing, considering that the country itself develops and manufactures a large arsenal of missiles, some of which are supplied to russia for strikes against Ukraine.

According to Defense Blog, North Korea's position was expressed by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The serious development of Japan's defense capabilities was called "an extremely dangerous idea."

Launcher for Japanese Type-12 missiles with an approximate range of 1,000 km / Photo credit: Japanese Ministry of Defense

This year, Tokyo wants to deploy missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers in the western prefecture of Kumamoto. Additional deployments are also planned in Oita and Okinawa prefectures by 2026.

Such actions in North Korea were described not as defense measures, but as preparations for a preemptive strike. At the same time, it is claimed that Japan aims to become a serious military power to wage offensive war in the future.

Launch of Japanese Type-12 missile / Open-source illustrative photo

On the Japanese side, the missile program development is described as part of a strategy of deterrence and self-defense. It is emphasized that in order to ensure its defense, it is important to have long-range means of striking back.

From Defense Express we would like to add that such statements by North Korea closely resemble those russia made in the past about Ukraine and NATO countries today. The strengthening of other countries' military capabilities is presented as a threat, even though russia is engaged in a massive build-up of its own military capabilities.

North Korean Hwasong-16B prior to launch, April 2024 / Photo credit: KCNA

Ukrainians have already become familiar with the danger posed by North Korean ballistic missiles, which are periodically used by russian military. However, Japan also perceives a threat from North Korea's testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles launched in its direction.

Due to differences in size, capabilities, and historical context, North Korea and russia cannot be compared. However, there is a clear trend in the behavior of dictatorships toward their neighbors' desire to defend themselves.
Two killed in attack by Russian FPV drone on Zaporizhia district  local authorities

Two people died in a hostile attack on Zaporizhia district, a Russian FPV drone hit a car that was moving through the territory of Bilenkivska community. The car caught fire, killing two people inside.

This was reported by Head of Zaporizhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov.

"A Russian FPV drone hit a car that was moving through the territory of Bilenkivska community. The car caught fire. Two people inside died," Fedorov said.
8/26/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) ABLES,JAMIE ... more
Jauan Rashun Porter, of Rome, Ga., was arrested and detained on Friday on federal charges of knowingly and willfully making a threat against the President of the United States.

The allegations against Porter are serious and required a swift, decisive, and collaborative response, said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. We do not tolerate threats against public officials or law enforcement officers, and Porter will now face the consequences of his actions.

The United States Secret Service takes threats against a protectee very seriously. We will investigate every threat, and if warranted, prosecute those who make threats to the fullest extent of the law, said Robert Donovan, deputy special agent in charge, Atlanta Field Office, United States Secret Service.

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 26, 2025, Porter allegedly joined a TikTok livestream about President Trump captioned Alligator Alcatraz, commenting: So theres only one way to make America great and that is putting a bullet in between Trumps eyes. Over the next several minutes, Porter allegedly made further comments about killing President Trump, including the following statements:

 Im gonna kill Donald Trump. Im gonna put a 7.62 bullet inside his forehead.

 Im gonna watch him bleed out and Im gonna watch him die . . . Im gonna do that.

When asked by the livestream host about federal agents coming to his door, Porter allegedly stated, Im gonna kill them too.

During their investigation, Secret Service agents, Floyd County police officers, and State of Georgia probation officers conducted searches of Porters apartment and found two pipes, pistol ammunition, and Tannerite (an explosive). Porter has prior convictions for terroristic threats, influencing a witness, mutiny in a penal institution, drug possession, battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and domestic violence. He is currently on probation.

Jauan Rashun Porter, 29, of Rome, was charged by a criminal complaint on Thursday, with making threats against the President. U.S. Magistrate Judge Walter E. Johnson ordered that Porter be detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, at 2:30 p.m.

Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the governments burden to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. The Floyd County Police Department, Floyd County District Attorneys Office, and Georgia Department of Community Supervision provided valuable assistance in the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Brian Michael Pearce is prosecuting the case.
I am writing to express my outrage and deep concern regarding the proposed hot mix asphalt plant at the intersection of Thrasher Pike and Highway 27  in close proximity to Ivy Academy (a public school), North Chickamauga Creek, and the North Chickamauga Creek State Natural Area.

The fact that a public meeting on this proposal is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th at 9:00 AM  with little to no notice  is unacceptable. Such timing all but ensures limited public attendance and undermines the communitys ability to respond to an issue with potentially severe consequences for our children, our environment, and our health.

An asphalt plant in this location threatens:

Student safety and health due to air emissions so close to a school.

Water quality in a protected creek that feeds into the Tennessee River.

Wildlife and recreational access in one of our regions most treasured natural areas.

Our community has the right to be fully informed and actively involved in decisions that affect our families, environment, and future. Anything less is a failure of public leadership and civic responsibility.

For transparency, I will be sharing this full correspondence publicly so that residents are aware of the meeting, the proposal, and the lack of notice.

We expect our elected and appointed leaders to protect our children, safeguard our natural resources, and uphold the principles of open, accountable governance. This process, as it stands, falls far short of those expectations.

Zach Moore
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System became the first VA medical center to perform a bloodless stem cell transplant this summer resulting in one Veterans cancer remission.

Marine Corps Veteran Keith Cody learned about bloodless stem cell transplants from his provider after experiencing severe side effects from chemotherapy treatments. He flew from California to Nashville VA Medical Center, the only VA in the country to have a fully in-tact stem cell transplant program, with hopes the procedure would improve his quality of life.

Stem cell transplant is a very important part of treating some blood cancers. And for some blood cancers, it's actually curative. And for others, it's a life-extending procedure and gives them many years to enjoy life and spend time with their families, said Stephen Cernawksy, TVHS nurse practitioner.

As an advanced and specialized procedure, bloodless stem cell transplants are increasingly offered, though still relatively uncommon. Notably, TVHS is the sole VA facility in the nation that performs this cutting-edge treatment. Stem cell transplants can cause a significant drop in blood count due to the effects on bone marrow, which produces the bodys blood cells. This often requires blood or platelet transfusions.

From the experience from [Codys] case and what we have learned, we are going to expand this program to many more Veterans in the country and hopefully many more patients will be served by this procedure in the future, said Dr. Bhagirathbhai Dholaria, TVHS hematology attending physician.

Cody urges other Veterans to inquire about TVHS Stem Cell Transplant Program citing VA health care improved his quality of life.

The whole care team here ... They're very, very caring people. Everybody that we came across enjoyed the interaction. It's actually sad to leave people behind that you really felt treated you like family. Theyve been special, Cody said.
Former City Judge Walter Williams has died.

Judge Williams had suffered health issues a number of years ago, but remained active.

The Williams family (Gwendolyn, Hillary, Heather and Trey) released the following statement:

"With heavy hearts, the family of retired Judge Walter F. Williams announces his passing on August 8, 2025, at the age of 73. A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Judge Williams was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and public servant whose life was defined by his unwavering commitment to justice, education, and community. From humble beginnings in the Westside housing projects to earning honors at Morehouse College and Howard University School of Law, he built a legacy of compassion and integrity. His tenure on the Chattanooga City Court was marked by innovative sentencing, a focus on rehabilitation, and a deep belief in second chances. He touched countless lives through his rulings, mentorship, and tireless efforts as an advocate for youth and education.

"The family asks for privacy and patience during this time as they process this monumental loss. Arrangements are being handled by John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Details will be released at a later time.



"In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Judge Walter F. Williams, 74 EndowedScholarship Fund at Morehouse College. Contributions may be sent to: Morehouse College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 830 Westview Drive SW Atlanta, Ga. 30314."

On the bench in City Court, he was one of the city's most colorful characters.

When a defendant appeared before him wearing a Morehouse shirt, he made him turn it around, saying with his transgressions he was not fit to wear it.

In another case, attorneys were not getting anywhere trying to find out a defendant's actual given name. Judge Williams queried, "Let me ask you this. When you die what are they going to put on your tombstone?"

Judge Williams often directed that some of the more hardened characters head for the city limits sign and not return.

Gerald Mason, his longtime friend, said, "Judge Walter Williams has passed. He was a brilliant attorney for many years before being elected city judge in the 1990s.

"He made such a great impact on our area young people by sentencing them to obtain their GED instead of traditional sentencing and fines. He was compassionate but firm when you appeared before him.

"I recall my own appearance before him for a speeding violation and he said, 'What Do We Have Here? Mr. Mason, the Kandy Kastle owner, speeding in our city streets. What kind of example are you setting for all those boys and girls you have under your care? How do you plead, Mr Mason?'

"I told him, 'I am guilty, Judge Williams'

"The judge said, 'Well, your sentence will be: Bring some joy to the residents of Friendship Haven.'

"Thats how Judge Williams was. I hope Chattanoogan will honor this great jurist by sharing the many Judge Williams stories.

"Much love and respect for one of our citys greatest citizens. My sincere condolences to Gwen and his lovely daughters, and his pride and joy, grandson, Trey."

His biography says:

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Judge Williams achieved his life long dream of becoming a Judge in March 1991. In his first political race, obtaining 56% of the vote, he won election as Judge of the Chattanooga City Court for a term of eight years. His judicial style, no-nonsense approach and unusual alternative sentences have gained him national attention along with numerous awards and honors. He was featured on the initial segment of CBSs Street Stories hosted by Ed Bradley; and has appeared on CNN, the 700 Club, and in JET, NEWSWEEK, READERS DIGEST, SOUTHERN LIVING and other publications.

Judge Williams is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Business. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa for outstanding academic performance. Later he was awarded the Juris Doctor Degree from Howard University School of Law where he graduated with honors and was an Earl Warren Fellow.

While a student at Morehouse, Judge Williams received a certificate in Drug Abuse Counseling from the University of Miami School of Medicine through a U.S. Office of Education sponsored summer program.

Judge Williams practiced law with the Regional Counsels Office of the Internal Revenue Service in Atlanta, Georgia, prior to entering the private practice of law. In 1980 he became a partner in the law firm of McClarty & Williams in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he primarily handled personal injury, corporate, estate and municipal law cases. He also taught for eight years as a full-time Assistant Professor of Marketing & Business Law at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while maintaining a full-time law practice.

Active in numerous community organizations, some of Judge Williams present and former board memberships include: Valley Capital Corporation, The Ronald McDonald House, Friendship Haven Home For the Elderly and the Baylor School Parents Council. Recently, Judge Williams was elected Chairman of the Board of the Westside Community Development Corporation, which is designed to revitalize his old childhood neighborhood and provide services to residents in the targeted area. He also served a number of years as Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees of the Hamilton County Governmental Law Library. He is a Life and Thousandaire Member of the Morehouse College National Alumni Association.

Strong in his religious convictions, Judge Williams is a deacon at First Baptist Church (East Eighth Street). Judge Williams is also on the Board of St. Barnabas Nursing Home and Retirement Apartments where he serves on the capital campaign and strategic planning committees. Recently he retired as the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee of the 100 Black Men of Chattanooga having served in this position for 11 years guiding more than $250,000 in scholarship awards.

Judge Williams holds membership in a number of professional associations, including, but not limited to Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boule), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Chattanooga Morehouse Club, 100 Black Men of Chattanooga, National Bar Association (Judicial Council), American Bar Association (Judicial Council), Tennessee Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association and S.L. Hutchins Bar Association.

True to his belief that education is the key to success, Judge Williams proudly reports that more than 893 defendants have obtained their General Equivalency Diplomas (G.E.D.) since he took office, with an additional 500 still under the Judges mandate to do so. He has also been instrumental in directing more than 300 students to further their education at Chattanooga State Technical College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and other schools.

Records in Chattanooga City Court also show that in a two-year period of time, Judge Williams reduced the number of repeat offenders in his Court by 50%; assisted a number of persons in obtaining employment; and directed at least eight (8) persons off of welfare into self-supporting jobs. Current City records show that Judge Williams modernization and hard work has increased excess revenues above expenses from $500,000 in 1991 to more than 1.3 million dollars in 1999.

Judge Williams created the first Environmental Court docket (1991) in Chattanooga to assist in cleaning up the City. In this docket, persons are cited to Court for littering, zoning violations, housing code violations, and various other similar matters as set forth in City ordinances. In less than two years, the City of Chattanooga boasts an increase in compliance with code regulations from 30% to 86% as a result of Judge Williams strong and deliberate actions in the Environmental Court docket.

In March, 1999, Judge Williams was re-elected to a second eight-year term by the voters of Chattanooga. He captured 70 percent of the vote and turned back challenges of two lawyers who sought to unseat him. Although his challengers engaged in negative campaigning, Judge Williams took the high road and told the voters -Let thy work speak for me. The Judge has not changed how he does things and continues to be about the business of changing lives of those who come before him. He proudly states that his motto in life comes from an old song -If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.

Judge Williams decided to retire from the bench on May 2, 2003, and return to the private practice of law after serving 12 years on the bench and having 18 years of service with the City of Chattanooga. He served as a senior partner in the law firm of McKoon, Williams, Atchley & Stanley, PLLC until he retired in August, 2015.
AS I was reading the local surviving major newspaper and the competing website version herein, the usual sugar coated distorted news accounts caused a flashback again to what is really needed today in Chattanooga -- the cynical and sarcastic words of Chattanooga Times writer Bill Casteel. (Yes, I have written about Bill before.)

He died on October 3, 2016, and, except for the recollections of a few surviving old timers in the news world such as David Carroll, Helen Hardin, Carolyn Mitchell, Judy ONeal, Earl Freudenberg, and others that pre-date his last column around 1998, the growing population in our community would not recognize his name.

WRCB TV Channel 3s David Carroll, previously best summed up Bills influence on our community that some believe may be missing in the local news today in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, etc. with three excerpts about his mentor and colleague:

Bill was a splash of cold water in the morning. Politicians had a love-hate relationship with the morning columnist. They loved to get their name in the paper. But they hated to be called out for their mistakes. That was his specialty. He had no fear. He was the personification of the old journalism quote: comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable; Imagine what he would have to say about allegations of City Hall hanky-panky, the new City property tax raise proposal (7/15/2025), the County Commissions use of discretionary funds, crime fighting drones, gang-free zones, bike lanes, Southside odors, and School Board shenanigans, etc. Those columns practically write themselves; and Our household names of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s included Bookie Turner, Ron Littlefield, Ward Crutchfield, Harry Thornton, Paul Clark, Jim Eberle Dalton Roberts, Roy McDonald, (Colonel John Popham ), Flop Fuller, (William Cotton ), and others, most of whom are no longer with us. He joked about some, battled with others, and drank with several. Dont you know that when Bill entered the pearly gates, some of his former subjects welcomed him, while others scattered like roaches in daylight. (3rd paragraph as amended by this author.)

The decision to not keep Bill and his thrice weekly popular column Byline, when the family from Arkansas took over the ownership of both the Times and Free Press in 1998, demonstrates newspaper owners are not immune from making bad decisions.

Not retaining Bill Casteel was a major one! In addition to his direct cynical and sarcastic style of writing, the ability to present legitimate concerns about the direction the local community was taking often was the ultimate objective of his columns. (Not keeping the founder of this website newspaper on the payroll may have been another mistake!)

His support of Area IV Special Olympics and numerous other charities were often understated but always possessed the direct message that the reader should get involved personally (or at least send a check!)

The field of journalism and its readers and viewers need more Bill Casteels!

A trip to the archives at the downtown public library and a review of the Byline columns ending in 1998 will educate any new arrivals (and old timers) on the history of the community in Bills inimitable style.

(PS: At least we still have Clay Bennetts cartoons and a few surviving copies of Bruce Plantes cartoon collection, Predatory Plante, (2001) that address reality in Gig City.)

----

If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)






Home News Ambassador Huckabee says US will 'scale up' GHF aid sites in Gaza, start 24-hour distribution

The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will expand its operations from the four distribution sites it currently operates to 16 sites, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Wednesday.

The immediate plan is to scale up the number of sites up to 16, and begin to operate them as much as 24 hours a day, to get more food to more people more efficiently, Ambassador Huckabee said during an appearance on Fox News.

Huckabees comments came as he was asked about a recent Axios report stating that the U.S. planned to take over the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip.

Well, I think the president of the United States always has a very important role in something like this if he chooses to do it, Huckabee stated.

Huckabee reaffirmed that U.S. President Trump is adamant about getting more aid into Gaza, but wants to avoid any Hamas seizure of the aid.

The president has been telling us he wants foods into the hands of hungry people, but he wants it in a way that it doesnt get into the hands of Hamas, Huckabee said. Thats exactly what we did when we stood up GHF.

The ambassador called the GHF an American-based operation, noting that it has the support and cooperation of the IDF, but it's not under their control.

Huckabee, who visited the Gaza Strip and toured a GHF distribution site with special envoy Steve Witkoff last week, called the GHF a success, saying, the result has been pretty phenomenal, over 106 million meals served at four feeding sites.

Huckabee noted that the success of the U.S.-backed aid group is also demonstrated in that aid is not going into the hands of looters and thieves. It's going into the hands of the people who actually have come because they really do need food.

Thats what the president wants, Huckabee reiterated.

The GHF has come under repeated criticism by the United Nations and several other NGOs involved in aid distribution in Gaza, who have accused the U.S.-backed foundation of endangering the lives of Palestinians. The U.N. has cited the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which claims that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by IDF soldiers near the aid sites.

Neither the U.N. nor the GHF has provided any evidence of the claims, except quotes from hospital officials. GHF chief Rev. Johnnie Moore has repeatedly denounced the claims as fake.

Despite the IDF releasing several videos recently and throughout the war, demonstrating armed militants, apparently from terror organizations, confiscating the humanitarian aid convoys entering through the U.N. mechanism, the U.N. continues to deny that Hamas is taking the aid.

In a report published earlier this week, Axios said that President Trump plans to have the U.S. take over management of the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza. Axios cited an unnamed U.S. official who claimed that Trump is not thrilled about the U.S. taking over the aid situation, but said, There doesn't seem to be another way.

The starvation problem in Gaza is getting worse. Donald Trump does not like that. He does not want babies to starve. He wants mothers to be able to nurse their children. He's becoming fixated on that, Axios quoted the official as saying.

It quoted another anonymous U.S. official as saying that Trump does not want the U.S. to be the only country paying for aid to Gaza.

The president doesn't want to see the U.S. being the only country throwing money at this problem. It's a global problem. And he's been tasking Witkoff and others to make sure everyone is stepping up, our European friends and our Arab friends," the official reportedly said.

According to Axios, Israeli officials are on board with the plan, as it would take some of the burden off the IDF.

It is not clear how the U.S. assumption of responsibility for the humanitarian aid situation will play out with regard to the expected Israeli plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, which was to be voted on by the Security Cabinet on Thursday.

However, the U.S. could set up similar aid distribution sites in the northern Gaza Strip, which the IDF mostly controls, after the IDF turns its focus to the capture of Gaza City.

President Trump recently said that the decision to occupy Gaza is up to Israel, and refused to offer a public opinion on the issue.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News Secretary Hegseth signals support for 'Christian nationalist' Pastor Doug Wilson

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted a CNN segment featuring Idaho pastor and theologian Douglas Wilson in a social media post on Thursday, which read, All of Christ for All of Life.

Hegseth, 45, recently attended Wilsons church plant in Washington, D.C., alongside his wife and children, which appeared to be an endorsement of Wilsons outspoken Christian nationalist views that include advocating for a theocratic U.S., repealing womens suffrage and criminalizing homosexuality.

In an Aug. 7 interview, Wilson didnt back down from those views, telling CNNs Pamela Brown that every society is theocratic, adding, The only question is whos Theo? In Saudi Arabia, Theo is Allah. In a secular democracy, it would be Demos, the people. In a Christian republic, itd be Christ. ... If I went to Saudi Arabia, I would fully expect to live under their god's rules."

Wilson told CNN he supports a repeal of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. When asked about the reasoning behind that view, Wilson said, "Women are the kind of people that people come out of," Wilson said. "No, it doesn't take any talent to simply reproduce. Biologically, the wife and mother, who is the chief executive of the home, is entrusted with three or four or five eternal souls."

While the 72-year-old theologian affirmed his hope for theocratic rule in the U.S.  which he speculated was likely about 250 years away from being a reality  he denied the various pejorative labels with which hes been described. "I'm not a white nationalist, I'm not a fascist, I'm not a racist, I'm not a misogynist," he said.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson last April, Wilson embraced the title of Christian nationalist, and said he believes restoring America to a Christian worldview is a responsibility that falls on preachers "who will stop being ashamed of the name of Jesus, and preach the Gospel as though it's supposed to spread out into the streets after the service.

Hegseth's ties to Wilson extend beyond a single retweet: the two reportedly met briefly in May at Hegseths church in Tennessee. The defense secretary has publicly praised Wilsons book My Life is Yours, and is a member of a Tennessee church affiliated with Wilsons Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) network.

In May, Hegseth led a prayer during a voluntary event at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, that acknowledged Jesus as king and invoked His wisdom for guidance, prompting critics to accuse him of violating the U.S. Constitution.

"King Jesus, we come humbly before you, seeking your face, seeking your grace, in humble obedience to your law and to your Word," Hegseth prayed. "We come as sinners saved only by that grace, seeking your providence in our lives and in our nation."

"Lord God, we ask for the wisdom to see what is right and in each and every day, in each and every circumstance, the courage to do what is right in obedience to your will. It is in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we pray. And all Gods people say amen," Hegseth added, to which some in the audience replied, "Amen."
Two people were killed and six were injured as a result of an attack on a minibus in the suburbs of Kherson by a Russian drone, Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office said.

"On August 9, 2025, at about 08:30, servicemen of the Russian armed forces carried out a strike with an unmanned aerial vehicle on a minibus moving in the suburbs of Kherson. Two civilians died as a result of the attack. It is also currently known that six people were injured to varying degrees. The information is being clarified. All those injured during the shelling were inside the vehicle," the office said.

A pretrial investigation has been launched into the fact of committing a war crime that led to the death of people (Part 2, Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Home News 'Step toward peace' or rewarding ethnic cleansing?: Experts react to Trump's Armenia-Azerbaijan deal

President Donald Trump and leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan celebrated the signing of a peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict, which the Armenian National Committee of America accused of rewarding Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Trump hosted Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on Friday for a peace summit, where the two countries in the South Caucasus signed agreements with each other and the United States.

As part of the deal, Armenia, which is believed to be the first Christian nation dating back to 301 A.D., has agreed to allow a transit corridor through its territory, named the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity." The U.S. will develop the route, connecting Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan exclave, which are separated by a 20-mile-wide patch of Armenian territory. The corridor will operate under Armenian law.

Trump said during the summit that he didn't come up with the idea to name the route after him, but noted that it was "a great honor for [him]."

"For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering. ... Many tried to find a resolution ... and they were unsuccessful," the U.S. president stated. "With this accord, we've finally succeeded in making peace."

Prime Minister Pashinyan, who hailed the agreement as a "significant milestone" in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, expressed gratitude to Trump for his personal engagement and "resolute commitment to peace," which Pashinyan said made the agreement possible.

"We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past," the Armenian prime minister said.

Aliyev said the agreement means that Azerbaijan "can now turn the page of standoff, confrontation, and bloodshed, and provide a bright and safe future for our children." Aliyev also thanked Trump, saying that Azerbaijan will remember the day of the signing with a "feeling of pride and gratitude to President Trump."

The two countries have long been in conflict with one another, dating back to the 1980s when the mostly ethnic-Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, broke away from Muslim-majority Azerbaijan.

Religious freedom advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about the displacement of over 120,000 Armenians from their ancestral homeland of Artsakh. The Azerbaijan military expelled the Armenians during a September 2023 offensive.

Azerbaijan also imposed a blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh that lasted from December 2022 to September 2023, raising concerns over a genocide by starvation.

In response to the recent peace deal, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the U.S. has brought the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia together "to reach a peace deal that will end decades of conflict."

"This historic deal will make the region stronger and open new doors for American trade and investment. We congratulate both countries on a new era of peace," Rubio said.

The Armenian National Committee of America expressed skepticism about the agreement the day before the summit. ANCA argued that the deal will compromise Armenia's national security and reward Azerbaijan's acts of genocide.

"The same Donald Trump who failed to stop Azerbaijan's 2020 attack on Nagorno Karabakh is now rewarding this very aggression  further compromising Armenia's security and sovereignty and, in the process, abetting Azerbaijan's normalization and formalization of its ethnic cleansing, its genocide, of more than 150,000 indigenous Armenian Christians," ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said in a Thursday statement.

"Real peace cannot be built on the forced displacement of a people, the abandonment of hostages, or the roll-back of sovereignty," Hamparian added. "You can't declare peace while ignoring the ethnic cleansing of 150,000 Armenians and the illegal imprisonment of their democratically elected leaders. That's not peace  it's impunity, an invitation to renewed aggression."

The founding co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said in a Friday statement that he feels "encouraged" by the U.S. involving itself in efforts to establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Any agreement, Pallone said, must include "solid enforcement mechanisms" and "security guarantees" for Armenia in case Azerbaijan goes back on its word.

The lawmaker argued that it was a mistake for the Trump administration to waive Section 907 of the United States Freedom Support Act, which prohibited the U.S. government from providing direct assistance to Azerbaijan.

"There is no need to provide Azerbaijan with military assistance," Pallone asserted, adding that more should be done to push Azerbaijan's president to release political prisoners and prisoners of war held in Baku.

The representative also insisted that Aliyev should remove his troops from Armenian land.

"The United States has a moral imperative to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable return for displaced Armenians to their indigenous homeland of Nagorno-Karabakh," he added.

Matias Perttula, director of the U.S.-based advocacy organization Save Armenia, called the summit a "great step toward peace."

"Kudos to @POTUS and his admin on getting things done," Perttula wrote on social media. "We must not forget the Armenian POWs and the right of return of all Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh!"
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Home Opinion A false Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal

President Donald Trump, during the heat of the U.S. presidential campaign last October, turned to Truth Social to admonish the Biden administrations failure to stop the persecution of Armenians by Azerbaijan:

Kamala Harris did NOTHING as 120,000 Armenian Christians were horrifically persecuted and forcibly displaced in Artsakh. Christians around the world will not be safe if Kamala Harris is President of the United States. When I am President, I will protect persecuted Christians, I will work to stop the violence and ethnic cleansing, and we will restore PEACE between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Trump seems to be following through on that statement. Still, upon closer examination, this agreement proves to be toothless and a feeble attempt to portray Azerbaijan as a trusted partner. Put simply, it is rich in symbolism and lacking in substance.

For starters, there can be no durable peace in the South Caucasus without accountability. Azerbaijan, a country led by its petro-dictator Ilham Aliyev, has shown an unwillingness to respect human rights or uphold the rule of law. He has deftly used his countrys natural resources and geography to secure countless geopolitical deals and curry favor with global leaders on the world stage.

That is why the United States and Europe failed to prevent Azerbaijan from starving Armenians living in their ancestral homeland of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, during a 10-month road blockade which culminated in the ethnic cleansing of more than 120,000 Armenians from the region in September 2023, making it the largest displacement of Armenians since the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Since taking over the enclave, Azerbaijan has demonstrated a behavior that contrasts sharply with the desire for peace, indicating a preference for confrontation and even violence.

They continue to hold Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war in jail without due process. These sham trials and proceedings have been criticized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. When pressured by external voices, Aliyev ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to leave Azerbaijan, which was a direct attempt to limit the only access these Armenian political prisoners had to the outside world and report on their condition.

While pursuing peace, Azerbaijan has also embarked on a campaign of cultural erasure of Armenian churches, monasteries, khachkars (cross-stone monuments), and other religious and historical sites in Artsakh that have stood in the region for thousands of years. Under the pretext of restoring Armenian churches and religious sites to their original form, Aliyev is trying to wipe out the existence of Armenian culture and identity in the region. Already, Azerbaijani forces have defaced or destroyed an estimated 400 Armenian churches and other religious sites since 2020.

Armenian culture has been closely defined by its Christian faith since its introduction in 301 AD, making Armenia the oldest Christian nation. By dishonoring and destroying that history, Azerbaijan is not signaling that it wants a genuine peace with Armenia.

Evan after absorbing Artsakh, Aliyev now claims large parts of Armenias territory as Azerbaijans historical lands, while calling Armenia Western Azerbaijan. This follows a troubling pattern of other speeches expressing similar arguments. Aliyev has even stated that Armenias capital, Yerevan, belongs to Azerbaijan. While this kind of rhetoric might be dismissed as just bombastic words, words matter and have consequences.

Despite this overwhelming evidence of Azerbaijans true intentions, President Trump continues to ignore the realities on the ground. In many ways, Trump is reneging on his campaign promise to protect Christian Armenians from further persecution and hold Azerbaijan responsible for its actions. He seems more interested in Azerbaijans natural resources than he is in the lives of Armenians or regional stability.

Therefore, any meaningful peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan must include the immediate release of all Armenian political prisoners and the unconditional release of all Armenian POWs.

It must also include the end of Azerbaijans religious and cultural mistreatment of Armenian antiquities and holy sites and rebuke all forms of historical revisionism that can be used as a pretext for future attacks on Armenian sovereignty.

And it needs to enforce the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that ordered Azerbaijan to allow the return of Armenians to Artsakh in a safe, unimpeded, and expeditious manner.

Peace should always be the end goal, but there can be no coexistence and tolerance in the region without accountability. So far, Azerbaijan has shown that it does not want peace. They want Armenia.

Originally published at The National Interest.
Home Opinion What if God isnt sending a savior through the ballot box?

Its a strange thing to watch so many believers wait with bated breath for the next election  as if the soul of the nation, and even the future of the Church, hinges on who sits in the White House. Many well-meaning Christians are hoping that a certain political leader  even one with a troubled moral track record  might bring America back to God.

I understand the impulse. We love this country. We long for a return to righteousness. But we must ask an uncomfortable question: What if God isnt sending a savior through the ballot box? What if Hes sending discipline instead?

When God raises up pagan kings

Throughout the pages of Scripture, God often used pagan kings, not to lead revivals, but to wake His people up through judgment. Think about Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah into exile. Or Assyria, the empire that crushed the northern kingdom of Israel. In Isaiah 10:5-6, God even calls Assyria the rod of My anger. These rulers were not godly men. But they were instruments in God's hand, used to discipline a people who had forgotten Him.

Sometimes God sends prophets. Other times, He sends kings with iron fists. Either way, His goal is the same: to call His people back.

The only Christian nation

Part of our confusion today comes from forgetting what the Bible teaches about the people of God. In 1 Peter 2:9, the Church  not any earthly nation  is called a holy nation, a people for His own possession. America has a rich spiritual heritage, and we can be grateful for it. But no political state, not even ours, holds a covenant with God like Israel once did.

The true Christian nation is spiritual, not geographical. Its not bound by borders, flags, or constitutions. Its made up of people redeemed by the blood of Christ  from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

When we try to fuse the Church with the state, or equate national success with God's blessing, we wander into dangerous territory. God doesnt need a superpower to fulfill His purposes. He needs a faithful people.

When the leaders get it wrong

You might be wondering, But dont many respected Evangelical leaders support this nationalistic hope? They do. But that doesnt make it right.

History  and Scripture  remind us that popular spiritual leadership is not always faithful leadership. In Jeremiahs day, the prophets assured everyone that peace was coming. Jeremiah alone warned of judgment. In 1 Kings 22, 400 prophets told King Ahab to go into battle. Only Micaiah dared to speak Gods truth. And he was thrown in prison for it.

Even in Jesus day, the religious leaders  those who looked the part  were the very ones who missed the Messiah and burdened the people with lifeless traditions.

So yes, its entirely possible that some leaders today are sincere, but sincerely wrong. When political access becomes more important than prophetic truth, the Church loses her voice.

Revival doesnt ride Air Force One

Lets be clear: No president, no matter how strong or sympathetic to Christian values, can bring a nation back to God. Revival doesnt come through policies or speeches. It comes through the power of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of Gods people.

And sometimes  maybe even now  God uses hardship, decline, and even ungodly leadership to wake us up. Not because Hes cruel, but because Hes a loving Father who disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6).

If our churches are prayerless, our pulpits are compromised, and our hearts are distracted, why would we expect God to heal the land through political means? What He seeks is repentance, not rhetoric. Holiness, not headlines. Surrender, not strategy.

Time to wake up

Could it be that God has allowed ungodly leaders not to restore America, but to humble His Church? Could it be that weve confused cultural Christianity with true discipleship, and God is pulling down our idols?

I dont pretend to know all that God is doing. But I know this: revival doesnt start in Washington. It starts on our knees.

Lets stop looking for salvation in the wrong places. Lets be the people God has called us to be  holy, set apart, and faithful. America may or may not turn back. But the Church must.
Home News Mom of Abundant Life Christian School shooter dies by apparent suicide: police

The mother of the teenager who carried out a fatal shooting at a Wisconsin private school last year has died in an apparent suicide. Police said the death was discovered after officers were called to a residence.

Mellissa Rupnow, the mother of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, was found dead at a home on the 1100 block of Matheson Street, and the death appears to be a suicide, Janesville Police Lt. Jennifer Seeger told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Officers from the Janesville Police Department responded to the address last Friday after receiving a call and found Rupnow deceased. The department said no further details about the circumstances of her death were available at the time.

Natalie Rupnow was a student at Abundant Life Christian School when she arrived on Dec. 16, 2024, armed with two handguns. Authorities said she opened fire in a study hall, killing 42-year-old teacher Erin West and 14-year-old student Rubi Vergara. She injured six other people before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The teenager used a 9mm pistol during the attack, according to police.

After the shooting, information emerged linking Natalie Rupnow to online extremist communities that glorify mass shooters. Rupnow even appeared to cross paths with another school shooter in Tennessee, researchers told Wisconsin Watch and ProPublica.

Natalie Rupnows father, 43-year-old Jeffrey Rupnow of Madison, faces criminal charges for allegedly allowing his daughter access to the firearms used in the attack. Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to someone under 18 and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Court records show that Jeffrey and Mellissa Rupnow filed for divorce in 2020.

Authorities said at the time the motive appeared to be the result of a combination of factors.

The Madison Police Department said officers were called to the school at 10:57 a.m. Central time that day. They found multiple people with gunshot wounds, including those who later died.

The school did not have metal detectors but used cameras and other security measures.

Among the wounded was 14-year-old River Clardy, who was left critically injured. In March, his parents, Christina and Brett Clardy, said their son was recovering well thanks to medical care and their faith. River is a kid who is a perseverer. Hes a hard worker, Christina Clardy told WMTV in an interview.

She added that his recovery had surpassed expectations, crediting natural means like through the body healing itself and some things that you know arent explainable to us.

A fundraiser launched on GoFundMe for victims families raised $29,000.

Abundant Life Christian School, founded in 1978, provides education in a Christ-focused context and has about 390 to 420 students from kindergarten through high school.
SOLON, Ohio

Scam: Solon Road

At 7:20 p.m. July 28, an employee of Partners Environmental, 31000 Solon Road, reported that she had been scammed.

The Chagrin Falls woman, 22, told police that she had received an email from someone she thought to be her boss.

She was directed to buy gift cards as part of an employee appreciation promotion.

She bought $3,750 worth of Target gift cards and provided the PIN numbers to the purported boss.

She later spoke about what had transpired with a coworker, who told her she had been scammed.

The gift card balances were checked, and it was learned that the scammer had used the full balances.

The victim is at a personal loss, as she did not use a company credit card.

Detectives are investigating.

Improper handling of a firearm: Aurora Road

At 10:05 a.m. July 27, an officer stopped a white Chevrolet Equinox after observing it speeding on U.S. 422 eastbound while approaching SOM Center Road.

The vehicle was traveling 79 mph in a 60 mph zone.

The officer caught up to the car, then stopped it as it turned in to the Burger King parking lot at 34275 Aurora Road.

When the driver, a woman, 19, opened the glove compartment for the officer, he noticed a gun inside.

The weapon was taken for safekeeping while the driver was identified.

Because the driver is not yet 21 and the weapon was loaded, she was cited for improper handling of a firearm.

She was released after receiving a warning for speeding. The weapon was seized.

OVI: U.S. 422

At 10:15 p.m. July 28, an officer saw a speeding Nissan on U.S. 422 traveling 87 mph in a 60 mph zone.

He stopped the car and spoke to the driver, a Warren man, 22.

The officer noticed the smell of burnt marijuana and that the driver spoke in a slow and lethargic manner. The man told the officer that he had smoked marijuana four hours before driving.

The man failed field sobriety testing and was arrested and taken to the Solon Jail.

There, he performed a breath test, with no alcohol detected. A urine sample was collected for a drug screening.

Police charged the man with OVI and speeding and had his car towed. His license was suspended pending the results of the urine test.

Carrying a concealed weapon: Cannon Road

At 10:35 a.m. July 30, an officer stopped a black Kia sedan for an expired license plate.

The driver was found to have a suspended drivers license and to be wanted on a Macedonia police warrant for failure to appear.

The officer asked the driver if she had a firearm in the vehicle and was told, No.

The officer confirmed the validity of the warrant and arrested the woman.

An inventory search of the car prior to towing revealed a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the womans purse.

Police cited the 34-year-old Bedford Heights woman for carrying a concealed weapon, driving under suspension and driving with expired plates.

She was then turned over to Macedonia police.

Fleeing and eluding: U.S. 422

At 10:35 p.m. July 30, an officer saw a black Pontiac traveling on eastbound U.S. 422 near the Harper Road exit.

The car had dark window tint and, on its back end, an obstructed temporary tag.

The officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle, but it was driven through a red light on Harper Road southbound at Aurora Road, then accelerated away from the officer at more than 100 mph in a 35 mph zone.

The officer lost sight of the vehicle and stopped the pursuit.

A short time later, Glenwillow police officers notified Solon police that they had located the vehicle, unoccupied, on the side of Pettibone Road near Bond Street.

Solon officers responded to the area and tracked the driver from the car with the use of a K-9 unit and a drone.

The suspect, a Cleveland man, 38, was arrested and taken to the Solon Jail.

He had a felony warrant from the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for a sex offender registration violation.

Solon police charged him with failure to comply, a third-degree felony; a red light violation; and not driving within marked lanes. His car was towed.

OVI: Aurora Road

At 11:50 p.m. Aug. 1, an officer stopped a black Chevrolet SUV for speeding on Aurora Road eastbound at Woodlands Lane.

The vehicle was traveling 53 mph in a 35 mph zone.

The driver, an Aurora Road woman, 60, told the officer that she had consumed just one glass of wine earlier in the night.

She showed poor performance on field sobriety tests, however, and was arrested and taken to the Solon Jail.

She refused to take a breath test. As a result, her drivers license was placed under an administrative suspension.

Police charged the woman with OVI, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving left of center. Her car was towed.

Scam: Bainbridge Road

At 2:50 p.m. Aug. 2, officers reported to a home on Bainbridge Road regarding a fraud report.

There, a Solon woman, 30, reported that she had been hired by Lifepoint Health for a remote work job. She received a check that she was told to use to buy work supplies.

The woman deposited the $3,000 check into her account. She was next directed to transfer funds to three different people in order to get the supplies.

She did so and later learned that the original check she had received was not valid.

She actually ended up paying out $4,500 of her own money.

An officer is investigating.

Scam: Solon Road

At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4, an 80-year-old Solon woman reported that she had earlier received a phone call from a person she believed to be an American Express representative.

The person told the woman that there was suspicious activity involving her account and that she needed to act fast to clear up the matter.

She was told to go to a store and buy several gift cards, then relay the cards PIN numbers to the fake American Express agent.

The woman became suspicious, however, and stopped contact with the suspect.

She is currently responsible for $3,000 in charges.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Rescued pit bulls once chained in Franklin County property are linked to an illegal dogfighting operation run by Joel Brown who pleaded guilty this week. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio  An Ohio man pleaded guilty this week to federal charges involving dog fighting and methamphetamine possession, the Department of Justic announced.

Joel Brown, 38, admitted to possessing and training dogs for fighting purposes and to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Court documents say Brown kept 11 pit bull-type dogs at his Franklin County home, housing the dogs in a manner typical of organized dogfighting operations. The dogs were chained with heavy tow chains connected to tire axles buried in the ground, placed just out of reach of each other but within eyesight, according to the DOJ.

Brown had posted a video on one of his Facebook accounts showing a black pit bull with visible scars running on a treadmill, according to court records. The dogs were rescued by Columbus Humane and the Columbus police after complaints about animals left outside prompted search warrants.

Investigators also found tools and supplies commonly used for dog fighting training at the property. During the search, officers also seized about 52 grams of methamphetamine from Browns home.

Brown could receive a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison for the drug charge, as well as up to five years for the animal fighting charge.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recorded 163 combat clashes during the past day. The General Staff of the Armed Forces reported this on Telegram in operational information regarding the Russian invasion as of 08:00 on Saturday.

"Yesterday, the enemy launched two missile and 74 air strikes on the positions of Ukrainian units and settlements, using three missiles and dropping 122 guided bombs. In addition, 5,089 kamikaze drones were used to destroy them and 6,361 attacks were carried out on the positions of our forces and settlements," the General Staff said.
Hydrogen energy fuels China's green shift

Xinhua) 11:15, August 09, 2025

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Placed in an exhibition hall of a Beijing industrial park is a model of a hydrogen fuel cell truck. Its cabin contains a mini-washing machine and a sink, and the drivers can reuse water generated by the operation of the vehicle-mounted hydrogen fuel cell to wash their clothes and hands.

This heavy-duty tractor, named H49, is developed by Hybot, a tech firm focusing on hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicle solutions, based in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province. "Its fuel costs are even lower than diesel trucks," Sun Ying, CEO of Hybot, told Xinhua.

A road test on an expressway running through the plains of central China's Hubei Province revealed that the fuel costs of a fully-loaded H49 truck were about 2.14 yuan (roughly 0.3 U.S. dollars) per kilometer, lower than the average cost of 2.31 yuan for diesel trucks under the same conditions, according to Sun.

After mass production, costs could be further reduced, Sun added.

Hydrogen energy is a green and low-carbon secondary energy source with various sources and widespread applications. According to the National Energy Administration (NEA), China sees hydrogen energy as a vital component of the future national energy system and an emerging sector with strategic importance.

"Hydrogen can be produced from water, methanol and even coal. China has abundant reserves of all these energy resources. By developing hydrogen energy, China can take the lead in low-carbon and green development globally," said Xiang Yan, professor at the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing.

In a corner of the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone in the south of the Chinese capital, a line of buses and trucks were waiting their turn to refuel with hydrogen. Though the roar of engines filled the air -- there was no pungent smell of exhaust fumes.

This refueling station started operations in 2021 and has increased its refueling capacity to 4.8 tonnes of hydrogen per day.

The zone has attracted more than 250 companies spanning the hydrogen energy supply chain, said Xie Tao from the operator of the zone, who has been working in the hydrogen energy industry for 10 years. Thanks to the growing industrial cluster -- businesses within the zone can seamlessly connect with partners and access technology solutions all in one place.

"The hydrogen energy industry is still at a primary stage of development, so the role of the demonstration zone operator is to empower enterprises by helping them reduce R&D costs and provide them with common services," Xie said.

Notably, the NEA has stated that China plans to master core technologies and manufacturing techniques regarding hydrogen energy in 2025, while aiming to build a primarily complete supply chain and industrial system by 2030.

"What matters in the development of hydrogen energy is commercialization. We start from scratch to build its industrial chain. This process is more than just results in the laboratory," Xiang said.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Air defense shoot down one out of two missiles, only 16 out of 47 enemy drones at night; occupiers mainly targeting frontline communities  Air Force

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

The Russian occupiers first attacked with drones on Saturday night, mainly targeting frontline communities, Ukrainian air defense shot down and suppressed one Iskander-K cruise missile and 16 enemy Shahed UAVs and simulator drones of various types, the telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said.

It is reported that the enemy attacked Ukraine at night with a total of 47 strike drones on frontline territories of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, and with two missiles  the city of Dnipro. The air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

"Some 31 UAVs were hit at 15 locations," the force said.

Thus, 34% (16 out of 47) of downed drones was the lowest indicator of the effectiveness of air defense systems against Russian drones since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Before that, the lowest indicator for a long time was the shooting down of 44 out of 91 drones on the night of October 26, 2024, that is, about 48%. Typically, 75% to 90% of the drones launched by the enemy during the night were reported to have been shot down, in particular, on the night of August 8, 76% (79 out of 104), on the night of August 7, 79% (89 out of 112), and on the night of August 6, 80% (36 out of 45).

However, in recent days, the enemy has mainly launched drones at rear targets far from the line of combat contact, and on the night of August 9, the occupiers have mainly targeted objects in front-line territories, which limited the capabilities of the air defense.

Meanwhile, 47 drones launched by the enemy are one of the lowest figures per day in the last six months.
Planes are seen on the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 14, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it is proposing to extend flight cuts at Newark, one of the three main airports serving the New York City area, through October 2026 as it continues to face air traffic controller shortage and congestion issues.

In May, the FAA ordered flight cuts at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport through the end of 2025 following a series of major disruptions at the United Airlines hub that snarled hundreds of flights and sparked alarm about the aging U.S. air traffic control system.

The FAA said on Friday the goal of the reduced flight rates is to "continue maintaining safety while alleviating flight delays due to staffing and equipment challenges, resulting in smoother travel into and out of Newark."

Last month, the Transportation Department Office of Inspector General said it would investigate the FAA's 2024 decision to relocate some Newark air traffic controllers to Philadelphia from New York to address staffing shortages and congested New York City-area airspace. The review came after two serious communications outages for air traffic controllers overseeing Newark's airspace in April and May.

The FAA required 17 air traffic controllers to move from New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, known as N90, to Philadelphia in late July last year. New York TRACON is one of the busiest U.S. facilities. The FAA cited "persistent low staffing levels and low training success rate" at N90 as reasons to move control of the Newark airspace, aiming to boost staffing levels and ease congestion.

In July, the FAA extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City airports through October 2026.

The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels. A series of near-miss incidents has raised safety concerns in recent years, while the persistent staffing shortage has delayed flights and forced controllers at many facilities to work mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks.
The crypto market this week cheered as President Donald Trump signed an executive order meant to open retirement plans to alternative assets including cryptocurrencies. The move from the White House has the potential to be a game changer for the adoption of digital assets. It could help turn them into mainstays of the U.S. financial market by expanding access and encouraging longer-term investing in crypto. Bitcoin , which has been riding a big wave of institutional acceptance and adoption since last year's debut of U.S. bitcoin ETFs , could one day become more established within financial services. It probably won't happen soon based on the White House's greenlight alone. It's even more unlikely investors will be directing BONK , Pudgy Penguins or other meme coins to their retirement accounts. "On the surface, it's exciting to see digital assets getting presidential-level attention," said Doug Boneparth, certified financial planner and founder of Bone Fide Wealth. "It signals continued legitimization of the space and shows how far we've come since bitcoin was just an internet curiosity. But the reality is a lot more nuanced." Employer adoption is key First of all, under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (better known as ERISA), major changes to investment menus require thoughtful guidance and buy-in from plan sponsors  especially if they involve volatile and still-maturing asset classes like crypto, Boneparth noted. For example, Fidelity in 2022 became the first retirement plan provider to give savers the option of putting bitcoin in their 401(k)s. However, employers must be willing to adopt the offering in the first place. That "came down to employers' risk tolerance and fiduciary responsibility. That's not changing overnight with an [executive order]," Boneparth said. Employers' fiduciary duty requires them to comply with ERISA and to run the plan in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries. Further, too many investment options can be a barrier to participation, said Preston Cherry, CFP and founder of Concurrent Financial Planning. While increased access to crypto may be a plus, "people become overwhelmed with the investment menu options" which leads to a "lack of participation," he said. Even when there is education available on these investment options, employees have to elect to receive it  and those participation rates are typically low, Cherry added. Combine those considerations with high-risk assets, and employers' fiduciary responsibility has to kick in. "What happens with all the other altcoins?" Cherry said, separating out bitcoin, ether and the Solana token. "There should be oversight on that from the investment committee or plan sponsor overseeing what digital currencies actually get accepted and should for sure be educating on it." "There's potential upside in digital currencies, but a lot of folks can't understand 30%, 40%, 50% drawdowns  and it could be destructive," he added. "I'm not saying don't invest in crypto, but be crypto cautious." It depends on recordkeepers and 401(k) plan providers The retirement market had $43 trillion in assets in the first quarter, almost $9 trillion of which was held in 401(k) plans, according to the Investment Company Institute. The crypto market cap is nearly $4 trillion today. The executive order is the latest in a series of efforts under the Trump administration to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world." In July, he signed stablecoin legislation known as the GENIUS Act into the first official U.S. crypto law . The Securities and Exchange Commission recently debuted " Project Crypto ," an initiative to modernize securities regulations to allow for crypto-based trading. "The plan providers, the third-party providers, the recordkeepers, are going to decide the end result here, if they want to put crypto in or not," said Tyrone Ross, CEO of registered investment advisor 401 Financial. "This is part of this administration's goal to make crypto the epicenter of the world and to have it grow here," he added. "They're all-in, but the Fidelities of the world, the Schwabs, the MassMutuals, the Vanguards of the world  I don't know if they're just going to go, 'OK, we're going to do it.'" Boneparth echoed that the order is more "more symbolic than structural right now." However, this shouldn't diminish the significance of Washington's blessing of the crypto industry. Further, an education opportunity has just opened up in the retirement sector. "As someone who believes in the long-term role of bitcoin in a diversified portfolio, I'm hopeful," Boneparth said. "But as a fiduciary, I know our job is to help clients weigh the opportunity and the risk." "If we do this right, the door opens a little wider to the future of retirement investing," he said. "If we don't? Well then, who knows what meme coin we're going to see on a retirement plan statement."
Alina Rudya/bell Collective | Digitalvision | Getty Images

I didn't think much of my daily cell phone use during a vacation to Paris in May. But by the end of the five-day trip, I'd amassed almost $50 in extra charges  for fairly routine tasks like checking restaurant hours and menus, or researching neighborhood attractions after long, meandering walks. While not a bank-breaking sum of money, it was high enough to frustrate this personal finance reporter and make me rethink phone use (and the value of better pre-planning) for my next excursion. Luckily, there are many ways to potentially reduce or eliminate extra cell phone costs when traveling outside the U.S., experts said. "There's no one single way to save money using your smartphone when you're overseas," said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy group. The best strategy depends on how travelers plan to use their phone during a trip, he said.

Consider T-Mobile for basic use

Kathrin Ziegler | Digitalvision | Getty Images

My additional charges resulted from my provider's international phone package. My carrier, AT&T, charges a flat, daily rate of $12 per day for international cell use, similar to other providers. I incurred that daily charge each day I opted to use the international cell network instead of Wi-Fi to look up directions or restaurant hours. While many carriers typically charge a per-day fee or a "hefty surcharge," some T-Mobile plans cover international roaming, said Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations" and "A Better Life for Half the Price." More from Personal Finance:

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How to avoid the 45.5% 'SALT torpedo' As such, switching to T-Mobile as your cell provider may make financial sense for those who travel abroad often  especially those who don't rely on their phones for more than the occasional text or data usage during trips, he said. "If this is your plan, awesome," Leffel said. "You're ready to travel the world without missing a beat." There are limitations, though. Not all T-Mobile plans cover international roaming charges. One longtime T-Mobile customer reportedly racked up $143,000 of charges during a 2023 trip to Switzerland because of international data roaming. (The company later reportedly withdrew those costs.)

watch now

While its international plans generally include unlimited texts and an allotment of high-speed data when overseas, phone calls may come with an additional price tag. (One workaround: All calls made over Wi-Fi to the U.S., Mexico and Canada are free, according to T-Mobile's site.) T-Mobile plans also don't work in every country, so customers should be wary to avoid extra fees in such places, experts said.

Additionally, such plans may not be well-suited for digital nomads (they're not intended for extended use abroad, according to T-Mobile), or for heavy data users, Leffel said. Check what your cell plan already offers, and compare costs and services before making any changes, Breyault said.

Use an eSIM

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images

People who intend to use a lot of data away from Wi-Fi networks may be better off buying a SIM card, Breyault said. Replacing your phone's current SIM with an international one essentially turns your device into a local phone, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Many people can use a digital eSIM service today instead of replacing their phone's physical SIM card, experts said. It's generally a cheaper option compared to many carriers' international phone packages, experts said. Pre-paid SIMs let travelers more easily manage their budgets, they said. "Now you can just download an app and buy as much data as you need, generally $1 or less per day for usage spread out over a week or a month," Leffel said. "If you run out of data, you just buy more instantly."

watch now

He recommends sticking with more established providers like Saily, GigSky or Airalo to be safe. They generally work anywhere in the world, he said. Many people opt for data-only SIM plans and save any calls or texts for Wi-Fi, he said. One caveat: Travelers may need to "unlock" their phone for an eSIM to work, Breyault said. This would ensure the phone isn't locked to a particular carrier. In such cases, customers should reach out to their provider before traveling to ask if they can unlock the phone, he said. Also, be aware that your phone number may temporarily switch to a local number when using a new SIM, experts said.

Use Wi-Fi when possible

Natalia Lebedinskaia | Moment | Getty Images
A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

As brutally high temperatures bake the nation this summer, cooling is becoming increasingly critical across commercial real estate property portfolios. Landlords are balancing soaring demand with rising costs, putting energy efficiency front and center.

The trouble is that most large building systems essentially run blind. Temperatures are set centrally, so they don't know if certain parts of the building are running too hot or too cold. That's why so many office workers sit at their desks wearing sweaters in the summer and then feel overheated in the winter.

Now, new technology is taking on the challenge. Runwise, a New York-based technology company, invented its own hardware/software platform to eliminate overheating in large buildings. It recently expanded that to cooling.

"We're trying to hit these climate goals, yet right in our literal building we're throwing money away every time you run a boiler when it doesn't need to run, you're wasting money and you're producing carbon emissions unnecessarily that really make nobody comfortable," said Jeff Carleton, co-founder and CEO of Runwise.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the European leaders' summit to discuss European security and Ukraine, at Lancaster House in London, Britain, March 2, 2025.

WASHINGTON  The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week, according to a senior U.S. official and three people briefed on the internal discussions.

"It's being discussed," one of the people briefed on the discussions said.

The senior U.S. official and people briefed on the discussions said no visit has been finalized and that it's unclear if Zelenskyy would ultimately be in Alaska for meetings.

The senior administration official said it is "absolutely" possible.

"Everyone is very hopeful that would happen," the official said.

Asked whether the U.S. had officially invited Zelenskyy to Alaska, a senior White House official said: "The President remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders. Right now, the White House is focusing on planning the bilateral meeting requested by President Putin."

The Ukrainian government did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump announced Friday that he is meeting with Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska as he tries to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. The White House had initially made a Putin meeting with Zelenskyy a condition for a meeting between Trump and the Russian president to take place, but Trump later said that was not a precondition.

If Zelenskyy were to travel to Alaska, it is not clear if he and Putin would ever be in the same room, one of the people briefed on the discussions said.

The surge in diplomacy aimed at ending the war in Ukraine comes after Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow ahead of a deadline on Friday that the president had set for the Russian leader to agree to a ceasefire or face new sanctions.

Putin has not agreed to a ceasefire but proposed the outlines of an agreement to end the war that would allow Russia to keep large swaths of Ukrainian territory. Zelenskyy said defiantly on Saturday that Ukrainians "will not give their land to occupiers."

Trump said Friday that between Russia and Ukraine, "there'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both."

Administration officials were working on Saturday to try to gain support for a potential ceasefire from the Ukrainian government and European leaders.
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on February 25, 2025 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 12, 2025, and US President Donald Trump on Feb. 25, 2025.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defiantly declared Saturday that his countrymen "will not give their land to occupiers," after President Donald Trump suggested that a peace deal would include some "swapping" of territories with Russia.

"The answer to Ukraine's territorial question is already in the constitution of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a message on Telegram early Saturday. "No one will and no one can deviate from it. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier."

His comments came after Trump announced on Truth Social that a long-awaited meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin had been scheduled for next Friday in Alaska.

Further details and logistics of the meeting are still unclear and remain very fluid, including whether Zelenskyy will be involved. Trump did not mention the Ukrainian President in the post announcing the meeting with Putin.

Later Friday, at the White House, Trump suggested that there have been talks about Russia and Ukraine potentially "swapping" territory as part of a ceasefire deal. "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both and ... we'll be talking about that either later or tomorrow, or whatever."

A White House official also said Friday that the Russians have provided a list of demands for a potential ceasefire for the war in Ukraine, and the U.S. is trying to get buy-in from Ukrainians and European allies.

But in his message Saturday, Zelenskyy said any decision taken without Ukraine were "decisions against peace," adding, "They will not achieve anything."

The White House had not commented on Zelenskyy's message by early Saturday.

Russia's demands have previously included Ukraine ceding all the land that Putin claims to have annexed and accepting permanent neutrality, with a ban on Ukraine ever joining NATO.

Putin claims four Ukrainian regions  Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson  as well as the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which he annexed in 2014. Russian forces do not fully control all the territory in each region.

It remains unclear whether Trump's reference to "swapping" territories means formal cession of land or a withdrawal from areas currently under each side's control.

Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have long said they would not concede any territory that Russia illegally annexed. Ukraine has also insisted that any agreement must include "security guarantees" from its allies so that Moscow is not able to launch future aggression.

The meeting in Alaska will be Trump and Putin's first encounter since the invasion of Ukraine, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, and comes after the relationship between the two leaders has wavered.

In Trump's first term, the president called Putin a strong and smart leader and said he "got along great" with him.

But after promising to solve the conflict within 24 hours during his presidential campaign, Trump has since extended that deadline and has expressed his frustration at the Russian president's seeming unwillingness to end the war.

Trump had threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs from Friday against Moscow and countries that buy its exports unless Putin agreed to end the conflict. It was unclear by Saturday morning whether those sanctions would take effect or be delayed or canceled.

Trump's ultimatums have not prompted the Kremlin to move one inch on its war in Ukraine so far, other than to give the president a meeting.

Although Trump's agreement to a meeting suggested a chance for progress, it was far from certain anything substantial would be achieved, Peter Watkins, an associate fellow at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, told NBC News Saturday.

"The underlying issues have not changed," he said. "For Russia, this isn't just about territory, it's about controlling Ukraine as a whole." He also noted that Trump would likely want to leave the summit with something to show for it, but the outcome might be only "another step" in a protracted process rather than a decisive deal.

Promises of talks between Trump and Putin have done little to quiet the violence on the ground since their announcement.

The last time Alaska hosted a high-stakes diplomatic gathering was in March 2021, when senior officials from the administration of Democratic former President Joe Biden met with top Chinese officials in Anchorage.

On the ground, the Kremlin's larger army is slowly advancing deeper into Ukraine at great cost in troops while it relentlessly bombards Ukrainian cities.

Overnight, Russian drone strikes hit a minibus in a suburb of Kherson, killing two and leaving six injured, the region's prosecutor's office said Saturday.

Ukraine's Air Force Command said Saturday that Russia launched 47 drone strikes overnight in multiple Ukrainian regions, with 31 of them making landfall.
The meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump with Vladimir Putin will take place on August 15 in Alaska, Trump announced on the Truth social network.

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," he said.

"Further details to follow," Trump added and thanked for the attention to this matter.

Earlier, the U.S. president said he considered it likely that Putin would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the near future, as well as the signing of a peace agreement with their participation in the coming months.
With announcement of 50% tariffs by the United States on several labour-intensive exports from India, sources have indicated that India is exploring new markets for these products in West Asia and Europe to cushion exporters from the impact of tariffs.Sources have pointed out that the while measures are underway to boost domestic consumption as well as to roll out the Export Promotion Mission soon, negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the 27-nation bloc of the European Union (EU) is going on well.EU's import basket of Indian labour-intensive products is similar to the US, where they will now face high tariffs.An Increase in exports is likely to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which India's FTA is slated to come into effect soon. The EFTA bloc comprises of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. The India-UK FTA also likely to be implemented by next year.Sources have told CNBC TV18 that India's FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with Oman likely to be announced in less than 3 months after nod from both nations' Union Cabinets.While the India-Oman FTA undergoing legal vetting after translation in Arabic, a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is separately under negotiation with Saudi Arabia. As per sources, FTA talks are underway with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the possibility remains open for separate FTAs with GCC members.Oman is the third largest export destination among the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries for Indian goods and services, with 80% of Indian products currently attracting 5% import duty in Oman.If signed, an FTA with Oman would the second such agreement India has with a GCC country, after its trade deal with the UAE came into effect in May 2022.In May, CNBC-TV18 had reported that the last biggest hurdle for the India-Oman FTA was the degree of "Omanisation" being practiced by the Middle Eastern country.Oman's "Omanisation" policy aims at replacing foreign workers with locals across sectors, and the policy keeps altering across sectors in terms of percentage of locals being hired.Government sources had told that India wants guarantees in opportunities and access for its workers in Oman, wants the degree of "Omanisation" across sectors to be frozen in the FTA to protect long-term interests of Indian workers. In the fifth round of talks in January, Oman had sought revision of market access on some products even after conclusion of FTA negotiations.While India hadn't sought any duty concessions in 125 to 130 tariff lines, which include products like liquor and cigarettes, it is expected to gain greater market access for its services sector and for 98% of its goods in Oman. Sources had indicated that both the countries have discussed the flagged issues, and changes in the negotiated positions were likely to be minimal.Meanwhile, the Indian industry had opposed duty concessions for Oman's petrochemical products to avoid a glut of low-cost imports which may potentially impact India's domestic industry. Sources had explained that pricing of feedstock constitutes 65% to 70% of the total cost of petrochemical products like Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Due to its surplus mineral wealth and availability of petrochemical products, Oman enjoys a natural advantage in terms of competitiveness of such products vis-a-vis India.Bilateral trade between India and Oman had declined from $12.39 billion in FY 2022-23 to $8.94 billion in FY 2023-24. India's merchandise imports from Oman had dropped to $4.52 billion in FY 2023-24, from $7.9 billion in FY 2022-23. While petroleum products and urea comprise of 70% of India's imports from Oman, other products include ethylene and propylene polymers, pet coke, chemicals, gypsum, and iron and steel. India's exports to Oman had risen from $2.25 billion in FY 2018-19 to $4.42 billion in FY 2023-24.
Ukrainians deserve just peace based on respect for territorial integrity, Russia must not be rewarded  Sybiha

Ukraine needs a lasting peace that will not be destroyed by the next step of Russia, which is based on international law and respect for its borders, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said.

"Ukrainians deserve a just peace based on the international law and respect for our territorial integrity and borders defined by our Constitution. Russia must not be rewarded for starting this war," Sybiha said on the X social network on Saturday.

He noted that, despite tireless efforts by the United States and Ukraine's continued willingness to seek a fair peace, Russia continues its terror against civilians, ignores deadlines, and shows no genuine interest in ending the war.

"Ukraine remains open to meaningful dialogue and real solutions negotiated together with Ukraine, respecting the will of our people. We need a lasting peace that won't be destroyed by Moscow's next move. Ukraine stands ready to work with the United States and all our international partners to achieve together a just and lasting peace," the head of the foreign ministry said.

As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a conversation with journalists, stated that peace between Russia and Ukraine is possible on the basis of the exchange and return of part of the territories, emphasizing that this is a complex and long-term process.
Three officers of the National Police of Ukraine received concussions as a result of a repeated attack by a drone on a bus in the suburbs of Kherson, in which two people were previously killed and 16 were injured, the department said on the website.

"During the police's attempt to remove the bodies of the deceased from the bus, the FPV drone hit the vehicle again. As a result, three police officers received concussions. At present, the necessary investigative actions are underway to document another cynical Russia's war crime," Kherson region police communications department said.

As reported, two people were killed and 16 were injured, including at least two seriously, as a result of an attack on a shuttle bus in the suburbs of Kherson by a Russian drone at around 08:30 on Saturday. All those injured during the shelling were inside the vehicle.

A pretrial investigation has been launched into the fact of committing a war crime that led to the death of people (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said this strike indicates Russia's unwillingness to end the war in Ukraine.
Photo: https://npu.gov.ua/

Two civilians died as a result of a Russian drone hitting a car in the village of Bilenke, Zaporizhia region on Saturday morning, the National Police of Ukraine said on the website.

"Enemy drones continue to hunt for residents of communities. This morning, hits by racist FPV drones were documented in Bilenke. The UAV hit a civilian car, killing two people. The vehicle burned to the ground," Zaporizhia region police communications department said on Saturday.

It is also reported that over the past 24 hours, the occupiers have carried out seven airstrikes on the region, inflicted 415 strikes with drones (mostly FPV), nine with multiple launch rocket systems, and 154 with artillery. Law enforcement officers have registered 21 reports of destruction of infrastructure facilities.

"Police and SBU investigators have collected material evidence and opened criminal proceedings on the facts of war crimes. Legal qualification  Part 1, 2 of Article 438 (war crimes) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the police said.
Napoleon Bonaparte once received some memorable words of advice from that wily French diplomat and statesman Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord.

The great generals ill-judged decision to kidnap and execute a royalist opponent in 1804, which sent shudders of fear around European capitals, was worse than a crime, remarked Talleyrand. It was a mistake.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might consider those words as he draws up plans to intensify the war in Gaza. Crime or no crime, he is making a huge mistake.

Why, in ordering a ground assault on densely populated Gaza City  an initiative announced in the early hours of Friday morning  is Netanyahu adopting a policy that splits both Israeli opinion and his own military advisers?

Perhaps a prime minister who has led his country through so many crises for 25 years thinks he can strike a decisive blow and crush Hamas terrorists in their bunkers  as Hitler was eventually destroyed 80 years ago. Israel, for obvious reasons, is haunted by the lessons of the Second World War.

Netanyahus supporters point out that Allied forces killed countless thousands of civilians in order to defeat Hitler and Emperor Hirohito of Japan.

Nor should we underestimate the sheer trauma of the bloodshed on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 Israeli civilians and took a further 250 hostages to be used, despicably, as human shields. Israel feels its very survival is at stake.

And it is certainly true that Hamas, although crippled, is not eradicated. After 22 months of war, Israels campaign of bombs and rockets has reached its limit of effectiveness because so much is destroyed already.

Why, in ordering a ground assault on densely populated Gaza City  an initiative announced in the early hours of Friday  is Netanyahu adopting a policy that splits both Israeli opinion and his own military advisers?

While Israel now controls about 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip, the most heavily populated coastal area and Gaza City itself remain unoccupied. Even in the areas where the Israeli army does hold sway, some fighting continues.

But sending Israeli sons and brothers to fight hand-to-hand in Gaza Citys maze of courtyards and tunnels?

Perhaps the prime minister has been dazzled by the brilliance of Israels intelligence strikes against Hezbollah and Iran.

Or by the overwhelming success of its attacks on Hamas, led by planes, rockets and robots of superlative sophistication.

There are personal reasons why Netanyahu might wish to prolong the conflict, of course. His hard-Right coalition partners want the fighting to continue  and without their support, his government falls.

The prime minister is in legal jeopardy, moreover.

While the serious fraud charges levelled against him in three cases at home are unrelated to Gaza, he might well feel that Israels continuing state of emergency is essential to prolong his trial. It has worked so far.

And that kicking the can down the road is no more than common sense while he remains in office and out of jail. However, Israels military success to date emphatically does not mean it can occupy Gaza City  which still has a population of 800,000  without enormous bloodshed.

The tragic reality is that the humanitarian situation will worsen radically if Israeli tanks and ground troops attack such a densely populated area

And none are more sceptical than Israels own commanders who fear, with good reason, that they are walking into a trap.

The Israel Defence Forces have been mounting raids into Gaza City since 2023; its troops and tanks have faced fierce resistance both above ground and in the darkness below.

Netanyahu is demanding his soldiers clear out a spiders web of tunnels offering sanctuary for terrorist fighters as well as dungeons for the surviving hostages. Casualties will grow.

Israeli army officers and veterans have already spoken out, fearing the assault will drag soldiers  and Israel itself  into a quagmire.

Relatives of the surviving hostages understandably fear an army offensive will lead to their deaths, too.

The chief of Israels Army Staff  no peacenik  suggested that a better alternative was to seal off the remaining Hamas enclaves on the Gaza strip and so prevent them being used to attack Israel itself. But Netanyahu overruled him after a shouting match, according to Israeli media.

It is not just the immediate logistics that cause such grave concern. Comparisons with the Second World War, while tempting, overlook the fact that the Allies gave their enemies a reason to accept defeat. The Americans and British made life better for the survivors in Western Europe and Japan.

But Netanyahu offers no clear picture of The Day After in Gaza.

Trying to allay fears of becoming bogged down, Netanyahu told American TV that he would hand control of the territory to Arab forces once Israel has finally defeated Hamas.

But this seems like fantasy. There is no sign that Egypt, Jordan or Saudi Arabia are willing to send troops to police an angry, wounded population which, incidentally, blames Arab states for not helping them in their hour of need.

Nor will Egypt open its doors to Palestinian refugees. Why would it allow Hamas subversives to unite with their friends in Egypts radical Muslim Brotherhood, who continue to oppose the Cairo government?

Like it or not, it looks as though Israel will be left holding the Gaza baby, incurring vast costs in blood and treasure to do so.

The reaction is no better elsewhere around the world.

Netanyahus plans put Israel at odds with old allies, including Britain and France, and risks handing a propaganda victory to the terrorists.

Populations and politicians across the West offered unflinching support to Israel in the wake of October 7. But almost two years on, the shock of the slaughter is wearing off amid genuine horror at the humanitarian consequences of Israels war.

Anyone looking at photographs of the devastation might conclude that the situation in Gaza is now as bad as it could possibly be.

But thats not true.

The tragic reality is that the humanitarian situation will worsen radically if Israeli tanks and ground troops attack such a densely populated area.

It could further damage Israels already strained diplomatic relationships, including its vital friendship with the United States of America.

Without Washingtons support  through military aid, intelligence information and economic support  a small country like Israel simply cannot sustain a forever war, however tough it likes to think itself.

Despite his strong support for Israel, Donald Trump has repeatedly made clear his revulsion at civilian casualties, whether in Ukraine or Gaza. The US leader wants to be the peace president, after all.

It would be unwise of Netanyahu to assume that Washingtons guarantee of Israels security is the same thing as carte blanche.

If fresh bloodshed upsets the President or complicates Americas relations elsewhere around the world, Trump could well pull the rug from beneath Netanyahu and Israel.

It is by no means unthinkable. Which is why its so unwise of Netanyahu to rely on a narrowing base of hard-line supporters inside his parliamentary bunker.

World revulsion at Hamass brutal rampage is fading. Alarm at the human cost of the Gaza campaign is growing. And Benjamin Netanyahu, once the great survivor of Israeli politics, would be well-advised to accept it.

A ground war in Gaza City means backing Israel into a dead end  where he, too, will find theres no escape.

Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford.
It is 672 days since Israel launched all-out war on Gaza, in retaliation for the murder, rape and kidnap of its citizens of October 7, 2023.

The stated aims of the campaign were to eliminate Hamas, the perpetrators of that and so many other appalling terrorist acts, and to free the 251 hostages abducted that day.

Much has been achieved by the Israeli Defence Forces. Hamas has been decapitated by targeted strikes on its leaders and its remaining fighters are on the run. Nearly 150 hostages have been returned alive and more than 50 bodies recovered.

In the process, however, much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. The scale of civilian deaths has been heartbreaking and brought widespread international condemnation.

Hamas is a brutal and anarchic jihadist cult and the blame for this bloody conflagration lies firmly at its door. But Israels tactics are increasingly being questioned  both at home and abroad.

There are suspicions that Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is prolonging the conflict to please hard-Right members of his cabinet, without whom his coalition government would fall.

His latest proposal to invade and occupy Gaza City has drawn criticism from many within Israel. He says it is part of a final push to topple Hamas and retrieve the hostages.

But will it really achieve either of those objectives? It is highly unlikely to hasten the release of the 20 or so surviving hostages. Indeed, it could further endanger them, which is why their families are vehemently opposed to the plan.

A Palestinian youth carries a bag of flour near a food distribution point in Zikim, northern Gaza Strip, on August 8, 2025

There are suspicions that Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) is prolonging the conflict to please hard-Right members of his cabinet, without whom his coalition government would fall

In the process of fighting back against Hamas, much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. The scale of civilian deaths has been heartbreaking and brought widespread international condemnation

It is also fraught with danger militarily, which is why Israels chief of defence staff is against it. His forces, largely conscripts and reservists, are profoundly fatigued after 22 months of fighting.

This offensive would involve the displacement of a million civilians, the deployment of many more troops, months of bitter fighting and yet more bloodshed.

Before ploughing ahead, Mr Netanyahu must carefully measure the potential benefits against the cost. And, if the occupation is successful, he must be clear about what comes next.

He says Israel doesnt want to stay in Gaza once Hamas is eliminated but would hand it over to Arab forces who will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life.

But where would these saviours be found? Who would take on such a benighted, shattered enclave? If Hamas were removed, who would fill the vacuum? To paraphrase W.B. Yeats, what rough beast would be slouching towards Gaza to be born?

This paper yields to no one in its support for Israels right to self-defence against those who would destroy it. But no conflict can go on forever. Even in the midst of war, there must be a credible roadmap to peace.

While Prince Andrew is mired in yet more ghastly scandal and Harry continues to whine and snipe at Britain from his Californian mansion, one royal carries on doing what she has always done  putting service before self and quiet diligence before ostentation.

For years Princess Anne, 75 next week, has been the hardest working and among the most popular members of the family. A perfect blend of her parents, she has been a credit to the monarchy over the decades.

Along with Queen Camilla she is said to be the Kings most trusted adviser and a mentor to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children. They couldnt wish for a better counsellor. The Daily Mail wishes the Princess Royal the happiest of birthdays.
Several weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger  the former actor and governor of California  was invited on to leading US chat show The View. A few days earlier, Los Angeles had been gripped by serious disorder following attempts by Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to arrest suspected illegal migrants.

As a migrant himself, what did he think about the raids, and the reaction to them, Schwarzenegger was asked.

We got to do things legal. That is the important thing, you know? he replied, to the evident surprise and disappointment of his host Whoopi Goldberg. You got to do things legal. And those people that are doing illegal things in America, theyre the foreigners, they are not smart. Because when you come to America, youre a guest. And you have to behave like a guest.

It would be wrong to describe Schwarzenegger as a classical progressive. He was elected as a Republican and holds conservative economic views. But on social issues, and the issue of immigration, he is relatively liberal. He has frequently attacked Donald Trump. At the last election he endorsed Kamala Harris. And in the wake of the 2021 Capitol riot, he issued a powerful video in which he compared the attack to Kristallnacht.

Over the past seven days the arguments over links between immigration and crime here in the UK have also been intensifying.

In Warwickshire, Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe called for urgent national guidance after his local force was accused of failing to release details of two Afghan asylum seekers facing prosecution for an assault on a 12-year-old girl.

On Monday Nigel Farage courted further controversy by claiming an Afghan male has a 22 times more likely chance of being convicted of rape than somebody born in this country. He was swiftly followed by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who claimed 40 per cent of sexual crimes in London last year were committed by foreign nationals.

But within government there was silence. Even though ministers were spending the week making strenuous efforts to promote their new one-in, one-out asylum strategy, they studiously avoided engaging in the spiralling debate about criminality, migration and race. Save for a bland intervention from Keir Starmer, in which he said he wanted greater transparency on offending stats.

Several weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger  the former actor and governor of California  was invited on to leading US chat show The View

On Monday, Nigel Farage courted further controversy by claiming an Afghan male has a 22 times more likely chance of being convicted of rape than somebody born in this country

And on one level this reticence is understandable. There is a clear danger of stoking existing community tensions through intemperate and inaccurate statements that scapegoat minorities. As illustrated by the tweet sent by Rupert Lowe  the increasingly preposterous MP for Great Yarmouth  who set members of the public, coastguard and police chasing after a group of illegal migrants, only for it to emerge they were actually a team of charity rowers raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

But there is an urgent need for balance. Because by remaining silent, ministers and the liberal Left are creating a vacuum that could be exploited by agitators operating outside of the political mainstream. And, at the moment, the balance between these two dangers is not being struck.

In any contentious debate, the only safe haven is provided by

the truth. And though unpalatable, the truth as it relates to crime and migration status is clear. Some immigrant groups are disproportionately represented in the crime statistics when set against the indigenous population.

In the wake of Farages claim, Sky News conducted a fact-check of his figures. They found he had grossly overestimated actual offending rates among Afghan men, something that was immediately seized upon by his opponents.

But according to Skys analysis, our estimates conclude that Afghans are actually three times more likely to be convicted of a sexual offence than someone born in the UK.

That still represents a material, and disturbing, difference.

The Guardian conducted a similar analysis of Jenricks claim. Citing his figures as muddled, the paper pointed out his analysis was based on proceedings brought, rather than successful prosecutions, and inaccurately assessed the demographics of the London population.

The paper also stated that Jenricks figure reflected an FOI submitted by the Centre for Migration Control, which is run by a former Reform activist.

But the raw figures provided by the Metropolitan Police are clear. Between 2018 and 2024 there were 7,798 arrests in the capital characterised as violence against the person or sexual offences which led to further action being taken. Of these, 4,631 were British nationals, 358 were of unknown nationality and 2,809 were identified as foreign nationals.

Its imperative Sir Keir Starmer Starmer and his ministers now openly acknowledge the significant and shocking statistics

Again, the precise scale of the problem may have been exaggerated. But these are still significant and shocking statistics.

Its imperative Starmer and his ministers now openly acknowledge this. Not least because, if they dont, the narrative that they are creating  or at least masking  a system of two-tier justice, is going to become embedded.

Over the decades, Labour politicians have consistently spoken out against crimes they claim have deeper social significance. Attacks on ethnic minorities. Violence against women. Low-grade sexual intimidation, such as wolf-whistling.

Rightly. So now they cannot be seen to simply turn a blind eye to the concerns of those saying the influx of asylum seekers is having a detrimental impact on their communities. Especially when the crime statistics show those fears are not groundless.

Yes, Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper and their colleagues are trying to prioritise action over rhetoric. Yes, its easy for Nigel Farage, Robert Jenrick and others to point to the problem without providing any practical, concrete solutions.

But bland managerialism in the face of a mounting national crisis is not enough.

When are we at least going to see the Prime Minister or Home Secretary visit one of the communities selected to host asylum seekers, and directly address local residents worries?

Or see Starmer use the weight of his office to echo Schwarzenegger and state: If you come to our country seeking sanctuary you are a guest. We will not tolerate any breaches of our laws. Entry to the UK is a privilege, not a right.

The Left cannot let opposition to migrant crime become the preserve of the Right. Especially when every offence doesnt just impact the victim but every other migrant seeking to enter Britain in genuine pursuit of sanctuary, or a new life.

Deflection such as its only a small number of migrants or the people pointing to this issue are just peddling hate isnt just counterproductive, its offensive. In what other context would you hear a liberal breezily declare: Its only a handful of sexual assaults  lets focus on the things that matter?

The time has come for the Prime Minister to speak out about the link between migration and crime. Because the vacuum he is creating over the issue will not stay a vacuum for long.
The Government wont admit it, but the situation in the Channel is a national security emergency.

The news only seems to get worse: drug dealers, murderers and even reported spies from Iran have exploited our open borders.

In just the past two months we have seen a spate of crimes, all allegedly committed by migrants.

A girl in Epping, sexually assaulted. A ten-year-old in Stockport, nearly kidnapped. Three stabbed in Southampton.

A 12-year-old in Nuneaton, a young woman in Portsmouth and an eight-year-old in Lambeth, all raped.

And those are just the crimes for which the immigration status of the perpetrator was recorded.

Its no wonder fair-minded people are furious. Theyre right to be.

When I see these stories, I cant help but think that it could have been one of my three young daughters.

The top Tory admits he fears for his own three young daughters (pictured) against a backdrop of illegal migrants with medieval attitudes crossing the Channel. Mr Jenrick, whose daughters are 14, 12 and ten, says the Channel crossings are now a national security emergency

Families at a Bournemouth migrant hotel on Saturday

Police officers stand guard as anti-immigration protesters gather in Liverpool, Britain, August 9, 2025

I certainly dont want my children to share a neighbourhood with immigrant men with backward views who broke into Britain illegally, and about whom we know next to nothing.

And I dont want anyone elses family to have this forced on them either.

My eldest daughter is 14 and already I worry about her safety as she starts to do things independently. Its challenging enough without this to contend with.

I can only sympathise with the mothers and fathers peacefully protesting outside asylum hotels who have been pushed to breaking point.

They will have read the stories of illegal migrants loitering around schools and parks, many of whom have deplorable attitudes towards women (so much so that the Home Office issues guidance to illegal migrants on what sexual assault is, for goodness sake).

Quite understandably, parents refuse to sit back while their familys safety is jeopardised. Their response is natural: we must protect our children.

For years, the British public have been gaslit. Theyve been told that as many women and children make small-boat crossings as men. Fact check: nearly 90 per cent are men.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Barbican Thistle Hotel housing migrants on August 2, 2025 in London, England

Protestors gathered outside the Britannia Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday after it was announced it would be used to house asylum seekers

Anti illegal immigration protesters wave Union flags (Union Jacks) as police hold the line outside The Roundhouse hotel, on August 09, 2025 in Bournemouth

Theyve been told they are genuine refugees, when many are economic opportunists who have travelled through multiple safe countries and broken the law to reach the UK.

Those who have dared to make the link between uncontrolled migration and crime have been sneered at by the metropolitan elite, safely ensconced in their ivory towers.

Only at the turn of this year I was criticised for saying some of those who have migrated to the UK have, frankly, medieval attitudes to women.

I was right and Im not backing down. Its obvious that some societies have higher levels of violent and sexual crime, and individuals who migrate from those countries to the UK are unlikely to shed that baggage quickly.

Sometimes it takes multiple generations to do so, as the over-representation of men with Pakistani heritage in the rape-gang scandal shows.

The truth is that mass, uncontrolled immigration has been fuelling crime and made women and girls less safe.

But out of a mixture of bureaucratic inertia and weak leadership, the data has been covered up.

So much so that when I warned last year that terror suspects were crossing in small boats, I was reprimanded by the Home Office.

The mandarins  backed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper  sought to censor me.

But I will not be silenced as dangerous people break into the country. Fortunately, things are now changing. A series of Freedom of Information requests have ushered in an immigration glasnost.

Protesters wave Union Jack flags behind barricades outside the Park Hotel in Chichester on Friday

Protestors gather outside the Britannia Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday after it was announced its being used as a migrant hotel

And the indicative data supports what the public have long suspected.

According to the Centre for Migration Control, using Ministry of Justice figures, foreign nationals were responsible for at least

15 per cent of sexual offences committed between 2021 and 2023  and possibly as much as 23 per cent, when the number of defendants of unknown nationality are considered.

This is hugely disproportionate.

Foreign nationals make up just 9 per cent of the UK population, according to the last Census, which means theyre more than twice as likely to be responsible for sexual offences than the rest of us.

And in London alone, foreign nationals were responsible for 40 per cent of cautions and charges for sexual assault.

The data suggests some nationalities, such as Germans and Americans, are no more likely to commit crimes than Brits.

But other nationalities are significantly more likely. The indicative data shows Albanians are 153 times more likely to be convicted of a drug offence than a Brit. Congolese nationals are 12 times more likely to be convicted of a violent crime.

Protesters outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday evening with Union Jack flags and St George's Flags

Counter protestors were also in attendance at the Britannia Hotel Migrant Protest, holding signs that say 'refugees welcome' and 'stop the far right'

And Afghan and Eritrean nationals are 20 times more likely to be convicted of a sexual offence.

As a result, we now have a record number of violent and sexual predators from abroad clogging up our prisons at extraordinary cost. We must remove every single one of these sick individuals.

No ifs, no buts. I care infinitely more about the safety of British women and girls than the rights of foreign offenders.

If they dont want to be deported, they shouldnt have committed a serious crime. Keeping the public safe is the first duty of the British Government.

While the latest data dragged out of the Government is progress, it doesnt show the whole picture.

We need the full, verified data, published regularly, including more up-to-date figures about the size of demographic groups.

I tabled an amendment to lift the veil of secrecy over migrant crime under the last Government.

I have just done so again under this Government. I wont stop until the Ministry of Justice publishes the background of criminals by their nationality, country of birth, visa status, asylum status and their method of entry to the UK.

Starmer has a choice: release the data or be complicit in a scandalous cover-up.

Transparency is one thing, but above all we need action. The illegal migrants and foreign offenders here must be deported, even if theyve qualified for settlement. If countries wont take back their

citizens, we should suspend the granting of visas and foreign aid until they do.

Just recently it was reported Pakistan was refusing to take

back three rapists until the UK allows direct flights between the two countries via its national airline, PIA, which were grounded due to safety concerns.

This is a country we give 133million in aid to. Enough. Starmer should suspend that money if the Pakistani authorities dont do the right thing.

Simply, we need to stop worsening the problem of crime committed in the UK. How? By ending mass migration.

By putting the safety and interests of Britons at the heart of our immigration system. By radically reducing the number of visas issued to nationals from high-risk countries.

This problem did not start under Starmer. The last Government made serious mistakes  mistakes that led me to resign, so angry

was I at the unwillingness to do what I knew needed to be done. But this issue is blighting our country so much that it is now beyond party politics.

The error the last Government made was to fail to close all the loopholes that frustrated the removal of illegal migrants and foreign offenders. If he wants to succeed, Starmer has to learn quickly.

Otherwise the British people will continue to suffer. We have enough of a problem with crime running out of control  its reckless to keep making it worse.
Deborah Terkely never skipped a beat when it came to her health.

A busy mum-of-two running a small family business, she still made time for regular blood tests, breast checks, thyroid scans - the lot.

'I always told my doctors to make sure they checked my thyroid, because my sisters have issues,' Deborah told Daily Mail.

'My blood tests always came back perfect.'

So when the then 39-year-old was suddenly struck down by her first ever excruciating migraine in 2022, she knew something wasn't right.

'It was quite confusing at the time because it was a very strange feeling. It was very debilitating,' she said.

The Melbourne mum retreated to a dark bedroom, unable to move from the couch as the severe pain pulsed through her head and neck.

'I think it even took me a while to realise that it was a migraine, but it lasted for probably three days,' she said.

Deborah Terkely (pictured with her husband) was 39 when she suffered an 'unbearable' migraine that changed her life forever

'It almost felt like I had a 20kg bowling ball stuck on my neck, and the weight and the pressure from that was creating so much pain that had to lie down.'

When her regular painkillers weren't doing anything, Deborah's mind went to a dark place.

Worried she might have a brain or spine tumour, Deborah booked in to see her long-time GP for some relief and to get to the bottom of the pain.

But the response floored her.

'I explained to her what was happening, and she said to me, "Deb, you're just getting old. Maybe just take some Panadol",' she said.

'I said no to her, I knew something wasn't right. I felt let down.'

Refusing to be brushed off, Deborah sought out a second opinion - and it may have saved her life.

This time, the doctor immediately ordered an MRI.

After her long-time GP dismissed her saying she was 'just getting old.' Deborah sought a second opinion which revealed a three-centimetre mass on her thyroid

A biopsy confirmed the worst. She had thyroid cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes and she needed surgery immediately. Pictured: Deborah Post-surgery

'I was explaining it, and he [the specialist] was writing the script for me for the MRI right there and then,' she said.

'He said "we're not going to muck around, even if it's nothing, we're just going to have a look".'

The good news? Her brain was clear. But the scan revealed something else - a three-centimetre mass sitting on her thyroid.

Soon after, a biopsy confirmed it was thyroid cancer. It had already spread to her lymph nodes.

Feeling shocked and still in disbelief, Deborah also felt a sense of relief to know that there was a reason behind all of her pain.

'But then it was also the fear of, "am I going to die?",' she said.

Interestingly her migraine had no relation to the cancer. Deborah had no symptoms - no lumps or pain - and her thyroid function tests were completely 'normal' beforehand

Ironically, the mystery migraine disappeared just as the cancer was discovered.

It had no relation to the cancer, according to her specialists. Deborah had no symptoms of thyroid cancer - no lumps or pain - and her thyroid function tests were completely 'normal' beforehand.

Despite a family history of low thyroid function, Deborah's levels had never raised any red flags.

Looking back, she believes the crippling headache was triggered by a stressful family situation, but it was the unintentional warning sign that led to the cancer diagnosis.

She was booked in for surgery that following January, a wait that took a heavy emotional toll.

The wait was excruciating, especially over the Christmas period.

In a six-hour operation, surgeons removed Deborah's entire thyroid and 70 per cent of her neck lymph nodes. Many were already cancerous.

'I was in hospital for three days with two tubes coming out of my neck to drain the fluid from the surgery,' she said,

Looking back, she believes the crippling headache was triggered by a stressful family situation, but it was the unintentional warning sign that led to the cancer diagnosis

'I came home and needed the tape on for another two weeks. And then there was a lot of forced rest.'

Post-surgery, she was left with a 13cm scar running from her ear down her neck. What followed was a mental battle she never anticipated.

Deborah was also terrified of what her scar would look like when she took off her bandages.

'At the end of the day, my priority was to get the cancer out. I knew I was going to be left with the scar, and that's just what it is,' she said.

But in a silver lining no one saw coming, Deborah's road to recovery inspired a booming business idea.

Post-surgery, she was left with a 13cm scar running from her ear down her neck

Years earlier, Deborah and her husband had launched their low-tox brand, L'ada Soaps and Scents, after learning soap-making from her mother-in-law.

After the surgery, she began experimenting with a scar serum to help her own healing and within weeks, even her doctor was stunned by the results.

'It was just incredible. The way [and] the speed it healed was amazing, because when I took my tape off, my scar was extremely raised,' she said.

At her six-week check-up, the surgeon asked what she had been using. He said he'd never seen such fast results.

Deborah shared her journey on social media to raise awareness, and followers quickly became obsessed with the fading scar and demanded the product.

She hadn't planned to sell it, but the demand spoke for itself.

'My customers started messaging me, saying, "Deb, when is this serum going to be available? I'd like to try it I've got scars too",' she recalled.

'It wasn't until a number of people had come to me that I thought, well, we're in the business of helping people.'

Deborah's road to recovery inspired a booming business idea when she began experimenting with a scar serum to help her own healing

Pictured: Deborah's L'ada Skin & Scar Serum ($40)

Two years on, her scar is barely noticeable, and she now wears it like a badge of honour.

Deborah now has the all clear, but it never leaves her mind.

'Any unusual lumps I freak out but I just have to remind myself that I am okay and lymph nodes swell up and go down all the time,' she said.

'I now also have six monthly ultrasounds, and that's more peace of mind than anything.'

Thyroid cancer is the seventh most common cancer affecting Aussie women, and the top cancer diagnosed in women aged 20 to 24, according to the Cancer Council.

Cases have quadrupled since 1982, and nearly three times more women are diagnosed than men.

Despite that, many cases still fly under the radar.

The warning signs that people often ignore are subtle symptoms like a persistent cough, voice changes, a lump in the throat, or difficulty sleeping due to neck tightness.

With more than one million Aussies living with undiagnosed thyroid disorders, Deborah says a simple ultrasound would pick it up, and a push for answers if something feels off.

'Trust your gut, get a second opinion, [and] find someone that will listen to you and give you the test that you need,' Deborah said.
A major change is coming to one of Disney Worlds most iconic landmarks.

Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, has officially filed a new construction permit for the Tree of Life, the massive centerpiece of Animal Kingdom that has towered over the park since it opened in 1998.

The permit was filed on Wednesday, and it is unclear if it is related to the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show that Disney plans to open at the theater located inside the tree, per Inside the Magic.

The towering 145-foot artificial tree, which stands on Discovery Island in Animal Kingdom, isnt just a photo op; it also houses the Tree of Life Theater, which was home to the now-retired Its Tough to Be a Bug! show.

The 3D experience, which had been enjoyed by park goers for 27 years before it closed in March, allowed guests to shrink to the size of an insect and learn about human-insect coexistence.

Walt Disney Imagineering previously announced that a Zootopia show would be replacing the beloved attraction.

The new 3D show will feature a song by the original voice of police officer rabbit, Judy Hopps, Ginnifer Goodwin, per the outlet.

There are also rumors that an advanced Officer Clawhauser audio-animatronic will be featured in the new space, like the one in the Zootopia: Hot Pursuit ride at Shanghai Disneyland.

A major change is coming to one of Disney Worlds most iconic landmarks as Walt Disney World Resort has officially filed a new construction permit for the Tree of Life (seen)

It is unclear if the permit is related to the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show that Disney plans to open at the theater located inside the tree. A still from Zootopia is seen

After Its Tough To Be A Bug! closed in March, Disney put up a construction wall around the Tree of Life.

The new field permits do not have any mention of Zootopia.

Walt Disney World Resort has not yet announced the grand opening date for the new Tree of Life, and Disney has yet to comment on the permit.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment.

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is also undergoing a major transformation.

This week, guests witnessed the visible draining of Rivers of America - marking the beginning of a permanent change to a section of the park that has been largely untouched for decades.

What was once a pretty quiet corner of Liberty Square and Frontierland is now becoming a construction zone - and some fans are not happy about it.

The Rivers of America, along with the Liberty Square Riverboat ride and Tom Sawyer Island, are being retired to make room for a new Cars-themed land.

Walt Disney Imagineering previously announced that a Zootopia (seen) show would be replacing It's Tough to be a Bug! - a 3D experience which had been enjoyed for 27 years

Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom (seen) is also undergoing a major transformation, with the construction of it's upcoming Cars-themed land

This immersive area will introduce two new attractions: a high-speed off-road rally ride designed and a family-friendly indoor adventure set in a rustic lodge.

The company previously revealed that the new area will be called Piston Peak National Park and described it as an 'awe-inspiring wilderness filled with towering trees, snowcapped mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, roaring rivers, and impressive geysers.'

But the exciting addition also means the loss of some of Magic Kingdom's most iconic and tranquil experiences.

The Liberty Belle Riverboat was one of the park's original opening-day attractions, and Tom Sawyer Island offered families a quiet escape from the crowds and screen-based attractions.
It seems the days of heirloom diamonds may be numbered as Gen Z are ripping up the rulebook with demands for more ethical gems.

From red carpets to TikTok proposal videos, lab-grown rocks are officially in, with the traditionally mined jewel gathering dust in vaults.

A new wave of conscious consumers seem to be pushing sales through the roof, which has many wondering if this could be the end of the engagement ring as we know it.

The younger generation still want the sparkle, but with more consideration to the planet.

Once shunned as 'fake', lab-grown diamonds are now the must-have accessory for many brides, style insiders and luxury shoppers who want their forever keepsake without the mark-up or murky morals.

The option is chemically, optically and structurally identical to their mined counterpart.

They are also graded in the same way, the only difference is the growth process, which can only be detected by specialised gemological equipment.

Celebrities including Billie Eilish, Paris Jackson and Zoe Kravitz have all stepped out in lab-grown bling, while TikTok has turned the trend into a full-blown movement- with #LabGrownDiamond clocking more than 280 million views.

It's part of a marked move by A-listers to make sure the clothes they're wearing are touting the right ethics.

It seems the days of heirloom diamonds may be numbered as Gen Z are ripping up the rulebook. At the 2021 MET Gala, Billie Eilish stunned in a peach-colored , Marilyn Monroe-inspired gown by Oscar De La Renta, he completed the look with lab-grown diamond jewelry

At the 2021 MET Gala, Billie Eilish stunned in a peach-colored, Marilyn Monroe-inspired gown by Oscar De La Renta - on the condition that the brand stop using fur.

Staying true to her values, she completed the look with lab-grown diamond jewelry, reinforcing her commitment to ethical and sustainable fashion.

Meanwhile, last year Paris Jackson received a lab-grown diamond engagement ring from her fiance, Justin Long, who proposed with a 3-carat, ethically sourced diamond set in recycled gold.

Elsewhere Jameela Jamil recently stepped out in Astrea London's with lab-grown diamond rings and bangle at British Vogue and Rabanne party.

However it's not just about aesthetics. In the US, more than 60 percent of 2024 engagement rings now feature lab-grown stones, up from just 19 percent in 2020.

In the UK, nearly half of shoppers say they'd now choose lab-grown- rising to 55 percent among high earners, according to YouGov data.

And with luxury jewelry brand De Beers reportedly sitting on $2 billion of unsold mined stock, it's clear the old way is falling flat.

On Reddit, r/EngagementRings threads are packed with brides proudly showing off their lab-grown sparkles, many saying they didn't want a diamond that came with 'guilt' or 'family baggage'.

Last year Paris Jackson received a lab-grown diamond engagement ring from her fiance, Justin Long, who proposed with a 3-carat, ethically sourced diamond set in recycled gold

Actress Jameela Jamil recently stepped out in Astrea London's with lab-grown diamond rings and a bangle at a British Vogue and Rabanne party

The younger generation still want the sparkle, but with more consideration to the planet. Pictured, opulent options from Astrea

'I look down on people that dont go lab lol,' wrote one user. 'I got in a heated exchange with a friend who was trashing lab diamonds right in front of me, a person with a lab diamond.

'Shes very traditional and looks down on them as not real. The stigma is so weird to me, theyre the same under a microscope, why does it matter how they came to be? If you want a lab diamond, get one! I love mine.'

'Who cares what other people think,' another added. 'Its on them if they cant evolve their mindset!'

One comment read: 'I sell rings for a living for a company that does labs, naturals, and gems, and almost nobody under 40 cares about natural diamonds.

'Most people who say theyre open to lab or natural still end up going lab because people usually want a bigger rock.

'Personally, Id like a natural diamond, but Id also like a high-quality 4ct, and Im never going to have a cool half mil to drop on a flawless natural, so lab is 100 percent okay.'

It's a shift that goes far beyond price tags. Recent insight shows that 73 percent of buyers say affordability matters, but 28 percent cite ethical sourcing, while 16 percent say lab-grown aligns with their values- from climate impact to traceability.

One brand paving the way is Astrea London, a luxury conscious lab-grown diamond label founded by Nathalie Morrison, a former private wealth adviser who grew up surrounded by traditional luxury.

One brand paving the way is Astrea London, a luxury conscious lab-grown diamond label founded by Nathalie Morrison, (pictured) a former private wealth adviser who grew up surrounded by traditional luxury

The brand only works with the rarest 12 percent of lab-grown diamonds- known as Type IIa  and its stones are now sold at high-end destinations including Fairmont Windsor Park, Villa La Coste in France, and the Kea Island in Greece.

They are also expanding into the Middle East with a flagship opening at Mandarin Oriental Dubai later this year.

'For Gen Z, a diamond still symbolises forever-but it also has to stand for fairness, transparency, and modern values,' Nathalie explained.

'This is the Intelligent Diamond Era- modern, meaningful, and ethical-we're not just disrupting the diamond industry. We're evolving it'.

Sales are booming and it's not just among brides. High-net-worth Millennials and Gen Z buyers are turning to lab-grown for larger stones, lower carbon footprints, and a clearer conscience.

With mined diamonds emitting up to 57,000g of CO per carat, compared to just 0.028g for Astrea's, the carbon cost of mined diamonds is up to 2,000 times higher.

'This isn't the collapse of luxury diamond industry,' Nathalie added. 'It's a long-needed correction.'

With lab-grown production set to overtake mined diamonds globally by 2025 and just 13 percent of active mines expected to stay viable long-term- the diamond industry is changing for future generations.

Two techniques are used to create lab-grown diamonds. HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature), invented in the 1950s, mimics the high pressure and temperature found in the earth when natural diamonds are formed.

A 'seed' (chip of diamond) is placed into a piece of carbon, and the pressure and temperature used forces the carbon to form a diamond.

CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) is more expensive, often producing higher grade diamonds.

A thin slice of diamond is placed in a vacuum chamber filled with carbon-heavy gases. Under 1,000c, the gases turn into plasma which bonds with the diamond slice to build the diamond in layers.

Diamonds can be grown in any size or colour, but the big appeal for environmentalists is that they're supposed to be gentler on the earth - and on humankind.

The lab-grown variety doesn't pollute water sources or destroy habitats. They're not mined in war zones or sold to finance bloody conflicts.

Evidence of 'blood diamonds' emerged from Sierra Leone's civil war in the 1990s, inspiring the Leonardo DiCaprio film Blood Diamond.

In 2023, Pandora experienced an 83 per cent surge in sales, after introducing lab-grown diamonds and discontinuing natural diamond sales due to reported human rights abuses in mines and factories.

Steven Stone, which stocks a selection of both lab-grown and mined diamonds, agreed that man-made gems are becoming increasing popular.

Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, Zack Stone, managing director, previously said that 2023 'was the year of the lab grown diamond and 2024 will follow the trend, making an even stronger case'.

He continued: 'Lab grown diamonds are a sustainable option by essence and, combined with a very attractive price, they are the sustainable trend customers are asking for,' said

'In 2023, 57 percent of diamonds sold at Steven Stone were lab-grown. Most months of the year saw higher sales in lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds.

'The average carat weight for lab-grown diamonds was 1.35, which is a lot higher than the average carat weight of the natural diamonds that we sold, which was 0.84.'
She's the daughter of two of the biggest names in country music.

She's been on your movie and TV screens a few times; and she has even made an appearance on stage at Carnegie Hall - can you guess who it is?

Gracie McGraw, 28, is the oldest daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - two massive music legends who have careers that span across decades.

Gracie was born on May 5, 1997, in Nashville Tennessee, at the peak of her father's career.

Similar to her talented parents, she grew up interested in the arts - and eventually attended New York University.

Following her graduation she moved to Los Angeles to chase her dream of becoming an actress - and those dreams came true pretty quickly.

Gracie played Tanya on Tyler Perry's If Loving You Is Wrong from 2018 to 2020 - and her famous father couldn't be more proud.

'Gracie, our oldest daughter, is an actress in LA, and she makes me proud every day because she's such a strong, independent young lady who speaks her mind,' Tim said in 2020.

Gracie McGraw, 28 is the oldest daughter of country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Tim has been supportive of Gracie's acting and singing career, saying she makes him proud 'every single day' of his life. They're seen together in 2015

'And she makes me proud every day of the way she lives her life.'

Then, in 2022, Gracie appeared on an episode of Be My Guest with Ina Garten, where she helped Ina build a Coca-Cola cake.

But her talents don't just stop with acting. Just like her famous parents, Gracie has also dabbled in singing as well.

And it turned out that she was good enough to star in The Great War and The Great Gatsby at Carnegie Hall in 2025.

Her proud parents were in attendance and even reportedly gave her a standing ovation at the end of her performance.

In June, tabloids had reported that Gracie had 'come out' as queer - but she corrected them on Instagram saying that she had been an 'out and proud queer, bisexual woman' long before media covered it.

'I have and always will be very vocal about my support of LGBTQIA+ rights and the community, but thank you so much to these tabloids for shedding light that it's pride month!' she wrote.

'So many people out there don't have the support, love or understanding from their families when it comes to sexuality or gender identity, but just know that there is a beautiful community out there that loves you and cares about and for you.'

Following her graduation she moved to Los Angeles to chase her dream of becoming an actress - and she starred in Tyler Perry 's If Loving You Is Wrong from 2018 to 2020

But her talents don't just stop with acting. Just like her famous parents, Gracie has also dabbled in singing as well

She ended the post reminding people to be safe.

Though neither of her parents publicly commented on her sexuality, just a month before her posts her father posted a tribute for her 28th birthday.

'You are a light in this world my sweet girl,' he wrote alongside a picture of the two when Gracie was much younger. I love you my little girl.'

Grace's sister Audrey McGraw made headlines last week after fans learned that she's dating someone 21 years her senior.

Audrey, 23, has been in a relationship with actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, 44, since 2023.

Like Grace, Audrey has followed in her father's footsteps and is a performer.

She recently wrapped up an international tour where she was opening for Brandi Carlile.

She's also dabbled in acting, starring in her dad's music video for his song 7500 OBO in 2021.
After saving diligently for years, Alaina Scheildel was ecstatic to finally get a foot on the property ladder this year.

But just a few months after she and her boyfriend, Ben, moved into her $250,000 three-bedroom home in Michigan, she made a deeply unsettling discovery while renovating the basement.

Scheildel, a speech therapist in her 20s, was taking apart the ceiling when six yellowed and dusty letters hidden in the paneling fell to the floor.

Intrigued, she immediately began opening the sealed envelopes.

She found handwritten notes that were all in a cursive style using different colored ink and addressed to different people - some men, some women.

One, which appears to be addressed to someone named Jonathon, said: 'You have hated me for a long time and now you will pay because your time is up. All I can say is don't wander too far from home. This is not a prank. Do not come in contact with police, your family will suffer severely.'

A second said: 'Dear Mary Gallagher, Don't come out too late in the day or after dark or you still may have a serious accident.'

A third said: 'You better watch yourself because if you don't you'll find yourself in awful trouble. You're my first victim. And because I hate you don't wander too far from home - or else... You owe your life to me and I will get it. All I can say is guard your house 24 hours a day because something might happen to you and your family.'

Alaina Scheidel was renovating her new $250,000 three-bedroom home in Michigan when she made the startling discovery

The handwritten notes were all in a cursive style using different colored ink and addressed to different people

Scheidel's home where the letters were found is pictured

Rather creepily, most of the letters were signed by someone who referred to themselves as 'Shadow'. At first, Scheildel wasn't too concerned.

'To us, they read as a bizarre prank from back in the day due to some of the juvenile terminology included in the letters such as 'Thank you for your cooperation' and because they are signed 'XXX, Shadow,'' Scheildel exclusively told the Daily Mail.

'It's also interesting that most of them have similar phrasing about not wandering too far from home.'

It wasn't until Scheildel shared photographs of the letters on TikTok that she began worry.

Her videos quickly garnered more than 350,000 views, with scores of users urging her to take the notes to the police.

In the end, however, she decided not to, pointing out that the letters were still in sealed envelopes.

'Even if the threats were real in intent they were never sent and never opened,' she said.

Scheildel was taking apart the ceiling when the yellowed and dusty letters hidden in the paneling fell to the floor

Most of the letters were signed by someone who referred to themselves as 'Shadow'

One letter said: 'Dear Mary Gallagher, Don't come out too late in the day or after dark or you still may have a serious accident. XXX, Shadow'

But Scheildel did want to solve the mystery of who the letters might have been intended for - and crucially, who sent them.

She began by searching the names written on the envelopes on Google and found multiple obituaries listed.

'The names I looked up had all lived to an old age and passed away peacefully,' she said.

As for the mystery sender, Scheildel believed she could safely assume that since the letters were in the house, they were likely written by someone who lived or visited the property.

But when she asked the realtor who sold her the house for information on the previous owners, nothing exciting was forthcoming.

'The home has not been owned by many people. The previous owner of the home sadly passed away several years ago, and the house sat empty for several years,' she said. 'I'm assuming the letters were written by the previous owner's children or grandchildren, as she has many.

'I think they were either a joke, or letters that were written in anger to past classmates that were never sent.'

But Scheildel's realtor Jeff, who is also a former police officer, has a more disturbing theory: that the notes were written by a 'mentally unstable person a long time ago.'

'I asked my parents if they thought we should be concerned about the letters because they have been helping with the renovations we have been doing.

'They also agreed and thought it was likely a prank, or even if the threats were real, they were not credible as the letters were sealed and never sent,' Scheildel said.

One letter said: 'You have hated me for a long time and now you will pay because your time is up,' another read. 'This is not a prank. Do not come in contact with police, your family will suffer severely'

Another said: 'You better watch yourself because if you don't you'll find yourself in awful trouble,' the mysterious person wrote in a third, in part

Scheildel said she believes the notes were either a joke or written in anger to past classmates but never sent

Scheildel said she now plans to frame the letters and hang them around the basement where they were found

She added that she now plans to turn the letters into an art piece for her home.

'I think about them more as an odd piece of history.

'We plan to frame the letters and put them in the basement, because they are so interesting,' she said.

'We are first time home buyers, so it has been fun and interesting discovering more things about the house,' she added.

'The reaction was much larger than I anticipated.

'I did not expect that so many people would have had such strong feelings about taking the letters to the police.

'It seemed to strike a lot of interest, and it has been fun reading all the comments and making a few update videos.'
The Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed a drone production plant in Russian Tatarstan, the agents of the military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars "Atesh" said on the Telegram channel.

"The Defense Forces of Ukraine are demilitarizing the Shahed UAV production plant in Tatarstan. An Atesh agent near the plant is observing this picture and transmitting information," the agents said.

Details are not specified.

In the morning, it was reported that agents of the Atesh movement carried out a successful sabotage at a railway junction near the village of Kalinine near Rostov-on-Don and disabled one of the key relay cabinets. The sabotage caused a chain reaction of disruptions, which is already being felt on the front line: in a number of areas, Russian troops were forced to reduce the intensity of artillery shelling due to a lack of ammunition.

As reported, in July, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council Andriy Kovalenko stated the need to destroy the Alabuga plant in the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia), which manufactures, in particular, Shahed attack drones.

In June, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by his decree, put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against 86 entities  52 individuals (Russian citizens) and 34 legal entities (Russian tax residents). These entities include companies and their managers that cooperate with Russian industrial enterprises of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone and supply components, equipment and materials for the production of Shahed.
A woman who was born intersex has addressed the biggest misconceptions of living with the condition.

Jackie Blankenship, 40, from Grandville, Michigan, was nine years old when her parents sat her down and told her that she was 'born a little different.'

While on the outside Jackie appeared like a completely normal little girl, she soon learned that her body 'didn't fit into the standard boxes.'

She was diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, or CAIS, which means she developed externally as female but internally, she doesn't have a uterus or ovaries - instead, she has 'internal testes.'

She also has XY chromosomes, which means she is 'genetically male.'

'My body cant respond to androgens, so I developed externally as female,' she explained exclusively to the Daily Mail.

'I look female and was raised female, but I dont have a uterus or ovaries. I cant menstruate, and I cant carry children.'

At first, Jackie admitted that coming to terms with the realization was not easy.

Jackie Blankenship, 40, from Grandville, Michigan, was born intersex. She developed externally as female but internally, she doesn't have a uterus or ovaries

Instead, she has 'internal testes.' She also has XY chromosomes, which means she is 'genetically male.' She's seen as a child

'It felt like I was being let in on some awful secret about myself, like there was something shameful or broken inside me,' she recalled.

'I remember feeling confused, alone, and like I was somehow less than other girls. It was deeply isolating.

'This wasnt from anything with my family, they never made me feel anything but "normal" - it was coming from doctors and hospital visits that left me confused.'

She said she lived in a 'constant fear' of people 'finding out' about her secret, which she herself 'didn't full understand.'

And puberty was extra 'confusing' because she 'didn't get a period' and 'can't grow body hair under her arms' or in her pubic area.

'I absolutely felt different, but I also didnt have the language or support to understand why. There was a lot of shame, and a lot of pretending,' she said.

She had her internal testes removed at age 15, and three years later, she started vaginal dilation therapy  which involves using dilators to stretch the canal and make it longer like a typical vaginal canal.

While Jackie was initially 'scared' of her being intersex would affect her love life down the line, she is now happily married and has welcomed a daughter through a gestational carrier.

She had her internal testes removed at age 15, and three years later, she started vaginal dilation therapy  which involves using dilators to stretch the canal. She's seen after her surgery

Now, Jackie has fully embraced her differences and often speaks out about being intersex online in the hopes of ending the stigma around it

She admitted that she 'didn't tell her partner right away' when they first got together out of fear of how he would react.

'Its terrifying to open up about something this personal, especially when youve been taught to believe it makes you "less than,"' she confessed.

'A consistent question the doctor would ask me was, "Have you told your boyfriend?" The way it was asked always made me feel like telling him was going to be a big "thing."

'But when I did tell him, he was loving, kind, and completely unfazed. He didnt see me as "intersex," he just saw me as me. That acceptance helped me heal in ways I didnt know I needed.'

She added, 'Being intersex doesnt affect my intimate life. I have a fulfilled life like any non-intersex woman.'

Now, Jackie has fully embraced her differences and often speaks out about being intersex online in the hopes of ending the stigma around it.

'I went most of my life thinking I was this one in a million case. I never want another kid to feel like I did - ashamed, confused, and alone,' she said.

'Sharing my story online has allowed me to connect with thousands of people to educate as well as SO many intersex individuals who have stories just like mine.

'Thats why I do it. To educate, to empower, and to start conversations that should have happened decades ago.'

While Jackie was initially 'scared' of her being intersex would affect her love life down the line, she is now happily married and has welcomed a daughter through a gestational carrier

She said she 'still carries some of the trauma' from her teenage years, but has 'found so much power in reclaiming my story.'

'Speaking openly, connecting with other intersex people, and advocating for bodily autonomy has changed everything. I no longer feel ashamed. I feel strong,' she gushed.

She said the biggest misconception about intersex people is that they're 'broken' or 'some kind of medical emergency that needs to be "fixed."'

'I hope people walk away [from my videos] with a deeper understanding of how complex and beautiful human biology can be,' she concluded.

'I hope they rethink rigid definitions of sex and gender. But most of all, I want people to see that intersex people deserve the same dignity, autonomy, and respect as anyone else. Different doesnt mean broken - and Im living proof of that.'
Kourtney Kardashian has been fiercely slammed online after she posted a snap of her young son on a boat without a life vest.

The reality star, 46, shared an array of photos taken from a recent family trip to Idaho to Instagram on Friday.

One snap included her cradling her and husband Travis Barker's 21-month-old son on a boat.

But many were quick to bash the mother-of-four after they noticed that the youngster was not wearing the appropriate protective gear.

According to Idaho state law, kids 14 years of age and under on boats 19 feet or less are required to wear a Coast Guard approved and properly fitting life jacket when underway.

People were quick to call Kourtney out over it in the comment section.

'Please, please put a life jacket on that sweet babe,' one user urged.

'What no life vests? Isn't that against the law....???' asked another.

Kourtney Kardashian has been fiercely slammed online after she posted a snap of her young son on a boat without a life vest

The reality star, 46, shared an array of photos taken from a recent family trip to Idaho to Instagram on Friday, which included a snap of her cradling her 21-month-old son on a boat

'Need life jacket on,' someone else wrote.

'Please use a life vest on your child. In that huge boat accident in Tahoe, the only two people that survived were wearing life vests,' a fourth comment read. 'All the rest died when the boat capsized.'

'Seven people just died on Lake Tahoe because they weren't wearing life vests. The two people who wore them survived,' a sixth said. 'NO EXCUSE TO NOT WEAR ONE IS ACCEPTABLE.'

'You gotta make sure the kids are wearing life vests at all times! Just like you wouldn't drive them around without a seatbelt/car seat,' a different person penned.

'Water is so unpredictable and can be devastatingly dangerous.'

Others, however, defended Kourtney - and some even pointed out that the life jacket could be seen sitting next to them in the snap, with many theorizing that she might have just taken it off to breastfeed or snuggle the youngster.

The photo shows little Rocky facing away from the camera as he sat on her lap. She gently kissed his forehead as he leaned against her body.

10 boaters abroad a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel set out the California side of Lake Tahoe in June, eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water for a 71st birthday celebration.

Many were quick to bash the mother-of-four after they noticed that the youngster was not wearing the appropriate protective gear

Another image featured her standing in a tight tan SKIMS swimsuit, and Kourtney was praised for showing off her 'unfiltered' body in the snaps

But the day turned fatal when a sudden, powerful storm erupted over the lake - unleashing eight-foot waves, pounding hail and torrential rain - that struck without warning and ultimately capsized their boat, claiming eight lives.

However, the two individuals who survived the tsunami-like storm were revealed to be wearing life jackets.

Kourtney was also praised for showing off her 'unfiltered' body in one of the snaps.

The image featured her standing in a tight tan SKIMS swimsuit; the clinging one-piece bared the reality television star's legs, flashed her busty cleavage, and hugged her hips as a tiny bulge of skin spilled out from the sides.

Many applauded her in the comment section for flaunting her curves without editing or filters.

The post came amidst swirling rumors that Kourtney is pregnant with her fifth child, but she shut down the speculation while replying to a fan in the comment section.

'RUMORS HAVE IT THAT YOU'RE PREGNANT KOURTNEY,' they wrote in all caps.

The Poosh founder responded, 'Eating pancakes and jumping off cliffs.'
China is currently facing what is believed to be the country's largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus.

More than 10,000 cases have been reported in China, and an increasing number of countries across Asia and Europe are reporting near record-high cases or cases for the first time.

The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region.

However, experts fear the outbreak may have already reached the US.

Dr Louisa Messenger, a mosquito researcher in Nevada, told Daily Mail: 'This outbreak in China is very concerning. It [the virus] could already be here in the US; and really it's just one plane flight away.'

Chikungunya is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, the same species that carry dengue and Zika viruses.

It is rarely fatal but can cause debilitating symptoms, including fever, joint pain and, in severe cases, life-threatening brain and heart damage.

Below, Daily Mail reveals everything you need to know about chikungunya virus:

The epicenter is the city of Foshan, on China's southern coast, where heavy rains and warm temperatures have led to an explosion in the mosquito population

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What is the situation in China?

China has recorded approximately 10,000 chikungunya viruses this year, and about 3,000 of those have cropped up in the last week.

Roger Hewson, virus surveillance lead at the UK's Wellcome Sanger Institute, said the current outbreak in China is the largest ever, Al Jazeera reported.

To combat the spread of the virus, Chinese officials had ordered travelers from Foshan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, similar to Covid restrictions, but that has since been withdrawn.

Infected patients are being isolated in hospital wards and covered with mosquito nets. They are required to remain there for a week or until they test negative, if sooner.

Images show Chinese state workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas and construction sites where people may come into contact with virus-bearing mosquitoes in or near standing water.

Drones are also reportedly being used to hunt down insect breeding grounds and spray insecticide, and residents are being asked to empty bottles, flower pots or other outdoor receptacles that may collect water.

Failure to comply with any restriction may lead to fines of up to $1,400 (10,000 Yuan) and locals can have their electricity cut off, according to state media.

Is the virus in the US?

The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China, urging Americans to take extra precautions when visiting the region

The above compares chikungunya symptoms to those from Zika virus and Dengue, which are both also spread by mosquitoes

A small number of cases of chikungunya virus are recorded in the US every year.

As of August 5, the CDC reported 46 cases of chikungunya in the US this year, all contracted by travelers returning from high-risk areas. No deaths have been reported.

It is unclear how many of these could be linked to China's outbreak. Estimates suggest 1.6million people travel between the US and China every year, with experts saying it only takes one bite from a mosquito on one infected traveler to then pass the virus throughout America.

The US has experienced limited local transmission of the virus previously. In 2014 and 2015 cases were detected in Florida and Texas.

Locally acquired cases in US states and territories have not been reported since 2019, however, according to the CDC.

What is the CDC saying?

The CDC is warning Americans to take extra precautions when traveling to high-risk areas.

In addition to the travel advisory for China, the agency also issued a warning for eight other countries: Bolivia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

It is advising travelers to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and pants, and to stay in places with air conditioning.

Travelers are also been advised to get vaccinated against chikungunya, with two vaccines available that have been approved in the US.

Dr Messenger told this website: 'People should be concerned about these diseases, wear topical repellents, wear long sleeves, and get vaccinated against them if they can.'

The CDC says that pregnant women should avoid traveling to high risk areas because they are at higher risk of complications from the virus.

The above map shows the area in China where US travelers are being advised to take enhanced precautions because of the outbreak

A staff member carries out disinfection work at a hospital amid an outbreak of chikungunya virus in Foshan, Guangdong Province of China

What are symptoms?

About 15 to 35 percent of people infected with the virus are asymptomatic, the CDC reports.

The incubation period is typically three to seven days and the most common symptom is a sudden onset of a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).

Other symptoms of chikungunya virus include headache, nausea, rash, muscle aches, swelling and redness of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye and inner eyelids) and joint pain that is sometimes severe and debilitating in the hands or feet.

In severe cases, life-threatening complications involving the heart and brain can occur such as inflammation, irregular heartbeats and organ failure.

Symptoms usually last seven to 10 days, but patients may experience lifelong complications such as persistent joint pain.

Those experiencing symptoms or who think they are infected with the virus should contact their primary care provider or visit a hospital.

Infections can be diagnosed through a patient history, symptoms, blood tests and serum tests.

How is the disease treated?

There is no specific treatment for chikungunya virus, though there are several options being investigated, according to the CDC.

Doctors instead focus on trying to ease symptoms through rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relief medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

For people who continue to experience pain, over-the-counter pain relievers, steroids and physical therapy are typically the course of treatment.

There are two vaccines available for chikungunya virus and they are recommended for people visiting areas with an outbreak or that may pose a higher risk of infection.
A plastic surgeon has warned that people on weight loss jabs are unknowingly putting their lives at risk when they undergo surgical proceduresand could choke to death.

It's estimated that over 1.5 million people are currently taking weight loss jabs in the UK, with more soon to join them after the government gave GPs the green light to prescribe them.

With them becoming a regular part of people's daily lives, a top doctor has warned of a simple mistake people might make which could prove to be deadlyforgetting to tell your doctor that you are on the jab before having a general anaesthetic.

Dr Mo Akhavani, a London-based consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon who is co-founder of The Plastic Surgery Group told the Daily Mail that roughly 80 per cent of his patients are on 'some sort of jab'.

He added that in his experience with his own patients, 'maybe one in ten might forget' to tell him they are taking the appetite-suppressing medication.

Typically, patients are told to not eat at least six hours before a surgery to prevent a potentially deadly complication.

This is aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by inhaling food, liquid or saliva into the lungs, which can happen if you have food in your stomach.

Dr Akhavani warned the weight loss jab 'causes problems as it delays gastric emptying'the process of the stomach emptying contents into the small intestine.

The surgeon Dr Mo Akhavani has warned people to tell their surgeons if they are on the jabs

He explained it is 'very well recognised in the medical world' that you should come off the jab two weeks or a little longer before a surgery.

Previously researchers in California found weight loss jabs can increase the risk of the complication, which is essentially 'choking to death', by 33 per cent.

The study looked at nearly one million Americans who had an endoscopy, which examines the upper digestive tract.

On their findings, the study author Dr Ali Rezaie, said: 'Aspiration during or after endoscopy can be devastating. If significant, it can lead to respiratory failure, ICU admission and even death.

'Even mild cases may require close monitoring, respiratory support and medications including antibiotics. It is important we take all possible precautions to prevent aspiration from occurring.'

Dr Akhavani warned: 'If you are on these [weight loss jabs] please, please, please don't forget to let your doctors know.'

In his experience, it isn't that patients are trying to hide it, but rather that they 'genuinely forget' because the jab is now a 'routine part of their life'.

On weight loss jabs, he said: 'It has now become an acceptable way of managing weight.

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But he added: 'I have personal friends, very attractive young women, nothing wrong with them, and they are on Ozempic and they look emaciated.'

However, he said: 'Others put on a lot of weight, start exercise and start to accelerate the weight loss. Those ones are probably doing it for the right reasons.'

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.

The weight-loss jabs have been found to help people lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight in just a few months.

However, there have been numerous reports of side effects after getting the jabs from hair loss and constipation to extreme cases of bloating.

Recently, US experts found that semaglutidethe powerful ingredient behind Wegovy and Ozempicmay 'waste away muscles', making it harder to lose weight.

And earlier this summer, in June, slimming jabs like Mounjaro and Wegovy were linked to more than 100 deaths in Britain.

A total of 111 deaths were logged with the regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), up to and including May 29.

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But none of the fatalities, which have all been reported since the jabs were licensed for use in the UK, were proven to be caused directly by the drugs.

However, the UK medicines regulator launched a probe into the safety of fat jabs after hundreds of Britons developed pancreatitis, specifically, leaving ten dead.

Nevertheless, the weight loss jabs have remained popular, with pharmacists warning just last month that booming demand may become 'unsustainable'.

The warning was issued by The National Pharmacy Association (NPA)which represents over 6,000 community pharmacies.

It came after their recent poll of over 2,000 people showed an increasing demand for private and NHS-backed weight loss services.

The NDA poll revealed a fifth of participants had attempted to access weight loss treatments in the last year.

This figure rose to 35 per cent for those aged between 16 and 34, compared to only seven per cent of those over 55.

Earlier this week a new study revealed a daily weight loss pill that works in a similar way can help users lose an average of almost two stone (12.4kg).

People taking the new wonder drug orforglipron lost an average of 12.4 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks in a groundbreaking final stage trial.

The participants, who were overweight but did not have diabetes, also benefited from reductions in bad cholesterol, blood fats and blood pressure.

Manufacturer Lilly said the once-a-day pillthe first of its kindcould be launched at scale worldwide and without supply constraints as early as next year.
Civil servant Saira Malik had been attending the same NHS dental practice for nearly a decade and believed her teeth were in safe hands  until a catastrophic mistake almost ended her life.

The 53-year-old first began visiting the clinic, in Surbiton, south-west London, in 2009.

But it wasnt until 2016 that Saira began to experience problems. She developed toothache on the upper right side of her mouth which was so bad it disrupted her work and sleep.

Concerned it might be tooth decay, she made an appointment with her dentist.

Tooth decay, caused by a build-up of plaque, is one of the most common dental conditions, with an estimated third of adults suffering some signs of the problem. Caught early, it is easily fixed by deep cleaning and teaching patients brushing techniques.

However, left untreated, it can lead to swollen gums, tooth loss and abscesses  pockets of puss in which bacteria congregates that can trigger serious  sometimes life-threatening  infections.

But Saira says she was told by her dentist  on repeated occasions  there was no tooth decay.

I was told on multiple visits that no decay was present, says Saira.

Civil servant Saira Malik had been attending the same NHS dental practice for nearly a decade and believed her teeth were in safe hands  until a catastrophic mistake almost ended her life

Tooth decay, caused by a build-up of plaque, is one of the most common dental conditions, with an estimated third of adults suffering some signs of the problem. Caught early, it is easily fixed by deep cleaning and teaching patients brushing techniques

However, she would later find out that her dentist had missed the signs of tooth decay. It would prove a costly  and agonisingly painful  mistake for her.

Saira is not alone. In recent years, thousands of patients have suffered negligent treatment at the hands of their dentists. Data from NHS Resolution  the legal arm of the Health Service  shows a 50 per cent rise in payouts due to mistakes during dental procedures in the past five years, totalling 11 million.

However, these figures only include cases that occurred in NHS hospitals, where the most severe or emergency procedures take place. The vast majority of dental care is in local practices.

And according to data collected by British law firms, the number of recorded cases of misdiagnoses across the country has doubled in the past five years. Meanwhile the number of surgeries which have gone wrong  resulting in medical negligence legal claims  have risen by a third year-on-year since 2020.

Experts blame this worrying trend on stretched NHS dentists, who are taking on more work due to a nationwide shortage. The number of NHS dentists in England is now at its lowest in a decade, at about 23,000. This is down nearly 1,100 from pre-pandemic numbers. About 95 per cent of practices are not accepting new NHS patients.

In 2018, Saira returned to her dental practice once again  but this time the verdict on her sore tooth was far different.

They said it was severely decayed and couldnt be saved, she says. They referred me to get it extracted without any other options given.

The surgery took in March 2019, at a different practice.

It was a very painful treatment, says Saira. And it really put me off having dental surgery again.

But just a few months later, part of a tooth on the left side of her mouth broke off. Returning to her dental practice, she was given even more bad news: the entire tooth would have to be removed. Once again, severe decay was the cause.

I was so nervous about it after my previous surgery experience, she says. But I didnt have a choice.

However, the op took a terrifying turn  as the tooth was taken out

it also ripped out a chunk of bone, rupturing a blood vessel.

The next thing I knew, buckets of blood were pouring out of my mouth and nose, says Saira. I dont remember anything that happened next as I passed out. When I woke up I was in intensive care in hospital.

The bleeding had been so serious that when Saira arrived at hospital in an ambulance she had to be intubated  a pipe was inserted into her windpipe to help her breathe. She spent six days in hospital recovering. And now, Saira says, even several years on the experience still haunts her  and believes it could have been avoided if her dentists had spotted her tooth decay.

The experience was traumatic, she says. If theyd treated my teeth earlier, I wouldnt have had to go through all this. Ive not been back to a dentist since as Im too scared.

Experts are concerned at the growing number of British patients harmed during routine dental procedures  as well as the number of common maladies, such as tooth decay, which are being missed.

And while all agree it is crucial that the NHS hires more dentists, some argue that many clinicians are getting away with mistakes because there is no legal requirement for them to record the number of misdiagnoses and botched procedures that occur in their practice.

Dr Abhi Pal, a dentist who acts as an independent expert in medical negligence cases and runs a number of practices across the country, says: There has definitely been a rise in complaints and litigation in recent years.

The errors are unfortunate, and still rare. However, dentistry still lags behind in having a structured reporting system for this.

So why are botched dental procedures on the rise  and what can patients do if it happens to them?

Experts say the shortage of dentists is due to a long-running dispute with the Government over the amount they earn from carrying out procedures.

For every NHS patient that dentists see, the Health Service will reimburse them an agreed amount.

However, a growing number of dentists argue they are not being paid enough to carry out NHS work and are instead choosing to focus on private patients.

In 2023, the parliamentary Health Select Committee published a hard-hitting report that concluded the state of NHS dentistry was totally unacceptable in the 21st Century which was resulting in a decline in oral health across the country.

It highlighted cases where patients, unable to see a dentist, had instead use pliers to remove their own rotten teeth.

Last year the Conservative government announced a plan to fix the dentistry crisis, which included a golden hello bonus payment of 20,000 for those who agreed to take on NHS work in areas with severe shortages.

But latest data shows little-to-no change in the number of dentists working for the Health Service. Earlier this year MPs on the Public Accounts Committee branded the plan a complete failure.

All told, experts say the shortage of NHS dentists is putting extreme pressure on those who remain.

The issue is that with this strain on services, even patients at previously reliable NHS practices are facing severe delays, says Dr Jeffrey Sherer, co-founder of The Dental Design Studio, who offers NHS services.

When a problem is spotted at a check-up, work to correct it should be booked immediately, however demand means that sometimes patients are having to wait months.

The reality of that is the longer someone has to wait, the more drastic the treatment becomes.

As the issue gets worse, more complex procedures are required, where there is more chance of serious mistakes occurring.

This is part of the reason we are seeing this rise in medical negligence cases. What could have initially been treated with preventative work often then has to be treated with the tooth being removed, as the patient has had to wait so long there has been further deterioration of the teeth.

Some argue that many clinicians are getting away with mistakes because there is no legal requirement for them to record the number of misdiagnoses and botched procedures that occur in their practice

One medical negligence firm, the Dental Law Partnership, in Cheshire, says that they have seen a sharp rise in cases. According to its database, the parts of the country most affected include Lincolnshire, Peterborough and Cornwall. Previous research has identified all three as dental deserts  meaning there are few or even no NHS dentists accepting new patients.

We have seen a huge rise in cases over recent years, says Chris Dean, a former dentist and now a solicitor at the Dental Law Partnership. That is not because the nations teeth are getting worse, but there is huge pressure on dentists, with growing waiting lists and a lack of staff.

It really is a perfect storm for procedures to go wrong and for underlying conditions not to be spotted, and patients need to know what to look out for.

Mr Dean, who worked as an NHS dentist for more than two decades, says that he has seen a worrying number of patients who have had their teeth needlessly removed, often when a simple procedure  known as a root canal  could have saved them.

However, he adds that one of the most commonly seen claims relates to missed diagnoses of gum disease  which affects nearly one in five British adults.

Experts say the first signs of gum disease are usually bleeding gums, bad mouth odour and loose teeth. It is easily treated when spotted early. However, left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, infections and severe pain.

Growing research suggests that untreated gum disease also raises the risk of life-threatening chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The amount of patients who contact us with serious complications of gum disease is really worrying, says Mr Dean. Its a really simple thing to spot.

One of the main pieces of advice I give to patients is this: if you regularly attend the dentist, there is no reason you should be experiencing pain in your mouth.

If this happens to you, its possible that your dentist has missed something.

Other problems to look out for are chronic sinus issues, a foul taste in your mouth, persistent runny nose, head pain or pus in your throat.

Such symptoms might arise from errors during extractions, root canal procedures, or implant placements that impact surrounding structures or nerves, causing long-term discomfort and complications. If you are experiencing any of these problems, it might be worth speaking to a medical negligence lawyer.

According to the Dental Law Partnership, the average payout for a misdiagnosis is around 13,000, while injuries sustained due to missed gum disease can lead to payments of up to 25,000.

Last year, Saira was paid 8,500 in an out-of-court settlement. The dental practice owners involved did not admit liability.

However, dentists add that while it is important to know the signs of negligence, it is far more crucial to know how to keep teeth healthy in the first place.

It is difficult for patients at the moment, with the lack of dentists across the country, says Dr Sherer. But equally, most problems can be prevented by taking care of your teeth. Everyone should be brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing daily, and limiting the amount of sugar they consume.

Its also important to make yearly appointments to see the dentist, who can carry out scans and tests to look for severe tooth issues, but also the hygienist, who can clean the teeth to prevent gum disease and decay.

Yes, many people cant get in to see their NHS dentist, and going private can be expensive, but a regular appointment will be far cheaper than waiting until complicated surgery is the only option.
An article headlined Moment Met Police officers brawl with group of Romanians after drunken Christmas boat party", published on 8 August 2025, said that police officers Jack Sparkes and Max Michaels-Dubois had punched one of their victims. In fact, Mr Sparkes and Mr Michaels-Dubois  who were both found guilty of affray  were found to have thrown punches and shoved their victim, not punched him.

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By all means move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me, is my favourite movie quote. Its from The Devil Wears Prada and is uttered by Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of the fictional Runway magazine, to her long-suffering assistant Andy Sachs.

And now, 19 years after the release of the original, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is being filmed in New York. Fashion fans are being treated to a stream of paparazzi pics and social media reels posted by fans who seem to have endless hours on their hands to follow the cast and crew around and document every scene on their iPhones. Dont these people have jobs?

Trousers and blouse, Sessun. Sunglasses, Saint Laurent. Earrings, Ysso. Bag, Bottega Veneta

Andy (played by Anne Hathaway) still looks stressed, Miranda (Meryl Streep) still looks terrifying, and although almost two decades have passed, time seems to have stood still for this pair.

That said, I do want to have a moan about the constant spoiling of scenes from unreleased film and TV projects these days. When And Just Like That started shooting its first series in New York, the wardrobe department told me they found it frustrating that the actors costumes were being endlessly trashed before anything had been seen in context on TV.

Its annoying that I already know what Hathaway and Streep wear in the movie a year ahead of its release date  ruining the big reveal  but as this knowledge is out there, I thought Id share what Ive learnt so far. Andy Sachs (below) is no longer dressing like a fashion victim who raided the Runway cupboard. She has developed her own cool-girl style, favouring labels like Toteme and Phoebe Philo, plus a vintage pinstripe suit by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Miranda is less high fashion this time and instead opts for power dressing. She has been seen (below) in a pair of ruby-red slingback heels from Jacquemus, a beige, single-breasted Sa Su Phi coat, navy trousers, a ribbed white blouse with a Mark Cross clutch bag and Briony Raymond jewellery.

Polished and still in charge is obviously Mirandas sequel look. I cant wait to see more on screen.

@thestylistandthewardrobe

@youmagazine

IN THE JEANS

The holy grail of denims? Levis has just released this new low-rise, wide-legged pair  and they look pretty perfect to me.

SHELL OUT

The cool crowd are wearing beads and shells right now, and no one does summer holiday jewellery like Anni Lu. This necklace is from the Ocean Treasure collection.

SPOTTED

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley must take a lot of luggage on holidays. Attending her brothers wedding in Paris, then sailing in Italy with her family, the model is busy serving up some extremely glam attire. Here she is (right) wearing a Saint Laurent suit while at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera.
Whats Londons biggest tourist trap? Buckingham Palace? St Pauls? The London Eye? Wrong, wrong, wrong. Ask any teen and theyll tell you the hottest spot is a graffiti-covered tunnel under Waterloo Station.

Its one of a growing number of unlikely landmarks social-media users just have to be snapped at. Search #London on Instagram ot TikTok and youll find thousands of near-identical shots of Gen Zers posing in the same few spots that over-30s have never heard of. And theres a specific shot you have to get at each: just ask YOUs deputy editor, who recently hosted a 15-year-old with an entire Instagram album to recreate during her London trip.

Im 26 and determined to be as online as my sister, whos 20. So I set off with my friend Charlotte (at 29 this is basically her last hurrah) to collect a posts worth of Insta shots that would make a Love Islander drool. It took sweat, tears and an obscene amount of money, but we did it.

9am

LAYLA BAKERY, PORTOBELLO ROAD

Followers 67.4K

Queue time 25 minutes, plus ten more for a coffee  and it was a Thursday

Price 14

Layla is West Londons trendiest bakery and ten minutes from Charlottes flat, so a fair place to start. We fuelled up with a shared flat white (3.50), an almond croissant (5) and the miso knot (5.50) TikTok swears by. It tasted like sticky toffee pudding and felt like lathering our hands in tar. Cue grubby fingers  and a 15 bill.

10am

DENBIGH TERRACE, NOTTING HILL

Posts 6M+

Queue time However long it takes the three people in front to get a shot theyre happy with

Price Free

The Notting Hill street snap is a must. For jewel-toned houses, try Lancaster Road; for the pink house from Love Actually, head to St Lukes Mews; for a monochrome vibe, choose Elgin Crescent. I was after powdery pastel, so Denbigh Terrace it was. Cue awkward posing while dodging the binmen.

10:30am

GREAT GEORGE STREET PHONE BOX, WESTMINSTER

Most popular clip 235.9K views

Queue time One hour

Price Free

A 30-minute Circle Line ride took us to the red phone box  or, more accurately, to the end of a crawling, 75-person queue. It might seem bizarre given theres an identical-looking phone box just ten metres away, but Big Ben doesnt line up perfectly with that one. An hour later, we got the money shot. Honestly? Worth it.

11:50am

LEAKE STREET, WATERLOO

Posts 135K+

Queue time Ten minutes (not including the 20 minutes it took to find)

Price Free

One stop on the Jubilee Line later and were in a tunnel under Waterloo Station. Its pretty much like any London alleyway in that its dark, dank and smells of urine. Except its covered in graffiti by local artists (and one by Banksy!). Perfect for an arty shot.

1:30pm

BARBARELLA, CANARY WHARF

Followers 378K

Queue time Book 15 days ahead

Price 79.75 for a meal for two

Next was this new bougie 70s-style restaurant. Instagrammers know the drill: post a snap of the chandelier above the bar, a food close-up and a shot with the huge Davids head in the toilets. It was a bit awkward when people came in for a wee, but Im nothing if not committed.

2:50pm

TURNIPS STALL, BOROUGH MARKET

Most popular clip 800K views

Queue time 15 minutes

Price 8.50

Theres one thing people order here: the 8.50 (yup) chocolate-covered strawberries. Youre cajoled into a holding pen, queue to pay, then follow a conga-like line to be handed your cup of treats. Youd probably be shunned as a millennial if you tried to buy some of the other produce. Sadly, the strawberries had seen better days and the chocolate had congealed. Yuck.

3:45pm

PHOTO BOOTH, THE CINEMA AT SELFRIDGES

Most popular clip 1.2M views

Queue time 20 minutes Price 7 (well, 14)

Next up, a vintage photo booth. I queued for 20 minutes, then sat inside  to no countdown. So when my pictures came out five minutes later, my eyes were closed. I queued again, paid another 7 and got four pictures looking marginally more conscious. I blame all the travelling.

5pm

FLUTE BAR, BROADWICK SOHO

Most popular clip 500K views

Queue time 30 minutes

Price 46.50 for two drinks

We wanted to end the day at Flute, the lavish rooftop terrace bar at Broadwick Soho. Only the hotels security guard wasnt cooperating because we hadnt pre-booked (and because we were wearing trainers, not stilettos). He told us to leave and only come back if we found a space online. This made zero sense as there were tables available until 7pm, when the trendy people of Soho clock off. So we sat next door in Pret and booked using the online system. When we reappeared with our reservation email, the security guard begrudgingly let us up. He was right to prejudge us on our trainers: a quick scan of the menu confirmed the cocktails (more than 20 each) were out of our price range. Never mind, you only need one drink between you to pose with. And 21,000 steps down, we have eight Insta-perfect pics. Cheers to that.

TOTAL PRICE: 162.75

QUEUE TIME: 2HR 50min
A lot has happened in the UK since June 2019. None of us will ever forget Covid, the loss of loved ones, the economic destruction it brought about and the hole it put in the nation's finances. A black hole that Rachel from Accounts widens every day as a result of her inability to curb public spending.

We've seen four prime ministers come and four go  and, for better or worse (I will let you be the judge), we now have the first Labour government since 2010.

Personally, I've lost my mother (Helen of Troy) to cancer, finally got divorced after a 13-year separation, and been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Yet, in the financial world, one thing has not changed.

Investment manager Neil Woodford once considered the UK's answer to Warren Buffett, has yet to be punished for the part he played in the collapse of his flagship fund, Woodford Equity Income.

A collapse that was hurried along by the fund's suspension in June 2019 when a big institutional investor  Kent County Council  wasn't able to get its money out. The withdrawal couldn't be made because the fund's portfolio was chock-a-block with illiquid stocks that were difficult to sell in a hurry.

Hands-on: Investment manager Neil Woodford once considered the UK's answer to Warren Buffett, has yet to be punished for the part he played in the collapse of his flagship fund

A collapse which triggered painful losses for hundreds of thousands of investors despite a subsequent redress scheme.

Last week, after six long years, the City's regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, finally spelt out the punishment it would be meting out to Neil Woodford and his company, Woodford Investment Management: respective fines of 5.9 million and 40 million  and a ban preventing Mr Woodford from running retail investment funds in the future.

Hurrah, you would think. Justice at long last.

But not yet. Mr Woodford passionately believes he is innocent of any wrongdoing and has appealed against the regulator's decision. It will be heard in the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal, which deals with appeals against enforcement decisions made by the FCA and other financial regulators, such as the Prudential Regulation Authority and The Pensions Regulator.

If the judge sides with Woodford, the fines and ban could be quashed.

Fund expert Alan Miller believes there are enough flaws in the basis of the regulator's decision to make this a possibility. Equally, the judge could rubber stamp the FCA's decision.

But irrespective of the outcome, we won't find out for a while.

Judgments made in the Upper Tribunal are not handed out quickly. For example, an appeal made by two former Metro Bank executives against fines that the FCA wanted to impose on them for breaches of City listing rules was made in late 2022. It was only in June this year that the Upper Tribunal decided to uphold the FCA's decision  a wait of more than two and a half years.

There is nothing to indicate that Woodford's appeal will be judged any quicker.

So investors, sore over how Woodford has so far escaped financial punishment, might need to wait until the end of 2027 or early 2028 to discover whether he will finally pay a price for leaving them out of pocket.

I know this will irk many former Woodford investors because they have repeatedly told me they have waited too long for him to get his comeuppance. They feel let down on many levels.

First, by Woodford's risky management of a fund labelled as a plain vanilla UK equity income fund  skewing the portfolio towards smaller illiquid stocks.

Most investors bought the fund on the understanding they were getting exposure to a basket of dividend-friendly UK blue chip shares, the strategy that proved so successful for Woodford investors when he previously ran money for Invesco Perpetual.

Secondly, by an inadequate 235 million redress scheme arranged by the FCA which still left most investors nursing big losses.

Thirdly, by the fact that while the FCA has been looking into Woodford, he reinvented himself as an investment strategist, inviting people to pay for details of portfolios designed to deliver income, growth or a mix of the two. It's a business which currently sits outside the financial regulatory framework.

And of course, finally, by the regulator's protracted probe into Woodford's management of the fund in the run up to its suspension.

Many Woodford victims will not like to hear this, but even if the FCA's decision is upheld it is likely the bulk of the fines will never be paid.

Woodford Investment Management, a limited company, might have generated big profits in the past  and regularly paid Woodford and his colleague Craig Newman multi-million-pound dividends  but it now has barely two pennies to rub together.

Unaudited financial statements for the year to the end of March 2024 indicate that it has net liabilities of 230,028.

In other words, its debts exceed its assets  and it does not have the financial wherewithal to pay a 4 million fine, let alone a 40 million one.

The 5.9 million personal fine shouldn't be a problem  and it's interesting that Woodford has just put his Salcombe bolthole on the market for 10 million.

Yet there is a possibility Woodford might not end up having to pay a penny.

Miller, the founding partner of wealth manager SCM Direct and previously with both Jupiter and New Star, has been a long-term critic of the way Woodford ran the Equity Income fund.

But he believes Woodford's lawyers may well be able to pick holes in how the regulator has arrived at its decision.

He says the illiquidity of Woodford Equity Income's portfolio was not just an issue 'between 31 July 2018 and 3 June 2019'  the time period used by the FCA to base the fines on. It went back even further.

For example, at the end of December 2014, according to the fund's own accounts, 30 per cent of the portfolio were in illiquid assets, compared to 5 per cent for the Invesco Perpetual High Income fund that Woodford previously managed.

Miller says: 'The fund was illiquid from day one, which begs the question: why didn't anyone  the regulator or the fund's overseer Link  do anything about it?'

He also says that there are a number of small cap UK funds open today which have highly illiquid portfolios.

These issues, Miller says, could help Woodford in his quest to get the FCA's decision overturned.

A travesty, but one of the regulator's making.

Last Wednesday, in the wake of the announcement from the FCA on the intended fines, I asked to speak to Neil Woodford to get his side of the story, but I was met with a wall of silence.

No surprise there. Six years ago the same happened when I drove to his company's head office in Oxford at the crack of dawn to confront him in the wake of the fund's suspension.

Although I was standing outside his offices when he arrived at 7am in a swish black Audi, he sneaked in before I could get anywhere near him  the company's facilities manager at the time had just ordered me and my photographer to leave because we were on private property.

He might think silence is golden. I think he should pay a price for the way he let down his investors. But I'm not banking on it.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

G.H. writes: I received a new bank card from TSB, but I have never banked with them.

I called TSB's fraud line, but the person who answered wanted to know about a fraudulent transaction and refused to accept that the new account itself was the fraud. Eventually she transferred me to a dead extension.

Tony Hetherington replies: TSB was fortunate, since you pressed on with a second attempt to stop the fraudulent account being used. Your second call to the bank worked, as the man who answered understood right away what had happened and told you: 'We have had quite a few of these recently!'

He blocked the account, but could not  or would not  tell you how it had been opened or what proof of identity had been produced by whoever used your name. And when you suggested that if there had been a rash of fake account applications, there must be something wrong with TSB's system for approving new accounts, he could not answer.

So is there a serious problem within TSB?

Cutting corners?:TSB is Spanish owned but has its headquarters in Edinburgh and follows UK rules

The bank is Spanish owned but has its headquarters in Edinburgh and follows UK rules. It seems, though, that it does not actually demand any proof of identity before it allows a new account to be opened.

TSB told me: 'We follow industry standard processes to verify a customer opening an account  and continue to enhance our controls, which has helped reduce the number of false account openings overall.'

But, of course, since the fraudster used your personal details to apply for the account, it was really your details that TSB was verifying, so it is not surprising that you were accepted as a customer.

With this in mind, I asked the bank again to say what proof of identity it requested. TSB refused to answer, telling me: 'We can't share any further detail on our account opening processes and verification.'

What is clear, though, is that the account was successfully opened. So could a fraudster make use of such an account, perhaps for money laundering, before the person named as the account holder realises something is wrong and alerts TSB?

The bank would only say: 'This was prevented, due to our anti-impersonation controls which were applied and helped prevent the card being fraudulently used.'

But its anti-impersonation controls did not stop the account from being created by an impostor, nor did they stop the debit card from being posted to you. If you had not made your phone calls, how long would it have taken the bank to realise it had been tricked?

TSB has acknowledged the worrying position you were in because of your profession, and it has offered you 250 for the inconvenience.

It takes about 15 minutes to apply online for a TSB account, with no identification needed.

You just need someone else's personal details and you can then, for example, walk into a branch and deposit cheques, or you might transfer in funds from another account, just as a money launderer would. You could then withdraw the now laundered cash before TSB knew anything was wrong.

It all seems too easy, with the bank in danger of closing the branch door after the crook has already bolted.

Vanishing act: The Financial Conduct Authority is considering whether to issue its own warning against Al-Tabbaa & Hackett Capital

Vanished without trace

An unauthorised savings firm has vanished with no explanation to customers.

I warned two weeks ago that Al-Tabbaa & Hackett Capital was falsely claiming to be one of the largest savings organisations in the UK. It changed this to refer instead to the UAE, and now its website has disappeared.

The firm's Trustpilot page displayed reviews from happy savers, some of whom claimed to have been dealing with it for years  even though the website was just two months old.

Trustpilot has now taken down every review. The fake reviews were matched by bogus messages left on the Daily Mail's financial website, thisismoney.co.uk, as soon as it published my warning. And the company itself said my report was 'an enthralling work of fiction'. Thank you to the many readers who pointed out the fakes.

The Financial Conduct Authority is considering whether to issue its own warning against Al-Tabbaa & Hackett Capital.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Zelenskyy after conversation with Starmer: We see danger of Russia's plan to reduce everything to discussing impossible

Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Keir Starmer the issue of establishing peace in Ukraine.

"Grateful for the support. We equally see the need for a truly sustainable peace for Ukraine and the danger of the Russian plan to reduce everything to discussing the impossible. We need clear steps, maximum coordination with our partners," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Saturday.

He noted the determination of Great Britain, the United States and all partners to end the war.

"We are actively working for constructive diplomacy and for solutions to work. We have agreed on the following contacts," Zelenskyy said.

As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump, during a conversation with journalists, stated that peace between Russia and Ukraine is possible on the basis of the exchange and return of part of the territories, emphasizing that this is a complex and long-term process.

He also announced that his meeting with Vladimir Putin will take place on August 15 in Alaska. The U.S. President believes that Putin's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is likely in the near future, as well as the signing of a peace agreement with their participation in the coming months.

Zelenskyy responded that the answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is already spelled out in the Constitution of Ukraine and "no one will and cannot deviate from this, Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier." He said "the Ukrainian people deserve peace, but all partners must understand what a worthy peace is."
It's official, Britpop is back as the Gallagher brothers decided to 'roll with it' and take Oasis on a stadium tour 16 years after their acrimonious split.

And what a road it's been so far, Cardiff's Principality Stadium was packed to the rafters, Wembley has been echoing with Wonderwall, and Heaton Park has seen fans reliving their end-of-the-century glory days as if it's still 1996.

Over 1.4million fans will see the brothers play across 17 UK dates, collectively spending more than 1billion on tickets, travel, merch and all those inevitable incidentals.

The average fan will part with 766 to experience the reunion, according to Barclays - including that inevitable 'oh go on then' 40 tour t-shirt.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not, in any way, attempting to downplay this once-in-a-generation tour.

It's more than a big deal. It's the kind of cultural juggernaut that makes grown men cry into their 8 pints, teenagers suddenly obsessed with a band they weren't even alive for, and resale sites light up in a way I've not seen in years.

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR MODERN TREASURE VALUED BY DAN.

It's back: It's official, Britpop is back as the Gallagher brothers finally decide to 'roll with it'

In collector terms? The demand isn't just huge, it's stratospheric, stadium-shaking, Champagne Supernova-sized.

I'm currently inundated with emails from the public either wanting to cash in on their old Oasis items, or from fans heading to the gigs asking what to buy now that might become a future collectible.

The truth is that some tour memorabilia can be worth eye-watering amounts, but will you hit the jackpot if you were lucky enough to bag one of those much sought-after tickets?

RETRO ITEMS VALUED

Do you have jewellery or other modern items you want valued? We're on the lookout for more Modern Treasure to shine a spotlight on. Email: editor@thisismoney.co.uk

There are various reasons why tour memorabilia can skyrocket in value and I've seen it happen countless times.

Fundamentally if the tour happens at the right cultural moment, it can create a perfect storm of nostalgia, scarcity and demand.

Take the Rolling Stones for example. T-shirts from their 1982 European tour, which originally cost a fiver, have sold for 300 or more if in great condition.

If you were at a Ride gig in 1990 and bought their Nowhere T-shirt for the price of a pint, it was a clever investment as someone paid 2,010 for one on eBay.

And who could forget the infamous In Utero Nirvana long sleeve which, in mint condition, one collector just shelled out 1,300 for.

I must point out, these weren't VIP-only relics, they were stand-in-line merch, exactly like what Oasis fans are picking up today.

This isn't Oasis' first roll of the dice with merch, their memorabilia has been gold dust for years.

A Knebworth 1996 crew T-shirt recently sold for 500 and even a used wristband from that gig has previously sold for over 100.

So why can some of this merch attract such impressive profits? For me, the logic is simple: these aren't just items, they're tangible pieces of history and proof you were there when it mattered.

The more important question now, is how to make sure you bag a bargain today so that you 'don't look back in anger' in the future.

Whether it's Oasis or another pop phenomenon, here are my top tips for picking up something that could secure you a tidy little profit in the future.

1. Buy what no one else is thinking about

When something's not fashionable, it's often undervalued or under collected.

Look for artists, events, or trends just before they hit or even if a band is popular, pick the strangest, ugliest item they're selling.

Less will have been produced, fewer people will have bought it, and demand will be higher down the line.

Bought a beanie hat at the Oasis concert? Pick the worst colour on offer. Today's bargain bin could be tomorrow's goldmine.

2. Hunt down limited editions and short runs

Scarcity drives desirability. The fewer made, the more valuable they'll be. Key things to look out for:

Numbered prints or vinyl;

Artist only test pressings;

Promo items (not sold to the public);

Venue exclusive or pop-up merch

3. Condition is everything - collect like a dealer, not a fan

That means:

Don't remove packaging;

Don't use the item;

Store it properly, cool, dry, out of light. A rare item in poor condition will always be worth less than a common one in pristine shape.

4. Grab ephemera others discard

Think ticket stubs, setlists, flyers and wristbands. These small, often free items become rare simply because most people bin them. If you went to the gig, you already own future memorabilia.

5. Be early on collaborations

When musicians drop collabs with fashion, tech or booze brands, the earliest releases are often the most collectible. They catch people off guard and vanish fast.

Bringing it back: The Gallagher brothers are doing a 41-day tour

6. Document the story

If you're lucky enough to get something personalised or unique, keep the proof.

Photos, receipts, emails, or even a note explaining how you got it. Provenance adds credibility and value.

7. Watch for cultural crossovers

Look out for moments where music, fashion and politics collide.

Those items tend to age well because they represent movements, not just merch. Think early grime flyers, protest gig posters, or zines.

8. Track rising artists (and buy early)

Collect items from emerging acts before they hit the mainstream. Early merch signed items or indie pressings often become iconic once they go global.

9. Ignore trends, study patterns

Don't buy what's hot now, buy what's had a proven track record. Every generation has its collectible booms: vinyl, Pokemon, Star Wars. Ask what's next music related.

10. Nostalgia moves in 20 to 30 year cycles

What we loved as teenagers tends to skyrocket in value when we hit our 30s and 40s.

Think about what Gen Z were obsessed with five to ten years ago - that's your next collector landscape.

On top of my general tips, here are my predictions of what Oasis merch will be worth money in the future.

Right now, Live '25 is the music event of the moment. But if I'm honest, I feel cautious about whether this will hold a monetary value in the future.

With so many fans attending and merchandise being pushed harder than ever, I worry that people are sinking cash into items thinking they're future goldmines, when in reality, we could be looking at a saturated market for years to come.

That said, there are a few pieces I believe will stand the test of time.

You heard it here first: Bucket hats are back in fashion

The Adidas collaboration

Possibly the biggest hype drop of the year, and rightly so.

The Oasis x Adidas collab taps straight into the 90s aesthetic and will likely reach iconic status in decades to come.

I love the bucket hats at 40 which are so synonymous with the band. Buy one and don't wear it, leave the labels on and keep the packaging intact. It may not make you rich, but in mint condition, it'll be worth a decent sum down the line.

Limited edition prints

You can currently purchase individually numbered lithographic prints, tied to previous concerts and venues like Cardiff, Wigan and Earls Court, with some editions priced at 250 upwards.

Others include photographic portrait prints, like the moody Maine Road Noel or Wonderwall Outside Shoot, which feel more like gallery pieces than gig merch.

The golden rule? If it's numbered, venue-specific, or tied to a known photographer Grab it, store it flat, and do not fold.

City-specific merchandise

T-shirts, posters and anything printed with the city or venue name on it can dramatically increase in value. Why?

Because it connects a collectible to a moment. The key, as ever, is pristine condition. Don't wear it. Don't wash it. Don't let your mate borrow it 'just once.'

My gut feeling is still that the items from this monumental music tour aren't going to make you rich because of the fact there's been too much hype, too many items mass-produced and too many people buying them.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a piece of pop culture history, just don't rely on it to cover your retirement one day.

So, buy the t-shirt, wear the wristband and drink the 8 pint as you sing your heart out because that's what it's all about.

If you do want to take a risk and collect some of this merch anyway, follow my golden rule: buy two, one to wear, one to keep in mint condition and hopefully come back to me in the future to prove me wrong.

Because in 20 years, even if that 40 bucket hat can't buy you a week in Ibiza, it might at the very least, cover your bar tab while you're telling someone the story of when you were there.
Mortgage valuers are increasingly putting prices on homes that are much less than they are likely to be worth, according to brokers - a practice they have called 'atrocious'.

Brokers across the industry have said valuers have become overly cautious with their estimates, at a time when property prices are flatlining.

The mortgage valuation is intended to assess that the property fits the lender's criteria, and that it is worth what a buyer has agreed to pay for it.

Often the valuer doesn't even step inside the home, and instead simply drives past it or looks for it online.

The valuer will base their assessment on similar homes in the local area that have already sold.

So-called 'down valuations' are a problem because they can cause a lender to turn down a mortgage offer, or a home buyer or seller to have to renegotiate the price or borrow more.

What price? Valuers will assign a monetary value to the property as part of the buying process

Adam Stiles, managing director at London-based mortgage broker, Helix Financial Partners, says three of his customers have had properties down-valued by over 1m in recent weeks.

'We've had some atrocious valuations of late,' said Stiles. 'One valuer went round to value two finished new builds, and gave a value of 1.7m.

'We then took the deal to another lender that instructed a different valuer who, two weeks later, valued the properties at 2.8m. That's a 1.1m difference in value and it's simply crazy.

'In another example, a freehold house in prime London estimated at 3m was worth 1.4m. This is after previous valuers had agreed with the estimates of the borrower.

'There needs to be more accountability and means for impartial appeal.'

What are my options after a down valuation? As a buyer: 1. Negotiate a new price with the seller that both parties can work with 2. Find a new lender that will offer the mortgage amount you need 3. Increase the size of your deposit from your savings 4. Bridge the gap with money from friends or family 5. Walk away and find a new property As a seller: 1. Consider lowering the sale price or meeting somewhere in the middle 2. Encourage the buyer to try another lender with different lending criteria 3. If the numbers don't work for you, get estate agents or solicitors to negotiate reductions or new deals up the chain 4. Put your property back on the market and try to find a new buyer who can offer the required amount 5. Look for a cash buyer

Jack Tutton, director at Fareham-based broker SJ mortgages, also said down valuations are becoming more common.

'We have seen a higher number of down valuations than we have experienced for a long while. Recently, we had a surveyor place a value on a property of 250,000 in March, only to reduce this to 225,000 in June.

'I am not aware of anywhere in the UK where the housing market has reduced by 10 per cent in such a short period of time. If it had, a lot of people would be in serious trouble.'

He accepts that agents and sellers might sometimes inflate the value of a property, but in general he thinks it is valuers that are being 'overly cautious'.

This, he says, is down to the 'stagnant' property market.

Property developer Kundan Bhaduri of The Kushman Group, which builds homes in Kent, estimates that half the sales he is involved in see a property under-valued.

'In my corner of Kent, where I develop properties typically under 500,000 each, the mortgage valuation process has gone from a professional service into a game of Russian roulette,' he said.

'Nearly half of all property transactions are now being impacted by this phenomenon, with the average down-valuation in the South East carving a brutal 11,000 from the agreed sale price.

'Last month, a two-bedroom terrace in Ashford, agreed at 325,000, was valued by the lender's surveyor at 290,000, citing "market uncertainty" despite three identical neighbouring properties having sold for more in the preceding three months.

'Valuers are having a laugh at our expense to mask a future claim against their professional indemnity insurance.

'The perverse incentives at play have created a system where there is no accountability for the surveyor, yet catastrophic risk for everyone else in the chain.'

Why are down valuations a problem?

Mortgage valuations can cause serious headaches for buyers, sellers or even those remortgaging.

When a buyer is informed the property is worth less than what they've agreed to pay for it, they will often have to persuade the seller to reduce their price to allow the transaction to go ahead.

If the seller isn't willing to do that, it means the buyer could be left with a shortfall between what the mortgage lender will allow them to borrow, and what the seller wants them to pay.

Take someone buying a property for 400,000 with a 90 per cent mortgage of 360,000, and a 10 per cent deposit of 40,000.

If the property was then valued at 360,000, it means the lender will only be prepared to lend 90 per cent of 360,000, which equates to 324,000.

On top of the 40,000 deposit, the buyer will need to work out whether they want to stump up the remaining 36,000 to make up the difference.

Ken James, director at London-based Contractor Mortgage Services, says properties being down valued is causing problems for all, especially estate agents.

'We're seeing more and more down valuations now, which is creating a real headache for everyone involved,' said James.

'Estate agents fight tooth and nail against any renegotiations and, if a property is downvalued, often want you to try an alternative lender to see if they will value it higher.

'This, of course, is not always going to get you the outcome they want, and when a lender states the value is lower, the prospective buyers will often then suspect the property's real value is not what they were prepared to pay.

'In some cases, they will then question whether they should progress with the purchase at all.'
M&S Bank have been accused of 'pushing away their most loyal older customers' after banning account holders from paying in stores, via bank giro credit, or by cheque.

The lender, sold to HSBC in 2004 but operated as a joint venture between the High Street bank and retailer, temporarily stopped accepting payments in store in April, a decision which has now been made permanent.

But in addition, account holders have been sent a letter saying that from October it will stop accepting cheques or giro payments over bank, building society or post office counters.

The news was greeted with dismay by campaigners who fear the move will disadvantage pensioners or those who wish to pay in cash  who will now find it very difficult to do so.

M&S Bank stressed that just 'one per cent' of customers use the methods and that most people pay via direct debit, online or phone.

Baroness Ros Altmann, a pensions expert and older people's campaigner, said of the move: 'You are pushing away your most loyal, older customers who have probably shopped with you for decades.

Axed: MS& Bank will no longer accept cheques or giro from banks as a form of payment

'It may be a minority who use these payment methods but with M&S Bank having so many customers, it will still be a lot of people. It tends to be the older ones who are becoming increasingly marginalised in our society.

'Cash seems to be being phased out because retailers are worried about security. It takes time to pay in and banks are pushing away cash and cheques because they are shutting all the branches.

'The trouble is many, particularly older people, disabled people don't have access to electronic or digital banking, don't have a mobile or smart phone. Some people, particularly pensioners on low incomes, use cash because they find it better for budgeting.'

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: 'Reducing payment options will limit some older people, especially those not online or who prefer to use cash.

'Our own recent research revealed not everyone is comfortable banking online or using apps  27pc of people manage their bank account through their branch, while 31pc are uncomfortable with the idea of banking online.

'Before changes are made, businesses should think very carefully, as although physical payment mechanisms may be more expensive to process, limiting their use or withdrawing them could leave some customers without a way to pay that suits their needs.'

M&S Bank said the axed methods were 'legacy payment methods' and 'only used by a very small proportion of customers'. It added account holders would still be able to pay at a bank without the giro form, which will no longer be printed with statements.

An M&S Bank spokesman said customers are 'increasingly opting to use digital channels for their banking needs'.

They added: 'We've introduced a pay-by-bank option, making it even easier for customers to pay their credit card via the M&S Bank app, as well as being able to pay by direct debit or via their bank.

'This replaces legacy payment options, which are only used by a very small proportion of customers, including cheque, giro or in-store payments.'

Have you been stopped from paying by cheque? moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
When Vicky O'Neill casts her mind back to life during the pandemic, one date remains forever etched in her memory.

For it was on May 17, 2021, that husband John awaited his turn to have the newly-approved AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

The doting father-of-two from Althorne, Essex, was considered more at risk from Covid-19 because of his asthma and was optimistic the jab could offer a 'return to normality.'

Still, moments before his appointment, the then 41-year-old turned to his wife and said he was worried about the possible side-effects.

'We were sitting in the car, just the two of us. And he said to me, "I'm going to go in and have AstraZeneca, and you're going to have the Pfizer. That means if there's any problems - because we don't know much about these vaccines - at least there is still one of us here for the kids."

'I told him not to be stupid. He went in, had his jab and didn't think anything of it.'

But the IT contractor's words turned out to be a chilling foretelling of events that would forever change their lives.

Within the next 10 days, John suffered a devastating stroke that would leave him blind in his left eye, paralysed down his right side and 60 per cent brain damaged, among other permanent disabilities.

Doting father-of-two John O'Neill from Althorne, Essex, suffered a devastating stroke after having the AstraZeneca Covid vaccination in May 2021

John, pictured in hospital after his stroke, was left blind in his left eye, paralysed down his right side and 60 per cent brain damaged among other permanent disabilities

Amid the stress of their lives being turned upside down, John and Vicky revealed their 16-year marriage has ended and they are now going through divorce

As he and his family would later discover, John had suffered an extremely rare reaction to the Covid jab that causes blood clots with a low platelet count.

Known as VITT - vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis - medical experts said such a reaction would only happen to one in 50,000 people.

Four years on, John and his loved ones acknowledge just how lucky he is to even be alive - but the repercussions continue.

Now aged 46, John has been left a shadow of the man he once was, unable to work and needing full-time care.

The financial impact on the family has also been immense - with John confessing they have been 'living on nothing', and their beloved four-bed detached home is now up for sale.

Having received an 'inadequate' compensation payment from the Government, John fears he has become one of the 'forgotten' individuals whose lives changed immeasurably after they had the vaccine - and he has added his name to a 50-strong class action currently going through the courts.

In the latest consequence of this tragedy, the tremendous stress endured by the couple has brought an end to John and Vicky's 16-year marriage, with the pair taking the difficult decision to divorce.

It's a decision borne more out of necessity than desire, with both clearly devastated that events have turned out this way.

John suffered an extremely rare reaction to the AstraZeneca Covid jab that causes blood clots to form in major arteries alongside a low platelet count

Known as VITT - vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis - medical experts said such a reaction would only happen to one in 50,000 people

Four years on, John and his loved ones acknowledge just how lucky he is to even be alive - but the repercussions continue

Now aged 46, John - pictured with wife Vicky - has been left a shadow of the man he once was, unable to work and needing full-time care

Doctors found John had suffered a major stroke, originating in his optic nerve, that damaged 60 per cent of his brain, while his left carotid artery had become 'completely occluded'

But after 25 years together, both agree it is the right thing to do for their children and are determined to remain heavily involved in each other's life.

'As you can see, we get on but everything has changed. John's changed. I've had to change, and life is so very different,' said a tearful Vicky, who has cared for her husband full-time over the last four years.

John, who still struggles with his speech in the aftermath of his stroke, simply nodded while dabbing away his tears.

Looking around the lounge of their comfortable home, vibrant family photos point to an array of happier times in their life.

Vicky had just turned 18 when she met John, an ambitious IT contractor who previously earned a six-figure salary.

'We were very lucky. John worked really hard and we had a good life, like we've never asked for anything. I was working as a graphic designer for an architect in London.

'We were both very career-minded, but we knew what we wanted. We bought a house together in Romford while we were still very young and we had our own cars. We done it all ourselves. You know, we had a good life.'

The couple married in 2008, and four years later had their daughter, Freya, now aged 13, followed by their son, Mason, now eight.

'He's been diagnosed with autism and ADHD so he's 100 miles an hour, but the most amazing kid,' Vicky enthused. 'We had everything we wanted - life was good.'

Vicky and John pictured on their wedding day in 2008. The couple revealed the devastating toll the stress of their circumstances has had on their marriage

Vicky had just turned 18 when she met John, an ambitious IT contractor working for a law firm

The couple married in 2008 and said 'life was good' in the years running up to the pandemic

Five years ago, the couple decided to move from Romford to the more rural surrounds of Althorne to provide 'a better life for the kids'.

They bought their current home and planned to renovate and extend the property, but plans were halted after the world was plunged into the Covid pandemic.

Both John and Mason, who was aged just four at the time, suffered from severe asthma and out of caution the family shuttered themselves off from seeing anyone.

'We were extreme, we didn't want anyone to visit because they both had asthma and we worried about the virus.

'When this jab came out, we thought this is what we needed to get us back into the world again.'

At first, none of John's initial concerns about the vaccine came to fruition. He experienced the typical flu-like symptoms reported by others after the first 24 hours, but otherwise seemed fine.

But as the days went on, Vicky noted that John seemed 'extremely tired' and had experienced fleeting moments of feeling sick.

Ten days after his vaccination, John awoke in the morning and complained of an intense pain in his left eye. After calling 111, he was advised by a doctor that he likely had a sinus infection and a prescription was issued over the phone.

John pictured with his daughter, Freya, before he suffered a life-changing stroke

Dedicated father John pictured with his daughter Freya and son Mason as youngsters

At first, none of John's initial concerns about the vaccine came to fruition. Pictured: John with his son, Mason

Vicky recalled that she left the house to go and pick up the medication, only to find John saying the pain was 'unbearable' when she returned. Within hours, he began saying there was something wrong with his jaw and decided to return to bed.

But when he got up around 6pm, Vicky could see her husband was seriously unwell.

'He walked in here, and he was grey and clammy. He said his vision had gone in one eye and couldn't stop being sick. He pleaded with me to call an ambulance.'

A first responder arrived within minutes and suspected John, who by now was also slurring his words, was having a heart attack or stroke. When the ambulance arrived, he was taken off to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Despite the severity of his symptoms, the doctors believed at first that John simply had a migraine. But overnight he suffered a major stroke, originating in his optic nerve, that damaged 60 per cent of his brain. Consultants then discovered his left carotid artery had become 'completely occluded'.

John would need to be transferred to the Royal London Hospital for a life-saving procedure to insert a stent, with Vicky warned by medics 'he might not make it'.

She was told hours later that despite an initial problem the stent had been successfully inserted, but when Vicky went to visit her husband the next day she found him 'in a state'.

'He had a temperature. His left eye was completely shut. He was thrashing around and kept pulling his left leg up and groaning.'

Family life as they once knew it was completely upended after John reacted to the Covid jab

Vicky had previously noted at Broomfield that John's leg had a strange 'mottling' around the ankle, but was reassured by doctors that this would be assessed after he was transferred to the Royal London.

However, when she asked if this had been done, a doctor seemed to be unaware of the issue.

'I'd looked at his leg again and now he had these red blanches all the way up his skin. The doctor pulled the sheet back, and said "Oh my God. He's got a haematoma." He began shouting for the team and said John needed to be scanned quickly.'

Within hours, Vicky was approached by a haematologist consultant, who delivered devastating news: John had developed a condition known as VITT as a result of the Covid vaccine, which had caused his blood to start clotting in all the main arteries of his body.

The rash on his left leg was a major clot that had formed.

Vicky was asked to make a choice between John having his leg amputated or to start anticoagulation treatment including a plasma transfusion, but both procedures were 'extremely life threatening.'

'John was already paralysed on the right side by the stroke. He could not move, he couldn't sit up, he couldn't do anything for himself. He couldn't even lift his own head.

'The only thing he could do was lift this leg - and now they might amputate it.'

John is taking 17 tablets a day and remains 'under every consultant possible'

Devastated by such a decision, Vicky said she believed John would not want to go ahead with amputation but would be guided by the doctors.

They agreed to go ahead with the plasma exchange, with John reacting well to the treatment. He remained in intensive care for weeks before finally being transferred back to Broomfield Hospital and a short rehabilitation stint at Homerton Hospital.

In all, John spent four months in hospital before coming home - but life would never be the same again.

He presently takes 17 tablets a day and remains 'under every consultant possible'.

'John struggles with his speech and has aphasia. He also has difficulties reading and writing and recognising numbers. He's blind in his left eye. His carotid artery is now completely blocked, so doctors have to monitor him constantly to ensure he has no issues there.

'The artery in his left leg is blocked. So he has no pulse below the left knee and that causes a lot of problems. If he walks even 10 metres he gets pins and needles because of the restricted blood flow.

'His right leg was affected by the stroke and is now his weak leg.

'He's also now on the border of heart failure as a result of the stroke and we are getting him assessed for possible dementia.'

John, pictured with daughter Freya, was found to be eligible for the Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), which offers a one-off financial payment of 120,000

Lifting his right arm and hand, John shakes his head before letting it drop. 'That arm is nothing', he added, showing he had lost the use of his limb.

With the benefit of hindsight, Vicky acknowledges that at the point John returned home in September 2021 - and she became his full-time carer - the challenges had only just begun.

'Mason was starting school, and then Freya went back for the first time since the pandemic began - and we had to just try and be normal.

'But when I look back now, I didn't ever have any downtime. I had gone from my husband nearly dying to having to come home to look after the children and get them to be understanding of what was going on. And in all of this, I was still learning what was going on with John.'

There were also new concerns for Vicky around their finances.

'John had been the main breadwinner, and all of a sudden he wasn't there. We would be OK for a little while due to savings, but my husband has had a stroke and he's not going to get better. I kept thinking what are we going to do?'

John has been eligible to claim Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance, while Vicky has claimed Carer's Allowance and been able to work a few hours each week to supplement her income.

'But for a family of four, you just can't survive on that,' explained Vicky, who said they had struggled over the last four years and the couple have had no other option than to sell their home.

The family of four have struggled financially in the wake of John's devastating health issues

John was found to fit the criteria for the Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), which offers a one-off financial payment of 120,000 in the event that a vaccine likely caused at least 60 per cent disablement.

In John's case, that figure was found to be 90 per cent - but that money alone will not be enough to financially secure the family for the years ahead.

He has now joined a class action launched by Leigh Day solicitors against AstraZeneca, which was indemnified during the pandemic, and the Government, which would likely pay out if their claim is successful.

Lawyers representing victims and families are suing AstraZeneca under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

They argue the vaccine was 'a defective product' that was 'not as safe as consumers generally were reasonably entitled to expect'. AstraZeneca has strongly denied these claims.

Health officials first identified cases of VITT linked to AstraZeneca's jab in Europe as early as March 2021, just over two months after the vaccine was first deployed in the UK.

On its website, Leigh Day stressed it was not an 'anti-vaccination' case.

'It is however a case about fairness  a case in which we are trying to secure fair compensation for those families who paid the ultimate personal price for agreeing to be vaccinated during the pandemic.'

Vicky and John said the decision to separate has been 'very difficult' but still intend to be in one another's lives

Vicky said if they were to be successful, the money would take away their financial stress - but tragically it would never bring back the life they once had.

'I was lucky that we didn't lose John, and our children were lucky that they didn't lose their dad, but they have lost him in a huge way, in every way possible. He is still here, but he's not the man he was.

'It worries me going forward, because John has lots of issues and we don't know how they are going to progress.

'Money can't buy happiness. It can make things stable, which is great, but it's not going to change what happened. It's not like having a broken arm that you can fix and go back to enjoying life, doing your job and taking the kids to the park.

'It's never going to happen for us.

'John has been robbed of his life, and he can try and make another life for himself, but it's always going to be limited because of what happened.'

Vicky is keen to stress that she and her family are not against vaccinations, but feels saddened their lives were upended simply because they tried to 'do what was right'.

'We just wanted to do right by our family, our friends, the country. We just wanted to do our part in getting back to normal.

John, pictured with daughter Freya, will never be able to work again after he was left with permanent disabilities following his stroke

'But life is far from normal for us - and we just don't know what the future holds.'

In a statement to MailOnline, Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore said: 'As a result of his injuries, John will never be able to work again, or be the husband and father that he once was for Vicky and their children.

'Presently the Government scheme provides them with a one-off payment of 120,000. That is less than Johns annual earnings prior to his injuries and is wholly inadequate to provide him with the specialist care that he needs to live with his injuries let alone provide for his family.

'John stepped forward for vaccination at the Governments request, along with thousands of others, and yet when he needs the Government to stand with him and his family by providing meaningful financial support they are nowhere to be seen.

'John and others like him do not want to have to bring a legal claim, they want to put their energies into putting their lives back together.

'The fact that they are having to do so should be a cause of national shame, the pandemic was a period of national solidarity and yet, in the aftermath when the country has moved on, those injured like John have been forgotten.'

Official data shows at least 81 Brits have died from blood clot complications apparently linked to the AstraZeneca jab, according to figures collected by the UK's drug watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

A further unconfirmed number have been injured and/or disabled.

John's case is now one of a 50-strong class action that has been launched by Leigh Day

Further Covid vaccine rollouts have either minimised use of the AstraZeneca jab and/or phased it out entirely in favour of mRNA alternatives like those made by rival pharma giants Pfizer and Moderna.

Supporting John To support John, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johnsvittjourney Advertisement

However, AstraZeneca's jab is credited with saving some 6million lives globally during the Covid pandemic.

AstraZeneca previously said in a statement: 'Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems.

'Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.

'From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.'
It was from a rundown council estate in east London that the Hellbanianz made their name.

The notorious Albanian cartel, who flaunt their lavish lifestyle filled with fancy cars, diamond-encrusted Rolexes and half-naked girls in music videos, are feared across the streets of London.

From the high rise towers of the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, the Hellbanianz terrorised residents as they peddled cocaine across the capital and recruited young Albanians to join their gang.

And while other gangs may attempt to keep a low profile, the brazen group deliberately share images of themselves brandishing weapons and posing with large wads of cash across social media, and have engaged in open warfare on London's streets.

A few years ago they went as far as driving military vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns through the Gascoigne Estate for a rap video entitled Poppin Smoke.

But a regeneration scheme by Barking and Dagenham council has seen almost all the flats - which the group 'had taken control of' - knocked to the ground, and with it came crashing down the base from which they ran their campaign of terror.

MailOnline can exclusively reveal that the gang's top dogs have now found themselves a new base, and it is not in the UK.

Hellbanianz leader Ervin Selita posing in Dubai with three other members, with their faces covered with keffiyehs

The east London-based Hellbanianz gang use social media to boast about their lawless lifestyle on social media. Pictured: Members of the gang drape themselves on luxury cars

In a Hellbanianz music video, masked men cruise around the Gascoigne Estate in an armoured fighting vehicle equipped with a .30 calibre machine gun

The said 'leader' of the group, Ervin Selita, known by the nickname 'Vinz', is understood to have relocated to Dubai, taking some of his most trusted lieutenants with him.

Having earned large amounts peddling cocaine in the UK, the gang's leaders can afford to live a life of luxury in Dubai, with its members posting snaps and videos of themselves driving Rolls-Royces and dining with views of the Burj Khalifa.

In one image, the group - who are the street dealers and enforcers of the Albanian mafia Shqiptare - are posing on a buggy in the desert, with all but Selita's identities covered with the use of a keffiyeh.

In another, Selita and his crony known by the name 'Diablo', pose topless with a view of skyscrapers behind them.

Glimpses of their 'Dubai lifestyle' have been posted on TikTok through the countless accounts associated with the group and its members.

The glamorous posts are accompanied with captions and hashtags 'life style like Arab' and '#dubaisettings'. The group have grown a large following of young Albanians on the platform.

It is not known exactly when the group relocated to the Middle East, but it is thought to be towards the latter half of 2023, after Selita was released from prison in Albania.

The Hellbanianz 'head', who is in his 30s, was arrested over the attempted murder of a hotel owner in Tirana in February 2022.

The incident kicked off after the receptionist refused to allow Selita and his girlfriend entry into the hotel without an ID card. When hotel owner Zeni Xhindi got involved, Selita pulled out a gun and tried to kill him.

The feared gang leader was released from prison in July 2023 following a Court of Appeal decision which ruled he should 'maintain contact' with the probation service.

An expert with knowledge of the Albanian gang told MailOnline that Selita then, after a brief return to the UK, made his move to Dubai.

Selita, nicknamed 'Vinz' pictured with fellow Hellbanianz member Diablo in Dubai

'Vinz' spent time in jail in Albania for the attempted murder of a hotel owner before moving to Dubai. Pictured: 'Vinz' with a view of the Burj Khalifa

The video for 'Poppin Smoke' shared on YouTube showed Albanian gangster rappers driving military vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns around a British housing estate

Hellbanianz member known by the nickname 'OneMilli' (left) and others posing at a Shell gas station in Barking with the number plate '3 Skilla' - his brother who is in prison

Since moving to the Middle East, Selita and others have performed several gigs in Albania and across Europe to their large follower base. Selita often performs with top Hellbanianz member Stealth - real name Fation Dibra - but it is unclear where he is based.

Meanwhile, some of the group's other members are serving lengthy sentences in UK jails while others continue to roam the streets of Barking.

Popular members known by the street names 'Skilla' and 'Gucci' are among those who were put behind bars.

Our source told MailOnline: 'The head of the Hellbanianz and his trusted soldiers have moved to Dubai. At least five of them are known to be there.

'Vinz and his top people are living in Dubai while their foot soldiers are serving sentences in the UK.'

Much of the group's top dogs including Selita originate from the Burrel area of North Albania, and had moved here as asylum seekers with their families at a young age.

The group - whose motto is 'we are God of the streets' - was formed as a rap group in 2000 in East London, but formed as a criminal gang in 2002.

Growing up on estates across Barking and Dagenham, the group are not entirely different to the model of other London gangs.

Members of the Hellbanianz at the time were children but very soon adopted a life of crime and became involved in pumping in class A drugs for big Albanian bosses.

In 2011, the notorious gang shocked the capital when a 90-minute knife war broke out in Trafalgar Square with rival Albanian gang OTR- On Top of the Rest. It was said thugs as young as 13 were involved.

'The group use music as their criminal PR to recruit people, they glorify crime. They are very popular among young Albanians, especially in the north of Albania. They see them driving flashy cars and think we could have that too,' the source told MailOnline.

Selita originates from the Burrel area of North Albania and moved to the UK with his family as an asylum seeker at a young age of around six

Pictured: Selita with one of his cronies. Accounts across TikTok have shared images of the group in the Middle East

Hellbanianz member Tristan Asllani smirking as he poses for a picture from inside prison

A member of Hellbanianz by a jeep in the safari with his face covered by a scarf

The gang first formed as a rap group in the year 2000 and by 2002 it was formed as a criminal group

Two Hellbanianz members including 'Gucci' (left) posing in prison. Both have the group's logo tattooed on their arm

In 2020, members Azen 'Ziro' Dajci, Fabion Kuci - who goes by the street name 'Gucci', and Ardi Sheta were sentenced to a combined 15 years in prison for their involvement in an armed robbery.

Another member of the gang, Tristen Asllani, was jailed for 25 years for firearms and drugs offences in June 2016.

The gang are so brazen that they pose for pictures taken inside prison on illegal phones that have been smuggled in.

One popular member 'Skilla' - real name Sabajet Shuti - is in prison for the murder of 27-year-old Lumturi Zeqja in Leytonstone.

He had fled the UK but was sentenced to life after being extradited from Sweden.

TikTok is flooded with posts by members and supporters demanding 'Go Get Skrilla'.

In one video, Skilla writes: 'Albanian even locked up surrounded by high walls are lions.'

In the background of the video a song plays: 'We are God of streets. In prison we are having all conditions, only what is missing are prostitutes.'

A writer with expertise of crime groups in the northwest told MailOnline: 'The move to Dubai would be because they became rich and did well financially from selling cocaine.

'They can now afford to buy a house in Dubai with the money they have from selling drugs.

'The more money they have there the better. If you have a house worth more than 400,000 in Dubai you can get access to a 'golden visa'.

Pictured: Emirlion Shuti, 'OneMili', received a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years, for his role in his brother's murder. He is understood to still be in the Barking area

Members of the Hellbanianz gang from their time in Barking, with Selita second from left

The Hellbanianz logo tattoo - a deer skull. Many members have them inked on their body

A scene from the group's Poppin Smoke music video where they drove military vehicles onto the Gascoigne Estate

'So if you buy a villa say over four or five hundred thousand in pounds or euros, you can get a five-year visa there.

'There's also the big factor that all the issues they were facing with rival gangs and with the police in the UK disappears as soon as they move.

'It's the perfect move to make if they are being looked into by local police, HMRC etc.

'It is likely their criminal activity will continue but they'll have their underlings doing the work for them.

'So the boss moves to Dubai and the middle manager sort of just becomes boss. The boss will say to him "look you will get the promotion and more money but if police come, they're coming for you now, it'll be you in the Crown Court".

'It's a natural progression that a lot of gangs do. British drug dealers started moving to Dubai about 12 years ago. A lot of Irish and Russian gangs have gone there too, so the Albanians are just following suit.

'It just makes sense. They disappear off the radar, and it just makes it harder in terms of extradition.

'And the underlings who do well get rewarded with trips to Dubai, flights, week at a fancy hotel, elite day passes etc.'

Our source also told of how gangs often move to Dubai to go 'progress' in their careers.

He said: 'There is a community in Dubai of upper tier drug dealers. So if the gang are moving into these upper tier circles and making connections they get access to information on ports, which shipping links they're using and all sorts.

'That's the big boy level.

'Say they're operating at a six out of ten level from the UK, in Dubai they'll go to the next step. If they're invited to a dinner say with top level dealers, the person will say to them "we've got access to these ports, do you want a slice of the pie?"

'OneMilli' posed with a masked member. He is wearing a large gold chain which depicts the Gascoigne Estate where the group were based

Another image of the Hellbanianz taken in prison, which circulated on TikTok

Fabion Kuci - who goes by the street name 'Gucci' - was sentenced along with two others to a combined 15 years in prison for their involvement in an armed robbery

An image posted on an account under the name of OneMilli with a 'Go Get Skrilla' necklace with IG11 - the postcode for the Barking area

'So it makes sense for them. Dubai is also the dirty money scene. It's been known for a long time that criminals fly to Dubai with lots of cash and buy gold.

'It's also good for setting up businesses. There are certain sectors, like if you were to set up a sector in beauty, they will recruit young women from the UK.

'It'll be nail treatments, salons, that sort of thing during the day, and then they'll also be asked to attend parties at night as eye candy.

'And that sort of thing can very easily lead to prostitution too.

'You've also got a huge market out there for very blingy cars, so they often tend to set up cleaning or valeting businesses there for supercars.

'Some people with a bit of technical knowledge will do type replacements, replacing parts for Ferraris and Lambourghinis.

'The whole sector is linked to drug dealing.'

Skilla's brother Emirlion Shuti, known by the name 'OneMili' also received a 20-month sentence, suspended for two years, for his role in his brother's murder.

The member is understood to still be hanging about the Barking area, along with other lower-level members.

He, and others, have been seen on TikTok donning large gold chains made in the shape of the Gascoigne Estate with the words 'Go Get Skrilla' - a differing spelling also referring to Skilla.

Fans of the gang also comment 'Free Skilla' on posts.

In a post as recent as April this year, OneMili and other Hellbanianz members posed at a Shell petrol station in Barking in front of a Mercedes Benz with the number plate '3 SKILLA'.

Barking and Dagenham Council said: 'The regeneration of the Gascoigne Estate has been underway since 2011 through a phased programme that has so far removed 18 high-rise blocks.

'These blocks were identified as providing poor-quality housing that could not be cost-effectively repaired.

'The decision to regenerate the estate was based on the condition of the housing stock and the opportunity to deliver better-quality homes and public spaces for residents.

'The regeneration has enabled the delivery of modern, energy-efficient homes with private outdoor space, alongside new public parks, play areas, and a substantial new secondary school. The layout of the estate has been redesigned to improve visibility and access through public spaces, contributing to a safer environment.

'We continue to work closely with the Police and other partners to ensure Barking remains a safe and welcoming place for all residents.'
A top U.S. manufacturing CEO is sounding the alarm about President Trump's new steel and aluminum tariffs.

Trump's plan could actually hurt American companies while foreign competitors gain an unfair advantage, admitted a top aluminum manufacturing CEO.

In June, the White House imposed new steel and aluminum tariffs up to 50 percent on foreign nations as Trump nailed down dozens of trade deals with countries 'disadvantaging' the U.S.

And it's already hitting American steel manufacturers hard, which could trickle down to consumers.

The CEO of U.S Metal Powders, an aluminum powder processing factory based in rural Carbon County, Pennsylvania, told the Daily Mail that Trump's plan may have backfired.

CEO Eric Degenfelder said that Trump's new 50 percent tariffs are leaving U.S. domestic manufacturers at a severe disadvantage.

The tariffs started driving up aluminum prices in the U.S. from about $1.25 to $1.80 'in a matter of a few months,' he said.

Degenfelder said Trump's tariffs are boosting foreign competitors because customers are 'buying cheap aluminum in another region and then making aluminum powder and importing it to the U.S.'

Michigan Rep Lisa McClain and Pennsylvania Rep Ryan Mackenzie tour United States Metal Powders manufacturing facilities in Palmerton, Pennsylvania on August 7, 2025

United States Metal Powders manufacturing facilities in Palmerton, Pennsylvania on August 7, 2025

But despite the initial setbacks, the tariffs are widely expected to help the U.S. in the long term.

Trump has often touted Pennsylvania, a swing state crucial to his 2016 and 2024 presidential victories, as having a pulse on the desires of everyday Americans.

He visited the commonwealth last month to announce new investments to 'build a future where American workers will forge the steel, produce the energy, build the factories and really run a country like... never before.'

David N. Taylor, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, told the Daily Mail that he sees the tariffs as a necessary move by the administration to level the playing field in a global market.

Taylor noted that historically, Chinese bids on global manufacturing contracts would come in at prices lower than what it costs just to buy the raw materials in the U.S. - even before factoring in manufacturing and shipping costs.

He added that those numbers are 'not mathematically possible unless someone (China) is cheating.'

With the increase in raw material costs, domestic policymakers have sought to give business leaders relief in other areas.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 6, 2025

Eric Degenfelder, CEO / President of U.S Metal Powders, Inc.

Hence, the reason for Thursday's visit to U.S. Metal Powders facility in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, by House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain.

She toured the aluminum powder factory alongside freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

Mackenzie sits in a seat key to the razor-thin GOP House majority, which runs through Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, where U.S. Metal Powders calls home.

Districts like these are where Republicans need to hold on in next year's 2026 midterm elections if they want to maintain control of the House. MacKenzie won his seat by less than a percentage point last year.

House Republicans were in town to sell the GOP's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' a package of domestic policy changes, including provisions being pitched to make the lives of manufacturers better.

During the facility tour, Degenfelder highlighted a key tax provision that allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment purchases, which has enabled companies like his to rapidly expand.

McClain acknowledged the short-term pain of shifting to more domestic steel and aluminum facilities, but still thinks it's worth the long-term gain of additional domestic control over supply chains.

Michigan Rep Lisa McClain and Pennsylvania Rep Ryan Mackenzie tour United States Metal Powders manufacturing facilities in Palmerton, Pennsylvania on August 7, 2025

Aluminum blocks seen at the The U.S. Metal Powders facility in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on August 7, 2025

'If it was just easy to flip the switch, we would do... We can't flip that switch, but this is the first step in that transition process to begin to have more steel and aluminum right here in the USA,' McClain told the Daily Mail Thursday.

The U.S. Metal Powders facility in Palmerton has just built its fourth production line, which will be 'going online' later this month.

Degenfelder also plans to hire 15 additional employees from the local community, which will bring his total employee count up to 65.

The starting salary at his facility is $22.50 per hour for an entry-level position, which provides ample on-the-job training and only requires a GED.
It is the time of year when Sydney and Melbourne's elite flock to Australia's booming northern-most city of Darwin for its horseracing carnival, prestigious Aboriginal art fair and, this year, the lawyer's picnic that is the trial of Netflix star Matt Wright.

Meanwhile, Thompson Nganjmirra, 76, is sitting in a park in central Darwin. He nervously eyes a growing storm in the distance and wonders whether he will have to spend the night sleeping in the rain.

Thompson tells the Daily Mail that he is one of Darwin's 'long-grassers' - the local name for the city's homeless population. They are known as such because they slept and begged in the tall spear grasses which once ringed the city.

Sitting in Civic Park, just a few hundred metres from the Northern Territory Parliament and Supreme Court complex, Thompson is without a regular bed to sleep in or even a blanket.

He has been caught short in the rain before.

Darwin is a city divided. By most indicators, it is booming. Property prices have surged and rents are high. The warm, dry summer attracts a huge influx from out of state and a party-like atmosphere in town.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's homelessness rate is twelve times the national average. Ninety per cent of the homeless in Darwin are Indigenous, many sleeping in the city's parks and bushland.

'Sometimes it's hard to get enough to eat,' Thompson admits.

Thompson Nganjmirra, 76, is one of Darwin's 'long-grassers' - the local term for homeless Indigenous people who live in the northern city which is undergoing a property boom and annual influx of the rich from interstate

A civilian patrol officer from the Larrakia Nation group helps a man away from East Point reserve in Darwin as family groups of Indigenous people watched the sun set

Khaki-clad members of PORU - the Public Order Response Unit - are seen on patrol, above

The other side of Darwin: Racegoers celebrate the Darwin Cup and show off their spectacular fashions

The Daily Mail spent four days recently reporting from Darwin and speaking to the locals - and learned that much has changed in the city over the past six years.

That was when Darwin's politicians and civic leaders turned to private security firms to patrol areas of Darwin's CBD and suburbs during the day and night - including the khaki-clad Public Order Response Unit, or PORU, focused on the suburbs; and the 'blue shirts' of Territory Protective Services, who patrol the city's CBD.

Also on patrol is Larrakia Nation, a not-for-profit service run by the peak group of the local traditional Aboriginal landowners. The group aims to prevent alcohol-related disputes and resolve problems and conflicts.

But Thompson shrugs his shoulders at the mention of the 'blue shirts' who work for TPS, which has been contracted for six years by NT Police to maintain public order.

'Some are good, some bad,' Thompson said. 'They tell us we can go here, but not there. It's okay if you have a place to sleep.'

He breaks into his native language, Kunwinjku, to speak to his niece, 54-year-old Lillian Yulidji, who is sheltered with her uncle and other relatives under a large park tree.

'Blackfellas are used to them (the blue shirts) now,' Thompson said.

A TPS spokesman stressed they did not condone violence or ill-treatment of Darwin residents.

The Indigenous man is escorted to a waiting vehicle and assisted into a containment unit at the back

Thompson Nganjmirra, 76, and his niece Lillian Yulidji, 54, have lived on-and-off in Darwin's CBD for years, often sleeping rough and having to rely on soup kitchens for food

With Darwin's peak tourist season underway - the art fair lasting four days, attracting buyers from Sydney and Melbourne's elite, and the Darwin Cup running at the Darwin Turf Club at Fannie Bay - both PORU and Larrakia Nation were seen on the shores of Lake Alexander, at East Point Park.

When the Mail visited on an afternoon late last week, Aboriginal family groups were gathered together while white people jogged and exercised along the boardwalks.

Sitting amid council signs warning 'no camping or sleeping overnight', the families sat watching the sun sink over the water. Some of the group were drinking.

Officers from PORU and Larrakia spoke with them before assisting one old man into a nearby van.

Political debate erupts

The treatment of the city's homeless population and the government's crime policies are a hot political debate.

Darwin mayoral candidate Leah Potter, who is campaigning on an 'end homelessness' ticket at this month's council election, told the Mail 'it is not a crime to homeless'.

Potter was furious about plans by the NT government to further expand its law enforcement forces.

The government wants to arm transit and public housing safety officers - who currently patrol buses, supermarkets and public housing - with firearms as part of a crime reform package. The new police auxiliaries will be on the streets by 2026.

'You can just imagine how that will play out,' she said. 'It is not a crime to be homeless, but what could possibly go wrong?'

Darwin mayoral candidate Leah Potter, who is campaigning on an end homelessness ticket at this month's council election, told the Mail 'it is not a crime to homeless'

Meanwhile, the NT Government has just issued a new Bus Dress Code policy, placing signs on buses advising passengers with 'dirty or stained clothes' will be refused travel.

'This is clearly aimed at Indigenous people, the homeless and the mentally ill,' Potter claimed.

'When you have no roof or running water, or access to laundry facilities, meeting these so-called 'standards' is impossible. So, they're punished for poverty.'

The Northern Territory Department of Logistics and Infrastructure told the Daily Mail that its Rules of Travel, displayed on all buses, 'ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone using public transport'.

A spokesman said that under those rules, 'a passenger could be asked to leave a bus if they are wearing soiled clothing that may leave dirt, grease, bodily fluids or damage a seat which could be used by another passenger'.

They said that drivers or transit officers could 'exercise discretion and ask a person not to board the bus'.

However, 'it is extremely rare for someone to be refused entry due to hygiene.'

Potter, who runs the Sunset Soup Kitchen in Darwin, is on personal terms with most of the 200 Indigenous rough sleepers who populate the inner city, some of them regularly setting up camp in her street.

She is a Territorian by birth, with a rollercoaster history living in Sydney and Melbourne.

'I am campaigning to change the shame, disempowerment and other factors contributing to homelessness,' she said, 'which is inequality, education, health, joblessness, imprisonment, violence against women.

'Aboriginal women are killed in alarming numbers. They are more than 10 to 12 times more likely to be victimised, assaulted and murdered than any other group of women.'

But she admits she is unlikely to win against the twelve other candidates, and that her Roadmap Out of Homelessness 'is a really hard sell to Territorians'.

'It's about dignity and respect. You've got 40kg blackfellas about to die of chronic disease. They are human beings,' she said.

'But instead the NT Government wants to focus on fining people for breaking the law because sleeping in public parks is illegal.'

Rich art buyers from interstate flocked to the NT capital this week for the prestigious annual Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, a festival of Indigenous culture(pictured, a fashion parade at the 2022 fair)

Although, even at this time of year the daytime temperature in Darwin is a steady 31 degrees, it can drop to 17 overnight, a shivering prospect under a wet tree.

Darwin's shelters always fill up fast, especially on rainy nights, and places like Spin Dry out at Berrimah are too far to walk.

'The cost of living crisis has pushed even more people onto the streets of Darwin, and the bus dress policy will mean getting access to food, health care, Centrelink and even family will be more difficult,' Potter said.

'To be excluded from a public service simply because of the clothing you're wearing is appalling.'

As for Thompson and his niece Lillian, thankfully, they have found an 'uncle' who can house them for at least one night, and that means they will get a feed.

Thompson has been coming to Darwin on-and-off from Oenpelli, a mission bordering Kakadu National Park in West Arnhem Land, for 25 years, and Lillian for 'a long time'.

They are considering a return to their country.

'Might go back for Christmas, it's really good back there,' he said.
The most popular baby names across Europe can today be revealed.

Noah leads the way for German boys, according to the Daily Mail's interactive map, while Louise tops the table for French girls.

Click on the map to find out the ten most common names given to boys and girls in that particular country.

For girls, Emma and Olivia tied for first place  topping the list in two nations each.

Whereas for boys, Noah seems to be the in-fashion name. Four of the 16 countries included in our analysis selected it as their most popular option.

Although Noah is 'quite vintage', Clare Green, who writes for baby-naming website Nameberry, said that it still feels 'fresh' to parents.

She told the Daily Mail: 'Biblical names are universal.

'Noah hasn't been used for a long time, but I know that there were a couple of pop culture things that made it popular, like the movie The Notebook.'

Ms Green, whose background is in linguistics, added: 'I think parents across Europe felt it was just the right time for it to make a comeback.'

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Anything can be an inspiration for parents, but some of the biggest sources of name ideas come from Hollywood, music or royalty.

Ms Green said there was an uptick in the girls' name Emma around 20 years ago in lots of European countries  just after Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel gave her child the name in the hit US sitcom Friends.

However, not all baby names are universally popular across the continent.

For instance, Ms Green said some of the more complicated-sounding Scandinavian names can be a mouthful to pronounce, meaning they typically stay within their own borders.

Instead, the names that have simple sounds tend to be more universally popular.

Due to the global nature of the internet and modern media, Ms Green believes it may be possible for more names to be shared globally in the coming decades.

She points out that as people continue to travel abroad more, there are now lots of couples having children together from different countries, meaning they will often pick a name that might fit both of their cultures.

She added: 'But then I think there's also always going to be some parents who push back against that.'

The spike in the name Noah could be down to Ryan Gosling's character in the movie The Notebook (2004)

When Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel gave her child the name Emma in the hit US sitcom Friends 20 years ago, there was an uptick in the girls name Emma

Digging down further into the data, it shows the presence of shorter versions of more classic first names that have become first names themselves, such as Tom or Sam.

The Czech Republic seems to have the most stable popular set of names. Jakub has been the most popular boy's name there since 2011 and Eliska the most popular girl's name since 2012.

A spokesman for Preply, a platform specialised in personalised human-led language learning, explained the differences of baby names across Europe.

He told The Daily Mail: 'In places like Italy or Spain, classic names with religious or historical roots are still going strong.

'These cultures tend to value family traditions and the idea of passing names down through generations.

'But in other countries like Sweden, the UK, or the Netherlands, we're seeing a shift toward more creative or international names. That's likely down to a mix of exposure to global media and changing attitudes about individuality and identity.

'Parents are more aware of international trends these days, and it's not unusual for them to base decisions on things like Netflix series, friends from different cultures, or even their favourite social media celebrities.'

Our analysis comes after England and Wales' most popular names were revealed last week.

For boys, Muhammad took the top spot for the second year in a row, with Noah coming in second.

Olivia took first place for the ninth year in a row, having topped the charts every year since 2016, while Amelia and Lily came second and third.

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Compared to the rest of Europe, the UK's rules on baby names are among the most liberal in the world  similar to the US.

There are almost no restrictions on parents in the UK when naming their child, except in 'the most extreme cases', such as a name which could be deemed very offensive.

In 2016, a mother in Powys, Wales, was banned from naming her daughter Cyanide  a type of poison which Adolf Hitler took before shooting himself.

Denmark, meanwhile, has laws set up to protect the country's cultural heritage from more unusual name choices and spellings.

Parents have to choose from a list of 7,000 pre-approved names, or seek permission from the government and local church. Each name on the list is assigned to a gender, as unisex names are not allowed.

Similar gender rules exist in Germany, where the parents' choice must also indicate the gender before it will be approved by the registry office. And you won't find any Germans named Merkel, Muller or Wagner either because surnames are banned as first names.

France also has a rule around no embarrassing names. In 2015, a judge there refused to allow a child to be named Nutella, after the breakfast spread.

Switzerland also has a rule preventing names from infringing on copyright, and in the past has slapped down attempts by parents to name their children brands such as Mercedes or Chanel.

Some European countries have strict rules about what names they allow

As well as the law, more and more parents are using science to help them make a decision on what to do with their baby.

In recent years, there has been a slew of research into the science behind names which claims to show all manner of trends.

For instance, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that people with easy-to-pronounce names are often viewed more positively than those with complex or unfamiliar names.

And a 2012 study found that people with simple, easy-to-pronounce names are often judged more favourably. This is because these names are easier to process, they create a sense of familiarity and likability, leading to positive bias.

An analysis conducted by LinkedIn found that CEOs are more likely to have short, simple names.

Meanwhile, a study published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found that boys with traditionally female-sounding names were more likely to have disciplinary issues in school.

The scientists suggested this had to do with how social pressure associated with a name might unconsciously affect a child's self-perception and behaviour over time.

Ms Green said that although parents look at science to help them make up their minds, what a baby is named often says more about them than their offspring.

She said: 'I think a name says more about what background you come from, such as what your parents believe and think, than anything else.

'So names are probably a sign of that rather than actually the cause of any major life chance differences.

'I know teachers will see certain names on the register, and think, 'Oh, right here we go'.'

The data was collected from various official statistical bodies across Europe.

It only records official first names, so nicknames or other names that are commonly used were not included.
Airbus Albo keeps the champagne flowing

Just when it seemed Albo's government had run out of new ways to insult voters' intelligence, it found another: allowing senior public servants to keep flying business class on short flights, despite clear advice in favour of ending the costly perk.

The Department of Finance, bless them, spent months reviewing government travel policies. Their verdict? Maybe - just maybe - highly paid bureaucrats could tolerate economy for flights under three hours.

The government's response: Thanks for the suggestion but we'll be filing it in the 'not a chance' pile - right next to political courage, fiscal responsibility and respect for the taxpayers' dime.

This isn't about punishing public servants or denying them legroom. Retaining business class for longer flights is appropriate - but torching taxpayer dollars on unnecessary perks is wasteful.

A quick search of the Qantas website reveals that a return flight today from Sydney to Melbourne at the pointy end of the plane will set you back around $3,000. Do it in economy and that plummets to below $400. It's a one-hour flight! Now multiply that cost differential by the thousands of flights senior bureaucrats take every year.

Labor clearly doesn't have a shred of self-awareness in an economic climate dominated by a cost-of-living crisis coupled with surging public debt.

Apparently, for Albo's government, even an hour in economy is too much to ask of senior public servants.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues to allow senior public servants to fly business class on short flights, despite clear advice in favour of ending the costly perk

It's hard not to conclude that politicians fear curbing officials' perks might put their own next on the chopping block.

The same politicians who moaned about Qantas's gift upgrades (when they weren't personally receiving them, that is) are now ensuring top brass can still sprawl out in 1A with a glass of bubbles before enduring a 40-minute flight to the nation's capital from either Sydney or Melbourne.

So much for cleaning up the perks culture.

It turns out the only thing getting downgraded is the credibility of Labor's commitment to fiscal discipline. They'll tinker at the edges when it comes to points or a preference for online bookings, but when it comes to actually saying no to entitlements, nothing changes - lest one day the politicians are also forced to respect taxpayer funds.

I'm old enough to remember when former Liberal MP Craig Laundy ordered his office to only book his taxpayer-funded flights in economy.

Coming from a business background when he entered parliament, he was aghast that any and all flights were business class. Most of his colleagues looked at him like he was crazy. Suffice it to say, his care for our tax dollar didn't catch on.

There's an arrogance here that's utterly breathtaking. Labor is happy to preach restraint when lecturing to business, but it won't follow the lead of the overwhelming majority of companies that have limited business class travel to when it's appropriate.

Secret police files in Latham's smear campaign

In a retaliatory move, Mark Latham (left, with his ex-partner Nathalie Matthews) has dredged up a decade-old scandal surrounding Premier Chris Minns' former best mate, Jamie Clements

PVO believes Latham is trying to make Chris Minns appear 'guilty by association' by digging up the decades-old scandal

Just as the NSW parliament seemed to be running low on drama, Mark Latham delivered yet another sledgehammer - this time dredging up a nearly decade-old scandal surrounding Premier Chris Minns' former best mate, Jamie Clements.

The motion Latham put forward demands the release of confidential police files linked to historic allegations against Clements - a saga that peaked in 2015, led to his resignation as Labor Party State Secretary, and has sat gathering dust ever since.

No charges were laid and the story faded away.

Until now.

But Latham isn't really chasing Clements. The target is Minns, who is seeking ways to get Latham expelled from parliament - something I've argued against previously, certainly for as long as the allegations against Latham remain untested. (I note, again, that he denies all claims of 'degrading' abuse made by his former partner Nathalie Matthews.)

By wrapping the Premier, a state leader with enduring popularity, in a cloak of guilt by association, Latham is banking on the power of insinuation over fact - something he - of all people! - should be wary of.

Simply put, it's a case of political payback. Latham is doing to Minns what Labor has happily unleashed against him.

But two wrongs don't make a right.

Former OnlyFans model Nathalie Matthews accuses Latham of a catalogue of abuse and claims he subjected her to 'degrading', unhygienic sexual acts - all of which he strongly denies

Latham (pictured waiting to be sworn into NSW parliament in 2023) is coming after Minns, who wants him expelled over untested allegations against him. He is willing to play dirty to get even

The motion passed, with crossbench support and little visible resistance from the government, aside from a few words of caution by Labor's leader in the state upper house.

In the end, Latham got what he wanted: headlines, discomfort and fresh questions for a premier who criticised him before his own situation was investigated.

And some politicians wonder why the public views their profession as a grubby business!

Tax talk without the walk

On June 18, Treasurer Jim Chalmers addressed the National Press Club, promising a tax reform agenda shaped by bold ambition and a willingness to 'grasp the nettle'.

He declared that no tax options would be ruled out ahead of the government's Economic Reform Roundtable, which happens two weeks from now.

Like many, I was cynical, but took the Treasurer at his word. My hope was that having studied Paul Keating for his PhD, he might look to emulate the bold and ambitious reforms of the 1980s that Keating championed and achieved, thereby setting up the economic prosperity Australia enjoyed for decades after.

Because Australia is, once again, in desperate need of visionary reforms.

Yet as the roundtable approaches, Chalmers' rhetoric has shifted. Instead of bold policy breakthroughs, the agenda is increasingly framed in cautious and incremental terms.

He has dramatically toned down his commentary in a bid to manage expectations.

What's left on the table now feels more like token tweaks than real change.

Tax reform officially remains 'on the table', but it's becoming clear that all Chalmers wants to achieve is less regulation (not even deregulation) and some humble trimming of red tape.

Sweeping tax changes won't happen. Despite Chalmers' reform rhetoric in past weeks, expectations have now been tempered. He's returned to the rhetoric he deployed in election night when quizzed if there was a chance Labor might use its thumping majority to break the cycle of doing nothing to update the tax systems fundamentals.

Jim Chalmers has toned down his tax reform commentary in a bid to manage expectations. I suspect his prime ministerial ambitions made him way of making tough calls

It was a hard no.

Chalmers' own department reportedly leaked internal advice suggesting tax increases may be needed as part of a package to restore fiscal sustainability.

Why? I expect some in the department have worked with the Treasurer long enough to know that, without a little nudging, he's not interested in making the tough calls that might jeopardise his rise to the prime ministership one day.

Keating, of course, got there courtesy of his willingness to make similar tough calls. Chalmers wants the top job without risking doing anything particularly meaningful, lest it ruffles feathers.

The Productivity Commission also sought to apply pressure, proposing radical changes such as a five per cent net cash flow tax combined with a cut to corporate taxes for smaller firms. It says that could enhance investment and GDP, but I hear the government simply won't go there.

Ambitions of a bold tax revolution are increasingly being reframed as a guided consensus-building exercise - in other words, more talk.

Hopes that the August round table might yield serious proposals like scaling back negative gearing, superannuation caps, widening the GST base, or significant changes to how we tax corporates have faded - which is exactly what the Treasurer has aimed for.

He might have identified the book Abundance by a pair of American journalists as inspiring, but rather than picking the eyes out of it to support domestic reforms, Chalmers has ignored any of its bolder ideas.

For now, the bold and ambitious tax vision once touted appears to be written in disappearing ink. I sincerely hope I am proven wrong.
A woman described as the UK's youngest mother after having a baby with her brother when aged just 12 has announced she is pregnant again.

Tressa Middleton, 31, from Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland, revealed the happy news - following a series of tragic family setbacks.

She has been mourning the death of her father Gary Middleton, aged 55, last October - having previously lost her 41-year-old mother Tracey to pneumonia in 2012.

But friends have now been congratulating her as she announced her pregnancy on Facebook, along with her partner Darren Young.

Ms Middleton previously hit the headlines in 2006 when it was revealed she was giving birth just after leaving primary school.

Her first child was taken into social care, as the mother slipped into depression and struggled with addictions to alcohol and cigarettes.

Years later, the dark truth behind her tale was uncovered when it was revealed that the father of her baby was her brother Jason, who had raped her and was sentenced in 2009 to four years behind bars.

She told of her experiences in a book called Tressa: The 12 Year Old Mum: My True Story, published in 2015.

Tressa Middleton has revealed she is expecting a new child with partner Darren Young

Tressa is pictured in 2006 after giving birth, alongside her mother Tracey who died in 2012

The 31-year-old has announced she is pregnant, prompting congratulations from friends

Ms Middleton has since turned her life around with partner Darren Young, and the couple formerly announced in December 2021 they were expecting a daughter.

Her Facebook profile now pays tribute to her children as well as her father, saying at the top, 'Love all 4 of my girls with all my heart. I will make them proud!' - and adding: 'RIP Dad, 3/9/69 - 28/10/24.'

Ms Middleton has now updated followers by sharing a pregnancy ultrascound scan photo and saying: 'Well guys seems our family is just getting bigger. Definitely my last!'

Responses included 'Congratulations beautiful girl', 'You deserve all the happiness in the world' and 'Congrats to you both missy'.

Ms Middleton came to national attention in 2006 when it was revealed she was expecting a baby aged just 11.

She had suffered a damaged childhood and her mother Tracey Tallons struggled with addiction and Tressa was forced to endure late night parties.

Her older brother Jason sexually abused her from the age of seven and she fell pregnant by him when he, aged 16 at the time, drunkenly raped her four years later.

Tressa told the Daily Mail 14 years ago: 'Sometimes he bribed me, blackmailed me, to do it. He'd say he was going to tell Mum. He'd give me things - joints, drink, cigarettes. Or he'd threaten me.'

Tressa Middleton, from Bathgate, West Lothian, is pictured with partner Darren Young

She has paid tribute online to her father Gary Middleton who died aged 55 last October

Tressa Middleton is pictured here with her father Gary in a picture shared on his Facebook page

She kept the identity of the baby's father a secret and the pair were taken into care until - aged 14 - she broke down and told a social worker what had really happened.

Jason, 19 at the time, was jailed for four years in 2009 after a police probe and DNA test proved Tressa was telling the truth.

The attack, and Ms Middleton's later breakdown, led to her daughter being taken away from her and then adopted in 2008 - and she had no access, except for a twice-yearly letter.

At her lowest point, in 2011, she developed a 400-a-day heroin habit - but she managed to get clean with the help of a counsellor and began to build a new life with Darren.

She currently has four daughters aged 19, seven, three and one - with photos shared on her social media sites of the children including Arihanna born in October 2017.

MailOnline has contacted Ms Middleton for further comment.
The Council of the European Union approved the fourth tranche under the Ukraine Facility program in the amount of over EUR 3.2 billion, while its size was previously determined at about EUR 3.05 billion.

"This funding aims primarily to bolster Ukraine's macro-financial stability and support the functioning of its public administration," the EU Council said in a statement.

As reported, the size of the tranche was reduced from the planned EUR 4.5 billion due to delays in implementing three of the 16 indicators that Kyiv was supposed to implement according to the Ukraine Plan, which formed the basis of the Ukraine Facility: laws on the territorial organization of the executive branch (the so-called "decentralization reform") and on the reform of the ARMA, as well as the selection of 25 judges for the High Anti-Corruption Court in a competition in which only two candidates reached the finish line.

However, Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev said Ukraine will fulfill two of the three indicators (we are talking about laws) by September, which will allow it to receive EUR 1.1 billion approximately in early November.

As the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine recalled, in general, EUR 19.6 billion has already been received by the state budget within the framework of the Ukraine Facility program, the total volume of which is EUR 50 billion. In 2025 alone, about EUR 12.5 billion of financial support for Ukraine is envisaged, of which EUR 3.5 billion has already been attracted. The European Union remains the largest donor of budget support for Ukraine  EUR 53.5 billion over three years, the Finance Ministry also said.
Fears have been raised the UK's defences are at risk due to a 'chronic' shortage of 'proper' Royal Navy warships available to shadow Vladimir Putin's naval armada.

Warships, submarines and spy vessels from the Russian leader's fleet have been seen skulking off the coast in the Channel, North Sea and Irish Sea in recent months.

Britain's navy has repeatedly scrambled warships and submarine-hunting helicopters to escort the vessels, in operations defence officials insist are 'routine'.

But increasingly, the navy appears to be relying more on lightly-armed patrol ships instead of its fleet of more powerful frigates and destroyers to carry out the task.

Only half of the nation's fleet of ageing Type 23 frigates - which specialise in seeking out Putin's underwater nuclear boats - are understood to be available.

While just one of the navy's six 1billion-a-piece Type 45 destroyers is currently free to respond to Putin's armada in UK waters, with four in refit or maintenance.

Defence experts fear the increased reliance of smaller offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to carry out the task hints at how stretched the navy has become.

Commander Tom Sharpe, who previously skippered an anti-submarine frigate, was deeply concerned about the use of OPVs to shadow Putin's subs.

'It should be a "proper" warship that does the escorting for reasons of presentation, deterrent and intelligence gathering - and speed - but we pretend it doesn't because we don't have enough ships,' Cdr Sharpe said.

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HMS Tyne (front) is seen tracking Russian corvette RFS Boikiy which passed through the English Channel earlier this year

Tyne, right, was also deployed as part of a NATO operation to shadow Russia's submarine Krasnodar, left, as it surfaced back to the country from the Mediterranean earlier this year

Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Mersey (pictured top) is seen following Russian submarine RFN Novorossiysk as it sailed through the North Sea and English Channel

The operations were part of a wider deterrent effort by the armed forces to show the Russian tyrant 'we can see you, and we can match you if needed', he added.

But speaking to Daily Mail, the veteran naval commander warned: 'But for it to work, you do actually have to be able to match them, and patrol vessels, as useful as they are, can not.

'And its not just optics; there are elements of the intelligence gathering part that a frigate is better at too. If you chose to send a patrol vessel to do it then thats one thing. But if you send a patrol vessel because you have to  because you dont have enough frigates - then you are not deterring, you are actually encouraging.'

In recent months patrol ships, including HMS Mersey, HMS Tyne and HMS Trent, have been used to chase down submarines or warships.

In May HMS Tyne shadowed Russian submarine RFS Krasnodar solo and corvette RFS Boikiy during two separate transits through the English Channel.

In June, HMS Trent was tasked to track Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich, which is armed with a powerful 100mm naval gun and cruise missiles.

While last month, Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey was called to action alongside a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and a specialist submarine hunting Merlin aircraft from 824 Naval Air Squadron to follow RFN Novorossiysk as the Russian sub sailed west through UK waters.

The ships have also backed up frigates and destroyers on similar missions this year, when those were vessels sent out to hunt Putin's ships down and monitor them.

The Royal Navy would not comment on the status of its fleet but insisted it had enough available warships to protect the UK.

Offshore patrol vessel HMS Trent (pictured front) has previously been used to track the heavily-armed Russian frigate the Admiral Grigorovich (seen rear)

An observer from 815 Naval Air Squadron tracks the Krasnodar from a Wildcat helicopter from the UK Carrier Strike Group

This close-up of the helicopter observer's screen shows the Krasnodar in detail as the Royal Navy keep close track of it in the Atlantic, before it entered the Channel

Commodore Steve Prest was worried about the situation. Although downplaying the use of OPVs to shadow the Russians, he raised concerns about the overall state of the navy's fleet.

'Were not expecting these ships to fight or have a scrap with a bunch of Russians in the Channel,' he told Daily Mail.

'It's about sending an OPV to keep an eye on them to let know were there and that should anything kick-off, we can call the cavalry.

'[But] the question then is, is there a cavalry to call if you need to escalate?'

The current size of the fleet has shrunk in recent years after a number of the navy's 13 ageing Type 23 frigates were decommissioned.

The remaining eight that are left have already had extensions to their lifespans to keep them in the fleet longer, with many set to be retired in the next few years.

The Type 23s have been the backbone of the navy's anti-submarine fleet since the 1980s when they came into service. They were originally designed with an 18-year life span.

They are due to be replaced by the advanced Type 26 frigates and the more basic Type 32s. However, these programmes have been plagued by delays.

Despite the setbacks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) remains confident there will be no capability gap as older Type 23s are phased out and replaced.

However, defence sources are not as optimistic. Behind closed doors in Westminster, there are deep-seated concerns such a feat will not be achievable, insiders warn.

'The problem is the navy has so few surface escorts that are serviceable... and they are increasingly using OPVs to fill in the gaps,' one defence source said.

Defence sources say there has been an increase in the number of Russian vessels sailing past the UK (pictured is Russian leader Vladimir Putin on August 7)

HMS Mersey (pictured bottom) shadows a Russian warship through the English Channel

Traditionally, larger warships like the Type 45 destroyers or Type 23 frigates are used to monitor Russian ships in the Channel (pictured is Type 45 warship HMS Duncan, right, tracking a Russian warship in the Channel earlier this year

Currently, Daily Mail understands the navy has four frigates available in UK waters, and one state-of-the-art 1billion Type 45 destroyer.

All the other ships in the 14-strong frigate and destroyer fleet are either in refit or maintenance, while three - HMS Lancaster, HMS Richmond and HMS Dauntless - are deployed on operations in the Middle East or in the Indo-Pacific with the carrier strike group.

Cdre Prest added having four of the eight frigates available was good, given normal ship rotations, which traditionally would see one third deployed, with another third in training while the remainder is in refit or undergoing routine maintenance.

But he warned: 'Of the fleet we've got, it's not too bad. The question is, is the fleet big enough?

'The people in the Royal Navy are doing a good job in keeping ships available that are ageing and limited in number but we have an old fleet of frigates that need to be replaced.

'The Type 26s and Type 32s need to get a move on and be brought in.'

Shadow Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, feared the Senior Service was on the cusp of a major shortage of prime surface fleet warships.

It comes amid a 'perfect storm' which has seen much of the Type 45 destroyer fleet hauled in for lengthy refits to improve their flawed power and propulsion systems.

Meanwhile, issues in the construction of the Type 26s at BAE Systems' shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland, have caused a costly 12-month delay to the programme.

The first ship in the fleet, HMS Glasgow, was meant to reach initial operating capability in October 2027.

HMS Tyne (pictured top right) is seen shadowing a Russian warship earlier this year

The Kilo class submarine, backbone of Russia's undersea fleet, can be seen to the right of HMS Tyne above

Concerns have been raised over the use of smaller patrol ships being used to monitor Russian warships (pictured is a file image of a Russian submarine)

However, earlier this year, defence procurement minister Maria Eagles warned this was more likely to be October 2028 - at a cost of 233million to the multi-billion pound programme.

Daily Mail understands one of the issues saw HMS Glasgow being hit by a major setback with its David Brown gearbox, which was delivered late and was not up to scratch.

Sources said it led to engineers cutting a hole in the ship's hull to carry out the required work to modify it. The MoD was reportedly not told about the gearbox failure until 20 months after the issue was identified.

Meanwhile, there are concerns the navy will not deploy another frigate to the Gulf after HMS Lancaster returns from her task of protecting the region's major shipping lanes, in a long-standing mission dubbed 'Operation Kipion'.

Mark Francois, shadow armed forces minister, told the Daily Mail: 'Assuming HMS Lancaster pays off on return from the Gulf and given the ongoing powerplant replacements on the Type 45 destroyers and the awful delays in building the new Type 26 frigates, the Royal Navy now faces a chronic "escorts gap" over the next several years.

'This perfect storm of a shortage of warships is hardly what you want, if youre trying the deter the likes of Vladimir Putin.'

Speaking earlier this year amid a flurry of Russian activity off the British coast, Armed Forces Minster Luke Pollard, said: 'Russian warships are increasingly sailing through the English Channel, and every time they do, a Royal Navy vessel will be keeping an eye on them.

'I have every confidence, as should the British public, that our Royal Navy will continue to defend our waters and keep our undersea cables safe.'

A spokesman for the Royal Navy told the Mail: 'The public can be assured the Royal Navy has a range of assets including warships, submarines, aviation and state-of-the-art technology to protect the United Kingdom.

'We are creating a new hybrid navy by building world-class submarines and cutting-edge warships, alongside transforming our aircraft carriers and introducing new autonomous vessels to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond.'
'I want to have kids, but whenever I raise the subject with Carolyn, she turns away and refuses to have sex with me.'

The speaker was John F Kennedy Jr, and he was sitting on the edge of a king-size bed, a phone cradled in the crook of his shoulder, pouring his heart out to a friend.

It was late on the afternoon of July 14, 1999  two days before John's fatal plane crash  and the last rays of sunlight were flooding his room at the Stanhope, a fashionable New York hotel located across Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

'It's not just about sex,' John told his friend. 'It's impossible to talk to Carolyn about anything. We've become like total strangers'

For a moment, the words choked in John's throat, and his friend could sense his struggle to regain his composure. Then all of John's pent-up bitterness and frustration exploded over the phone line.

'I've had it with her!' he said. 'It's got to stop. Otherwise, we're headed for divorce.'

A thousand days had passed since John exchanged wedding vows with Carolyn Bessette on a wild, unspoiled island off the coast of Georgia, and during that time the truth about their troubled marriage had been kept a well-guarded secret.

Now John and Carolyn were living apart  he at the Stanhope, she in their downtown loft in Tribeca  and John was on the verge of calling it quits.

Biographer Edward Klein describes their relationship as 'a doomed fairy tale, a nightmare of escalating domestic violence, suspicions of infidelity and drugs'

From the start, Carolyn was in a quandary over who would make her wedding dress.

Should she ask Calvin Klein, who until recently had employed her as a mid-level publicist? Should she choose her old roommate, the talented black fashion designer Gordon Henderson? Or should she turn to Narciso Rodriguez, a former Calvin Klein staffer?

Carolyn knew that her choice of designer was certain to garner worldwide publicity.

It was not until 15 days before the wedding that Carolyn finally made a decision. She picked the relatively unknown Narciso Rodriguez to design both her rehearsal dinner dress and wedding gown.

Gordon Henderson, who was Carolyn's closest friend, was devastated. He had dreamed of designing Carolyn's dress  and becoming a bigger fashion star.

As a consolation, Carolyn asked Henderson to make John's suit.

Preparations were conducted with all the secrecy of a military operation. Only a few close friends and family members were invited.

And on the day, everything seemed to go smoothly until Carolyn attempted to put on her wedding dress and found that she could not manage to get the $40,000 pearl-colored silk construction over her head. It was cut on the bias without a zipper and, like many such dresses, it was difficult to put on. Try as hard as she might, she could not squeeze herself into it.

Under mounting pressure, Carolyn grew hysterical and began yelling at everyone around her. Henderson gently led her into a bathroom, put a scarf over her head, and managed to get her into the dress. Then, still in a state of high anxiety, she sat while her makeup and hair were redone.

Carolyn's stiletto heels drilled holes in the sandy beach on the way to Cumberland Island's tiny wood-frame First African Baptist Church. A stunning six-foot-tall, size-six, corn-silk blonde bride, she was two hours late for her own wedding.

The marriage made front-page news everywhere. The man who could have had any woman in the world had chosen as his bride one who was not rich or famous or ennobled by family background or distinguished by any professional accomplishment.

What Carolyn had were certain charismatic qualities  exceptional beauty, a unique sense of style, and a shrewd, sharp, hard intelligence.

The media played the marriage as a Cinderella story, casting Carolyn as the commoner who had found true love with Prince Charming.

But it turned out to be a doomed fairy tale, a nightmare of escalating domestic violence, sexual infidelity and drugs.

When John and Carolyn returned from their honeymoon in the fall of 1996, they found a swarm of journalists camped outside their front door in the heart of Manhattan's chic Tribeca district.

Over the course of the next few weeks, reporters foraged through the garbage and pursued them wherever they went.

Normally, only supernovas of the magnitude of Madonna had to suffer through this kind of public ordeal. But Carolyn was suddenly thrust into their celestial company.

Photos of her appeared everywhere. She drove the fashion world mad with excitement. Women's Wear Daily crowned her a modern style icon, heir to Jackie O, her deceased mother-in-law.

Anna Wintour at Vogue was eager to get Carolyn to pose for a cover.

And Ralph Lauren tried to hire her as his personal muse. 'Every time you design something, or create something,' Ralph instructed one of his top aides, 'think of Carolyn Bessette.'

John was accustomed to this kind of treatment. The narcissist in him thrived on it. To get attention, he often indulged in exhibitionist stunts, such as appearing shirtless in Central Park or having his picture taken while sailing with a thong-clad Carolyn.

Like most megastars, he dreaded the emptiness that came with being ignored.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. and wife Carolyn at the annual White House Correspondents dinner in May 1999 - two months before they died

But Carolyn was a different story. As the months wore on, she could not handle the relentless scrutiny. When a photographer approached her on the street, she cast her eyes to the ground and hunched her shoulders.

'She makes herself look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame,' complained Calvin Klein.

To avoid the paparazzi, Carolyn sought refuge in the West Village apartment of Gordon Henderson.

'She didn't feel at home in the [Tribeca] apartment,' said a friend. 'She hated it And John had decorated it  badly. It was very cold, like a young man's first loft.'

It was clear to friends that Carolyn was cracking under the pressure. She displayed the classic signs of clinical depression. A few months after the marriage, she began spending more and more time locked inside her apartment, convulsed by crying jags.

As a child of divorce who had long been estranged from her father, Carolyn was sensitive to any sign of male desertion. In her view, John had forsaken her to work on George, his political lifestyle magazine.

One time she faxed him at his office: 'Please come home now, I need you.'

She resented that John had reverted to his old bachelor ways  pumping iron at the gym late into the night, going off on kayak trips with the boys, and (Carolyn suspected) playing around behind her back with the girls.

One time, when John returned in the evening to their loft, he found Carolyn sprawled on the floor in front of a sofa, disheveled and hollow-eyed, snorting cocaine with a gaggle of gay fashionistas  clothing designers, stylists, male models, and one or two publicists.

Without asking John's permission, Carolyn gave keys to their loft to some of her friends so they could come and go as they pleased.

'You're a cokehead!' John screamed at her, according to one of the people present that night.

Her friends in the fashion industry were aware that Carolyn was a heavy user of street drugs.

Cocaine made her intensely paranoid, especially when she heard rumors her husband had rekindled his romance with Daryl Hannah

Carolyn with John Jr at an event in New York City, October 1998

'She and I went to dinner one night when John was sick at home with the flu,' recalled a close acquaintance who worked at George magazine.

'She made at least a half dozen trips to the bathroom, and came back to the table with white rings around her nostrils. We went from bar to bar, and she wanted to come over to my apartment, but I said no because I knew it would be an all-nighter. I finally dropped her off at 3am.

'The next morning, John came into the office and asked, "Why did you keep my wife out so late?" And I said, "A better question, John, is why your wife didn't want to go home".'

'Carolyn was like a wild horse,' this person continued. 'She had a trash mouth and loved being irreverent. She used to call John a f*g all the time. Once, there was a party at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private club in Florida, and Carolyn announced to a roomful of people, "I had to take a Puerto Rican bath on the way down in the airplane".'

Their fights frequently turned violent, and John told friends that he felt trapped in an abusive relationship. One time he had to be rushed to the emergency room for an operation to repair a severed nerve in his right wrist. He dismissed the injury as the result of a stupid household accident. But his friends were certain that Carolyn was the culprit.

When she heard rumors that John was seeing his old flame Daryl Hannah behind her back, Carolyn flew into a rage.

People who knew Carolyn doubted she would ever let John go. Her insecurity fueled a need to control and manipulate; her addiction to cocaine made her paranoid.

She was jealous of John's sister, Caroline Kennedy, and his business partner at George, Michael Berman  in fact, of anyone who challenged her for undisputed control over John.

'Carolyn,' said one of her confidantes, 'poisoned John's relationship with Michael. I heard her tell John: "I don't believe Michael's your real friend. The only reason he's close to you is because you're John F Kennedy Jr".'

But it was Carolyn's constant meddling in the editorial operations of George that finally wrecked John's relationship with Michael. Partly as a result, the magazine, which had been Berman's idea in the first place, was teetering on the brink of disaster.

Carolyn and JFK Jr, whose arm is injured, walking in Tribeca, October 1997

Carolyn parties with friends at New York City's Indochine restaurant in November 1994

Carolyn had also engineered a bitter falling-out with Caroline Kennedy after hearing that John's sister had made snide remarks about the Cumberland Island wedding.

A stickler for punctuality, Caroline had criticized the bride for being late to her own wedding.

Now Carolyn and Caroline were barely on speaking terms, and John was caught in the middle.

When he married, John dreamed of having a son. He even picked out a name: Flynn. But Carolyn was never willing to start a family.

'I hate living in a fishbowl,' she confided to a friend. 'John may be comfortable living like this, but I'm not. How could I bring a child into this kind of world?'

What attracted John to this ill-fated relationship? Several explanations were making the rounds in the months before his violent death.

Many of his friends told me that they suspected he had married Carolyn because he was looking for someone to take the place of his dead mother.

John was still as needy as the little boy who had saluted his father's coffin after the presidential assassination. And John himself admitted to his friend on the phone: 'I'm attracted to strong-willed women like my mother.'

But Carolyn was not just a strong-willed woman. She could be demanding, domineering and, according to even her best friends, downright bitchy.

Some people felt that John overlooked her faults because he was blinded by her glamorous Jackie O style.

Like the ethereal Jackie, Carolyn affected an air of mystery and unavailability, which drove the media crazy and sustained the public frenzy that John found exciting. And like Jackie, Carolyn was very controlling, which made John feel protected and cared for.

From the moment John laid eyes on her, he became obsessed. 'He could not keep his hands off her,' one of his friends told me. 'He constantly stroked her hair, which she had dyed white blonde.'

Carolyn accepted John's worshipful attention as though it was her due. And that aloof attitude set her apart from other women John had dated in the past  Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone, Daryl Hannah and many lesser-known names.

Many of those women had thrown themselves at John, which made him suspicious of their motives. Carolyn appeared to be unimpressed by his fame.

'The narcissist in him thrived on it. To get attention, he often indulged in exhibitionist stunts, such as appearing shirtless in Central Park or having his picture taken while sailing with a thong-clad Carolyn,' Klein writes

Carolyn with Calvin Klein, left, at a New York City party in October, 1992

John did not divulge personal matters to the people he worked with at George magazine. He reserved his confidences for one or two close friends. And to them, he disclosed his worst fear: that his wife, Carolyn, was cheating on him.

Though he did not know it at the time, John's suspicions were not far-fetched. Carolyn had rekindled a relationship with her old boyfriend Michael Bergin, a former underwear model she had met  and fallen in love with  when they were both working for Calvin Klein.

'Michael lived in a second-floor walk-up in Greenwich Village, and I was in his apartment one day, and we were in the middle of something when he was buzzed on the intercom from the apartment building front door,' one of Bergin's friends told me.

'Michael asked me to leave immediately, and when I went out, I found Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy hiding under the staircase.

'I said, "Hi, Carolyn, what are you doing?"' the friend continued. 'And she said, 'Oh, hi, I'm just going upstairs to Michael's.

'When I got home, Michael called me and said in a kind of panic, "You saw Carolyn! Why did you talk to her?" He really loved Carolyn, and wanted to protect her.'

For a time, Carolyn managed to keep her relationship with Bergin a secret from her husband. But then, during one of their screaming matches, she blurted out the truth.

As John later told a friend, he was thunderstruck. In his narcissistic self-absorption, he found it inconceivable that a woman would choose another man over him.

It took time for him to recover from this devastating blow, but eventually he convinced himself that his wife's behavior was more a reflection on her than on him.

He persuaded Carolyn to see a psychiatrist. He made sure that she took her daily dose of antidepressant medication. To amuse her, he flew her to exotic hideaways for romantic vacations. And in March 1999 he began to join her in marriage counseling.

Nothing worked.

Four months later, on July 12, 1999, Carolyn stormed out of the marriage counselor's office when the therapist raised the subject of her drug habit. Then, in a supreme act of rejection, Carolyn began to sleep in a spare room that John had used to store his exercise equipment.

Two days later, on July 14, humiliated and at his wit's end, John moved out of the Tribeca loft and checked in to a $2,000-a-night suite at the Stanhope.

The day after, Thursday, July 15, John visited his orthopedic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital to have a soft cast removed from his left ankle. Six weeks before, he had suffered a fracture in a hang gliding accident and had been using crutches to get around.

Underwear model Michael Bergin later starred in Bay Watch (pictured in 2000 on the show)

JFK Jr. on crutches outside a George magazine party, June 1999

The ankle was still too tender to bear the full weight of his muscular six-foot-one, 190-pound frame. And his surgeon strongly advised him not to fly solo for at least another ten days.

The surgeon was not the only one who counseled caution.

A few weeks before, just after John crashed his hang glider, his friend John Perry Barlow expressed concern that John had become overconfident about his flying. Barlow urged John to view his broken ankle as a warning sign.

John's Piper Saratoga II HP, for which he had paid $300,000, was a high-performance plane that seriously taxed his experience, which totaled only 37 hours in the air with a certified flight instructor. No one  not even Carolyn  knew that John's meager hours 'in command' did not meet insurance company requirements.

As a result, John was flying without insurance on his life and those of his passengers.

On his last night alive, John planned to have cocktails at the Stanhope, then go to Yankee Stadium to watch Roger Clemens pitch against the Atlanta Braves. John and his friend Gary Ginsberg, a former editor at George who was now working for Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, were to be the guests of the Yankees' principal owner, George Steinbrenner, in his field-side box.

As always, the image-conscious John dressed with care. Then, with the help of his crutches, he made his way to the hotel elevator and descended to the lobby. When the doors opened, John swung himself onto the black-and-white marble floor and negotiated the several yards to the bar.

The noisy room fell silent the moment he entered. Heads swiveled as he made his way to a corner table, where two young women were waiting. One of them was his wife. The other was Carolyn's sister Lauren Bessette, an attractive, dark-haired investment banker with Morgan Stanley.

Lauren told a friend that it had been her idea for the three of them to meet for drinks. She was gravely alarmed over Carolyn and John's decision to live apart, and she said that she thought it would be a good idea for them to discuss their problems in front of her. Maybe she could help break their emotional logjam.

Carolyn with her sister Lauren in New York City, 1998

JFK Jr in the cockpit of his small aircraft with Carolyn

July 17, 1999: A coast guard helicopter lifts a rescue swimmer from the water during the search for debris of JFK Jr's plane

But the relationship between John and Carolyn had become so tense and ugly that neither of them was in the mood to talk. They sat in stony silence. As Lauren told the story, she asked John and Carolyn to join her in holding hands.

At first they refused. But when Lauren insisted, they reluctantly clasped her hands.

Lauren was aware that Carolyn had vowed never to fly with John in his plane. But as she squeezed her sister's hand, Lauren urged her to make an exception and accompany her husband in his Piper Saratoga the next day to Hyannis Port, where family members and friends were assembling for the wedding of his cousin Rory Kennedy.

For added encouragement, Lauren offered to fly along with the couple as far as Martha's Vineyard, where she planned to spend the weekend with friends. The three of them would make the flight together from Fairfield, New Jersey.

'Come on,' she said, 'it'll be fun.'

First John, then Carolyn agreed to Lauren's proposal.

'Great,' Lauren said. 'Then I'll see you guys tomorrow at the airport.'

From The Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years by Edward Klein. Copyright  2003 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group.
A California woman has launched a high-stakes legal battle in Manhattan Surrogate's Court, claiming DNA testing proves she is the secret daughter of trailblazing sculptor Fred Eversley - and that she's entitled to a share of his $40 million estate.

Kelly Krechmer, 54, says she has long known the truth of her parentage because her late mother, Patricia, told her for decades that Eversley was her father - and now, she says, genetic evidence backs her up.

'I sent my saliva to 23andMe in July 2024,' Krechmer wrote in a May 13 legal filing.

'The results confirmed my lifelong understanding that Frederick Eversley was my dad.'

Eversley, a pioneering black expressionist celebrated for his sculptures housed in renowned art galleries including the Museum of Modern Art, London's Tate Gallery, and the Smithsonian, died on March 14 at the age of 83.

The former engineer-turned-artist left behind $27 million in personal property and $12 million in real estate, court records show.

His will, signed September 4, 2024, left the vast majority to his wife of 12 years, Anna Maria Larsson Eversley, and $250,000 each to his siblings, Donald and Rani.

Krechmer's name was nowhere to be found, and in her filing, she alleges she confronted Eversley decades ago at his SoHo studio, only to be met with a cold denial.

California woman Kelly Krechmer, 54, says DNA testing proves she is the secret daughter of trailblazing sculptor Fred Eversley, pictured

Krechmer say her mother told her for decades that Fred Eversley was her father and she claims genetic evidence backs her up. Pictured, Eversley and wife Anna Maria Larsson in 2024

'After I explained to the Decedent that I believed he was my father, he denied paternity and refused to take a paternity test, stating that he 'can't have kids because I work with toxic substances,' she said. He allegedly rejected further requests to test.

Krechmer claims she emailed the artist's studio with her DNA results in August 2024, just a month before his will was finalized but never heard back.

She suspects her message was 'intercepted' by his wife.

Attorneys for the estate have hit back hard.

'We are aware of the lawsuit brought by a woman who now claims to be Fred Eversley's daughter, despite never having had any relationship with him, never having been acknowledged by him, and playing absolutely no part in his life,' said lawyers at Silberman Zaretsky PC in a statement said in a statement to the New York Post.

'This is a transparent and opportunistic attempt to exploit a moment of deep loss for personal gain. The Estate considers this claim entirely meritless and will respond accordingly through the proper legal channels.'

Born in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood in 1941, Fred Eversley was an engineering whiz who designed high-powered acoustic devices before turning to art in the late 1960s

A man takes a photo as visitors explore the exhibition, Fred Eversley: Reflecting Back (the World), at the Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa in October 2022

Eversley became a central figure in the Light and Space movement, with his precision-cast sculptures fetching six-figure sums at auction in his later years

Born in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood in 1941, Eversley was an engineering whiz who designed high-powered acoustic devices before turning to art in the late 1960s.

He became a central figure in the Light and Space movement, with his precision-cast sculptures fetching six-figure sums at auction in his later years.

More than a year after his death, his legacy is being pulled into a bitter courtroom clash over whether a woman he never named or acknowledged has a rightful place in his lineage - and his fortune.

A hearing in the case is set for January 14, 2026.
When 13 Moroccan men jumped from a speedboat into the sea and ran onto Sotillo beach in the southern Spanish resort of Castell de Ferro, video footage of them arriving seemed pretty unremarkable.

What happened next, however, was extraordinary.

For, as the unwelcome visitors from north Africa tried to make a run for it, they were rugby tackled to the ground by ordinary holidaymakers in swimming trunks  and held until police arrived to arrest them.

Now the Daily Mail can reveal that the nine men who were detained by irate beach goers were immediately whisked off to a police station before being moved to a notoriously inhospitable secure unit.

In stark contrast to how migrants are welcomed to UK shores with four-star hotel stays at taxpayers' expense, the no-nonsense Spanish approach to illegal immigration means the men face being returned to Morocco within a matter of weeks.

Unlike British arrivals who are free to come and go from their accommodation, the group in Spain are effectively being held behind ten-foot fences surrounded by floodlights and security cameras in the Centre for Migration and Repatriation, known as a CATE, which opened in April this year in the port of the nearby coastal city of Motril.

The Daily Mail has also been told that at least some of the bathers who were filmed detaining the men were off duty police officers who were enjoying a quiet Sunday on the beach with their families.

The CATE facility replaced an older one which had rows of tents to accommodate seized migrants when many more were crossing the Mediterranean and arriving in southern Spain.

Video footage shows 13 Moroccan men jumping from a speedboat into the sea before running onto Sotillo beach

As the unwelcome visitors from north Africa tried to make a run for it, they were rugby tackled to the ground by ordinary holidaymakers in swimming trunks

They were then held until police arrived to arrest them. The Daily Mail has revealed that the nine men who were detained were whisked off to a police station before being moved to a notoriously inhospitable secure unit

The Daily Mail has also been told that at least some of the bathers who were filmed detaining the men were off duty police officers who were enjoying a quiet Sunday on the beach

Pictured: Granada bathers hold back disembarked immigrants on Sotillo beach in Castell de Ferro

The no-nonsense Spainish approach to illegal immigration means the men face being returned to Morocco within a matter of weeks

The group in Spain are effectively being held behind ten-foot fences surrounded by floodlights and security cameras in the Centre for Migration and Repatriation, known as a CATE

CATE opened in April this year in the port of the nearby coastal city of Motril

But Spain's tougher approach has paid off with the number making the perilous voyage to the Granada area slumping in recent years, meaning that so far only 29 migrants have been housed in the unit since it opened, including the most recent nine.

The boat which carried them on Sunday is only the second this year to have reached the 47-mile-long Costa Granadina, known as Costa Tropical, and famed for its glorious beaches.

Jose Antonio Montilla Martos, the Spanish Government's sub-delegate in Granada, confirmed the nine migrants would remain at the CATE 'while their expulsion order from the national territory is processed.'

Their return to Morocco means that they will potentially be left thousands of euros out of pocket after paying the people smugglers who transported them on their doomed trip to Europe.

The Spanish authorities are known to regard Morocco as a safe country, meaning any asylum applications made by the men are likely to fail unless they can prove they have suffered political persecution or discrimination on LGBT grounds.

A port worker at Motril who asked not to be named said: 'They deserve to be locked up until theycan be sent home. They are men who we know nothing about, and they should not be allowed to walk around our streets.

A port worker at Motril who asked not to be named said: 'They deserve to be locked up until they can be sent home. They are men who we know nothing about, and they should not be allowed to walk around our streets.

'They are being well fed and looked after in the CATE. It is proper that they remain there until they get home. Hopefully, they will tell others that it is a waste of time and money trying to get into Spain illegally.'

When told of the system in the UK where asylum seekers can walk freely around towns and cities while staying in hotels, the worker said: 'That is crazy. They should be kept in a secure place.'

The opinion was echoed by locals in Castell de Ferro who witnessed the high-powered boat bringing the migrants ashore at around 1.30pm last Sunday when the beach was full of mainly Spanish families sheltering under umbrellas from the fierce midday sun.

The CATE facility (pictured) replaced an older one which had rows of tents to accommodate seized migrants when many more were crossing the Mediterranean and arriving in southern Spain

So far only 29 migrants have been housed in the unit since it opened, including the most recent nine. Pictured: The guarded entrance to the port of Motril, Spain

Pictured: The office of the Red Cross next to the CATE secure migrant detention centre which the charity helps to run in the port of Motril, Spain

Shocked witnesses described a 'surreal' scene as the boat approach at high speed, and stopped just a few metres from the shore before the migrants jumped off and swam to dry land.

Alberto Garcia, who owns the beachfront Mare Nostrum restaurant, told the Daily Mail: 'It was a normal day, and we were providing service as usual when we suddenly saw the smuggling boat arrive and people jumping into the sea.

'The police arrived quickly on the beach and there were swimmers who helped to catch the people on the boat. I think it is right that they should be detained. My opinion is that they should be deported once they step on Spanish territory illegally.'

Describing the scene as the boat arrived, he added: 'We thought it was a recreational boat, but when we saw them starting to throw objects into the water and people getting out, we realised it wasn't normal.

'What surprised us most was that the boat was moving very slowly, as if they weren't in a hurry or afraid. 'They went in where there were most people, as if nothing had happened, and stopped close to the shore. Then they jumped off one by one, and the four remaining on board, some of them hooded, calmly turned around and left.' Juan

Manuel Peragon, 20, who is a lifeguard on the beach, said: 'I have seen three migrant boats arrive in the four years I have worked here  but this was the first for a long time.

'The boat had three big outboard engines so it could go really fast. It stopped around 20m from the shore and around a dozen people jumped off. The boat left again after just ten seconds and was never caught.

'Unfortunately for the immigrants, they came ashore right beside the police station which is beside the beach.

'As it was a Sunday, there were a lot of police on a day off who had gone down to the beach at that spot with their families. At least one of the guys who grabbed the men was an off-duty policeman.

'We ran to help, but police in uniforms quickly arrived and detained everyone. It looks like the immigrants came here to work. They can get jobs on farms growing vegetables because they are prepared to work hard for less money.

'But they are coming here illegally and there should be a tough system to deal with them and send them back. More needs to be done to tackle the Mafia gangs who operate the boats.'

Human resources student Fabiola Escolano, 20, from Granada who was also on the beach said: 'People were running after the men and trying to catch them when they arrived. They did not want them to disappear.

'Those who were detained were all taken to the Red Cross and are being dealt with in the correct way. There have been boats arriving here before  but they are not so common now. There were three which arrived at the same time early in the morning on December 21, 2023.'

Pictured: Lifeguard Juan Manuel Peragon, 20, who witnessed migrants storming ashore from a boat at Castell de Ferro, Spain

Fabiola Escolano, 20, who was on the beach at Castell de Ferro when migrants came ashore in a boat

Others on the beach felt more pity for the migrants including one filmed lying face down in the sand as he was subdued by a man in orange swimming shorts kneeling on his back.

One video clip featured a woman shouting: 'Leave the kid alone! How shameless!' The left leaning El Pais newspaper also criticised members of the public who had tried to detain the men, describing their actions as playing into the hands of the far right who had demonised migrants and others living legitimately in Spain.

Official figures reveal that more than 61,000 illegal migrants or asylum seekers entered Spain last year, slightly more than the previous year, with the majority heading by boat on the highly dangerous route from west Africa to the Canary Islands.

But the numbers leaving from Morocco for mainland Spain have fallen, in part due to the Moroccan authorities trying to keep would-be migrants away from coastal areas.

There has also been greater security around the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, on the northern coast of Morocco which migrants try and enter to get a foothold in Europe.

A further deterrent has been a clampdown on people smuggling gangs intent on bringing migrants and drugs into Spain.

Eight Spanish and Moroccan citizens in a 'highly organised network' which had allegedly used children to skipper boats to transport migrants from Morocco were arrested in June this year in Algeciras near Cadiz, Ibiza and Ceuta.

The gang is suspected of making about 2.8 million euros from charging more than 200 people 14,000 euros each to make the journey, although other sources suggested that the going rate was closer to 2,000 euros.

A statement by Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, said: 'The network used minors as skippers in maritime smuggling operations, often recruited and trained by the organisation itself.

'This fact not only highlights and amplifies the risk of accidents and fatalities, but also exposes vulnerable youngsters to exploitation and coercion. This practice illustrates the ruthlessness and dehumanising nature of criminal networks which priorities profits over human life.'

The gang is also suspected of simultaneously trafficking large amounts of cannabis into Spain.

As well as arresting the eight people, authorities seized 22kgs of cannabis, 50,000 euros in cash, five vehicles, two boats, weapons, electronic devices and navigation equipment.

Last year Spanish police also smashed a ring taking Syrian migrants through Lebanon to Algeria where they crossed the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats before being taken to unsanitary safe houses in Spain.

But right wing politicians in Spain demanded even tougher action to protect Spain's borders following the beach landing this week.

Carlos Rojas Garcia, a former mayor of Motril and a People's Party member of Spain's Congress of Deputies since 2016, called for greater surveillance and security measures 'to decisively combat the gangs that traffic in human beings'

A view of boats and fishing equipment in the harbour in Motril, Spain, where migrants are held in a secure CATE detention centre

The part of the beach at Castell de Ferro where migrants stormed ashore after arriving in a boat from Morocco

He said: 'The Spanish government cannot continue to look the other way while mafias operate with impunity on our coasts. 'Images like those seen in Castell de Ferro are sad and worrying; they reflect how there are organisations that take advantage of desperate people who risk everything, even at the risk of losing their lives.'

The Granada MP called on the Spanish government to 'urgently strengthen border control, provide more human and material resources for the State Security Forces and Corps, and intensify cooperation with the European Union.'

An organisation called Caminando Fronteras said it had recorded the suspected deaths of 1,865 migrants in 38 boats, including 112 women and 342 children, trying to reach Spain by sea from Africa in the first five months of this year.

The vast majority of those who died were trying to cross the Atlantic to the Canary Islands although 52 allegedly died while trying to cross the Strait of Gibraltar.
A private island retreat on the market for a staggering 3m has been branded a Welsh Alcatraz by holidaymakers who say: 'You'd have to pay me to live there'.

Thorne Island in the mouth of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire lay derelict for 18 years until tech millionaire Mike Conner stepped in almost a decade ago.

Conner, 50, splashed out 500,000 on the two-acre island and the Napoleonic fort that sits on top, then spent another couple of million doing it up.

But after completing the job Conner is looking for a new project and hoping there's an eccentric recluse out there who thinks 3m is a drop in the ocean.

Locals are full of admiration for the conversion job on the Grade II listed building less than half-a-mile offshore from the quaint seaside village of Angle.

But holidaymakers on the village's wide sandy beach are not so sure.

Father-of-four Dave Griffin, 57, from Birmingham said: 'When I heard it was for sale I walked along the coast path to have a look - it reminded me of Alcatraz.

'It would suit a recluse, but it's not for me and the wife, she'd miss shopping and I'd miss the pub.'

A place to escape? Thorne Island in the mouth of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire has gone on the market for 3million - as holidaymakers say it reminds them of Alcatraz

The private island retreat lay derelict for 18 years until tech millionaire Mike Conner stepped in almost a decade ago

Conner, 50, splashed out 500,000 on the two-acre island and the Napoleonic fort that sits on top, then spent another couple of million doing it up

But Mike Conner's dream of turning the rocky outcrop into the ultimate party island means it does have a bar, with astonishing sea views.

When he moved in Conner was forever posting pictures of the amazing sunsets to the West of the island.

But the views to the East aren't quite as breathtaking, the island's nearest neighbour of note is the ugly Pembroke Refinery, described by owners Valero as one of the largest and most complex refineries in Western Europe.

It means there's a steady stream of giant oil and LPG tankers being guided into Milford Haven by the port's fleet of tugboats.

'You'd have to pay me to live there,' said holidaymaker Sharon Roberts, 46, from Merseyside. 'It looks quite foreboding and inhospitable to me.

'I'd go and visit for the day, especially if it's got a pub, but I wouldn't want to live there. You'd be too cut off.'

The fort was built in the 1850s to protect Milford Haven's military installations from a French invasion. It was sold by the Government in 1932 and converted into a hotel after the war.

It became a virtual ruin until Conner saw it for sale on a YouTube video in 2017 and stepped in to save it.

The fort was built in the 1850s to protect Milford Haven's military installations from the French

The island fortress was sold by the Government in 1932 and converted into a hotel after the war

The retreat became a virtual ruin until Conner saw it for sale on a YouTube video in 2017 and stepped in to save it

The fortress island offers sweeping coastal views and even comes with its own helipad

The island can only be accessed by sea or by helicopter - meaning when a Force 10 is blowing off the Irish Sea, neither methods are practical

The fort boasts a swish new kitchen with snug, while all rooms in the fortress have sea views

The fort now boasts five luxury en-suite bedrooms, living room, dining room, a swish new kitchen with snug and all rooms have sea views.

There were plans to link the island to the mainland by cable car, increasing the fort's potential as a luxury, get away-from-it-all hotel.

But for now it can only be accessed by sea or by helicopter and when a Force 10 is blowing off the Irish Sea, neither methods are practical.

Holidaymaker Stu Smith, 50, of Worcester, said: 'Three million pounds, you could buy Wales for that! Joking aside, it's a hell lot a lot of money for a property you can probably only use for four months a year.

'And you'd have to spend another couple of million on a helicopter. But it will appeal to someone, I hope they find a new owner.'

The property has its very own bar with spectacular coastal views of the Pembrokeshire coast

The dining room inside the remote fort, which can only be accessed by sea or by helicopter

The unusual property has five luxury en-suite bedrooms, with all rooms having sea views

Whoever buys the island will still have to pay rates, even though there's no amenities, rubbish collection or street lights.

And if it does become a hotel, guests will be clobbered by the tourism tax being introduced by the cash-strapped Welsh Government.

A local builder, who knows current owner Mike Conner and wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'I have nothing but admiration for what he's done to bring the island back to life.

'He's done a fantastic job, it's a shame that he's decided to sell not long after all the work's been done. It's worth 3m, let's hope someone comes in to buy it.'
By the time Brigitte Cleroux found herself apologizing to a Canadian court in 2024, she had already spent 30 years treating patients in hospitals and clinics across North America.

She worked as a registered nurse in Colorado, a dental assistant in Surrey, Canada, and a fertility care provider in Ottawa. During a year of employment at BC Womens Hospital in 2020, she tended to at least 900 people as a sedation and general duty nurse.

Then, it was discovered that Cleroux was not a nurse at all. She had at least 67 convictions going back to 1988, outstanding warrants and a colorful rap sheet of deception across the continent.

I wish the victims to heal, and apologize for being involved in their care when I shouldn't have patients deserve to be cared for by licensed medical professionals. Only then can they feel safe, Cleroux, whod worked under a long list of aliases, told the Vancouver court last December.

She was sentenced to seven years in prison, which is to be served concurrently with another seven-year sentence shed already been given in Ontario after pleading guilty to impersonation, fraud, assault and other charges.

A trial psychiatric report found that Cleroux had no significant history of major mental health disorders but showed anti-social, narcissistic and histrionic personality traits, CBC reported.

She is persistently deceitful, lacks remorse or empathy, repeatedly engages in unlawful behavior, is entitled and grandiose... and is overly concerned with status and her appearance, the report said.

But she is far from the only fraudster to enter the medical profession. And many imposters, it seems, are repeat offenders who just cannot seem to help themselves.

Brigitte Cleroux (pictured), who worked under a variety of aliases for 30 years across North America, apologized to a Canadian court last year as she was given a seven-year sentence

Autumn Marie Bardisa, 29, was arrested for allegedly treating more than 4,000 patients without a license

Not even a year before Clerouxs court apology, California authorities arrested an Anaheim man for impersonating a doctor and practicing medicine without a license - again. He was taken into custody two weeks after finishing a prison sentence for the same crimes committed on previous occasions.

Just a few months before that, another nurse, Amanda Porter, was arrested in California for operating without a license - it was nearly a decade after she had been charged over medical impersonations in Virginia.

And just this week, Florida's Autumn Bardisa, 29, was arrested for allegedly treating more than 4,000 patients without a license after authorities say she stole the identity of a woman she attended college with.

Bardisa potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not and violating the trust of patients, their families, AdventHealth and an entire medical community, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said. Staly called her alleged crimes one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud weve ever investigated.

Authorities say Bardisa stole the identity of a woman she went to college with

There is an increasing number of cases where people have been caught impersonating medical professionals, California-based psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman told the Daily Mail.

This may represent either more people daring to do it, or better detective work identifying them - or both.

The psychology and motivations behind such impersonations, it seems, can vary - financial gain, hero-like aspirations and more - but there are often similar threads.

Medical impersonation goes hand-in-hand with other deceptive activities including forgery and theft.

Clerouxs deceptions, for example, were not limited to medicine. She also forged qualifications as a teacher, and the Florida Department of Corrections alone had 11 aliases listed for her, according to CBC.

In one incredible case, imposter Adam Litwin was caught and pleaded guilty - he was sentenced to psychiatric care and served two months in jail. He later went on to graduate from medical school. Litwin admitted in an interview years later that his life of crime began in 1998 with shoplifting.

When his lawyer asked for a letter showing good character, he forged one, the Los Angeles Times reported.

In many cases, they dont have a formal psychiatric diagnosis but in most cases they have personality difficulties, Australia-based forensic psychiatrist Danny Sullivan told Broadly. The technical term we use to describe them is fantasists.

Dr Lieberman said she would classify medical impersonators in the general category of identity disorders' adding that 'they have a fluid identity, like chameleons.

Elias Renteria Segoviano (pictured), 63, was arrested in California last year for impersonating a doctor just two weeks after finishing a prison term for the same type of crime

Probably a lot of them have borderline personality [disorder], because thats one of the traits in the borderline.'

And while these unqualified providers are undeniably doing harm as well as committing crimes, their own rationale may be misguidedly noble, according to experts.

Women typically impersonate nurses, whereas men impersonate doctors, Lieberman said. These women have a driving need to help people. They often have had parents who were sick - either with physical problems or addiction - and they werent able to take care of them as children.

They are left with a need to take care of someone as a way of making it up. They want to be caretakers and often dont have husbands or children who need them.

In the case of Cleroux, she had wanted to pursue a legitimate career as a nurse, studying at third-level for up to two years. According to reports, previous convictions were standing in her way.

Men who impersonate doctors typically wanted to be doctors when they were growing up but werent able to get the grades needed to get into medical school, Lieberman said.

This theory was evident in Litwin's case - he had spent his whole life dreaming of a career in the field before being sent to prison.

Experts say many imposters are craving approval and admiration.

What they tend to have in common is that they choose occupations that give them some form of prestige or recognition, a situation where they get positive feedback and validation for their skills and abilities, Dr Sullivan told Broadly.

One psychologist - who began studying imposters after being duped by a fellow academic - said theres clearly some Machiavellian kinds of deceptions where youre doing this for money or prestige.

Dr Chris Wetzel, psychology professor emeritus at Rhodes College, said, like con artists, such medical impersonators could hold so-called dark triad traits - a combination of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathology.

Theyre pathological in what theyre doing, and theyre narcissistic, he said.

Amanda Leeann Porter (pictured), 44, repeatedly worked as a nurse without a license and told an arresting officer in 2016 she 'got a high' from stealing under fake identities

At least one medical imposter has admitted to getting a high from her crimes.

Porter - the fake nurse arrested in California - told the arresting officer in 2016 that she steals money because it gives her a high like a drug, NBC reported.

She confessed she wants to give [money] back after stealing it, but spends it instead.

Porter allegedly used another nurse's name, date of birth and Social Security number to open bank accounts and obtain loans totaling more than $100,000 - buying a Mercedes Benz, diamond bracelets, a Ford Mustang for her son and other items.

In a separate case, prosecutors claimed Elias Renteria Segoviano, 63, marketed himself as a doctor and charged to perform invasive procedures that included injecting victims with Botox, fillers and other drugs. He landed a four-year prison sentence, of which he only served a year and four months, KCAL reported.

When he got out of prison last year, he almost immediately tried to sublet a space at another salon using a fake name, prosecutors said, again allegedly claiming to perform Botox injections and face thread lifting procedures.

This man walked the walk and talked the talk of being a licensed medical professional, but he was anything but what he pretended to be, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said at the time.

The fact that he was out of prison less than two weeks - and while under supervision - when he returned right back to a life of crime makes it painfully obvious that he has no intention of changing his behavior and he will continue to try to make money off unsuspecting women every chance that he gets.

Kay Taynor and her husband, Gary, were both diagnosed with Alzheimer's by an Ohio woman practicing without a medical license; Gary later died by suicide

But there are varying reasons why these imposters keep getting away with it, Dr Wetzel said.

The first, he said, is truth bias: 'an assumption we make automatically that, when people are talking to us, they are telling us the truth.

Its a particular danger in the medical profession, where so many are inclined to trust whatever doctors and nurses are saying.

Dr Wetzel said that if someone purports to have a qualification - especially from a renowned institution - and uses a bunch of lingo that I dont quite understand, and hes got a prestigious medical degree', even he would 'write it off as Im too dumb to follow this.

He called it the gobbledygook idea'.

Adam Litwin pretended to be a doctor in California, was arrested and pleaded guilty to charges - but later graduated from medical school

'You can espouse gobbledygook as long as you have the credentials and the charisma and personal presence to sound convincing.'

He said good con artists know how to take control of the room', adding, 'that charisma really helps hide what theyre doing. And when you hear something that doesnt quite make sense, you either, in retrospect, say, "Oh, I misheard that", or "Im confused", or "He was referring to something else".

The damage, however, can become far more devastating than criminal charges.

In Ohio, for example, a husband-and-wife team set up a clinic to treat patients with cognitive disorders. Sherry-Ann Jenkins ordered and interpreted scans and diagnosed people despite having a PhD and no license to practice medicine.

The clinic told scores of patients they had Alzheimers or dementia, and those diagnoses were often later determined to be false. Jenkins and her husband were both sentenced to prison in 2023 after being convicted of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and health care fraud.

But a lawsuit by more than 50 former patients exposed the true tragedy of their crimes.

Kay Taynor and her husband of 48 years, Gary, were both told they had Alzheimers.

Hes got a smile that just lights up the room, and I never saw it again, Kay Taynor told the Associated Press. He just sunk in his chair. To me, he never stood up again. He was never tall again. He gave up.

Her husband died by suicide, and an autopsy determined he had shown no signs of the disease in the first place.

Steven Jay Lynn, the late professor of psychology at SUNY Binghamton, summed up his thoughts on medical imposters psychology in 2017. He labeled them likely not much different from conmen and women... who try to pull off scams in the business world, law and psychology.'

Many could probably be described as callous, lacking in empathy, narcissistic, antisocial and even psychopathic, he told The Guardian. Such that they can exploit people and treat them as objects without guilt or remorse.'
A police officer is accused of sending intimate texts and watching TikTok videos while a man suffering from a mental health crisis overdosed in the backseat of his police cruiser.

Nathan Bradford Smith, 33, died last July after he was arrested by the Coos Bay Police Department in Oregon for disorderly conduct while appearing to be high on methamphetamine, according to a lawsuit filed on behalf of his family.

Officers interacted with Smith twice that day before they discovered him lying on the sidewalk in front of a Motel 6.

The first time was around 11 am when they took Smith's meth pipe, and the second was around 3 pm when they responded to a report that he was screaming outside of a business and scaring customers.

Officers Benjamin Martin, Tristan Smith, and Wesley OConnor came in contact with the man a third time when he was lying on a sidewalk in front of the motel around 5 pm.

Attorneys representing Smith's family argue that body camera footage shows that responding officers treated him 'aggressively' even though he didn't resist arrest.

O'Connor is heard over the radio stating, 'Get your hand away from me you weirdo,' during the arrest.

O'Connor was also seen putting his weight on Smith's left shoulder and grabbing his left wrist during the arrest.

Nathan Bradford Smith, 33, died after police arrested him for disorderly conduct. His family now alleges that officers acted negligently when he was in their care

Officers Benjamin Martin, Tristan Smith, and Wesley OConnor (pictured) are named in a new wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bradford Smith's family

The lawsuit accuses the officers of neglecting Smith's mental state and arresting him instead.

Smith struggled to move his body, and his breath was rapid and exaggerated when he entered the police vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

The officers are accused of not providing medical care to Smith while he was gasping for air with his eyes closed in the backseat.

Dash camera footage showed Smith slumping in the backseat of the car. When Martin arrived at the police department, he allegedly sprayed his vehicle with air freshener and abandoned Smith in the car with the windows closed.

'While in CBPD headquarters, Defendant [Martin] scrolled on his phone, reviewed and responded to intimate text messages, and looked at TikTok for several minutes,' the lawsuit states.

As the officer allegedly scrolled on his phone inside the department, Smith was 'shaking uncontrollably and gasping for breath' in the vehicle.

Officer Martin scrolled through TikTok and responded to a text message that read, 'Im so ready for snuggles I feel like i havent seen you in a week,' Oregon Live reported, citing a police report.

Martin then checked on Smith in the vehicle and found him unconscious. He then allegedly performed 'sternal rubs' and administered Narcan.

Smith's family alleges that Officer Martin scrolled on TikTok and responded to intimate messages while he had a medical emergency in the backseat of a police vehicle

Smith's family alleges that if the officers had taken him straight to the hospital instead of back to the station, he would've received treatment before his death

About 20 minutes after Smith was first placed in the vehicle, ambulances arrived and treated him on the scene before departing for a local hospital.

Less than 45 minutes later, Smith died after a cardiac arrest. His cause of death was listed as hyperthermia due to meth intoxication and wearing multiple layers of heavy clothing.

The hospital where Smith died was under two miles from where he was arrested, but the police officers decided to take him in the opposite direction to the department.

The lawsuit alleges that police officers delayed getting Smith medical care for over 40 minutes, which was a crucial lapse in time that ultimately led to his death.

Smith's family argues that officers could've saved his life had they taken him straight to the hospital instead of leaving him in the backseat alone in a police vehicle.

Smith suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The lawsuit alleges that officers delayed medical care for over 40 minutes

The lawsuit stated that Smith was 'clearly suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally' during his arrest

'In his final moments in Defendant Martins vehicle, gasping for air while Defendant Martin scrolled TikTok, Mr. Smith was clearly suffering physically, mentally, and emotionally. His death from hyperthermia likely caused him great physical pain and distress,' the lawsuit states.

The three officers are facing claims of negligence and the abuse of a vulnerable person.

Daily Mail reached out to the Coos Bay Department Chief of Police for comment on the lawsuit and additional information on the officers' current employment.

Smith's father, Kurt, told Oregon Live that police came to his work to notify him of his son's death.

He added that police didn't share the circumstances of how his son died but instead he was forced to learn about the cause of death from the funeral home.

The police department hasn't commented on the allegations in the lawsuit. An attorney representing Smith's family said that the officers 'neglected their duty' to get him proper care

In an investigative report, Martin claimed that there were 'no officers available to monitor Nathan' while he was inside the station, and he left him in the vehicle to call another officer during a shift change.

'This lawsuit shines a light on the police's inappropriate responses to people in health emergencies,' Hannah Bland, a staff attorney with the Civil Rights Project, who is representing Smith's family, told Daily Mail.

'These officers are first responders and yet they neglected their duty to get Mr. Smitha person in their custodyto the hospital when he was exhibiting clear signs of medical distress.

'Instead of calling for an ambulance, Officer Martin spent this crucial time scrolling TikTok while Mr. Smith was overheating and gasping for air in the back of his police car.'
For two years, 'Daisy', our venerable 4x4, has served us well. She was bought second-hand in Milton Keynes and  having left the concrete cows and urban utopianism  survived the Ukrainian frontline unscathed. Until now.

Between the first and 15th high-explosive rounds fired by the T-80 tank with which we are sharing a maple thicket, Daisy's windscreen cracks from one side to the other, her rear-view mirror falls from its mount, and all the storage pockets in her ceiling lining burst open. Such is the proximity to stupendous firepower.

The shockwaves are like slaps of hot air. Green leaves, not due to fall for months, are torn from branches. Dust and smoke intermingle.

The forest is filled with ear-piercing sound as a second tank  close but invisible  also opens fire over our heads.

'F****** good!' enthuses the Ukrainian drone pilot who is spotting the fall of the shells, aimed at a Russian infantry position some miles away. His corrections come over the tank crew's walkie-talkie.

The fifth round of the fire mission detonates on the enemy trench-line. The order changes to 'fire for effect'. In other words, keep hitting that spot. Kill them all.

And now comes payback.

Through the cacophony of outgoing rounds, we hear the staccato bleeps of the drone detector at the entrance to the tankers' dugout.

Journalist Richard Pendlebury reacts as tanks fire on the Sumy frontline in Eastern Ukraine

A British designed M777 howitzer artillery gun operated by the SAS-style Kraken Regiment

A T-80 Tank, captured intact from the Russians and operated by the Kraken Regiment, in action

A Russian Zala UAV is back above the tree canopy, hunting for the guns in what is likely to be a day-long 'game' of hide and seek.

The crews pause their fire, lest they betray their positions  as they will, disastrously, a few days later.

But, at the moment, we can hear the buzzing of insects rather than drones.

Because this is also a lovely summer's afternoon. Twenty miles to the south-west, girls are promenading in cotton dresses, and you can still eat sushi in an air-conditioned shopping mall.

Yet up here, in the forested hillsides, the battle for Sumy rages on.

Last August, Ukraine launched an unexpected and audacious ground offensive across its northern border, from Sumy into the Russian region of Kursk.

Fierce fighting  and embarrassment for Russia's president Vladimir Putin  continued until March this year when a massive concentration of forces and firepower pushed the Ukrainian interlopers back across the frontier.

The Russians kept pushing. Now combat is taking place several miles inside Sumy, where the Russians last had a foothold in 2022 as they drove towards the capital Kyiv.

Vehicles on the Sumy front are protected with rudimentary nets to protect from drone strikes

The Kraken Regiment are a special forces arm of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence (HUR)

Richard peeks through a maple thicket between the first and 15th high-explosive rounds fired by the T-80 tank

In June, Putin remarked that taking Sumy oblast wasn't one of his war aims. But, as the US threatens further sanctions on Russia and Putin continues to snub Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, that could all change.

The Sumy village of Andriivka has swapped hands twice already this summer. British volunteer Ben Burgess, an FPV drone pilot, was killed in its defence in June.

A few miles east of Andriivka lies the strategic hilltop settlement of Yunakivka.

If that is taken, the Russians will be within long-range artillery fire of those shopping malls of Sumy city, which has a population of 250,000 and narrowly escaped occupation in 2022.

Both sides have committed some of their best units to the fight. One of the formations standing in the way of this Russian offensive is the Kraken Regiment: a special forces arm of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence (HUR).

Named after the mythical sea monster, Kraken is renowned for SAS-style raids behind enemy lines as well as its old-fashioned 'earth-moving' equipment.

Over several days last month, Daily Mail photographer Jamie Wiseman and I were hosted by a Kraken tank platoon and a heavy artillery battery.

Such artillery and the battlefield-dominating attack drones have stalled the Russian advance into Ukraine's heartland along the frontline closest to Kyiv.

Tank Operator Mikail, who was dragged from his burning tank last week after this position was hit by a Russian strike

Gunfire and smoke fill the air as a British designed M777 howitzer artillery gun is operated by the Kraken Regiment

A projectile is fired by a T-80 Tank, which has been captured intact from the Russians

Combat is taking place several miles inside Sumy, where the Russians last had a foothold in 2022 as they drove towards the capital Kyiv

And that is why the enemy's hunt for Ukraine's big guns and gun crews is relentless.

Deep in the forest, what appears to be a British artillery team is preparing for action: The Ukrainian gunners are wearing donated British Army camo fatigues.

Some still have the Union Flag sewn on their sleeves. Their gun is also British.

The M777 howitzer was designed in Cumbria by Vickers, before the historic company was absorbed into what is now BAE Systems.

In November last year, BAE announced that it would be opening a new factory in Sheffield to boost M777 production.

Such is the demand caused by the Ukraine war. 'You are good allies,' says one of the gunners, a former actor whose call-sign is 'Nick'.

Weighing more than four tons and able to throw a 45kg shell more than 20 miles, the Cumbrian howitzer squats huge and sinister in a heavily camouflaged, earth-walled gun pit.

Only when it's ready to fire will the snout of its barrel emerge from hiding beneath netting and foliage. There are too many Russian drones on the prowl for it to lie in the sunshine.

Weighing more than four tons and able to throw a 45kg shell more than 20 miles, the Cumbrian howitzer squats huge and sinister in a heavily camouflaged, earth-walled gun pit

The crew receive coordinates for a new fire mission. They begin to go to work.

Aside from digital aiming aids and some other automation, little has altered in the physical preparation of what Wilfred Owen described during the Great War as the 'monstrous anger'.

We watch as the trajectory and direction of the howitzer are altered by the spin of wheels.

Two other gunners are screwing fuse caps into shells and carrying them to the pit. The next shell is placed in the breach.

A white sack of propellent gunpowder is secured behind it and then a gunner wielding a long, kinked ramrod thrusts the whole package into place.

Another artilleryman is holding a long rope called a lanyard. He waits. Then comes the order  Postril! (shoot)  and he steps away and yanks the rope.

KA-POW.

I am crouched with my back against the wall of the gun pit with my mouth open and ear protectors in place, and still the shock is astounding.

Clods of earth tumble, smoke swirls and there is a sulphurous smell. Blithely, the team begin to reload.

Even from some distance away, the shockwaves of Howitzer munitions race through the zigzag trench into the dugout and up the steps at the far side

The M777 howitzer was designed in Cumbria by Vickers, before the historic company was absorbed into what is now BAE Systems

The crew prepare for the day ahead and ensure their M777 howitzer artillery gun is ready

Apparently, the concussion is more impactful where I am, a few yards away, than if crouched over the breach.

Two more thunderous discharges, then a pause. There is a problem with the automation. There will be a delay as mechanics come up from the rear to fix the gun.

During the hiatus, I'm shown the dugout which can sleep eight.

It has two entrances. One leads directly to the gun, the other in the opposite direction. Or, as one of the gunners explains: 'That way to the Russians, the other way to normal people.'

In the dugout there is Korean kimchi, black bread and salo  salt-cured pork fat. 'We are not rich but we live like kings,' says 'Anthony', another gunner, with only mild irony.

Their gun fixed, the firing resumes. After the seventh round it falls silent again. More ammunition is needed. It will be brought up shortly in an armoured vehicle.

As we wait, other howitzers are firing. Even from some distance away, their shockwaves race through the zigzag trench into the dugout and up the steps at the far side.

Then another Zala is detected, and we retreat underground again.

The M777 howitzer was designed in Cumbria by Vickers, before the historic company was absorbed into what is now BAE Systems

Eventually, an engine can be heard approaching. An MRAP armoured vehicle appears and stops.

The rear doors are opened, and we see it's loaded from floor to roof with shells.

The howitzer crew form a human chain and, within five minutes, dozens of the rounds are unloaded. They can work again.

The gun crashes. Between 30 and 60 seconds later, the shell will impact, depending on the size of the propellant. On the screen in the dugout, the target is a low, white building in the sunshine.

The first five shots fall long, short or wide. The final two are direct hits. Cease fire.

The sun is still an egg yolk orange smudge on the horizon and the fields beside the road are swathed in mist. What doesn't change day or night is the crash of artillery fire.

Once again, we've had to set off before dawn to reach a position in the 'kill zone' before the drone threat becomes severe.

But this is also when one sees more of the wildlife that shares the forest with the war. Nesting storks are silhouetted against the brightening sky and, at 5.30am, a deer runs ahead of our vehicle along a logging track, before coming to its senses and veering off into the undergrowth.

Equipped with a gas turbine rather than a diesel engine, the T-80 was noted for its high speed

After several miles we do the same. Two Ukrainian soldiers step out of the forest.

They turn and lift enough foliage and anti-drone netting to create a gap large enough for Daisy and our military escort to drive through.

The screen, natural and artificial, is then dropped back into place behind us. Like the deer, we have disappeared into cover.

In the semi-darkness of a dense thicket on the edge of a combe, we find a Kraken crew is preparing for the day.

They have a rudimentary dugout with room to sleep three and little more. But where is their tank? They laugh and beckon.

Huge  more than 40 tons  the T-80 is almost invisible from all but a few yards away, due to the foliage, camouflage netting and poor light.

Equipped with a gas turbine rather than a diesel engine, the T-80 was noted for its high speed.

Under Soviet doctrine it was designed to reach the English Channel coast in five days of Hot War Blitzkrieg.

This T-80 is an export version, built for the Greek army in the 1990s but never delivered.

A drone detector used by the Ukrainian army to help combat incoming Russian missiles

It took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was captured intact  a 'trophy'  and is now being used against its former comrades.

But, in this drone and missile dominated conflict, massed armoured assaults are increasingly rare.

Tank-on-tank combat is as frequently seen as unicorns. The Kraken crew has not fired armoured piercing rounds in combat. Their job is largely static.

The tank has been dug in so that the front end and, more importantly, the 125mm cannon is unusually elevated.

It's being used as an artillery piece, for indirect rather than direct fire, lobbing high explosives at troop concentrations.

There are the customary instructions. If there is counter-battery fire and one hears the instruction 'Zemlia', you put your face in the dirt. Not down on one knee. The Russians have been using cluster munition.

And, if a drone should wander up the forest track, descend into the dugout or hug a tree. Just make yourself invisible.

At 6.10am an order comes through. The three crew men climb into the T-80 and 'start work' at once.

Crack. Whoosh. Then the clank of the autoloader as another shell is placed in the breach.

Other projectiles are flying along the wooded valley at supersonic speed. An unidentified drone comes past at 7.15am but it's probably a Ukrainian Vampire heavy bomber, as such a unit is operating nearby.

A Russian Zala is detected, but many kilometres away. Then another one, closer.

At 9.41am there are bursts of gunfire from across the valley, which suggest a Russian drone.

Then a loud explosion which doesn't sound like outgoing. Probably an incoming detonation.

Meanwhile, vehicles are racing up and down the track beside the thicket. Humvees with enormous cope cages or all-terrain buggies with skeletal tubular structure driven by special forces.

At 10.39am there are a series of tremendous explosions. 'Oh, a KAB,' exclaims the 50-year-old tank commander whose call-sign is 'Mikhalych'.

These are the Russian glide bombs which have done so much damage.

Then, briefly, silence.

Your ears tell you the forested slopes are filled with busy artillery positions and drone pilots. Your eyes say otherwise. This is nature's camouflage. Bumblebees sound like Vampire drones, mosquitoes like distant FPVs kamikazes.

During this hiatus, Mikhalych invites me to sit in the tank commander's seat in the turret.

The interior is extraordinarily cramped. You are almost wearing the tank, like a deep-sea diving suit.

Around the base of the turret are stored up to 28 high-explosive shells. Sometimes, if such a tank is hit, these rounds detonate, sending the turret high into the air, like a cork out of a champagne bottle.

I've gone potholing without discomfort but inside the tank I feel claustrophobic.

At 1.40pm the third fire mission of the day begins.

Two shells are launched before there is a shout to stop and get under cover. Once more, a Zala drone is overhead. Did it see the gun firing?

Whether it did or not, it will cease fire until the Zala has moved away. A silence falls over the forest. Then one by one the guns begin to fire again, and a Ukrainian Vampire drone takes off. 'Here's the Zala!' some wag in the tank crew shouts.

'Protecting my native land is holy work,' says Mikhalych.

Then, as we leave: 'Say hello to misty Albion!'

A few days after we leave, the tank crew's luck runs out, their camouflage fails. A Zala identifies their thicket, at last, it seems.

A Russian fibre optic kamikaze drone hits Mikhalych's T-80 during a fire mission, while he and the other crew members are inside.

The tank catches fire and is destroyed. The three crewmen escape the flames. They live to fight another day, in another tank. Perhaps they are lucky, after all.

For now, the thicket is deserted. But the Battle for Sumy continues.

Additional reporting by Oleksandr Kostiuchenko
A group of masked burglars stole an estimated $30,000 worth of high-demand Labubu dolls during a smash-and-grab break-in at a small toy store in California.

The brazen burglary occurred around 1:29 a.m. on Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales, a boutique in La Puente that has become known for selling the viral plush monster dolls, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows at least four masked individuals smashing through the front door and targeting the wildly popular collectible dolls, bypassing electronics, the cash register, and other merchandise.

'Today we got robbed, and they took all of our inventory, trashed our store,' One Stop Sales wrote in an Instagram post. 'We are still in shock.'

The burglars took dozens of boxes of Labubu dolls, totaling approximately $7,000 in retail value.

However, due to the dolls' popularity, the collectible shop's co-owner Joanna Avendano estimates the total cost of all the stolen merchandise to be somewhere near $30,000.

A group of masked burglars stole an estimated $30,000 worth of high-demand Labubu dolls during a smash-and-grab break-in at a small toy store in California

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows at least four masked individuals smashing through the front door and targeting the wildly popular collectible dolls (pictured), bypassing electronics, the cash register, and other merchandise

'We worked so hard to get to this point, and for them to just come in and, like nothing, take it all away, it's really bad,' she told ABC7.

Avendano, who opened the shop with her family just two months ago, suspects the burglary was premeditated, and said that she had noticed a suspicious truck parked outside the store before closing time on Tuesday evening.

The timing of the break-in also raised red flags, coming just after she posted a restock announcement on the store's social media.

'I had a gut feeling to check my phone,' Avendano recalled. 'Once I checked my phone, I saw there was motion, a sound that was coming through the front.'

'I was watching everything, from when they got in, to what they were taking,' she said. 'I was panicking because I was just ... I couldn't do anything.'

The shop has since shared images of the aftermath, including shattered glass at the entrance and product debris strewn across the floor.

Footage of the break-in shows the suspects rushing in and hauling off boxes of merchandise, seemingly knowing exactly what they were after.

The brazen burglary occurred around 1:29 a.m. on Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales, a boutique in La Puente that has become known for selling the viral plush monster dolls

The burglars took dozens of boxes of Labubu dolls, totaling approximately $7,000 in retail value

The shop has since shared images of the aftermath, including shattered glass at the entrance and product debris strewn across the floor (pictured)

The white Toyota Tacoma seen in surveillance footage (pictured) and used in the burglary was later recovered by deputies, however, the suspects remain at large, according to police

The white Toyota Tacoma seen in surveillance footage and used in the burglary was later recovered by deputies, however, the suspects remain at large, according to police.

An investigation into the brazen theft is ongoing.

'We just want justice,' Avendano said. 'And we want our store to feel safe again.'

Labubus, first released in China in 2015 by designer toy company Pop Mart, have surged in popularity worldwide - spotted with celebrities like Rihanna, Lizzo, and BLACKPINK's Lisa.

While they retail for about $30 each, some Labubus can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the resale market. A life-size Labubu even fetched a jaw-dropping $170,000 at a Beijing auction earlier this year, ABC7 reported.

Pop Mart reported that its revenue doubled in 2024, reaching $1.8 billion, driven largely by the success of the Labubu line.

'These are not just toys,' Alex DePaoli, an associate teaching professor of marketing at Northeastern University's School of Business told ABC News.

The collectible shop's co-owner Joanna Avendano (pictured) estimates the total cost of all the stolen merchandise to be somewhere near $30,000

Avendano, who opened the shop (pictured) with her family just two months ago, suspects the burglary was premeditated, and said that she had noticed a suspicious truck parked outside the store before closing time on Tuesday evening

Labubus, first released in China in 2015 by designer toy company Pop Mart, have surged in popularity worldwide. Pictured: Labubu creator Kasing Lung

'They are accessories. They are things that you can collect, not just to dress them up, not just be amused by, but also to complete an outfit.'

Much of the appeal stems from the plush toys' scarcity and the way in which they are sold. Many Labubu dolls are available only in sealed packaging where buyers don't know which design they're getting, also known as 'blind boxes.'

'[It's a] system essentially where you don't know what's in the box, you hope that what's in the box is what you want,' DePaoli explained.

'If you don't get what you want, you've got to go buy another one. A lot of folks have sort of likened that sort-of system to almost gambling.'

The skyrocketing demand has also led to a growing counterfeit market, with knockoff versions - dubbed 'Lafufus' - flooding social media and resale sites.
A huge blaze tore through an ancient Spanish church as firefighters battled to save the building from ruin.

Dramatic footage shows thick smoke billowing out from the historic UNESCO-listed mosque-cathedral of Cordoba on Friday night, as flames lapped at its roof.

The Spanish city's mayor said firefighters quickly contained the blaze and saved the church - which is a major tourist attraction visited by two million people per year.

'The monument is saved. There will be no spread, it will not be a catastrophe, let's put it that way,' Jose Maria Bellido stated on Cadena television.

Although the fire is considered almost extinguished, firefighters continue to cool the area to prevent it from spreading.

The blaze broke out around 9pm local time in the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard), according to local media.

ABC and other newspapers reported that a mechanical sweeping machine had caught fire on the site.

A huge blaze tore through an ancient Spanish church as firefighters battled to save the building from ruin

Dramatic footage shows thick smoke billowing out from the historic UNESCO-listed mosque-cathedral of Cordoba on Friday night, as flames lapped at its roof

The Spanish city's mayor said firefighters quickly contained the blaze and saved the church - which is a major tourist attraction visited by two million people per year

Known locally as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, the stunning building, which dates back to the 8th century, forms part of southern Spain's unique combination of Christian-Moorish architecture.

It was was originally constructed when Muslim rulers controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula, which includes modern-day Spain and Portugal.

Work on the Mosque as a Great Mosque began in 785 AD.

After the Christian conquering of Spain, known as the Reconquista, the magnificent place of worship was converted to a cathedral in 1236.

Despite changing religions, many of the features left by the previous Muslim stonemasons remain.

For some, the fire evoked memories of the 2019 fire that ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The world watched in horror as the blaze tore through Notre Dame on April 15, plunging France into national mourning over the loss of priceless works of art and its 600-year-old architecture.

Worshippers were not authorised in the cathedral but watched the mass on a Catholic TV station that is broadcasting the service.

Known locally as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, the stunning building, which dates back to the 8th century, forms part of southern Spain's unique combination of Christian-Moorish architecture

People using their mobile phone to capture images of the flames after a fire broke out in the historic mosque-turned-cathedral in the southern Spanish city of Cordoba

Work on the Mosque as a Great Mosque began in 785 AD. After the Christian conquering of Spain, known as the Reconquista, the magnificent place of worship was converted to a cathedral in 1236

The video showed some burnt wood still in the church but a famous statue of the Virgin and Child appeared intact behind wooden construction planks.

The annual Dedication Mass commemorated the cathedral's consecration as a place of worship and was held in a small side chapel at around 5pm local time.

'This cathedral is a place of worship, it is its very own and unique purpose,' Aupetit said.

One French priest called the service 'a true happiness, full of hope.'

'We will rebuild this cathedral. It will take time of course - a lot of money, lot of time, lot of work - but we will succeed,' Father Pierre Vivares told The Associated Press outside the cathedral a month after the fire.

'Today it's a small but a true victory against the disaster we have had.'
Vladimir Putin this week presented the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump with a comprehensive proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which involves significant territorial concessions from Kyiv in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, The Wall Street Journal said, citing European and Ukrainian officials.

The publication said, according to the officials, Putin demands recognition of Russian control over Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow occupied in 2014. In particular, he agrees to a full ceasefire only on condition that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the eastern part of Donetsk region.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, on his Truth Social page, confirmed that he plans to meet with Putin on August 15 in Alaska at the suggestion of the Russian leader. He did not provide further information about the exact location or details of the meeting.

"We'll see what happens," Trump said, commenting on the deadline he gave Russia to agree to a ceasefire.

According to sources, Putin's proposal involves a two-stage process: first, Ukraine must withdraw from Donetsk, and the frontline will be frozen. Then, the United States and Russian presidents will agree on a final peace plan, which will be discussed with the Ukrainian side.

European officials have expressed serious reservations about the initiative, fearing that Moscow is using the proposal to avoid new sanctions and continue hostilities, without any real intention of fulfilling its commitments.
Wildfires have hit Mount Vesuvius as deadly blazes sweep through Europe amid a scorching heatwave.

Dramatic footage shows flames engulfing the volcano in Naples, Italy, as firefighters battle to control them.

The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon, and Firefighting teams both on the ground and in the air rushed to the scene.

But, as the sun set, the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

Raffaele De Luca, president of the Vesuvius National Park, expressed his deep concern about the fire's progress.

'We are following every update in constant contact with the relevant authorities.

'Our gratitude goes to those who are working tirelessly to protect our natural heritage and ensure the safety of those who live nearby.'

The devastating wildfires have also struck Turkey, Greece, and France - triggered by hotter and drier conditions.

In the Keratea region of Greece, fast-moving flames, fanned by strong winds, crossed scrub-covered hillsides, getting close to residential areas around 25 miles southeast of Athens on Friday.

Wildfires have hit Mount Vesuvius as deadly blazes sweep through Europe amid a scorching heatwave. Pictured: A large fire on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy, 08 August 2025

Dramatic footage shows flames engulfing the volcano in Naples, Italy , as firefighters battle to control the flames

The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon, and Firefighting teams both on the ground and in the air rushed to the scene

A tall column of smoke has risen into the sky and is visible from Naples

One man was found dead in Keratea during an evacuation, the Fire Service said.

Two Vietnamese tourists died after falling in the water amid strong winds on the tourist island of Milos in the Cyclades, France24.com said, quoting the Coastguard.

Authorities said 190 firefighters, using planes and helicopters to drop water, battled the blazes as thick clouds of black smoke filled the sky.

People were seen attempting to battle a raging blaze as flames and embers lit up the night sky near the town.

The fire remains out of control due to strong winds, despite the best efforts of firefighting teams, supported by numerous aerial vehicles and volunteers.

Meanwhile, wildfires in neighbouring Turkey forced the temporary closure of the Dardanelles Strait to shipping because of heavy smoke and reduced visibility in the narrow waterway.

And, a university campus and a care home for the elderly in the Canakkale province were evacuated by authorities after another fire, which started in a field near Saricaeli village, quickly spread to a nearby forested area.

Three villages in Canakkale have been evacuated due to the fire.

Turkey, Greece, and France have also been struck by the devastating wildfires - triggered by hotter and drier conditions. Pictured:Residents look at flames as a wildfire rages near Palaia Fokaia, some 45 Km south of Athens, on August 8, 2025

A large wildfire breaks out in the town of Keratea near Athens, Greece, on August 8, 2025

Flames engulf the fields and woods near a home as a wildfire rages near Palaia Fokaia, some 45 Km south of Athens, on August 8

Several houses were damaged in the blaze, which continues to be battled by air and ground crews.

Pictures show firefighting responding with aerial and ground operations to contain the blaze.

Firefighters in France who contained the country's largest wildfire in decades are on high alert because it is feared forecast high temperatures this weekend could reignite it.

One person died as the blazes quickly burned more than 62 square miles in three days in the Aude wine region in southern France, where hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes.

Local authorities said they need to remain vigilant throughout the weekend because temperatures are expected to rise above 30C (86F) during another heatwave.

The fast-moving wildfire in southern France that broke out on Tuesday burned through some 13,000 hectares of land - a swathe as large as Paris.

People attempt to battle a raging wildfire as flames and embers light up the night sky near the town of Keratea, southeast of Athens, Greece on August 08, 2025

Firefighters conduct extinguishing works on the ground in the Bayramic district of Canakkale, Turkiye on August 8, 2025

Crews intervene in a wildfire, which spreads from farmland into forested areas in Canakkale, Turkiye on August 08, 2025

Firefighters conduct extinguishing works on the ground in the Bayramic district of Canakkale, Turkiye on August 8, 2025

One woman died in her home, nine others were injured, and at least one person was reported missing as about 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to wineries.

'It's a scene of sadness and desolation,' said Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquieres, where all residents have been evacuated.

'It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down.'

It came after 1,500 tourists and locals were evacuated in Spain as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often branded a 'surfer's paradise' due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves.

According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Pena campsite, which also had to be evacuated.

The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered - including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire.

Several beach bars and 'chiringuitos' were also evacuated due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore.

The blaze was first reported at around 4pm on Tuesday.
More electric car models will be eligible for taxpayer-funded grants as part of Labours drive to meet Net Zero goals.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced 1,500 discounts for certain Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall models.

But the Tories branded the plans deranged and questioned why ministers were handing taxpayers money to foreign car companies.

The 650million electric car grant scheme enables motorists purchasing some new electric cars costing up to 37,000 to save either 1,500 or 3,750, depending on the vehicles green credentials.

The greenest vehicles will be in band one, while band two vehicles will receive up to 1,500. Chinese EVs are not expected to meet the criteria for the grants. No band one models have been announced yet.

But Richard Holden, Tory transport spokesman, said: Labour ministers decision to hand 650 million of taxpayers money to foreign car companies, for cars made in foreign countries, is deranged.

Labour transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: With discounts on 17 car models announced this week alone, were delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric

The Department for Transport has confirmed that Nissan, Renault and Vauxhall EVs have qualified for 1,500 discounts

This latest mess with a confused rollout and botched incentives is only making things worse. Labour has put ideological obsession ahead of hard-pressed taxpayers.

Under the Governments zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric.

Across all manufacturers, the figure during the first half of the year was 21.6%. But the Government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030.

The DfT has previously said many drivers cite upfront costs as a key barrier to buying an electric vehicle and the grant will bring down prices so they more closely match their petrol and diesel counterparts.

Funding for the scheme will remain under review. And it will not immediately be available as manufacturers must apply for eligibility for vehicles in their ranges, rather than buyers registering grants at the point of purchase.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: With discounts on 17 car models announced this week alone, were delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric.
Schoolchildren as young as five are being asked to write Valentine's Day cards to asylum seekers.

Last year, pupils at hundreds of schools across Britain were asked to 'send messages of love and solidarity' on February 14 by creating handmade cards with slogans including 'You're welcome here!' and 'I love refugee rights, stop the Rwanda scheme'.

In another card, an accompanying poem read: 'Roses are red, violets are blue, refugees are people, just like me and you'.

Children were asked to create cards by Sanctuary of Schools, a network of more than 1,200 primary and secondary schools, nurseries and sixth forms.

They were also encouraged to discuss topics such as 'how do you think people seeking sanctuary should be treated?' to learn 'values like kindness, humanity and equality', as well as raise money for local charities and make 'displays of kindness' with their class or the wider school.

Many of the cards featured an orange heart symbol, which represents compassion for people fleeing war and is inspired by the refugee nation flag, according to Together With Refugees.

Schoolchildren as young as five are being asked to write Valentine's Day cards to asylum seekers (stock image)

Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary (pictured), said that 'children as young as five shouldn't be used to push political agendas'.

Among the local authorities to partner with the Schools of Sanctuary Network is Labour-run Birmingham City Council.

Pupils at one school created cards that were sent to St Chad's Sanctuary, a local group which supports asylum seekers.

Another school showed off its card-making on social media which was championed by the Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary group, freelance journalist Charlotte Gill reports.

Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, said that 'children as young as five shouldn't be used to push political agendas'.

While teachers cannot promote political views in the classroom there is no suggestion that writing the Valentine's Day cards broke the law.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, accused Labour of turning classrooms into 'propaganda hubs' and weaponising pupils.

He said: 'Classrooms should be for teaching maths, not immigration. Labour-run Birmingham council are allowing political campaigning to creep into our schools.'

A spokesperson for Birmingham Council said: 'School of Sanctuary is a national scheme, which is independent of local authorities and schools apply independently to become 'schools of sanctuary'.

In a diverse, welcoming and inclusive city like Birmingham, it comes as no surprise that several schools across the city have signed up independently to be schools of sanctuary.'

Cities of Sanctuary UK describes itself as coordinating, supporting and growing networks to 'support people seeking sanctuary in our communities'.

Their website states they 'work with individuals, groups and organisations in every area and in every sector to encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.

A spokesperson for Schools of Sanctuary said: 'Whilst we are not directly involved in the delivery of activities in schools, we understand that the welcome card activity referenced involved children writing anonymised letters of welcome to people seeking safety in their communities.

'We are confident that teachers adopt rigorous safeguarding approaches when undertaking any activity in school, in line with their responsibilities to ensure every child is safe.

'This activity just reflects a thoughtful and kind act of welcome to people who have fled to the UK and are waiting for their claims of asylum to be reviewed. We believe these simple acts of compassion should be celebrated rather than criticised.'
Two thirds of Britons believe judges and the justice system have become too political, a poll reveals.

A survey of 3,000 over-16s found 67 per cent of people agreed that the criminal justice system had become over-politicised.

Meanwhile, amid widespread concerns over activist judges, 62 per cent said judges sometimes make decisions on the basis of their personal political opinions.

Seven out of ten say the criminal justice system is more concerned about the rights of criminals than the rights of victims, data from polling and strategy company Merlin Strategy found.

The public overwhelmingly think that UK judges and the criminal justice system are too politicised, said head of research Julian Gallie.

There is also widespread concern that the system currently protects the rights of criminals over the rights of victims. This is a problem for not just trust in the criminal justice system, but in our social contract as a whole.

These findings indicate worrying levels of dissatisfaction among the public.

Tory justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: Judicial activism is destroying confidence in the criminal justice system.

Two thirds of Britons believe judges and the justice system have become too political, a poll reveals

The public are fed up of seeing judges making political statements or stretching the law to suit their world view.

It has to end. If judges want to be politicians they should step down. If not, they should be removed. These results should alarm Keir Starmer and the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood. Their strategy of trying to silence legitimate criticism of judges isnt working.

They need to tackle the source of the problem and fast, because confidence in our criminal justice system is now on the line.

Immigration courts and the quality of judges work in them are a particular area of concern.

In April, senior judges criticised a first-tier immigration tribunal over a ruling in favour of illegal migrant Muhammad Arshad, 43.

A junior court tribunal decided that the Pakistani national should be allowed to remain in Britain on human rights grounds.

But the Court of Appeal said the tribunal had given a euphemistic and inadequate account of his circumstances.

Hed been in this country illegally since 2009 and used a stolen passport.
An EU border crackdown means Brits travelling to Europe will soon need to prove they have medical insurance and a return ticket.

A digital system for arrivals into the European Union will come into force from October 12, The Times reports.

Non-EU passport holders will have to have their fingerprints and a photograph taken the first time they use it.

Passengers will also be asked a series of questions to check they have proof of accommodation, enough money for the trip, medical insurance and a return or onward ticket.

At most airports and ferry terminals passengers will undergo the process at automated kiosks.

Those who answer no to any questions are expected to be quizzed by a border officer, who can refuse entry.

The entry/exit system (EES) will also automatically flag arrivals at risk of overstaying.

Under post-Brexit rules, Britons without the right to work or reside in the EU can only stay for 90 days in any 180-day period.

There are fears that as the system begins there will be huge queues at EU airports, as well as delays at Dover, Folkestone and London's St Pancras station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys.

Strict new border regulations mean Brits travelling to Europe will soon need to prove they have medical insurance and a return ticket, The Times reports. Pictured: Air travellers pass through automated passport border control e-gates at Heathrow Airport on August 2, 2024

A digital system for arrivals into the European Union will come into force from October 12. Pictured: Biometric control in airport

EES will replace the current manual stamping of passports for visitors to Europe's borderless Schengen area who are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries. Pictured: Border control officer puts a stamp in the international passport

EES will be an automated IT system for registering travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, each time they cross a border into or out of the EU.

When it comes into force in October, travellers will need to scan their passports at an automated self-service kiosk prior to crossing the border.

This will replace the current manual stamping of passports for visitors to Europe's borderless Schengen area who are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries.

The system will register the person's name, type of travel document, biometric data (such as fingerprints) and the date and place of entry and exit.

It is likely that British travellers will have their fingerprints and facial images taken the first time they cross a border into the EU, once the new system is in operation.

In May, a former borders chief said Britons face even longer waits at EU airports in the coming months.

Tony Smith, who was previously director general of UK Border Force, warned about the looming impact of new entry requirments being imposed by Brussels.

'If you think the queues are bad now - you ain't seen nothing yet,' he said of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

His comment came after officials in Brussels were forced to abandon plans to start using it in November last year after EU members, including France, raised significant concern of chaos at crowded borders.
An acupuncturist couple has been jailed after 'brainwashing' a younger patient into having sex with them.

The Queensland couple, Arthur Cunningham, 69, and his wife Sheena Cunningham, 55, tricked the victim, in her 20s, into believing sex with them was the only way to heal her.

A Brisbane jury found the couple guilty of 10 charges, including multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.

The court heard, at the couple's sentencing on Friday, how the victim told police she had been 'made to believe, in a slow and calculated way, that this was the only way she would ever be healthy'.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan told the Brisbane District Court the victim had sought treatment from the couple, who ran an acupuncture business at their Thornlands home.

Over a period of months, the couple 'brainwashed' and 'tricked' the victim into thinking she would receive 'good hormones' if she engaged in various sexual acts with them.

The court heard the victim felt she had been 'violated in every way'.

'Your offending involved a gross breach of trust, worsened by your repeated abuse,' Judge Sheridan said.

Sheena Cunningham, 55, (pictured) has been found guilty of six counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to seven years behind bars

'The complainant refers to living with having had sex with two people she never wanted to have sex with.'

The victim said it was the most painful despair, grief and nausea throughout her body.

In a chilling exchange, Mr and Mrs Cunningham were seen smiling at one another as they sat next to each other in the dock during proceedings.

Mr Cunningham first qualified as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner in 1981 in New Zealand.

He moved to Australia later that year where he established his martial arts school, Wu-Chi School of Arts, on the Gold Coast.

The couple met when Mr Cunningham was 31 and Mrs Cunningham was 16, in 1987, and lived in New Zealand before moving to Australia in 2010.

The pair were both registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners in Australia.

The court heard the couple had not been practising acupuncture since being charged.

Arthur Cunningham, 69, (pictured) has been found guilty of seven counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment

The couple were each found guilty of six counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault.

Mr Cunningham was also found guilty of an additional count each of sexual assault and rape and was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.

His wife was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Defence barrister Charlotte Smith said her client, Mr Cunningham, would likely be deported to New Zealand, and his wife would not be permitted to visit him during her parole.
A brutal dog mauling in California left a teenage girl with devastating injuries after she was attacked by a pack of 'large-breed dogs' while out on a morning run.

Tracy Azpeitia, 17, was out jogging near her home in Newberry Springs on July 17 when she was surrounded and mauled by at least 10 dogs, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The girl's mom remembers her daughter asking a gut-wrenching question the moment she saw Tracy at the scene of the attack.

'I got close to her and [she asked me] "Mom, am I still pretty?" and I said, "Yeah, you're beautiful,"' Maria Azpeitia, told ABC7.

The incident happened just after 8 a.m. along the 30000 block of Newberry Road in a sparse, desert area of Southern California.

'I thought she was going to be fine because she walks to her bus stop every morning,' the mom added.

'I never thought anything would happen to her.'

Tracy was headed to a workout facility near the community center. A neighbor heard the young girl's screams and called 911.

Tracy Azpeitia, 17, was out jogging near her home in Newberry Springs on July 17 when she was surrounded and mauled by at least 10 dogs

The attack left her so badly injured that her own mother said she was unrecognizable when she arrived at the scene. Pictured: Tracy Azpeitia's injuries

'Deputies spoke with the victims parents and learned the victim had been out jogging when she was attacked by 10 or more large breed dogs,' sheriff's officials said in a written statement.

'The dogs bit the victim several times on her legs and arms. The bites caused large lacerations, abrasions, and removed flesh.'

A total of 16 dogs were seized from the area by San Bernardino County Animal Control following the attack. Investigators say the dogs were not leashed or fenced and are believed to have belonged to a nearby resident.

Tracy's stepfather, Carlos Ramirez, said the teen suffered hundreds of bites across her body, requiring more than 500 stitches to close lacerations and wounds from the attack.

'It was not one dog or two dogs, it was a lot,' Ramirez said. 'I mean, they bit every part of her body you could think of except for her ankles.'

The dogs bit the victim several times on her legs and arms. The bites caused large lacerations, abrasions, and removed flesh

'I didn't know who she was,' Tracy's mom, Maria Azpeitia (pictured), told ABC7. 'She was so dirty, covered in dirt, so I couldn't recognize my daughter. I recognized her bra, that's what I recognized'

Tracy was hospitalized at Loma Linda Children's Hospital and has since been released, though she still cannot walk on her own. Pictured: Tracy Azpeitia's injuries

The attack left her so badly injured that her own mother said she was unrecognizable when she arrived at the scene.

'I didn't know who she was,' Tracy's mom said. 'She was so dirty, covered in dirt, so I couldn't recognize my daughter. I recognized her bra, that's what I recognized.'

'I thought they ripped her arms off,' the distraught mother added. 'That's what it looked like.'

Tracy was hospitalized at Loma Linda Children's Hospital and has since been released, though she still cannot walk on her own.

A GoFundMe has been set up by Tracy's family to help with her recovery and ongoing medical care.

'She was getting ready to do her senior year of high school this year. Now, because of this, she has to stay home and go to several doctor's appointments and rehab. Due to the trauma, she cannot sleep at night; she's having nightmares,' the fundraising page reads.

Local residents have since voiced growing concern about stray and unrestrained dogs in the area.

A total of 16 dogs were seized from the area by San Bernardino County Animal Control following the attack. Pictured: Local dogs seen just outside the Newberry Springs scene

Investigators say the dogs were not leashed or fenced and are believed to have belonged to a nearby resident. Pictured: A local dog seen just outside the Newberry Springs scene

Local residents have since voiced growing concern about stray and unrestrained dogs in the area. Pictured: Kristine Watson, a Newberry Springs resident

'We have been in situations where we're out walking, and all of a sudden dogs rush out from a fence, or out of nowhere, and start circling around us,' Kristine Watson, a Newberry Springs resident, told ABC7.

The dogs are currently being housed at the Barstow Humane Society - about 17 miles from the attack site.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The attack occurred just two weeks before a separate fatal mauling in San Bernardino, where a 51-year-old woman was killed by a pack of dogs near a local park, the Victorville Daily Press reported.
A California man has pleaded guilty to shooting at a police helicopter with a semi-automatic rifle after his booze-fueled birthday party went dangerously awry.

Justin Derek Jennings, 40, has admitted guilt to one count of attempting to damage, destroy, disable, or wreck a special aircraft after he opened fire at a police helicopter in the posh Orange County neighborhood.

Jennings was celebrating his birthday on March 9, 2024, when he flew into a rage, running family members out of his home, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

Once most of the party-goers left, he grabbed a rifle from a safe inside his Laguna Niguel home and started firing off rounds of ammunition.

The straggling party attendees fled the home and called law enforcement, alerting the attention of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The department's helicopter flew around Jennings' home. He then started firing off gunshots from the second story of his house toward the police chopper.

'By repeatedly shooting at the helicopter, defendant willfully attempted to damage, destroy, or disable the helicopter, and also took a substantial step towards destroying or disabling the helicopter,' the indictment read.

Jennings continued shooting at the helicopter for 20 minutes until he exited and surrendered to the cops.

Justin Derek Jennings, 40, pleaded guilty to shooting at a police helicopter from his home (pictured)

The United States Attorney's Office said Jennings fired at the helicopter for 20 minutes before surrendering (file photo)

Law enforcement recovered a slew of weapons in his home, including two revolvers, two handguns, two rifles, and multiple rounds of ammunition, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Authorities also found bullet casings scattered throughout the home and a box of ammunition sitting on the couch near where Jennings was perched.

It's unclear what triggered Jennings's booze-fueled shooting. The county sheriff's office and the Los Angeles Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office initially charged Jennings, but the case was dismissed so the federal courts could prosecute him.

District Judge John W. Holcomb set a sentencing hearing for January 30, 2026. The maximum sentence is 20 years in federal prison.

Daily Mail reached out to Jennings's representation for comment on his behalf.
Sydney Sweeney can raise a glass to several weeks of bumper publicity - but she may soon be toasting with beer rather than champagne amid speculation that she could become the new face of Bud Light.

Industry experts believe Sweeney could turn the woke furor over her recent American Eagle jeans campaign to her favor by capitalizing on her popularity among conservative Americans - and earn a whopping sum in the process.

It's thought that the Anyone But You star could command a fee of as much as $10 million from Bud Light's parent company Anheuser-Busch if it wanted to sign her up for a full-scale endorsement deal.

The struggling beer firm is still looking to recover from an ad deal with the trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney that backfired spectacularly. The move cost the brand $1.4 billion in US sales and led to a 15.3 percent drop in revenue.

Christopher Chatham, an expert in negotiating celebrity endorsement deals at the consultancy Manatt, told the Daily Mail that Sweeney is a 'compelling candidate' to resuscitate Bud's sales.

'Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle campaign delivered undeniable commercial impact - denim sales surged and the brands stock climbed,' he said.

'That kind of performance makes her a compelling candidate for Bud Light, especially as the brand considers options in responding to past criticism.

'Beer brands pay for reach, resilience, and relevance - and Sweeney delivers all three, so it would not be surprising if a Bud Light endorsement deal were to approach or potentially reach the seven-figure range.'

Sydney Sweeney, 27, could earn a whopping sum if she signs on as the new face of Bud Light as the beer giant looks to reverse more than a year of slumping sales

The company's parent Anheuser-Busch is still looking to recover from the backlash that followed its April 2023 Dylan Mulvaney promotion

Bud Light's campaign with Mulvaney featured the influencer dressed as Breakfast at Tiffany's character Holly Golightly while celebrating 'day 365 of womanhood.'

The ad, posted on Instagram, prompted a national boycott and a steep decline in Bud Light's market position.

Although Anheuser-Busch executives have attempted to stabilize the brand through partnerships with celebrities like Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith, and Post Malone, Bud Light regained only 1.2 percentage points of its lost market share from May 2023 to February 2024.

After the backlash the company's CEO Michel Doukeris said the beer brand was making slow progress in recovering its customer base.

'It's not at the fast pace that we were expecting or that we've been working for,' he said, 'but nevertheless, progress is in place.'

Fox News contributor Jimmy Failla was the first to propose that Sweeney could sweep to Bud's rescue in a comment article on Tuesday Op-Ed.

'Hire Sydney Sweeney to be your next pitchperson immediately because she's everything your brand needs to get back on its feet,' Failla wrote.

Sweeney's campaign for American Eagle, which used the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' coincided with a 23 percent increase in the clothing brand's stock.

The campaign in question featured Mulvaney dressed as Breakfast at Tiffany's character Holly Golightly while celebrating 'day 365 of womanhood'

The ad, posted on Instagram, prompted a national boycott and a steep decline in Bud Light's market position

Bud Light regained only 1.2 percentage points of its lost market share from May 2023 to February 2024. Pictured: Dylan Mulvaney attends a Prime Video event in LA in 2022

However the ad also drew criticism from some commentators who accused it of using racially coded language.

Critics claimed the pun on 'great genes' referenced Sweeney's ancestry and suggested eugenics-related themes.

The ordeal even garnered the attention of President Donald Trump who rushed to Sweeney's defense against the 'woke' mafia coming for her after learning that she has been a registered Republican since last June.

'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!' the president said.

American Eagle has since denied the allegations, stating on social media: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story.'

Fox News contributor Jimmy Failla proposed the bold marketing ploy to help revive Bud Light's declining sales

Sweeney's potential role in the brand's recovery follows her success as the face of American Eagle's fall 2025 campaign

The campaign, which used the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' coincided with a 23 percent increase in American Eagle's stock

Sweeney, 27, also defended the campaign, stating in a press release that the brand makes her feel 'confident and comfortable in [her] own skin.'

The acrtress's potential role in a deal reviving Bud Light comes hot on the heels of another high-profile PR turnaround.

Tech company Astronomer experienced a swift image recovery after facing backlash from a viral video showing its CEO, Andy Byron, and Head of People, Kristin Cabot, in an intimate moment during a Coldplay concert's 'kiss cam' segment.

The clip quickly spread online, prompting Byron's resignation, followed shortly by Cabot's.

Sweeney's potential role in reviving Bud Light comes on the heels of another high-profile PR turnaround when Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured) delivered a 'masterclass in reputational recovery'

Tech company Astronomer experienced a swift image recovery after facing backlash from a viral video showing its CEO, Andy Byron, and Head of People, Kristin Cabot, in an intimate moment during a Coldplay concert's 'kiss cam' segment

According to Chatham, the company avoided further reputational fallout thanks to what he called a 'masterclass in reputational recovery' delivered by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow.

'The Gwyneth Paltrow and Astronomer campaign was a masterclass in reputational recovery - clever, unexpected, and culturally resonant. It reframed the narrative with wit and precision. Brands facing backlash will undoubtedly look to emulate that kind of strategic repositioning,' Chatham said.

If a deal with Bud Light ever actually comes to fruition, it could be a major boost for Anheuser-Busch.

For now, no deal has been officially announced.

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Sweeney and Bud Light for further comment.

Another ad featuring the Emmy-nominated actress has resurfaced in recent days.

During a Friday segment on Fox News' Outnumbered, the hosts revisited a June Baskin-Robbins campaign starring the 27-year-old, in which she expresses enthusiasm for the brands ice cream products.

The segment featured multiple panelists, including former President Donald Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who suggested that 'liberals are melting down' over the commercial, The Independent reported.

Another ad featuring the Emmy-nominated actress has resurfaced in recent days

During a Friday segment on Fox News' Outnumbered, the hosts revisited a June Baskin-Robbins campaign starring the 27-year-old

Sweeney stars in an ad for Baskin-Robbins ice cream released on June 26, 2025

'One online critic said this is a big fail because "ice cream tanks your testosterone, spikes your risk of diabetes, and wrecks your metabolism." I bet our HHS Secretary would agree with that,' Trump said, quoting a post from a self-described 'canceled scientist' who also claimed conservatives shouldnt celebrate the ad.

Trump went on to read another post that stated, 'This ad is gonna melt liberal minds, and now they want to eat ice cream.'

However, neither post cited during the segment appeared to originate from a verified left-leaning voice or prominent liberal commentator.

Despite this, Trump insisted the backlash was real.

'Liberals are already melting down about this,' she said. 'But to Emilys point, [Sweeney]s cute, shes funny, youve gotta embrace this stuff! Are they really going to start melting down on the left over ice cream?'
Penny Wong has united with other world leaders to condemn Israel's plan to intensify the war on Gaza and assume full control of the territory.

Minister Wong warned the looming military operation risked violating international law and putting the lives of hostages and civilians in more danger.

In a statement on Saturday, Senator Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to 'strongly reject' Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza.

'The plans that the government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law,' the ministers said.

'Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.'

The foreign ministers said the plans would aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.

'We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire,' they said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went against the advice of his military leaders to declare he intended to take military control of all of Gaza.

Australia has united with four countries to condemn Israel's plan to intensify the war on Gaza

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the military operation risked violating international law

Palestinians walk along a street near war-damaged buildings in Gaza

'We intend to,' Netanyahu told Fox News when asked if Israel would take over the entire territory.

Israel would eventually hand over the territory to Arab forces, which would govern it, he said.

'We don't want to keep it,' Netanyahu said.

'We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body.'

The move could displace an estimated one million Palestinians and has sparked international outrage.

Germany has suspended arms sales to Israel, concerned the weapons could be used in Gaza.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative whose support for Israel was a foundation of his election campaign, said he would not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza 'until further notice'.

The development marks a major shift in German foreign policy.

The UN Security Council is set to discuss the proposed escalation while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to discuss the war during a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, in Queenstown.

The Israeli government is pursuing 'total victory' in its war with Hamas, which attacked the nation's south in October 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

Israel's retaliatory assaults have killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Some 200 people, almost half of them children, have reportedly died of starvation.

The worsening humanitarian situation has driven plans from the UK, France and Canada to call for the recognition of Palestine at a UN meeting in September, pending conditions such as Hamas returning the remaining hostages.

Australian government ministers have said the nation's recognition of Palestinian statehood is a matter of 'when, not if'.
Solutions for Ukraine's security are important for everyone in Europe  Zelenskyy after conversation with Estonian PM

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal the issues of the peace process and European integration.

"Grateful for the support. I informed about our diplomatic work with partners to end the war and guarantee common security. We share the view that solutions for Ukraine's security are important for everyone in Europe. We also discussed matters at the European Union level, in particular the situation in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Saturday following the conversation.

He stressed the importance of Estonia's principled position on fair conditions for Ukraine and Moldova to move to the European Union. "There can be no divisions and injustice on this path. Unity must work," the President of Ukraine said.
A former Brisbane student has accused Chinese real estate firms in Melbourne of excluding English speaking Aussies.

Drew Pavlou captured footage of several firms during a visit to Melbourne's Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street in the heart of the CBD.

The Aussie suggested that the Chinese real estate firms 'excluded' English speakers, but his followers were left divided by his video.

Mr Pavlou, who describes himself as a 'Western civilisation enjoyer', said he counted 12 Chinese real estate firms on two main shopping streets in the Melbourne CBD.

'Most of them advertise only in Chinese to foreign buyers. English speakers are excluded,' he said on social media.

'Nobody can explain how this benefits Australia during the worst housing crisis in our national history.'

In the full video, published to YouTube, Mr Pavlou said he 'counted within one 500m stretch 15 bubble tea stores and about 12 Chinese real estate firms'.

Drew Pavlou accused Chinese real estate firms of 'excluding English speakers' during a video documenting his visit Melbourne's CBD

Mr Pavlou spotted 12 Chinese real estate firms on Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street

'(They) only advertise in the Chinese language for Chinese people to buy property in Australia,' he claimed. 'It was just beautiful.'

Mr Pavlou told news.com.au his video was 'not racially motivated'.

He said his family background was Greek Australian and he would equally oppose Greek real estate agencies advertising to overseas buyers.

'Young Australians are locked out of the housing market due to record-high prices and low supply, yet prime property stock is being marketed directly to offshore buyers who will never live here,' he said.

'That inevitably drives demand upward and puts extra pressure on ordinary families and first-home buyers.'

Mr Pavlou claimed a Nord International branch, captured in his video, did not include 'a single piece of English language advertising' in the shop window.

Some viewers blasted the Aussie and criticised the location of his video.

'You're literally walking through Chinatown, of course there's going to be Chinese restaurants. It would be like counting every Italian restaurant in Lygon Street or Pho Place in Springvale,' one person said.

Kristy Zhang, the director and co-founder of Austrump Hosting, said the real estate business 'occasionally' uses Chinese language materials

Mr Pavlou was criticised for focussing his search near Chinatown (pictured)

'When you visit Chinatown and it's Chinese,' another wrote.

Someone else questioned: 'Mate you were literally in Chinatown, what do you expect?'

However, Mr Pavlou, who staged a year-long protest at the University of Queensland against Beijing's anti-democracy activities in Hong Kong, hit back at his critics.

'Chinatown is Little Bourke Street, I was on Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street,' he wrote in response to those who criticised him.

Both Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street intersect Chinatown's Little Bourke Street.

A spokesperson for Elite Real Estate, which is featured in the video, said all of their listings were advertised in English and that their multilingual team worked with clients from all backgrounds.

Kristy Zhang, the director and co-founder of Austrump Hosting, a real estate agency that was also featured, said her business served a 'diverse client base that reflects Melbourne's multicultural community'.

'While many of our team members are multilingual and we occasionally use Chinese language materials to assist clients who prefer it, we also regularly produce and distribute all our marketing materials - including flyers and brochures - in English,' she said.

'We work with clients from all backgrounds and are committed to providing inclusive and professional service to everyone, regardless of their language or cultural background.

'Our focus is always on meeting the needs of property owners and renters across Melbourne.'

Daily Mail contacted Nord International and Mr Pavlou for comment.
The police officer killed when a gunman opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Friday was identified as father-of-two David Rose.

The 33-year-old Rose  an officer with Dekalb County Police Department  had only recently joined the force in September. He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two children.

'This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father,' DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said during a press conference.

'There is a mother and a father, as well as siblings who also share in this traumatic loss. Lets join together to give this family the support it needs.'

Rose was shot by a gunman firing wildly at CDC buildings near Emory University.

The officer was suffering from critical injuries when he was located at the scene as gunfire erupted from the CVS located at Emory Point, a mixed-used development across the street from the CDC headquarters.

Rose was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

The shooter was located on the floor above the CVS and died during a firefight with police. It wasn't immediately clear if his injuries were from officers or if they were self-inflicted.

Dekalb County police officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed while responding to the shooting at the Centers for Disease Control

Pictured: Police officers set up a blockade of a road near the CDC, where several buildings took fire

CDC Director Susan Monarez, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recognized Rose's death as a brave sacrifice.

The shooter, who has yet to be identified, is believed to have been targeting the CDC, not nearby Emory University.

CNN reported that the shooter's family members spoke to law enforcement and told them that he blamed his recent illness on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Emory University students began hearing gunshots late Friday afternoon. Eventually, the university sent out a desperate alert at around 4:50pm pleading with students to 'RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.'

A little over two hours after the alert was sent out, Atlanta Police confirmed that the shooter was dead.

'There is no ongoing threat to the Emory Campus or the surrounding neighborhood. The incident involved a single shooter, who is now deceased,' Atlanta Police said in a statement.

No civilians were shot throughout the course of the attack, said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

Pictured: Bullet holes are seen in Building 24 at the CDC, which is just down the road from Emory University

Pictured: An officer with a rifle gets ready to respond to the scene of the attack

Pictured: Two women who appear to be CVS employees hug each other. The shooter barricaded himself in the floor above the CVS while shooting at police officers

The shooting ended at the CVS, but bullets from the shooter's gun hit at least four buildings that are part of the CDC's headquarters.

A photo shared to social media showed at least two bullet holes in two separate windows.

A CDC employee told CNN that he saw a man approach the steps in front of the building, pull out a rifle and open fire.

Law enforcement officials said the shooter had four different weapons  two hand guns, one rifle and one shotgun  and was wearing what looked to be a surgical mask.

The CDC ultimately wasn't breached. At around 10pm ET, the CDC gave their employees the all clear order via text message.

'Local law enforcement continues to clear Roybal Campus buildings but has determined that there is no longer a threat to CDC staff,' the text message read.

Roughly 92 children were at the employee daycare at the CDC campus, which had parents panicking since they weren't allowed to immediately go pick them up because of shelter-in-place orders.

When the all-clear order was given roughly five hours after the shooting began, that's when the children were finally reunited with their parents.
A homosexual student has lost a battle against Macquarie University after claiming his placement at a Catholic school resulted in discrimination and victimisation.

Sydney teaching student Simon Margan argued the university should have known it was 'dangerous' to assign him to a Catholic school for a three-week placement in October 2022.

He argued the university was aware of his sexuality and that it was a 'notorious fact' that religious schools are opposed to LGBT+ rights.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal rejected the complaint from proceeding to a full hearing in a decision published on Friday.

'I have refused to give Mr Margan permission for his complaints of homosexual discrimination and victimisation against the university to go ahead,' Deputy President, Acting Judge Nancy Hennessy ruled.

'The conduct which Mr Margan has identified as being detrimental to him as a homosexual person or which he perceives as being unfair, dangerous or done in retribution for complaining, is lacking in substance.

Mr Margan's complaints against Macquarie University were twofold.

He claimed the institution discriminated against him by assigning him to the school, despite concerns being raised and initiated a 'fitness-to-practise' process after he requested to be removed from the placement.

A homosexual student has lost his discrimination bid against Macquarie University (pictured)

The homosexual student claimed it was 'dangerous' to assign him to a Catholic school as part of a teaching placement (stock image)

Mr Margan also complained that the university 'victimised' him in refusing to allow him to withdraw from the course without penalty after he complained the Catholic school had discriminated against him and harassed him.

He also claimed that Macquarie University exposed him to 'additional detriment' when it informed the Catholic school of his complaints during the placement.

According to the findings, Mr Margan initially said his only preference regarding his placement location was that the school was accessible by public transport.

He did not take advantage of the preference system the university requested he use and was ultimately assigned to the Catholic school.

Mr Margan did not dispute this, but argued he was never asked if he objected to being assigned to a religious school and made his homosexuality and objections to placement at a religious school known.

He further claimed he had little time to raise objections, given he was assigned to the school just five days before he was due to start

After receiving an 'unsatisfactory' grade for the placement, the university implemented 'fitness-to-practise' processes relating to Mr Margan.

He then requested assistance from the university relating to his grade and the 'problem of harassment' he said he faced during the placement.

Simon Margan claimed Macquarie University 'victimised' him over its handling of the placement. Pictured is an LGBT+ flag at the university campus

The university asked Mr Margan to make a formal complaint and told him the 'fitness-to-practise' process would be suspended while investigations proceeded.

About three months later, the university found there was no evidence of harassment or discrimination.

However, it rule that the university failed to give Mr Margan sufficient opportunity to withdraw from his studies after he was allocated to the Catholic school and that the school supervisor failed to give him adequate feedback.

He was given permission to withdraw from the placement unit without penalty and the 'fitness-to-practise' process was abandoned.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal Deputy President, Acting Judge Nancy Hennessy handed down her decision on Friday

Acting Judge Hennessy found that Mr Margan's claims of discrimination and victimisation lacked substance.

'Contrary to Mr Margan's submission, there is no duty of care under the Anti-Discrimination Act for the University to take 'every reasonable precaution to prevent the reasonably foreseeable harm' of being placed in a Catholic school'.

'Even if the university placed Mr Margan in a Catholic school knowing that he is homosexual, that is not a breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act.

'Nor has the university victimised Mr Margan by subjecting him to a 'detriment' because he complained about harassment or discrimination by staff at the school.'
Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that 'decisions without Ukraine' would not bring peace to the region after Trump announced he will meet Putin in Alaska next week for a 'peace summit'.

Zelensky ruled out ceding any territory to Russia as Putin continued his offensive last night, killing four civilians and wounding 10.

Writing on social media, the Ukrainian President said: 'Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing.

'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.'

He said Ukraine was 'ready for real decisions that can bring peace' but said it should be a 'dignified peace', without giving details.

The post on Saturday came after US President Donald Trump confirmed on his Truth social media platform, that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15.

'The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska,' Trump wrote. 'Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'

Despite the announcement, two people were killed in a Russian strike on a civilian bus in Kherson and two others were killed in a Russian FPV drone strike on a car in Zaporizhzhia on Friday night.

US President Donald Trump confirmed on his Truth social media platform, that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15

Zelensky ruled out ceding any territory to Russia as Putin continues his offensive, having resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe and Kyiv for a ceasefire

Despite the announcement of the summit Russian troops continued killing overnight

Two people were killed in a Russian strike on a civilian bus in Kherson and two others were killed in a Russian FPV drone strike on a car in Zaporizhzhia

Last night, rescuers pulled a wounded man born in 1963 and a deceased woman born in 1967 from the rubble of a residential building in Nikopol

On Friday, Trump spoke to reporters about his attempts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, saying he would start by meeting with Putin.

The president confirmed that some negotiations on territory in Ukraine would need to take place to end the war that has lasted three and a half years.

'It's complicated, nothing easy,' he previewed. 'It's very complicated but we're going to get some back and we're going to get some switched.'

Trump said his focus was on ending the war and 'saving lives.'

'I think if we didn't come, Ukraine and Russia would have ended up being a World War, and I stopped that,' he said.

The summit will be the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Russia and the United States since former President Joe Biden met with Putin in 2021.

Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in 2022 after meeting with Biden, who refused to meet with Putin after the invasion.

The soon-to-be meeting also marks the first time Putin - or any Russian leader - has visited the U.S. since 2015 meeting when Putin met with then-President Barack Obama at the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York City on September 28, 2015.

The surprise announcement came just one day after the Trump's new deadline for Russia to commit to peace talks expired.

Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in 2022 after meeting with Biden, who refused to meet with Putin after the invasion

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes

In Dnipro, a missile strike triggered fires and damage to civilian infrastructure with three people injured, a woman, 41, and men aged 21 and 29

In Kharkiv region, two were injured in shelling of Chuhuiv, and Zolochiv was hit in a Shahed drone strike igniting fires

Ukrainian air defences downed one of two Iskander-K missiles and 16 out of the 47 military drones unleashed by Russia

Tens of thousands of people have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes.

Last night, rescuers pulled a wounded man born in 1963 and a deceased woman born in 1967 from the rubble of a residential building in Nikopol.

In Dnipro, a missile strike triggered fires and damage to civilian infrastructure with three people injured, a woman, 41, and men aged 21 and 29.

In Kharkiv region, two were injured in shelling of Chuhuiv, and Zolochiv was hit in a Shahed drone strike igniting fires.

Ukrainian air defences downed one of two Iskander-K missiles and 16 out of the 47 military drones unleashed by Russia.

Russia was today forced to close airports in Vladikavkaz, Kazan, Kaluga, Nizhnekamsk, Samara, and Ulyanovsk as Ukrainian drones attacked.

Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine this year have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether a summit would bring peace any closer.

Putin has ruled out holding talks with Zelensky at this stage. Even though the Ukrainian president says a meeting is necessary to make headway on a deal.
A transgender offender who dumped soiled adult nappies outside nurseries as well as smearing excrement on milk bottles has avoided a jail sentence.

A judge heard how Abbi Taylor, from South Shields in Tyne and Wear and who also appeared on a court list as Martin Tarling, had apparently suffered a 'difficult time' previously in a men's prison on remand.

Nottinghamshire Magistrates' Court was told the 46-year-old identifies as a woman but is being held at a men's jail - and was referred to with both male and female pronouns during a hearing.

Taylor has now been sentenced to two years in prison, though this was suspended for two years.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of dumping bags of toxic materials - nappies containing human waste - at nurseries in South Tyneside.

Taylor also admitted stealing clinical waste bags from one of the businesses and breaching a criminal behaviour order previously imposed by Nottinghamshire Magistrates' Court by being within 10m of a nursery without a reasonable excuse.

After a previous sentencing hearing in April was adjourned, Newcastle Crown Court heard Taylor had been remanded in custody for almost three months after pleading guilty to three further breaches of a criminal behaviour order.

Jane Foley, prosecuting, said staff at a nursery in Cleadon noticed nappies 'much larger than the ones they used' were being dumped on the premises 'on a fortnightly basis'.

Abbi Taylor dumped soiled nappies outside nurseries - the offender is seen here outside South Tyneside Magistrates Court in Tyne and Wear in December 2023

Police have released this mugshot of the defendant who was also listed as Martin Tarling

And in May 2023, a female member of staff saw Taylor climbing out of one of the bins and running off.

The manager at a South Shields nursery which suffered similar incidents reported seeing someone 'rooting around inside' one of the clinical waste bins in January 2023, the court heard.

Another nursery in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, had up to 50 nappies strewn around the car park and excrement smeared on children's milk bottles and the fire escape - with staff eventually refusing to open up in the morning, Ms Foley said.

In April 2023, Nottinghamshire magistrates imposed a three-year criminal behaviour order preventing Taylor from going within 100m of nurseries after she was convicted of causing harassment, alarm or distress at a nursery after being seen climbing out of a nappy bin wearing a large adult nappy over her trousers.

Taylor was interviewed after that incident and admitted to going into a bin 'to sleep and find comfort'.

The court was told of similar previous incidents going back to 2014.

Ms Foley said in June this year Taylor admitted three breaches of a criminal behaviour order with bin-related incidents.

In one incident, on September 25 last year, an outraged resident at a block of flats filmed Taylor standing inside one of the communal bins, hurriedly pulling up her trousers as she climbed out of the bin and ran off after being confronted.

Taylor is seen here gesturing after a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court in December 2023

Abbi Taylor, formerly Martin Tarling, was filmed rummaging through a bin looking for nappies

The offender was shown struggling to pull up a pair of trousers when confronted

The court was told Taylor's Facebook profile referred to being an 'adult baby diaper lover'.

Nick Lane, defending, said Taylor 'has had a particularly difficult time in custody' and 'been subject to a number of physical assaults'.

He told the court: 'He has taken up three opportunities for employment in custody.

'First in horticulture where he had stones repeatedly thrown at him by prisoners.

'He was transferred to the library where he lasted half a day before being assaulted.'

Mr Lane said Taylor was transferred back to the reception wing because the prison authorities said 'that was the only place he could be kept safe,' but is 'not leaving his cell out of fear'.

The court heard a mental health report had concluded Taylor does not suffer from any diagnosable acute mental health condition.

The defendant had 'awful personal circumstances and upbringing,' it was said.

The judge, Recorder Richard Herrmann, told Taylor: 'This is a highly unusual and highly troubling set of offences, made all the more troubling by your failure to properly and fully explain the motivation behind your bizarre offending.'

He said he would suspend the two-year prison sentence for two years after hearing about Taylor's time in custody, saying: 'I know that you know what to expect if you breach this order in any way.'

Taylor, who will have a GPS monitoring tag, was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation activity.

A spokesperson for South Tyneside Council said: 'This was an unusual, complex and disturbing case which has been brought before the courts thanks to the hard work and persistence of our environmental enforcement and legal teams.

'We would like to commend the courage of nursery staff in safeguarding the children in their care, as well as for the assistance provided to our investigation.

'The offending has caused serious stress, disturbance and inconvenience to parents, staff, children and the public and we are satisfied that our investigation has resulted in the person responsible being convicted of appropriate criminality.'
An 11-year-old British girl has died after being pulled unconscious from a swimming pool in a Spanish holiday hotspot.

The schoolgirl was found in the water in a complex in Morro Jable, Fuertevenura on Thursday and was resuscitated by an on-duty lifeguard, before being rushed to hospital.

But due to the severity of her injuries, she was airlifted to a hospital in Las Palmas of Gran Canaria for further treatment, where she died on Friday after being pronounced clinically brain dead.

Spanish police confirmed the child's death and clarified she was 11 years old and not five, as had been first reported by Spanish media.

They also said she got into difficulties in a children's pool where the water depth was only 30 centimetres.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'An 11-year-old British girl was taken to Fuerteventura Hospital on Thursday afternoon from a hotel in Morro Jable on the island's south coast before being airlifted to the Maternal and Child University Hospital in Gran Canaria.

'The alarm was raised around 1pm on Thursday and the youngster had gone into cardiac arrest.

'The pool she was in was a small children's pool which was only 30 centimetres deep.

An 11-year-old British girl has died after being pulled unconscious from a swimming pool during a holiday in Fuerteventura

General view of a beach in Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, where the tragedy took place

'The autopsy will help determine whether she suffered some sort of indisposition or health problem which might explain why she got into difficulties in such shallow water.

'She died in the hospital in Las Palmas yesterday.'

'We are not naming the hotel where this happened.'

Daily Mail has approached the Foreign Office for comment.

News of the British girl's death emerged as the Spanish Royal Federation of Lifesaving and Rescue (RFESS), the national governing body for lifesaving and rescue sports in Spain, said it had never seen so many summer drownings in Spain in the past decade and described the situation this year as 'catastrophic.'

A total of 209 people have died from drowning in May, June and July in Spain so far in 2025, according to figures it has been collating since 2016 which show this year is the worst yet.

Ninety-two of them lost their lives in July alone.

RFESS president Samuel Gomez Mayor said: 'We are experiencing a catastrophic summer, which confirms that water does not take vacations.

'We need to act immediately and expand the presence of trained lifeguards beyond the high season and also protect inland natural environments.'

The tragedy comes just over a week after a British brother and sister downed in the sea while on holiday in Spain.

Ameiya, 13, and 11-year-old Ricardo - known affectionately as Maya and Jubs - were pulled from the sea in Salou after getting into difficulty in the water, despite their father's frantic attempt to save them.

The children, from Birmingham, were pictured smiling on Llarga Beach, where they had been holidaying with their parents, Shanice Del Brocco and Ricardo Sr, just hours before the disaster unfolded on July 29.

Local officials confirmed a yellow warning flag had been flying at the time to signal rough sea conditions - but lifeguards had finished their shift at 8pm, with the alarm raised just before 8.50pm.

Their father, Ricardo Sr, dived in to try and save them, but all three soon became overwhelmed by the rough conditions.

Rescuers pulled them from the water and carried out CPR on the sand. Ricardo was successfully resuscitated, but the children could not be saved.

Chief Inspector Jose Luis Gargallo, from the local police, said: 'When the officers arrived, there were three people with significant difficulties in getting out of the sea. All resuscitation manoeuvres were performed on the children, but without success.'

He added: 'We did everything possible. We put the father in a safe area and also took the minor and performed resuscitation on him but without success.'

A GoFundMe page launched by family friend Holly Marquis-Johnson described Maya and Jubs as 'beautiful, bright, and deeply loved' children who had been taken 'far too soon'.

It also comes weeks after a British two-year-old died after being pulled from the pool of a private villa in Ibiza.

The tragic incident took place on June 5 in the affluent Sant Joan municipality in the northern part of the Spanish island.

The area is a popular holiday destination known for its luxury properties and whitewashed architecture.

Emergency services rushed to the property following reports of an unresponsive child.

According to local news outlet Diario de Ibiza, the British toddler was found without a pulse floating in the swimming pool.

Despite efforts to resuscitate the child for over an hour, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy and his family had been staying in the holiday home, it is understood.
Police have arrested hundreds of asylum seekers taking jobs for delivery firms as part of a week long crackdown across the UK.

A total of 1,780 people were stopped and spoken to as part of the operation, described as a 'nationwide intensification week', targeting illegal working hotspots across the UK between July 20 and 27.

Of these, around 280 were arrested in areas including Hillingdon in north-west London, Dumfries in Scotland, and Birmingham.

Some 89 have been detained pending removal from the country and 53 are now having their asylum support reviewed, which the Government said could result in their support being suspended or withdrawn.

As well as the arrests, 51 businesses including car washes and restaurants were issued with penalty notices that could see them handed hefty fines if they are found to have hired people without the right to work in the UK.

Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have pledged to ramp up facial verification and fraud checks over the coming months to prevent people illegally working as riders without permission from Government.

Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting.

Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said: 'Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it. That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK.'

Police and immigration enforcement officers question an Uber and Deliveroo driver in Wood Green, north London, as part of the government's nationwide delivery driver crackdown

An L-Plate moped delivery driver seen at Wood Green, North London, in March this year

Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle (pictured) said the Government is 'cracking down hard' on illegal working across the UK

Eddy Montgomery, enforcement director at the Home Office, said officers were taking action 'around the clock' against 'those who think they can get away with working illegally'.

Officials had indicated there would be an increase in work to target areas of suspected activity, as ministers hope to tackle the 'pull factors' attracting migrants to the UK.

Immigration enforcement teams will receive 5 million from the 100 million in funding already announced for border security, aimed at increasing visits by officers in these areas over the coming months, it said.

It comes after the Government announced it would share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms in a bid to disrupt such hotspots.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives wanted to strip asylum seekers of their status and deport them, if they work illegally, and claimed 'this story has only happened' because he 'exposed what Labour refused to see'.

He described one hotel housing asylum seekers as a 'black-market, courier hub in plain sight', referring to food delivery riders he had seen allegedly operating out of the site without permission.

'Labour are now boasting about arrests, but we know they are too scared to actually deport anyone,' Mr Philp continued.

'People breaking the law are still being put up in hotels and handed benefits. It's a racket and Labour are letting it run.'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp found fast food delivery bicycles ouitside a central London asylum hotel last month

A large number of delivery driver bikes were found parked outside the hotel despite a ban on asylum seekers working

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The Tory politician visited an asylum hotel in central London and posted a video showing bicycles fitted with delivery boxes for Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats parked outside.

Days later, the Home Office said it had called in all three companies for a dressing down  and the meeting led to pledges to increase the use of 'facial recognition' systems on rider apps, such as those used by banks to confirm someone's identity.

However, Deliveroo was refused access to hotel location data despite assurances it would be treated confidentially, the Times reported.

Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said at the time: 'The fact that the Home Office is refusing to help them just shows how topsy-turvy this country's approach to migration has become.

'Crossing the Channel illegally is a crime. Working here illegally is a crime.

'Too many people are brazenly breaking the rules and it's a disgrace that the Home Office is aiding and abetting them.'
Salim Mehajer has hinted at launching a comeback as he continues to enjoy his newfound freedom.

The bankrupt property developer and one-time Auburn deputy mayor walked from a western Sydney prison as a free man on July 18 following a five-year stint behind bars.

He had been in prison since November 2020, when he was jailed for lying to a court, and has served back-to-back sentences for a raft of other offences, including domestic violence against an ex-partner.

Mehajer took to Instagram on Saturday to share a selfie, sporting a white Adidas sports-style shirt and black sunglasses.

'The comeback will be greater than the setback,' Mehajer wrote.

The Instagram story was captioned 'inshallah', which translates to God willing in Arabic.

The update comes after he showed off a fresh haircut to his 129,000 followers last Monday.

Gone was the man bun he sported when he left John Morony Correctional Centre as a free man two weeks earlier.

Mehajer has since visited the hairdresser to get it chopped off and flaunted his new look with followers last Monday.

Salim Mehajer hinted at a comeback when he shared an Instagram selfie on Saturday

The cryptic life update comes days after the disgraced former politician showed off a new look

The close-up selfie showed Mehajer, usually only seen in tight-fitting suits, enjoying his new freedom, sporting a grey tracksuit as he relaxed on a bed.

The selfie was captioned with his initials in the top left corner.

Upon his release, Mehajer went straight to Westfield Parramatta to get a new driver's licence at Service NSW.

He then headed to a cosmetic dentist in Hornsby in Sydney's north, where he spent an hour getting his teeth fixed.

Mehajer this week announced a major update in a court appeal against his domestic violence convictions and sentence, which he argued was 'defective' and unfair.

He told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Monday that solicitor Zali Burrows, whose signature Mehajer was previously found guilty of forging, would represent him.

His bid for a three-month adjournment in the appeal was granted by Justice Julie Ward.

Mehajer was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and nine months' jail, but walked free last month when his non-parole period expired.

Two weeks ago, Mehajer sported a man bun when he was released from jail

Salim Mehajer (pictured on Monday) is enjoying his new freedom after a five year stint behind bars

The NSW State Parole Authority recently ruled that Mehajer had completed all possible programs in prison and that his rehabilitation was better served in the community under the supervision of a psychologist and community corrections officers.

As part of his strict parole conditions, Mehajer must undergo drug and alcohol testing, participate in domestic violence programs if directed, and not communicate with any outlaw motorcycle gang bikies or associates.

He is also banned from contacting his domestic violence victim and travelling to the NSW Central Coast.

Mehajer reappeared on social media within hours of his release from jail.

'I am forever grateful,' he shared on Instagram.

'I am fully committed to fulfilling the expectations placed before me.

'Additionally, I express my sincere appreciation for the unwavering support of my family and friends, as well as the dedication of my legal representative, who has consistently stood by me throughout this journey.'
A three-year-old girl who was given paracetamol for what doctors thought was a fever is fighting for her life as it turned out to be a rare and deadly genetic illness that can only be managed with a 500,000 treatment.

Katie Hughes was rushed to hospital after having a terrifying seizure but doctors blamed the fit on a high temperature.

Her parents Grant and Jessica Hughes were reportedly sent home with painkillers and told not to worry.



Devastatingly the seizures continued and after her seventh attack her parents demanded an explanation, so the doctors ordered genetic tests despite no family history connected to her symptoms.

Katie was diagnosed with CLN2 Batten Disease - a cruel, terminal brain disorder that will slowly rob her of her ability to walk, talk and see.

Doctors have warned that she may not live past the age of eight to 12, meaning her parents could lose their daughter before she even reaches secondary school.

Grant, said: 'I'd never even heard of [the disease] before.

'Jessica called me at work and told me to come home because the doctor wanted to give us the news together.

Katie Hughes (pictured) was rushed to hospital after having a terrifying seizure but doctors blamed the fit on a high temperature

Katie was diagnosed with CLN2 Batten Disease - a cruel, terminal brain disorder that will slowly rob her of her ability to walk, talk and see

Despite their heartbreak, the brave parents are determined to stay strong for Katie and her big sister MacKenzie, age seven (pictured)

'I'm not a crying person but I was tearing up - we were in pieces.

'They told us what was going to happen in the future but they didn't straight away say she was going to die. I felt like they were skirting around it.

'I asked them outright what her life expectancy was and they told me it would be early childhood.

'It's devastating. It's hard to wrap your head around because she's normal - she's running around fine but all her skills will slowly go.'

Unfortunately there is no cure for her illness but a 500,000 a year enzyme therapy can help slow the progress.

The staggering therapy has to be given directly into the brain every two weeks through a permanent device.

The NHS has a special deal in place for children who have already started the treatment or who can start it before the end of 2025, according to the NICE website.

But new patients after that may not be able to get the treatment on the NHS at all, because health bosses say there's not enough long-term evidence it works and the price is too high for the NHS budget.

Doctors have warned that she may not live past the age of eight to 12, meaning her parents could lose their daughter before she even reaches secondary school

Unfortunately there is no cure for her illness but a 500,000 a year enzyme therapy can help slow the progress

Katie's parents are in a desperate race against time to try to get her onto the treatment before the deadline - or raise enough money to go private or even abroad if they have to.

'As a mother you're always there for your children and I'm expected to just sit down and slowly watch her deteriorate and go,' Jessica told NeedToKnow.

'It's just hard to see that because she's only three - she hasn't even lived her life yet.

'She's too young to understand what's happening to her.'

Katie's symptoms first appeared in January this year.



Despite their heartbreak, the brave parents are determined to stay strong for Katie and her big sister MacKenzie, age seven.

Jessica added: 'Everything is on a timer now.

'We want to take her to theme parks and Disney World while she can still enjoy it.

Katie's parents are in a desperate race against time to try to get her onto the treatment before the deadline - or raise enough money to go private or even abroad if they have to

Katie's loved ones have launched a fundraiser to help cover the sky-high treatment costs, specialist equipment and special days out

'Even that's not simple - because she's epileptic we have to pay 100 for special glasses so she can cope with the flashing lights.

'We put on a brave face every day but secretly it's destroying. We have to be there for her - and for MacKenzie too.'

Katie's loved ones have launched a fundraiser to help cover the sky-high treatment costs, specialist equipment and special days out.

Grant added: 'We just want Katie to have the best days we can possibly give her.

'She deserves to smile, to laugh and to feel loved every single day we have left.'
Police have made more than 400 arrests at protests across the country today as the UK was engulfed by a wave of pro-Palestine and anti-migrant demonstrations.

In London, the Metropolitan Police have cracked down on protesters after they swarmed Parliament Square holding placards in support of the proscribed terror group Palestine Action.

Chaos ensued shortly after the protest began just before 1pm, as officers were seen lifting protesters - some sitting and some lying flat - off the ground before escorting them away.

A video shared by protest organisers Defend Our Juries appeared to show a blind man in a wheelchair being arrested by officers as he was escorted from the area to chants of 'shame on you' from other protesters.

The group claimed between 600 and 700 people are participating in the protest today and claimed the Met were preparing for 'the largest mass arrest in their history'.

At around 9pm, the force said it had arrested 466 people so far, having vowed to make further arrests for 'anyone expressing support for Palestine Action'.

Eight arrests were also issued for other offences, that included five assaults on officers.

The ban of the group means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Palestine Action supporters have swarmed London's Parliament Square as hundreds of police officers have begun carrying out arrests

Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square in London in response to a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action today

Police officers arrested an 89-year-old protestor in London today

Prior to her arrest, the elderly protestor was pictured with a placard in support of Palestine Action

Protesters hold signs vowing support for Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday

Police officers attend the scene of the pro Palestine 'Lift The Ban' protest at Parliament Square in London today

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

A protester is carried away by police officers at a Lift The Ban demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action

Elsewhere, police forces braced for potential disorder ahead of a wave of anti-migrant protests taking place from Bournemouth to Newcastle amid rising anger over the Government's decision to house asylum seekers in hotels.

Violent scuffles broke out between protesters and police in Nuneaton, where there had been particular concerns of tensions boiling over.

Nuneaton and Bedworth police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy was arrested at the protest for making threats to cause criminal damage. He remains in custody.

The force said: 'Today we have worked with our partners and our communities as a peaceful protest in Nuneaton took place

'Protesters gathered outside the Town Hall from 12pm and left the area at around 3.30pm. We maintained a presence in the area throughout to ensure the safety of all protesters and our communities.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked the Metropolitan Police for 'dealing with the very small number of people whose actions crossed the line into criminality.'

She told Sky News: 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation.

'Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear - this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority.'

Hundreds of pro-Palestine campaigners are descending on London's Parliament Square

Campaigners were seen brandishing placards showing their support for Palestine Action

The Met has released this photo of Palestine Action protesters swarming Parliament Square during a protest this afternoon

A wide variety of messages were seen on display today, with some activists wearing signs saying 'I am on duty to stop genocide', while others held placards that read: 'Our right to non-violent protest.'

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said that the 'mass arrests' at today's protests under UK terrorism law were 'deeply concerning'.

Describing the protestors as 'peaceful', she added: Peaceful protest is a fundamental right.

'The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists.'

One woman in her 50s attending the Parliament Square protest told the Mail: 'Its a disgrace. They should hang their heads in shame. Its an outrage. Were a police state.'

Another woman, in her 40s who gave her job as a teaching assistant, said: 'I dont care about prison. I dont care about losing my job. Im on the side of history.'

Martin Drummond, a 76-year-old retired research scientist from Norwich, was among the demonstrators in Parliament Square today.

He said he was prepared to be arrested as he was 'outraged' by the restriction on 'free speech' created by Palestine Actions proscription.

He said: 'I'm here to protect our free speech - it's absolutely crucial. Our forefathers fought for free speech and Im bloody well going to defend it.

He did say he was unenthusiastic about the prospect of being detained by police, adding: 'I'd like to go home today. I'm not regarding it as a badge of honour. I have never supported anything like this before.'

In response to the video of a blind man being arrested, a Met Police spokesperson told the Mail: 'The law applies to everyone in the same way.

Police officers stand guard in Parliament Square, on the day of a rally organised by the campaign group called 'Defend Our Juries'

A protester in Parliament Square in London is seen alongside police officers today

Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square ahead of the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action

LONDON: A man is dragged away by police officers during a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday

LIVERPOOL: A Police officer tries to separate anti-immigration and pro-immigration protesters as they clash at a Defend Refugees: Stop the Far Right rally

NEWCASTLE: Police arrest a man as protesters converge near the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle this afternoon

'If someone who is arrested has a disability then officers will take care to understand any limitations, to make sure that person is moved safely and to risk assess any subsequent detention.'

Among counter-protesters was Jan Bowman, a 69-year-old illustrator from Scotland, who claimed a pro-Palestine activist tried to snatch an anti-Hamas placard she was carrying.

She said: 'It was just so childish. We have to stand up for free speech. They wont allow it, they wont debate.

'I'm a non Jewish supporter of Jewish people. I think Zionism is just the wish for Jewish people to have a homeland after centuries of persecution.'

Before today's protest, more than 200 people had been arrested at other Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'The Met is very experienced at 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.

'Anyone showing support for Palestine Action can expect to be arrested. I would once again urge people to consider the seriousness of that outcome.

'An arrest under the Terrorism Act can have very real long-term implications - from travel, to employment, to finances. Also, as we have seen this week, it is very likely an arrest in these circumstances will lead to a charge.'

Two marches organised by the Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate, respectively, will also be held on consecutive days in central London.

The coalition's supporters will march from Russell Square to Whitehall followed by an assembly with speeches. The Met said one person had been arrested at the march for 'a placard showing support for Palestine Action'.

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

Protestors hold placards during the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in Westminster today

Organisers tipped at least 500 people to turn up to Saturday's demo in Parliament Square

Protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, near the Mercure Brigstow Hotel in Bristol today

A hefty police presence is out in force amid the demonstrations in Bristol today

A counter demonstrator nearby as protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, in Bristol

Saturdays policing operation is well underway.



Officers are at the form up of the Palestine Coalition protest in Russell Square and in Parliament Square ahead of the anticipated protest in support of Palestine Action. pic.twitter.com/Vu2zcz1SMH  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025

Public order conditions have been imposed on the march which means it must not form or begin before noon, protesters must not deviate from or stop to form assemblies along the agreed route and the protest must end by 5.30pm, the Met said.

Other major events in London this weekend include the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley, which will require sizeable police resources.

Meanwhile, police up and down the country are also preparing for a series of anti-migrant protests - and counter-demonstrations by opposing campaigners - outside hotels and council offices including in Bristol and Nuneaton.

There had been particular concern about a protest planned in Nuneaton which comes amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

Scuffles broke out between protesters and police in the town after the protest outside the Nuneaton Town Hall got underway on Saturday afternoon.

One group of shirtless protesters appeared to get into a confrontation with one officer amid a large crowd of people waving Union flags and St George's Cross flags.

A group of Stand Up to Racism counter-protesters have also gathered outside the Town Hall with yellow placards and a banner which read, 'Stop the far right'.

The two groups are being separated with police officers and police vehicles near the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council building, where protesters started chanting 'Who are you?' at the group of Stand Up To Racism demonstrators.

A woman could be heard saying to the anti-racism group, 'We are not neo-Nazis', while a Stand Up To Racism protester was holding a handwritten sign reading: 'Why do fascists only care about women when they can use our stories and pain to oppress others?'

A red and white sign in the crowd stated 'This is England', with another saying 'UK first' - while another banner saying 'What about our girls' human right to safety' was displayed near a protesters with Union flags.

Restrictions have also been put in place by police in at least 12 towns and cities - with rival demonstrations also seen taking place today outside migrant hotels in Bournemouth and Newcastle.

In the southern seaside town, more than 250 people protested outside two controversial migrant hotels to demand they be shut down.

The anti-immigration protesters gathered directly outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, and yards away from the Britannia Hotel.

Both venues have been taken over by the Home Office for the exclusive use of male asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK on small boats.

Protestors were today seen gather outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth in response to its reported use to house migrants

A heavy police presence was put in action in Bournemouth in response to the demo

Demonstrators clad in Union Jack flags were seen on the streets in Bournemouth today

Counter-demonstrators with placards saying 'No to racism' also attended in Bournemouth

There was a large police presence in the centre of Bristol, as protest was advertised to take place in front of a hotel on Welsh Back, near Bristol Bridge.

A counter-protest, gathering from 11.30am, was also being organised and publicised, and police have obtained special powers in response.

Avon and Somerset police announced yesterday that they had obtained extra powers under two different sections of the Public Order Act.

The first is the creation of a Dispersal Zone - which covers a wide area of the city centre from Temple Meads to the western end of the Floating Harbour.

Police have the powers to order people to disperse or face arrest if they do not.

The second power is to require people to take off any face coverings they have, if asked by the police, and again face being detained if they refuse.

In London, the Met Police has also been bracing for protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Canary Wharf and Islington.

Mr Adelekan said ahead of today's activities: 'This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence.'

Police officers in between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in Warwickshire

Police officers are seen intervening between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, in Warwickshire, today

There have been concerns raised about planned protests in Nuneaton amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl

Counter protesters take their positions in Nuneaton in response to an anti-immigration protest

Pro-Palestine campaigners are taking part in demonstrations across the country this weekend

These activists are in County Durham, in a picture shared by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Also taking part today are pro-Palestine campaigners seen here in the Welsh capital Cardiff

'I'm grateful not just to the Met officers who will be working incredibly hard over the coming days but to those colleagues from other forces who have been deployed to London to support us.'

Meanwhile, another group the Palestine Solidary Campaign has today shared images of pro-Palestine activists out in force across the country.

The group posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'People are starting to gather - all the war from Durham to Cardiff - ready to march for Palestine!'

Last week Palestine Action received permission to challenge its banning after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case.

The ban came after two military aircraft were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in June, causing damage worth 7million.

A judicial review will take place in November, with protests set to continue on a rolling basis until then.

A Home Office spokesperson today said: 'The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

'It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

'Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

'The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.

'This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.

'It also followed an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that Palestine Action prepares for terrorism, as well as worrying information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings.'
New U.S. tariffs deal heavy blow to Portugal's exports

Xinhua) 11:18, August 09, 2025

LISBON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's exports to the United States plunged by 39.4 percent year-on-year in June, amid anticipation of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to final data released Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

INE also reported that the country's trade deficit reached 28.35 billion euros (32.89 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, an increase of 540 million euros compared with the previous year.

In June 2024, exports to the United States totaled 557 million euros, but the figure fell to 338 million euros one year later, representing a decrease of 219 million euros.

On a quarterly basis, in the quarter ending in June, exports to the United States declined by 13.9 percent, from 1.42 billion euros to 1.22 billion euros.

Trump first announced a set of tariffs on several countries in April, but the implementation date was postponed several times to allow for negotiations and agreements, with the final date set for Thursday, Aug. 7.

The United States then began enforcing its new tariff plan, which includes a global minimum of 10 percent and duties starting at 15 percent for countries with a trade surplus with the United States.

For the European Union, a trade agreement with the United States was reached at the end of July. However, on Tuesday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs of 35 percent if the bloc failed to invest 600 billion U.S. dollars it had agreed to inject into the U.S. economy. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Liu Ning)
Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held an online conversation with national security advisers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and representatives of NATO.

According to Yermak, the participants focused on coordinating positions to achieve a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine as soon as possible: "We focused on coordinating positions to bring a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine as soon as possible. We are ready to work as productively as possible to save lives and end hostilities."

The head of the President's Office thanked all partners for their support and constructiveness. The parties agreed to continue cooperation in the near future.
The identity of Banksy is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the world, but that hasn't stopped people from speculating.

The street artist, whose career began in the 90s, is known by millions of people thanks to the appearance of dozens of iconic artworks in unexpected locations around the world, with many having gone on to sell for millions.

For years his identity has been a hot topic, with names such as Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja and Gorillaz founder Jamie Hewlett being floated around.

Regardless of who he his, Banksy's works are hot property on the art market.

In 2021, his 'Love is in the Bin' work was bought for more than 18million, with its value having been boosted after a shredder hidden in its frame cut it to pieces moments after it was sold for the first time in 2018.

The work, previously known as 'Girl with Balloon', was just one of more than a dozen of Banksy's creations that have sold for more than 2million.

Robin Gunningham

Banksy uses art as a form of activism, regularly making societal and political statements with their works.

The artist was born just outside of Bristol in 1973 and he was a talented illustrator who drew cartoons.

Having also sprayed his tag across Bristol, Banksy then evolved with the times and began creating more sophisticated pieces, whilst always keeping his identity hidden.

One of Banksy's earliest works is the The Mild Mild West.

The large mural was painted in 1999 in Bristol's Stokes Croft and shows a teddy bear throwing a Molotov cocktail at three riot police.

It was painted by the artist over three days in broad daylight and is still in the city today, among some of Banksy's other works.

An exhaustive Mail On Sunday investigation into Banksy's identity in 2008 heard from dozens of friends, former colleagues, enemies, flatmates and even family members.

The search began with an image of a man in Jamaica at work with his stencils and cans of spray paint.

Although Banksy denied the image showed him, the Mail's investigation was later backed by researchers at Queen Mary University.

They used 'geographic profiling' - a technique more often used to catch criminals or track outbreaks of disease - to plot the locations of 192 of Banksy's presumed artworks.

The sites indicated 'hot spots' which were narrowed down to pinpoint an individual. Peaks within these clusters were found to correlate to a pub, playing fields and residential addresses closely linked to Robin Gunningham and his friends and family.

Mr Gunningham attended Bristol Cathedral School and was born in July 1973. A school photo of him bore a striking resemblance to the man in the Jamaica photograph.

A former school friend described him as being 'extremely talented' at art and admitted he would 'not be at all surprised' if he was Banksy.

In anonymous interviews he has done, Banksy has said he first became interested in graffiti at school.

And a fellow artist he was living with in Bristol in 1998, Luke Egan, went on to exhibit with Banksy at Santa's Ghetto, an art store in London's West End.

However, Mr Gunningham's family denied that he was Banksy and the link was never explicitly confirmed.

Robert Del Naja

Another popular theory is that Banksy is Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja.

As well as being a founder member of his hit band, who have sold more than 13million studio albums worldwide, Del Naja, 58, is also a graffiti artist who has done work in Bristol under the name of 3D.

Banksy has named 3D as one of his early inspirations.

The assumption that Del Naja could be Banksy was first discussed after DJ Goldie reportedly said his name on a podcast while talking about him.

He said: 'No disrespect to Rob, I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he has flipped the world of art over.'

Fans have also claimed to have spotted Banksy artworks in the same cities as where Massive Attack played-twice. But Del Naja has denied the claims publicly.

Jamie Hewlett

It has also been suggested that Jamie Hewlett, who founded the Gorillaz, could be Banksy.

This was because an anonymous forensic expert allegedly linked him to every company associated with the street artist.

Banksy has also designed work used in the Gorillaz music videos in the past. But any link has been denied by his publicist.

Many people also claim to have actually spotted Banksy over the years.

One more recent sighting was apparently of the street artist wearing PPE while on the London Underground in 2020.

And in 2018, it was claimed that a passerby had seen him near one of his works in Hull.

Meanwhile, in April 2017, a woman saw an artist in an Israeli mall who was working. The artist had recently opened an exhibition in Bethlehem.

She filmed the man, who seemed concerned and covered his face when he realised he was on camera.

Fleeing artist in Melbourne

In October 2016, an artist furious he was being filmed was captured on camera on in Melbourne, sparking rumours that he was Banksy.

In the mobile phone footage, the person filming was seen approaching a man down a dark alleyway as he sprayed paint on wall.

After he began walking away, she raced after the man, who turned and tried to block the camera with his hand, shouting 'f*** off, f*** off', before escaping down an alley.

Man in Brooklyn warehouse

In 2013, many believed Banksy's identity had finally been revealed and Twitter blew up after user @DjJonHenry posted photographs of a group of men and two trucks used for Banksys recent Sirens Of The Lambs and Waterfall mobile works of art.

The photo showed five men arranging stuffed animals in a truck outside a warehouse in Red Hook Brooklyn, leading to speculation that one of the men was the reclusive artist.

Henry said the photographs were taken at a warehouse in the Red Hook area of Brooklyn and that he approached the men after recognizing the vehicles from Banksy's month-long residency in New York.

The men refused to answer when Henry asked where Banksy was, although he tweeted that he thought the man on top of the truck might be him since he was directing the others and spoke with an English accent.

Other media sources, including Gothamist, speculated that the man to the left of the vehicle could be Banksy because he boew a resemblance to the man in the photo published by the MoS in their 2008 investigation that named Mr Gunningham as Banksy.

Henry backtracked the claims after receiving a mass of replies from Banksy-fans who accused him of trying to jeopardize the remainder of Banksy's show.

Thierry Guetta

The Street artist's 2010 documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop shares the story of Theiry Guetta, a street artist in Los Angeles who goes by the name Mr Brainwash.

The French filmmaker runs a vintage clothing shop and obsesses over filming his surroundings, he became famous after the documentary and rumours spread that he was Banksy.

The theory has been flattened by various sources.

An unnamed woman

Most theories assume Banksy is a man, but some rumours emerged that the artist is actually a woman in charge of a group of artists.

Chris Healey first put forward the theory in the documentary Banksy Does New York, and says that Banks is the blonde woman who appears in the studio scenes in Exit Through the Gift Shop.

While Healey refuses to give up his source, he maintains his stance.

Richard Pfeiffer

The Brooklyn freelance engineer and artist was admiring one of Banky's works in Manhattan with his girlfriend when he was arrested and accused of drawing the image.

At the time, he had a pen in his pocket but was able to prove it was not the same one that drew the graffiti and the charges were dropped six months later.
This is the moment a small boat arrived at Gravelines beach to pick up migrants to take them illegally across to the UK.

The rubber vessel was pictured off the French coast, just east of Calais, this morning, before heading off into the English Channel.

Passengers, which included men, women and children, loaded on to the boat, reaching out hands to help each other aboard.

Some threw peace signs at the camera - while a handful of French police officers stood on the beach, watching on.

It comes after the first small boat migrants were detained in Dover on Thursday for removal to France under the Government's new 'one in, one out' scheme.

The Home Office confirmed the Channel arrivals were held after they were brought into Dover but did not disclose how many there were.

Migrants selected for removal under the new Labour plan will be held in Home Office detention facilities rather than living in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels.

But there has been widespread criticism of the scheme - from concerns human rights challenges and other legal action could delay migrants' removal for months, to scepticism over the plan's narrow scope.

This is the moment (pictured) a small boat arrived at Gravelines beach to pick up migrants to take them illegally across to the UK

A handful of French police officers stood on the beach, watching on (pictured)

It comes after the first small boat migrants were detained in Dover on Thursday for removal to France under the Government's new 'one in, one out' scheme. Pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in at Dover from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel today

The images from today show the passengers gathering on the sand as they wait to be loaded on to a boat at sunrise.

They soon wade into the water at around knee depth as they wait for boats to arrive.

Many are carrying children, some of whom look no older than toddlers, with most of them wearing lifejackets ahead of the passage.

The majority of people have no possessions with them, apart from one small bag in some cases.

One pair is seen clasping hands, while another hugs tightly.

They soon variously swim and wade out to the boat, with some climbing onboard before helping to lift others on to the craft.

A boat is soon densely packed with passengers, with a row of young men seen sitting astride the edge of the vessel.

After the first boat is loaded up, remaining passengers watch on as it embarks on its journey into the Channel.

The rubber vessel was pictured off the French coast, just east of Calais, this morning, before heading off into the English Channel. Some passengers threw peace signs at the camera (pictured)

The images from today show the passengers gathering on the sand (pictured) as they wait to be loaded on to a boat at sunrise

They soon wade into the water at around knee depth as they wait for boats to arrive (pictured)

Many are carrying children, some of whom look no older than toddlers (pictured)

Most of the children wear lifejackets ahead of the passage (pictured)

The majority of people have no possessions with them, apart from one small bag in some cases (pictured)

One pair is seen clasping hands (pictured)

Another pair hugs tightly (pictured)

They soon variously swim and wade out to the boat (pictured)

Some climb onboard before helping to lift others on to the craft (pictured)

A boat is soon densely packed with passengers (pictured)

A row of young men can be seen sitting astride the edge of the vessel (pictured)

After the first boat is loaded up, remaining passengers watch on as it embarks on its journey into the Channel (pictured)

It appears to pass very close to another vessel (pictured)

It soon recedes into the distance (pictured)

It appears to pass very close to another vessel, before receding into the distance.

Two French gendarmerie vehicles can be seen on the sand, with a small group of officers standing stationery as the events unfold.

One policeman appears to be looking at his phone.

Today's small boat passage comes after Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted Labour's 'one in, one out' scheme as a 'gimmick that just won't work'.

He said: 'As far as we can see, removals under this scheme will only amount to six per cent of arrivals, meaning 94 per cent will stay.

'It will have no deterrent effect whatsoever.

'We also know that the agreement with France means any migrants claiming to be under 18, or who make a modern slavery or human rights claim, will not get removed.

'So this plan will get bogged down in an endless legal quagmire.

Two French gendarmerie vehicles can be seen on the sand (pictured)

A small group of officers stand stationery as the events unfold. One policeman appears to be looking at his phone (pictured)

Today's small boat passage (pictured) comes after Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted Labour's 'one in, one out' scheme as a 'gimmick that just won't work'

'Just like Sir Keir Starmer's claim to "smash the gangs", this is another gimmick that just won't work.'

Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Anglo-French deal - announced by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on July 10 and since approved by the European Commission - was a 'complete waste of time'.

'It's a fake. It's a phony, it's a cheat on the British people,' he said on GB News.

'It's a bogus deal, it's a complete waste of time.

'There's an extraordinary loophole that means almost no one can be deported.'

Despite the narrow scope of the scheme and the fact it is likely to expire in less than 11 months, the PM has insisted on social media: 'If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back.'

He added: 'No gimmicks, just results.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously said: 'Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil [at Dover port] and will now be held in detention until they can be returned to France.

He said: 'As far as we can see, removals under this scheme will only amount to six per cent of arrivals, meaning 94 per cent will stay'. Pictured: Migrants waiting for a small boat at Gravelines beach today

Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Anglo-French deal was a 'complete waste of time'. Pictured: Migrants waiting for a small boat at Gravelines beach today

'It's a fake. It's a phony, it's a cheat on the British people,' he said on GB News. Pictured: Migrants waiting for a small boat on Gravelines beach today

'That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives and throwing away their money if they get into a small boat.

'No-one should be making this illegal and dangerous journey that undermines our border security and lines the pockets of the criminal gangs.'

She added: 'Criminal gangs have spent seven years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make.

'These are the early days for this pilot scheme, and it will develop over time.

'But we are on track to do what no other government has done since this crisis first started - sending small boat arrivals back to France and strengthening our borders through the Plan for Change.'

As part of the treaty, Britain will accept migrants from France in exchange for small boat arrivals.

That element of the scheme also began on Thursday, allowing migrants to lodge 'expressions of interest' on a specially-created Home Office website.

It comes after a Cabinet minister appeared to contradict the terms of the new treaty with France earlier this week.

Despite the narrow scope of the scheme and the fact it is likely to expire in less than 11 months, the PM has insisted on social media (pictured): 'If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) has previously said: 'Yesterday, under the terms of this groundbreaking new treaty, the first group of people to cross the Channel were detained after their arrival at Western Jet Foil [at Dover port]'

She continued: 'That sends a message to every migrant currently thinking of paying organised crime gangs to go to the UK that they will be risking their lives'. Pictured: Passengers on a small boat at Gravelines beach today

She added: 'Criminal gangs have spent seven years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them'. Pictured: Migrants waiting for a boat at Gravelines beach today

As part of the treaty, Britain will accept migrants from France in exchange for small boat arrivals. Pictured: Passengers loading on to a boat at Gravelines beach today

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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said small boat migrants sent back under the deal would see their human rights claims heard after being sent back to France.

But it later emerged some types of human rights cases would, in fact, block the Home Office from being able to remove migrants in the first place.

The treaty clearly sets out small boat migrants cannot be sent back to France if they have 'an outstanding human rights claim'.

The Home Office confirmed some human rights claims will block migrants' removal until they have been concluded in full.

It will include cases which cannot be formally 'certified' by officials as 'clearly unfounded'.

The Mail has learned pro-migrant groups have begun informal discussions about launching a joint legal action against Labour's plan  just as they did against the Tories' Rwanda asylum scheme.

Sources said there had already been 'a certain amount of co-ordination' between charities and other groups, with details of the treaty still being analysed.

Meanwhile, the Free Movement website, which offers advice to immigration lawyers, published an analysis of the new measures earlier this week.

That element of the scheme also began on Thursday, allowing migrants to lodge 'expressions of interest' on a specially-created Home Office website. Pictured: Passengers waiting for a boat at Gravelines beach today

The treaty clearly sets out small boat migrants cannot be sent back to France if they have 'an outstanding human rights claim'. Pictured: Passengers waiting for a boat at Gravelines beach today

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It said: 'Legal challenges will be more difficult than for Rwanda, however there are still likely to be grounds on which some people can resist removal to France.

'For example, if the inadmissibility decision was wrong, if people have family in the UK, or had experiences in France which make it inappropriate to send them back.'

It means the Home Secretary is likely to face a huge legal battle to get the first migrants removed from Britain.

Last month, the PM pledged migrants would be 'detained and returned to France in short order' under the agreement.

But on Wednesday  the first day it was in force  Shadow Home Secretary Mr Philp posted videos from the Channel as he watched migrant boats bound for the UK coast, escorted by a French vessel.
The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday released dozens of doves as it marked 80 years since the US atomic attack that killed tens of thousands.

The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on August 9, 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000.

Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, ending World War II and the country's nearly half-century of aggression across Asia.

About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests.

At 11:02 a.m., the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang.

Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack.

He said the city's memories of the bombing are 'a common heritage and should be passed down for generations' in and outside Japan.

'The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth,' Suzuki said.

'In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace.'

Doves are released over the Peace Statue during a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing at the Peace Park in Nagasaki, southern Japan Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the US atomic attack that killed tens of thousands. Pictured: The mushroom cloud of the first atomic bomb over Nagasaki, Japan, 9 August 1945

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (front L) and other leaders take part in a moment of silence during the annual memorial ceremony for the victims at the Peace Park in Nagasaki on August 9, 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing during WWII

Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocenter Park, located below the bomb's exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony.

'I simply seek a world without war,' said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the Hypocenter monument decorated with colorful paper cranes and other offerings.

Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japan's feudal era.

The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers.

Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons.

But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction.

The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86.

Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to recall the attack clearly.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a flower wreath for the victims of the atomic bombing during the 80th Nagasaki Peace Ceremony at the Peace Park in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, 09 August 2025

A staff member walks to light up candles during a memorial ceremony for the victims of the atomic bomb at the Hypocenter Park in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, 08 August 2025, the day before the 80th Nagasaki Peace Ceremony

The radioactive plume from the bomb dropped on Nagasaki City, as seen from 9.6 km away, in Koyagi-jima, Japan, August 9, 1945

The single bomb, which exploded 1,500 feet in the air, destroyed everything over a 4-mile area, killing 24,000 and wounding 40,000

Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence.

They criticize the Japanese governments refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons because Japan, as an American ally, needs U.S. nuclear possession as deterrence.

In Ishibas speech, the prime mininister reiterated Japans pursuit of a nuclear-free world and pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and non-nuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York City.

Ishiba, however, did not mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offers a flower wreath for the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing, during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the city, at Nagasaki's Peace Park in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, August 9

Children hold flowers during a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the city, at Nagasaki's Peace Park in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan, August 9, 2025

Churchgoers pray during an early morning mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan, 09 August 2025, the day of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing

Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony Saturday.

China notably notified the city it would not be present without providing a reason.

The ceremony last year stirred controversy due to the absence of the U.S. ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese citys refusal to invite Israel.
A rusting Porsche that has been left in a barn for over 60 years is now tipped to sell for a whopping 400,000.

The Porsche 356 Speedster was bought in 1955 and after clocking up 62,000 miles in seven years was taken off the road and tucked in a barn in Ohio, America.

The classic car was rediscovered after a car expert was given a 'tip off' and it was found with all its silver paintwork peeled off.



It has since undergone an extensive restoration - the engine and gearbox have been stripped out and rebuilt and all the carpets and seat coverings were replaced with aged leather.

But the left-hand drive Porsche retains its original dashboard, steering wheel and gauges.

The car, which is now roadworthy and has been driven recently, has been shipped over to England to be sold in Iconic Auctioneers' forthcoming Silverstone sale.



An Iconic Auctioneers spokesperson said: 'Following a tip-off, this early 356 Speedster was uncovered at a smallholding in Ohio, where it had reportedly remained with the same family for over 70 years.

'The engine was disassembled and remarkably, only required new piston rings before being fully inspected and reassembled.

The classic car was rediscovered after a car expert was given a 'tip off' and it was found with all its silver paintwork peeled off

It has since undergone an extensive restoration - the engine and gearbox have been stripped out and rebuilt

All the carpets and seat coverings have now been replaced with aged leather

The Porsche 356 Speedster was bought in 1955 and after clocking up 62,000 miles in seven years was taken off the road and tucked in a barn in Ohio , America

The left-hand drive Porsche retains its original dashboard, steering wheel and gauges

The car, which is now roadworthy and has been driven recently, has been shipped over to England to be sold in Iconic Auctioneers' forthcoming Silverstone sale

'The matching gearbox was similarly stripped, checked and rebuilt, while the fuel system was recommissioned, retaining the original fuel tank with its attractive patination.

'Externally, every effort was made to preserve the integrity of the original early 356 body.

'It is understood that the Speedster was in regular use only until 1962, covering approximately 60,000 miles before being laid to rest in the barn where it was later discovered.

'At some point early in its life, possibly by the supplying dealership, it was repainted silver, traces of which remain visible on the bodywork today.

'We are informed that the Speedster performs exceptionally well, idling smoothly with no smoke and having completed various trips without issue.

'This is a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally well preserved Pre-A 356 Speedster, a model highly regarded for its purity and iconic design.

'From the few Pre-A Speedsters that do make it to market, it is very rare to see a survivor car as many are now restored.'

The sale takes place on August 23.
This is the shocking moment a Serbian minister suffered a stroke live on television, leaving him stumbling over his words before the broadcast was cut short.

Minister for Public Investments Darko Glisicfell fell ill on Tuesday while he made an appearance on a morning show for Serbian TV channel Televizija Pink.

Footage from the program shows the moment Glisic's speech slowed and how he began to stutter while his face began drooping.

The two TV presenters interviewing appeared concerned just moments before the broadcast was cut short.

The minister was rushed to a hospital in Belgrade and was reportedly unconscious.

He is understood to have undergone an emergency operation.

His condition was described as serious and was temporarily put on a ventilator.

Glisic leads the Ministry of Public Investments and is considered to be one of Serbian President Alexander Vucic's closest associates.

A Serbian minister suffered a stroke live on television this week

Minister for Public Investments Darko Glisicfell fell ill on Tuesday while he made an appearance on a morning show for Serbian TV channel Televizija Pink

His face was drooping and he began to stutter his words while he appeared on TV

President Vucic posted a photograph with Glisic, writing: 'Darko, hold on. Don't give up! Darko is better, I spoke with him. He is still struggling a bit, but I can't describe my joy, and his'.

The Serbian leader later posted a separate image with the minister after visiting him in hospital.

The photo shows Glisicfell lying in a hospital bed holding his left fist up as President Vucic poses next to him.

This is not the first time that the beginning of a stroke has been captured live on air.

Back in 2022, an American news anchor suffered a stroke in the middle of her program.

Julie Chin, of Tulsa NBC affiliate KJRH, was delivering a story about NASA 's cancelled Artemis-I launch when she suddenly found herself unable to speak the words she was reading off her teleprompter.

Bewildered and stuttering, Chin tried to push ahead with the broadcast but soon found herself completely unable to speak her script aloud.

'I'm sorry, something is going on with me this morning and I apologize to everybody,' she finally said, going off script and tossing the broadcast over to the weather team, 'Let's just go ahead and send it on to meteorologist Annie Brown.'

The minister was rushed to hospital in a serious condition, where he received treatment

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic visited the minister in hospital on Thursday

Glisic leads the Ministry of Public Investments and is considered to be one of Serbian President Alexander Vucic's closest associates

Brown seamlessly took over the broadcast as Chin could be heard trying to utter an apology off camera.

'Julie we love you so much, we love you so much,' Brown then said with a laugh as the broadcast cut to her, 'We all have those days,' Brown continued.

But it wasn't just one of those days for Chin, who did not return to the airwaves after the weather was reported.

Instead, colleagues in the newsroom called 9-11 and Chin was rushed to the hospital.

Chin later revealed that she was in good health, and that doctor's believed she suffered 'the beginnings of a stroke, but not a full stroke.'
Former Labor leader Mark Latham has confirmed a claim by his ex-lover Nathalie Matthews that he defecated on her, but insisted he was simply following orders.

The independent NSW upper house MP has provided a sordid account of the couple's relationship, including that Ms Matthews called him 'master' during sex, in a 13-page affidavit filed in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on July 31.

Despite confirming some of the more graphic claims included in Ms Matthews' prior AVO application, Latham firmly denied any allegations of mistreatment.

'Ms Matthews and myself participated in an entirely consensual, open sexual and social arrangement free of coercion, intimidation and harassment,' he wrote.

In his first public acknowledgement of the defecation claims, Latham claimed it occurred only once, which was for Ms Matthews' sexual gratification.

'She asked me to s*** on her in the bathroom once because it turned her on,' he wrote in the affidavit, first obtained by the Sunday Telegraph.

'I did that but said we wouldn't be doing it again.'

Former Labor leader Mark Latham (pictured) has addressed the 'defecation' claims made by his ex-lover Nathalie Matthews in an affidavit filed with a NSW court

Latham has claimed that he was simply following orders when he defecated on his then-partner Nathalie Matthews (pictured together)

He also claimed that Ms Matthews initiated the 'consensual subservience' aspects of their relationship.

'As a reflection of this desire, she insisted on calling me 'master' and that I use this nomenclature,' Latham wrote.

'She was a highly powered sexual woman who knew what she liked and how to get it.'

Latham claimed the role play allowed Ms Matthews to 'orgasm multiple times'.

He also claimed in the affidavit that Ms Matthews had up to 20 sexual partners during their two-year relationship.

Daily Mail does not suggest the claims are true, only that they have been made in an application to the NSW Local Court.

Daily Mail has contacted Latham and Ms Matthews for comment.

The affidavit paints a different version of events from that provided by Ms Matthews in her application for a restraining order against Latham, first seen by The Australian.

The 37-year-old alleges Latham, 64, inflicted 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse against her for almost three years.

She further alleges Latham demanded she refer to him as 'master' and framed the defecation as one element of an abusive relationship.

'Throughout our relationship, the defendant engaged in a sustained pattern of emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse, including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash,' she wrote.

Nathalie Matthews (pictured) first aired the sordid claims in an application for a restraining order against Latham

Mark Latham and Nathalie Matthews (pictured together) began dating in 2023 and ended their relationship earlier this year.

Latham was the federal Labor Opposition Leader between 2003 and 2005, when he lost his bid for the nation's top job at the 2004 federal election to former Liberal prime minister John Howard.

He retired from politics in 2005 before joining the Liberal Democratic Party in 2017, leading to his expulsion from his former party.

Latham joined One Nation's NSW branch in 2018, but was sacked as its leader in 2023 and now sits as an Independent.

He has denied all abuse accusations, claiming that he had 'scores of documents' which would vindicate him, and enjoyed a 'fantastic' sex life with Ms Matthews.

Ms Matthews describes herself as the managing director of Skynet Global Logistics, a company involved in freight forwarding which has a presence in Sydney, Perth and Dubai.

Latham and Ms Matthews began dating in 2023 and ended their relationship earlier this year.

The matter will return to court next month.
Boston's raging drug problem has deepened after images surfaced of a man hunched over outside of the city's poshest mall.

The unidentified man could be seen lurched over and using a phone outside of Copley Place in the Democratic-led city, in footage taken by a passer-by.

It was shared to social media by a group of locals openly opposed to Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu as the latest example of the problems facing the Massachusetts city.

'Wow can't even shop in Mayor Wu's Boston without running into drug addicts,' the post said. 'This is in Boston's most luxurious mall too.'

The city has been in the spotlight after residents lashed out at Wu, blaming her policies for enabling behavior similar to what was captured outside the mall.

Locals have blamed Wu for her decision to hand out free crack pipes, syringes, and other paraphernalia to addicts in 2022 as helping fuel the problems.

While Wu's administration pitched the controversial move as 'harm reduction,' critics have countered that all she's done is increase the permissiveness of public drug use in Boston.

The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as 'Mass and Cass,' is notorious for open-air drug usage.

In the widely circulated images, an unknown man could be seen lurched over and using a phone outside of Copley Place in the Democratic-led city

Locals have blamed Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's decision to hand out free crack pipes, syringes, and other paraphernalia to addicts

The mayor has tried to clear out the crime-ridden area, dubbed 'Methadone Mile,' by trying to take down tent encampments.

But instead of isolating the drug crisis, it has amplified and spread - further plaguing the historic 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, including tony Beacon Hill, have been left 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.

On social media, people have expressed disbelief with the jaw-dropping images outside Copley Place 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. Let's hope the wealthy in Beacon Hill raise a stink about it and get rid of Wu.'

A Beacon Hill resident shared a photo of a man slumped over in a wheelchair with an umbrella over his shoulders on a street corner (pictured)

The streets of once-pristine communities, including tony Beacon Hill, seen here, have been left littered with dangerous needles

Another added: '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.'

While the images sparked the 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 last September how the area had changed for the worse.

'I pass discarded needles as I walk my five-year-old to her public school every day,' she said.

'Having to keep needles away from my kids as I walk them to preschool is unacceptable.'
A 12-year-old girl admitted to a hospital in Washington state after several attempts to take her own life was left alone in her hospital room before jumping to her death from a parking garage.

Sarah Niyimbona died on April 13 after leaving her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane and jumping from the fourth-floor of the hospital's parking garage.

In 2024, she was admitted to the hospital's emergency room multiple times for suicide attempts.

Now, fifteen nurses at the hospital have been fired amid questions over how the girl was allowed to leave her room undetected, the Spokesman-Review reported.

Hospital administrators say the firings came after the nurses improperly accessed Niyimbona's private medical files following her death. It is unclear why they did so, with that file access considered a breach of patient privacy.

The nurses were accused of accessing the records for no medical purposes, the Spokesman-Review reported.

'Providence takes violations of our code of conduct and federal privacy laws that govern private health information very seriously,' hospital spokesperson Jen York told the outlet.

'We review employee conduct and take appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted. Patient privacy is one of our top priorities.'

Sarah Niyimbona died on April 13 after leaving her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane and jumping from the hospital's fourth-floor parking garage

In 2024, the girl had been admitted to the hospital's emergency room multiple times for suicide attempts

Bobbi Nodell, a spokesperson for the Washington State Nurse Association union, said that the violations could have been as simple as 'hovering' over the girl's chart from 'concerned nurses who worked with that patient.'

The girl's mother, Nasra Gertrude, recalled rushing to the hospital after her daughter jumped from the garage.

'I ask what happened,' she told Investigate West. 'How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her?

'They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter.

'My heart got a little peace. At least I can go to work without receiving a 911 call that Sarah had attempted or was taken to the hospital. At least I can sleep. At least I don't have to worry about Sarah much because I know she's in safe hands. I trusted this hospital.'

Gertrude said that her daughter had been a happy child, but began to experience bullying in middle school and was suspended multiple times for fighting.

The young girl's sister, Asha Joseph, told PBS: 'We're confused how this could happen. We also want to know why there wasn't anyone there at the moment, why there was nobody watching her and how she was able to leave.

'We don't really know anything. We don't have any of the answers.'

The girls' mother said that her daughter had been a happy child, but began to experience bullying in middle school and was suspended multiple times for fighting

Niyimbona's tragic death led file a lawsuit against the hospital over accusations of neglect and medical malpractice

A GoFundMe launched by the girl's her family states: 'It's tragic that her potential was cut short due to lack of care. An act of negligence led to her passing and were left with so many questions.'

It added that Niyimbona was a 'shining light, a bright angel who lit up our lives with her presence.'

'Sarah was intelligent, independent and outspoken, with a unique perspective on life that was truly magical,' her sister, Joseph, added. 'Her selflessness and compassion touched the hearts of everyone she met, from family and friends to peers and teachers.'

'It's heartbreaking that the one place that was supposed to keep her safe failed to do so.'

The hospital said in a statement to the Spokesman-Review: 'We are heartbroken about the tragedy that occurred at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Safe, compassionate care is always our top priority.

'We believe that Sacred Heart Medical Center provides compassionate and thoughtful care to our patients in alignment with our mission and values. We extend our deepest sympathy to the patient's loved ones.'

Niyimbona's family filed a lawsuit against the hospital over accusations of neglect and medical malpractice.

Preventative and safety measures to help protect and monitor the girl were reportedly removed from her room before her death, including round-the-clock video and a health care worker, or 'sitter,' assigned to her room, Investigate West reported.

'It's heartbreaking that the one place that was supposed to keep her safe failed to do so,' said Niyimbona's sister, Asha Joseph

Nurses at the hospital were accused of improperly accessing the girl's health records after her death for no medical purposes

There was also an alarm on her door to notify hospital staff if she opened her hospital room door.

According to the lawsuit reviewed by the outlet, the hospital 'failed to properly utilize and monitor alarms in Sarah's room allowing her to escape.'

'I feel like they neglect my daughter and they neglect me. I feel like they were tired [of] seeing Sarah there, so they didn't care about looking after her all the time,' Gertrude told the Spokesman-Review.

The nurses are fighting their terminations over looking at Niyimbona's medical records, claiming the firings happened only after they spoke with media following the girl's death.

'The union was contacted by these nurses and has field grievances over the terminations and disciplinary actions, arguing that any information accessed pertained directly to the nurses' duties responding to this crisis,' Washington State Nurse Association Director David Keepnews said in a statement to the Spokesman-Review.

A hospital-wide email on the night of Niyimbona's death told staff to refrain from posting about the incident or making any comments on social media, and many staff members said they felt pressured to stay quiet, according to Cascade PBS.

The nurses had reportedly expressed concern to hospital management for the young girl's safety but had been ignored.

'That's where this frustration and feeling of helplessness is really coming from,' one of Niyimbona's nurses told the outlet.

'We did try to speak up. We did try to say, "This isn't safe. We cannot take away the security because she's going to hurt herself."'

The nurses are fighting their terminations, claiming the firings came only after they spoke with media following the girl's death

A former nurse of the children's psychiatric unit, Kaili Timperley, added to the outlet: 'We said this is what was going to happen. We said their plan was not an adequate plan.

'You can't just put these kids in a medical room and expect everything to be ok. It's why we tried to fight against it and get the word out.'

Niyimbona had been moved to the hospital's general pediatrics unit from the ER, where two rooms had been converted into new psychiatric beds.

The rooms reportedly lacked proper safety measures that the shuttered unit had, including locked doors that make it harder for patients to leave without alerting staff.
Tragedy has struck at a horse trials event after British rider Sarah Yorke, 37, died following a fall during the competition.

The heartbreaking accident happened yesterday at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in the village of the same name in Northamptonshire.

The athlete fell at the third fence in the cross-country part of the eventing contest, a multi-stage equestrian sport which also has showjumping and dressage elements.

British Eventing (BE) said medical professionals 'immediately' attended after the primary school teacher and mother to a seven-year-old girl fell.

But they said: 'Tragically, she could not be saved.

'Her horse, MGH HERA, was assessed by the on-site vets, walked back to the stable, and is uninjured.'

Ms Yorke and her horse were competing at the BE100 level of the British Eventing (BE) competition for their first time together - a division designed for grassroots riders and horses to gain experience.

She was fresh off a win last month with her seven-year-old horse, in the BE90 class at trials at the Swalcliffe Park equestrian centre, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Tragedy has struck at a horse trials event after British rider Sarah Yorke (pictured, file photo), 37, died following a fall during the competition

The heartbreaking accident happened yesterday at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in the village of the same name in Northamptonshire. Pictured: File photo of Ms Yorke

The athlete fell at the third fence in the showjumping part of the eventing contest, a multi-stage equestrian sport which also has cross-country and dressage elements. Pictured: File photo

The three-day horse trials at Aston-le-Walls, which were due to enter their final day today, have now been abandoned after the accident.

The equestrian centre had planned to host an unrelated showjumping and cross-country schooling day tomorrow which will go ahead.

BE chief executive Rosie Williams said: 'On behalf of everyone at British Eventing, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Sarah's family and friends.

'The thoughts of the entire eventing community are with them at this incredibly difficult time.'

The equestrian sporting body, announcing her death in 'deepest sadness', has said it will conduct a full formal review of the accident.

It also encouraged eventers to support each other after the fatality: 'This is a deeply difficult moment for the eventing community.'

The statement finished: 'To respect the familys privacy during this very sad time, no further details will be shared.'

Ms Yorke's mare, Irish-bred from showjumping sire Herald III, had previously competed at BE100 with two other riders.

The athlete had ridden in this division with another horse named Ringfort L'Allegro, who she evented with in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The BE Support Trust helpline, which is staffed by trained professionals, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 07780 008877.
A Texas lawmaker made a fool of herself after failing a number of sobriety tests when she was pulled over for drunk driving for a second time.

Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, 43, was stopped by police in San Antonio last month and arrested for DWI after failing the roadside tests.

On Wednesday, she acknowledged that in 2010 she had faced a similar charge. She was later acquitted and had the charge expunged.

Footage released this week by the San Antonio Police Department showed the interaction she had with an officer after clubbing in the city's downtown.

The officer can be seen pulling Gonzalez, a District Eight councilwoman, over just after 11 pm on July 24 and explaining the reason for the traffic stop.

The officer asked her if she had been drinking and Gonzalez responded, 'I'm good,' after saying that she had been travelling home.

Gonzalez was then asked to step out of the vehicle and perform a series of sobriety tests, which she failed spectacularly .

The first involved her following a green light in the officer's hand with her eyes without moving her head.

Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, 43, was stopped by police in San Antonio last month and arrested for DWI after failing the roadside tests

The above image shows Gonzalez attempting to walk in a straight line for nine steps - but she failed to follow the instructions

While turning her head, the officer reminded her: 'Follow the green light with your eyes only.'

The officer then asked if she had any mobility issues, to which she confirmed she did not.

He asked her to walk in a straight line, taking nine 'heel-to-toe' steps toward his vehicle, before doing the same in the opposite direction.

The officer went to some length to describe exactly what he wanted, but Gonzalez took 14 steps instead.

'Do you remember the test or the instructions', the officer asked her as she turned around and took 21 steps - 12 more than instructed - in the opposite direction.

Clearly annoyed, the officer continued: 'Ma'am, do you remember how many steps I asked you to take?' She replied 'nine' but admitted she didn't count.

In Gonzalez's third test, she was told to take one leg, lift it and keep it in the air for 30 seconds while also keeping her leg six inches from the ground.

After lifting her right foot, she proceeded to touch the ground three times in the first few seconds of the clip.

In her third test, Gonzalez was told to take one leg, lift it and keep it in the air for 30 seconds while also keeping the leg six inches from the ground

After being put in custody, an officer asked Gonzalez for a sample of her breath or blood, but she refused

She was then asked to walk toward the bumper of the police cruiser when the officer administered another green light test.

The officer asked her again if she had any alcohol that night. She again said she did not, and the video concluded as she was placed under arrest.

Over the course of the nearly 19-minute video, Gonzalez denied at least eight times that she had been drinking.

According to an arrest warrant, Gonzalez had 'watery, glossy eyes' and a 'moderate odor of intoxicant'.

Court records said Gonzalez was booked into the Bexar County jail on a $1,000 bond before being released.

After being taken into custody, an officer asked Gonzalez for a sample of her breath or blood, but she refused.

Officers were then compelled to seek a warrant, on the grounds that the lawmaker was attempting to conceal evidence of intoxication.

On Wednesday, Gonzalez acknowledged that in 2010 she had also faced a similar charge of DWI-open container

According to Gonzalez's LinkedIn, she studied at the University of Texas at San Antonio before getting her law degree from St. Mary's University.

In a statement on August 8, prior to the video being released, she said: 'The video does not find me at my finest moment.

'I regret not being more forthcoming with the officer. I was overwhelmed - nervous, embarrassed, and, to be frank, afraid.'

On November 6, 2022, Clayton Perry, then the District 10 Councilman, was arrested after allegedly drinking 14 drinks in a four-hour period at a North Side bar.

He then drove into another car at an intersection, fled the scene and was found later in his backyard.

Then, on December 29, 2023, the current District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte was pulled over by San Antonio police after, they said, he was speeding and didn't properly signal a lane change.

Whyte admitted to having consumed three alcoholic beverages, and was arrested after taking field sobriety tests.

He was arrested on a DWI charge and later pleaded guilty to a non-DWI charge.
The surrender of the remaining territories of Donetsk region within the framework of ceasefire negotiations will force Ukraine to abandon the so-called "fortress belt," the main fortified line of defense that has held back Russia's territorial ambitions for 11 years, experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe.

The fortress belt includes key towns  Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka, which have remained under the control of Ukrainian troops since 2014 and are of significant strategic importance as logistical and administrative centers. The length of the defense line reaches about 50 kilometers.

"Ukraine's fortress belt has served as a major obstacle to the Kremlin's territorial ambitions in Ukraine over the last 11 years," the ISW report of August 8 reads.

Ukrainian forces have held this defense line since 2014, after it was liberated from pro-Russian forces. Attempts by Russian troops to capture Sloviansk and the cities of the fortress strip in 2022-2023 were unsuccessful, and counteroffensives by the Armed Forces of Ukraine drove the enemy far from key positions.

In the event of the surrender of these territories, Ukrainian troops will lose a strategically important defense strip with no guarantees of lasting peace, which could give Russian forces an advantage in resuming the offensive.

Russian troops have now intensified attempts to capture the so-called "fortress belt" from the southwest, concentrating forces in Toretsk and eastern Pokrovsk directions. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), units of the 20th and 150th Motorized Rifle Divisions from the Kurakhove direction were transferred to the area in February 2025. In May, they were joined by elements of the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade, indicating an increase in the offensive efforts of Russian troops in these directions.

"Russian forces failed to conduct a wide envelopment of Ukraine's fortress belt in 2022, and such an operation three and a half years into the war would likely be a multi-year effort with significant personnel and materiel losses," the report reads.
A Wyoming town administrator has sparked outrage after it was revealed she was pulling double duty by working $210,000-a-year side gig 2,000 miles away.

Dawn Norton, who became Greybull's town administrator in May, was simultaneously serving as the chief financial officer for the town of Wilton, Connecticut, a remote role that netted her $210,108 last year.

The news emerged this week when CT Insider exposed Norton for resigning from her position in Connecticut after Wilton's human resources director discovered she was also running Greybull's municipal operations.

Greybull's highest-paid employee in 2024 earned $86,657, but Wilton's top finance role was one of the highest paying positions in town.

Greybull Mayor Myles Foley told Cowboy State Daily that he was fully aware of Norton's other job and does not view the situation as problematic.

'I can't say anything beyond that,' he told the outlet. 'It's a personnel matter.'

Norton insisted she complied with her Wilton contract, which she said allowed her to hold an outside job if she notified the town's first selectman.

She claimed she informed the appropriate officials before accepting the Wyoming role and that they knew she planned to relocate there permanently.

Dawn Norton, who became the town administrator for Greybull, Wyoming, in May, was simultaneously serving as chief financial officer for Wilton, Connecticut, a role that netted her $210,108 last year

The news was revealed this week when Norton was exposed for resigning from her Connecticut position after Wilton's human resources director discovered she was also running Greybull's municipal operations

'That was always the plan,' she told Cowboy State Daily.

'My only [other] comment about it is that whatever Wilton's issue is, is Wilton's issue. It has nothing to do with Greybull.'

She also suggested the media attention had been unfair.

'It seems like there are people out there who are creating waves without any information behind it,' she told the outlet.

'I think people around here seem to love social media.'

Norton has been focused on Greybull's infrastructure challenges since starting the job.

A broken 14-inch water main on July 27 left residents under a boil water order. She said the leak was difficult to locate and that sourcing replacement parts caused delays.

The town is now seeking a loan to replace the transmission line and water tank, a multi-phase project that she believes is crucial for both public health and future economic development.

Greybull is located in northern Wyoming, about 2,000 miles from Wilton, Connecticut

An aerial view of Wilton

She is also helping lead a fundraising campaign to build a dinosaur museum that would display fossils from the area, many of which are currently housed in collections around the world.

'It's been an interesting week,' Norton told Cowboy State Daily.

'One of the main focuses we have right now is that we're applying for a loan to replace the [water] transmission line.

'Fingers crossed that we can get some good grant money to start our projects.'
A meeting of the National Security Advisers will be held in the UK and hosted by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance.

It will take place at Chevening, Lammy's official country residence in Kent where Vance is staying as part of his holiday in the UK.

The aim of the meeting is to bring together advisors from the US, Europe and Ukraine - it is understood to have been requested by the US.

A Downing Street spokesperson said that Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed the meeting would be a 'vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace'.

'Both leaders welcomed President Trump's desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and agreed that we must keep up the pressure on Putin to end his illegal war,' the spokesperson added.

The meeting follows Trump's announcement that he will meet Putin in Alaska next week for a 'peace summit'.

US President Donald Trump confirmed on his Truth social media platform, that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15.

'The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska,' Trump wrote. 'Further details to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'

A meeting of the National Security Advisers will be held in the UK and hosted by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Vice President JD Vance

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska

The Ukrainian President warned that 'decisions without Ukraine' would not bring peace to the region

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President warned that 'decisions without Ukraine' would not bring peace to the region.

Zelensky ruled out ceding any territory to Russia as Putin continued his offensive last night, killing four civilians and wounding 10.

Writing on social media, the Ukrainian President said: 'Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing.

'Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier.'

He said Ukraine was 'ready for real decisions that can bring peace' but said it should be a 'dignified peace', without giving details.
Hundreds of firefighters battled a deadly wildfire near Athens for a second day on Saturday, with strong winds raising fears it could spread.

A fire department spokesman said more than 260 firefighters with nearly 80 fire engines and 12 aircraft were deployed near Keratea, a rural area some 27 miles southeast of Athens.

'The fire has weakened but there are still active pockets,' the spokesman told AFP.

A new fire broke out close to the nearby town of Kouvaras on Saturday but was quickly brought under control.

Dimitris Loukas, mayor of the nearest city of Lavrio, said the Keratea fire that broke out Friday had devastated nearly 10,000 acres of brush and forest.

'Many homes were destroyed, in addition to other properties, agricultural and forest land,' he told state news agency ANA.

The National Observatory in Athens on Saturday said the high winds will persist until at least Monday.

Firefighters and police evacuated dozens of people late Friday from homes and an elderly care centre as the flames neared the coastal resort of Palaia Fokaia.

large wildfire breaks out in the town of Keratea near Athens, Greece, on August 8, 2025

Hundreds of firefighters battled the deadly wildfire near Athens for a second day on Saturday

A firefighting airplane in action amid a wildfire that broke out in the area of Keratea, Southeast Attica, Greece, 09 August 2025

Firefighters later found the remains of an elderly man in a hut near Keratea.

He died in his bed, Loukas said.

In the municipality of Palaia Fokaia, an hour's drive south of Athens, a typical bucolic Greek landscape of olive groves and hamlets was transformed by the raging Friday wildfire into a dystopia of blackened land and incinerated homes.

A howling wind ripped through the settlement on Saturday, spread dust and the bitter smell of ash coming from the surrounding hills, where fires and smouldering embers continued to burn.

At one gutted home - its caved-in roof nothing more than a tangle of warped metal - mask-wearing residents returned to retrieve whatever belongings survived the inferno.

A despondent woman named Dimitria was more fortunate: the flames spared her home but razed the nearest forest, leaving it a desolate terrain of roasted trees and ash.

'From yesterday night, there were very few reinforcements from the fire brigade,' she lamented, describing how help arrived after the advancing fire threatened 'many houses' near the forest.

'My house is OK, but my forest is burned. And that is the pity,' she said with a trembling voice, her eyes welling up as she left to survey the damage.

Firefighters with hoses combed through a copse of trees to douse any embers and prevent reactivations, scorched twigs and debris crunching under their boots.

Trees on fire amid a wildfire that broke out in the area of Keratea, Southeast Attica, Greece, 09 August 2025

Major and destructive wildfires that began on 08 August in Keratea, Attica, and Helidoni, Ilia, near Ancient Olympia, had largely subsided by 09 August, after firefighting forces battled through the night to contain the flames

Firefighters in action amid a wildfire that broke out in the area of Kerate

Firefighters and police evacuated dozens of people late Friday from homes and an elderly care centre as the flames neared the coastal resort of Palaia Fokaia

Firefighters with hoses combed through a copse of trees to douse any embers and prevent reactivations, scorched twigs and debris crunching under their boots

Greek flag is placed on a burned land after a wildfire that broke out in the area of Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece, 09 August 2025

Gale-force winds on Friday also caused the deaths of two Vietnamese tourists who fell into the sea at Sarakiniko beach on the Cycladic island of Milos.

The 61-year-old woman and 65-year-old man were on a cruise ship group visiting the lunar-like, volcanic rock beach, the coastguard said.

A coastguard spokeswoman told AFP the woman had fallen into the water, and the man had tried to help her.

Greece's national weather service EMY said winds of up to 46 miles an hour were forecast for Saturday.

The weather on Friday disrupted ferry travel for tens of thousands of summer holidaymakers.

A sailing ban on Athens ports was lifted Saturday.

On Friday, wildfires also hit Italy's Mount Vesuvius, as deadly blazes continued to sweep through Europe amid a scorching heatwave.

Dramatic footage shows flames engulfing the volcano in Naples as firefighters battle to control them.

Greece's national weather service EMY said winds of up to 46 miles an hour were forecast for Saturday

heep try to remain in an area far from the fire that broke out in a livestock farm in the area of Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece

irefighters battle a fire that broke out in the area of Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece, 09 August 2025

ebris lay on burned house's floor after a wildfire in Charvalo village, southeast of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

Two firefighters of the Wildfire Special Operation Unit, operate after a wildfire in Charvalo village, southeast of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

Burned cars reflect on water after a wildfire in Charvalo village, southeast of Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon, and firefighting teams both on the ground and in the air rushed to the scene.

But, as the sun set, the operation was temporarily suspended for safety reasons.

Raffaele De Luca, president of the Vesuvius National Park, expressed his deep concern about the fire's progress.

'We are following every update in constant contact with the relevant authorities.

'Our gratitude goes to those who are working tirelessly to protect our natural heritage and ensure the safety of those who live nearby.'

The devastating wildfires have also struck Turkey, Greece, and France - triggered by hotter and drier conditions.

It also comes after 1,500 tourists and locals were evacuated in Spain as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often branded a 'surfer's paradise' due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves.

According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Pena campsite, which also had to be evacuated.

Flames engulf the fields and woods near a home as a wildfire rages near Palaia Fokaia, some 45 Km south of Athens, on August 8, 2025

People attempt to battle a raging wildfire as flames and embers light up the night sky near the town of Keratea, southeast of Athens, Greece on August 08, 2025

Czech firefighters try to put out a fire in Keratea, on the outskirts of Athens, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

A volunteer rescues a horse as a wildfire is approaching residential areas in Thymari, south of Athens, Greece, Friday, August 8

The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered - including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire.

Several beach bars and 'chiringuitos' were also evacuated due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore.
Australia has become a 'strategic liability' due to its 'waning' defence capabilities and can no longer even protect itself, according to a former military intelligence agent.

John Powers served as a US special forces soldier, brigade task force commander and military intelligence specialist in his career spanning four decades.

In his final posting before retiring from the US government, Mr Powers served as the Chief of Intelligence Liaison at the US Embassy in Canberra, where he resides today.

The dual US-Australian citizen issued some harsh truths as he called on Australia to increase its military spending in order to keep pace with its largest strategic ally.

'When I look at where I'm going to strike, I look at where vulnerabilities are because it's through those vulnerabilities I'm going to get to the rest of the force,' he told Seven News.

'And right now, to no fault of the men and women who serve in our ADF, capability-wise we're waning so... we're a liability.

'There are people who aren't going to like what I've got to say but it's the truth.

During his tenure with the US military, Mr Powers helped to plan wars.

John Powers (pictured) said Australia's 'waning' defence capabilities were a 'strategic liability'

The Australian Defence Force isn't sustained, manned and equipped enough to keep pace, according to Mr Powers

'When we would put together plans, we would start with Australia,' he said.

'Wed always start to figure out how can we get the Aussies into the fray because when it comes to just grit and mettle and the intangibles of being a reliable soldier, sailor, airman... you could not have a better ally.'

But Australia's underspending on defence had detracted from its allure as a strategic partner, according to Mr Powers.

'We have not manned and equipped and sustained our military, our ADF, so that it can keep pace materially and capability-wise with the United States,' he said.

Mr Powers went as far as to claim that Australia had lost its ability to defend itself.

It comes after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently called on Australia to hike its defence budget to 3.5 per cent of its GDP 'as soon as possible'.

Australia currently has plans to lift its defence spending from two per cent to about 2.4 per cent of its GDP by 2033-34, from about $53bn to an estimated $100bn.

'I think weve underspent on defence from the standpoint of we dont have the capabilities that we need to even defend ourselves,' Mr Powers said.

Mr Powers said he doubted whether Australia would receive the Virginia-class submarines it bargained for under the AUKUS pact (stock)

Australia had lost its ability to defend itself, according to John Powers. Pictured are ADF forces

He added that it's not just Australia that needs to step up.

'It's a collective thing that's happened over time,' Mr Powers said.

'It goes back to the fact that we always know, not only Australia, if you pick any NATO country, they always knew the US would be there.

'But those times have changed. We're in a different world environment.'

Mr Powers also slammed the AUKUS security agreement between Australia, Us and the UK, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spruiked as a boon to the defence of all three signatories.

While the pact is designed to deliver at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the 2030s, it is contingent on US security assessments.

'I dont think its a good deal,' Mr Powers said.

'Im not confident well ever see those three Virginia-class submarines.'

The former military intelligence agent also called on Australia's Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd (pictured) to resign

Mr Powers urged Australia to deepen its ties with the White House, with Albanese yet to lock in a face-to-face meeting with Trump since the US President was re-elected in January.

He called on Australia's Ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, to step down, claiming his contacts in the US had made their feelings about the former Prime Minister clear.

'Mr Rudd should do the honourable thing and resign,' Mr Powers said.

'Mr Trump doesnt like him. And as a result of Mr Trump not liking him, nobody else in his administration is going to give him the time of day.

'That is a disservice to us as Australians.'
British stand-up comic Jimmy Carr has compared Prince Harry to Kanye West, saying both had 'dressed up' as Nazis and 'f***ed up'.

The comedian and TV presenter aimed the jibe at the Duke of Sussex in his solo set, in a new clip widely shared online.

Carr, 52, who is no stranger to controversy, was referring to the time Harry - then aged 20, now 40 - wore a Nazi costume to a fancy dress party in 2005.

Meanwhile, multiple Grammy-winning rapper West, 48, has shared messages online suggesting pro-Nazis views - though recently insisted he 'renounced' anti-Semitism.

West, previously married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian, released a track earlier this year called Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version).

The newly shared gag by Carr has been shared on the star's official Instagram account, with 2.5million followers - captioned 'Prince William Vs Prince Harry'.

He is seen responding to an audience member asking which of the royal brothers he preferred.

Carr responds by saying: 'The royal family - well, if you can imagine, they're like our Kardashians.

British stand-up comic Jimmy Carr (pictured) has compared Prince Harry to Kanye West, saying both had 'dressed up' as Nazis

The Duke of Sussex was the subject of a jibe in a new clip shared on Carr's social media

British comedian Carr compared Prince Harry to US hip-hop star Kanye West (pictured)

'Prince Harry is very much our Kanye. He occasionally dresses as a Nazi - and he f***ed up.'

Responses have been mixed, with comments including 'Quite a smart answer, 'Harry just can't catch a break, can he', 'You lost me. Harry is a treasure'.

Carr has faced controversies himself in the past, including involvement in tax avoidance schemes as well as telling jokes criticised as being in poor taste.

Earlier this week his latest earnings were revealed after a string of TV deals and a tour that saw him rake in almost 5million last year.

The comedian hosts shows Battle In The Box and Last One Laughing, and is set to take his stand-up comedy show to Australia.

Thanks to his successes, accounts filed at Companies House have shown that his firm, R & I Futures Ltd made 4.8million in the year to September 2024.

Carr set up the firm two years ago and is earning nearly 100,000 per week.

The comic lives in Primrose Hill in north London with Canadian partner Karoline Copping, a former commissioning editor for Channel 5, and the couple have a six-year-old son.

Carr responded to an audience question about Princes William and Harry by comparing the British royal family to US reality TV star family the Kardashians

Prince Harry wrote in his 2023 memoir Spare about his controversial costume at a fancy dress party in 2005

Kanye West has worn swastika and 'White Lives Matter' T-shirts and spoken about feeling disain about his disdain for Jewish people (pictured February 22)

The Mail told last month of latest developments in a long-running feud between Carr and his estranged 80-year-old father Jim.

The TV personality reached out to his father for a favour, only for him to continue the silent treatment once it was granted, a friend of Jim's revealed.

The senior Carr was left feeling 'confused and distraught', the friend said, and was left bewildered as to why his son carried on his grudge and not seek a reunion.

The pair fell out shortly after Jimmy's mum Nora died in 2001 from pancreatitis at the age of 57.

Up until that point, the 8 Out Of 10 Cats host had a close bond with his parents with his accountant father helping to pay for his rent and food during the early days of his career as well as giving him lifts around the country to gigs.

But Jimmy cooled towards Jim and cut him out of his life without ever seemingly giving him a proper explanation why.

The bad-blood simmered until rising to the surface again in 2021 when Jimmy, 52, told fellow comics Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe on their Parenting Hell podcast: 'I haven't seen my father in 21-years.

'You know the line, "My mother's dead and my father's dead to me"  which sounds very cold until you meet the guy. I can't have that guy in my life.'

A young Jimmy Carr, aged around nine, with his father Jim, from whom he has been famously estranged for nearly 25 years

The pair fell out shortly after Jimmy's mum Nora died in 2001 from pancreatitis at the age of 57

Up until their estrangement, the 8 Out Of 10 Cats host had a close bond with his parents. Pictured: The star on his graduation day at Cambridge University

Yet a close friend of Irish-born businessman Jim told how Jimmy rang out of the blue nearly eight years ago and asked his father to 'take on a burden' for him.

The source revealed: 'It was just before Christmas in 2017 and Jimmy rang his dad to ask him for some help with a problem he had. He had been supporting someone close to him but just couldn't continue doing so.

'Jim has never told me the full details preferring to keep it private but it was a big favour to ask and obviously Jimmy felt he had nowhere else to turn, given that he hadn't spoken to his dad for that last 15 or 16-years prior to that phone call.

'He wanted Jim to take on the burden  which he duly did. But while Jim hoped this good deed could rekindle their relationship, Jimmy seemed to cut him off again.

'He didn't call to thank him or anything, it was radio silence which continues to this day. It's strange because it was him who instigated that temporary thaw in relations.'

Jim, who lives in Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire, declined to comment when approached by the Mail, saying simply: 'I don't wish to fan the flames so I'll pass'. Representatives of Jimmy Carr were approached for comment.

Carr has spoken and written in the past about being 'publicly shamed' when his tax arrangements were revealed in 2012.

He had been among of thousands of people using a legal off-shore scheme to pay as little as one per cent income tax.

Jimmy lives in Primrose Hill in North London with Canadian partner Karoline Copping

Carr was said to have been the largest beneficiary of the K2 accountancy arrangement that reportedly sheltered 168million a year from the taxman.

He said in a statement at the time: 'I've been advised the K2 tax scheme is entirely legal, and has been fully disclosed to HMRC.

'I'm no longer involved in it and will in future conduct my financial affairs much more responsibly. Apologies to everyone.'

Prince Harry has previously blamed Prince William and Kate for his notorious appearance at the costume party wearing his Nazi uniform in 2005.

The Duke of Sussex said in his memoir Spare the other couple thought it was funny.

Harry told of considering either the Nazi uniform or a pilot's outfit to wear at a 'Native and Colonial' themed event and called his brother and sister-in-law for their opinion.

He wrote: 'I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said.

'They both howled. Worse than Willy's leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point.'

Prince Harry partially blamed both his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate for his infamous appearance at a costume party wearing a Nazi uniform

Harry - seen here with William in 2021 - has said he asked his brother and sister-in-law for advice on whether to wear a Nazi uniform or a pilot uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005

The outfit became a huge scandal when Harry, then 20, was photographed wearing the Nazi regalia.

The story made global headlines after an image of Harry in the costume featured on the front page of The Sun newspaper.

The Duke of Sussex wore the Nazi uniform at a party thrown by Olympic show jumper Richard Meade.

The theme of the event - held to mark the birthday of Mr Meade's son Harry - was 'native and colonial'.

Harry wore the desert uniform of General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, having earlier in the evening donned an army-style jacket with a German flag on the arm.

Harry had arrived with his brother William, who reportedly dressed in a skin-tight black leotard with a leopard skin pattern and a matching leopard skin tail and paws.

One guest told the Daily Mail afterwards: 'If this was his idea of a joke then it went down like a lead balloon.'

Harry said sorry shortly after the image was published, saying: 'I am very sorry if I have caused any offence or embarrassment to anyone. It was a poor choice of costume and I apologise.'

Addressing the issue in a later Netflix series, Harry said dressing as a Nazi was one of the 'biggest mistakes' of his life andd said all he 'wanted to do was make it right.'

He told of meeting with the then-Chief Rabbi, the late Jonathan Sacks who died in 2020, and also spoke to a Holocaust survivor as part of efforts to repair the damage done by the gaffe.

More recently, Kanye West provoked a substantial backlash to his new song Heil Hitler (Hooligan Version), which he released in May this year.

On the track, the former husband of Kim Kardashian and who is now married to Bianca Censori rapped: 'With all of my money and fame I still don't get to see my children.

'N*****s see my Twitter but they don't see how I be feeling / So I became a Nazi, yeah b****, I'm the villain.'

A fortnight later, he insisted on X, formerly Twitter, to his 69.4million followers: 'I am done with antisemitism.

'God forgive me for the pain I've caused. I forgive those who have caused me pain. Thank you God.'

The 24-time Grammy winner explained the reason behind his rejection of his Nazi persona was because he 'simply got a FaceTime from my kids and I wanna save the world again'.

The rapper tweeted in 2022 he was going 'death con 3 on Jewish people' - which got him promptly dropped by his agency CAA, production company MRC, Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga

He had previously tweeted in 2022 that he was going 'death con 3 on Jewish people' - which got him promptly dropped by his agency CAA, production company MRC, Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga.

The Yeezy designer - who has worn swastika and 'White Lives Matter' T-shirts - has repeatedly spoken about his disdain for Jewish people and his adoration of Nazi Germany dictator Adolf Hitler.

But in 2023, Ye claimed watching Jonah Hill in his 2012 action comedy 21 Jump Street made him 'like Jewish people again' in a bizarre Instagram post.

'No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people,' the hip-hop star wrote at the time.
The gunman who opened fire on the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Friday and killed a police officer has been identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White.

CNN reported that the family of the 30-year-old who had spoken with law enforcement said he blamed a recent illness on the Covid-19 vaccine, which was pushed by the CDC.

White, from Kennesaw, Georgia, was formally identified Saturday as the shooter by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

'There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene,' a statement from the bureau noted. 'Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time.'

Law enforcement had said on Friday that the gunman died in the shooting after a firefight with cops. It is unclear if he was shot by officers or committed suicide.

During the shooting, Police Officer David Rose, 33, a father-of-two, was killed at the CDC Buildings near Emory University.

The shooter was armed with a long gun, and authorities recovered three other firearms at the scene, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press.

Pictured: Police officers set up a blockade of a road near the CDC, where several buildings took fire on Friday

Rose was suffering from critical injuries when he was located at the scene as gunfire erupted from the CVS located across from the CDC headquarters.

The a father-of-two was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries, authorities said.

CNN reported that the shooter's family members spoke to law enforcement and told them that he blamed his recent illness on the Covid-19 vaccine.

The shooting ended at the CVS, but bullets from the shooter's gun hit at least four buildings that are part of the CDC's headquarters.

A photo shared to social media showed at least two bullet holes in two separate windows.

One CDC employee told CNN that he saw a man approach the steps in front of the building, pull out a rifle and open fire.

Law enforcement officials said the shooter had four different weapons  two hand guns, one rifle and one shotgun  and was wearing what looked to be a surgical mask.

Dekalb County police officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed while responding to the shooting at the Centers for Disease Control

Pictured: Bullet holes are seen in Building 24 at the CDC, which is just down the road from Emory University

The CDC ultimately wasn't breached. At around 10pm ET, the CDC gave their employees the all clear order via text message.

In a statement, Dekalb County said that Rose was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan.

Police said he graduated from the police academy in March and 'quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism'.

'This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father,' DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.
As the first of its kind railway, the London Underground has been famed for connecting one of the world's most iconic cities with speed and precision since 1863.

From Chesham in Buckinghamshire all the way to Epping in Essex, the Tube hurtles past landmarks like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace as it transports up to five million passengers every single day.

With such immense numbers travelling through such a densely populated city every day, probability suggests that some crime may occur - no matter how many measures are implemented to stop it.

But offences on London's red, white, and blue carriages have grown - sparking potential fears among commuters and tourists looking to get from A to B.

Between January and August last year, a total of 16,288 crimes were reported on the Tube - up 13 per cent on the same period in 2023.

Data compiled by the Daily Mail earlier this year further laid bare the scale of such growing levels of lawlessness on the Underground - notably since Sir Sadiq Khan took office as Mayor of London in 2016.

The curve of the graph revealed that the rate of crime on the Tube was actually declining in the seven years after 2009, hitting its lowest crime rate of 7.3 per million passenger journeys just before Sir Sadiq landed the role.

And while figures for crime on the Underground spanning this year is not yet available, a wave of disturbing footage of brazen criminal activity on the Tube in recent years has raised cause for concern about what they might reveal.

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Data compiled by the Daily Mail earlier this year laid bare the scale of such growing levels of crime on the Underground - notably since Sir Sadiq Khan took office as Mayor of London in 2016

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As recently as Thursday this week, behaviour on the Underground shocked millions of people across the world after footage emerged of a man dropping his trousers in a packed carriage which contained women and children.

Irate commuters quickly turned on the passenger as he refused to pull his bottoms up on the District line in east London at around 3.30pm on August 7.

The suspect, who was seen wearing headphones, visibly caused panic when he began yelling as the train travelled between Upton Park and East Ham.

He then dropped his trousers and put his belt around his neck. His bottom and genitals were on show, sparking anger around him on the train.

A passenger stood up and when confronting him, said: 'You need to get off the train.' But the flasher began yelling back: 'f*** off', repeatedly.

The commuter said in response: 'What do you mean f*** off. You need to get off the f***ing train. Now. There are kids on here.'

With the train busy with children on their summer holidays from school, passengers took matters into their own hands and removed him from the Tube.

The man at the centre of the incident has been detained under the Mental Health Act and police are investigating.

The moment a commuter confronts a man on the Tube after he dropped his trousers in a packed carriage

Passengers repeatedly asked him to put his genitals away and get off the train. He responded by waving his belt and screaming so the group attacked him

The suspect's belt was taken off him and hurled away. He was then pinned to the floor of the carriage

A group carried him off the train and pinned him there, waiting for help to arrive

The Daily Mail also revealed London's most dangerous Tube and train stations earlier this year.

More than 4,100 crimes were recorded in 2024 at King's Cross St Pancras alone, one of the capital's busiest terminals. This is more than any other station on TfL's entire network.

However, when taking passenger numbers into account, the most dangerous station is Poplar on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), near Canary Wharf.

Statistics collated by the British Transport Police (BTP) and TfL show 46 crimes were committed at the stop on the self-driving line last year. This equated to a rate of 58.7 offences for every million passengers.

It was followed by Cockfosters, the northern terminus of the Piccadilly line, with 57.4 crimes per million passengers, and then King's Cross St Pancras with 51.4.

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Since Sir Sadiq became Mayor in 2016, Tube crime rates have more than doubled, from nine per every million journeys to more than 21 last March. Similarly, offences have risen on the Overground, DLR and Elizabeth line, which opened in 2022.

The Mail's analysis comes after shocking statistics laid bare the ever-worsening crime epidemic plaguing commuters - who have fallen victim to violent, racist and sexual assaults.

One recent instance of such behaviour on the Tube occurred when Mansoor Ahmed, 30, sexually assaulted two women while in the Underground. He was jailed earlier this year for 26 months and placed on the sex offenders register for a decade.

He assaulted the first woman while walking up the stairs at Gloucester Road station on September 6, 2020 and just a few months later on November 20, he assaulted another woman who was walking down the steps at Charing Cross.

Jaya Pathak, who campaigned for more action against sexual harassment on the Tube after she was assaulted last year, told the Daily Mail that the situation has been 'getting worse'.

Ms Pathak, 27, was harassed by a man who continually starred at her for several stops, then 'pretended to be drunk' and rested his head on her shoulder on a Victoria line train to Walthamstow last April.

Mansoor Ahmed (pictured), 30, was jailed for 26 months and slapped on the sex offenders register for a decade after he sexually assaulted two women on the Tube

Jaya Pathak (pictured), 27, was sexually assaulted on the Tube last year and has called for more staff at stations to deter would-be sexual predators

'He tried to make it look as if he was nodding off as an excuse to touch me, when I pushed him off, he laughed it off and kept starting again,' said Ms Pathak, who works in foreign policy.

She said that the man even beckoned to her to get off the train at Blackhorse Road, the stop before she was due to get off at the end of the line.

As the station was platform was virtually empty at the terminus, she felt unsafe as no staff could have been there to put a stop if things turned sour.

Ms Pathak called for TfL to staff emptier end-of-line stations as a deterrent to would-be sexual predators, who may not act if someone else is watching.

In another shocking violent incident against females, one woman was whipped in the face with a belt in an attack at Green Park station last January.

Liban Ahmed, who handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence for the attack, was caught on film shouting as he moved up and down the platform, trying to avoid two men trying to grab him.

In a fit of rage, the 27-year-old lashed out with his belt, catching a woman trying to board the train.

Liban Ahmed whipped a woman in the face with his belt at Green Park Station

Concerns have grown further than violence in recent months too, after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed a video of a passenger openly smoking crack cocaine on an Underground Tube.

The incident occurred during rush hour when the passenger who captured the footage noticed other commuters hurriedly moving away from a man sitting across from him on the Tube.

Initially assuming the man might be homeless and people were simply avoiding the smell, the passenger was horrified when he realised the individual was attempting to light up crack cocaine in full view of fellow passengers.

'I was travelling back from work during a busy(ish) hour when I became aware that a number of people before me had started to get up and move away before what was normal for the next stop,' the commuter, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

'I looked up and saw a dirty, scuffy-looking man opposite me and I initially thought that he was homeless and that other people were moving away because he smelt bad or something before realising that he was behaving oddly and attempting to light a small, metal pipe.

'Thinking he was just drunk, I said 'Dude, no- you can't do that here' before I recognised that he was attempting to light up some crack.'

A man on the Tube horrified commuters when he started smoking crack-cocaine earlier this year

The shocking sight comes amid growing concern about rising crime levels on the Tube and on the capital's streets

Yet another shocking incident occurred in February 2024 when homeless man Brwa Shorsh, 24, pushed an innocent stranger, Tadeusz Potoczek, onto the tracks at Oxford Circus underground station just seconds before the train pulled in.

Mr Potoczek had been hurrying home to catch a flight and was looking at the arrivals board when he was attacked in what prosecutor Sam Barker described as 'the thing of nightmares'.

The Kurdish migrant had claimed he'd targeted the 60-year-old in 'revenge' after thinking Mr Potoczek had given him a 'dirty look'.

Fortunately Mr Potoczek, a postman, missed the electrified rail and was helped back onto the platform by a passer-by who rushed to his aid.

The driver had put on the emergency brake and his train was just four seconds away from hitting the victim.

Shorsh had denied trying to kill his victim and claimed he did not know a train was arriving at the time.

But in July that year he was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury at Inner London Crown Court after just 32 minutes of deliberations and he was jailed for life with a minimum term of eight years.

Brwa Shorsh was jailed for life after pushing a man on to the tracks at Oxford Circus underground station

Furthermore, a shocking machete attack at Edgware Road last November saw ambulance crews called to save a man who had been stabbed multiple times.

A teenage boy, 17 was arrested and pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and affray.

The attacker, dressed in grey sweatpants, a black hoodie and wearing a balaclava, was seen in footage with an enormous machete at the entrance to the station.

As an eyewitness films the vicious stabbing, the attacker can be seen making several attempts to swipe at someone laying on the ground.

After the attacker finally runs away, the camera moves in closer to reveal a man injured holding his side.

In the background, a staff member for Transport for London can be seen walking towards the injured victim.

A spokesperson from British Transport Police said: 'Following a stabbing at Edgware Road underground station on 19 November, a boy aged 17, has pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and affray.

'A second boy, also aged 17, has pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Both are due to appear for sentencing in February.'

Footage begins by showing an attacker dressed in black and grey holding a machete

Concerns over racially abusive behaviour also grew when, in December 2022, a woman launched a racist tirade at a passenger on the Jubilee line - before later blaming a 'spiked drink' for her behaviour.

Janice Wilding, 49 from Lambeth, south London, could be heard saying: 'Don't f***ing bring my mother into it. Because I'll rip you apart b***.

'I will rip you apart. Because you're black and you think you're big innit [sic]. Shut your f***ing mouth'.

As she continues on her tirade, other passengers can be seen gathering around her to hold her back, pleading: 'Please get off the train'.

The defence is met with hostility, as Wilding yells at them: 'Get your f***ing hands off of me. She's a f***ing n****'.

One woman then successfully escorts Wilding off the train, as she continues to yell expletives from across the carriage.

The video, taken by a witness, was shown to police following the incident. After being reviewed, officers recognised Wilding from an incident at a hotel earlier the same day and she was arrested in January 2023.

Witness Ms Rose recalled being on a 'fairly busy' carriage where 'clearly drunk' Wilding called other passengers 'boring' for not joining her songs then threatened to put them on YouTube, said prosecutor Edmund Blackman.

One woman was 'particularly uncomfortable' with being filmed and tried to grab Wilding's phone when she pointed it at her, triggering a wave of racist abuse.

Wilding said to the Black woman 'Where the f**k you come from?' and 'Go back to Africa, you don't belong here'.

When the victim got up to move away, Wilding lunged at her and threw a punch but missed.

Another passenger intervened and blocked the route, but Wilding carried on trying to hit her whilst screaming more abuse, the court was told.

She was given a 12 month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, told the Daily Mail that the 'overall risk of experiencing crime on London's transport network is low'.

She added: 'We are committed to working with the police to make sure this remains the case and to ensuring that everyone travelling in London can do so safely.

Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, told the Daily Mail that the 'overall risk of experiencing crime on London's transport network is low'

'TfL funds and works in partnership with the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police Roads and Transport Policing Command to police the transport network, as well as having around 500 of its own enforcement officers deployed across the network to deter crime, antisocial behaviour and rule breaking.'

Superintendent Dominique Ioannou, of the British Transport Police, added: 'The footage on the District Line last week shows a man in a mental health crisis exposing himself and being assaulted by a number of other passengers.

'The man was taken to hospital where has been sectioned under the mental health act, and officers are investigating the violence used against him.

'Many of the incidents mentioned in this article are from the past few years, and, following the investigative work of our officers, have resulted in strong custodial sentences for the perpetrators.

'The publics safety is our number one priority, and every offence is one too many, but it is important to view the broader context. The latest figures released by TfL showed there were only 20.7 crimes on the London Underground for every million passenger journeys between January 2024 and August 2024. This number drops even further for high-harm crimes, such as robbery and sexual offences.

'Officers work tirelessly around the clock to keep the travelling public safe on the London Underground, and wed encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences crime to report it to us discreetly by texting 61016.

'Every report we get provides valuable intelligence about emerging crime hotspots and allows us to target our patrols to best serve the public.'
A body that runs courts in England and Wales has been accused of an IT bug 'cover up' after a malfunction caused evidence to go missing, be overwritten or appear lost.

An internal report leaked to the BBC found the body took several years to react to the malfunction.

The bug was part of a case-management software used by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) agency that administers courts in England and Wales and tribunals throughout the UK.

The software is used to track cases and manage evidence before courts and is used by judges, lawyers, case workers and members of the public - it is known as Judicial Case Manager, MyHMCTS or CCD.

Sources within HMCTS say the bug led to judges in civil, family and tribunal courts making rulings on cases where evidence was incomplete.

It also found that HMCTS management decided not to inform judges and lawyers because it would be 'more likely to cause more harm than good'.

The bug also caused data to be obscured from view, meaning contact details, medical records and other evidence were at times not visible when case files were used in court.

It is thought that the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Tribunal has been the most affected.

File image: The bug was part of a case-management software used by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) agency that administers courts in England and Wales and tribunals throughout the UK

File image: The former head of the High Court's family division, Sir James Munby, (pictured) told the BBC: 'These hearings often decide the fate of people's lives'

HMCTS says its internal investigation found no evidence that 'any case outcomes were affected as a result of these technical issues'.

The former head of the High Court's family division, Sir James Munby, told the BBC: 'These hearings often decide the fate of people's lives.

'An error could mean the difference between a child being removed from an unsafe environment or a vulnerable person missing out on benefits.'

Allegedly several sources within the HMCTS likened the situation to the Horizon Post Office scandal, with one person telling the BBC that there is a 'culture of cover-ups'.

The risk to proceedings of the bug was initially categorised as 'high' but an initial manual investigation by a team within HMCTS only reviewed a subset of the most recent three months' worth of cases heard by the SSCS Tribunal.

Only 17 per cent of cases identified as having potential issues were selected for further investigation and it was decided that the risk to all cases was low.

However, leaked documents revealed that an HMCTS employee was so concerned by the situation they complained, which led to further internal investigation.

This later report, led by a senior IT professional from the Prison Service was internally distributed in November 2024 and eventually leaked to the BBC.

File image: Sources within HMCTS say the bug led to judges in civil, family and tribunal courts making rulings on cases where evidence was incomplete

It found 'large scale' data breached that should have been addressed 'as soon as they were known'.

Investigators concluded that because HMCTS had not undertaken a comprehensive investigation, the full extent of data corruption was still unknown

This included if case outcomes had been affected.

The report also said that data loss incidents continue to be raised against the IT system used by the civil, family and tribunal courts.

In a statement, an HMCTS spokesperson told the BBC that 'parties and judges involved in these cases always had access to the documents they needed'.
A couple who moved with their children to Maine's most remote island has opened up about their time on the hard-to-reach destination a year later.

Dakota and Hannah Waters packed up their two young children and left central Massachusetts, moving to one of the most remote inhabited islands in the United States.

Their new home, Isle au Haut, has no restaurants or chain stores and a population of less than 50 people.

A year after the life-changing move, they told CBS News that they wouldn't trade it for anything.

The island is only reachable by ferry and houses a single gift shop and a general store.

Still, the family pointed out the positives that come with their relative isolation.

'Our whole family thought we were psychotic,' Hannah told CBS. 'They're like, "A remote island in the middle of the ocean?"'

But Hannah argued: 'People have traded the good life for a convenient one. And convenience isn't always the best.'

The family's new home, Isle au Haut, has no restaurants or chain stores and a population of less than 50 people

A year after the life-changing move, the family said that they wouldn't trade it for anything

'We have so much more bonding time with the kids,' Dakota said. 'It's indescribably wholesome.'

Locals on the island are desperate to attract more families to keep the community alive.

Last year, the Isle au Haut Community Development Corporation posted an online ad warning potential newcomers that the lifestyle wasn't for everyone but nonetheless encouraged people to come.

'Though it's not everyone's cup of tea, who knows, it may very well be yours,' the listing read.

Now the Waters family juggles multiple jobs on the island.

Dakota works as a plumber, maintains lawns and joined a lobster boat crew.

The family also raises some of their own food.

Their son Flynn is one of just two students attending the island's tiny K8 school.

Their son Flynn is one of just two students attending the island's tiny K8 school

Last year, the Isle au Haut Community Development Corporation even posted an online ad warning potential newcomers that the lifestyle wasn't for everyone but nonetheless encouraged people to come

Now that they've settled down, the Waters have no plans of leaving.

'I'm not moving my stuff off this rock again,' Hannah told CBS.

'It was too hard to get it here.'
Police have made more than 400 arrests at protests across the country today as the UK was engulfed by a wave of pro-Palestine and anti-migrant demonstrations - with former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzem Begg among those held.

In London, the Metropolitan Police have cracked down on protesters after they swarmed Parliament Square holding placards in support of the proscribed terror group Palestine Action.

Chaos ensued shortly after the protest began just before 1pm, as officers were seen lifting protesters - some sitting and some lying flat - off the ground before escorting them away.

A video shared by protest organisers Defend Our Juries appeared to show a blind man in a wheelchair being arrested by officers as he was escorted from the area to chants of 'shame on you' from other protesters.

The group claimed between 600 and 700 people are participating in the protest today and claimed the Met were preparing for 'the largest mass arrest in their history'.

At around 9pm, the force said it had arrested 466 people so far, having vowed to make further arrests for 'anyone expressing support for Palestine Action'.

Eight arrests were also issued for other offences, that included five assaults on officers.

The ban of the group means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg (pictured) is among those arrested today at a pro-Palestine demo in London

Pictured: Mr Begg outside the Royal Courts of Justice on July 4

Palestine Action supporters have swarmed London's Parliament Square as hundreds of police officers have begun carrying out arrests

Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square in London in response to a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action today

Protesters hold signs vowing support for Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday

Police officers attend the scene of the pro Palestine 'Lift The Ban' protest at Parliament Square in London today

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

A protester is carried away by police officers at a Lift The Ban demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action

Mr Begg previously spent almost three years in US custody at Guantanamo and other detainment camps on suspicion of terrorist affiliations between 2002 and 2005.

He was never charged and was eventually released in 2005 after an intervention by the British government.

He was among the demonstrators in London today holding signs and campaign group Defend The Juries has now said Mr Begg was among those arrested.

He said in a statement: 'This action is not about Palestine Action, but wider issues of how anti-terror legislation curtails basic freedoms and undermines the rule of law which CAGE International has highlighted over 22 years.

'There can be no doubt that such laws have been, and continue to be abused and exploited, to suppress free speech and put in place an oppressive infrastructure that represents a danger to our civil liberties.'

A wide variety of messages were seen on display today, with some activists wearing signs saying 'I am on duty to stop genocide', while others held placards that read: 'Our right to non-violent protest.'

One woman in her 50s attending the protest told the Mail: 'Its a disgrace. They should hang their heads in shame. Its an outrage. Were a police state.'

Another woman, in her 40s who gave her job as a teaching assistant, said: 'I dont care about prison. I dont care about losing my job. Im on the side of history.'

Martin Drummond, a 76-year-old retired research scientist from Norwich, was among the demonstrators in Parliament Square today.

Hundreds of pro-Palestine campaigners are descending on London's Parliament Square

He said he was prepared to be arrested as he was 'outraged' by the restriction on 'free speech' created by Palestine Actions proscription.

He said: 'I'm here to protect our free speech - it's absolutely crucial.

'Our forefathers fought for free speech and Im bloody well going to defend it.

He did say he was unenthusiastic about the prospect of being detained by police, adding: 'I'd like to go home today.

'I'm not regarding it as a badge of honour. I have never supported anything like this before.'

In response to the video of a blind man being arrested, a Met Police spokesperson told the Mail: 'The law applies to everyone in the same way.

'If someone who is arrested has a disability then officers will take care to understand any limitations, to make sure that person is moved safely and to risk assess any subsequent detention.'

Campaigners were seen brandishing placards showing their support for Palestine Action

Police and Palestine Action campaigners are seen here in Trafalgar Square on June 23 this year

Protesters holding Palestinian flags during a demo outside London's Royal Courts of Justice on July 4 as Palestine Action launched a challenge against the government's ban on the group

Among counter-protesters was Jan Bowman, a 69-year-old illustrator from Scotland, who claimed a pro-Palestine activist tried to snatch an anti-Hamas placard she was carrying.

She said: 'It was just so childish. We have to stand up for free speech. They wont allow it, they wont debate.

'I'm a non Jewish supporter of Jewish people. I think Zionism is just the wish for Jewish people to have a homeland after centuries of persecution.'

Before today's protest, more than 200 people had been arrested at other Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'The Met is very experienced at 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.

'Anyone showing support for Palestine Action can expect to be arrested. I would once again urge people to consider the seriousness of that outcome.

'An arrest under the Terrorism Act can have very real long-term implications - from travel, to employment, to finances. Also, as we have seen this week, it is very likely an arrest in these circumstances will lead to a charge.'

The Met has released this photo of Palestine Action protesters swarming Parliament Square during a protest this afternoon

Police officers stand guard in Parliament Square, on the day of a rally organised by the campaign group called 'Defend Our Juries'

A protester in Parliament Square in London is seen alongside police officers today

Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square ahead of the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action

LONDON: A man is dragged away by police officers during a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday

LIVERPOOL: A Police officer tries to separate anti-immigration and pro-immigration protesters as they clash at a Defend Refugees: Stop the Far Right rally

NEWCASTLE: Police arrest a man as protesters converge near the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle this afternoon

Two marches organised by the Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate, respectively, will also be held on consecutive days in central London.

The coalition's supporters will march from Russell Square to Whitehall followed by an assembly with speeches. The Met said one person had been arrested at the march for 'a placard showing support for Palestine Action'.

Public order conditions have been imposed on the march which means it must not form or begin before noon, protesters must not deviate from or stop to form assemblies along the agreed route and the protest must end by 5.30pm, the Met said.

Other major events in London this weekend include the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley, which will require sizeable police resources.

Meanwhile, police up and down the country are also preparing for a series of anti-migrant protests - and counter-demonstrations by opposing campaigners - outside hotels and council offices including in Bristol and Nuneaton.

There had been particular concern about a protest planned in Nuneaton which comes amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

Scuffles broke out between protesters and police in the town after the protest outside the Nuneaton Town Hall got underway on Saturday afternoon.

One group of shirtless protesters appeared to get into a confrontation with one officer amid a large crowd of people waving Union flags and St George's Cross flags.

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

Protestors hold placards during the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in Westminster today

Organisers tipped at least 500 people to turn up to Saturday's demo in Parliament Square

Protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, near the Mercure Brigstow Hotel in Bristol today

A hefty police presence is out in force amid the demonstrations in Bristol today

A counter demonstrator nearby as protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, in Bristol

Saturdays policing operation is well underway.



Officers are at the form up of the Palestine Coalition protest in Russell Square and in Parliament Square ahead of the anticipated protest in support of Palestine Action. pic.twitter.com/Vu2zcz1SMH  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025

A group of Stand Up to Racism counter-protesters have also gathered outside the Town Hall with yellow placards and a banner which read, 'Stop the far right'.

The two groups are being separated with police officers and police vehicles near the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council building, where protesters started chanting 'Who are you?' at the group of Stand Up To Racism demonstrators.

A woman could be heard saying to the anti-racism group, 'We are not neo-Nazis', while a Stand Up To Racism protester was holding a handwritten sign reading: 'Why do fascists only care about women when they can use our stories and pain to oppress others?'

A red and white sign in the crowd stated 'This is England', with another saying 'UK first' - while another banner saying 'What about our girls' human right to safety' was displayed near a protesters with Union flags.

Restrictions have also been put in place by police in at least 12 towns and cities - with rival demonstrations also seen taking place today outside migrant hotels in Bournemouth and Newcastle.

In the southern seaside town, more than 250 people protested outside two controversial migrant hotels to demand they be shut down.

The anti-immigration protesters gathered directly outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth, Dorset, and yards away from the Britannia Hotel.

Both venues have been taken over by the Home Office for the exclusive use of male asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK on small boats.

Protestors were today seen gather outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth in response to its reported use to house migrants

A heavy police presence was put in action in Bournemouth in response to the demo

Demonstrators clad in Union Jack flags were seen on the streets in Bournemouth today

Counter-demonstrators with placards saying 'No to racism' also attended in Bournemouth

There was a large police presence in the centre of Bristol, as protest was advertised to take place in front of a hotel on Welsh Back, near Bristol Bridge.

A counter-protest, gathering from 11.30am, was also being organised and publicised, and police have obtained special powers in response.

Avon and Somerset police announced yesterday that they had obtained extra powers under two different sections of the Public Order Act.

The first is the creation of a Dispersal Zone - which covers a wide area of the city centre from Temple Meads to the western end of the Floating Harbour.

Police have the powers to order people to disperse or face arrest if they do not.

The second power is to require people to take off any face coverings they have, if asked by the police, and again face being detained if they refuse.

In London, the Met Police has also been bracing for protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Canary Wharf and Islington.

Mr Adelekan said ahead of today's activities: 'This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence.'

Police officers in between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in Warwickshire

Police officers are seen intervening between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, in Warwickshire, today

There have been concerns raised about planned protests in Nuneaton amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl

Counter protesters take their positions in Nuneaton in response to an anti-immigration protest

Pro-Palestine campaigners are taking part in demonstrations across the country this weekend

These activists are in County Durham, in a picture shared by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Also taking part today are pro-Palestine campaigners seen here in the Welsh capital Cardiff

'I'm grateful not just to the Met officers who will be working incredibly hard over the coming days but to those colleagues from other forces who have been deployed to London to support us.'

Meanwhile, another group the Palestine Solidary Campaign has today shared images of pro-Palestine activists out in force across the country.

The group posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'People are starting to gather - all the war from Durham to Cardiff - ready to march for Palestine!'

Last week Palestine Action received permission to challenge its banning after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case.

The ban came after two military aircraft were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in June, causing damage worth 7million.

A judicial review will take place in November, with protests set to continue on a rolling basis until then.

A Home Office spokesperson today said: 'The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

'It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

The Government moved to ban Palestine Action after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in June - an incident the group said it was behind

The aircraft at RAF Brize Norton that was vandalised after pro-Palestine supporters broke in

Palestine Action demonstrators may never be able to visit the US or work in education if they take part in this weekend's protest, the Met Police have warned (file photo)

'Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

'The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.

'This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.

'It also followed an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that Palestine Action prepares for terrorism, as well as worrying information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings.'
Photo: Unsplash

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance will hold a meeting of national security advisers from Europe, Ukraine and the United States regarding the war in Ukraine, the BBC reported on Saturday.

The meeting will take place at Chevening, the official country residence of the Foreign Secretary in Kent, where Vance currently lives with his family. The meeting was probably convened at the request of the United Sattes, the BBC said.

On Saturday morning, Keir Starmer had a call with President Zelenskyy. A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders agreed the meeting would be a "vital forum to discuss progress towards securing a just and lasting peace." Western media reports say the meeting will be attended by Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak.

Western media reports say the meeting will be attended by Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Yermak.

European Commission Spokesperson Arianna Podesta told reporters that EC President Ursula von der Leyen has been in contact with EU leaders in preparation for the meeting between representatives of the UK, Europe, Ukraine and the United States, scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Von der Leyen will also be in constant contact with them on the outcome of the meeting, Podesta said.

She added that the EU continues to support peace talks to end Russia's aggressive war, with the participation of Ukraine, within which Ukraine can make independent sovereign decisions that the EU will support.
A teacher convicted of sexually abusing an underage boy was able to have a baby with his husband through a surrogate, potentially exploiting a loophole in state law.

The issue recently came to light and sparked outrage after a video circulated online showing Brandon Riley-Mitchell, 39, and his husband holding their infant boy and blowing out candles on a series of cupcakes.

Riley-Mitchell, a former chemistry teacher at Downingtown West High School in Pennsylvania, was convicted in 2016 of sexually abusing a student and possessing child pornography.

He had a sexually inappropriate relationship with the 16-year-old student between May 2013 and December 2014, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

More than 12,000 text messages that included nude images and videos were exchanged between the student and Riley-Mitchell, who was 30 years old at the time.

Riley-Mitchell, who was placed on the sex offenders registry, spent three months in jail and was sentenced to probation with no unsupervised contact with minors.

Under state law, registered sex offenders are not allowed to adopt or foster children, but there is no current law preventing individuals from conceiving via surrogacy.

It remains unclear if Riley-Mitchell is biologically related to the child through the procedure, which surrogacy and adoption attorney Stuart Sacks told the Inquirer may be 'where the loophole comes in.'

Brandon Riley-Mitchell (right), 39, and his husband were seen in a video holding their infant child and blowing out candles on a series of cupcakes

Riley-Mitchell, a former chemistry teacher at Downingtown West High School, was convicted in 2016 of sexually abusing a student and possessing child pornography

The couple had launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe in 2023 to raise money to help them afford a gestational surrogate.

In an update, they announced that they had found a surrogate 'after three long years of searching' when a family friend reached out.

'Our surrogate went through extensive medical and social worker evaluations in order to be approved for surrogacy,' the couple said.

'Once approved, the lengthy legal and financial process began. We are so excited that our amazing surrogate will carry one of our embryos for us, helping to expand our family!'

Now, thousands are calling for the child's removal and for an update to state law that would also protect children born through surrogacy.

'This child is now living in the custody of a man convicted of sexually abusing a child. The public is outraged, and we are demanding immediate action,' a Change.org petition said.

The petition called on Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and the Pennsylvania Legislature to launch an investigation into the situation, remove the child, and 'close any legal gaps' for sex offenders to adopt or have custody of children.

As of Saturday, the petition had garnered more than 10,500 signatures.

The couple began a fundraiser, raising more than $2,000 to help them afford a gestational surrogate in 2023

It remains unclear if Riley-Mitchell is biologically related to the child through the procedure, which a surrogacy and adoption attorney said may be 'where the loophole comes in'

Riley-Mitchell, who was placed on the sex offenders registry, spent three months in jail and was sentenced to probation with no unsupervised contact with minors

Peter Kratsa, Riley-Mitchell's former attorney in his criminal case, told the Inquirer that his former client 'did nothing illegal or unethical in becoming a surrogate parent.'

Kratsa added that Riley-Mitchell had 'accepted responsibility for his conduct, served his sentence without incident, and engaged in extensive counseling.'

'Perhaps the attention of those decrying his parenthood would be more appropriately directed toward those who are not held accountable for child abuse, are not punished, and make no efforts at rehabilitation,' Kratsa told the outlet.

Republican Rep. Aaron Bernstine announced in July that he planned to create a bill that would prevent sex offenders from becoming parents through surrogacy and require background checks and child abuse clearances.

'This about protecting kids- period,' he said. 'The safeguards in place for adopting children should also protect those children born through surrogacy.'

'This isn't about politics. It's about basic human decency and common sense. No known predator should ever be given the legal right to raise a child in Pennsylvania.'

Bernstine also criticized the pre-birth order process, which is a legal petition filed in court that recognizes the intended parents as the legal parents of a child born via surrogacy.

He said the process 'bypasses the background checks, home studies, and judicial oversight that would otherwise be required in an adoption or foster care placement.'

Thousands are calling for the child's removal and for an update to state law that would also protect children born through surrogacy

Rep. Aaron Bernstine (pictured) announced in July that he plans to create a bill that would prevent sex offenders from becoming parents through surrogacy and require background checks and child abuse clearances

'This loophole was recently brought to light in a deeply disturbing case in which a Tier I sexual offender - who was previously convicted of sexually abusing a minor - was successful in lawfully obtaining full legal parentage of a child through surrogacy,' Bernstine wrote,.

York County District Attorney Tim Barker told Newsweek in a statement: 'I thoroughly appreciate the concerned and outraged emotions expressed by many that a loophole exists in the law to allows a registered sex offender to become a parent through surrogacy without the same intense scrutiny, accountability, and judicial oversight mandated for the adoption process.'

'This is an issue ripe for review and remedy by our Pennsylvania Legislature,' he added.

Barker added that currently no laws have been broken but he had 'full confidence' that county officials would pursue any 'constitutionally permissible legislative actions' to protect children,' the outlet reported.
Four members of a British family died in a head-on crash in Portugal just hours after hiring a car at Faro Airport.

The victims include two 20-year-old twins, their 55-year-old father and their 51-year-old mother.

The 19-year-old girlfriend of one of the siblings also died in the tragic accident, which claimed the life of a Portuguese man travelling alone in the other car they collided with.

Pictures from the crash scene showed the mangled wreckage of one of the two vehicles involved in the accident beside the road.

The family were travelling north from the Algarve towards Mourao in the district of Evora near the Spanish border.

The tragedy happened around 1.40am on Saturday on the IP2 main road in Castro Verde where signs shows the speed limit is 80km/h.

Well-placed police sources said all four members of the same family killed were British passport holders, although the twins' parents hailed from Mourao and were returning to the municipality for holidays.

The same sources said the 20-year-old twins were both born in the UK, despite Mourao Town Hall describing all four as coming from the municipality but living in Britain.

The girlfriend of one of the boys is believed to be of Polish origin but also lives in the UK.

Four members of a British family died in a head-on crash in Portugal just hours after hiring a car at Faro Airport. Pictured: The crash scene

A source close to the ongoing investigation said: 'The car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number-plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity.

'Today a daughter of the couple killed alongside their twin sons, worried because she had heard about the crash in Portugal and was concerned because she couldn't contact her loved ones, rang the police to speak about her fears it was her family involved.

'With the information she gave them officers made checks with the hire car firm at Faro Airport and tragically discovered a match.

'That was how they were able to confirm the identities of the five occupants in the car with the four members of the same family inside.'

It is not yet known where in Britain the family live, how many years ago the twins' parents emigrated and have been living in the UK.

The man travelling alone in the other car has been named locally as Ruben Goncalves, who came from a town in Portugal called Almodovar.

Local reports said Ruben worked at a zinc-copper mine southeast of Castro Verde called the Neves-Corvo mine. He had a son aged around four.

He was travelling south on the IP2.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident were today being investigated by the GNR police force.

Town hall officials in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from tomorrow.

A spokesman said: 'The Municipal Council of Mourao has decreed two days of municipal mourning, effective from tomorrow, Sunday, following the death of five family members involved in a traffic accident last night on the IP2, near Castro Verde.

'The Municipality, in coordination with the family and law enforcement authorities, namely the local GNR Post in Castro Verde, obtained the number plate of the vehicle they were travelling in and confirmed the identity of the passengers at 3:35 p.m today.

'There were four occupants in the car, all from Mourao, and a young woman with ties to the family.

'Residents of England, they were traveling from Faro to Mourao for their usual and well-deserved vacation.

'It is with great sadness that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

'We inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are canceled for the entire weekend.'
Emma Thompson has revealed that Donald Trump asked her out on a date on the same day she got divorced.

The actress, 66, said the US President, 79, asked her out for dinner as soon as her marriage to fellow British actor Kenneth Branagh was officially over.

Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on Saturday, Dame Emma described how she was in her trailer while filming Primary Colours, a 1998 film inspired by Bill Clinton's rise to the White House, when her phone rang.

The award-winning actress said Trump was on the line and initially she thought it was a joke, the Telegraph reported.

She said: 'It was Donald Trump. He said: "Hello, this is Donald Trump." I thought it was a joke and asked: "How can I help you?" Maybe he needed directions from someone.

'Then he said: "I'd love you to come and stay at one of my beautiful places. Maybe we could have dinner."

'I said: "Well, that's very sweet. Thank you so much. I'll get back to you".'

The surprising phone call came after the president had separated from his second wife, Marla Maples, with whom he shares Tiffany Trump.

Emma Thompson has revealed that Donald Trump asked her out on a date on the same day she got divorced, while speaking at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland on Saturday

The surprising phone call came after the president had separated from his second wife, Marla Maples (pictured together)

Dame Emma described how she was in her trailer while filming Primary Colours, when her phone rang (pictured with John Travolta in the 1998 film)

At the time, the 47th US President had yet to set his sights on politics and was instead focusing on expanding his New York real estate empire.

In contrast, the Harry Potter actress had announced her split from Branagh in 1995 and had begun a relationship with her co-star Greg Wise, whom she later married, after meeting on the set of Sense and Sensibility.

The revelation came during a Q&A about her career at the star-studded film festival, where Dame Emma joked that had she gone on a date with the Republican politician, she may have changed the course of American history.

She also suggested that she was chosen by his team as a suitable person to be seen in public dating.

She added: 'I bet hes got people looking for suitable people he could take out on his arm. You know, a nice divorcee, thats what he was looking for.'

The Harry Potter actress had announced her split from fellow British actor Kenneth Branagh in 1995 (pictured together in 1994)

The star began a relationship with her co-star Greg Wise, whom she later married, after meeting on the set of Sense and Sensibility (pictured together in 2023)

Marla Maples and President Trump share a daughter Tiffany (pictured outside the Minskoff Theatre in New York City in March 29, 1994)

The star, who is a staunch member of the Labour party and even supported Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and bid for Prime Minister in 2019, added: 'I could have changed the course of American history.'

The festival gave Dame Emma Leopard Club Award for career achievements.

Dame Emma has always been an outspoken political activist and last year led thousands of people on a march in London aimed at persuading politicians to prioritise nature and climate.

More than 350 charities, businesses and direct action groups were taking part in the Restore Nature Now march, along with Dame Emma, businessman Dale Vince and naturalists Chris Packham and Steve Backshall.
A woman's body has reportedly been found chained by the neck and tied underwater by two concrete dumbbells at a popular fishing spot in Thailand.

The corpse was discovered floating near the Ban Tha Yai pier in Phang Nga on August 8 - sparking a grisly murder investigation.

Police Lieutenant Pheerawit Chaichanyut of Khok Kloi Police Station said officers responded with rescue workers after receiving a call from shocked locals.

The victim, whose identity, address, and nationality are still unknown, was wearing grey shorts and a brown round-neck T-shirt, The Thaiger reports.

Police estimate she had been dead for around two days before being found in the murky waters.

Officers found a heavy chain wrapped tightly around the woman's neck, secured with two concrete dumbbells.

Investigators believe the method was intended to weigh the body down and conceal it underwater.

But, despite this, the corpse still floated to the surface and drifted close to shore, where it was discovered.

A woman's body has been found chained by the neck and tied underwater by two concrete dumbbells at a popular fishing spot in Thailand, according to reports

It has been sent for a full autopsy to confirm the cause of death and whether the victim was alive before entering the water.

Police have launched a murder probe, due to the weighted restraints suggesting foul play.

Local community leaders and neighbouring districts have been contacted and asked to check for any missing persons that match the victim's description.

CCTV footage from the pier and surrounding waterways is also being reviewed in an attempt to trace suspicious movements in the days before the discovery, reported KhaoSod.

'This is a serious case, and we are treating it as a possible murder,' Pol. Lt. Pheerawit said.

'The way the body was weighted down points towards an attempt to conceal it.'

Police urge anyone with information to contact police immediately, especially those who may have noticed unusual activity near the Ban Tha Yai pier.
Their nation's public services may be in crisis but virtue-signalling Labour politicians in Wales are spending more than 4 million of taxpayers' money on planting trees  in Uganda.

The Welsh government has been backing the Mbale Tree Planting Project since 2013 to mitigate the impact of climate change, improve the livelihoods of Ugandans and promote gender equality for female workers.

And when the project celebrated planting its 25 millionth sapling earlier this year, Welsh Labour minister Jane Hutt declared: 'The distribution of 25 million trees in eastern Uganda is not only helping to combat climate change, it's transforming lives, particularly for women and young people across Uganda.'

Meanwhile, Welsh NHS patients are being forced to wait longer than their English counterparts for operations such as hip replacements.

The ambulance service in the country has also faced 'significant pressure' and the social care sector is struggling to cope with growing demand.

Schools and public toilets are being shut while the average rise in council tax for 2025-26 across all councils was 7.2 per cent.

The taxpayer-funded Size of Wales programme, which sends the cash to Uganda, has also found money grows on trees for bee-keeping in Africa as part of the Advancing Gender Equality for Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation project.

Meanwhile, in the northern Peruvian Amazon, the indigenous Wampis people are enjoying Welsh taxpayer-funded solar-powered boats and charging points.

Labour politicians in Wales are spending more than 4million of taxpayers' money  in Uganda. Pictured: Mbale, where a tree-planting project has been supported since 2013

The taxpayer-funded Size of Wales programme, which sends the cash to Uganda, has also found money for bee-keeping in Africa as part of the Advancing Gender Equality for Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation project

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Welsh Tory leader Darren Millar told The Mail on Sunday: 'People in Wales will be amazed that there is money to plant trees in Uganda, yet public toilets, libraries and other services are closing in their communities.

'Every pound spent on planting trees in Africa is a pound that is not being spent on public services here.

'The Welsh government isn't even responsible for international relations so Labour ministers should stop the overreach and focus on the things that they are responsible for such as our poorly performing schools and hospitals and getting to grips with the unacceptable waiting times in the Welsh NHS.'

Tory colleague Janet Finch-Saunders added: 'It is time the Welsh Labour government stopped this virtue-signalling and instead concentrated their spending priorities on the things that matter most to our tax-paying residents.'

Defending the project, a Welsh government spokesman said: 'Climate change affects all of us, and we are stepping up to play our part in the world.

'These trees protect communities from floods and droughts, while connecting Welsh and Ugandan schoolchildren culturally and through practical environmental education opportunities.

'Earlier this year, we passed a 26 billion budget, investing an extra 1.6 billion in public services, strengthening our NHS, supporting schools and helping communities across Wales thrive.'
A British medic who was found dead in Ukraine after serving in the war against Russia may have been murdered, it has been claimed.

Katherine Mielniczuk, 26, tragically died from opioid intoxication on Christmas Eve in 2023.

Cops initially said they did not believe the former chemistry student's death was suspicious, but have now raised questions over whether there was 'foul play' involved.

Police in the city of Sloviansk have launched an 'ongoing' murder investigation - with fears Ms Mielniczuk could have been pumped with a fatal dose of drugs, the Mirror reports.

It comes as a coroner demanded to know if someone 'administered something without her consent' before colleagues discovered her lifeless body in her bed.

Ms Mielniczuk went to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, compelled to use her medical skills to help those in need.

The University of Bristol graduate had been in the country for 18 months, primarily with the humanitarian group Stay Safe UA, and was attached to the 151st unit of the Special Operations Forces.

She also served as an instructor and combat medic with a group calling itself Menace Medics.

A British medic who was found dead in Ukraine after serving in the war against Russia may have been murdered, it has been claimed. Katherine Mielniczuk (pictured) , 26, tragically died from opioid intoxication on Christmas Eve in 2023

Cops initially said they did not believe the former chemistry student's death was suspicious, but have now raised questions over whether there was 'foul play' involved

Police in the city of Sloviansk have launched an 'ongoing' murder investigation - with fears Ms Mielniczuk could have been pumped with a fatal dose of drugs, the Mirror reports

After travelling to the most volatile stretches of the frontline, Ms Mielniczuk earned herself the nickname 'Apache'.

At a pre-inquest review hearing, South London Coroner's Court heard Ms Mielniczuk died of 'opioid intoxication' but that vital evidence had not yet been passed to British authorities.

Assistant coroner Ivor Collett told the court in Croydon: 'We know that the police authorities in Sloviansk did initiate an investigation into Katherine's death under article 115 of their criminal code dealing with homicide.

'The latest from them is that the investigation is ongoing.'

And speaking to the Mielniczuk family's solicitors, he added: 'Has there been foul play? Has someone administered something without Katherine's consent?

'Has someone put them into her system without her being willing? What we are really concerned with is what happened while she was a combat medic in Ukraine.'

Mr Collett told solicitors at the hearing that he would write to the authorities in Sloviansk to request they provide further information on the death.

The hearing was told Ms Mielniczuk's family have still not been provided with the phone she was using at the time of her death.

Mr Collett said Ukrainian police had offered to show evidence from it if a representative travelled to Ukraine, but Mr Collett said that was unreasonable considering it was a warzone.

It comes as a coroner demanded to know if someone 'administered something without her consent' before colleagues discovered her lifeless body in her bed

Ms Mielniczuk went to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, compelled to use her medical skills to help those in need

Her family, from Westerham in Kent, said in a statement after her passing: 'She devoted her life to helping others, as a medic, as a scientist and researcher, and as a friend.

She volunteered her last 18 months in Ukraine, working in logistical aid and as a combat medic all over the country.

'It is impossible to truly convey what an incredible woman Katherine was or how deeply and widely she was loved and will be missed.

'Kasia is gone, but the endless warmth, love and grace she brought to the world will never be lost.'

Writing on her blog, the volunteer, who graduated from the University of Bristol, said before her death: 'At Menace Medics, our goal is to assist the medics on the ground with critical medical equipment and vehicle repairs/fuel, which will transcend our ability to operate, thus saving the lives of courageous foreign combatants and relentless Ukrainian soldiers.'

According to a post on her blog, she had spent the last 18 months volunteering in Ukraine in a 'medical and operational capacity, primarily with StaySafeUA, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting those 'living on the frontlines of Russia's invasion.'

In a post on November 28, she said she had spent her 'first days [in an] ambulance donated for me', sharing a photo of a puppy that appeared to be inside the vehicle with her.

In a video posted in July, she gave an interview to a local reporter in which she said she had been working in Bristol when she decided to sign up for Ukraine saying she felt it was her 'duty to help.'

She added: 'I will stay as long as until it's perhaps not safe to be here or until I need to go back to my brother or my mother.'

Andriy Depko, her former boss at StaySafeUA, a support organisation she worked for for 13 months, exclusively told MailOnline that she was a dedicated volunteer who always put others before herself.

'From the beginning, she would volunteer to go to the very front lines of the invasion,' Andriy said.

'We always told her to stay safe, but she insisted on going to the most dangerous places to help.

'We told her "you need to be safe", but she was insistent, and kept saying "I need to be helpful."

'She did so much for Ukraine in the 13 months she was with us, before she left to be a military paramedic.

'She wanted to be on the very front lines, saving soldiers and using the education and skills she had. She wanted to be there 24/7.

'She wanted to show how brave she was.'

He said he didn't believe the news of her passing upon hearing it.

'At first, I thought it was impossible. I was thinking, "this is not real. We'll hear the news that she's fine".'

'It's very hard to understand that a kind and active person could disappear. It tears my heart apart.

'It was very tough for my team. We had a meeting to talk about [her passing], and we shared memories of her.

'Everyone liked her. She was still part of our team [even after she left].

'I want people to remember as the kind, involved, woman she was.

'Her involvement will never be forgotten. She wanted to help children, soldiers, everyone. I want everyone to remember her for that.'
Las Vegas has shown yet another worrying sign that it's on the decline as soaring prices and tourist boycotts have driven visitors away.

Tipping in Las Vegas has plunged by as much as 50 percent, according to Fox News.

Workers are blaming a sharp drop in visitors, which they say has left them with fewer customers and lower pay.

'No tax on tips, that's a rad thing,' Charlie Mungo, 36, a tattoo artist in downtown Las Vegas, told the Wall Street Journal of President Trump's new policy.

'But it doesn't really do us much good if there isn't any people to get tips from.'

Mungo said he now makes about $1,500 a month and has lost nearly a third of his clients after Canadian tourists who used to represent 30 percent of his business stopped coming.

Many blame the economy, rising costs and even political boycotts of the city.

Some service workers are pointing fingers at Donald Trump, saying his presidency has led to a drop in international visitors, while others say the real problem is Vegas itself.

Tipping in Las Vegas has plunged by as much as 50 percent. Workers are blaming a sharp drop in visitors, which they say has left them with fewer customers and lower pay

In June, there was a reported 11.3 percent drop in visitors compared to June 2024, while international travel to the city has fallen 10 percent

'We're all starting to freak out,' Mungo said.

Jacob Soto, 22, a supervisor at Pinkbox Doughnuts in downtown Vegas, told the Wall Street Journal that his credit card tips have shrunk from $200 a week to $100$150.

'I kinda rely on tips at the end of the day,' he said.

On Reddit's r/VegasLocals forum, one cocktail waitress said she used to average about '80 cents a drink.'

'Now I'm averaging about 10 cents,' the waitress wrote.

Another server added: 'We are working triple what we used to and making a quarter of what we did.'

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, overall visits to Sin City are down more than 6 percent this year.

Las Vegas welcomed 3.39 million visitors in March, down almost eight percent from 3.68million in February.

Some service workers are pointing fingers at Donald Trump , saying his presidency has led to a drop in international visitors, while others say the real problem is Vegas itself

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, overall visits to the city are down more than 6 percent this year

April saw just over 3.3 million visitors, a drop of 5.1 percent from last year.

Hotels were 82.9 percent full the same month, compared with 85.3 percent in March 2024.

Midweek occupancy recorded a decline of 2.5 percent in the same period, despite more than half a million people attending conferences there.

And in June, there was a reported 11.3 percent drop in visitors compared to June 2024, while international travel to the city has fallen 10 percent.
A passenger on an American Airlines flight who went ballistic at a flight attendant who caught him vaping has blamed nicotine withdrawal for his cringeworthy outburst.

Peter Nguyen went viral earlier this week after he was busted vaping in the bathroom on a flight from Phoenix to San Francisco on August 4.

After getting caught, he recorded his encounter with a flight attendant who reprimanded him for the illegal in-flight act.

After his antics made headlines, he told KVTU that he was going through withdrawal at the time and had to use the vape.

'I wish I never picked up a vape to begin with,' he said.

' It sucks knowing in order to be myself, I have to have nicotine. I feel so helpless.'

Nguyen also apologized to those onboard, saying: 'From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry to the other passengers. There is no excuse. No excuse for what happened.'

In the video, Nguyen started recording the visibly upset flight attendant during the Monday night flight.

'I was actually sitting on the toilet, and you were opening the door,' he said while standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

Peter Nguyen went viral earlier this week after he was busted vaping in the bathroom on a flight from Phoenix to San Francisco on August 4

After getting caught, Nguyen recorded his encounter with a flight attendant who reprimanded him for the illegal in-flight act

'I don't care!' she shouted back, which led him to apologize for vaping. 'You can keep saying you're sorry, but I care about all these passengers.'

Shortly after, the flight attendant appeared to reach for Nguyen's phone when she said she noticed him recording.

The video then cuts to Nguyen repeatedly accusing the flight attendant of putting her hands on him. Another member of the flight crew showed up to defend her colleague.

'Why are you smoking? You're not supposed to be smoking!' she told Nguyen.

'Yes, but she put her hands on me. I have a lawyer. I am a lawyer,' he responded. 'I have 25,000 followers. I have 25,000 followers that are going to watch this.'

The two flight attendants were not intimidated by Nguyen's thinly veiled threat of legal action, nor were they moved by his follower count.

Instead, one of them again chastised him for vaping, to which he replied: 'That's my bad.'

He soon went back to yelling at the flight attendant, accusing her of invading his personal space and reminding her that he captured everything on camera.

Nguyen posted a video of him getting caught vaping on the plane and then getting angry at a flight attendant who reached for his phone

American Airlines confirmed that they were aware of the incident between Nguyen and the flight attendant. The company said Nguyen was escorted off the airplane

'So, do you want me to release this or do you want to say sorry to me right now?' he offered.

The flight attendant did say she was sorry, which was only met with more accusations from Nguyen.

'I am actually gonna call the police when I get back on the ground. On you!' he said. 'You reached over me. You tried to grab my phone. You assaulted me.'

She denied assaulting Nguyen, but this didn't stop him from announcing what he said occurred to the rest of the plane.

'This flight attendant assaulted me, everybody!' he said as he walked into the aisle. 'She put her hands on me.'

American Airlines confirmed that it was aware of the incident between Nguyen and the flight attendant, saying he was removed on arrival for disruptive behavior.

It's not clear if Nguyen ended up calling the police like he said he would, but American Airlines said officers did respond once the plane landed.

'The San Francisco Police Department met the flight upon arrival and escorted the customer out of the concourse,' the airline added.

Vaping on a plane is a federal offense that can come with steep fines. If someone tampers with any of the plane's smoke detectors, they can get hit with an additional $2,000 penalty.
For most families, it is naturally a new baby's first name  rather than its surname  which inspires fevered debate.

But not so in the aristocratic Mountbatten clan. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the well-heeled dynasty, which includes the late Duke of Edinburgh, has been deliberating over the surname of its latest progeny  a baby boy, whose existence has, until now, not been widely known.

The child, called Theodore, was born more than a year ago and is the first-born son of Harry Mountbatten, the Earl of Medina and eldest son of the King's cousin George, the Marquess of Milford Haven.

Theodore's mother is Harry's ex-girlfriend Bella Buchanan, 35, who is the granddaughter of the late presenter Nicholas Parsons, the legendary host of Radio 4's Just A Minute who died five years ago.

As the only male Mountbatten of his generation, Theodore could have stood to inherit his father's family's lofty titles.

But the child was born out of wedlock  meaning, thanks to an archaic twist of fate, that those titles cannot be applied  and Bella was opposed to her son taking the Mountbatten name after her relationship with Harry ended while she was pregnant.

Official documents show that Theodore has had two different surnames during his short life to date.

His original birth certificate was issued featuring his mother's surname, Buchanan  which meant his first passport was in the name of Theodore Buchanan.

Baby Theodore was born more than a year ago to Harry Mountbatten, the Earl of Medina (left) and his ex-girlfriend Bella Buchanan (right), granddaughter of the late broadcaster Nicholas Parsons

Bella, pictured with the legendary host of Radio 4's Just A Minute, was opposed to her son taking the Mountbatten name after her relationship with Harry ended while she was pregnant

Now George Mountbatten, the Marquess of Milford Haven (pictured with his wife Claire), has intervened personally  insisting his grandson must officially be known as a Mountbatten

It is understood this was, in part, because the 33-year-old Earl had parted ways from Bella after two-and-a-half years together, and before Theodore was born.

But within months, the Marquess of Milford Haven had intervened personally  insisting that his grandson must officially be known as a Mountbatten.

A source said: 'The Marquess told Harry that the first-born son of his own first-born son must be a Mountbatten. Harry agreed.'

Bella, however, initially refused.

The source added: 'Bella was perfectly happy with Buchanan. She didn't want a title from the family when she had been left single and broken-hearted.

'Harry wasn't there for the birth, so she felt he didn't have the right to call the shots.

'But the Marquess is a persuasive man and he is extremely kind and a doting grandfather to Theo, so eventually Bella relented for his sake.'

An updated birth certificate, also seen by this newspaper, was issued in October to show the boy had officially been renamed Theodore Mountbatten.

The name Mountbatten was adopted in 1917, during the First World War, when Prince Louis of Battenberg, the current Marquess's great-grandfather, anglicised the family name in response to anti-German sentiment in Britain. Pictured: The family's coat of arms

Bella's change of heart meant a 'dash to the printers' to change the name on the order of service for Theo's christening in October.

Sources say the Marquess, 64, who sold his comparison website uSwitch for 210 million in 2006, is a regular visitor to the baby, who looks 'every inch a Mountbatten', with the same blue eyes and blond hair as his father and grandfather.

Amid the debate over his name, society bible Tatler left him out of a recent article about the family's grandchildren.

The source added: 'Theo has been recognised by the Mountbatten family, though he has been kept out of the public eye.

'Even when Prince Harry's former girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, attended Theodore's christening, Tatler's society pages remained silent.'

Harry lives in a multi-million-pound house in Knightsbridge while Bella and Theo live nearby in a rented home.

The Mountbatten family has form for playing with names. The title was adopted in 1917, during the First World War, when Prince Louis of Battenberg, the current Marquess's great-grandfather, anglicised the German-sounding family name in response to anti-German sentiment in Britain.

Bella works part-time with Four Mamas, a company supporting women through pregnancy and motherhood. She declined to comment.

Last night, when asked about Theodore, Harry said: 'I have absolutely adored my beautiful boy from when he squeezed my hand on his very first day in the world, to when he squeezed my hand this morning.

'Just like all of his cousins, he is surrounded by our big warm family that love him more than anything. I cant wait for all of our adventures in the future.'
Tens of thousands of firms across Scotland are being forced to reduce their opening hours or slash services thanks to dire staff shortages which are crippling the economy.

According to shocking new research, one in three small businesses is now closing early, shutting completely on certain days or scaling back their operations because they simply cannot recruit enough workers to operate fully.

Business owners are frustrated they are losing trade worth millions of pounds, not through lack of demand, but through a lack of employees.

The problem is particularly severe in rural areas, especially the Highlands and Islands, where a shrinking population means firms struggle to find enough working-age staff to fill vacancies.

But across the country business owners are also complaining that, even where staff are available, many lack the basic skills and commitment to do the required jobs.

The shortages are all the more concerning given that the unemployment rate in Scotland currently stands at 3.7 per cent - with more than 90,000 Scots out of work.

Last night business leaders called for urgent action to support a key sector of the economy, while the revelations also sparked a fierce political row.

Guy Hinks, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland (FSB) - which carried out the research - warned that economic growth was being stifled.

He said: When you are running a small business, you want to be doing just that, running the business - not tearing your hair out trying to find staff. Its hugely frustrating, but its a situation which tens of thousands of small Scottish firms find themselves in.

The scale of the issue means it is not just a problem for the individual businesses themselves, it is a drag on the national economy.

Many of these will be successful firms with ambitions to grow, perhaps to take on extra staff, but instead are being forced to curtail their operations due to circumstances beyond their control.

Early closing: Group's McKay's Hotel in Pitlochry needs staff

Struggle: Hotels boss Richard Drummond

Small businesses are the backbone of the Scottish economy, with around 350,000 separate firms employing over 900,000 people and turning over 93bn annually.

To understand the pressures firms are facing, the FSB has just completed a comprehensive state of the nation survey of its members.

With full results due to be published later this month, the FSB has shared with the Scottish Mail on Sunday its alarming findings on staff shortages - and the devastating impact on companies up and down the country.

The survey reveals shortages have forced one in three (32.4 per cent) small businesses to make changes to their daily operations over the last year.

Overall, almost one in five (18 per cent) cut services, while one in 14 (7.2 per cent) cut their opening hours.

A similar number introduced unwanted changes to cover shortages - such as owners or senior managers being diverted from their normal role running the business to helping carry out day-to-day tasks.

In rural and remote areas, particularly the Highlands and Islands, shortages are largely driven by demographic factors, as the overall population is falling while an ever greater proportion of people are retired.

More than two fifths of small businesses in the Highlands (43.5 per cent) reported a lack of available local workers being an issue.

According to the FSB, firms in every area of the country reported shortages of workers with technical and job-specific skills.

Worryingly, they also said many businesses were concerned that staff lacked basic skills, such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork.

Construction and hospitality were the sectors most badly affected.

The Tories said businesses were being let down by the governments at both Westminster and Holyrood.

Damage: Tory Business spokesman Murdo Fraser

The partys business, economy, tourism and culture spokesman Murdo Fraser said: This is clear evidence of the damage being done by the anti-business policies of both Labour and the SNP, and by the failure to invest in training and our homegrown workforce.

The lack of suitably skilled workers, when record numbers of Scots are economically inactive, is a particularly damning indictment of the nationalists failings in education.

Their broken promises on rural infrastructure, transport and housing have only made matters worse.

Figures released earlier this year show the overall unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over in Scotland was 3.7 per cent - rising to 11.5 per cent among people aged 16-24.

In total, around 91,500 adults over 16 and over are unemployed, with just over a quarter being unemployed for 12 months or more.

Last night the Scottish Government blamed Westminster for blocking its calls for re-gional visas, as well as for introducing visa restrictions on overseas workers and in-creasing employers National Insurance contributions.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: We have repeatedly called on the UK Govern-ment to work with us to develop tailored migration routes, including a Rural Visa Pilot, to grow Scotlands economy and strengthen our public services.

Recent changes to the immigration system, including an increase to the skills and sal-ary threshold for the Skilled Worker Visa, have created additional barriers for business-es which rely on international talent to fill vital job roles.

We continue to work with businesses to drive growth across the economy and call on the UK Government to reverse its damaging decision to raise employers National In-surance contributions.

We can't get people we need, says hotel boss

As director of a Highland hospitality firm, there is nothing more frustrating for Richard Drummond than having to close early.

Yet even in the peak visitor season, when tourist numbers are at their highest, staff shortages mean he has no other option.

We want to trade late into the evening, he said. But now, even at the weekends and during the summer, we have no choice operationally but to shut earlier. We simply havent got enough staff.

Mr Drummond helps run Turas Hotels which operates venues - including hotels, restaurants and bars, plus a distillery and brewery - in Pitlochry, Aviemore, Boat of Garten, Inverness and Ullapool.

Speaking to the Scottish Mail on Sunday from the McKays Hotel in Pitlochry - where a lack of restaurant staff meant he was helping serve lunch to customers - he explained the pressures he faces.

He said: Im so proud of the businesses weve created: theyre great holiday destinations that ooze Scottishness.

And the Highlands are a world class destination that attract people from every corner of the globe.

At peak times, the demand from visitors is huge. But trying to service that demand has become a real struggle.

Trying to get staff and entice people into our industry has become more and more demanding.

Mr Drummond said Brexit and changes to visa regulations had made it far harder to attract workers from overseas - while the demographics of the Highlands mean he struggles to find staff locally.

The short-term and seasonal nature of many hospitality jobs, he said, also made attracting workers difficult - as did the lack of affordable accommodation in many parts of the Highlands.

He said: Tourism is one of the most important parts of the Scottish economy, but because its fragmented around the country and often involves individuals or small-scale operators, its simply not taken seriously enough by government. As a result, not enough is being done to support the hospitality industry, especially in rural areas.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed diplomatic steps for "real peace" in Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"Spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron. Thank you for the support. We exchanged views on the diplomatic situation. Ukraine, France, all partners are ready to work as productively as possible for real peace. It is really important that the Russians do not manage to deceive anyone again. We all need a real end to the war and reliable foundations of security for Ukraine and other European nations," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram channel.
Radioactive water from the Scottish base that holds the UKs nuclear bombs was allowed to leak into the sea, according to official files.

The documents reveal that polluted water was released into Loch Long, on the west coast, after old pipes repeatedly burst.

A regulator found that contamination happened because the Royal Navy failed to maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes on the base.

The nuclear warheads for the Royal Navys fleet of four Trident submarines are held at the armament depot at Coulport on Loch Long  one of the most secure and secretive military sites in the UK.

The files, compiled by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), suggest that up to half the components at the base had gone past their design life when the leaks happened.

The government pollution watchdog said the flooding at Coulport was caused by shortfalls in maintenance, resulting in the release of unnecessary radioactive waste of low levels of tritium, which is used in nuclear warheads.

In a 2022 report, the agency blamed the leaks on the navys repeated failure to maintain the equipment where the warheads were stored, and that plans to replace the 1,500 pipes risk of bursting were sub-optimal.

The leaks were revealed in confidential inspection reports and emails that were released in response to a freedom of information request and reported on by The Guardian and The Ferret, but only after the Ministry of Defence fought to keep them secret.

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Coulport armaments depot holds the Royal Navy's supply of nuclear warheads for its fleet of Trident submarines, above, which are based HMNB Clyde at Faslane, near Helensburgh

An explosives handling jetty at the Coulport home of the trident nuclear armed submarines

They were released on the orders of David Hamilton, the Scottish information commissioner, who polices Scotlands freedom of information laws, after a six-year long battle for access to the files.

Nuclear warheads are fitted on to the UKs supply of Trident missiles at Coulport where the missiles are loaded on to Vanguard class submarines  based at Faslane on nearby Gare Loch  before they head to sea for secret patrols as part of the UKs nuclear deterrent. Tritium is regularly replenished in the warheads to maintain the performance of the weapons.

The files show there was a pipe burst at Coulport in 2010 and a further two in 2019. One leak in August 2019 released significant amounts of water that flooded a nuclear weapons processing area, which was contaminated with low levels of tritium and passed through an open drain that fed into Loch Long.

SEPA said radioactivity levels in that incident were very low and did not endanger human health, but it found shortfalls in maintenance and asset management that led to the failure of the coupling that indirectly led to the production of unnecessary radioactive waste.

After an internal investigation and a SEPA inspection, the MoD promised 23 actions to prevent more bursts and floods in March 2020. It accepted that its lack of preparedness had caused confusion, a breakdown in access control and a lack of communication of the hazards.

However, there were two further pipe bursts in 2021, including one in another area that also held radioactive substances, prompting another SEPA inspection in 2022.

David Cullen, a nuclear weapons expert with the defence thinktank Basic in London, said the repeated pollution incidents were shocking and the attempts to keep them secret were outrageous.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told The Daily Mail: We place the upmost importance on our responsibilities for handling radioactive substances safely and securely.

'There have been no unsafe releases of radioactive material into the environment at any stage.

A spokesperson for SEPA said: SEPA recognise the public interest in HMNB Clyde and we are committed to ensuring that the site operates in accordance with standards equivalent to those in environmental regulations, to protect both the environment and the public.

All discharges from HMNB Clyde, SEPAs monitoring data, and an assessment of potential environmental and public impacts are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. Based on these assessments the risk to the environment from effluent discharges is of no regulatory concern.

An extensive replacement programme for components has already been undertaken at HMNB Clyde. SEPA are satisfied that the site has made, and continues to make, substantial improvements to asset management and maintenance across both Faslane and Coulport.
Nicola Sturgeon has revealed the bombshell moment she knew her decades-long friendship with Alex Salmond was over for good - and why his 'truly disgraceful' behaviour meant she could never forgive him.

The raw admission, revealed in the latest extract from her soon-to-be published memoir, Frankly, centres around how Salmond reacted to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him in 2018.

Two years later the ex-SNP leader and Alba Party founder was cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, though he conceded during the trial he could have been a 'better man'.

Salmond died of a heart attack in North Macedonia last October, aged 69 - but before his death he maintained there had been a 'conspiracy' between his accusers to bring him down.

'What he never did was show any contrition,' lamented Sturgeon, who added that she felt 'sick' over the allegations.

In an extract published by The Sunday Times, the former First Minister added that 'ruthless' Salmond would have done anything to extricate himself from blame - even if it meant the downfall of his party.

'There was also never the merest hint of concern about the damage he did to the party he previously led.

'Indeed, it felt to me that he would have rather destroyed the SNP than see it succeed without him.

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed the bombshell moment she knew her decades-long friendship with Alex Salmond was over for good in a new extract from her forthcoming memoir, Frankly

Sturgeon took over from Salmond as SNP leader and first minister in 2014 and remained in that role until her resignation in March 2023

'What he never did was show any contrition,' lamented Sturgeon, who added that she felt 'sick' over allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at Salmond in 2018

'He was prepared to traumatise, time and again, the women at the centre of it all.'

Sturgeon said the notion his accusers had collaborated with one another to accuse him of misconduct was 'a fabrication, the invention of a man who wasnt prepared to reflect honestly on his own conduct'.

She added: 'That he tried to distort and weaponise genuine expressions of shock, in some cases trauma, was truly disgraceful, and it strikes at the heart of why I find it so hard to forgive him.'

At the point of realising his 'thirst for revenge' was greater than the bond between them, Sturgeon said she knew their friendship was over for good and she went through a 'grieving process'.

She wrote: 'For a time after we stopped speaking I would have conversations with him in my head about politics and the issues of the day.

'I had occasional, vivid dreams in which we were still on good terms. I would wake up from these feeling utterly bereft.'

And even now after Salmond's passing, Sturgeon admitted his impact on her continues and she will 'never quite escape the shadow he casts, even in death'.

Sturgeon took over from Salmond as SNP leader and first minister in 2014 and remained in that role until her resignation in March 2023.

They were once close, but at the point of realising Salmond's 'thirst for revenge' was greater than the bond between them, Sturgeon said she knew their friendship was over

The ex-SNP leader and Alba Party founder was cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, though he conceded during the trial he could have been a 'better man'

Even now after Salmond's passing, Sturgeon admitted his impact on her continues and she will 'never quite escape the shadow he casts, even in death'

The former SNP leader said she was 'desolate and heartbroken' after losing her baby in 2010 (Pictured at a memorial service for the Ibrox disaster just days after her miscarriage)

The former politician said: 'Being the subject of a high-profile criminal investigation for almost two years, especially having committed no crime, was like a form of mental torture.' (Police outside Ms Sturgeon's home following her arrest)

Ms Sturgeon's book will be launched on August 14 at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

The extract is the second to be published from Sturgeon's memoir.

In the first, she candidly revealed that she does not consider her sexuality to be 'binary', though she refused to give specific details and said that 'sexual relationships should be private'.

She also said the police probe into the SNP's finances caused her 'mental torture' and her arrest was the worst day of her life.

The former First Minister described her 'despair' when police raided her home and said she felt like she had 'fallen into the plot of a dystopian novel'.

While she said the arrest of her husband Peter Murrell made it feel 'like a nightmare with no end', she also admitted it gave her a 'brief glimmer of hope' that she could be cleared.

She also wrote of how she felt 'overwhelmed by guilt' when she fell pregnant ahead of an election campaign, and then felt she was 'being punished for not wanting the baby badly enough' when she suffered a miscarriage.

Ms Sturgeon's book will be launched on August 14 at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, while the 55-year-old will also give an 'in-depth' interview to ITV News at Ten presenter Julie Etchingham just days before it comes out.
Nicola Sturgeon has sparked an explosive new political row with Alex Salmonds family after claiming in her memoirs that he tried to destroy her.

In extracts from her book  for which she will receive 300,000  Ms Sturgeon alleges Mr Salmond sought revenge after she refused to intervene in the internal Scottish Government probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

She also denied the existence of any conspiracy against the former First Minister in claims that have reignited the bitter war of words between Ms Sturgeon and the late Mr Salmonds allies. Last night Kenny MacAskill, a former SNP Justice Secretary and close friend of the Salmond family, accused Ms Sturgeon of trying to rewrite history and distorting the truth. He added: History will judge her cruelly.

In the latest extracts from her book, Frankly, which is released this week, she also accuses her political mentor of becoming cold soon after learning of the claims against him and how she later formed the view he would rather see the SNP collapse than have it succeed without him.

The astonishingly candid claims come less than a year after the former first minister died, aged 69, during an appearance at an event in North Macedonia.

Former Alba Party leader Mr Salmond, who led the SNP for 20 years and was First Minister from 2007 to 2014, was cleared of 13 sexual offence counts at a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020.

Earlier misconduct claims made against him by two women led to a massive falling out with his protege Ms Sturgeon and a split in the Nationalist movement.

Nicola Sturgeon has sparked an explosive new political row with Alex Salmond s family after claiming in her memoirs that he tried to destroy her

Alex Salmond pictured outside the High Court in Edinburgh in 2020 after he was cleared of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults

In 2018, Mr Salmond resigned from the SNP after the claims emerged and challenged a Scottish Government probe into them.

His successful judicial review showed the in-house inquiry had been unfair, unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, and he was awarded 512,00 in legal costs.

In an excerpt of her new memoir, Frankly, published by The Sunday Times, Ms Sturgeon speaks of the impact of events on her relationship with Mr Salmond, stating how she initially believed their friendship could survive his thirst for revenge.

Ms Sturgeon, who served as First Minister between 2014 and 2023, added: Eventually, though, I had to face the fact that he was determined to destroy me. I was now engaged in mortal political combat with someone I knew to be both ruthless and highly effective. It was a difficult reality to reconcile myself to. So too was losing him as a friend. I went through what I can only describe as a grieving process.

Referring to the court case against Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon said that while he conceded that his behaviour towards women was at times inappropriate he failed to ever show contrition for his actions.

She also said he was prepared to repeatedly traumatise the women at the centre of the complaints.

In a furious response, Mr MacAskill said: Nicola Sturgeon is seeking to rewrite history and distorting the truth. Alex Salmond was vindicated it Scotlands High Court.

It was Nicola Sturgeons Government which was found to have acted unlawfully procedurally unfairly and tainted with apparent bias. It was for that reason that enhanced expenses were awarded against the Government.

Far from being some passive bystander Ms Sturgeon was at the centre of events that many see as a conspiracy.

Its why there has to be an inquiry into the role of the Scottish Government in their actions against Alex Salmond and the cover up that has been ongoing ever since.

History will judge her cruelly as her legacy is shown to be tawdry and failed but justice dictates that there is a full accounting for her role in this shameful episode.

The memoir also includes Ms Sturgeons account of the moment when Mr Salmond first informed her of the allegations against him, stating that she was shocked and felt sick on hearing them.

Kenny MacAskill, a former SNP Justice Secretary and close friend of the Salmond family, has accused Ms Sturgeon of trying to rewrite history and distorting the truth'

She has also insisted she was not the one who had leaked the outcome of the Scottish government investigation into her predecessor to the press - but, astonishigly suggested that Mr Salmond might have.

Touching upon the ongoing impact of events and Mr Salmonds role in her life, Ms Sturgeon admitted she will never escape his shadow even in death.

Mr Salmond was investigated by the Scottish government in 2018 after two women made allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

The findings of that investigation were leaked to The Daily Record on the day before they were due to be published, prompting Mr Salmond to launch a judicial review of the handling of the inquiry.

The Scottish government initially defended the judicial review, before dropping its defence.

But a separate police investigation resulted in a criminal trial in 2020 in which Mr Salmond was cleared of all 14 charges.

Denying the existence of any plot against Mr Salmond, she wrote: The conspiracy was a fabrication, the invention of a man who wasnt prepared to reflect honestly on his own conduct.

Mr Salmond died on October 12 last year. Ms Sturgeon did not attend his funeral on October 29 and was pictured at comedian Janey Godleys funeral on the date of his November 30 memorial.

Addressing the fallout in a BBC interview months before his death, Mr Salmond had said: A big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms, and I seriously doubt if thats going to improve.

Now, thats a great pity because I did indicate that you shouldnt say anythings for ever, but thats the way it looks and thats just the way its going to be.

In other extracts, published on Friday, Ms Sturgeon discussed her arrest in 2023, describing it as mental torture, her miscarriage in 2010 and her sexuality, which she said is not binary.
Militant protesters were accused of a 'colossal' waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money after more than 360 deliberately forced police to arrest them by brandishing signs supporting the outlawed group Palestine Action.

During a day of chaos and farce, Left-wing activists swamped Parliament Square in London today in support of the organisation, which was proscribed by the Government last month as a terrorist group.

Hundreds held placards declaring 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action' in deliberate acts of law-breaking designed to overwhelm police resources and the courts.

By 6pm police had arrested 365 people for supporting a proscribed organisation and seven others, including five for assaulting police officers.

More than 850 officers were deployed on the huge operation, including 120 drafted in to bolster the Met from Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Officers endured a torrent of abuse as they made arrests, with demonstrators screaming 'shame on you', 'terrorists' and 'fascist scum'. Violent scuffles broke out as officers attempted to lead those arrested away. The Met said that none of its officers was seriously injured.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp estimated that the police operation and subsequent legal costs to prosecute those arrested, including court time and legal aid, could cost taxpayers up to 3 million.

The cost comes on top of the more than 53 million that the Met has already spent policing pro-Palestine protests in central London since the October 7 attacks against Israel in 2023.

Militant protesters were accused of a 'colossal' waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money after more than 360 deliberately forced police to arrest them by brandishing signs supporting the outlawed group Palestine Action

During a day of chaos and farce, Left-wing activists swamped Parliament Square in London today in support of the organisation, which was proscribed by the Government last month as a terrorist group

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Mr Philp said: 'When you take into account the policing costs today and how much lengthy prosecutions and court processes will cost, the final bill for today's idiotic stunt could be as much as 3 million. This is money that could have been spent catching drug dealers, gang members, phone thieves and shoplifters.

'Those supporting a banned organisation should feel the full force of the law. Palestine Action is a violent group that seeks to impose its views on others through force. They smash up property, vandalise RAF planes and have even attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer.

'Those illegally supporting Palestine Action are supporting political violence.'

To prevent London's police cells from being overwhelmed, the Met established a so-called 'prisoner- processing point' in nearby King Charles Street.

Under three gazebos, arrested activists were asked for their names and addresses and had their fingerprints taken. They were then bailed and told to return to a police station at a future date.

Some, however, immediately returned to the protest on Parliament Square and were re-arrested for breaching their bail conditions.

Richard Roques, 69, from London, was among the first to be arrested on the edge of Parliament Square. He had brought a placard with the words 'I support' written on it. At 1pm he added the words 'Palestine Action', prompting his arrest minutes later.

At 1.53pm he was arrested for a second time for returning to the protest and allegedly breaching his bail conditions.

A protester is carried away by police officers at a Lift The Ban demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action

Hundreds of pro-Palestine campaigners descended on London's Parliament Square

The Met has released this photo of Palestine Action protesters swarming Parliament Square during a protest this afternoon

Police officers arrested an 89-year-old protestor in London today

By 6pm police had arrested 365 people for supporting a proscribed organisation and seven others, including five for assaulting police officers

Officers endured a torrent of abuse as they made arrests, with demonstrators screaming 'shame on you', 'terrorists' and 'fascist scum'

There were also ugly scenes on Whitehall as those arrested were led  and in some cases carried by their arms and legs  to the temporary processing centre, with a hostile crowd pushing and shoving officers

A protestor held a placard in support of Palestine in Parliament Square

Moazzam Beg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was also among those arrested yesterday afternoon. He had been detained by US authorities between 2002 and 2005 before his release without charge.

The protest began at 1pm today when hundreds of activists sat down and silently held the illegal placards.

Defend Our Juries, which organised yesterday's protest, claimed that between 600 and 700 protested by holding the signs.

The Met, however, said that, while between 500 and 600 people were in Parliament Square 'many were onlookers, media or people not holding placards'.

First to be arrested was William Hancock from Kingston upon Thames. Speaking to the MoS, he said: 'I had a sign that said I support Palestine Action.'

He was followed by Ian Mursell, 73, from Battersea, whose arrest was witnessed by his son Phillip. Designer Theresa Jordan, 45, said she would refuse to co-operate with police as she was led away.

At 2.17pm seven officers arrested a blind man in a wheelchair who told the MoS his name was 'Mike'. Dozens of protesters followed the officers chanting 'no justice, no peace, no fascist police'.

One woman screamed 'you are f****** disgusting, you are fascist scum' at the officers.

Protesters held signs vowing support for Palestine Action in Parliament Square today

Violent scuffles broke out as officers attempted to lead those arrested away. The Met said that none of its officers was seriously injured

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp estimated that the police operation and subsequent legal costs to prosecute those arrested, including court time and legal aid, could cost taxpayers up to 3 million

The protest began at 1pm today when hundreds of activists sat down and silently held the illegal placards

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square

To prevent London's police cells from being overwhelmed, the Met established a so-called 'prisoner- processing point' in nearby King Charles Street

More than 850 officers were deployed on the huge operation, including 120 drafted in to bolster the Met from Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire

Legislation to proscribe Palestine Action made it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years

Some activists said they had previously been arrested while demonstrating for eco-militant groups such as Just Stop Oil.

There were also ugly scenes on Whitehall as those arrested were led  and in some cases carried by their arms and legs  to the temporary processing centre, with a hostile crowd pushing and shoving officers.

A middle-aged man was pushed to the ground by officers as he fought against them. Another march, organised by separate group the Palestine Coalition, assembled on Whitehall. The Met said one person had been arrested.

Legislation to proscribe Palestine Action made it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said tonight: 'Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.'

A Met spokesman said: 'Anyone who came to Parliament Square to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.'
A 2-year-old girl was allegedly beaten with a paddle, shot with a BB gun, and handed over to a meth dealer by her mother - and more than three years later, police still don't know where she is.

London Kerr, then 2-years-old, was last seen in April 2022 at a southeast Oklahoma City home.

The toddler, who would now be five, is still considered missing and endangered as officials with the Oklahoma City Police say they are still searching for her.

Amid the gut-wrenching search, her mother, Ashley Rowland, 39, and her boyfriend, Joshua Denton, 40, were arrested on Tuesday on multiple complaints related to child abuse and sexual abuse.

Despite their arrests, police say there's been no credible information about London's whereabouts.

The harrowing case only began to unravel a year after London was last seen alive, when the Oklahoma Department of Human Services attempted to serve a pickup order in April 2023 and was unable to locate London, according to court records.

Rowland initially told authorities her daughter was staying with her biological father in Georgia, however that statement was later proven false.

In a follow-up interview, Rowland allegedly admitted to giving London to a man named 'Carlos,' who she said had sold her methamphetamine in 2022.

London Kerr, then 2-years-old, was last seen in April 2022 at a southeast Oklahoma City apartment complex - now five, the Oklahoma toddler is considered missing and endangered, according to Oklahoma City Police

Her mother, Ashley Rowland, 39, and her boyfriend, Joshua Denton, 40, were arrested on Tuesday on multiple complaints related to child abuse and sexual abuse

'He was possibly London's father, but Ashley was not sure. Carlos had told Ashley he was going back to Mexico,' her arrest affidavit stated.

Rowland also told police she did not give Carlos any of London's personal identification documents, The Oklahoman reported.

Oklahoma City police have not yet confirmed Carlos's existence or involvement.

Rowland was first arrested on a child abandonment charge back in October 2024 but was bonded out.

She later admitted to police that she had lied and that Carlos did not sell or use meth.

'We don't have very credible information from the people that assumed responsibility or had custody of this child,' Oklahoma City Police Sargeant Dillon Quirk told WFSB.

'So, when we take over an investigation, we have to go back and look at what has already been documented.'

Investigators eventually uncovered additional disturbing allegations of abuse in interviews with other children connected to Rowland and Denton.

According to affidavits, a 15-year-old boy told police Denton hit London with a wooden paddle and shot her with a BB gun.

He also said Denton duct-taped him to a chair, beat him with a belt, threatened to kill him if he spoke to anyone and even threatened to 'make him disappear.'

Despite their arrests, police say there's been no credible information about London's whereabouts. Pictured: London Kerr before she went missing

The multi-layered case began to unravel in April 2023, when the Oklahoma Department of Human Services attempted to serve a pickup order and was unable to locate London

Rowland initially told authorities her daughter was staying with her biological father in Georgia, however that statement was later proven false. Pictured: Ashley Rowland's southeast Okalahoma home where Department of Human Services believed to be where London Kerr was living before her disappearance

In March 2025, Denton's 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son were also interviewed.

The two children alleged that their father poured hot sauce in London's eyes, locked her in a closet, and threatened to beat them if they told Rowland.

The girl also said Denton had sexually abused her and warned her she would die if she spoke out.

The two minors also told investigators Rowland was aware of the abuse. Rowland, however, denied knowledge of the abuse, and insisted Denton was never violent toward London.

Moore Police later searched a storage unit tied to Rowland and Denton, where they recovered a BB gun, a wooden paddle labeled 'The Last Resort,' a pink baby blanket, diapers, a pink shoe, and a car seat, the Oklahoman reported.

Complicating the timeline further, a daycare worker told police in early 2025 that she last saw London with Rowland at a gas station over two years earlier.

At the time, the worker noted visible bruises on London's head, but according to the affidavit, Rowland said her toddler's injuries were from a car accident.

Despite extensive searches of properties, storage units, and electronic devices, no trace of London has been found.

Police said the case is now being led by Oklahoma City detectives, with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

According to affidavits, a 15-year-old boy told police Denton hit London (pictured) with a wooden paddle and shot her with a BB gun

If still alive, London would turn six in early September. Pictured: An age-progressed photo of London Kerr at 5 years old, posted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Moore Police previously worked the case but turned it over after exhausting leads.

'Time is of the essence, still hoping for a positive turnout in this case, and we don't have a lot to go off of right now, which makes it extremely difficult,' Quirk told KOCO-TV.

If still alive, London would turn six in early September.

Denton now faces nine felony charges, including six counts of child abuse, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child, and one count of a pattern of criminal offenses.

Rowland has been charged with enabling child abuse.

Anyone with information about London's whereabouts is urged to contact the Oklahoma City Police Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200.
The small-boats crisis has made British women and girls less safe, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick warns today.

The top Tory admits he fears for his own three young daughters against a backdrop of illegal migrants with medieval attitudes crossing the Channel.

His comments follow a nationwide series of protests by angry parents outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers.

In a candid article for The Mail on Sunday, Mr Jenrick states: I certainly dont want my children to share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally, and about whom we know next to nothing.

And I dont want anyone elses family to have this forced on them either.

Mr Jenrick, whose daughters are 14, 12 and ten, says the Channel crossings are now a national security emergency.

The top Tory admits he fears for his own three young daughters (pictured) against a backdrop of illegal migrants with medieval attitudes crossing the Channel. Mr Jenrick, whose daughters are 14, 12 and ten, says the Channel crossings are now a national security emergency

His comments follow a nationwide series of protests by angry parents outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers. Mr Jenrick told The Mail on Sunday: I certainly dont want my children to share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally'

It comes as:

An illegal immigrant from Sudan living in an asylum seeker hotel has been charged with the sexual assault of a woman last Monday in Warwickshire.

Another migrant in a taxpayer-funded hotel in London has been arrested on suspicion of strangling a woman in public.

Ministers will change the law to be able to immediately deport foreign criminals  instead of waiting for them to serve out part of their sentence in England and Wales.

The spate of crimes perpetrated by illegal migrants in just two months has made some families fearful for their women and girls.

Mr Jenrick references the shocking case where two Afghan asylum seekers were charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, a story broken by his newspaper last week which triggered a furious backlash.

Its no wonder fair-minded people are furious, Mr Jenrick writes. Theyre right to be. When I see these stories, I cant help but think that it could have been one of my three young daughters.

My eldest daughter is 14 and already I worry about her safety as she starts to do things independently. Its challenging enough without this to contend with.

The spate of crimes perpetrated by illegal migrants in just two months has made some families fearful for their women and girls. Pictured: families protest outside the Roundhouse hotel on August 9 in Bournemouth

Mr Jenrick references the shocking case where two Afghan asylum seekers were charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire - a story broken by this newspaper last week, which triggered a furious backlash

Mr Jenrick calls for tougher action on deporting criminals back to their home countries, and says foreign aid should be suspended from those countries if they resist accepting them.

Pakistan should have its 133 million aid and visa access cut if it continues to block deportations, he says.

The former immigration minister resigned from Rishi Sunaks government after saying that not enough was being done to tackle migration.

He comes to the defence of the British public who have been gaslit over the spread of illegal migration and being told that as many women and children make small-boat crossings as men, when nearly 90 per cent are men.

I can only sympathise with the mothers and fathers peacefully protesting outside asylum hotels who have been pushed to breaking point, Mr Jenrick writes.

They will have read the stories of illegal migrants loitering around schools and parks, many of which have deplorable attitudes towards women.

Quite understandably parents refuse to sit back while their familys safety is jeopardised. Their response is natural: we must protect our children.

He acknowledges his comments will be sneered at by the metropolitan elite, safely ensconced in their ivory towers.

Mr Jenrick comes to the defence of the British public who have been gaslit over the spread of illegal migration and being told that as many women and children make small-boat crossings as men, when nearly 90 per cent are men

Speaking of Pakistan, Mr Jenrick writes: 'This is a country we give 133 million in aid to. Enough. Starmer should suspend that money if the Pakistani authorities dont do the right thing'

'Only at the turn of this year I was criticised for saying some of those who have migrated to the UK have, frankly, medieval attitudes to women.

Mr Jenrick says foreign aid must be immediately cut to any countries that refuse deportations of their nationals who commit crimes on British soil  even if theyve qualified for settlement in Britain.

He writes: If countries wont take back their citizens, we should suspend the granting of visas and foreign aid until they do.

'Just recently it was reported Pakistan was refusing to take back three rapists until the UK allows direct flights between the two countries via its national airline, PIA, which were grounded due to safety concerns.

'This is a country we give 133 million in aid to. Enough. Starmer should suspend that money if the Pakistani authorities dont do the right thing.

He also calls for the Ministry of Justice to publish the background of criminals by their nationality, country of birth, visa status, asylum status and their method of entry to the UK, and said failing to do so would make Sir Keir Starmer complicit in a scandalous cover-up.

Mr Jenrick cites figures from the Centre for Migration Control that foreign nationals are twice as likely to be responsible for sex assaults as the rest of the population.

Its obvious that some societies have higher levels of violent and sexual crime, and individuals who migrate from those countries to the UK are unlikely to shed that baggage quickly.

The truth is that mass, uncontrolled immigration has been fuelling crime and made women and girls less safe. But out of a mixture of bureaucratic inertia and weak leadership, the data has been covered up.

Last night the Ministry of Justice did not comment.
Two more migrants living in taxpayer-funded hotels in England have been accused of separate attacks on women, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

A 26-year-old asylum seeker, staying at the Thistle City Barbican in central London, was arrested on suspicion of strangling a 20-year-old woman, then threatening her in the street just a day later.

Shockingly, despite the alleged assault taking place in March, he is still free to roam the streets after he was arrested and released under an investigation which is still ongoing. Police admitted the probe had 'taken longer than we would ideally have wanted'.

The victim was allegedly cat-called by a man as she walked past the entrance to the migrant accommodation, followed by the alleged attack the following day in a nearby Tesco store.

He allegedly grabbed her by the neck and assaulted her. She was then said to be 'terrified' to see the suspect walking around the area in the days after his arrest.

The MoS can reveal that in a second incident, in Rugby, Warwickshire, an illegal immigrant has been charged with the sexual assault of a woman, about two miles from the Ibis hotel where he has been staying.

Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, who is from Sudan, allegedly assaulted the woman last Monday evening and was arrested the following day. He appeared before Coventry magistrates last Wednesday, and has been remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on September 11.

News of the suspected assault has shocked local residents and led to an angry crowd of hundreds protesting outside the hotel on Friday evening and yesterday afternoon.

A 26-year-old asylum seeker staying at the Thistle City Barbican in central London (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of strangling a 20-year-old woman, then threatening her in the street just a day later

The victim was allegedly cat-called by a man as she walked past the entrance to the migrant accommodation, followed by the alleged attack the following day in a nearby Tesco store (File image)

The alleged assault is being investigated by Warwickshire Police, which was severely criticised last week by politicians after the MoS revealed two Afghan asylum seekers, Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir, both 23, had been charged over the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

The force was accused of a 'cover-up' by Reform leader Nigel Farage for not revealing the immigration status of the two suspects.

The row led to Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman urging police to be more transparent with the public.

Yesterday, commenting on the London attack, the Met Police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of non-fatal strangulation and a public order offence. When arrested, he was allegedly found with a bank card in another person's name, so he was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

He has since been released under investigation but has not been charged. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that an update on the investigation will be provided to the alleged victim.

Asked by the MoS why the man had been allowed to roam the streets for so long after the alleged attack, a spokesman said: 'It's not always possible to charge someone immediately after arrest as there is often further evidence to gather to build a case to the required evidential standard.

'There is no mechanism to hold a person in custody for an extended period prior to charge so either bail or release under investigation is a likely interim outcome. We acknowledge that in this case, the investigation has taken longer than we would ideally have wanted.

'We recognise why that will have been a cause of concern for the alleged victim. We are reviewing the handling of the case to identify the cause of the delay and to ensure it can be progressed to a conclusion as soon as possible.'

The force was accused of a 'cover-up' by Reform leader Nigel Farage (pictured) for not revealing the immigration status of the two suspects

On Saturday night in Warwickshire police were facing further criticism from councillors for not telling them the suspect in the Rugby attack was an illegal immigrant.

The councillors said they worked out Almahi's immigration status and the hotel name from reading about the case on social media.

Yousef Dahmash, Tory councillor for the area where the alleged offence took place, said he had to call the police to find out what happened. When he was briefed by a police chief, he was told nothing about his immigration status.

He said: 'I didn't think it would prejudice someone's case if their immigration status was revealed.'

Last night Warwickshire Police said Almahi's immigration status came out at Coventry Magistrates Court, and this information was shared by the force with 'community partners.'

The force said in a statement: 'At no point has any councillor, MP or other partner, who had been briefed about this matter as set out above, come back to the force on the level of information we have released.'
Angela Rayner faced claims last night that she had only raised questions over the new Chinese mega-embassy after being 'spooked' by briefings over national security concerns.

The Deputy Prime Minister has demanded Beijing provides additional information after the blueprints contained blacked-out drawings.

Several rooms on planning documents submitted to Tower Hamlets Council, including the basement area, have been marked 'redacted for security reasons'.

A letter sent from Ms Rayner's department has given the embassy a two-week deadline to supply unredacted drawings and explain the reasons for not showing them.

The move marked a change in tone for the Government over the embassy, amid fears that despite warnings of an espionage risk, Labour would agree to the plan.

But a well-placed source told The Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner has been 'spoken to' by the security services, who had flagged concerns over the application.

The source claimed the advice had forced the Deputy PM to at least ask more questions over what would be the biggest embassy complex in Europe.

The Royal Mint Court site, near London's financial district, has sparked fears it will include 'spy dungeons' in the heart of the City.

Angela Rayner (pictured) faced claims last night that she had only raised questions over the new Chinese mega-embassy after being 'spooked' by briefings over national security concerns

The proposed new embassy on the Royal Mint Court site, near London's financial district (pictured), has sparked fears it will include 'spy dungeons' in the heart of the City

Last week, it emerged that Ms Rayner, who is also in charge of local government and housing, had given China the two-week deadline to explain the mystery.

The source said: 'There is a tribe in the Foreign Office who think we should be closer to China. They think that lots of good things would happen  diplomatically, with investment  if we were to green-light the embassy.'

But the source added: 'Now other voices are saying there are a lot of reasons to be cautious, including that the Chinese are not being as open as we would like about the planning. They have spoken to her, and Rayner's been spooked.'

A Government source responded by saying they could not comment on planning matters.

Ms Rayner also faced claims that she was 'politicising' the issue.

Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly said: 'Everything she does, and every decision she makes, she sees through the prism of her leadership ambitions.

'The Government rushed to try and please the Chinese Communist party, including making big announcements about this embassy. They clearly didn't ask the serious questions about its size, scale and use  and they're clearly trying to play catch-up.'

In an interview to be released today, Reform deputy leader

Richard Tice told the Latika Takes podcast: 'I don't think we should be accepting their new proposed embassy in the heart of the City of London.'

The Chinese Embassy said last week that it took 'into full consideration' the UK's planning policy when it submitted the application.
A defiant shopkeeper who was told by police to remove a shop-lifting sign in case it caused offence said he planned to put up an even bigger one.

Police caused a free-speech row when they turned up at Rob Davis's vintage store in North Wales and told him to take down a handwritten sign that referred to shoplifters as 'scum bags'.

They told him they had received a complaint about the notice, which stated: 'Due to scum bags shoplifting please ask for assistance to open cabinets.'

But Mr Davis, who says he was driven to put it up on his shop door because of escalating shoplifting in Wrexham, told The Mail on Sunday that he had no intention of taking it down.

He added: 'The sign is staying  and I may even get a bigger one.

'It's a simple point, in my opinion, and succinctly put, and can't cause offence apart from to anyone intending to steal from me.

'I was even polite and put 'Thank you' on the bottom.'

Mr Davis, 59, said he put it up a month ago in frustration after discovering that he was losing almost his entire monthly profit because of thieves  but was astonished to then get a visit from the police.

A defiant shopkeeper who was told by police to remove a shop-lifting sign in case it caused offence said he planned to put up an even bigger one

Police caused a free-speech row when they turned up at Rob Davis's vintage store in North Wales and told him to take down a handwritten sign that referred to shoplifters as 'scum bags'

They told him they had received a complaint about the notice, which stated: 'Due to scum bags shoplifting please ask for assistance to open cabinets'

He said: 'A police officer and PCSO came in. They said the sign was provocative and potentially offensive.

'When I asked, 'Why, who it could be offensive to?' the officer didn't answer. The only person who can be offended by the words 'scum bag' is a scum bag who wants to steal from me!'

Mr Davis said he had received overwhelming support from fellow shopkeepers in the face of a tidal wave of theft in the town.

'There's been massive support everywhere since the sign went up,' he added. 'Shopkeepers are all in the same boat; everyone is having stuff stolen, even cafes.'

He began locking goods in cabinets after he said police failed to deal with earlier shoplifting incidents.

He added: 'Over the past year I have caught five people shoplifting. After the first, I called the police. They handed the stolen shirt to me and let the shoplifter go. Now I don't bother reporting them. Almost every day I get shoplifting.'

He said that after putting out 30 sets of fishnet stockings, 20 were taken, adding: 'Theft has definitely got worse.

But Mr Davis, who says he was driven to put it up on his shop door because of escalating shoplifting in Wrexham, told The Mail on Sunday that he had no intention of taking it down. Kitty Hill 24, from Wrexham strongly supported Rob's stance

Local jeweller Brenda Hale (pictured) also fully supports and backs Rob's stance, and said that small businesses are struggling in the current times and theft is theft and totally wrong

Mr Davis, who has run the store for five years, said support had also come from across the nation after his story appeared on social media

'If you are 200 down because of shoplifting that might be my profit for the whole month.'

Mr Davis said retailers in the town were facing a number of prolific shoplifters and criticised police efforts to tackle them.

'I pay two lots of rates, business and residential, and part goes to policing. I'm not getting the service I'm paying for.

'If I had a builder and he didn't provide the service properly, I wouldn't pay.'

He urged police: 'Just do the job you are there for. You are a public service. You don't need to be coming here telling me anything unless I am doing something wrong, otherwise leave me alone.'

Mr Davis, who has run the store for five years, said support had also come from across the nation after his story appeared on social media, adding: 'I am flabbergasted by the response.

'What it has done is highlight the plight of every shop owner in the country.'

Mr Davis, 59, said he put the sign up a month ago in frustration after discovering that he was losing almost his entire monthly profit because of thieves  but was astonished to then get a visit from the police

He began locking goods in cabinets after he said police failed to deal with earlier shoplifting incidents

Local jeweller Brenda Hale said: 'I support what he's done and so do our customers. He's the talk of the town. Theft is a huge issue.'

North Wales Police said: 'All reports of shoplifting are taken extremely seriously. We are committed to combatting retail theft.'

Shoplifting figures released this week by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed just 2.5 per cent of offences were recorded by the police each year.

It said 50,000 shoplifting incidents go unreported every day as firms give up on the police.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: 'Many retailers do not see the point of reporting incidents to the police.'
A woman has shared her shock after visiting a massage parlour and claiming the masseuse began to play with her chest and compare breast sizes.

Perth woman Alli said she was in desperate need of a massage after going through a rough 12 days and suffering from carer's burnout.

Alli said she had watched the Katy Perry concert with her daughter the night before and decided to visit a massage parlour next to the hotel.

'My neck was sore,' she said in a TikTok video. 'I just needed someone to rub my neck. That's all I wanted.'

Alli said she had an off feeling the experience wasn't going to be great before the Chinese masseuse, who couldn't speak a 'drop of English', even began the session.

'She starts rubbing and about ten minutes in I'm like, have you finished with the warming up?' she said.

'Are you going to start the oils? So I said, "Oils, please".'

Alli described the 'oiling' as 'terrible' and said she started to wonder if she should leave.

Perth woman Alli said she was in desperate need of a massage after going through a rough 12 days and suffering from carer's burnout

'The other half of me is like, no Alli, she's at least moving stuff around,' she said.

Alli said she didn't think it could get any worse, when the masseuse used the translator app to tell her to roll onto her back.

She said the masseuse started patting her chest and saying 'boing, boing'.

'I just think she's going to stop, right?' Alli said.

'She's massaging at my feet, and then looks up and goes "boing boing" on the other side. I'm dying.'

Alli claimed the masseuse then said 'hubba hubba' before making a motorboat impression with her lips.

The confused mother said her stomach started rumbling, prompting the masseuse to 'caress it'.

Alli said the masseuse proceeded to lift her top up and playfully squeeze her chest, saying 'little, bing, bing'.

Alli described the 'oiling' as 'terrible' and said she started to wonder if she should leave (stock image)

'Did I want to get up and walk out of there?' Alli said, laughing. 'I was going to say it was completely harmless. It was only $80. She made me laugh.

'It was totally unacceptable in the standards of Australian massage, but you know what? My neck feels better.'

Alli said she seemed to be the queen of getting 'fornicated in Perth massage centres' without her permission.

Social media users were left besides themselves with laughter.

'Well that was a happy ending,' one wrote.

Another added: 'This made my morning.'

One claimed they had a similar experience when they went to a massage parlour.

'Yesterday I walked into a place with windows visible to the street,' they wrote.

'It had a nice atmosphere, even words saying non-sexualising on the wall.

I just wanted 20 minutes on my back. I swear at the 18-minute mark she whispered in my ear, "You want tuggie tuggie? 50 dollars.

'A happy ending by a 60-something lady isn't on my bucket list, but a part of me went... could be fun.'
Poroshenko on BBC: Putin cannot be trusted, he needs not part of territories, but all of Ukraine

Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/

MP of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko stated the inadmissibility of achieving peace by forcing Ukraine to give up its own territories, especially without the participation of Ukraine and European countries in general.

"First of all, we are a nation that does not trade its territory. But I want to convey to you the information that Putin does not need Ukrainian territory. Putin does not need part of Ukraine. Putin will not have geostrategic success without placing a pro-Kremlin government here, in Kyiv. This is its essence. In this situation, we cannot accept that peace should be settled at the expense of Ukraine. We believe that this would be an absolutely dangerous precedent," Poroshenko said on BBC television.

He also said the Minsk agreements, which he discussed and signed during his presidency with Vladimir Putin, "were not Putin's claim to Ukrainian territory, to Ukrainian sovereignty, to Ukrainian independence."

"And another principle that is vitally important during this meeting is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Europe without Europe. I am absolutely sure that even the very fact of Putin's meeting with Trump, if it does not bring any results, will be a great success for Putin, because Putin will break the international isolation that exists, and that is why we need this meeting with absolutely practical results of this agreement. I think that this result can be an unconditional, not only in the air or at sea, ceasefire," Poroshenko believes.

According to the politician, "only the Ukrainian Armed Forces are the best diplomat who can stop Putin."

"The demonstration of Ukraine's transatlantic integration into NATO is that Putin cannot blackmail the entire Free World. And with the help of effective sanctions, we can stop Putin's ability to finance war with the most modern weapons. My message is this: please do not trust Putin," Poroshenko said.

As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump stated during a conversation with journalists that peace between Russia and Ukraine is possible on the basis of the exchange and return of part of the territories, emphasizing that this is a complex and long-term process.
The British father who allegedly tried to drown his daughter-in-law in a Florida swimming pool will be formally charged with attempted murder on Monday, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Mark Gibbon, 62, who was reportedly in a relationship with his son's ex-partner Jasmine Wyld, 33, is likely to apply for bail but may not be granted it because US authorities consider him a 'flight risk'.

Wealthy lighting engineer Mr. Gibbon - who has worked with Mick Jagger and Ed Sheeran - was arrested at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida last Sunday after allegedly pushing Ms Wyld's head under the water 'multiple times' and causing scratches and bruising to her body.

Her nine-year-old daughter jumped in to try and 'save' her mother, according to police reports.

Mr Gibbon, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, has been charged with two counts of battery and one count of attempted murder in the second degree.

A source close to the investigation told the MoS that he appeared in court last week on the two battery charges but will face a judge on the attempted murder charge for the first time tomorrow.

The source said: 'He is entitled to bail on the two battery charges, in the amount of $1,000 for each charge but, of course, the attempted murder charge is a different level of seriousness.

'He could technically be eligible for bail but because of his wealth and the fact he is a British citizen a judge may consider him too high a flight risk. If bail were to be considered then he would have to surrender his passport and have to agree to wear a monitoring device.'

Mark Gibbon, 62, who was reportedly in a relationship with his son's ex-partner Jasmine Wyld, 33, (pictured together) will be formally charged with attempted murder on Monday

Mr. Gibbon was arrested at the Solterra Resort in Davenport, Florida last Sunday after allegedly pushing Ms Wyld's head under the water 'multiple times' and causing scratches and bruising to her body

Mr Gibbon and Ms Wyld (pictured) both told police they are not romantically involved although detectives are probing claims that they have been lovers for years

Officials at Polk County Prison declined to comment on the conditions he is being held in citing safety concerns but he will appear in court wearing orange prison overalls.

'He will be taken from his cell and transported to court in shackles and handcuffs but they may be removed inside the courtroom 'at the discretion of the judge.'

It is understood Mr Gibbon has already hired a high-powered local lawyer.

Mr Gibbon and Ms Wyld both told police they are not romantically involved although detectives are probing claims that they have been lovers for years.

The row started after both admitted drinking heavily and Mr Gibbon allegedly told Ms Wyld she was not the main beneficiary of his will.

Investigators in the US have been told Ms Wyld may not have been legally married to Mr Gibbon's son Alex Gibbon (pictured), with whom she shares two children

A family source told the Daily Mail that Alex Gibbon allegedly found his 'wife' in bed with his father while they enjoyed a family holiday at the luxury Solterra Resort in Florida (pictured)

Investigators in the US have been told Ms Wyld may not have been legally married to Mr Gibbon's son Alex Gibbon, with whom she shares two children - Mr Gibbon's grandchildren.

A family source told the Daily Mail that Alex Gibbon allegedly found his 'wife' in bed with his father.

Alex was later jailed for attempting to run his father over with a 80,000 Porsche. He was released from prison six months ago.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said: 'We expect vacationers to behave while they visit with us, just as we expect out life-long residents to do the same.

'Because Mr Gibbon couldn't control his anger he may find himself spending a lot more time in Florida than he had anticipated.'

Mr Gibbon could face a maximin of 20 years in jail if convicted on all charges.
Referrals to a government anti-extremism programme went up after the hit Netflix drama Adolescence was broadcast in March, an official report reveals.

An investigation by David Anderson KC on Prevent, the Home Office deradicalisation scheme, found that after the series was screened, parents and social workers referred more teenagers to the programme.

The series-written by actor Stephen Graham about a 13-year-old boy, played by Owen Cooper, who kills a female classmate for rejecting him and mocking him online  was critically acclaimed for dealing with toxic masculinity among teenagers.

Lord Anderson's report mainly focused on the extremist murder of Tory MP David Amess and the killing of three girls in Southport by Axel Rudakubana last year.

He was told by experts and Prevent specialists across the country that referrals went up thanks to the show, which deals with males who defines themselves as 'incels'  blaming women who don't respond to their advances for forcing them to be involuntarily celibate.

His study said: 'Reactions to the incel-themed Netflix series Adolescence may also have played a part in encouraging referrals.

'Statistics yet to be published will record the extent of any such increase and whether it is best understood as a spike or a more permanent upward shift.'

It is not known whether Adolescence has caused a significant rise because the Home Office, which collates Prevent data, will not publish figures for the first quarter of this year until December.

Referrals to a government anti-extremism programme went up after the hit Netflix drama Adolescence (pictured) was broadcast in March, an official report reveals

Lord Anderson's report focused on the extremist murder of Tory MP David Amess (pictured) and the killing of three girls in Southport by Axel Rudakubana last year

But experts have told The Mail on Sunday that Prevent referrals went up particularly in areas such as the Home Counties.

Police have warned parents to be vigilant about their children's online habits.

Days after Adolescence came out, Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, the Met's Prevent co-ordinator for London, said: 'While it's a fictitious drama, the story is grounded in a reality that we are seeing more and more in counter-terrorism policing.'

One in five people arrested for terrorist offences are aged under 18. Ghaffar Hussain, a counter-terrorism expert and former Prevent manager, said: 'It is not surprising referrals went up since Adolescence was broadcast, as it tapped into a serious concern  extremist misogyny among young boys.'
Students with A-level grades as low as three Es are being enrolled at universities to hit Government diversity targets, data reveals.

Figures from admissions body UCAS show many respected universities, including the University of East Anglia, Oxford Brookes and Kent University, are accepting severely underperforming students in a bid to fulfil equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets.

The practice has become widespread across the sector after the Government-sponsored Office for Students (OfS) regulator urged universities to be more ambitious in reducing inequality.

The watchdog, which has the power to impose fines, warned them they must narrow the so-called access gap between students by this year.

The data  revealed on the UCAS website, which lists all courses available in Clearing and their entry requirements  comes days before pupils receive their A-level exam results on Thursday.

It means anyone picking up disappointing results is still likely to be snapped up in Clearing, the process which matches unplaced students with unfilled courses.

Data showed students with DDE grades being accepted to study economics at Oxford Brookes, which usually asks for ABB.

Kent University has admitted CDD students onto its maths degree, while it officially asks for grades of ABB. And the University of East Anglia has admitted students with CCD on to its American studies course, officially requiring ABB.

Figures from admissions body UCAS show many top universities, including the University of East Anglia, Oxford Brookes (pictured) and Kent University, are accepting severely underperforming students in a bid to fulfil equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets

Meanwhile, those with three D grades have done nursing at the University of South Wales, where standard requirements are BBB.

Typically, universities let in students with lower grades  making a contextual offer  if they reveal on their UCAS form that they suffered disadvantage. A handful also take into account race or gender.

In addition, some consider UCAS listing of poor white males as a disadvantaged group, while the University of South Wales nursing course takes into account whether students come from an ethnic minority group.

These contextual admissions are now being used by a quarter of all British universities, according to Sutton Trust research.

In another example, Bournemouth University admitted students with EEE grades onto its computer science course, which ordinarily demands BCC. The university said they came in via an additional foundation year, which has much lower entry requirements.

Latest Government figures show the number of universities offering foundation years rose from 52 in 2011/12 to 105 in 2021/22, with entrants soaring from just 8,470 to 69,325 over that period.

Officials claim foundation years are a valuable pathway to higher education, particularly for students from under-represented backgrounds.

But critics questioned whether those achieving low grades would be able to cope with course content.

The data  revealed on the UCAS website, which lists all courses available in Clearing and their entry requirements  comes days before pupils receive their A-level exam results on Thursday

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, told The Mail on Sunday: Universities are betraying young people by encouraging them to sign up for courses for which they are not qualified.

It will mean degree courses will have to be dumbed down. This will do long-term damage to the quality of our public services, the professions and to the economy.

Mr McGovern added that the majority of school leavers and, indeed, the country are far better served by vocational training.

The trend developed after universities were ordered to inform the OfS every year on what progress they are making towards EDI targets.

In addition, it can be financially beneficial for universities to be less selective as it means they do not need to run loss-making, half-full courses.

The OfS said: 'Our aim is that anyone with the ability and desire to pursue higher education can access the life-changing benefits it can bring.

'Individual admissions decisions are for each institution to make, and universities and colleges often change their offers - for example, after interviewing students.

'It's important that all students recruited onto high quality courses are well supported while standards are rigorously maintained.'

A Department for Education spokesman said: While universities are independent from government and responsible for their own admissions decisions, it is essential that quality is maintained and that the students they admit are likely to succeed.

'Students deserve high-quality teaching, fair admissions and a clear path to good jobs, whether through a degree or technical route.

'Apprenticeship starts, participation and achievements are all on the rise, helping more people gain the skills they need.'

When contacted, Bournemouth, South Wales and East Anglia universities confirmed they use contextual admissions for disadvantaged students but said they maintain high academic standards.

A Bournemouth spokesman said: 'Like many Universities, our foundation courses allow those who may have missed out on standard entry grades to make a start on university education. Students who join us on a foundation year undertake an extra year of learning to to build the skills, understanding and confidence they need for the full degree course.

'These approaches are about helping as many people as possible to achieve their ambitions, whatever their personal circumstances, which the Government expects all universities to do.'

An East Angla spokesman said: Nearly four out of five [of our] graduates are in professional employment or further study within 15 months, according to the latest Graduate Outcomes survey... Were proud to offer inclusive education that leads to strong graduate success, and we remain committed to academic excellence, opportunity, and supporting every student to thrive.

The other universities mentioned declined to comment.
Prince Harry and Meghan are used to receiving royal treatment at events.

So when they turned up at the Bob Marley: One Love biopic premiere and were given seats three rows from the front of the theatre, they could hardly conceal their shock.

During the glitzy event at the Carib Theatre, the couple chatted with anti-monarchist Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness.

Analysing photos from last January's event, body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail: 'Meghan seemed to treat this red carpet appearance as a full-blown Hollywood one.

'She looked regal and gracious in her elegant ballgown and pulled the kind of moves A-list celebrity couples perform, like the romantic gesture of ownership as she places a hand on Harry's chest.

'Meghan was fully in charge of the steering on the night, gently nudging Harry around and at one point pulling his hand out of his trouser pocket so that she could hold hands with him to walk into the venue.

'Harry was showing body language signs of anxiety as they posed for their red carpet photos, but these increased and peaked once the couple were inside the venue and being ushered to their seats.

'While the VIPs were said to be in the front row of the stalls, Meghan was being ushered into her seat three rows back.

Prince Harry and Meghan attended the glitzy premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic at the Carib Theatre last January

The couple were given seats three rows from the front of the theatre, much to their surprise

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Harry's expression showed he was nervous

'While her smile suggests her expression of utter graciousness was unflinching, Harry clearly hangs back, performing several gestures of reluctance, discomfort and even indecision.'

The pair's appearance at the event was controversial due to Harry and Meghan posing with Mr Holness and his wife Juliet.

Lip reader Jeremy Freeman previously spoke to Femail about what Harry and Meghan said to the Jamaican premier about the film.

'It's amazing,' Meghan gushed in a brief clip, which was shared to the Mr Holness's Instagram story.

Harry appeared to compliment the 'good job' that was done on the film, Mr Freeman said.

'Nice to... pleased to meet you,' he added.

Elsewhere, the lip reader said Andrew had asked Meghan 'what she thought of it'.

'Yes, it was perfect,' she said.

Harry chats to anti-monarchist Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness and his wife, Juliet

Judi James told the Daily Mail: 'Meghan seemed to treat this red carpet appearance as a full-blown Hollywood one'

'Meghan was fully in charge of the steering on the night,' wrote Judi

Meghan then pointed to her husband and added: 'Yes, I'm sure hell tell you. It's perfect.'

The Sussexes also turned heads as they posed for photos and shook hands with actors at the event.

They posed with the president and chief executive of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins, and his wife, Tracy James.

Judi James said: 'For Harry, public functions in the Royal Family have always meant top billing, the best seats in the house and preferential treatment.

'But here there is a more unilateral look, where they were expected to take their own seats and maybe even buy their own popcorn.

'Harry's lack of experience in this kind of scenario seems to show through here.

'As he walks into the cinema, he hikes his trousers by the belt in a very un-royal gesture, suggesting he is trying to trigger his "people's prince" persona.

'But as Meghan takes her seat, his anxiety rituals increase as he hangs back, watching with what looks like concern.

The body language expert said: 'Harry's lack of experience of this kind of scenario seems to show through here'

The pair's appearance at the biopic was controversial due to them posing with Mr Holness (centre) and his wife, Juliet (second right) at the premiere

'He rubs his mouth in a gesture that suggests a desire to speak but a reluctance to say the wrong thing.

'The rubbing hand moves to the underneath of his chin, in a self-comfort ritual associated with evaluation and indecision.

'In a royal role, gestures like this would alert royal staff that all is not well, but here Harry is just being ushered into his seat next to Meghan.

'As he joins her in the stalls he has one hand in his trouser pocket, suggesting he's dithering rather than just taking his seat.

'His lips are sucked in, adding to the air of indecision or regret.

'Meghan seems to point or beckon to someone behind and it looks clear that there is some kind of a delay to clarify arrangements here.'

It's not the only time Harry and Meghan have been accused of acting like celebrities.

At the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf in September 2023, Ms James said the pair presented themselves as a 'celebrity power couple' during a rock star welcome.

Later that year, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden wrote in his column that Meghan looked more like a Hollywood 'wannabe' than a member of the Royal Family.

Meghan and Harry shake hands with the Jamaican premier and his wife at the event

The pair with the head of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins, and his wife, Tracy James

Ms James's comments bring to mind the advice Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, reportedly once gave to Kate.

He was quoted by Gyles Brandreth as telling the Princess of Wales: 'If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble.'

The Duke of Edinburgh believed that the Queen's success was down to her belief that the attention is for the role, what the Royal Family does and what they support.

He added: 'It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all.'

While Kate emulated the example set by the Queen, it is not a sentiment Harry or Meghan appear to share.

And this shows in the opinion polls. In March, the latest YouGov poll found Meghan's popularity in Britain has hit a record low after her favourability rating dropped to just 20 per cent - meaning only Prince Andrew is more disliked than her.

As for Harry, only 27 per cent of UK adults now have a positive opinion of him. And in a recent poll by the Daily Mail, 92 per cent of royal channel readers said they did not think he should return to the UK.

A graphic showing the Royal Family's popularity in the YouGov opinion polls

This comes as the Sussexes' 73million, five-year Netflix contract comes to an end in September and the second series of With Love, Meghan is due for release this autumn.

As reports of peace talks made recent headlines, many royal observers hope that this could be a sign of reconciliation between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

But others believe the couple no longer have a place in the royal household after trading their roles for money-making endeavours.

What remains clear is that if Harry and Meghan ever did return as senior working royals, they would likely have to re-evaluate their relationship with their own popularity.
Today, Sophie is one of the most trusted and resourceful members of the Royal Family and she has taken on evermore important duties since King Charles III's ascension to the throne.

Just this month, the Duchess of Edinburgh represented the Crown on an official visit to Bosnia to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.

But long before she was well versed in the complex rules associated with royal etiquette, Sophie faced the daunting task of getting to know the family.

Writing in his new biography of the Duchess's life - titled Sophie - royal author Sean Smith has lifted the curtain on her first visit to Windsor Castle while she was dating Prince Edward.

Here he revealed the Queen's alleged first impression of Sophie, remarking that 'you wouldn't notice her in the crowd'. And while quite a stinging comment, it was far more complimentary than first meets the eye.

To prepare for the visit, Edward's valet Brian gave an 'anxious' Sophie advice so she could avoid any of the common faux pas visitors encounter when meeting the royals for the first time.

Smith highlighted one particularly common mistake people make at the end of a meal when diners receive a 'crystal bowl of water' for cleaning their hands with a knife to cut up fruit on offer.

'Those guests not in the know would spend a number of agonising minutes, red-faced, chasing around bits of peaches and kiwi fruits that they had mistakenly placed in the water,' Smith said.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in the 1990s. Long before she was well versed in the complex rules associated with royal etiquette, Sophie faced the daunting task of getting to know the family

Sophie with Prince Edward in 1994. Sophie first met the Queen with a brief handshake and a curtsy

Queen Elizabeth at Edward and Sophie's wedding in 1999. Although the Queen's alleged first impression of Sophie - that 'you wouldn't notice her in the crowd' - might sound stinging the remark was far more complimentary than first meets the eye

Suitably prepared for her visit, Sophie arrived at the palace not by chauffeur but in her 'old' Fiat Panda.

Sophie was then immediately thrown into the deep end when she joined Queen Elizabeth II for lunch.

Although she had been told the meal would take place in a large dining room with minimal contact with the Queen, that proved to be a 'white lie' from Brian.

Smith said: 'The room was tiny and the Queen was certainly not a speck at the other end of the table.

'The big moment arrived. Edward introduced Sophie to the Queen and the brief handshake and curtsy were over in the blink of an eye: all that practising at home had been worth it.'

Once the meal was over, and any faux pas had been avoided, Smith likened the whole experience to a visit to the dentist.

For her first visit to Windsor. Sophie arrived at the palace not by chauffeur but in her 'old' Fiat Panda

Sophie with the Queen on the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1995

Writing in his new biography royal author Sean Smith has lifted the curtain on the Duchess's first visit to Windsor Castle while she was dating Prince Edward

'Never as bad as you think it is going to be and something you feel pleased with yourself for having done,' he said.

Sophie was however then gifted the opportunity to see her future mother-in-law in a much more relaxed environment with the Queen's young grandchildren Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.

'For the first time she chatted politely, if a little stiffly, with Edward's mother. The ice was broken,' said Smith.

Smith then claims that Elizabeth was heard describing the future Duchess as someone 'you wouldn't notice' in a crowd.

As unflattering, borderline cruel, as that might sound it was a compliment as the most recent additions to the royal family - Diana and Sarah Ferguson - were, according to Smith, 'tabloid gifts that kept on giving'.

'It was greatly to Sophie's advantage to maintain a low profile.

'She would have to face intense media scrutiny in the future, but for the moment she could quietly establish herself as a dependable presence.'

Indeed, the media soon noticed the blossoming romance between the pair which led to speculation that another royal wedding could be on the way.

Sophie and the Queen riding together in 1998. While Elizabeth's first impression is borderline cruel, it was a compliment as the most recent additions to the royal family - Diana and Sarah Ferguson - were, according to Smith, 'tabloid gifts that kept on giving'

Sophie pictured in 1991. She would marry Prince Edward in 1999 and officially join the Royal Family

To quash the rumours, Edward wrote to several newspaper editors in 1993 denying any wedding plans and asked for privacy.

The prince would go on to propose to Sophie in 1998 and they got married in St George's Chapel in Windsor in June 1999.

In her years as a working royal Sophie reportedly became the Queen's 'favourite daughter-in-law' and she was the monarch's 'rock' following the death of Prince Philip in 2021.

When the Queen passed away, Sophie was heartbroken, with her and Edward describing their loss for the woman they both called 'Mama' as leaving 'an unimaginable void in all our lives'.

Sophie has played a key role in holding the monarchy together amidst family feuds, the Duke of York's scandals, and the cancer diagnoses of the King and the Princess of Wales.

A patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, Sophie is especially recognised for her advocacy on issues including sexual violence in war-torn countries and sight loss awareness.

Her passion for promoting eye health stems from her daughter, who was born prematurely and developed esotropia - a condition that causes one or both eyes to turn inwards and make someone appear cross-eyed.

Known for her personable nature, Sophie has also made a name for herself in the fashion world, showcasing a notable evolution in her style.

The Duchess of Edinburgh meets mothers of victims of the Srebrenica Genocide, at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this month

Sophie reportedly became the Queen's 'favourite daughter-in-law' and she was the monarch's 'rock' following the death of Prince Philip in 2021

And since taking on the title of Duchess of Edinburgh in March 2023, her fashion sense has reached new heights.

Renowned for her impeccable taste, she has a penchant for bold colours, floral patterns and expertly coordinated millinery crafted by esteemed designers.

Celebrity stylist Martine Alexander has a particular fondness for Sophie's polished style.

She told MailOnline: 'What I love about Sophie's style is that she knows who she is. Her look is very coordinated, so you won't see her making any daring, bold moves - which aligns with what she feels comfortable with.

'She is confident wearing colour and with her skin tone, hair and eye colour, she can carry off the vibrancy of coral, green, blue and white. They work really well and lift her skin, giving her that natural glow.'
It's no secret that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a testy relationship with their courtiers during their as working royals.

Indeed, the royals faced accusations that they were hard to work with and even claims they were bullying staff.

But perhaps no falling out was as dramatic as the one which occurred between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and senior royal aide Jason Knauff.

In fact, Meghan's falling out with Jason was so bad that the Duchess did not even let him know when she was making a surprise appearance at an award ceremony, much to the anger of the royal press pack.

Writing in his biography of the royal staff, titled Courtiers, Valentine Low claims Meghan deliberately undermined him in a 'very public way' leading to some 'awkward moments' for both the Duchess and the aide.

Low said that ahead of their trip to Australia in the autumn of 2018, Harry and Meghan's working relationship with Jason was 'over', but he remained employed by the couple until March 2019 despite having 'little to do' with them.

Before he publically stood down, Meghan was already spotted out and about with her new royal aide Christian Jones showing in a 'very public way' who her new 'golden boy' was.

The most public snubbing of Jason came in December 2018 when Meghan made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall to present an award to Clare Waight Keller - who designed her wedding dress.

Meghan Markle at the British Fashion Awards in December 2018. The Duchess embarrassed one of her senior aides by not telling him about her surprise appearance

Senior Royal Aide, Jason Knauff found himself at the centre of one of Prince Harry and Meghan's most dramatic falling outs

Meghan made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall to present an award to Clare Waight Keller (pictured right) - who designed her wedding dress

Low wrote: 'The royal press pack were very put out that they had not been told of this appearance in advance, and several of them did not hesitate to express their feelings to Knauf.'

But the reason the communication secretary hadn't give them prior warning about the appearance was because he also did not know Meghan was attending the ceremony before she was on stage.

On top of this, Meghan also allegedly refused to let Sam Cohen or her assistant private secretary Amy Pickerill tell Jason about the event.

'It was an astonishing example of how badly their relationship had deteriorated that Meghan did not even trust him to keep a simple confidence,' Low said.

Not long after the drama, Jason would leave the Sussexes to take up a new role as a special adviser to Prince William and Kate in a sign that the battlelines between the two brothers were already being drawn.

Indeed, it would be Jason who would cause one of the first clashes between Harry and William when he sent an internal email raising concerns about Meghan's alleged poor treatment of staff in the Royal Family, which was leaked after Megxit.

'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable,' he allegedly wrote.

According to royal author Robert Lacey, when Knauf presented the Prince of Wales with a 'dossier of distress' about their behaviour he 'went ballistic' and was left 'astonished' and 'horrified' by what he heard.

Harry and Meghan with Jason walking behind them. In the autumn of 2018 Harry and Meghan's working relationship with Jason was 'over' but he remained employed by them until March 2019

Harry and Meghan at the Trooping of the Colour in 2018

Jason received a public snubbing from Meghan on multiple occasions

William's anger stemmed from the fact that a tradition of treating the staff 'like family' within the Royal Family had been broken and that he personally knew many of those named, Mr Lacey wrote.

Following the dossier, William and Harry allegedly had a testy phone call where the Duke of Sussex 'flared up in a fierce defence of his wife'.

Roberts wrote: '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 started circulating.

It was first addressed by Harry in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, saying 'you have good days, you have bad days.'

But by 2020, tensions appeared to have deepened when Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back as senior royals.

Jason is now the chief executive of William's Earthshot Prize which was launched by the Prince in 2020 to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to tackle climate change.

Writing in his biography of the royal staff, Valentine Low claims Meghan deliberately undermined Jason in a 'very public way' leading to some 'awkward moments'

Meghan holds her baby bump during the British Fashion Awards in 2018

Meghan hugs her wedding dress designer at the 2018 British Fashion Awards

Speaking in an Australian documentary earlier this year, Knauf revealed the estrangement between the two princes had been 'hard and sad.'

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 he'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.'

It's not just the palace staff, where Meghan has developed a reputation of being difficult to work with.

In September 2024, an unnamed source told the Sunday Times that they witnessed 'people being chewed up in person and over the phone and made to feel like s***'.

Jason with Kate Middleton in 2021. He is now the CEO of William's Earthshot Prize which was launched by the Prince in 2020 to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to tackle climate change

Another source claimed that Meghan 'screamed' at a florist down the phone for half an hour after they failed to mention in a post online that the Duchess of Sussex was working with them on a bouquet.

However, reports are conflicting.

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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Since Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were spotted cheering on the Lionesses at their Euro victory parade, all eyes have been on their daughter, baby Athena - particularly her adorable knitted co-ord.

The pink Bonpoint set has since gone into the sale and is now available at 30 per cent off.

Inspired by Athena's standout look and the timeless style of royal tots, I've scoured the web for the very best royal-approved baby essentials - items previously seen on the likes of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Archie and more.

From charming outfits and cosy boots to chic baby carriers and trusted car seats, discover the must-haves that combine style, comfort and a touch of regal flair.

Bonpoint Baby Eliette Top and Trouser Set

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were spotted at the Lionesses' Euro victory parade on The Mall, accompanied by their three children.

Their youngest, baby Athena, looked adorable in a pink knitted top and trousers by Bonpoint - currently available at 30 per cent off.

My 1st Years Personalised Ivory Towelling Robe

Royal watchers will remember Prince George meeting Barack and Michelle Obama in 2016, dressed in a personalised My 1st Years bathrobe.

The brand remains beloved for its customisable clothing and accessories, making them ideal for gifting.

Aden + Anais Pack of Four Large Swaddle Cotton Muslins

Aden + Anais' iconic Jungle Jam swaddle set - famously used for Prince George as he left the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital - remains a nursery staple.

These versatile swaddles can be used not just for naps and bedtime but also as light blankets, nursing covers, pram shades, changing mat liners, or even dribble catchers during playtime.

Rachel Riley Cotton Buster Suit

In a charming set of photos released by Kensington Palace, Prince George was seen wearing a traditional buster suit while cradling his two-week-old sister, Princess Charlotte.

The outfit, a classic design by Rachel Riley, quickly sold out but was later reintroduced as part of the brand's core collection - meaning parents can still get their hands on the royal-approved look.

Ugg Baby Classic Ultra Mini Booties

During a 2019 trip to Vancouver with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, baby Archie was spotted wearing Ugg's Erin Booties.

While that exact style is no longer available, the Classic Ultra Mini Booties are a perfect alternative, offering the same cosy appeal.

Artipoppe Zeitgeist Yin Yang Baby Carrier

Renowned for their bold and stylish prints, Artipoppe baby carriers are a favourite among celebrities and royals alike

Made with ethically sourced materials, they offer both comfort and style.

Princess Eugenie has been seen sporting the Yin Yang design, a standout choice for modern parents.

Marie-Chantal Angel Wing Cashmere Blanket

Edoardo announced Athena's birth on Instagram, sharing a heartwarming photo of the newborn swaddled in a cashmere blanket by Marie-Chantal, the childrenswear brand founded by the Crown Princess of Greece.

The blanket, adorned with an Angel Wing pointelle motif, is a lovely gift idea for new parents and can even be monogrammed for a personalised touch.

Next Touch And Fasten Baby Sandals

Get your little one ready for the heatwave with these floral Next sandals, featuring easy touch-fastening straps and a slip-resistant sole.

Both the pink and white versions were worn by Princess Iman, daughter of Princess Rajwa and Crown Prince Hussein, at the wedding of Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos.

Britax Romer Baby Safe Core Car Seat

The Prince and Princess of Wales have consistently trusted the Britax Romer Baby Safe Car Seat for all three of their children.

Known for its award-winning design and top-tier safety features, the car seat ensures both comfort and protection for little ones on the move.

Cath Kidston Unicorn Mini Backpack

For back-to-school style, look no further than this Cath Kidston mini backpack.

Featuring playful unicorn prints, it's a fun and functional choice - just like the one Princess Charlotte carried on her first day of nursery in 2018.

BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini

Favoured by both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini offers a soft, snug fit and is incredibly easy to use - ideal for those early months.

Plus, it's recognised by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, ensuring your baby's hips are properly supported while you stay hands-free.

Kissy Kissy Pima Cotton Old English Roses Bodysuit

Crown Prince Hussein was recently seen cradling his daughter, Princess Iman, in Venice - and it was her outfit that stole the show.

The floral print bodysuit, from Kissy Kissy, features delicate frilled trims and convenient press-stud fastenings, making nappy changes quick and easy.

G.H.Hurt & Son Ivory Merino Wool Baby Shawl

An ivory Christening blanket by G.H.Hurt & Son was famously used for all three of the Prince and Princess of Wales' children as they left the Lindo Wing.

This similar version is handcrafted from soft merino wool using traditional techniques, and showcases a forest fern lace pattern.

Presented in a gift box, it's a keepsake to treasure.

Rachel Riley Cotton Dungaree Shorts

Prince George made headlines during the 2014 royal tour of Australia and New Zealand when he wore Rachel Riley's Cotton Dungaree Shorts.

Embroidered with a sailboat motif, this now-iconic piece is perfect for any young boy's wardrobe - and special enough to be passed down through the generations.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway looked serious on Wednesday as she was spotted taking a phone call during a trip to Sydney Aquarium.

She could be seen leaving the venue garbed in a very chic but casual ensemble while taking a break from her studies at the University of Sydney.

The future Queen of Norway, 21, who is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree, opted for loose-fit blue jeans, a black top and deep red over-shirt for her outing.

Fitting the part of an Aussie uni student, Ingridthe daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Maritpaired her look with white sneakers.

With a large black bag slung across her body, Ingrid appeared to be frowning as she left the aquarium to take a phone call.

She kept accessories to a minimum, choosing simple gold earrings and a matching bangle as she wore her brunette hair loose.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, of Norway looked serious on Wednesday as she was spotted taking a phone call during a trip to Sydney Aquarium

She could be seen leaving the venue garbed in a very chic but casual ensemble while taking a break from her studies at the University of Sydney

It comes just days after Ingrid traded the lecture theatre for a boat party on Sydney Harbour earlier this week, enjoying some fun in the sun with her friends.

The party appeared to be Christmas-themed, with many revellers decked out in Santa Claus costumes.

Ingrid looked delighted to be taking a break from her studies, beaming as she arrived at the weekday party with friendsthe details of which can be found here.

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.

She 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.'

The future Queen of Norway who is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree, opted for loose-fit blue jeans, a black top and deep red over-shirt for her outing

Fitting the part of an Aussie uni student, Ingridthe daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Maritpaired her look with white sneakers

With a large black bag slung across her body, Ingrid appeared to be frowning as she left the aquarium to take a phone call

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.
Californians are trading in their sun-filled coastal lives for luxury mountain views at this undiscovered gem.

Ogden, Utah - about an hour outside of Park City - is making big waves in the housing market after people discovered the area offers the same tranquil and luxurious feel without the big price tag.

The city, located in Weber County, has become a hotspot for Californian transplants who want to escape hefty taxes and 'get so much for their money', according to Asha Klarich, a real estate expert and attorney based in the Beehive State.

'I suspect that they are the largest demographic that are moving to Utah because our taxes are relatively low, and you can get so much more for your money than you can in California,' Klarich told the Daily Mail.

Along with West coasters, Klarich said people from all across the country have also made the move.

'We have seen a lot of folks from California, Texas and some on the East Coast moving to Utah,' she added.

According to 2024 data from The University of Utah, 18,669 'California In-Migrants' relocated to the state.

The study further confirmed that 'Utah's largest source of domestic in-migrants come from California'.

Many Californians are fleeing to Ogden, Utah, which is cheaper than nearby Park City (pictured)

Asha Klarich (pictured), a real estate expert and attorney based in Utah, said she has seen the shift in West Coasters coming to Utah in a bid to save money

Klarich, who moved from Virginia to Utah when she was a child, said there are specific amenities people are looking for in their Ogden homes.

For kitchens, large and 'expansive islands' are trending as buyers are looking for a place where they can easily entertain big groups and families.

Going along with the family theme, Klarich said an open concept space remains very popular because it promotes togetherness.

Additionally, newcomers want to take in the picturesque views that surround their new homes, making 'large windows that open up to private backyards with mountain views' another desirable feature.

Buyers are also investing in their bathrooms, looking for standing soaker tubs and European glass showers. Klarich said both are 'very in vogue right now'.

Another staple feature drawing a lot of buyers is multiple laundry rooms.

Klarich said a lot of clients she's worked with are very keen to have three separate laundry rooms - one in the primary closet, one on a second story and then one in the basement.

Although Ogden hasn't always been a place known for luxury, Klarich is confident the city will continue down this path

Buyers in the state are often looking for specific in-home amenities, including large islands, multiple laundry rooms and open concepts. The above property is currently on the market for $1.65 million

Although Ogden hasn't always been a place known for luxury, Klarich is confident the city will continue down this path.

'I think it definitely will continue to grow, especially as housing prices in the Salt Lake Valley continue to rise,' she said.

'I mean, we're seeing really strong appreciation across the state between 5 and 6 percent, and that's hard for people to keep up with.'

She also credited the booming job industry in the area for bringing the influx of people.

'Most notably, right on the border of Salt Lake and Utah County, we have what's called the silicon slopes,' Klarich said.

'We attract a lot of big technology companies, entrepreneurs and startups. So I don't see any slowdown in the near future with people moving to the state.'

Other than the lavish amenities, Ogden and the state itself are known for an array of outdoor activities.

Powder Mountain, a ski resort about 50 minutes away from the city, recently opened its doors after Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings snapped it up.

Buyers are also investing in their bathrooms, looking for standing soaker tubs and European glass showers

In less than 10 years, Weber County will be hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics - something Klarich said has attracted 'a lot of excitement' (pictured: downtown Ogden)

Pictured: Historic downtown Ogden. According to 2024 data from The University of Utah, 18,669 'California In-Migrants' relocated to Utah

In less than 10 years, Weber County will be hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics - something Klarich said has attracted 'a lot of excitement'.

'It definitely helps our businesses and local economy when we host those big events.'

Utah isn't the only state Californians are fleeing to - many are moving to Texas.

Nearly 638,000 people left California in a single year, with almost 100,000 of them going to Texas, according to a report by StorageCafe.

Texas is 16.2 percent cheaper than California overall, which is likely why an average of 260 residents are migrating to the Lone Star State every single day in search of less expensive housing, lower state taxes and cheaper groceries.

While Houston has the highest population of all Texas cities with 2.3 million inhabitants, it's not the most popular choice for Californians.

Austin is the fifth most inhabited city in Texas, with a population of 989,000 (below San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth), but it's been the top pick for those coming from the Golden State.

Data shows that 10,633 Californians moved to Austin in 2023, and most of them were millennials.
A quiet southern town has suddenly seen its population explode and it may all trace back to the moment it became known as the birthplace of the first-ever Walmart store.

Rogers, Arkansas, once a quiet Southern town known only for being the site of the first-ever Walmart store, is undergoing a major transformation with a population boom turning it into one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Located in Benton County, Rogers has seen a rapid influx of new residents.

The US Census Bureau ranked the Northwest Arkansas area as the 22nd fastest-growing metro in the nation.

The population jumped from 591,895 people in 2023 to 605,615 in 2024 - with people lured by affordable real estate, strong schools, scenic parks and a thriving job market.

It all started when the first-ever Walmart opened its doors on July 2, 1962 in Rogers  then called Wal-Mart Discount City.

Though that original store closed long ago, the company's footprint and influence remains strong in the region.

Its corporate headquarters is located nearby in Bentonville and continues to shape the local economy and housing market.

The US Census Bureau ranked the Northwest Arkansas area as the 22nd fastest-growing metro in the nation. The historic downtown district of Rogers, Arkansas, is seen above in this file photo

A quiet southern town has suddenly seen its population explode and it may all trace back to the moment it became known as the birthplace of the first-ever Walmart store. Walmart opened its first store on July 2, 1962 in Rogers  then called Wal-Mart Discount City

Mayor Greg Hines (pictured) told Daily Mail the city is growing for all the right reasons

Mayor Greg Hines told Daily Mail the city is growing for all the right reasons.

'Rogers is seeing steady growth as more people choose to live and work here,' he said.

'They're drawn by job opportunities, strong schools, and access to parks and trails.'

The first Walmart store opened here in 1962, and that moment 'shaped the direction of the city', he explained.

'It helped attract other businesses and laid the groundwork for long-term economic growth.'

Today, new residents include remote workers, young families, and retirees, drawn to the mix of quaint neighborhoods, new developments and a lower cost of living than many coastal cities.

'Today, sectors like healthcare, retail, and manufacturing are driving the local economy,' he told Daily Mail.

'We're focused on planning for the future, investing in infrastructure, and quality of life initiatives to support a growing population and make sure Rogers stays a good place to live and work.'

The current Walmart store in Rogers which is located a few blocks from the original site, still draws in daily shoppers

The Rogers Historical Museum is located just blocks from the site of the original Walmart and offers a glimpse into the city's transformation

The historic downtown district of Rogers, Arkansas, is seen above

Demographically, Rogers has grown more diverse in recent years.

Census data shows the Hispanic population has surged, making up over 30 percent of the city's population.

The area also attracts a growing number of college-educated professionals and families looking for quality of life and career mobility.

The market has something for everyone  from historic fixer-uppers under $200K, to custom lakefront mansions topping $2 million, to quaint vintage style mid-century homes.

A listing for a 4-bed, 3-bath modern farmhouse with a wraparound porch and mountain views priced at less than $400K - a steal compared to what it would cost in other more pricey states.

The current Walmart store in Rogers which is located a few blocks from the original site, still draws in daily shoppers.

Today the company operates over 3,000 stores across the US and 1,607 abroad.

Walmart did not respond to a request for comment.

The market has something for everyone  from historic fixer-uppers under $200K, to custom lakefront mansions topping $2 million, to quaint vintage style mid-century homes. This four bedroom property is currently on the market for $399,999 having had $51,000 slashed from its asking price on August 1

The museum displays vintage photos, storefront recreations and shows how the once-sleepy railroad town became a booming retail hub (main street stores in Rogers, Arkansas)

The War Eagle Mill building in Rogers, Arkansas. The first and second floors hold assorted souvenir items and goods while the top floor is the Bean Palace Restaurant

The Rogers Historical Museum is located just blocks from the site of the original Walmart and offers a glimpse into the city's transformation.

The museum displays vintage photos, storefront recreations and shows how the once-sleepy railroad town became a booming retail hub.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen the issue of the "real end of the war" of Russia against Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian integration into the EU.

"Grateful for the support. We discussed the diplomatic situation and communication with partners  ours and Mette's," Zelenskyy said in the Telegram channel on Saturday.

"These days, diplomatic activity is extremely high. However, we do not see any changes in the Russian position. The Russians still do not want to stop the killings, they still invest in the war, and they still impose the idea of 'exchange"'Ukrainian territory for Ukrainian territory with consequences that guarantee nothing but more convenient positions for the Russians to resume the war," the Ukrainian leader said.

According to him, "all our steps should be such that they bring closer to the real end of the war, and not to its reconfiguration. And our joint decisions with partners should work for common security.

According to Zelenskyy, they also discussed with Mette the work for joining the European Union, the results of Ukraine and Moldova on this path. "We also see the need for a fair approach and fulfillment of obligations for both Ukraine and Moldova together," the President of Ukraine said.
Martha's Vineyard, the tiny summer enclave beloved by billionaires, presidents, and celebrities, is in the grips of a year-round housing crisis - and it's only getting worse.

But now, island officials and housing advocates are fighting back with a major new development aimed at reversing the so-called 'Airbnb squeeze,' which has gutted the island's rental stock and pushed working families to the brink.

The $50 million project, Tackenash Knoll, broke ground last week in Oak Bluffs and will bring 60 income-restricted apartments to a 7.8-acre lot near the Martha's Vineyard Ice Arena. It's the largest affordable housing effort in island history - and a lifeline for those who call the Vineyard home year-round.

'This represents the largest neighborhood of year-round affordable housing to be built on Martha's Vineyard,' Philippe Jordi, CEO of Island Housing Trust, told the Daily Mail. 'It's going to provide housing stability for close to 200 island residents and families.'

Island Housing Trust, in partnership with Affirmative Investments, is spearheading the project, which will be made up of 12 buildings - all 100 percent electric, solar-powered, and built to Passive House energy standards.

'We build for the long term,' Jordi said. 'These are super-insulated homes that are airtight and energy efficient, using air source heat pumps and solar to achieve near net-zero energy usage. They're not just affordable to rent - they're affordable to live in.'

The units will be made available to households earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area median income, with rents ranging from roughly $1,100 to $3,000 depending on size and income level.

Applications will open in fall 2025, and residents are expected to move in by early 2026.

Officials break ground on Tackenash Knoll, a 60-unit affordable housing complex in Oak Bluffs - the largest of its kind in Marthas Vineyard history. Pictured: A file photo of the gingerbread homes in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard

The new micro neighborhood will rise on a 7.8-acre parcel near the Marthas Vineyard Ice Arena, close to schools, transit, and community facilities

Philippe Jordi, CEO of Island Housing Trust, said the project will help reverse the islands Airbnb squeeze and provide stability for nearly 200 year-round residents

Philippe Jordi, CEO of Island Housing Trust, spoke to Daily Mail about the new development

But demand is expected to be overwhelming.

'Typically we see a ratio of 10 to 1  10 applicants for every one apartment,' Jordi said. 'Sometimes it's even more.'

Jordi said the island's housing crisis is fueled by a 'ubiquitous' surge in short-term rentals.

'People who used to be able to rent year-round or seasonally have been squeezed out of the market because of all the Airbnb-type platforms,' he said.

'It just doesn't allow for many opportunities.'

Homeownership is even more out of reach.

'The median sale price for a home on the Vineyard is about $1.5 million,' Jordi said. 'There's an affordability gap of close to $600,000 even for middle-income families earning $160,000 to $200,000 a year.'

Tackenash Knoll is strategically located across from the high school and near public bus routes, the YMCA, and community amenities.

A file photo of people walking their dogs through a neighborhood in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard

Jordi said the development was designed to blend into the surrounding neighborhood and reflect the island's character.

'We live here. We know the island,' he said.

'We try and make these neighborhoods fit into the towns they're located in. In many cases, you wouldn't even know it's affordable housing. It doesn't stand out.'

Unlike other projects that face stiff community resistance, Jordi said Oak Bluffs residents largely embraced Tackenash Knoll.

'The town spent years preparing for this,' he explained.

'They voted on the funding, allocated the land, and worked with our architects to make it a reality. By the time we presented our design, it was very well received.'

Still, the financing process was a major hurdle. 'It's fairly complicated,' Jordi said.

'It involves federal and state low-income housing tax credits, investment from banks like Rockland Trust, funding from MassHousing, and $1.2 million in private donations we raised ourselves. The town also stepped up with $700,000.'

The new units are aimed at essential island workers - including teachers, nurses, restaurant staff, and small business owners - who are being priced out of the rental market

The $50 million project, Tackenash Knoll, broke ground last week in Oak Bluffs. Pictured: a file photo of the town

In the 2023 Martha's Vineyard Commission report, the year-round population for Martha's Vineyard was 20,530 - an increase from 16,460 in 2010. However the summer population sees it swell to more than 200,000 people each year.

The Massachusetts island sits in the Atlantic just south of Cape Cod and is a favorite place to visit for the rich and famous over the years including Reese Witherspoon, Bill Murray, Meg Ryan, and the late Princess Diana.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama purchased the sprawling 28-acre vacation home on Martha's Vineyard for $11.75 million in 2020.

Although Tackenash Knoll is the largest project of its kind on the island, Jordi says it won't be the last.

Island Housing Trust is currently working on smaller developments - including the Vineyard's first veteran housing, employee housing for school staff, and a handful of ownership homes near the ferry in Vineyard Haven.

'There's such a need at all income levels here on the island,' Jordi said. 'We're a scrappy little nonprofit, but we've found innovative ways to partner with towns and scale up our efforts.'

For now, Tackenash Knoll represents a rare win in a long, uphill fight to keep Martha's Vineyard livable for the people who make it run - even after the summer tourists go home.
A New Mexico ranch more than half the size of the state of Rhode Island has sold after being listed for a staggering, nine-figure sum.

The 540,000-acre Great Western Ranch was put on the market for $142 million in 2024 by the Horton family, the development dynasty that spent the last decade building the mammoth property.

At the time of the sale, on July 30, the asking price had dropped to $115 million, but the actual selling price remains unclear.

The huge cattle ranch is one of the largest in the United States.

Featuring 134 acres of pastureland, 1,900 calf pairs and 900 cows, it supports one of the largest livestock operations in the country.

It boasts eight homes, including a primary lodge for guests and a ranch manager's house.

Also located on the land is an equipment shop, wells, barns and corrals for livestock, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Sitting outside the rural community of Quemado near the Arizona state line, the ranch's headquarters is located about 150 miles from Albuquerque, according to listing agent Jeff Buerger of Hall and Hall.

A New Mexico ranch more than half the size of the state of Rhode Island has sold after being listed for a staggering, nine-figure sum

The 540,000-acre Great Western Ranch was put on the market for $142 million in 2024 by the Horton family

The Horton family spent the last decade building the mammoth property

Featuring 134 acres of pastureland, 1,900 calf pairs and 900 cows, it supports one of the largest livestock operations in the country

Buerger said the ranch has stayed true to its origins and includes a Native American settlement that features stone dwellings, petroglyphs, projectile points, flint chips and thousands of pottery shards.

'The sale represents a significant event in the world of large land holdings,' Buerger, who listed the property, told Mansion Global.

'This ranch is more than just land - it's a living testament to generations of thoughtful management.'

Buerger himself spent time living at the ranch and told the Wall Street Journal that the lack of light pollution at night makes 'you feel like you're on another planet when you look at the stars.'

The seller was the family behind DR Horton, the Texas-based home construction company that has been the largest homebuilder by volume in the US since 2002.

The Horton family built the sprawling property by acquiring three adjacent ranches over the last decade and connecting them, according to Jason Saulan, the regional manager of the family's ranch portfolio.

'I don't know what the opposite of claustrophobia is, but that's the feeling you get,' Saulan told the Wall Street Journal of the massive ranch.

Buerger said the Horton family's stunning property is rare because it is also home to large-scale beef production and trophy hunting.

The huge cattle ranch is one of the largest in the United States. Featuring 134 acres of pastureland, 1,900 calf pairs and 900 cows, it supports one of the largest livestock operations in the country

Sitting outside the rural community of Quemado near the Arizona state line, the ranch's headquarters is located about 150 miles from Albuquerque

The property boasts eight homes, including a primary lodge for guests and a ranch manager's house

The ranch has stayed true to its origins and includes a Native American settlement that features stone dwellings, petroglyphs, projectile points, flint chips and thousands of pottery shards

At the time of the sale, on July 30, the asking price had dropped to $115 million, but the actual selling price remains unclear

The Horton family built the sprawling property by acquiring three adjacent ranches over the last decade and connecting them

The Horton family has made headlines in the past over its homebuilding practices.

The National Labor Relations Board brought a case against DR Horton, claiming the company had violated the National Labor Relations Act by requiring employees to sign an agreement that banned them from pursuing claims in a collective or class action.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of DR Horton in 2018, finding the company's actions did not violate the NLRA.
READ MORE: What your favourite way of eating EGGS says about you

From olives to ham, to egg and the controversial pineapple, there's never a shortage of toppings to choose from when we order a pizza.

What exactly you opt for might feel like a spur-of-the-moment decision  but it may reveal unexpected traits about your personality.

A scientist has revealed what your favourite pizza toppings say about you  and it's bad news for people who go for pineapple.

Dr Alan Hirsch, director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, says food preferences reveal a lot about personality type.

And when in a social situation, such as a date, we can size up another person based on their pizza toppings.

'Often when you order pizza, you choose the same one over and over again,' Dr Hirsch told the Daily Mail.

'You're choosing to eat pizza not for its nutritional value, but based on what your personality is like.

'If you go on a date with someone, you can see what pizza they order to work out their personality, and help you decide if you want to go on another date.'

Revealed: What your favourite pizza toppings say about you, according to science - and it's bad news for people who love pineapple

Dr Hirsch's experiments recruited 1,000 American adults who completed personality tests while noting their pizza-eating habits, including preferred toppings.

And the results revealed some intriguing findings that may dictate the ways in which people interact with each other.

Those who prefer a traditional single meat on pizza  such as pepperoni or ham  tend to be irritable and argumentative, resentful of other people and with a tendency to procrastinate, it found.

Meanwhile, people who go mad with a meat feast  typically featuring many different meat options  are dramatic, seductive extroverts who love being centre of attention.

On the other hand, those opting for vegetables on pizza are empathetic, easygoing, understanding, and well-adjusted, making them 'universal romantics' and ideal parents.

Diners who have a penchant for spicy options such as jalapeno chillis tend to be a 'risk-takers' who like the associated adrenaline rush that comes with it.

Meanwhile, those people who opt for a lot of nutritional protein  such as chicken and seafood  are often more sociable or outgoing.

But those who order non-traditional toppings such as pineapple and onion tend to be aggressive and achievement-oriented, not willing to suffer fools gladly.

Those who prefer a traditional single meat on pizza - such as pepperoni or ham - tend to be irritable and argumentative, resentful of other people and with a tendency to procrastinate

Those who prefer traditional vegetables toppings are empathetic, understanding, well adjusted and easy going, according to the study

What is the best ratio for pizza toppings? A mathematician claims to have the first formula for the 'perfectly proportioned' pizza. Dr Eugenia Cheng from the University of Sheffield said pizza lovers get more topping per bite in a smaller pizza, but a more even spread in a larger pizza. In relative terms, the average bite taken from an 11 inch pizza has 10 per cent more topping than the average bite from a 14 inch pizza. She used 'd' as the constant volume of dough and 't' for the constant volume of topping to come up with the mathematical formula for the ratio of topping to base in a median bite. Advertisement

Dr Hirsch stressed that his study found a correlation rather than causation between personality and chosen pizza toppings.

In other words, it's unknown if personality causes us to choose certain pizza toppings (or in fact if our choice of pizza toppings affects our personality).

A spokesperson for British pizza chain Fireaway said pepperoni fans 'always bring the energy at parties', while chili fans 'thrive in emotional thunderstorms'.

Meanwhile, mushroom lovers are 'complex' and 'earthy', but those who choose pineapple are 'agents of chaos' who 'flirt with danger', they told the Daily Mail.

And those who go for olives, either green or black, have a 'Marmite personality' that others either 'adore or absolutely cannot stand'.

Fireaway's data across more than 160 of its stores and delivery platforms over the last six months reveal the top 10 toppings picked by customers.

They are pepperoni, chicken, jalapeno chilli, red onion, mushrooms, vegan cheese, pineapple, sweetcorn, beef meatballs and olives.

According to 2017 research by YouGov, mushroom is the UK's most-liked pizza topping  beating several classic meaty elements.

Diners who have a penchant for spicy options such as jalapeno chillis tend to be a 'risk-takers' who like the associated adrenaline rush that comes with it

In 2017, YouGov asked Brits which toppings they like on their pizza. Mushroom was cited by 65 per cent of respondents, more than any other item

When polled, 65 per cent of over 3,600 British adults said mushroom would be on their ideal pizza, followed by 62 per cent for onions and 61 per cent for ham.

Less important elements were peppers (named by 60 per cent), pepperoni (56 per cent), chicken (56 per cent), tomatoes (51 per cent), bacon (49 per cent), pineapple (42 per cent) and sweetcorn (42 per cent).

Sweetcorn, Dr Hirsch told the Daily Mail, is not a popular option on pizza in the US, not to mention in Chicago, where the 'deep dish' is traditionally served.

Controversially, YouGov's research also found 53 per cent of respondents like pineapple on their pizza, 41 per cent do not, and 6 per cent don't know.

It was back in 2017 that the President of Iceland sparked a global debate when it emerged that he wanted to ban pineapple as a topping on pizza.

Guni Thorlacius Johannesson was later forced to clarify that a pineapple topping ban was merely a personal desire and not a policy objective.
An X post shows the shocking moment a McDonald's customer jumps over the counter to fight with members of staff.

The clash with workers appeared to take place in a branch of the fast-food restaurant in west London, and the clip filmed by a delivery driver showed a raging man as he initially violently threw something over the counter.

The angry man then jumped on top of the counter and over into the kitchen area, where he lunged for a particular member of staff and appeared to try to throw a punch at him as two others grappled with him to hold him back.

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Fuss: A McDonald's customer fought with staff behind the counter

Kicking off: The recording showed how the man first threw something at busy workers

The workers raised their voices to reason with the man as startled onlookers scattered backwards as they watched on.

The customer then went in for another punch, which visibly frightened the staff member, whose colleague covered him with his arms to hold back the attacker.

Still holding on to each other, the two men slowly retreat into the kitchen but the enraged customer was relentless and pursued them.

The two workers were clearly keen to discourage further violence but things soon escalated even further, and the customer tackled the worker he originally threatened.

The other staff member tried to pull them apart but with the burly customer's back to him, he struggled to properly intervene.

Another worker rushed to help, with the two of them eventually managing to pull the man off of their colleague.

Desperate to bring the tussle to an end, they were forced to grab the customer's shirt to drag him away - which seemed to almost come off him amid his exertions.

A crowd of delivery drivers watched, seemingly lost for words by the suddenness of the fight, as others in the restaurant shouted in shock.

A female staff member called out for their help: 'Can you help us, please? Drivers, please! Drivers, can you help us?'

A McDonald's spokesperson said: 'The safety and security of our people and our customers is our utmost priority it is completely unacceptable to see anyone behaving this way.

'We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violent and anti-social behavior, and we are currently assisting the police with their enquiries.'
The CEO of an AI startup in Las Vegas receives a package containing a severed pig's head and threatening letter - believed to stem from his company's use of artificial intelligence.

Blake Owens, founder and CEO of Agrippa, an AI-powered platform to connect commercial real estate investors and developers without traditional brokers, received the bloodied pig's head along with the menacing note on July 29.

The gruesome parcel was sent to a relative's home, and the message criticized Owens' use of AI - with personal insults that called him a 'Clark Kent knockoff' and ended ominously with: 'And don't get greedy because pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.'

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Target: Blake Owens, founder of AI startup Agrippa got a bloody animal part and a threatening note addressed to him at a relative's house on July 29

Warning? The gruesome package contained a pig's head

Owens told KLAS: 'Perhaps this person watched too much of The Godfather.

'Needless to say, I still take it very seriously, but don't feel like I'm being truly threatened. It was a message.'

The note was signed only with the initial 'M' and appeared to be motivated by a June TV segment that profiled Owens and Agrippa's AI tool, known as 'Marcus', to automate real estate transactions by matching developers with investors and evaluating property bids.

The sinister letter also said: 'AI is not going to replace brokers. Clearly you don't understand real estate wasn't built by developers or investors. And it sure as hell wasn't built by tech guys in Lululemon. It was built by brokers. We did it the hard way. No shortcuts, no tech, just people.'

Owens said he believed the sender was fearful of being displaced by automation.

The businessman said: 'I understand this person is probably just frustrated that business isn't going well for them, and then they see AI replacement stories on top of that. And I just so happen to be someone they can focus their frustration on.'

A photo of the package showed the sender was labeled as 'Marcus Agrippa' - a reference to the company's AI system.

Owens joked: 'Is this a message that you know your own AI is turning against you? I wasn't quite sure how to interpret it.'

Menacing: The letter was signed 'M' and ended, 'And don't get greedy because pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered'

Las Vegas PD confirmed it was investigating the incident and classified it as a harassment case.

A suspect was yet to be identified.

Owens said he did not feel 'genuinely threatened' and would not press charges should the sender be eventually identified.

He told KLAS: 'I don't want to punch down on this person; they may be in a tough spot in life. I do see this as an opportunity to show people you don't become a better person by making another man a lesser person.'

Owens also addressed potential anxiety surrounding AI's growing presence in the workforce, particularly in fields such as real estate that had historically relied on personal relationships.

He said: 'You know, people are scared. They feel displaced and when disruption moves faster than education, fear just fills the gap.'

Owens added that Agrippa was not designed to replace humans but it was created to empower professionals through AI.

He said: '[Winston Churchill] said to be perfect is to change often. I think a lot of people are afraid of change and what's coming with AI, because it really is a tsunami of change that people are trying to resist. But the more you embrace it, the better you'll do, the more skills that you'll accumulate, more value you'll bring to the table.'

Despite the threatening nature of the package, Owens remained committed to encouraging dialogue and told Inman: 'If I knew who this person was, I'd say, "Hey, feel free to reach out to me - maybe not with a package, just send me an email - I'm happy to share whatever education I can on keeping up with AI."'

The investigation into the incident remained ongoing.
Born and raised on her family farm, Marian Evans spent her childhood in dreamy, rural Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Alongside her siblings, she would help look after the farm animals and worked hard.

'I'd help my dad on the farm, helping to milk the cows and tend to the animals and because it was a dairy farm, they'd be milking every morning and night,' Marian exclusively tells the Daily Mail.

She describes days out as 'a bit of a rarity' but recalls one special place nearby that she enjoyed visiting with her family - Llansteffan Castle.

Only 'a couple of miles down the road', Marian has lots of happy memories spent there - so much so, she now owns it.

'My love of the castle was from a very early age,' Marian explains.

'We'd go for walks up there and have an ice cream, it was always kind of a bit of a magical place that felt very far from home, in some ways, to a small child.'

She describes it as a 'local kind of escape' for herself as a child.

Born and raised on her family farm, Marian Evans (pictured) spent her childhood in dreamy, rural Carmarthenshire, Wales

Llansteffan Castle was only 'a couple of miles down the road' and Marian has lots of happy memories spent there - so much so, she now owns it

Marian moved away from the area for university and work, pursuing a career in property and insurance.

But, she returned to Wales after falling in love with a Welshman and gaining a 'new appreciation of the heritage of Wales, the culture and the language'.

'I think he [Marian's husband] felt really strongly about wanting to raise a family, raise our daughters to be able to speak Welsh and to feel the kinship for the for the area that we had,' Marian explains.

Marian's journey to purchasing Llansteffan Castle began with a conversation with an agent who was handling the sale of an old estate.

'There was a large estate in this area, and the castle was part of that estate at one time, and most of that estate had been sold off over the years,' she said.

By the time Marian discovered the estate, there was only a few parts of it remaining and the businesswoman decided to make an offer.

She first purchased Plas Farm and later, after a long process, became the owner of Llansteffan Castle too.

Marian moved away from the area for university and work, pursuing a career in property and insurance. But, she returned to Wales after falling in love with a Welshman and gaining a 'new appreciation of the heritage of Wales, the culture and the language'

Marian's journey to purchasing Llansteffan Castle began with a conversation with an agent who was handling the sale of an old estate

The castle is located near the sandy shores of the Tywi Estuary and Carmarthen Bay.

Dating back to the 12th century, the castle is now in ruins but much of its impressive structure remains including a twin-towered gatehouse.

It's open to the public and available as a wedding venue.

And it's maintained by Cadw, an organisation run by the Welsh Government's that helps protect historic buildings and sites.

But owning a castle isn't without its challenges.

The mother of two has discovered, since owning the castle, that any building work follows strict regulations.

'There are challenges because, if there's anything that we would like to do there, then we have to make sure that it's absolutely in keeping with what CADW would like,' Marian says.

'As an ancient monument, same as with a listed building, there's things that you have to so there's quite a lot of red tape, but they're doing that to safeguard it in its current form and to make sure that it's preserved and protected and honoured in the way that it should be.'

As for the stunning hills of Carmarthenshire that the castle sits in, Marian had nothing but praise and dubbed it 'the real Wales'.

She first purchased Plas Farm and later, after a long process, became the owner of Llansteffan Castle too

But owning a castle isn't without its challenges. The mother of two has discovered, since owning the castle, that any building work follows strict regulations

Describing the area as 'authentic' and 'unspoiled,' she felt it's 'enchanting because it's not too commercialised'.

She gushed: 'We've got two of the longest beaches in Wales, so Pendine Sands and Cefn Sidan which are incredible.

'We've got beautiful forests like the Brecon Beacons, where there's amazing mountain biking tracks.

'So it really is a county that kind of has everything.'

To find out more about Carmarthenshire, visit discovercarmarthenshire.com, and for information on what's on at the castle, visit llansteffancastle.com.
As one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Sri Lanka really does have it all.

The islands rich and layered history can be explored at mesmerising ancient archaeological sites, such as Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Anuradhapura, while wild leopards, sloth bears, and Asian elephants roam the tropical jungles of over 20 National Parks.

If youre lucky, its possible to spot a leopard and a blue whale in a single day during the peak migration season.

But thats not all.

Surfers will adore the reef breaks of the south and east coasts, hikers have numerous trails to explore - including the epic 300km Pekoe Trail that snakes through lush tea estates - and train buffs can take the scenic ride of a lifetime.

Of course, a well-worn tourist route takes in many of these hypnotic places, yet for travellers hankering after the less-visited side of the country, theres so much more to explore, ensuring Sri Lanka can be visited time and time again.

And I did it all travelling by local bus for over nine months.

These are the lesser-visited parts I discovered, and worth heading to for wondrous sights, away from the crowds.

Lydia Swinscoe (pictured) reveals the lesser-visited parts of Sri Lanka she discovered, which are worth heading to for wondrous sights, away from the crowds

She travelled across Sri Lanka for nine months by bus (pictured)

Elusive leopards are just one of the animals that can be found in glorious Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu National Park

Crested serpent eagles, jackals, elusive leopards, jungle fowl, stocky sloth bears, and photogenic white breasted kingfishers are just a few of the birds and animals that can be found in glorious Wilpattu National Park.

While most tourists head to Yala, Wilpattu is, in fact, the largest National Park in Sri Lanka, yet it sees fewer visitors than its over-touristed counterpart.

Even fewer tourists know about the government-run bungalows that dot most of Sri Lankas National Parks, and to witness a jungle experience with a difference, its worth spending a few nights completely immersed in Wilpattus dense jungle.

Soulful Sri Lanka will take the stress out of arranging this one-of-a-kind excursion by arranging all transport, the bungalow bookings, safari jeep arrangements, and will also provide a cook and tracker to help spot those elusive leopards and bears.

Maligawila Buddha Statue, Monaragala

According to a 15-year-old Lonely Planet guidebook of Sri Lanka, the town of Monaragala is 'not up to much, do pass through it,' but its sentences like those that make me want to visit even more.

After a couple of weeks in the county, I stopped over in Monaragala for the night in order to witness one of the most exquisite Buddha sculptures in the entire country.

I stopped over in Monaragala for the night in order to witness one of the most exquisite Buddha sculptures in the entire country, the Maligawila Buddha Statue (pictured)

Made of crystalline limestone, I was the only person visiting the 11-metre-tall freestanding Buddha sculpture, hidden in the monkey-filled jungle just 15 km out of town.

Dating back to the 7th century, its impossible not to be impressed by the size and detail of the statue that was once the tallest free-standing Buddha in the world.

Colombo

As the capital of the country, Colombo might seem a surprising addition, but many travellers skip this underrated city, which, in my opinion, is an error.

Overflowing with exciting art spaces, museums, and galleries, as well as boasting some of the best bars and restaurants in the country, Colombo will impress anyone willing to spend time getting acquainted with its quirks.

Highlights for me include the restaurants, Gini and Shoulders by Harpos. Uncles and Eskobar for top-class cocktails, and the Sapumal Foundation and National Museum for an informative dose of historical context.

Theres also an incredible array of small boutique hotels housed in gorgeous, well-designed mansions.

Dont miss Maniumpathy and ISHQ.

As the capital of the country, Colombo might seem a surprising addition, but many travellers skip this underrated city, which, in my opinion, is an error

Photogenic at every turn, and with no other travellers in sight, Mannar Island is deserving of a spot on every Sri Lanka itinerary

Mannar Island

Just 30 km from mainland India, Mannar Island juts out from Sri Lankas teardrop shape like a true enigma.

Here, I found the countrys oldest baobab tree (700 years old, with a circumference of 19.5 meters), an abandoned Dutch Fort, plenty of wild roaming donkeys, and a picturesque pastel blue church built in the 1860s.

Photogenic at every turn, and with no other travellers in sight, this gem of an island is deserving of a spot on every Sri Lanka itinerary.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kelaniya

There is no shortage of awe-inspiring temples in Sri Lanka, from the incredible cave temples of Dambulla, to the colour-pop Nallur Kandaswamy Devasthanam Hindu Temple of Jaffna - they all really do deserve a visit.

Yet one of my favourites, and a place that rarely gets a spot on many a Sri Lankan itinerary, is Kelania Temple, 11 km northeast of Colombo.

Temple artist, Walimuni Solias Mendis, dedicated 20 years of his life to the murals and intricate paintings within the temples main structure, and it really is a marvel to witness firsthand.

One of my favourite temples, and a place that rarely gets a spot on many a Sri Lankan itinerary, is Kelania Temple, 11 km northeast of Colombo

Pictured: Inside the Kelania Temple

There are still a handful of charming villages where its possible to escape most of the crowds, one of which is Madiha

Be sure to visit at varying times of day, as the light on the bright white stupa at dusk is pure magic.

Madiha Village, Matara District

Sri Lankas south coast is undeniably touristy in high season (December to March), with towns like Mirissa and Unawatuna now filled with souvenir shops and the odd chain store.

But there are still a handful of charming villages where its possible to escape most of the crowds, one of which is Madiha.

Nestled amongst coconut and mango trees and close to little-visited temples, this minuscule village has a handful of accommodation options, a few open-air cafes, and is right next to the beach.

And a short beachside stroll away is one of the islands best restaurants, Zephyr Ceylon, where fresh fish dishes and inventive cocktails make the best of Sri Lankas colourful produce.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to medicinal plants, purple-faced langurs, mouse deer, and a staggering array of birds, yet its name, Sinharaja, roughly translates to lion kingdom'.

UNESCO World Heritage site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is home to medicinal plants, purple-faced langurs, mouse deer, and a staggering array of birds

While there are no wild lions in Sri Lanka today, a folk legend tells of a lion living in the forest, which is how it became known as Sinharaja.

Shrouded in myth and swirled in low-hanging mist, the forest is little frequented by tourists, possibly on account of its nearly year-round rainfall.

But those willing to venture a little deeper will be rewarded with the chance to spot all 20 of Sri Lankas endemic rainforest birds, including the rare green-billed coucal and the bright blue Ceylon magpie.

Matara

As the capital of the south coasts Matara district, which was once ruled over by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British, this is a vibrant and bustling city.

It boasts two quaint forts including one built in 1560 and the other forming the shape of a star, a Buddhist island temple, a handful of fab rice and curry spots, and an interesting Dutch Reformed Church.

Few tourists get immersed in the place, yet it offers a real glimpse into daily Sri Lankan life.

Whats more, the very southernmost tip of the country is just a 15-minute drive away, marked out by a bright white lighthouse thats one of the oldest in the country.

As the capital of the south coasts Matara district, which was once ruled over by the Dutch, Portuguese, and British, Matara is a vibrant and bustling city

The countrys northernmost region - and out of bounds for decades due to the civil war - Jaffna is one of my favourite areas for temples and incredible food.

Jaffna

The countrys northernmost region, out of bounds for decades due to the civil war, is one of my favourite areas for temples and incredible food.

It offers a completely different terrain and vibe from the rest of the country.

Home to hundreds of dusky-pink flamingos, spicy crab curries, and little-visited sights, including a sunken church half buried in sand, its easy to let the days roll by in Jaffna.

But since its far, far away from much of the rest of the country, the palmyrah-filled expanse sees far fewer visitors than the islands hotspots of Ella, Nuwara Eliya, and the surfers paradise of Weligama.

Demodora

While many flock to Ella, a once sleepy enclave turned backpacker haven, I wasnt the biggest fan.

Instead, I preferred to spend my days in Demodora, where whimsical trails through tea plantations span out in all directions.

The countrys famed Nine Arch Bridge is a rough 4 km hike away from Demodora, through quaint villages

The countrys famed Nine Arch Bridge is a rough 4 km hike away through quaint villages.

Meanwhile, the Demodora railway station looks as if its been plucked straight out of a fairytale book.

Close by sits a unique spiral railway loop where the track passes under itself.

Known as the Demodora Loop, its easy to visit from nearby Nine Skies, a five-bedroomed bungalow with the dreamiest views.
An ITV star who worked alongside television personality Richard Madeley for years has revealed what the presenter is really like off set.

After an extensive stint working together on the channel, Good Morning Britain's health editor Dr Hilary Jones, 72, has lifted the lid on Richard's true colours.

Dr Hilary has starred in a whopping 275 episodes of GMB, where Richard works as anchor.

And the GP has been a regular figure on several daytime shows for more than a decade, including This Morning, Loose Women and Lorraine.

Dr Hilary told the Express: 'Richard will talk to everybody and anybody, he's very knowledgeable and very accessible and easy to talk to.'

Having developed a close working relationship over time, Richard even stepped in to compose a quote for Dr Hilary's latest novel, Under Darkening Skies.

Dr Hilary Jones who worked alongside television personality Richard Madeley (pictured) for years has revealed what the presenter is really like off set

But the pair have nonetheless butted heads in the past. In 2021, they clashed over their views on the Covid lockdown restrictions.

Richard called Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Witty 'The Chuckle Brothers' owing to their plan to delay the easing of lockdown rules.

The presenter felt that vaccines had done enough to prevent the risk of hospitalisation and deaths from Covid.

But Dr Hilary disagreed, and said at the time: 'We're looking at rising cases, we're looking at a population where still only 75 per cent have had the first jab and just over half have had the second jab.

'So a lot of people unprotected with a variant which is pretty nasty.'

It comes as GMB viewers blasted 'painful to watch' Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley for their 'really annoying and awkward' habit just minutes into the show.

The co-hosts brought viewers the latest headlines on a recent episode of the ITV breakfast news programme.

The pair also interviewed The Professionals actor Martin Shaw, 80, about him turning down the opportunity to play James Bond.

Dr Hilary (pictured) has starred in a whopping 275 episodes of GMB , where Richard works as anchor

They were joined in the studio by weather presenter Laura Tobin and reporter Marverine Cole to help host.

But despite the full schedule, viewers could not focus - they were distracted by Kate, 58, and Richard, 69, constantly talking over each other.

One said on X: 'Richard and Kate talking over each other - awkward lol.'

Another commented on the social media platform: 'Why are Richard and Kate over talking each other. F***ing annoying!'

Someone else weighed in: '@GMB can you please get Richard and Kate to stop talking over each other... it's horrible to watch.'

Another similarly said: 'Richard and Kate shouting over each other, unwatchable.'

Meanwhile, one commented: 'Richard and Kate are both just constant interrupters. It's embarrassing and hard to watch.'

One viewer thought there might be more to it: 'I get the feeling Kate and Richard don't like each other. It's always a match on who will talk first...'

Dr Hilary said Richard is knowledgeable, accessible and easy to get on with, although they have butted heads in the past

Some commented particularly on Richard: 'He's so annoying, constantly talking over and interrupting Kate... He never lets her complete a sentence!

'Just pipe down Madeley, you're doing my head in!'

Similarly, another person said: 'Does Richard Madeley think he is superior to Kate Garraway? Doesn't let her finish statements she is making.'

Someone else agreed, replying: 'They both seem off this morning, not a great chemistry.'

Elsewhere in the episode, Kate and Richard interviewed Scottish broadcaster and former Celebrity Masterchef star Aasmah Mir, 53.

They spoke about the ongoing scandal afflicting the cooking competition, now both John Torode, 59, and Gregg Wallace, 60, have been sacked as presenters.

Good Morning Britain is available to watch on ITV1 on weekdays from 6am and to stream on ITVX
A Western series that's been dubbed the 'greatest ever' has finally landed on Netflix after wowing viewers and scooping awards.

It's just the latest title to land on the streaming giant that Wild West fans can tuck into at their pleasure.

The miniseries - called Godless - was released in 2017 and set in 1984, following a gang who set out on a ruthless pursuit of a man.

Jeff Daniels plays the lead role of Frank Giffin, who is the group's kingpin.

Jack O'Connell portrays Roy Goode, a former protege of the gang who betrayed the brotherhood.

While on the run in a bid to save his life, wounded Roy seeks refuge in a small mining town in New Mexico.

A Western series that's been dubbed the 'greatest ever' has finally landed on Netflix after wowing viewers and scooping awards

It's just the latest title to land on the streaming giant that Wild West fans can tuck into at their pleasure, with all seven episodes available

The miniseries - called Godless - was released in 2017 and set in 1984, following a gang who set out on a ruthless pursuit of a man

He ends up living with a widow and a town outcast, before the gang eventually catch up with him.

Also starring in the series are Alice Fletcher, Whitey Winn, Mary Agnes, Bill McNue, Ed Logan, Callie Dunne and Louise Hobbs.

Godless has been praised by western fans and has a respectable 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, while boasting an IMDb rating of 8.2/10.

The show bagged three Lifetime Emmy Awards in 2018, with Jeff Daniels walking away with the gong for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

Carlos Rafael Rivera, who composed Godless' theme tune, also scooped an award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.

Reviewing the hit, one fan said they stayed up to binge the show in just one sitting, while another said it was the 'best Western' they'd ever seen.

They wrote: 'Stayed up all night binging godless and it was so worth it. A 10/10 masterpiece.'

A second said: 'Godless is, without a doubt, one of the best Western series I've ever seen. It has that vintage, classic feel that captures the essence of the Wild West while delivering a fresh, captivating story.'

Also starring in the series are Alice Fletcher, Whitey Winn, Mary Agnes, Bill McNue, Ed Logan, Callie Dunne and Louise Hobbs

Godless has been praised by western fans and has a respectable 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, while boasting an IMDb rating of 8.2/10

The show bagged three Lifetime Emmy Awards in 2018, with Jeff Daniels walking away with the gong for Outstanding Supporting Actor

A third commented: 'This is one of the best series on Netflix, what acting and what execution. It kept me glued although it is very hard to binge watch as episodes are long.

'Managed to finish it in two days but what series, I absolutely loved it, the atmosphere created about the brutality of Frank Griffin and how he meets his nemesis is a brilliant work done by the Godless team, dialogues are great and character build up flawless. You won't regret watching this one, it's worth every minute spent. Fabulous.'

A fourth remarked: 'A fresh take on the American Western, capturing a much deeper view of the frontier than usual, and all that entails  from religion and war, to love and hate, to bravery, savagery, and crushing heartache.

'Cinematography is spectacular, score is excellent, and acting is top notchWever, Daniels, Dockery, OConnell, Brodie-Sangster, McNairy.my goodness, if youre not a fan of any of these artists yet, you will be after this. Ms Cardinal continues to make everything shes in better.'

The critics also appear to agree, with The Guardian writing: 'Godless is grim, exciting and visually arresting. It's slow, but necessarily so, patiently offering vital exposition while its classic, western plot unfurls itself violently.'

Meanwhile, The Observer said it was 'unrelentingly brilliant'.
To many moviegoers watching Freakier Friday this weekend, the 'original' was the 2003 Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.

But long before, there was a 1976 movie led by stage actress Barbara Harris and child star Jodie Foster - which itself was based on a novel by a showbiz legacy.

The 1972 book Freaky Friday was a smash bestseller by Mary Rodgers, the daughter of beloved Broadway composer Richard Rodgers.

With lyricist Lorenz Hart, he wrote a string of enduring jazz standards like My Funny Valentine, The Lady Is a Tramp and It Never Entered My Mind - and with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, he reinvented the American musical with such shows as Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific and their swan song The Sound of Music.

Mary wryly accepted living in her father's shadow, picking up the check whenever she was out to eat with friends and waving off anyone's objections by quipping: 'When your father writes Oklahoma! you can pay for dinner.'

She herself had a successful life in showbiz, making a star out of one of America's comedy greats and being best friends with one of Broadway's leading lights - and even being tangentially connected to a recent celebrity scandal.

To many moviegoers watching Freakier Friday this weekend, the 'original' was the 2003 Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan

The 1972 book Freaky Friday was a smash bestseller by Mary Rodgers, the daughter of the beloved Broadway composer Richard Rodgers; pictured 2002

Mary Rodgers made a splash as a composer in her own right with the 1959 musical Once Upon a Mattress, which catapulted Carol Burnett to fame.

Based on The Princess and the Pea, the Broadway show emerged as an instant hit not only because of Carol's winning lead performance but also the effervescent score by Mary and lyricist Marshall Barer, plus the giddy book by Jay Thompson.

The musical also has a link to a recent controversy - namely the rumors that Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman conducted an extramarital affair that led to his split from his wife Deborra-Lee Furness in September 2023.

Sutton and Hugh had previously starred in The Music Man together on Broadway, but kept their current romance private amid a blizzard of speculation until they were glimpsed this January kissing in the parking lot of an In-N-Out in Los Angeles.

Days before the kiss, though, Hugh was spotted in the audience watching Sutton in a revival of Once Upon a Mattress, pouring fuel on the fan rumors that the pair had become an item.

Mary was also the lifelong best pal of Broadway titan Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy as well as both lyrics and music for shows like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company and A Little Night Music.

She even at one point fell in love with Steve despite knowing he was homosexual, and the pair embarked on a brief, disastrous trial marriage in the era before public gay acceptance, as recounted in her posthumously published memoir Shy.

They never legally wed or consummated the relationship, simply laying in bed next to each other 'frozen with fear,' before realizing the arrangement was doomed to failure.

Richard Rodgers is pictured at the piano with his daughters Mary and Linda in 1947

Mary Rodgers made a splash as a composer in her own right with the 1959 musical Once Upon a Mattress, which catapulted Carol Burnett to fame; she is pictured in the show

The musical served as the backdrop to a recent controversy - namely the rumors that Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman conducted an affair; the pair are pictured in 2022

Their friendship managed to survive the misadventure, of which she reflected later: 'I can't believe either of us put ourselves through that.'

Mary developed the idea for Freaky Friday while raising her own teenage daughters and realizing to her shock that 'despite my nutso liberal ways,' she had become an 'authority figure' along the lines of her own exacting mother Dorothy Rodgers.

She was also inspired by Thorne Smith's 'vicious and hilarious' 1931 novel Turnabout, 'in which a husband and wife switch bodies and the husband gets pregnant.'

Mary wrote her own book about a teenage girl and her mother switching bodies, settling on the title Freaky Friday after toying with the name Funky Friday but deciding against the idea because it sounded too similar to F***y Friday.

The novel was a resounding success and resulted in a 1976 movie adaptation with the daughter played by Jodie Foster, fresh off her breakthrough in Taxi Driver.

Although Mary did a pass on the screenplay of that film and received sole credit, she was mortified at the final result after a claque of Hollywood 'hacks' rewrote her script and filled it with what she regarded as 'sexism' and 'sitcommery.'

'When I finally read the hacks' polish, I threw it across the room, just like in a movie,' she recalled. 'And then they had the nerve to appeal to the Writers Guild for full credit, which I fought for and won. But what did I win? Full credit for the blame. Even though the movie was a hit, I moped around embarrassed about it for years'

However she thought the 2003 version starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis was 'swell,' and she had particularly warm words for Jamie Lee.

Stage actress Barbara Harris starred in the original 1976 movie of Freaky Friday with child star Jodie Foster, who had broken through earlier that year in Taxi Driver

Mary settled on the title Freaky Friday after mulling the idea of Funky Friday but deciding otherwise because it sounded too similar to F***y Friday; the 1972 first edition is pictured

She remarked that 'for the first time on film the characters seemed real despite the unreal goings-on, and plucky instead of whiny. A lot of that comes from Curtis.'

Mary added: 'Have you ever met someone who, after one minute together, you somehow know that anyone who likes you would also like her? And if not, why not? She was one of those people for me.'

In a tantalizing peek at what might have been, Mary also dished that Jamie Lee and Lindsay were playing 'roles turned down by Annette Bening and Kelly Osbourne.'

Mary died of heart failure in 2014 at the age of 83 with survivors including five children, one of whom - her son Adam Guettel - is also a Broadway composer.
The Russian Ground Forces (RGF) seized approximately 500-550 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in July 2025, as in June, British intelligence said on Saturday.

It is noted that the monthly growth in the area of the captured territory, which has been observed since March 2025, has stopped.

"The RGF continued to make tactical advances in Donetsk region, primarily to the north-east and south-west of Pokrovsk. RGF are continuing attempts to envelop the town and apply pressure to the remaining logistical routes to the town. Russian forces have now occupied nearly all of Donetsk oblast territory south from Pokrovsk," the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said on the X social network.

It is noted that over the past two weeks the occupiers have not achieved any noticeable successes in Sumy region of Ukraine. "Continued losses and Ukrainian counterattacks have likely frustrated Russian intent to establish a buffer zone in the Sumy region. Reporting indicates elements of Russia's 51st Airborne (VDV) Regiment in Sumy are refusing to follow orders," the report reads.
Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler and Fishbowl founder Nathan Dalah appeared to have a perfect life in New York with their two children.

So it was quite the shock when news emerged last weekend that they had split up after two years of marriage.

The couple, who married in 2023, are said to have quietly parted ways months ago.

Cracks in their previously picture-perfect home life began to appear when Georgia was repeatedly photographed without her wedding ring.

Given Dalah's considerable fortune as the creator of the popular sashimi salad chain, their divorce is set to be costly, with Georgia almost assured a comfortable future following the settlement.

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Victoria's Secret model Georgia Fowler and Fishbowl founder Nathan Dalah (pictured together in Sydney in March 2021) have broken up after three years of marriage

Her older sister Kate Fowler split from billionaire Merivale boss Justin Hemmes in 2018. (They are pictured together at a Sydney premiere in October 2015)

As she navigates her separation and possibly mulls a homecoming to be closer to her family, the New Zealander may well seek guidance from her elder sister.

Like Georgia, Kate Fowler was also in a relationship with an Aussie hospitality king - in her case, Merivale billionaire Justin Hemmes - with whom she shares two children.

She and Hemmes split in mid2018 after about three years together.

In announcing their break-up, the owner of iconic venues like The Establishment and Ivy Sydney said: 'Kate and I have the utmost love and respect for each other.

'At the beginning of 2018, Kate and I decided our friendship and respect for family life would become the focus of our relationship.

'We love our children dearly and for now continue to live together happily in our family home.

'Kate is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman. As for what the future holds I am not sure.'

Kate has continued to live in the lavish $7.5million Dover Heights home that Hemmes bought for her and their children after their separation.

Georgia (right) and Kate (left) are seen together at Georgia's engagement party in 2022

Even after meeting new girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel and welcoming son Jaeger with her in June this year, Kate remained part of the family fold.

Indeed, last October, Hemmes - who has an estimated net worth of $1.39billion - invited Kate and her boyfriend David Oettle along for a family holiday in Queenstown, New Zealand, with him and Holtznagel.

It's no secret in the eastern suburbs that Kate and Hemmes have an amicable co-parenting relationship that benefits their daughters, Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight.

The pub tsar has spared himself a lot of grief by remaining on good terms with the mother of his children - an example Dalah might well follow.

Dalah co-founded Fishbowl alongside Nic Pestalozzi and Casper Ettleson, and the chain expanded rapidly from its Bondi origins in 2016.

Five years later, the food chain - which specialises in made-to-order Japanese-style salads - became an empire set to make $60million in revenue in 2022.

The chain has now established itself in New York under the name ThisBowl.

Even after Hemmes (left) met new girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel (right) and welcomed a son, Jaeger, with her in June this year, Kate remained within the family fold

Dalah and Georgia moved to the Big Apple in 2023 so Nathan could focus on his Fishbowl franchise and Georgia could pursue her modelling career.

It's unclear what caused their split.

Hemmes, considered Australia's hospitality king, is the only son of Merivale Group founder John Hemmes. He took over the business after his father's death in 2015.

While his ex and their daughters live in Dover Heights, he and new partner Holtznagel are raising their baby son at his famed Vaucluse estate, which his family has owned for more than 40 years and is widely regarded as one of the finest homes in Sydney.

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The furore surrounding Sydney Sweeney is far from euphoric, and her so far silent reaction has left her at risk of losing fans.

The 27-year-old actress starred in an ad for American Eagle with the tagline 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' (punning on 'genes'), which didn't sit well with some of her left-leaning supporters, who went so far as to say the commercial was pushing eugenicist ideals.

But despite the growing backlash, Sweeney has remained remarkably silent.

Those who know her say we should hardly be surprised.

After all, this is the same woman who quietly confirmed her failed engagement with a simple 'yes' when a journalist asked if she was single.

Sweeney also kept famously schtum when she was said to be involved in an affair with her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell.

She rarely posts about her personal life, and almost never gives interviews.

But now, a source has exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail that Sweeney may soon be making an exception, saying: 'She will tell her story eventually in some type of interview.'

Sydney Sweeney has been bashed online and accused of being 'racist' as former fans labeled the American Eagle denim ad as 'Nazi propaganda'

The exact timings of a formal sit-down, to discuss the American Eagle fallout, are unclear, as she is currently 'trying to figure out where she stands in Hollywood and where she will be able to go', the insider added.

But speak out she will, for she knows 'she will be asked about it over and over and over until she eventually answers'.

Amid the backlash, it has emerged that Sweeney is a registed Republican - news that President Donald Trump himself has welcomed.

He called the news 'fantastic', adding: 'You'd be surprised at how many people are Republican.'

But on that question of politics, it seems Sweeney will not be drawn. 'She will never tell you or anyone close to her about her politics, especially now, as it will dictate her trajectory in Hollywood,' our insider explained.

It is unclear if she 'supports Trump or even respects his comments about her.'

Amid the backlash, it has emerged that Sweeney is a registed Republican - news that President Donald Trump himself has welcomed.

As well as Sweeney's newfound Republican supporters, American Eagle itself has spoken up in her defense.

'"Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" is and always was about the jeans,' the brand wrote on Instagram. '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.'

But now the actress knows she must speak herself. 'She is expecting controversy and being in conversations that might be uncomfortable,' our source added.

Daily Mail has contacted Sweeney for comment.
Calvin Harris recently surprised fans when he shared a very graphic picture of wife Vick Hope's placenta amid their son's birth announcement on Instagram.

The British DJ welcomed his first child with his wife, BBC Radio 1 host Vick Hope, 35, on July 20 and the couple announced the arrival of their firstborn, son Micah, on Instagram on Monday.

While fans rushed to the comments section to congratulate the pair, two snaps included a graphic photograph of Vick's placenta and another image of it chopped up to be dried and later turned into pills.

But Vick is far from the first celebrity to make use of her placenta after giving birth.

Although doctors and medical experts generally do not recommend eating it whether raw, cooked, or in pill form - that hasn't stopped many stars.

Calvin Harris recently shocked fans when he shared a very graphic picture of wife Vick Hope's placenta in their son's birth announcement on Instagram (pictured together in 2024)

The British DJ welcomed his first child with his wife, BBC Radio 1 host Vick Hope , 35, on July 20 and the couple announced the arrival of their firstborn, son Micah, on Instagram on Monday

While fans rushed to the comments section to congratulate the pair, two snaps caught people off guard - including a graphic photograph of Vick's placenta and an image of it chopped up to be dried and later turned into pills

Although doctors and medical experts generally do not recommend eating it whether raw, cooked, or in pill form - that hasn't stopped many stars

Kim Kardashian

In 2015, Kim Kardashian wrote on her website that she had had the placenta of her second child, son Saint

In 2015, Kim Kardashian wrote on her website that she had had the placenta of her second child, son Saint, made into capsules to ward off PND.

She said: 'So, I'm really not this holistic person or someone who would have ever considered eating my placenta,' admitted Kim on her website KimKardashianWest.com.

'And when I say 'eat my placenta,' I mean that I'm having it freeze-dried and made into a pill form  not actually fry it like a steak and eat it (which some people do, BTW).'

Millie Mackintosh

Mother-of-two Millie Mackintosh previously revealed she had her placenta made into pills and believes it 'did help'

Mother-of-two Millie Mackintosh previously revealed she had her placenta made into pills and believes it 'did help'.

'I know they're not proven [to have any health benefits] but I've spoken to other mums who've had the same as me  the first time they were very weepy and upset and emotionally up and down, yo-yoing a lot in the first weeks, and they tried the placenta pills and found it helped them to feel more stable,' she told PA.

'I tried it this time  different companies do it, they come and collect [the placenta] straight after birth and it gets air-dried and then made into tablets.

'You can have it made into gummies, you can even put it into skin care! But I have to say, I think it did help.'

The former Made In Chelsea star is mother to Sienna, five, and Aurelia, three, with her husband Hugo Taylor.

Rochelle Humes

Rochelle previously posted an image featuring a framed umbilical cord shaped into the word 'love' alongside a bottle of placenta capsules after she welcomed her daughter Valentina, eight

Rochelle previously posted an image featuring a framed umbilical cord shaped into the word 'love' alongside a bottle of placenta capsules after she welcomed her daughter Valentina, eight.

Her caption read: 'After being very curious I took the plunge, so excited to feel the benefits..Thanks so much Danielle @placentaplus.'

Along with Valentina, Rochelle and her husband Marvin Humes are also parents to daughter Alaia-Mai, 12, and son Blake, four.

Coleen Rooney

On 25 January 2016, shortly after giving birth to her third son Kit, Coleen tweeted a snapshot of her placenta capsules and wrote: 'Looking forward to starting my capsules @placentaplus1 . Thank you xx'

The WAG later discussed eating the capsules with the Daily Mirror and even claimed they helped 'stabilise' her weight after giving birth

On 25 January 2016, shortly after giving birth to her third son Kit, Coleen tweeted a snapshot of her placenta capsules and wrote: 'Looking forward to starting my capsules @placentaplus1 . Thank you xx'.

The WAG later discussed eating the capsules with the Daily Mirror and even claimed they helped 'stabilise' her weight after giving birth.

'They had a slightly metallic taste and they definitely made me feel energised,' she said. I felt full of very positive energy and it helped with a number of pregnancy symptoms such as the produce of milk.

'I slept really well and they helped to stabilise my weight after having Kit.'

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore had placenta pills made following the birth of her second son Oscar, two

Mandy Moore had placenta pills made following the birth of her second son Oscar, two.

The This is Us actress took to her Instagram Stories and shared a photo of the capsules in a bottle with text reading: 'Made by you for you... filled with your placenta and a whole lot of love'.

Mandy also had her placenta encapsulated after the birth of her first son Gus, four.

Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen revealed she ate her placenta after welcoming her second child Miles with husband John Legend (pictured in 2025)

Chrissy Teigen revealed she ate her placenta after welcoming her second child Miles with husband John Legend.

While most other stars turned theirs into capsules, Chrissy appears to have simply cooked hers.

While being interviewed on CBS This Morning, journalist Rita Braver expressed scepticism about the practice.

'Really? That's not a normal thing? I'm in L.A., it's very normal. They grill it here. You can try some of mine after,' she said.

Kourtney Kardashian

Kim isn't the only Kardashian sister to try placenta pills as her older sister Kourtney also endorses the practice

After the birth of her third child Reign in 2015, the reality star took to Instagram and told fans the pills had changed her life

Kim isn't the only Kardashian sister to try placenta pills as her older sister Kourtney also endorses the practice.

After the birth of her third child Reign in 2015, the reality star took to Instagram and told fans the pills had changed her life.

'Yummy...PLACENTA pills! No joke...I will be sad when my placenta pills run out. They are life changing!' she wrote.

Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff had a 'natural drug-free' birth when she gave birth to her daughter Banks, six, with her husband Matthew Koma in 2018

During an appearance on Dr. Elliot Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast, the actress revealed she had her placenta turned into a smoothie (pictured in 2023)

Hilary Duff had a 'natural drug-free' birth when she gave birth to her daughter Banks, six, with her husband Matthew Koma in 2018.

During an appearance on Dr. Elliot Berlin's Informed Pregnancy podcast, the actress revealed she had her placenta turned into a smoothie.

'It was the most delightful smoothie I've ever had,' she said. 'I haven't had a smoothie that delightful since I was 10. It was calorie-filled with juice and fruit and everything delicious.

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl worked with a homeopath throughout her pregnancy with son Joshua, now 8, and has her placenta encapsulated after his birth

Katherine Heigl worked with a homeopath throughout her pregnancy with son Joshua, now 8, and has her placenta encapsulated after his birth.

Speaking to PEOPLE about it, she said: 'They told me that another mother down the hall had a company that freeze dries pills.

'This guy came, he was a total cowboy: Cowboy hat, cowboy boots  and a bag of placenta! He took it to his wife who freeze-dried it and turned it into pills.'
Brooklyn Beckham has been slammed by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli for 'burning bacon' in his spaghetti carbonara.

The aspiring chef, 26, cooked up the beloved Italian dish this week and shared a step-by-step video to his Instagram - but not everyone was impressed.

Aldo had a few choice words, claiming Brooklyn had 'jumped on the bandwagon' and needed a masterclass after 'burning the guanciale'.

He said: 'Nowadays every celebrity is jumping on the cooking bandwagon.

'Burning guanciale [bacon lardons] would cause it to become bitter, hard and make the carbonara taste terrible  maybe he needs a masterclass from Aldo Zilli! Stop changing recipes!'

Some of Brooklyn's followers agreed and added: 'You burnt your guanciale, made it black'; 'What in the extremely charred pork cheek is going on here??'

Brooklyn Beckham has been slammed by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli for 'burning bacon' in his spaghetti carbonara

The aspiring chef, 26, cooked up the beloved Italian dish this week and shared a step-by-step video to his Instagram - but not everyone was impressed (Aldo pictured in 2022)

Others wrote: 'Sorry, I am Italian. Your guanciale is so burnt it looks like coal. I wouldnt touch that dish. Knowledge and experience will teach how to cook. Hopefully! Ciao!';

'As an Italian.. no. That cheek is burnt'; 'Put some water in the pan when you're frying guanciale because of the sugars and when it evaporate, the oil will come out and it won't look burnt. Low flame!';

'You burnt your lardons and I don't think it's good to cook spaghetti in charcoal.'

Brooklyn was forced to defend himself and commented: 'Guanciale has a lot of sugar in thats why its darker. I slow cooked it so its not burned.'

Meanwhile, in what could be considered an olive branch amid the ongoing family feud his dad, David, 50, liked the post.

Brooklyn and his wife Nicola, 31, have been at the centre of a rift with the rest of the family after they failed to attend any of his father's 50th birthday celebrations in May.

But appeared to show his support when Brooklyn shared his latest recipe to Instagram.

David and Victoria, 51, have been on a summertime jaunt to St Tropez with their other children.

Aldo had a few choice words, claiming Brooklyn had 'jumped on the bandwagon' and needed a masterclass after 'burning the guanciale'

Some of Brooklyn's followers agreed and added: 'You burnt your guanciale, made it black'; 'What in the extremely charred pork cheek is going on here??'

Brooklyn was forced to defend himself and commented: 'Guanciale has a lot of sugar in thats why its darker. I slow cooked it so its not burned'

Meanwhile, in what could be considered an olive branch amid the ongoing family feud his dad, David, 50, like the post (David pictured last month)

Brooklyn is the only Beckham child not on the getaway, having spent the week before in the same location with his wife Nicola and his in-laws.

Elsewhere, Brooklyn and Nicola looked happier than ever across the pond in New York as they marked three years of marriage by reaffirming the promises they made to each other.

The eldest Beckham son looked to be missing out on a fun-filled trip, as the other offspring made the most of their trip together in St Tropez.

Brooklyn left the south of France to return to the U.S, where he was spotted looking glum on an outing in New York with his wife and mother-in-law, Claudia, on Tuesday.
BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty, who is under review for 'bullying' claims, allegedly scolded a petrified intern for the way they spread Marmite on her toast, insiders have claimed.

The allegation comes after the Daily Mail revealed how she had allegedly moaned about her porridge being 'too hot' and not liking to blueberry topping.

An insider, who previously worked with Naga, 50, on BBC Breakfast, revealed the TV host is 'an absolute nightmare', adding that she would 'kick off about the smallest of issues'.

Now, a source has told The Sun how she kicked off at an intern over how they spread Marmite on her toast.

It comes as sources revealed Naga could face a probe from BBC bosses, and has been placed 'under review' amid claims bullied a junior colleague on the flagship morning show.

An insider told The Daily Mail: 'She's an absolute nightmare. She has a reputation for going at young members of staff and making them out to be fools.

'She would kick off about the smallest of issues, including one time she went ballistic over her breakfast not being prepared exactly how she likes it by an intern.'

On one occasion, Naga refused to eat porridge delivered by an intern in an ad break, which is typically done, saying it was 'too hot for her to eat in the time she had', the source said.

'She said it's always made exactly the same way for her each day and would prefer if the same person made it who knows exactly how she likes it,' they added.

Under-fire BBC presenter Naga Munchetty has a reputation for being an 'absolute nightmare' for junior staff, a source has claimed - she is seen here leaving BBC studios on August 9

Her BBC Breakfast co-presenter Charlie Stayt was also pictured leaving the BBC HQ

BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty, who is under review for 'bullying' claims, allegedly scolded a petrified intern for the way they spread Marmite on her toast, according to The Sun

BBC Breakfast hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty are alleged to have been placed 'under review' while bosses consider escalating complaints to a formal investigation

The Daily Mail has reached out to the BBC regarding the claim she scolded an intern over how they spread Marmite on her toast, however they have already refused to give a comment to The Sun. The Mail has contacted Naga's representatives, who declined to comment. She has not addressed any of the allegations publicly.

Following the amount of people who have come forward to share their experiences with Naga, the BBC has officially moved to place the complaints under review.

'The review is to ascertain whether a full-on investigation is required and that could come in weeks', the source told The Sun.

The journalist was reportedly previously spoken to by bosses over claims she bullied a female junior staff member as well as a complaint she used a slang term for a sexual act off-air at BBC Radio 5 Live.

Naga used a slang term for a sex act during an off-air break in 2022, which stunned the studio and led to Naga being spoken to by bosses.

It was then reported that last year, Naga hauled into a meeting by bosses over the alleged bullying of a junior female colleague on BBC Breakfast.

Her BBC Breakfast star co-host Charlie Stayt's alleged behaviour is also 'under review' after a string of complaints, it has been claimed.

The presenters are not under a formal investigation by the Beeb but a process has apparently begun to judge whether they should be.

While Naga is alleged to face the most criticism from BBC Breakfast crew, some staff have reportedly made claims of 'rudeness', 'undermining' them and even 'bullying' with Charlie also now being looked at.

It came after the Daily Mail spoke to a show insider who alleged Ms Munchetty was an 'absolute nightmare' and would 'kick off about the smallest of issues', including once over the temperature of her porridge brought to her by an intern.

Today's development is said to be related to the probe launched recently into BBC Breakfast's editor, Richard Frediani, who is at centre of a misconduct row that continues to grip the UK's most-watched morning show.

A source told The Sun: 'A number of people have come forward to share their experiences with Charlie, so the BBC has officially moved to place the complaints under review.

'Charlie and Naga will be assessed separately.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values.'

The journalist, 50, was reportedly previously spoken to by bosses over claims she bullied a female junior staff member

Under-fire editor Richard Frediani (pictured) has reportedly taken an extended period of leave after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show

Munchetty was also reportedly hauled into a meeting after she made a sex jibe during an ad break while hosting her radio show

Recently, BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani reportedly took an extended period of leave after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show.

It was previously claimed that the show's staff are feeling increasingly 'uneasy' around Frediani, with the former Head of ITV News accused of 'shaking' a female editor while working on the show.

Richard has stepped back from the show, and while he had already taken time off to go on holiday, has mutually agreed to extend his break, according to The Sun.

A source previously compared the workplace to 'The Hunger Games', saying the morning programme had been 'ripped apart', with some staff members backing Naga and Richard, while others disagree with their approach.

'Breakfast is no longer just divided, it's been ripped apart,' the source told The Sun.

They explained while many have welcomed the investigation into the workplace and Frediani, others support his 'tougher' and 'traditional journalistic' approach.

And with the emergence of 'two camps' on the show, the latest revelations about Naga are said to have 'thrown a new twist on the scandal'.

Sources previously compared the workplace to 'The Hunger Games' saying the morning programme had been 'ripped apart' amid allegations

Amid the fallout, Munchetty's agents have reportedly 'held talks with rival station LBC' to explore opportunities for the journalist.

A source told The Sun: 'The fallout of Richard Frediani's investigation created a stark "him or her" narrative on Breakfast with Naga flung to the front line.

'The fact is she loves the BBC and her job but there's only so much external noise anyone is prepared to take.

'LBC would suit her well as the focus remains on news-led broadcasting, they take a hard line and there's far less of the fluffy nonsense involved in working at the BBC.

'Her team last week renewed historic talks with the global radio station to see if there could be any work for her there.'

Last month, figures released by the broadcaster revealed the presenter was awarded a 10,000 increase in her annual salary.

Her pay packet now sits at an eye-watering 355,000 - almost double that of her co-host Charlie Stayt.

Stayt, 63, has remained in the 190,000 bracket as tensions between the pair are said to be 'rife'.

Munchetty hosts BBC Breakfast on Thursdays to Saturdays with Charlie, while Jon Kay and Sally Nugent anchor the program from the start of the week.
Melissa Leong has opened up about her upcoming memoir, revealing writing it was a 'difficult' process.

The former MasterChef Australia judge, 43, is set to release her book, Guts, on September 30.

Speaking to the Herald Sun ahead of the anticipated release, Melissa admitted that she visits some 'dark' places in the book.

'There are unexpected twists and turns and there are definitely some revelations Ive never shared publicly before that are printed,' she told the publication.

'Some of it is dark and pretty relevant for whats going on in the world today, especially for women.'

Melissa added that while the process of writing the memoir had been 'difficult', she hoped it would also prove to be a healing one.

Melissa Leong has opened up about her upcoming memoir, Guts, revealing writing it was a 'difficult' process

'That was a really difficult process for me. And its going to be very difficult to talk about it in a public sense as the book is promoted,' she said.

'But I am committed to healing through it... Im committed to healing through it because I think it will help the public. And I really hope it will help me.'

It comes after Melissa sparked concern among fans this week, after she shared a teary-eyed image of herself crying in her car to social media.

She posted the concerning photo on social media on Thursday, which captured her looking downbeat as she rested in her vehicle.

She told fans she was feeling a bit downcast after taking on the mentally challenging task of narrating the audio version of her upcoming memoir.

'Today was a hard day. I started recording the audio version of my memoir, and I knew sharing some of what I wrote might be the most difficult thing I have ever had to say out loud to strangers,' Melissa began.

'I know it's not yet time to talk about it, but I really need to send love to anyone out there who has been forced through the dark moments. You are not alone, and I need to know I am not, either.'

She ended on a more hopeful note and revealed she was excited to be telling her story.

'There are unexpected twists and turns and there are definitely some revelations Ive never shared publicly before that are printed,' she told the Herald Sun. 'Some of it is dark and pretty relevant for whats going on in the world today, especially for women.'

'That was a really difficult process for me. And its going to be very difficult to talk about it in a public sense as the book is promoted,' she added

'I am not one for posting these kinds of raw moments, but I want to mark today as one where I reclaimed myself and my story once and for all,' she added.

Many of Melissa's celebrity friends took to the comments section to offer words of support.

'Sharing something like this is never easy, and it matters that you did. Sending lots of love,' wrote publicist Adriana Glass.

'Deep breath... and say it proudly,' added makeup artist Shella Martin.

Melissa's upcoming memoir is currently available for pre-order and promises readers 'previously unshared tea' about her life.

The food critic famously served as a judge on the Channel Ten cooking competition for three years but left last year amid a huge hosting shake-up.

She has since joined spin-off show Dessert Masters as a judge  but has been repeatedly hit by rumours that she could be lining up a return to MasterChef.

Taking to her Instagram, Melissa asked fans what they would like to read about in the book, prompting a whole range of responses.

It comes after Melissa sparked concern among fans this week, after she shared a teary-eyed image of herself crying in her car to social media. She told fans she was feeling a bit downcast after taking on the mentally challenging task of narrating the audio version of her upcoming memoir

The former MasterChef judge is set to release her book, Guts, on September 30

One eager fan asked her if she would be including any 'behind the scenes MasterChef stories', to which Melissa replied she would be.

'Oh there are a bunch, don't you worry,' she teased in a cryptic reply.

She also revealed she would be discussing other aspects of her life and career, including her little-known passion for UFC. Each chapter will also feature a recipe.

However, Melissa urged fans to stop asking her about aspects of her life she has 'publicly drawn a line' under as she hinted some things would be off limits in the book.
Countdown presenter Rachel Riley was targeted by a convicted stalker who accused her of being the 'ringleader of a cult of celebrities', a court has heard.

Felicity Lowde, 59, from Chelsea, west London, mentioned the TV star more than 200 times on blog posts and accused her of leading an 'international conspiracy' alongside JK Rowling, Stephen Fry and Katie Hopkins.

She claimed this was being orchestrated by Ms Riley through a secret social media plot before further accusing her of being 'sexually obsessed' with toilets - an accusation Lowde also labelled at Piers Morgan in court earlier this year.

At City of London Magistrates' Court, it was heard that Lowde accused Ms Riley of being 'complicit in genocide' in a reference to her Jewish faith amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as reported by The Sun.

Lowde, who was previously jailed for stalking a London Bombings survivor, tried to sue Ms Riley last year after accusing her of 'trying to defraud her creative work and family history' as well as 'hijacking her identity'.

The 59-year-old was arrested after Ms Riley reported her to police, who later applied for a stalking protection order on her behalf.

It was further reported by the newspaper that Magistrates chair Dr Ian Cole told Lowde, who has four convictions for stalking and harassment, how the ordeal made Ms Riley 'fear for her safety'.

They added that Lowde was banned from contacting Ms Riley or mentioning her on social media for life, and could face time behind bars if she breaches that order.

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley (above) was targeted by a convicted stalker who accused her of being the 'ringleader of a cult of celebrities'

Felicity Lowde (above) mentioned the TV star more than 200 times across 855 blog posts and accused her of leading an 'international conspiracy' alongside other celebrities

Lowde also accused Ms Riley (above) of being 'complicit in genocide' in a reference to her Jewish faith amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza

It comes six months after Mr Morgan likened Lowde to Netflix's Baby Reindeer stalker when he had to defend himself in court against her for similar accusations to those made against Ms Riley.

The journalist, aged 60, said her claims of abuse and harassment were a 'complete fantasy'.

At the time, Lowde had filed 64 cases against multiple celebrities, including one which accused Mr Morgan of hijacking her brother's identity.

Mr Morgan won his firm's case against Lowde in January and the one against him personally was also thrown out after he defended it online.

The former Good Morning Britain host said he didn't want to have to defend himself or his company in court but he was forced to after being contacted by the court.

If he had not done so it would have gone through the court process and he could have received a judgement against himself or his company which he believes was what Lowde 'was trying to do'.

Piers Morgan likened Lowde to Netflix's Baby Reindeer stalker after he had to defend himself in court against her for similar accusations made against Ms Riley

Ms Riley's case was heard at City of London Magistrates Court (above) where chair Dr Ian Cole told Lowde that Ms Riley said she 'fears for her safety'

Lowde was ordered to pay Mr Morgan 6,000 in damages but he said he had 'no expectation seeing any of that money'.

'She is a harasser, a bit like Baby Reindeer's,' he said, adding: 'This could happen to anyone - whether they're in the public eye or not - at a huge personal cost.'

In his witness statement in court, he revealed that TV stars, comedians and campaigners have also taken action against her, including JK Rowling.

He added: 'For anyone in the public eye who gets these kinds of harassing letters, it's always a bit unsettling.

'You never quite know whether the person is a threat or not.

'Obviously I don't want to run the risk of an actual threat so you need to be careful with people like this because they've clearly got something wrong with them.

Lowde was ordered to pay Mr Morgan (above) 6,000 in damages earlier this year but he said he had 'no expectation seeing any of that money'

'This is a convicted stalker who harassed a terror-attack survivor. It's hard to think of anything more despicable.

'I've got security, but you can't live like a hermit and let that stuff get in your head.'

Mr Morgan called on the courts to stop Lowde from bringing forward endless cases against public figures.

Instead, he suggests she can pursue them by using 'fee remission' usually granted based on the applicant's financial circumstances.

He explained this would mean the cost to her issuing the claims would be 'effectively nothing' and pointed out that this is not the case for all the defendants who are forced to go through the court process and end up paying the costs.
Amanda Holden shared a sweet snap with her husband Chris Hughes on Friday.

The Britain's Got Talent judge, 54, looked stunning as she posed with her long-haired husband, 51, to whom she has been married since 2008 after meeting in 2003.

Alongside the Instagram post, Amanda - who shares daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, with her husband - shared the sweet caption: 'To the moon and back.8:8', with a heart and moon emoji attached.

Amanda looked sensational in a black chiffon dress with a tie neck and plunging neckline as she beamed with her husband's arms wrapped around her hips.

And music producer Chris proved his wife is not the only ageless one as he showcased his jet black locks and extremely smooth complexion.

It seems a number of Amanda's fans could not believe how youthful the pair look, with an onslaught of comments marvelling at their good looks.

Amanda Holden shared a sweet snap with her husband Chris Hughes on Friday - leaving fans in awe of their incredibly youthful good looks

The couple are pictured in 2003, shortly after meeting, proving they have maintained their incredibly youthful good looks

Alongside the Instagram post, Amanda, who shares daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13, with her husband, shared the sweet caption: 'To the moon and back.8:8', with a heart and moon emoji attached.

It seems a number of Amanda's fans could not believe how youthful the pair look, with an onslaught of comments marvelling at their good looks

Fans could not believe the couple's ageless looks

A number of Amanda's 2.5million followers shared their thoughts, penning: 'No grey hair's what's your secret??... Beautiful...

'Although, it would appear that you both are not aging, which for the rest of us is dreadfully unfair... As my Nan would say what a handsome couple. You both look radiant... Chris hasn't aged in 20 years!'

The reference to the date appeared to be a nod to the annual occurence of the Lion's Gate Portal - an astrological sign to manifest 'heart-based desires'.

The event is detailed as: 'On August 8th, the Lion's Gate Portal aligns with the heliacal rising of the star Sirius within the constellation of Leo. The energy is ripe for manifesting our innermost, heart-based desires.'

Chris, who is a former drummer and now producer for artists including Paul McCartney, Robert Plant and Tears for Fears, is a rare feature on Amanda's social media, due to his loathing of the spotlight.

Amanda reflected on his feelings in an interview with The Times last month, saying: 'He cant stand the limelight and hates red carpets.'

She revealed that the couple, who met in 2003, often lock horns - most recently over the purchase of their 7m property in Cobham, Surrey.

Amanda and Chris are pictured in 2004 in the early stages of their relationship

Chris is Amanda's second husband, after her marriage to Family Fortunes legend Les Dennis, whom she married in 1995 when she was 22 and he was 40 before splitting in 2000 when her affair with Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey came to light

Amanda is pictured with their in December 2022

Amanda revealed Chris had 'no say', saying: 'All the decisions about the house are mine. He hates it and argues with me all the time and then says I was right.'

Chris is Amanda's second husband, after her marriage to Family Fortunes legend Les Dennis, whom she married in 1995 when she was 22 and he was 40 before splitting in 2000 when her affair with Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey came to light.

They later rekindled their romance but separated in 2002 and divorced in 2003.

She went on to marry Chris in a Christmas-themed wedding in St Margarets Church in Somerset in December 2008, where F1 driver David Coulthard was best man.
BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt's relationship with newly-returned boss has reportedly 'turned sour' amid the 'bullying' claims.

Richard Frediani took an extended period of leave after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show.

It was previously claimed that the show's staff are feeling increasingly 'uneasy' around Richard, with the former Head of ITV News accused of 'shaking' a female editor while working on the show.

Richard has now returned to work, but relations between him and star talent Naga, 50, and Charlie, 63, have 'turned so sour' he no longer directly manage them.

A source told The Sun: 'Fredi now doesn't brief Naga and Charlie or any of that sort of thing and someone else is on the talkback to them from the gallery.

'The crew are entirely bemused and exhausted by it - in what world is it normal for a boss to be banned from talking to his staff?'

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt's relationship with newly-returned boss has reportedly 'turned sour' amid the 'bullying' claims

Richard Frediani took an extended period of leave after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show

Talkback is the function which connects the production gallery to the set and allows an editor to speak to hosts via an earpiece.

Instead, one of Richard's editorial team handles the link, with the insider adding: 'Bosses are desperate to get Breakfast back on an even keel and know the tension between Fredi, Charlie and Naga is at the heart of the rising crisis.

When the Daily Mail reached out to the BBC for comment, a spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.'

Naga, who is under review for 'bullying' claims, allegedly scolded a petrified intern for the way they spread Marmite on her toast, insiders have claimed.

The allegation comes after the Daily Mail revealed how she had allegedly moaned about her porridge being 'too hot' and not liking to blueberry topping.

An insider, who previously worked with Naga, 50, on BBC Breakfast , revealed the TV host is 'an absolute nightmare', adding that she would 'kick off about the smallest of issues'.

Now, a source has told The Sun how she kicked off at an intern over how they spread Marmite on her toast.

It comes as sources revealed Naga could face a probe from BBC bosses, and has been placed 'under review' amid claims bullied a junior colleague on the flagship morning show.

Under-fire BBC presenter Naga has a reputation for being an 'absolute nightmare' for junior staff, a source has claimed

BBC Breakfast host Naga, who is under review for 'bullying' claims, allegedly scolded a petrified intern for the way they spread Marmite on her toast, according to The Sun

The allegation comes after the Daily Mail revealed how she had allegedly moaned about her porridge being 'too hot' and not liking to blueberry topping

Charli seen leaving BBC Morning studios on Saturday

An insider told The Daily Mail: 'She's an absolute nightmare. She has a reputation for going at young members of staff and making them out to be fools.

'She would kick off about the smallest of issues, including one time she went ballistic over her breakfast not being prepared exactly how she likes it by an intern.'

On one occasion, Naga refused to eat porridge delivered by an intern in an ad break, which is typically done, saying it was 'too hot for her to eat in the time she had', the source said.

'She said it's always made exactly the same way for her each day and would prefer if the same person made it who knows exactly how she likes it,' they added.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the BBC regarding the claim she scolded an intern over how they spread Marmite on her toast, however they have already refused to give a comment to The Sun. The Mail has contacted Naga's representatives, who declined to comment. She has not addressed any of the allegations publicly.

Following the amount of people who have come forward to share their experiences with Naga, the BBC has officially moved to place the complaints under review.

'The review is to ascertain whether a full-on investigation is required and that could come in weeks', the source told The Sun.

The journalist was reportedly previously spoken to by bosses over claims she bullied a female junior staff member as well as a complaint she used a slang term for a sexual act off-air at BBC Radio 5 Live.

The journalist, 50, was reportedly previously spoken to by bosses over claims she bullied a female junior staff member

Naga used a slang term for a sex act during an off-air break in 2022, which stunned the studio and led to Naga being spoken to by bosses.

It was then reported that last year, Naga hauled into a meeting by bosses over the alleged bullying of a junior female colleague on BBC Breakfast.

Her BBC Breakfast star co-host Charlie's alleged behaviour is also 'under review' after a string of complaints, it has been claimed.

The presenters are not under a formal investigation by the Beeb but a process has apparently begun to judge whether they should be.

While Naga is alleged to face the most criticism from BBC Breakfast crew, some staff have reportedly made claims of 'rudeness', 'undermining' them and even 'bullying' with Charlie also now being looked at.

Amid the fallout, Munchetty's agents have reportedly 'held talks with rival station LBC' to explore opportunities for the journalist.

A source told The Sun: 'The fallout of Richard Frediani's investigation created a stark 'him or her' narrative on Breakfast with Naga flung to the front line.

'The fact is she loves the BBC and her job but there's only so much external noise anyone is prepared to take.

Naga was also reportedly hauled into a meeting after she made a sex jibe during an ad break while hosting her radio show

'LBC would suit her well as the focus remains on news-led broadcasting, they take a hard line and there's far less of the fluffy nonsense involved in working at the BBC.

'Her team last week renewed historic talks with the global radio station to see if there could be any work for her there.'

Last month, figures released by the broadcaster revealed the presenter was awarded a 10,000 increase in her annual salary.

Her pay packet now sits at an eye-watering 355,000 - almost double that of her co-host Charlie Stayt.

Stayt, 63, has remained in the 190,000 bracket as tensions between the pair are said to be 'rife'.

Munchetty hosts BBC Breakfast on Thursdays to Saturdays with Charlie, while Jon Kay and Sally Nugent anchor the program from the start of the week.
Pregnant Georgia Harrison showcased her growing bump in a series of social media snaps on Saturday.

The former Love Island star, 30, who is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Jack Stacey, 33, displayed her bare bump at an ultrasound scan.

Elsewhere, Georgia slipped into a plunging swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing spa weekend at Champneys.

In another slew of snaps, Georgia wore an oversized open shirt and jeans while playfully posing with a group of girl pals, who pretended to feed her grapes.

Alongside the Instagram photo dump, Georgia penned: 'Heres why I didnt text you back'

Georgia announced her happy news via Instagram in April after a whirlwind ten-month romance with Jack.

Pregnant Georgia Harrison showcased her growing bump in a series of social media snaps on Saturday

Elsewhere, Georgia slipped into a plunging swimsuit as she enjoyed a relaxing spa weekend at Champneys

She told followers: 'We've been keeping a secret! Me and Jack are having a baby! Due November 2025, we can't wait to welcome this little one into the world and embrace all the joy and love he or she will bring.

'I still can't believe I've finally got everything I ever wanted and I couldn't be more gratefulAnd just like that 2 are about to become 3.'

Georgia and Jack have been dating for around a year after meeting on a dating app and they are due to welcome their first child in November.

Though she is now in a loving relationship, Georgia recently revealed how she was left 'damaged by her other relationship experiences'.

Georgia recalled being 'kicked out of a moving car' by her first boyfriend as she discussed the 'lasting impact' of the emotional and physical abuse she suffered.

Speaking in a candid new interview with Paul C Brunson on We Need To Talk on Tuesday, the TV personality said her 'first proper relationship was traumatic'.

She began: 'I was 18 and it was my first proper relationship of understanding myself within a partner and unfortunately it was really emotionally and sometimes physically abusive.

The former Love Island star, 30, who is expecting her first child with her boyfriend Jack Stacey, 33, displayed her bare bump at an ultrasound scan

In another slew of snaps, Georgia wore an oversized open shirt and jeans while playfully posing with a group of girl pals, who pretended to feed her grapes

Alongside the Instagram photo dump, Georgia penned: 'Heres why I didnt text you back'

Georgia announced her happy news via Instagram in April after a whirlwind ten-month romance with Jack

'I had no idea how much verbal and physical abuse was happening. I was completely naive to this.

'The emotional abuse was more traumatic and had a far longerlasting effect on me than any of the physical abuse.'

Georgia admitted: 'He'd like hold me face down on a bed, where he'd spit in my face. He once kicked me out of a moving car, was moving slow, but it was still really traumatic. I was really bruised from the experience.

'The emotional abuse would be because he knew I'd never been naked with other men and stuff like that. He'd always say, "you might think you're good-looking with your clothes on and all boys do, but actually you're disgusting, like naked."

'Anything you can imagine that you could say to someone, he would say to me. And I would then start to believe it.

'I would get in trouble for speaking to certain people, going certain places. I just felt completely and utterly trapped.

'Those abusive relationships, they shape how you see yourself. And it's really hard to ever shake that off.'

Georgia met Jack on a dating app last summer and described her pregnancy as a 'beautiful surprise'.

Discussing their relationship, she admitted that it took her months to believe that 'it was actually good.'

It comes after Georgia recalled being 'kicked out of a moving car' by her first boyfriend as she discussed the 'lasting impact' of the emotional and physical abuse she suffered

Georgia, who is now in a loving relationship and expecting her first child with her boyfriend Jack Stacey, revealed how she was left 'damaged by her other relationship experiences'

She detailed: 'I don't reckon it was until like probably 3 or 4 months in that I actually believed he was going to stick around. I was just so damaged by my other relationship experiences.'

The TV personality continued: 'I was convinced that after a few months I was just going to be lovebombed and this couldn't be as good as it really was that actually it was.'

'I don't think it was until I was pregnant I was like there's no way he's ever going anywhere now. But he can still go though.'

Breaking down in tears, Georgia said: 'I just love him so much. Like I can't I can't put into words how much he's changed my life.

'He's changed me completely as a person. He's made me love myself in ways I never thought I could. And he's like he supports me through everything.

'I waited my whole life for someone to treat me the way he treats me. I just feel like happy all the time. I feel like more motivated. I feel more proud of myself.'
Russia's demands to transfer control over part of Donetsk region to it imply Ukraine's abandonment of a well-fortified defensive line, while containing neither guarantees of abandonment of any territories that the Russian side currently controls, nor guarantees of non-resumption of hostilities, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

"The surrender of the rest of Donetsk Oblast as the prerequisite of a ceasefire with no commitment to a final peace settlement ending the war would position Russian forces extremely well to renew their attacks on much more favorable terms, having avoided a long and bloody struggle for the ground. Conceding such a demand would force Ukraine to abandon its "fortress belt," the main fortified defensive line in Donetsk Oblast since 2014  with no guarantee that fighting will not resume... Ukraine has spent the last 11 years pouring time, money, and effort into reinforcing the fortress belt and establishing significant defense industrial and defensive infrastructure in and around these cities," the ISW report of August 8 reads.

It noted that Russian forces are still trying to encircle this belt of fortresses from the southwest and are engaged in attempts to capture it, but that this will take several years under current conditions. "Putin's reported proposal reportedly demands that Ukraine concede this critical defensive position, which Russian forces currently have no means of rapidly enveloping or penetrating, apparently in exchange for nothing.Ceding Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk Oblast will place Russian forces on the borders of Donetsk Oblast, a position that is significantly less defensible than the current line," the institute said.

The ISW also notes that Putin's demands to cede all of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, along with Crimea, as part of ceasefire talks, reported by the media, did not state any intention to freeze the current front lines in Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, nor did they mention the withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) or from positions in Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv regions.

"Putin may be offering this proposal in an attempt to delay the sanctions that Trump threatened to impose by August 8 if Putin did not begin to negotiate with Ukraine to end the war Putin is likely deliberately offering a proposal designed to be unacceptable to Ukraine in order to delay sanctions as well as meaningful ceasefire negotiations and place the blame for the failure of negotiations on Ukraine," the institute said.

It is also noted that the Kremlin is not creating the internal information conditions necessary for the Russian people to accept a settlement that is not a complete victory in Ukraine.

"Putin's reported proposal once again underscores that he maintains his uncompromising demands for Ukraine's capitulation and remains disinterested in good-faith negotiations," the ISW summarizes.
David Beckham has shared yet another sweet family snap on Instagram amid his ongoing 'feud' with son Brooklyn.

Taking to the social media site on Saturday, the family patriatch, 50, larked around with his youngest son Cruz, 20, in Chez Camille restaurant in St Tropez.

In the image, Cruz and David were in peals of laughter as the former attempted to put a bib adorned with the restaurant's logo on to the latter.

Making a joke about their ages, the accompanying caption read: 'How times have changed , it used to be me putting the Bib on you @cruzbeckham looks like it's my turn to not spill my food @victoriabeckham'.

His latest post comes just hours after he appeared to extend a tentative olive branch to son Brooklyn, 26, by 'liking' his latest video on Instagram.

The Beckham clan are currently in the South of France, while Brooklyn is sticking his wife Nicola across the pond as their alleged fall-out rages on.

David Beckham has shared yet another sweet family snap on Instagram, amid his ongoing 'feud' with son Brooklyn, this time a shot with his youngest son Cruz

His latest post comes just hours after he appeared to extend a tentative olive branch to son Brooklyn, 26, by 'liking' his latest video on Instagram

David liked the post in a shock move to fans

While the majority of the Beckhams have been putting on a giddy display packed with in-jokes and relaxation, their eldest son has been sticking by his wife.

Earlier this week, Brooklyn and Nicola looked happier than ever as they marked three years of marriage by reaffirming the promises they made to each other with a vow renewal.

A source close to the couple confirmed the news to Daily Mail, stating: 'This is a moment to celebrate their love and commitment, and to create a meaningful memory together.'

He looked to be missing out on a fun-filled trip, as the other offspring made the most of their trip together in St Tropez.

Brooklyn left the south of France to return to the US, where he was spotted looking glum on an outing in New York with his wife and mother-in-law, Claudia, on Tuesday.

In another update, Brooklyn embraced his billionaire father-in-law in snaps from the family getaway to St Tropez.

He enjoyed a friendly beer with Nelson Peltz, 83, before packing on the PDA with wife Nicola onboard the businessman's superyacht.

Meanwhile, David, 50, and Victoria, 51, have been on a summertime jaunt to St Tropez with their other children

Brooklyn left the south of France to return to the U.S last week after enjoying a holiday with his in-laws

Amid the trip the couple enjoyed a swanky lunch with Brooklyn's godfather Elton John, who sources revealed planned the dinner in a desperate attempt to calm the family's feud.

Nicola shared a slew of final holiday snaps from the couple's lavish trip before heading home to the US.

Sir Elton, who has been friends with David and Victoria for over 30 years, treated Brooklyn and Nicola to food at fancy La Guerite beach club in the South of France.
David Beckham cheekily grabbed his wife Victoria's bum during a family meal in Portofino on Friday.

The couple are currently enjoying a yacht holiday with children Romeo, Cruz and Harper, while their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz miss out on the fun.

David, Victoria, Cruz and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel stepped off the vessel and head to Bloody Bay for a sunset dinner.

Jackie could be seen snapping candid moments of power couple David and Victoria as they cosied up for the camera.

Fashion designer Victoria, 51, showed off her incredible figure in a backless black dress, while David looked stylish in a bright blue shirt with beige trousers.

Jackie flaunted her toned physique in a tiny satin bra and a maxi skirt, while Cruz opted for a pale blue polo shirt.

David Beckham cheekily grabbed his wife Victoria's bum during a family meal in Portofino on Friday

The couple are currently enjoying a yacht holiday with children Romeo, Cruz and Harper, while their eldest son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz miss out on the fun

Fashion designer Victoria, 51, showed off her incredible figure in a backless black dress

Brooklyn and Nicola have kept away amid an ongoing family feud, as the pair lived it up on a 85million vessel that dwarfs his parents' close by the week before

The group were seen enjoying wine, cocktails and food together before heading back to the rest of the family.

It comes just hours after David appeared to extend a tentative olive branch to son Brooklyn, 26, by 'liking' his latest video on Instagram.

The Beckham clan are currently in the South of France, while Brooklyn is sticking with his wife Nicola across the pond as their alleged fall-out rages on.

While the majority of the Beckhams have been putting on a giddy display packed with in-jokes and relaxation, their eldest son has been sticking by his wife.

Earlier this week, Brooklyn and Nicola looked happier than ever as they marked three years of marriage by reaffirming the promises they made to each other with a vow renewal.

A source close to the couple confirmed the news to Daily Mail, stating: 'This is a moment to celebrate their love and commitment, and to create a meaningful memory together.'

He looked to be missing out on a fun-filled trip, as the other offspring made the most of their trip together in St Tropez.

Brooklyn left the south of France to return to the US, where he was spotted looking glum on an outing in New York with his wife and mother-in-law, Claudia, on Tuesday.

David, Victoria, Cruz and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel stepped off the vessel and head to Bloody Bay for a sunset dinner

Jackie could be seen snapping candid moments of power couple David and Victoria as they cosied up for the camera

The family appered in great spirits as they sat down for their swanky meal

David then started taking pictures of Victoria and their drinks

Posh Spice appeared to loving caress her husbands's cheek

The fashion designer was the epitome of elegance in her chic black dress

David was seen trying a sip of wine offered by the waiter

The former footballer appeared quite the wine connoisseur

Victoria snapped a photo of Cruz with his arm around girlfriend Jackie

Cruz showed off a piece of jewellery to the table

Victoria completed her look with gold heels and her signature oversized sunglasses

She appeared to take videos of the picturesque setting when she arrived at the venue

David looked stylish in a bright blue shirt with beige trousers

Jackie flaunted her toned physique in a tiny satin bra and a maxi skirt

Father and son both looked effortlessly stylish

Cruz opted for a pale blue polo shirt and straw hat

The pair put on a loved up display during the lavish meal

They also shared a steamy kiss snap to Instagram

The group were seen enjoying wine, cocktails and food together before heading back to the rest of the family

David put his arm around Victoria as the couple enjoyed their Italian trip

Jackie was seen chatting with Cruz who looked deep in thought obard their yacht

The pair put on a very cosy display as they soaked up the sunshine

Ever the gentleman Cruz guided the gorgeous Jackie inside

David could not keep his eyes off his gorgeous wife

David looked in good spirits as he enjoyed some quality family time

Jackie was all smiles as she chatted with Victoria

The family sipped cocktails and shared a giggle

At one point Cruz and Jackie loving sipped from the same glass

Later David took in the stunning views of Portofino bay

Cruz showed off his sun-soaked snaps with his parents

In another update, Brooklyn embraced his billionaire father-in-law in snaps from the family getaway to St Tropez.

He enjoyed a friendly beer with Nelson Peltz, 83, before packing on the PDA with wife Nicola onboard the businessman's superyacht.

Amid the trip the couple enjoyed a swanky lunch with Brooklyn's godfather Elton John, who sources revealed planned the dinner in a desperate attempt to calm the family's feud.

Nicola shared a slew of final holiday snaps from the couple's lavish trip before heading home to the US.

Sir Elton, who has been friends with David and Victoria for over 30 years, treated Brooklyn and Nicola to food at fancy La Guerite beach club in the South of France.

Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz have kept away amid an ongoing family feud, as the pair lived it up on a 85million vessel that dwarfs his parents' close by the week before.

The family has been thrown into turmoil in recent months as it has been claimed Brooklyn has become increasingly estranged from his famous parents after failing to attend any of his father David's 50th birthday celebrations in May.

Victoria recently gave a rare insight into her feelings about estranged son Brooklyn with a telling social media move.

It comes just hours after he appeared to extend a tentative olive branch to son Brooklyn, 26, by 'liking' his latest video on Instagram

David liked the post in a shock move to fans

The Beckham clan are currently in the South of France, while Brooklyn is sticking with his wife Nicola across the pond as their alleged fall-out rages on

While the majority of the Beckhams have been putting on a giddy display packed with in-jokes and relaxation, their eldest son has been sticking by his wife

Victoria recently gave a rare insight into her feelings about estranged son Brooklyn with a telling social media move

The former Spice Girl has proved she is still keeping tabs on her eldest son's moves by 'liking' several of his social media posts

Notably, in the three-weeks spanning July 5 and July 26 - she liked every single one of his posts that didn't feature Nicola

All posts in which he was seen with his wife, were not acknowledged by Victoria. It is possible that these posts - four out of the 16 - were simply not seen by her

Victoria has not liked any of Nicola's posts in the same time period. Nor have the Lola actress and Brooklyn liked any of Victoria's

The former Spice Girl has proved she is still keeping tabs on her eldest son's moves by 'liking' several of his social media posts.

Notably, in the three-weeks spanning July 5 and July 26 - she liked every single one of his posts that didn't feature Nicola.

All posts in which he was seen with his wife, were not acknowledged by Victoria. It is possible that these posts - four out of the 16 - were simply not seen by her.

Victoria has not liked any of Nicola's posts in the same time period. Nor have the Lola actress and Brooklyn liked any of Victoria's.
Suri Cruise was spotted channeling her mom Katie Holmes' quirky style while out in New York City on Friday.

The 19-year-old college student  who joined her mom, 46, on set on Thursday  was spotted in a patterned red dress accented with a brown leather belt around her waist.

While the teenager favors her mom, fans noticed her estranged dad Tom Cruise's genes surfacing through their lookalike smiles.

Social media users looked at Suri's latest photos under a Splash News post this week and noted that she resembles both parents equally.

'Perfect combination of Katie and Tom,' one gushed while adding a string of heart eye emojis.

Suri Cruise was spotted channeling her mom Katie Holmes' quirky style while out in New York City on Friday

While the teenager favors mom Katie Holmes, fans noticed her estranged dad Tom Cruise 's genes surfacing through their lookalike smiles; pictured in May

Social media users looked at Suri's latest photos under a Splash News post and noted that she resembles both parents equally. 'Perfect combination of Katie and Tom,' one gushed while adding a string of heart eye emojis

Another person observed, 'She looks like Tom but she still looks liker her mother.'

For Friday's outing Suri pulled her brunette locks into a low bun with a center part.

She rounded out her summery look with a pair of black sandals with two thick straps and a subtle platform.

Katie married the Mission Impossible star in 2006 before filing for divorce in 2012.

Since then she has had custody of Suri, who has reportedly not had a relationship with her father since 2013.

Katie became an empty nester after Suri began her freshman year at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon in August 2024.

'I'm proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I'm really proud of her and I'm happy,' Holmes told Town & Country last year.

'I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It's exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that,' the mother-of-one added.

The 19-year-old college student was spotted in a patterned red dress accented with a brown leather belt around her waist

Suri has reportedly been estranged from her father, 63-year-old actor Tom, since 2013; The father and daughter pictured in 2008

Suri joined her mom, 46, on the set of Happy Hours on Thursday

Cruise pays Suri's $65K/year tuition as well as medical, dental, and insurance expenses despite their severed relationship.

Amid the strained connection, Suri opted not to use her dad's last name on the casting sheet of her senior year high school play The Addams Family: A New Musical, according to a report from Yahoo.

She also opted to only use her first and middle names, 'Suri Noelle', during her high school graduation.

An insider told DailyMail.com about Suri in June 2024: 'She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature young woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.'
Rylan Clark has whisked his beloved mum Linda, 73, off on holiday following a recent health scare which saw her rushed to hospital.

The presenter, 36, has been enjoying some time with his loved ones in Marbella.

On Saturday, he shared a photo dump to Instagram as he reminisced on their time away.

The first picture in the carousel saw Rylan and his mum embrace in a hug, both smiling from ear to ear.

Other snaps saw Rylan with his friend Kimberley Morgan and the rest of their group pose together for a group photo.

They appeared to be staying at the five-star Puente Romano hotel in the Spanish city, with Rylan posting a photo of the outside of the hotel.

Rylan Clark has whisked his beloved mum Linda, 73, off on holiday following a recent health scare which saw her rushed to hospital

On Saturday, he shared a photo dump to Instagram as he reminisced on their time away

He penned: 'Gorgeous couple of days in Marbella with the mother and the gang' alongside a red heart.

It comes after Rylan informed his followers last month that he wouldn't be hosting his BBC Radio 2 show the day after Linda was rushed to hospital.

A few days after, Rylan shared an array of snaps of his mum to mark her birthday and revealed she had been discharged from hospital.

'Happy Birthday to the best mum. So glad ur home for it. Love you x,' he wrote.

Among the snaps included a picture of Rylan and his mum dressed to the nines for a glamorous day out together, whereas others showed the pair on lavish holidays.

Rylan's celebrity pals were quick to send their birthday tributes, with the former X Factor star's co-presenter Rob Rinder commenting: 'Happy birthday Linda xxx.'

Ruth Langsford said: 'Happy Birthday @lindaclark. So pleased you made it home. Have a wonderful day.'

'Massive happy birthday Linda ,' said Scarlett Moffatt, while Ella Henderson added: 'Love you mummy Linda!! Happy birthday beautiful angel!! .'

He penned: 'Gorgeous couple of days in Marbella with the mother and the gang' alongside a red heart

They appeared to be staying at the five-star Puente Romano hotel in the Spanish city, with Rylan posting a photo of the outside of the hotel

Other snaps saw Rylan with his friend Kimberley Morgan and the rest of their group pose together for a group photo

It seems the presenter had a well-needed break away

Rylan Clark has shared a sweet birthday tribute to his mum Linda as she turned 73 and updated fans on her health on Instagram on Sunday

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Rylan shared an array of snaps of his mum to mark her birthday and revealed she had been discharged from hospital

Cat Deeley, Holly Willoughby and Alexandra Burke also wished Linda a happy birthday.

It comes one day after Rylan gave an update on Linda's condition after she was rushed to hospital, after revealing he wouldn't be hosting his show.

'Mummy Linda isn't well sadly so I won't be hosting the show tomorrow. Thank you to the emergency team at Princess Alexandra Hospital,' he shared at the time.

On Saturday, Rylan gave fans an update as he assured fans she was doing better and confirmed that she would be back home for her 73rd birthday on Sunday, July 20.

'Antibiotics have worked. Letting her home on orals. So she's home for her bday,' wrote on his Instagram Stories.

'Cheers everyone for your messages. Means a lot. Off sort wheelie bins x.'

'Happy Birthday to the best mum. So glad ur home for it. Love you x,' he wrote

The beloved presenter, 36, informed his followers on Friday night that he wouldn't be hosting his BBC Radio 2 show the day after Linda was rushed to hospital

Among the snaps included a picture of Rylan and his mum dressed to the nines for a glamorous day out together, whereas others showed the pair on lavish holidays

It comes one day after Rylan gave an update on Linda's condition after she was rushed to hospital, after revealing he wouldn't be hosting his show

'Mummy Linda isn't well sadly so I won't be hosting the show tomorrow. Thank you to the emergency team at Princess Alexandra Hospital,' he shared at the time

Rylan's celebrity pals were quick to send their birthday tributes, with the former X Factor star's co-presenter Rob Rinder commenting: 'Happy birthday Linda xxx'

Ruth Langsford said: 'Happy Birthday @lindaclark. So pleased you made it home. Have a wonderful day'

Earlier in the day, Rylan had told fans how his mother was doing better, but didn't disclose why she had been hospitalised.

'She's all good. Hoping she will be at home for her bday,' he shared. 'She's now worried about wheelie bins going out again.'

Linda won the hearts of the nation after her appearance with her son in Celebrity Gogglebox, where she had viewers in fits of laughter with her dry humour.

Rylan previously shared in 2023 his mother suffered a horror fall in Marbella and had to have emergency surgery before they both flew home on a private plane.

Rylan gave fans an update on her mother's health at the time, writing: 'She's doing really well thankfully. All going good. Cheers for all ur messages x'

'She's doing really well. Now chatting away with a lovely lady next to her. On the mend! Cheers for ur messages,' he added.

The mother-son duo have been favourites on Channel 4's Gogglebox since 2019, yet they had to miss the latest series due to Linda's health.

Rylan has also previously opened up about his mother's battle with Crohn's disease.

'Massive happy birthday Linda ,' said Scarlett Moffatt , while Ella Henderson added: 'Love you mummy Linda!! Happy birthday beautiful angel!! '

Cat Deeley, Holly Willoughby and Alexandra Burke also wished Linda a happy birthday'

An hour after, he confirmed on his stories: 'Antibiotics have worked. Letting her home on orals. So she's home for her bday. Cheers everyone for your messages. Means a lot. Off sort wheelie bins x'

Rylan previously shared in 2023 his mother suffered a horror fall in Marbella and had to have emergency surgery before they both flew home on a private plane

Linda has battled with Crohn's since her 30s, a condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.

She often has to undergo multiple operations to remove damaged parts of her bowel and takes numerous medicines each day for her condition.

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, which affects around one in 1,200 people in the UK, causing inflammation of the lining of the digestive system, although it is most commons in the intestines.

It causes symptoms including diarrhoea, intense abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue.

Linda had to endure a six-week hospital stay due to her ongoing battle with Crohn's disease back in 2017.

'She's not in the best health with her other conditions and this has made it more complicated,' Rylan previously said.
Married At first Sight UK star Rozz Darlington welcomed her first child, a baby daughter, with boyfriend Jordan Morris on Friday.

The florist, 28, who tied the knot with Thomas Kriaras in the reality experiment back in 2023, took to her Instagram with sweet snaps as she introduced newborn and announced her sweet name to followers.

Rozz beamed as she posed in the delivery suite alongside Jordan and their adorable daughter who wore a knitted pink hat and was wrapped up warm in a blanket.

She gushed in the caption: 'A baby Girl!!! Arabella Morris - Darlington has arrived! 8th August weighing 6lb 10!'.

Before adding: 'We are totally in love'.

Rozz went Instagram official with her handsome Jordan back in June 2024 following a 'traumatic' time on the E4 show.

Married At first Sight UK star Rozz Darlington, 28, welcomed her first child, a baby daughter, with boyfriend Jordan Morris on Friday

The florist took to her Instagram with sweet snaps as she introduced newborn and announced her sweet name to followers

Then in February she announced the couple were expecting their first child, posting a touching video that beautifully captured her pregnancy journey.

Set to the song Dandelions by Ruth B, the clip began with Rozz and Jordan's hands intertwined before revealing a pregnancy scan and a positive test.

The video then showed the couple embracing, gazing lovingly at Rozz's growing baby bump with ultrasound photos placed gently on her stomach.

She captioned the clip: 'We had a glitch sorry.

'We've been keeping a secret!! Baby Morris - Darlington Due August. A crazy start to 2025! @loulabellastudios for the amazing photos and videos.'

Rozz tied the knot with Thomas in the reality experiment and the couple soon became fan favourites, before she decided to suddenly end the relationship in the final commitment ceremony.

Viewers were left devastated at their break-up with Thomas later urging cruel trolls to stop targeting Rozz for her decision.

Speaking about the experience she told The Sun: 'When I came off the show I was not looking for a relationship, I was just like 'God, that was traumatic'

Rozz beamed as she posed in the delivery suite alongside Jordan and their adorable daughter who wore a knitted pink hat and was wrapped up warm in a blanket

Proud father Jordan beamed as he cuddled up to baby Arabella

She gushed in the caption: 'A baby Girl!!! Arabella Morris - Darlington has arrived! 8th August weighing 6lb 10!'.

Rozz went Instagram official with her handsome Jordan back in June 2024 following a 'traumatic' time on the E4 show

Rozz said that she and Jordan met through a friend and despite exchanging flirty messages was worried he'd have the wrong perception of her.

'I knew he'd watched the show and, at the end, obviously I got so much hate for my decision and I feel like that affected my confidence'.

She went on to admit that her experience on the series left her with a negative opinion of herself and sent her imagination sky rocketing.

'And even though he's meeting up with me for a date it's like 'does he actually like me? Does he think I'm a nasty person?' Is he basing me off the edit?; And it's mad how like your brain like goes wild.'

Last year following the backlash Rozz told new! magazine: 'I had to get a new phone number because it was linked to my business and people were texting my phone with hate.

'I am understanding, but part of my personality is that when people say things, I believe them, so then I start thinking, 'I am a horrible person', it gets to you.'

Rozz tied the knot with Thomas Kriaras (pictured together on the show) in the reality experiment and the couple soon became fan favourites, before she decided to suddenly end the relationship in the final commitment ceremony

Speaking about the experience she said: 'When I came off the show I was not looking for a relationship, I was just like 'God, that was traumatic'

Rozz revealed she started going to therapy amid her struggles with the trolling, and also admitted she felt very 'vulnerable, scared and upset' on the show.

Reflecting on their break-up, Thomas, also told how they struggled in the real world and with meeting each other's families, leading Rozz to have doubts.

He told how Rozz found returning to her own home with Thomas difficult because it was the house she shared with her ex-boyfriend.

Thomas said: 'For Rozz, when we got to her house, it all just hit her, her ex-partner's mail was in the house, it was the first time a man had ever been in that bed with her other than her ex.'

Thomas admitted it felt like the 'haunting' of her past relationship and insisted he understood how she was feeling as he insisted they are now on good terms.

Despite her struggles, Rozz admitted she wouldn't change going on the E4 show as she gushed over meeting Thomas.

The pair insisted they will remain a part of each other's lives despite their break-up.
Scarlett Moffatt has revealed she's aiming to marry her fiance Scott Dobinson next year - and confessed she's already been trying on dresses despite not having a venue booked.

The Gogglebox favourite, 34, who got engaged to the policeman in 2023 just months after welcoming their son Jude, admitted she's fully in wedding-planning mode.

She told The Sun: 'I've been to see a few venues and I actually booked to try on a wedding dress and Scott was like, "But we haven't booked a venue." I was like, 'Yeah I know, but I just want to play dress-up.'

Scarlett, who once dreamed of a lavish Willy Wonka-themed celebration, has scaled things back, but still hopes to tie the knot in 2026.

She said: 'I'm hoping for next year, but maybe that's too adventurous. It takes a lot to plan a wedding  but I've got this in the bag,' she said.

After getting engaged, the pair later revealed the tot's sweet involvement in the proposal.

Scarlett Moffatt has revealed she's aiming to marry her fiance Scott Dobinson next year - and confessed she's already been trying on dresses despite not having a venue booked

The Gogglebox favourite, 34, who got engaged to the policeman in 2023 just months after welcoming their son Jude, admitted she's fully in wedding-planning mode

Sharing an update to Instagram, Scarlett posted a series of photos, including one of baby Jude wearing a onesie that read, 'will you marry my daddy?'

The I'm A Celeb winner could also be back on screens the same year, as she's reportedly in talks to join the All Stars series in South Africa  ten years after winning the jungle crown.

Since her victory in 2016, Scarlett has built a thriving TV career alongside family life with Scott and Jude  but she's still up for Bushtucker Trials.

Revealing that she thinks the show is 'iconic' she said: 'I would do the trials differently. But Id just go in and be myself, and thats the only thing you can do.

'Im not sure about smashing the trials, but Id give them my best shot. But as Ive gotten older my fear levels have gone up. I cant even get on rollercoasters now.'

The Daily Mail has contacted ITV and Scarlett's representatives for comment.

The legendary show, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, is due to air next year - which coincides with the ten year anniversary that Scarlett won the show.

It comes after Scarlett shared a powerful message on body confidence as she showcased her incredible dance skills during a ballroom competition.

Scarlett, who once dreamed of a lavish Willy Wonka-themed celebration, has scaled things back, but said she still hopes to tie the knot in 2026

She also revealed that despite not booking a venue, she booked in to try on a wedding dress because she wanted to play 'dress up'

When the pair got engaged Scarlett posted a series of photos, including one of baby Jude wearing a onesie that read, 'will you marry my daddy?'

The I'm A Celeb winner could also be back on screens the same year, as she's reportedly in talks to join the All Stars series in South Africa  ten years after winning the jungle crown

Revealing that she thinks the show is 'iconic' she said: 'I would do the trials differently. But Id just go in and be myself, and thats the only thing you can do'

The TV personality, previously took to Instagram to share a video of herself dancing with a pal during the contest, in which she expressed how much fun she was having on the dancefloor.

However, Scarlett then re-shared her video where she encouraged others to not let their appearance or age stop them from doing what they love.

Alongside the clip, which sees her beaming with joy while dazzling in a neon green gown, Scarlett penned: 'Ive said it once Ill say it a million times. DO NOT let your shape, size or age stop you from doing something that brings you joy.

'Dont let that silly inner sabotage voice tell you ya wont be able to do it. Dont tell yourself Ill do it when Im thinner, when Im fitter or when a,b or c happens. Do it now!'

The former Gogglebox favourite continued: 'I cant tell you how much joy dancing in two finals with my childhood friend has made me this weekend. I was thinking of nothing but the sheer joy that dance brings me, I hope I can encourage one more person to do the same.'

It comes after Scarlett shared a powerful message on body confidence as she showcased her incredible dance skills during a ballroom competition

The TV personality took to Instagram to share a video of herself dancing with a pal during the contest, in which she expressed how much fun she was having on the dancefloor

Scarlett cut a glamorous figure in a stunning green embellished ballroom gown, gliding gracefully across the dance floor with poise and confidence.

Her chic ensemble featured a plunging neckline, sparkling sleeves, feathered cuffs, silver detailing at the waist, and a dramatic flared skirt.

Scarlett elevated her look with a pair of bold orange heels and exuded confidence as she showed off her best moves.

To complete the ensemble, she accessorised with green tassel earrings and styled her dark tresses into a sleek up do.
Jennifer Aniston is opening up about her female friendships.

This week the 56-year-old actress spoke to People and gushed about her close bond with former Friends co-star Courteney Cox, 61, as well as her little known rapport with Selena Gomez, 33.

Jennifer said about the Only Murders in the Building star, 'Selena helps me lean into social media. And she's just an angel that I love to spend time with.'

The two beauty entrepreneurs collaborated on a Galentine's Day event in February, cross-marketing their brands LolaVie and Rare.

Courteney is also a beauty entrepreneur, but Jennifer revealed that the subject they chat about most is unrelated to their businesses.

Jennifer Aniston is opening up about her female friendships; pictured in September 2024

This week the 56-year-old actress gushed about her close bond with former Friends co-star Courteney Cox, 61

'We usually talk interior design,' she told the publication. 'It kind of bores people to tears when we get into a room together. But it's what we love. It's our love language.'

In 2020 Selena recounted meeting Jennifer for the first time.

As the silver screen siren hosted the Ellen DeGeneres Show five years ago, the songstress told her: 'Nobody knew who I was and you were in the bathroom wearing a black dress.

'I think we were at a Vanity Fair [party] or something. My heart stopped and I freaked out.'

The Wolves hitmaker previously admitted she feels 'very lucky' to be friends with The Morning Show actress because she is 'kind and warm' and helps to guide her through life.

She said in a June 2015 E! News interview: 'I met Jennifer through my management company  we're represented by the same people  and she's been so wonderful to me.

'She's invited me over to her house and made pizza for me and just been so kind and warm.'

The I Said I Loved You First artist added at the time, 'I'm very lucky to have her as a friend and we've talked a lot about dealing with the media attention and having your life exposed at times. I know I can call her for advice and that's a nice feeling.'

Jennifer also shed light on her little known rapport with Selena Gomez

The Wolves hitmaker previously admitted she feels 'very lucky' to be friends with The Morning Show actress because she is 'kind and warm' and helps to guide her through life; pictured in 2015

The stars were introduced through their mutual management company; pictured in 2014

Elsewhere in her chat with People, Jennifer discussed how she unwinds.

'I come home. I'm with my dogs. I'll put on music,' she said about her relaxed home life.

She also noted, 'I'll talk to some friends on the phone, like people used to do. I like to just zone out to a great documentary, something that's going to be light on my heart and make me laugh. Maybe have friends over for dinner.'

The Murder Mystery star recently found love again with hypnotist and wellness entrepreneur Jim Curtis.

In July they were spotted on a yacht as they vacationed together in Mallorca, Spain with actor Jason Bateman, his wife, and other friends.
Molly-Mae Hague's sister Zoe Rae cut a trim figure as she stepped out in Hale, Cheshire - still sporting rollers in her hair - just weeks after causing a storm over her luxury Bali getaway.

The fitness influencer, 28, was all smiles as she left a local hair salon alongside her husband Danny Rae, clutching a bottle of water and her car keys before hopping into her brand new 80,000 Land Rover Discovery.

Dressed down in an oversized navy ALO zip sweatshirt with matching shorts, white socks and beige Birkenstock sandals, Zoe looked relaxed as she strolled through the upmarket village with Danny.

It's the first time she's been seen since sparking furious backlash online when she revealed she'd quit her Indonesian holiday just 48 hours after arriving.

In a brutally honest YouTube review, Zoe said the trip to mark her anniversary with Danny had 'missed the mark', claiming the island looked 'nothing like' the dreamy scenes pushed by influencers on Instagram.

The couple had stayed in a sprawling sea-view suite at the five-star Radisson Blu in Uluwatu - complete with infinity pool and fine dining restaurants - but still decided to cut their losses and fly to Dubai instead.

The controversial fitness influencer, 28, was all smiles as she left a local hair salon alongside her husband Danny Rae, clutching a bottle of water and her car keys before hopping into her brand new 80,000 Land Rover Discovery

Dressed down in an oversized navy ALO zip sweatshirt with matching shorts, white socks and beige Birkenstock sandals, Zoe looked relaxed as she strolled through the upmarket village

Zoe said: 'Unfortunately Bali wasn't really the right fit for us with how we intended to spend our wedding anniversary!

'Since landing in Bali, something for us has just not felt quite right.

'We came to Bali with high expectations as wed seen on social media - everyone having such a lovely time, such gorgeous places to go for food and lovely beaches, lovely gyms, lovely coffee shops.

'If you took a picture of the coffee shop and zoomed out, you would see what the reality was. I dont think the reality of Bali is shown much, or at all.

'I do think it is down to a lot of influencers and people with large followings online, posting the more luxury side of things.'

She added: 'Before I joined the army, I spent five months travelling Southeast Asia - I did Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao. I did China, Hong Kong.

'I did a lot and I spent a lot of time in these countries, but there is something very different about Bali.

'We got told that Uluwatu, where we are now, is one of the best places to go, so that's why we came here. So if this is one of the better places, then Im not sure what the other places are like.'

Molly Mae Hague 's sister Zoe Rae came under fire for leaving Bali just 48 hours after she arrived because it 'did not live up to expectations set by other influencers'

While the five star resorts - like the Radisson Blu Utuwata (pictured) where Zoe stayed - portray exclusive luxury, Zoe claimed a lot of the island does not match up to the flawless social media aesthetic projected by influencers online

Despite staying in a huge sea view room at the Radisson Blu, a five-star hotel, Zoe and her husband decided to leave early and jet to Dubai instead (pictured in Dubai)

She continued: 'I do think if wed travelled more north and gone to Ubud and maybe some of the more jungle-y areas, we may have had a different experience.

'Again, a lot of people are saying thats where they went and they felt exactly the same.

'I can really see the appeal, I can. I think if youre backpacking and want to travel about, its great. I think for a holiday, staying in one place, not so great.'

'But then also, I say its great for people that are backpacking but a lot of people messaged me saying they backpacked all these countries and this has been their least favourite out of all of them.

'I think there are a lot of other places to go where I think you would have a better experience and a better time.'

Fans accused Zoe of being 'out of touch with reality', pointing out Bali is a developing country where many locals live in poverty.

Zoe is often seen in her sister's YouTube videos as well as her own YouTube channel and she previously followed in her sister's footsteps and signed a five-figure deal with PrettyLittleThing

But after building her brand over the past few years, Zoe has found herself under fire after the ill-fated Bali trip

Others mocked her for apparently not realising that outside of high-end resorts, the island wouldn't match its glossy online image.

Despite the backlash, Zoe stood by her comments, insisting that influencers post a 'filtered' version of Bali that doesn't reflect the reality.

She told her followers that she had expected 'lovely places to eat, beaches, gyms and coffee shops' but had been left disappointed.

The criticism drew comparisons with her Love Island sister Molly-Mae, who has also been accused in the past of living in a bubble far removed from everyday struggles.
Fans of iconic 80s TV were in for a treat when beloved star Cybill Shepherd stepped out in Los Angeles on Friday.

The former model, now 75, whose breakthrough role came in 1972s The Last Picture Show, appeared in high spirits as she made a rare appearance for the play opening Heartbreak Kid.

Dressed in a playful floral top and casual jeans, she looked a far cry from the boho-chic style she sported as the object of Travis Bickles (Robert De Niro) infatuation in Taxi Driver.

Wearing shades and comfortable shoes, Cybill also looked very different from her glamorous days as Madelyn Hayes on the detective comedy-drama Moonlighting (19851989), where she starred opposite Bruce Willis.

While their on-screen chemistry was undeniable, the pair also shared a famously rocky off-screen relationship.

'I remember at one point in the show, it had gotten to where we just hated each other,' Cybill admitted in 2005 about her and Bruces tumultuous working relationship.

Fans of iconic 80s TV were in for a treat when beloved star Cybill Shepherd stepped out in Los Angeles on Friday; (seen in 1984's Secrets of a Married Man)

Cybill also looked very different from her glamorous days as Madelyn Hayes on the detective comedy-drama Moonlighting (19851989), where she starred opposite Bruce Willis; (seen in 1988)

She added, 'It was a very volatile show anyway, but thats also what made it great.'

The acclaimed actresss latest role was as author Nancy Crampton-Brophy in the 2023 TV movie How to Murder Your Husband, which was written and directed by Stephen Tolkin.

Her co-stars in the project included Steve Guttenberg, Sandy Minh Abley, and Primo Allon.

Born in Memphis, Shepherd rose to fame through her role on the hit series Moonlighting, where she starred alongside Willis as Maddie opposite his David Addison in the comedic drama.

She earned widespread praise for her performance on the show, which aired on ABC from 1985 to 1989.

Shepherd won two Golden Globes for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series  Comedy or Musical in 1986 and 1987, and was nominated again in 1988.

In addition, she received an Emmy nomination in 1988 for her work on the series.

Later, from 1995 to 1997, Shepherd garnered three more Emmy nods for her role on the CBS sitcom Cybill, which also earned her a Golden Globe win in 1996 and a nomination the following year.

Dressed in a playful floral top and casual jeans, she looked a far cry from the boho-chic style she sported as the object of Travis Bickles ( Robert De Niro ) infatuation in Taxi Driver

Cybill appeared in high spirits as she made a rare appearance for the play opening Heartbreak Kid

Her breakthrough role came in 1972s The Last Picture Show with Jeff Bridges

Willis, now 69, has been in the spotlight recently due to his battle with frontotemporal dementia.

In March 2022, his family announced that he would be stepping away from acting because of his health.

Following the public news of Williss diagnosis, Shepherd spoke warmly of her former co-star at the Race to Erase MS benefit gala in Los Angeles in May 2022.

'I will always love Bruce,' Shepherd told Extra.

She praised Williss natural charisma and how he secured the role on Moonlighting, a breakthrough that helped launch his successful film career with hits like Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense.

'I just have to say one thing about Bruce  no one else was ever considered for the part when he walked in the room,' Shepherd added.
The latest statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about the exchange of territories indicate that he intends to try to force Ukraine to make territorial concessions, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006-2014) and Prime Minister (1991-1994) of Sweden Carl Bildt believes.

"The idea with the Trump deadline was to force Russia into agreeing on a complete ceasefire. Now it looks like it will instead lead to Trump trying to force Ukraine into territorial concessions to Putin," Bildt said on the X social network.

Later he compared this to the Munich Agreement of 1938. "In 1938 UK and France forced Czechoslovakia to hand over key territory to Hitler. The result? Within months Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, and within a further few months, there was all out war in Europe," the diplomat stated.

The founder of the volunteer group "People's Rear," former Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tuka, said Trump's proposal, if you believe media reports, is that "the orcs return part of our territory to us, and we give them part of our territory." "After such a policy of the U.S. President, there is no reason to be surprised by the rapid increase in countries that will begin to produce nuclear weapons as the only guarantor of their own security," he said.

Senior partner of the Avellum law firm, former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Kostiantyn Likarchuk skeptically called the proposal to "exchange their own territories for their own territories" the "art of the deal."

"The only good thing is that withdrawing troops from such a territory, 'exchange' them  it is very, very difficult. Therefore, there is hope that this will never be done. Personally, I do not imagine a Ukrainian president with any surname who would give such an order. Even less do I imagine that the Ukrainian army will carry it out. And so  a respite, time to prepare for the fourth phase of the war. That is, if it still happens," he said.

Swedish economist and diplomat, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States Anders Aslund called Trump predictable after such statements.

"His 'threat' of sanctions on Russia was merely an invitation to one-on-one meeting with Putin and a way to block sanctions on Russia demanded by 85 senators. Now Trump has set the stage for his sellout of Ukraine behind its back. Everything suggests that immoral Trump is preparing to stab Ukraine in the back, giving Putin half of what he asks for while Putin has not made any concessions," he said on X, adding that "horrifying to see how Trump stabs Ukraine in the back."

Timothy Ash, senior sovereign strategist at RBC BlueBay Asset Management, commented on Aslund's statement, writing: "Basically Trump and Putin choreographed all this to screw Ukraine."

"By meeting in Alaska both Trump and Putin give the biggest signal yet that they plan to make decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine and behind its back. A great power summit carving up the world and smaller countries are the menu," he later added.

Ukrainian MP from the Holos faction Yaroslav Zhelezniak said the claims that "someone misunderstood" do not look very plausible. "Let's be honest, if they have already publicly announced the date and place of the meeting of the two heads of state on August 15, then it is obvious that they have clarified their positions many times before that. But what they agreed on without us is something we obviously will not like, that is expected," he said on Facebook.

MP from the European Solidarity faction Mykola Kniazhytsky, in turn, said that among all the rumors circulating in the media, there is nothing about security guarantees for Ukraine. "At the moment, everything sounds like Ukraine should leave its cities, and Russia should do nothing. I will remind you once again what I have written about many times: the key issue of ending the war is guarantees that it will not start again. It is precisely security guarantees that are the main disagreement that does not allow (and, in my opinion, will not allow) to achieve an end to the war," he said.

The MP also emphasizes that signing the agreement on the "exchange of territories" will have obvious legal consequences for the signatories. "Even if the authorities want to share responsibility and shift the burden of signing to the Verkhovna Rada, the modern legal system is built in such a way that even discussing such issues can lead to a criminal case," Kniazhytsky said.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Saturday said the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, describing it as the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill by India. The remarks were made at the 16th Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru. Within hours, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif countered that no aircraft of the military was hit or destroyed by Indian armed forces during the conflict.

"We have an indication of at least one AWC in that AWC hangar, and a few F-16s, which are under maintenance there. We have at least five fighters confirmed killed and one large aircraft which could be either an aircraft or an AWC, which was taken at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," he said. The operation also resulted in a large number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones and some of their missiles falling into the Indian territory.

Based on specific intelligence, Singh said, the IAF decided to attack the airfield. "So the airfield was attacked and the main building where the planning goes on, which was also used as the civil terminal building at times. As far as the Sukkur airbase is concerned, we attacked the UAB hangar and radar site," he said. "You have the visuals available here  this is the hangar which is flattened, this is the radar site before and after. The AWC hangar was attacked again. Here we have very clearly an aircraft inside where the attack took place," he said. Regarding Sargodha, the IAF chief said, "We have grown up in our Air Force dreaming about days like this. Someday we will get a chance. Just so happens that I got a chance before my retirement. We attacked the airfield that had the very hard info on the F-16s," he added. According to the Air Chief Marshal, the S-400 air defence system, which India had recently procured, has been a game changer. "The range of that system had kept Pakistan's aircraft and UAVs away from the Indian defence system. Because of the S-400 system, Pakistan has not been able to penetrate the Indian air defence system," he noted.

Singh also said the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has made a difference in military operations. "The CDS was always there to get us together and iron things out. Whenever we required it, we used to go to the senior leadership and discuss things," he added. The Air Chief Marshal highlighted National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's role in Operation Sindoor, helping bring other agencies and forces together. When the operation began, military chiefs discussed in detail the eventualities, possible outcomes and how India should react, he underlined.

On the takeaways from Operation Sindoor, Singh said, "The biggest takeaway of the operation has been the primacy of air warfare has come to the forefront once again. People have realised that air warfare is the first responder that any country has and air warfare is one which can actually react in a quick time, attack deep inside with precision and just achieve your objective without any collateral.

" The Pahalgam terror attack on April 23 this year was one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. Armed terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists, killing 26 people and injuring several others. Operation Sindoor was launched in early May as part of that response. The IAF carried out precision strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir linked to terror groups. The operation was aimed to destroy terror infrastructure, neutralise key operatives and send a clear message that cross-border terrorism would invite decisive retaliation., said IAF Chief.

Within hours after the speech of IAF Chief, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that no aircraft of the military was hit or destroyed by Indian armed forces during the recent conflict.

"Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by (the) Indian (side)," Asif claimed in a post on social media. "For three months, no such claims were voiced  while Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath, presented detailed technical briefings to the international media...," he added.

He said the belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief regarding destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor "are as implausible as they are ill-timed."

Asif claimed that the losses on the Line of Control for the Indian armed forces were disproportionately heavier as well. "If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verification  though we suspect this would lay bare the reality India seeks to obscure," he added.
Todays article for the Sunday Pioneer follows directly from the news that the United States has concluded a trade agreement with Shehbaz Shari, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. As part of his announcement of that agreement, POTUS Donald Trump decried Indias trade with Russia and Pakistan, and declared his enmity for BRICS and its trade agreements. Despite the evidence built over the past sixty years that trading blocs can be a tremendous force for peace, Trump seems to regard any international organisation that can form a strong trading unit, and thus a force for peace, as inherently against the interests of the United States of America.

How should we regard this? Many of my former and present colleagues regard peace as the most desirable condition for humanity, not just to survive, but to prosper, and to bring happiness to greater and greater numbers of human beings. Sarve Bhavantu Sukinaha! Professor Vishwanath D Karad, the founder of the university where I work, MIT World Peace University, has come to dedicate his life to helping create peace for all mankind.

President Trumps initiative seems overtly opposed to that aim. But from another perspective, that is not the case. Just three months ago, in April 2025, Pakistan made the terrible mistake of backing terrorists to infiltrate Kashmir and commit the terrible atrocities at Pahalgam, for which India responded with Operation SINDOOR, a major slap in the face.

A wise person would regard Trumps trade agreement as a means to prevent Pakistan from slipping deeper under the influence of China and its Belt and Road Initiative, very important from India and South Asias point of view. His prognostications on BRICS, and a declaration more against China than India, are again very desirable from a regional perspective. How history will judge this sequence of events remains to be seen. One thing is certain: through his MIT World Peace University, Professor Karad continually takes significant actions to help enliven the vision of peace in the minds of as many human beings as possible.

First, in 1983, he founded the governing charity, Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Educational Research (MAEER), then the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, being awarded the UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Democracy, Peace & Tolerance in 1998.

Karads efforts to create initiatives for peace, and to make as many people as possible aware of their importance led to his renaming MIT when it achieved University status. In 2017, it became MIT World Peace University with the stated aims of pursuing and popularising Science, Spirituality, Harmony and Peace, bringing these themes together.

His own inspiration has been drawn from world leading figures, Santa Dnyaneshwara, Swami Vivekananda and Albert Einstein: the first, a superhuman figure in the Marathi tradition whose Dyaneshwari translated and commented on Bhagawad Gita; the second, who brought world recognition of Indias immense tradition of all-inclusive wisdom, and who declared that in todays 21st century scientific understanding of religion, integrating science and spirituality, would lead to cessation of conflicts and World Peace; and the third, whose mass-energy equivalence formula, E = mc2, started the first steps to a more integrated assessment of our material world of sense perception.

Meanwhile, Professor Karad began organising World Parliaments on Science, Philosophy and Religion, named after the 1893 event at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda achieved such prominence. Professor Karads World Parliaments have renewed Swami Vivekanandas 19th-century vision of bringing peace to the world. The most recent, the 10th, was held from 3rd to 5th October, 2024, in MIT World Peace Universitys World Peace Dome, on the Solapur Road in eastern Pune.

The MIT World Peace Dome, inaugurated in October 2018, containing its World Peace Prayer Hall and World Peace Library, is the largest in the world, bigger even than St Peters Cathedral in Rome.

The dome itself contains statues of founders, avatars and saints of all religions dedicated to peace; it is surrounded by statues of the greatest philosophers and scientists whose expositions and discoveries have led to our present understanding of the worlds of mind and matter; and what may underlie them. At the heart of the library on the ground floor is a statue of Philosopher, Saint Santa Dnyaneshwara in an enclosure surrounded by pictures of the physical centres of religions. The surrounding galleries contain pictures of artists, scientists and technologists whose achievements represent the highest accomplishments to which we humans can aspire. The overall structure celebrates the greatest values that we humans can present.

Peace is the essential foundation for the others to crystallise. Hence, the World Peace Dome points the way for us all to live life in fulfilment. fulfilment of our desires and aspirations, whether personal, professional, financial or spiritual. Next week's article will integrate the theme of Yoga with that of Peace, and reveal how the Antarangas create it.

Conflicts in todays world  Briefly

Conflict in Ukraine

China and North Korea : Attitudes towards neighbours : Belt and Road Initiative .

India must counter

Sudan and all across Africa: Terrorism

Iran. National Policy of Sponsoring Terrorism: Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis

Israel. allowed the 2023 attack to take place: Starvation in Gaza

United States: Adoption of a deliberately selfish approach to international relations

M.I.T.  University Status (2017) : Renamed M.I.T. as M.I.T. World Peace University  Aims: Science . Spirituality. Harmony. Peace  Founding President

(The author is a MA Cantab, PhD at MIT, DSc Hon Causa, Professor Emeritus of Biology, MIT World Peace University)
AlphaCore Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 4,401 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $584,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Three Seasons Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth about $1,428,000. Kelly Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter worth about $216,000. Voleon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth about $273,000. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in 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. Finally, Edge Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Edge Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,530 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. 75.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Up 1.8%

ABT opened at $134.41 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $131.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $130.98. The company has a market cap of $233.93 billion, a PE ratio of 16.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.70. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $107.11 and a 1 year high of $141.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.82.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.26. The firm had revenue of $11.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.01 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 32.43% and a return on equity of 18.32%. The companys revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.14 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be given a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.57%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on ABT shares. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $143.00 to $145.00 in a report on Friday, July 18th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $144.47.

Read Our Latest Report on Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

Further Reading

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Brunswick (NYSE:BC  Get Free Report) and Simulated Environment Concepts (OTCMKTS:SMEV  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk.

Risk and Volatility

Brunswick has a beta of 1.28, meaning that its share price is 28% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Simulated Environment Concepts has a beta of 0.42, meaning that its share price is 58% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Brunswick and Simulated Environment Concepts, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brunswick 0 6 7 0 2.54 Simulated Environment Concepts 0 0 0 0 0.00

Profitability

Brunswick presently has a consensus price target of $68.25, suggesting a potential upside of 20.01%. Given Brunswicks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Brunswick is more favorable than Simulated Environment Concepts.

This table compares Brunswick and Simulated Environment Concepts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brunswick 0.82% 10.73% 3.54% Simulated Environment Concepts N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Brunswick and Simulated Environment Conceptss gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Brunswick $5.24 billion 0.71 $130.10 million $0.62 91.73 Simulated Environment Concepts N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Brunswick has higher revenue and earnings than Simulated Environment Concepts.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

99.3% of Brunswick shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.2% of Simulated Environment Concepts shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of Brunswick shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 62.6% of Simulated Environment Concepts shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Brunswick beats Simulated Environment Concepts on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Brunswick

(Get Free Report)

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands. The Engine P&A segment offers engine parts and consumables, electrical products, boat parts and systems, and engine oils and lubricants through aftermarket retailers, dealers, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers for marine and non-marine markets under the Mercury, Mercury Precision Parts, Quicksilver, and Seachoice brands; and distributes marine parts and accessories. The Navico Group segment provides products and systems for the marine, recreational vehicle (RV), specialty vehicle, mobile, and industrial markets, as well as aftermarket channels; and marine electronics, sensors, control systems, instruments, power systems, and general accessories under the Ancor, Attwood, B&G, BEP, Blue Sea Systems, C-MAP, CZone, Lenco, Lowrance, Marinco, Mastervolt, MotorGuide, Progressive Industries, ProMariner, RELiON, Simrad, and Whale brand names. The Boat segment offers Sea Ray sport boats and cruisers; Bayliner sport cruisers, runabouts, and Heyday wake boats; Boston Whaler fiberglass offshore boats; Lund fiberglass fishing boats; Crestliner, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft aluminum fishing, utility, pontoon, and deck boats; Thunder Jet heavy-gauge aluminum boats; Veer recreational and fishing boats; and the freedom boat club, dealer services, and technology to the marine industry through dealers and distributors. Brunswick Corporation was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in Mettawa, Illinois.

About Simulated Environment Concepts

(Get Free Report)

Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. engages in the development and manufacture of medical, health, and wellness equipments in the United States and internationally. Its products include SpaCapsule, a robotic massage therapy system used for medical rehabilitation, relaxation, weight loss, slimming, cellulite management, and general wellness; and PTjetCapsule. The company also offers components, parts, accessories, and peripheral massage and health related items. Its products are used in various environments, such as corporate employee lounges, relaxation centers, gyms and health clubs, doctor's offices, hotels, tanning and beauty salons/spas, luxury accommodations, gulf clubs, ski lounges, shopping centers and malls, airports, cruise ships, luxury yachts, and homes. Simulated Environment Concepts, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Miami, Florida.

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Chewy (NYSE:CHWY  Get Free Report) CAO William G. Billings sold 20,142 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.57, for a total transaction of $716,450.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 29,464 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,048,034.48. The trade was a 40.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Chewy Trading Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:CHWY opened at $36.17 on Friday. Chewy has a twelve month low of $23.42 and a twelve month high of $48.62. The companys 50 day moving average is $40.36 and its 200 day moving average is $37.97. The company has a market cap of $15.02 billion, a PE ratio of 40.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.47 and a beta of 1.67.

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Chewy (NYSE:CHWY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 11th. The company reported $0.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.01. Chewy had a return on equity of 35.04% and a net margin of 3.21%. The business had revenue of $3.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.31 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Chewy will post 0.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on CHWY. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $44.00 price target (up from $42.00) on shares of Chewy in a research note on Thursday, June 12th. Mizuho lowered shares of Chewy from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $43.00 to $47.00 in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $27.00 price target on shares of Chewy and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Chewy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, June 14th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Chewy from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Chewy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $43.78.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Chewy

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Chewy by 150.2% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 788 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 473 shares during the period. Banque Transatlantique SA acquired a new position in Chewy in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Chewy by 104.6% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 941 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 481 shares in the last quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Chewy in the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Chewy by 34.5% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,161 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 298 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.09% of the companys stock.

About Chewy

(Get Free Report)

Chewy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the pure play e-commerce business in the United States. It provides pet food and treats, pet supplies and pet medications, and other pet-health products, as well as pet services for dogs, cats, fish, birds, small pets, horses, and reptiles through its retail websites and mobile applications.

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Deutsche Bank AG lifted its stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM) by 3.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,611,890 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 119,957 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AGs holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce were worth $203,349,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,538,473 shares of the banks stock worth $142,776,000 after purchasing an additional 11,700 shares during the last quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. bought a new stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the 1st quarter worth about $1,591,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 40,028,162 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,251,664,000 after purchasing an additional 642,924 shares during the last quarter. J. Safra Sarasin Holding AG bought a new position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,221,000. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 17,967,436 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,010,849,000 after purchasing an additional 773,174 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.88% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on CM shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. National Bank Financial cut shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $108.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $98.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $109.00.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Performance

NYSE:CM opened at $72.64 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $67.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The stocks 50-day moving average is $71.06 and its 200-day moving average is $64.38. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 1-year low of $50.49 and a 1-year high of $74.63.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Get Free Report) (TSE:CM) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 29th. The bank reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.10. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 14.51% and a net margin of 12.19%. The business had revenue of $5.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.78 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.75 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 13.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 27th were given a dividend of $0.7024 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. This is a positive change from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.67. This represents a $2.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is currently 49.56%.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Profile

(Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM  Free Report) (TSE:CM).

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Donoghue Forlines LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 12.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 25,172 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,496 shares during the quarter. Donoghue Forlines LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,511,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MO. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 226.3% during the 1st quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Bellwether Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded Altria Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Barclays increased their price objective on Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup increased their price objective on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Needham & Company LLC upgraded Altria Group to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.13.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $64.21 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a fifty day moving average of $59.72 and a 200 day moving average of $57.78. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $48.86 and a 1 year high of $64.35.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.21 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.26% and a net margin of 37.24%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.31 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.92%.

About Altria Group

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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First Western Trust Bank lowered its position in shares of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T  Free Report) by 7.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,327 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 709 shares during the quarter. First Western Trust Banks holdings in AT&T were worth $264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of T. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 26.5% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 48,579 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,106,000 after purchasing an additional 10,188 shares in the last quarter. Yoffe Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AT&T during the 4th quarter worth about $213,000. FIL Ltd boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 46,158 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,051,000 after purchasing an additional 2,897 shares in the last quarter. F M Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 62.7% during the 4th quarter. F M Investments LLC now owns 15,798 shares of the technology companys stock worth $360,000 after purchasing an additional 6,086 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Scotia Capital Inc. boosted its position in shares of AT&T by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 729,046 shares of the technology companys stock worth $16,601,000 after purchasing an additional 10,547 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.10% of the companys stock.

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AT&T Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:T opened at $28.08 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $200.78 billion, a PE ratio of 15.95, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.42. The companys fifty day moving average is $27.83 and its 200 day moving average is $27.01. AT&T Inc. has a 52 week low of $18.97 and a 52 week high of $29.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

AT&T Dividend Announcement

AT&T ( NYSE:T Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The technology company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.01. AT&T had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 13.36%. The firm had revenue of $30.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $30.44 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.51 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that AT&T Inc. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 10th were paid a dividend of $0.2775 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 10th. This represents a $1.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.0%. AT&Ts payout ratio is presently 63.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

T has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. HSBC lowered shares of AT&T from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $30.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of AT&T from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $31.00 target price (up previously from $30.00) on shares of AT&T in a report on Thursday, July 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $31.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, TD Securities increased their price objective on shares of AT&T from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AT&T has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $29.66.

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AT&T Company Profile

(Free Report)

AT&T, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of telecommunications and technology services. It operates through the Communications and Latin America segments. The Communications segment offers wireless, wireline telecom, and broadband services to businesses and consumers located in the US and businesses globally.

Further Reading

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Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Free Report) by 25.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 901,342 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 179,994 shares during the quarter. Citigroup Inc. owned approximately 1.24% of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF worth $182,188,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MTUM. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 75.5% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,125 shares of the companys stock valued at $233,000 after buying an additional 484 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 137.8% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 3,180 shares of the companys stock valued at $658,000 after buying an additional 1,843 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 51,053 shares of the companys stock worth $10,564,000 after purchasing an additional 748 shares during the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 102.1% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 13,605 shares of the companys stock worth $2,815,000 after purchasing an additional 6,874 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,054,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Performance

MTUM opened at $245.60 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $236.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $220.81. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $168.49 and a twelve month high of $240.99. The firm has a market cap of $17.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.67 and a beta of 1.02.

iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years.

Further Reading

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LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO  Free Report) (TSE:ELD) by 7.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,574 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,275 shares during the period. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Eldorado Gold were worth $329,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold during the first quarter worth $374,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Eldorado Gold by 11.0% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 252,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,242,000 after buying an additional 25,000 shares during the last quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd grew its position in shares of Eldorado Gold by 43.5% during the 1st quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd now owns 3,802,895 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $63,970,000 after buying an additional 1,152,909 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in shares of Eldorado Gold by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 33,360 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $496,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eldorado Gold in the 4th quarter valued at about $287,000. 69.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Eldorado Gold Trading Down 2.1%

NYSE EGO opened at $22.60 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.59 billion, a PE ratio of 11.36, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a current ratio of 3.23, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. Eldorado Gold Corporation has a 12 month low of $13.29 and a 12 month high of $23.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $20.89 and a 200-day moving average of $18.18.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Eldorado Gold ( NYSE:EGO Get Free Report ) (TSE:ELD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $0.44 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.51 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $459.53 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $401.85 million. Eldorado Gold had a net margin of 26.07% and a return on equity of 8.79%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Eldorado Gold Corporation will post 1.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Eldorado Gold from $16.50 to $19.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on shares of Eldorado Gold from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. CIBC reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, National Bankshares reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $23.60.

View Our Latest Analysis on EGO

Eldorado Gold Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru mines located in Turkey; Lamaque complex located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania.

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Within the walls of what was once the Our Lady of the Assumption convent in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, built by Franciscan priests with an Indigenous workforce between 1537 and 1540, there is a copy of the text known as the Lienzo de Tlaxcala. The codex, created by the Spanish court, tells of the role played by the city of Tlaxcala and its inhabitants in la Conquista. Originally, there were three copies, but none survived the ravages of time. The text in the convent, a building that is now a museum, is an 18th-century facsimile that has served as proof of a myth. Its a work of art and diplomacy. A visual memory that insists on legitimacy, alliances and rights. Where there is no lack of manipulation, manipulation that can only be carried out by the victors, explains Spanish anthropologist Isabel Bueno.

Bueno (Madrid, 63 years old) is in Tlaxcala to propose a different reading of history than that which has branded this community with the stigma of betrayal, to such an extent that it is regarded to this day with contempt, and the cruel saying abounds that Tlaxcala does not exist. For centuries, the Tlaxcalans have been seen as traitors, a defeated people, submissive and servile under the orders of Hernan Cortes. According to Bueno, they were actually a complex population with well-defined sociopolitical structures and sophisticated art forms, who had been subjugated by the Aztec empire and the powerful Tenochtitlan. Bueno, who has a PhD in anthropology from Madrids Complutense University and has spent decades studying the conquest of Mexico and the role the Tlaxcalans played in the historic event, explains that the group, fed up with suffocating abuse, accepted a military alliance with the Spanish to guarantee their own survival.

The anthropologist says that this years 500th anniversary of the founding of the modern-day city of Tlaxcala is an excellent moment to open space not just for commemoration, but also for reflection. Pre-Hispanic history is very poorly known inside and outside of Mexico. The worst part is that Mexicans themselves are unaware of their impressive legacy and largely fall into repeating tired stereotypes that have no historic merit, full of prejudice and political bias, says Bueno.

Fragment of a copy on canvas from the 18th-century Codex of Tlaxcala. DeAgostini (Getty)

Question. What role did the Tlaxcalans play in the story of the Conquista?

Answer. The role of the Tlaxcalans in the fall of Tenochtitlan was that of conscious actors of the time in which they lived, and they had the luck to encounter politicians who were up to the task of such a difficult decision. They exercised their freedom, that of thinking about the present they were living in, and were able to visualize a future in which they were free of the Aztec yoke, and that of the triple alliance that, in the moment of the Spaniards arrival, was suffocating them with a blockade that prevented the entry of basic necessities like cotton and salt, and that kept them from utilizing their productive trade routes. Thats why, when the chief Cempoala proposed to Cortes that he form an alliance with them in exchange for their great army of warriors, laborers, and guides, the Tlaxcalans emerged as major players in the conquest of Tenochtitlan, unbeknownst to them.

Q. What did this alliance consist of?

A. The Tlaxcalans see this enormous army of Indigenous enemies arrive, and they attack it. Within that group were the Spanish, but as ever, they were very diluted in number compared with the Indigenous troops from this group and the other. Records show that Cortes asked for peace up to three times, while the Tlaxcalan authorities discussed the situation. Finally, during the last attack, the Spanish-Indigenous army was badly battered. Even Cortes had to fight while tied to his horse, because he did not have the strength to stay on top of it, due to the extreme weakness caused by the severe diarrhea the Spanish had been suffering from. At that moment, the Tlaxcalans could have finished them off, but they received the order to lower their weapons and let the foreigners enter, to hear what they had to say.

Q. What was the result of that truce?

A. It was how the second alliance to attack Moctezuma II between the Indigenous peoples and the Spanish was established. They were not defeated, the very term alliance encapsulates a degree of equality that does not exist between victors and vanquished. It was an alliance between two desperate groups that joined forces and strategies faced with a common enemy. The Tlaxcalans were at a critical point, facing a real trade blockade, and the Spanish had become a group of outlaws by disobeying the orders of the governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez, to rescue and not settle.

Q. Why were they accused of being traitors for so long?

A. The betrayal thing had been repeated like a mantra. Why were they traitors to their country and people? In Mesoamerica, there was no concept of nation or identity outside of owns community. Mexico did not exist, nor did the Tlaxcalans have anything to do with the Aztecs. So who and what did they betray? What about the other Indigenous peoples who joined in the goal of defeating Moctezuma? What must be considered during this anniversary is that the Tlaxcalans were crucial to the Aztecs independence in 1428 due to their military support for the attack on Azcapotzalco as part of Nezahualcoyotls squadron. That they created a confederation and power structures as powerful as those of the triple alliance, which was never able to defeat them. That they had the vision of political change by allying themselves with a group of Indigenous people more similar to them and another smaller group with customs foreign to their tradition. That when Cuauhtemoc fled across the lake on August 13, 1521, while the embers of Tenochtitlan-Tlalteloco cooled, the Tlaxcalans decided to side with the Spanish, this time for good, to begin the conquest of Mesoamerica and beyond (they fought in Peru, the Phillippines, and Japan).

Visitors at the Franciscan Convent Complex, Monastery and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, in Tlaxcala, Mexico, July 2021. Hilda Rios (EFE)

Q. What was their relationship with Cortes?

A. In my opinion, based on the facts that I have studied, Cortes, at least until his second attack on Tenochtitlan, after the sad and victorious night, was a puppet in Indigenous hands. I dont say that in a denigrative way, but rather in the sense that he had no choice but to trust them, as he had arrived in a land completely unknown to him. Thats why Cortes, who was many things, but not stupid, must have needed time to learn all this. The numerical relationship didnt favor him, either. So prudence seemed the most sensible path. But independently of all those factors, the Spanish and the Indigenous peoples shared unimaginable circumstances in which they were experiencing fear, need, and epidemics.

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LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Farmland Partners Inc. (NYSE:FPI  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 12,568 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $140,000.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in Farmland Partners by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 878,591 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,796,000 after purchasing an additional 3,833 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Farmland Partners by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 376,468 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,198,000 after purchasing an additional 2,613 shares during the period. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC bought a new position in Farmland Partners during the 1st quarter valued at $109,000. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Farmland Partners during the 1st quarter worth $146,000. Finally, Cozad Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Farmland Partners by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 33,415 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 1,815 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.00% of the companys stock.

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Farmland Partners Price Performance

FPI opened at $10.91 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $489.97 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.94 and a beta of 0.84. The firms fifty day moving average price is $11.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.04. Farmland Partners Inc. has a 1 year low of $9.66 and a 1 year high of $12.87.

Farmland Partners Announces Dividend

Farmland Partners ( NYSE:FPI Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $6.02 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.50 million. Farmland Partners had a return on equity of 14.18% and a net margin of 127.59%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Farmland Partners Inc. will post 0.13 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be issued a $0.06 dividend. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. Farmland Partnerss payout ratio is 19.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Farmland Partners from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th.

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Farmland Partners Profile

(Free Report)

Farmland Partners Inc is an internally managed real estate company that owns and seeks to acquire high-quality North American farmland and makes loans to farmers secured by farm real estate. As of December 31, 2023, the Company owns and/or manages approximately 171,100 acres in 16 states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.

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Lcnb Corp increased its stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) by 10.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,051 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 943 shares during the quarter. Lcnb Corps holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $713,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Somerset Trust Co raised its stake in NextEra Energy by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Somerset Trust Co now owns 89,709 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,359,000 after acquiring an additional 4,445 shares during the period. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new stake in NextEra Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $783,000. Viking Fund Management LLC raised its stake in NextEra Energy by 67.8% in the 1st quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 495,000 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,091,000 after acquiring an additional 200,000 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its stake in NextEra Energy by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 385,592 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,335,000 after acquiring an additional 8,472 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in NextEra Energy by 20.7% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 34,681 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,459,000 after acquiring an additional 5,949 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.72% of the companys stock.

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NextEra Energy Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NEE stock opened at $72.42 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $149.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.32, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $72.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.36, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.54. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $61.72 and a fifty-two week high of $86.10.

NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement

NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $6.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.52 billion. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.31% and a net margin of 22.84%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.96 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.5665 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 28th. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. NextEra Energys payout ratio is currently 79.37%.

Insider Activity at NextEra Energy

In related news, Treasurer James Michael May sold 2,177 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.50, for a total transaction of $168,717.50. Following the transaction, the treasurer owned 27,662 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,143,805. The trade was a 7.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Robert Coffey sold 7,500 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.84, for a total value of $538,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 26,539 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,906,561.76. The trade was a 22.03% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on NEE shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on NextEra Energy from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on NextEra Energy from $102.00 to $97.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Erste Group Bank cut NextEra Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, NextEra Energy has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $84.42.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on NextEra Energy

About NextEra Energy

(Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.

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Manhattan West Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (BATS:IEFA  Free Report) by 5.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,549 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,489 shares during the quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $2,160,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 191,738,074 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,475,352,000 after acquiring an additional 9,128,380 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 308.9% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,509,149 shares of the companys stock valued at $265,438,000 after acquiring an additional 2,651,047 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 105.6% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 4,601,172 shares of the companys stock valued at $323,370,000 after acquiring an additional 2,363,082 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 32,276,425 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,441,712,000 after acquiring an additional 2,175,194 shares during the period. Finally, Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF by 22.6% during the first quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 10,883,707 shares of the companys stock worth $823,352,000 after buying an additional 2,005,829 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 21.2%

IEFA opened at $84.55 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $82.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.72. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a 1-year low of $66.95 and a 1-year high of $87.36. The company has a market cap of $144.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.18 and a beta of 0.84.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Company Profile

The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed-market stocks in Europe, Australasia and the Far East, and excludes North America IEFA was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System reduced its stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 14.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 33,650 shares of the banks stock after selling 5,812 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $2,822,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BK. TrueMark Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter valued at $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 valued at $18,740,000 after purchasing an additional 50,368 shares in the last quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter valued at $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 valued at $15,399,000 after purchasing an additional 100,810 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Benson Investment Management Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter valued at $5,259,000. 85.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on BK shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $105.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of 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. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of 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, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. 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, Bank of New York Mellon presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.38.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

BK stock opened at $103.22 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $94.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $87.48. The company has a market capitalization of $72.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.76, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.12. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a 1-year low of $62.83 and a 1-year high of $103.98.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The bank reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $4.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 firms quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 7th. Investors of record on Friday, July 25th were issued a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 25th. 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 dividend yield of 2.1%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is presently 32.37%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of New York Mellon

In other Bank of New York Mellon news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.45, for a total value of $1,969,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 35,115 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,457,071.75. The trade was a 36.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Bank of New York Mellon Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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MercadoLibre, Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Company, Ford Motor, KeyCorp, Opendoor Technologies, and MSCI are the seven Real Estate stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Real estate stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose primary business involves owning, developing, managing or financing property assets such as residential, commercial or industrial buildings. By buying these stocks, investors gain equity exposure to the real estate sectors income and capital- appreciation potential without directly purchasing physical property. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Real Estate stocks within the last several days.

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MercadoLibre (MELI)

MercadoLibre, Inc. operates online commerce platforms in the United States. It operates Mercado Libre Marketplace, an automated online commerce platform that enables businesses, merchants, and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases digitally; and Mercado Pago FinTech platform, a financial technology solution platform, which facilitates transactions on and off its marketplaces by providing a mechanism that allows its users to send and receive payments online, as well as allows users to transfer money through their websites or on the apps.

Shares of MELI traded down $81.52 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $2,326.50. The company had a trading volume of 406,689 shares, compared to its average volume of 395,429. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $2,450.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $2,234.32. The company has a market capitalization of $117.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.46. MercadoLibre has a 52 week low of $1,646.00 and a 52 week high of $2,645.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.20.

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Bank of America (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

NYSE BAC traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $45.60. The companys stock had a trading volume of 14,717,070 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,736,871. Bank of America has a 1 year low of $33.06 and a 1 year high of $49.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firms 50-day moving average price is $46.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $43.78. The company has a market capitalization of $337.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.33, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.31.

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Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)

Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock traded up $0.21 on Wednesday, reaching $78.17. The stock had a trading volume of 7,295,268 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,488,576. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1 year low of $50.22 and a 1 year high of $84.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $254.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $78.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.95.

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Ford Motor (F)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

Ford Motor stock traded up $0.16 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $11.22. 37,098,408 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 101,920,328. The company has a market capitalization of $44.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.38, a PEG ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.48. Ford Motor has a 52-week low of $8.44 and a 52-week high of $11.97. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $10.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.95.

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KeyCorp (KEY)

KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; commercial leasing, investment management, consumer finance; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses.

KeyCorp stock traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $17.61. 21,193,822 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 16,801,555. The stock has a market cap of $19.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -251.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.13. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $17.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $16.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. KeyCorp has a 12-month low of $12.73 and a 12-month high of $20.04.

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Opendoor Technologies (OPEN)

Opendoor Technologies Inc. operates a digital platform for residential real estate transactions in the United States. It buys and sells homes. The company's product offerings comprise sell to opendoor product that enables homeowners to sell their home directly to it and resell the home to a home buyer; list with opendoor product that allows customers to list their home on the MLS with opendoor and receive cash offer; and opendoor marketplace product that connects the home seller with an institutional or retail buyer.

Shares of OPEN stock traded down $0.55 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $1.98. 152,397,191 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 104,628,617. Opendoor Technologies has a 1 year low of $0.51 and a 1 year high of $4.97. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1.13 and a 200 day moving average of $1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. The firm has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a PE ratio of -3.80 and a beta of 3.02.

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MSCI (MSCI)

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.

NYSE:MSCI traded down $11.99 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $545.74. 546,153 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 606,308. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $563.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $564.41. The company has a market capitalization of $42.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.29. MSCI has a 12 month low of $486.73 and a 12 month high of $642.45.

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